A few days later, the whole city was in turmoil, and Qiao Mao got the news that Dong Zhuo's subordinates Li Jue and Guo Si were attacked by a group of heroes at Hulao Pass, and fled in defeat. Yuan Shao threatened to enter Luoyang in a few days and take Dong Zhuo's head as a sacrifice to the flag. The whole Luoyang became tense for a moment. Lu Bu sealed off the entire city gate and strictly prohibited entry and exit.
One day Zhou Yu was buying rice noodles for Qiao Mao at the shop in Luoyang, when a maid hurried over and stuffed a note into Zhou Yu's hand. Zhou Yu unfolded it while no one was there, and was startled.
Dong Zhuo moved the capital, but Qiao Taishou was not on the list, so he fled quickly.
Seeing the beautiful handwriting, it should be from Diaochan's hand, I don't know where she got the news, maybe it was from Lu Bu. Zhou Yu pondered for a moment—Dong Zhuo was going to move the capital, and all the court officials followed, what does it mean to leave Qiao Mao behind? Don't you plan to keep him alive
Zhou Yu immediately gave up what he was doing and ran all the way back to Qiao's mansion. He was still panting when he opened the door, and saw Qiao Mao talking with another middle-aged man in the hall.
"We must leave Luoyang immediately," Zhou Yu said. "Wang Situ got the news that Dong Zhuo is afraid that it will be disadvantageous to Governor Qiao."
"Let him come!" Qiao Mao's temper was extremely hot, he slapped the table heavily, and the cups and plates jingled.
Zhou Yu pressed the sword in his hand and took a step forward. His tall figure blocked the skylight outside the hall, like an unshakable mountain.
"Listen to me!" Zhou Yu said in a deep voice, "Why does Prefect Qiao stick to this place? The only way to save his life is to try to win over Dong Daji again!"
Qiao Mao looked at Zhou Yu, suddenly burst out laughing, and shook his head helplessly.
"Young man," Qiao Mao said interestingly, "the old man has lived for so many years and is not even afraid of death. Why should he be afraid of a mere thief?"
"Precisely because you are not afraid of death," Zhou Yu said, "why are you afraid of living?"
"Second Uncle," the middle-aged man said, "Nephew Zhou is right, what's the use of you staying here?"
Qiao Mao said again: "The old man's work has been done, and the king's order will be distributed to the princes of the world. Dong Bandit's power is over, and the world will be left to you young people."
Qiao Mao took a sip of his wine thoughtfully, under the oil lamp, his appearance seemed much older. Zhou Yu took a deep breath, and then sighed.
"Cao Mengde has already left." Qiao Mao said, "You go out first, after the old man makes arrangements, I will send you and Qiao Xuan out of the city."
Zhou Yu wanted to say more, but Qiao Mao waved him to go out and said, "Qiao Xuan, send your nephew back to rest."
Qiao Xuan had no choice but to get up, made a "please" gesture, and sent Zhou Yu out.
"Master Qiao." Zhou Yu said in the courtyard.
"Nephew Zhou." Qiao Xuan said, "You came from Jiangnan, have you heard any news from Wu County?"
Zhou Yu said: "There is no turmoil in the Jiangnan area, but this..."
"Let's wait until tonight." Qiao Xuan said, "Let's find a way to get my second uncle out of the city."
Zhou Yu had no choice but to nod, and went back to pack up his things, knowing that Luoyang could not stay any longer, Dong Zhuo was imminent in cleaning up the whole city. That night, he recovered enough energy and waited for Bai Falcon to return, but it didn't arrive for a long time. In the middle of the night, Qiao Xuan woke him up, signaled him to hiss, and reminded him, "Let's go."
Zhou Yu came out with a bundle on his back, and when he passed the front hall, he saw Qiao Mao was cleaning a long sword, and there was a waist card on the table.
"This is the pass order that the old man entrusted someone to get," Qiao Mao said, "Cao Mengde used up a piece and left the city last night. The two of you ride horses quickly and go out along the east road of the city. You are not allowed to come back."
"Second Uncle!" Qiao Xuan said.
Zhou Yu stepped forward, or he could not help but knock Qiao Mao down and take him out. But at this moment, there were soldiers outside beating on the gate, roaring repeatedly.
"Open the door, open the door!"
Zhou Yu was startled, but Qiao Mao pushed them to the back door, Zhou Yu said, "Don't go out!"
When he spoke, the front door had already been kicked open by the soldiers, and the troops swarmed in, yelling: "No one should leave! Where is Qiao Mao and Qiao Xuan!"
Zhou Yu realized that Qiao Xuan still needed protection, and immediately dragged him out of the backyard. Their eyes were red, and they heard a scream from a soldier inside. It was obvious that Qiao Mao had already made a move. Qiao Xuan's eyes were about to burst, and he wanted to rush back to kill, but Zhou Yu said, "Go quickly—"
The two got on their horses, and there were screams everywhere for a while. The fire burned along the street, and there were flames in all directions. Luoyang had already been engulfed in flames. Arrows flew all over the streets and roofs, and Yuan Shao's coalition forces had obviously begun to attack the city. In the chaos, Qiao Xuan's horse was hit by an arrow and rolled on the ground.
Shocked, Zhou Yu got off his horse quickly and put Qiao Xuan on his own horse. The two rode together and rushed to the front of the city. The fire wall inside the east gate was overwhelming and there was almost nowhere to escape.
Zhou Yu quickly urged the horse to jump up to a high place, and let it jump from the collapsed roof several times, but the horse was afraid to move forward.
Zhou Yu gasped for breath, Qiao Xuan said: "Forget it, nephew, let me get off the horse, don't implicate you again."
Zhou Yu was silent for a moment, then got off his horse, returned his sword and pierced the horse's ass!
The war horse neighed and galloped in pain, Qiao Xuan roared: "Zhou Gongjin!"
"Bon trip!" Zhou Yu shouted.
The war horse carried Qiao Xuan to the edge of the roof, leaped, flew across the flames, and rushed out of the east gate all the way.
Zhou Yu's eyes reflected the raging flames in the sky, and the ashes rolled around. At the moment when the thousand-year-old capital was buried in the sea of flames, there were so many weeping and wailing, just like a hymn to a dynasty.
Can't give up yet... Zhou Yu looks around, must survive, find a well or cellar, maybe he can hide from the fire. He ran on the long street, barely avoiding the buildings that collapsed with flames several times. However, the long street was already full of ashes and black smoke. He covered his face with a cloth towel, coughed frantically, and staggered forward.
There is fire in front, and there is fire behind. As far as the eye can see, there are only red lotuses.
A bird chirped, and the white falcon jumped down from the sky.
"Ahem... Feiyu..." Zhou Yu lay in the charred ruins, his hair curled up by the heat, and the white falcon flew down and grabbed his arm.
"Go... hurry..." Zhou Yu waved it away, his eyes were red, and his eyes were so smoked that he couldn't help crying, and his internal organs were about to be coughed out. He tried his best to get up, but he vaguely heard someone shouting his name in the distance.
"Zhou Gongjin—"
Zhou Yu looked around in a daze. Immediately afterwards, there was a frenzied neighing of a war horse, accompanied by the collapse of the house behind it, sparks and flames exploded, a tall horse leaped across the sky, rushed to the middle of the street, immediately threw a person down, and pressed him to the ground.
"Cough, cough..." Sun Ce took off his helmet, his eyes were red, his face was covered with dust, and tears burst out. I don't know if it was from the smoke, or the tears of joy shed from the long-lost reunion.
"Bo Fu?" Zhou Yu shouted, "Bo Fu!"
The two hugged each other tightly, and Sun Ce carried him onto the horse without saying a word, and led him into the flames.
All Zhou Yu remembered that day was the raging flames, thick smoke and sparks, and the high fever that burned his eyes. With uncontrollable tears in their eyes, they stationed at the top of the city wall and looked towards Luoyang. The whole city of Luoyang was completely destroyed, like a grand sacrificial ceremony.
Under the Hangu Pass, the wind carries the sound of ghosts, the setting sun is like a bloody red, the dry grass smells like burnt grass, and there are faint cries in the distance.
Two teenagers with gray and black faces were sitting outside a half-collapsed thatched hut, and the smoke rose from the kitchen.
Zhou Yu was sitting on a stone, gobbling bacon and boiled beans in an earthen pot.
"Beware of scalding your mouth." Sun Ce said with a smile.
Zhou Yu ignored him, mentioned the water Sun Ce put aside, and drank some, the clear spring water trickled down the corner of his mouth.
"There are all kinds of delicacies from mountains and seas in my life, and none of them can compare to Bo Fu's crock pot of beans." Zhou Yu swallowed his mouthful of boiled beans, his hair was disheveled, and his expensive brocade robe was dirty, shaking his head, "Zhou Gongjin's life is yours from now on. gone."
Sun Ce laughed heartily, his handsome face was as dark as if he had just come out of a chimney.
Zhou Yu put down the jar, took another sip of water, wiped his face, and staggered to the stream to wash his face, while Sun Ce said from a distance: "You have to sign a letter, draw a bond, and deposit the deed of sale with me, and I will pay you in the future." Well, go to your house and ask your mother for you."
Zhou Yu didn't answer, and squatted by the stream to wash his face. Sun Ce smiled and ate beans with his fingers.
"Can't you wash your hands first!" Zhou Yu roared angrily.
"More than my mother."
"I don't like to be clean."
Zhou Yu taught the lesson seriously, and wiped Sun Ce's hands with a cloth towel. Sun Ce said happily, "My mother often said, let me take a daughter-in-law back, so that I can take care of me every day. I don't think the daughter-in-law is needed anymore, it's just you , more verbose than my mother."
Zhou Yu glanced at him casually, didn't say anything to him, went into the house and lay down, after a whole day and night, he was really tired.
Sun Ce was eating beans outside, watching the setting sun sinking little by little, like a loyal hound guarding the house, he said to himself: "You've sold your life like this, how can you thank me later?"
Zhou Yu: "?"
Sun Ce didn't speak any more, with a faint smile on his lips, watching the setting sun gradually disappear.
At night, Zhou Yu didn't sleep well. Sometimes he dreamed of Luoyang, which became a sea of flames, and sometimes he cried miserably. He woke up several times, but knew that Sun Ce was by his side, and there was no safer place in the world, so he fell into a deep sleep.
In the middle of the night, Sun Ce drooped his head and was too sleepy, so he simply stopped keeping watch, climbed into the thatched hut, and fell asleep next to Zhou Yu. The two heads were leaning together, and the autumn was getting colder. Sun Ce's body was like a stove, naturally hot, and Zhou Yu couldn't help being next to him.
I don't know how long I slept, the night was as black as ink, the two of them didn't know why, they both woke up in the long silent night.
Zhou Yu felt that Sun Ce's breath was held first, and then exhaled softly.
"Is it cold?" Zhou Yu asked.
"A little bit." Sun Ce replied, "Let's go on the road after dawn, and you can sleep for a while."
Zhou Yu agreed, but she didn't feel sleepy at all, and sat up. Sun Ce built a fire, and the two warmed up around the fire. Zhou Yu looked up at Sun Ce, and saw that he was smiling again, and his hair was tied up.
In Sun Ce's eyes, Zhou Yu was shirtless, exposing his strong white chest, muttering to the fire.
"Where are we going next?" Zhou Yu said.
"Are you following me?" Sun Ce was a little surprised and asked with a smile.
"What?" Zhou Yu asked puzzled, "Of course I'll follow you, and I'll give you my life. What's your opinion?"
Sun Ce replied thoughtfully, "I thought you were just talking."
Zhou Yu didn't speak any more. After pondering for a moment, he asked, "How is the battle going?"
Sun Ce thought for a while and replied, "My father should have already attacked Luoyang by now."
Zhou Yu's eyes showed worry. Sun Ce knew that he was worried about leaving his post without permission and rushing into Luoyang to save people, so he motioned him to look at the white falcon squatting by the wall and cooing.
"When will the reinforcements arrive?" Zhou Yu asked.
"After dawn, we will meet at the Hangu Pass." Sun Ce said casually, "We will plan to follow up when we get there."
"Go back to Changsha." Zhou Yu said.
Sun Ce raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu said, "I have saved my life. I don't want to look for anything anymore. I realize that I am too naive."
Sun Ce smiled, did not speak, added some firewood to the bonfire, changed the subject, and said seriously: "I haven't figured out what job I will give you, I don't even know where I should go... In other words, Gong Jin , what position do you think I can achieve in the future?"
Zhou Yu glanced at Sun Ce and said, "Taiwei? General?"
"In today's world," Sun Ce said, "heroes from all walks of life are rising together. Dong Zhuo kidnapped the emperor and fled westward. In a few months, he will be caught in a chaotic world. Everyone is shouting to help the Han Dynasty, but in fact they have different ideas, like Yuan Shu. Gongsun Zan, Zhang Miao, Ma Teng, Yuan Shao, Tao Qian...and my Sun family, the Eighteenth Road Dispute Dong League, who do you think can be the master?"
"Of course it's your Sun's family." Zhou Yu said lightly.
"I'm not joking with you." Sun Ce dropped the branch that poked the fire and stood up.
"I know." Zhou Yu said, "But what you said is too rebellious."
Sun Ce replied: "Don't involve your majesty and the Han family, just say that, you know your father's last will."
Zhou Yu was silent for a long time, and Sun Ce said again, "Dong Zhuo's tyranny is exhausted, and the world will soon be in chaos. At that time, the heroes who participated in the battle today will stand on their own. Who else can stand out."
"None." Zhou Yu said.
"The Yuan family can." Sun Ce turned his head, looked at Zhou Yu, and said, "The four generations and three princes of the Yuan family are the most vocal at this time."
"No, I can't." Zhou Yu said, "Although the two brothers Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao are very famous, Yuan Shu is greedy for pleasure and self-willed, Yuan Shao is indecisive, and the Yuan brothers are fighting each other. It’s not yet convincing.”
Sun Ce stared at Zhou Yu silently. Zhou Yu looked up at Sun Ce thoughtfully, and said, "I guess the ones who will clean up the mess in the future and work hard all day are probably not among the eighteen people."
"Where's my father?" Sun Ce asked.
Zhou Yu and Sun Ce looked at each other for a moment, then shook their heads lightly, and Sun Ce sighed.
"You believe what I say?" Zhou Yu suddenly felt very funny.
"Because you are smart." Sun Ce said indifferently, "Although you don't want to admit it, you are right."
"I wouldn't be here if I'm smart." Zhou Yu said lightly.
Sun Ce glanced sideways at Zhou Yu, Zhou Yu had a narrow smile in his eyes, and suddenly said: "But I am willing, so I am here. Your father can't, but you can."
Sun Ce smiled and said nothing, but Zhou Yu said seriously, "Stop doing this, I know what you're thinking."
At that moment, Sun Ce seemed to be a different person, his usual flamboyant and carefree appearance was gone, replaced by a serious and dignified expression.
"Hush." Sun Ce urged, "Let's talk about this later, Gongjin. I didn't let you come to me earlier because I couldn't make up my mind."
"What about now?" Zhou Yu just asked indifferently.
Zhou Yu didn't wait for Sun Ce's answer, so he drew the terrain on the ground with a branch, motioned Sun Ce to look, and explained: "The princes stationed troops in the Hulao Pass to fight Dong Zhuo. However, Luoyang has been blocked for several months, but no one is willing to send troops to intercept Dong Zhuo. The way to go. If you want to work together at this moment, the lord Yuan Shao should lead the Dong Lianjun to besiege and attack the city. Why not come? Because everyone is worried, whoever advances to Luoyang is bound to gain power."
"Dong Zhuo's fall is just around the corner." Zhou Yu said helplessly, "From the spring to the autumn, there is not even a group of people who are willing to ambush Dong Zhuo on the way to the west. It can be seen that everyone has greed to enter the city first..."
When Zhou Yu said this, he realized that even Sun Ce's father was included, so he stopped talking and looked at Sun Ce's silence with a smile in his eyes.
"People seek advantages and avoid disadvantages." Sun Ce said, "My father doesn't want to send troops, there is no way, but this has nothing to do with what you said, which line of princes can stand out from the crowd?"
"Of course it has something to do with it." Zhou Yu said, "Don't pretend to be a fool with me. Staying in Hulaoguan and eyeing Luoyang is nothing more than profit. What's the benefit of going to the city? It's just gold and silver treasures, plus a reputation for driving out Dong thief. That's all. What's the benefit of ambushing Dong Zhuo and retreating west?"
Sun Ce raised his eyebrows, looked at Zhou Yu puzzled, and said, "I really don't know."
"Killing Dong Zhuo is the greatest benefit." Zhou Yu said, "It's a pity that none of the princes along the way realized it."
"It's just a reason to award a reward." Sun Ce said casually.
Zhou Yu: "Is it just a reward? Have you forgotten who Dong Zhuo escaped with?"
As soon as these words came out, Sun Ce realized without Zhou Yu's further explanation.
"Son of Heaven..." Sun Ce murmured, "I never thought of that before."
"Did you really not think of it?" Zhou Yu smiled, "Maybe?"
Sun Ce said sincerely: "I really didn't expect that you are right. Dong Zhuo has the emperor in his hands. Although the emperor is young, he is the emperor after all. His position cannot be shaken. In such a chaotic situation, which princes will succeed in saving him? The Son of Heaven is in his hands."
Zhou Yu knew that Sun Ce must have thought of it, why didn't he go to rescue him? Just because he wanted to save him who was trapped in Luoyang? But seeing Sun Ce's stupid appearance, Zhou Yu didn't want to poke him, no matter what, he still accepted his love. However, in order to save him, Sun Ce gave up the most important thing. At this time, he has to find a way to remedy it.
Zhou Yu said lightly: "No one is going to save the Son of Heaven, they only think about winning merits and distributing treasures, so based on this, I can conclude that those who will stand on their own and stand out in the troubled times in the future will not be among the eighteen princes. Unless someone is the first to think of going to rescue him, then only this person is worthy of the great responsibility, and maybe he will rule the world in the future. It's a pity that that guy's friends have been holding him back all day, and he has delayed many things."
Sun Ce laughed, with a youthful look, and said, "Who are you talking about? Ah? You also know that you have delayed me a lot." Then he scraped Zhou Yu's face with a branch.
Zhou Yu parried him a few times with the branch in his hand, threw the branch, and said, "I don't want to play anymore, the situation of the battle is changing rapidly. After all, when Dong Zhuo was still in Luoyang, no one would have thought that he would give Luoyang a fire. Burn it, and then take away the emperor. But... "
After finishing speaking, Zhou Yu got up, walked outside, looked at Sun Ce under the dark sky, narrowed his eyes, as if he was thinking about something.
Sun Ce seemed to be thinking about something.
"If you have a team of soldiers now, can you ambush Dong Zhuo and save the emperor?" Zhou Yu asked in a very low voice.
Sun Ce said: "Before sending out troops, I have considered that someone needs to cooperate. The premise is that... the master is not in the camp, but this is unlikely. It is too difficult. My father actually does not approve of me chasing him." of."
Master? Zhou Yu was keenly aware of a certain address, but Sun Ce didn't say it, so Zhou Yu didn't ask any more questions.
"Ask your father for help, a thousand soldiers and horses." Zhou Yu said, "We will meet at Hangu Pass, and we are on our way, let's go."
Sun Ce looked at Zhou Yu, Zhou Yu raised his eyebrows and asked in puzzlement, "What's the problem?"
"No." Sun Ce smiled, got on his horse, let out his flying feathers, and when the sky was getting bright, the two disappeared at the end of the mountain road.