In the night, candles as thick as a baby's arms were lit in the feudal palace meeting hall, illuminating the vast hall as bright as day.
The gathering of generals in the hall has an invisible brilliance that complements the brilliant lights that fill the hall.
Yuan Zuozong, the commander of the Northern Liang Cavalry Army, and Chen Yunchui, the great ancestor of Gu, were two deputy commanders of the infantry whose army was stationed in Liangzhou. There was also Yang Shenxing, a deputy military commander who had truly integrated into the Northern Liang frontier army. He had previously transferred to Youzhou as a deputy general. Le Dian, who served as the deputy general of the Snow Dragon Cavalry, now also leads a heavy cavalry army. There are also Cao Xiaojiao, Hong Xinjia and others who came specially from Youzhou, as well as a large group of powerful generals and captains who were temporarily summoned to Jubeicheng, such as Lingzhou deputy generals Wang Zhi and Huang Xiaokuai, and the two guarding the east gate of Liangzhou. Tongguan captain Xin Yin Ma Wei was killed, Lingzhou Fengqiu captain Zhu Boyu, Beiguo captain Ren Chunyun, and Jiao Wuyi, who replaced Huang Xiaokuai as pearl captain, many generals gathered together to discuss how to defend Beicheng.
Hong Xinjia, who was the one who built the Hulukou Wubao beacon system, was actually not of high rank, but at this time, together with the young lord and the two deputy commanders of the frontier army, they were all listening attentively to what he was saying about the defense. City details.
A large number of green-shirted counselors attended the meeting to observe.
Crazy Hong Shuwen is undoubtedly the legendary figure who was promoted the fastest and became the biggest official in Bai Ma Yi. At a young age, he has already served as the commander of the Yizhou Cavalry Army under the command of Lingzhou General Han Laoshan. This time he followed the two deputy generals to Jubei City outside the pass. This tough warrior who followed His Royal Highness through the Central Plains in the early years and rushed to the Iron Gate Pass of the Western Regions to intercept and kill the Liyang Prince Zhao Kai, did not stay in the lobby. Instead, he stood at the gate with his sword in hand, closing his eyes and meditating alone. He has a cold aura, like an unkind door god who will draw a sword on anyone if he disagrees with him.
Bai Yu, the governor of Liangzhou, Wang Jijiu of Lifang, and Cheng Baishuang, the master of southern Xinjiang, came hand in hand. After the three met, they got along well and had a good conversation. Wang Jijiu secretly brought out a few pots of green ants that he had collected for a long time. He invited two scholars to have a drink together. After the counselor informed him that there would be a meeting in the lobby tonight half an hour ago, Wang Jijiu, who was in high spirits, felt a little embarrassed. If he staggered there smelling of alcohol, he The heavily guarded lobby was inappropriate for the time, and Wang Jijiu didn't have the courage to do so. The sharp looks in the eyes of those old and rough generals showed that he was already very old, and no matter how thick-skinned he was, it was too much for him. Wang Jijiu knew very well who was the soft persimmon in the Jubei City vassal residence. It was not the old fox like Li Gongde and Yang Shenxing, nor the respectful and humble Bai Yu, nor even the enthusiastic military counselors. It was clearly the young ones. As for the vassal king, even if the old gentleman didn't keep his mouth shut and leaked the allusion of leaning against the wall, it would be different with loud thunder and small raindrops, but he would just be killed on the chessboard by the young vassal king who became angry and threw away his helmet and armor?
In addition, Wang Jijiu did not dare to show the slightest trace of the eccentric and laissez-faire style of a celebrity. The reason is very simple. The old man knew that none of the civil and military leaders in Beiliang would do this, and the old man himself was not good at it. So after shaking the fan vigorously to disperse most of the alcohol smell, Wang Jijiu dared to pull the two of them to the door of the council hall.
As a result, the door god at the door did not stop the charming Mr. Bai Lian, but stopped Wang Jijiu and Cheng Baishuang. Bai Yu, as the little Tianshi of the Tianshi Mansion in Longhu Mountain, the ancestral hall of Taoism in the past, also vividly and exquisitely carried forward the way of death. With his friendless and impoverished style, he turned a deaf ear to the old man behind him asking for help. After striding across the threshold, he just turned around and cast a helpless look. Wang Jijiu originally promised that Cheng Baishuang could join hands to enter the meeting hall, but his old face suddenly became miserable. He first smiled boldly at Cheng Baishuang, making his face swollen to look fat, saying that you can rest assured that everything is with me, and then turned to talk to the young general. Whispers, good or bad, said that the prince had great trust in this southern Xinjiang master. Cheng Baishuang was a man of integrity and would never create any complications or leak military plans. Hong Shuwen held the knife in both hands and ignored him with a straight face. No matter how flattering the old gentleman was, he just blocked the door and refused to nod to let him go.
Wang Jijiu, who was so arrogant, had no choice but to act recklessly. He did not want to be polite like a scholar. He glared and said, "Hong Shuwen! Believe it or not, I am just here shouting injustice at the top of my voice. Do you think the prince will let me enter the meeting hall?"
Madman Hong, who was impervious to oil, salt, water and fire, remained indifferent and sneered: "Old man, you can just shout. As long as the prince personally agrees to it, I will give way. Otherwise, with your shameless drunkenness, I really competed with you today!"
The old man glared like a bull's eye, and Hong Shuwen said lazily: "What, you're not convinced? Wang Jijiu wants to bully me because of my age and my short time to practice martial arts?"
The old man almost sprayed a mouthful of old blood on this shameless young warrior. The old man was worthy of being a man of true knowledge through reading. He lowered his voice and extended a finger.
Hong Shuwen looked sideways, with disdain on his face.
The old man reluctantly held out his two fingers as if he was reluctant to give up his love.
Hong?Wen said to himself: "Students are just not happy."
The old man took a deep breath, stretched out a palm, slapped the young man's arm hard, and said with a sad face: "I only have this number, and I can't kill anyone without a nod! Hong Shuwen, give me a happy word!"
Hong Shuwen raised his eyebrows, moved his steps to get out of the way, and said with a smile: "After the meeting, I will go to your place to get the wine in person. Five pots of green ants, if one pot is missing, I will demolish your etiquette wing. It¡¯s only a few steps anyway. Also remember, don¡¯t get too close, just stand on the edge with Counselor Lang.¡±
The heartbroken old man did not bargain at all and hurriedly crossed the threshold. He turned around and whispered to Cheng Baishuang: "Old Cheng, there is a clear breeze and bright moon outside, and the scenery is beautiful, so I won't accompany you."
After Wang Jijiu took seven or eight steps away from the door of the parliament hall, he suddenly turned around and pointed at Hong Shuwen, with a triumphant expression on his face, mixed with rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
Hong Shuwen suddenly realized that the five bottles of green ant wine he had agreed on in advance must have been wasted, so he raised his foot and made a kicking motion.
Wang Jijiu hooked his fingers, as if he wanted to beat me if he could, but when the old man saw Hong Shuwen sneering and wanted to break into the meeting hall, he immediately ran away nimbly.
Hong Shuwen was not surprised, turned around and continued to hold the knife with his eyes closed.
Cheng Baishuang was eye-opening.
" Mr. Bai Lian, who was elegant and elegant in conversation, and the right priest of Shangyin Academy who almost dominated the literary world in his early years, how come he is so shameless in Beiliang?
Cheng Baishuang, who was both civil and military and had profound attainments, was a little dumbfounded, but he was not angry, nor did he leave in shame. Instead, he stood outside the door of the assembly hall, looked inside, and asked softly: "Dare I ask this general, what can I do?" Do you want to stand here and listen to the discussion in the house?"
Hong Shuwen did not open his eyes and said angrily: "Since the prince previously allowed you Cheng Baishuang to walk freely in the vassal mansion, as long as you don't cross the threshold tonight, it doesn't matter if you stand outside the door and listen or lie down, even if you have your head on the ground." I won¡¯t stop you from facing the sky.¡±
Cheng Baishuang, who was almost a Confucian sage, laughed it off.
Before having a chat with King Bai Yu over wine, Cheng Baishuang heard many interesting anecdotes that were used as food to accompany the wine.
Bai Yu said that the young vassal prince would occasionally leave the study on the right side of the signing room in the second hall and go to the room on the left side of the signing room that Beicheng jokingly called "caiyuanzi", where the military counselor's "general helm" was located. , because these young people with different backgrounds have no rank or official status, and only wear Confucian scholar's green shirt. At first glance, the green color is particularly lush. When everyone gathers, it is like a green vegetable garden, and these people , is the seed of reading in Beiliang. Whether they are locals from Beiliang Road or scholars from other places who go to Liang, they will eventually take root and grow in Jubeicheng. Xu Fengnian would go and sit there from time to time, no matter day or night, and there was no rule. He never had long speeches. He just chatted with those scholars in green shirts, who were mostly the same age. Most of them were about trivial things, and at most they were writing articles and doing scholarly work. However, there are very few major military and national affairs. The word "zhiping" for governing a country and bringing peace to the world, and those border wars, are not involved much. Mr. Bai Lian had nothing to do one time and happened to participate in it. That night, a king of Northern Liang and a governor of Liangzhou were surrounded by dozens of green-shirted scholars, talking and laughing, and laughing constantly.
When a military counselor said that he was willing to go into battle to kill the enemy, he would not hesitate to die in battle. The young vassal king did not refuse or acknowledge it. He only looked around and saw the angry young faces of the scholar before telling him Impassioned foreign scholars, scholars strategizing behind the scenes, willing to make suggestions for border affairs, willing to speak out for state affairs, and willing to fight to the death for the border troops, have already performed a great duty, and their contributions must not be forgotten by anyone. In addition to this, if you scholars are willing to die, it will definitely be a good thing, but I, Xu Fengnian, will never recommend this matter. From Xu Xiao to me, I have always believed that the Beiliang cavalry guards the border. Since they are outside the border, they wear a knife on their waist. Riding a war horse, it is only natural to fight to the death on the battlefield with no retreat. As for the scholars who are not good at fighting with bows and horses, just be willing to do so. Beiliang is not willing and should not ask you scholars to sacrifice your life. It is even said that it is understandable that scholars who have never experienced the smoke of war fear death and cherish their lives. Scholars in the study and warriors on the battlefield each perform their own duties. The former expresses his feelings with righteousness in writing, and the latter wears armor and guards the gates to resist the enemy. What do you do? I'll do your best and I'll do mine with a clear conscience. As for the ordinary people living in the streets and alleys, we should not expect them to come to the border to kill the enemy. They should live a good life and live in peace for the rest of their lives.
Cheng Baishuang put her hands behind her back, turned her back to the meeting hall, looked at the archway, and fell into deep thought.
As emergency strategies were formally finalized, military generals continued to leave the assembly hall in batches. When the finalEven the two frontier army bosses stationed in Jubei City, Gu Dazu and Chen Yunchui, also crossed the threshold. The young vassal king and Wang Jijiu finally walked out side by side and came to Cheng Baishuang, who had been standing at the door for nearly two hours. Bai Yu had already gone ahead. Going to the household to discuss matters was destined to keep the lights on until dawn, and he didn't bother to say hello to Cheng Baishuang. When the young vassal king saw this southern Xinjiang master who had taken advantage of the opportunity of the Confucian saint's grace to benefit the world in Wudang Mountain, Xu Fengnian laughed and said: "After Cao Changqing and Xuanyuan Jingcheng, the world has finally returned." A Confucian saint is about to appear to control luck."
The three of them walked down the steps together. Cheng Baishuang shook his head and said: "Limited by the situation, I cannot reach the realm of Confucian sage."
Xu Fengnian asked doubtfully: "How do you say this?"
Cheng Baishuang smiled and said: "Even now, I still don't have the kind of mentality to establish a heart for the world, to inherit the unique knowledge for the saints, and to create peace for all generations."
Xu Fengnian nodded, not despising this elderly Confucian scholar who had already perished.
Cheng Baishuang suddenly asked: "My lord, what do you think is a scholar?"
Xu Fengnian thought for a while and replied: "When scholars govern the country, there will be peace and prosperity."
Cheng Baishuang asked again: "In these troubled times, when national calamity is at the forefront, what should scholars do?"
Xu Fengnian said without hesitation: "Don't be too harsh on them."
Cheng Baishuang asked with a smile: "Shouldn't it be that we should rise up resolutely and become a scholar to save the country?"
Xu Fengnian laughed it off and said, "That's not my business. It is up to the scholar to choose his or her own responsibilities. Whether he or she wants to do it, whether he dares to do it or not, and whether he can do it or not is all the scholar's own business."
Cheng Baishuang seemed a little surprised by this statement. She was silent for a long time and said with a smile: "That's right."
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At dawn, outside Jubei City, a horseman galloped eastward from Liuzhou Old Woman Mountain to outside Jubei City. Before approaching the city gate, Louhuang suddenly reined in his horse and stopped.
Turning around, I saw a guy far away from the battlefield but still wearing iron armor and carrying two swords. He was looking up and smiling to himself.
Lou Huang turned over and dismounted, feeling the extremely unfamiliar and strong murderous aura in this senior brother, and had to ask: "How about the one named Xie?"
The bridegroom sighed softly: "I can only say that he is not dead yet. Xie Xiqiao was seriously injured."
Lou Huang didn¡¯t say anything more.
The bridegroom hesitated for a moment, "Junior Brother Lou, I've entrusted you with something."
Lou Huang said without hesitation: "That's what you say."
Groom Yu said sadly: "I might have to trouble you to take the little green robe back to the Central Plains. I took her for a lot of walks. I originally thought she could stay carefree in Tingchao Lake in Qingliang Mountain, like those around her of the same age. People climb trees and catch fish all day long, and then they grow up slowly Now it seems that it is very difficult."
Lou Huang shook his head and said: "If you ask Xu Fengnian to find someone else, I can't help you with this matter."
The bridegroom frowned and said, "You want to stay too?"
Lou Huang snorted coldly: "Are you only allowed to be heroic as the groom and not allowed to be heroic like me, Lou Huang?"
The groom was speechless.
Lou Huang said regretfully: "It's a pity that neither you nor I have a good sword at the moment."
The bridegroom patted the cold knife on his waist and said with a smile: "After using it, I found that it is very easy to use. I don't have to carry the knife away when I drop the body. It's very refreshing."
Lou Huang joked: "How about you give me a hand?"
Yu groom decisively refused, "Don't even think about it."
Lou Huang clicked his tongue and said, "I also want you to promise something."
The bridegroom smiled and said, "You have to tell me first and listen, and then we'll see if you agree or not."
Lou Huang grinned and said, "If I kill more people than you in the next battlefield outside the Pass, how about you call me senior brother from now on?"
Groom Yu patted this junior brother on the shoulder and said sincerely: "Although a junior brother who doesn't want to be a senior brother is not a good junior brother, as a senior brother, I can understand this feeling, but unfortunately I still won't agree to it."
Lou Huang was not surprised. He led the horse forward with a smile on his lips.
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????OUT out of touch, the two brothers and sisters have almost no interactions, let alone such casual chats.
Yu Bridegroom, who seems to be very good at speaking but is actually the worst at speaking, has too much talent, too good foundation, too high cultivation, and too deep sword mastery. Therefore, even though he has the best temper among all Wang Xianzhi¡¯s disciples, he actually gives people a feeling that he is It feels like you are being looked down upon.
Lou Huang really can¡¯t like Yu Groom like that.
Now Yu Groom, his junior brother Lou Huang who has a strong desire to win or lose is actually a little annoying.
Yu Groom suddenly said: "If I can still leave Beiliang Border Pass alive, I will find a graceful and charming woman and find a place to live."??A quiet little village to spend the rest of your life with. "
Lou Huang nodded, "Not bad."
Bridegroom Yu sighed with emotion: "It's very good. But I'm quite worried now. With the appearance of Bridegroom Yu, I can easily find a beautiful young lady from Rouge County, Beiliang. But with your appearance, junior brother, what should I do?" If I see a very nice woman who I don¡¯t like, and I want to introduce her to you, but they only like me, I will be very embarrassed.¡±
Lou Huang took a deep breath.
Take another deep breath.
Only then did he resist the urge to hit someone.
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At noon, in a quiet courtyard of the feudal lord's residence, a one-armed old man with white hair and white clothes raised a glass and drank in a relaxed manner.
This old man who is fond of devouring famous swords in the world is not only the same generation as Liu Songtao, not only competes with Li Chunggang in swordsmanship, but he is also the common master of the Sword Emperor of Western Shu and Qingliangshan Sword Jiuhuang.
Opposite the stone table is Chai Qingshan, the contemporary leader of Dongyue Jianchi. Although in terms of martial arts status and reputation in the Central Plains, Chai Qingshan is much higher than the reclusive sword-eating ancestor, but in terms of seniority in the world , Chai Qingshan, who is nearly seventy years old, is still a generation, or even two generations below Sui Xiegu. Sui Xiegu once visited Jianchi in person when he was in his thirties, and defeated an elder of Jianchi named Song, who was already in his sixtieth year at the time. Although he lost, the sword became Sui Xiegu's delicacy. But before he died, the elder still admired the rising star Sui Xiegu and regarded him as a fellow swordsman. After the young Chai Qingshan entered the Dongyue Jianchi with a foreign surname, he became his senior disciples with the previous sect leader Song Nianqing. They both received the guidance from that senior uncle, so today he finally saw the real face of Sui Xiegu, Chai Qingshan. Qingshan respectfully held the junior ceremony from the bottom of his heart.
Sui Xiegu remembered those old events and said slowly: "At that time, every time Li Chungang defeated a famous swordsman master in the world, I would follow him to join in the fun, but some swordsmen were defeated by Li Chungang. After the attack, the sword's core was covered with dust, and the sword's intention was shattered. Naturally, I couldn't win."
Speaking of this, Sui Xiegu glanced at Chai Qingshan and sneered: "Song Nianqing's father, your master, is this kind of person. He can't afford to lose. After being humiliated, he died of depression. On the other hand, yours Uncle Grandmaster, although his swordsmanship is not as good as that of his nephew who is the sect leader, his mind is obviously more tenacious. After losing to me, he worked hard for twenty years, and then he fought with me again, but he still lost again. But you know that centenarian old man at that time, When you saw the sword being broken by me, did you say anything with a smile?"
Chai Qingshan shook his head.
Sui Xiegu narrowed his eyes and sighed: "The old guy laughed and said, his mother's life is only a hundred years, how can he hold a three-foot green sword enough? If it's not enough, I will have to practice swordsmanship in the next life of a hundred years. !¡±
Chai Qingshan was silent, but he was fascinated by it.
Sui Xiegu said calmly: "Having said that, your master's swordsmanship has been ruined, and you can't blame him entirely for his weak character. After all, as the head of a sect, especially in a long-established swordsmanship family like Dongyue Jianchi, he probably started from As soon as you are born, you have to bear the responsibility of the family's rise and fall, and naturally it is harder to let go."
Chai Qingshan, who is still the head of the sect, said sincerely: "It is true, it is not easy."
Sui Xiegu said inexplicably: "It's even more difficult."
Chai Qingshan was slightly stunned, then suddenly realized.
At this moment, Hong Shuwen, who had not followed the two Lingzhou lieutenants Wang Zhi, Huang Xiaokuai and left Jubei City, strode into the small courtyard, holding a huge wooden box and looking like someone who owed him one million taels of silver. Almost there, he threw the wooden box heavily on the stone table, stared blankly at Sui Xiegu and said, "The prince asked me to bring you the old man, a box of six swords. In addition to the two swords of the Shu Dao Fusi, and the listening The four swords, including the capital master and the dragon scale, which have been treasured in Chao Pavilion for many years, are sent together."
Sui Xiegu casually opened the wooden box, and there was a strong sense of sword energy. The small courtyard seemed to be in the middle of the snowy winter. As expected, there were many peerless and famous swords in Fuji, such as the peerless beauties who were obviously the most powerful in the country but were raised in a boudoir without knowing it.
Sui Xiegu said to himself: "It's rare for that kid to make a loss-making business."
Sui Xiegu waved his sleeves, put the sword cases together again, raised his head and asked with a smile: "This is definitely not your prince's original intention. If you are not mistaken, is it the intention of Xu Weixiong's daughter?"
Hong Shuwen was not in awe of the sword-eating ancestors, so he said angrily: "I just send the sword here!"
When the young man was about to turn around and leave, Sui Xiegu suddenly said: "Four swords can almost make me take action. You can take back two swords at will. I have never taken advantage of others."
Hong Shuwen bent down to open the sword box with lightning speed, and hurriedly asked: "Senior Sui, dare I ask which swords are the two swords of Shu Dao?"
Sui Xie?Sneered, too lazy to respond.
The famous Shu Dao sword is very easy to recognize. The sword is extremely long and narrow, and there are inscriptions engraved on the scabbard. Hong Shuwen did not spend any effort to identify it, but which one is the fuji that is as famous as Shu Dao in the list of heavy weapons? Hong Shuwen said I was a little unsure, so I finally confirmed the remaining three swords, and finally had a hard time choosing between the two swords. I was hesitant, fearing that this wrong choice would cause the prince to lose money and go to his grandma's house.
Sui Xiegu stretched out two fingers to twist a long snow-white eyebrow with a playful smile.
As soon as Hong Shuwen gritted his teeth, he was about to pick up an ancient sword that looked like a fuji. As soon as he held the scabbard, he heard the Chai Sect Master of Dongyue Jianchi cough lightly. Hong Shuwen immediately put down the long sword in his hand and grabbed it. Another long sword with a black scabbard, holding one in one hand, laughed happily, and left quickly.
Chai Qingshan hesitated for a moment and said, "I hope senior won't mind."
Sui Xiegu looked indifferent, "It doesn't matter."
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At dusk, an old man in a Confucian shirt who took off his Taoist robe slowly walked towards the crossing bridge and headed north.
There was a tall woman in white blocking the way on the bridge.
The old man didn't take it seriously and kept walking onto the bridge. He asked with a smile: "Why do gods bother to embarrass immortals?"
The woman with snow-like eyes said calmly: "He who acts in rebellion will not be tolerated by heaven."
The old man smiled, pretending to be surprised, "Oh?"
The tall woman is Qi Practitioner Grandmaster Tantai. She is calm, her eyes are getting sharper, "Zhao Changling! You were not suppressed in the Shuiyue Patio back then. Heaven has opened a net for you. I advise you not to push yourself too far!"
The old man said in a nonchalant manner, "So what?"
She stood in the middle of the bridge, "You dare to step forward, even if I fight Xu Fengnian and both of us lose, I will destroy your soul!"
The old man laughed loudly, "It scared me to death!"
The old man suddenly stopped smiling, "What a pity, I am Zhao Changling, the immortal in heaven!"