Iron Dynasty

The gentle breeze blew up with the drizzle.

On the official road leading to Qingzhou City, businessmen were walking in a hurry. Although it was almost May, the coolness in the air seemed to have become thicker in this spring rain.

Among the crowds of people who were mixed with business travelers and people, a pair of guards holding a sword on the waist was particularly eye-catching, and the pedestrians seemed to deliberately keep their distance.

But what makes people strange is that these two officers seem to have great respect for the prisoner walking in front, not as impatient as escorting other prisoners.

General Niu, Qingzhou City is in front of this.

Seeing the city walls of Qingzhou City from a distance, a sergeant said cautiously.

The prisoner in front of the officer was dressed in a gray prison uniform, with gray and messy hair, some straw on his long beard, and the thick calluses on his palms proved that he had suffered hard labor.

Well, thank you two.

Niu Ben glanced at Qingzhou City, he thought he would serve hard labor in the mines all his life, but Xiao Wenxuan sent him to Qingzhou again half a month ago.

And when he got this news, the attitude of the mine officers towards him also changed.

When he was in the mine before, these officers would never think of his illustrious military exploits. In their eyes, Niuben was just a person who would serve in the mine until his death.

But now these officers have suddenly become very attentive, and they take care of them on the road. Even if they want to come, they can see that this veteran will come out again.

Don't dare, don't dare, it is my honor to be able to accompany General Niu to Qingzhou. The officers laughed.

When they were in the mine, they could have offended the General Niu a lot. Now that they learned that the General Niu with a hot temper was going to leave the mountain, they were so frightened that they were afraid of being blamed in the future.

What surprised them was that Niu Ben had been calm as usual along the way, and treated them respectfully.

It seems that these five years of hard labor have gradually smoothed out the edges and corners of this veteran.

In front of you is General Niu.

Suddenly a loud shout sounded in front, and then I saw a young man in plate armor striding in front of Niuben.

Niu Ben's eyes first fell on the young man's armor, then he looked at the young man and asked suspiciously, Dare to ask who you are?

General Niu, I'm Luo Xin.

Since Xiao Ming instructed him to place Niu Ben, Luo Xin has been waiting at the gate of the city these days. After three days, he finally saw Niu Ben who was escorted by the officers.

When he was in Chang'an, he had seen Niu Ben, but it took five years for the once glorious General Niu Ben to become a little old-fashioned, so he asked a question just now.

Luo Xin? Are you Luo Quan's second son? Niu Ben asked.

Exactly, I played at the General's Mansion six years ago. Luo Xin laughed.

Niu Ben raised his arm and grabbed Luo Xin's shoulder, Well, six years have gone by in a flash, and you have become so familiar that I don't even know you, but you can still see that old boy Luo Quan from this look.

Luo Xin grinned, Luo Quan and Niu Ben always advanced and retreated together when they were generals in the court.

Looking up at the growing rain, Luo Xin said, Uncle Niu, it's inconvenient to speak here. King Qi specially ordered me to go to the palace as soon as the general came.

King Qi? Niu Ben was in a complicated mood. Ever since Xiao Wenxuan sent him to serve hard labor in the mines, he has been disheartened. This is a hundred officials of the Great Yu Kingdom, and it is also to Xiao Wenxuan, he said: I am a criminal. What is there to see? Or send me straight to the place of hard labor.

Luo Xin was stunned for a moment, and he said: Uncle Niu, why did you say this, this time His Majesty asked Uncle to come to Qingzhou to let Uncle come out of the mountain again and resist the barbarians.

On the way Niu Ben was escorted directly from the mine to Qingzhou, he also told some interesting facts about Qingzhou.

It's just that they don't know what the barbarians are about to go south, after all, it's not their turn to know what's going on in the courtroom.

However, seeing that Xiao Huangmen, who had come to give an order, was very attentive to Niu Ben, and based on their intuition, they believed that Niu Ben would come out of the mountain again.

Barbarian? Niu Ben said in surprise.

Luo Xin wanted to say it directly, but when he saw the two officers behind Niu Ben, he said, You two go to Qingzhou Prefecture to receive the reward and then go back by yourself.

Yes. The two officers were overjoyed and turned around and entered Qingzhou City.

At this time, Luo Xincai said: Uncle, this time, His Majesty asked Uncle to come to Cangzhou to do hard labor, but now he asked Concubine Zhen to secretly send a secret letter to His Highness, asking Uncle to come out of the mountain again. The barbarians will soon go south and Cangzhou City is in danger. Is it uncle? Do you want to see with your own eyes the Cangzhou city that you once defended in bloody battles again?

Is this true? Niu Ben suddenly woke up like a sleeping lion, he said excitedly: Your Majesty, it has been six years, do you finally understand?

Luo Xin was equally excited and said, This time I came to Qingzhou, because His Majesty secretly supported me, but the current situation is too complicated. Uncle should follow me to see His Highness. His Highness will explain everything to Uncle.

Niu Ben's frustration with Xiao Wenxuan was the compromise he made to the barbarians several times. Back then, when he was in Cangzhou City, he could only watch King Kang's fiefdom being trampled on by the barbarians, but he couldn't dispatch a single soldier.

Over the years, this has always been an indelible memory in his heart.

And now, Xiao Wenxuan finally understood.

Well, since that's the case, let's go now. Niu Ben said.

When the two arrived at the Qi Wang Mansion, they learned that Xiao Ming had gone to the Equipment Division since the morning and had not returned, so they waited for a while at the Wang Mansion.

At this time, Niu Ben asked, Why is Your Highness going to the Department of Equipment?

In Niu Ben's cognition, the feudal lord would never go to such a lowly place.

Luo Xin said: This is what makes King Qi different from ordinary people. If I say one thing, I am afraid that my uncle will be even more shocked?

What's up?

The nobles of Qingzhou were killed and exiled by the King of Qi in just a few months. Now the remaining nobles can only hide in the mountains and become pirates. Are you surprised? Luo Xin laughed.

And this matter? I vaguely remember that there seemed to be four noble families in Qingzhou that year, the king, the grandson, the Qin, and the Wei.

Now this king and Sun's furniture have been destroyed, and their family property has been confiscated. Among them, the Qin and Wei families have taken the initiative to dissolve the trilogy, and now they are purely a family of merchants.

Niu Ben nodded, When Xiao Ming was in Chang'an, he was the most disrespectful of the princes, but he was so bold now, which is really unexpected.

Luo Xin's first impression of Xiao Ming was when he was in Chang'an, and the more he stayed in Qingzhou, the more he felt that Xiao Ming was different.

Just from the prosperity of Qingzhou City, it can be seen that Xiao Ming is very popular in the fief.

It is precisely because of this that he gradually let go of his prejudice against Xiao Ming, not just for that poem.

The two were talking when they heard a loud laugh from far and near, but Xiao Ming rode a horse and arrived at the palace under the protection of guards.