the enlightener says

The man in black finally lifted his hood, and the face that combined heroism, femininity, handsomeness, and fortitude was finally presented in front of his eyes without reservation.

I haven't seen him for a few months. Gao Changgong is still the "beautiful god of war" who makes thousands of women in Jingwu admire. The mortal-like face even added a bit of glamorous charm to him...

It's just that Qin Ke's heart is now more angry. Although it is not clear why Gao Changgong appeared here, it is obvious that Gao Changgong's previous series of moves were deliberately teasing him.

Seeing Qin Ke's aggrieved and dejected look after yelling, Gao Changgong's smile did not diminish, but his tone became more frivolous: "Hey, do you still have the strength to jump up? It seems that the problem is not big... Not bad, not bad, although the sword The meaning is still lacking, but the appearance of being beaten is much better than before..."

Chapter 464 God of War raises the gun, ghost rides expedition

As early as a year ago when Cang Hai formed an alliance with the Tang State, Zhuge Wanling had had several secret talks with Gao Changgong, and many arrangements were gradually formed. Now everything is moving in the direction he intended, as if a bird is slowly falling from the top of the mountain. The snowball rolled bigger and bigger, but it became more and more clearly visible in their eyes.

Therefore, when Wang Xuanwei's urgent letter from Jinzhou was delivered to Zhuge Wanling's desk, the Jingwu army led by Gao Changgong had already been out of the city for many days.

And in the small taverns on the street and in the pavilions where merchants rest at the docks, you can still hear about the grand occasion of the Jingwu army leaving the city that day.

On that day, the streets were full of people who came to watch, and the people all over the city had passionate hearts. Although the yamen had temporarily asked other parties to allocate manpower, it was still a drop in the bucket in the face of the turbulent crowd. The sergeants in regular uniform could only tightly hold the sticks in their hands, and used all their strength to suppress the crowd stretching their necks and looking happy, lest they interfere with the passage of the army.

When the people in Jianye City learned that the Tang State planned to attack the Mohist family together with Cang Hai this time, and first flatten the territory of the Mohist family before invading Jingwu, they all became furious and scolded the Tang State for being overwhelmed, and Canghai for fearing that the world would not be able to do so. While looking forward to the chaos, General Gao Changgong will lead the army to attack the two countries and show them some strength.

The small teahouse, which was rarely visited by people on weekdays, now gathered poor scholars from all directions. The shopkeeper's face was full of red, and even hung a sign at the door, which read: Send the general to go on an expedition, and hope he returns in triumph, Today, tea and cakes are not taken.

Everyone praised the shopkeeper for his righteousness, but many people didn't think it was enough to drink free tea, so they insisted on asking the boss to heat up the wine.

After drinking for three rounds, the discussion became louder. A white-haired old Confucian said impassionedly: "What is the Tang Dynasty? It's just the rebellious officials and thieves of the previous dynasty! If I were 30 years ago, I would have to carry a big sword. Kill all the way to their palace in Ding'an City!"

Of course, this impassioned appearance coupled with his old-fashioned appearance can only be reduced to the laughing stock of everyone in the teahouse. The air in the teahouse suddenly became cheerful, and some people teased: "30 years ago? This old man, you may have to Are you in your forties or fifties? Tell me, at this age, you will be able to achieve military success if you are not successful, and you have not been able to find an official position in the court. What are you talking about?"

"I..." The white-haired old scholar blushed, looked around the crowd, and jumped into a rage, "I just look old, I am only 61 years old this year! I was in my prime 30 years ago, why can't I lift a gun? A gentleman has six skills , ritual, music, archery, censorship, calligraphy, and mathematics, Confucian scholars can still go to battle to kill the enemy and defend the country. I think when I was young, I was able to stand out among my peers in the two subjects of archery and imperialism! At that time, you idiots Where is the head? Probably still wearing crotch pants?"

There was another burst of laughter in the teahouse, and a young scholar smiled and replied: "That is, that is, Xiaosheng was still in the mother's womb 30 years ago, and I can't see it even if you make nonsense."

The old Confucian saw that no one believed him, so he got anxious, rolled up his sleeves and wanted to rush up to beat him up, but was quickly stopped by the guy at the side.

This old Confucian is also a frequent visitor to the teahouse, and the buddies who talk to him will not be too particular, and he said with an apologetic smile: "Oh my god, what are you arguing with them? "

The old Confucian said angrily: "Scholars can be killed but not humiliated. If I want to die here today, I should give the general a strong military spirit, and let him know that our people in Jingwu have backbone and blood!"

This remark reached everyone's heart, and most of the guests stopped laughing. The young man just said comfortingly: "Old man, you don't have to be angry. After all, we are all people who have no chance to go to the battlefield. Who can compare with others?" Strong. I think that we can’t read the sage books for so many years in vain. Now, isn’t the prime minister also asking officials from all over the country to recommend talents? Can Jing Wu do his best, do you think this is the reason?"

"Yes, that's right!"

"Of course!"

The crowd responded in unison.

The reason why the scholars talked so much in Jianye City was because they wanted to serve the country as officials. They had heard that the weather in the court was clear and bright. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Zhuge, most of the officials had no pretensions. People's sentiments and opinions, if one day someone can be favored by an adult and recommend him, he will be able to step into the court and skyrocket from then on.

Although this kind of chance is extremely slim, but who is a passionate scholar with a lot of knowledge in his chest, who has never had the dream of getting promoted step by step?

Even Prime Minister Zhuge, who is under one person and above ten thousand people, was just a local official in the early days. Later, he resigned from office and retired to seclusion, and was invited by a big Jianghu gang to become the leader of the gang. called legend.

Then who can say that there will not be a new pillar of the country among them in the future?

"I'm coming!"

At this time, excited shouts came from outside the teahouse, and everyone's expressions changed when they heard it. Whether they were sitting on the first floor or the second floor, they all moved to the window, trying to occupy a good place to watch.

It did come.

Leaning on the railing, a cavalry army in blue and black armor is slowly approaching, stretching endlessly.

Jingwu's Qingzhou Ghost Rider.

Even though they could clearly see the green-faced, fang-toothed ghost tattooed on their armor, the people still let out loud cheers.

"General!"

"The general is here!"

"Qingzhou Ghost Rider! It's Qingzhou Ghost Rider!"

At the front of the queue was Gao Changgong. He was leading the horse, holding a silver-white fine steel spear in his hand, and sitting next to him was a fiery red war horse with strong hooves like an ancient beast. Every breath of his breath seemed to be able to breathe The airflow surrounding it even appears solid under the sunlight.

It was very excited, because his master sat on him again, and the spear that shone with silver light was also the same murderous spear as before.

Its eyes were full of expectation, the horse's head was raised high, and its teeth were grinning.For so long, it has always hoped to gallop on the battlefield again, smashing mountains and rivers with its extremely hard horseshoes.For it, the place full of blood and gunpowder smoke belongs to it. It has never liked living in the stables of the General's Mansion. Although the stables are luxurious and comfortable, and provide it with a steady stream of fine materials, it is Deep down in my heart, I yearn for the bloody sky in the distance.

Gao Changgong seemed to feel its mood, with a slight smile on the corner of his mouth, stretched out a hand to gently stroke its mane twice, and nodded to the people on both sides of the street.

The blood of the young people was boiling, while the old people silently wiped away the tears from the corners of their eyes amidst the cheers.

"It's really a god of war!" A scholar in the teahouse sighed: "It is said that this war horse is a monster tamed by the general in the northern grassland alone. When it started running, the sound of its hooves was like thunder, and its speed was like lightning..."

"Have you seen the gun in the general's hand? It is said that the gun is made of rare steel in the world, and it is so heavy that even ten men who can resist big bags can't lift it."

"So powerful? How heavy is that gun?"

"How would I know? If I knew, wouldn't I also be the God of War?"

Zhu Ran, the original commander of the Forbidden Army, was now half a horse away from Gao Changgong, and said in a low voice: "The spies from the north have heard that Canghai dispatched at least [-] cavalry this time, and divided them into three groups, one of which passed through the swamp. , The marks made by the hooves of the horse... are deeper than all the cavalry."

"Is it the tiger and leopard cavalry?" Gao Changgong still had a smile on his face, but what he said was: "I didn't have the chance to meet this famous iron cavalry before, but now that I have the opportunity, I suddenly can't laugh."

"Yes." Zhu Ran said in a low voice: "With the impact force of Qingzhou Ghost Riders, I'm afraid they can't even break through their outermost formation, and even crossbow arrows can't penetrate their thick iron armor. Legend has it on the grasslands , when [-] tigers and leopards charge, [-] infantry can't resist, and they can only be trampled into meat like ants."

"So it sounds like we, one of the three major cavalry armies in the world, are just in vain?" Gao Changgong shook his head helplessly, "We can't even break through the formation, how can we compare?"

"It can't be compared like this." Zhu Ran shook his head and said: "The power of tiger and leopard cavalry is indeed astonishing, but the heavy iron armor also makes them march slowly, and the supply of food and grass is several times more. It may not be dominant, but our Qingzhou ghost cavalry is also a light cavalry, we only need to bypass their marching route in advance, destroy their backup, and cut off their food and grass..."

He paused, then continued: "The tigers and leopards ride horses carefully selected by the northern barbarians, but it is difficult to carry the heavy armor on them for a long time. If the horses are not fed with fine forage, they will soon be able to support themselves. I can't stand it. And... such a heavy armor may not be comfortable to wear on a human body, which is why the tiger and leopard cavalry have never been on an expedition, and have always only roamed freely on the grassland..."

Gao Changgong pondered: "But don't forget that there are various types of war horses in Canghai. They don't only have tiger and leopard cavalry under their command. They also have several light cavalry. Although there may not be Qingzhou ghosts from Jingwu Cavalry or the black cavalry of the Mohists are hard to beat, but it may be enough to escort the tiger and leopard cavalry."

He sighed and said, "Zhu Ran... this battle is really not easy."

Zhu Ran nodded, his expression as indifferent as ever: "The general understands. The general is willing to die for the general."

"It's better not to die." Gao Changgong said with a smile: "I still think that I can come back alive. Seeing these folks and elders again, they should be as happy as today..."

He glanced back, saw Sun Qing who had been recalled earlier, and said to Zhu Ran: "This kid is not in a very high mood, it doesn't look like he is looking forward to making achievements."

Zhu Ran replied in a low voice: "It is said that Sun Qing and Lord Sun Ji'an have had a rift since the old man passed away. Last night Sun Qing was still kneeling in the ancestral hall, insisting on keeping a filial piety for the old man for three years and refusing to go out with the army."

"I have heard of some." Gao Changgong said: "Then what happened afterwards?"

Zhu Ran frowned, and said: "It is said that Master Sun gave in this time and knelt down into the ancestral hall together. The father and son talked for half the night before persuading Sun Qing to come out."

"After all, he was a child who grew up under Sun Zhong's knees. Sun Jian'an deserves to be a father..." Gao Changgong shook his head, not knowing how to make an evaluation. Maybe Zhuge Wanling could make sharp comments if Zhuge Wanling was present, but this After all, it was someone else's housework, and he didn't bother to take care of it.

After thinking for a while, Gao Changgong said: "Since that's the case, look at him, young people are ignorant, and it's hard to guarantee that troubles won't happen because of the resentment in their hearts."

"Yes."

After Gao Changgong and Zhu Ran passed through the crowd, the selected Taixuetang disciples also followed slowly.

Compared with Gao Changgong's leisurely self-satisfaction and Zhu Ran's prudence, they obviously jumped a little bit more. Facing the people who kept cheering, they almost used all their strength to wave. If the team couldn't stop, they really I want to get off the horse and enjoy the feeling of "being a hero".

At this time, the common people were surprised and said: "Qingzhou Ghost Rider...why is there a fat man?"

Hearing this, Xiaoqian, who was very proud of sitting on the horse, almost lost his breath, and his right hand, which was shaking in the air to say hello, became embarrassed, and could only stop in the air.

The building walking side by side with him pointed at him and laughed so hard that he was so full of laughter that he was about to fall off his horse: "Hahaha... dead fat... haha... ouch... my stomach hurts... I'm going to die... ..."

"Who said there can't be fat people in the army." Xiaoqian said with a full face of resentment, "I'm a staff officer, and I don't have to fight in battle. What's wrong with getting fatter? Do I eat his family's food if I'm fatter?"

"Haha." The building was out of breath with a smile, and intermittently said, "Zhao Qian, strictly speaking, you do eat other people's food. Think about it, when you go out with the army, don't you eat all the military food? Where did the military food come from?" Didn’t the common people save it and hand it over?”

Xiaoqian, the "dead fat man" whose name is Zhao Qian, was at a loss for words for a while, and raised his hand to hit the building, but the building suddenly fell silent, looking at the far horizon, and said: "Speaking of it, we have a year How long have you not seen Abu and Ake? Tell me...where are they now?"

Speaking of this, Zhao Qian couldn't help but stop the movements of his hands, thought for a while, and finally sighed: "Then how do I know, Professor, sir...everyone's mouth is very strict. Just say that they are going out to replace you." The prime minister has done something, but what exactly is he doing and where he is going to do it, hasn’t he been asked for more than a year.”

"That is to say, if Ake and Abu can take on this responsibility, the prime minister still values ​​them more. As for us...it's really a lot worse." The building said: "But now we all have the opportunity to make contributions, maybe When Abu and the others come back, we will all be captains and generals!"

Zhao Qian glanced at him, and said: "Just think about it, don't lose your life before the battle before the success is achieved. The movement between Tang Guo and Canghai this time is not small, and it will definitely be a tough battle."

The building pouted, and said, "No ambition. What's wrong with a tough battle? Don't you be afraid of a tough battle? Don't forget, our general swept the Tang Kingdom back then with [-] Qingzhou ghost riders, and almost reached the foot of Ding'an City. Now we are strong and strong, There are [-] ghost riders in Qingzhou alone in this expedition, and the frontier army is supporting them, what are you afraid of them?"

"You. If you have no brains, you have no brains." Xiaoqian snorted: "Back then, the general was able to lead [-] Qingzhou ghost riders across the territory of the Tang Kingdom. Internally, it is estimated that there was also a dispute between the court and the court, and the food, grass, and deployment were not kept up. This dragged down the Tang army. Otherwise, with the military strength of the Tang state, how could it be possible for eight thousand cavalry to drive straight in? It is not the heavenly soldiers and generals who descended..."

"It's a defeat after all." The building said with a smile, "Let me tell you, those of you who use your brains just worry too much. Even if Tang Jun and Cang Hai join forces, we Jingwu haven't been vegetarians these years, have we?"

Having said that, he stretched out his hand, patted the person riding side by side with him, winked at him, and said, "Zhang Mingqi, do you think what I said makes sense?"

Chapter 465 Young spirit, when will the angel return?

Zhang Mingqi, who was standing side by side with the building, held the rein in one hand, and his horse's head was at the same level as the people around him, neither lagging behind nor leading, but he frowned slightly, not as excited and expectant as the others, and seemed worried.

The building watched his eyes look ahead, and the other hand rose and fell again and again, but his mind had already drifted to an unknown place.

"What's the matter? Do you have a stomachache?" Da Lou stretched out his hand and patted Zhang Mingqi's shoulder, asking strangely.

Zhao Qian rolled his eyes at the building, looking at him as if he was looking at a fool: "Stomach pain? You think it's you, occupying the toilet every morning, puff puff puff endlessly..."

"Fuck you, a dog can't spit out ivory." The building glared at Zhao Qian angrily, "I'm talking to Zhang Mingqi, what's the matter with you, you are the one who talks nonsense every day, you are a talkative, gossip!"

"You..." Zhao Qian pointed a finger at him indignantly, his face flushed.

Zhang Mingqi finally felt the palm of the building on his shoulder, looked back from a distance, turned to look at the building and Zhao Qian, and smiled slightly: "My stomach doesn't hurt... What were you talking about just now?"

Seeing his innocent face, the building knew that he didn't care about the words and deeds of the people around him just now, and sighed: "It's nothing, it's all useless words. What were you thinking just now, so engrossed?"

Before Zhang Mingqi could speak, the man's heart moved, and he blurted out: "Is it possible that Uncle Zhang's illness is getting better again?"

Uncle Zhang.

In the past, the building would never call Zhang Mingqi's father that way. After all, at that time, Zhang Mingqi and him not only had a bad relationship, but were even hostile to each other. In addition, Zhang Mingqi's father had a title, and he had a place in the court. It's his turn to call "Uncle"?

However, this businessman who was once wealthy in Jingwu, the leader of a new family, was finally convicted in the case of destroying dikes and flooding fields, and fell into dust. Given the merits of Jing Wu's military supplies, I am afraid that he will not be able to escape the tragic end of the separation of the corpses on the guillotine.

The lives of three generations of Zhang's ancestors and grandchildren were saved, but all titles were cut off, all family properties were confiscated, and they were demoted to common people. The Zhang family has since declined.

The bitter cold and punishment in the prison, coupled with the feeling of losing everything and falling from the clouds, severely knocked down this man who was once wise and brave. Now he is in that dilapidated old building, lingering on sick beds every day, causing trouble. People sigh.

Zhang Mingqi repeatedly saw the back of his father lying on the sickbed, coughing unceasingly, and felt a dull pain in his heart, but when he thought that his father was still alive, he was somewhat comforted, so he forced a smile and said, "It's okay, he has recovered from his illness recently." Quite a few...Speaking of which, I have to thank you all, if you hadn't helped me find a doctor, I'm afraid I wouldn't have survived last winter."

The building also saw his smile, which was uglier than crying, and held his shoulder with a little strength, grinning and said: "It's a trivial matter, and it doesn't cost much, we still need to worry about it."

In fact, it’s not that there is not much money. The doctor who was invited that day was a first-class famous doctor in Jianye City. Points are indispensable.

The building and Zhao Qian’s family have been honest people for generations, and it’s not bad if they can have a full bowl of food. On weekdays, if someone has a headache and brain fever, they can only go to the mountains to collect herbs... Of course they dare not ask their families for money, and cooperate privately. Several people gathered together the money that the Taixuetang distributed to the students every month, so that Zhang Mingqi's father could drink hot soup in the twelfth lunar month.

Zhang Mingqi felt the warmth on his shoulders, looked at the concerned eyes of the building, felt warm in his heart, and gradually stretched the smile on his face, appearing natural and sincere.

In the past, such a doctor's consultation fees and medicine fees were nothing to mention, not even comparable to the amount of tea he invited girls to drink in the building, but now it is not what it used to be. Although he was young and frivolous, he He is definitely not an ungrateful villain, he knows how much favor he has received from others this year, but he just couldn't open his mouth.

He still remembers that on a rainy night in late autumn last year, his father Zhang Yuan watched helplessly as he repaired the leaking roof, from lying on his side, to standing up half of his body, and finally sat up with difficulty...

During dinner, Zhang Yuan ate the light noodle soup in the bowl, and looked at his son covered in rain, silt, and eyes full of tiredness through the dim candlelight—how can he look like the noble son who was so energetic back then?

Swallowing the noodles in one mouthful, a cloudy old tear fell into the noodle bowl, Zhang Yuan choked up and said, "My son. I'm sorry for you... If it wasn't for my father's eagerness for quick success and quick benefits, and wanting to get closer to those nobles, why would you be here now?" To suffer like this..."

Zhang Mingqi shook his head, pretending to be calm and comforted: "It's nothing, father. I don't care if you are a son of a family or not. As long as we are both father and son, it is the best. I think my mother will be happy to see it. of."

Zhang Yuan's eyes turned red immediately, and the tears couldn't stop dripping down, sobbing uncontrollably.

It has been more than ten years since his wife died of illness. Many times, Zhang Yuan doesn't remember her demure face. After his fortune, he even married several concubines. There is such a trace of nostalgia for the old man.

Now he has lost all his family wealth, official robes, and titles, and his concubines are scattered, and even the last two to leave took away the only gold and silver left in the family, and their whereabouts have been unknown since then.

How ironic?

He closed his eyes, only to feel that the figure of his dead wife reappeared in the darkness, but there was no sarcasm on that familiar yet unfamiliar face, some were soft and distressed, she moved her lips, and her voice Unreal, she said: "Don't be afraid, if one day you can't do it anymore, we will go back to our hometown together, you can farm the land, and my weaving skills are still there... It's just that life is a little tighter. "

This is what she once said to herself before she made her fortune in Jiujiang. That night, the moon was bright and the fishing boat was swaying.

It's a pity that she is an unlucky person. The two of them have spent so many years hand in hand and have experienced all kinds of sufferings, but they couldn't make it to the day when Zhang Yuan made a fortune.

If she was still here today, she would have said the same thing to herself, right?

If he can't do it anymore...he just can't do it now, but even if he still has the strength to farm, who will accompany him, weaving and sewing for him?

"Son." Zhang Yuan stretched out his hand to touch Zhang Mingqi's face, that handsome face gradually became thinner with military training, but also became more resolute and clear-cut.

"Father understands now. Sophisticated people and reciprocity are all fake. Father thinks he has a deep relationship with those people, and he usually gives countless money and beauties, but when I am in trouble..." Thinking of this, he looked around, Feeling sad for a while, "There is none, none of them will help..."

"On the contrary, it's the prime minister who spared his life because of his merits back then. Those poor children... I know you must have looked down on them before, but at this time, they are willing to squeeze out money to give I ask the doctor to buy me medicine and boil it... We have to keep this feeling in our hearts, understand?"

Of course Zhang Mingqi understood, so he didn't say anything, just nodded vigorously, held his father's hand and picked up the bowl of noodles, while feeding his father with chopsticks to eat bit by bit.

he won't forget...

"By the way, what are the arrangements at home for your expedition this time?" Zhang Mingqi's words brought Zhang Mingqi back from his memories, "Uncle Zhang's condition has improved, but after all, he still needs someone to take care of him. Your place is too..."

He thought for a while, and swallowed the word "broken". He knew that Zhang Mingqi became very sensitive to many things after the accident happened in his family.