Plan to cut off the nine states

Four or five carriages were parked outside the post station, guarded by more than a hundred soldiers. Kou Daogu, wearing a long robe, stood out from the crowd. He slightly raised his head and looked into the distance. I don’t know what he was looking at.

Seven or eight men dressed as scholars stood behind Kou Daogu, all of them looking at each other with their eyes and noses, and they looked very obedient and respectful.

Xu Chu actually recognized them. These scholars were all Fan’s disciples in the Valley of Repentance. An Zhongqian, Yan Wei, Yu Zhan and others were all there.

Xu Chu stopped.

Kou Daogu’s hands and feet did not move, and his eyes did not move. An Zhongqian hesitated for a moment, walked forward a few steps, and came to Xu Chu, "Princess Fangde is here, Mr. Xu, do you want to see her?"

"The orthodoxy of the Fan family will no longer be controversial." Xu Chu smiled.

An Zhongqian blushed, and replied with a stiff face: "The orthodoxy of the Fan family is thinking about the world..."

"Please lead the way." Xu Chu said, without making things too difficult for the other party.

An Zhongqian turned around and led the way. The scholars also imitated Kou Daogu and looked into the distance, but their expressions were a little evasive, and they could not be as frank and arrogant as the "Saint Master".

An Zhongqian led Xu Chu to the back of a car and stepped aside.

Xu Chu waited for a while, then stepped forward and gently lifted the heavy curtain.

There were three women in the car, two old and one young. The girl looked at Xu Chu, her face full of tension and fear.

The two looked at each other for a long time, and Xu Chu sighed softly, "Princess, are you safe?"

The girl hummed softly and nodded, as if she was about to cry, but she forced herself to hold it back.

"Princess, don't worry, I..." Xu Chu sighed again, and any promise he made now sounded like a joke.

The girl said, "Saint Lady Jin and Lord Yin are still fighting the enemy, please rest assured, young master."

"I just heard that the Yang family of Liangzhou joined the battle and defeated the tribes outside the Great Wall."

The girl smiled, "Your news is better than mine. Amitabha, General Cao's death was not in vain."

"General Cao died in the battle?"

"Yes, he said it had to be so. Thanks to him, others can..."

An Zhongqian got the signal and stepped forward to lower the thick curtain, "We still have to hurry."

Xu Chu bowed and said, "Thank you."

"If you want to thank someone, thank Kou Sheng Teacher. "

Xu Chu came to Kou Daogu, bowed again, and said, "Thank you."

"You have to let Mr. Xu take a look. Shanyu is determined to complete the marriage for He Rongpingshan. Mr. Xu may not have the opportunity to see Princess Fangde again in the future."

"Mr. Kou is proud for a while. How can he face to discuss the Tao with the scholars in the world in the future?"

"He who wins the world also wins the scholars in the world. I discuss the Tao based on this." Kou Daogu turned his head and looked at the scholars, "Either enlist as a soldier, or follow me to learn the Tao of sages. They have made their choice."

The scholars all looked ashamed.

Xu Chu bowed again, "Mr. Fan should be satisfied if he knows it in the afterlife."

Kou Daogu nodded to the leading general, and the vehicles slowly set off. The scholars boarded other carriages one after another. Kou Daogu was the last one to get on the carriage, occupying one alone, and said to Xu Chu who was standing on the side of the road: "This is just the beginning."

Xu Chu said nothing.

Kou Daogu and his group left, Zhou Yuanbin walked out of the post station, "Are they going to walk at night instead of resting at the post station?"

"As long as there is a choice, Kou Daogu will never live in the same place with me."

"This Mr. Kou is really angry, but the Queen Mother said that he has a bright future. I want to make friends with him, but I have never been able to do it."

"General Zhou just needs to claim that I have a grudge against me."

"Haha, I'm not in a hurry now." Zhou Yuanbin looked at the team going away, "The dignified Princess Tiancheng was actually captured and buried with people... It's really pitiful and lamentable."

"Well." Xu Chu's tone was flat, as if he was forcing himself to be calm, and as if he didn't care at all.

He had both emotions, because the girl sitting in the car was not Princess Fangde at all, but Binfen, the maid next to the princess. What surprised him most was not that Binfen pretended to be the princess, but that An Zhongqian and others didn't expose the truth.

When Zhang Shiqing lived in the Valley of Repentance, she often showed up and never avoided anyone. The scholars may have seen her, especially Yu Zhan, who must have recognized the princess, but said nothing.

Judging from Kou Daogu's appearance, he must not know. When he went to the Valley of Repentance to challenge, he went with the princess, but there were many people at that time, and he was arrogant. He didn't show much courtesy to the then Crown Prince Zhang Shiyu, and it was not surprising that he had no impression of the princess who was mixed in a group of women.

"Mr. Xu, do you have a way to save the princess's life? If you need my words, just speak up."

Although it was the maid Binfen, Xu Chu didn't want to see her killed, "It's probably difficult to change the Shanyu's decision."

"Don't think about burying her alive, unless the Shanyu sees the princess's beauty and wants to marry her, otherwise, he will never show mercy."

Xu Chu suddenly thought of Yuyang King Zhang Geng. He didn't know if the child recognized his sister. He didn't seem to be able to keep a secret. Once he spoke out, it would not be just Binfen who would be executed.

"If General Zhou can preserve some dignity for the princess, I will be grateful."

"I can think of a way to do this." Zhou Yuanbin said sideways: "Go in, it's too cold outside."

"I'll stand for a while."

Zhou Yuanbin did not force it. He left two servants to watch Xu Chu and went back to the room to drink and keep warm. He was thinking about the Shanyu and his wife, and had long forgotten "Princess Fangde".

More than half an hour later, Xu Chu returned to the room and sat on a stool without saying a word.

Zhou Yuanbin was already a little drunk, and said, "If you want to save the princess's life, there is no other way. Mr. Xu can only go out in person to persuade the Chanyu to change his mind. As for how to persuade, Mr. Xu knows better than me."

"The Chanyu doesn't really need me to be his counselor. He just wants outsiders to see that I am bowing to him, and he won't change his mind because of this."

Zhou Yuanbin smiled and said, "The Chanyu has this habit. The more unwilling others are, the more he will force them. But the same, the Chanyu does it for others to see, why don't you follow suit, Mr. Xu? If you do nothing now, after the princess dies, everyone will say that you are heartless and indifferent."

"My reputation has been ruined long ago."

"Mr. Xu, make your own decision. In the next two days, as soon as the battle of Xiangyang is over, the Chanyu will definitely take the opportunity to hold a memorial service for He Rongpingshan."

Zhou Yuanbin continued to drink by himself, and suddenly laughed, "Mr. Xu is not actually doing nothing. You persuaded me to do that thing, a little for the princess, right? After all, once the Chanyu is in trouble, burial is not a top priority."

Xu Chu forced a smile and did not answer.

Zhou Yuanbin sighed, "Speaking of being smart, Mr. Xu is really smart. He planned it early. Others thought you were doing this, but you were actually thinking about something else. I almost got fooled. The Queen Mother reminded me correctly. You can't believe every word Mr. Xu says. What did Liu Youzhong say about Mr. Xu? Keep your mouth shut to bring order, open your mouth to bring chaos. It's true, haha."

Xu Chu didn't listen at all. He was still thinking about how to save Binfen's life.

It was getting dark outside. Zhou Yuanbin had eaten and drunk enough. He called the servant to light the candle, stood up and stretched, "Mr. Xu, you should eat something. With me here, at least you can have good wine and good meat. When I leave, Mr. Xu may not be treated so well."

Xu Chu smiled, "It's a good time to get used to it in advance."

Zhou Yuanbin shook his head, signaled the servant to clean up the mess, and stretched again, "It's stuffy in the room, I'll go out for a walk."

As soon as the master left the room, the two servants looked at each other and smiled knowingly. There were a group of captured people in the post station, including several women, which must have aroused Zhou Yuanbin's interest.

The servant cleaned up the table and left the room.

Xu Chu was guarding the lonely lamp, his mood fluctuating.

The door was suddenly knocked open, and Zhou Yuanbin was helped in by the servant, with blood on his face.

Xu Chu was startled and stood up to make way.

Zhou Yuanbin shouted angrily, "What a slut, you are so cruel. I will kill her and her whole family, leaving no one alive!"

The servant nodded in agreement and wiped the blood off his master's face with a silk handkerchief. After it was clean, several deep finger marks were revealed.

Zhou Yuanbin asked for a bronze mirror, looked at it, and became even angrier, "Women have the most vicious hearts, and those with long nails are especially vicious. Why are you still standing here? Go and ask the captain of the 100 cavalry to come and avenge me."

The servant took the order and left.

Xu Chu said, "General Zhou should not be angry."

"Look at my face!" Zhou Yuanbin was always polite, but he couldn't help it this time. "I must kill this bitch. You don't have to persuade me. If you have something to say, save it for Shanyu."

"Although General Zhou is a distinguished guest of He Rong, he has no official position and kills people without authorization. If the news spreads, it will surely make Shanyu jealous."

"She is just a female prisoner. Even a soldier of He Rong can kill her, let alone me?"

"The soldiers can kill, but General Zhou can't. Shanyu himself is bloodthirsty and must not like others to take away his interest, especially at this time."

Zhou Yuanbin was still full of anger, but after the arrival of the 100-cavalry captain, his tone softened. He talked a few words in He Rong's language, personally sent the guest out, and came back and said bitterly, "If I don't kill this bitch, I will make her suffer."

Xu Chu sighed lightly. He couldn't save anyone.

Zhou Yuanbin sat down, picked up the mirror and looked left and right, "Don't leave scars."

It was already dark outside, Zhou Yuanbin stood up and said, "Rest, we will have to set off as soon as the news comes tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

The door was knocked open, and the cold wind outside rushed in.

Zhou Yuanbin was in a bad mood and said angrily, "You are trespassing again, you really think I dare not kill you... What's the matter?"

The servant was panicked, "A large group of people came outside, saying they want to save their parents and wife..."

"The captives are all civilians, so the people who come are also civilians, right? It's just right..."

Before Zhou Yuanbin finished speaking, a rocket shot in from outside, hit the window frame, and quickly burned.

Xu Chu had been sitting on the edge of the bed, got up and took two steps, "The people who come are not civilians, and General Zhou's life is in danger."

"Ah? Are you here for me? Aren't you here to save your parents and wife?"

Several more rockets were fired in, and shouts suddenly arose. It was obvious that the soldiers of the post station were fighting with the people outside.

The sound of killing continued, the fire was getting bigger and bigger, Zhou Yuanbin and Xu Chu ran out of the room.

The post station was not big, there were flames everywhere, and it seemed that they were about to merge into one, and rockets were still fired from time to time.

Even Zhou Yuanbin did not believe that the rescuers were civilians, and asked anxiously: "Could it be... How many people are outside?"

The servant trembled, "I didn't see clearly, it seems that there are quite a lot."

The door of the post station was knocked open, and a group of people rushed in, holding knives and bows, and they either chopped or shot at people, shouting: "Save people." The tone of voice was strange, and it was indeed not like the Central Plains people.

Zhou Yuanbin sat on the snow all of a sudden.