I do research in ancient times

Nanjun, Qijiang City.

Lu Bei returned to the city late at night, and when he entered the mansion, the main courtyard was still bright, and it was approaching the fourth watch, yet Lu Tao hadn't rested yet.

Lu Bei was actually very tired.

Although he has been in Nanjiangkou all year round, his physical fitness and condition are better than those of his peers, but he has been running around for many days, with many twists and turns in the middle, and the man who has passed his forties is still a little bit unbearable.

But no matter how tired he was, he still cheered up and went to the main courtyard to report to Lu Tao the result of his trip to Nanzhao.

"came back."

When Lu Bei entered the door, Lu Tao was frowning, flipping through the latest secret report in his hand.

Qijiang City was in his hands, and when Lu Bei entered the city, he received the news and waited for him to enter the mansion.

Seeing someone coming in, he softened his expression slightly, and sent someone to change clothes for Lu Bei. After everything was tidied up, the two brothers sat down to talk in secret.

"Ah Qing, Ye Handa wants us to provide him with food and money."

Knowing what his brother was most concerned about, Lu Bei didn't delay, and straight to the point explained the result of his trip.

"Every ten days, we need to replenish supplies for the tribal army in Bailong Mountain, and also assist him in seizing the access to the waterway so that he can retreat back to the grassland."

Hearing what he said, Lu Tao frowned again, and even had a more dignified expression than before.

It's nothing for Fang Yehanda and the Xihu army to go back to the grassland. Anyway, in Lu Tao's plan, these Xihu people are just tools for him to overthrow the Ye Dynasty and clean up the family. Sooner or later, he will drive them back.

The original covenant they made was only to assign Yongxiguan, Xinzhou, and Tonghui to the Hu people, and at most add Zaoyang and Bailukou.Big cities like Dingfeng, Changzhou, and Hengshou are all in Lu Tao's hands, and he doesn't want to lose any of them.

But the food and grass are given every ten days, which is more stringent than the tribute. The tribute is at least once a year. Doesn’t this kind of supplementary provision on a monthly basis mean that the Xihu army will be kept in Nanzhao? !

Lu Tao was short of breath, but he didn't show it on his face.

The Lu Bei in front of him, his brother in name, and his partner in the great cause, actually has half of his blood from the Xihu Tulun tribe.Although the old king of Tulun sent him as a pawn to the Lu family as a guarantee of cooperation between the two parties, but Lu Bei was still from Tulun after all, and it was inevitable that he would care about his old family.

While thinking about it, Lu Tao shook his head slightly.

"No."

He glanced at Lu Bei's expression.

"We will have a battle with the Feng family, and it is time to hoard food and grass. In the past two years, natural disasters have continued, many places in Nanjun have suffered from food shortages, and there are not enough soldiers to supply the Lu family. How can we even distribute it? "

Having said that, Lu Tao paused.

He didn't see any abnormality on Lu Bei's face, and knowing that he didn't quite agree with this matter, he couldn't help but let go of it, and his tone softened a lot.

"It's not that we don't help him. Didn't we give him a lot of things before? But Handa, this kid, has changed a lot since he entered the old capital. Let alone his temper, he has learned to speak like a lion."

"A few days ago, he sent people to our town in South County to plunder and kill many people. It has already caused turmoil!"

Lu Bei picked up the tea bowl on the case, took a sip, and said slowly.

"Then what do you want him to do?"

"Tens of thousands of people are trapped in the mountains. They have no food, drink or supplies. To the north is blocked by the frontier army. They can't all starve to death."

He didn't seem to be emotional when he said this, but Lu Tao had been his brother for decades, so he knew that he was in a bad mood as soon as he heard it.

But Lu Bei said these words, in the end, it is still biased and rare.After all, Ye Handa is his only nephew, and he single-handedly supported him, so his affection is different from others.

"Of course we can't watch him die trapped in Bailong Mountain, so when he entered Nanzhao, didn't we send a batch of supplies?"

Lu Tao sighed, and began to drag the topic back.

"Food and grass are really tight now. Azuo used up a lot in Dingfeng City before, and most of them are in short supply this year. The warehouses of the Jiangbei family have been looted by Sima Ye, and there is very little that can be filled."

Having said that, Lu Tao paused, and turned to look at Lu Bei's expression.

"It's Tonghui...it's not impossible."

He tapped his fingers on the table in front of him.

"Originally, several places on the west line of the Nanjiang Waterway were seized by others, and now I just take this opportunity to clean it up."

"If I win Tonghui, I can send Yehanda to Jiangbei. If he is up to the task, it may not be difficult to regain the lost land."

"A Tuo, I can give Yehanda a chance, but I can't support him. He has to fight for what he wants. My bottom line is all up to you."

"If he wants to make further progress, then don't blame me for not buying your face. We have done enough for him."

After he said this, he saw that Lu Bei's expression softened a lot.

The burly man nodded.

"Ah Qing, don't worry, I told Yehanda the same way, and he agreed."

"As long as we can open the waterway to Tonghui, he can go back to the north shore."

Hearing what he said, Lu Tao nodded.

"Then I need you, Ah Tuo, to go there yourself."

He took down the Nanjiang ancient waterway map from the bookshelf, pointed to a branch line on it and said.

"The beach closest to Nanzhao is in Qingyangping. From Qingyangping to Tonghui, Hongshan and Beiyang along the route are in the hands of the Shi family. It is not difficult to take it, but Tonghui is now occupied by the frontier army. If you want to forcibly seize it, it will be tantamount to We are going to officially start a war with the frontier army."

Speaking of this, Lu Tao's tone became low, and there was an unconcealable seriousness on his face.

"Azuo has suffered such a big loss. As a father, I should have taken revenge for him immediately, but now we don't have weapons that can match the artillery. There has been no result at the East Forest Farm. The craftsmen have suffered countless deaths and injuries, but there is no way to create a weapon that can match the artillery. The artillery used, so huddled in Nanjun, I feel depressed."

Hearing him talk about artillery, Lu Bei's heart sank.

He went back and forth to Nanzhao for many days. He thought that the Donglin Farm should be able to produce results. After all, the cannon did not seem to be a very complicated thing. I don't know how simple it is.

But hearing what Lu Tao meant, it hasn't been created yet?

"Why is it so troublesome?"

he asked quietly.

Lu Tao sighed.

"A Tuo, we still think about that thing in a simple way."

"During this period of time, Donglin Farm has produced a total of [-] artillery pieces, ten of which exploded after being fired once. Afterwards, the craftsmen improved the iron quality and shells, and now they can barely fire two or three rounds. It's bound to happen."

"That kid..."

Lu Tao paused, then suddenly sighed.

"It's really a talent."

"I used to resent the elders of the Lu family for their blindness, but now I have also become such a blind person, throwing away the beautiful jade and keeping the stone."

"Choosing the wrong person seems to be the fate of the Lu family."

Hearing what he said, Lu Bei fell silent.

He understood Lu Tao's thoughts best, knowing that he was still brooding over the matter of being sent to Ximozhihai as a hostage.

Not only Lu Tao, but also him.

Everyone in the world envied him for most of his life as Lu Bei's glorious and wealthy life, but who knew the hardships he had in those years as a pack Ulei?

The Lu family and Xi Mo Zhihai, this is the covenant made before the establishment of the Praying Dynasty.In order to ensure that the two sides do not betray, the two sides also continued the ancient custom of alliance, each generation must exchange direct descendants as hostages.

Tuo Wulei is the son of the old Han King, and his mother is a sheep slave in the Central Plains. He fell into the bottom of the Xihu royal family's power since he was born.

He only has half of the blood of the gods, and the royal court does not recognize him as a descendant of the gods, and his appearance also follows his mother's blood from the Central Plains.But after all, Tuo Wulei is also the parent and son of King Han. After the old King Han came to power, according to the agreement, Tuo Wulei was sent to Qijiang City in Nanjun as a hostage.

The Lu family cherishes feathers very much. As the number one surname in the family lineage, the previous patriarchs valued reputation more than the sky.Accepting Hu people as hostages has always been a secret operation. In order not to arouse suspicion, the Lu family will probably give the other party an identity, an illegitimate child who is not on the genealogy, or a member of the side branch of the small clan, depending on the balance of power between the two parties.

Tuo Wulei's father was a powerful Han King, so he followed the tide and became "Lu Bei", the second son of the head of the family.

His nominal elder brother, Lu Tao, is arrogant and arrogant. He values ​​the purity of the family blood very much, and is extremely disgusted with his nominal "brother".

Lu Tao knew the identity of "Lu Bei" and knew that Tuo Wulei was just an item sent by the grassland, and he didn't deserve the surname "Lu" at all.Although he didn't tell the story, he is the next generation head of the Lu family, and he influenced Tuo Wulei's Lu family's children of the same age. Tuo Wulei's youth was spent in endless humiliation and torture.

Until one year, he accidentally discovered Lu Tao's secret.

In that year, the emperor of the Ye Dynasty suddenly imprisoned the well-known prince, and imprisoned all the courtiers in the Eastern Palace. The capital ransacked their homes every day and arrested people. peaceful.

The Lu family far away in South County is also not living in peace.

Although the Lu family appears to be reclusive in Nanjun on the surface, they have inextricably linked with the court in private. If the old emperor is going to use this to make trouble, then the Lu family must be prepared.

So Tuo Wulei followed his father in name into the boat and headed northwest along the ancient waterway of the Nanjiang River.

It took five days and five nights for the boat to arrive at Tonghui, where he met his long-lost father.

Not far behind his father, he saw another boy.

He was dressed in the costume of a prairie man, but his figure was very thin. His face was sallow and his hair was dry. He looked like he was living a very difficult life.

His own father and adoptive father turned a blind eye to this child, as if they were treating him, and the constant attendants around him also had a contemptuous attitude.

Although they are all well dressed.

He knew the other party's identity well, but the moment their eyes met, Tuo Ulei's heart still trembled a few times.

This person looks exactly the same as the young gentleman of the Lu family in Nanjun Qijiang City!

It's just that Lu Tao's face usually has a noble indifference, which is as cold as ice and makes people feel cold.

And this person has burning flames in his eyes, this feeling can often be felt by Tuo Ulei, it is hatred and anger for the injustice of fate!

This kid is just like him!