after being kidnapped by the general

After the conscription started, there were not enough weapons.

Iron is needed to refine weapons, but the iron mines are still Zhongji's iron mines, and Yuanli has no shame in taking them for himself.After the conscription was on the right track, he packed up his army and planned to go to Yanzhou to destroy the Yishan army.

After learning of this, Zhong Ji was very excited. He rushed back from Zhang Mi overnight and asked to go with the soldiers to suppress the bandits.

Yuan Li knew that this was the pimple in his heart, and after sending ten elite soldiers to protect him, he nodded and agreed to the request.

Zhong Ji bowed deeply to Yuan Li, and walked under the loquat tree in the courtyard alone.

The loquat tree has grown green leaves and twigs with the spring breeze, shaking slightly in the dim yellow sun.

Zhong Ji looked up at the branches and leaves, and the remaining afterglow pierced his body through the gap.

He thought of the voices and smiles of his wife and daughter, as well as their tragic situation before they died, and before he knew it, tears were streaming down his face.

He could finally, finally, avenge his wife and daughter!

Five days later, Wu Kai took his troops to Yishan in Yanzhou.

After all, this was a matter of forcing them into the territory of the governor of Yanzhou to suppress bandits, and the name was not very pleasant. Therefore, they sneaked in very low-key, and only a few officials in Ji County knew vaguely that a group of people left at night.

Half a month after Wu Kai took Zhong Ji to suppress the bandits, Cai Ji, the governor of Guangyang County, suddenly invited Yuan Li to the banquet.

When he received the invitation, Yuan Li was a little surprised. He held the invitation and looked at it for a while, wondering why Cai Ji invited him to the banquet.

On weekdays, Cai Ji and him do not interfere with each other.Because Cai Ji had suffered in his hands, he would never go to the Three Treasures Hall without incident.

This is Cai Ji's first banquet for Yuanli, and Yuanli is not good at not giving Cai Ji face.He couldn't guess what Cai Ji's purpose was, so he went to the banquet altogether.

After arriving at the scene, I found out that Cai Ji not only hosted him, but also hosted Chu Hechao.

The man stood upright in front of the mat, a few personal soldiers stood behind, and the elderly Cai Ji was bending over and smiling at Chu Hechao.

After seeing Yuanli from a distance, the man's calm face moved slightly, and he turned to look at Cai Ji, "You invited the governor too?"

Cai Ji said cheerfully, "Master Inspector has taken care of a lot of humble officials, so naturally I can't forget Lord Inspector."

Chu Hechao wouldn't believe this, so he scoffed, sat down on Da Ma Jin Dao in his seat, and watched Yuan Li get closer and closer.

Cai Ji personally led Yuanli to his seat, and said enthusiastically, "It's a great honor for the humble official to be able to come, Lord Inspector."

Yuan Li smiled and greeted him a few words, and was arranged to sit opposite Chu Hechao.

Only then did Chu Hechao speak, and said, "Lord Inspector."

Yuan Li breathed calmly, he nodded slightly and said, "General."

Cai Ji, who walked to the first place and sat down, looked at the two of them thoughtfully, and then clapped his hands.

Hearing the sound, well-trained servants rushed in and put the dishes and wine on the table one by one.Not long after, another group of beautiful barbarian dancers walked in in light clothes, dancing exotic dances with music in the middle of the banquet.

Looking at the faces of these women, you can know that many of them are from Xianbei and Huns.Yuan Li looked at these barbarian dancers, and then glanced back at Cai Ji.

With such a big handwriting, Cai Ji's purpose is not simple.

Sure enough, after drinking for three rounds, Cai Ji stood up, held up his glass, and said to Yuanli and Chu Hechao, "Oh, I'm getting old and my mind is confused. I have done many wrong things, and I am here to apologize to the general and your lord."

As he spoke, Cai Ji bowed tremblingly, and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Chu Hechao didn't move, Yuan Li asked back as if he didn't know, "Why did your lord say that?"

Cai Ji sighed again, "Although I am the governor of Guangyang County, I have done nothing. I didn't do what I should do. It is my fault that the people suffer and the tax is low. I regret it too late. Yeah."

Said, Cai Ji asked people to carry five big boxes.After opening the box, I saw that it was full of gold.

Cai Ji secretly looked at Yuanli and Chu Hechao's expressions, and said, "This is the money I got after I became a seller. I heard that the governor has recently recruited soldiers, and I'm afraid there is some money missing. For the sake of the whole Youzhou, I am willing to donate this money to help Lord Inspector, to make up for my past mistakes."

Yuanli understood.

Cai Ji is apologizing to them.Pay for the crimes of embezzling taxes and becoming the emperor of Tu in Youzhou.

But why don't make amends sooner or later, why do you have to make amends all of a sudden now?

Yuan Li smiled slightly, "Master Cai's offer is too expensive, I dare not accept these things."

Cai Ji was taken aback, thinking that Yuanli did not accept his apology, and then glanced at the steward at the side.

The steward went out and brought in three big boxes with someone.

Cai Ji's heart ached like blood, but he still had a kind smile on his face, "Lord Inspector, you are insulting the lowly job by saying that. If you don't accept it again, the lowly job will be sent to you even if it costs your family money. Food, clothing, housing and transportation for state soldiers."

Although these eight large boxes of gold are not all of Cai Ji's family wealth, it can be seen that he took them out after gnashing his teeth. His gold ornaments were also taken out to recharge.

These amounts can almost offset the amount of tax revenue that Cai Ji had previously embezzled.

Although Yuan Li didn't know the reason for Cai Ji's sudden apology, but the money was sent to him, and there was absolutely no reason to reject it, so he accepted it with a smile and thanked Cai Ji.

Cai Ji looked at Chu Hechao cautiously again.

Chu Hechao squinted his eyes and looked at the eight large boxes of gold, showing some satisfaction. He nodded, "Not bad."

Cai Ji breathed a sigh of relief this time.

With this matter first, the banquet is even more enjoyable.Cai Ji saw that the atmosphere was just right, and said again: "May I ask the general and the governor, did the soldiers and horses who traveled overnight went to Yanzhou to suppress the bandits?"

Yuan Li and Chu Hechao glanced at each other, both of them knew that the topic was coming.

After staring at each other, Yuanli came to his senses, his eyelids twitched, and he looked back calmly, and replied: "Not bad."

Cai Ji is the governor of Guangyang County. He can easily find out about Zhong Ji's visit to Yuanli. No matter how incompetent he is, he can guess the purpose of Wu Kai and Zhong Ji's group. Now that he already knows, Yuanli will There is no need to lie to him again.

Cai Ji continued to ask, "I don't know whether the matter of suppressing the bandits is the intention of the lord or the general?"

Chu Hechao said indifferently: "Who's meaning is important?"

Cai Ji came back from being choked, but he was not angry, just laughed twice, stroked his beard and shook his head, and said in a low voice, "General, my lord, you two don't think I am a talkative old fellow, then Yanzhou is a car!" In Kangbo’s place, you sent troops into Yanzhou to encircle and suppress the Yishan army. Let’s not talk about whether there were any Yuezu acting on their behalf. If Che Kangbo found out and misunderstood that we sent troops to attack Yanzhou, it would be a big trouble. Wouldn’t it make people think that we have The heart of chaos?"

This makes sense, but it is a bit exaggerated.Yuanli just sent thousands of cavalry to suppress the bandits, not tens of thousands of soldiers to guard the border of Yanzhou. Even if Che Kangbo misunderstood him, he would think that these thousand cavalry could attack him?

Che Kangbo is a weak-tempered person, he is a fool, he bends down to recognize anyone as a master when he is bullied, he dare not go to suppress the Yishan army, and Yuanli doesn't think he will challenge Youzhou because of this.

However, Yuanli also prepared for the worst. At most, when Che Kangbo found out about this incident, he felt that they were overstepping the bandits and felt unhappy. Most of the dissatisfaction can only be simmering in the heart, at most it is just ridiculing them in a strange way.

Yuan Li had no intention of backing down, and said: "The Yishan Army is too arrogant and vicious. Your Excellency should also know that Zhong Ji, a horse merchant in Jiyin County, Yanzhou, has come to me. How can I stand by and watch? Although the Yishan Army is The bandits in Yanzhou, but the scourge is the people of the prefectures and counties passing through Yanzhou. They are my cancer in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Presumably Che Kangbo knows that when I get rid of this scourge for him, he will also feel that the people in other states can be spared from it. Rejoice and thank you."

Cai Ji wanted to say more, but Yuan Li rubbed his forehead, showing a bit drunk and said: "I can't drink enough, so I will take a rest in Master Cai's guest room for a while, and come back later."

Cai Ji looked at the almost untouched drinks on his table, and knew that he was just using an excuse to not want to continue talking about this matter.But he had no choice but to let people take Yuanli down first to sober up. After Yuanli left, he immediately looked at Chu Hechao again, "General, do you think about the Yishan Army matter, should you have a long-term plan?"

Chu Hechao casually watched the barbarian dancer dance, and suddenly said: "Seeing that you have been speaking for Che Kangbo, could it be that Che Kangbo asked you to persuade us in private?"

Cold sweat broke out on Cai Ji's forehead in an instant, and he subconsciously said, "I've been wronged!"

"Is it possible..." Chu Hechao looked at Cai Ji coldly from the corner of his eye, "Are you speaking for the Yishan Army?"

With a bang, the wine glass in Cai Ji's hand fell to the ground.His face changed drastically in an instant, and he knelt on the ground in a panic and acted roughly, trembling, "I dare not! I have absolutely no connection with those bandits!"

Chu Hechao didn't speak, and let him continue to kneel.With a glass of wine in his stomach, his brows suddenly frowned, "Stop."

The dancing Hu women stopped in twos and threes.

Chu Hechao glanced at them, "There is one person missing, where did she go?"

He glanced at the steward of the Cai Mansion with sharp eyes.

The steward knelt on the ground, buried his head between his arms, and said in a trembling voice: "It seems, it seems to have left with Lord Inspector."

Chu Hechao gasped for breath.

With a "click" sound, the cup in his hand was crushed abruptly by him.