Zhu Nao

During the banquet, Wu Cong was bored and couldn't help yawning while listening to the endless polite words and compliments from the officials of Jingzhao Mansion.

"Wu Changshi is tired?"

Wu Cong was suddenly called by someone's name, he couldn't help being startled, and turned his head to look, it was Fei Cen who spoke.

He couldn't help being a little embarrassed: "Uh, I..."

Fei Cen just used him to start a conversation, and without waiting for his explanation, he smiled and said: "It's because I didn't arrange it well, and I should invite someone to help the wine." After speaking, he clapped his hands outside.

As soon as the music was played, a group of young women in tulle came in from outside the hall and began to dance lightly.

During the banquet, the eyes of many men suddenly lit up, and they became interested.

It should be known that these women were all carefully selected by Fei Cen's order, with beautiful faces and graceful figures.They dance gracefully, and they exude bursts of fragrance when they move their hands and feet, so attractive.

The men stared straight at each other, and some of them started to swallow their saliva.

Fei Cen paid close attention to the reactions of Xie Wuji and Zhu Nao, and saw that the two of them watched the dance music for a while, and then turned their heads to talk with the people around them in a low voice.

Fetzen wished he could grow a pair of clairvoyant ears, and wanted to hear if they were talking about his favorite dancing girl.

……

Zhu Nao said: "The wind is so strong tonight, seeing how little they wear, I feel cold."

Jing Zhe said: "Young Master, do you want to add clothes?"

Zhu Nao said, "Go get me a cloak."

opposite.

Xie Wuji said: "Will the food be served later?"

Wu Cong said: "I don't know...the dance has started, probably it's time to go. Is the general not full? I'm also a little hungry. They prepare food for us warriors, why are they like those literati?"

Xie Wuji nodded slightly, expressing his agreement.

Wu Cong said, "I'll order someone to cook another bowl of noodles for the general when I get back."

Xie Wuji nodded again.

……

Fei Cen scratched his head, wanting to know which dancer they fell in love with.However, the two of them stopped watching the dance music in the hall.

Zhu Nao only chatted and laughed with Jing Zhe; while Xie Wuji looked at the chopping board in front of him blankly for a while, wondering what he was thinking, and suddenly picked up a leg of lamb that hadn't been gnawed clean just now, and gnawed two more bites.

Fetzen: "..."

Soon after the dance was over, the dancers did not retreat, each danced to the table, took up a bowl of soup that had been prepared, and came to the right hands of all the participants in turn.

The two women who led the dance just now, and the two most beautiful dancers on the stage, respectively came to sit down beside Zhu Nao and Xie Wuji, put down the soup first, and then said with a smile: "I am drinking with Ming Gong."

Only then did everyone at the banquet understand Fezen's intentions in arranging these dancers.Some people looked at the dancing girl beside them with great interest, while others were indifferent.

As soon as the dancer pouring wine for Zhu Nao lifted the jug, Jing Zhe held her hand.She looked at Jing Zhe at a loss, and Jing Zhe said politely: "Thank you, miss. My son only drinks tea, not alcohol, so there is no need to pour it."

Xie Wuji didn't pay attention to the dancing girl beside him, he only lifted the lid of the newly served soup.However, when he stirred it with a spoon, he found that it was actually a bowl of tonic soup made of bullwhip and deer treasure stewed with caterpillar fungus. The fishy smell came to his nostrils, his eyelids twitched, he put down the spoon, and covered the soup pot.

Seeing the reaction of these two people, Fezen broke into a cold sweat: It seems that the horse's ass was slapped on the horse's leg.But it doesn't matter, fortunately he has other preparations!

Xie Wuji said: "Fei Fu Yin, today's weather..."

Before he could finish speaking, a drumbeat suddenly sounded outside, interrupting his words.

I saw a few men in bunts beating their waist drums and coming in from the outside with cheerful dance steps!

Just like the dancing girls just now, this group of men are all young and handsome, tall and tall, even wearing makeup.It was clearly the night of autumn, but they wore short jackets and coats, revealing their slender limbs, showing off their soft figures to their heart's content amidst the encouragement.

Everyone: "..."

After a dance, the dancers came to the table, and each took a plate of dishes, came to each participant in turn, and took a seat on the left.

The dancers and dancers served the guests delicately on the left and right. One persuaded the guests to drink while the other served vegetables; one beat the legs and the other squeezed the shoulders.

Everyone: "...???" Can this be arranged?This Jingzhao Mansion really knows how to play...

What the dancers had just brought to the table was a plate of barbecue.Xie Wuji was more interested in roast meat than the dancer himself, he was holding up his chopsticks for food, when he heard a "Bah" from the side.

Wu Cong, who tasted the "barbecue" first, spit out a few mouthfuls: "General, this is roasted lamb whip. Damn, how many cattle, sheep and deer have they eunuched? There won't be another donkey egg next time, right?"

Xie Wuji put down his chopsticks silently, and looked up at Fei Cen who was sitting on the main seat.

Fei Cen was also looking at Xie Wuji, his eyes were facing each other, Xie Wuji's face was obviously expressionless, but Fei Cen felt a chill rushing towards his face, and he shivered immediately.

He quickly retracted his gaze, and looked at Junao again.

To Feizen's delight, Zhu Nao finally made progress!

I saw the dancer leaning close to Jun Nao's ear and saying something, and Jun Nao replied with a smile, and the young dancer suddenly looked reproachful, and leaned against Jun Nao again, leaning on him The ear continued to whisper.

Fei Czen's brows were filled with joy, thinking that he had offered the right treasure and could win Zhu Nao's favor.

However, a cold voice interrupted his joy.

"Fei Fu Yin."

Fei Cen turned his head and saw that Xie Wuji had stood up, his expression indifferent: "Fei Fu Yin, it's getting late today, I still have something to discuss with Zhu Fu Yin, why don't we meet again some other day."

Fei Cen was stunned, thinking why is Xie Wuji so ignorant?Didn't you see that Zhu Nao was happy?

However, Zhu Nao actually pushed the young man away and stood up, and echoed, "I am a little tired because of the attentive hospitality of Mr. Lao Fei today. How about another day."

Both of them said so, and Feizen couldn't help it.He hurriedly got up and said: "That can't delay the business of General Xie and Zhufu Yin. Let's call it a day. I'll send someone to take you back."

Xie Wuji cupped his hands hastily, then turned and walked out.Zhu Nao also followed out without haste.

Fezen looked at the figures of the two of them, and at the bewildered dancers and dancers, feeling depressed and puzzled.He vaguely sensed Xie Wuji's displeasure, but he couldn't see Zhu Nao's attitude.But if he puts so much effort into it, the two of them won't accept it, so what's the point of being angry?

However, he couldn't figure it out and didn't have time to think about it, so he hurriedly chased him out to see him off.

……

Back to the residence, just as Zhu Nao and Jing Zhe entered the house, Xie Wuji and Wu Cong followed closely behind.

Zhu Nao asked straight to the point: "What happened in Liangzhou?"

Xie Wuji said: "The caravan was ambushed in Liangzhou, almost the whole army was wiped out, only a few people escaped and reported back."

Since traveling from Shuzhong to Liangzhou would have to pass through Guanzhong, the caravan sent to Liangzhou by Zhu Nao in the past two years asked Xie Wuji to help send troops to escort them.With the escort of the Yanzhou army, the Liangzhou horse thieves were terrified when they heard the news, and never dared to take advantage of the Shu merchants.

But this time, when Zhu Nao wanted to make the biggest deal with Liangzhou, something happened.

Zhu Nao pondered for a while, nodded and said: "It seems that Dong Zhoumu has backtracked on his promise, and has broken his promise."

Wu Cong Wu Cong could not help but look at Zhu Nao in surprise.Xie Wuji only said that he was attacked, but before he said who the attacker was, Zhu Nao guessed that it was Dong Jiang's attack?

Xie Wuji said: "It should be so. According to what the people who came back said, they were ambushed at Jiuqukou. There were about 500 people on the other side, dressed as horse thieves. But the leader of the army is very good at archery, and he can pierce through with an arrow from a hundred meters away. The flag looks like a Hu-Han bastard. It sounds like Han Fengxian, one of Dong Jiang's generals."

"Han Fengxian..." Zhu Nao said, "Is that the desert wolf who murdered his adoptive father and went to Dong Zhoumu?"

Xie Wuji said: "Yes."

Zhu Nao has been doing business with Liangzhou in the past few years, so he naturally knows the various factions in Liangzhou.

Liangzhou is a place outside the customs, sparsely populated, and has never been under the control of the imperial court.Therefore, the imperial government's governance policy for Liangzhou has always been to win over and let go.Let’s say that Dong Jiang, the Liangzhou shepherd, was originally the leader of a certain tribe, and he quickly controlled many places in Liangzhou after raising troops.The imperial court simply recruited him and worshiped him as the shepherd of Liangzhou.

As for Han Fengxian, he was born as a horse thief. He was brave and resolute, and he was used to fighting. He once defeated all invincible opponents in Liangzhou, so he got the nickname of "Desert Wolf".He originally belonged to one of the most brave horse bandit army in Liangzhou, the leader of the horse bandit army was Han Zan, Han Fengxian's adoptive father, Han Fengxian had been with him since he was a child, and he had brought him up single-handedly.

However, just two years ago, the horse thief army fought against the Liangzhou army. Seeing that the horse thief army was about to lose, Han Feng turned his back on the battle and cut off the head of his adoptive father Han Zan as a certificate of surrender, and surrendered to Dong Jiang.Since Liangzhou was unified, Dong Jiang's power has risen sharply, and Han Fengxian's reputation has also doubled. However, compared to the reputation of Desert Wolf, which is probably a compliment, this time he has "father-killing traitor" and "seller begging" on his back. Rong" is notorious.

However, whether it is a good name or a bad name, it doesn't affect that Han Fengxian is indeed a fierce general, and now he is doing very well under Dong Jiang's command. I heard that Dong Jiang even recognized him as his righteous grandson.

Zhu Nao sat down at the table, poured himself a cup of tea, tapped his fingers on the table twice, and asked, "You just said that when Han Feng first ambushed you, only four or five hundred people were used? I remember you plus my caravan, there should be 500 people."

Wu Cong thought that Zhu Nao was blaming the people sent by Xie Wuji for not being able to fight, and immediately said angrily: "Master Zhu, the general sent the most elite battalion in our army to protect your caravan, and the leader is even more A school lieutenant who has been with the general for more than five years! But the terrain in Liangzhou is dangerous, and the opponent is ambushing ahead of time, and our soldiers have to protect the caravan! That's why..."

Zhu Nao looked at Xie Wuji with some surprise.

He told Xie Wuji in the letter that he attached great importance to this transaction, and asked Xie Wuji to do his best to protect the safety of his caravan.Unexpectedly, Xie Wuji actually dispatched his most elite team and his own capable general.It's a pity that I still encountered misfortune in Liangzhou...

Jun Nao paused, and said apologetically, "Wu Changshi misunderstood."

Before he finished explaining, Xie Wuji calmly answered Zhu Nao's question just now: "The people who escaped said that there were four to five hundred people on the other side, but in fact, I'm afraid at least not many."

Soldiers who encounter an ambush and lose a battle are always inclined to describe the enemy as stronger to lessen the responsibility for their failure.In fact, these four or five hundred people may have been exaggerated, and the real number of the other party may only be two or three hundred.It was a battle of less and more, and the opponent won it beautifully.

Zhu Nao nodded, paused, and said, "I'm the one who caused General Xie to lose his troops, I'm sorry."

Xie Wuji shook his head: "It's Dong Jiang and Han Fengxian."

Zhu Nao didn't mean to blame Xie Wuji when he asked the number just now.The reason why he knew that Dong Jiang had done it as soon as he heard that the entire caravan was wiped out was precisely because Xie Wuji's Yanzhou Army was superior in strength and not something ordinary horse thieves could covet.But if Liangzhou Mu Dong Jiang intends to break the contract, it is not a question of the strength of the Yanzhou army, but even if Xie Wuji personally leads the army, the whole army may not be invincible.

After all, Liangzhou was Dong Jiang's territory, and they knew the terrain well, as well as the caravan's situation and itinerary.As long as they have evil intentions, no one can escape this disaster.

Zhu Nao said: "If it's really Han Fengxian who leads the army, then this Desert Wolf is not doing as well under Dong Jiang's command as it is rumored."

"What?" Wu Cong was taken aback again, not knowing how Zhu Nao came to this conclusion.

Zhu Nao said again: "It seems that before we look east to the Central Plains, we have to settle Xiliang first."

Xie Wuji said nothing.

He also thought about this question.Even if Dong Jiang doesn't mess around, having such a Liangzhou behind him will send chills down the spine.If he was suddenly stabbed in the back while he was marching east, the situation would be greatly disadvantaged.

However, it would be very difficult to pacify Xiliang before moving eastward.Liangzhou has a vast land and few people, and the opponent has the horse-producing land in Hexi, and the cavalry is far superior to him, so he has no certainty of victory.And if the opponent is smart and steady enough, he doesn't even need to fight with him, just a single word can drag his army to death on the Gobi Desert.

During the silence, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside.

"General, general!" A messenger ran into the house in a panic and rushed to report, "Liangzhou Mu Dong Jiang has assembled an army of [-] and is marching towards Longxi!"

Xie Wuji frowned.

It doesn't matter whether he is clever or not, at least the word "steadiness" seems to have nothing to do with Dong Jiang.

Hearing such shocking news, Zhu Nao was still calm, took a sip from the teacup he had already picked up, put down the teacup and said, "Jingzhe, let people rush back to deliver the letter, before the beginning of spring, we must widen the valley road, and prepare for the rapid delivery of grain and grass." needs."

Later, Zhu Nao moved to Hanzhong, which was blocked by Daba Mountain, so it was not easy for the war to burn into Shuzhong.However, the most important thing in the war is food and grass. Shu, as the land of abundance, will become a big granary behind him to support the war.

Jing Zhe went out immediately.

Xie Wuji also gave some instructions to Wu Cong, ordering him to immediately send people to notify the various garrisons to prepare for battle.Wu Cong also left.

Xie Wuji got up and walked out.He will study the map all night to figure out the route of the Liangzhou army.When tomorrow dawns, he will rush back to the front line and direct the army to deploy defenses to fight.

When Fang walked to the door, he remembered something again and paused.

After a while without turning around, he just asked: "At today's banquet, I saw that you had a good chat with the person sent by Fei Fu Yin. I don't know what you are talking about?"

Zhu Nao blinked, and thought for a while before he remembered: "Oh, he said that I am handsome and handsome, and I was the most handsome at the table. I asked him if he didn't see General Xie sitting across from him? He just giggled , Gu Zuo said to him, thinking that he received a tip from Fei Fu Yin, afraid that he would offend me if he said something wrong? Hehe."

Xie Wuji: "..."

His eyes froze, he didn't say anything, and went out across the threshold.