Section XXI

The Azure River, as always, flows eastward.

When Wu Ming and the others arrived at Fengchidu, it was already starting to get dark.

The sun was setting below the horizon, and dusk was coming, and he was putting away the long lines of sorrow, and staring at the earth with black eyes.

In the area of Fengchidu, not only the water direction is stable, but the river surface is also much wider. There is a certain reason why Persia chose to build a naval base here. Although they withdrew, the ferry port was still intact. Wu Ming came along the road and happened to arrive at the site of Fengchidu.

There were still some rags of tents left on both sides, and the Persians were in a hurry, and some of the tents were well preserved and discarded on the ground. There are still some sheds standing by the river, but there are some beams and pillars left. Immediately into winter, the water volume of the Tianqing River has been greatly reduced. These beams and pillars are arranged horizontally and vertically on the shore like fish out of water, like the skeletons of some giant beasts. The whole ferry was a mess, with messy footprints, mixed with human and livestock excrement. When it got dark, the evening breeze carried the water and carried it ashore, sending an astringent smell, and the whole wind chimes were trembling, as if they were silently telling something.

It took two days for the tired team to finally arrive here. I used to hear Liao Gang say that although the area south of the Tianqing River is not large, it is a land of abundant water and grass in the entire Qingting grassland. Before Daya Snow Cave was opened, the cattle and sheep production here accounted for more than half of the entire Qingting. Although the Persians occupied the area for five years, for them, it was still a matter of abundance of water and grass, and they treated it purely as a military base.

The Persians retreated simply, and they traveled all the way, not to mention people, and they didn't even see a ghost shadow. The team stopped at the Wind Chime Ferry, and the problem ensued, how to cross the river? Probably the three princes also knew that after the Arc de Triomphe, the alliance between Persia and the Southern Han Dynasty was probably dead in name, so when they retreated, they ordered the team to destroy the warship. Wu Ming and the others searched for a long time in Fengchidu, but in addition to finding a few large piles of black ashes on the shore, they did not even find the wreckage of a warship. Wu Ming looked at the other side, turned his head and said to everyone: "I'll go over first to see if I can transfer some boats, and you guys stay first." ”

On the other side of the river is the territory of the Chinese and Western armies. Although the Southern Han had an alliance with Persia, the trust between the two sides was limited. I remember that when I went west out of Persia, Jian Feiyang also stationed hundreds of soldiers at the ferry on the other side as a guard. Wu Ming, a master of the eighth section, wanted to wade through the water on foot, so he went to the other side to inform them first.

Zhu Yuqing looked at the other side, his face full of worry: "So far? Amin, don't be pushy. ”

By this time, it was already dark, leaving only a faint touch of bright purple in the west. The wind also became stronger, blowing Lang waves rolling towards the shore, Lang rose and fell, like the sound of a golden drum, the moon had not yet risen, at a glance, the black expanse on the river did not know how wide. Esther covered her mouth and smiled, "I wish my sister rest assured." He's no problem carrying a big living person on his back, but if he is alone, it's easier and simpler. ”

Five years ago, Wu Ming led the remnants of the Southern Expeditionary Army to the south bank of the Tianqing River, and once waded across the river with Liao Gang on his back, and shocked Esther who caught up with him half to death.

Zhu Yuqing is still a little worried: "But now that the wind is strong, the sky is dark again......"

Halfway through the conversation, Esther suddenly said, "Hey, it seems that Brother Amin really doesn't need to go over, a ship is coming." ”

As soon as he said this, all the people looked at the other side in unison. Zhu Yuqing is not a martial artist, and his eyesight cannot reach far at night. She tried to look out, but it was still pitch black, and she couldn't help but say, "There, no?" ”

Wu Ming said: "There is a ship coming. ”

He is a master of nine ranks, and his vision at night is as straight as day. Esther could see that this distance was not difficult for him. On the black river, a little dim light appeared out of thin air, because it was too far away, the dark warship could only see a black shadow, and the wind lantern hanging on the mast seemed to float on the river surface in the air. The evening wind was blowing, and it was blowing northwesterly, and the ship was sailing downwind, and it was coming very quickly, and the light was becoming more and more obvious. After only a short while, Zhu Yuqing also saw it clearly, and she couldn't help but smile on her face: "There is really a boat coming, it's good to be home." ”

This mission to Persia can be described as nine deaths, looking at a light floating from the north bank, let alone her, even Wu Ming breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, I finally arrived home." ”

As they spoke, the ship was getting closer and closer, rushing straight towards where everyone was standing. When he saw a man standing on the bow of the ship, he said loudly, "Governor, but have you come back?" ”

It was Jian Feiyang's voice, Wu Ming was overjoyed, and he also said loudly: "It's me, it's me who bothers Brother Jian to come all the way to pick me up......" Just as he was about to say two more words of gratitude, Jian Feiyang had lost his voice and said: "Thank God, it's really you." ”

There seemed to be a lot of unfinished meaning in his words, Wu Ming couldn't help but be stunned, just like that, the big ship had docked by the ferry trestle, and before it could stop, Jian Feiyang flew down, rushed over to give Wu Ming a bear hug, and scolded in his mouth: "I'll just say, you are blessed with a great life, so can there be something?" Fuck, Sha Yangfei, the damn woman, complained that I was walking too slowly, saying that I could only collect your body......"

As soon as he became happy, he began to speak freely again. Wu Ming felt the heat coming from his body, and his heart was also warm, and he was still in the mood to blame him. But he is magnanimous, but it doesn't mean that Jian Feiyang can really be safe and sound. A sharp female voice on the warship said viciously: "Jian Feiyang, you were born of a dead calf, were you talking bad about the old lady just now?" ”

With the scolding, Sha Yangfei stood up from the bow of the boat, and also flew down, and forced Jian Feiyang towards him with a fierce momentum.

Jian Feiyang was half frightened, and ran behind Wu Ming to hide, refusing to admit defeat: "Don't come here, you dead mother-in-law, Lao Tzu is a good man and doesn't fight with a woman." ”

Wu Ming couldn't laugh or cry. I haven't seen each other for a few months, but the flirting skills of these two living treasures have increased, but Jian Feiyang is in trouble, and he can't care about it, so he hurriedly stepped forward and said: "There are some new faces in the team this time, let me introduce them to you." As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn't help but pull Esther and said to Sha Yang: "Sand girl, this is Esther." ”

As soon as he heard his introduction, Sha Yangfei really diverted his attention, looked Esther up and down for a long time, and exclaimed: "Oh, isn't this a Persian princess who is also a saint?" You won't really turn her around, will you? Could it be that the news from Gehan is true? ”

Esther smiled sweetly at her, and took advantage of the situation to take Wu Ming's arm: "Sister Sha is good, but I'm not a saint or a princess now, I'm just Brother Amin's little follower." ”

Wu Ming's face was hot, but he let her pull it, turned his head and said: "This is Geng Riming, that is, the famous Jiaohou, and this is the Captain of the Saint-Gorire......

Geng Riming's eyes were withdrawn from Esther, and his face was full of wry smiles: "Wu Du is too high-minded, what Jiaohou does not wait, that is all over." I'm afraid I'll have to be like the princess in the future, and I will become your follower. ”

Although he said that he was very decadent, Wu Ming was a little excited in his heart. After all the hardships, this Persian marquis finally lowered his arrogant head and was willing to follow him. It doesn't matter if he serves the saints or is loyal to himself. After all, even Esther is her own, so does it make a difference?

Jian Feiyang had already opened his mouth wide and exclaimed, "Governor, you are too powerful." I used to just joke with you, but I didn't expect you to go to Gehan and really kidnap this Persian pepper......"

He was about to say a few more sycophants, but Zhu Yuqing interjected: "Don't say hello to everyone, let's get on the boat first, it's freezing this day, and it's uncomfortable after all." ”

It's close to Daya Snow Mountain, it's November, and the evening breeze is biting chill. Ace nodded and said, "Brother Amin, I wish my sister is right, let's get on the boat first." ”

Jian Feiyang's eyes swept between Zhu Yuqing and Esther, her mouth was so open that she was about to stuff an egg, and said vigorously: "No, no." After the governor, I will be mixed with you, not only to learn military strategy, but also to learn the way of doing things, it is best to pass on the heart sutra of the royal maid of Lao Jian, and marry him with seven wives and eight concubines to guard the door, so as not to be bullied by Sha Yangfei's dead mother-in-law every day, fuck. ”

Before his words fell, Sha Yangfei had already screamed: "Jian Feiyang, what are you talking about, a foodie?" What is the Maiden Heart Sutra? What seven wives and eight concubines? Yes? ”

In fact, there is the Heart Sutra of the Imperial Maiden, and some are just living and dying together and going through hardships. Thinking of this, Wu Ming was in no mood to joke, and couldn't help but say: "By the way, Brother Jian, just now you said that if you walk slowly, you can only collect the corpse for me, what do you mean?" ”

As soon as he got down to business, the smile on Jian Feiyang's face was all put away: "You may not know that behind your buttocks, the generalissimo of the Southern Barbarians, Xi Lie, is leading thousands of people to rush towards the Qingting Grassland at high speed. ”

Wu Ming was a little confused: "Thousands of people? If he can stop me before Wangxiang Valley, it will be of some use. Does he still want to use these thousands of people to challenge Brother Jian, your tens of thousands of iron horses? ”

Jian Feiyang sighed and said, "Naturally, things are not that simple. As early as ten days ago, Deng Ge and Zhu Lei, two old immortals, each led tens of thousands of elites in their headquarters to gather around Tingya. At first, I thought it was these two guys dog-eat-dog again, but the more people gathered, but they didn't attack each other, I realized that things were not so simple. Later, the black eagle who was lurking in Rene sent urgent news that Marshal Xilie was coming to arrest the governor with 5,000 men and horses. It dawned on me that these two guys weren't well-intentioned. ”

After holding a wedding with He Yi in Shacheng, Wu Ming ordered Jian Feiyang to guard the court, and at the same time pay attention to collecting topographic maps of the surrounding mountains and rivers, as well as spreading spy nets. It is not easy for Jian Feiyang to be able to lurk in the heat in such a short period of time.

Now is not the time to praise people, Wu Ming thought for a while and said: "Brother Jian, Deng Ge Zhu Lei people gather troops in the court, I'm afraid the calculation is to wait for you to come to the rescue of me, and then take advantage of the situation to occupy the court." ”

He looked up at the warships by the river and sighed, "You have always been witty, how can you not see the danger in it, how can you fall into the gourd?" ”

Jian Feiyang shook his head and said, "Governor, seeing you in a desperate situation, my old Jane can't do it......"

Through the dim wind lamp on the bow of the boat, I saw that Jian Feiyang's eyes were also a little wet. Wu Ming's heart is also hot, except for Ge Yi, Jian Feiyang is the one who has followed him the longest among his subordinates. Don't look at him all the time, but he is loyal, thinking that he was annoyed that he was casual in his words and deeds, and he had scheming against him. Wu Ming choked suddenly, and the words of blame could still be spoken.

Jian Feiyang smiled suddenly, and squeezed his eyes at Wu Ming with some narrowness: "Lord Governor, I'm kidding you, when I sneaked out with the sand girl, I didn't take away a single soldier from Tingya." ”

Wu Ming still couldn't turn a corner: "Sneak out?" ”

Jian Feiyang nodded and said: "Yes, there are Sanmu with tens of thousands of iron horses in the Tingya Suspicious Formation, let him Deng Ge and Zhu Lei be cunning like foxes, and never thought that I had come to a golden cicada shell." His face was full of pride: "So these two old foxes must still obediently stay in the court, and they don't dare to act rashly." ”

Wu Ming couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, although he was very arrogant, he did things carefully, and he didn't suffer losses, it seemed that he was too worried. But in this situation, Jian Feiyang still came from afar to greet him, but it was much more powerful than any words, and he couldn't help but whisper: "Brother Jian......"

Jian Feiyang sighed: "Governor, your mother-in-law's fault has been committed again?" Let's go, let's get on the boat first. As long as you return to Tingya, it will be easy to say. As he spoke, his right hand was even more unceremonious, pulling Wu Ming and hurrying towards the big ship.

Don't look at Deng Ge and Zhu Lei's aggressiveness, it's just that they are betting that Xilie can win, and they have the intention of fishing in troubled waters, once they know that Wu Ming is fine. He now has military power in his hands, and he has the support of the He family in the northwest, and the two of them have great courage and dare not move.

After taking two steps, Wu Ming stood still. Jian Feiyang pulled, but the other party took root like an old tree, and did not move at all. Jian Feiyang couldn't help but be stunned: "Governor, time is urgent, don't rub it off......"

Wu Ming said suddenly: "Brother Jian, how many people did Xilie bring to chase me?" ”

This was said just now, Jian Feiyang didn't think about it, and blurted out: "More than five thousand." ”

"And how many people did you bring with you this time?"

Jian Feiyang smiled bitterly: "I ran away secretly, so who can I bring?" Just me and the sand girl, just disguised. ”

"There's always someone at the ferry, right?"

Jian Feiyang replied: "Yes, although it was an alliance before, I was not very comfortable with the Persians, so I arranged more than 300 people to be on guard. ”

Wu Ming asked again, "Is there a horse?" ”

He is both a man and a horse, which made Jian Feiyang inexplicable, and couldn't help laughing: "Governor, since it is a warning, there must be a horse, otherwise something happened, how could you notify the rear in the first time?" Not only are there horses on the other side, but I also have a standard configuration of one person and two horses. ”

Wu Ming was silent for a while, and suddenly asked, "How far is Xilie from us now?" ”

"It should be about three days away," Jian Feiyang said with some uncertainty, "But I'm sure they haven't crossed the Wangxiang Valley yet, because the entire south of the Azure River has been covered by me with black eagles, and once there is any trace of them, the scouts will already notify me." ”

"That's good."

Wu Ming simply shook off his hand and said, "Brother Jian, if I use seven hundred cavalry to go to Wangxiang Valley to attack Xilie, what do you say are the chances of winning?" ”

It wasn't until now that Jian Feiyang knew what Wu Ming's idea was. He was almost half frightened to death, and exclaimed, "Governor, you're not kidding, are you? ”

Wu Ming turned around and looked at the vast grassland. It was dark, and the moon had not yet risen, so the stars were shining a little unscrupulously. Under the starry sky, the grassland was a monotonous gray-white. In this monotonous gray, the road trodden out by the Persians was messy, but it was shockingly extended into the distance, until it stretched towards the desolate silver white of Daya's snow-capped mountains. Although it is monotonous white now, it will be full of flowers and greenery in the spring season. Because it is moistened by the Tianqing River, it is the most precious meadow grassland area of Qingting Grassland.

He said with a bit of a heavy face: "Brother Jian, five years ago, I led the remnants of the Southern Expeditionary Army to retreat to Qingting, and the Persian army followed, and the Liao clan retreated without a fight. In this way, this Qingting pearl broke away from the embrace of China and the West and was ruined by the Persians for five years. And now, the Persians are retreating because of civil strife, and I don't want it to fall into the hands of the Southern Barbarians again. Since I have lost this land, I will take it again. ”

The night wind blew straight down, bringing the chill of Daya Snow Mountain. But Jian Feiyang's heart was even colder, knowing that Wu Ming's stubborn temper had been committed again, he couldn't help but persuade: "Governor, go back first." Even if the Southern Barbarians occupy this place now, it will not be too late for us to come and trouble Xilie when we settle down inside. ”

"When we're settled inside?" Wu Ming smiled bitterly: "I'm afraid that Xilie has already arranged this place like an iron wall, and it will be so easy to occupy it when the time comes." ”

This is also too dangerous, Jian Feiyang especially did not give up, and still persuaded bitterly: "Governor, the terrain of Wangxiang Valley is steep, suitable for ambushes, I know this, but Xilie is also a person who knows soldiers, how can he not understand this truth?" How easy is it to ambush him? ”

Wu Ming laughed: "The so-called soldiers are impermanent, and water is impermanent. It was precisely because Xilie was a man who knew the army that I chose to ambush him in Wangxiang Valley. Seeing that Jian Feiyang wanted to speak and stopped, as if he was still waiting to be persuaded, he shook his head and continued: "Brother Jian, please rest assured, I am not without purpose. Presumably you also know that Xilie leads the troops and takes the lead in love, which is naturally his advantage, but for the commander of the first army, it is also a fatal shortcoming. Such a coach is very prone to accidents. And they were in a hurry, and they definitely didn't have time to send scouts to the front, at most they sent people to pay attention to the movements in the valleys on both sides, and when they left the valley, it must be the most lax, so I did the opposite, and chose to sacrifice my life at the mouth of the valley in Wangxiang. ”

Jian Feiyang was so shocked that he couldn't speak, and only after a while did he murmur softly: "Fuck, it's so poisonous." Fortunately, Lao Tzu has surrendered to you, and you are not friends and enemies......"

He's a little out of words.

During this time, he was chased by the Persians, chased by the Southern Barbarians, and met a perverted Pamori, although Wu Ming didn't say it, he actually held back his belly. He sneered: "The Persians chased me, and after the Southern Barbarians came again, do you really think that I Wu Ming is a soft persimmon?" Come and don't be rude, Marshal Xilie, I'll give you a big gift too, see if you can afford it......"

He turned his head and shouted fiercely: "Jian Feiyang obeys the order!" ”

Jian Feiyang was excited, and thought that Wu Ming had heard it, so he was so frightened that he hurriedly stood up and said, "The end will be there." ”

Wu Ming's dark eyes stared at him for a long time, and then he turned his head to look at Daya Snow Mountain: "Immediately order Qi Feng Chime to cross the people and horses, and follow me to the Xiangxiang Valley." ”