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    Chapter 102 Cizhou

    Zhou Gui followed Xiao Chiye’s original words and set up a table of home-cooked meals in his courtyard.When Shen Zechuan was admitted to the hospital, he found that although the courtyard was simple in layout, it was very unique and close to nature. There were no gold or jade objects.

    Zhou Gui welcomed Xiao Chiye and asked Xiao Chiye to take a seat.It’s June, and the small case is surrounded by a clear stream, with weeping branches brushing the water, making it cool and happy.Zhou Gui did not let anyone else wait on him. Only Kong Ling stood by and poured wine for them.

    Xiao Chiye cleaned his hands, looked at the glass of wine gradually filling up, and said, “Mr. Zhou, thank you for your trouble. The wine we have prepared is Libei’s ‘Let’s Go’ Now. I’ve been away from home for many years, and I haven’t had a drink for a long time.”

    This wine is the grain wine from Libei Iron Cavalry. It is hot and strong. A few sips in the ice and snow in winter will warm your body.The reason why it is called “Going Immediately” is because more than thirty years ago, Xiao Fangxu, king of Libei, received a military report from Biansha on his wedding night. He didn’t have time to take off his wedding clothes, so he got on his horse and went into battle to kill the enemy.Princess Libei, who had not changed into her wedding clothes before leaving, took a pot to pour wine and drank a glass of wine with Xiao Fangxu who was sitting on the horse.This is a common scene on the border, but because of the name of the King of Libei, people can’t help but sigh. From then on, “three hundred and sixty days a year, most of them are on horseback” is the portrayal of the Libei cavalry.

    Seeing Xiao Chiye’s calm expression, Zhou Gui eased his anxiety a little and said, “We are close to the Northeast Grain and Horse Road. When we escorted the military rations last month, the army sent many jars of wine. I thought that the Marquis was about to return home, and Cizhou didn’t have anything good to entertain him, so I could only borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha.”

    Xiao Chiye laughed and said: “Mountain delicacies are full of flavor, and this dish is more sincere than the delicacies on the jade plate in Qudu. Sir, there is no need to be modest. The preparation of military rations is complicated. Cizhou was able to package it in just a few days, all because of your great help. This is something I should respect you.” W

    Zhou Gui didn’t dare to sit still, so he stood up quickly, held the wine in his hands, and drank a drink with Xiao Chiye.After he finished drinking, he sat down and said: “The Libei Iron Cavalry is fighting on the front line with the Viper Division. Military rations are crucial to success or failure. That is my responsibility. How can I deserve a special thank you from the Marquis? I really don’t dare to do so.”

    “Although Cizhou had a bumper harvest last year, it continued to support Duanzhou and Libei in the spring. Those are the grains saved by the people of Cizhou. For this, I should also thank you.” Xiao Chiye said, raising his hand, slightly blocking Kong Ling’s move to pour the wine, and said, “Since it is a private banquet, there is no need to be formal. This gentleman can also sit down.”

    Kong Ling reacted quickly. He saluted on the spot and actually sat down.

    “Where are you from, sir?” Shen Zechuan asked with a smile.

    Kong Ling’s mind was spinning faster. When he saw Xiao Chiye starting to eat, he knew that the person talking tonight was Shen Tongzhi.He bowed his head and replied: “Sir, I don’t dare to take it. I’m just a mountain villager. I’m from Dengzhou.”

    “There are many talented people in Dengzhou. I wonder what I would call you, sir?”

    “My name is Kong Ling, the cursive character is Cheng Feng.” Kong Ling sat upright, looked at Shen Zechuan, and said, “Tantai Hu in the Forbidden Army is the younger brother of my best friend Tantai Long.”

    “He hometown meets old friends,” Shen Zechuan tilted his head and smiled at Xiao Chiye, “Ce’an, let’s ask Tiger to meet Mr. Cheng Feng another day. Meeting each other in troubled times is not easy.”

    He called Xiao Chiye Ce’an. This name was enough to make Kong Ling re-evaluate the son of Shen Wei.Shen Zechuan was inconspicuous when he entered Cizhou, or far less inconspicuous than he.Kong Ling knew that he was Shen Zechuan, a member of the Jinyiwei who was personally promoted by Emperor Tianchen as an exception. However, after leaving the capital, Shen Zechuan lost the foundation of being able to dominate the situation – in Kong Ling’s eyes, he had no soldiers and no people. He was just a vassal who followed Xiao Chiye to escape here. However, a vassal cannot be on an equal footing with Xiao Chiye and call him a cousin.

    Xiao Chiye poured himself a glass of wine and said, “You just have to make up your mind.”

    Zhou Gui glanced at Kong Ling and then at Shen Zechuan.Kong Ling then stood up and made a toast, saying: “We have known each other for a long time…”

    “You’re welcome, sir,” Shen Zechuan said, “Sir, please sit down and let’s talk while we drink.”

    Kong Ling said: “I am just a bastard in writing under the Lord’s seat. How can I discuss matters with colleagues? I asked for a glass of wine. It is already half my life’s blessing to be able to sit here and listen to the lecture.”

    Shen Zechuan raised his lips slightly and said, “Sir, you are too self-effacing. I heard that when you were in Duanzhou, you also served as Tantai Dragon’s master. When the Biansha cavalry entered the country, Tantai Tiger took the lead in the battle, and his combat strategies were all formulated by you.”

    They had just entered Cizhou and already found out all the details.Kong Ling’s heart sank and he said, “I’m just talking on paper.”

    “It’s a pity that Tantai Long died in the hands of Shen Wei,” Shen Zechuan drank, “Duanzhou failed itself.”

    Shen Zechuan said it so lightly, as if Duanzhou was broken, just a layer of paper was broken, and it was not worth hating or complaining.

    Kong Ling’s expression gradually darkened, he sat down, and after a while he forced a smile and said: “I know that I am well-dressed and well-fed in Qandu, but how can I know the suffering of the people after the destruction of Duanzhou City? From Chashi River to Dunzhou, no one has collected the bones for thousands of miles. Shen Wei is afraid of war. He is a rat, but it doesn’t matter, but heHe held a banquet with Shen Zhouji and strangled Tantai Long to death… Zhongbo was defeated, and I, Kong Chengfeng, could change my master and continue to live, but the entire army led by Tantai Long was wiped out.It was a pity that Tantai Long died in the hands of Shen Wei. He was a good son of Zhongbo.”

    Shen Zechuan said: “My husband escaped from death. With my talent and learning, I could meet Bole even in Qudu. But my husband just stayed in Cizhou. I don’t understand.”

    Kong Ling wanted to stand up, but he couldn’t leave the table without permission.he could only raise his head, look at Shen Zechuan, and say: “Tongzhi doesn’t understand, how can Tongzhi understand? The disaster of war fell from the sky, and Zhongbo was devastated. There is neither fame, wealth nor wealth here. In the eyes of Tongzhi, it may be like a cat in the sky, but for us, Zhongbo still has a chance to revive.”

    Shen Zechuan sighed and said: “Duanzhou has lost its garrison and is ruled by a group of bandits. The fields are deserted and there is no trace of people half a mile outside the city. Is the opportunity for revitalization that the gentleman mentioned is the opportunity for the six states of Zhongbo or the opportunity for the city of Cizhou? Cizhou continues to be content with its intentions and affairs, while at the same time it responds to Libei’s requests. I really don’t understand how it is doing this.”

    Kong Ling stood up suddenly and said: “You didn’t know that Cizhou was not easy. After the defeat of Zhongbo, everyone was busy with internal fighting. We asked for help many times, but there was no response. The land reclamation in Cizhou was taken care of by adults, and it took a lot of time.It took three years to have such a good harvest.Yes, Cizhou is indeed in a dilemma between Qudu and Libei, but when Libei is in trouble, Cizhou will do its best to help.It would be heartbreaking to say that Cizhou is a loser!”

    “Sir, you are right,” Shen Zechuan suddenly changed his expression and said seriously, “I know there are difficulties in Cizhou, so I came here to talk to you two in detail. Let’s get straight to the point. Your Excellency refuses to let the imperial army pass because he is afraid of the future censure of Qudu. ButBut now the situation has collapsed, and it is definitely not the best policy to remain intact.Han Cheng planned to murder the emperor. Ce’an and I left the capital not to escape, but to regain control of the government.The family once again blocked the gate of the capital.How long can the school continue to prosper?After the defeat of Zhongbo, your Excellency and Mr. Cheng Feng repeatedly complained.Isn’t it because of Hua Siqian’s perfunctory attitude that Zhongbo has no hope of revival?If the game is not stable, how can you continue to revive Zhongbo?There is a long way to go to start Shanlin 2. I admire the two of you for your determination to revive the game. However, the road ahead is difficult, so why not simply change course and leave the matter to Zhongbo to solve itself.”

    Zhou Gui held the wine, grabbed Kong Ling, and said: “Since the colleague is so frank, I will not beat around the bush anymore. I refused to let the Marquis pass because I was worried that Qi Du would be held accountable in the future and increase Cizhou’s taxes. If Cizhou ignoresI am afraid that I will be left alone in the future if I make my own decisions.I don’t have the soldiers and horses to support me, and I don’t have the support of wealthy businessmen, and I don’t have the confidence of Li Bei.I can’t risk the lives of the people of Cizhou if my colleagues advise me like this.”

    “On the contrary,” Xiao Chiye gestured for Kong Ling to sit down. “What Lan Zhou said is not to persuade you to fight alone. Cizhou is adjacent to the Northeast Grain and Horse Road, and it has not been able to establish its own complete garrison at the moment. As long as you are willing to allow my soldiers and horses to come and go without hindrance, then before the Cizhou garrison is formed, I will be responsible for patrolling, and my twenty thousand forbidden troops can do it for you.”

    Zhou Gui was silent in thought, and Kong Ling said: “Of course, the Marquis is a promise worth a thousand dollars, but I also want to ask the Marquis. Now that Libei has rebelled, the Northeast Grain and Horse Road has naturally been abolished. Where will the Libei cavalry’s military rations come from in the future? Cizhou?”

    “The Northeast Grain and Horse Road was a transportation thoroughfare specially developed after the Libei Cavalry was established. Wouldn’t it be a pity to cancel it?” Shen Zechuan played with his wine glass, his eyes calm. “The Libei Cavalry and the Forbidden Army have a total of 140,000 troops. In the future, military rations will still have to go through the Northeast Grain and Horse Road.”

    Kong Ling and Zhou Gui looked at each other and said in surprise: “Now that the Marquis is charged with regicide, how dare the Thirteenth City of Juexi prepare military rations for the Libei Cavalry?”

    Shen Zechuan smiled slightly and said: “Juexi is Juexi, and Qiu is Qidu. Mr. Cheng Feng, since I dare to say this, I will naturally have a way. How about it? As long as Mr. Zhou agrees to let the forbidden troops pass through the border tonight, Cizhou will never be alone in the future.”

    Zhou Gui hesitated in his heart and said in a steady voice: “I can trust the Marquis’s character, but I can’t trust this rapidly changing situation. The two of them keep saying that the bandits will not be suppressed until the imperial army crosses the border, but if they break their promise after crossing the border, Cizhou will fall into a real desperate situation!”

    “There’s no rush,” Shen Zechuan put down his wine glass and said calmly, “I will stay alone in Cizhou until the imperial army quells the bandits. If you are still worried, we can hand over the captured Han Jin to you. In this way, even if we regret it in the future, you can use Han Jin’s life as an excuse to calm Qudu’s anger.”

    Li Jianheng is dead, and there has been no news about the new king in Qudu.There has been a trend that is about to start in the local area, but they are afraid that the Qidong Qi family will not dare to follow Libei and set up a flag to stand on their own.But Cizhou is different. It is so close to Libei Iron Cavalry. If it can really get assistance from soldiers and horses, it will no longer have to submit to the orders of the noble family.

    “I entered the city today, and the news has spread all over the capital.” Xiao Chiye continued unhurriedly, “Whether you let me cross the border or not, the Queen Mother will be wary of Cizhou after tonight.”

    Zhou Gui suddenly changed his color and said, “Master Hou, I know you all!”

    “Furthermore,” Shen Zechuan followed closely and said in a warm voice, “If you two want to establish a complete Cizhou garrison, the top priority is to recruit troops. Cizhou relies on the fields for food, and there is no business connecting Juexi and the port inside and outside. It only uses tax money, and I am afraid it will have to wait until a few years later. I happen to have some savings, and I am willing to do my best – Mr. Zhou, can the imperial army leave?”

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