The dream of a lonely hero

Yan Yun said:"In the past in Meiyuan Town, the fifth brother once said that there would be hail the next day, and it turned out to be true."

Zhao Guangyi looked at Ma He carefully and said,"Ma He, do you think it will be cloudy or sunny tomorrow?"

Ma He looked up at the sky, A piece of white cloud looked like a camel hook, and he said:"It's raining tomorrow - it's raining - it's raining."

Zhao Guangyi said:"If this is true, I will go to the state government office tomorrow to receive the reward."

Yan Yun said:"Where is the fifth brother staying? Qi I'll go and get together after my brother's business is done."

Ma whispered:"Hui - Hui Feng Ke - Inn."

Yan Yun said goodbye to Ma Si hastily,"Fifth brother forgive me, seventh brother is busy with official duties and I won't accompany you."

The back hall of Zhangzhou Yamen.

Zhao Guangyi turned the rosary in his hand and sat at the table, meditating. Yan Yun stood on one side.

Zhao Guangyi said:"Huailong, tell me who your friend Chen Xin is from Jinlan."

Yan Yun said:"Go back to His Highness for enquiry. Chen Xin is a righteous man in Jiming County, Chanzhou. He has passed the martial arts examination and is the second sworn brother since childhood." Ranking, the county magistrate Xiang Chunqiu caused his family to be destroyed, and he had no choice but to occupy the mountain as the king and the grass as the bandit; Your Highness, if Xiang Chunqiu and his likes are not removed for a day, the heroes of the world will have a safe place to live, let alone serve the imperial court!"

Zhao Guangyi said:"What a pity Chen Xin! The lonely king wants to recruit him, what does Huailong think?"

Yan Yun said:"It's too late to mend the situation. Your Highness has the power to forgive the second brother for being a bandit, but Centipede can't. The mountain minions were killed by His Highness in hundreds and thousands. The second brother was called 'Xiao Meng Shang' because he was very loyal. How could he not avenge his dead brothers?"

Zhao Guangyi said:"Well, the lonely king wants to redeem the prince's seal with his property. , Li Weidong, the newly appointed secretary and military envoy, could you please Huailong to go up to Centipede Mountain to negotiate with Chen Xin?"

Yan Yun said:"If His Highness Jun orders An Neng to obey, firstly, will Brother Chen accept it? Secondly, will Chen Er accept it? The price offered by me is naturally not low. I'm afraid it would be a disgrace to the mission to be small."

Zhao Guangyi said:"Huailong can rest assured. The remaining defeated generals from several nearby villages have also come to Centipede Mountain to gather together. The total number is estimated to be five to six thousand. Well, this is double the original number of people in Centipede Mountain. Centipede Mountain relies on robbing families and houses, so the villagers will not have much savings. If Chen Xin doesn't go down the mountain to rob, he will be left empty-handed. In addition, Wang Rong's repeated attacks on the mountain severely weakened Chen Xin's vitality. The lonely king used his property to redeem the prince's seal, official document, and military governor Li Weidong, who were of little use to him. He would definitely agree; no matter how high the price he offered, The lonely king will never be stingy."

Yan Yun said:"Your Highness, when will we leave?"

Zhao Guangyi said:"Chenzheng (08:00 am)."

After Yan Yun was off duty (after work), he went straight to Huifeng Inn to find Ma Wei and invited him Eat wine. The two brothers separately recounted their experiences after leaving Tokyo. Ma Wei said that he was impoverished before he arrived in Cangzhou, and he was living in the rivers and lakes by understanding the celestial phenomena. He happened to see Yan Yun in Zhangzhou, but he didn't dare to recognize him. Waiting silently, waiting for the opportunity to meet. Yan Yun also briefly told him his experience since leaving Tokyo. The two drank happily and dispersed at midnight.

Yan Yun thought to himself that if Ma Hui looked away, it would be difficult to stand up in front of his master. He tossed and turned all night, and at about 05:00, he heard rain pattering outside the window, and he got up excitedly. , walking as fast as flying, went straight to the state government office, came to the gate, saw Ma Si waiting at the door, and hurriedly led him to knock on the door and come to the back hall. Before it was time for the morning office (time to go to work), Zhao Guangyi was washing up in the back hall. Yan Yun said excitedly:"Your Highness! Your Highness! It's raining, it's raining! Ma's words are right!"

Zhao Guangyi said:"Huailong Huailong! You are the only one who dares to be so reckless."

Yan Yun hurriedly bowed down and said:"I hope Your Highness will forgive me! Ma Xi is a celestial genius. I hope Your Highness will not give up and stay in front of Your Highness to serve."

Ma Xi bowed his head and said:"My little wish is that I am willing to serve as a dog for Your Highness. ——Quinma——"

It was raining outside the house. Zhao Guangyi said:"Get up, everyone! Ma He does have real talent and knowledge, but Gu Wang's temple is too small. Yan Yun has made many extraordinary achievements, but now he is still a white man. Gu Wang is really ashamed."! I wonder if Ma He can even stoop to this small temple?"

Ma He's eyes filled with excitement, and he knelt down again, saying:"Zhe-zhe is so small-small, as long as-you can- In order to do my best for His Majesty, I will die ten thousand times without any hesitation!"

Zhao Guangyi picked up Ma Xi and said,"Then I will make you a servant!"

Ma Xi said:"Thank you, thank you, your highness!"

Yan Yun was very happy and thought: This time is great. Fifth brother and I work side by side to serve the prince and the Song Dynasty, and live up to the oath of sworn friendship in Meiyuan.

Zhao Guangyi said:"Huailong, you should be relieved this time!"

Yan Yun said:"Thank you, Your Highness, for fulfilling my fifth brother's long-cherished wish to serve the imperial court! I bid farewell to Your Highness and go out on errands."

Zhao Guangyi said:"Don't Huailong Urgent, it won't be too late for me to have breakfast together before going on errands."

Yan Yun said,"The errands are not done yet, so I can't eat." He bowed to his master and walked out quickly.

Yan Yun mounted his horse and galloped down the Centipede Mountain. The soldiers guarding the gate of the village shouted loudly:"Hey! Stop the horseman! If you go further, grandpa will shoot an arrow." Yan Yun hurriedly reined in his mount and charged up the mountain, saying:"Brother Lulin, thank you for your hard work! I'm here to help you. The leader of the village, Yan Yun, Brother Xin's brother, came to pay a visit. Brothers, please open the gate of the village." The men guarding the gate of the village hurriedly reported back to Sun Hong, the leader who guarded the gate of the village. Sun Hong heard that Yan Yun was so angry that he quickly came to the crenellation of the village gate, drew out his sword, and shouted:"Yan Yun is a talented person! The leader of the village regards you as a brother and respects you as a distinguished guest, but you are ungrateful and kill me, centipede." How many brothers are there in the mountains? Brother Zhu Huo from Langtou Mountain died tragically at the hands of your sword, yet he still dares to lick his face and get married today! You guys, hurry up and shoot Yan Yunpocai!" After hearing the order, the minions picked up their bows and arrows, and Thousands of arrows must be fired at once. Suddenly someone shouted:"Stop! Stop!" Sun Hong saw that it was Yuanda, the leader of the second village of Centipede Mountain.

Sun Hong said:"Master Yuan Er Village, don't you recognize this Yan Yun? He is the enemy of our Centipede Mountain!"

Yuanda said:"Let's not say that he is the enemy of Centipede Mountain, nor that he is the master of the big village. Brother, should the rules of Chonglulin exclude heroes who come to worship the mountain?"

Sun Hong said:"The second village master and Yan Yun are Jinlan brothers. You can't negate justice with personal affection. Yan Yun has dirty hands. Full of the blood of our Centipede Mountain brothers, how many lives are owed to Centipede Mountain, can you turn a blind eye?"

Yuanda said:"The strong guest does not overpower the master, and it is up to the leader of the village to decide how to deal with it."

Sun Hong dropped his sword and resented it. Run to Juyi Hall to find Chen Xin, the leader of Dazhai.

Yuanda ordered his men to open the village gate. Yan Yun swung the stirrup from the saddle and dismounted. Yuanda quickly walked out of the village gate to greet him, and said with a smile:"Brother Seven, let's go, let us drink three hundred cups." Yan Yun followed Yuanda into the village, walked half a mile of the mountain road to the outside of the Juyi Hall, and the two sides were crowded. Swords and halberds, swords and guns were arranged densely in front of the door. The minions were holding weapons, swords and guns facing each other, glaring at each other with murderous intent. The enemies were extremely jealous when they saw each other. Sun Hong came out of the Juyi Hall and said viciously:"The commander of Dazhai has ordered that Yan Yun be invited to pass through the Forest of Swords and Spears." Yuanda was frightened when he saw this, and thought: Brother Seven has entered the Forest of Swords and Spears, if the minions cannot be controlled. Emotions are like chopping the seventh brother, who is burdened with blood debts, into pulp; the second brother really doesn’t miss his old relationship? If so, Seventh Brother will not be able to escape this calamity even if he has three heads and six arms.

Yan Yun couldn't help but feel horrified when he saw everything in front of him, and was hesitating.

Sun Hong said sarcastically:"Yan Yun, have you ever hesitated to kill my brother No. 10 in Centipede Mountain? You hesitated today and you were scared! Haha! But the leader of the village is still nostalgic. If you dare not walk through the forest of swords and spears, you can't." You can crawl over, haha!"

Yan Yun faced the murderous sword and spear formation, and saw blood spurting from the eyes of the minions on the road, wishing to eat him alive. He was trembling with fear, and thought: Although he has heard of the green There are rules on the forest road:"The sword and spear formation is only a test of the courage of those who enter the formation, and no harm is allowed to those who enter the formation." But is today just a test of your own courage? After all, he owed Centipede Mountain hundreds of lives, and he was like a sword and gun array. Even if his second brother let him go, could the minions let go of an enemy stained with the blood of their brothers? What if you don't get in? Are you asking Sun Hong to laugh at you? Stop it! I would rather die standing than live on my knees.

Thinking of this, Yan Yun was heartbroken and strode into the sword and gun array, watching all directions and listening in all directions. He was always watching for the slightest behavior of every minion. If the minions were all equipped with weapons, he could minimize the disaster as soon as possible. limit.

The minions on the road had their eyes wide open and their teeth were clenching. They were holding the steel knife tightly and their arms were shaking. They wanted to chop Yan Yun into pieces in an instant, just waiting for the order from their great king Chen Xin..

Sun Hong shouted several times into the Juyi Hall,"Master of the Dazhai, Yan Yun has entered the sword and spear formation! Yan Yun has entered the sword and spear formation!" This was intended to urge Chen Xin to quickly give the order, and the minions would cut Yan Yun into thousands of pieces. There was silence in the hall, and it was so quiet outside that you could almost hear your heartbeat.

After a while, Yan Yun walked out of the hundred-ten-step sword and spear formation and entered the Juyi Hall. Yuanda also went in. Chen Xin and Chen Congyi, the great king of Centipede Mountain,"Xiao Mengchang Contest Bian Que", sat high on the tiger skin chair with a stern look on his face and said:"Yan Guan people are really talented and bold. Coming to my den of thieves alone is like entering a deserted place." Realm, you really don’t take me, Centipede Mountain, seriously! You’re bullying people too much!" A burst of sneers,"Haha!"

Sun Hong and the soldiers said in unison,"You’re bullying people too much! You’re bullying people too much!"

Yan Yun cupped his fists and saluted, saying:" Misunderstanding! Second brother, all the leaders, Yan Yun has no intention of looking down on Centipede Mountain."

Sun Hong said fiercely:"Then you are here to humiliate us, 'Shall I, Yan Yun, kill you, one hundred brothers from Centipede Mountain? What can you do to me, Yan Yun?"

Yuanda said:"Master Sun, why are you so anxious! Can you ask my seventh brother to finish what he said?"

Sun Hong said:"Isn't your seventh brother here to join the gang? Even if we come to join the gang, there will be no place for us to die!"

Yuanda said:"The leader of the village hasn't spoken yet, you have to keep talking, who has the final say when Centipede Mountain falls to the ground!"

Sun Hong endured his anger. , said:"Please ask the leader of Dazhai to make a decision."

Chen Xin said:"The Yan officials will definitely give you some advice when they come to Xiaozhai. The Sa family is a rough man who can't understand. If you have anything to say, just say it."

Yan Yun said:"Second brother, Yan I don't dare. The day before yesterday, I happened to meet the fifth brother Ma Wei in Zhangzhou. I recommended him to serve in front of the Liang County Prince. If the second brother is recruited, wouldn't it be wonderful for us brothers to work together to stabilize the country?" He knew he couldn't do it. , but still have some illusions.

Chen Xin laughed"haha","Zhao Guangyi is really daydreaming, go back and tell him to give up this idea! Yan Guan sends congratulations to Lao Wu on behalf of the Sa family!"

Yan Yun stood there, embarrassed and didn't know what to say.

Chen Xin said coldly:"Official Yan should have kept you here to reminisce about old times, but you are afraid that my den of thieves will tarnish the official and ruin his future, so you should just do it yourself!"

Chen Xin refused the person thousands of miles away and sarcastically said , a mouthful of"Yan Guanren" made Yan Yun's heart feel like a knife, and he was in great embarrassment.

Yan Yun stood frozen and thought for a moment, then choked up and said:"Second brother has shown kindness to Yan Yun again. Yan Yun is not an ungrateful person who repays kindness with hatred. After Yan Yun Chuan reads the oral decree of the king, he is willing to commit suicide and apologize!"

Chen Xin is also very affectionate. A man of righteousness, Yan Yun felt sad when he heard these words, and said:"Seventh brother, 'Rescue the poor, help the poor, eliminate violence, and do justice for heaven.' I, Chen Xin, have never forgotten it, but - it's just that you and I are like-minded brothers. The seventh brother can't help himself. The second brother has never complained about you. The second brother is a cheerful person. You must never say the word"apologize" again! If anything happens to you, Yu brother can live alone in this world! What else does Zhao Guangyi say? Just say it."

Chen Xin said something. Yan Yun's heart was surging, and he thought: He has done something sorry for his second brother, but his second brother still regards him as a brother who shares life and death, and he is really a righteous man! He sobbed:"How can Yan Yun repay the kindness of my second brother!"

Chen Xin said:"Come on! It's so awkward for a man to cry miserably! If you don't tell me, I - I won't listen.

" Said:"The prince said that he is willing to use his property to redeem the prince's seal, the official document, and the governor Li Weidong."

Sun Hong sneered and interjected:"Haha! If Zhao Guangyi has the guts, he will come to Centipede Mountain to get it. Li Weidong, the clerk and the dog officer, is in the back hall! If you don't have the talent, don't embarrass yourself with gold and silver!"

Yuanda said:"Sun Hong, if you have the talent, go to Zhangzhou to borrow some money and food. Brother Centipede Mountain has been without food for how many days. On the mountain All the pheasants and hares have been hunted and killed, don’t you know?"

Sun Hong turned pale in anger and said,"The village has lost its cooking supplies, Yuan Village Master, you, why did you come to me? It’s because our Centipede Mountain brothers starved to death. You can't do business with Zhao Guangyi, that's called ambition!"

Yuanda said:"The Sa family doesn't see your ambition. The brothers in the village eat chaffy vegetables, but you are full of fat."

Sun Hong said anxiously:"You—— You slander others and eat them up!"

Yuanda tried to argue but Chen Xin stopped him.

Chen Xin said to Yan Yun:"Zhao Guangyi wants to redeem the seal, the official document, and the dog officer Li Weidong. Yes! Can he afford the property?"

Yan Yun said:"Please give me a price, second brother."

Chen Xin said:"Eight thousand shi each of millet and flour, 800 pigs, 500 sheep, 200 oxen, 200 bolts of damask, 300 bolts of silk, 1,000 jin of winter cotton, and 100,000 guan of money; nothing less will do. Yan

Yun unconsciously took a breath of cold air and said:"Second brother! This - this, Zhangzhou is just a fifth-class state. How can it get so much property?"

Sun Hong interjected:"Yan Guan Your face is not small! King Chen is worried about the brotherhood and the price is already discounted. What more do you want from the king?"

Yan Yun reluctantly returned to Zhangzhou and reported to Zhao Guangyi, the king of Liang County:"Go back to your highness, I am incompetent. , disgraceful to the mission!"

Zhao Guangyi said:"Why doesn't Chen Xin agree?"

Yan Yun replied:"The conditions are harsh."

Zhao Guangyi said:"Oh!"

Yan Yun said:"He wants eight thousand shi each of millet and flour, pigs Eight hundred heads, five hundred sheep, two hundred cattle, two hundred pieces of damask, three hundred pieces of silk, one thousand catties of winter cotton, and one hundred thousand guan. This - this is equivalent to the finance and taxes that Zhangzhou has turned over to the court in the past ten years!"

Zhao Guangyi thought for a moment and said:"Although the price offered by Chen Xin is not low, anything settled with money is not a big deal. You repay Chen Xin and exchange with him after I have collected all the goods. Please He must not lose his words."

Yan Yun left as promised.

After Yan Yun left. Jia Suqiong said worriedly:"Your Highness, how can we raise these many treasures?"

Zhao Guangyi said:"Juping, with the prince's personal entourage, take the solitary king's famous assassin and quickly go to Yitian King Zhongzheng Army Jiedu Envoy Wang Zhongqi and Hezhong Yinhu Guojun Festival Du Zhangduo, Chengde Jiedu Envoy Zuo Xiaowei General Liu Shouzhong, Inspector Taiwei Heyang Jiedushi Envoy Zhao Zhuo, Jizhou Jiedushi Envoy Zhang Tinghan, Lingting Hou Jingnan Army Jiedu Envoy Feng Jiye, Yingting Hou Yingzhou The Jiedushi envoy Ma Renyu, the Jiedushi Taiwei Dingguojun Jiedushi Zhang Mei, the Jiedushi Taiwei Jingnanjunjun Jiedushi Yuan Yan, the right-leading army guard general Dingyuan Jiedushi Zhou Jingchu borrowed some money and transported it to Zhang within ten days. There must be no mistakes in the state government."

Jia Su hesitated:"Now that His Highness has left the temple, will these arrogant and powerful generals who dominate the country—will they borrow it?"