Chapter 11 Chapter Twenty Seven

After an unknown amount of time, the car flickered and stopped.That was when we arrived at Wenhou's mansion, I was about to say goodbye and get off the car, but Wenhou said: "Wait, I still have something to do, let's go in and talk about it." I don't know what Wen Hou is going to tell me, so I feel a little uneasy.Arriving at Wenhou's study room, the scary people avoided, but Wenhou just took out an inkstone and said, "Come, sharpen the ink for me." I dripped some water with a copper toad in the ink pool, picked up the ink and rubbed it.Wen Hou is good at calligraphy, and he wrote the words "Wen Yi Zai Dao" at the door, but I don't understand why he asked me to grind the ink.That piece of ink is a very good product, it is as shiny as ink jade, and there are several cursive characters carved in gold powder on it.I couldn't recognize the cursive script at all, not to mention that the ink has been worn away by a little half, and I can't fully recognize it.As soon as the ink is ground in the ink pool, it melts immediately, and the fragrance overflows immediately.

Marquis Wen spread out a piece of bark paper, waited for me to grind it for a while, and said: "Okay." He picked up a pen and sipped it in the ink pool, and said: "How about this ink?" The ink used by Marquis Wen is by no means inferior, and I agreed afterwards: "This ink is very good." "This is the pine smoke ink that Juluo paid tribute to. It was made by Li Chengfang when he was studying in Juluo in the past. Ordinary ink is made of glued ink made of pig and cowhide. Li Chengfang is ingenious, using the glutinous glutinous glutinous rice produced in Juluo. Take the pine beard of the thousand-year-old pine and dry it to make bituminous coal, and then mix it with snow water from the plum shoots in the early spring, and make a total of 18 inks, which are called 18 scholars ink. After Gouluo paid tribute at the beginning, it has been locked in the big inner room and entered the inspection point. Attached, I just found the ink of the eighteen scholars. I gave it to me in two ways. After using it for more than half a year, almost half of this ink has disappeared. The dead are hard to find, and ink is like a human being."

"The dead are hard to chase, and ink is like a human being" are two sentences in the "Mo Ming" written by Master Tianji back then.Back then, Marquis Wen asked me to read more books, and I made up for it when I had time. I also spent time in "Mo Ming", and said: "In the "Mo Ming" of Master Tianji, there are still two sentences: "Time does not wait for me, don't bear this body". It is also a good sentence to persuade people to cherish time." Marquis Wen smiled and said: "It is not a good sentence, but the first four sentences in "Mo Ming" are quite interesting." , Qiao Qiao is not a minister. Lost in the furnace, out of the dust.' It is enough to be a warning to those who are not ministers."

When Marquis Wen said the word "not a minister", my heart skipped a beat.Did he mention these two words on purpose?Maybe, he was testing my mind.At this time, I was thinking of having the same mind-reading skills as Zheng Zhao, so that I could read Marquis Wen's mind.I said: "Master Tianji's words are indeed sincere, based on loyalty." As I was talking, a smile suddenly appeared on the corner of Marquis Wen's mouth.I was stunned, and I didn't know what I said wrong. I had some polite words to say, but I couldn't say them immediately. Words are too easy to lose. In the eyes of Marquis Wen, I have always been a man of few words. Man, it wouldn't be weird to say the least.Sure enough, Marquis Wen didn't think my words were unnatural. After finishing writing, he turned the pen upside down and tapped it on the table, and suddenly put the pen on the pen mount on the desk, and said with a smile: "You also said 'loyalty' Ah. Haha, then why did you act disloyal?"

His words were like a thunderbolt from the blue, I only felt a "buzz" in my head, and my eyes went dark. The accusation of "disloyalty", when it came out of Marquis Wen's mouth, made me even more thrilled.I swear allegiance to the emperor, and I am indeed disloyal to Marquis Wen. If Marquis Wen said this, did he already know about it?Beads of sweat suddenly appeared on my forehead, I'm afraid my face would also turn red.Marquis Wen has many eyes and ears. When Zhang Longyou asked me to pledge my allegiance to the emperor, I was worried that this matter would fall into the ears of Marquis Wen. Maybe he already knew about it.With Marquis Wen's ruthlessness, how will he deal with me?My heart skipped a beat.He knelt down and said: "My lord, the last general will never be unfaithful. Please don't listen to the provocative words of the villain."

Marquis Wen sighed, and said: "Maybe you are really a villain, so I naturally ignore it. But you have already been impeached by the imperial censor, so it is a bit troublesome." I was stunned, and said: "The censor impeached me for being unfaithful?" Marquis Wen nodded and said: "Yes. The new official Feng Yushi of the Inspectorate took office and impeached your local army for being disloyal to the emperor. Humph, thank goodness he figured it out, saying that you set up the Wude Camp, and there is no "loyalty" in the designation. The word Ying' means disloyalty."

Ding Ximing, the former censor of the Procuratorate, and I went to Wuyang City to seek an alliance with He Congjing, and was promoted after success. The current censor of the Procuratorate is Feng Baozhang. I don’t know this person at all, and I don’t know what kind of enmity he has with me. .I said: "Your Excellency has clearly observed that the five virtues of 'benevolence', 'righteousness', 'faithfulness', 'integrity', and 'courage' are those recorded in the "Seven Essentials of the March" written by the military sage Na Tingtian. , I didn’t come up with it at will.”

Wen Hou said: "These officials are all mad dogs. They haven't read "Seven Essentials of the March". They just want to read the previous one, and read one by one." He raised his head and looked straight at me.Said: "Chu Xiuhong, to be honest, when you decided the five battalions with five virtues, did you ever think about loyalty?" My heart skipped a beat again, and I said: "As a general, one should serve the country loyally. The salary of eating the king is a matter of being loyal to the king. The last general has been in the army for a long time. I dare not or forget this principle."

I also made this statement intentionally ambiguous, and the meaning of "eating the king's salary and being loyal to the king" can be interpreted differently.Sure enough, Marquis Wen smiled, tapped lightly on the table, and said, "Whether this matter is big or small, I will explain it for you in front of the emperor. Chu Xiuhong, what do you want these days?" Step up your training, the Land Legion is about to go on an expedition." I was taken aback.Said: "Expedition? What should we do if the river is locked by the snake people?" The battle between the imperial army and the snake people usually took place along the river.Although there are Shenlong cannon and armored vehicles, after the flying machine.We have gradually gained the upper hand, but the battlefield is ever-changing, and we still dare not say that we have a chance of victory, but the water battles of the snake people are becoming more and more fierce.Snake people are born with water skills, so they didn't have boats, but they built many small warships out of crude and simple means, with two snake people in each boat, and invented the strategy of locking the river.The snake men are powerful and the boats are small, coming and going like the wind. After locking the river, there are densely packed snake men all over the river. One snake man holds the oars, and the other stands on the bow with a gun and shield.However, Deng Canglan's water army was seriously injured, and most of them were recruits. They couldn't adapt to this method of locking the river, and suffered several losses in a row.Marquis Wen asked him and me to reinforce Minrong Province. On the other hand, he also let the water army get acquainted with the war and temporarily moved away from the front line.It is precisely because of the powerful water warfare of the snake people that when we fought against the snake people on the south bank of the great river, we never dared to leave too far away from the big cities on the south bank, and did not dare to chase after them wantonly. back road.But Marquis Wen said that he would go on an expedition, so don't you have any worries now?

Wenhou said: "Don't worry about this." My eyes lit up, and I said, "Are you going to use mines?" Marquis Wen showed a smile on his face, and said: "You can be taught. But it's not just mines, it's just that with mines, you can get twice the result with half the effort." He tapped his fingers on the table again, and said: "This person Ye Feihu, It's not in vain for me to promote him, but he has such an ingenious idea. He designed a kind of "snail boat", which can sneak under the water and use it to lay mines, who else can prevent it?"

After the mine is released, it rises rapidly and explodes when touched. If there is a ship that can sneak under the enemy's ship and release the mine, the enemy will not be able to guard against it at all.Surprised and delighted, I said, "Can this kind of snail boat really dive underwater? My lord, can you take me to see it?" Marquis Wen said: "It's not perfect yet. It's still very troublesome for the Luozhou to dive and ascend, and you can't see the outside underwater. However, the Ministry of Industry said that the Ministry of Soil discovered a large crystal mine, and Ye Feihu also said that in about a year, the Luozhou will be released." A boat is sure to achieve great success.” I said: "It doesn't matter if you are troublesome, the snake people are just small boats, each fighting on his own..." Just as I was about to continue speaking, seeing the look of ridicule in Marquis Wen's eyes, he immediately shut his mouth. Marquis Wen's current preparation is not to use the Snakeman as his opponent, he has already regarded the Republican Army as an imaginary enemy!I can't help but regret my talkativeness, no wonder Marquis Wen wants Ye Feihu to improve the Luozhou. What he has to deal with is not the snake man's boat, but the battleship that Wuyang City is proud of! Seeing my appearance, Marquis Wen said: "You should have figured it out. The end of the snake people is just around the corner, but the day when the snake people are destroyed does not mean that the war is over, but it will be more intense. He Congjing I must have known about this day, but I didn't expect him to kill Hai Lao, it's amazing, it's amazing." I also feel the same way.Hai Lao is a mysterious old man with great powers. I always classify him with Wen Hou. I always feel that He Congjing can't deal with him at all, but I never thought that Hai Lao would fall into He Congjing's hands.I said, "He Congjing is indeed very shrewd." Marquis Wen shook his head and said: "Impossible, unless my secret report is wrong, He Congjing will never be able to deal with Hailao. Hailao is unfathomable. As early as Brother Tang led the army to march south, he had an eyeliner." After the arrangement, even though He Congjing is good, he is no match for this person, I really can't figure out how he succeeded." My heart is like a river and a sea.Marquis Wen said just now that Marquis Hai had put out eyeliner during Marquis Wu's Southern Expedition, which means that Marquis Wen also sent his own eyeliner down at that time, so Marquis Wen should have known when our Southern Expedition Army was trapped in Gaojiu City!Marquis Wen probably didn't think much about it all this time. Lu Jingyu once told me his suspicions when he leaked this sentence, but I didn't confirm it until now. It turns out that we were surrounded by snakes and people in Gaojiu City until we ran out of food and ate people. Even if Marquis Wen didn't know the details, he should know some news.But he pretended not to know until the 100,000 army was wiped out! I feel extremely uncomfortable. The helplessness and despair in Gaojiu City are still entangled in my nightmares until now.What's the benefit of doing this to Marquis Wen?Maybe it's just to prevent Wuhou Nanzheng from winning a complete victory, and to surpass himself when he comes back.The annihilation of the Southern Expedition Army is not what he wants to see.But for his selfishness, one hundred thousand robes were buried in Gaojiu City, would Marquis Wen feel guilty? Just as I was thinking about it, I heard Marquis Wen suddenly say, "By the way, Chu Xiuhong, how much do you really know about Zheng Zhao?" My heart was in chaos, but I still didn't show anything on my face, and said, "Zheng Zhao? What's wrong with him?" Marquis Wen said: "This person is permanently stationed in the imperial capital as the special envoy of Wuyang City. I remember you said that this person can read minds, right?" When the little prince came to the Legion, he mentioned that Zheng Zhaolai had visited King Anle, and he was accompanied by a legal person, but he forgot what it was called.I said: "Yes, this person is extremely difficult to deal with, adults must be careful." Marquis Wen said: "This man is indeed not someone who is waiting for nothing. Back then he came to the imperial capital with others to seek an alliance. At that time I wanted to kill him, but I didn't prevent him from having such amazing skills, so I let him escape. This time again , He has no fear at all, really amazing." At that time, Marquis Wen sent Bi Wei and Deng Canglan to guard the two gates in the southeast, expecting that Zheng Zhao would go back through these two gates, but Zheng Zhao set off from the west gate because he had found out what Marquis Wen was thinking.Although Cao Wendao and I still caught up with him, and the Wuyang City swordsman who came with him was also killed on the spot, but Cao Wendao and I were hit by his mind-stimulating technique one after another, and he escaped safely.Zheng Zhao's swordsmanship and boxing skills are probably not impressive, but with this level of ability, coupled with courage and calmness, he is indeed a first-class character.I said: "He is He Congjing's confidant, why is He Congjing willing to let him out?" The corner of Wenhou's mouth twitched, and he said: "Of course he didn't come to visit the mountains and rivers. It was also my oversight. The emperor allowed him to set up a permanent residence in the imperial capital. I thought it was no big deal, but unexpectedly, this person kept making friends with the emperor. Zhong Guixian, I suspect that many people have already been bought by him. I am afraid that Feng Baozhang was also bought by him, and the impeachment of you was instigated by this person." I was taken aback, and said: "He still has such abilities?" After thinking about it, I didn't find it surprising.Zheng Zhao possesses thaumaturgy, and can tell people's secrets by talking with them.He can also do what he likes, and Wuyang City is the most prosperous in the world, with He Congjing's property as the backing, it is not surprising that the officials of the DPRK and China were won over by him under both hard and soft tactics.What is the purpose of Wuyangcheng instructing Zheng Zhao to win over officials?Could it be that they feel that it is impossible to build hundreds of empires militarily, so they simply start with politicians?But I think he bought them, and if he wanted to take these officials for his own use, he would be powerless.I said: "I'm afraid, he hopes that someone in the court can speak for him, so that he can act." Wen Hou said: "It should be so." He thought for a while and said: "How can we break this person's mind-reading skills?" Zheng Zhao's mind-reading skills really can't handle it, and with Marquis Wen's ability, there is definitely nothing he can do about it.I said: "Mind reading can read people's thoughts, and the general doesn't know how to deal with it. It's just that this person used the mind-stimulating technique on the general back then. As a result, he was countered, and he would have a splitting headache when he read my mind." Marquis Wen moved, "Is that so?" He stood up suddenly, and tapped the five fingers of his right hand on the table in turn, but his eyes lit up.I don't know what Marquis Wen was thinking of, but at this moment his hand stopped suddenly, he looked at me and said, "Chu Xiuhong, since he can't read your mind, then this matter falls on you." With a happy expression on his face, he murmured: "It's true that the sky never stops me, the sky never stops me." I said: "What orders does Lord Wenhou have? The last general will not hesitate to die." Marquis Wen said: "Actually, it's nothing. This interrogation of the snake man is jointly undertaken by our side and the Republican Army. I have made a plan. As long as the details of the snake man are found out in the first trial, the four-phase army will set off immediately. From the front of the scene. It’s just that the blue-eyed Henry Ding invited Zheng Zhao to interrogate him. I can’t personally participate in the interrogation. Even if I send someone to deliver the news, Zheng Zhao will see through it. When I was at a loss, I didn’t expect you to have this Waiting for the ability, it happens to be up to you, haha." I smiled wryly to myself.In Marquis Wen's heart, there must be many doctrines against the Republican Army. If he and Zheng Zhao sit together to interrogate the Snake Man, these doctrines will be exposed in broad daylight.No wonder Henry Ding was confident. It turned out that he had already prepared this move, and with Zheng Zhao on his side, Marquis Wen couldn't do anything against him.Don't even try to fool him.And Marquis Wen must never be absent from the interrogation, because of this matter, he must have suffered a lot. I saluted.Said: "Obey." Marquis Wen said: "That's how you are..." He was about to say, but suddenly he was a little suspicious, and said: "Zheng Zhao really can't read your mind?" He asked this question, but I was a little flustered by the question, and said: "Well... He couldn't read the general's mind at the beginning, but I haven't seen him for several years, and the general really doesn't know if he can read it. " Marquis Wen hesitated for a moment, and said: "There is no good plan now, the big deal, I will seal the four doors this time, to see if he can go to heaven, hehe." Marquis Wen spoke peacefully, but I knew he had murderous intentions in his heart.If Zheng Zhao sees through Marquis Wen's intentions, Marquis Wen may not hesitate to tear up the alliance agreement and kill him.To be honest, Zheng Zhao's life and death are not in my heart. Although Bai Wei will probably be sad when he dies, Henry Ding let me go, so I can't drag him into the water now.I said: "My lord, if this happens, won't we have to meet the soldiers of the Republican Army?" Marquis Wen sneered and said, "It's almost a month's journey for him to go back. As long as the news is sealed, the Four-Phase Legion will be done in one month. Chu Xiuhong, obey your orders." I didn't dare to say any more, I knelt down and said, "I will obey orders." "The wounds of the snake man will heal after five days. Chu Xiuhong, I order you to interrogate the snake man Lang Mo on behalf of me. During the interrogation, you only need to obey my orders and act according to the plan. Report the interrogation situation to me every day. .” "As ordered." I agreed, but there was another burst of pain in my heart. It was finally time to confront Henry Ding. It was still dark when we left Wenhou Mansion.I stepped on Feiyu and let it go back slowly along the road, the cold sweat on my back was still wet. Marquis Wen has a habit, when he is indecisive, he always likes to lightly tap the buttons on the table with his fingers.He probably didn't realize it himself.Back then I was very close to Marquis Wen, and every time I saw him have important decisions to make, he always made this gesture, so I got used to it.When Marquis Wen told me that I had committed an act of infidelity, I was frightened out of my wits in an instant. I only said that Marquis Wen had already known about my allegiance to the emperor, and I was almost about to tell the truth, because I saw him using a pen before speaking. Tail tapped on the table lightly, only to be sure that he was not sure.Although Marquis Wen used Feng Baozhang to impeach me as a prevarication, but I knew that he must be tempting when he said this.It can be seen that he is already suspicious of me.Until I was far away from Wenhou's mansion, I was still in shock, and still couldn't believe that I was able to play a flower gun in front of Wenhou and deceive him. After all, Marquis Wen is just a person.I held the silk rein and thought silently. When I got back to the army station, I saw Cao Wendao, Chen Zhong, and Lian Baice standing at the door as soon as I entered the door. When they saw me coming in, their faces were happy, and Cao Wendao took a step forward.Said: "Control, are you alright?" I was stunned, and said: "Lord Wenhou came to discuss things with me, what will happen?" A look of worry flashed across Cao Wendao's face, Lian Baice smiled dryly, and said, "It's fine, it's fine." Chen Zhong said, "General Chu, did my lord scold you?" I suddenly realized that they were worried that Marquis Wen would be dissatisfied with me, and that it would be bad for me.I smiled and said, "Your Excellency Wenhou knows people are good at responsibility, what are you calling me for? Go and rest, and train more intensively these days." Now the total number of soldiers in the local army is 40,000, and training has become a big problem.I summarized the methods of generals contained in "Victory Soldiers" into several items, and asked them to be executed by five commanders.To put it bluntly, it's not unusual, it's nothing more than changing guards for training, and then assigning responsibilities to junior officers in their hands.Although it is very efficient, it is still quite troublesome. Lian Baice said: "General Chu, are we going to march again?" I said: "Listen to the order. When the interrogation of the snake-man prisoner is over, it will probably be the day we set off." Chen Zhong is simple-minded, and Cao Wendao is impulsive. It surprised me that Bai Ce would think this way. Probably, people who are too smart are sometimes moved by trivial things.