Chapter 20 Crystal Tribulation·Seven Shang Muzhou

Four hundred knights formed a square formation outside the tent of the central army, and the black armor covered the entire body of them and their mounts.The spears are like a forest, with a pitch-black gun body and a pitch-black tassel, only the tip of the gun reflects a frightening cold light in the dazzling sunlight.The lieutenant general who led the way waved his hand, and the phalanx was split neatly in the middle, leaving a passage that just happened to accommodate three horses in parallel.The deputy general urged the horse to go into the passage first, Shang Muzhou smiled slightly, pinched the horse's belly lightly, and followed.

After walking into the black passage, the knights on both sides shouted in unison: "Drink!" Then there was a muffled "crack", the spears interlaced, and the sky above the passage suddenly dimmed.The deputy general was obviously used to such scenes, so he didn't even shake his body.Shang Muzhou's war horse was damaged in the earlier night attack, and the horse he replaced at this time was Xiao Qianxia's piebald leopard.Although the horse is also a first-class good horse, when has the mount of Qingshi City Lord seen a battle?The loud roar of the knights made the spotted leopard jump suddenly, and stood there in shock, refusing to go any further.As if to add some spice to the scene, there was another whistle, and the knights held their guns with one hand, and drew their bright sabers from their sheaths with the other hand.At first glance, it looks really good-looking.Shang Muzhou looked back at Lu Qianji, Lu Qianji was holding the big red and gold food box neatly in his hand, and Wu Xiao who was seated was still walking forward calmly.

"Fortunately, I was the one who carried the food box," Lu Qianji said with a smile, "If it were you, you would have spilled all the good things." Shang Muzhou shook his head, with a helpless expression on his face: "You don't like this spotted leopard now?" Lu Yanji leaned forward, and gently stroked Wu Hao's cheek with the hand holding the rein: "Look Naturally, I have taken a fancy to it, but it is not as good as my Wuzhui in fighting." The two talked and laughed, completely ignoring the murderous iron Buddha heavy cavalry on both sides.The lieutenant general didn't look back, with a slightly surprised look on his face.

There were still more than ten steps away from the big tent, the deputy general had dismounted from his horse, knelt in front of the tent and reported: "My lord, the Qingshi envoy has arrived." The tone was quite respectful, but the words were very common.There was no answer in the tent, the officer looked up, turned around and signaled Shang Muzhou and Lu Zhiji to dismount.Lu Zhuanji wanted to show off his skills, he turned his right leg and loosened his hand, and he was already standing on the ground, so fast that people couldn't see clearly, the food box held by his left hand was still motionless.Someone in the tent applauded and said, "Good riding." The voice was clear and clear, it was Xiang Kongyue.

Shang Muzhou's body shook slightly, this Mr. Xiang was almost one of the people he feared the most in the Thirty Li Company.He knew that he would meet today, but he still couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart.Lu Qianji had only been in Jiuyuan City for half a month, and he hadn't spoken a word to Xiang Kongyue, so he was naturally not familiar with his voice, but seeing Shang Muzhou's solemn expression, he was upset.Pass Shang Muzhou's side and walk into the tent.After taking two steps, someone beside him shouted: "Stop, don't bring weapons into the tent!" Before he could finish speaking, he heard a strong wind breaking through the air, and the two long swords of the guards in front of the tent were raised one by one. Low, stabbing at Lu Yanji's shoulder and belly, the speed and strength did not mean any warning.Although Lu Zhuanji was competitive, he was not a reckless person, so it was inappropriate to break into the account like this.However, Shang Muzhou's mind was also very quick, he immediately understood Lu Zhuanji's intentions, he rushed forward and stepped on the long knife.The guard on the left only felt a blur in front of his eyes, and a sudden shock in his hand, the long knife had already been stepped on by Shang Muzhou.Lu Qianji didn't change his face, he took a step forward, his shoulder tilted and bumped into the arm of the guard on the right, and his left hand was still holding the food box firmly.His strike was fierce, and he knocked off the guard's shoulder socket.That guard was also a ruthless character, obviously he had no strength in his hands, but he still held on to the long knife, and stood sideways in front of Lu Zhuanji.At the same time, there was constant clanging and clattering of knives, and the other guards were obviously veterans. They were forced into Lu Zhiji and Shang Muzhou three steps in front of him with just a breath, and the shining long knives locked all the way out.

Shang Muzhou said in a deep voice: "I was reckless just now, Lord Ji forgive me." While speaking, he and Lu Qianji backed away at the same time.Lu Zhuanji straightened up and knocked away the guard with the knife behind him.The two of them were messengers this time, and they were only equipped with soft armor waist knives. When they retreated, they had handed their own waist knives into the hands of the first two guards.Poor those two guards are also good soldiers in the army. They have an extra knife in their hands, but they still don't understand what's going on. There was a moment of silence in the tent, and a high-pitched voice said: "Shang Muzhou, you are doing well now!" The voice was flat, and no emotion could be heard.A familiar voice continued: "Come in." It was Xiyuan and Ji Ye, the three leaders of the Xie Army were actually in the tent.There was a smile on Shang Muzhou's mouth, it seems that Ji Ye is still very face-saving.

The tent is a cowhide lacquered gold tent with nine supports and eighteen pillars. It is so big that it can almost run a horse, but there are only five or six people sitting in the middle, which looks very empty.Shang Muzhou and Lu Qianji walked into the tent, respectfully bowed to the young general in the middle, and said, "I have seen the prince." It turned out that it was Ji Ye. Xiyuan clapped his shorts and said, "I still know it's the prince, so I don't kneel down." Shang Muzhou said lightly: "The armor is on me." Ji Ye smiled, waved his hands and said, "It turns out that you don't do big salutes, do you, Shang Muzhou?" What he was talking about was of course the military salutes performed by the heavenly exorcists when they were seven hundred generals.

Shang Muzhou raised his head and replied: "You are the Lord Xie, and Mu Zhou dare not disobey the ceremony... Back then the military salute said 'the iron armor is still there', now I can only tell Brother Jie." Ji Ye's eyes flickered, and he nodded: "So that's how it is, very good...very good..." Although the Eagle Banner Army claimed to be the real Sky Drive, but the fingertip of the eagle head was still in Ji Ye's hand, The Iron Buddhas outside the tent are the most elite combat forces of the Xie Kingdom's Tianqi Legion. Their slogan is "the iron armor is still there", and they are called "Tianqi Orthodoxy".The debate between true and false heavenly drive has been a topic that has made Hime gnash his teeth since the Jiuyuan Yizhi three years ago. Shang Muzhou brought up this matter, and the smell of gunpowder in the big tent suddenly became stronger.Ji Ye pondered for a moment and asked, "Shang Muzhou, how long have you been with me?"

Shang Muzhou didn't even think about it and said, "It took almost two and a half years from the siege of Qinyang to the change of flag in Jiuyuan." "Two and a half years!" Ji Yechang sighed, "Do you know how many of those Sky Drives were still under my command back then?" Shang Muzhou said honestly, "Mu Zhou doesn't know." "One hundred and seventeen people. Do you know how many Eagle Banner troops there are in Jieming City?" "Thirty-one people." Shang Muzhou replied. "So this is the orthodoxy of Tianqi." Ji Ye laughed, and without waiting for Shang Muzhou to argue, he pointed to the Iron Buddha outside the tent and asked, "Shang Muzhou, your ability to govern the army is still higher than Jieming City. Come and tell me, how are these people?"

Shang Muzhou pondered for a while: "It's not as good-looking as Yongning Road. But..." Himeno's face was slightly relaxed: "But what?" "However, the Tianqu Legion in Yongning Road is suitable for military parade, and these soldiers, Mu Zhou thinks they can fight." Shang Muzhou said conservatively. He said that these cavalry can fight, which means that this is an extremely powerful army. Just now, Shang Muzhou and Lu Qianji were relaxed on the surface, but they were quite shocked in fact.Today's Tiefutu is very different from that in Jiuyuan period.For example, those war horses have all changed breeds, and the heavy horse from Hanzhou is a head taller than the two of them.This kind of horse is not fast, but it is the best at carrying heavy loads.The reason why Tiefutu changed horses can be seen from their armor.After Jiuyuan changed flags, Ji Ye could no longer obtain a large number of Heluo weapons, so he had to focus on Chunguo.The style of these black armors is similar to those ordered by Jieming City back then, but they are precision-forged folded steel armors from Zhongzhou. The most elite left-wing guerrillas of the Banner Army are even stronger.I have never seen a cavalry equipped with a long spear more than one foot long.Such a spear is heavy and has strong penetrating power.Just now those knights saluted with one gun in hand, and when the two of them walked through the aisle, the gun forest did not shake. It can be seen that the knights have extremely strong arms and are carefully selected.Shang Muzhou always thought that the guerrilla on the left could be regarded as the strongest heavy cavalry in the Eastern Continent, but in front of Tie Futu, he had to admit that there was a big gap.

Hearing what Shang Muzhou said, even Xiyuan couldn't help showing a smile on his face.The total number of this Iron Buddha is no more than 700, and it is called invincible in the world, and it is the elite under his command. "You also know that they can fight!" Ji Ye dragged his voice, "Then do you think they have rivals in the Eagle Banner Army?" Shang Muzhou laughed: "My lord was joking. When it comes to fighting, if we only compare the strength of a few generals, then we should have handed over the surrender form to ask the lord to give me a punishment. If we only compare the strength of a few generals, Your lord, you have long been gone in Qinyang. Although Tiefutu is powerful, is your lord planning to drive them to attack the city?" Qingshi is a relic of the ancient river network, known as Wanzhou's first strong city, Xiao Qianxia, ​​the owner of Qingshi city, said without shame: "The strength of Qingshi can be called the leader of Sanlu." Ji Ye has been besieged for a full month and 16 days. Although the large-scale siege battle stopped as early as the first seven days, the tentative raids continued. He knew that Qingshi was easy to defend but difficult to attack.No matter how strong the Iron Buddha is, he is still a cavalry soldier after all, and cannot fly to the top of the city.As long as they rushed a hundred steps into the city, they would also be a dead end. "General Shang is very confident in the defense of Qingshi City!" Xiang Kongyue stood up.Shang Muzhou stared at him, for more than five years, everyone is no longer a young man in Qinyang City, but Xiang Kongyue still has that unstained white clothes and ethereal appearance, her handsome face is not left behind. The next trace of the years. "But I don't know how many people there are in the Eagle Banner Army, can you be so confident?" Shang Muzhou kept silent.He is not the kind of person who is as sharp as a blade. When facing Xiang Kongyue, he would rather say a word less to avoid leaking. This person's mind is so deep that it is terrifying! "The Eagle Banner Army is said to be seven thousand, and I think four thousand is not bad. Xiao Qianxia's 20,000 private soldiers plus the Fufeng Camp's 5,000 soldiers, at best, it's 30,000 troops. General Shang, we have 200,000 troops here. How do you fight? If we talk about defending the city, where are the 50,000 residents of Qingshi City plus 30,000 troops, where will the food and grass come from? Harvesting of this hundred miles of yellow millet has long been delayed..." Lu Yanji, who had been silent all this time, suddenly held up the food box and interrupted Xiang Kongyue: "Brother Jie asked us to send bluestone specialties to Lord Ji and Young Master Xiang to taste." A trace of astonishment flashed across Xiyuan's face, and then he sneered and said, "This guy from Jiemingcheng can play tricks." He glanced at Ji Ye, and waved his hand, "Come on, let's see what is produced by Qingshi." what." There are simple four-color dishes in the food box, one white, one red, one blue and one yellow, which look very beautiful.Xiyuan glanced at Shang Muzhou, with doubts in his eyes. Xiang Kongyue's expression was still calm, he reached in and broke off a piece from the yellow cornbread, put it in his mouth and chewed it, a little surprised. "This year's yellow millet?" He smiled, "It's not surprising to grab a few acres, but it's a pity that there are rotten yellow millet fields outside Qingshi City." Only then did Xiyuan understand, and he dug a piece of green jelly and put it into his mouth, which was made of acorn flour.Qingshi is also known as Oak City, and the city is full of tall oak trees, and late autumn is the season for harvesting acorns.The acorn jelly was very smooth, and Xi Yuan couldn't help digging another spoonful before saying, "That's right, it's quite delicious, but I can't bear the hunger..." His face was full of disdain. The red dish is drunk mullet with peony skin.Xiang Kongyue looked at the dish of fish, and said slowly: "Laizui's stems are deeply exposed, and the rouge is painted with peonies... I think this is Liujing's famous mullet fish." Qingshi's Liujing starts on the 25th of every month The mullet fish that has flowed for three days.The fish is no more than the size of a finger, its color is like rouge, there is a lot of fat in the fat fish body, and its taste is extremely delicious.Legend has it that six wells lead to the sea, and the mullet fish is transformed from the scales shed by the red turtle on the seabed.Flowing fish is something that lasts from midnight to dawn, and the six wells are full of mullets, which are so full that they overflow and cannot be caught no matter how hard they are fished.But once the sky is bright, the fish in the well will suddenly disappear. Neatly placed on the white plate is white sliced ​​meat, which is almost translucent, with only the skin sticking together.It's just that the meat has skin but no fat, and it doesn't have the texture of ordinary pork or beef, which looks very strange.Xiang Kongyue's complexion finally changed slightly, and she said to Ji Ye, "It's probably crystal mushrooms, something called polyps in Zhongzhou." Shang Muzhou nodded and said: "Young Master Xiang is well-read and knowledgeable. This is crystal mushroom, and the natives also call it crystal meat. Every family in Qingshi City raises one in the water tank, which can grow to the size of a tabletop. If you cut it Let's eat together..." "It will grow back overnight, right?" Ji Ye was also a little curious, "I've heard it before, it's just a legend." He took a piece of crystal meat and put it in his mouth, "The taste is not bad, like pork Yes." He suddenly smiled, "So, Jieming City intends to guard Qingshi City safely?" Shang Muzhou said: "Grandpa's 200,000 troops here, it's not easy to eat! Speaking of which, the Yongning Road battlefield is called out in autumn, and the heavy snow falls on the fourth day of November..." Ji Ye laughed loudly: "You guy, you really know how to nostalgia. I understand what you mean, go back and thank Jiemingcheng for this box of food for me! Since you think you can keep it, you might as well keep it. Since you have enough food, Hehe..." He glanced at Xiang Kongyue, "Maybe we can help more farmers who haven't received autumn grain!"