Chapter 569 Chapter 5 Evening Drum and Morning Bell

The more than 20 tables in the lobby of the restaurant were all full. Xu Ziling offered a reward to the waiter. After waiting for nearly two quarters of an hour, he was arranged to sit down at a square table in a corner and ordered the vegetarian dishes. Du Fuwei came alone. After dropping the high crown, hunched over and turned into another person, he sat down next to Xu Ziling, who was busy pouring tea for him and calling out "godfather" in a low voice. Du Fuwei showed a rare kind smile, and happily lowered his voice and said, "I am very relieved to hear your voice. Alas! Xiao Zhong still insists on seeking skins from tigers to help Wang Shichong defend Luoyang!"

Xu Ziling smiled helplessly, changed the subject and asked, "Godfather, are you coming to Chang'an today for a round trip or are you planning to stay for a long time?" Du Fuwei sighed again, and said in a daze: "I don't know, the problem lies in my so-called acquaintance Fugong Tuo, he and the demon Zuo Youxian occupying Danyang and acting on their own. , and even refused to talk to me. The Li family father and son treated me very well from top to bottom. I really want to stay here and enjoy some happiness, but I can't bear to watch my old assistant sink. It is really foolish to fall back into his arms now.”

Raise your glass and drink it like tea. Xu Ziling added tea for him again, and the delicious and delicious vegetarian food came on stage. Xu Ziling couldn't help but think of Shi Feixuan, what would it be like if he could be a vegetarian with her in this corner of the restaurant? Du Fuwei glanced at the other guests in the hall vigilantly, and said, "Why did Ziling come to Chang'an?" Xu Ziling said in a deep voice, "May I ask your godfather a question, among Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, who do you want to inherit the throne of Tang Lord?" Du Fuwei's eyes flashed brightly, and he sneered and said: "I, Du Fuwei, started from Huainan, fought in the north and south, and never lost a battle. people?"

Xu Ziling happily said: "That's it! I came to Chang'an today to deal with Chi Shengchun, because he is most likely the eldest son of Xianggui from the Baling gang and the brother of Xiangyushan. Not only do we have a personal enmity with the Xiang family, but we also Their crimes such as human trafficking are even more hated." Du Fuwei frowned and said, "It's not easy to deal with him. With Ziling's current skills, if he does the calculations mentally or not, it's easy to take his life." Xu Ziling leaned closer and sighed: "The problem is that we want to force Xianggui out of Chi Shengchun, so we have to use some tricks."

Then he explained that he had absolute trust in this old man, and even he himself didn't quite understand why he had such a mentality. Du Fuwei laughed dumbfounded when he heard this, and said: "Ziling's plan is indeed a fantastic idea. I really can't judge whether it will work. I have heard of Situ Furong, a kid who is said to be a person who must plan his money, but I have never heard of him being lecherous. Besides, a tiger is not as good as a local worm, if he came to Chang'an to avoid disaster, he would dare to offend Yin Zuwen and Li Yuanji at the same time, unless he is afraid of his fate."

Xu Ziling thought that Jiang was old and hot, but he didn't think it through so thoroughly, and replied: "If Hu Xiaoxian saw Situ Furong himself, would the situation be different?" Du Fuwei said in amazement: "How could this happen?" After Xu Ziling told the whole story about Hu Xiaoxian, he said: "What Situ Furong owes now is a backer, and this backer is so hard that Chi Shengchun dare not use other means to deal with him, and can only compete with him at the gambling table. long." Du Fuwei understood, pondered for a while and said: "I want to go back and think about this matter, how can I find you?"

Xu Ziling tells about Hou Xibai's sentimental nest, and breaks up with Du Fuwei and goes home.Hou Xibai was happily drawing his Baimei picture scroll in his study, and when he came back, he said happily: "Tonight we will go directly to Shanglin Garden to find Ji Qian, no matter how busy she is. I know that I will definitely meet her in a separate form when I look for her. Ling can ask her directly when the time comes." Xu Ziling sat down beside him, frowned and said, "Any news from Yin Xianhe?" Hou Xibai put down the brush, retreated to the chair next to him, sat down and shook his head, "He probably hasn't arrived in Chang'an yet, no one has ever seen such a No. 1 person."

Xu Ziling's heart sank, and he asked casually, "When did you get up?" Hou Xibai said dejectedly: "I can't sleep at all, I can only go out to run errands for your brother. I checked Chi Shengchun with a trusted gang member in Chang'an, and I learned that this person is probably a member of the Xiang family. No one knew Li Yuan before he entered the customs. Chi Shengchun came out of nowhere and ran the Liufu Casino with the support of Li Yuanji. No one knew his background, but he had abundant funds. The owner took the gambling house by stealth, and it became famous in just a few years, making Luk Fook another big gambling house that can compete with Mingtangwo for a day."

Then he sighed: "It's not that I poured cold water on you. My gang friend said that Chi Shengchun is suspicious by nature, very alert, and understands the principle of cheapness and non-greedy better than anyone else. If you pretend to be Situ Furong according to your plan, Dagong The big drum came to compete with him at the gambling table and compete to marry the daughter of the Great Immortal Hoover. It is strange that he is not suspicious. The Xiang family has done all kinds of bad things, so they will be more wary than ordinary people. I think your trick is impossible." Xu Ziling broke the conversation and said leisurely: "You seem to enjoy yourself in Chang'an."

Hou Xibai said happily: "I have a wide range of people here, from the palace to the market, I can always find a solution. Sigh! I'm worried about you!" Xu Ziling smiled and said: "To tell you the truth, Kou Zhong and I were petty pickpockets. When we met someone who was particularly tight on his purse, or even held his hand on his purse while walking, we would use the method of smacking the east and hitting the west. When he remembers it, he distracts his mind, and the other takes the opportunity to use his empty hand. No matter how well he hides the money bag, a small knife can detect the pearl, and it will never miss."

Hou Xibai was slightly astonished, and frowned lightly, "How can this method of striking east and west be used on Chi Shengchun?" Xu Ziling said: "I haven't decided yet, but brother Xibai's information is very useful, which makes me more confident. As long as we turn his suspiciousness in spring into a loophole, or a way to lure him into the trap, because How could he easily miss the opportunity when someone is willing to bring such wealth to his door." Hou Xibai moved and said: "I told you this, it seems that things are not feasible, we have to think about it carefully. Ha! How about going to Shanglin Garden and pouring two cups of yellow soup? I always have a spring of inspiration in the brothel." Xu Ziling smiled and said: "You are the one who is going. I want you to try to get Ji Qian to Ming Tang Nest, so that she will accidentally run into my bearded Yong Qin." Hou Xibai smiled wryly and said: "It's impossible, you don't seem to know that Ji Qian is still the most popular brothel prostitute in Chang'an and the chief Fang family guest of Mingtangwo until tonight, and this girl is both temperamental and arrogant. She loves to lose her temper. When she gets better, she can be obedient to you, but she can throw you out of the Mingtang nest at any time. This kind of thing happened to me once. Ha! Now men in Chang'an are proud of being blown away by her , that at least means that it can make her angry. But the younger brother is only ashamed of it." Ji Qian's bright and colorful eyes floated in Xu Ziling's heart, and he thought to himself that if she hadn't asked for something in Chang'an last time, she would have been treated in the same way, and asked in his heart, "Do you know that she and Chi What kind of relationship is Shengchun?" Hou Xibai said: "How dare Chi Shengchun touch Ji Qian, because Li Yuanji is one of the best ministers who bowed down under Ji Qian's skirt." Xu Ziling was surprised: "With Li Yuanji's power and power, isn't it easy to get Ji Qian?" Hou Xibai said: "How can it be so simple? Ji Qian's situation is a bit like Shang Xiufang's. In Chang'an, everyone knows about it. Even Li Yuan would never allow Li Yuanji to force Ji Qian, so as not to cause damage to the Li family." What's more, Li Yuanji still has to take into account his own image and reputation, and most of Li Yuan's close officials have a good relationship with Ji Qian, so Li Yuanji can only compete for Ji Qian's painstaking efforts like other ministers under his skirt. Hate bitterness and joy, it should be very moving." A look of intoxication appeared on his face. Xu Ziling suddenly remembered something, and asked, "Isn't Li Yuanji on good terms with Mrs. Qingqing from Fengyage?" Hou Xibai said: "Mrs. Qingqing is just one of Li Yuanji's many women. Li Yuanji has always been flirtatious, and loves to flirt everywhere." He patted Xu Ziling on the shoulder and said, "Good! Do you want to go to Shanglin Garden to try your luck?" Xu Ziling shook his head and said: "It's only bad luck that I can meet when I go to the brothel. More importantly, I can't take the initiative to find Ji Qian, I can only let her meet me. Fortunately, this is not an urgent matter. I will have a good time tonight." Get a good night's sleep, get enough energy, and think about it tomorrow. Do you know what a profound and complicated knowledge it is to run a betting shop? I'm exhausted trying to explore this knowledge. You'd better stay here obediently Continue to make your Baimei pictures, go to bed when you are tired, don't forget that your stone teacher is unpredictable, and you didn't sleep well last night, listen to me!" Hou Xibai said dejectedly: "Why do you remind me that now only painting and wandering in brothels can make me forget everything. This may be the difference between humans and beasts! They only know how to fight for survival, but we know how to express love and forget everything. Threats to survival, that's called evasion." Xu Ziling thought deeply: "Sleeping is a way of escaping, so animals also have an innate way of escaping reality through sleeping." Hou Xibai said with great interest: "Then what is the biggest difference between humans and animals?" Xu Ziling pondered for a moment, and said: "I think the biggest difference is that people will think about their own existence, such as why do we exist? What is the meaning and purpose of existence itself? Is there a master somewhere? They are all at the mercy of fate like puppets on strings? Where does life come from? Where does death go? What is going on between life and death?" Hou Xibai was stunned when he heard that. Xu Ziling thought of Fu Nanda, who loved to talk about life and death. If he hadn't been inspired by him, he might not have thought so thoroughly about the mystery of life, which made him understand why Shi Feixuan abandoned the world and practiced the way of heaven. It is a physical exploration of one's own existence. Xuan thought of Shi Qingxuan again, because of completely different reasons, she has a clear understanding of the cruel reality and the grievances and grievances in the world, so she chooses to live in seclusion. Unfortunately, I was involved in the great vortex of the mortal world, and it was difficult to get out. I couldn't help but sigh secretly. Hou Xibai nodded and said: "Zi Ling's words are like a drum at dusk and a bell at dawn. They are thought-provoking. Now I just want to get drunk and pass out, so as to forget the pain in my heart." A strong urge to meet Shi Qingxuan surged in Xu Ziling's heart, and he suddenly felt that he understood her better than ever before.But Hou Xibai in front of him was another person he had to care about, and he said, "Brother Xibai, why don't you express the pain in your heart, it will make you feel better." Hou Xibai's handsome eyes turned red, glanced at Xu Ziling, then lowered his head with a wry smile and said, "I was cultivated by Master Shi. If I say I don't have feelings for him, I'm lying to you. Sometimes he is really nice to me. Sigh! How should I settle this account with him? I just want to clarify the matter with him face to face. Last night I went to the brothel alone, just because I wanted him to come to me, and I wanted to kill him or kill him. It's better than being in a fog like now, where nothing is clear. Death isn't so terrible, is it?" Xu Ziling finally understood Hou Xibai's true intentions for Shi Zhixuan, and felt bad because Shi Zhixuan was no longer the former Shi Zhixuan with a split personality. If he thought it was necessary, he would mercilessly execute and clean up this "product". Shen Sheng said: "Didn't you say that if you follow the rules handed down by the master and the oath he made when you were eighteen years old, you will not be able to block his 'Twelve Flowers' at the age of twenty-eight? Kill you? You must be twenty-seven years old now! There is still a year to go." Hou Xibai said dejectedly: "Twenty-eight years old is just the deadline set by him. I can ask for it to be held earlier at any time. I really want to know if Master Shi will be sad and regret it after becoming a wronged soul killed by him. Alas! The rules and patriarchal clan were established in my heart since I was a child, and now it has become a deep-rooted thought, so I will not let you, Ziling, intervene in this matter, and will only rely on my own strength to tide over the difficulties." Xu Ziling frowned and said, "As you are now, you have no fighting spirit, and you say that you don't have to deal with it, and you say you want to work hard to pass the test. These are all negative manifestations, and it's really worrying." Hou Xibai replied in a natural and unrestrained manner, and said with a smile: "This is called a conflict of emotions. If you can not die, who would like to die while there is still a good time? At least I will say it after I finish this hundred beautiful pictures of the Tang Palace, ha!" Xu Ziling said: "From my point of view, your master Shi will not kill you with his own hands unless he has to." Hou Xibai was stunned and said, "What is the basis for Ziling's words?" Xu Ziling murmured: "People are not grass and trees, so who can be ruthless. Even Shi Zhixuan, who thinks he has a heart of stone, has spent fifteen years full of pain and contradictions because of killing Bi Xiuxin. Otherwise, this world may be a different situation. Now After waking up from his so-called 'nightmare', not only would he not dare to touch Shi Qingxuan's Achilles' heel, he would also be unwilling to personally execute the apprentice he cultivated, so I speculate that he will use Yang Xuyan to deal with you." Hou Xibai cheered up and said: "This will be a completely different matter, I will never let Yang Xuyan succeed." Seeing that his fighting spirit had been revived, Xu Ziling felt relieved, and said: "Your master Shi only has two heirs, if Yang Xuyan died instead of you, he has no reason to destroy his only heir, otherwise Huajian and Bu There will be no way for the Heaven and Heaven factions to continue. What is even more conceivable is that your Master Shi will fully support Yang Xuyan to become the winner, if you don't pull yourself together, you will be hated by Yang Xuyan's shadow sword." Hou Xibai snorted coldly: "How could I cheapen Yang Xuyan so easily? Luckily, Ziling woke up. Ha! I can sleep peacefully now!" Since Li Shimin won the great victory at Baibi, there are only three major military groups headed by Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande and Xiao Xian who have enough strength to be his opponents.Kou Zhong's wings are fledgling, let's not talk about it for now.The Song clan was located in the south of the Five Ridges, so it was more than enough to claim the hegemony, but if it relied on its own strength, and the southerners were not tolerant of the bitter cold in the north, they would sigh beyond their reach. Song Jingang's defeat at Bobi had a far-reaching impact. Not only did Liu Wuzhou's momentum change from strong to weak, but it also made the Turks dare not act rashly until they united all ethnic groups outside the Great Wall.Without the support of the Turkic people, Liang Shidu, another overlord who was dependent on the Turkic people, had no choice but to stand still and watch the decisive battle for hegemony centered on Luoyang with an attitude of watching the fire from the other side. Among the three major military groups, Xiao Xian's situation is the most unfavorable. The key point is that Du Fuwei descended to the Tang Dynasty, which not only suppressed Xiao Xian and made him unable to move, but also forced Zhu Can, Li Zitong, and Shen Faxing to stand down. Wait and see. Lin Lihong was caught between two powerful enemies, Xiao Xian and the Song Clan, and it was difficult for him to do anything. Under the situation that gradually became clearer, the world suddenly became a three-party struggle between Li Clan, Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande, and Kou Zhong's only hope was to draw Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande together and smash the myth of Li Shimin's invincibility. After traveling at full speed all night, Kou Zhong arrived in Luoyang in the early morning. The guards who guarded the city did not know him, and immediately reported to Wang Shichong. The one who came to greet him was Wang Xuanshu, the second son of Wang Shichong, who Kou Zhong had a good impression of him. We were very happy to meet each other. Surrounded by their own soldiers, the two rode to the palace side by side. Kou Zhong asked, "Is there any movement from Li Shimin's side?" Wang Xuanshu showed a dignified look, and said in a deep voice: "According to the information we have received, Li Shimin will personally lead an army out of the Kanto in the next few days. We are ready to deal him a head-on blow. Sigh! Sure enough, he is not the same as the young commander. As expected, Li Shimin learned the lesson of Li Mi's long-term attack on Luoyang, and adopted a strategy of gradually clearing out the outer strongholds, cutting off the esophagus, and then isolating us." Kou Zhong glanced at the prosperous Luoyang scenery with great interest, and said in surprise: "Li Shimin's army is still far away in Guanzhong, how do you know what strategy he adopts?" Wang Xuan thought: "Because after the battle of Baibi, the Li family sent four generals to gather troops around us. Shi Wanbao was stationed at Longmen and cut off our southern aid; Liu Dewei stationed troops in Taihang. If we attacked Hanoi in the east, we would The northern route is closed; Wang Junkuo is eyeing Luokoulun fiercely, and the other general, Huang Junhan, is relying on Mengjin, once he crosses the river, it will be difficult to return to Luolun." Kou Zhong thought to himself that this is indeed worthy of being called "Shang Bing Conquest". Li Shimin did not spend a single soldier, but only relied on the mobilization of soldiers and horses, which constituted a huge pressure on Wang Shichong.Under such circumstances, if Li Shimin wanted to persuade the generals under Wang Shichong to surrender, it would be a matter of course for them to defect and surrender. Kou Zhong said confidently: "Luoyang is located at the confluence of rivers. It is not easy to isolate Luoyang. In order to persuade your father, I exaggerated my words. Don't worry, Li Shimin will let the horse come here, as long as we can hold on On the front line of Yanshi and Hulao, when Li Shimin was besieging the city, Dou Jiande's army came to help, and he would definitely kill Li Shimin, and whether he can escape back to Guanzhong is also a question." Wang Xuanshu showed embarrassment, and said in a low voice: "Father refused to listen to my advice, violated the agreement with Dou Jiande, and ascended the throne of God yesterday." Kou Zhong's expression changed, "What?" People and horses galloped into the palace.