Rui Hegui

Chapter 91

The news from Zizhen came again at Maoshi the next day, when the sky had just revealed a thin line of fish.

Bandit Chu knocked on the door of Zhao Liangyue's room, Zhao Liangyue also got up early in the morning, he had already put on his robes and hair crown, and immediately opened the door upon hearing the sound.

Bandit Chu said: "There was an accident, I asked Yan Chang and Jin Hao not to act in a hurry."

Zhao Liangyue thought for a moment, then asked: "But the two-headed leopard suddenly returned to Zi Town?"

"Exactly, the Two-Headed Leopard did not come to negotiate with us. He returned to Zizhen overnight and began to count the people in Zizhen. Several of Yan Chang's subordinates were arrested." Chu bandit said, "Although Yan Chang's people It will not expose us, but it is estimated that the court has come, or there is an unexpected situation in the black market itself."

Zhao Liangyue thought for a while, and said, "The situation in the southwestern border is complicated, and the investigation of Yeyuan and the old case must be completed as soon as possible."

"That's true." Chu Bandit smiled wryly, and said, "And Han Wenyun and our crown prince probably have prepared a big show for a long time. If we go back late, it's probably time for a change of dynasty."

Zhao Liangyue frowned and said, "I always have a bad feeling in my heart."

"Let's take a step, let's take a look." Bandit Chu clicked his tongue and said, "You and I are not immortals of Daluo, so it's good to have a clear conscience, but if Daxu's energy is exhausted, there is nothing he can do about it."

Zhao Liangyue nodded slightly, and looked sideways at the rising sun covered by dark clouds.

That afternoon, Jing Mo hid in a courtyard in the east of the city with a whole body of resentment and a group of pursuers. After knocking them out, he went west and returned to the inn.

"Master Zhao!"

Jing Mo didn't want to look for his lord anymore, so he ran directly to Zhao Liangyue's room, and just as he entered the door, he saw Chu bandit sitting inside drinking tea, which was made by Zhao Liangyue himself.

Jing Mo, who should have been wronged, was once again looked at by his own adults.

Jingmo: "..."

Chu bandit asked straightforwardly: "Have you found out who is related to the Buddhist hall?"

Jing Mo didn't dare not answer: "The richest man in Xiangyuan City, named A Xisui, his mother believed in Buddhism, so he built Buddhist temples in several places nearby, but his mother passed away several years ago."

Bandit Chu thought for a while, then asked, "What about Luo Yuan?"

Jing Mo: "Luo Yu is like Wu Yi, the former magistrate of Ningzhou. He feels like a half puppet. Although that A Xisui is a merchant, he lives in Xiangyuan City."

Zhao Liangyue's brows were instantly frowned, and he said, "I remember that the Luo family has many generals, and they are considered loyal. How could there be traitors?"

Jing Mo thought for a while, and said: "As I said, that Luo Yu doesn't have the slightest appearance of a noble family, and he is very flattering to that A Xisui, servile."

Chu Bandit and Zhao Liangyue said in unison: "Switch."

Jing Mo was startled: "But the generals in the border areas, especially the important military towns like Xiangyuan City, will bring documents to the nearby state capitals to report every spring and autumn. If there is a problem, they should have known it early in the morning, right?"

"It stands to reason that's true." Zhao Liangyue said, "However, Xiangyuan City reports to the Ningzhou government office every year. In the past, Wu Yi, the prefect of Ningzhou, was controlled by Ye Yuan. Although it is now taken over by Master Tian, ​​Master Tian is very strict with Luo Yuan. I am not familiar with it, and the Ningzhou government has changed a lot of people, as long as the official seal and the portrait are not wrong, it is difficult to detect something wrong in a short time."

Jing Mo thought for a while, then was startled again, and said: "Isn't that the fake Luo Yuan looks the same as the real Luo Yuan, could it be Master Yeyuan, who was disguised by Kriti using the technique of disguise?"

Zhao Liangyue shook his head, and said: "The rumored disguise technique is extremely difficult to succeed, and it needs to bear the pain of skinning and bone cutting, which is very unbearable. Besides, you also said that Luo Yu is a half-baked bag, so you should It was the same situation as Li Village in Dali Temple at that time."

"So, the person Eunuch Cao pointed out to us is undoubtedly A Xisui." Bandit Chu tapped his fingers on the edge of the table, thought for a while, and said, "The richest man in Xiangyuan City is really the man behind the scenes, I don't know Brother He's property cannot catch him."

Zhao Liangyue said: "It's hard to say, a real businessman will definitely not refuse, such as a two-headed leopard, so I can only talk to him. If A Xisui just uses a businessman to make a layer of skin, then he will naturally not be tempted .”

Chu Bandit frowned slightly: "It always takes time to explore the unknown, but I'm afraid we are running out of time."

Zhao Liangyue asked: "Brother, what do you mean, attack the Two-Headed Leopard instead?"

"Yes." Chu Bandit said, "We don't know if the things of the He family brothers can attract A Xisui, but what is certain is that the Two-Headed Leopard must have an irreplaceable role for him."

So the two took out the map provided by Yan Chang before, discussed the information they had, and decided on the future plan. Since Jing Mo had exposed his identity, he simply brought a letter to Yan Chang and Jin Hao himself.

Probably when Xu time just arrived, a black unicorn flew into the inn wearing the shady curtain of its first arrival.

Bandit Chu raised his arm to take over the black unicorn, only to find that its legs were tied with silver rings, and couldn't help but tighten his brows.

Zhao Liangyue said: "It seems that something happened in the capital."

Chu Bandit quickly untied the letterhead and unfolded it, and read it with Zhao Liangyue, both of them looked solemn.

The letterhead said two things:

One is that Mr. Mingyu, that is, Kriti, suddenly disappeared half a month ago, and now he has confirmed to leave Beijing and is heading southwest.

The second is that when Nan Xing went to perform a mission for Jin Luanwei, he suddenly swung a knife and killed several Jin Luanwei and military officials who were accompanying him, and took away the latest border defense map sent to Kyoto by Ningzhou Prefecture, and his whereabouts were unknown.

"How could it be Nan Xing?"

Zhao Liangyue heard from Chu Bandit that Nan Xing was an attendant placed by Mrs. Wang's side more than ten years ago, and he was Chu Bandit's indispensable right-hand man, but he suddenly rebelled.

"It should be that something happened to Nan Xing's mother." Chu bandit half-closed his eyes, thought about it calmly, and said, "Choosing to take the border defense map at this stall can only explain one thing."

Zhao Liangyue frowned tightly, and said: "It means that Tu Yuan has already made preparations, and it will be difficult for Da Xu to react if he wants to start a war in a short time."

"Yes." Bandit Chu said, "Even if the Ministry of War and the Southwest Protectorate respond in time, the changes on the border defense map will not be too large in a short period of time, and what is shown on the border defense map is not only the location of the garrison, but also the location of the troops." There are Daxu's current tactics."

Zhao Liangyue sighed softly, and said, "How many people in Yeyuan are still in Daxu? Obviously, these are big movements related to the community, but since more than ten years ago, they have been hovering in Daxu like an invisible wind."

Chu Bandit and Zhao Liangyue discussed again, and decided to proceed according to the plan finalized in the morning.

Azusa Inn.

It was past midnight and the night was dark.

Holding a letter in his hands, a little boy rushed up to the second floor on the west side, knelt down and knocked on the door.

The lights in the room had already been turned off, and the boy did not receive any response.

The little boy had no choice but to boldly shout: "Second Master, there is movement from the He family in Xiangyuan City!"

After a while, the door opened from the inside, and the two-headed leopard came out impatiently. He was not wearing any clothes on his upper body at this time. Through the light, he could see the two-headed leopard on the terrifying muscles, extending from his shoulders to his abdomen, with round eyes Glaring, ferocious and cruel, it is frightening to hear.

The little boy trembled uncontrollably, and held up the letter to the Two-Headed Leopard.

The Two-Headed Leopard took the letter, scanned the code words composed of the two languages ​​of Daxu and Tuyuan, laughed, and said, "I realized something was wrong at this time, and I wanted to run away, but it's too late."

The Two-Headed Leopard turned around and pulled off his outer robe and put it on, took his usual scimitar like the moon, and ordered: "Go, wake up everyone, I will go and catch the disobedient sheep myself."

The shopkeeper also rushed up, just in time to hear that the two-headed leopard was going out of Zi Town, and hurriedly persuaded him: "Second Master, there is news from the son the day before yesterday, let us not act rashly."

"What are you afraid of?" The Two-Headed Leopard laughed twice, and said, "The He family brother, I have already tried it in the black market, but I am just an ordinary businessman who asks for anything, what else can happen? I am too careful."

After saying that, the two-headed leopard strode towards the downstairs, the shopkeeper had no choice but to wave his hand to tell Xiao Tong to hurry up and ask someone to follow him.

Fifteen miles to the northeast of Zi Town, several hidden sentries in Yeyuan were cleaned up. Jin Hao personally brought three hundred elite soldiers in village attire and sneaked here, holding their breath and hiding in the shadowy mountains and forests.

Not long after, more than [-] attendants came rushing around guarding a carriage. It was Chu Bandit and his party.

Jin Hao put his hand on the hilt of his sword and paid attention to the mountain pass behind the carriage, surrounded by elite soldiers ready to go.

Not long after, the Er-Headed Leopards really appeared at the mountain pass with their hands raised. Jin Hao immediately gave an order, and three hundred elite soldiers rushed out—it was the best time to attack when they were at the foot of the mountain, but the Er-Headed Leopards were surrounded by killers. Most of them can hide their breath, and naturally have an extraordinary ability to perceive danger in the dark, so they can only take action as soon as possible.

The Two-Headed Leopard also reacted very quickly. As soon as he saw black shadows moving in the originally quiet distance, he immediately turned his horse's head and ordered his men to retreat. The stone and the rolling log rolled down the mountainside, and they cut off their retreat in an instant, and the crowd had to rein in their horses to stop.

The two-headed leopard got off the horse, drew out the machete at his waist, and under the reflection of the moonlight and torches, he turned his head to look at the approaching ambush.

The two-headed leopard clicked his tongue and said with a smile, "Long time no see."

Jin Hao took a look at the two-headed leopard and said, "This general has never seen you before."

The Two-Headed Leopard said: "As far as you are concerned, of course you have never seen me. I mean, I have seen the epee in your hand."

When Jin Hao heard this, his brows were deeply furrowed, because the epee in his hand was the only relic left after his father died in battle.

"who are you?"

While Jin Hao was speaking, he had already rushed over first, the epee in his hand roared, and easily slashed out from the killer in front of the Two-Headed Leopard, unstoppable.

Finally, when encountering the scimitar like the moon, the epee failed to strike for the first time and was easily intercepted.

Jin Hao half-closed his eyes, looked at the shocked Jin Hao, curled his lips and said with a sneer, "With you alone, even if you bring another 1000 troops today, you won't be able to catch me."

Zheng!

The Two-Headed Leopard actually chopped off Jin Hao's epee, and in the flames reflected on the blade, elite soldiers and killers wrestled together.

Jin Hao frowned and looked at the Two-Headed Leopard, knowing that he had met an opponent today.

The Er-Headed Leopard was right. He had no way to keep the Er-Headed Leopard for a short period of time. When the people from Yeyuan not far away reacted and reported to Xiangyuan City and the black market, they could only return without success.

but……

Jin Hao gritted his teeth, concentrated his energy, and swung the epee with strength, stimulating the slashing space. He fought the Two-Headed Leopard for more than a dozen moves, but none of them gained the upper hand, and even slightly lost the wind, but his offensive did not weaken at all.

"The descendants of the Jin family who practice martial arts have always been good at swordsmanship. You are obviously not as good as your father."

While the two-headed leopard was speaking, the tails of its eyes twitched, and it saw Jin Hao's weakness. It sideways avoided Jin Hao's three consecutive moves, turned its wrist, and cut the scimitar in its hand towards Jin Hao's neck with lightning speed.

At the very moment, another epee appeared in the air, and slashed back the scimitar. The two-headed leopard was caught off guard for a moment, and then retreated two steps. When he raised his eyes again, he saw the boy who was coming under the moon.

The two-headed leopard looked at the young man with half-closed eyes, and said, "I saw you in the inn, you are hiding very well."

Youbai showed a mouthful of white teeth and smiled, "I learned this from you people from Yeyuan."

"I didn't expect that I would be wrong one day." The Two-Headed Leopard laughed loudly and said again, "However, it's already too late."

On the carriage not far away, Chu Bandit and Zhao Liangyue did not wait for the news that A Xisui was chasing him, alarm bells were ringing in their hearts.

Zhao Liangyue frowned and said: "Brother, I always feel that there is one link that we have neglected, and that link is very important."

Chu Bandit tapped the car wall with his fingers, and said, "I feel the same way."

"Marquis Wu An and the teacher and other seniors were extremely intelligent back then, but they failed to realize the last tragedy of the Fan family army, so," Zhao Liangyue looked at Chu Bandit, and said, "Brother, I suspect that we have already fallen into the heavy siege of Ye Yuan. "

Bandit Chu was startled when he heard the words, as if reminded by the words, some pictures suddenly flashed in his mind, and then he raised his hand and opened the curtain of the car suddenly, the night outside was getting thicker and darker, the waning moon disappeared, and only the distant flames could be seen in the fight.

All of a sudden, there was a sound of breaking wind from far and near, and in an instant, it was approaching the carriage.

"not good!"

Bandit Chu pushed Zhao Liangyue down, then threw himself on him, using himself as a shield to protect him.

Immediately, the thousands of arrowheads carried huge vigor, turned into the sharpest cold rain, and covered the carriage like a net. The surrounding attendants were hard to stop, and many people were pierced to death by several arrow clusters on the spot.

Before Zhao Liangyue had time to see the situation clearly, he heard the sound of a sharp weapon piercing into his chest. He could clearly feel Chu Bandit's body trembling, and then warm liquid flowed down onto Zhao Liangyue's chest, and the smell of blood immediately Diffuse.

Zhao Liangyue's pupils dilated instantly, and his voice trembled uncontrollably: "Brother?"

"Don't move." Bandit Chu held Zhao Liangyue down and hugged him even tighter.

Then, there was another burst of arrows.

The scene on the side of the carriage was quickly noticed, Jin Hao and Youbai brought people back, and quickly found out the person hiding in the dark.

But no one thought that it was Nan Xing who personally led someone to shoot Chu Bandit and Zhao Liangyue.

Both Jin Hao and Youbai had met Nan Xing a few times, and they instantly understood what had happened, and were furious.

"Pomelo white!"

In the carriage, Zhao Liangyue was heartbroken, and You Bai rushed over to lift the curtain, only to find that Chu Bandit was covered in blood, which was shocking.

Zhao Liangyue hugged Bandit Chu, who was seriously injured in his arms, and forced himself to calm down, thinking quickly in his mind. After a while, he said to Youbai: "Going north and east is a dead end, go directly to the southwest. If we can meet Senior Chi, we There is probably a way out!"

Jin Hao also saw Chu bandit's situation with his head sideways, and quickly asked the accompanying military doctor to deal with it.

While the horses were neighing, Jin Hao took the lead to open the way, with his attendants and some elite soldiers maintaining the carriage and galloping towards the southwest, while You Bai led the rest of the elite soldiers to stop the rear.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Liangyue was trembling all over, and the military doctor was also sweating coldly.

Chu Gui's lips were a little pale, and his body was in unbearable pain, but seeing Zhao Liangyue who was suppressing and panicking, his heart also ached, and he gently stroked the hand he was holding.

After the military doctor took out the three arrowheads from Chu Bandit's body and quickly bandaged them, he cupped his hands to Zhao Liangyue and said, "Lord Zhao, Shangshu Chu's injuries are too serious, and the subordinates can only do some treatment to stop the bleeding, and must be transferred to a safe place as soon as possible." Further treatment, and subordinates suspect..."

Zhao Liangyue hurriedly asked, "What do you suspect?"

The military doctor trembled, and replied: "This subordinate suspects that the arrowhead is quenched with chronic poison."

Like thunder falling from the clear sky, Zhao Liangyue felt that he was about to drown and suffocate.

He looked down at Chu Bandit who was leaning on his shoulder, unable to speak, but Chu Bandit rolled his eyes and smiled at him.

"Yeyuan wants to kill people, so naturally he won't let me live easily, but I want to live." Chu Gui's voice was weak like never before, but also extremely gentle, it sounded like he was whispering Sighing, "Xilin, actually, I never thought that when I was really facing death, I actually wanted to live."

The night in Kyoto is really too cold.

In the upheaval of the old case, the young Bandit Chu killed loyal and good generals with a blade in his hand, stained his official robe with the blood of his old friends, and exchanged for a seat in the court.

In the first spring after he served as Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice, he had to accompany Emperor Jia to go north to investigate the Beiying military ration case. On the first day before his departure, he returned to the mansion early to bid farewell to his mother.

As usual, my mother sat stubbornly in the stone pavilion, looking to the southwest for a long time. No matter what he said, my mother would never look up at him, and never responded to him.

After finishing his farewell instructions, he reluctantly stood up and left, and when he reached the gate of the courtyard, he couldn't help but look back at Shiting.

The mother seemed to have aged in an instant during the accident, with half of her hair gone, her face no longer radiant, and her eyes dull and dull. There were many flowers blooming around her, but she seemed out of place like the dead branches and fallen leaves of late autumn.

How many times he wanted to tell his mother the truth, but he knew he couldn't.

So, that side became the last side of the mother and son.

When Chu Bandit returned to Beijing, it was February in February, when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, and the whole capital was marrying wives and daughters.

Bandit Chu rode along amidst the sound of festive gongs and drums, and happened to see a peddler selling peach blossom cakes, so he bought some.

He remembered that his mother had always loved peach blossom cakes. In the past, when the teacher and master were still there, his mother would always make some with Mrs. Wang and send them to several homes. Therefore, the master always showed off to his colleagues, saying that even if he did not get a wife for the rest of his life, he would still be happy. Delicious shortbread, respected by apprentices.

Peach Blossom Cake carries many good old memories, Chu bandit thought, maybe mother will have a few bites.

So, he rarely showed a sincere smile, and rode his horse towards the house.

However, when Chu Bandit stepped into the gate of the mansion, when he saw the maid who served his mother appearing with a sad face, Chu Bandit knew it.It was time to wake up from his last fantasy dream.

"what happened?"

"Old lady, she... She killed herself at night after the adults left, while the slaves were not paying attention."

After a long silence, Bandit Chu asked again, "What can you leave behind?"

The maid tremblingly handed over a letter, and Bandit Chu took it, and when he saw the three words of the letter of guilt, he understood everything.

His mother, a chivalrous woman who insisted on the way of benevolence and righteousness, how could she live in a magnificent mansion and enjoy the splendor and wealth when her son, whom she regarded as a treasure, was ungrateful and harmed the loyal court?

That night, Chu Bandit didn't shed a tear, didn't say a word, shut himself in the study alone, and kept copying "He Shi Pian", and the servants didn't dare to approach him at all.

It wasn't until Xing Shuo arrived that he discovered that Chu Bandit's eyes were crying blood.

Xing Shuo hastily leaned over to check Bandit Chu, and only held his shoulders a little bit harder. The rumored treacherous official fell to the ground, coughed violently, and spattered a mouthful of black blood on the ground.

But Chu Bandit raised his head and smiled at Xing Shuo, as if he was crazy, and said to him: "My mother is my last weakness, you see, she is gone now, we have nothing to worry about in the future."

Yes, no worries.

From that moment, Chu Bandit completely saw the road under his feet, which was difficult and dangerous, fickle and lonely, with only long-cherished wishes and no self.

He was destined to carry a body of sins, grit his teeth and walk to the end, and then let a body of sins swallow him up.

Therefore, in those 13 years, for him, living was the real pain, and death was relief.

He was clearly ready to leave at any time.

However, fate still made a joke with him, a joke more painful than letting him die.

"River scales."

Chu Bandit looked at Zhao Liangyue's red eyes, and then couldn't stop crying, his heart felt like a knife was stabbed, he raised his trembling hand to caress Zhao Liangyue's face, Zhao Liangyue was stunned, and raised his hand to cover Chu Bandit's hand tightly. hand.

"Xi Lin, don't cry, I..."

"Senior Brother!" Zhao Liangyue interrupted Chu Bandit, looked straight into his peach blossom eyes, and choked up, "Senior Brother, there is something I want to say today."

Chu Bandit was taken aback for a moment, trying to stop him—he knew what his Xilin was going to say, but if that feeling was announced today, after he left, how would his Xilin face the rest of his life?

"Xilin, go and look outside..."

"Brother, I like you."

Chu Bandit's lips moved, but he couldn't speak anymore.

All the shouting and killing around receded like a tide, leaving only a corner of orange lights in the carriage and those clear and sad eyes.

The four eyes were relatively speechless, and all the memories were distorted at this moment and disappeared.

In a daze, Bandit Chu hooked Zhao Liangyue's neck, and kissed those two lips soaked in tears.

Zhao Liangyue was trembling while holding Chu Bandit's hand, but he lowered his head without hesitation, and responded to the kiss.