The Record of Swordsmen in the Late Sui and Early Tang Dynasties

Chapter 22 Chapter 22
More than a dozen people were careful, hurried along the way like a stray dog, hurried like a fish slipping through the net, and ran wildly all the way.

After two or three days, people's nervous mood calmed down, and everyone began to chat with each other, talking and laughing.

The old man looked at Duan Wuji and asked: "Hey, little righteous man, what's your name?"

Duan Wuji laughed and said: "My name is Duan Wuji. It's the mountain people in the area where your accident happened. This is one of my elder brothers, and he is Tieniu."

"Then why does your martial arts look better than his?"

After hearing this, Tieniu interjected and said, "I just learned this ability from my brother recently. If you think he's better than me, who else is better?"

The old man understood immediately after hearing this, and thought: Oh!It turned out to be the case.I can't complain that the elder brother listened to the younger brother's words. It turns out that the younger brother is the backbone.

The old man asked Duan Wuji with a smile: "I mean little righteous man, what do you mean by frightening and driving away our two horses that have no mounts a few days ago? I still can't figure out why."

Duan Wuji smiled slightly. "My lord, think about it. The pursuers behind are rushing all the way. After catching up with the two empty horses, can they not chase forward? Can they not search around?

After they found out that they had been deceived, it might take a long time or even a whole day. At that time, they would have no choice but to take two empty horses. "

The old man laughed out loud. "Wuji, that's how it is. Your method is really high."

Tie Niu laughed and said, "Why is it so high? I think this mountain is really high?"

Everyone laughed.

Duan Wuji looked at the old man and said with a smile: "My lord, I haven't asked your old man's name yet."

The old man laughed when he heard this.

"I am from Shandong, and my family is in Jinan Prefecture, Shandong. My surname is Meng, and my name is Meng Haigong. I am also a distant branch of Naya Sheng. The magistrate of the government."

Duan Wuji listened and nodded. "My lord, who is the King Yang you are referring to? Can you tell me?"

Meng Haigong laughed and said: "There are several princes in our Great Sui Dynasty, and each prince has his own territory and even his own army.

You are not far to the north like us, which is within the sphere of influence of Luo Yi, the king of Peking, and he has the final say on that area.

Your Shanxi area is the sphere of influence of Tang Guogong Li Yuan, and he has the final say on this place.

Why did the group of people who chased us smear their faces with black ashes?The fear is that in Li Yuan's sphere of influence, if Tang Guogong Li Yuan knows about this, hmph, neither of them will be able to talk.

That King Yang is not an outsider, he is the younger brother of our current Holy Majesty, the official worship is the word side-by-side king, known as the backer king Yang Lin, and he is the most powerful princes today.

His sphere of influence covers the entire territory of Shandong, central and southern Hebei, and northern Jiangsu.

I am the subordinate of King Yang, otherwise, why did Cheng Xiang secretly pursue and kill me?That was the force that wanted to take the opportunity to attack King Yang.

Hmph, I will report this situation to King Yang when I go back this time. "

Only then did Duan Wuji understand what was going on.

A group of people walked along the mountain path, it was a rush all the way, hungry for food, overnight overnight, after six or seven days of hard trekking, the group of people finally walked out of Shanxi and entered the border of Hebei this day.

The mountains gradually became shorter and smaller, and the roads became wider and flatter.

After walking for more than a day, people finally walked out of the Taihang Mountains and entered the vast and boundless Hebei Great Plains.

It was the first time for Duan Wuji and Tie Niu to see such a wide world, and the two children were so excited that they jumped up.

I saw this land of Hebei: the smoke from cooking is everywhere, and the roads of every village are connected.Children depend on the willows, and the old man is busy plowing in autumn.The cattle are walking everywhere, and the chickens and ducks are singing along the side of the village.The leisurely old yellow dog lies quietly in the middle of the road.

When Duan Wuji saw it, he said to Tieniu: "Hebei is really a good place! You see we have traveled so far, but we haven't seen a few barren lands! It's much better than our Shanxi."

"Hey, who said otherwise! Hey, Brother Wuji, since we're out this time, let's play here in Hebei for two more days, just to let go of the sullenness in our hearts."

The prefect of Meng laughed and said: "You two young righteous men are welcome to stay in my government office for a few more days. Even if you don't leave for a year, I can take care of your meals."

It is completely safe now, and a group of people walked straight to the Hejian Realm talking and laughing.

Entering the Taiping Plain, the journey will be much more peaceful. A group of people for several days, step by step, walk during the day, stay at night, and arrive at the Hejian government office in two or three days.

This Hejian Mansion is a small place, the city area is not large, and its radius is only about six or seven miles.

The business shops in the city are opened every family, and it is a prosperous scene, and the government office is located in the middle of the city.

It covers an area of ​​fifty or sixty mu. There is a pair of stone lions in front of the gate, each of which is as tall as a person. There is no shortage of horse posts and horse-mounting stones in front of the gate of the government office. The vermilion gate shows the grandeur and majesty of the government office. .

The prefect of Meng entered the government office, and only then did he regain his former majesty.

The prefect Meng glanced at Duan Wuji and said, "Little righteous man, please sit down, I'll serve you wine to wash away the dust later. Thank you for saving our lives.

Come on, call Zhang Xiong and Duan Yi over, let them come over and have a few drinks with the guests, I'm not at home for so many days, they are all taking care of this house. "

A yamen servant agreed and ran out.

After a short time, the two chief arresters came up, and they first saluted the prefect Meng with fists in their hands.

"Master Zhifu, since you left, nothing has happened in this Hejian territory, everything is too peaceful, you are back, are you going to treat us to a meal?"

Prefect Meng smiled at the two governors: "Well, that's what it means, now I'll introduce you two friends, let's get to know each other."

Prefect Meng waved at Duan Wuji and Tieniu. "You two benefactors, come here."

The prefect Meng pointed with his finger. "See, these two are the two heads of the arresting squad in my yamen. This tall man is called Zhang Xiong. This horse archer in my yamen is good at wielding a big stick. He is very powerful. Excellent martial arts.

This stout man is called Duan Yi, who is my yamen's lunge and uses a big sword. This well-known hero on the ground in Hejian Mansion is also my right-hand man. "

The prefect of Meng pointed to Duan Wuji and Tieniu again.

"These two are the two little righteous men I met on the way home. This one is called Duan Wuji, and this one is called Duan Tieniu. They are brothers in charge of the family.

On our way back, we happened to be robbed and killed by strong bandits, and thanks to the rescue of two little righteous men, we saved our lives.

When I invite you here this time, I just ask you two to compensate them for a meal.

Also let you make friends. "

That Zhang Xiong grinned.

"Master Zhifu, when I went there, I told you to take our two brothers as security guards for you, but you just didn't listen, no, you are at a disadvantage, right?

And let two little hairy kids save you, how embarrassing it is to say it!

Alas, asking our brothers to pay them for food is really flattering them. "

After hearing this, Duan Yi pulled Zhang Xiong with his hand.

"My dear brother, it's better to say a few words less, this will embarrass the magistrate too much!"

Ho!I don't know why, this day Zhang Xiong is still in a good mood, and he is muttering indistinctly.

The Tieniu couldn't bear it anymore, and shouted at Zhang Xiong: "Brother Zhang, actually we brothers don't need you to accompany us, we brothers have mouths under our noses, we can eat, don't believe me, you are watching from the side, Without you, we'd be full as usual."

Zhang Xiong blushed when he heard this, he didn't sit here, and he didn't sit.

Duan Yi laughed loudly after hearing this: "What this brother said is too true, even if all the people don't accompany you to eat, you can still be full, this is absolutely true.

Brother Zhang, you are guaranteed to lose this bet.

That's enough, that's enough, let's stop bickering and pay the guests for dinner. "

Duan Yi kept putting out the fire on the sidelines.

Duan Wuji pulled the iron bull hard, and the iron bull stopped making a sound.

The prefect Meng was smoothing things over. "Both heads, two benefactors, we are all our own people, why are we angry with each other? Sit, sit, sit, come, let's have a toast together.

This first glass of wine first thanked the two little righteous men for their life-saving grace. "

The five of them toasted and drank together.

"This second glass of wine is to celebrate the master's safe return. As the saying goes, if you survive a catastrophe, you will have good luck. Come on, let's have another one."

The five of them toasted and drank together.

"This third glass of wine is to celebrate that the two supervisors have managed well during my time away, and everything is safe and sound."

The five drank it all in one gulp.

This Meng Zhifu glanced at the four people and said with a smile: "Now you can do whatever you want, eat as much as you can, drink as much as you can. You eat, the old man has something else to do, then I will lose the compensation .”

After finishing speaking, the prefect Meng walked into the back hall.

Duan Wuji and Tieniu saw that the magistrate was far away, they immediately picked up the steamed buns and ate them with a big piece of meat. When it was time to eat, the two of them watched Duan Yi and Zhang Xiong drink and eat vegetables, and waited for the two of them to eat and drink After he was done, Zhang Xiong looked at Tieniu and said, "Brother, as the saying goes, it's not like a strong dragon can't cross the river. You see, we've had enough to eat and drink. How about our martial arts competition? Let me also see the martial arts of the little hero." "

Which of these martial arts practitioners is not competitive?

The iron bull laughed loudly after hearing this: "Okay, my forehand is itchy, and I am looking for someone to practice a few times."

When Duan Yi saw it, he chuckled: "Brother, since there is a competition, why don't we bet on it?"

Duan Wuji laughed and said: "When you meet for the first time, you should make friends with martial arts. What are you betting on? Doesn't it make you lose your feelings? I don't think so."

At this moment, the prefect Meng came out.

"I said that I have no objection to your martial arts competition, but I want to make one thing clear to you. No one is allowed to injure the other party, otherwise the government will never allow you."

That Zhang Xiong and Duan Yi looked at each other and said: "Don't worry, we will be careful when we strike, and we will never cause serious injuries."

Duan Wuji laughed and said: "Brother, since you make friends through martial arts, why do you need to do it yourself? My little brother can do it for you."

After hearing this, Tieniu understood that it was because Wuji was afraid that he would lose face if he was defeated, and wanted to stand out for himself.

This bull iron can really pretend to be garlic. "Brother, you haven't learned martial arts for a long time, so you should pay more attention."

Duan Wuji listened and nodded. "Brother, don't worry, look at my brother."

(End of this chapter)