Seeing the clouds

Chapter 23 Chapter 22 Little things about the journey

In the early morning of the next day, Zhang Yue got up early and rushed to the door of the escort agency. Huang Tianba and the escorts from the escort agency got up early and were burning incense in the courtyard to worship.

However, when the escort team set off on the road, Zhang Chuchu didn't see his cousin Zheng Baiyu, so he knew that his cousin probably told his aunt and uncle about the matter, and his aunt and uncle locked him up after they disagreed.

Anyway, I had an explanation for my uncle and aunt, so I didn't think about it anymore.

This time the escort brought a total of more than a dozen people, which was not the largest number, but the entire convoy was still mighty.

Escorts have a set of established rules, and everyone from the head escort to the attendants must abide by them carefully, and must not be careless.

The head escort, Huang Tianba, was riding a horse that was white all over and had yellow legs. The horse was named Zhaohuang Feidian. He asked the most famous storyteller in Jincheng to give it its name.Apart from the escort agency, she is the most precious treasure in the family he owns, just like his wife.For this horse, he and Xiong Xiaocun owed a lot of favors and money.

Huang Tianba rode Huang Feidian and walked at the forefront of the escort team. He could see all directions and listen in all directions, making it easy to observe and direct the entire escort team. All the disturbances around him could not be hidden from his perception.

The two escorts in the escort team, who were agile and second only to Huang Tianba in strength, had their backs to the front, sitting upside down on the rearmost carriage, responsible for cutting off the rear.

The rest of the escorts were scattered on other carriages, all with their left legs pressed against their right legs. This action is called "beating the escort legs" in the world, in order to quickly make a move when encountering thieves. Deal with it so you don’t have to rush.

Zhang Yue, Huang Xiaoxiao and a steward from the escort agency were sitting on the carriage in the center.

The escorts all performed their duties, and Zhang Chuechu, Huang Xiaoxiao and the steward were probably the easiest among the entire escort team.Huang Xiaoxiao was chatting with the steward at this time, while Zhang Chuewue took a copy of "Black Talk" borrowed from Huang Tianba and read it carefully.As a child who could be considered as growing up in the government court, Zhang Yue was still very interested in these unique things in the world.

Although Huang Xiaoxiao was already sixteen or seventeen years old, which should have been the age when love first blossomed, he unexpectedly had no interest in the extraordinary-looking scholar in white next to him.She grew up under the protection of her eldest brother Huang Tianba and her second brother Xiong Xiaocun. Although she lived in poverty when she was young, the two brothers never allowed their sister to suffer any injustice.

Therefore, Huang Xiaoxiao has felt since he was a child that if he gets married and has children in the future, his future husband must not only be an unparalleled hero and knight, but also a righteous man who is as upright as his two brothers.As for those civil servants and scholars who disrupted the court and caused wars with their own righteousness, Huang Xiaoxiao really didn't have a good impression of them. In her heart, these incompetent scholars were all useless. Not useful.

Every time she thought of the words of an old escort in the escort agency: "Those scholars always think that their heads are extremely smart. If they really go to the battlefield, their heads will not be able to fight. They will only be chopped off from the neck with an axe. 'Cang Dang' "It fell to the ground with a sound." Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Useless is a scholar.

Although Huang Tianba and Xiong Xiaocun never interfered and did not dare to interfere in their sister's emotional affairs, they still hoped in their hearts that their sister could marry a scholar who had achieved academic status and live a stable life.

After all, in this world, warriors may seem majestic, but in fact they are humble and mean nothing in front of the government and the court.

"I have a sword that can bring peace to the world" are all bullshit. No matter how strong you are, can you be stronger than the imperial cavalry and infantry?

Changfeng Escort Bureau is a living example.

Of course, Zhang Yue didn't know about Huang Xiaoxiao's thoughts, and he didn't care either. Now he only found the book "Black Talk" in his hand very interesting, so he tried to remember some commonly used argots and expressions.

Huang Xiaoxiao was not interested in Zhang Yue, but the miscellaneous manager was extremely curious about Zhang Yue.He chatted with Huang Xiaoxiao for a while, and when the two of them finished talking, he turned his attention to the scholar in white robe next to him, who was holding a copy of "Black Talk" and didn't look like him at first glance. He gently patted Zhang Yue, who was engrossed in reading, and asked, "Master Li, can you allow me to disturb you for a moment?"

Zhang Chuchu was not unhappy at all because he was slightly rudely interrupted by the steward while he was reading. He wrote down the page number in the book that he had read so far, turned to the steward and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, brother shopkeeper has something to do." ?”

The steward who was at the forefront of the escort agency said: "I don't have anything else to do. I came all the way. I haven't seen Mr. Li say a few words. Since Mr. Li and we have to spend a few days together, we want to get to know each other."

Zhang Yue was not afraid of strangers, and saw that the elder brother in charge had no bad intentions, so he chatted with him for a while, asked him some rules and taboos that he should know when traveling as an escort, and introduced himself as Li Huizhi.Huang Xiaoxiao on the side was not interested in Zhang Yue's life and deeds, so he naturally didn't talk to him and just sat on the carriage minding his own thoughts.

Both the stewards and the bodyguards in the escort team had long noticed the good knife worn by Zhang Yue.

For this reason, Huang Xiaoxiao even mocked Zhang Yue behind his back for pretending.

But everyone didn't think so, but there was no reason to ask. At this time, the steward felt that he had found a suitable opportunity, so he asked Zhang Chuo.

Zhang Chuchu then slightly modified the speech he made in Xiaocang Village a few days ago and moved it out.

The steward was naturally convinced after hearing this, and when Huang Xiaoxiao on the side heard Zhang Chuo say that he came from a martial arts family and was also slightly good at some moves, he had to look at him a few times, but he still did not change. His image in his mind.

Two days of boring travel followed. Zhang Chuchu spent most of his time focusing on the book "The Black Talk of Jianghu". He occasionally chatted with the manager, but never had the chance to read even one sentence to Huang Xiaoxiao.

However, Zhang Yue spent a few days with everyone in the escort team, and he became more and more impressed by the professionalism of the escorts in the escort team. Especially at night, the escorts responsible for keeping watch would consciously change shifts with each other without the need for anyone to remind them.

Huang Tianba even got up every hour to ask the night guard to check if there was anything strange happening around him.

The only exception in the entire escort agency may be the lovely girl Huang Xiaoxiao. The little girl has no worries and sleeps deeply, and occasionally utters a few words in her sleep that others cannot hear clearly.

Sure enough, in the adult world, nothing is easy.

The escort team's march was not slow. On the fourth day, they arrived at Changwuguan, the only pass between Jincheng and Tianshui.

Compared with Yumen Pass in the northwest, Changwuguan is relatively smaller in scale, but there are not many people living here.

When they arrived at Changwuguan, the atmosphere in the escort team became much more relaxed. The escorts were no longer as nervous as before in the wild, and they even started to joke and joke with each other.

Huang Tianba took the escort team to a familiar inn and planned to spend the night here so that everyone could have a good rest.

The escorts were taking care of the goods and feeding the horses, and Zhang Yue stood aside and watched. At this time, Huang Tianba came over and patted Zhang Yue's shoulder.

"Huizhi has been working hard these past few days, so we will take a good rest in the inn later. We will stay one night at Changwuguan today and set off tomorrow afternoon."

Zhang Chuchu nodded and said, "Brother Huang is the one who worked hard."

Huang Tianba then smiled and said: "Second brother is not here, I am leading the escort team by myself, which is indeed more troublesome than usual. But there is nothing we can do, who told us to rely on this to make a living."

Then Huang Tianba continued: "After dinner later, I will take a few brothers to the market. If Huizhi needs help purchasing anything, remember to let him know in advance."

Zhang Chu said: "I don't have anything to buy, but is the escort team missing something? I have to trouble Brother Huang to go there in person."

Huang Tianba explained: "It's not that the escort team is lacking something, it's just that you don't know Huizhi. When our Jincheng Escort Bureau takes some relatively inexpensive escorts, we will also bring some Jincheng specialties, such as medicinal materials. For podophyllum and the like, trading in other cities can be regarded as subsidizing the family income."

After Huang Tianba explained this, Zhang Yue understood: "Brother Huang, go back early and pay more attention to rest." Huang Tianba naturally nodded in agreement.

Zhang Chuchu and everyone had lunch in the inn, and then Huang Tianba took his three brothers and the steward to go out. Huang Xiaoxiao wanted to follow after seeing her, but everyone couldn't resist her and had no choice but to let her follow. went.

But Huang Xiaoxiao's departure was a disaster.

The biggest official in Changwuguan is Ma Liancheng, the captain of Zhechong School. The people of Changwuguan call him Captain Ma.

Ma Liancheng took root in Changwuguan. He served as a school captain for more than 30 years. He also married a local daughter-in-law of Changwuguan and gave birth to a son. His life could be regarded as complete.

Ma Liancheng, who was considered to have a son at an old age, gave his son a literary name, Ma Wenhou, hoping that he would live up to his name in the future and be knowledgeable and knowledgeable.

It's a pity that when Ma Wenhou was only four years old, Ma Liancheng's wife was separated from his father and son forever.

The four-year-old child lost his mother, so Ma Liancheng naturally loved him doubly.

And Ma Wenhou was doted on by Ma Liancheng since he was a child, and relying on his father Ma Liancheng's relationship with the school captain and the majesty of the school captain's mansion, he could do whatever he wanted in Changwuguan, and he was free and easy.

But after being indulged for a long time, Ma Wenhou's temper gradually deteriorated, and he naturally began to bully men and dominate women. Ma Liancheng had devoted himself to managing Changwuguan over the years, and rarely disciplined Ma Wenhou. He felt guilty, so he had to turn a blind eye. One eye.

A year ago, General Ma Wenhou killed the daughter of an ordinary citizen in Changwuguan.Once this person died, it was naturally difficult to deal with it. Ma Liancheng spent a lot of money to calm the matter down.

And he was very angry at his son who had ruined the reputation of the school captain's house, but there was nothing he could do about it.

I am already old, and I am an only child, so naturally I am reluctant to fight. If something happens to me, will I have another child?
It is really my heroic son Gou Xiong who describes Ma Liancheng and Ma Wenhou perfectly.

Ma Liancheng had no choice but to impose a one-year ban on Ma Wenhou, hoping that he could study quietly and repent honestly.

Time flies like an arrow, the sun and the moon fly like a shuttle, this year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Ma Wenhou, who had just been released from the ban a few days ago, was wandering on the street with two guests from the mansion.

This is a total of six people, five men and one woman, walking towards Ma Wenhou from a distance.Ma Wenhou was not interested in these people from the world. After all, there were many people from the world among the guests in the school captain's house, including his master Ning Lie, who usually taught him swordsmanship. He had been a swordsman and knight in the world in the early years.

But when Ma Wenhou saw the exquisite and lovely woman, his eyes could no longer move from the woman's face to anywhere else until the six people passed by him.

Although he has been banned for this year, Ma Wenhou has learned a lot.

But the moral responsibility on his shoulders could not suppress the lust in his heart. For Ma Wenhou, who had been a vegetarian for a year, it was natural for him to want to change his food to meat.

Ma Wenhou turned towards a doorman and asked: "The six people who passed by just now are a little unfamiliar. Do you know their origins?"

When the guest saw the vague lust flashing through Ma Wenhou's eyes, he naturally understood what was going on in his young master's mind. Then he thought about it and said, "I have seen these five men before. The one-eyed man in the lead seems to be It’s Huang Tianba, the chief escort of the Jincheng Escort Agency, and occasionally he passes through Changwuguan when traveling.”

Ma Wenhou muttered the name Huang Tianba, and then asked: "Where is the woman?"

Ke Qing shook his head: "I don't know him, I haven't seen him before, but judging from his appearance, he should be with Huang Tianba."

Ma Wenhou asked: "How about Huang Tianba's strength?"

The guest replied: "Not bad. He is in the upper third rank. He also has a brother named Xiong Xiaocun who is almost at the same level as him. The bodyguards in the escort agency are also very powerful. The Jincheng escort agency is also considered a small force in our northwest. Fame.”

Ma Wenhou rolled his eyes. It seemed that it was not that easy to deal with this little lady. He had to go back to his master Ning Lie to discuss countermeasures.

So Ma Wenhou said to the two of them at the door: "I will go back to the house first. You two will work hard and help inquire about the situation of the young lady and the Jincheng Escort Agency."

Although the two guest ministers said they did not want to engage in such vulgar activities, they had no choice but to look for traces of Huang Tianba and his entourage and inquire about them.

Ma Wenhou rubbed his hands, recalling the exquisite woman's temperament and appearance in his mind, and made up his mind to arrange the matter properly, and hurried towards the captain's mansion.

Huang Tianba and others naturally didn't know that someone had wrong thoughts about Huang Xiaoxiao. As usual, they spent the entire afternoon selling some specialties they brought with them at the market, and bought some things unique to Changwuguan. As the sun set, they all returned to the inn.

Zhang Chuchu also came out of his room and had dinner with everyone.After everyone had eaten and drank enough, except for some of the bodyguards who needed to guard the goods, everyone returned to their rooms to prepare for rest.

Because the escort team had a large number of people and there were horses, carriages, cargo and other things, the shopkeeper arranged everyone in the bungalow in the backyard of the inn to make it easier to feed the horses and to guard the goods.

Zhang Chuewue and Huang Xiaoxiao were arranged in two relatively comfortable guest rooms on the west side, and everyone else lived in the guest room on the east side next to the cargo storage room.In this way, even if a thief encounters trouble at night, each of them can take care of each other.

Huang Xiaoxiao felt a little tired because he had been standing and playing all afternoon in the market, so he turned off the lights early and went to bed to rest.

However, Zhang Yue still stayed up late at night to read, deliberately recuperating his energy while also carefully reading the borrowed "Jiang Hu He Hua" and "Silent Sutra".

The entire backyard of the inn was silent.

There were two black figures whispering outside the wall in the backyard of the inn.

"Wenhou, are you sure this is it?"

"I asked the innkeeper about it, and it must be true. And the guy said that there is only a weak scholar living here with the little lady."

The middle-aged man whose appearance was unclear in the darkness said: "It can save a lot of trouble. However, this is the last time I will help you do evil. If something happens again, I will have no shame to tell your father. I will continue to stay at the captain’s residence.”

The other dark figure was naturally Ma Wenhou, who saw Huang Xiaoxiao having evil thoughts during the day. He listened to Master Ning Lie's warning and replied with a smile: "Master, don't worry, if anything happens, I will take care of it for you, and I promise this will definitely be the last time!"

The middle-aged man looked at the bright moon in the night sky, sighed quietly, and stopped talking.

(End of this chapter)