Kaifeng Monster

Chapter 118 Life and Death Disk (4)
In the hall, a table of wine and food has been prepared, all of which are top-notch and delicate dishes, finely chopped and grilled, one glance will make one's index finger move.Zhan Zhao traveled all the way, eating and sleeping in the open. After entering the Northland, because of the local folk customs, he ate more simply and crudely. When he first saw such a fine plate of food, he seemed to be back in a beautiful place in the south of the Yangtze River, and he felt a little dazed.

The incense in the room is very elegant, and there is a beautiful woman wearing a vermilion brocade robe, with loose hair in a bun, and green silk like a waterfall, stroking the strings with the piano table.The gurgling sound of the piano is like a trickle, refreshing.

Shen Renjie personally poured wine for him: "The best Lihuabai, Mr. Zhan, try it."

Zhan Zhao is not greedy for drinking, he just took a sip, and then stopped his glass. If Bai Yutang was there, he would probably laugh at him for being petty and not a god of wine.

After a cup, Shen Renjie went straight to the point: "Master Zhan, I think you also know about the business of entering Songtang. To tell you the truth, since the wolf lord Li Yuanhao proclaimed emperor last year, there have been rumors that Xixia is going to seek war against me. The imperial court is constantly rushing. , asking us to investigate the military situation as soon as possible.”

Zhan Zhao was taken aback for a moment, he didn't expect Shen Renjie to be so direct. Although he shunned others at this moment, the beauty playing the piano is still there, if the news gets out...

Shen Renjie seemed to see through his mind: "It's okay, my own."

Hearing the words, the beauty raised her head and gave Zhan Zhao a shallow smile, her complexion was extremely bright, this smile was more like a spring flower blooming, with light and shadow rippling.Zhan Zhao looked embarrassed, and nodded slightly towards the beauty: "Zhan is worrying too much, miss forgive me."

Shen Renjie continued the topic just now: "I have been in Songtang for many years, and I finally achieved a small success. I have implanted fine work in Li Yuanhao's proton army."

Speaking of this, he paused for a while: "Master Zhan, have you heard of the wolf lord's proton army?"

Zhan Zhao nodded: "I have heard a little bit. I heard that the number of the hostile army is more than a thousand. It is a garrison formed by Li Yuanhao who is good at riding and arching selected from the children of the wealthy family. It is divided into three divisions to protect the safety of the wolf master. It's just..." He wanted to say something Again, Shen Renjie looked at him, motioned him with his eyes but said it was okay.

"It's just that the proton army selects the children of the wealthy family and implants them with detailed work..."

The corners of Shen Renjie's lips showed color: "Master Zhan, don't care whether I am coercing and luring me to enter the Songtang hall or stealing the beam. In short, this meticulous work can be regarded as implanted."

Zhan Zhao smiled slightly and waited for the next sentence.

"This person's name is Gu Le Renjuan. He has won Li Yuanhao's trust in the Proton Army. He has been promoted many times. He is considered a personal guard. When it comes to military affairs, Li Yuanhao does not avoid him... So, he sent us a lot of powerful information. Mr. Zhan, you are in Kaifeng, so you may not know that although Xixia has not used troops on a large scale against the Song Dynasty, there have been several battles at the border. The information sent by Gu Leren is very useful to us .”

Zhan Zhao remained calm: "It's a pity that we acted too hastily, and we couldn't restrain ourselves. The defeats in these few battles aroused Li Yuanhao's suspicion, right?"

Shen Renjie glanced at Zhan Zhao in surprise, and although he was reluctant, he had to nod and admit: "We are too short-sighted, and this matter has indeed aroused Li Yuanhao's suspicion. According to Gu Le Renxuan, Li Yuanhao is not sure Who is it, but he has already begun to pay attention to several people, one of whom is him. At the same time, Li Yuanhao's personal guard also smelled the smell of entering Songtang."

"So?" Zhan Zhao raised his eyebrows.

"So, whether to save himself or dispel Gu Leren's suspicions, there must be an assassination that disturbs the audience in the Songtang Hall."

"Assassination?" Zhan Zhao was terrified, "Assassinate who? Li Yuanhao?"

Shen Renjie smiled secretively, and did not answer him directly: "In the past few days, Gu Le Renzhuo happened to be called by the capture and life army. It is also a coincidence that he inadvertently knew Li Yuanhao's recent hunting schedule."

"So, you want to take this opportunity to assassinate Li Yuanhao? Wash away his doubts about Gu Le Renshu?"

Shen Renjie smiled: "Zhan Zhao, you are really smart. It takes a lot less effort to talk to smart people."

Zhan Zhao shook his head: "It's not easy to assassinate the Lord of Xixia? Hall Master Shen, if this matter becomes serious, have you ever thought that Li Yuanhao might use this as an excuse to turn against Da Song?"

"Of course I have thought about it." Shen Renjie showed a haughty look on his face, "So, we don't really want to assassinate Li Yuanhao, but we just try to scare the snake, disturb the surrounding area, and divert Li Yuanhao's suspicion. We will not give Li Yuanhao any more. Leave something to grab."

Zhan Zhao smiled faintly, bowed his head and remained silent.Shen Renjie noticed Zhan Zhao's expression, his heart moved, and there was something in his words: "Why, Mr. Zhan has objections to this arrangement?"

Zhan Zhao raised his head and looked into Shen Renjie's eyes calmly: "Teacher Shen has been in Xixia for a long time, and he single-handedly took care of the Pine Hall. There is nothing wrong with the arrangement of this matter. When you think about it carefully, it is also reasonable. One point, Zhan can't figure it out."

Shen Renjie raised his eyebrows: "I would like to hear the details."

"Why me?" Zhan Zhao paused every word, "Strictly speaking, Zhan is not a frontier minister, has no knowledge of military affairs, was born in the rivers and lakes, walked in the inner court, and has nothing to do with the affairs of entering the Songtang. How could the emperor suddenly issue an urgent order? , summoned me?"

"If it is said that entering Songtang has a short manpower, it is unreasonable." Zhan Zhao didn't want to appear aggressive, but the sharpness between his brows became more and more intense, "What kind of thing is it that you have to send someone from thousands of miles to come here? To assassinate Li Yuanhao? What kind of role will Zhan play in it?"

Shen Renjie remained silent, but the beauty suddenly stood up, went to the table and picked up the jug, intending to pour wine for Zhan Zhao.Zhan Zhao stretched out his hand to block it: "It's a waste of time to drink too much, no need."

Shen Renjie suddenly stood up: "Sisi, greet Mr. Zhan."

Before Zhan Zhao could respond, he walked away with his hands in his hands.

Zhan Zhao's face was full of anger, and he stood up immediately, and suddenly his shoulders sank, but there were long slender fingers touching his shoulder blades.

Zhan Zhao lowered his shoulders and turned away.

Sisi pursed her lips and smiled, tilting the jug in her hand slightly, and the clear jade liquid poured down from the spout, filling Zhan Zhao's wine glass to the brim: "Wine doesn't touch your lips, how can you call it a mistake? Mr. Zhan, please!" .” While speaking, holding the cup in both hands, it was held high in front of Zhan Zhao, and he suddenly giggled, “Master Zhan, look at us, do you think it’s a case of raising eyebrows?”

Zhan Zhao's eyes turned cold: "Miss Sisi, be careful!"

"It doesn't matter if you don't drink." With a calm expression, Si Si returned the wine glass to the table, "There are some things that Hall Master Shen can't say, so I will pass them on from generation to generation. Master Zhan, sit down and talk."

Zhan Zhao glanced at her coldly, brushed his robe and sat down.

"Master Shen just missed a section on purpose just now." Sisi sat down next to Zhan Zhao, stroking her drooping hair with both hands, "The reason why Li Yuanhao smelled the smell of entering Songtang is not because of his The guards are so sharp and powerful, but Hall Master Shen once sneaked into the palace and revealed his possessions. After a fierce fight, he had to retreat completely. He lost the waist card of Songtang, and Li Yuanhao knew that there were people in Xingzhou City. Such an organization."

Zhan Zhao's heart trembled: "Does Grand Master Pang know about this?"

"I don't know."

"I don't know?"

"The general is outside, and the military order is not accepted. If there is a mistake, it is natural to try to make up for it. Who wants to report everything to the top and be punished by Shangfeng?"

Zhan Zhao is silent.

"Just now in the courtyard, Hall Master Shen has tried Master Zhan's kung fu, one is the sleeve arrow, and the other is swordsmanship. Master Zhan thinks, what is Hall Master Shen's kung fu?"

"The accuracy of the sleeve arrow is not bad, but the strength is a bit lacking, otherwise the sleeve arrow should come out through the hat instead of being inserted into the hat body; as for the swordsmanship, it's all there, Zhan can't comment."

Si Si smiled: "Master Zhan saw it well, it was because Hall Master Shen was seriously injured in the fight when he entered the palace earlier, so that he couldn't use kung fu freely. This matter is kept secret to the outside world, only you and me It's just that the three of you, Hall Master Shen, know about it."

"So?" Zhan Zhao finally figured out something.

"So this assassination of Li Yuanhao, Lord Shen can't lead the team. But in order to do enough tricks, the 'Shen Renjie' who is proficient in swordsmanship and sleeve arrow must show up again. Looking at the government and the public, whose swordsmanship and sleeve arrow kung fu can be compared with Hall Master Shen Shoulder-to-shoulder? Moreover, the matter is confidential, this person should preferably be someone who is in power, and is extremely tight-lipped...Master Zhan, is this name ready to come out?"

"So to assassinate Li Yuanhao tomorrow, Lord Zhan please lead the team there. With one strike, he will evacuate quickly, and his life will be safe. But the most important point is that he must shoot the sleeve arrow of Hall Master Shen and show some sword moves. , the Xixia people will know that the assassin of Li Yuanhao is the same group as the people who sneaked into the palace before. In this way, we can protect Gu Le Renshu and clear away the suspicion. Master Zhan, Gu Le Renshu, is more powerful than you and I think It is much more important, if there is a real battle between Xixia and Song Dynasty in the future, Gu Leren can make the first contribution, and it will not be in vain for us to do our best to protect him."

Zhan Zhao was silent for a while, and then said in a low voice, "Zhan got it."

In the early morning of the second day, Zhan Zhao led dozens of masters who entered Songtang together with Qi Desheng, and first ambushed at the place where Li Yuanhao's hunting guards must pass.

Although Qi Desheng admired Zhan Zhao's skill, he was very dissatisfied with Zhan Zhao leading the team: "He is an official of the court, and he doesn't understand anything about the affairs of the Songtang, so why should we listen to him?"

Shen Renjie gave him a cold look: "All arrangements are up to Mr. Zhan. We will sit in the pine hall and wait for the good news."

No matter how stunned Qi Desheng was, his dissatisfaction was finally suppressed.

It was nearly noon, and Li Yuanhao's hunting team was finally in sight.

The banners and flags are everywhere, and the flags follow the wind. Li Yuanhao's car is surrounded by the guards of the capital like a forest of swords and halberds. Judging from this posture, it is impossible to get close. How easy is it to assassinate?
Fortunately, it's just a disturbance on the outside, just make enough momentum.

Seeing the carriages and horses approaching, everyone covered their masks, Zhan Zhao shouted: "Get up."

Dozens of people shouted in unison, rushed out from their cover, and the border between the two sides was in chaos.

However, the garrison troops of the capital were all carefully selected by Li Yuanhao, and all of them responded very quickly.After the initial panic, everyone held Xia Guojian in their hands, and attacked against the trend, entering the battle very quickly.Although Zhan Zhao and others attacked fiercely, they were soon contained within a small encirclement.

Zhan Zhao saw an opening, he straightened up, let out a clear whistle, and using the top of Xia Bing's head as a pedal, he drove inward by himself for more than ten feet. Started, and shot towards Li Yuanhao's car.

Shen Renjie's sleeve arrow was a bit heavier than the one he used frequently, but it was still handy.

As expected, the Xiujian was stopped by the guard Wudao before it arrived, but the matter was accomplished, Zhan Zhao didn't want to fight, and shouted: "Let's go!"

Body like a ghost, movement like electricity, a group of people were ordered to rush towards a weak point in the siege, taking advantage of the Xixia army's unpreparedness, retreating quickly, and the angry roar of the Xixia army was left behind far behind.

The retreat route was also determined earlier, Qi Desheng led the crowd to retreat, and while they were marching, Zhan Zhao suddenly stopped, and said in a deep voice, "That's not right."

More than ten people stepped forward together, Qi Desheng said in astonishment: "Lord Zhan, what's wrong?"

Zhan Zhao looked at the way he came from: "Why don't the Xixia people chase after him?"

"That's because we withdrew quickly!" Qi Desheng stomped his feet, "Master Zhan, let's go, after passing this canyon, there is Guling Mountain in front of you, the mountain is very steep, if you cross this Guling Mountain, you will be fine. Even if the Xixia people chased him and hid in the mountains, it would not be easy for the Xixia people to search the mountains."

Zhan Zhao faintly felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't tell why, so he had to follow Qi Desheng to run away.As he entered the canyon, he felt strange, suddenly heard the sound of piercing through the sky in the distance, before he could think about it, he yelled angrily: "Get down!"

Before the words fell, he rolled on the spot, and a row of white-feathered copper arrows were nailed into the position where he was standing just now.There were more than a dozen people in the same group, two or three of them couldn't dodge in time, the copper arrow pierced through the bone, they couldn't help the pain for a while, they rolled on the ground, holding their wounds and screaming.

Zhan Zhao quickly hid behind the rocks, and carefully observed the movement on the top of the canyon, but seeing the shadows above the canyon, surrounded by people at the front and back, he felt terrified, and said angrily to Qi Desheng: "This retreat route, Is it your decision?"

Qi Desheng snorted again and again: "It's not me, it's Gu Le Renxuan, son of a turtle, why would the Xixia people set up an ambush here?"

Zhan Zhao sighed: "Perhaps Li Yuanhao has already suspected Gu Le Renshu. This so-called assassination is simply a trick to lure us into the trap. Otherwise, Gu Le Renshu has already betrayed."

"That's impossible." Qi Desheng shook his head repeatedly, "I've seen Gu Le Renxuan, he..."

"Hall Master Shen!" A shout came from far above the canyon.Qi Desheng stopped suddenly, and his expression changed suddenly: "It's Gu Leren's voice!"

"Master Shen, let's get to know each other for a while. Before sending you off on the road, let's chat and say hello."

Zhan Zhao's face was expressionless, and he quietly hid himself behind a stone.Qi Desheng's eyes were about to burst, he jumped out suddenly, pointed at the canyon and yelled: "Gu Leren, you traitor!"

"Traitor?" Gu Le Renxuan sneered, "I was originally from the Great Xia, so I was naturally loyal to the Holy One. It's ridiculous that you entered the Songtang Hall and thought that you could instigate rebellion against me with a small lure? Your trust, today is what you are waiting for, and you will be wiped out! Hall Master Shen, I’m afraid you won’t see it. Now your old lair should be a mess and corpses everywhere. You claim to live and die together, it’s a good thing Brother, I'd better send you on the road to reunite with them."

"You wolf-hearted bastard, the hall master really misjudged you..."

With a cry of pain, Qi Desheng rolled to the ground.Zhan Zhao could see clearly from behind the stone, there was a bronze arrow with white feather sticking out of his neck.

"Brother Qi!" Zhan Zhao looked at the outside and seemed to be silent, and quickly dragged Qi Desheng in.Blood froth burst out of Qi Desheng's mouth, he was out of breath: "Master Zhan, you are so ruthless, I can't think of..."

"People's hearts are changeable, so what's the use of talking about it now?" Zhan Zhao stretched out his hand to press his wound, "Shut up."

"If you keep quiet, you won't... live two more days." Qi Desheng grinned, "I never thought that when my old Qi died, Nan Xia was by his side..."

Zhan Zhao smiled, but couldn't stop sighing in his heart.

"Sure enough, if it's not my race, its heart must be different..." Qi Desheng's eyes gradually faded, "Is the hall master also suspicious of him, so he didn't lead the team today, but pushed... you... come out? It's just that the Hall Master didn't expect that Gu Le Renrun would be so cruel...with both knives, he actually lifted the... chief rudder... Hall Master...Old Qi came to see you..." His voice became louder and louder. It became weaker and weaker, and finally there was no more ups and downs in the chest.

Zhan Zhao sighed, reaching out to help him close his eyes.

What kind of mystery are the Xixia people doing?Now that they have surrounded them, why not do it?Zhan Zhao felt suspicious, when he looked around, he saw dozens of military vehicles rolling out from the canyon.

Troops?

In the blink of an eye, Zhan Zhao's head thumped: That's not a military vehicle, it's a Xixia people's whirlwind cannon!

The Poxi whirlwind cannon of the Xixia people is actually a trebuchet, which is used to attack cities and plunder villages.According to the records of "Song History · Xia Guo Chuanxia", there were "300 gunners, named 'Poxi'".

Just to deal with a few little assassins, why use the whirlwind cannon?
As soon as this idea came up, the sound of stones hitting each other was heard above his head.The rocks in this canyon had been cracked for a long time, and after being hit hard by the rocks, it was even more unbearable. There was an endless cracking sound, and dust fell continuously on the top of the head, followed by a loud noise.

Zhan Zhao's heart shuddered, and he quickly flew out.There was a bang, and the boulder hit the place where he was hiding just now, causing countless smoke and dust to rise.In the dense smoke and dust, the sound of piercing the air in all directions became more and more dense, and the sound of the screams of one's own side continued to be heard.Zhan Zhao danced the giant que in his hand tightly, but the rain of arrows was too dense, he suddenly felt a pain in his ankle, knowing that it was an arrow, when Fang looked down, there was the sound of cracking rocks behind him.Shocked, Zhan Zhao flew away, but his legs were weak, he was a step late, his vest was hit hard, his blood surged up, a mouthful of blood spurted out, and he passed out on the spot.

After Li Yuanhao was sitting on the palace book case, he was going through the records of the Privy Council when he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps outside the door. When he looked up, it was Gu Le Renxu and the forward guard General Ye Litu who came in.Ye Litu had a bandage on his arm, but his movements were fine, presumably it was just a minor injury.

The corners of Li Yuanhao's lips curled up: "How is it?"

Ye Litu looked respectful: "As the Holy Master expected, a group of thieves who entered Songtang really fell for it and were strangled by us in the canyon in front of Guling Mountain. It's just..."

(End of this chapter)