At the foot of Lingbi County, Xuzhou, on a yellow mud road, from the direction of the county seat in the distance, a young man with a heavy load came.

On the young man's head, he wore a bamboo hat that was used by woodcutters in Dingshan. The eaves of the hat were very low, and only the lower part of his face was exposed, but he could still see that he had a handsome face. He is tall and tall, with broad shoulders and thick back, thick joints, but flexible and flexible body joints. Although he has a heavy load on his shoulders, he still strides forward as if there is no load. The clothes on his body are very old, but they are clean. The broken elbows are neatly patched, and the stitches are fine and neat. It can be seen that there is a woman in the family who is good at needlework.

This young man is Bi She. He and Da Qiao had already settled down in the hunting village at the foot of the mountain. With a little help from Old Man Wang, he quickly became a good hunter. There is no shortage of meat at home, but food and salt need to go to the market for exchange. This morning, he went out to the mountains at four shifts, brought the furs he had accumulated a while ago to the market, and changed the bag of new millets on his shoulders.

In exchange for Chen Su, one more dendrobium can be added. Bi She himself is irrelevant. He can eat bark and leaves without changing his face, if he is really hungry.

But he changed to new millet. He wanted to make Da Qiao, who was used to eating finely and carefully, eat as well as possible. There are inexhaustible beasts in the mountains, and I have an inexhaustible amount of strength. To change a bag of new millet, for him, it is just a matter of hitting a few more animal skins.

A few days ago, he was lucky. He hunted a very beautiful fox fur. The fur was neat and shiny. Originally, I wanted to keep the nitrate for Da Qiao to use in the winter, but Da Qiao didn't want it, so he would sell it at the market. He had to listen to her. After selling the fur in the morning, there was still some extra money left, so I pulled a few feet of cloth for Da Qiao.

She will definitely tell her when she goes back. But Bi She was willing to let her teach herself a lesson.

There are still more than twenty miles away from the village. He glanced at the sun that was beginning to slant westward, fearing that Da Qiao would be worried if he went back late, so he quickened his pace. Just then, a line of people came across. About a dozen soldiers in ochre clothes, with swords on their waists and spears in their hands, drove a group of people tied together by ropes and slowly walked towards the county seat. The man at the front was riding a horse and should be a soldier. Those in the line whose hands were tied by ropes were all men. In addition to the middle-aged, there are old men with white hair, and a few thin teenagers who seem to be no more than eight or nine years old.

"Master Jun, do it well, let the old man go... The old man is about to turn fifty, how can he still march and fight?"

An old man was forced to move forward by a spear behind him. He kept turning his head and begging bitterly. It's only right and proper for Lao Tzu to replace him!"

The old man cried: "The military master doesn't know anything, the old three sons, the eldest son died in the seventh year of Yanyou's expedition to Qingzhou by Xue Shijun, the second son Dingkang died in the three years of the expedition, and the youngest son fell ill last year. It doesn't matter if the old man is gone, there is still a mother-in-law in the family who is sick in bed..."

The soldiers were impatient and whipped the old man: "If you are asked to join the army, you will join the army. Your family will starve to death, and you will be able to feed yourself when you join the army! What are you talking about!"

The old man was in pain and did not dare to cry any more. He wiped his tears and stumbled forward.

Bi She knew that this was Xue Tai, the prefect of Xuzhou, who was conscripting soldiers again. In the county market, he heard people nearby talking about it.

He glanced at the sad and crying white-haired old man from under the eaves, and then looked at the children behind the old man who were strung together, in ragged clothes and staring blankly, and finally withdrew his gaze.

Xuzhou Xue Tai is one of the most powerful family warlords in the Huai River Basin, and uses troops all year round. In wars, people will die, and when they die, they will have to replenish their troops. When the strong men are gone, even the old man and the children are not spared.

Bi She was very sympathetic to these people who were forced to enlist in the army, but this kind of thing was not something he could manage.

Da Qiao was still at home waiting for him to return.

He pressed the brim of his hat and stepped forward. When passing by the head of the soldier, the soldier noticed him, and the halberd came over and blocked his chest.

"who?"

"Hunter."

"Head up."

Bi She slowly raised her head. The soldier's head bumped into his green eyes and was startled. Immediately, he poked the cloth bag on his shoulder with the tip of his halberd: "What's in it?"

"millet."

But the cloth bag had been punctured, and the yellow new millet leaked out rustling from the hole and scattered all over the ground.

The soldier looked up and down at Bi She: "Enlist with me!"

Bi She didn't move: "Master Jun let me go. I am not a local household, and I have no responsibility to be called into the army."

The head of the soldier laughed: "Do you know that the emperor will launch an army to attack Yanzhou in a few days? I cherish talents, so I invite you to join the army. Yanzhou is rich in great things.

Bi She's eyes moved slightly, and he pushed away the halberd that was still lying on his chest: "Please let me go. I have something else to do, so I'll go first."

He squeezed the tear in the sack on his shoulder and walked around the horses at the head of the soldier. When the soldier saw him swept his face, he became annoyed and stabbed his halberd from behind. Bi She turned around, grabbed the halberd with one arm, and when he pulled it, the soldier's head was pulled off his horse, and his feet were thrown to the sky. He was angry and ordered the soldiers to arrest him. The dozen or so soldiers immediately ran up, and they surrounded Bi She and attacked them together.

Knowing that things couldn't be better today, Bi She put down the sack of grain on his shoulder, grabbed the halberd from the soldier's head, and swept towards the soldiers besieging him. After a fierce fight, the dozen or so soldiers were thrown to the ground with one person's strength. The soldier didn't expect him to be as fierce as a beast, and his heart became frightened. Seeing him striding towards him with a halberd, he looked like he was about to kill himself. He got up and got on his horse and ran away. . The remaining soldiers saw that the soldiers had all fled, and they were willing to stay behind to ask for hardship.

In this fierce fight, I was stunned by those civilians and saw that all the soldiers had fled, so they came back to their senses and knelt down and kowtowed to Bi She, calling him a benefactor and a strong man, and asking for help to loosen the rope.

Bi She picked up a knife that had fallen on the ground and went up to cut the ropes that bound everyone. The people were released, and they thanked him again and again, and the birds and beasts dispersed.

Bi She picked up the corn that fell on the ground, took off his coat, wrapped it with the torn sack of food, put it on his shoulders again, and walked away quickly.

When he returned to the village, the sky was about to turn dark, the birds in the mountains returned to their nests, and the people returned home. Da Qiao had cooked dinner long ago, and was waiting for her husband in the fence gate. He saw his figure appear on the mountain road from a distance, and ran out to meet him. After taking her husband back to the house, the two had a simple dinner together under the lamp. Bi She told her a few words about what she saw in the county during the day, but did not mention the accident on the way back, and finally took out the cloth she had pulled.

Da Qiao liked it very much in his heart, but he really blamed him for spending money indiscriminately. Bi She just smiled and told her to teach her a lesson. Da Qiao finally put it away and took out a pair of Xinna's shoes. He said that he had big feet and climbed mountains and walked again every day. The original pair was broken, so he had to put on new shoes.

When the moon rises to the mountains, the spring bug mumbles. The two were young and had just been married for a while, so it was inevitable that they would always be in a close relationship, and it would rain and fall almost every night. After the intimate affair tonight, Da Qiao closed her eyes and put her pillow on Bi She's chest, and asked, "My husband is trying to hide from me? After I saw your home from the county, I talked less than usual."

Bi She has always been taciturn, originally not much, but tonight was even less than usual.

Bi She hesitated, and said, "I was on my way back, and I occasionally heard words that Xue Tai, the prefect of Xuzhou, was going to attack Yanzhou."

Da Qiao was taken aback and sat up: "I have never heard of my family's grudge against Xue Tai at home. Why did Xue Tai suddenly want to attack Yanzhou? You heard that right?"

Bi She briefly explained the accident on the road. Da Qiao suddenly panicked: "If my father doesn't know and is unprepared, what should I do?"

Bi She said: "Don't panic. Maybe it's just a word from the head of the army. I'll sneak into the county town tomorrow to find out. If there is such a thing, I'll send a letter to Yanzhou as soon as possible, so that the envoy can take precautions. "

Da Qiao finally calmed down. Bi She comforted her again. All night until dawn. Early the next morning, Bi She entered the city again. After returning after dark, he told Da Qiao that he had captured an officer during the day, and after interrogation, he learned that the news was certain.

Xue Tai was preparing food, grass, troops and horses, and sent 100,000 troops to capture Yanzhou. Now that the food and forage have been set in, the army is not leaving every day.

…

On the twelfth day of this month, the city of Dongjun was still bustling and peaceful as usual. In the discussion hall of the Governor's Mansion, the atmosphere was unusually solemn.

Qiao Yue, Qiao Ping, and a group of advisors and officials in the government office were discussing a piece of news that seemed like a bolt from the blue.

A few days ago, someone in the government office reported anonymously, saying that Xuzhou Xue Tai sent 100,000 troops to Yanzhou, and they would arrive within half a month after traveling 50 miles a day.

Qiao Yue didn't believe it at first. The Qiao family and Xue Tai have always kept the water from the well, let alone friction. Although Xue Tai is ambitious and notorious, his target of attack has always been in the Huaishui area. I wonder why he suddenly sent an army of 100,000 to attack Yanzhou? Immediately dispatch spies. This morning, Meteor Horse reported that the news was true. Xue Tai's army had already arrived at Tengdi, and it would be close to Yanzhou in ten days.

Qiao Yue was shocked and hurriedly convened to discuss countermeasures. Everyone disagreed, and Qiao Yue was even more helpless.

Zhang Pu said, "My lord, Xiu, should panic. I have a plan to solve this problem." Qiao Yue asked.

"Xue Tai is known as a vicious tiger. He is strong in troops, and he is aggressive. Yanzhou cannot be a tough enemy. Now we must send someone to send the news to the Marquis of Yan as soon as possible. Wei Qiao and his family have a marriage relationship. People all over the world spit it out.”

Qiao Yue was reminded immediately, and hurriedly ordered the master bookkeeper to repair the book, sealed it with fire paint, and sent it to Wei Shaozhi on a fast horse day and night.

Qiao Ping was also puzzled as to why Xue Tai from Xuzhou suddenly sent troops to attack. He was not very willing to ask Wei Shao for help again. Last time, because of Ren Cheng and Zhou Qun's attack, he could only send out his beloved daughter. This time Xue Tai came to fight, and he was going to ask Wei Shao for troops. If Wei Shao loves his daughter, he will be nothing more than faceless for the Qiao family masters. But if Wei Shao has no love for his daughter, this repeated request for help will probably only make him look down on his daughter even more, and her daughter's status in the Wei family will be even lower. It's just that the elder brother is cowardly, he can't speak his own hands alone, the 100,000-strong army is crushing the border, and Yanzhou is really in danger, so he can only go back in a gloomy way, but his son Qiao Ci is missing, and then he knows that he is worried about his sister, and he has already gone with the messenger without telling himself. When he went to Youzhou, he was shocked and hurriedly called someone to chase him, but Qiao Ci had already left the city gate on a fast horse, how could he come back after him?

…

That day, Wei Shao ended his inspection of the border city and finally returned to Yuyang from Mayi.

It has been half a month since he went out this time. With the sound of horses' hooves, he passed through the north gate of Yuyang City and returned to the familiar city.

He was in a good mood. After entering the city, he dismissed his generals. He didn't go to the government office, but went straight back to the mansion and entered the West Room, but he didn't see Xiao Qiao or Chunniang. When I asked the maid, I found out that the maid was invited to go to the Palace of King Jinmu of the West in the east of the city to inscribe a mural of the Queen Mother there.

At present, Buddhism and Taoism are co-prospering. Apart from believing in Buddhism, there are also many people who worship Taoism. The queen mother is the head of the fairy goddess, and she blesses the good weather. The local people have lived a stable life for many years, and there are many wealthy households, so they raised funds to build the temple. Although Mrs. Xu made offerings to the Buddha, she also generously assisted when she heard the news. The main hall was completed a while ago, and it was beautifully repaired. In front of the main hall, another mural wall was erected, and the statue of the Queen Mother was painted on it. The person who painted was Gao Heng, the "Crown of the Bohai Sea" who came to celebrate Mrs. Xu's birthday last time. Gao Heng was invited to paint at that time, and he also intended to leave his pen and ink in Yuyang, and he readily agreed. Now that the mural was about to be completed, when he was writing the inscription, he suddenly thought of the good handwriting written by the lady of the Wei family. He is also a wonderful person, and he does what he thinks. Visited two days ago. When Mrs. Xu learned of his intention, she agreed. Since Mrs. Xu nodded, Xiao Qiao did not refuse. She went out there in the past two days. Today has passed and she has not come back yet.

Wei Shao was a little disappointed. I was also a little unhappy. There was no expression on his face.

He went out for half a month, and went to various cities non-stop every day. When he came back, he was covered in dust, groomed Bi Yirong, changed his clothes, and went to Beiwu to visit his grandmother, Mrs. Xu.

Madam Xu was very happy to see him back, and ordered him to sit beside her and talk. Wei Shao accompanies him, but he doesn't talk much. Only occasionally echoed Mrs. Xu once or twice.

Mrs. Xu mentioned the Zhu family and said that she was allowed to come back from the ancestral hall two days ago. Said: "Zhonglin, your mother is my mistress of the Wei family. That's all, it's just for your face, and I shouldn't have acted like this. It's just that what she did this time was too much. I hope she will remember the lesson, and don't do it in the future. Confused again."

Although it has been a few days, Mrs. Xu mentioned it now, and her tone was still audible, with some annoyance.

Wei Shao agreed again.

Mrs. Xu glanced at him, thought for a moment, and smiled faintly on her face: "You should know, your daughter-in-law, my grandmother lent it out two days ago. It's getting late, if you haven't come back, It's okay for you to pick her up. You don't have to accompany my wife to grind her teeth here."

Wei Shao looked solemn: "Grandson, let's see the situation. If there is nothing, I will follow my grandmother's instructions."

Madam Xu nodded. Urge him to move. Wei Shao bowed to his grandmother, and then got up and came out.

He walked out of the north house, and his pace gradually quickened. At the fork in the road leading to the east house, he stopped and turned to look at it. After hesitating for a while, he continued to move forward. Finally, he went straight out of the gate and ordered his horses to go to the east of the city.