Kaifeng Bistro

Chapter 112

"In spring, the sun is set, xuanxuan is picked in the hall, the world is happy, and its worries are forgotten..."

It was raining lightly outside, and although it was not yet noon, the sky was as dark as in the evening.The air is filled with a faint moisture, a little damp and a little stuffy.Bai Yutang pushed open the door and stepped into this familiar tavern, taking off the thin oil coat on his body.

"Shangshang, what are you singing?" He handed the dripping oil coat to Zhuo Zhuo at the door, walked in and sat at Changshang's small table, watching him holding a large handful of tender grass leaves , First pick it up, and then soak it in a tub.Bai Yutang rolled up his sleeves: "Shall I help you?"

Shangshang said "Yes": "Okay. But you have to be careful, Zhifeng said, this is a young day lily seedling, very tender, you are strong, don't cut it off. Then it looks like this, it is a weed Just pick it out and put it here."

Bai Yutang smiled faintly, took a small handful of day lily seedlings from him and picked them up.

"Hey, Brother Bai is here." Tan Zhifeng looked out from the back kitchen: "Shangshang, what are you doing? Why did you ask Brother Bai to help you with the work?"

"It doesn't matter." Bai Yutang said, "Anyway, I'm still working as an idler in Kaifeng Mansion, so I don't want to work like Zhan Zhao." He stood up and stretched his muscles, "Why haven't I seen Yi Yi these days?" ?”

"Oh..." Tan Zhifeng's eyes fell on the green radish in the corner.It was spring, and his flowers and plants were growing luxuriantly in pots, but the leaves of the green radish looked a little dull.

Tan Zhifeng came out from behind and told Bai Yutang: "A few days ago...he was injured, and there is no way...no way...to transform into form."

Bai Yutang already knew the identities of everyone in the tavern.After hearing Tan Zhifeng's words, he also sighed: "It's really weird to talk about what happened that day..."

Zhuo Zhuo and Tan Zhifeng all came over, sat down at the table, and heard Bai Yutang continue to say: "Have you ever thought about why the Lu family must send the stewards of the mansion to go together, and why they shot those two Khitans to death?" people?"

"Why?" Zhuo Zhuo asked cooperatively, holding his chin.

"Because..." Bai Yutang raised his brows, "The one surnamed Lu doesn't want people to know that it was done by the Khitans!"

"Could it be?!" Zhuo Zhuo's almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise, "Could it be that he knows a lot about foreign countries?"

"Then... he might not have the guts, but these high-ranking officials in the court have always been greedy for life and afraid of death, and they always hope that they can enjoy peace in their lifetime, even if this peace is bought with gold, silver, silk, and people's fat! I heard people say that the Liao Kingdom has been preparing to send envoys to the Song Dynasty to conclude a new covenant, at this time, Lu Yijian certainly does not want to cause any trouble, otherwise the Tian family will be furious, and the covenant cannot be signed smoothly."

"But if they send someone here at this time..." Tan Zhifeng stared at the handful of green daylilies in Shangshang's hand, lost in thought: "I'm afraid they are just taking advantage of the fire."

"Hmph." Bai Yutang sneered, "Then there's no need to ask? However, I just suddenly thought of this, so... I want to remind you that as Xu Gan, at this time, I'm afraid it's not suitable to stay any longer. In Kaifeng."

Tan Zhifeng was taken aback when he heard the words, he felt as if someone had said the same thing.Who is it?He was thinking about it, and suddenly there was a face in front of him that impressed him, always gentle and smiling, but this face was gradually covered with gray and black spots, he just looked at Tan Zhifeng like that, yes He said: "Zhifeng, after I die, you and Your Highness will leave Kaifeng and live a good life... His identity... can't stay here..."

"Okay." Tan Zhifeng walked to the window and took a deep breath of the air after the spring rain. There was not only a hint of earthy fragrance in the air, but also mixed with various smells from the market. He missed the city of Kaifeng with that kind of human atmosphere, but there was nothing more important than Xu Gan's safety.He turned to Bai Yutang and said, "Thank you. Brother Bai, I will consider it."

Bai Yutang also followed him to the window. The door to the backyard was open, facing the bustling alley at the gate of Taixue not far away.Scholars came in and out with smiles on their faces, and peddlers peddled along the street, walking around with a wide variety of goods.Bai Yutang laughed, but to Tan Zhifeng's ears, there was a bit of mockery in his laughter that didn't quite match this harmonious spring day.

"Zhifeng," he said, pointing to the gate of Taixue, "Look at these forgetful people, since last year, disasters have happened to them one after another. Xixia's iron cavalry, Liao's crossbow, They are approaching them like this, but what about them? They are just like that Lu Yijian, still reciting poems and singing about peace."

After that, he turned and walked out the door.Tan Zhifeng followed behind and stopped him, saying, "Wait, Brother Bai, don't you have to go after lunch?"

Bai Yutang stopped in his tracks and looked back at him: "Oh, I'm not in the mood to have lunch anymore, but what are you going to do?"

"I originally planned to use this day lily to make a copy of Wangyou and send it to you and Brother Zhan." Tan Zhifeng replied, "Why don't you send someone over to get it later."

"Wangyou?" Bai Yutang suddenly laughed when he heard this, and while he was laughing, he recited the words that Changshang had chanted when he entered the door: "'The sun is setting in the spring, and the hyacinths are gathered in the hall. The world is happy, and the other Worry is forgetfulness. 'The world is happy? Haha..."

"Hey! Wait, your oil coat!" Zhuo Zhuo took off the raincoat that Bai Yutang wore when he came from the wall, and ran to the door of the tavern and shouted.

"No need, when someone comes to fetch Wangyou later, let him take it back with you!" Bai Yutang didn't look back this time, stepping on the shallow layer of water on the ground and striding towards the alley go outside.

……

In addition to the prosperous and prosperous Kaifeng, go all the way to the west, leave Hulao Pass, Wuguan, and under Liupan Mountain, the cold wind is still howling in the mountain stream.Isolated cities stood up amidst the earth, stones and yellow sand, and the villages outside the cities had long been deserted, and there were no more people in sight.

On the city wall, soldiers in armor were walking back and forth to patrol. Suddenly, one of them stopped, stared at the waves of dust rising in the distance, and said nervously: "That's..."

"Maybe they were spies sent out a few days ago." Another soldier comforted him, "It seems that there are only one or two people, nothing to be afraid of."

After a while, everyone finally saw clearly that the person who came was just one person and one horse, but that person was very tall, with long arms, sitting on the horse like a giant.The soldiers on the wall were stunned, and it took a long time for someone to come back to their senses and said, "Quick, go and report to Mr. Han!"

Before he finished speaking, the man under the wall suddenly turned his horse's head around, put on a bow and shot an arrow, and shot towards the city wall. The soldiers hurriedly dodged, but the arrow went over the high city wall and landed beside them. .

The soldiers were still in shock, and when they got up to look again, the people under the city had already galloped away.When he left, there was a cloud of dust rolling in the distance, and they faintly saw a row of large flags floating in the dim yellow sky, each with the word "Xia" written on it.

"My God! Li Yuanhao is calling!" A soldier opened his mouth in a panic and shouted.

Before he finished speaking, someone beside him shouted in a deep voice: "What did you say?!"

When the soldiers looked back, they saw Han Qi wearing a military uniform, surrounded by several imperial troops and staff, standing with his hands behind his back, with a serious face standing aside.Han Qi was only in his early thirties at this time, but because he entered the officialdom early, he was not angry and arrogant, and the moment he opened his mouth, those people were startled.They quickly argued: "My lord, I really didn't expect Li Yuanhao to send someone here in broad daylight..."

Han Qi raised his hand to stop his words, and then he ordered a guard to come forward and pick up the arrow, a letter was tied tightly on the arrow.Han Qi opened the letter and scanned it, and said to the people beside him with a sneer, "Hmph, Li Yuanhao actually sent someone to ask for peace, and you still want me to pass the news back to Kaifeng?"

An aide beside him bowed and said: "My lord, maybe we saw through his tricks a while ago and let him return without success... Besides, since the Song and Xia wars, the Tian family has ordered the border to be closed. In the mutual market, they are short of supplies, and now they can't bear it anymore..."

Han Qi interrupted him, and said sharply: "Please make peace without an appointment, this must be Li Yuanhao's conspiracy!" After finishing speaking, he turned and walked down the city. Come on, order him to train his soldiers and horses diligently in the past few days, and be ready to meet the enemy again."

"Master Han." At this time, another thin staff member beside him spoke. When this person raised his head, Han Qi took a closer look. It turned out that he came to his tent from Yanyan Road a few days ago. Li Weiming.Originally, after the Battle of Sanchuankou, the officials guarding Yanzhou at that time were dismissed. It was he who strongly recommended Fan Zhongyan, who was being demoted to Yuezhou, to go to Yanyan Road as the deputy envoy. He hoped that Fan Zhongyan could fight with him and calm down the situation as soon as possible. There was a "rebellion", but last year when he went to Beijing to face the saint, Fan Zhongyan opposed going to the battle and insisted on sticking to it, which made him delay for a long time here along Jingyuan Road, and it was still difficult for him to go out of the city to fight Li Yuanhao to the death.

Therefore, as soon as Li Weiming opened his mouth, Han Qi's face was pulled down again. Sure enough, Li Weiming said: "Before I came here, Lord Fan repeatedly told me that although we have won a few times now, we have not shaken Li Yuanhao's foundation at all. The army is still strong and strong, waiting for the opportunity to attack us from time to time, the only way to do it now is to build fortifications and strengthen defenses, unless it is absolutely necessary...it is best not to attack rashly."

After hearing this, Han Qi didn't answer, but stood silently for a while, and finally said: "Well, let you deliver the letter to Ren Fu. Huaiyuan is very close here, and I will send someone to go with you to protect you. He He is a general, and there is a lack of a pen official in his tent, so you stay there and help him draft documents and rectify military discipline, so you don’t have to come back to me.”

After finishing speaking, he quickened his pace, leaving the dazed Li Weiming behind, and walked down the city wall with a group of followers.

……

At night, a few towns were scattered on the edge of the desert, and the soldiers stationed there after a busy day of training finally calmed down.But the lights were still brightly lit in the tents, and Bo Na's tall figure was pacing in one of the military tents, and two Xixia soldiers beside him whispered: "Master Ye Li, don't worry, the emperor will come to see you soon .”

At this moment, the white cloth curtain hanging from the account was rolled up, and the two soldiers immediately fell silent, shut their mouths and stood erect behind Bo.A muscular man in his forties came in.He took off his helmet, revealing his shaven, rounded head, the hair that fell by his ears into braids, and covered with all kinds of golden ornaments.Also, both of his ears wore huge golden earrings, which jingled when they collided with those ornaments. He had a pair of eagle-like eyes, a wide nose, thick lips, and his eyes were gloomy and indifferent.This is Li Yuanhao who claims to be the emperor of the Great Xia Kingdom.His face, under the bright light in the tent, was surrounded by this non-stop shining golden color, it looked lofty and majestic, and it was also particularly frightening and frightening.

Bo was at least a head taller than him, but in front of this person, he seemed a little lacking in momentum.Bo went forward and knelt down on one knee to salute, "The reason why I invited you here is because I have a few words to say to you."

"You all go out." Li Yuanhao said lightly.The soldiers in the tent immediately retreated with relief.He raised his hand, signaling Beau to stand up.So Bo stood up cautiously, and continued: "I heard that you have set up a special camp in a nearby town, where the gluttonous is locked up, but you ordered someone to take it away and re-enclose the camp. Get up, and no one is allowed to approach. There are more than a hundred soldiers in this town transferred there every day, but up to now, not a single soldier has come out... and no one has sent any supplies there. I know you are eager to win, But now..."

Li Yuanhao's eagle eyes stared at him for a while, then he suddenly grinned again, and said to Bo: "What? You are only allowed to live forever? My divine power is slowly recovering, I can There are more and more people in the degree. I need a really strong and invincible team! Because the strategy you offered a while ago was seen through by the two boys from Kaifeng, I have been unable to expand my Iron Harrier Army , without dead people, I can't increase my strength! Besides, the Iron Harrier Army is cavalry, only people like you who have been converted by me can master riding skills well, and those killed by them are just a group of blind chaos Turning ants, when needed, let them go to the front line..." As he said, he glanced contemptuously at Bo's gradually pale face, and said with a smile, "Why? Are you worried about my hands? Come down? Don’t you want to help me? Don’t you regret it?”

Bo replied with a trembling voice: "I, I voluntarily became what I am now, just to revive my descendants. I didn't expect that now, you don't take the lives of these people seriously. Since you During the expedition to the Song Dynasty, I don’t know how many people died in the clan! Now, you have blatantly turned these warriors who worked for you into half-dead monsters, have you ever asked them if they are willing?!”

Li Yuanhao looked up at Bo, his eyes flashed an incomprehensible light, he leaned forward and said to Bo in a low voice: "Don't think that I made you the king of Xixia, you really You can tell me what to do. After you came back, I haven't asked you, what is the purpose of you going to Kaifeng, and what do you know?"

"Could it be..." His voice sank sharply, becoming fierce and full of threats: "Don't you think you really don't know that you betrayed me? You didn't go there to do things for me, you went there to find answers The whereabouts of the dragon... and the unknown young man beside him, I know... that young man is very beautiful. It turns out that so many things happened in this world when my head was separated and I was buried in the ground. ..."

When Bo heard the other party mention Ying Long, he stepped back immediately and knelt down again, but Li Yuanhao continued to say in the same tone: "... I can forget about these things, but after coming back for so long, you Why haven't you told me about Ying Long's existence?! Who do you think I want to build this iron harrier army as soon as possible to deal with?!"

"No!" Bo said anxiously: "These have nothing to do with Ying Long, and... and the people around him. Ying Long has no supernatural power. I have fought against him, and he..."

"And he found Kunwu!" Li Yuanhao suddenly pulled out the sword from his waist, and put it on Bo's neck: "Do you want to hide this from me too?"

Bo fell to the ground in a slump, and said to Li Yuanhao: "To tell you the truth, I... I regretted it a long time ago! I, I shouldn't trust you, and I want to deal with the descendants of Yanhuang with you. You are now, in fact, the same as you were then. , not for any righteousness, you are only for your personal ambition!"

"It doesn't matter what I am for." Li Yuanhao pressed the sword hard on Bo's neck, and said slowly: "Now, you are already on the same boat with me, and we will deal with Yinglong together and get the person you love; To be killed by him, to be exterminated by him again! It shouldn't be difficult for you to make a choice, right?"