The bamboo knife cut through the air and stabbed quickly.
His body had no time to react, and the round blade swiped across the leather armor.
Boom!
The thick soles of the black boots hit his chest directly, and he felt a heartbreaking pain, and then the world started to spin.
Red tassel, brass mask, black armor...
boom!
There was the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground. After the severe pain, he regained consciousness. What stayed in his field of vision was a long and narrow bamboo knife.
"Next!"
Su Ce held the bamboo knife in his hand and looked at the bodyguard who fell to the ground expressionlessly.
"Here!"
The bodyguard who fell to the ground had no one to help him. He rubbed his chest and stood up. He held the bamboo knife in his hand, leaned over and saluted and stepped aside.
…
These days, after Su Ce recovered from his illness, he began to train his personal guards.
These young guards have rosy complexions. Although their bodies are still small, they don't have a trace of fat on their bodies due to years of exercise and sufficient food.
At noon, Su Ce finished his meal and took Dudu for a walk to eat. Li Chang saw Su Ce and walked over quickly.
"General, the Sixteenth Prince's Mansion was attacked last night!"
Su Ce gestured to the maid next to him: "Take the young lady and find the young madam!"
After the maid took Dudu away, Li Chang explained: "The Sixteenth Prince's Mansion was attacked last night, and the thieves were targeting the Second Prince!"
Su Ce frowned and asked, "Is the second prince okay?"
"No problem!" Li Chang looked hesitant, took a deep breath and said, "The thieves come from Sichuan!"
Su Ce frowned and asked expressionlessly: "Sichuan? How did you know this news?"
"The Jinwu Guards patrolled last night and caught the escaped thief. News came from the Nanya Forbidden Army!" Li Chang replied quickly facing Su Ce who was staring closely at him.
"Let the old guys be careful these days and don't let thieves come to Su Village." Su Ce watched Li Chang pretending to be stupid but did not reveal it.
Li Chang's true identity was not simple, and Su Ce only discovered it belatedly. In particular, it was too smooth for Li Chang to buy Yonghefang in Chang'an City. Even though Yonghefang was only the most remote part of Chang'an City, it alone
After buying a workshop, the people who have to take care of it are not something that an old soldier can do.
Su Ce has already made a guess about Li Chang's true identity. If the most mysterious place in Daqian is undoubtedly the ancestral land of Qianzhou and Mudan Neiwei.
In other words, the ancestral land of Qianzhou is the most mysterious place. The Qianzhou Mausoleum Guards are unparalleled in combat power, and the Peony Neiwei Guards are mysterious and unpredictable.
The people selected for Mudan's inner guard include those who were brave in the army like Zhou Zheng, as well as people from Qianzhou, their ancestral homeland.
And Li Chang is most likely the Peony Internal Guard who came from the ancestral land of Qianzhou.
If Su Ce had not already had a title and the prince had refused, the second prince, Zhao Zaixiao, would have probably attracted Su Ce to the Peony Guards.
However, there are no hidden stakes placed by saints in Da Qian Xungui's home.
The thieves last night were said to have come from Sichuan and Sichuan. There is no need to delve into this news. After all, last year the second prince, Zhao Zaixiao, issued a military order to massacre one-third of the local wealthy families in Sichuan and Sichuan.
In a few days, the Earl's Mansion in Yonghefang and Nanshan Villa will be built. Nanshan Villa is too small and can be used as a summer escape and as a retreat. For long-term residence, it is better to live in a mansion in Suzhuang or Yonghefang.
Yonghefang is a whole square, and the place is very large. An Earl's Mansion cannot take up much space. The guards cannot leave the fiefdom without orders. The Baiguojiang industry must remain in Suzhuang and be guarded by the guards.
In the future, when the guards grow up and can find a career in the army. They are all good candidates and can work as full-time officials, Su Ce will release them. The open space in Yonghefang will be used for the guards.
The place left to build a yard is now empty.
An Earl's Mansion, with a small courtyard outside was built for Li Chang and the first group of people who followed Su Ce. Although Li Chang and the others entered the Su Mansion, Su Ce never regarded them as servants. Su Ce was still young.
, in the future, if the military commanders are thinking of friendship, Su Ce will also need a place to place them, and the open space in Yonghefang will be useful.
Su Ce still understands the principle that a big tree attracts wind. Some people can do it but they can't attract people's attention. Therefore, it is quite suitable for them to be resettled.
There are many new things in Chang'an City. The assassination of the second prince did not cause too much trouble. There was no explanation on the 3rd or 5th day. However, in the corner of the Di newspaper, it was said that the third envoy of Jiannan Road expanded the army to 10,000 Jingan, Sichuan and Shu.
It is said that it is Jing'an, but it is actually to clean up the hidden dangers left by the second prince Zhao Zaixiao last year.
Regardless of whether it is a local wealthy family or a noble family, they are all weak in front of the country. Moreover, Sichuan and Shu have been rotten to the core, and it cannot be solved by the second prince with a single lift of the butcher's knife.
Yizhou's arsenal is getting fuller day by day, which shows that the court can no longer tolerate the Liuzhao and Qianzhong hanging around.
With nothing to do, Su Ce is cultivating himself at home and spending time with his wife and daughter. This kind of life is what Su Ce wants. No, in early July, Wang Lan vomited after eating too early, and the doctor felt that she was pregnant according to her pulse.
, Su Ce hugged Dudu and went to the river to give thanks.
Dudu can run now, and his little legs can't rest all day long, so Su Ce takes his daughter to play all day long. Dudu likes to ride big horses best, but Dudu is too young to ride a horse, and the pony has an unstable temper.
, Su Ce didn't dare to let Dudu ride, so he had to make his own horse and play with Dudu. He couldn't see the majesty of the general who once stood in the battle formation.
In mid-July, the mansion in Yonghefang was built. Su's father chose a good day. On July 15th, the Su family moved to the new mansion in Yonghefang.
The new mansion is much larger than the one in Suzhuang. It is a three-entry mansion with one in front and two in back.
Li Chang selected 20 people from the bankers, all of whom were in their 18s or 19s. In the past few years, they had played handsomely with the bodyguards and learned a few tricks. They had some courage. However, the bodyguards were too young now.
Su Ce couldn't use them, so he chose these people as the servants of the new mansion.
As for the backyard, which is divided into east and west courtyards, the arrangement is the same as Suzhuang's. In the west courtyard, Su's father and mother live, and in the east courtyard, the young couple Su Ce and Wang Lan live.
Two old ladies and eight maids also moved here.
Mother Su is in charge of matters in the inner courtyard of the Su family. Although the eight characters for spring, summer, autumn and winter, plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum have been overused in various mansions, the eight maids of the Su family still have this name.
When Su Ce moved into his new residence, the crown prince and the second prince each gave him a gift. The gift was not heavy, but it was given with great fanfare. Su Ce knew that the crown prince and the second prince were supporting him.
I think back then, Su Ce was so weak that he sold his mansion and moved to a farm by the Weishui River.
Looking at now, after buying Yonghefang and building a new mansion, and although Su Ce has no position in the East Palace, his resume as a former East Palace general is favored by the prince, and he has a good personal relationship with the second prince. No one in Chang'an City dares to bully Su.
It’s the person who made the plan.
Although Su Ce is still a chess piece on the chessboard of Chang'an City, he is no longer a chess piece that can be discarded at will.
The new mansion was built according to Su Ce's title, but the area is very large, with rockeries, creeks, lakes, pavilions, and attics.
After moving to the new residence, Li Chang did not return home for the whole day, and Su Ce did not scold him, because Li Chang went to treat guests to dinner, the officials in the square, the bad guys who patrolled Yonghe Square, the Jinwu Guards, and the supervisors at the gate of the square.
Guards, these people need to be taken care of. After all, the whole family lives here. It is better for the county magistrate to take charge now. If you are a little polite, who says you won't be able to help a lot in the future.
Su Ce understands these principles of human conduct, but it is inappropriate for Su Ce to intervene in these small matters as a nobleman. It is quite appropriate for Li Chang to intervene as a housekeeper.
After understanding Li Chang's identity, Su Ce just mentioned it to Su's father. Su Ce was not a rebellious minister. Li Chang was still very suitable as a housekeeper. Su Ce did not have to worry about family matters, so Su Ce took office.
Li Chang pretended to be stupid and was stunned.
Li Sizhe went to Jian Zhang Supervisor. The old commander was busy with too many things, and Su Ce had no old acquaintances in Chang'an City, so his life seemed a bit boring.
There was nothing to do. Su's father and mother were taking care of him at home, Li Chang was managing the family business, and Wang Lan wanted to raise a baby. Su Ce suddenly became an idler. Of course, including coaxing Dudu, Su Ce also had something to do.
Although the hot days of June have passed, Chang'an is still very hot in July.
Nanshan Village has been built, just in time to escape the summer heat.
After not living in the new mansion for a few days, Su Ce took the whole family to Nanshan Village to escape the summer heat.
Nanshan Village is neither big nor small. On the mountain is the courtyard of the Su family, and at the bottom of the mountain are the houses of the farmers. The farmers in Nanshan are all the earliest farmers, as well as the twenty remnants of the army. Several households left before, including Li
There were only fourteen households left in Chang'an, and Baiguoniang couldn't live without people, but seven households still moved in. Their homes were all in small courtyards, surrounded by the mountainside. There was always something special about the old people who knew everything.
Nanshan Village is the retreat of the Su family, so although it has no property, it is the most important of the three residences of the Su family.
If you want to escape the summer heat, you must be a family. The mansion in Chang'an City is empty again, with only ten servants left watching the door.
At night, Li Chang came from Chang'an City and took Su Ce to the wing in the corner of the front yard. Because it was newly built, the inside of the house was very clean.
Li Chang opened up the mattress and bamboo mat on the bed, and underneath were two one-meter-square wooden boards.
"This is one of the two entrances. The other is at Old Liu's house on the mountainside. The secret tunnel has not been dug yet. Seven old brothers and their sons are digging together. Within ten years, they will definitely be able to dig into Nanshan. Old brothers
Everyone is waiting below." Li Chang said and walked down with a lantern, Su Ce nodded and followed.
After walking down for more than ten steps, there were four darkrooms connected in a row one foot square. They were full of people and surrounded by tools.
"Su Ce met all the brothers. It was Su Ce's blessing. In the battle formation, he crossed the enemy's formation with me. He did not mind that Su was a humble person. He followed him to this day. The Su family and the brothers will not be together from now on.
Share each other, both will be prosperous and both will suffer." After saying this, Su Ce pulled out the barrier knife from his waist, lifted his left arm, and slashed his left arm with the barrier knife, blood gushed out from the wound.
Everyone, including Li Chang, rolled up their sleeves and cut their left arms. A big bowl started from Su Ce and turned around. The blood of fifteen people gathered in the bowl. Three bottles of fruits were rare in Chang'an City.
It is a fine brew with a slight light yellow color, and a full three kilograms of wine filled the ocean bowl.
Su Ce took a big sip from the big bowl and passed it to Li Chang. Li Chang finished the sip and passed it to the next person. Then the big bowl was returned to Su Ce's hand. Su Ce finished the last bowl of wine and faced everyone.
Said: "Everyone will be prosperous, and everyone will suffer a loss!"
"I and my descendants swear to die for our master!" everyone responded.
…
After filling their stomachs with more than 40 degrees of Baiguo craft beer, Su Ce and Li Chang came out of the room. Su Ce was hit by the mountain wind and became drunk.
Li Chang supported Su Ce, and the others left from the other end of the secret passage. The secret passage left at the entrance on the mountainside. Six of them rode horses to Suzhuang at night.
Su Ce shook his head to calm himself down, looked at Li Chang and said softly: "Today we have made a blood alliance, Li Chang, please call me the head of the family, there are a few words that I won't be happy to say."
Li Chang's face turned pale in an instant.
"I said, listen, you are worth something. I don't blame you. Don't ask me how I know. You are not the second prince or the prince. I have never checked you. As a distinguished nobleman, with heavy troops, the Su family If there were no Li Chang, there would also be Wang Chang and Liu Chang.
The two words "family and country" mean that family is in the front and country is in the back. The Su family is my Su Ce's home, and it is also your home. Su is not a person who strives for power and gain, and there are no rebellious officials or traitors in the Su family.
You have to distinguish between business and family matters clearly and carry them clearly. It's hard for you to show up in the backyard when you're drunk, so go back."
Li Chang let out a long breath: "Zhao knows it. From now on, there will be no Zhao Chang from Qianzhou, only Li Chang from Su Mansion. Don't worry, head of the family!"
"Go!" When Su Ce heard Li Chang's reply, he let go of the short blade in his sleeve with relief and staggered around to walk towards the backyard.
Li Chang looked at Su Ce's back, a little distracted for a moment, until Su Ce closed the door to the backyard and disappeared from Li Chang's sight. Li Chang took a deep breath and murmured to himself: "You regard me as a family member, and so do I." I am not a seller looking for glory."
Li Chang bowed to the gatekeeper of the backyard, walked out of the front yard, and said to the servant who was keeping watch at the door: "I didn't sleep secretly. Tomorrow I will send a batch of minced fruit wine to Chang'an. I can't worry about it. I went to Suzhuang to see the wild beasts in the mountains." "Duo, you can bring your sword and sticks with you, protect the village, go back from the summer heat, and ask me to get the reward, and do your best."
"Thank you, Butler Li." When they heard about the reward, the two servants stood up straight and thanked them with smiles on their faces.
Li Chang led the horse tied to the stone pillar at the door and walked down the wide road that led directly to the mountain. As he passed the mountainside, he threw a copper whistle into his mouth and blew a whistle.
Hearing several "Beep! Beep!" echoes, Li Chang kept walking, led the horse to the foot of the mountain, got on the horse and left Nanshan Village.
When Su Ce returned to the backyard, smelling of alcohol, the maid who was keeping watch quickly came up to him: "Alang!"
"After having a drink with Butler Li, don't disturb Madam, and tidy up a side room." Su Ce did not let the maid help him, although the maid was willing.
Asking the maid to close the door and leave, the drunkenness in Su Ce's eyes suddenly became clear. He took off his clothes and played with the short blade. The mountain wind blew in through the window: "Zhao Chang! I hope you will always be there in the future. They are all Li Chang."
Recalling what he saw Li Chang talking through the crack in the door, Su Ce repeated what Li Chang said to himself, breathed a sigh of relief, put down the short blade, lay down on the bed and closed his eyes to sleep.