Hu Yanzhuo called the bartender over and said: "If there is beef in Baozheng, you can take some and cook it with me. You can also find some fodder and feed my horse well. I will stay here with you tonight." Get up early tomorrow and go to Chang'an City."
The bartender responded and said: "Sir, it's okay to stay here, but... the hotel is really shabby and there are no good bed tents."
Hu Yanzhuo took a sip of wine and smiled slightly: "I am the one who leads the troops, but it would be nice to have a place to rest. How can I be so particular about it?"
The bartender followed Li Cun's Bao Zheng to get the beef. Hu Yanzhuo took off the armor that was carried on the horse, loosened his girdle, took the drink and sat in front of the door. Looking at the sunset, his heart was full of emotions. Miscellaneous, but it was only at this time that Hu Yanzhuo had time to think about today's battle. Along the way to escape from the siege, he encountered ambushes. Hu Yanzhuo had to pass a few moves when he came out. Strong hand, Hu Yanzhuo didn't have time to think about it at that time, but now one question after another emerged, those people had no reason to retreat, why everyone let him go, what is the explanation... Hu Yanzhuo I dare not think any further.
After waiting for a long time, the bartender came back with a pound of beef. Hu Yanzhuo stood up and asked the bartender to cook it. He also asked the bartender to get three pounds of noodles for making cakes. He also asked the bartender to get two jiao of wine while he cooked the meat. While making cakes, he arranged for the waiters in the store to cook soup and wash them with Hu Yanzhuo. Then he led Hu Yanzhuo's horse tied in front of the store to the horse pen at the back of the house. The bartender cut grass and cooked ingredients while Hu Yanzhuo asked for hot wine first. After eating for a while, the meat was cooked for a while. Hu Yanzhuo called on his soldiers to eat the wine and meat together. Before going to sleep, Hu Yanzhuo told the waiter: "I am an officer of the imperial court. Because I failed to kill the Green Forest Army, I will wait for you." Go to Chang'an and join the prefect He Lianrong, so that you can help me feed this horse. This is a horse given by the emperor today, and it is called 'Kicking Snow Wuzui'. I will reward you heavily in the future."
The bartender listened, nodded in agreement, and then said: "Your Excellency, there is one thing that I need to know. There is a mountain not far from here, called Niushou Mountain. There is a group of strongmen on the mountain, and the leader is Tiger Fighting General. Li Zhong, the second in charge of the family is the little overlord Zhou Tong. They have at least 1,500 minions under them. They often raid homes and harass the villages. The military commander repeatedly arrests thieves and the army comes to arrest him. , adults, don’t sleep too deeply at night, and be careful when you wake up,”
After Hu Yanzhuo heard this, he looked up to the sky and smiled, and said: "Don't worry, storekeeper. I have courage that no man can deserve. Even if all those guys come, then so what, my pair of double whips will give me the courage." They say, you just need to feed this horse with me,"
After Hu Yanzhuo ate the last of the wine and meat cakes, the bartender cleared a room for Hu Yanzhuo and a few soldiers in the store, spread some mats, and arranged for Hu Yanzhuo to sleep.
Hu Yanzhuo put the weapon next to him and snored loudly as soon as his head hit the pillow. Now, he was tired from fighting all day. Secondly, he had something on his mind. He drank a few more glasses of wine due to worry, and then he lay down with his clothes on. So he slept until midnight before waking up.
Hu Yanzhuo looked at the darkness outside and couldn't see the light. He turned over and planned to sleep again. At this time, he only heard a shout from behind the room. Hu Yanzhuo suddenly opened his eyes and listened carefully. It was the bartender shouting there. When he got up, Hu Yanzhuo heard something strange. He remembered what the bartender said before going to bed about the bandits coming from Niushou Mountain. He immediately took the maces around him, jumped up quickly, greeted his followers, and walked to the back of the house. The bartender squatted on the ground in a daze, covering the sides of his head with his hands.
When Hu Yanzhuo saw that there was no one around, he made up his mind, but suddenly he saw that the stable was empty. Hu Yanzhuo understood and jumped over impatiently to take a look and shouted: "Where is the horse? Where is my horse?"
The bartender turned pale with fright and said intermittently: "The little man got up to relieve himself... I saw that the back door was overturned... and that's when I saw... someone had stolen my husband's horse away. The little man... just watched from a distance. I saw a torch three miles away and it was still bright, so I must have gone there."
Hu Yanzhuo looked back at the ladder set up on the edge of the eaves, and quickly climbed up it to take a look. Sure enough, there was a faint fire in the south. He suddenly slapped his thigh and asked: "Where is that?" "
The bartender said: "That road is... that leads to Niushou Mountain. These people... must be the minions from Niushou Mountain who can steal it."
Hu Yanzhuo was startled and asked the bartender to lead the way. He took his followers to the fields and drove for two or three miles. He just chased after him. As soon as the torch in the distance turned around the bottom of the mountain, he couldn't see it anymore. It was a dark valley. I don't know where I have gone.
Hu Yanzhuo said: "If there is no horse given by the emperor, how can it be good?"
The personal attendant said: "General, I am going to mobilize the troops and horses. Let's go in and attack Huanglong. We will disturb him and turn him upside down. We are not afraid that he will not obediently hand over your horses."
After hearing this, the bartender hurriedly persuaded: "My lord, you can't do it. The Niu Shou Mountain Peak is so mountainous that none of us from the countryside dare to enter it. What's more, it's the middle of the night. Don't say that they occupy a good location. No matter how much they bring, The soldiers and horses were also afraid that they had gone astray. After wandering around for three days, they could not find a way out. They could not get in or get out. Chang'an sent the Imperial Guard several times to strangle them, but it failed. Most of the officers and soldiers who entered were ambushed. The corpses in the wilderness are so miserable."
The soldier was displeased when he heard this, and immediately drew out his sword and shouted: "You are the leader of others who want to destroy our prestige. I think you are tired of living."
The bartender looked at the shining blade, and immediately his feet went limp and fell to the side. Hu Yanzhuo drank and followed him, and said to the bartender: "Don't be afraid. With your intention, even if you take us there, you won't be able to do it." I can’t find the location of the cottage,”
The bartender said: "Sir, first of all, I have never been in. Secondly, it is really disadvantageous to be in the dark. Thirdly, those strong men have a very bad temper and have made me anxious. Maybe they will not return the general's horse." , and also cooked it,"
Hu Yanzhuo was very upset after hearing this. He stood there for a long time, waved his hand and said: "We will discuss it in the long term when we go back." At that time, Hu Yanzhuo and his party returned the same way. Hu Yanzhuo sat in the shop until dawn, thinking about it, and felt that There is no need to rush to attack Niushou Mountain at this time. Niushou Mountain is just taking advantage of the situation of the Green Forest Army's siege of the city and territory, and dares to challenge the government. The most important thing right now is to defeat the Green Forest Army. When the time comes, Then he turned around and summoned the men to surrender. He was not afraid that they would not surrender the horses unscathed. After thinking about this, Hu Yanzhuo put on his armor, raised more than ten thousand soldiers and horses, and thanked Chief Li Cun. Return to Chang'an.
When he came to the city, Hu Yanzhuo went to the steps of the mansion and paid homage to the prefect He Lianrong.
The prefect was shocked, and hurriedly welcomed Hu Yanzhuo in and asked: "I heard that the general was caught in a conspiracy by thieves on the front line, which made people anxious. I sent several groups of exploration horses out, but there was no whereabouts of the general. Why did he come back to the city now? It makes me anxious,"
Hu Yanzhuo had no choice but to tell the story of the previous complaint. After hearing this, Magistrate He Lianrong said: "Although the general killed many men and horses, this was not the crime of slow work. After all, it was the green forest thieves who were cunning and tough, otherwise it would not be possible." They will not capture a large part of our Jingzhao Prefecture in just a few days. Alas, in comparison, the general fell into the traitor's trick and was helpless," Hao Lianrong said here, and then let's talk about the Niushou Mountain who robbed the horses. He said: "The land under the jurisdiction of Xiaguan is now invaded by grass bandits. Those mountain bandits are very rampant with the bandits' power. I have tried several times to kill them, but I can't succeed. Today, the general is here, so we can first clear out the Niushoushan Mountain and seize the royal horse." The horse I was given was able to capture the strongman inside with one shot. I will do my best to protect him, and then I will teach the general how to lead his troops to take revenge. How about that?"
Hu Yanzhuo said: "Sir, the Green Forest Army is eyeing Chang'an now. If we don't defeat the bandits first, how can we have peace of mind? Moreover, I heard from the local people that the terrain in Niushoushan is complicated and difficult to defend and difficult to attack. I'm afraid that if I push hard, the bandits will The war horse given by the emperor was destroyed,"
He Lianrong bowed his hands and said with a smile: "General, what you said is wrong. Although the Green Forest Army has many soldiers and horses, the city of Chang'an is strong, the soldiers and horses are elite, and you are here, General. They can't attack Chang'an for a while, and those Although the bandit occupies an advantageous location, most of his soldiers and horses are ordinary people. An Neng can be compared with the general's elite troops. The bandit is also a calculating person. How could he kill the BMW so childishly? It's just a way of escaping," Hao Lianrong said here: "Don't worry, go and get the royal horse back. When the time comes, I won't mention it. I will only report your achievements in suppressing the bandits."
After hearing what He Lianrong said, Hu Yanzhuo felt that it was reasonable. He bowed again and said, "Thank you very much for your kindness. If you are like this, I swear to die to repay your kindness." Magistrate He Lianrong immediately invited Hu Yanzhuo to go to the living room for a while. After resting for a day, Hu Yanzhuo was eager to get the horse given by the emperor, and came to report to the magistrate, so he raised ten thousand forbidden troops. Hao Lianrong lent Hu Yanzhuo a green-maned horse, and Hu Yanzhuo thanked him. After receiving the favor, he put on his horse, led the troops to seize the horse, and marched directly to Niu'er Mountain.
Let's say that Li Zhong, the tiger-hunting general on Niu'er Mountain, and Zhou Tong, the little overlord, were proud of the snow-kicking black horse. They were celebrating and drinking on the mountain that day. While drinking, suddenly a small group of minions who were lying on the road came up to report: "There is an army horse." They are coming from the direction of Chang'an,"
The little overlord Zhou Tong stood up and said, "Brother, guard the stronghold, and go and retreat the army." After saying this, he ordered a hundred men, mounted their horses with spears, and went down the mountain to meet the enemy's army.
Yashima Yupu led ten thousand soldiers and horses under his command to the front of the mountain. He did not dare to enter rashly, so he set up a formation at the foot of the mountain.
When Hu Yanzhuo saw a group of soldiers and horses coming out of the mountain, he stepped out and shouted loudly: "The strong thieves have come and been bound."
The little overlord Zhou Tong put the little minions aside, then drew his spear and rode out. Hu Yanzhuo saw this and was so happy that he dared to take action. He immediately waved his whip and rode forward.
Zhou Tong also jumped on his horse to meet him. The two horses met in the middle. Both Zhong and Zhong were far from rivals together. Zhou Tong narrowly missed a move and was so frightened that he immediately turned his horse's head and risked his life to take the road up the mountain.
Hu Yanzhuo immediately started to rush forward, but the horse borrowed by Hao Lianrong was far inferior to the war horse given by the emperor. He could not catch up with the fellow on the mountain road. Seeing that the fellow was walking deep into the mountains, Hu Yanzhuo was afraid that the fellow would have trouble. I didn't dare to go deep into the plan, so I gave up immediately, returned to my horse and came down the mountain to camp on the fence, waiting for another fight.