Many streams from the mountains and plains in the north of Jiangling gather here and form a big river, rushing eastward. Lu Zongzhi's military camp stands next to the water, and a wooden bridge stands across the water.
, both ends of the wooden bridge were filled with fully armed sergeants. Lu Zongzhi, wearing armor, stood at the head of the bridge with his son Lu Gui, who was famous for his martial arts. On top of this bridge, stood two people wearing helmets.
Yin Zhongkan, who was in a yoke, and Tao Yuanming, who was in a tight-fitting outfit, stood side by side, watching the rolling river rushing eastward.
The sound of the water made it impossible for people ten steps away to hear the words of the two. Yin Zhongkan sighed: "In the end, I am still defeated, defeated in your hands!"
Tao Yuanming smiled slightly: "You don't need to be grudgey, Mr. Yin. At this point, it is better to think more about your own mistakes rather than blaming others. At least, you can cut off your head and don't lose your bearing. Otherwise, how can you be a famous person?"
Yin Zhongkan nodded and blinked: "That's true. After all, I misunderstood you because I didn't know people well. But I'm very curious. Is it more promising to take refuge in Huan Xuan than to take refuge in me? Could it be that he has a better future than taking refuge in me?
Do I trust you more? What are the benefits of betraying me?!"
Tao Yuanming said calmly: "Tao is Tao, and he will not be driven or controlled by anyone in this world. Not Yin Gong, nor Huan Gong. Being under your hands is just to borrow your power and reputation. At the beginning, I was just a mountain man."
Villager, if you two hadn't fought for the power of Jingzhou and visited the scholars in Jingzhou, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to leave the mountain. It's too hard in the mountains and too tiring in the cave. I have been farming in the mountains for more than 20 years.
, I never want to eat it again. From the first day I came out of the mountain, I told myself that I would never go back again in this life!"
Yin Zhongkan murmured: "After a long time, Huan Xuan and I both misjudged you. You don't have any clansmen, soldiers and horses, or food reserves. You lied to us about everything. You just made up a descendant of Tao Kan."
The legends and the legendary Jingchu mountain people made us all think that you have a powerful force and want to win you over and use it for our use. In fact, you have nothing!"
Tao Yuanming smiled slightly: "I know this now, but I'm afraid it's a little late. In fact, it's not that I don't help you, it's just that I don't have the power to help you. I am a scholar, how can I associate with those vulgar barbarian mountain people? In your eyes
, I am the leader and chief of these tribesmen, but in their eyes, I have long been a foreigner who has lived in isolation and been assimilated by the Han people."
Yin Zhongkan gritted his teeth: "You deceived me so badly, but Huan Xuan is not me. He has a lot of eyes and ears in Jingzhou, and he has many subordinates. If you want to deceive him like this, can you get through it?"
Tao Yuanming laughed: "To Yin Gong, I have to say that I have clansmen and strength, so that you will rely on me. But to Huanxuan, I will try every means to say that I have no clansmen and no strength. The more I say this,
The more suspicious he becomes, thinking that I am hiding my strength. Of course, I have written about Peach Blossom Spring a long time ago, saying that these villages and caves have secret entrances that cannot be opened by anyone but my tribe, so Huan Xuan will only keep them there.
I, Duke Yin, don’t have to worry about this."
Yin Zhongkan sighed: "I didn't expect that you, a world-famous poet and talent, would have such a dark heart. If one day Huan Xuan discovers your true face, I wonder what he will think?!"
Tao Yuanming sneered and said: "In front of Huan Xuan, I never hide my ambitions and evil intentions, because he is not a hypocrite like you. He is a real villain. In front of him, all pretense is superfluous and his true heart is exposed.
Bargaining, everything is based on interests, can make him feel more at ease. He wants his great empire, and I want my Jingxiang to dominate. Everyone gets what they need, which is good."
Yin Zhongkan also sneered and said, "Really? If he really conquers the world, will he keep you?"
Tao Yuanming laughed: "Why not stay? I said that cooperation with him must be based on interests. Huan Xuan definitely wants to go to Beijing to seize power. Maybe as long as the time is right, he can get what he wants, but the world
No one from the aristocratic family or the Wu scholars in Yangzhou will obey him. People like Liu Yu from the Beifu Army will even become enemies with him. He has many enemies and it is impossible for him to free his hands to deal with me. Therefore, as long as he lets him
If I have enough enemies, I will be safe."
Yin Zhongkan gritted his teeth: "Can you spare my life? I am his enemy. As long as I live, you will be much safer!"
Tao Yuanming sighed: "I gave you a chance, but it didn't work for you. Mr. Yin, I helped you deceive Yang Quanqi, not to harm you, but to let Yang Quanqi, a fool, stand in front and die, so that you can escape."
Chances are, as long as you escape to Xiangyang and return to Jiankang via Yuzhou, you can continue to be your Lord White Tiger. Unfortunately, you actually have illusions about Yang Quanqi's report, and actually stayed in Jiangling for two or three days, waiting until Yang Quanqi
Do you think about escaping when the defeat is certain? Or should you flee towards Yuzhou? Tell me, you are so stupid, how can I save you?!"
Yin Zhongkan's face turned red, he glanced at Lu Zongzhi at the bridge, took a step forward, and said in a low voice: "Mr. Tao, you also know that I am White Tiger, and I have the resources of the White Tiger line that have been under the mafia for hundreds of years.
Bao, as long as you save my life, arrange a substitute to fake my death, etc., I will give you all these things, including the position of White Tiger. If you want to deal with Huan Xuan, you can only master the resources of the mafia.
Only then will you have a chance of winning!"
Tao Yuanming looked at Yin Zhongkan and laughed: "Mr. Yin, Gong Yin, isn't it too funny for you to talk about your mafia resources before me, a big liar, deceives you? Are you a noble person who forgets too much?
Don't you remember how you got the position of White Tiger? Wang Xun wanted to give this position to me first, not you. And the reason why I gave in was because I knew that Wang Xun actually had it long ago.
The mafia's so-called White Tiger strength, accumulated over a hundred years, was put to use by Huan Wen back then, otherwise he would not have achieved his great fame. The current White Tiger is just an empty shell, a man who circulates around various circles in Jiankang City.
You are just the convener of the big family. If you didn’t know all these things, how could I have given up the position of White Tiger to you?!"
Yin Zhongkan's face was ashen, he took two steps back dejectedly, and murmured: "So, you already knew it!"
Tao Yuanming said coldly: "Because you have no strength, you want to come to Jingzhou to establish your own foundation. Unfortunately, you have no soldiers and no power. It is impossible for you to arm a large army as quickly as Huan Wen and form an army that can compete with the northern Hulu."
Armed for direct confrontation, so you want to provoke an internal fight between Yang Quanqi and Huan Xuan and profit from it."