The sky is clear and although the weather is still cold, the sunshine shining on the mountains in this season makes people feel comfortable.
The sun shines on the small river in Huangtu Village, and the gurgling river sparkles.
Going downstream along the river, there was a smooth stone platform. When Xuanyuan came here, he saw Zhou Hongji standing with his hands behind his back, staring at the river in a daze.
"Brother!" Xuanyuan Chong quickened his pace.
Although Heishui Village and Huangtu Village are only separated by a valley, the leader has not been here for more than a year. Today, Xuanyuan Chong knew what was going on suddenly.
Hearing the sound, Zhou Hongji turned around and saw Xuanyuan Chong coming over, smiling and taking two steps forward. Xuanyuan Chong already said: "Brother, why are you waiting here? Go and talk in the room."
"No need." Zhou Hongji smiled and said: "Second brother, it seems that I haven't been here for a long time. Maybe the two of us brothers have never talked alone like this." He turned around and sighed softly: "This time we sent troops, the fourth brother was completely defeated.
When I ran back yesterday, I only brought back more than a thousand people. By last night, I finally came back with two thousand people, but there are still two thousand brothers who have not returned. I heard that this time the brothers suffered heavy casualties, and there were also
Many brothers have been captured...!" At this point, his expression became gloomy.
Xuanyuan Chong also looked solemn and said nothing.
"Originally I wanted to come over yesterday, but I felt ashamed of my second brother and didn't have the face to see you." Zhou Hongji sighed: "But the current situation is serious. After sending troops, two thousand people will not be able to return to the mountain. Their families are now in trouble.
In a ball."
Xuanyuan hurriedly said: "Brother, please don't say that. The Long Rui Army and the Liaodong Army cannot be compared. As far as I know, this Long Rui Army is not a temporary recruitment. They have fought fierce battles in the south of the Yangtze River and are very brave. They are definitely not
That group of Liaodong troops who are greedy for life and afraid of death can't compare."
"I know you are a little unhappy." Zhou Hongji said with a bitter smile: "Although it was Lao Si who wanted to send troops, in the end it was me who made the decision. I'm worried that if it continues to be delayed, after Long Rui's army becomes stronger, it will take even more effort to eradicate it.
The cost is huge, so it is better to fight late than to fight early, and I was worried that you would stop me, so I didn’t tell you in advance. Don’t blame the second and third children. If you really have any complaints, just blame me."
Xuanyuan Chong sighed: "Why did the eldest brother say such a thing? There is nothing wrong with the eldest brother's idea. I got the news earlier that Long Ruijun set a trap, and the fourth brother and the others were defeated. This can only be said that Long Rui
The army is too cunning."
Zhou Hongji pondered for a moment and finally said: "Second brother, I came here today because I want to entrust you with something. You must not refuse."
Xuanyuan Chong cupped his hands and said, "If you have any orders, elder brother, just tell me, and younger brother will do his best."
"From now on, Montenegro will be handed over to you." Zhou Hongji turned around and looked at Xuanyuan Chong with a serious face: "Take good care of everyone."
Xuanyuan Chong's expression changed suddenly, and he immediately knelt down on one knee and said in shock: "Brother, you...you...!" Before he could say more, Zhou Hongji interrupted: "Actually, I have already thought about quitting.
I just thought about the brothers being together and could not make up my mind. Second brother, you know I am a scholar. It was because of the tyranny of the Liaodong Army that I wanted to do something for the people, and I was elected as the leader by a group of brothers. I was unable to get off the tiger.
I actually don’t like this life of fighting and killing.”
Xuanyuan Chong moved his lips but stopped talking.
"My biggest ambition is actually to write a book and write a biography." Zhou Hongji said with a smile: "The literary style in Kyoto is booming. If I can find a secluded place in Kyoto and write quietly, I will have no regrets in this life. Look at me, I am over fifty years old. , the beard is almost turning gray. If you continue to delay, you will achieve nothing in your life. After this defeat, the people on the mountain are complaining. There is no other way to stabilize people's hearts. To be honest, if you hadn't supported me all these years, I’m afraid the Black Mountain Army no longer exists.”
"Brother, please don't say that." Xuanyuan Chong said sternly: "If it hadn't been for my brother taking me in, I would have died long ago. I will never be able to repay the kindness that my brother has shown me in this life."
Zhou Hongji raised his hand and patted Xuanyuan Chong's arm gently, and said warmly: "Black Mountain has suffered a heavy blow this time, and its morale is low. In the current situation, I, the leader, am at a loss to think of a way to deal with it." He sighed and shook his head. Said: "After much thought, I really am not qualified to continue sitting on this top spot, so I decided to hand this chair to you, go to Kyoto myself, and live in anonymity for the rest of my life. Second brother, you are the only one in Montenegro who can hold it up now. , you can also fulfill my wishes, okay?"
Xuanyuan Chong shook his head and said: "Brother, Heishan cannot be without you. With you, Heishan cannot collapse. I can promise you all other things, but this is the only thing I must not do."
"Do you think I'm testing you?" Zhou Hongji stared at Xuanyuan Chong and said with a bitter smile: "Don't think too much. What I said to you today was from the bottom of my heart and had no other intentions. The second brother, the brother who died in the battle, will not say anything. , but a large number of brothers have become prisoners, and I can't think of any way to rescue them now. The Liaodong Army and we are life and death enemies. The Long Rui Army has captured so many brothers, and they will probably be taken away by the Liaodong Army if they fall. In the hands of the Liaodong Army, there is no way to survive."
Xuanyuan Chong pondered for a moment, and finally said: "Brother, leave the matter of the prisoners to me."
"Do you have any idea?"
"You are right. Those brothers will definitely die if they fall into the hands of the Liaodong Army." Xuanyuan said seriously: "So we must not let the Long Rui Army hand them over to the Liaodong Army. I will make preparations and go down the mountain today to go in person. Long Ruijun is looking for Qin Xiao."
"Are you going to find him?"
Xuanyuan Chong said: "There is no other way now but to negotiate with Qin Xiao. If he agrees, we will redeem those brothers."
Zhou Hongji frowned, thoughtfully, and finally shook his head and said: "No. Long Rui's army severely defeated our army in the first battle out of the pass. Qin Xiao must show off everywhere, even if he doesn't hand over his brothers to the Liaodong Army , I’m afraid you’ll have to be sent back to Kyoto to ask for rewards. You are the second head of Montenegro, so if you run over at this time, wouldn’t you be throwing yourself into a trap?”
"There is no other way." Xuanyuan said seriously: "If you want to save those brothers, you can only go to Qin Xiao. Brother, if Qin Xiao is really willing to let people go, he will definitely put forward extremely harsh conditions...! "
Zhou Hongji immediately said: "I will hand over Montenegro to you. No matter what conditions they propose, it will be up to you."
"If the eldest brother says this, I will not dare to go this time." Xuanyuan said seriously: "The eldest brother is the lord of the Black Mountain, he was before, and he will be in the future. I beg the eldest brother to take back what I just said, otherwise I will pack up and go down the mountain now. I will never
Stay on the mountain."
Zhou Hongji sighed: "Second brother, why is this necessary? Forget it, this matter will be discussed later. But this time when we go down the mountain, second brother must be careful. No matter what, you must come back to me alive and well."
"Without further delay, I will prepare to go down the mountain." Xuanyuan Chong said with cupped hands, as if he had something on his mind and stopped talking.
"Second brother, do you have anything else to say?"
Xuanyuan Chong hesitated for a moment and finally said: "Brother, if I can't come back, please take care of Su Yun on my behalf."
"Don't say such things." Zhou Hongji said with a cold face, "You will definitely return safe and sound."
"Besides, if the situation really gets serious, brother might as well consider recruiting troops." Xuanyuan Chong said softly: "The Liaodong Army is incompatible with us and wants to eradicate us quickly, so we must not surrender to them. On the contrary, Long Rui Army, although
There has been a battle, but there is no hatred of life and death. In addition, Qin Xiao is very respected in front of the emperor. If you have the opportunity, you might as well negotiate with Qin Xiao. If the conditions are reasonable, you might as well accept his recruitment." He looked solemn, knowing these words.
I couldn't say it at first, but this time when I went down the mountain, my life and death were uncertain, but I had to think about Montenegro's retreat.
Zhou Hongji was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "I will remember what my second brother said."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a voice from far away: "Brother, big brother...!"
The two followed the sound and saw Shen Xuangan leading two people along the river. He waved to this side from a distance. Zhou Hongji and Xuanyuan Chong looked at each other. Over there, Shen Xuangan quickened his pace and said loudly: "
It’s back, it’s all back!”
"What's back?" Zhou Hongji asked in shock.
Shen Xuangan came closer, nodded to Xuanyuan, out of breath, cupped his hands and said: "Song Lun, it's Song Lun, he's back with hundreds of brothers!"
"Song Lun?" Shen Xuangan frowned: "He is not dead?"
"He was captured by the officers and soldiers." Shen Xuangan said: "But Qin Xiao let them come back."
Zhou Hongji looked incredulous, and Xuanyuan Chong was also quite surprised.
"They have already gone up the mountain." Shen Xuangan said: "I will let them eat something and wait in the Juyi Hall later. Brother, let him tell you the details personally."
In the afternoon, several heads of Montenegro sat on chairs one by one, with Zhou Hongji in the middle, Xuanyuan Chong and Shen Xuangan on the left and right, Du Zitong and Zhou Yuanbao also sat at the bottom, and all the heads looked at Song Lun who was standing in the hall.
.
"Qin Xiao invited you to dinner alone, and then told you to take people to escape in the middle of the night." Du Zitong stared at Song Lun with a look of disbelief: "In the middle of the night, a tent caught fire, and the officers and soldiers withdrew to put out the fire. You took the opportunity to run back directly, and the officers and soldiers
No pursuit?"
Of course, Song Lun heard the suspicion in Du Zitong's tone, and said bravely: "Yes, I thought he was talking nonsense at first, but his people really left in the middle of the night, and when we ran out, they didn't send a single soldier.
One pawn chases after him."
Several heads of family looked at each other.
Du Zitong laughed out loud and said: "Why should he let you go? If he catches you, he can ask for rewards from the court, or even give you to the Liaodong Army to sell favors. Why do he let you go just in front of him? Song Lun, tell the truth.
what's going on?"
"Fourth Leader, this is really the case." Song Lun said hurriedly: "You can ask other brothers, I didn't lie to you at all."
Shen Xuangan sneered and said: "Song Lun, are you being bribed by Qin Xiao to come back and serve as internal agents for the officers and soldiers, so that you can cooperate internally and externally to conquer Heishan?"
Song Lun was shocked, fell to his knees, and defended himself: "The third leader of the family has absolutely nothing to do with this. If you don't believe it, you can chop off my little head with a knife now. I can't figure out why Qin Xiao let us go."
, lest they break their promise, after escaping, the brothers kept supporting each other all the way, and finally ran back." He looked at Du Zitong and said: "Fourth Leader, I have followed you for many years and am loyal to you.
He was never bribed by the officers and soldiers."
"Second brother, what you said is serious." Du Zitong glanced at Shen Xuangan and said calmly: "Song Lun is loyal to me and will not betray his brothers. Song Lun, the third master is just testing you, don't take it seriously.
.”
Zhou Hongji stroked his beard gently, thoughtfully, pondered for a moment, then looked at Xuanyuan Chong and asked: "Second brother, do you think there is something fishy about this?"
"My younger brother also feels that it is very strange." Xuanyuan said: "Fourth brother is right. If you capture a prisoner, you can take credit and receive rewards. Why do you suddenly let everyone back? What is Qin Xiao's plan?"
Song Lun said hurriedly: "Qin Xiao said that they had conflicts with the Liaodong Army and did not want to hand us over to the Liaodong Army. He also said that he was not a murderous butcher. If we were left here, we would have to eat more food every day. He was not willing to let us go.
We consume their food, so just let us go back."
"Fart." Du Zitong scolded: "He's not a pig. He thought things would be so simple? Just to save a few grains, he let you go? I'll reward you in exchange for countless grains. He has to settle the account.
I don’t understand, the emperor can still let him lead the army?”
Song Lun lowered his head and suddenly thought of something. He raised his head and moved his lips, but his eyes swept over the five heads of the family, but he still did not say anything.
"Just say what you want to say, don't be secretive." Du Zitong saw it and immediately said: "What else did he say?"
Song Lun hesitated for a moment, then cautiously said: "He said something very strange casually, but...but before he finished speaking, he seemed to have thought of something and did not continue."
"What?" Du Zitong leaned forward and urged: "Hurry up and tell me, what else did he say?"
Song Lun said: "When I left his tent, he suddenly said...!" Then he followed Qin Xiao's example and deliberately pinched his voice and said: "When you go back, tell your...!"
Then he looked at Du Zitong. Du Zitong stared at Song Lun. Song Lun also looked at Du Zitong. There was silence for a while. Du Zitong said angrily: "Tell me, what's behind it?"
"No more." Song Lun said: "He only said half of this sentence, and then he seemed to think of something and stopped immediately. Then he asked me if I was a subordinate of the fourth master of Baimuzhai. I said yes, and he didn't say anything else."
Shen Xuangan repeated Song Lun's words: "When you go back, tell your...!" He looked at Zhou Hongji and said: "Brother, Qin Xiao initially wanted Song Lun to bring a message to the mountain.
I was sending a message to someone, but suddenly I remembered that Song Lun was my fourth brother, so I stopped talking."
Song Lun hurriedly said: "What the Third Master said is, when I think about it carefully later, that's what happened. After he made a mistake, he realized that he had said the wrong thing and did not continue. If the second half of the words were spoken, you would know who he was going to say.
The message has been sent."
Several heads of family looked at each other, but at this moment, there was a look of alertness in the depths of their eyes.