The bank of the Cangzhou River is not as good as the Dadukou in Muyunzhou. Even though construction has begun, it still looks a little lively.
A figure in black robes wearing a mask stood firmly on the river bank, his robes bulging violently when the river wind blew them.
Next to him stood another man wearing a rickety white robe. On the waist of the white robe was an old sword.
After a sword has been used for a long time, it sometimes becomes familiar with its owner. Like its owner, it has been sharpened by the years, and even the scabbard is bent.
"Your name is Bai Yanzi?"
The old man in white robe grinned, "Since you know me, why bother asking."
"I heard that there was a black swallow in Muyunzhou who once tried to assassinate Thief Xu and died miserably."
"He is my disciple."
"Disciple? If you don't know, you think you are equally famous."
"It's not the same name, it's because I only have one disciple like this."
The black robe turned around silently, "You go to Shuzhou and kill someone for me."
The old man in white robe frowned, "I won't take orders from the little boss."
The black robe smiled and said, "It's not the order from the little boss, it's the order from a sick and weak staff member."
"Poison osprey?"
"Indeed. Once the matter is settled, I will give you a title when you return to Cangzhou."
The old man in white robe smiled slightly, swept away, and walked along the river. After taking a few more steps, he stepped onto a awning.
"Do you recognize me?"
The old boatman quickly jumped into the river and swam to the shore.
"The Jianghu people have their own ways of living, and those who rebel against thieves have their own ways of living, but they never deviate from their origins. What they are fighting for is nothing more than a great fortune."
After saying this, the black robe turned around silently, walked steadily through the new spring mud, and disappeared on the river bank.
…
"Living in a troubled time, no matter who you are, there is a way to survive. A scholar dares to save the country with a sword, and a warrior can sell himself to the powerful."
Xu Mu tapped his fingers and looked at the King of Shunan in front of him.
He must have sobered up.
In front of him, there was something different in Dou Tong's eyes.
"We need a chance to take over the nine counties in Sichuan." Xu Mu said in a calm voice.
He and Jia Zhou had discussed this matter. If they could not successfully occupy Shu within a year, in the troubled times where big fish eat small fish, there is a high possibility that they would become the food of others.
"The other two Shu kings are absolutely perfect dogs of integrity." Dou Tong said in a serious tone.
Dou Tong's intention is already very clear. Although the dog of defense has no aggressive intentions, if you want to touch his cake, he will definitely fight to the death to stop you.
"Dou Tong, how many armies are there in central Shu and western Shu?"
"Shuzhou is mountainous, which is not conducive to riding. It is dominated by shield soldiers and crossbow archers. These two places are even richer than southern Shu. The five counties in central Shu have an army of about 50,000, and the four counties in western Shu also have an army of about 50,000.
Nearly 40,000 people.”
"Added it all together, it's 90,000."
"More than that." Dou Tong smiled bitterly, "I have said that these two places are rich and can recruit barbarian soldiers with a lot of money. If you really say it, it will be at least 120,000 or 30,000."
Xu Mu was a little silent. Due to the terrain, the land in southern Shu was barren and transportation was inconvenient. In addition, there were only two counties, so an army of 20,000 was already the limit.
Previously, Xu Mu saw that the soldiers of the Shunan Army did not even have standard weapons and armor.
"It's not that I haven't tried before. I tried to occupy some rich counties based on my heroic spirit. But it was all in vain."
"Dou Tong, the common people and soldiers under your command all know that you have tried your best." Xu Mu comforted him.
No wonder Dou Tong, the gap is too big. Moreover, Xu Mu knew that following a conspiracy in Cangzhou, the two princes of western and central Shu would definitely join forces to resist him, the "new Shu" who was appointed by the court.
"King of the State".
"The army cannot take the plank road, so the only way to enter Shuzhong is to capture Yuguan. But there, the king of Shuzhong has gathered at least 30,000 soldiers at Yuguan."
"My lord, Yuguan is the most powerful pass in the world."
"If not, it will be like what I did before. After climbing a few mountains, I will attack the city with exhausted troops and return with a disastrous defeat."
Xu Mu rubbed his forehead. It was a very annoying thing to do it in vain.
"Dou Tong, take a long-term approach."
Dou Tong calmed down and nodded, "My lord, please take a closer look at the map of Shuzhou presented to your lord."
"After reading it several times, I have handed it over to the military advisor."
If you hand it to Jia Zhou, he will feel more at ease. This map of Shuzhou shows Dou Tong's intentions.
"Dou Tong, is there any way to open up the plank road?"
Dou Tong shook his head, "Having lived in southern Shu for a long time, I want to find a way to let the people in southern Shu go out of the country. The Yuguan in the world is like a mountain, always pressing on the chests of southern Shu people."
Xu Mu nodded.
One day he took over the land of Shu, and this valley became a barrier that no one could break.
"Dou Tong, I will stay in southern Shu for the next few days to see the terrain. Again, you and I will discuss it in the long term."
…
In the middle of Shu, outside the large county of Chengdu, there is a stone pavilion about two hundred miles away.
Two middle-aged men wearing python robes sat looking at each other coldly under the watchful eyes of various guards.
At first, neither of them spoke. They only waited for the monkey performer to make a show of his humiliation before they both worked up their emotions.
"I heard that the commoner in the world will be the king of Shuzhou."
"He has become the king of Shuzhou. Where will you and I go? And the little old man from southern Shu is a poor man. Otherwise, we might as well just let him be a horse washer."
"The meaning of Cangzhou Imperial House."
"So majestic, the royal family?"
The cheerful laughter of the two people suddenly filled the stone pavilion.
"Little Lao San, do you want to invite me over?"
"Why did you come here? He was trapped to death in a land in southern Shu. If he hadn't thought that he was a member of the Dou family, I would have killed him early in the morning."
"You lost last year."
"You also lost, no one is laughing at you."
"Too lazy to argue, let's deal with Thief Xu first."
The two kings of Shu frowned and watched the monkey show for a while. When they turned their heads again, they looked at each other and began to smile happily again.
"The road to Shu is as difficult as climbing to heaven. He can't get in."
"I will guard Yuguan, and you will guard Banan City. No one can take away these nine richest counties in Shu."
"Look at those people outside Shuzhou, they are constantly fighting, life and death, like a group of madmen."
"If they kill them, it has nothing to do with you and me. If the war can't burn Shuzhou, at worst, a new dynasty will be changed, and some annual tribute will be given casually. Your and my ancestors have done this for countless rounds."
"So, the little shopkeeper who comes to Shu can't make a splash."
"If I were him, I could guard Linjiang County and be a happy man."
"Haha, under the protection of our ancestors, Shuzhou will have peace forever."
…
"May you travel south to Sichuan."
“The valley is hundreds of miles away, and the Xiangshui River is vast—”
Walking out of the governor's house, Xu Mu and Dou Tong stood side by side. Although they were far apart, they could still hear the faint singing of Shu Ci.
"The Ci of Shu was written by an ancient sage. In southern Shu, even children aged three or four can sing it."
Dou Tong's voice became more throaty.
"But trapped in southern Sichuan, many people have never seen Yuguan or Xiangjiang in their entire lives."
"They just know how to sing and sing along. They pass it down from generation to generation and teach it orally. If there is no chance, the most common things they will see in this life are murderous dogs in the mountains and forests, and wild vegetables that are so bitter that they spit out their tongues."