Xu Mu stood on the top of the city, overlooking the yellow sand of the Gobi Desert outside the city. Zhaowu County is the border of Liangzhou, still some distance from Yumen Pass. It was sold by Dong Wen before, but due to Xi Shu's refusal to give up any land
, the people over there in the Western Regions had no choice but to give up.
"My lord, if you are feeling tired, why not go back to the city to rest first," Chen Zhong advised from the side.
Xu Mu smiled and said, "Chen Zhong, just like you, I am a veteran of many battles. I am not a young scholar, so please don't try to persuade me again."
"I thought about it and waited for Chao Yi here. Also, will there be any carriages coming to Chengdu in the next two days?"
I have been staying in Liangzhou for several days, but Zhuge Fan has not arrived yet.
This time on his trip to the Western Regions, he was bound to win. Only by solving these troubles could he stabilize the development of Western Shu, continue to accumulate food and forge weapons, and wait for the decisive battle with Beiyu.
"Don't worry, my lord, I went to ask before, and Senior Zhuge has already entered Liangzhou and is ready to arrive."
Xu Mu nodded.
For some reason, he always felt that not agreeing to Zhuge Lai's wish was like wasting the old man's long-cherished wish.
It was about afternoon.
Finally, Zhuge Fan's group arrived. What surprised Xu Mu was that not only the old man came, but Chen Sheng also followed this time.
"Lord!" Chen Sheng's face was slightly happy. More than half a year of studying in the General Hall had made his temperament calmer.
"Good brother." Xu Mu greeted him.
From the beginning, following the five horsemen who conquered the world, the one he valued most was Chen Sheng. It was a pity that when Baiqi entered the border, Chen Sheng broke his arm heroically and retreated to the second line.
If it were someone else, it would be okay to be a stable logistics general. But Xu Mu knew very well that Chen Sheng had a lot of passion for the battlefield in his bones.
At this time, Chen Sheng raised his only arm and hugged Xu Mu, with tears in his eyes.
"My lord, the military advisor has said that I should follow you this round. Even if you become a junior captain, it will be much better than studying in the general hall."
"The military advisor has good intentions. Reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles." Xu Mu said with a smile.
"Read hard, study hard, and one day your name as Chen Sheng will become famous all over the world."
"Thank you, Lord."
"Thank you for your eggs, they are all family members."
Xu Mu let go of his hand and continued to look forward. Only then did he realize that Zhuge Fan in the crowd did not curse at his mother at this time, and his expression was full of calm. He put on his white robe again, carried his sword, and even covered his bald head.
Got a charlatan hat.
Xu Mu always felt that something was wrong.
"My son, when will we set off?"
The voice is hoarse and weak.
Seeing Zhuge Fan's face full of wrinkles, Xu Mu felt inexplicably sad. He stretched out his hand and gently hugged Zhuge Fan.
…
In Chengdu, Huang Zhizhou sat alone on the balcony facing the street, holding a wine jar.
When he learned that Chen Sheng was going to the Western Regions, he went to Jia Zhou specifically, thinking that if he could follow him this time, he would probably make great contributions and be made a general.
Unfortunately, he was still politely rejected by Jia Zhou.
Looking up, among the many people watching, Huang Zhizhou took a few more sips of wine. Suddenly, many people were whispering.
"Sir, everyone is watching." A book boy came next to him and spoke cautiously.
"I'm so scared!"
Probably drunk, Huang Zhizhou threw away the book boy's hand, his face full of reluctance.
"Think of me, Huang Zhizhou. Last year, I was ranked first in both general examinations! If I had been another person, I would have already been appointed as a general and went to war!"
"But I, Huang Zhizhou, can't do it! The King of Shu won't grant me the title, and the military advisor won't give him the title. Even if I, Huang Zhizhou, went to ask for it myself, I still found nothing!"
"The King of Shu also said before that those who are outstanding in the general office can stand out——"
"Master, shut up!" The little book boy was shocked.
Many people watching on the street also began to show angry expressions. In Western Shu, anyone who dares to slander the King of Shu is an enemy.
"I told you, I'm very scared!" Huang Zhizhou's face flushed, and his tone was full of unwillingness. His body was swaying, and even the wine jar in his hand could not be grasped for a while, and the whole thing fell to the ground.
There was a bang and drinks flew everywhere.
Huang Zhizhou fell into the wine in embarrassment, raising his head and burping from the wine.
The little book boy went to help him, but he pushed him away again.
The former young master of Kezhou burst into tears for a moment, "I, Huang Zhizhou, have so many talents but have not found them -"
The streets began to become more and more commotion, and before long, Sun Xun had already led more than a hundred guards to surround him coldly.
"Huang Zhizhou, how dare you do this and slander the King of Shu!" Sun Xun was furious and waved his hand. In an instant, the guards behind him rushed up.
"Commander Sun, my young master drank too much."
"Shut up!"
Sun Xun, who was wearing armor and holding a waist knife, walked up to the stage angrily and grabbed Huang Zhizhou's robe collar with one hand.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"What did you say? I'm not wrong." Huang Zhizhou smiled sadly.
"Be bold!"
Without drawing the knife, Sun Xun directly raised the scabbard and hit Huang Zhizhou hard on the face. In an instant, Huang Zhizhou's face became covered with blood.
"Come here, get water from the old well, and I, Sun Xun, will wash away the alcohol for him!"
Many people onlookers shouted in relief.
Huang Zhizhou's whole body was suddenly trembling with cold as water from the old well was constantly splashed on him. He seemed to have finally sobered up, and he lowered his head without saying a word.
"If we weren't acquainted, I would have put you in jail!" Sun Xun cursed, and when he left, he couldn't help but kick him twice.
In the eyes of everyone, Huang Zhizhou stood up staggeringly. The book boy next to him cried even more miserably.
"Stop crying."
Huang Zhizhou gasped and sat down again. He raised his head and looked at the mountains and rivers in the distance, his eyes full of yearning.
Under the balcony, the crowd began to disperse slowly. Among them, there were two or three weird people. After looking up for a few more times, they quickly left.
…
Outside the Chengdu Palace, Jia Zhou was holding a wooden stick in one hand and holding Xu Qiao with the other. He raised his head and looked into the distance silently.
The overt and covert struggle between the north and the south is about to begin.
His body is getting weaker and weaker, and he is unable to go on expeditions with the army. But no matter what, as long as he is still alive, he will be the strongest city wall in the battle of Western Shu.
"Grandpa Military Advisor, my father told me to watch you rest." Xu Qiao said from the side.
"Little Xu Qiao, I'm so old, you call me grandpa."
"Those who are powerful are called grandpa, just like the blacksmith grandpa or the scholar grandpa." Xu Qiao hurriedly changed his subject.
Jia Zhou laughed, took Xu Qiao's hand, and started to turn around and walk back.
"If I have the chance, I will definitely teach you in person in two years."
"Grandpa Military Advisor will live a long life."
"You little guy are a bit more cunning than your daddy."
"Grandpa Military Advisor, I am now smarter than Uncle Tiger. He can't beat me in counting stones."
"Hahaha! There is a successor, there is a successor!"
Jia Zhou was even more happy and held Xu Qiao's hand. Unknowingly, his steps became much steadier.