Book 37 - Chapter 1 – The Extent of First Ability (1/2)
‘Knock! Knock!’
So out frohtly startled He came to theand pushed it open Unexpectedly it was the Qiuci beauty, the Hu Ji [barbarian wo Jiao, in person, beautiful, fragrant, standing captivatingly outside theShe earing night-walker attire, so that her purity was reduced so-tender-affection-beneath-the-surface impression on her; perhaps because her manner was not as-cold-as-ice-and-frost like before, or perhaps because there was a faint grief between her brows and eyes
“Shaoshuai, how are you?” Linglong Jiao spoke softly
Suddenly Kou Zhong had an ily delightful, especially recalling her persistently-pushi+ng-others-thousand-of-li-away hateful attitude However, it was just sooing to do it for real
A bit unsure what to say, he si Jiao cast hihtly knitted, she spoke with slight displeasure, “Why are you staring at ly unable to take your eyes off otten aboutwas shocked inwardly He ry rereat affection, and was forcing him to declare his position
He could not help thinking about past events in Chang’an, the grief of when he wanted to say goodbye to Shang Xiufang but after waiting painstakingly, he still could not see her Clearing his throat, he said, “How could I forget Jiao Xiaojie? How about co Jiao shook her head and said, “I received Shengshang’s order to i Ar, I just want to stop by and say hello to Shaoshuai, that’s all”
Froh the Yellow River, while the land route was through the official road out of Luo Pass Changping was located ht on the south bank of the Yellow River It simultaneously controlled the water and land, two est silo west of Luoyang Both in terms of economic and ist would want to capture
While one after another various cities east of the Pass was surrendering to the Li Clan, Changping was still firrasp But if it fell into Li shi+o straight out of Tongguan, via Hongnong to Changping, or fro on the north shore, through the onlythe Luo Pass official road Mianchi and Cijian
“How did Jiao Xiaojie know that I a her eyes at hi can be hidden fro treated you like that, you are still willing to co said, “This is called vital interest Jiao Xiaojie ought to understand what kind of a ive up your post and leave? Once Luoyang falls, it won’t be fun anyed her shoulders More andlascivious pose casually appeared Wrinkling her nose, she said, “I a orders If he is done for, I’ll recover ence gatherer!”
Kou Zhong dejectedly said, “I hope I would still be alive to enjoy that good fortune”
With slight displeasure in her voice, she said, “How could Shaoshuai have no confidence in yourself like this? I won’t talk with you anymore”
With a somersault, as nimble as a leopard cat, she was suddenly on top of the wall Without looking at hiood-bye, and swiftly disappeared outside the wall
Kou Zhong shook his head with a wry sht and capability; he also had profound understanding of the a shi+chong yield to him immediately, or perhaps entrusted the , then there would be a slight chance that he would be able to turn the situation around
This was not to say that he thought his ainst Li shi+enerals under wang shi+chong’s command, ere already at odds with hi shi+chong who only kno to appoint his own relatives
Fro fell – would be the er this period, the better it would be for hi, Bai Wenyuan, Bu Tianzhi, and the others, via Yang Gongqing, tohis old ho to the throne over the world, to co the deer in the Central Plains
For the next fifteen days Kou Zhong did not set his foot outside He focused his attention on digesting the precious realization that he learned froht the profound her level Every tiraphical situation and the application of ether His life was quiet and fulfilling
On the sixteenth day, wang shi+chong, without any reason, delayed thefor at least five days
Yang Gongqing received the order to pick hie, Yang Gongqing angrily said, “Do you knoang shi+chong insisted on delaying theasked the reason
Yang Gongqing said, “Thisannounced the i Xingben to guard Hulao, wang Tai to guard Huaizhou, wang shi+hui to guard Nancheng, wang shi+hui to guard Feicheng, Xuanying Taizi [Crown Prince] to guard Dongcheng, wang Xuanshu to guard Hejia city, wang Daosi to guard Yaoyi city, he himself is in co Ar could only stare at hi ht points of the co shi+chong’s clan; evidently he si military officers of outside his surnaenerals of different surna shi+chong learned fro that once their troops were defeated, the generals under his command would surrender to the ene an ar men based on family relationshi+p instead of talent would only put the Zheng Are to think hard and waste his th, which also resulted in the delay of theasked
“Zhenzhou arrived six days ago, along with Xianzhou’s Zongguan Tian Fen and Guanzhou’s Zongguan Yang Qing,” Yang Gongqing replied, “But Li Mi’s surrendering generals Duan Da and Shan Xiongxin were not su does not trust them even more Ay, Shaoshuai, tell ht it, I already know the outco shi+chong is that kind ofto lose; our hope is that he will be able to hold out a bit longer”
Yang Gongqing nodded and said, “Beyond that, what can we expect of hie entered the imperial city
※ ※ ※
By the ti the Tong Ji Canal, starting their last leg of the journey toward Liangdu, Xu Ziling already knew that he did not fail the task that Kou Zhong entrusted hi
Because Tong Xing Hui [sic; previously it was Tong Xing She] had done enough business and periodically sent tribute, hence they modestly earned favorable reputation, whenever theyArmy, they did not have any trouble
Everybody was in high spirit; hurriedly they replaced the banner with Shao Shuai Ar unnecessary
When they were still a couple of sichen away froot the wind and ca again after a long period of separation, naturally they were all exceptionally happy While the fleet , Bu Tianzhi, Gao Zhandao, Niu Fengyi, and Zha Jie gathered in the cabin to talk, telling each other what happened after they parted
Seeing what kind of talent Bu Tianzhi was, plus he was taking shelter with Kou Zhong, Gao Zhandao and the others’ confidence soared
Bu Tianzhi said, “Shaoshuai already arrived safely at Luoyang, and is dealing with the old fox I hope he could defend Luoyang steadily Only four days ago Shaoshuai sent us news, saying that Ziling and Gao Dajiang [great general] and the others may arrive any ’s current situation; learning of this one Only Xu Ziling knew that Kou Zhong had successfully slipped away fro Daoqi’s hands; furtherht alone, there would not be
“Why did Bu Xiansheng call ?” Gao Zhandao asked in astonishment
Bu Tianzhi seht; Xu Junshi+ is indeed a rare talent, he organized us, a tray of loose sand, into a real Shao Shuai Magnificent Ar the econoood order even reat general] of our Shao Shuai Ar and Zha Xiong are left and right flying generals, respectively For the ti; naturally it will be greatly expanded someday”
Gao Zhandao and the others were accusto pirates; withthe world, they already felt very great Hearing that all of a sudden they had more than three thousand reatly aroused; they were pleased beyond their expectation
Lowering his voice, Bu Tianzhi said, “Shaoshuai’s ’s Treasure; what exactly is the situation?”
“What kind of ruhed and said, “What we received were all bad news Reportedly your treasure hunt operation suffered setback, and thus the Li Clan seized the treasures for the wealth and weapons are external objects; as long as the people could cos, we really need not care”
Lowering his voice, Xu Ziling said, “The fact is the exact opposite In the holds of these three shi+ps of ours, we are carrying gold, enough to feed ion for at least three years This is Shao Shuai Army’s secret; it must not be leaked outside”
Bu Tianzhi stared at hi’s brief explanation, Bu Tianzhi slapped his thigh and blurted out, “This will solve the proble the stash that Cao Yinglong’s hid everywhere, in line with Shaoshuai’s intention, Xu Junshi+ returned the riches to the people, by exeion of the taxes for one year, also by purchasing large quantities of grains and building , using up alold, naturally it is another ’s current situation?” Niu Fengyi asked
Bu Tianzhi replied cheerfully, “Under Xu Junshi+’s governance, tens of thousands in Pengliang have had their hearts returning to us; the city is flourishi+ng Even if the Tang Army arrives tomorroe are confident that ill be able to hold out for a few days”