the next day.
The sky is slightly bright.
Under the mist.
The entire Xiangyang City is quiet and peaceful.
Squeak...!
The city gate slowly opened.
A fast horse galloped out.
The man on horseback carried the name card written by Wang Ke himself and went straight to Sima Xiaonan's manor.
Until noon.
The person who sent the message returned and reported to Wang Kecheng: "General, the owner of Sima Xiaonan Village has received the invitation and invites you to meet tomorrow."
Wang Ke nodded slightly and said, "In that case, I will go to visit you in person tomorrow."
…
The next day.
Wang Ke was neatly dressed, with a sword hanging from his waist. He led a hundred soldiers, escorted four or five boxes of goods, and headed straight to the mouth of the Sancha Xuanwu River.
Because of escorting goods.
Wang Ke led his army forward slowly.
We walked for about two hours.
Wang Ke's eyes darkened slightly.
He raised his head and saw a group of servants and villagers waiting on a river beach in the distance.
Walk closer.
Wang Ke turned over and dismounted, walked forward quickly, raised his hands and saluted: "I, Wang Ke, have met Mr. Sima."
On the river beach.
An old man in plain robes stood with his hands behind his back and sneered slightly.
His eyes were cloudy, he looked at Wang Ke, and said slowly: "You are Yang Jian's subordinate. Is he not dead yet?"
When Wang Ke heard this, he sneered slightly, cupped his hands and replied: "The emperor is blessed and unified for all ages. His Majesty once said: Looking at the world, all his enemies are not dead yet, so naturally he will not dare to achieve success easily."
"Haha...you kid, you have such a vicious mouth! Why are you here today?"
Sima Xiaonan snorted coldly, waved his sleeves, and asked coldly.
Wang Ke said: "I heard that Sima Gong has a powerful water-splitting spear, which was a magic weapon passed down from the Three Kingdoms period. I came here to buy it."
"Where did you hear this?"
Sima Xiaonan frowned and asked coldly.
Wang Ke heard Sima Xiaonan ask this question, but before he could reply, Gan Meng turned around from behind, raised his hands and said, "Mr. Sima, do you still recognize me?"
"You? It turns out you defected to the Sui army!"
Sima Xiaonan sneered and said.
When Wang Ke heard this, he waved his hand and said slowly: "Sima Gong, what you said is wrong. Now that the world is unified and all the people are united, it is a good thing that General Gan has the courage to return to his rightful ways. Why should he be so harsh?"
Sima Xiaonan looked at Wang Ke and said, "All the people have returned to their hearts? Go and ask me, the millions of dead souls of the Yuwen clan of Great Zhou, to see if they have returned to their hearts!"
Speaking of which.
Sima Xiaonan waved his hand and continued: "I have already given you a huge favor by meeting you today. If you don't know how to show your respect, when I give the order, the heroes from Jingxiang will definitely attack you!" "
The words are not finished yet.
Behind Sima Xiaonan, the servants and villagers stepped forward with their swords in hand, protecting their old master in the center.
"Mr. Sima, aren't you afraid of being exterminated when you speak like this?"
Wang Ke asked coldly.
Sima Xiaonan laughed loudly and said: "My old bones have long been tired of living. If you kill me, it will be easy!"
Finish this sentence.
Sima Xiaonan slowly left with his servants and guests.
Looking at the direction Sima Xiaonan left.
Wang Ke's heart moved slightly, and he couldn't help but secretly thought: "Alas... As history said, the Jiangnan gentry resisted the Sui Dynasty's rule so strongly. It's no wonder that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty wanted to build the Grand Canal to connect the north and the south, and he also sat in Zhenjiang All, to win over the southern nobles... Watching Sima solve a problem for one person, you can get a glimpse of it and know the whole body!"
Think of this.
Wang Ke suddenly felt melancholy, and then led the troops back to Xiangyang City.
…
time flies.
In the blink of an eye.
Half a month has passed.
Wang Ke was training soldiers and horses in Xiangyang City, and Liu Chengzhi was managing government affairs. The two men were both civil and military, and they cooperated with each other and complemented each other.
Ling Wei and Gan Meng trained the Yangtze River Navy and gradually raised a navy force of 3,000 people.
And this day.
A fast horse came from Chang'an to convey the emperor's will to Wang Ke.
"The general of the army and the governor of Xiangzhou, Wang Ke, issued an edict:
When I first came to Yunei, everything was in ruins and waiting to be renovated. Although I collected the old soil in the south and reached the border areas in the north, the four seas surrendered and the eight wastelands came to congratulate me. It is really a blessing for the whole world! I heard that Qing was promising at a young age and had made many military exploits. He was like his father and expected to inherit the family tradition. He was very lucky... Therefore, Wang Ke was granted the title of Wu Yinan. On the day of the edict, he immediately went to Chang'an to express his gratitude.
Admire this. "
Xiangyang City.
In the governor's meeting hall.
A eunuch from Chang'an held a white edict and recited it slowly.
Not a moment longer.
The imperial edict is read.
Wang Ke thanked him and stood up, and a brocade bag containing a bulging silver tael slid into the eunuch's sleeve.
"Hahaha! You're welcome, General Wang. You are young and promising. You will make many contributions in the future and your future will be limitless!"
The eunuch squeezed the bag without leaving any trace, and then saluted with a smile.
Wang Ke cupped his hands, with a smile on his face, and asked warmly: "My father-in-law, do you know why your Majesty ordered you to enter Chang'an in a humble position this time?"
The eunuch smiled slightly and said: "The emperor's affairs have his own ideas... However, our family can tell General Wang that entering Chang'an this time will be of great benefit!"
"oh?"
Wang Ke's eyes brightened when he heard this. He walked a few steps and then asked the eunuch: "Please speak frankly, father-in-law."
The eunuch took advantage of Wang Ke, and seeing that Wang Ke was young and promising, he wanted to make friends with him, so he said: "The emperor has made peace with Nanchen, and a few days ago he formed an alliance with Shaboluo Khan of the Northern Fan Turks, so Long Yan was so happy that he wanted to summon the heroes from all over the world to hold a military parade in front of the emperor... General Wang is a meritorious official who pacified the Chen Kingdom. Naturally, the emperor will keep it in his heart, so he sent us here to order you to enter. Chang’an and his party.”
"That's it. Thank you father-in-law for clarifying my doubts."
Wang Ke suddenly realized it, raised his hand, and thanked the eunuch endlessly.
The eunuch waved his hand and said, "That's all. The imperial edict has been passed on. Our family has to go back. General Wang will also leave as soon as possible. Don't delay."
"yes!"
Wang Ke nodded and said.
…
After that day the emperor's edict came.
Wang Ke also packed up and prepared to go to Chang'an.
He left Liu Chengzhi to garrison Xiangyang City, and took only two lieutenants, Ling Wei and Gan Meng, and led 300 trusted cavalry to Chang'an along the official road.
All the way.
Wang Ke and others traveled for three to five days.
I just crossed the Yangtze River that day.
Walking in the middle.
Suddenly there was a sound of horse hooves coming from behind.
He reined in his horse and looked back, only to see two red flags fluttering and two soldiers and horses galloping towards him, one from the left and one from the right.
The generals headed by these two troops were none other than Yang Xuangan and Lai Huer.
"Hahahaha! Dear brother, it's been a long time!"
Yang Xuangan laughed loudly, holding a nail-headed mace and arrived in a moment.
When he came to protect the child, he bowed with his hands in a rather steady manner and said: "Brother Wang."
After Wang Ke finished the ceremony with the two of them, he introduced Gan Meng and Ling Wei to them.
Yang Xuangan smiled and said to Wang Ke, "Dear brother, are you also going to Chang'an City to pay homage to the Emperor this time?"
"Exactly. Brother too?"
Wang Ke nodded and asked.
Yang Xuangan laughed loudly and said: "That's right. There are some heroes I know well in Chang'an City. When the time comes, I will introduce them to you together!"
"In that case, thank you very much, brother."
Wang Ke said with a smile.
