When he woke up the next day, Yang Anxuan felt energized. He slept peacefully and comfortably in his own military camp.
After first going to Anxuan Camp to visit the soldiers and have breakfast together, Yang Anxuan came to Yang Siping to discuss returning to Jiyang.
"I'm going to prepare three horses per person. They can ride two hundred miles in one day. They will be able to return to Jiyang in about five days. They will have one day of rest and will be able to participate in the evaluation on the 18th."
Yang Siping asked: "How many people are you planning to take back?"
"Five or six people are enough. If there are horses on the road that are too much to bear, you can leave someone to take care of the horses."
Yang Siping nodded and said: "Very good. An Xuan, give me some of the war horses you brought. Pearl and Luo'er are getting older, so I want them to practice riding and shooting; and my uncle's horses are getting older. It’s time to change.”
Yang Anxuan knew that his uncle was greedy for money. His uncle Yang Guang had never liked him, but Yang Siping often spoke for him. He wanted to do this as a favor and said with a smile: "I will give my uncle twelve horses. You and your second brother can discuss how to distribute them."
Yang Anxuan brought the horse back from the northern belt, and he had the right to dispose of it. However, at least half of it had to be given to the family, and Yang Anxuan was going to give it to Yang Quanqi to bring back Jiyang's horse.
The remaining thirty or so horses were left in Anxuan Camp, and the accompanying soldiers of the Pioneer Camp were each assigned one. With these more than thirty horses, plus the twenty horses given by Yang Quanqi, there was a team of light cavalry, and their combat power was greatly improved.
Yang Siping smiled brightly, patted Yang Anxuan on the shoulder and said: "Anxuan, it's not unreasonable that my third uncle thinks highly of you. If you go back this time to evaluate, you will definitely win a high-quality product and revive the Yang family's prestige. Please give it a try."
Two quarters of an hour later, Yang Anxuan, Hu Fan, Sun Zhong, He Qing and other six people left Mengjinguan and headed towards Jiyang.
Returning from the North this time, the twenty-six men of the Pioneer Battalion all wore leather armor, and the weapons in their hands were also changed. Each of them got a war horse, which was worth twenty gold. In the eyes of others, they looked rich. Great wealth, extremely enviable.
Yang Anxuan gave the horse that he had snatched from Yang Long to Yin Ji. Yin Ji couldn't put it down. On the night he returned to Mengjinguan, he carried the horse to show off to Cen Minghu. He was so proud that he almost reached the sky.
Yang Anxuan wanted to return to Jiyang, and Anxuan camp needed someone to lead it. Zhao Tian, Yin Ji, and the Pioneer camp all stayed.
Chen Hua, Sun Zhong and others have all seen the speed of Yang Anxuan's rise. If he returns to Jiyang this time and is rated as a high-ranking official, Yang Anxuan's future will become even brighter. Who doesn't want to get closer at this time.
People are often distant. Chen Hua and others have known each other since Yang Anxuan was the advance guard. Yang Anxuan could not refuse these people's requests. The five people who followed him back to Jiyang this time were all old acquaintances from the previous advance. As for Chen Hua being the head of the village and needing him to help Zhao Tian, Yang Anxuan explained and Chen Hua stayed.
Hu Fan decided to return to Xiangyang and tell Governor Xi what he saw during his trip north. Xi Yan was destroyed and the military situation was serious. The court would have known better and could have dealt with it earlier.
Six men and eighteen horses galloped southward.
The territory of Jin was relatively peaceful. In the evening of the next day, Yang Anxuan and others arrived near Panlong Mountain.
Yang Anxuan smiled and said: "We have traveled more than four hundred miles in the past two days. Everyone is tired. Let's rest early today. This place is not far from the abandoned fort. Let's go camp there."
Turning to the southwest on a familiar road, I met two groups of caravans on the road. It seemed that they were both going to Wubao to spend the night.
Arriving outside Wubao, Yang Anxuan was stunned. The place was actually bustling with people, and caravans were queuing up to enter the fort.
The abandoned fort has obviously been repaired. The collapsed dock wall has been filled up, the village gate has been re-erected, and there are guards around the railings on the pier. It seems that someone is taking care of the fort.
There was a caravan waiting in line to enter the fort. Yang Anxuan jumped off his horse and stepped forward to inquire: "Brother, I have been here before. Wasn't this Wubao an abandoned fort? When was it rebuilt?"
Seeing Yang Anxuan's heroic face and kind smile, the man responded with a smile: "In April this year, the Sun family in Panlong Mountain was somehow replaced by the Hu family in Dalankou. The Hu family moved their clan members here and began to repair the dock. Fort.”
Someone interjected: "I heard that the Yu family of Wan'an Mountain has also joined the Hu family. The Hu family is now very powerful. There are more than a thousand people in Buqu alone."
"Fortunately, the Hu family did not rob the caravan. They paid two dollars per person to stay overnight in the dock, ten dollars for a cart of goods, and they also provided free hot water. After the news spread, the place became lively."
"I heard that the Hu family also takes care of the business of escorting caravans, and many people come here to protect them."
Yang Anxuan thanked him and returned to his horse. It seemed that Hu Zhang was very business-savvy and was thriving in the Panlong Mountain area.
However, in his letter to himself, Hu Zhang did not mention the rebuilding of Wubao.
Soon it was the turn of Yang Anxuan and others to enter the fort. The guard guarding the gate saw Yang Anxuan and six people bringing more than ten horses. He thought they were horse traders, so he let them in after charging 50 yuan for them and the horses.
The interior of Wubao has undergone major changes. The street opposite the village gate has been leveled out, with wood and stones stacked on both sides. Houses have been built, and it looks like they are going to be used as shops.
There was no inn in the fort, and a large open space was leveled to the west for merchants to camp. Yang Anxuan saw that more than forty tents had been set up.
Hot water is provided free of charge, and there is a table next to the kettle for boiling hot water. Food such as pancakes, eggs, bacon, etc. is for sale, as well as wine. The price is quite reasonable, and many people come to buy it.
Of course he wouldn't eat dry food when there was ready-made hot food. Sun Zhong brought people to buy a lot of food. Everyone sat around, and He Qing smiled and said: "It would be even more beautiful if there was a jar of wine."
Yang Anxuan said: "Be careful when you go out. When you get to Jiyang, I will invite everyone to have a drink."
In the middle of the meal, a famous deacon came with a dozen burgers to buy horses. One hundred taels of gold buys twelve horses. The price is not too outrageous, but the deacon has an arrogant attitude, as if he thinks highly of you when he buys you something.
Yang Anxuan was too lazy to pay attention to the deacon who looked at people with his nostrils, and replied coldly, "If you don't want to sell it, please go back."
This time I finally saw the man's face clearly. He pointed at Yang Anxuan with an angry look on his face and said, "Boy, look at where this place is. You are making trouble in Hujiapu. You must be impatient to live."
The butlers behind him rolled up their arms and sleeves and gathered around aggressively. The deacon stepped back and looked at Yang Anxuan triumphantly, waiting for them to ask for mercy.
One of the guards looked at Yang Anxuan carefully, then whispered a few words into the deacon's ear. The deacon glanced at Yang Anxuan in surprise, snorted coldly, and left with the others.
The crowd dispersed, and Yang Anxuan knew that his identity was probably revealed.
That's okay. Look at Hu Zhang's reaction. If Hu Zhang pretends not to know, then this idle move will become a discarded piece.
There is a large restored house to the north of Wubao, where the owner of the castle, Hu Lei, lives. Hu Lei is Hu Zhang's second son.
The deacon came in and saw Hu Lei pouring himself a drink. He hurriedly stepped forward to fill it up for him and said with a smile, "Second brother, you are drinking. This wine smells so good."
Hu Lei asked: "Did you buy the horse back?"
"No," the deacon reported softly, and Na Baoding discovered that the person coming was the general of the Yang family army who had defeated Sun Tao.
Hu Lei thought for a while and said, "Dad must know about this. You can send two people into the mountain to deliver the message."
At the time of Xu Zheng, Hu Zhang received a letter from his second son. After waving the messenger to leave, Hu Zhang twitched his beard and pondered.
The eldest son Hu Chao asked softly: "Dad, aren't you going to see Young Master Yang?"
Hu Zhang said: "Seeing what he did, he really recognized his master. He didn't tell me when he came, so I just pretended not to know."
After obtaining Panlong Mountain, Hu Zhang purged a group of Sun family members, established the stronghold, and then recruited Yu Qing to surrender.
In April, the Wubao began to be rebuilt, which not only generated income but also obtained the materials needed from merchants and travelers, and the village became increasingly prosperous.
Although he sent a letter to Yang Anxuan every month, Hu Zhang didn't really take Yang Anxuan to heart at all, regardless of the eldest son or daughter in the letter.
Hu Chao frowned and said, "Dad, how does our village compare to Sun Tao's before?"
Hu Zhang stroked his beard, narrowed his eyes, and said with a bit of pride: "Strengthen him by three points."
"Does Dad think we can stop the army from clearing them out?"
Hu Zhang paused his hand, twirled a few strands of his beard, and said displeasedly: "If we don't provoke the officers and soldiers, why did the officers and soldiers come to suppress us?"
"What if Mr. Yang leads his army? Panlong Mountain is not far from Xinye County."
Hu Zhang was silent, his face uncertain. After a long time, he said: "Do you think a father should give up on others?"
Hu Chao shook his head and said with worry: "Haier thinks it's not a matter of hypocrisy, but a sincere surrender."
Hu Zhang slapped the table and said angrily: "I'm confused, my father doesn't want to give this inheritance away."
"Last year, Sun Tao summoned his father, Yu Qing and Yu Wenqi to intercept the Yang family. They were easily defeated by the Yang family's army. Sun Tao died, Yu Wenqi was injured and escaped, and his father was captured." Hu Chaodao: "If Mr. Yang hadn't pity his father, I'm afraid the Hu family My family has been destroyed long ago, how can I forget this kindness?"
Hu Zhang's old face turned red and said: "I am not ungrateful as a father, I just don't want to put the lives of the whole clan in the hands of Yang Anxuan."
Hu Chao whispered: "The Yang family is in Xinye County, and there are thousands of soldiers and horses in the county. Xinye County is only five hundred miles away from Panlong Mountain. If Yang Anxuan learns that his father has different aspirations and raises troops to attack him, he will ask himself whether he can withstand it. ?”
Hu Zhang remained silent.
Hu Chao continued: "The people sent to Jiyang to inquire about the news reported that Mr. Yang was both civil and military and had a great reputation. During the training of the new army, Fenghuang Tower wrote three good poems in a row, and "Little Window Quiet Sentences" made paper more expensive. . Such a person is destined to prosper in the future. Since dad has the opportunity, why not sincerely join him?"
Seeing that Hu Zhang was a little moved, Hu Chao continued to persuade: "During the Warring States Period, Lord Mengchang built three caves. His father's foundation in Panlong Mountain is considered one cave; the reconstruction of Hujiawu is another cave; and the friendship with Yang Anxuanqi for the future is considered the third cave. No matter Yang Anxuan succeeds or fails in the future, the Hu family should not turn against him at this time."
Hu Zhang came to his senses and said with a smile: "Okay, Chao'er, I am not as good as my father for being far-sighted. As a father, I will prepare a generous gift and go down the mountain to meet my lord."
Hu Chao smiled and said: "Dad, if you want to win Yang Anxuan's trust, you might as well make some gestures and ask the fifth brother to follow him."
The fifth brother, Hu Yuan, is Hu Zhang's youngest son. He is twenty-two years old this year and is deeply loved by Hu Zhang.
Hu Zhang glanced at his eldest son and said solemnly: "It's up to you."
At around nine o'clock on August 14th, it was first light in the east, and some business travelers who got up early began to pack their bags and prepare to set off.
A group of people came outside Yang Anxuan's tent. The old man at the head shouted loudly into the tent: "Hu Zhang wants to see the lord."
After a while, Yang Anxuan lifted the tent and walked out, smiling and saying: "Mr. Hu, you're fine."
Hu Zhang fell to his knees with a plop and choked with tears as he said: "We said goodbye last year. Hu Zhang missed his master all the time. Today we finally meet. Please accept my respect, my master."
Yang Anxuan hurriedly stepped forward to help Hu Zhang up and said, "Don't be too polite, Mr. Hu. I miss Mr. Hu very much."
Hu Zhang took Yang Anxuan's arm and said: "Hu heard that my lord was coming and came to Wubao from the mountains overnight. Because it was getting late, he was afraid of disturbing his lord's rest, so he waited until dawn. My lord, please go to the house with your servant to talk. .”
Yang Anxuan was a little moved and said: "Mr. Hu is interested."
Arriving at the house, Hu Zhang stubbornly asked Yang Anxuan to take the seat of honor, and brought a whole family to pay homage. Yang Anxuan returned the gift, and everyone sat down at the table respectively.
After a few words of greetings and some talk about what happened after parting, Yang Anxuan couldn't stay long, so he stood up and left.
Hu Zhang said: "My lord is rushing to Jiyang to participate in the ordering. Hu does not dare to delay. I wish my lord that all his wishes will come true. Come and present the gift."
Servants filed in with trays containing gold and silver treasures. Yang Anxuan waved his hand and said: "Mr. Hu took it with his good intentions and foolish heart. I can't accept these things."
After many offers, Hu Zhang saw that Yang Anxuan really had no intention of accepting it, so he ordered someone to remove the gift.
Calling Hu Yuan with a nod of his hand, Hu Zhang said: "Master, this is Hu Yuan, the servant's son. The servant wants him to serve the master, so the master will treat him as a domestic servant. Yuan'er, I haven't met the master yet."
Hu Yuan bowed and saluted: "Hu Yuan has met my lord."
This is giving him a hostage. Yang Anxuan nodded and said: "Brother Hu, there is no need to be polite, we will be a family from now on."
…………
After riding his horse and leaving Wubao, Hu Fan was secretly surprised. It turned out that An Xuan still had such a big foundation in Panlong Mountain. The phrase "A capable minister in times of trouble is a hero in troubled times" flashed in his mind, referring to people like An Xuan. .
The current world situation is worse than that of the Three Kingdoms, and manpower like An Xuan is needed to turn the tide.
Hu Fan raised his head and looked at Yang Anxuan, who was riding his horse in front. The rising sun shone on him, seeming to be radiant.
