Polygonum's team finally appeared on the horizon. From a distance, they looked like ants busy moving before the rain, densely packed and in an endless stream. They were crossing the river at Yuting. Standing on the north wall, they could even see the boats passing by on the river.
It is conceivable that he must regard Yuting Town as his base camp. Fortunately, under the leadership of the Wu family, the town has carried out the most thorough clearing of the town. In Wu Xuanye's boastful words: not even a piece of toilet paper was left.
Of course, such an empty situation must have annoyed the enemy, so there were many fires and pillars of smoke rising up, and Xiang Yong who had a home in Yuting on the city wall burst into tears when he saw it.
Li Dan stopped the officers from scolding him, called the governors, and told everyone:
"There's no need to stop him. When he sees his hometown being destroyed, it's understandable that he has nowhere to vent his anger and burst into tears. As long as he's not scared to the point of peeing, it means that this person still has the courage to express his anger.
Let them cry, but the officers and governor must guide them afterwards. Let the brothers remember this grudge. We cannot be lenient. When we face the gangsters, it will be time to collect debts from them! "Everyone agreed loudly after hearing this.
However, the fireworks gradually extinguished before they lasted long. One reason was that it was still raining and the air was too humid, which affected the intensity of the fire. The other reason was that Polygonum Flowers smartly ordered the fire to be extinguished immediately.
"It's such a gloomy and rainy day, how can you live in the rain after your house is burned down? Don't you have any brains?" He angrily ordered those who participated in the arson of open-air camping not to seize the house. As expected, no one dared to do so anymore. Doing something stupid like this.
But this was not the only thing that troubled Polygonum. Everything went wrong in sending troops this time. First, Dong Qi's great success almost ruined his team in Poyang.
He placed that team in Poyang not only to defend against the government troops, but also to draw out the mining riot teams from the mountainous areas. As a result, this guy almost overturned and ruined his painstaking layout, causing the main force to delay in Poyang for so long before heading south again.
The first news he heard after going south was that there was a fight in several villages in Huxi. Now he was very annoyed. I am very happy that you are rubbing against each other, but you can't mess around at any time!
He immediately sent an envoy to Chen Yuanhai to ask what happened. Of course, he didn't know that Chen Yuanhai was actually dead at this moment, and his envoy couldn't find anyone at all!
When we arrived at Leijiawan, we heard that this idiot Mao Taigong had suffered a defeat and had ordered an ambush to take place and he had lost 30% of his troops. He was forced to change the occupation into a siege, and it was obvious that he could not count on the thousands of people in Dushan.
Now Liaohuazi only has 6,000 troops in his hands, and they are all chirping, with all kinds of complaints and mutual responsibilities, making him doubt himself, can such a team conquer Yugan County?
After much thought, he decided that he had to join forces with Huxi as soon as possible. In this way, he would have eight or nine thousand troops, and then surround Yugan from the south and west. In this way, he would be more sure of winning the fruit. !
Thinking of this, he got off his horse and walked into the house that everyone had chosen for him. This is the former Wu's house. Now it is empty except for the tables, chairs, benches, and the bed frame without the bedding.
But Polygonatum had no intention of taking this into account. He walked into the living room without looking back and ordered his men: "Invite Master Lin here and tell him that I want to ask him to help me with something."
After a while, a man wrapped in a wet black cloak entered the house, took off his bamboo hat and placed it at the door. He clasped his fists and asked, "I'm here to see you, boss, but is there something wrong?"
"Master Lin, please sit down." Liao Huazi was polite, but Master Lin didn't take it seriously. Then he sat down on the chair near the door, turned to look at Liao Huazi, and waited for him to speak.
"Our army has arrived at Yugan City," Liao Huazi said hesitantly, "but for some reason, Chen Yuanhai from the West Route has not contacted us yet.
Calculating the time, they should have captured Santang Town and started marching towards Yugan, so this lack of news made me feel very uneasy. "
"I understand, the boss wants me to go to Santang Town for a visit?"
Liao Huazi nodded: "I'm not worried about anything else. I'm just worried that something might happen to them, or...it's possible that the village leaders had different opinions and didn't send troops at all, so I wanted to bother Master Lin with him."
"Why don't you send a sentry for this kind of thing?"
「
Master Lin didn't know something. Yu Gan's team training was very good. He had to catch Lu Yin even if he didn't understand. The four sentinels I sent before have all turned up in vain. I'm afraid it will be the same this time, so I want to ask you to take action. "
Martial Master Lin smiled and put the sword he had taken off on the coffee table, leaning against it: "Why do you think I can do it? Don't I have no way to guide you?"
"You are different from them. Firstly, you are a member of the martial arts world and a famous figure in the world. With this name, you can walk around on the ground. I have to give you face regardless of whether you are good or bad. Secondly, your martial arts are extremely good. How can a few sentries compare to you?" ?
Even if you encounter Xiang Yong who is in his 20s or 30s and is questioning you on the road, it is not difficult to deal with him. Polygonum flower child finished speaking and moved forward:
"Master Lin, since you came here, I have never asked for too much. This time, I would like to express my gratitude to you if you can help me communicate information about things. Even if we don't owe each other anything, how about it?"
Martial Arts Master Lin lowered his head and thought about it. His original name was Lin Baotong, courtesy name Zifeng, and he was a native of Bozhou, North Zhili.
Later, he studied martial arts in Southern Shaolin and Sanqing Temple respectively, so he spent most of his time living in the south of the Yangtze River. During his travels, he gained a deeper understanding of the humanities and geography here.
This Polygonum flower was a "giant bandit" as the officers and soldiers called it, but when he was bitten by a snake, he had to save him and hand him over to the army doctor for treatment in time, otherwise he would have died long ago.
Therefore, Master Lin agreed to stay and teach Liaohuazi's personal martial arts for three years without taking any money, but he would never participate in such things as robbing homes and houses or attacking cities and villages. This was also agreed by Liaohuazi.
What he wants to do now is just to communicate information between the two parties, which is fine. He then raised his head and asked, "I want to take my disciple with me."
"Okay." Tenghuazi had already guessed that he would say this. The disciple that Master Lin was talking about was a little beggar he picked up. It was this boy who knelt in front of the horse and begged Polygonum Huazi to save people. Master and disciple were inseparable.
Liao Huazi knew that it was useless to keep the little guy, but it would only make Master Lin feel uncomfortable, so it was better to be a favor.
He was not one of those short-sighted people who mistook cleverness for wit. He immediately ordered people to get paper to repair a book and send it to Chen Yuanhai. At the same time, he got three hundred copper coins and a collar of soft armor (chain armor, which could be worn underneath for more concealment). ) given to him.
Master Lin only withdrew two hundred dollars, and politely declined the rest because he felt it was useless and could easily reveal his identity. He and his disciples had a hurried meal, filled their wine bottles and set out on the road.
The little disciple is actually not young at all. He is already eating at the age of fourteen this year, and he is very active in chirping and croaking behind Lin Baotong. Master Lin sometimes bothers him, but when the little guy is not around for a while, he feels lost.
Alas, at first I thought I was just a cat or dog, and I could follow him wherever he wanted. Who would have thought that he would still be there after traveling thousands of miles, so let him go.
"Master is so wise to leave that gangster's den!" The young disciple gave a thumbs up: "I knew you and them were not the same people, and sooner or later we had to go our separate ways!"
"Boy, how did you know that I'm not the same person as them?" Lin Baotong deliberately wanted to test him.
"You used to look unbearable when you saw the meat tickets they kidnapped. Also, when we passed by the houses that were set on fire today, I saw you frowning!" The little disciple was proud of his cleverness.
"Those are the righteousness of being a human being." Lin Baotong looked back and saw that he was far away from Liaohuazi Camp. He turned around and touched his disciple's little head and said:
"You can never be self-righteous at any time. You can't be arrogant or superior to others just because you have a knife in your hand, nor can you bully good people and squeeze out the flesh and blood of others just because you have a seal.
Do you remember the little bowl? If you grow up and become an official and drive out these evil deeds, the master will not recognize you and will be the first to take your head! "
Xiao Wan'er's expression changed, and he quickly smiled and cheered up his master: "Look at what you said, why do you talk about me?
You can rest assured that I won't do such immoral things. Besides, with my character, Li Xiaowan'er, I can be a good beggar leader, so don't think too much! "
Lin Baotong was amused by his disciple and laughed and said, "My disciple is only capable of being a beggar leader. That would be too bad!"
As the two of them talked, they were getting further and further away from Yuting Town.
, but it is getting closer and closer to Yugan County. Lin Baotong walked up to a high place and stood up, turned around and looked at the city wall that looked heavy and thick in the gray sky and rain, and shook his head.
"Why are you shaking your head?" Xiao Wan'er, who followed from behind, wiped the rain off his face and asked.
Lin Baotong pointed with his hand: "Wan'er, look, that's the Yugan County town that Master Liao and his team are going to attack."
Xiao Wan'er looked at it and grinned and said, "Mom, this is the county seat? It's so big! Master, we've been through so many county towns before, but few can compare to it, right?"
"No." Lin Baotong nodded: "In the past, this was the state government of Raozhou. When this dynasty was founded, the state government was changed to Poyang. If I hadn't been bitten by a snake, you would have been able to see Poyang City, which is smaller than here. too much!"
"But it's a blessing in disguise. Otherwise, how could I have opened my eyes to see this?"
Lin Baotong looked at his disciple in surprise: "Well, you are quite good at talking!" He looked at the city again:
"That's not right. Could this city have been renovated later? Why does it seem to be higher than before? And there weren't so many horse faces and crenels in the past. Look, the horse faces in the northwest corner are still round!"
"Master, there seems to be a pavilion built above." Xiao Wan'er, with sharp eyes, jumped up and pointed and shouted.
"No, it's definitely not right!" Lin Baotong frowned: "Where did the city wall look like this before? It must have been repaired.
But...if it has been cultivated, Master Liao should have paid attention to it. Why didn't I hear him mention it? "As he said that, he turned around and looked in the direction of Yuting Town.
As soon as Xiao Wan'er looked at his master's expression, he knew what he was thinking, and immediately said:
"Master, you said that you don't care about the fighting and killing. Let's go on our way and go where we need to. It's best to avoid the right and wrong!"
When he said this, Lin Baotong immediately gave up the idea of going back to tell Liao Huazi, and put his hand on his disciple's shoulder and slowly turned around: "That's right, the master is not stupid, how could he not send someone to spy under the city?
We are still on our way, what are we doing with so much other people? After walking a few steps, he suddenly said, "Xiao Wan'er, do you know who the guard of Yugan is?"
"I don't know." Xiao Wan'er shook his head: "I think he is some general. He is eight feet tall, has a horse on his hip, and a five-pronged fork holding the sky in his palm..."
Lin Baotong laughed loudly: "The king you are talking about is the king at the entrance of the temple, and he is eight feet tall!
Let me tell you, the guard in that city is under sixteen this year and only ten months older than you! "After I finished speaking, I didn't hear the reaction behind me. I looked back and saw Xiao Wan'er standing there looking at me in surprise.
"Master, are you kidding me? How can there be a sixteen-year-old general?"
"He is not a great general." Lin Baotong waved to him to follow him, telling him that he was a young master from Yu Qianli's Mansion, and his current official title was Ninth Rank Southern Metropolitan Inspector and Deputy Envoy of Raozhou Regiment Training.
"He is very good at fighting, or why not? My surname is Li, and his surname is Li. He leads troops to fight, but I can only be a beggar!" Xiao Wan'er was not convinced.
"Hey, don't be dissatisfied. Listen to me tell you his story..."
So on the way back, Lin Baotong told his disciples what he heard about Li Dan's life experience, how he escorted the army rations to Guangxin, and then planned to cooperate with the army to defeat Yintuo and force Lou Zishi to retreat.
. The more Xiao Wan'er listened, the more silent he became. He frowned and didn't speak. He just lowered his head and followed along.
The two of them walked quite quickly. They ate well and slept well in the Liaohuazi Camp. Now they were far away from them, and they were both martial arts practitioners, so they swam across the south side of the harbor that day. river.
At night, after eating the fish caught in the pond and lying on the ground smelling the aroma of the grass, Xiao Wan'er suddenly remembered to ask: "Master, where are we going this time? You keep walking to the west, are you going to Going to Nanchang?"
In his memory, Master said that the greatest city in the world is Jinling, followed by Gusu, Lin'an and Nanchang. So he was particularly looking forward to visiting this great city in the world, seeing its prosperity, and seeing a world he had never seen before.
Lin Baotong smiled at the child's innocence and asked, "You want to go to Nanchang so much? I thought you would be more willing to see Yu Ganli."
"Yu Gan...," the little guy twisted his body and thought for a long time: "How about going to Yu Gan first, and then to Nanchang!"
Lin Baotong laughed and said, "You kid, do you want to go and sign with Li Sanlang?" Then he told the kid seriously:
"We are going to Santang Town. If we can't find anyone there, we may have to go to Jinxi Lake or Shinao Village."
"What?" Xiao Wan'er was shocked when he heard this: "Master, isn't that still the territory of the bandits? What are you doing there? Do you have to go?"
"Actually, it's nothing important. I just want to send a letter to Mr. Liao." Lin Baotong explained the matter in summary: "I felt at ease when the letter was delivered to me. It's like repaying his favor for saving me."
The rain had stopped, and the two of them were drying their clothes while chatting under the starry sky. Finally, they no longer live under the wings of others, and they feel happy.
Looking at the stars in the clear night sky, like all the elders in later generations, Lin Baotong asked Xiao Wan'er to recite to him the famous articles in "Gu Wen Guan Zhi".
Carrying and carrying, the campfire gradually became quiet, and the two of them snored one after another while sleeping on the oilcloth and reed mat.
