There are no classes in the academy today.
In the mountain chief's monastery, Ruan Shantao was sitting upright. Even the loose robes could not hide his strong figure. Opposite Ruan Shantao, a middle-aged man named Xiang Rong was leisurely sipping tea and looking at Mingming. Facing the pressure as heavy as a huge mountain, he still remained calm and calm.
This was a private meeting between former classmates, and all outsiders were driven out of the mountain.
Including the students, the gatekeepers, the cooks in the cafeteria, as well as Du Chengfeng and Cui Yuan.
"The old guy will really make trouble for me."
Thinking of Cui Yuan's identity as a wanted criminal, Du Chengfeng couldn't think of any good ideas for a while, so he borrowed a big pot from the cooks in the cafeteria and put Cui Yuan's whole body into the pot.
Although the hunched-up posture is definitely a little uncomfortable, at least it can hide his whereabouts.
"I just don't know what's going on inside the mountain..."
Du Chengfeng couldn't help but look back in the direction of Ziyang Mountain.
Although he was complaining, when Ruan Shantao asked all the people to leave, he also realized that the middle-aged man who was communicating with him just now might not have a big problem - but just when he was about to draw his sword When he was cutting people, he met Ruan Shantao's eyes.
The knife in the saddle bag was still not pulled out after all, which was out of respect for old man Ruan.
The old man planned to reminisce with his former classmates alone and did not want others to interfere.
"I hope nothing happens..."
Du Chengfeng always had an ominous premonition. You must know that he was already ready to settle in Yanzhou.
But in the mountain chief's monastery in the distant mountains, the middle-aged man named Xiang Rong also said the same thing.
"Brother Ruan, nothing can happen to you. You are running Yanzhou so well that I even want to live here."
While sipping the tea, Xiangrong chuckled.
"And this tea, the meat buns for breakfast just now...the taste is exactly the same as when I was in Taixue. I really miss you, Brother Ruan. Those things in my youth seem to have happened yesterday. By the way, Brother Ruan, your kindness , are you still insisting?"
“Never slacking off.”
Ruan Shantao's face was expressionless.
"Is that what you came here to ask?"
"Just keep holding on, it's amazing."
Xiang Rong sighed.
"So, Brother Ruan, just surrender for the sake of your benevolence."
…
Ruan Shantao did not answer, but looked at Xiang Rong coldly.
That look was more like looking at some kind of pickled animal than looking at his former classmates.
"I still don't understand why you, who is considered a temporary talent, have to be a dog for that prairie man."
"Hey, brother Ruan, didn't you also work as a dog for the Nanchen court? There is no difference between us."
Xiang Rong still laughed, as if Ruan Shantao's insults just fell on deaf ears.
"Brother Ruan, I'm not kidding you. Just surrender. Just consider it for the people of Yanzhou."
"You bitch!"
Ruan Shantao immediately shot up, his momentum as heavy as a mountain!
"How could I, Da Chen, give birth to such a shameless person like you!"
Angry, this was the first time Ruan Shantao was so angry. He didn't understand why his former friends became like this - they were obviously so high-spirited, so high-spirited, passionate, and wanted to do something. Start a career.
But in the end, he was the only one who really came down.
Only he, only himself, only he chose this most painful and difficult road. No matter when, he never really gave up. Even if he already knew that the court had other ideas, he came to Yanzhou and came here. When we get to the border, we just hope that we can teach a few more talents so that the people can live in peace for a little longer...
"so what?"
Xiang Rong was still smiling, but when he looked at Ruan Shantao, his smile was gone.
"So? Brother Ruan, is your benevolence only as good as Yanzhou's?"
"you……"
Ruan Shantao frowned instantly.
But Xiang Rong didn't give Ruan Shantao a chance to speak at all.
"Yes, it's a long way from the capital of Jiankang to the remote Yanzhou, but it's been a hard work for Brother Ruan... So where is Jizhou? Where is the real border? That place that really needs education, why didn't Brother Ruan go? It's because Is the journey of a few days too far? Or are you worried about a fight? Or, in Brother Ruan's eyes, the people of Jizhou are not ordinary people? "
"you……"
Ruan Shantao's brows furrowed more and more tightly.
"Yanzhou has tried its best to receive the people of Jibei, find another home for them, and let them resume their lives... If it weren't for your Mobei Royal Court! If it weren't for your people to start Zhan Duan! What could they do? You will be displaced! How could you end up like this!"
"So...Brother Ruan, have you been to Mobei Grassland?"
Even though he had seen Ruan Shantao's hand touching the ruler beside him, Xiang Rong remained unmoved.
"Have you ever seen herdsmen freezing to death in the cold wind? Have you ever seen children and mothers starving to death? Yes, you may have read in books that prairie people live in pursuit of water and grass. Then you know, How many people are going to die chasing water plants?"
Seeing that the ruler in Ruan Shantao's hand was about to hit his head, the smile on Xiang Rong's face became even wider.
"Look, this is your benevolence. There are only Chen people in your benevolence, and now there are only Yanzhou people. I am different. I know why I came here, so even if you kill me now, it won't change. anything."
Even though it carried enough force to crack the stone, the ruler still stopped in front of Xiang Rong's forehead.
"Ah, it seems that Brother Ruan has understood that if you kill me, you will only be replaced by an opponent you don't understand. He probably won't be able to reason with you. But if you keep me, you will at least know how to deal with it. I, maybe I can still push the Khan's army back."
Xiang Rong sighed.
"It's just like my apprentice, who is so good at swordsmanship, but he was caught by you to read some sage book...Brother Ruan, are you planning to use him to blackmail me? Then I advise you to find someone else, and share the responsibility before. The boy given to me is quite suitable, I think he is quite good."
"So much nonsense."
Taking a deep breath, Ruan Shantao put down the ruler and took the chessboard aside.
"Forget it, let's talk it over. Show me all your abilities over the years and stop harming the world."
"Well, if I lose, I will write to the Khan and lead the team back north. After all, with Brother Ruan on your side, if you want to take Yanzhou, the price will be high."
At this point, Xiang Rong paused.
"But if Brother Ruan loses, it also proves that when the two armies confront each other, you will definitely not be able to defeat me. It is better to surrender directly to the city and welcome the Khan. At least the whole city can be protected from the disaster of weapons. "
"Stop talking nonsense and let's get started."
Ruan Shantao was too lazy to talk nonsense with Xiang Rong, so he raised his hand and dropped it.
You come and go on the chessboard, and the two of them are fighting inextricably for a while. This is not so much a game of chess as it is a practice of the confrontation between the two armies - and Ruan Shantao's use of troops is as fierce as his swordsmanship. After a while, he has already defeated Xiang Rong. They were killed and their armor was thrown away, and the army was completely defeated.
"I won."
After the last piece fell, Ruan Shantao narrowed his eyes.
"Even if all three armies of yours arrive, this Yanzhou City can drain the blood of the Prairie Royal Court. So even for the sake of the benevolence in your mouth and the prairie people in your mouth, you should lead your troops and retreat."
"No, Brother Ruan, I haven't lost yet."
Xiang Rong raised his finger and pointed at the chessboard.
"Look, I have something hidden here..."
"Um?"
Ruan Shantao frowned and quickly looked down at the chessboard.
But at this moment, his heart suddenly hurt.
"you……"
Ruan Shantao looked down at the hairpin nailed to his heart, then looked up at Xiang Rong with disheveled hair. Ruan Shantao had disbelief written all over his face.
But Xiang Rong lowered his head.
"Sorry, Brother Ruan, there are times when I can't afford to lose."
Taking a deep breath, Xiang Rong raised his head and pushed out the door, no longer looking at Ruan Shantao who fell on the ground.
It was at this time that a blazing fire struck Xiang Rong head-on.
"What a boy! How dare you come back!"
Xiang Rong raised his hand and patted his waist, and the Bailian soft sword drew two arcs of light like a poisonous snake, and actually blocked the blazing sword light like a blazing flame!
And from Xiang Rong's sleeve, a giant eagle with a human face has already jumped out, rising into the wind.
"Still trying to run!"
Seeing that Xiang Rong was about to fly away on the spot with an arrow step onto the eagle's back, Du Chengfeng, who hurried back, immediately turned the thick sword in his hand and nailed the giant human-faced eagle to death in the air.
But at this moment, Xiang Rong raised his finger and pointed in the direction of Shanzhang Jingshe.
"Rather than killing me, I think you'd better deal with that thing inside first."
"Varied……"
Du Chengfeng subconsciously turned his head and looked in the direction of Shanzhang Jingshe.
But all he saw was a dozen green bamboo-like withered arms, which broke through the wall in an instant and grabbed fiercely in his direction.
"That's right. If you really want to see your teacher one last time, how can you be empty-handed... huh?"
The giant eagle under his feet had just taken off into the sky, but Xiang Rong's brow suddenly froze.
I saw that the giant eagle under my feet was indeed flapping its wings.
But the human face on the neck of the giant eagle has been nailed by a blazing fire blade, flying high into the sky.
