The river bank in Cangzhou is not as good as the Dadukou in Muyunzhou. Even though construction has begun, it still looks a little lively.
A figure in black robes wearing a mask stood firmly on the river bank, and his robes swelled violently when the river wind blew.
Next to him stood another man in a rickety white robe. There is an old sword embedded in the waist of the white robe.
If the sword is used for a long time, it will sometimes penetrate the master. Like his master, it has been tempered by time, and even the sheath is bent.
"Your name is Bai Yanzi?"
The old man in white robe grinned, "Since you know me, why bother asking."
"I heard that there was a black swallow in Muyunzhou who once tried to assassinate Thief Xu and died miserably."
"He is my disciple."
"Disciple? I didn't know, I thought you two were equally famous."
"It's not because I only have one disciple."
The black robe turned around silently, "You go to Shuzhou and kill someone for me."
The old man in white robe frowned, "I won't take orders from the little boss."
The black robe smiled and said, "It's not the order from the little boss, it's the order from a sick and weak staff member."
"Poison osprey?"
"Indeed. Once the matter is settled, I will give you a title when you return to Cangzhou."
The old man in white robe smiled slightly, swept away, and walked across the river. Take a few more steps and step onto a awning.
"Do you recognize me?"
The old boatman quickly jumped into the river and swam to the shore.
"The Jianghu people have their own ways of living, and those who rebel against thieves have their own ways of living, but they never deviate from their origins. What they are fighting for is nothing more than a great fortune."
After saying that, the black robe turned around silently, walked steadily through the new spring mud, and disappeared on the river bank.
…
"Living in a troubled time, no matter who you are, there is a way to survive. A scholar dares to lift a sword to save the country, and a martial artist can also sell himself to the powerful."
Xu Mu tapped his fingers and looked at the Shunan King in front of him.
Probably sober up.
In front of him, there was something different in Dou Tong's eyes.
"We need a chance to take over the nine counties in Sichuan." Xu Mu's voice was calm.
He and Jia Zhou discussed this matter. If they could not successfully occupy Shu within a year, in the troubled times where big fish eat small fish, there is a high possibility that they would become someone else's food.
"The other two Shu kings are absolutely perfect dogs of integrity." Dou Tong said in a serious tone.
Dou Tong's intention is already very clear. Although the dog of defense has no aggressive intentions, if you want to touch his cake, he will definitely fight to the death to stop you.
"Dou Tong, how many armies are there in central Shu and western Shu?"
"Shuzhou is mountainous, which is not conducive to riding. It is dominated by shield soldiers and crossbow archers. These two places are even richer than southern Shu. There are about 50,000 troops in the five counties in central Shu, and the four counties in western Shu are also Nearly 40,000 people.”
"Added together, it's 90,000."
"More than that." Dou Tong smiled bitterly, "I have said that these two places are rich and can recruit barbarian soldiers with a lot of money. If you really say it, it will be at least 120,000 or 30,000."
Xu Mu was a little silent. Due to the terrain, the land in southern Sichuan is barren and transportation is inconvenient. In addition, there are only two counties, and an army of 20,000 is already the limit.
Previously, Xu Mu saw that the soldiers of the Shunan Army did not even have standard weapons and armor.
"It's not that I haven't tried before. I tried to occupy some rich counties based on my heroic spirit. But it was all in vain."
"Dou Tong, the common people and soldiers under your command all know that you have tried your best." Xu Mu comforted him.
No wonder Dou Tong, the gap is too big. Moreover, Xu Mu knew that following a conspiracy in Cangzhou, the two princes of western Shu and central Shu would definitely join forces to resist him, the "new king of Shuzhou" who was appointed by the court.
"The army cannot walk on the plank road, so the only way to enter Shuzhong is to capture Yuguan. But there, the king of Shuzhong has gathered at least 30,000 soldiers at Yuguan."
"My lord, Yuguan is the most powerful pass in the world."
"If not, it will be like what I did before. After climbing a few mountains, I will attack the city with exhausted troops and come back with a disastrous defeat."
Xu Mu rubbed his forehead. It was a very annoying thing to do something with too little effort.
"Dou Tong, let's take a long-term approach."
Dou Tong calmed down and nodded, "My lord, please take a closer look at the map of Shuzhou presented to your lord."
"After reading it several times, I have handed it over to the military advisor."
If you leave it to Jia Zhou, he will feel more at ease. This map of Shuzhou shows Dou Tong’s intentions.
"Dou Tong, is there any way to open up the plank road?"
Dou Tong shook his head, "Having lived in southern Shu for a long time, I want to find a way to let the people in southern Sichuan go out of the country. The Yuguan in this world is like a mountain, always pressing on the chests of southern Sichuan people."
Xu Mu nodded.
One day he took the land of Shu, and this valley became a barrier that no one could break.
"Dou Tong, I will stay in southern Shu for the next few days to check out the terrain. Again, you and I will discuss this in the long term."
…
In the middle of Shu, outside the large county of Chengdu, there is a stone pavilion about two hundred miles away.
Two middle-aged men wearing python robes sat looking at each other coldly under the watchful eyes of various guards.
At first, neither of them spoke. They only waited for the monkey performers to make a fool of themselves before they all worked up their emotions.
"I heard that the commoner in the world will be the king of Shuzhou."
"He became the king of Shuzhou, where will you and I go? And the little old man from southern Shu is originally a poor man. Otherwise, we might as well let him be a horse washer."
"The meaning of Cangzhou Imperial House."
"So majestic, the royal family?"
The cheerful laughter of the two people suddenly filled the stone pavilion.
"Little Lao San, do you want to invite me over?"
"Why did you come here? He was trapped to death in a land in southern Shu. If he hadn't thought that he was a member of the Dou family, I would have killed him early in the morning."
"You lost last year."
"You also lost. No one is laughing at anyone."
"Too lazy to argue, let's deal with Thief Xu first."
The two Shu kings frowned and watched the monkey show for a while. When they turned their heads again, they looked at each other and began to smile happily again.
"The road to Shu is as difficult as climbing to heaven. He can't get in."
"I will guard Yuguan, and you will guard Banan City. No one can take away these nine richest counties in Shu."
"Look at those people outside Shuzhou, they are constantly fighting, life and death, like a group of madmen."
"If they kill them, it has nothing to do with you and me. If the war can't burn Shuzhou, at worst, we will change to a new dynasty and send some annual tribute. Your and my ancestors have done this for countless rounds."
"So, the little shopkeeper who enters Shu will not be able to make a splash."
"If I were him, I would be able to guard Linjiang County and be a happy man."
"Haha, under the protection of our ancestors, Shuzhou will be peaceful forever."
…
"May you travel south to Sichuan."
"The valley is hundreds of miles away, and the Xiangshui River is vast—"
Walking out of the governor's mansion, Xu Mu and Dou Tong stood side by side. Even though we were far away, we could still hear the faint singing of Shu Ci.
"The Ci of Shu was written by an ancient sage. In southern Shu, even children aged three or four can sing it."
Dou Tong's voice was choked.
"But trapped in southern Sichuan, many people have never seen Yuguan or Xiangjiang in their entire lives."
"They just know how to sing and sing along. It is passed down from generation to generation and taught orally. If you don't have the opportunity, the most you will see in this life are murderous dogs in the mountains and forests, and wild vegetables that are so painful that your tongue spits out."
