Liangzhou, Zhaowu County.
Xu Mu stood on top of the city, overlooking the yellow sand of the Gobi outside the city. Zhaowu County is on the border of Liangzhou and is still some distance away from Yumen Pass. Dong Wen had previously sold him to him, but because Xi Shu refused to give up any land, the people in the Western Regions had no choice but to give up.
"Lord, if you are feeling tired, why not go back to the city to rest first." Chen Zhong advised from the side.
Xu Mu smiled and said, "Chen Zhong, I am a veteran like you. I am not a young scholar, so please don't try to persuade me."
"I thought about it and waited for Chao Yi here. Also, will there be any carriages coming to Chengdu in the next two days?"
After staying in Liangzhou for several days, Zhuge Fan has not arrived yet.
This time on his trip to the Western Regions, he was bound to win. Only by solving these future troubles can we stabilize the development of Xishu, continue to accumulate grain and forge weapons, and wait for the decisive battle with Beiyu.
"Don't worry, my lord, I went to ask before. Senior Zhuge has already entered Liangzhou and is ready to arrive."
Xu Mu nodded.
For some reason, he always felt that not agreeing to Zhuge Lai's wish was like wasting the old man's long-cherished wish.
It was about noon.
Finally, Zhuge Fan's group arrived. What surprised Xu Mu was that not only the old man came, but Chen Sheng also came this time.
"Lord!" Chen Sheng looked slightly happy. Studying in the General Hall for more than half a year made his temperament calmer.
"Good brother." Xu Mu greeted him.
From the beginning, following the five horsemen who conquered the world, the one he valued most was Chen Sheng. It's a pity that when Baiqi entered the border, Chen Sheng broke his arm heroically and retreated to the second line.
If it were someone else, it wouldn't be a bad idea to be a stable logistics general. But Xu Mu knew very well that Chen Sheng had a lot of passion for the battlefield in his bones.
At this time, Chen Sheng raised his only arm and hugged Xu Mu, with tears in his eyes.
"My lord, the military advisor said, let me follow you this round. Even if you become a junior captain, it is much better than studying in the general hall."
"The military advisor has good intentions. It is better to travel thousands of miles than to read thousands of books." Xu Mu said with a smile.
"Read hard, study hard, and one day your name as Chen Sheng will become famous all over the world."
"Thank you, Lord."
"Thank you for your eggs, they are all family members."
Xu Mu let go and continued to look forward. Only then did I realize that Zhuge Fan in the crowd did not curse at his mother at this time, and his expression was full of calm. He put on his white robe again, carried his sword, and covered his bare head with a Jianghu hat.
Xu Mu always felt that something was wrong.
"My son, when will we set off?"
The voice was hoarse and weak.
Seeing Zhuge Fan's face full of wrinkles, Xu Mu felt inexplicably sad. He stretched out his hand and gently hugged Zhuge Fan.
…
In Chengdu, Huang Zhizhou sat alone on the balcony facing the street, holding a wine jar.
When he learned that Chen Sheng was going to the Western Regions, he went to Jia Zhou specifically, thinking that if he could follow him this time, he would probably make great contributions and be made a general.
Unfortunately, he was still politely rejected by Jia Zhou.
With his head raised, Huang Zhizhou took a few more sips of wine among the many people watching. Suddenly, many people were whispering.
"Sir, everyone is watching." A book boy came next to him and spoke cautiously.
"I'm so scared!"
Probably drunk, Huang Zhizhou shook off the book boy's hand, his face full of reluctance.
"Think of me, Huang Zhizhou. Last year, I was ranked first in both general examinations! If it were someone else, he would have already been appointed as a general and went to war!"
"But I, Huang Zhizhou, can't do it! The King of Shu won't grant me the title, and the military advisor won't give it to me. Even if I, Huang Zhizhou, went to ask for it myself, I still found nothing!"
"The King of Shu also said before that those who are outstanding in the general office can stand out——"
"Sir, shut up!" The little book boy was shocked.
Many people watching on the street also began to look angry. In this Western Shu, anyone who dares to slander the King of Shu is an enemy.
"I told you, I'm very scared!" Huang Zhizhou blushed, his tone full of reluctance. His body was swaying, and even the wine jar in his hand could not be grasped for a moment, and the whole thing fell to the ground.
There was a bang and drinks flew everywhere.
Huang Zhizhou fell into the drink in embarrassment, raising his head and belching wine.
The little book boy went to help him, but he pushed him away again.
The former young master of Kezhou burst into tears for a moment, "I, Huang Zhizhou, have great talent but have not found it -"
The streets began to become more and more commotion, and before long, Sun Xun had already led more than a hundred guards to surround him coldly.
"Huang Zhizhou, how dare you do this and slander the King of Shu!" Sun Xun was furious and waved his hand. In an instant, the guards behind him rushed up.
"Commander Sun, my young master drank too much."
"Shut up!"
Sun Xun, who was wearing armor and holding a waist knife, walked up to the stage angrily and grabbed Huang Zhizhou's robe collar with one hand.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"What did you say? I'm not wrong." Huang Zhizhou smiled miserably.
"Be bold!"
Without drawing the knife, Sun Xun directly raised the scabbard and hit Huang Zhizhou hard in the face. In an instant, Huang Zhizhou's face became covered with blood.
"Come here, get water from the old well, and I, Sun Xun, will wash away the alcohol for him!"
Many people onlookers shouted to relieve their anger.
Huang Zhizhou's whole body suddenly shivered with cold as water from the old well kept pouring on him. Probably because he finally woke up, he lowered his head and said nothing.
"If we weren't acquainted, I would have put you in jail!" Sun Xun cursed, and when he left, he couldn't help but kick him twice.
In the eyes of everyone, Huang Zhizhou stood up staggeringly. The book boy next to him cried even harder.
"Stop crying."
Huang Zhizhou gasped and sat down again. He raised his head and looked at the mountains and rivers in the distance, his eyes full of yearning.
Under the balcony, the crowd began to slowly disperse. Among them, there were two or three weird people. After looking up for a few more times, they quickly left.
…
Outside the Chengdu Palace, Jia Zhou was holding a wooden stick in one hand and holding Xu Qiao with the other. He raised his head and looked into the distance silently.
The overt and covert struggle between the north and the south is about to begin.
His body became increasingly weak and he was unable to accompany the army on expeditions. But no matter what, as long as he is alive, he will be the strongest wall in the battle of Xi Shu.
"Grandpa Military Advisor, my father told me to watch you rest." Xu Qiao said from the side.
"Little Xu Qiao, I'm so old, you call me grandpa."
"Those who are powerful are called grandpa, just like grandpa the blacksmith or grandpa the scholar." Xu Qiao hurriedly changed his subject.
Jia Zhou laughed, took Xu Qiao's hand, and started to turn around and walk back.
"If there is a chance, I will teach you personally in two years."
"Grandpa Military Advisor will live a long life."
"You little guy are a bit more cunning than your father."
"Grandpa Military Advisor, I'm smarter than Uncle Tiger now. He can't beat me in counting stones."
"Hahaha! There is a successor, there is a successor!"
Jia Zhou was even more happy and held Xu Qiao's hand. Unconsciously, his steps became much steadier.
