Li Bochen was stunned: "What?"
Qin Le said: "Because of the Zhu Hou I just mentioned. That person is in Fengzhou. General Li, it's a long story - let's go to the market town, I'll treat you to a drink and apologize to the general and his wife... …and then speak slowly.”
Seeing his eager look at this time, Li Bochen couldn't say no. Besides, he hadn't eaten anything decent in the past two days, so he didn't care, but he was afraid that Lin Qiao couldn't bear it. Qin Le seems to be quite prestigious here. If he can really rest in the market town for a day, he can take a good breath.
Then he nodded and said: "That's fine, then I'll trouble General Qin."
Qin Le then smiled: "It's easy to say, I'll be the host here!"
Li Bochen turned and glanced at Lin Qiao. Seeing that she didn't seem to object, he said, "Xiao Man, let's go forward."
Lin Qiao raised her hand and wiped the corners of her eyes, then smiled and said, "It's all up to you."
The two rode horses side by side, with Lin Qiao following behind. After walking a dozen steps, Li Boxen said: "General Qin, there is something I don't quite understand."
"General Li, please speak. Qin will tell you everything you know."
"General Qin is too polite..."
"Where is General Li? I——"
At this point, both of them were stunned and smiled again. Li Boxen said: "Let's change the name. I call you Brother Qin."
Qin Le also smiled and said, "Yes, Brother Li."
"I heard some things about the Linxi Army when I was there, but after meeting Brother Qin today, I feel that what I heard before is not quite right." Li Boxen said, "Is the situation so good now?"
Qin Le smiled: "Oh, it's just like this here."
After saying this, he paused briefly, with some arrogance appearing on his face: "Brother Li, my surname is Qin."
Li Bochen didn't know what he was referring to, so he didn't speak. Qin Le laughed again: "Haha, don't blame me for boasting. In fact, the Qin I am is the Qin of Anzhou. More than ten years ago, in Anzhou, except for the chief officials surnamed Wang, all the subordinate officials and assistants of each yamen , mostly from my Qin family. At that time, it was better to say that Anzhou belonged to the Li family than to my Qin family."
I see. No wonder Qin Le doesn't speak like an ordinary vulgar person, and he also behaves quite arrogantly. He turns out to be a descendant of a prominent family in the Li Kingdom. It's just that this person really can't speak... You shouldn't talk about these things to a stranger like yourself.
But Li Bochen also had a good impression of this person because of this, and said: "No wonder!"
Qin Le laughed: "I used to follow your Majesty in Linxi, and I was still a commander at that time. Later, I offended someone with my mouth, and Your Majesty took good care of me, so he sent me to Anzhou. I am doing well here. Be happy - don't look at Sui Dog - ah, General Li..."
Li Bochen smiled bitterly: "It doesn't matter. I am from Sui and half Li."
Qin Le said with a smile: "Hey, that's great - even though the Sui dogs occupied the city in Anzhou, they only occupied the city. Outside the big city, there are still many righteous people, and the hearts of the people are also on our side. When I came to Anzhou, all the noble squires nearby had to give me face, so no one came to trouble me."
Li Boxen said: "Then, your Linxi army is the only one in Anzhou?"
Qin Le said: "I don't know. The people's sentiments have changed over the years, and I heard that your Majesty also intends to go south. I came here three years ago, and I don't know if anyone else will come to run it."
Li Boxen nodded, realizing that things were a little different from what he had just thought. When I saw the appearance of the Linxi Army here before, I thought that everything outside Guancheng was under their control. It turns out that this scene here is only because of Qin Le himself.
But thinking about it this way, there must be many people from the old nobles of the Li Kingdom who followed the Linxi Lord. The influence of many people like Qin Le is really great. Those officials who governed the Five Kingdoms could only defend the city but could not control the entire territory. It was probably because of what Qin Le said, the people's support was against them.
But this man was reprimanded and sent away, but he didn't have any resentment towards the Linxi Lord during the conversation... Maybe that person was really a wise master.
He asked again: "Then, what is the situation of Linxi Army in Li State now?"
Qin Le was stunned when he heard this question. After a while, he said: "Brother Li, why do you ask this?"
Only then did Li Bochen realize that he really shouldn't have said these words - although he was now a "righteous man" in Li Jing, he was still a general of the Sui Kingdom in the past. When others hear me inquiring about Linxi's military situation, they will inevitably not think too much about it. Maybe Qin Le had already become suspicious at this time and felt that he had other intentions.
He was about to make up a reason when he heard Qin Le say again: "Could it be that Brother Li also wants to defect to our Linxi Army?"
Li Bochen breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that he didn't think much about it. He could only say: "I can't say. I came from a military background, and I really don't know what else to do besides fighting. Once I finish my affairs, I won't be able to make a living in the future... maybe I really have to join the army again."
Qin Le said with a smile: "That's the best. By then, we will be considered colleagues. If the Demon Army really comes to attack, Brother Li still has experience in dealing with it, which will be of great use."
Li Boxen smiled in his heart and thought to himself that this might not be the case. He was fighting against the monster army in Wuliang City, and he did not participate in the overall command. He just led troops and fought. Moreover, in addition to the monster army, the demon army also includes Rakshasa and Sumeru people. If he fights them, he will become a novice again.
By this time we had entered the market town. The town is not big, and you can see it at a glance. There are several shops along the street, and some residents further back. There were not many people on the dirt road, but they seemed to be leisurely and contented, without an air of panic, probably because of the protection of the Linxi Army here.
Qin Le got off his horse and said, "Brother Li, there is only one food shop in the town. I don't know if you are used to it."
Li Boxen looked towards the roadside and saw that the name of the food shop was "Sun Cai Restaurant". A waiter from the store came out to greet Qin Le and shouted: "General Qin, you are here! I just heard that someone was arrested outside. What was it for?"
Qin Le threw the riding whip to him and said: "It's just the bandit leader - go prepare some food and drinks. Also, prepare some warm water and a few handkerchiefs."
Li Bochen also dismounted and helped Lin Qiao off the horse. The waiter led the horse and tied it, and jumped into the hall.
Qin Le introduced the two of them into the store and said, "The pickles here are good, but the meat is just average. It's better than nothing."
Then he turned aside by the door and said, "Sister-in-law, please invite me too."
Lin Qiao nodded and smiled at him and stepped through the door.
The three of them sat down at the table by the window and were speechless for a while. Before, the two rode horses side by side, with Lin Qiao following behind, and they gradually got along well with each other. But now they were all sitting at the table, feeling a little embarrassed because of what they had said before. Lin Qiao remained silent, staring at the wood grain on the table with a slight smile on her face. Li Boxen felt more and more uncomfortable, so he had to say: "Brother Qin, you just said that it would be difficult to find the Chang family. What's going on?"
At this time, the waiter brought warm water and a handkerchief. Qin Le twisted a handkerchief in the basin and wiped his face, while saying: "Brother Li doesn't know something. Zhu Yi's father, Zhu Hou, was a gangster in the past. Later he fled to serve as a thief. Zhouzhou, somehow found the ruins of a cave—"
Li Bochen also wiped his face slowly and listened. When I heard "Dongtian Ruins", I wanted to ask what it was, but I held myself back.
Qin Le added: "There was a catastrophe more than ten years ago, and many sects at that time were also destroyed. Those sects often had secret Taoist temples in famous mountains and rivers, and the people in the sects were all dead and scattered. Those cave-heaven Taoist temples Then no one will know.”
"That Zhu Hou was lucky. He found a place, and he didn't know what kind of opportunity he got, but he was able to get in. It is said that he had some adventures inside and developed his skills. After that, he ruled the green forest in Fengzhou area, and he was already a bit famous. The momentum of the local heroes has gained."
"I know about the Chang family. Our ancestors used to be officials in the same dynasty as the old Mr. Chang family, so they are familiar with each other. After the National Revolution, the Chang family moved to Fengzhou. But unfortunately, they lived together at the Zhu Houna Cave Sky Site. Nearby. I heard that Zhu Hou wanted to ask Mr. Chang to 'assist' him... Haha, the old man naturally refused, and may have been under house arrest."
When Li Bochen heard this, he was shocked and his expression changed.
Qin Le said: "Brother Li, there is no need to worry. Mr. Chang also has a good reputation in Fengzhou. So Zhu Hou is just an ordinary thief. But now he thinks very highly of himself. If he wants to do something, he will not be too embarrassed. .”
Li Bochen nodded. When he heard Yin Chao mention Zhu Hou in the Beichen Realm before, he felt a little strange in his heart. Thinking that this person is just a big thief, how can his name be reported to him, the "Emperor"? But now listening to Qin Le's words, I feel that maybe it is because of the "Dongtian Ruins" he mentioned.
I don’t know what kind of secret there is.
He asked: "Isn't Fengzhou near Linxi? Doesn't your army care about this matter?"
Qin Le smiled, asked the waiter to remove the water, and said: "Your Majesty, you probably don't want to be enemies with these martial arts people for the time being. After all, many of these people are also useful."
Hearing him mention this matter, Li Bochen frowned and said: "Those bandits who rushed into Sanguan City were under the name of Linxi Rebels. Brother Qin, I'm afraid it won't be a good thing if this continues."
Qin Le glanced at him, probably wondering again why Li Boxen was so concerned about the Linxi Army. But after thinking about it, he still said: "Brother Li is right. The thing you gave me should have been given to Zhu Yi by Zhu Hou. As Brother Li said, I'm afraid Zhu Hou and Kong Minghui also colluded. As for Nakong Minghui, huh, is Xin Ni's minion. I will report this matter as soon as possible."
Only then did Li Boxen realize that, from the first meeting to the present, although Qin Le seemed quite talkative and his words were somewhat "ignorant", all matters related to Linxi's military affairs were kept secret. This person is probably not as simple as he seems, he is very smart.
At this time, the waiter served the food. The first dish was a plate of cabbage. The outer big leaves are peeled off, leaving only the palm-sized leaves at the core, which look bright yellow. It seems that the vegetable leaves have been blanched in boiling water and placed on the plate one by one.
There was another plate of radishes, cut into semi-circular slices and blanched in boiling water, so they looked translucent.
There was another plate with finger-length white scallions, green shallots, endives, and cucumber strips, all made into one portion.
These three plates were served, and three bowls of soybean paste were served, with some minced garlic added and water mixed thoroughly.
After a while, three large bowls of rice and a plate of braised pork were served.
Li Boxen thought to himself, do you want to eat hot pot? Here, it should be called warm pot. But the waiter said from the side: "General Qin, the dishes are ready, what would you like to drink?"
Qin Le looked at Li Boxen: "Brother Li, what would you like to drink?"
He asked himself, but didn't speak first, probably because he didn't want to drink. Li Bochen didn't like what was in the cup, so he said: "Brother Qin is still on duty. Let's not drink anymore."
Qin Le smiled and said, "Okay. Brother Li, let's try the pickles first."
After he said that, he picked up two pieces of cabbage, wrapped it in the sauce in the bowl and chewed it in his mouth. He also twisted up the scallions and dipped them in, making a crunching sound. It turned out that it was not hot pot - it was the first time Li Boxen had seen this way of eating, and he felt that the clear soup was watery, but Qin Le enjoyed it with gusto, which made people look at him differently.
He also ate two slices of cabbage with the sauce, but found that the sauce was extremely delicious. The water cabbage had a hint of sweetness in the mouth. Mixed with the spicy taste of minced garlic, it was actually delicious.
Seeing him like this, Qin Le smiled and said, "Is this the first time Brother Li has eaten these? If you go further north, it will be more bitter and cold, so there will be more of these things to eat - I heard that people in the Sui Dynasty like to eat leek sauce, but it is a pity that it is not available here. "
Li Boxen only said: "Each has its own merits, which is not bad."
He picked up another piece of braised pork and ate it, and found it delicious. Qin Le said that the pickles in this store were good and the meat was average, but in his opinion, it was the other way around. Maybe Qin Le comes from a prominent family and is tired of eating delicacies from the mountains and seas. However, he was too embarrassed to eat meat and could only fill his stomach with rice. Looking at Lin Qiao, she didn't seem to like the pickles either. She took a few bites, ate some rice, and then put down her chopsticks.
Both of them were in the army and ate quickly. In less than a quarter of an hour, the dishes were empty. They chatted for a while, but Li Boxen did not inquire about the matter that made Qin Le suspicious.
After the waiter removed the dishes and served the tea, Qin Lecai said: "Brother Li, I have to go back to the mountain to interrogate the living man soon to see if I can catch a few more. I have a map here, but it is not very accurate. , but you can also use it as a reference.”
After saying this, he took out a small cowhide scroll from his armor.
This should be something Qin Le will use when he leads the army. Although there may not be only one, it is a very affectionate gift to him. Li Bochen really needed it and couldn't refuse, so he just said: "Brother Qin, thank you very much."
Qin Le smiled: "You two can have a rest here. Although there are no ready-made clothing shops in the town, there are rich households. You can ask the waiter to ask if there are any clothes for sale. After taking care of the things on the mountain, I will come back tomorrow morning. Brother Li practices it.”
He stood up, and Li Bochen also stood up. Qin Le hugged him and Lin Qiao, turned around and told the waiter to "treat them well" and walked out the door.
After seeing Qin Le mount his horse and leave with his halberd, Li Boxen sat down and turned to look at Lin Qiao. Seeing her frowning slightly, she seemed to be thinking about something. He thought to himself that it must be because of those words before that he felt very sad. Just as she was about to say some words of relief, she said, "Brother Li, do you really want to spend the night here tonight?"
Li Bochen was stunned for a moment and said, "I have this plan to tell you to have a good rest."
Lin Qiao hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm afraid that General Qin went up the mountain to verify our origins instead of going up to the mountain to interrogate the survivors."
After hearing what she said, Li Bochen thought of this possibility.
Seeing his appearance, Lin Qiao laughed: "Brother Li, you are really...yes..."
Li Bochen smiled bitterly: "Silly?"
Lin Qiao smiled and said: "No."
He smiled again: "That's right. But it's good."
Li Bochen also laughed, turned around and said, "Man, do you still have the soy sauce meat? Cut it into three kilograms for me!"
