Chapter 071 – Three Hundred Thousand Tablets

Chen Xiliang did not wear Qingcang city pastor’s fourth grade civil official’s robe, did not even wear scholar’s shirt, with the poor vagabonds in general, the whole body, I’m afraid that the only thing that can hold up is the pair of exceptionally sturdy wolfskin boots on the feet, when Xu Fengyen personally saw such a more than vagabonds like vagabonds guy, crying and laughing. However, Chen Xiliang was escorted by a dozen or so white horsemen, which at least gave this scholar on the cusp of the Northern Liang winds and waves back some face. Chen Xiliang is now standing in a village at the head of the village, with a large group of officials and laborers are building windlass frame digging wells, the village is located in the low-lying area of the spring water exposed, is a rare side of the flow of the state oasis, in general, so that the occupation of the water source of the place, are a multi-stakeholder forces must contend for the place of the water at the same time, often means that the bloodshed is more than.

This village of more than a hundred villagers are squatting in the distance to join in the fun, some men chewing hard as iron pancakes, more is a face of salivation mixed with awe to those white horse from the righteousness of the dismounted still wear a sword crossbow, bright armor, Liuzhou into the northern Liang territory, the border army sharpshooters become crossbowmen before they have to come here to kill the heads of the stragglers as the advancement of the capital, and occasionally there are also a small cavalry surrounded by the large group of horse thieves died out! In this situation, the swords and armor on the cavalrymen have never been the most boastful thing for the leaders of the stragglers. If you have a horse and a sword, and if you can also wear armor, then you can be a grandpa’s grandpa in the land of the stragglers. So these white horse righteousness from out of nowhere, both let the villagers greedy, more let them fear, just that the leader of the young man, is said to be an official hat big to frighten the northern Liang officials, strange thing is, he entered the village also did not spoil the ladies, not to mention robbing the money to rob the food, just said a big, let a person listen to the death of unbelief, under the sky there is such a good thing? As long as each family has a person to join the army, you can enter the good people in Lingzhou household registration, but also to plant the field? And is to go to the border to enlist or in the territory of Lingzhou, can be picked at random, not forced, the only difference is that the pay of the border army is higher than the soldiers in Lingzhou a big cut. Originally no one would like to take care of, but later heard that this is the young officer, hard under the hands of 10,000 strong horse thieves, dead hold Qingcang City, I heard that killed the king of the northern Liang many of the soldiers and retainers, soon to be tied back to Liangzhou beheading, even if the head, the official hat can not be guaranteed, the matter, many of the city then survived the stragglers are said to be nose to nose, about the real thing! The official is a good man, but in case the King of Beilang cleaned up the words he said can still be counted? They can’t say that they don’t see a rabbit without a hawk, but they don’t see an aunt without pants, they still know the truth.

Then when these villagers saw another team of horses galloped to the village outside the horse, gradually approached a look more than a woman handsome good-looking young man, with a small child like black charcoal, followed by a general look like a stout man, that body dress, really motherfucking Zhanren eyeballs, tsk, how to be able to lead hundreds of soldiers of the military generals. Some of the village born and bred brats are not afraid of the earth, would like to go around half a circle to look at a few eyes, the results to the elders are driven far away, but also some of the hand can beat down the Jiangnan man’s robust women, eyes are glowing, Yo, how pretty little brother, I do not know which mother-in-law has the good fortune to enjoy. Their men also do not care about this, but the death of the mouth cursing, women also dare to talk back a few words, bold, are smashing the thick lips, hate to have a pair of phoenix eyes of the little brother swallowed into the stomach. As a result, soon all the villagers were scared to death, their scalps were numb, only to see those white horse righteous follower seeing that young man, kneeling down on one knee, one hand supporting the ground, one hand pressing the sword, at the same time, said in a deep voice: “Greetings to the king!”

As soon as the White Horse follower knelt down, the officials of Liuzhou who were responsible for digging the water wells even kneeled down with a crash, and they were even more terrified than the solemn White Horse follower.

During this period of time, firstly, many bald monks were running around in Liuzhou, preaching, and later on, there were also young immortals from Wudang Mountain who came here to travel around, and all of them described the young feudal lord as either the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva or the descent of Zhenwu, which was very contagious in the poorly indoctrinated land of the displaced people. Xu Fengyen softly said get up, then walked towards Chen Xiliang, those dozen white horse volunteers all naturally followed behind the king of Beiliang, isolating the group of escorts brought by the captain of Qingcang without any trace, Wei Lime touched his nose, a little embarrassed, but did not dare to show any dissatisfaction. When Qingcang City that attack and defense war, the disparity of forces, although the defending side can always occupy an inherent advantage, but in fact, Qingcang’s walls are not tall and solid, and Qingcang City’s original thousands of troops have been floating, if not less than a hundred people from the White Horsemen, each of them first, Qingcang City has long been to the 10,000 tough horse thieves to the slaughter of the city for a few times, every time there is a loophole in the city’s defenses, there is a set of silver armored warriors take the lead to do the death of the soldiers! Against the tide of attack, although death does not retreat, it is one of these is said to be the life of the Qing Cang City hundred people’s lives of the White Horse Boxer, it is their not hesitate to die, only to let the Qing Cang Dragon King’s House of the old part of the death of the heart of the battle. Qingcang attack and defense of the tragic, can be seen from a detail, each fallen white horse righteousness, because the attacking horse thieves hate to the bone, will certainly die without a whole body, the Dragon Elephant Army ran to the rescue and the horse thieves heard of the retreat after the Qingcang city of the body, after all can only pile up a nearly empty coffin of the clothes mound.

Chen Xiliang saw Xu Fengnian, his face was a little guilty, and he wanted to speak. Xu Fengyen patted his shoulder, then sat on the mouth of the well, looked up and laughed: “Whether to return to the royal palace as a staff member without rank, or to be a second-in-command beyotch in Liuzhou, take your pick.”

Chen Xiliang casually squatted on the edge of the well, which is very different from his previous formal etiquette in Qingliang Mountain, said softly, “Although still very afraid of seeing people die with their own eyes, has always thought of going to Qingliang Mountain side of the paper, where even if you can’t be a rich and noble idler, but at least you don’t have to worry about the fear. Just now always feel so patted ass a go, is when the deserter, at that time in Qingcang city, the king’s white horse righteousness from not one person retreat, Qingcang city that thousands of armor did not retreat, even the city stragglers have not retreated, I am now this go, unlike words.”

Xu Fengyen asked, “That means you agreed to be the Liuzhou Farewell Governor? Assassin Yang’s side also has this intention, he thinks highly of you. With the two of you as partners in Liuzhou, I am also relieved.”

Chen Xiliang shook his head and said, “The alibi is the most important auxiliary official of a state, if it is the Lingshou state which is far away from the war in the backyard of Beiliang, I am confident that I can still reluctantly take up the role, Liujiu state nowadays employs appointments which tends to favor those who are capable of civilization and martial arts, I’d better forget about it, and do a good job as a Qingcang city herdsman before saying so, anyway, as long as I think of anything, I will be straight with the Lord of the Assassination, and I don’t need the alibi as an official position. ”

Xu Fenian also did not make things difficult for him, nodded his head and said, “As you wish, anyway, at that time when you feel that you want to be a big official, go and ask Yang Guangdou for the official hat yourself, you don’t need to greet Qingcang Mountain.”

Qingcang Lieutenant Wei Shi Lime stood nearby, hearing this conversation, his heart turned upside down, where under the sky to find such a good talking feudal lord? Where in the world can we find such a good talker? It was evident that those rumors that the Northern Liang King was going to ruthlessly clean up Chen Chengmu were all nonsense! Wei lime for Qingliang mountain two big red Xu Beihao and Chen Xiliang, have long heard, the northern Liang territory has always been that Xu Beihao matter function endurance far better than Chen Xiliang, governance Lingzhou just soft, it is said to be close to the civilian head of the Lord of the Secretary General Li Gongde are hollowed out, but Wei lime is relatively still more optimistic about Chen Xiliang, there is no reasoning, based on the readers can be able to die defending the city of Qingcang, and really give him to keep down! Chen Xiliang suddenly said: “Chen Xiliang is a good man, he is a good man!

Chen Xiliang suddenly said: “Your Majesty has been to the grave?”

Xu Fengyen said, “I just entered the city last night, and I thought I would go with you to offer wine.”

Chen Xiliang gave a hmm, stood up, beckoned and called for the small head of the workhouse, softly explaining the relevant matters. At this time, a tall and robust teenager walked out of the queue from a group of handymen and came this way, soon stopped by two White Horse Boxers, the cool sword in his hand had already left the sheath by half an inch, the killing chance was deep. Xu Fengyen looked at the teenager, surprisingly is a familiar person, when he single-handedly into the land of the stragglers, in Qingcang city outside the village outside a twist, the stragglers see the profit and forget about their lives, want to rob the horses and swords to make a fortune, this is good at the spear art of the teenager is one of them, there is a stream of stragglers unique pugnacious, if Xu Fengyen did not remember correctly, the teenager also has a skinny and scrawny younger sister, it is her rushed out to make the Xu Fengyen didn’t kill him and gave the siblings a bag of silver. Xu Fengyen voiced out, “Let him come over.”

The teenager who wanted to go forward only because of his hot blood, originally when he met the White Horse Boxer and half drew his sword, he was already very scared, he used to remember that handsome ranger’s superior martial arts, also remembered the grace and appreciated the ranger’s not killing and giving silver, now that piece of broken silver has been stabbed by the teenager to make a small hole, and after threading the rope, it was hung on his sister’s neck, and her sister was very much fond of it. After the teenager learned that this person is actually the king who is in charge of the power of life and death of all the stragglers, the thought is not complicated, just afraid that he will never see him again, want to say thank you in person. The teenager was anxious, his steps were a bit fluttering, and managed to walk to a place five or six steps away from the young feudal king, his mind was blank, he didn’t know what to say, his face reddened, and he didn’t even know where to put his hands. Xu Fenian softly laughed, “What’s your name, I still remember that you have a sister with more guts than you.”

The teenager finally slowed down, gulped, and said in a trembling voice, “Back to Your Majesty, my name is Liu Yu, my sister is called Liu Yu.”

Xu Fengnian snickered, “You still know the expression report back?”

The teenager quietly pinched his waist meat with his hand, his brain finally cleared up a few points, and smiled coyly, “It’s all learned from the officials in the workhouse, when they talk to Lord Chengmu, they all say this.”

Chen Xiliang explained to Xu Fengnian with a smile on the side: “Liu Yu wants to go to the border to join the army, I see that he is too young, I did not agree, but this young man’s strength is not small, so he was allowed to help the Yamen to do some things to earn some money to make ends meet, clever hands and feet, people are also smart, and can already recognize more than a hundred words, every day on the ground to take a twig to write in his spare time, in fact, the young man and his sister originally have only a surname and no first name, but only a few words to say. In fact, the teenager and his sister originally have only a surname without a first name, only a casual nickname, Liu Yu Liu Yu is actually his own name.”

Xu Fengyen looked at the teenager and asked with a smile, “You went to the border to join the army, if you die, what about your sister? Why don’t you choose the Lingzhou army, at least you don’t have to fight in the battlefield.”

The young man answered with a serious face: “The official in charge of the record file said ah, the border army to get more money, and also get money fast, as long as you go to get a large amount of silver, not to mention that, immediately to us in the lingzhou to get a piece of good land, and again, do not all say that our northern Liang army a beat them northern barbarians three or four it, I go to the border and not necessarily die, if you can spear a few northern barbarians to death, when a captain or something, you will not have to go to the border, but you will have to go to the border to get money. If I can spear a few northern barbarians and become a captain or something, then my sister can live her life without worrying about food and clothing, maybe even her dowry will be there!”

The young man seemed to remember something, and hurriedly said, “Your Majesty!”

Xu Fengnian laughed, thought for a moment, and said, “Alright, I’ll allow you to go to Youzhou to join the army, your kid’s spear skills are good, I’ve been taught. After you learn how to ride a horse, I will let Huangfu Ping promote you to be a captain. I’ll turn around and help you and your sister find a good family to live with in Lingzhou.”

The teenager bargained, “Your Majesty, my sister still has to be surnamed Liu, is that alright?”

Xu Fengnian nodded, then joked, “Or you can take my surname Xu? What? You can be promoted to be the captain of the army right now.”

Qingcang Lieutenant Wei Shi Lime and his retinue’s eyes were all green, this your mother, the world dropped a big pie ah, although nowadays it is not like the Spring and Autumn period so rise the matter of giving surnames, but can be the emperor of the clan king of the dynasty’s most powerful figures to give surnames, it is still a great honor for the heroes of the grassroots. General Xu Snapdragon more than forty years of military career, the number of times that the name is given, a handful of times, the gun fairy brother Xu Yan Bing is one.

Just did not expect that the teenager froze, shook his head and said: “This has not killed the northern barbarians, how can I be a captain of the army. And if my parents know that my sister and I have changed our surname, they will not dream of beating me to death.”

Wei Lime was almost about to hang this ungrateful little brat and beat him up, if your parents knew that you rejected the good intentions of the Northern Liang King, they would really dream of beating you to death.

Xu Fengyen laughed: “That’s fine, anyway, after you go to Youzhou, go find a general named Huangfu Ping, and say that I told you to join the army.”

The teenager timidly asked, “Isn’t it going to Liangzhou? I heard that there is more pay for soldiers there, and the fields are also good.”

Xu Fengyen cried and laughed, “Liangzhou is going to war soon, your spear skills are good, but you haven’t familiarized yourself with the battlefield, even if you are good, you can’t beat the charge of the northern barbarians’ cavalry.”

The teenager seems to understand a non-comprehension oh a sound.

Those villagers who originally heard that the King of Northern Liang was coming in person went and returned, and watched with great interest as this bold child spoke in front of the King, all of them were a little envious, how much good fortune did this kid accumulate in his past life to be able to talk to the King? How big of an official must the king be? Anyway, they all knew that the whole of Northern Liang was his old man’s family property, of course, this king was not old at all.

Afterwards, Xu Fengyen went with Chen Xiliang to the graveyard ten miles south of Qingcang City, the one clothing grave of the dead White Horse Boxers was located in the oasis, Xu Fengyen’s disciple Yu Dilong and several escorts were carrying a large bag of green ant wine.

One by one, Xu Fengyen and Chen Xiliang went to the graves to offer wine.

Chen Xiliang had a heavy look on his face, and every time he faced a grave, he would tell Xu Fengnian when and where the White Horse Boxers inside the grave died.

After the memorial service, Xu Fengyen always felt that something was missing.

Suddenly, a rider came to report that two strangers broke into this place, saying that they wanted to offer water instead of wine to honor the spirits of the heroes.

Xu Fengyen led his horse and ended up seeing Song Dongming, who had arrived in Qingcang City half a day later than him.

This man who was one of the hidden ministers of Liyang saw Xu Fengyen’s array, especially Wei Shi Lime’s distinctive lieutenant’s armor, how could Song Dongming not guess the young man’s background, after slightly bowing, he looked up and then laughed, “Your Highness can’t be counted as treating people with sincerity.”

Xu Fengyen smiled, did not deny, apologized, “I hope Mr. Song will forgive me.”

Song Dongming glanced at the young scholar beside Xu Fengnian, retracted his eyes and said bluntly, “Your Highness, you don’t seem to be that bright lord worthy of the people’s dependence on the armorer’s service and death.”

Without saying a word, Wei Lime drew out his Beiliang Sword, wanting to chop off the head of this credulous son of a bitch.

Xu Fengyen raised his hand, stopping the violent Qingcang lieutenant behind him, and asked with a smile, “What do you mean by this?”

Song Dongming was undaunted and blandly said, “There are more than a thousand poems of Liyang Border Plugging, among them, ‘Why do you need to wrap a corpse in horse leather’ won the top spot, in my opinion, this is just a line of bullshit of a scholar who is standing around and talking without a pain in the back. Therefore, Song Dongming has a question for the King of Northern Liang.”

Xu Fengnian calmly said, “Please ask.”

Song Dongming looked around and smiled coldly, “I dare to ask, during the attack and defense of Qingcang City, no less than 3,000 Beiliang soldiers were killed in action, why is it that only your Beiliang King’s White Horse Boxers have a clothes grave and occupy this oasis?”

Xu Fengnian was silent.

Chen Xiliang’s eyes snapped open.

Song Dongming continued with sarcasm, “People’s Slaughter Xu Snapdragon has 10,000 Great Snow Dragon Riders, his second son Xu Longxiang has 30,000 Dragon Elephant Army, Beiliang Capital Protector Chu Lushan has his own army, Yuan Zuozong Yan Wenluan also has his own army, these armored soldiers, naturally, are valiant, and are willing to fight for Beiliang, but then what? North Mang invaded the country, rely on these 70,000 or 80,000 people can agree? You can even say that by relying on 300,000 Beiliang soldiers, you can win the battle? Or, King of Beiliang, do you think that it is a certain death, and as long as you have the heart of certain death, you are not ashamed of Beiliang?”

Xu Fengyen still did not get annoyed and asked rhetorically, “What does Mr. Song have to teach me?”

Song Dongming asked, “Since Beiliang is destined to face the millions of iron cavalry of North Mang alone, not to mention how the victory or defeat will be, but we must make sure that everyone’s death is worthy of their name. Does the King of Northern Liang think so?”

Xu Fengnian nodded, “It is rightfully so.”

Song Dongming said in a loud voice: “Then please ask King Beiliang to find a place within the territory to make a hero’s mound and erect 300,000 tombstones!”

Song Dongming next stared at Xu Fengyen dead in the face, word by word squeezed out from between his teeth, “One death! Mark one!”

Xu Fengyen said, “Good, the back of Qingliang Mountain can be used for this mound.”

Song Dongming once again asked, “Among the 300,000, can there be a monument for you, Xu Fengnian?”

Xu Fengyen said without hesitation, “Yes. First, I will write down the five characters of Northern Liang Xu Fengnian, the same as all Northern Liang soldiers, and only record when and where I was born. When you die, then add when and where you died in battle.”

Song Dongming looked at Xu Fengnian’s eyes, and after a long time, he solemnly bowed and said in a deep voice: “Song Dongming would like to be a subject of Northern Liang, and would like to advise the King of Northern Liang!”

Xu Fengnian smiled, “Good.”

After Song Dongming straightened his back and raised his head, Xu Fengyen walked to the side of this Luming Song Clan’s son, the two of them stood side by side, Xu Fengyen lowered his voice and softly said, “I know that in your heart you are actually serving Zhao but not Xu, but what’s the harm in that.”

Song Dongming similarly said softly, “Beiliang King is wrong, I serve Beiliang means I serve Liyang, I don’t serve the Son of Heaven, I serve the people!”

Xu Fengyen was noncommittal, “Temporarily serving as the deputy envoy of Beiliang Dao and sitting in Qingliang Mountain, is it enough?”

Song Dongming nodded his head and said, “Sufficient.”

In the fall of this Xiangfu first year, Luming Song Clan’s Song Dongming joined Northern Liang, and the dynasty shook.