Li Zixiong is about 40 years old today. He has been in the army for 25 years and has made numerous military achievements for the Sui Dynasty... He participated in the Battle of Pingchen in the sixth year of Kaihuang. He was the confidant general of the Western Route Commander Yang Su. He was particularly good at water warfare. In Jingzhou, he led ten large ships to destroy dozens of warships of the Chen Dynasty with long poles and made great contributions. Later, he was named the governor of Jiangzhou. At the beginning of the year, he returned to Beijing to report his duties. When Yang Guang ascended the throne, he happened to visit relatives in Luoyang.

This time, due to Yang Yuanqing's lack of qualifications in the army, it may be difficult to convince the public. Yang Su recommended Li Zixiong as the general manager of Youzhou, to take over the Youzhou army, and Yang Yuanqing as the general.

Li Zixiong went north from Xiangzhou and just arrived in Youzhou, he heard that two Han King envoys came to Youzhou at the same time. He immediately guessed that one of the envoys must be Yang Yuanqing and the others pretended to be.

Li Zixiong was very worried. The arrival of two Han King envoys was easily discovered by Dou Kang. The reason why Dou Kang did not allow them to enter the city was obviously to send someone to confront Yang Liang. The longer the time was delayed, the greater the danger. How could Yang Yuanqing think of pretending to be the Han King envoy?

At this time, footsteps came from behind him. When Li Zixiong turned around, he saw a tall and mighty young man walking into the room. He immediately guessed that this was Yang Taipu’s grandson, and he couldn’t help but secretly praised him, what a heroic general.

Yang Yuanqing also saw Li Zixiong. He saw that this person was not the tall and mighty general, and his figure was just medium, but his smile seemed very sincere and very friendly.

Before leaving, his grandfather Yang Su briefly told him that Li Zixiong was the second to lead troops to fight, but he had a good idea of ​​reorganizing the army. In December of the eighth year of Kaihuang, the Sui army captured 8,000 troops of the Chen Dynasty general Qi Su in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and Li Zixiong reorganized it. He only had a great contribution overnight to reorganizing 6,000 elite soldiers, leaving an extremely deep impression on Yang Su. This time, Yang Su took over the Youzhou army, and immediately thought of him.

Yang Yuanqing stepped forward and knelt down on one knee..." Military salute, "the side general Yang Yuanqing met General Li.

Li Zixiong hurriedly helped him up... Yang Yaqing was Yang Su's grandson most valued. Although he was a general for him, he did not dare to regard himself as a boss.

"General Yang doesn't have to be too polite. We are working temporarily. I hope we can cooperate happily."

Of course, Yang Yuanqing didn't want to see anyone bow down, and Li Zixiong didn't want to regard himself as a boss, that's best.

But Yang Yuanqing was very considerate in terms of etiquette. He asked Li Zixiong to sit down and ordered someone to serve tea. Then he sighed and said frankly: "To be honest with General Li, our operation has been leaked... Dou Kang already knows that we will arrest him."

Li Zixiong was shocked... "Who leaked such a confidential matter?"

In fact, Yang Yuanqing knew in his heart that the most likely person to leak news from the few people in the meeting at that time was Yuwen Shu. Although the other people, Yuzhang Wang did not like him, he would not have any relationship with his enemy Yang Liang. In addition, Yuwen Shu did not win the position of commander, he had the motivation to take the blame behind the scenes, which harmed himself... it was equivalent to harming his grandfather.

Although Yang Yuanqing knew it, he could not say to Li Zixiong. Yang Yuanqing smiled and changed the topic, "In fact, we don't have much time. We must complete the task within two days at the latest. I am most worried that General Li will never be there. Now that General Li has arrived, we will act tomorrow."

Li Zixiong was not as confident as Yuan Qing. He was really not at all, so he asked worriedly: "What are your plans?"

Yang Yuanqing said lightly: "I have a plan. I promise to capture Dou Kang alive tomorrow. The key is to accept the army. Now most of the army is in the city. General Li thinks carefully about how to accept the army of Youzhou?"

Early in the morning, Shao Ziwen went out to the General Administration as usual. Shao Ziwen's home was not far from the General Administration, only two miles away. Generally, he did not ride a carriage, but rode a strong green horse. He liked to see the gods of awe of others, and the flattering smile of nodding and bowing. In the thirty years before him, he usually respected others and nodded and bowed. After being depressed for a long time, he valued other people's attitude towards him.

In fact, he had nothing to do in the General Administration. Dou Kang would only ask him when he was unsure of his mind. He didn't care about the usual chores, just paying 200 yuan a month of monthly salary, three stones of rice, fish and mountain goods, etc., and someone would send him to his house every now and then. There would be a generous land rent at the end of the year. Dou Kang rewarded him with five hectares of land, which was enough to make his life more enjoyable.

However, when people are full and warm, they will think of it. Shao Ziwen already has two concubines. During this period, he fell in love with Tian Erfu, the daughter of Tofu Fang in East Street. He was only sixteen years old, beautiful and fair in appearance, and her skin was whiter than tofu. However, Tian Erfu is an innocent family. If someone wants to be a concubine, Shao Ziwen has to pay a lot of money. Not only that, raising a concubine is also very good, including food, clothing, housing, jewelry and makeup, and buying a maid to serve him. He has to be at least 40 or 50 a month. Shao Ziwen is a little underpaid. This matter makes Shao Ziwen have the heart but not enough.

These days, Shao Ziwen has been thinking about how to make Dou Kang reward him with some money. Dou Kang is very rich, but if he wants to give him a reward, he must have information.

Shao Ziwen had something to do in his mind, and his speed of riding gradually slowed down.

"Mr. Shao!"

Suddenly someone called him next to him. Shao Ziwen turned around and saw a honest man standing by the roadside with dark skin and strong tendons shining in the sun, with a harmonious reverence and inferiority in his eyes.

Shao Ziwen liked this and the feeling very much. He was thin and the fear of this strong man made him feel extremely superior. He narrowed his slender eyes and asked, "Do you have something to ask me?"

The man scratched the back of his head and smiled with a simple mouthful of white teeth!" "I am Xu Blacksmith from West Street. My father is about to celebrate his birthday. I want to ask the gentleman to write a calligraphy and painting for me. I will give the gentleman fifty pen to hang money."

Shao Ziwen couldn't think of who Xu Blacksmith was from West Street. But the pen with fifty pen that made him excited. Usually, he only had a few pens to write to others, but this person was willing to give fifty pens, which may also include portraits. But even if the portraits were, fifty pens were very generous. He smiled happily and said, "I admire filial people the most. Since you respect your father, I will fulfill you. Where is it?"

"Just in my store, my father is old and can't get through, Mr. Shao invites him to get in the car."

Shao Ziwen had long seen a large and gorgeous carriage on the side of the road. It turned out that he was hired by himself. Although it was a bit too luxurious to hire such a carriage, Shao Ziwen thought that it was the sincerity of the blacksmith Xu. It would be a pity if he didn't sit there.

"Okay! You ride my horse."

Shao Ziwen turned over and got off the horse and got on the carriage happily. But before he could get on the carriage, an iron-like arm strangled his neck and dragged him into the carriage. Shao Ziwen couldn't shout at all. A roll of numbness blocked his mouth. He was frightened. Through the car window, he saw Xu Blacksmith again. At this time, the honest expression on Xu Blacksmith's face had disappeared and became particularly cold and fierce. How could Shao Ziwen's throat make the whine of fifty dollars to write calligraphy and painting?

Shao Ziwen was blocked by the méng and his eyes were dizzy all the way. He felt as if the carriage had left the city. The road was bumpy, as if it was a muddy road. After walking for a while, the carriage was slammed and finally stopped. His eyes were stumbled, and he didn't know where he was?

The carriage was parked in a yard. Two big men were carrying chickens and lifted Shao Ziwen off the car. The rope was tied to almost break Shao Ziwen's bones, and Shao Ziwen screamed in pain.

"A Qi, the general said he could loosen his ties."

Shao Ziwen suddenly heard the accent, which was the accent of the capital. After he thought about it, he immediately understood that it must be the people sent by the emperor to capture Dou Kang. They actually started with him. Shao Ziwen felt an inexplicable fear in his heart.

The rope was loosened and he was taken into a room. Then the eye cloth was taken off. His eyes were blurred. After a while, he gradually returned to normal. He saw a young general sitting in front of him, with a tall figure and an indescribable majesty in his eyes.

"Sit down!"

The young general's tone was gentle, which made Shao Ziwen calm down a little. Only then did he realize that he was in an empty house with mottled walls, the walls were made of rammed earth, dyed with large areas of green mold, the roof was shining with light and covered with oil tiles. This was a typical country house.

But there were burly men standing around, all of whom were naked and muscular. The black hair in front of him was curled up, and his face was fierce, which made Shao Ziwen frightened. A big man put a bowl of butterfly in front of him. He held the bowl with trembling hands and took a sip.

"My surname is Yang, and I am here to arrest Dou Kang on the order of the emperor. I hope Mr. Shao will cooperate."

Yang Yuanqing, who was sitting opposite, did not hide his identity and purpose. Shao Ziwen's heart trembled. As expected, he guessed it. He restrained his inner tension and asked, "What do General Yang need me to do?"

Yang Yuanqing smiled, and with a wave of his hand, two big men came forward with two large copper plates. The copper plate was full of yellow gold ingots, and there were as many as 100 taels of gold in the plate. The two large plates of gold ingots were placed in front of him, and the bright golden light made him unable to open his eyes.

Shao Ziwen quickly estimated in his heart that one hundred taels of gold is worth more than ten thousand yuan, and ten thousand yuan! His heart began to get hot. If he had ten thousand yuan, how many concubines could he marry?

Shao Ziwen pulsed the corner of his mouth, "Gum!" and swallowed a mouthful of saliva. His eyes could no longer contain the greed luster that emerged from his bones. At this time, people's greed was completely gone.

Yang Yuanqing sneered in his heart, and Wang Yicheng was right. Shao Ziwen was so greedy for money and betrayed his master for a hundred taels of gold.

However, buying gold is not enough. Some people take the money and then turn around and sell themselves. This is a big deal. Yang Yuanqing doesn't want to take this risk.

"Dad!" A young man's voice came from the yard. When Shao Ziwen turned around, he saw his beloved youngest son appear in the yard. Shao Ziwen had three sons, the eldest son was fifteen years old, the second son was twelve years old, and the youngest son was ten years old. This was his ten-year-old son.

Shao Ziwen's face changed drastically. He stood up, but was pressed down by the big man beside him.

"you……"

Shao Ziwen's face was flushed and he stared at Yang Yuanqing tightly, and gritted his teeth and said, "You let my son go.

Yang Yuanqing smiled faintly, "I have never met you. The lives of 300 of us are all in your hands. Of course, we need a hostage. Isn't this normal?"

Yang Yuanqing slowly pushed the gold in front of him, "You can choose. If you don't want to do it, I won't force you. I will give the gold to others. Your son will repay you in the future. If you want this gold, then you will do your best to get things done for me, and you can choose for yourself!"

Shao Ziwen stared at the yellow gold in front of him, and greed once again occupied his heart. At this moment, Dou Kang's trust and funding for him over the past few years had become insignificant, and money defeated loyalty.

"Okay, I promise micro..."
Chapter completed!