Rainwater hangs down from the eaves like a vermilion curtain. In the stone troughs under the eaves, the rainwater flows forward, along the gutter, and merges into a larger drainage ditch at the corner of the house, and then flows into

In a pond dozens of steps away from the house.

Water droplets hit the surface of the water, splashing up small flowers. The lotus leaves that were only the size of a palm when they came out of the water were smashed around, and some even half of them sank into the water. If it rains harder again,

A little harder, a little harder, and I'm afraid the lotus leaf won't be able to survive.

A hand reached out from the corridor and sprinkled a handful of fish food into the water. The sound of splashing water immediately sounded under the covered bridge. A large group of carp that had been sheltering from the rain under the covered bridge rushed out and swam out. There was a sound,

The fish food that was just thrown away disappeared in an instant.

Some of the fish that had not been caught looked up reluctantly and saw that no more food was falling from the sky. Then they looked down and swam under the covered bridge again.

"Good minister, look at it, this fish is not afraid of the storm just for a little food!" A middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, wearing a green robe and a turban, smiled and said to the other side.

A person dressed similar to him said, except that the man was tall and the veins on the hand holding the foot cup were exposed. Occasionally, when he unfolded it, he could see the thick calluses on his palm, which formed a distinct contrast with the thin skin and tender flesh of the man who spoke.

contrast.

"Isn't that the same for you and me?" The burly man who was called a good minister casually put one foot on the railing, turned the wine glass, looked at the vast green mountains stretching outside the rain curtain, and said lightly: "Short

In a short period of time, the situation has changed drastically, and the world has become like this. If you, Boying, hadn't seen the opportunity, why would you have called me to come to you!"

The middle-aged man who looked like a scholar in green robe couldn't help but chuckle.

People who can talk about the current situation of the world in such a tone at this time and want to gain some benefits from it are naturally not ordinary people.

The Qingpao scholar's surname is Xie, his name is Xie Hong and his courtesy name is Boying. He is now the magistrate of Suzhou.

The burly man's surname was Liu, his name was Liu Jun, and his courtesy name was Liangchen. He was the magistrate of Bozhou, which is close to Suzhou.

It's just that they are the governors of two places. These two people are born from the Xie family. The Liu family is also the largest family in these two places. The control of these two places is not just as simple as controlling the government.

"Then Liu Yu also wrote to you, right?" Xie Hong said with a smile.

"He doesn't even look at who he is, and he actually shows off in front of me. He's so pretentious, it's disgusting!" Liu Jun sneered: "He thought that by joining the Liao people and being granted the title of King of Qi, he could be aloof and call the shots.

Really? It’s really a joke, it’s just a dog of the Liao people. Whenever the Liao people don’t want it anymore, they can kick it away and replace it with another one, and they can still be the king of Qi.”

Xie Hong laughed loudly: "He actually asked us to surrender to him, work together with him on big things, and promised me the position of Lord Marquis. I think it will be the same when I come to your place, right?"

"He doesn't favor one over the other!" Liu Jun smiled.

Xie Hong let out a long sigh: "The Song Dynasty really collapsed. The Liao people are also interesting. They actually wanted to leave after taking Tokyo. This makes people scratch their heads."

"Is it possible that if the Liao people don't retreat but attack massively, will you join the Liao army?" Liu Jun's eyes widened.

"Why not?" Xie Hong said calmly: "The Liao Kingdom was established longer than the Song Dynasty. In their country, they still selected scholars through the imperial examination, and the northern and southern academies were separated to manage their own affairs. The emperors of the Liao Kingdom for several generations, compared with the Song Emperor

Is it bad?"

Liu Jun stared for a long time, shook his head and said: "I really didn't expect you to think so."

"It's just that the Liao people also have their own problems.

The most important thing is that their emperor is not going to die soon. Is this the reason why they retreated in a hurry after taking Tokyo?" Xie Hong said: "The emperor is going to die soon, the prince is still young, and the queen who gave birth to them is still young.

They are extremely powerful. The Liao people took Tokyo and went back. They probably want to concentrate their efforts on solving internal problems first. For a while, they will definitely not be able to take care of the south."

Liu Jun pursed his lips and said: "So they sealed a bunch of messy kings and took over the south on their behalf. Anyway, the more lively the fight between the north and the south made them happy, and the more time they had to solve internal problems."

"That's the truth!" Xie Hong said: "I came to you because the world is already in chaos, and heroes emerge from troubled times. In such an era, if we don't give it a try, how can we be worthy of you and me being born in it?"

Liu Jun laughed: "Bo Ying, with all due respect, even if our two families are united together, they are not a big force. After all, they are still dependent on people's lives. Look, even on Huainan East Road, our two families are not a big force.

He’s not a powerful person, is he?”

"The good minister is right, we are indeed not a big force. But would you rather be a king, general or prime minister? We have no hope, but we can hope to revive our family by becoming a general or a prime minister.

"Xie Hong said quietly.

When it came to reviving his family, Liu Jun became silent.

In the eyes of ordinary people, their family background is now beyond the reach of others, but in their own eyes, it is far from the most glorious time of their family.

Liu Jun, counting to the end, it can be traced back to the head of Huainan King Liu An.

As for Xie Honglai, in the first few pages of the family tree, that is the famous Xie An.

Compared with their dazzling ancestors, they are now just a small magistrate, and they are indeed a little unable to use chopsticks.

"Cheng Shao, the commander of Huainan East Road, is not a man of great ambition. In the current situation, he has an attitude of going with the flow, assuming that there must be a road before the car reaches the mountain. He is not a person who can follow.

." Liu Jun said.

"Of course." Xie Hong said: "Although this person occupies a high position, he is a mediocre person. How can we follow him with all our heart?"

"So, Boying, do you already have a goal? Are you really planning to fall to the Liao people?"

Xie Hong shook his head: "Of course not. If it hadn't been a last resort, how would my Xie family have defected to the barbarians? The goal you mentioned is not without it."

"I wonder who it is?"

"Xiao Cheng and Xiao Chongwen, the pacifier of Guizhou Road!" Xie Hong said: "When Tokyo was trapped, it was Xiao Erlang who was the first to call out to King Qin for help, and actually led the troops out."

"Why him?"

"Why not him? Don't you think that in today's chaotic world, the Xiao family's strength is unique? Not to mention our current chaotic and leaderless country in the south, but looking at the world, is the Xiao family's strength weak? Good minister, you

We have to bring Xiao Erlang and Xiao Dalang together to watch!"

When he thought of that Xiao Dalang, Liu Jun took a deep breath.

If it looks like this, the Xiao family is really one of the most powerful forces in the world.

"Is it possible that the Xiao family also wants to compete in the world? They seem to have the strength now!" Liu Jun said.

"Whether they compete for the world or not, they will definitely be one of the most important forces in the world for many years to come!" Xie Hong said: "They are not comparable to ordinary people."

"But Xiao Erlang is too far away from us, right? Even if we want to wink, he may not be able to see it!" Liu Jun said with a smile.

"Who is Xiao Erlang!" Xie Hong said sternly: "When Tokyo was in trouble, he jumped out immediately. Was his real purpose really just to go to King Qin to ask for help? Not necessarily! Now the king is gone.

, as the first person to stand up, he, Xiao Erlang, suddenly stood on the moral high ground. Didn’t you see that his former mortal enemy Hu Yi was running around and cheering for him? "

"What Boying means is that Xiao Erlang wants to integrate the power of the entire south?" Liu Jun was a little shocked when he understood what Xie Hong meant.

"Of course, if there is one person who can integrate the south now, then this person must be Xiao Erlang. This person has strength, skill, strategy, and is ruthless and decisive. In our south, there may be someone who dares to challenge him.

This is a trick, but I am optimistic that he will win in the end."

"So, you want to defect to him, but how can we make him take us seriously? Boying, there are a lot of governors like us in the whole south!" Liu Jun smiled bitterly.

"Of course he has to make some achievements. We don't need to throw ourselves into his arms. He will turn his attention to us." Xie Hong said.

"How to do it?" Liu Jun straightened up suddenly.

"Of course we use Liu Yu to attack!" Xie Hong said: "Liu Yu, as a high-ranking official of the dynasty, rebelled and surrendered to the enemy. The world should join in the attack."

Liu Jun stared at Xie Hong for a long time, but suddenly laughed.

"Boying, do you want to capture Xuzhou?"

Xie Hong laughed loudly and pointed at Liu Jun: "Good minister, do you really think so too? Yes, taking Xuzhou will be our future advancement. With Xuzhou, no matter who integrates it in the future

Our position in the entire South will be unshakable."

In the confrontation between the north and the south, Xuzhou has become another extremely critical node.

Regardless of whether it is the northern regime or the southern regime, whoever owns Xuzhou will control the convenient water and land transportation in the entire Huaihe River Basin. To defend the river, you must defend the Huaihe River, and to defend the Huaihe River, the most critical strategic point is Xuzhou.

But now, Xuzhou is in the hands of Liu Yu, the puppet king of Qi.

If Xuzhou can be recaptured in one fell swoop and firmly defended, then Xie Hong and Liu Jun will indeed immediately become the most dazzling place in the world.

No matter who consolidates the southern forces, it is impossible to turn a blind eye to Xuzhou.

With Xuzhou in its possession, the South finally had a chance to breathe.

Otherwise, the Yangtze River cannot stop the rumbling iron hoofs of the Liao people in the north.

"Liu Yu also knows that Xuzhou is the key point, and there are many soldiers and horses there!" Liu Jun said: "We only have one chance. If we don't take it as quickly as possible, we will wait until Liu Yu reacts and want to take it again.

This place, to us, is just wishful thinking, and it can also be regarded as a complete fall out with Liu Yu, I'm afraid he will become angry."

"Now is the best opportunity!" Xie Hong said with a smile: "In order to please his master, Liu Yu took his main force to Tokyo City. Now Tokyo City is destroyed, but his main force has not come back yet.

Oh! This is one and the other. Liu Yu sold himself to seek glory and betrayed the country. The entire Hedong Road is not full of such shameless people. There are still people who are loyal to the country. I have sent someone to contact him.

There are a few loyal people in the Xuzhou garrison. As soon as our troops arrive at the city, they will open the city to respond."

"In that case, we are sure of it!" Liu Jun clapped his hands and said, "But Boying, you have already reached this point, so why bother with me? You can take over Xuzhou City by yourself."

Seeing Liu Jun's confusion, Xie Hong shook his head and said: "It is not difficult for me to capture Xuzhou City now, but the difficulty lies later! As you said, the importance of Xuzhou lies there.

, Liu Yu must fight desperately to counterattack, even if he doesn't want to, the master behind him will destroy him to fight. Therefore, it is easy to capture, but difficult to defend. I can't count on the unreliable Cheng Shao who set up the Huainan East Road

All I can think of is to join forces with you. With the strength of you and me, we can defend Xuzhou with all our strength. If Xiao Erlang really wants to integrate the south, he will never turn a blind eye to us and will definitely react.

of."

Liu Jun nodded repeatedly.

"What Boying said is absolutely true."
To be continued...