The Most Romantic of the Three Kingdoms

It's going to be a long night.

Xun Qu, Xun Yu, Xun Qi, Xun You, etc. went to inform the elders of the clan separately, assembled the "Xun's army", and put the troops on standby. so that they too get ready as soon as possible.

Xun Qu asked Xun Zhen, "Zhenzhi, where are you going?"

Xun Zhen was wrapped in a scarf and a belt, obviously going out. He replied, "I'm going to see the county magistrate, please open the city gate and call Xixiang guests into the city." With only 200 troops from the Xun family, the safety of the Xun family could not be guaranteed, and the guests and residents of Xixiang had to be summoned.

The night snow was flying, and in Gao Yangli, the lights came on one after another.

People come and go in the alley, all of them are the children of Xun Hu and Deng San, who wear light armor, swords, and torches, as well as guests and Jiannu.

Xun Qi and Xun You brought a wooden platform and placed it at the door of Xun Qu's house. Xun Qu spread out his shawl, stood on the stage, and kept giving orders. Under his orders, the assembled children and guests stood in line according to the assigned line.

Under the light of the torches, nearly 200 people looked different. Some are excited, some are excited, some are afraid, some are uneasy.

Standing under the snow, Xun Qu looked around at the crowd, put his long sword on the stage, held the hilt with both hands, and said loudly, "Tai Ping Dao Qu Shuai Lian, send someone to assassinate Zhen Zhi tonight..."

Xun Zhen didn't listen to Xun Qu's speech, and whispered to Chen Ruo and Tang Er, ordering them to go back to the room, and asking Cheng Yan, who had just been healed by Yang, to take four or five people to guard in the backyard to guard the two of her. He said to Chen Ruo: "Don't be afraid. With me here, the world will be turned upside down, and you will be safe. You don't have to worry about your clan. I will send someone to Xu County to pick up the father-in-law and the others at dawn tomorrow. "

Chen Ruo was very scared, and worried about Xun Zhen. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say.

Tang Er was actually older than her, so she comforted her in a soft voice, bowed to Xun Zhen Yingying, and said, "The county will change, the master of the house is a man, so don't worry about the family. The cheap servants will protect everyone." hand, back to the backyard. Chen Ruo turned back three times.

When they returned to the backyard, Xun Zhen withdrew her gaze, cheered up her spirits, threw away her saber, replaced the ring with a sword, and said with a smile, "Swordsman, gentleman is armed. I'm going to go into battle to kill thieves, but I can't use a sword. Use the ring knife instead." To kill the enemy on the battlefield, the ring head knife is still easy to use. The Qing Xia listed to his left and right were all master swordsmen and experts in killing people, knowing the difference between swords and swords, and burst out laughing.

"Ajiu, Xiaoshi, you stay inside. Xiaoren, come with me."

Leaving the rest of the Qing Xia behind, Xun Zhen only took Xiao Ren and went to the county temple. Hundreds of eyes were cast on him as he walked past the children and guests in the queue. He swaggered forward with his sword in hand. At the door of Xun Yu's house, he saw Xun Wan leaning on a cane. Xun Qian was watching Xun Qu's speech from a distance, and when he saw him, he asked, "Zhenzhi, where are you going?"

"Go to the county temple, please open the city gate and invite my guests into the city."

"Today the demon thief is about to rise, what do you want to do after you have invited guests?"

Xun Zhen had already made up his mind, and replied: "The Taiping Road has been in preparation for many years, and the county and township are densely populated. In order to protect the county, after inviting guests, the first thing is to clean up Yingyin!" To attack the county seat. In the county, their party members should cooperate with each other inside and outside, and it is difficult to protect the city. In order to keep the county seat, they must be removed from the city before they rise up.

"Do you know who they should be in the city?"

By this time, Xun Zhen had no need to keep secrets. He said: "I want to let the parents know that last year, Liu Gongzi Qi went up to the emperor and said that Taiping Dao wanted to do something wrong. Zhenshen agreed, so he planned ahead and investigated the leaders and leaders of the Taiping Dao believers in this county. Just wait for Xixiang. When guests enter the city, they can be captured at once!" Jiang Qin was in charge of inquiring about the situation of Yingyin Taiping Dao, and when he entered the city, he would be able to make a target.

Xun Qian regarded Xun Zhen with familiarity.

Xun Zhen held the knife, bowed her hands and bowed, with a respectful attitude.

After a long time, Xun Lai said, "Go." Xun Zhen took a few steps back and was far away from Xun Lai, then she straightened up and walked out with Xiao Ren.

Xun Qian watched him go away, and sighed: "As a parent, I am not as good as Zhen! The demons confuse the public, and the people believe in them. Huh?" He was lamenting that Xun Zhen had "foresight".

Xun Zhen did not expect that his unintentional "truth" would attract Xun Wan's sigh.

…

He and Xiaoren went out in the snow and went to the county temple.

In the second half of the night, there were no pedestrians on the street, it was deserted, completely different from the heat and shadows in Gaoyangli. Without the shelter of the surrounding walls, the wind and snow were blowing wildly on the face and body, and the whole body was cold. The trees on the side of the road were covered with snow, and when the wind blew, it rustled and fell, adding to the chill. The snow was getting bigger and the night was quiet, and only the sound of the two of them stepping on the snow was heard.

When she was about to reach the county temple, Xun Zhen stopped and put her ears back to listen. Xiao Ren pulled out the knife with a bang. Xun Zhen grabbed him and hid in the shadow under the wall.

The two stared nervously at the way they came. Xun Zhen said in a low voice, "There are our footprints on the snow, so we can't hide it here. Turn around and turn back." Following the corner of the wall, the two of them crept back and walked back a short distance.

Hear more clearly, someone running in the distance.

Xun Zhen slowly drew out the ring-shou sword and squatted down.

Xiao Ren asked in a low voice, "Are they thieves from Taipingdao? Are they going to have an uprising tonight?"

Xun Zhen said in her heart, "According to common sense, Bo Cai and Bo Lian would not have made trouble on the night they assassinated me. No matter how hurried they are, they should be tomorrow or the day after. ... But who is this person?"

The footsteps are near, near. A figure appeared on the street.

only one person? Xun Zhen borrowed moonlight and snow light, looked carefully for a moment, returned the knife to the sheath, and pulled Xiao Ren out from under the wall.

The person who came was startled, stopped in a hurry, stretched out his hand to draw the knife, the ground was slippery, he couldn't stand firm, he fell, and the knife fell to one side. Xun Zhen walked over, picked him up, and asked, "What are you doing in such a hurry?" Xiao Ren picked up his knife, handed it to him, and said, "I heard your footsteps and thought it was a thief. You are not in the city. The door is guarding, what are you running around for?"

The man who came was a gatekeeper of the city.

"Yeah? Xun Jun? Ren Jun?" Xun Zhen was very well-known in Yingyin, the gatekeeper knew him and was dumbfounded, "You, why are you here?" After reacting, his expression relaxed, and he said to Xun Zhen again, " It just so happened that someone outside the city was looking for you, saying that there was something important to report. At midnight, the villain didn't dare to open the door, and was about to go to the county temple to ask the county lord."

Xun Zhen and Xiao Ren looked at each other and asked calmly, "Who is looking for me?"

"I can't see clearly in the city. The man was wearing a face towel and claimed to be Jiang. He was not the only one, but he also brought hundreds of people." With Xunzhen's current name in the county, if only one or two people came to him, the guards might will be placed in the city. Hundreds of people, no one dared to take it lightly.

The guard muttered: "Hundreds of people! Xun Jun, did you really come to see you? Could it be a group of thieves? Want to use Xun Jun's name to deceive the city gate and loot the city?" He didn't believe it himself. He shook his head again and again, "No, no, this is too outrageous." Although there were serious robbery problems in the world, the thieves looted the countryside.

"Did you see the man wearing a face towel?"

"Yes. There is another person who also calls himself 'Jiang', are they two brothers? By the way, there is another person who calls himself Chen. There is another person who calls himself Gao, who is the loudest, threatening the villain, etc., saying that if If you don't open the door for them, you have to show the little people a good look."

Hearing this, Xun Zhen determined who was coming. The person with the face towel was Xu Zhong (Jiang Xian), the other person who claimed to be "Jiang" could only be Jiang Qin, and the person with the surname Chen should be Chen Bao, who threatened people. is probably Gaosu. To be on the safe side, he said, "I'll let you see."

The doorman led the way, and he and Xiao Ren turned back and ran to the city gate.

On the way, he was in shock: "I was going to summon Xu Zhong and the others, why did they come? Chen Bao also came, and Gao Su. What happened to Xixiang? Could it be? Could it be? ..., could it be Xiao Ren? You guessed it right, Taiping Road is doing something tonight?? But if Taiping Road has already started something, why is there no movement in the city? They are not resisting in Xixiang, so how come they came outside the county?" Can't guess why Xu Zhong and others came late at night, The hand holding the knife was sweaty. The wind and snow was still the same as the previous wind and snow, but the chill seemed to be gone, and his forehead was dripping with sweat.

When they arrived at the city, the guards guarding the city looked down like a great enemy and stood guard. A team led to meet them: "Xunjun, there are people outside the city..."

"I know." Xun Zhen quickly walked to the battlements and leaned out to look out.

The snow was falling, and there was a large group of people standing outside the moat, some on foot, some on horses, and some in darkness. Roughly, it took more than 300 steps to ride. Xun Zhen asked loudly, "Who is coming?"

People outside the city heard his voice, and four or five people stepped forward, shining their faces with torches.

One person shouted, "It's us! Xunjun." In the firelight, this person was not tall, with a face towel on his face. Listening to his voice, it was Xu Zhong!

Xun Zhen knew that there must be a big change in Xixiang. The city is opposite to the city and the lower is across the river, so this is not the time for questioning. He simply said: "You wait here, I'll go and ask the order to open the door." Although he has a high reputation in the city, he is not an official, and there are hundreds of people. Please order the county magistrate.

He turned to go down the city, and said to the team leader, "Are there any horses? Borrow two." In order not to disturb the people in the city, he didn't want to ride a horse. The team led two horses to him, and couldn't help asking: "Xunjun, what's the matter with so many people coming to you?"

"Tell your people to take good care of the city gate. Without the order of the county magistrate, no one can go out, and no one can enter."

…

Xun Zhen and Xiao Ren mounted their horses and went to the county temple.

The snow was not thick, the hooves of the horses were clear and loud, and many people in the lanes were awakened by galloping, and the dogs were barking.

Arriving outside the gate of the county temple, Xiao Ren Lei knocked on the door vigorously like a drum. The doorman hurriedly opened the door, but before he could ask a question, he was pushed open by Xiao Ren. Xun Zhen jumped off the horse and entered the temple. The doorman was stunned and called out, "Mr. Xun, Lord Xun..."

"I have something urgent to meet with the county magistrate."

Xun Zhen strode straight to the county magistrate's house in the backyard. Knock on the door, as before, and go straight in with Xiao Ren Tiyi. He has been at home for more than half a year, and has been to the county magistrate's banquets many times, so he knows where the magistrate lives. Xiao Ren was in front of him, pulling his knife to force the night servants who were blocking him. He didn't stop for half a step. He rushed to the door of the magistrate's residence.

After a while, someone in the room asked sleepily, "Who?"

"Xun Zhen, a county citizen, asks to see the county ruler."

Candles were lit in the room, and the door opened. A concubine, wearing a thin silk robe, with her **** half exposed, knelt by the door and invited him in.

Xun Zhen entered, glanced at the concubine, turned around the room, and saw the magistrate yawning, hugging the quilt, and half sitting on the bed. He said: "What Zhen said should not be heard by concubines. Please send the concubines out first."

The Xun family is the crown clan of Yingyin. In recent decades, the county magistrates who have served in Yingyin have always respected the Xun family. Xun Zhen was the former postal supervisor in the north of the county of Megatron. Although the current county magistrate came late, he knew his deeds and knew that he was decisive and brave. Therefore, after hearing that it was him who broke into the house at night, although he was unhappy, he immediately got up and invited him into the house. At this time, hearing his request to drive away the concubine again, the county magistrate was stunned for a moment, only to notice Xun Zhen's solemn expression. He and Xun Zhen were relatively familiar with each other, knowing that Xun Zhen was not a fuss-free person, his sleepiness disappeared, and he knew that something major happened, so he immediately ordered: "Get out!"

The concubine bowed meekly and went out. Xun Zhen ordered Xiao Ren: "Stay outside the door, no one is allowed to approach." He closed the door, knelt on the ground, and said, "The Way of Peace will be reversed!"

"The general of the Taiping Road will be reversed?" The county magistrate's face changed suddenly, his face turned pale in shock, he grabbed the quilt and leaned forward, "The general of the Taiping Road was reversed?"

"Yes." Xun Zhen briefly talked about the assassination of his family, Xu Zhong and other things that Xue Ye came to visit, and then added his own speculation, "There must be a big change in Xixiang, and my guests will come all night. Combined with my assassination tonight, it can only be that Taiping Dao is going to rebel."

"This, this, how can this be good?"

Not everyone has the ability to adapt. Although the county magistrate was reminded by the Xun and Liu clans that Taiping Dao might rebel, but in his opinion, it was only a "possible". It really went the other way, and it came so quickly, so suddenly. He was stunned, hesitating, and even forgot to get off the bed, he just kept saying, "How can this be good!"

If Xun Zhen was not a transmigrator, if he heard that the Taiping Road was about to turn against him, he might be as confused as the county magistrate, but he knew it long ago, and had been preparing for it for many years. . He said calmly: "Zhenzhen invites the county magistrate to sit down, open the city gate, and welcome my guests into the city. There are hundreds of guests in my house, all of them brave and capable of fighting, and they are enough to keep the county safe."

"Yes, yes. Immediately call your guests into the city!" The county magistrate seemed to be clutching at the straw, ignoring the cold, and jumped off the bed, urging Xun Zhen with a series of voices, "Give me the ink, help me to polish the ink! "

He spread out the paper, waited for Xun Zhen to dissolve the ink, and wrote an order to open the city gate. Xun Zhen took it, handed it over to Xiao Ren, ordered him to go to the city gate immediately, welcomed Xu Zhong, Jiang Qin, Chen Bao, Gao Su and others into the city, and ordered in a low voice: "Tell them to come to the county temple to see me. You opened the city. Behind the door, go to Gaoyangli again to see if my brother Zhong is ready, if he is ready, please ignore the city and keep Gaoyangli."

Xiao Ren took the order to leave.

…

Xun Zhen returned to the room. The magistrate grabbed his hand and asked, "What should I do after I invite your guests into the city?"

"Now you can quickly summon the county lieutenant, Gong Cao, Ting Ran, and the chief clerk to see you."

"Yes, yes." The county magistrate immediately ordered the servants and servants to go to the "official house" to summon the officials to see them, and then asked Xun Zhen, "What should I do next?"

"Close the city gate and clean the city."

"Yes, yes, ..., sigh, it's just that there are few officials and soldiers, and the defense of the city is not enough. How to clean the city?"

The magistrate is the head of a county and cannot be chaotic. Xun Zhen looked at him with anxiety and anxiety, fearing that he would be in a mess, and comforted him: "To wash the city tonight, it is enough to have guests under my door."

"The inside of the city is safe, but how can it be outside the city? If the demon thief comes to attack, with such a small number of officials, I am afraid that the city will not be able to defend!"

"Tomorrow morning, the county magistrate can follow Yu Shengqing's example and set up three divisions to recruit strong men.

The military system of the two Han dynasties, the Western Han Dynasty inherited the Qin system, was mainly based on conscription, and in the Eastern Han Dynasty, it turned to be based on conscription, especially in the inland counties, the conscription system was basically abolished. The main feature of the military recruitment system is that when necessary, the chiefs of the states, counties and counties can recruit troops by themselves and organize armed forces to supplement the shortage of troops.

The "Yu Shengqing" mentioned by Xun Zhen was named Yu Xu, who was from the time of Emperor An and Emperor Shun. During the period of Antioch, the Chaoge people were in turmoil. He was appointed as the county magistrate of Chaoge. At the beginning of his tenure, he "set up three divisions to recruit strong men". Hundreds of people were recruited, all of them were exonerated, and they helped to kill the thief.

Xun Zhen followed three strategies, "calling county officials to see him," "cleaning the city," and "recruiting troops in the morning" in an orderly manner. The county magistrate gradually calmed down and said to him gratefully, "Fortunately, you are here! Fortunately, you are here!"

Xun Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, "I finally appeased him." To be honest, seeing the county magistrate's terrified look just now, he was really afraid that he would abandon the city and run away.

Seeing that the magistrate had temporarily settled down, he said, "The magistrates should be here soon, the magistrate, please change your clothes."

"Yep."

Xun Zhen helped the magistrate to put on the official robe, the crown belt, and the sword. The magistrate took a self-portrait in the mirror, feeling that he had two points of heroism, reluctantly cheered up, and Xun Zhen left the room and went to the main hall of the official temple.

Come to the hall and sit for a while. County lieutenant Liu De, meritorious Cao Li Ai, Ting Ran Hu Mian, Qin Qian, Liu Ru and Xie Wu, who had been promoted to the main book shortly after, all came.

Everyone was seated in priority and subordinate.

Everyone looked and saw that twelve or three people, wearing armor and carrying swords and torches, faced the wind and snow, and when they arrived at the front of the hall, they knelt down and bowed down to the steps, and said in unison: "Zhong (Qin, Bao, Su, Gong) and others pay their respects to Lord Xun, Meet the county magistrate."

Everyone in the hall didn't know what happened tonight. It was suspicious that they were summoned by the county magistrate late at night. Now they saw the dozen or so murderous men in armor kneeling and bowing down to the hall, and they were even more astonished.

For a time, there was silence in the hall, and the murderous aura below the hall was soaring. The wind swept the snow and fluttered the trees in the garden. Candlelight, torchlight, snowlight, moonlight, blend together. In the distance, there seems to be a commotion.

—

1. The "Yu Shengqing" mentioned by Xun Zhen was named Yu Xu, who was from the time of Emperor An and Emperor Shun.

Liu Tao also did something similar.

"Tao Ju is filial and honest, except for the governor of Shunyang. There are many treacherous and cunning people in the county. Tao has reached the official position, and the people who are recruited are strong and brave, and those who are able to easily survive by death are not allowed to be wicked. Come to apply for the recruitment. Tao blamed him for passing first, and he wanted to be effective later, so that each of the young people who supported him, got hundreds of people, and all of them were on standby. So the case was reinstated, and the incident was like a god."

"At the end of the Han Dynasty, warlords in various places recruited troops to strengthen themselves and acted as they were, probably due to such an unwritten general practice."

2. Abandon the county to escape.

Yellow Turban) burned down the official mansion, robbed the city, lost the prefectures and prefectures, and many chief officials fled."