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Chapter 178
At sunset, the clouds accumulating on the horizon once again turned into snowflakes and fell down.
Leaning against the gate of the city with a long gun and a gun, an veteran spit on the ground and cursed: "This damned weather, except for cloudy days, it is snowing. I haven't seen the sun for many days."
"Satisfaction, at least we still have a fire. You haven't seen that many people can only go out of the city to collect firewood and hunt prey in the past two days." Another soldier said lazily. The poor of any city have a bad life. If they haven't accumulated enough food and grass before, they can only go out of the city to make a living under the heavy snow.
"Oh, it's really not a time for people to live out of the city in this weather." The veteran muttered, "I don't know what to do in the past few years. Winter is getting colder every year."
Seeing the sky dimmed, the time to close the city gate was not far away, and there were not a few pedestrians outside. Several soldiers defending the city came to join the discussion.
"Our Panluo City is considered good, and now the food and grass in the city are also considered abundant. I heard that in the Dongtou Huiwen City, the city lord forcibly expelled many herdsmen into the wild to hunt."
"That's really miserable. Going out hunting in this weather is not going to die."
"The eastern region has been hit by a blizzard since last year, and there is not enough food. This year, the snow came later than usual, but I didn't expect it to stop. Maybe the disaster was worse than last year."
Everyone was talking about closing the city gate, when suddenly a group of cavalry galloped towards this side, and shouted in advance: "Get out of the way immediately, you don't have to close the gate."
The cavalry were all equipped by Beishuo town police, each with a sturdy expression, they arrived at the gate of the city in a blink of an eye.
The city gate official hurriedly greeted him, "Several army masters are..."
The lead Chen Changan raised his hand, and a dark token flew to the opposite side.
The city gate official was busy taking it over, and looking carefully, it turned out to be the customs clearance token of the Zhen ** Leopard Claw Camp.
"There is an emergency military order from the general of the town and country, immediately go to your city lord." The visitor shouted, arrogantly.
The city gate officer did not dare to slack off, and commanded the old soldiers into the city and hurriedly sent news to the city lord's mansion.
Accompanied by a few veterans at the city gate, Qin Nuo and his team rode on the central main road in the city.
Qin Nuo looked at the surrounding scenery with great interest. Unlike the city in the Central Plains, the city in Beishuo is more compactly laid out. From the city walls to the houses, they are almost all made of stone, not as smooth as bricks, but with The natural edges, corners and textures are quite a bit of the barbarian city scenes seen in fantasy movies in previous lives. People come and go, bustling, everything looks like, blonde Orchid, from the Western Regions with a high nose and deep eyes. Inadvertently, Qin Nuo also saw several merchants with Eastern accents talking with a salesperson for Orchid. bargain.
In recent years, Beishuo has attacked various places and looted countless people. The various tribes in the country are mixed, and the Central Plains descent accounted for most of the southern cities. The accents are even different. However, since Beishuo was founded, generations of emperors have promoted the culture of the Central Plains, and the official accent is not much different from that of the Central Plains capital.
Because of the strong national power, many cities have been built over the years, replacing the original tents.
The city is of course more comfortable and safer than the camp, but the people in Beishuo cannot completely change into a farming society. They still focus on grazing and hunting. Therefore, in the summer, there are almost no people in the city, all grazing outside. , The scene of living in the city in winter.
In Qin Nuo's view, this is a process of transition from a nomadic society to semi-civilization. It is said that in the past few decades, Beishuo has also introduced some cold-resistant plants and planted them extensively to supplement the lack of food, but the effect seems not to be significant.
Mind moved slightly, Qin Nuo suddenly seemed to have grasped some clues, but before he could think about it, Yan Chang and others stopped the horses, and it was the city lord's mansion that had arrived.
The city lord personally took a few officials and greeted them with joy.
The lord of Panluo City was a short fat man named Zhong Yue, about fifty years old, with fat on his face, like a gourd ball.
At this moment, he rolled out of the door and took Qin Nuo's hand affectionately.
People who have been immersed in officialdom for many years can easily observe from the subtle expressions and behaviors of the crowd, which one is the highest in the crowd.
Qin Nuo resisted the urge to shake off, and followed the short fat man into the atrium happily.
Although the leader of Qin Nuo's line of messengers is only a seven-rank small school, it represents the face of the General Zhen Guo's mansion, and naturally cannot slacken its efforts.
After entering the lobby, the envoy first took out the official letter and read it out. Although there was no need to kneel down to greet you like an imperial decree, the officials also bowed solemnly and listened to Qin Nuo reading the military order.
"Listening to General Zhenguo's orders, I am honored to wait, and I will definitely try my best to die and complete the task." Respectfully took the official letter and handed it to the document next to it for copying. The city lord smiled and came up: "The generals have worked hard all the way, inside the city. Although it is simple, but it also has a little wine, it is better to wash the dust and catch the wind first."
No matter which country in the world, the ecology of officialdom is probably the same. Qin Nuo naturally did not disagree.
He and Yan Chang went to the main hall, and the remaining soldiers were in the side hall.
From this arrangement, Qin Nuo breathed a sigh of relief. The Panluo City master shouldn't notice something wrong. Otherwise, everyone will be designed separately.
At the banquet in the main hall, Zhong Yue came out to toast a glass of wine, and tentatively said with a smile: "Several generals came all the way from the west. The wind and snow are really hard, and I don’t know how the war on the border is now. What are the plans of the General National?"
Because of Blizzard’s continuous and slow transmission of news, the frontline of the Hangu Pass battle, although the official document sent by the court has been received before, but what is the situation, the officials in these local cities are almost blackened.
This battle is really too relevant. Even His Majesty died. The official document of the war report stated that it was a cunning warrior. While the two countries were discussing their marriage, they sent heavy troops to attack. The poor Emperor, the heroic I, could hardly stop this. This kind of traitorous villain, unfortunately died in battle... Since then, Beishuo and Great Zhou have vowed to be indifferent, and they must take revenge.
This is official news, but privately, these days, the news delivered is not like this, there is everything.
The most sensational among them was that the emperor of Great Zhou invited some Golden Sect gods to come and do it, which incited the Nine Heavens God Thunder, and even smashed the emperor to death in ten-thousand-miles city.
The power of the sky thunder is so powerful that it shocks the past and the present. Not only the emperor was wiped out in ashes, but the entire ten-thousand-miles city and the garrison inside were turned into fly ashes... Even the thunder’s power remained undiminished, bringing their beishuo's most elite iron A group of iron knights such as the Buddha statue and the Greed Wolf Camp also killed most of them. The soldiers who fell dead were all burnt as black as carbon, and miserable.
This rumor is too horrible, but people who have spread it all say it has noses and eyes.
In the city, now a group of passing soldiers arrived with great difficulty, just taking the opportunity to inquire about the news.
It's okay not to mention this matter. When the matter was mentioned, several soldiers suddenly changed their faces.
The little general named "Pang Hui" put down the chicken legs in his hand, slapped his greasy hands on the table, his face was fiercely angry, "That bastard Zhou, and their wolf ambition and treacherous beast are not as good as shit. It’s not the bastard emperor of Gouri. If one day I go to battle to kill the enemy, I have to cut them into seventeen or eighteen segments and pull them out to feed the dogs..."
"Cough cough cough..." Chen Changan choked up next to him accidentally.
Yan Chang quickly patted him on the back, and comforted: "Achen, be careful of choking when eating too fast."
Yao Xingxu tried his best to swallow the lamb in his throat, not following in Chen Changan's footsteps.
The short episode did not interrupt the loyal little officer's indignation. Qin Nuo continued to yell: "...shameless thief, wolf-hearted, I would rather eat his flesh."
Zhong Yue wiped the spit stars sprayed on his face, and said with a smile: "Little General Pang is really bold and loyal."
Qin Nuo looked righteous: "It's true that our brothers traveled eastward, and they have experienced a lot of battles. These Zhou people sneaked into my territory and ran into trouble. We encountered more than a dozen games, fought more than a dozen battles, and did not step back. As a result, dozens of brothers were injured. But there were also gains. The heads of the three hundred Zhou Dynasty elite soldiers who had been killed were arranged to be sent back to the center of the town, waiting for the victory."
Zhong Yue nodded again and again. Qin Nuo had already mentioned this to him before, and he also arranged for a military doctor to go for treatment. But was cursing in heart, why should you cut the leek at the top of the three hundred Zhou Dynasty elite soldiers! A dozen of them would be great. But the words of flattery are still indispensable.
"The little general is brave and brave, and I have such a good general in Dashuo, so I can sit back and relax."
"The city lord is polite, these Zhou people and thieves have rushed into my territory and acted fiercely. How can they let them leave alive?" Qin Nuo looked righteous, "These days, I also ask the city lord to help him to explore the horse and search for the enemy. If there is information, Be sure to let me know as soon as possible, so that I can kill these thieves."
Of course, Zhong Yue had nothing to do with it. The atmosphere at the banquet became more enthusiastic. Zhong Yue also thoughtfully called Wu Le to come over.
I thought it was impossible for such a small city to have any kind of singing and dancing. didn't expect that the few dancers and musicians who came in were pretty good, especially the pipa.
After three rounds of wine, the waiter brought the main course.
Zhong Yue brags to everyone in Qin Nuo mysteriously, today's main course is a surprise!
In the expectant eyes of a few people, a steward stepped forward and opened the lid on the dish, revealing the neatly arranged inside...
Uh... Qin Nuo was a little choked.
When did the skewers you make yourself reach Beishuo?
"This is the delicacy that came from the South, and no one else can taste it." The staff who accompanied him boasted, and the city lord Zhong Yue was also triumphant.
Yan Chang's expressions were a bit complicated. At the invitation of the other party, they each took two or three skewers to taste.
Then he made a surprise expression of eating delicious food, nodded and praised.
The staff looked at their faces carefully, if they realized something.
A banquet, the guests and the host enjoyed themselves.
Finally sent away these soldiers to rest.
Zhong Yue returned to the atrium and picked up the official letter sent. Several staff and soldiers would get together and start discussing the next move.
"Although the group of messengers were exaggerated just now, I'm afraid there are a lot of Zhou soldiers who are running through the territory. You must be vigilant these days."
An staff member laughed and said: "The city lord is overwhelmed. Our Panluo City is still far from the southern border. The group of Great Zhou soldiers are surrounded by soldiers in front and chasing soldiers behind them, not to mention a beautiful princess. , Where can I go to our place."
The city’s guard Liao Yuan also said: “That’s true. I heard that the women in the Southern Dynasty are extremely delicate, not to mention the princesses. Rather than worrying about this, the city lord should consider the unpredictable white captives in the north. But I have been eyeing it all the time."
Zhong Yue sighed sadly, "This is what I am worried about. The white captives have become stronger and stronger in the past few years, and the court has pressed them before. They dare not do anything. Now the emperor of the imperial court has died. I'm afraid that time can't control so much, this group of white captives must take the opportunity to make trouble. Alas, they should be killed back then, and there will be no such troubles."
The staff turned their eyes and suggested: "Why don't you say to these messengers, if it can reach the ears of the town general, these white captives should also be restrained."
Zhong Yue is not optimistic: "Now that your Majesty is dying and the army is on display at the border, how can the general be in the mood to consider our savage town. Moreover, it can't quench the thirst of the near."
The staff lowered their voice and whispered: "The city lord, if you want these messengers to bring news back, the General Zhenguo will naturally ignore such trivial matters. But if the gang of captives do not have eyesight, the general's The messenger has offended... even murdered... You said, with the temperament of a general, can you still bear this tone?"
Zhong Yue was taken aback, "You mean... this is not a good plan. First, the border war is tense, and the general may not be interested in taking care of it. Second, we might be charged with a charge of poor protection."
Defender Liao Yuan also objected: "These messengers are no more than the small school of the last grade. Even if they are killed, Bailu said that it was the Zhou people or the robbers who did it. I am afraid that the General Kingdom Guardian will not go into war."
But the staff gave a subtle smile: "The city lord's words are wrong. According to his subordinates, the general of the town country will definitely take care of it."
"How do you see?"
The staff member laughed: "These messengers, especially the leader Pang Hui, speak and behave quite expensively. I am afraid that they are noble children, but they have not yet been promoted because of their young age. If they were killed by a white captive, maybe , Not only the general of the town country, but also some people in the DPRK are dissatisfied."
"You mean..." Zhong Yue suddenly narrowed his eyes.
In retrospect, the young man in the lead was indeed handsome and good-talking. They even brought out fresh food like skewers. Although they were a little surprised, they were not too surprised. The appearance was obviously something they had eaten before. .
"Sir, you think, we only knew about this thing because of a passing merchant last month. Now, except for the nobles in Beishuo, who can have eaten these." The staff lowered their voice: "So the subordinates suspect that these people If it weren't for the noble children to come down to experience it, then...the person who controlled the crane camp."
Crane control camp? This identity...Zhong Yue's expression flickered.
"This... this matter needs to be discussed long-term and strictly confidential."
"Leave these messengers for two more days, because it happened to be snowing outside."