Plan to cut off the nine states

Xu Chu had not carried water for several days and was a little exhausted. He insisted on walking to the ridge, put down two buckets of water, and took a short rest. After a while, he saw Zhang Shiqing coming from the foot of the mountain.

Far away, Zhang Shiqing stopped, raised his head and said loudly: "Your idea is useless!"

"Princess Huanyan refused?" Xu Chu also said loudly.

"She didn't even listen carefully. She laughed at the idea and said that I was too naive to be bewitched by you."

"Don't worry, wait a little longer, she may change in a few days..."

Zhang Shiqing didn't like hearing the words "wait a little longer" the most, so he turned around and ran down the mountain.

Xu Chu picked up the bucket and walked slowly to the foot of the mountain. He saw Zhang Shiqing whipping weeds with his saddle.

The weeds in Siguo Valley have been reduced a lot, and they are still lush in places far away from the center. No matter how hard they are beaten, only a few leaves are lost.

Zhang Shiqing lost his temper, took a deep breath, and said to Xu Chu: "No matter what, thank you."

"It's not too late to thank me after everything is done."

Zhang Shiqing shook his head, "Actually, I have thought about it carefully. It is indeed fanciful to recruit rebels for the use of Yecheng. Not to mention the long distance between Ji and Qin states, your wife is also unreliable. She is the daughter of the king of thieves. After you abandoned the secrets and turned to the light, you did not come to Yecheng with you, but returned to Qinzhou with the rebels and continued to be enemies of the imperial court. You have shown your intentions and will never accept the offer. "

Xu Chu put down his burden and said with a smile: "This is Princess Huanyan's 'bewitchment'."

Zhang Shiqing's face darkened, "Isn't what she said unreasonable?"

"It makes sense, but I got one thing wrong. The Ruodang World Army in Yecheng is a rebel, so naturally they can't join forces, and they won't accept the recruitment. The Ruodang World Army in Yecheng is a force, and it has nothing to do with the people. If we have the same intention of forming an alliance, this matter will not be so 'whimsical'."

"Ha, how is that possible? Officials are officials, thieves are thieves, how can they be treated as equals? Ning Baoguan is accepting recruitment in Jiangdong, but Yecheng is devaluing himself?"

"Yecheng can be humiliated by foreigners, why can't it be treated as an equal with internal thieves? It's better to be caring than to be dangerous. Does Yecheng dare to want such a person?"

Zhang Shiqing was speechless for a while, and then he swept with the riding crop again and again. He didn't stop until he was tired, but his tone was much gentler, and he could even laugh out loud, "In your eyes, I am just a little fool, right?"

"How come?"

"I'm not smart enough anyway, and I've been 'bewitched' by you back and forth. Next time, don't let me pass on the message. Let the two of you talk directly. If this continues, I'd rather... I'd rather marry outside the Great Wall. I heard that the people there are simple and honest. No beating around the bush.”

Zhang Shiqing ran away.

Xu Chu took up the responsibility again. He was not in a hurry. Princess Huanyan had been reminded and she would gradually understand that the most important thing was that the World Army had to defend Xijing in order to gain respect here.

In front is Fan Guan's grave. The weeds there were removed by the officers and soldiers, revealing the tombstone. There is also a small wooden house not far away.

The door of the house was closed and it was quiet. Except for receiving food, Yu Zhan rarely interacted with the people in the valley. When he met, he would hold his head high and roll his eyes.

Xu Chu admired Zhan quite a bit, and he would soon change his attitude.

Yu Zhan appeared from behind a tree, striding up diagonally, his eyes bright, as if he had something very important to say.

Because he had never said hello before, Xu Chu didn't speak, but he slowed down, guessing that Yu Zhan might want to ask for help again.

When they were only ten steps away, Xu Chu suddenly woke up. Although he felt it was incredible, he knew that the danger was right in front of him. He put down the bucket and pulled out the pole...

Yu Zhan quickened his pace, roared, and rushed over, raising his right arm high, revealing the dagger in his hand.

Before Xu Chu could lift the pole, he had to duck to avoid it, but he still fell down.

Both of them were scholars. Xu Chu had practiced swordsmanship, which was a hobby at best. He could not compare with real swordsmen or even ordinary soldiers. He watched helplessly as the other party rushed towards him. Even though he knew what to do, his movements were still a little slow.

Yu Zhan was not known for his strength. He used all his strength to pounce and stab. The dagger hit the target, but he couldn't stand still. He continued to rush for two steps, tripped over the bucket, and fell to the ground. He turned over and waited. When he wanted to get up, the ground was full of water and was slippery. He danced for a while before he managed to stand upright, but found that the dagger in his hand was gone.

The dagger was still on Xu Chu's shoulder.

Xu Chu reluctantly got up and ran away along the road.

Yu Zhan's eyes turned red, and regardless of whether he had any weapons in his hands, he rushed after him, shouting, "Xu Chu is here to take orders!"

Several people came running from the opposite side. Xu Chu's heart relaxed, his feet relaxed, and he fell to the ground again.

There were shouts in front and behind him. Xu Chu knew that he was safe and did not try to get up again. "Save him alive!"

Chang Yan and others had already pinned down the crazy Yu Zhan and were about to beat him up. They heard the young master's order and showed mercy, but their fists still rained down.

Someone else heard the sound and came over, helped Xu Chu back to the bedroom, pulled out the dagger, and applied medicine and bandage. Finally, the injury was not serious. He did not faint and could still speak, but he needed to stay in bed temporarily.

The old servant was anxious, angry, and a bit complaining. He stayed by the bedside all the time. He wiped the blood, applied medicine, bandaged, etc., and he kept sighing. Seeing that the young master seemed to be fine, he finally said: "Young Master is really too careless. It was a mistake to allow that man to enter the valley in the first place. Even though I am illiterate and have no plans in mind, I am good at judging people. Yu Zhan said he was a scholar, but he had a surly face, not like a good person. . I told him to ignore him a long time ago. He can’t last more than a few days without food, but the young master insists on giving him food every day. Alas, he’s just a white-eyed wolf.”

"Siguo Valley is the 'home' of all the disciples of Fan Sect. How can I refuse Yu Zhan to stay? I don't think he is an ungrateful person. He must have been instigated by someone."

"Why don't you instigate others but him? And it will work if you instigate him? Yu Zhan is not a good person. Sir, don't think too much. Since we live in Yecheng, we should follow the local customs and listen to the arrangements of the host. We will tie Yu Zhan up and send him out to let the government punish him."

"No, you go and tell others, don't disclose this matter."

"Sir, you live in Siguo Valley with the consent of the government. Why do you always seem to be guilty?"

Xu Chu squeezed out a smile, "Don't argue with me at this time."

"I will never argue with you, and I can't win." The old servant muttered, turned around and went out to pass the order, and came back soon, "Everyone is so angry, they can't wait... There are people buried in the back mountain, what are you afraid of?"

The bodies of several assassins are buried in the back mountain. Only the people in the valley know about it, and no one has leaked it to the outside world.

"It's different." Xu Chu sat up and slowly moved his feet.

"Young Master, lie down quickly. Tell me what you need to do."

"Help me put on my shoes. I want to see Yu Zhan."

"Young Master, you still don't want to learn from me?"

"I have to see him and find out what's going on. Don't be afraid. Yu Zhan doesn't have any weapons and is no match for me."

"Hey, Young Master, I have always admired your intelligence. As for your skills - I have seen you practice swordsmanship, to be honest, I don't see how good you are." The old servant said as he put on shoes for the young master.

"I don't think I am a master either." Xu Chu said with a smile.

After leaving the house, Chang Yanzhi and two others followed to protect the young master's safety.

Yu Zhan was locked in an empty room, his hands and feet tied, his face bruised and swollen, his eyes wide with anger, and when he saw Xu Chu, he cursed: "Xu Chu is a shameless man, he killed the king, his father, and his mother..."

Xu Chu sat down and nodded to the old servant and others, "He can't touch me."

Chang Yanzhi went forward to check, and after confirming that the rope was strong enough, he left the room: "We will guard the door and come as soon as we are called."

The old servant had to leave and said to Yu Zhan: "Have you read so many books? Have a conscience, if it weren't for the young master's soft heart, you would have... Humph."

There were only two people left in the room, and Yu Zhan had almost finished cursing, staring at Xu Chu and panting.

Xu Chu was silent for a long time, "Mr. Fan's reputation was ruined by you."

"Bah, I risked my life for my master..."

"If Mr. Fan were still alive, what would he think when he heard what you did?"

"Master... Master... You took over the Valley of Repentance..."

"With Mr. Fan's carelessness, would he care about a mere valley?"

"Disciples of the Fan Sect care!"

Xu Chu sighed lightly, "It was because you did not obey the master's orders that Mr. Fan expelled you from the valley, leaving only Song Quzhu by his side."

"I won't argue with you." Yu Zhan turned his head away, fearing that he would be shaken again.

Xu Chu stood up, came to Yu Zhan, struggled to untie the rope on his hands, and returned to his original place to sit down.

Yu Zhan was startled, staring at Xu Chu with his eyes, and untied the restraints on his feet with his hands.

"Go away, don't stay in the valley anymore."

Yu Zhan was even more surprised. Although he was free, he was unarmed and could not kill Xu Chu.

"Be careful when you return to the city. The person who instigated you to assassinate may use you again to kill you and frame me..."

"If I am killed, it must be you who is instigating me." Yu Zhan interrupted.

Xu Chu smiled, "Also, I will not leave the Valley of Repentance, because Mr. Fan wants me to stay, and hopes that I can continue his knowledge and not be used by you disciples..."

Yu Zhan was furious, took a few steps, looked at the door, and finally did not take action.

Xu Chu waited for a while, got up and walked to the door, "Although you were instigated by someone, you dared to do it, and you do have some of the style of the Fan family. On the contrary, the instigator is getting further and further away from Mr. Fan's teachings."

"How many teachings have you heard?"

"Not a few. Although Mr. Fan burned his works, that is just a drop in the bucket of Fan's learning." Xu Chu pushed the door open and said to Chang Yanzhi: "Don't stop me."

Yu Zhan walked out with his head held high, his steps involuntarily getting faster and faster, and he ran out of the valley, and the oath to guard the hut was broken at this point.

The old servant kept shaking his head, but he had nothing to say.

Xu Chu returned to the bedroom and saw Zhang Shiqing sitting by the bed sobbing.

Hearing footsteps, Zhang Shiqing hurriedly stopped crying, stood up and wiped away his tears, "Yes, I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I didn't see... saw the assassin, and I didn't... didn't stay by your side, so that you... let you get hurt."

Xu Chu couldn't help but laugh out loud, pulling the wound, and baring his teeth again.

"I finally made up my mind to come here to apologize, and you actually laughed at me?" Zhang Shiqing said angrily.

"I won't laugh, but you don't have to apologize. The assassin was hiding. You didn't see it, and I didn't see it either. No one in the valley noticed it. You are a guest in the valley, not a guard, so of course you don't have to stay by my side all the time. So this matter is not your fault at all."

"You really don't blame me?"

"No, I don't blame anyone. Since I chose to live in the Valley of Repentance, I have to bear all the dissatisfaction and opposition."

Zhang Shiqing finally burst into laughter, "Is the injury serious?"

"He can walk, talk, and laugh, so it must not be serious."

Zhang Shiqing breathed a sigh of relief again, "Where is the assassin? Hand him over to the government and sentence him to death."

"I just let him go."

"Huh?"

"I said I don't blame anyone."

"You are such a... weirdo." Zhang Shiqing came over, helped Xu Chu lie on the bed, stared at him for a while, and suddenly said: "Tell me the truth, who do you think is your real wife?"