Chapter 2396 Large and small circles


    Taixing six years.


    The stars move, the sun and the moon shuttle.


    Between people, fierce fighting and continuous fighting seem to never stop.


    Among them, the collision and fusion of various circles is inevitable.


    "Snapped! Boom! 』


    The small courtyard of Zuixian Tower was full of people, all in long gowns and short jackets. In the venue, it was not a coquettish dancer, but a storyteller. The tambourine was beating, and the storyteller showed emotion, "Today, I''m going to talk about a passage, near Zhao''s corruption and perverting the law, colluding with big families to oppress good people..."


    Mr. Storyteller was speaking.


    A scholar walked downstairs frowning.


    In the middle of the yard, those people in the venue have followed the storyteller''s narration and laughed together. For them, although they can''t see a corrupt official fall with their own eyes, they can hear that a corrupt official was taken down and then sent to the guillotine, especially when the corrupt official fell from a high place, it will naturally arouse the emotional catharsis of these ordinary people .


    『Zhu Zi, there is a day too! 』


    The storyteller thumped the tambourine, like a war drum of conquest, which aroused applause from everyone in the venue.


    The scholar who was walking on the corridor upstairs let out a long breath, then arrived at the door of a private room, motioned slightly to the guard standing at the door, and walked in. Behind him, there was a loud and noisy protest in the courtyard downstairs.


    『Brother Zhao is here? 』


    "Come! Brother Zhao, drink, drink...』


    Several scholars in the private room greeted him.


    Brother Zhao also pretended not to care much, forced a smile, and saluted everyone. Others in the elegant room also smiled and responded to him.


    The fate of the Zhao family in Linjing is already doomed and cannot be changed. It doesn’t matter whether these storytellers say something or not, it doesn’t really matter to the people of the Zhao family in Linjing, because those who were killed were killed, and those who were arrested were arrested. , No matter how much these storytellers describe, the Zhao family in Linjing can''t hear it anymore.


    Even if you hear it, you have nothing to say.


    But other people are different.


    For example, it is not the Zhao family of "Linjing".


    The sound of "Zhao Shizhuzi" seemed to be slapping their faces.


    For example, "Brother Zhao" who just came in.


    『Brother Zhao』Zhao Qi is not too old, he has not yet entered middle age, but he is relatively old in the elegant room. Just a little older, one or two years old at most.


    Of course, being old may not be able to be called a brother, but because Zhao Ting had a good status in this circle before, he was called "Brother Zhao" by others, but now, obviously, some people think that He, Zhao, is not worthy of "brother".


    Within the circle, whoever loses the right to speak loses everything.


    "What did you say…"


    "how is this possible…"


    "whee…"


    『There is also today...』


    This kind of rustling sound is not only in the courtyard, but also in the private room.


    Zhao Ting''s forehead felt a little painful. He originally didn''t want to go out, and he didn''t want to come to this party, but the problem was that he could refuse once or twice, but he couldn''t refuse all the time. This is the case in the mutual communication circle of the children of the gentry. It is normal to be unable to participate in temporary affairs. Everyone has a sickness or some inconvenient time, but if they do not participate after a long time, then this person will be very Quickly disappeared in this circle...


    It will take a certain amount of effort to re-enter after disappearing.


    What is the circle for?


    Exchanging benefits.


    Among the children of the gentry, whether it is news or materials, they are all benefits, and they are exchanged with each other. Between a word and a word, there are tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of contacts. There are two concepts of a big money savings.


    Therefore, if it does not appear for a long time, then the original position of Zhao Jing, or that part of the market of Zhao Jing will be divided up by other people.


    『Brother Zhao...what''s the matter with you? A person sitting near Zhao Yu asked with a faint smile, which seemed to be concerned.


    The people who were chatting, laughing and chatting with each other suddenly quieted down, and exchanged glances with each other. They may not all have any special malice towards Zhao Chen, but after all, this is how the circle is. There have been various situations in other families before. Could it be possible to have mercy?


    Zhao Jing raised his head, put down the hand rubbing his forehead, and looked around slightly for a week, his expression was somewhat complicated, his mind seemed to be no longer in this elegant room, he seemed to be looking at the people in the elegant room, and seemed to be looking at the people in the elegant room. Looking at something else, "Haha... brilliant..."


    "Ok? Brother Zhao...you are...」


    "Hehe..." Zhao Yu smiled, and then his face jumped, as if something was about to come out from under his face, and he tried very hard to control it, "...If I say, we all made a mistake, we all made a mistake , everyone...I mean, everyone...is counted...clearly counted, what do you guys think? 』


    『…』 There was a moment of silence, and no one answered.


    "Half a year ago, a year ago, think about it, you might as well think about it for a while..." Zhao Jing cast his eyes out of the window and murmured, "Haha, haha, the Linjing Zhao family is of course the most ruthless one, but What about other places? Hanzhong, Sichuan and Shu, and you and me...』


    『This...Brother Zhao means...』


    『That’s what I mean. ”Zhao Ting pointed out the window, pointing at the ordinary people who were listening to the storyteller in the courtyard, laughing and cursing, “Look...everything is here...on display, on the table Above, it''s all in front of you and me! Match and hit, clear all together! Hehe, I just figured it out now...I just figured it out now...』


    Zhao Qi seemed a little unable to restrain his emotions, he raised the wine bowl on the table, "Respect Hussars! Hehe, respect the hussars! It''s just...it''s a strategizing..."


    Zhao Ting raised his head to drink, but the other people in the elegant room looked at each other, some were thoughtful, while others looked around blankly.


    Zhao Chen took a deep breath, finally raised his head, and smiled. "Sorry, everyone, I lost my composure... Please forgive me..."


    The person near Zhao Ting hurriedly helped Zhao Ting refill the wine bowl, "Since Brother Zhao has something, why don''t you... share it with me?" 』


    Zhao Qi tilted his head slightly, looked at the person on the left, and then turned his eyes around again, "You...you didn''t think of it? 』


    『Yes, brother Zhao please enlighten me…』


    『Ah, yes, brother Zhao, please enlighten me! 』


    『Brother Zhao please enlighten me! 』


    The twitches and tremors under Zhao Qi''s face subsided, and he smiled slightly, "Forget it... Since everyone wants to know, then Brother Yu is making a fool of himself, and I can barely say something... This hussars technique is far-sighted... No wonder the Zhao family in Linjing was overthrown." Demise...Everyone, let''s think about the time when we were planning the year before last...』


    …|●`|σ…


    Battle after battle and bloodshed again and again, tens of thousands of people who originally lived on the land around Guangling were either captured or migrated.


    Vacant and abandoned villages and towns have a strange and dead atmosphere in the dusk.


    In the mountains and forests, there are occasional traces of birds and beasts.


    A squirrel stood on a tree branch at the edge of the forest, holding a nut in its arms, as if it was gnawing, and it seemed to be looking at the village left by humans.


    Grass and moss have spread in the village...


    The two of them are the vanguard of nature.


    These circles, which originally represented human beings, will quickly deteriorate as soon as human activities disappear, and then become the paradise of various animals and plants in nature again.


    Humans themselves are still constantly creating restricted areas of life and consuming the territory opened up by their ancestors.


    It''s like the lower phase water relationship.


    The territory is not big, but the disputes are not small.


    "Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah-"


    The frenzied shouts came together, making everyone''s eardrums almost useless.


    Bright red blood, on the feet, in the hands, in the eye sockets, and on all objects reflected in the pupils.


    The ladder to climb the city was pushed forward in the madness, and then caught on the ugly city wall.


    The lights of swords and blood flashed repeatedly at the top of the ladder. Jiangdong soldiers frantically pushed the ladder, but Cao Jun was strewn all over the ladder, like candied gourds covered with tomato sauce, sticking to the city wall. Can''t move at all.


    A Cao Jun stretched out his hand and climbed on the battlements of Xiaxiang. Just as he was about to climb into the city, a flash of knife flashed. Zhou Tai chopped off the hand of that Cao Jun with a knife, and then kicked the man with the severed hand. Cao Jun kicked down the city.


    "What about the rest! What about the rest? ! 』


    Facing the captain next to him whose face was half covered with blood, Zhou Tai widened his eyes and roared. Before the captain could answer, Zhou Tai had already rushed to the edge of the battlements, poked his head out took a look.


    Xiaxiang Shuiguan is not wide on the defensive surface, Cao Jun swarms.


    『There are only so many people! General! The other brothers are all dead! Cao Jun rushed up just now..." The captain with blood on half of his face shouted from the side, "Not enough forks! Chopped by Cao Jun! And the Rolling Stones are running out... General, General! We need reinforcements! Reinforcements! 』


    Outside the city walls of Xiaxiang, Cao Jun''s offensive was like a wave, one wave higher than another, and inside Xiaxiang City, although there were still manpower, they didn''t dare to use it at all!


    Zhang Yu''s escape made Zhou Tai have to face an extremely bad situation.


    Or kill all the Guangling soldiers and laborers who surrendered, and then be forced to face Cao Jun''s counterattack with less than a thousand soldiers, or take the risk to let these Guangling soldiers and laborers assist, and at the same time be careful that they may be killed at any time. The resulting rebellion…


    If you choose the first one, if no reinforcements arrive, it means that Zhou Tai may have to give up his prime minister at any time, otherwise Jiangdong soldiers with less than one thousand soldiers will definitely not be able to defend.


    If you choose the second one, then there may be a risk of internal and external outbreaks at any time during the lower phase. The more urgent the Cao army attacks, the more likely these Guangling surrendered troops will rebel.


    And when Zhou Tai killed some of the Guangling soldiers, he still hesitated, and before they were completely killed, Cao Jun arrived.


    Zhou Tai won the prime minister, which is his meritorious service, but it also means that it is his burden.


    Compared with the whole of Xuzhou, or Xiapi, it is a very small circle. In normal times, it would be indebted to even take a second look or pay attention to it for a while, but now it has become Zhou Tai who cannot leave. Inescapable imprisonment!


    At this time, the guarding soldiers of the Jiangdong Army can be said to be relatively elite soldiers in Jiangdong. Because they received special care from Sun Quan, Zhou Tai regarded his private soldiers, whether it was the daily training or the military equipment, food and salaries of the soldiers. They are relatively sufficient and their morale is high. Facing Cao Jun''s attack, these Zhou Tai soldiers will not be timid and flee, but that''s it. After all, there are only so many people. With the increasing casualties, sooner or later they will exhausted.


    Before Xiangxiang City Defense was not very good, even after Zhou Tai captured it and repaired it for a whole winter, it was promoted from dilapidated to so-so.


    The city defense feels like it might collapse at any time.


    But after all, it hasn''t collapsed yet...


    How long it can last, Zhou Tai didn''t know, he just felt that the predicament in front of him seemed to be a sign that appeared very early, but he didn''t think of it at that time.


    appeared even earlier than Zhang Yu.


    Zhang Yu''s escape only accelerated this change...


    Fierce and turbulent shouts, blood and flames intertwined. Zhou Tai stood in the circle of prime ministers, nervous and excited, worried and sad.


    …(╬￣dish￣)=○…


    If the Han Dynasty was a big circle, then Xu County would naturally be the core circle of the dynasty.


    Or, once cored.


    The core circle of Xu County is naturally not in the Chongde Hall, but in the Shangshutai of the General''s Mansion.


    The hall in Shangshutai is spacious and bright.


    The furnishings inside are also graceful. The lacquered surface of the table case is shiny, and the white grass mat is soft and comfortable. Behind the screen and outside the window lintel, it was also quiet, and it didn''t look like five hundred knives were hiding, but Shen Yi still felt an invisible pressure, which seemed to surround Shen Yi from all directions, staring at Shen Yi vigilantly and carefully. Caressing every hair on Shen Yi''s body, every trace of expression.


    Streams of cold sweat came out of Shen Yi''s head and body, then rolled down her cheeks and back, and wet the seat of Bai Mao.


    Shen Yi gritted her teeth, closed her lips tightly, lowered her head, and the knuckles of the hands that were tucked into the sleeves turned white.


    Xun Yu is as immovable as a mountain.


    In the dead silence, Xun Yu said slowly: "Shen Duanxing, what do you have to say?" 』


    The wide robe with big sleeves, and the crown of Jinxian is flat and steady, making Xun Yu look extremely solemn and solemn.


    Xun Yu looked at Shen Yi quietly with a calm expression.


    "Lingjun..." Shen Yi saluted, and just said two words, suddenly found that his own voice was dry and hoarse as if it had been roasted by fire, so he had to swallow a mouthful of saliva, and then felt that his voice was a little better, " I, I don’t know what Ling Jun said…”


    Xun Yu nodded slightly, as if he saw a child trying to deny it, he was not very angry, but seemed a little ridiculous, "Shen Duanxing... As you said before, to know the hussar equipment, you can understand the "Vulcan Stone" cannon


    Shen Yi was silent for a while, and then said: "Ling Jun... I have indeed seen the "Vulcan Stone Cannon" with my own eyes..."


    『I’ve seen it…』Xun Yu nodded his head, 『I know…proficiency in…everything is different. I wonder if Shen Duanxing thinks so? 』


    『…』 Shen Yi didn''t know how to answer for a while.


    If it is said that Shen Yi is completely lying about "Vulcan Stone Cannon", it is definitely not. After the fall of Hanzhong and Nanzheng, the "Vulcan Stone Cannon" has simply become a sharp knife hanging over the heads of the big aboriginal households in Hanzhong and Shangyong. How could it be possible to turn a blind eye and not understand it at all?


    To a certain extent, Shen Yi does have some understanding of "Vulcan Stone Cannon", and Cao Jun also hopes to obtain relevant information. Shen Yi betrayed what he knew, and then tried to help the Shen family get better treatment.


    Knowledge is priceless, but it can also be valuable.


    Is such behavior considered deception? It seems to count, and it doesn''t seem to count.


    Because Shen Yi never said from the beginning to the end that he knew how to make it, nor did he say that he had the blueprints for making it. He just said that he would "do his best" and "endless words" to trade the information about the Vulcan Stone Cannon on one condition , an identity that allows Shen to get rid of threats.


    To the southeast of Shangyong is Fangling, and next door to Fangling is Xiangyang.


    As long as the relationship is established with Cao Cao, the Shen family can continue to have both sides, and may even become a buffer area between the two, just like the Yang family in the Heluo area...


    The Shen family does not expect to have a strong development, or to intervene in the chaos between Fei Qian and Cao Cao, but just want to preserve their own territory around Shangyong. Is there something wrong with this?


    But now everything seems to be understood by Xun Yu.


    When someone told Xun Yu that Shen Yi would have information about the "Vulcan Stone Cannon", Xun Yu was happy for a moment at first. After all, General Hussar''s new weapon was the focus of Xun Yu''s attention, but after seeing Shen Yi, Xun Yu quickly understood that this guy was a fake.


    『Please forgive me! ’ Shen Yi couldn’t bear it any longer, and left the table to worship, ‘Your Majesty, I didn’t intend to deceive your lord…I really don’t know the specific structure of the “Vulcan Stone Cannon”, but I have also sent people to understand the relevant matters with the craftsmen of the Hussar Army ...''


    Xun Yu''s expression moved slightly, and then he stretched out his hand, motioning for Shen Yi to return to his seat.


    Just now, Xun Yu was indeed a little angry. After all, there are so many complicated things that need to be handled by Xun Yu, and then Shen Yi pretended to be proficient in Vulcan stone cannons in an attempt to deceive, which made Xun Yu somewhat angry, but what Shen Yi said just now made Xun Yu feel uncomfortable. Got some new ideas.


    Perhaps, this Shenyi, or Shangyong Shenshi, can also be used?


    "what? ”Shen Yi stared round her eyes, “Your Majesty’s intention... Could it be that you want to use Shen’s family as your partner? ! 』


    Although it is said that Shen Yi intends to use the information of "Vulcan Stone Cannon" as an exchange, it can be said that she slipped her mouth, did not mean it, etc. What is said verbally is different from what is written on paper. If you really want to become a spy on Cao Cao''s side, you must exchange letters. If you are caught...


    Xun Yu smiled slightly, "It''s all about communicating with each other... just like the present..."


    (end of this chapter)