The happy life of the devil and the devil

The north wind blows the ground and the white grass turns, and Hu Tian snows in August.

Although Beiliang is not so exaggerated, after the Longevity Festival, the pure white first snow soon covered the ground.The affairs of the capital were almost on the right track, and there were no occasions in the short term that the queen must attend. Ling Yucheng finally asked Yuan Shao for orders, and planned to return to the fief for a few days.

"Finally decided to leave?" Yuan Shao looked up from the memorial, "I thought you were going to stay in Pingluo for a year or so..."

"I didn't expect it to be so fast." Ling Yucheng slightly curled his mouth to meet his gaze, "Isn't this thanks to His Majesty? Now I want money, food, and reputation. Of course I have to hurry back to train and tidy up my lair by the way."

"Oh...so it turns out that you now want money and food, and food and food." Yuan Shao nodded seriously. "Then the batch of cattle and sheep sent by the Ministry of Bohai Sea will be withheld. There is also the gift of the Longevity Festival. I have no money to repair it when I leave the palace this year. Look—"

"His Majesty--!"

"Huh?" Yuan Shao picked up the cup and sipped the tea with a smile.It's really interesting to see him scream... "Who told you to pay me the brocade bought by Sutai? I don't feel well, so I won't come back, what's the matter?"

"These cattle and sheep are waiting to be used by the ministers. In the winter training, we will point to them for extra food. In the spring, we will send out farm cattle... They are the spoils of the minister's big hunting. It is agreed to use these cattle and sheep to redeem the war horses." ..." The voice became lower and lower, "As for the reward, if you don't have it, you don't have it..." I didn't intend to ask for it.

"Okay, okay, I'm teasing you." Yuan Shao finally couldn't help laughing, "You just arrived this year, your foundation is not stable, and you still have a lot of money to spend, why are you in a hurry to pay tribute to me?"

"His Majesty's Longevity Festival, there are tributes from all over the country, and I must not make things difficult for Your Majesty."

Yuan Shao looked at him intently, seeing Ling Yucheng's solemn expression, obviously speaking sincerely, nodded slightly: "Okay, as you like. ——These tributes will be rewarded as usual, don't worry, I will never be greedy for you s things."

"... How much is the reward?" Ling Yucheng's eyes lit up.

At this time, let's start talking about the price with the stick... "Generally speaking, the reward depends on my mood. Come to you—what? Didn't you plan to pay tribute?"

"I didn't pick up these things for nothing!"

"Do you know that you spent real money to buy it? When you send people to Qingzhou, the first thing you do is to renovate the port so that people can deliver goods—" Yuan Shao looked him up and down, raised his eyebrows slightly, as if Xiao Feixiao: "Those people from Sutai are really trustworthy. The money collected in Yuyang was sent to Qingzhou all the way." At that time, Ling Yucheng had just climbed out of the death row, where did he have money?What was spent was not the dowry gift he gave!It's a good idea to use his money to give him a birthday gift, and still care about how much to give in return!

In particular, the prince of Sutai who made the decision was quite interested in Ling Yucheng... After collecting the money in Yuyang, the things were sent directly to Qingzhou, obviously intending to maintain a long-term relationship...

"..." The land in Qingzhou is barren, and the development of commerce, especially maritime trade, is a strategy he has set up from the beginning, and it is also the way out to make Qingzhou rich and strong.He had repeatedly discussed these ideas with Yuan Shao from the very beginning, but now Yuan Shao's tone...

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, some of my property has already taken root, and the tribute for next year's Longevity Festival will definitely be Qingzhou local products." Do you think he doesn't want to pay tribute with his own things?Those brocades are so expensive to buy!

"Then I'll just wait and see." Yuan Shao lowered his head and turned over a page of the memorial, deciding to end this topic.After thinking about it, the corner of his mouth suddenly turned up, and he leaned closer to Ling Yucheng: "As for the reward, I will discuss it with you in detail at night..." The ending was deliberately drawn long, and it lingered in the ears, Ling Yucheng involuntarily leaned back to avoid it.

Unsurprisingly, the venue for the "detailed discussion at night" was in the martial arts hall.When Ling Yucheng stepped in, he couldn't help but look around. Although he had been here many times, he still wanted to sigh every time—he was absolutely envious of the facilities in Yuanshao's harem, only the hot spring baths in the apse and This stone house, which was regarded as a martial arts hall, wanted to pack it up and take it with me every time I saw it.

Facing east and west, the stone house is [-] feet long from north to south and [-] feet wide from east to west. There are no beams or pillars in the interior, and it is purely built with brick and stone arches.The stone room is spacious and dignified, with an archery target at the east end and a row of swords, guns, swords and halberds against the wall at the west. Other than that, there is only the abbot's room in the northwest corner. Through the only small half-open door, A single futon can be seen in the room, obviously used for meditation.The ground is paved with two-foot square green bricks one by one, and some deep or shallow footprints can even be seen on some bricks, which are clearly the traces of the master's stepping on it during daily martial arts.

This is the enjoyment of the royal family... When it rains or snows, you can practice martial arts to your heart's content. You don't need to get covered in water and mud, and you don't have to turn around or hit a wall or a pillar after a couple of vertical jumps. Make it!Uh, there are ready-made houses that meet the requirements, but it is the beamless hall of Hangu Temple twenty miles away from Xiangzhou. He can't occupy the temple hall of others as a martial arts hall...

"Let's do it, let me see if you have left behind the new moves you taught."

"Yes!"

Only at this time does he look like a young man—seeing Ling Yucheng throwing off his robe, jumping forward with great interest, and bowing in a dignified manner when he got close, Yuan Shao couldn't help smiling, and returned a slap casually : "Whenever you can get ten tricks out of my hands, I will..."

"How?—Mmm!"

After only a little distraction, Yuan Shao grabbed the pulse gate of his wrist and pulled and twisted it with the momentum.Ling Yucheng snorted, was bent so that his back was turned to him, and kicked backwards without hesitation, then his knees went numb, and he fell down.

"You, this kung fu is still horrible." Yuan Shao grabbed him around his waist and picked it up. He shook his head when he stood still and stepped back, "Come again!"

"Come again!"

"Come again!"

The body in his arms was steaming hot, through the thin layer of single clothes, Yuan Shao let go of his hands and retreated for the first time, watching Ling Yucheng standing in place and slowly calming down, he couldn't help smiling.This set of small grappling was tailor-made for Ling Yucheng. In two months, he disassembled this set of martial arts and taught him one move after another. He laughed at him while explaining the moves to him.Falling, tripping, grasping the pulse door, clasping the throat, throwing him forward, backward, sideways, in any direction, and again and again holding him back to his feet just before falling to the ground.

"Your kung fu is too rigid, it's not good, you have to combine hardness and softness." At that time, he commented so, and specially picked a set of silk-wrapping small grasping that is the most gentle and delicate kung fu to teach him. Sure enough, after practicing these days , Ling Yucheng disassembled his response from jerky to proficient, and his advances and retreats became more and more mellow and calm, and he was no longer the original appearance of advancing without retreating and indomitable.

"Fortunately, what you taught those guys is the art of war, not martial arts, otherwise, with your half bottle of water, even if I teach you, you won't be able to hold it for two times. —— I heard that more and more people come to you to listen to the art of war recently Are those little fellows of Guangwuwei and Xingwuwei quick to learn?"

"It's, it's okay." Ling Yucheng didn't have the ability to speak in the middle of a fierce battle, with a steady speech speed and an undisturbed breath.In the shadow of heavy palms, he tried his best to dodge and move, and when he was distracted, Yuan Shao bent his arms behind his back, tripped with a hook on his feet, and fell on his back.

"Go to God!"

One arm was wrapped around in time to support his waist firmly, Ling Yucheng had no roots on his feet, he staggered a few times, and finally stood up straight by grabbing Yuan Shao's shoulders and arms: "General Xingwu——"

"Just do it, and learn what others say!" After receiving a slap on the forehead that was not light or heavy, Yuan Shao let go, and took two steps back, "Okay, what do you want to say?"

"General Xingwu mentioned yesterday that he wanted to send one of his nephews to serve as a bodyguard." Ling Yucheng's breath gradually stabilized, and he carefully looked at Yuan Shao's expression with the light of the dancing fire beside the wall, "I did not agree to him. "

Right now, he can't get too close to any of the forces - it's one thing to allow others to attend the Art of War class, but it's another thing to admit another family's children into the Xuanjiawei.However, no matter how you decide, you must report to His Majesty as soon as possible...

"This kind of trivial matter is worth your distraction when you do it? As for the guards and so on, if you look at which children are worth cultivating, you can take one or two occasionally." Yuan Shao didn't take it seriously at all, looking at him Shaking his head: "I originally hoped that your kung fu would improve faster, but now it looks like this." Throwing a sword to him: "I don't use my internal strength that surpasses yours, and I don't need to oppress you. You can walk under my hands." After ten tricks, I will give you back ten percent of the market price, how about it?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty—" After thinking for a while, "Can we not reward gold and silver, but instead give them cattle and horses?"

"You're not paying tribute, you're expecting me to do business for you..." Yuan Shao laughed, "Forget it, I'll just suffer a little more, and I won't draw. —— Draw your sword!"

This competition was hearty.

The inner breath is round and round, the long sword is almost weightless in his hand, Ling Yucheng's heart is empty, only the light of the sword flying in front of him and the figures moving around - these days I have been thinking about close body punching skills, a few It was the first time in a month that he used the sword in front of Yuan Shao. Without the heavy pressure, he could display all his martial arts to his heart's content. Unknowingly, his swordsmanship, which had not been improved for more than a year, showed signs of reaching another level .

"It's growing so fast." A voice next to his ear smiled softly, "It's a pity that it's not enough—be careful!" The tiger's mouth hurt, and the long sword flew out.

"Nine strokes. It's a pity that it's only a little short of getting the full ten. ——It's a fall short!"

"Your Majesty!" You did it on purpose!

"how?"

"..." Ling Yucheng struggled for a while, and decided to change the subject, "Your Majesty, what will happen if I receive all ten moves?"

"It's not much. If I do my best, you will be qualified to talk about it after you have received ten moves. Now, I really have to give you a few people."

"The minister is about to ask His Majesty to send the supervisor to Xuanjiawei."

After saying one word, the martial arts hall suddenly fell silent.

"Send the supervising army?" Yuan Shao looked at Ling Yucheng, and seeing that his face was calm, it was obvious that he was not joking at all, and his brows could not help but tightly frowned into a word "Chuan", "Is this what you mean, or is it someone else? You said so?"

"It's what I mean." Ling Yucheng lowered his head to avoid his gaze, and stood motionless on the spot, without any intention of changing his mind, "Since Xuanjiawei is one of the armies, since the other armies have supervisors, This place should be no exception."

"You—" Yuan Shao was stunned by him for a moment, rubbed his brows, and was angry and funny at the same time. "Does the Jinwu Guard have a supervisor? Or does the Habayashi Guard have a supervisor?"

"The Jinwu Guard resides in the palace, and the Habayashi Guard enters and exits the retinue. These two armies are His Majesty's own troops. Why set up a supervising army?"

"Then what does your pro-army want to supervise the army?"

"..."

"I know you are avoiding suspicion and not asking about it—won't you ask me directly?" Yuan Shao had a toothache expression on his face, "I won't send you a supervisor, but I really have to give you two guards. Yours The swordsmanship is more than quick and fierce, but not calm and round, and other kung fu is even more unrecognizable. If you encounter a first-class master in the world to assassinate, you really can't get out of it with just these two strokes."

Speaking of guards, someone was called over the next afternoon.Yuan Shao stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, watching the two muscular and muscular men kowtow in front of Ling Yucheng, pointing at the people: "The one on the left is called Huilibao, and the one on the right is called Gudie, they are both The guards trained by the royal family since childhood, born as orphans, specializing in horizontal kung fu. The kung fu of these two people is not bad. Together, even a top-notch master will need ten moves to defeat them. With them by your side, you can do anything. Block it." Turning his face away, he told the steps: "From today onwards, the two of you are his personal bodyguards, even if you die, you have to protect him. Do you understand?"

"Slave understands!" The two men called by Yuan Shao kowtowed.Ling Yucheng took a closer look, and found that the two men had deep eyebrows and slightly curly beards and hair. They were obviously of Mobei Hu people's blood, and they were not descendants of any high-ranking nobles in Beiliang.His dark face is full of wind and frost, and his hands on the ground look like steel at first glance. It seems that his martial arts are indeed the way of golden bell jars and iron cloth shirts. As a guard, what martial arts is better than this kind? Is it more suitable to be able to block the knife for the master at any time?

He nodded slightly: "Thank you, get up. You are the guards sent by His Majesty, and you don't have to call yourself slaves in front of me from now on." He turned to Yuan Shao and bowed slightly: "Thank you for sending the guards, Your Majesty, I am very grateful. "

Yuan Shao stared at him for a moment, then shook his head slightly: "You didn't understand what I meant. These two people were given to you. From now on, only you are their master." Humanity: "I asked you to follow him just to keep him safe, and nothing else has anything to do with you—even what you see and hear in the future, you don't have to report to me."

The voice of the last sentence is not high, but the meaning in the words is extremely heavy.Ling Yucheng's expression was slightly shaken, and he quickly raised his eyes to look at Yuan Shao, for a moment he didn't know what to say, so he could only silently bow and salute again.Yuan Shao looked at him and didn't speak. When the two guards kowtowed and exited, he suddenly let out a low laugh.

"Do you think your martial arts are good? - I can't even do ten moves in my hands. Are you still not convinced by the guards I gave you?"

"I don't dare..." Ling Yucheng blushed slightly, knowing that Yuan Shao had deliberately diverted the topic, and felt a little embarrassed when he was grateful. For some reason, he blurted out: "If your majesty goes all out, even if I practice for another ten years, I won't be able to do it." I may not be able to take ten moves from you!"

"You are really unconvinced." Yuan Shao shook his head slightly: "Your aptitude is excellent, and you are willing to work hard in martial arts. If you have been taught by a famous teacher since you were young, you should be considered a first-class master now. Judging by your swordsmanship, you should It was born out of Fuyaozi's "Xianfeng Nineteen Swords" 50 years ago. This set of swordsmanship is exquisite and subtle, with unpredictable twists and turns. In your hands, you blindly pursue the word "fast", but lose this sword The original intention of the law, if things go on like this, although it can dominate for a while, it is difficult to make further progress. ——Do you practice according to the sword manual?"

"...Yes." Ling Yucheng nodded lightly, "No wonder no matter how much I practice this year, I feel that it is difficult to make any progress in martial arts." His martial arts and swordsmanship are all enlightened after entering the palace as a companion, and the things taught in the palace It's nothing more than the rules, where there is a chance to get in touch with any superior martial arts.After becoming an official, he practiced on his own according to the sword manuals he got occasionally, and he didn't need to expect anyone to teach him at all.Later, he agreed to King Duan's false allegiance to Liu Mingxia, and the more he helped the tyrant to make enemies, the more he wanted to protect himself, the more he wanted to frighten his enemies, and he also pursued the power of martial arts one-sidedly. His swordsmanship was all the way to the extreme and ruthless, although he faintly knew the right way of martial arts It should be hard and soft, but it doesn't matter.

Yuan Shao looked sideways at his slightly dim eyes, and his expression was not without pity.He had done a lot of research on Ling Yucheng's past, so he naturally knew what kind of pressure would force him to practice such an extremely dangerous and fierce swordsmanship.He didn't want to mention the past, but said in a low voice: "Your basics are not very good. It was very easy for you to learn high-quality martial arts, but you went astray at the beginning. Now you can practice to the top of the second-rate, and not to the top of the first-rate." The degree of talent and perseverance is already quite good. ——Now there is still time to slowly improve. With me, it is still possible to touch the threshold of a first-class master in three to five years. The power of protection. In the past few years, guards or something, just take it with you.”