Chapter 799: The Art of Fighting
Li Yun nodded, lowered his head to drink a sip of tea, and slowly said: “This General Zhou is very free and easy. After he bowed his head and admitted defeat, he admitted it very straightforwardly, without any hesitation or reluctance.”

At this point, Mr. Li snorted, “I wanted to cause trouble for their family, but I just couldn’t find any evidence to prove it.”

The Pinglu Army had been enemies with the Jiangdong Army more than once, especially the first time, when the Jiangdong Army was relatively weak. At that time, the Jiangdong Army, facing the Pinglu Army, was like experiencing a life-and-death disaster.

Mr. Li is a little petty in some aspects. He has always kept these things in mind. Although he can’t say that he is obsessed with it, he still remembers them after all.

Du Qian smiled and said, “If the superior wants to cause trouble for their family, that’s easy. I can do it for the superior.”

Li Yun shook his head and smiled, “I am a very reasonable person. I will not do anything that is unreasonable. I will look for trouble with them when they are unreasonable. And at this time, Zhou Xu will come in person.”

“It’s very sincere.”

Li Yun’s eyes fell on the table and he said softly, “He is likely to work with us to solve the problems in Hebei Province. Once the problems in Hebei Province are solved.”

“The problem of Hedong Road may be solved. By that time…”

Li Yun snorted, “I’m going to find the Xiao family of Fanyang and settle the old scores!”

Li Yun has been paying close attention to the situation in Hebei Province. Every day, intelligence is delivered to Li Yun’s desk.

Up to now, at least hundreds of thousands of people in Hebei Province have been displaced by the war, and the number of people who have lost their lives is simply incalculable.

Because no one can fully count.

What’s even more hateful is that the casualties in Hebei Province were not entirely caused by the Khitans. The large-scale conscription of the Fanyang Army was also partly to blame.

And the Fanyang Army…may also be looting in Hebei Province.

Even if they did not rob the people in Hebei Province, the Xiao family should bear at least 80% of the responsibility for the deteriorating situation in Hebei Province.

Moreover, Youyan was lost at the hands of the Xiao family. Li Yun must find ways to take it back in the future. However, the Khitans are a rising ethnic group. After they occupied Youyan, the price Li Yun would have to pay to take it back would be immeasurable.

Li Yun will settle these accounts with the Xiao family.

Du Qian also sensed the murderous intent in Li Yun’s tone. He quickly changed the subject and asked, “Sir, when will General Zhou arrive in Nanjing? I am going to prepare the standards for his reception.”

Li Yun looked up at the sky, thought for a moment, and said with a smile, “I guess we’ll reach Jinling in a few days.”

As he spoke, he looked at Du Qian and said with a smile, “His affairs are not important, you don’t have to worry about it, Brother Shouyi. The two boys in Brother Shouyi’s family have grown up now, right?”

“They have been with me to Jiangdong for more than six years.”

Du Qian smiled and said, “Now, we have all become young men.”

“That night, I went to Brother Shouyi’s house to have a meal and meet these two guys.”

Mr. Li put his arm around Du Qian’s shoulders and said with a smile, “Ask my sister-in-law to prepare an extra set of bowls and chopsticks.”

Du Qian looked up at Li Yun, then lowered his head again: “I obey your command.”

“There are no outsiders, no subjects or non-subjects.”

Li Yun laughed carelessly and said, “In this Zhongshu, Brother Shouyi always calls me the superior. I don’t find fault with Brother Shouyi. After I came to the Du family, Brother Shouyi still called me Erlang.”

“Is it possible?”

Du Qian was startled, then smiled and nodded: “Okay.”

Li Yun stretched out his hand, grabbed Du Qian’s sleeve, and said softly with emotion: “Brother Shouyi, remember what we did in Yuezhou and Wuzhou before.”

“At that time, we did this business not for the purpose of founding a country and becoming an emperor, nor necessarily for glory and wealth, but more for the people who were already suffering so much, so that they could feel a little better.”

Du Qian nodded and said silently: “I remember it all.”

Li Yun pulled him out and said with a smile: “You and I must both remember this. If I forget it in the future, Brother Shouyi, please don’t forget to remind me.”

He paused, and then said, “If Brother Yihui forgets, I will also remind him.”

Du Qian smiled softly: “I’m afraid that by then, the superior will be able to talk to me, but I may not be able to talk to the superior.”

“You can say it all. You can say it all.”

Mr. Li patted him on the shoulder and said, “If the new dynasty is successfully established in the future, Brother Shouyi will be the first meritorious official of the new dynasty.”

“I, Li Er, will never let you down.”

Du Qian looked unusually relaxed. He looked up at Li Yun and spoke slowly.

“I will definitely not let Jiro down.”

…………

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, heavy snow fell in Jinling.

In the heavy snow, a carriage slowly moved towards Jinling City. Because the snow was a bit heavy, the carriage got stuck in the snow. Dozens of guards working together pushed the carriage out of the snow. It was not until noon that the carriage finally arrived not far from the east gate of Jinling. At this moment, the carriage got stuck in the snow again. The people in the carriage seemed to have lost their patience and got off the carriage.

He was an old man with nearly half of his hair and beard white.

The old man was dressed in a purple robe. Although his hair was white, it was combed meticulously and he looked quite energetic. After getting off the carriage, he looked up at Jinling City not far away. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, “Let’s go into the city.”

“Yes.”

The entourage immediately nodded in agreement and stood guard in front of the old man. They had not walked far when dozens of riders came running towards them.

Dozens of riders approached quickly and stopped in front of them. Leading the group was a thin young man in his twenties or thirties. Next to the young man was a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old.

The young man strode forward, knelt on the ground with a plop, and kowtowed, “Grandfather!”

This young man was none other than Zhou Luo.

This silver-haired old man was naturally Zhou Xu, the governor of Pinglu.

Zhou Xu helped his grandson up, looked him over, and said with a smile, “Good boy, you are much more energetic, much better than your father.”

Zhou Luo felt a little embarrassed. He scratched his head and stood beside his grandfather.

The young man in the lead strode forward, clasped his fists and saluted, saying, “Li Zheng from Xuanzhou, I am here on behalf of the king to welcome the general.”

Zhou Xu looked up at Li Zheng, then smiled softly and said, “We met once in Qingzhou, General Li.”

“It’s been a long time since we last met. General Li is now more elegant than before.”

Li Zheng smiled and said, “General, thank you for your compliment. I am here on the king’s orders to welcome you. The carriages and horses are ready. Please come in, General.”

Zhou Xu nodded, followed Li Zheng onto the horse, then looked at Li Zheng and said with a smile: “After taking over the Central Plains, things are different. The King of Wu has become much more arrogant.”

The two were sworn brothers, and Zhou Xu was the elder brother. Theoretically, it should be Li Yun who came out to greet him personally.

Li Zheng knew that he would argue, so he smiled and said, “General, my brother was going to come and greet you personally, but today is really unfortunate. My brother’s family has a new baby today, and he is waiting at home, so he can’t come and greet you.”

“Imported by Tianding?”

Zhou Xu was startled and asked, “Which lady?”

Li Zheng smiled and said, “It’s a young lady from Chenzhou. She was about to give birth today. She hadn’t given birth before I came, but she should be almost there by now.”

“General, come with me into the city. Maybe I can even get a glass of wedding wine.”

Zhou Xu smiled dumbly, then turned his head to look at Zhou Luo and the dozens of followers he brought with him, and said in a deep voice: “Let’s go.”

“Enter the city!”

Li Zheng also looked back and around, and gave a low shout, ordering everyone to enter the city. The group entered Jinling City in a mighty manner.

After entering Jinling City, the snow on the main roads in the city had been cleared, and everyone reached the gate of King Wu’s Palace smoothly.

Li Zheng was Li Yun’s only brother in public, so he naturally brought Zhou Xu into the palace smoothly. He was taken by the waiters in the palace to a side hall in the front hall of the palace to wait.

After waiting for about a cup of tea, Li Yun, who was also dressed in a purple robe, rushed out in three or two steps. Before he got close, he clasped his fists and smiled at Zhou Xu, saying, “Brother, you have come from afar. I am sorry for not welcoming you in person.”

Zhou Xu clasped his fists in return, then smiled and said, “I heard that my dear brother has a new baby?”

Li Yun looked back at Li Zheng, then smiled at Zhou Xu and said, “Yes, the baby was born not long ago. As soon as the baby started crying, I came to see my brother as soon as he was fine.”

Zhou Xu congratulated her, then asked with a smile, “Is it a prince or princess?”

“It’s a boy.”

Li Yun smiled and said, “He is so fat. Brother, please stay in my palace today. I will take you to see this kid tomorrow.”

“congratulations.”

Zhou Xu clasped his fists, congratulated once again, and said with a smile: “The Jiangdong Li family will flourish.”

In this era, blood and family often determine many things, and can even determine the rise and fall and longevity of a dynasty.

At this time, the Jiangdong Li family had begun to take shape.

Li Yun waved his hand and said with a smile: “Compared to my brother, I am still far behind. I heard that my brother is good at the art of fighting. I will ask my brother for advice one day.”

Zhou Xu looked back at his grandson thoughtfully, then nodded and smiled: “Okay, okay.”

The two “brothers” chatted and laughed for a long time before Li Yun finally got down to business.

“Brother, what do you think of the situation in Hebei?”

(End of this chapter)