Chapter 435

Fish-scale armor, silver light flashing.

The nominal Yingzhou Inspector, Prince of Jian'an Xiao Xiaojiu, put on armor and wore a sword, facing the mirror, turning left, turning right, turning endlessly.

Although this was a custom-made light armor, it was still a bit tiring to wear, but it looked very majestic!

It's just that this sword is too big, long, big, and heavy; hanging on the waist, it makes the legs look short.

Xiao Xiaojiu changed a few more angles, his hand pressed on the hilt, his chin slightly raised, his eyes squinting at the mirror, trying to pose in a majestic way, but he was not satisfied no matter what:

"This sword is so big!"

The attendant flattered:

"This humble one doesn't see it as big! The Prince has enough heroic spirit, no matter how big the sword is, it won't look big!"

"I know."

Xiao Xiaojiu was still annoyed:

"But why is this sword so big..."

The attendant tentatively asked:

"How about this humble one goes to get a smaller sword?"

Xiao Xiaojiu immediately refused! His face turned black:

"Why would I use a small sword! I have so much heroic spirit, no matter how big the sword is, it won't be big!!"

"Yes, yes, yes, of course, this humble one's meaning is, take a smaller sword, compare it face to face, and you will know how suitable it is for the Prince to match a big sword."

Xiao Xiaojiu turned from cloudy to sunny, straightened his waist, held the hilt, and examined himself in the bronze mirror:

"That's true... but, why is this sword so big..."

The attendant decided not to answer first.

Xiao Xiaojiu looked for a while, struggled a little, patted the scabbard, and was high-spirited:

"Big is big! Anyway, I have enough heroic spirit! Go! Leave the city!"

Outside Yingzhou city, the river was mighty.

Although the battle had stopped, there was still a faint smell of burnt fish in the wind. Broken wood and debris could be seen on the river from time to time, drifting with the water, and patrol boats and troop transports were coming and going endlessly.

There were also teams specifically responsible for collecting drifting boats; seeing empty boats without control, they would drag them to the shore to concentrate. Many temporary wooden sheds were set up on the shore, either for treatment, or for meals, or for stacking confiscated weapons and supplies, in preparation for counting.

As for the river defense, it was even tighter; from Chuanguanpu to the east to Sanxiapu, and to the west to Tanzhou, dozens of miles up and down had already been searched several times, soldiers were on guard along the river, and patrols were like shuttles, striving to ensure the safety of the river channel.

At the ferry, Yingzhou Registrar Kong Xiuzhi and more than ten officials were waiting there, the river wind was hunting, blowing the flags to make a sound, and everyone's eyes were looking at the upstream direction of the river.

Suddenly hearing movement behind them, everyone turned their heads and saw Xiao Xiaojiu in silver-bright armor, with a very eye-catching big sword, getting off the carriage in a big way.

Because he was not used to wearing armor and the sword was too big, he was tripped when getting off the carriage and almost fell into a clown! Thanks to the left and right support, this avoided "not yet successful, first ugly."

However, Xiao Xiaojiu was in a period of "strong psychology," pushed away the left and right, straightened his armor, and then pretended that nothing had happened, walking toward the crowd in big strides.

Kong Xiuzhi and others bowed to see him. Xiao Xiaojiu pressed the big sword, nodded with a mature face, and even his voice was much calmer than before:

"Haven't they come yet?"

Kong Xiuzhi withdrew his gaze from the very uncoordinated big sword and cupped his hands:

"Back to the Prince, the Tai army's front army has passed, and Guerrilla General Yin Lue has gone ahead to chase the rebel prince and will not stay in Xiakou. Guard Wei Hu has not arrived yet."

"Oh, then you continue to wait, I am not here to wait for them, I will go around."

After Xiao Xiaojiu finished speaking, he walked along the river bank, and the armor leaves rattled.

The officials didn't know what Xiao Xiaojiu meant and could only follow; Xiao Xiaojiu waved his hand:

"No, no! You wait for yours! I'm just patrolling, and I'll command nearby."

Everyone was stunned.

What are you patrolling? What are you commanding?

Kong Xiuzhi had serious business and could not leave, so he waved his hand to signal the Prince's attendants to follow immediately, thinking that if Xiao Xiaojiu went far and had any accidents, he ordered a team of soldiers to follow and protect him.

Just after ordering, he turned his head and found Xiao Xiaojiu was climbing a rock!

That was a big rock by the beach, Xiao Xiaojiu was climbing the edge of the rock, like a stupid cat that couldn't climb over the wall, his two feet kicking on the rock surface, which opened everyone's eyes!

The attendants panicked and hurriedly surrounded him to support him:

"Prince, be careful!"

"This rock is slippery, Prince, don't go up, in case you fall—"

"Shut up! All get out of the way!"

Xiao Xiaojiu fell down, but he was high-spirited and didn't allow anyone to help, as if this was also part of his heroic spirit!

He tried again, this time the whole person was on the rock surface, like a struggling big turtle, his limbs scratched a few times, but he still didn't go up.

Finally, he let two attendants be meat piers, stepped on their shoulders, and then stood on the rock surface.

Looking high and looking far, the river wind brushed his face—

At this moment, Xiao Xiaojiu looked at the flags on both sides, the surging river water, and really found a bit of the feeling of a feudal prince guarding one side.

At this time, the warship sent by Kong Xiuzhi to greet arrived, followed by a light boat.

Hu Xiezhi sat on the bow of the boat in brocade clothes, neither wearing armor nor wearing a sword, with only five or six people beside him, and the guard was very simple. Looking at it, it didn't look like a commander who came to lead troops, but like a rich guest who was going to a banquet.

Kong Xiuzhi had no time to look at the bear child again, and led the officials to meet him.

"This humble official Kong Xiuzhi, respectfully welcomes Guard Commander!"

The officials behind also said in unison:

"Respectfully welcome Guard Commander!"

Hu Xiezhi hadn't gotten off the boat yet, and his laughter reached the shore first:

"Oh my, Registrar Kong became famous in one battle! Admire! Admire!"

Kong Xiuzhi cupped his hands:

"The Son of Heaven's great fortune, the Guard Commander's prestige, the armies died for effect, this humble official relied on everyone's merit, luckily survived, really ashamed."

Hu Xiezhi smiled:

"Eh! Registrar Kong is too modest! The Son of Heaven's great fortune, the armies died for effect, this is of course. As for the Guard Commander's prestige, it made my old face red—"

Hu Xiezhi stepped onto the shore in big strides, patted Kong Xiuzhi's hand, and lowered his voice a little:

"I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, the rebel prince has great power, before I came, I had no bottom in my heart! Every day on the boat, I thought about how to fight this battle? Sometimes I couldn't sleep in the middle of the night, and I was still thinking: what if the rebel prince occupied Yingzhou, the river road opened, flowing down, can my little troops stop it, it's really hard to say. I was so worried that my hair turned white! Who would have thought, before my boat arrived, the battle was over! I have fought for so many years, for the first time so relaxed! You say you are not amazing!"

Kong Xiuzhi heard these last few sentences, understood in his heart, and said sincerely:

"Guard Commander is over-praised. Xiakou can be guarded, it is indeed the use of life from top to bottom. But what is more important is that everyone knows—the court's reinforcements are on the way, and the Guard Commander's army will arrive in a few days. If there is no Guard Commander in the back, commanding the armies, and suppressing from afar, even if there were ten Xiakous, they could not be guarded, let alone counterattack. The Guard Commander's merit is great, this humble official dare not take it."

Hu Xiezhi saw that Kong Xiuzhi was sensible. The smile on his face became thicker, and he patted Kong Xiuzhi's shoulder affectionately:

"Can't talk about great, at most it is just auxiliary, the one who really defeated the rebel prince is you! The first merit of suppressing rebellion, it belongs to you!"

Kong Xiuzhi said solemnly:

"This humble official's military strategy was all taught by the Xichang Hou Fu, this humble official just acted according to the plan, even if there is merit, it is also the merit of the planner. Does the Guard Commander know which adult's handwriting this is? This humble official is convinced and fascinated, cannot catch up, only looking at the dust."

Hu Xiezhi was startled:

"Xichang Hou Fu?"

"Does the Guard Commander not know?"

Kong Xiuzhi always felt that since the Xichang Marquis was the current government, the strategy he asked to hand over, the court naturally knew, but seeing Hu Xiezhi's ignorant appearance, it seemed like he had never heard of it at all.

While the two were talking, an official stepped forward to remind:

"The Prince seems to be waiting for the two adults..."

Kong Xiuzhi turned his head and saw Xiao Xiaojiu still standing on that big rock! He was looking here! Seeing Kong Xiuzhi look over, he immediately withdrew his gaze.

In fact, Xiao Xiaojiu had been waiting for a long time.

He thought Kong Xiuzhi would bring Hu Xiezhi to see him, but the two kept talking, and he didn't know what they were talking about so happily!

I am standing so high, didn't you see me?!

Is there no eye power?!

Kong Xiuzhi thought Xiao Xiaojiu didn't know where he went to play, but didn't expect him to wait in place, so he hurriedly led Hu Xiezhi to pay respects.

Xiao Xiaojiu pretended not to see the two at all, and continued to point out the country to the soldiers who came to protect him:

"River defense is the top priority! Must strengthen defense! Guard in turns day and night! No slack is allowed! The navy must also be alert to prevent the enemy from returning! This team of warships, that team, and the team in the middle, must advance together! Pursue the victory! Must clear all rebels, clean!"

The soldiers were all stunned: Yes, are you talking to us...

Xiao Xiaojiu had no words, his eyes "just happened" to sweep over Kong Xiuzhi and Hu Xiezhi who walked to the rock, and asked coldly:

"When did you come?"

Kong Xiuzhi apologized:

"This humble official didn't know the Prince was here, please forgive the Prince."

Hu Xiezhi paid respects first, and then sighed:

"This humble official finally knows why the rebel prince was defeated so quickly! The Prince guards the river defense, the dispatch is appropriate, the heroic spirit is rushing, the country's pillar! How can the rebel prince be an opponent?"

Xiao Xiaojiu endured but really couldn't hold back, happy like a mouse! He laughed secretly a few times and then suddenly stopped, cleared his throat, stood with his sword, and looked indifferent, "This is nothing," and said leisurely:

"Speaking of personal martial arts, I am indeed not as good as him, as for the others, he still needs to practice..."

Kong Xiuzhi:......

Hu Xiezhi had an expression of deep conviction.

Xiao Xiaojiu tried his best to pretend to be very casual, as if asking casually:

"Guard Commander Hu, this time reporting merit, is there me too?"

Hu Xiezhi did not hesitate:

"Of course! The Prince is the Yingzhou Inspector, no matter who is missing, the Prince cannot be missing!"

Xiao Xiaojiu's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly:

"How are you going to write about me?"

Hu Xiezhi smiled, a little hesitant:

"Uh, this, this humble official just arrived, I don't know the situation in Yingzhou very clearly... and the court system, the Prince's affairs are all reported by the acting, Dianqian, this humble official is not good at reporting..."

Xiao Xiaojiu's smile disappeared little by little, and his lips slowly pursed into a line.

Dianqian Li Dang went to chase the rebel army and was not here, even if he was here, he didn't want to ask him. It was Kong Xiuzhi who acted as the state government, and there was still some hope.

He looked at Kong Xiuzhi, his expression both expectant and vigilant:

"Registrar Kong, how are you going to write about me?"

Kong Xiuzhi slowly cupped his hands, his expression solemn and calm:

"Since the Prince guarded the city, he has been busy from morning to night (noisy from morning to night), not having time to eat (protesting by hunger strike), viewing death as returning home (threatening with suicide), and his will is unwavering (the idea of running away has never changed)!"

Xiao Xiaojiu was overjoyed! Excitedly wanted to hug Kong Xiuzhi!

Hu Xiezhi was very moved:

"What a virtuous prince!"