Chapter 50 The Missing Bride
Zhang Xutuo was stunned. Now I have become the Taoist Zhiming of the Sui Dynasty.
Li Ji laughed, "Master Zhiming, you should be relieved now."
Zhang Xutuo smiled and said, "Lord Li is indeed very smart. He is truly a hero in troubled times."
Li Ji said, "To be honest, I have heard that you are a rare general. In troubled times, talented people are hard to come by."
Zhang Xutuo said thoughtfully:
"Thank you, Lord Li, for saving my life. However, my subordinates will go their separate ways."
When Li Ji heard this, he thought that General Zhang was truly a man who valued friendship and loyalty.
He suddenly recalled the scene of the Sui army howling in the deep forest of Dahai Temple that day. He could see that the Sui army loved General Zhang.
"I know that General Zhang can't let go of your soldiers who fought in the north and south. I wonder what General Zhang's plan is?"
Zhang Xutuo thought to himself, in the eyes of the soldiers, I have already died for my country.
What else can I plan? Although Lord Li is young, he is indeed a talented commander.
He thought, where can I find the best way out? Why not entrust these brothers to Lord Li.
He looked at Li Ji and asked tentatively: "Sir Li, aren't you going to recruit soldiers?"
Li Ji smiled and replied:
"This is the great event I have always dreamed of. Fighting for the Central Plains, without men and horses, how can I fight?"
Zhang Xutuo smiled, patted Li Ji's hand, and his eyes revealed a look.
"Sir Li, let's be frank. My subordinates are now leaderless. I think it would be best if you could take them in."
When Li Ji heard this, his eyes lit up. This was too lucky.
Traveling back to the end of the Sui Dynasty, he not only obtained a talented general, but also hundreds of thousands of troops.
Will this backfire?
Li Ai saw Li Ji's thoughts and reminded him:
"My lord, this is a golden opportunity. With so many soldiers in one night, why worry about not being able to make a living?"
Zhang Xutuo took out the tiger talisman for commanding troops from his body and handed it to Li Ji with both hands.
"Lord Li, my subordinates are as numerous as clouds. When they see the tiger talisman, it's like seeing me."
Li Ji knew that the tiger talisman was the key to mobilizing the army in the Sui Dynasty.
With the tiger talisman, you can control the entire army.
Li Ji put away the tiger talisman, then picked up the wine glass and said, "Thank you, General Zhang, for your strong support."
Li Ji finally put his worries to rest.
However, when he received so many soldiers at once, he suddenly thought of the problem of supply for the army.
I wonder how the wheat is growing in Shanshen Temple? I will go there soon to check it out.
At this time, Zhang Xutuo put down his wine glass and clasped his hands together.
"Master Li, all good things must come to an end. I am leaving now."
Li Ji returned the greeting and said, "General Zhang, please don't forget our agreement. We will meet again in the future."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Li Ai.
Li Ai stood up and walked towards the door. After a while, a carriage stopped at the door.
Zhang Xutuo was dressed in gray-blue cloth, holding a ritual instrument, and walked leisurely onto the carriage.
Two maids who served wine also got on the car.
The carriage moved along the path, and Li Ji followed closely behind in another carriage.
An hour later, the two carriages stopped in a dense forest.
When Zhang Xutuo got off the car, he was stunned.
Isn't this the place where I was defeated ?
Li Ji got out of the car and laughed out loud at Zhang Xutuo's nervous look.
"General, come this way."
Zhang Xutuo followed Li Ji and continued walking slowly along a path in the forest.
After passing a mirror-like lake, we came to a tall building.
Zhang Xutuo couldn't help but sigh, "Master Li has put a lot of effort into this."
This building is Li Ji’s base camp, Dahai Temple.
It is located 40 miles west of Xingyang County, at the southeast corner of the Xingyang County government office.
The temple was founded in the early Northern Wei Dynasty and was originally named Daihai Temple.
Legend has it that Guanyin traveled north to ferry people across the country and moved to Xingyang.
From then on, the moat of Xingyang began to rise and fall with the tides, so Guanyin Temple was also known as Daihai Temple.
Dahai Temple is twenty miles long from east to west and eighteen miles wide from north to south. Its size is like the sea, hence the name Dahai Temple.
Zhang Xutuo thought, "This is a great place. I will spend the rest of my life here."
While he was sighing, the Taoist who had gone ahead was already standing at the gate of Dahai Temple, waiting quietly.
"Welcome back, Taoist Zhiming. Thank you, Lord Li, for your introduction."
Li Ji bowed quickly and said:
"Master Zhihui, you are too polite. When Li Ji has made great achievements, I will invest in expanding Dahai Temple."
He took out a silver note from his bag.
"Master Zhihui, this is a small amount of money for the incense offering. Please accept it."
The wise master smiled and took the banknote with both hands.
Li Ji and Zhang Xutuo were just about to shake hands and say goodbye when suddenly, a horse neighed over there.
As soon as he turned around, he saw the housekeeper Li Ai riding a chestnut warhorse galloping towards Dahai Temple.
Li Ai quickly dismounted, knelt in front of Li Ji in a panic, and said in a muffled voice:
"Sir, a large number of villagers have come to the Xingyang County Office to appeal."
Li Ji asked calmly, "What are they suing about?"
"It is said that several brides have disappeared for no apparent reason."
"Was it sold by a human trafficker?"
"For now, it's still unclear. Please come to the court and make a judgment."
Li Ji thought, this is also strange, the bride's wedding day was gone for no apparent reason.
This is really strange news.
He waved to Li Ai and said, "You go back first, I'll be there soon."
Li Ji bid farewell to Zhang Xutuo and Master Zhihui and returned to the Xingyang County Government in a carriage.
A group of villagers were chattering and blocking the entrance of the government office.
Yu Cheng was maintaining order with a few personal soldiers.
Li Ji walked into the hall and sat down on the armchair.
He slammed the gavel and the audience fell silent.
"Bring the parties involved."
A sixty-year-old woman walked in.
She fell to her knees on the ground and kowtowed continuously.
"Please judge wisely, sir."
Li Ji said impatiently:
"Old woman, don't get excited. You haven't said anything yet. What are you asking me to do?"
Li Ai hurriedly said, "Old lady, please tell Lord Li what happened."
Only then did the old woman hear it clearly.
She cried and said:
"My granddaughter is just 18 years old this year. Both her parents died when she was young, and I raised her single-handedly."
"I found a husband's family, and yesterday was the wedding day."
The old woman's crying suddenly became louder.
Li Ai hurriedly stopped him and said:
"Don't cry, old lady. Make things clear first. It won't be too late to cry later."
The old woman blew her nose and fell to the floor with a plop.
"Early in the morning, a sedan chair with music and drums came to my house, saying that they were picking up the newlyweds. I quickly asked my granddaughter to dress up."
"My little granddaughter hugged me and cried very sadly. I consoled her again and again before she reluctantly got on the bridal sedan."
The old woman continued:
"It was almost noon, and another bridal sedan came to my house with music and music."
"When I saw it, I was very puzzled and said, 'Didn't you pick it up?'"
"When they heard this, they were so angry that they jumped around and shouted, 'We just came out of the host's house. When were we here?'"
Li Ji was also surprised when he heard this.
It is impossible for a woman to marry into two families.
That's strange. Which family is this bride in?
