Chapter 51: The Abduction of Jia Yuanchun

  People rely on clothes and horses rely on saddles. After taking a bath and changing into new clothes, Xu Shu transformed from a dirty beggar to an elegant scholar. His fitted robe, with a precious sword hanging at his waist, exuded an air of refinement. When Xu Shu reappeared before the crowd, everyone was amazed and admired Long Fei's discerning eye. If he had looked like this earlier, it would have been clear that he was a man of great learning. It's not easy to spot greatness in a beggar.

  Long Fei interrupted the crowd's applause and added himself to Hei Bing and Xu Shu's identities, saying everything without leaving out a single word. As soon as he did, Xu Shu immediately became tense, and the rest of the people were also shocked by the unexpected turn of events. The most surprised ones were Wang Jian and his brother Wang Wei.

  Long Fei glanced at everyone: "What's wrong with you all? It's just black ice, is it that scary? You're not going to be killed!"

  "I don't care about black ice or white ice!" Di Wei's first words were: "I, Old Di, have made up my mind to follow you wherever you go!"

  Zhoa Yun also said: "Since you and I have already sworn as brothers, no matter what decision big brother makes, little brother will definitely support!"

  Huang Zhong's son Huang Xu's life can be said to have been saved by Long Fei, so there is nothing to say. Xun Yu was brought over by Long Fei from Yang Feng and has already become one of his subordinates, with no other place to go but to follow him. Taichen, without a home or family, could only follow for the sake of revenge. Wang Can and Wang Wei naturally didn't need to be mentioned. Only Gao Shun and Zhang Liao had nothing to say. Long Fei smiled: "Two brothers don't mind, you were originally people under Wen Hou, after all, you will have to go back, I won't force it, just hoping that this matter is kept secret is enough!"

  Gao Shun and Zhang Liao nodded in agreement. Long Fei continued to explain their first mission: "Assassinating Sun Jian won't be easy, we haven't even seen him before, nor do we know his habits or anything about him, so I think it would be best if Mr. Xu could find someone to gather some information."

  "I'll go and do it now!" Xu Shu said as he walked towards the door. Long Fei hastily called out to stop him: "This matter is not urgent, Sun Jian is still in Changsha, our most pressing problem is how to get Jia Xu into our hands!"

  Who is Jia Xiang, some people know and some don't. Those who do think he's just a scholar, but hasn't shown any great talent. They can't understand why Long Fei suddenly mentioned him. Zhao Yun said: "Is it the Jia Xiang from Tiger Trap Pass?"

  Long Fei nodded: "It's him! Does Second Brother have any good ideas?"

  Zhao Yun smiled and shook his head. Gao Shun said, "Jia Xu is Zhang Ji's man, if you want him to come over, you can only let Zhang Ji agree first, please ask Taishi for help, maybe it's more suitable, if Taishi speaks out, Zhang Ji has no choice but to agree!"

  Zhang Liao shook his head: "No, if Taishi asks what to say? Taishi is also a lover of talent. If Jia Xun really has talent, not only can't he come here, but on the contrary, he will be taken away by Taishi, and it's not worth the loss!"

  "It seems that we can only cheat then!" A sly glint appeared in Long Fei's eyes: "Wang Wei, come here..." Long Fei and Wang Wei whispered to each other for half a day, everyone perked up their ears, but unfortunately not a single word was heard. Wang Wei listened with a smile, nodding his head non-stop. After Long Fei finished speaking, Wang Wei happily walked out: "Just you wait and see! I will definitely do it perfectly."

  "Mr. Xú, you can find two people to keep an eye on Jiǎ Huì, if there's any situation, report back immediately!"

  Watching Xu Shu walk out of the gate, Long Fei let out a sigh and said to everyone: "From now on, be careful, he is from the Black Ice Sect to monitor me. When speaking or doing things in front of him, be extremely cautious!" Everyone nodded hastily.

  The most direct reason for Long Fei joining Hei Bing is to complete the business entrusted by Dong Zhuo, and secondly, it is also to rescue Wang Qian's younger brother. However, the fundamental reason that Long Fei did not say is that he wants to see what kind of mysterious organization Hei Bing really is. As the saying goes, "one cannot get a tiger cub without entering the tiger's lair", this time Long Fei will enter the tiger's lair, and whether or not he can get the tiger cub depends on the situation.

  Three days later, Xu Shu brought news that for some reason, Jia Xu had recently been going to the wine shop frequently and getting drunk every time. It was unknown who had set up many spies outside Jia Xu's residence. They had inquired about it and it was very likely that they were people of Zhang Ji, the General of Tiger Trap. Long Fei smiled: "Hmmm! It seems that Wang Wei has done a good job. Tomorrow I will go to Tiger Trap Pass to meet with Jia Xu again and add fuel to the fire!"

  Tiger Trap Pass, perhaps the common people have already smelled the taste of war, and it's much colder than the last time. The originally bustling crowd was replaced by soldiers coming and going. Dong Zhuo sent Hua Xiong to lead an army of 10,000 to assist Zhang Ji in defending Tiger Trap Pass, increasing the number of troops at Tiger Trap Pass to 50,000. So many troops gathered at this small pass, making it seem so crowded.

  Jia Yu's mansion was on the street behind the General's mansion. Long Fei didn't greet anyone and went straight to Jia Yu's mansion after arriving at Hu Lou Guan. When he dismounted his horse outside the gate, he swept his eyes around and a pair of eerie eyes quickly hid. Dian Wei heavily knocked on the large door several times, and when the old servant opened it, the first thing he saw was Dian Wei, which gave him a fright.

  "Is Mr. Jia Yu at home?" Long Fei hastily stepped forward, wearing a military uniform. The old servant didn't know what kind of official he was, but the clothes didn't seem to be from Dong Zhuo's army. Long Fei continued: "Please inform Mr. Jia Yu that an old friend, Long Fei, has come to visit!"

  The time was not long, and the old servant opened the door again to invite Long Fei and others to enter. Jia Yu's home was very large, but only one house was built, including the old servant who opened the door, there were only three servants. The wife and children were not here, and the four masters and servants lived together. The yard was clean, the house was tidy, but no matter how you looked at it, it didn't look like a general's mansion. It seemed a bit shabby.

  Jia Yu was lying on his side in the main hall, sleeping with his face inward. The old servant was just about to shout when Long Fei hastily stopped him: "Has he had a lot of wine? Then let him sleep! We'll wait!"

  Sitting in Jia's courtyard, the old servant presented a clear tea, drinking water while looking at the yellow flowers under the wall root in the courtyard. The flowers were not bright or blinking, quietly lying in the corner of the wall, only taking care of themselves opening. The flowers were also small, the largest was about the size of a thumb. One flower next to another, occupying the entire corner of the wall: "Old brother!" Long Fei shouted at the old servant, who hurried over. Long Fei asked: "What are those flowers?"

  The old servant shook his head: "I don't know, it grew by itself. The master said to leave it alone, so we didn't touch it! Nobody knows what it is."

  "It looks like jasmine at night, every evening the flowers open and release a faint fragrance that calms the mind, while during the day the flowers close, and the flowering period is quite long, it's a great flower!"

  "Ah!" The old slave hastily cried: "That's right, that's right! Just as the general said, there is indeed a faint fragrance in the evening!"

  Tiger Pass is located on the banks of the Yellow River, with the river to its north and mountains to its south. Sitting in Jia Yu's courtyard, one can appreciate the fragrance of the night-blooming jasmine while gazing up at the majestic peaks outside the pass. Suddenly, Long Fei recalls a line from the Jin Dynasty poet Tao Yuanming: "Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I see the southern mountains in leisure!" As soon as he utters this phrase, he hears Jia Yu stretching behind him: "What a wonderful 'picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, seeing the southern mountains in leisure!' General Long has such a carefree heart!"

  The old servant hurriedly went to help Jia Yu find his shoes and wash his face. After everything was over, looking at Long Fei's strange clothes, Jia Yu sighed: "Where did this come from? Isn't it the uniform of the Western Liang army?" His eyes turned around, and he immediately let go: "Long Xiao Wei, you've been troubling me for a while!"

  "Haha!" Long Fei laughed and said: "It's not that I want to harm you, sir. It's just that Zhang Ji doesn't trust you! Do you still remember what I said when I left Hu Lao last time?"

  "What's up?"

  Long Fei said: "Sir forgot, I remember, sir said if one day I become famous don't forget about sir, now here I am to save sir from water and fire!"

  "Hahaha..." Jia Xu burst into loud laughter: "The Governor is just a school officer, but my master is a general, the Tiger General!"

  "Generals are nothing! As long as my brother is willing, becoming a great general is no problem!" Dian Wei interrupted: "That old Zhang Jue won't be jumping around for many more days! When the Eastern warlords' army comes, can this small Tiger Trap Pass hold them back? Listen to me, follow us, and you might even be able to keep your life!"

  The two of them looked at Dian Wei, whose dark face was full of innocence: "What? I didn't say anything wrong?"

  Long Fei laughed and said, "Sir, even this brother of mine can see through the current situation, how could you not understand? If you are willing, follow me back to Xiyuan, sir. For now, please condescend to be a military advisor. When I have an even greater official position in the future, I will certainly treat you with generosity!"

  Jia Xu shook his head: "Zhang Ji treated me kindly, I couldn't bear to leave. Since General Long said so, let's wait until General Long gets a higher position before coming back!"

  "You don't know how to behave?" Dian Wei shouted, standing up and grabbing Jia Xun's shoulder with one hand, while wrapping the other around his waist. He tossed him onto his shoulder, making Jia Xun feel like he was flying through the air, his stomach slamming hard into Dian Wei's shoulder. The pain made him want to cry. Without saying a word, Dian Wei headed towards the door, and the several servants in the house were stunned, wanting to step forward to stop him but also being somewhat afraid.

  Long Fei stood up and followed, walking to the door and turning back to say: "If you can't bear to part with your husband, you can find me in Nanyang!"

  "Slap!" Zhang Ji slapped his palm on the table: "You're really something, Yuan Shu, deceiving people too much, and you've actually taken Mr. Jia away!"

  Hua Xiong sneered, "This can't be blamed on Yuan Shu. Didn't we catch one of his messengers just a few days ago? If Jia Xu hadn't been willing, how could the people from Nanyang have easily snuck into Tiger Gate Pass and left with such fanfare?"

  "A bunch of fools!" Zhang Ji cursed loudly. The princes and generals all looked down, not daring to speak: "But it's good that he left, this kind of traitor is indeed a danger if he stays by our side, now that he's gone I can finally relax!"

  "That's right!" Hua Xiong laughed and stood up: "Let's go! Let's have a drink?"

  Zhang Ji nodded: "I didn't expect that Jia Xiang, who has followed me for so many years, would also do such a thing for money. I recall when he was poor and destitute, it was I who helped him out, letting him serve as my attendant. Although his talent is limited, he can be considered loyal. How much money did you find in his house?"

  "Not many! Just five hundred gold!" Hua Xiong said: "People are all changing, let him go! Wait until we defeat Yuan Shu and capture Jia Xu, see what he has to say then!"