The prince is more stable

Chapter 219 Desperate Message
After Zhang Xiaoyi returned to Xingqing City, his friends came to visit him one after another.

He made a lot of friends these days, but there were almost no sincere ones. Most of them were idlers. Seeing that Zhang Xiaoyi was generous and open-minded, they naturally gathered around him and often asked for his food and drinks.

We can eat and drink together, but we absolutely cannot get stabbed together. That’s probably how the relationship works.

Zhang Xiaoyi certainly knew this, but he didn't mind.

He was an idle outsider and needed idle people to gather around him, which would be an extra layer of protection for him.

When people and the environment are integrated, they are safest.

In the evening, after a sumptuous meal, his friends dispersed and Zhang Xiaoyi went out. He sat in an open-air tavern at the intersection of Xingqing City East Market Road, ordered a dime of wine and a sheep's head, and drank by himself, looking very leisurely.

After sitting for an hour, Zhang Xiaoyi gradually felt uneasy.

In the past, the steward of Weimingsha Mansion would come over at this time. Every day at this time, after finishing his work, the steward would come to this tavern to sit for a while when he had nothing to do. After drinking a glass of wine, he would go back to sleep.

Zhang Xiaoyi also figured out the rules of the business. After an artificially created encounter, the two of them naturally gathered here every day to chat and talk about everything.

The manager was drunk and couldn't control his mouth. It was at this time that Zhang Xiaoyi got a lot of information.

He came to the tavern almost every day, rain or shine. However, today it was already dusk and the manager was still nowhere to be seen. Zhang Xiaoyi couldn't help feeling uneasy.

He did not come to Xingqing City to make friends. He was lurking alone in the enemy country, and seemed to be at ease every day, but Zhang Xiaoyi was always on guard. He knew very well that in this enemy city, the slightest mistake would result in his head and body being separated.

Today, the time has passed and the manager still hasn't come. Zhang Xiaoyi can't help but be extremely cautious.

After noticing something was wrong, Zhang Xiaoyi couldn't help but look around.

Then, he noticed that at least four pairs of eyes met his on the roadside across from the tavern. When he turned his head and looked around, those eyes quickly looked away, pretending to look at the scenery.

Zhang Xiaoyi's eyelids were twitching wildly, and the ominous premonition in his heart was becoming stronger and stronger.

Something bad is happening! It's exposed!

This was the only thought that came to his mind.

Experiencing such a dangerous scene for the first time, Zhang Xiaoyi's hand holding the wine cup couldn't help but tremble slightly, and his face turned pale.

Taking deep breaths continuously, Zhang Xiaoyi forced himself to calm down.

He definitely can't run away. Since he is allowed to drink in the tavern openly, it means that people are not afraid of him running away.

Targeting him but not taking him down means that someone else has other intentions.

They may be waiting for his accomplices to show up, or they may be monitoring his next move to lure him into a trap. Simply put, at this moment, Zhang Xiaoyi is just a bait in their eyes.

Zhang Xiaoyi was not afraid of death. After he kowtowed to his mother and said goodbye, he had already made plans to die.

Modern people do not understand the saying "A gentleman will die for his friend" and do not understand why ancient people were so ignorant and sacrificed themselves for others for no reason. Isn't this simply insane?

Yes, in an era thousands of years later where only self-interest is valued, it is indeed difficult for later generations to understand the values ​​of the ancients.

But Zhang Xiaoyi was willing to die for Zhao Xiaoqian.

It has nothing to do with the interests of the country and the family. Zhang Xiaoyi has lived in poverty all his life and has only been struggling to make a living. What does the interests of the country and the family have to do with him?
Zhang Xiaoyi was only willing to die for Zhao Xiaoqian. Even if Zhao Xiaoqian said he wanted to rebel, he would draw his knife and chop the emperor to pieces without hesitation.

Zhang Xiaoyi was now extremely anxious, not for his own life but for the possibility of ruining Zhao Xiaoqian's plans. If his exposure caused Zhao Xiaoqian and his men to fail, Zhang Xiaoyi would be guilty even if he died a hundred times.

Several pairs of eyes were staring at him secretly. Zhang Xiaoyi took a deep breath to calm himself down, then picked up the wine cup and took a sip as if nothing had happened.

The plan to seize the capital of Western Xia by cooperating internally and externally is no longer feasible. What Zhang Xiaoyi has to do now is to notify Zhao Xiaoqian to cancel the operation.

There were spies from the Imperial City Bureau in Xingqing City, but Zhang Xiaoyi didn't know them at all.

He was acting alone and had no dealings with the spies from the Imperial City Bureau. Even if they met face to face, they would not know each other. It would probably be difficult to find them to pass on the news at this time.

What Zhang Xiaoyi needs to do now is to get out of trouble first.

Being secretly watched by so many eyes, not only is he doomed to die, but the news will never be sent out. Zhao Xiaoqian and his soldiers will be in great trouble.

So Zhang Xiaoyi sat in the tavern and drank slowly until a corner of the wine was finished. Zhang Xiaoyi suddenly stood up and staggered, as if he was already eight-tenths drunk.

"Boss... Boss!" Zhang Xiaoyi shouted.

A waiter came forward with his back bent.

Zhang Xiaoyi pointed at the dozen or so patrons sitting around the tavern and laughed, "I'm in a good mood today. Whether I know you or not, I'll buy you a drink!"

The waiter and the customers were stunned for a moment, and then the customers hurriedly stood up to express their gratitude.

Zhang Xiaoyi swayed again, seeming even more tipsy. He pulled out a handful of copper coins and small silver ingots from his pocket and said, "It's not enough to treat you to drinks, I'm going to give you money too! Come here, say something nice to flatter me, and I'll reward you!"

The drinkers' eyes lit up. This drunkard was clearly high, actually giving money away in the street. What a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Don't miss it! Tomorrow, when this drunkard sobers up, let him regret it!
So the drinkers immediately rushed up and surrounded Zhang Xiaoyi, saying, "I have been wandering for half my life and only regret that I have never met a wise master. If you don't abandon me, I am willing to be your adoptive father."

All kinds of shameless words came out of his mouth. Zhang Xiaoyi laughed heartily and kept his promise, giving money to everyone.

The noise grew louder and louder, attracting passers-by near the tavern. More and more people gathered around Zhang Xiaoyi, and the scene became increasingly chaotic.

The officer who was secretly monitoring Zhang Xiaoyi suddenly felt something was wrong and tried to squeeze into the crowd in frustration, but it was too late.

The crowd was still gathered in the tavern, but Zhang Xiaoyi had disappeared.

A moment later, all eight gates of Xingqing City were closed, and no one was allowed to enter or leave.

Officials and imperial guards teamed up to search the entire city for Zhang Xiaoyi. The entire city was in chaos because of Zhang Xiaoyi.

The commander of the cavalry, Wei Mingsha, appeared on the street. He was riding on a horse and looked around with a sinister look in his eyes.

"Run away? Haha, good job!" Wei Mingsha sneered.

The generals and officials knelt in front of their horses in fear and apologized.

"Orders are being sent to continue the search for this man. He's in the city and can't escape. Close all the city gates and don't open them tomorrow. Zhang Xiaoyi must be a big fish! We must capture him alive!"

"Send scouts out of the city to patrol a thirty-mile radius. If they find any trace of the Song army, report back immediately!"

There were too many officials, merchants and common people traveling back and forth in the capital of Western Xia. With Wei Mingsha's authority, he could only lock the city for one more day. If he did it longer than that, he would be criticized and impeached by court officials. He could not afford to offend the capricious Empress Dowager Liang.

Fortunately, he had received the news that in two days, the 30,000 reinforcements sent by Empress Dowager Liang would be able to enter the city. At that time, he would not be afraid even if 100,000 Song troops attacked the city.

…………

Zhang Xiaoyi escaped, but was in a very bad situation.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to scatter money, he decisively crawled out of the crowd and disappeared into the night. Then he found a dilapidated house and lay quietly in the shade of the roof without moving.

A whole night passed, then dawn, and another whole day passed. Zhang Xiaoyi had not eaten or drunk anything and remained motionless.

But he became more and more anxious.

Tonight is the time agreed with Zhao Xiaoqian to join forces to capture the city, but he has not yet spread the news that he has been exposed.

At this time, Xingqing City was under tight security inside and outside, and the city's imperial guards and officials were still searching for him.

Being in such a desperate situation, Zhang Xiaoyi wanted to die.

Below the roof of the house, two red lanterns are hung on the porch.

Xingqing City is a city where Hu and Han people live together. It is the New Year of the Song Dynasty now, and this house is obviously a Han family. Hanging lanterns under the porch can create a festive atmosphere.

As night fell, the lanterns were lit, and Zhang Xiaoyi's eyes on the roof were attracted by the two red lanterns.

After blinking a few times, Zhang Xiaoyi was stunned for a while, and suddenly a glimmer of hope appeared in his empty and tired eyes.

Half an hour later, a red lantern slowly rose up and continued to sway as it reached mid-air.

The Dangxiang people may not understand, but if the Han people saw it, they would just smile.

Yes, the Kongming lantern has existed as early as the Five Dynasties period. It is also called the sky lantern or the prayer lantern.

The production principle is very simple. Seal the upper and lower ends of the lantern to isolate the air and keep it sealed, and the lantern can rise into the air.

The red Kongming lantern rose higher and higher, and the officers and soldiers who were searching for Zhang Xiaoyi in the city also realized something was wrong. However, the Kongming lantern was too high for the arrows to hit it.

So the officers and soldiers followed the position of the Kongming lantern and surrounded the roof of the house where Zhang Xiaoyi was hiding.

Zhang Xiaoyi had jumped from the roof into the yard, looking up at the rising Kongming lantern and grinning happily.

When they were in Bianjing City, Zhao Xiaoqian talked to him about many things under the sun, and usually it was Zhao Xiaoqian who talked and he listened.

Zhang Xiaoyi listened very attentively. He felt that Zhao Xiaoqian was very knowledgeable and often said thought-provoking things, so he kept everything Zhao Xiaoqian said in mind.

Zhao Xiaoqian once said in casual chat that every color in the world has its meaning.

For example, green represents forgiveness and is often worn on the head to show a broad mind, while yellow represents joy and is better worn with a tissue.

Red, also called menstrual color, represents danger. Don't rush in and wait patiently for another five to seven days.

Originally, they were some nonsensical words that Zhao Xiaoqian said as a joke, but Zhang Xiaoyi still remembered them very clearly.

The Kongming lantern rising in the sky above Xingqing City at this moment is red.

(End of this chapter)