A few days later, Ouyang Xiu was playing a game of "Double Six" with Wulang under the shade of a tree. This was an extremely popular board game at that time.

  A set of backgammon includes a board, fifteen black and white pieces each, and two dice. When playing, first roll the two dice, the number on the dice is how many steps to move forward. First, get all your own pieces across the opponent's side and land on the bottom line to win completely.

  Due to the large amplitude of this chess game, it is easy to turn the victory and defeat into a strong interest and accidentalness, but also inseparable from strategy. Therefore, the Song people are not divided into levels, and they are all very enthusiastic about this game. Unexpectedly, Wu Lang turned out to be an expert in this field, and Ou Yangxiu was killed with difficulty, Chen Ke and Song Duanping were on the side, watching and cheering together.

  Just then, Hsuan-yu, who was sitting cross-legged on the side, suddenly opened his eyes and said: "A group of horsemen has entered the village."

  Sanlang and Song Duanping stood up at the same time, and Wulang also put down the dice and followed them to stand up.

  "Sit down," Ouyang Xiu said with a smile, "Don't be so startled. Those scoundrels wouldn't dare to commit murder at my doorstep even if they had eaten the heart of a bear and the gallbladder of a leopard."

  Chen Ke didn't have that kind of confidence, and from under the table he pulled out a blade... A clear water-tempered straight sword, this was a Japanese army officer's saber, seized from the hands of several Little Guan Suo men.

  Looking at the several young men holding shiny swords and waiting in a strict array, Ouyang Xiu couldn't help but smile wryly: 'A real bunch of violent thugs.'

  Climb to the top of the wall. Looking out from the courtyard wall of the temple, I only saw dozens of cavalrymen coming slowly along the rural path, and Chen Ke and others finally breathed a sigh of relief. If they came to catch people, they wouldn't be so slow, and they would be afraid of trampling the crops.

  As the team of knights approached, it became clear that the leader was a young man wearing a white shirt and robe, who was inquiring about something from the people. After a while, he dismounted his horse, bringing only two attendants with him, and walked towards the temple where the crowd was gathered.

  "Looks like some general's spoiled son." Chen Ke let go of his hand and said, "I reckon he's here to pay respects to Lord Ouyang."

  "What a nuisance this celebrity is!" Ouyang Xiu twirled his mustache and said, "Help me block him."

  "Good." Chen Ke walked out and coincidentally met the young man in a white shirt at the temple gate. He couldn't help but stare, this kid was really too good-looking... In the sunlight, his eyebrows, eyes, face, elegant demeanor, and snow-white clothes all made people dizzy, truly a rare beauty among men.

  Chen Ke thought he was quite the ladies' man, and he himself was considered a handsome guy, but compared to this young man, he found that his own looks were really just average. What is called "heavenly beauty"? What is called "elegant and refined"? What is called "dashing and debonair like an immortal"? Just take a look at this kid, and you'll understand.

  The young man was already accustomed to such rude stares, and he smiled warmly, bowing slightly: "Excuse me, sir. I am Di Yong, here on the orders of my father to pay respects to Mr. Ouyang. May I ask if he is at home?"

  "Di Yong......" Chen Ke stared with wide eyes and asked: "Who is your honorable father?"

  "My family name is taboo and I dare not mention it; people call me Di Hanchen."

  "Di Qing's second son! " Chen Xiao was suddenly enlightened and thought to himself, no wonder, it turned out to be a 'human figure' after all.

  Di Qing, for many years known as the number one handsome man of Great Song, later this title was taken away by his second son. Di Yong was so good-looking that he was called the "human model" of the Great Song Dynasty.

  "I'll go and report it later." Chen Ke turned around and walked in, secretly resenting: "This kid, won't let other men live..."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  After being announced, Di Yong was invited in and made a solemn bow to Ouyang Xiu. He presented the gifts from Di Qing and his own handwritten letter.

  Ouyang Xiu opened the letter and said to Chen Ke and others: "Di Yuanshuai asked you to follow his second son back home."

  "Us?" Chen Ke was shocked: "How did General Di know about us?"

  "Hehe, my father is also acting on orders." Di Yang said with a bright smile: "The nobleman has asked us to ensure your safety."

  "...Chen Ke looked at Ouyang Xiu and saw him nodding, then said: "We'll pack up and follow you."

  Several people entered the inner room and saw Zhao Zongji standing there with a gloomy face. He knew Di Yong, but it was inconvenient for them to meet outside, so he had heard everything that was said outside.

  Chen Ke and the others also became gloomy, everyone understood that it was time to part ways... The young master Wang and they came here originally because of Ouyang Xiu's misfortune in this remote and desolate place. They absolutely cannot take a great risk again and meet Di Qing face to face.

  "All good things must come to an end." Chen Ke was the most carefree, patting Zhao Zongji's shoulder and saying: "How are you going back?"

  "Don't worry," Zhao Zongji said in a low voice, "my guards have already arrived, but they didn't come to disturb me because they knew it wasn't easy for me to come out."

  "That's reassuring." Chen Ke let out a few sighs of relief and said: "Where are you going next, see if we can run into each other?"

  "We wouldn't have gone anywhere else, if I hadn't run out, we would have returned to Beijing long ago." Zhao Zongji also shook off his sadness. He bitterly smiled and said: "After returning, it's likely that we'll be put under house arrest."

  "The treatment of golden branches and jade leaves is indeed different," Chen Xiao smiled: "If it were us, we would have been beaten to the point of our buttocks blooming."

  "I really envy you, being able to travel abroad all the time and broaden your horizons." Zhao Zongji sighed and said: "You must write to me often and let me know about your recent situation."

  "No problem." Song Duanping smiled and said: "Next time we have a big competition, we'll go to the capital to take the exam. At that time, don't forget your own guarantee."

  "No problem." Zhao Zongji smiled and said: "I guarantee to take you all around, eat all around, and play all around Bianliang City!"

  "We'll meet again." Chen Ke said a few words, and then hugged Zhao Zongji one by one.

  "We'll meet again someday." Zhao Zongji's eyes turned red, although such days would never come again in this life, but such friends could always be together...

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Five days after leaving Luling, Chen Ke and others followed Di Yong to join forces with the 30,000 Western Army led by Di Yuan outside Changsha City. These 30,000 troops were the main force used by Di Qing to suppress the rebellion, although they were not numerous, but they were the strongest army of the Song Dynasty.

  Roughly speaking, the Song Dynasty's army was divided into two parts: the Forbidden Army and the Xiang Army. As the main force of the army, the Forbidden Army was also divided into three parts - the Hebei Army, the Western Army, and the Jingying Camp. As for the various routes in the south, even if all the Forbidden Armies were added together, their numbers would not be comparable to any one of the above three parts.

  Originally, among the three divisions of troops, the Western Army was the weakest. However, after the Treaty of Chanyuan, the Hebei Army quickly became corrupt and the Imperial Guard had long since become a mere shell of its former self. Only the Western Army, whether it was the regular army or other ethnic minority soldiers, strongmen, and archers, maintained its powerful combat strength in the battles against the Western Xia and the various Qiang tribes of Qingtang.

  This is an army that can fight bitterly and dare to sacrifice, going deep into the vast wilderness for thousands of miles to do battle, opening up territory for the Great Song. So when the Emperor ordered Di Qing to select troops, he unhesitatingly chose them.

  However, the poor discipline of the Western Army had long been heard by Chen Ke. But when he entered this camp built on the basis of the city, he was surprised to find that not only were the walls outside the camp strictly guarded and the trenches set up, but also the military tents inside the camp were arranged in accordance with the eight trigrams, neatly and orderly... It's hard to see that this is just a temporary camp set up on the way. Although there are many soldiers in the camp, no one is noisy, and when they move forward, they form their own teams in an orderly manner, never occupying the road for cavalry to enter and exit.

  This is the real army. Chen Ke couldn't help but secretly admire them, especially when compared to the Guangdong and Guangxi troops who retreated from Hengzhou City, they were like heaven and earth apart.

  In fact, the Western Army is still the same Western Army. The old problem of not following military discipline cannot be changed, but it depends on who leads them. Under Di Qing's command, these unruly and unyielding Han people from Guanxi all become obedient. This is not only because of his reputation for maintaining military discipline, but also because the brothers in the Western Army are eager to support Di Yuanshuai and give those Han people a chance to show off their skills!

  These subtle things, Chen Ke and others naturally couldn't understand them. They only felt that walking in this camp was like treading on thin ice, with a sense of fear and trepidation. Before they even reached the central command tent, their awe for Commander Di Qing and Di Yuan was already overflowing like the Yellow River.

  They arrived at a heavily guarded large tent, and Di Yong had them wait for a moment while he went in to report. He soon returned and said: "The commander-in-chief is discussing matters, please go see County Magistrate Chen first."

  "Has my dad really been released?" On the way, Chen Ke and others asked Di Yong about this matter. Di Yong was not clear about it, but as soon as they entered the military camp, he heard such a huge good news.

  Following Di Yong to a nearby camp, they met Chen Xiliang, who was wearing a Confucian robe and came out to pour water.

  Seeing Chen Ke, seeing Wu Lang, he loosened his hand, and the copper basin fell to the ground.

  Chen Ke and Wu Lang's eyes also turned red.

  They once thought that they would be separated forever. Now that they have finally met, although they didn't cry bitterly, Chen Xiliang held onto Sanlang with one hand and Wulang with the other, not letting go for a long time.

  Father and son entered the tent, Chen Ke introduced Xuan Yu and Di Yong. Chen Xi Liang sincerely thanked Di Yong: "This time my father and son can reunite, thanks to the general's protection. I want to thank him in person, please ask the two gentlemen to convey it."

  "Certainly." Di Yang stood up and bowed, saying: "Commander Chen and his son have a lot to talk about after their reunion. I'll take my leave first and come back later to visit."

  After Di walked away, the father and son talked about their feelings after parting. Not long after Song Duanping's investigation, Chen Xiliang was interrogated for several days in a row. At first, it was still a side blow, but later, he directly asked about the whereabouts of the account book. But Chen Xiliang still insisted that he had never seen it, and no matter how the other party tortured him, he did not loosen his mouth.

  Fortunately, due to his official status, the other party did not dare to be too excessive, so there were no serious injuries. Later, a commander of the Western Army, holding General Di's order, arrived in Hengyang County several days before the main force, suddenly descending upon the county without warning. Without explanation, he was taken here, also arriving just yesterday.