Kou Zhong walked back through the window and said dejectedly: "Those two bastards are quite vicious. They are so well guarded that even flies can't fly out."
Their residence is located in the garden in the southwest corner of Linjiang Palace. To the southwest are open spaces, high walls and sentry towers. To the east is a large garden, and to the north are more than a dozen large bamboo groves with no roads.
So the only escape was through the garden.
Xu Ziling came back one step ahead of him and figured out the situation clearly. He sighed: "The only way is to break through the high wall and kill the generals out. However, there is a distance of thirty feet from the small courtyard to the high wall. I am afraid that we have not reached the foot of the wall."
He was shot to death by random arrows placed on the sentry tower, or he was cut off by the opponent's skilled hands and unable to escape. What's the situation in the garden?"
Kou Zhong smiled bitterly and said: "Look at my expression. You should know what's going on without asking. There are four secret whistles in the garden, and the lights are bright. It's just a fool's errand to think that I can slip away without anyone noticing. This must be true."
It was Dugu Sheng who arranged it himself to prevent us from escaping."
He said wolfishly again: "If we can't leave like this, it will really damage the reputation of our Yangzhou Shuanglongs. We will even be underestimated by those two bastards."
Xu Ziling muttered: "Have you ever thought that even if we escape, we still have to break through the city defense, and we still don't know if we can find Sister Su in the city."
Kou Zhong chuckled and said, "Don't worry! Master Meiren'er doesn't dare to lie to me. He has made an appointment with me to place secret signs all over the city so that we can easily find their whereabouts. This is called the advantage of using any means."
Xu Ziling was speechless.
Kou Zhong analyzed: "The guards here seem to be very strict, but we know that the guards are loose-minded and everyone wants to escape or escape. Hey! Just imagine what the guards guarding us would do if we suddenly disappeared.
?"
Xu Ziling's eyes immediately lit up and he said: "They will think that Yang Guang ordered Dugu Sheng to guard us. If they are so derelict in their duties, why don't they all behead them all? Naturally, they deserted en masse and joined the ranks of deserters."
Kou Zhong said: "This strategy of mine may not be useful in normal times, but right now people are in panic, and they don't dare to act rashly just because they are worried about each other! Anyway, there are still a few hours until dawn, so let's just wait for two damn hours.
, let’s wait until those guards are cold and tired before we carry out our grand plan.”
※※※
The end of Yin time and the beginning of Mao time.
"Huhu!" Two black shadows came out of the house where Kou Xu lived and threw themselves into the bamboo forest. Several wind lanterns nearby were extinguished at the same time.
Then there was the chaotic sound of broken bamboo branches, which alerted all the guards.
Among the guards stationed here by Dugu Sheng to look after the two of them, there were many good ones. Immediately, more than ten people rushed to the front and rear of the bamboo to chase the two of them, but not even a ghost could be found.
Everyone in the imperial guard was familiar with Yang Guang's temperament and did not dare to ring the bell to show alarm. They only searched the surroundings one after another. Some people also entered the two people's residence and hurriedly checked to make sure that no one was there before joining the manhunt outside.
Half an hour later, several leaders gathered together to discuss. Someone said: "This time is terrible. What are your plans?"
Another person said: "If you stay here, you will definitely die. There is still a chance of escape, so I forgive you for not accompanying me."
In fact, everyone has this intention. After he said it to him at this moment, more than a hundred guards dispersed and climbed the wall to escape.
At this time, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling came out from under the bed. The former smiled and said: "I should have time to eat the buns made by Sister Zhen!"
※※※
When Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong entered the city through the secret waterway, their geniuses shone brightly.
The two of them returned to their old place, everything was familiar but seemed very strange, and they both felt inexplicably excited.
Kou Zhongqi said: "When Riyuhuahua and the hunting dogs were tracking us, they should have found this secret exit. Why not have people block this exit?"
Xu Ziling was using his skills to dry his soaked clothes and said casually: "Maybe he wants to keep this secret passage for his own emergencies!"
Kou Zhong pushed him and said with a smile: "What kind of luck are you doing? Let's go to the old clothes store and steal two sets of clothes! It's good to make this stingy man feel heartbroken."
The two of them laughed proudly, and while it was still dark, they climbed up to the ridge of a house. Knowing the way, the old horse crossed the house, facing the cold wind, and ran towards the old shop where old clothes were displayed in the east of the city.
※※※
Their wishful thinking came to nothing.
Only then did I find out that the old clothing store and more than ten shops nearby had been requisitioned as accommodation for Sui soldiers.
Kou Zhong sighed and said: "These thieves are like locusts, eating away at Yangzhou until it is riddled with holes and leaving no trace of skin intact. Alas!
Sister-in-law Zhen is so pretty, I hope those thieves don't take notice of her."
Without saying a word, Xu Ziling walked out of the alley and rushed to the market.
※※※
Sure enough, Zhen Sao's stall was gone and turned into a fruit and vegetable stall. The market was still so lively, but all the people I encountered were unfamiliar faces and people with foreign accents.
Xu Ziling grabbed the owner of the fruit and vegetable stall and asked: "Where did the aunt who used to sell steamed buns go?" The boss sighed bitterly: "Of course she left! Only a person with no way out like me will stay here and die.
, but if they rob all my goods again, I will try to storm the city gate tomorrow."
The old man at another stall next to him said: "Is the guest asking about Lao Feng? Are you their relative?"
Kou Zhong said quickly: "He is his nephew."
The old man shook his head and sighed: "The bad thing is that the steamed buns they made are so famous. As soon as the Holy Emperor arrived in Jiangdu, they recruited him to work as a cook in the palace. I haven't heard anything about them since."
Xu Ziling clenched his fists, turned around and left.
Kou Zhong chased after him, accompanying him as he turned left and right in the crowd of people in the market, shouting: "Where are you going?" Xu Ziling said angrily: "I want to rescue Sister Zhen."
Kou Zhong grabbed his arm and said, "Calm down! Have you forgotten the bright moon in the well?"
Xu Ziling was shocked and stopped. Someone immediately pushed him from behind and said, "Don't block the road."
The two of them hurriedly squeezed out of the market and left the crowded and noisy place. They both felt a little clearer.
Kou Zhong suggested treating the stomach first.
After sitting down at a nearby restaurant and stuffing a few snacks at random, Kou Zhong said: "No matter what you do, I will support you, but you must not be reckless. We must first solve Sister Su's problem before we can get started."
."
He also sighed: "The Great Sui Dynasty is really over, and the world will become a mess. If no one comes forward to unify the world, the people will not know how much suffering they will suffer. If a bad Turk invades the Central Plains, we Han people will fall."
Under the cruel rule of foreigners, as long as you are willing to help me, we will go out to conquer the country and try our best to do good things for the innocent people."
Xu Ziling said: "You seem to be thinking too far, and now is not the time to discuss this matter. If we sneak out like this, do you think Dugu Sheng is willing to let us go? It's right for me, Sister Su, to hurry up."
Kou Zhong grabbed two meat buns, stood up and said, "You are responsible for buying two sets of clean clothes. I will go find the secret agent and meet at the exit at the east end of Magong Lane later."
Xu Ziling looked at him and said, "Why don't you go together so that we can take care of you if something happens?"
Kou Zhong said: "Two people together are too much of an eyesore, and they are easily recognized by old acquaintances. It is safer to go separately."
Xu Ziling had no choice but to let him go.
※※※
Kou Zhong walked arrogantly on the street, encountering groups of Sui soldiers from time to time. Women almost disappeared from the streets, and some were only elderly. From this we can understand why so many people wanted to leave Yangzhou.
In the hearts of the common people, the Sui soldiers were more terrifying than any rebel army.
Suddenly someone shouted: "Young Master Zhong!"
Kou Zhong was startled and looked around, only to see someone hiding in the alley waving to him.
Kou Zhong hesitated for a while before walking over. A young man who was a little older than him, dark and solid, and seemed to have quite a bit of martial arts, grabbed his shoulders and said, "It turns out it's really you. I wasn't sure at first. Hey.
!Looks like you have good food and good housing!"
This man's name is Gui Xiliang, and he is a gangster of the same generation as Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling. When they were young, they fought with another gang several times, but they all ended in defeat. However, the relationship between them is quite good.
Kou Zhong saw him wearing the clothes of the Zhuhua Gang, with three bamboo leaves embroidered on his lapel, and asked in surprise: "When did you become the incense master?"
Didn’t it climb on many people’s heads?”
Gui Xiliang replied: "It's all because the gang leader thought highly of me and accepted me as my disciple, alas!"
Kou Zhong pulled him to the other end of the alley and asked puzzledly: "This should be a good thing, why are you sighing?"
Gui Xiliang said: "Don't you know about such a big thing? Where have you been hiding in the past two years? Where is Xiaoling?"
Kou Zhong said: "You answer my question first."
Gui Xiliang groaned and said, "Everyone I say is an incense master. Who should answer the other party first?"
Kou Zhong said with a smile: "Do you want to be the boss? I'll let you do it as much as you can! In the past two years, Xiaoling and I have been hanging out in Jianghu. Du Fuwei and Zhai Rang have shaken hands and drank with us. Ha! It's our turn.
you said so."
Gui Xiliang obviously thought he was bragging, and he said repeatedly: "You brat is stronger than me, but it's a pity that you are still not making progress like before. Alas! Do you know that the gang leader sent someone to beat that fool to death two months ago?"
He died just because he refused to hand over Yuling from Tianxian Tower and sent her away."
Kou Zhong gave a thumbs up and praised: "What a man!"
Gui Xiliang smiled bitterly and said: "A dead hero has no use. Now most of the people in my gang have fled, leaving only a hundred or so people. I hope that when Du Fuwei or Li Zitong comes to attack, they can serve as internal leaders to replace him."
The old man takes revenge."
Kou Zhong's eyes lit up and he lowered his voice and asked, "Has a new gang leader been chosen?"
Gui Xiliang sighed: "What kind of gang leader should we choose? Now we are in a state of disunity, but we have agreed that after Hun Jun dies, we will gather in Danyang to see if we can choose a new gang leader."
At this time, we reached the end of the alley, and there was another street outside. Gui Xiliang stopped and said, "I can't see the light. Remember that guy's house? I hid there."
Kou Zhong asked smoothly: "Where is Boss Yan?"
Gui Xiliang said: "How dare you ask? You two stole something from the official's house and implicated more than a hundred people. Since then, no one has seen them. I heard that it was related to Yu Wenhuaji.
?"
Kou Zhong sighed and said, "Don't worry! I guarantee that Yu Wenhuaji will not be alive for many days. Then Hunjun is about to have him operated on."
Gui Xiliang sneered and said: "You are really stubborn. Yu Wenhuaji didn't take Hunjun seriously at all. The gang leader had a good relationship with him before his death and said that he would even dare to steal Hunjun's women."
Kou Zhongse changed his mind and said, "Do you know which woman he stole?"
Guixin said: "Of course it is the most beautiful one, otherwise why would you take the risk to steal it? Do you think your life will be long?"
Kou Zhong felt bad. The most beautiful people around Yang Guang were Concubine Xiao and Concubine Zhu. Concubine Zhu was from the Baling Gang, so there should be no problem.
But if it was Concubine Xiao, then Yu Wenhuaji should have known that he and Xu Ziling had made a special trip to Jiangdu to harm him.
The more I thought about it, the more frightened I became. I was still in the mood to talk nonsense with this kid, so I hurriedly left.
※※※
Xu Ziling was waiting for Kou Zhong empty-handed, and the latter asked curiously: "Where are the clothes?"
Xu Ziling said angrily: "All the silk and satin clothing and old clothing shops were looted and closed down. Everyone said that wherever the foolish king went, there would be no law and order, and the people's feelings were so lost that I really wanted to punch him to death. Hey! Yours
Why do you look so ugly?"
Kou Zhong looked out and saw a group of Sui soldiers passing by. He lowered his voice and said, "Do you see anything strange about these Sui soldiers?"
Xu Ziling thought he was referring to Dugu Sheng and others who sent people to capture them, and responded: "It doesn't seem like anything. From what I see, the morale of the army is scattered. Even if there is an order, no one will be willing to carry it out with all their heart."
Kou Zhong sighed: "I'm not worried about this problem, but Yu Wenhuaji may have gotten wind of it and learned about his situation.
Quick! Let’s go find Sister Su and talk about it on the way!"
※※※
Xiangyushan is worthy of being a talented person. His hiding place is in the southern suburbs outside the city, not far from the Yangtze River. If there is an incident, it is very convenient to leave by water or land.
On the surface, it looks like just an ordinary house, but it is the secret lair of the Baling Gang.
When the two entered the courtyard, they immediately sensed a difference in the atmosphere. One of the Baling Gang leaders whispered: "Dugu Sheng, Fei Yun is here."
Kou Zhong had already guessed this situation, so he laughed and walked into the hall without fear.
Xu Ziling, who was following behind, had a strange feeling. His good brother was no longer the boy he was before, but now a tough guy who could face any tyrannical enemy.
Dugu Shengsheng was sitting in the middle of the hall with his majestic sword. On one side were Xiangyu Mountain, Su Su and Sister Xiao, and on the other side was Fei Yun, who had an unkind expression. But Yun Yuzhen was nowhere to be seen.
There were five or six big men in brocade robes standing on each side. It was obvious at a glance that they were masters of the imperial guards.
Dugu Sheng's eyes flashed sharply and he shouted in a deep voice: "What do you two mean by this?"
Kou Zhong stopped leisurely, glanced around, and said with a smile: "My two brothers also want to know what it means. They are happy to call us slaves and treat us like prisoners. Hey! Let's comment."
Xiang Yushan glanced at Su Su who was frightened and pale with concern, stood up and said, "It will be good if Brother Kou and Brother Xu come back. This is just a small misunderstanding. Come on! Sit down and talk."
Fei Yun showed off his authority, slapped the armrest with his palm, and shouted: "What's the misunderstanding? Yushan, please sit down for me and let's clarify the matter first."
Seeing that Su Su was frightened, Xu Ziling felt the same and sneered: "I don't understand why we are still entangled at this moment. If you are smart, run away now. I'm afraid it will be too late."
Dugu Sheng heard something in his words, stretched out his hand to stop Fei Yun who was about to have a seizure, and said in a deep voice: "Brother Xu, can you speak more clearly!"
Kou Zhong interrupted: "I just heard the news that someone among the Holy Emperor's favorite concubines is secretly having an affair with Yu Wenhuaji. So our plan is no longer a secret. What would you do if you were Yu Wenhuaji?"
Everyone's expression changed at the same time.
Fei Yun also suppressed his anger and asked: "Where did this news come from? Do you know she is the concubine?"
Kou Zhongdao: "It was said by someone from the Zhuhua Gang. I heard that the deceased former gang leader was from Yu Wenji, so I learned about it."
Fei Yun cursed: "It turns out it's this thief who doesn't know how to commend himself."
Listening to his tone, one could tell that if the death of the former Zhuhua Gang leader was not directly related to him, it was inseparable from it.
Dugu Sheng said to one of his subordinates: "Zhu Ming, did the soldiers of the Yuwen family do anything unusual today?"
The tall and thin Zhu Ming shook his head and said: "We have closely monitored Yu Wenhuaji, Yuwen Zhiji and Yuchi Sheng. They are no different from usual."
Dugu Sheng breathed a sigh of relief and said: "It is groundless and has no reason. Since Yu Wenhuaji has always been able to enter and leave the palace freely, this is indeed possible. Fortunately, I have been prepared. No one is allowed to leave the palace for these two days..."
Xu Ziling interrupted him and said: "Now is no longer the time to comfort ourselves. Didn't all the people who looked after us escape last night? If some of them turned to Yu Wenhuaji and communicated secretly with the concubine who was a traitor, Yu Wenhuaji and that
Know your situation clearly."
Sister Xiao interjected: "Who has the military power now?"
Dugu Sheng replied: "The holy bodyguards are all people who have followed me for many years. There should be no problems. As for whether some of them have different intentions or have been bribed, I don't even dare to vouch for them."
Fei Yun joined in: "Besides the personal guards, there are the garrison of Jiangdu itself and the Imperial Guards who came with the Holy Emperor. The former is commanded by Yuchi Sheng, and the latter is commanded by Sima Dekan. Neither Yu Wenhuaji nor Yuwen Zhiji have any authority.
Ask directly about the military affairs."
But his tone softened and he said: "I did have something wrong, and I would like to sincerely apologize to the two little brothers. Without further ado, we must take action before Yu Wenhuaji knows about this matter, and destroy Yuwen's family in Jiangdu.
Those who have been killed must be uprooted, otherwise there will be endless troubles. Please two of you and I will pay homage to the Holy One immediately. Your Holy Majesty has returned to the royal city."
Xiang Yushan also advised: "The two eldest brothers are also on this trip to avenge their mentor. While Yu Wenhua and He still don't know about this, act quickly, otherwise you will never look back if the opportunity is missed."
Kou Zhong said calmly: "Is there really no sign of military mobilization or rebellion?"
Everyone was shocked when they heard his tone.
Susu couldn't help but said: "What is Xiaozhong thinking of? Tell me quickly!"
Xu Ziling, who was as intelligent as Kou Zhong, came to his senses and asked: "How many people did Sima Dekan bring to chase Dou Xian, and when did they set out?"
Dugu Shengju said in shock: "You said he wants to rebel?"
Kou Zhongdao: "The sergeant's escape is entirely his responsibility. How is his relationship with Yu Wenhuaji?"
Zhu Ming's expression changed: "Before setting off this morning, the Commander did go to the General Manager's Mansion to look for Yu Wenhuaji and Yu Chisheng."
Fei Yun stood up and said in a trembling voice: "That's not right! There is no reason for him to bring twenty thousand people to chase Dou Xian's hundreds of people."
Xu Ziling said: "His pursuit of Dou Xian is just a bluff. According to me, he will lead his army back tonight at the latest, and when Yuchi Sheng and Yu Wenhua are ready, they will enter the palace."
Fei Yun's face became extremely ugly, and he said anxiously: "This matter is not trivial. We will enter the palace immediately and report to the Holy One."
Kou Zhong shouted: "Wait a minute! We can accompany you to take this risk, but we must let our sister leave Jiangdu first so that we will have no worries."
Dugu Sheng and Fei Yun exchanged glances, both hesitant to make a decision. Without Su Su, these two boys would have no idea how to get back if they try their best to escape, and time would not allow them to do so.
Su Su said sadly: "No! I will wait until you come back before leaving."
Kou Zhong smiled bitterly and said: "When there is an incident, no one can leave. This house may no longer be a secret to Yu Wenji."
Xiangyushan patted his chest and assured Dugu Sheng and Fei Yun: "My two eldest brothers are both daring people, and they have a deep grudge against Yu Wenhuaji. You two adults can rest assured."
Dugu Sheng reluctantly nodded in agreement.
After Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling said goodbye to Su Su and made peace with Xiang Yushan, they followed Dugu Sheng and Fei Yun back to the city.