(Brothers! Thank you. We are just a hair away from the top of the monthly ticket list. Keep going!)
Although Huaiyuan has not yet established a county, its streets and markets are as prosperous as those in ordinary county towns.
Different from those low-end prostitutes, although Yuehonglou also deals in flesh and blood business, if you step in from the door directly facing the main street, you will find an elegant courtyard with winding paths and green bamboos and plum blossoms in each room.
Interlocking with each other, it has the style of a famous city.
The girls in bright and pink clothes are not only carefully selected, but some of them are trained with great effort. They all know a little about poetry, calligraphy, music, and painting, and they are very interesting, but they are not those cheap prostitutes who are eager to sell the goods when they enter the house.
and.
Although there are many inns in the market and there are inns in the military camp across the river where you can stay, but those wealthy business travelers who spend thousands of dollars every night without frowning, naturally want to stay in this deep house with the company of Yingyan.
The most comforting thing is the lonely journey.
The courtyard at the far end of the Yuehong Building is where Liu Qiong'er, the top celebrity shopkeeper, entertains guests. In the afternoon, a wealthy foreigner named Zheng came in with several entourages. When they met, he threw in a gold ingot.
come over.
Haoke, surnamed Zheng, looks fair and elegant, like a scholar, and all the sisters will like him after seeing him.
The few guards around him looked ordinary in appearance, but the sharp looks in their eyes were unintentionally revealed, but they seemed to be cannibals, which made people's hearts tremble.
It's just that this wealthy guest named Zheng is a bit strange in the eyes of Miss Liu Qiong'er.
Although she has been doing business in the past few years, she knows in her heart that this is just a way to build a brand for Yuehonglou and attract wealthy customers.
If someone really entered Yuehong Building and saw her but didn't look like a hungry tiger wanting to eat her, she would worry about whether her twenty-two-year-old self had lost the value of establishing a brand.
Today, when this benefactor named Zheng came in, he didn't pay much attention to her. He followed the guard in the hiding room and talked to her in the afternoon.
"Now it is almost certain that Xu Wufu and Xu Wujiang are indeed at odds with each other. The problem lies with the woman named Su Di whom Xu Wujiang remarried two years ago. Before Mr. Zheng came over, we also went to Biyang.
After finding some excuse to contact Xu Wufu, it can be concluded that Xu Wufu has no idea what is happening in Huaiyuan Town..."
At dusk, Liu Qiong'er brewed a pot of fragrant tea with her own hands. With some curiosity and unwillingness, she habitually tiptoed into the yard. As soon as she arrived at the porch, she heard the guest surnamed Zheng discussing things with his subordinates.
Mention the Xu family, a local wealthy family.
She wondered in her heart, what did these people want to do? Could it be that this seemingly gentle Mr. Zheng was actually a thief who stepped on the plate?
"You are right to be cautious - even if it can be concluded that Xu Wufu is not involved, the mere fact that those old people from the Jingsheng Army colluded with Lu Xiong cannot be ignored. In the final analysis, we still don't know
What are the officials thinking in their hearts? They say he has a weak temper, but he doesn't do everything right and obeys the prime minister, the king and the others. Just because Wang Xin was demoted to Tangzhou, it doesn't mean that he won't make a comeback."
Guanjia? Refers to the current emperor?
Miss Liu Qiong'er's almond-shaped eyes widened. She couldn't guess what these people were discussing, and she was a little frightened.
"Chen Shi has officially ordered Deng Gui to protect Wang Zhen. If they keep hiding in the military stronghold and don't come out, how can we solve this problem if there is less noise? According to me, just don't do anything and call in more people.
Taking advantage of their unpreparedness and charging directly into the military stronghold, I don’t believe how powerful the hundreds of soldiers can really be..."
"Making a lot of noise can solve the problem, but Wang Zhen is not dispensable. Do you think no one in the court is watching the Prime Minister now? How much shit are you planning to stick on your butts? Let the Prime Minister help you.
wipe?"
"Then how should we deal with this matter?"
"In the past, Wang's talent may not have been so important. Three or five people could solve it best, and if they couldn't solve it, it wouldn't be a big problem. But now that Lu Xiong has gathered the remnants of the Jingsheng Army, this matter is definitely not simple - this is also true.
The reason why you asked me to come here. We need to clip its wings first; maybe this is a good opportunity to eradicate the remnants of the Jingsheng Army!"
"The problem cannot be solved if the movement is small, but the movement cannot be large. What should we do?"
"That's why I'm here. How can I count on you for everything? Dong Qifeng, I heard you said that you are an old acquaintance with the second master of Hutou Village in Tongbai Mountain. Is it possible that he can recommend us to join Hutou Village?"
"What can he do by recommending us to join Hutou Village? The leaders of these cottages are very smart and will not obey our orders!"
"Why are you talking so much nonsense? I have my own plan on how to do it. You just have to say whether it will work or not."
Wang Zhen was demoted to Tangzhou. In the past few days, everyone in Huaiyuan Town had known about it. Although Miss Liu Qiong'er thought it was best not to hear these words, she couldn't control her curiosity and eavesdropped on the corridor.
It took a long time before he retreated quietly.
…………
…………
Deep in the main vein of the South Ridge of Tongbai Mountain, about forty miles away from Huaiyuan Town, there is a mountain ridge standing on the east bank of a stream called Paohu Creek.
The high cliffs of this mountain ridge adjacent to the river are particularly high, shaped like an evil tiger leaping out, hence the name Hutou Ridge.
Hutou Ridge is sandwiched between the mountains of Tongbai Mountain, and the road is difficult. There is only one dirt road that winds from the west bank of Paohu Creek, but it ends at Yedukou on the other side.
If anyone wants to enter Hutou Ridge, he can take a boat across the fast-flowing and deep Paohu River at Yedukou, find a trail in the jungle on the east bank, and then climb the mountain in a circle.
There was a village halfway up the mountainside of Hutou Ridge in the early years, where more than a dozen families of mountain people and hunters lived together. It was only occupied by a group of bandit leaders named Po Feng Dao Tang Kui more than ten years ago.
After that, in addition to the criminals who committed crimes and the desperate and bankrupt villagers who came to seek refuge, Tang Kui of the Broken Wind Sword also robbed and forced the nearby strong mountain people Orion Hunters to join the gang. At this time, two hundred young and strong bandits had gathered and practiced day and night.
, at this time it was considered a quite powerful copycat force in the Huaiyuan Mountains.
The bandits were numerous and the stronghold was dangerous, so neither the prefectures, counties nor the Huaiyuan Inspection Department were able to attack them.
On this day, ten fast horses came meandering along the dirt road on the west bank of Paohu Creek, and stopped in front of the ferry.
A man dressed as a businessman in a homespun robe jumped off his horse, walked to the ferry, and shouted to the ferry tied to the willow forest on the other side: "Wu Laoqi, have you fallen asleep like a bird?!"
"Second Master has returned to the village so early. Why don't you stay in Huaiyuan Town this time and find a girl to hang out with for a few more days before coming back? Are you thinking about the little girl you kidnapped a few days ago? I said Second Master
, that little lady has asked you to do it so many times, and you still don’t want to change it to a fresh one when you reach Huaiyuan Town?"
Listening to the voice, a lean man got out from under the awning of the ferry and saw the second master, Chen Zixiao, already standing on the wild ferry on the other side, saying hello and moving quickly to untie the rope.
He propped up the bamboo pole on the river bed, and the boat came to the west bank like an arrow from its string.
Except for the second master, Chen Zixiao, and the two followers who sneaked into Huaiyuan Town to inquire about the news, the other eight people were all strangers, and the captain looked them over.
Seven of them were all strong men with strong muscles and bones, and the horses they led had knives and bows tied to their backs.
Although these people were all dressed in coarse cloth and short-shirted entourage, they had a rather caring attitude. It was obvious that all of them were skilled swordsmen and bowmen.
The leader was in his early thirties, dressed in blue and black robes, and looked elegant, but he looked like a scholar. Wu Qineng was guarding the ferry alone, and his eyes were certainly poisonous.
Captain Wu Qi saw that these people were extraordinary and couldn't help but curiously asked Chen Zixiao, the second master, "
"These gentlemen are the guests that you personally rushed to Huaiyuan to meet, Second Master. Why did you bring them all to the village?"
"Why are you talking so much and asking questions? I'm just supporting you about things you shouldn't know." Chen Zixiao scolded him in a low voice.
After crossing the Paohu River, everyone led their horses into the dense forest and climbed up the mountain road.
After a while, everyone stopped to rest on a natural stone platform halfway up the mountain, only to find that they were already more than twenty feet above the stream.
Yedu on the other side of Paohu Creek is like a deserted beach. The ferry is hidden under the willow trees and cannot be seen.
Chen Zixiao sent his confidant Liu Shiquan to the village to report the news, letting Tang Kui, the head of the family, know that he had brought someone back directly.
The young scribe stood under a locust tree, staring at Chen Zixiao, the second head of Hutou Village who frowned and spoke little after entering the mountain, and said in a deep voice:
"Boss Chen, you know very well that with your martial arts skills, you will never be able to get ahead if you stay in this poor and remote village. But as long as you do this for us, my husband will give you a piece of paper."
Not to mention the Huaiyuan military stronghold inspection envoy, high-ranking officials such as the county military and horse inspectors and the military and state inspection envoys are also easy to capture! And the things you committed in Jeju back then were not at all
It’s no big deal.”
"Mr. Zheng, don't worry about me, but the leader has suffered losses from the imperial court in the past and is very suspicious. I'm worried that it will be difficult to convince him."
"As long as Chief Chen makes up his mind, everything will be easy to do!" said the scribe. "After entering the village, you said that we committed a crime in Bianjing and had no choice but to run to Tongbai Mountain to seek refuge with you. Don't rush.
Convince the Po Feng Dao to cooperate with us. I believe that once the boss gets familiar with us and recognizes our integrity, things will definitely not be as difficult as you worry, Chief Chen."
…………
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Po Feng Dao Tang Kui was a good drinker, and whenever a new brother joined the team in Hutou Village, he would have a big banquet.
Zheng Hui, Dong Qifeng and others committed crimes in Bianjing and came all the way to seek refuge. Tang Kui didn't think much about it. As usual, he set up a banquet and summoned more than ten people from the village, big and small, to accompany Zheng Hui and others who had come to seek refuge.
After drinking wine from dusk to midnight, they all dispersed, feeling top-heavy.
Chen Zixiao was originally worried that Tang Kui would be wary of Zheng Hui and others. He was also worried that Zheng Hui and others were arrogant and disliked the vulgar leader of the village, and that they would not get along with each other.
However, Zheng Hui and Dong Qifeng did not show any pretense at all, and made Tang Kui and other leaders happy during the banquet. Not only did they enjoy the wine tonight, they also made an appointment to talk about their elders and become brothers with different surnames tomorrow.
Chen Zixiao returned to the room feeling dizzy, thinking that in a few days Zheng Hui would get along well with everyone, and he would not be so resistant to talking to the boss Tang Kui about recruiting him, right?
The woman timidly took the foot-washing water, but her hand shook accidentally and splashed some mud on the ground. She looked over in horror, worried that Chen Zixiao would slap her.
"It's okay, don't be so afraid of me," Chen Zixiao stretched out his hand to touch the young woman's smooth face. Apart from the frightened eyes that wanted to hide, which was unpleasant, he was quite charming and comforted her, saying,
"You can stay in the village and serve me with peace of mind. You are the second wife of Hutou Village. You wear gold and silver, and you have maids to serve you on weekdays. What else do you have to be afraid of? Don't think about the past. Don't force me.
I will run to Xinyang County and kill all your family members."
"Beep beep beep!" Someone knocked on the courtyard door outside.
"Who?" Chen Zixiao was just a little interested and impatient for someone to disturb him at this time.
"It's me, Dong Qifeng. The head of the family has just sent someone to call Mr. Zheng, and asked me to come over and call Brother Chen for a visit." Dong Qifeng shouted outside the courtyard gate.
Chen Zixiao was confused. The banquet had just ended, and Tang Kui, the boss, was so drunk that he couldn't walk unsteadily. Why should he and Zheng Hui be called over in such a hurry?
Besides, Tang Kui also called him over. Why did he let Dong Qifeng, who had just joined the team today, make this trip? He was not afraid that Dong Qifeng didn't know the way to the village.
Of course, Chen Zixiao didn't think of anything else. He reached out and touched the woman's swollen arms and said, "Wash it clean and wait for me to come back. I won't treat you badly in the future."
Chen Zixiao put on his shirt and walked straight to the courtyard with Dong Qifeng, the head of the house, Tang Kui. However, when he opened the door and walked into the courtyard, he woke up from the drunkenness.
There were no copycat brothers in the yard, but a few people brought over by Zheng Hui were guarding the yard. They were holding long bows and holding long knives. When he walked in, these people looked over with a little joking look in their eyes.
.
"Mr. Zheng and the boss should be in the house. Brother Chen, please come inside." Dong Qifeng extended his hand and asked Chen Zixiao to continue walking in.
Chen Zixiao came over without even a knife. What else could he do now except go inside?
Chen Zixiao pushed the door open and walked into the main room. The lights were burning brightly, but he saw the head Tang Kui and two of his subordinates lying dead on the cold mud floor. The woman Tang Kui had recently picked up was huddled in the corner, her crotch was wet, and
Zheng Hui sat on the imperial chair in the middle and looked towards him:
"Brother Chen, you are now the head of Hutou Village. Congratulations!"
