On the willow tops in the moonlight, the dazzling lights and bustling crowds of people in Guangzhou city became more and more sporadic as they approached the Xiguan Marshland. It was not until I suddenly looked up that I realized that there were only dark alleys and fallen leaves in front of me. In the desolate and dilapidated scene
With a disturbing silence.
The short and crooked adobe houses on both sides were huddled together, like two rows of extremely unevenly grown teeth. Along with the rustling of dead leaves, they were grinning at the few people who stepped inside.
"Master, have we come to the wrong place..."
Fu Ningdie was already walking in the middle of the team very naturally, slightly ahead of the two senior brothers. It was difficult to understand why she came to such a remote place - shouldn't beggars begging for food in the city?
Jiang Wen judged the location based on the stars in the vast sky, touched his chin and said, "According to my inquiries in the evening, it should be in the west..."
Fu Ningdie looked around suspiciously, and saw some tattered and faded yellow talisman paper stuck on the dilapidated door panels on both sides. It was covered with twists and turns of unknown lines. It looked like words but was not, and they were stacked one on top of the other.
Together, they are densely packed like eggs laid by insects.
Seeing that every household was like this, the lights were turned off early and the houses were closed in Xiguan alleys, no sound was heard, the cold wind blew the talisman and the talisman was making noises, and the rumors I had heard in the village suddenly came to my mind, and these talismans seemed to be suppressing and expelling something.
It was an extremely terrifying thing, which made Ningdie even more certain that she was on the wrong path.
Jiang Wen turned to look at Ningdie and suddenly said, "Apprentice, my master suddenly remembered a terrifying legend here. It is said that there was a large mass grave under the feet. After it was forcibly razed to the ground, supernatural phenomena were often seen."
The word '' is often regarded as 'the corpse field', which is very evil..."
As expected, Ningdie was startled again in an instant. Looking at the densely packed talismans on the doors on both sides, she already wanted to go back and not mess around with tonight's so-called Jianghu meeting.
"Master...I'm afraid..."
Jiang Wen covered his face helplessly. Why is this apprentice so timid? How can he walk alone in the world in the future?
"What are you afraid of? What's there to be afraid of in a few hundred years?"
However, Hong Wending walked up to it without any fear, peeled off a piece of talisman paper that was brittle in the sun, and said to Jiang Wen, "Master, I think we should be there just ahead."
Fu Ningdie watched this scene with trepidation and almost screamed. Fortunately, after waiting for a long time, she saw no evil wind blowing, no flying sand and rocks, and no ghosts with eyes as big as lanterns falling from the sky to snatch people away, so she quietly relaxed.
One breath.
Jiang Wen sighed and brought the talisman in front of Fu Ningdie.
"See clearly. Although this piece of paper looks like a talisman, you might as well turn it around and look at it. Can you understand it?"
Xiao Ningdie took it over doubtfully, turned the direction repeatedly to distinguish the glyphs, and slowly read out the results of the research.
"...I hereby take the money from your house and disperse the beggars from the fifth courtyard. Based on this document, you don't dare to come here alone?"
Once I read it out, the weirdness in it suddenly became clear. Obviously, these talismans were not used to drive away ghosts and suppress evil spirits, but were used to drive away wandering beggars at the door.
No matter how magical the Taoist talismans are, there will never be such an inexplicable weapon of law of cause and effect. The densely packed talismans in front of you are actually issued by the beggar gang.
Guangzhou has a large population. No matter whether it is a large or small household, weddings and funerals are good opportunities to beg for food. If the credentials given by the gang leader are not posted, beggars will come begging one after another, and it will be difficult to deal with it.
Therefore, it is better to spend a larger sum of money to avoid having the door full of embarrassing beggars and causing trouble.
Therefore, it was originally intended as a proof that the beggar gang had received protection money. The reason why it was transformed into an indistinguishable talisman shape was just to add a layer of mystery to the legend that the beggar was good at handling snakes and dogs, so that it would be convenient for future visits.
More protection money.
The presence of these talismans now shows that there is indeed a large-scale beggar gang in the city. The large number of such talismans shows that this place is not far from the beggar's den, otherwise it would not be harassed so frequently that civilian families are harassed.
It is necessary to cover it with talismans to avoid disaster.
Hong Wending had the experience of traveling in the world, and now even if he couldn't recognize the handwriting, he could still see the doorway and knew that he was not far from his destination.
After Jiang Wen's explanation, Ningdie finally let go of her doubts.
"Ningdie, don't think that beggars are just a bunch of miserable beggars. In this kind of thoroughfare city, beggars can not only collect regular donations and reward money, but the wealthy ones can also buy land and raise wives and concubines. They are not necessarily any better than ordinary people.
abjection."
Jiang Wen said expressionlessly, but Fu Ningdie could not imagine the beggars looking high-spirited and wearing gold and silver.
"Master, why do they have to be beggars when they don't lack money? Isn't it better to buy land and become a rich man?"
When asked this question, Jiang Wen could only smile helplessly. In fact, everyone knows clearly. Who would give up an industry that can make money?
As early as in "Taiping Guangji", "Chengdu Beggars" and "Chao Ye Qian Zai·Supplement", the Beggar Gang was mentioned, and it was clearly stated that they were by no means a group of poor beggars, but a group of extortionists.
The gangsters - it's just that the gangsters collect protection fees by talking about fighting and killing, relying on "fighting evil"; while the beggars collect protection fees by focusing on "nuisance" instead of killing.
"The reasons here are complicated. I'll leave it to you to figure it out yourself."
This was not the time for small talk, because as a few people moved forward, some sneaky figures appeared in the shadows of the corner in front of them.
They whispered to each other following Jiang Wen's footsteps, and the dirty smell from the corner continued to float out. The eyes that used to pretend to be docile and miserable during the day could not help but reveal a cunning and brutal look at this time, and they were inseparable.
Staring at Master and Disciple Jiang Wen.
Two steps further, the view suddenly widened, and a Guandi Temple with mottled exterior walls appeared in front of us. The flat land was filled with simple shacks made of bamboo and wood, and all the rustling people were in ragged clothes and ferocious.
The scary beggars slowly surrounded me.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! The dirty beggar got closer and closer. Jiang Wen moved forward expressionlessly, deliberately exposing the hilt of the ancient bronze sword at his waist. At this time, a strong and tall man followed
The beggar opened the temple door and appeared, and the sneaky beggars, old and young, bowed their heads and dispersed, returning to their timid and timid appearance.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time. Please take a seat in the prime minister's office. Where do you come from?"
The strong beggar spoke with a northern accent and raised his hand to Jiang Wen.
Fu Ningdie looked around in confusion, but the other party didn't set up a chair. Why did they suddenly let them sit?
However, Jiang Wen knew very well that this sentence was a slang in the world. He was asking what he was doing here, rather than intending to make polite greetings. If he showed his timidity at this time, the other party would see through it, and ordinary people would suffer if they couldn't say it.
"I can't afford to be called the Prime Minister's Mansion. There is no need to test it. I am the head of the Wuyi Sect. I come to your manager to make a deal. You can just go and inform me."
However, after the strong beggar heard this, he did not move at all and looked at the three apprentices behind Jiang Wen suspiciously.
"Excuse me, our Emperor Guan will not let go of the rice seedlings."
As soon as these words came out, Jiang Wen's face suddenly fell.
Putting rice in the rivers and lakes refers to the kidnapping business. Does the other party think of himself as a gangster who has failed to extort ransom and has changed his job to kidnapping and trafficking children?
As expected, the people of the Beggar Clan are down and out and bold. Even if they have never done any evil deeds such as harvesting or harvesting, people often come here to discuss human trafficking, extortion and kidnapping.
"You talk slanderously, do you want to take the postgraduate entrance examination?"
Jiang Wen urged impatiently, "I'm here to buy information. If you keep stalling, I'll break in."
The strong beggar quickly blocked the entrance of the temple and explained to Jiang Wen: "Taoist Master, please calm down. It was not me who blocked it intentionally. We have encountered something in the past two days. The gang leader is discussing matters inside and there are no outsiders. You should wait for two days."
Come here again..."
Hearing the news, Jiang Wen became even more furious.
Just being chased around by a group of empty-handed monks during the day, and being rejected by a stinky beggar at night, what kind of nonsense is this? How exclusive is this city of Guangzhou, and why is he so unlucky as soon as he sets foot here?
?
"It's easy to say, then I'll come back another day."
Jiang Wen nodded with a smile and looked like he was about to turn around and leave. However, when the strong beggar was not paying attention, he turned over and put his palm against the crack of the door to exert force. He held the strong beggar's arm with the other hand, causing him to rush.
Couldn't get away.
Jiang Wen's three disciples had already guessed that their master was not so easy to talk to. When they saw Jiang Wen holding the door panel, they quickly and cunningly filed in, sneaking into the heavily guarded Guandi Temple first.
"How brave!"
The strong beggar's elbow was pressed and he couldn't get away. He cursed angrily and simply turned around, raised his fist and hit Jiang Wen on the temple. He obviously had a lot of knowledge in ruthless moves.
Seeing this situation, Jiang Wen stretched out one leg to block the door, and used his hand to collide with the opponent's fist, intending to draw the fist away and deflect it elsewhere. However, he found that the opponent's moves also suddenly changed, and instantly turned into a technique of capturing wrong bones.
At this moment, the thirty-six Tiangang Grasping Hands are about to be deployed, and the move is a "step over the shoulder and release the arm" move to defeat the enemy, buckling the elbow and grabbing the shoulder in one go.
The Thirty-Six Tiangang Grasping Hands circulated in the world is a practical and efficient way to defeat enemies. It has the functions of punching acupoints and breaking bones. Ordinary people in the world are suddenly hit at close range and often cannot find the key to cracking the enemy in time.
, struggled wildly in panic and was caught, only to end up with fractures and death. No matter how powerful his martial arts was, he could not perform it.
Now that the beggars around him have noticed something unusual, they swarm in with eager eyes. Once surrounded by these people, they will be unable to fight against the four hands with two fists, and they are guaranteed to suffer losses. The strong beggar obviously also has this intention, and will delay Jiang.
Smell time.
But Jiang Wen glanced at him calmly, with a mocking look on his face and remained silent. His palms and fists were like snakes coming out of the hole. Jiang Wen's caught palm suddenly turned over and clasped the opponent, and he quickly tore it apart with all his strength.
The opponent's grasp was followed by a sudden force on his outer wrist, just like swinging a steel whip.
As soon as Jiang Wen's sneer was seen by him, a series of cold snaps erupted, and he pulled down violently and repeatedly.
At this time, Jiang Wen kept swinging with all his strength, but the strong beggar's arm was straight and unable to bend. Only severe pain came from the joints. He felt that his arm was about to be stretched into two pieces, and he would turn upside down if he didn't let go.
Folded ten degrees!
"Watch it, I will teach you this little silk-winding trick. Please remember not to be caught again in the future."
Jiang Wen said with a smile and added more energy.
The strong beggar was in pain and could only let go. He was kicked on the butt by Jiang Wen, and he staggered to the foot of the door. Then the door of Guandi Temple was slammed shut, and there was even a sound of adding a bolt to the door.
The sound caused the door to be completely locked.
A group of beggars swarming at the temple gate stopped and looked at each other in confusion. They could only stare at the embarrassed beggar and didn't know what to say, and they didn't dare to rush in. After all, the top brass of the Guangzhou Beggar Gang were inside.
What should I do if I am accused of rebelling?
"What are you looking at! Get away!"
The strong beggar bounced up from the ground like a carp and scolded the wild beggars around him, "The gang leader is fighting inside and whoever gets in will be unlucky. Do you still need to worry about it? Go to bed!"
As the temple door closed tightly, Jiang Wen exhaled and realized that although the Guandi Temple was small, it was solemn and majestic. The couplets written in red paint on the stone lintels on both sides of the main hall of the temple were particularly eye-catching. The majestic Master Guan was sitting in the middle of the temple.
, standing on both sides are the white-faced Guan Ping, and the black-faced Zhoucang, all of the size of a living person, with angry eyes.
Jiang Wen, who broke into the temple, was stunned to find that he was just making a small fuss outside, but the fighting was really going on inside the Guandi Temple. A large group of beggars and elders divided into two groups and started fighting.
I don't have time to pay attention to this little thing at the door.
As the saying goes, family scandals should not be made public. Jiang Wen found that he seemed to have mistakenly blamed the beggar at the door, but he came...
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Everyone, I am Jiang Wen, the leader of the Wuyi Sect, and I would like to pay a visit to the leader of the Guangzhou Beggar Clan!"
However, the chaos in the Guandi Temple had no intention of stopping. In the chaos and noise, he heard some people agreeing, some wanting to get out, and occasionally someone scolding, saying that it took a fight to know who the gang leader was, so he
The chaos continued.
"Master, are they competing in martial arts?"
Xiao Shitou looked at it carefully for a while, and was a little confused by the real martial arts world mentioned by the master, "Obviously they can bite people, why can't I?"
Jiang Wen also looked at the beggars fighting with an embarrassed look. There were endless damaging moves like monkeys stealing peaches and two dragons grabbing pearls. Lifting the vaginal legs and stepping on toes were considered aboveboard. He had developed his shamelessness to the peak - like grabbing.
As soon as he used his wrestling skills, he threw himself on the ground and rolled around, taking the opportunity to bite his ears.
However, at this moment, a figure suddenly appeared in the inner hall. He stepped out from the statue of Guan Gong who was holding a knife and reading a book. He stepped hard on the ground with each foot and kicked away the elders of the Beggar Clan who were fighting on the ground. He used his hands to tear apart the bones.
Splitting the tendons is like washing the floor, and soon a clear space is cleared, leaving a place where people are wailing.
"You guys, stop it quickly. How can you make yourself laughable in front of your comrades?"
The man also spoke northern Mandarin, had a stubble on his face, and looked quite heroic. He angrily rebuked his men, "I fight them day and night. I keep the door behind closed doors just to be afraid of your embarrassment. You guys really think
I can’t do it without any means!”
However, among the group of beggars and elders who were defeated, there were still some who were holding their necks and making rude remarks.
"Gang Leader Fan, although your Xinghan Beggar Clan is spread throughout the three provinces, but now that you are in charge of our Guandi Society, you have stretched your hand too far!"
Another gray-haired elder also said angrily: "Exactly! Gang Leader Wu used to be in charge of Guandi Temple. We, Hongsheng Temple, Wenchang Palace, Confucius Temple, Meizhou Temple, and Lianhua Temple, are naturally on the same page as him, but he also
I have never deliberately suppressed us like you!"
Gang Leader Fan, whom they said was just about to greet Jiang Wen, was suddenly disturbed by someone behind his back. Jiang Wen's face darkened instantly when he saw him, as obvious and sudden as the weather changing in summer.
"That's enough! Dare you say something like this again!"
He clapped his hands and left a deep fingerprint on the wooden pillar, "Guan Dihui Wu Gang Leader has discussed with me many times before to merge the Guandi Hui into the Xinghan Beggar Gang. You can't pretend to be stupid."
For the sake of money, if you want to rebel, you must first defeat me!"
Then he forced out a smile and said to Jiang Wen.
"My friend, this is not the place to talk now. Why don't we change the time? Fan will definitely attend the appointment!"
The implication was very obvious. Gang Leader Fan felt a little embarrassed and wanted Jiang Wen to give in first. This was a soft eviction order.
However, the words spoken by the mighty Gang Leader Fan were like farts. Immediately behind him, people from the Guangzhou Beggar Clan began to murmur in low voices. Once this fermented, it became a continuous murmur in the entire audience.
"Gang Leader Fan, what on earth do you have to say that you can't say publicly!?"
"Yes, why not say it in front of friends in the world!"
"Hmph, I suspect Gang Leader Wu was harmed by you!"
Jiang Wen looked at Gang Leader Fan, who had a darker face, in great surprise. He guessed that these local elders had decided not to blame the public and not to overpower local gangsters, so they planned to forcefully exclude this foreign gang leader who was highly skilled in martial arts.
Listening to their tone of voice, it seems that the Quanwu Xing has been fighting for a long time. Jiang Wen and his entourage did not choose the right time and happened to get involved in a power conflict during the change of leadership.
However, Jiang Wen understood that for a loose organization like the Beggar Clan, it was normal for the situation like this to happen.
In the arena of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there was no unified beggar gang that was the best in the world in Jin Yong's book, let alone a dog-beating stick to command the beggars - besides, this is not consistent with common sense. Since ancient times, the whole world has been the land of the king, the four mountains and the mountains.
There are always people who resist orders and disobey orders. How can a group of beggars from all over the world unite and only recognize one leader?
The beggar gangs in the Ming and Qing Dynasties were actually numerous beggar organizations scattered in various provinces. Relying on their tacit cooperation with local officials and gentry, they acted as omnipotent local intelligence agencies.
Among them, the more famous beggar gangs are Qiong Jia Xing, which is popular in Shandong and Henan and spread all over the Central Plains; the Huazi Society is mainly in Jiangxi and Fujian; the Xiaoyi Society is deep in Sichuan and Yungui; the Luo Kuang Society spreads across the two lakes in the south of the Yangtze River; and the Pole Society has entered the capital.
The Guandihui in front of us is the name of the Beggar Gang in Guangdong and Guangxi.
In such an organization, there are people who have been forced to live in poverty, and there are also those who harvest and cut off their bodies from time to time. The inner right and wrong are hard to grasp. It can only be said to be a deformed phenomenon created by the chaotic world.
Of course, there are exceptions. For example, the beggar's den in Fuzhou City was broken up and expelled by the Holy Boy Hongyang who was entrenched in the city.
"Gang Leader Fan, I think what they said makes sense. If you have anything to do, why don't you tell me, maybe Jiang can give you some suggestions..."
Seeing Jiang Wen taking the opportunity to talk shamelessly, there was immediately an elder who wanted to retort.
But Jiang Wen had long expected this. He took off a jade bee needle with a high gold content from Ningdie's head in advance, and fired it like a bullet out of the chamber. It rubbed the necks of several elders of the Beggar Clan, deeply
It penetrated deeply into the bluestone bricks in front of the Guandi Temple, resulting in complete silence in the venue.
"I will also offer you a reward for inquiring about the information. What do you think?"