Chapter 8: Li Yuliang slays the Snitch in the middle of the night, and Liu Qingyuan holds a banquet for Diao
The shopkeeper hadn't slept yet, and was sitting in the front room in front of the shop taking stock under the lamp. When he saw that the four of them were leaving the shop in the middle of the night, he was startled, and then smiled and said, "Why do you need to go out at this time if you have anything to do?" You girl, just send a guy out for three taels of silver..." Before Kangxi could understand, Lang Ding shouted from the side: "Fart! Open the door quickly!" Seeing his fierceness, the shopkeeper was so frightened that he didn't dare to say a word. , came out and opened the door to let them out. Aunt Suma stepped on the threshold and said to the shopkeeper with a stern face: "You stay here and we will be back soon." Kangxi saw that he was frightened pitifully and said with a smile: "Then No need, just stay alert and wait until we come back and call the door."
The snow was more than half a foot thick, and goose feathers rolled up in the sky, falling one after another. When they came to the street, the crying became even more sad and miserable, and hair-raising. Listen carefully, it was obviously an old lady sobbing. , he was still muttering something in his mouth, but they couldn't understand it clearly. The four of them walked in through the snow in search of the sound, and saw that not far from the store, there were lights flashing in a dilapidated thatched house facing the street - the cry came from here. The door was not even bolted. Lang Ling stepped forward and pushed it gently, and the four people ducked in one after another.
As soon as he entered the house, Kangxi was stunned - it was really a scene of living hell. The house that was more than ten feet square was empty, the ashes were out, there was no heat, and the snow that drifted in from the crack of the door was covered with a thin layer of it. On the first floor, a white-haired mother-in-law of about sixty years old, guarding the dimly burning small tile lamp, lay on the kang table made of rotten wood pieces. She had cried until her face was swollen and she had died. There was a body lying straight on the kang. The corpse also had gray hair. His face was covered with a piece of yellow paper, a tattered mat was spread under him, and he was covered with a bed of rags knotted like a quail. Looking at this miserable scene, Kangxi was heartbroken. Got a shiver.
When the old woman heard someone coming in, she raised her wrinkled face like a walnut shell and stared at the four richly dressed people. At first, she was as dull as a piece of wood and expressionless, and then suddenly burst into laughter: "Here we go again. ?You see what else is good, just take it all! Take me too! Hahahahaha!" He laughed and cried again, "Oh - my poor son, Damn that old man..."
"Old man," Kangxi said with a layer of goosebumps on his body. When Obai held up his arms and raised his eyebrows in the Qianqing Palace, roaring and demanding edicts and orders, he had never had such a bone-deep feeling of fear. He While closing the firewood door, he said softly, "You... don't be afraid. We are passing merchants. We can't find a store. We want to come in to avoid the snow. I didn't know that your family has suffered such a big thing... Let's just stop for a moment... ...just leave." The emperor, who became more eloquent in more dangerous situations, started to tremble for some reason. He wanted to come closer to comfort him, but when he saw the old woman's bright eyes, he shrank and stopped. Aunt Sumala was still stable. After being able to control his mind, he stepped forward and asked softly: "When did this uncle pass away? There are only two old people at home, and you don't even have any children to take care of you?"
"Children? - Daughters!" The old woman started wailing again, but without a single tear. She only twitched her hands and slapped them in the air, shouting, "My poor daughter, my enemy in the previous life - you give me back my daughter." !" She could no longer restrain herself and jumped up on the kang like a madman. She stood next to the corpse, trembling and scratching, and her hoarse voice got louder and louder. Kangxi did not dare to listen anymore, and Aunt Sumala was also shocked. Wei Dongting stumbled back, pulled Kangxi to open the door and stepped out. Lang Ling was also a noble son, where had he seen this? He followed him out in a hurry, but Wei Dongting was calmer. Before leaving, he threw a piece of silver on the old woman's kang table. superior.
Kangxi fled to the street, his heart pounding uncontrollably. When he saw the wolf, Wei Dongting and others followed him out one after another, shaking their heads and saying: "It's terrible, this is too scary! I will never forget it in my life, and I really don't know the suffering of the people -
Tomorrow, Lang Ling, as a pilgrim, help this poor mother-in-law!"
The four people were silent and walked back to the store with heavy steps. The soft snow made a squeaking sound under their feet. A gust of wind blew up the snow dust and hit them. The trees beside the road swayed uneasily. Wei Dongting hit him
Shivering, he suddenly remembered the frightening night when Obai searched Suofu and murdered Kangxi. He couldn't help but slow down, looked back with his sword, and walked to the door. Wei Dongting saw a small piece of bright red blood covered by a thin layer of snow.
There was a layer of snow, and suddenly he waved his arms and shouted: "Lang Ling, protect the master!" He jumped up with a lunge, made a "Houyi Shoots the Sun", and pushed open the door with both palms, "Pa"
The ground hit the door hard, and the store door fell backwards with a "crack"!
This happened suddenly. Not only was Kangxi unprepared, but the three burly men hiding behind the door were also completely unprepared for Wei Dongting's move. One of them was knocked to the ground. Then the three of them jumped out of the thorn with a loud roar.
, three broadswords danced like the wind, outflanking and approaching Kangxi. Wei Dongting, Wolf and Ling guarded Kangxi and Aunt Sumala one after another, refusing to take even a step back even to the death, not even using their waist swords.
He went to draw, but only used his free hand to catch the white blade, and the ball was spinning around. Aunt Sumala was so anxious that she pulled Kangxi around and shouted: "Are all the slaves inside dead? Why don't they come out yet?"
Before he finished speaking, seven or eight guards jumped down from the wall. As soon as the door rang, these guards had already been alerted. They were all masters selected by Wei Dongting from the palace. They were very good at night fighting and did not even go through the door.
He jumped over the wall without making a sound, floated to the ground, and surrounded the three assassins. But these three masked men were superb in kung fu. Under the siege of a group of masters, they only guarded Wei Dongting and didn't seem to care much about the others.
, had no intention of escaping, but became more courageous as he fought. But now the situation was reversed, and Kangxi was out of danger. He hurriedly ordered Lang Ding: "Go in and call a few more people to comfort the old lady not to be frightened!"
Lang Ling agreed and was about to enter the store when he suddenly saw Taoist Yu Liang striding out with a whisk in his hand. He stood on the stone steps and took a look and said loudly: "Stop it!"
The guards didn't know what was going on, and they all stopped in surprise. The three assassins ignored him, and formed a line to press towards Kangxi.
"Go wild!" Yuliang waved his fly whisk, and three bone-penetrating nails roared out. None of the three assassins escaped, and they all fell to the snow. One of them was probably not seriously injured, and he was standing like a carp on the ground.
He jumped up and went up the wall with a whoosh. Yuliang sneered and said: "You can be considered a good man if you can take my dart. Leave the knife and let you go!" After that, another dart was fired.
The man's arm on the wall trembled, and he dropped his single sword. He kicked his foot, and saw a line of snow dust flying up, and then fled to the northwest. When Wei Dongting jumped up the wall to look for him, he had already disappeared.
"Long live," Taoist Yuliang came down the steps and bowed deeply to Kangxi, "I wanted to join in the fun with the prefect of Datong with Long live, but it seems I'm no longer needed, so I'll take my leave!"
As soon as this piece of paper was pierced, Kangxi had no intention of hiding anything anymore. At this time, he was still in shock, and when he heard that Yuliang was going, he said sadly: "You have such good skills, why do you have to bend to the Taoist order? Are you willing to come out and serve the country?"
?”
"Am I not serving the country?" Yu Liang smiled and said, "I know that my fortune is shallow and I dare not accept the emperor's favor. Moreover, I can't stand the strict etiquette and laws there. I just want to travel leisurely among the rivers and lakes.
!" Aunt Sumala was a very meticulous person. She had already noticed something fishy from the side. Her heart couldn't help but move, and she said with a smile: "Yu Liang, since you have this ambition, why don't you go find the master's teacher Wu Ciyou?"
"I'm just about to meet him!" Yuliang laughed and whistled, and a black donkey with four snow-white hooves ran out from behind the store. Yuliang leaned up and rode on it, and said with both hands.
With the sound of "Meng Lang", he disappeared into the wind and snow.
"Master," Wei Dongting saw Kangxi standing in a daze in the snow and came up to report, "One of the two assassins is dead and the other is seriously injured. Master, please tell me what to do?" Kangxi finally came back to his senses.
He came and asked sternly: "Where is the owner of the store? Is he one of them?" Wei Dongting smiled and said: "That's not true. The owner of the store was killed inside first. The slave only knew there was an assassin when he saw the blood stains under the door frame.
"Yes." Kangxi ordered as he walked back, "Lang Ling will take the assassin to the back for a secret interrogation. When Xiao Weizi comes here, the rest of the people will wait on him as usual."
Wei Dongting followed Kangxi anxiously into the west room of the upper room. Seeing that Kangxi looked very bad, he knelt down and said, "Master is frightened. I was careless in protecting you. Please punish me!" Xiao Maozi had already prepared the tea.
Came over.
"Get up, I'm going out on my own, what does it have to do with you?" Kangxi picked up the letter that he had thrown under the lamp before going out. The panic did not seem to be completely gone, and his hands were shaking slightly. But he had read a few lines of words.
After that, the fearful reaction after the disaster disappeared, and their eyebrows were furrowed tightly, as if they were thinking about something. Wei Dongting and Xiao Maozi didn't know what the letter said, and they didn't dare to express it, so they quietly stood aside.
He glanced at Kangxi from time to time.
"I can't sleep tonight," Kangxi burned the letter with a light, sighed, and told Xiao Maozi, "Prepare paper and pen for me."
The edict was drafted quickly. Kangxi read it himself first, handed it to Wei Dongting and said, "You have been thinking about giving up martial arts and embracing literature all day. At this time, I have no one to discuss with you. Is it okay for you to take a look at this edict?"
When Wei Dongting held it in his hands and read it, he saw it read:
According to the Suo'e map and Xiong Ci's memorial, the people in Xi'an knocked on the owl and called it Moro, and Bai Qing'e was clean and honest. I think that the country should have high officials to guard the orders, all of which are to care for the people and support the Sui area. This governor has good governance,
It seems that the previous crime can be lenient. Each person will be fined half a year's salary and cast a second-level transfer to the capital for later use. There is a fold in front of Bai Qing's forehead asking for an official pension, which is beyond question. After the imperial edict from Zuodu, Mingzhu, the envoy to Shaanxi, was sent to Shaanxi.
Went to Anhui and came to the capital together with Wu Ciyou. The previous mission was cancelled. I appreciate this!
After pondering for a long time, he said: "Mo Luo, Bai Qingfu is clean and innocent, and the master has dealt with it very well. Master Mingzhu is in a prominent position, and he is afraid of disturbing the place when he goes to Anhui. Please consider it deeply."
"As usual, what you said makes sense." Kangxi's eyes flickered under the candlelight. "It is reported that Geng Jingzhong did not return to Fujian at all, but took a detour to Yunnan. The situation may have changed. Mr. Wu has a secret agenda.
, we have to send suitable people to find him back."
"Secret!"
"Strategy for withdrawing vassals!" Kangxi showed a trace of uneasiness on his face, and continued after a pause, "You still don't know that Mr. Wu was attended by professors from all over the country during his lectures, but since he left Fengyang, he has never contacted the government again.
Contact me, I'm really worried about him."
From Kangxi's face, Wei Dongting suddenly realized the seriousness of the matter. If Wu Ciyou fell into the hands of King Ping Xi, the imperial court's plan to withdraw from the feudal vassal would be completely disrupted! After thinking about it, Wei Dongting cheered up and comforted: "Master, don't worry too much.
Mr. Wu has a loose nature and refuses to accept the red tape of the government. It is not known that he is traveling in the mountains and rivers, and it is reasonable for him to be sick... Even if he unfortunately falls into a trap, how can a noble and upright man like him be willing to sell out?
Survive?"
"I hope so..." Kangxi nodded, shook his head and sighed, "Huchen, you don't understand human nature. When Mr. Wu taught me books in Suo'etu Mansion, he himself once said, 'It is easy to sacrifice one's life generously.
, Calmly go to justice. If you are forced, asked, or threatened with death, I also believe that Mr. Wu will not bow his head, just be afraid..." He wanted to say "Han people are weak by nature", and suddenly thought that Wei Dongting was also a Han, so he
He stopped and said instead: "Death is the only way to go through all the hardships!"
"Besides," Kangxi was no longer talking to Wei Dongting, but to himself, "Where did the rumors circulating in the capital... come from?" While he was pondering, Lang Ling hurried in and said: "Master
, that thief is here."
"Whose mastermind?" Kangxi asked anxiously, "Isn't it Wu Sangui?"
"No," Lang Ling said hurriedly, "he is a middle-aged man in his thirties - they call him 'Prince Zhu San'!"
"Where is the Third Prince Zhu now? How many people are there?" Kangxi was horrified when he heard such a huge case, but his face remained calm. His eyes flashed like lightning and he glanced at a wolf, and asked loudly, "Have they all been charged?
?”
"According to the prisoner, there were more than 30 people from Yunnan, all of whom were very skilled. One group of 18 people went to Wutai Mountain to rob a car, and the rest had sneaked into Beijing with Zhu. He didn't know the details.
Got it - the three of them are competing for merit, and they came quietly tonight, saying that the rest of them are on the mountain..."
"How did they know I was going to Mount Wutai?"
"How to know the behavior of Long Live? The criminal doesn't know."
"retrial!"
"In case of long live," Lang Ling replied somewhat embarrassedly, "He...has already passed away."
Kangxi looked at Wei Dongting. Wei Dongting bowed and said softly: "Long live, there are only three people here tonight, it is already so dangerous, and there are fifteen people waiting in Wutai Mountain. It seems that the thieves are determined to win! I think we should start playing immediately."
Lord Buddha, drive back to Beijing overnight. Not only will it be difficult for the bandits in Wutai Mountain to succeed, but even the traitors in the capital will be caught off guard - it’s not too late to disrupt their position before attacking Datong Mansion!"
"How could it be so urgent!" Kangxi was startled at first, then suddenly laughed loudly, "Now that I'm running away in the snowy night, aren't you afraid that the public will laugh at me for being cowardly?" As he spoke, he punched the Kang table with a cold light in his eyes, "The world
I own the world, what should I fear? You can stay away from Mount Wutai for the time being. After I deal with the bastard named Zhou tomorrow, I will definitely stop by for a tour."
Shahebao hosted a banquet for the prefect Zhou Yunlong at the home of Cai Liangdao, the largest local gentry, who had served as a fellow magistrate. This was because of what the shop owner said - several horse dealers in Henan returned from Mongolia and were arrested.
Zhou Yunlong impounded all 200 horses in the name of using military horses. Several businessmen were desperate and asked around, only to find out that the county magistrate Liu Qingyuan was also a native of Henan. They jointly submitted a public declaration and asked him to mediate and accommodate. Liu Qingyuan
Although he was a good official and very sympathetic, he had no choice but to do nothing because Zhou Yunlong was his immediate boss. However, Cai Liangdao of Shahebao was in the same year as Zhou Taizun for the provincial examination.
, please invite the government and county officials to come to Shahebao to discuss and settle the matter.
Kangxi brought Wei Dongting and Xiao Maozi to the Cai Mansion with Fu Shan. He saw an old man with a goatee waiting at the door. When he saw Fu Shan arriving, he said with a smile on his face: "Mr. Qingzhu came early.
The government and county officials will probably have to wait until after Chen hour to arrive!" Fu Shan hurriedly returned the greeting: "Although the snow has stopped, with this weather and this road, I still don't know if I can make it!"
"Come, come! The family members sent to invite you just came back." Cai Liangdao asked Fu Shan while letting him in: "This young master——"
"Oh, my surname is Long." Kangxi said hurriedly, "Mr. Qingzhu's shop is a passing pilgrim. This matter has nothing to do with me. It's just that some of these pilgrims have my relatives, so I have to come and go."
"I'm afraid it's hard to tell." Cai Liangdao led them to the central hall and met with four horse dealers. While giving up his seat, he twirled his beard and muttered, "This week Yunlong is a famous scholar in southern Shanxi. He has a conceited article and a tongue-in-cheek.
He is agile and has a very tough background. Although he looks like a humble gentleman, he is actually very honest at heart. I can only do my best!"
When he said this, several horsemen became anxious at that time. They all came up to ask for help and said good things about the carriage. Kangxi took Wei Dongting and Xiao Maozi to his side, picked a seat in the corner and sat down, watching the situation quietly.
Evolution.
About half an hour later, the sound of sifting gongs came from outside. When Kangxi heard it, it was exactly one of seven tones, "××××——×××!" This was a declaration, "Military and civilian people, please avoid!"
"I couldn't help but smile slightly. The whole hall, including Cai Liangdao, suddenly became nervous. He turned his hands in a circle, cupped his hands to everyone in the hall and said: "Everyone, the Grand Master and the County Master are here, let's welcome them.
!" At this reminder, four horsemen, five or six countrymen, squires and Fu Shan stood up in a confused manner and followed Cai Liangdao out of the hall.
"Brother Jingyun, it's been a long time!" Zhou Yunlong stepped through the door, cupped his hands, and laughed, "I remember we said goodbye to Shijiazhuang, and we have been fooling around for three years - Wow! Look at your white hair, you are really a loser
It's 'morning is like blue silk and evening is snow'! Hahaha..." After saying that, he took Cai Liangdao's hand and walked into the hall. Cai Liangdao let him go in while introducing them one by one. Zhou Yunlong only nodded and smiled. He followed.
Liu Qingyuan in the back was slim and thin, and he also greeted Cai Liang with a smile on his face.
Kangxi was in the corner of the hall, looking at Zhou Yunlong with his eyes. He saw that he was wearing a robe with eight pythons and five claws, decorated with white pheasant patches. The crystal top swayed and shone when it was tilted up. His face was like a crown jade, his eyes were bright, and he had five strands of beautiful beard.
, majestic, elegant and handsome. In comparison, Liu Qingyuan looked cramped and shabby. His eyes were so short-sighted that he looked at people with disdain, giving people an uncomfortable feeling when he saw them. Kangxi couldn't help but secretly sighed: "You can't judge people by their appearance, it's really not the slightest bit wrong.
Fake!" When he turned to look at Wei Dongting, Wei Dongting was looking at Zhou Yunlong with admiration - he was interested in Zhou Yunlong's beard - but Xiao Maozi didn't care much, staring at the table, he had already tasted it one after another.
Just one sip, just thinking how to catch someone unaware and take a sip of wine first.
Kangxi chuckled and was about to say something when Zhou Yunlong, accompanied by Cai Liangdao, turned around, glanced at Kangxi thoughtfully, and suddenly asked: "Brother Jingyun, who is this?" (To be continued)
