It is said that Zhou Hu, Situ Cen's bodyguard, went to the mountain and found his master when no one was around. He told the story in detail.
Last night, they were all hiding in the inn where Situ Cen lived. Suddenly they heard someone throwing stones and asking for directions, so they sent a guard out to find out. Unexpectedly, they were completely unruly. As soon as the guard went out, they encountered two thieves and beat each other.
Xuan was killed. Zhou Hu and others saw that the person who came was unkind and hurried out to help. They were all trapped one by one. It was not until the bodyguard named Liu came over that they tied with the other party. When the bodyguard Liu saw
The situation was not going well and he used a hidden weapon, injuring two people. Seeing that the situation was not good, the leader whistled and ran away. When the guards and Liu Escort rushed back to the house of Situ Cen and his wife, it was empty.
There is no one left.
Zhou Hu immediately arrested the innkeeper and interrogated him, not wanting him to really know anything. One of the guards smelled Ecstasy in the leftover mutton soup in the kitchen. The boss screamed. It turned out that the soup was a huge pot.
Many guests drank. Zhou Hu and others checked each room according to the list given by the waiter, and sure enough, they were all fascinated. The boss trembled and cried out: "It is really not the villain who did it!"
The bodyguard Liu said: "It's not him."
Zhou Hu asked: "How can I see it?"
Bodyguard Liu said: "To charm a whole store of customers for two people, how could one be so stupid as to be a thief? The first transaction had to be reported to the official."
"What if this is a black shop and he doesn't let anyone go?"
"The clerks in the black shop are smarter, and how can the black shop only have one kind of medicine? I have checked it, and there is no other green stuff."
Several people went outside to look for suspicious signs. There were many merchants coming and going from this inn, and the door was full of horse hoof prints. After checking for half a day, Zhou Hu found a line of fresh horse hoof prints heading out, and followed them for a while.
Then he saw something shining brightly on the roadside. When he picked it up, he saw that it was a jade gold hairpin, which was on Qiu's head. Bodyguard Liu frowned and said, "How could those people just now be so skilled at hiding their whereabouts?"
"
Zhou Hu said: "There are no other clues now. Leave a few people here and I will follow."
Master Liu said: "I was ordered to protect the princess and will go with you."
The two of them followed the horse's hoof prints out of the town and turned into a small farm. There was no one inside, but there were many footprints scattered in the courtyard. Suddenly they heard the sound of people in the distance, and the two of them hurriedly hid in the beams of the house.
Go up. Not long after, two people walked in dejectedly, looking at each other with sad faces.
The tall man said: "What should we do?"
The dwarf thought for a while: "Now that I know that Fang will do it, there is always a way to negotiate."
The tall man asked: "Who is that person? Why don't I believe what he says?"
The dwarf said: "Depending on who he is, we cannot let him live. Otherwise we will have to change owners again." He took something out of his arms and threw it on the Eight Immortals' table with a clang.
Zhou Hu recognized Situ Cen's dagger and jumped down immediately. The two men were shocked, drew their swords and struck. They were more than capable of dealing with Situ Cen, so who was Zhou Hu's opponent? After a short time, Zhou Hu was captured.
Hu shouted and asked where the dagger came from, and their eyes flashed.
Bodyguard Liu also jumped down from the beam, and persuaded with a pleasant look: "Brother Zhou, we are all here to make a living. As the saying goes, we are all brothers in the world, why bother to use fists, swords and swords?
Is there anything that can't be solved with money?" As he said this, he took out a roll of paper from his pocket, took out a piece and waved it in front of their eyes. It was a silver note of five hundred taels of silver. He coughed twice.
He collected the banknotes and put the large roll back into his arms. "I can guarantee that your boss will not be able to live to see the sun next month. He will die within this month! You two, it's better to do this. Anyway,
Your boss won't die tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Don't make us brothers trouble, just tell us what you can say. As for us, we won't expose you two. When you go back, just pretend that the matter is done and accept the reward from your boss.
Then pack up your valuables and leave as soon as there is no one around! Japan, North America, the West, and South Asia, wherever you want to go! Isn’t it good to live? Don’t you like money?”
The two looked at each other for a moment, and the tall man couldn't hold it in any longer: "Where are you from?"
Master Liu smiled and said: "We are just like you two, using people's money to do things for others." As he said this, he took out a token from his pocket and waved it in front of him.
The tall man was shocked: "Taiping Escort! He really knows the people from Taiping Escort!"
Escort Master Liu bared his teeth and smiled coldly: "Our escort agency has not lost an escort in fifteen years. If I open this hole, I will not be able to see anyone when I go back. No matter how great your employer's background is, he can't be greater than our employer."
Why did I say 'next month'? Because we are just bodyguards. We only care about the bodyguards. As long as the bodyguards are safe. However, it is impossible for us not to report this matter. When our boss knows about it, he will send someone to investigate and take revenge.
Can't he come down next month? He is in Shu now; if he is still slower in the capital, he will have to wait until next month."
The two looked at each other for a long time, and the tall man called out in a low voice: "Brother..."
Liu Biaoshi then said slowly and calmly: "As the saying goes, a good man will not suffer the immediate consequences, but he has to bow his head under the low eaves. Why bother? Zuo just wants to make money to support two families and hang out with your boss. It's not worthwhile to pay for it with your life."
Isn’t it?”
The tall man's heart was obviously shaken: "Our boss is Tian..."
The dwarf shouted: "Shut up!"
Bodyguard Liu snorted: "Since that's the case, I don't care. Brother Zhou, you can do whatever you want." He walked out with his hands up.
Zhou Hu's face was as serious as iron, and he said coldly: "If you don't drink a toast, you will be punished with a fine drink." He stepped forward and twisted the tall man's shoulder and moved it slightly.
Then I heard the tall man howl like a slaughtered pig: "I said, I said..."
Bodyguard Liu immediately turned around and clapped his hands and said, "That's right! How much money does your boss give you, are you still afraid that our boss won't give it to you?"
The tall man opened his mouth and spoke eloquently, regardless of the short man's wink. It turned out that the two of them were thugs raised by Mr. Tian, the magistrate of Fuping County, and they were ordered to come here on business today. The tall man gave the Mongolian sweat medicine in the inn's mutton soup to them.
A group of more than 20 people, some on lookout, some pretended to fight to lure away the innkeepers, and the rest resisted Situ Cen and his wife, got into the car, and were transported to the small farm. The tall man was not an important person, and he and the other dozen or so people
While waiting outside, I vaguely heard someone inside saying "chop with one knife". I think it was Situ Cen.
Zhou Hu glanced sideways at the dwarf: "Why didn't you chop it with a knife?"
The dwarf said gloomily: "I'm afraid the government will find out if there are traces of blood left. A murder with blood is much easier to solve than a case without blood."
Escort Liu joined in the fun and said, "Why don't you strangle him to death?"
The dwarf lowered his head and said: "I was confused for a moment and didn't think about it. I just thought about digging a hole and burying it."
Bodyguard Liu said: "It's a good thing you were confused, otherwise your life would have been at risk. What did your boss do to stun them both?"
The dwarf said: "Our boss has always pretended to be the princess's brother to dominate. This person passed by our territory today and actually said, 'The princess only has two younger brothers and no elder brother.' It shows that he is an insider. If he knows the princess's maiden family
People, why go to Chengdu to expose our master? Won’t the huge foundation be destroyed?”
Bodyguard Liu was stunned for a long time: "This... Magistrate Tian pretended to be a relative of the emperor, and was afraid of being exposed, so he silenced him?"
The dwarf nodded and said, "Don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of what happens."
Escort Liu laughed dumbly: "There is everything new under the sun. It seems that the princess's surname is not Tian."
The short man said: "Our master said that he was adopted into the Tian family."
Zhou Hu couldn't help it anymore: "Does anyone believe such nonsense?"
The dwarf said: "Travelers and merchants come and go, and ordinary people would rather believe what they have than what they don't have. Who can offend the princess's mother's family? Mr. Tian's boss is not short of filial piety. Even if he knows, what is he doing to expose him?" He sighed, "It's not easy for us masters either. Donating to an official position costs a lot of money, and you have to pay taxes to the prince, pay for the official, and get back the money you spent to buy an official position. However, the people of Fuping County are getting more and more few……"
Zhou Hu asked: "Why are there fewer and fewer people in Fuping?"
The short man said: "The taxes in Fuping are high, and those who have no money or land have gone elsewhere early. Mr. Tian has been really hard at extracting oil and water, and the rich have not been scraped. Gradually, some have moved to other places. Those who don't come up with big ideas." I used a sign to coax people to give gifts, but where can I get all the money? In the past two years, there have been more gifts, the county's exorbitant taxes have also been reduced a lot, and we have invited ordinary people's children to help us with the work."
Zhou Hu chuckled and said, "Working? As a thug, right?" The short man smiled indifferently. Zhou Hu then asked him to continue.
Because Mr. Tian heard people say that Qiu was good-looking, he asked the children to take her back. Except for the two of them who stayed to deal with Situ Cen, everyone else set up a carriage to transport Qiu back to Fuping County. The two of them carried Situ Cen on their shoulders. When they arrived at the wasteland and were about to dig a hole to bury Situ Cen, they encountered someone trying to steal the business. They took away the fat sheep and ran away. Zhou Hunai asked who was in the horse team, and the short man said: "This area can pull so many horses around." , and those who are not afraid of offending our boss must be from Mopanshan. I only know that their king’s surname is Fang, and he is very young.”
Zhou Hu then wanted to send the two men back to the inn. Bodyguard Liu said, "Send them back for what? Didn't you agree to let them go back and pack up their belongings and run away?" He waved his hand and said, "You are just accomplices, let's go."
Zhou Hu frowned: "That's unreasonable!"
Guard Master Liu said: "Brother Zhou, you must abide by the rules of the green forest when you are in the green forest." He picked up Situ Cen's dagger and cut the rope, "Why are you looking for Mopan Mountain?" Zhou Hu immediately understood that Guard Master Liu was very skilled in martial arts. He must have wanted to let these two people lead the way to find Qiu, so he had no choice but to follow him.
The two men flexed their hands and feet, and when they saw that Zhou Hu really let them go, they immediately ran away like a rabbit that had given up. Bodyguard Liu yelled and was about to follow, but Zhou Hu hurriedly shouted: "I will send someone to chase them! Your Highness, it's important." .”
Bodyguard Liu said: "Your Highness, you don't care about me. Our Third Grandma is only here to protect the Qiu family member." Before he finished speaking, he had disappeared.
Zhou Hu returned to the inn and interrogated the boss to find out where Mopan Mountain was, and hired a guide at a high price. It wasn't until this morning that he found the outside of the village. The village was quite small, so Zhou Hu went in alone to explore the way, and it took a lot of effort to find Situ. Cen.
After hearing what he said, Situ Cen felt a little relieved: "It's hard for you." Because he suddenly remembered all the things he did in the West, he asked, "When I was in the West, I always asked you not to follow me. Did you all follow me?"
Zhou Hu said: "Of course. How can I let His Highness run around alone? There is no danger."
Situ Cen glanced at him: "I encountered bandits in Italy. Those people were not scared away by me at all?"
Zhou Hu smiled reluctantly and said, "His Highness defeated the people in that shop."
Situ Cen was stunned: "There are only two in the shop! The dozens of people outside in the dark turned out to be your doings! What can I say? Jia Cong always talks about water bandits in Italy since ancient times, why are water bandits so timid?" Zhou Hu lowered his head and smiled, Situ Cen rolled his eyes. He then talked about his experiences since last night. Finally, he asked, "What do you think of Mopan Mountain?"
Zhou Hu said: "The mountain is steep, easy to defend but difficult to attack, and they have a big barn on the mountain, which looks quite wealthy. From what I see..." He hesitated for a moment, "It will not be easy for me to rescue His Highness. It is better to wait for Mr. Jia to come.
Negotiate with the bandits."
Situ Cen nodded: "That's fine." Nai Sisi thought, "After we go back, we must first find out what happened to Magistrate Shi of Fuping County and why he went to Nanyang."
Embarrassment suddenly appeared on Zhou Hu's face. Situ Cen raised his eyes and looked at him for a cup of tea. Zhou Hu had no choice but to lower his head and said, "My subordinates asked the innkeeper about Tian County last night.
At the time of the order, he casually told the whole story of Magistrate Shi's escape..."
Situ Cen said with a cold face: "Say."
Zhou Hu closed his eyes: "There is an old scholar in Fuping County who has a good relationship with Mr. Shi. The old scholar has a daughter, whom he loves like a treasure. But that girl...the fortune teller said that she has excellent horoscopes, good luck, and good fortune.
Three sons can be born here, so there are many people seeking marriage."
Situ Cenqi said: "Isn't this great?"
Zhou Hu said: "This matter was somehow known by the disciples under the crown prince... The crown prince has daughters all over his knees, so he paid a large sum of money to hire this girl. But the old scholar refused to agree. He said that the daughter has a gentle temperament and an unusual appearance.
He was so outstanding that he entered the Prince's Mansion just to give birth to a son. He didn't know who would take care of him after he was born. How could he decide whether he wanted to or not? Mr. Shi's boss then ordered Mr. Shi to persuade him.
He was so eloquent that it only took him half a month to persuade the old scholar. He agreed to marry his daughter to the prince, but only asked for the title of a concubine. The prince immediately agreed. The old scholar promised that the girl would have a child.
Under the guise of Xiao Wangsun, he sold off his property and said that he was moving to Chengdu. He also said that the Crown Prince promised to transfer Mr. Shi to work in the Crown Prince's Mansion in three months at most, and Mr. Shi also sold off his property. Everyone thought that they were going to be promoted and make a fortune.
Although it was sold in a hurry, it was sold for the full price. Who knew..."
Situ Cen burst out laughing: "Who knew they were using a delaying tactic?"
Zhou Hu couldn't help but laugh: "One day, Mr. Shi got a letter from a good friend. There were two hot spring resorts very close to each other. The seller wanted to move to Nanyang and was anxious to sell them. The price was the cheapest. So he led his whole family and the old scholar
The whole family took a carriage to see him. He never came back. Seeing that the wedding day was approaching, his boss wanted to go to the old scholar's house to get closer, so he went to see Mr. Shi first. When he entered the door, he saw that the ground was dusty. No one had lived there for how long.
.”
Situ Cen shook his head and laughed for a while, then suddenly started to be stunned. After a long time, he sighed: "A good official ran away like this. Zhou Hu, look at whose fault this is."
Zhou Hu thought for a long time, shook his head and said: "I don't know. Everyone has his own reasons, and everyone is right."