It is said that Zhou Hu, Situ Cen's bodyguard, came down from Mopan Mountain to meet Jia Cong and Chen Ruijin. After a few pleasantries, he said: "Our Highness suspects that these bandits are the remnants of Fang Xiong."
"Is it such a coincidence?" Jia Cong thought for a while and asked, "Apart from Fang Xiong, are there any other high-ranking officials in Shu whose surname is Fang?"
Zhou Hu shook his head and said: "That woman is obviously a servant of a wealthy family, and she always calls her 'Master'. When Fang Xiong died, his grandson was still an ignorant child, and now he is seventeen or eighty years old at least. And he
I have an eldest granddaughter who must be about the same age as this female mountain king."
Jia Cong said: "It doesn't matter, let's get Acen out first. He's pretending very well today. I'm afraid he'll show off his 'I'm born noble', but fortunately this guy is used to being a ruffian. Let the bandits know about him."
He is the son of King Shu, and he will die soon."
Zhou Hu said: "Your Highness ordered me to go to Chengdu quickly to mobilize troops."
Jia Cong shook his head repeatedly: "You are kidding! If this family member is a member of Fang Xiong's family, he will be like a den of tigers and wolves, ready to die at any time. You two should guard him honestly and don't run around. What if there is an emergency? I will do it with Mr. Tian.
Let's go to business. Anyway, Mopan Mountain is right here, and you know the way, are you afraid that they will take wings and fly away?"
Chen Ruijin also said: "The terrain of this mountain stronghold is steep, easy to defend and difficult to attack. It cannot be defeated overnight. All I have to do is give them some money first and get it back later."
Zhou Hu, as a bodyguard, Situ Cen's safety is more important than any bandit or traitor. Hearing this, he hurriedly said: "What a wise couple says makes sense. I also think it is important to protect His Highness's safety."
Jia Cong curled his lips and said: "Look, you are all used to it! Acen has developed the habit of taking things lightly all the year round. He doesn't even distinguish between priorities. You can't listen to him when it comes to matters related to life. You are the professionals.
Okay. If everyone had listened to him, this guy would have died in the West. Think about it, if he hadn’t revealed his secret, I would bring money to ransom him tomorrow. Bandits are used to doing kidnapping cases, and today I helped this queen again in public
Talk, choke the woman who helped her brother to death, hello, me, hello, everyone. Tomorrow, he will hand over the money and hand over the people in a friendly manner. After he comes down from the mountain, he can mobilize as many soldiers and horses as he likes to surround him. Even if you run away now
How many days in advance can we send troops back to Chengdu? If he reveals his secret before I come back, you may be able to snatch him and escape. It only takes a day or two, so just hold on to your position and don't take unworthy risks.
"
These words made Zhou Hu happy, and he immediately said: "I will go back to discuss with His Highness."
"You are stupid!" Jia Cong rolled his eyes, "You just hide it secretly and don't show your face in front of him. If he is in danger, you come out again. If he is not in danger, just wait until he comes down the mountain safely before asking for forgiveness.
"
Zhou Hu was moved by him, and after thinking about it, he said to Hui Zi, "Just follow what you said."
Jia Cong waved his hand: "That's it! You go back quickly."
Zhou Hu said: "There is one more thing. Your Highness asked me to remind you, sir, that there is a big gap between the mountain king and her brother, which may be exploited."
Jia Cong waved his hand and said: "Don't count on this. It's better to count on Magistrate Tian. Ninety percent of her brothers were deliberately raised by her. How many years has it been since Fang Xiong's downfall? Mr. Fang's subordinates are only his descendants.
He is a housewife, and hopes that outsiders will help him come forward. It can be seen that they still have the logic of living a peaceful life in Chengdu, and have no consciousness of being bandits. The more this happens, the less likely the bandits will follow him. On the contrary, Tian
The county magistrate is rich and courageous. If you just say that you will give him a chance to redeem himself and make meritorious deeds, he might believe him." Zhou Hu sounded reasonable, but Situ Cen was just asking him to pass on the message, so that was all.
The three of them said goodbye. Zhou Hu went back to the mountain to secretly protect Situ Cen. Jia Cong and Chen Ruijin went straight to Fuping County to borrow money. Little did they know that Jia Cong had just come down the mountain when a man dressed as a woodcutter came up the mountain with his hind legs. ——It was Liu Feng, the leader of the Shu merchant party.
Jia Cong swaggered into Fuping County. When he met an idle man, he asked: "Where is the county magistrate? I came from Chengdu to discuss a very profitable matter with him." Here the county magistrate is the Tu emperor, and It was well known that the county magistrate liked money the most, so who dared to stop him? The man immediately ran ahead to lead the way, and Jia Cong followed slowly and leisurely on horseback, and arrived at the county government office. The officials heard that this official was "bold enough to defecate." I had to discuss the matter of "big fortune" with the county magistrate, and ran inside to report the news. Not long after, Mr. Tian invited me.
When Jia Cong saw Lord Tian, he couldn't help but want to slap him! You should not be judged by appearance. Although this man was not even remotely similar to Jia Xu, he had the same purpose - he looked too much like a loyal minister. He was seven feet tall and in his forties. , with a square, Chinese-character face, rosy and bright, and three strands of beard hanging down, he looks a bit like the Guan Gong played on the stage with a cold look.
Jia Cong smiled and clasped his fists: "Mr. Tian, Wansheng likes to get straight to the point and doesn't like to beat around the bush. Can you please choose a place where Wansheng can talk conveniently so that Wansheng can chat with you?"
Mr. Tian was startled for a moment, then he handed over his hand and said, "That's easy to say." He then led the way and entered the Houya study room with Jia Cong.
The two of them sat down separately, and a beautiful maid came in to serve tea and then left. Jia Cong held the tea cup and smiled and said: "Master Tian, there are two roads in front of you, one is a dead end, and the other is a way to make money."
Master Tian also smiled: "Really?"
Jia Cong said: "A few days ago, my lord captured a woman and let her escape. Is this happening?"
Mr. Tian's eyes moved: "I already know where that woman is going."
"Bullshit!" Jia Cong sneered, "You let two men coax you. The woman has been rescued by her husband's family. Also, her husband is not dead, he was rescued by the guards. Her husband's surname is Situ, and the woman Qiu "
Mr. Tian was shocked! He stood up suddenly, pointed at Jia Cong and shouted: "You are talking nonsense!"
Jia Cong said with a fake smile: "Do I have to coax you? What's the benefit of coaxing you? If you don't believe me, go check where those two live to see if they have anything. They've already run away."
Mr. Tian took a deep breath for as long as a cup of tea, calmed down, and asked: "This must be a dead end. Where is the way to make money?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Master Tian already knows who her husband is?" Master Tian nodded. Jia Cong clapped his hands and said, "This is easy to handle. Master Tian pretended to be a relative of the emperor and tried to kill the prince and seize the princess. This is God's fault. It’s a big shortcoming.”
Mr. Tian was surprised for a moment when he heard this, and then he laughed: "This is naturally a huge shortcoming. Could it be that His Highness wants to take advantage of this shortcoming of mine?"
Jia Cong stretched out two fingers: "Two million taels of silver notes! Here you go." Mr. Tian took a breath. Jia Cong spread his hands and said, "Money or life, you choose."
After a long time, Mr. Tian said slowly: "Sir, you just said that the other way is to make money."
Jia Cong's eyes lit up: "Master Tian, this play is too fake, I guess you won't make much money. As the ancients said, it is better to rob than to collect taxes, and to accept bribes to rob, so why not make the fake come true?"
Mr. Tian's eyes flickered: "Your Highness, are you not angry with me?"
Jia Cong snapped his fingers: "Oops! I forgot about it. His Highness the Third Prince asked me to tell you a few words. He said: Tian, Da, people! Everyone is just making a living, why bother to come and use sacks?
Use fire or guns? What else can't be solved with money?" Nai stretched out his hands and made a sign of three and seven, "Three and seven are open, you are three and he is seven."
Mr. Tian was stunned for a long time, then suddenly he put his hands on his hands and laughed: "I never expected that His Highness the Third Prince would be a man of glass with a heart of crystal, so transparent!"
Jia Cong also clapped his hands and laughed: "Oh, it seems that business is promising! Wan Sheng likes Mr. Tian the most, a simple and unpretentious shameless person."
The two of them laughed for a long time, and Master Tian suddenly stopped smiling and said, "Is His Highness so generous just for money?"
Jia Cong spread his hands: "Otherwise, what else could it be for?"
Master Tian sneered: "Then what does he want so much money for?"
Jia Cong asked curiously: "Is there anyone who is not short of money?"
Mr. Tian smiled softly and said, "Sir, the third highness is marrying the only daughter of the Qiu family."
Jia Cong narrowed his eyes: "See through but don't tell. Mr. Tian is a smart man. He was in Shu and almost buried the King of Shu's son alive. Do you think there are several ways for you to choose? The ancients said that it is easy to be a bandit but difficult to be an official.
"
Mr. Tian couldn't help laughing: "Did the ancients ever say these words?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Three hundred years from now, won't I be an ancient person? Mr. Tian, after becoming an official, you won't want to be a bandit again."
Mr. Tian looked at him and said, "Do you have a token of honor, sir? How do you know that you, sir, have not coaxed me?"
Jia Cong casually took out two waist cards: "Here, the ones from His Highness the Third Prince's house and the ones from Lord Qiu San's house. Mr. Tian first sent people to look for their valuables at the homes of the two men who were chasing the princess. See if there are any left.
Nothing happened."
Mr. Tian carefully looked at the waist tag for half a day - he had never seen these two things before. He only saw that the tag was made very finely. I think the waist tags of wealthy people must be very fine. Jia Cong pointed out: "The one plated by Your Highness the Third Prince is...
Silver, Mr. Qiu San's piece is plated with copper." Mr. Tian nodded and called his men to go to the residence of a certain two people to check.
Not long after, the man came back and said: "Only crude things were left, nothing valuable was gone, and he found two large piles of cash. The villain also inquired about the meeting, and the two of them borrowed a lot of money from their colleagues the day before.
.”
Jia Cong slapped the table and laughed: "There is still shamelessness in shamelessness!" He gave a thumbs up.
Mr. Tian cursed: "How dare you, thief!" He ordered people to draw pictures and arrest him, only saying that he was a big thief.
Jia Cong said "Ah": "I almost forgot." He quickly took out two portraits from his arms and said, "Mr. Tian, take a look, do they look alike?"
Mr. Tian took it and took a look. It turned out to be the two subordinates who were running away, one tall and one short. He couldn't help but praise: "Looks like! What a painter!"
Jia Cong said with a smile: "It's not a painter, the person who painted this painting is the guard around the Third Highness. If Mr. Tian doesn't do this business, he will be wanted by the whole country in the future, and it's unknown what the crime will be."
Mr. Tian's face suddenly darkened. After a long while, he smiled bitterly and said: "How can I have so much money..."
Jia Cong still smiled like a lucky cat: "It's only two million, you can get it if you turn it over. Besides, if you are unlucky and have provoked the God of Plague, don't you want to lose money to avoid disaster? Even if you don't give it, your family's wealth will not be the same at the end."
Confiscated and put into the national treasury? Even if it is given," he shook his head and said, "the ancients said, you will come back after all the money is gone~~ This is really what the ancients said."
Mr. Tian closed his eyes and clenched his fists, while Jia Cong drank tea freely, almost humming a ditty. After a quarter of an hour, Mr. Tian gritted his teeth and smiled bitterly: "That's all, I'm just a low-ranking official who is unlucky."
Jia Cong applauded: "That's right! When it's cut off, it's cut off. No matter how important money is, how can it be compared to life? Mr. Tian is wise." Then he raised the tea cup and said, "I wish you and the Third Highness a perfect match in the future and complement each other."
Mr. Tian shook his head and sighed: "The ancients said that if you are a high-ranking official, it will crush an ox to death."
"Ouch, that's not right~~" Jia Cong waved his finger, "You have many levels of government officials, but you are still a seventh-grade official." Mr. Tian's face was full of pain and he sighed.
At dusk that day, Jia Cong rode out of Fuping County with two million taels of silver notes in his arms. Seeing no one around, Jia Cong reined in his horse, picked it up, took out the banknotes from his arms, counted them, and hid one
He put the small stack into his arms, waved the other large stack in his hand and shouted: "Daughter-in-law, please praise me! I just earned 1.5 million silver to buy you clothes and materials!"
Chen Ruijin jumped out of nowhere, reached out and picked up the banknotes, took the banknotes from his hand and left. He counted them for a while and said, "Well, the number is right."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Look how honest I am, I never hide my personal money."
Chen Ruijin glanced at him: "You can hide one and try it." Jia Cong repeatedly said that he didn't dare. Chen Ruijin asked, "You know he can immediately get two million silver notes?"
Jia Cong said: "The original magistrate of Fuping County, Mr. Shi, was a capable official. He worked hard to make a lot of money. How long has he been here? He scraped the land like a carpet! How could he not even have two million? Besides, he
He is a bandit. Bandits are not officers and soldiers, and their camps are not reliable. They cannot change places for one business, and it is easy to carry around money. This habit cannot be broken by being an official for two years."
Chen Ruijin sighed softly: "Master Shi... Liu Feng must have taken it away."
Jia Cong shook his head: "Master Shi was taken away by Master Naitian. He wanted to wash away his identity as a bandit and donate himself as an official, so he targeted Fuping County. Master Shi was naturally in the way. The horoscope of the old scholar's daughter is
He hired a fortune teller to do the fortune telling, and bribed four fortune tellers in succession. He was the one who let the news out, and it was he who specifically told the story to Qing Ke, who was under the crown prince. He opened up the joints early, and only waited for Master Shi to be arrested.
He took off his official hat and took it. He didn't want Mr. Shi to run away... It was Liu Feng who persuaded him to run away." He paused, "But it was not Mr. Tian himself who made the plan, but the dog-headed military advisor under him -
—This is the person I asked you to kill before I enter the city. If he were here, we might not be able to earn the 1.5 million."
Chen Ruijin smiled and said: "That one is basking in the sun in the yard. He must have suddenly died of illness. He has no servants at home, he is alone, and his food and clothing are very limited."
Jia Cong asked curiously: "Master Tian, won't you give him a dividend?"
Chen Ruijin tilted his head and looked at him: "What do you think?"
Jia Cong touched his nose and said, "Where are you guessing? Just publish the standard answer."
Chen Ruijin stretched out his waist: "If I had known I would not have killed him, Feng Ziying would have scolded you to death."
Jia Cong was stunned: "Ah?! I'll go! His craftsmanship is so good!" He then stumbled and said, "What a pity. What a talent!"
"Aren't you afraid of accidentally killing one of your own?"
Jia Cong shook his head: "So far, our detailed work does not need to be so aggressive."
Chen Ruijin did not comment, reached into his arms, squeezed the stack of banknotes, and said with a smile: "It's really nice to have money."