Puyang Kai shivered in excitement, and his face suddenly turned pale.
"Don't Mai Ren recognize his father?"
Wang Mai retorted.
"But Mai Ren was drunk and dreaming all day long... It seems that he is not interested in Mai Cheng either, but he came to plead for mercy because of Dr. Mai's order."
"Youxue!"
"The students are here."
Pu Yangkai looked excited and wandered around the room.
"You know this, I know, Hutou knows... don't let others know about it for the time being. We will discuss it again after County Magistrate Deng comes back."
Cao Peng nodded, "I know."
After pondering for a moment, he said to Puyang Kai: "However, I plan to monitor Maijiazhuang from now on."
"Well...be careful, don't be discovered!" Puyang Kai was also moved by Cao Peng at this time, and said softly: "Mai Xiong is a Taizhong doctor after all, and Mai Ren is also a Xiaolian. They are in Haixi
, has quite a status, if they discover it, it will be detrimental to us."
"I see."
"Go to sleep..."
Pu Yangkai only patted his forehead, obviously unable to accept so much information for a while.
However, when he opened the door, he found that the rain had stopped. At some point, a light mist appeared outside the house, making it hazy.
"It's going to be daybreak!"
Cao Peng got up and walked over, standing side by side with Pu Yangkai on the porch.
"Sir, before dawn, it is also the darkest time."
Pu Yangkai glanced at Cao Peng, suddenly smiled, and turned to leave.
Although he had not slept all night, Cao Peng did not feel too tired.
On the contrary, he is very excited!
The work experience in his previous life has cultivated his habit of "bold assumptions, careful verification". The current assumption may seem unbelievable and even a bit absurd at first glance. But various signs seem to indicate that this assumption is very likely to be a fact. How?
Certification is a problem. And there is not much time left for Cao Peng. With Deng Ji establishing a foothold in Haixi, it is imminent to exterminate the pirates.
As soon as day broke, Cao Peng took Feng Chao, Wang Mai and Deng Fan to the North Market.
After signing a contract with the nine merchants in Haixi, how to explain to the merchants in Haixi was left to the nine merchants, and Cao Peng was not involved. Anyway, in the end, the review and access must go through Cao Peng and the nine merchants.
It's not easy for Shang to do anything inside.
Wang Mai and Deng Fan were appointed as Cao Cao and will be responsible for the management of Beiji Market.
Along the way, Cao Peng repeatedly told the two of them things to pay attention to and reminded them not to underestimate this matter.
"The law enforcement team must be formed as soon as possible."
Cao Peng warned: "The people brought by Brother Hutou will be temporarily transferred in to tie up the stalls first. Remember to unify the uniforms of the law enforcement team and try not to use weapons at the beginning."
"What can we do without weapons?" Deng Fan asked, "Is it possible to use bare hands?"
Cao Peng said: "I have ordered people to build some handy guys, called law enforcement sticks. They will probably be ready tomorrow, and then you can use the law enforcement sticks. Another thing is, the manpower cannot be expanded too fast, nor can
Too slow. In short, it cannot attract other people's attention, and it must grow as quickly as possible... In addition, you must communicate more with Huang Zheng and others, and you must gain their trust. Don't underestimate this group of business cowards, without them
If you want to help me, it will not be easy to gain a foothold in Beiji Market."
Wang Mai and Deng Fan wrote them down one by one.
He sent Wang Mai and Deng Fan to the North Market and introduced him to Huang Zheng.
Huang Zheng's main business is gold and iron trading. After Chen Sheng's death, the most powerful person in Beiji Market was this person.
However, Huang Zheng is not as arrogant as Chen Sheng. He is smooth and low-key. He knows Wang Mai and Deng Fan, so there is no need to waste too much words.
This person is very good at doing things.
We just signed the contract yesterday and started taking action when we got back.
And a building was specially set aside in the North Market for the use of Cao's office.
All in all, Huang Zheng does not suffer a loss.
After he swallowed Ye Bei's rice line, his strength improved a lot.
Cao Peng also revealed the news yesterday that Chen Sheng's property will be sold soon. Huang Zheng is willing to get closer to the government about a house. The house is in a good location, right in Beiji
At the entrance of the city, there is a two-entry courtyard. The place is very spacious and fully furnished. When the time comes, Wang, Deng Fan and others can move in directly without any trouble.
Cao Peng expressed his appreciation for this!
After coming out of the North Market, the fog had completely dissipated.
The sun hangs high and shines on Haixi.
Cao Peng was riding on his horse and suddenly said: "Feng Chao, let's go up to the tower and have a look."
"Here!"
Feng Chao quickly stepped forward and led the way.
Cao Peng and his party came to the Haixi Tower again and saw that the tower was still desolate and there was no one around.
"Let's go up."
Cao Peng dismounted, handed the reins to an attendant, and then said: "You guys stay below and report if anyone comes up."
"Here!"
After Cao Peng finished speaking, he stepped into the tower, followed closely by Feng Chao.
Neither of the two spoke a word and silently climbed to the top of the building. Feng Chao felt a little uneasy. He didn't know what the purpose of the young man in front of him was to pull him here. Feng Chao was more afraid of Cao Peng now.
Respect. In the eyes of many people, Cao Peng is Deng Ji's executor and a person who relied on Deng Ji to rise. But Feng Chao knows that many of Deng Ji's decisions depend on the young man in front of him. Even though he is young, in fact
But he knew very well and his ruthless methods frightened Feng Chao...
"Feng Chao!"
"Here!"
"Tell me about Haixi."
Feng Chao was startled and asked strangely: "What do you want to know, Master?"
"Well, like Haixi's strange stories?"
Cao Peng smiled slightly, leaned against the window and looked at Feng Chao.
"I recently read Haixi's Tales of Strangeness and Monsters and found it very interesting. So I want to hear if there are any other weird things in Haixi County?"
"Weird?"
Feng Chaoke was in trouble.
He didn't know what kind of medicine Cao Peng was selling in this gourd, but he had to answer.
"If you want to talk about weird things, there are quite a few legends in Haixi."
Feng Chao thought for a moment, "But if it's weird... Oh, I know one of them. That happened a few years ago, about four or five years ago. For a period of time, people often saw the lotus pond.
Someone threw the water into the water. But when they went to salvage, they did not find the body. Local people said that the lotus pond seemed to be connected to the underworld... Haha, the wronged souls in this world can only be reincarnated if they are thrown into the pond. When my father took office, he also heard that
After this incident, he took me to salvage in the lotus pond."
"Then what was salvaged?"
Feng Chao smiled, "Besides silt, it's still silt..."
"What happened next?"
"Then it seemed to fade away. After my father took office, no one saw this kind of thing again, and I didn't see it either. After that, the incident became more and more faded. Until now, many people may have forgotten about it.
If the young master hadn’t asked about it, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to remember it.”
A very interesting legend, isn't it?
Cao Peng narrowed his eyes, turned around, and looked outside.
"Feng Chao, where is Maijiazhuang?"
"Oh, just to the south of the city is the fields of Maijiazhuang."
Cao Peng didn't express any opinions, just nodded, turned around silently, and walked down the tower.
"Sir, where are you going next?"
Cao Peng said: "Let's go to the lotus pond and have a look."
"Lotus pond?" Feng Chao said: "The lotus pond is not very beautiful this season and is very deserted. If you want to enjoy the lotus, you might as well go there in the summer."
"Well, I just went to take a look."
Cao Peng smiled and walked down the tower.
He mounted his mount and let Feng Chao lead the way.
Feng Chao was really confused at the moment and couldn't figure out what Cao Peng meant. However, Cao Peng was his superior officer. Since Cao Peng was interested, he couldn't refuse. So Feng Chao also got on the horse.
, and Cao Peng walked together towards the lotus pond...
It is close to the month of Gu, which is November.
The ancients said: In the eleventh month, Yin is born, and if you want to change, you need to make something new.
The water in the lotus pond is rippling and sparkling. However, the lotus leaves on the water have long since withered, the lotus flowers are withered, and only a solitary lotus stem stands in the water.
However, Feng Chao was wrong!
When Cao Peng and others came to the lotus pond, they unexpectedly met a person.
"Mr. Wang!"
Cao Peng dismounted and exchanged greetings with a smile on his face.
By the pool, Wang Chengzheng was standing with his hands behind his hands. When he heard someone shouting, he turned around. When he saw Cao Peng, he was startled, and then he put on a smile.
"Master Cao!"
He came up to greet him, raised his hands in salute and said, "Why is Mr. Cao so interested in coming here today?"
"Oh, I have nothing to do. I remembered that I haven't fully appreciated the beautiful scenery of Haixi since I arrived, so I asked Feng Chao to take me around."
"This season, there is no scenery."
"Really? Mr. Wang seems to like it very much..."
Wang Cheng was startled, then laughed loudly, "To tell you the truth, Mr. Cao, the world loves the lotus because of its beauty. Cheng only loves the scene of the withering lotus pond. Every time he sees it, he always feels something. Mr. Cao, please look at this.
The ruins are actually preparations for blooming in the coming year. Isn’t this beautiful and evil?”
"ah……"
It is really painful to chat with the ancients.
In particular, their aesthetic tastes and aesthetic views were all kinds of strange. Cao Peng thought he had some understanding of this era, but he still couldn't understand some of them.
"Mr. Wang's senses are unique!"
"Yeah?"
Wang Cheng chuckled and suddenly changed the topic, "I heard that the young master wants to rectify the North Market?"
"Exactly."
"Beili is a mixed bag of good and bad things. It won't be easy to rectify it."
"Is it because it is a mixed bag of fish and dragons that it needs to be rectified?"
"Yes, that's right!"
Wang Cheng smiled heartily, and Cao Peng also smiled sincerely.
The two chatted for a while by the lotus pond and then parted ways.
But as soon as he turned around, the smile on Cao Peng's face disappeared, and he only looked at Feng Chao, dumbfounded.
He is indeed Magistrate Deng’s think tank!
Feng Chao will probably never be able to learn this face-changing skill in his lifetime.
"Son..."
"Let's go back!"
Cao Peng waved his hand, signaling Feng Chao not to say anything further.
He turned over and sat on the horse, feeling a strong uneasiness in his heart.
"Feng Chao."
"Here!"
"When you go back, find someone you trust to guard you here."
Feng Chao was startled and said softly: "What are you guarding?"
"Let's see who will come here to admire the ruined lotus flowers."
He didn't believe a word of Wang Cheng's words. You're cheating! Do you think I'm a kid? Such a big old man came to this lotus pond in such a cold day? What else can he gain? Feel your sister! Cao Peng sneered in his heart,
Could it be that Wang Cheng felt in danger?
"By the way, I remember Wang Cheng's farm is also outside the city?"
"Uh...yes, it's right next to Maijiazhuang."
There must be something wrong with this Wang Cheng!
Cao Peng couldn't give a reason, but instinctively, he had already made up his mind about Wang Cheng.
After walking around Haixi for a while, when we returned to the county government office, it was already almost midday.
The sun was warm and shining on people, making them feel very comfortable. Cao Peng dismounted at the gate of the county government office and asked Zhao Yebai to be led in through the side door.
Cao Peng's Zhao Yebai and Xu Chu's Black Dragon were both raised individually.
These two horses have bad tempers and are arrogant. If they stay with ordinary horses, they will cause accidents. Therefore, for safety reasons, Zhao Yebai is placed next to the cross-yard where Cao Peng lives. There is a
The small stable is just the right place for the night to rest.
Rubbing his face gently, Cao Peng walked into the county government office.
"Sir, Mr. Puyang is waiting for you."
"I see!"
Cao Peng was stunned for a moment, then walked towards the Yamen.
At this time, Pu Yangkai and Bu Zhao would usually be in the public room of the government office. As Cao Peng expected, when he entered the study, Pu Yangkai was talking to Bu Zhao. It could be seen that Pu Yangkai was not in high spirits.
That's great. But it seems normal when you think about it. Forty-fifty-year-olds have not rested all night, and they have to get up early in the morning to be busy with work. How can they feel better?
But when he saw Cao Peng, Puyang Kai waved to him as if nothing was wrong.
"Youxue, come!"
"Mr. Puyang, Mr. Zishan, do you have any questions for me?"
Pu Yangkai nodded and motioned for Cao Peng to sit down.
A servant brought a bowl of water. Cao Peng sat down and took a sip, then looked at Pu Yangkai and Bu Zhi.
"I just received news...General Zuo is back."
"Which General Zuo?"
Bu Zhao looked at Cao Peng with strange eyes.
Cao Peng suddenly woke up and his eyes widened suddenly, "Could it be Marquis Lu Wen?"
"Exactly!"
At the end of August and the beginning of September, Lu Bu followed the edict of Emperor Xu Du to assist Cao Cao in conquering Yuan Shu.
In the blink of an eye, two months passed.
Yuan Shu has been defeated and fled to Huainan, unable to recover. Calculating the time, it is indeed time for Lu Bu to return to Xiapi...
But what does this have to do with me?
Bu Zhi sighed and explained: "Marquis Wen leads Xuzhou Mu. Although he is not appointed by the imperial court, he is actually in charge of Xiapi and Guangling.
He returned to the army after victory this time. According to the rules, officials from all over the country had to go to Xiapi to congratulate him.
I was discussing this matter with Mr. Puyang just now, whether to go to Xiapi. If I go, Magistrate Deng should go there in person. However, Magistrate Deng is not here. If I wait for him to come back before going, I am afraid it will be delayed.
Sometimes you will be reprimanded. But if you don't go... you also know that Lu Bu is a wolf and a tiger, and it is difficult to figure out. If he is offended, it will not be good for Magistrate Deng."
"Then go!"
Cao Peng looked at the two of them in confusion, wondering what the difficulty was.
Puyang Kai said: "The question is, who will go? Zishan and I are both subordinate officials of County Magistrate Deng. If we go, we will not have enough status and will inevitably be blamed. Therefore, if the person who goes to Xiapi is not Magistrate Deng, he must be
Can you understand someone who can represent Magistrate Deng?"
Cao Peng couldn't help but be startled when he heard this.
"Mr. Puyang, what do you mean, you want me to see Lu Bu?"
