Shi Yi said angrily: "Lao Cheng, we almost got you killed."
Cheng Da said: "Shopkeeper, Brother Shi, what is going on?"
Shi Yi said: "We were surrounded by Japanese pirates as soon as we arrived and stayed at an inn outside Edo City. Apparently they had already gotten wind of it. Please tell me honestly whether you were the one who let the wind spread."
Cheng Da said nervously: "Brother Shi, you dare not say that. You have wrongfully accused me to death. Although I, Cheng Da, have a bad life style, I am loyal to the court. This will be revealed to the sun and the moon."
Mou Rongtian said: "The problem may lie with the tea merchant named Min Can. Did he tell you personally that he met Pang Yuchun in Edo City?"
Cheng Da said: "I also heard what Wang Yue said."
Mou Rongtian said angrily: "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Shi Yi said: "That's no need to ask. Lao Cheng must be greedy for credit and take credit for himself. Lao Cheng, it's not kind of you to do this."
Cheng Da wiped the white sweat from his head and said awkwardly: "Shopkeeper, Brother Shi, what you taught me is that I shouldn't hide it or report it."
Early the next morning, Cheng Da went out to contact the ship and came to a large house in the south of the town to pick at the door. It was not long, the corner door opened, and the servant asked in Japanese: "Who are you looking for?"
Cheng Da said: "Is Boss Yan here?"
Mr. Yan's name is Yan Siqi, nicknamed Naohaijiao. He is a smuggling ship owner. He keeps a seagoing ship and travels between Korea and Japan, transporting goods for smugglers. When Mou Rongtian came here, he took his family's ship.
The servant said: "The uncle is not here, he has gone to sea."
Cheng Da said: "Is Third Master here?"
Yan Siqi has two sworn brothers. He is the eldest, the second one is Yang Tiansheng, nicknamed Langli Chuang, and the third one is named Chen Zhongji. Yang Tiansheng is not only good at water, but can also fight. Yan Siqi takes him with him every time he goes to sea. Chen Zhongji is weaker and can fight in wars.
No, but he was educated and could write and do calculations. Yan Siqi asked him to take care of the house.
The servant said: "The third master is here."
Cheng Da said: "Go and tell the Third Master that Cheng Da wants to see him."
The servant said: "Wait a moment." Then he closed the door. It was not long before the door opened. The servant greeted him with a smile and said: "The third master is waiting for Master Cheng in the front hall."
Cheng Da was led by the servant to the front hall and saw two people sitting in the hall. On a chair with hands hanging down from above sat Chen Zhongji. He was dressed as a scholar, with a fair complexion, a good appearance and a thin body.
Sitting with his hands hanging down was a short, fat man dressed as a businessman. Cheng Da knew this man, he was Min Can, a big tea seller.
When Cheng Da saw Min Can, he was furious. He stepped forward and grabbed Min Can's front, pulled him up from the chair, and shouted: "Min, you are here, I am looking for you."
, you have made me suffer."
Min Can was stunned and said in a panic: "Master Cheng, what did you say? When did I trick you?"
Chen Zhongji stepped forward and advised: "Master Cheng, if you have something to say, please say it nicely and don't be rude."
Chen Zhongji didn't know martial arts and didn't dare to deadlift for fear that Cheng Da would beat him.
Cheng Da said angrily: "What the hell did you give me? It almost killed me."
Min Can became more and more confused as he listened, and said, "Mr. Cheng, tell me clearly, what news did I give you?"
Cheng Da said: "Hey, you old boy still want to deny it. Did you say that you met Pang Yuchun in Edo City? Is this true? I didn't accuse you wrongly."
Min Can said: "Pang Yuchun? Are you talking about Pang Yuchun, the imperial physician of Goryeo?"
Cheng Da shouted: "That's him. Have you seen him in Edo Castle? Tell me honestly."
Min Can said: "No, when did I tell Mr. Cheng that I had met Pang Yuchun?"
Cheng Da said: "You didn't tell me, you could tell Wang Yue."
Min Can said: "It's absolutely impossible. I never told Wang Yue about this."
Cheng Da said: "Last month, in Hanyang City, you didn't tell Wang Yue about this?"
Min Can said aggrievedly: "Master Cheng, you have unjustly accused me. Last month, I was not in Korea at all. I have been staying in Hirado in the past few months. Third Master can vouch for me."
Chen Zhongji said: "Yes, I can testify for Master Min. He was indeed in Hirado last month."
Cheng Da was a little confused and said to himself: "Wang Yue clearly said that you told him, what's going on?"
Chen Zhongji said: "Master Cheng, if you have anything to do, sit down and talk slowly. We are all friends, why should we be rude?" He pulled Cheng Da away and asked him to sit aside.
Min Can said: "Mr. Cheng, we don't accuse people so unjustly. My surname is Min, I have provided you with a lot of information over the years, but there was not one time that it was false. You treat me like this, which makes me feel sad."
Cheng Da said: "Can you blame me for this? Damn it, it was Wang Yue who told me this. I have to go find him and ask him clearly when I go back."
Min Can said: "Isn't Wang Yue hurting me? How have I seen Pang Yuchun? It's nothing."
Chen Zhongji stood aside and said: "Master Cheng, there is no need to be angry. When you go back and ask Wang Yue, you will understand."
Cheng Da said: "Let's not talk about it for now. Third Master, when will Boss Yan's ship come back?"
Chen Zhongji said: "It can take ten days or half a month. What? Master Cheng is leaving?"
Cheng Da said: "Something happened, we have to leave as soon as possible. I will come back in ten days. If Mr. Yan comes back early and I don't arrive, his ship will not be allowed to leave. In addition, you must keep your mouth shut about my affairs. If anyone reveals anything,
In other words, I can't spare him."
Chen Zhongji said: "Don't worry, Mr. Cheng, I understand the rules."
Cheng Da stood up and said, "Let's go."
Chen Zhongji said: "I'll see Master Cheng off."
Mou Rongtian and Shi Yi stayed in the rented East Cross Courtyard room in Zheng's old store. They did not dare to go out during the day for fear of exposing their whereabouts. Cheng Da locked the door when he left.
Mou Rongtian was sitting cross-legged on the tatami, practicing internal martial arts. Shi Yi was lying on the side sleeping. At this time, little Zheng Zhilong, the son of the shop owner, came to the east cross courtyard. Seeing that the door was locked, he did not leave and sat on the stone steps in front of the door.
superior.
Mou Rongtian heard the footsteps and felt that the person had not left. He didn't know who it was and why he didn't leave. So he scratched the window lattice paper with his nails and went over to take a look. He was relieved when he saw it was little Zheng Zhilong.
About an hour later, Cheng Da came back. Little Zheng Zhilong stood up happily and said: "Uncle Cheng, you are back."
Cheng Da smiled and said, "Xiaolong, what are you doing sitting here?"
Little Zheng Zhilong said: "I'll wait for you."
Cheng Da said: "I want to learn martial arts again. Have you practiced all the moves that uncle taught you before?"
Little Zheng Zhilong said: "I've practiced. If you don't believe me, I'll show you." As he said this, he put on his posture and started practicing.
Cheng Da said: "Stop practicing. Uncle is feeling a little uncomfortable today. You go back first. Uncle will teach you another day."
Little Zheng Zhilong was quite disappointed and pouted and said, "Okay then."
When Cheng Da saw him leaving, he took out the key to open the door, entered the room, and bolted the door.
Mou Rongtian asked: "I'm back, how are things going?"
Cheng Da said: "Boss Yan went to sea, and Chen Laosan said that the boat can take ten days if it's fast, and it can take half a day if it's slow."
Mou Rongtian frowned and said: "We can't afford to wait for so long. Is there any other way to go quickly?"
Cheng Da said: "There are other ways, but they are not very reliable."
Mou Rongtian thought for a while and said: "Then let's wait for Boss Yan's ship."
Cheng Da said: "Shopkeeper, guess who I met at Mr. Yan's house?"
Mou Rongtian asked: "Who?"
Cheng Da said: "Min Can."
Mou Rongtian said: "It's him. Have you asked him whether he met Pang Yuchun in Edo Castle?"
Cheng Da said: "I asked, how can I not ask?"
Mou Rongtian asked: "What did he say?"
Cheng Da said: "He has never met Pang Yuchun at all."
Mou Rongtian asked: "Then why did Wang Yue say he had seen it?"
Cheng Dadao: "Wang Yue is lying. He said that Min Can told him personally last month, but Min Can stayed in Pingdo last month and has never been to Goryeo at all. Chen Laosan can testify."
Mou Rongtian said: "Wang Yue has a problem. I must ask him about it after I return."
Cheng Da said: "Wang Yue, this kid, I won't be able to spare him when I go back."
Mou Rongtian heard the conversation between Cheng Da and little Zheng Zhilong in the courtyard just now, and asked: "Old Cheng, have you taught that child martial arts?"
Cheng Da said: "I taught him a few tricks."
Mou Rongtian said: "I promised that kid to teach him martial arts before, but now things have changed. I can't show my face, so I can only break my promise to him. You just have to teach him."
Then he said: "Lao Cheng, I was a bit harsh last night and beat you quite badly. I hope you won't bear any grudge against me."
Cheng Da said: "How could it be? It's me who should fight."
On the third day after Mou Rongtian and Shi Yi returned to Hirado Town, the lord of the Hirado domain, Matsuura Jinnobu, also received a co-investigation notice from the shogunate to arrest Mou Rongtian. Matsuura Zhenxin sent people to conduct house-to-house checks, and soon found the Zheng family's old store.
On this day, several ashigaru armed with plain guns came to the Zheng family's old shop. Shopkeeper Zheng stepped forward and said with a smile: "Guardians, do you have any advice?"
The leader of the Ashigaru group said: "Have you ever seen two tall Central Plains people?"
Shopkeeper Zheng was startled and thought to himself: "The two people walking in Dongkuaoyuan are quite tall. Are the officials looking for them? Regardless of whether they are, I can't say it, and I can't cause trouble for myself."
So he said, "No."
The leader of the Ashigaru group said: "Take us in to search."
Shopkeeper Zheng thought that Mou Rongtian and Shi Yi had not returned yet and was not afraid of them searching, so he led the Ashiquan people to search the rooms from room to room.
When they arrived at Higashikawa-yuan, the leader of the Ashigaru group asked, "Who lives here?"
Shopkeeper Zheng said: "A tea merchant."
Mou Rongtian heard something wrong with the sound outside, so he came to the window and looked out through the small hole in the window paper. When he saw it was Ashigaru, he quickly turned around and whispered: "They are officers and soldiers."
Shi Yi said: "What should I do?"
Mou Rongtian said: "Let's go out through the back window."
At this time, there was a knock on the door, and shopkeeper Zheng called out: "Uncle Cheng, open the door."
After Mou Rongtian and Shi Yi went out, Cheng Da closed the back window and stepped forward to open the door.
The leader of the Ashigaru group found Cheng Da to be about forty years old and less than five feet tall. The joint investigation notice said that Mou Rongtian was in his twenties and about five feet five tall. Obviously he was not Mou Rongtian.
The ashigaru-gumi leader pushed Cheng Da aside, and when he entered the room, he saw that there was no one else around. He asked Cheng Da, "Have you seen two tall Central Plains people?"
Cheng Da shook his head.
The leader of the Ashigaru group said to Shopkeeper Zheng again: "Search the next room."