"Keep an eye on them!" Before he could finish his sentence, Feng Banxian seemed to have reprimanded the two of them in a low voice, and then the three of them also walked over. Yang Ling hurriedly turned his head, and with the air of a young master, he slowed down his steps, letting them walk in front of him, and then turned to Song Ai.
Song Ai understood, and whispered, "Don't worry, Your Excellency, I have already sent people to follow them."
Only now did Yang Ling notice that the two men dressed like villagers were already following behind Feng Banxian, and he couldn't help but smile approvingly.
Liu Da Cun scratched his head, and asked in a low voice, "Duke, is there a Prime Minister in this dynasty?"
"There is," Yang Ling said slowly, "There was during Taizu's reign, but after Prime Minister Hu Weiyong rebelled, there was no more. The current Prime Minister is actually a Grand Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet, but his authority cannot be compared to the Prime Minister of the past, who was second only to one and above tens of thousands. "
Liu Da Cun was surprised, "Then … why are they calling him Prime Minister? Is that person called Cheng Xiang? "
Yang Ling was startled, he didn't think of this. Could it be that he was making a big fuss over a minor issue? That person's surname was Feng, first name was Xiao Mu, and his nickname was Banxian. What if his courtesy name … Ahem, a person who didn't have any scholarly honors, but studied in a private school and knew a few words, and made a living as a fortune-teller to deceive people, also had a courtesy name? But it was hard to say.
Yang Ling was a little shaken by his own judgment, and said, "Don't make it public, let's wait for our people to find out more about them. Let's continue to look at the lanterns, maybe we can run into them again. "
At this time, more and more people were heading to the outskirts. Shengfang Town was filled with colorful lanterns, and the rich families were competing with each other, even more ingenious, planting flowers and trees in the squares and courtyards. But the scattered viewing of the lanterns would affect the effect. There was a river outside Shengfang Town, but in modern times, it had dried up and become a wasteland, but back then it had formed a continuous lake, rich in fish and shrimp.
The common people set up colorful lanterns, ice lanterns, and lantern riddles by the lake. As time went by, its reputation spread far and wide. Many rich people from other places also came to admire the lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, making the Shengfang Flower Lanterns more and more popular. By the time they reached the outskirts, the sky had already darkened. However, this place was brightly lit. All kinds of colorful lanterns hung from the wooden poles and trunks. Silk curled around the trees, and the sound of drums and melodious music filled the air.
On the ground, there were also ice lanterns built from the ice in the lake. They were translucent and colorful, like crystal towers and crystal houses. Even Yang Ling, who had seen the super sound and visual effects of the modern era, felt refreshed when he saw them, not to mention the ordinary people who did not have any entertainment activities for the whole year.
At this time, the shore of the lake was like a lively temple fair. The rich merchants even built a stage. There were opera singers, dragon lanterns, and acrobatics. It was very lively. The crowd was bustling with activity, and children were laughing and playing in the crowd. There were also many masked people who were having fun.
The Lantern Festival lasted for three days: the 14th, the 15th, and the 16th. Usually, there would be fireworks on the 16th, and then the show would end. Today was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and it was the busiest time. The tall withered locust tree was covered with lanterns of all sizes, turning it into a gorgeous flowering tree. Looking up at the tree, through the dazzling shadows of the lanterns, the bright moon, as clear as a jade plate, hung high in the sky, as if the bright moon was also hanging on the tree.
In these three days, even the ladies of the rich families were released from their confinement. They could go out of their rooms and meet up with three to five female friends to stroll around the lantern market. In front of them was the most spectacular place in the whole lantern festival. There were more than twenty Dragon Claw Lanterns. The bare branches were full of lanterns, connected with several long colorful ropes, forming a huge wall of lanterns. It was extremely spectacular.
Under the tree, there were many peddlers selling food, toys, lanterns, and masks. The crowd was crowded and noisy. Everyone was in high spirits and only cared about admiring the beautiful scenery. No one paid attention to the people around them. Yang Ling saw the back of a tall figure, and compared it to the slim figure beside him, he immediately recognized that it was Madman Zhao that he met at the street corner.
It was obvious that he really loved his wife. Afraid that she would bump into him in the crowd, he wrapped his strong arm around his wife's shoulder and pointed at the lanterns with her as they walked. Under the hem of her skirt, her delicate bow shoes could be seen clearly under the bright lights.
It was no wonder that her husband supported her like this. This pretty lady had a pair of small feet. Back then, there weren't many women with small feet. Many beauties had natural feet, especially when the royal family chose concubines. Hence, it was even rarer for the noble families in the north to see women with small feet. None of Yang Ling's concubines had small feet.
However, in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the custom of small feet gradually became popular. Therefore, it was not strange to see beautiful women with small feet. This kind of custom was really harmful. In the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, small feet were everywhere. Once there was a disaster, they could not run away and could only lie at home waiting for death.
Yang Ling was still thinking about that mysterious Demi-Immortal Feng who had been conferred the title of Prime Minister. Seeing this Madman Zhao, he remembered that he knew that Demi-Immortal Feng, and that he had even teased that Feng fellow when they met just now. Perhaps he could get some useful information out of him, so he gave Song Ai a look and stepped forward.
"Haha, brother, we meet again." Yang Ling cupped his hands and said with a smile.
His demeanor and appearance were impeccable, giving people a good impression at first sight. The burly man turned his head and saw him. He looked him up and down and smiled. He cupped his hands and said, "My dear friend, you don't seem to be a local?"
"Yes, my name is Yang Wannian. I come from the capital. I heard that Bazhou's lanterns are famous in the world, so I came to take a look." Yang Ling said calmly.
"Oh, my name is Zhao Sui. I have three brothers in my family and I am the eldest. I am Zhu Sheng from Wen An County. Nice to meet you." When Madman Zhao spoke to Half Deity Feng, his tone was rough, as if he was a boorish person. But when he spoke to Yang Ling, he was polite and refined. Yang Ling looked at his attire and knew that he was a rich scholar. He did not expect him to enter the county school. He quickly cupped his hands and greeted him.
Zhu Sheng was an Elementary Scholar who had entered the county school. These types of scholars had a bright future ahead of them. It was just like other students who had entered a top high school. If they wanted to pass the Imperial Examinations, they would have a higher chance of becoming an official.
"This is my wife. Hehe, I am here to accompany her to admire the lanterns." Scholar Zhao was a forthright person, and Yang Ling had the intention to befriend him. With just a few words, they had already addressed each other as brothers. Now that Scholar Zhao had introduced his beloved wife to him, it was as if he was truly treating him as a good friend. Yang Ling hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, Madam."
The beautiful woman smiled and said, "Brother Yang need not be so courteous. Please rise."
Yang Ling's eyes flashed, and he saw a tea stall under a tree beside him. He smiled and said, "Brother Zhao and I hit it off the moment we met. Why don't we use tea instead of wine and have a chat under the tree? Madam has been walking for a long time. I am afraid she will be tired. "
When Zhao Sui heard this, he slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Aiya, thank you for reminding me. My mistake! My wife has been walking for half a day, it must be very tiring. Come, my wife, let's sit at the tea stall for a while and rest your legs." With that, he helped his wife up and started walking.
His wife seemed to be enjoying her husband's love and care. With a smile on her face, she was helped to the tea stall by her husband. Since it was night time, the tea stall was serving supper with all kinds of soup. Zhao Sui was very generous, ordering a bowl of every kind of soup. Not only for his wife, but also for Yang Ling and the two male and female servants following beside him.
Maids and servants were not allowed to eat at the same table with their masters. Song Ai and Big Stick sat at the table next to them. Zhao Sui stole a glance at them and winked at Yang Ling. He smiled and said, "Brother, you have a good eye. You have found a good study maid. Not only is she beautiful, her temperament is refined. Brother must be from a famous family in the capital? "
Yang Ling blushed and said vaguely, "Well, I am not from a famous family. My ancestors were officials and now I am just a local gentry in the capital. Hehe, brother, you are flattering me."
At that time, scholars from rich families who were studying abroad were unmarried and needed a female to take care of them. Their families would often choose a beautiful maid for them. Although it was said to be a study maid, it was more like a concubine. If they were lucky, they would marry a wife and take her as a concubine. Otherwise, they would remain as a maid for life. Since they were bought by their families, they could do whatever they wanted with them.
This was the Ming Dynasty's atmosphere, and it was something that the scholars and scholars loved to see. There was nothing shameful about it. Therefore, Zhao Sui was not afraid to ask about it in front of his wife. Because he saw that his daughter had an outstanding character, this was considered a compliment.
Seeing Yang Ling's shyness, Zhao Sui was amused. He slapped his thigh and laughed. Not long after, the soup was served. Madam Zhao ate elegantly but her husband did not have the demeanor of a scholar. When Yang Ling finished the first soup, Madam Zhao gulped down the soup as well. He wiped his mouth and watched them eat with a smile.
Yang Ling was not hungry. He put down the bowl and smiled bitterly, "Brother Zhao, you are so fast."
Madman Zhao laughed and said, "Well, men, uh... you eat your food. I know that you rich families in the capital are very particular about eating. Not happy, not happy at all. You eat your food, don't worry about me. Oh yes, Duke Wei is currently in Bazhou to wipe out a bunch of swindlers who are pretending to be deities. This is so satisfying. Haha, that is your family. You must have heard about this. "
Yang Ling took the chance and said, "Yes, I heard about this the moment I arrived in Bazhou. But I was just passing by during my study trip. I came back to the capital for the New Year and did not stay in Bazhou. I wanted to continue my journey south after admiring the lanterns. I do not know as much as you do. Why are there so many swindlers in Bazhou? Just now in town, I heard brother's Lion's Roar, shouting 'Half-celestial'. That scared the passerby. Could it be that under Duke Wei's rule, Bazhou is so strict in wiping out swindlers and swindlers? "
When Madam Zhao heard Yang Ling said that her husband was Lion's Roar, she could not help but burst into laughter. Zhao Sui chuckled and said, "One who stays close to ink will be stained black. My Lion's Roar has a great background. Even if I wanted to learn it, I would not be able to." Madam Zhao blushed and secretly pinched her husband under the table. Zhao Sui was thick-skinned and did not mind at all.
He took a sip of tea and said, "Of course. Duke Wei is a good man in the war. He is also good at punishing traitors and handling cases. Bazhou is full of swindlers and has created a foul atmosphere. If he really wants to put them under control, just the large number of people who blindly follow him will cause chaos. Duke Wei used his ingenious plan to use a deity to control swindlers. Compared to Ximen Bao during the Warring States Period, there is not a single swindler in Bazhou who dares to swindle people anymore."
He explained in detail how Yang Ling used his ingenious plan to deal with the four holy monks. Yang Ling pretended to hear it for the first time and kept clapping his hands in praise. Song Ai and Big Cudgel who were sitting at the next table could not stop snickering. Zhao Sui finished and said, "As for that Half-celestial Feng, he is a swindler. But he is a swindler and not a swindler. However, he also likes to promote these things. He even used these lies to help a couple get married. So when I saw him, I purposely played a joke on him. "
"Oh? Help a couple get married in the name of Buddha? Why do you say so? "Yang Ling pretended to be interested.
Zhao Sui answered every question and said, "I don't know much about this. I only heard it from a friend. In Bazhou, there is a swindler called Wang Zhi. He specializes in writing petitions and lawsuits. He relies on a sharp pen and a glib tongue. Moreover, he has a good relationship with the officials. So he earned quite a lot of money and can be considered as a wealthy family. "
When Madman Zhao said this, Yang Ling suddenly remembered that when Black Sparrow Hawk, Miao Gang was arrested and imprisoned, the swindler that his blind mother relied on was Wang Zhi. Wang Zhi must have a good relationship with the people in the yamen. But the price he asked for was a little too much. Black Sparrow Hawk, his house, land, and the floating wealth of his family, at least two hundred taels of silver. He extorted them clean before he was able to bail Black Sparrow Hawk out. After deducting the money from the officials, he earned at least a hundred taels of silver from this deal. To be a swindler to this extent, he could be considered as the number one lawyer in Bazhou.
Madman Zhao continued, "Wang Zhi has a daughter called Wang Mantang. It is said that she is the number one beauty in Bazhou. Hehe, actually, this is just a rumor spread by some lechers. Your sister-in-law is from Bazhou. In terms of beauty, I believe that she is definitely above Wang Mantang. But educated ladies usually stay in their chambers, who can recognize their looks?
That Wang Mantang was an anomaly. Wang Zhi's family was considered wealthy and had a house, land, and servants. However, this daughter of his had been allowed to roam the streets and interact with people since she was young. Naturally, she knew a lot of people. In addition to her pretty appearance, she had become a flower whose name shook Bazhou.
The girl had yet to find a husband when she was seventeen years old, but Wang Zhi was not anxious. But one day, the girl had a dream. She said that a golden-armored deity told her that she was going to marry a great nobleman. That person was called Zhao Wanxing. The girl told her mother about this dream.
Feng Xiaomu was a swindler. He had always been on good terms with Wang Zhi. He found out about this from Wang Zhi. He pinched his fingers and calculated for a while. Then, he told Wang Zhi firmly that this was a dream from a deity. In a few days, the nobleman named Zhao Wanxing would pass by here. He told the old couple not to miss him.
Wang Zhi was skeptical. Unexpectedly, after two days, a guest really passed by and asked for water. The two chatted. That person was called Zhao Wanxing. Wang Zhi was shocked. He saw that the person was gentle and well-spoken. So, he pretended to befriend him and let him stay in the house. After asking around, he found out that Zhao Wanxing was a scholar. His parents died and he drifted around.
After staying for a few days, Wang Zhi found that the person not only had an extraordinary appearance, but was also eloquent and decent. He indeed had the sign of a nobleman. What was even more strange was that the roof of the client's house was full of birds every day. Wang Zhi thought that he would definitely be successful in the future. So, he took the initiative to betroth his beloved daughter to him. This story spread. A good friend of mine once mentioned it to me. I once asked Feng Xiaomu to help me fight a lawsuit. Hehe, so I teased him when I saw him. "
"Oh? There's such a strange thing? Hehe, where is the nobleman that Miss Wang married now? Has he been successful? "Yang Ling asked calmly.
Zhao Sui grinned and said, "Ever since Miss Wang married someone, she moved out of the Wang family with my husband. No one knows where she lives now. Only that she seems to be living a good life. But speaking of a nobleman, hehe, brother, do you really believe it? "
Zhao Sui's eyes revealed a cunning look. He smiled and said, "If one day you and a lady fall in love, you can ask her to do the same. She can go home and tell her that a celestial being promised her marriage in her dream. Then, I will help you find a conman and tell your father-in-law that the nobleman will appear in ten days. After that, you can pay him a visit. As for the birds, that's easy. You can just scatter some grains on the roof when no one is looking. Hehe, if your father-in-law makes a mistake, the marriage will be a done deal."
Madam Zhao covered her mouth and giggled. Song Ai and Big Cudgel, who were sitting at the table next to them, were fascinated by the story. They even thought that there was such a match made in heaven. When they heard Zhao Sui's words, they could not help but let out a soft 'ah'.
Yang Ling also guessed that this was the reason. When he heard Zhao Sui's explanation, he could not help but smile and said, "Brother, you are wise. Is this all your speculation?"
Zhao Sui chuckled and said conceitedly, "That's right. Although it is just my speculation, it is not far from the truth. Since young, Miss Wang Mantang has been walking around the streets and interacting with men. I'm afraid she has an affair with that Zhao Wanxing. That's why she came up with this plan to deceive her parents. But what I find strange is that if that Zhao Wanxing is rich, there is no reason for a person like Wang Zhi to not marry her. Why would she use such a trick?
If it was said that Zhao Wanxing was penniless, then it was said that Wang Mantang was married. Every time she returned to her maiden home or appeared in the streets of Bazhou, she would always be dressed in gold and jade. It was obvious that her situation was very good. However, no one knew where she was married to. Could it be that … her husband actually had a wife? Is she married to someone as a concubine? "
Madam Zhao snorted in a low voice and said, "Husband, speculate behind someone's back and tarnish their reputation. We don't know the details, so don't talk nonsense. "
Zhao Sui was very afraid of his wife. Upon hearing that, he laughed dryly and said, "Hey, I'm just talking to my brother. Of course, I won't mention it to unrelated people."
Yang Ling originally wanted to know more about Feng Xiaomu from him, but he did not expect to hear such irrelevant things. So Feng Xiaomu is just an ordinary debater. That Prime Minister, did I really hear it wrong? His courtesy name is Cheng Xiang or some other homonym?
Yang Ling's heart wavered. At this moment, he saw a tall lady walking along the rope to another tree. Beside her was a little maid. Just by looking at the lady's back, she made one's heart itch. The sleeveless fox fur coat showed off the lady's graceful curves. The long peacock blue checkered skirt made her walk with light steps and her waist swayed rhythmically.
Looking at the beautiful lady walking slowly, the swaying of her skirt was indeed a feast for the eyes. At this moment, a lecher suddenly chased after her. When he got close to the lady, he suddenly stretched out his hand and pinched her plump buttocks. Then, he turned around and was about to plunge into the crowd.
Unexpectedly, the eldest young lady suddenly turned around, her movements agile and nimble, completely unlike the unmarried young lady who usually did not step out of the house, panicked and helpless in the face of trouble. She stretched out her hand and grabbed the lecher's collar. 'Pa!' she gave him a tight slap on the face, and tenderly scolded, "Are you taking advantage of your grandaunt? I'm wearing a cotton skirt. Do you feel comfortable touching me? "
"Ha!" Yang Ling secretly praised her. This lady was really shrewd. She was almost as good as some of the straightforward and powerful modern girls. Perverts were probably most afraid of girls like this. Sure enough, the lecher was stunned and did not come back to his senses for a long time.
Usually, when he saw a woman who suffered this kind of loss, they would not dare to make a sound. They were afraid of losing face. At most, they would quietly leave. It must be known that even if they were molested, once it was made public, the one whose reputation would be damaged would be the woman's side. This lady … why was she so ostentatious?
At this moment, the lady had already turned her face. Looking at a beauty under the light of the lantern added some color to it. Moreover, there was a lantern and a moon, and the colors were dazzling. This lady's appearance and figure were also extraordinarily beautiful. That pretty face made one's heart beat faster.
This young lady was molested and immediately slapped the pervert in the face. She should be very angry, but looking at her face now, she was smiling without the slightest bit of anger. Instead, it was as if she had met an old friend. Her smile was very charming, and her delicate peach-blossomed peach-blossomed into a bright and beautiful smile.
Her eyes were the typical peach blossom eyes, watery. Her lips were plump and moving, and her face was tender and sweet. Speaking of her facial features and figure, she was not extremely beautiful. Compared to the Zhao Family's lady, she was a bit inferior. But the difference was that her whole body was brimming with a kind of wild beauty. She was a sexy woman who made people want to sing to conquer her in bed.
If the Zhao Family's lady was as beautiful as a rippling lake in spring, then she was a burning flame. Her style was bright and beautiful in a completely different way. Could it be that this well-dressed lady was a prostitute in the Musical House? How could there be a decent lady who dared to grab the lecher and act ostentatiously after her butt was touched?
"You really have a lot of guts!" The lady said with a smile, "You dare to molest an innocent woman on the street."
The lecher had already come back to his senses. His anger from being slapped had also disappeared because of the lady's special beauty and charming smile. "This is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. I accidentally rubbed against you, but you slapped me. What else do you want? Hehe, lady, you are an innocent woman? Stop fooling around. Which courtyard are you from? I will definitely take care of your business later and torment you until you wish you were dead. "
Because of the lady's boldness and seductive charm, she really did not look like a lady from a decent family. This person mistakenly thought that she was a prostitute from a brothel and immediately relaxed. He was not worried about the common people who had gathered around to watch the fun. Instead, he openly flirted with her.
Seeing that it was not a big deal, Yang Ling couldn't help but reveal a smile. He suddenly remembered the great dream he had mentioned when he deliberately angered Judge Cui in the netherworld: When he had nothing to do, he would take a few dog servants and molest an innocent woman.
Now seeing this scene, after confirming that he would not die suddenly, on this dreamy night where the lights were as bright as day, when he was with beautiful wives and beautiful concubines and loving each other, he suddenly thought of this matter. As if it was a dream from his previous life, Yang Ling couldn't help but smile knowingly. In the past, when Buddha was holding flowers and Maha Kasyapa smiled, it was probably also this kind of leisurely and indescribably tranquil state of mind.
"Bastard!" As Yang Ling was lost in his thoughts, the little maid beside the lady became angry. She glared at him and said angrily, "You have the heart of a bear and the heart of a leopard? You dare to have designs on my mother … my mistress, and speak so rudely. Chen Feng, Shan Xiong, teach him a lesson! "
It turned out that the lady had brought more than one maid. Three people from the crowd, seemingly having just caught up, heard the words of the little maid and immediately rushed over. Unexpectedly, although the lecher was a vagabond who took advantage of women, he was after all not a penniless pauper. Not only did he bring a manservant, but he also came to the lantern market with a group of scoundrels. At this time, they also crowded over. Seeing that their friend was about to suffer, they immediately greeted him with a roguish smile and said, "What? You want to fight? Fine, we'll keep you company. How many people do you have, call them all out? "
Seeing that his friends had appeared, the lecher's courage increased. Seeing that there were only three men and two women, he smiled evilly and pushed the chest of one of the men who had rushed over. He loudly said, "What? Is there no law anymore? I'm a scholar of this county, a scholar who has read the books of sages. How dare you tarnish my reputation? "
The two men who had rushed in front were tall and sturdy, but they usually looked very honest, as if they had never fought before. Their faces were red and they kept turning to look at the tall beauty, but they did not dare to hit back. Seeing that the lecher still wanted to bully others, Zhao Sui could not help but bang the table and angrily said, "The moral degeneration of the world is getting worse day by day, what a disgrace to the refined!"
He tucked his robe into his belt, looking like he was about to rush out. Madam Zhao knew that her husband was very strong and was afraid that he would rashly hurt someone. Just as she was about to stand up and stop him, Yang Ling had already blocked in front of her and said, "Brother Zhao, wait a moment. Let's watch for a while longer, the two sides may not start fighting."
Hearing this, Zhao Sui sat down in anger. It turned out that of the three people that the little maid had called out, two were in front, and the other was only two steps away from the crowd. It was not obvious at first glance, but if someone suddenly saw him, they would think that he was also here to watch the show. Yang Ling's eyes were sharp and he saw that the third person was Feng Banxian. He hurriedly stopped Crazy Zhao, wanting to see if there was anything suspicious about this person.
The tall beauty was so angry that she laughed and said, "You pervert, taking advantage of me and slandering me for tarnishing your reputation? You shameless thing, beat him up for me! "
The seven or eight people in front of them were either Elementary Scholars or manservants, and the Elementary Scholars were all the size of bean sprouts. There was not a single Elementary Scholar like Zhao Sui, who was one in ten thousand. The two strong men beside the girl were obviously very strong men, and if they were to really fight, they would not be at a disadvantage. However, the two of them were blushing, and they did not know what to do. One look and you could tell that they were honest children who had never fought before.
When the group of Elementary Scholars saw this scene, their timidness disappeared and they arrogantly welcomed them. The tall beauty said twice, "Teach them a lesson." Only then did the two burly men reluctantly raise their hands to defend themselves. They only dared to push and shove, but did not dare to hit anyone. They were pushed back by the few Elementary Scholars.
Zhao Sui's temper was like a raging fire. When he saw this situation, he wanted to jump up and help, but the servant girl angrily scolded, "A pair of useless things! Trash like you still dream of becoming the Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards? "
The words came out of nowhere, and Yang Ling, Song Ai and Liu Da Chui almost jumped up when they heard it. When these commoners heard such a sentence that came out of nowhere, although it sounded strange, they could not imagine anything too outrageous or bold.
There was no such official position as the Commander of the Imperial Bodyguards in this world. It was completely made up by the current Emperor in order to arrange a suitable position for Yang Ling, who did not come from a proper background. However, this official position was now known by the whole world.
Therefore, when they heard the servant girl's inexplicable words, at most, they thought that this pair of very loyal servants had the ambition to join the army, and in the future, they would be able to become officials like Duke Wei. Now that they were so useless, the servant girl said such sarcastic words.
However, to Yang Ling and the other two, it was a completely different feeling. When they were in town, they heard the words "Prime Minister", and now there were two Commanders of the Imperial Bodyguards. When these two strange words were linked together, even an idiot would know that there was a problem.
Right at this moment, a person laughed out loud, "Hahaha, what great ambitions. Do you think any Tom, Dick, or Harry can become the commander of the Imperial Bodyguards? If these two cowards can one day become a high-ranking official like me, Jiang You Ji, then their ancestors will be so lucky. "
Following the voice, someone spread his arms to the left and right, seemingly without much strength, but with a 'hua' sound, he pushed the crowd aside, and like a big cat, he walked in lazily. His words were frivolous, his demeanor was even more frivolous, and the corners of his eyes carried a frivolous smile.
This person was dressed in military uniform, and looked to be in his twenties. He had a well-built body, handsome features, and with this kind of smirk, not only did he not cause people to dislike him, but he exuded a different kind of charm. If such a well-built, handsome man stared at a young lady or young married woman with such a smirk for a while, it was enough to make the other party's body go soft, and their hearts beat wildly.
This person fiercely glared at the young married woman's voluptuous breasts, then turned to the Elementary Scholars in front of him and laughed evilly, "A bunch of unscrupulous scholars are bullying women, and I am here to protect them. Do you know what it means when a Elementary Scholar meets a soldier? Heh heh, then Bing, it's just an insignificant me. "
Elementary Scholars were not afraid of soldiers. A Elementary Scholar's status was much higher than a soldier's, unless it was during troubled times, when it was difficult to distinguish between soldiers and bandits. But this soldier was different. From his tone, he was a You Ji General, and his status was much higher than that of an Elementary Scholar. The few unscrupulous scholars immediately shivered.
Yang Ling looked at this General who suddenly appeared, and said hoarsely, "Jiang Bin? What is he doing here? "
Madman Zhao heard his words and asked, "Why? Do you know this General? "
"Ah!" Yang Ling composed himself and said, "Yes, this person … is an old friend of mine." At this point, he had no choice but to go forward and meet him. He said to Madman Zhao, "Brother Zhao, I will go and meet him."
The few Elementary Scholars had already been scared away by You Ji General Jiang Bin. After all, they were scholars who did not need to kneel in front of the county magistrate. Even though Jiang Bin's words were powerful, it was not good to beat them up over a small matter like pinching a woman's butt. Anyway, he had already shown his face in front of the beautiful woman, so he laughed loudly and generously let them off.
He turned his head and looked at the woman. He felt that this woman had a pair of peach blossom eyes that could captivate his soul. Her face was exceptionally beautiful, and a lustful look flashed in his eyes. He couldn't help but put on a charming pig brother … handsome face, and said gently, "Miss, when you are admiring the lanterns, there are many little perverts, you should be more careful."
Jiang Bin's character was outstanding. The beautiful woman looked at him carefully, and a charming smile bloomed on her face. She lightly bowed and said, "Thank you General for your help, may I know your name?"
Jiang Bin hurriedly crossed his arms and bowed, and said politely, "I am the new Bazhou You Ji General Jiang Bin. On my way to my new post, I heard that the Sheng Fang lanterns were very interesting, so I came here to meet you. I wonder who you are …?"
When the woman heard that he was really a You Ji General, she couldn't help but blink, and her lips revealed a sweet smile. She shyly lowered her head and said, "Commoner Wang Mantang, wife of Bazhou's Zhao Wanxing."
Under the lantern, the beauty lowered her head and smiled shyly. Her watery peach blossom eyes slightly rolled upwards with a seductive charm. Her gaze slid from the other's chest up, and held onto his eyes, and rolled a few times.
Jiang Bin had never seen such flirting methods. Instantly, he felt his bones lighten, and his seven spirits and six spirits came out of his body, and he was eager to move. What a coquettish woman. Jiang Bin's heart was itching. Her charm was a thousand times better than that of a brothel girl. Damn it, her eyes were really captivating. Anyone who saw her would have the urge to pounce on her and squash her, crush her, and pierce her.
Since she's a commoner's wife, then she must be a commoner whose husband has no scholarly title. Damn, which bastard is so lucky? But … since she's also from Bazhou, and doesn't look like one who follows the ways of a married woman, maybe … Jiang Bin put on an even more charming smile, and began to build a favorable relationship. He said, "So you're also from Bazhou. Hehe, it must be fate that we met today. There are many lechers here, would Madam like this official to accompany you to admire the lanterns?"
Wang Mantang smiled and was about to agree when there was a sudden cough from behind. Wang Mantang's smile immediately disappeared. She turned her head and glared fiercely at Feng Banxian, then turned back to Jiang Bin and said affectionately, "Thank you, General. This commoner will be accompanied by my family, I dare not trouble you."
Her eyes moved, and she frivolously glanced at Jiang Bin. She softly said, "This commoner is the daughter of Wang Zhi from Bazhou's Wu Shen Alley. If there's a chance in the future, I will go with my parents to thank General for your help. Farewell!"
"Ah? Good, good! " Jiang Bin didn't want to lose his etiquette in front of a beauty, so he could only cup his hands and bid farewell. His tiger-like eyes stared reluctantly at Wang Mantang's swaying buttocks and slender waist. Those enchanting curves gave off an enchanting feeling that went straight into his heart. Jiang Bin took a deep breath and muttered to himself in a low voice, "What a flirtatious little girl. She's aroused father's fire … No more lantern sightseeing, father has to go to the brothel."
Jiang Bin turned to leave. For this appointment, he brought more than ten bodyguards with him, but he didn't bring a single one with him to admire the lanterns outside the town. Jiang Bin himself had good skills and was more courageous than others. Back when he was just a small commander, he dared to brazenly leap onto the top of the city wall, and wildly brandished his two sabers to challenge the thousands of Mongolian cavalry who were experts in archery. Now that he was a You Ji General, he still liked to be alone and didn't bring any bodyguards.
Once Yang Ling saw that Wang Mantang, Feng Banxian and the rest left, and the two bodyguards he sent in the town had already followed them, he felt reassured and walked to Jiang Bin's side. He said with a smile, "Brother Jiang, it's been more than two years since we last met in Datong, it's really been a long time."
Jiang Bin was startled. He squinted his eyes to size up the elegant scholar in front of him. After a while, he suddenly jumped up like a rabbit that was shot by an arrow. He pointed at him and said in a dumbfounded manner, "Ah! You … you … you … you are … "
"Haha, isn't it me? I'm Yang Wannian. Brother Jiang finally remembered! " Yang Ling grabbed his arm and shook it hard. Jiang Bin was very quick-witted and already understood the meaning of his words. He murmured, "Yes … Brother Wannian, it's been a long time, a long time."
Madman Zhao walked forward with his wife and said with a smile, "Congratulations Brother Yang for meeting an old friend on the Lantern Festival. The night is getting late. I'll be accompanying your wife back first. Take your time to talk. If there's a chance to come to Wen An, you just need to ask around for Madman Zhao's house and you'll be able to find me. By then, you must come and have a drink with me. "
Yang Ling had something on his mind. He quickly cupped his hands in salute and sent Madman Zhao and his wife off. He then pulled Jiang Bin back to the table and sat down. He poured a pot of tea and said with a smile, "Brother Jiang, why have you been transferred to Bazhou? And you've even been promoted to guerilla warfare? Congratulations. "
Jiang Bin knew that it was not the right time to greet him. He cupped his hands in thanks and then bowed and said in a low voice, "My High Duke, why are you here? I was just thinking of paying you a visit when I arrived at Bazhou. "
Yang Ling said with a smile, "I've long heard of the Shengfang Lantern. Since I'm already at Bazhou, I naturally came to take a look. It's even more delightful to see you today."
Jiang Bin said with a smile, "It's my delight to see High Duke. Speaking of which, it's all thanks to High Duke that I'm where I am today. In the past, you and I fought side by side against the Tartar cavalry at Fiming Inn. Lord Min also killed Boyan's son with a saber and made a great contribution. Naturally, we shrimp soldiers and crab generals also benefited from it.
Especially when Duke was promoted step by step, every time the soldiers of the border army were awarded based on their merits, as long as they mentioned that they had fought side by side with Duke and defended the Chicken Crow Inn to the death, none of the officers would dare to pick on us. Besides, I, Little Jiang, also dared to fight and fight in battle. Hehe, thanks to your great fortune, I was promoted to a guerrilla in just two years. "
As the saying goes, when a man achieves the Dao, even his fowls and dogs rise to heaven. Fowls and dogs may not necessarily be supported by the man himself. When he becomes successful and famous, there will naturally be people who will do these things for him and the people around him. Because you once followed an important person, no one dared to make things difficult for you when you were promoted in the officialdom. Who knows what kind of connections you have and whether or not you will complain to the heavens?
That's why it's said that the most powerful person will naturally have many supporters gathering around him. This is because these people's interests, whether openly or secretly, are attached to this person, sharing weal and woe. With him around, his career will be prosperous. If he falls, it might be because he was separated by more than eight hundred ranks, but he didn't even have the chance to meet this important person face to face. He was also a target for settling accounts, and this is how their relationship was born.
Yang Ling knew the crux of this, but Jiang Bin was a valiant general. Even if he didn't rely on his relationship, he should have been promoted. Seeing him promoted today, Yang Ling was happy for him.
Jiang Bin regarded himself as Yang Ling's disciple, and was very sincere to him. He said, "Sir, you also know that the frontier is a little cold, so this lowly official wanted to transfer to the inside. It just so happened that the rich gentleman of Bazhou, Zhang Mao, is my cousin, so I asked him to do some work, and transferred to Bazhou."
Only then did Yang Ling know the whole story. The two of them chatted for a while, and found out that Jiang Bin was also staying in the town's innkeeper. The two of them chatted along the way back to the town, and asked the innkeeper to buy a few local dishes and a few pots of good wine. The two of them drank slowly, old friends meeting, and chatted very congenially.
After an unknown period of time, a guard sent to track Wang Mantang and Feng Banxian quietly returned, and whispered into Yang Ling's ear to report something. Yang Ling listened with his eyes wide open. After the guard finished reporting, Yang Ling's eyes stared straight, and he didn't say a word for a long time.
Jiang Bin said curiously, "High Duke, High Duke, you …? What's going on? "
Yang Ling's eyes looked up as if he was in a dream, and stared at him in a daze for a long time before he regained some clarity. With an expression of disbelief, he said, "You … is what you said true? You saw it with your own eyes? "
"Yes, Daren," The guard saw that Yang Ling didn't have any intention of turning his back on this unfamiliar general at the opposite table, so he bowed and said, "This lowly officer saw it with my own eyes, and it is absolutely true, without a single word of falsehood. This lowly officer and Liao Sier also thought that we saw it wrong, but … but even if they were mentally deranged, shouldn't the two of them be confused at the same time? This lowly officer and the two of us saw it without a single mistake, and that's why we rushed back to report. Liao Sier is still watching. "
"How is this possible? How is this possible? This is too absurd! Simply preposterous! "Jiang Bin was baffled by Yang Ling's words, but he didn't dare to ask again.
"Empress! Empress?? " Yang Ling looked like he was having a spasm. The guard suddenly shrunk his neck, and said in a low voice, "High Duke, could it be …"
"What is it?" Yang Ling asked.
The guard mumbled, "Could it be that there is a thousand-year-old tortoise king in this lake of reeds that has become a spirit, and climbed up to the shore to bewitch the people and swindle women?"
"Tortoise spirit?" Yang Ling laughed dryly, and said with a strange expression, "Uh … how many people do they have?"
"Troops? It's … the people that this lowly officer and Daren talked about. "
Hearing this, Yang Ling fell into a daze again. A moment later, his eyes stared straight, "This … how is this possible? There is such an absurd thing in the world? … Is there anyone from the yamen in town? "
"There is, there is an inspection office in Shengfang Town. It has a group of soldiers under its jurisdiction, and it also controls the strong people of this place. It should be able to mobilize about three hundred people. Do you want this lowly officer to use my waist token to summon people?" The guard understood what he meant and immediately replied.
The inspection office was only a ninth-ranked official, lower than the rank of a registrar in the county yamen. It was a low-ranked official, but it had a lot of real power. It oversaw an area and was like a small local tyrant. Their main responsibility was to apprehend bandits and interrogate traitors and hypocrites. They had the power of life and death, and could arrest and kill anyone at will. Even if someone from above came to investigate, they could say that it was because the deceased had resisted and committed murder, so they had no choice but to kill. Or they could kill one to warn others and deter other bandits. Even the local magistrate could not do anything about it.
"Forget it, we don't need them." Yang Ling shook his head, "There is such a bizarre thing happening right under their noses. The inspection office might not be ignorant. Hmm … gather our people, and prepare to arrest them! "
As soon as Yang Ling finished speaking, Jiang Bin jumped up like a bloodthirsty cheetah. He licked his lips and said excitedly, "Who does the High Duke want to arrest? This lowly officer and a dozen people are willing to follow the High Duke! "
"Hmm, that's fine!" Jiang Bin had just arrived, and his bodyguards were also transferred from Xuan Manor. Moreover, Jiang Bin was a strong general. With him around, they would have a higher chance of success. But … it was not to say that they had no chance at all. Yang Ling's state of mind was still as if he was sleepwalking, feeling that everything was so unreal.
The people who had come to see the lanterns had already returned to town. At that time, the lanterns were not electric, so they could not burn for long periods of time. Although there were still lights everywhere in town, the outside of town had been replaced by darkness. Seventy or eighty strong figures quickly flashed out of town and escaped into the reeds by the lake.
The reeds as tall as one's shoulder were sparse and withered due to the winter. They no longer looked charming during the day, but they swayed with the wind in the moonlit night, giving off an enchanting feeling. Jiang Bin carried two zhanmadao on his back and held a reed pipe in his mouth. He stretched out his hand and gently brushed it. The withered reed leaves rustled, and the snow on them slid down.
From afar, the pale moonlight reflected on the reeds, making them look dreamy and illusory. Jiang Bin spat out the reed pipe and said in a low voice, "High Duke, where are we going?"
Yang Ling also had a sword at his waist. He held onto the hilt of the sword and stood still. He slowly extended his right hand and pointed into the depths of the reeds. In a dreamy tone, he said, "We … are going there. We are going to destroy a country …"
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