"Brother Zhang, why are you here?" Liu Chong, wrapped in a sheepskin robe, hurriedly came out to welcome him. His courtyard was quite big, with three rows of green bricks and tile-roofed houses. He could be considered a well-to-do family in the area, making a living from his horse running business. Of course, this was only his public identity. In reality, Liu Chong was one of the leaders of Bazhou's Ringing Horse Gang, Zhang Mao's sworn brother.
Zhang Mao led the horse into the courtyard, tied it to a pillar and said nervously, "Come, let's talk inside."
Once inside, a strong aroma wafted in. Liu Chen, Liu Hui, Feng Lei and a few other good brothers were sitting cross-legged on the kang, eating a charcoal hotpot. The copper pot was cooking dog meat. As the saying goes, 'Even the gods can't stand steadily when dog meat is boiled three times'. The dog meat was rolling in the boiling water, giving off a fragrant aroma.
Liu Chen was ranked seventh, Liu Chong's younger brother. The locals called them Liu Liu and Liu Qi based on their seniority. Liu Qi's face was red from drinking. When he saw Zhang Mao, he took off his shoes and laughed, "Brother Mao's nose is long enough. You came at the right time. Come to the kang and eat dog meat and drink some good Shaodaozi. Hahaha, it's a pity we don't have women to accompany you here. One black, two yellow, three flowers, four white. This is a black dog that just turned one year old, it's the most delicious. "
Feng Lei and the rest, whether sitting or standing, greeted him with a smile, "Greetings, Big Brother."
Seeing that they were all from the Rattling Horse Gang, Zhang Mao was relieved. He snorted and said, "There's no hurry to eat dog meat. I came here today to inform you that the disaster has occurred. Make preparations early, otherwise we'll become dog meat and be cooked in one pot."
Liu Liu was shocked, the others were also shocked awake. They quickly put down their chopsticks and looked at Zhang Mao.
Zhang Mao took off his leather jacket and sat by the bed. He warmed his cold hands by the fire and let out a long sigh. "Brothers, Zhang Zhong has fallen into the hands of Duke Wei. We have to be careful."
Feng Lei asked curiously, "Zhang Zhong? Wasn't he saved by General Brick? " Feng Lei was in his thirties. He had thick eyebrows, big eyes, a straight nose, and a square mouth. His cheeks were a healthy pink, and he had a mustache. He was also Zhang Mao's sworn brother, and his public identity was that of a small landlord who owned dozens of mu of land. He was not good at scheming, so his position in the Rattlesnake Gang was neither high nor low. But in terms of martial arts, he was second only to Zhang Mao as the number one expert, and was slightly higher than the Liu brothers, who were the leaders.
"What Brick General! That's my brother, my cousin, Jiang Bin! "
Zhang Mao glared at him discontentedly, "I was puzzled at the time. My cousin's bravery was not inferior to mine. How could he let those hoes snatch Zhang Zhong from his hands? I thought it was because he had just arrived here and did not dare to be ruthless to the people.
Damn it! So it was a trick played by Duke Wei. He substituted Zhang Zhong, and the one who died was not Zhang Zhong. He is now in Yang Ling's hands. "
Zhang Zhong recounted the information that Jiang Bin had revealed. The few of them looked at each other and hesitated for a moment before Liu Qi said, "Brother Mao, Zhang Zhong knows our background. Now that we've been exposed, I'm afraid we'll have to flee."
Zhang Mao gritted his teeth and said, "Is it easy to buy this family business? How much money did it cost to befriend so many officials? We have to start from scratch when we leave our hometown. Are we going to become bandits? "
Feng Lei's eyes lit up. He said, "That works too. Robbing people, big bowls of wine, big pieces of meat, that's the best. Didn't Brother Yang Hu go to Shandong? I heard he subdued a few people and is doing very well now. Why don't we go join him? "
Zhang Mao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He said, "A bunch of useless people, why are you thinking of running away? I came to inform you to leave home and lie low for the time being. It won't be too late to leave when the news is leaked. We haven't exposed ourselves yet, have we? Are you in a hurry to leave? "
He pondered for a moment and said, "Zhang Zhong has been in Yang Ling's hands for a few days. If he had exposed us, Yang Ling would have come to arrest him long ago. Now that there is no movement, it means that Zhang Zhong has not relented. I think … we can still wait and see. Unless we have no other choice, we can't act rashly. How can we live under someone else's roof? Although Yang Hu is on good terms with us, he is from the underworld and we are from the underworld. We are not brothers of the same origin after all. "
Liu Liu waved his hand and said, "Hei Tou, go to the village entrance and keep watch. We will discuss this with Brother Mao."
Zhang Mao said, "There's no need. I left someone at the village entrance. Inform the brothers who have exposed themselves to Zhang Zhong to immediately leave home and lie low. I still have to rush back to Bazhou. Zhang Zhong didn't say anything about us because he probably wants us to save him. In the pugilistic world, righteousness comes first. If he is a good friend, I, Zhang Mao, can't let him down. "
Feng Lei said nervously, "Brother, it's easy to kill someone but hard to save someone. He was on good terms with you back then because you used a lot of money to support him. He can't be compared to Brother Qi Yanming. He is our brother. Even if he is in prison, he won't expose us. He … he's just a eunuch, does he have the guts?"
Zhang Mao smiled coldly and said, "How can a person not be stabbed in the pugilistic world? What Zhang Zhong has committed is a crime punishable by death. If I don't save him, he will die. I said I will save him, but I have to see if there is a chance. If I can save him, then I will save him. If not, then I can only … "
He shut his mouth, grabbed the cup in front of him and drank it in one gulp. Liu Hui thought for a moment and said, "Brother, since Yang Ling wants to use Zhang Zhong to fake his death to lure out the corrupt officials in Bazhou, why don't we spread the news and disrupt his plan. If we make him panic, we might have a chance to take advantage of him."
Zhang Mao smiled bitterly and said, "Won't it be harder to save him that way? Besides, this way, Yang Ling will definitely investigate the person who leaked the news. Not only will it implicate my brothers, but it will also expose us faster. "
Liu Liu said fiercely, "If that's the case, let's go with Brother. If we can save him, we will have done our part. If not, then it's his fate. He can't blame us!"
Zhang Mao shook his head and said, "No! I'll go and find out what's going on. If I need help, I will come to you. As for the hiding place … "
Liu Liu said, "Same old place. I will immediately inform the brothers who have met Zhang Zhong and passed their names to hide. If Brother needs help, send someone to inform us at any time."
"Alright!" Zhang Mao stood up and said, "Get ready immediately. I will sneak back to Bazhou!"
※ ※ ※
Early in the morning, Master Fan Mo Li had a bowl of rice porridge, some snacks and light dishes. Then, he dressed with the help of his two concubines. After a night of romance, the two concubines with enchanting figures still had a hint of spring in their eyes.
The new favorite concubine, Bi 'er, complained in a sweet voice, "Master, it's too early for you to go to court. You're not an official in the capital who has to wake up early for court. Why don't you sleep for a few more hours?"
Fan Mo Li yawned and chuckled, "Haven't I fed you enough, you little vixen? Sleep, sleep, sleep. How can I not want to have a beauty in my arms? Isn't it because Zhantou Yang hasn't left yet? This devil has turned Bazhou upside down. Who wouldn't be on tenterhooks? Sigh! Even if I have to put on an act, I still have to keep up the act. Only when this little devil pats his butt and leaves will I feel relieved. "
"Hahaha, rest assured, Master Fan. Tomorrow morning, the High Duke will leave Bazhou!" Following the voice, Jiang Bin stepped in. He was dressed in martial attire and had a sword under his ribs. His hands were behind his back as he spoke with a smile.
A few servants who couldn't stop him in time chased after him in confusion. However, they were pushed away by a few soldiers who suddenly appeared. Their attitudes were extremely rude. Fan Mo Li's hands were adjusting his black gauze hat. Seeing this situation, he couldn't help but be shocked, "Master Jiang, you … how can you be so rude to barge into this official's inner chamber?"
Jiang Bin said unconcernedly, "Hey, what inner chamber and outer chamber? I'm a boorish person. I don't care about those things." He walked over in a carefree manner and took off Fan Mo Li's official hat. He used his finger to shake it and then placed it on Bi 'er's head. He took a good look and laughed out loud, "Official Fan, you see, you see, with this hat on her head, she looks much more handsome than you."
Fan Mo Li was furious and said sternly, "Get lost. You have no manners. Get out!"
Jiang Bin clicked his tongue and said, "Master, you have to be protective of the fairer sex. She's such a delicate lady. You scared her so early in the morning. Forget it, forget it." As he said this, he slapped Bi 'er's plump buttocks and said with a smile, "Beauty, your master is telling you to get out. Don't make him angry. Get out quickly."
Fan Yang Li pointed his finger angrily and said, "Jiang Bin, this official is telling you to get out!" As he scolded, a trace of fear flashed across his eyes. A bad premonition shrouded his heart.
Jiang Bin sat down on the stool and crossed his legs, saying, "Don't worry, Master. After I finish my task, this official will get out immediately!" As he said this, his face darkened and he said sternly, "Men, tie up the criminal official Fan Mo Li!"
Two soldiers immediately rushed in from the door and grabbed Fan Mo Li's arm. They swiftly wrapped a hemp rope around his neck and tied him up tightly. Fan Mo Li said in shock, "Jiang Bin, are you crazy? What … what are you doing? "
Jiang Bin glanced lecherously at the beauty beside him and said slowly, "What is your name?"
"Qie … Qie is called Rou 'er." The concubine was so frightened that her face turned pale and she answered nervously.
Jiang Bin narrowed his eyes and swept his gaze across her soft and slender waist. He nodded and said with a smile, "Good name. Come, pour me a cup of tea."
Fan Mo Li roared angrily, "Surnamed Jiang, how dare you. Are you rebelling? Who told you to come and capture this official? "
Jiang Bin cupped his hands towards the sky and said, "The current Duke Wei, what's wrong?"
Fan Mo Li's heart tightened but he still stubbornly said, "Duke Wei? He … he also doesn't have the right to capture me, a fifth rank official. I want to sue him, I want to sue you, I want to … "
"What do you want?" Jiang Bin impatiently rolled his eyes at him, "Why are you so angry so early in the morning? There is an imperial edict for Duke Wei to control the officials in Bazhou and investigate the corruption of the officials. This general is here to handle the case! "
"Men, bring Fan Mo Li to the imperial envoy's residence! Seal all the assets here and wait for this official to confiscate them! "
"Yes!" There was a loud noise from outside and a few soldiers rushed in carrying buckets of paste and a bundle of seals. They piled them on the table and started to brush the seals, sealing the chests and cabinets.
Jiang Bin didn't even look at the ashen-faced Fan Mo Li. He lazily stood up and took a piece of seal and stuck it on Lady Rou 'er's perky breasts. He then picked up a piece of dessert and threw it into his mouth. As he walked out, he muttered, "My life is so hard. I have to capture so many people so early in the morning. I'll seal this place first. Let's go to Tong Zhi Daren Gui Dan's residence."
Bazhou's counties and towns were filled with cavalry. You Ji General Jiang Bin's subordinates suddenly appeared at the official residences in the wee hours of the morning and said that they were under the orders of the imperial envoy, Yang Ling, to capture corrupt officials and seal their residences. The news that Zhang Zhong had not died spread and the officials of Bazhou were scared out of their wits.
The magistrate of Gu 'an, Qiao Yushu, was so frightened that he collapsed on his bed. He hugged his beloved concubine's thigh and cried until his tears flowed. He had enough tears and cried all the way from morning until noon but he still hadn't seen the soldiers come to capture him. He felt a little hungry so he got off the ground. He ate a simple dessert and drank some tea. At the same time, he sent people out to find out the news. After asking, he found out that the soldiers had captured a few officials and sealed their residences. Then they tied up the people and left, treating him as if he didn't exist.
Master Qiao sat at home biting his finger in a daze. He thought that because he was usually too low-key, people had forgotten about him. Just as he was secretly rejoicing, the soldiers came to his door. They didn't come to capture him but to state the purpose of the court's punishment of corrupt officials. They wanted him to come out and pacify the place so that there wouldn't be any trouble.
Yang Ling didn't capture all the officials. He knew that Ming Destiny knew that the salaries of officials were extremely low. Even honest and upright officials rarely took advantage of the court. Therefore, he spared those who were greedy but knew their limits. Although they were corrupt, they were still willing to do something for the people. Those who were not greedy but mediocre officials were all spared.
Even so, there were still more than 60 officials arrested. Among them, the fifth-rank and secondary fifth-rank officials in prefectures were all swept away. These officials were of higher rank and were all arrested by Jiang Bin. By the afternoon, all the people knew about the news. The whole of Bazhou was instantly stirred up. The people were both excited and confused. After all, it was unprecedented for the court to arrest so many officials.
Fortunately, Imperial Judge Hua had been an official in Bazhou for 20 years and knew all the officials inside out. The acting officials had already made a long name list. When the arrest mission was more than half done, the order to appoint the acting officials was passed down. The reason why Yang Ling didn't issue the appointment letters at the same time was to let these officials experience what it felt like to sit and wait for death. He believed that this kind of unforgettable fear, coupled with the establishment of supervising imperial messengers in the future, could make most of the officials turn over a new leaf.
When the officials who were sitting at home saw the soldiers knocking on their doors, they were all scared half to death. In the end, they were waiting for a promotion. They were instantly overjoyed and immediately rushed to the yamen. They personally led people to put up notices and pacify the people. Even Magistrate Qiao, who was as fat as a ball, had to walk to and fro. He was so busy that his clothes were soaked in sweat.
Many officials didn't have the mood to eat for the first half of the day and didn't have the energy to eat for the second half of the day. They were so hungry that their chests were sticking to their stomachs. However, their hearts were incomparably calm. The joy of escaping after the extreme fear and the double joy of the sudden promotion had already filled their hearts with bitterness.
※ ※ ※
Liang Hong listlessly walked out of the imperial envoy's office. After arresting people for a day, there was nothing for him to do. Imperial envoy Liang felt a little depressed. A series of events had happened in Bazhou. The popularity of the four demon monks had plummeted. The people had all closed their doors to avoid trouble. There were fewer people who were willing to come to the place where the four swindlers were killed and spend money to vent their anger. They couldn't earn much a day. Now that they were arresting officials, even fewer people came. Thinking of this, Liang Hong sighed heavily.
Leaving the capital was originally a lucrative job, but following Yang Ling didn't give him any benefits. If it were him, he definitely wouldn't let the people chase the swindlers all over the place. As long as he let out the news, would he be afraid that they wouldn't obediently come and give him money? Besides, this time, Zhang Zhong was beaten to death. The officials in Bazhou wanted to get rid of their own responsibility. It was a great opportunity. However, Yang Ling only accepted complaints and didn't accept money. He really didn't know how to earn money.
Especially today's arresting of corrupt officials. If he was a little smarter, he could pile up a mountain of silver in one night. It was really heart-wrenching. Liang Hong cursed fiercely. He was bored to death and stretched. Just as he was about to return to his room to stew, he suddenly saw four burly men in cloth robes whispering to each other at the corner of the street. Then, one of them walked straight over.
Liang Hong immediately took two steps back in alarm and hid himself beside the bodyguard. Now that Yang Ling had offended many people in Bazhou, he didn't want to become a scapegoat.
But he saw the burly man walk forward and politely cupped his hands together. He said, "I have something important to report to the imperial envoy, Duke Wei. Can the military officers do me a favor and pass the message on my behalf?"
Once he heard that it was to see Yang Ling, Liang Hong was relieved. He flashed out and said, "See the Duke? What kind of status does the Duke have? Do you think he can see just anyone? If you have a grievance, go to the Zhizhou yamen. The imperial envoy does not want to see you! "
Liang Hong was wearing a fur robe, but it was not the official robe of the Palace. That person did not know his identity and thought that he was under the Duke. He hurriedly smiled and said, "This Duke, this lowly one indeed has a serious grievance. I want to sue that Zhang Zhong for robbing the people's wealth and request for the return of the money. This matter, the Zhizhou Daren cannot make the decision. Uh … besides, the Zhizhou Daren has also … been arrested. The acting Zhizhou Daren is extremely busy. This lowly one can only seek help from Duke Wei, Yang Qingtian.
I beg you to do me a favor. "Liang Hong heard that the person was here to demand money. To be able to catch the eye of Zhang Zhong and personally go to extort money, the person must be a rich and influential family. Liang Hong's eyes couldn't help but brighten. He looked this person up and down. He saw that this person's face was covered in dust and had a heroic appearance. Even though he was dressed in cloth robes, his aura was not ordinary. He chuckled and said," The Duke is busy with affairs every day. How can I dare to disturb him on such a small matter? If the people have grievances and don't go to the court to complain, but go directly to the Duke, wouldn't that be messing up the laws of the court? You … "
His hand sank and a small blue bag fell into his hand. Roughly weighing it, he estimated that it was at least a hundred taels of silver. Liang Hong's eyes brightened and he changed the topic. He said, "You … since you have come to find me, you must have a serious grievance that is hard to clear. I will do a good deed and help you pass on a message. I dare not guarantee that the Duke will not see you."
That person heard him say "I" and saw that his voice was soft and gentle. He then realized that this person was a eunuch. He hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes. Eunuch, thank you for your trouble. If the Duke does not see me, this lowly one would not dare to blame you. If the Duke is willing to see me, this lowly one will still be filial."
Once Liang Hong heard these words, he instantly beamed with joy. He hurriedly stuffed the silver into his bosom and waved his hand. He said, "Wait at the door. I will go pass on the message for you."
Now that he had money, the Right Commander of the Golden Guards and the Deputy Envoy of the imperial envoy could no longer care about his own status. He immediately lowered his status to that of an errand boy and ran off to meet Yang Ling. Yang Ling was in the study discussing how to deal with these corrupt officials. It was impossible to send all of them to the capital. He had already escorted him to the Capital for trial, and then he wrote a memorial to the Emperor in secret about the harms of the punishment. Zheng De also agreed with his opinion. However, these arrested corrupt officials could not be killed in Bazhou. They had to be executed according to the law. Those who deserved to be beheaded should be beheaded and those who deserved to be imprisoned should be imprisoned.
Hua Tui Guan was far more knowledgeable about the criminal law than him. Therefore, Yang Ling was asking for his opinion. Hua Tui Guan's hip injury had not healed yet. He was sitting on a chair with a thick mattress and talking to Yang Ling. When he saw Liang Hong enter, he immediately shut his mouth.
Liang Hong smiled and said, "High Duke, there is a man who was persecuted by Zhang Zhong. His property was extorted and he heard that Zhang Zhong died. Now, he is outside the Temporary Residence Headquarters and wants to ask for High Duke's help. I know that High Duke is busy, but when I saw that person, his wife and child were standing on the street in ragged clothes, I felt sorry for him … But High Duke, you love the people like they are your own children, it's better to meet him. "
When Yang Ling heard this, he looked at Liang Hong in a new light. It was rare for this money-grubber to be kind. Yang Ling decided to meet him. He quickly waved his hand and said, "Alright, then let him in. I will meet him."
Liang Hong was delighted. Liang Hong said, "High Duke is really kind-hearted. Hehe, alright, I will let him in."
Liang Hong quickly retreated and ordered the guards to bring the man in. He smiled and said, "High Duke is busy. Initially, you did not want to meet him. I tried my best to persuade you. I have put in a lot of effort for you. When I see High Duke later …"
The man smiled and stuffed a small bag into Liang Hong's hand. He whispered, "Thank you, Gonggong. Here are five ingots of gold. Regardless of whether this matter is successful or not, I will accept your kindness. "
Liang Hong was overjoyed at first. Then, he felt pity. It seems that this family has not been blackmailed by Zhang Zhong yet. Zhang Zhong is so generous with gold and silver. If I knew this would happen, I would have kept my temper and blackmailed him a few more times.
When he thought of this, Liang Hong immediately felt regret. His joy turned into depression. He sighed listlessly and said, "You can go in. Be careful when you speak."
Looking at the burly man being led into Yang Ling's study by the guard, Zhang Hong rolled his eyes and suddenly thought, Looks like this is a fat sheep. I'll wait here. If Duke Wei agrees to help him get his assets back, I'll have to think of a way to take this job. Hehe, this burly man is so straightforward, he'll definitely give me a thank-you gift.
The man entered the study and saw a handsome, pale-faced scholar sitting in front of the table. A fierce man with unibrow was lying on the chair beside him. Four armed guards stood solemnly on both sides.
He knew the rules very well. He only took two steps and crossed the threshold. He directly knelt on the ground and said respectfully, "Greetings, High Duke."
Yang Ling looked at him and suddenly smiled, "You are a citizen of Bazhou who was blackmailed by Zhang Zhong? I don't think so. Who are you? "
The man was startled. He did not know where he had exposed himself. The four guards heard this and quickly blocked in front of Yang Ling. They unsheathed their shiny sabers. The two guards behind held their sabers with one hand and raised their other hand suddenly. No one knew the intention of this action.
The man did not dare to move when he saw this. He knelt there and said respectfully, "Yes! High Duke's eyes are like torches. I … I am indeed not a citizen of Bazhou. "
Yang Ling's eyes flashed. He asked doubtfully, "I?"
"Yes, your humble servant is …" The burly man hesitated for a moment and looked around. Yang Ling smiled and said, "The people in this room are all people that I trust. No matter who you are, since you trust me, you might as well trust them."
The man heard this and felt relieved. He said, "Reporting to High Duke, I am … I am the General of Hejian Prefecture, Yuan Biao!"
"Hejian Prefecture?" Yang Ling was surprised, "General of Hejian Prefecture, what's the matter of coming to Bazhou?"
* * *
Yuan Biao's words made Yang Ling and Imperial Advisor Hua's faces change color. It turned out that Zhang Zhong was not only greedy and oppressed the people, but also colluded with the Ringing Horse Bandits.
Why did Zhang Zhong not mention anything about the Ringing Horse Bandits? His crimes were enough for him to die a hundred times. How could this despicable person, who wished for the whole world to suffer with him, be so loyal to his friends?
Yang Ling thought for a while and sneered, "Zhang Zhong. He can't be an official anymore but he is not willing to die. He is willing to keep the secret for the Ringing Horse Bandits. He must be waiting for the day when I publicly arrest the officials. When the news that he is still alive spreads, the Ringing Horse Bandits will rescue him."
Thinking about this, Yang Ling's face changed. He said, "Oh no, General Yuan, you are too late. The arrest of the officials began early this morning. The news that Zhang Zhong is still alive and accused the officials of corruption has spread. Since Zhang Mao knows that Zhang Zhong is still alive, he will not stay in his residence. He must have escaped by now."
Imperial Advisor Hua could not help but ask, "High Duke, should we send someone to search the Zhang Residence?"
Yang Ling thought for a while and shook his head. He said, "He has such a big family business. If he leaves in a hurry, he will not be able to take it with him. Zhang Zhong hasn't leaked any information about him. Even if he left the mansion, he would still be secretly observing the situation … "
Thinking about this, Yang Ling said, "Stick Hammer, send a few smart men to find out. If Zhang Mao is still in his residence, immediately send our men to surround the Zhang Residence and arrest him. If he is not in the residence, immediately withdraw your men. Do not leave a single spy. He is a local and a Ringing Horse Bandit. Sending people to follow him will not be able to fool him. "
"Yes!" Stick Hammer gave a fist salute and hurriedly left.
Imperial Advisor Hua seemed to have understood something. He said, "High Duke, you mean … to lure the snake out of its hole?"
Yang Ling smiled. He said, "That's right. Beat him at his own game. Zhang Zhong will be the bait."
Yuan Biao did not understand the conversation between the two. He asked in confusion, "High Duke, you mean to use Zhang Zhong to lure Zhang Mao out? They … Will these bandits be so loyal? "
Yang Ling chuckled. He said, "They may burn, kill, and loot. Perhaps they have committed all kinds of crimes. But bandits also have their merits. Although I do not know if they have a relationship with Zhang Zhong or if they are brothers, no matter what their motive is, he will definitely save Zhang Zhong. Or … he will kill him to keep him quiet. "
Yang Ling said, "Zhang Mao was found by you. Why didn't he escape? Instead, he begged Zhang Zhong to put pressure on you? Because his foundation is here. He can't bear to leave his huge family property behind. If he escapes now, I'm afraid he will not be able to bring anything with him other than his belongings. Zhang Zhong did not reveal his whereabouts because he hoped that Zhang Zhong could save him. Now that he knows that Zhang Zhong is not dead, Zhang Mao will definitely understand Zhang Zhong's intention.
People who are thieves are very careful. Even if he left now, I'm afraid it's more likely to be a precaution. In his heart, he must think that we still don't know his background. Then, in order to survive here, he will definitely think of a way to save Zhang Zhong or kill Zhang Zhong alive. "
A meaningful smile appeared on the corner of Yang Ling's lips. He said, "The four pests of Bazhou, the swindlers, the corrupt officials, the bandits and horse thieves, alas! These scourges are simply colluding with each other. Today, I drew the net to catch fish. Who knew that I would catch a bastard along the way. "
Yuan Biao cupped his hands and said, "High Duke, you want to capture these Ringing Horse Thieves. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Yang Ling pondered for a moment and said, "No, Zhang Mao may also be worried that you will expose his identity after knowing that Zhang Zhong is dead. You'd better return to Hejian County immediately and show up in public to appease the Ringing Horse Thieves. "
Yuan Biao heard this and hurriedly said, "Yes, I understand. I will return to Hejian County now!"
Seeing him leaving, Imperial Judge Hua said doubtfully, "High Duke, since Zhang Mao is the Ringing Horse Thief, we can't use Jiang Bin's men just in case. The Ringing Horse Thieves of Bazhou gather and scatter. Their numbers can be as small as dozens or as large as hundreds. They are brave and good at fighting. They can come and go freely in the army of tens of thousands of men.
They cannot be underestimated. Although there are more than a thousand elite soldiers with you, I'm afraid that they may not be able to stop them. Moreover, High Duke is a noble person. We can't let anything happen to you. We must allocate a large number of men to protect your safety. If we don't have enough men, I'm afraid it will be difficult to catch all the Ringing Horse Thieves. "
Yang Ling's eyes flashed and said, "There's no rush. You can set your mind at ease and sort out the corrupt officials that should be punished. These officials must be dealt with quickly. The chaos in Bazhou is almost over, and we have to calm the people down as soon as possible. As for the Ringing Horse Thieves … I think they should be here by now …! "
* * *
At night, Song Ai was taking a bath in her room.
Upstairs was the place where Zhang Zhong was locked up. Because Liang Hong often went in and out of Yang Ling's residence, and she was a female general, it was the best place for Zhang Zhong to be locked up. Therefore, Yang Ling set up the cell in Song Ai's residence.
On the first floor was Song Ai's residence. The door was closed tightly, but the room was full of fragrance and beauty.
Song Ai only wore a delicate tube top and a small pair of panties. She had just finished bathing, and her beautiful jade-like body was still steaming. Her tube top stuck tightly to her body, outlining the towering peaks of her breasts. Her slender waist made her even more curvaceous and exquisite. Her jade-like arms glowed pink, her slender thighs, and her delicate and delicate feet … Her snow-white jade-like skin shone with a crimson jade-like glow under the dim light …
After wiping her hair, Song Ai put on her clothes one by one. At this moment, the door of the outer room was knocked, and a shout came from outside, "Who is it?"
Then there was a rush of footsteps. Song Ai was shocked. She hurriedly jumped to the bed and pulled out a machete from the bedside. Then she rushed to the outer room, opened the door, and rushed out.
She saw two guards jumping out of the dark with narrow blades in their hands. Song Ai asked anxiously, "What's the matter?"
The imperial bodyguard hastily halted his steps and said, "Official Song, just now a shadow flashed in and swept to your door to spy on you. We shouted at him and he immediately retreated. I only had enough time to shoot an arrow. That person's movements were extraordinarily fast, so I did not hit him."
There were more guards upstairs, but these guards were well-trained and had received strict orders not to leave Zhang Zhong's side. Even though they heard the alarm, none of them left their positions.
Song Ai rushed into the hall with the two guards. There was a light here and she saw a crossbow nailed to the staircase railing. Obviously, it was shot by the guard just now. There was no one in the hall, but the two guards at the door were lying on the ground. Song Ai hurriedly rushed over to check and was relieved to see that the two were only knocked out.
To avoid arousing Liang Hong's suspicion, Song Ai's residence was loose on the outside but tight on the inside. There were not many guards in the courtyard. There were only these two guards guarding the door at night. If someone really had such a high skill to sneak in, they would have already retreated and escaped.
Song Ai was not satisfied and said with hatred, "Come, follow me to take a look!"
She had just rushed upstairs to inquire and saw that there was no movement upstairs. Only then did she relax. She said to the two guards, "Don't disturb Master. Follow me to take a look. The number of patrols in the temporary headquarters tonight will be doubled!"
Song Ai rushed to the door just as someone flashed in from outside. Song Ai did not dare to be negligent and brandished the saber in her hand. She brandished the saber hastily but her movements were very fast. Especially after Wu Hanchao's guidance and secretly taught her Wu Dang's advanced techniques, her saber skills were far better than before.
But the person at the door was much more skillful than her. This head-on saber strike was met with a slight twist of his waist and he dodged to the side. He raised his hand and caught Song Ai's wrist.
Song Ai was shocked and fiercely kicked the person's crotch. Only now did she see the person's face clearly. She could not help but exclaim, "Xiao Wu?"
"Oh no!" Song Ai was shocked but how could she stop her full strength kick? The tip of her boot heavily kicked the person's crotch, causing her toes to go numb.
"It's over, it's over." Song Ai secretly cried miserably and looked at Wu Hanchao in despair.
Huh? Why is he not shouting or screaming? Could it be that he kicked … he can't even scream, right? Or is his Kung Fu so powerful that it is like iron or stone?
Song Ai's eyes moved down and saw that her foot was still in the air. Wu Hanchao's buttocks were twisted to the side in a very funny posture. The tip of her foot kicked Xiao Wu's thigh.
Wu Hanchao grimaced in pain and said, "My little ancestor, this greeting gift … isn't it a bit too much?"
Song Ai's heart fell to the ground. She sweetly called out, "Xiao Wu …"
Wu Hanchao chuckled and stood up straight. He softly said, "What happened? Why did you use a saber and a spear as soon as we met?"
Song Ai's willowy eyebrows rose again and her face turned red. She twisted Wu Hanchao's ear and tenderly scolded, "You useless thing, how dare you peep at me while I'm bathing? Quickly tell me, did you peep at me while I was bathing? "
Wu Hanchao cried out in pain and repeatedly said, "When did I do that? I just arrived! "
"Hey, stop pretending. Other than you, who else has such a high level of Kung Fu? You can come and go freely, dodge the sleeve arrows, and cut down two guards without anyone noticing? When did you learn this bad habit? Tell me! "
"I really didn't. I'm innocent. I went to see the High Duke first and then came back. If you don't believe me, you can ask him."
Song Ai looked at the door and saw the big stick smiling, "Xiao Wu really just arrived. I accompanied him here, haha."
Song Ai finally believed him. She hurriedly let go of his hand and smiled apologetically. She gently blew on Xiao Wu's ear and gently said, "I'm sorry, Xiao Wu. Are you okay? Does it still hurt? Come, let me massage it for you! "
Wu Hanchao pushed her hand away and shouted angrily, "Tell me, who peeped at you while you were bathing? He dared to peep at you while you were bathing. Isn't he taking advantage of me? Oh my god, someone actually saw you naked! I don't want to live anymore! "
Song Ai rolled her eyes and said, "Is there anyone like you? Others don't ruin my reputation, but you do it! I only said that someone came to my door and spied on me. I didn't say that they really saw me. I was in the inner room, could they see me? You're so capable that you have a pair of X-ray eyes for me to see. You even learned to lose your temper with me. You're so capable, so what if you let others see you? I can't be bothered with you! "
"Ah!" Wu Hanchao immediately turned from shock to joy. He hurriedly chased after her and smiled apologetically, "Xiao Ai, don't be angry, don't be angry. I'm just sad for you. Look, if I were an outsider, would I be like this? Aren't we family? Hey, don't go. You see, I just came all the way here …"
"I don't want to listen, I don't want to listen …"
Seeing this, Big Stick Liu also rolled his eyes, "What a pair of clowns! Hmm … you two, who peeped at Xiao Ai while she was bathing?! "
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