son-in-law

Chapter 515 Embers (seven)

On February [-], a small county near Sipinggang.

Two days have passed since the day of the thunderstorm. When the sky clears, everything is growing on the earth that has lost its winter breath.When the carriage stopped by the inn, the big man from the capital came down.

During the recent period, with Sipinggang as the center, the surrounding townships and towns have not been peaceful.Of course, this kind of injustice can only be felt by those with a keen sense of smell. For ordinary people, there are only a few more bandits in the vicinity, and a few cases of bloodshed occasionally occur. , you don't need to worry about it, after all, if on weekdays, some hooligans will beat their heads and blood in the villages and towns, there are also things.

For the people in the green forest near Sipinggang, or the people involved, starting from the sudden action of Tie Tianying Zong Feixiao and others on February [-], the next few days were really bloody and bloody.In five days, the nearby towns and villages have actually been ploughed back and forth several times by the people of the Ministry of Punishment. Not only the remnants of the Yongle Dynasty who absconded were cleaned up, but some nearby underworld figures and people in the green forest were also greatly affected. Near Sipinggang Although they are all places of peace, in the surrounding mountains, there are actually a few relatively fixed gangster villages - this kind of situation is normal everywhere except the most prosperous Jiangnan - they don't hurt casually on weekdays. People's lives, the most thing they do is to collect some protection fees for the passing dart team. Of course, sometimes it is inevitable that one side will run wild.Under the tremendous pressure of the past few days, several bandit villages have also been forced to disband and flee.

Ordinary people feel that the law and order has declined, and the people of the Green Forest are jumping. For another person, it is another situation.For them, even if the current matter affects one party, it is not even a trivial matter, and sometimes it is often for a special result when they look at it.Zuo Houwen, who just arrived here, is one of these people.

As the principal of the Zuo family in the capital, the cousin of the great Confucian Zuo Duanyou, he came here more because it happened to be on the way.For him, all he cares about is a simple sentence: "How is the situation?"

"The remnants of Yongle led by Fang Baihua are already at the end of their struggles. Although they are still fleeing for the time being, Tie and Zong have mainly intercepted the escape route in the southwest. For the past few days, they have been shrinking the circle. I believe it will not be long... …”

After getting off the car, Zuo Houwen walked towards the inn, and the one who followed to greet him was actually Fan Zhong, the No. 3 chief arrester of the criminal department who arrived here yesterday.Calculated at this time, there were seven head arresters in total from the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and now three of them have gathered here. Fan Zhong has a close relationship with Zuo's family, so Zuo Houwen recruited them.However, after he spoke a few words, Zuo Houwen waved his hands as he walked.

"How about Fang Baihua and Fang Qifo? Those who own Wang Shaoshi should be concerned. How about the accounts?"

Fan nodded his head: "This time, the one who went north with the account is Deng Yuanjue, the bandit Baoguang Tathagata. This person was one of the four generals under Fang La's command, which is quite tricky. But now they are deliberately making a noise, they have already We were intercepted by us. Now Fang Baihua and others are in the southwest, and Deng Yuanjue and other bandits are in the north. It seems that they are going to kill the capital and make the accounts public, so as to create opportunities for Fang Baihua and others to escape. But...the possibility of them escaping is unlikely, it is estimated that it will take three to five days at most, and then we will see the difference."

"How does Mr. Fan feel about the reliability of the accounts?"

"This...Xiaoguan dare not speak rashly, but it seems that there are many people who care about this matter."

While speaking, Zuo Houwen had arrived at the back of the inn, and his own servant girl led the way and opened the door of the arranged room.Zuo Houwen waved his hand and motioned Fan Zhong to come in and sit down. His expression was simple, but his gestures had an aura that no one could question.After Fan Zhong sat down, he waved his hand and let the maid go out, then poured a cup of tea for Fan Zhong himself and put it in front of him.

"Since everyone wants it, it's a good thing. President Fan is the best at this. I'm an outsider, so I won't say much. The involvement of this account can be big or small, and it has something to do with my Zuo family. But it's not big after all, but... it's better to fall into your own hands than to fall into someone else's hands, and everything will be captured by Lao Fan."

Fan Zhong took the tea and drank it. When he was about to leave, he remembered something: "I wonder how long Zuo Gong will stay here this time?"

"It's about two or three days, waiting for your good news. What?"

"Uh, recently, there have been a lot of dragons and snakes in the vicinity, and it's really not peaceful. The Ministry of Punishment made a big cable, scaring some people away, but after all, Fang Baihua and others have a bounty on their hands, and there are a lot of green forest characters who have come over these few days. Those who seek fame and fortune, or some other secret lines arranged by other people, including... People from the Right Prime Minister's Office and the Secret Investigation Department... Although there are not many, it is inevitable that there will be extra problems. Zuo Gong is staying here, please be careful. "

Zuo Houwen nodded and smiled: "I see, thank you Mr. Fan for reminding him." After the incident in Sipinggang, Fang Baihua and others were chased and blocked in this area, and some Lulin people were driven out, but there were more I rushed over from different channels, and I could barely hold a half-hero meeting.The reason why Fan Zhong came here was for this reason.However, the Zuo family has a profound background, and Zuo Houwen is naturally surrounded by experts. It is enough to mention this, but one of them caught his attention: "The Secret Investigation Division is also here, who is it? "

"There are not many people, about [-] people came, and the leader is a scholar named Cheng Zhouhai from the Xiangfu. They came late, their roots are not deep, and they can't find too many things, but they are still abiding by the rules. . That Cheng Zhouhai can't do much, and now he has to visit Tie Zhai first time every day. It's called ventilation. In fact, he may be trying to talk. But...he can't find too many things."

Zuo Houwen nodded: "Got it. Cheng Zhouhai... I've heard that he is Qin Siyuan's disciple. It's not easy. Just be careful."

"Yes." Fan nodded and was about to leave, and then hesitantly said, "Xiaguan I heard that the secret investigation department is now dealing with Lulin's side, and now a person named Ning Yi is handling it, listen to me. It is said that this person is acting on the side of the sword, and when Duke Zuo was in the capital, he didn’t know…”

"It's just a man who wants to be rich and rich." Zuo Houwen smiled and tapped the table with his fingers casually, "Maybe because of this, he acted a little more ruthlessly. Qin Xiang was good at using such people, but he left the gentleman. The way, not on the table, don't pay attention to it."

"Yes, the subordinate is saying goodbye."

"Go."

The two sides answered casually. After Fan Zhong left, Zuo Houwen frowned slightly.Immediately, he shook his head to shake his thoughts away.

***************
In the small town, matters related to hundreds of lives, lives and net worth only account for a small part of Zuo Houwen's thoughts.For the people involved, it is the arrangements and rushes that need to risk their lives.Over time, the once chaotic state of affairs has begun to become clear again.

Putting aside the few people who were completely dispersed, at least on both sides of the crowd gathered today, one side is headed by Deng Yuanjue and An Xifu, holding the account book, showing an attitude of going north.The other party was still led by Fang Baihua. This group of people fought and fled with heavy casualties. They wanted to cross the hills in the southwest and enter the branch of Dabie Mountain, seeking a chance of life.

However, in just a few days, the change in the whole situation is actually quite fast.From the night of November Tie Tianying and others took action, and then chased and fled, it has not stopped.The joint search of several states and counties, on the one hand, digs out the scattered bandits, on the other hand, the fighting is going on at any time.Fang Baihua and the others shifted their direction and hid their traces. Tie Tianying and Zong Feixiao were also desperately dispatching troops amid the chaotic and complicated information. The people who were arrested every day, the dead and wounded, or the mysterious The information of the green forest masters that appeared was gathered, and they were overwhelmed one by one. They were able to sort out the clues from it, and finally suppress the traces of the two groups of people within a certain range, which is enough to prove that they are experienced in this area.

When all the information became clear again, everyone understood that things would only be known in the next day or two.Of course, there is the possibility of Fang Baihua and others escaping, but this possibility is already quite slim.

When the water dries up, the fish will die.For Fang Baihua and others, this is exactly what they are facing right now.When it was suddenly washed away, there were still places for people to move around in the surrounding prefectures and counties. However, as time passed, Tie Tianying and Zong Feixiao led the people to gradually clear things up, and there were fewer and fewer places to move around. .In just a few short days, the only way out for them was to flee to the southwest into the mountains, but at this time, the direction leading to the Dabie Mountains also happened to be the focus of the Tie Tianying people's defense.

And these things, for them, are also understandable.

The afternoon sun shone on the rocks in the mountains and forests. When he looked up at the sun, Du Sha pursed his lips. The blood on his pale face floated for a while, and then he returned to the terrifying paleness.

He has only one hand left.

It took only two or three days for his arm to be broken, and he was able to wake up, speak, walk, and even raise a knife to kill again.The thin man in front of him seemed to have another unbelievable demon supporting him at this time, and even when Luo Bingren brought clear water, he made a weak and firm decision: "Go tell the princess... We're not leaving."

In the nearby mountain pass, the last few dozen people that Fang Baihua could take with him gathered at this time, and most of them were injured.To make such a decision at the moment is a bit of a whim, but when Du Sha said this, Luo Bingren understood his reason, and even in a sense, he has been waiting for Du Sha or who speaks up.

So he went to tell Fang Baihua about this.Sitting in the shadow of the strange rock, the equally haggard but determined middle-aged woman looked up at him, then stood up with a spear.At this time, someone was already speaking: "What are you doing! Luo Bingren! You guys are going to withdraw! At this time!?"

"Shut up!" Fang Baihua scolded the person next to him, looked at Luo Bingren, and then looked at the surrounding Ba Dao members, "As you know, at this time, only going southwest and entering the mountains will be alive."

"That's not true either." Luo Bingren smiled, "The princess also knows that at this time, you will die early if you hug each other. If you are alone, you may fish in troubled waters and save a life."

The truth that Luo Bingren said, in fact, everyone understands that Tie Tianying, Zong Feixiao and others' biggest purpose is to arrest Fang Baihua. For those who have been washed away, although the search is also strict, there are always very few people. , can get away with it.In the past few days, people have actually realized this, and those who choose to leave alone—of course, most of them will still be captured and killed—as for those who stay, most of them are die-hard loyalists under Fang La and Fang Baihua. The uprising failed, the rescue failed, the companions died, the casualties were injured, and if they left alone, they would have nothing left, not to mention, the chance of survival if they left alone was not great.

But about the reason why Ba Dao and others want to stay, after a while, everyone will be able to understand.

Because Liu Xigua disappeared.

Two days earlier, Liu Xigua, Fang Shuchang and Qian Luoning went out to inquire about the situation. This was originally one of the top martial arts players in the team.Later, Fang Shuchang and Qian Luoning came back and told Lu Yulin about Yechan. It was expected that after the two of them left first, the watermelon would be able to escape, but it was later discovered that the watermelon had never come back.When the transfer was carried out that day, Fang Shuchang and Qian Luoning felt guilty and chose to stay and wait for clearer news. It is said that they fought with Zong Feixiao and left injured.

The next day, when he met with a group of Sikongnan's men, he found out that Liu Xigua lost to Lin Yechan and was killed by their leader, and his body was thrown into the river.

This news was forced out after they caught a few of them, and it is not without credibility.Only the death without the corpse can give people some hope, but there is still no news at this time, and Du Sha and others are unwilling to leave.

Fang Baihua couldn't say anything. After a while, the afterglow of the setting sun fell, and the people in the valley were divided into two groups. One group went to the southwest. where to go...

*****************
A large number of officers and soldiers, Zhu Kuai quickly walked across the road between the mountains. On the nearby foothills, Zong Feixiao rode a horse and watched all this.

The positions of Fang Baihua and the others have been almost determined, and the next step is to sweep them one by one.He is unwilling to spread his strength to fight the grass and startle the snake. He has no overwhelming strength. Even if he wins, it is easy to disperse these people again.The opponents are all masters. Once they are scattered, there will be fewer people who can be caught.Only by encircling them with overwhelming force at one time can they all be done in one battle.

Anyway... they have already gone to despair. At this time, there is no severe external stimulus, and the remaining people should still be in a group.

In a day...or at most two days, things will come to an end, and they will be able to go to Beijing to recite their merits.

When there will be no branches...

He calculated the situation again in his mind, including Sikongnan, Lin Yechan, the people from Fang Baihua, the force of Deng Yuanjue who suddenly came out, and some green forests and grasses gathered around this time, and even secret investigators The small group of people in the department... After thinking about all these things, I reconfirmed that there should not be too many factors other than calculations involved.

And when he passed this mountain, a team of more than 40 people was advancing in a small town more than ten miles away.The leader is about [-] years old, with a strong body and superb martial arts skills. He is a deputy next to Tie Tianying, the head catcher named Tian Li. They came here today for an intelligence, but just now, they met with Another group of people has already made a face-to-face meeting.

Right now, people around me are talking about it.

"Brother Tian, ​​what's the background of that scholar just now? It looks like he has been in and out of our camp every day for the past two days."

"There are only more than 20 people from the secret investigation department here, and they can't get much information. They want to talk to us. What are you so curious about? If you are in this line of work, don't inquire about anything."

"No, I heard that this person came from the capital... We are just curious, a scholar, why does he get involved in this kind of thing, it's not peaceful around here, is he tired of living..."

"Secret detective, they always do weird things, we don't even know what they do now." Tian Li sneered, "I'm a scholar, I haven't been in contact with these things very much, so it's not surprising that I always want to intervene. I used to handle cases, because I didn't understand anything, and there were too many scholars who wanted to point fingers, and he wouldn't understand when he died..."

"But then again, Big Brother Tian, ​​there are quite a few people involved in this matter. The person named Lin Zongwu also said that he wants to challenge Zhou Tong. Is it reliable?"

"You are qualified to challenge Grandmaster Zhou. If you want to win, then forget it." Tian Li smiled, "But speaking, there are too many masters around this time. Just on our side, I, Tian Li, are usually in the arena. It’s also a first-class, and now I have to get a seat, and I can’t even get in the top ten… Fang Baihua is a little embarrassed, but they are all top notch. Fang Baihua is amazing, let alone Baoguang Tathagata Deng Yuanjue Now, I may not be able to stand up to one of the three, Liu Dabiao... Her father is really powerful, even if he challenges Zhou Tong, he is not ambiguous. Now this Liu Xigua is a woman, but he is very skilled. Not inferior to Fang Baihua, but unfortunately I heard that Lin Zongwu killed him..."

He paused: "As for Lin Zongwu, he used to be called Lin Yechan, the Demon Buddha more than ten years ago, he was amazing. When he became famous, I didn't understand anything... Wang Nanda is also qualified to challenge Zhou Zongshi. Yes, their subordinates are also full of talents, very strong... As for those Lulin people who came to join in the fun this time, there are quite a few good players. Comparing with these people, it is a little worse... But to be honest, on weekdays, If I was handling a case and encountered these people, I would always take a detour. This time there were too many people... For example, a scholar from the Secret Investigation Division is just watching the fun... But there is no need to offend, people After all, he came from Beijing, so I said hello to him just now, and it was considered friendly, save face and see you in the future..."

Having said that, Tian Li stopped, looked ahead, and lowered his voice: "It's almost there, just ahead."

He winked at the crowd, and the crowd immediately stopped chatting, and dispersed toward the surroundings and the front, and after a while, they surrounded a small courtyard.

Everyone was hiding under the wall, just about to hit the door or climb over the wall, when suddenly, there was a loud noise behind the courtyard, and the sound of breaking the door and the sound of weapons clashing came.Someone was shouting: "Catch him..."

"It's a tyrannical swordsman..."

"Don't let him run away... ah-"

Everyone rushed over there immediately, and it was Fang Shuchang and Qian Luoning who had been recovering here for two days.

The sun slanted slightly, turning red.There are still a few hours before the expected but unexpected battle. This is just a small episode in the drama near Sipinggang because of Fang Qifo, but after a while, as one of them is not Tian Li, an important participant, was shocked by a scene he had never thought of.

That happened after Fang Shuchang and Qian Luoning, who were still injured, were chased out a few streets.At that time, everyone had already made a plan for the chase.Since Fang Shuchang and Qian Luoning still had amazing skills after recovering from their injuries, they still chose the strategy of avoiding their sharpness and confinement at first.After the battle, the warning gong in the town also sounded. Fang Shuchang and Qian Luoning rushed to the same street. When they saw people coming and killed, they chose the side road to escape. Then, they seemed to see something. people.

The two of them raised their knives and killed them at the same time, and the figure disappeared there. Only a few ping-ping clashes were heard. Shen Meng was astonishing. The two pieces flew out, and the next moment, Fang Shuchang was knocked out, spitting out blood that spilled across the sky, rolled on the ground a few times, and lost consciousness.

Qian Luoning shouted out.Everyone had rushed to the intersection and looked over there. There was only one person fighting against Fang and Qian on the street.But at this time, after the figure simply and simply took a few moves with Qian Luoning, he suddenly pushed two palms on Qian Luoning's body. He breathed, but his body was moving very fast, Qian Luoning's footsteps seemed to have left the ground, rushed across the street half a zhang away, and slammed into the dirt wall by the roadside.

The earth wall collapsed, the smoke billowed, Qian Luoning's body fell into it, and there was no sound for a while. The figure who was fighting with the two leaned over and threw the steel knife on the ground aside, stood up, took out a handkerchief, wiped it. Wiped the blood on his face.

Not far away, more than 20 people from the secret investigation department are coming quickly.

Tian Li opened his mouth and stared dumbfounded at the figure of the scholar in the robe in the dust. Since Fang Shuchang spat out blood on half of his face when he flew out, he wiped it again, causing half of his face to become weird. red.When the subordinates of the Department of Secret Investigation came over, they also looked at this scene in a stunned manner, but the scholar just said indifferently and simply: "Catch it up."

The young man named Cheng Zhouhai turned his eyes to this side, and for a moment, a kind smile appeared in his indifferent expression: "It's a coincidence, Tian Caitou."

"You...you..." Tian Li frowned, his thoughts were a little confused. He is now a master in the green forest, and most of the fast catchers around him can understand the level of Fang Shuchang and Qian Luoning.They just felt that there were only more than [-] people from the Secret Investigation Division, and they couldn't intervene in this matter, but if you look at the scene in front of you, the young man's skills have reached the peak, and just a few tricks to fight against Qian Luoning. , but also really subtle, heart-wrenching.All of a sudden, the existence of the Secret Investigation Division in their eyes suddenly turned into a vicious wolf lying on the side.

Sure enough, I heard that the Right Prime Minister is shrewd, and the Secret Investigation Division actually sent such a person, and it is really not easy to mess with... Thinking in my heart, the people of the Secret Investigation Division over there have already tied up Fang Shuchang and Qian. Lorning.The man named Cheng Zhouhai said mildly, "Tian Chaitou seems to have something to say. You and I are siblings. If you have something to say, please don't be polite."

Tian Li swallowed his saliva: "This... these two people are actually being hunted by the Ministry of Punishment..."

"Oh?" The other party's voice paused, and after a while, he tilted his head intriguingly, "So, you want to..."

The voice came from a long time: "...Tiger's mouth grabs food?"

After a moment of silence, Tian Li suddenly laughed: "How, how, Mr. Cheng has misunderstood, misunderstood..." He decided that at his own level, it would be better not to negotiate with the head of the Secret Investigation Division for the time being...

**************
When the sunset turned orange, Chen Fan finished feeding Ji Qian'er the last mouthful of porridge, and then looked at the sunlight.

Sometimes, perhaps it should be considered as fateful luck. In two days, when he made up his mind to die, the expected pursuit did not come this way.Chen Fan himself knows how to treat injuries and take medicine. In two days, Ji Qianer's life was hanged, and other things became clear.

Putting down the porridge bowl, he put Ji Qianer's mandarin duck knife on the inside of the bed, Ji Qianer's hand showed a somewhat cheerful smile.

"I'm leaving."

"now?"

Ji Qian'er looked at him there.

"I guess it's almost time..."

Two days was enough for him to go out and collect some information, including Fang Baihua's approximate whereabouts, including Deng Yuanjue, An Xifu's, as well as the general actions of the Ministry of Justice, Sikongnan and others, and even... Liu Xigua's disappearance.The water was almost dry and the fish was about to emerge from it, so he had no reason to stay.

Although it is said that if he chooses to stay out of the matter, both he and Ji Qianer may survive.And the things outside, no matter how you look at it, it seems that there is no possibility of returning to the sky.But sometimes, men have to do it when they know they can't do it.

Ji Qianer also understands this.

"Xiao Fan..."

"Ok?"

"Master said before that if people want to die, they must raise their heads."

"..." Chen Fan was silent for a moment, then smiled, "I didn't intend to die... But if I do..." He tilted his head.

Ji Qian'er also smiled: "Xiaofan, my family is already dead. If you go too, don't worry about me, I will kill a few more people and catch up with you."

Chen Fan laughed silently, but he was slightly fond and nostalgic. After a while, he said, "Sister Qian'er, I remember when I was young, I watched you practice swordsmanship, and then wanted to beat you, I started later than you, but I'm better than you now... I'm on my feet very fast, you have to hurry, but hurry up."

He took a breath, and then suddenly said: "However, when you see my body, don't believe in such an impossible thing. When I was a child, someone calculated it for me, saying that I was a success, and I haven't yet. How could I die before the world is invincible. You are a woman after all, and your knowledge is still shallow... I'm leaving, take good care of you..."

When listening to him, Ji Qian'er closed her eyes with a smile and turned her head inward.Chen Fan waved his hand and walked towards the door. After a while, when Ji Qian'er turned around, the setting sun had engulfed the resolute back in a reddish orange...

The night falls, and the mountains and forests are sneaky.

Howling winds...

***************
Originally wanted to be before twelve o'clock, but unfortunately I couldn't catch up...

(End of this chapter)