mountain chase

"Fourth Master, how do you feel now?" Bending down, the housekeeper asked softly.

——This is already the third day. Since the night before the previous day, people from the 'Red' team have been working tirelessly on research. Although they already have a plan, the antidote produced is still not satisfactory.

"It's okay." Blinking his eyes slowly, Fourth Master Qiao's face was pale.On his arm, there were small pinholes one by one. Various detoxification potions were injected into the body. Although it relieved it to some extent, it was three-point poison after all. Fourth Master Qiao's body was not good in the first place. Even weaker.

"Ugh."

Seeing the housekeeper sigh, Dr. Li on the side looked uncomfortable. He was treated by Qiao's family so that he had the opportunity to study abroad to study western medicine. He thought that he could help Fourth Master Qiao after he came back. Watching helplessly his master suffers.

"Don't worry too much," Fourth Master Qiao said softly, "This drug must be a new drug that came out of Japan. Even if an antidote can be made, I think it depends on people's willpower to quit."

"Fourth Master... What do you mean - this thing is not poison?"

"It can't be said that it is not poisonous," Dr. Li explained behind him, "how can I put it, this thing is an upgraded version of opium. After ordinary opium users take it at least three times before they become addicted, and this thing only needs to be touched. Once, don't try to get rid of him. And..."

"And what?" The housekeeper looked at Dr. Li.

"And look at Si Ye's situation. If you become addicted to ordinary opium, you can temporarily relieve it as long as you take it again, but Si Ye can't. If you haven't researched his medicinal properties, if you keep leaving it like this, you will be put to death. Life is life-or-death!"

"..." Gritting his teeth, the butler stared at the needle in Dr. Li's hand, wishing he could rush out and kill all these little Japanese!

"Boom! Boom, boom..."

While talking, there was a knock on the door.

"What's the matter?" Pushing the door open, the butler asked the maid.

"First, sir, there is a military vehicle parked outside the mansion, and the person inside claims to be the Japanese General Noda, you, look..." The maid was obviously frightened by the title.

"Wait a minute," the butler patted her on the shoulder, opened the door and walked in.

"What happened again?"

"Fourth Master, Mr. Noda is here." The housekeeper looked at him, "You look like this, do you want your subordinates to go out and dismiss him?"

"Send?" Fourth Master Qiao sneered, "You don't have the ability. You know, the whole of Nanjing is now owned by the Japanese. Mr. Noda even knew to knock on the door before he came in, which is already very good for me, Joe. Now, we can't——make an inch of it." He was talking, but his face gradually turned cold.

"That……"

"Go and invite people in, just say I'll go down later."

"Yes."

"Wait, go find me a woman to come in."

"Ah?" Looking up, the butler glanced at Fourth Master Qiao, and immediately said, "Young one, go now."

In less than ten seconds, a maid opened the door and walked in, "Fourth Master, what orders do you have?"

"Can you make up?" Staring at her, Fourth Master Qiao asked.

"Ah... yes, a little bit." The maid replied a little confused.

"Then come here and put on some light makeup for me." Sitting in the chair, Fourth Master Qiao said flatly.

"... Oh." Taking the tools handed over from the side, the maid walked forward cautiously.

downstairs.

The butler led Noda Benichiro all the way into the hall of Qiao's house.Since the house burned down last time (Note 1), Mr. Qiao ordered people to rebuild and decorate it.In the past, perhaps because he lived abroad for many years, the house was always designed according to Western architecture. Although Chinese craftsmen were hired, it was built in a very authentic style.

The house today is not what it used to be.

At that time, Fourth Master Qiao was fascinated by Wang Bo's "Preface to the Pavilion of the King of Teng". Therefore, although the buildings in the mansion were built with modern floors, every carving and painting decoration in it was according to the ancients at that time. , not a single bit was spared.

Noda followed the butler all the way in.He was still dissatisfied that the car could only drive up to the gate and had to get out of the car and walk in, but now the more he took a step, the more amazed and surprised he was.

Stone painted wooden walls, painted dragons and phoenixes, lush flowers and plants, gurgling water.After the Forbidden City I saw in Beiping that time, there is no other place with such exquisite and beautiful scenery.

No!This is not only exquisite, but also reproduces the extreme beauty and elegance of Chinese classical architecture at that time.

"Mr. Noda, my fourth master is still changing clothes upstairs. If you don't mind, please have a cup of tea. Wait a while." Ordering the servant to serve tea, the butler said respectfully.

"It's okay, it's okay, I'll drink tea first, drink tea!" His eyes were still moving back and forth, Noda Benichiro didn't pay attention to what the housekeeper said next to him, he just focused on everything here, every detail .

"Mr. Noda is here?" After a while, Fourth Master Qiao's voice came from behind the screen in the hall. Noda Motoichiro stood up, and as soon as he looked up, he saw Fourth Master Qiao coming out from behind the screen.

He was wearing a black satin Chinese tunic suit with buttons, which made his face more beautiful and his skin more beautiful than snow.

"Mr. Qiao, hello. I take the liberty to come here. I wonder if I've disturbed you?" Smiling, Noda Benichiro couldn't help admiring from the bottom of his heart—as expected, there was only this person!Only this person is the best!It is the real, living oriental fossil!

"Mr. Noda, you are welcome." Fourth Master Qiao walked over and sat on the mahogany soft bed opposite Noda Benichiro. People are relieved."

"If so, that would be great." Noda nodded and smiled.

"Tea, sir."

"Ah, thank you." Noda took a sip from the teacup handed over by the servant, "Mr. Qiao, next time I come here, besides visiting him, I have one more thing to discuss with him."

"Oh?" The eyebrows raised slightly, "I don't know what it is?"

"That's right." Noda put down his teacup, "Since our Empire of Japan entered China, we have now occupied one of the most important cities in China, Nanjing. However, there are still many people who don't know the truth and always think that our Empire of Japan It is the invader, Mr. Qiao, I believe you should be a sensible person, my Great Japanese Empire is committed to saving this decadent country, in order to establish a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere - so that every Asian people can live a better life Good day! So, I would like to invite you, sir, to give you more publicity and make more friends for our Great Japanese Empire."

"So that's the case." Nodding, Fourth Master Qiao said calmly, "This sounds like a good thing. Since it is a good thing, Joe has no reason to refuse, but Mr. Noda, you also understand that even though Joe I have some spare money. The Qiao family can be regarded as the nobles in the past, but after all, it is a thing of the past. Now, the government of the country is gone, not to mention my former nepotism in the Qing Dynasty. Mr. Noda, you think too highly of me .”

"Mr. Qiao, please don't say that." Noda Benichiro said with a serious face, "I call myself a 'China hand'. Although I can't say that I know a lot about Chinese culture, I still know a thing or two. Mr. Qiao—with your talent , you should definitely not just stay at home and be an idler. If you are willing to help out, then you are very likely to be the mayor of Nanjing City in the future. Men aim everywhere, Mr. Qiao, don’t miss it Such a great opportunity."

"Hehe." With a rare smile, Fourth Master Qiao took a look at Noda Benichiro. He stood up and walked to the window, "Mr. Noda, look at Nanjing now—" Opening the window, although the outside is still the beauty of Qiao Mansion. Lunmeihuan courtyard, but in the distance, separated by a wall - dilapidated everywhere.

The wind howled.

Fourth Master Qiao stood at the window, his hair was disheveled by the wind, Noda looked at the slightly pale, delicate and picturesque face, "Mr. Noda, for Nanjing, for such a city without poetic charm, I am— - Not interested at all." He said, with a self-deprecating smile.

"Mr. Qiao," Noda strode over and closed the window, "It's very windy outside, you should pay more attention to your body."

"Ahem," just as he was speaking, Fourth Master Qiao's face suddenly turned pale.

"Mr. Qiao!" Noda stretched out his hand to support the man immediately, and Noda showed a nervous look on his face.

"Mr. Noda," the housekeeper said apologetically after taking back Fourth Master Qiao from the man's hand, "My fourth master has not been in good health. If Mr. Noda has nothing else to do, please come back for now. Fourth Master still needs rest."

"Alright." Withdrawing his hand, Noda nodded, "Take care of your husband. Mr. Qiao, let me go first."

"Walk slowly."

……

After leaving the gate, Ozawa, who had been by Noda's side all the time, was a little puzzled, "General, just now—why didn't you continue to persuade Mr. Qiao? You gave such a good condition, and it seems that he will agree."

Shaking his head, Noda smiled meaningfully, "Ozawa, you are still too young. A person like Mr. Qiao - he will not give in for this benefit. We need more, something that he cannot resist. After meeting today, I am even more sure about this."

Squinting his eyes, Noda put his hand under his nose—as if there was still the taste of touching Fourth Master Qiao.

at the same time.

In Qiao's mansion.

Fourth Master Qiao had already fallen into the butler's arms with a livid face.

(Note 1: After Wang Dachuan was imprisoned, Qiao’s house was blown up when Duhu came to save him. See Chapter 53 and [-] for details.)