The bear child of the Red Chamber, Jia Cong

It is said that Jia Cong and others speculated from what Yuan Shikai's cousin said that Fang Xiong hid the property stolen from the capital's house in a certain rice shop in Chang'an.Jia Cong said: "The Gao family is in Chang'an, can I trouble them to find out?"

Jia Xu and Liu Feng said in unison: "No!"

Jia Xudao: "With such a large amount of money, even relatives can't guarantee it. I'll go back to Fang's house and find out what kind of rice line their family has hidden in Chang'an."

Jia Cong said: "By the way, Qiu Liang is not idle these days. He is looking around for the mounting master. But will people be silenced? That kind of thing is obviously a fake manuscript."

Jia Xudao: "Most of the mounting masters can't read." After thinking for a while, he said, "It doesn't matter whether the mounting master is dead or alive, this matter is available." Then he ordered Liu Feng to make such an arrangement.

Liu Feng glanced at Jia Cong with a smile: "It's really uncle and nephew." Jia Xu raised his eyebrows.

Jia Cong chuckled twice: "Uncle Wu, you're trying to figure out the answer! Brother Baoyu smashed Huo Xuan to death with an inkstone, didn't I just use this trick to defend him?"

Jia Xu said: "This is called making the best use of the situation! If you don't understand, just study more."

"Yes yes yes, Uncle Wu said yes!" Jia Cong never hesitated to flatter his elders.

Jia Xunai wrote a coded urgent letter and let the pigeons fly back to Chengtian Mansion.

A few days later, Xiu Mu, General Huang's subordinate who was patrolling Qingcheng Mountain, heard something and hurried back to General Huang.General Huang immediately ordered the horse to report to Qiu Liang.Qiu Liang was overjoyed when he heard this: "It's a letter!" It turned out that someone in the town at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain spread gossip, saying that a mounting master was drunk and said that he had mounted a pile of scraps of paper in one place and was indistinguishable from the complete one. !The man was never found again later, neither alive nor dead.

Qiu Liangqin led people to investigate.After searching for three days, I couldn't find the master's name or where the shop was.On the third day, when it was time for dinner, a daredevil rushed over from behind the alley and bumped Qiu Liang, and ran away without even saying sorry.Qiu Liang watched the man's back turn and disappeared, and spread his palms.The man had just slipped a note to him.Open it and look, it reads: Fang Xiong's confidant Fang Yong is having dinner at the Yuanming Palace in the north of Zhangren Mountain.

Qiu Liang was startled secretly, and immediately led the people to rush over.Just after entering Guanmen, I heard someone shouting: "Fang Yong! The official is here, run!" But he shouted, "Don't go, thief!" All the soldiers rushed to the back quickly.I saw Taoist priests and pilgrims who were eating in a mess, and when they asked, they said that someone had just escaped from the back door in a hurry.Qiu Liang and others chased after him.But no one ran fast, and watched helplessly as seven or eight people turned up the mountain path and were about to flee. Behind Qiu Liang, a soldier secretly set up a bow and shot an arrow, aimed at a thief, and hit the back of his heart.The thief fell in response.The remaining thieves ignored the corpse and fled into the forest.

But he took the thief's body and brought it back, General Huang recognized it at a glance: "It's the thief who coaxed me that day!"

Qiu Liang sighed: "It's useless if you die, and you can't interrogate." Because he looked back for the archer, but couldn't find it, the arrows he took with him said they were not the arrows they shot, and he didn't know the archer.Thinking of the note that was suddenly stuffed into his hand, Qiu Liang couldn't help becoming suspicious, maybe the gangsters were using him as a cover for their backstabbing.

The one who hit the arrow was indeed Fang Yong.Yesterday, the aunt of the second room of the Fang family starched and washed the clothes for Mrs. Fang, and found that the belt was too thick, and suspected that there was something in her heart, so she offered it to the second wife.The second wife quietly opened it and looked for it, and there was half a handkerchief hidden in the belt!The map of Qingcheng Mountain was embroidered on the handkerchief, and only one "Yuanming Palace" was marked on the map.After receiving this letter, Fang Yong led a few confidants to Mount Qingcheng quietly early this morning, but by chance Qiu Liang caught him.He also carried this half of the handkerchief with him, so Qiu Liang searched it naturally.A group of Taoist priests from Yuanming Palace rushed to another place that day, and the people of the King of Shu occupied this Taoist temple and dug three feet to find it.

The next day, Fang Yong's men returned to the camp dejectedly, and brought another person with them.His name was Lu Sanzhang, and he was a woodcutter on Qingcheng Mountain.

He was not from the mountains.In the past year, because his nephew died and wanted to become a monk, the old Taoist priests in the Taoist temple said that he would not accept him when his fate was over, and he didn't want to go back to his hometown, so he stayed on the mountain.When Fang Yong's men fled, they happened to meet him carrying firewood on the mountain road.He shouted: "Follow me!" Fang Yong had just been hit by an arrow, and his men were like horses without a bridle, so they followed him in a daze.This woodcutter is very familiar with mountain roads and has extraordinary arm strength. He led them across the forest and stream, through caves and wild vines, and got rid of Qiu Liang's pursuers.

Lu Sanzhang led them to a hut to roast some wild game, and said: "My nephew just quarreled with someone, and the government took him to prison, but he disappeared in two days. I'm not helping you guys." , but it’s not pleasing to the government. Those officers and soldiers have been here for a long time, and you can’t escape easily, so I will send you away at night.” Seeing that he is very skilled in martial arts and has saved their own lives, they dragged him into their gang.This person said, "There is nothing greater than death."

Someone persuaded: "Since the government has harmed your nephew, wouldn't you be happy to kill the dog official for revenge?"

Lu Sanzhang said: "The dog officer and the jailer who killed my nephew have been killed. It's just that if they are killed, my nephew will not come back?"

The man persuaded again: "Death cannot bring people back to life. My nephew's vengeance has been avenged, and the spirit in heaven is at peace. Why is Brother Lu still thinking about it? There is more than one dog official in the world? There are also other people's nephews who were killed."

Lu Sanzhang's eyes lit up, and he finally shook his head and said, "I'm used to being on the mountain."

These few are ordinary soldiers with simple minds.Seeing that the expression on Lu Sanzhang's face had softened, they thought, now that Fang Yong is dead, they must go back without a leader.Since there is an expert, seeing that his skills and knowledge are stronger than Fang Yong, wouldn't it be a pity to let him go for nothing?Nai looked at each other a few times.Another one said: "Brother Lu said that the elder will not allow you to become a monk, and the fate of the world is not over. Isn't it right on our brother's head?"

"Isn't it!" said another, "Our young master is a heavenly man who has practiced Taoism for three generations, and his immortal demeanor is very good. Why don't you meet Brother Lu?"

Lu Sanzhang let them talk about it for a long time, but still hesitated.Late at night, Lu Sanzhang led them down the mountain to avoid the officers and soldiers on a corner path, and stole a few horses for them, so he wanted to bid farewell.A soldier said: "Brother Lu, we have to walk a long way to get there. I'm afraid it's not peaceful. Sending the Buddha to the west, why don't you bother Brother Lu to give us a ride?" Lu Sanzhang laughed: "This is a rascal, isn't it?" ?" Several people made a fuss, but Lu Sanzhang couldn't shirk it, so he agreed.

Several people joyfully brought him back to the camp, and Mrs. Fang was shocked: "How can you bring outsiders here at will! What if he is a secret agent of the court!"

Lu Sanzhang clasped his fists and said, "I don't have any malicious intentions, it's just that a few brothers invited me, and the kindness is hard to get over. If the family members don't want it, then I'll leave." But he swore, "If I invite you Wait until the location is leaked to the government, and you will be a general for life and death, and you will never die on the battlefield, only the hands of small people."

Mrs. Fang took a deep breath, and said after a while, "I have never heard such a poisonous oath. The general has fought a hundred battles, and the body is still shrouded in horse leather; it is so wrong to die at the hands of a villain. Mr. Lu Zhuang, I believe you." Lu Sanzhang He clasped his fists to say goodbye, and turned to leave.Mrs. Fang hurriedly stepped forward to stop him to apologize, but Lu Sanzhang still refused to stay.

When Fang Yifei saw this person, he was shocked: Isn't it that Jinyiwei Qianhu Liu Quan?Could it be that Fang Yong was designed to be killed by him?Because Fang Yong didn't tell anyone about going to Mount Qingcheng with the half handkerchief, Fang's family didn't know what he was doing except for the second room, Fang Yifei had gone through thousands of circles in his mind and couldn't figure out what happened.Then he also stepped forward to keep Lu Sanzhang, and said earnestly: "A gentleman saves people from fire and water. I listened to the oath of a strong man, and I think he was born in the army. Now we are the only one who can lead the army. Although it is difficult now, it will not happen in the future." Treat the general badly."

Lu Sanzhang glanced at her and said, "This little general is the young master who the brothers said had practiced in a Taoist temple?"

Fang Yifei cupped his fists: "Exactly."

"Have you ever learned to lead the army?"

Fang Yifei smiled wryly and said, "I'm just a scholar, I've never studied before."

Lu Sanzhang said: "I came here with a few brothers, I thought they were just ordinary bandits. I just took a look at the passing soldiers, but I didn't think they were a serious army. I am a military household, and my brother has spent a lot of money. Only then can I get away, and I also promised my elder brother not to serve as a soldier. Since there is a shortage of people in your camp, I can temporarily take charge of the army, and I hope I can learn from it. As long as I can command soldiers and horses by myself, I will retire immediately civilian."

Mrs. Fang was overjoyed in her heart, and pretended to say: "We will discuss these things in the future!"

Lu Sanzhang then stayed in Fang's camp, and within a few days, he subdued all the soldiers, and he never took credit for it, Fang Yifei took the lead in everything.He also taught Fang Yifei how to rectify the military regulations, how to apply both kindness and force, how to advance soldiers and horses without moving food and grass, how to defend against high defense and prevent traps at the bottom, and so on.Fang Yifei is talented and intelligent, and he has determined to seize power, so he learns very quickly.And this person is sincere and honest, and he is a reliable person based on appearance.Although the whole Fang family may not like him, they are all relieved of him.Mrs. Fang was so happy that she recited Buddha's name every day: "I don't want Fang Yong to be replaced by such a talented person!" Qiu Liang also hung Fang Yong's head on Qingcheng Mountain to tempt people to steal it. The soldiers know that they are afraid that someone will cause trouble.

There was a lot of food stored in the camp, but recently Lv Sanzhang has trained his troops hard, and the appetite of the soldiers has suddenly increased.Then he discussed with Fang Yifei: "We need to replenish some food and grass."

Fang Yifei said sadly: "Right now we are all rebels."

Lu Sanzhang said: "Or rob a grain depot. It's just that these people are not strong enough at the moment, and they are a bit risky. Three more months will be enough. I don't know if there is enough grain for three months."

Fang Yifei then went to discuss with Mrs. Fang.Mrs. Fang said: "Since it's inconvenient to rob, I have a rice line in my dowry. No one except your grandfather knows about it. It's just far away in Chang'an."

Fang Yifei said: "Since that's the case, let's send someone there first to bring some food and grass."

But he called Lu Sanzhang to discuss.Lu Sanzhang said: "Food and grass are very important, and so many grain carts are easy to attract attention. Right now our camp is safe, and we have dug trenches outside, and Mr. Yi Fei is becoming more and more powerful. I will take some brothers to Chang'an to hold grain. Lord, try to command the soldiers alone for a few days."

Fang Yifei was surprised: "So fast! How can I hold back!"

Lu Sanzhang smiled and said: "You are the master, you are born to be able to hold back. I am just going to beg for food, and Chang'an is not far away. I will order a few capable brothers to help the young master. Sooner or later, the young master will be alone. Yes, it’s good to practice courage.”

Mrs. Fang naturally wished for her granddaughter to seize the military power as soon as possible. Seeing that he wanted to let go, she hurriedly said: "It's a big matter to hold food. Since General Lu told you to try it, why don't you try it?" Fang Yifei hesitated for a long time , should also be.

Lu Sanzhang then led a team of people, took the token from Mrs. Fang and a letter from the soldiers, and set off for Chang'an pretending to be an ordinary grain merchant's bodyguard.

Nothing happened on the road.On this day, I entered Chang'an City. Because I was not familiar with the road, I asked someone on the side of the road to inquire.I saw an old lady walking over with a pole on her shoulders, with two boxes of hickory nuts hanging on both ends of the pole.Lu Sanzhang stared at him.A brother said with a smile: "The aunt who sells walnuts is so beautiful!" Lu Sanzhang blushed, pulled his back, and went up to the aunt to find out the way.

The aunt put down her shoulders and rested her shoulders, and said: "I came from the countryside to the city to sell goods, and Fenglong Rice Bank happened to know about it. There is their shop in Tongjifang." Lu Sanzhang thanked her repeatedly , and asked in detail how to get to Tongjifang.The aunt was eloquent, she scratched the ground with her pole a few times, and Lu Sanzhang understood.I hurried to thank you again.The aunt picked up the walnuts and left, but Lu Sanzhang still turned his head to look at them.

A brother coughed: "Brother Lu! Your neck is twisted!" Everyone laughed.

Lu Sanzhang still reluctantly turned his head and said, "What a beautiful aunt! You really look like my daughter-in-law." Everyone laughed louder and louder.

Not long after, they found Feng Leong Rice Shop and met the shopkeeper holding a token.The shopkeeper's surname is Wan, but he is actually a nephew of Fang Xiong, who hides the word "Fang".A few days ago, I heard that something happened to Fang's family, and I was terrified.Later, when I heard that the women and children of the Fang family had been rescued, I made up my mind.Because the state of Shu is taking them, they dare not send people to inquire at will, for fear of causing trouble.Now that I saw them, I felt relieved when I heard that the old ladies, wives, girls, and young men are all well.

After the brothers were settled first, Lu Sanzhang went to the secret room alone with shopkeeper Wan to talk.He said: "The old lady said that the things will not be moved for now. The King of Shu searched for these things tightly, and he did not suspect that they had come out of the Kingdom of Shu at all. We will talk about it after the wind has passed. Our food and grass are almost exhausted, so we can only transport Go back with some food and grass for emergency."

Shopkeeper Wan nodded and said: "The old lady is thoughtful." Then he asked, "How is the family doing now?"

Lu Sanzhang sighed softly: "There are no adult men, and I am not the master. There is no other way, and now the third girl pretends to be a man and is in charge for the time being."

Shopkeeper Wan was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "The king of Shu is a white-eyed wolf! Who welcomed him into Shu back then? After a few years, he crossed the bridge to draw boards."

Lu Sanzhang said: "If Red Bones doesn't sell us firearms, how can we be the King of Shu's opponent with our knives and axes? For the present plan, the only way is to settle down first, so that we can train soldiers; after the King of Shu searched for a while, we couldn't find anything." , and try to pretend to be another prince’s subordinate to buy firearms. Otherwise, there is no way to avenge my lord.”

Shopkeeper Wan nodded and asked, "Brother Lu, are you in a hurry to come here?"

"I'm in a hurry, I'm waiting for food at home. I hope Shopkeeper Wan will prepare the food quickly."

"I'll go get ready now." Shopkeeper Wan said again, "If you need anything else, just say it."

Lu Sanzhang hesitated for a moment, and said, "I don't know if shopkeeper Wan is familiar in Chang'an?"

Shopkeeper Wan said: "I have been here for more than thirty years."

A blush appeared on Lu Sanzhang's face: "Just now we didn't know the way after entering the city, and an aunt who sold walnuts pointed us in the direction. I thought, I need to thank her more."

Shopkeeper Wan wondered, "Just thank you for a guide. Why do Brother Lu want her?"

Lu Sanzhang simply said: "The appearance of that aunt is very pleasing to my eyes."

Shopkeeper Wan was startled, clapped his palms and laughed, "So that's it! It's a trivial matter!" So he sent someone to go outside to find a good-looking walnut seller.

Not long after, the clever guy has already found out.It turned out that the woman's husband's family name was Jia and her name was Yu Wen. She was originally a scholar. At the beginning of the year, she left home with a big burden of poetry and essays.There was no rice for the pot at home, so Aunt Jia went to Chang'an City to find her husband, but there was no such person in the large and small yamen, and in the rich families.Aunt Jia met a walnut dealer by chance, so she learned how to sell walnuts for a living.

Lu Sanzhang heard and sighed: "Her man really doesn't know anything! He has a lovely wife and runs around."

Shopkeeper Wan smiled and said, "Brother Lu is right! From my point of view, she is a man who is more compassionate than Brother Lu."

Lu Sanzhang blushed, asked the clerk where Aunt Jia was going, and ran away.