Volume 1 Chushan Bandits Chapter 15 Congratulations, Boss
Although Huaiyuan has not yet been established as a county, its streets are as prosperous as those of ordinary county towns.
Unlike those low-class brothels, although Yuehonglou also does the flesh trade, when you step into the gate facing the main street, you will find that the courtyard is full of winding paths and elegant courtyards planted with green bamboos and sparse plum trees, which are interconnected, giving it the style of a famous city.
The girls who were dressed in fine clothes and powdered clothes were not only carefully selected, but some of them had been cultivated with great effort. They all had some knowledge of poetry, calligraphy, music and painting, and were quite interesting. However, they were not like those lowly prostitutes who were eager to be sold as soon as they entered the house.
Although there are many inns in the streets and there is also a post house in the military camp across the river where one can stay overnight, for those wealthy merchants who spend huge sums of money at night without even frowning, naturally they would rather stay in a deep house with the company of beautiful women, as this would be the best way to comfort their loneliness.
The innermost courtyard of Yuehonglou is where the top prostitute Miss Liu Qiong'er entertains guests. In the afternoon, a wealthy guest from another place named Zheng moved in with several bodyguards. As soon as they met, they threw a gold ingot over.
The wealthy man named Zheng is fair and elegant, like a scholar, and all the girls like him when they see him.
The bodyguards around him looked ordinary, but the sharp look in their eyes made people feel uneasy, as if they were murderous.
But this wealthy guest named Zheng seemed a little strange in Miss Liu Qiong'er's eyes.
Although she has been selling her art but not her body in recent years, she knows in her heart that this is just a way for Yuehonglou to establish its reputation and attract wealthy customers.
If someone really came into Yuehonglou and saw her but didn't look at her like a hungry tiger wanting to eat her up, she would worry whether, at the age of 22, she had lost the value of being worthy of a sign.
Today, this patron named Zheng moved in, but he hardly even looked at her. In the afternoon, he stayed in Hu's room and talked.
"It is now almost certain that Xu Wufu and Xu Wujiang are not on good terms with each other. The problem lies with the woman named Su Di whom Xu Wujiang married two years ago. Before you came here, Mr. Zheng, we also went to Biyang to find a reason to contact Xu Wufu. We can conclude that Xu Wufu has no idea what is happening in Huaiyuan Town..."
At dusk, Liu Qiong'er brewed a pot of fragrant tea herself, and with some curiosity and reluctance, she tiptoed into the yard as usual. As soon as she arrived at the corridor, she heard this patron named Zheng discussing things with his subordinates, and he also mentioned the local wealthy family, the Xu family.
She was wondering what these people wanted to do. Could it be that this seemingly gentle Mr. Zheng was actually a horse thief?
"You are right to be cautious. Even if we can conclude that Xu Wufu is not involved, the fact that those old members of the Jingsheng Army have colluded with Lu Xiong should not be underestimated. After all, we still don't know what the emperor is thinking. He may be weak, but he is not always obedient and can listen to the prime minister and the prime minister. Wang Bing's demotion to Tangzhou does not mean that he will not make a comeback."
Official? Does it mean the current emperor?
Miss Liu Qiong'er's eyes widened. She couldn't guess what these people were discussing for a moment and was a little frightened.
"Chen Shi has officially ordered Deng Gui to protect Wang Bing. If they keep hiding in the military camp and don't come out, how can we solve this matter? In my opinion, we should just go all out and call in more people. When they are unprepared, we can directly attack the military camp. I don't believe that more than a hundred local soldiers can be so powerful..."
"Making a big noise can solve the problem, but Wang Bing is not a dispensable existence. Do you think there is no one in the court keeping an eye on the Prime Minister? How much shit do you plan to smear on your buttocks and let the Prime Minister help you clean it up?"
"Then how should this matter be handled?"
"In the past, Wang Bing might not be that important. It would be best if three or five people could deal with him. If he couldn't be dealt with, it wouldn't be a big problem. But since Lu Xiong has gathered the remnants of the Jingsheng Army, this matter is definitely not simple - this is why the Prime Minister asked me to come here. We have to clip their wings first; maybe this is a good opportunity to eradicate the remnants of the Jingsheng Army!"
"If we make a small noise, it won't solve the problem, but we can't make a big noise either. What should we do?"
"Is this why I came? Can I count on you for everything? Dong Qifeng, I heard you say that you are an old acquaintance of the second . Is it possible for him to recommend us to join the Tiger Head Village?"
"What can he do by recommending us to join the Tiger Head Village? These mountain village leaders are very smart and will not listen to our orders!"
"Why are you talking so much nonsense? I have a plan for what to do. Just tell me if it's okay or not."
Wang Bing was demoted to Tangzhou, and everyone in Huaiyuan Town knew about it in the past few days. Although Miss Liu Qiong'er also felt that it was better not to listen to these words, she could not control her inner curiosity and eavesdropped in the corridor for a long time before quietly retreating.
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Deep in the main range of the Nanling Mountains of Tongbai Mountain, about forty miles away from Huaiyuan Town, there is a mountain range standing on the east bank of a river called Paohu Creek.
The high cliffs of this mountain range near the stream and river are particularly high and steep, shaped like a ferocious tiger pouncing out, hence the name Hutouling.
Hutouling is sandwiched between the ridges of Tongbai Mountain. The road is dangerous and there is only one dirt road winding from the west bank of Paohu Creek, but it ends at the wild ferry on the opposite bank.
Anyone who wants to go to Hutouling can go to Yedukou, take a boat to cross the fast-flowing and deep Paohu Creek, find a path through the dense forest on the east bank, and then circle up the mountain.
In the early years, there was a village on the hillside of Hutouling, where dozens of mountain villagers and hunters lived together. It was occupied by a group of bandits led by a big boss called Tang Biao more than ten years ago.
Afterwards, in addition to the criminals who committed crimes and the bankrupt villagers who had nowhere else to go and came to seek refuge, Tang Biao, the Wind-Breaking Knife, also kidnapped and forced the strong mountain hunters nearby to join his gang. By then, he had gathered nearly 200 young and strong bandits who trained day and night. At this time, they were considered a very powerful mountain stronghold force in Huaiyuan Mountain.
The bandits were numerous and their stronghold was in a dangerous location, so the prefecture, county and Huaiyuan Inspection Office were unable to suppress them.
That day, ten riders on fast horses came along the dirt road on the west bank of Paohu Creek and stopped in front of the ferry.
A man dressed in a long cotton gown and dressed like a merchant jumped off his horse, walked to the ferry, and shouted to the ferry tied under the willow trees on the other side: "Wu Laoqi, are you asleep?!"
"Second in command, you've returned to the village so early. Why didn't you stay in Huaiyuan Town this time and find a woman to fuck for a few days before coming back? Are you thinking about the young lady you kidnapped a few days ago? Second in command, you've been asked to fuck that young lady so many times. Now that you've found Huaiyuan Town, don't you want to try something new?"
A thin man heard the sound and came out from under the black sail of the ferry. He saw the second in command Chen Zixiao already standing on the wild ferry on the opposite bank. He was calling out to him while skillfully untying the rope with his hands.
He pushed the bamboo pole onto the riverbed, and the ferry boat shot towards the west bank like an arrow.
Except for the second in command Chen Zixiao and two followers who sneaked into Huaiyuan Town to inquire about the news, the other eight people were strangers. The boatman looked them up and down.
Seven of them were strong men with strong muscles and bones, and there were swords and bows tied to the backs of the horses they were leading.
Although these people were all dressed as followers in coarse cloth short shirts, they had a proud demeanor and it was obvious that they were all skilled in swords and bows.
The leader was in his early thirties, wearing a dark blue robe. He had an elegant look, but he looked like a scholar. Wu Qi could guard the ferry alone, so of course he had a sharp eye.
Seeing these people were extraordinary, the boatman Wu Qi couldn't help but ask the second in command Chen Zixiao curiously,
"These gentlemen are the guests that you, the Second Master, personally went to Huaiyuan to meet this time. Why did you bring them all to the village?"
"Why are you asking so many questions? It's not something you should know, so just row your boat." Chen Zixiao scolded in a low voice.
After crossing Paohu Creek, everyone led their horses into the dense forest and climbed up the mountain path.
After a while, everyone stopped to rest on a natural stone platform halfway up the mountain, but found that they were already more than twenty feet above the stream.
The wild ferry on the other side of Paohu Creek is like a deserted beach, with the ferry hidden under the willow trees and nowhere to be seen.
Chen Zixiao sent his confidant Liu Shiquan to rush to the village to report the news, letting the leader Tang Biao know that he had brought people back directly.
The young scholar stopped under a locust tree, staring at Chen Zixiao, the second in command of Hutou Village, who had frowned and remained silent since entering the mountain, and said thoughtfully:
"Captain Chen, you know very well that with your martial arts skills, you will never be able to make a name for yourself if you stay in this poor and remote village. But if you can accomplish this for us, with a letter of amnesty from my husband, you can easily get high positions such as the County Military Supervisor and the Military Prefecture Inspector, not to mention the Huaiyuan Military Village Inspector! And what you did in Jeju back then is nothing at all."
"Mr. Zheng, you can rest assured about me, but the boss has suffered losses from the court in the past and is very suspicious. I am worried that it will be difficult to convince him."
"As long as you make up your mind, everything will be easy!" said the scholar. "After entering the village, you can say that we committed a crime in Bianjing and had no choice but to run to Tongbai Mountain to seek refuge with you. Don't rush to persuade Pofengdao to cooperate with us. I believe that once the boss gets familiar with us and recognizes our integrity, things will definitely not be as difficult as you worry, Chief Chen."
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Tang Biao, the Wind-Breaking Blade, loves drinking, and whenever a new brother joins Hutou Village, he will hold a grand banquet.
Zheng Hui, Dong Qifeng and others committed crimes in Bian Jing and came all the way to seek refuge. Tang Biao did not think much about it. He set up a banquet as usual and gathered dozens of leaders of all sizes in the mountain stronghold to accompany Zheng Hui and others who had come to seek refuge. They drank from dusk to midnight before they dispersed feeling dizzy.
Chen Zixiao was originally worried that Tang Biao would be wary of Zheng Hui and others, and was also afraid that Zheng Hui and others were arrogant and looked down on the leader of the mountain stronghold for being rude, and that everyone would not be able to get along together.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Hui and Dong Qifeng showed no restraint at all and made Tang Biao and other leaders very happy during the banquet. Not only did they drink happily tonight, but they also agreed to talk about age and become sworn brothers tomorrow.
Chen Zixiao returned to his room in a daze, and thought that after a few days, when Zheng Hui got familiar with everyone, he would not be so resistant when he talked to the boss Tang Biao about recruiting him, right?
The woman timidly took the foot washing water, but her hand accidentally shook and splashed some mud on the ground. She looked over in horror, worried that Chen Zixiao would slap her.
"It's okay. Don't be so afraid of me." Chen Zixiao reached out and touched the young woman's smooth face. Apart from the unpleasant look of fear and evasion, she was quite pretty. He comforted her and said, "Just stay in the village and serve me. You are the second-in-command of Hutou Village, wearing gold and silver, and having maids to serve you on weekdays. What are you afraid of? Don't think about the past, and don't force me to run to Xinyang County and kill your family."
"Beep beep beep!" Someone was knocking on the gate outside.
"Who?" Chen Zixiao was just feeling a little interested and was impatient for someone to disturb him at this time.
"It's me, Dong Qifeng. The boss just sent someone to call Mr. Zheng, and asked me to come and call Brother Chen over." Dong Qifeng shouted outside the courtyard gate.
Chen Zixiao was confused. The banquet had just ended and the boss Tang Biao was drunk and could barely walk steadily. What could have happened that required him and Zheng Hui to be called over urgently?
Besides, Tang Biao also called him over, so why let Dong Qifeng, who had just joined the gang today, make this trip? Aren’t they afraid that Dong Qifeng might not know the way around the village?
Of course, Chen Zixiao didn't think about anything else. He reached out and touched the woman's swollen and firm arms, and said, "Wash yourself and wait for me to come back. I won't treat you badly in the future."
Chen Zixiao put on his clothes and went straight to the yard of the boss Tang Biao with Dong Qifeng. But when he pushed the door and walked into the yard, he sobered up.
There were no brothers from the mountain stronghold in the yard. Only a few people brought by Zheng Hui were guarding the yard. They were carrying longbows and holding long swords in their hands. When he walked in, these people looked at him with a slightly playful look in their eyes.
"Mr. Zheng and the boss should be in the room. Please come in, Brother Chen." Dong Qifeng extended his hand and invited Chen Zixiao to continue walking inside.
Chen Zixiao rushed over without bringing anything except a knife. What else could he do now except go inside?
Chen Zixiao pushed the door open and walked into the main hall. The lights were on, but he saw the head of the family, Tang Biao, and two of his personal subordinates lying dead on the cold mud. The woman Tang Biao had just captured was huddled in the corner, her crotch wet. Zheng Hui was sitting on the armchair in the middle, looking at him:
"Brother Chen, you are now the head of Hutou Village, congratulations!"
