Shortly after noon, lead clouds shrouded Hongze Lake, and waves crashed against the shore of the lake in the wind and rain. In the blue-gray rain, the large ship carrying the Birthday Gang and several ships guarding the guards next to it loomed in the view from the shore.

At the same moment, Xuyi was also immersed in a lead-blue rain curtain, the rain was not too heavy, but it had been raining continuously since last night, and it didn't feel like it was summer. Due to the continuous precipitation for nearly a day, the streets of the county have been muddy and dirty, but for the people living here, they have already adapted to such an environment, which is not so unbearable.

When the carriage drove out of the dock, Ning Yi was lifting the curtain and looking out. It's past lunch time, and the destination at this time is to go to Xiyuan for a walk, and there are carriages running in front and behind, and Zhuo Yunfeng should be sitting in the carriage behind. Because in his carriage, Zhou Peizheng was dressed in clumsy men's clothes, and he seemed to be a little cautious but couldn't help but talk to him desperately.

For Zhou Pei this time, Ning Yi didn't feel that there was too much need to hide, after all, the girl in front of him was still completely trustworthy, and after all, his identity was not enough, and he was able to pull the tiger skin to make a big banner when doing things, and it was also a great thing to have a small county lord standing on his side. It's just that it was close to noon when Zhou Pei got up, and after that, some information came back, and he also met with Wen Renji, the Qi family brothers, and even Su Wenyu and others, who were doing things, to discuss the development of things.

In this case, Zhou Pei followed aside, and also noticed clues from some of the fragments of conversation she heard, knowing that Ning Yi was going to Xiyuan in the afternoon, she simply went to dress up as a man first, and then followed all the way. Seeing that Ning Yi had nothing to do at this time, he chose to speak and ask about the doubts in his heart.

“…… Has this already been arranged? I don't know how you persuaded that Vice Admiral Chen, Teacher Lu Dao, and what I said in the morning, you have expected it a long time ago? Who are the kidnappers? Are you really going to fight the idea of the birth gang? ”

She was originally well-behaved like a quiet little secretary who followed alongside. At this time, I finally asked in one go. Ning Yi looked at Zhuo Yunfeng's carriage behind him, and smiled.

"We don't know exactly what happened, but everything we can do has been done. In the past two days, I have consulted with the Wenren and them about what the most likely way to do this is if someone really wants to make up their minds about the fleet. I've sorted out a few directions, and you've already said it in the morning. Those juggling troupes, singers, and restaurant guys who were recruited into the dock were mixed, and they were most likely to be exploited, and we did it once...... Relatively systematic investigation, it can be regarded as a training person, and the result is that a few suspicious guys have really been found......"

The girl with the ridiculous scholar's hat looked at him and nodded vigorously. This kind of intrigue made her listen to it with relish: "That is, there are really people who are interested in the birth gang?" ”

Ning Yi shook his head: "Someone is monitoring the situation on the ship, it doesn't mean that people are necessarily coming for the birth gang, it may be that it is more convenient for the kidnappers to get the ransom, and it may be that they have a grudge against the second ancestor who has lost his conscience." Even if there is no birthday gang on the ship, so many people go north, and there are a lot of other treasures or something, it is always cool to be able to vote. We came up with a few solutions, such as setting the dock on fire. Everyone hurry off the boat. Then find a way to rob the ship's belongings, or simply find a way to cheat a ship out of something like that. No matter what, someone has to find out and step on the plate. However, once such a person really got mixed in, when we told Vice General Chen, he was also afraid, and in the end, he had to cooperate with us...... And if he is willing to cooperate with us, this matter will be easy to do. ”

"So, that's all that's been decided?" Zhou Pei thought about it, but was a little disappointed.

Ning Yi said with a smile: "To determine how simple it is, even if you go down the vine and check it back, it is not something that can be done in a day or two." However, showing the enemy weakness and borrowing flowers to offer Buddha, everything that should be done has been done, and the next thing is to see if there is any result. It's better that no one jumps into this pit, and if someone does, it's even if everyone is unlucky......"

This kind of thing about someone fighting the idea of a birthday gang or a fleet may be quite interesting in the eyes of the little county lord, but for Ning Yi, it is an extraneous complication that he does not want. Zhou Pei was still wondering if he went to Xiyuan to find clues about this kidnapping, and after asking a few more words, he realized that Teacher Lu Dao really didn't pay much attention to this matter, and he was distracted in the past. She thought about it for a while, and felt that the teacher was really a person who did great things.

Ning Yi has done his best for this matter, and there is no need to keep thinking about it when he should leave it behind, but he has mistaken the right thing. Even at this time, in his opinion, the possibility of an accident on the official ship is still unlikely.

However, dozens of miles away, on Hongze Lake under the rain curtain, a fierce encounter was already underway.

**************

Regarding the situation of the battle on Hongze Lake, Ning Yi didn't know about it until around Shenshi that afternoon. Before this, he had arrived in Xiyuan, although the rain kept falling, and the sewage was flowing everywhere in the small county, but as one of the best green buildings in Xuyi, the environment here did not seem to be much worse than Jiangning or Hangzhou.

In a place like Qinglou, if it is just to satisfy carnal desires, some mid-range fields can basically meet all the requirements. Further up, there are some elegant and vulgar trades, poetry and songs, spiritual pleasure, than the cost of ordinary places is ten times and a hundred times higher. It's like not many people go to heaven and earth to simply recruit prostitutes to vent, although there is a thousand years between this time and the afterlife, as long as there is money, everything that can be done and can be thought of will not be lacking.

Xiyuan is one such place. The backer behind it is the Xuyi County Order, which received all kinds of travelers in the past, and the big people with status, only here is a place that can really be used. Oiran Ji Lianhong's singing and dancing skills are good, and it is said that she is also a beauty who can be ranked in Huai'an. It's just that the grade of receiving guests in these days is slightly insufficient.

In the final analysis, this time it was not the second generation of officials or the third generation of emperors who went on the boat this time, no matter how powerful Ji Lianhong was, at most she would receive one or two people. Talking, laughing and playing during the day, and at night she has to do her best to serve each other comfortably, to say that she can accompany so many people, completely control the grade to the extent of meeting friends and not let everyone get mad, she can't control such a scene.

Fortunately, this time Master Li came over, passing through Xiyuan, and the county order begged grandpa to tell grandma to ask for help here. After releasing the news that Master Li is here. finally diverted everyone's attention. She was able to maneuver among many dignitaries and literati in Beijing. It is also a well-known Qingqi, and many people come to play, so they all make friends and make friends, so as not to make trouble.

“…… I thought you should be quite busy, but I didn't expect to be so idle. ”

The rain was pouring down, and the water formed a curtain between the eaves outside, almost submerging half of the courtyard. The room is beautifully furnished. Wooden frames, antiques, bonsai, screens, bead chains, musical instruments that seem to be valuable, incense burners on one side of the room, faint green smoke, charming spleen. Ning Yi drank the tea brought over and looked at the furnishings in the room. Said in passing.

"Brother Ning happened to be going north, and the master was also on the way, how could he not come to see him first, and the rest of the things were not in a hurry."

The one who was cooking tea opposite was Master Li, who was the Oiran of the Beijing Division, and after a year of not seeing her, her temperament had become more and more attractive. At this time, he was dressed like a white lotus, with long hair and a shawl. The headdress is red. Every move is pleasing to the eye and impeccable to perfection. said with a smile: "When I went back to Jiangning last year, I wondered when Brother Ning would be able to go to Bianjing. The little sister must do her best to be a landlord. After going back, they often talked with Brother Yu, Chen Sifeng, and Brother Chen, and they finally made the trip this time, maybe they could go north on the same way, which is really good. ”

Master Li has always had a good relationship with his childhood friends, so Yu Hezhong and Chen Sifeng may not be worried about Ning Yi, but she is still quite sincere. Ning Yi smiled and nodded: "It shouldn't be too long to stay in the capital, but if you have the opportunity, you must get together." ”

The two of them were talking like this, and Zhou Pei, who was sitting on the side and drinking tea, rolled his eyes a few times, but he was quite interested: "Master and Miss Li have known each other before?" ”

Ning Yi knocked her on the head: "Don't interrupt the followers." ”

"Oh"

Zhou Pei shrunk his head and replied, Master Li over there was extremely kind, and said with a smile: "I have known Brother Ning since I was a child. Zhou Pei nodded: "Oh, that's it." ”

When Fang just came over, Ning Yi's introduction to Zhou Pei was just a little entourage with no rules, and Zhou Pei was quite interesting and did not refute it. But in the eyes of people like Master Li, her clumsy dress naturally didn't play a role. After a while, Zhou Pei got up and went to the second floor to wander around, in fact, to see who was coming from the other courtyards, and when there were only two people left in the room, Master Li smiled and said: "It seems that she is a little girl with a lot of status, isn't it in the way that Brother Ning brought her to this kind of place?" ”

"One of the students I taught ran away from home, but it's not a big problem."

Master Li laughed for a while, poured tea for Ning Yi, and asked softly, "Is Brother Ning going to Beijing for something this time?" ”

"There's something." Ning Yi smiled and nodded, "After dealing with it, I'll probably go to Shandong for a walk." ”

"Huh? It's not very peaceful over there......" Master Li snorted lightly, but Ning Yi just echoed and said, "Yes." And he said no more. In fact, Master Li is still quite interested in what he has to do when he goes to Beijing, because no matter what ordinary people do in Beijing, they have to go through various ways, and she is most likely able to help, and she is willing to help, but since Ning Yi is more tight-mouthed, she will not ask more. There are three points of depression in her heart, and there are also three points of appreciation, if it is Yu Hezhong and Chen Sifeng in front of her, most of them will not be able to hide anything, but she sometimes feels that a man who can't hide his words may not be able to do a big thing.

After chatting like this for a while, and talking about the old for a while, I realized that Ning Yi had gone to Hangzhou in the past year, and most of them had also experienced the danger of war. Miss Li thought for a while, frowned, and said, "I just came back from Hangzhou and ran to Shandong, over there...... Uh, Brother Ning doesn't want to do business that has something to do with the war, right? Those things...... It's not easy to do, it's not worth it......"

After all, she is also a well-informed person, and she has heard all kinds of news from the mouths of all kinds of people, and then said some interesting stories about Shandong, and inevitably said about Liangshan: "I heard that their reputation is good, saying that it is for the heavens, although this may not be the case, but it seems that there are more corrupt officials and corrupt officials." To be honest, Xiaomei is in the capital, and she is used to seeing the dirty deeds done by those powerful and statused people, and sometimes I feel that there are some such heroes in the world, which is not necessarily a bad thing......"

She smiled slightly bitterly, then waved her hand, and said it heroically, Ning Yi smiled and nodded in agreement. I only heard the other party say again: "But if you say that, if you go over there, you still have to be careful." In fact, there are a lot of people who run the rivers and lakes on the Jingshi side, so you might as well invite one or two to accompany you, and Alum Tower also has these related ......"

Master Li was sincere and enthusiastic, not a fake, so Ning Yi also nodded and thanked him. Then talking about the matter of traveling all the way, when the matter of the little marquis here is dealt with, Master Li will probably go north with the fleet, saying this, the maid Chunmei appeared under the eaves outside the door, Master Li just got up and walked over, Chunmei said something in her ear, and subconsciously looked at Ning Yi. In the rain, Ning Yi heard what she said: "That prince came to visit." ”

With Master Li's fame, it is not strange that someone will come to see him at any time when he lives here, but Master Li and Chunmei have told Chunmei before that anyone who comes over will refuse on their behalf, and Chunmei still comes to pass it on at this time, obviously the identity of this "prince prince" is not ordinary. Master Li frowned and said softly, "He has something?" ”

"Uh...... Said it was Miss Xiang...... Advice on Rhythm ......"

"Why do I want to see him? When he sang that song when I played Gong Hou yesterday, Ji Lianhong looked at my face and was no longer right. It's really ignorant...... Went and refused. ”

The conversation was a little delicate, and although both of them lowered their voices, Ning Yi could hear it clearly. After drinking the tea in the cup, he had already stood up: "If there is something, I won't bother, you ......" Speaking of this, he was slightly stunned, thinking of something.

Master Li turned around and shook his head: "No, it's just Chunmei's blind communication...... " She didn't finish speaking, but she saw Ning Yi's eyes looking over, her expression was complicated and cautious, and then she smiled slightly and asked, "I heard...... Last night, there was a son, who sang and sang when the teacher played the gonghou, and his skills were astonishing, is that so? ”

When he asked about this, Chunmei, who wanted to go out of the city, also stood still, and Master Li smiled and frowned: "Brother Ning also heard about it?" ”

"Heh, a group of people came back in the middle of the night, noisy and ......"

"It's that person outside, his speech and demeanor are quite outstanding, if Brother Ning is interested in getting acquainted, Little Sister can recommend him. Although he is quite favored by Miss Ji Lianhong. Master Li pursed his lips and chuckled, "I heard that this time the prince is also in Beijing, he is outstanding and has spoken people, this time Brother Ning's fleet has made friends with him and invited him to go north together, and there must be a place to deal with him later...... Well, Chunmei, you go and invite him in. ”

Chunmei was about to nod, but Ning Yi shook her hand: "Don't, no need, it's just curious to ask." I heard that Master Konghou has unparalleled skills, but I can't think of anyone who can match him, that ...... Wang Gongzi, does he really sing very well? ”

"Although most of the others have an overreputation for the little sister, the prince of Wang Xian ...... It is indeed a good singing. Master Li nodded sincerely, and said with a smile: "I have time to play it to Brother Ning another day." As she spoke, she waved her hand at Chunmei, obviously so that she didn't have to call the prince in, Chunmei nodded and walked away, her expression slightly gloomy. At this time, Zhou Pei's voice sounded at the other end of the courtyard: "Teacher, teacher......"

She ran all the way, quite surprised, to the door here, excitedly said: "Fight, fight, really fight......" Master Li thought that there was someone outside who was jealous and fighting, but heard Zhou Pei say: "Hongze Lake, there are really water bandits robbing the birth gang, thousands of people have been calculated, and now they are being scattered and running around." That's amazing, teacher, how did that fight, I ...... Oh, it was your cousin named Su Yanping who sent the news, uh, what about him...... Where did you go......"

Zhou Pei looked at the rear, and saw Su Yanping's figure, looking left and right excitedly...... (To be continued.) )