On the west side of Xihe Street, on the second floor of the Chunlai Teahouse, Lin Jue sat in the private room separated by the screen, drinking tea while looking at the scenery outside the window.

Under the window is a side street with a small courtyard not far away. Lin Jue is very familiar with this place, and it was on that side street a year ago that he directed a street farce. When Lin Boyong passed by, he happened to see the Qian family catching Lin Quan's traitor here. After that, Lin Quan was driven out of Hangzhou, and he also taught Lin Boyong a great lesson.

Now that more than a year has passed, Lin Boyong is no longer the head of the Lin family, Lin Quan and himself have also released their previous suspicions, and he is no longer a bullied character in the Lin family. In a short period of time, the world has changed, and it is as if it was yesterday.

There was a sound of footsteps outside, and a guy's voice came: "This master, please come with me, Lin Gongzi is waiting for you in the box over there." ”

Shen Tan's answer also came. Lin Jue retracted his gaze and stood up to look at the side of the screen, and a moment later, the burly Shen Tan appeared in front of Lin Jue.

"Commander Shen, Lin Jue is polite." Lin Jue smiled and bowed.

Shen Tan hurriedly arched his hand and said, "Young Master Lin is polite." How could the son be so polite, and invited Shen to drink, hehehe, how dare Shen. ”

Lin Jue said with a smile: "I'm still worried that Commander Shen won't appreciate his face, Commander Shen is busy with affairs, so I'm delaying Commander Shen's time." ”

Shen Tan hurriedly said, "What are these words?" Lin Gongzi invited, no matter how busy Shen was, he was coming. ”

Lin Jue laughed, the two exchanged a few words, Lin Jue asked Shen Tan to sit down and instructed the guy, "Let's serve the wine." Did your shopkeeper tell you? I've booked all the boxes on the second floor, so don't let anyone else in. You don't have to say hello after you've served the food. ”

It's not strange for the young man to see that the guests want to discuss important matters, and they often do it like this. It's nothing to get a floor. What's more, this one is the famous Lin Gongzi of the Lin family, and the person who can meet him must be going to discuss big business. In the past, the head of the Lin family often came here to talk about business, and he did the same.

Soon after, the wine and food were put on the table, and a large table full of the best and most expensive dishes in the Chunlai Teahouse was all over the place. The wine is also full of a large jar of bamboo leaf green, and it is a good wine.

"Why is Lin Gongzi so polite, why do you want to invite Shen to drink today? Shen was flattered. Shen Tan smiled.

Lin Jue smiled and said: "That day in the palace, I had the help of Commander Shen and let me go." Under has not had a chance to express gratitude. Therefore, I invited Commander Shen to drink today. First, to reminisce about the past, and second, to express gratitude. ”

The incident that Lin Jue said was half a year ago after the incident between the little county lord and Lin Jue, when Lin Jue went to the palace, he was blocked in the pavilion by the little prince Guo Kun, Guo Kun threatened to kill Lin Jue at that time, and ordered Shen Tan and others to search for Lin Jue's traces. As a result, Shen Tan found that Lin Jue and the little county lord were hiding in the pavilion, but he chose to disobey and ignore the order and let Lin Jue leave. Although Lin Jue did not leave in the end, Lin Jue was very moved by this matter. felt that Shen Tan was righteous enough.

Lin Jue brought up the old matter again, Shen Tan also remembered it, and laughed: "It turned out to be that incident, Lin Gongzi is too polite, is it worth thanking for such a small thing?" If I want to say thank you, if it weren't for Gongzi's outstanding strategy and courage to kill Hou Biao in one fell swoop on Guishan Island last year, the lives of Shen, Master Ma and the other six brothers would have been lost. It's still a trivial matter if the life is gone, the key is that the things that the prince explained can't be completed. I am the one who should be thanked, and I should be the one who should be invited for this meal. ”

Lin Jue laughed and said, "What is this? I invited you to drink, why did you invite me to drink? That's it, don't say anything thank you or don't thank you, just reminisce about the past, contact and contact feelings, it's always okay. ”

Shen Tan said: "That's right." ”

Lin Jue picked up the wine jug and poured a full glass of wine for Shen Tan and himself, and the two touched the glasses and drank a full glass of wine. They put down their glasses and laughed.

After eating a few bites of food and drinking a few glasses of wine, Shen Tan put down his chopsticks and said, "Young Master Lin, after I came back from Guishan Island, I often told my brothers about you. I have never served anyone in my life, but I have to be convinced by Lin Gongzi. Lin Gongzi is the most courageous and scheming person I have ever seen. What happened on Guishan Island that time was all up to Childe alone. ”

Lin Jue waved his hand and said, "Commander Shen, don't talk about me like that, I can't sit still." That's the credit of everyone, and I also put it to death and survive, and I fought so hard. Luck was good. What kind of strategy and courage can be talked about there? ”

Shen Tan shook his head and said: "Childe, don't be humble, if the things on Guishan Island are just good luck, are the things on Peach Blossom Island still good luck?" Seriously, at first I thought Childe was crazy, and he actually came up with such a plan to send him to death. Unexpectedly, Childe made a mess on Peach Blossom Island, and he really succeeded in suppressing the bandits. All the guards of my palace were convinced. Lin Gongzi has been to the palace a few times, haven't you noticed that the guards respect you very much? ”

Lin Jue smiled: "When you say that, it seems to be a little." My brothers seem to have been kinder to me. ”

"It's not kindness, it's worship. We people are rarely convinced by anyone. Childe's literary style is world-famous and praised by everyone, and for us big bosses, it doesn't feel anything. But in terms of fighting and planning, we all admire it to the extreme. Tell you that Master Ma asked someone to bring me a message some time ago, and also inquired about the current situation of the son, and asked you to have time to go to the capital for a gathering. Look, Master Ma is obsessed with you. ”

Lin Jue was stunned when he heard this, and immediately burst out laughing. Ma Bin's big pie face flashed in his mind. I didn't expect this guy to still miss himself.

Shen Tan also laughed and said, "I heard the situation of Master Ma and Lin Gongzi competing on the way to Guishan Island that day. To be honest, I was worried about my life at the time, for fear that Lin Gongzi would be killed by Master Ma's punch. If I had known that Lin Gongzi was so strategic, I should have worried that Ma Da was talented. Poor Master Ma was knocked out by Lin Gongzi's punch, and his hands were almost useless. Hahaha. The next time I have the chance to see Master Ma, I will humiliate him. ”

Lin Jue laughed even more, the laughter stopped, but Lin Jue's face became gloomy, and he let out a long sigh.

Shen Tan frowned and asked, "Did Lin Gongzi encounter something unpleasant?" Isn't it...... The matter of the prince and the little lord? I said, don't worry, the prince and the little prince will understand sooner or later that the prince is the dragon and the phoenix among the people, and they will agree to your marriage with the little lord. ”

Lin Jue was stunned, Shen Tan actually knew about his affairs with Guo Caiwei, and this matter should be extremely confidential. It is impossible for Lin Jue and the little county lord to tell Shen Tan, so it is only possible that the little prince Guo Kun told Shen Tan. These things were told to Shen Tan, which shows that Shen Tan's status in the palace is very high.

"Commander Shen, why can't I understand what you said?" Lin Jue couldn't admit it, even if Shen Tan knew everything, Lin Jue would have to pretend to be confused here.

Shen Tan smiled and was silent. But listening to Lin Jue: "I remembered something, and I was a little depressed." ”

Shen Tan said: "What's the matter?" Someone is looking for trouble with Childe? Childe said, I'll solve it for Childe. ”

Lin Jue raised his eyes and looked at Shen Tan and said, "Commander Shen, what happened later on Guishan Island...... You should know that. ”

Shen Tan was stunned, put down his chopsticks and sighed: "Hey! How could I not know. Childe is talking about the fact that the imperial court turned its face and drove out those people on Guishan Island. When I heard about this, I was very upset. Although the tall village owner is a woman, her behavior is still admirable. Besides, they also made great efforts to exterminate Hai Dongqing, and it was really a bit unauthentic for the imperial court to do this. ”

Lin Jue said softly: "It's not just not authentic, it's really embarrassing." The dignified Zhou court actually played such a hand, which simply made the world laugh off their big teeth. How can this convince people? Gao Muqing, in order to assist in the suppression of bandits, followed me to birth and death, how many brothers were killed and injured? In the end, it ended up like this, it's really chilling to think about. ”

Shen Tan frowned and said, "Yes, if it were me, I would be very cold." The prince doesn't want to resent the prince, the prince and the little prince are also very annoyed about this matter, this is someone making trouble in it, and the prince didn't expect such a thing to happen. I know that it was Gongzi who made the guarantee, so the tall village owners of Guishan Island will help the imperial court to suppress the bandits. The son who is now making this thing is not a person inside and out, hey, the son must be uncomfortable in his heart. ”

Lin Jue said: "Commander Shen is a real person, and those people in the court can naturally ignore these things. But for me, I can't be at ease and pretend that nothing happened. As you said, the people of Guishan Island listened to me and agreed to cooperate with the imperial court because they trusted me. Now that things are like this, what does it feel like in my heart? Although Lin is a cloth cloth, he is also a man who talks about righteousness and righteousness. Although the incident on Guishan Island is the treachery of the imperial court, my responsibility in this matter is unshirkable, you say, can I rest assured? ”

Shen Tan nodded and said, "I understand, I understand." Childe is a man of temperament, and this time he has indeed trapped Childe in a place of injustice. ”

Lin Jue said angrily: "It's ridiculous that the imperial court also awarded me the title of a righteous man, which is simply ironic. When everyone on Guishan Island learned about this, they still didn't hate me to the bone? It's an insult to the word 'righteousness'. ”

Shen Tan looked at Lin Jue with a sad brow and said: "No wonder that the prince said that he would refuse this title, hey, it is true that this is not a commendation, but a kind of irony." ”

Lin Jue raised his glass and said: "Commander Shen knows my heart very well, I have never said this to anyone, and I have always been depressed in my heart. After telling Commander Shen today, my heart was much happier. ”

Shen Tan smiled and said: "Childe has been promoted, Childe has put his heart into Shen, and Shen is deeply honored." Don't be too annoyed, Childe, we really can't do anything about these things. Even the prince and the Yan prefect can't do anything, what can we do? ”

Lin Jue nodded, and the two clinked glasses and drank the wine.

"Commander Shen, do you know the current situation of the people on Guishan Island?" Lin Jue asked in a deep voice.

Shen Tan put down the wine cup and shook his head: "I don't know much about this, didn't I hear that a small part of them rushed out of the encirclement and went to Funiu Mountain?" It is a good place to hide in the Funiu Mountain, the terrain is steep, the mountains are high and the forests are dense. There are still many mountain bandits entrenched in the mountains, and the imperial court will not be able to attack them for a while. If you can get a foothold there, you should be safe for the time being. ”

Lin Jue smiled bitterly: "It's good to really be able to gain a foothold, at least I can have a little comfort in my heart." However, the reality is harsh. ”

"Oh? Could it be that Lin Gongzi knows their current situation? Know where they are now? Shen Tan asked in a low voice.

Lin Jue glanced at Shen Tan and said in a deep voice, "I don't know what Commander Shen thinks of these people who have fallen into the mountains and forests. For example, the people on Guishan Island, I don't know what kind of people they are in the eyes of Commander Shen. Is it as heinous as the court said, and should be surrounded and killed, or is it excusable? ”

Shen Tan was stunned for a moment, and said in a deep voice: "Young Master Lin, do you want Shen to tell the truth?" ”

Lin Jue said: "You and I are chatting in private, and it won't be known to outsiders, so why hide it." ”

Shen Tan said: "Okay, then I'll say it directly." Although Shen is on duty in the palace, Shen also has a lot of friends in the rivers and lakes. To put it mildly, I don't think these friends on the rivers and lakes are heinous. Even though some of them behave perversely, some ignore the laws and discipline of the court, do whatever they want, and do all kinds of evil. But many people are also forced to be helpless and fall into the grass. Take the group of people who are the owners of Gaozhai on Guishan Island, this is a living forced bandit. Originally, they were willing to recruit An, but the court didn't give them a way to live. In this case, how can they be blamed for falling back into the grass and becoming bandits? I know it's a big deal, but that's exactly what I think in my heart. ”

Lin Jue nodded slowly and said, "Commander Shen can say this, which shows that I am not wrong. It's not a big rebellion, it's true. I know the situation of the Gao Zhai Lord and the others on Guishan Island, and I can inform Commander Shen. ”

At that moment, Lin Jue described the experience of Gao Muqing, Liang Qi and others in detail, of course, Lin Jue had a long heart, and did not tell Liang Qi about coming to him, funding Yinliang by himself, and deciding to provide weapons and armor for Gao Muqing and others. He wanted to find out Shen Tan's reaction step by step.

Shen Tan listened to Lin Jue's narration in a daze, and his expression was very shocked. After Lin Jue finished speaking, Shen Tan sighed: "I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it to be in such a difficult situation in Funiu Mountain. Their situation is very bad. How did Lin Gongzi know about these things? ”

Lin Jue said: "Commander Shen and Mo asked me how I knew about this, in the eyes of Commander Shen, how can they get out of the situation in front of them?" Is there a chance of surviving? ”

Shen Tan frowned and thought for a moment, and said slowly: "It's difficult, according to Gongzi's description, now they are exhausted and have nothing." Although it occupies the Luoyan Valley, it has a place to live. However, this move has already caused the anger of the Funiu Mountain cottage. This time, it was only Bao Meng's village to which Luoyan Valley belonged to attacking them, but I am afraid that all the cottages in Funiu Mountain have this intention. Although I admired the bravery of Gao Dazhai and others, the repulsion of Bao Meng was only a temporary respite. The next harsh winter is coming, the tall village owner and his people may not be able to survive the harsh winter, they have no food and grass and no cold clothing, how can they survive this winter. That Bao Meng stopped attacking, I am afraid that he also wanted to use the power of the cold to make them freeze to death and starve to death. ”

Lin Jue nodded heavily, Shen Tan could still see the crux of the problem, which was also the conclusion he had reached from his previous analysis.

"Even if they survive this winter, they will face even more ferocious attacks when the spring blooms next year. They have too few manpower, and it will be difficult for them to deal with Bao Meng's family alone, not to mention the possibility that several families will jointly attack them next spring. There will be no escape. Shen Tan continued.

"Commander Shen thinks that under the current situation, how should they protect themselves?" Lin Jue asked.

Shen Tan groaned: "Under the current situation, they must first deal with this winter, and find a way to solve the problem of food and clothing. Otherwise, there is no need to talk about anything. ”

Lin Jue said: "If they can survive this winter, how will they deal with the large-scale attack of the mountain bandits next spring?" ”

Shen Tan thought for a while and said, "I'm afraid this is difficult. If possible, it is better to make peace. Attached to the powerful cottage in the Funiu Mountains, thus being blessed. In that case, you might be able to survive. ”

However, the people who followed them were either driven out of Funiu Mountain or killed. Don't forget, it is precisely because of the desire to bless the people who defected to them that the tall village master has a bad relationship with Zuo Zongdao. There is a shortage of materials in Funiu Mountain, and there is no cottage willing to support idlers. Most of those people were old, weak, sick and young, and there was little value in supporting them. The tall village owners are old because they are cottages, and they are absolutely unwilling to give up on them. Lin Jue said.

"Then there is no help. They can't be beaten, and if they go out of the mountain, they will die, and the court will not let them go. Hey, this is a dead end. Forgive me for being stupid, I really can't think of a good way. Shen Tan shook his head and said with a heavy face.

Lin Jue nodded and said softly, "Commander Shen should understand my mood now." I already felt guilty about them. If the tall village masters can gain a foothold in Funiu Mountain, my heart will feel better. But in the current situation, they have reached a dead end, and they are about to be destroyed, how can I ignore them? ”

Shen Tan smacked his lips and said, "Yes, I can understand Lin Gongzi's mood, but in this case, Lin Gongzi may not be able to return to the sky." Lin Gongzi better not blame himself too much, this may be their fate. ”

Lin Jue shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Life? I heard this when I was on an adventure on Turtle Mountain Island for a birthday gift. At that time, didn't we all think that there was nothing to be done, that it was our life? But hasn't there been a turnaround since then? Therefore, it is not right to believe in fate, and there are always more ways than difficulties. Fate can also be reversed, otherwise what does it mean that people in this world are still alive? If everything is destined, why should the world be busy and toiling? If you are destined to be in a high position, then wouldn't you be born to do nothing and wait for the favor of fate? But I don't believe that. ”

Shen Tan smiled: "I'm just saying this to comfort Lin Gongzi." Actually, I don't believe it either. But as it stands, it doesn't seem to help them. ”

Lin Jue nodded, took the wine glass and drank it all, then looked at Shen Tan in a daze and said, "Commander Shen, aren't you asking me how I know their current situation?" It was Liang Qi who came to Hangzhou to find me and told me about their situation. I couldn't watch them die, so I gave Liang Qi a sum of silver taels and asked him to buy grain, cotton clothes and other things in Ruzhou and transport them to the mountains, and they would definitely survive this winter. ”

Shen Tan looked at Lin Jue in surprise, and said in a low voice after a while: "Young Master Lin, this is ...... Bandits. ”

Lin Jue smiled: "Yes, it is indeed a gangster, a crime of raiding the family and exterminating the clan." But I don't care, I said, I can't watch them die this winter. I want to make up for the mistakes I made before, and I made them believe the words of the court, and as a result, they have fallen to this point. Does Commander Shen think I shouldn't have done it? ”

Shen Tan frowned and groaned: "Lin Gongzi is benevolent and righteous, dare to take such a risk, Shen can only admire, there is a little other idea." Lin Gongzi informed me of this, and that was even more trust in me Shen Tan. But don't forget, Lin Gongzi, I just said that even after this winter, they may still be difficult to ...... next spring."

Lin Jue waved his hand and said, "Commander Shen, I asked your opinion just now, and you said that there is no cure, they will definitely die." But I don't think so. I think there is a way to save it. ”

"Oh? Lin Gongzi has a high opinion? What else can be done in this case? Shen Tan said in surprise.

Lin Jue said: "Gao Jian can't talk about it, and under the current situation, only dead horses can be used as live horse doctors." We have already said that it is impossible to compromise and withdraw from Funiu Mountain, so the only way left is to fight to the death. ”

"A desperate fight? Lin Gongzi, isn't this also a dead end? You also agree that the attack next spring will be more ferocious, don't you also say that Zuo Zongdao and Bao Meng may join forces to attack? Are there any other bandit cottages? A few hundred people, can withstand the attack of thousands? Shen Tan shook his head and said.

Lin Jue smiled and said, "Commander Shen, don't you forget that when I competed with Master Ma, didn't you think I would lose?" I was even worried that Master Ma would punch me to death. But what was the result? ”

Shen Tan frowned and said: "These are two different things, Lin Gongzi competed with Master Ma that time, it was because Lin Gongzi had been prepared, he had special armor on his body, and he still had a finger tiger on his hand. Master Ma didn't know that he was defeated. ”

Lin Jue smiled: "Even if he knows, can he win?" Even if I let him put the armor on his ship and take the blade, will he win? How is he better than Qiu Biao? ”

Shen Tan raised his forehead and said: "Oh, I forgot, Lin Gongzi has that kind of powerful firearm in his hand, and Master Ma is not Lin Gongzi's opponent anyway." However, how can this be compared to the battle between the tall village owners and the bandits? ”

Lin Jue said quietly: "Didn't Commander Shen understand? I mean, equipment can make the difference between winning and losing. Just as I competed with Master Ma, I was not his opponent, Master Ma alone could beat me ten, but I had armor, a fingered tiger in my hands, and a firearm, so Master Ma was no match for me. Even Qiu Biao, who is extremely strong in martial arts, doesn't he have to die in my hands? The bandits in Funiu Mountain are actually average in combat power, because they don't have any armor, shields and other things except the weapons in their hands. In the end, it's just a rabble. Although the number of tall village masters is small, if they can have armor and body protection, they can have strong bows and crossbows, they can have sharp blades, and they can have shields to block. Taking advantage of the geographical advantage, can't you give it a go? Fighting in the mountains, condescendingly, dozens of bows and arrows can block the attack of hundreds of people, even in the hand-to-hand combat stage, the opponent with armor and bare hands is fighting, I dare not say that one is ten, at least one is no problem for two or three people. Who knows the number of wins and losses? ”

Shen Tan opened his mouth and watched Lin Jue talk eloquently, and he was very shocked in his heart. He admitted that Lin Jue's idea was reasonable. If there are strong bows and crossbows, armor, shields, blades and other proper equipment, then it will definitely be very convenient to deal with the attack of mountain bandits. Not to mention anything else, bows and crossbows are sharp weapons to deal with enemies attacking mountains. If it is equipped with hundreds of bows and arrows, taking advantage of the favorable terrain, it is possible to say that thousands of people, even tens of thousands, may be repulsed. If the three hundred palace guards under his command were in Funiu Mountain, they would definitely not be afraid of the opponent's attack, because they had enough means to repel the opponent.

"But Lin Gongzi...... You're talking about the fact that the lord of the village and his men are well-equipped, but the problem is that they don't have these well-equipped now. These things are strictly controlled by the imperial court, and there is nowhere to buy them if you have silver. Shen Tan said in a deep voice.

Lin Jue smiled slightly and said, "This is exactly what I intended to invite Commander Shen to drink today." Commander Shen, let's have another drink, I have a reluctant request to talk to Commander Shen. ”

Shen Tan was startled, looked at Lin Jue who was smiling and raising his glass, and suddenly felt that the wine cup in his hand weighed more than a thousand catties.