In the dead of night, the entire Qingyuan county returned to its former tranquility.

And the entry of the mountain bandits into the city seems to have never happened from beginning to end.

However, at this time, in the Qingyuan County Yali, the torches were bright, and the entire hall courtyard was filled with a solemn atmosphere, and the merchants and gentry who were invited to come were all shocked, standing in place trembling, and their hearts were full of panic and fear for the mountain bandits.

At this moment, they finally knew the true purpose of Hu Xianling's invitation to the banquet, which was simply vicious!

They could never have imagined that a dignified court official, the parent official who shepherded a county, would secretly collude with the mountain bandits and coax them into the county government to kidnap them for ransom.

Hu Zeyi, grass your eighteenth generation ancestors!

This is the collective voice of all the businessmen and gentry present who were deceived and kidnapped!

But it's useless to scold, they are already turtles in the urn, and they have become sheep sent into the tiger's mouth, facing the mountain bandits with steel knives and axes around the lobby courtyard, they only have the share to be slaughtered.

A minion brought a Taishi chair to the one-eyed dragon, the one-eyed dragon sat proudly on the steps with Erlang's legs crossed, Fang Ming stood on the left-hand side, and Hu Zeyi was like a subordinate who was called, standing on the right hand side of the one-eyed dragon with a shy smile, and he had lost the momentum and discipline that the Qingyuan County Order and the imperial court officials should have.

With the only remaining eye, the one-eyed dragon glanced at the trembling sheep standing in the courtyard of the lobby, and continued to ask, "Everyone, have you thought clearly?" Write a letter to your family and ask your family to send the money to the county office. Three thousand per person, Lao Tzu promises, let you go home and sleep with all your tails! ”

"Ahem~ The big boss is right, don't be stiff anymore, let's write a letter quickly!"

Hu Zeyi cleared his throat and persuaded him: "Everyone is a wealthy family in this county, and this official believes that three thousand guan is not a big amount for you. Silver, life does not bring death and does not take away, where is the importance of life? Is what this official said right? Don't bother, hurry up and write a letter, this official assures you in the capacity of Qingyuan County Commander that as long as your family sends all the money, these heroes will send you home safely! ”

"Whew! Hu Zeyi, you are brazen! ”

In the middle of the courtyard, a middle-aged businessman who was about fifty years old shouted angrily: "Hu Zeyi, you are in vain as an official of the imperial court, but you secretly collude with the mountain bandits, extort money, and harm the villagers. Do you dare to say in a grand manner, 'In the capacity of Qingyuan County Order, as long as you pay the silver, you will let us go'? Hehe, Xu asked you, do you still want to be shameless? ”

As soon as these words came out, they immediately attracted praise from all the merchants and gentry in the hall, and pointed out Hu Zeyi's collusion with officials and bandits.

Hu Zeyi was scolded in public, and immediately froze in place with an embarrassed face, and he didn't know how to fight back for a while.

Fang Ming bent down and whispered in the ear of the one-eyed dragon: "Big boss, this guy is called Xu Rende, the shopkeeper of Xu Ji Wine Store in Yingchun Fang." The Xu family has opened a wine shop in Yingchun Fang for three generations, and the family background is very solid! ”

After hearing this, the one-eyed dragon saw that the businessmen in the courtyard were resistant again, and knew that Hu Zeyi couldn't hold back now, so he had to get up and shout to Xu Rende: "That shouting man, believe it or not, Lao Tzu slashed you with a knife?" ”

Xu Rende was no longer silent and forbearant at this juncture, straightened up his waist and replied: "If you want to kill, you will kill, three thousand pieces of silver, do you think it is a strong wind?" Anyway, my Xu family doesn't have that much money, and Xu is now asking for money, and he wants to die. You have the audacity to take my head! ”

"Yo, do you really think Lao Tzu won't dare to kill you?"

The one-eyed dragon pinched his teeth and sneered gloomily: "I'm afraid you people don't cry when you don't see the coffin, or maybe, Lao Tzu will kill you today." If you don't move the real thing, I am afraid that you sheep will not write a letter home and ask someone to bring money. Buffalo—"

With a shout, the big buffalo had already rushed down the yard first, and put the bright steel knife directly on Xu Rende's neck.

Seeing that Xu Rende's face was a little frightened, the one-eyed dragon asked again: "Lao Tzu finally asked you again, did you write this letter that asked people to send money, or did you not write it?" ”

"No... Don't write! Xu Rende was scared, but he still stiffened his head and rejected the one-eyed dragon directly. It's not that he is really not afraid of death, but that Xu Ji Liquor has been passed down for three generations, and the Xu family has only accumulated 3,000 yuan. At this time, where would he let the family business fall into his own hands. Rather than give away the wealth accumulated for three generations to the mountain bandit, it is better to give him a knife.

"Okay, you really don't write it, do you?"

The one-eyed dragon glanced at Xu Rende hatefully, and finally waved at the big buffalo: "Buffalo, cut off this guy's head for Lao Tzu!" I don't think there is anyone else who won't write! ”

"Gotcha!"

The big buffalo violently lifted the steel knife, and Xu Rende also closed his eyes in despair.

The merchants in the courtyard were also frightened, and even more so that they had closed their eyes, not daring to look at the bloody scene of blood splattering and spraying, and people's heads flying up and falling to the ground.

"Newspaper—"

Boom!

The gate of the county government was pushed open, and a mountain bandit ran in from outside, shouting: "Report - there is a scholar surnamed Chen outside, claiming to be Qingyuan County Cheng, saying that he has something important to meet the big boss!" ”

"Buffalo and so on~"

When the one-eyed dragon heard the news, he stopped the big buffalo who was wielding a knife and cutting off his head, turned his head and asked Hu Zeyi next to him, "Is there such a person?" ”

Hu Zeyi nodded.

And Fang Ming on the side was quite puzzled by Chen Ziang's sudden arrival, and wondered: "Why did he come so late?" It stands to reason that if you want to come, you should come in the evening. And he shouldn't have known that we had entered the county seat and taken the county office. How could he directly name and say that he wanted to meet the big boss, it must be ...... here"

"Hey, Master Fang, you say that, it's really such a reason."

The one-eyed dragon held his chin and pondered, "Where did he know that Lao Tzu was in the county government?" Could it be that we leaked the news? ”

"No, the plan is so thorough, it's impossible for the news to leak out," Fang Ming was still very confident in the plan he had made himself, and shook his head, "And there is Brother Bantam Tiger personally guarding the East Gate Tower, so it is even more impossible for the news to leak out." The big boss, since the surnamed Chen threw himself into the net, he simply let him in and listen to what he wanted to say to the big boss. ”

"Good!"

The one-eyed dragon also agreed with Fang Ming's analysis, and waved at the minion and shouted: "Go, take the Qingyuan County Cheng surnamed Chen in, Lao Tzu wants to see what he wants to say." ”

Soon, Chen Ziang was escorted into the county office by two mountain bandits left and right, and arrived in the courtyard of the lobby.

Tonight's Chen Ziang is a little different from usual.

I saw him wearing a square scarf on his head, wearing a scholar's white robe, his face was indifferent, and he slowly walked into the lobby courtyard with graceful manners, and walked to the one-eyed dragon and others.

Chen Ziang's generosity stood upright, calm and calm, and there was no trace of fear of the bright steel knives and sharp axes around him, and this kind of demeanor really made the businessmen and gentry present secretly impressed.

Compared with Chen Ziang, Hu Zeyi's nodding and groveling beside the one-eyed dragon was simply disgusting!

They are all officials of the imperial court, they are all Qingyuan officials, and they are all Jinshi on the same list, in terms of appearance and arrogance, one is already in the sky, and the other is rotten to the ground.

So much so that Hu Zeyi, who was weak-hearted, looked at Chen Ziang, and couldn't help but look away in shame, a little afraid to look at Chen Ziang.

The one-eyed dragon stared at Chen Ziang for a moment before he came to a trance and asked, "The dog official surnamed Chen, I heard that you are going to see Lao Tzu, aren't you afraid of death?" ”

"Hehe, they all say that officials and bandits are officials and bandits, but I have never heard of bandit officials and bandits.

The corners of Chen Ziang's mouth raised, and he said with a smile: "You can't wait for dozens of bandits, but standing behind this official is the Tang Empire, which led all the countries on the coast of the land to come to the dynasty. Do you think there is a reason for this official to be afraid of you? As for death, hehe, if you are afraid of death, this official will not break into your bandit den alone today! ”

"Yo ho, it's really sharp-toothed Liha, tsk, your mouth skills are much stronger than Hu County's order," the one-eyed dragon sneered at Chen Ziang and said, "Your Hu County's order is all obedient to Lao Tzu, why do you dare to pretend to be a big clove of garlic in front of Lao Tzu?" ”

"That's it...... And this ......"

Chen Ziang pointed to the top of his head, then to his chest, and said: "Just because there are gods three feet above your head, you will kill yourself if you do too much injustice, and if you are an official and not the master of the people, it is difficult to die well with a clear conscience!" ”

After saying that, the momentum on Chen Ziang's body became more and more awe-inspiring, as if he could turn into a sharp sword at any time and split the mountain bandits in front of him!

The one-eyed dragon couldn't help but tremble in his heart, he had seen a lot of officials in his life, but like the number one in front of him, it was really a scorpion - the only one.

He didn't want to fight with Chen Ziang anymore, and waved his hand impatiently: "Don't talk about those who don't have it, what do you want to see Lao Tzu do?" If you can't say that you are ugly, Lao Tzu will skin your dog alive today! ”

Chen Ziang said: "When the official saw you today, he naturally came for them!" ”

After that, he pointed to the Qingyuan merchants and gentry in the courtyard, and then continued: "This official will exchange himself for them, please let them all go home!" ”

"Hahaha, are you crazy? What do you think? ”

The one-eyed dragon felt more and more amused when he heard this, looked at Chen Ziang like a fool, and asked, "They are Lao Tzu's money bags, let them Lao Tzu drink the northwest wind?" Will they let them go and exchange you for silver? Is your dog officer's net worth worth more than theirs? ”

"I am not greedy, I am not bending the law, I have no savings, and my official is very poor!" Chen Ziang shook his head and said.

The one-eyed dragon laughed and said, "Then why would Lao Tzu exchange them for you, a poor ghost?" Besides, you are now the meat on Lao Tzu's chopping board, change your hair? ”

Chen Ziang said: "Although the official is poor, but the Qingyuan County Government is not poor, although the money and grain taxes of the Qingyuan County Government over the years dare not be said to be rich and rival the country, but it is definitely not comparable to the net worth of these ordinary businessmen and gentry." As long as you let these innocent people go, I will tell you where this tax worth hundreds of thousands of dollars is hidden, and I will take you to collect it myself!" ”

"What?"

"Hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes?"

"My mother-in-law, with this silver, we will have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of our lives!"

"Yes, yes, when the time comes, let the big boss take us to the Quanzhou Port Wharf to go to sea, take this huge amount of money, go to Silla, Japan, Goguryeo, and take the brothers to become rich overseas!"

"That's right, you don't have to worry about the government's pursuit in the future."

……

Chen Ziang's words landed, and for a while, the mountain bandits in the entire lobby courtyard instantly boiled!

All of them were ruddy and passionate, and in their eyes, Chen Ziang at this time seemed to have become a fragrant bait.

The cyclops fell silent.

Fang Ming fell into inner madness.

And Hu Zeyi looked at Chen Ziang inexplicably, and wanted to open his mouth repeatedly, but he didn't open his mouth.

"Are you telling the truth?"

After the silence, the one-eyed dragon's only remaining eye was red, staring at Chen Ziang, and asked word by word: "Where is the hundreds of thousands of yuan of silver you said?" ”

Chen Ziang shrugged his shoulders and said loudly: "As long as you are willing to let them go, I will take you to get them!" ”

The one-eyed dragon was still a little unconvinced, and asked, "Why didn't Hu Xianling tell me Lao Tzu?" ”

Hu Zeyi hurriedly opened his mouth and explained: "Big boss, don't listen to him!" This is a fictitious thing, you have also seen the county's treasury, just a little inventory tax, where is there hundreds of thousands of dollars in money and grain taxes? ”

"Shut up!" The one-eyed dragon glared at Hu Zeyi fiercely.

Chen Ziang sneered: "Because of the loss of such a huge amount of money, grain and taxes, the imperial court will not only dismiss him from his post and investigate, but also ask for his head." Do you think he would be so honest with you? ”

This dog official surnamed Hu is indeed this kind of person!

The one-eyed dragon nodded in some conviction, and asked again: "Then you provide money, food, and tax hiding, so you are not afraid that the imperial court will ask for your head?" ”

Chen Ziang nodded and said seriously: "I'm afraid!" ”

This article is from Reading Rim Novels