Dakui stood with his hands behind his hands, looking at the vast waves of Tai Lake in the distance. The rising sun reflected thousands of golden scales on the water of Tai Lake. Red clouds grazed leisurely not far away, flicking their tails from time to time to drive away mosquitoes and flies.
More than ten feet behind him, two hundred soldiers lined up in full uniform. Each one of them was wearing black attire and wrist guards. The red silk on the handle of the three-foot-long sword on his back was moving in the wind, making each of the Zhang family soldiers look heroic. The equipment is extraordinary, but even with a large number of people, there is no sound and you can hear a pin drop. The mountains and rivers in the distance are endless, but here there is a chilling atmosphere.
Da Kui was waiting. Master Feng and others should be back soon. Sure enough, after a while, the horse hooves rumbled rapidly on the official road in the distance, as if the trembling earth was still shaking with it. Da Kui turned around and saw only dozens of Ming Dynasties. The cavalry drove the horses from a distance. Behind the horses, Master Feng and a general were walking side by side. As they got closer, they saw the general who came with Master Feng galloping towards Da Kui on horseback, albeit slowly. But extremely stable.
When the general reached a few feet in front of Da Kui, he turned over and dismounted, abandoned the reins and walked up to Da Kui. He clasped his fists towards Da Kui and said, "Wu Liangda, the leader of Suzhou City Defense Qianhuzuo, met with Mr. Zhang, the general envoy."
Dakui smiled and said: "General Wu, no courtesy, now you have worked."
"I don't dare to do this because of my humble position." Wu Liangda saw that the ceremony was over, and then he took out a document from his arms and continued: "Master Zhang needs to draw a picture and put it in the book when he transfers the army and horses. This is the promotion document. Please draw and sign it, Master Zhang."
Dakui took the document, unfolded it and took a look at it. He then held the document in his left hand, put his right index finger in his mouth and bit the fingertip, then pressed his fingerprints on the blood and made a signature.
When Wu Liangda saw Da Kui like this, he couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Master Zhang, why is this?"
Dakui handed the document back to Wu Liangda with a smile, and then said with a smile: "I am here to annihilate an old enemy. This will cause great harm to the people's livelihood. Zhang has already put his life and death aside, and just wants to do his best to fulfill his duty."
Wu Liangda couldn't help but ask: "Why don't you send a letter to the court to mobilize troops? This can ensure everything is safe."
Dakui smiled and said: "Soldiers are very fast. If the news is leaked, I'm afraid I will regret it too late." At this point, Dakui looked at the hundreds of war horses not far away, and then said: "With these strong horses and horses, We are like adding wings to a tiger, thank you very much, General Wu." Wu Liangda was not in a position to ask any more questions, so he immediately handed over and left.
Da Kui called Master Feng and explained the affairs at home. Master Feng took the order and mounted his horse to return to Zhang Mansion.
Facing two hundred soldiers, Da Kui said loudly: "It takes a thousand days to raise an army and use it for a while. This is the time for you to serve the country." Looking at the pictures of Surong in front of him, Da Kui continued: "This time I am going to Linjiang, you and I need to be ready for the battle. If you kill an enemy with your life, you will be rewarded with ten taels of silver; if you capture, kill or injure the enemy leader, you will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver and be recommended to the imperial court as an official."
As the saying goes: there must be a brave man under a heavy reward. After hearing what Dakui said, all the soldiers were already eager to give it a try. With money, they can build a house and marry a wife to live. The days when the wife and children will be hot on the kang are just around the corner.
Da Kui then ordered: "Serve the wine." As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Wu, Gou Sheng, Stone, Broom, Dustpan, and Bench each held the wine jar and carried the basket and walked to the front of the team, distributed the wine bowls and poured the wine.
Dakui took the wine bowl handed to him and said in a loud voice: "This trip is to eliminate the remnants of the traitors in Yuanting, and it is also for the sake of the peace and prosperity of the country and the people. Maybe some of us will be injured and some will die, but a good man will do something and some will not do." ,Are you scared?"
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, don't be afraid," more than two hundred people roared in unison, the sound shaking the sky.
"Come on, you man," Dakui shouted and drank the wine from the bowl first. The two hundred soldiers responded and drank at the same time.
‘Pah!’ Dakui threw the wine bowl in his hand and shouted: “Get on the horse.” More than two hundred people turned around and selected their horses and turned over. Each movement was neat and vigorous. Dakui felt quite satisfied after seeing it.
It was extremely hot in the south of the Yangtze River in midsummer. Da Kui galloped on his horse, followed closely by more than two hundred soldiers. Although it was noon, these people had no intention of stopping. More than two hundred people brought five hundred strong horses, and they would not change horses. People hurried on under the scorching sun. Along the way, the dust and smoke made the horses hooves rush. It only took them two days and nights to reach the boundary of Linjiang Prefecture.
Linjiang was called "Shilong City" in ancient times. In the eighth year of Emperor Wude of the Tang Dynasty (625), Xiaotan Town was built in Linjiang. In the second year of Shengyuan of the Southern Tang Dynasty in the Five Dynasties (938), Qingjiang County was built in Xiaotan Town. In the third year of Chunhua in the Song Dynasty, Linjiang Army was established to administer Qingjiang. , Xingan and Xinyu counties, Linjiang Road was changed to Linjiang Road in the Yuan Dynasty. After Taizu ascended the throne, most of the place names in Jiangnan were changed, and Linjiang Road was renamed Linjiang Prefecture, which governed Qingjiang (in today's Linjiang City, Zhangshu City, Jiangxi Province). Jiang Town), jurisdiction over three counties: Qingjiang, Xingan (now Xingan County, Jiangxi Province), and Xinyu (now Yushui District, Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province).
"Businessmen of Wu and merchants of Shu" was a grand occasion when merchants gathered in Linjiang in ancient times. Now the Ming Dynasty has listed Linjiang Prefecture as one of the important trade and taxation towns. It is known in history as "a land of four great roads for boats and carriages," especially medicinal materials and wood industries. It is famous all over the world for its brewing. It is said that at its peak, there were "three thousand households in the city and eight thousand smoke outside the city".
Blood Splattered Hall set up its headquarters in Linjiang Prefecture, which can be said to be quite foresight. It is far away from Nanjing, so the sky is high and the emperor is far away. It is also a place with easy access to merchants. It can be said that people can make money here without anyone noticing.
Da Kui ordered Hong Wu and Gou Sheng to stay in Liuwa Village, 20 miles east of Linjiang Prefecture. Everyone left their horses here, and then divided into several groups to enter the city in disguise. Da Kui only took Meng Ge, Pan Bu and two people with him. We detoured to the south gate of Linjiang Mansion and entered the city with the flow of people. Linjiang Mansion is truly a land of heaven, with businesses gathering everywhere and pedestrians constantly coming and going on the streets.
Dakui and Panbu Mengge found a restaurant and found a window seat upstairs. They ordered a table of wine and food and chatted while eating, feeling carefree. When they were full, Dakui asked the waiter to pay the bill. .
The food and drinks here are affordable and affordable. After paying the bill, Da Kui asked the waiter: "I wonder if there are any interesting places in Linjiang Mansion?"
The waiter collected the money and when he saw Dakui asking him this question, he couldn't help but chuckle and said, "I wonder what you want to do, sir?" The waiter asked this question, but before Dakui could speak, he began to introduce the story in a voluble manner. Fan, Chengxi Flower Market, Daqian Street, Fish Market and Bird Market...
Dakui interrupted the waiter with a smile: "I'm not here to buy anything, I just want to find a place to gamble." As he said, Dakui took out a bunch of money from his arms and stuffed it into the waiter's hand.
The waiter in the store got a bunch of money, and immediately said with joy: "Hey, Sir, if you want to gamble, you have found the right person. I am familiar with the seven or eight gambling houses in Linjiang Prefecture..." "
Seeing that he was nagging again, Dakui smiled and said, "Which family is the biggest?"
The waiter stretched out his hand and pointed out the window: "No, turn left on the street in front and go straight. It only takes less than a hundred steps. There is a sycamore tree in front of the gambling house, so the gambling house is called Wutong Academy."
"Wutong Academy," Dakui was a little surprised when he heard this. The waiter smiled and explained: "After Taizu ascended the throne, all states have set up academies and schools. Although Wutong Academy is named an academy, it is a gold-selling cave inside. It is not just gambling. Well, we have everything for food, accommodation and entertainment." As he said, the waiter looked around and when he saw that no one was paying attention, he added, "There is also Miss Yao,"
Hearing this, Dakui couldn't help but have a look of understanding on his face, and immediately said: "In that case, let's go have some fun, hahahahaha," he stood up first and walked downstairs with Meng Ge in tow.
Wutong Academy is like a crowded place, and the faces of those entering and exiting all have expressions on their faces, either elated or despondent, and some have tired faces. However, these people are from all walks of life, but none of them look like scholars.
When Dakui arrived at the door and looked around, he saw flowers hanging from the gatehouse with pink walls and green tiles. In front of the red lacquer door were two flower beds. The flowers in the flower beds were in full bloom and were particularly fragrant. After entering the courtyard gate, he saw deep rockery, flowing springs and green trees in the courtyard. The shade is surrounded by corridors on both sides, and it has a peaceful atmosphere. It doesn't look like a gambling house or a brothel. Dakui was looking around when he saw a man in green clothes coming forward.
"Hey, please, you three," the man in green came forward and stretched out his hand to say hello.
Dakui was dressed in rich clothes, but Meng Ge and Pan Bu behind him were pretending to be servants. The man in green knew that Dakui was not rich but noble, so he led Dakui to the courtyard and asked with a smile as he walked: "I wonder who you are?" Come here to try your luck, there is still a girl I know."
Dakui smiled and said: "We are here to play, I don't know what is more fun,"
The man in Tsing Yi led the way and said as he walked: "If you want to play, of course you have to place a bet, please do so." As he spoke, the man in Tsing Yi had already led Dakui and the others to a hall. The hall was very noisy and lively. The three of them from Dakui entered the hall and saw that the hall was thirty feet long and wide. There were no less than ten large tables in the hall, and each table was crowded with people, who were all shouting and arguing until their faces turned red and their necks thickened.
Da Kui couldn't help but be a little curious. He walked to a table and squeezed into the crowd to look inside. It turned out that this table was for gambling on dice. Da Kui knew about it. The three dice were rolled out using dice Gu. The total was less than 11 points. The bet is small, and the bet above 12 is high. Gamblers can bet money on the big bet on the small bet. Whether they can win or not depends on their luck.
Da Kui walked out of the crowd and walked to another table, but before he got there, he heard someone at the table he just visited shouting: "I bet my life."
When Dakui heard this, he immediately stopped. The gambler was betting on his life. Out of curiosity, Dakui and Meng Ge stood there and looked at the table. Someone had just called "bet on their lives" but they didn't know whether it was true or not.
However, someone shouted this voice, and the noisy people suddenly quieted down. The guests at other gambling tables also paid attention to this place, but the silence only lasted for a moment, and then the crowd started to get louder again. After all, watching the excitement is not as exciting as gambling.
Dakui thought for a while, then walked towards the table he left just now, and when he squeezed into the crowd, he immediately attracted a burst of abuse.
"Hey, why are you squeezing?"
"You're fucking blind, you stepped on my foot,"
Da Kui paid no attention to the obscene words around him, but Meng Ge grabbed the two people who had just spoken foul language by the scruff of the neck and pulled them out of the crowd. Seeing Meng Ge's fierce look, the two gamblers couldn't help but yelled, "No, no. When Meng Ge saw that they had begged for mercy, he let go.
When Dakui arrived at the table, he saw a short, stocky man pressing his hands on the table and making eye contact with the dealer opposite. The two looked at each other, but neither of them spoke.
The gamblers who were watching were also aware of the situation. When they saw that the scene was frozen here, they all stopped making noises and watched the excitement quietly. The short and sturdy man looked at the dealer for a long time, and then said: "I will bet my life. If I lose, I will." Accept that you are unlucky, and if you win, you will return my money to me."
The croupier was a young man in his early twenties. Seeing the short and sturdy man's decisive words, he said: "If you want to play, bring money. If you don't have money, please do it. Don't fool around here. This is not for you to fool around." place,”
If the short and stocky man wanted to say anything else, he might as well say a voice behind him: "Bet your life, come with me, we won't accept this here."