Under the afterglow of the setting sun, Wu Chengsi and Zhuge Sanyuan were seen waiting at the dock.
All the pirates were left on the ship by Wu Chengsi, and only Zhang Gou was brought back to Lijiacun.
In Li Si's room, Wu Chengsi asked Zhugenan about the whole process and asked him to go to the city immediately to inquire about the situation.
After Zhuge Nan left, only Wu Chengsi, Zhuge Sanyuan and Zhang Gou were left in the room.
Wu Chengsi looked at Zhang Gou with burning eyes and said: "Master Zhang, I want to know who you are and why they mobilized so many troops to arrest you!"
Zhang Gou replied respectfully: "The grassroots people are from Xuzhou, and their families have been craftsmen for generations."
"Are you a craftsman?" Wu Chengsi was slightly surprised.
Zhang Gou nodded, raised his head and said: "Reporting to the prince, my father studied under Yu Wenkai, a great craftsman of the previous dynasty, and he was a fellow apprentice with Yang Wulian, the general and eunuch of the current dynasty, and Xu Yuanju, the governor of Yangzhou."
The expressions of Zhuge Sanyuan and Wu Chengsi changed. After they looked at each other, Zhuge Sanyuan asked, "Is Xu Yuanju your uncle?"
"Yes, my father has the best relationship with Master Xu."
"Then do you know Xu Wenqing?"
Zhang Gou said happily: "Of course we know each other. Every time I go to Yangzhou with my father to visit Uncle Xu, I can see Junior Sister Xu."
Zhuge Sanyuan asked again: "Why were you locked up by Yangzhou Yamen?"
Zhang Gou paused for a moment and said: "This matter started a year ago. A year ago, my father suddenly disappeared. I couldn't find him anywhere, so I planned to go to Yangzhou to ask Uncle Xu for help."
"Unexpectedly, I suddenly encountered a group of government officials on the road and took me to the Hangzhou government office indiscriminately."
Zhuge Sanyuan twisted his beard and said: "In my opinion, this matter should be related to your father."
Zhang Gou smiled bitterly and said: "I have the same suspicion. They didn't hurt me, and they were very concerned about my health. They must have wanted to use me to blackmail my father."
Wu Chengsi suddenly asked: "How is the relationship between Xu Yuanju and Yang Wulian?"
Zhang Goudao: "Uncle Yang has cut off contact with my father and Uncle Xu since he became a general and a supervisor."
Wu Chengsi nodded. No wonder Xu Wenqing did not seek help from Yang Wulian after entering Beijing.
Judging from Zhang Gou's words, what happened at Xu Wenqing's home must also be related to the stone tablet.
It is now certain that the person who planned this incident was King Li Zhen of Yue.
He first captured a group of masons and built a stone tablet on Changye Island. At the same time, he captured Zhang Gou's father and used Zhang Gou to coerce him into doing something.
Immediately afterwards, he imprisoned Xu Yuan and sent his son to get close to Xu Wenqing. He probably had some purpose.
Although these things are vaguely connected, it is impossible to guess what Li Zhen wants to do based on these alone.
…
Qian Mansion.
After Qian Deguang heard Magistrate Jiang's report, he said nothing and immediately sent someone to invite Prince Yingchuan, who lived in a manor in the suburbs.
When King Yingchuan came to Qian Mansion, it was already Haishi.
Magistrate Jiang was already prepared to be beaten on his way here, so when Prince Yingchuan gave him a kick, he quickly got up, knelt on the ground, and said, "This official deserves to die, please."
Your Majesty punishes me!"
Prince Yingchuan said with a livid face: "What's the use of punishing you? Everyone has been taken away, how do you want me to explain to the King of Yue?"
Qian Deguang suddenly said: "My lord, don't you find it strange?"
Prince Yingchuan raised his eyebrows and said, "What do you mean by that?"
"Wu Chengsi's men arrived early and late, but they showed up just when we were attacking Zhang Gou. Don't you think it's a bit too coincidental?"
Prince Yingchuan narrowed his eyes and said, "Go on!"
Qian Deguang mused: "There is only one possibility for Wu Chengsi's people to appear so accurately. He has been sending people to keep an eye on our movements, so when we move, he will follow us."
Prince Yingchuan said with emotion: "You mean..."
"Wu Chengsi is in Hangzhou!" Qian Deguang said every word, with a fascinating cold light in his eyes.
Prince Yingchuan lost his voice and said: "Isn't he in Taizhou?"
"That happened many days ago." Qian Deguang said slowly.
"Why did he come to Hangzhou? If he wants to go, he should go to Yangzhou!" Prince Yingchuan still didn't believe it.
Qian Deguang said in a deep voice: "Of course he will not come himself, but others may ask him to come."
"who?"
"Prince Governor!"
Prince Yingchuan frowned and said, "Does he have such courage?"
"Your Highness, things are different now!" Qian Deguang sighed.
Prince Yingchuan said displeasedly: "What happened in the past, what about now?"
Qian Deguang said in a deep voice: "Wang Ji is a man who knows how to be patient. He didn't resist fiercely after I ignored him before. That's because he knew that I was from His Highness the King of Yue."
"Does he dare to resist now?" Prince Yingchuan sneered.
Qian Deguang said: "The fact that Wu Chengsi became the governor of Yangzhou is known to the world, and Wang Ji naturally knows it too."
"So what if he knows?"
Qian Deguang sighed: "Everyone knows that the kings of the Wu family and the Li family are seizing power. In order to regain the position of governor, Wang Ji can only rely on the strength of the Wu family."
"The official guessed that he must have defected to the Wu family, and it was he who called Wu Chengsi here!"
Prince Yingchuan remained silent.
He is not stupid, Qian Deguang's words are just speculation, his purpose may be to get rid of Wang Ji as soon as possible and take the position of governor.
At this moment, County Magistrate Jiang suddenly said: "Your Majesty, Qian Changshi, I think there is another person who is suspicious!"
Qian Deguang glared at him and said with a smile: "County Magistrate Jiang, you can't talk nonsense in front of the prince."
Prince Yingchuan waved his hand and said, "If you have anything to say, just say it. I won't blame you if you say something wrong."
County Magistrate Jiang said hurriedly: "I feel that Geng Zhongyue may have called Prince Changping here."
"Geng Zhongyue?"
Qian Deguang said: "Your Highness does not know something. Geng Zhongyue is the son of the former Yushi Zhongcheng Geng Jian. He is famous for being nosy in Hangzhou City."
County Magistrate Jiang said hurriedly: "Qian Changshi is absolutely right. It was this kid who was meddling in other people's affairs in the first place, so I had to let those villagers go."
"What villagers?" Prince Yingchuan asked in confusion.
"Those villagers in the stonemason's village are all unruly people. They were the ones who robbed Zhang Gou and let him go. If Geng Zhongyue hadn't interfered, they would be building river embankments in Yangzhou now."
The Prince of Yingchuan County said coldly: "Does Geng Zhongyue hold an official position?"
"No."
"Do you have a reputation?"
"He took the exam twice and failed."
Prince Yingchuan said angrily: "With no official position or fame, why did you let those people go?"
Qian Deguang said hurriedly: "Your Highness, please calm down. I asked County Magistrate Jiang to release the person. After all, Geng Zhongyue is not dead yet. He is well-connected in the officialdom. I am afraid of making things worse."
Prince Yingchuan rebuked angrily: "With my father and the King of Yue here, you are afraid of a bird. This is a good time. We have people running into Wu Chengsi's hands. If he notices our plan, no one will end well!"
Qian Deguang lowered his voice and said: "Your Highness, the matter is not without remedy."
"How else can I remedy this?"
Qian Deguang's eyes flashed coldly and he said: "As long as we find Wu Chengsi, we can..." He made a clicking gesture on his neck.
Prince Yingchuan was silent for a long time and said coldly: "What if Wu Chengsi is not in Hangzhou?"
This sentence obviously acquiesces to Qian Deguang's words.
Qian Deguang said: "If he is not in Hangzhou, we can only inform His Highness the King of Yue and His Highness the King of Han about the situation as soon as possible."
The Prince of Yingchuan County said coldly: "As of now, that's all it can do. No matter who brought Wu Chengsi here, we can settle the score later. The top priority now is to find out Wu Chengsi's whereabouts!"
"Yes!" The two of them raised their hands in unison.
The Yamen adopted the method of tightening the outside and loosening the inside, but no matter how hard they tried to hide it, they could not hide it from the expert eyes of Zhuge Nan.
He immediately returned to the village and reported the situation to Wu Chengsi.
"Young master, we can't stay here for long." Zhuge Sanyuan stood by the window of the room with a very solemn expression.
Zhang Gou touched his chin and suggested: "There is a hidden island near the island where I stayed before. We can hide there."
Wu Chengsi shook his head and said: "Since they can discover your island, they will definitely be able to discover the nearby islands as well."
Having said this, he glanced at Uncle Eight and said, "Even if we leave, if the people in the government know that the village has taken us in, they will definitely not let the village go."
Uncle Eight gritted his teeth and said, "Young Master, don't worry about us, the worst we can do is fight them!"
Wu Chengsi smiled slightly and said: "Don't worry, old man. I have a place that can accommodate not only the Li family village, but also dozens of people from the village. I wonder if you are willing to go?"
Zhuge Nan blurted out: "Changye Island!"
Wu Chengsi smiled and nodded.
Li Si was startled and said worriedly: "There are fields and houses there, so it can indeed accommodate everyone, but I'm just afraid that those bad guys will come back again."
Wu Chengsi said: "Don't worry, I will send troops to station there to protect you."
Zhang Gou said excitedly: "I have heard about Changye Island. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is a natural fortress. But I heard that it is the territory of the Fire Phoenix Society."
Zhuge Nan said proudly: "The main altar of the Fire Phoenix Society has been wiped out by us long ago!"
Uncle Eight looked left and right, and said in surprise: "Xiaosi, where exactly is Changye Island? Can we really live there?"
When Li Si heard that Wu Chengsi was willing to send troops to garrison, he put his heart back into his stomach and said with a smile:
"Of course we can live there. It's a small island outside Taizhou. There were originally more than two thousand islanders living on the island, but they all died later. They had so many fields that we can't finish them all."
Uncle Eighth happily said: "Okay, okay, we are willing to go!"
In the next few days, Zhugenan continued to keep an eye on the situation in the city, while Uncle Eighth, Zhang Gou and others contacted other villages that had suffered the same situation as them.
These villages had previously relied on Zhang Gou and others to provide food for their survival. They had great trust in Zhang Gou and had their eighth uncle talking beside them.
So nearly 2,000 people from more than fifty villages decided to move to Changye Island.
Wu Chengsi's large ship could only carry about 800 people at a time, so he decided to prepare food and drinking water first and move everyone to a small island near Zhang Gouyuan's stronghold.
Then buy a boat and transfer everyone to Changye Island.