At dawn the next day, Lao Liang felt relieved when he saw that Xue Bai was fine.
Although he had been warned beforehand, his worries were real.
"Alang, are you okay? I..."
"It doesn't matter, we are all our own people. You can regard yourself as a member of Luhun Villa from now on."
Xue Bai said, turned back to look at Song Mian, and asked: "Mr. Song, did you say so?"
"The county captain and I are as close as brothers, and from now on we will be half owners of Luhun Villa."
"Just kidding."
Xue Bai said: "There is one more thing I have to ask Mr. Song."
"But it doesn't matter."
"Wang Yansiam has a follower Wang Yi who has friendship with my staff Du Qi. He went to Wei Fuyin to file a lawsuit against Gao Chong and is now detained in the Henan government office."
When Song Mian and Xue Bai first met, they denounced the collusion between Yanshi County officials and merchants. At that time, they probably never thought that they would mint copper coins privately together.
Speaking of this at this time, it seems a bit ridiculous.
However, his expression remained unchanged and he said: "I am a close friend with Wang County Lieutenant, so naturally I will not abandon Wang Yi. But this matter... Wang Yi is a lowly citizen and a slave. He sued the official as a lowly slave, but he
Refusing to produce key evidence is against Tang law."
Xue Bai said: "What kind of key evidence."
"Account book." Song Mian said: "Guo Wanjin's account book contains records of smuggling iron and stone, robbing and selling good people, and selling copper coins. Wang Yansiam stole it from a secret house."
Xue Bai said: "How about I persuade Wang Yi to hand over this account book?"
"Can the county captain persuade him to move? He was tortured and tortured, but he couldn't get him to hand over his account books."
"For such a loyal servant, torture is useless. I can lie to him."
"Okay." Song Mian finally relaxed a little in front of Xue Bai and said with a smile: "I will prepare food for you, and you will get the account books for me."
"It's a deal."
The two of them were talking and laughing, and left Luhun Villa together to return to Yanshi County.
~~
Yanshi County Department.
Song Li went to the funeral. Although Lu Linghao did not go, he sent someone to express the condolences of the head of the county.
He also has a good relationship with the Song family, but the Song family is not the only big family in Yanshi County. In comparison, the Song family's background is obviously not as good as that of the big family, so Lu Linghao treats them all equally.
Unexpectedly, the previous county captain Wang Yansiam and Song Mian were close, and so was the current county captain Xue Bai.
When he learned that Xue Bai had gone to Lu Hun Villa again, Lu Linghao sighed with emotion: "What's the use of having a good personal relationship? You must know that human relationships are like paper."
Guo Huan said: "The county captain is a young man, so he is inevitably a bit naive."
While talking, he handed over a food booklet.
"The Ming Dynasty will take a look. After recording the 30,000 shi of grain collected by Gao Chong, the loss on the book will be evened out, and there will be more than 7,000 shi left."
"Okay, Xiangrui, the wine vessels are ready and will be sent to the capital."
Although some disturbing things have happened in Yanshi County recently, including murders and arson, they did not delay Lu Linghao from doing his business at all.
He really didn't understand the point of Xue Bai and Gao Chong fighting to such an extent. Instead of desperately fighting for the power of a county, the same thoughts were put on managing the relationship. The governor and the prefect were all worthy of it.
The New Year's Eve ceremony is the real big deal.
"One hand goes in and the other hand goes out. In fact, there is not much left in this county." After discussing the important matter, Lu Linghao sighed and remembered, "By the way, speaking of these 30,000 stone grains, how did Xue Bai know about this?"
?”
"Didn't Sun Yuan confess? He has been in charge of Hu Cao for many years, so it's not surprising that he knows about this."
"The county sent someone to the prison to inquire, but he said he had never been recruited."
"He just doesn't dare to admit it." Guo Huan asked, "What doubts does the Ming Dynasty have?"
"As my staff member, Yuan Yiheng seemed to have gotten closer to Xue Bai that night..."
By this time, Xue Bai had returned from Luhun Villa and came to Lingse to ask for an audience.
Lu Linghao shook his head and said: "He must have come here again to ask for money and food. He said that he would use it to make farm tools. He is trying to get more than he wants. He doesn't take this county seriously."
He had delegated power to Xue Bai three times, and he would definitely not agree to it this time. He ordered: "Just say that the county is busy, so I won't see you."
"The county magistrate and the county captain are here together with Mr. Song from Shouyang Academy."
Lu Linghao and Guo Huan looked at each other and couldn't help but wonder: "Song Mian always likes to think he is aloof, but in the past, when he interacted with Wang Yansiam, he never came to the county office to speak for Wang Yansiam. Is this the case today?"
Guo Huan said: "The Ming Dynasty will know it as soon as they see it."
"Let them in."
…
Xue Bai has a kind of brute force in his work that will never give up until he achieves his goal. He is indeed here to beg for food today.
Although Lu Linghao still had 7,000 shi left after settling the account, he already considered the grain to be his, and never thought of giving Xue Bai 5,000 shi.
"This is the county's food. It is the salary of officials and servants. It is the ration of the people. It is not a bargaining chip for Xue County Lieutenant to perform meritorious service."
Song Mian said: "Xue County Lieutenant has considered it properly. Gao Chong's smuggling of iron stones needs to be minimized. He purchased this batch of iron stones in the name of the county office so as to cover it up. Otherwise, he will make those strong men unhappy. If it is exposed, what should we do?
?”
"Five thousand stones of grain are enough to feed five hundred people for a year." Lu Linghao said: "This is no small matter. You would never dare to exchange the county's grain for iron and stone."
Xue Bai immediately heard that Lu Linghao was not as confused as he seemed. He clearly knew many things in his heart.
Song Mian said: "Since the county magistrate knows that this is not a trivial matter, he has thought about it. Gao Chong has already taken several batches of goods from the other party. If he does not give him food for this year, what should he do if the other party refuses to return empty-handed?"
Lu Linghao said seriously: "How can this county be afraid of these people?"
"How about this? How about the Song family paying for this batch of grain?"
After talking to this point, Lu Linghao was helpless and sighed: "How can we get the Song family to pay for making farm tools in the county office?"
After all, he still had to look at the Song family's face. After all, the Song family had a close relationship with Henan Yin and more important officials, so he agreed.
~~
In a dark dungeon, Gao Chong was looking up at the faint crack through the edge of the stone slab cover, his heart filled with yearning for freedom.
He didn't care about losing his official position. What he thought was that as long as he could escape and find his adopted brother, the world would be vast and he would be able to accomplish a lot.
Just like Fan Lao, when he was in Huaizhou catching bad commanders, he was not very comfortable. It should be said that he was always criticized. But since Diao Bing and Diao Geng brothers resisted taxes and killed people and were released by him privately, Fan Lao has become like a trapped bird out of the cage.
.
Gao Chong believes that his chance to escape lies with Fan Lao.
Xue Duidi had a fantasy and wanted to take over his huge business, but if he didn't consider how much he had, he would definitely not be able to take it.
This time, Lu Linghao must have swallowed up the 30,000 stones of grain, and it was impossible to give out even a single bucket. When Diao Bing came with iron stones to cash in the grain for that year, Xue Bai couldn't give it out at all, so he had to let him come forward.
Appease the Diao brothers.
The place of transaction must be on the smuggling ship, which he is most familiar with, and he only needs to promise the Diao brothers that Gao Shang can give three times the food, enough for the Diao brothers to help kill Xue Bai.
Thinking about this, I don't know how long it took, Gao Chong felt that he was going crazy every moment, and occasionally thought that even if he let Xue Bailai burn him a few times, it would be better than waiting in the dark in agony.
Suddenly, the stone cover moved, and he couldn't help but become excited and stared at it closely.
After a while, someone came down with a torch. The torch was very bright, as dazzling as the sun, but it could not illuminate every inch of darkness like the sun.
Gao Chong squinted and finally saw Xue Bai clearly.
In addition, there is another person who looks familiar.
Before Gao Chong could recognize the man, the man roared, rushed forward and gave him a whip.
"Crack!"
Gao Chong laughed ferociously, he was no longer afraid of pain.
"Wang Yi? You bitch, you finally let the county magistrate take a look at you."
Wang Yi swung the whip hard again, until Gao Chong's skin and flesh were torn.
"Again... again." Gao Chong went crazy, "Why don't you have any energy? Haha, it doesn't hurt."
"Crack!"
At the end, Xue Bai pulled Wang Yi and said: "The days are long, you go and take out the account book first, let my people make a copy, I will give it to Song Mian..."
"What did you say?!" Gao Chong suddenly shouted: "Who did you say just now?"
"Song Mian." Xue Bai asked lightly, "What's the problem?"
"You, what do you know?"
Only then did Gao Chong lose his composure.
Xue Bai's two words surprised and frightened him more than the whipping.
Seeing this situation, Wang Yifang felt a sense of revenge, spitted heavily on Gao Chong's face, and took people to get the account books first.
In the dungeon, Xue Bai lit several oil lamps so that he could see the changes in Gao Shang's expression clearly.
The stove was also lit, and the soldering iron was placed in the fire to burn.
"I realize that you have been looking down on me. You think you can do things that I can't do, right?"
"How do you know? You shouldn't know..."
"Thanks to you, Lu Linghao, Song Zhiti and others are very good to me." Xue Bai said: "They also need someone to do dirty things on your behalf. If I can do it, I will know."
"You, you can't do it, you don't have my strength."
"Hey——"
Amidst the screams, smoke filled the air.
"You can give reasons, but don't jump to conclusions and appear arrogant and ignorant." Xue Bai said: "Also, it seems that you haven't gotten used to it yet. I am the rebel."
"Eating dog intestines!"
"Remember, I am a rebel thief, and you are the rebel thief's lackey. I am of the same nature as your master, not you. Do you understand?"
"You are just a bitch who peed in the skirt of a slut in Chang'an, and you are worthy of being compared with the Lord..."
"Hey——"
After a while, Xue Bai threw the soldering iron into the stove, knowing that he had put enough pressure on Gao Chong today.
"Let's stop chatting. Let's talk about Fan Lao, brothers Diao Bing and Diao Geng."
"you?!"
Gao Chong's pupils were shocked, and he was extremely surprised.
Xue Bai's discovery of Fan Lao so quickly was equivalent to shattering his dream of escaping.
"Fan Lao used to be a bad catcher in Huaizhou, and his ancestors were also prominent, but his father-in-law and father-in-law came from the side, and his family was in a poor state. He couldn't even afford to eat when he was young. Fortunately, he is tall and burly.
He was also able to read and write, and was appreciated by the nobles. He went to Huaizhou and became a servant, and later became a shift leader."
"Diao Bing is a farmer. He and Liu Hua, the governor of Lishan, are from the same place. I don't know if they know each other, but in the few years after the drought in Kaiyuan, they made trouble and gradually became
Desperados…”
~~
Diao Bing took a big bite of the biscuit and looked up. He could already see Yanshi County in the distance.
On a snowy day, he was wearing a pair of thatched shoes.
This has nothing to do with whether he has money or not, it's just a habit. In fact, he also has a pair of large deerskin boots in his bag, but he has been saving money since he was a child, and he can't bear to wear his boots after walking long distances.
"The weather is getting colder year by year. Will the Yellow River freeze in the twelfth lunar month?"
"Brother is so in charge," Diao Geng said, "Why, the Yellow River has frozen, and you still want to go back to your hometown to take a look?"
"I'm just surprised that after such a big thing happened to Gao Chong, it's strange that he didn't rush back to Hebei and stay to wait for this batch of iron and stone." Diao Bing said: "I heard that Hebei is not very short of iron, so Gao Shang took the lead and asked us to do this.
The purpose of the business is to allow the brothers to make more money, so Gao Chong has no reason to wait."
Diao Geng said: "Doesn't this mean that the Prime Minister of Gaoxian County is righteous? He refuses to leave unless he gives everyone this year's rations. If it were me, I would be the same."
"I heard that what happened to Gao Chong this time involved Liu Hua's assassination of the emperor. The crime is not small."
"Brother, where did you hear so many things?"
"I heard it when I passed the checkpoint. I told you before. The more you ask on weekdays, the more knowledge you will gain." Diao Bing said: "I didn't expect that boy from the Liu family to go to this step and assassinate the emperor. He is really brave."
"I'm really impressed by him. He's a great person. I can relieve my anger."
"Relieve anger."
The topic went off the rails, and Diao Bing asked: "Has the accommodation been arranged? We have many carriages and horses."
"Of course we have made arrangements. There is a small village not far south of the Yiluo River where we can live."
Diao Bing said: "Go into the city again. Find Gao Chong and agree on a time for the transaction with him, but don't tell him where we are."
Diao Geng said: "Brother, can't you trust him?"
Diao Bing said: "I'm afraid something will happen."
After that, he had a good rest and continued on his way driving the heavy mule cart.
The ruts were deep, and the goods carried were obviously very valuable, and walking through the snow with straw sandals seemed a bit difficult.
~~
In Yanshi County, Ren Mulan was protecting Wang Yi to find evidence, and they were followed by two men.
She is now dressed like a tomboy, with a bun on her head, a black dress, and a short knife on her waist. No matter how she looks at it, she may become a scoundrel in the future. To put it nicely, she is called a "errant".
Wang Yi frowned at this look. He originally thought that these children would have a brighter future.
"Brother Ayi, where did you put the evidence?"
Wang Yi didn't say anything, just said: "Just go with me."
That account book was obtained by Wang Yanxiang with his life. Even when Wei Ji asked him to take it out, he refused and asked Wei Ji to take people to Yanshi to capture Li Saner first.
It was also because of this that Wei Ji used various excuses at that time, which aroused Wang Yi's suspicion that the Henan Governor, who had a reputation of being innocent, was not innocent at all.
Wang Yi could no longer describe the disappointment she felt at that time.
Thinking of this, they walked towards the secret house. When they looked up again, they saw Kofukuji Temple in front of them.
Ren Mulan once lived in a nursing home and disliked it. She didn't come here often and frowned when she followed Wang Yi in.
She originally thought that Wang Yi hid the account books in some secret place, but she didn't expect that Wang Yi spent forty dollars and took them to see the relics of Monk Keats.
"Amitabha, may my mentor protect the four donors with the supreme Dharma, and please put down your sword."
Ren Mulan had no choice but to put down her dagger and entered a small room on the third floor of the pagoda.
When I opened the door, dust started to rise.
The afternoon sun shines in through the small window, and it is golden, giving off some of the sacredness of Buddhism.
"Little old monk, I'm here. This is the first time I've come to see you after your death."
She murmured in a low voice, and when she looked around, she saw that the little old monk had become nothing more than a few small gray stones on a golden silk, and she couldn't help but say: "After you died, all your brothers and sisters fell into the eyes of money.
"
Wang Yi reached out and touched under the table where the relics were placed for a while, and took out an account book.
"Let's go."
"It turned out to be hidden here. How did you know you wouldn't be found hiding here?"
"The most unpopular place in Yanshi County is this place," Wang Yidao said, "People who received Master Keats's favor couldn't afford to pay to see him, and those who could afford ten cents thought he was a nuisance."
Ren Mulan smiled heartlessly, turned around and waved her hand, saying: "Thank you, little old monk, for protecting me. The bad guys have not found the account book."
…
Wang Yi held the account book tightly and was still a little uneasy before handing it to Xue Bai, so she took the opportunity to ask Ren Mulan a few words.
"Tell me, why did Lieutenant Xue County keep Gao Chong?"
"Otherwise." Ren Mulan said matter-of-factly: "If you hand it over to the imperial court, it might be released by the imperial court."
"But his behavior is different from all the officials I have seen."
"Then wouldn't it be nice if he could avenge Wang County Lieutenant? Don't you want to relieve your anger?"
Ren Mulan said: "That's it."
When she said this, Wang Yi didn't clear up her doubts at all. On the contrary, even the vague guesses she had originally were confused.
But he knew that Li Saner died in Xue Bai's hands, so he finally handed over the account book.
For Xue Bai, this was a very important thing to take over Gao Chong's career, so he quickly asked Du Jin to arrange for someone to make a copy.
While he was busy with this, Shi Zhong came again.
"Diao Geng came back and asked us if the food was ready. They are ready to deliver it."
Xue Bai smiled and looked at Du Jin, with excitement ignited in his eyes again.
They are finally about to take over the first batch of materials for rebellion...
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