This gang of robbers did not take anyone else away, but only kidnapped Xu Shian and Yan Shifan, the two people who seemed to have the most status.
The two were blindfolded and gagged, and were put into the carriage. After an unknown amount of time, they were put down again, and the blindfolds and gags were removed.
It was still dark at this time, and the two of them could only see that they were in a courtyard, and knew nothing else.
Although their eyes, ears, and mouth were free again, neither of them spoke, nor did they take the initiative to talk to the strangers around them.
After all, I don’t know where the other person is from, so I’d better be cautious. If I can’t deal with any of my words, I’m going to miss the mark if I say too much.
Not long after, the two were led into a brightly lit hallway.
After waiting for a while, I saw a man and a woman walking in from behind.
The man's facial features are about thirty years old, but his face is very weathered and his complexion is very red; while the woman is very fair and beautiful, only in her twenties, holding a snow-white Persian in her arms.
cat.
For some reason, Xu Shian felt that this woman looked familiar. He secretly murmured in his heart, what kind of family was this? How could a woman show up to meet strangers?
On other people's territory, even the lustful Yan Shifan did not dare to act recklessly.
He didn't look at the beautiful woman, but asked the red-faced man: "Your Majesty, please ask me to wait here. What do you think?"
The red-faced man looked at Yan Shifan for a few times, and said to his subordinates in confusion: "The person I want to invite is a big shot, or the son of a big shot!"
Then he pointed at Yan Shifan and scolded his subordinates: "How can he be such a big shot with his appearance? Why did you invite him here?"
Yan Shifan: "..."
Although the insult came so unexpectedly, he habitually did not dare to get angry, and for some reason he had recently learned to restrain himself.
As the saying goes, a scholar should be humiliated but not killed! It is better to die than to live in vain!
According to the general logic, the red-faced man's inference is correct. The officialdom of the Ming Dynasty also paid great attention to appearance. For example, when choosing the number one scholar, they should try their best to choose someone with a dignified appearance.
A one-eyed, lame fat man like Yan Shifan would not be destined to become a big shot even if he could sneak into the officialdom under normal circumstances.
The red-faced man also added: "It's useless to keep him. Go dig a hole by the river and bury him. Don't leave any obvious traces!"
Several men came out in response, then dragged Yan Shifan out.
Yan Shifan has been hit hard recently and is almost depressed. When a scholar encounters soldiers, it is useless even if he avenges his father, but he may die faster!
"If you want to intimidate us, please forgive me." Yan Shifan said as calmly as possible: "You expended all this effort to bring the two of us here, and you must have other motives."
"If you execute me casually, won't your efforts be in vain?"
Xu Shi'an suddenly remembered that Yan Shifan was the "hostage" he kept for Brother Qin, and he might not know what else he could get in exchange for it in the future. How could he just say it was gone?
So Xu Shian also stopped and shouted: "Save the person first! Let him die and understand!"
The scene finally calmed down, and the man introduced himself to Xu Shi'an and said, "My surname is Xu, and I am a Quan. I am from Huizhou, and I make a living by doing business."
"I don't want to ask who you two are. I invite you here tonight. I have no ill intentions. I really want to consult you on something!"
After asking, I will not only send you back, but also give you a generous gift! In addition, I have left a message for your family members at the inn, so that they don’t have to worry!
Xu Shian only felt that everything was weird tonight. Such a powerful gang of robbers kidnapped him just to ask some questions?
The red-faced man who called himself Xu Quan asked without waiting for Xu Shi'an to respond: "I heard that a large number of Japanese pirates are causing trouble this year. I think it must have touched the court."
I wonder what direction the court is heading? How will we decide on the East China Sea affairs next? I hope you can give me some advice.
Xu Shi'an was speechless. If he remembered correctly, it seemed like this was the first time in his life that someone asked his opinion on national affairs?
He, Mr. Xu
Sanye is today today? Is this world too ridiculous, or is the Xu Quan in front of me too crazy?
What I still don’t understand is, why would you, a businessman, care about the imperial court’s maritime policy? If you care, just care. What does it mean to ask Xu Laosan for advice?
If Xu Shi'an was really capable, he would definitely have said a few nonsense words, but the problem now is that he couldn't even make it up, so he could only reply: "I honestly don't know!"
Xu Quan said angrily: "You should have at least heard some rumors! You didn't say a word, are you looking down on me?"
Xu Shi'an was even more speechless. He, Xu Laosan, was just a dandy military attache. How could He De participate in the national plan, and what kind of rumors could he hear?
He continued to retort: "How can I know about national affairs? How can I know the direction of the wind? Did you ask the wrong person?"
Xu Quan snapped the case and said, "Just because you can live in the best courtyard in Jingkouyi, how can your status be so bad? How can you be a good man if you are secretive?"
Jingkou Station is located at the intersection of the Yangtze River and the Canal. Officials passing by here are like crucian carp crossing the river. Ordinary officials can't even think of staying in the best courtyard, and they have to be officials of the third rank or above.
Therefore, Xu Quan's logic is still correct. People who can live in the best courtyards in Jingkouyi are either high officials or the children of powerful people. Most people would never even think about it.
Such people have some understanding of the court's trends, and even if they don't understand it, they are still seeing and hearing it in their daily lives. They are much better than ordinary people.
Xu Shian suddenly realized and roughly understood what had happened.
The unknown Xu Quan in front of him just wanted to chat with a "big shot", so he stayed at Jingkou Station and invited himself over by accident.
Hearing this, Yan Shifan, who had not spoken for a long time, was also secretly frightened. The other party's style was really a bit evil.
Just because you want to chat with a big shot, you don't hesitate to use kidnapping methods? Ordinary good people, or even ordinary thieves, cannot do such a thing.
This kind of behavior that completely ignores the law and the prestige of the court really looks like someone who wants to rebel. There are many such wanton rebels in those novels and commentaries.
Seeing Xu Shi'an and still not speaking, Xu Quan's face dropped. It seemed that he really looked down on me, Xu.
I am a polite person, so whatever attitude you have towards me, Xu, I will repay you!
Xu Shi'an, who was considered a "big shot", was helpless. What could he say? Still the same sentence
I can’t even make it up!
Suddenly he caught a glimpse of Yan Shifan, and he said to Xu Quan anxiously and wisely: "Your Excellency, you don't know something. Although I have a decent family background, I am only a military attache. How can I understand the imperial policy?"
"But the guy next to me came from the capital, and he knows a little bit about the direction of the court. You might as well ask him to speak up!"
Although he, Xu Laoer, doesn't know how to speak, Yan Shifan is very eloquent and can speak well. He just made up a sentence to deal with it and that's it.
Besides, what the other party is looking for is a big shot. Yan Shifan is the son of Mr. Ge, which is closer to the concept of a big shot!
Yan Shifan gritted his teeth and said to Xu Shi'an, "Thank you very much."
Such a dandy boy is quite resourceful when it comes to shifting the blame!
If he hadn't been worried about his identity as "Old Son of the Pavilion", he would have exposed Xu Laosan's identity as "Brother-in-law", sold him out and left!
Anyway, Yan Shifan couldn't do anything without talking, so he said to Xu Quan: "If you want to ask about the court's decision on maritime and territorial affairs, I can tell you, there is none!"
Xu Quan asked in surprise: "How is it possible? How could the court not respond at all? Even if the sea ban continues to be strict, it is still a trend. As long as there is a wind, there must be a direction!"
Hearing this, Yan Shifan was finally sure of the unknown person named Xu in front of him! Yan Shifan said categorically: "No, it means no. No matter who you ask, there is no. If the imperial court is in a delicate period, Qian Gang is arbitrary. The emperor is unconscious, so it is difficult to make any plans!"
Xu Quan still didn't quite understand, so he asked again: "Then the imperial court will not do anything."
Yan Shifan didn't know what his purpose was, so he continued: "You care so much about maritime affairs. How could it be that you care about maritime affairs so much?"
This is tantamount to the fact that the imperial court has no decision-making policy and only entrusts all affairs to Qin Zhongtang!
The direction of the wind in the next period of time depends entirely on Qin Zhongtang's own thoughts. How can others know?
So if you ask the court whether it has made a decision, my answer is no! As for what Qin Zhongtang thinks, only Qin Zhongtang himself knows!
Xu Quan was stunned for a while and said to himself: In this case, except for that Qin Zhongtang, looking for anyone else is in vain?"
Then he said to Yan Shifan: "You guys can live in a superior courtyard, so you must be people with backgrounds. Can you help contact Qin Zhongtang?"
Yan Shifan couldn't help but think for a moment, what's the point of such a person looking for Qin Dewei? Could it be that he still wants to support Qin Dewei in rebellion?
But Xu Shi'an answered first: "I am a useless and idle military attache, and he has such an unsightly appearance."
"Do you think people like us can be related to Qin Zhongtang? Even if we are asked to visit Qin Zhongtang, we can't find a reasonable reason."
When Xu Quan heard this, he waved his hand and sighed: "That's all, it's just a waste of time tonight!"
Then he ordered his subordinates: "Send these two back! In addition, I will give you two hundred taels as a shock payment!"
It doesn't matter whether they have money or not. Xu Shi'an and Yan Shifan are both rich, but they were pleasantly surprised to hear that they could escape.
At the same time, it can be seen from the "two hundred taels" that the Xu Quan in front of him is definitely not an ordinary robber, and he is not doing things here for money.
A bandit who is very concerned about the imperial maritime policy? Is he a pirate?
When the two of them were about to turn around and leave, the beautiful woman who had been silent suddenly said, "Wait a minute!"
Then I saw this woman saying to Xu Quan: "The person you are looking for is far away and right in front of you, so why should you let him go?"
Xu Quan said in surprise, "What do you mean, madam?"
Yan Shifan and Xu Shian also wanted to ask the same question, but they were also a little surprised.
They thought this woman was a figure in the flower industry, so they came out to accompany guests. Unexpectedly, Xu Quan's tone sounded like they were still a couple.
Mrs. Xu glanced at her and said to Xu Quan: "One of them is Qin Dewei's brother-in-law, and the other is the son of Mr. Yan Ge. Are you going to let them go now?"
Xu Shi'an and Yan Shifan were immediately shocked! They never expected that this woman actually knew them both! Who is this person?
Xu Shian felt that this woman looked familiar just now, so he didn't think much about it, but there was something wrong!
Xu Quan suddenly turned his head and looked at the two people opposite him several times, but saw no objection from them. So he knew in his heart that what the lady said was probably right.
Just now I was feeling sorry for myself and said I was unlucky. Next time the station and Jiang Fang were prepared, it would be difficult to catch a big fish. I never expected that the harvest would be so fat in the blink of an eye.
Don't say with emotion: "I treat you sincerely, but I really didn't expect that you actually concealed such an important identity!"
Xu Laosan objected unconvincingly: "You said it yourself, we don't have to reveal our identities!"
Xu Quan:……
The purpose of asking the other party not to disclose their identity is so that the other party can speak freely without any worries, just like speaking anonymously, so that more information can be obtained.
But he didn't expect that he would just catch two such sensitive tasks.
Yan Shifan could see that Xu Quan was easy to deal with, but Mrs. Xu really made him feel frightened.
Even though they knew their identities, they could still quietly listen to their nonsense for a long time, only to reveal the truth at the end when they were about to be released.
So Yan Shifan curiously asked, "Who is Madam and why did she recognize us two?"
Mrs. Xu lazily put down the cat in her hand and replied: "I am from Nanjing. I have seen you two, so I will naturally recognize you."
Xu Laosan next to him couldn't bear it anymore and asked directly: "Since you were born in Nanjing, madam, why are you here again?"
Mrs. Xu put down the cat and continued to sneer: I left Nanjing after I was abandoned by Qin Dewei!
Xu Shian:……
Yan Shifan:......
This guy surnamed Qin is so deceptive, so deceptive! Even an old melon can deceive you!
Xu Shi'an suddenly had a flash of memories, "I remembered it! You are the woman that Brother Qin said you would meet once in 500 years!"
"Didn't Brother Qin finally help you get out of the palace? We've been getting tired of you for a few months, so he's pretty good at dealing with you."
Mrs. Xu gritted her teeth and said, "He is my first man. I wanted to trust him for the rest of my life and be a good woman from now on, but he ran away."
He ruined my chance to be a good person! I heard that Wang Lianqing has always been opposed to it. In what way am I inferior to Wang Lingqing?
Xu Shi'an was speechless. It's just a joke, why are you so serious? Who in your industry, except Wang Lianqing, can control Brother Qin?
