Han Shizhong traveled a long distance and finally arrived at the boundary of Yanggu County. He was currently visiting Yanggu County Magistrate Li Quan.
Although Han Shizhong was a partial general of the fifth rank, and Li Quan was only a civil servant of the seventh rank, in the Song Dynasty, military affairs were governed by culture, and the status of military generals was far inferior to that of civilian officials. Therefore, Han Shizhong had to bow to Li Quan first when he saw him, and Li Quan also
An Ran accepted this gift.
"I wonder what business General Han has here?" Li Quan said.
"To be honest, I came here under the military orders of the commander-in-chief of the Northwest Zhongshi Dao." Han Shizhong said.
"Oh!" Li Quan was surprised.
Zhong Shidao is the number one person in the northwest army today. His status is extremely high, equivalent to a prince, and can be compared with several big shots in the court. When he heard Zhong Shidao's military order, Li Quan suddenly became respectful,
He said, "What are your orders, Master Zhong?"
"Master Zhong ordered me to intercept and kill the Liangshan thief Wu Dong, and also asked Master Li to assist me," Han Shizhong said.
"Ah..." Li Quan was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said: "General Han, are you kidding me? I saw you have only a thousand soldiers and horses outside, and I only have a few dozen government officials in Yanggu County.
, there are so many grass bandits in Liangshan Po, tens of thousands of them, how can we deal with Liangshan Po with just a few troops?"
Han Shizhong said: "Your Excellency, you have misunderstood. We are not going to encircle and suppress Liangshanbo. We are just intercepting and killing Wu Dong, the leader of the bandits in Liangshanbo. Your Excellency may not know that last winter, Wu Dong went to Huazhou, Shaanxi. He is now in Hedong and will be there soon."
Return to Liangshanbo. There are at most a dozen guards around him, so it is not difficult to intercept him."
Hearing this, Li Quan felt relieved and said: "I see. If that's the case, it's not difficult to kill him. If you need help, general, just ask."
Han Shizhong said: "I dare to ask, sir, if you have a map of Yanggu County."
At that moment, Li Quan took out the map of Yanggu County. In this era, the map was not something that ordinary people could see. Generally, only the top officials of a place could keep it, and it was a state secret.
Han Shizhong took the map and studied it carefully, and finally discovered that there was a place that was the only way to go to Liangshanbo - Dulonggang!
Han Shizhong remembered this place firmly, raised his head and asked again: "Master Li, do you have a portrait of the Liangshan bandit Kou Wudong?"
Li Quan said: "Of course it does."
Yanggu County is not very far from Liangshanbo, so it naturally has the task of finding out the intelligence of Liangshanbo. Wu Dong, the leader of Liangshanbo, was originally from Qinghe County next door to Yanggu County. Many people knew Wu Dong. He had just rebelled, and nearby
All the prefectures and counties painted his portrait.
Han Shizhong looked at Wu Dong's portrait carefully and found that this man was extraordinary in martial arts. Although the portrait was simple, it still gave him a sense of boldness. He immediately said: "This man looks good, he should be a talent! It's a pity that such a talent cannot do anything for him."
It is really a pity that the country is using it, but it has been turned into bandits."
Li Quandao: "General Han doesn't know something. Wu Dong is different from ordinary grass bandits."
Han Shizhong said strangely: "What's the difference?"
Li Quan said: "Originally, Liang Shanbo was robbing homes and harassing people, which was a source of trouble. But since Wu Dong went to Liangshan, Liang Shanbo stopped robbing homes and harassing people. So in recent years, Liang Shanbo's reputation has actually improved.
"
Han Shizhong frowned and said coldly: "The more this happens, the more it proves that this thief is not simple! He robs homes and houses, and what he gets is just a small profit. Such a bandit is not worth mentioning. But like Wu Dong, it is no longer just for small things to become a bandit.
Profits, but for greater benefits! Mr. Zhong said that this thief was extraordinary. I didn’t believe it at first, but now I believe it... Mr. Li, do you know that just last winter, Wu Dong led his troops to Huazhou and defeated
The imperial court's 20,000 troops later defeated the Hedong bandit Tian Hu, and now occupy the land of five prefectures and fifty-six counties in Hedong!"
Li Quan was shocked and said: "Is there such a thing?"
Originally, Li Quan also looked down on Wu Dong, thinking that this bandit was insignificant. Anyway, he did not rob homes, so the surrounding officials would not take the initiative to suppress him. It was best for everyone to live in peace. He did hear some rumors that Liang Shanbo
He defeated the Koreans overseas, but Li Quan never really believed it and thought it was impossible. Now when he heard Han Shizhong's words, he realized that Liang Shanbo had grown and developed and could actually do such a big thing.
"So we must kill him this time and never let him live! Otherwise, sooner or later, he will be the trouble of the Song Dynasty in the future!" Han Shizhong said.
"General Han, if we really kill him, Liang Shanbo will definitely take revenge. By then, our Yanggu County is so close to Liang Shanbo, what might happen to us?" Li Quan said after thinking for a moment.
"Don't worry about this. Mr. Zhong has already asked the imperial court to send a large army to encircle and suppress Liangshanbo. I just came here one step ahead to intercept and kill Wu Dong. Once Wu Dong dies, Liangshanbo will be leaderless, and it will be much easier to encircle and suppress them again," said Han Shizhong.
.
Hearing that a large army was coming, Li Quan came with peace of mind and said: "This is the best thing. This county will definitely cooperate with General Han to kill this thief."
Han Shizhong nodded and said: "All the captains and government officials in your county must be recruited. In addition, Mr. Li, I wonder if there are any people in your county who are familiar with Jianghu Road?"
Li Quan thought for a while and said: "There is such a person, a senior official from Ximen in the west of the city. It is said that he has many friends in the world."
Han Shizhong said: "Please, Mr. Li, bring this man and let him serve in our army."
Li Quan hurriedly responded, and then sent someone to invite Ximen Qing.
…
Ximen Qing is a well-known figure in Yanggu County.
This man originally came from a well-off family and owned a huge pharmacy. Later, Ximen Qing’s father passed away and after Ximen Qing took over the pharmacy, his business grew bigger and more popular, and his family property also increased. In the end,
unstoppable.
There are three streets in Yanggu County. Half of the shops on the streets in Xicheng are owned by Ximen Qing. In addition to these shops, there are many large yards and a lot of land outside the county seat.
He has a very good relationship with the Yanggu County government. He sends thousands of taels of silver to Li Quan every year. Even the lower officials and government officials benefit from him.
In addition, he also made many friends in the world of martial arts and the underworld, and kept many powerful domestic slaves. He himself was also proficient in swords and sticks, and was quite skilled in martial arts.
Over the years, Ximen Qing has done all kinds of evil in Yanggu County. He has taken over many good women and ruined many families. However, with the protection of the government and the help of his loyal friends, nothing happened.
It was now February, and the weather was not as cold as before. He practiced boxing in the yard for a while and felt refreshed. Then he returned to the room, sat on a recliner, with the stove burning next to him, and a maid rubbed his shoulders. This maid
In fact, she was a girl from a kind family. Unfortunately, Ximen Qing lost money in business and had to use her daughter to pay off the debt.
The maid looked good. Ximen Qing rested for a moment, and with lustful thoughts, he picked up the maid. The maid screamed, and Ximen Qing became more and more happy. He liked to see women with such frightened expressions.
At this time, a shout suddenly came from outside: "Ximen officials are so excited!"
Ximen Qing was taken aback and hurriedly put the maid down. The maid hurriedly left. Ximen Qing looked into the distance and saw a big man walking towards this side. He laughed and said, "That's right."
Who, it turns out to be the head of the capital, please sit down quickly and I will serve you some good tea."
This person is one of the leaders of Yanggu County, his surname is Wang. The leader Wang said: "There is no need to sit down, and there is no need for tea. I came to you on a military order this time."
Ximen Qing said in surprise: "Military order?"
Wang Dutou had already arrived in front of Ximen Qing and said: "Master Ximen, there is a General Han from the northwest who has been ordered to attack the Liangshan bandit Kou Wu Dalang, so I want you to serve in the army. Let's leave now."
Ximen Qing said: "Ask me to serve in the army? How can I serve?"
Although Ximen Qing is rich and powerful, he is an ordinary citizen after all, and serving in the military should not be his turn at all.
Wang Dutou said: "General Han, I heard that you have many friends in the rivers and lakes and are quite familiar with the rivers and lakes. That Wu Dong is also a figure in the rivers and lakes. He is about to pass through Yanggu County. You may be able to know his whereabouts by then.
.”
After hearing this, Ximen Qing lamented in his heart. He knew many friends in the world, but the people he knew were all low-ranking people in the world. People like Wu Dong were big bosses in the world and were powerful.
On the one hand, how could those people he knew dare to deliberately spy on Wu Dong's whereabouts?
Besides, he doesn't want to be involved in this incident. If Wu Dong dies, Liang Shanbo will definitely hunt him down. If Wu Dong doesn't die, he won't let him go. It won't do him any good to be involved in this matter.
Benefit, he immediately made a grimace and said: "Wang Dutou, we are all old friends, so you just said that I am seriously ill and can't go."
Wang Dutou frowned and said: "Master Ximen, this is a military order. General Han has ordered you to be taken there. Please forgive me for not being able to help you with this matter."
Ximen Qing had no choice but to follow Wang Dutou to Han Shizhong's army.
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Please collect it and give it a red ticket. I’m very grateful.