"Report!" Following the rapid sound of boots, a guard came to the house where Zhou Guanghao lived.
In the past few days, Zhou Guanghao had contracted the cold and was feeling weak all over. The date he had agreed with Jin Yiwei that day had also come, and coupled with the anxiety and anxiety, his condition became more and more serious. He held the sick body and opened the door wearing a single coat.
The officer looked panicked, knelt on the ground and said tremblingly: "Sir, what's wrong, the criminal Luo Jiutian committed suicide out of fear of crime?"
Zhou Guanghao was startled, his vision went dark, and he almost fainted. Fortunately, the officer supported him, otherwise he would really have suffered.
Back in the house, he sat on a chair to calm down and said slowly: "Leicheng, where are the guards who are guarding the prisoner?" Leicheng wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Sir, the four guards who are guarding the prisoner are here. The younger one has been detained in the south courtyard room, please let me make your decision."
Zhou Guanghao said: "Call Zuo, let's go take a look right away." As he said that, he hurriedly put on his clothes and went to the morgue with Lei Cheng.
In the morgue, a thin old man wiped his hands with a towel and sighed. When he saw Zhou Guanghao approaching, he hurriedly bowed and saluted. Zhou Guanghao coughed twice, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Wu Zuo, what was the cause of the prisoner's death?"
The man pointed at the body on the bed and said slowly: "Look here, sir, the man was strangled on the neck. On the surface, he was strangled to death. However, his lips were purple and bleeding from seven holes. In fact, he looked like he was poisoned." Zhou Guanghao took a look. He glanced at the body and said, "In other words, he did not commit suicide but was murdered?"
Wu Zuo nodded and said, "Your Majesty, you are aware of this. The villain used a silver needle to explore his throat and stabbed his abdomen. The silver needle was all black, which shows that the prisoner was poisoned first and then disguised as hanging himself." Zhou Guanghao grabbed a piece of white cloth and scratched his head. He picked up the deceased's hand and looked at it carefully.
"When did the prisoner die?"
Leicheng replied: "Reply to your Majesty. When I was changing my shift this morning, I saw someone hanging, so I immediately came and informed you." Zhou Guanghao nodded, coughed twice more and said, "Leicheng, please send more people to watch over you." Here..." Before he finished speaking, he fainted.
Jinyiwei Lu Wannian lived in the post house, and Xu Yuantai went to meet Jinyiwei in a small sedan. Lu Wannian sat on the Grand Master's chair and said coldly: "Master Xu, Zhou Guanghao has caught the criminal, but you are saying that the person is dead? What is going on?"
Xu Yuantai wiped the sweat from his forehead and said slowly: "I'm sorry, the prisoner died in the cell this morning. Originally, the inspector wanted to invite the superior to interrogate him, but this..." Lu Wannian had two broomstick eyebrows. , twisted his neck and said coldly: "The deadline for the day has come, and now you can't hand over anyone. Our brother's errand has been ruined. It's hard for me to explain to the factory boss, and it's hard for the brothers. Then Mr. Xu Don’t even think about sitting back and relaxing.”
When Xu Yuantai saw the other party's face sullen, he suppressed his anger and said, "Sir, how many days can we extend this matter?" A guard in gilded clothes beside Lu Wannian said: "Master Xu, we men are receiving imperial edicts. How many days do you have?" How dare you play with the errands assigned by the emperor."
Xu Yuantai stretched out his sleeves and wiped the sweat from his forehead and said: "No one dares to neglect the Holy Emperor's errand, but this matter is complicated and it is not easy to find out. As far as the official knows, this prison robbery was the result of the Chishui Gang Sichuan Branch What the helmsman did, his death is not only difficult to explain to the superiors, but I am also to blame.
Now I have sent people to surround the Chishui Gang, and I believe that it will be difficult for them to fly. I also ask the superior to give me three days' grace, and the inferior officer will definitely cross-examine and find out the result. "
What he said was reasonable and reasonable, and it was hard for Jin Yiwei's people to push him any further. Lu Wannian held out three fingers and said, "Okay, three days is all. If we can't hand over someone in three days, then Master Xu and we won't have an easy time."
Xu Yuantai nodded and said: "Yes, yes." Then he exited the post house.
After he left, Lu Wanchang sighed: "Pei Zheng, what do you think he is playing with us?" A dark-faced man next to him said: "Brother, you are joking with your brothers. They can't handle this." Whether the prisoner cannot be handed over actually has little to do with us.
We were ordered to escort prisoners to Beijing. The factory owner also explained it, so we don't need to worry about other matters. The criminal escaped and was thrown into their hands. If he really wanted to be held accountable, the court would have Xu Yuantai and Zhou Guanghao stabbed him. "
Lu Wannian showed an evil smile and said, "What you said is absolutely correct." Suddenly he asked again, "Is there any news from Brother Hao?"
Pei Zhengdao: "Our people have been sent out, and they will probably be back in the next two or three days."
The Chishui Gang hall was brightly lit. Deputy helmsman Luo Shaoan's face was solemn. He glanced at Xiang Ying and said, "The military advisor knows that our Chishui Gang has been targeted by the government." Xiang Ying nodded and said, "I have been busy working on this matter these past few days."
The one-eyed dragon Zheng Fei asked, "Does the military advisor have any good ideas?" As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked at Xiang Ying's face.
Xiang Yingchang sighed and said, "Do you know why Brother Luo was arrested by the government?" The bald man Meng Chen said, "Although we are Brother Luo's right-hand men, he still hides some things from us. As for the reason why Brother Luo I think the military advisor knows best why he was caught."
Xiang Ying said: "Brother Luo did a shocking case." Jin Long, a thin-faced man, said: "What big case?"
Xiang Ying said slowly: "Everyone must know about the Chunqiu Tower case." Luo Shaoan nodded and said: "What the military advisor means is that Brother Luo rescued those imperial prisoners?"
Xiang Ying nodded and said: "That's right. Brother Luo went out with me last month just for this matter." Everyone's expressions changed when they heard this. Luo Shaoan frowned and said: "So, my Chishui Gang has suffered a big disaster. It’s inevitable.”
Xiang Ying stood up from his seat, opened the folding fan, shook it, and said slowly: "After much thought, the only way to do this is to hand over a person. As long as this person is handed over, our Chishui Gang or Another glimmer of hope.”
Zheng Fei slapped the table and said, "The military advisor is so quick to talk. Who are you trying to get?" Xiang Ying said, "This person's name is Xiao Yunfan."
Luo Shao'an heard this and said: "Isn't it rumored that Xiao Yunfan is dead?" Xiang Ying shook his head and said: "Everyone knows that the man named Lu who came to my Chishui Gang last month was Xiao Yunfan. He was responsible for this matter. "
Meng Chen touched his head and said, "I heard from my eldest brother that this man is his sworn brother. Military advisor, what kind of trouble did you say this man caused?" Xiang Ying knew full well that at the moment He continued: "There is still some friendship between Chunqiu Building and our Chishui Clan. If anything happens to Chunqiu Building, we are naturally responsible. But the old building owner has sent word that we should not get involved.
The case of counter-writing was an ironclad case decided by the imperial court. We open the door to do our own business, so naturally we can't deal with such things. The eldest brother was also confused for a moment, and he followed Xiao Yunfan's advice and insisted on taking care of this matter. This is how we are today.
From what I see, we just need to insist that this matter was done by Xiao Yunfan and had nothing to do with the elder brother. I have my own way of dealing with the government. "
Luo Shaoan lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then said loudly: "The most important thing among us in the world is loyalty. Of course, the reason why my eldest brother helps Xiao Yunfan is because of loyalty. The military counselor's words make it clear that he wants to trap eldest brother in injustice."
Zheng Fei, Meng Chen, and Jin Long also echoed: "We cannot trap our eldest brother in injustice."
Xiang Ying shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Brothers, have you ever thought that now that the eldest brother is in prison, his head may be moved at any time, and Xiao Yunfan has no friendship with us. If the government wants to investigate the Chishui Gang because of the prison robbery, it will be the end of the world. disaster.
By then, not only will my eldest brother die, but also all of us brothers sitting here will probably not be spared. Once the imperial court becomes angry, will the Chishui Gang have to pay for the lives of thousands of people? Is Xiao Yunfan and the imperial convict worth sacrificing more people for him? "
His words really had some weight in everyone's hearts. Although the four of them are all tough-minded heroes, it would be okay to risk their own lives, but they are hesitant to sacrifice the lives of more brothers. The four of them looked at each other and bowed their heads in silence for a while.
Xiang Ying glanced at the four people and said loudly: "Deputy helmsman, you have to make a decision as soon as possible. Otherwise, if it is too late, my brother's life will be in danger. I'm afraid..." Luo Shaoan thought about it again and again, gritted his teeth and said: "Then follow the military advisor's wishes. Let’s do it, let’s put this whole matter on Xiao Yunfan.”
At this moment, a figure flew down from the beam in the hall, and everyone heard a "pop" sound. A long sword came out from Xiang Ying's chest, and blood dripped on the ground along the tip of the sword. Xiang Ying's face turned pale and he was in disbelief. The four people were shocked when they saw this situation, and quickly surrounded the man in black.
The man in black drew out his long sword, threw himself forward towards Xiang Ying, twitched a few times on the ground and died. Luo Shaoan opened his posture and said angrily: "Who are you? Why are you plotting against the military advisor?" The man in black pulled off his mask, revealing a majestic face.
A pair of tiger eyes on his face were piercing, and everyone couldn't help but blurt out: "Brother." Luo Jiutian threw the long sword in his hand to the ground with a clang, and then sat down on a chair in the middle. Luo Shaoan was shocked and raised his hands and said: "Brother, why do you want to kill the military advisor?"
Luo Jiutian said coldly: "This person is Prince Duan's spy for me in the Chishui Gang." Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Zheng Fei glanced at Xiang Ying's body and asked, "How did eldest brother know that he was from Prince Duan?" Luo Jiutian said, "Prince Duan said it himself."
Jin Long asked with confusion on his face: "Why did Prince Duan put an informant in our Chishui Gang?" Luo Jiutian said: "You are probably all aware of the counter-writing case that I just told Xiang Ying. Xiao Yunfan is my dead brother, Mr. Luo. He asked Even if I risk my life, I, Luo Jiutian, will take care of my affairs for him."
Luo Shaoan said: "But eldest brother, the old gang leader didn't prohibit us from getting involved in this matter. The eldest brother did this, and the younger brother didn't understand. Xiao Yunfan is your brother, but we are not. This major case has implicated thousands of lives in our Chishui Gang. For Is Xiao Yunfan worth it?" His words were exactly the same as Xiang Ying's, and the other three people also had such doubts in their hearts.
Luo Jiutian said calmly: "You are wrong. The old gang leader wanted to save the people in Chunqiu Tower. At the time, the old gang leader said he would not save people, but in fact he was trying to hide people's eyes. Even if Xiao Yunfan didn't come to ask me for this, I would still do it. of."
Luo Shaoan nodded and asked: "Since it is the intention of the old gang leader, then naturally we will not doubt it. But brother, now that the matter has been exposed, the government has targeted our people to death, what should we do now?"
Luo Jiutian smiled and said: "This is all Xiang Ying's bluff. Things are far from as bad as you think."
It turned out that after Luo Jiutian learned that Xiang Ying was a member of King Duan, he had already realized that King Duan might let Xiang Ying come back to control the Chishui Gang. He and Xu Yuantai discussed a plan for Jin Chan to escape from his shell, disguised a death row prisoner as himself, and then successfully escaped.
In his opinion, it is not easy to hide Zhou Guanghao's truth, and getting rid of him will only bring more trouble. All he had to do was let this Lord Anchasi catch the cold and become ill, and he would be able to control the situation. Xu Yuantai's remarks to Jin Yiwei were also part of Luo Jiutian's plan.
