The visitor has a ginger face, gray hair and beard, and wraps his head with Gebu. At first glance, he looks like a person recovering from a long illness. Yang Anxuan was startled for a moment, and then he saw clearly the face of the person coming, it was Ding Quan.
"What are you doing, Guigui Chongchong? Sit down and talk." Yang Anxuan scolded with a smile, knowing that Ding Quan came to see him like this, there must be something important.
He went out from Xiangyang to inspect the Division and Yan. He openly brought only more than a hundred personal guards with him, but secretly Ding Quan scattered nearly 200 secret guards from the Commercial Affairs Division around him. If there was any trouble, he would know it.
The assassination in Lichuncheng had already reminded Yang Anxuan. Before this patrol, Yang Anxuan summoned Ding Quan and Huang Fu to discuss secretly, and they wanted to use themselves as bait to lure out a few fish.
Huang Fu paid attention to the movements of the Northern Wei and Xia Kingdoms, while Ding Quan paid attention to the vision of Jiankang City. County Prince Huang Fufeng really irritated Ding Quan. After receiving Yang Anxuan's order to secretly protect the safety, Ding Quan mobilized all the people he could use.
The Business Information Department was established in the second year of Yixi, and it has been eight years since its establishment. From the initial establishment of dozens of people to the organization with thousands of people now, secret guards are spread all over the place.
The Commercial Information Department was upgraded to a fourth-grade yamen. The left and right envoys were all fourth-grade Jianwei generals. Huang Fu was even awarded the title of County Prince for his contribution to breaking Chang'an. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that although the Commercial Information Department is a fourth-grade yamen, it has great power and may not be able to do so in the future. Become a yamen that people fear.
There is no greater merit than rescuing a driver. Ding Quan wanted to take this opportunity to make a great contribution. Even if he couldn't be knighted immediately, he could at least leave a mark in his lord's heart, and maybe he would come from behind in the future.
At first, Ding Quan, Xi Xin, and Luo Guang defected to Yang Anxuan with Meng Longfu. Xi Xin followed Meng Longfu to fight in all directions, and Luo Guang joined the secret guard and was Ding Quan's most trusted subordinate.
Ding Quan decided to go to Jiankang himself and sent Luo Guang to Jingkou. Before Meng Longfu joined the army, he was a famous ranger in Jingkou. He led his minions to fight for territory with other green men every day and collected fees from vendors.
Later, Meng Longfu took Ding Quan and three others to join the army, and his subordinates were led by his second son Zhou Peng. Without the strong combat power of Meng Longfu, Zhou Peng and his gang were quickly annexed.
Zhou Peng had his arm chopped off and went back to his hometown. The others also dispersed and went their separate ways. Some went to Meng Longfu who was in Runan at the time.
The fifth brother, He Xiong, initially objected to Meng Longfu's defection to the army, and when he learned that Ding Quan, who had been at odds with him at the time, was getting along well, he felt shameless to go and waited for death in the city.
Later, Meng Huaiyu went home to visit relatives. He Xiong couldn't survive anymore and went to Meng's house to beg for food. Meng Huaiyu thought that He Xiong was his younger brother's old relative, and took him to Xiapi to become a village chief. Later, Meng Huaiyu died in the battle, and He Xiong disbanded and returned to Jingkou, relying on his savings to open a teahouse on the dock to survive.
Luo Guang had a good relationship with He Xiong. He was often ordered to come to Jingkou to inquire about information. He had many contacts with his old brothers. He knew that He Xiong opened a teahouse at the dock, and even went to visit him to talk about old friendship.
After joining the secret guard, Luo Guang lived quite comfortably with Ding Quan taking care of him. Last time he brought Mao Xiuzhi to Xiangyang and made a small contribution. He was promoted one level and became a sixth-rank Danglu general and Sicheng.
In the battle to destroy Qin, not only Huang Fu, but also the secret guards who followed him into Chang'an City were rewarded. Some even rose to two ranks, which made Luo Guang very envious. He often whispered in Ding Quan's ear, how could he be in charge of the country? It is easy to make meritorious deeds abroad.
When he came to Jingkou this time, Luo Guang felt that he had an opportunity to perform a meritorious service. According to Ding Zuoshi's instructions, the court would probably assassinate his lord while he was on patrol. If he could find out the information, he would not be able to escape from a great meritorious service.
After getting off the boat at Jingkou, Luo Guang went directly to He Xiong's teahouse and asked if there was anything strange at Jingkou.
He Xiong opened a teahouse and was very well-informed. He could really get some news if there was any trouble. Seeing his hesitation, Luo Guang knew there was something wrong and said with a smile: "Fifth brother, how much money can you make by opening a teahouse in Jingkou? Why don't you follow your brother?" If you go to Xiangyang, you can either join the army or do business. The custody is much better than if you were in Jingkou. I told Brother Ding about meeting you. Brother Ding said that his brother should not take it to heart when he had a little grudge. It’s not that it’s inconvenient to come, I’ve long wanted to visit you.”
Ding Quan's words sounded nice, but He Xiong was worried about the discord with Ding Quan back then, so he couldn't believe it and remained silent.
Luo Guang saw what he was thinking and said: "If the fifth brother is not at ease, then go and join the eldest brother. The eldest brother is now the Marquis of Linyuan and the prefect of Beidi, Fufeng and Xinping counties. He has won the trust of Yong Gong and can at least do something in the future." He is a governor. You know the eldest brother’s temperament best, and he will definitely be happy if you go to him. To be honest with the fifth brother, there are Yonggong’s spies at Jingkou, who can call in ships. The eldest brother can leave at any time with his sister-in-law and nephew. "
He Xiong was moved by these words. He Xiong slapped the table and said, "Ah Guang, I will listen to you, and I will go and join my eldest brother."
Having decided to defect to Yonggong, He Xiong would certainly not let go of the opportunity to make meritorious deeds. He said in a low voice: "Ah Guang, a few days ago I heard that someone was recruiting good people in Jingkou. They wanted to make a big deal, and all the people they recruited were... Concentrate on the village in the south, don’t know what to do?”
Luo Guang's heart moved and he asked, "Is there any way to get in and get the news?"
He Xiong shook his head and said: "It's difficult, people who go in never come out. The servant's teahouse often has knights coming to drink. When they listened to their discussion, they heard that the recruitment conditions were very generous. Many people wanted to go but were rejected. After brushing it off, all those left behind are the countless masters in Jingkou City."
Luo Guang became more and more suspicious and said: "Fifth brother, point out the location to Yu, and Yu will go and look around."
He Xiong stood up and said: "Ah Guang, I will take you there. If you can make a contribution, I will also take my brother with me."
The two of them passed through Jingkou City and arrived at the manor six miles south. Luo Guang found many secret sentries and did not dare to step forward to alarm them. He only passed by and took a look from a distance.
Back at the teahouse, Luo Guang thought for a while and said, "We have to find a way to get in. Fifth brother, are there any acquaintances in Jingkou who can sneak in?"
Luo Guang looked at He Xiong and said this. He Xiong understood that wealth and honor were gained in danger. He gritted his teeth and said, "Go in and give it a try. Your sister-in-law and nephew will be entrusted to you."
Luo Guang was overjoyed, patted his chest and said, "As long as I stay stupid, I can keep Fifth Brother's family intact."
He Xiong was a well-known knight-errant in Jingkou, with strong skills. He had served in Meng Huaiyu's army, and his family was in Jingkou. He went to the village and was quickly hired, but the news could not be spread.
Luo Guang had already mobilized ships to rely on Jingkou Pier and could evacuate He Xiong's family at any time, but he did not dare to evacuate first for fear of alerting the enemy.
In Jiankang, Ding Quan immediately set off to Jingkou after receiving Luo Guang's report. He secretly sent his masters to explore the manor at night. The spies reported that at least 200 people lived in the manor and were practicing martial arts.
On the evening of June 5th, spies lurking near the manor reported that hundreds of people in the manor boarded more than ten small boats docked at the west branch of the Zhuang River. The small boats went to the riverside and changed into larger boats, apparently preparing to cross the river.
Ding Quan crossed the river first at dawn; at midnight, the big ship mentioned by the spies docked on the north bank of the Yangtze River. Ding Quan disguised himself as a coolie on the dock and watched more than 230 people getting off the boat. They were all dressed in different clothes, just like ordinary boat passengers. After getting off the boat, they divided into dozens of groups and dispersed among the crowd.
Ding Quan saw He Xiong in the crowd. He hadn't seen him in nearly twenty years. He Xiong's back was a little stooped and his hair was thinning. He was carrying a load with the five people beside him, like a porter carrying goods for the proprietor.
Among the many people, there was a strong man who caught Ding Quan's attention. As the secret guard Zuo Si, Ding Quan knew a lot about the officials in the capital, especially the people around Song Gong Liu Yu. The strong man was nine feet tall. He was big and round, and when he got off the boat, his movements caused the board to tremble up and down. Ding Quan noticed that his steps were steady and his body was not swaying. He was a master.
The information about this person quickly came to mind. There was a guard leader beside Song Gong Liu Yu. He was brave and powerful, and he was an official and guardian. His name was Ding Hao. The governor Zhuge Changmin was killed by Qila.
An artist in the Department of Commercial Affairs drew the image based on the description and added information on the side. Ding Ao's information was "nine feet tall, with a dark complexion, thick eyebrows and round eyes, a wide mouth and a short beard."
Ding Quan passed by the man carrying a pole and looked up. As noted on the side of the portrait, the man had dark skin, thick eyebrows and a wide mouth. It was almost certain that he was Ding Ao. Ding Yi went north in disguise, and it was almost certain that he came to assassinate his lord.
Instructing his secret guards to keep an eye on Ding Hao and He Xiong, Ding Quan hurriedly set off north to meet Yang Anxuan in Qiao County to report that Liu Yu had sent assassins to assassinate them.
Yang Anxuan smiled and said: "A supervisor is just a shrimp. Song Gong looks down on fools."
Yu Fei said in a deep voice: "Lord, more than two hundred assassins are coming. Don't be careless. You must strike first and capture Ding Hao and others."
Yang Anxuan shook his head and said: "These people are scattered around. If we start too early, most of them will not be able to catch them."
Yu Fei advised: "My lord's safety is the most important. As long as Ding Yi is captured, those knights and knights who work hard for money will naturally disperse when they know that my lord is prepared."
Yang Anxuan was prepared. These assassins who came to assassinate were nothing more than moths flying into the flame, causing their own destruction. Speaking of which, Yu Fei was born as a ranger. When he was wandering around the world, he also did the business of collecting money to buy his life. He had a little sympathy for these rangers who worked for money, and it would be nice to let them escape with their lives.
Ding Quan, however, wanted to make meritorious deeds and wished to catch all these assassins in one go. He said: "We have set up a trap in advance so that none of these people can escape. Why bother to alert others and leave hidden dangers?"
Yang Anxuan stroked his chin and thought for a while, then asked: "Where are Ding Yi and the others now?"
Every day, secret guards sent the location of Ding Hao and others. Ding Quan reported: "Yesterday, Ding Hao was in Shouchun City, Huainan County, and He Xiong was in Xiacaicheng. Luo Guang had already met with He Xiong secretly to confirm his trip. The end point is Linqiu City." 33
Yang Anxuan chuckled and said: "This is killing two birds with one stone. It is best if you can assassinate Yu Zi. If the assassination fails, you can also throw dirty water on Mao Xiu. Song Gong is really well-intentioned."
After the order brought the map, Yang Anxuan calculated the itinerary and said: "Ding Quan, you go to Linqiu City first, find Zhu Lingshi and ask him for help. Don't scare the snake first. After setting up a snare, you can capture all Ding Ao and his gang. Liu Yu repeatedly ordered people to assassinate Yu, and it would be difficult to eliminate the hatred in Yu's heart without cutting off a few of his fingers."
Ding Quan responded loudly: "Wei!"
Some people died, but not completely...
