Imperial Capital, in the study room of Youxiang Mansion.
Zhuge Mu dozed off on a pile of documents.
In the courtyard, a loud voice came: "Right Prime Minister, Right Prime Minister!"
With a bang, the door was pushed open, and Xu Shiyou walked in quickly.
Zhuge Mu was suddenly awakened, his face full of worry, "What's wrong? Something happened to the Emperor again?"
Xu Shiyou waved his hand, a little excited: "Han Jun has a letter!"
"The letter said that the emperor was leaving Jing'an Mansion, and the people lined the streets to see him off for thirty miles. This kind of scene has not happened in fifty years!"
"Phew, you scared me." Zhuge Mu breathed a sigh of relief and shook his head with a wry smile, "The emperor arrested twenty officials in one breath, and the entire Jing'an Yamen was cleaned. How can the people not be grateful?"
Xu Shiyou clicked his tongue again and said: "What makes me even more relieved is that the son of the Li family had his hands and feet cut off by the emperor, and then he was thrown into the street and torn to pieces by the people."
"This is the consequence of arousing public anger." Zhuge Mu paused and asked: "Have you mentioned the emperor's next trip in your mind?"
"The letter said that the emperor is going to Tianzhou Mansion."
Zhuge Mu was stunned, "There is a mansion separated by two rivers, and one mansion is divided into Yunzhou. The road to Tianzhou mansion is not easy."
"Yes, I heard that Tianzhou Mansion asked the court for money again?" Xu Shiyou asked.
"Well, we have to control the water every year, and we have to do it every year at this time." Zhuge Mu said helplessly: "In a few days, the money for river control will be allocated again."
…
The far other side.
Wei Zhuang was standing on the dock by the river, looking far into the distance. In front of him was Tianzhou Mansion.
He took a few deep breaths and felt very comfortable.
At this time, someone came up to talk.
"Little brother, do you also want to take a boat to Tianzhou Mansion?"
Wei Zhuang followed the sound and saw a kind-faced, richly dressed middle-aged man walking towards him with a group of people.
"That's right, who are they?" Wei Zhuang asked.
The man smiled and cupped his hands, "My name is Jiang Qingshan, and I am a merchant who came to Tianzhou Mansion. These following friends are also my friends doing business with me."
"Oh, Boss Jiang, nice to meet you." Wei Zhuang returned the greeting and asked, "I wonder what's wrong with Boss Jiang?"
"Haha, that's it. The boat that Tianzhou Mansion crosses the river is for ten people. There are only eight of us, so I want to invite you two to get on the boat. We will leave immediately. I wonder if you two are willing?"
Wei Zhuang smiled and glanced at the people behind him. Seeing that there was nothing unusual, he agreed.
The boat crossing the river is quite big, and including the crew, it can accommodate a dozen people in total.
On the deck, Wei Zhuang was chatting with Jiang Qingshan.
"Where are brothers Wei Zhuang from?" Jiang Qingshan asked. Wei Zhuang is the pseudonym of Wei Zhuang.
"I am from the Imperial Capital."
"Imperial Capital, I often go there to do business. It's very prosperous at the feet of the Emperor!" Jiang Qingshan said with a smile, and then said with a sideways expression, "Speaking of Imperial Capital, I am quite interested in one thing."
"Oh?" Wei Zhuang asked, "What's the matter?"
"Brother Wei Zhuang is from the imperial capital, so he must know better than me." At this point, he lowered his voice, "I heard that the emperor ascended the throne and beheaded the general and right minister in the palace."
Wei Zhuang nodded, "Yes, it does happen."
Hearing this, Jiang Qingshan slapped his thigh, "As long as it's true!"
"Well, Boss Jiang is so excited. Does he have something to do with those two people?"
"Celebrating a festival?" Jiang Qingshan snorted, "If we want to celebrate a festival, everyone in the world will have a festival with them!"
"How do you say this?" Wei Zhuang asked with interest.
Jiang Qingshan frowned and looked at Wei Zhuang and said: "Those two treacherous villains deceived the emperor and deceived the officials, causing the local government to only be greedy for money and pleasure and not care about the suffering of the people. How can the people not cooperate with them?" Is there any holiday?”
"Hmph, let me tell you, these two killed well, eliminating evil for the country and eliminating harm for the people!"
Wei Zhuang looked at Jiang Qingshan's indignant look and suddenly felt good about him. He smiled and said: "Brother Jiang has the world in mind, which is admirable. To be honest with you, I also think these two sycophants died well and in a happy death!"
Jiang Qingshan burst into laughter upon hearing this, and the relationship between the two became closer.
…
the other side.
Several crew members sneaked to the back of the cabin.
A crew member said to the leader Scarface: "Brother, we have reached the middle of the river."
Scarface nodded and said in a deep voice, "Have you got everything done?"
"Get it all."
"Okay, come around slowly in a moment and listen to my orders!"
…
Back on deck.
Han Jun stared closely at a crew member.
The crew member trembled, broke into a cold sweat, and then looked away pretending to be casual.
"Master." Han Jun called softly, then whispered a few words into Wei Zhuang's ear.
After hearing what Han Jun said, Wei Zhuang nodded quietly and continued chatting with Jiang Qingshan.
A few minutes later, only a snap was heard.
A cup fell to the deck.
The next second, several crew members rushed over from all sides with long knives and shouting.
When Jiang Qingshan and others saw this scene, their expressions suddenly changed, and several people immediately began to beg for mercy.
Scarface walked up to a few people like a ferocious god and shouted: "Hey!"
Then he said fiercely: "We are knights in the river, and we are doing the righteous deeds of robbing the rich and giving to the poor. If you are wise, you can survive by leaving a hundred taels of silver! If anyone refuses to listen, don't blame me for being merciless!" "
As soon as these words came out, several people's faces turned pale.
One hundred taels is not a small amount, it is enough for an ordinary family to spend several years.
At this time, Jiang Qingshan was still a little calmer. He cupped his hand and said immediately: "Several knights, please be merciful. We are willing to leave a hundred taels to help the poor!"
With that said, he took out a cloth bag and handed it to Scarface.
Seeing this, other people also took out their silver coins and handed them over, but the expressions on their faces were quite painful.
Several crew members happily took the coins, and at this time only Wei and Zhuang were left motionless.
The scarred face raised his eyebrows and shouted: "Boy, where's yours!"
"What?"
"Silver!"
"Oh, silver." Wei Zhuang said with a smile: "I carry a lot of silver with me, plus the jade pendant and sword, it will be enough for you to spend several lifetimes."
As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of several crew members gleamed.
Scarface's breathing was a little rapid, "In that case, why don't you get it quickly?"
"Then how much do you want?"
"Bring them all, I want them all!"
"Do you want them all?" Wei Zhuang suddenly approached Scarface and said softly: "I won't give it to you!"
As he finished speaking, he burst into laughter.
Only then did Scarface react, and his anger exploded instantly, "You little bastard, if you dare to play tricks on me, I won't kill you!"
At this moment, Jiang Qingshan suddenly walked out and hurriedly advised: "Knights and warriors, show mercy!"
He pointed at Wei Zhuang, "This little brother is a little confused. He didn't mean to bump into you. Let's do this, strong man. I'll give up his one hundred taels. I just ask the strong man to be merciful and spare his life."
