Chapter 041 His Way
Chen Cao had just finished dinner when Weng Meixin walked into the concierge in a smart outfit and sat directly in front of Chen Cao: "Good guy, did you kill Ziyang County Inspector Li Tong?"
Chen Cao sat up straight: "In my capacity, do you think it is necessary for me to kill him?"
Weng Meixin's expression changed and she said: "I just lied to you, and I will know from your reaction that you have indeed been wronged."
Chen Cao slammed the table hard: "It seems that Ren Chengwei and the Yanzhou prefect are in deep collusion."
"It's not them who are trying to punish you, is there someone else?" Weng Meixin poured a cup of tea and drank it very calmly: "You have offended the Kong family in Qufu, it is they who are trying to punish you."
Chen Cao frowned, doubting the woman's ability to find out information: "How did Miss Weng know?"
Weng Meixin looked at Chen Cao with an evil smile: "You guys should know what you have done, so I won't mention it. Anyway, Kong Tianxi has made up his mind to take revenge, and now he has given Yanzhou Prefecture a black and white report. Everyone said hello, Mr. Chen, you are in big trouble this time..."
"Has the Kong family become so audacious?" Chen Cao said coldly.
"Master Chen, please don't talk nonsense," Weng Meixin said jokingly: "The Yanshenggong family is the one I admire the most as a scholar of the Ming Dynasty. How could they do such a nasty thing? At most, they are just lax in controlling their subordinates, and then they go up. A sinner can go to his ancestral hall to admit his mistake and that's all. Even so, scholars all over the world will still think that Yan Shenggong is strict with himself...hehe..."
There was something in Weng Meixin's words. Chen Cao immediately took a serious look at the woman in front of him. She was only about 20 years old and had some calluses on her right hand. She must have been used to using weapons. Coupled with her slightly babyish face, she was pretending to be a pig. People who eat tigers are not good people.
Chen Cao immediately stood up and saluted Weng Meixin: "Jinling Chen Cao, I have met Miss Weng and asked her about her identity..."
Weng Meixin was stunned for a moment, then stood up and said with a smile: "Master Chen is so serious, it's really confusing. The little girl has already told Master Chen her name, and she doesn't expect anything from Master Chen in return. She just looks at you, Nalan Rong." "Ruo's name," he said, suddenly realizing: "Oh, by the way, and your heroic deeds in Zhejiang's fight against the Japanese. The little girl admires you very much, so I will help you to the end this time. As for the little girl's identity, really It goes without saying."
Dong dong dong...
There was a knock on the door, and then Xu Kaixian walked into the house wearing a servant's uniform: "Sir, my subordinate has found out something."
"Why are you dressed like this?" Chen Cao frowned. Xu Kaixian, who was accustomed to wearing official robes and brocade robes, suddenly wore servant clothes, which made Chen Cao think that this kid was a spy who had infiltrated the enemy.
That murderous look...
"It was Miss Weng who asked all our men to change into servant uniforms so that we could go out to inquire for information." Xu Kaixian said and stepped forward, but suddenly found that Weng Meixin was still there and hesitated to speak.
"Miss Weng has helped us a lot, she won't be in the way..."
"Sir, I went to Ximen Ferry. The city gate has been closed, and I can't get in or out. Then I went to the magistrate's office and found no trace of Lao Zhao. I think this guy either didn't leave the city or was blocked in the city. Outside." Xu Kaixian said and then added: "I went to Prince Lu's Mansion and found Wen Liang, who asked me to give you a message."
"speak..."
"It's not a bad thing to be impartial and not help..."
Chen Cao couldn't help but smile: "The noble vassal king is actually afraid of a duke... It's ridiculous."
After listening to Chen Cao's words, Weng Meixin clasped her fists and said, "Master Chen, if you want to leave the city, my little girl can help."
Chen Cao's eyes lit up. It was useless to stay here and get angry like a fool. Why didn't he think of how to get out of the city? He immediately saluted Weng Meixin: "I am really honored to have Miss Weng help me, so please help me. Find a way to get me out of the city."
"Easy to say..."
...
Weng Meixin personally led the team and escorted more than a dozen carriages towards Ximen Ferry. Chen Cao was also dressed as a servant, and their embroidered spring knives were pressed under the cargo box of the vehicle in the middle.
"Unexpectedly, I also played a guest role as a bodyguard." Chen Cao whispered to Xu Kaixian, who was walking beside him: "Have you investigated their origins?"
Xu Kai nodded first, and when he was about to speak, Chen Cao signaled to be silent: "We'll talk after we get out."
"Hey, isn't this Miss Weng?" The Baihuguan on duty at the city gate enthusiastically raised his hand to Weng Meixin, who was riding in front: "It's almost dark, why are there still goods to be delivered?"
Weng Meixin said in a businesslike manner: "Chang Baihu is very polite. This batch of goods will be shipped to Jining. As you know, some things cannot be walked during the day."
Chang Baihu nodded knowingly: "I know, I know, hehe, since it is the cargo escorted by Miss Weng, it must be important. Come and let me go..."
Chen Cao was now even more certain that Weng Meixin was either the child of a high-ranking official or a member of a wealthy businessman's family, and the relationship behind it must be unusual.
The team's motorcade arrived at the door. As soon as Chen Cao and his party walked in, the sound of horse hooves and footsteps sounded one after another behind them. They heard someone behind them shouting: "Stop them, hurry up, stop them, they are not allowed to leave the city."
"You guys get out quickly." Weng Meixin rode up to Chen Cao and said, "I'll stop them."
"Sir, let's go quickly..." Xu Kaixian didn't care much and pulled Chen Cao and ran out.
Chen Cao turned around and saw Weng Meixin smiling proudly at him, and then rode forward.
"Miss Weng, what do you mean?" Qian Hu, who was leading the pursuit, asked seriously.
Weng Meixin looked around her chest with her hands and sneered: "Why, you dare to interfere with my Caogang affairs?"
Qian Huguan blew his nose when he was asked, and immediately said angrily: "This is Yanzhou, do you think it is in Huai'an?"
Weng Meixin couldn't help laughing when she heard this: "You guys are really arrogant. Even when your commander Jiang Wanchun came, I said the same thing. You Rencheng Guards still can't control the affairs of my Cao Gang."
"You..." Qian Huguan was so angry at this sentence that he didn't care so much at the moment and said behind him: "Don't worry about her, hurry up and chase after..."
"It's just a thousand households, you have to know the consequences of offending our Cao Gang..." Weng Meixin was also anxious.
A man came riding a horse from a distance, wearing an official uniform, and said directly to Qian Huguan: "Don't worry about her, take her."
Qianhu held up his hands and then said to Weng Meixin: "Miss Weng, I'm offended. Come, surround her and arrest her quickly."
Ziyang County is the hub of the canal waterway, with countless vendors coming and going. The inability to get in and out resulted in crowds of people inside and outside. Chen Cao led the people to run forward, and there were people chasing behind him, starting a cat-and-mouse game.
"stop..."
Chen Cao's escape speed was acceptable. He was the first to run out of the doorway and headed towards the ferry. Some of the pursuers behind him were on horseback, so he had the upper hand in speed.
"Be careful, sir."
Xu Kaixian roared, and Chen Cao felt like he was being hit by a gust of wind. With his own reaction, he lowered his head and launched a rolling dragon towards the right. The long knife went along his bun, scaring Chen Cao into a cold sweat.
There were more and more pursuers behind him. When Chen Cao was about to draw his sword and fight to the death, the crowd of onlookers in front were violently pushed away. Stepping forward, the neat military appearance surprised the people and merchants who were watching.
"Oh my god, where is this army?"
"Hey, didn't you see that they got off the warship of Navy Master Cao Jiang?"
He even said with concern for the country and the people: "If our Ming soldiers are all like this, why worry about establishing slaves and not destroying them?"
The pursuers saw a large group of soldiers carrying muskets coming from the opposite side. They didn't know what was going on. Qianhu, who was leading the group, had the foresight to rein in their horses and order his men to pay attention.
This time Chen Cao did not come to Shandong empty-handed. He brought two people from the Hundred Household Office with him, led by Zhang Fengnian. Zhang Fengnian stepped forward with a long knife: "Array..."
Swish, swish, swish...
The soldiers of the right guard changed their formations at a neat pace, then neatly took off the flintlock guns on their shoulders, picked up the guns and started the battle formation.
The dark muzzle of the gun was pointed at the Rencheng Guardsmen. Qianhu was not stupid. He didn't know anyone who knew a musket, so he immediately became intimidated and stood there without daring to move.
Chen Cao turned into a phoenix. With the help of Zhao Xin, he put on his crimson flying fish robe, took the embroidered spring knife from Xu Kaixian's hand, then stepped forward and shouted: "Wait, wait." Who is it that is so blatantly pointing swords, guns, swords and halberds at me, wanting to rebel?"
The people watching were all confused. Which song was this official singing?
Qianhu, who was chasing after him, was speechless. Even he himself didn't know what to do.
The sound of horse hoofbeats sounded from the city gate, and Wang Tiancheng, the commander of the city guard and the commander of the city, rushed over on horseback. Seeing the scene in front of him, he was so frightened that he couldn't move on his horse.
Xin Zhao stepped forward with his sword in front. The scars on his face showed that this guy was not a good bird: "You bastard, Master Chen, the commander of the Jin Yiwei, is here, why don't you dismount and salute and roll call?"
Wang Tiancheng was not a civil servant. It was the consensus of the Ming Dynasty that civil servants were more valuable than military attachés at this time. Even if the other party was an eighth-grade official, Chen Cao was the Jin Yiwei of Nanzhen Fusi and was responsible for the military discipline of the Ming army. If this was placed in Chen Cao's In that era, they were equivalent to pickets in the army.
Coupled with Chen Cao's official position, Wang Tiancheng was stunned for a moment, then turned over and dismounted, and gave a military salute to Chen Cao: "The last general Ren City Guard Commander Wang Tiancheng, please see Mr. Chen."
Now that Chen Cao's identity had changed, he pretended to ask: "What do you want to do like this? Not only did you lead the troops out of the city, but you also harassed the canals and waterways. Do you want to rebel as a city guard?"
"Sir, please calm down and please be careful..." Wang Tiancheng saw that Chen Cao didn't mention anything about what happened just now, so he walked down the slope and said: "Thieves infiltrated into the city and attacked and killed the Ziyang County inspection inspector. At the end of the day, the general will have to command your Majesty’s life and carry out a large-scale search to prevent the thieves from causing further harm.” Wang Tiancheng said again: “I wonder what the important matter is for Your Majesty to come here suddenly?”
Chen Cao said: "My troops came to Shandong for routine business. As soon as we arrived at the ferry to enter the city for repairs, we heard that there were thieves in the city. What do you do as city guards? Don't you know how many vassals there are in the city? Did you disturb these people? Your Majesty, you Renchengwei can’t afford to eat and walk around.”
Wang Tiancheng was overthrown by Chen Cao and led an army. He hesitated and didn't know how to answer. Chen Cao said again: "You can live on the emperor's salary and don't act with loyalty. I am the commander of Nanzhen Fusi." I know that I have the right to intervene in this matter and bring troops to assist, but you are holding a weapon against me, Wang Tiancheng, it seems that I need to give you a driving ticket from my Jin Yiwei."
Wang Tiancheng was so frightened that he immediately knelt down: "Sir, please calm down. The general is also following orders. Please spare your life..."
"Who is making such a noise here?" Jiang Wanchun came over with a group of Rencheng Guard officers, but saw Wang Tiancheng kneeling in front of Chen Cao. He didn't recognize Chen Cao, but he recognized the scarlet flying fish suit, so he He raised his hand towards Chen Cao and said, "I am going to appoint Jiang Wanchun, the commander of the city guards. I don't know who your lord is..."
Zhao Xin stepped forward and said: "I am Zhao Xin, the envoy of Jinyi Weinan Town, Fusi Town. This is the commander and colleague Chen Cao Chen..."
Jiang Wanchun trembled visibly, then saluted Chen Cao with a smile on his face: "I don't know if Mr. Chen is in front of you, but I would like to ask Mr. Chen to forgive me. I dare to ask you, do you have anything important to do in Yanzhou Mansion today?"
Chen Cao carried the knife and ignored Jiang Wanchun. He walked into the city gate and said, "Follow me in."
Weng Meixin was surrounded by a large group of soldiers. Seeing Chen Cao wearing a flying fish uniform and leading a large number of soldiers into the city, he sang a breath, Chen Cao nodded towards Weng Meixin, and after receiving a response, he led the people towards the city. Go to the prefect's Yamen.
"Butler, it's not good," a servant quickly ran into the private room: "Chen Cao has brought a large number of soldiers from Nanzhili into the city and has already gone to the prefect's Yamen."
Zheng Rixin, who was drinking with Kong Tianxi, dropped his wine glass on the table, got up and left without even saying hello.
Kong Tianxi frowned, and then said in an evil voice: "This is Yanzhou, not Nanzhili. I want to see what trouble they can cause. Come here and listen to my instructions."
...
Yanzhou Magistrate Guo Yan was promoted from Sichuan and has served as Yanzhou Magistrate for thirteen years. According to the iron law of officialdom in the Ming Dynasty, people like him have already had the opportunity to be promoted to the Chief Envoy Department. , but he still serves as the magistrate in Yanzhou. There must be something good that makes him reluctant to leave.
"Mr. Chen, this is Yanzhou, not Nanzhili. Besides, your Nanzhen Fusi has nothing to do with the affairs of the North Town Fusi, right?" After entering the Yamen lobby, Jiang Wanchun asked in a strange tone.
Chen Cao didn't talk to him, just didn't want to take any notice, and looked directly at Guo Yan: "Prefect Guo, I came here today because I received a tip-off that there are horse thieves in Yanzhou, and even Japanese pirates have sneaked into Yanzhou."
Guo Yanming raised his eyebrows and said, "Did Mr. Chen misunderstand, or did your Tiqi investigation make a mistake? Our Yanzhou Prefecture is in Shandong, where did the Japanese pirates come from?"
"No?" Chen Cao stared at Jiang Wanchun and sneered: "Impossible, not only this officer, but also Mr. Jiang and the thousands of households under him knew that thieves had sneaked into the city, and they also attacked and killed Ziyang County inspector Li Tong. , Mr. Guo, as the prefect, is not aware of such important matters. Could it be that Mr. Guo has been ignored by his subordinates? "
Jiang Wanchun had a cold face. What was originally an excuse to arrest Chen Cao now became a handle for his opponents to use him. Guo Yan was even more confused. He was beaten by Chen Cao but didn't know how to answer.
"Master Chen," Guo Yan raised his head and said, "Although I have nothing to do with Jin Yiwei, I also know that your Nanzhen Fusi is in charge of Nanzhili and the army. Even if there are thieves in our Yanzhou Mansion, it is not Within the jurisdiction of Nanzhen Fusi, is Mr. Chen a little nosy?"
Zhao Xin was about to step forward to refute, but Chen Cao waved him off, then looked at Guo Yan and Jiang Wanchun evilly and said: "What Governor Guo said is right, but Governor Guo may have forgotten what I, the Jin Yiwei, do?"
Guo Yan immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing. Jin Yiwei was on errands for the emperor, and he could get involved in anything. There were no restrictions at all: "Then... then Mr. Chen, why did you bring so many troops into the city? Is it possible?" Don’t you know that deploying troops privately is a serious crime?”
"Commander Chiang, come and tell Magistrate Guo, what is the duty of my Jin Yiwei to mobilize troops into the army?"
When Jiang Wanchun saw Chen Cao asking himself, he turned to look at Guo Yan, and then whispered: "Supervisor..."
Chen Cao said: "I personally led troops to Yanzhou Mansion. In addition to killing horse thieves, more importantly, I received news that Japanese pirates had infiltrated Yanzhou Mansion. Moreover," he turned to Jiang Wanchun and said coldly: "According to Shandong Tiqi reported that someone in the Rencheng Guards colluded with the Japanese pirates. Hey, Commander Jiang, don't be too busy complaining about injustice. You first think about how to escape. The last word is that I, Jin Yiwei, will have the driving notice later, so you can take care of yourself... ."
When Jiang Wanchun heard this, he was paralyzed and could not move even while standing there.
Guo Yan felt that Chen Cao was a little bold: "Master Chen, this is Yanzhou Prefecture, the hometown of the saint..."
Did you finally take out the backstage?
Chen Cao was about to leave, but when he heard this, he turned around and said with a smile: "I know, just because this is the hometown of Saint Kong, and for the admiration of the world's scholars, I have to protect the safety of this place, right?"
...
"My lord, Guo Yan and Jiang Wanchun both suffered heavy losses. Chen Cao led troops into the city in the name of Ren Chengwei colluding with Japanese pirates, and after leaving the prefect's Yamen, he gave Ren Chengwei the driving notice of the Jin Yiwei. Jiang Wanchun and his soldiers Qian Hu Leng, Yun Gui were all taken away and put on Cao Jiang Navy's warship;"
Wen Liang raised his hand to Zhu Shouhong: "Originally, they used Li Tong's name to slander Chen Cao as a bandit and wanted to kill him directly. Who knew that this lame reason became Chen Cao's excuse to fight back. Guo Yan was afraid that his career would be ruined in the future. Well, I heard that Chen Cao is attached to Wei Zhongxian, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, so it seems that he is well prepared this time."
Zhu Shouhong laughed and said: "These people, who cares about them? I am just watching the excitement. Besides, I have no authority, so what do I care about them? In Yanzhou Prefecture, except for my Prince Lu's Mansion, it is the Kong family of Qufu. Really They think this Yanzhou Prefecture belongs to them."
"Your Majesty, when Chen Cao's men came to the palace to ask for help, they were blocked by the lower officials. Does Chen Cao hold a grudge?"
Zhu Shouhong shook his head: "I don't want to cause trouble, and everyone knows that."
...
Will he hold a grudge?
Of course, Chen Cao is a person who must retaliate against others. He belongs to the category of villain and is not a good bird.
"Sir," Xin Zhao had just come up from the bottom of the cabin with blood on his hands: "Leng Yungui couldn't bear the punishment and has passed out."
Jiang Wanchun's hand holding the tea cup trembled, and then he drank the hot tea that Chen Cao poured for him in a daze.
"Well, wake him up, let the military doctors treat him, and then put him to death after returning to Nanjing. By the way, immediately send an official document to Tianjin Commander Si Yamen and write down what happened here exactly." Chen Cao also pecked. I took a sip of tea, which was slightly bitter.
"yes..."
"Sir," Jiang Wanchun couldn't sit still, stood up and raised his hands towards Chen Cao: "Sir, please let Qianhu Yima go."
"Release?" Chen Cao looked very surprised, then put down the tea cup and motioned Jiang Wanchun to sit down: "If it weren't for my men's cleverness, Leng Yungui would have shot me into a hedgehog with a bow and arrow, and Commander Jiang would have no chance to get into this water. The division warship has come to drink tea with me."
"Sir, we are also acting under orders. Your Excellency also knows that the county magistrate is not as good as the current one..." Jiang Wanchun said helplessly.
Chen Cao nodded and agreed with Jiang Wanchun's words: "It makes sense, but I am not a good person. Originally, I came to Shandong to buy land, and I have no way of dealing with you, but you want to punish me. Hehe, Commander Jiang must also understand the so-called moral principle of being bitten instead of dying."
Jiang Wanchun lowered his head and said nothing, and Chen Cao said again: "Why don't you make it clear? I have offended Qufu now, and trying to be kind is just a fool's errand. Why don't I just use you to attack them and fight them all at once? In the worst case, both sides will suffer. Although such a consequence would be a disadvantage, it would also ensure that I will not suffer retaliation in the future.”
Jiang Wanchun was startled, then trembled, and looked up at Chen Cao: "Master Chen, you should think twice..."
"Think twice?" Chen Cao found it funny: "Have you ever thought twice before accusing me of horse thieves? The dignified Jin Yiwei was forced into desperation by you. If I hadn't calculated in advance, I would have been like you by now. The body is in the hands of helpers;
Commander Jiang, have you heard about Li Weihan? "
How could Jiang Wanchun not know about Li Weihan's stay in Nanjing? During the escort, they also rested for a day in Yanzhou Fucheng.
Seeing that Jiang Wanchun didn't speak, Chen Cao said mysteriously: "Li Weihan is a relative of Emperor Shenzong, isn't he going to jail and talking about death? I said directly in front of Duke Bao at that time that if he was asked to collude with the Japanese pirates, he would definitely collude with the Japanese pirates. Isn't this right? , he was indeed condemned to death for colluding with Japanese pirates, wasn’t he?”
Jiang Wanchun's head trembled when he heard these words. These words were so obvious that Jiang Wanchun's body trembled.
"My officer said that you Rencheng Guards must have colluded with Japanese pirates. If a thousand households in Leng Yungui reported on their superiors for colluding with Japanese pirates, you, as the commander, hehe... Commander Jiang, as I said before, you'd better think carefully about what to do. Get away, instead of trying to help those people to destroy the official, you can take care of yourself."
After Chen Cao finished speaking, he ordered Xu Kaixian beside him: "Go, take our driving papers and capture Wang Tiancheng, the commander and commander."
"yes..."
"Sir," a school lieutenant came to Chen Cao: "Comrade Kong You, the commander of the Shandong Capital Envoy Department, is here and wants to see your Excellency."
Chen Cao turned to look at Jiang Wanchun and said: "Commander Jiang, you have a good cup of tea. I will go meet your savior for a while and come to talk to you after I'm done."
