(13)
By the way, the place where Bai Feng and the others stayed for a day was a famous place for three religions and nine schools in the town. A long straight street is divided into two rows vertically, and many wine shops are blooming like a hundred flowers blooming. Each of their signs is more gorgeous than the other, and the beauties responsible for attracting customers are more and more outrageous.
Then, just like the branches of a towering tree, this street also opened up countless dark and narrow alleys from both sides of the main road, and many shady and ugly transactions took root here.
Prostitutes commit adultery here, and thieves buy and sell stolen goods here. If the taverns on both sides that are open day and night are like blooming flowers growing in the most conspicuous places on the branches, then those people hidden in the dark night and those invisible dirty transactions are the maggots parasitic in the trunks and branches.
These people rely on big trees, not to make a living, but to absorb as much nutrients as possible from the tree. When the tree dies, they can leave without hesitation - they do not love this land at all. , and even hated the people and rulers of this land.
Compared with the management issues of the veterans, these invisible maggots have already been colluding secretly, forming gangs, forming an invisible hand, silently controlling the market.
The people in Yuyi Town would call them "money rats", while people with slightly higher status, such as officials and children of aristocratic families, would collectively refer to these people as rioters and thieves.
When Bai Feng returned to the Yuyi Zhao family's residence, she vaguely felt that there were a few pairs of cold eyes staring at her in the dark, on the eaves, somewhere invisible. This was a wild premonition, but he still seemed to pretend that nothing had happened, walking steadily back to Zhao's house step by step.
As a person who has never learned any martial arts and spends most of the day in the house, A-Bian cannot even keep up with Bai Feng's walking speed. Panting, half walking and half running, he finally caught up with the young swordsman in front of Zhao's house.
Bai Feng happened to ask the doorman to stop him in front of the door. The boy said, "Why, there are women going in tonight?"
"Brother, please let me meet Zhao Kuo and Mr. Zhao quickly so that I can receive the next instructions!"
"No, you don't know how miserable I made Mr. Fan train me during the day!" The boy looked back timidly, and after making sure that the partition wall had no ears, he said: "Hurry up, if I let Mr. Fan When this old man sees it, he will definitely tell Mr. Zhao, and then my iron rice bowl will be gone!"
Having said that, Bai Feng, who didn't want to ruin other people's livelihoods, had to stand there and think for a moment, until Ah Bian called from behind: "Mr. Bai, you are walking too fast! Ah Bian, I really...can't catch up. .”
"A-Bian, please think of a way to let me in." Bai Feng responded.
When the boy saw A-Bian staggering up the stairs, he hurried over to help him and said, "Brother Bian, where are you enjoying yourself?"
"Aniu, do you have the strength and nowhere to act wild? You actually blocked Bai Shaoxia from outside. He is Mr. Zhao's good friend!"
"Really...really?" The boy named A Niu said in surprise: "But Mr. Zhao and Mr. Fan both strictly prohibited Mr. Zhao from seeing outsiders."
"Then you can't see it. Even if the matter is exposed, you will not have anything to do with Bai Shaoxia."
"How to say?"
"Young Master Bai can climb over the wall from the backyard. There won't be any patrols there, and it's also close to Mr. Zhao's house." A-Bian spoke eloquently, as if he had already turned the entire Zhao Mansion upside down and knew the root cause: " Wait, let me go in first. Bai Shaoxia heard three cat meows and jumped in from the roof of the backyard. As for you, A Niu, just pretend you don't know anything."
After Bai Feng and A Niu agreed one after another, A Bian walked in openly. A Niu continued to stand in front of the door, staring into the distance like a log, watching Bai Feng quietly walk around the outer wall of the Zhao family mansion.
With only a low wall and A-Bian inside to support him, it was not difficult for Bai Feng to approach Zhao Kuo quietly.
Soon, Bai Feng successfully sneaked into Zhao Kuo's house, and happened to see the rich young man writing furiously under a vague oil lamp. The light of this oil lamp was very dim, it could be said that it was close to nothing. If it were not for the bright starlight and moonlight outside, Zhao Kuo would not be able to see what was written on the paper. But writing in this situation is naturally not an easy task.
"Brother Zhao, I have something to tell you!" Bai Feng stepped forward and said.
"Wait a moment, when I finish writing this sentence...'The fishing boat has no outline, the sailing boat does not shoot at the place'." Zhao Kuo was reciting the words, but his eyes did not stare at the paper carefully, but his hand never stopped. It can be seen that his hand was holding the pen. I have long been accustomed to the act of copying, and I can write correctly without looking carefully.
Bai Feng replied: "Brother Zhao, this matter is extremely urgent!"
"how do I say this?"
"I discovered something amazing. Do you know why the 'Yixiao Huangquan' suddenly attacked the Zhao family's caravan? In fact, it was General Yao who deliberately spread the news. He was trying to 'raise the bandits' self-respect'! According to me Look, General Yao was involved in planning the whole thing, and he even pocketed a lot of the 10,000 taels of silver."
Zhao Kuo said: "Brother Bai, how can you speculate like this? I won't believe it if you say it without proof."
"According to the veterans in the wine shop, the 'Yixiao Huangquan' has not been circulating in Yuyi Town for a long time, but now it suddenly appeared and it was the Zhao family's caravan that was robbed. They never robbed the people in the caravan, only the army. A green forest hero with heavy baggage." Bai Feng explained meaningfully: "Also, using bandits on the move to harass the soldiers in Wuchuan Town, isn't it a two-pronged strategy? It will not implicate Yuyi Town and cause fire, but it can also Consume the strength of 'Yi Siao Huangquan'. Finally, find another excuse to annihilate this group of bandits in one fell swoop, earning credit without any effort! Now, Miss Lou is a God-given opportunity. General Yao not only wants to drive tigers to devour wolves, but also to borrow swords to kill people. , and also destroy the prestige of the Zhao family."
"If Jinghua dies during the crusade, our Zhao family will indeed lose a good reputation; if she returns victorious, General Yao will also be able to reap the benefits. In this way, Brother Bai's speculation is not unreasonable." Zhao Kuo was doubtful and looked at the dying oil lamp, speechless for a long time.
"Brother Zhao, when I came back, I found someone secretly following and monitoring me, so it's not convenient to stay here for a long time. Brother Zhao, please take care of yourself. I will find conclusive evidence and the whereabouts of 'Yixiao Huangquan' as soon as possible."
After Bai Feng finished speaking, he was about to leave. Zhao Kuo also stepped forward to persuade him: "Brother Bai, you should also pay attention. That group of thieves may be the 'Money Rats'. It was only after I came back that I found out that General Yao actually took the largest number in the town." It’s really not bad to have a group of rioters under his command.”
"Money rats?" Bai Feng said with a smile: "They are indeed as cunning as rats. I only felt some disturbance and did not see their figures. If I can catch one or two alive for questioning, maybe things can make progress?" "
The two looked at each other for a moment and then parted ways.
