Deep in Mangdang Mountain, Liu Ji and a group of people were cooking a rabbit in a clay pot.
Liu Ji sat next to the fire, watching the rising and falling flames, smelling the aroma of meat, and couldn't help but sigh.
He felt a little irritated: How come the emperor's messenger came to his door after everything was so good? There was something fishy about this matter from beginning to end.
The other brothers, while inhaling the aroma, came up with random ideas: "Is it because we robbed merchants recently? We robbed too many merchants, and they complained together, which finally alerted the emperor?"
Liu Ji shook his head: "This is impossible. When we robbed merchants, we always used the banner of rebels. Even if the emperor wants to take people, he should arrest the rebels."
"Even if the envoy is to investigate the whereabouts of the rebels, they should ask about Xiang's whereabouts, not my name directly."
Everyone around was silent.
After a long time, Liu Ji suddenly said: "Or maybe, the Xiang family has been defeated and is out of control. Doesn't it work if we continue to do things under his banner?"
After finishing speaking, Liu Ji shook his head: "It doesn't make sense, it still doesn't make sense."
At this time, Fan Kuai who was standing next to him came over and said to Liu Ji: "Brother, why don't we plunder again."
Liu Ji kicked him angrily: "The messenger is arresting us in Peixian County, and you still want to plunder us? Isn't this looking for death?"
Fan Kuai laughed dryly: "Brother, listen to me, my suggestion has its own reason."
Liu Ji frowned: "Let's talk and listen."
Fan Kuai said in a low voice: "Now, some people suspect that we robbed the merchants. Then why don't we use the banner of the Xiang family as a rebel and do something big again? So that we can teach everyone that these things were done by the rebels. , has nothing to do with us.”
Liu Ji thought for a while and said, "The Xiang family has been wiped out. It's probably unconvincing to use their banner now."
Fan Kuai smiled: "It's simple. Although Xiang Liang is dead, Xiang Yu has lost his whereabouts. This Xiang Yu has always been with Xiang Liang and has a high status. We might as well borrow his name."
After hearing this, Liu Ji nodded slowly and said, "But what if the envoy is not here to rob merchants?"
Fan Kuai said: "This is easier to handle. We just happened to do something and muddy the water. It's too late for the government to catch the rebels, so how can they take care of us little people?"
Liu Ji nodded: "That makes sense."
He looked at the brothers around him. Those people nodded repeatedly.
But soon someone asked: "But who are we going to plunder?"
Fan Kuai showed a sly smile: "Of course I robbed Grand Duke Lu. Not only does he have countless wealth, but he also has two beautiful daughters."
Liu Ji immediately said: "No, absolutely not."
Fan Kuai was a little helpless and asked, "Why not?"
Liu Ji said: "Lv Taigong is a good friend of Magistrate Pei. At this time, I am afraid he has entered the county. If we rob Taigong Lu, we will not only conflict with the county magistrate, but also be caught by the envoy."
Fan Kuai slapped his thigh: "I want him to bump into me. As long as he bumps into me, won't the emperor be more convinced of the news that Xiang Yu is active nearby?"
Liu Ji thought for a while, nodded and said, "That makes sense."
Others also nodded: "This does make sense. It's just a bit dangerous. After all, the county magistrate's mansion is not that easy to break into."
Liu Ji said: "Although Lu Taigong came from afar, he is a wealthy family after all and may not live in the county magistrate's mansion. Besides, he moved his family and brought many female dependents with him. If he lived in the county magistrate's house, , what an inconvenience.”
Fan Kuai rubbed his hands and looked at Liu Ji excitedly without interrupting.
Liu Ji thought for a while and said to everyone: "The county magistrate seems to have a village. It is outside Pei County. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the scenery is very beautiful."
Everyone nodded.
Liu Ji said with a smile: "Guess whether Taigong Lu will settle down in this village tonight?"
People around said: "It's very possible! In this case, we can just attack Zhuangzi directly. We won't even have to sneak into Pei County."
Another person said: "Even if Grand Duke Lu is not there, it doesn't matter. We have robbed the county magistrate's village, and the envoy will still be surprised."
Liu Ji nodded with satisfaction and said to the people around him: "This time, everyone will cover their faces. No one is allowed to reveal their identity. If you are caught, you will scratch your face."
"You have to remember that it is Magistrate Pei's house that is being robbed this time. It is not the businessmen coming and going. If there are any clues left for him, he will trace them to the end."
Everyone nodded.
Liu Ji said: "Come on, eat something and then go down the mountain."
Everyone hurriedly put out the fire and began to eat the hare.
Half an hour later, everyone had eaten up all the hares and wild fruits.
Later, Liu Ji took them down the mountain in the dark.
They first went to a cave and took out the weapons that had been hidden for a long time. Then Liu Ji ordered everyone: "When we arrive at Grandpa Lu's house, first snatch the horses and then set fire to them on the spot."
"This time, it is to create momentum and make the emperor's messenger dizzy, not to snatch gold and silver. Don't just take things and get caught."
Everyone nodded.
…………
Outside Peixian County, in the county magistrate's courtyard. Taigong Lu has just returned from a banquet.
The old woman Lu looked at Taigong Lu, sighed and said, "I leave my hometown and come to Peixian County. I don't know whether it is good or bad."
Taigong Lu waved his hand: "I'll settle down now that I've come, not to mention the county magistrate is my good friend. This time, no one will bully us again."
Old lady Lu shook her head: "I don't think so. The county magistrate is an official appointed by the emperor. I'm afraid he will be transferred elsewhere in a few years. Once he leaves, who can we rely on?"
Taigong Lu laughed: "Besides the county magistrate, don't we have two daughters?"
Old lady Lu was stunned and asked, "What do you mean?"
Lu Taigong said: "The county magistrate has to be transferred, but the local powerful officials and petty officials cannot leave. These petty officials and powerful officials have been in Pei County for generations, and their roots are deeply intertwined and deep-rooted."
"Without them, the county magistrate is like a blind and deaf person. In my opinion, the county magistrate is a guest, and these petty officials and powerful men are the masters of the county."
"Today I met a man named Xiao He in the county magistrate's mansion. This man... is extraordinary. Why not take advantage of the few years that the magistrate is here and I, the Lu family, still have some savings, marry my daughter to him? If there are powerful people in the local area, I, the Lu family, can rest easy."
Mrs. Lu suddenly laughed: "It turns out that you have already thought about it so thoughtfully. Fortunately, I have always been on tenterhooks."
The two people were talking when they suddenly heard shouts outside. Immediately afterwards, a servant with blood on his face broke the door and escaped.
Old Mrs. Lu was suddenly startled, stood up, and asked loudly: "What's the matter?"
The servant panted and said, "Master, it's not good. It's not good. The rebels are coming."
Mrs. Lu rolled her eyes and fainted from fright.
Grandpa Lu forced himself to calm down and shouted: "Xiang Liang has been killed, and all the rebels in Chu have been put down. Where did the rebels come from?"
The servant panted and said, "I don't know, I don't know. Master, please go out and have a look."
Old Mrs. Lu raised his legs to leave, but due to excessive tension, his legs could not move.
He hit his thigh hard with his hand, then walked to the door while holding on to the wall.
A fire was already burning in the yard. There were several men riding horses, covering their faces, holding torches, setting fires everywhere, and shouting: "I am General Xiang Yu of Chu. The soldiers and civilians of Chu, regardless of gender, old or young, must help me to defeat Qin and restore Chu." , I will lend you gold, silver, food and grass for today.”
The old lady's legs went weak and she almost sat on the ground.
He looked back at the servant huddled in the corner: "Quick, go to Pei County and inform the magistrate."
The servant said: "Someone has already gone."
The old man gritted his teeth and said, "Then come over and give me a hand."
The servant came over shivering and helped Old Madam Lu up. Then the two men closed the door, blocked it with a few cases, and began to wait nervously for reinforcements.
During this period, someone once broke down the door, but did not break it open and left.
Although the rebels left, they scared old Mrs. Lu to death.
At the same time, in Peixian City, the county magistrate's residence. The messenger had just laid down and was about to sleep. Suddenly I heard a chaotic sound outside.
After he arrived in Peixian County, he felt that something was wrong everywhere. He was already wary, but now after hearing this sound, he immediately sat up.
The messenger was lying by the window, listening to what was going on outside.
Only one person was heard crying: "It's not good, it's not good. The traitor Xiang Yu is rebelling and leading troops to attack the city."
This is news that has been spread through countless hands, and it has become more and more sinister. Some people even said that Xiang Yu had broken into the city with 50,000 troops.
The messenger broke into a cold sweat after hearing this, immediately put on his clothes, and planned to leave immediately.
When he opened the door, he saw that the county captain had arrived. This man was fully armored and came in a hurry to see the county magistrate with hundreds of Qin soldiers.
The county magistrate came out in a hurry and asked: "How is the situation?"
The county lieutenant said: "It is indeed the traitor Xiang Yu, but they don't have many troops. The official has already been to the city wall, don't worry, sir."
The county magistrate breathed a sigh of relief, and then he asked again: "Can Pei County be defended?"
The county captain said: "The rebels did not attack Pei County."
The county magistrate was immediately overjoyed, and then asked: "If they don't attack the county seat, what are they doing?"
The county captain said: "I took a look on the city wall and saw a fire in your lord's courtyard. They may be looting outside the city."
When the county magistrate heard this, he cried out "pity" several times. That yard cost a lot of money.
After the shouting was over, the county magistrate suddenly slapped his forehead and said loudly: "Not good. My brother Lu is still in another courtyard."
The county captain pretended to be stupid.
The county magistrate said: "You immediately lead people to destroy the rebels. This feather, whether captured alive or killed, will be considered your first achievement."
The county lieutenant coughed dryly and said hesitantly: "It's not clear how many rebels there are now. If you rush out of the city like this, you may be in danger..."
The county magistrate pulled the county captain aside and whispered: "You are so confused. Now the emperor's messenger is here. We have rebels in Peixian County. Don't you think about it, will your Majesty be angry with us?"
The county captain suddenly shuddered, with a look of fear on his face.
The county magistrate added: "Xiang Yu's robbery tonight is our catastrophe, but it is also our God-given opportunity. If we can kill Xiang Yu in front of the envoy, what kind of credit is this?"
The county captain's eyes suddenly lit up.
However, he still hesitated and said: "However, if we are ambushed when we go..."
The county magistrate shook his head: "According to my analysis, it is definitely not the case. Xiang Yu should not have many men. If he had more soldiers and generals, he would have attacked the city long ago. Why bother to rob Brother Lu?"
"What's more, since the rebel thieves were wiped out, their vitality has been severely damaged. Although they shouted loudly tonight, in my opinion, I'm afraid it was just a bluff. These rebel thieves should be no different from ordinary thieves, at most There are only dozens of people.”
The magistrate's analysis was clear and logical. The county lieutenant secretly thought in his heart: Weren't you scared to death just now? Now that I heard that the rebels did not attack the county seat, they suddenly started talking?
The county captain led the Qin soldiers, opened the city gate and left.
In fact, the county magistrate overestimated Liu Ji. He did not have dozens of people at all. All those people together were only a dozen or so.
The county lieutenant led his troops to camp step by step. When passing through the woods, they had to search for fear of an ambush. When passing through the hillside, they had to search again. When passing through the grass, you still need to search.
By the time he rushed to Lu Taigong's place, Liu Bang and others had already disappeared after getting the news.
…………
At the county magistrate's residence, the envoy took all his belongings and prepared to leave this place of right and wrong.
The county magistrate tried to stop them: "My lord, my lord, they are just a group of petty thieves. This county can wipe them out in a moment."
The messenger coughed dryly and said, "How can I be afraid of thieves? I just came to Pei County this time because I have important things to do. Now that the things are done, I have to go back and resume my life as soon as possible."
Xiao He, who had arrived a long time ago, asked: "Dare I ask, sir, are you here to look for Liu Ji this time?"
The messenger hummed absentmindedly.
Xiao He asked insinuatingly: "Then what crime did Liu Ji commit?"
The messenger said calmly: "Not guilty, just a casual investigation."
After saying this, the messenger mounted his horse and left without stopping.
At this time, how could the envoy care about whether Liu Ji was guilty or not?
Now Liu Ji is no longer a figure at all. Xiang Yu emerged from the Chu land, and the rebels reappeared. This is the most important thing.
…………
Liu Ji and others returned to Mangdang Mountain happily, and this time they gained a lot. They captured several horses and several ox-carts. The car contained a lot of food and treasure.
More importantly, this time he successfully helped the rebels spread propaganda and diverted the attention of the court.
Mangdang Mountain is filled with joy. At this time Fan Kuai came over with a smile.
He was carrying two sacks. After putting down the sack, Fan Kuai said with a smile: "Brother, I tied up those two beauties. Now it's good, you and I can get married."
Liu Ji was furious, pointed at him and cursed: "Idiot, you are so reckless and leaked our identity."
Fan Kuai waved his hands repeatedly: "Brother, don't worry, I have covered my face from beginning to end."
Liu Ji smiled angrily: "Did you also cover your face when you got married to her? Did you also cover your face when you raised children with her?"
Fan Kuai was stunned for a moment, then fell into deep thought.
Liu Ji looked at the two sacks and sighed: "It's a burden, it's a burden."
Then he slowly pulled out the sword.
