"Are you sure they came to Wucheng?" Kong Bao stood outside the west gate of Wucheng, looking at the not-so-high city wall, and asked the people around him.
"You can't be wrong, Master Jun, there are one man, two women, and three young men. They said they were refugees from Wancheng and were coming to Wucheng to find relatives. They have been ashore for a long time. It stands to reason that they would have arrived a long time ago." The person beside him was speaking. The boatman who ferried Yi Xiaodao and the others over in the morning.
"Okay, these three young masters of my family went out to enjoy the mountains and rivers. They were hit by a disaster in Anhui City and did not dare to tell the names of the adults in the family. Thanks to you, we were able to find them. Come on, take him down to receive the reward. ." Kong Bao said with a smile, and then winked at the soldier next to him.
The soldier who was winked at was Kong Bao's personal guard. When he saw the murderous intent in Kong Bao's eyes, how could he not understand what he meant? He walked over with a smile, pulled the boatman and headed towards the ferry.
"Thank you, Master. Thank you, Master. If you can, Master, it would be better to give me some silver. I have never seen a tael of silver on weekdays, and I won't use it if you give me a banknote." The boatman hurriedly bowed and looked at the people in front of him. As a reward, Yi Xiaodao had long forgotten the agreement between Yi Xiaodao and him to come to work, and he didn't look into the details of why a high-status disciple agreed to come to work on a boat.
The boatman rubbed his hands and followed the soldier away.
Kong Bao ignored it, turned around and suddenly laughed and said, "It's no good if you don't know how to use it. From now on, all the money my family will burn will be money."
Xu Mo asked from the side: "Sir, let's go to the east of the city now. The 'venomous snake' said that they will meet at the signboard in the east city."
Kong Bao bowed his hand to Xu Mo and said, "Oh, that's right. I'd have forgotten it if you didn't tell me. Then I'd like to trouble General Xu to take someone there. A lot of people have been lost in Wancheng, and there are still two hundred people here. General Xu will take twenty people with him."
"This..." Xu Mo was a little dumbfounded.
"Is twenty people too many? How about ten people?" Kong Bao continued to discuss with a gentle face.
"I'm humble and stupid..." Xu Mo could only lower his head and plead guilty.
Kong Bao then put down his hand: "Idiot! You heard it from the side. Can they still go there? Kong Jie, you lead fifty people to guard the four gates. If you see those little bastards, just take them down. If Resistance, kill on the spot! Kong Fang, take ten people to search all the way from Wucheng to the capital. If you find one, kill them directly. There is no need to worry about the impact outside the city. Kong Tao, take the rest of the people and disperse them. City search!"
Xu Mo held the knife and stepped aside, but no one noticed that his hand was tightly holding the handle of the knife, and the blue veins were looming...
"Yi Xiaodao, this is not the way to Dongcheng. You are going south." Xiang Lian'er couldn't keep up with Yi Xiaodao's pace, so she had no choice but to pull Xiang Lian'er and follow her at a trot.
Yi Xiaodao looked around as he walked and said, "You can't go to Dongcheng. When the uncle who had already assassinated the guard told us, the deputy general was also there. That night when the uncle was thrown off the cliff, the deputy general was alive and well. He was in Kong Next to Leopard, won’t we be caught when we go to Dongcheng?”
"Then why are we still here in Dongcheng? Wouldn't it be better to go directly to the capital instead?" Xiang Lian'er then asked.
Yi Xiaodao saw a small alley on the side of the road. When he walked to the entrance of the alley, he saw that there were forks in it. It seemed that there were many forks in the back, so he took the lead and walked in. Xiang Lian'er and He Yue'er had to follow closely. superior.
Yi Xiaodao walked around and around and finally stopped in front of an earth temple. The earth temple was not big or small, but it had been dilapidated for a long time. The grass in front of the temple was knee-high. "This Earth Temple is well built. I didn't expect it to be so dilapidated now. Let's go here." As he said that, he opened the temple door first and went in. Xiang Lian'er dragged He Yue'er and followed.
Xiang Lian'er asked angrily: "You haven't answered me yet. If we can't find a contact with their Tianwei people in Wucheng, wouldn't it be better if we bypass Wucheng and go directly to the capital?"
Yi Xiaodao found a few shabby futons, patted the old dust on them, handed them to the two women and said, "If we go directly to Wucheng, they will catch up with them on horseback in less than half a day. One man and two women. It's so obvious." .Isn’t this seeking death?”
Xiang Lian'er nodded thoughtfully: "What you said makes sense, so what should we do next?"
Yi Xiaodao leaned against the wall: "Wait! Wait for something to happen in Wucheng. If they can't find us here, they will think that we are still on the way to Wucheng, and they will leave Wucheng and look for us along the way. , or we need to rush back to the capital to resume our duties. After they leave, it will not be too late for us to go to the capital."
Xiang Lian'er pulled a futon and sat down, handed one to He Yue'er, and pulled her to sit down as well: "We haven't eaten anything all day..."
Yi Xiaodao smiled "hehe": "I'll go out to ask for it at night."
In the evening, Wucheng.
Kong Bao was sitting alone in a teahouse, with a steaming cup of fragrant tea and a plate of white and crisp pastries on the table in front of him.
At this time, he had changed into regular clothes, a green gown, and was eating and drinking slowly.
Several big men entered the teahouse outside the door. They were all dressed in regular clothes and day laborers. As soon as they saw Kong Bao, they came straight towards him.
The leader was Kong Tao. Seeing that there were many diners in the teahouse, he said softly: "Brother, we have searched all over the city, but we can't find those little devils."
Kong Bao glared and said, "How many times have I told you to call me Sir!"
Kong Tao shrank his head in fear: "Yes, sir."
"Then tell me, where did you look for it?" As he said that, Kong Bao picked up a piece of good-looking peach cake and looked at it.
Kong Tao replied: "I have searched all the inns, teahouses, and restaurants, but I can't find them."
"Pah!" The peach cake in Kong Bao's hand was instantly crushed to pieces. He grabbed Kong Tao's collar and whispered in his ear: "If mother hadn't specially asked me to take good care of you, you would have died a long time ago." All over."
When Kong Tao heard this, although he meant forgiveness, cold sweat gradually broke out and he did not dare to speak.
"Those little brats are penniless. Can you find them in these places? Why don't you go to the casino and brothel to have a look! Go and look for me again!" There were many teagoers in the teahouse, so Kong Bao couldn't have a seizure. , had to scold in a low voice.
"Yes... I will go right away." Kong Tao quickly agreed and led the people out of the teahouse.
Kong Bao looked at the few people leaving and thought to himself: "We can't find those brats with these wine bags and rice bags. Maybe... we should go find the Wucheng County Magistrate and ask him to help..."
Thinking of this, Kong Bao stood up, dropped a dime of broken silver on the table, left the teahouse, and headed towards the Wucheng County Government Office.
When they arrived at the county government office, after Kong Bao made the announcement, the Wucheng County Magistrate hurriedly ran out.
"Master Sun, it's been a long time." Kong Bao cupped his hands and smiled.
"Oh, General Kong, please come quickly, please come inside." Magistrate Sun returned the greeting with a cheerful face, and invited Kong Bao to the Yamen.
Kong Bao did not hesitate and entered the yamen first. As a military general, he acted vigorously and left Magistrate Sun behind.
Magistrate Sun was stunned, then followed with a wry smile.
Entering the hall, after everyone was seated, the maid handed over tea.
Kong Bao picked up the tea and carefully watched the tea leaves rise and fall in the cup, but did not speak. When Magistrate Sun saw Kong Bao acting like this, he knew in his heart and turned away from the maid.
"I wonder why General Kong came to Wucheng?" Magistrate Sun asked.
Seeing that there was no one else around, Kong Bao said, "Master Li really liked the piece of jade that Mr. Sun gave him at the beginning of the year. When he came this time, he asked me to thank County Magistrate Sun for his kindness..."
When County Magistrate Sun heard this, he was overjoyed and said quickly: "That jade Ruyi was specially sent by the official to buy it from the Persians. As long as Taishi Li likes it, it's fine. Hahaha."
When Kong Bao saw that Magistrate Sun had no intention of asking further questions, he secretly cursed the idiot in his heart, so he could only continue: "Well, Grand Master Li has one more thing to do, and he needs Mr. Sun's help. I hope Mr. Sun will not refuse."
"It's easy to talk! It's easy to talk! It's okay to say it, Mr. Kong!" Magistrate Sun said quickly.
"Master Li sent me to come to Wucheng to do something, but my subordinates didn't do it carefully, and they were seen by three brats. Now I only know that the three brats are still here in Wucheng and can't be found for a while. Mr. Sun, you Look..." Kong Bao hesitated.
When County Magistrate Sun heard this, he thought quickly: "What kind of shameful thing did Kong Bao do again... I have to be careful not to get myself involved... Ask first."
County Magistrate Sun carefully considered his words and replied: "General Kong, it's easy to find someone to handle this. But since it's a child, every family is raised by the mother's biological father. As a parent official, I have to ask clearly..."
Kong Bao said: "Don't worry, Mr. Sun. These three are all little beggars and will not cause any trouble to you. Moreover... Taishi Li doesn't want to live. If it comes to pass, this Wucheng will not be able to keep Mr. Sun. If If things don’t work out... Haha, this Wucheng may not be able to keep Mr. Sun.”
At this point, Kong Bao basically made it clear and stared at Magistrate Sun closely.
This time he came to Wucheng County Magistrate Sun Tzu Lin and took some risks, of course, just a few. This grandson, Lin, has no ink in his mind. If it weren't for Grand Master Li, the Wucheng County Magistrate would never have had his turn. He is also a good person, and he will not let go of the big tree like Master Li. This time... he has to be hugged tighter.
Sun Tzu Lin's heart trembled: "This is asking me to submit a certificate of submission."
"If Taishi Li needs it, I will do my best...if I can do it!" Sun Zilin thought for a moment and knew that Kong Bao would not tell him the truth. He gritted his teeth and expressed his stance to Kong Bao.
Kong Bao laughed loudly: "Okay! Mr. Sun is indeed a smart man. Then Kong will wish Mr. Sun an early promotion. When Mr. Sun becomes prosperous in the future, don't forget Kong and help him." Kong Leopard held up a cup of tea and drank it in one sip.
Sun Zilin said quickly: "I don't dare... I don't dare... Please also ask Mr. Kong to explain his appearance and characteristics so that I can send someone to search."
In the hall with flickering lights, there were whispers. The maid guarding outside the door had no intention of listening. She was thinking about what gifts to bring home next time she visits relatives...
The night is getting darker, and the lights in Wuhu are gradually becoming more numerous.
"Come on, steamed buns, although they are a bit cold, let's just eat them. There is also siomai, look, there is also a chicken drumstick! Yue'er, here are the drumsticks for you!" Yi Xiaodao walked into the temple gate holding a bag of food, happily He showed it to Xiang Lian'er and He Yue'er, and handed He Yue'er a big chicken leg, secretly watching Xiang Lian'er's reaction.
"How did you get so much delicious food? Hey, why should you give the chicken legs to Yue'er!" Xiang Lian'er asked, and saw Yi Xiaodao handing the chicken legs to He Yue'er and said dissatisfied.
"Yue'er is weak. After traveling all these days with us, why don't you just eat chicken drumsticks to replenish your health? Of course I got this... by my own ability!" Yi Xiaodao argued.
He Yue'er shook her head and pushed back the chicken drumsticks, and said: "You have worked harder than us, and we have relied on you to help us along the way. You should eat the drumsticks yourself. I will just eat some Shaomai. Sister Lian'er, don't If we ask, it’s not easy for Xiao Knife to get us something to eat.”
When Xiang Lian'er heard what He Yue'er said, she felt unwilling, but what He Yue'er said did make sense. She grabbed a bun and stuffed it into her mouth.
Yi Xiaodao did not tease the two of them. He tore the chicken legs in half and handed them to them respectively: "Since I brought it to you, it means that I know what it is, so don't refuse. As for me, I have already eaten."
Seeing the two men taking the chicken legs, Yi Xiaodao removed the curtain in the temple, shook the dust off, and handed it to the two men to cover it. He sat down against the door, always paying attention to the situation outside.
He Yue'er picked up the chicken legs and siomai and ate them in small bites.
Xiang Lian'er quietly turned her head and found that the chicken drumstick handed to He Yue'er was...larger than the one handed to her!
