On August 18th, the first year of Chongzhen, it was sunny again and it had not rained for a long time.
"Da da da!"
On the road leading to Zhenbei City, two horses were galloping hard. The riders sitting on them were Qin Feng and Mo Zi.
Although he knew that Zheng Qianhu's summons this time was most likely a Hongmen banquet, the military orders were overwhelming and there was no way to shirk them. He could only try to be careful.
Working hard, the two arrived at their destination at noon.
Zhenbei City is located on the east bank of the Kuye River. Its internal and external structure is basically the same as Qisha Fort. They are both pure military fortresses, except that the city walls are taller and stronger, and the area is about six times larger.
The residents inside are all military households. They are all sallow, skinny, ragged, and lifeless. You can tell at a glance that they are having a hard time.
"Zheng Qianhu is famous for his greed for money. It is said that he can squeeze out two ounces of sesame oil from a handful of dry sand. He even raped the bones and sucked out the marrow of military households, and many of them were forced to death; Zheng Qianhu was also a pervert. , the concubines alone have robbed seventeen houses, all of them are women from military families... Zheng Qianhu is still a smiling tiger, who likes to plot others behind their backs, and is ruthless. Brother Feng, you have to be more careful! "
The mouse murmured in a low voice. Qin Feng did not answer, but just nodded. In fact, he had already felt the bottom before coming here.
The ancestor of the Zheng family was originally a general of the Yuan Dynasty. Later, due to Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty, the people rebelled and the world was in chaos. Seeing that the situation was not good, the ancestor of the Zheng family led his troops to raise the white flag and surrender to the rebel army led by Zhu Yuanzhang. Relying on this Due to his meritorious service, he became an official of the Qianhu Office in the north of Zhenbei, and was allowed to inherit the throne from his descendants.
The current Zheng Qianhu is the son of a concubine. Logically speaking, he is not qualified to inherit the position of Qianhu.
But fifteen years ago, the previous Qianhu, Zheng Qianhu's half-brother, died of an inexplicable illness. Not long after, his three sons also died of illness, and there was no other direct bloodline.
So, according to the rule of "passing on from son to son, but from son to brother without son", Zheng Qianhu came to power!
Regarding this matter, many people talked privately, saying that the previous Ren Qianhu and his three sons did not die of illness at all, but were secretly poisoned. The murderer was none other than Zheng Qianhu himself.
Killing your brother to seize the throne is unacceptable!
Perhaps there is retribution for doing too many bad things. Not long after Zheng Qianhu took office, he suddenly fell into a strange disease. He invited many famous doctors and took countless decoctions. He managed to save his life, but left a kind of sequelae - he couldn't Humane.
To put it simply, it means losing the reproductive function and being powerless when facing women!
It was still incurable. After taking countless medicines, his little brother still couldn't stand up... Therefore, after more than ten years, Zheng Qianhu had no children.
Someone asked, since Zheng Qianhu was powerless in the face of women, why did Zheng Qianhu rob the seventeenth-room concubine?
Simple, this is human nature. The more something is lacking, the more it is necessary to show off. Just because it is inhumane, Zheng Qianhu desperately grabs women to show his macho power!
Such an approach is both hateful and pitiable!
"Let's go into the city and meet Zheng Qianhu for a while. Even if he is so evil, he won't dare to eat me alive!"
"Okay - drive!"
The two men urged their horses into the city, and soon found the Yamen of Yulin Youwei-Zhenbei Qianhusuo Office. It covers an area of about fifty acres and is built in an extremely grand manner. It has a lobby, a second hall, a back hall, and subordinate offices... all are available. , and there were heavily armed soldiers standing guard at the door.
After the notification, the rat stayed at the gate, while Qin Feng was led in by a soldier, and saw Zheng Qianhu in the lobby: he was in his early forties, slightly fat, with a big head, a flat nose, and blistered eyes... ...The chin is bald without a beard, and there is still an air of femininity about it.
This image can easily remind people of a profession, that is, the kind of people who worked in the East and West factories of the Ming Dynasty. They had a promising future, had status, and earned a lot of money. It is a pity for people who work in this profession. , very unsuitable for writing novels, because...hehe!
While looking at it, Qin Feng took two steps forward, clasped his fists and saluted: "Qi Sha Ba - Qin Feng, the former son of Bai Hu, comes to see Mr. Qian Hu!"
"Haha, in recent days, I have often heard people talk about a young hero coming out of the Seven Kills Castle. When I saw him today, he was really extraordinary!"
"Thank you, Master Qianhu, for the compliment. I really don't dare to take it seriously!"
"You're welcome, you're welcome, take a seat quickly... Come here, serve some tea!"
"Thank you, sir, for sitting down!"
…
After sitting down, Qin Feng sipped tea while chatting with Zheng Qianhuxu and Wei She.
Ask a question, answer a question, and never say a word more. At the same time, you secretly guess what conspiracy the other party has?
"Qin Feng, are you seventeen years old this year?"
"Exactly."
"Well, the post of Hundred Households of Seven Kills Fort was originally inherited by your Qin family for more than ten generations. However, when your father died of illness, you were only ten years old and could not inherit the post of Hundred Households, so Lu I am temporarily acting as an agent for the Hundred Households. Seven years have passed and you have grown up. The position of the Hundred Households should be returned to you!"
While talking, Zheng Qianhu took out a square copper seal, three inches in size, with the text engraved on the front: Yulin Youwei - Zhenbei Qianhu Office - Baihu Seal!
There is also a line of small characters on the side: Made by the Ministry of Rites - April 7, the sixth year of Hongwu!
"Put this copper letter away. From now on, all the affairs of the Seven Kills Fort will be left to you. As for the official document about taking office, I have already asked the Commander of the Guard for instructions, and it is estimated that it will be approved within a month. Come down!"
"I would like to ask Master Qianhu, if I leave the affairs of Qi Sha Fort to me, where is Lu Shi Baihu?"
"Humph, over the years, Lu Maogui has bullied military households and committed all kinds of evil. His reputation is extremely bad. Although he has a slight relationship with Ben Qianhu, Ben Qianhu has always been fair and strict and will never protect his shortcomings. He has been imprisoned. After the crime is proven, he will be severely punished according to the law, so you can rest assured!"
"promise!"
Qin Feng put the copper seal in his arms and looked very happy, but secretly thought about it in his heart: According to Ming law, the children of guards officers can inherit hereditary official positions when they reach adulthood at the age of sixteen. In other words, as early as More than a year ago, it was time for him to officially become a member of the Hundred Households of the Seven Kills Fort.
It was Zheng Qianhu who favored his godfather-in-law, Lu Maogui, who suppressed this matter.
Now, treating each other with a smile and taking the initiative to return the bronze seal of hundreds of households, I'm afraid it's 'courtesy first, then soldier', right?
…
Sure enough, after saying a few words of congratulations and encouragement, Zheng Qianhu changed the topic and talked about the bandits.
"A month ago, the sand bandits ambushed the Xue family caravan in Lianglang Mountain and killed dozens of gangsters. Fortunately, Qin Feng, you are so heroic. You shot the bandit leader with one shot and scared off the bandits. Only then did you save your life." After the incident, the Xue family reported it to the General Military Mansion in Yulin Town. The General General was extremely angry and issued a strict order to the thousands of households to wipe out the sand bandits within a month to prevent them from robbing the past again. Caravan.
As we all know, the bandits hide in the desert. They are elusive and hard to find. It is as difficult as climbing to the sky to eradicate them. Unless the exact location of the bandits' nest is found, it is possible to gather together and annihilate them; among several surrounding military forts , the Seven Kills Fort is the closest to the desert, and Qin Feng, you are a young hero with both civil and military skills. Therefore, after much thought, this Qianhu family has decided that the important task of searching for the bandit's lair belongs to you, so please don't shirk it.
Don't worry, as long as you find the bandit's nest, I will immediately send troops to attack and annihilate them in one fell swoop. When you are done, I will definitely ask for credit from the top for you. A high official and a generous salary will be just around the corner, haha! "
…
Zheng Qianhu was flattering and making wishes, but if it were an ordinary young man, his blood would boil with enthusiasm after being deceived, and then he would rush into the desert alone to fight the bandits.
It's a pity that Qin Feng is not an ordinary person. In a seventeen-year-old body, there is a twenty-nine-year-old soul. He is experienced and well-informed. He is more cunning than a fox and more insidious than a wolf!
The bandits are hiding in the vast desert. How easy is it to find their lair?
Found it, there's a big reward!
If you can't find it, you will definitely be severely punished, delaying military flights, and beheaded!
It's just that the military orders are overwhelming. Qin Feng wants to shirk it, but has no suitable excuse. He can only agree to it first and then find another plan.
"Please rest assured, Lord Qianhu, I will do my best to find the bandit's lair as soon as possible, sweep it clean, and eliminate this scourge!"
"Okay, okay, everything depends on you!"
"If there's nothing else, I'd like to take my leave now, so I can go back and make preparations early!"
"Go slowly, don't send me away!"
After cupping his fists and saluting, Qin Feng turned and left the lobby.
Looking at the retreating figure, the smile on Zheng Qianhu's face disappeared instantly and turned into a sneer full of murderous intent!
Immediately afterwards, a man walked out from behind the lobby. He was in his forties, short in stature, with a round head and mung bean eyes... It was Lu Maogui. Since leaving the Seven Kills Fort, he had hid in Zhenbei City, looking for his son-in-law. shelter.
During the conversation just now, Lu Maogui was hiding behind and eavesdropping.
"Master Qianhu, why did you let Qin Feng leave, and also gave him the bronze seal of the Seven Kills Fort - Baihu Official? Didn't you agree before that you would kill him to avenge my son?"
Humph, what do you know? Killing him is easy to say. You know that your son's death was probably done by Qin Feng, but do you have any physical evidence? "
"No!"
"Since there is no evidence, how can Qin Feng be punished? We can't be punished without guilt... Don't forget, Qin Feng saved the daughter-in-law of the Xue family. The Xue family is one of the three major Qin merchants. You can speak well in front of the Governor, if this Qianhu kills Qin Feng indiscriminately, and the Xue family asks about it, will you take the blame?"
Zheng Qianhu's words made Lu Maogui speechless. He didn't expect that there were so many implications.
"Lord Qianhu, could it be that my son's death was in vain?"
"Don't worry, your son's death will not be in vain. Qin Feng must kill him, but it can't be done by you and me. We have to borrow a knife to kill him!"
"Killing with a borrowed knife, what do you mean, Master Qianhu?"
"Ben Qianhu returned the copper seal, first gave the boy a sweet date to eat, held it high, and then asked him to find the lair of the bandits. The terrain in the desert is complex and dangerous, and even thousands of troops can't find it. How could this kid find the bandit's lair?
If the bandit's lair is not found within one month, Ben Qianhu will punish him for "delaying the military plane and failing to suppress the bandits", and then hand him over, and the commander-in-chief and the commander-in-chief will kill him. Not only was the killing done openly, but it also had nothing to do with Ben Qianhu’s money. Even if the Xue family asked afterward, Ben Qianhu would not be blamed, haha!
Once this kid dies, the official positions of hundreds of households in Seven Kills Fort will be yours. By the way, I heard that Qin Feng has a fiancée who is blessed with a beautiful face and beautiful country. When this kid dies, you will send his fiancée to Come to Zhenbeicheng, let this thousand households take another concubine, haha! "
Zheng Qianhu laughed loudly and was very satisfied with his strategy, but there was a slight flaw in it. Qin Feng's official position was too small. What if he couldn't take the blame for "delaying military aircraft and failing to suppress bandits"?
Well, if you have it, then find another person to take the blame. For example, Deputy Dong Qianhu is quite suitable.
This guy has always been at odds with me, so he took this opportunity to get rid of Deputy Dong Qianhu. From now on, he will really be able to dominate the area of Qianhusuo in Zhenbei, haha!
