The second master, Niu Chengzhong, was naked from the waist up, holding a long spear in his right hand and a piece of armor in his left hand.
Behind him are the two brothers who usually accompany him, also carrying spears and armor.
That armor is cotton armor. Special silk cloth is stuffed with cotton, sewn finely, then washed with water, beaten and rolled with tools, and then exposed to the hot sun to make the cotton fibers and silk cloth closely adhere to each other, like a hard thin plate, and its function is naturally not to keep warm. , but becomes a battle suit that can withstand some cold weapons and is much lighter than iron armor.
When Niu Chengzhong first came to Shuizhai, in addition to a small group of people, he also brought several sets of cotton armor to give to the boss and several senior brothers. This kind of well-made cotton armor from the north is easier to wear than the local rough-made iron vest that is as heavy as a coffin board. The first and second masters will wear it when they go out to do big business, so all the gangsters know it.
The bandit guarding the stable looked at Niu Chengzhong, who was dripping with sweat, and asked with respect and surprise: "The second boss is almost ugly. What are you doing? Why are you still carrying a gun and armor?"
Niu Chengzhong threw his cotton armor to the followers behind him, took off the white middle coat wrapped around his waist, wiped the sweat on his chest, and wrote lightly: "I can't sleep, so I'm practicing spear shooting with my brothers and trying the spear tip stroke." The strength of armor.”
"Oh, the second master came to see the younger one because he wanted to..."
Niu Chengzhong sneered and said angrily: "What do you want from a red guy like you? I'll take care of that little bitch inside."
"Ah?" The guard was stunned and asked carefully, "That maid?"
"Why, no? That maid, the boss promised to give it to me. I just practiced shooting and got the fire started, so I might as well make a couple with her today."
"This... uh... okay, I'll open the door for the boss now."
The guard responded obsequiously, picked up the key from his waist, and murmured in his heart that the second master did not bring his family with him when he entered the village, and he had not seen him get a woman back for more than half a year. The brothers secretly speculated whether he liked to do "grain road business" "Yes, it turns out that the young female Yangzi would be so anxious when she saw Shuiling.
The lock jingled and the door was kicked open unceremoniously.
Huang Zunsu, who had already stood up, dragged the chain up to face Niu Chengzhong, who was half a head taller than him.
Like the two women in the room, he heard clearly the vulgar words Niu Chengzhong said in the courtyard.
Huang Zunsu raised his shackled wrist, gave Niu Chengzhong a fist, and said loudly: "Second Master, you are a seven-foot-tall man, whether you are a scholar or a soldier, you are on the right path. Being a bandit and killing people is already unjust." , forcing a weak woman from a good family is even more unbearable..."
"Haha, Mr. Huang, how did you know she didn't want to." Niu Chengzhong cut off Huang Zunsu's generous remarks with a teasing tone.
After saying that, he pushed Huang Zunsu away, took a few steps to the bed, and pulled Zheng Haizhu out of the shadows.
Han Ximeng was so anxious that he shouted angrily: "You, you, what is the difference between you and that one-eyed man!"
Zheng Haizhu stumbled a few times, but she clearly felt that as soon as Niu Chengzhong touched her wrist exposed outside the narrow sleeves of her jacket in the dark, he immediately let go and grabbed the knot at her wrist instead, as if he deliberately avoided contact. Her skin is average.
While she was wondering, she suddenly heard a muffled scream at the door.
The three prisoners followed the sound and saw that the guard who had followed the shed to watch the excitement was pinned to the ground by one of Niu Chengzhong's subordinates and remained motionless.
The subordinates came forward and asked Niu Chengzhong in a low voice: "Young master, do you want to kill him?"
Niu Chengzhong said: "He has not done any evil, just knock him unconscious. Gagged his mouth, tied his hands and feet, and quickly get his keys to open the backyard."
He then ordered the other two subordinates: "You guys are going together. Do you remember the password?"
"Remember, young master, don't worry."
Several subordinates turned around and went out, disappearing into the dark night like loaches sliding into a deep pool.
Niu Chengzhong let go of Zheng Haizhu, quickly put on his middle coat, cotton armor, tied up his belt, and said to the three stunned prisoners in front of him: "Mr. Huang, two girls, I was sent by the imperial court to suppress bandits. Now I let go Release your hands and feet, and you can escape on your own, and be careful on the road."
After saying that, he first found two small keys from the guard who was unconscious on the ground, opened Huang Zunsu's handcuffs and anklets, and then took out a dagger to cut off the rope between Han Ximeng and Zheng Haizhu's wrists.
Zheng Haizhu rubbed his wrists and asked Niu Chengzhong concisely: "Master Niu, are the officers and soldiers coming to attack tonight? Isn't it safer if I hide in this shed until you finish killing the bandits and then come out?"
Niu Chengzhong lowered his head and looked into her eyes. In them, there were two lights from small oil lamps, like two stars in the dark sky.
He thought: Thanks to her for thinking highly of me, I believe I can win.
Niu Chengzhong twitched the corner of his mouth and said harmoniously: "Girl, no battle can be won or lost before it is fought. It would be best if you can leave the place of right and wrong as soon as possible."
Niu Chengzhong turned to Huang Zunsu again: "By the way, Mr. Huang, have you ever reported a candidate named Shen for cheating in the examination? The person who ordered Qiu Wanliang to kidnap you was that man's father, Mr. Shen, the governor of Henan. I respect you for knowing right from wrong. , If nothing goes wrong tonight in suppressing the bandits, I will be willing to give you a testimony later."
Huang Zunsu cupped his hands, bowed deeply and thanked them, then asked: "General Niu, does he know why these two girls were kidnapped?"
Niu Chengzhong said: "Qiu Wanliang asked One-eyed Ah Liu to do it. I only know a little bit about it. He was also kidnapped for someone else to humiliate his innocence. Women are no better than men walking around. If someone intends to cause harm, you should pay attention to the villain among the people in your hometown. . Mr. Huang was originally going to be promoted to Songjiang. After escorting the two of them back to Songjiang, he happened to conduct a secret investigation on the two girls. Now, you come with me."
When he said this, Zheng Haizhu, whose hands were completely free, had already found what he wanted to take away from the bundle thrown on the bed, stuffed it into his arms, and then went to help Han Ximeng.
"You don't need to help me, and I haven't bound my feet. I may not be slower than you in escaping." Han Ximeng said calmly and calmly, and followed the two men towards the door.
The foot binding of ladies in the Ming Dynasty was not the cruel fracture-like binding method that was popular in later Manchu and Qing Dynasties. Instead, it followed the practice of the Southern Song Dynasty. The forefoot was first tightly wrapped to make it slender, and then the five toes were fixed upward to achieve the goal of wearing crested shoes. Always beautiful and beautiful.
But in the opinion of the maverick Miss Han, this slender appearance is just artificial. The soles and toes of the feet are squeezed, forcing the "dignity" of walking slowly, and it is clearly more like the inconvenience of the legs and feet of an old person. She was very resistant to foot binding, and her uncle and aunt couldn't get her to do it, so they had to give up.
At this moment, Han Ximeng lifted up the pleated skirt of Songjiang light-dyed drug-stained cloth. As expected, his steps were nimble and quick, as agile as a squirrel in the forest.
The three of them followed Niu Chengzhong through the gap between the woodshed and the livestock shed. In front of them was a large wooden door ten feet high, which had been opened a crack by several of Niu Chengzhong's subordinates.
Niu Chengzhong raised his hand and made a silence gesture to Huang Zunsu and others.
Zheng Haizhu stared out. There seemed to be a short corridor outside the door, facing the dark silhouette of the bandit city battlements in the starry night.
