In the afternoon, the group slowly walked to the official post in the north of the city. Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info It turned out that Qiu Yinming had arrived in Jingzhou half a month ago and lived here. Qi Mutian handed over the greeting post, and the steward knew that the governor had a visitor, so he respectfully invited everyone in, but he couldn't help but secretly glance at the three countrymen who were poorly dressed and carrying flat baskets.

When he arrived at the living room, the steward said, "Everyone, please wait here, Lord Qiu will meet guests in the room." After serving tea, he withdrew.

Chen Xiaoyu couldn't sit still, so he walked around the living room, touching the incense burner for a while, and then lifting the paintings on the wall, and repeatedly refusing to listen, making Chen Baisheng's face flush with embarrassment.

After a cup of tea, I heard a voice from behind the hall, and I saw Qiu Yinming and a person dressed as a military attache coming out of it. The military attache was saying, "Lord Qiu, you can rest assured. Your orders are the orders of Lord Fan. Qiu Yinming arched his hand to him and said, "Then thank you Brother Cao, Qiu will not be far away." ”

After the military attache left, Qiu Yinming invited everyone into the inner hall, and after seeing each other, he learned that Chen Baisheng and Qiao San had come here to join him, and it happened that Qi Mutian was also there, he suddenly had an idea, but it was inconvenient to say it at the moment, so he asked Steward Chai to take the Chen family's father and daughter and Qiao San to the backyard to rest, and invited Qi Mutian and Gao Ye to sit down and watch the tea again.

Qiu Yinming asked, "Is Mr. in good health?" ”

Qi Mutian smiled: "Okay." I'm here to bring you a lot of news. ”

So Qi Mutian explained to Qiu Yin in detail the beginning and end of the exchange of hostages between Xihai League and Chunlin Villa. After hearing this, Qiu Yinming's face was a little solemn, he thought for a moment, and said, "If this is true, it is a big crime." Do you think it's really possible that he is a powerful figure in the clan? Qi Mutian nodded and said: "Listen to the meaning of the second owner, if this matter drags on, in case it is discovered by the imperial court, it is not something we can easily deal with." They didn't dare to mess around with Chunlin Villa, and they wanted to make sure that the owner of Zhu Zhuang was safe and sound. Therefore, I personally came to the peace talks, hoping that both sides would take a step back and turn enemies into friends. ”

Qiu Yinming said: "This thing is really strange, does the alliance leader have the intention to find out what the identity of this Zhu Zhuang master is?" ”

Qi Mutian said: "The alliance leader didn't say anything. Alas, he was more worried about another thing now. It's just our housework, and I can't say it explicitly. ”

Qiu Yinming asked again: "Is there any whereabouts of Zhang Tianyi, who designed to harm Mr. last time?" I know that the clear stream will also be cast under the door of Chunlin Villa. This assassination failed and his identity was revealed, will he flee there for refuge? ”

Qi Mutian said: "I have sent someone to find it, but there has been no reply." ”

Qiu Yinming's face showed a slight embarrassment, and he said: "I came to Jingzhou Mansion in order to find out the inside story of the collusion between the Qingliu Society and the local bureaucrats. I have already met several officials, and I have secretly been to the helm of the Qingliu Society. But the people there were all scattered, and only a few handymen were looking at the house, and they didn't know what to ask. Now that they have lost the whereabouts of their big boss, even the second and third masters don't know where to hide. There are so many strongholds in the Seiryukai that I can't possibly know that this is going to be difficult. Mr. Bugui said that in the past two days, I have been thinking about whether to go to Chunlin Villa to conduct a secret investigation. ”

When Qi Mutian heard this, he was a little surprised, and said, "You still have to think twice about this." Chunlin Villa is not anywhere else, just one old sect master is invincible, and now there are still many martial arts masters gathered in Guizhou, it is too dangerous. Gao Ye also nodded and said, "I just came back from there, although I didn't meet the old sect master, but I also saw some surprising things, so my lord, you should think about it again." ”

Qiu Yinming suddenly remembered that Gao Ye said that he was going to Guizhou with Hengyu, and blurted out, "Miss, she came back with you?" ”

Gao Ye said: "Senior sister is still there to explore some things alone, I don't know what's going on, it's really unreassuring." ”

Hearing him say this, Qiu Yinming's heart became more and more entangled. Since that night's farewell in the suburbs of Beijing, it can be said that it is a morning and a twilight dream. Now that he learned that she was still returning to the state and was alone and repeatedly committed the tiger's den, his original idea of going in person with only five points suddenly became ten.

Qi Mutian saw that he lowered his eyebrows, his eyes flickered, and he understood in his heart, so he said: "Since you have made up your mind to go, I heard that Chunlin Mountain Villa is going to hold a mountain worship conference on the first day of July, and now we will exchange the owners of the village, and hope that the conference will be held as scheduled, so that you can justifiably mix in." By the way, who is that military attaché? ”

Qiu Yinming put away his thoughts, and said, "Oh, it was Fan Ying who sent me to help me, Cao Xin, the brocade guard of the Beizhen Fusi." The last time I wrote back to Fan Ying, I told him about the situation here, and he didn't think there was anyone around me who could be useful, so he sent him to help me. ”

"It's better to let him go with you." Qi Mutian suggested.

"Not so good." Qiu Yinming shook his head and said, "In case I find out that Master Zhu Zhuang is really a clan with identity, even if I know that this is a big crime, I can't help it." Cao Xin was a member of the imperial court, so the less known about this matter, the better. I don't want to make trouble, so it's better to invite Chen Baisheng and Qiao San to go with me. ”

Qi Mutian thought for a moment and said, "It's okay." So when are you going to leave? ”

Qiu Yinming said: "Since the exchange of hostages is in three days, then I can leave in three days." There are still some things to be arranged here, too. After that, he asked, "I just thought of something, and I want to ask what Mr. means." I heard Mr. say before, Xihai League wants to come to the Central Plains to recruit newcomers, this Chen Baisheng and Qiao San are not weak, and they are also very real, they used to be good men in the green forest, because they committed a crime and now have no place to live, I don't know if Mr. is willing to take him in? ”

Qi Mutian said: "It depends on whether the two of them are willing or not." Just now, I heard Chen Baisheng say that he wanted to find a small errand to support his daughter, but he must be tired of the rivers and lakes. You ask first, if they are interested, then I can talk about it here. ”

The three chatted for most of the hour, and Qi Mutian said that when he left Gong'an County in the morning, Heng Zining asked him to bring fish cakes and fish balls from the century-old store in Jingzhou Mansion, and to buy a few handkerchiefs for her in the best embroidery spinning. Speaking of this, Qi Mutian shook his head and said helplessly: "This girl is just sharp in her ears, and when she heard the locals on the manor talk about several specialties of Jingzhou Mansion, she remembered it." I wanted to come with me, but I didn't allow it, so she asked for something softly. Qiu Yinming smiled and didn't answer, but said that someone had arranged for Lan Tingju in the city to invite them to dinner in the evening. After the two said goodbye, Qiu Yinming went to the backyard to find Chen Baisheng and Qiao San.

Chen and Qiao learned that Qiu Yinming wanted to go to Guizhou to explore Chunlin Villa and needed help, so they nodded and agreed without saying a word. Qiu Yinming asked the two about their future plans again, Chen Baisheng sighed, it doesn't matter to him, it is Xiaoyu, an unconscious child, who always causes trouble for him, since her mother left the father and daughter many years ago to remarry, he failed to let his daughter live a good life, and now Xiaoyu is obedient and naughty and uneducated, and there is a problem of petty theft, he feels guilty as a father, so he thinks that it is best to settle down. He saw that Qi Mutian was gentle and elegant, and the Xihai League was a powerful gang, which might be a good place for people like them who carried the case on their backs. It's just that I can't make up my mind. Qiao San was straightforward, and only said, he will go wherever the eldest brother goes. Qiu Yinming knew Chen Baisheng's difficulties, and he knew in his heart, so he asked Steward Chai to take good care of Chen Xiaoyu when he went to return to the state. Chai Ban saw that it was the difficult little girl last time, and he complained bitterly, but he could only agree.

Saying that, two days later, in the evening, Qiu Yinming had just explained the task to Cao Xin, so that he had secretly stared at the officials who had dealings with Qingliu these days, and recorded all the findings. After Cao Xin said goodbye, Qiu Yinming went back to the bedroom to sit quietly for a while. As soon as I settled down, I suddenly felt that there seemed to be someone outside the door, and I immediately woke up. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Surprised, he stared at the door and said, "Please come in." ”

One of them pushed the door in, much to his surprise.

The person who came turned out to be Heng Jingzhao, the leader of the West Sea Alliance.

Qiu Yinming immediately got up and arched his hand: "The alliance leader is here, what are you doing?" ”

Heng Jingzhao's face was not good, and he said: "Lord Qiu, have you heard that this morning the official army went to Gong'an County to encircle and suppress our Xihai Alliance!" ”

Where to start with this, Qiu Yinming was speechless when he heard it, so he had to say: "There really isn't." "I began to think quickly about what was going on.

Heng Jingzhao sneered: "Just rely on these officers and soldiers to get me." Lord Qiu, you really haven't heard of it at all? ”

Qiu Yinming said: "No." May I ask the alliance leader, do you know which government sent the army? ”

Heng Jingzhao stared at him for a moment and said, "I came here tonight to see if Master Qiu knew." Since adults haven't heard of it, that's great. After pacing two steps, he added, "I don't think you're going to be a two-faced vile villain." ”

The more Qiu Yinming listened, the more confused he became, and asked, "Alliance leader, can you tell me what happened during the day?" ”

Heng Jingzhao sat down at the table, picked up the empty teapot, and said, "Is this how adults entertain?" I came all the way and was thirsty, so I asked the adults to help me make a pot of tea. ”

Qiu Yinming couldn't, and it was not easy to shout, so he had to go to the back to boil water, build a pot of tea, go back to the room and pour it for Heng Jingzhao, and said, "Please say the alliance leader." ”

Heng Jingzhao took a few sips of tea, nodded and said, "Well, this tea is okay." So he told the details of the matter: "Yesterday evening, I heard a report from a spy that two or three hundred officers and troops had somehow gathered five miles away from the manor. Xihai Meng has never dealt with the government, and I thought it was strange, so I sent people close to monitor it. The people who went came back and said that the officers and soldiers were actually coming for us, saying that they had come to raid in the early morning. Hearing this, Qiu Yinming suddenly thought, is the matter of Master Zhu Zhuang known to the government? Heng Jingzhao saw his expression change slightly, and said, "Master Qiu, what are you thinking?" ”

Qiu Yinming said: "Alliance leader, I won't tell you, I know that you arrested the Zhu Zhuang master of Chunlin Villa, and I also heard that he was born in the clan. Maybe the news leaked and was known by the government. ”

Heng Jingzhao said: "There is also this possibility, but how can the government send troops, how can it be so sneaky." Regardless of why they came, as usual, two or three hundred officers and soldiers seemed to me like ants, but last night the owner of Zhu Zhuang was still in our hands, and I didn't want to make trouble, so I asked everyone to evacuate overnight. I left Leader Shi and asked him to bring some men to continue to monitor the movements of the officers and soldiers. Sure enough, they came early in the morning, but they pounced. Leader Shi arrested a petty officer, tortured him and asked that it was the army sent by the Metropolitan Command Office. ”

Command Li Ju! Qiu Yinming was surprised in his heart. He commanded the military affairs of Huguang in general, how could such a high-ranking military attache send his own army out to interfere with the people in the martial arts, and use such a disgraceful act. If it is really the matter of Lord Zhu Zhuang who has gone out of the way, then he should also send the army openly. Thinking left and right, he couldn't understand it, so he said: "Thank you for coming to tell me." I will definitely send someone to pay close attention to this matter. The leader of the alliance may also know that there are many officials in this lake and wide land who secretly have close contacts with Qingliu, including some military attachés. Maybe the commander is among them. I have sent someone to monitor the officials who will come and go with Qingliu, and I will go to Chunlin Villa in person early tomorrow morning to find out. ”

Heng Jingzhao nodded and said, "I heard what Mr. Qi said." Lord Qiu is so daring. It seems that you are really determined to find out this time, and you are not afraid of losing your official position, where is your life? ”

Qiu Yinming smiled and said, "It doesn't matter if you lose your position, it's fate, I have always had a big life." ”

Heng Jingzhao also smiled slightly and said, "Then I will wish you a smooth journey for your lordship." After drinking half a cup of tea, he suddenly said, "This is a strange thing. Where I settled in Gong'an County, even if it was the news that Qingliu would communicate to the Metropolitan Command Office, my Xihai Alliance did not make trouble, and second, did not kill anyone, so how could the Metropolitan Command Mansion be so interested in sending troops to encircle and suppress it? ”

Qiu Yinming pondered for a while and said, "This Qingliu Society was originally taken refuge in the door of Chunlin Villa, so that it can have today's power. Now that Chunlin Villa intends to reconcile with the Xihai League, why should the Qingliu Society make another move and report it to the government? Moreover, if the government really understood the strength of the Xihai Alliance, it would not only send only two or three hundred people here. But there is a possibility, that is, the Governor's Mansion knew about the detention of the Zhu Zhuang Lord, and suspected that the Zhu Zhuang Owner was a member of the clan. The reason why it is sneaky is that it is not convinced. ”

Heng Jingzhao nodded slowly and said, "A few days ago, the second owner of Chunlin Villa came to the door, and he learned about our location from the Qingliu Society. But the news that the owner of Zhu Zhuang is a member of the clan was hinted at by the second owner himself, and it is also a secret in Chunlin Villa. It is impossible for the clear stream to know. How did the commander know that? ”

"Could it be ......" Qiu Yinming looked up at Heng Jingzhao, and saw that his eyes were full of suspicion, so he said bluntly: "There are spies in the Xihai Alliance." ”

Hearing this, the alliance leader was silent for a while, and said, "It's not too early, please rest, my lord." I took my leave. He got up and bowed his hand to Qiu Yinming and said, "Thank you for the tea." ”

After the alliance leader left, Qiu Yinming sat back on the bed, looking at the flickering candle flame in front of him, his heart was full of doubts.