In the three years of the Great Song Dynasty, the spring breeze is warm, the spring water is intoxicating, and in the season of thousands of purples and thousands of reds, the favorite of the officials and people of Lin'an Mansion is nothing more than strolling on the Su Causeway and enjoying the flowers.

"I came to Qiantang to expand the lake green, and the embankment women fought for prosperity. The six bridges cross the heavens and the Han, and the north mountain begins to pass with the south screen. ”

In the fourth year of Yuanyou (1089), Su Dongpo served as the history of Hangzhou Thorn, had dredged the West Lake, and used the excavated silt and grass piles to build a north-south embankment, the embankment has six bridges, namely Yingbo, Suolan, Wangshan, Pressing Dike, Dongpu, and Crossing. The Song Dynasty moved south to Lin'an Mansion, and Su Dongpo presided over the construction of this embankment, which has become the first of the ten scenic spots of the West Lake, and is called "Spring Dawn of Su Causeway".

On the morning of spring, the smoke and willow yarn of the six bridges, a few warblers' cries, reported that the Su Causeway was early in spring, and the long causeway was lying on the waves, connecting the north and south of the West Lake. Peach red willow green, the scenery is particularly good, strolling on the embankment, the new willows are like smoke, the spring breeze is slow, the good birds are singing, and the artistic conception is moving. The scenery of lakes and mountains is like a dream.

At this time, it was before the Qingming Festival, although more than a year ago, there was a fire in Jinren Wanyan Zongbi, and Lin'an Mansion was burned down, but time passed, and people seemed to have recovered from the original war trauma, and they were full of interest in swimming in the lake.

Early in the morning on the Su Causeway, it was already bustling and lively. In the peach willow shade, the tourists are endless, the sound of eating, drinking, and selling is endless, the folk artists who come to perform perform are walking ropes, flying money, throwing balls, swallowing knives, spitting fire, jumping circles, fighting and all kinds of cockfights, teasing crickets, the viewers are full of interest, and the cheers are continuous. There are many people who sell tea, fruits, and pastries.

And the boats on the lake are also dressed up in flowers, beating gongs and drums, drumming and sheng, silk and bamboo orchestras, so lively.

There are also some brocade boats dotted among them, and the official prostitutes or private prostitutes on the ship laugh and laugh, attracting the eyes of many prodigal sons, many of whom are official eunuchs.

Since the fifth year of Jingkang, that is, the first year of Jianyan, for more than two years, there has been a great drought in the south of the Yangtze River, the Jin people have gone south to plunder, bandits are rampant in various places, and the life of the people in the south of the Yangtze River is not easy.

The Song dynasty moved south, in order to maintain the daily operation of the imperial court, as well as to bear the huge war expenses, the government changed the law and increased taxes on the heads of the people, so that the people were not able to make a living, and the people everywhere swarmed, especially in the Jinghu area, where the drought was serious.

The strength of Yang Mi's Dongting Lake rebel army swelled rapidly, and the Great Song Dynasty had a headache. Yang Qibu blocked the waterway of the Yangtze River, separating Jiangnan from Bashu. Once Sichuan broke away from the Great Song Dynasty, it would be tantamount to adding insult to injury for the Great Song Dynasty in the south of the Yangtze River.

Sichuan is not only the frontier gateway of the anti-gold resistance, but half of the wealth of the Great Song Dynasty came from Sichuan. In addition to the basic field endowment, Sichuan also paid tea, horses, silk, cloth, salt, etc. to the Song court. Once the basic population of Sichuan is lost, the Great Song Dynasty in a corner of the country will have an unpredictable future.

Not to mention, the puppet Qi State supported by the Jin people in Shandong occupied Huaibei, and its influence spread to Huainan, and they also sent people to Dongting Lake to recruit Yang Qibu. Although Yang Qibu did not respond for the time being, it seemed unreliable to pin the safety of the court on the other party's indecision.

After several battles, the imperial army suffered heavy losses, whether it was Wang Qi or Li Gang, they all returned in vain. Yang Qibu continued to sit large, and its main fleet exceeded 40 ships, and there were countless small boats and loach boats.

Compared with the anxiety of the monarchs and ministers of the court, although the people of the people have a hard time, they are also happy in suffering, as if there is no tomorrow after today.

Once, they were angry at the weakness of the imperial court and were angry with it. With the passage of time, the imperial court repeatedly sprinkled soup, and people had already become numb, and they no longer had any hope for the imperial court.

Today there is wine, today is drunk, tomorrow is sad, tomorrow is sad.

The imperial court is weak and does not want to forge ahead, what can they do with these ant-like grass people?

I heard that Fan Ruwei of Fujian was very fierce, gathered more than 100,000 people, and repeatedly defeated the official army. I don't know if the court can destroy the other party.

Under the Wangshan Bridge, two brocade boats were on the side, the board was on the board, and a gorgeous woman in brocade clothes was graceful and enchanting, and got on the other party's ship from her own boat, causing a sigh of the disciples on the embankment and on the shore.

"It's that crazy bee wave butterfly, who can actually make Li Sisi, the flower of Lin'an Mansion, move?"

"Looking at the ship, it seems to be from Fang Xiong, a wealthy merchant in Lin'an Mansion. I can't imagine that this guy has such a skill?"

"It's not like there's a lot of stinky money! You and I are young and golden, and we are graceful, and I don't think it's worse than that, why can't I get into the eyes of the Oiran?"

The words of the prodigal son on the shore came under the bridge, and the two people sitting in the boat just smiled slightly.

The boat rowed to the center of the East Lake, far away from the bustle, and the boatman on the boat saw that there were no boats around, so he slowly rowed.

"Little lady Li, how have you been lately?"

Fang Xiong, who was dressed in brocade, had a fair complexion, round and chubby, and his face was solemn at the moment, and the smiling Maitreya Buddha on weekdays was like two people.

When he came to Jiangnan, he naturally knew his mission. He wants to weaken the opponent's strength as much as possible, try to make it unsafe, and it is best to destroy the car and kill people.

If Wang Song wants to become the lord of the world, how can the Great Song Dynasty exist? Only when the Great Song Dynasty is destroyed can Wang Song be justified in ascending the throne, and it is best not to have anything to do with Wang Song.

Otherwise, what is the use of these people?

"Big official, the concubine has something important to report."

Li Sisi looked at the boatman at the bow of the boat and lowered his voice.

"Don't worry, it's your own family."

As if knowing Li Sisi's worries, Fang Xiong comforted him gently.

This Oiran who is famous in Lin'an Mansion is a prostitute who is a registered prostitute. Because he refused to sleep, he offended the officials of the front division of the palace, and the family was thrown into prison. Fang Xiong stepped forward and used countless coins to get through Zhao Ding, the prefect of Lin'an, and rescued Li Sisi's family.

Since then, this Li Sisi has become Fang Xiong's insider. Although, he never revealed his identity to Li Sisi.

As an intelligence officer, he naturally knew his duties.

"Don't rush, speak slowly."

Fang Xiong nodded slightly, motioning for the other party to continue.

Li Sisi asked him to meet today, there must be something important.

"Great official, a few days ago, the commander under Han Shizhong's command Xuan Yan was drunk, saying that the imperial court wanted to transfer Han Shizhong's troops to Jinghu to quell the bandits because of Li Gang's defeat."

Fang Xiong couldn't help but be surprised, this was a big deal.

Han Shizhong is a famous general, if he can let Yang Qibu sit big and defeat Han Shizhong, wouldn't it be ......

"Did you hear anything else?"

"This time, the imperial court abandoned the weak local army and replaced it with the rebuilt forbidden army as the main force. Han Shizhong is the commander of the army, Wang Qi is the commander of the navy, a total of 500 sailor ships, baggage, grain and grass, 20,000 Jiangnan sailors, 30,000 foot cavalry, and about 50,000 troops. ”

Fang Xiong nodded as he listened, his eyes shining. Such a major military situation really excites him.

For the Southern Song Dynasty court, which has a small number of people, if it returns from a big defeat this time, I believe it will be even weaker.

"Daguan, I don't want to stay in Jiangnan anymore. Can you take me to the north?"

For Li Sisi, since she met the man in front of her, she never wanted to continue her career as an official prostitute. Although it is said that selling art is not selling one's body, it is inevitable that one day, if you are careless and lose your body, won't your hopes be disappointed.

What Fang Xiong was doing, she guessed eight or nine without leaving ten. She prides herself on being young and beautiful, but Fang Xiong can not be moved, except for the famous prince Wang Xianggong in the Northland, who can let Fang Xiong work so hard for him?

"Little lady Li, if you want to go to Hebei, I can arrange it. But I can't leave yet, I still have my mission. ”

Since he said it, he always had to give the other party some hope. As for the relationship between men and women, he didn't even think about it. What he does, he knows in his own heart. As he said, his mission is not finished, how can he leave!

"Since the official business has not been done, then when the time comes, let's leave together."

Li Sisi was a little disappointed. Fang Xiong is like this, for her, I don't know whether it is sad or happy?

The boat rowed back, but there was no one on board, only the sound of paddling.

"Great official, I almost forgot something."

Li Sisi's face was slightly red, and he was secretly annoyed by his negligence.

"If there's anything, it's okay to just say it."

Fang Xiong was secretly surprised. Could it be that there are important things that are more urgent than the military situation of Han Shizhong's troops?

"Big official, yesterday the Weapons Supervisor Kang Shaojian inadvertently revealed that it was Peng Something, the craftsman of the Weapons Supervisor, as if he was about to develop a new gunpowder, which is huge, no worse than Hebei's."

Fang Xiong was taken aback. The gunpowder formula has always been a secret of Hebei, how can it only be a few years of hard work, and the group of people in the imperial court will also come out.

"Did you hear clearly, was it developed, or not?"

Fang Xiong's voice trembled, and there was a hint of unease.

"I've listened carefully, just these days. Maybe it's out now. ”

Fang Xiong's face was pale, and he bowed his head and was silent. Li Sisi looked at him and said softly to the side.

"Daguan, the ordnance supervisor is in the outer city, not far from Lin'an Mansion. Listening to the meaning of that young eunuch Kang's words, there were not many sergeants in the ordnance supervisor to take care of him. ”

Li Sisi left, Fang Xiong was like sitting on pins and needles, his heart was like numbness, he was too busy to get off the boat, and went straight to the city.

He personally went to the city for a walk, and sure enough, the courtyard where the armory supervisor was located was not large. And, like most houses in the city, the house is made of bamboo and wood.

It was already dark, and Peng Zhen came out of the armory prison yamen and said hello to the two sergeants guarding the door.

"Brother Peng, it's too hard to go back now!"

"There's no way. Shangguan urged him tightly, but fortunately he got it almost done. ”

"Brother Peng, aren't you going to play in the tile tonight?"

"Not tonight, I'm too tired. I have to see Shangguan tomorrow, and I have to go to bed early tonight. ”

Peng Zhen said goodbye to the two and couldn't help yawning. These days, he forgot to sleep and eat, and worked all night, but he was exhausted.

After walking for a mile or two, he came to a secluded corner, and was confronted by a man who was walking straight with his head bored, and directly hit Peng Zhen.

Peng Zhen was furious, and was about to scold angrily, when he felt pain in his chest, and his chest had been stabbed several times.

Peng Zhen touched his chest, his hands covered with blood. He raised his head in disbelief, but the murderer supported him, like an old friend, and carried him into the deep alley.

When he came to a ruin, the man looked left and right, helped Peng Zhen, who had died of anger, inside, and used a broken mat to break the door and cover it tightly.

"I'm sorry, man. Rest assured, your family is indispensable for comfort. ”

The murderous spirit is still there, the human affection is still there, the positions are different, and the family and country are in turmoil, each for its own master. If you want to blame, blame this dog's world.

That night, the outer city of Lin'an Mansion suddenly burst into flames, and in the area of South Street, where Lin'an Mansion is located, a fire broke out, and the fire started from the ordnance superintendent, causing the gunpowder inside to explode and burn many nearby houses.

Fortunately, someone found it in time and shouted loudly, so there were no innocent casualties. But the ordnance supervisor burned it clearly, cleanly, and in rubble.

The disappearance of the ordnance supervisor did not cause an uproar in the city. The situation was turbulent, the people of the court were panicked, and the officials were slightly suspicious for a few days, and then forgot about the matter completely.