PS: Where am I out of chapter? I'm just wrapping it up. Today's nearly 7,000-word chapter is presented, and there is really nothing left.

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At night, Ma Gai, who had reunited in harmony between the husband and wife, was hugged by his wife and lay on the couch, so naturally there was no need to run to the side room to sleep with the bed as he did yesterday, and he couldn't sleep because of the disharmony with his wife.

But even if the couple's minor conflict is resolved, it is still a little difficult for Ma Gai to fall asleep today.

Today, he met the new leader of the Black Tiger Thief in Yingshan, a half-grown boy named Zhou Hu.

Although Magai has met each other twice so far, it has to be said that it was only this time that he really began to face the teenager squarely.

In today's conversation with that Zhou Hu, Ma Gai has many questions to ask.

For example, how many Black Tiger Thieves are left today?

Where are these people hiding so far in winter? Why have no traces of them been found in the four neighboring counties of Runan, Kunyang, Yexian, and Luyang?

But unfortunately, these questions, the young man did not reveal to him at all, obviously he Ma Gai's previous behavior, resulting in him not being able to get the trust of the other party, and naturally the other party will not tell him the secret.

I don't know where the other party was hiding before, which means that this black tiger thief is difficult to completely eradicate, which is one of the reasons why Ma Gai succumbed to the young man at that time.

As for what the other party said, 'please drink from the prefectural order'......

With his example in front, he had no doubt that the other party's 'eating and drinking' and 'making friends' were actually to force the county magistrate to also become the internal response of the Black Tiger Village.

…… It's insane!

Ma Gai shook his head slightly.

However, despite the evaluation, there was no room for him to refuse.

Even, there is a trace of ...... in his heart Expect.

Yes, expectation.

At present, in Kunyang County, only he Ma Gai is the internal response of the Black Tiger Village - whether he admits it or not, since Zhang Jing secretly reported to the latter during the encirclement and suppression of the Black Tiger Village, this is already a doomed fact, even he himself can't deny it.

Although it is true that being alone as an internal should be more secretive, and it is not easy to be detected by outsiders, the pressure brought by this, such as the fear of being exposed in the future, is naturally increasing day by day, especially when he couldn't contact the main force of the black tiger thief some time ago.

But if there is a man who is equal to or even superior to his position, and is forced to suffer the same thing as him, and must not become a thief's guilt, then ......

Shaking his head, Margai quickly put this terrible thought full of temptation behind him, forcing himself not to think about it.

When he woke up the next day, after having breakfast cooked by his wife at home, Ma Gai left the house early and went to the county office.

At the gate of the county office, he met his subordinates, Yang Kang and He Feng.

Seeing Ma Gai, Yang Dare greeted with a smile: "The county lieutenant looks good today." ”

Ma Gai was stunned for a moment.

Yang Dang and He Feng didn't know the reason, but it could be seen that Ma Gai was a little stunned, He Feng hurriedly relieved his colleagues and said: "County lieutenant, Yang Dang didn't say that the county lieutenant looked bad a few days ago, but a few days ago...... I always feel that the county lieutenant has a lot of things on his mind, but today ......"

He stole a glance at Ma Gai's expression.

…… How so?

Ma Gai touched his cheek, and immediately, when he noticed that Yang Dang and He Feng were still secretly looking at him, he explained with a wry smile: "Alas, a few days ago, the black tiger thief couldn't find his whereabouts, and I was upset, and accidentally there were some quarrels with the insiders......"

"I see."

Yang Dang and He Feng suddenly realized that they looked at each other sympathetically: It's really not easy for the county lieutenant.

After sighing with emotion, Yang dared to ask cautiously: "Then ...... today?"

As if guessing Yang Kang's thoughts, Ma Gai said with a smile: "Yesterday, I went to the street to buy two gadgets for my insider, and my family is finally at peace." ”

Hearing this, Yang Dang and He Feng immediately congratulated Ma Gai with a smile and praised the county lieutenant's wit.

The three of them entered the mansion, and then went separately to their respective rooms.

After separating from Yang Kang and He Feng, Ma Gai reached out and touched his face again.

After Yang Dang and He Feng's 'reminders', he suddenly realized that he was indeed not as anxious and confused as he was some time ago, although he was about to do something that seemed unforgivable to him.

How so?

Shaking his head, Margai returned to his room.

As the county lieutenant of the county, Ma Gai has an independent squad room, and the things he is responsible for every day are actually quite relaxed, and most of the time recently he leads the team to patrol the streets and mediate some occasional civil disputes - even, ordinary civil disputes do not need him to appear in person, only the head catcher of his subordinates can come forward.

Recently, what has delayed him a lot of time is mainly to appease the families of the deceased county officials, and at the same time recruit and select new county officials.

After all, he in Kunyang County surrounded and suppressed the Black Tiger Village three times, and the county soldiers really suffered heavy casualties, and even sacrificed several heads.

After the battle to encircle and suppress Heihu Village last year, Ma Gai selected three people from the old county pawns, so that the number of head hunters was restored to the original six.

However, at present, there are only five people in Kunyang, but Ishihara is not there.

Thinking of that Ishihara, Ma Gai was also quite entangled in his heart.

I remember that after the end of the war against Heihu Village last year, Ishihara asked the county government to resign from the post of head catcher, and prepared to return to the latter's hometown with his companions Xu Bai, Wang Ping, and Chen Gui with the ashes of their late companion Ah Yuan, saying that they wanted to bury their old friend and take care of their old friend's mother.

Of course, Ma Gai appreciated this kind of righteous behavior, and even, out of his due diligence to public office, he very much hoped that Ishihara, Xu Bai, Wang Ping, and Chen Gui, the four capable people, could stay in Kunyang, so he refused Ishihara's resignation at that time, but allowed him to take a long vacation, go back to his old friend's hometown to bury his old friend, and bring his old friend's old mother to Kunyang by the way.

For this, Ishihara, Xu Bai, Wang Ping, and Chen Gui were very grateful to Ma Gai.

Thinking of the excited faces of the four Ishihara at that time, Ma Gai couldn't help but sigh.

Out of his conscientious public duties, he naturally wanted to leave the capable Ishihara and others in Kunyang, after all, Ishihara and several people had contributed to several battles to encircle and suppress the Black Tiger Village, but from another point of view, the existence of Ishihara and the others would bring unnecessary threats, especially at the moment when the young man named Zhou Hu was about to lead the Black Tiger Village Yu Kou back to Kunyang and make a comeback......

The world is not going to be as expected, nine times out of ten.

After some emotion, Ma Gai picked up a roster from the table.

This roster records the officers and soldiers who were captured by the bandits during the encirclement and suppression of the Black Tiger Village, some of them were county guards, and some of them were temporarily recruited villagers and rangers, and some of them admitted that they were forced to sign a confession as the internal response of the Black Tiger Village.

To be honest, Ma Gai really didn't know what to do, after all, since ancient times, there has hardly been a gang of bandits like Black Tiger Village, and if they caught the officers and soldiers and did not kill them, they were forced to sign a confession promised as an internal response.

Of course, only this group of thieves will be bold enough to force a county order to obey.

Shaking his head, Margai led the people out into the streets.

Soon, the day passed, and it was getting closer and closer to dusk.

Feeling that the time was almost up, Ma Gai took people back to the county office, and after sending away the county guards who followed him on the street, he walked to the county magistrate Liu Bi's class room, or the study room where he dealt with county affairs on a daily basis.

Outside the study, Ma Gai exhaled slightly, and then walked in.

At this time, in that study, Liu Bi, the commander of Kunyang County, was burying his head in the book and reviewing the case book.

As the head of a county, Liu Bi's daily affairs are much more complicated than Ma Gai's, county government, taxation, and civil litigation must be determined by the county order, which is why there is a county Cheng as the auxiliary official of the county order, because a person is really too busy.

"Liu Gong."

When he came to the house, Ma Gai hugged Liu Bi with a fist.

Hearing the voice, Liu Bi raised his head and glanced at it, and then said casually without raising his head: "Something, Ma Gai?" ”

Ma Gai took a few steps closer and said with a smile: "In recent days, I have gotten a jar of good wine, and I want to invite Liu Gong to my humble home for a few drinks." ”

Hearing this, Liu Bi raised his head in surprise, and immediately said with a smile: "Drinking? Ha, you must have something, say it. ”

Seeing this, Ma Gai shook his head pretending and said: "Okay, I don't dare to hide it from Liu Gong, about Liu Gong's decision to escort the subordinates of the Black Tiger Thief to the county after the year, it still feels inappropriate to be lowly." …… If the black tiger thief no longer exists, it will naturally be fine, but this time it is only Yang Tong who is dead, and there are still Guo Da, Chen Mo, Niu Heng, Chu Jiao, Zhang Feng, Ma Hong, Liu Heimu and others are at large, if these people learn about this, they will definitely hate me Kunyang ......"

Liu Bi shook his head and said: "At the end of the strong crossbow, the force can't enter Lu Minye." …… Although the black tiger thief was strong for a while, the thief leader Yang Tong was dead, and the rest of the people would inevitably collapse in panic. So far, the counties adjacent to Yingshan, such as Runan, Yexian, and Luyang, are all assisting me in Kunyang to pursue and suppress the remnants of the black tiger thieves, although unfortunately there is no news so far, but this is enough to prove that this group of thieves is now hiding in the mountains, and they are in fear all day long. He is in a deep mountain place, it is difficult to get food, and it is winter, and under the pressure of hunger and cold, I am afraid that I don't have to wait for me to come forward, and God will clean up this group of thieves. ”

Ma Gai didn't refute, nodded and said, "Liu Gong's consideration is also reasonable, but it's just ...... In this way, if Liu Gong appreciates his face, it is better to go home with the humble position, and then Liu Gong and the humble official will discuss the matter in detail while drinking. ”

"You......"

Liu Bi chuckled and shook his head, then nodded and agreed: "Okay." …… Then you wait a moment, and let me finish reading this book. ”

"Liu Gong is busy."

Seeing that Liu Bi agreed defenselessly, although Ma Gai felt a little disappointed, he also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Half an hour later, when Liu Bi finished the food at hand, Ma Gai went out of the county office with him.

The county order travels, unless it is urgent, most of them take a carriage, and Liu Bi is no exception.

When the two walked out of the county office, the carriage that Liu Bi had ordered in advance was already waiting outside the county office.

Liu Bi was defenseless, and when he saw that the carriage was correct, he rode on, while Ma Gai looked at the groom with deep meaning.

Under his observation, the groom was covered by a wide and worn cloak, and even the upper half of his face was covered, and the magai looked sideways at the other man's face, and then found that this 'groom' was the man who warned him not to play tricks when he saw Zhao Yu yesterday.

"Margay?"

Liu Bi lifted the curtain and urged.

Ma Gai hurriedly confessed, and then ordered the groom with a normal face: "Go to Ma's house." ”

With that, he boarded the carriage.

"Yes."

The 'groom', no, it should be Chen Cai, he answered in a hoarse voice, and then raised his head with a slight smile on his face.

"Drive!"

Whipping the horse, the carriage slowly moved forward.

At this time, in an alley not far away, Chen Zu took a few bandits to watch this scene calmly.

Immediately, a thief asked Chen Zudao: "Chen Zhai...... Chen Ye, what should I do with this person? ”

Chen Zu turned his head to take a look, and saw that a few steps away on the ground, there was a person lying on the ground with his head covered by a cloth bag, his life and death unknown.

Touching the short beard on his chin, Chen Zu said lightly: "The leader doesn't want to kill innocents indiscriminately, let alone just a pawn driving a car, why bother him?" The old rules forced him to sign a 'letter of nomination', and then let it go. …… Wait, wait until this is over. ”

"Yes!"

Several of the bandits nodded.

At the same time, Chen Cai was driving the carriage towards the north of the city.

At this moment, Liu Bi was chatting with Ma Gai in the car, and he didn't notice at all that the carriage was not heading towards Ma Gai's residence at all.

But after a long time, Liu Bi also felt strange.

"Why, haven't you arrived yet?"

Liu Bi, who felt strange, turned around and lifted the curtain of the car window to look out, and then showed a little confusion on his face: "Hmm? Margay, is your home around here? ”

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck, and even though he lost consciousness, he collapsed in the car with a pop.

Hearing the movement in the car, Chen Cai, who was driving the carriage, lifted the curtain and glanced inside, and then smiled at Ma Gai, whose face was uncertain: "Good job, county lieutenant." ”

“……”

Listening to the words that didn't know whether it was approval or ridicule, Ma Gai glanced at Liu Bi, who was unconscious, and a little complicated color flashed on his face.

I don't know how long it took, Liu Bi slowly woke up.

He subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed the back of his neck, which was still a little painful, and then his face showed a little stunned.

For he suddenly found that he was sitting at a low table in a dark and secluded house.

And sitting across from him at this time turned out to be a man wearing a tiger mask.

"Gong Liu, are you awake?"

The man in the tiger mask asked with a grinning voice in a hoarse voice.

At that moment, Liu Bi immediately thought of something, and exclaimed: "Ma Gai, Ma ......"

His voice stopped abruptly, because the moment he turned his head, he was stunned to see Ma Gai sitting to the left of the low table, with a silent and complicated expression.

Probably gradually sobering up his consciousness, Liu Bi stretched out his hand and rubbed the back of his neck, looked at Ma Gai in disbelief, and asked, "Ma Gai, it was you who attacked Liu in the carriage and brought me here?" ”

“……”

Ma Gai opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't say a word.

At this time, the person with the tiger mask, or Zhao Yu, said with a smile: "Liu Gong Mo wants to blame County Lieutenant Ma, just because he wants to see Liu Gong." ”

"You...... Who is it? Liu Bi turned his head to look at Zhao Yu and asked with squinted eyes.

Zhao Yu didn't hide it, and said with a smile: "No, Zhou Hu, is now the big leader of the Black Tiger Village. ”

！！

Liu Bi's face changed greatly when he heard this, and he wanted to stand up, but he didn't expect that a thick hand suddenly stretched out from the side and grabbed his arm, and immediately, a voice asked angrily, "Where are you going?" ”

Liu Bi subconsciously looked, and at this time he noticed that on the right side of the low table, there was an extremely burly strong man, because the other party was only wearing a thin single coat, the strong muscles were vaguely visible, and the whole person looked more burly and strong than Ma Gai.

Niu Heng?!

Taking a closer look at the strong man's face, Liu Bi recognized this person as the fierce man of the Black Tiger Village, Niu Heng.

"Sit!"

Niu Heng dragged it casually, which made Liu Bi lose his center of gravity, and the whole person fell on the table, knocking over several dishes.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu raised his hand to dissuade him: "Brother Niu Heng, don't be so rude to Duke Liu." ”

Hearing Zhao Yu's words, Niu Heng let go of Liu Bi, but he didn't forget to point at Liu Bi and threaten in a rough voice: "This house is full of our people inside and out, do you think you can escape?" Honestly sit here and listen to Ah Hu...... Oh no, listen to our chief, and save yourself the pain of flesh and skin. ”

Rubbing his arm that was painfully grasped by this reckless man, Liu Bi glanced around.

During this time, when his gaze fell on Ma Gai, there was a bit of resentment in his eyes.

Some time ago, in fact, he also heard some rumors, that is, Zhang Jing, one of the five tigers of Chenmen, identified Ma Gai as the internal response of the Black Tiger Village, but in the end because there was no evidence, and all kinds of signs did not match his guess and gave up, this matter once became a joke in the county government, and the county government made fun of Zhang Jing behind his back, thinking that the five tigers of Chenmen were nothing more than that.

It wasn't until Liu Bi saw it with his own eyes today that he realized that Zhang Jing was not wrong, Ma Gai was really the Neiying of Black Tiger Village, and this damn guy also used his trust in him to trick him into falling into the hands of this group of thieves.

But hate to hate, now is obviously not the time to question Ma Gai, anyway, as long as he can go back alive, he will naturally expose Ma Gai's crimes.

As long as he can go back alive......

Liu Bi turned his head to look at the man with the tiger mask, and from all indications, this person who called himself Zhou Hu was the leader here, and even Ma Gai obeyed him.

Exhaling slightly, Liu Bi tried not to let the other party see the panic and uneasiness in his heart, reluctantly cheered up, and asked, "Zhou ...... Tiger? Okay, the official recognizes you, so ...... Leader Zhou, what are you doing when you come to captivate the official today? ”

Hearing this, Zhao Yu raised his hand and gestured to the wine and food on the low table, and said with a smile: "As Liu Gong saw, Zhou has prepared some wine and food, and wants to have a drink with Liu Gong and be friends with each other." ”

"Friends? Hahahaha-"

Liu Bi raised his head and laughed, his laughter full of disdain and disdain.

However, Zhao Yu didn't care, put his fingers crossed on the table, just quietly looked at Liu Bi and laughed, and didn't stop it.

But Niu Heng couldn't help it, slapped the table suddenly, and scolded angrily: "You laugh again?!" ”

This angry rebuke, like an angry beast roaring, suddenly stifled Liu Bi's laughter.

Seeing this, Zhao Yu smiled and said, "Brother Niu Heng, what are you doing?" Liu Gong laughs when he wants to, why do you stop him? ”

After that, he turned his head to look at Liu Bi and asked in a normal tone, "Has Liu Gong finished laughing?" If you don't finish laughing, you can continue, Zhou is not in a hurry, you can wait for Liu Gong to finish laughing. ”

“……”

Listening to Zhao Yu's calm tone, a trace of surprise flashed in Liu Bi's eyes.

Seeing that Liu Bi didn't speak, Zhao Yu said with a smile: "It seems that Liu Gong finished laughing, so let's talk about business, right?" ”

Liu Bi stared at Zhao Yu, as if he wanted to see Zhao Yu's expression through that mask, but unfortunately, he didn't have this magical ability.

After a moment's thought, he asked in a deep voice, "What do you want to talk about?" ”

Hearing this, Zhao Yu raised his hand, and then pointed at Liu Bi again.

At this time, Jingnu also stood aside with a mask that was the same as Zhao Yu, and when she saw Zhao Yu's gesture, she hurriedly walked to Liu Bi's side and handed Liu Bi a copy of the 'Nomination Certificate' that had already been prepared in her hand to Liu Bi.

The so-called petition is actually a confession signed and drawn by Ma Gai before, which is a handle and a piece of incriminating evidence to put it bluntly.

Liu Bi turned his head to look at Jingnu and took the confession in the latter's hand.

With the dim candle flame in the room, Liu Bi quickly glanced at the confession, and then a somewhat mocking and disdainful sneer appeared on his face.

"Ridiculous!" With a light snort, he glanced at Ma Gai and said mockingly, "Ma Gai, I think you have a similar handle, right?" ”

"......" Ma Gai didn't speak, and took a sip of his own drink.

Seeing that Ma Gai didn't dare to look at him, Liu Bi snorted coldly, and then threw the confession in his hand aside.

Seeing this, Niu Heng's eyes immediately widened, and there was fire in his eyes, obviously to be unfavorable to Liu Bi, but fortunately, Zhao Yu raised his hand in time to stop it.

Zhao Yu asked Liu Bidao unhurriedly: "Doesn't Liu Gong want to be our friend?" ”

"Friends?"

Liu Bi sneered: "Liu has lived for many years, and it is the first time I have seen this way of making friends, I think that Leader Zhou doesn't want to make any friends with Liu at all, but he just wants Liu to obey you and others." ”

"It can be understood that way." Zhao Yu nodded.

Seeing that Zhao Yu actually admitted frankly, Liu Bi didn't know how to mock for a while, and after a moment of silence, he said categorically: "Die of this heart, I, Liu Bi, am a county magistrate, how can I succumb to you and a gang of thieves, I don't believe that you dare to do anything to me?" ”

Saying that, he didn't wait for Zhao Yu to speak, and then threatened in turn: "If a county magistrate dies for no reason, not only will the county inevitably send someone to track down the murderer, but even the imperial court will be alarmed." Since ancient times, the crime of killing officials is unforgivable, and it is a great crime of the nine clans! ”

Zhao Yu smiled when he heard this, and said, "Liu Gong thinks that we outlaws, what nine clans will be left?" As for ourselves...... We are now a capital crime, we die for one crime, and we die for ten crimes, does Liu Gong think there is any difference? ”

“……”

Liu Bi didn't know how to refute this.

After a moment of silence, he mustered up the courage to say, "In that case, this official is willing to be killed. How can I, the magistrate of a county, submit to you and others as thieves? ”

After that, he glanced at Zhao Yu contemptuously, raised his head and said: "My generation is not afraid of death, the reputation of death is still there, and the court will also chase this official for thousands of people to admire, like this, what is there to fear of death?" ”

"Bang bang."

Zhao Yu stroked his palms and praised, nodded and said: "I used to think that Liu Gong was an unkind county official, who turned a blind eye to the refugees who came to defect in order to protect Kunyang, regardless of their life or death, but today's Liu Gong's courage is really admirable." ”

Speaking of this, he changed his words and said with a smile: "Zhou has no doubt about Liu Gong's words, and Zhou also knows that a person like Liu Gong regards reputation more than life, but the so-called gentleman can deceive him, and a shameless person like Zhou can always have a way to make an upright person submit." For example, Liu Gong, I can find ten prostitutes to make Liu Gong ****, and after Liu Gong unfortunately dies, move Liu Gong's body to a flower building in the city and place it on the couch of a certain prostitute. …… When the dawn comes, everyone in Kunyang will learn the cause of Liu Gong's death, even if they are confused, I am afraid they will not be able to stop the rumors from spreading. As the so-called public mouth is full of money and accumulation of bones, when this matter spreads all over the counties, I am afraid that the imperial court may not give Liu Chengcheng a name, most of them just want to cover it up, tsk, like this, Liu Gong's generous death does not seem to be able to exchange for a good reputation. ”

“…… Vile. ”

Liu Bi trembled when he heard this, and gritted his teeth and scolded angrily.

In addition to his anger, his eyes looking at Zhao Yu were full of puzzlement.

Because he listened to Zhao Yu's conversation, especially some quotations from Zhao Yu's words, he felt that this guy with a tiger mask didn't look like a vulgar thief who didn't learn or know how to do it.

"It's not easy for outlaws like me to live, so how can we care about what courtesy, righteousness and shame? Gong Liu, don't think too kindly about us...... Of course, Zhou is still looking forward to making friends with Liu Gong. Saying that, Zhao Yu instructed Jing Nu: "Ah Jing, give the name to Liu Gong." ”

"Hmm."

Jingnu picked up the confession that was discarded by Liu Bi and handed it to Liu Bi again.

Looking at the letter of submission in Jing Nu's hand, and then at Zhao Yu who was sitting opposite, Liu Bi struggled for a long time, and finally took it with a slightly trembling hand.

He glanced at Margai, who had not said a word from beginning to end.

At this time, he could vaguely understand why the originally upright Ma Gai would succumb to this group of thieves......

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