The sun was in the sky, Wu Yuanming and others ate a meal of game hunted in the woods, and went on the road half hungry and half full, but there was a contradiction in the choice of direction, the Zheng sisters insisted on going to Raoyang, southwest of Hejian Mansion, to meet Chen Jinnan and others, but Wu Yuanming asked them to follow them to the south of Xian County, which was due south, and went to the south of the Yangtze River to find Wu Yuanming's godfather Yao Qisheng and others. Under the dispute, as a result, Liu Haozi also sided with the Zheng family sisters - because he still had more than 20 subordinates who would be with Heaven and Earth, and Liu Haozi had to take them with him to return to Luoma Lake.

"Shizi, since these people are unwilling to go with you, then let the last general escort you south." When the Zheng sisters and Liu Haozi were distracted, Li Xiongfei quietly suggested to Wu Yuanming: "On the way, the last general can also transfer some people from the western election officials, and the last will guarantee his life that he will be able to escort the prince back to Yunnan safely." ”

"I won't be in Yunnan." Wu Yuanming shook his head and replied in a low voice: "I have to go to Jiangnan first to find someone, and only when I find him can I return to Yunnan with confidence." ”

"Go to Jiangnan to find someone? Who? Li Xiongfei was very surprised. Wu Yuanming shook his head again and said in a low voice: "A very important and important person, without him, our Pingxi Royal Mansion is in the ...... with the imperial court There are no odds of winning! ”

"What are you muttering, stinking thief?" Zheng Xin found out about the whispered conversation between Wu Yuanming and Li Xiongfei, rushed over and grabbed Wu Yuanming's arm and dragged him there, shouting: "Don't try to play tricks, you have to go to Raoyang with us to meet the master, and then I don't care if you go there again." Saying that, Zheng Xin also threatened Wu Yuanming in a low voice: "Stinky thief, you'd better listen to me obediently, otherwise your gold medal ...... Hum. ”

"Now that I have someone to protect me, what's the big deal if you expose my identity?" Wu Yuanming secretly muttered that he was pulled by Zheng Xin in front of Zheng Xue and Liu Haozi, and Liu Haozi shouted: "Brother Wu, as soon as the two of us fall in love, don't go separately." You first go to Raoyang with your brother to pick up those rabbit cubs, and then go south with your brother to Luoma Lake for a few days of wine. ”

"Brother Liu, it's not that the younger brother wants to part with you." Wu Yuanming replied with a sad face: "It's just that the junior brother is worried, even if you go to Raoyang, you won't be able to find the brothers of the Heaven and Earth Society and Luoma Lake." Don't forget, the Tartar cavalry was mainly targeting them last night, afraid that they would have already been killed. ”

"Hmph, don't think you're the only ones who are prepared to be targeted by the Tartars." Zheng Xin snorted: "Yesterday, before arriving at the venue of the Turtle Killing Conference, my master also considered the possibility of being attacked by the Tartar army, so he set up an ambush in a forest fifteen miles southwest of the venue, as long as the Tartar cavalry dared to chase into the woods...... Hum! Just let them taste the taste of being roast pigs! ”

"Don't think so easily, your opponent is likely to be Zhou Peigong!" Wu Yuanming said with a gloomy face: "Zhou Peigong didn't show up at the turtle killing conference last night, I was a little worried at that time, and then those Tartar cavalry appeared, and I was very worried that the person who led the troops was Zhou Peigong." ”

Zheng Xin snorted indifferently: "What Zhou Peigong, Zhou Peimu?" In front of my master, it is nothing! As he spoke, Zheng Xin grabbed Wu Yuanming's arm and shook it: "Brother Wu, it's decided, you and we will go to Raoyang to find my master first, and then go to the south." Wu Yuanming was helpless, so he had to nod and say, "Okay, I'll go to Nanyang with you, but you must put on makeup and be careful to sail the 10,000-year-old ship, understand?" ”

After negotiation, Wu Yuanming and the Zheng sisters each took a step back, Wu Yuanming accompanied the Zheng sisters to find Chen Jinnan, the Zheng sisters made makeup according to Wu Yuanming's requirements, Liu Haozi also reluctantly made makeup under Wu Yuanming's repeated requests, and all the ornaments on the stolen horses were also removed, Wu Yuanming then took Li Xiongfei and the remaining three Wu Sangui army soldiers to set off, and accompanied the Zheng sisters and others to Raoyang by the southwest.

Although the Zheng sisters looked down on Wu Yuanming's timid appearance, after walking for more than 20 miles, as soon as they arrived at a populated place, the Zheng sisters and Liu Haozi and others had to admit that Wu Yuanming's worries were not unreasonable, because in the first small mountain village that Wu Yuanming and others had just arrived, there were local security guards with Xiang Yong to investigate suspicious characters, Wu Yuanming and others were stopped by the local security as soon as they entered the village, and the local security shouted: "Stop, where are you from?" What are you doing here? ”

"Beijing City, go to Raoyang to visit relatives." Wu Yuanming preemptively replied with a Beijing accent. The local security breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that it was a Beijing accent, and his attitude was much kinder, "This lord, Lord Yin of the Mansion has an order, Hejian Mansion will be under martial law these days, and all outsiders who pass through the river have to show the road guide, master, please show the road guide to the villain." ”

"No problem." Wu Yuanming replied casually, flipped it in his arms again, and said apologetically: "Look at my memory, I'm sorry, our road guide is kept in the big housekeeper's housekeeper, but he is ahead of us." Xin Xin, take ten taels of silver to this big brother of land protection. Zheng Xin, who was riding with Wu Yuanming, glared at Wu Yuanming fiercely, and muttered, "Don't ask your cousin to pay", and then threw ten taels of silver into the hands of the local protector. Wu Yuanming explained: "This big brother of the land protection, we are from the palace of Prince Zheng in the capital, so let's go to the prince to escort some things in the Zhuangzi in Raoyang, and it will be convenient." ”

"This ......." The local security was a little hesitant, but for the sake of Bai Huahua's silver face, the local security still nodded and said: "It's nothing for me to let you go, it's just that I have a word first, the villages and checkpoints in front are guarded, especially in Raoyang, martial law is even more powerful, you have no way to guide you, you can pass my level, and you can't pass the previous level." This lord, the little one advises you, don't go over, don't talk about buying roads for nothing, if you don't do it, you will be arrested and interrogated in the barracks...... It is really dangerous for you to bring with you a woman. Otherwise, you can go to Hejian Mansion to make up a road guide, and you will have no problem going any further. ”

"So strict?" Wu Yuanming, the Zheng family sisters and others glanced at each other, and Wu Yuanming asked tentatively: "This big brother of the land protection, what happened here?" How can you check it so strictly? If it doesn't work, we'll go back to the river to make up the way. ”

"Something big has happened." For the sake of the silver, the land guard replied very happily: "I also heard from the officials from the house, last night there was a large number of anti-thieves gathering in Hejian Mansion, and the Lord Qincha from the capital mobilized the army to exterminate them, and there was a big fight, and then those anti-thieves retreated to Raoyang, and also arranged a fire plan in a forest on the road, preparing to burn the officials and soldiers with fire." Fortunately, Lord Qin Cha Zhou was aware of everything and fired a rocket indiscriminately before entering the woods, which not only ignited the gunpowder and sulfur hidden in the woods in advance, but also burned and burned many thieves. Later, Lord Qin Cha Zhou concluded that the thieves would meet in Raoyang, so he asked Lord Yin to order martial law in the area of Raoyang, and strictly investigate all the people in Raoyang. Speaking of this, Na Dibao added, "Also, I heard that Lord Qin Cha Zhou transferred the cavalry of the Eight Banners Lord from Tianjin to participate in the capture of the rebels, and he has already arrived in Hejian Mansion this morning." ”

After the Di Bao finished speaking, the two pretty faces of the Zheng family sisters had become whiter than the dead, Wu Yuanming was afraid that they would show the news, so he hurriedly bowed his hand to the Di Bao and said: "Thank you so much, it seems that this Rao Yang really can't go without a road guide, let's go back to the river to make up the road and lead it, see you back." "Let's say, Wu Yuanming patted the horse's head, turned around and walked back and forth, Liu Haozi and Zheng Xue were still a little hesitant over there, Wu Yuanming shouted again: "Brother Liu, Xue'er, go back and make up the road, do you want to be arrested and taken to the barracks for questioning?" Zheng Xue and Liu Haozi had no choice but to turn back with Wu Yuanming.

After riding a horse for three or four miles, as soon as he got out of the sight of those land protectors and village warriors, Zheng Xin couldn't help but exclaim: "Stinky thief, you really got it right, my master's strategy was seen through by the man surnamed Zhou, and now our world will be miserable." Zheng Xue and Liu Haozi asked in unison: "Will my master (my brothers) be in danger?" ”

"I don't know if it's dangerous, but with Chief Chen's martial arts, he shouldn't be in danger." Wu Yuanming said with a gloomy face: "If I were the helmsman of General Chen, it would obviously be impossible to choose the collective transfer of the brigade, and the only way would be to retreat in pieces, and then reunite in a safe place." But Rao Yang has been targeted by the Tartars, and this place can no longer be used as a meeting place, and what we have to do now is to find a new meeting place for the Heaven and Earth Society. ”

"But my master didn't prepare another meeting place in advance? How do you ask us to find it? Zheng Xue asked. Wu Yuanming pinched his bare chin, pondered and asked, "Miss Zheng, your heaven and earth will be in the north, is there a good hiding place?" Or a base that can provide you with cover? ”

"The north is a nest of Tartars, and we have difficulty developing here, except for a rudder in Jinan Mansion, there is no other place." Zheng Xue replied with a slight frown. The reason why Zheng Xue frowned was that after the incident in Licheng, Jinan Mansion was obviously not so safe, and it was not suitable for the assembly of large groups of people. Liu Haozi suddenly interjected: "Then will your masters go to the territory of Shandong Penglai Yu Lao Qi or Henan Queshan Wang Xiaoqi?" Those two heroes occupy the sea and the mountains to fight against the Tartars, if your heaven and earth will have contact with them and go to them, they will definitely take them in. ”

"Although our Heaven and Earth Society doesn't discriminate against these mountain kings very much, we never interact with them, so we shouldn't go to them." Zheng Xue shook her head and replied. Wu Yuanming smiled at Zheng Xue, and said in his heart, how can you discriminate against the water bandits in Llama Lake? Zheng Xue understood what Wu Yuanming meant, her cold face turned red for no reason, and she turned her head and whispered: "I was scolded by the master, and I won't say those words in the future, okay?" ”

"If you don't go to those two good brothers, it's troublesome, they're going there?" Liu Haozi is a cheerful person, and he has long forgotten what Zheng Xue offended him that night, scratching his head and asking. Wu Yuanming also frowned, turned his head to Li Xiongfei and asked, "Cousin, you are walking on the rivers and lakes, according to the situation you know, can you guess the place where heaven and earth will reassemble and rendezvous?" ”

"The anti-thief of the Heaven and Earth Society...... The people of the Heaven and Earth Society have always been elusive, I can't guess. Li Xiongfei shook his head very frankly. Because of the contradiction between Wu Sangui's family and the Heaven and Earth Society, it became a habit for Li Xiongfei to call the Heaven and Earth Society a thief, which also caused the Zheng family sisters to be strongly unhappy, and they all hummed in unison. Fortunately, Wu Yuanming suddenly had an idea and shouted: "I know, the Heaven and Earth Society will definitely go to Luoma Lake to rendezvous!" ”

"Rendezvous at Llama Lake?" The Zheng sisters looked at each other and were suspicious of Wu Yuanming's words. Liu Haozi was overjoyed and said, "Brother Wu, are you sure that Chief Helmsman Chen will take someone to Luoma Lake?" If that's the case, I'll buy some more good wine and go back, and I'm going to have a good drink with Mr. Chen! ”

"Definitely!" Wu Yuanming nodded firmly, and explained: "Think about it, Zheng Xue and Zheng Xin, your sisters have a noble status in the Heaven and Earth Society, if the two of you disappear, your master will definitely find you before you can return to Taiwan." And you are missing with Brother Liu, the owner of Luoma Lake, and Chief Helmsman Chen will definitely go to Luoma Lake to find you! Moreover, Luoma Lake is not far from Hejian Mansion, and it is very safe as a meeting place, Brother Liu, your more than 20 brothers are by the helmsman Chen's side, they know the topography and hydrology of Luoma Lake, and they know Brother Liu's hospitable temper, if I am the helmsman of Chen, I must choose the rendezvous site in Luoma Lake - there is no safer and more reliable place in addition. ”

"Haha, that's great, let's go back to Llama Lake and get ready for wine!" Liu Haozi laughed happily, Chen Jinnan, the world-famous president of the Heaven and Earth Association, came to Liu Haozi's house as a guest, this honor is not something that ordinary bandit mountain kings can have. And the Zheng sisters also agreed with Wu Yuanming's point of view after consultation, and promised to go to Luoma Lake with Wu Yuanming and others to wait for Chen Jinnan, as for Li Xiongfei and others, just treat them as if they don't exist, Wu Yuanming, the real master, is here, and they don't have the right to put forward their opinions. But Zheng Xue took the time to whisper to Wu Yuanming: "I don't know if what you said is true or false, in short, I was deceived by you and left with you." ”

"Don't worry, what I promised you will be done." Wu Yuanming glanced at Zheng Xue, looked ahead and replied lightly. didn't want Wu Yuanming's voice to be heard by Zheng Xin a little louder, Zheng Xin immediately jumped three feet high on horseback, twisted his head and grabbed Wu Yuanming's ear and shouted, "What did you say to my sister?" What did you promise my sister? What's up? I warn you, don't beat my sister's idea! The little girl's yelling attracted the sideways glances of Liu Haozi, Li Xiongfei and others, making Zheng Xue's cold pretty face rarely red to the base of her neck, and she rushed to the front to avoid her sister's questioning gaze, leaving Wu Yuanming to be taught by Zheng Xin's ears, "I warn you again, if you dare to beat my sister's crooked idea, I will let you walk around ...... without eating." ”

……

The vast expanse of blue waves is boundless, and the water and sky are cloudy. The birds fly and the reeds swing and the golden scales leap, and the fishing drums send back the sails.

Along the official road all the way south, change people do not change horses, hurried to Luoma Lake, arrived in Linqingzhou, Wu Yuanming and others took a boat to the south of the canal, until on the boat, Wu Yuanming, who had never been on a boat in two lives, found that he had seasickness, fortunately, Zheng Xue was quite familiar with medical skills, and got some calming herbs for Wu Yuanming to take, plus Zheng Xin's careful care, Wu Yuanming slowly adapted to life on the boat. After arriving in Picheng, Wu Yuanming and others changed boats and horses, and finally arrived at the Yaowanji where the wharf into Luoma Lake was located at ten o'clock in the evening of the first day of August in the eighth year of Kangxi, and they were also able to see the world-famous sunset of Luoma Lake.

I have to admit that Liu Haozi is indeed a very hospitable host, before he entered the dock, he was only at the Yaowan Market, Liu Haozi shouted to buy more good wine and bring it back to prepare to entertain guests, and did what he said about the wine in the only wine shop on the set. But Wu Yuanming was not as optimistic as him, but was worried that Chen Jinnan and others would not only bring Liu Haozi an honor when they went to Luoma Lake to rendezvous, but also likely bring disaster to this place, so Wu Yuanming proposed to Liu Haozi: "Brother Liu, we can not only buy wine, but also buy some gunpowder, sulfur and oil as a precaution." ”

"What are you buying those things for?" Liu Haozi, who was beckoning the boss to move wine, then reacted again, patted his chest and said: "Don't worry, the Tartar army in this area of Luoma Lake is scared by the eldest brother, you are absolutely safe here, you don't need those things." As he spoke, Liu Haozi patted the owner of the wine shop who was nodding and smiling beside him, and laughed: "I don't believe you asked him, how much weight do the four words of my Liu Haozi weigh in this area of Luoma Lake?" ”

"yes, yes." The owner of the liquor shop smiled and said: "The name of the lord of Liu Lake is in Luoma Lake, even the children who are crying dare not be disobedient when they hear it, and as for the officials and soldiers in several nearby states and counties, they even fled when they heard the news." The villains are also dragging the blessing of Lord Liu Hu, and the government does not dare to come to us to collect taxes. ”

"I'm afraid it's not the nearby officers and soldiers who are here this time." Wu Yuanming shook his head and sighed in his heart, and insisted: "Sell us all the gunpowder, sulfur, earth nitrate, and fire oil in your store, and then go to other places to buy more such goods, the sooner the better, the more the better, and we will buy it at a high price." As he spoke, Wu Yuanming snatched a few silver tickets from Zheng Xin and handed them to the owner of the wine shop, "Take it, this is a deposit, no matter how many goods we have." By the way, inform your peers and ask them to sell gunpowder to us, and I will give you a commission as long as it is a merchant you introduce. ”

"Okay, no problem." When the owner of the wine shop saw Wu Yuanming's generous move, he was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth, patted his chest and promised that he would be able to get a large amount of gunpowder and sulfur for Wu Yuanming and others the next day-because his brother-in-law was selling firecrackers. Only Zheng Xin was so angry that his eyes were spewing fire, and he grabbed Wu Yuanming's ears and scolded, "Stinky thief, you loser, two hundred taels of silver tickets, you actually bought all these useless things." If Zheng Xue hadn't pulled her away, I was afraid that Wu Yuanming's ears would have been pulled off by her.

Liu Haozi's words were not bragging, he just took a casual turn on the wharf, and soon, many fishermen from nearby fishing villages poured into the wharf, and they moved wine, gunpowder and sulfur and other things to the wharf, because tung oil is a necessary material for shipbuilding, so in the kiln market town alone, Wu Yuanming bought nearly 100 barrels of tung oil. These things were loaded onto the fishing boat together, and Liu Haozi personally led the way, taking Wu Yuanming and others to Guanchang Island in Luoma Lake, where his lair was located.

When there were still more than ten miles of waterways from Guanchang Island, Hong Dashan, the second leader of the Luoma Lake bandits, had already received the news, and took more than 300 water bandits to meet him in more than 30 large and small boats, Hong Dashan was a big man with a beard, and his voice was extremely loud, and he shouted at the bow of the boat from a distance: "Big boss, you are finally back, and the people you brought with you came back two at noon today, saying that you are missing, and I have been worried for most of the day." ”

"Hahahaha, what's your heart? A few Tartars can't hurt me. Liu Haozi replied with a laugh. Two water bandits sprang out from the side of Hong Dashan and shouted: "Big boss, good news! Good news! The helmsman of the Heaven and Earth Society, Mr. Chen, asked us to bring you a letter, and he will lead the people of the Heaven and Earth Society, as well as the three gentlemen from Jiangnan, to visit us at Luoma Lake, and thank you for your help in the turtle killing conference, and I will be there in a few days. O chief helmsman of the Heaven and Earth Society! There are also the three gentlemen in the Jiangnan literary circle! Big boss, you are so face-saving! ”

"Wha......!" Liu Haozi laughed wildly and lifted Wu Yuanming, spun around the boat before putting it down, and laughed: "Brother Wu, I really admire you more and more, what you said has been fulfilled, Chief Helmsman Chen is really coming to our Llama Lake!" Brother Wu, you stay in Luoma Lake, I will let you be the master of Luoma Lake with me! ”

"Great, the master is really coming here. Stinky thief, you really have a set. The Zheng sisters were also overjoyed, and Zheng Xin clapped her hands and laughed. Wu Yuanming was not as happy as them, but said to Liu Haozi seriously: "Brother Liu, if you think what I said makes sense, brother, then you must listen to what my brother says." Speaking of this, Wu Yuanming paused, and said in a more serious tone: "Prepare for war!" Prepare for battle! The heavy encirclement and suppression of you by the Tartar army is about to begin! ”

"Heavy encirclement? How much can it weigh? Liu Haozi asked in surprise. Wu Yuanming said in a deep voice: "How heavy can it be!" There are also smart people among the Tartar lackeys, and they will also guess that Chen Jinnan will escape here with people, and you Luoma Lake stirred up the turtle killing conference that the Tartars painstakingly arranged, will they be willing to suffer this dumb loss? ”

Liu Haozi turned his head and looked at the lake and pondered for a moment, then nodded: "It makes sense, our Llama Lake was originally a thorn in the side of the Tartars, and they won't let me go this time." Speaking of this, Liu Haozi raised his fists to the sky with both hands and shouted: "Dog Tartar, come on, on land, Lao Tzu may not be able to beat you." But on the water surface of Llama Lake, it is not your world! ”