The fifth day of the fifth month of May is the Dragon Boat Festival in Southern Chu.

This one, the war between Southern Chu and Northern Liao in Liangzhou was temporarily suspended, in fact, it was not that Southern Chu wanted to stop, but Northern Liao, until the second day of the fifth month, after the news that the Jiangnan military grain was destroyed in the river spread throughout Southern Chu, Northern Liao was unwilling to collide with Southern Chu head-on, even if there was, it was just a friction war, and then quickly collected troops and closed the city gate, no matter how the soldiers of Southern Chu scolded, the Northern Liao people just ignored it.

This made Zhang Chi, who was the vanguard general of Southern Chu, very angry, and sent people to Liangzhou City several times in a row to scold the Northern Liao people for being 'cowards'.

It's just that for Zhang Chi's approach, the Northern Liao people ignored it, and the Northern Liao general Yelu Abaobao, who was defending the city, laughed at him, you have the ability to attack him.

Just a few times, the continuous war losses and the arrival of the Dragon Boat Festival, the soldiers have also shown malaise, Zhang Chi is helpless, so he simply let go of the generosity, so that the Dragon Boat Festival soldiers can spend in the army.

At this time, Xiangzhou was also in a festive atmosphere and noisy Zheng

In the morning, there was a team of hundreds of sergeants escorting a dozen convoys loaded with boxes into the city, the leader of this convoy was called Jiang Ming, who was the governor of Zhenxing Mansion, and this time he was ordered by the Song Governor of Zhenxing Mansion to escort this batch of gold, silver and jewelry worth 100,000 taels to Bianjing.

However, on the surface, no one knew that this was a batch of gold, silver and jewelry, and the news that leaked out was just a batch of specialty food.

The governor of Xiangzhou knew the origin of the convoy and knew that this convoy was to send special products to the Taishi, so after the convoy entered the city, he sent officers and soldiers to escort it all the way in.

The mighty procession drove into Xiangzhou City during the Dragon Boat Festival, and the people along the way stopped to watch, and everyone showed great curiosity on their faces.

On the second floor of a teahouse, a man who looked like a merchant and a man with a hat watched the motorcade drive down the street below.

The businessman-like man smiled at the man in the hat opposite and said: "Brother Yue, this is the congratulatory gift given to Chen Taishi by Song Wenliang Song Governor of Zhenxing Mansion, the box of the carriage is full of gold, silver and jewelry, this Song Wenliang has been the prefect of Zhenxing Mansion all these years, I don't know how many people have scraped the people's fat and people's ointment, relying on the reason that his father-in-law is the Taishi, he is unscrupulous, and the Chen Taishi is also turning a blind eye to this, so these are ill-gotten gains, and if I am robbed, it can be regarded as being angry for the people." ”

Because he was wanted by the Xiangzhou government, Yue Changzhong can only take a hat with him.

He withdrew his gaze from the distance that followed the convoy and glanced at Ran Biao opposite: "Brother Ran, who is the leading man?" ”

"His name is Jiang Ming, he is the governor of Zhenxing Mansion, he has been a martial artist, Song Wenliang admires him, so he took him in and let him be the governor, in that Zhenxing Mansion, only this Jiang Ming's martial arts are the best, so this time he was sent to escort this batch of birth gangs." Ran Biao replied, knowing all kinds of news.

Yue Changzhong said slowly: "Martial arts people, it seems that martial arts are good." ”

"Well, no less than you and me, if we fight alone, it will be difficult for us to defeat him, but if we join forces, it will be much easier to deal with him." Ran Biao smiled: "And this person is relatively thick, admit to death, and have no heart, we only need to make a little trick to lure him out of the convoy, and the rest of us can take the opportunity to hijack the vehicle, as long as we can break out of this Xiangzhou City, it will be safe." ”

Yue Changzhong nodded tacitly, the reason why he agreed to this Ran Biao to join Ran Jiazhuang was firstly, in order to save his life, and secondly, because after he heard that Ran Biao wanted to snatch the birthday gang worth 100,000 taels of silver, he wanted to break into the interior and borrow the power of the government to take down Ran Biao's group of grass robbers in one fell swoop.

So, he did what he planned and agreed to Ran Biao.

He is a man who recognizes principles, and he can't be with Cao Kou no matter what.

As for the poison that Ran Biao gave him, he was not worried, as long as the government could arrest Ran Biao, wouldn't it be easy to find the antidote from Ran Biao, and he could also make meritorious contributions and get a light punishment from the Xiangzhou government.

Only in this way can he be exempted from the charge of killing and have the hope of joining the army, otherwise if he really joins the grass coward, there will really be no way back.

So in this way, he always wants to try to find out all the horses and deployments of Ran Biao in Xiangzhou City, but this Ran Biao seems to be wary of him, except for the gambling house, Ran Biao did not let him know about other places, every time he asked, Ran Biao would reassure him that the deployment of other horses had already been prepared, and as soon as this batch of Birthday Gang came, he would be able to give an order to act.

Now that Shengchengang has come to Xiangzhou, he has not yet obtained all the deployment of Ran Biao's men and horses, which can't help but make Yue Changzhong a little anxious, but no matter how anxious he is, he can't show it, for fear of arousing Ran Biao's suspicions.

He pondered for a moment: "Brother Ran, there are many sergeants escorting the Shengchengang, plus the officers and soldiers of the Xiangzhou Mansion, I am afraid it will not be easy to move." ”

Ran Biao nodded: "That's why I asked Brother Yue to come and think of a way with me, I don't know what Brother Yue can do?" ”

Yue Changzhong shook his head: "I don't know where they are yet, and I don't know how long they will stay in Xiangzhou City, so I can't tell." ”

Ran Biao said: "Their foothold is in a courtyard in the south of the city, which is prepared for them by the governor of Xiangzhou, only ten miles away from the south gate of Xiangzhou City, they will also stay in Xiangzhou for two days, to change new horses and prepare some grain and grass, in the two days they stayed, it is our hands-on opportunity." ”

Yue Changzhong smiled: "It seems that Brother Ran has inquired about all the news, I don't know how Brother Ran did it?" ”

The corners of Ran Biao's mouth showed a hint of mystery: "I have my own way that I know, and then Brother Yue will help me think about how to rob this batch of Birth Gang." ”

Yue Changzhong finished drinking the tea in the cup, got up and arched his hand: "Then I have to go and inquire about the situation first." ”

"Then I'll go back and wait for the good news from Brother Yue." Ran Biao laughed.

Yue Changzhong went downstairs, blended in with the crowd, and followed the distant convoy.

After a while, a man walked up, he was Xu Kui, the military advisor of Ranjiazhuang, and this time Ranjiazhuang's plan to rob the birthday gang was his plan.

He came to Ran Biao's side: "Zhuang owner, do you really believe in this Yue Xin?" ”

"Why don't you believe it?" Ran Biao chuckled: "Yue Changzhong is strong in martial arts, he has seen injustice on the road in the rivers and lakes over the years, he has done a lot of things to help each other, and he has also played the name of Xiangzhou Silver Gun, and his reputation in the rivers and lakes is very good, many people are full of praise for him, if my Ran Jiazhuang can win him in, just his reputation in the rivers and lakes, why worry about no one to take refuge in the future?" In the eyes of the government, the eighteen villages of Penghu are now only eight villages, in the eyes of the government, the eighteen villages of Penghu are an iron bucket, it is difficult to encircle and suppress, but the internal intrigues, only we know the deception, whether the court can defeat the Northern Liao is unknown, but if the Southern Chu loses, I have to wait for myself to set up this safe place, when the Northern Liao people attacked Liangzhou, I Penghu Eighteen Zhai many village owners dare to stab the knife behind General Zhang, if the Northern Liao people go south this time, it is inevitable that some people will take refuge in the Northern Liao, and then the Penghu Eighteen Villages will fall apart, How else can we gain a foothold in it? So now our biggest goal of Ranjiazhuang is to improve our own power, if there is an opportunity, we will integrate the entire Penghu Eighteen Villages, and the Penghu Eighteen Villages must no longer be used by foreign enemies. Don't doubt people, don't suspect people, since I use him, I won't doubt him, he is now the second owner of my Ranjiazhuang, you are also polite to him. ”

"The owner, I just think that this Yue Xin promised to join my Ranjiazhuang too simply, one second he still regarded the owner of the village as an enemy who killed his mother, and the next second he agreed to join Ranjiazhuang, I am afraid that he has other plans." Xu Kui was slightly worried.

Ran Biao waved his hand indifferently: "Xu Kui, I think it's because you're thinking too much, at that time, he couldn't escape in the gambling house, and he was wanted by the government outside, he had no place to live, he had no other way to join my Ran Jiazhuang, and he was also poisoned by me, if he didn't listen to me, he could only wait for death." Don't worry, whether he is loyal or not, it depends on whether he cares about this matter. ”

"Since the owner trusts me so much, then I have nothing to say." Xu Kui nodded.

……

On the other side, Yue Changzhong had already followed the convoy to a courtyard and hid in the dark to check.

I saw that Jiang Ming, who was the leader, instructed the sergeants to move the boxes on the carriage one by one and carry them into the courtyard, each carriage had four or five such boxes, all of which added up to dozens of boxes, if it was really as Ran Biao said, it was all gold, silver and jewelry, and it was a huge fortune.

If this wealth falls to Ranjiazhuang, I don't know how much strength it will add to them?

Although he didn't want this wealth to fall into the hands of Taishi Chen, a Zhenxing prefect would have such a big battle just to send birthday gifts, so how many people's fat and people's ointment would have to be scraped?

It's just that compared to Ranjiazhuang, it is better for this wealth to fall into the hands of Taishi Chen.

After the convoy sergeants finished moving the boxes, Jiang Ming only left more than a dozen people to guard the courtyard gate, and the rest of the people all entered the courtyard.

Yue Changzhong looked at the courtyard wall and felt that it was really inappropriate for this big white to sneak in, so he dispelled this idea, and guarded it for a while, but he didn't see Jiang Ming come out in the evening, and his patience was almost worn out, so he had to choose to go back first, and then come back at night to see if there was a chance to see Jiang Ming.

After going back to see Ran Biao, Yue Changzhong explained what he had seen, and then went to that route at night to take a look.

After the time, Yue Changzhong changed into a night coat, took a bow and arrows, and came to the gate of the courtyard again.

The sergeant outside the courtyard had already changed a batch, and he went around to the side, jumped lightly onto the courtyard wall, and then crawled on the front colonel

This courtyard is not big, you can see it at a glance on the courtyard wall, and at this time, there are also sergeants around the courtyard, Yue Changzhong has been waiting for more than half an hour before he sees Jiang Ming coming out of one of the rooms.

After confirming the location of Jiang Ming's house, Yue Changzhong shot an arrow with a bow, and in the dark, this sharp arrow penetrated the window paper of Jiang Ming's room, and he quickly jumped off the courtyard wall and disappeared quickly.

After shuttling through the alley for a while, Yue Changzhong came to a dark and secluded alley and waited.

After waiting for nearly half an hour, a dark shadow slowly walked in.

The black shadow stopped ten steps away from him and bowed his hand to him: "Who is Brother Tai, what is the purpose of asking Jiang to come here late at night?" ”

"In Xia Yue Changzhong." Yue Changzhong gave him his hand, showed kindness, and then walked up.

The person who came was Jiang Ming, looking at Yue Changzhong who stepped forward, and was vigilant: "Brother Tai can leave a note in my heavily guarded courtyard to avoid being discovered by my sergeant, it seems that his martial arts are outstanding, and he is not an idle person." ”

"It's not an idle person, it's just an idle person, and inviting Jiang Tishi to come here is something important to tell you."

"In this case, why is Brother Tai still wearing a hat? Why not show your true colors? ”

Yue Changzhong took off the hat on his head.

After seeing his appearance clearly, Jiang Ming's tone softened a little: "Brother Tai has something important to tell me on the note, I don't know what the matter is?" ”

"Someone is going to rob the Birth Gang." Yue Changzhong got straight to the point.

"Someone is going to rob the Birthday Gang?" Jiang Ming was stunned for a moment, then looked at him with suspicion in his eyes.

Yue Changzhong didn't have much time to talk nonsense with him, he briefly told him about his experience over the past few days, and then arched his hand and said: "Jiang Tizhi, believe it or not, you can ask my name in Xiangzhou tomorrow, Xiangzhou Government also has my case record, you can also go to Lord Zhizhou to ask, now I am wanted by Xiangzhou Government and can't show up, the reason why I joined Ranjiazhuang is just to save my life with a snake, and I took the risk to inform Jiang Ti about this matter tonight is also to let Jiang Ti govern the embankment, To prevent this batch of Birth Gang from being robbed, if this falls into the hands of grass cowards like Ranjiazhuang, not to mention how big the crime of losing the Birthday Gang is, this batch of Birth Gang alone is enough to make Ranjiazhuang's power grow a lot. ”

"It's just a grass cob, I dare to fight the idea of the birth gang, it's really impatient." Jiang Ming's tone carried a hint of anger and a hint of disdain.

He only believed Yue Changzhong's words for three points.

Yue Changzhong didn't care how much he believed, even if he believed a point, he would find a way to confirm it, after all, losing the birth gang was a big crime to kill his head, Jiang Ming didn't care about it, and he would definitely check it in his heart.

Yue Changzhong arched his hand again and said: "Jiang Tiha, I don't know how they are going to act now, but Jiang Tiha can rest assured, once they are going to act, I will find a way to tell you about their actions." I don't have any other requirements for doing this, I just hope that I can work with Jiang Tizhi to arrest Ran Biao, the leader of the grass, let me make meritorious contributions, and the government can reduce the charge a little, now he is a businessman in Xiangzhou, and I am a murderer who killed his wife, the government doesn't know him, and it won't believe me, so this matter can only ask Jiang Tizhi to go to the government. ”

Jiang Ming didn't speak for a long time, and after a while, he said slowly: "Okay, I believe your words for the time being, I'll wait for you here at this time tomorrow, if yours is true, we will discuss the matter of joining forces." ”

"Then I'll take my leave first."

Yue Changzhong nodded, he knew that this Jiang Ming would need a moment to confirm his identity.