Looking at Jiang Lan's confident expression, Brother Yan glanced at Xiang Beichuan - as soon as the two of them entered the house, he only thought that this hairy boy was Xiang Beichuan's follower, and he didn't pay attention to it at all. Unexpectedly, this seemingly inconspicuous kid suddenly boasted so much.

He hugged his fist at Jiang Lan and said, "Dare to ask who this little brother is?" ”

Xiang Beichuan on the side introduced: "This is the Jiang Lan brothers, and they are my friends of life and death in the northwest...... He is now the captain of the garrison camp of Xiangyang City. ”

"Official...... Official! Brother Yan gasped, he looked at the two suspiciously, and at the same time his right hand quietly touched the dagger inserted in his waist.

"Brother Yan, don't get me wrong," Xiang Beichuan saw that something was wrong with the atmosphere, and he hurriedly explained, "This Jiang Lan brother is not a 'corrupt official', and the two of us are not here to disadvantage you." ”

Seeing that Brother Yan did not let down his guard, Xiang Beichuan wanted to explain again, but suddenly heard Jiang Lan behind him sneer: "Heh! said that he hated corrupt officials and corrupt officials, but in fact, he was frightened by the other party! surnamed Yan, you really deserve the words 'heroes in the rivers and lakes'! ”

"What did you say?" Brother Yan was so excited by these words that the green tendons on his forehead burst out, he shouted, and his right hand also held the dagger tightly.

Xiang Beichuan saw that the atmosphere was a little tense, and he was about to say something, but he saw that Brother Nayan suddenly deflated. He let out a long sigh and said with a wry smile: "Hehe...... You're right, I'm scared...... What charlatans? In the final analysis, it's just a small people...... If you want to arrest me, do so! As he spoke, the dagger in his hand was thrown to the ground with a thud.

"Catch you? Why did you arrest you? ”

"You're not here to get me?" Brother Yan still couldn't believe it.

"Brother Yan, just with the friendship of the two of us, how could I harm you! We are here to ask for your help. Listening to Xiang Beichuan's words, Brother Yan finally took off his guard.

He glanced at the two of them, and said with a ashamed face: "I am living the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain, and I hope the two of you will not be surprised." ”

"Okay, you just clean up and go out of the city with the master!"

Half an hour later, the three of them left the alley. When leaving, Jiang Lan and Xiang Beichuan both watched their feet cautiously and carefully to prevent stepping on filthy things again......

They walked through the streets and alleys, and soon reached the gates of the city.

The soldiers guarding the city gate were all sent from the garrison camp, and some of them had seen Jiang Lan and hurriedly stepped forward to salute. Jiang Lan didn't bother to waste time with them, so he sent them away with a wave of his hand.

……

Xiangyang City, the county guard's house.

"Can you see accurately? Did the surnamed Yan really go out of the city with Jiang Lan? Xu Jun Shouhu looked at the county commander Li suspiciously.

"It's true, sir! My subordinate compared the portrait of the wanted warrant for a long time, and the man was no different from the portrait except that he was thinner! ”

"Damn!" Lord Xu slapped the table and said angrily, "What kind of thing is Jiang Lan!" Dare to blatantly go against this official! ”

"My lord, according to the lower officials. This kid dared to keep the surname Yan, just to get an extra point of bargaining. ”

"Chips?"

Master Li analyzed for him: "My lord, do you remember what we talked about a few days ago about 'setting up a card to collect taxes'? He must not be satisfied with sharing the benefits with us, and wants to get another share...... You wait, within ten days, Jiang Lan will definitely come to the door and use the person surnamed Yan to talk to you about the matter. ”

The so-called "what kind of person, what kind of heart". These corrupt officials have already fallen into the eyes of money, and what they think and worry about is inevitably inseparable from money.

Listening to Li County's analysis, Xu Junshou also thought so, he stroked his beard and sneered: "How many points?" He wants to be beautiful! Let's take him to make money together, that's to give him face! If he forces the official to be anxious, the official will go directly to the book Master Taishi! ”

"Your Majesty, you are angry, you are angry...... We haven't reached the point where we're going to tear our faces yet, after all, if this matter gets to the court, then we won't be able to make this money. The county commander said with a hoarse voice, and when he spoke, he felt a little like a dog-headed military advisor, "According to the lower officials, we still respond to all changes with the same." When Jiang Lan came to the door, we would bite the bottom line of fifty-fifty points, and we must not give in to it. When he found that the chips in his hand were just chicken ribs, he would naturally restrain himself. ”

Xu Junshou nodded: "Okay, then it's up to you." ”

……

Jiang Lan naturally didn't know the conjecture of Xu Junshou and the others. He and Xiang Beichuan took Brother Yan out of the city, and then gave him a few small pieces of broken silver.

Brother Yan was grateful to the two of them, and he immediately said that he would definitely try his best to find clues about the gang of thieves.

After sending off Brother Yan, Jiang Lan and Xiang Beichuan also returned to the garrison camp.

At this time, it was the time to start the cooking, and the soldiers in the barracks were waiting in their respective barracks to eat.

Jiang Lan and the two walked between the barracks, and when they passed by an ordinary barracks, they overheard the soldiers inside talking about Jiang Lan: "Commander Wu, what kind of person do you say our new captain?" How can you become a lieutenant at such a young age? ”

"What kind of person can it be," Wu Chang smacked his mouth and said, "Eighty percent is the young master of a great family." ”

"No, no," the other soldier retorted, "you haven't heard of it, but this kid was appointed by the general himself." A few days ago, I heard a few commanders chatting and saying that our Lord Lieutenant is the general's quasi-son-in-law! ”

"Yes! There is such a thing! ”

"Look at his little white face, it's really like this!"

……

There was a lot of talk in the barracks, and Jiang Lan's face outside the barracks turned a little blue.

Xiang Beichuan next to him also heard the discussion, he put a big hand on Jiang Lan's shoulder and patted it lightly. Jiang Lan turned around, he looked at Xiang Beichuan and smiled bitterly, and then left directly.

When the two of them walked back to the door of the Chinese army's big tent, Jiang Lan suddenly stopped, and he said without looking back: "Old Xiang, you also heard it just now...... Although the master doesn't have much ability, he doesn't want people to say this about himself behind his back...... It seems that it's time to shine the guys! ”

"What do you want to do? Punish those tongue-in-cheek soldiers? ”

Jiang Lan shook his head: "That will only make the gossip more and more...... The master is going to have a school martial arts performance! ”

School martial arts?

In fact, the daily drills of the army can be called military exercises. But this time, the martial arts exercise to be carried out is a little different - this time the martial arts exercise takes the form of a challenge in the ring, everyone can choose an opponent at will to challenge, and if the challenger wins, he can exchange positions with the challenged.

As soon as Jiang Lan's idea came out, it was immediately opposed by several senators. They believe that the promotion of positions in the army should be based on military merit, and should not be like the battle of the rivers and lakes, where whoever has a hard fist has the final say! After all, an officer is not a martial artist, in addition to bravery, the more important thing should be the ability to command.

Jiang Lan turned a deaf ear to the senators' opposition, and he only said: "Those officers who have outstanding command ability and martial arts skills but are mediocre, they can not accept the challenge!" The master didn't say that this challenge was indispensable. After saying this, he ignored the group of senators and went about his own business......

The news of the school martial arts exercise soon spread throughout the camp, and the camp was instantly fried! After all, this is not wartime, and it is very difficult to obtain military merits. This martial arts exercise can be said to have given a concise way for many big-headed soldiers and low-level non-commissioned officers to rise, and for those soldiers with good martial arts, this is simply a ladder to climb the wall!

The soldiers of the entire barracks were gearing up for a while and eager to try. Even many veterans who are used to stealing and playing tricks have begun to work hard secretly.

"Old Xiang, what do you think about the idea? The atmosphere of this entire barracks is not much worse than before the war! Jiang Lan said triumphantly.

"Hehe, I don't know if it's okay or not. But if this matter reaches the imperial court, I am afraid that it will inevitably be ......," Xiang Beichuan shook his head and sighed.

Hearing Xiang Beichuan's words, Jiang Lan just smiled, but he didn't take it to heart.

……

Ten days later, the entire garrison battalion, three or four thousand soldiers and men gathered on the school grounds of the battalion.

In the middle of the school grounds, a wooden ring is built.

Jiang Lan stood on the top of the ring, he glanced at the soldiers in the audience, and said loudly: "All the soldiers, all the brothers!" The official is here today to set up the ring, the purpose is to test the martial arts of the school. You should have also heard the rules of this examination: everyone can challenge anyone, including the official! If you win, you can take over the position of the challenger! This is an opportunity for all of you to get promoted. ”

Everyone under the ring listened silently, their fists clenched tightly, and they all had eager expressions.

"Before the official start of the martial arts exercise, this official first set three rules with you:

1. The competition is so far that you must not hurt people's lives!

2. Do not use despicable means such as hidden weapons and lime powder!

3. Don't hurt your harmony because of the competition, if you have a grudge because of the victory or defeat, and take revenge with yourself in the future, the official will not spare it! Jiang Lan paused here when he said this, and then continued, "In this martial arts exercise, the challenged person can refuse to accept the challenge!" However, isn't it a shame for a manly man to avoid battle and retreat in front of the soldiers of the whole battalion! ”

He glanced at everyone in the audience: "Did you hear what the official said?" ”

"Hear me clearly!"

"I can't hear you!"

"Hear me clearly!" The soldiers in the audience screamed.

"Good! This school martial arts exercise has officially begun! ”