After waiting for seven or eight days, Xiang Beichuan finally came to the garrison camp of Xiangyang City, and Wen Yu'er, a little girl, came with him.

As soon as Wen Yu'er saw Jiang Lan, she immediately threw herself into her arms, tears flowing out of her eyes like bursting embankments. She pulled the corner of Jiang Lan's clothes and choked up: "Brother-in-law, it's great to see that you're okay!" After you were taken away by the official that day, Yu'er thought it was ...... I thought it was ...... Woohoo......"

Seeing this little girl crying with pear blossoms and rain, Jiang Lan couldn't help but feel a burst of inexplicable sadness in her heart. In front of me, memories kept coming.

He endured his sadness, raised his hand and stroked Wen Yu'er's head: "Silly girl, brother-in-law, isn't it okay!" You can rest assured, it's all gone......"

After a while, Wen Yu'er wiped her tears and left Jiang Lan's arms.

Jiang Lan looked up at Xiang Beichuan and saw that this reckless man was standing aside with a big black face, and he looked at the two of them silently.

"Old Xiang, don't come unharmed."

"Hmph, don't come unharmed." Xiang Beichuan didn't know what kind of anger he was born in, and he ignored Jiang Lan a little.

"What's wrong with you? Why did you choke so much when you first met? ”

Xiang Beichuan turned around and did not answer Jiang Lan's question.

Wen Yu'er on the side wiped her tears and said: "Uncle Xiang didn't want to come here before, and he also said: 'Lao Tzu finally fled from the Central Plains to the Northwest in order to escape from this bloody officialdom, but he asked you to pull it back!'" Wen Yu'er imitated Xiang Beichuan's tone in a good manner, and Jiang Lan couldn't help but laugh when she heard it.

"That's right...... This is the master's negligence. Jiang Lan walked up to Xiang Beichuan, "Old Xiang, the master can't stand you...... But you've been here, and it's unlikely that you'll want to go back. And you left the Northwest, didn't you also get rid of the pursuit of the Northwest Green Forest Road? ”

Xiang Beichuan sighed when he heard this, and then waved his hand and said, "Forget it, Lao Tzu is too lazy to care about you like this." However, you have to invite Lao Tzu to a drink when you turn around! Otherwise, Lao Tzu is not finished with you! ”

"Hey, hey, that's easy to say. Since you are here, the master will also arrange an official position for you, after all, there is no shortage of commanders and commanders in this battalion...... Well, then, you will be the Sima in this camp, what do you think? ”

Xiang Beichuan scratched his head: "Brother Jiang, can you change my position, why does this 'Sima''s official position sound so much like scolding the street......

Jiang Lan took a sip: "You have a lot of things, why didn't the master hear it like scolding?" Besides, there is no shortage of people in all positions in this battalion, but this battalion Sima is vacant! ”

"Hey, Sima, Sima......"

Jiang Lan smiled when he heard this, and then his words suddenly changed, and he said, "By the way, Old Xiang, the young master still has some things to tell you." First, the master was called to a banquet by the county guard here a few days ago. During the feast, he told him that he hoped that he would help him set up checkpoints all over the county, for the purpose of collecting customs duties on the caravans. ”

"This corrupt official!" Xiang Beichuan scolded, "He actually dares to do such a thing blatantly!" What is the difference between this and a bandit who stands in the way! ”

The master also felt the same way, so he didn't agree to him. But," Jiang Lan's face became a little ashamed, "but the master didn't directly refuse...... After all, if the young master is a newcomer, if he directly offends the county guard, I am afraid that he will be hindered in doing things in the future......"

Xiang Beichuan nodded: "This is the helplessness of people in officialdom......

"Let's put this aside in advance, I have another thing to ask you. Do you have any well-informed friends in this Central Plains? ”

"Well-informed friends?" Xiang Beichuan didn't know what it meant, "Yes, yes, and it's in this Xiangyang City...... Still, why do you ask this? Did you cause some trouble on the rivers and lakes again? ”

"Does the master seem to be a troublemaker?" Jiang Lan glanced at Xiang Beichuan, "That's what's going on: a few days ago, a group of thieves swaggered into the Yamen of the Ordnance Division in Xiangyang City. Not only did he injure the messengers and craftsmen in the yamen, but he also robbed a wagon of ordnance...... The young master looks like you to see if you have any well-informed people, so as to find out where this group of thieves came from. ”

"Huh! Dare to rob the official yamen, I really admire them. Xiang Beichuan touched his chin with one hand and said with interest.

"Hmph, if they rob other corrupt officials and corrupt officials, the master will also applaud! But they actually dared to break ground on the top of the master's head, which is a good thing to say. Jiang Lan snorted coldly.

His words fully explain what it means to "hang up on your own business".

"In that case, you wait for me to settle down. In the afternoon, let's go to the city to find my friend. However, I can't guarantee that the person is still in Xiangyang City! ”

"Okay, there you go."

Jiang Lan watched Xiang Beichuan out of the camp, and then he turned his head to look at Wen Yu'er, and he couldn't help but cry out for a headache in his heart. To be honest, before Wen Yu'er came, he really hadn't thought about how to settle it. After all, there are men in this barracks, and it's really inappropriate for him to live here as a little girl. But if you want to settle it elsewhere, Jiang Lan is not too relieved.

He thought for a while and said, "Yu'er, you can stay in the Chinese army tent with me for a while." I'll have someone set aside a small room for you, so it's more convenient. ”

Wen Yu'er nodded obediently: "Okay, Yu'er listens to her brother-in-law." ”

……

In the afternoon, Jiang Lan and Xiang Beichuan entered the city.

Lao Xiang had lived in Xiangyang City for a period of time before, and that Jianghu friend was also made at that time. He took Jiang Lan through the streets and alleys, and not long after, the two came to a remote alley.

"That friend of yours lives here?" Jiang Lan glanced around and saw many beggars lying in the alley. There was a lot of garbage and excrement scattered on the ground, and the whole alley was stinking.

Looking at Jiang Lan, whose face was a little green, Xiang Beichuan couldn't help but be dumbfounded: "Brother Jiang, we can't say that you haven't seen the world. But with such a little taste, why did you become so virtuous? Look at our old item, the dung water collapses in front of it and the face does not change! Xiang Beichuan boasted as he walked forward.

As soon as I took a step, my foot touched the ground, and I felt that my foot was slipping...... He barely stood up and didn't fall, but the soles of his feet were covered with filth......

The news came so quickly, so unexpectedly......

The two walked into the depths of the alley in silence with green faces. Here, there is a house that looks very dilapidated.

Xiang Beichuan took a step forward, raised his hand and knocked on the door three times, he paused, and then knocked slowly five times. After doing all this, he retreated.

The two waited quietly for a while. There was a creak, and the door opened a crack. An old face peeked out of the crack in the door.

"A cloud in the northwest Xuantian." Xiang Beichuan said in a low voice.

"The crows have fallen to the flock of phoenixes." The man inside the door said, "You are ...... It's Big Brother! ”

"Brother Yan!"

The door opened, and a man who was about to lose weight appeared in front of the two.

"Twenty years! I can't imagine that I will be able to see Brother Xiang again! The man was a little excited to apply, "It's just that your eyes are ......."

Xiang Beichuan touched the blindfold on his face: "It's all in the past...... Brother, I came to you this time because I have something to ask you. Xiang Beichuan said straight to the point.

The man surnamed Yan glanced around vigilantly when he heard this, and then whispered: "Brother Xiang, this is not the place to talk, please go into the house." ”

The two entered the house. The windows of the room were covered with rags, and the whole room was pitch black, except for a candle on a table that was about to burn out, the only glimmer of light in the darkness.

"Brother Xiang, didn't you go to the northwest, why did you suddenly run back?" As soon as the two of them entered the house, Brother Yan asked.

"Harm! It's a long story...... But you, why are you emaciated like this? ”

When Brother Yan heard this, his expression darkened: "Don't mention it!" Half a year ago, the county guard of Xiangyang called me and other people from the rivers and lakes, saying that he wanted us to serve the imperial court. We were good at the beginning, and we all agreed. Unexpectedly, what he asked us to do was to eradicate dissidents and oppress the good for him.

I'm afraid I'm going to get caught up in this, and I want to get out. But I didn't expect that in order to prevent his dirty things from spreading, he actually sent someone to kill us, and many brothers were caught by his way without defense...... And although I was able to get out, I was also wanted by the government.

Fortunately, the government didn't know where I lived, and they didn't expect me to hide under their noses...... It's a remote place, and no one usually comes here except for beggars. ”

"This dog officer!" Xiang Beichuan scolded.

He could see clearly that this Yan brother had been thinned into skin and bones. It seems that although he is safe and secure here, it is difficult for him to see the light of day.

"Brother Xiang, what did you just say you wanted to ask me about?"

Xiang Beichuan sighed when he heard this: "Alas, don't say it. Dude, I used to ask you for help to inquire about someone, but now you are like this......"

"Brother Xiang, but it doesn't matter. Although the younger brother is mixed like this, as long as Brother Xiang can use it, the younger brother is still obliged! Brother Yan patted his chest and said.

Jiang Lan, who was standing on the side, watched all this, and he suddenly became a little envious of Xiang Beichuan. I envy that he can make so many brothers in life and death, whether it is the previous Erhu, Xiao Shunzi, or the Yan brother in front of him, they are all true brothers who can stick a knife in their ribs!

"That being the case, then it will be a nuisance to the old brother. That's right, a group of people recently robbed the Yamen of the Ordnance Division, do you know the origin of this group of people? ”

"Well robbed!" Brother Yan patted his thigh and said, "Anyone who dares to go against the dog official is a hero!" ”

Jiang Lan next to him was so angry that he almost vomited blood - the dog officer that the other party said, but it was himself!

"But if you want to talk about their origins, I really can't guess for a while," Brother Yan shook his head, "However, if I can get out of here, then I can go to the rivers and lakes to investigate!" ”

"Leave? This ......"

Xiang Beichuan was a little embarrassed, but he heard Jiang Lan behind him laugh: "What's the difficulty of leaving?" Wait a minute, you can go out with the two of me!" I want to see if anyone who doesn't have long eyes dares to stop you! ”