It turned out that the urgent letter that Yang Chuncheng received on the evening of October 20 was sent by Zheng Yixia's henchman Ding who traveled day and night, thousands of miles away.

On the evening of the fifth day of the tenth lunar month, he was on duty outside the Qianqing Palace, and saw the familiar eunuch Zhan Xi sweating profusely, hurriedly walked by, and said with a smile: "Father-in-law Zhan, the weather is so cold, why are you so hot?" ”

"Don't mention it, it's not urgent." Zhan Xi wiped his sweat.

"What's the business that made you rush like this?"

Zhan Xi glanced left and right, and said in a low voice: "You said, there are still such bold officials in the world, and they have made a break and made Lafayette anxious!" ”

"Who, so bold?" Zheng Yixia said curiously.

Zhan Xi didn't dare to say it, but he looked around, thought about it again, and then said in a low voice: "Anyway, it's far away, and it doesn't matter if you tell you - a five-grade guard surnamed Yang in the south made a lot of nonsense on the fold, saying that Lafayette scavenged the fat and ointment of the people of the world, and gave himself a sixtieth birthday, and his desire is difficult to fill, and he spends extravagantly, and the world is going to die!" Tell me, isn't this looking for death? ”

When Zheng Yixia heard this, he was secretly surprised.

He has been walking in the palace for eight years, hearing and seeing, the names and official titles of officials above the fifth grade in all provinces in the world have long been remembered, and the garrison officer surnamed Yang is only the garrison of Hangzhou Mansion in Zhejiang, Yang Chuncheng, who has not heard the news for eight years, and now he is insulting Cixi, isn't it asking for hardship? Zhan Xi was in a hurry to send the official matter just now, it must have something to do with it, but he didn't know how Cixi was going, so he had to inquire about it quickly.

He pretended to be angry and said: "This person is too bold, what does Lafayette say?" ”

"Lafayette was so angry that he tore up the fold and said eight words - 'Lie and deceive the king, and the crime should be Ling Chi'!" Zhan Xi said, "I just issued a secret decree, asking the four-rank guard with a knife to lead people south in the starry night, and we must arrest this person!" ”

"Sin deserves to be late?" Zheng Yixia was shocked, and said quietly: "These sesame petty officials, why should Lafayette make a big move, just ask the Hangzhou Mansion to escort them into Beijing." ”

"You don't know, this person is a second-class martial arts jinshi in the twelfth year of Guangxu, and he is very good at kung fu!" Zhan Xi said in a low voice, "Besides, Lafayette is also afraid that the local government will sell it privately, so he will let him escape, so he asked Lord Wang to go and get people in person!" ”

"I see! Lord Wang came out, of course, he was able to catch it! ”

Zhan Xidong looked around, glanced at it a few times, and said, "Lord Zheng, God knows this matter, and it must not be transmitted to the fifth ear!" ”

Zheng Yixia deliberately looked at the sky, and said: "Father-in-law, it was windy just now, what did you say, why didn't I hear a word!" ”

"Master Zheng, that's interesting!" Zhan Xi slapped him with a smile and hurried away.

When Zheng Yixia saw him go away, he immediately found an excuse, went to the duty room to take leave, hurried home, drew three tokens, sealed them tightly, sent a confidant to set off overnight, rushed to Tianjin quickly, transferred to Shanghai by sea steamer, and spent more than 400 taels of silver, rented a small steamer tugboat, rushed into Hangzhou City in the starry night, and finally took the lead to send the secret letter to the hands of the garrison house, and asked him to hand it over to Lord Yang quickly.

Early the next morning, Wang Zhan led people to Hangzhou, saw the garrison in chaos, knew that Yang Chuncheng had fled, and was furious, and heard that there were signs of groundbreaking in the back garden, and hurriedly ordered people to dig up and see, there were two corpses buried, and the people said that it was Mrs. Yang and Gongzi Lianpo.

When Hangzhou Fu Yin heard the news, he hurriedly sent a post-mortem to conduct an autopsy, and saw that there was a deep strangulation mark on Mrs. Yang's neck, the wound on Lianpo's neck was also a trace of self-infliction, and there were white hanging beams and blood-spattered mattresses in the inner room, so he concluded that the mother and son committed suicide for fear of crime.

Wang Zhan asked Yang Chuncheng who else was in his family, and the subordinates said in unison, saying that there was a young lady who was more than a year old and died not long ago.

He was still unwilling, and ordered his subordinates to inquire about the neighborhood, but everyone said that they didn't know, and in disappointment, they had to return to Beijing to resume their lives.

When Cixi heard that Yang Chuncheng had absconded in fear of crime, she was furious, and immediately ordered the whole country to be wanted, and ordered the Criminal Department to thoroughly investigate the person who leaked the news.

After the secret investigation of the Criminal Department, it was learned that Zheng Yixia and Yang Chuncheng were in the same year as Wuke, and they had a personal relationship, and their father also had a history of sending letters and leaking secrets, and he was the most suspicious.

Zheng Yixia sent his wife back to his home in Tianjin, and only then came to take up his post, but he just arrived half a month ago, but he didn't expect to meet Yang Chuncheng today.

Yang Chuncheng fled Hangzhou for a few months, this is the first time he heard the news from home, his heart is sad, he can't help but burst into tears, and he heard that Zheng Yixia lost the errand in the palace for him, and he was even more sad, and said: "Brother Xian, it's all my will, I made a big mistake, and I was so ashamed to burden you!" ”

Zheng Yixia shook his hand and said with a smile: "Why did Brother An Guo say this? Eight years ago in Beijing, my younger brother said that he didn't want to be an errand in the palace, and now he has fulfilled this wish! ”

Yang Chuncheng knew that he was a comforting word, but he was even more ashamed, and he didn't know what to say.

"Brother Anguo, it's a coincidence, the court is not far away, and you demoted me to Fuzhou, and you are neither early nor late, you have eaten the villain here!" Zheng Yixia smiled, "What's more coincidental is that this guy just bumped into my hand again, you say, isn't this providential?" ”

It turned out that today Zheng Yixia led a team of horsemen to the countryside to run errands, and hurriedly returned to the city after dark, and when he saw that the city gate was closed, he climbed up to the top of the city, entered the city and opened the gate, and led the horsemen to rush back to the barracks, who knew that he caught up with a panting young man on the street.

The man was dressed as a man, looked back and saw him, and hurriedly said: "My lord, there is a person in the villain's shop, who is a wanted criminal in the imperial court, please go and arrest him quickly!" ”

Zheng Yixia was about to ask, but who knew that the riders behind him scolded and exploded.

It was Chinese New Year's Eve, and good wine and meat were prepared in the barracks, just waiting for them to come back and eat. After a day's errand, the riders were already cold and hungry, and they couldn't wait to go back to drink wine and eat meat, so that they could gamble happily.

When they saw this guy running to report to the official, asking them to arrest the prisoner, they all thought he was troublesome, and scolded: "Don't look at when, Chinese New Year's Eve, where is the criminal!" "In these years, there are many criminals everywhere, and if they are arrested for a trial, they will all beg for food!" "That's it, I think this kid wants to reward silver and wants to go crazy, so don't get out of here!" The scolding was endless.

Zheng Yixia made a move of the horse whip and said, "Man, tell me, which wanted criminal is it?" ”

The guy hurriedly stepped forward and said with a smile: "My lord, it is the Hangzhou garrison who absconded in fear of crime!" I looked at the portrait on the city wall and recognized him at a glance! ”

Zheng Yixia was taken aback, his mind turned around, and he said to the riders: "Brothers, everyone has a hard day, go back to drink first!" This little brother comes to report to the official, someone has to go, I'll take a look! ”

The horsemen cheered as if they had been pardoned, and hurried away with their horses.

Zheng Yixia immediately asked the guy to lead the way, came to the cooked butcher shop, and jumped off the horse.

The man got off the door, led him into the shop, and pointed to a man on the ground: "My lord, it's him!" ”

Zheng Yixia saw a beggar fall to the ground, turned his face and looked, sure enough, it was Yang Chuncheng, secretly surprised, and said, "Man, what's wrong with this person?" ”

"The villain was afraid that he would run away, so he drugged the wine!" The guy was triumphant.

"Drug, where did it come from?" Zheng Yixia wondered.

When the guy heard this, he hurriedly said: "My lord, this is the villain's gambling dice a few days ago, and a person lost money and gave it to me to pay off the debt!" It's the first time I've used it, and I've never done anything bad! ”

"What are you anxious about, I don't care about your!" Zheng Yixia smiled, "You're right, this person is indeed a prisoner, I'll give you a reward when I go back!" ”

The guy was flattered, hurriedly poured a bowl of hot tea back, and handed it to Zheng Yixia with both hands.

Zheng Yixia took a sip and said, "It's so cold this day, I'll warm my hands first." Why is there no one in the store? ”

"Today is the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve, everyone goes back to their own homes, each looking for their own mother, where does the business come from." The man said, "The shopkeeper and his family went to have a reunion dinner, leaving me alone, with no money to go home, and no money to gamble, so I had to guard the shop." ”

"No business, what are you doing in the shop?"

"It's not for nothing, when it's late at night, the cards are gone, and there are a lot of people who come to eat supper. This has been the case in previous years. ”

"I see." Zheng Yixia nodded, and took out a few pieces of broken silver from his arms, "Brother, thank you for your hard work!" This is the silver bounty, you take it first. ”

The man was overjoyed, hurriedly reached out to take it, and counted the silver with a smile.

Zheng Yixia stretched out his hand to hug his head, twisted it slightly, and only heard a "click", and the guy was out of breath, and the silver was scattered all over the ground.

He immediately picked up the silver, carried it in his arms, went out with the corpse in his arms, flew on his horse, ran to the city tower, opened the city gate, patted the horse and ran not far, carried the corpse into an abandoned brick kiln on the side of the road, knocked down a pile of waste bricks and pressed it, and then flew back to the city and closed the city gate.

He ran into the cooked meat shop, hugged Yang Chuncheng on the horse, lay on the saddle, took off his cloak, covered it tightly, and led the horse to the Qianzong Yamen.

He led the horse into the backyard, carried Yang Chuncheng into the room, took off his shoes and socks, put him on the bed and lay down, felt a dagger on his waist, pulled it out and put it on the pillow, and pulled the quilt over to cover it.

He was worried that Yang Chuncheng would wake up and escape, and wanted to leave a note to explain the reason, but seeing that he was asleep and would not wake up for a while, he went to the room and took a small bag of broken silver, locked the door, rushed to the barracks, sat down and drank with the horsemen, and said with a smile: "What do you want to do, make me run in vain, I am a drunkard passing by!" ”

The riders laughed and said, "My lord, this guy wants to reward silver and wants to go crazy, even you dare to cheat!" "Damn, let's bump into him another day, and the big-eared scraper will beat him to death!"

"You're right, he just doesn't have the money to go home, and he wants to ask for a few rewards." Zheng Yixia said with a smile, "I gave him five taels of silver, and he immediately kowtowed, saying that he would go on the road overnight, and he would be able to catch up with the New Year when he got home." ”

The riders laughed and raised their bowls to him.

He drank two bowls of wine, and then went to the table next to him to throw dice with the soldiers, deliberately lost a bag of broken silver, under the pretext of being a little tired, told them to drink and have fun, said goodbye, and went to the room to pick up a few good dishes, found a food box, and hurried back, just as Yang Chuncheng was about to break out of the door.

After hearing what he said, Yang Chuncheng was very grateful, and said, "Brother Xian, if it weren't for you, I would have died twice!" Anguo is full of liver and brain, and he can't repay your great kindness! ”

"Brother Anguo, you and my brother, what kind words do you say!" Zheng Yixia raised his bowl to salute him, and asked him about his situation over the years.

Yang Chuncheng told about the frustration of the past eight years and the escape experience of several months, and Zheng Yixia was emotional.

After drinking two bowls of wine, Zheng Yixia said: "Brother An Guo has been a garrison officer for eight years, have you ever dealt with the Jianghu Gang?" ”

"Of course it did, what did the virtuous brother ask it for?" Yang Chuncheng was puzzled.

"It's just small talk." Zheng Yixia said with a smile, "What does Brother An Guo think of the Jianghu Gang?" ”

"Jianghu gangs have existed in all dynasties, but they have flourished in the past hundred years. Since the founding of our dynasty, the population has multiplied, the land has become scarce, the homeless people have no support, and their livelihood is difficult, so they have no choice but to burn their watches and worship and form alliances with blood, and do some things such as robbing houses and houses, fighting for the market, occupying the wharf, and sharing the spoils by sitting on the land. Yang Chuncheng said, "In the eighteenth year of Shunzhi, the imperial court strictly forbade blood alliances and worship with different surnames. In the tenth year of Kangxi, the bloody alliance was included in the "Qing Dynasty Statutes", and the "rebellion was not carried out", regardless of the number of people, the leader was sentenced to hanging and imprisonment, and the execution after the autumn was carried out, and the coercion was coerced with a hundred rods and flowed for 3,000 miles. ”

Zheng Yixia nodded.

However, despite repeated orders from the imperial court, it was still difficult to prohibit civil associations. In the twentieth year of Qianlong, the 'Heaven and Earth Society' finally started, forming a party, resisting officials and resisting arrest, fighting with weapons, and causing chaos in the world. Yang Chuncheng said, "For example, there are countless large and small gangs in various provinces today, among which Brother Pao, Qing Gang, and Hongmen are the most powerful, stretching for more than 100 years, covering 20 provinces, and they are the henchmen of the imperial court. ”

"Brother An Guo's grand argument is worthy of being a garrison officer." Zheng Yixia said with a smile, "It's just that the situation is different now, and the revolutionary party and these gangs have joined forces to overthrow the Manchu court, and it is not all a chaotic party that has brought disaster to the country and the people." ”

Yang Chuncheng was surprised: "Why did the virtuous brother say this, could it be that he joined any gang?" ”

"Brother An Guo is too worried, the younger brother is just sympathetic to the revolutionary party, where will he join what gang." Zheng Yixia said with a smile.

"That's right, no matter how bad the court is to us, we can't be a mess!" Yang Chuncheng took a sip of wine and asked him about the way to Xinjiang.

Zheng Yixia was puzzled: "It's only more than 200 miles away from Hami, Xinjiang, Brother Anguo, why are you asking this?" ”

"I'm going over there to get out of the limelight."

"When you come to me, even if you get home, don't go anywhere!"

"Brother Xian's kindness, I have understood it, but I can't help it!" Yang Chuncheng said gratefully, "I am an ominous person, I am very ashamed to even let my virtuous brother out of the palace, if there is any mistake, it is really impossible to redeem death!" I have made up my mind, the virtuous brother does not have to be kept, your great kindness and great virtue, Anguo will repay it in the future! ”

"Brother Anguo, don't say kind words!" Zheng Yixia said, "Don't worry, the little brother has his own arrangements, and no one knows that you are hiding here!" ”

Yang Chuncheng saw that he was confident, so he asked him what his plans were.

Zheng Yixia stood up, opened the curtains, looked outside, and said, "There is no one on the street now, drink this bowl of wine, and the younger brother will take you to a place." ”

"Where?"

"The Church of the Foreigner."

"What, the foreigner's church?" Yang Chuncheng was shocked again.

"Brother An Guo, rest assured, this church has been abandoned for many years, and the foreigners have long since withdrawn." Zheng Yixia said, "After I came to Fuzhou, I saw that the weather was freezing, the hungry people were displaced, and the children were pitifully frozen, so I asked the craftsmen to repair it a little, add some furniture, and take in four homeless families with children. ”

Yang Chuncheng said: "Brother Xian, like Ling Zun, helps the needy, which is admirable!" ”

"Born in troubled times, I can't save a lot, just a little bit, just ask for peace of mind."

"Brother Xian is now an official outside alone, and he takes in so many homeless people, what should I do if I don't have enough money?"

"Brother An Guo didn't know that his father had a branch in Hengyi County next door and purchased local products from the northwest. If there is not enough money, I will send for some money, so that the children will not go hungry. ”

Yang Chuncheng nodded and said, "Brother Xian is asking me to pretend to be a homeless person and take refuge in the church for a while?" ”

"Not bad. Brother An Guo can rest assured that these homeless people are honest and will not cause chaos. Zheng Yixia said, "In the future, you will claim that your surname is Li, a native of Jiangxi, and your hometown has been flooded, and they will not suspect it." ”

Yang Chuncheng agreed, and came to the church with him overnight, and hid here from then on.