On the road that King Shunyang walked on in the first month, a mighty team appeared again on this day. Ma Xin of the Xinye County Company was going to Shunyang to visit his brother.

However, Sima Xin, who was riding a good horse, was much faster. He set off from Xinye, and it took less than an hour to arrive at Yinxian County.

Revisiting the old place a few months later, Sima Xin naturally remembered the experience he had had last time.

Last time, he was in a crowded boat. When he got off the boat in Shunyang, he found that he had been touched and his money bag was taken away. You know, that was the first time he went out with a money bag. Now that I think about it, I feel that when he was about to buy something on the road and took out his money bag, he was selected as the target of theft.

Then, defenseless and inexperienced, he was robbed of all his belongings.

Of course, when you come to Beidu this time, you don't have to think too much.

There were already people waiting for him in the Yin County Government. Although Yin County is not his territory, it is subordinate to Shunyang, so the magistrate of Yin County is also very earnest.

The ferry had already been prepared for him, and after Sima Xin thanked him, he boarded the boat and headed north.

But Danshui is really not a big ship to go upstream, if Sima Xin's people even add up all the men and horses, ten boats can't fit it.

Sima Xin was also reluctant to put the horse in the cabin. So, he took two or three retinues on the boat, and the others went to Shunyang by land. His guards were all on good horses, and although the mountain road was steep, they were not as fast as horses when they traveled against the current in boats.

He asked the guards to wait for him in Shunyang.

Sima Xin went to Shunyang very comfortably this time, and the special boat prepared for him by the magistrate of Yin County was much better than the last ferry passenger boat. In the cabin, tea and snacks were prepared, if it weren't for Sima Xin's unpleasant look, the magistrate of Yin County would still serve him with a maidservant.

But Sima Xin had no intention of this, this time he didn't come to visit the mountains and rivers, he went to Shunyang, one was to see his brother, and the other was to thank Zheng Sheng.

In a study in Qingzhuling, Zheng Sheng is making up for Li Chongjing's chemistry class. Today, Zheng Sheng is talking about the classification of substances.

In the middle of the lecture, a personal guard hurriedly came in: "Shizi, Steward Shunyang Xia is here." ”

Zheng Sheng stood up and looked at Li Chongjing, who had been stuffed a lot of things into his mind, his eyes had become very confused, so he said to him, "Don't worry, you think about it again." If you still don't understand something, go to Zheng Shang and Wang Jun to help you solve your doubts. ”

Zheng Sheng walked out of the academy and asked, "What did Xia Xin bring?" ”

"Four wagons, of which there were three wagons of cargo." Defend the road.

Zheng Sheng nodded, and then instructed him to inform Wan Yun and the others to get ready.

He had been waiting for five or six days, and Xia Xin had finally arrived.

That day, after Wan Yun put forward his ultimate conjecture, Zheng Sheng actually believed most of it. In this way, things can really be straightened out.

But what to do next, they are still at a loss.

In the end, Mr. Qiu came over and asked about the matter. He thought about it, and still gave the idea of luring the snake out of the hole, "If it's really just an accident, Xia Xin will definitely take the fireworks out of Shunyang and go to Xiang and Wan to sell." If Xia Xin has abnormal behavior, he still has to find a way to get conclusive evidence, and then find a way to hand it to King Shunyang. ”

But then after waiting for several days, Xia Xin never came. Zheng Sheng almost thought that it was because after he rejected Xia Xin that day, the old guy revealed his stuffing and was so scared that he didn't dare to come over again.

Zheng Sheng thought about their plan, they had to give this batch of fireworks to Xia Xin first, lower his vigilance, and then carefully track it down.

It's a safe idea.

When he arrived at the riverside, Zheng Sheng saw Xia Xin talking to Wang Zhong. He walked over and looked at the first thing: a mess of black and white on the three flatbed wagons.

Zheng Sheng and Xia Xin met, and he pointed to the things in the car, "Zheng Shizi, I'm really sorry, these are wet fireworks." ”

Zheng Sheng frowned, and scolded in his heart, how long has it been raining, and it has become like this?

Zheng Sheng looked at the lump of things, endured the discomfort and got up, twisted up a trace of black powder, and found that it was indeed *, could it really be that they were wrong?

Zheng Sheng temporarily put aside his doubts, "Okay." Steward Wang, you and Steward Xia Xin will hand it over. As for these things, let's put them here for now. ”

Xia Xin smiled and went to the warehouse with Wang Zhong.

After they left, Zheng Sheng led people to carefully clean up a lump of waste.

Wan Yun frowned and said, "This is raining?" I look like I'm soaking in water! ”

Zheng Sheng also felt that these fireworks were blistered into this shape, and no one would believe that the next rain would be like this.

Wait, no one will believe it? Indeed, as long as you are not blind, you will see that this is not rain. So, Xia Xin brought these things, not afraid of him questioning? Even if he pretended to be blind and believed it.

Will Shashin let his guard down? Or will they laugh at him for being blind and stupid?

Zheng Sheng hesitated. In retrospect, the original plan looked like a joke. Is he going to "believe" that they are rained?

Looking at Xia Xin's people carrying the fireworks over there, and then looking at the things that were deliberately ruined by him here, and then thinking about the busyness of him and Liu Wei'er during the years ago, this fireworks is not "invented" by him, but it also has his efforts.

"Wanyun, gather the second and third guards."

Wan Yun asked in surprise: "Shizi?" ”

"These things are not rainy, Xia Xin can't even fool a blind man. Steward Xia's family is not a conspiracy, but a conspiracy. One more step today, and we'll definitely give in more tomorrow. I can't let it go. Zheng Sheng said softly.

Wan Yun also figured it out, "Yes." ”

The second and third guards have long been on standby in the Xishan camp. Wanyun's signal was issued, and Zheng Cheng ran impatiently with people: "Shizi, give an order!" ”

Zheng Sheng patted him on the shoulder, "Follow me." "He didn't plan to fight, he just brought people to be strong.

Zheng Sheng walked to the storeroom. Xia Xin was in front of the warehouse, watching Zheng Sheng walking over with dozens of half-grown teenagers, Xia Xin asked with a smile: "Zheng Shizi, what are you doing here?" ”

"Steward Xia, I'm sorry. I just learned that there were thieves in Qingzhuling today and stole a lot of things, so I have to count the losses. I'm afraid you won't be able to take the fireworks. When Zheng Sheng walked to Xia Xin, he had already thought of an excuse.

"Into the thief? Can't take the fireworks? Xia Xin repeated, as if thinking about the meaning of these two sentences, "Zheng Shizi, last time, it was to retrieve these two hundred fireworks, and it has been delayed for several days. Today, I can't take it away, and I have to delay, can this business continue? ”

Zheng Sheng shook his head, "But I can't help it, I'm really sorry." ”

Xia Xin was angry, "In this case, then Zheng Shizi will take out the money to buy back the fireworks." ”

Zheng Sheng said softly: "That day, Steward Xia said that these fireworks were rained? But has it rained in Jingzhou this year? Has it ever rained like this? ”

Xia Xin laughed, he squinted his eyes and said word by word: "The old man said that it was raining, it was raining." ”

Zheng Sheng shook his head, "Then please go back." Those things, Qingzhuling will not repurchase them. ”

"Zheng Shizi really wants to toss the old man back and forth. Don't make a mistake and offend the king of my family, have you thought about the consequences? Xia Xin said sharply.

"Zheng Ming, you know it." Zheng Sheng didn't bother to say anything more to him, and whispered the last sentence.

Xia Xin's eyes widened suddenly, and his hideous smile turned into an exaggerated look of fear in the next moment, "Zheng Ming, who is this?" Your Zheng family? How do I know each other? I just arrived in Jingzhou this year and don't know this person! Since Zheng Shizi wants to count the losses, the old man will come back another day. ”

With that, he staggered away.

Zheng Sheng looked at his back, and only mentioned Zheng Ming's name, Xia Xin couldn't hold back, was he really related to Zheng Ming? So, do you want to take the opportunity to take him down?

After thinking about it, Zheng Sheng still dispelled this idea.

Shasin left.

Zheng Sheng and Qiu Fuzi sat in the bamboo hut. Qiu Fuzi looked at Zheng Sheng's somewhat depressed expression, "Uphold the right path and do things cautiously, even if there are evil villains, what are you worried about?" ”

"Isn't evil overcoming good? But people are cronies of the king of Shunyang, and evil may not lose to good. Zheng Sheng smiled bitterly.

"Before that, Xia Xin said that it was raining, so it should be rained, and we will act according to the original plan, won't we?"

Zheng Sheng was silent.

Qiu Fuzi said in a deep voice, "But what you did is right, now Xia Xin has been blatant, and no matter how forbearance, maybe he will fall into his arms." Now that you've done it, don't regret it. Embrace the challenge. ”

Zheng Sheng nodded. Don't regret it, then next, it's time to meet Sima Chang's anger!

He needs to be well prepared.

That night, in the Shunyang Palace, Sima Chang invited Sima Xin, the youngest brother who came to visit him and his mother's concubine.

After Sima Chang drunk his younger brother, he returned to the study and listened to Xia Xin's crying half-dizzily.

“…… Business is already so difficult, and Zheng Shizi is very domineering, he may see that the price of fireworks is too high, and he is really losing a lot, so he doesn't want to continue to do business with the palace. At the beginning of this month, after the batch of fireworks in the palace was sold out, I went to Qingzhuling to buy it, but Zheng Shizi did everything possible to push back and was unwilling to deliver. If he went again today, Zheng Shizi used the excuse that Qingzhuling had entered the thief, and he wanted to check the losses and shirk again. ”

"The shaft deceives me!" Sima Chang said angrily, "Come on, send someone to tie him up for me!" The widow personally asked! ”

Xia Xin's heart jumped, and he immediately persuaded: "The king is angry, there is no need to work the king so hard in this matter, plus the kidnapping of Zheng Sheng, it is not good for the king's reputation!" ”

"Then what do you say?" After relieving his strength for a long time, Sima Chang continued to ask.

"The king gave me a talisman, and the old slave brought one or twenty soldiers to deter him, Zheng Sheng is no more than a yellow-mouthed child, and he will be able to surrender." Shahin gave his own answer.

Sima Chang nodded, "Okay, I'll give you soldiers, you must do this well." ”

Xia Xin smiled and left.

Sima Chang drank tea, thinking about Sima Xin's request at the banquet just now.

When they were in Wancheng, Concubine Zang and Concubine Shi both watched the fireworks. When he arrived in Shunyang, that day, Sima Chang set off a fireworks and enjoyed it with his mother. Concubine Zang and her son lived in Xinye, so naturally they didn't have the opportunity to enjoy this fireworks show.

But Sima Chang's business, his younger brother Sima Xin also heard about it, but Sima Xin, who only knew that salt and rice were expensive, found that he, the newly established county magistrate, was also very poor, and he couldn't even afford a few hundred yuan of fireworks. So at the banquet, he tested Sima Chang and wanted to buy some fireworks at a low price.

After another while, he beckoned, "Go, find the lieutenant (the official in charge of the kingdom's military power)." ”

He muttered, "Eunuchs are not allowed to take charge of the army. It's better to send a safe past to keep an eye on it. ”