Chapter 3: Morning Dew (4 times)

Now that the big boss has made a decision, Cheng Mingzhen naturally refuses again. Nodding his hand to call Duan Qing, he ordered him to stay outside the city and find a suitable open space to arrange a large group of people to camp, while he led the way in front of him, leading Zhang Jincheng and Julu Zezhong and a group of important people to rest in the city.

After several months of cleaning up by Duan Qing and others, the water city at this moment is no longer as dilapidated as when Cheng Mingzhen first passed by. Although most of the houses in the city are still empty, the area near the county government is full of people. Occasionally, a few shops selling vegetables and wild fruits were open, and when they heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance, they were so frightened that they closed the doors, and no matter how many customers outside greeted them, they did not dare to do business anymore.

Cheng Mingzhen was afraid that Zhang Jincheng would not be happy, so he turned sideways on horseback and explained with a smile: "These guys all moved in later, and they are very timid!" The things that are sold are also commonplace! I've changed my clothes and sneaked around a few times, and each time I came back with a bad look! ”

"Dare to come here to do small business, it's enough courage!" Zhang Jin said that several puffs of cold air were spewed out from his nostrils and responded with a smile. "Yes, yes, it's only been three or four months, and you've already brought the local area back to life. If you were given three years, I'm afraid it would be even more prosperous than it was back then! ”

"It's not that the Emperor of the Great Sui has no eyes, and he won't use capable people like Jiu Dangjia, but he will use those stupid and greedy dog officials!" Zhang Hu rubbed forward and smiled at the stubble.

"You mean, I'm better at using people than the Dog Emperor?" Zhang Jincheng looked back suddenly, as if he was smiling.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Zhang Hu scratched the back of his head with a smile, "Then, isn't that an obvious thing?" Yes, or how are you our boss? ”

"Sycophants!" Zhang Jin said that he had struck him with a whip, and his scolding revealed a bit of pride. "You haven't been able to do anything else in the past two fucking years, but you're getting better and better at talking. When you get to the county yamen later, I'll let you say enough, don't pretend to be dumb for me when you arrive! ”

"So, how is that possible?" Zhang Hu smirked, then turned his head to Cheng Mingzhen, "But in front of the head of the sect, it's useless for me to say anything." One of the head of the sect has the ability to top several of us, and when I was in Guantao County, I ......"

When he was in Guantao County, Cheng Mingzhen was not quite on the right path with Zhou Lihu. I always feel that he is too sleek, and even the backbone can be twisted into a circle. Now that he has been flattering himself in a different way, he quickly interrupted with a smile: "Don't be humble when you are less in charge." You have a clear mind and learn everything quickly. ”

"Thanks to the patience of the Nine Masters!" The young master Zhang Hu (Zhou Lihu) hugged his fists and thanked him with a smile.

"Alright, alright, it's not your own leader!" Seeing that Zhang Hu kept getting close to Cheng Mingzhen, Zhang Biao, the other son of Zhang Jin, was very dissatisfied, stepped forward and interrupted loudly. "Which of our brothers in the Ruishi Battalion was not taught by the head of the sect? If you want to say thank you, everyone should thank the head of the sect. You can't be alone! ”

As an elder brother, Zhang Hu naturally has a bit of brotherly strength. Knowing that Zhang Biao was deliberately unable to get along with him, he still waved his hand generously and said with a smile: "Okay, let's put together a drink to thank the nine masters another day!" ”

"What is not thankful. Another day, a few of our brothers will get drunk and rest! Cheng Mingzhen had no intention of intervening in the dispute between the two brothers, and smiled and lived in the mud.

Everyone talked and talked, and in a blink of an eye, they arrived at the gate of the county office. Someone had already arrived one step in advance, opened the main entrance, splashed the street with clear water, and welcomed King Zhang's arrival. Zhang Jin said that he was very satisfied, jumped off the mount, strode in with his hands behind his back, and went straight to the lobby to take a seat. Cheng Mingzhen and the others also followed closely inside, and they were lined up on both sides according to their official positions.

The rest of the guards, pro-soldiers, and some lower-ranking leaders were not qualified to enter to talk with the big boss, so they stopped in front of the steps and stood in several rows according to the rules. In the blink of an eye, from the depths of the county hall to the half of the hall outside the hall, there were people standing neatly and neatly, looking majestic.

"Uh-huh!" Zhang Jincheng coughed lightly and looked around. The people of the Jinzi camp had never experienced such a big scene, so they stood in relative confusion. And the people he brought were rehearsed repeatedly in the Zedi, where they should be, from high to low, without the slightest transgression.

"Uh-huh!" Zhang Jin said that he coughed again, faintly revealing a little smugness.

Cheng Mingzhen glanced out of the corner of his eye, and immediately noticed the difference between the two waves of people. Hurriedly apologized, "The last general is not strict with them, and if you are rude, please forgive me!" ”

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. You have to manage military affairs and civil affairs, so naturally you don't have to spare time to regulate them. This is all a trivial matter, and there is no need to pursue it. Zhang Jincheng waved his hand generously, smiling and relieved. After saying that, he waved his hand outside again, "Officials above the fourth grade will stay on the agenda, and the rest should do whatever they want." Remember, don't disturb the people, and don't cause trouble to General Zhenguo! ”

General Zhenguo was given to Cheng Mingzhen by Zhang Jincheng after he became independent. It belongs to the three-rank martial arts. According to Zhang Jincheng's assumption, he originally planned to give several village owners under his command the title of founding general. But the Confucian scholars and warlocks he invited thought that this was incompatible with etiquette, so they had to balance it comprehensively according to their qualifications, military exploits, and prestige, and named Xue Song, Hao Laodao, and Du Scarqi as the general of the third grade, and the doctor of Jin Ziguanglu. Cheng Mingzhen, Lu Fangyuan, Wang Mazi and Sun Huozi were named generals from Sanpin, and doctors of Yinzi Guanglu. And Cheng Mingzhen and Wang Mazi both were stationed outside Juluze, so they both added the official title of chief manager to their heads.

So now Cheng Mingzhen's official titles are in order from high to low, which is Doctor Yinzi Guanglu, General Zhenguo, and Governor of Zhaozhou. And because most of the people present today are military generals, Zhang Jin said that he called everyone with military titles, not civilian positions.

The leaders outside the yamen were originally trying to make the boss happy, and when they heard the order to disperse on their own, they all shouted "No!" Retire according to the rules. When there were only about two dozen absolute core figures left inside and outside the lobby, Zhang Jincheng smiled tiredly and said in a low voice: "It's really annoying to his grandmother." You look at it and think it's fake, but Lao Tzu actually feels the same. If you don't do that, people will say that we are not formal. Grandma's, if you had relied on Lao Tzu ......"

"That's all for outsiders to see, between our brothers, the big boss can do what he wants!" Sun Huozi flashed out of the queue and said with a smile.

"Yes, the sixth child knows what I mean! What should we do, what should we do! "Zhang Jin said that the auction was applauded." Find a place to sit, Xiao Jiu, and let your people move a few Maza. ”

"Thank you for the seat!" Hao Laodao laughed and coaxed.

"Yes, the throne, the throne, it's all his grandmother's throne!" Zhang Jin said that his body was crooked, and half of his mud-stained riding boots were placed on the table.

After a long period of chaos, Cheng Mingzhen found enough stools. After everyone was seated, Zhang Jin said that he moved the riding boots off the table again, sat upright, with a straight face, and said sadly: "Actually, everyone should be clear about today's topic, that is, to discuss how to avenge Lao Mazi." In terms of selfishness, he is the fourth, we can't let the fourth child of our family be slaughtered, but we dare not speak. On the public, he is our Sipin general and the general of Luzhou. was made so quietly, but our Julu Ze didn't say anything, sooner or later he would be bullied by more people to the doorstep! ”

"As long as I find someone to do it, my Hao Laodao will not be the first to spare him!" The fifth master, Hao Laodao, is still the same as before, with a quick temper and a straightforward temperament.

"I've been looking for it, but I can't find any news!" Zhang Jincheng sighed and said very sadly.

Cheng Mingzhen thought for a while and replied in a low voice: "The last general has also sent a lot of detailed works here, but there is no trace of it. It stands to reason that the four masters brought at least 10,000 brothers with them at that time, so there should be a few who saw the enemy's face clearly. But none of the people who came back first could say why, and those who came back later said that one was more absurd than the other......"

His station is more than 400 miles away from the place where Wang Mazi had an accident, and there is a Taihang Mountain in the middle. But compared to Julu Ze, the news is still relatively smooth. Before he could finish explaining the latest situation, Hao Laodao had already jumped up and interrupted, "You know who did it, which bastard ate the leopard's gall." Lao Tzu ......"

"It's hard to say!" Cheng Mingzhen shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I have found more than forty brothers one after another, and the ones that know the most are only the ones that many of them are wearing with fox tail decorations, and their faces and horse faces are wearing black masks!" ”

"What kind of dress is this? Dancing gods? The eighth master, Lu Fangyuan, was stunned for a moment, frowned and asked. In the Central Plains, fox tails are usually used as leather jackets and collars for the ladies of large families to spend the winter, and the price is very expensive. The person who attacked Wang Mazi actually hung it outside the leather armor as a decoration, and carried it in the summer, either because it was so wide that it was oily, or it was deliberately pretending to be a ghost.

He has little knowledge, so he naturally instinctively feels that the other party is playing tricks. Zhang Jincheng and Hao Laodao, who were present, were taken aback, looked at each other, and hurriedly interrupted Lu Fangyuan's words, "Old eight, don't be foolish!" "Lao Jiu, are you sure that the other party is wearing a black mask?"

"The end will not be certain!" Cheng Mingzhen shook his head lightly, cautiously expressing his skepticism, "This kind of dress is too weird, it's more like the minions who ran out were scared stupid and made up their own nonsense." And at that time, they were attacked in the dark of night, and they were stunned as soon as they came up, and they may not be able to see it really! ”

Zhang Jincheng glanced at Hao Laodao again, and then shook his head slightly, "They should be right, but the other party must be deliberately pretending to be a ghost." Black mask, fox tail decoration, this kind of dress I have seen with the fifth child! ”

This time, Cheng Mingzhen was a little surprised. glanced at Hao Laodao in surprise, and then asked in a low voice: "The big boss has seen it?" Whose subordinates are they? ’

"A person dressed like this is a Turkic wolf rider!" Hao Laodao's brows were furrowed, and his voice sounded very serious, "But how could the Turkic wolf ride run into the Taihang Mountain?" The place where Lao Mazi had an accident is the southernmost part of Shangdang County, and it will be two hundred miles to the Yellow River! ”

"Either there are dog officials colluding with the Turks, or there are subordinates of the dog officials pretending to be Turks. Anyway, they are all hidden in the mountains around Shangdang, and Lao Mazi accidentally stepped on other people's plates......" Zhang Jincheng suddenly realized and summed up painfully. Anyway, he was too proud of himself to jump into the fire pit desperately. I kept asking him to withdraw it, but he wouldn't listen! ”

Speaking of this, his voice was a little choked. A pair of large hands scratched at the table, as if they wanted to grab something and tear it apart, but in the end they only held the void.

"Since you know the Turks, whether they are real or fake, if you go to the Shangdang side to find them, you will definitely be able to find the right master!" Lu Fangyuan, the eighth master, showed his cowardice just now, and was eager to redeem himself, so he jumped out again and suggested loudly.

"Difficult!" Sixth, the head of the family, Sun Huozi, vetoed his words with one word. Looking around, the old man explained worriedly: "Hiding such a team in the mountains, what is planned must be a very big thing. They did not hesitate to wipe out all the people of Lao Mazi, and of course they would not stay where they were and wait for us to find them. We really went, or they hid. Or dig a big trap and trap us all in! ”

At first glance, this seems a bit alarmist, but after careful consideration, everyone found that there is some truth in it. Hiding such a well-equipped and well-trained team deep in the mountains, and also dressing up as a Turkic wolf horseman, is definitely not something that the financial resources of the heroes of the rivers and lakes can do. Then, the people who built this team are by no means to deal with the heroes of the rivers and lakes for the imperial court! He is plotting for greater interests, trying to reap benefits that ordinary people can't even think of in troubled times!

Julu Zequn rushed to kill Taihang Mountain, in order not to expose his strength, the other party only had two choices. When he was absolutely sure that he would eat the giants, he ate them in one fell swoop, repeating the tragic ending of Wang Mazi's annihilation. And once the two sides may be evenly matched, that mysterious team will definitely be transformed into county soldiers, officers and soldiers, hiding behind the tall city walls and avoiding a fight. At that time, there will be no head of resentment, no owner of debts, and Wang Mazi's revenge will still not be avenged.

It all depends on how many people Zhang Jin is prepared to cross the Taihang Mountain. There are so many people that you can't find anything. If there are fewer people, you will have to risk being completely annihilated by the other party. And it is possible to lead thousands of troops across the mountain to find out the murderer of Wang Mazi and then retreat, among those present, I am afraid that there is only one candidate.

"Xiao Jiu?" After muttering for a long time, Zhang Jincheng slowly raised his head, "If you only find out who the opponent is, how many people do you need?" ”

"Don't blame the big boss, the last general needs to think carefully!" Cheng Mingzhen hesitated for a moment and responded with a frown. The task of going to battle will eventually fall to him, and he is already mentally prepared for this. But it turned out that it was the same people who were going to deal with it, but the current combat object has become a hidden official army, or a private soldier with a wealthy surname. The difference between them is enough to make him more cautious in his decision.

"Let the five masters help you guard Qingzhang, and the eight masters help you guard the water!" Seeing that Cheng Mingzhen's attitude was not very positive, Zhang Jincheng smiled and solved his worries for him. "I will lead a large group of men and horses to be stationed in Nanhe at the gate of Juluze, if the officers and soldiers dare to attack while you are away, I can come over immediately to respond!"

If you don't make a promise, I'm afraid that even Ping En will have to be taken over by Zhang Da Dang. Cheng Mingzhen had no choice but to smile and respond in a low voice, "Wuyang's side, I'm afraid I won't send troops for the time being." It is the Yang Baiyan of Qinghe, who harvested some grain in the autumn, and I am afraid that it will be uncomfortable again. The fifth uncle guards Qingzhang for me, I must rest assured. As for the water, there is no need for anyone to defend it, and it is enough for Juan Zi to send a few people from Ping'en to keep an eye on it! ”

"I'll go with you!" Worried about her husband's safety, Cuckoo stood up and said.

"You stay behind Ping'en! The people have just finished threshing the grain, and there is no one in charge, so I am afraid that the people's hearts will be in turmoil! Before Zhang Jincheng spoke, Cheng Mingzhen commanded loudly.

Ping'en and Lishui and Qingzhang are in the shape of a product. It's like a bull's head and two horns. As long as Ping's head is not lost, the two horns will not easily fall into the hands of people. This geographical difference in priorities has been discussed many times by the husband and wife in private conversations. So as soon as Cheng Mingzhen spoke, Du Juan immediately understood what her husband was thinking.

She nodded helplessly, her eyes full of grievance. "Well, be careful!"

Cheng Mingzhen smiled at her, then turned his gaze to Zhang Jin and said, "Since you are just going to visit the enemy, instead of fighting immediately, it is not easy to transport supplies with too many people!" The last general asked to bring only the 4,000 sharp soldiers of the Jinzi battalion, and the rest of the brothers stayed to help the women of the family collect food, so that the nearby officials and soldiers would not take advantage of the weakness to pick up the cheap! ”

"Well, it's up to you!" Seeing that Cheng Mingzhen was willing to go out, Zhang Jin said that he was not too embarrassed by him, and nodded in agreement.

"Big boss, be careful of Yang Baiyan!" Cheng Mingzhen arched his hand upwards and reminded again, "If he wants to come over and make trouble, he will definitely not go to Pingen." This person loves face very much, he suffered losses in your hands one after another last year, and then raised it for a whole year, and his strength should have already recovered! ”

"Lao Tzu sent someone to wait for him on the east side of Julu Ze!" Zhang Jincheng thought about it and waved his hand nonchalantly. "His strength has recovered, and Lao Tzu's side is not as easy to get along with as before. Unless he doesn't come, if he dares to come over and make trouble for Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu will even kill his nest! ”

"It's best if the big boss is prepared!" Cheng Mingzhen saw that Zhang Jin was full of confidence, and he didn't put his beak too much. This person has been very wary of him, but he has always been cautious, and he has some scruples about each other, so he has always been safe. If Zhang Jinwei is allowed to suffer a small loss in the hands of Yang Shanhui, it will not be harmful to Cheng Mingzhen's future development. At least let Zhang Jincheng and some people understand that fighting is not something that can be played casually with many soldiers and good equipment, and many basic conditions are needed for generals, and not everyone in Julu Zezhong can achieve it.

"You just go, with me, no one can touch your Zhaozhou!" Seeing that Cheng Mingzhen always had a faint trace of worry on his face, Hao Laodao thought that he was afraid that the officers and soldiers on the other side of Zhangshui would make a move, so he stepped forward and patted him, smiling and comforting.

"In this way, please leave it to the fifth uncle!" Cheng Mingzhen got off the donkey and saluted Hao Laodao with a fist.

The crowd finalized some details of the dispatch, defense, and reception, and then, as usual, they marched on the wine. Cheng Mingzhen's alcohol consumption has always ranked last in the eyes of everyone, so he can't drink until he accompanies him halfway. The cuckoo is the girl's house, and no one minds if she drinks too much or too little, and when she saw Cheng Mingzhen leaving, she quietly followed.

The husband and wife walked side by side under the autumn moon, and they both saw deep worry in each other's eyes. After a while, Cheng Mingzhen smiled and comforted in a low voice: "Uncle Mazi was too careless, so he was caught off guard." I'll send more scouts, and try not to engage anyone! You don't have to worry, keep your home and wait for me to come back! ”

"Hmm!" The cuckoo nodded in agreement, but the finger that grabbed the corner of Cheng Mingzhen's clothes revealed the panic in her heart. Cheng Mingzhen stopped, straightened her hair, and told her with a smile, "Don't worry." Nothing serious. Send someone to Zeli tomorrow to take a look at my father-in-law's condition, the old man is older after all......"

"I know! I'll be careful, keep home, and wait for you to come back! The cuckoo stretched out a tired smile, revealing a mouthful of beautiful white teeth in the moonlight.