Chapter 461: Shocking Wind

Where is the main altar of the Cao Gang? Sun Dan suddenly felt a little headache.

As far as he knew, although the Cao Gang was a gang, it was not an underworld. If you really want to make an analogy, it is somewhat similar to the guilds of the Middle Ages in Europe, which is a community of porters and boatmen on the Grand Canal. Carry work and bodyguards for merchant ships and bodyguards every day.

The Cao Gang had 100,000 people, mostly landless peasants and city dwellers along the Grand Canal. Loosely organized and mixed, it is not a political and economic force worthy of attention.

Otherwise, in a highly centralized political society like China, this kind of non-governmental power that is free from the control of the government would have been completely wiped out by the violent organs of the state.

In fact, many places where the local government has to rely on the power of the Cao Gang in its administration, such as disaster relief, transportation, and taxation, all require the Cao Gang's manpower.

Many of the Cao Gang are poor people at the bottom, but once they reach the level of gang leaders, elders, and hall masters, even if they play with two hands, they will have tens of thousands of taels of popularity in a year. Many Cao Gang leaders built houses, bought land, and bought shops in their hometowns, and became big landlords and businessmen, and also walked on the scene.

Therefore, it is not like the gang characters in the martial arts that Sun Dan has seen before, choosing a fixed location to open a mountain and set up a village. If that is the case, it will be a blatant opposition to the imperial court, and it will naturally be too much to die. Speaking of which, what gang is more powerful than the power of the state?

Hearing Sun Dan's question, Han Yue replied: "Several of the Cao Gang's talkers are local figures with heads and faces, living in Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Wuxi, Huai'an, and Xuzhou. ”

As a former spy leader of Jinyi Health, Han Yue also used his previous connections before coming to Huainan to collect a lot of information about Jiangnan.

"Today's Cao gang leader is surnamed Wang Minggu, in his early forties, and is now operating shipping in Zhenjiang."

Sun Dan was a little irritable: "Zhenjiang, is it a little embarrassing for you to let me go to Zhenjiang in one day." Let me ask you, where is the Wind and Fire Dragon now? ”

Han Yue knew that Sun Dan was in a hurry, so she hurriedly replied: "If you talk about this Wind and Fire Dragon, he is from Huai'an, but he is the oldest elder of the Cao Gang, and his prestige is extremely high. It was Wang Gu's uncle, and when Master Wang Gu died, he should have been the helper. It's a pity that this person acts ruthlessly and narrow-mindedly. In the end, the Cao Gang chose the generous Wang Gu as the leader. For this reason, Wind and Fire Dragon has always been disgruntled. His house is located in Fengjiazhuang, thirty miles away from Huai'an City. Wind and Fire Dragon is a master of swordsmanship, and it is said that Gan Bida also learned from him when he came to Huai'an, and there was a draw. ”

"I know this, otherwise I wouldn't have said to Yang Ge Lao that I would get evidence within a day. What I want to ask is whether Feng Huo Long is not in Zhuangzi now, and his four apprentices are also there. Only by netting them all can the charges of Wang Shu and Ganbida be confirmed. ”

Han Yue said: "Master, you don't have to worry, I heard that tomorrow is the fifty-ninth birthday of the Wind and Fire Dragon, and a birthday banquet will be set up in the Zhuangzi, and the altar owners of the entire Cao Gang will come to celebrate his birthday." When the time comes, he and his four apprentices will be there. “

Sun Dan was overjoyed: "That's fine, you can't run a single one." ”

Han Yue: "Master, the Cao Gang are all outlaws, why don't you transfer the army of Dahewei to kill them?" ”

Sun Dan pondered for a moment: "The army must be mobilized, however, the Cao Gang has a large number of people, if you rush to go, you will kill people when you see them, and the impact will be too bad, besides, we don't know those five people, if we get rid of one of them at that time, things will be in trouble." ”

Han Yue: "It's time to find someone who knows five people to recognize them." ”

Sun Dan's heart moved: "I have an idea, doesn't Fang Wei know a person named Xiaodao in the Cao Gang, and that person is the apprentice of the gang leader Wang Yong, he should know the Wind and Fire Dragon." In this way, you and I and Fang Wei went to Zhuangzi to find a knife, and let the soldiers of Dahewei be stationed outside the village, with fireworks as the number, and when the time came, an order was issued to surround Zhuangzi and take people. ”

Han Yue was shocked: "Master, your status is noble, how can you take risks in person." ”

Sun Dan: "What are you afraid of, I'm just going in to recognize people, not going into battle to fight, I'll just hide aside when the time comes." Although with Sun Dan's character, he would definitely not go to such a dangerous thing. However, this matter is really important, and it is better to stay there in person. It's a big deal to show my identity as a chaplain when the time comes, I don't believe that they still dare to offend me, a member of the court, so they are not afraid of being punished by the three clans?

The matter was settled, but for the sake of insurance, Han Yue still asked Sun Dan to put on the gold rope soft armor sent by the Shanxi businessman at the beginning. It is said that this soft armor was bought from merchants in the Western Regions, and in order to curry favor with Sun Dan, the old Xi'er spent hundreds of taels of silver.

This soft armor is very thin, but not light, weighing about thirty pounds, and it is really uncomfortable to wear on the body. It is said to be gold rope armor, but in fact, it is an armor woven with countless steel rings, mixed with human hair in the middle. Because the blonde hair of the Hu people is used, the whole dress looks golden and beautiful.

But when Sun Dan thought that these hairs were cut from the heads of Caucasian women, he felt a little furious in his heart. However, for the sake of his own safety, he still endured nausea and put it on.

He also tried this dress at the beginning, and he was really invulnerable to cold weapons, of course, if he touched a musket, he couldn't do anything. However, muskets are strictly controlled by the state, and private possession of muskets is a major crime of rebellion.

In this way, Sun Dan was also relieved.

As for Fang Wei, when he heard Sun Dan say that Wang Shu and Gan Bida had been detained, he was very moved. As soon as he heard Sun Dan say that he should go to find a knife, it was naturally incumbent. As long as she can avenge her father, she is not afraid of anything.

Early in the morning of the second day, Sun Dan took Fang Wei and Han Yue to take a boat to Fengjiazhuang. In the reeds six miles away from Fengjiazhuang, the two hundred heavily armed soldiers of Dahewei had been lying in ambush for a long time, waiting for the fireworks signal to go out and surround Zhuangzi.

Han Yue didn't know that Fang Wei was his daughter, and even if he knew, he would pretend not to know.

The three of them sat in a small boat and walked silently ahead. There are many small boats shuttling along the water, and the people on the boats are all sturdy, dressed as Jianghu people, and at first glance they are the Cao Gang who go to Fenghuolong to worship their birthdays.

The boat walked for a long time, and there was a large Zhuangzi by the river a few miles ahead, which was rich and noble. The boatman pointed to the Zhuangzi and said, "That's the mansion of Uncle Fenghuo Longfeng." ”

Sun Dan praised in his heart, this Wind and Fire Dragon is really rich. If you take him this time, you can copy the Fengfu and use it for disaster relief.

The number of boats gradually increased, and the small river channel became crowded.

Sun Dan glanced at Fang Wei, Fang Wei understood, and asked a small boat next to him: "Excuse me, is the knife here today?" Her voice was very crisp, and it spread far away.

Before the person on the boat next to him could reply, a voice came: "Who is looking for me, who is looking for me?" ”

Looking for the sound, he saw that there were two boats, and a young man of fifteen or sixteen was standing on the bow of the boat and looking over.

This man was born very strong, probably walking on water all year round, his skin had been sunburned by the wind and sun to a healthy bronz, and his mouth was open, revealing white teeth. He was wearing a beautiful silk shirt today, but somehow, it always gave people a sense of incongruity.

"Ha, scholar, it turned out to be you" Xiaodao found out that it was Fang Wei, and laughed: "What's the matter, I can't mix it anymore, I want to come here to mix a meal with my family Uncle Fengtai?" Don't you scholars have to be face-saving, and this kind of thing can be done? ”

Hearing that he hated it, Fang Wei was so angry that his face turned red and he coughed violently.

After a long time, he wiped the saliva coughed up from the corner of his mouth, and said angrily: "Who is begging?" ”

Sun Dan shook his head unconsciously: This is just a child who is in a rebellious period.

"Oh, it's not begging, you're a scholar, our Cao Gang is all mixed rice on the water, we can't hit one place with eight poles, what are you doing here......" Before the words were finished, the knife suddenly stopped talking, his eyes fell on Han Yue behind him, and his eyes were as bright as a steel knife out of the sheath: "Who are you?" ”

The martial arts of the knife are not bad, although they are far from Han Yue, but they have been fighting in a lot of good hands all the year round, and their eyes are not much more vicious than ordinary people.

Today, the river is also crowded, with boats coming and going, and small boats undulating. But the body of this man with two knives in his back was nailed to the boat like a nail, as if it had been integrated with the boat. This kind of martial arts is also first-class in the rivers and lakes.

What is the origin of this person, and why did he come here?

Xiaodao was shocked in his heart, and he didn't realize that he would ask.

"Knife, don't be rude." A deep voice came from behind the knife: "Pull over the boat." ”

"Yes, Master," Knife nodded, lifting the artemisia in the boatman's hand and stabbing it in the water. The boat under him split the waves and drilled through the gap between the boats, and stopped next to Sun Dan in an instant.

This hand-to-hand boat work is really amazing, and when he heard the knife shouting "Master", Sun Dan's heart sank: Wang Gu is here, but the guy is the world's largest underworld leader

The "bang" knife jumped onto Sun Dan's boat like a leopard, probably using a thousand catties under his feet, which shook the boat for a while, and then pierced Han Yue's pupils with a sharp gaze.

The people on the boat were a little unstable.

Han Yue knew that the knife was demonstrating to herself, and as soon as she used her foot, the boat magically froze, and a circle of waves spread out around the boat, and the sound of boats hitting each other sounded on the river.

"This kid" Sun Dan smiled bitterly in his heart, I don't know why, seeing him, Sun Dan only felt a burst of cordiality, and he didn't think of the days when he was in middle school before.

"Haha, the man on the boat is not angry with Mr. Hugh, and the apprentice is playing badly, but I, the master, are not strict in discipline." A middle-aged man in an ordinary cotton robe walked over, walked directly to Sun Dan's side, and arched his hand: "Wang Gu, the leader of the Xiacao Gang, also ask for advice." ”

This person is quite tall and looks like an ordinary person, but there is an indescribable sharpness all over his body.

Sun Dan saw that he found him as soon as he got on the boat, and he unconsciously praised him in his heart: This guy has good eyesight and knows who is the master.

He arched his hand: "Under Sun Zheng, a silk merchant from Shandong, came to the south to do business." I heard that today is the birthday of Elder Caobangfeng, so I came here to congratulate him, which can be regarded as a good fate, and it will be convenient to walk on the Grand Canal in the future. Now I met Wang Gang Master, it was really a great joy. ”

Wang Gu smiled and said, "Mr. Sun is a guest from afar, so there is no need to be so polite." Besides, I think Mr. Sun has an extraordinary appearance, and he must be a very person. The Cao Gang is just a group of bitter people begging on the Grand Canal, haha, it is an honor for me to know Mr., where do you dare to say that it is convenient, you don't have to laugh off the big teeth of the world. "He's been rolling on the river all his life, and he's never seen any kind of character. Seeing that Sun Dan's bearing is extraordinary, and his speech and demeanor when he speaks, that faction is bigger than the prefect and the governor of the river, and he must be a great figure. Look at the man with two swords on his back, he is also a martial arts master. But beside this man surnamed Sun, he dressed as a slave. Can the person who can make such a domestic slave still be an ordinary merchant?

But what did he do with the Grand Canal?

Therefore, Wang Gu's attitude became respectful.

He smiled and said: "What is the Grand Canal, in the eyes of Mr. is just a small ditch, Mr. is determined to be a big river and sea, and he can afford to look down on our one-third of an acre of land?" ”

This is already a temptation.

Sun Dan naturally refused to say what he meant, and pointed at Fang Wei and said: "The helper really thinks highly of me, I am an ordinary businessman, and I will also walk around Huainan in the future." This section of the Grand Canal seems to be in charge of Elder Feng, and my brother Fang has an old relationship with your apprentice Xiaodao, and I would like to ask him to introduce him, so that I can get to know Elder Feng. Now that there is a helper, it is naturally the best. ”

Wang Gu still refused to relax: "Mr. Sun, you Shandong has produced a great big man in recent years." ”

"What a big shot."

"Speaking of Shandong, the first-class person is naturally Sun Jingyuan of the East China Sea, when the champion of the dynasty, I heard that he will be the prime minister in a few years, and now, Sun Daren is in Huai'an City. Mr. Sun is from Shandong, and his surname happens to be Sun, is he a member of the Sun family of the Marquis of Huichang, or are you Sun Jingyuan, who came out for a private visit to Weifu today? ”

Sun Dan laughed: "Gang Master Wang laughed, if I am Sun Jingyuan, I will also use Baba to come here to visit Elder Feng, if I really want to see him, I will directly send a servant to pass him on." ”

Wang Gu smiled: "But it's too." ”

As he spoke, the boat had already arrived at Fengjiazhuang's own wharf, and a few people who looked like family members came up to greet him, shouting at Wang Gu, "Helper, helper." ”

Wang Gu arched his hand towards Sun Dan: "Mr. Sun, you and I have a very happy relationship, we will have lunch soon, Uncle Feng has already set up a luncheon, and I will invite you to attend later." ”

Sun Dan nodded: "It's easy to say, it's easy to say, please help the master." ”

When Wang Gulin left, he said to Xiaodao: "Xiaodao, you accompany Mr. Sun and them, I have important matters to discuss with Uncle Feng, so you don't want to go over." ”

"Yes." Xiaodao listened to the master let him entertain Sun Dan and Fang Wei, and his heart was angry, and his face was difficult to look at.

Xiaodao led Sun Dan and the three of them to the living room to sit for a while, and after drinking two sips of tea, a family member came over and said: "Brother Xiaodao, the luncheon has begun, the hall masters and distinguished guests of each altar have arrived, Elder Feng and the helper invite you to come and sit down." ”

"Okay, let's go." Xiaodao looked at Fang Wei coldly: "Scholar, let's go over, it's time to eat." ”

Fang Wei's face turned pale with anger, Sun Dan didn't care, and got up: "Let's go, let's eat." ”

When I arrived at the hall, it was so lively, there were at least thirty people, and it seemed that the upper echelons of the entire Cao Gang had come. There are also many people who dress up as local gentlemen.

After finding an inconspicuous place to sit for a while, Wang Gu and a strong man entered the lobby surrounded by a group of people.

The knife pointed at the sturdy man and said to Sun Dan: "That's my family Elder Feng Tai Uncle Feng, and the four people who followed him are the four apprentices of Elder Feng, Feng Dong, Feng Nan, Feng Xi, and Feng Bei." ”

Sun Dan laughed in his heart: The southeast and northwest are here, do you play mahjong, the whole Quartet.

However, it's just right that the main owner has arrived, and it's just right to take it all later.

Thinking of this, Sun Dan handed Han Yue a face.

Han Yue understood, quietly touched the fireworks, and was about to find an opportunity to sneak out to release the signal.

Wang Gu and the others were already seated, and the wind and fire dragon raised his cup: "Brothers, fellow villagers, Feng has been in Huainan for so many years, relying on everyone's help, and finally ate a safe meal for fifty years." I won't say much more, but please drink this cup" and drank all the wine in the cup.

"Congratulations to the elders," everyone picked up their glasses and dried the wine.

Sun Dan was about to serve a cup, but he heard Han Yue beside him whisper in his ear: "There is a problem with the wine." ”

Who is Han Yue, a spy of Jinyiwei, what kind of tricks have I never seen, I picked up the cup and looked at it, sniffed it again, and found that something was wrong.

Sun Dan was shocked and quietly poured the glass of wine into his sleeve.

"Okay, good, it's really a good brother" Feng Huolong let out a long laugh: "Come again, come again." ”

and gave two toasts to the people.

As soon as the three glasses of wine were drunk into his stomach, suddenly, Fang Wei, who was beside Sun Dan, suddenly whispered: "How is my body so soft" Before the words fell, his head tilted, and he fell to the ground.

"Reader, what's wrong with you?" The knife felt strange and was about to reach out to pull it, but a burst of numbness struck, and he staggered and fell to the ground.

"Ten spiced crispy bones," the knife shouted.

There was a sudden chaos in the hall, and immediately after, there was the sound of falling to the ground everywhere, and people kept falling to the ground.

"There are traitors"

"Someone's coming, someone's coming"

In a few moments, the hall was filled with people on the ground.

Sun Dan and Han Yue each gave a look, and at the same time pretended to be unconscious and fell to the ground.

Only the five masters and apprentices of the Wind and Fire Dragon, Wang Gu were still sitting on the chairs.

"Haha" Feng Huolong laughed loudly, stood up abruptly and looked at Wang Gu who was sitting beside him and shouted: "The helper is so good at kung fu, he can hold on until now." It's a pity, it's a pity, I can't stand even if it's a cow. How long can I see you last? ”

Wang Gu's expression remained unchanged, but he shouted: "Uncle Feng, what are you doing." You are highly respected in my Cao Gang, you really want to be the leader of this gang, just say it, do you dare to compete with you for this position? ”

Wind and Fire Dragon sneered: "It doesn't matter if the helper is the helper or not, as long as you promise me one thing, the helper will naturally be yours." Moreover, my Cao Gang will also be more prosperous. ”

When Wang Gu heard this, he shouted fiercely: "Wind and Fire Dragon, don't mention the matter of private salt again." Although our Cao Gang is a gang in the rivers and lakes, all we earn is coolie money, and we can't do this kind of murderous business like smuggling smuggled salt. ”

[Dedication]