This is a large-scale water village, built near the river, divided into two parts: water and land. There are large and small wharves on the river, and dozens of large and small ships are moored.

Entering the water village, a tall wooden fence guards the entrance.

With a rattling sound, the heavy water gate slowly opened, and through the water gate, the water inside was as calm as a lake.

After the boat was properly moored, Gan Xiaokun led everyone off the boat and ordered someone to lead Chen Qingzhi and their horses down and send them to the stable for feeding.

As far as the eye can see, about a few dozen steps away from the river bank, a solid slope protection is in front of you, carrying the heavy buildings and buildings on it.

As soon as everyone went up the slope, they saw a group of people waiting here.

The leader was a young and beautiful woman, wearing heavy makeup and a complicated bun with many ornate hairpins; Wearing a rose-red delicate dress, holding a light and translucent white shawl, even if you are just standing, you can see the graceful posture; The woman looked at everyone with a smile on her face, a pair of Danfeng eyes flashed with light, and her dark pupils were like a pool of autumn water, bottomless.

"Husband, you're back." The woman curtsied at Gan.

"Hmm." Gan Xiaokun replied vaguely, then turned to Song Jingxiu and said, "Master Song, this is my wife, Gan Gu. ”

Song Jingxiu hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "In the lower Song Jingxiu, I have seen Mrs. Gan." ”

Then, Gan Xiaokun introduced Chen Qingzhi and others one by one, "This is General Chen Qingzhi, who is an official of the imperial court; These two little brothers are his entourage - Xu Jin and Hui Ze. ”

After everyone greeted each other, Gu said, "General Chen is an official of the imperial court, so it is better to let my father come to see him." ”

Gan Xiaokun glanced at her and said lightly, "If you want, just call them." ”

Then Gan Xiaokun instructed, "Go and pack up a few rooms and come out, you guests will stay here for a few days." ”

That night, Gan Xiaokun held a banquet again to entertain Chen Qingyi and his party.

The Gu clan really came. The old father Gu Siming's hair is gray, but he is in good spirits, his pace is steady, and he has always been polite in front of everyone.

His son Gu Chong is tall and strong, with an indifferent expression, always looking at people with his head held high and squinting, and he looks arrogant and domineering.

Perhaps because Chen Qingzhi was an official of the imperial court, Gu Siming showed great courtesy and frequently toasted him. After a few rounds, Gu Siming finally asked, "General Chen came from afar, I don't know what happened?" ”

"Brother Song, who is traveling with him, is an old friend of Commander Gan, we passed by here and came to visit, and there is nothing special." Chen Qingzhi replied politely.

"Since it is an old friend, if military funds are needed, General Chen can just speak, and we will definitely give our full support."

"What Gu Weng said, I waited to come, it was definitely not for money, don't worry too much."

"Didn't you come here for money?" Gu Chong staggered over, "That's really rare!" ”

Gu Chong sat down opposite Chen Qingzhi, shook his head and said, "Don't hide it, what friendship is not friendship, in the end, it's not about money." Let's put it bluntly, so as not to waste everyone's time, how much do you want? ”

"Presumptuous!" Gu Siming scolded in a low voice, "Where is your share of talking here!" Go back to your seat, stay honest, don't embarrass the old man here! ”

"Alright, I'll go back to my seat." Gu Chong smiled arrogantly, got up and walked back a few steps, then turned his head back and said, "Look, sooner or later, you have to talk about money." Then he let out a nasty playful laugh and returned to his seat.

"The dog is drunk, talking nonsense, and looking at General Chen Haihan." Gu Siming apologized to Chen Qingzhi.

"It's okay, presumably on weekdays, there are a lot of people who come to ask for money, right?" Chen Qingzhi said with a smile.

"General Chen also knows what his son-in-law does for a living, and on weekdays, he has to take care of everything in every way."

"Speaking of which, I really want to ask for advice, Gu Weng is a local noble family, and he can lead this marriage with Gan......"

"The old man understands General Chen's question, and the son-in-law is also a hero, so why should he care about those boring false names."

"It seems that Gu Weng is a pragmatic person." Chen Qingzhi said meaningfully.

"My father-in-law and General Chen had a very speculative chat!" Gan Xiaokun also walked over with a wine cup at this time.

"General Chen is a distinguished guest, of course the old man must accompany him!" Gu Siming responded.

"Well, then Father-in-law Lao will accompany your distinguished guest, and I will also accompany my distinguished guest."

"What's yours and mine?" Gu Siming was a little puzzled.

"Your distinguished guest is General Chen, and my distinguished guest is Master Song, let's perform our duties and accompany our guests."

"Nonsense! Those who come are all distinguished guests, what do you and I share? Gu Siming was obviously very displeased.

Gan Xiaokun didn't pay attention to it, and walked in front of Song Jingxiu, "Master Song, the moon is sparse tonight, we haven't been boating together for a long time, are you interested in traveling on the river with me at night?" ”

"Okay!" Song Jingxiu readily agreed, "Back then, we often boated on moonlit nights, and Song missed it very much!" ”

Gan Xiaokun laughed, grabbed Song Jingxiu's wrist, and said loudly, "Master Song, go!" ”

"Wait!" Gu suddenly stopped the two.

Gan Xiaokun turned around and asked with displeasure, "What's the matter?" ”

"You two have drunk, and you're afraid that it's not safe, so let the four guards accompany you." Gu Shi said softly.

"I grew up on this river, so it's not safe, and it's not the first time I've been boating with Master Song after drinking, so I don't need to be accompanied. You take care of General Chen and them, and don't worry about us. ”

After speaking, Gan Xiaokun pulled Song Jingxiu and walked outside with his head held high.

However, Gu Shi was obviously not reconciled, she made a look, and the four guards immediately followed.

When they came to the riverside, Gan Xiaokun and Song Jingxiu untied a ferry boat and jumped on it.

Four guards followed closely and also wanted to get on board. Gan Xiaokun held the pole of the boat, swung it at them, stopped them, and said in a low tone, slightly fierce, "Lao Tzu said, no one needs to follow. Whoever wants to go one step further and watch me stab me into the water! ”

After speaking, Gan Xiaokun stretched the pole hard, and the bow of the boat rowed open the water and sailed towards the water gate.

"Open the door!" With Gan Xiaokun's shout, the guards opened a crack in the water gate, and Gan Xiaokun skillfully drove the ferry, drilled out, and came to the vast river.

The river was covered with a light veil-like mist, and the ferry boat drove slowly, gradually getting farther and farther away from the water village, until only the lights of the water village could be faintly seen, and Gan Xiaokun stopped the boat.

"Master Song, now it's just you and me." Gan Xiaokun's expression was serious, "Let's get straight to the point, what are you looking for me?" ”

"Commander Gan, why are you asking here?" Song Jingxiu looked around and asked cautiously.

"Master Song, you still call me by my name as you did back then." Gan Xiaokun said, "I can't hide it, my current situation is definitely not what you see, please explain your intentions first, and then I will explain it to you." ”

"Okay, Xiao Kun, I'll just get to the point. We came this time to recruit you to join our army. ”

"Joining the army?"

"Yes. I know you didn't like this life of looting, but you just had to do it. I originally wanted to recruit you into the army, but now it seems that it is difficult to move you, right? ”

"Master Song, let's say goodbye for a few years, let me tell you about the changes in the past few years."

"Please speak, Song listens."

"It was supposed to be for a livelihood and had to be looted. But gradually, more and more people came to rely on us, and we gradually grew. Three years ago, the local wealthy Gu clan suddenly proposed to marry me, to be honest, I don't believe that those wealthy clans will look down on me as a river thief, they must have a certain purpose for Song. But when I saw the Gu family who was going to marry me, I was really attracted by her appearance, and my head was hot, so I responded to this family business. ”

"After getting married, the first period of time made me feel very comfortable and comfortable, the Gu family not only did not look down on me, but was courteous, and also helped to deal with the relationship between the government and the government, and even took care of the Didian and Jinfan Town in an orderly manner, and the scale was getting bigger and bigger."

But slowly, things started to change. More and more businessmen are coming to buy our goods, more and more relationships need to be cleared, and there are more and more teams, more and more mouths to eat. We had to loot more frequently than ever before, looting more goods and selling them to keep us afloat. ”

"Master Song, you know my principle of looting, but it is no longer enough to rob those big merchants of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the protection of those big merchants is becoming more and more tight, and it is becoming more and more difficult to get hold of, so we send more and more ships and people every time, and the cost is getting bigger and bigger."

"Finally, someone began to propose to expand the scope of looting, and it was the Gu family who was behind this. I began to understand that they had married me in the first place, and they had just used me as a way to make money. ”

"Do you know why I'm presiding over every procurement meeting myself? It was because the Gu family had put more than half of their income into their pockets before. I'm just a tool for them! ”

"Then you won't really rob all merchant ships now, will you?" Song Jingxiu asked worriedly.

Gan Xiaokun looked at Song Jingxiu and smiled proudly, "Master Song, do you think I will be so easily swayed?" ”

"But I'm just barely able to hold on to my principles right now. At present, there are more than 3,000 horses in the village, and most of them have become the minions of the Gu family, and more people are still inclined to profit than righteousness......" Gan Xiaokun smiled bitterly.

"Your four personal guards are also used to keep an eye on you, right?"

"It's my wife's arrangement, I don't know where to find these four so-called masters, and they follow me every step of the way. Now that I am at odds with the Gu family, I can't tolerate their endless greed, but I also know that sooner or later I won't be able to restrain them......"

"In that case, why don't you just leave the Gu clan and cut them off!"

"It's good if it could be so simple," Gan Xiaokun said with a long sigh, "I'm not afraid of Master Song's jokes, my commander is just a decoration now, and I'm almost about to be set up in the dark." Besides, if there is a direct conflict with them, won't the brothers kill each other! ”

"The current situation is very delicate, I personally presided over the purchase, so that the Gu family can't do anything, will they hate me? It's just that I still need to make the cards in front of me now, and it's not time to completely tear the skin completely. ”

"How can you just sit back and wait for death, the Gu family is so greedy, if they are allowed to act arbitrarily, sooner or later they will invite a catastrophe!" Song Jingxiu said indignantly.

"Master Song, do you have any good ideas?"

"Let me go back and discuss with General Chen, he is resourceful and will definitely find a way!"