Guan Zhiqing saw Xiucai sitting alone in the tent sulking, he thought about Li Dan's words before, and then coughed and walked in.

"What's the matter with Second Brother?" Although Zhang Mengcheng was angry, he still didn't let his anger explode casually.

"The Cai dwarf at the top of Artemisia already knows the reason why his second brother was ambushed, and now he is losing his temper in the eldest brother's tent. This time there were hundreds of dead and wounded in their village, and we must give him an explanation. Guan Zhiqing's tone of voice was a little flat, as if he was talking about a trivial matter.

Zhang Mengcheng cut off, and said with some self-deprecation: "The mouse is from under my hands, I will naturally bear this matter, Cai Shorty wants any object on my body to open his mouth, he will not take my life." ”

Although Jin Dingshan and Artemisia Peak are allies, they will also marry in the future. But after all, the two families have transferred from the underworld to the official army, and some rules on the road still have to be explained. This time, Artemisia sent reinforcements to rescue Jinding Mountain, but the losses were quite large because of Zhang Mengcheng's subordinates.

No matter how timely Ma Xiangzhong's rescue was later, Jindingshan's side still needs to take responsibility. Before paying compensation, the responsible person Zhang Mengcheng must show his sincerity, three knives and six holes or something are more common punishments in the underworld, and some of the more cruel gouging eyes, chopping fingers or picking off hand tendons or something, it depends on how far Cai Xiaozi, the big boss, intends to investigate.

If Cai Xiaozi endured this breath because he was afraid of the relationship with Jin Dingshan, this would naturally be what the Zhang family and his gang were willing to see. But as an old bandit, the relationship within him will become complicated, and Cai Xiaozi, the big boss, will also be questioned by others.

Moreover, after other people on the road learned about this, they would also begin to look down on Artemisia Peak, which would bring more challenges and troubles to Artemisia Peak in future activities. Therefore, from the internal and external point of view, Cai Xiaozi, the veteran bandit leader, may not easily let go of Zhang Mengcheng, the future uncle of Artemisia Peak.

And Jin Dingshan also needs to maintain a relationship with Artemisia Peak, after all, after this rebellion on the West Road. Although he showed his loyalty to the imperial court, the identity of the thief in front of Jinding Mountain will become more and more embarrassing, so he will have to hug these people with the same treatment as Artemisia Peak.

After all, Zhang Mengcheng is the third brother of the head of Jinding Mountain, and even if Artemisia is angry, he will not want Xiucai's life. At most, Zhang Mengcheng's future nickname has to be changed, from "Zhang Xiucai" to one eye, or Po Xiucai or something.

"Don't you want to know, who did Cai Xiaozi learn from in detail?" Guan Zhiqing still has that tone that is not salty or light.

“…… Who is it? After all, this matter is related to whether he will be disabled in the future, even if Zhang Mengcheng gives up on himself, he still tells the secret who he knows.

Although he and Ma Xiangzhong successfully rescued the people and horses of Artemisia Peak before, the other leaders of Artemisia Peak also expressed their gratitude at that time. But Cai Laoer, who is also experienced, also figured out that something was wrong with this matter. However, Zhang Mengcheng and others did not speak at that time, and Cai Lao Er had no evidence, so the matter was temporarily shelved.

But now Cai Xiaozi, who had arrived belatedly from the Jingbian camp, knew the details of what had happened immediately after he had defeated the rebels with the others. That means that the people on the Jindingshan side who knew about this matter did not discuss it with Zhang Mengcheng, and directly chose to report to Artemisia Peak.

"It's big brother." After Guan Zhiqing said the answer, he noticed that Xiucai's eyes instantly darkened.

In fact, Zhang Mengcheng also vaguely guessed this answer, but Xiucai was a little reluctant to believe it.

“…… I know, I'll go to my eldest brother's. Zhang Mengcheng's original tone was only a little self-defeating, but now it has become a little cold.

Although intellectually speaking, Zhang Mengcheng also thinks that it is indeed difficult to keep this matter hidden, and there will always be a day when it is exposed. Now that the eldest brother takes the initiative to confide in, he can save a lot of lost points for Jindingshan.

But after all, he is the eldest brother, the same mother, and the younger brother, so he should be a little special. The eldest brother's practice of handing himself over for the collective interests of the cottage is indeed selfless, but it still makes Zhang Mengcheng feel cold.

And even if the eldest brother really wants to do this, at least discuss it with himself first. No matter how much he fears the punishment he will receive, at least he can make Zhang Mengcheng feel prepared.

Guan Zhiqing grabbed Zhang Mengcheng, who was about to go out, and said, "Don't be in a hurry to leave, the eldest brother has already explained." ”

Zhang Mengcheng was a little surprised, and asked puzzledly: "Cai Xiaozi is so easy to speak, he really doesn't have to care about what the brothers in his village think?" ”

"Five hundred stone fine grain is expensive enough in this year, and the people in our village have to stuff some dried sweet potatoes into the bowl to pad their stomachs." Guan Zhiqing replied slowly.

"What, five hundred stone fine grain!" Zhang Mengcheng was startled when he heard Guan Zhiqing's words.

Although Jindingshan had harvested a lot of grain in the autumn harvest before, five hundred stone fine grain was still a considerable number. At present, the fine grains processed in the cottage are only 2,000 stone in total. Therefore, this compensation to Artemisia Peak will definitely make everyone in Jinding Mountain feel distressed.

And if these grains are exchanged for silver at the current grain price in Baoan County, then the 500 stone fine grain will be at least more than 1,500 taels of silver. Thinking of these losses, Zhang Mengcheng, who has always been very economical, seems to hear that blood is dripping in his heart.

"Losing some grain is better than ruining the relationship between the two families. Cai Xiaozi also didn't want his future sister-in-law to become a cripple because of this incident, and he had to give some explanation to the people in their village. Guan Zhiqing understands Xiucai's saving temperament, although he also feels very distressed, but he still thinks that these grains still have to be sent.

"With so much food as an apology, the price is too great, so it's better to let Cai Xiaozi waste one of my legs." Zhang Mengcheng, who is used to living a poor life in northern Shaanxi, is really willing to exchange one of his legs.

"It's useless for you to cut off one leg and send it now, so let's reflect on the mistakes you made." Guan Zhiqing saw that Zhang Mengcheng no longer continued to sulk at this time, but felt sorry for the price paid by the cottage. So he took the opportunity to change the topic and persuaded Zhang Mengcheng to start introspection.

"I ......, alas." Zhang Mengcheng heard that Guan Zhiqing wanted to take care of his mistakes, and he wanted to refute a few words, but in the end he felt that he really had nothing to say.

"That bastard named Chen Guanghong, you really haven't seen anything in such a long time?" Guan Zhiqing saw that Zhang Mengcheng didn't refute, and knew that Xiucai could already hear a little bit of what to say, so Guan Zhiqing immediately started to count Zhang Mengcheng from the matter of spies.

"He did a good job when he first joined Shanzhai, and then I received him into his subordinates, and he asked questions, and I really thought he was completely because he was diligent and inquisitive." Zhang Mengcheng really thought that he had a very potential subordinate, so he wanted to train the other party well.

"Then you can't tell him everything, just like the reinforcements at the top of Artemisia, where to join you, you can just know these things, just tell your subordinates what to do. In the past, I wouldn't tell the guards around me about the things that the leaders discussed, and even Yu Ze I wouldn't tell him anything important. Guan Zhiqing said.

"I see." Zhang Mengcheng does lack a sense of confidentiality, and after this time, he will be more or less restrained.