Wang Lusheng's inn in Yangzhou is a safe residence in the north of the city, and after inquiry, I only know that a few days ago I walked a stable guy. I heard that the old lady of the family was seriously ill and quit her job and returned to her hometown.

Although he carried his father's handwritten letter in his arms, Cao Hao had no plans to use the Cheng family for the time being. Although the two friends Wei Xin knew were not as powerful as the Cheng family, it was not a problem to explore the boundaries of the city. On the eighth day of the fifth month, the fourth young master of the Zhao family in the west of Yangzhou City took people out to run the horse and came back in the afternoon; The chief steward of the Lu family in the south of the city took dozens of nurses and escorted more than ten salt carts to Tianshui, Anhui; Du Laoba of the Yangzhou Wharf of the Cao Gang also took people out of the city, but he took a boat to Zhenjiang, and there was a little friction with the Zhenjiang Wharf. In addition, Yangzhou City did not dispatch dozens of people that day.

Among the three families, it seems that only the fourth young master of the Zhao family is suspicious. But after spending some money, I bought two of the servants who followed Fourth Master Zhao out of the city, and I knew the itinerary of that day. Where is the hunting, but the fourth young master hid from the elders, took a guest, and went to a garden outside the city to drink flower wine. The guest was a young man, and he didn't know his name, but he knew that the fourth young master respected that person very much, and called him "second brother". In the afternoon, the "second brother" did not come back with the fourth young master, as if he had a beauty, and he was "relaxed" in the garden outside the city.

When Wei Xin and Cao Hao got the news, Cao Fang had already reported the case and came back, and he also brought a master in the yamen, two arresters and an official sedan chair. Zhao Hongyu, the governor of Yangzhou Prefecture, came. He came to Yangzhou in March last year, and it was a coincidence that this Zhao Hongyu was inlaid with a white flag, and he happened to be the doorman of the Chunjun Palace. If you talk about the master, this Cao Hao happens to be half of his master.

Last year, Chunjun Wangfu Da Gege pointed out that he was married to the Cao family, and of course Zhao Hongyu knew about it, in addition to sending congratulatory gifts to the capital, Jiangning Cao's family naturally did not fall behind. Speaking of which, he and the Cao family are not outsiders, so naturally this official is doing more and more down-to-earth.

It's just that I didn't expect that something went wrong accidentally, and more than 20 people in this Yangzhou territory were kidnapped by bandits in broad daylight. It's just that they don't move well, they are still distant relatives of the Cao family, and they can't help but faintly hear that the Cao family has also been in the pearl business in the past two years, and it turns out that they have a relationship with the Shandong Wang family.

Although Cao Hao and Wei Xin were standing side by side, Zhao Hongyu recognized which one was Cao Hao at a glance, and couldn't help muttering in his heart: "I can't complain that the master is willing to give Da Gege to the Cao family, doesn't he fancy his appearance?" There was still a lot of harmony on his face, after all, Cao Hao hadn't married Da Gege yet, and he didn't need to call himself a "slave", so he said: "How dare you bother the eldest prince to come?" There are such gangsters rampant under Zhao's jurisdiction, and it is really uneasy to feel guilty. Son, please rest assured, Zhao will do his best to find the gang of bandits and rescue your relatives as soon as possible! ”

Before Cao Hao came to Yangzhou, Cao Yin had already mentioned Zhao Hongyu's identity to him, so he was not surprised that he was so enthusiastic, so he smiled and invited him into the house and said a few words of greeting.

Zhao Hongyu first asked about Cao Yin's condition, and then mentioned the Chunjun Mansion in the capital, which naturally complimented Cao Hao's "royal marriage".

This flattery is that most of the hour has passed. Cao Hao is okay, he has been tempered in the capital, and he listened to the words of these officials with a smile. Wei Xin was on the side, but he was really depressed enough. Because he was facing Cao Hao, Cao Hao could just see him squeezing his eyebrows, and he was secretly amused. In fact, he was also in a hurry and wanted to go to the scene of the crime as soon as possible to take a look, but he had to say something about the scene. finally sent Zhao Hongyu away around two bends, and everyone rode out of Yangzhou City.

When he arrived at the woods, Cao Hao was secretly glad in his heart, because it had not rained for the past two days, and there were still dried horse manure on both sides of the road. Since the horses of Wang Lusheng and these people were fed with croton, even if they were pulled away, there would inevitably be traces on the road. What's more, there are dozens of people procrastinating, and it is impossible for Qingtian Bai to completely hide his whereabouts.

The two catchers, one named Zhang Ying and the other Han Zhouzheng, are both in their thirties and look very shrewd and capable. It seems that they also thought of the problem of horse manure, their eyes lit up, one went to the north, the other went to the south, each checked, and finally there was a harvest, a mile to the south, and found horse manure similar to the forest, among which there was still undigested croton.

I searched all the way to Tai'an Town, ten miles away. After inquiry, it was a group of horseback riders on the outskirts of the town the afternoon before yesterday and went to the "Wangfengzhuang" in the east of the town. Cao Hao and the others took a closer look, it was a manor built by the river, with a high wall, a yard two miles square, and their private wharf could be seen in the distance, and there were still several boats parked there.

Cao Hao couldn't help frowning slightly, if these people were really hidden, then if they startled the snakes, they might escape from the water.

Zhang Ying pointed to several islands in the middle of the river in the distance, and introduced to Cao Hao: "Master Cao, this is our Yangzhou's 'seven rivers and eight islands', among which there are Gaoshui River, Taiping River, Jinwan River, Phoenix River, New River, Gecko River, Ancient Canal, there are Gecko Island, Phoenix Island, Zizi Peninsula, Mangdao Peninsula, Jinwan Peninsula, Jufeng Island, Xinhe Island and Shanhe Island. This Zhuangzi is facing Phoenix Island, and it is estimated that it is for this reason that it got this name! If the people in this village have nothing to do with the people on the island, it's fine, but if they have something to do with it, then I'm afraid things will be difficult! ”

Another fast catcher, Han Zhouzheng, also said on the side: "Yes, Master Cao, if you want to say that our Yangzhou boundary is also stopped." Since the fight more than ten years ago, a gang of murderers came out of nowhere, entrenched in the area of 'seven rivers and eight islands', although they are not too arrogant, but they always have to commit some crimes. In order to return the safety of the people on this side, the previous lord asked for orders and transferred the green camp in Yangzhou, wanting to suppress this gang of murderers. Because they were not secretive, they knew the news and sailed away in advance. When the officers and soldiers retreated, these people naturally made a comeback, and the government really couldn't do anything. Those green battalion soldiers are all masters, where are they willing to work in vain, and they are willing to give up after some hard work and hard work on the big families along the coast. Lord Nafuzun loves the people very much, and this kind deed is disturbing the people, and he is already guilty. Some people fell into the well, and somehow used the relationship to make a relationship, and set the adult a crime of 'doing bad things' and demoting the official......"

Cao Hao sighed secretly in his heart, since ancient times, "officials and bandits are a family", this must not be wrong. If there is no power of the government, how can these people dare to take root in this prosperous realm? It seems that someone thinks that the prefect is troublesome and secretly makes a stumbling block. The first person Cao Hao thought of was Kali, but he didn't think about it. The predecessor was dismissed in March last year, but Kali is still an official in the capital, and the former governor of Jiangnan is still alive.

Since the green battalion soldiers are not easy to call, and it is troublesome to mobilize, what about the Yamen? Yangzhou is a big house, and there should be a lot of fast arrests. Thinking of this, Cao Hao asked Zhang Ying and Han Zhouzheng: "I don't know how many people your mansion can send out?" ”

Zhang Ying and Han Zhouzheng both had a look of embarrassment on their faces. Zhang Ying lowered his head and shook his head: "Don't hide it from Cao Ye, but there are thirty or forty people, and many of them have received errands." But if Cao Ye can wait until Ming'er, we can get some more people together. ”

The soldiers are fast, and when they put together manpower, they are afraid that they will make a mistake. Cao Hao bowed his hand to Zhang Ying and Han Zhouzheng: "I bother the two of you to go back to the Yamen, report the matter here to Lord Zhao, and ask him to give a warrant to 'suppress bandits', and we will be famous." ”

Zhang Ying and Han Zhouzheng are also knowledgeable, and the eldest son of the Cao family in front of him, who can be personally visited by the mansion, is naturally also a little courteous: "Don't worry, Master Cao, let's go back quickly, and bring the people of the yamen along the way!" ”

Cao Hao said with a smile: "Then bother the two of you, if it is hot today, naturally you can't make everyone tired, no matter what the result of this bandit is, as long as you come here to catch the fast servants, Cao will definitely be rewarded!" ”

Although the two of them said that they didn't dare, they smiled and couldn't put their mouths together and got on the horse.

Cao Hao took out his father's letter from his bosom again, handed it to Cao Fang, and asked him to borrow a hundred people from the Cheng family. Subsequently, he asked Wei Xin to find the two friends who knew Du Laoba, and asked them to borrow ten boats and dozens of people on the water like the Cao Gang.

"Childe, I don't know what the situation is at this moment, if such a bandit is vicious, it will inevitably be a vicious battle. Childe's identity is precious, don't be in danger! Wei Hei persuaded on the side.

Xiao Man was also so anxious: "Yes, uncle, this is too hasty, if this Zhuangzi is really a water bandit on the island, then how can it be done?" He was ordered by Cao Hao to follow his uncle Cao Yuan to "learn to be a housekeeper" because of his mouthfulness last time, and he went to the capital again last month, and only came back yesterday. Knowing that Cao Hao was going to come out, he refused to follow him down a step.

"That's it, Childe still went to the town to drink tea and wait for the news. It's not that I don't believe in the skills of the son, it's really my old white hand itching ruthlessly, and I want to take advantage of this reason to start the killing ring. Childe has believed in Buddhism since childhood, and the Bodhisattva has a heart, so naturally he can't see this! Wei Bai held a straw stick in his mouth and looked at the Zhuangzi not far away, his face full of excitement.

Cao Hao smiled bitterly, do you believe in Buddhism? This is where and where, but I was sent to Qingliang Temple by my father to eat fast for two years. People have also been killed, so what can they do to kill? He didn't say much, just shook his head.

The Wei brothers knew his temper, and knew that it was useless to persuade him, so they had to quietly order more than a dozen guards brought from the mansion. Wait until the battle starts for a while, don't act rashly, and it's important to protect your son. Of course, even if he doesn't need to say it, everyone knows in their hearts that everyone's net worth and surname are on the son.

About half an hour passed, but it was Cao Fang who came back first, accompanied by the Cheng family's hundred nurses. They are all strong people, and they are very imposing when they look at it. The person at the head is a twenty-seven or eight-year-old man, who got off the horse to say hello to Cao Hao, saying that he is a child of the Cheng family, and his name is Cheng Mengkun, who came to the Cao family to listen to the dispatch of the uncle of the Cao family on the order of his family.

As he spoke, there were more than a dozen people coming from the waterway in the distance, Xiao Man's eyes were sharp, and he saw the person standing on the boat in front of him, and said to Cao Hao: "Uncle, it's Master Wei and they are here!" ”

When the other ships sealed the water, Cao Hao asked Cheng Mengkun to give an order to let the Cheng family's people surround Zhuangzi, and the main people blocked several of their doors.

Looking at the sky, it was almost dusk, and the people in the Zhuangzi also seemed to notice that something was wrong, and some people began to look around. Seeing that the situation outside was not right, the door began to be closed.

Cao Hao became more and more determined in his heart, if he was a good person, he would have sent someone to investigate, was there a ghost in his heart or something?

After waiting for another quarter of an hour, the messenger from Yangzhou Mansion arrived. In addition to more than 30 servants, there were also Zhao Hongyu and a young man with similar eyebrows.

That Zhao Hongyu is a civil official, and it seems that he has been choking enough on horseback all the way. But, looking at the shore, the hundred and ten people in the river had already surrounded Zhuangzi, his face was full of anxiety, and he hurriedly dismounted and rushed to Cao Hao's side, pointing to Zhuangzi: "Childe, this is a big water that washed the Dragon King Temple, this is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!" ”

Seeing him like this, Cao Hao frowned and said, "Lord Zhao, what do you mean by this?" ”

Zhao Hongyu wiped his sweat and said with a wry smile: "Childe, this is the Li family's other courtyard, Suzhou Master Li's family, and now Childe's second cousin is here to escape the summer!" ”

(To be continued)