A group of people through the double courtyard, into the back house of Kefu, compared with the tall front house, the building of the back house is much smaller, according to the fashion of the time, the corridor room has been changed into a small room, the side is installed with a zigzag vermilion railing, carved partition fan, the hall house is furnished with exquisite furniture and novel things bought from Yangzhou, Nanjing, there is an enamel Western eight-tone self-striking bell hanging on the wall, the lamps and lanterns in the house are covered with light yarn, double the brightness. In the corner of the house, an incense burner is placed on a black lacquered mahogany coffee table inlaid with jade, peach blossom, red agate, and malachite into a lotus picking picture, and a wisp of green smoke spits out from the lion's mouth, filling the house with a refreshing aroma.

Wang Xingguo sat at the table of the Eight Immortals in the middle, his face was flushed, his eyes were blurred, and he already looked like he was drunk, Ke Congwen had not yet entered the door, so he smiled and said: "Brother Xian, look who is coming!" ”

"My lord? How did you get here? Wang Xingguo saw Du Gu, his eyes couldn't help but widen in surprise, Liu Cheng's guard was commanded by Du Gu before, and it was still Wang Xingguo's top boss, he hurriedly got up and wanted to salute Du Gu, but he didn't want to be weak under his feet, so he sat back and almost fell.

"On the orders of the general, come here to make an errand!" Du Gu smiled: "My lord is short of people, let me bring you back!" “

"Go back?" Before Wang Xingguo could react, Ke Congwen next to him could hear it clearly, and he hurriedly asked, "Du Shoubei, what do you mean by this?" ”

"Toji-sama, that's what happened!" Du Gu explained with a smile: "Mr. Wang Qian brought troops this time because he thought that Mr. Zhao was carrying precious goods along the way, and he was afraid that there would be bandits and bandits on the road, so he picked out elite guards from the guards around him. Now that Mr. Zhao has arrived in Hangzhou safely, Mr. Wang Qian and they naturally want to go back! ”

"This-" Ke Congwen was suddenly dumbfounded, he had really spent a lot of effort on Wang Xingguo these days, to put it bluntly, it was for his more than 100 elites, and he wanted to envelop them under his hands. But before he could speak, he was about to leave. Isn't my efforts these days a bamboo basket to catch the moon? But what people say makes sense, right? Originally, he was to escort Zhao Youcai to Hangzhou, but now that he has arrived in Hangzhou, he naturally wants to go back, and he must find a reason to stay.

"Master Du!" Zhao Youcai saw Ke Congwen's embarrassed face, but he couldn't speak, knowing that his previous speculation was good, this guy was indeed fighting the idea of that elite army, so he hurriedly pretended to be dissatisfied: "What you said is bad, it's true that you are safe in Hangzhou, but it is not that you will be safe in Hangzhou." You took Wang Qian and his subordinates away, what should you do if something happens? “

Du Gu snorted: "Mr. Zhao, you have all arrived in Hangzhou, there is Lord Dusi and Wang Yandao to take care of you, what is the matter?" “

When Ke Congwen heard this, he couldn't help but have an idea, and hurriedly said, "Du Shoubei." What Mr. Zhao said is very true, not long ago, there was a wave of red-haired pirates raging on the sea, if it weren't for Wang Qianzong and them, they really couldn't deal with it! “

Du Gu looked at Ke Congwen. said with a smile: "Lord Dusi said that he laughed, how can he use so many health stations in Liangzhejiang to inspect them?" Besides, the pirates must be convenient, how did they deal with it? “

"Du Shoubei. It's true! Ke Congwen recounted the whole thing from beginning to end with a serious expression, and finally said: "The captured pirates are still in the cell, and the plywood boat is leaning against the shore. If you don't believe it, see for yourself. “

"Since it's what Lord Toji said, naturally it won't be fake!" Du Gu hurriedly smiled and said: "It's just that this matter is too unbelievable, and I can't believe it, after all, Wang Qian only has about a hundred people in his hands-" When he said this, he looked like he wanted to say something, but the meaning of not saying it was obvious - what is the use of such a little person?

"Ahem!" Zhao Youcai saw that Ke Congwen was a little embarrassed, and hurriedly interjected from the side: "Du Shoubei, you don't know, those red-haired pirates came suddenly, although there are many soldiers and horses under the command of Lord Dusi, they are scattered on the hundreds of miles of sea frontiers in Liangzhejiang, and the upper peak is urging tightly, and it is too late to mobilize troops and horses in a hurry, so they borrowed troops!" ”

"Exactly, exactly!" Ke Congwen glanced at Zhao Youcai gratefully, and said with a strong smile: "Mr. Wang Qian, they can be regarded as saving the emergency, and this official is planning to go to the court and reward him for his merits!" ”

"Then you don't have to!" Du Gu said with a smile: "Lord Dusi, Mr. Wang Qian, they were sent out privately by the master of my family, and you asked them for credit in the recital to the imperial court, but I am afraid that it will cause trouble, but it is not beautiful!" ”

"Yes, I will appreciate the kindness of Lord Toji!" Zhao Youcai said, at this time, there was a snoring sound on the side, and the three of them looked back, only to see Wang Xingguo half-lying on the chair, already sleeping and snoring loudly, Ke Congwen hurriedly called two maidservants to help him to the side room to rest. At this time, only he, Zhao and Du were left in the room, Ke Congwen thought about it, and decided to tear the words apart, he picked up the wine jug, poured a glass of wine for Zhao and Du, and said with a smile: "Two, there is one thing to trouble the two of you in the next, please agree!" ”

Zhao and Du glanced at each other, knowing that the drama was coming, Zhao Youcai first expressed his attitude: "Thank you Lord Dusi for not giving up, treating us as friends, taking care of us everywhere, if it is within the student's ability, I will never refuse!" Du Gu on the side also said meaningfully: "The villain is the same as Mr. Zhao!" ”

"Two, can you leave Wang Qianzong's army behind, the right should be lent to this official, two years, not a year!"

"This-" Zhao Youcai glanced back at Du Gu and pretended to be embarrassed: "This matter is not something that can be decided by the next!" “

Du Gu said: "Yes! Lord Toji, I've only heard of borrowing money and land, but I've never heard of soldiers and horses being able to borrow money? ”

Seeing this, Ke Congwen knew that the juncture was on the newcomer Du Shoubei, and hurriedly smiled: "Du Shoubei, in the Three Kingdoms, when Uncle Liu Huang went to Xuzhou, didn't Tao Qian borrow him 4,000 Danyang soldiers?" At that time, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was already a household name, even a Jurchen barbarian like Nurhachi was familiar with the content of its plot, although Du Gu was vulgar and unliterate, he still knew the plot in the Three Kingdoms. He scratched his head and replied with some embarrassment: "Lord Dusi, even if I can borrow troops, but I am just a small garrison, and I act at the behest of others, how can I be the master?" ”

"So who can call the shots?"

"The master is naturally able to call the shots!" Du Gu thought for a while and replied: "But when I was leaving, the master once said that I would listen to Mr. Zhao's instructions in everything!" “

Hearing that Du Gu kicked the ball back to Zhao Youcai, Ke Congwen's eyes couldn't help but light up. What he was most afraid of was nothing else, that is, Du Gu's military order would be difficult to disobey, so he would take the people away first, and let himself go to discuss with Liu Cheng and Lu Boqi, which would be troublesome. Since it was Zhao Youcai, it was much easier to say, he hurriedly grabbed the other party's right hand and said in a low voice: "Brother Zhao, don't shirk this matter!" “

"Toji-sama!" Zhao Youcai withdrew his right hand from Du Gu's hand, and said with a wry smile: "It's not that the student shirks, this matter is too big." Think about it, why did General Liu give me these soldiers and horses, and if I lent them to you, how would I explain to General Bing? “

Ke Congwen saw that Du Gu's tone was a little loose, and hurriedly patted his chest and said: "Brother Zhao, if you want money or something else, you just have to speak, I naturally won't let you be embarrassed by the chief soldier!" ”

Zhao Youcai looked at Ke Congwen and pretended to be loose: "Money is not necessary." Let me ask you first, if you are to answer you, where do you intend to place them? “

"Where? Naturally, it's in Hangzhou! Ke Congwen hurriedly replied. He secretly thought that this kind of elite was naturally the best to put next to him!

"No way!" Zhao Youcai immediately vetoed Ke Congwen's proposal: "There are so many yamen in Hangzhou, there are a lot of eyeliners, and there are so many Mongolian Tatars under Wang Qianzong, if it leaks out." The old man of the imperial history plays a book, who can afford it? “

Ke Congwen nodded: "That's right, so where does Mr. Zhao think it should be placed?" “

"It's better to settle on Daishan Island. That island is only a day or two away from Hangzhou by boat, so the transportation is convenient and not so conspicuous. What do you think? ”

"That's easy to say!" Ke Congwen nodded happily: "There is a guard city over there, so it will be placed there!" “

"Since this is the case, I will trouble Lord Dusi to give Du Shoubei an official position, so as not to cause trouble if anyone knows about it in the future!"

Ke Congwen heard that Zhao Youcai's words had the meaning of agreeing, and couldn't help but be overjoyed: "This is easy to say, it just so happened that the guard of Dinghaiwei was killed in battle, and he was wronged by Du Garrison!" ”

"Thank you, sir!" Du Gu stood up and crossed his hands and saluted.

"My lord, there are two more things that you need to be accommodating!" Zhao Youcai said with a smile.

"Well, don't say two things, it's ten and a hundred, as long as you promise to borrow soldiers, I will also agree!"

"Okay, the first one is that my family wants to trade with Fanren, if there are merchant ships in and out of Dinghaiwei, please be accommodating!"

Ke Congwen smiled when he heard this: "What's so difficult about this? Anyway, there are so many coastal gentry who trade with foreign countries, and there are not many of your families, for Brother Zhao's sake, I naturally just think I didn't see it! “

Seeing that Ke Congwen agreed to his first request, Zhao Youcai's spirit couldn't help but perk, he coughed lowly, and said: "My family attaches great importance to firearms ships, and the firearms of the Hongmaoyi people are very sharp, my family wants to ask for some prisoners, and then take a few samples from the captured firearms, and the big ship is used for imitation!" ”

"This-" Hearing Zhao Youcai's second request, Ke Congwen showed an embarrassed look on his face: "Brother Zhao, there is no problem with prisoners and firearms, anyway, no one knows the detailed number, I have already reported the merit of that boat, if it is given to you, I am afraid that there will be some trouble!" ”

"What's so hard about that!" Zhao Youcai said with a smile: "That boat has been beaten by the wind and waves, presumably no one will want it, just let the governor test the merits, and then give it to the students!" ”

"If that's the case, that's fine!" Ke Congwen was relieved to hear that there was no need to hand over the "Queen Mary" immediately, as Zhao Youcai said, the mast of the ship was broken, and it was too big to paddle with an oar, so it could only stop on the shore, and when the governor passed his eyes, he just reported a pest and rat decay, and who would come to find trouble for him? Thinking that he had solved such a big problem at such a trivial price, he only felt extremely comfortable, and raised his glass to Zhao Youcai: "This time, thanks to Brother Zhao!" “

After the afternoon, Zhao Youcai and Du Gu left the Ke Mansion, and Lord Dusi personally sent them to the door. Zhao Youcai already had an extra token in his hand, which was the certificate to mention people and firearms. He weighed the token and said with a smile: "Du Shoubei, without further ado, I will go to the cell to pick up people first, you go back to the house to prepare vehicles and soldiers, and then we will meet at Wulin Gate and go to the dock together to extract those firearms!" ”

At this time, Du Gu admired Zhao Youcai's performance in Kefu very much, and he respectfully owed Zhao Youcai: "Obey!" “

Zhao Youcai took more than ten sergeants and rushed all the way to the cell, and as soon as he arrived at the door, he raised the token in his hand and said loudly: "On the order of Lord Dusi, come and pick up people!" ”

The gatekeeper is just a general, seeing that Zhao Youcai is dressed in fresh clothes and angry horses, with an arrogant expression, and more than a dozen big men behind him are burly, sturdy and abnormal, knowing that they are not ordinary people, they hurriedly stepped forward and kowtowed, took the token with both hands and looked at it, hurriedly and carefully returned the token to Zhao Youcai, and said respectfully: "Master, please wait, the small one will let people open the door immediately!" Then he turned around and scolded, "Are you all deaf?" Hurry up and open the door for the master! “

Zhao Youcai didn't wait for the door to be completely opened, so he rushed in first, he came up to the hall, and asked Lin Heshui, who came out to greet him, "What about those red hairs?" ”

"In the backyard!" Lin Heshui obviously didn't expect Zhao Youcai to suddenly appear in this place, and looked a little surprised: "Their appearance is very different from ordinary people, and they don't have to worry about them escaping, so they are not very closely guarded!" ”

"Take me right away! Give me the leader named Silva, and pick five more soldiers and five sailors, and you need to be skilled! “

"Silva?" Lin Heshui was taken aback: "This person is the head of this gang of red hairy people, if it is handed over to you, will it be exposed!" ”

Zhao Youcai sneered: "They don't understand the language, the translator is you, what will you show?" Seeing Lin Heshui's frightened look, he smiled and patted the other party's shoulder: "Mr. Lin, don't worry, come to me after this matter is over, and there will be more places to ask you in the future!" ”

Lin Heshui is not a fool, he has already guessed a little bit of Zhao Youcai's plan, secretly thinking that although there are a few interpreters in Hangzhou who know Spanish, but the level is far from his own who grew up in the Philippines, it is not difficult to get through the trick, anyway, as long as he passes this pass, he will be thrown into this Zhao Lao Ye to do things, where can the government find himself who has no roots and no bottom? Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and said to Zhao Youcai: "Master, there is also a priest in the red-haired Yi, who is very shrewd, if you stay, I am afraid that something will happen!" (To be continued.) )