Master Dong smiled slightly, twisted his beard and said, "Even if Dong Weng doesn't ask, the student also wants to say." - There are 10 days off for the entire Spring Festival. On the Yamen side of the Bazhou prefect, it is necessary to spend at least seven days to visit them one by one. Then spend three days to feast officials and squires from all walks of life in Yinling. However, these are all costly, and the imperial court does not have this expenditure, and the officials of each palm seal pay for it themselves, and it is precisely because of this that the students have not mentioned this matter to Dong Weng for a long time. ”

Leng Yi said with a smile: "I'll figure out a way to deal with the money, and ask Mr. to help me arrange the visit and specific congratulatory gifts." ”

Master Dong hurriedly agreed, and said in a low voice: "If it doesn't work, you can use the money donated by those squires today for the time being, and then pay it back in the future, because this New Year's greeting is a lot of money." I'm afraid that Dong Weng won't be able to raise this money for a while and a half. ”

Leng Yi said: "No matter what, I won't touch this money." Sir should know that the eyes of the people are watching, if I move this money, no matter what I use it for, no matter whether I make up it later, the people will think that I have taken the money of those landlords and squires, and I have obtained their benefits, and I am their person, so they will not treat me as their own, so what else will I do as a parent official? Is it the squire's landlord's parent official or the common people? How else will my vows be enforced? ”

Master Dong nodded frequently: "Dong Weng is very thoughtful, and the students have been taught." ”

"Money matters, I don't think it's a big problem, you can prepare first. Things have to be done quickly. ”

"Okay, if that's the case, then you can set off today, and strive to start paying New Year's greetings to the prefect and other adults tomorrow, this New Year's greeting is early, the sooner the better."

"Okay, you go and prepare, let's go immediately."

Sending off Master Dong, Zhuo Qiaoniang came in, Leng Yi said that he was going to Bazhou, the capital of the prefecture, to pay New Year's greetings to the officials, because Leng Yi went to Bazhou and had an important assassination mission, so he decided not to take Zhuo Qiaoniang there.

Leng Yi called Cheng Luojie over, told them about his recent arrangements, and asked them to immediately start arranging the escort mission.

Yin Eagle immediately called Wu Zhutou and Song Zhutou to discuss together. It was decided that Yin Ying, Cheng Luojie, Wei Du, and Zheng Yan would be the four people, plus Wu Catcher, and two capable catchers, to escort Leng Yi to Bazhou, Cheng Luochang and Huang Mei, and Li Fen, who was injured in the foot, to stay behind to protect Zhuo Qiaoniang. The perimeter guard of the yamen was taken care of by Song Catcher and Catcher.

Yin Vulture and they have a total of nine horses, which is enough for Leng Yi to sit on. One of the two horses of the Yamen has been killed by a bear, and there is one left, plus the remaining one of Yin Vultures, which can ensure that the Yamen uses horses.

packed up and stopped, Leng Yi and they rode to Bazhou.

There was nothing to say all the way, and when it was evening, I arrived at Bazhou City. Still living in the old place Yinling Inn. After eating dinner in a hurry, Leng Yi said that he was tired and wanted to go to bed early, so he went into the room and closed the door.

When it was dark, Leng Yi took out the mask bag that Bai Hong gave him, took out the mask, there were several payments, took one of the middle-aged people's face and put it on, dipped it with the glue in the bag, and looked at it in front of the mirror, it was really good, and it was very suitable for the skin. It's like a middle-aged scholar. If you don't look closer, you won't see the flaws. Especially at night. I was very satisfied.

Leng Yi changed his outfit, he already knew the position of Yin Vulture and their guards, and took advantage of the gap in it, under the cover of darkness, and slipped out of the inn lightly.

He turned around a few times first, and after making sure that no one was following him, he asked the location of the "Xinghuang Restaurant" and came straight here. This is the place where he and Bai Hong agreed to meet and lead the mission. Leng Yi had already changed his outfit, and he couldn't even recognize himself in the mirror, so he was very calm.

However, he did not rush in, but walked around the restaurant twice, remembering the streets and alleys near the restaurant and the situation of the shops, and thinking about how to retreat in the event of an enemy, and then stepped into the restaurant.

The restaurant has two floors upstairs and downstairs, and there are several big red lanterns hanging at the door, swaying in the cold wind. Business in the restaurant is average, and there are only a few tables with customers eating. When he stepped in, the shopkeeper greeted him warmly, looked at him carefully, and said with a smile: "Oh, Heiye, you are here, please upstairs!" Something has been prepared for you. ”

When Leng Yi heard him call himself Heiye, he knew that they had recognized him. As he walked upstairs, he said, "Is Bai Ye here?" ”

"In. Would you like to invite him? ”

"Well, say a few words."

"Okay."

The guy took the lantern, led Leng Yi upstairs, sat down in a private room in the middle, lit a lamp, made tea, invited him to see the menu, and then went out to call someone himself.

Leng Yi didn't touch the menu, he walked to the window, opened a crack, and observed the situation outside. Outside is an alley with few pedestrians and quiet. The alleys are lined with snow, mostly frozen and slippery to step on.

In the distance, the sky was overcast, signaling another blizzard.

Leng Yi heard footsteps at the door, so he closed the window and returned to the table to sit down. The door creaked open, and Bai Hong walked in, still dressed in white like snow, also wearing the mask of a middle-aged man, his face was a little sallow, and he looked sick.

The first two times they met, they were all life and death fights, and they were all at night, and they couldn't see his face clearly, but now that they see it, Leng Yi already knows that he is wearing a mask. He didn't get up, just looked at him.

Maybe it's because of the mask, Bai Hong's face is expressionless, and he keeps carrying a box in his hand, which gives people a very heavy feeling. He put the box on the table, sat down across from him, and said, "What to eat?" You eat and drink all for free here. ”

"Thanks, I've eaten it."

Bai Hong opened the box, took out an envelope, and handed it to Leng Yi.

Leng Yi opened it, and inside were three pieces of paper, which were a map, a portrait, and a list. The painting is of a middle-aged man with cold eyes, and his appearance is quite vicious.

Bai Hong said: "This is your guest, and the location of the guest's house." In addition, during the New Year, guests go out to pay New Year's greetings. I wrote on the number of houses he might go to. You can go to these places first. ”

Leng Yi looked at it carefully, remembering the person's appearance and the location of his home, as well as the situation of the people the target might visit, and then sent the three pieces of paper to the candle flame to burn them, and crumpled the ashes.

Bai Hong pushed the small box on the table in front of Leng Yi and said, "These are deposits." ”

Leng Yi glanced at it, all of them were golden ingots, there were ten in total, five taels and one. That is, fifty taels of gold.

Leng Yi closed the lid. looked at Bai Hong and said in a low voice: "You killed Zhu Peng?" ”

Bai Hong smiled and nodded: "It's a little meaningful." Handy thing. ”

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome, we'll all be brothers in the future."

"I'm in charge of entertaining this guest this time, is there a time limit?"

"A month. Start today. ”

"Understood. Leave! ”

Leng Yi got up and was about to leave with a small box, Bai Hong said, "Be careful!" ”

Leng Yi glanced at him, and could hear that the words were full of sincerity, so he nodded, pushed the door out, walked through the aisle, went downstairs, walked slowly along the street, walked to an alley and turned in, suddenly quickened his pace, and when he was almost at the end of the alley, he turned around and looked, no one followed, and then turned into another alley.

After teasing for a few laps and making sure that no one was following him, he returned to the Yinling Inn, avoided Yin Vulture and their surveillance, and entered the house through the back window.

Early the next morning, Leng Yi called Master Dong and Wu Zhutou in and put fifty taels of gold in front of them.

Both of them had round eyes and looked at Leng Yi in dismay.

Leng Yi said: "Twenty taels are used for New Year's greetings." Twenty taels are used to pay off debts, and the remaining ten taels are for me to keep and go back to me for life. Wu Zhutou, you are responsible for keeping this money safe, okay? ”

"No problem. Don't worry, big man! ”

Master Dong hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice, "...... the money, master?" ”

"You don't have to ask, just use it."

"Yes!"

On the same day, Leng Yi took Master Dong, under the escort of Yin Hu and others, to the inner house of Liao Zhifu to deliver a New Year's greeting. The Liao prefect was soon heard.

This is the prefect's inner house, and ordinary people can't enter, especially men, so they only let the personal guards Cheng Luojie and Zheng Yan carry the small box of gold and follow Leng Yi in.

Liao Zhifu stood at the door of the living room, wearing an official robe, with a slight smile on his face, but it was very reluctant, as if the sun was forcibly stretched out under the thick clouds.

Liao Zhifu arched his hand and said: "Leng Zhixian, your family is not good, and you also sent such a New Year's gift to this mansion, this mansion is uneasy." ”

Leng Yi took out ten taels of gold and gave it to Governor Liao, which was Master Dong's idea. Because Governor Liao is the top boss, he naturally wants to give generous gifts. Ten taels of gold is 100,000 yuan, which is definitely a generous gift for the New Year in the civil service class in modern society. No wonder Governor Liao is in a rare good mood.

Leng Yi arched his hand and said: "Lord Liao has taken care of him for more than a year, and his humble position should be honored, and a little courtesy is not a respect." ”

Liao Zhifu twisted his beard and smiled, and after the guests and hosts sat down, Liao Zhifu glanced at Cheng Luojie who was standing behind Leng Yi, and said, "These guards, they are still easy to use, right?" ”

"Very good, the humble post was in danger several times, and it was they who fought to the death to protect it, so they escaped for their lives. Speaking of which, it's the grace of adults, so in any case, I want to come to thank you for the New Year. ”

"Oh? Lord Leng is in danger? ”

"Yes, when I went to the countryside to observe the people's situation, I was attacked by bandits one after another." As he spoke, he briefly explained what had happened.

Governor Liao's face was heavy, and he said: "In our Bazhou penal colony, the people are fierce, I can't imagine that there are robbers who kill officials and rebel!" This government will definitely bring these robbers to justice! ”

Leng Yi said: "The attacks of these robbers are relatively easy to deal with, if the killers come from within their own people, it will be much more difficult to do." ”

Governor Liao was stunned again, and said, "Where did Lord Leng start with this?" ”

Leng Yi stared at Governor Liao's mansion and said slowly: "Among the nine guards sent to me by the transfer envoy, there is a female guard named Lin Ling, who turned out to be a killer who almost killed her in Yinshan Station. ”

(To be continued)