A few days ago, when the new army was stationed in Caozhou, some officers and soldiers went to his restaurant to drink and discuss the battle in Mengshan. Although Zhang Meng's father and son have been away from their homeland for a long time, their ancestral home is still there, and there is a cousin who stayed in the village, so they couldn't help but worry, so they handed over the restaurant to his wife to take care of it, and took his son back to Zhangjiazhai. Listening to Zhangjiazhai's relatives talk about the process of the official army entering Mengshan, Zhang Meng, who had a flexible brain, decided that a lot of good things must have been left on Mengshan, so he decided to go to Mengshan to explore. But his cousin had been frightened by Mengshanzhai and didn't dare to go up the mountain for anything, so Zhang Meng took his son Zhang Xiaozhu up the mountain to investigate.

In fact, there is no need to listen to Zhang Meng's explanation, Long Qian already knew that Zhang Meng's father and son were definitely not spies of the official army, how could there be a father and son who went out to be spies together?

"Zhangjiazhai doesn't know that we are still on the mountain?" Long Qian asked Zhang Meng.

"I don't know the way, where do they know that the heroes are still on the mountain__If they know the way, they don't dare to come if they kill me." Zhang Meng cried with a sad face.

"Get up, don't kneel. I will not kill you. Long Qian raised his hand and asked Zhang Meng and his son to stand up and speak, "Not only will I not kill you, but I will also compensate you a sum of money and let you go down the mountain." ”

Zhang Meng immediately kowtowed and said, "Thank you for the grace of the heroes not to kill, the small ones don't dare to ask for any compensation, the small ones still have a few taels of silver on their bodies, and they are willing to honor all the heroes__"

"Ha Luha, you kid is so greedy, do you still want your money back?" Lu Shan said with a smile.

Zhang Meng didn't have much silver on his body, except for one or two lines of silver left for his cousin, he was on his body, and he had already been searched out by Fan Deping, Lu Shan felt funny, no one dared to ask for silver from Mengshan Cottage.

"No, no, that's not what the little one meant."

"The money will be returned to you. Today's Mengshanzhai is different from the past, and we will not harm honest businessmen. Long Qian stretched out his hand to Fan Deping to ask for the things found on Zhang Meng's body, "Look, these are all yours, right?" Less, no? ”

"No, no," Zhang Meng glanced at the bag of things, except for a few taels of silver, there was nothing of value. It seems that this boss really wants to return the silver taels to himself? When did the robbers become so righteous?

"Alright, grab your stuff and go. However," Long Qian paused, making Zhang Meng's father and son nervous again, "I have to verify whether you are really a common person who does small business." ”

"It's true. The heroes sent people to Caozhou Mansion to inquire about the 'old folks'.

"Well, I'll believe you. But how can I believe you're not talking nonsense? ”

"Rest assured, the little father and son will keep their mouths tightly closed, and never reveal the reality of the cottage__"

"The reality of the copycat? Hey, bring pen and paper. Then he asked Lao Song for ten taels of silver. Long Qian instructed Fan Deping.

Fan Deping took the pen and paper, and Long Qian wrote a few lines with a brush, "Sign your name, I don't believe you can't write your name." ”

Zhang Meng shuddered, he understood what Long Qian meant, having this note with his name in his hand was equivalent to pinching his life. But at the same time, it also proves that this gang of ringing horses is really going to let themselves go. Look at what is written on the paper, it is the same as I expected, it is nothing more than a certain year and a certain month that I went to Mengshan Mountain, was taken care of by Mengshanzhai, promised to purchase items for the cottage, provide news, and so on.

Zhang Meng didn't dare to bargain. Trembling and signing his name with a pencil, Long Qian scraped off some pencil scraps with a knife, making him stain a black handprint.

"I'll keep this thing for you." Long Qian looked at Lao Song coming over, "Give him ten taels of silver, which is his hard work." Lao Zhang, we will be our own people in the future, and we will ask you for help one day, don't say you don't know us. ”

"Don't dare, don't dare." Zhang Meng said repeatedly, regretting to death this trip to Mengshan that had thrown himself into the net.

"Okay, you and Ling Lang can go. It's best to go to Zhangjiazhai for a turn, and say that there are still people and horses stationed on the mountain__"

"Don't dare, don't dare."

"If you say it, you say it. Go ahead. Long Qian gave Zhang Meng a bag of silver, "This bit of silver can be regarded as a shock to you, take it." ”

I didn't expect the bandits to really give money, and it was ten taels as soon as they were given! Zhang Meng, who is greedy for money, feels that this trip is worthwhile__

Long Qian waved his hand and asked Fan Deping to take Zhang Meng's father and son down first, and asked Jiang Yun to come and tell him in detail what had just happened, "How about you go to Caozhou?" ”

"What's the matter with Caozhou?" Jiang Yun was puzzled.

Wang Mingyuan guessed Long Qian's plan, "Captain, do you want to set up a nail in Caozhou?" This Zhang Meng is timid and afraid, okay? ”

"Oh, I understand, captain, you got the handle surnamed Zhang, I'll go to him to find out the news, forgive him for not daring to come nonsense." Although it has been reorganized, everyone is still not used to being called a commander.

"Hehe, it's certain to find out the news, but it doesn't take so much effort to find out the news just once. Lao Song is our general manager, let Lao Song tell me, is there any need for us to do some business with the mountain? Long Qian looked at the honest and old-looking Song Jinguo with a smile.

"Of course. At the moment, the cottage lacks everything__"

"Since we are called Mengshan Army, we can no longer make a living by robbing homes and houses as before. If you should spend money on it, you will spend money on it. In addition, the most important thing is to be clear-sighted, otherwise you will suffer a big loss. Long Qian looked at a few of his henchmen, "Caozhou is a very important place. I estimate that Cao Kun has returned to Caozhou, and I have been unsteady in my heart for letting us go. Therefore, it is necessary to set up a point in Caozhou. I mean, if we confirm that Zhang Meng's father and son are honest businessmen, rely on them, first set up a warehouse or something in Caozhou, as our eyes and ears. This time, Jiang Yun, you went back with Zhang Meng's father and son, and your thoughts probed Zhang Meng's details. If he is really a businessman, with him as a guarantor, looking for a warehouse in Caozhou. You take Xiaolin and leave tomorrow. ”

"Okay!" Jiang Yun said happily. After saying that, I went to prepare.

"Will it be dangerous?" Wang Mingyuan waited for Jiang Yun to leave and asked Long Qian.

"It's nothing, this kid, clever. In addition, the level of anti-espionage of the official army is too poor, don't worry, at least there is no problem with self-protection. After speaking, he turned to Lao Song, "It's also difficult for Lao Song, not only does he have a good diet, but he also lacks meat and vegetables, and the training is so hard, how can he not eat well." Besides, it's not just about eating. So let's do business too. Old Song, you prepare one hundred taels of silver for Jiang Yun, don't want official silver, you want broken silver. Give him that pistol again for self-defense. ”

"There is buying and selling in business. What kind of business are we just buying and not selling? "Lao Song is a pain in the flesh as soon as he takes out the silver. After a while, one hundred and ten taels of silver was gone, which made Lao Song very distressed.

"Who says don't sell things? You just see, when Caozhou has our point, business will come to the door. Long Qian smiled, "Old Song, don't hold on to the silver like a miser, money, it's only useful if it flows." ”

In the evening, Long Qian carefully instructed Jiang Yun and Gu Xiaolin to take precautions, and sent the two down the mountain early the next morning.

That's thirteen days. By the time Jiang Yun and Gu Xiaolin returned to the mountain safely, the training of the cottage had entered a new stage. The two saw that the square in front of the Guangming Temple had been leveled, and a white line divided the site into two halves, and they didn't know why they used white lime to draw such a line, and the most strange thing for the two was that two one-person high doorposts were erected on the edges of the east and west sides of the site, which made them even more inexplicable.

Jiang Yun didn't bother to inquire about the venue used for queue training, why did he make such a change, he was anxious to see Long Qian. I didn't see Long Qian in Guangming Temple, and when I asked, I learned that Lu Dao had also opened a training ground on the side of the village, and Long Qian was there to command the training of the third company. Jiang Yun and Gu Xiaolin, who were anxious to report the situation, ran to the aggressive village, and saw Long Qian directing dozens of people to crawl forward on a slope. Gu Xiaolin shouted Captain, Long Qian stood up and ran towards the two of them, "Heh, I'm back." ”

"Are you worried that we will be arrested by the government?" I haven't seen Long Qian for more than ten days, Gu Xiaolin is a little excited like a child seeing his elders.

"Nope." Long Qian touched Gu Xiaolin's head with a smile, "If you can't even do this little thing, I don't think you will have much to offer." Tell me, how are things going? Why did it take so long to come back? Let's go, go back to the Guangming Temple, and tell me more about it. ”

In fact, Long Qian was already worried about them, and if there was no news in a day or two, he decided to send someone to Caozhou.

"Actually, I can go back two or three days early, because of some things, delayed." Following Long Qian back to Long Qian's bedroom in Guangming Temple, Jiang Yun first poured a bowl of cold boiled water from the clay pot and drank it, and then told Long Qian about the before and after of his trip to Caozhou.

Long Qian didn't expect that Jiang Yun not only contacted Zhang Meng's father and son, who had returned to Caozhou, but also found a suitable place with Zhang Meng's help, and opened a small warehouse dealing in groceries in Zhang Meng's name, which has already opened!

This efficiency is quite high. Long Qian muttered in his heart.

Renting a shop and purchasing goods, the silver of one hundred taels was naturally spent, and one hundred and fifty taels were advanced from Zhang Meng. Just because I wanted to set up the warehouse in one go, I delayed the schedule of returning to the mountain.

"Well done. Why did he use Zhang Meng's name, didn't he refuse? Long Qian asked with a smile.

How dare he refuse? Scare him to death! Gu Xiaolin was triumphant.

Jiang Yun continued to report, "Zhang Meng's restaurant is called an old folk, it's not big, so there are three or five tables. But that kid is quite popular in Caozhou City. I thought it would be better to use his name. I didn't have time to tell it, I don't know if Lu Dao did the right thing. ”

Long Qian nodded, "Very well done." What did you buy? Don't put pressure on all of them, be careful that Lao Song settles accounts with you. ”

"It's all for food, and it's estimated that the cottage can be used, and the number of varieties is in my mind, and I'll write it out when I go back. By the way, food is definitely the most needed, but I don't dare to buy more, and the price is also expensive. ”

"Oh, how do you know it's expensive? It's not easy. ”

Jiang Yun hurriedly explained, but was stopped by Long Qian, "No need, I know that you have a way." Very good, Jiang Yun's methods, Xiaolin, have you learned them? ”

"He has a lot of Taoism, I really can......'t learn it," Gu Xiaolin touched his head and said, "I'd better stay by the captain's side." ”

"It's not going to work. What are you doing with me? Be attentive, just like Jiang Yun, and pay attention to everything in various places, those things, maybe you will use them when. Xiaolin, you go and find a few company commanders, Ning Shijun, Lao Song, and Captain Chi of the cavalry team, all call. Also, go see Captain Zhou, and if you can, ask him to come over as well. ”

Gu Xiaolin promised to leave. Jiang Yun said to Long Qian, "Captain, the top priority is to send someone over quickly, even if Zhang Meng's old boy is pinched by you in his hand, no one is always at ease." Jiang Yun rubbed his hands and said.

"This is natural. In what name to go? Who to send? ”

"Isn't his family from Zhangjiazhai? Just go with his relatives from his hometown! As for who to send, the captain must have an idea. Jiang Yun smiled, "It's okay for me to go." Keep the old boy obedient. ”

"You can't go, there's more important things for you to do. You recommend it personally. ”

"There's a guy named Lu Huali, I don't remember how many times I've been assigned to you, I can do this."

"I know this person, in Feng Lun's third company. I'll talk to him tonight. ”

"Captain, what are you doing with two gates on the edge of the square in front?"

"Well, it's a football field! Now everyone has learned the rules and is hooked! Play once every three days, David, the same American, became the referee! Ha Luha, I'll tell you the trouble, and you'll understand it when you read it again. By the way, this time I went to Caozhou, not just to set up a warehouse, right? ”

"Of course," Jiang Yun said with a smile, "You've taught me so many skills, of course I want to try to use them." Captain, I have found out, the dog officer named Cao Kun has returned to Caozhou, but there are not many officers and soldiers in Caozhou, it is rare on the street, the recent Caozhou Boxer Gang is fierce, Cao Kun's dog officer has been ordered by the top to arrest and kill the leader of the Boxers everywhere, and there are notices at the Caozhou City Gate that it is not allowed to form associations to practice boxing, and there are three bloody human heads hanging in the cage. ”

"The imperial court has begun to suppress the Boxers?"

"Yes. The original governor, called, what is it called, yes, called Yuxian, is said to support the Boxers, but now this Yuan Shikai is very fierce, and he is very fierce in killing. ”

"Oh, I see," Long Qian pondered, "You mean that there is no possibility of sending troops to Mengshan in the direction of Caozhou for the time being?" ”

"I think so. Besides, if the officers and soldiers are ready to fight us, such a long way, they must prepare grain and straw vehicles in advance, and it is impossible that there is no news on the market. ”

"That's right. It's about looking for details in the bits and pieces. When I went to Caozhou again, I began to rely on Zhang Meng. Businessman, the picture is a good word. Why not earn some money from him? Tell him clearly that as long as he helps us, the grocery store will be his! ”

"Captain, are you going to recruit this person into the gang? I think he's too timid. ”

"Besides, as long as he doesn't betray us and helps us, he will have his benefits." Long Qian pondered, "This incident inspired me. You find the old Song branch for a hundred taels of silver, write a letter, go to Zhangjiazhai, and throw the letter in the courtyard of their current village owner, and the silver will be buried in the cemetery where our eight teams beat Zhangjiazhai. The letter told them that Mengshan was still in our hands, and the silver was to compensate the villagers for their past losses. As long as they don't report to the government, the cottage will never harm them. If you give us useful information in advance, we will definitely repay them. ”

"I see. It's just that in this way, the silver is tight. ”

"Don't worry about this, I'll figure it out."

In the evening, Long Qian talked to the soldiers of Lu Huali recommended by Jiang Yun and thought it would be okay. So he asked Lu Hua and Gu Xiaolin to bring the silver to Caozhou again, Lu Hua Li was resident, and Gu Xiaolin ran on both sides.

The first point of contact for the Mengshan army outside was thus established. Because of the existence of this point, the supply of materials in Mengshanzhai has been solved by more than half, and it has been continuously sent to Mengshan in the name of selling to Pingyi and Maoyang Town, and at the same time, the movements of Caozhou's officials and troops are also roughly clear.