The recent city of Beijing is really chaotic every day, and when Yuan Shikai died, it was never so chaotic. President Zhang Zuolin and President Zhang Da left Beijing less than a day before they were bombed and killed in Huanggutun. When the news came back, the city of Beijing was bombed, and more and more people fled to the city, and the shops in the city were completely suspended. This chaotic situation lasted until a few days later, when the National Revolutionary Army entered the city, and it was only slightly improved.

The National Revolutionary Army established a garrison headquarters in the city to maintain law and order, and a field political committee to temporarily manage the functions of the municipal government. Proclamations were posted, decrees were issued, and teams of gendarmes were sent to the streets and alleys, barely keeping the situation afloat. There are rumors on the streets that Chiang Kai-shek, Yan Xishan and other bigwigs are about to arrive in Beijing to inspect, and that is the new emperor. The common people said that last month's imperial evil wind was really worthy of its name, and every time there was a big change.

Regarding the recent great changes in Beijing, Liu Yiming didn't care about emotion at all.

After Xu Yicheng and her rich husband left the city, the news soon came that Li Debiao's department was completely destroyed by a surprise attack, but there was no news of these two people, and everyone was in a hurry. Huang Kewu ran to the sect again and again, and Yu Fang couldn't do anything; Fu Gui inquired through the Police Department. But after Zhang Zuolin's accident, Fengjun's organization in Beijing completely collapsed, and everyone was busy packing their luggage and running to Fengtian, and they couldn't take care of anything else; As for the five veins, they had long since moved outside the city to avoid chaos, leaving only an empty compound.

At this time, Liu Yiming was still at Fu Gui's house to recuperate from his injuries and couldn't go out, which made him feel extremely depressed. He was bent on helping Xu Yicheng to the throne, but now he is getting farther and farther away from this goal. Liu Yiming became more and more silent, often not talking much all day, his eyes staring at the ceiling, and even Huang Kewu didn't know what he was thinking.

During this time, one more thing happened. Sister Lu Yongde, who was originally locked up in the firewood room, ran away while everyone was busy. Fu Gui tied him very strongly, but this guy actually bit a small piece of porcelain from the porcelain bowl where he drank water with his teeth, and grinded the rope alive. When Fu Gui arrived, the firewood room was empty, leaving only blood stains all over the ground.

Fu Gui was afraid that he would bring someone back to retaliate, so he hurriedly arranged to transfer to another house. They were packing their things when Tan Wenjiang came.

Tan Wenjiang really did as promised Xu Yicheng, as soon as he entered the city, he didn't go anywhere, and came to Fu Gui's house to deliver the letter first. Fu Gui and Yao came out and saw a team of soldiers with loaded guns and ammunition, as well as several carriages that had not yet had time to unload, and they looked vigilant, thinking that they were here to seek revenge.

Tan Wenjiang briefly told Xu Yicheng's whereabouts, and everyone knew what happened to him in Mashenqiao Town, and they were all surprised. Tan Wenjiang handed the letter to Fu Gui, said a few polite words, and then left in a hurry.

Out of concern that he might be peeked at, Xu Yicheng's letter did not explain too many details, only saying that he had discussed with Sun Dianying and would go to Ping'an City alone and lead Wang Shaoyi to Malanyu to set up an ambush and annihilate him. In the letter, he asked Huang Kewu and Fu Gui to sneak into Ping'an City as soon as possible, and agreed on a code to cooperate with his actions.

Liu Yiming took the letter and read it several times, and read between the lines Xu Yicheng's true intentions. He flicked the letter paper and said to the others: "Tanglin is in Malanyu." Uncle Xu didn't mention Tanglin and only said Ma Lanyu Yunyun, obviously he was afraid of Sun Dianying and didn't want to cause one more disaster for Tanglin. When he said this, he suddenly sighed, "Wang Shaoyi's ultimate goal is to go to Tanglin, but Uncle Xu made Sun Dianying believe that Ma Lanyu was just a trap to invite Wang Shaoyi into the urn." The general bureau is to do real with fiction, but Uncle Xu does the opposite and does it with reality. This kind of means is really powerful. ”

Fu Gui snorted coldly: "Since Wang Shaoyi wants to go to Tanglin no matter what, then why should he go to Ping'an City alone?" Bring sand to the beach. ”

Liu Yiming said: "Uncle Xu's move may be the key to his moving Sun Dianying to deal with Wang Shaoyi. It's just that I can't guess it......" Fu Gui slapped the table, his face even more gloomy: "Hmph, this bastard is eighty percent to save Hai Lanzhu, and he really doesn't care about the safety of himself, his wife, and children." ”

There was an awkward silence in the room. For Hai Lanzhu, except for Yaolai, no one else has a special favor or dislike, and whether Xu Yicheng saves it or not, it is all about morality. But when Fu Gui said this, there was still such an ambiguous atmosphere, and it was even more difficult to keep quiet.

Huang Kewu was the first to break the silence: "Since Uncle Xu said it, let's leave early without further ado." I'm afraid he won't be able to handle it alone. Fu Gui scolded in a low voice, but did not raise any objections.

So, according to Xu Yicheng's instructions, Fu Gui and Huang Kewu set off for Ping'an City, and Yao Lai stayed to take care of Liu Yiming. Fu Gui was reluctant, he had already prepared relevant things in his hand, and he said that he would leave, and the two of them left the small courtyard soon. Yaolai hugged Liu Yiming and moved towards Fu Gui's other house.

As soon as he went out, Liu Yiming saw a lot of ruts on the ground, and asked what was going on, when Tan Wenjiang came just now, there were several big cars behind him, and there were a lot of goods covered with big cloths, which were probably transported into the city by Sun Dianying. Yaolai said to Liu Yiming with a mysterious face: "Do you know what the carriage is transporting? ”

"Munitions?"

"Hehe, what do you think is the most likely thing to make my nose smell?"

Liu Yiming immediately suddenly: "Smoke and soil? ”

Yao Lai triumphantly showed a small black cylinder in his hand, saying that it had fallen from the car and let those little Hanako pick it up. Liu Yiming took it and took a look, the horn texture was like a cow, and a goshawk was outlined in yellow on it, and the painting method was relatively clumsy. He twisted open the cylinder, which was filled with black, solidifying paste.

Yaolai touched his nose and praised him: "This is the authentic eagle brand." Good fellows, these big cars must not have more than a hundred loads. Sun Dianying is the leader of an army in the end, and his shot is really generous. ”

The use of opium to raise soldiers in the army has long been a habit of warlords. Sun Dianying has so much smoke and soil, it is really common. Now that Beijing has changed, Tan Wenjiang brought tobacco and soil, probably to deal with officials everywhere. Liu Yiming pinched the cylinder and said to the medicine: "Your smoking addiction is gone?" Don't you see this thing? ”

Yaolai smiled awkwardly, turned his face sideways, and rolled his throat: "If it's a real man, you can hold back for a hundred days!" Uncle Xu said that if I get a big cigarette again, he will clean me up. Liu Yiming helped his glasses: "That's weird." Your father beat you like that, and you did your own thing; Why does Uncle Xu say a word, and you just obey your words? ”

Yao Lai scratched his head: "I can't say it clearly, anyway, I always feel that his words are very reasonable, which makes people close, and he is not guilty at all." Liu Yiming said: "Then you say in your conscience, Uncle Xu and your father, who are you willing to take Old Man Shen's position?" Yaolai didn't watch out for him to ask such a question, and was silent for a moment before replying, "That's naturally Uncle Xu." In my father's eyes—no, in the eyes of almost everyone, I was an unsuccessful second ancestor. They don't say it, and I can see it. Anyway, you all see me like that, so I'll just mess around. But Uncle Xu looks at me differently......"

Liu Yiming interrupted him and threw the big cigarette horn back to the medicine: "That's good, so our goal is the same." Let me make it clear first, I hope that Uncle Xu will be on the throne, not against your medicine family, nor at any family, but at the entire five veins. You yourself should understand that the five veins are rotten, stupid and stubborn, and without a strong man to lead, it will be finished sooner or later. Look at this chaos in the capital, even a little Wu Yuwen can almost wipe us out, how can we go on like this? ”

Yao Lai patted his chest: "That's, that's." If it weren't for Uncle Xu, we wouldn't have stayed in the capital, wouldn't we? Liu Yiming looked at him and asked very seriously: "If you encounter a situation where your father and Uncle Xu are fighting, will you help me?" Yao Lai nodded repeatedly.

"Would you like to speak out against your father even if you want to?"

"Uh......" medicine is a bit of a stopper. Xu Yicheng is his beloved idol, and Yao Shenxing is the psychological shadow he fears the most, it is one thing not to support it, and it is another thing to oppose it publicly. Liu Yiming knew that this question was difficult to answer, and he didn't force him, so he told him that there was no need to rush to express his position, you should think about it yourself.

"It's better to think it through early, so as not to be overwhelmed." Liu Yiming left an obscure sentence and stopped talking about this topic. Yaolai felt that he might have something in his words, but it was not good to ask directly, so he had to nod vaguely and agree.

While talking, after the two of them arrived at the place, Yao Lai hurriedly ran forward, sprinkled water to make the bed, and then helped Liu Yiming to the bed.

I don't know why, since Fu Gui and Huang Kewu left, Liu Yiming felt a faint uneasiness in his heart. He asked the medicine to close the window to block out the noise of the street, and then closed his eyes, intending to put his thoughts in order. Chen Weili's death and the clues of Tanglin, Xu Yicheng told him the most, and he also thought about it the most.

The Chinese terroir investigation group planned to steal and excavate Qianlong's Yuling, Chen Weili found out that he fled, but was wiped out by the Japanese, and the clues were transmitted to Xu Yicheng. Sister Lu Yongde tried to kill Xu Yicheng again, but failed, and contacted Yao Shenxing to buy a large number of Chinese antiques. This is the current move of the Japanese.

Wang Shaoyi teamed up with Yu Peng to steal the Huiling Concubine Garden, they kidnapped Professor Kido, and now they are going to steal the tomb of the Empress Dowager Cixi in Tangling. This is the plan of the bandits.

Liu Yiming repeated it several times and found that there was a fatal flaw: there was no connection between the China terroir investigation group and Wang Shaoyi, which could almost be regarded as two separate incidents. The only thing that can be called contact is the kidnapping of Professor Kido, but it was an accident.

If the Chinese terroir expedition wants to get their hands on Tanglin, they have to find a local partner. Xu Yicheng began to speculate that it was Wang Shaoyi, but now it turns out that it is not. So, what exactly are the plans of the Japanese? Combining all the current clues, we will find that the behavior of the China Terroir Investigation Group is very strange. They did a lot of things, killing Chen Weili, attacking Xu Yicheng, and co-opting Yao Shenxing, but there was no evidence to prove that there was a direct connection between them and Tanglin, and all the evidence was indirect.

There are only two explanations for this. Either the Japanese didn't think about it at all and were wronged; Either Xu Yicheng was stolen by Wang Shaoyi to dig Cixi's mausoleum, and he ignored any small actions of the Japanese.

Liu Yiming thought of this, but he didn't have any ideas, and fell asleep uneasily.

Huang Kewu and Fu Gui arrived in Ping'an City only three days after receiving the letter, and they had to avoid all pedestrians to avoid any trouble.

Heian City is still as calm as the last time I came, the city gates are open, the streets are bustling, and the situation is not disturbed. But they didn't dare to go in, Wang Shaoyi arranged a large number of secret sentinels in the city, and once a fresh face appeared, it would be discovered immediately. Xu Yicheng should have entered the city, I don't know how he talked to Wang Shaoyi, but at least Hai Lanzhu never came out. This made Fu Gui and Huang Kewu very worried, for fear that something would happen.

Fu Gui went around to the official road not far from the city gate, where there was a hill covered by mountains and forests, overgrown with pine and cypress trees, and there were weeds more than half a person tall at the foot of the hill, so that he could not only observe the movement of the avenue in front of the city gate, but also hide his own travels. Fu Gui found a suitable place, and his eagle-like eyes stared at the pedestrians entering and leaving Ping'an City, and he didn't leave for a moment. After a while, a half-grown child in a short shirt walked towards the city from outside, he was very quiet and delicate, with delicate fingers on both hands, a pair of glasses on the bridge of his nose at a young age, and an oil umbrella under his armpit.

Fu Gui nodded and said just him. Huang Kewu jumped into the middle of the road and reached out to pat the apprentice on the shoulder. The apprentice turned around and was startled. Huang Kewu didn't talk nonsense with him, and dragged him to the forest behind the hillock like a chicken with his big hand.

Fu Gui stared at him and didn't speak. When the young apprentice saw that he had a fierce face, he thought that he had met a robber, and his face turned white with fright. Fu Gui saw that the heat was almost over, so he asked him where he came from. The junior apprentice didn't dare not say it, and confessed that he was the bookkeeper apprentice of Yunlai Restaurant in the city, and this time he came out to collect the accounts. He thought it was a robbery, and quickly explained that he had not received the account, and patted his clothes, signaling that he had nothing to lose, and begged not to kill.

Fu Gui grinned: "We don't want to rob you of your money, we want to give you money." The apprentice was stunned, not knowing what he meant. Huang Kewu pressed his shoulder and said in a deep voice: "Do you know words?" The apprentice raised his face and smiled reluctantly: "I learned to do accounts, how can I not know words." Fu Gui nodded with satisfaction: "When you enter the city this time, I want to ask you for a little favor." The apprentice waved his hand again and again: "I won't kill, I won't kill ......"

Huang Kewu was angry and funny: "Which told you to kill." The apprentice was stunned for a moment, then waved his hand again and again: "I won't steal, I won't steal." Fu Gui knocked him on the head before he stopped. Fu Gui said: "This matter is very simple. You go to the inn in the city, see if there is a golden toad on the counter, what is next to the golden toad, what is written, come back and tell us. ”

"It's as simple as that?" The apprentice couldn't believe it.

"It's as simple as that. You tell us the truth, these copper dollars are yours, it's a good deal, right? Fu Gui asked. The apprentice nodded hurriedly, and Fu Gui stopped him again: "Don't mention this matter to others, if you let me know, be careful that the bullet has no eyes." Intentionally or unintentionally, he exposed the handle of the pistol at his waist, and the apprentice's face turned pale, and he quickly promised that he would never say it.

The apprentice hurried down the hill and into the city. Fu Gui asked Huang Kewu if this trick worked, and Huang Kewu said confidently: "This is an agreement between Uncle Xu and me, except for the people in the antique business, no one can understand it." ”

Fu Gui let out an "oh" and didn't ask any more. Huang Kewu hugged his arms, looked at the city, and suddenly said, "Professor Kido is still locked up, I don't know if he is still alive." ”

"You seem to care about that Japanese guy."

"In these years, there are too few people who really cherish antiquities - Uncle Xu also thinks that person is worth befriending."

"According to what you say, simply let the Japanese transport Tanglin away, and leave it in China and be sold by bandits."

Fu Gui didn't expect a casual sarcasm that made Huang Kewu fall into deep thought. Fu Gui knew that this kid was a bit of a shaft, but he didn't expect that he would be on this axis. He himself is a cold man, and he is too lazy to explain, and the two of them are busy with their own work, and the topic is stopped.

The two men waited for about thirty minutes, and soon saw the apprentice hurrying out of the city again, heading straight for the small hill.

There was indeed a golden toad on the counter of the inn, and there was a sign hanging next to the golden toad, which said that it was a jade bottle with eye tattoos, Buddhist beads, backflow pots, male pixiu, five emperor coins, ginger stones, jade jue and other things. The apprentice was serious, and copied these things on the back of a cigarette card, and the pavilion was very beautiful.

Fu Gui took the cigarette card and handed it to Huang Kewu. After reading this list, Huang Kewu was also happy and worried.

This is the communication method agreed with them before Xu Yicheng set off. He knew that as soon as he entered Ping'an City, Wang Shaoyi would definitely detain him until the end of the tomb robbery, and he was not allowed to contact the outside world in order to avoid leaking rumors. Xu Yicheng's identity is an antique dealer, and he will ask that you won't let me leave anyway, so I'll take care of the goods by the way. This does not touch Wang Shaoyi's core interests, and the innkeeper has a little relationship with the five veins, and no one will stop him.

So the apprentice could see that the golden toad was placed on the counter again, and the goods were received publicly.

Of course, with Wang Shaoyi's suspicion, he will definitely arrange for someone to keep an eye on him, and whoever comes to Xu Yicheng to sell things will definitely be interrogated, for fear that he will take the opportunity to pass on the news.

But the doorway of a city is not here.

Generally, antique dealers who go to the countryside to receive goods, in addition to putting out golden toads, if there is something they particularly want to receive, they will also set up a sign next to it to indicate what kind of antiques they want. Considering that many ordinary people are illiterate, sometimes a physical object will be placed there - this is called "golden toad water". Xu Yicheng will write down what kind of things to receive according to his own situation and according to the pre-agreed password. In this way, Fu Gui and Huang Kewu didn't need to approach the inn at all, they just had to find someone to copy down the list of Jin Toad's water distribution from a distance, and they would know his current situation.

The list of Jin Toad's water division is hidden in the mystery, and it is difficult to understand if it is not an antique business, even if the list is hung in front of the city gate, there is no need to worry about leakage.

The jade bottle means "peace", and there are eye lines on the bottle, which means peace under the eyes.

The Buddha beads represent the Hailan beads.

The backflow pot is a kind of play pot, the surface looks like there is no lid and a mouth, when filling the water, you need to turn the pot upside down, pour water from the bottom, and then turn it over, the water will not leak. The word "backwards" is deducted from "backwards".

Therefore, Xu Yicheng relied on these antiques to express the meaning that he and Hai Lanzhu were both left in the city, but they are still safe.

Pixiu is divided into two types: male and female, male Pixiu is lucky, and female Pixiu keeps wealth. To be male and pixiu alone, that is, to talk about wealth.

Five emperor money refers to Shunzhi, Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing five emperors of the copper coin, the five emperors during the reign of the country and the people, so the folk have been superstitious with these five kinds of copper coins are very auspicious, there will be someone to collect. Tanglin also happens to bury the Five Emperors, so the Five Emperors Qian means Dongling.

As for the ginger stone, it is not an antique, but a traditional Chinese medicine, which is like ginger, hence the name. Xu Yicheng listed it, referring to the Jiang stonemason who mastered the entrance to the Empress Dowager Cixi's mausoleum.

As for Yu Jue, it is an allusion to the Hongmen Banquet. Back then, Xiang Yu hosted a banquet for Liu Bang in Hongmen, and during the banquet, his staff officer Fan Zeng raised the jade jue three times and signaled him to do it. Xiang Yu hesitated, and finally missed a good opportunity to kill Liu Bang. Therefore, Yujue has a layer of meaning, which is unresolved and undecided.

These items are placed down, which means that the time for Wang Shaoyi to go to Dongling to rob the tomb has not yet been determined, because Jiang Stonemason has not yet been found.

Huang Kewu is happy that Xu Yicheng is okay for the time being, but he is worried that the situation in the city is still unknown. He explained to Fu Gui, and Fu Gui understood that Xu Yicheng meant that he had to be patient and wait. So he threw the copper dollar to the apprentice, and said to him, you go and look at the sign every day, and if the words on the sign are changed, go out of the city and tell us in this place, and the benefit will not be shorter for you.

The apprentice didn't expect that such a simple thing would be paid a lot, more than the salary he got as an apprentice in a month, and he couldn't help but be overjoyed, and promised again and again that it would be done, and then left happily.

Huang Kewu asked Fu Gui what to do, and Fu Gui said, "What else can I do?" Wait! Wait for the news of the city! ”

Huang Kewu suddenly asked, "How did you and Uncle Xu meet?" He has always been very curious, Fu Gui is too cold and incompatible with Xu Yicheng's style, but the two seem to trust each other very much, and they don't know how to get together.

Fu Gui didn't answer, Huang Kewu waited for a long time and saw no movement, thinking that he was sticking a cold face to a hot ass again. He was about to give up, Fu Gui's voice came slowly: "I arrested him, he helped me solve the case, it's as simple as that." Fu Guihu asked rhetorically, "How did you and Xu Yicheng meet?" Huang Kewu said: "He is not the same as the people of the five veins. I don't understand this very well, Da Liu will say it even more. In a word...... I feel very comfortable with Uncle Xu, and I feel down-to-earth. ”

"Oh." Fu Gui said.

So in the next few days, Fu Gui and Huang Kewu took turns guarding the hill, but the apprentice never appeared. The city of Ping'an is still safe, but the head of the city is still under the banner of the army. On the afternoon of the fourth day, Huang Kewu was bored by the hillock when he suddenly heard footsteps. As soon as he looked up, the apprentice ran over excitedly, waving a cigarette sign in his hand.

"What's new?" Huang Kewu asked.

"I'll copy it for you." The apprentice reached out and demanded money.

After Huang Kewu sent him away, he went to see the cigarette sign. Nothing else has changed, except for three more items: Shippoyaki, Copper Turtle, and Sword.

When Huang Kewu saw this, he was stunned. Fu Gui arrived and asked him what he meant. Huang Kewu explained: "This Shippo ware is made in Japan. Copper turtle, take a 'return' word. What Uncle Xu means is that Professor Kido is going to be released. Fu Gui frowned: "Didn't he come to exchange Hai Lanzhu back?" Why didn't she leave, but released this Japanese? - What does that sword mean? Kill him? ”

Huang Kewu couldn't answer this series of questions, and Fu Gui didn't expect him to answer. He just used this to express his dissatisfaction with Xu Yicheng, what are you doing in Ping'an City? Leaving his wife alone and messing with a full woman, the only result of being busy for a few days was to release the Japanese first. Fu Gui claimed to know Xu Yicheng, but this time he couldn't understand it.

Huang Kewu is quite happy, he has always had a good impression of Professor Kido. He said that since Uncle Xu asked us to take it, let's go. Fu Gui snorted and said that I want to go to you, I'm not interested. Huang Kewu had to let him.

After a short while, Professor Kido staggered out of the city gate, his hair disheveled, his face dirty, and his clothes dirty, but he still managed to keep his composure. A few soldiers pushed him forward and went straight back. Professor Kido looked left and right, very confused, so he had to walk all the way forward. When he turned a corner, letting the hill obscure the view of the guards at the head of the city, Huang Kewu rushed over and held his hand.

"Professor Kido."

Professor Kido looked up and thought for a long time before he recognized it as the little guy in the yamen prison. Huang Kewu took out a bag of donkey meat with sauce, two baked cakes and a pot of water, Professor Kido's eyes lit up, he shook off his cheeks, lifted his back molars, and ate all in one go. After eating, Professor Kido sat down on the grass for a long time before he came to rest and bowed deeply to Huang Kewu.

Huang Kewu jumped away, a little at a loss, and said that if you want to thank Uncle Xu, thank you. Professor Kido didn't know anything in the cell, and he was released in a daze. Huang Kewu couldn't tell him the truth, and simply said that he was released under the mediation of Xu Yicheng. Professor Kido expressed his gratitude again and again, and said that when he returned to Beijing, he would definitely tell the head of the Sakai Daisuke and the Japanese side and ask them to commend him.

Huang Kewu suddenly remembered that Xu Yicheng also attached a sword at the end, maybe he wanted to ask about the Nine Dragons Sword.

It can be seen from the practice of medicine that the last page of the Japanese's "Bone Dong Account of the Bone of China" is the Nine Dragons Sword, which is the only item included in the list of Qing Dynasty. Xu Yicheng has always believed that this is a pronoun, representing a large number of treasures in Qianlong's Yuling. But Chen Weili's letterhead did leave an overlapping image of the sword, indicating that this is also a real thing.

Professor Kido didn't recognize the image of the Nine Dragons Sword, let alone that it was included in the Shina Bone Ledger. However, after listening to Huang Kewu's question, he said that "The Account of the Bone of Zhina" was purely out of good intentions. Japan has learned so much from China, and now that the teacher is sick, it is understandable that the students take the teacher's books back and keep them.

Huang Kewu did not comment on this, and quickly sent Professor Kido away and returned to the hill. As soon as he came back, Fu Gui frowned and said, "I don't care what Xu Yicheng thinks, you kid will be fussy when he sees the Japanese, which is not very good." ”

Huang Kewu was also a fiery temper, but he was always behind Xu Yicheng and Liu Yiming, and he didn't have many attacks. When Fu Gui said this, he was immediately unhappy, explaining: "I don't like Japanese people, I just think that they understand the value of antiques better than many people in China." Brother Fu, you won't understand this mood. ”

Fu Gui put his hands behind his back and said coldly: "I really don't understand you playing with antiques." The Japanese beat Liu Yiming half to death, and you still befriended them; Xu Yicheng's wife is about to give birth, and he is still free in the city with Hai Lanzhu - but let the Japanese out. ”

Huang Kewu wanted to refute him, but Fu Gui didn't give him this opportunity: "I don't read much, I don't know as many words as you." But I will recognize a reason, and if it is not of my race, its heart will be different. You are so half-hearted, and you are still beating the Japanese, go back and rest as soon as possible. With that, he shook his head and left.

For the next few days, the two men took turns on duty. Huang Kewu always wanted to find a chance to talk to Fu Gui, but Fu Gui ignored him at all.

In the evening of that day, the apprentice came again, this time with a different list he had copied. Huang Kewu took it and looked at the sign, his eyes suddenly straightened, and he didn't care that he was still fighting with Fu Gui, so he ran to the place where he was resting and asked him to come over and take a look.

Fu Gui took the sign and found that nothing else had changed, only the jade pendant was gone, and it was replaced by an object called the Magpie Copper Bridge.

According to Chinese folklore, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl fell in love and were separated by the Queen Mother and the Queen Mother. Fortunately, there are magpies who act bravely, and every year on Qixi Day, the magpie bridge is built, and the two can have a tryst for one night. The so-called "magpie copper bridge" is a copper arched incense burner carved into three magpies connected by head and tail, placed under the grape trellis on the day of Qixi Festival, and used to burn incense and pray silently when begging.

The "unresolved" jade pendant is gone, but there is an additional magpie copper bridge that is only used during the Chinese Valentine's Day. The message that Xu Yicheng wants to convey is very clear: "Wang Shaoyi has found Jiang Mason, and he will soon do it to Tanglin, and the time of doing it will be around July 7." ”

The two of them glanced at each other, and their faces became solemn.

The enemy was finally about to move, Fu Gui and Huang Kewu didn't care about making trouble, and went through the details one by one according to the prior agreement. Now there are still a few days left before July 7, and they have to inform Sun Dianying and ask him to prepare to ambush Wang Shaoyi, and on the one hand, they have to secretly arrange to rescue Xu Yicheng and Hai Lanzhu halfway, and there are many things to do.

At this time, Huang Kewu straightened up and looked towards the city gate. He saw that the flag on the city of Heian had become the blue sky and white sun flag of the National Revolutionary Army. This subtle move further corroborates Xu Yicheng's news. Wang Shaoyi changed banners at this time, naturally to cover up his tomb robbery.

Fu Gui asked Huang Kewu to set off immediately and go to Mashenqiao Town to inform Sun Dianying. He stayed near Heian Castle and kept an eye out for any new movements. Huang Kewu agreed without saying a word, and before leaving, he suddenly turned around and said very seriously to Fu Gui: "I will never let this group of bandits destroy Tanglin, but I will prove to you that I am right." ”

Fu Gui waved his hand, not provoked at all: "Don't talk nonsense, let's go quickly." ”

Huang Kewu clasped his hands into fists, then turned around and ran out of the forest, and after a while, he ran far away. Fu Gui kept standing in place, watching his figure disappear, and his already cold expression became even more severe. He looked down at the cigarette sign in his hand, the front was a series of antiques from the elementary school apprentice's record, he flipped his hand over, turned to the back, and there was a faint line of small words on it: "There are no common beads." ”

This is Fu Gui carrying Huang Kewu behind his back to explain to the junior apprentice, saying that if you see such a line of words at the bottom of the sign of "Golden Toad Out of Water", remember to copy it down, but write it on the back, write lightly, don't tell Huang Kewu.

This is a secret code that Xu Yicheng and Fu Gui agreed with in advance, and only the two of them know.

Although Huang Kewu is a trustworthy person, he is still young after all, and his temperament is not calm enough. What's more, there are some things that Xu Yicheng feels inappropriate for Huang Kewu to know.

For example, what you have to do now.

The sun is setting, and the sun is leaving only a trace on the horizon. Soon this afterglow was swallowed up, and the land was plunged into a suffocating darkness. Fu Gui changed into a short gray suit that was almost close to his body, hunched his waist, and moved his feet lightly, as light as a tanuki, and soon moved to the city of Ping'an City.

The inventory of Ping'an City is indeed very strict, but no matter how strict Wang Shaoyi's arrangement is, it is impossible to monitor everyone in the city. There must be loopholes in the city defense. The last time you went to Ping'an City, it wasn't for nothing. His eagle eyes have already clearly figured out the layout, structure and defense of the whole city.

Ping'an City is a city built in the Qing Dynasty, I don't know how many years have passed, the blue-gray city wall is in disrepair, the wall skin is peeling, and those bandits can't spend energy on it. Fu Gui remembered that when he surveyed last time, one section of the city wall had collapsed, forming a notch. Wang Shaoyi was too lazy to repair it, so he sent a few soldiers to stay here every night.

Three of these soldiers were guarding in the light and one in the dark, chatting boringly. The topic is about the recent transfer of troops and horses by the head of the Ma regiment and the deputy of the Wang regiment, the Tanglin plan has not yet been made public, but the people below have guessed some of them, and these soldiers are excited to reverie how much treasure they can share, how many acres of land they can buy, and how many daughters-in-law they can marry if the tomb is opened.

Fu Guifu listened quietly for a while, and waited until they looked tired and drowsy. He quickly touched the outpost, and with one move, he locked the soldier's throat, and with a click of his five fingers, the soldier immediately fell limply to the ground. Without the dark whistle, the bright whistle would be easy to dodge, and Fu Gui didn't have much effort to climb this half of the city wall and land lightly in the city.

Fu Gui is not a good man and a woman, and he has to kill people to see blood when he breaks into the city. Xu Yicheng didn't want Huang Kewu to be involved in these killings, so Fu Gui would wait for him to leave before acting. Huang Kewu's boxing method is martial arts, and Fu Gui's method is only to kill people. As long as he can achieve his goal, he doesn't care about anything else.

The outside of Ping'an City is tight and loose, and there is no light at night, Fu Gui's infiltration did not cause any waves. He wandered among the rooftop alleys, avoiding several patrols, and saw the only brightly lit building in the entire city, which was supposed to be the residence of Ma Futian and Wang Shaoyi. I guess they're busy planning how to rob the tomb. Tanglin is so big, if it is a swarm of bees to break in, I don't know what year and month it will be dug up, and there must be a co-ordination.

However, that was not Fu Gui's goal, he deliberately bypassed the lights, and soon came to the darkest place in the city-the City God Temple.

At this time, the temple gate was closed and empty. Fu Gui did not enter the main hall, but jumped in from the low wall and came to the eerie and terrifying underworld behind the temple. Just a month ago, Xu Yicheng won the qualification to deliver goods for Wang Shaoyi here, and at the same time, two lives were completely confessed here. In the darkness of the night, the room between the underworld was tiled and bricked, high and narrow, and the walls were all red, like an impermanence dyed with blood.

As soon as Fu Gui got closer, he saw a woman standing in front of the netherworld, waiting. The woman heard the footsteps and turned around, and Fu Gui couldn't help but be stunned.

No common beads. Impermanence is the underworld, and the pearl is naturally the Hailan pearl.

It is true that the woman is Hai Lanzhu, but when she came to Ping'an City, she was obviously dressed in a dress, but now she has changed into a rural jujube red floral shirt and wide-grained embroidered pants, and has an abalone hair bun coiled on her head.

"What, you don't recognize me?" Hai Lanzhu smiled lightly at Fu Gui. "He's being watched tightly in a city, so he can only let me come."

Fu Gui stopped, his brows furrowed, Hai Lanzhu's tone made him feel a little unhappy. And she still had straight long hair two days ago, and now she actually has a bun on her head, which is something that a newlywed daughter-in-law can do.

Hai Lanzhu didn't seem to notice his faint hostility, and habitually touched the bun on the back of his head with his hand: "It's really a shame that he came up with it, let us arrange to meet in such a gloomy and terrifying place." I was scared last time I was here, you were locked up next door, and I don't know how scary it was. The person in a city, everything is good, but this is too unsophisticated. ”

Fu Gui heard her call "one city" affectionately, and he was disgusted in his heart, so he said coldly: "Why do you still stay in Ping'an City?" Didn't Xu Yicheng exchange you out? ”

Hai Lanzhu said: "Yicheng wants to use him to exchange me out." However, Wang Shaoyi became suspicious and repeatedly interrogated him for a long time, questioning the relationship between the two of us. I saw that something was going to happen if it went on like this, so I persuaded Yicheng to put on a play. said that the two of us fell in love freely, only because the parents at home were opposed, so the relationship could not be made public, and the bitter love scene of life and death was played......" Speaking of this, she was ashamed, and reached out to touch the bun on her head, "Probably the play is too good, Wang Shaoyi not only believed it, but was actually moved, and took care of it, saying that he wanted to be a matchmaker, and he would do a happy event for us in Ping'an City......"

Hearing this, Fu Gui's muscles stiffened. It is indeed dangerous to deal with Wang Shaoyi, but in order to hide from the world, Xu Yicheng actually had a happy event with Hai Lanzhu, which is really unusual......

Hai Lanzhu continued: "This person in Yicheng is really worried about his life, I stayed, and he was worried about saving that Japanese Kido Yusan. His friend obviously died at the hands of the Japanese, but he would repay his grievances with virtue. It's easy to say that Wang Shaoyi let the Japanese go, but it's really a twist and turn......"

Fu Gui interrupted her chatter: "Okay, let me enter the city so late, what do you have to explain?" ”

Hai Lanzhu stood in place: "Wang Shaoyi is going to make a move on Tanglin, have you seen the news of the city?" ”

"Huang Kewu has already gone to inform Sun Dianying and the clan."

"Good. Yicheng called you in to tell you that Jiang Stonemason's whereabouts have been clarified, and he wants you to rush to his side as soon as possible. ”

Fu Gui didn't show a surprised expression. From the changes in Xu Yicheng's "Golden Toad Water" brand, we can know that Yu Jue is gone, and Jiang Shi is still there. It is no wonder that Wang Shaoyi decided to send troops to Tanglin in early July, and mastering Jiang Mason is equivalent to mastering the key to the underground palace.

"Where is he?" Fu Gui asked.

"According to my inquiry, he is not in the city, but in Liujia Village, twenty miles away from here. The old man is over seventy years old, and he can't stand the toss. So Wang Shaoyi sent a team of people to Liujia Village to monitor Jiang Mason. After the departure of the large army of Heian Castle, they went to Tanglin to join the main force. ”

"So, it's a great opportunity." Fu Gui remained silent. If the ginger stonemason was closely protected in the city, he would have little chance of saving people, and if he was guarded by a small group of men and horses in the village, then there was still a little chance.

"Yes. However, the meaning of a city is that it can't be saved too early, and it will be noticed by Wang Shaoyi too early. Wait until his troops enter the Ma Lanyu ambush circle and cannot retreat, and then rescue Jiang Mason—if necessary, you might as well do it once and for all. When Hai Lanzhu said the last sentence, she subconsciously nodded her head and said in an important tone.

Fu Gui raised his chin slightly: "Is this what you mean, or what Xu Yicheng means?" ”

Hai Lanzhu chuckled, and then covered his mouth: "How could a city say that?" He's too kind-hearted. But it's the best choice for him and for us. ”

Their purpose is to protect the tomb, not to rob the tomb, and if the only Jiang stonemason who knows where the tomb door is located is dead, it is the best thing to do, but it is too cruel. Fu Gui may do this, but Xu Yicheng will never do it.

What Fu Gui didn't expect was that Hai Lanzhu, who seemed to be weak and delicate, had the same way of thinking as himself.

Fu Gui couldn't help but glance at Hai Lanzhu more, his eyes were cold, Hai Lanzhu didn't look away, his expression was as usual: "I made my own opinion, in fact, I made a decision for him that he knew was good but didn't dare to do, he didn't have to be condemned by his conscience because of this, and Tanglin could also eliminate the last hidden danger - not to mention that we didn't say that we must kill it, that was a last resort, wasn't it?" ”

"Who the hell are you?" Fu Gui asked.

Hai Lanzhu's appearance at this time is by no means a normal girl. Fu Gui was able to smell a very similar smell to himself in her, calm, shrewd, and ruthless.

Seeing that Fu Gui was suspicious, Hai Lanzhu smiled: "No matter who I am, don't worry, I won't be bad for a city." ”

Fu Gui snorted. He knew that it was not so simple for the clan to install such a person by Xu Yicheng's side. No wonder she was lost in Ping'an City alone, but Yu Fang ignored it.

"In this city, I will be the best helper in the city, his eyes and ears. There are many things that are inconvenient for men to inquire about, and women come out as soon as they hook it. "Hailan Zhu Road. Fu Gui said with a cold face as if he hadn't heard this: "If there is nothing else, I will leave first." ”

"By the way, Ichijo asked me to thank you, thank you for everything you did for him."

"This kind of thing, let him say it to me face to face, don't find a girl to pass the word."

Hai Lanzhu was not annoyed at all: "He is being watched now, and I can only secretly talk to him at night." ”

Hearing this very ambiguous hint, Fu Gui, who had already turned around and left, turned his head back again: "I'll just say a word, Xu Yicheng's wife is about to give birth, you remind him." ”

Hai Lanzhu explained with a smile: "I know this." I've told you everything, and I've prepared a gift. ”

"You don't have to explain it to me."

"However, when he entered the city, I was really a little moved. Think about it, in order to save a woman, a man disregards life and death, and breaks into the enemy camp alone, in the British Empire, this is called romance. Hai Lanzhu pressed the tips of her fingers against her chin and looked at Fu Gui elegantly, "Among Chinese men, there are too few people who understand this. They are selfish, arrogant, obscene people who only treat women as accessories and reproductive machines. Yicheng is different from them, even by the strictest definition, he can be considered a gentleman. ”

After she finished speaking, she found that Fu Gui had disappeared into the night, and she was the only one standing in front of the door of the underworld. Hai Lanzhu lifted a few strands of hair, her eyes flashed, and the flattery just now suddenly converged, exhaled a long breath, and walked outside.

Just when the undercurrent was surging in Ping'an City, the capital was no better.

Liu Yiming, who stayed in Beijing, has become more and more uneasy recently, and his sister Lu Yongde has not appeared since he fled, but Liu Yiming not only feels relaxed, but his heart has become more and more uneasy. Sister Lu Yongde is a typical soldier, and he didn't bring anyone back to retaliate, which can only show that he has more important things to do.

That incident must have something to do with Tanglin and the Nine Dragons Sword, and Liu Yiming was very sure about this. The crux of the matter is, what will they do?

He always felt that the clue was flying in front of him, but as soon as he stretched out his hand, it disappeared suddenly, and he couldn't catch what was wrong. This sense of powerlessness that seems to be near and far away makes him very uncomfortable. His body is almost recovered now, and his normal activities are fine, but his mood has not improved at all.

Liu Yiming asked Yao to go to the street to listen to the news, collect newspapers and numbers, and read them at home every day, trying to see some clues from them. In front of and behind him, there are piles of all kinds of materials. Yao Lai complained more than once, saying that you have become a garbage heap. Liu Yiming remembered that Xu Yicheng said that if you can't make up your mind about appraising antiques, you will look at them repeatedly. Read the Bible a hundred times, and its meaning will come to light.

Beijing City is really lively during this time. After the brief chaos of Zhang Zuolin's assassination, with the entry of the National Revolutionary Army, the city slowly returned to peace, the curfew was lifted, the market was reopened, and the opera garden was raised to play again. The people returned one after another, which added a bit of popularity to the capital. Various social groups that have been dormant have expressed their opinions in the newspapers one after another. Yesterday was the Commercial Federation issuing an announcement in support of the Northern Expedition, and today it was the teachers and students of Yan University and Tsinghua University who demanded the liquidation of the "May Fourth" blood debt; There are also all kinds of advertisements, personal statements, obituaries and the latest political developments.

Yu Fang also personally wrote an article in the "Shi Ji Bao" saying that he was pleased to hear that Chairman Chiang was about to visit the capital, and pleaded for attention to the restoration of the imperial tombs around the capital, hoping that the cultural relics would be protected and that future generations would not weep. It's a pity that now that the whole of Beijing is desperately trying to find its place in the new pattern, who cares how the tomb of the emperor of the previous dynasty is repaired. In this hustle and bustle, Tanglin is just a forgotten decay, an inconspicuous little spot. Nobody cares, and no one cares.

Yufang organized a group of old and young people, planning to write a few more, but unfortunately this propaganda offensive was quickly interrupted by a blockbuster **.

The Kuomintang held a central **** meeting in late June, announcing that starting in July, Beijing would be renamed Beiping Special City and returned to the direct jurisdiction of the national government.

As soon as this news came out, all walks of life in Beijing were dumbfounded. Since Ming Chengzu moved from Nanjing to Beijing, Beijing's status as the capital has never been shaken in the past few hundred years. Unexpectedly, the imperial storm in May not only blew away Zhang Zuolin, but also blew away the imperial spirit of the whole Beijing. You must know that the capital of a country, gathering the wealth of the world, Beijing is downgraded to Beiping, and what is lost is not only fame and status, but also countless business opportunities and development opportunities, which are gradually lost in Fancheng. So as soon as the news came out, there was a voice of lamentation and injustice in the market.

In this case, no one cares about the matter of Tanglin.

This matter also has a huge impact on the five veins, but Liu Yiming doesn't care. What he really paid attention to was the news about Japan. There is a lot of news, but most of it is diplomatic and military, and it is all related to Mukden. What alerted him was a piece of news he saw today, saying that the Japanese diplomat had sent a note to Nanjing, saying that he hoped that the transfer of power would not affect the trade between the two countries and the privileges enjoyed by Japanese goods in the North China market.

Liu Yiming's eyes flashed, he turned over, and pulled out a few sheets from another stack of newspapers, on which a news was marked with a cinnabar pen. The advertisement was marked that Serizawa Co., Ltd. was hiring shipping workers. There is also a newspaper in the city, written by a French missionary in North China, who said that the number of drug addicts is increasing day by day, and calls for the government to set up more drug rehabilitation institutions.

Liu Yiming remembered that the Serezawa Club was the chamber of commerce that transported tobacco and soil from Dalian to Beijing, and they caught Sister Xiaolu Yongde in the warehouse south of the city. Liu Yiming raised his head with a gloomy face, and called the medicine to him: "Tan Wenjiang brought the Eagle brand this time, right?" ”

"yes."

"I remember you said that after the 'golden pill' appeared, few people touched the eagle card."

"You can't say that. A gold pill is a high-end product, expensive, and the Eagle brand is cheaper than it, isn't it? But the two brands of flavors are really too different......" Yao Lai talked about this, and he gushed endlessly.

Liu Yiming's face changed slightly, and said Let's go out quickly, find a trip to Tan Wenjiang, there is something I have to confirm.

I don't know where the medicine came from, but I still went out with him. The Twelfth Army set up an office in Beijing, which is located in Jiaozi Hutong in Nancheng, which is a large open courtyard. The yard was very spacious, and it was filled with smoke and dirt, covered with tarpaulin. When they arrived, they found that Tan Wenjiang had returned to Mashenqiao Town, where only a dozen or so soldiers were left behind, and they were under the control of a captain.

The captain followed Tan Wenjiang to see Yao Lai that day, and knew that this was Commander Sun's distinguished guest, and his attitude was quite polite. The medicine came neatly, and a piece of the ocean was sent over, and in a few words the captain was coaxed to be happy, and invited them into the house to sit down, and shouted to his men to pour tea.

There was a lot of smoke in the room, and it was obvious that the group of soldiers was also smoking a big cigarette, and all of them had a sluggish look. The captain kicked it, and one of them slouched up. The three of them sat down and talked, and the captain didn't hide much, those big cars were indeed Eagle brand tobacco, and they were transported to Beijing to make some joints.

After a long time, the little soldier brought three cups of tea and made it perfunctory. Liu Yiming stared at him for a long time, not knowing what he was looking at. The captain complained that the price of the capital is too high now, and the tobacco cannot be sold at a high price, and it costs a lot of money to raise these people, and he complained that there is no subsidy in the army, and Mr. Sun will send tobacco and soil to the account if he has nothing to do, and if this continues, he might as well go back to the countryside to farm.

With that, the captain stretched out his hand and waved it angrily. Yaolai's face suddenly became quite strange, and Liu Yiming asked him what was wrong. Yaolai whispered, "My father has been here." Liu Yiming frowned, why is there a matter of medicine prudence? He asked Yao Lai how he could see it, and Yao said, did you see the wrench on the captain's finger? That's a wrench.

The wrench is divided into two kinds of civil and military, and the literary ones are mostly jade or rhino horns and ivory, which are purely ornaments for the children of the Eight Banners. The wrench finger is used on the real battlefield and is made of moose antlers and is light brown in color. Because the Qing Dynasty's military equipment was slackened and the Eight Banners fell, there were fewer and fewer real moose antlers. Yao Shenxing has such a one in his hand, which was used by a certain prince when the Manchu Qing Dynasty was outside the customs, and later the descendants of this prince ate hardcore crops and did not want to make progress, and this thing fell into the hands of the five veins.

This thing is not valuable, but it is actually quite precious; Let's say it's worth it, it's really not easy to get a price compared to a jade wrench. Therefore, this kind of thing is called knocking goods in the antique business. It means that it is suitable for people who are not very important but need to open their joints, which is both decent and not too expensive.

Now this wrench is in the captain's hand, and it is obviously a gift from Yao Shenxing. Liu Yiming said that there is not only one Wu wrench, how can you be sure that it is your family. I stole the wrench and accidentally missed a corner. My father ransomed me and beat me up. The memory of thirty sticks can never be wrong.

The captain said that someone came to visit Senior Commander Tan not long ago, and the two talked for a long time, but they didn't know the specific content. When I asked about the appearance, it was really a cautious practice.

That's weird. Before Yao Shenxing, he contacted his sister Xiaolu Yongde in the south of the city warehouse for the sake of "Zhina Bone Dong Account"; This time he came to meet Tan Wenjiang again, what was it for? That time, there was "a golden pill" in the south of the city, and this time it was full of eagle cards. Why is there a pile of smoke and dirt everywhere he goes?

After leaving the office of the Twelfth Army, Yao Lai and Liu Yiming did not look good. The medicine came because he found that his father's whereabouts were getting more and more weird, and he couldn't explain it, but Liu Yiming thought more.

Yao Lai took two steps out, shrunk his neck, and babbled to himself: "These people, the origin is not simple." My dad got mixed up with them, is this going to open a smoke shop? I only take two puffs occasionally, this old man can't be more muddy than his son, right? ”

Liu Yiming frowned and stopped: "What did you just say?" ”

"This old man can't be more muddy than his son, right? Hey, I'm not scolding my dad......"

"Not that, go further."

"Aren't these people from a simple background?"

"yes, why aren't they simple? Isn't it Sun Dianying's soldiers? ”

As soon as Yao Lai heard that he had entered his professional field again, his eyebrows immediately danced: "You don't understand this Brother Liu, have you noticed the hand of the soldier who served us tea?" ”

"Huh?"

"The man's right finger was covered with calluses, but the calluses were in a very peculiar position. The thickest cocoons are on the little and index fingers, but almost none on the middle and ring fingers. ”

People who play antiques have a very sharp eye. Although the medicine is very good, it is good to learn from the family, and these eyes are not ordinary poison. As soon as Liu Yiming heard what he said, he immediately understood. Normal craftsmen, such as blacksmiths and stonemasons, hold them in their hands, and the calluses are evenly distributed on the five fingers, so it is impossible to have such a strange distribution. This must be a very special profession that will form such a cocoon.

Yaolai saw that Liu Yiming was also stumped, and was very proud: "When it comes to tobacco, I can be a teacher for Uncle Xu." I tell you, it's the hand of the crow farmer. When the poppy is ripe, it will produce poppy fruit, and after it is cut, white juice will flow out, and when it is dried, it will be raw opium paste. To harvest the juice, the crow farmer will tie a special knife to his index finger and hook a small jar with his little finger. So he stretched out his hand, and with a stroke of his index finger and a swing of his little finger, the juice flowed into the jar. Cut each flower up to three times. This is called orchid finger, also called hook style. ”

"So that soldier is actually a crow farmer?"

"It's not just him, the people in that room are all crow farmers except for the second lieutenant."

Liu Yiming thought about the captain's words, the soldier's hand, the news in the newspaper, and the bizarre appearance of Yao Shenxing. The fragments gradually converged and swirled, forming a clear view, a shuddering conjecture.

"Not good! Uncle Xu is in danger!! ”

He grabbed Yaolai's arm and yelled eagerly.