After midwinter, spring soon arrives, the willow trees by the lake sprout new shoots, and the spring outside the city blooms with small yellow flowers.

There is a dirt slope next to the official road more than 20 miles away from the city, with a small forest on one side and spring flowers on three sides. On the other side of the road, the flowers are also blooming beautifully. Two tall horses, fully clothed, lowered their heads and nibbled on the tender grass that slipped on the ground. Sitting on the stone next to him was a middle-aged man of about forty years old, of medium build, with long hair hanging down his shoulders. Broad forehead, slightly high hairline, slightly convex cheekbones, curved nose bridge, small nose tip, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and double eyelids. The straight sitting posture was as modest as the light gray tunic, and the black round scalp shoes were covered with a thin layer of dust. looked at the front calmly, and the corners of his eyes and eyebrows inadvertently revealed a bit of heroism. Standing next to the middle-aged man was a small flat-headed old man, with more white hair and less black hair, about fifty-five or sixteen years old, with a short white beard. He was drinking from a green kettle, and after drinking it, he respectfully handed it to the middle-aged man, and said with a slight apology: "General, Lao Cao has been slowing down the process along the way. It's past noon, and you haven't eaten breakfast yet. ”

"How much do you say that? Also, didn't you say your name? It's best not to reveal your identity when you're out and about, especially in occupied areas. The middle-aged man raised his head and took a few sips of water, and then said, "When you enter the city, find a place to settle down first, and I will go to meet the local local snake after eating, hoping to find out her news as soon as possible." ”

"Yes, sir. Do you want to ask the Shanghai side to inquire about the schedule of the surname Ma again? Or if she wants to just start halfway, we'll run away in vain. Lao Cao's expression looked a little anxious.

"Probably not. It's just that whoever is the commander of the hoe and traitor army can come, and with Boss Dai's old scheming, he shouldn't make a big fuss about a bullshit traitor. Since she was sent over and Liaocheng was mentioned, there must be other intentions in this. The middle-aged man said and handed the kettle to Lao Cao.

Lao Cao nodded, took the kettle and hung it on his waist. looked at the distance and said, "What Mr. said is, no wonder the same chairman is a descendant, but Chief Zhongfu is reluctant to associate with Boss Dai, presumably because he is afraid of playing with his heart." ”

"Hehe, Brother Zhongfu is willing to fight with real knives and guns on the battlefield in an upright manner, but those who hide knives in their sleeves are the killer of the old man." The middle-aged man smiled.

"Lao Cao follows Mr. who is indifferent to fame and fortune, and there is naturally no right or wrong if he does not fight with others. It doesn't matter which of them plays the light or the dark. Lao Cao said that he went over to lead the horse, "Mr. will listen to what Lao Cao says." ”

The two got on the horse and slammed the horses, the horses raised their heads and neighed, and ran down the official road, and the smoke and dust rolled up instantly covered the road. When the dust fell and calmed down, the shadows of the two people were long gone.

The business of Yiju Grain Company is very prosperous, and the supply of flour and sorghum flour exceeds the demand. Ji Tang discussed with Zhou Yizhi several times, planning to expand the factory and add equipment. Zhou Yizhi said that he should consider it, in fact, he was looking at a new project, and was planning to build a light bulb factory, the site of which had not yet been decided, and was temporarily inclined to Qilipu in the north of the city. Since fiat currency was traded internationally at the end of last year, the government increased the amount of money printed to reserve armaments, and Wang's puppet government also issued pseudo-fiat currency (1). There is unprecedented chaos in the currency market, and the fiat currency is gradually depreciating. The price of the piece of land that Zhou Yizhi has taken a fancy to has doubled in more than a month since the beginning of the year. As a result, he had to postpone the plan so as not to increase the cost of the investment amount. Naturally, the grain company also rose to the top, and the stockpiling of goods during the Lunar New Year did not take much effort to earn more than 13 million yuan.

On this day, Lu Jiayu called the store to leave a message for Zhou Yizhi to call back, and Xu Xudong went to the factory to pick him up at two o'clock in the afternoon. When he passed by Dongguan Street on his way back to the city, he inadvertently glanced outside the car and felt that the middle-aged man who was being checked in front of him was a little familiar. The middle-aged companion was stuffing money into the interrogating soldier, who was glaring with a reluctant expression on his face. Their car was exempt from inspection when it entered the city, and at the moment when he wiped his body, he saw the face of the middle-aged man clearly, and hurriedly got out of the car and stuffed two thousand legal dollars into the prefect on duty, indicating that the two were the guests he was going to pick up, and he went to the dock to pick them up, but the guests happened to take the dry road. The duty commander politely let them pass.

Zhou Yi stepped forward and grabbed the middle-aged man and let him get into the car, and the reins of the horse were tied to the trailer ring behind him. As soon as he got in the car, he excitedly grabbed the middle-aged man's wrist and said, "Zhang Engong, do you remember me?" I am Zhou Yizhi you saved in Nanjing! ”

"Oh? Mr. Zhou? No wonder some of them are familiar. Hehe, thank you just now for breaking the siege. The middle-aged man looked at Zhou Yizhi with a smile.

"Oh, Engong, don't call me that, you picked up my life!" Zhou Yizhi listened to the middle-aged man's words with warmth and force, and was sure that he was Zhang Mingyuan, a young officer he met in Nanjing half a year ago.

The middle-aged man is indeed Zhang Mingyuan, and he brought the orderly Lao Cao to Liaocheng this time, taking into account both public and private affairs. On the one hand, it is necessary to find the woman Dai Lin who has admired for a long time, and on the other hand, it is necessary to find out what major conspiracy her opponent has before she carries out her mission. The two things could have been combined into one, but Dai Lin couldn't accept him yet, and even disliked him a little, and deliberately avoided every action. So what was originally simple things was complicated, and he didn't dare to push her too hard, lest she be shot again. Seeing that the car was getting farther away from the inventory point, he smiled and said, "Mr. Zhou doesn't need to be too polite. If I'm not mistaken, you and that Miss Lu should have rushed back to Huzhou to get married, why did you appear here? ”

"Engong is right, we-" Zhou Yizhi was interrupted by Zhang Mingyuan as soon as he spoke.

"Mr. Zhou, can you not open your mouth and shut your mouth? You see, everyone is about the same age, they all call names, I call you Yizhi, you call me Mingyuan, okay? Zhang Mingyuan's gentle tone was irresistibly serious.

"Oh General, how dare I! The general's life-saving grace is the same as again-" Zhou Yizhi hurriedly and politely was interrupted again.

"Heh—this is more inappropriate than calling Engong, this is the Fallen Zone! Forget it, or you can call me Mr. like Lao Cao. Zhang Mingyuan smiled, it was considered a concession, he knew that these people were humble endlessly. said and looked at Lao Cao next to him, "This is an old brother, Lao Cao, an orderly." ”

"Hello Sir Cao!" Zhou Yizhi turned around and bowed to Lao Cao again.

"Mr. Zhou, don't call Lao Cao like that, Lao Cao is an old follower of my husband." Lao Cao Chong Zhou Yizhi gave up his hand, then looked at Zhang Mingyuan and said, "Sir, either let Mr. Zhou take you to meet the people in the place, and I will get out of the car and find a place for us to stay." ”

Zhang Mingyuan smiled and nodded, and raised his hand to let Xu Xudong stop. Zhou Yizhi hurriedly answered: "Sir, where are you two looking for?" If you don't mind, just stay in the house, so that Yizhi and you can stay for a few more days, right? ”

"So—then we're going to bother?" Zhang Mingyuan thought that living in a private house was safer than an inn, so he agreed. Then he asked, "Yizhi, are you familiar with the ground?" ”

"Young master, Mr. is talking about local people with weight, just like the young master of the Ji family." Xu Xudong answered in front.

"That's no problem! Does the sir want to do something? Go back and rest a little, let Adong go and invite Brother Ji Xian, if you can't make an appointment with Head Zhao and County Magistrate Dong, you can wash the dust for Mr. at night. Zhou Yizhi immediately caught it.

"It doesn't matter if you don't wash the dust, it's still necessary to know people in a few places." Zhang Mingyuan nodded lightly, "If you are not busy, you will walk around with me first and introduce the local folk customs." ”

"Don't be busy, don't be busy, please come to my store for a cup of thin tea first. I'll call back Yinhuan, and we'll leave when we're done. Zhou Yizhi agreed.

A group of four people first went to Yiju Grain Company, and Xu Xudong accompanied Zhang Mingyuan and Lao Cao to visit various offices, and briefly introduced the situation since the opening of the business scope. Zhou Yizhi went to the manager's office at the back to call Lu Jiayu back, and happily told her about meeting Zhang Mingyuan today. She was also very happy and asked him to greet his life-saving benefactor. then said that her second brother Lu Jiaxun was going to come to Liaocheng, on the one hand, to organize and raise military postures for them, and on the other hand, to collect some information, so that he could contribute money, and he had to pay attention to the safety of his second brother. Zhou Yizhi agreed without thinking about it, how can it be said that the two families are world friends and the second uncle, how can it not be taken seriously. But after hanging up the phone, he began to worry again, the Lu family had no problem asking for money, and he definitely had to live in his house. But he just invited a general from Chongqing! What can I do if I pinch the two sides again? Neither the benefactor nor the second uncle can afford to make any mistakes! On second thought, he was the only one who had to be careful.

They started from Dongguan Street and browsed the large and small wharves, the Shanshan Guild Hall, and the Grandma Temple. Then I turned north along the canal, looked around the North Garden Temple and the Jiangxi Guild Hall, introduced a few words when I passed near Sun Zhixiang's military camp, and also took a look at the land in Qilipu by the way. Then turned to Xicheng, didn't get close to Tangyi, just briefly said Zhao Zhenhuan's power. Entering the city from the west gate, I first visited the Guandi Temple, passed the West Street of the Jijia Corridor Department to the north, introduced the county government and administrative office in the south, and Wanshou Palace in the north. After several hours of contact, Zhou Yizhi found that Zhang Mingyuan was completely different from ordinary officers. There is neither an official frame nor the domineering of a soldier, and he speaks very easily to Lao Cao and Xu Xudong, who are in the same company. What made him find it interesting was that Zhang Mingyuan drew the map very quickly, drawing the entire Liaocheng street in a few minutes, accurately marking the names of the main streets and the location of the forces of all parties. In addition, Zhang Mingyuan is wearing different bracelets in both hands, and speaking to the bracelet on the left can be recorded as it is, and it is played like a gramophone when pressed a few times.

When it was dark, I came to the Fengzhuo Hotel, Ji Tang was already waiting there, and a few people went upstairs and sat down with a few words of greeting. Immediately afterwards, Zhao Zhenhuan and Yu Banshan arrived, and within a few minutes, Dong Hua arrived, taking the police chief Lin Pu. There was not much time, Liu Tonghai, Kimura Hongchuan, and Sun Zhixiang came up one after another, and Ji Tang beckoned everyone to sit around the big round table. The followers brought by the others stood outside the door, and Hei Wu and Xu Xudong brought by Ji Tang went back and forth to arrange wine and food for everyone. Lao Cao stood respectfully behind Zhang Mingyuan, peeking at Yu Banshan beside Zhao Zhenhuan. Zhang Mingyuan suddenly turned around and patted Lao Cao's arm to let him sit beside him, Lao Cao hurriedly bowed down and said, "General, on this occasion, I-" hurriedly shut up after discovering that he had lost his mouth, and lowered his head nervously. Zhou Yi, who was sitting next door, jumped, because he hadn't figured out how to introduce it, and the others had already heard Lao Cao's words and looked at Zhang Mingyuan.

"These are Yizhi's friends, why should the old brother see outside? How can I let my brother stand in a place where someone is sitting? Yes? I saw Zhang Mingyuan standing up with a smile and pressing Lao Cao in the middle of him and Liu Tonghai. Then he arched his hand to the others and said, "Hehe, everyone, I was rude and forgot to introduce myself in a hurry." Under the surname Jiang Mingjun, Jiang Taigong's Jiang, the Jun of a thousand hairs, used to sell tea in the southwest. When I first arrived in your place, I hope you will take care of me. ”

Zhou Yizhi hurriedly stood up and helped the round: "Yes, yes, Mr. Jiang has a great favor to Zhou, and when he comes to Liaocheng, he naturally lives in the house." In the future, it is inevitable that you will be troubled to help, Zhou Mou thanked me in advance! ”

Those who have all taken the benefits of Zhou Yizhi, although they are unfamiliar with this "Jiang Jun", they are all smiling and polite. Then Zhou Yizhi began to introduce the people and positions present to Zhang Mingyuan, and when it came to Lao Cao, he only said that he was the assistant Lao Cao, and after introducing the two of them, they toasted together and toasted everyone.

After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere of the room gradually became lively. Ji Tang was like a host, frequently inviting everyone to toast Zhang Mingyuan, and his mouth was also full of New Year's greetings. What is the same as Zhou Yi's affection, he should respect his brother, and he will be closer in the future, and invite Zhang Mingyuan to Ji's house another day. Other people also expressed their willingness to accompany Zhang Mingyuan around, and Zhang Mingyuan also agreed one by one, it seems that he came to Liaocheng to get to know these people, and he really has endless time.

Yu Banshan always peeked at Lao Cao and Zhang Mingyuan, and sometimes bit his ears with Zhao Zhenhuan next to him. Every time I met Zhang Mingyuan's eyes, I instantly changed to a smiling face, and when I came to toast, I complimented Zhang Mingyuan Heavenly Court as if he was full of square circles, and he was prosperous as an official, prosperous in business, and prosperous. When he went downstairs after the dinner, Yu Banshan got close to Lao Cao again, saying that he was very similar to his senior brother, and asked him about his interest in locks. Lao Cao had a completely blank expression, saying that it was the first time he came to the Central Plains.

At ten o'clock in the evening, Zhou Yizhi accompanied Zhang Mingyuan to sit and drink tea and chat in the front yard hall, saying that since he practiced the luck method taught by Zhang Mingyuan, various changes had occurred in his body. Zhang Mingyuan told him with a smile that the pranayama method is part of the turtle breathing technique (2), as long as he continues to practice it, he can eat and sleep without interruption in the future, which will be more helpful to the body. If he has martial arts skills, he can practice the invisible internal skills that hurt people.

Lao Cao and Xu Xudong packed up the two guest rooms in the backyard and went to the front yard to see Zhang Mingyuan together. After entering the door, I saw that the two were talking about Yunnan snacks, and knew that they were doing homely cooking. Lao Cao walked up to Zhang Mingyuan, knelt down and pleaded guilty: "Please sir, Lao Cao almost broke today-"

Zhang Mingyuan suddenly put his hand to his mouth to make a silent gesture, but he still said with a smile in his mouth: "The soup of cross-bridge rice noodles is very particular, it is simmered slowly with big bones, old hens, Xuanwei ham, and more than a dozen seasonings, at least two or three hours. As he spoke, he motioned for the three of them to cover their ears.

Xu Xudong noticed that Zhang Mingyuan was not simple during the day, because Zhou Yizhi was very polite and called the general, and Lao Cao also called him this way during the meal, which is enough to show that he later called Jiang Jun fake. Seeing Zhou Yizhi covering his ears, he hurriedly blocked the ear holes with the index fingers of both hands and stood behind Zhou Yizhi. Although Lao Cao knelt down, he also lowered his head and covered his ears. I saw Zhang Mingyuan raise his head violently and laughed, and the laughter shook him so loudly that he was flustered and felt his blood boiling. At the same time, the tiles on the roof trembled, the teapots and cups on the table clicked, and the dust on the beams spilled in a few places. Then I heard "bang", "bang", "poof", something rolling off the roof and falling off the eaves. After Zhang Mingyuan stopped laughing, Xu Xudong immediately ran out of the house to see that there was nothing on the ground in the yard. Zhang Mingyuan said in the house: "Don't look at it, I've already run out of the alley." ”

"Huh? Sir mean there was someone in the room just now? Zhou Yizhi then understood why the two were talking about luck practice, and suddenly he changed the topic and talked about Yunnan food.

"Yes, but it doesn't matter, this person shouldn't come back soon." Zhang Mingyuan said and pulled Lao Cao up, "You! Like what words? How many times have you told men that there is gold under their knees, don't kneel down to people at every turn! ”

"Lao Cao knows that he is wrong, and Lao Cao is willing to kneel to Mr." Lao Cao stood weakly behind Zhang Mingyuan.

"I'm not happy if you're happy, go back and reflect on it, see me tomorrow morning. In my view, all men are equal, and they are brothers on their shoulders. Zhang Mingyuan's face returned to a faint smile.

Lao Cao weakly replied "yes" and stopped talking.

Zhang Mingyuan turned his head to look at Zhou Yizhi and said with a smile: "Yizhi, let Brother Adong help run an errand tomorrow morning and find Ji Tang." Let him help check the registration list of Liaocheng inns in the last ten days. Transcribe the name, age, and number of people who are staying at the hotel. The more detailed the better, and don't miss out on the back of nowhere. Just list, don't mess with anyone. ”

"Yes, sir, I'll go at dawn." Xu Xudong didn't wait for Zhou Yizhi to speak, and hurriedly agreed. After this incident just now, he found that Zhang Mingyuan was unfathomable, and for the first time he had seen someone who could shake the people on the roof down with laughter, and he could hear how far people ran.

Zhang Mingyuan nodded, looked at Zhou Yizhi again and said, "By the way, when I just took your pulse—"

"Sir, if you are not sleepy, let's go to your room and talk slowly? Although spring has begun, the hall is still a little cold. Zhou Yizhi interrupted Zhang Mingyuan's words, and his eyes quickly glanced at Xu Xudong.

"yes, okay." Zhang Mingyuan stood up, paused and said, "Lao Cao, let Adong take you to see the horses, feed you some good feed, don't starve and lose weight in the mansion of the owner of the grain store in Yizhi." After speaking, he went straight out of the door and left, Zhou Yizhi said haha, walked a few steps to catch up and lead the way.

The east side of the Ji family's house is across the courtyard, and Ji Tang is carefully examining something under the lamp. Hearing footsteps outside the door, he hurriedly bent down and stuffed into the dark compartment under the desk. Then there was a knock on the door, and he coughed dryly and said, "Come in." ”

The door opens one. Black Five staggered in in black clothes and black pants, and the left corner of his mouth was still bloodshot.

Ji Tang hurriedly went over and grabbed him and asked, "What's the situation?" Depends on the situation or the master? Is the surname Jiang or Lao Cao? ”

Hei Wu suddenly turned his head and ran outside, spit out a mouthful of blood before he reached the door, and staggered a few steps against the door. frowned tightly and said, "I can't tell who it is, but when I go up, I hear the surname Jiang talking to Zhou Yizhi about eating." Lao Cao entered the house and said, 'I almost broke something today', and before I could hear it clearly, there was a burst of laughter, and then it seemed to be a cow on the ground (3), and the whole house was shaking, and the little one felt tightness in his chest and shortness of breath, and his head was swollen, and he fell down from the ridge of the house. ”

"Huh? Is that amazing? You sit down quickly, and I'll call for a doctor for you." Ji Tang also frowned, "Where did these two people come from?" In my opinion, it doesn't look like a tea seller at all. ”

"Young master, no need, just rest for the night. Young master, the little one asked Lao Zheng who was inspecting the point, they entered the city from Dongguan, and their registered names were Li Qi and Cao Ying, the strange strange hero Ying, and the certificate was from Xi'an. Black Friday sat weakly in his chair.

"If you want to say that, Jiang Jun's name must be a fake."

"I can't say, Li Qi and Cao Ying can't guarantee that they are not fake, and they feel that they will do evil magic."

"Okay, I'll check this matter slowly in the future. I'll send you back to your room to rest first, don't brace yourself, I'll call the hammer to ask the doctor to come." ”

"Young Master, the little one is really—poof—" Black Five said and spurted out another mouthful of blood, and the person just stood up and fell crooked on the desk again.

Ji Tang hurriedly walked to the door and called a few people to come, and dragged Hei Wu to the side room, and asked Yao Tiehammer to fly to the front street to ask for a doctor.

In a large courtyard on Tangyi East Street, a few steps up the way up is a big house, and there are guards standing at the door. Zhao Zhenhuan in the room was losing his temper, and in front of him were two people dressed in black and with black faces. Give everyone a loud slap in the face first. Then there was a big scolding, spitting and spitting, and the two of them always hung their heads and didn't dare to make a sound. After a while, Yu Banshan, who had been sitting next to him and didn't speak, stood up and walked to Zhao Zhenhuan's side and whispered a few words. Zhao Zhenhuan glared at the big eyes and snorted, waved his hand at the two and said, "Get out!" All fucking bastards! How can anyone be scared away by laughter through a wall? ”

"Please take your breath away, in fact, this trip is not in vain." Yu Banshan said as he picked up the tea jar on the table next to him and handed it to Zhao Zhenhuan.

Zhao Zhenhuan took it and raised his neck to drink a clean light, looked at Yu Banshan suspiciously, and asked, "What do you say?" ”

Yu Banshan first took the teapot with a smile and put it back, smiled dryly and said: "At least they saw a person running out of the wall, the head of the regiment, think about it, who else is so eager to explore the way?" ”

"Love whoever you are! It's definitely going to be Ben Baby! ”

"Hey, hey, that's right. At the same time, it also shows that there are masters in it, if they can go in and come out, we will be halfway there. ”

"Oh? Who is the person who ran away? You can't let people rob you! ”

"It's useless for anyone to get it, even if you don't have this, even if you're a senior brother, whoever calls him to do some kind of bullshit 'one core can't be used twice'!" Yu Banshan said and waved the thing in his hand, which was obviously a bright double-headed three-edged key, "It's easier to know who it is, I'll just go to Ji's house tomorrow." ”

"Season two? That bastard is similar to the one surnamed Zhou, who wears a crotch! ”

"Hey, hey, hey, this is called 'the middle of the two shoulders of righteousness'! People's hearts are separated from their bellies! ”

"Grandma's bear is darker than Lao Tzu!" Zhao Zhenhuan said and returned to the chair in the middle of the hall and sat down, "Master, can you recognize Lao Cao as your senior brother?" ”

"I've been thinking about it day and night for nearly twenty years, and to put it mildly, I know his bones even after peeling the skin! In thirty-seven days, it will be the memorial day of the little junior sister, and I, Xu Yu, vowed to bring Cao Ying's head to her grave to pay respects! ”

"Although the master put his heart in his stomach, he didn't know where the surname Cao was, since he dared to throw himself into the net, with our hundreds of brothers and 100 poles, we will never let him go out of Dongchang Mansion vertically!"

"Thank you to the head of the regiment, Gao Yi, I will salute the head of the regiment with tea instead of wine."

"Hey, what's the matter? Let's go for a walk, go to the old head at the corner of the street and call to open the door to cut the mutton, and let's have a good drink. Also, Lao Jiu, when there are no outsiders, don't call that bullshit leader, call the sixth brother more pleasant than he used to be on the mountain? ”

"Yes, yes, what the sixth brother said is."

The two of them walked out of the big room one after the other, and went down the stairs to the door.

Note: (1) refers to the fiat currency printed by the Wang puppet regime, which is applicable in some areas, and the ratio of pseudo fiat currency to fiat currency is 200:1. Due to the impact of counterfeit fiat currency, the fiat currency gradually depreciated from 1940 and depreciated sharply after 1945. In 39 years, you can buy a pig for 100 fiat dollars, you can only buy two chickens in 41 years, and you will need 5 or 600 to buy a green onion after 45 years. (2) A method of pranayama for Taoist practice of internal strength, also known as Xuanwu Ding, which consists of four parts: concentration, latent breathing, true concentration, and determination. Legend has it that the breathing rate can be reduced to a very low level, and the body's functions are in a state of minimal consumption. (3) Earthquakes, those fragile areas in the earth's crust are turning over in a staggered manner, like the back of a cow, so it is called the turn of the cow in the image.