Shen Mu looked at his serious appearance, and couldn't help laughing: "Third brother, the burden on your shoulders is the heaviest, and the brothers can't retreat without backup, so tomorrow you and Brother Zongming will stay in the inn, remember not to cause trouble, don't expose yourself, everything is to please you." He knew that if Lu Laosan was asked to watch here alone, with Lu Laosan's simple and reckless character, he might cause some trouble, so he left Zong Ming to assist him, but if there was anything, there was someone who could remind him.

Zong Ming comprehended, bowed to Shen Mu, and said, "Follow Mr.'s instructions." ”

Shen Mu nodded, and discussed the details of tomorrow's action with everyone, and seeing that it was not early, he asked everyone to rest in peace.

Early the next morning, Ma Zhong and Shi Yong led people to act according to the plan. Shen Mu also led Ma Linzi and the others to the mountains and forests near Shijiabao to scout the terrain.

Husbands and fighters are indispensable in terms of time, place, and people.

The reason why the Nishiyama Road is called Nishiyama Road is because there are many mountains in the territory, and the most famous mountain range is the Great Nishiyama. There are more than ten small mountain ranges extending from the Daxi Mountain, and the Dingzhou capital is the end of these mountain ranges.

Although the mountains are not as tall and majestic as the main veins, they are mostly conjoined mountains, one after the other, undulating and undulating. And because of its proximity to the ocean, the climate is humid. If there is no official road or a township road in the state capital between the mountains and forests, it is designated as thorny, dense weeds, and there are many snakes, insects, rats and ants.

Shen Mu and the others climbed two mountains, and the road ahead was not feasible, the mountain road in front of them was rugged and bumpy, and it was completely unsuitable for running away, such a road was too difficult to walk, and it was easy to be caught up by the pursuers.

It doesn't work to go south, and to the west is where the Liushan Mountain is located, so you can only look at the road to the east.

There are no mountains and forests to the east, but a wide plain. Fifty miles east of Zhangzhuang is Chaofen County. There doesn't seem to be a branch of Qixingzhai in Chaofen County, and if it is after breaking through Shijiabao, it should be the most appropriate to escape here.

Shen Mu walked two different roads back and forth, tested the travel time separately, and already had a plan in his heart.

When I returned to the inn, it was already sunset.

Shen Mu thought about what Ma Zhong, Shi Yong and the others were doing, and he didn't know what their situation was, so as soon as he got off the horse, he went to knock on the door of the room where Ma Zhong was first.

In order to avoid being noticed, Shen Mu first asked Ma Linzi and the others to go back to the room to rest by themselves.

When the door opened, I saw Ma Zhong and the others with drooping faces, looking sullen, besieging the city, sighing.

When Ma Zhong saw Shen Mu coming back, he hurriedly stood up and told Shen Mu about today's events one by one.

It turned out that Ma Zhong and Shi Yong inquired about the location of the market where Shijiabao often purchased according to yesterday's plan early in the morning, and after arriving there, they bought all the vegetables and dry firewood. Luckily, it's a town, and there aren't many vendors. A few dozen taels of silver is enough.

However, they were in a hurry to finish this, and when they waited for the people of Shijiabao, they waited for a day without seeing a single figure. Instead, most of the fruits and vegetables were bought by the women in the town.

Shen Mu listened, supported his chin with his right hand, pondered for a moment, and said, "It stands to reason that they shouldn't find out what we did." If it doesn't come today, it should come tomorrow. There is only one town in these four miles, and it will be forty or fifty miles away. Don't be discouraged, let's wait for another day tomorrow, and we will finally be able to wait for the opportunity. ”

Ma Zhong said: "Mr. Shen, what if they don't come?"

Shen Mu said with a smile: "There can't be someone who doesn't eat or drink all the time." ”

Ma Zhong nodded, too, it's not an immortal offered in the temple, who can not eat or drink all the time. Yes, I'll be waiting for a day to try it.

Among the people, only Lu Laosan was full of energy, he didn't lose a single hair of "home", and others didn't get anything, how could he not be happy.

The next day, Shen Mu ordered Ma Zhong and Shi Yong to continue to act as planned. He led Zong Ming into a wine shop along the street, found a location on the second floor by the street, and ordered wine and food, although Xiao Er of the wine shop felt that it was very strange to come to drink early in the morning, but after seeing the silver, he immediately laughed, and set up a large table according to what Shen Mu ordered.

The two of them are fake when they drink, what they really have to do is to drink and eat while observing the situation of Ma Zhong and others in the street, so that they can adapt to the situation.

However, it was said that Ma Zhong, Shi Yong and others were the same as yesterday, first bought all the vegetables, fruits, dry firewood and other things on the street, and then set up two or three stalls and began to shout.

At the beginning of the day, there were many women, children and elderly people on the street, buying vegetables, shopping and frolicking.

In order not to attract attention, Ma Zhong and others bought things as usual, and said polite words as usual.

It was about noon, and a group of men came around the corner of the street. Shen Mu saw it clearly on the second floor, and when he saw the arrogant appearance of the team, he knew that it should be the main master who had finally come.

The man who was the leader was lean and lean, and he continued to have a mustache. led six big men, ate and took all the way, and raised eyebrows at the beautiful woman and whistled a few times.

That person's name is Shi Teng, and he is Shi Shuai's distant nephew. Shi Shuaigui was the owner of Shijiabao, and Shi Teng couldn't get along with his hometown anymore, so he came to Shijiabao to take refuge. Shi Shuai saw that he had no long things, and he didn't want to admit him to get started, and because of the affection of his ancestors, he asked him to be a gang branch in Shijiabao, and he didn't need to fight and brawl for this job, just a mouth and a pen were enough.

A few days ago, the fort was like a great enemy, and it came and went to take precautions, but it didn't even see the shadow of the enemy. It's pitiful, but because of this, he almost ate the stored grain. finally waited for the castle to relax, but Shi Shuai made everyone stay trapped for a few days. This morning, the brothers of Shijiabao almost died in a riot, all because of the lack of wine and meat, the people were panicked, and everyone was irritable and caused a riot.

After Shi Shuai pacified everyone, he ordered Shi Teng to go to the town to procure and reward the brothers in the fort at night.

Shi Jiabao is not short of money, but Shi Shuai is a cautious person. Although Qixingzhai said that Shen Mu and his party should still be in the mountains and forests at this moment, for the sake of safety, he was still willing to wait a few more days. Shijiabao is the foundation of the ancestors, since the grandfather of Shi Shuai built the fort here, after three generations of hard work. Although Shijiabao is not as good as Qixingzhai, it is also a big business, and it must not be lost because of a small thing.

Shi Teng walked around, first bought a few sheep, then bought two pigs, dozens of bags of rice, all moved to the car, and then arrived in front of the vegetable and fruit stall.

Shi Teng glanced at the vegetable stall owner, brushed his beard, and asked, "Why do I look at you very raw, where is the old Zhang Tou who originally bought vegetables?"

That boss is Ma Zhong.

Ma Zhong said: "Hey, this master, you don't know. My cousin has been suffering from a cold disease these days and is recuperating at home, and I was supposed to visit my cousin on behalf of my mother, but my cousin said that it would be a pity that these vegetables would be frozen if they were not sold. After all, he felt sorry for his old man, and money was more important than his own life. I thought that as juniors, we would have some strength left when we had no money. I took the place of my cousin to buy groceries. Master, let's see if this dish is fresh. He picked up a cabbage, shook it, and continued: "You see that this leaf is tender and watery, but it was just dug up from the ground last night. ”

Shi Teng glanced at it and nodded, "Hmm." The dish is good. You kid also have a bit of filial piety. I am also a distant relative of others, and I know that this relationship is the most difficult. Yes, it's a coincidence that you met my grandfather today. I want all of your dishes. Count the amount of silver!"

As soon as Ma Zhong heard that he was going to make this dish, thinking about Shen Mu's entrustment, he hurriedly asked, "Master, this dish is enough for a hundred and ten people to eat for a while." I bought it all, I'm afraid that if I can't finish it, your money will be wasted. "He is not Shen Mu after all, and he couldn't see the origin of these people for a while, just thinking that if this dish was bought by others, wouldn't he be busy for another day?

Shi Teng laughed, his voice was peculiar, and his laughter was like a landlubber: "Boy, do you know who you are?"

Ma Zhong shook his head and said, "Dare to ask the uncle's surname, where is the high name?"

Shi Teng said: "Remember, Uncle Shi Teng is the branch of Shi Jiabao's house. There are hundreds of people up and down Shijiabao. This dish is only five or six days' rations, and you actually say that the master will be ruined, isn't it funny. ”

When Ma Zhong heard this, his heart was full of joy, and his admiration for Shen Mu was a little more. Sure enough, the people of Shijiabao still have to eat after all.

Ma Zhong's face was not revealed, and he immediately hugged his fists and thanked: "Ouch, look at my dog eyes, I didn't even see Uncle Shi coming." Shi Ye, you wait first, I will pack the dishes and bring them to you. ”

Seeing him respectfully, Shi Teng said proudly: "You can be regarded as having met me." Otherwise, so many vegetables, you will sell them until the Year of the Monkey and the month of the Horse. ”

Ma Zhong said "yes" repeatedly, and his hands did not stop, and carefully packed all the cabbage, radishes and other vegetables and fruits into the sack. After packing up, he pointed to five or six marijuana bags and said, "Master Shi." You see there are so many dishes, do you want to send them to the house? ”

Shi Teng glanced at it, thinking that his car was full of pigs and sheep, and it would be appropriate for him to deliver them to his door. He said, "That's fine." But then again, I don't have to pay for the delivery. ”

Ma Zhong thought that it was a godsend to be able to enter Shijiabao, and nodded again and again: "It is a great favor that the master has bought so many things from us." No matter how small a miser is, he will not dare to covet a penny of money from his benefactor. Shi Ye just rest assured, this dish is sent by us for free. ”

Shi Teng said "um", and suddenly said: "You haven't said how much silver this dish has, if you ask for too much, we won't be the one who is wronged." ”

Ma Zhong said: "Hey, look at my happiness, I forgot everything." According to the market price, this dish should have fifteen taels of silver. Shi Ye is refreshing, I don't ink, Shi Ye will give us fourteen taels. ”

Shi Teng said: "What are you talking about, do you seem to be a person who takes advantage of you, we have been doing a house branch for so many years, and the food is worth a few dollars, you can see it at a glance." Fifteen taels is fifteen taels. As he spoke, he threw a handful of broken silver on the vegetable stall and continued: "You take the silver, and the vegetables will be sent back with me." ”

Ma Zhong received the silver taels, thanked him a thousand times, and carried the six hemp cabbage to the donkey cart that had been prepared.