On this moonlit night by the sea, when about two dozen scrawny but agile young women were hurrying down the official road outside the city gate, a woman ran in the opposite direction to them.

The woman's name is Liu'er, and she was originally made a living as a private man in this generation, because she was born handsome, so she asked the officials who were in charge of money, grain, taxes and silver here to build a small courtyard near the tax customs and raise her in it.

Liu Er can coax men, and the official is not stingy, he is happy to be served, and the beautiful little ingots are thrown on the pillow.

Liu Er went to the cheapest shop in the city, bought a bunch of rouge, returned to the shack area of the port, and gave it to the sisters who had known each other well.

Those sallow faces, if coated with a layer of red rouge, look less obscure, and often make the owner of the face stand out when he is soliciting customers, and he will have three days' rations.

So, every time Liu Er came to give rouge, she would be sought after by the shack women.

Liu Er enjoyed the feeling.

This made her seem to have jumped out of the quagmire of the humble and lowly past, and she could sit on an equal footing with the young grandmothers of the big families who gave porridge in the city in the wax moon.

However, yesterday, Liu Er was deflated.

As soon as she pulled out the rouge from the sleeve made of rat hair, her former friend pushed the gift back to her.

"Liu'er, I'm going to the west to join the army. Such a good rouge, you can give it to other sisters. ”

The partner said bluntly and sincerely, but after Liu Er learned more about the reason, she suddenly felt that the excitement and expectation on the other party's face were more like a proud show-off.

"You guys, don't be deceived by people's teeth." Liu Er was very upset in her heart, but her words were full of concern.

"Sister Liu'er said this, you look at the appearance of the old sister, at this age, where will you still recruit people's teeth? Listening to Li Huaihua, let's go to tinker with firearms, and if the head is good, there will be a silver reward. Girl, firearms, guns, cannons, have you heard of it? On the side wall of the old dragon head in our Shanhai Town, there seems to be a ......"

The more Liu Er listened, the more she felt that her chest was blocked.

She can't say what's going on, she has obviously made a canary that eats and drinks without worrying, is she still jealous that a few sparrows can't go to the battlefield to die?

Liu Er said goodbye from this shack, and walked around the port for a while with a gloomy face, and most of the rouge she brought was also given out, in exchange for flattering gratitude, but she also saw Li Huaihua and Liu Bei'er. In fact, she didn't have any friendship with the concubines, but she remembered that when she visited the poor in their neighboring shack before, Li Huaihua watched from a distance and didn't come to ask for rouge gouache.

Liu Er no longer hesitated, after she left the port, she went directly to the official who supported her.

……

Cheng Xin put his sleeves behind his back and hurriedly walked in the moonlight.

Liu Er came up and asked in surprise: "Official, why, why don't you call the military masters to take people together?" ”

Cheng Xin stopped and said coldly: "Is it you who eats the imperial court and leads the imperial court to send you, or Lao Tzu and me?" You're a bitch, and you're still commanding me? ”

Liu Er was busy silencing.

I was aggrieved and confused.

What's wrong with this gentleman?

Since I followed him, I have heard a lot of "beauties" and "hearts", and I have been called "bitch" by him for the first time today.

Reporting to him by himself is obviously a move that is conducive to him asking for credit for his future from the superiors who are preparing for the army. Engong said that he was still a general manager in Dengzhou a few years ago, in Dengliao in charge of the tax and silver of the sea ships, wearing military attache robes, embroidered with tigers or biao on his chest, anyway, it is similar to the dragon robe of the Son of Heaven, and there is a majestic beast on it.

As a result, when he opened fire with a smuggling ship from the south, he escaped from the battle, and the court almost wanted to punish him, but thanks to his father-in-law, who was the richest man in Dengzhou, he paid a lot of money to protect him, and sent him to the military garrison road in Shanhaiguan, so that he could be exchanged for the silver of the court and the officials.

Liu Er knew a little that Shanhaiguan not only had battalions and guards, but also sailors, and the silk and silver had become a lot of money in recent years.

This time I went back to intercept those kiln sisters who were going to run, and Engong would definitely be rewarded with soldiers.

However, the current situation is somewhat unexpected by Liu'er.

Engong is ready to go to the meeting alone. I have clearly told him that the one who came to deceive Li Huaihua and them is a woman, but it is said that she also led troops to the imperial court, as well as family guards.

Liu Er was in the middle of his belly, and he had followed Cheng Xin to the city gate with torches.

There are several city defenses in Shanhaiguan, to the direction of Ningjin in Liaoxi, the gate control is strict, but here is in the direction of Beijing, Tianjin and Jizhou, and is connected with the official road of Shangjia Yunlai, not like the curfew of Jingshi is very early, and the city gate will be closed at the turn of Xuhai.

"Look, Judge, they're together." Liu Er pointed to the figure under the big elm tree in front of her and said to Cheng Xin.

Suddenly, he became excited: "That, the slender one, is called Li Huaihua, hey, the team of people she greeted should be the female Qiu Ba who went out of the city to take them away." ”

Cheng Xin narrowed his eyes, and ordered Liu Er with a bit of sternness: "You are waiting here, don't come." ”

"Oh, yes." Liu Er responded obediently.

Cheng Xin rolled up his sleeves and walked towards the city gate, and his steps revealed a bit of leisure.

He has no military position, and now he wears the robe of a tax collector, but in places like Daming Banknote Pass, he is more majestic than the military flag of the battalion general.

When he appeared in the dazzling place of the torch, there were immediately voices that recognized him, "Greet Master Cheng" one after another.

Cheng Xin waved his hand, walked to the doorman who was inspecting the inspection, stared at the young man with a humble expression, and then looked at a few strong men behind him, and asked with a shelf: "Dart?" ”

Chang Zhongxin leaned over and saluted: "Yes, master." ”

"Where did it come from?"

"Xuanda."

"There are a lot of cars and horses, but the people are still the goods?"

"Back to the master, it's goods, ginseng, seafood and skin. The proprietor paid all the taxes. ”

Cheng Xin sighed "hmm", no longer bothered him, but walked straight to the largest carriage.

Sure enough, the one who looked like the leader among the strong men stopped in front of Cheng Xin.

Cheng Xin's gaze moved down, he saw clearly the blade that the other party was holding, smiled, stepped forward, and said in a low voice: "Brother, I used to be a military attaché, and I still know the embroidered spring knife." ”

Huang Zude's eyes lit up, and he looked at Cheng Xin inquiringly.

Cheng Xin arched his hand: "In the car, is it your Shangguan?" But the surname Zheng? ”

Huang Zude didn't have time to respond, Zheng Haizhu had already lifted the curtain and said in a harmonious voice: "Master Cheng, don't come to harm?" ”

Huang Zude didn't expect that his wife would know this tax official, and called him "Master", he couldn't help but be surprised, and at the same time retreated a few steps.

Zheng Haizhu stepped out of the carriage and greeted Cheng Xin with a smile.

Rao is a gangster like Cheng Xin, who is not good at martial arts and relies on eating soft rice and wearing an official robe with a complement, at this moment, seeing that the woman in front of him is more powerful than when he was dealing in Dengzhou a few years ago, and then thinking about his more and more unproductive appearance, he can't help but sigh and sigh.

"Hey Zheng Dongjia, oh no, now I should be honored as Mrs. Zheng. When Mrs. Zheng saw the smile, she should also see that where she still has a general job. ”

When Zheng Haizhu recognized Cheng Xin a moment ago, he was of course a little surprised.

She remembered that this son-in-law, who was quite good-looking and relied on his father-in-law to make a fat difference, did not have a bad impression of him.

After all, when Zheng Haizhu took Xu San and Wu Bangde to Liaodong on the Liaohai Road, after revealing the identity of the guests of the Lu Wangfu, this Master Cheng, who extorted money from the sea merchants on behalf of the sea patrol, immediately reduced the protection fee to one percent.

Zheng Haizhu quickly judged that Cheng Xin was most likely guilty in Dengzhou, but his father-in-law's friendship with the officialdom was still there, so he was brought to Shanhaiguan to avoid the wind, and his errand was still good.

Immediately, Zheng Haizhu felt that something was wrong, how did Cheng Xin know that he was going out of the city at this moment?

"Mrs. Zheng," Cheng Xin looked around, didn't sell Guanzi, and took the initiative to speak, "To make a long story short, if Madam still has to bring dozens of goods away, let's hurry as soon as possible." Cheng was a coincidence, and when he heard that his wife was passing by Shanhai Town, he wanted to come to say hello to the deceased. Mrs. had a smooth journey, and Cheng also went back to rest, and she had to count the silver to the court tomorrow. ”

Zheng Haizhu was silent, staring at Cheng Xin's gaze, vaguely participating in the research.

How does this guy who eats soft rice look a little different from the lazy and greasy appearance of issuing orders to the maritime merchants in Dengzhou?

Cheng Xin touched his nose, suddenly brought a humorous tone, and said with a smile: "Madame, now, the Quartet is coming and going, and it is no longer necessary to let the horse butt of King Lu's Mansion come forward like back then." ”

Zheng Haizhu was sure that there was no malice on the beautiful face opposite.

She also pursed her lips and said humbly: "Cheng Ye has a good reputation, that is, he relies on, three points of courage and seven points of luck." ”

Cheng Xin sighed: "Actually, it's not difficult to have seven points of luck, but it's three points of courage that are difficult." When Mrs. came to buy the Lingqi, she was clumsy, thinking that Mrs. was just a shipowner who was talking about business, but she never thought that in the spring and summer of the following year, the Liaodong businessmen who came to Dengzhou talked about the great victory of Fushun, and Mrs. could be rewarded by the imperial court, and there must be miraculous achievements. Cheng admired. Cheng would not have embarrassed his wife's boat at the beginning, and he would not embarrass his wife's carriage and horse now. Madame go out of the city and hurry, don't lose the goods under the elm tree over there. ”

As Zheng Haizhu listened, her mind kept turning.

A moment ago, Li Huaihua had already found herself, and after getting into the carriage, she trembled and reported that a total of twenty-three women had come to the port, and they were all going to join the army.

Before Zheng Haizhu could express his position, Cheng Xin showed up.

If Cheng Xin wanted to take someone, Li Huaihua would be in the car a few steps away, and he wouldn't have to greet him for so long.

Therefore, Zheng Haizhu estimated that someone should have complained to Cheng Xin, but Cheng Xin, whether out of sincere admiration or out of understanding Zheng Haizhu's friendship with all parties, decided to turn a blind eye.

Zheng Haizhu didn't delay any longer, and only said in a deep voice: "Thank you Master Cheng, there will be a period later." ”

Cheng Xin arched his hand and turned to leave, still walking leisurely with his sleeves on his back.

The noise of people and horses, the shouts of the doormen, gradually became smaller, Cheng Xin walked to the field outside the city pass where only the moonlight was shining, and said to Liu Er, who was waiting for the show and was ready to watch a good show: "That's not a bodhisattva we can afford to offend." ”

Liu Er was shocked and didn't dare to ask again, but she was unwilling.

Cheng Xin took her and returned to the city gate.

Don't stay in a corner of the city, it's time for the canary of this good thing to return to the nest.

No, it's not just a "good thing", Cheng Xin secretly pondered in his heart, Liu Er, a woman, turned out to be a little vicious, not a fuel-efficient lamp, she had to think of a way to get rid of it, don't want to encounter anything in the future, and give him Cheng Xin a little bit.

Liu Er walked silently against Cheng Xin, as far as her eyes could see, but she could see clearly that a team of people and horses surrounded the women under the elm tree in the distance.

Suddenly, in the city ahead, there was a shout from the official messenger on the cross street: "Daotai patrols the city, disperse, disperse." ”

Liu Er's heart moved.

Han Daotai? The civil official who used to do things to himself at Cheng Xin's private banquet!