Chapter 042: Return the Other

There are many ferry inns, and Kong You is also from Jinan along the canal, and the two sides simply found an inn to eat and chat.

"Lord Chen," Kong You is a military attache from the second rank, and Chen Cao is only known from the command of the third rank, but at the level of Chen Cao, the grade is no longer important, what matters is his identity: "There must be some misunderstanding in this matter." ”

Chen Cao usually doesn't drink alcohol during the day, so he drinks tea, and immediately put down the teacup and asked, "I don't know if Master Kong is having dinner with Chen now, is it talking about business or private affairs?" ”

Kong You smiled: "Of course it's a private matter, this official went south to Yanzhou to check the armament of various guards, and came to Yanzhou to visit relatives by the way." ”

"Oh?" Chen Cao raised his eyebrows: "Master Kong's ancestor is not from Qufu?" ”

"My father is the third house of the Yan Sheng Gong family," Kong You said with some pride: "Today, the Yan Sheng Gong is the uncle of the official." ”

Chen Cao looked suddenly enlightened, and then said with envy: "Master Kong is from a famous family, and Chen admires it." ”

"Hahaha..."Kong You raised his head and laughed: "Lord Chen, let's make it convenient." ”

The words changed a little quickly, and Chen Cao was still a little uncomfortable: "Master Kong, Chen Mou didn't come to Shandong suddenly for recreation. ”

"Yanzhou's land is good," Kong You always had a smiling face: "The whole thing is a misunderstanding." ”

Soft?

Chen Cao didn't think that this group of hereditary magnates would give in to him, a fledgling person: "Master Kong, I think you must have misunderstood, Chen came here for business, and as for buying land, it was just like Lord Kong, just by the way." ”

Kong You's face changed immediately when he heard this, it was exactly the same as what Chen Cao thought in his heart, these people didn't have to be soft at all, they must have deceived Chen Cao.

I saw that Kong You's smiling face was gone, and in exchange for a businesslike face: "Lord Chen, this is Shandong, not Nanzhili, not Jinling, and Wei Guogong's hand can't be inserted here." ”

Naked-naked, Chen Cao is not a good character, and he also put on a stinky face and said: "The people of Ren Chengwei colluded with the pirates, and the official already has solid evidence, Master Kong, do you believe it or not?" ”

Seeing Chen Cao's sworn appearance, Kong You also beat a drum in his heart, but thinking that even if he crossed Jianglong, he would not dare to be so arrogant, and he muttered in his heart, which bastard was beaten into a trick by this guy?

"Lord Chen, even if you have evidence, Ren Chengwei is under the jurisdiction of my Shandong Metropolitan Division, and if you want to be tried, I will have to try it from Shandong Metropolitan Division." Kong You raised his head coldly, and he wanted to swallow Chen Cao in that look.

Now Chen Cao laughed at the monk: "Hahaha, Master Kong, you are also a high-ranking official from the second grade, don't you know what the authority of my Nanzhen Fusi is?" ”

Chen Cao relied on this trick to eat all over the world, Kong You was stunned, and then there was a rapid gasp, and it was clear that he was suppressing his anger: "Lord Chen, you don't have to toast and don't eat and drink." ”

"Hahaha..."Chen Cao raised his head and laughed: "Chen generally doesn't drink..."

Syllable...

Kong Youyi stood up and said coldly: "Since Lord Chen doesn't give face, then he can only do business, Lord Chen, you Jinyi Wei took away the officer of my Shandong Guard, and this official is the commander of the capital department, and he wants to see the commander of the city guard." ”

Chen Cao also stood up, not stunned at all: "Let Master Kong be disappointed, Ren Chengwei's upper and lower official schools are suspected of colluding with the Japanese Kou, and it is already a big crime, and he was arrested by my Jinyi Guard. ”

"You..."

Looking at Kong You's gritted teeth, Chen Cao felt very comfortable: "Master Kong, I am out of company, the official has to interrogate the prisoner and say goodbye..."

...

Chen Cao is now a free body, and it is up to him to leave if he wants to leave, but now he doesn't want to leave, and the rest of the matter has not been resolved, where can he leave casually?

"Zhao Xin, send someone to the palace of Duke Wei in the capital, in addition to sending a letter, bring 10,000 taels of silver tickets, and say that it is the filial piety before Bing Jing." Chen Cao said coldly.

"My lord, why don't we go back to Jinling first, my subordinates always feel that this place is very dangerous." Zhao Xin frowned.

"Afraid of what?" Chen Cao raised his eyebrows: "Even if they attack and kill me like last time, then you have to ask me if I agree to the flintlock musket in my hand." ”

"My lord..."

"Xu Kaixian," Chen Cao took out an official letter: "You personally go back to Nanjing, tell Wei Guogong about the matter, and then ask Song Che to bring a soldier from a thousand households along the canal to meet him." ”

"Yes..."

Everything was ordered, Chen Caocai breathed a long sigh of relief, and looked at Zhao Xin, who turned back: "You go and find out for me what the identity of that Weng Meixin is, Xu Kai left first, I forgot to ask him." ”

"Yes..."

...

Kong Tianxi is being reprimanded by Kong You at the moment, because Kong Tianxi, the third housekeeper of the Yansheng Mansion, is Kong You's younger brother.

"What do you say?"

Kong Tianxi looked at Kong You, who had just sat down and gasped: "Big brother, why don't we have a competition with it." also let him know who Yanzhou is. ”

Kong You squinted at Kong Tianxi, and asked curiously, "Does the government know about this matter?" ”

Being asked like this, Kong Tianxi was stunned and didn't speak, Kong You smiled helplessly, and then sighed: "I know that your boy's reputation in Fucheng has spread to Jinan, if the family doesn't see that you are still reliable, otherwise your three housekeepers won't be able to do it for long." ”

"Even if the matter is revealed, the family has to fight against Chen Cao for the sake of reputation, that guy doesn't know how to be polite, and secretly stumbles to make me ugly, I'm also a showman, how can I be insulted like this?" Kong Tianxi was angry when he said: "That guy sent someone to drug me without saying anything, and poured dung on me, which is really hateful." ”

"You better restrain yourself," Kong You said: "This time I came to make peace with that Chen Cao, the family is already very dissatisfied with your affairs, although the uncle has not yet expressed his position, but if they open their mouths, our family will have no future, so, the meaning of the family is to be able to calm things down, don't be with that Chen Cao, after all, the other party is Jinyiwei, not to mention that his backstage is the current saint's favored eunuch Wei Zhongxian." ”

Kong Tianxi had a lossy expression: "I know, that famous minister, I really don't know where his knowledge came from." Why can't you say that the uncle's family can't write such articles? ”

"Don't say it's useless, although I suffered a loss in front of Chen Cao today, but I also know a little about this person, he is not a good stubble, judging from his means of dealing with Li Weihan, this person does have a big strategy, the family is involved in too much obscurity in the court, and nothing can happen, you and I suffer a small loss, if we make the uncle's family lose face, our family is completely finished."

...

At night, Zhao Xin hurriedly walked up to the second-floor cabin: "My lord, I found it." ”

"Speak..."Chen Cao is eating mutton steamed buns.

"Weng Meixin is a member of the Cao Gang." Zhao Xin arched his hand.

"Cao Gang?" Chen Cao never expected that she was from the Cao Gang, but he just thought that it was the family of a powerful person: "Go on." ”

"The main hall of the Cao Gang is in Huai'an Mansion, with three major halls of benevolence, righteousness and faith and twelve branch halls; The three halls are divided into three families, which are Weng, Qian, and Pan, and Weng Meixin is a person from Rentang, and his father Weng Shijie is the master of Rentang; The Cao Gang's business in Yanzhou is mainly supervised by Weng Meixin. ”

Chen Cao asked people to bring a bowl of mutton and a pot of steamed buns, and then asked Zhao Xin to eat: "No wonder, it was so smooth to inquire about things, Leng Yungui's wife nodded and gave face when she saw her, I didn't expect it to be the Cao Gang." What else? What do you say about the origin of the Cao Gang, I remember Pan Yourong's gang leader, right? ”

"Yes..."Zhao Xin took a sip of soup: "The Cao Gang has risen since Emperor Taizu, and at the beginning it was the Weng family as the leader, I don't know how it fell to the Qian family, and the Qian family was in the Xianzong Dynasty for a period of time and then fell to the Pan family, and it has been until now; However, my lord, the Cao Gang has heard that the relationship between the Weng family and the Pan family is not very good, although Rentang is in Huai'an, but Weng Shijie has always been in Jinan. ”

"By the way, my lord," Zhao Xin said and remembered one thing: "Leng Yungui's guy can't stand the punishment, and he has already signed and detained." ”

"Well, your skills in bending into tricks are still okay, and you will continue to work hard in the future."

The black line on Zhao Xin's face...

...

Early the next morning, Chen Cao was having breakfast, Zhao Xin ran upstairs quickly, and said urgently to Chen Cao: "My lord, bad news, my subordinates just received a report from the brothers in the city, and the prefect's yamen seized Weng Meixin last night. ”

Chen Cao frowned: "What crime?" ”

"Collusion with the horse thieves..."

"Good courage..."Chen Cao couldn't help but nodded: "It seems that they have started to retaliate." ”

"Last night, Ren Chengwei has been taken over by Kong You in the name of Du Si, and it is reported that Kong You's house has reported to the Yamen of Du Si, saying that the horse thieves have threatened the canal waterway, so that Du Si dispatched the surrounding guards to Yanzhou Mansion to prepare for a large-scale search."

"Dog thief..."Chen Cao stood up: "You really think of me as a horse thief." ”

"My lord, will you withdraw?" Zhao Xin gave up.

"Withdraw?" Chen Cao's eyes widened: "If we leave at this time, Song Che doesn't come, we are likely to be attacked on the canal, and the attack is likely to be their so-called ringing horse thieves." ”

Chen Cao didn't want to die for no reason, so he rejected Zhao Xin's proposal: "Miss Weng saved my life, then I have to pay it back, besides, there is the Cao Gang in Jinan behind her, I think, it is Pan Yourong who wants to fix their women." ”

"My lord, it's not like that, Guo Yan's gang still doesn't dare to touch the Weng family, it must be Pan Yourong who wants to take the opportunity to disintegrate the Weng family's forces." Zhao Xin also agreed.

"Let's go, let's go to the prefect's yamen and ask about the case."

Weng Meixin's identity is different, and Guo Yan will not throw her into the prefect's prison, but just send people to surround Weng's mansion, and then wait for the follow-up.

He was not surprised by Chen Cao's arrival, so he quipped: "Why, Lord Chen even has to ask about the Weng family's case?" ”

"I don't know what the reason for Governor Guo's house to take the Weng family is?" Chen Cao arched his hand.

"Their Weng family secretly went to sea to trade in the name of the Cao Gang, and colluded with the Xiangma thieves in Shandong to eat the black, such a black-hearted gang, the official naturally wants to bring them to justice, not to mention that they are still in my Yanzhou Mansion." Old God Guo Yan said.

"Well," Chen Cao nodded: "Jinyiwei is doing things, the imperial power is licensed, I Jinyiwei can ask about any case, or even intervene, what's the matter, is it not clear that Lord Guo has been the prefect for more than ten years?" ”

"You..." Guo Yan was dumbfounded by Chen Cao's words, not to mention, in this Yanzhou Mansion, there are all the horses of Beizhen Fusi in the yamen of his prefect's mansion.

"Okay, good..."Guo Yan said again and again: "Since Lord Chen has decided that he is mainly going to wade into this troubled water, then don't blame the official for not reminding you, hehe..."

This time, Chen Cao walked into Weng's Mansion from the main gate with a swagger, and there were really many sergeants and officials of the prefect's yamen standing outside the door.

Entering the lobby, Weng Meixin was reading the script written by Chen Cao like a nobody, a serious script.

"Miss Weng..."At this time, Chen Cao was wearing an official uniform, and he looked extremely upright: "Thank you Chen Cao for the grace of rescue a few days ago, and now I know that Miss Weng is in trouble, so I came to help." ”

Although Chen Cao lost his manners at the beginning and broke into Weng Meixin's bathroom, Weng Meixin had a good impression of Chen Cao from the bottom of his heart, not to mention his official identity, that is, Jinling Nalan Rongruo, who is now famous all over the world, is the object sought after by thousands of girls.

"It's all small things, and they don't dare to do anything to this girl." Weng Meixin took it very easily.

Chen Cao was stunned for a moment, thinking that there must be something to do: "Miss Weng, you and I are like acquaintances at first sight, if you are busy, you can mention it, Chen Cao can't repay the grace of saving your life." ”

"What is not reported," Weng Meixin waved his hand and smiled: "Everyone is a person in the rivers and lakes, and they only talk about righteousness, not returns." ”

was rejected again and again, Chen Cao had a number in his heart, and then took out a jade pendant from his arms, which was given to Chen Cao by Li Xiang, and Chen Cao's name was engraved on it: "Give this jade pendant to Miss Weng, if the girl encounters any big trouble in the future, just take this jade pendant to find the local brocade guard or sit on the detective, whether it is someone from the north and south of the town of Fusi, as long as you report my name, you can help you." ”

Weng Meixin was greatly moved, but there was no trace of performance on the bright face, but took it with a smile: "Then thank you, Lord Chen." ”

"Hey..."Chen Cao sighed, and then arched his hand: "Chen will go back to Nanjing after today, and when he comes to Shandong again when he has time to come, he will definitely come to visit Miss Weng and say goodbye..."

Weng Meixin looked at Chen Cao with some loss, and then also bowed her hand: "See you in the future..."

Out of Weng's Mansion, Zhao Xin had some questions: "My lord, my subordinates can see that Miss Weng is interested in becoming an adult, why don't you just find out?" ”

"You don't understand," Chen Cao shook his head and looked at the gate of Weng's Mansion behind him: "She has something, she just doesn't want to say it, this woman is different from ordinary people, Zhao Xin, instructed the local Tiqi, Haosheng to take care of Wengfu, and report anything immediately." ”

"Yes..."Zhao Xin responded: "Then my lord, what should we do next?" To an appointment or not to an appointment? ”

"Go, why don't you go, everyone else has already bowed their heads, if we still bite and don't let go, and provoke them, there is still some big trouble, it's better to push the boat down the river and give them a good face." Chen Cao said: "But it's not that simple, Kong Tianxi's kid has made it clear that it is cheap to eat us, in this case, Leng Yungui is a bargaining chip, I have to see if these arrogant Shandong people are arrogant or not." ”

The reason why Chen Cao agreed to go to the appointment was also for the sake of the face of the Lu Wangfu, and the Lu Wangfu came forward and invited Kong You, Guo Yan and a group of Yanzhou officials to dinner, but in fact, it was a negotiation, and the whole negotiation process lasted two hours.

Chen Cao got on the boat and left Yanzhou Mansion the next day, and went south down the canal back to Jinling, and the whole follow-up felt like a big winner in life.

Chen Cao was on the deck blowing the sunset river breeze basking in the late spring sun, so comfortable, Zhao Xin also went on the deck and put a large stack of papers in front of Chen Cao's coffee table.

"My lord, it's done, these are all documents for buying land." Zhao Xin looked at Chen Cao with some admiration: "It's still a good thing that adults are powerful, they exchanged so much land with a Leng Yungui, and they pushed our reasons by the way." ”

"A good thing?" Chen Cao opened his eyes and looked at Zhao Xin with unassuming eyes: "Do you think the 10,000 taels given to Jingshi are given for nothing?" Do you think those people in Shandong Dusi are good birds? If you don't believe it, just wait for the news of the Beijing Division, as soon as I buy the land and leave, these people will definitely send people to Beijing to complain, and this 10,000 taels is the roadblock to block these people, which is equivalent to 10,000 taels to buy this land. ”

"That's better than spending more money, my lord," Zhao Xin defended: "Besides, the land in the east of Yanzhou Mansion has the help of Qufu, and the 100,000 mu of land is not equivalent to giving it away for nothing." ”

"That's right," Chen Cao nodded: "It's equivalent to buying 100,000 mu of land with 11,000 taels, and if you don't lose money, Yanzhou Mansion will have 200,000 mu of land, which is valuable, and you can earn back the money to buy land next year." By the way, where have you got? ”

"I just left the Yanzhou Mansion and entered Huai'an, and Lao Song's team is waiting in Huai'an Mansion City." Zhao Xin turned his head to look at the banks of the canal: "My lord, my subordinates think there should be no problem here." ”

"Be careful..."Chen Cao sat up straight and looked at the afterglow of the sunset: "Those who drown are all water-savvy..."

Zhao Xin: "......"

...

After dark, Chen Cao had just laid down, and he heard a muffled sound of 'bang' at the bottom of the boat, so he sat up, and Zhao Xin also quickly walked into the cabin: "My lord, the water ghost is about to get on the boat..."

This is not the first time Chen Cao has met him, and when he heard the words of the water ghost, he was now excited compared to the previous horror: "Quick, bring the knife, let Zhang Fengnian prepare." ”

Chen Caozao's boat is the river building boat of the river master, there are three floors, two layers above, and a deck layer on the bottom floor, the water ghost got on the boat from the rear side, and it is not clear how many soldiers there are on this boat, but according to the establishment of the Daming sailors, a boat has a maximum of 150 people, and Chen Cao's boat, in addition to 200 soldiers, there are more than 40 boatmen on the bottom.

'Bang bang bang...'

After a series of gunshots, the few water ghosts who had just boarded the boat were all killed, and the blood flowed down the canal water all over their bodies into the canal.

From time to time, a noisy sound of horses' hooves sounded on the left bank.

"My lord, there is a team of horses on the shore." Zhao Xin was holding a long knife in his hand and was on guard everywhere.

'Whoosh...'

The whistling sound of arrows sounded, and when Chen Cao was about to command to personally attack this group of bandits who did not know the height of the sky, an arrow shot straight at his feet.

"Damn..."

This is the first time Chen Cao has crossed over to scold this kind of swearing, the arrow is not a good stubble, and if he is shot with bad luck, he will die.

"Be careful," Zhao Xin pounced on Chen Cao, and then blocked Chen Cao with his body.

There were only four shields on the ship, and they were being held up by his Jinyi guards at the moment, taking advantage of this buffer moment, Chen Cao and Zhao Xin ran towards the cabin together.

"Zhao Xin, your kid was hit by an arrow." Chen Cao shouted.

I saw an arrow stuck in Zhao Xin's back, but I didn't see blood flowing out.

With a sound of 'Hu', Zhao Xin pulled out an arrow: "Don't worry, my subordinates are wearing soft armor inside." ”

"," Chen Cao pulled Zhao Xin's back and looked at it, and really saw a silver soft armor: "You are a thief enough." ”

Zhao Xin said with some embarrassment: "Hehe, isn't this learning from adults." ”

"You mean, my lord, I am greedy for life and afraid of death?" Chen Cao frowned.

Zhao Xin felt that it was a pit, so he didn't answer at the moment, so he said: "My lord, the marks of the arrows have been smoothed out, but it is certain that they are all arrows in the army." ”

Chen Cao took the arrow and looked at it, then said with a smile: "Otherwise, you think they have so many people who can shoot bows and arrows?" The Ringing Horse Thieves also did not have any of these equipment. ”

'Bang bang bang...'

The muskets rang out again, and it was fierce, thinking about the battle that had already begun outside.

"My lord, the water ghost has withdrawn," Zhang Fengnian stepped the knife into the cabin: "There are many horse teams on the shore, at least more than two hundred. ”

"My lord, the boat has been intercepted by the rope, and the bottom of the ship has been chiseled by water ghosts." A lieutenant ran into the cabin to give a notice.

"Zhang Fengnian, lead the team down, and leave no one behind." Chen Cao said viciously.

"Yes..."

There was no suspense in the battle, the water ghosts who tried to get on the ship were hit by two muskets and ran directly, and the horse team on the shore was quite numerous, because it was dark at least two hundred people, and after the cabin leaked, the right guard went ashore under the leadership of Zhang Fengnian to fight with the horse team, and the training results of the right guard were remarkable.

It only took three blows, and the horse team that wanted to charge the formation was defeated, and fled in a hurry after leaving dozens of corpses, Zhang Fengnian's command was full of foot soldiers, and Chen Cao ordered not to pursue.

"My lord," Zhang Fengnian personally escorted a few injured horse bandits: "My lord, I have caught three alive, and a few are seriously injured, I'm afraid I won't survive." ”

"Kneel down and roll call..."Zhao Xin shouted sharply.

All three bandits were shot in the shoulder or thigh by muskets, and they were bleeding profusely.

"Don't say it?" Chen Cao raised his eyebrows: "I don't know where Kong Tianxi found you dead soldiers, but this official didn't want to live at all." ”

The three of them looked up, their faces shocked.

"Drag them all down, even the seriously injured ones cut off their heads, and send someone to ride a horse to send me to Kong Tianxi's courtyard in Fucheng."

"Yes..."

After instructing Chen Cao, he turned his head to look at Zhao Xin and said, "You personally disguise yourself to go to Qufu and bring some gunpowder..."

Zhao Xin kept nodding and obeying the order, and then looked at Chen Cao with a serious face: "The subordinates must do it, but my lord, that's all?" ”

Chen Cao nodded: "It's just suitable, don't go too far, let them know that I, Chen Cao, am not such a good person." ”

Zhao Xin smiled evilly: "My subordinates understand, and I must finish this matter for my lord." ”

"My lord, the boat is leaking badly, we must go ashore." Zhang Fengnian came to report.

"Go, send someone to Huai'an City, and let Song Che send a boat to pick us up."