The moon is bright and the stars are sparse, and the breeze is blowing.

Zuo Dao and the others rode their horses all the way, and finally came to a body of water a hundred miles away from Kyoto.

The waters here are vast, and there are often fishermen fishing in boats and transporting pedestrians back and forth.

But because of this, it is also common to raid passing merchant ships and passenger ships transporting pedestrians.

The local yamen also asked the garrison for assistance in exterminating the water bandits.

However, most of those water bandits are good at water, experts in boating, who come and go without a trace, and after several tosses, it took a lot of manpower and material resources, and the water bandits have not been exterminated.

Over time, the extermination of the water bandits was put on hold for the time being.

Because of the banditry, there were many fewer passenger boats coming and going, and only some nearby fishermen and merchant ships had to pass through this place.

Not far from the nearby wharf, there is an inn, which is run by a local tycoon.

I heard that the owner of the inn is a congenital powerhouse, and the purpose of opening the inn here is to use this water area to enlighten and enter the realm of the little grandmaster.

The inn has been open for more than ten years, and no one has ever dared to make trouble in the inn, whether it is those water bandits or the merchants who come and go.

Princess Taiping looked at the distant waters, and with the help of the moonlight, she could barely see some fishing boats floating on the water, using the faint candles of kerosene lamps to lure the fish closer.

On the surface, there are many similar fishing boats that can be seen here and there.

Zuo Dao said in a low voice: "Your Highness, there are only some fishermen who make a living in the waters at night, and the water bandits generally won't attack them, so it's better to go to the inn to rest for the night first." ”

"Wait until tomorrow to find out, and then follow the trail of those water bandits."

Princess Taiping nodded slightly, and then ordered to go to the waterside inn.

The group came to the front of the inn.

At this moment, the inn is brightly lit, and many guests can be seen drinking and chatting in the lobby, which is very lively.

Zhang Long and Zhao Hu took the lead in and asked the shopkeeper to send the horses into the stable and feed them with good forage.

Then I booked a few upper rooms and welcomed Zuodao and others in.

Zuo Dao and a few people had just entered the lobby, and the guests who were still drinking and laughing turned their heads to look.

After seeing the figures of several people clearly, he returned to his previous state.

Zuo Dao arranged for Princess Taiping to enter the upper room, and then sent a few tables of wine and food, all of which he brought from Kyoto.

Then he took Zhang Long, Zhao Hu and others to the lobby, asked for a table of wine and food, and listened to the guests talking.

The guests in the lobby are all merchants, ready to wait for the boat to leave tomorrow.

Across the river is a castle as prosperous as Kyoto, and it is prosperous with the help of water transportation.

And whoever crosses the river from here goes to that city.

"Recently, I don't seem to have heard of the scourge of water bandits here, and it seems that tomorrow we can cross the river safely."

"No, if you want me to see, the bandits are waiting for tomorrow."

"Why?"

"You don't know? After a while, it will be the annual Dragon King Festival in Tianhe City, and when the guests from Tianhe and Haibei will gather in Tianhe City. ”

"Dragon Monarch Ceremony? You're talking about the one in this big river? ”

"Or else?"

"Those bandits wouldn't be that bold, would they? The Dragon Monarch Festival also dared to make trouble, and they had a few heads that were enough to cut off. ”

"The people who come to the Dragon Monarch Festival are either rich or expensive, and when the time comes, they will rob a ticket and slip away directly, who can catch them."

"That's just as well."

……

Listening to the diners, Zhang Long said in a low voice: "My lord, this Dragon Monarch Ceremony is an annual event in Tianhe City, it was originally before the imperial examination, and those scholars who rushed to take the exam will come here to pay their respects. ”

"But this year, there is one more martial arts test, which has attracted a lot of people, and I'm afraid there will be fewer people in the Dragon Monarch Festival."

Zuo Dao looked at the big river in the distance through the door of the lobby, and said, "In this river, is there really a dragon monarch?" ”

Zhao Hu scratched his head and said, "I don't know, but I heard my mother say that a few decades ago, someone had indeed seen Long Jun." ”

Hearing this, Zuo Dao showed a thoughtful look on his face.

Early the next morning.

Princess Taiping came to the lobby, and Zuo Dao and others hurriedly greeted her.

Eunuch Wang spoke: "Lord Zuo, have you ever found out about this water bandit?" ”

Zuo Dao said in a low voice: "Last night, the official was in the lobby for a long time, and I heard someone say that there may be water bandits robbing the ship today. ”

Eunuch Wang was stunned for a moment, and said, "Are there really water bandits?" ”

He originally thought that Zuo Dao was just talking and playing before, but he didn't expect that there were really water bandits in this ghost place.

Zuo Dao said: "Naturally, the geographical location here is better, and most of those water bandits will flee after making a ticket, and come back after the wind has passed." ”

"It's been a while since their last raid."

"And it's also the annual Dragon Monarch Festival in Tianhe City, and the people who come and go are either rich or noble, and there are a lot of people who take the waterway, which is very tempting for that group of robbers."

Hearing Zuo Dao's opening, Eunuch Wang showed a contemplative look on his face.

He wondered in his heart if he wanted to think of some way to fool Princess Taiping away.

After all, this water bandit is no joke.

Moreover, Princess Taiping has only taken a boat once in the past ten years, and she still travels with His Majesty's Tianlong boat.

The hull of the ship is extremely stable, making people walk on the ground, and there is no unsightly dare to shoot.

If you take a small boat to and from the ferryman, I am afraid that if you walk to the middle of the river, you will get seasick and vomit, and then you will run into robbers, tsk......

I can't even think about that picture.

As soon as the eunuch wanted to speak, he heard Princess Taiping speak: "In this case, what are you waiting for, leave the horses in this inn, give them some more money, and let them take care of them." ”

"We'll get on board now, I'm going to see what those bandits are capable of."

As soon as Princess Taiping's words fell, she walked out of the lobby directly with a long sword in hand.

Seeing this, Eunuch Wang hurriedly led people to follow.

Zhang Long went to look for the shopkeeper, gave them some money, and asked them to take good care of the horses of his group, and then chased after them.

When I came to the dock, the dock, which was empty last night, was now full of passenger boats.

There are more than a dozen passenger ships, large and small.

Small boats occupy more than half of them, and even small boats are enough to accommodate dozens of people.

The large ship is large enough to accommodate hundreds of people.

It takes a day and a night to cross the river, and it is better during the day, and the sight is better, and if you really encounter a water bandit, you can avoid it in advance.

But if you meet at night, it will be a big trouble.

Therefore, many small boats depart as soon as they are full, and if they can arrive at the other side earlier, then they will be more at ease.

As for those big ships, most of them have martial artists hired by the master, and they are much more courageous than those small ships.

Princess Taiping looked at the crowd on the dock and said with a surprised face: "When did these people come?" ”

Obviously, when they came here yesterday, they hadn't seen so many people.

Even in that inn, when it was full, there were only hundreds of people, how could there be so many people here.

On the side of the road, a passer-by who heard Princess Taiping's doubts heard this, and immediately smiled: "Little baby, many people here are traveling at night, just arrived at the dock in the early morning, and rested for a night after getting on the boat, and at night, hehe......"

As soon as Eunuch Wang wanted to scold angrily, he heard Princess Taiping say curiously: "Uncle, how is it at night?" ”

The old man smiled and said, "At night, it is natural to guard with the boatman to prevent the water bandits from looting." ”

After saying that, the old man left directly and headed for one of the small boats on the dock.

Princess Taiping said with a shocked look in her eyes: "The boats on this dock can carry thousands of people, what water bandits dare to rob them?" ”

Zuo Dao said in a low voice: "Your Highness, the water bandits here can't be treated with common sense, most of them are a combination of gangs, and the number and ships are not weaker than these passenger ships, even in the face of the Great Wei Navy, they have the strength to fight." ”

"It's better in normal times, but when I meet this kind of Dragon Monarch ceremony, I'm afraid I will unite early."

Princess Taiping frowned and said, "Then there is no naval escort?" ”

Zuo Dao nodded and said: "Naturally, there are, but there are not many that can be dispatched, so there are always fish that slip through the net." ”

Princess Taiping muttered to herself: "Interesting, go, board the ship." ”

With that, he took the lead and walked in the direction of the dock.

Eunuch Wang pointed to the largest ship on the dock and said, "Your Highness, let's go to that one, the bigger the ship, the more stable it will be." ”

Princess Taiping frowned and said, "No, what if those bandits don't dare to rob the big boat?" ”

Eunuch Wang looked at his side with an anxious expression.

Zuo Dao said in a low voice: "Your Highness, when the water bandits plunder, they generally choose big boats, and only those who do not enter the stream will hijack small boats or fishing boats." ”

"The people on the big ship are either rich or expensive, and there is a lot of money, in exchange for you, you will not give up a mountain of gold and silver for a bunch of copper plates!"

Princess Taiping's eyes lit up and said, "What Master Zuo said makes sense, since that's the case, then let's go take that big ship." ”

The eunuch commanded the guards beside him in a low voice: "After getting on the boat, I will take good care of Your Highness, Your Highness is missing a hair, and your head is not enough to fall off." ”

When several people heard this, they all whispered in response.

Zuo Dao and the others took a step ahead, came to the big boat, paid the cost of boarding the boat and crossed the river, and chose a few good rooms.

Then he welcomed Princess Taiping on board.

When Princess Taiping came to the ship, she had a sense of freshness, looking at the guests on the deck, and it was really as Zuo Dao said, they were all either rich or expensive.

She said confidently: "It seems that tonight, that group of bandits will inevitably hijack this boat." ”

As soon as these words came out, the guests who were closer around turned their heads and looked at Princess Taiping with unkind faces.

Seeing this, Zuo Dao and the others directly held their hands on the hilt of the knife and glanced at everyone with cold eyes.

When those people saw the appearance of Zuo Dao and the others, they turned their heads one by one.

Princess Taiping shrunk her neck and said, "Master Zuo, is my voice too loud?" ”

Zuo Dao said in a low voice: "Your Highness, there are some things that should not be said, just keep them in your heart, otherwise they will think that we are in league with that group of water bandits." ”

Hearing Zuo Dao's opening, Princess Taiping immediately nodded.

Princess Taiping said in a low voice: "Then I'll go back to the room to rest first, I'm afraid there will be a big battle tonight, and I still need to recuperate my spirits." ”

Hearing this, Zuo Dao nodded slightly.

Then he sent Princess Taiping to the room.

When they came to the deck, they saw a sturdy middle-aged man walking with a few servants.

came to Zuo Dao and the others, and immediately bowed.

Said: "Ladies and gentlemen, Cai is the owner of this ship, and he specially came to visit you. ”

Hearing this, Zuo Dao said with a smile: "Zuo has seen Ship Master Cai. ”

On his side, Zhao Hu said angrily: "How do you know that we are officials?" ”

Cai Kun said with a smile: "Although several adults are dressed in civilian clothes, most of them are holding Jinyiwei's unique embroidered spring knives, and the official boots under their feet are also on their feet. ”

When Zhao Hu heard this, he immediately looked left and right.

Indeed, as Cai Kun said, they changed out of their official uniforms, but they did not change their official boots, and what they held in their hands was the unique embroidered spring knife of Jinyiwei.

If you meet some well-informed people, you can really be recognized at a glance.

Zuo Dao said with a smile: "Ship Master Cai is really good eyesight, I don't know why Ship Master Cai came to look for us?" ”

Cai Kun said in a low voice: "I think my lord has also heard of the trouble of water bandits here. ”

"Now it's the Dragon Monarch Festival, these days, I'm afraid that the water bandits will continue to invade, if you encounter the water bandits at night, I hope the adults can help."

Zuo Dao smiled: "This is how it should be." ”

When Cai Kun heard this, a smile suddenly appeared on his face, and then he took out a heavy money bag, handed it over and said, "This is the boat fare of several adults, please take it back." ”

Zuo Dao took the money bag, the weight was not light, far more than the fare they paid.

He smiled and said, "Since that's the case, then I'm welcome." ”

Cai Kun said with a smile: "It's good that the adults are not welcome, I will let the subordinates bring wine and food, and treat a few adults well." ”

Zuo Dao smiled and nodded.

After the two exchanged pleasantries on the deck for a while, Cai Kun said goodbye and left.

Zuo Dao weighed the money bag in his hand, threw it to Zhang Long at his side, and said, "How many of you will divide it!" ”

When Zhang Long heard this, he immediately smiled and said, "Then thank you, sir." ”

As the ship was full, the sailor in charge shouted, and then the rope was cut on the dock.

The sails were raised and headed across the river.

Zhang Long and the others stood at the edge of the deck, looking at the many ships setting sail on the water, with excited expressions on their faces.

Speaking of which, it was the first time they had taken such a big ship, and the experience was very novel.

Zuo Dao stood on the deck, looking towards the distant horizon, his brow furrowed slightly.

Immediately, he released the harrier in the corner and asked it to go around to investigate and see if he could find traces of the water bandits in advance.

This harrier is a special breed bred by the Hermit's Mansion, with excellent eyesight, extremely fast flight speed, and a small body, which is difficult for ordinary people to detect.

It's very convenient to explore the surroundings or send letters.

He asked the harrier to go three times in the morning, noon and evening, and once in the middle of the night, to explore a radius of tens of miles.

Not for anything else, just because if there are really water bandits, they can also know in advance.

After all, this is not land, but on the water, and if something goes wrong, it will be difficult.

At noon, Zhang Long, Zhao Hu and others also went back to the room to rest after lunch.

After all, they still need to keep vigil at night.

It's not that you can't trust the martial artist hired on this ship, and Princess Taiping is still on the ship, so she must not be sloppy under any circumstances.

It doesn't matter if they are killed, if it is the wife and child in Kyoto, that is the greatest sin.

During the whole day, not only was the water calm, but even the harriers did not notice anything abnormal.

By evening, the fastest boat had covered more than half the distance, and it was estimated that it would arrive before dawn in the early hours of the morning.

Their big boat, on the other hand, had to be slower, and they might not be able to reach the middle of the river at night.

In the evening, after Zhang Long, Zhao Hu and the others had dinner, they took turns to patrol the deck.

According to their calculations, if they can really meet the water bandits tonight.

It should be in the dead of night, when the guests on the ship are asleep, and then there will be bandits.

Zuo Dao rested in his room for a while, and when he was full of energy, he walked to the deck.

It's getting late, and night is about to fall.

Cai Kun led some martial artists to patrol along the line, and even held a long cylinder in his hand and looked around.

After seeing the left road, he immediately greeted him.

"Lord Zuo, can you rest during the day?"

Zuo Dao nodded with a smile and said, "Master Cai's boat is very stable and well-rested. ”

As he spoke, he looked at the long cylinder in Cai Kun's hand, this thing was somewhat similar to the clairvoyance invented by the Hermit's Mansion, but he never thought that such a small boat owner also had one in his hand.

As if sensing Zuo Dao's gaze, Captain Cai handed over the long cylinder.

Said: "Lord Zuo try it, this is a clairvoyance obtained by Cai's relationship, which can see very far, and it is the most suitable for me to wait for people who are begging for a life on the water." ”

Zuo Dao took a look at the things, and it was indeed a clairvoyant developed by the Hermit's Mansion.

He smiled and said, "It seems that Ship Master Cai also has some ability behind him, and he can actually get this kind of treasure." ”

Ship Master Cai took the clairvoyant and said, "If I don't have some skills, how dare I beg for a life on the water." ”

As he spoke, he looked around with some concern and said, "But tonight, I'm still worried about the adults." ”

Cai Kun had a hunch in his heart that there would be water bandits tonight.

After all, there are still a few people before the Dragon Monarch Grand Ceremony, and the water army deployed above will not be in place until at least tomorrow.

Tonight, the bandits will surely seize the opportunity to attack the ship at night.

In particular, they happened to be able to drive to the center of the river at night, and they couldn't escape anywhere they wanted to.

When Zuo Dao heard this, he said: "Since I promised Ship Master Cai, I will definitely do it." ”

When Cai Kun heard this, he immediately arched his hand and said, "Thank you, sir." ”

In the dead of night.

Except for the warriors on duty on the ship, as well as some sailors, most of the guests were already asleep.

Left Dao came to the deck and raised his hand with a slight gesture.

In the distance, in the night, the harrier flew rapidly and landed on the index finger of the left road.

Zuo Dao raised his hand and touched the harrier's head, listening to the harrier's call.

A solemn look immediately appeared on his face, and he muttered to himself: "I didn't expect that there would really be water bandits tonight." ”

(End of chapter)