At night, the streets and alleys of Yanshi County are dark, and only Nanshi is still brightly lit.

Nanshi is not big, far less than the markets of Chang'an and Luoyang, but there are all kinds of commercial goods.

A big man named Diao Geng sat in the private room of the restaurant, looked out of the window for a long time, and didn't see Gao Chong coming as promised, under the willow tree on the corner of the street, only a child stood there and watched, it was very likely that Gao Chong sent someone to contact.

Diao Geng was patient, drank sullen wine, and roamed the long street to make sure that the child was not followed.

Finally, when the pot of wine was drunk, he knocked the wine glass on the table vigorously and said, "Shopkeeper, you will settle the account." ”

"Great! Guest officer, a roast goose, a pot of side dishes, five Hu cakes, three pots of pine mash spring, and then counting the take-out buns, one hundred and seven dollars. ”

A string of shiny copper coins was thrown on the table, Diao Geng didn't bargain, and patiently counted out seven brand-new copper coins.

Seeing that he looked vicious and ordered a lot of things, the shopkeeper was worried that he was a bully eater, but he didn't expect to be so easy to serve, so he smiled and bowed to send him off, and then took the copper coin and looked at the candle flame, and put it away happily.

When he left the wine shop, a cold wind blew, and Diao Geng opened his clothes instead, revealing the smell of wine.

He went under the willow tree, lifted the child's back collar, and went into the darkness like a cat.

Who asked you to come?

Remember https://m in a second.

"Gao, Gao Xiancheng." The basin answered.

"Where is he?" Diao Geng asked.

It's in the county seat. ’

"Why didn't he stay in the pawnshop?"

Diao Geng had already heard that Guo Wanjin was punished and Gao Chong escaped, so he went to the pawnshop as an iron lock, and there was a note in the keyhole about Gao Chong's meeting.

"I don't know." Pen'er said, "You give me money, and I'll take you to him." ”

Diao Geng didn't ask the price, took out five copper coins and handed them over, and said, "Is it enough?"

The basin took it and rubbed it, overjoyed.

"Let's go, I'll take you."

The two of them didn't need lanterns, and they walked through the dark alleys and narrow alleys through the night, and the stench kept drilling into their nostrils along the way.

"Such a place." Diao Geng said, "But I stayed in such a rotten place before I was in my twenties, I can't see it, right?"

You can see it.

"Broken kids.

There was only one oil lamp in the dilapidated house, it was very dark, Gao Chong was sitting by the oil lamp, with a dejected air on his face, and two men stood behind him.

"How can the county hide here?" Diao Geng stepped forward, took out a wine bag from his arms and handed it over, "Just hot white is better than cold wine, cold wine is not good for the stomach." ”

"Lao Diao is paying attention to it now." Gao Chong's voice was hoarse and weak.

"It's not like the county hasn't eaten for a few days, right?

Diao Geng asked with a smile, took out a bun from his baggage, and handed it over.

He didn't think this place was very comfortable, and almost wanted to invite Gao Chong to talk in Luoyan Tower, only to remember that the other party was already a fugitive.

"This time, I came out with my brother, he carried iron and stone behind, and I went to Yanshi to take care of it first. After selling this batch of goods, I will buy some New Year's goods back. There are many people on the Iron Mountain, and there are many mouths for eating, so is it useless for the county to prepare the food we want?

Gao Chong was silent, leaning back a little, and his face, which was already invisible, was even more hidden in the darkness.

"Be prepared.

"I almost forgot." Diao Geng said, "Gao Xiancheng, you are no longer an official now, this batch of grain and light goods must not be given to us."

Gao Chong regained some of his arrogance, and said in a dumb voice: "Although I am not an official, the power behind me has not yet been moved.

"Also, if something happens, your brother should come again." Diao Geng was relieved about this, and said: "I'm not worried about you defaulting on your debts, but we have to have food before the New Year, which was said before, and we can't give it until the beginning of spring, right?" ”

Gao was silent.

As soon as Diao Geng saw this silent atmosphere, he knew that Gao Chong had no idea.

He arrived in Yanshi County yesterday, and when he entered the city, he learned that Guo Wanjin had been punished, and Gao Chong was involved in the matter and absconded for fear of the crime. I thought there was another way to do it with noble ability.

"Count the time, my brother has walked to Songshan, Gao Xiancheng will not let him go back, right?"

"No, it won't." Gao Chong subconsciously wanted to glance at the person behind him, but he held back and said, "The imperial court didn't find our ship, you transported it directly to the ship, and I will give you the food that day."

Diao Geng was a little suspicious, and said, "Gao Xiancheng won't deceive us for the government, right?" ”

"Do you think I look like this?" Gao Chong said: "I am waiting for your goods and going with the ship." ”

"Okay, I'll let my brother go to the old place, and I can get there in five or six days."

"Good.

Diao Geng then got up and left.

Gao Chong held the bun and nibbled on it, looking at the small candle in front of him, thoughtfully, and there was a faint light of confidence in his eyes.

One of the people standing behind him was none other than Xue Bai, and asked, "You said you don't know the people of Tieshan, but I see that you are very familiar with them." ”

"I don't know who owns Iron Mountain." Gao Chong said, "These two brothers are transporting goods, and they don't always transport them, so I don't know who will transport them this time before he comes." ”

Xue Bai asked, "How much do you know about them?" ”

"These two brothers, the older one is called Diao Bing, and the one is called Diao Geng, they are both outlaws, and they have had lives under their hands."

Gao Chong said: "My righteous brother used to travel all over the world and had some friendship with Diao Bing. Once, Diao Bing was arrested in Yanshi County, and my brother-in-law asked me to release him and have a drink together, and they helped to take the lead. ”

Xue Bai thought that Gao Chong often hid some lies and the truth, and did not believe it all, and asked: "How many people do they usually bring?"

"More than a hundred."

Those who do this kind of business are outlaws, and there must be no shortage of weapons, in other words, the force of these people should not be underestimated, and Xue Bai is only afraid that there is not enough force to eat it at the moment.

Why did you agree to give him food for the day's trade? ”

"The grain is ready, and there are 30,000 stones in the treasury that I have collected." Gao Chong said: "You can give them 5,000 stones at a time."

Xue Bai asked, "If Lu Linghao asks, I will say that you told me?" ”

"The county lieutenant has his own way."

"Five thousand stone grain, is this batch of iron and stone paid, or is it connected to the previous one?"

Gao Chong smiled bitterly and didn't answer, seeing that Xue Bai didn't stop him, so he carefully ate the bun in his hand, took a sip of wine, and said, "I have some humble opinions, whether I listen to you or not."

"Say."

"I don't know who you want to help, but I can rely on you, I guess he is not too powerful, oh, this is not to underestimate you, but you are still young after all. All in all, the one behind you, who has been staying in the Ten Kings' Mansion for many years, must be short of manpower, and it is useless to ask for so much iron and stone, but I am afraid that there is no iron foundry and cannot make weapons, so it is better to keep food to buy people's hearts and make meritorious contributions? To do great things, you must plan it slowly.

Xue Bai let him guess and said, "Meaning, I can't swallow the loot you dropped in one go?"

"You can swallow it sooner or later, but fat people don't eat it in one bite." Gao Chong seemed very sincere.

Xue Bai ignored his sincerity and said lightly: "Hold him in another place." ”

A sack was placed directly on Gao Chong's head.

Du Shi has already set up a secret small mansion in Yanshi County today, but he is not worried about having no place to take care of him.

The house is in Dongchengfang, not too far from Xue Bai's residence.

"Sent someone to follow Diao Geng?"

"Well, pie." Du Ji said: "But since you can trade, why follow him again?" If it is self-defeating, it will cause him to be alert.

Xue Bai said: "I want to find out the relationship between Tieshan and Gao Chong, is it a gang or an ordinary business dealing?"

Or is it really as Gao Chong said, the two sides have some friendship? ”

"It's not enough torture, he doesn't tell the truth, right?"

"Gao Chong, a person who thinks he is smart, will not give up playing tricks until he dies. Even if most of what he says is true, it is inevitable that it will occasionally be mixed in with a lie or two. Xue Bai said: "For example, this time, if they are just doing business, then they will pay the money with one hand and deliver the goods with the other." But if they are in a group, I am afraid that there will inevitably be a fight. ”

"This is his best chance to escape, do you think he will take advantage of it?"

"Yes, instead of believing him, let's find out for ourselves."

Gao Chong actually said that one sentence is right, Xue Bai did not have an iron casting workshop that could make weapons, and he was not even short of manpower, so it seemed useless to ask for too much iron and stone.

Xue Bai had his own thoughts about this.

That night, he picked up his pen and drew several paintings, and the next day he went to the county office to find Lu Linghao.

"What is this?"

Lu Linghao took the drawing, looked horizontally and vertically, and couldn't recognize it for a while.

"Plow.

"Pears?" Lu Linghao said, "No, not like." ”

Xue Bai said: "It is an iron plow, also known as a treadmill.

Of course, it's not that there is no plough now, so it can be seen that Lu Linghao, the county parent official, doesn't care about farming at all.

But he is good at rounding the field for himself, stroking his beard and smiling: "I see, the old man feels familiar, and the county lieutenant's painting skills need to be improved." ”

Xue Bai said: "It is divided into two parts, the wooden frame and the iron ploughshare. The wooden frame creates such a spoon shape, and the horizontal wood is used as a place for hand grabbing, and a short handle is set on the left and right of the frame handle as a place for the foot. The mouth of the ploughshare is made of iron, which can turn over mud and plough land. ”

Lu Linghao flipped it twice before he understood, and said, "I see, what is the effect of cultivated land?"

"Although it is not as labor-saving as oxen, it can be used in mountainous areas where oxen cannot be cultivated, and even in places with many rocks and roots. In other words, with the iron plough, more fields can be reclaimed in the north and south of Yanshi County. ”

"Good. Xue Lang has this wonderful thing, and he can benefit thousands of people by playing the court. ”

Xue Bai said: "In addition, we are forging in Yanshi County, organizing wasteland, and leasing it to the people, okay?" ”

Lu Linghao was stunned for a moment, did not answer immediately, and looked at the drawings in his hand casually, only to see that in addition to the treadmill, there were also many messy farm tools, some of which were improved, and some of which he had seen.

"How do you forge it? This year's taxes were not collected, and in the end, I still asked the gentry to donate with a shy face. Where do you come up with such a large amount of money? ”

As he spoke, Lu Linghao sighed, and instead raised Xue Bai.

"The county lieutenant is young, new to his career, and full of enthusiasm, which is a good thing. However, to govern one side, the first priority is the word 'wide', and we should not restrain the people too much, and the people should not want us to teach them farming. Just like flowers and plants, don't tend to them too often......

Xue Bai interrupted his chatter and said, "By the way, I interrogated the original head of Hucao, Sun Yuan, and he said that there are 30,000 stone of grain in the county warehouse from unknown sources, can the county order know about this?" ”

"Nonsense." Lu Linghao immediately denied it, his expression was serious, and he said: "The grain collected is not enough, how can there be an extra 30,000 stones in the county warehouse?" The county has just counted it, and there is no such thing. ”

From this point of view, between Lu Linghao and Gao Chong, someone must have lied.

Xue Bai didn't reveal the matter for the time being, and muttered: "That's it, I'll figure out how to spend forging farm tools." The county commander sent Cao Zhuzhi to help me, okay? ”

Shi Cao's Zhangjin beams, boats, cars, houses, and hundreds of crafts and arts, to forge iron tools in the name of the county office, through the hands of Shi Cao is the simplest way.

Lu Linghao didn't want to let go of power easily, he was already a little annoyed with Xue Bai.

He, the county magistrate, thought that he had done a good job, taking care of the interests of all parties, and treating the newly appointed county lieutenant with spring breeze and rain.

But what about Xue Bai? Blindly looking for trouble, meaningless things come out one after another, before it was said that he was following the secret decree of the saint is helpless, but now it can't be the saint who told him to forge farm tools.

"Alas, the responsibility of the county lieutenant is to catch the thief, now Gao Chongshang is absconding, you are not in a hurry to search and arrest, you are busy all day long, why bother" meritorious service, save reputation, it is also a good thing to be in the county order, isn't it?

"How did you do the raid on the Guo family

"There are many possessions, and they are still being counted. The county order is assured, and what was said before must be counted. ”

Lu Linghao first guaranteed his own interests, and then waved his hand helplessly, sighing: "The warehouses and warehouses in the county cannot be moved, and as long as they are beneficial to the people, the old man will naturally support you." ”

This is the third time Xue Bai has reached out to seize power in recent days, and Lu Linghao believes that this should be the last time, otherwise he will be too greedy.