The county seat of Mizhi County is located in the south of the county, and the other three areas are divided by the three major family forces in the county.

The Li family of Yonghe Shilou monopolized the eastern part of the county, and almost all the commerce in the area was monopolized by them, and if foreign merchants wanted to gain a foothold here, in addition to paying taxes to the government, they had to pay them full management fees, similar to the protection fees collected by the underworld in later generations.

The Li family of Yonghe Shilou is from Shanxi, and they regard themselves as the descendants of the Tang Emperor, and they don't look down on the Li family in Tai'anli at all, thinking that they are just barbarians of the Dangxiang clan, so the two sides have been fighting openly and secretly, and they are on the same page.

It was dinner time, the lights in the courtyard of the Li family in Yonghe Shilou were everywhere, bright as day, and a sumptuous banquet was placed in the hall, the patriarch Li Xunlong and the great elder Li Xunxian accompanied Yan Lixin, the chief of the Jinyi Wei, the patriarch Ai Zhao and the great elder Ai Chun were pushing the cup and changing the lamp, talking and laughing.

A few days ago, because Zhu Youzhen escaped and returned to Beijing, Yan Lixin was severely reprimanded by the superiors, and the Ai family and the Yonghe Li family, in order to appease the anger of the general banner, secretly sent people to spread rumors in the rivers and lakes that the Li family of Li Jiqian Village had obtained the treasure of the Tibetan Cave, which attracted all the heroes and strongmen to rush to it, and in just one day, they almost slaughtered the Li family in Yong'an, where Li Jiqian was in the village.

This plan has been completed, Yan Zongqi is very happy, today he was invited to come to Yonghe Shilou Li's house for a banquet, and Ai and Li two dignitaries gathered to celebrate.

Yan Lixin's cold face showed a rare hint of satisfaction, and he said to Ai Chun, the county magistrate of Mizhi County and the elder of the Ai family: "Lord Ai's plan kills two birds with one stone, not only makes the Li family of Li Jiqian Village, who shelters small hunters, suffer heavy casualties, and waits for me to take a bad breath, but also attracts Li Qinghuan and others in Mizhi County to be fooled, and they are greedy for the so-called treasure, and they will integrate Li Hongming and others into his clan, and the disaster will move eastward, and he still doesn't know it, and there is a good show to watch below." This plan is wonderful, I will give Lord Ai a cup here!"

Ai Chunyuan's face was flushed, and he didn't know if it was the effect of alcohol, or because he was excited because he was personally praised and toasted by Lord Jinyiwei, so he quickly got up, and even called "Lord Yan has won the award", respectfully and respectfully touched the wine glass with Yan Lixin, and then sat down excitedly.

Li Xunlong still looked like an immortal wind and bones, and asked lightly: "Lord Yan, now that the time is ripe, is it time for the Li clan in Tai'an to do it?"

Yan Lixin smiled slightly and said: "Patriarch Li doesn't need to worry, then Li Qinghuan was originally a barbarian and short-sighted, but he was going to go to the thigh of the Donglin Party, annoying Dongchang and Jinyiwei, I planned to slowly eradicate it within a year." It's good today, he set himself on fire, and I will take the opportunity to report to the top, just say that his Li family dug up treasures, hid a huge amount of weapons and armor in the former Western Xia Kingdom, and intended to rebel, I believe that there will be no more Li family in Tai'anli in Mizhi County soon!"

Li Xunlong covered his beard and nodded, and his heart was extremely happy.

Ai Zhao poured wine for Yan Lixin and said, "Then what do you think our two families have to do to make preparations?"

Yan Lixin nodded and said, "Well, after the Li clan forces in Tai'anli are cleared, how to distribute the benefits of the territory they left behind, you two have to discuss it carefully, don't hurt the peace when the time comes!"

Ai Zhao and Li Xunlong glanced at each other, and they both got up and arched their hands: "Don't worry, my lord, we are all working for Dongchang and Jinyiwei, and we are working for you, that is, as a family, and there will never be any disputes!"

Yan Lixin raised his head and drank the wine in the cup, waved his hand to signal the two of them to sit down, and continued: "I also believe this! But there is one more thing you have to do quickly, although Li Hongming and the others have been hit hard, but the culprit has not yet been punished, there is still a thorn in my heart, it is very uncomfortable!"

Ai Zhao hurriedly said: "Don't worry, my lord, we have been investigating the details of that rural Orion boy recently, and we have also gained a lot recently, Elder Xunxian, today you said that you received important news, so report it to Lord Yan now!"

Li Xunxian frowned slightly, and was a little dissatisfied with Ai Zhao's criticism of him, and his face was unswerving, but when he caught a glimpse of the patriarch Li Xunlong's impassivity, he nodded slightly to him and acquiesced, and then reluctantly said to Yan Lixin: "According to the people I sent out, the two hundred households Chen Dake and Xie Jun who guarded the small Orion are not ordinary military households, both of them are from the martial arts, and they are the disciples of Cheng Zongyou, the "Xindu Cultivator", and their martial arts are superb and should not be underestimated. ”

When everyone heard the name of "Xindu Cultivator Cheng Zongyou", they all showed a slight look of surprise, and their faces became solemn.

Li Xunxian continued: "It is reported that this evening, that Xie Jun left Li Jiqianzhai and returned to the county seat alone. Lord Yan, now that he is weak, do you want to take the opportunity to be him?"

Yan Lixin's face was gloomy, and he pondered for a long time before he said: "This matter is postponed, we must be cautious! First, Cheng Zongyou is a master of the master level, and he is also the governor of Tianjin, Li Piqi, and the official secretary is the secretary, responsible for the training of the Tianjin soldiers, once Xie Jun is moved, the news is revealed, it will inevitably cause unnecessary trouble, and even Cheng Zongyou's revenge. Second, the Lord is now fighting with the Donglin Party, and he can't make any extraneous branches. The army has never participated in party struggles, Xie Jun and Chen Dake both have military backgrounds, and if the army is pushed to the side of the Donglin Party because of the wanton killing of these two people, then it will be a big trouble!"

Li Xunlong smiled and said, "Lord Yan is far-sighted, I can't wait!"

The rest of the crowd nodded yes.

Yan Lixin waved his hand and said, "Although Chen and Xie don't have to eradicate it for the time being, that little hunter must be killed quickly." You can discuss this matter carefully and think of a comprehensive way to handle it!"

Ai Chun twisted his short beard under his chin and pondered: "Ai Xia also found out the origin of that old nun two days ago, she is the presiding officer of the Nine Heavens Holy Mother Temple of Yongfeng Mountain, but it is not known why she has a relationship with the Little Orion family. ”

Li Xunlong asked: "In this dynasty, there are many monks and Taoist nuns who practice martial arts, does this old nun have martial arts?"

Ai Chun said: "This has not yet been explored, although she is over sixty years old, she is brisk and should know some martial arts, but she doesn't know the depths." ”

Ai Zhao frowned and said: "Now that little hunter is still hiding in Li Jiqian's village, Chen Dake is still guarding beside him, and later there is another reckless man with extraordinary stick skills, I heard that Li Hongming's foreign surname elder Yao Shimen also got together with them, these three people are strong in martial arts, and they are not easy people." ”

Yan Lixin's face was gloomy, and he said with a fierce light in his eyes: "They must have been arranged by King Xin to protect the little hunter, although this matter is difficult, but if I don't believe it, there is no way, this little thief will be eliminated!"

Li Xunxian stood up and said: "Why don't we two masters go out together and kill Li Jiqian Village directly, I believe they will be difficult to resist!"

As soon as these words came out, Ai Zhao and Li Xunlong were silent, obviously disagreeing.

Ai Chun shook his head and said: "A strong attack is not a good strategy, we should still plan carefully, find out the weakness of that kid, and lure it out of the guards of Chen Dake and the three of them, so that we can succeed in one blow!"

Li Xunxian said impatiently: "Then what do you say?!"

Ai Chun's eyes were slightly closed, and he pondered for a long time before he said slowly: "That kid has a close relationship with Li Shouzhong's two children and grandchildren, let's see if we can start here!"

Li Xunlong nodded and smiled: "Lord Ai's wisdom is unparalleled, there must be a good plan, Lord Yan can rest assured! Let's put this matter aside for the time being, let's drink and have fun first!"

Yan Lixin also showed a rare smile and said, "What Patriarch Li said is very true, come, let's do this toast!"

In Xicheng District, where the Li clan is located in Tai'anli, Li Hongming was arranged in a courtyard in the courtyard of the patriarch Li Qinghuan's house, and his sons Li Zihan, Li Ziyi and daughter Li Jina were also arranged in other rooms in the courtyard, while the remaining children of the family were scattered and assigned to places under the jurisdiction of other elders.

Li Hongming stood in front of the door, looked at the guards at the door of the small courtyard, and sighed in his heart.

Patriarch Li Qinghuan clearly said that it was to protect him, told him not to go out of this courtyard, and arranged guards to protect the entire courtyard, but Li Hongming knew in his heart that the protection was fake, and the secret surveillance was true, and he could even detect that there were countless pairs of eyes around him staring at him all the time.

It is said that the treasure of the Tibetan Cave has a long history, and it is said that it is a treasure buried by the last emperor of the Western Xia Kingdom, Xia Xiangzong Li Xian (Xian), to restore the country.

In 1227, Western Xia was destroyed by the Mongols, and Xia Xiangzong Li Liju surrendered to the Mongols. After Li Li's surrender, Genghis Khan died of illness shortly after, and according to his will, Li Li was secretly killed.

The Mongol soldiers also dug three feet of ground near the tomb of the Western Xia king, and destroyed everything, so that since the Ming Dynasty, no dynasty has obtained many valuable items near the tomb of the Western Xia king.

According to later rumors, a year before the country was broken, Li Ji secretly sent people back to Li Jiqian, where his ancestor Li Jiqian was stationed, to dig a large underground hidden cave, bury almost eighty percent of the gold and silver, armor and martial arts secrets and other precious things of the Western Xia Kingdom, and send the Dangxiang clan to guard them for generations. Therefore, neither the Mongols nor the Ming Dynasty could get the treasure trove left by the Western Xia Kingdom.

Li Hongming's ancestor is the leader of the guardians of this treasure, and after the country was broken, he has been living in seclusion in Li Jiqianzhai, forming the Li family. Hundreds of years later, the family was divided in internal strife, and Li Qinghuan's ancestors grabbed the position of patriarch, unwilling to live in the small village of Li Jiqianzhai, and led the masters of the clan to Mizhi County to develop and work hard, forming the current Li clan in Tai'anli.

And Li Hongming's ancestors still chose to stay in Li Jiqian's village, and gradually became a side Li family.

Li Hongming still clearly remembers that when his father and old patriarch Li Shoucheng passed on the throne to him, he secretly passed on a few words: "Not born and not destroyed, not inside and outside, seven up and eight down, otherwise extremely Tailai." And told him that this was a secret word passed down from generation to generation by the patriarch of the Li family, and even the ancestor of Li Qinghuan, who took away the position of the patriarch of the family, did not know, and this secret word probably contained information about the treasure of the Hidden Soldier Cave.

However, for hundreds of years, no one has been able to decipher the meaning of this secret word, let alone find the treasure of the Cave.

Li Hongming's heart was full of sorrow at this time, he was afraid that he would not see the treasure in his life, but he thought that Li Qinghuan and others saw that their clansmen were slaughtered, and they did not think about rescuing them, and they put themselves under house arrest afterwards and plotted for treasures, so he made up his mind that this secret word would rather rot in his stomach than say it.