Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven Chiang Kai-shek Assassinates Tao Chengzhang
At this point, all the powerful enemies were gone, and the Hu Ke who wandered around the gate of hell finally survived.
Hu Ke was already exhausted. He persisted for so long with unimaginable willpower, and his body was completely overdrawn. As soon as Zhulong disappeared, he lay on the ground directly.
Although Du Xinwu's condition is a little better than Hu Ke's, he has injured his right knee and shoulder one after another, and the injuries are also serious.
It was the first time for Hu Qili to meet Du Xinwu.After realizing that this person was a friend rather than an enemy, Hu Qili had to face another wounded person.As the only one not injured, he needs to decide what to do next.
Hu Qili and Hu Ke have become the first-class criminals wanted by the government, and the wanted notices have been posted everywhere. If they continue to go south to Changsha, it is impossible to take the train, because the train station must be the most stringent place to interrogate. According to the road, there will also be many checkpoints along the way, and Hu Ke's old injuries have not healed and new injuries, coupled with the exhaustion of the body after this battle, is not suitable for long-distance treks.Based on various considerations, Hu Qili decided not to act for the time being, but to find a hidden place in Baoding City to hide for ten and a half months.
After hearing Hu Qili's decision, Hu Ke immediately thought of a good place, and by virtue of his memory, he found this place - Cuizhuxuan of Liangjiang Public School in Baoding City, the secret meeting place of the Restoration Society in the north.
Visiting late at night, Zhang Xiaocen, a member of the Restoration Society, came to open the door.
The Restoration Society has organized various political assassinations and armed uprisings in the past few years. Most of the key members traveled around the south of the Yangtze River, Japan, and Nanyang.
After the riots in the Forbidden City five years ago, Hu Ke followed Wu Yue, Zhang Rong, Yang Dusheng and others to come here, and Zhang Xiaocen also received Hu Ke here at that time.Zhang Xiaocen had a good memory, and after many years, he recognized Hu Ke at a glance.He placed Hu Ke and the other three in the guest room of Cuizhuxuan, took all the medicines for wounds in the pavilion, and helped Hu Ke and Du Xinwu treat the wounds.
Hu Ke was already exhausted and exhausted. After treating the wound, he fell asleep in bed and didn't wake up until the next afternoon.
Hu Ke woke up, his mind was completely clear.
He asked Zhang Xiaocen, and learned that Hu Qili had gone out early in the morning, and Du Xinwu was resting in the next room.
Regardless of his injuries, Hu Ke insisted on being supported by Zhang Xiaocen, and went to the next room to see Du Xinwu.
Hu Ke is anxious to see Du Xinwu, because he wants to ask about Yinchan.He saw with his own eyes that Yin Chan was released in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, but now it was not Yin Chan who came to Baoding Mansion to save him. Hu Ke hoped that Du Xinwu would know something about the current situation of Yin Chan.
In fact, Du Xinwu did know.Not only did he know, but he knew better than anyone else.Even if Hu Ke didn't ask, he would find a chance to tell Hu Ke.Now that Hu Ke asked, he told the whole story of what happened after Hu Ke was arrested and imprisoned.
On the same day, Hu Ke broke into the prison of the Ministry of Justice to rescue Wang Jingwei and others, but was finally arrested and imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Justice.Although Yinchan was angry with Hu Ke, angry that he would risk his life for the revolutionaries regardless of his own safety, but when he learned that Hu Ke was gone forever, Yinchan did not hesitate at all, and immediately went to the prison of the Ministry of Justice to carry out rescue .
Du Xinwu knew very well that the prison of the Ministry of Justice would increase its defenses after a robbery, so he tried to stop Yinchan from acting recklessly, but the response he got was eyes full of resentment.
Du Xinwu knew that he was the one who persuaded Hu Ke to join the rescue operation. Now that the rescue failed and Hu Ke was imprisoned, the revolutionaries did not suffer any losses. Of course, Yin Chan would harbor resentment.Du Xinwu wanted to do something to remedy it.He could not dissuade Yinchan, so he broke his heart and decided to go with Yinchan to rescue Hu Ke.
The packet of poison powder on Du Xinwu's body was given to him by Yinchan before he went to save Hu Ke.This pack of poison powder is a kind of intoxication and can be used directly. If it is burned on a fire, the effect will be better. It can produce a colorless and odorless gas, which can poison a large number of enemies and make them unconscious.It's a pity that this packet of poison powder was not useful in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, because the prison seemed to know that someone would come to rob the prison at night, and had already laid a net. As soon as Yinchan slipped into the prison, he threw himself into the trap, and Du Xinwu realized something was wrong before he slipped in. , turned around and fled immediately, and escaped unharmed by luck.
Du Xinwu didn't give up, he hid in the dark, staring at the prison of the Ministry of Justice, to see if he could find a chance to rescue Hu Ke and Yin Chan.
To his great surprise, early the next morning, Yinchan walked out of the gate of the prison of the Ministry of Justice, as if she had been released.
After Yinchan was released, she walked half a street outside.Du Xinwu felt strange, so he planned to meet her.But at this time, the patrol team stationed outside the prison quickly caught up and arrested Yinchan again.This time, Yuchan was not taken back to the prison of the Ministry of Justice, but was taken directly to the Jingshi Police Department.
Du Xinwu was full of doubts, and couldn't figure out what was going on in the scene before him.
Du Xinwu asked Cheng Jiatong for help to find out what happened in the prison of the Ministry of Justice and how Hu Ke and Yinchan are currently doing.
It took a lot of time for Cheng Jiatong to inquire this time, and it was not until the early morning two days later that he brought the news that shocked Du Xinwu.It turned out that Yinchan was arrested again immediately after she was released. It was the order of Prince Su Shanqi's retainer. Hu Ke had already been rescued by this retainer and went south by train. But something happened at Baodingfu Railway Station, and Hu Ke was arrested by another A group of people were robbed.
Du Xinwu was worried about Hu Ke's safety, and was afraid that Hu Ke would fall into the hands of the Qing court again, so he decided to go south to Baoding Mansion immediately, find Hu Ke and try to rescue him.
Du Xinwu handed over the task of rescuing Yinchan to Cheng Jiatong, Hu Hanmin, Wu Yuzhang and others, and then hurried to Baoding Mansion, eyeing the patrol team of Baoding Mansion.He didn't know where to look for Hu Ke, but he knew that the patrol team in Baoding Mansion would definitely track down Hu Ke's whereabouts. As long as he followed this gang of patrolmen, there was a possibility of finding Hu Ke.
Du Xinwu's idea came true soon.
That night, under the leadership of Qiu Butou, the patrol team went straight to the Black Ancestral Hall to ask Zhulong for someone.
When Zhulong and Qiu Tutou entered the secret room, and Anzhazi and the patrol team confronted each other in the black ancestral hall, Du Xinwu knew that his opportunity had come.
Du Xinwu touched his pocket, the packet of poison powder was still there.
There are hundreds of people in the black ancestral hall, and if you want to poison all these people unconscious, you have to sneak into the black ancestral hall and ignite the poison powder.It is easy to ignite the poison powder, but it is not easy to sneak in when Anzazi and the patrol team are standing still and the black ancestral hall is silent.
Just when Du Xinwu had a headache, a patrolman holding a torch in charge of lighting suddenly quietly left the black ancestral hall.It turned out that the patrolman sneaked out to relieve himself because he was so full of urination.He quickly ran to the street tree at the corner of the street, stuck the torch in the ground, and began to water and fertilize the street tree.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Du Xinwu immediately tiptoed up, hit the policeman hard on the back of the head, knocked him out, then took off the policeman's clothes, and quickly put them on himself.
With the cover of this clothes, Du Xinwu lowered his head and walked into the black ancestral hall holding a torch.
Dozens of patrolmen in the Black Ancestral Hall focused their attention on An Zhazi on the opposite side, and didn't pay much attention to a companion who had returned from urgency.
After Du Xinwu slipped into the black ancestral hall, he stood at the back of dozens of patrolmen.He quietly took out the packet of poison powder, then held his breath, and poured more than half of the poison powder onto the fire.
The poison that Yinchan prepared by herself was really powerful, and hundreds of people in the black ancestral hall fell down quickly in pieces.Taking advantage of the chaotic situation, Du Xinwu rushed to grab Hu Ke and ran away.
Afterwards, Hu Ke knew everything.
After listening to Du Xinwu's narration, Hu Ke knew that he had been fooled by Hu Qili.
I thought that Yinchan had already been released, but Hu Qili secretly played a trick, released in front of Hu Ke, and arrested Yinchan behind his back.Hu Ke believed Hu Qili too easily.Hu Qili used to be the master of the Assassin Taoism Sect, and he used "Xin" as his code name. Among the twenty-eight constellations, the heart corresponds to a fox. Hu Ke should have been wary of this old fox long ago.Before getting what he wanted, how could this old fox give up the only bargaining chip that could restrain Hu Ke?
Hu Ke was fooled once, and immediately had a clearer understanding of Hu Qili.He suddenly remembered that when Hu Qili appeared at night, the male leader—until now, Hu Ke still didn't know that the man's real identity was the leader of the bounty leader—said a word.Although he was fighting fiercely with Zhulong at that time, he had no time to distract himself, and the voice of the male watchman was not loud, but these words still penetrated into his ears. "You've come." Hu Ke remembered this sentence.
Although these five words did not contain any substantive content, they at least showed that the male watchman knew Hu Qili, otherwise it would be impossible to say such a thing.Hu Ke remembered the scene where the male watchman took out the scales again.I thought that Hu Qili must have suffered an accident when the scales fell into the hands of the male watchman, but now it seems that the situation is completely different, Hu Qili is not only fine, but also seems to know each other with the male watchman.Hu Ke didn't know what trap was hidden behind this, but he at least made a clear judgment that things were by no means as simple as he saw.
Continuing to think deeply, Hu Qili's words about his life experience echoed in his ears again.
Now Hu Ke is suspicious of all the words and deeds of Hu Qili, and this explanation about his life experience is no exception.
According to Hu Qili's account, Hu Ke has nothing to do with Lei Shan, but is the heir of a family surnamed Li in Shaqu Township, Jianghua County, Yongzhou Prefecture. He was stolen by Hu Qili and raised as a substitute for Lei Shan's son.Hu Ke originally believed it seven or eight points, but now he is full of doubts.If this is true of his life experience, why didn't Hu Qili ask the reason after the Assassin Dao was destroyed, and directly sent twelve dead men to chase and kill him who was seriously injured. Later, the siege failed in Shaoxing Mansion, and he wanted to set up a game at the Tiankou Gambling Table Second siege?It was not until three years later that he needed to find out the whereabouts of the bamboo tube inside the scales, that Hu Qili told the story of this tortuous and bizarre life experience.Hu Ke became more and more sober, and he gradually wanted to understand that Hu Qili tried every means to hunt him down, which showed that his existence was a great threat to Hu Qili, which proved that there must be some kind of extraordinary relationship between him and Lei Shan , and the reason why Hu Qili told his life experience three years later was naturally to reduce the hatred for Hu Qili in his heart, so that he could find out the whereabouts of the scaly inner bamboo tube from his mouth more quickly.
Because Hu Ke had no doubts about Hu Qili before, he became a pawn and let him manipulate him for twenty years.Now he doesn't want to repeat the same mistakes.It's just that right now he is seriously injured, and he is not Hu Qili's opponent at all, so there are only two choices before him, either stay and play with Hu Qili and continue to deal with it, or find a way to escape from Hu Qili's side, completely get rid of Hu Qili's control, and wait until the future to recover After the injury, I will find Hu Qili to settle the score.
Hu Ke chose the latter.
When it comes to acting and playing around, Hu Ke is far from Hu Qili's opponent, and Yuchan is trapped in the Beijing Police Department, and he needs to find a way to rescue him. He has no extra time to spend on Hu Qili.
Now that you have made your choice, you must find a way to escape as soon as possible.
Hu Qili has been away for a long time and has not returned, this is a ready-made opportunity.
Hu Ke raised his head and asked Zhang Xiaocen, "Do you have any hidden hiding place here?"
"Yes," Zhang Xiaocen replied, "There is a dark room in the study."
Cuizhuxuan of Liangjiang Public School is the secret meeting place of the Restoration Society, so a darkroom for hiding is essential. If there is an emergency, such as a raid by the government, members of the Restoration Society can hide in the darkroom to avoid the crisis .In addition, Cuizhuxuan also has a variety of costumes for gentry, businessmen, students, and common people, which can be used by the people of the Restoration Association at any time to cover up their identities.There is also a carriage parked in the yard of Cuizhuxuan, with several fast horses tied to it, all of which are prepared for the convenience of picking up people in the meeting.
Hu Ke checked the dark room. It was hidden behind a row of bookshelves on the west side of the study. It was very hidden. If you didn't look for it deliberately, it would be difficult to find the mystery hidden behind the bookshelves.
With this hidden hiding place, the next thing is much easier.
"Please drive the carriage all the way south," Hu Ke said to Zhang Xiaocen, "Go as far as you can."
"We're hiding in the darkroom." He turned to Du Xinwu again.
Hu Qili has always been good at planning and planning, but Hu Ke is going to play tricks with Hu Qili.He prepared a trick for Hu Qili to divert the tiger away from the mountain.He and Du Xinwu hid in the darkroom, while Zhang Xiaocen drove the carriage out and ran all the way south.When Hu Qili went out and returned, he saw that there was no one in the Cuizhu Pavilion, and that the carriage parked in the yard was gone, so he must have deduced that Hu Ke took the opportunity to escape.In broad daylight, there are many shops in the streets and alleys of Baoding City, and passers-by come and go. Hu Qili only needs to look for the shops near Cuizhuxuan and passers-by to inquire, and he will know which direction the carriage has gone.He asked all the way and tracked all the way, and he would chase farther and farther south.At that time, Hu Ke and Du Xinwu will come out of the dark room and go to the opposite north, so they can take the opportunity to get rid of Hu Qili and rush back to Beijing to try to rescue Yinchan.
After making up his plan, Zhang Xiaocen left immediately.
"Remember," Hu Ke warned, "you run until dark, then abandon the carriage, and come back after hiding for a while." Hu Ke was afraid that Hu Qili would find Zhang Xiaocen to settle the score if he found out that he had been duped, so he let Zhang Xiaocen run until dark After that, he abandoned the car to avoid being chased by Hu Qili, and then hid outside for a while before returning to Cuizhuxuan.
Zhang Xiaocen remembered Hu Ke's advice one by one in his heart.He drove the carriage out the door, all the way south.
Hu Ke and Du Xinwu hid in the darkroom of the study, waiting quietly.
Hu Qili woke up early in the morning and saw that Hu Ke was still sleeping soundly, so he changed his clothes and went out alone to investigate the situation of the Black Ancestral Hall and see how Anzhazi would react after the bounty leader died, and then went to the mansion Near the yamen, ask the government if there are any new arrest measures.When he finished his investigation and returned to Cuizhu Pavilion, he found that the pavilion was quiet. When he walked through the yard, he noticed at a glance that the carriage parked at the corner was gone.
Hu Qili suddenly realized something.He rushed into the guest room, but there was no trace of Hu Ke.Not only that, Du Xinwu in the next room, and Zhang Xiaocen, a member of the Restoration Society who was staying behind at Cuizhuxuan, were all gone.Hu Qili searched all the rooms in the hall, including guest rooms, living rooms and study rooms, but he didn't see a single person.
Hu Qili knew that Hu Ke had fled while he was away.
He sneered secretly in his heart.
He walked out of Xuanmen, asked several shop assistants along the street, and learned that the carriage had gone south.
Hu Qili walked back to the hall, took a fast horse from the yard, and immediately rode the horse out.
Instead of chasing southward, he galloped northward.
Hu Qili will not be so easily fooled.
The carriage was heading south, but that didn't mean Hu Ke was in the carriage.It is also possible that the carriage went south and the Hu Ke fled in another direction.
Hu Qili has already guessed that Hu Ke used the trick of diverting the tiger away from the mountain.It's just that he didn't guess that Hu Ke was still hiding in the green bamboo pavilion, but guessed that Hu Ke fled to other directions.
Hu Qili didn't know where Hu Ke had fled, but he knew that as long as he chased north, he would be right.
Yinchan is still trapped in the city of Beijing. No matter where Hu Ke escapes, he will find Beijing one day.Hu Qili only needs to firmly grasp this point, wait on the sidelines, and one day he will be able to guard Hu Ke.
After Hu Qili left for more than half an hour, after confirming that there was no movement outside for a long time, Hu Ke and Du Xinwu came out of the dark room.
Hu Ke didn't know that Hu Qili rushed to Beijing City, so his destination has not changed, it is still Beijing City.
Both Hu Ke and Du Xinwu's legs and feet were injured, so they had no choice but to take a high stool each, leaning on it in front of them, and walked to the yard step by step.
There were a few horses tied up in the yard, but it was difficult to get on them.
Enduring the pain of tearing wounds, with the help of high stools, the two climbed onto the horses one after another.
Riding horses to the north gate of Baoding City, I saw a small group of patrolmen holding wanted notices at the gate of the city to check out the people who escaped from the city.
"Rush over!" Hu Ke made a decisive decision.
The two suddenly and violently twitched their horsewhips, and the horses flew all four hooves, accelerating towards the city gate, and the passers-by screamed and dodged in a hurry.
The patrolman guarding the city gate who was in charge of interrogation saw the two horses galloping towards them like crazy, without any sign of stopping, so they hurriedly jumped to the sides to avoid it.
Hu Ke and Du Xinwu galloped past, bringing up a cloud of dust, and looked north along the official road.
When it was dark, the journey was nearly halfway done. "Go to Qingrundian Town first." Du Xinwu said.Before he left Beijing and went south to Baoding Mansion, because he didn't know how long this trip to help Hu Ke would take, he made an agreement with Hu Hanmin, Wu Yuzhang and others in advance. Chan, they quickly left Beijing, a dangerous place, to meet up in Qingrundian Town in the south of Beijing. Du Xinwu only left Beijing for two days. In such a short period of time, if Hu Hanmin and others want to rescue Yuchan from the Beijing Police Department, it will be more difficult than ascending to heaven.Du Xinwu didn't have any hope in his heart, but he was afraid of everything in the world, and he had to go to Qingrundian Town to see it. When we arrived at Qingrundian Town, it was just getting dark. Du Xinwu went straight to the Taoyuan Inn in the town.This is the meeting place that he agreed with Hu Hanmin and others. As soon as he arrived at the door of the inn, Du Xinwu was surprised to find that a familiar old partner was smoking by the door. That is Hu Hanmin. When Hu Hanmin saw the person coming, he straightened up all of a sudden, a puff of smoke stuck in his throat, and he coughed several times.For the arrival of Du Xinwu and Hu Ke, he was equally surprised and delighted. "You wouldn't have..." Before Du Xin finished his five words, Hu Hanmin nodded frequently.He knew that Du Xinwu was asking about rescuing Yinchan. As soon as he was overjoyed, Hu Hanmin noticed that Du Xinwu and Hu Ke were both injured and couldn't even get off their horses, so he hurried into the inn to call for help. In a short while, Wu Yuzhang, Peng Jiazhen, Zheng Yuxiu and other revolutionaries who participated in the rescue operation of Wang Jingwei all rushed out happily. Yinchan is also among them. Yinchan rushed to the door excitedly, but stopped abruptly.She stood like that, looking at the Hu Ke on horseback, separated from many busy others.The brief separation was like going through a life-and-death farewell. Until they saw each other face to face, Yinchan still felt that everything was falling into a dream. Hu Ke also felt the same way. Five years ago, it was also in Qingrundian Town, and also in Taoyuan Inn, where Hu Ke and Yinchan once had a rendezvous after they made a big fuss in the yamen of the Imperial Chief of the Imperial Palace.Five years later, at the same place at a different time, the two met here again after experiencing more dangerous difficulties.The reunion in the world is always so wonderful, it makes people happy but calm and peaceful, happy but like a lifetime away.
To be able to reunite so soon, both parties were overjoyed. From Du Xinwu's point of view, it is absolutely impossible to rescue Yinchan from the Jingshi Police Department in such a short period of time.But in fact, Hu Hanmin and others hardly encountered any difficulties during the rescue process. "Money can turn ghosts." Talking about the rescue process, Hu Hanmin smiled and said the key point. Since the prisoner robbery happened in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, the Qing government mobilized a large number of patrolmen from the Beijing Police Department to the prison of the Ministry of Civil Affairs where Wang Jingwei and others were imprisoned.Immediately afterwards, in order to track down Hu Ke's escape from prison, the Jingshi Police Department dispatched a large number of patrol officers.As a result, the defense of the Jingshi Police Department, which was not strictly guarded, became even more empty. As Hu Hanmin said, having money can turn ghosts around.Cheng Jiatuo spent money in secret to find out the exact place where Yinchan was detained, and then bribed the dealer who delivered vegetables and fruits to the Jingshi Police Department every day, let Peng Jiazhen and others mix with the delivery guys, sneaked into the Jingshi Police Department, passed After some hard work, Yinchan was rescued. The Jingshi Police Department is no more than a prison for serious offenders. Ordinary people will not search when they go in and out, so this method can only be used to rescue Yinchan. It is absolutely impossible to rescue Wang Jingwei and others by following the gourd. The place is heavily guarded, not only ordinary people are not allowed to enter and exit, but even the prison guards and patrol police have to conduct body searches when entering and exiting. After rescuing Yinchan, Cheng Jiatong went back to Prince Su's Mansion to continue to be his family lecturer, while Hu Hanmin and others disguised themselves and took Yinchan away from Beijing to the south of Beijing, to Qingrundian Town, an important town in the south of Beijing, and stayed at the Taoyuan Inn at the agreed rendezvous place , waiting for the arrival of Du Xinwu.It's just that Hu Hanmin and others didn't expect Du Xinwu to rescue Hu Ke so quickly, and they rushed to the meeting place not long after they arrived at Taoyuan Inn. When we meet again after the farewell, there will naturally be endless things to say.After checking into the guest room, Hu Ke didn't intend to take a rest at all, and asked Yinchan what had happened in the past few days.Although he had already heard it from Du Xinwu, but hearing it from Yinchan himself, it was completely different. Yinchan immediately smiled comfortably, it was rare for Hu Ke to show such concern for her.So even though they were all unpleasant experiences such as being arrested and imprisoned and tortured, when Yuchan talked about it, she was beaming and radiant, and the depression that had accumulated in her heart for the past few days was swept away in an instant. On the contrary, Hu Ke, who was the only audience, frowned from beginning to end, unable to smile at all. Because he didn't know until after hearing Yinchan's own account that Yinchan's right hand was not injured when she was arrested that night, but was tortured by Hu Qili after being arrested. The parts were crushed and clamped repeatedly until the skin was torn apart, and one hand was almost disabled.The blood on the right cuff of the ai-green thin silk shirt that Hu Qili showed him was from the torture. Hu Qili knew that Yinchan and Hu Ke were husband and wife, and also knew that Yinchan and Hu Ke had been by their side all these years, so he tried to find out the whereabouts of the scaled inner bamboo tube from Yinchan's mouth.But don't look at Yinchan who gave birth to a delicate woman, but she is very tough in her bones. A woman who has been honed in the assassin's way of poison for more than ten years must have such a tenacity.Yinchan kept silent, despite the severe torture, she never uttered a single word. "I didn't say it." When she got to this point, Yinchan's tone became understated. "If I said it, not only would I die, but you would also die." Yinchan knew that what Hu Qili wanted to press was her and Hu The guest's only life-saving talisman, once said, both of them will die, as long as they keep silent, they still have the capital to keep going, and there is still a glimmer of life. Just because Yin Chan never spoke, Hu Qili could only transfer the breakthrough point to Hu Ke.He took off the blood-stained thin silk shirt on Yinchan's body, and performed a scene of releasing Yinchan in front of Hu Ke, supplemented by the words of his life experience, and finally pried Hu Ke's mouth open. Holding Yinchan's almost crippled right hand, Hu Ke's eyes were bloodshot and his heart was boiling with anger. He didn't expect Hu Qili to be so vicious with such vicious intentions, he said that he didn't torture Yinchan, but he said something else behind his back.What's even more hateful is that he actually took all of Hu Qili's nonsense as the truth, and even really planned to take Hu Qili south to Changsha Mansion to get the bamboo tube inside the thorn.If Hu Qili really got what he wanted, it would be tantamount to him personally leading the way, leading himself and Yinchan to the Huangquan Road leading to the underworld. Thinking of this, Hu Ke, who was burning with anger, clenched his hands and grabbed the corner of the table, wishing to crush it into pieces. It's a pity that he is seriously injured now, otherwise, he would immediately go to Hu Qili to settle the score. He secretly vowed in his heart that when he sees Hu Qili again after he recovers from his injury, he must make him pay a heavy price!
Early the next morning, Du Xinwu came to Hu Ke and Yin Chan's room. Although Du Xinwu failed to rescue Wang Jingwei and others when he entered Beijing this time, he made the rescue known to the whole country, achieved the set goal, and completed the task assigned to him by Sun Wen.He discussed with Hu Hanmin, Peng Jiazhen and others last night. Hu Hanmin and Wu Yuzhang were going to return to Japan. Peng Jiazhen, Zheng Yuxiu and others would continue to stay in Beijing and Tianjin for activities. .Du Xin Wuyi came to see Hu Ke and Yin Chan early in the morning, and wanted to ask them what their plans are next. Hu Ke had already discussed with Yin Chan last night, and now Hu Qili must be looking for him everywhere. An Zhazi of the North and South Gang also regarded him as a sworn enemy. Avoid, heal your injury first. "I plan to go to Hunan and find a place to avoid it." Hu Ke grew up in Hunan, and he has some feelings for that land, and the bamboo tube inside the scales is hidden in the drunken village in Changsha Prefecture, Hunan Province. Sooner or later, he will go to get it , so after discussing with Yinchan, I decided to find a place in Hunan Province to take refuge temporarily. "My hometown is in Cili County, Hunan Province, and I still have an old residence there," Du Xinwu said, "If you don't mind, how about going to my old residence to recuperate?" Hu Ke and Yin Chan looked at each other, and they both saw the meaning of agreement in their eyes.The two were worried that they had nowhere to go, Du Xinwu's proposal just solved the urgent need, so he accepted the kindness. "The old residence is in Baiyanyu Village, and there are some uncles in the village," Du Xinwu said again, "I'll write a letter from home, and you take it back, and the uncles will understand after reading it. Already." He asked the shopkeeper for pens and ink, wrote a family letter on the spot, and handed it to Hu Ke. The place to heal the wounded has been settled, besides that, Hu Ke has one more thing to bother Du Xinwu, and that is the condition that Du Xinwu had promised before. "You mean you want me to help you find someone?" Du Xinwu asked. Hu Ke nodded. "Who are you looking for?" Du Xinwu asked.At the beginning, Hu Ke agreed to participate in the rescue of Wang Jingwei and others. The only condition was that the revolutionaries help find someone. As for who to look for, Hu Ke did not say at that time. "The man we dumped yesterday." Hu Ke replied, "His name is Hu Qili." Du Xinwu couldn't help being slightly taken aback.The person Hu Ke asked him to look for had already been seen in Baoding Mansion, but he tried every means to get rid of him, and now he wanted to look for him again. The contradiction in this made him quite puzzled.But he is not a man of good things, and there is no need to find out what is going on.Since he agreed to this condition at the beginning, he will never break his promise. "I remember that person's appearance," Du Xinwu said, "I will find an artist to draw it, and then send the portrait to all branches of the League, so that everyone can pay more attention to this person. Once I find something, I will notify you immediately." "Thank you very much." Hu Ke cupped his fists and thanked him.Since entering the assassin's path, he almost never said "thank you" to people, this was the first time in his memory. Du Xinwu hurriedly cupped his fists in return.He asked Hu Ke for help twice successively, both of which were life-and-death matters at the risk of his life, but what he gave Hu Ke in return was all a matter of life and death.Not to mention helping to find one person, even looking for ten or eight, or even going up the mountain of swords and down into the sea of fire, he will be obliged.
The three groups of people parted ways.Hu Hanmin and Wu Yuzhang went to Tianjin Dagukou Wharf and took a passenger ship eastward to Japan; Peng Jiazhen, Zheng Yuxiu and others returned to Beijing; After being arrested and interrogated, they parted ways at the mouth of the Yangtze River.Du Xinwu went to Guangdong and Guangxi to contact the party alone, preparing to organize an uprising in Guangzhou; Hu Ke and Yuchan went up the Yangtze River by boat to Hunan Province. Hu Ke and Yin Chan rushed to the Zuixiang Pavilion in Changsha Mansion first, and took the bamboo tube hidden on the beam of the bamboo house. A white cloth was stuffed inside the bamboo tube, and a series of numbers were written inside: Two four four four one two two three seven three seven eight one seven eight one six four. This is obviously a code. When Hu Ke first discovered the secret of the scales, he had already seen this code, but without the corresponding script, it was impossible to decipher it. After taking the bamboo tube, the two went to Shaqu Township, Jianghua County, Yongzhou Prefecture. Hu Qili said that Hu Ke is a descendant of a family surnamed Li here. In order to verify the truth of these words and dispel the last trace of doubt in his heart, Hu Ke came to Jianghua County. Sure enough, there is not even Shaqu Township in Jianghua County, let alone a family surnamed Li who lost their children.Hu Qili's words were really random nonsense in order to deceive Hu Ke's trust, and the last trace of doubt in Hu Ke's heart was dispelled. After figuring everything out, Hu Ke and Yin Chan rushed to Cili County in Lizhou, and found Du Xinwu's former residence in Baiyanyu Village.Du Xinwu wrote the matter clearly in the family letter, and after the two of them gave the family letter to Du Xinwu's family relatives to read, they moved into this old residence smoothly. Under Yinchan's careful care, several wounds of Hu Ke healed slowly.While the injury is getting better, Hu Ke is also patiently waiting for Du Xinwu's news. For Hu Qili, Hu Ke no longer has the slightest affection, only hatred. Of course, he will not be blinded by the raging flames of hatred. If the revolutionaries really found Hu Qili's trail, Hu Ke would no longer act rashly and confront this old fox head-on.At that time, he will regain his identity as an assassin who is a young man of Taoist soldiers, and become an assassin who sneaks in the dark, do what he should do, and use his best means to solve Hu Qili and settle all grievances and grievances. Du Xinwu, Hu Hanmin and Wu Yuzhang left, and Wang Jingwei, Huang Fusheng and Luo Shixun began their career behind bars for nearly two years until the Wuchang Uprising broke out and the Qing government announced the opening of the party under heavy pressure. The prisoner was banned and the political prisoners were released, and the three were able to regain their freedom. In the past two years, the domestic situation has changed drastically.The feat of Wang Jingwei and others plotting to assassinate the Regent, and the subsequent actions of the Tongmenghui patriots trying to rescue Wang Jingwei and others completely reversed the unfavorable public opinion situation. Coupled with the ensuing Guangzhou Uprising, the revolutionary momentum gradually rose.After the outbreak of the Wuchang Uprising, the revolutionary wave quickly swept across the country, and the southern provinces declared their independence from the Qing court one after another. In order to restore the decline, the Qing court re-appointed Yuan Shikai. Yuan Shikai, who had been hiding his power for three years in Anyang, Henan, finally waited for his own god-given opportunity. He led the Beiyang Army to the south and quickly recaptured Hankou from the revolutionary army.Yuan Shikai deeply understood the truth that all the birds are hidden and the rabbit is dead, so naturally he would not deal with the insurgents wholeheartedly, but would seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to seize greater power.On the one hand, he ordered the Beiyang Army to stand still, and secretly negotiated peace with the southern revolutionary party. On the other hand, he took advantage of the revolutionary wave sweeping the country to oppress the Qing court in turn. While Yuan Shikai was turning his hands into clouds and his hands into rain, the revolutionary parties in the south did not stop at all. They quickly established the provisional government of the Republic of China in Nanjing and elected Sun Wen as the provisional president.It's just that during the election process, there was some unhappiness within the Revolutionary Party.Before the election, Zhang Taiyan, a veteran of the Restoration Association, declared everywhere: "If the president is elected, he will be Huang Xing with merit, Song Jiaoren with talent, and Wang Jingwei with virtue." There is a trend of "reversing Sun Wen". In this election as the interim president, he elected Huang Xing, Song Jiaoren and Wang Jingwei, but did not mention Sun Wen's name, which is obviously to exclude Sun Wen.However, Sun Wen relied on his prestige within the Tongmenghui, as well as the "Hongmen boss" Huang Sande and the name of the court to mobilize the support of overseas Chinese groups from all walks of life, and his right-hand man Chen Qimei mobilized the Qinggang forces to build momentum, and was finally successfully elected. After the establishment of the Nanjing Provisional Government, the conflict between the Tongmenghui and the Restoration Society further escalated when the governor of Zhejiang was elected. Zhejiang is the base camp of the Restoration Society, so Tao Chengzhang, the vice-chairman of the Restoration Society, was very vocal in the selection of the governor of Zhejiang Province.Tao Chengzhang himself refused to accept it. When he was asked for his own opinion, he said that "anyone who is capable is welcome, but Chen Qimei is not."Tao Chengzhang knew that Chen Qimei had always wanted to take control of Zhejiang Province. As the vice president of the Restoration Society, he had long been extremely dissatisfied with Chen Qimei's blatant exclusion of the Restoration Society when he elected the governor of the Shanghai Army, so he publicly opposed Chen Qimei's appointment. The post of governor of Zhejiang. When this matter reached Chen Qimei's ears, Chen Qimei was naturally furious.Tao Chengzhang claimed that anyone who is capable can be the governor of Zhejiang Province, but Chen Qimei is the only one who cannot. There is a possibility of entering Zhejiang, but now there is no hope at all.Because of this, coupled with the fact that the Tongmenghui and the Restoration Society have always had conflicts, Chen Qimei hated Tao Chengzhang deeply. Although Chen Qimei is Sun Wen's right-hand man and a leader of the League, but he is used to being a big boss of the Youth Gang and has always acted ruthlessly. He has his own way to get rid of those who are not fair on the surface. . Tao Chengzhang is the vice president of the Restoration Association, and his status is very important. Chen Qimei must hand over the secret removal of Tao Chengzhang to someone who is absolutely worthy of his trust.思来想去，他最后想到了自己的结拜兄弟蒋志清，于是把蒋志清叫来府上密会商谈。 了解陈其美的意思后，蒋志清立刻拍着胸脯揽下了这件事，并承诺数日内一定办成。 “王竹卿可以帮你。”陈其美对蒋志清说出了这句话。王竹卿是光复会成员，暗中投靠了陈其美，现在陈其美要除掉光复会的副会长，熟悉光复会内部情况的王竹卿自然有用武之地。 蒋志清知道王竹卿可以帮到他，同时也听明白了这个“帮”字的深层次含义。暗杀本是隐秘手段，加上目标又是陶成章，所以务必要做得密不透风，按理说由他一个人行事最好，毕竟多一个人就多一分走漏风声的危险。但多一个人也有多一个人的好处，那就是多出了一个背黑锅的替死鬼。暗杀陶成章之后，把王竹卿推出来做替死鬼，蒋志清则可以趁机脱身，置身事外。陈其美的这句话，其实是在告诉蒋志清，事成之后不会对他卸磨杀驴，让他免去后顾之忧。 有了把兄的这句话，蒋志清大可以放开手去做。 但他还有一个请求：“我想请贺先生相助。” “姓贺的只对江湖帮会的事感兴趣，他多半不肯参与此事。”陈其美摇头道，“再说他这人城府很深，做事又由着性子来，让他动手行刺，我反而不放心。” “他无须动手，”蒋志清说道，“只需负责接应我就成。” 陈其美知道蒋志清是在为自己的后路做考虑，有贺先生做接应，无论他最终暗杀成功与否，至少可以保证他活着脱身。 想到这里，陈其美点了点头，同意了蒋志清的要求。
接下了这项棘手的暗杀任务，蒋志清首先要做的，就是找到陶成章身在何处。 这就要靠王竹卿了。 王竹卿虽然只是光复会的基层成员，不知道陶成章的行踪，但他通过会内的逐层关系，打听到光复会成员张伟文与陶成章联系密切，因此引荐蒋志清前往拜会张伟文。蒋志清见到张伟文后，表达了来意，声称自己是代表陈其美前来，希望能拜会陶成章，双方开诚布公，捐弃前嫌。张伟文暗自琢磨，觉得能借此机会化解双方的矛盾，不失为一件好事，于是告诉蒋志清，陶成章患了病，住在上海广慈医院，并将医院地址和病房号告诉了蒋志清。 就这样，蒋志清顺利完成了第一步。 紧接着的第二步，就是熟悉广慈医院周围的环境和内部的路径情况，以制定相应的暗杀计划。 按照张伟文告知的地址，蒋志清携带礼品，孤身一人来到位于上海法租界金神父路的广慈医院，走进了陶成章所在的病房。 两人相见，满脸堆笑，相互说的都是客套话，一个表达作为后生的仰慕之情，并代表陈其美为此前推选沪军都督一事致歉；另一个则表示自己也有不对的地方，希望将来能精诚合作共图大业，接着两人又聊了一些关于当前南北形势的话题，这次会面便在和睦融洽的氛围当中结束了。蒋志清表示以后还会再来探望，然后向陶成章告辞，离开了医院。 蒋志清没有说场面话，他的确还会再来探望，只是探望的方式，是陶成章决不会料想到的。 蒋志清的这次探望，一来给陶成章制造了假象，让陶成章放松了警惕，原本陶成章对陈其美留了个心眼，但现在这个心眼彻底打消了；二来以探望的名义，蒋志清名正言顺地进出医院，趁机勘察了医院内的路径和周围的环境，回去后便制定了具体的暗杀计划，顺利地完成了第二步。 最后一步，就是将制定好的暗杀计划付诸实施。
西历一月十四日凌晨，漆黑的夜幕下，两道黑影出现在了广慈医院的大门外。 蒋志清和王竹卿按照制定好的计划，偷偷来到了广慈医院。 广慈医院的大门是栅栏式的铁门，从里面上了锁。两人望了望铁门里面，又望了望四周，确定四下里无人，便拿出事先准备好的工具，迅速地撬开了门锁。两人溜进大门，穿过一片草坪，蹿入医院大楼，悄无声息地走上二楼，来到过道中段一间病房的门外。 为了方便医生进出，房门是虚掩着的，这倒省去了撬锁破门的工夫。 蒋志清轻轻地推开房门，与王竹卿鱼贯而入。 病房内阴晦昏暗，弥漫着一股药味。陶成章躺在病床上，呼吸均匀平顺，想必是在做着某个安稳的梦。 蒋志清冲王竹卿打了个手势，让王竹卿守在门边把风，然后蹑手蹑脚，一步步地靠近病床。 熟睡中的陶成章毫无反应，堕入梦乡的他，哪里能察觉到正在逼近的危机？ 走到床边，蒋志清将手枪拔了出来，对准了陶成章的头部。 闭眼侧头，深吸一口气，蒋志清最终心胆一横，扣动了扳机。 子弹蹿出枪口，从左额射入，斜穿胸部，陶成章脑袋一歪，当场没了动弹。 一举得手，趁着枪声还没吸引来人，蒋志清和王竹卿急忙蹿出房门，奔下楼梯，仓皇地逃出了医院大楼。 刚出大楼，医院大门外便出现了亮光，一辆挂着灯笼的马车，停在了医院门口。 深夜有马车赶来医院，多半是有突发疾病的病人，这大大出乎蒋志清的意料。他暗呼侥幸，幸好下手及时，如果慢上片刻，就一定会被发现。他和王竹卿放弃了从大门出逃的打算，奔到另一边的围墙，麻利地翻墙逃出。 几乎在同一时刻，医院的大门被推开，三个人走了进来。 借助灯笼的亮光，三个人发现门锁有被撬开的痕迹，接着又朝远处的围墙望了一眼。两道黑影越墙而出，正好被这三人瞧在眼里。 三人以为是夜里入医院行窃的小偷，没有过多在意，走入医院大楼，来到二楼陶成章所住的病房外。 无巧不巧，这三人正好是来找陶成章的。 过道里其他几间病房打开了门，几个被枪声惊醒的病人探出头朝这边望，一个值班的医生被吵醒，一边披衣服一边朝这边走来。这些人都听到了响声，但以为是什么东西碰撞发出的声音，根本没想到那是枪声。 来找陶成章的三人，和值班医生几乎同时抵达病房门口。 值班医生看了三人一眼，见房门没有掩好，于是直接走进病房，一边打着哈欠，一边弄亮了电灯。 灯光一亮，满床的鲜红色立刻刺入眼帘。 值班医生当场吓呆了，刚打完哈欠的嘴巴，保持着张开的状态。全身僵硬的值班医生被推向了一边，一个人从他的身后冲过，大声喊着“陶先生”，扑向床边。 这人正是光复会成员张伟文，随他而来的另外两个人，却是胡客和姻婵。 站在门口，胡客望见陶成章的伤口还在往外流血。这说明陶成章中枪只是顷刻之间的事。胡客立刻想起进医院大门之时，曾看见远处有两道人影越墙而过。 “你看看他还有没有救。”胡客对姻婵说道，“我去去就回。”也不管姻婵答应与否，他撂下这句话，立刻奔下楼去。 胡客追到两道人影翻墙的地方，越墙而出。 墙外是一条宽阔的街道，一端通向医院的大门，另一端则通向法租界深处。马车停在医院的大门口，那两道人影翻出围墙后，不可能朝大门方向逃，所以只可能逃往租界深处。 胡客向租界深处追去。他当初在法务部监狱和保定帮暗扎子处受的伤，得到姻婵的悉心治疗，早已痊愈，双腿奔走无碍。他一口气追出老远，在一个路口看见三个人聚在街对面的转角，其中两个人弓弯着腰，看样子似乎在大口地喘气。 胡客没有佯装路人经过，而是直接朝三人走去。 两个弯腰喘气的人正是蒋志清和王竹卿。两人发现有人直冲冲地走来，意识到不对劲，立刻连气也不喘了，沿着街道就往远处跑，另一个人则留在原地。留下来的这个人非但不逃，反而手一抖，向胡客迎面走来。 手一抖，武器已在手。这人以为蒋志清和王竹卿做事不利落，引来了追兵，他向胡客走来，是打算截断胡客这条尾巴。 胡客以前来过上海，知道这里帮会横行，还是南帮暗扎子的老巢，称得上是藏龙卧虎之地。眼前这人不打招呼就直接动手，可谓强横之极。胡客不敢大意，他的右手从腰间抹过，问天一出，两人便动起了手。 夜色漆黑，互不视面，但刚一交手，两个人便错身分开，对峙而立。 只是眨眼间的一招半式，胡客已经猜到眼前这个人是谁了。 曾经的御捕门天字号捕头贺谦，与胡客有过多次交手，那种交手的感觉胡客永远也忘不了。 这位蒋志清口中的“贺先生”，似乎也洞悉了对手的身份。他知道对手的能力，因此暂时选择了对峙。 云岫寺一别，已近七年，如今在这样的场合偶然重逢，胡客和贺谦都是始料未及。 当年在云岫寺中，贺谦自知抵挡不了胡客，于是弃“奎”而逃。 他逃下云岫峰，进入云岫村，与十五年前秘密安插他入御捕门的王者雷山见了面。雷山已经得知云岫寺一战的具体情况，知道兵毒二门的青者几乎全军覆没，摆在刺客道面临的是前所未有的劫难。雷山命令贺谦带领天层的人撤离云岫村，让刺客道不至于就此覆灭，他则独自留下来迎战胡启立和胡客。 “如果我抵挡不了南家后人，”在贺谦离开之前，雷山取出了一块片状的白色菱形坠，交到了贺谦的手里，“将来重振我道，就着落在你一个人的身上了。” 贺谦原本拥有一块黑色的菱形坠，那是他年幼之时，雷山亲手挂在他脖子上的。雷家属于天层的正脉，刺客道的每一任王者，皆从正脉雷家所出，幼年时便被选定，通过一系列艰难的考验后，方能继承王者之位，统率整个刺客道。雷山的独子被韩亦儒夺走，不知生死，此后他再无子嗣，只能从天层的偏脉中挑选继任者，贺谦成为了百里挑一的幸运儿。那块黑色的菱形坠，便是王者继任者的象征。贺谦进入御捕门秘密潜伏，正是雷山对他的培养和考验。现在雷山将白色的菱形坠交给贺谦，聚齐象征刺客道替天行道、黑白分明的双色坠，意味着雷山正式将刺客道王者之位传给了贺谦。 贺谦遵从雷山的命令，带领天层偏脉共计二十余人，撤离云岫村，向东南方向转移。 可他没有想到的是，在撤离途中，胡启立没有冲雷山而去，反而率领众死士追杀而来。 天层的正脉和偏脉，均是刺客道创始人的后代，但血缘关系有亲疏之别，这里面除了王者实力强劲外，其余人大都没什么武力，毕竟身居天层不用出任务，自然而然便荒废了武力。天层偏脉虽有二十余人，但根本不是胡启立和众死士的对手，很快便被屠杀殆尽，只有贺谦负伤后逃了出来。 兵门、毒门齐灭，天层偏脉被屠，贺谦只好又潜回云岫村，却发现王者雷山也已身死。整个刺客道除了串人外已全数丧命，刺客道运行了近三百年的组织构架彻底分崩瓦解，算是真正意义上的覆灭了。 御捕门回不去，刺客道又已瓦解，作为天字号捕头兼王者继任者的贺谦，一夜之间变成了孤家寡人。但他知道造成这一切的罪魁祸首是谁——韩亦儒，那个现已改名为胡启立的南家后人。在天层偏脉被屠之时，贺谦和胡启立照了面，他记住了胡启立的模样。 贺谦虽然无力重建刺客道，但他可以报仇，所以养好伤后，他开始寻找胡启立的踪迹。这一点倒是和胡客惊人的相似。但胡客和姻婵以两人之力，想尽各种办法也找不到胡启立，贺谦只凭一人之力，当然无法获得收获，以至于后来他不得不委身于青帮，试图依靠青帮庞大的势力网，觅得一些关于胡启立的蛛丝马迹。陈其美说贺谦只关心江湖帮会的事，对革命大业却视若无睹，正是缘于此。 贺谦出现在这个路口转角，是为了接应蒋志清和王竹卿，如果两人行刺时不小心露了马脚，引来大批追兵，贺谦就负责断后，掩护两人逃离，没想到却因此遇到了胡客这位老熟人。 从当年清泉县巡抚大院的缉捕开始，贺谦和胡客作为死对头打过太多交道，彼此间十分熟悉。贺谦知道胡客是南家后人，覆灭刺客道有胡客的份，但他却不知道雷山是胡客所杀，更不知道胡客和雷山的真实关系。在他眼里，身为南家后人的胡客，是绝对意义上的死敌。 “就你一个人？”贺谦问道，“胡启立呢？”贺谦知道他和胡客之间必有一战，但在动手之前，他希望获知胡启立的下落。胡客和胡启立是父子关系，胡启立藏身何处，胡客必然知道。 “我也在找他。”胡客的回答，令贺谦颇觉诧异。 胡客一直都在寻找胡启立，这次来到上海，正是为了此事。 不久前，在白岩峪村隐居了一年多的胡客，终于收到了杜心五捎来的消息。 杜心五作为孙文的保镖，身在南京。他从南京发来电报，托湖南省的同盟会成员赴慈利县白岩峪村，将电文转交给胡客。电文中说，陶成章在上海发现了胡启立的踪迹。 安宁日子过了太久，是时候活动活动筋骨了。胡客与姻婵立刻动身，赶往南京见杜心五。杜心五只知道陶成章捎来消息说有所发现，但不清楚具体发现了什么。南京临时政府刚刚成立，杜心五还有很多事情要做，无法陪同胡客和姻婵前往上海，所以他把陶成章在上海的住处告诉了胡客，让胡客亲自去找陶成章了解清楚。 胡客和姻婵不做休整，连夜赶来上海，找到陶成章的住处，但陶成章不在，只找到张伟文。张伟文得知两人由杜心五介绍而来，而且是为了急事，所以不顾夜半更深，叫来一辆马车，带两人赶来广慈医院见陶成章，谁知却撞上陶成章遭人暗杀，这才有了接下来胡客追击凶手、碰上贺谦的事。 但是贺谦不信胡客的话。“不用装模作样了，”他说，“叫胡启立出来，他一定就在附近。” 胡客不想多做解释。他本想将暗杀陶成章的凶手抓回去，但有贺谦阻拦，而且蒋、王二人已消融在夜色深处，所以他不打算再继续追了。他准备返回广慈医院，看看陶成章现在情况如何。 贺谦抢过来一步，拦住了胡客回去的道路。 “我不想和你动手，”胡客声音低沉，“让开。” “你我迟早要决一死战，”贺谦道，“择日不如撞日，就在今天见生死！”贺谦知道自己的能力要逊胡客一筹，但他不会因实力不济便避而不战。他全身紧绷，手脚蓄力，准备迎战他一生中遇到过的最为强劲的对手。 胡客没有动手的打算。经历了一系列的变故，如今他已认定自己是王者雷山的后人，而贺谦是刺客道的人，所以他不想与贺谦为敌。“我与南家没有任何关系。”他说道。 漆黑无人的大街上，这句话让贺谦有些错愕。 胡客举步从贺谦的身边走过。 贺谦不依不饶，伸手将胡客拦住。 “你把话说清楚。”贺谦道。 胡客转头看着贺谦，隐约能看见贺谦满脸胡茬，尽显沧桑之色，哪里还有几年前英气逼人的潇洒模样。胡客不知道贺谦在道上是什么人物，但算起来，如果不把串人计入在内，再将他本人除外，贺谦恐怕是刺客道的最后一人了。贺谦执着于南家后人一事，如果不知道真相，恐怕会一直纠缠下去。以前无论面对何人何事，胡客从来不做解释，他独来独往惯了，即便是被人冤枉遭人陷害，也觉得无所谓。但这一次面对贺谦，他觉得应该要说点什么。 用最简单的语言，胡客还原了事情的脉络，最后说道：“比起你，我更想找到胡启立。” 这番讲述颠覆了贺谦的认识。当年雷山的独子被韩亦儒抢走，这件事贺谦是知道的，如果不是因为这个变故，也轮不到他来继承王者之位。贺谦早已接受了雷山独子已死的事实，可现在这个曾与整个刺客道为敌的南家后人，却自称是王者雷山的独子，是天层的正脉之后，贺谦如何能不震惊？ 但是贺谦知道，胡客没有理由说谎。曾经有不少人为了活命，向身为天字号捕头的他撒谎，但胡客的实力在他之上，不用求他什么，所以根本没有撒谎的必要，而且他多多少少了解胡客的为人，不是那种能随口说出如此复杂谎言的人。 “你找到他没有？”良久，贺谦才问道。 “还没有，”胡客应道，“不过陶成章知道他的下落。” 陶成章这三个字，让贺谦顿时讶然。 因为暗杀陶成章这件事，贺谦今晚出现在了这里，不仅机缘巧合遇上了胡客，而且觅得了有关胡启立的线索，可这条线索偏偏又指向刚刚被暗杀的陶成章，世间的巧合在这个循环里体现得淋漓尽致。 贺谦不再阻止胡客离开，反而跟着胡客一起去了广慈医院。此时他的想法和胡客一样，都希望蒋志清和王竹卿没能得手，陶成章尚有命在。 可惜事与愿违。 陶成章中枪后，没有立刻断气，医生进行紧急抢救，姻婵也在旁边帮忙，但最终还是无力回天。在胡客和贺谦赶回医院病房的同时，陶成章的心脏停止了跳动，死在了病床上。 陶成章被暗杀后，消息一经传出，顿时震惊了整个南方。 陈其美是沪军都督，上海是他的管辖范围，所以孙文致电陈其美，要求他“严速究缉，务令凶徒就获，明正其罪，以泄天下之愤”。陈其美是暗杀陶成章的幕后主使，但他不会公开承认此事，反而要做足与此案无关的样子。案发后，他立刻大张旗鼓，一方面重金悬赏捉拿凶手，并派出大批巡警四处侦查，另一方面则派出暗探，秘密赶赴嘉兴抓捕王竹卿。王竹卿替陈其美暗杀了陶成章，躲在嘉兴避风头，满心以为能从陈其美那里捞到不少好处，没想到陈其美过河拆桥，卸磨杀驴，掉过头来拿他做替死鬼。案发后没几天，王竹卿即被抓捕归案，押解回上海巡警总局。对王竹卿的审讯，全部由陈其美的人负责，巡警总局很快便向外界公开了审讯结果，说王竹卿和陶成章有旧怨私仇，因此“挟私复怨，擅行仇杀”，王竹卿很快被秘密处死。这一手卸磨杀驴、杀人灭口，陈其美做得可谓滴水不漏。 作为同一暗杀事件的元凶，蒋志清的命运却和王竹卿截然相反。 案发之后，陈其美兑现了他的诺言，没有拿把弟蒋志清开刀，而是送蒋志清去日本躲避风声。在日本，蒋志清出任《军声》杂志的编辑，并以“介石”为笔名，发表了不少议论军事政治的文章。和汪精卫一样，蒋志清从此被人以笔名相称，呼作蒋介石。数年后，避过风头的蒋介石回到国内，投奔了孙文。当年光复会与同盟会矛盾重重，作为光复会的领袖人物，陶成章曾多次公开反对孙文，蒋介石暗杀了陶成章，不仅替陈其美出了一口恶气，也算是为孙文除去了一个政坛上的劲敌。正因为如此，蒋介石回国后便直接投奔了孙文，孙文也似乎因为刺陶一事而对蒋介石格外信赖，从第一次见面起，便对蒋介石赋予了绝对的信任。蒋介石从此登上历史舞台，一步步地迈向整个国家政治权力的顶峰。 陶成章是光复会的创始人之一，一生之中极为推崇暗
When it was dark, the journey was nearly halfway done. "Go to Qingrundian Town first." Du Xinwu said.Before he left Beijing and went south to Baoding Mansion, because he didn't know how long this trip to help Hu Ke would take, he made an agreement with Hu Hanmin, Wu Yuzhang and others in advance. Chan, they quickly left Beijing, a dangerous place, to meet up in Qingrundian Town in the south of Beijing. Du Xinwu only left Beijing for two days. In such a short period of time, if Hu Hanmin and others want to rescue Yuchan from the Beijing Police Department, it will be more difficult than ascending to heaven.Du Xinwu didn't have any hope in his heart, but he was afraid of everything in the world, and he had to go to Qingrundian Town to see it. When we arrived at Qingrundian Town, it was just getting dark. Du Xinwu went straight to the Taoyuan Inn in the town.This is the meeting place that he agreed with Hu Hanmin and others. As soon as he arrived at the door of the inn, Du Xinwu was surprised to find that a familiar old partner was smoking by the door. That is Hu Hanmin. When Hu Hanmin saw the person coming, he straightened up all of a sudden, a puff of smoke stuck in his throat, and he coughed several times.For the arrival of Du Xinwu and Hu Ke, he was equally surprised and delighted. "You wouldn't have..." Before Du Xin finished his five words, Hu Hanmin nodded frequently.He knew that Du Xinwu was asking about rescuing Yinchan. As soon as he was overjoyed, Hu Hanmin noticed that Du Xinwu and Hu Ke were both injured and couldn't even get off their horses, so he hurried into the inn to call for help. In a short while, Wu Yuzhang, Peng Jiazhen, Zheng Yuxiu and other revolutionaries who participated in the rescue operation of Wang Jingwei all rushed out happily. Yinchan is also among them. Yinchan rushed to the door excitedly, but stopped abruptly.She stood like that, looking at the Hu Ke on horseback, separated from many busy others.The brief separation was like going through a life-and-death farewell. Until they saw each other face to face, Yinchan still felt that everything was falling into a dream. Hu Ke also felt the same way. Five years ago, it was also in Qingrundian Town, and also in Taoyuan Inn, where Hu Ke and Yinchan once had a rendezvous after they made a big fuss in the yamen of the Imperial Chief of the Imperial Palace.Five years later, at the same place at a different time, the two met here again after experiencing more dangerous difficulties.The reunion in the world is always so wonderful, it makes people happy but calm and peaceful, happy but like a lifetime away.
To be able to reunite so soon, both parties were overjoyed. From Du Xinwu's point of view, it is absolutely impossible to rescue Yinchan from the Jingshi Police Department in such a short period of time.But in fact, Hu Hanmin and others hardly encountered any difficulties during the rescue process. "Money can turn ghosts." Talking about the rescue process, Hu Hanmin smiled and said the key point. Since the prisoner robbery happened in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, the Qing government mobilized a large number of patrolmen from the Beijing Police Department to the prison of the Ministry of Civil Affairs where Wang Jingwei and others were imprisoned.Immediately afterwards, in order to track down Hu Ke's escape from prison, the Jingshi Police Department dispatched a large number of patrol officers.As a result, the defense of the Jingshi Police Department, which was not strictly guarded, became even more empty. As Hu Hanmin said, having money can turn ghosts around.Cheng Jiatuo spent money in secret to find out the exact place where Yinchan was detained, and then bribed the dealer who delivered vegetables and fruits to the Jingshi Police Department every day, let Peng Jiazhen and others mix with the delivery guys, sneaked into the Jingshi Police Department, passed After some hard work, Yinchan was rescued. The Jingshi Police Department is no more than a prison for serious offenders. Ordinary people will not search when they go in and out, so this method can only be used to rescue Yinchan. It is absolutely impossible to rescue Wang Jingwei and others by following the gourd. The place is heavily guarded, not only ordinary people are not allowed to enter and exit, but even the prison guards and patrol police have to conduct body searches when entering and exiting. After rescuing Yinchan, Cheng Jiatong went back to Prince Su's Mansion to continue to be his family lecturer, while Hu Hanmin and others disguised themselves and took Yinchan away from Beijing to the south of Beijing, to Qingrundian Town, an important town in the south of Beijing, and stayed at the Taoyuan Inn at the agreed rendezvous place , waiting for the arrival of Du Xinwu.It's just that Hu Hanmin and others didn't expect Du Xinwu to rescue Hu Ke so quickly, and they rushed to the meeting place not long after they arrived at Taoyuan Inn. When we meet again after the farewell, there will naturally be endless things to say.After checking into the guest room, Hu Ke didn't intend to take a rest at all, and asked Yinchan what had happened in the past few days.Although he had already heard it from Du Xinwu, but hearing it from Yinchan himself, it was completely different. Yinchan immediately smiled comfortably, it was rare for Hu Ke to show such concern for her.So even though they were all unpleasant experiences such as being arrested and imprisoned and tortured, when Yuchan talked about it, she was beaming and radiant, and the depression that had accumulated in her heart for the past few days was swept away in an instant. On the contrary, Hu Ke, who was the only audience, frowned from beginning to end, unable to smile at all. Because he didn't know until after hearing Yinchan's own account that Yinchan's right hand was not injured when she was arrested that night, but was tortured by Hu Qili after being arrested. The parts were crushed and clamped repeatedly until the skin was torn apart, and one hand was almost disabled.The blood on the right cuff of the ai-green thin silk shirt that Hu Qili showed him was from the torture. Hu Qili knew that Yinchan and Hu Ke were husband and wife, and also knew that Yinchan and Hu Ke had been by their side all these years, so he tried to find out the whereabouts of the scaled inner bamboo tube from Yinchan's mouth.But don't look at Yinchan who gave birth to a delicate woman, but she is very tough in her bones. A woman who has been honed in the assassin's way of poison for more than ten years must have such a tenacity.Yinchan kept silent, despite the severe torture, she never uttered a single word. "I didn't say it." When she got to this point, Yinchan's tone became understated. "If I said it, not only would I die, but you would also die." Yinchan knew that what Hu Qili wanted to press was her and Hu The guest's only life-saving talisman, once said, both of them will die, as long as they keep silent, they still have the capital to keep going, and there is still a glimmer of life. Just because Yin Chan never spoke, Hu Qili could only transfer the breakthrough point to Hu Ke.He took off the blood-stained thin silk shirt on Yinchan's body, and performed a scene of releasing Yinchan in front of Hu Ke, supplemented by the words of his life experience, and finally pried Hu Ke's mouth open. Holding Yinchan's almost crippled right hand, Hu Ke's eyes were bloodshot and his heart was boiling with anger. He didn't expect Hu Qili to be so vicious with such vicious intentions, he said that he didn't torture Yinchan, but he said something else behind his back.What's even more hateful is that he actually took all of Hu Qili's nonsense as the truth, and even really planned to take Hu Qili south to Changsha Mansion to get the bamboo tube inside the thorn.If Hu Qili really got what he wanted, it would be tantamount to him personally leading the way, leading himself and Yinchan to the Huangquan Road leading to the underworld. Thinking of this, Hu Ke, who was burning with anger, clenched his hands and grabbed the corner of the table, wishing to crush it into pieces. It's a pity that he is seriously injured now, otherwise, he would immediately go to Hu Qili to settle the score. He secretly vowed in his heart that when he sees Hu Qili again after he recovers from his injury, he must make him pay a heavy price!
Early the next morning, Du Xinwu came to Hu Ke and Yin Chan's room. Although Du Xinwu failed to rescue Wang Jingwei and others when he entered Beijing this time, he made the rescue known to the whole country, achieved the set goal, and completed the task assigned to him by Sun Wen.He discussed with Hu Hanmin, Peng Jiazhen and others last night. Hu Hanmin and Wu Yuzhang were going to return to Japan. Peng Jiazhen, Zheng Yuxiu and others would continue to stay in Beijing and Tianjin for activities. .Du Xin Wuyi came to see Hu Ke and Yin Chan early in the morning, and wanted to ask them what their plans are next. Hu Ke had already discussed with Yin Chan last night, and now Hu Qili must be looking for him everywhere. An Zhazi of the North and South Gang also regarded him as a sworn enemy. Avoid, heal your injury first. "I plan to go to Hunan and find a place to avoid it." Hu Ke grew up in Hunan, and he has some feelings for that land, and the bamboo tube inside the scales is hidden in the drunken village in Changsha Prefecture, Hunan Province. Sooner or later, he will go to get it , so after discussing with Yinchan, I decided to find a place in Hunan Province to take refuge temporarily. "My hometown is in Cili County, Hunan Province, and I still have an old residence there," Du Xinwu said, "If you don't mind, how about going to my old residence to recuperate?" Hu Ke and Yin Chan looked at each other, and they both saw the meaning of agreement in their eyes.The two were worried that they had nowhere to go, Du Xinwu's proposal just solved the urgent need, so he accepted the kindness. "The old residence is in Baiyanyu Village, and there are some uncles in the village," Du Xinwu said again, "I'll write a letter from home, and you take it back, and the uncles will understand after reading it. Already." He asked the shopkeeper for pens and ink, wrote a family letter on the spot, and handed it to Hu Ke. The place to heal the wounded has been settled, besides that, Hu Ke has one more thing to bother Du Xinwu, and that is the condition that Du Xinwu had promised before. "You mean you want me to help you find someone?" Du Xinwu asked. Hu Ke nodded. "Who are you looking for?" Du Xinwu asked.At the beginning, Hu Ke agreed to participate in the rescue of Wang Jingwei and others. The only condition was that the revolutionaries help find someone. As for who to look for, Hu Ke did not say at that time. "The man we dumped yesterday." Hu Ke replied, "His name is Hu Qili." Du Xinwu couldn't help being slightly taken aback.The person Hu Ke asked him to look for had already been seen in Baoding Mansion, but he tried every means to get rid of him, and now he wanted to look for him again. The contradiction in this made him quite puzzled.But he is not a man of good things, and there is no need to find out what is going on.Since he agreed to this condition at the beginning, he will never break his promise. "I remember that person's appearance," Du Xinwu said, "I will find an artist to draw it, and then send the portrait to all branches of the League, so that everyone can pay more attention to this person. Once I find something, I will notify you immediately." "Thank you very much." Hu Ke cupped his fists and thanked him.Since entering the assassin's path, he almost never said "thank you" to people, this was the first time in his memory. Du Xinwu hurriedly cupped his fists in return.He asked Hu Ke for help twice successively, both of which were life-and-death matters at the risk of his life, but what he gave Hu Ke in return was all a matter of life and death.Not to mention helping to find one person, even looking for ten or eight, or even going up the mountain of swords and down into the sea of fire, he will be obliged.
The three groups of people parted ways.Hu Hanmin and Wu Yuzhang went to Tianjin Dagukou Wharf and took a passenger ship eastward to Japan; Peng Jiazhen, Zheng Yuxiu and others returned to Beijing; After being arrested and interrogated, they parted ways at the mouth of the Yangtze River.Du Xinwu went to Guangdong and Guangxi to contact the party alone, preparing to organize an uprising in Guangzhou; Hu Ke and Yuchan went up the Yangtze River by boat to Hunan Province. Hu Ke and Yin Chan rushed to the Zuixiang Pavilion in Changsha Mansion first, and took the bamboo tube hidden on the beam of the bamboo house. A white cloth was stuffed inside the bamboo tube, and a series of numbers were written inside: Two four four four one two two three seven three seven eight one seven eight one six four. This is obviously a code. When Hu Ke first discovered the secret of the scales, he had already seen this code, but without the corresponding script, it was impossible to decipher it. After taking the bamboo tube, the two went to Shaqu Township, Jianghua County, Yongzhou Prefecture. Hu Qili said that Hu Ke is a descendant of a family surnamed Li here. In order to verify the truth of these words and dispel the last trace of doubt in his heart, Hu Ke came to Jianghua County. Sure enough, there is not even Shaqu Township in Jianghua County, let alone a family surnamed Li who lost their children.Hu Qili's words were really random nonsense in order to deceive Hu Ke's trust, and the last trace of doubt in Hu Ke's heart was dispelled. After figuring everything out, Hu Ke and Yin Chan rushed to Cili County in Lizhou, and found Du Xinwu's former residence in Baiyanyu Village.Du Xinwu wrote the matter clearly in the family letter, and after the two of them gave the family letter to Du Xinwu's family relatives to read, they moved into this old residence smoothly. Under Yinchan's careful care, several wounds of Hu Ke healed slowly.While the injury is getting better, Hu Ke is also patiently waiting for Du Xinwu's news. For Hu Qili, Hu Ke no longer has the slightest affection, only hatred. Of course, he will not be blinded by the raging flames of hatred. If the revolutionaries really found Hu Qili's trail, Hu Ke would no longer act rashly and confront this old fox head-on.At that time, he will regain his identity as an assassin who is a young man of Taoist soldiers, and become an assassin who sneaks in the dark, do what he should do, and use his best means to solve Hu Qili and settle all grievances and grievances. Du Xinwu, Hu Hanmin and Wu Yuzhang left, and Wang Jingwei, Huang Fusheng and Luo Shixun began their career behind bars for nearly two years until the Wuchang Uprising broke out and the Qing government announced the opening of the party under heavy pressure. The prisoner was banned and the political prisoners were released, and the three were able to regain their freedom. In the past two years, the domestic situation has changed drastically.The feat of Wang Jingwei and others plotting to assassinate the Regent, and the subsequent actions of the Tongmenghui patriots trying to rescue Wang Jingwei and others completely reversed the unfavorable public opinion situation. Coupled with the ensuing Guangzhou Uprising, the revolutionary momentum gradually rose.After the outbreak of the Wuchang Uprising, the revolutionary wave quickly swept across the country, and the southern provinces declared their independence from the Qing court one after another. In order to restore the decline, the Qing court re-appointed Yuan Shikai. Yuan Shikai, who had been hiding his power for three years in Anyang, Henan, finally waited for his own god-given opportunity. He led the Beiyang Army to the south and quickly recaptured Hankou from the revolutionary army.Yuan Shikai deeply understood the truth that all the birds are hidden and the rabbit is dead, so naturally he would not deal with the insurgents wholeheartedly, but would seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to seize greater power.On the one hand, he ordered the Beiyang Army to stand still, and secretly negotiated peace with the southern revolutionary party. On the other hand, he took advantage of the revolutionary wave sweeping the country to oppress the Qing court in turn. While Yuan Shikai was turning his hands into clouds and his hands into rain, the revolutionary parties in the south did not stop at all. They quickly established the provisional government of the Republic of China in Nanjing and elected Sun Wen as the provisional president.It's just that during the election process, there was some unhappiness within the Revolutionary Party.Before the election, Zhang Taiyan, a veteran of the Restoration Association, declared everywhere: "If the president is elected, he will be Huang Xing with merit, Song Jiaoren with talent, and Wang Jingwei with virtue." There is a trend of "reversing Sun Wen". In this election as the interim president, he elected Huang Xing, Song Jiaoren and Wang Jingwei, but did not mention Sun Wen's name, which is obviously to exclude Sun Wen.However, Sun Wen relied on his prestige within the Tongmenghui, as well as the "Hongmen boss" Huang Sande and the name of the court to mobilize the support of overseas Chinese groups from all walks of life, and his right-hand man Chen Qimei mobilized the Qinggang forces to build momentum, and was finally successfully elected. After the establishment of the Nanjing Provisional Government, the conflict between the Tongmenghui and the Restoration Society further escalated when the governor of Zhejiang was elected. Zhejiang is the base camp of the Restoration Society, so Tao Chengzhang, the vice-chairman of the Restoration Society, was very vocal in the selection of the governor of Zhejiang Province.Tao Chengzhang himself refused to accept it. When he was asked for his own opinion, he said that "anyone who is capable is welcome, but Chen Qimei is not."Tao Chengzhang knew that Chen Qimei had always wanted to take control of Zhejiang Province. As the vice president of the Restoration Society, he had long been extremely dissatisfied with Chen Qimei's blatant exclusion of the Restoration Society when he elected the governor of the Shanghai Army, so he publicly opposed Chen Qimei's appointment. The post of governor of Zhejiang. When this matter reached Chen Qimei's ears, Chen Qimei was naturally furious.Tao Chengzhang claimed that anyone who is capable can be the governor of Zhejiang Province, but Chen Qimei is the only one who cannot. There is a possibility of entering Zhejiang, but now there is no hope at all.Because of this, coupled with the fact that the Tongmenghui and the Restoration Society have always had conflicts, Chen Qimei hated Tao Chengzhang deeply. Although Chen Qimei is Sun Wen's right-hand man and a leader of the League, but he is used to being a big boss of the Youth Gang and has always acted ruthlessly. He has his own way to get rid of those who are not fair on the surface. . Tao Chengzhang is the vice president of the Restoration Association, and his status is very important. Chen Qimei must hand over the secret removal of Tao Chengzhang to someone who is absolutely worthy of his trust.思来想去，他最后想到了自己的结拜兄弟蒋志清，于是把蒋志清叫来府上密会商谈。 了解陈其美的意思后，蒋志清立刻拍着胸脯揽下了这件事，并承诺数日内一定办成。 “王竹卿可以帮你。”陈其美对蒋志清说出了这句话。王竹卿是光复会成员，暗中投靠了陈其美，现在陈其美要除掉光复会的副会长，熟悉光复会内部情况的王竹卿自然有用武之地。 蒋志清知道王竹卿可以帮到他，同时也听明白了这个“帮”字的深层次含义。暗杀本是隐秘手段，加上目标又是陶成章，所以务必要做得密不透风，按理说由他一个人行事最好，毕竟多一个人就多一分走漏风声的危险。但多一个人也有多一个人的好处，那就是多出了一个背黑锅的替死鬼。暗杀陶成章之后，把王竹卿推出来做替死鬼，蒋志清则可以趁机脱身，置身事外。陈其美的这句话，其实是在告诉蒋志清，事成之后不会对他卸磨杀驴，让他免去后顾之忧。 有了把兄的这句话，蒋志清大可以放开手去做。 但他还有一个请求：“我想请贺先生相助。” “姓贺的只对江湖帮会的事感兴趣，他多半不肯参与此事。”陈其美摇头道，“再说他这人城府很深，做事又由着性子来，让他动手行刺，我反而不放心。” “他无须动手，”蒋志清说道，“只需负责接应我就成。” 陈其美知道蒋志清是在为自己的后路做考虑，有贺先生做接应，无论他最终暗杀成功与否，至少可以保证他活着脱身。 想到这里，陈其美点了点头，同意了蒋志清的要求。
接下了这项棘手的暗杀任务，蒋志清首先要做的，就是找到陶成章身在何处。 这就要靠王竹卿了。 王竹卿虽然只是光复会的基层成员，不知道陶成章的行踪，但他通过会内的逐层关系，打听到光复会成员张伟文与陶成章联系密切，因此引荐蒋志清前往拜会张伟文。蒋志清见到张伟文后，表达了来意，声称自己是代表陈其美前来，希望能拜会陶成章，双方开诚布公，捐弃前嫌。张伟文暗自琢磨，觉得能借此机会化解双方的矛盾，不失为一件好事，于是告诉蒋志清，陶成章患了病，住在上海广慈医院，并将医院地址和病房号告诉了蒋志清。 就这样，蒋志清顺利完成了第一步。 紧接着的第二步，就是熟悉广慈医院周围的环境和内部的路径情况，以制定相应的暗杀计划。 按照张伟文告知的地址，蒋志清携带礼品，孤身一人来到位于上海法租界金神父路的广慈医院，走进了陶成章所在的病房。 两人相见，满脸堆笑，相互说的都是客套话，一个表达作为后生的仰慕之情，并代表陈其美为此前推选沪军都督一事致歉；另一个则表示自己也有不对的地方，希望将来能精诚合作共图大业，接着两人又聊了一些关于当前南北形势的话题，这次会面便在和睦融洽的氛围当中结束了。蒋志清表示以后还会再来探望，然后向陶成章告辞，离开了医院。 蒋志清没有说场面话，他的确还会再来探望，只是探望的方式，是陶成章决不会料想到的。 蒋志清的这次探望，一来给陶成章制造了假象，让陶成章放松了警惕，原本陶成章对陈其美留了个心眼，但现在这个心眼彻底打消了；二来以探望的名义，蒋志清名正言顺地进出医院，趁机勘察了医院内的路径和周围的环境，回去后便制定了具体的暗杀计划，顺利地完成了第二步。 最后一步，就是将制定好的暗杀计划付诸实施。
西历一月十四日凌晨，漆黑的夜幕下，两道黑影出现在了广慈医院的大门外。 蒋志清和王竹卿按照制定好的计划，偷偷来到了广慈医院。 广慈医院的大门是栅栏式的铁门，从里面上了锁。两人望了望铁门里面，又望了望四周，确定四下里无人，便拿出事先准备好的工具，迅速地撬开了门锁。两人溜进大门，穿过一片草坪，蹿入医院大楼，悄无声息地走上二楼，来到过道中段一间病房的门外。 为了方便医生进出，房门是虚掩着的，这倒省去了撬锁破门的工夫。 蒋志清轻轻地推开房门，与王竹卿鱼贯而入。 病房内阴晦昏暗，弥漫着一股药味。陶成章躺在病床上，呼吸均匀平顺，想必是在做着某个安稳的梦。 蒋志清冲王竹卿打了个手势，让王竹卿守在门边把风，然后蹑手蹑脚，一步步地靠近病床。 熟睡中的陶成章毫无反应，堕入梦乡的他，哪里能察觉到正在逼近的危机？ 走到床边，蒋志清将手枪拔了出来，对准了陶成章的头部。 闭眼侧头，深吸一口气，蒋志清最终心胆一横，扣动了扳机。 子弹蹿出枪口，从左额射入，斜穿胸部，陶成章脑袋一歪，当场没了动弹。 一举得手，趁着枪声还没吸引来人，蒋志清和王竹卿急忙蹿出房门，奔下楼梯，仓皇地逃出了医院大楼。 刚出大楼，医院大门外便出现了亮光，一辆挂着灯笼的马车，停在了医院门口。 深夜有马车赶来医院，多半是有突发疾病的病人，这大大出乎蒋志清的意料。他暗呼侥幸，幸好下手及时，如果慢上片刻，就一定会被发现。他和王竹卿放弃了从大门出逃的打算，奔到另一边的围墙，麻利地翻墙逃出。 几乎在同一时刻，医院的大门被推开，三个人走了进来。 借助灯笼的亮光，三个人发现门锁有被撬开的痕迹，接着又朝远处的围墙望了一眼。两道黑影越墙而出，正好被这三人瞧在眼里。 三人以为是夜里入医院行窃的小偷，没有过多在意，走入医院大楼，来到二楼陶成章所住的病房外。 无巧不巧，这三人正好是来找陶成章的。 过道里其他几间病房打开了门，几个被枪声惊醒的病人探出头朝这边望，一个值班的医生被吵醒，一边披衣服一边朝这边走来。这些人都听到了响声，但以为是什么东西碰撞发出的声音，根本没想到那是枪声。 来找陶成章的三人，和值班医生几乎同时抵达病房门口。 值班医生看了三人一眼，见房门没有掩好，于是直接走进病房，一边打着哈欠，一边弄亮了电灯。 灯光一亮，满床的鲜红色立刻刺入眼帘。 值班医生当场吓呆了，刚打完哈欠的嘴巴，保持着张开的状态。全身僵硬的值班医生被推向了一边，一个人从他的身后冲过，大声喊着“陶先生”，扑向床边。 这人正是光复会成员张伟文，随他而来的另外两个人，却是胡客和姻婵。 站在门口，胡客望见陶成章的伤口还在往外流血。这说明陶成章中枪只是顷刻之间的事。胡客立刻想起进医院大门之时，曾看见远处有两道人影越墙而过。 “你看看他还有没有救。”胡客对姻婵说道，“我去去就回。”也不管姻婵答应与否，他撂下这句话，立刻奔下楼去。 胡客追到两道人影翻墙的地方，越墙而出。 墙外是一条宽阔的街道，一端通向医院的大门，另一端则通向法租界深处。马车停在医院的大门口，那两道人影翻出围墙后，不可能朝大门方向逃，所以只可能逃往租界深处。 胡客向租界深处追去。他当初在法务部监狱和保定帮暗扎子处受的伤，得到姻婵的悉心治疗，早已痊愈，双腿奔走无碍。他一口气追出老远，在一个路口看见三个人聚在街对面的转角，其中两个人弓弯着腰，看样子似乎在大口地喘气。 胡客没有佯装路人经过，而是直接朝三人走去。 两个弯腰喘气的人正是蒋志清和王竹卿。两人发现有人直冲冲地走来，意识到不对劲，立刻连气也不喘了，沿着街道就往远处跑，另一个人则留在原地。留下来的这个人非但不逃，反而手一抖，向胡客迎面走来。 手一抖，武器已在手。这人以为蒋志清和王竹卿做事不利落，引来了追兵，他向胡客走来，是打算截断胡客这条尾巴。 胡客以前来过上海，知道这里帮会横行，还是南帮暗扎子的老巢，称得上是藏龙卧虎之地。眼前这人不打招呼就直接动手，可谓强横之极。胡客不敢大意，他的右手从腰间抹过，问天一出，两人便动起了手。 夜色漆黑，互不视面，但刚一交手，两个人便错身分开，对峙而立。 只是眨眼间的一招半式，胡客已经猜到眼前这个人是谁了。 曾经的御捕门天字号捕头贺谦，与胡客有过多次交手，那种交手的感觉胡客永远也忘不了。 这位蒋志清口中的“贺先生”，似乎也洞悉了对手的身份。他知道对手的能力，因此暂时选择了对峙。 云岫寺一别，已近七年，如今在这样的场合偶然重逢，胡客和贺谦都是始料未及。 当年在云岫寺中，贺谦自知抵挡不了胡客，于是弃“奎”而逃。 他逃下云岫峰，进入云岫村，与十五年前秘密安插他入御捕门的王者雷山见了面。雷山已经得知云岫寺一战的具体情况，知道兵毒二门的青者几乎全军覆没，摆在刺客道面临的是前所未有的劫难。雷山命令贺谦带领天层的人撤离云岫村，让刺客道不至于就此覆灭，他则独自留下来迎战胡启立和胡客。 “如果我抵挡不了南家后人，”在贺谦离开之前，雷山取出了一块片状的白色菱形坠，交到了贺谦的手里，“将来重振我道，就着落在你一个人的身上了。” 贺谦原本拥有一块黑色的菱形坠，那是他年幼之时，雷山亲手挂在他脖子上的。雷家属于天层的正脉，刺客道的每一任王者，皆从正脉雷家所出，幼年时便被选定，通过一系列艰难的考验后，方能继承王者之位，统率整个刺客道。雷山的独子被韩亦儒夺走，不知生死，此后他再无子嗣，只能从天层的偏脉中挑选继任者，贺谦成为了百里挑一的幸运儿。那块黑色的菱形坠，便是王者继任者的象征。贺谦进入御捕门秘密潜伏，正是雷山对他的培养和考验。现在雷山将白色的菱形坠交给贺谦，聚齐象征刺客道替天行道、黑白分明的双色坠，意味着雷山正式将刺客道王者之位传给了贺谦。 贺谦遵从雷山的命令，带领天层偏脉共计二十余人，撤离云岫村，向东南方向转移。 可他没有想到的是，在撤离途中，胡启立没有冲雷山而去，反而率领众死士追杀而来。 天层的正脉和偏脉，均是刺客道创始人的后代，但血缘关系有亲疏之别，这里面除了王者实力强劲外，其余人大都没什么武力，毕竟身居天层不用出任务，自然而然便荒废了武力。天层偏脉虽有二十余人，但根本不是胡启立和众死士的对手，很快便被屠杀殆尽，只有贺谦负伤后逃了出来。 兵门、毒门齐灭，天层偏脉被屠，贺谦只好又潜回云岫村，却发现王者雷山也已身死。整个刺客道除了串人外已全数丧命，刺客道运行了近三百年的组织构架彻底分崩瓦解，算是真正意义上的覆灭了。 御捕门回不去，刺客道又已瓦解，作为天字号捕头兼王者继任者的贺谦，一夜之间变成了孤家寡人。但他知道造成这一切的罪魁祸首是谁——韩亦儒，那个现已改名为胡启立的南家后人。在天层偏脉被屠之时，贺谦和胡启立照了面，他记住了胡启立的模样。 贺谦虽然无力重建刺客道，但他可以报仇，所以养好伤后，他开始寻找胡启立的踪迹。这一点倒是和胡客惊人的相似。但胡客和姻婵以两人之力，想尽各种办法也找不到胡启立，贺谦只凭一人之力，当然无法获得收获，以至于后来他不得不委身于青帮，试图依靠青帮庞大的势力网，觅得一些关于胡启立的蛛丝马迹。陈其美说贺谦只关心江湖帮会的事，对革命大业却视若无睹，正是缘于此。 贺谦出现在这个路口转角，是为了接应蒋志清和王竹卿，如果两人行刺时不小心露了马脚，引来大批追兵，贺谦就负责断后，掩护两人逃离，没想到却因此遇到了胡客这位老熟人。 从当年清泉县巡抚大院的缉捕开始，贺谦和胡客作为死对头打过太多交道，彼此间十分熟悉。贺谦知道胡客是南家后人，覆灭刺客道有胡客的份，但他却不知道雷山是胡客所杀，更不知道胡客和雷山的真实关系。在他眼里，身为南家后人的胡客，是绝对意义上的死敌。 “就你一个人？”贺谦问道，“胡启立呢？”贺谦知道他和胡客之间必有一战，但在动手之前，他希望获知胡启立的下落。胡客和胡启立是父子关系，胡启立藏身何处，胡客必然知道。 “我也在找他。”胡客的回答，令贺谦颇觉诧异。 胡客一直都在寻找胡启立，这次来到上海，正是为了此事。 不久前，在白岩峪村隐居了一年多的胡客，终于收到了杜心五捎来的消息。 杜心五作为孙文的保镖，身在南京。他从南京发来电报，托湖南省的同盟会成员赴慈利县白岩峪村，将电文转交给胡客。电文中说，陶成章在上海发现了胡启立的踪迹。 安宁日子过了太久，是时候活动活动筋骨了。胡客与姻婵立刻动身，赶往南京见杜心五。杜心五只知道陶成章捎来消息说有所发现，但不清楚具体发现了什么。南京临时政府刚刚成立，杜心五还有很多事情要做，无法陪同胡客和姻婵前往上海，所以他把陶成章在上海的住处告诉了胡客，让胡客亲自去找陶成章了解清楚。 胡客和姻婵不做休整，连夜赶来上海，找到陶成章的住处，但陶成章不在，只找到张伟文。张伟文得知两人由杜心五介绍而来，而且是为了急事，所以不顾夜半更深，叫来一辆马车，带两人赶来广慈医院见陶成章，谁知却撞上陶成章遭人暗杀，这才有了接下来胡客追击凶手、碰上贺谦的事。 但是贺谦不信胡客的话。“不用装模作样了，”他说，“叫胡启立出来，他一定就在附近。” 胡客不想多做解释。他本想将暗杀陶成章的凶手抓回去，但有贺谦阻拦，而且蒋、王二人已消融在夜色深处，所以他不打算再继续追了。他准备返回广慈医院，看看陶成章现在情况如何。 贺谦抢过来一步，拦住了胡客回去的道路。 “我不想和你动手，”胡客声音低沉，“让开。” “你我迟早要决一死战，”贺谦道，“择日不如撞日，就在今天见生死！”贺谦知道自己的能力要逊胡客一筹，但他不会因实力不济便避而不战。他全身紧绷，手脚蓄力，准备迎战他一生中遇到过的最为强劲的对手。 胡客没有动手的打算。经历了一系列的变故，如今他已认定自己是王者雷山的后人，而贺谦是刺客道的人，所以他不想与贺谦为敌。“我与南家没有任何关系。”他说道。 漆黑无人的大街上，这句话让贺谦有些错愕。 胡客举步从贺谦的身边走过。 贺谦不依不饶，伸手将胡客拦住。 “你把话说清楚。”贺谦道。 胡客转头看着贺谦，隐约能看见贺谦满脸胡茬，尽显沧桑之色，哪里还有几年前英气逼人的潇洒模样。胡客不知道贺谦在道上是什么人物，但算起来，如果不把串人计入在内，再将他本人除外，贺谦恐怕是刺客道的最后一人了。贺谦执着于南家后人一事，如果不知道真相，恐怕会一直纠缠下去。以前无论面对何人何事，胡客从来不做解释，他独来独往惯了，即便是被人冤枉遭人陷害，也觉得无所谓。但这一次面对贺谦，他觉得应该要说点什么。 用最简单的语言，胡客还原了事情的脉络，最后说道：“比起你，我更想找到胡启立。” 这番讲述颠覆了贺谦的认识。当年雷山的独子被韩亦儒抢走，这件事贺谦是知道的，如果不是因为这个变故，也轮不到他来继承王者之位。贺谦早已接受了雷山独子已死的事实，可现在这个曾与整个刺客道为敌的南家后人，却自称是王者雷山的独子，是天层的正脉之后，贺谦如何能不震惊？ 但是贺谦知道，胡客没有理由说谎。曾经有不少人为了活命，向身为天字号捕头的他撒谎，但胡客的实力在他之上，不用求他什么，所以根本没有撒谎的必要，而且他多多少少了解胡客的为人，不是那种能随口说出如此复杂谎言的人。 “你找到他没有？”良久，贺谦才问道。 “还没有，”胡客应道，“不过陶成章知道他的下落。” 陶成章这三个字，让贺谦顿时讶然。 因为暗杀陶成章这件事，贺谦今晚出现在了这里，不仅机缘巧合遇上了胡客，而且觅得了有关胡启立的线索，可这条线索偏偏又指向刚刚被暗杀的陶成章，世间的巧合在这个循环里体现得淋漓尽致。 贺谦不再阻止胡客离开，反而跟着胡客一起去了广慈医院。此时他的想法和胡客一样，都希望蒋志清和王竹卿没能得手，陶成章尚有命在。 可惜事与愿违。 陶成章中枪后，没有立刻断气，医生进行紧急抢救，姻婵也在旁边帮忙，但最终还是无力回天。在胡客和贺谦赶回医院病房的同时，陶成章的心脏停止了跳动，死在了病床上。 陶成章被暗杀后，消息一经传出，顿时震惊了整个南方。 陈其美是沪军都督，上海是他的管辖范围，所以孙文致电陈其美，要求他“严速究缉，务令凶徒就获，明正其罪，以泄天下之愤”。陈其美是暗杀陶成章的幕后主使，但他不会公开承认此事，反而要做足与此案无关的样子。案发后，他立刻大张旗鼓，一方面重金悬赏捉拿凶手，并派出大批巡警四处侦查，另一方面则派出暗探，秘密赶赴嘉兴抓捕王竹卿。王竹卿替陈其美暗杀了陶成章，躲在嘉兴避风头，满心以为能从陈其美那里捞到不少好处，没想到陈其美过河拆桥，卸磨杀驴，掉过头来拿他做替死鬼。案发后没几天，王竹卿即被抓捕归案，押解回上海巡警总局。对王竹卿的审讯，全部由陈其美的人负责，巡警总局很快便向外界公开了审讯结果，说王竹卿和陶成章有旧怨私仇，因此“挟私复怨，擅行仇杀”，王竹卿很快被秘密处死。这一手卸磨杀驴、杀人灭口，陈其美做得可谓滴水不漏。 作为同一暗杀事件的元凶，蒋志清的命运却和王竹卿截然相反。 案发之后，陈其美兑现了他的诺言，没有拿把弟蒋志清开刀，而是送蒋志清去日本躲避风声。在日本，蒋志清出任《军声》杂志的编辑，并以“介石”为笔名，发表了不少议论军事政治的文章。和汪精卫一样，蒋志清从此被人以笔名相称，呼作蒋介石。数年后，避过风头的蒋介石回到国内，投奔了孙文。当年光复会与同盟会矛盾重重，作为光复会的领袖人物，陶成章曾多次公开反对孙文，蒋介石暗杀了陶成章，不仅替陈其美出了一口恶气，也算是为孙文除去了一个政坛上的劲敌。正因为如此，蒋介石回国后便直接投奔了孙文，孙文也似乎因为刺陶一事而对蒋介石格外信赖，从第一次见面起，便对蒋介石赋予了绝对的信任。蒋介石从此登上历史舞台，一步步地迈向整个国家政治权力的顶峰。 陶成章是光复会的创始人之一，一生之中极为推崇暗