Chapter 25 Chapter Twenty-Five

But he missed it! Gao Lao San's Gao Ji Seafood Shop is empty! Lu Niupi and Zhong Deliang walked out of the room in frustration, and when they reported to Ruan Dacheng who was standing in the backyard, Ruan Dacheng still didn't believe it. Shouted: "Tricked! Tricked!" In the whole house, not only was there no shadow of Gao Laosan, even the two guys didn't know where the cat went! Someone must have leaked the news! It must be that Gao Laosan took precautions! Immediately realizing the danger of the situation, Ruan Dacheng didn't dare to hesitate, he gave his feet in soft-soled soap boots a hard stop, and said to the brothers in a low voice: "The situation has changed, you can't stay here for long, and leave quickly with me." !"

Lu Niupi suggested: "We can't come here in vain! In my opinion, it's better to grab it with all hands and feet, and get back some of the money that Gao Laosan looted. Forgive him for being a bastard and dare not sue the officials!" Ruan Dacheng shouted sharply: "Don't be fooled! Go back quickly!" Zhong Deliang asked: "Do you want to break up and go home?" Ruan Dacheng's mind turned away quickly, and he immediately thought of his own safety. He was afraid that the youngest Gao didn't hide, but touched his house.If Gao Laosan brought four dragons and three tigers to his house, it would not be Gao Laosan who will lose his head tonight, but Ruan Dacheng.

Dacheng rolled his eyes and said: "Don't break up, come with me to Escort Street!" "Escort Street! Go to Brother Ruan's house?" Ruan Dacheng nodded: "Yes, this old man Gao is full of tricks, he must have heard the news that he has robbed me, so I have to be on guard! If you meet Gao Laosan and his gang on Escort Street, what do you need to do?" Follow my winks! Lao Lu, take the three brothers and go first, Brother De Liang and San Gouzi follow behind, and the rest follow me, try to avoid human eyes on the way!" As soon as Ruan Dacheng finished speaking, everyone gathered in the courtyard started to move. Lu Niu took the fat fourth child, Xiao Dou Sprout and the other two brothers and left first.Afterwards, Zhong Deliang and Lin Sangouzi also took a few brothers on the road. The first two groups of people walked for about half a bag of cigarettes before Ruan Dacheng took the other brothers out last. The door of Gao Laosan's backyard was still fastened.

Walking in the alley leading to Escort Street, Ruan Dacheng thought, what happened tonight is really strange, who leaked the news in advance?Will Gao Laosan rush to his residence? If Gao Laosan didn't go to Escort Street, where would he hide?Did he really hide out of fear, or did he deliberately set a new trap?The more I think about it, the more chaotic my heart becomes... When I arrived at the gate of my own courtyard on Debiaoju Street, I saw that Lu Niupi's gang of brothers had already arrived, and they had already crossed the guys, guarding the entrances of the alleys on both sides of the street.Seeing Ruan Dacheng approaching, Lu Niupi quickly came forward and said in a low voice: "There seems to be no one in the yard, Brother Ruan is too worried!"

Yes!Gao Laosan didn't have such courage, the Ruan Dacheng of today is not the Ruan Dacheng of the past! Ruan Dacheng put his heart into practice, opened the gate of the courtyard, and called all the brothers to enter. After entering the courtyard, Ruan Dacheng asked Xiaodouya and Zhao Laoer to stay at the gate of the courtyard to watch the wind, and then led Lu Niupi and others to continue to the gate of the main room. Unexpectedly, when he walked to the door of the main room, several balls of fire suddenly flashed in the room, and for a while, several oil lamps were lit at the same time.And at this moment, the door of the main room was opened wide, and Gao Laosan, who was sitting on the grand teacher's chair by the door, laughed and said, "Brother Ruan, you are finally here! I, Mr. Gao, have been waiting for you for a long time!"

Ruan Dacheng was stunned, tried his best to hide the panic on his face, and responded with a smile: "Oh! Oh! So it's Brother Gao! Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you!" As soon as Ruan Dacheng finished speaking, Zhong Deliang and Lu Niupi, who were guarding Ruan Dacheng's side, stretched the guy to their chests, glared at the domineering old man Gao, eager to move. Ruan Dacheng knew that Gao San was already prepared, and he was in his own house, so he couldn't do it anymore, so he yelled at Lu Niupi and Zhong Deliang: "Let them all down with me! Gao San is not an outsider, so Hugh is so rude !"

After speaking, Ruan Dacheng walked into the house calmly. Lu Niupi, Zhong Deliang and others around him also followed behind with swords in hand. Unexpectedly, after Ruan Dacheng entered the room, two sharp knives flashed on both sides of the door, and stopped Lu Niupi and others. Ruan Dacheng looked back at the two big knives blocking the door, sneered and said to Gao San: "Brother Gao, do you want to meet with me today to win or lose?" Elder Gao got up and made a long bow to Ruan Dacheng: "How dare you! How dare you! Brother came to visit this time, so he apologized and asked for advice! Brother was stubborn in the past, he didn't know Mount Tai, so he offended Brother Ruan. And begging for forgiveness!"

Dacheng said: "Going to the door to apologize, and carrying a sword with you, I'm afraid it's not my Hong surname's rules?" Gao Laosan was startled, and then waved his hand, telling the two men by the door to put away their knives. Taking advantage of this time, Ruan Dacheng swept his eyes and had a rough overview of the situation in the house. There were only five people in the room including Gao Laosan, and the one who was guarding Gao Laosan knew Ruan Dacheng. Sun Gou, who was released by Ruan Dacheng at night, pissed. Ruan Dacheng had a bottom line in his mind, smiled slightly, and said to Elder Gao: "Brother Gao, since we're here, let's have a good talk. Brothers are so unreasonable, I think it's better to ask them all to go out, Waiting in the courtyard, let's talk alone, how about it?"

Gao San thought for a while and said: "Okay! It's exactly what I want! I'm here to visit Brother Ruan today, and I don't want to wield guns and sticks. I just want to send a message to Brother Ruan and ask for your understanding. With a word "Hong!" Immediately, the two leaders respectively ordered their subordinates to retreat to the courtyard. When everyone withdrew, Sun Goupi, who was standing next to Gao Laosan, did not move. Zhong Deliang retreated to the door and stood still again, fixed his eyes on Sun Goupi, and said to Ruan Dacheng, "Brother Ruan, there is still one here who hasn't moved!"

Ruan Dacheng waved his hand: "Don't be so long-winded! It's good to leave one of them in the room to serve Mr. Gao!" After everyone withdrew, Ruan Dacheng closed the door, sat down on the grand teacher's chair on the other side of the Eight Immortals table, and casually recited four lines of the Hongmen serial poem: After reciting the poem, Ruan Dacheng said eloquently: "Thinking of me, the fifth patriarch of Gaoxi, Hongmen was founded in the year of Kangxi. It was originally to destroy the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty, and to do justice for the sky. Brother Gao, do you still remember this meaning?"

Gao Laosan showed a submissive smile, nodded his head and said: "Remember! Remember! The last four lines of the chain poem are—" Gao Laosan thought for a while, then groaned: Dacheng said again: "Since I know that the fifth patriarch of Hongmen is still looking at us in the eyes of the sky, why does Brother Gao not understand the righteousness, stir up civil strife in the sect, and repeatedly try to put Ruan to death? Is this a traitor? Or is it Loyalty? Brother Gao used Hongmen as his backing, knocked people out of money, and forced many people to seek death and life, so how can we talk about "a little loyalty, and justice for the sky"? There is a saying that "there is no addition or subtraction in the words of Hong, it is my brother who is unrelenting." ’, brother Gao must have gone too far, right?” Gao San hastily explained: "Brother Ruan didn't know something. I really misunderstood what happened a while ago. Just because I didn't see Brother Zhu's post in Chaozhou, I suspected that Brother Ruan was pretending to be Hong. I was afraid of causing harm. So I did some things to apologize to Brother Ruan. It was not until yesterday that I received the news from Brother Nan, saying that Brother Ruan was indeed the one in the door, so I came here to apologize to Brother Ruan! I don't know anything about it, it must have been done by the gangsters, and I will teach you a lesson in the future!" After finishing speaking, he chanted another poem about washing his face: Dacheng was not moved by it, and asked coldly with the incision in the Hongmen: "Brother Gao has a good appetite! Didn't he always want to fry me soft to eat!" The third elder Gao hurriedly replied: "Brother Ruan has three iron bones, how dare I say nothing?" Dacheng said: "You have a copper throat and iron teeth, how can you not eat?" Gao Laosan replied: "Iron rings don't eat iron bones!" Dacheng Lengding said again: "Why is your face so red?" Gao Laosan said: "This is true!" "Why is it turning blue again?" "Watermelon-shaped, with green skin and red belly!" Speaking of this, Gao Laosan took out a Xiangtang account book from his arms, presented it in front of Ruan Dacheng and said: "Today, I, Gao, have convinced you, Brother Ruan, this Qingpu Xiangtang account book, I beg Brother Ruan Accept, there are three hundred and eighty-five brothers surnamed Hong above, and Gao dare not hide it! In the future, I, Gao, would like to follow Brother Ruan on the saddle and back, and work for the great cause of Hongmen together! Where there was disrespect in the past, please also invite Brother Ruan Haihan!" Seeing this, Dacheng laughed and said, "Where! Where! Let's just talk about it! Ruan and I are not the kind of person who cares about every detail. Can this brother who is called dog pee next to you prove it!" As soon as Sun Goupi heard that Ruan Dacheng had spotted him, he hurriedly approached Gao Laosan and said, "Third Master, that's not bad! Uncle Ruan's heroism is really admirable! I said that Uncle Ruan would not fight with you Yes, look, it really is!" Gao Laosan glanced at Sun Goupi dissatisfiedly, and said to Ruan Dacheng with a smile, "It's so good! As long as Brother Ruan and I, Gao, work together, the world of Qingpu will be ours!" Dacheng smiled lightly and did not answer. Gao Laosan said enthusiastically again: "Today must not be without wine!" Dacheng said: "There is exactly one altar under the house!" So, he took the general out, and the two drank four cups together, and chanted a poem: After the two of them drank, they called the brothers in the courtyard to drink four cups each, and then bowed to each other in a friendly manner... After Gao Laosan left, Lu Niupi and his brothers rushed into the room at once, staring at Ruan Dacheng steadfastly.They don't know how to end the matter tonight?They couldn't figure out why Brother Ruan let Gao Laosan go?Brother Ruan didn't speak, but just raised his chin to think about something. After thinking for a while, Brother Ruan picked up the incense hall book that Gao Laosan had presented and was about to burn it on the lamp. Lu Niupi stepped forward and stopped him: "Why burn it?" Dacheng said: "Brothers don't know, this incense hall book is extremely dangerous, if it falls into the hands of the government in the future, the brothers above will lose their heads!" Lu Niupi said: "You can burn the meeting book, where can we find those people under Mr. Gao's subordinates! We have to find these people and burn them!" Dacheng was startled, only then realized his abruptness, and hurriedly put the meeting book in his arms. Lin San Gouzi came up again and asked, "Then let's break up like this tonight? Will Gao Laosan still kill him?" Dacheng asked coldly: "What do you think?" Zhong Deliang said: "Look at Brother Ruan's intention not to kill him. If Brother Ruan doesn't want to kill him, we'll let it go!" Dacheng said again: "What if I say kill?" "I...we naturally listen to brother!" "it is good!" Da Cheng waved his hand and said, "That's what I want! This third Gao must not stay! It's a lie for him to concede defeat at the moment, and he will fight against us if he has a chance in the future! Today he will get it, and leave him alone to save the trouble." We are useless! You and I found the high mansion, and while he was slack and fast asleep, quietly killed him! If there are other people in the house, get rid of them too! Start a big fire, burn the corpses and wipe out the traces!" Only then did Lu Niupi and Lin San Gouzi understand Brother Ruan's true intentions.Brother Ruan is brilliant!Brother Ruan first poured a pot of ecstasy soup for the youngest Gao to make him lose his vigilance, and then he will kill the grass and roots!Furthermore, killing Gao Laosan in brother Ruan's home made too much noise and the body couldn't be disposed of! At that moment, the brothers took the guys and divided them into several groups, and rushed towards the high house outside the east gate. At this time, Bang'er on Nansipo Street knocked out the fourth watch. Before the fifth watch, the fire outside the east gate was blazing vigorously. At first, it was only in one part of Gaozhai. Then, the wind assisted the fire, and the fire assisted the wind, and the fire burned to the half of the street north of Gaozhai.The raging fire woke up most people in Qingpu Town from their sleep. Ruan Dacheng saw with his own eyes many people on Escort Street wearing thin clothes, climbing to the roof of their own houses with their arms folded to watch. Ruan Dacheng also climbed to the top of the wall to watch. At this time, the fire was burning spectacularly, the flames soared into the sky, and the smoke was like clouds. The sky above Qingpu Town was lit up red by the flames. Standing on the Escort Street, looking from a distance, it looked like a giant rolling dragon, moving from south to north Move slowly. Ruan Dacheng couldn't help but burst into joy, knowing that Lu Niupi and others had succeeded, a smile appeared on his face, and he thought to himself: This fire is burning well, this fire not only burned a senior Gao, It also burned a force that did not belong to Ruan Dacheng! He suddenly felt his weight on this land.With the conceit and self-confidence of a conqueror, he silently looked at the sea of ​​flames under the distant night sky.Watching, watching, his eyes became blurred, the flickering flames turned into balls of yellow mist, which came towards him one after another, and he was in a trance in the balls of yellow mist. Suddenly, I saw the Hongmen Buddha in Gaoxi Temple. The Buddha was wearing a Wandeng hat, blue clothes, iron straw sandals, and a plain pearl in his hand. He was driving an auspicious cloud towards him... When he closed his eyes, the illusion disappeared... At this moment, bursts of dense gongs sounded, and the gongs were mixed with the screams of many people in panic. His heart was shocked, and then he remembered the matter of fighting the fire!Only then did I remember the harm that this man-made fire had brought to the innocent people in Qingpu!He jumped off the wall in a hurry, rushed out of the courtyard, and joined the stream of people rushing to put out the fire... However, it was too late. Due to the high wind and high fire, the fire burned until the sun was approaching the sky. More than a dozen shops and more than 50 houses on the half street outside the East Gate were destroyed by the fire. Those who died in the sea of ​​fire except Gao Laosan and Gao Laosan's shop In addition to the two fellows, there were eleven people, old and young. According to the old people in Qingpu, the fire was so fierce and large in scale that it was really rare.