Chapter 9 Kidnapping Tianjin
When Wu Ye and Wu Niang went to Tianjin, Dai Ying tried his best to dissuade them.Tianjin Wei Wharf was originally no more complex than the capital, and it is more complicated and unpredictable. Now the people are in chaos, the foreigners are screaming, and the market is very unstable.Why would you be interested in traveling at such a time?Dai Ying even said: In case of an accident, we really can't explain it to the old man.Unexpectedly, it was unfortunate!
At first, Wu Ye was not very stubborn, but Wu Niang insisted on going.Wu Ye loved Wu Niang very much, and he had to agree to Wu Niang's going.Besides, Wu Niang's reason can also hold a little bit: it's a pity to go out after a long time, and it's a pity not to go to Tianjin after arriving in the capital.
Women are not like you guys, they go out as soon as they say they go out, they come for the first time, and don't worry about coming for the second time.It is said that Tianjin Wharf is in chaos, so why don't we continue to do business with our name?Let's go to Tianjin without ostentation or messing with anyone.As the saying goes, we are not gray people who have been smashed by cliff heads for thousands of years. If Tianjin Wharf does not mess with others, it will mess with us?
With that being said, who would have the nerve to block it?Dai Ying admired a beautiful young woman who could say such open and generous words.
It's not a business name's business for the owner to travel around, and once it's spent, it doesn't need to be burdened by the business name.Fifth Master brought his own silver deposit book, how much he spent, and how much he wrote down.The fifth father and the fifth mother are all the kind of elegant and quiet young masters, not frivolous and flamboyant, let alone shouting and drinking.After arriving in Beijing, I only care about my family having fun and playing very happily. Not only do I not get involved in brand affairs, but I seldom bother with brand names.The more this is the case, the more the friends in the Beijing account miss the loving young couple of the boss.It is reasonable to be afraid that something will happen to them.
I have been traveling in Beijing for more than a month, and nothing has happened.Wu Niang is an unusually beautiful young lady. She deliberately wore very ordinary clothes, and she also seemed to deliberately tan her face, but she was still energetic.On a hot day, they can't stop their wandering, whether it's far or near, whether it's worth it or not, let's go.Wu Niang also said that she specially chose summer to come to the capital, and hot weather has its benefits.Others don't know what the benefits are, but they look like they don't want to leave.
It's only been a few days since I went to Tianjin Wei, and this happened!
This surprising news was sent by telegram from the Jin number, with only a few words, and no details are known.I don't know which fairy is the ticket for, what is the asking price, what is the situation of the fifth master, whether I have sent a telegram to the old account and Hankou, I don't know.
This is an urgent matter of life and death. Even if the old man of Laohao, Kangfu, and Hankou got the news, it would be difficult to save the fire from afar.
Recently, Jing Hao must do his best to rescue Wu Niang.
After Dai Ying received the telegram, he immediately called back to Jinhao: No matter how much the asking price is, quickly transfer money to save people.
Liu Guofan, the old gang member of Tiancheng Yuanjin, is a relatively reckless person, and he is often greedy in business.Dealing with this kind of thing must not be rash.Dai Yingsi thought again and again and decided to go to Tianjin himself.This kidnapping case obviously wasn't just for Wuye Wuniang.Is it against the Kang family, against Tian Chengyuan, or against the Taigu Gang, or even the entire West Gang?It's hard to say.Since the establishment of Tianchengyuan, such a thing has never happened!
The distance between Beijing and Tianjin is only more than 200 li. If you hire a standard car, you can travel day and night, and you can reach it in a short time.
Before heading to Tianjin, Dai Ying rushed to see Ma Yukun, the admiral of the Nine Gates of the capital.In case of kidnapping, of course, it is not advisable to report to the official first.But the Kang family has friendship with Lord Ma Yukun.When Ma Yukun was suppressing the bandits in the Northwest, when the army's salary was in danger, he often borrowed money from the Xibang bank. Among them, Tian Chengyuan of the Kang family was a very generous family.In the 20th year of Guangxu, he was transferred back to Zhili by the imperial court. Soon after, he was awarded the Taiyuan Town Council, and had more direct contacts with the Kang family.Especially with Mr. Kang, they have the same aura and have a very close friendship.With such a level of relationship, in such a crisis, going to ask for help, of course, is to ask for a surefire solution.Mr. Ma really gave face, not only summoned him immediately, but also wrote a letter to Tianjin General Soldier.The hand order is to let the General Bingxie take the kidnappers.Dai Ying took the letter, thanked him, and hurried out.He knew that such a handbook should not be taken out lightly unless it was absolutely necessary.
With this handwritten letter and the 50,000 taels of money order from Beijing, Dai Ying rushed to Tianjin overnight.
That day, Wu Ye and Wu Niang left the inn, and each of them sat in a small sedan chair to watch the ships by the Haihe River.Wuye's sedan chair is in front, and Wuniang is behind.The attendants in the sedan chair, a maid and a bodyguard all came from the Kang family.Of course, they did not only take these two servants with them when they traveled far away, but in order not to show off, the rest of the servants stayed in the inn.
The journey was peaceful and quiet.When they reached the Haihe River, Wuye's sedan chair stopped, but Wuniang's sedan chair did not stop, and they continued to move forward.
The maid, Mrs. Yu, shouted, "We're here, we're here."
The two bearers didn't listen and went on.
Bodyguard Tian Kun ran a few steps and stepped forward to stop.
This time, the sedan chair stopped, but when the curtain of the sedan chair was raised, the protruding head and face was not Wu Niang, but an elderly man.He was very angry and asked: "Who is so bold, dare to block my sedan chair!"
Tian Kun froze for a moment.
At this time, the fifth master had already got off the sedan chair.Seeing that Wu Niang was not sitting in the sedan chair, she panicked: "Where is Wu Niang's sedan chair? Why didn't you follow?"
Tian Kun also panicked: "I've been following closely, why—" He opened his eyes and searched around. There are no other sedan chairs!
Aunt Yu even said, "Don't be dazed, go and find it!"
The two bearers who carried the sedan chair for the fifth master said, "It doesn't matter, maybe we got caught up somewhere. The bearers are our own brothers, so we can't lose them. Wait a minute, gentlemen, let's go to meet them!"
After finishing speaking, the two of them first compensated the sedan chair owner who got in the wrong way.The old gentleman sitting in the sedan chair had a gloomy face, muttering something, and got back into the sedan chair.After people got up in the sedan chair and continued to move forward, the two bearers followed the original road to look for Wu Niang, but they disappeared in a blink of an eye.
Fifth Master and two servants waited for a long time with an empty sedan chair, no matter how anxious they were, they just couldn't wait for anything.The bodyguard Tian Kun really panicked.
Have you met a villain?Are these four sedan chair bearers a gang of villains?Just looking for it, just go to a bearer, and you can take two people together, so you don't need the sedan chair?
It wasn't until this moment that Tian Kun realized that the sedan chair following Fifth Master was also cheating.But there is no trace of it!Most of the sedan chairs belonged to them.How could it be such a coincidence that Wu Niang's sedan chair followed the wrong path, and it just followed, and it was exactly the same as Wu Niang's sedan chair?If it wasn't exactly the same, he should have discovered it long ago.God, Wu Niang's sedan chair was obviously transferred by the gangsters!
When did this group of gangsters adjust the package?Changing the package right under the noses of him and Mrs. Yu, without even noticing it?He hasn't left even a single step along the way?
Tian Kun didn't dare to think about it anymore, knowing that he had caused a catastrophe.He was not familiar with Tianjin, and now he was alone, how could he chase the criminals?It is urgent to protect Fifth Master, and return to the inn safely first.
Tian Kun said as calmly as possible: "Fifth Master, Wu Niang can't find us, so she probably has to go back to the inn. We don't have to wait here."
Mrs. Yu said, "Wu Niang has lost her way. The two who carried the palanquin for the fifth master also lost their way? They can't find Wu Niang, so they should come back. Why is there no sign of her? Nothing happened. right?"
Tian Kun hurriedly said: "It's broad daylight, and we're in a bustling city again, what could happen! I think we'd better go back to the inn first. Wu Niang won't see us when she goes back to the inn, so I need to be even more anxious."
Wu Ye said: "I'm not going back! I'm not going anywhere! Where did they take Wu Niang? You are all living dead? No one is following Wu Niang!"
Aunt Yu said, "Tian Kun, hurry up and look for it!"
Tian Kun said: "The streets in Tianjin are full of twists and turns. If I find the wrong way again, the fifth master will not even have an errand runner, so what will happen? Fifth master, if such a mistake occurs, it is all useless." , let the fifth master punish. The current remedy, I think, is to ask sister-in-law Yu to stay here, and I will wait for the fifth master to return to the inn..."
The fifth master even said: "I won't go back to the inn, I won't go back! If I can't wait for Wu Niang, I won't go anywhere!"
Tian Kun said: "If Wu Niang returns to the inn and waits to see us, she comes out to look for us, and then goes astray, wouldn't that be—"
Mrs. Yu also said: "It's a hot day, it's not a problem to stay in the sun like this all the time. Master Wu will go back to the inn first. I'll stay here and watch, don't you feel relieved?"
"I'm not going anywhere! God, where did they take Wu Niang?"
The fifth master is like this, the bodyguard Tian Kun really has nothing to do.The two bearers are still nowhere to be seen, it seems that there is a lot of bad luck.We can't delay like this any longer, we have to report to Tianjin as soon as possible.Tian Kun couldn't think too much, so he said to Master Wu: "Master Wu, I'm going to find Wu Niang! Sister-in-law Yu, wait for Master Wu to sit back in the empty sedan chair and wait patiently. Don't go anywhere. Don't believe me, just wait for me to come back."
After speaking, he ran away.
The Kang family's Tiancheng Yuanjin is on Zhenshi Street.Because he was not familiar with the streets of Jinmen, he had no choice but to run back to the inn along the way he had come, and then ran from the inn to Jinhao.There was no sign of Wu Niang on the road or in the inn!
After hearing the report from the bodyguard Tian Kun, the old gang of Liu Guofan of the Jin number suddenly changed his face: "I'm afraid something happened!"
As soon as the fifth master arrived in Tianjin, Mr. Liu suggested that he should hire a few more bodyguards from the bodyguard bureau to follow him.Fifth Master and Fifth Niang just refused, saying that would be too ostentatious and would attract more attention instead.They also don't seem to want strangers to follow them, to restrict their pleasure.Something happened unexpectedly.It is useless to say these things.
After discussing with Tian Kun for a few words, he personally led people to the Haihe River.Hurry up, you have to invite fifth master back first.
When they arrived, Fifth Master and Yusao were still guarding the empty sedan chair, but Fifth Master's expression was a little crazy.While Mr. Liu was talking to Master Wu, Aunt Yu pulled Tian Kun over and asked in a low voice, "Have you seen him yet?"
Tian Kun shook his head.
Mrs. Yu said, "Fifth Lord is talking nonsense."
"It's only been a short while, Fifth Master has become like this?"
"It's only been a while? Don't tell me how long you've been away! After you left, the fifth master was in a hurry, but he was just in a hurry, and he was fine. Later, two people passing by asked us about our situation, and they said: Don't wait stupidly soon. , most likely met with kidnapping!"
"Two who?"
"A man in his forties."
Tian Kun hurried over and said to Master Wu: "Master Liu, Mr. Liu is telling the truth. Wu Niang really went back to the inn first. It was a false alarm. Let's go back quickly. Wu Niang is also anxious to wait."
Fifth Master's eyes were in a trance, but he just didn't believe it.After a lot of effort, everyone managed to persuade Wu Ye to get into a newly hired carriage.
Back at the inn, Fifth Master shouted to see Wu Niang. Tian Kun and Mrs. Yu could only say that Wu Niang had gone out to meet us. I wonder if Fifth Master was in a carriage.Someone has been sent to call.But how can Fifth Lord believe it?Immediately the person becomes demented again.
In the rush, a servant who stayed at the inn brought a letter, saying that it was sent by the clerk of Tianshengchuan Tea House, and asked to pass it on to Kang Wuye.
Mr. Liu received the letter, opened it and looked at it, and was stunned. Wu Niang was indeed tied up with a ticket: within five days, pay 100,000 taels of cash and go to Dalu to redeem her.If you fail to pay within the time limit, or report to the government, the ticket will be torn up immediately.The signature is Jin Nan Cao Shangfei.
How can this be sent by Tian Shengchuan, it is clearly a meat ticket left by the kidnappers.Elder Liu helped pull the servant out, and asked in a low voice:
"When was this delivered?"
"Fifth Master and the others not long after they left, they brought it here."
"Messenger, you didn't hear the accent? Is it the Tianjin Wei accent, or our Shanxi accent?"
"The man came and went in a hurry, and I didn't pay much attention. It seems to have a Tianjin Wei accent. I saw that the young guy from our Jin account can speak Tianjin dialect!"
"Can you speak Tianjin dialect? When you meet your fellow villagers, do you still speak Tianjin dialect?"
It's too late to ask.
Fly on grass?Recently, Liu's old gang has never heard of such a strong kidnapper from Jinmen, but now the punches are everywhere, who knows if this Cao Shangfei is a new thief or an old one?One hundred thousand taels is not a small amount, but no matter how much you ask, you can save people.It's just this real situation, how to explain it to the fifth master?
Fifth Lord is clearly out of his mind.
Tian Chengyuan and Tian Shengchuan of the Kang family did not offend the Jianghu in Jinmen, why did they act so cruelly?Who is not good to tie, but Wuniang?
Of course, Mr. Liu from Jinhao knows that among the six masters of the Kang family, this fifth master is the most affectionate.
He was originally very intelligent and talented, and the old man regarded him very highly.I don't want to, marry him a beautiful wife, and use that superhuman intelligence on the woman.He was really lost to Wu Niang!He has lost interest in reading, doing business, practicing martial arts, and practicing medicine. He is Wu Niang, who is obsessed with him wholeheartedly.Wu Niang seems to be particularly fascinated by him, she is not squeamish, willful, or picky, she simply wants to be virtuous and virtuous, and affectionate.The two are really like a pair of lovers who were destined for each other in the previous life!
At first, the old man was very disappointed to see that the fifth master was so worthless.But slowly, he seemed to be moved by this young couple who were so loving, and stopped being harsh.Later, he even said: "Our Kang family, if there is another pair of Liang Shanbo Zhu Yingtai, it will be done."
In particular, Wu Ye and Wu Niang only cared about their own love and affection, and did not provoke others. Among the brothers and sisters of the Kang family, no one seemed to hate them.
But why did Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai have an accident in Tianjin?How can I explain this to the old lady of my boss?Jinhao's reputation is so bad, who dares to bully?
After the accident, while the Tianjin account reported the emergency to the Beijing account, it also sent urgent telegrams to the old Taigu account and the Han account.
The old Taigu received such an unexpected urgent call, so of course he didn't dare to delay, so he hurriedly sent it to Kangzhuang and handed it over to Fourth Master.When fourth master saw such a telegram, he was a little frightened.
The old assistant who came to deliver the telegram quickly comforted him and said, "Don't worry too much, Siye. The veterans of the Beijing-Tianjin brand are all capable people, and they are definitely doing their best to rescue them. Besides, if something like this happens, they must call The Han name is over, and the old man and the shopkeeper are sitting in charge."
Fourth Master still couldn't calm down, and asked, "Tell me, is Wu Niang really saved?"
"Kidnapping, he is asking for money, and it's not like we don't have money. As long as Wu Niang doesn't get overly frightened, this difficulty will be over with a little money."
"Fifth Master and the others don't like to stir up trouble, so they just bully them?"
"This kind of thing is not only aimed at Wuye Wuniang."
"Then who are they targeting? Targeting your name?"
"Tianjin Wharf, this year there have been a lot of cases of boxing chaos and teaching, the situation is not stable, and any accidents are bound to happen."
"Tianjin is in such a mess, Hankou is alright?"
"Hankou is fine. Fourth master, you don't have to worry about yourself, first discuss with the second master and the others. If you have any orders, our shop is always ready."
Only then did the fourth master send the second shopkeeper away, and quickly called the second and sixth masters.
For this kind of sudden disaster, what good strategy can Liu Ye come up with?It's just a few harsh words: the business is done all over the world, and there are still people who dare to bully?
As soon as the second master heard such a thing, he was extremely angry: "Where is this way to give birth to melon eggs? How dare you break ground on Tai Sui's head! You are not small, you really bullied me at Grandpa's house. Fourth child, this You don’t have to worry about it, I’ll call a few masters from Taigu’s martial arts and go to Tianjin Wei right away!”
The sixth master could see that the older second brother had never been so mighty before, and now it was finally time for him to wait until he showed his skills and made contributions.But how strong is the second brother's martial arts, can he really turn the tide and win his wife back from thousands of miles away?Sixth Master secretly sneered in his heart.
Fourth master was greatly moved by this kind of mighty act towards second master. Second brother came out to support him, so he could breathe a little easier.When things go wrong, it is most appropriate for the second master to come forward, even if the old master is here, it seems that this is the only way to go.
The second master was a little unusually excited, but it wasn't a sudden one.Although he and Fifth Master were not born of the same mother, they are brothers and sisters after all.What's more, it's about the prestige of the Kang family!
He didn't talk too much with the fourth and sixth masters, and hurriedly rode his horse to Guanjiabao to see the second master of the car.Master Che Er is the number one expert in Taigu's martial arts, and he has a master-student relationship, so it is only natural for the second master to ask for help.Another reason is that Master Che Er had a shocking event in Tianjin that was well-received.
It was the eighteenth year of Guangxu, and Master Che Er escorted the master of Taigu Meng's family to Tianjin for business.At that time, he was already in his sixties and turned sixty years old, but his martial arts skills remained undiminished, and his old age seemed to add a lot of charm.He was already well-known in martial arts at various wharves in North China, this time when he came to Tianjin, the martial arts world became lively as usual, and everyone rushed to invite him to have talks, martial arts performances, and banquets.
At that time, there was a Japanese warrior named Yasunosuke Koyama who was traveling in China at Tianjin Wharf, and he was very skilled in swordsmanship.He set up an arena to compete in Jin, but he couldn't find an opponent, so he was a little conceited.In fact, Tianjin is a big wharf full of miscellaneous places, and many martial arts masters have always been hidden.
It's just that the Japanese samurai entrusted their skills and reputation to the long sword, and the routines are completely different from the swordsmanship in Chinese martial arts. In modern terms, the "standards" are completely different.Some martial arts masters in Tianjin were very angry with Xiao Shan's conceit. When they jumped into the ring to fight, they felt a little impetuous, and they couldn't perform their martial arts normally.Other high-minded martial artists disdain to perform martial arts on the same stage with Japanese warriors.This makes Xiao Shan even more conceited!
Wuyou Jinmen naturally mentioned this hill to Master Che Er.Master Che Er just smiled, he is not a person who likes to show his face, and of course he will not rush to find the sun and others to talk about his superiority.I don't think so, this little mountain samurai had heard of Master Che Er's martial arts name first, and actually came to see him in person.He hid all his conceit, was polite and respectful, and expressed his desire to ask Master Che about his kung fu.This hand is really amazing!He's going to put on a conceited face and throw wild words to challenge you, so just ignore him.But this is polite first, and it has already taken advantage of it. If you don't answer people, you won't be very useful.Zhang Yang went out, were you scared, or what?
Master Che Er had no choice but to fight.
Master Che Er's Xingyiquan Kungfu is of course proficient in boxing and weapons.He himself prefers boxing, and he seems to be more able to display original qi and true kung fu without borrowing equipment.Among weapons, he prefers guns and sticks.The essence of Xingyiquan can only be seen by transforming it into fists with spears and sticks.
Although Xingyi Quan pays attention to the free movement of form and the connection of form and meaning, its power is still in form, and it is a hard work based on actual combat.Master Che Er is famous for his superb "Gu Gong", that is, his defensive skills, but he is not only based on ingenuity, but also has deep and powerful hard skills.Already sixty years old, he still has extraordinary physical strength, and with a pair of iron legs swept away, he is even more invincible.Therefore, he usually doesn't pay much attention to swordsmanship.The sword in Chinese martial arts is beautiful in shape and spirit, with fairy spirit. It is a short weapon for self-defense and self-defense. Warriors call swords Wenjian.
The sword in the hands of a Japanese samurai is an authentic martial arts sword.From the perspective of Chinese warriors, it is a sword, not a sword.The knife is an offensive long weapon, not a bit of literary or fairy spirit.
But Master Che Er just picked up a Wenjian with a long tassel, and jumped onto the ring of Koyama Yasunosuke.
After saluting politely, Xiao Shan yelled, and suddenly he seemed to have changed into a different person, with a fierce expression and a menacing atmosphere. He swung his long sword that looked like a sword but not a sword, not a knife like a knife, and slashed at Master Che Er like lightning. kill the past.Master Che's expression remained the same, with a benevolent expression on his face, calmly avoiding the slaying.The thin sword in his hand was still standing straight behind him, only the long tassel on the hilt was dancing, drawing a beautiful arc.As the hill approached step by step, the second master of the car evaded every step. Seeing that he had retreated to the entrance of the stage, he suddenly jumped, crossed the hill, and landed in the center of the stage.
He is sixty years old, and he still has such kung fu, and there was a round of applause from the audience.
Xiao Shan seemed to be unabated, but he stopped attacking violently and wanted to take a defensive position. Unexpectedly, Master Che Er's sword flew over, and he hurriedly raised the sword to block it. Passed down by the arm.Xiao Shan became angry and hacked again and again, but when he touched Master Che's sword, he only felt soft!Only then did he feel a little flustered, but he couldn't show it.
In this way, Master Che'er lured Xiao Shan to attack continuously, and then dodged calmly, making his attacks fail every time.In the meantime, he made a sudden attack to show the opponent some seriousness.
After a few rounds, Xiao Shan became a little restless.So Master Che Er used his unique trick.As soon as the two of them slashed to a climax, Xiao Shan suddenly lost his prediction of the sword path of the second master Che, especially the imaginary sword and the real sword. , but it was as if he had chopped a solid rock, his hands were trembling and his arms were numb, as if he was being played.This surprised him quite a bit!In such a panic, he hesitated when he drew the sword, not knowing how strong it should be.After a few times of coping like this, I suddenly felt that my arm trembled and went numb, and the sword popped out of my hand, flew to a distance, and fell to the ground with a clang.
There was another round of applause from the audience.
Xiao Shan didn't panic at this time, straightened his clothes, saluted, and admitted defeat.He also expressed his desire to learn Chinese Xingyi Kung Fu from Master Che Er as his teacher.
Master Che Er said that Chinese and Japanese martial arts each have their own schools, and both sides straddle each other, which can only harm each other, not benefit each other, so he did not agree.In fact, how could he pass on Chinese unique skills to outsiders!
Such a unique defeat of the Eastern Samurai made Master Che Er's reputation shake up Jinmen for a while.In the past, only the martial arts world knew his name. Since then, ordinary people have regarded him as a hero.Although six or seven years have passed since this incident, in Tianjin, everyone in Tianjin still knows Master Che's martial name.Now that the Kang family is in trouble in Tianjin, they can use the name of the second heavy truck master to settle those kidnappers.
Master Che Er heard what Kang Erye said, and immediately expressed his willingness to do his best.However, after thinking about it again and again, he felt that it would be too dazzling and too ostentatious for his family to go to Tianjin in person.If this is not done well, the kidnappers will be forced to tear up the ticket.Besides, he himself was old after all.Therefore, he suggested to invite Li Changyou to go.Li Changyou is his most proud student, and he is also the best in martial arts, especially good at "playing style". "Fighting", that is, aggressive boxing, is opposite to "Gu Fa".Li Changyou's "fighting style" is already outstanding in Taigu Wulin. There is a saying that "Master Che Er's Gu method, Changyou's master's fighting style", master and apprentice are on par.
The second master went to invite Li Changyou, who was in his prime.Master Changyou was very face-saving, so he agreed immediately.They selected more than a dozen strong martial arts fighters together, and flew to Tianjin overnight.
The telegram sent to Hankou was received by the old man Kang Hunan two days late, because he and Sun Da shopkeeper were in the Yangloudong Mountain in Puqi hundreds of miles away from Hankou.It is said to be a summer escape, but it is actually inspecting old tea farms.Chen Yiqing's veteran gang, seeing such a telegram, of course didn't dare to delay, and immediately sent the buddy on the counter to send it day and night, but it was still too late.
After Kang Hunan heard the news, his first reaction was to ask shopkeeper Sun Da, "Who is against us?"
Sun Beiming said: "Who could it be? Could it be that Liu Guofan of Jinhao offended Jianghu?"
Kang Hunan said: "Who dares to bully us in the Jianghu? I don't think it is a person in the Jianghu."
"Is that the boxer who fights Bagua boxing?"
"We don't do foreign affairs, and we don't collude with foreigners. Why are the boxers embarrassing us?"
"It's always Jin's enemy."
"Tell me, did Rishengchang hire someone to do it?"
"Ri Shengchang? Can't it? We don't have such a big enmity with it. As for doing such a thing? Now it's the time when the West Gang is in trouble, so why does it fight us like this? Is it breaking the rules of the West Gang?"
"It is at this time that we are afraid that we are too early."
"What's wrong with us?"
"You and I will come out this time, and they will not be able to sleep."
"I don't think so. Old Dongtai, you place too much emphasis on Kaifeng's letter and newspaper."
They passed by Huaiqing Mansion in Henan Province on their way to the south, and found that the business in Zhuangkou there was abnormal, so they asked Kaifeng Branch to check and report.A few days ago, a newspaper came from Kaifeng, saying that the business in Zhuangkou, Huaiqing Prefecture, was taken away by Rishengchang.My old gang is a novice and has lived in a remote place like Suzhou for many years. He is not good at guarding against his peers, so they take advantage of the opportunity to use secret methods to take away the source of profit from my account.
Although Huaiqing Mansion is not a large wharf, it is the place of departure for the Central Plains Railway North Export, and there are a lot of remittances and money flows.When Kang Hunan read the letter, he was very upset, saying that Ri Shengchang, you are the boss, it's too weak to bully the weak but not the strong.Sun Beiming felt that our people were too soft.He never thought that Fan Lao Gang would be so useless.Kang Hunan is still blindly annoyed by Rishengchang.Now, he pushed the kidnapping case in Tianjin to Rishengchang. Isn't this a pot of old and new hatred?
Kang Hunan laughed at Sun Beiming for being too confused.He told the friend who came to deliver the message: Go back to Hankou and tell Mr. Chen, tell him to send a telegram to the foreign naturalization, and order the third master to go to Tianjin as soon as possible. No matter whether you save the servant or not, you must find out who did it .
Sun Beiming said: "Relying on the Tianjin and Beijing No. 2, can't we still find out?"
But Kang Hunan said: "When something like this happens, the third child should be in Tianjin!"
Sun Beiming still ordered: Send a telegram to the Jinghao, asking them to fully assist the Jinhao in the rescue.
When something like this happened, Sun Beiming felt that he should go back to Hankou so that he could cope with the emergency.But Kang Watnan did not leave.He said that no matter how big the incident happened, it was up to the younger generation to deal with it themselves.He came to Yanglou Cave one last time to see enough.This is the place where the ancestors of the Kang family started, how could they give up halfway?
However, the news from Tianjin made the lush tea mountain more desolate in his eyes.
It was already the afternoon of the second day after the accident when Dai Ying's old gang from Beijing arrived in Tianjin.
He wanted to visit Lord Wu first, but Liu Guofan from Jin Hao advised him not to go for now.Because since the accident, Fifth Master has been sitting like that stupidly, neither eating nor drinking, never closing his eyes, mumbling something in his mouth, no one can understand.They were coaxing him to eat, drink, and sleep for a while, I don't know if he was coaxed.Once you go, it will be even more difficult to coax you.
Dai Ying was taken aback, and said: "The fifth master has become like this? When he left Beijing, the fifth master was still capable and handsome. Although the masters of the master, although they are not promising, they are still good people. Looking to bully them?"
"The old man is so extraordinary, he seems to have pulled out everything, and made the next six masters not have much future and luck. The fifth master and five mothers have encountered such an accident, it really makes people feel that the law of heaven is unfair. "
"How can this be done by the old man! Brother Guofan, have you found out if it was done, who did it?"
Liu Guofan said: "I have already asked several bosses of the bodyguard bureau for advice. They all said that they have not heard that the boundary of Jinmen is out of the grass. Besides, no one in the world knows that the bodyguard bureau wears crotch pants, and there are not many idiots." Dare to bully the bank. Look at the work they do, it seems to be done with raw melon eggs."
"The sky is bright and the sun is bright and the city is bustling, so he tied his ticket. How dare a novice do this?"
"The boss of the Escort Bureau said that from the price offered, it was a melon egg with a stick. One hundred thousand taels of silver, and he didn't dare to ask for a silver ticket. He also got delivery of big reeds dozens of miles away in Jinnan, which could only be transported by silver skids." But how many silver sledges should be loaded here? For 5,000 taels of silver sledges, you need to hold twenty pieces of silver sledges, and for 10,000 taels of silver sledges, you need to hold ten pieces of silver sledges. Ten or twenty silver sledges. , Follow the car with guards, how many people are needed? These people are all dressed up by elite soldiers, so it’s not sure who will tie whom! Veteran kidnapping tickets are all based on what jewelry, calligraphy and paintings you have that are easy to carry and transfer, and specify the handover Redemption. If you want money hard, you will have to exchange it for gold bars. How can there be hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash!"
Hearing this, Dai Ying felt that it made sense.
Silver is a thing that is easy to wear and tear, so a special skid cart was used to transport cash in that era.The cart is equipped with specially made logs, each section of which is more than three feet long and one foot thick.It was cut in half and hollowed out for embedding silver ingots.Generally, fifty taels of ingots and ten ingots of ingots are embedded in each log, and ten to twenty segments are loaded in each car.One hundred thousand taels of silver, that's not about loading ten or twenty sleigh carts in a mighty way!
Dai Ying said: "If it's really raw melon eggs, it's better to deal with it?"
Liu Guofan said: "The boss of the bodyguard bureau said that people are more afraid of raw melon eggs!"
"Why?"
"The thieves have their own way, and the underworld also has its own way. If you don't follow any way, you can figure out what he will do? So, this is really troublesome."
"But no matter what, Wu Niang must be rescued! Wu Niang has an accident, not only will it be difficult to explain to the owner, but it will also implicate our Tian Chengyuan's reputation too much! The situation in Tianjin is not good, and we missed it. After that, no one will dare to bully us. The first step is to rescue Wu Niang, and the next step is to apprehend the kidnappers. When I left Beijing, I went to see Lord Ma Yukun, the admiral of the Nine Gates. I wrote a letter to the Tianjin General Soldier, and I brought it with me. However, it is not appropriate to report to the official right now, right?"
"The boss of the bodyguard bureau said: You can't report to the officials first. Even if you report to the officials, the officers and soldiers are not very important. I think it is true. The affairs of the Jianghu have to rely on the rivers and lakes. Therefore, I have entrusted several familiar bodyguard agencies. Let them do their best to rescue them."
"Is it reliable? Why don't you invite a few experts to come to the bodyguard bureau of the capital?"
"I don't think so. The bosses have said that this group of raw melon eggs has already left a hole for us: when the time comes, we will dispatch its twenty silver sledge carts, send forty or fifty martial arts experts to escort the carts, and go to redeem people. The job has to be done well, ransoming people, capturing bandits, and everything is done in one pot. Now, they don’t dare to make any noise on the face, and they are secretly visiting to see which class of raw melon eggs is making a living.”
"Since the robbery left, there has been no news?"
"No."
"The redemption period is five days?"
"Five days. The bosses said that this is also the time limit for raw melon eggs. Kidnapping at a big wharf like Tianjin Wei is still in the deep mountains and old forests. If you write such a long time limit, what will happen if you are afraid that people will not be able to dispatch troops in time?"
"It's because I'm afraid we won't be able to transfer the one hundred thousand taels of silver. Don't you feel embarrassed about transferring one hundred thousand taels of silver from Jinhao?"
"Brother Jing, I'm trying my best to raise funds. The situation in Tianjin is not good. I dare not do a lot of business, and I don't dare to store more cash in the cabinet. If you store it, you will release it quickly. Most of the customers in Jinmen are merchants, unlike your Beijing account. It can absorb the spare money of many officials."
"Anyway, you can't dispatch one hundred thousand taels of silver with your dignified account?"
"When the situation is good, this is really a small amount. Brother Jing, you know the current situation in Tianjin. Foreigners are domineering, foreign religions are annoying, villagers practice boxing at altars, compete with foreigners, and there are many cases. How can business be done?" ?”
"But I read your newspaper, the business is still booming."
"I didn't rush to do it. Everyone shrank, leaving a lot of good business, so let's pick a few."
"That's it. Brother Guofan, as soon as I heard about this incident, I was thinking, I am afraid that this incident is not just about trying to steal money, is there another intention?"
"Other intentions?"
"As you said just now, the bosses of the bodyguard bureau believe that this is not like the bandits in the Jianghu. But judging from the kidnapping of Wuniang, it is clear that they are familiar with our inside story. Wuye Wuniang is not the kind of ostentatious My sons from everyone, the first time I came back to Tianjin, it was only a few days, how did the group of raw melon eggs know that they were our big rich? On the day of the accident, how did they know that they were going to the Haihe River to watch the ship, and set up a package plan along the way in advance? Send meat tickets Yes, and claiming to be the buddy of our Tianshengchuan tea house! This group of melon eggs is so clear?"
"Brother Jing, after the accident, I thought about it too. I asked the bodyguards and maids who were serving them carefully, and they said that they were afraid of being bullied by those who carried the sedan chair, so they didn't serve them carefully. According to their identities, Tiancheng Yuanpiaozhuang and Tianshengchuan Teahouse are the names of their Kang family. The day before the accident, they made an appointment with the porters to go to the Haihe River to see the ship the next day and told them to come earlier. The bodyguards and maids all Said, it’s too careless, and I don’t know that Tianjin Wei Wharf is so dangerous.”
"How did the bearer get hired? If he can't be hired by a reliable sedan company, he screams in the street?"
"How can you bark! When the fifth master and the fifth wife came, I explained to them, but I dare not hire cars and sedan chairs indiscriminately on the street. I also sent a friend at the cabinet to wait on them and hire cars and sedan chairs for them. But within a few days, he asked Master Wu to send him back to the cabinet, saying that he was following a group of servants, so don't bother with the name, and go and get your business. Master Wu was kind, and such a thing would happen! "
"How can it be such a coincidence? Just now when I hired a sedan chair, I met a bad guy, and you are so clear?"
"The sedan chair that Wu Niang was sitting in was not clean, so the bodyguards changed the sedan chair. After sitting for two days, something happened!"
"It's such a coincidence? Just after changing the sedan chair, you ran into a bad guy?"
"Yes, this is a bit strange."
"So I wonder if our enemies are playing tricks here?"
"Who would that be?"
Dai Ying and Liu Guofan analyzed for a long time, but they didn't concentrate their suspicions in one place.Foreigner banks, customers with bad debts, even Western gangs, and of course the underworld and anti-foreign boxers are all possible, but there is no obvious reason for them.Dai Ying still had a doubt in his heart: Does Liu Guofan still have his own enemies?But this is inconvenient to ask.
Dai Ying had no choice but to take out the 50,000 taels of silver note he had brought, and told Liu Guofan to go to Zhang Luo to exchange it for cash.In addition, he also wanted to meet the bosses of the Escort.
Erye and Master Changyou traveled day and night, and when Pegasus arrived in Tianjin, it was already four days after the accident.
The second master was horrified when he saw the fifth master!Not only was he thin and out of shape, but he became completely stupid, and he was so dazed that he couldn't recognize who he was.
"Fifth brother, I am your second brother!"
Fifth Master still looked around obsessively, but didn't respond in particular.
二爷擂了一拳，砸在桌案上，震得茶碗乱跳，五爷居然仍是痴痴的样子。昌有师傅慌忙将二爷拉出来了。
二爷虽然一生习武，可他是个慈善天真的人。现在，脸色铁青，怒气逼人，真把大家吓住了。他问：“这是哪路忘八干的，清楚不清楚？”
刘国藩忙说：“镖局派人打探几天了，依然不大清楚。叫他们看，不像是江湖上的盗匪，不知从哪来的一班生瓜蛋。”
二爷喝道：“生瓜蛋他也敢欺负爷爷？”
戴膺就说：“二爷一路风尘飞马赶来，还是先歇息要紧。明日一早，咱们就得去大芦赎人。”
二爷又喝问：“为甚等明天？既是生瓜蛋，为甚不早动手？”
昌有师傅站起来，说：“二爷，你就听戴掌柜的，先歇息吧。我去会会镖局的老大。有我呢，一切不用二爷太操心。”
二爷仍想发作，但看了看昌有师傅，终于忍住了。
于是，二爷和其他武师拳手，就留在客栈歇息，昌有师傅只带了两个拳手，赶去会见镖局老大。
津门镖局的几位老大，当然知道昌有师傅的武名。当年，昌有师傅也在太谷镖局做过押镖武师。所以，几位老大一定要尽地主之谊，招待他。
他对老大们说：“眼下我只是缺觉，不缺醉。等跟着各位老大救出人，擒了贼，咱再痛快喝一顿，如何？”
武人不爱客套，想想人家飞马千里而来，是够困乏了，就依了客人的意思。几位老大介绍了探访结果，更详细告诉了翌日如何装扮，如何运银，如何布阵，如何见机行事。
昌有师傅听了老大们的计谋，以为甚好。只是觉得，二十辆车，四五十号人，浩浩荡荡，会不会把绑匪吓住了，不敢露面？
老大们就问：“昌有师傅，那您有什么高招？”
昌有说：“我看人马车辆都减一半，只去十辆橇车，每辆也只跟两人。这样阵势小，还保险些。又不是占山为王的主儿，挑二十来个高手，我看没有拿不下的局面。各位老大看成不成？”
老大们议了议，觉着也行：“有您这样的高手，那就少去些人马吧。您要不来，我们真不敢大意，万一有闪失，谁能担待得起？”
昌有忙说：“这事全凭各位老大！各位的本事，我能不知道？用不着排那么大阵势，就能把这事办了。”
经商量，昌有从他带来的武师中挑八位，剩下由镖局出十几位，组成一班精锐，扮成车倌，出面救人。另外再安排一二十人，预先散在附近，以在不测时接应。为了少惹麻烦，不惊动市面，明天还是越早走越好。最好，能赶在绑匪之前，先到达大芦。那样，在地利上不至吃亏。于是，定了天亮时赶到大芦。
这样，后半夜就得出动了。议定后，昌有师傅匆匆辞别各位老大，赶回客栈，抓紧休歇。
大芦在津南，离城五六十里远，那里有一处浩淼的大湖，风烟迷漫，苇草丛生，常有强人出没。但津门镖局都知道，近年并没有什么草上飞聚啸于此，也没有出了别的山大王。出事以后，镖局天天都派有暗探在此游动，什么线索也未发现。
镖局老大当然知道，绑匪指定的赎人地点，决不可能是他们的藏身之地。不过，绑匪既然将此定为赎人的地点，那应该有些蛛丝马迹可辨。怎么会如此无迹可寻？
尤其是京号戴老帮带来五万银票后，赎资很快备齐了，在第三四天，就想缴银赎人。绑匪留的肉票，也说是五日之内。但镖局派出的暗探，却在大芦一带什么动静也没有发现。也许他们是深藏不露，非等来运银的橇车不肯出来？生瓜蛋也会隐藏得这样老辣？
要不要贸然押着银子，前去试探，镖局老大和京津老帮都拿不定主意。换回人来，那当然好，要是浩浩荡荡白跑一趟，那在津门市面还不知要引起什么骚动。所以，第三天没有敢出动。
挨到第四天，镖局谋了一个探路的计策：雇了一队高脚骡帮，驮了重物，浩浩荡荡从大芦经过。到大芦后，选了僻静处，停下来休歇。但盘留很久，依然没有任何人来“问路”。What exactly is going on?出了什么不测？正在忧虑，二爷和昌有师傅赶到了。见二爷那样悲愤，也没有敢对他们说出这一切。
反正是最后一天了，留下的惟一出路：必须押银出动。
为了在天亮后就能赶到大芦，大约在三更天，武师们就押着运银的橇车，静静地出发了。除了十辆银橇，还跟着一辆小鞍轿车，那是为了给五娘坐的。
现在是二爷坐在里面。
昌有师傅本不想叫二爷去，二爷哪里肯答应！但上了年纪的二爷，装扮赶车的跟车的，都不合适，那就只好装成一个老家仆了。昌有师傅叮咛他，必须忍住，不能发火，二爷要见了绑匪就忍不住，那五娘可保不住出什么意外！二爷当然什么都答应了。
出城以后，依然是黑天，二爷却从车上跳下，跟着车大步流星地往前奔。赶车的是太谷来的武师，就悄悄说：“天亮还早呢，二爷你还是坐车上吧。”
二爷说：“不用管我！”
赶车的武师，也不敢再多说话。
天黑，路也不太好走，但整个车队，一直就在静悄悄地行进。当然，谁心里都不平静。
绑匪是不是生瓜蛋，镖局老大们已经不大敢相信。镖局就是吃江湖饭的，五天了，居然打探不出一点消息。会不会是闹义和拳的拳民做的活儿？可天成元票庄一向也不十分亲近洋人，不会结怨于拳民的。刘老帮也极力说，拳民们才不会这样难为他。可是现在押这样一大笔现银，黑灯瞎火的，又不走官道，最怕的，就是遇了这些拳民。遇贼遇匪都不怕，遇了像野火似的拳民，那可就不论武艺论麻烦了。叮咛众弟兄不要声张，尽量静悄悄赶路，也是出于这种担忧。
好在一路还算顺利。又是夏天，不到五更，天就开始发亮了。在麻麻亮的天色里，路上遇过两个人，模样像是平常乡民。见影影绰绰走出这样一溜银橇车，乡民都吓呆了，大张着嘴，一动不动看车队走过。
他们准以为是遇了匪盗！
见了这种情况，车队更加快速往前赶。天亮以后，押着这样多银橇，那毕竟是太惹眼了。
这天竟是个阴天，到达大芦时，太阳也没有出来，满世界的阴沉和寂静。他们停在了一个没有人烟的荒野之地。不远处，即能望见那个浩淼的大湖和动荡着的芦苇、蒲草。
绑匪不会来得这样早吧？不过，镖局老大还是派出人去探查。
二爷过来，悄悄问昌有师傅：“你会凫水不会？”
昌有也低声：“也只是淹不死，但落入水中，也等于把武功废了。”
“我一入水，就得淹死了。”
“二爷，有水战，也轮不上你抢功的。”
“那我来做甚！”
“我劝你甭来，你非来不可。快不敢忘了你扮的身份，山西来的老家人，不会凫水，也不奇怪。我们沉住气，还是先少说两句吧。”
二爷哪能沉着从容得了？他安静了不大工夫，就向湖边走去，没走多远，给镖局老大叫住了。嗨，哪也不能去，就这样傻等！
大家就这样一直傻等到半前晌时候，陆上，水上，都没有任何动静。既不见有车马来，也不见有舟船来。
这帮生瓜蛋唱的是一出什么戏？
二爷说不能再这样傻等了，老大们也有些感到气氛不对，只有昌有师傅主张再静候至午时。He said:
“他们会不会还是嫌我们来的人马多，不敢露面？所以，还是不能妄动。这是人命关天的事，稍为不慎，就怕会有不测。”
二爷说：“那要等到什么时候？”
一位老大说：“嫌多嫌少，反正我们的人马已经来了。我看，咱们得去雇条小船，派水性好的弟兄，到湖泊中去探探。”
大家听了，觉得早该这样。
昌有师傅说：“还是要引诱他们陆战，不要水战。”
于是，就派出两位镖局的武师，去附近找乡民雇船。其余人，仍七零八散地坐在地上，吃干粮，打瞌睡：这也是有意装出来的稀松样。
这样一直等到过了正午，仍然没有“草上飞”的影子。大家正焦急呢，才见前晌派出的一位武师，匆匆跑了回来。大家忙问：有什么消息了？但他也不理大家，只是把一位镖局老大拉到远处，低声告诉了什么。
老大一听，脸色大变。忙招呼其他几位镖局老大和昌有师傅过来，但二爷早跟过来了。
“寻见那些忘八了？”
老大支吾着，说：“还不敢确定……”
“那你们在告诉甚？”
“只是，有些叫人疑心的迹象……”
昌有师傅看出其中有事，就对二爷说：“二爷，看来时候到了，你不敢忘了自己扮的是谁。你先回人堆里候着，我和老大们先合计合计，看如何动作。商量好了，再对你说。行吧？”
“我出不了主意，还不能听你出主意？”
昌有说：“二爷，不是不叫你听，是因为你扮的不是车夫。你扮的是大户人家的老家人，该有些派头，不能跟我们这些赶车的扎在一堆。”说时，就扶了二爷，往回退。“二爷你还信不过我？”
哄走二爷，昌有师傅过来一听，顿时也脸色大变。急忙问：“在哪儿？我们还不快去看看！”
说话间，昌有师傅和一位镖局老大，跟着跑回来的那位武师，急匆匆远去了。
到底发生了什么事？
原来，派出去的那两位武师，在很远的一个庄子里，才雇到一条小船。他们借口有两位兄弟下湖凫水去了，不见回来，要去找找。渔夫先有些不肯，他们出了很高的礼金，才同意。渔夫摇他们下湖后，荡了很大一圈，也仍是什么动静也没有。返回时，遇到一条小渔船。船主互相喊着问了问，那头说：刚才见过一条船，停在芦苇边，喊过话，没人应。
他们就叫渔夫摇过去。不一会儿，果然看见了那条船。渔夫吆喊了几声，没有人应。武师他们自己也吆喊起来：
“五爷——，五爷——”
他们这样喊，用意很清楚。可是仍没有人应。
他们就叫渔夫靠近那船。靠过去，仍然悄无声息。一位武师跳上了那条船，跟着就传出他的一声惊叫。另一武师急忙也跳了上去，最怕见到的景象显现在眼前：船舱里一领苇席下，盖着一具女尸！
看那死者的情形，多半是五娘。
死者是个年轻娘子，衣裳已被撕扯得七零八碎了，可仍能看出那是大户人家的装束。只是面目已难以辨认：额头有一个高高隆起的大血口，使脸面整个变了形，加上血迹遮盖，面目全非，惨不忍睹。
这些忘八，还在期限内，怎么就撕了票！
不过，看死者情形，又像是厮打挣扎后，一头撞到什么地方，自尽了。于是，他们全掀掉席子，看见下身几乎裸露着。这帮忘八！正要盖上，发现死者身边扔有一信函。忙捡起来，见信皮上写着：刘掌柜启。
刘掌柜？天成元的老帮不就正姓刘吗？这就是康五娘无疑了。
信是封了口的。他们没有拆开看，反正已经撕了票，反正人已死了。两位武师盖好苇席，回到原来的船上。他们问渔夫，能不能认出那是谁的船？渔夫说他认不得，那种小船太普通了。
武师便请求将那条船拖着，带到湖边。渔夫当然又是不肯，再加了价钱，才答应了。
镖局老大和昌有师傅赶到湖边，武师们才把绑匪丢下的那封信拿了出来。镖局老大见写的是“刘掌柜启”，就让给昌有师傅拆看。
昌有师傅看了，只是骂了一声：“忘八！”
老大问：“到底是谁干的？”
昌有说：“街面上的一帮青皮吧。信上说，这桩生意没做好，他们中间出了下三烂，欺负了你们娘子，瞎了票。娘子是自家寻了死，不是他们杀的。”
老大说：“青皮也敢做这种生意？”
昌有说：“要不，能弄成这种下三烂结局！咱们快上船看看吧。”
他们上船看了，真是惨不忍睹。只是，眼下的当务之急，已不容他们多作思量。肉票已毁，那得赶紧押了十万现银，安妥回城。天气炎热，装殓五娘也是刻不容缓了。还有这样的噩耗，怎么告诉二爷？
他们做了简练的商议，命两位武师暂留下看守，就跑回去做安排。
其实，昌有师傅看到的那封信，是另有内容的。只是，他感到事关重大，不能声张，就巧为掩盖了。幸好在一片忙乱中，别人都未能觉察出来。
那一封信是这样写的：
昌有师傅看了这封信，就猜测这个“刘寿儿”可能是天成元津号的刘掌柜。要真如此，那可不是一件小事。康家五娘被绑票，原来是他自家字号的老帮结的怨。结怨，还不是因为生意！这事张扬出去，那还不乱了？
所以，昌有师傅就遮掩下来。回到城里，更是忙乱不迭，似也不宜告人。而且，将这事告诉谁，还没有想妥。最应该告诉的，当然是二爷。可二爷虽然年长，却依然天真得像个少年。人是大善人，武功武德也好，只是不能与他谋大事。这事先告给二爷，他立马就会将刘掌柜绑了。
二爷之外，五爷更不成。可怜的五爷，现在除了傻笑，什么也不会了。原来还担心，怎么将五娘遇难的噩耗告诉他，可看他那样，说不说都一样了。
刘掌柜，当然不能叫知道。
如此排下来，那就只剩了一个人，他们京号的戴掌柜。可戴掌柜也正忙碌，面都不好见。
面对最不愿看到的结果，戴膺他能不忙吗？几家镖局，加上二爷带来的一干人马，竟然没有把人救回来！惊骇之余，他立马意识到事态严重。五娘惨死，不好向东家交待，那倒在其次，最可怕的，是这事传到市面，天成元的声誉将受撼动：连东家的人都救不了，谁还敢指靠你！所以，他是极力主张，此事不敢太声张。尤其五娘的丧事，不宜大办。
经二爷同意，已经将五娘入殓，移入城外一佛寺，做超度法事。大热天，既不宜扶灵回晋，也不宜久作祭奠。所以，戴膺劝二爷从简从速治丧，及早寄厝津郊，等以后再挑选日子，从容归葬。但二爷使着性子，不肯答应。该怎么办，一要等老太爷回话，二要等太谷家中来人。等候的这些天，得报丧吊唁，排排场场。一向慈祥的二爷，现在脾气火暴，听不进话去。
唉，这也毕竟是东家的事，二爷这样犟着，戴膺也没有办法。
津号的刘国藩，也是被这事吓毛了，二爷说甚，他就听甚。大肆张扬这种败兴事，对生意有什么影响，刘国藩他能不知道？可劝不下二爷，光劝刘老帮也无用。
发往汉口、太谷的电报，去了几日了，仍不见有回话！
京号那头，他也得操心。
你说戴膺他能不着急吗？
昌有师傅见戴掌柜这样忙碌着急，本来还想拖延几天，但又怕老这样捂着，万一再出了事，咋办？所以，他还是寻了个机会，把那封信交给了戴掌柜。
戴膺一看，当下就愣了。良久，才慌忙问道：
“昌有师傅，这信谁还看过？”
“除了你我，谁也没看过。”
“那些镖局老大，也没看过？”
“没看过。他们递给我时，信口还封着，是我将信拆开的。我一看，事关重大，就藏起来了。”
“恕我失言，