Chapter 42 The 42nd Yangzhou birthday celebration

Han Peng's face changed color, and he said in a low voice: "Brother Liu, I have something to do, I have to go out, let's meet here again tomorrow." Just as he was about to stand up, he suddenly felt a numbness in his mouth, as if an iron was attached to his wrist. The hoop, it turned out that Liu Kang had grasped his wrist tightly.Han Peng was taken aback, and tremblingly said: "Brother Liu, you, you are—" Liu Kang laughed and said, "Brother Han, although we haven't seen each other for many years, we were best friends once after all, weren't we?"

Han Peng was even more surprised, and said: "Yes, I have been thinking of Brother Liu for many years. Although everyone is getting older, our friendship has not changed." Liu Kang said: "Okay, that's all right. I have long admired the name of Yangzhou Twenty-Four Bridges, and I want to go play. We are good friends, you should accompany me." Han Peng said slowly: "This, this——" Liu Kang's complexion changed, and he said coldly: "If you have any urgent matters, please tell me, maybe I can share your worries on your behalf." Han Peng was very embarrassed, his face turned blue and red, so he could only say: "Yeah, it's not something important—"

Liu Kang said with a smile: "Since it's not an important matter, let's leave it for tomorrow. Look at how lovely the sunset glow is, and the moonlight must be very good tonight. How can we miss the 20th tonight when our friends meet again?" On a moonlit night at the four bridges?" Han Peng knew that he couldn't get rid of it, so he had to smile wryly and said: "It's rare that brother Liu has such a good mood, and my younger brother should be my companion and companion." Liu Kang said: "Brother Miao, where do you live? I came to see you after I talked with Brother Han."

He and Han Peng held hands and talked, to outsiders who didn't know the inside story, it looked like good friends having a heart-to-heart conversation, but they couldn't hide it from the eyes of martial arts expert Miao Changfeng. Miao Changfeng thought to himself: "He must have found a secluded place to interrogate this Han." Then he said the name of the inn he was staying in and left. At this time, it was the time when the lights of Wanjia were on, Miao Changfeng returned to the inn and entered the room.I found that the furnishings in the room seemed to be a bit strange. I looked carefully and found that someone had searched the room.His luggage was rummaged and his clothes were messed up, but none of his money or clothes was missing.

Miao Changfeng thought, "Of course it wasn't the thief's work. Hmph, did that Wu gang do it? Or did I affix the eagle's claws?" Suddenly the rear window opened without wind and jumped into a big man. Miao Changfeng said: "What a little thief, I was about to take you, but you came to me first!" As he spoke, he made a big grabbing move like lightning, quickly grabbing the man's lute bone. The man shrugged his shoulders and retracted his elbows, and with a light swipe, he melted away Miao Changfeng's grasp, and praised: "Good work, what is your name? Tell the truth!"

Miao Changfeng's big grabbing move was one of his favorite tricks, and he couldn't help being surprised when he gently pushed it away from the man, he quickly took a step back, with his palms on his chest, and looked at the other party, only to see this man The beard is like a halberd, and the appearance is very rough. Because of his special appearance.Miao Changfeng suddenly thought of someone, and said in a low voice, "Are you the Liaodong hero Wei Chijiong?" The man laughed and said, "Don't dare. This is Yu Chijiong. I'm so ashamed, I can't remember where I saw you before."

Miao Changfeng said: "Meng Yuanchao is a good friend of mine. He often mentioned Your Excellency to me. During the two months, I was in Beijing with him. I once saw Happy Zhang and knew that the hero Yuchi was also in Beijing. Unfortunately, I couldn't." See above." Yu Chijiong said: "Ah, you said that, I understand. Do you dare to be Miao Daxia, brother Changfeng?" Miao Changfeng said with a smile: "I dare not take the word "hero" in front of Brother Yuchi. That riot in Beijing—" Yu Chijiong interrupted him and said: "Everyone is not polite. Let's talk about the Beijing matter slowly. Brother Miao, tell me first, where did you just come back from? Have you ever met Eagle Claw?"

Miao Changfeng said: "A new friend and I were drinking in the Linjiang Tower. We met some suspicious characters, but I don't know if they are Eagle Claws or not?" The encounter in the Linjiang Tower will be briefly and concisely. Tell Yu Chijiong. Yu Chijiong said: "Your new friend Liu Kang, I have heard his name before. He is a figure in the Tianlihui, nicknamed Jade Faced Judge. He looks like a gentle scholar, but he hates evil like a vengeful, and he strikes fiercely. As for that Han Peng, I don't know." Miao Changfeng said: "That group of people surnamed Wu, does Hero Yuchi know their origins?"

Yu Chijiong said: "I know these four people are members of the underworld, but I have never met them." After thinking about it for a while, he suddenly said: "Is the person surnamed Zong a tall man in his fifties? looks like?" Miao Changfeng said: "That's right, Hero Yuchi knows him?" Yu Chijiong smiled and said, "Not only do I know each other, I have fought against him several times! This man is the traitor Zong Shenlong of the Fusang sect, and he secretly took refuge in Sa Fuding, the chief executive of the Qing court." Miao Changfeng said: "No wonder this man's martial arts are so powerful. Hero Yuchi, how did you come here?"

Yu Chijiong smiled and said: "Yes, I came out of the blue, you must be confused, I should explain it to you. The head of the Yangzhou Zhenyuan Escort Branch has a good relationship with me. The day after tomorrow is his 60th birthday. I came to celebrate his birthday." Miao Changfeng said: "My younger brother is also here to celebrate his birthday. Let's go together the day after tomorrow." Yu Chijiong said: "My room is opposite to yours. About an hour ago, I suddenly heard the sound of the night traveler's clothes passing by the roof with the wind. You know that I committed a crime and escaped in Beijing, yes So I couldn't help but suspect that this was an eagle claw that was coming towards me, Yu Chijiong.

"Unexpectedly, this man did not break into my room, but sneaked into your room. I heard him searching the room. I guess he must have known you would not come back soon, so he dared to be so bold. But because I couldn't figure out his path, so I didn't take the liberty to make a move. "This man's qinggong is quite brilliant, I guess he must not be a thief. So I'm waiting outside your room for you to come back." Miao Changfeng smiled and said, "You probably guess that black people eat black people?" Yu Chijiong smiled and said, "I have some doubts. I have imagined several possibilities, but in short, I guess you are not an ordinary person." Miao Changfeng suddenly checked Qu Ran, and said, "Not good." Yu Chijiong said, "What's wrong?" Miao Changfeng said, "Liu Kang made an appointment with Han Peng to 'reminiscing about the past' at the Twenty-fourth Bridge. I think Han Peng Doesn't look like a good thing." Yu Chijiong said: "Are you afraid that Liu Kang will catch them and plot against them?" Miao Changfeng said: "Yes. You think Zong Shenlong can be said to be the number one eagle claw of the chief executive, Sa Fuding. Someone like him came to Yangzhou, and he met Han Peng!" Yu Chijiong said: "Yes, it is necessary to be defensive. Then let's—" Miao Changfeng said: "I'll check out their meeting place, Brother Yuchi, you stay here." Because Yuchijiong is a "poor prisoner", he should not show his face easily, so he would rather go alone. Knowing his intentions, Yu Chijiong smiled and said, "You are afraid that I will cause trouble, right? That's fine, I'll stay here to guard. If Eagle Claw still comes, I'll definitely take him down." He thought: " With the abilities of Miao Changfeng and Liu Kang, it is more than enough to deal with Zong Shenlong. Even if Wu Hong and his group are added to Zong Shenlong, they are not their opponents." Therefore, I can rest assured that Miao Changfeng will be alone rode to.He handed a Snake Flame Arrow to Miao Changfeng, and said, "The Twenty-Fourth Bridge is only three or four miles away from this inn. If there are too many enemies, shoot this Snake Flame Arrow into the sky, and I will see you." See you." Han Peng anxiously followed Liu Kang to the Twenty-Fourth Bridge. The twenty-four bridges are a scenic spot in Yangzhou, but there are not twenty-four bridges.It was originally named "Hongyao Bridge". According to legend, there were 24 beauties playing flute here in ancient times; hence the name.Du Mu, a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem "Send to Judge Han Chuo in Yangzhou": "The green hills are faintly covered with water, and the grass and trees in the south of the Yangtze River are withered in autumn. On the moonlit night of the twenty-fourth bridge, where can the jade people teach to play the flute?"That's the bridge. (Hanyu’s note: This statement is based on "Yangzhou Huajinlu". According to another statement, it is said that there were indeed 24 bridges in Yangzhou in the Tang Dynasty. See Shen Kuozhi's "Bibi Tan". But here the previous statement should be just.) Yuyu is clean, the Milky Way shines; the lake is better than snow, and the bridge shadow flows rainbow.Liu Kang smiled and said, "Brother Han, do you still remember the night talk we had at the Broken Bridge in West Lake?" Han Peng was in a mood of anxiety, not knowing how Liu Kang would deal with him.Hearing Liu Kang and him reminisce about the past, he relaxed a little and said, "Let me think about it, that was twelve years ago. The next day, you went north alone, looking for teachers and friends. right?" Liu Kang said: "It's rare for you to remember it so clearly. Then you must still remember that night, we looked at Yue's tomb opposite the Broken Bridge and recited Yue Wumu's famous poems at the same time. At that time, you and I had some ambitions. Everyone Mutual Encouragement: Don't wait to whiten the boy's head?" Han Pengqiang smiled and said: "If you don't tell me, I can hardly remember it. Yes, there is such a thing. Alas, but I am ashamed to say, Brother Liu, you are famous in the world now, but my younger brother is busy and accomplishing nothing." Liu Kang said: "Not necessarily, I heard that you have been very proud in recent years." Han Peng's heart trembled slightly, and he said, "Who did you hear that from? My little brother has been guarding his homeland for so many years, how could he be proud of it?" Liu Kang said: "What is called 'satisfaction'? Everyone has different opinions. Let's not talk about it for now. Brother Han, how do you think the twenty-four bridges are better than the Broken Bridge?" Han Peng was puzzled, and thought: "Is he interested in talking about the scenery with me?" He said: "One is the beautiful places in Yangzhou, and the other is the scenic spots in Hangzhou. I think each has its own advantages. It is difficult to compare, and there is no need to compare." Liu Kang said: "That's true. But to point out the country, let's talk about the characters. I think Yangzhou and Hangzhou are the same." Han Peng said, "That's the same?" Liu Kang said slowly: "There used to be a national hero in both places. Leave a name in history! Yue Wumu supported half of the Song Dynasty in Lin'an (that is, the name of Hangzhou in the Southern Song Dynasty), and wrote a poem full of loyalty and indignation. Man Jianghong's Ci; Shi Ge Department (Shi Kefa, a loyal minister in the late Ming Dynasty) defended Yangzhou, died unyielding when the city was broken, and wrote epic poems with blood. Isn't the deeds of the two of them against the enemy enough to shine successively?" Han Peng didn't dare to talk to him, and stepped on the twenty-four bridge with him in silence. Liu Kang leaned on the railing, and said: "I heard that the Shi Ge Department once swore to fight against the Qing Dynasty on this bridge, so I came to this twenty-four bridge with you specially tonight, just because I'm afraid you won't remember these heroic deeds." Han Peng smiled wryly and said, "Brother Liu, my little brother has long lost the heroic spirit of his youth. I'm not a hero in the first place." Liu Kang said: "We don't have to be heroes, but we must never forget that we are Han Chinese. Now that you and I are in Yangzhou, have you forgotten the cruel historical events of the Ten Days in Yangzhou and the Three Massacres in Jiading?" Han Peng said in a shy voice, "I just want to live an ordinary life. So what if I remember, so what if I don't remember?" Liu Kang said: "I didn't force you and me to take the risk of ransacking your family, but if you still remember the hatred of the country and the family, even if you don't stand on the same path with me, at least you shouldn't be a minion and help the tyrant!" , the voice gradually became serious. Han Peng said: "Even if my younger brother is unworthy, it's not like this!" Liu Kang said: "Okay, then please tell me honestly, who is that Zong?" Han Peng said: "He is a famous figure of the Fusang Sect, his surname is Zong, and his name is Shenlong." Liu Kang said: "How did you make friends with him?" Han Peng seemed a little annoyed, and said, "Brother Liu, are you interrogating me? Or reminiscing about the old days with me? Zong Shenlong is also a martial arts senior, so what's wrong with meeting a martial arts senior?" Liu Kang snorted, and said, "Zong Shenlong has already been expelled from Fusang Sect, don't you know what he is doing now?" Han Peng was taken aback, and said bravely, "I don't know!" Liu Kang said coldly: "He has already taken refuge in the chief executive of the Qing court, Sa Fuding." Han Peng secretly complained, thinking: "It turns out that he already knew the secret of Zong Shenlong. Alas, I didn't want to get involved in this whirlpool, but I'm afraid he might not be able to forgive me if I tell the truth." Liu Kang stared at him with piercing eyes, Han Peng pretended to be shocked and said, "Really?" Liu Kang said slowly: "Brother Han, you are a scholar, you should know that if you make a mistake, you will be hated forever, and if you look back, you will be born for a hundred years! If you have been fooled by Zong Shenlong, tell me the truth now, it is still a long time." It's too late. Otherwise, hehe, even if I miss my old love, the chivalry in Jianghu will never let you go!" Han Peng broke into cold sweat and said, "Brother Liu, what did you tell me to say?" Liu Kang said: "Zong Shenlong asked you to meet in Yangzhou, what is the plan, and what is the way of the group of people surnamed Wu?" Han Peng murmured: "It's nothing, it's just a chance encounter. I only know that Wu Hong used to be a figure in the underworld, and I don't know about the others." Liu Kang said: "Han Peng, what I have said to you today is just to let you turn around as soon as possible, so that you don't go astray. You must be obsessed with obsession, but don't blame me for being heartless. I can always find out the truth. Okay, That's all for now. Do what you want, and farewell!" Han Peng shouted in shock: "Brother Liu, come back. I'll tell you, I'll tell you!" He wondered, "Should I tell him everything, or should I tell him some unimportant things?" Unexpectedly, the plan is still undecided, but the stab in the back suddenly flew! There was more than one skill in the back arrow, Liu Kanghu slapped out two sticks, and then he copied his hand and took two sticks, but one still hit Han Peng! Liu Kang looked down and saw that the two "back arrows" were willow branches more than three inches long.It seems that the man broke off a willow branch at random, divided it into five sections, and used it as a hidden weapon.The best martial arts can pick leaves and fly flowers to injure people to death. Although this skill is not comparable to it, it is also derived from this superior martial arts, which is quite enough to shock the world. Han Peng screamed and passed out.Liu Kang is a great expert in martial arts, hearing his call, he knew that although his injury was not serious, it was not fatal.Immediately, he was furious, and shouted: "What kind of a man is a man who secretly plots, if you have the courage, let me see the truth!" As he spoke, he flew towards the man! The man stood still and said in a deep voice, "You are a mud bodhisattva crossing the river, and you can't protect yourself..." Hearing his tone, he was going to meet Liu Kang, but just as he was about to turn around, someone in the willow bushes Suddenly, another black figure sprang out. The man hurried forward again before he could finish his sentence. The person who sprang out from the willow bushes was exactly Miao Changfeng. Liu Kang was only three steps away from catching up with the man, and in the blink of an eye he was already ten feet away, and he couldn't help but secretly screamed "Shame!" But Miao Changfeng had already blocked that person's way, shouted: "Where are you going!" With a swish of his sword, he pierced through.He already knew that the opponent was a formidable opponent, this sword made it very powerful and fierce! The man kept walking, opened a folding fan in his hand, flipped the fan lightly, pinned the blade of the sword, and Miao Changfeng's long sword was led out of the outer door for him, and he missed it.It was too late to say, but it was too soon, the man folded the fan and acted as a judge's pen, and immediately tapped Miao Changfeng's acupuncture points. Although Miao Changfeng was not flustered in shock, he turned his sword and raised seven sword flowers, using one move and two moves to protect himself and attack the enemy.The seven sword flowers he shook could be divided into seven sword points when they fell, piercing the opponent's seven acupuncture points at the same time. Unexpectedly, what the man used was a false move, he moved down the folding fan a little bit, and suddenly broke out from the scattered sword flowers. Liu Kang shouted: "Take my palm!" Looking at the direction of the person's escape, he took a quick step to intercept him, the person snorted, slapped out his left palm, and waved the folding fan in his right hand. The two palms intersected, Liu Kang's body flickered, and he took a step back.The man pushed aside Miao Changfeng's stabbing sword with his backhand, and flew past Liu Kang like lightning.Miao Changfeng was afraid of accidentally injuring Liu Kang, he stabbed three times in a row, and only stabbed once. In the blink of an eye, the man had already run away. Miao Changfeng said: "Let's take a look at Han Peng first." Han Peng was shot in the lower abdomen by the tree arrow, and Miao Changfeng used the method of sealing the acupoint to stop the bleeding. He tapped the acupoint near the wound, pulled out the tree arrow, and applied Jinchuang medicine on him.Han Peng wakes up leisurely. As soon as Han Peng woke up, he scolded: "Zong Shenlong, you, you are so ruthless!" He didn't see the face of that person just now, he just thought that it must be Zong Shenlong who plotted against him. Liu Kang said: "That person is not Zong Shenlong. Brother Miao, do you know who it is?" Miao Changfeng said: "I've never seen that person either. But—" Liu Kang said, "But what?" Miao Changfeng was thoughtful, and said for a while: "There are not many people in the martial arts world who can use a folding fan to tap acupuncture points and also use it as a five-element sword. The moves used by this person are different from those of the major sects in the Central Plains. I'm suspicious of someone, but let's go back to the inn and talk about it after seeing Yu Chijiong." Surprised and delighted, Liu Kang said, "Ah, is the hero Yuchi here too?" Miao Changfeng said: "That's right, he and I live in the same inn. He once told me that he also knows you. Brother Han is seriously injured, and we should find a place to treat him Why don't you all go to that inn and stay temporarily." Liu Kang said with a smile: "Let's help a wounded person to enter the inn. I'm afraid it will frighten the inn. However, it has to be like this." Immediately, he carried Han Peng on his back, and went to the inn with Miao Changfeng. When we arrived at the door of the inn, we happened to meet Yu Chijiong seeing off the guests.Seeing them helping Han Peng back, Yu Chijiong was startled, and said, "This is brother Liu?" Liu Kang said, "Little brother is Liu Kang. This is my friend, and his name is Han Peng." Yu Chi Jiong said: "Okay, let's talk after we go in." The guest said: "Ah, so this is Lord Liu, the hero Yuchi, you have something to do, I won't delay you. Please come early with your friends tomorrow." After the guest left, Miao Changfeng said, "Who is this guest?" Yu Chijiong said: "He is Wang Yuantong's disciple. Wang Yuantong is very well informed. He knew that I came to celebrate his birthday. Before I came to the door, he had already sent someone to meet me. I said I would wait for a friend, and I agreed. Tomorrow morning, I will go with you." The owner of the inn was really surprised, but because he already knew that Yu Chijiong was Wang Yuantong's guest, even though he was surprised, he had no choice but to take him in.Fortunately, it was past the third watch at this time, and the other guests were already asleep, so no one saw them.Yu Chijiong gave him a piece of silver and said: "Don't say anything, I will move him away tomorrow." The shop owner said: "Don't worry, you are the distinguished guests of Mr. Wang's bodyguard. I will also take good care of it.” After entering the room, Yu Chijiong pushed Han Peng's blood across the palace with his own strength, so that his blood stasis could go away faster, and another application of Jinchuang medicine could ensure his life without worry.After finishing his work, Yu Chijiong said, "Let this brother Han rest for a while, please tell me now, who injured him? This injury is a bit strange?" Miao Changfeng smiled and said, "What's so strange about you?" Yu Chijiong said: "This is not an ordinary arrow wound. I think this hidden weapon is slightly larger than the bone-penetrating nail and smaller than the sleeve arrow, but it is definitely not a hidden weapon made of steel. There are many willow trees beside the Twenty-Four Bridge, probably That man casually broke off willow branches and used the above-mentioned internal energy as an arrow to hurt Han Peng? Although his kung fu is not perfect, it has already belonged to the superior internal energy such as picking leaves and flying flowers. The middle and upper schools are not the same, ha, is that person Zong Shenlong?" Seeing what he said as if he had witnessed it, Miao Changfeng admired him, and said with a smile, "Brother Yuchi, even if your guess is not right, it is not far! I also suspect that this person is a top expert of the Fusang Sect." At that moment, Miao Changfeng described the appearance of that person, and said: "He is wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, which covers half of his face, but it can still be seen that he is only in his thirties, and he looks like a scholar. .” Yu Chijiong was taken aback, and said, "Middle-aged scholar, using a folding fan as a weapon? This, this—" Miao Changfeng said: "Who is this person?" Yu Chijiong said: "If this is the case, this person must be Mou Zongtao. Well, this is really unbelievable." Miao Changfeng said: "Brother Yuchi, I want to tell you something. I met Happy Zhang and Li Mazi in Beijing. They once saw Mou Zongtao going in and out of the commander's mansion with their own eyes." He immediately told him what he knew about Mou Zongtao and Beigong. Wang told Yu Chijiong about the collusion. Yu Chijiong sighed and said: "I was a little suspicious of him at first, because he once drew his sword to help me when I was besieged by the eagle claws. I thought I had doubted him by mistake. I didn't expect that it was him and him that time. Bei Gongwang colluded with the conspiracy." It was only then that Liu Kang knew that Miao Changfeng's intention to wait until now to reveal who that person was was to let Yu Chijiong prove that that person was Mou Zongtao.Said: "I heard that Mou Zongtao and Zong Shenlong are at odds. I don't know if it is true?" Miao Changfeng said: "That's right. Mou Zongtao and Bei Gongwang secretly collude, and Zong Shenlong has already taken refuge in Safding. Many people in the martial arts know about it." Liu Kang said: "In this way, I am afraid that both Safuding and Beigongwang sent experts to Yangzhou. Could it be that these people are all here to celebrate Wang Yuantong's birthday? Wang Yuantong is just the head of a sub-bureau. Why do Ding and Beigong want to please him. I guess there must be other plans in it." At this time, Han Peng had regained some energy, and said: "Miao Xia, Brother Liu, you saved my life. If you don't question me, I should tell the truth. Alas, I am ashamed to say, Brother Liu, you, you are willing to tell the truth." Forgive me?" Liu Kang said: "If you know your mistakes, you can correct them. There's nothing good about it. Brother Han, I'm just waiting for your words." Han Peng said: "This matter starts with my father-in-law. My younger brother is a relative from the year before last. Brother Liu, you must already know?" Liu Kang said: "I heard that brother Han married into a high family and is very happy in marriage. I haven't congratulated you yet." Han Peng smiled bitterly and said, "What a noble family, it's true that my father-in-law has some money. He is a salt merchant in Changlu." Changlu Town is located in Cangzhou, Hebei. Cangzhou is the largest salt producing area north of the Yangtze River. Changlu Town is a distribution center with a salt transportation envoy to manage the salt monopoly in the territory.Most of the salt in the five northern provinces is supplied by Changlu, so it is called "Changlu salt". Yangzhou Changlu, one in the south and one in the north, have the same status in this regard. The salt merchants in the two places are accustomed to extravagance, live a luxurious life, are giants in the industry, and are rich like an enemy. Yu Chijiong said: "So, Ling Yue is not from the martial arts world, why is he involved in today's incident?" Han Peng said: "Although he is not from the martial arts world, he has a large business relationship with Yangzhou salt merchants, so he is also a customer of the Yangzhou branch of the Zhenyuan Escort Bureau. My younger brother and the head of the Escort Wang here met through my relationship with Yue. It can barely be said to be a little friendly." Liu Kang said, "So what?" Han Peng said: "One day the Changlu salt transport envoy invited our son-in-law, Weng, to his yamen. I thought it was just an ordinary entertainment. I didn't expect Zong Shenlong to be here!" Liu Kang said: "So, you already knew the identity of Zong Shenlong?" Han Peng was ashamed, and said: "I shouldn't have lied to you, yes, when we met that day, he revealed his identity to me." Liu Kang said, "What does he want you to do?" Han Peng said, "He wants me to be a lobbyist." Yu Chijiong asked in surprise, "A lobbyist, what lobbyist?" Han Peng said: "He knew that I was acquainted with Wang Yuantong. He said that he would also come to Yangzhou to celebrate Wang Yuantong's birthday, and asked me to introduce him. At the same time, there is a confidential matter. Please let me persuade Wang Yuantong to help him." Liu Kang smiled and said: "As expected, the birthday celebration is really just an excuse. What kind of confidential matter is that, can you tell me?" Han Peng said: "Zong Shenlong wants to arrest a criminal at the birthday banquet, so he must greet Wang Yuantong. Even if Wang Yuantong can't help him, he must not stop him." Yu Chijiong said: "Isn't he afraid of revealing his identity?" Han Peng said: "Zong Shenlong's plan is wishful thinking. At that time, he is going to provoke that person, pretending to be a personal grievance in the world, arrest that person and leave. Since that person is a criminal, he must be afraid that Wang Yuantong will be hurt. Forgive him for not daring to reveal his identity. In this way, as long as Wang Yuantong is willing to cover it up for him, others will not know the truth." Yu Chijiong frowned and said, "He thought Wang Yuantong would promise him?" Han Peng said: "Wang Yuantong has a family and a business, and he allowed Wang Yuantong to stay out of the matter, so he expected that Wang Yuantong would not dare to disobey." Yu Chijiong said: "I don't think Wang Yuantong is such a person, is he?" Han Peng said: "I said the same thing, but Zong Shenlong insisted that I give him a try." Liu Kang said: "Then you agree?" Han Peng said: "My father-in-law was threatened by him, so he agreed. What can I do, unless I don't want a wife." Liu Kang said: "Then you are not afraid of hurting your wife and children now?" Han Peng smiled wryly: "Now that they are going to take my life, what worries do I have?" Yu Chijiong said: "Don't worry, I will find a way for you to keep your wife and children from being implicated. But who is the criminal? Did Zong Shenlong tell you?" Han Peng said: "How could he tell me? Of course, I dare not ask him." Yu Chijiong thought to himself: "Could it be that this criminal is me? But how could Zong Shenlong know that I would definitely come to Yangzhou to celebrate Wang Yuantong's birthday?" He said immediately: "Okay, thank you for telling us this secret. Your injury has not yet Well, don’t be tired, I have a pill here, which can strengthen the body and cultivate the original body, take it and have a good sleep.” Han Peng swallowed the nine pills, and after a while, "Bu Tong" collapsed.Seeing that he seemed to be asleep, Liu Kang stretched out his hand to touch him, only to see that his hands and feet were cold and he was not breathing.Liu Kang couldn't help being taken aback, and said, "Hero Yuchi, he has already repented for us, why did you kill him?" Yu Chijiong smiled and said: "That's not the case. How can his wife and children be spared? Don't worry, he is not really dead." Liu Kang said: "Ah, what kind of pill is this?" Yu Chijiong said: "This pill can stop him from breathing, and he looks like he is really dead. But he will wake up after sleeping for three days." Miao Changfeng said: "Yang Mu also pretended to be dead, will Bei Gongwang see through it?" Yu Chijiong said: "Although I am the old wisdom of my teacher Yang Mu, I am different from Yang Mu's fake death. Yang Mu's coffin was filled with stones, and I dare not let others open it to see. My coffin is filled with stones. It is indeed Han Peng's 'corpse'. Brother Liu, do you know where he lives in Yangzhou?" Liu Kang said: "I know, he lives in the home of a salt merchant who has business dealings with his father-in-law." Yu Chijiong said: "Tomorrow you buy a coffin and send his 'corpse' to that salt merchant's house, and say that he died of a sudden illness. The salt merchant must have panicked, and then you volunteered to transport the coffin northward for him. I think someone from Zong Shenlong will definitely come to the salt merchant's house to inquire, so you deliberately opened the coffin lid to let them 'look' at the remains." Liu Kang said with a smile: "It's a good plan, but I can't see the excitement of the Wang family!" After discussing it well, Liu Kang acted according to the plan the next day. Liu Kang bought a coffin, loaded it into a hearse, and transported it to the salt merchant's home.Yu Chijiong and Miao Changfeng joined hands with the Yangzhou branch of the Zhenyuan Escort.Congratulations to the old escort Wang Yuantong's birthday. Along the way, there was an endless stream of heroes from the three mountains and five mountains, all of whom belonged to the Wang family.Yu Chijiong smiled and said: "Although Wang Yuantong is only in charge of a branch office, he has a wide range of friends. Today's scene seems to be quite big. It's a pity that there is one friend missing. Otherwise, it would be even more lively." Miao Changfeng smiled and said, "The friend you mentioned is—" Yu Chijiong smiled and said: "This person is also your good friend. He and I can talk like old friends, and we are very congenial." Miao Changfeng suddenly realized, and said with a smile, "Oh, so you were talking about Meng Yuanchao." Yu Chijiong said: "Yes, I am talking about Meng Yuanchao. Suzhou is his second hometown. If he is in Suzhou, he will definitely come to Yangzhou to take advantage of this situation." Miao Changfeng said sadly: "I also miss him very much, but he is far away in Jizhou, Jizhou and Suzhou. The characters are very similar, but they are thousands of miles away from the south to the north. I am afraid that it is hard to see." Yu Chijiong smiled and said: "I look forward to meeting him, but saying so, in fact, it's better for him not to come. Like me, he is also a prisoner!" Miao Changfeng said solemnly: "Bei Gongwang already knew that Meng Yuanchao had gone to Jizhou, so he would not send Zong Shenlong here to arrest him. Hero Yuchi, this criminal is probably referring to you!" Yu Chijiong laughed and said: "I really want to fight Zong Shenlong again, but it seems that this prisoner is someone else, otherwise the night walker from last night should have come to search my room." Miao Changfeng said with a smile: "It's a pity that I'm not qualified to be a criminal. Zong Shenlong doesn't know me either. I think what happened last night was just because Liu Kang and I were together and won them by betting on wine. Out of doubt, do you want to find out my details?" Yu Chijiong pondered for a while, then said: "I'm afraid it won't be that simple!" But he still couldn't guess who the "offender" was. What they didn't expect was that Meng Yuanchao and Lin Wushuang had already arrived in Yangzhou.When Meng and Lin came to Yangzhou, it was the time when they went to Wang's house. Seeing that it was still early, Meng Yuanchao said, "We might as well go there at night. Most of the guests are gone, so as not to attract attention." Lin Wushuang said: "That's right. Anyway, we can catch up and celebrate his birthday today. It doesn't matter if we go later. But there is still half a day left, where are we going to spend our time?" Meng Yuanchao said: "There are many places of interest in Yangzhou, we don't have much time to go sightseeing, but there is one place that we should go to." Lin Wushuang asked, "Where?" Meng Yuanchao said slowly, "Shigong Temple." Lin Wushuang asked, "Is this Shi Gong, the loyal official Shi Kefa who died in Yangzhou at the end of Ming Dynasty?" Meng Yuanchao said: "If it wasn't for this loyal minister, how could the people of Yangzhou build a shrine for him? I wouldn't want to visit his shrine tomb with you either." Lin Wushuang said: "Ah, it turns out that there is a ancestral tomb of the Shige Department in Yangzhou. Since we have come here, we must go." It turned out that during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the two-pronged policy of high pressure and gentleness was adopted. When the Qing soldiers entered the customs, Yangzhou and Jiading were the worst massacres. No one in Yangzhou knows the location of Shigong Temple, and they found it easily.The ancestral hall was unguarded, and it was only the two of them who were deserted this day. The ancestral hall is full of couplets, and a pair of couplets hung in the main hall is: the rise and fall of a generation depends on the number of qi; the temple looks like a river and a mountain. Lin Wushuang frowned and said: "This couplet is not well written. Is it just a kind of 'Qi' that the Tartars have taken over our Han people? There is no need to defend Yangzhou and resist the Qing soldiers. It is better to follow the "spirit" and surrender to the "true man." Meng Yuanchao smiled and said: "Yes, this is a lie. But do you know the origin of this couplet?" Lin Wushuang said: "Tell me about it." Meng Yuanchao said: "This couplet is to repair the history of the pavilion. Xie Qikun, the magistrate of Yangzhou in the tomb, made up a "nonsense". He said that he dreamed of Shi Kefa, and he asked Shi Kefa: "There is one less couplet in the public temple, what should I say?" Shi Kefa taught him to write this couplet. Of course, this nonsense can only deceive foolish men and women, but this couplet has ulterior motives. Xie Qikun wants the people not to hate his Tartar emperor, so he can only count the rise and fall. But then again, at that time he If this couplet hadn't been written in this way, of course his black hat would not have been preserved, and this ancestral tomb might not have been able to be completed." Lin Wushuang said: "Ah, so that's the case, no wonder." Meng Yuanchao said: "However, there are still some well-written couplets here, probably because time has passed, and the Qing court showed leniency for some reason, so they ignored so many. Let's read on." Lin Wushuang read a couplet and said: "When I read the heroic song in my lifetime, I will sigh when I discard the book; I will be sad when I am lonely and loyal in the next life." He said: "This couplet is better written, but it is just sad and gloomy. , It’s not a high-quality work.” Meng Yuanchao smiled and said: “You see, the writer of the couplet is accurate.” Lin Wuyi said: “Ah, so this person is some kind of ‘Taishi’ named Jiang Xinyu.” Meng Yuanchao said with a smile: "This Jiang Xinyu is the Hanlin of the Qing court (according to: the ministers of the Hanyuan in the history of the Qing Dynasty, so the Hanlin is also called 'Taishi'), a Taishigong, it is rare to be able to write such a couplet, it is impossible. Demanding." Looking at it further, the couplet of the tomb column reads: