Chapter 9 first quarter

Just after the new year, the whole capital is bustling with activity. Taking advantage of the warmer weather in spring, merchant teams from various states and counties flocked along the four main official roads in the suburbs of Beijing. The mules, horses and carts carrying people and goods flowed like blood to the heart of the capital. Of course, the small merchants in the capital did not miss this opportunity, and set up simple teahouses, restaurants, and restaurants beside the official roads outside the city to attract tired travelers to eat and rest.There are also businessmen who run into old acquaintances in the same industry on the road, leaning their chariots and horses against the roadside, inquiring about each other's information, and even conducting business on the spot.Immediately, small temporary markets popped up in the suburbs of Beijing.

Even the old merchants who have been used to catching up with this spring trade for many years were surprised by the extraordinarily grand occasion on the road this year, especially when they encountered many strange brigades along the way, and there were always many men with weapons accompanying them as guards. Not like a caravan.It wasn't until they approached the capital that they inquired about the local rivers and lakes news, and they suddenly realized. Some experienced businessmen knew that the capital would be crowded during this period, and they were so anxious that they even gave up on family reunions. They arrived ten or eight days earlier, but found that all the decent hotels in the city were closed for the whole month from the New Year. pack it down.After inquiring about it angrily, the rich and well-to-do businessmen, all of them dared not say a word, so they had to find a worse hostel to settle down.

Because they knew: "Feng Yilong" was the one who booked all the rooms. The succession ceremony held at the head office of "Feng Yilong" in the capital this spring is the most grand event since the founding of the gang. The influence of "Feng Yilong" in other places is far less than it is today. In addition, the three "jijiu" were newly mourned at that time, and the ceremony was solemn but not large. This time Zhang Shuai officially took over the celebration of "Feng Yilong". The shopkeepers of nearly a hundred branches in six states went to Beijing to congratulate and meet the new "boss" in person. Together with their accompanying guards and attendants, the number of guests is expected to exceed two. Thousands of people.

The appointment of Zhang Shuai, Meng Zhen, and Mao Gonglei to form the new leadership of "Feng Yilong" was announced as early as last summer after Rong Yushan "died of illness"; It will be held after the New Year. "In the past few years, 'Fengzihao' has been really troublesome..." Merchants who are familiar with the underworld and private salt news inevitably talked about it when they gathered in restaurants in the capital. "First it was Pang Wenying, and then it was Rong Yushan..." "Aren't they all old too? After all, they are all going to be handed over..." The merchant who spoke tried to lower his voice. "But going one after another so quickly, there must be some 'plot' in it, right?..."

"I heard that after Rong Jijiu went, some people in the border area made some moves..." Another person interjected. "But now that the shopkeepers are all here to meet, I think it's all settled. The new 'Left and Right Jijiu' doesn't look like a pustule..." No one else had heard of this news, and two businessmen at the next table approached to inquire.The merchant's face turned pale, and he sipped his wine with a smile. "Then look... Zhang Shuai, the new boss, can he suppress these two boys?" The man shrugged and said he didn't know. "Cursed Army Master" Zhang Shuai is well-known on the road, but people can't count what achievements he has had.

"But tomorrow's grand ceremony..." The man pretended to be mysterious and said, "If something happens, I won't be surprised at all..." Everyone chatted for a while, and the topic gradually returned to business. "It's much more expensive to buy this year. God damn it, I'll be content without losing money on this trip." "That's right, especially if you don't have to make wood, copper and iron, the price in the south has been raised so high, I don't know what the hell..." One of the merchants suddenly patted the table. "By the way, the last time the price was raised like this, I still followed my father... just before the rebellion..."

Everyone's face changed immediately, and they all fell silent.After all, it is in the fortified capital, it is best not to talk about these things.Who knows which table sat the "Iron Guard" agent? It was getting dark outside, and more and more guests came into the restaurant. There were several tables that were known to be ruthless characters from "Feng Yilong" from other places, and the merchants stopped talking about those underworld rumors, and only continued to chat about business. Quotes. Although the shopkeepers of "Feng Yilong" who came to eat did not know each other, they could tell each other's identities from the cups placed on the dining table, so they introduced each other and greeted each other.All "Feng Yilong" characters have a white scarf tied on their left arms to express their condolences to Rong Yushan, the "big sacrificial wine" who has just passed away.After tomorrow's grand ceremony, they will also go to the cemetery in the suburbs of Beijing to pay homage to Rong Yushan, Pang Wenying and other "Feng Yilong" martyrs before returning to their hometowns.

At this time, a group of seven people entered the restaurant, causing everyone present to stare. At first there was a man who seemed to be in his forties, short and thin but very strong, with a face full of wind and frost from years of walking in the mountains.He tightly held a sealed jar made of jade in his arms, and there was a strong subordinate on the left and right guarding him closely. What was even more striking were the four people following him: four unusually tall bodies, but they were covered from head to toe in four togaes with bamboo hats attached.The robe is made of coarse linen, with colorful and strange runes woven around the edges.The faces of the four people were covered with black cloth scarves, and the shadows of the bamboo hats covered their eyes; in addition, the cuffs of the robes were longer than the fingertips, so the four of them didn't even expose an inch of skin.

They chose a large table in the far corner of the restaurant and sat down.The leading man carefully placed the jar on the table, and then asked the waiter for food and drinks.The subordinates on the left and right took out their cups and chopsticks, and set up a cup array on the table for the identification of "Feng Yilong". One of the shopkeepers of "Feng Yilong" scratched his hair in thought, then patted his thigh suddenly, and then walked towards the table for the seven people. "You are...the eldest son of the Ma family of Galam, right? I recognize you! Remember me? Old Yun from Liangcheng!"

The man stood up and cupped his hands. "I recognize it. Seven or eight years ago, you brought the goods." He spoke with a strange dialect accent, and Lao Yun could only understand it. "I'm Mahon." "Yes, yes, Ma Hong." Lao Yun grinned at the two rows of yellow teeth inlaid with a few silver teeth. "Your father, Ma Guanggan, is he healthy? Why isn't he here?" "Here we come." Ma Hong pointed to the jar on the table. Lao Yun thought for a while before realizing that the jar contained ashes. Lao Yun looked embarrassed. "Ah... my condolences, my condolences..."

"Don't worry, Dad has been gone for a year." Ma Hong said calmly. "Before we left, father told us not to fall into the soil, and asked me to bring him to see Pang Jijiu's grave. I have just taken over the job, so don't be empty. This time I am going to the capital, I will bring my father along." "I see..." Lao Yun patted Ma Hong on the shoulder. "Diligent son, filial son, it's really rare, such a long way..." He looked at the four mysterious men in hemp robes in front of the table again. "they are……" "It's the Luo Meng family." Ma Hong said. "They have been favored by 'Feng Yilong' for many years, and they said they would come to celebrate the ceremony, and they brought the treasures of the clan to contribute to the new boss." Seeing the puzzled look on Lao Yun's face, he said: "The Luomeng tribe has a custom that they have to wear these clothes when they go ten miles out of the mountains, and don't show their face to others." Lao Yun showed a dazed expression, and bowed his hands to the four envoys of the Luomeng tribe.The four stood up and nodded slightly.Lao Yun guessed that they could only speak native language, so he ignored them. "Just eat and drink, I bought your table of wine and food." Lao Yun enthusiastically pulled Ma Hong's rough palm. "Just treat it as my old Yunjing for old man Ma." The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, and made an appointment to go to the head office of Jiuweifang together tomorrow, before Lao Yun returned to his desk.Ma Hong picked up the wine glass, Yaoyao toasted with several other shopkeepers of "Feng Yilong" whom he didn't know, and then sat down. The four Ramons stretched out their palms from their cuffs, and it turned out that even their fingers and palms were wrapped with cloth strips.They don't know how to hold chopsticks, so they use their hands to grab food, put it under the face towel and send it to the mouth. Mahon didn't eat, just drank dryly, looking at his father's ashes. He came thousands of miles with his father's ashes, not only to pay homage to Pang Wenying and meet the new boss Zhang, but also to fulfill a secret last wish of his father. Come to repay the Ma family a big favor. The benefactor is also in the capital now.