Chapter 72 Chapter 3 Bamboo Forest Conference

Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong squatted at the pile of rocks beside the shore, staring blankly at the salt boat resting on the reef at a forty-five-degree tilt, wanting to cry but not crying. The sails and masts were broken, and the bottom of the ship was cut with a large crack by the sharp edge of the reef. Even if someone can unload the salt ship from the reef, it will be difficult to repair it and resume sailing. When they set off, they were full of pride, but before reaching Jiangdu, the ship was destroyed and people disappeared. One can imagine the heavy blow. Both of them were a little bit depressed, and they didn't bother to move the salt down.

Kou Zhong smiled wryly and said, "The boat was destroyed before leaving the army. This does not seem to be a good omen." Xu Ziling sighed, and said: "After dawn, we will search along the river to see if we can find their bodies, and then find a place to bury them." Kou Zhong punched Kong Kong twice, and snorted angrily: "This mother-in-law is ignoring her as her mother's junior sister. Her heart and mind are far worse than her mother's. I don't understand that there are good and bad Han people, and only know how to call us Han dogs." .” Xu Ziling said: "It's hard to blame her, just think about how much the common people in Korea have suffered under the iron heel of Yang Guang's army. Sigh!"

Kou Zhong said coldly: "Listen to your tone, next time you meet her, even if you have a chance, you will show mercy. Didn't Duan Yucheng and the others die unjustly?" Xu Ziling smiled wryly and said, "Do you think it's that easy to kill her? If we fight alone, we're still one step behind her. This woman's lightness kung fu is really powerful." Kou Zhong said dejectedly, "How about your internal injuries?" Xu Ziling replied: "Even though our martial arts are not good enough, our healing methods are unparalleled in the world. I was in pain just now, but now I'm fine."

Kou Zhong lifted his spirits and smiled, "Xiaoling is really amazing. If you hadn't risked your life and bent your back, you might not be able to hurt her. If you can't hurt her, it means we will be injured or killed. Thinking about it, it is indeed a thrill. extreme." Xu Ziling frowned and thought: "However, her swordsmanship is really profound. Fencing is like chess, and the battlefield is the chessboard. I don't know which move is 'two chariots to seize the warrior', and which one is 'abandon the chariot to protect the handsome'?" Kou Zhong said with a smile: "They should be playing Korean chess, you should spend less effort!"

Xu Ziling said solemnly: "As long as it is playing chess, the way of chess and the spirit are basically the same. First of all, we must see through the opponent's layout, and then determine the way of attacking and defending. We used to only know how to attack and dismantle moves, and soldiers come and block, which is really not very good. martial arts." Kou Zhong was about to answer when a strange noise came from downstream.Listening attentively, it was Duan Yucheng's familiar footsteps. The two were overjoyed, went up to meet them, met them directly, and lived a happy life after the catastrophe.

It turned out that Fu Junyu was merciful and opened their acupoints before throwing them into the river. Kou Xu couldn't help feeling less disgusted with her. They cheered up, transported the salt from the broken boat to the dense forest on the bank and hid it, then smashed the broken boat into a pile of wood, and went down the river. By dawn, the river was as calm as usual, as if nothing had happened. The four of Duan Yucheng tossed and tossed all night, exhausted. Kou Zhong then ordered the four of them to rest in the dense forest and watch over the salt cargo while he and Xu Ziling went to nearby towns to see if they could buy mule carts for transporting the cargo.

The two came to the official road, Xu Ziling said: "You are proficient in astronomy and geography, tell me which direction to go." Kou Zhong smiled confidently: "I knew you wouldn't let me go. We left Changshu the day before yesterday and hid for another day. We should have never crossed Jiangyin. Ruoshan people are right, we can't go west for an hour. You can reach Jiangyin! Aha! Fuwei?" Xu Ziling said, "Is it here now? Use your feet to walk!" The two unfolded their body skills, and within an hour, Jiangyin City appeared far away on the horizon. Kou Zhong said triumphantly: "Following me will not lead you in vain. I don't know who owns Jiangyin City now?"

Xu Ziling looked at the team of mules and horses heading towards Jiangyin from the hillside, and said with a smile, "Catch up and ask if it's okay?" Kou Zhong bumped him, and ran down the mountain laughing and laughing. Xu Ziling chased after him, and when he was about to press close to the mules and horses, suddenly the horses yelled again and again and stopped. Five or six of them reined in their horses and turned back to stop them. An old man who seemed to be the leader shouted: "Who is here?" Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were stunned, and they didn't know why they put on a nervous look as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

The two had no choice but to stop, Kou Zhong clasped his fists and said, "Brothers, please don't get me wrong, we two brothers just want to find out about the situation in Jiangyin, to see if it's time to enter the city." A middle-aged man with bushy eyebrows and big eyes beside the old man nodded and said: "It seems that you don't look like the murderers of the Cavalry Club. What kind of news do you want to hear?" Kou Zhong suddenly said: "It turns out that my brother mistook us as members of the Cavalry Club." Then he bumped Xu Ziling with his elbow and said: "What is the name of the leader of the Iron Cavalry Club? Is it called Ren'xiao' name?"

Several men headed by the old man laughed. Zhi Kou Zhong deliberately mispronounced "Ren Shaoming" and immediately shortened the distance between the two sides. The Iron Cavalry Club is one of the ten gangs and eight gangs, and it is a big gang that has only emerged in the south of the Yangtze River in recent years.The sect leader "Qingjiao" Ren Shaoming, who is good at using meteors, and Lin Shihong, the leader of the Poyang Society who recently claimed to be the Emperor of Chu, are also known as the double tyrants of the south of the Yangtze River. They are pivotal figures in the Jiangnan martial arts.

It was rumored that Ren Shaoming had never met an opponent except that he was defeated by Song Que, the Heavenly Saber of the Song Clan, in a battle for territory. This shows how great he is. The old man smiled and said: "You are a bit courageous, what kind of disciple are you?" Kou Zhong pretended to be respectful, and replied solemnly: "My two brothers, Fu Zhong and Fu Ling, are the seventh generation disciples of the Naizhuhua Gang, and Yan Kuan is our grandfather." The old man was stunned and said: "Is it true that the loyal martyrs in Yangzhou are lenient?" This time it was Kou Xu's turn to look at each other. The first is that the old man actually knows such an insignificant person as Boss Yan, and the second is why Boss Yan has become a loyal martyr. The thick-browed man who had spoken before suddenly made a gesture that only the Bamboo Flower Gang could understand. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling hurriedly returned the salute with the sign language of the Zhuhua Gang. The six men lifted up their outer robes together, revealing the logo of the Bamboo Flower Gang on the lapels inside. Only then did Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling realize that they had met "one of their own" from the Zhuhua Gang. But even though they and Boss Yan belonged to the peripheral figures of Zhuhuamen when they were in Yangzhou, they were not yet good enough to be qualified to embroider a bamboo tree on the skirt of their clothes to be an official low-level gangster logo, let alone at this moment. Kou Zhong said embarrassingly: "My two brothers wandered around in order to avoid the government three years ago, hey!" The big man said: "We understand that Yan Kuan is the first loyal martyr of my gang who was killed by that stupid king. If you don't run away, your lives will be lost." The old man said suspiciously: "Since I am a disciple of the Zhuhua Gang, why don't I recognize the old man when I see him?" Kou Zhong saw that his logo was embroidered with eight wind bamboos, he knew that he was a figure of hall master level, his heart moved: "Could it be the master of Feng Bamboo hall, Lord Shen Beichang?" The old man stroked his long beard and said with a laugh: "Sure enough, he is one of us. Did you hear the news that you are here to participate in my gang's 'Bamboo Forest Conference'?" Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances, thinking what a coincidence? The Bamboo Flower Gang is a well-organized gang.Under the gang leader, there is a military division, and then there are four halls of "wind, sunshine, rain, and dew" to command the rudder master, incense master and gang disciples below.The Bamboo Forest Assembly is the highest Dharma assembly in the gang, and it is held every three years unless it is an emergency. Kou Zhong said to the big man with thick eyebrows: "I guess the uncle must be the deputy head of Fengzhu Hall, Luo Feng!" Luo Feng seemed to have a good impression of them, and said: "Let's talk about it after we enter the city!" On the way, Kou and Xu figured out what was going on.It turned out that the emperor was killed and Yangzhou fell into the hands of Li Zitong. The Bamboo Flower Clan was supposed to elect a new leader in Danyang. Unexpectedly, the Jianghuai army invaded Danyang again, and the military commander Shao Lingzhou took the opportunity to occupy Jiangyin. Although the power is far away from Li Zitong, Shen Faxing and others People have also become a local force. In recent years, various forces have been pulling them away, and among them, the Iron Cavalry Association, which occupies Wuxi in the south of Jiangyin and Jinling in the southwest, is the most active. Shaoming, the director of the Iron Knights Club, even bought the three hall masters of Qingzhutang, Yuzhutang, and Luzhutang, and repeatedly obstructed the election of the gang leaders, intending to merge the leaderless Zhuhua Gang under the banner of the Iron Knights Club. Today's Bamboo Forest Conference is where military advisor Shao Lingzhou, with the support of Shen Beichang, discusses actions against Ren Shaoming and the other traitors of the Three Halls, and hopes to elect a new leader at the meeting. On the way here, Shen Beichang and others were repeatedly attacked by cavalry clubs, losing nearly a hundred people, which is why they were so nervous. When the two were in Yangzhou in the past, no one, including Boss Yan, knew their names were Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, they only knew they were Xiao Zhong and Xiao Ling, and of course they didn't know that Yan Kuan was killed because of their encumbrance. He is a martyr against the faint king.Only Kou Xu knows that the boss and the martyr have nothing to do with each other. Among the mules and horses was a drawn carriage, which was especially well guarded. Kou Zhong tried to find out the identity of the person inside the car by making indirect remarks, but only got a reprimand from the deputy hall master Luo Feng. After entering the city, the two followed Fengzhutang to live in the Fengzhutang mansion in the center of the city. When Shen Beichang and Luo Feng went to see the military advisor Shao Wuzhou, the two also slipped into the street. Kou Zhong said with a smile: "Shao Wuzhou is indeed a talent. Seeing how well he manages Jiangyin, it doesn't seem to matter how chaotic the outside world is." Xu Ziling watched the bustling scene of people coming and going, and agreed: "The south has always been rich, and Jiangyin is a transportation hub connecting the Yangtze River estuary to the sea. As long as the productivity is not destroyed, the people can live and work in peace and contentment." Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling had already changed into the uniforms of the lowest rank members of the Bamboo Flower Gang embroidered with only one piece of bamboo. At this time, they saw five or six members of the Zhuhua Gang who were chatting loudly coming towards them, and hurriedly signed their greetings. When those few people saw that the wind bamboo was embroidered on their lapels, they snorted coldly and left without paying attention. Kou and Xu were stunned, only then did they realize that they did not belong to Fengzhutang, and they also knew the fierce struggle between the four halls. After arriving at a restaurant and sitting down, the waiter stepped forward to entertain him attentively. After the buddy left, Xu Ziling frowned and said, "Master Zhong seems to have forgotten what we are here for?" Kou Zhong compensated and said with a smile: "If I make random excuses, you will definitely blame me for not being honest. After all, we are all members of the Bamboo Flower Gang. Now that the Bamboo Flower Gang is facing annexation, we should do our best to help! " Xu Ziling said, "You just want to annex the Bamboo Flower Gang on behalf of the Cavalry Association!" Kou Zhongdao: "How can this be considered the same thing? Ren Shaoming is a big villain of the underworld, but I, Kou Zhong, am a good person who is always considerate of others. It will only be a blessing for them if the Bamboo Flower Gang falls into my hands. Two brothers, are you willing to help me?" At this moment, the waiter offered some pasta, but he refused to leave, and said respectfully, "Are you two gentlemen from Fengzhutang?" Kou Zhong was stunned and said, "What's the matter?" The clerk said: "We entertain the people from Fanfengzhutang and Junshi Shao for free. The most important thing is not to let Ren Shaoming succeed!" Then he left worried. Xu Ziling was stunned for a while, then sighed, "Okay!" Kou Zhong was overjoyed and said: "The Bamboo Forest Conference will be held tonight, let's play it by ear!" Xu Ziling thought of Duan Yucheng and the others, and was about to speak when someone laughed and said, "You two boys are actually here." Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong were taken aback, they looked at the entrance, and it was Gui Xiliang who had been promoted to the position of incense lord, their childhood gangster friend.Next to him was another familiar gangster, Xing Rong, who was thin, with long hands and feet, and quite cunning. The four of them were very happy to meet each other, and they felt kind and interesting to Gui Xiliang who put on airs like a incense master. Xing Rong frowned and said: "When did you become the people of Fengzhutang?" Gui Xiliang doubted: "Didn't you steal other people's clothes to wear again?" Unfortunately, the bamboo flower emblems embroidered on the two people's lapels showed that they were directly under the leader of the gang. Now that there is no leader of the gang, they are naturally under the command of the military advisor Shao Lingzhou. Seeing Kou Zhong with a long knife hanging on his back, Xing Rong said happily, "Looking at the radiance of your two faces, and you don't know where you stole the weapon from, you must be doing well!" Xu Ziling said with self-deprecating words: "It's not only good, it's really beautiful. Zhong Shao even shook hands with Zhai Rang, Du Fuwei, etc. and drank wine. Do you think it's majestic enough?" Xing Rong kept "spitting" repeatedly, and her face was full of disdain, as if she was blaming Xu Ziling for bragging. Kou Zhong reached out and patted Xing Rong's shoulder, and said with a smile, "You can't envy so much anymore." Xing Rong smiled and pushed his hand away, and sighed again. Gui Xiliang said: "Stop bragging. It's about brotherhood. You two will follow me in the future! Tonight, I will officially report to Junshi Shao when he becomes the gang leader." Kou Zhong answered vaguely, and asked: "Is Junshi Shao sure to be the leader of the sect?" Xing Rong said: "When it comes to prestige, status, status, and martial arts, Junshi Shao is indeed not second-guessing in the gang, but the situation is not that simple." Gui Xiliang spoke in an authoritative tone: "Now everyone wants to get involved in our Bamboo Forest Conference, you should know what that traitor Ren Shaoming is doing, and Ren thief is now united with Lin Shihong. Very pessimistic." Xing Rong said: "Fortunately, Master Shao has the support of the Song Clan, otherwise Ren Shaoming and Lin Shihong would be even more unscrupulous." Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances, their eyes lit up and said, "Song Clan? Who did they send here?" Gui Xiliang frowned and said, "Why do you ask about such a confidential matter. We're going back to the Military Advisor's Mansion later, are you coming or not?" Kou Zhong pulled Xu Ziling to stand up and said, "Of course I have to follow Master Gui Xiang to see and see." Xing Rong said dissatisfied: "We are not full yet, why are you standing up so quickly?" Kou Zhong smiled and said: "We are full, so let us go outside the door and wait for the two elder brothers." After stepping out of the door, the group of young men from Yuzhutang came in and deliberately bumped into the two of them, full of provocation. The two are used to seeing scenes, so they don't care about it. When he got outside the door, Kou Zhong said excitedly: "This trip is getting more and more fun. Later, we will go to make friends with Shao Lingzhou and see how the situation will develop." Xu Ziling frowned and said, "I think this matter is very troublesome, and it's not something we should get involved in." Kou Zhong raised his fist in front of his eyes and said: "Under normal circumstances, it is really difficult for us to play any role. Only those two boys will not obey us. But now it is clear that whoever has a hard fist can talk. We Isn't there a great chance?" Xu Ziling glanced at him angrily, and suddenly the sound of dishes falling and shattering and shouting came from the hall. The two were stunned for a while, wondering if the members of Yuzhutang would dare to openly violate the gang rules and ask Gui Xing to do it?