Fu Shifeng

Chapter 100
"Under Zhang Fan, these two are Hu Yi and Xu 23. Eunuch Feng sent us here to go to Lingzhou with Brother Cheng."

In the early morning of the next day, Cheng Sanwu packed up and led the horse out of the Qingjin Courtyard. Three embroidered emissaries from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were already waiting outside the door.

For the first time, Zhang Fan was a little older, with a mustache around his mouth, bright eyes, deep breathing, and presumably possessed good martial arts.

There is a man and a woman in the back, Hu Yi is of barbarian descent, with dark eyes, tendrils, slightly lighter eyes, broad shoulders, thick back, big arms and round waist.Xu 23 is a woman in men's clothing, with a thin body, a sharp face, and a slightly mean brow.

Cheng Sanwu clasped his fists as a gesture, and couldn't help laughing: "These two names are...very interesting."

These words were obviously referring to Hu Yi and Xu 23, they looked at each other, and also looked at Cheng Sanwu with strange expressions.

"Your name is Cheng Sanwu, you're much weirder than us." Xu 23 pointed it out directly, with a piercing tone.

Zhang Fan coughed lightly, and explained: "Brother Cheng may not be very clear about the rules of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We embroidered emissaries who go out to do business involve a lot of secrets. Usually, we don't use our family name, but use the names of heavenly stems, earthly branches, rosters, and rosters. ordinal instead."

"But my name is Cheng Sanwu, do I need to change it?" Cheng Sanwu was puzzled.

"I don't think it's necessary." Zhang Fan responded with a wry smile. If he hadn't been entrusted by Eunuch Feng beforehand and knew that he was Shang Zhangjun's personal subordinate, otherwise he would have scolded this kind of idiot who didn't know the rules.

"Speaking of embroidered clothes envoys, why don't you see you wearing those embroidered brocade robes?" Cheng Sanwu asked again: "Yesterday I saw a few embroidered clothes envoys in Yishanfang. They look so majestic!"

The three of Zhang Fan are all ordinary round-neck gowns with arrow sleeves, nothing more than carrying weapons, like martial arts people walking in the rivers and lakes, not at all like embroidered emissaries who can make hundreds of officials fear.

"Brother Cheng was joking, the embroidered brocade robe worn by the Embroidered Emissary is an imperial gift, not everyone has it, nor can it be worn on any occasion." Zhang Fan had to patiently explain:

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs is a close minister of His Majesty. If there is a chance to go on a tour, the embroidered clothes envoy will also serve as the forerunner of the guard of honor. Naturally, we must pay attention to the attire. Those of us who go out to do business should not startle the snake. We must keep confidentiality as the top priority. Instead, we must not show embroidered clothes everywhere. The identity of the messenger, brother Cheng, please pay attention to this matter."

"I understand." Cheng Sanwu nodded: "Then what name are we going to Lingzhou?"

Zhang Fan replied: "We are nominally disciples of the Changshi Mountain Heng School. The foundation of the sect was taken away, so we had to go to Lingzhou to find another way out."

"Horizontal school? Is there really such a school?" Cheng Sanwu was curious.

"Yes, I'm from the horizontal school." Zhang Fan didn't hide it, with a hint of helplessness in his smile: "When I was young, the horizontal school had already declined. The property cannot be kept."

Cheng Sanwu didn't expect Zhang Fan to have such a past, so he didn't have much to say, so he could only say: "If there is nothing else, we will set off now!"

……

Leaving Chang'an and heading northwest along the Jingshui River, the four of them arrived at Changwu City at the junction of Binning and Ningzhou within a few days.

Changwu City is not a prefecture or county seat. Because Jing River and Maling River meet here, surrounded by mountains and rivers, it is one of the key passes leading to Guanzhong, so a fortress was built here in the early years of this dynasty.

However, with the opening of Great Xia’s borders, it has expanded to an unprecedented extent. The powerful enemies of the past may have perished or declined, and Changwu City has turned from the frontier to the hinterland. household.

After a hundred years, Changwu City, which was built on the mountain, has been built into a sizable city.Because this place is the only way to go to Lingzhou and Shuofang, and the various tribes of Monan who belong to Daxia want to go to Chang'an to pay tribute and trade goods, they often pass through Changwu City, which makes this place prosperous.

When Cheng Sanwu and his party arrived in Changwu City, it happened to be the first day of the new year, and the local rich clan held a banquet to worship their ancestors, and there were also various performances in rural temples, attracting passers-by to watch.

But the four of them did not go to the city to join in the fun, but chose to rest and feed the horses in a roadside inn, preparing to spend the night.

Naturally, this kind of country store cannot be compared with the high-rise buildings in Chang'an, and the singers and dancers who accompany the drinks are even more extravagant. , Offensive guest officials displeased.

Cheng Sanwu had just finished feeding the horses in the front yard, came to sit down in the store, and saw Zhang Fan secretly peeking at the guests at another table in the corner.

"What's the matter?" Cheng Sanwu asked in a low voice, picked up a piece of Hubing by the way, tore it into small pieces and threw it into the soup bowl in front of him.

"That man has martial arts." Zhang Fan showed a slightly cautious look, but he was not on guard.

Cheng Sanwu raised his eyes and saw that there were a man and a woman at the table. The man was facing away from him. He was wearing coarse clothes. His hands on the table had thick joints and calluses. He could tell at a glance that he was an old martial artist.The woman next to her was fair and beautiful, although she was wearing a thorn hairpin sarong like an ordinary girl's, it couldn't conceal her rich and well-born appearance, and she held a big burden in her arms, which she cherished.

"I smell wound medicine." Cheng Sanwu sniffed.

Zhang Fan nodded: "That man is injured... Don't worry about people passing by."

Cheng Sanwu shrugged and didn't say much, anyway, he was working for the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In the past few days, Zhang Fan has also told himself a lot of business strategies for embroidered emissaries traveling outside, especially when investigating confidential information or major cases, they often involve high-ranking officials and nobles. Constraints and entrapments of the bureaucracy and regulations.

Therefore, disguising and concealing one's identity became the key. Only when others were not alerted could it be easier to find out the truth.

Zhang Fan also said that those who investigate cases for the Ministry of Internal Affairs should not be greedy for fame and reputation. If they put themselves in full view, it will make things difficult.Therefore, when walking outside, it is best to keep a low profile and not cause trouble.

Seeing that the sky is getting dark, everyone should go back to their rooms to rest after eating.Cheng Sanwu was thinking of practicing kung fu in no one's place, but he heard a dense sound of horseshoes in the distance. Looking at the table, the water surface in the bowl was also rippling.

The four members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs all had martial arts skills, and they immediately noticed something strange. Hu Yi immediately leaned on the ground, put his ear to the ground and listened for a while, then got up and said in a low voice, "About twenty or thirty riders."

"Officers and soldiers?" Zhang Fan frowned slightly.

"Not like." Hu Yi shook his head.

Cheng Sanwu folded his arms across his chest, glanced sideways, and looked at the man and woman in the corner.They were obviously also aware of the strange situation, the woman couldn't hide her worry, the man pressed a few copper plates on the table, and then led his female companion to get up and want to leave.

The other three members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs turned a blind eye to this, and Zhang Fan stepped aside specifically to make it easier for the couple to leave.Cheng Sanwu didn't want to speak at first, but when he turned around, he happened to see the woman's slightly protruding abdomen, cursed inwardly, and then said:
"It's too late, your carriage is too slow to run away."

The man and woman suddenly stopped in their tracks, and the man turned his head and stared at him. Although his complexion was a little pale because of the injury, he still had a handsome face.

"Cough!" Zhang Fan coughed twice to signal: "You two want to leave, we won't stop you, please do what you want."

But after such a delay, shouts came from outside the courtyard: "Little thief from the Wei family, quickly release the lady from the Deng family!"

This drinking sound is particularly loud, which shows that the person who made the sound is quite capable.

The girl in the sarong suddenly changed her expression when she heard the shout, she hugged her male companion's arm tightly, she couldn't hold back her tears, and said in a low voice, "Wei Lang, run away alone, they dare not hurt me."

"No! I will never be that kind of person who is greedy for life and afraid of death!" The man called Wei Lang resolutely refused, but he still couldn't hide his anxiety, looking around, trying to find a way out.

But where is there a hiding place for such a country shop beside the road?Risky escape will inevitably expose the traces.

"Wu Lushuai! In addition to that carriage, there are several other horses in the yard!" Someone outside the yard said at this time.

"Take the horse away! The others have surrounded this place!"

As soon as this remark came out, before Zhang Fan and the others could speak, Cheng Sanwu reacted first, couldn't hide his anger, and grinned and cursed: "Fuck you, dare to touch my horse?!"

Cheng Sanwu rushed out of the inn, and saw more than 20 riders wandering outside the inn courtyard, everyone carrying knives and sticks, the momentum was not small.At this time, one of them was trying to take away the horses of Cheng Sanwu and others without asking who the owner was, which showed that he was used to being arrogant.

"Where did the thief come from? You can take Lao Tzu's horse casually?" Cheng Sanwu raised his voice and yelled, kicking him down with a flying kick.

In fact, Cheng Sanwu would never tie the reins of that big bay red horse to a stake to restrain him, but let it come and go freely, and it was also convenient for him to whistle and call.

"Are you the accomplice recruited by the Wei thief?!" A rider in a fox-fur black cloak leaped forward, holding a strong wooden stick with iron studs on both ends. .

"Who do you care about me?" Cheng Sanwu didn't show any weakness, and said with his hands on his hips, "Hurry up and leave, I'm going to sleep!"

"court death!"

Wu Lvshuai was furious immediately, he slapped his horse's back, and he was uplifted into the air. With the fox-fur black cloak, it was like a big black bear descending from the sky, smashing down with a strong iron cudgel.

Cheng Sanwu didn't pick it up hard, but turned sideways, and there was a loud bang when the stick hit the ground, which made people tremble with fear and wonder how hard it was.

One hit missed, Wu Lvshuai turned around and swept his legs, Cheng Sanwu retreated a few steps, the opponent took advantage of the situation and swung his stick to sweep from left to right.

The stick attack was extremely swift and violent, even though Cheng Sanwu dodged sharply, the iron hoop at the end of the stick was still slightly rubbed against his abdomen, and with a ripping sound, several strands of clothing were scratched.

"So cruel!"

Cheng Sanwu thought to himself, the words of praise were too late to utter, Wu Lvshuai's moves changed instantly, his strong stick no longer covered him, but only picked the middle lane to pick stabs, like a poisonous snake spit out a letter, what the naked eye sees is all sticks and shadows, which makes people It is hard to guard against.

Zhang Fan and others also came to the outdoors at this moment, and when they saw Wu Lushuai's hand, they immediately recognized it as a martial art in the army.

The weapons of Daxia soldiers, apart from the commonly seen swords and spears, also use weapons such as long knives and big sticks.In particular, this kind of strong wooden stick with iron studs at both ends often has miraculous effects in the hands of brave men, even if they are wearing heavy armor, they dare not ignore it.

Cheng Sanwu was forced back again and again by this round of chaotic provocations, and in a blink of an eye, his back was leaning against the courtyard wall.Seeing that he had nowhere to retreat, Marshal Wu shook his strength, and the body of the strong wooden stick suddenly popped out, piercing directly into the rammed-earth courtyard wall, kicking up a cloud of dust, but Cheng Sanwu managed to dodge it deftly.

After repeated misses, Wu Lvshuai's chest burst into anger, he was about to attack violently again, but found that the strong stick could not be pulled.Looking down, Cheng Sanwu didn't know when he grabbed the other end of the big stick with one hand, no matter how hard he tried, he still couldn't take the big stick away, as if the big stick was cast in the opponent's palm.

"You... let go!" Wu Lvshuai was shocked and angry, and pulled out vigorously.

"Oh, that's what you said." Seeing him like this, Cheng Sanwu similarly handed over the strength, the strong wooden stick directly scratched the palm of Wu Lushuai's tiger's mouth, and pierced it from the other side, almost flying off the whole stick. out.

Wu Lvshuai was driven back again and again by this domineering force, and severe pain came from the palm of his hand, and he could guess without looking at it, his tiger's mouth and palm were bruised at this moment, which showed the huge gap in strength between the two.

"You, what is your origin?" Wu Lushuai restrained his impulse, he knew very well that he could not defeat the powerful enemy in front of him alone.

Cheng Sanwu was about to answer, when Zhang Fan stepped forward and said, "We are disciples of Changshi Mountain Heng School, we are going to Lingzhou, passing through here."

"Horizontal School?" Wu Lvshuai thought for a while, and he was sure that he had never heard of this name before, and it seemed to be a small school in some valley.

"We are the guests of the Deng family in Yongxian County, Qizhou, and we are here to rescue the female relatives at the order of the patriarch." Marshal Wu glanced at the four people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs: "The daughter of the patriarch was taken away by a thief surnamed Wei a few days ago. He is a slave of the Deng family. According to the laws of Daxia, a servant who hurts his master is punishable by hanging, and we are about to arrest him and bring him to the court!"

Zhang Fan has worked for the Ministry of Internal Affairs for many years, and he has developed a vicious eye for a long time. He can see that the lady of the Deng family is eloping with her lover, not kidnapped.And even though Wei Lang was injured, he still has good martial arts skills, so the so-called domestic slave may not be true.

Of course, Zhang Fan didn't want to get entangled in the specific facts, even if Wei and Deng were sincere and eloped without a matchmaker's marriage engagement, that would be a violation of the law.

The local rich and powerful families sent guests and house servants to take the initiative to arrest people. Although it was also inappropriate, many times the government could not cover everything and just let the rich and powerful families handle things by themselves.

"We're just passing through this place, and we don't know what Wei thief is, nor is anyone's accomplice." Zhang Fan's tone was flat, and he cupped his fists: "I'll leave after a night's rest. It's not easy for everyone to travel in the rivers and lakes. How about giving each other convenience? ?”

Zhang Fan's words were neither humble nor overbearing, Wu Lvshuai saw that he was so arrogant, maybe he was even more powerful than Cheng Sanwu, so he was already timid in his heart, and he didn't dare to fight again rashly.

Hearing that the other party was leaving tomorrow, Marshal Wu didn't take the risk of breaking into the inn, and reluctantly cupped his hands: "Well, see you tomorrow!"

After saying this, Marshal Wu turned around and left. He and his subordinates ordered a few words, and everyone dispersed and surrounded the inn for surveillance, apparently not intending to leave.

Zhang Fan turned his head and glanced at Cheng Sanwu, but the other party spread his hands: "He is going to take our horse away, so why don't we just ignore it?"

(End of this chapter)