The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 65 Bi Zhenhai

The charcoal in the brazier made a slight "beep" sound, and the simple earthen house was warm.

Zhu Xiu moved the straw dumpling closer to the door of the house. He did not want to die of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The big man stared at the two of them with piercing eyes and remained silent for a while.

Ma San said with a sad face: "Hero, we are really here to buy salt!"

The light at the door of the house was blocked by several men holding machetes and sticks. Everyone could see that this leading man was not interested in the big business that suddenly came to the door.

"Why do you want to buy salt?" The big man finally said.

Ma Sanzhang said with a smile: "There are a large number of people in my family, and the price of salt in the county is too high, so I can't afford it. I heard that a good man had salt for sale, so I asked all the way to find it."

The big man stared at him and sneered: "Is there really a lack of salt in your house?"

Ma San nodded quickly: "Que!"

The big man pointed at Zhu Xiu and said sternly: "This fat and white boy looks like he is short of salt? Don't think you can fool me by smearing a few pot ash on your face!"

Zhu Xiu shrank her neck and looked like she was panicking after her disguise was discovered.

Ma Sandabing's face turned red and he muttered: "My eldest nephew is the only male in the family. He is pampered by his family, so even the salt is saved for him."

"How dare you lie!" The big man stood up loudly, filled with murderous intent.

Several men standing at the door of the house took a step forward in unison, aiming their machetes and sticks at the two of them. As soon as the big man gave an order, these men with fierce eyes dared to kill.

Zhu Xiu's heart tightened, and she keenly smelled some murderous intent from this group of salt dealers.

That's the ruthlessness you can only possess after you've actually killed someone.

Zhu Xiu spent the whole day hanging out with the Chang Yi Army, surrounded by a group of veteran killers, and was very familiar with similar ferocious auras.

This group of salt dealers is not simple, they have many lives on their hands.

Zhu Xiu's panicked face changed, and she said with a smile: "Uncle, tell the truth to this big brother!"

Ma San blinked, and the humble and cowardly flattering smile on Big Pie's face immediately disappeared, and he raised his head slightly, with a arrogant face of great background, cupped his fists and said: "My friend really has good eyesight, we are indeed not here to buy salt! Salt, we have a lot of them, I came to visit you today just because I want to discuss business with my friends!”

The big man's eyes were slightly stern, and he waved his hand. The man outside the house put down his knife and stick and took a few steps back.

The big man sat down again and said coldly: "How can I believe that you are not sent by the Xue family?"

Zhu Xiu interjected with a smile: "The Xue family has a monopoly on the salt market in Changyi Town and sells salt at high prices. However, the eldest brother sells it at a low price and goes against the Xue family. Isn't it because the eldest brother is hiding in a small village to sell salt to avoid being traced by the Xue family?

If we are sent by the Xue family, we only need to find this small village, then report it to the Xue family, and directly send troops to encircle and suppress it. Why show up and put ourselves in danger?Brother, tell me, is this true? "

The big man looked at Zhu Xiu a few more times and nodded: "Not bad."

"Which path are you on?"

Ma San said with an old-fashioned Jianghu attitude: "We are doing the same business as our friends!"

The big man stared and said, "Are you also a salt dealer?"

Ma San smiled mysteriously and did not answer directly: "We have a batch of salt in our hands, and we would like to ask our friends to help transport it out of Jingzhou and sell it at a good price. The Xue family is now blocking official roads and vigorously checking and controlling the goods. If you take the ordinary route, you will definitely not get out of Jingzhou.

Six months ago, near Yilu County, Pizhou, a salt transport team of the Xue family was attacked. Fifteen salt trucks were robbed, and 35 people were killed or injured.

Three months ago, the salt warehouse thirty miles west of Anding County was stolen and twenty pieces of rock salt were lost."

Every time Ma San said a word, the dark and fierce look in the big man's eyes became more intense.

Ma San took out an arrest notice, unfolded it, and said with a smile: "Recently, the Xue family posted notices in the county, saying they wanted to arrest bandits. Please take a look at it, friends. Does the picture on it look familiar?"

The portrait on the notice is [-]-[-]% similar to the big man in front of him, and it also depicts him as an extremely vicious and murderous horse bandit leader.

The Xue family promises to reward anyone who provides clues with a reward of [-] yuan.

The person who takes the first level will receive a reward of one hundred guan.

Those caught alive will be rewarded with two hundred strings.

The generous reward made everyone present change their expressions. The leading man stood behind the big man, his face full of shock, and a look of greed flashed in his eyes.

Two hundred strings is undoubtedly an astronomical figure for him.

The big man took the wanted notice from Ma San's hand, glanced at it a few times, and handed it to the man leading the way behind him: "Sixth, take a look."

Lao Liu took it and looked at it, "Brother, that's what it says."

The big man's face trembled slightly, and he suddenly raised his head and laughed: "I didn't expect this head of mine to be worth two hundred guan!"

Zhu Xiu glanced at Lao Liu. As the leader, the big man was illiterate, but this guy with a deer head and rat eyes was literate.

Masandao: "This wanted notice was posted two days ago. My friend is hiding in the countryside. I'm afraid he doesn't know the situation in the county, so I brought it here to show it to him."

The big man said contemptuously: "What, threatening me?" Ma San waved his hands and smiled: "How dare you, I just want to remind my friends that you are in a difficult situation now, why not cooperate with us and make a lot of money together! From now on, we will provide salt, and you will be responsible for selling it and making money. I’ll give you [-]% of the money you get.”

Salt is highly profitable and there is no shortage of market. As long as the market is opened, we can sell as much as we have, and the [-]% profit is generous enough.

The big man still had a sneer on his face and was not moved at all.

"Brother." Lao Liu couldn't help but whisper.

"Shut up!" The big man glared fiercely.

The big man looked at Ma San and said coldly: "The conditions are favorable, but it's a pity that I found the wrong person. I don't sell salt for profit, and I will not collude with you greedy salt merchants to squeeze the people's hard-earned money."

Ma San was startled and looked at him as if he were an idiot: "Friend, you."

The big man waved his hand impatiently and scolded: "Don't be nagging, we are not on the same road! If you don't want to cause trouble, get out of here!"

Lao Liu was anxious and whispered: "Brother, I think this business can be negotiated."

The big man suddenly turned his head and glared at him: "What nonsense! Have you forgotten why we sold salt in the first place?"

Lao Liu gritted his teeth and said: "There are too many people who can't afford salt. Is it possible that they all have to rely on us for help? The brothers paid for this salt with their lives!"

The big man said angrily: "The money we make now is enough for clothing and food. We sell salt to prevent the villagers from eating the Xue family's poisonous salt and being poisoned to death! No longer will they be squeezed by the Xue family! This group of unscrupulous salt What's the difference between the Shang family and the Xue family? Do you want to be like them, making dirty money and dirtying your conscience?"

Lao Liu lowered his head and said nothing, but his eyes were full of unwillingness.

"Friend." Ma San laughed dryly.

The big man shouted impatiently: "Get out of here! You guys, send them out of the village!"

Four men approached the door of the house and pushed the two of them out of the house without saying a word.

Zhu Xiu said hurriedly: "Does this eldest brother dare to give his name?"

The big man glanced coldly and said disdainfully: "Why don't you dare! Listen up, my name is Bi Zhenhai!"

Before Zhu Xiu could say anything, several men roughly pushed them out of the house, cursed and escorted them out of the courtyard and towards the entrance of the village.

Bi Zhenhai stood at the entrance of the courtyard, watching the group of people go away, his thick eyebrows gradually tightened.

"Fourth, tell the brothers to pack up quickly. Let's go to Lianyunwu Fort to avoid the limelight."

A thin man behind him responded and hurriedly went to give instructions.

Bi Zhenhai looked at Lao Liu, who had his head lowered, patted his shoulder, and sighed: "Lao Liu, I know you are thinking about your brothers, but the origins of this group are unknown, so don't believe their words easily.

Didn't our group get together in the first place just to avoid being bullied by the Xue family and to do something practical for the suffering villagers?When the Xue family collapses in the future, the sky will open up in Jingzhou, and there will be many opportunities to make money and live a good life, so why bother here? "

Lao Liu lowered his head and said in a dull voice: "What the elder brother taught you is, I know."

After Bi Zhenhai walked away, Lao Liu returned to the house. He took out the crumpled wanted notice from his arms, unfolded it, smoothed it out, read it carefully again, and threw it into the brazier.

The jumping flames were reflected in the depths of his dark, flickering eyes.

~~~
On the dirt road back to the county seat, the mule cart creaked slowly.

The wind and snow became much lighter, so Zhu Xiu took off his hood and patted the falling snowflakes.

"Eldest nephew" Ma San was still immersed in the acting scene just now and could not recover.

Zhu Xiu rolled her eyes, dared to call her smooth, and said angrily: "Call me Secretary Zhu!"

Ma San's big-faced smile made him tremble, and he finally shouted: "Young official."

I don’t know why, but the junior official likes to be called Secretary Zhu.

Ma San felt strangely speechless.

"Young official, I think Bi Zhenhai is quite a figure." Ma San said with admiration.

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "He is a tough man, no wonder he dares to go against the Xue family."

"It's a pity that he refuses to cooperate with us and has a stubborn temper." Ma San shook his head.

Zhu Xiu leaned lazily, "Don't worry, he can treat money as dirt, but the people under him may not necessarily be! This guy is a hero, but he only regrets doing big things. His passion is not enough. They are a group of people. People, sooner or later there will be a big mess! Go back and ask Brother Guan to send someone to keep an eye on it, and notify me immediately if there is any movement."

Ma San hurriedly wrote it down, rubbed his hands and said in anticipation: "Little official, how was the villain's performance just now?"

Zhu Xiu glanced at him: "It's not bad. The changes in expressions and emotions are a bit abrupt and stiff, and the transformation from front to back is not smooth enough. The response to the situation is pretty good. Generally speaking, self-cultivation needs to be strengthened."

Empress Ma San said fearfully: "This group of salt dealers are not good people. They are so frightened that they broke out in a cold sweat!"

"That's all you've got." Zhu Xiu groaned and closed his eyes. He wouldn't tell Ma San that he was so frightened that he was sweating just now, and now he's still chilly. He might catch a cold when he goes back.

(End of this chapter)