Chapter 177 Who Is the Fisherman? Who Is the Snipe and Clam?

After leaving the Huang Mansion, Feng Zhu went home and ordered people to prepare things for the banquet. Treating distinguished guests to dinner these days is not a random invitation. People with a certain status all pay attention to the principle of "come and go once, invite three times and wait for four times".

What does it mean? That is to first go to the guest's home and hand over a greeting card, indicating that you intend to host a banquet and ask for the other person's wishes. After the other party gets the invitation and knows what you mean, if they are interested in making friends, write back and tell them which days you are free.

The host will choose the nearest day to send a formal invitation. After receiving the guest's consent, you can happily prepare things and wait for the guest to come to your door.

It's tedious, but not like this. How to show the dignity of a distinguished guest? After Feng Zhu returned home, he also followed this process. He asked himself that the steps he had taken were correct, but he still couldn't get a reply from Li Bian, which made him feel strange.

The salt merchants who were with Feng Zhu also murmured a little. After holding Feng Zhu in discussion for two days, he still couldn't decide what Li Bian was thinking. Someone said: "Is it delayed because of the Huang family's affairs?"

This idea quickly attracted everyone's agreement. They all guessed something more or less, but their connections were not as solid as Feng Zhu's. So they all looked at Feng Zhu, hoping to get the leader's release.

Feng Zhu thought about it for himself. Apart from this reason, he really couldn't think of any other reason. He could only nod and comfort everyone, "I think this is it. Let's just wait and see what Mr. Li can do."

Everyone understood the implication of the leader's words and all nodded in agreement. They couldn't help but feel excited, looking forward to Mr. Li's actions and what thunderous means he would use to save the Huang family.

Feng Zhu was also very curious about this question. It was right that Huang Wendong lost his life to Li Bian. Among them, there are many plans to test Li Bian's background. If Li Bian failed to save Huang Wendong in the end, Feng Zhu would have to carefully consider placing a bet on Li Bian.

The ancestors of the old Feng family left behind such incredible wealth. Despite Feng Zhusheng's chubby appearance, he was extremely cautious in his actions. If he hadn't read a lot, he would have been a good official.

Feng Zhu, who had changed his mind, signaled everyone to be calm. They are now fishermen on the river bank, and they only need to watch the snipe and clams fight.

The Feng family still has some patience, but Li Bian is already getting angry. After Master Ming invited Ma Yin that day, he began to hesitate again. He had a conscience and thought about whether to write a letter to the prime minister of the capital and try to save the Huang family.

The reason for this change was that Li Bian was worried about the negative impact. After all, he abandoned Huang Wendong as soon as Feng Zhu came, which would have made those who came after him feel sad.

But Li Bian was worried that Lin Ruhai would directly take over the Huang family, and he was even more afraid that the Huang family's dog would jump over the wall and risk committing suicide. These two thoughts could have attracted Huang Wendong and used his words to appease him so that the situation would not worsen.

But when the matter came to pass, Li Bian was still hesitant. If he invites the Huang family to discuss this matter, it means that he knows the truth. If you go to the imperial court, you will be accused of not reporting it.

Before getting the handwritten letter from the prime minister, Li Bian really didn't dare to take the risk of taking the blame for Huang Wendong with his black gauze hat. In fact, after all, Li Bian, who was looking forward and backward, was not sure what Lin Ruhai would do.

Would it have been better if I had been willing to wait until next month before publishing an article in Jiangnan News? If I had known about this earlier, the situation would not have been so passive?

It's all Huang Wendong's fault. If he had been honest at the beginning, why would he be like this? Li Bian was very tangled in his thoughts. He was originally confident, but now he was in a dilemma.

With things developing like this, all Li Bian can do is to secretly pay attention to the movements of Lin and Huang. He can delay it for a day, and as long as he gets a handwritten letter from the prime minister, he will have an excuse to act expediently.

Fortunately, some of the servants who had dispersed from his family were attentive to their work. Tonight, Xin Geng came in with a group of people, and the servants came back with news to report.

It's still here... When Li Bian heard this, he couldn't help but feel despair. It must have been the Dongchuang Incident at the Huang family that led to this group of officers and soldiers entering the city.

Why can't Huang Wendong, such a talented person, wait any longer? Why can't things be more confidential? Li Bian was anxious, and the more he thought about it, the more unwilling he became. The master saw his appearance and suddenly shouted at him: "Sir, if you keep cutting off, you will suffer chaos."

"If you are worried that Huang Wendong's incident will affect the opinions of other salt merchants in the city, you can find an opportunity afterwards to gather them together and appease them."

"If Huang Wendong is allowed to be arrested, he will bite randomly in prison. We will be the fish on Lin Ruhai's chopping board, and we will be slaughtered by others."

After being scolded like this by the people around him, Li Bian finally came to his senses. Right now, Huang Wendong cannot be allowed to enter the government prison alive. If his many plans in Yangzhou were written down in black and white by Lin Ruhai, there would be no way to survive if they were reported to the imperial court.

"Let Ma Yin take action, quickly, quickly, quickly!"

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In the Huang Mansion, Huang Wendong was still holding discussions with his disciples. He really wanted to take action, but after two days of discussion, he still couldn't decide which method would be more appropriate.

He didn't have such urgent thoughts, and felt that he still had some status in Yangzhou. If Magistrate Lin just finds some excuse, he will capture his family. The Salt Merchant and Chamber of Commerce is not a free-for-all, and it is unlikely that they will start a fight to redress their grievances.

Huang Wendong didn't want to have a direct conflict with the Yangzhou government office, so he discussed it with others for two days, but still couldn't come up with a way to kill the jailer silently.

The most talked about method is to use poison, etc., but this method has been used once. If it had been useful, we wouldn't be in today's situation. Others suggested starting a fire nearby to create some noise. Lure the people out of the house, and then take advantage of the chaos to kill the jailer.

The latter method is very feasible. Huang Wendong was very moved after hearing this. It's rough, but it works. If he had a better brain, he would have gone to school and become an official. Why settle down to be a salt merchant?

After discussing this idea, a servant came from outside to report that Mr. Li's distinguished guest was visiting. Mr. Li, who had not been seen for two days, suddenly sent someone, and Huang Wendong was also overjoyed.

I heard visitors say that they have to go out to greet them in person. Huang Wendong didn't hesitate, straightened his clothes and ran to the door. When he crossed the threshold, he saw a young general with a knife standing at the door under the moonlit night.

Huang Wendong took a closer look and saw that it was Ma Yin, whom he had met once before in the mansion. He immediately said with joy: "Young General, I am not welcomed from afar, but I am not welcomed from afar. Why are you here?"

Although Ma Yin's appearance is not good-looking, his smile is very pleasant. He let go of the hand holding the knife, arched it, and said with a smile: "Master Li, ask me to help Brother Huang. Brother Huang, you won't go out."

Huang Wendong was stunned when he heard this, and said in a daze: "What are you busy with?"

"Brother Huang wants to do something that he hasn't done yet." Ma Yin smiled mysteriously, and then said to Huang Wendong, "I also brought a few reliable brothers, so I asked them to come see Brother Huang. "

Ma Yin waved to the dark place, and a dozen strong men immediately ran out. These people are all dressed in civilian clothes, with swords around their waists. Seeing this group of fierce men running to stand in front of them, Huang Wendong was also frightened.

He took a step back slightly and said with some fear: "I'm afraid these young generals are all talented generals in the army."

"Hey, you know how to wield swords and guns." Ma Yin waved his hand and stepped into the threshold of Huang Mansion. He folded his hands behind his back and kept talking, "When I was in the capital before, , often go to the Duke of Zhen’s mansion to play, the generals in their mansion are truly brave..."

Huang Wendong relaxed a little when he saw that he was carelessly walking in front. After all, Li Bian wouldn't dare to take risks with someone of such status. Huang Wendong calmed down and took a step forward to catch up with Ma Yin, "How can a villain get in to the Duke of Zhen's family? Only from the mouth of the Major General can we know a thing or two."

He laughed along and walked beside Ma Yin, "Major General, I don't know what Mr. Li asked you to do to help me? Why don't you tell me, so that I don't get Mr. Li wrong? I mean, it ruined your business."

The two of them had already walked into the courtyard, and the lights on the corridor had dimmed by now, with only the bright moon above their heads slightly illuminating the surroundings. Ma Yin laughed, took something out of his sleeve, and threw it into Huang Wendong's hand.

"Isn't that why?"

After Ma Yin finished speaking, he took a step back. By the time Huang Wendong subconsciously grasped the thrown dagger, Ma Yin was already shouting at the people around him, "You dare to assassinate the imperial official? Take it down!!!"

Huang Wendong regretted holding the dagger, but it would not help. At such a critical moment, he made another mistake. When he heard that others were about to capture him, he raised his hand in panic and explained to his "people": "Major General, it's a misunderstanding. Don't make fun of the villain, little..."

Huang Wendong lowered his head in disbelief, looking at the shiny white tip of the knife, which penetrated directly into the body from the back and emerged from the chest. Thick blood immediately spurted out along the wound. Only then did he realize the severe pain coming from the wound.

"Major General..." He stretched out his hand towards Ma Yin, "I am wronged..."

Ma Yin didn't want to listen to his nagging, so she just waved her hand and inserted several more knives into Huang Wendong's body.

After several knives were pulled out, Huang Wendong's body fell to the ground, completely unable to move. Ma Yin then said to his men who were coming from outside: "Take the weapons we brought and throw them in a hidden place. Call it the stolen property we found."

"Okay."

A total of twenty soldiers, all skilled veterans, immediately launched a search in the mansion. After a while, someone suddenly ran up to Ma Yin and reported back, "Major General, we did find some knives and hand crossbows in the prisoner's house."

"Huh? I didn't ask you to bring hand crossbows." Ma Yin, who was standing in the courtyard admiring the moon, had not yet reacted. Weapons such as crossbows, regardless of their size or shape, will be punished with death if someone is found hiding them.

"Major General, it's not us, it's one of their own." The man explained again.

Ma Yin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She shook her head helplessly, glanced at Huang Wendong on the ground, and said with a broken heart, "It's really a bear's heart and a leopard's courage."

"What about the things we brought here?" the soldier asked.

"We already have it. Where are our things that are needed? Let's pack them up and take them back." Ma Yin suddenly pointed to a movement in the house and asked curiously, "What's going on over there?"

"There are several guests in their house who are desperate for their lives. When I heard that the man named Huang died, I wanted to fight for my life with my brothers."

"Why are you as stupid and bold as Liu Erlang again? Kill them all if you are unlucky."

"yes."

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After receiving the message from Ma Yin at home, Li Bian did not wait for a moment, immediately put on his official robe and rushed to the government office in a sedan chair. When he arrived at the government office, just as he got off the sedan chair, he saw Xin Geng coming leisurely on a horse.

Xin Geng walked very slowly, and when he slowed down, even the soldiers following him slowed down. The twenty officers and soldiers all held torches in their hands. If they were not wearing armor and holding guns, they would have thought they were patrolling here.

Li Bian was shocked when he saw Xin Geng. He stood beside the sedan chair and hurriedly bowed and greeted: "Sir Xin."

"Sir Li." Xin Geng turned over neatly from his horse, and when he stood firmly on the ground, he clasped his fists in return.

"I don't know why Sir Xin came to the government office so late at night." Li Bian was a little curious about the other party's reason and wanted to pull him to the door to chat.

Logically, shouldn't the other party be on the way to Huang's house? Why is he here?

Xin Geng ignored him and walked directly into the government office. Li Bian had no choice but to follow him. Zhang Shangxian, who had received the news long ago, walked quickly to the dim court and waited in front of the two.

"You two adults are here together, but what happened in the city?"

The silent Xin Geng took a step aside. Li Bian saw that he was pushed in front, so he had to calm down and said in a deep voice: "I heard that someone intended to assassinate Lord Lin, so I came to report to Lord Lin."

Zhang Shangxian showed a little disbelief when he heard it, and said with a smile: "Who is so bold to murder an official appointed by the court. Lord Li, you didn't hear it wrong."

"Huang Wendong!" Li Bian hardened his heart and reported the name of the culprit.

"It turned out to be him?! I don't know how reliable Lord Li's news is."

Seeing that Zhang Shangxian's attitude was a little hesitant, Li Bian immediately stepped forward and said, "The relationship is very complicated. Lord Zhang might as well find a place so that I can explain it to you in detail."

Li Bian really didn't want to be in the same room with Xin Geng, fearing that the other party would also do the Ma Yin thing. Seeing that Li Bian was very nervous, Zhang Shangxian couldn't help but smile and said, "What's the point of telling me about such an important matter? Sir Li might as well explain it directly to the prefect."

"Ah?!" Li Bian was stunned when he heard it. He couldn't believe it and said, "Is Sir Lin recovered from his illness?"

"Thank you Sir Li for your concern." Another person walked out from the inner hall. As soon as he finished speaking, a team of officials ran out from nowhere, holding candles to illuminate the court.

Lin Ruhai, who had changed into his official robe, looked energetic. He walked up to the few people happily and said, "Thanks to the doctor's skillful hands, my old illness has finally been cured."

"Ah... this!" Li Bian was so anxious that sweat kept coming out of his forehead. Seeing him hesitating, Lin Ruhai asked again, "Who is the person that Lord Li said wanted to murder me?"

"Yes... yes..." Li Bian looked at Lin Ruhai's smiling face, and then looked at Zhang Shangxian and Xin Geng who were silent on both sides. He didn't know what to say for a while, so he had to explain the matter hesitantly.

He told how he and Ma Yin found the villain holding a sharp knife in Huang's house when they were having a banquet at their house, and the coincidence they planned in the dark.

When Li Bian fell silent, Lin Ruhai said sincerely: "Thank you for your help, Lord Li. If you hadn't come to tell me, I would have been in danger without knowing it. I will definitely keep this in mind."

"Your Excellency is now well, and I am also... also... relieved." Li Bian, who was fidgeting, kept wiping the sweat from his forehead. But he was still a little confused in his heart. Although he vaguely guessed that something was wrong, Li Bian still looked at Xin Geng, "I wonder what Lord Xin is here for?"

"Nothing else, I heard that you have recovered, so I came to see you." Xin Geng grinned and smiled.

Tonight, the content of the letter that Lin Ruhai gave him was very simple, take a team of people, walk slowly, and come to the government office to see me. Xin Geng received the order and did it.

Li Bian almost fainted when he heard this. Now he figured it out and he was tricked.

Li Bian walked out of the government office in a daze, and he didn't know how to get back home.

After Li Bian left, Lin Ruhai called his subordinates. Zhang Shangxian naturally praised his strategic planning, but he smiled and said, "I still have to treat the fisherman to a light meal. You take my handwritten order and ask Jia Yucun to come to see me quickly."

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The next day.

Feng Zhu was still waiting for Li Bian's reply at home, when he suddenly heard that the new salt inspector Jia Daren came to visit. Seeing that this distinguished guest came so early, Feng Zhu was surprised, but he still led him into the hall and took a seat.

The freshly brewed tea was just served, Feng Zhu just raised the teacup, and Jia Yucun smiled and said, "Huang Wendong is dead."

Feng Zhu was so scared that he almost couldn't hold the teacup. Some of the hot tea spilled on his body, and he grimaced in pain. But Feng Zhu didn't even bother to wipe it, and just said: "Sir, don't joke, Brother Huang was fine yesterday."

Jia Yucun raised his eyebrows and continued to say: "Ma Yin killed him."

Now, Feng Zhu had no choice but to remain silent.

After a long time, he stood up with a sigh, bowed, and said earnestly: "Please save me, sir."

"Now the border war is corrupt, and your majesty is in urgent need of money to reward the soldiers in the army. Brother Feng should know it." Seeing that he finally bowed his head and gave in, Jia Yucun had the leisure to drink tea.

"We...we...the three million taels that Lord Lin wants, our company is willing to take out."

When Jia Yucun heard this, he shook his head, "That was the previous price. Brother Feng, Lord Lin asked me to tell you that the servants you arranged are very useful. If there are good candidates in the future, you can directly recommend them to him, and you don't have to be so cautious."

Feng Zhu shook himself, thought again and again, and thought that the Huang family's body was still warm, so he said in shock and fear: "We...we can take out 4 million taels. Sir, if you ask for more, you will really have nothing. This money has already emptied all our family assets."

I'm afraid that Lord Lin in the government office knows more about the family assets of all of you than you do. Jia Yucun smiled and knew that this number was about the same. He simply put down the teacup and stood up and said: "Okay, but the military situation is urgent. Lord Lin can't wait, and Your Majesty can't wait even more."

"As soon as possible, I will definitely get it done as soon as possible. Within seven days..." Seeing Jia Yucun's displeasure, Feng Zhu immediately changed his words, "...No, it's five days. Within five days, I will definitely raise enough silver."

"Then I will wait for good news." Jia Yucun shook his official robe and stood up and left in a chic manner. Seeing that the bad guest was finally leaving, Feng Zhu narrowed his eyes to look at the warm sun in the courtyard, and then looked back at Feng Zhu and said, "I suddenly remembered that Lord Lin had another message for me to pass on to Brother Feng."

Feng Zhu was already terrified just by hearing the word "Lin". At this moment, he had to lean over and said with a sad face, "Please give me your instructions, Lord."

"When the arrows were shot, the first to hit were not the people on both sides, but the monkeys watching the show on the wall."

Jia Yucun smiled wildly and raised his hand to pat the back of Feng Zhu.

It feels so good to be an official. With this thought in mind, Jia Yucun walked away step by step.

I wrote 12,000 words a day, and I really can't make any changes. My pig brain is confused. Take a break, take a break. I will come back from get off work tomorrow and read the article again and make some changes.