Across the Water Margin: Officials of Ximen

After traveling for dozens of miles, Ximenqing and his party came to Cao Taigong's village and paid a visit with presents.That Cao Taigong was originally an idle official in the county, and he was also a man of some knowledge, who often heard about major events in the world.How could Mr. Cao not know about Ximen Qing, a senior official in Yanggu County, who is now well-known in Shandong?Hearing that the well-known Ximen Qing came to visit, Cao Taigong hurriedly greeted him out of the villa, invited Ximenqing and his party into the villa, slaughtered pigs and sheep, and arranged wine and food to treat him enthusiastically.

Both Ximen Qing and Shi Jin were born as manor owners, and Yan Qing was also adopted by Lu Junyi, the richest businessman in the Daming Mansion since childhood. The three of them lived a life of rich clothes and fine food since they were young, and they have a certain aura of wealth.In addition, the three of Ximenqing were all handsome men with silver faces, and one person was enough to attract village women and women from ten miles and eight villages to stop and watch, but now there were only three of them, and everyone in Cao Taigong's village was alarmed. Many women and ladies hid in the distance and pointed at the three of Ximen Qing.

Cao Taigong looked at the three of Ximen Qing, and he was also secretly happy in his heart, only feeling that the joy fell from the sky.This Yizhou is not far from Yunzhou, and there is only Yanzhou in the middle.It is rumored that Ximenqing, who is rich in Shandong and has huge industries in Yunzhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, Dengzhou and other places, is out of reach for him, a local rich man in Yishui County.Now that Ximenqing passed by Yishui County, he actually knew about Mr. Cao, and came to stay at his manor. Wasn't it a godsend to let him cling to the richest man in Shandong?

How could Mr. Cao, who entertained Ximen Qing attentively, know that if the high official from Ximen in front of him hadn't eliminated the "black whirlwind" Li Kui in Jiangzhou, he and many of the dealers in the village would have long been the victims of that murderous Li Kui? The ghost.

In the original history, Li Kui made a big fuss in Jiangzhou to rescue Song Jiang, and after going to Liangshan, he returned to Yishui County to pick up his wife.As a result, Li Kui's mother was eaten by a tiger on Yiling behind Cao Taigong's village.Li Kui killed the four tigers in a rage, and was bumped by a hunter on the mountain, who invited him to Cao Taigong's manor, and wanted to send him to the county to ask for a reward in red and colorful.

Unexpectedly, Li Kui was recognized by Li Gui's mother-in-law, who was watching the excitement, and told the local Li Zheng. After Li Zheng knew that Li Kui was a rebel from Liangshan, he conspired with Cao Taigong to get Li Kui drunk, tied him up, and was about to be escorted to the county.

As a result, on the way, the two brothers Zhu Fu and Zhu Gui designed and rescued Li Kui. Li Kui killed Cao Taigong, Li Gui's wife, Li Zheng, Zhuang Ke, Orion and the county escort soldiers and dozens of people in one go.

Therefore, if Ximen Qing hadn't come across, I don't know how many people in Cao Taigong's village would have been brutally murdered by Li Kui.Ximen Qing came to eat this Mr. Cao at this moment, he really felt at ease!

During the banquet, Ximen Qing chatted with Cao Taigong all over the world for a while, and then led the conversation to the customs and mountains and rivers of Yizhou.Ximenqing said to Cao Taigong: "Grandpa, I think this Yiling is really a twilight smog across the distant mountains, with Suwu's strange peaks, high mountains and dense forests, geese flying and deer walking. It is a beautiful scenery! I think this mountain is also rich in produce. , the old man’s Zhuangzi has chosen a treasured land of geomantic omen!”

Hearing this, Cao Taigong sighed and said, "Hey~ Don't lie to the officials of Ximen, although Yiling behind my village is good, but there are a few big insects on the mountain, which often harm people's lives and the livestock in the village, but let me like this The people in the ten miles and eight villages will not be at peace."

really!I got rid of Li Kui, the murderous maniac who killed innocent people indiscriminately, but also caused a few tigers on Yiling to survive, making waves on this mountain and harming the mountain people.Come here this time, and make up for the gaps caused by yourself, which can be regarded as eliminating harm for the people!Ximen Qing thought to himself.

The reason why Ximenqing came to Cao Taigong's house was mainly for the tigers on Yiling Mountain, and he didn't want these tigers to do more evil because he changed history.

After hearing Cao Taigong's words, Ximenqing asked again: "Old Grandpa, the big insects on the mountain are harmful to people, and the government here doesn't take care of it?"

Cao Taigong said: "Master Ximen, my Yishui County is located between two mountains. The land is barren, and the villagers mostly rely on the mountains to make a living. There are big insects on this mountain, which has a great impact on the livelihood of the people. How can the government ignore it?" The county magistrate of Yishui County offered a reward of several thousand pieces to the hunters in this village to hunt and kill the big worms within a limited time. A nest of bows and arrows shot one big worm to death. There were two or three other big worms that could not be killed, and the hunters ate a lot of sticks for this."

"Old man, the three of my brothers are all brave men in the Jianghu. If you don't know about this matter, since you know that there are big insects in Yiling behind your village today, you should help and get rid of you and other villagers. This is a great harm. Please call some hunters to come and talk." Ximen Qing said to Cao Taigong.

Chapter 497 False Whirlwind Li Gui

The red sun rises high from the east and shines on Yiling Mountain in late autumn. The east of the mountain is already red, but the shade in the west of the mountain is still lingering with cold air.

Shi Jin pretended to be a passer-by by himself, with a burden on his back, and climbed up the mountain road from the west of the mountain with a whistle stick in his hand. As he was walking, he saw a big man turning behind a big tree in front of him, and shouted to Shi Jin: " Wu that white-faced man will leave money to buy the road, so as not to snatch the package."

Good thief!Sure enough, he showed up!But it depends on whether you really do the business of killing people and stealing goods.Shi Jin saw that the man was holding two broad axes in his hands, and he was smearing black ink on his face, and he thought to himself that this thief must be the Li Gui that Brother Ximen mentioned, and let me try him.Shi Jin made up his mind and yelled at the big man: "In broad daylight, the sky is bright, what kind of bird are you? How dare you cut the path here!"

The big man grinned strangely and said, "If you ask me my name, it will scare your heart. The master is called Black Xuanfeng. If you leave the money for the road and wrap it up, your life will be spared and you will be allowed to pass."

"Black whirlwind? Which black whirlwind are you?" Shi Jin asked in feigned surprise.

"The master is Li Kui, who lives in Dongdiandong, Yishui County, and kills without batting an eyelid, 'Black Whirlwind' Li Kui! If you don't pay for the road, you will have to eat two axes from the master!" The big man swung his ax with a fierce look in his eyes.

This village idiot, his news is so closed, he didn't even know that Li Kui had died in Jiangzhou long ago, and he was still using the name "Black Whirlwind" to scare people here.Ximen Qing, who was hiding in the dark, couldn't help shaking his head.

But after thinking about it again, Ximenqing understood that in the Song Dynasty without radio, television, and the Internet, the transmission of information was very slow, and it was not the kind of event that shocked the world. How could it reach the ears of these villagers? .

Li Kui was killed by himself by sowing dissension before the Liangshan robbers robbed the Jiangzhou court. Not to mention his death was silent, and far from being spectacular.Therefore, the news of Li Kui's death is indeed rarely known and disseminated.From this point of view, it is reasonable for Li Gui not to know the current situation of Li Kui who murdered and fled Yizhou for more than ten years.

"You bird man, don't lie to me. I heard that 'Black Whirlwind' Li Kui was beheaded by the government for breaking the law. Could it be that your bird's head can grow back?" Shi Jin said to the man. the big man asked.

Li Kui is dead?Hearing what Shi Jin said, the big man was also startled, and took two steps back.But after he glanced at Shi Jin again, his eyes suddenly showed murderous intent, and he said in his mouth: "No one else knows that Li Kui is dead, how dare you talk nonsense here? The master doesn't tell you. If I kill you today, who knows Li Kui is dead?" Dead or alive?"

"Are you a bird man, do you want to kill someone to silence you?" Shi Jin swung the whistle stick in his hand, took two steps back, and looked at the big man vigilantly.

"Hehe~ It's you who are ignorant of current affairs. Don't blame the master for being ruthless. Wherever you go, you will take the master's axe!" The big man mistakenly thought that Shi Jin was afraid, so he swung his ax and chopped at Shi Jin.

What kind of hero is "Nine Pattern Dragon" Shi Jin?After he learned martial arts from Wang Jin, he was able to fight alone with "Hua Monk" Lu Zhishen for dozens of rounds. How could he be afraid of such a thief who cut the path and robbed the road?

Seeing the big man rushing forward to attack, Shi yelled in his mouth, "Good time!" He waved his whistle stick and fought with the man.

The big man was just a villager who was proficient in martial arts, so he could withstand Shi Jin there, but Shi Jin knocked down the two axes in his hand with just three or two moves.If Ximen Qing hadn't told him to keep the bird man for other purposes, Shi Jin would have smashed the bird's head with a stick.

Seeing that Shi Jin, a white-faced gentleman, was so brave, the big man cried out bitterly, but when he turned to leave, he heard Shi Jin yell loudly "Where are you going!"

The big man didn't care about the pain, and crawled into the grass on both hands and feet, but Shi Jin stepped on his back, stepped on a hungry dog ​​grabbing shit, buried his head in the grass, and ate a mouthful of dead branches and leaves.

Shi Jin yelled: "What a bird thief, with such low skills, he dares to rob the master! Do you recognize the hero Jiu Wenlong from Shaanxi?"

The big man lay down on the ground and shouted: "Grandpa Jiu Wenlong, my son recognizes grandpa very well, spare your life!"

Shi Jin spat: "Bah! My lord, I am Jiuzhilong Shijin, who is well-known in the world. Where did you come from such a useless son and grandson? It doesn't matter if you are a black whirlwind or a white whirlwind, under my lord's stick, you are a lost dog! You Who is this guy, how come he pretends to be a dead ghost to bluff people?"

The big man said: "Although the villain's surname is Li, he is not a real black whirlwind. Because there is a black whirlwind in this county, Li Kui, who likes to kill people. He has some names in the world. When his name is mentioned, even gods and ghosts are afraid. Therefore, the villain embezzles The name of Li Kui, a fellow countryman, cut the path here indiscriminately. But a lonely guest passed by, and after hearing the word "Hei Xuanfeng", he left his luggage and ran away. He did not dare to harm others by using this interest. Villain My humble name is Li Gui, and I only live in Qiancun. The villain really doesn't know that Li Kui is dead, so I show off to grandpa, and I hope grandpa will forgive me."

This guy is indeed Li Gui, the Yiling bandit that Brother Ximenqing was looking for!It was really effortless.Shi Jin saw that Ximen Qing who was following behind him hadn't shown up yet, obviously he still wanted to watch a play, so he continued to scare Li Gui and said, "Master is a hero who can't see the sand in his eyes, and I hate villains like you the most in my life. You bird How dare a person pretend to be that hero of the rivers and lakes to snatch people's luggage here? Since it hits the master's hands, don't blame yourself for suffering, and take a blow from the master!"

Shi Jin raised his whistle stick to strike, but Li Gui hurriedly shouted, "Grandpa, spare me! If Grandpa kills me once, he will kill me twice."

Shi Jin heard this, stopped his hands and asked: "How can I kill you one, but kill you two?"

Li Gui said: "The villain didn't dare to cut the path. Because there is a 90-year-old mother in the family, no one supports him, so the villain is here to use the name of the black whirlwind Li Kui to scare people, grab some single parcels, and support them." Old mother. In fact, I never dared to harm anyone. Now that grandpa kills the villain, the old mother must be killed by starvation."

"Oh! Such a filial son, how can he be killed? Brother sticks to keep someone!" Ximen Qing held back a smile and rushed up from behind, pretending to dissuade Shi Jin.

"Ah~ this grandpa is right! I beg grandpa to spare the villain's life!" Seeing that there were people behind Shi Jin, Li Gui was first surprised, then overjoyed, and hurriedly begged for mercy according to Ximen Qing's words.

"Brother, did you just let this bird man go so easily?" Shi Jin said unwillingly.

"I think this guy is a local. Since he dared to cut a path on this mountain, he must be familiar with the terrain of this Yiling. Why don't you let this guy take the blame and make meritorious service, and accompany me to go to Yiling." Ximen Qing said.

Hearing Ximen Qing's words, Li Gui saw that he had a chance to survive, and hurriedly volunteered to confess: "Grandfathers are going to Yiling? The villain is willing to lead the way! The villain grew up at the foot of Yiling Mountain since he was a child. Every plant and tree is in the heart of the villain. It is difficult for the two grandfathers to find someone who is more familiar with Yiling than the villain in these ten miles and eight towns. The villain is willing to lead the way for the grandfathers!"

Chapter 498 The Regret of the Butterfly Effect

"Since it's my brother who begged for you, I have the right to spare your life! If you don't try your best to do things for us, the master is ruthless!" Shi Jin raised the foot that was stepping on Li Gui, and stepped back. He took two steps and looked at Li Gui coldly.

Li Gui got up from the ground in embarrassment, bowed his hands, and kept thanking Shi Jin and Ximen Qing for not killing them.

"Don't make any more noise, you bird man, and disturb the quietness of the master's ears. Just follow me and wait, the master has your place. Help the masters to do good things today, why don't the master spare your dog's life." Shi Jin kicked He kicked Li Gui and let him take the lead to walk forward.

At this time, from behind Ximen Qing, another twenty or thirty big men came out in a mixed manner, all armed with knives and guns, carrying strong bows and crossbows, and followed Ximen Qing all the way up.

Hearing the noise, Li Gui turned his head and saw so many tough men, he cried out in his heart.Xindao didn't know where this group of people was, but it seemed that they were not kind.How can I be so miserable that I can snatch their heads!

Li Gui wondered why the white-faced gentleman next to him deliberately walked in front alone to lure him to rob him.It seemed that he knew that he was cutting the path on this mountain road.I don't know why these heroes in the rivers and lakes are staring at me, Li Gui?

Li Gui buried his head on the road with unease in his heart, and dared not do anything different under Shi Jin's threat.How did he know that after Ximen Qing asked the Orion and the villagers about Li Gui's residence in Cao Taigong Manor, he had already secretly monitored him.

Ximen Qing and Shi Jin had already seen clearly that Li Gui went up the mountain to rob this road today.Shi Jin deliberately pretended to be a lone traveler, so that Li Gui threw himself into the trap.

Half an hour later, Ximen Qing and Shi Jin led people to escort Li Gui up to a mountain. Li Gui secretly wondered, why did these two heroes take me the way back to my house?

Just when Li Gui was in doubt, Ximen Qing and others stopped on the ridge. Dozens of people sat on the rocks in twos and threes to rest, and there was no sign of hurrying on their way.Li Gui lowered his head and squatted under a big tree, his eyes flickered, and he didn't know what he was thinking about.

After everyone rested for a while, they heard some noises on the road ahead, and after a while, they saw Yanqing, the "prodigal son", climbing up the ridge with a group of 20 people.

Ximen Qing met Shi Jin, got up and went forward.After catching Yan Qing on the road, Ximen Qing asked in a low voice: "Brother Yan Qing, have you verified the rumors about the Li Gui couple?"