Bachelor

457 - Shocking Wind
Where is the main altar of the Cao Gang? "Sun Dan suddenly felt a headache.

As far as he knows, although the Cao Gang is a quack gang, it is not a gangster.If you really want to make an analogy, it is somewhat similar to the guilds in the European Middle Ages, which is a society of porters and boatmen on the Grand Canal.Daily work for merchant ships and bodyguards.

The Cao Gang has [-] members, mostly landless peasants and urban residents along the Grand Canal.The organization is loose and the personnel are mixed. It is not a political and economic force worthy of attention.

Otherwise, with China's highly centralized political society, this kind of civil power that is out of government control would have been completely wiped out by the violent state agencies.

As a matter of fact, the local governments have to rely on the power of the Cao Gang in many places when administering policies, such as disaster relief, water transportation, and taxation, all of which require the help of the Cao Gang.

There are many people in the Cao Gang who are low-level poor people. However, once they reach the level of gang leader, elder, and hall leader, even if they play with two hands, they will earn tens of thousands of taels a year.Many leading figures of the Cao Gang built houses, bought land, and bought shops in their hometowns. They became big landlords and merchants, and they also walked on the scene.

Therefore, it is not like the gangsters in the martial arts novels that Sun Dan has read before, who choose a fixed location to set up a mountain.If that's the case, it's an open confrontation with the imperial court, and naturally it's impossible to die.Speaking of which, what gang is more powerful than the national power?
Hearing Sun Dan's question, Han Yue replied: "The people who talk about the Cao Gang are all prominent figures in the local area, and they live in Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Wuxi, Huai'an, and Xuzhou."

As a former spy chief of Jinyi Sanitation, Han Yue also used his previous connections before coming to Huainan to collect a lot of information on Jiangnan.

"The current leader of the Cao Gang, surnamed Wang Minggu, is in his early forties and is now operating shipping in Zhenjiang."

Sun Dan was a little irritable: "Zhenjiang, is it embarrassing for you to let me go to Zhenjiang for a day. Let me ask you, where is Fenghuolong now?"

Knowing that Sun Dan was anxious, Han Yue quickly replied: "If you talk about this Fenghuolong, he is from Huai'an, the oldest elder of the Cao Gang, and has a high prestige. He is Wang Gu's uncle. Master Wang Gu passed away that year. He was supposed to be the head of the gang when he was born. It's a pity that this person is cruel and narrow-minded. The Cao Gang finally chose Wang Gu, who treats people generously, as the leader. For this reason, Feng Huolong has always been dissatisfied. His house is located in Thirty miles away from Huai'an City is Fengjiazhuang. Fenghuolong is a master of swordsmanship, and it is said that Gan Bida also sparred with him when he came to Huai'an, and the match was a draw."

"I know this, otherwise I wouldn't tell Mr. Yang Ge that I got the evidence within a day. What I want to ask is whether Fenghuolong is in Zhuangzi now, and whether his four apprentices are also there. There. Only when they are wiped out can Wang Shu and Gan Bida be convicted.”

Han Yuedao: "Master, you don't have to worry. I heard that tomorrow is Fenghuolong's 59th birthday, and a birthday banquet will be held in Zhuangzi. At that time, all the altar owners of the Cao Gang will come to celebrate his birthday. At that time, he and his All four apprentices will be there."

Sun Dan was overjoyed: "That's good, no one can escape."

Han Yue: "My lord, the Cao Gang are all desperadoes, why don't we send the troops of Dahewei to destroy them?"

Sun Dan pondered for a moment: "The army must be mobilized. However, the Cao Gang has a large number of people. If they go rashly and suppress everyone they see, the impact will be too bad. Besides, we don't know each of the five people. If they arrive Time to get rid of one person, things will be troublesome."

Han Yue: "It's time to find someone who knows the five people to recognize them."

Sun Dan's heart moved: "I have an idea. Doesn't Fang Wei know a person named Xiaodao from the Cao Gang? That person is also the apprentice of the gang leader Wang Yong. He should know Fenghuolong and the others. In this way, you and I still have Fang Wei advanced. Zhuangzi looked for a small knife and asked Dahewei's soldiers to station outside the village, under the banner of fireworks, when the time came, he ordered Zhuangzi to be surrounded and captured."

Han Yue was shocked: "Master, you have a noble status, how can you take risks yourself."

Sun Dan: "What are you afraid of? I'm just going in to recognize people, not to fight. I'll just hide aside." Although with Sun Dan's character, he would definitely not go to such a dangerous thing.However, this matter is really important, it is better to stay there personally.The big deal is to show your status as an imperial envoy at that time. I don't believe that they dare to offend me, a high-ranking member of the imperial court. Aren't they afraid of being punished by the three clans?

The matter was settled like this, but for the sake of insurance, Han Yue still asked Sun Dan to put on the golden rope soft armor sent by the Shanxi businessman.It is said that this soft armor was bought from merchants in the Western Regions. In order to please Sun Dan, the old Xier spent hundreds of taels of silver.

This soft armor is very thin, but not light, weighing about thirty catties, it is really uncomfortable to wear on the body.It is said to be a golden cable armor, but it is actually an armor made of countless steel rings, with human hair mixed in the middle.Because the blond hair of the barbarian is used, the whole dress looks golden and very beautiful.

But when Sun Dan thought that these hairs were all cut from the heads of white women, he felt a little terrified.However, for my own safety, I endured my nausea and put it on.

He also tried this dress before, and it was really invulnerable to cold weapons. Of course, if he touched a musket, he couldn't do anything about it.However, muskets are strictly controlled by the state, and private ownership of muskets is a serious crime of treason, and the Cao Gang doesn't have such a thing.

In this way, Sun Dan felt relieved.

As for Fang Wei, when Sun Dan said that Wang Shu and Gan Bida had been detained, he was very moved.When Sun Dan told him to look for the knife, it was naturally his duty to do so.As long as she can avenge her father, she is not afraid of anything.

Early in the morning of the second day, Sun Dan took Fang Wei and Han Yue by boat to Fengjiazhuang.In the reed marsh six miles away from Fengjiazhuang, two hundred heavily armed soldiers of Dahewei had been lying in ambush for a long time, waiting for the signal of fireworks, they would go out and surround Zhuangzi.

Han Yue didn't know that Fang Wei was a daughter, even if he knew, he would pretend not to know.

The three of them just sat in a small boat and walked forward in silence.There are many small boats on the water along the way. The people on the boats are all strong and dressed as Jianghu people. At first glance, they look like people from the Cao Gang who went to Fenghuolong to pay their birthday wishes.

After the boat traveled for a long time, there was a big Zhuangzi by the river a few miles ahead, full of prosperity.The boatman pointed to the Zhuangzi and said, "That's the mansion of Lord Fenghuolongfeng."

Sun Dan praised in his heart, this Fenghuolong is really rich.If we take him this time, it would be a great thing to copy Fengfu and use it for disaster relief.

There are more and more boats, and the small river is also crowded.

Sun Dan gave Fang Wei a wink, and Fang Wei understood, and asked a small boat next to him, "Excuse me, is Xiaodao here today?" Her voice was very clear, and it spread far away.

Before the person on the nearby boat could answer, a voice came: "Who is looking for me, who is looking for me?"

Looking for the sound, he saw a fifteen or sixteen-year-old young man standing at the bow of the boat two boats away.

This person is very strong, probably walking on water all year round, his skin has been tanned by the wind and sun, and his mouth is open, revealing his white teeth.He is wearing a beautiful silk shirt today, but for some reason, it always gives people a feeling of incongruity.

"Ha, scholar, so it's you!" Xiaodao found out that it was Fang Wei, and laughed loudly: "Why, I can't get along anymore, and I want to have a meal here with my uncle Feng Taishi? Don't you scholars want face? Can you do this kind of thing?"

Hearing his disgusting words, Fang Wei blushed with anger, and coughed violently again.

After a long time, he wiped away the saliva coughed up from the corner of his mouth, and said angrily, "Who is begging?"

Sun Dan shook his head unconsciously: This is just a child who is in the rebellious period.

"Oh, I'm not asking for words. You're a student. Our Caobang are all living on the water. We can't fight anywhere. What are you doing here..." Before he finished speaking, Xiaodao suddenly Shutting up, his eyes fell on Han Yue behind him, his eyes were as bright as an unsheathed steel knife: "Who are you?"

Xiaodao's martial arts is not bad, although it is far behind Han Yue and the others, but he hangs out with many good players all year round, and his eyes are more vicious than ordinary people's.

Now, the river is also crowded, boats come and go, and the boats are also swaying ups and downs.But the body of the man with two knives in his back was nailed to the boat like a nail, as stable as if it had been integrated with the boat.This kind of martial arts is considered top-notch in Jianghu.

What is the origin of this person, and why did he come here?
Xiaodao was startled, and unconsciously asked.

"Xiaodao, don't be rude." A deep voice came from behind Xiaodao: "By the boat."

"Yes, master!" Xiaodao nodded, lifted the long wormwood in the boatman's hand and stabbed it fiercely in the water.The boat below him split the waves and came through the gap between the boats, and stopped beside Sun Dan in an instant.

This one-handed sailing skill is really amazing, and Sun Dan's heart shuddered when he heard Xiao Dao call "Master" again: Wang Gu is here, this guy is the biggest underworld leader in the world!
"Bang!" Xiaodao jumped onto Sun Dan's boat like a leopard, probably using a heavy weight under his feet, which shook the boat for a while, and then pierced Han Yue's pupils with sharp eyes.

The people on board were a little shaky.

Han Yue knew that Xiaodao was demonstrating to her, so she stepped hard, but the boat miraculously stopped, a circle of waves spread around the boat, and there was a sound of boats colliding with each other on the river.

"This kid!" Sun Dan smiled wryly in his heart. For some reason, seeing him, Sun Dan only felt kindness for a while, reminding him of the days when he was in middle school.

"Haha, don't be annoyed by Mr. Wei on the boat. The boy is playing badly. It's because of me, the master, who is not strict in discipline." A middle-aged man in an ordinary cotton robe walked over and walked directly to Sun Dan. Clasping hands: "Wang Gu, the lord of the Xiacao Gang, ask for advice."

This person is tall and looks like a very ordinary person, but there is an indescribable vigor all over his body.

Seeing that he found him as soon as he got on the boat, Sun Dan praised him in his heart: This guy has good eyesight and knows who is the real master.

He cupped his hands and said, "Sun Zheng, a silk merchant from Shandong, came to the south to do business. I heard that today is Elder Cao Bangfeng's birthday, so I came here specially to congratulate him. It can be regarded as a good relationship, and it will be convenient to walk on the Grand Canal in the future. It is a great joy to meet Lord Wang now."

But Wang Gu smiled and said: "Mr. Sun is a guest from afar, so you don't have to be so polite. Besides, I think Mr. Sun has an extraordinary appearance, he must be very human. The Cao Gang is just a group of bitter people who are begging on the Grand Canal. If you can know It’s an honor for me to help you, sir, how dare you say something convenient, and you won’t have to laugh at the big teeth of the world.” He has rolled on the river all his life, and he has never seen any kind of person.Seeing that Sun Dan has an extraordinary demeanor, and the way he speaks and behaves when he speaks, his style is greater than that of the magistrate and the governor of Hedao, so he must be an extraordinary person.And look at the man next to him with two knives in his back, he is also a master of martial arts.But beside this person surnamed Sun, he was dressed as a servant.Can the person who can make this kind of domestic slave still be an ordinary merchant?

But what is he running the Grand Canal for?

Therefore, Wang Gu's attitude became respectful.

He smiled and said, "What is the Grand Canal? It's just a small ditch in my eyes. My husband's ambition is in the great river and the sea, but he still thinks highly of our acre of land?"

This is already testing.

Sun Dan naturally refused to say what he came for, pointed at Fang Wei and said: "The boss really thinks highly of me. I am just an ordinary merchant, and I will walk around Huainan in the future. This section of the Grand Canal seems to be in charge of Elder Feng. I This brother Fang is old with your apprentice Xiaodao, and I would like to ask him to introduce him, so that I can get to know Elder Feng. Now that there is a leader here, it is naturally the best."

Wang Gu still refused to relax: "Mr. Sun, your Shandong has produced a very important person in recent years."

"What a big shot."

"Speaking of Shandong, the number one person is of course Donghai Sun Jingyuan. He was the number one scholar in the dynasty. He heard that he was going to be a prime minister in a few years. Now, Mr. Sun is in Huai'an City. Mr. Sun is from Shandong, and his surname happens to be Sun. Could it be People from Huichang Marquis Sun’s family, maybe you are Sun Jingyuan, who came out today for a private visit?”

Sun Dan laughed loudly: "Guangzhu Wang is just joking, if I were Sun Jingyuan, I would come here to visit Elder Feng with Babaer, if I really want to see him, just send a yamen servant over to tell him."

Wang Gu laughed: "But it is true."

While speaking, the boat had already arrived at Fengjiazhuang's own pier, and several people who looked like servants came up to welcome them, and said to Wang Gu, "Master, the master is yelling non-stop."

Wang Guchao Sun Dan cupped his hands: "Mr. Sun, you and I have a very good relationship, and we will have lunch soon. Uncle Feng has already set up a luncheon, and I will invite you to attend later."

Sun Dan nodded: "It's easy to say, easy to say, please help."

When Wang Gulin left, he said to Xiaodao: "Xiaodao, you accompany Mr. Sun and the others. I have important discussions with Uncle Feng, so you don't want to go there."

"Yes." Xiaodao heard the master asked him to entertain Sun Dan and Fang Wei, feeling annoyed in his heart, and his face turned ugly.

Xiaodao led Sun Dan and the three of them to the living room to sit for a while, before they could drink two sips of tea, a family member came over and said, "Brother Xiaodao, the luncheon has begun. The hall masters and distinguished guests of all altars have arrived. Elder Feng and the gang master invite you to go and sit down." .”

"Okay, let's go." Xiaodao gave Fang Weiyi a cold look: "Scholar, let's go, dinner is ready."

Fang Wei turned pale with anger, but Sun Dan didn't care, and got up: "Let's go, let's eat."

When we got to the hall, it was very lively inside, there were at least thirty people, and it seemed that the upper echelons of the entire Cao Gang had come.There are also many people who dress up as local gentry.

After finding an inconspicuous seat and sitting there for a while, Wang Gu and a strong man entered the lobby surrounded by a group of people.

Xiaodao pointed at the strong man and said to Sun Dan: "That is my elder Feng Taishi, and the four people behind him are the four disciples of Elder Feng, Fengdong, Fengnan, Fengxi, and Fengbei."

Sun Dan was amused in his heart: all came from the southeast and the northwest, playing mahjong, a whole Sifanghui.

However, it's a good time that all the rightful masters have arrived, and it's just a matter of time to take them all later.

Thinking of this, Sun Dan gave Han Yue a smile.

Han Yue understood, quietly took out the fireworks, and was about to find a chance to sneak out to set off a signal.

Wang Gu and the others had already sat down, and the Fenghuolong raised his cup: "Brothers in the gang, folks in the local area, Feng has been in Huainan for so many years, thanks to everyone's help, he finally had a safe meal for 50 years. Not much to say, please drink this cup!" After speaking, he drank the wine in the cup.

"Congratulations to the elder!" Everyone raised their glasses and drank the wine.

Sun Dan was about to hold the glass, but heard Han Yue beside him whispering in his ear: "There is something wrong with the wine."

Han Yue, who is a special agent of Jinyiwei, has never seen any kind of quack tricks. She picked up the cup, took a look, and sniffed it, and found something was wrong.

Sun Dan was startled, and quietly poured the glass of wine into his sleeve.

"Okay, okay, he really is a good brother!" Feng Huolong let out a long laugh: "Come again, come again."

He toasted everyone with two cups.

As soon as the three glasses of wine had been drunk, Fang Wei who was beside Sun Dan suddenly uttered a low voice: "My body is so soft!" Before he finished speaking, he tilted his head and fell to the ground.

"Scholar, what's the matter with you?" Xiaodao felt strange, and was about to reach out to pull it, but a numbness hit him, and he staggered and fell to the ground.

"Ten Fragrant Crispy Bone Powder!" Xiaodao yelled.

The hall suddenly became chaotic, and then there were sounds of falling everywhere, and people kept falling to the ground.

"There are traitors!"

"Someone is coming, some one is coming!"

In a short while, the hall was full of people.

Sun Dan and Han Yue gave each other a wink while pretending to fall unconscious.

Only Fenghuolong, the five masters and apprentices, and Wang Gu were still sitting on the chairs.

"Haha!" Fenghuolong laughed loudly, stood up abruptly, looked at Wang Gu who was sitting beside him and shouted: "The lord is so skillful, he can persist until now. It's a pity, it's a pity, I ate the ten fragrant crispy bones If you go down, even a cow can't stand up. Let me see how long you can last?"

Wang Gu's expression remained unchanged, but he shouted: "Uncle Feng, what are you doing? You are highly respected in my Cao Gang, and if you really want to be the leader of this gang, just say it. How dare the nephew dare to snatch this from you?" location?"

Feng Huolong sneered: "I don't care if the gang leader or not, as long as you promise me one thing, the gang leader will naturally be yours. Moreover, my Cao Gang will be more prosperous."

Hearing this, Wang Gu yelled: "Fenghuolong, don't bring up the matter of smuggling salt again. Although our Cao Gang is a gang of rivers and lakes, we can earn coolies' money. For such a business as smuggling salt, we It can't be done."

(End of this chapter)