After leaving the sea in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, the situation on the water became as tense as the rumors said.
It may be because of the White Lotus Rebellion and the assassination of Prince Su that occurred one after another from the south, or it may be that the imperial court has noticed the strange atmosphere in the Changbai Mountain area recently.
Anyway, the number of patrol ships is gradually increasing, which is a fact visible to the naked eye.
This is when coastal defense maps came into play.
On weekdays, cargo ships and cruise ships pass by any place on the sea, and they occasionally bump into official ships a few times, but they just treat it as a chance encounter.
In fact, it was because they drove into the defense zone that the imperial court had planned long ago.
However, the situation was not tense at that time, and the two sides did not even pass each other, so the sailors who came and went did not take it seriously and did not record it.
Nowadays, every ship passing from Jiangning to the sea outside Jinmen will be strictly interrogated and investigated by the court, which makes those places no longer as accessible as before.
Of course, if you have legal procedures, at most you will be blackmailed by the sailors, and you will still be able to pass through this area after all.
As for Sea Dog, he has all other abilities, but the only thing he can't do is legal procedures.
This means that once they are hit by an official ship, they may not be able to avoid being shelled.
This would not be the first case of this kind of thing. He had already heard similar information from other colleagues before.
The navy treated all boats that were stowaways or ships transporting contraband equally, catching those who refused to run and throwing them into prison, while those that escaped were directly fired upon and sunk.
The water turned into a big sieve, blocking all illegal activities.
"Fortunately, Emperor, you got this secret blueprint, otherwise we might have fed the fish by now."
The fur seal marveled at this coastal defense map.
"Otherwise, give me this blueprint? You won't need it anyway."
"Are you so sure this is genuine?" Yin Xiu asked.
"It's obvious whether it's true or not. If it were false, we would have been caught by now."
"Could it be that we just happened to not bump into them?" Liu Banxian asked, touching his chin.
"It's not impossible."
Sea Dog scratched his head, "However, there is such a drawing right now. Even if it is only half correct, as long as you don't bump into it, it is still correct."
"It makes sense."
Although the seal's judgment method is too rough, it is very practical.
Instead of doubting its authenticity or perfection, it is better to use it in a down-to-earth manner.
And Jieyuan wouldn't bring a fake blueprint around to harm others.
From this point of view, even if this drawing is imperfect and has any flaws, it is still the best reference information for now.
The seal looked relieved anyway.
"Anyway, I haven't encountered anything so far. I'm really lucky. The sailors in Jiangning are different from those elsewhere. They are brave and good at fighting, and they are also very alert. The most important thing is that they are a bunch of bastards with a bottom line."
"Is there a bottom line? Or a bastard?" Liu Banxian couldn't help but be curious.
"Well, he is a bastard, and he is a very difficult bastard to deal with.
For the gangsters on the road, it is definitely more difficult to deal with those who have no bottom line, because they are crazy and do not follow the rules.
But officers and soldiers are different. On the contrary, these people in uniform have no bottom line, which means that these people are not controlled and bound by rules. It is easy to bribe them.
Once these people talk about the bottom line with you, it will be difficult, and Jiangning's sailors are bastards who talk about the bottom line.
Although the sailors in Jiangning also collect black money, hey, who would have trouble with money, right? Of course they charge it, otherwise they would only have to pay so little military pay for a month?
But, I heard this story from a colleague.
In fact, in addition to Changsha, Ship King Li also has an apprentice named Hongpao.
He is different from Chang Shan. Chang Shan sinks several ships a year. As for him, he never fails.
Whether you are going to Siam or Malaysia, bringing people or goods, your mission is guaranteed.
A few years ago, he transported a shipload of supplies to the White Lotus Sect from south to north, and the foreign goods were opened up and the joints were opened all the way, so that they could flow unimpeded.
As a result, they arrived on the water in Jiangning and were stopped by these sailors.
With the support of the ghost guy, Hongpao was not afraid of the sailors, so he explained to them exactly what he was transporting.
Of course, he also followed the rules and respected those who should be respected. He told these sailors that as long as you let me go, the money will be yours.
As a result, the sailors said that the money that was used to destroy you is also ours. ”
"Ouch!"
Liu Banxian was surprised and said: "Is it really broken?"
"Otherwise, why do you think everyone now only knows about long gowns and has never mentioned red robes or green robes?" Sea Dog's face was complicated.
"This is the first time I have heard of such a strange sailor. He is just doing a part-time job. Why are you so serious?"
"It's not that they like to be serious."
Ren Qi suddenly interrupted, "It was the Governor of Liangjiang, Di Jie, who forced them to be serious. He was born in the navy and was selfless. The most important thing is the discipline of the sailors.
Under his hands, other military and military offices were ruined, and nothing could happen to the sailors, because that was his family's fortune and his appearance.
When he first took office in Jiangning, he almost wiped out all the sailors in Jiangning and killed hundreds of people. Only then did the sailors become completely different. ”
"He is also a ruthless person."
Yin Xiu glanced at him and said, "Are you so familiar with this person?"
"Of course it's cooked."
Ren Qi snorted coldly, "He and I are classmates in the martial arts hall.
Oh, the martial arts hall was the place where the imperial court practiced kung fu and learned the art of war. ”
"Then why did Di Jie become the governor of Liangjiang and you?"
Liu Banxian stopped talking mid-sentence, obviously referring to the huge difference in status between the two.
One is one of the nine feudal officials in the empire, and the other is just one of the commanders of the great masters in the empire.
"I know what you want to say, so what's so weird about it?"
Ren Qi didn't take it seriously, "In the same village, there are still people who herd cattle all their lives, and some people have become emperors.
I have a good relationship with him and know that he is good at leading troops in war. As for me, I only know how to wield a knife, so I would be good as a commander. ”
"Oh, you are quite reasonable."
Just as Liu Banxian was about to say a few more words, Sea Dog suddenly squeezed away from him and came up to hold Ren Qi's hand.
Regardless of Ren Qi's face being extremely disgusted when his hand was held, Sea Dog flattered him: "Brother Gaoshou, I've known since you boarded the ship that you are extraordinary and noble. If you have a classmate like this, why didn't you tell me earlier? What?
From now on, when I walk on the ground in Jiangning, I will rely on you to kick your name. Not to mention the sea, even on land, I will walk sideways. ”
"Okay."
Ren Qi glanced at him coldly, "Your courage is indeed worthy of admiration for mentioning the name of an imperial prisoner to others."
When the sea dog heard this, the hair on his body stood up. He quickly took his hand back and hid behind him as if nothing happened.
Yin Xiu just stood aside and found it funny.
"Don't laugh, I heard that he has a close relationship with Prince Su.
The position of governor of Liangjiang was recommended by Prince Su despite all opinions. ”
"According to what you said, wouldn't he become my mortal enemy?" Yin Xiu said.
"It is absolutely possible. Although the news of Prince Su's death was covered up, some people said that he walked ashore from the pier in a swagger and appeared in Shanghai the next day.
But his death was witnessed by the three of us together, and there is absolutely no mistake.
I don’t know how the imperial court covered up the news of this death, but as the governor of Liangjiang, Di Jie will definitely react to the assassination of Prince Su, and it is very likely that he will find out about us.
Maybe he has received a secret message and will come to hunt us down. "Whose secret message?" ”
"Of course it belongs to the Holy Son."
Ren Qi's eyes were cold, "Prince Su's death has not been announced, I'm afraid he did something.
In this case, it does not seem to be difficult to write a secret letter to the Governor of Liangjiang. ”
"Hey, it's no big deal."
Sea Dog waved his hand, "Even if he really sent a message by flying pigeon, by the time that Di Jie comes to find us, we will have already left far away.
And with the two of you here, isn't it all a matter of one sword for the Governor of Liangjiang and the Governor of Sanjiang? ”
"Do you really think it's that simple?"
Ren Qi sneered, "Di Jie, he was already the grand master of the ninth level of Xuan Guan seven years ago."
The seal was immediately startled.
He is also good at boxing and kicking. He has fought against Yin Xiu in the Kowloon boxing ring, so he naturally knows what the concept of the ninth level of Xuanguan is. It is a high mountain that makes people look up.
Yin Xiu still didn't take it seriously. Mokong of Hongde Temple was also on the ninth level of the Mysterious Entrance and was killed by him.
Seemingly seeing through Yin Xiu's thoughts, Ren Qi added: "Di Jie's ninth level of the entrance is not a Taoist or monk's state of enlightenment, which is like a tower in the air.
He is a martial artist, he is steadfast and can practice sword and spear. It is not that simple. ”
"A high-ranking official with a high position and great authority in a feudal territory can have such terrifying martial arts skills?" Liu Banxian simply couldn't believe it.
Somehow, in his understanding, it was impossible for those senior civil servants and military officers to have too high a level of cultivation.
Because of the trivial matters in the world, it is rare for these people to take time off to practice. A few useful protective moves are considered diligent.
"It was originally like this. But the last governor of Liangjiang was assassinated in the street as soon as he took office.
It is said that the assassin is also related to the White Lotus Sect, and we have been investigating this for some time.
Although he was executed Lingchi in the end, it also brought shame to the court.
How unbecoming is it for a high-ranking official to be assassinated by an unknown soldier?
Therefore, my classmate was appointed as a ninth-grade grandmaster. Under heavy protection, who could touch him?
Even those old guys from the White Lotus Sect would probably have to consider whether it was a good deal to be willing to sacrifice their lives to assassinate a governor of Liangjiang. ”
"So, he became the governor of Liangjiang just because he could fight?"
"Hey, what did you say?"
Ren Qi snorted again, "Do you think you are the top candidate in martial arts? You are the top pick in martial arts. In addition to riding, archery and weightlifting, you also have to test the art of war and strategy.
You wouldn't choose someone who can't even write your own name, right?
Di Jie, he is the most intelligent among martial artists, and the most capable of fighting among intelligent people. ”
"That's the so-called civil and military skills." Liu Banxian shook his head.
"What, are you scared?"
Ren Qi suddenly looked at Yin Xiu with interest.
Yin Xiu grinned, "What are you afraid of? You can't turn around and leave now, right?"
……
"The sky is spirited, the earth is spirited, the Supreme Lord will appear soon..."
On the bow of the boat, an old man who was blind in one eye spread his hands, and a few copper coins immediately fell from his palms.
"How about it, Mr. He?"
A questioning voice came from behind the curtain, low and majestic.
The old man immediately turned around, knelt down and said, "Sir, I'm sure the assassin is in the southwest, exactly in the direction our ship's bow is facing."
"Very good."
The voice inside was still very calm and asked again: "Are you sure it's the assassin?"
"Sir, the common people have been doing divination for a long time, and the neighbors have given it the nickname He Zhenren, which means that he is only one step away from being a half-immortal. In the past thirty years, he has made over 10,000 divination, looking for people and things, fortune and bad fortune, and the feng shui of the Yangzhai. The blessings of Yinzhai never go wrong, nothing is left out!
And..."
"Say!"
"Yes."
The old man lowered his head and lowered his voice.
"Furthermore, according to Prince Su's secret letter, the assassin was the one who assassinated Prince Su. He was contaminated with the king's aura at close range, and even more so, he made a fierce light and brought evil when he hit. I am afraid that such a person has been killed in Jiuzhou in the past five years. There is only one, you can’t go wrong.”
"Very good."
After a pause, a finger with a black ring finger stretched out from behind the curtain and waved to him.
"Come here."
"Yes!"
He Zhenren knelt on the deck and moved towards the curtain step by step.
He didn't stop until his face was touched by the corner of the curtain, still not looking up.
"There is something I want to ask you. I hope you will answer it seriously."
"My lord, feel free to ask, the common people dare not deceive you."
"Okay!"
From inside the curtain, the hand suddenly came out and gently pinched He Zhenren's neck, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.
"A few days ago, I had a dream about Prince Su. It was very strange."
"My lord, I think about you every day and dream about you at night. Maybe I miss you too much." He Zhenren said in a low voice.
"Wrong!"
The hand increased its strength slightly, and five fingerprints immediately appeared on He Zhenren's neck.
"Growing up, I have never dreamed."
"That might be..." He Zhenren was sweating profusely.
"I only want to ask you one thing. If you know, tell me. If you don't know, don't tell. Don't answer randomly. I don't like to hear auspicious words, and I don't like others to lie to me."
"Yes, sir, please say it!"
"Shh, keep your voice down."
The hand holding his neck relaxed a little, "Let me ask you, has Prince Su been assassinated and died in the devil's capital?"
"But, you also received a secret letter from Prince Su."
"That's why I'm asking you this. Whether it's the handwriting, seal or code, there's nothing wrong with that secret letter. But it's because it's so accurate that I became so suspicious."
"Sir, then I..."
"You can just do the math and it doesn't matter if you finish the math."
"Yes..."
Master He nervously counted his fingers, calculating the most frightening hexagram in his life.
After a long time, he said in a trembling voice: "Prince Su, he has passed away."
The hand holding his neck couldn't help but tighten, causing He Zhenren to blush instantly.
Just when he thought he was certain to die, the hand retracted into the curtain.
"Sorry."
(End of chapter)