November.Frosty day. When the sixteen noisy salt trucks were on the road, before dawn, Guan Baye straddled his wheat-colored mule and kicked the road ahead.There is not even a single person in sight on a deserted official road. A layer of thick frost is covering the heads of decaying grass along the way, like white powder on the table of a restaurant. Wheat-colored mules sweep past, leaving behind a road of gray-yellow hooves. On both sides of the official road, there are some willows that have lost their leaves, bare and sparse branches facing the sky. The southeast side is black and blue, and the northwest side is covered with grains of frost flowers that are as white as snow.The bare dawn breeze slid over those dead branches with severe cold, and the whining sound was sharp and miserable, as if trying to break the heart of the hazy sky, the sky was full The gray cloud called the morning glow that was about to burn but not yet burned, the gray was red with purple, it really seemed to be dripping blood.

Hey, I said to the third brother, no one has traveled this road!The short, strong man in the third salt truck spoke with a left-sided voice and half-yin: You can see carefully, the ditch and the cattle marks are all covered with frost, that is to say, Except for Guan Baye, the barley mule, no one took this ghostly road this morning. The axles of the rattling salt cart squeaked and sang together; a group of birds flew low over the white and frost-covered fields, and flew to the wild reeds far away. Ah responded, shrugging the straps on his shoulders. You're smart enough, but it's a pity that you Shier dwarf spoke too late!Tilting his head to the third child, he said with a loud voice: If you are afraid of causing trouble, you said hello to Guan Baye last night, and you only slapped your legs (Yan Xiao's code words, that is, the salt cart.) Interrupt (Yan Xiao's code words, that is, divert the road) .), Guan Baye is a man like him, he is straight in the nest (Yan Xiao’s code words, that is, among his own people.) (Yan Xiao’s code words, that is, he is easy to talk.), and he can’t rely on his legs (Yan Xiao’s code words, that is, order to stop.) to abduct people (Salt owl code words, that is to beat people.).This has already been put on the wilderness, is it possible that you still plan to turn your legs (Yan Xiao coded, that is, turn back and go another way.)?

Hehehe, the big black guy in the fourth car let out a few dry laughs: Shorty Shier, you don't fucking use the flag, did you push the salt truck in broad daylight? !Not to mention sticking a point in the basket (Yan Xiao's code word, that is, a scorpion), and a mouth on the back plate (Salt Xiao's code word, that is, a short gun.), there are dozens of boards stuck all the way on the east road, and you will not be able to fly even if you put your wings on it. Shanggui (Yan Xiao's secret language, referring to the anti-smuggling team in the era of the Beiyang warlords.), stretched out a dick and dripped your dick (Salt Xiao's idiomatic, meaning to make a hollow salt stick with a blade cut through the salt bag.), you are not white Flip both eggs (i.e. eyes)? !

Fuck you!Big bear.Shorty Shi Er became angry: If someone else said this, I would cut off his stature (Yan Xiao coded, referring to the spine.).Although I, Shi Er, am not tall, I have never been short when I was in trouble (Yan Xiao whispered, short hands surrendered.).I also paid their meat tax for the fire in Gongjiaba (Yan Xiao coded, referring to disembowelling.). That's right, hehe, the big bear is so meek: You, Shi Er, are not really short, and others pull your legs straight, so why should you be careful? ! That's not the way to say it!Shorty Shi Er said: We are always messing around in the way. As the saying goes, bachelors are not in the way of making money.

What are you doing with that bandit leader?He frowned his thick eyebrows like a knife and said to the third child: Do they all go their own ways?When we smuggle salt, it's all about opening our mouths, and we use the white silver ocean as a belt for our trousers, and Judge Zhu Si doesn't like to squint.Judge Zhu Si committed the case, and we never intervened to overthrow him.We pass by the reed marshes, is it possible that we also have to send money for the road? ! Cough, I said Xiang Laosan, you are really getting further and further away.Shorty Shi Er sighed: In Yangjiao Town, don't you hear the wind? !The fourth judge has already made it clear that if we want to roll up Wanjialou in Dangnan in the days ahead, we are just making an analogy: for example, let's make a salt cart to lean on Wanjialou tonight, and it just so happens that the fourth judge rolls over. embarrassing?Let's smack our tongues and show our talents, which side should we help? !Maybe it's like Wu Dalang's tricks are not enough at both ends.That's why I said, Guan Ba ​​Ye has always been good at doing things, but this case alone, my brothers don't admire.

You can relax about this matter, and leave it to Guan Baye to take care of it himself!The eyes and eyebrows of the big bear are all loose: we don’t matter where we put our legs, just roll away (the code word of Yan Xiao, that is, bet.) Ours, no matter who comes, we will all face him with water (the code word of Yan Xiao, that is, wine, For Mizuko, it’s clinking glasses.).Don't look at him as the four judges. If he wants to force Wanjialou, it won't be so easy. In the hands of brothers Wanshibao and Wanshiye, there are at least 400 tough guys. His four judges will come tonight, and we are just listening to the firecrackers.

The sun has probably come out, the thick clouds are frozen, there is not even a crack, and the plain is wild and vast, showing an extremely wide heaven.The sixteen salt carts crawled like a line of ants under the leaden gray gloomy sky; such a huge and cold sky was like a terrible round iron shield, covering the desolation and depression of a wilderness.Faced with such a long distance, the hidden difficulties and dangers on the long distance, the endless rain, snow, wind and frost, people seem to become insignificant in their self-consciousness. The salt cart creaked and wailed, how many drops of blood fell in the clouds behind it, and it was also stained with ashes and cold; the dead branches covered with frost were pale ghosts, on both sides of the rolling wheel As it rotates, the wind can't move anything, leaving only a hollow humming, which makes people feel mesmerized.

The ring salt truck just pushed past it all the way. The barley mule stepped on the frost and walked away. Guan Baye tied the soft leather rein in a knot and put it on the barley mule's short mane, so that it knew its own way.This mighty animal didn't pay attention to the desolation of the road. A few years ago, it walked through the Guandong Road on a hunchback with Guan Baye, and it didn't wither after thousands of miles; The waist strength has not yet been fully developed, but now the waist bones are hard and the fat is full, and it looks more and more energetic to drive a long distance.It is so handsome, with a skeleton that is as tall as a tall Mengma. Its body is covered with short wheat-red hairs, lying densely like a paintbrush, shining full of light; the sword-sharpened ears are thin and long, sensitive Lively shaking the cable to listen to the wind.

Are you talking about a rough road?In fact, it is not as barren as the Kanto Snow Fields. Across the plains, at the very far end of the sky where the sky and clouds meet, you can still see some forest barriers. The dark brown curve seems to be half-buried in those thick clouds, unlike the Kanto, where even the clouds and trees in the distant sky can't be found; most of the desolation of this road is reflected in the sky with low frost and white clouds. The bleak scene falls into the eyes of Guan Baye, who has been in the Jianghu for a long time, and he feels that the sky is high and the earth is wild, and he is a dry leaf with branches flying, and he doesn't know where is the place to fall?

Guan Baye patted his bearskin hat, squinted his eyes and looked towards the middle of the deserted place, as if trying to push something away from his eyes, knowing that it was in vain, when he saw the old reeds flying in the distance , People's hearts are like a thick fog. In the early years, this piece of reed marshes with a width of forty miles and a length of 40 miles was originally a world of salt. Everyone knew that the salt owls were wild men who could pick people's hearts and drink their blood. Their blood and tears came out. Guan Ba!Guanba!Didn't you also travel back and forth on this deserted road with a day of gray clouds and cold rain on your back? !God knows what that day was like?It is a fact that the salt owl industry is not a legitimate industry, but then again, who the hell has a bowl of food to do this? !Pan Pan Ka Ka is full of sharp knives!In the salt convoy of the Liuhe gang, I was just a young boy who had just debuted and helped others to pull the rope. Wu Gengtian's legs rested on the nest (the salt owl code word, which means a safe place with cover.), those neck circumferences The old buddies in the white scarves would drag down the rush mats, lean on the handlebars, and chatter about sad things that were smoky and distant.

Over there is Zhao Anji, who used to have a straw sandal shop in the small market town.Over there is a skinny little old man Peng. He used to have 70 mu of river beach land in the countryside. No matter where there is wilderness or drought, his land will be harvested.It wasn't Marshal Feng Guozhang who arrested soldiers, and it wasn't the little braid Zhang Xun who trampled people. Who would break the king's law and push the salt cart? !If there really are kings and laws in this world, those generals of the Beiyang Army should be beheaded first!Zhao Anji is a runaway brave, caught him three times and told him to slip away twice. Once the tail is pressed, I can't slip away again!Zhao Anji's voice and his face seemed to be still in the condensed cloud. Ten years have passed in a hurry. That night, I was leaning on my legs in Wanliang's shop in Wanjialou. There were five legs crowded in a small and damp cowshed. There was an oil lamp on a bamboo frame hanging in the corner of the dirt wall, and a small fire tongue. Smoke billowed upwards, forming a trail of smoke along the wall, like old dried moss; the light was dim and red, like the eyes of a gambler who stayed up late, Zhao Anji's always stern face was bathed in There seems to be something gloomy in that light They used the sharp point to pick through the keyhole on my lute bone, and put on an iron chain as thick as a thumb!Sparks of gloom burst out from under his brow shadows, his voice was hoarse, and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.laugh!With a sound, he tore off the gray earthen coat on his upper body.Lo and behold, brother!See if I lie or not? !Well, Scar is still here, I am still a person anyway, not a horse monkey, if you ask old man Peng, he has also been caught like this. Turning his face away, the shadow of the thin old man Peng was like a curled caterpillar, nailing his sweat-soaked clothes to his flesh, and his ribs protruded from his chest. My scar is just bigger, and it's often cloudy!Then he laughed for no reason, spreading his tearful laughter into the rough, damp, dark, salt-smelling air of the shack. Can you blame us for being cruel?Brother Zhao Anji's hoarse voice seemed to echo in the clouds: back then, he was walking on a bloody road, and everyone was unarmed except for cars and salt. I just beg those men to show kindness and show their noble hands but there is a way to survive, who is willing to risk their lives head-on? !The handsome general grabbed Haiyan and raised the anti-smuggling team, who caught us either to death or to hanging!Brother, the capital crime is easy to bear, but the living crime is hard to bear. You have to experience eighteen kinds of instruments of torture, such as a stick and a tiger stool.Those beasts!Forced people to spend blood to help gangs, buy guns to buy people, and do it when they encounter it.We are not robbers, we are people who exchange blood and sweat for our lives. If we want to talk about the king's law, we don't care. The general is a crab, so why are we running for our lives? !We have to give him justice. At that time, I didn't seem to know that much. I only knew that a group of people in the Liuhe Gang talked about loyalty, and everyone was so heart-to-heart with the people in the gang. stand.Boss Luo, the leader of the Liuhe gang, is a powerful man. All the characters on the underworld on the land and water roads can climb up. The salt trucks often walk in the reeds. This barren road is the ground of Wanjialou and Wanjia. Brother Wan Shibao was still young at that time, and their old man Wan Jinbiao was in charge, with more than three hundred guns and blunderbuss. Jin Biao ignored his beard and nodded, that would not work; although Wanjialou also set up a false tax card, but Wan Jinbiao's father did not let those shrimp soldiers and crab generals in the government come down, and private salt helped them cross the border. Tax declaration will be done by Wanjia.For the Liuhe Gang, this is not only a favor, but also a grace of life. The reeds are a vast pale sea. Guan Baye looked at it, and his eyes couldn't help but get wet. Ten years ago, the brave Liuhe Gang was wiped out here.But it is also in this kind of weather that the condensed gray clouds are lower and can fall directly on people's eyebrows.I went out of Yangjiao Town early in the frost and cold, and did not see Wanjialou until dusk. The 20 salt trucks along the way were temporarily leaned under the seven willow trees in Dangnan under the greeting of Boss Luo. After everyone opened the plate, they took out green onions and When the pancakes come, have dinner with the warm tea in the teapot. Boss Luo has specially ordered that you stay in Wanjialou and you are not allowed to drink too much. That old man Peng, you and Guan Dongshan leave your sharp mouth and go into Wanjialou to pay homage to Mr. Wan, the juniors of the Liuhe gang, with a total of twenty-seven heads, stay at Wanjialou Wei Houzhuang tonight, and the sun will come out tomorrow morning Get on the road!If the old man has any orders, we will do them! Just as the two of them picked up the conversation and started on the road, they suddenly heard a strange neighing of a horse in the distance in the gust of wind.The skinny old man Peng was really clever, he tucked his jacket, rolled over and fell down, with one ear pressed to the ground and doing his listening.I stood there in a daze, and estimated that it was only half a mile away from the seven willow trees on the legs of the salt truck, and only two miles to the south was Wanjialou. Except for the wind and waves on the top of the reeds, it is difficult to hear any movement. A first walker is a first walker after all, isn't it?At that time, I still thought to myself, would the seven or eight horse teams of the anti-smuggling team in the county dare to step on the Liuhe gang all the way to steal salt on the ground of Wanjia? !Don't say that Wanjialou came forward to take care of things, just these twenty salt trucks and twenty desperate men, a group of cavalry may not be able to move them. Get down and listen, brother.The old man Peng gritted his teeth and said: Tonight, there will be a fierce fire to fight! What did you hear? !I was still standing there, and the old man who had eaten Peng rolled into a shallow ditch with a tug of his legs.It’s so fast, the two of them just lay down together, there was a drum-like sound of horses’ hooves in the wind, and then, here and there, the shadows of the galloping horses rolled around, and they couldn’t tell the direction. , there was a roar of killing cries everywhere, carbine guns, short mouths, one after another, until the opponent's company (Yan Xiao's code words, referring to the continuous firing of Matisse's hand-held machine gun) Opening his mouth, he realized that it was not a small group of local goods (Yan Xiao’s code word, referring to the local anti-smuggling team.), but the anti-private team from the Northland. Grit your teeth, beat the soil, people with empty hands will not be able to use all their strength in such a time, but when they think of the twenty or so good brothers who lived and died together in their nest, and think of the weight of righteousness Luo Boss, Zhao Anji, who was forced to go to Liangshan, had his frowning faces engraved in the light mist of the oil lamp, thinking of them firing shells in a hurry next to the salt truck, and the imminent massacre wielding thick-backed sabers, he felt his whole body. Blood poured into both eyes. When we go back, if we die, we will die in a pile, and if we want to be buried, we will be buried in a pit!But old man Peng grabbed his own neck. You're crazy, bro.If we want to be loyal, we should rush into the Wanjia Building, kneel down and ask Mr. Wan to come forward, otherwise, it won't help if we two die too much, maybe we who walk around feel that our lives are expensive?In fact, in the eyes of handsome Beiyang, it is not as good as a few ants The two of them ran along the ditch and rushed into Wanjialou. There were eight groups of drummers playing in the middle of the street in Wanjialou, and the street was full of people in filial piety. The black lacquered coffin with the four-fold head that Mr. Xiang Wan was lying on was gone.The gunshots were still ringing in the reeds, but the cries of the Wan family were even louder. After the death of the old man, the coffin was full, and it happened that he chose to go out to the south gate for the burial that night. Since I can't see Mr. Wan anymore, let's hug the young Wan Shibao and ask for help. Wan Shibao cried so hard that he beat his chest and turned into a fool, but it was Wan Shiye who said: Liuhe Bang Luo Boss is a friend of Wanjia, and it is said that if something happens to him on the ground of Wanjia, we should not stand still!But the two of you met by misfortune, your late father's funeral has already awakened tonight, how can a son of man throw his late father's coffin on the street?Take the gun team to reach out and take care of things? !To be honest, I am afraid that the anti-private aspect has been settled long ago. I want to take this opportunity to swallow up the Liuhe Gang. In our Weizi, the front line of funerals has already gone down for more than ten miles. Even if I can gather the gun team, I'm afraid Boss Luo's side is already over. Resign yourself to fate, boss!I used to cry like that in my early years. Resign yourself to fate, boss!Now I see the wild reeds fluttering in the wind, and the past events are still flashing in people's hallucinations. Even if Wanjialou can't save Boss Luo and a group of brothers from the Liuhe Gang, I and Old Man Peng still ask Brother Wanshibao for help. They got two horses and two twenty-gun quick-action rifles worn by their brothers, and hurried back to Seven Willows at night, but it was a pity that everything was over. All the salt trucks were still parked on the side of the road, and there were countless horse and human corpses in Heili, and they often tripped over horseshoes.It was only after dawn that the miserable scene could be clearly seen, and it will be engraved in people's hearts forever.Judging from the signs at the scene, there are always more than a hundred horses in the anti-private horse team, divided into two routes, east and west, bypassing the west of the reed marsh, and setting up ambush in a large area of ​​dense reeds, so the Yanche of the Liuhe Gang went all the way to Yangjiao Town Down, not a single hoofprint was found on the road. This chess move was ruthless and spicy. Firstly, it was to choose the old man Wan Jinbiao to attend the funeral, which cut off the support of Boss Luo. Second, it was to choose the area near Wanjialou to attack his unpreparedness.If so, the twenty or so men from the Liuhe gang are dead enough. The salt baskets of those salt trucks are all nailed with honeycomb-like bullet marks, and there are still cracks cut by sabers in some places. White grains of salt spewed out from the scratches; there were eight corpses that were mutilated and bloody, and some of them were still clutching empty guns until they died. Boss Luo fell in the middle of the official road. His body was pressed against the corpse of a horse soldier. There were three parallel bullet holes on his back, and his blue cloth coat was red with blood.His leather handle didn't even get into the chest of the horse soldier, whose foot was still hooked to the stirrup, and the shot horse lay beside them until daybreak. It was twitching and did not stop breathing.Beside the reeds behind the salt cart, three horse soldiers were lying side by side. They were all opened up by the people in the nest. Estimated that it was Zhao Anji who did the meat tax. Zhao Anji's corpse was half kneeling next to the internal organs of the beach, with the blood-clotting sharp point still in his right hand. The saber was cut too hard, not only split Zhao Anji's head in two, each hanging upside down on his shoulders, but also deeply embedded in his chest. The man who stabbed Zhao Anji died even worse after he let go of the knife. When the horse galloped over the withered willow, a horizontal broken log smashed into his heart, and the bloody wooden tip came out from his spine. A heart was knocked out and hung on the treetop.There were more corpses in the distance, more than a dozen horse soldiers were all wounded on their heads. Old man Peng guessed that this was all done by Boss Luo. He squatted down and splashed fire in the dark night, and he could only see the horses in the dim light of the sky. The dangling head on the back, and Boss Luo's pistol gun, were meant to be shot wherever. Guan Baye shook his head on the back of the wheat mule, let out a long breath, and the illusion of a moment drifted away again, drifting into the darkness in his heart.Since the annihilation of the Liuhe Gang, in the past ten years, how many vicissitudes have I experienced on the rivers and lakes by going solo? !Who would have expected that today, more than ten years later, the Liuhe Gang would be launched again?Go through the troubled road of Wanjialou again? Sixteen sounding salt carts pushed forward following the footprints of the mules' hoofs, and only Xiang Lao San was an old man from the Liuhe Gang.The other fifteen leg-handlers were originally single-handed night owls (a salt owl idiom, which means pushing a salt cart alone, day and night). Although they are familiar with the roads and can avoid the tax card set up by the government, The bandits under Judge Zhu Si, who could not escape the disapproval of his relatives; among them, the second dwarf Shi Er also joined the Huai Gang in his early years. The arrest of the private sector caused both parties to suffer a fierce fire, and the Huai Gang broke up before the salt was transported to the field. Hey, I said to the third brother, Shi Er's mouth was a little restless, and after pushing for a while, he found something to talk about: When I was in the Huai Gang, I only heard that there was a Shuangqiang Luo boss in the Liuhe Gang , have you never heard of this Guan Baye? !Before I met Ba Ye, I always thought he was at least forty years old, but now he looks like he is at most thirty-two or three years old. Even if he is able to break through on the North Road, I think he has more than enough courage, but not enough strategy. Dwarf, you can't see people through the door!The big bear didn't have the room to answer the third child, so he interrupted: People mess around in the arena, all relying on courage, integrity, and righteousness. Although the eighth master is young, he has a lot of experience, has seen big scenes, and done big things. A good man, like all of you who are in their fifties, besides pushing salt carts, drinking bad wine, gambling small money, and fighting ghost grandchildren, what else is there to mention? ! I told you earlier, Ba Ye is not an ordinary person.Only then did Xiang Lao San open his mouth and say: Yes, in terms of seniority, even my surname Xiang has been around a few years longer than Ba ​​Ye.Back then I was helping with the legs in Liuhe, Guan Baye was just a stretcher.The Liuhe gang was wiped out in this wild reed, and there were only four survivors present. I was shot in the left flank and retreated into the reeds to save my life. Lu Xiaobodhisattva from Lujiagou was arrested and returned to the city. It was jointly signed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and it was guaranteed with money.The other two were not so lucky. They were called bandits and got rid of them, with their bleeding heads hanging from high poles.On the day of the execution, someone robbed the court, and that person was Guan Baye. Think about it, Shi Er, Guan Baye was only a 20-year-old young man at that time. He dared to burst out of the crowd by himself, with a quick-action rifle, and knocked down seven soldiers with a single shot of fire, making it a mess. The whole city coaxed him to take him; although the execution ground was not successfully robbed, the city was in chaos for two days.When old man Peng pulled the Liuhe Gang again, my wounds healed up, and I rushed to get my legs together, and then I beat old man Peng again. Army Crash School went. Oh, Shorty Shi Er shook his head wildly, with a hint of disdain: If it were me, I would never be a bastard Beiyang soldier if I died!If he Guan Baye was really a hero, he shouldn't fall into the arms of his opponent. Ba Ye is strong because he is not only strong in blood and courage, he said to the third child: Before leaving, he gambled a blood curse with old man Peng. One day, he will step on the main culprit who murdered the Liuhe Gang and replace Boss Luo. Take revenge on those dead brothers!He thought that the fire in Wanjialou, if it was just for arresting private persons, his eyes and ears would never be so sharp, and he would choose to start the fire on the night of Mr. Wan's funeral? !There must be traitors who tipped off the news.It only took five years for Ba Ye to take over the anti-smuggling team in this area. If you haven't heard of Guan Ba ​​Ye, you are well-known as the captain of the anti-smuggling team, right? ! Captain Guan? !You said that Ba Ye is Guan Dongshan, the great benefactor of the private salt gang? !Shorty Shi Er couldn't close his mouth from ear to ear: This is really an anecdote!Since Lord Guan of Guandong Mountain led the anti-smuggling team, the salt trucks in the counties of the Northland have not been confiscated. Although he is called anti-smuggling, he is actually a salt truck that specializes in suppressing bandits and secretly helping to take away the dishes.Then again, with Master Guan's prestige and reputation, he is willing to return to the Liuhe Gang, a small salt gang, to lead his legs?How do you say this? ! Xiang Laosan hesitated for a while.The sounding salt carts go all the way, each car's iron-clad wheels are covered with a circle of fine linen mats, and they roll on the grass road smoothly. Wearing cotton-eared hemp shoes, behind the rolling wheels, riding the sharp beat of the axle, crossing and strenuously trudging.Although it was almost noon, the wind was still sharp, and it was blowing harder and harder, and the gloomy and desolate autumn scenery could not be changed. People in the nest, there is nothing to hide, Eighth Master has suffered a lawsuit for helping us.Slowly confiding to the third child: Old man Peng joined the Liuhe gang again, and he had a total of three tough fights with the Beiyang army. The last one was at Bali Temple, where he knocked down the braided handsome soldiers, and suppressed the private sector. The head of the old man Peng is required within a time limit; the private sector has entrusted this task to the Eighth Master. Guess what the Eighth Master will do?In the black pine forest, he released the Liuhe gang!He personally confessed to his superiors, and he was sent to prison. I know he's in jail, the big bear interjected: How he got out again, I don't know. The jailer opened the shackles for him, and said to the third child: The jailer will fight against the wind with him (a Jianghu idiom, which means avoiding the limelight.) Go to the Kanto, where he became friends with the red bearded leader, The Ergun River beat the old Maozi soldiers. I can't blame him for being willing to lead the salt truck now!Shorty Shi Er stuck out his tongue: It's so cold in a place like Kanto, the ice slag freezes on the beard, it's really like exhaling into ice, if it's me, I'm afraid I'll be frozen into a popsicle , what are you talking about shooting the old man with a gun Why do you always like to say the right thing in the right direction? !Complaining to the third child: Ba Ye came out to lead the legs this time, and I begged for them all from my surname Xiang. He came forward, Ba Ye, he didn't get famous by leading these loud salt trucks. Look, Ba Ye greeted you at the front!Big Bear said. oh!Rely on your legs!guys!The leading strong man, Lei, pushed the salt cart to the side of the deserted road with a cannon, raised his elbows, leaned against the salt cart, pulled the support from the rear panel cover with one hand, and supported the rear frame of the salt cart, Called to stop in a rough voice. The melodious chants were carried along with the wind and waves, and a row of salt carts stopped on the side of the deserted road. The men who pushed the carts set up the carts, and sat crookedly on the crossbar of the rear frame, waiting to hear the movement ahead. , sweat rose from the brims of their felt hats and sweat towels around their necks, and those big coats that were full of oil and salt stains seemed to be soaked in sweat, and the coats were swept away by the cold wind. A faint white mist came out. Guan Baye stopped the animals on the road in front; the barley mule put its ears forward and circled with its hooves raised. The sharp wind swept the back of Guan Baye's black satin robe fluttering. Signal for the salt truck to stop.Not far in front of the cattle, there was a pale spike with bark peeled off buried in the middle of the road, the soil at the bottom of the pile was still new; around the broken pile, there were messy marks of horseshoes trampling on the dead grass. The wheat-colored mule circled around the spike, and turned back to the resting place of the salt truck. Guan Baye overturned the animal. The brothers are all here, I have something that is not very pleasant to listen to in Guandong Mountain, and I want to dig it out from the bottom of my heart and tell you.Guan Baye's red and rectangular face showed no signs of aging, but the corners of his brows and eyes were filled with dissatisfaction with the wind and frost on the rivers and lakes. Teng shot out: I did not do well in Guanba, offended the Beiyang government, left my hometown and went to Guandong, and became a desperado when I came back. I was praised by everyone, and I am not familiar with life. legs.Among you, some people may complain that I don't go the host way, but really, I can't bear it. Seeing, your flesh and blood are fighting to seize the private foreign guns and cannons on the west way. Although the four judges are ruthless, we are determined not to mess with them His heart, forgive him for not wanting to stab the thorn in his hand? !This time, the mace was erected on the deserted road, and the four judges had already made it clear that he only committed crimes on this road, and asked outsiders not to intervene!If you really believe me, Guan Ba, please listen to me. We will lean on our legs in Wanliang’s shop in Wanjialou tonight. No matter if there is any movement outside, please don’t move. Everything will be on my shoulders. Say, it’s okay, it’s up to you if you don’t, if there is a mess, then don’t blame me for not helping you clean it up! All right, all right, um, Eighth Master, I am ten thousand!The big bear wiped off his felt hat and used it as a fan, and fanned the wind regardless of the season; he raised one leg, put his foot on the bumper, squinted his eyes, and wrinkled his face with a half-smile: , more things are better than less things, Wanliang's shop has licenses and wine, let's take care of it, the four judges rob the fair, let's just use it as a firecracker when they shoot guns? ! Since we are walking with Ba Ye, you will count on it if you put down your words!Lei Yipao was born with a loud voice, making his curly beard tremble: Brother Woli, Ba Ye, you don't have to be so polite, if you don't listen to you, I will let Lei Yipao deal with him, I will Say guys, do you not listen?Hey, I said Baye, look, there is not even half of it! Then pull your legs, Guan Baye said: Let's eat lunch on our legs in the wild shop in Sanliwan, rush to Seven Willows before dark, and settle down in Wanjialou when the moon first rises oh!Pulled a leg!With the sound of chant, sixteen loud salt trucks rolled down the road singing loudly. Sanliwan is the only place in the deserted place that can be used for sharpening. There is a surprisingly small wine shop built with the naturally curved branches of three big yellow elm trees. There is a living room, a storefront, and a half-hanging in the air. sleeping place.The small wine shop has no signboard, and customers who are accustomed to walking this way call it Sanliwan Huangpu. Although the Huangpu is small, it is well-known from far and near. The deserted shop is just facing the endless reed marshes, and behind the deserted shop are two large mounds with round tops, full of ancient trees with strange branches.The owner of the deserted shop is also a monster, he is a short, thick and short man, top class, with bow legs and splayed feet. There is a flat scar.There are two black holes indented in the scar, presumably they are nostrils. Before Lei could make a call, the short, noseless old man, wearing an apron, stood with his hands on his hips under the big elm tree in front of the shop. I said that my ears are not considered deaf, hehe, I heard the creaking sound of the salt truck half an hour earlier, and my wife scolded me for being suspicious!Really, isn't this the salt cart of the Liuhe gang? Xiang Laosan, good boy, I don't know people with my old eyes, I only know you!The old man greeted the guests happily with a loud voice, then rushed over again, took the animal in Guan Baye's hands, and turned his face to tie it to the iron ring on the trunk of the big elm tree. Ha ha, you old noseless!You love to please others, and winked at the third child: You say you are old-eyed and don't know people, but you know me?What do you take me for? ! You still ask the third child!The noseless old man was laughing happily, beckoning guests to enter the house. When the thunder shot, Guan Baye greeted and said: Please put your mouth on the two brothers, and turn on the light from the high place (meaning the wind and watch post.)! The old man with no nose took two steps back, raised his face, put his hands on his eyebrows, and looked at Baye Guan as if he was looking up at a mountain; in the eyes of the old man without nose, Lord Guan really looked like a mountain .This guy doesn't look like the leader of a salt smuggler, does he?The noseless old man could tell that in terms of character and bearing, this desolate shop had never entertained such guests for many years; his figure was the tallest among a dozen big men, and his two thick shoulders could really bear Deshan, but not as wild as those gangsters; the black bearskin hat on his head is inlaid with the most precious otter skin, and it is said that no snowflakes fall on the top of the hat; he is wearing a black satin robe diagonally. The corners are tucked into the black satin waistband, revealing the silver sable fur lining. On both sides of the waistband are two brand-new, blued pistols, and on the soft belts of the two leather boots, there are eight bright little stilettos. His big long, red face had an indescribably frosty smell, although the two kind-hearted eyes under the two thick and long eyebrows always had a smile that was not a smile, but one look Too much, it kind of makes people shiver and think of Guan Gong who is offering in the hall. I said, are you new to this road?I always feel a little strange.The noseless old man said: It may be because my old eyes are dizzy. ah!Guan Ba ​​Ye laughed: "Master No Nose, don't you recognize me?"Do you still remember Guan Ba, the boy who pulled the car in the Liuhe Gang led by Boss Luo? Guan Ba?The old man thought to himself, and finally said with a wry smile: Don't be surprised, I really can't remember, but I can't forget the boss Luo of your gang. The coffins donated by Lord Bao, including the cavalry and a total of forty-two soldiers, were all buried on the ground of Lord Bao near the seven willow trees. Every ghost festival, my wife and I would rush to burn the papers! As soon as the noseless old man mentioned the past incident, the smile on Guan Baye's face froze, how many years passed like a blink of an eye, and the tragic scene of the dead bodies lying on the ground under the seven willow trees floated in his heart like yesterday.At the beginning, he vowed to find the culprit who tipped off the news, but until now, Boss Luo's vengeance with the group of tragic brothers has not been settled, and when he mentions it, he feels a dull pain in his heart. The living room in Xiaohuangpu is made of shaved branches, with long windows on all sides. Although there are three square tables in the room, it can't withstand a crowd of seventeen men, and the room is full. Hey, Mr. No-Nose, if there is something to eat, I bring it all for me, and said to the third child, "At least eat something so we can go on the road." I'd rather drink something anyway, the big bear squinted his eyes: I said no nose, sir, is there any wine?If you have everything, bring it to me. It's still a little hoarded.The noseless man touched the top of the big class: You guys are fast-moving, if you wait for the hairy people under the fourth judge to come again, you may even eat the wine jar! The four judges often come to patronize your wine shop? !Shorty Shi Er stretched his neck and said: Then you can still do this business? ! What can't be done?The noseless old man asked back: "Whoever drinks my wine or eats my game will have to pay. I don't have another nose for the bandits to cut off."When they carried the God of Wealth back then, they carried me there by mistake. I cut off my nose and I didn't agree to give them half of it. Instead, I ate their food for nothing.When the bandits meet me, they can't do anything with me; even if he tears up the meat ticket, at least he has to post the reed mat money, right? Old man, don’t be fooling around, the door curtain was lifted, and a short, fat white hand came in from the outside, tugged on the noseless man’s back collar, and dragged the old man out: Come and hug me Wine jar, I'm going to collect wild game! 沒鼻子老爺天不怕地不怕，向老三縮縮脖子：就怕他家裏的這隻母老虎！ 大夥兒全哄哄的笑開了一些粗豪慣了的野漢子，祗要桌上有肉，杯裏有酒，就會拿忘情的哄笑驅走不快意的東西，兩杯落肚，好像連外間落架的鹽車和霜寒遍野的長路也給甩到腦後去了。 小荒鋪裏的陳酒醇得打滑，蕩產的野味溢著香，再加上沒鼻子大爺夫妻倆那種有趣的慇勤，難怪大夥兒敞開豪興的了。可是在各人當中，祗有關八爺另有懷抱，他連飲了幾盞悶酒，手把著空杯旋轉著，從晃動的人頭上放眼望出去，古樹還是古樹，蘆花還是蘆花，這小荒鋪裏的一切全沒改樣兒，祗是日子淌過去十來年，眼前的這群兄弟可不再是當年六合幫的那些兄弟了。 不錯，雙槍羅老大夠得上是條義勇漢子，可也就著性子烈，膽量大，屢次栽倒稅卡上的人，才種下殺身之禍，一群弟兄埋下去了，算得什麼呢？ !空留下江湖上幾聲讚歎罷了，那些人的家口，有的在南，有的在北，兩眼漆黑忍饑挨餓的前途活像一張釘板，誰有那麼大的能為，能挑得下那付重擔？ !所以關八呀！關八。還是古人說得好：忍字頭上一把刀，能忍才是大英豪！ 我關八隻身飄泊，沒牽沒掛，生是一片雲，死是一場霧，可是眼前這些兄弟，誰不是拖家帶眷，為求生才幹這一行，日日驚險，夜夜風霜，我可萬不能依自家血氣拖累他們。六合幫朝後走僻道，緝私營不惹到人頭上，決不找他們，三年也不可，五年也不可，北洋軍氣數一盡了，一聲散夥，各拾各的老行當去，誰還留戀這倒楣的響鹽車？ ! 直到誰扳著手來斟酒，關八爺才從一剎沉迷裏醒過來，輕輕的呵了一聲。天過中晌時，雲不但沒退開，反而愈積愈厚，愈壓愈低了，風舞著漫天遍野的蘆花，像是一場大雪，那些白蒼蒼的蘆絮隨風舞進窗來，沾在人的衣上，袖上；弟兄們興高采烈的豁著拳，行著令，熙熙攘攘鬧成一片，誰有閒情獨抱一野的愁緒，慢慢品味灰雲低迷，北風緊急的天地中蘆絮輕飄的情境呢？這份情景在關八爺的眼裏擴大著，那慘澹的光景似乎全化成身後曾經經歷過的煙塵 乾杯呀，八爺。 來呀，乾杯呀，八爺。向老三舉著酒盞伸過來，擺出等著碰杯的架勢：我這不成材的老兄弟敬您一杯，瞧，您臉色陰陰的，悒個什麼勁兒？ ! 我乾，向老三，關八爺舉起酒來，一口飲盡了，緩緩的放下杯，捏住一片正飛過眼前的蘆花，又就在嘴邊，把它徐徐吹走了，那裏面隱藏著他道不出因由的嘆息。又轉面朝雷一炮說：老哥，丘上那兩位，該替換下來喝一盅了。 瞧著雷一炮跟另一位弟兄拎著酒瓶跨出門，向老三也彷彿從關八爺的聲音裏感染到一些什麼，低下腦袋在沉思中把玩著酒盞，捲起舌尖打了個酒呃說：當然囉，你是領腿子的人，得常朝遠處想，不比咱們迷裏迷糊撞日子，撞過一天就是一天。若是我心裏陰潮起來，我就會攫住酒，朝醉裏走，不會像你這樣鎖著眉頭。 向老三說著，又探手去摸酒壺吃，對方探出手來把他手背輕輕壓住了。 老哥，等卸了鹽，那時咱們哥們再泡進酒甕吧！關八爺說：再喝，甭說前頭還有個四判官，就是一路平平靜靜，祗怕你那把腿子也會翻進草溝裏去了！ 兩人說著話，又叫一陣哄堂大笑打斷了；原來喝得有五分醉意的大狗熊，硬把沒鼻子大爺和石二矮子兩個揪在一道兒比高矮，結果兩人一樣高，大狗熊就吸著口涎叫說：石二，這回你可找著你爹了！ 結賬罷，沒鼻子大爺。關八爺站起身，伸手掏出銀洋朝桌子上理開。 沒鼻子大爺趕來捏起一塊，放在鼻洞上嗅嗅說：嘿嘿，關八爺，您要不是個慣使假錢的，其餘的請裝回肚兜去，就祗這一塊也就夠了。您臨走，我得有句話跟您說四判官要捲掉萬家樓可不是空放的言語，他他，他老頭兒壓低嗓子說：跟萬家樓裏頭人有勾結，是有人臥底的。 關八爺把沒鼻子大爺拉到客堂外面，也壓低嗓子說：您怎知有人扒灰，有人進去臥底？ ! 喏喏喏，我怎會不知道。老頭兒聲音更小了：前些時，四判官帶著一批人來這兒喝夜酒，其中有個壓低帽簷的傢伙就是萬家樓來的，騎著一匹白疊叉的黑騾子，他們說話的聲音雖小，我的耳朵還沒聾實呢！ OK!你個臭老不死的！廚房裏那隻母老虎可又吼起來了：我叫您耳朵沒聾實？ !沒聾實？ !你一味胡言亂語，祗消有一個字漏進四判官的耳眼，老不死的你瞧著罷，下回他們再回程，可就要喊你沒舌頭大爺了！ 沒鼻子一聽裏面這一吼，急忙伸伸舌頭說：實在抱歉，八爺，遇上這種婆娘，成天聽她這種吼勁，我倒寧願先做幾年沒耳朵大爺。落得清靜清靜。 而關八爺沒聽見這幾句詼諧話，他已經到大榆樹下去解他的牲口去了。突然記起一宗事，使關八爺覺得這矮老頭的話是句句可信的：十多年前，六合幫覆沒那天午間，一行人歇在小荒鋪兒裏，臨行時，沒鼻子大爺可不是半開玩笑的說過，要羅老大放機伶點兒，兩天前就有緝私營馬隊下來，勒馬在鋪後高丘上看望地勢的麼？ !可惜全身是膽的羅老大沒把那番話放在耳裏，如今想來祗多添一番悔恨罷了！ 三里灣小荒鋪過後，荒路就一直貼著野蘆蕩子朝前伸，愈走地勢愈低，這才算走進荒蕩的中心。漢子們趁著酒勁推車，腿底下分外有力，車下的軸唱聲和蘆梢上的風濤聲絞成一片，北面的蘆葦擋住風勢，使人不覺寒風，有幾個身強力壯的，竟把大襖也豁開了，氈帽也摘了，光著腦袋推車還自管嚷熱呢。 這一路蘆花飄得更多，把車和人全給沾白了。 車軸的銳響聲常把荒草間的野兔驚起來，一溜灰煙似的直射進蘆葦叢去，惹得灰雲下的蒼鷹低旋著，爆起一串無可奈何又極不甘心的啾鳴。黑色的大水鴉飛得很低，沉重的翅膀撲搧著，常弄折細脆的蘆梢，迸開一團白霧樣的蘆絮，細頸的魚顎子有翅就不愛飛，鹽車經過時，還站在原地不動，頸子一伸一伸，像要數清一共有幾輛車的樣子。也許這一路太荒涼了，大狗熊數過，他已經發現一路上竄過四十九隻野兔。 他娘的，肥得很！他咽著口水說：有那麼一隻下酒，也就沒的說了。 八爺他關照過不准放槍，你光嘴饞有啥鳥用？向老三說：少想那些糊塗心思罷，心裏實在潮得慌，後盤裏有煎餅，摸塊啃啃也好。 oh!我操他個娘！石二矮子大驚小怪這一叫，把人全嚇住了。 你他娘矮子矮，一肚子拐，又耍啥花樣！ hehe!我他娘要中頭彩！石二矮一舉手，憑白的拎起一隻肥禿禿的野兔來，逗弄著：小乖乖，你可真是曹操變的，說到你，你就找上門來了，怎麼睜大兩眼朝我襖兜裏蹦來？ ! 咱們好兄弟可不是？ !後面的大狗熊這回連口水也沒來得及嚥下去，讓它滴到襖襟上了：咱倆是挺好挺好的兄弟了，二矮子，咱們說妥了要打平伙的，酒錢歸我的，就是你喝八斤也行，我他娘單中意這種肥肥的兔腿。 我得停停車把牠給縛住，石二矮子樂得連聲音都變了：這回到南邊，我得去多買些彩票啦。 噯，我說，你們倆甭為一隻熊兔子在哪嘿窮樂了罷？ !雷一炮抬頭望望天色說：這是怎麼弄的，天說黑就黑下來了？ ! 喔，你是初經此道兒，這不是天黑，這是落霾了！向老三平靜的說：落霾了！ 落霾？雷一炮說：新鮮，我倒沒聽說過。 各處說法兒不同，向老三說：咱們講落霾，在川鄂一帶就叫作落沙，有句俗話說：霾是灰沙霧是水在你們久走海岸的，可遇不上霾天。 川鄂一帶落黃沙我倒耳聞過。雷一炮說：據說落沙全在冬天風季裏，北風捲過蒙古大沙漠，把無數遮天蔽日的黃沙捲進關內來，風勢轉弱了，黃沙降下來，比霧還濃，人在落沙天趕路，渾身積沙，活像沙地裏拔出的蘿蔔！ 霾天也正是這樣兒，向老三說：祗不過起霾處不是口外的沙漠地，卻是北邊的黃河灘罷了。霾天的風沙的顏色，是看著天色定的，要逗著晴天黃昏時，晚霞燒得烈，霾就成了紅霧，鄉野傳說紅霧主兵燹，其實就是沙霾，並不是水霧。要是逢陰天，黃沙被漫天灰雲一染，就成了灰黃帶黑的顏色。風朝低處掃來，那些沙粒就刷刷響，像大群生了翅的飛蝗一樣扎臉疼。 霾雲起在灰雲下面，煙塵滾滾的壓住西北半角天，順著蕩蕩的風勢，來得排山倒海，煙塵愈滾愈低，終於和遠處的蘆梢接在一起，那種沙粒擊打在枯蘆葉上的響聲像無數刷刷揮動著的鞭子，打得人耳鼓發脹。 腿底加把勁罷，伙家，大狗熊忙不過的把氈帽朝下拉，瞧這種勁頭兒，沙粒能打麻人的臉。落霾天，趕路真不是味兒！ 你怕啥？ !石二矮子這可攫著機會了：你那臉皮子八丈厚，錘子也扎不通，用不著小心火燭？對唄？ ! 去你娘的矮鬼，大狗熊酸不遛嘰的罵：小心我使屌摑腫你那張臭嘴頭兒！ 霾雲飄過來，頭一陣猛密的沙雨刷辣辣的打在鹽車隊裏，也鎖住了那些愛聊天聒話的嘴巴，沒有霾沙顯不出風狂，沒有狂風顯不出沙疾，這陣子，風和沙兩相配搭上了；鹽車隊之外一片昏蒙，沙雨比重霧還濃，彌住天，遮住地，使人覺得一身除了慘黯之外，再沒有旁的了。 腳下離七棵柳樹還有好遠？八爺。雷一炮一張開嘴，沙雨就灌進喉嚨去。 大麥騾子在路左噴著鼻，關八爺轉身背著風勢，圈起手筒答話說：整廿里，逆著風推車，還得足足走夠兩個時辰。 風太猛了！雷一炮說。 還好，麥色騾子拂著尾，閃動一下，又竄進沙煙裏去，關八爺的聲音飄過來：在關外，遇上漠風，逼得人在地上爬呢！ 天硬是夠昏黑的了；也不是黑，祗是昏晦；風沙把人眼鎖得祗剩一條縫，從睫毛影裏出去，壓根兒分不清哪兒是地哪兒是天？ !鹽車緊緊挨著走，後一個祗望得見前一個聳起的脊背，沙粒像鬼靈般的在大襖面上跳躍著；沙粒咬住了膏了油的車軸，使軸唱的聲音裏也夾進格格軋軋的輾沙聲，而鹽車滾起來也彷彿沒有落霾前那麼溜滑了。 就在這一片昏晦裏，不時響著水鳥的鼓翼聲，黑鴉的驚聲和蘆葦的斷折聲，彷彿替暴雨般傾潑的風沙助勢，使人心裏格外的煩躁不安。鹽車輾過那些橫路的斷蘆，順著影影綽綽的路影兒朝前摸著走；時辰在一些沒講出口的詛咒中熬過去，風沙沒停，天可真的有些接近黑了啦！ 七棵柳樹該快到了罷？石二矮子憋半晌，憋出一聲嗨嘆來，聲音裏帶半分怨氣又加上些兒心急的巴望：老子滿嘴全是沙子，像他娘剛吃了粉蒸肉似的。 少開口不就行了？向老三掉臉說：你實在憋不住嘴，也該照我這個樣兒，把臉背著風。 背著風？ !石二矮子說：我這是跟你說話，可不是找大狗熊，他那張鍋貼臉又冷又硬，活像根驢屌棒子，我懶得拿眼睃他！ ，啐，倒楣沙子，全他娘打鼻孔撞進來的，我說七棵柳樹在哪嘿呀？奶奶的。 還有十二里，向老三悶悶的：不關緊可不是，腳底下發把勁，再淌一陣汗就到了。 啛，比他娘天邊還遠。 一壺酒早就晃盪完了，大狗熊在後頭說：矮鬼你損我，我連他媽回嘴的精神全沒有。剛剛你提起粉蒸肉，我可又想你懷裏揣著的兔子來了。等歇靠在七棵柳樹，咱們就烤了牠醮著鹽吃，你他媽要不分我一條後腿，瞧我不把你腦瓜砸進肚裏去。 玩笑少開。領頭的雷一炮說：這種霾天，使我想起四判官來。不定咱們會在前頭撞上。 我要是四判官，我他娘就會趁這種昏天捲進萬家樓。向老三說：四判官是條毒骨蛇，我曉得他的手段，老雷他說的不錯，雖說八爺他關照咱們少管閒事，可是四判官若想在咱們頭上拉屎，咱們非踢他屁股不可！ 換我就不踢。大狗熊一本正經的：我他媽祗當他是個老相公 你真是個邪皮貨，雷一炮罵說：正經話也叫你給扯邪了，無怪人全罵你狗熊。 又走了一晌時，風勢略為收煞了些，沙粒也不像夏夜蜢蟲般的扎臉了；月亮還沒見影兒，雲後也看不見星光，夜像一團潑墨似的籠罩下來，石二矮子正想再問七棵柳樹在哪兒，那邊關八爺的牲口掃了回來，一路傳告說：腿子拐到路旁去，挨著靠上，七棵柳樹已經到了。 石二矮子在一堆亂冢中使攮子刨出個野炊洞，折些枯枝燃起一堆火來，大狗熊真的殺了那隻野兔，使蕩邊的濕泥糊在兔身上，用一根枯枝洞穿那野兔的肚腹，懸在火焰上燒烤起來。 人在趕路時不覺夜寒，反而滿身沁汗，等到一坐定，冷風收乾了汗氣，單覺半濕的褂襖冷冰冰的貼在肉上，凍得人牙關打戰；石二矮子剛升起火，一夥人就影影簇簇的攏過來了，有的啃著蔥卷的煎餅，有的喝著溫茶，大狗熊津津有味的翻動著火焰上的兔子，空氣裏滿溢著強烈的肉香味。 向老三騎著八爺的牲口進圩子，怎麼好半晌還沒見轉來？石二矮子說：他再不來，咱們得先分這隻兔子了。 先甭忙，噯，先甭忙大狗熊雖則口水漓漓的，卻還沒忘記什麼：關八爺跟雷一炮還在那兒把著風呢，咱們樂個啥？你們沒聽向老三說過這兒是塊傷心地，當年六合幫，有廿一位老哥們力抗緝私營，全栽在這兒，你們看這些沒碑沒石沒姓的墳，全是跟咱們同一條道兒的，如今咱們蹲在這兒，想想當初景況，一顆心怕就涼了大半截兒了。啥好樂來？ ! 噯，我說大狗熊，王大貴是個不常開口的，竟也說起話來：這話要從旁人嘴裏吐出來，也許相襯些，怎麼你今晚也正經起來了？ 人到正經地方，不正經行嗎？大狗熊雖還在翻轉著野兔，兩手可有些兒打顫：不談這些了，真箇兒的，咱們粗人，嘴也鈍，挖不出心底下的意思來，就算我一時心裏泛了潮罷。壓尾那一句，嗓子有些顫涼 一夥兒全都靜默著，沒人再接渣兒。 大狗熊把烤熟的野兔取在一旁，摸出短煙袋，裝上一鍋葉子菸，默默的吸起來，一亮一亮的煙鍋間的紅火映著他緊皺的濃眉。 開心逗趣全是假的。他在寂靜裏自語說：我他媽說句扒心話，我他媽壓根兒就沒真樂過一條命吊在鹽車把兒上，今夜是你的，明早就不是你的，黑棗碰上腦袋，翹著屁股啃野草，碰得好，有人捐口薄皮材，不然，祗怕連根骨頭也填進狗肚去了啥好樂來？當年雙槍羅老大那樣英雄法兒，現今也祗落一堆黃土罷了！ 你這人就這麼陰晴不定，石二矮子說：你也就甭說這些喪氣話，大伙胃口全叫你說倒了！ 我自言自語也犯法？大狗熊翻白兩眼說：你甭那麼小心眼兒，我並不真想分你一條兔腿。 飄搖的火焰慢慢穩住，風停了，沙也靜了，寒氣絲絲朝下落，落在人的脊背上，使一圈就火的人，不得不儘量蹲得離火近些。而關八爺和雷一炮倆人離開火堆很遠，關八爺兩手背抄在貂毛皮袍的袖籠兒裏，沿著七棵柳樹周圍踱著方步，雷一炮橫抬起一隻袖肘，擱在彎腰老柳的低矮的叉枝上，一隻腳勾住腿肚兒，朝遠處的黑裏睃望著。 月亮出來了，八爺。雷一炮說：我覺得這些日子天有點反常，照理是前夜降濃霜，二天該是響晴天才對，怎麼夜夜落霜，大早卻又陰起來的？ 湖蕩地，地勢凹，水氣多，關八爺說：在這兒，氣候是不按常理來的。老哥，人在這兒也一樣，當年咱們在這兒靠腿子，原以為天荒地遠，誰也沒料著緝私營會大隊跟著踩下來。 我懂得八爺您的意思。雷一炮說。 關八爺抬頭望望雲縫裏的月亮，一團扁大的光燒亮那塊碎開的雲，朝上移升著，並看不見什麼月亮，祗有那片亮雲被燒得白白的，像一池破裂的冰凍。 並不是我多慮，老哥，關八爺沉吟著：假若當年我關八能跟羅老大一道兒躺在這塊地上，我也就沒有什麼好掛心的了。人活著在江湖上闖蕩，總有一筆絲毫不苟的恩仇。說來這是我個人的私事，但我總時刻擔心會拖累到大伙頭上，即使拖累了一個，我也於心難安。我料準了四判官會在這幾天動手，除非我不碰上，不然，各位不要管事，我跟向老三兩個六合幫的老人，卻不能袖手。 要是有人自願幫你呢？那該死而無怨了罷？ Don't talk about that.關八爺的聲音有些著惱：至少，我還用不著人幫忙。我跟你說這話，是因你在如今這夥弟兄當中，要比較持重些，萬一我叫撂倒在萬家樓，拜託你無論如何，好生把這趟腿子領到地頭。我關八今夜晚，是言盡於此了！ 雷一炮滿心有話，卻硬叫壓了回去，冷著臉，乾嚥了兩口吐沫。天頂的雲塊終叫月光燒熔了一塊，露出幾顆疏朗的星子來。黝黯的星光和雲後的月光，總算朦朦朧朧的勾描出七棵古老的柳樹的黑影來，關八爺記得在萬家樓時聽人傳講過，這七棵柳樹還是兩百多年來，萬家二世祖的七個兄弟親手栽植的，所以又稱做兄弟柳。 這七棵彎腰老柳結成一個圓環，環心正罩住這條荒路，七棵樹靠得很密，如今是枝椏交搭著枝椏，有些竟壓合到一堆去了；這形象，正像一夥義氣干雲的好兄弟，發誓同生共死一個樣，冬來時枝椏相抱，共擁寒風，春來時迎春同綠，共用春光。可是望樹懷人，想著羅老大和一干兄弟，心就脹脹的，被一種火燒的恨意和愁情塞滿了。古往今來，有幾個江湖兄弟能同白首呢？ 聽那邊，八爺。雷一炮朝南指著：向老三回來了！ 關八爺打斷迷惘迎上去。 怎樣，老三，你見過保爺了？ 向老三兜住牲口：見過了，保爺說是儘管帶槍進圩子，如今是四面圩門整夜開放，萬家樓的人都說：聽講四判官要捲萬家樓，咱們索興行賽會，讓那幫毛賊進來開開眼界呢！ 行賽會？關八爺特意又問了一遍。 可不是行賽會怎麼的？向老三苦笑說：萬家樓七房頭出了七個會班子，舞獅的，耍龍的，撐旱船賽鑼鼓的，鬥燈和亮彩轎的，全有了。咱們算是來得及時，聽說長房的保爺業爺，二房的小牯爺，七房的珍爺，三個班子最硬扎，賽起來，那才有得瞧呢。 保爺還跟你說些什麼？ 向老三下了牲口，把韁繩交還給關八爺：保爺他說，聽說你親領六合幫下來，他高興極了，保爺在族中說你是頂豪強的好漢子，比當年羅老大更有威名，保爺又說賽會共有三夜，他要留六合幫三夜做證人，證實朱四判官是個牛皮筒子，他根本不敢晃晃萬家樓一塊磚頭您覺得怎樣？八爺。 吩咐弟兄立即拔腿子，雷一炮。關八爺這才朝向老三一跺腳說：我說老三，這可就糟了。