Chapter 6 Chapter Six.Fengyuetang

When Guan Baye fell into a pillow, the cold chickens near and far had already crowed twice. This night was really chaotic and long, with luxurious banquets in the big flower hall.Grandpa Dai, the master and apprentice of Shenquan Taibao, appeared.A song that sang into the heart of the violent wind and sand.The girl who was sold in Chaijiabao.His own words moved the officials and gentry of Yanshi, who drew guns to defend themselves against the bandits in Beiyang, and raised the dam with salt.Shorty Shi Er was drunk.Liu Mao is missing.What kind of blind man throws fire on him and assassinates him.The arrest of Qian Jiuye stirred up a wave of thoughts. After careful analysis, it was nothing more than two incidents.

The first case is the transformation of Yanshi. This is a big event. If you can talk about Yanshi, Wanjialou, and Chaijiabao everywhere to respond to the militiamen in Dahuze to fight against Beiyang, there will be no Beiyang army in Caohe half the sky. It's up to you. The second case was deliberately arranged by Judge Zhu Si, who wanted to kill him secretly.Judge Zhu Si collude with the Beiyang Army secretly, so he dared to rob and kill blatantly and wantonly. If he loses his backing, he will not be able to do anything. This matter can only be left to him. Guan Baye is probably used to living a hard life, once he enjoys a warm bunk bed, it will be difficult to make eyelashes.Then he turned on the oil lamp and took out Zhang Erhua's shovel to play with. The shovel was only four inches long, with edges on both sides, and was so thin that it weighed nothing.It stands to reason that normally, even a person with a strong Kong Wu could use this kind of shovel with no strength at all, but Zhang Erhua Xie was able to use this shovel to fly into Qian Jiu's wrist without showing his body, cutting off tendons. Broken bones, the tip of which is still embedded in the table close to an inch, this kind of skill is impossible for non-legendary martial arts.

I am a person who has practiced martial arts for many years, and I often feel that there are many southern martial arts novels in the market, such as flying swords together, taking the head from a hundred miles, and master descending from the mountain, followed by apes and cranes, but like the master and apprentice of Taibao Dai , It is indeed an extraordinary skill.Maybe there are some exaggerations in Boss Luo's legend, but if this kind of person can be invited to help Yanshi fight against Beiyang and resist bandits, he will be able to handle it with ease. The old man Dai in the legend is like that

In the rivers and lakes in the late Qing Dynasty, there was a Tai Wangguan, a Taibao with a magic fist. His magic fist could knock people down without touching them. (Similar to today's high-level judo.) As for Shenquan Taibao Dai Wangguan, he was just a young man who had just debuted at that time. One day, Dai Wangguan fell in love with a young man who rode alone on a horse. The young man was only eighteen or nineteen years old. He was fair and gentle, and a frail scholar. It was huge, and the horse's sac was full, showing yellow and white (referring to gold and silver.), Dai Wang officer deceived him that he was alone and weak, so he moved his idea.

Dai Wangguan chased the young master all the way to a section of deserted road at the junction of the two provinces of Sulu. After a while, the young master appeared riding his horse. Dai Wangguan hid behind a tree, and when the horse passed by, he jumped out, trying to block the horse's head; He took the reins lightly, and the horse ran past Dai Wangguan like light smoke, and Dai Wangguan felt the breeze blowing, and it turned out that the ends of his braids had already been pinched into his hands. The young man stretched out two fingers, pinched the end of Dai Wangguan's braid, and whipped the horse at a gallop as if nothing had happened. Poor Dai Wangguan flew behind the horse like a kite.Although Dai Wangguan knew that he was invincible and fell into the hands of others, he endured the pain and did not burst out a word to beg for mercy.The man let go of the rein for thirty or forty miles, and dragged Dai Wangguan's head numb. Just now he asked: You stupid thief, who is your master?

When Dai Wangguan heard it, he was in a dilemma. If he didn't say anything, this man would never let him go. If he said it, he would tarnish his master's name again!Then he said: I am the apprentice of Dai Wangguan, the Shenquan Taibao. The man laughed and said: Well, yes, I have never met your master Dai Wangguan, but I have heard of his name for a long time. Such a pustule apprentice?That's all, that's all, for your master's sake, I'll let you go!The man shook his hand and threw Dai Wangguan onto the grass beside the road. When Dai Wangguan got up, the man and the horse were all separated by smoke and dust!

After that, for many years, the name of Dai Wangguan, the Grand Protector of the Divine Fist, did not appear in the arena again. When he showed up again, he was already an old man with gray temples. Boss Shuangqiang Luo said that he met Mr. Dai in Beidi, he treated people differently, he was not at all like him when he was young, but he was a sincere and gentle old man who was amiable and respectable, and he often talked to young people. People frankly recounted the past when he was impetuous and suffered a lot; at that time, he never showed the skills he had practiced for many years in front of others, and the few strokes of his apprentices alone were enough to see !

Among Mr. Dai Wangguan's several apprentices, Zhang Erhua's shoe was the most famous one.Legend has it that there is a reason for Zhang Er's nickname, and the reason lies in his pair of flower shoes! The boss of Shuangqiangluo described the pair of flower shoes, with a thousand-layer sole, which was tightly packed with double strands of fine linen thread and soaked in tung oil; help flowers.It is said that Zhang Er's flower shoes don't wear those flower shoes on sunny days, and only wear them on rainy and snowy days. No matter where he goes, there will be no marks on the ground, and the soles of his shoes will not be stained with snow and mud. His lightness kung fu is so good!

There are many people in the Northland, and they have all told the story of Zhang Erhuaxie forcing the White Tiger Gang to disperse. It is said that the White Tiger Gang on the underworld is entrenched in Xuzhou City. The complaints of grievances piled up in the door, and the magistrate of the county knew that the gangsters of the Baihu Gang were no joke, but they were powerful and could not be messed with. Only officials have official authority, but they have to bite the bullet and put on a show to meet the occasion. When the crowd of plaintiffs is in a hurry, they pull out the red-headed picks and throw them down, so that the arresters can catch them quickly!

The hand of the poor county magistrate was shaking when he drew the lottery. Those servants, those on the shift, and those who usually eat their official meals with their arms on their shoulders, where are they going to get them? !I can't get people, I can't pay the errands, and every three days there is a small competition, and every five days is a large competition (competition, which means that the county magistrate pursues the prisoner from the police.), I have to bite the bullet, strip my buttocks and beat the board. The boarders in the station hall are all their own people, chattering, squinting, and slapping the dust.

In any case, it's not a thing to take turns stripping your buttocks and hitting the board for a long time?The leader of the police immediately thought of Zhang Erhuaxie's head; after everyone made a plan, only the central Zhang Erhuaxie came forward to suppress the White Tiger Gang, arrest people and close the case.Zhang Erhuaxie originally refused to come forward, but he agreed after being pleaded by the head of the police. The White Tiger Gang relied on their large numbers, and North Xuzhou was their territory. Although they also heard that Zhang Erhua Shoes was coming out, and knew that Zhang Erhua Shoes had some real kung fu, they always bullied him that he was single and didn't take him seriously. One day, several leaders of the White Tiger Gang gathered in a restaurant at night to discuss how to deal with Zhang Erhua shoes?Some people advocated a joint attack, first pull out Zhang Erhua's shoes!After a daze of effort, I heard someone say: You guys can't pull him out.Zhang Er Huaxie said it himself!Look again, my mother, a man flew in from the window. The man was a thin, yellow-faced man with braids around his head, and his sleeves fluttered to the middle of the square table. He pointed a finger at the corner of the table. The whole body is standing upright in the air, smoking by the candlelight, and the shoes on the feet are not the pair of flower shoes? ! When Guan Baye turned his side and couldn't sleep in the quiet night, the images formed by these stories were always wrapped in a misty mist, rushing in the darkness, whether it was magical or absurd, at least these legends were full of With the wishes of the suffering people, they eagerly hope that there will be such a strong man in this world to eliminate violence and bring peace. Fighting skills are the national art before the popularity of guns. People who learn fighting skills follow the teacher's training, abide by the precepts, and practice benevolence and righteousness. Good talk, it's not like today with a gun in hand, running rampant like a crab, showing off blood, and acting domineering, how can the world not be chaotic?How can Chinese martial arts not decline?Mr. Dai is an ordinary person, so how can he not hide? ! Time is so ruthless, decades have passed, and even those legends are about to be annihilated. Who knew that the iron fan Tang Liu would fall back to the Qingjiang Gate?Who knew that Fang Sheng, who has a heart-warming leg, can accept disciples with one leg? !The gang of bandits like Judge Zhu Si have become household names. This is all the result of the Beiyang Army's upside-down of right and wrong, isn't it just a pity? !Therefore, it is even more important to ask them to come out to protect the dam! The snow did not stop the next day, but the wind was slightly weaker than the previous day; as soon as Guan Baye got up, a lot of guests came to the suite; A way to protect the salt and protect the dam, contact the four townships to fight against tax bandits, I plan to give it to Guan Baye for review, and then write a post and post it separately. At the same time, I want to ask Guan Baye to inspect the shantytowns of the victims in the east and west of the dam. Everyone Only by working together to pull the guns can we withstand the assault of the defense forces. Wang Shaodong from Fuchangzhan handed over the method, Guan Baye looked at it and said: Have you considered it in detail?Resisting Beiyang in the Beiyang army's nest is not a small matter, and it must not be sloppy at all. If a post is posted, the Beiyang defense army will cut off its support, and it will definitely become angry and pull a team to attack Yanshi. Therefore, on Yanshi You must fortify everywhere, and you must be fully prepared! Don't worry, Ba Ye, the chief of the anti-private sector said, "Brothers have ordered the cavalry units stationed in various townships to withdraw to the dam and reorganize them into the rural protection regiment. You know the equipment for the anti-private sector. This battalion alone can resist the enemy." Sun Chuanfang's group of travelers, the workers of the eighteen big inns in Yanshi, and the gangsters of the small Yanzhuang, can always gather six or seven hundred guns, and they have enough guns The innkeepers have all assembled, Jingxing innkeeper said: I only hope that when the eighth master crosses the lake, he will make an agreement with the old man Peng. The militia in the Great Lakes can respond in time, otherwise, relying on the dam alone, after all, it is too weak to support it for a long time. I will do it.Guan Baye said: On my return journey, I have to pass by Wanjialou and Chaijiabao, and persuade them to echo here.Let's go to inspect the salt railway and those shacks first. When we turn around, please sit down with me to visit Mr. Dai. As for that Qian Jiu, we will have another trial at night. It seems that he is the one set by Judge Zhu Chess, tracked the person who came to kill me in Yanshi, but it was definitely right! I said Ba Ye, these gangsters really deserve to be cut alive!The audit director said: What else is there to interrogate?You haven't seen that blind man last night. I asked you to sleep in the suite. Two fires were poured into the suite. Look at the window hole!Fortunately, we were all outside the suite, and only Jiang Huai died.This time you go to the east of the lake, you have to be very careful on the way; Judge Zhu Si will make another plan if one plan fails, he will not be kind! The more this is the case, the more he has to be tried. The owner of Lihexing said: Otherwise, how can we find out what tricks Zhu Si is playing behind his back?Come, prepare the horse for Ba Ye Guan Baye is such a man of pride. In order to persuade the local people to resist Beiyang and relieve the people's poverty, he put everything else aside.The party got on the animals and inspected the situation of the whole dam in the snow, pointing out where to set fences, where to build deer villages, where to build towers, where to accumulate sandbags, and talked all the way to the edge of the depression near the reed huts. There are always more than a thousand reed sheds in the east of the dam, and the round and low reed sheds press the snow, forming a sea of ​​misery, scattered in the depressions and stretching two miles wide.The chimney smoke, which is entangled in the snowflakes and flies low, hangs over the sea, just like the resentment and wrath of those disaster victims who can’t reach the sky, floating in the low sky miserably. An unstoppable bitterness He knew those people, on the loess plain in eastern Henan, in the red and red mountains of southern Shandong, and in the wasteland on the east coast of northern Jiangsu, there were villages where they lived together, with gray-yellow thatched roofs and shining loess walls, they were fertile. Or the barren ancestral land, with their cattle, sheep and livestock, and their hope of sowing seeds and harvests, he knows, knows those persecutions, those persecutions, and those persecutions are closely connected with his life and cannot be separated Ever since he set foot in the rivers and lakes, he had no time to calm down and warm up. Whenever he looked back, he felt that his heart was full of damp, like a moldy black corner without a ray of sunlight.The migration of so many refugees to the south was not caused by pure natural disasters. It was a war between Jiangsu and Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang wars, and the Beiyang army fighting one after another, crushing them like a rolling stone. The villages were wiped out of the strong men among them and the surplus grain for farming, so they had to leave the burning ruins and wander far away. Guan Baye's white horse slowly stepped into the shanty town, and something seemed to choke his throat, so he didn't say a word for a long time.A family of shacks sewed broken sacks into a curtain to keep out the wind. Because they were cooking, they pulled up a corner of the curtain to let out the smoke. The red stove fire reflected the messy white hair of an old woman. He was struggling to blow on the fire with a bamboo torch.On a low stool in front of another house sat a young girl with a yellow and thin face, combing two braids that were so dirty that they formed cakes, and was baking many clay dolls and chickens with a pot of charcoal fire. She was about ten years old, The younger sister, who was wearing a tattered black cloth jacket, carefully put feathers on the tail of the half-dry and half-wet chicken. If you want to protect the dam, you must first protect the shantytowns. Guan Baye said: The big camp of the defense army is set up on the south bank of the Yellow River (referring to the silted Yellow River.). The judge is coming! The shacks also have some guns, and the chief of the police department said: "But the number is small, and most of them are homemade guns, and they were bought with funds after they moved here. What Ba Ye said is right. They should discuss with their team leaders and move to Yanhe River. Blocking the four judges, as for the defense army, I think we should deal with them.You don't know that most of my battalion has received votes (referring to those who secretly swore to join the Revolutionary Party.), you ask them to investigate, they are lazy and boring. a dozen. If they don't want to move, it doesn't matter too much. The owner of the Xietai Inn said: There is a salt pile blocking the road over there. Strangling the ferry of the Yellow River, those cowardly fellows of the defense army may not be able to jump across the river. go!go!Just as they stopped the animals to talk, the white-haired old lady came out with a blower, her face was gloomy and cold, and there was an expression of disgust or fatigue in the indifference, her hips were akimbo, her mouth pouted, He waved the torch like chasing chickens, and said in a hoarse voice like howling: Go!Fight the war elsewhere!Liuhe (Liuhe, place name; the battlefield of the Battle of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where the warlords of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces fought each other, resulting in heavy casualties.) After eight days and nights of fighting, the dead piled up into mountains, and ghosts were not accepted at the gate of hell. On rainy days, ghosts everywhere cried Didn't you hear? !All three of my sons are dead, and the bones are yellow and rusty. Are you still talking about lighting at my door?You want to drag away the ghost of my dead son? ! I said, old lady But the girl in the shed opposite interrupted the words of the chief executive. Don't talk to her if you have something to say, it's useless, she said: After her son died, she became a madman, and she talked crazy to everyone she saw.If you want to find it, you should find Uncle Qi, look, isn't that right? ! Who is Baye Guan?Uncle Qi is a man in his forties with a sallow face, thick eyebrows and big eyes. He holds a short cigarette stick and wears wool shoes (shoes made of reed flowers are often worn by northerners in winter to prevent rain and snow.) , came over and asked. Guan Ba ​​Ye hurriedly dismounted, stepped forward and bowed and said: Brother is Guan Ba. Second Uncle Qi laughed: I know that as soon as you come, the dam will pull guns against the anti-defense army to protect the dam. This matter has been brewing in private for a long time!Battalion commander, who doesn't know the innkeepers?As soon as the officials and gentry got together last night, the brothers in the anti-private sector came to reveal that now the guns in the shantytowns in the east and west of the dam have already been pulled.Those of us who have no home to return to, what else is there to worry about?Here, if you can bite Sun Chuanfang, take a bite back, but if you can't bite him to death, it is good to let him know the pain. The decision to protect the dam was made on the dam, and my brother really didn't dare to take credit for it. Guan Baye said: "Brother is just leading the legs through the Dadukou, and I'm here to discuss big plans with everyone's invitation."When the snow stops tomorrow morning, brother will have to go on the road to Dahuze. However, from Yanshi to Wanjialou, there may be something happening in front of us. After seeing old man Peng, brother should rush back immediately. Leaving the shanty town and rushing to the salt pile, there are many employees scattered beside the steaming salt train, all of them carrying long guns, and they are guarding the ferry there.Seeing Guan Baye's white horse piled up, everyone raised their hands and guns and shouted. Baye, can you see it soon?We have been waiting for this day for a long time. His mother, Zheng Dazhuan, ate Ma Yuren under Qi Xieyuan (Ma is from Qi Xieyuan's family, and was later disarmed and annexed by Sun Chuanfang.), that kind of complacency is not bad, and he also smoked the hard-earned money we worked hard to transport salt A few percent went to pay for his army, this time we seized the opportunity, we should shave his head too! Guan Baye nodded, but couldn't laugh out loud; yes, it is natural for Yanshi to be full of dam protection. After all these years, whoever has the best patience should be hurt by the Beiyang Defense Army.However, the situation in front of us shows that if the time for the Northern Expeditionary Army in the south is not matched, there will be a tragic battle and great casualties.Thinking of the future situation can not help but make people feel heavy. Reining in the horse on the high salt pile, through the half-rotating and dancing scattered snowflakes, you can see the deep blue Huai River, the two sides of the bank have been covered with thin ice, and the South Camp of the Defense Army is less than three miles away from the Henan Province. , the rows of lead-plated camps were completely covered with snow, except for a dejected five-color flag raised on the flagpole in the square in the camp, Guan Baye watched for a long time, but saw no movement. If Sun Chuanfang didn't mobilize the army, Zheng Dadiao'er alone might not be able to pull out a hair in Yanshi.The director of the audit office said: You probably don't know that Zheng Dashu'er is not in the camp now, and two regiments of this division have been transferred to Zhejiang to go to the south. The wind is tight, and they don't care about Yanshi. What the director said was right, Ba Ye, a thick voice said behind Guan Ba ​​Ye: The group of people left behind heard that there was a bombing of the camp twice but failed, and now they dare not let it out. Fire is only capable of firing the gun into the sky with eyes closed.We can withstand this salt pile with a hundred guns, and we are afraid that the four judges will attack from the north bank of the Yanhe River. Those bandits are much more fierce than the defense army! Guan Baye turned his face, yes, the person who spoke was the iron fan Tang Liuba, he was wearing a dusty old coat, bloated lantern-legged trousers, and a pair of woolen shoes on his bare feet. A wide sash is tied around the waist, and a short, small machete is pinned to it, and the handle of the knife is wrapped with red cloth.The face under his worn-out felt hat was dry and cracked due to the cold wind, and it was blue-purple. His whole body was stained with black soot. When he was speaking, he squinted slightly, with one Standing on the running board of a carriage, resting his elbows on his knees, he twirled his mustache with his fingers. Brother Tang, Guan Baye said: Brother is going to visit Mr. Dai, Yanshi needs your help, brother can rest assured. I said Baye, I, Tang Liupao, am a straightforward person, and it was not my master's idea to sell my life in the salt market. Tang Liupao smiled miserably and said, "It's okay even if you go to see the old man." For nothing, he won't be willing to come out of the mountain. Maybe my two senior brothers will come out, it's just luck, maybe. Guan Baye sighed and said: Brother is just doing his best. A group of people walked westward along the salt pile to the shantytown in the west of the dam. The reed shantytowns in that area were scattered in the wild forest between the north and the south rivers. There were more people than the shantytowns in the east of the dam. Luojiao, the long and choked sound of the horn echoed slowly on the snowy field, and the majesty seeped into some desolation. Countless young and strong refugees heard the sound of the horn, and they all brought single knives, wooden sticks, firecrackers and foreign guns , Converging to the plain in front of Tufu, it is obvious that they are already gathering. Guan Baye looked at that scene, and a fire surged up from the bottom of his heart. From this abnormal scene, it can be seen that once the depression hidden deep in the heart burst out, it would converge into a torrent. The uprising was so quick, it was beyond people's expectations. This is far more powerful than the sporadic resistance to the Beiyang, if you can contact the old man Peng who led the militia in the Great Lakes, and send people from south to north The strength of the guns together is really a force that can tear down Sun Chuanfang. After inspecting around the dam, it was noon, Guan Baye asked everyone to go back to Fuchangzhan, leaving only the inspector. Do you think the dam can still be held?Baye.said the inspector. In terms of human guns and the situation, we should be able to defend them. Guan Baye pondered and said: But, if there is no one who has courage and courage to lead such a large number of human guns, it will still fail.The merchants on the dam are all businessmen, collecting money to do business, buying guns and firearms, and they are all unreasonable when it comes to commanding troops.Besides, although those shacks are full of courage, they have no experience in battle. If they are not trained, they will fight against the defenders and bandits, and they will lose their lives for nothing. What about this? The director of the auditing department said in a difficult way: This brother is basically an amateur. Let me tell you the truth. The officials and gentry in Yanshi, including their brothers, didn’t have the guts to pull guns to protect the dam. It was about to blow up, and then I was forced by the situation, so I discussed and wanted to do it. But after listening to Ba Ye's words last night, I felt that it was the right way to go, and it was in line with the people's will.As for commanding the army, even the chief of the private sector does not dare to take on this burden. Only you, Ba Ye, can do it. We plan to leave this seat empty until you come back from Dahuze. Guan Baye laughed: I recommend a person who can do it. you mean? ! It's Mr. Dai Wangguan Dai I mentioned last night!Guan Baye said: "Whether the old man is willing to come out, he still says not sure, let's visit him now." Posts about protecting the salt and protecting the dam and resisting the Beiyang imperial bandits went out, and the horse squads scattered around the surrounding areas that had originally seized the private sector withdrew to Yanshi, so that the pillars of the teahouses were all tied with horses of various colors.The police station was busy copying the pamphlets, preparing for the handover when the Dahuze militiamen went north, but the real Northern Expeditionary Army was still at the far edge of the two provinces of Fujian and Jiangxi, stalemate with the two major warlords Sun and Wu. In the rope mat factory in the south of Yanshi Street, in several large warehouses where salt is stored, the porters, bearers, and women from the sheds hired to weave mats and tie ropes are still busy as usual; In the huge huts that were originally gloomy, mat-weaving women sat in rows on cattail mats, weaving mats from cracked reed wood, and singing ancient folk songs to relieve loneliness. Such a slow ballad echoed the ballad of the rope-weaving women in another big shed; but after a while, their soft singing was interrupted by the high-pitched and fierce chants of the porters. A flying dragon-like loud voice, humming: Hi, yo! hey hey hey Oh, hey, hey, hey! Beside the barges moored at various piers on the banks of the Salt River, strong hookers wield their scimitar-shaped salt claws with handles to hook the packed salt bags. The porters catch the salt bags and put them on soft rope bags. Carrying salt into the storehouse, there are scales sitting on the high stool at the door of the storehouse, and a giant scale hanging in front of the storehouse. As soon as the salt bag is hung on the scale hook, the scale hand wipes the scale, and then sings out the ship number and store number. , package number and weight. No. 4 barge Lian Fuchang, No. 33 Bao, 103. The paddler held the charcoal pencil to his ear, and always paddled so carefully and peacefully that he never saw Guan Baye and the chief inspector riding past the door of the inn. Turning east from the inn, there is a stone road uphill beside the empty field, and the second house at the corner of a narrow street hangs the inn's lantern.The lantern was extinguished, and it swirled in the cold wind. By chance, the words "Yingbin Inn" appeared in black on one side.Guan Baye reckoned that this was the inn opened by Fang Sheng, who was sweet-hearted. The two dismounted in front of the inn, and when the shopkeeper came to pick up the reins, Guan Baye asked, "Is there a Mr. Dai here?" Ah, you mean master?His old man is warming up in the conservatory! Come on, take your seat.Guan Baye said, raising the curtain and stepping into the house; the warm room is on the east side of the Yingmen, there is no curtain, and a pot of charcoal fire is rising in the room; Shenquan Taibao Dai Wangguan still wears the old leather Pao'er, holding a tobacco rod in his hand, sat on a wooden chair by the window, Fang Sheng didn't take his seat, and stood at attention with his hands down. Guan Baye rushed in a few steps ahead, and no matter how dirty the ground was, he landed on one knee, cupped his fists and said, "Old man, old man, Guan Ba ​​is here to visit you!" Seeing Guan Baye rushing in to make such a great gift, Fang Sheng was so frightened that he knelt down to help him.Old man Dai also stood up in a hurry, shook his hands and said, "You, you, eighth master, you are really fooling around. Does this mean that I am such a bad old man?" !I have walked the rivers and lakes for many years in vain, what can I do?Dare to accept your great gift, this is really, really, absolutely unreasonable. Only then did Guan Baye get up and bow his hands and say: "The younger generation has a false name, and I am really terrified. After the death of the boss of Shuangqiangluo, there are few people who teach the younger generation. It is really a great fortune to meet you in Yanshi this time." Mr. Dai pressed the hands of Lord Guan and the chief inspector, and asked them to sit down. Then he sat down and said with a gloomy expression: "Master Guan, you are so polite, it makes me, who is about to enter the coffin, uncomfortable. , I really don't know how to say it?My mentor and apprentice, all because I admire you from the bottom of my heart, I made a toast over the table.In the past few decades, I have seen all the people in the rivers and lakes, and none of them can compare with you. When I saw you, I was extremely ashamed and felt that most of my life was wasted! Guan Baye made a bitter haha, leaned back and said: You seem to be able to predict the mood of the younger generation, as if you are trapped in quicksand, you can't pull it out if you want to pull it out, you can't escape it if you want to escape, this kind of world, if you want to stand up There are so many difficulties in learning to be a human being. Fang Sheng went to make tea himself; Mr. Dai Wangguan twirled his beard and nodded, as if he was pondering what Guan Baye said.The warm room is small, and the burning fire spits red flames, which makes people feel hot, but the old man's face is always covered with a layer of frost. It's all a man who is tired of chivalrous characters.After a long while, Mr. Dai finally spoke out: Friends in the aisle, when it comes to martial arts, everyone has two hands. It is really hard to pick out one person out of thousands of people who are chivalrous.When mentioning the character of chivalry in the world, the word of martial arts is always added in front, as if one cannot be a hero without martial arts, then it is a big mistake!Like Xiangru Huaibi in history, Zhang Liang stabs violently, that is the style of a hero!Later, some of the underworld, who did not understand the true meaning of being a chivalrous man, often fought with fists and feet, typed forward, fought each other for punches and kicks, fought and killed each other, endlessly, what is that? !I said Ba Ye, when he practiced martial arts in his early years, he still had to learn from his masters and receive instruction every day. It took decades of hard work to develop his real skills.Look now!Just buy a gun at will and get armed!The flames of war are messed up, and my master and apprentice are not hidden, so what can I do? The old man was right, but Guan Baye rubbed his hands and said: But I know your reason for coming, Eighth Master.Mr. Dai always frowned, with a shadow of contemplation gathered under his brows: Fang Sheng just came to tell me that the bashang had decided to unite with the four townships to protect the dam and kick the Beiyang defense army and bandits away.With my useless old bones, I can't talk about exerting myself, but I should work hard, but I'm afraid I started it too early! If it is early, it is not early.The director of the audit said: You don't know how loud the drums are? !Everyone hated it so much that they were sucked out of their salaries, and instead of eating free rice, they secretly praised the bandit defense army. Otherwise, how could judge Zhu Si and the others be so big? I know, the old man said slowly: The dam is isolated and weak, but Sun Chuanfang has hundreds of thousands of troops. What I am worried about is that if the Northern Expeditionary Army arrives one step later, many good people will be buried in the wilderness!The old man picked up the pipe and filled a bag of cigarettes. Instead of smoking on the fire, he bent down and picked up a red-burning coal. After smoking the cigarette, the coal was still held in his hand. I also thought of this level, so I came here to beg you, old man, for the sake of this group of people, to come out and save them.Guan Baye said: At present, the Beiyang army is gathered in the south of the Yangtze River, and there are only a few defense troops left in the rear. If someone supports them, the outcome may not be as tragic as expected. Mr. Dai was silent, but turned to Fang Sheng and said, "Go to the rope mat factory and find Zhang Erhua Xie to meet me."The heart-warming Fang Sheng went out, the old man silently puffed on the smoke, the smoke drifted in front of his eyes. I've heard rumors that you forced Judge Zhu Si away in Wanjialou, Beidi?said the old man. good.Guan Baye said: Actually, Judge Zhu and I have nothing to do with each other, and we have no grievances or enmities.Do you know how much kindness and kindness he received from Mr. Wan when the boss of Shuangqiang Luo led the Liuhe Gang? !The younger generation happened to be present when the four judges went to Wanjialou at night, seeing their patriarch Baoye shot dead, he had to intervene, besides, what the four judges did in the north was really unsightly. Old Master Dai sighed again and said: Ba Ye, you have offended jackals.My old man admires a person like you, and I have to advise you to settle your grievances and grievances one day earlier, and live a different life.Otherwise, no matter what kind of hero it is, the ending will always be tragic.You Du is a chivalrous person, especially those insidious and cruel people who will never tolerate you. He takes care of the elders more, but the younger generation doesn't always care about personal grievances and grievances. It's because Ba Ye doesn't care about life and death, so last night I had to take action. Before Guan Ba ​​Ye finished speaking, someone outside the house interrupted and said: I wanted to help you catch Liu Mao, but he had already heard about it. The wind escaped first.Zhang Erhua's shoes came at the sound, came in and bowed to Guan Baye. Guan Baye's face flushed for a while, and he took out the dagger from his sleeve and said: You are not a layman, so you don't need to thank the vulgar, just Guan Bazhi's kindness will be enough.From now on, I will use this life where it should be used.Holding the dagger again, he turned to the chief inspector and said, "I can't help but believe it. I went to Ruyi Hall last night and didn't pay attention to that bandit Qian Jiu. When I turned around, he picked up the loaded pistol. It's too bad." The second master flew this stick and pierced Qian Jiu's wrist, otherwise, I should be burying him today. I am a layman, and the audit director said: Of course I can't see that the master and apprentice have such skills? !I said Ba Ye, you have a lot of face, so I will trouble you to insist on supporting the old man, no matter what, let's shoulder this burden for the people on the dam! That's what I mean by looking for Zhang Erhua Xie. Mr. Dai said: To be honest, it's too fast to pull a gun to protect the dam this time!Since you and Ba Ye came here, there is nothing to say about my old man leading a few apprentices to sacrifice their lives. However, there is a saying that must be said first, that is: if you sacrifice your life but not your name, if Yanshi takes my teacher The names of the gangsters came out and passed into the ears of the fourth judge, which was harmful and useless. Back then, the fourth judge was a small leader of the White Tiger Gang, who was forced to run away by Zhang Erhuaxie. The fourth judge was a very scheming person, even He intends to take revenge, and he will not come in person. In that case, it will be impossible to capture the thief and the king. What Bashang meant was that he wanted to invite Mr. Dai to lead the army. The director of the audit said: "Ba Ye also thinks this is appropriate, what do you think?" I lead the army? !The old man shook his head and said: I command the troops, where do I put Ba Ye?Besides, even if you go to Dahuze, Ba Ye, I'm just a martial artist, and I'm very unfamiliar with foreign guns and cannons, let alone deploying troops. Isn't arresting private leaders just a piece of material? ! He can't.The director of the audit department said: God knows how we can do this as an official? !He is much more familiar with smoking guns than with pistols, and he is afraid of rats. Now that the dam has been protected here, the salt affairs yamen should be abolished, and the number of private companies must be removed and reorganized. Those who are in control cannot. Well, the old man said: In terms of name, let the battalion commander give him a name, so that Fang Sheng can help him. Fortunately, Fang Sheng had led the artillery team in Xieli in his early years. The officials who voted all practiced martial arts with him, and he could do it. Fang Sheng shrugged his shoulders. Zhang Erhuaxie and I can only practice group bravery, but Mr. Dai said: Teach them to use spears and chop single-handed swords.As for Tang Liubao, he will lead the road workers to do it. When Guan Baye returned to the Dahua Hall of Fuchang Zhan, the Township Protection Group had already been set up in the original anti-private headquarters; As the deputy commander, everyone is not surprised at all. If it is said that Fang Sheng is a sweetheart, few people in Bashang know about it. If it is said that Fang Dexian in the Yingbin Inn, everyone knows about him; , got to know the dock workers, railway workers, boatmen, and the coolies of Xiaoyanzhuang very well, and was loved by everyone. As soon as Fang Sheng came forward, he quickly completed the reorganization of the rural protection group. Ruyitang left Mao Liu, which made Guan Baye a little annoyed and flustered. In order to find out the whereabouts of Aigu, he had to take advantage of the twilight to go to Fengyuetang. Fortunately, the old Cao of Yuxing Inn Waiting outside, he greeted and said: Brother, who is running this Fengyuetang brothel now?I want to walk around and check up on a girl. Oh, Lao Cao said: Fengyuetang was opened by an old bustard surnamed Liu in the south. If the eighth master visits people, you can ask Xiao Mingtian to find out!今兒您累了一天，莫若躺著歇歇，明天大早，我替您把風月堂的老鴇和小叫天傳的來，一問便知，免得累您勞神費步。 關八爺搖搖頭說：明天我就得領腿子上路，沒時間再辦這些瑣事了。 容我繫根腰帶，捎著燈籠，老曹說：我陪您走一趟。 這當口，六合幫開頭腳的雷一炮進屋來，向關八爺附耳說了幾句話，關八爺點了點頭說：您告訴諸位，明早拔腿子離壩。要向老哥先陪陸爺坐坐，我去辦點兒事，一歇就回來。 關八爺跟老曹出街時，天色已經落黑了，雪花也已停落，天頂的灰雲退裂，微露出下弦月的幽輝。風雖不甚猛，卻很尖寒，看樣子明早天氣會放晴轉冷，正適宜趕路。街上的步兵馬隊帶臂號的便衣團勇很多，緝私營的兵勇們紛紛扯掉紅帽箍和符號牌，雜在團勇裏混合編隊，扛鹽的運夫們仍在趕著運鹽，仍在呼喝著粗沉的號子。 風月堂不像如意堂那樣直衝著正街，祗有一道影壁長牆擋著，它卻設在一條曲折的既深且窄的斜巷裏，黑漆大門前也沒懸掛堂號燈籠。 八爺請稍等一會，我來叫門。 老曹抓住門上的銅環輕叩兩響，立刻門邊露出覘洞來，有一隻眼朝外張了一張。 沒什麼好張好瞧的，咱們不是夾銅少爺（意指腰裏沒錢硬充闊佬的人。），我是南玉興的老曹，領的是位貴客。 裏面拔閂子開了門，關八爺就覺眼前一亮。 原來風月堂妓院的規模極大，通道盡頭，展開一座極為廣闊的方形庭院，院子裏堆砌著好幾處高達數丈的假山，幾處曲曲相通的荷池繞山而走，池上架有幾座古色古香的九曲橋；假山上下，古木參天，有些枝柯盤曲的蒼松點綴其間，雖壓著一層雪蓋，也遮不住它的翠色；蒼松的翠色在夜晚原看不分明，全靠燈火輝映；而風月堂的燈火不但遠近相銜，輝煌一片，同時有無數露天的紅綠紗燈，在假山石徑間的石柱上搖曳著，別有一番雅緻的風情。 假山上的叢樹中，建有幾處嵌著玻璃亮格的亭台，也都是几案紛陳，燈華灼亮，俾便豪富的客人們擁妓對酒，賞雪聆歌。在廣闊的庭院西周，是一些被枝柯遮斷的長牆，長牆那邊，是許多單獨的小院落，每座院落都迸射出燈火，都響著喧騰的笑語，游走的弦音。 關八爺站在通道盡頭的石級上，寒風拍打著他玄色披風的底襬，他凝望著燈華和月光交融的闊院，有一種哀遲的迷離的情懷輕霧般把他掩蓋上，人常道海鹽商官鹽商窮奢極侈，這種傳言實非虛語，單看鹽市上的幾家妓館，就可見一斑了！多少曲折的哀情，多少悲淒的血淚？在這些歡場的背後如今壩上既然拉槍自保，這些風月場非得讓他們散去不可。 我說，曹爺，這位貴客老爺您打算替他找哪位姑娘來伺候？ 你先睜大龜眼瞧瞧罷，老曹說：除了你們院裏的紅牌姑娘小叫天，還有誰配得上這位爺的？ !快替我掌上燈籠，引咱們到小叫天屋裏去！ 是，是，那龜公偷眼一瞅天神似的關八爺，嚇得連忙倒退三步，喊說：快掌燈引貴客老爺去北廂院，小嫂兒（妓女的跟班俗稱小嫂兒。），快些。 兩個白淨的小嫂兒穿得一身鮮豔，掌燈過來引路，那老曹可又拐上一句：告訴老鴇趕快過去伺候，咱們這位貴客老爺有話跟她說。 是了，曹爺。那人忙說：我這就著人去找！ 風在松梢，月在天上，自然的風月激起了關八爺不少的豪情感慨，對這片人間風月反生了深深的哀憐 幾年前紅遍鹽市的名妓小荷花，究竟是不是愛姑？或是另一個淪落風塵的女人？愛姑究竟是不是被賣在風月堂？在沒抓住毛六之前，都還是個迷，至少，依照卞三的妹妹小餛飩所說，愛姑被賣是事實，在自己的記憶裏，愛姑仍祗是十五六歲的女孩，那樣的純真，羞澀而善良，她會在惡人手裏遇上這樣悲慘的厄運，旁的女孩又何嘗能免得？風月場裏，待援待救的，又何止一個愛姑？ !風月場是罪惡的淵藪，看來是一點也不錯的了！ 北廂院到了，老爺。小嫂兒說。 關八爺看那北廂院，是一座小巧的雅緻的院落，一幢寬廊紅漆柱的長長的瓦屋，廊下分別垂吊著四盞寫有姑娘花名的紫色紗燈，小叫天、小灩紅、小春菱、小美雪，看來這座廂院是四個姑娘的款客之處，方磚院子鋪著的雪已被掃淨了，院子中央砌有四座花壇，種著荼蘼，金桂，臘梅和天竺等類的木本花，有些玲瓏的立石沿牆羅列著，襯著牆腳的青松。 糟，關八爺正待朝院裏邁步，另一個小嫂兒叫說：小叫天姑娘那邊，看來先有客人了，那可不是幾位爺站在門口？ 不要緊，不要緊，老曹說：他們沒進門不能算數，咱們喊著比局包好了！（民初妓院規矩，進妓院打茶圍，照例是一塊大洋一個局包例費，一個紅妓客人多時，難以同時接待，客人為了公平爭局，常有比局包的情事，誰出高資，姑娘接待誰。） 關八爺走到小叫天門前，就見紗燈光下站著三個穿著新皮袍兒，舉止有些呆笨的漢子，在那兒說話。 聽人說，這個風月堂裏，以北廂院的姑娘最好，北廂院這四個姑娘裏，又以小叫天名氣最大，牌子最紅，一個腮邊生著一撮毛的漢子說：他娘的，咱們趁著三分酒興，花一塊大洋不要緊，洋葷不可不開！ 我這人天生賤皮子，拎馬燈的一個傢伙說：見不得標緻的小娘們，見了心癢，不是摸就是捏，再不然捺倒一陣揉！你讓我花錢乾坐，冒充正經人，我不幹這種冤大頭，我恁情花兩毛大錢後街矮屋裏摟野雉打水鋪（與妓女實實在在過夜，謂之打水鋪；有名無實謂之打乾鋪。），那還實惠些兒。 你真掃人的興，倒人的胃口！另一個說：你也沒看看這是什麼地方？三個人花一塊錢已經夠寒傖的了，真要見識美人兒，也祗能屁股挨著板凳，喝口茶就走，你還癩蛤蟆想吃天鵝肉？你他媽沒那種德行！ 管得了那麼多？拎馬燈的說：咱們每人花三角半大洋，擰總得擰她一把呀！我的兒，她花名叫做小叫天，咱們得擰得她嗲著嗓子叫天嗨嗨嗨噯，我說，小叫天，開門啦。 拎馬燈的那個傢伙上前敲門，老曹急衝著關八爺丟了個眼色，兩人退至另一盞紗燈的光暈暗處。 八爺，您可看出這三個傢伙有些邪氣？老曹說：面孔生，口音侉，個個又都腰裏硬（意指帶有短槍。），新衣遮不住野相，鹽市可沒這種不沾鹽味的人。會不會是跟錢九那些是一夥兒的？ 關八爺還沒答腔，那邊的門開了，一個梳扁髻的小嫂兒跟那三個爭論起來了。原來拎馬燈的那個傢伙，不懂得妓院裏那些不成文的規矩，小嫂兒一開門，他拎著馬燈就裏闖，那小嫂兒一見，急忙橫身在門口把他擋著，央說：這位爺，想必是初來。拎著馬燈挾著雨傘，不好進姑娘的屋子的，這可大犯忌諱的，您這樣，下回姑娘就沒生意了，您著實要進屋，也請把馬燈放下。 咦他奶奶，想不到當婊子的竟有這麼多的名堂？spit!老子不信這個邪！試試看怎麼樣？說著說著，那隻手就像老虎鉗擰螺絲釘兒似的，在那個小嫂子胸前微隆的地方反覆擰了一把，擰得那小嫂子哎喲喲的尖叫起來。 少惹事，王八。腮邊一撮毛說：各堂總護院尹又香，一樣難招惹，甭把正事給甩到腦後去了。在壩上，咱們還不夠惹事的料兒。 我我祗是鬧著玩的，誰希罕乾瞪小叫天一眼？ !走，咱們還是到後街矮屋裏溫暖實惠去！三個人你扶著他，他摻著你，一路斜的撞出去了。 關八爺望著他們的背影，突然想起什麼來，跟老曹說：你不妨踩踩他們的底兒，有消息，回去告訴我，我在這邊辦完事，回福昌等著你。 就這麼著，八爺。 等老曹走後，關八爺才踱過來，朝著猶自站在門口咒罵的小嫂兒說：煩你轉告小叫天姑娘一聲，你就說有位姓關的來看她。 那小嫂兒還沒及轉身，小叫天業已從裏間轉出來說：一聽聲音，就知八爺來了，小叫天在這兒拜見八爺。 我說，姑娘，我這祗是來查探一宗事情，關八爺說：我祗是想問你來這兒多久了？可曾認識小荷花？可知道她一些兒出身來歷？ 小叫天微吁了一口氣，感嘆說：我不知八爺您為什麼憑空問起這個？我是鴇母帶大的，自幼到如今，沒離過風月堂，提起小荷花，我不單認得她，我這屋子，原也是她住的，有話，請進屋來坐著談罷。 小叫天真是紅姑娘，屋裏的陳設真夠富麗堂皇的，除了前面的客廳是接待普通茶客的地方，圓窗後，還有一方玻璃亮頂的小小天井，砌著假山，養著蘭草和一些精緻的盆栽；走過那座小天井，是她的起坐室，綾幔後面，才是她的套房，三進檀木雕花的架子床，曲曲重重，雕花的架裏，也設有光可照人的金漆小几和隔几相對，鋪著厚氈的睡榻，整個屋子裏，不但溫暖如春，而且瀰漫著一種芝蘭般的香氣。 八爺您是非常人，我也不以俗禮相待了。小叫天奉上煙茶後，也逕在對面睡榻上疊著腳坐下來說：小荷花是本堂的鴇母買來的，因她容貌姣，手口好，在這兒三年就紅了三年，最後有個姓萬的她的恩客替她贖身，帶她走了的。 你可知她原來的姓名？ 小叫天搖搖頭，從廳子裏抽出一支洋煙來玩弄著：也許鴇母她會知道。八爺，人在這兒，誰肯挖心掏肺談論過去？談又能有什麼用？空使夜來眼淚落濕枕角罷了俗客朝朝來去，恩客半世難求，她真正的身世，也許祗有那姓萬的知道。請容我放肆問一句，小荷花會是八爺您的故人？ 不，姑娘，關八爺正色說：我實在也是個苦命漢子，從沒有半分風月閒情，孤身飄泊，還不知日後死哪兒葬哪兒我有個故友秦鎮，留下個女兒愛姑，託在惡人手裏，我從關東回來後打探她的消息，確知她是被賣了，詳細經過和她的下落不明，不得不來探聽探聽。 小叫天姑娘，劉媽媽來了！小嫂兒報說。 正好，八爺。小叫天站起身說：關於小荷花，您問問媽媽罷，她如今既已不在堂子裏，媽媽她會講的。來，媽媽，這位就是大名鼎鼎的關八爺。 老鴇母劉媽媽是個圓臉重下巴，淡眉細眼的老婦人，大把的精明全掩在癡肥的外表之下，使人乍看上去，錯以為她是廣行善事的富家老太太。她一聽小叫天嘴裏吐出關八爺三個字，急忙換上一張虔誠的笑臉，在幾聲大驚小怪的哎喲之後，奉承說：哎喲，活活的該死，我這老賤婆人老眼花，不識貴人，真是在這兒，誰不把八爺您當神看？ !我們家的小閨女叫天是幾生幾世修來的福？竟入了八爺的眼。 媽媽你別說了，小叫天急忙截斷她的話說：人家關八爺是銅打鐵澆的漢子，不是吃花酒打茶圍的闊少爺，人家八爺是有事來問你的。 問我？老鴇母說：八爺要問什麼，儘管問，我祗要曉得，決不會留半句，自會奉告八爺。 人家八爺問的是跟姓萬的走了的小荷花姐姐，問她原姓原名？問她是從哪兒盤來的？問那萬姐夫叫什麼？問他帶她去了哪兒了？小叫天怕老鴇母聽不清楚，就著她耳朵說了一遍又重複了一遍。 老鴇母歪著臉，出神的聽著，一面嗯嗯的點頭，來回轉動著眼珠，等小叫天說完了，她才喘口氣說：不瞞八爺說，我是吃這行飯的人，也沒什麼好瞞之處。不錯，小荷花是我從北徐州金谷里娼戶轉盤來的，因為她不是原封，身價還算便宜。她原姓什麼我實在記不清了？她在金谷里娼戶的花名就叫小荷花，她的恩客萬梁我記得住，他是北地旺族，萬家樓來的！如今她跟萬梁過日子，該是糠蘿跳進米蘿，夠好的了！ 如意堂前後的龜公卞三和毛六，有沒有盤出一個姓秦的姑娘來這邊？Guan Baye said. No.老鴇母搖頭說，突然她又說：對了，我好像記起來，小荷花說過她原姓秦，嗯祗不過她不是從卞三毛六手上盤給我的。您若想弄清楚，再經北地時，您何不取道萬家樓去瞧瞧，那就弄得清了！ 萬家樓？ !關八爺把她們的言語默記一遍，伸手捏起他的黑貂皮帽子；他不能停留，老六合幫的夥伴陸家溝的陸小菩薩在等著見他。 別過老鴇和小叫天出來，關八爺的心思又叫陸小菩薩的突然來訪佔去了，他猜不透會有什麼樣的事情橫在他的眼前？ ! 陸小菩薩正由向老三陪著，在福昌棧花廳的套間裏等著他。一別多年，陸小菩薩看上去老得多，也憔悴得多了，一臉的病容加上倦意，使他萎頓不堪。 八爺，我的好兄弟，陸小菩薩見了關八爺，止不住濕了眼，半是闊別的離愁在這一剎湧聚，半是久別重逢時的激動和歡欣，使他嚥了半晌說不出話來。關八爺急忙扶持他在榻邊坐下，直至他理順了一口氣，才幽幽的說：我這回迎風冒雪來壩上，一來是著實想看看你，二來是先報個訊兒。當年老六合幫一干弟兄折了翼，祗活出四個人，幸好你跟彭老漢，向老三都挺得起脊梁，而我是完了，我叫他們攫住，雖被商團保釋出來，因為熬不過刑，半邊身已殘廢了，煤油辣椒水灌得太多，常咯血，想來是沒多少日子好活的了！ 陸大哥是特意來報信的，向老三說：他說是朱四判官在萬家樓吃癟後，懷恨在心，發誓要把六合幫齊根剪掉，大渡口朝南百里地，一步一座刀山。 關八爺點點頭說：料也料得到的，四判官原就是那種人。萬家樓那筆賬沒勾銷，看樣子，鹽市拉槍保壩這筆賬又記到我頭上來了。 陸家溝那荒村，如今全叫土匪盤踞著，陸小菩薩憂心忡忡的說：聽說四判官差了錢九一夥匪目一路暗踩著你，要栽你的黑刀萬家樓你出面打走四判官，聲傳百里，四判官若不處心積慮的栽了你，他還有臉面再混下去？我說八爺，就算你有本事，你可不是三頭六臂的哪吒！ 吉人自有天保佑，陸大哥。關八爺說：我算是託天之福，躲過了頭一關。向老三想必已經告訴了您，那個馬五瞎子行刺沒成汆河跑掉了！錢九如今被逮，在這兒還有些不知名姓的，諒也走不了。我掛慮倒不是自己，卻是這十多個跟我捲在一道兒的兄弟。 您千萬甭掛慮這個，向老三說：六合幫一夥人信得過八爺，論人是一把兒，論命卻打總一條，您不願拖累咱們，但咱們也不能袖著手讓您一個在油鍋邊兒上跑馬！ 我知你的脾性烈，八爺。陸小菩薩說：你跟四判官既已結怨在前，多說也沒有用了。但則明槍易躲，暗箭難防，您這一路朝南去，加意提防總沒錯兒，我一路耳聞目睹的，全跟向老三說了，我不能在鹽市上久待，三天兩日也就得走，單盼你多保重。 你不回陸家溝？ 陸小菩薩搖頭說：陸家溝成了賊窩，我怎好再回去？我打算到北徐州去養病，我外甥在那兒有爿店，我去投靠他去。 關八爺沉默了一會兒，兩眼微紅說：人嘛，想來也夠可憐的，想當年雙槍羅老大遇襲，全六合幫祗活出你，向老三，彭老漢跟我四個人，除了向老三跟我還在一道兒，咱們可算是闊別多年，不見面時想著，滿心的言語，見了面倒反說不出什麼來了！我常想，若在承平年月，日子消閒，弟兄伙見面，該好好兒的聊聊聒聒，暢飲它幾壺，如今竟是這麼的匆忙，真料不到。 能見面就好，陸小菩薩嘆說：祗怕咱們見不了幾面，就鬢髮如霜囉！ 金璧輝煌的豪華套間裏，一時竟被一種難言的愁緒掩蓋了，除以唏噓感嘆外，誰也兜不轉話頭。陸小菩薩乾咳著，似乎承受不了這種氣氛，順起他的枴杖要道別，關八爺拖住他，硬塞給他一百銀洋。 這個你帶著，也許延醫治病用得著它，關八爺說：等我走完這趟鹽，回北徐州時再去看視你罷。我明天一早就領腿子上路，今夜還有幾宗事情要辦，無法再留你了。 關八爺剛送走了陸小菩薩，福昌棧的王少東跟緝私營長過來了。 八爺，匪目錢九那宗案子，原要等您親審的，王少東說：適間我們來花廳，您左右有位石二爺說是您出去了，說您有話交代他去審的我們還不甚放心，所以又過來問一聲，您是否還需親自去看看？ 那位石二爺是個愛動刑的，把錢九拷問得死去活來，緝私營長說：那傢伙可真有股兒狠勁，寧死沒口供，依我看，一味拷打也不是個辦法。 又是大狗熊跟石二矮子！向老三跺腳說：這兩個成事不足，敗事有餘的傢伙，八爺您待他們太寬厚了，才把他們寵成這樣的！ 真是一對該死的東西！關八爺動火說：這也真太太不成話了！如今錢九人在哪兒？ 在謙復棧對面，老分司衙門裏。王少東說：除了請您外，我已著人去請方德先方爺去了。 好，關八爺說：要是方爺先到，那對寶貝怕要吃些苦頭，罰他們也算是罰我御眾不嚴罷咱們這就慢慢兒的踱過去好了。那雷老哥。等歇要是玉興的老曹來找我，告訴他可到分司衙門去找我。 謙復棧離福昌棧不遠，踱過去不消盞茶功夫，分司衙門的白粉八字牆兩旁，站著四人大崗，氣象威武森嚴，那些剛改編的團勇精神十足，見了關八爺一行人，一聲吆喝，舉槍敬禮，關八爺笑問說：方德先方爺來了沒有？ 方爺來有一會兒了。領班的團勇說。 犯人在哪兒審？關八爺轉朝緝私營長新任的保鄉團統領說：還在老營部的那間黑屋嗎？ correct!這位新統領說：還在老地方。不過自從兄弟接掌緝私營之後，可沒按老例刑求過。 我一生最恨嚴刑迫供。關八爺說：我這一身傷疤告訴我天下不知有多少善良人身上，帶著比我更多的傷痕。即使是錢九也不例外，我相信惡人不是天生作惡的，能有一線生路，一絲活路，都得先指給他們，指了他不走，也最多犯一個死字，不能讓他們受活罪。古往那些把死罪可免，活罪難饒掛在嘴上的官兒，專以上夾棍，打板子為能事，那才真的該死！ 一行人還沒走到黑屋，剛走進分司衙門一側的院子裏，就聽得院心有人大嘈大嚷了。原來那幢專囚犯人的黑屋前，有棵沖天的老榆樹，葉子落得光光的，祗剩下一些雜亂的枝柯伸向天空；榆樹邊的木桿上吊著一盞頭號馬燈，一些團勇繞著燈圍成半個圓圈兒，那馬燈久久沒經擦拭，燈光透過煙薰的玻璃燈罩，變成黯影斑斑的黃色碎塊，旋動在人的臉上。 在人圈兒裏面，關八爺一眼就看見石二矮子，上身被剝得光光的，雙手被反剪著吊在樹丫上，兩腳半懸空，祗有腳尖兒點著地；大狗熊目瞪口呆的坐在雪地上，抱著一隻胳膊，而窩心腿方勝一聲不響的雙手交抱著膀子站在石二矮子面前，聽由對方破口大罵呢。 我他娘偏要罵你這個龜孫雜種狗操驢屄的！你們準是私通土匪，要不然，為何要把土匪當做老子般的庇護著？不讓你石二爺敲他？ ! 我不跟你們這兩個渾蟲說話，窩心腿方勝說：我料想關八爺他決不至差你們這種寶貨來審土匪，不問青紅皂白就動刑，口供沒問，人業已叫你們敲昏八遍了！破開小腿肚兒塞鹽，天下沒這種刑法我要等關八爺來後再放你們，先委屈些兒罷！ 那不是八爺來了，大狗熊帶著哭腔說：石二矮子，我說你甭惹禍，你不聽，這好，咱們這算一道兒下水了。 你他媽甭朝我一人頭上賴賬，大狗熊，尖頭子彈劃破他的肋骨，這把戲是你玩的！石二矮子一瞧見關八爺走過來，一迭聲叫喊著：八爺八爺，這個姓方的好不講理，他他他他他娘私通土匪，還把我吊在這兒，大狗熊想揍他，反叫他一掌打倒在這兒爬不起來了！ 這算是輕的，關八爺冷淡的說：換是我，該再抽你們每人五十皮鞭！ 八