Chapter 10 chapter Ten.revenge

The third strong wind after the midwinter swept through the ancient towers of the county town. There is a popular proverb in the Jianghuai area that says: ignore it in the first wind, don’t ask it in the second wind, and call your mother after the third wind!The wind in Sijiu's heart is so cold.The unobstructed desert wind swept the severe cold beyond the Great Wall, and even the warm room of the home was dripping into ice; when the wind came, layers of red clouds piled up on the top of the zenith, pressing down to the feet of the surrounding sky, the sky was a kind of hazy The sky is gray and dark, the clouds are so low that they can hit people's heads, between the sky and the earth, there is only a sharp wind roaring, piercing into people's bones with cold, it seems that it is not wind, but drift ice with thin blades; The surging Grand Canal has also been frozen for a long time. After the drift ice piled on top of each other and solidified, countless fangs were raised on the river surface, looking from a distance like the shining molars of wild dogs!

The usually bustling county town seems to be locked in the severe cold. The ten-mile long street, the wharf along the river, Zhongzhou Island where fishing boats gather in spring and summer, the flower street with constant singing, Ciyun Temple Market, the Wahwa Well in the East District and the Jiji Temple in the West District. The house building is all silent, and from morning to evening, it is rare to see a few passers-by with warm sleeves and shrinking necks.Especially at dusk, the sky is really dark, as if the sky and the earth have been covered with a layer of pot soot, it looks strangely desolate and sad.

Countless crows from the frozen fields of the four townships roosted in groups on the electric poles against the wind, their wings rubbed against each other, and they were at a loss what to do. Can bring them a little warmth.Only this kind of stinking bird and insect, which is considered ominous, adorns this sleepy city with their tireless noise. There's been a queue on the long street!Who brought the news, and spread it into the closed doors, but the response was only a cold silence.A few people cursed angrily, complaining that the Beiyang generals did not treat human beings as human beings.

The cold wind is like a knife, and they are still kicking these food bosses like balls? !Did the nail in Yanshi really go into Sun Chuanfang's eye?Do you have to pull it out in the middle of winter? ! It's not that easy to pull out the salt market, duck egg head is an example!Someone chimed in and said: Don't look at the hard shell of the Jiang Fang Army. They will leave when they encounter hard fire. These recruited soldiers always eat food when they have food, and surrender when they encounter the enemy. Who is really willing to work for Sun Chuanfang? ?If you don't believe me, just watch!

But in the eyes of most people, there is no such optimism. In any case, this division and a brigade of the Jiangfang Army drawn from the bank of the Yangtze River are two hard cards in Sun Chuanfang's hands. The number and momentum are enough to frighten of.Although the merchants in the county did not rise up like Yanshi, they had already echoed in private. A large number of Jiangfang troops came up. Who wouldn't sweat for Yanshi?In the many hidden doors, beside the wide-sided copper stove, people gathered separately, discussing the war facing Yanshi with anxiety. It seems that the only thing that can save Yanshi from disaster is the desire for the Northern Expedition The army went north one day earlier.

The team crossed the long street along the river, and swam like gray pythons to the big camp in the west of the city. The sharp wind forced each soldier to tuck his neck into his high collar and lean forward so that he could carry the heavy burden. The square-horned rucksack looks like a group of hunchbacks from a distance, and the feet in straw sandals are hurried because they have walked a lot. They have stepped on the ice and snow, and they have either worn-out chilblains or blisters, and they walk crookedly. Turning, moaning and chirping, there was nothing but lifeless people swinging their arms and paddling forward, complaining about the injustice of the heavens, and encountering a strong wind while marching.

The team walked over, the bayonet scabbards on their buttocks clashed with the small rice bowls, and the old crows on the electric poles started to make a fuss and shouted, this side is also wow, and that side is also wow, the buddy caught in the middle of the team The noise was even more ear-piercing, the end of the pole was grinding the rope, and the rope was firmly biting the pole. Every time the buddy shrugged his shoulders, he would let out a squeaky, squeaking sound of hungry rats. People's hearts are also bleeding.And there were baskets on the bottom of the pot, bumping and hitting, making people hungry and feverish.As the team walked westward, the gray sky and the dark tiles flowed into people's eyes and turned into a bleak future. Except for one word of complaint, there was nothing else in their hearts.

Why is this hapless bird city full of such rotten birds and bugs?Howl the fucking mourning at people's heads!A guy in the team said: Brother, we may be destined to be buried here and fertilize the fields for free!Look, isn't Xiong Laoer holding a funeral? ! You don't fucking hang there, put powder on your face, okay? !The other jokingly said with resignation: a few bones like ours, which have no meat or oil, are shot on the ground, even if the dogs don't eat them, can it be said that they can be used to fertilize the fields? ? Don't speak bad words, just spit and it will break!Another said: "Whoever wants to take the shot, whoever is attacking Yanshi will step forward and let them disembowel you and vent your grievances for you. This breath is stuffed in the heart of a living person, and it is really more uncomfortable than death!"Our flat-nosed old man (referring to his teacher) is an out-and-out sycophant, the commander pulls out the hair, and he also uses it as an arrow. Do the math and see how many holes are stuffed into the snow hole along the way. one? !

As soon as the snow cave was mentioned, everyone couldn't help but hooked their heads and fell silent.Walking long distances in the wind and snow, red poisonous death sticking to the shadows of people's eyebrows, knowing that, but mechanically moving their legs towards it, some are thin and sick, wheezing, coughing and diarrhea, hunger and severe cold, Fatigue and distress, one attack and one clamp, fell out of Liezi on the way, no stretcher, no medicine, no medicine, even if there is half a breath, just open one eye and close one eye to be buried as a dead person, make a hole in the snow Stuffing people in is like putting a cork on the mouth of a bottle, plus a few shovels of wet soil to smooth it out. By the side of a river bank where sparse reeds grow, three people are stuffed at a time. Such a march, My own life has to be carried by my own two legs that are numb from the cold.That kind of death is far more tragic than being shot.

People are called worm hogs, but in fact, people are not as good as worm hogs, worm hogs have the opportunity to dig holes to avoid the cold, but people have to walk on the road, looking for the hoof marks left by the passing officials on fat horses and warm coats , a black hoof mark is a dark pit of fate, you are only allowed to fall to the bottom of the pit, you are not allowed to leave your name, if Zhang Degong dies, he will make up for Zhang Degong, and if Li Desheng dies , I will add a Li Desheng, no one will remember your face, your eyebrows, your bloody sorrow and wet sighs, what are people? !

Who the hell captures that mountain, rewards the ocean with a thousand rewards.Who the hell seizes that town, and rewards the ocean with five hundred!Handsome Beiyang has always liked this kind of tune, as if thousands of lives are worth that price!But when hehe yelled and stepped on the corpses all over the place, Qian couldn't heal the hearts of the dead. The blood dripped from the eyes to the bottom of the heart, and there was tide everywhere.The merlons whirled, and the procession drove past in the sharp evening wind, and every mouth that gritted its teeth made no sound. Under the square street lamps with frozen blue faces, in the cracks of the street lights, centipede-like steps are moving.On the surface alone, Beiyang's Jiangfang army is indeed mighty and mighty, with a bit of bluffing momentum, but the situation in its bones is only known to the Beiyang bosses who eat food. From dusk to dusk, the road beside the embankment has been filled with gray shadows, and these teams do not affect the bustling Huajie night market between the upper and lower gates at all; Rich merchants, casino doctors, men who mess around on the scene, people who tie up for officials and bandits, bandits who break up, antique dealers who specialize in buying and selling fake antiques to cater to the upstarts who are subordinate to the elegant, good at reciting a few crooked poems, writing The literati who won a sour pen made the vicinity of Ciyun Temple in Huajie abnormally prosperous.The prosperity of this area depends on the Beiyang Army, and the more troops are stationed, the more prosperous the business here will be. Over the military! It's been in the military, isn't it?On a cold day, once the bosses are released, it's like the gate of hell is unlocked, releasing a nest of little devils vying for their lives. Why don't you come to Huajie? ! On both sides of Ciyun Temple, the narrow stone streets zigzag, and the ancient and exquisite buildings are crowded together. There is a ray of skylight, and this ray of skylight is also dispensable, because almost every household has one or two horse lanterns and various colored paper lanterns lit day and night under the door, because the sky is too dark to illuminate. The long horizontal plaques huddled under the shadow of the corridor usually have the hall number and store number pasted on the lanterns. Looking from a distance, there are more than a hundred lanterns, big and small, high and low? !Converging into a sea of ​​light swirling and slowly swaying, the colorful halos blend together, creating a sultry mood. In this wide and long labyrinth, the cold wind, rain and snow can't penetrate the winding narrow streets, and the lukewarm air is filled with the mixed smell of butter, wax and fat, and the strong aroma of smoked food. The scent of sandalwood in the huge cauldron, the strong smell of wine just opened, and the smell of low-quality makeup on the girls leaning against the door are not harmonious but very compact, bringing people a kind of fullness and lustful desire. There are cheap inns here, and even cheaper broken flowers and willows, powder and powder shells; some are spacious casinos that serve snacks and hot towel handles, big restaurants that cater for banquets and small restaurants for casual drinks; First-class prostitutes with a lot of money, as well as half-opened milfs; sometimes new calligraphy and painting shops, paper shops, antique shops and second-hand goods stalls, there are also doctors and astrologists who are on the street to judge Prospect; there are opium dens, trading grounds that only collect private guns and private fires, and there are also Baoqian (in local language, meaning spies or intelligence personnel.), who are sent by all parties to intrigue, whether you are an old addict, drug lord, pirate, white powder Daoist, whether you are looking for flowers, asking willows, making tea circles, hooking up women to hang their arms, whether you are inquiring about news or doing various speculations, in the maze behind the flower street, you have everything! But one thing must not be forgotten is that you must first have a bulging money bag. All walks of life in Huajie are prepared for visitors who are willing to throw a lot of money. Over the military! It's not that the soldiers have been in the army, this kind of cold weather.If he hadn't gone crazy, he must have driven over to attack Yanshi! In the teahouse at the corner of the maze, the storyteller, Mr. Ermafu, was wearing a big fur coat on his back, his dirty fur was all caked into cakes, and on his head was a gray woolen basin hat that looked like a broken boat without a bottom. Grinning in a hoarse voice, he was talking about the Seven Heroes and Five Righteousnesses, just as he was talking about Shanxi Yan Xu Liang teasing the little hero Ai Hu. Many swaying faces were wrapped in the heat of teacups and the white mist of cigarettes. Ignoring the storyteller's yelling, they just talked about the book in whispers.Some talked about the defeat of the Ducky Head Army, and some talked about Mr. Snub-Nosed's habit, most of them were exaggerated to the point of absurdity. Sitting on a square table near the corner of the teahouse was a neatly dressed middle-aged man. One could tell by his clothes that he was an old man who had been in the world for a long time. The man was wearing an English gray wool top hat with a low brim It is pressed low on the eyebrows, with a soft brown sheepskin scarf around the neck, and a squirrel fur robe with Baolan crane pattern brocade without a mantle. A 1-inch real ivory cigarette holder was biting crookedly at the corner of his lips, and a blunt, pure white ivory hook with a silver hoop was hung on the arm of the chair beside him.He crossed his legs, shook his drums slightly in response to the storyteller's ideas, squinted his eyes, and leisurely puffed out smoke rings.He occupied a square table by himself, but there were two cups of tea brewed on the table. Obviously, he was listening to a book while waiting for someone. For the waiter, he made a gesture, called the waiter and said, "Bring me a can of Fort cigarettes for me."Wait for Boss Shi from Xie Qingyun Smokehouse to come and lead me over here! Yes, sir.The waiter suddenly pointed out: "Isn't Master Shi from Qingyun Smoke House here?"Well, looking for someone over there, wait for me to go over and say hello. The sharp bell of the rickshaw rang all the way, followed by the cry of midnight snacks; amidst the noise inside and outside the bookstore, the boss Shi from the opium den quietly came over and took a seat. I said Master Fang, you are too courageous, Boss Shi said in a low voice: There are some things that don’t require you to come in person at all, but brothers are responsible for everything you order. Why do you have to go to the city yourself and take such a risk? ! That one smiled while puffing out smoke: There has been no news from all parties in the past few days, and people's hearts are full of pimples. The eighth master went south to Dahuze without any letter. Jiang Fangjun's callback is too urgent. I think it's better for me to come by myself some. Shanxi geese Xu Liang lowered the man and swished seven brocade-backed crossbows in succession, which frightened the opponent!Erma's storytelling is all based on his broken, mid-spirited voice. No matter how noisy the voice is, his voice will always float above the noise. Jumping up and down to play the posture of Shanxi Yan Xu Liang releasing a crossbow, there was a lot of laughter. After contemplating for a while, the bouncing cigarette ash said: How is the recent transaction?It's already counted. Lighten up, Boss Shi said: Seven short guns, twenty-three long guns, seven hundred and forty-three guns, but the bids are very cheap.I think after Jiang Fangjun came, the gun business might become more prosperous. Mmmm, the man in the top hat nodded: After I installed it, I sent Qi Xiaosnake to transport it for me. Now everything is as urgent as a gun, so just seize the opportunity and put it away as much as possible.What else is there? Tang Buwen, the deputy division commander of the Jiang Fang Army, and I got in touch. Boss Shi glanced left and right, and said in a lower voice, "That guy likes this." Here, here breathed in and said: He has set up a special private room in the cigarette shop, and those who beat their legs and feet, and those who cook and make bubbles are all our people. Next, full of grievances, I will send it to everyone when I see it. In addition, in the small temporary mansion in Hehuachi Lane, the snub nose, the little chrysanthemum who has just been accepted by him has also connected with us, so we will not miss any news. Is there any new news from Dahuze? have.Boss Shi said: But they are all legends, and the two sides are not compatible.A group of oil merchants came over and said that the four judges had suffered a great loss from fighting the militiamen in Wafang Wu's house.But this morning, an old man came to the shop. The ink on the film was not dry, but it was printed on it. He claimed to be an informant sent by the four judges.According to him: Liuhe gang called the four judges to be eradicated, and old man Peng's militia also suffered a defeat Presumptuous?Um?risk?sudden?The man thought about it, then flicked off a piece of cigarette ash and said: You might as well envelop him while letting Qi Xiaoshe and his gang step on him, it's best to persuade the old deputy commander of the gun to hook him up with the surname Mao Find out what kind of tricks they will play? ! At the same time, Jiang Fangjun's flat-nosed division commander is feasting guests in his temporary mansion!The extremely exquisite small mansion in Hehuachi Lane was originally one of the properties accumulated by the head of Yadantou during his lifetime. Although Mr. Snub Nose is a first-level official, he doesn't feel downgraded in the slightest. The strong wind news could not blow into the thick glass brick floor-to-ceiling screen, but drove the wintersweet flowers in the corner of the courtyard, which made the teacher's eyes a little more beautiful; It's comfortable, but looking at this small mansion, six boxes of silver ocean and a flamboyant beauty, Xiao Chrysanthemum, I feel that the duck head should be shot!Otherwise, how could this property be safely and securely replaced with my own name? !A small amount is not a gentleman, a non-poisonous man is not a husband, and you don't have to always worry about shooting a defeated general. Due to the general's negligence, he mobilized Jiang Fangjun to attack Yanshi, but did not give Commander Slack Nose a tight deadline, so Mr. Commander had plenty of time to think about how to spend the cold winter.This teacher with a stern-nosed face has an air of contempt and arrogance, and has always regarded war as a gamble, always relying on his capital and luck; It's a blessing in the womb. Being a Beiyang general is also a lucky general who wins the flag and succeeds immediately. In this case, Mr. Snub Nose is not willing to fight bitter battles. His mantra is not to fight in cold weather, but to fight in hot weather If you don't fight, instead of fighting this kind of cold fire, it's better to wait for the new year to make it a warm spring. In the morning, his guards brought his beloved treasures, two pure white golden pugs, from Yangzhou City to the mansion. Only then did Mr. Snub Nose realize that these two dogs should be one year old. , everyone drank to the brim, while rubbing mahjong tiles, while talking about card scriptures, dog scriptures, and women's scriptures, it is also a pleasure. Mr. Snub Nose hugged little chrysanthemum, and little chrysanthemum hugged two little hubas; Mr. Snub Nose said, "Look, these two little things are rewarded by the handsome man. They are usually well done, and they don't even bother to wag their tails when they see people." , this is a special affinity with you, so you can just treat them as daughters and daughters-in-law. Besides, these two gadgets happen to be one year old. Let's use this title to have a banquet at night. How about the excitement? That's good, little chrysanthemum said in a whining voice: It's a pity that I, a poor godmother, can't afford the gift money for meeting, I'm afraid I'll lose your face?In front of so many guests? Don't worry, my darling!Everything is up to me! The banquet post was sent out, and little chrysanthemum really combed and dressed the pair of golden pugs; made the best damask for the face, flannel lining, sewed two vests for the two pugs, and the top coat of each dog A pair of braids were tied on the top of the head, and the ends of the braids were tied with multicolored ribbons. A new collar full of silver bells was put on them, and a chain made of sterling silver as thick as a thumb was fastened on them. Because there was a game of cards, the guests arrived very early, the independent brigade commander with the yellow face and moustache came first, and he also prepared a generous gift. With the gift of a dog, he beat around the bush and patted the teacher's ass, the moustache I'm a theater fan, know how to sing Erhualian's way, it's not wrong to be a buffoon by paying more attention to color. The teacher came down to Yanshi, and Erhualian followed the scenery. When the big colorful face comes up with an idea, the second colorful face is happy to make do with it. Mustache’s buttocks just touched the bench, and the sound of saluting with guns was constantly heard from the big post at the gate. A group of round and flat fish, shrimps and crabs, toads, rats, officials, those with their hats on one side, and those with cigarettes in their mouths, With their mistresses in their arms, those who brought their own strips (bringing a prostitute was one of the customs at the time for banquets.), led by the deputy teacher Tang Buwen, rushed in noisily.Immediately afterwards, several horses took turns presenting films upwards. The chairman of the chamber of commerce in Dongguan, the old bustard in the south of the city, the commissioner who looked like shrimp, the county magistrate who looked like paper, and representatives from all walks of life in Huajie, all presented them like tribute. Here comes the ceremony. Two large trays with gold lacquer lining and red velvet had already been placed on the long table with white marble surface. A blunt thing that makes people's eyes shine. This is really, really, really embarrassing, hehehe, grinning with a snub nose and opening his fat lips, revealing two rows of big teeth blackened by smoke oil, and pretending to shoot and saying: Celebrate the first birthday of these two little habas Is it true, please come to drink and enjoy wintersweet, it is true, why should you be so polite?Really hehehe, really I think it's right for our teachers to value these two dogs, and it's even more right for us to give gifts!The mustache brigade commander took the opportunity to say: These two dogs are loyal to the master just like we are loyal to the master. The loyalty of the master to the commander is more than Haba’s loyalty to the master. What should be added? The dog is big As a gift from the handsome, to value them is um, that is, what is this, what is this, it is the same as valued by the handsome. The mustache brigade commander stammered a proud syllogism, which was really apt metaphors, and the beginning and end were seamlessly connected. After finishing speaking, he swallowed a few mouthfuls of spit, sat down without changing his face, and clapped everyone's hands. Clapping, spraying tea, Xiao Chrysanthemum rubbed the flat-nosed teacher, and told her that she had lost her breath from laughing, while the only deputy teacher who was not smiling lay down on the opium bed in the suite and burned cigarettes to refresh himself. good!good!This comparison is excellent!Mr. Flat Nose said: I am a loyal dog of the Marshal. I told the Marshal just like that. You don’t need to bite anyone today. Please feel free to smoke, gamble, enjoy flowers, Let's have some refreshments.Come on, Lu Zuo, Deputy Tang, Chrysanthemum, let's make do with it eight times. On the square table covered with cowhide, a bed of mahjong cards carved in real ivory and several piles of silver chips are all ready.Here, there are seven or eight gaming tables in the big hall, mahjong, Pai Gow, dice, treasures, everything you expect to find. There is a red charcoal stove under each square table, and the back of the chair is covered with fur felt. It really is an indoor game. Warm as spring, full of laughter. The night wind howled high.Ma Bian arranged seats along the wide corridor between the inner and outer screens of the living room, and the air was full of the aroma of cooked food.The team is walking against the cold wind.The teacher played a piece of north wind, and swayed his legs and sang: The north wind blows the body cold all over the body. Ma Bian took the fur he took off, because the teacher felt sweat on his forehead.When touching Bai Pi, he touched Xiao Chrysanthemum's face and said: This is really Bai Pi, I should fight you when you come. It’s still my son and daughter-in-law Bai. Little Chrysanthemum pointed to Haba running around and said: It’s a pity that it’s a dog, otherwise, you must be a husband who picks up ashes (the father-in-law steals his wife, commonly known as ashes-picking.)! Hey, be careful when I pinch your thin-skinned and tender mouth, Mr. Snub-Nosed said: You can’t spit out ivory from your dog’s mouth, so I’m not worth a penny. Just saying that, laughing, Mr. Snub Nose exaggerated that his two dogs have eaten people's hearts. What are the benefits of dogs eating people's hearts?Little Chrysanthemum asked with a pale face in fright. Hey, there are many benefits.The teacher said: You don’t know, if a dog eats a human heart, the heart will be spiritual. I didn’t know at the time that the dog’s head was full of melon seeds. I didn’t know at the time that my adjutant gouged it out for them to eat. Those who sell tobacco and soil sell first-class good soil. I didn't intend to kill them, but confiscated all the tobacco and soil. Who knew that those two were crying and refused to leave, which annoyed me, so they crooked their mouths. They took them away and killed them, and it was quiet and quiet. After pulling them out for a long time, they didn't hear the gunshots. I asked what was going on?Hit six, hit 20,000, hey, the adjutant came in and told me that two of them told him to cut their hearts alive and feed them to the dogs. I said, if my two pugs are raised for three to five years, they will cost eighty hundred If your heart is eaten by them, maybe they can talk, just like you. If you curse at people, you will turn around and scold, I will not obey you, okay, five cakes, five cakes, I will be fooled. The teacher's dog wants to eat people's hearts a lot, and there is something to eat when you open the salt market.Someone at the next table said: "The team has arrived, so it's time to attack Yanshi?" where there?Little sores don't take much effort to remove.The teacher said: "Going to attack Yanshi in the wind and cold, that would be a big deal!"The little human guns in Yanshi can't hold a dozen. When the spring is warm and the flowers bloom, I will just stretch out my hand and pull them out! What the teacher said is true, it is indeed reasonable!As soon as the brigade commander with the mustache opened his mouth, he groped down the teacher's thigh: Our teacher is steady and calm, and I really admire him. Those people in Yanshi are all screwed in a crock pot, so there is no need to worry about it. , what and what. Kaka, the deputy division commander stretched his neck like a toad that swallowed salt by mistake, and because he was anxious to speak, he grabbed the small purple sand teapot on the corner of the table, took two sips of strong tea, and used it in an old-fashioned way Said: Before coming here, why didn't I have the same idea as the teacher, thinking that Yanshi can resist taxation with a few scraps of iron? !The gentleman in the dust can't jump too high.But after the brothers came here, their thinking is different. The problem is that the more you look at it, the less simple it is. If you really want to attack the salt market, I'm afraid it will take a lot of effort! Mr. Snub-Nosed leaned back, making the mistake of turning his nostrils forward again: I'd like to hear your opinion, he said. The deputy division commander was laying cards, holding two dice in his hand, a little trembling: the words must be said first, he said: this is not intended to build up the ambitions of others and destroy my own prestige, I have considered it over and over again.Although Yanshi is small and isolated, it is extremely popular among the people. Take Yadantou as an example. Although there is only one group of people, they are battle-tested. They fought against the Anhui army and Caohe, and he won like a broken bamboo. After a few hard fires, his group of people went to attack Yanshi, and within a day our division was defeated, even if there were three times as many, if it is said that it is easy to attack Yanshi, how easy is it? Hi!Why do you always compare me with the duck egg head? !The flat-nosed teacher shouted, "You mean duck-egg-headed soldiers?"I can't even believe it!His birth of stealing food and stealing food made him unable to do serious things in his life. He was used to being comfortable in the rear and enjoying enough blessings, so why should he concentrate on marching and launching battles?So this time he was shot, and he was not wronged at all!You don't have to be timid without showing your posture! It wasn't that the co-seat was timid, so the little chrysanthemum interjected and said: Do you know?This time Yanshi dared to raise their guns to resist the tax, and there were people supporting them. Speaking of which, you may have heard that Guan Baye, who fought against Zhang Xun in North Xuzhou in the early years, and his gang of desperate Yan gang brothers, were not you It's easy to deal with! What did you say?you? !Mr. Snub Nose seemed to have seen a ghost, his hair stood on end, his mouth curled up, he pointed at the little chrysanthemum and said, "You mean that straight-headed donkey Guan Ba?" !The commander-in-chief invited him to be the commander, but he ignored it. How could he turn his face to help Yanshi and grind our scalps instead? ! Here's the problem!The deputy teacher said: "Guan Ba ​​is a cloud dragon who sees his head but doesn't see his tail. If you want to control him, you can't control him. If he wants to control you, it will be very easy!"This means that it is easy to hide from the open gun, but hard to guard against the hidden arrow. We must always go out?As soon as you go out, you have to guard against other people's black knives!so?Our capital alone is still not enough. If we want to attack Yanshi, we must first find a way to deal with Guanba. Mr. Snub Nose nodded his head, pondering. Then you have to hire someone to help fight, and the brigade commander with a mustache turned the rudder again: Although it is inevitable to spend money to hire someone to help fight, it is a common saying that the wind blows duck eggshells, and the money goes to the people.Then again, as long as we kick the salt market away, are we afraid that we will get back the capital with profits? ! Changing from the card table to the dinner table, Mr. Snub Nose had to continue discussing this issue. On a lively night, the name of Guan Ba ​​was destroyed; if you want to be safe, you must get rid of Guan Ba. No; if you want to get rid of Guanba, you have to find people from the underworld to deal with him; if you want to find people from the underworld to help fight him, you have to borrow the help of Mr. Tang, an old guy who was born as a bandit.So he was the first to raise his cup, toasted the old guy and said: Brother Buwen, I agree to spend some money to find someone to help fight. Lu, make an eyebrow. This is no problem, the old guy patted his chest and said: This is on me.I have worked in this line of work before, especially the gangsters in the Northland, who are somehow connected with me, as long as I go to the opium shop to lie down, I will be connected to the line. There is another advantage of asking someone to fight for you. The mustache brigade commander said: Whether it is buying someone to assassinate Guan Ba, or pulling a gun to attack Yanshi, we can reduce the loss of our strength. Master, you know that today we will work with the commander-in-chief. Whoever has the strength will have a prosperous official career.In case we run out of strength to attack Yanshi, I'm afraid not only will we not be able to show our merits, but we will have to be downgraded!So so what is this?The more you think about it, the more cost-effective it is to spend it! Mr. Flat Nose gritted his teeth secretly, this is already a habit, whenever he thinks of the glistening silver ocean going to roll outwards, he feels a pain like cutting flesh in his heart.However, the brigade commander's abacus with the tail-pressed mustache moved him, and he thought: If you spend a lot of money to hire someone to help you fight, you should first eliminate Guanba, and then use your gun to attack Yanshi's back. His strength is almost exhausted, and he releases his own force to charge, which does not consume his own strength, but also succeeds in one fell swoop. At that time, the salt market will be plundered, and the foreign money spent in vain will be rolled back? ! Well, I think that's it, he said: "Brother Buwen, you should pay attention to finishing this matter as soon as possible, and negotiate with the other party. What is the price for buying the eight heads?"What is the price of attacking the salt market?I'll pay 50% up front. In a word, the old guy narrowed his eyes with a smile and said: Just leave it on me! In fact, the deputy division commander volunteered to find someone to fight for him. He has a lot of experience, but when money is passed, there is always some money to be made. Besides, he was in this line of work earlier, and he took this opportunity to do favors with the gangsters. OK But Mr. Snub Nose is a half-drunk worm who only knows about drinking and gambling. He is violent and lacks calculation. It's like asking someone to break it for him.Someone from the next table came to toast, he drank the left cup and the right cup vigorously, his eyes were so drunk, he put one hand on the neck of the little chrysanthemum, pointed to Haba under his feet with the other, and said: "Little thing, kicked open the salt market, the hearts of the people are the same." There is something for you! The Jiangfang Army was stationed in the West Camp, and the Flower Street outside Dongguan became more lively.Some crooked and low-level officers in the defense army made a lot of extra money and had nowhere to spend when they were guarding the river defense, with bulging pockets, three groups of five and one party, all went to Huajie to visit the night market. Oh, this goddamn heaven!A guy who undid the buckle and opened two buttons, with an empty wine bottle in his hand, staggered in the narrow street, sucking and drinking, looking at the winding lanterns in the distance, admiring Said: When I come in, it's like stepping on a cloud! It should be said that it is the moon palace!The other held a bag of salted rabbit meat in his hand, and brought it to his mouth as he walked, so he spoke somewhat vaguely: Look over there, my son, isn’t that Chang’e waving to you in the moonlight? !Go fuck it while the iron is hot! The two of them were walking along a section of Hualiu Road in the maze. In front of a prostitution hall stood an old lady in heavy clothes, with small feet, fat buttocks, big belly and round waist, and black circles around her eyes, she was winking in this direction. , shaking a sweatpa! Hey, I haven't eaten meat in eight lifetimes, so I won't go to the cesspit to fish for shit?The guy with the wine bottle said: I think you really have been in the army for three years, and you have been holding a sow as a Diao Chan.Like this kind of woman, even if she was naked and lying at the entrance of the street, I would just kick a tile and cover her up, why is Chang'e not Chang'e? ! Glass glasses cast their own eyes.The guy who ate rabbit meat said: You like Yanshou, but I just like ring fat, what can I do?Holding this kind of fat woman in your arms, you will sweat without covering the quilt, and even a cold can be cured for you! The two of them laughed along the way, and accidentally bumped into a man. The man was a thin man who had just come out of a brothel. He was wearing a black satin melon skin cap with red buttons on it, and he was wearing a purple lambskin. The robe was covered with a black mandarin jacket, which hadn't been fully buttoned yet. Meng Guding was bumped and took two or three steps back, leaning his back against the railing of the door of the brothel with a wet-painted wooden sign. The thin man got very angry, and without raising his face, he scolded: You blinded your mother's bird's eye!Walking and bumping into people? !Are you dead dad?Fallen mother?In such a hurry? ! Huh!What is your grandma drinking?After the guy carrying the wine bottle bumped into someone, he was originally indifferent, but when he heard the other party swearing, he became even more angry: You bastard, you can open your eyes and see, man, you can scold him of? ! Give him a break, fuck it!The one who ate rabbit meat cheered and said: "If he farts so badly, he won't dare to vomit!" Hehehe, the thin man rolled his sleeves, shrugged his shoulders, and assumed the posture of a gangster, like a rooster eager to fight, and said with a smile: Who am I, dare to pretend to be an uncle? This kind of bastard talk?So it was because of this tiger skin? !Let me tell you two, first go back and ask your boss to see if he dares to speak to me like this?I put you two ignorant things!Is your job made of iron?Uncle Mao can't smash you with his crooked mouth?Um? ! The two opponents were domineering and used to domineering, one shouted to beat, the other threw off his hat because of his drunkenness, knocked the wine bottle against the corner, smashed it into a handful of dog teeth, and prepared to Those who beat people, when they heard the words of this guy who called himself Mr. Mao, were full of bones, they couldn't help but stare at each other. They couldn't figure out what kind of person Mao was. Listening to his words, he knew that behind him was If there is a backer, if he is the brother of the head of the regiment, or the brother-in-law of the teacher, wouldn't it be a tuberculosis ghost fighting a tiger?Then again, it would be too embarrassing to step down in front of the street without being clear. If this thin man is the size of a bluff, wouldn't it be easier for him to be bluffed with a few words? ! You two can't go.The thin man said: You have soiled my fur robe, I will ask your teacher to settle the score!uh-huh!uh-huh! If the teacher is reasonable, you shouldn't swear at others first.The one who carried the wine bottle did not slip away, but the bottomless wine bottle was thrown into the gutter without any hassle. Don't let him fool you!The one who ate rabbit meat said: I haven't seen what kind of person of status enter the local prostitution?Ai!I said, this fool, let’s call you a fool first, we accidentally bumped into you, what are you going to do?Let's not run, wait to see you! right!Waiting to see you, the guy who threw the bottle said: You can't make a name, I still want to beat you up! This guy, surnamed Mao, felt a little embarrassed, he just turned his head and tugged at the back of his purple lamb robe, stomped his feet to regret that the surface of his robe was stained with paint, pretended not to hear what the other party said, On the one hand, he was thinking of ways to escape.硬話是放出去了，空城退不了司馬的來兵，那兒去找挺槍解圍的趙子龍去？ !窄街上鬧不得芝麻大的事兒，一有動靜，人群就擠得結成疙瘩，前一圈是看熱鬧的，後面為了好奇，也都爭擠著想瞧個究竟？硬帽殼兒的越擠越多，那兩個官兒的氣焰更甚了！正急著，有人挺身出來拉彎兒了。 噯，我說冒大爺，那人先躬著身子衝自己招呼說：您是有身分、有地位，有涵養的人，何苦跟他們底下人？小小不言的事兒，祗要他們賠個不是也就罷了，您當真要什麼？ 冒大爺眼珠兒一轉，就見說話的人也是混世爺們的扮像，衣履喧華，可惜那張臉陌生得很；反正事到急處，也想不了那麼多了，就笑說：他們若真賠個不是，早也就沒事了！我這人，一向是懶得追究人的，您不知他們橫到什麼樣？竟敢連我都喊起揍來了？ !有一天他們還敢揍他們的師長呢？ ! 算了，冒大爺！那人說：大人不記小人過，宰相肚裏能撐船。您就饒他們這一回也就罷了！慶雲鋪包房裏的唐副師座，或許燒了泡兒在候著您呢？ !說罷，又轉朝那兩個軍官說：還不替我拾起帽子走路？想等著吃排頭怎的？又湊過去小聲說：在花街上少惹事，要不是碰上我，苦頭有你們吃的！ 他還待說什麼，誰知那兩個拾起帽子就像泥鰍似的滑遁掉了，連周圍看熱鬧的也都嚇跑了。 那位冒大爺這才手抹著胸口踱了過來。 噯，我說兄台，恕我冒昧問一聲：您怎知我姓冒的呢？ 囉！ !冒大爺。那人卑躬屈節的哈腰說：您真是貴人多忘事，早上您在慶雲煙鋪跟施老闆遞過片子，我正在那兒陪唐副師長燒泡兒，施老闆談起您，我羨慕得很，才想要施老闆代為引薦的，又怕太冒失，沒想到在這兒遇上您了？ ! 遇上北洋兵，有理講不清。瘦個兒說：虧得您方才那番話把他們鎮住了，要不然，這場眼前虧我是吃定了！我得謝您才好。 那兒的話？ !那人說：朱四爺那兒差來的爺們，誰敢把虧給您吃？那可真是吃了老虎心，豹子膽了！兄弟是這兒的老街坊，祗不過說說現成的話，那用得著個謝字？ 你看我這人？ !弄了半天，還沒請教您尊姓呢？ 好說，敝姓齊。 臺甫是？ 說來不怕您見笑，冒大爺，我是蛇年出生的，按屬相，取名叫做小蛇，小蛇永不能長角成龍，所以混一輩子也是一條地頭蛇罷了！ 人發達不發達，不在乎名字如何，那個說：一旦風雲際會，平步飛天也說不定呢！像我這個冒突二字也夠瞧的，又冒昧，又唐突，那點可取？ !我還不是混了！ 我那敢跟冒大爺您比？ !齊小蛇說。 倆人拐進一條更窄的巷子，齊小蛇走在前面，冒突趁機會扣起他適才沒扣妥的扣子。一家門前搖幌著白地紅字的冬瓜燈籠，上寫著逍遙池浴室，燈籠光斑斕一片，在青石板橫鋪成的路面上往復旋轉著。 冒大爺可是剛到城裏？齊小蛇問說。 來了兩天了。冒突說：我住碼頭邊的迎賓樓客館。 冒大爺，您若有事就可請便，齊小蛇說：不必為我耽擱時辰；這兒是我老地方，我得到堂子裏泡把澡去，待會兒咱們慶雲煙館樓上見。 我是個甩膀子閒人，那有什麼事？冒突說：我陪你一道泡澡堂子算了！先來個水包皮把身子暖一暖，再來個皮包水跟你擺擺龍門去！但不知齊兄有閒空兒沒有？ 除了陪唐副座燒大煙泡兒。齊小蛇說：還早著呢！倆人就有說有笑的拐進逍遙池浴室去了。 寒天泡澡堂兒，是江淮一帶城裏人的癖好，一泡就是一晚上，無論天怎樣酷寒，一進澡堂門就覺得連風都在湯池裏泡過，軟綿綿暖薰薰的，澡堂裏設有高等雅座和更高等的包間，一律是懸著沉重的棉門把兒，室中燒著紅熾熾的炭火，講究些的浴室，全是玻璃磚透明屋頂，浴罷了的人躺在設有厚棉墊的躺椅上，可以光著身體看滿天寒冷的星辰，就那麼閒閒的躺著，一邊飲著茶，用著點心，讓手法熟練的捶腿捏腳人把那份舒泰捶進骨縫去，再從十萬八千根毛孔裏抒放出來。 倆人剛挑起簾子進屋，賬房裏就有人火熱的招呼上了：齊大爺您好！東邊包房替您空著，小池的清湯熱得恰到好處，捶腿捏腳的在等候著，來人哪他拖長歪嗓門叫說：侍候齊大爺倆人入座 這位是冒大爺，齊小蛇說：該說侍候冒大爺。冒大爺是外路鼎鼎有名的人物 侍候冒大爺櫃上又嚎叫說，橫直奉承人是不花本錢的。 這位冒大爺攀上了齊小蛇，表面上雖沒動聲色，心裏可樂了！從鄔家渡口的大火中逃出命來，改名換姓進縣城，我毛六辛辛苦苦創下的一點基業全叫關八給掃盡了，原以為投靠朱四判官較為穩妥的，誰知四判官照樣不是關八的價錢，三天兩日打一場火，自己不定那天碰上關八的槍口？ !若想活得安穩，勢非遠走高飛不可；若想遠走高飛，又非弄上一筆錢不可！這幾天獨自盤算著，怎樣能潛回鹽市去，把小餛飩給弄出來？怎樣能跟江防軍搭上線，詐到一筆款子。若跟江防軍搭線，沒有比齊小蛇這樣人再合適的了。他不但在地方上耍得開，聽口氣，好像他跟江防軍的副師長也套得上交情，這正是個機會 小池是青石砌成的，冒突跟齊小蛇兩人光赤著身子泡在熱湯裏，室裏沒旁人，說話也就沒什麼顧忌了。 實不瞞你，小蛇兄，冒突吐出事先編好的話來：兄弟這回進縣城，是奉了咱們頭兒差遣來的，看著官裏有沒有現成的交易？我跟江防軍不熟悉，中間缺少個穿針引線的，有些話，即使碰了面也不方便出口 齊小蛇全身都泡在湯池裏，祗露出一顆汗氣蒸騰的腦袋：聽施老闆說過，您可是朱四爺那邊差來的？要是朱四爺的人，話就好說了，如今北地半邊天，祗有朱四爺那股人聲勢浩大，官裏若真要找人幫忙，不找您還找誰去？旁人兄弟不敢說，他們的唐副師長跟我常碰頭，抽機會，我跟您引見引見就是了！ 齊兄真是個爽快人！冒突說。 我這人混世，一向是一絲不掛的脾性，齊小蛇拍著肚皮說：就像我進澡堂一樣的原形畢露，有什麼就說什麼，日後有要我幫忙的地方，儘管說好了！我姓齊的能辦到的，決沒不辦的。 從湯池裏談到包房的雅座上，倆人的交情就更進了一層，齊小蛇那張嘴之能說善道，連冒突也自嘆不如，開口冒大爺長，閉口冒大爺短，把冒突奉承得自以為是在天雲眼兒裏，除了瞞著毛六這個真姓名之外，把其餘的都掏心挖肺似的掏得差不多了。而齊小蛇顯得更為熱切，連怎樣安排著跟唐不文副師長見面，全替對方設想周全了。一直到捶腿捏腳的進房，倆人才換了不相干的話題；一直到茶房奉上雞絲煮乾絲等細點，才塞住了那兩張相見恨晚的嘴來。 洗罷澡出來，天到起更時分了，齊小蛇吩咐茶房，叫來一輛車，送冒突回碼頭邊的迎賓館去，望著洋車上冒突的背影，齊小蛇嘴角滑過一絲難以覺察的笑容。 這傢伙把腦袋送進繩圈了！他想：下一步就該抽緊活扣啦！ 受了慶雲鋪施老闆和齊小蛇的慫恿，老槍副師長決意要跟姓冒的碰碰頭。一個土字型大小兒出身的人，耳目總要比較靈通些；在唐不文眼裏，若不請黑道上人幫打，要指望這幫吃糧的老總頂這種硬火，那才真是四兩棉花甭彈（談）呢！沒打仗前照例要拜營膽（北洋軍中，迷信極深，通常各單位都選拜一神，名為營膽。），營膽不選文神武將，卻都選的是財神老爺，他們打火那像是打火？穿心透肺的說，祗是去搶錢。朱四判官那伙人不同，雖說是一窩烏合之眾，但他們人人凶悍，肯打肯纏，拿他們對付關八是沒有再好的了！ 躺在煙榻上的唐不文捻動煙簽兒吞雲吐霧，沉默的思忖著，算盤反覆打幾次不會錯賬，可不是？塌鼻子自以為是個主管官，拚命抓權，大把摟錢，自己這個副師長終年冷板凳一條，難得分到一星半點的油花兒；這一回攫住油水，先喝飽了再說。關八不是一盞省油燈，鹽市能在一日之間打垮鴨蛋頭，聲勢洶洶也夠瞧的，自己不如在攻鹽市前拍個電報上去稱病請假，把擔子卸給塌鼻子師長一人挑，等他兵敗被拎去腦袋，自己再出來收拾殘局，這個師長怕不是他媽的篤定了嗎？ ! 算盤打來打去，愈是要早點兒跟姓冒的碰頭了！ 窩居在碼頭邊迎賓客館裏假冒冒突之名的毛六，也正像熱鍋上螞蟻似的急得團團轉，思量著怎樣跟唐不文接頭。 他知道孫傳芳決不會恁由鹽市抗稅，搞什麼護鹽保壩，總在鹽河開河季之前要把鹽市攻開，而北洋部隊，無論江防軍也好，海防軍也好，一遇上攻堅破壘斬關奪旗的硬仗，即使小腿不轉筋，也祗有一張嘴朝前，每到這種辰光，平時一毛不拔光顧著摟錢的將軍，就祗有咬著牙，整箱銀洋朝外抬，請人幫打了。自己離開壩上的如意堂，抗風投奔朱四判官，祗是走投無路時應急的打算，四判官兩腮無肉，寡情薄義，兩眼一翻六親不認，就著他的下巴舐露水不是辦法。如今朱四判官敗走鄔家渡口，自己脫身出來，正好藉他的名跟江防軍開盤談價，拿它一筆幫打費，一走了之。自己橫直業已惹了關八，再加上一個四判官也是一樣，天下大得很，有錢到處全去得，出了省，想踩著我毛六，那可不像海裏撈針？ ! 冒爺，冒爺！茶房在門外篤篤的彈著門：花街祥雲莊的齊小蛇齊爺來了。 請齊爺上來。毛六說：我正在候著他呢。 樓梯突突響，茶房下樓去了，毛六從椅上跳起來，背袖著手，在套間裏轉著踱步；也許自己是時來運轉了，竟會邂逅到齊小蛇這種快人，說辦事就辦事，說幫忙就幫忙，他這一來，準是替自己鋪妥了路，談自己跟唐不文面談的了！想雖想著，可沒料到他會辦得這麼快當。當然嘍，辦這種事是越快越好，若等四判官喘過氣來，真差搭線人進城，自己想詐這筆幫打費的美夢豈不是全都落空了嗎？再說，縣城離鹽市祗有十多里路，冒突這個名字用得，自己這付嘴臉卻改不得，萬一碰上熟人認出毛六來，那可不甚妥當，風聲傳進關八那幫人的耳朵，說不定會因此丟掉性命？總之，縣城這塊落腳的地方，活搖活動的站不穩當，早走早好。嗯，早走早好， 我說冒大爺，我有消息告訴你來了！樓梯突突的一路響上來，齊小蛇準是把事兒給辦妥了，單聽那嗓子也是喜氣洋洋的：噯，我說冒大爺，咱們那位文公副座可真是風火雷般的脾性，聽說您在這兒，急著就要吩咐馬弁備車來看您，若不是他發了癮，祗怕真的就來了！ 毛六先是聽著那個唐副師長要來，渾身一緊，跟著又聽說他躺回大煙鋪上去了，這才手抹著胸口透出一口氣來，拉開房門迎著說：先請屋裏坐，齊兄，有話咱們慢慢談！您幫我這樣熱心辦事，我得好生謝您 那兒話？ !自己弟兄還用得著說這個？齊小蛇手扶欄杆站在樓梯口說：我說冒大爺，我這人也是火燒雞毛一磁溜，唐副座他在慶雲煙鋪等著見你，洋車備在門口。你甭換衣裳了，就跟我一道兒去罷！副座他說：中午在閘口的老半齋宴客，您是主客，我是唯一的陪客。副座他又說：有什麼要緊的事兒要跟您密談呢！我猜八成是想跟您商量夾攻鹽市的事。 行，行！毛六說：我這就來了！ 初次跟唐不文見面，毛六特意在花街上停車寫了個大紅的稟帖，又備了一份厚禮，跟齊小蛇一道兒到慶雲煙鋪去。那位老槍副師長今天到煙鋪來，破例沒前呼後擁的排護衛，祗帶著一個穿便裝揹匣槍的貼身馬弁，守在包房門口。 煩您通報一聲，就說副座候著的客人冒爺來了，齊小蛇說：這位就是冒爺 嘿嘿嘿，毛六一挫腰，身子矮了三寸，上前招呼說：老兄弟，我這兒有張稟帖，煩老兄弟您代為呈上，另外還有點不成意思的意思呃，呃，另有人送的來，呃，呃，這點兒他袖出個包包硬塞在馬弁手裏說：留著喝盅酒罷了！ 瞧不起那個小包包兒，真像吹豬的竹筒一樣，把那個萎靡不振的馬弁吹鼓了身子，急忙挺胸靠腿來個洋禮，忽然想起穿的是便裝，又彎腰撫膝鞠了個大躬，轉身進屋喊報告去了。 報告，外廂有位冒大爺由齊爺陪著求見，馬弁嚷說：這兒是冒大爺呈上的帖，禮物備在外邊 咳咳咳，你窮嚷個屁？你他媽簡直沒一點兒眼色？ !我等著的客人來了，還不快朝裏請，用得著你收帖子傳報嗎？這樣慢待客人祗有你這根死木頭做得出來，人若不知內情，還當我唐某人愛搭架子呢！Please!Please! 沒等那馬弁嚷請，毛六業已一路哈腰進來了，那個老槍副師長穿著大英純毛藏青嗶嘰面兒的銀灰鼠皮的袍兒，光著頭，縮著脖頸，趿著一雙深色厚絨衫裏的皮拖鞋，離開煙霧沉沉的裏門煙榻迎到套間來。 毛六天生是個輕骨頭，那天見過北洋將軍來著？一見那個形容猥瑣的稀毛老頭，兩隻膝蓋就有幾分打軟，哈著腰，垂著頭，擺出眼看就要下跪的樣子，左一個晚輩，右一個後生，差點把裝成一個搭線人的應有的身分也給扔到九霄雲外去了。 請坐罷，毛兄，稀毛老頭說：我請冒兄是來商議事情的，您若這麼多禮，拘形跡，可就不成話了！許是他的假牙不甚關風，說話時口齒含混不清，竟把冒字說毛字，使心虛膽怯的毛六嚇了一跳。 ah!不不不，晚輩祖宗八代也沒姓過毛，晚輩我我姓的是冒，是，是是冒失鬼那個冒，單字名突，嗯，突突突 可是特意那個特？唐不文笑出一口變色的金牙：您這個名字取得特別極了，解釋出來豈不是特意假冒或是特別冒充了嗎？ 唐不文祗是無心的隨意開了玩笑輕鬆輕鬆，這一來可把心懷鬼胎的毛六嚇慘了，坐在椅上搖股顫慄說：啊！不不不，晚輩適才說，冒是冒失鬼的那個冒，突麼？呃，突是突如其來那個突，呃呃，晚輩這回拜謁您，就像個突如其來的冒失鬼，真是不恭又不恭，唐突又唐突在這兒，晚輩首先要請您恕罪，再就是要替咱們頭兒朱四爺恭恭敬敬的問候您。 不敢不敢，唐不文說：我幹這個副差使，常年坐冷板凳，遠不及一個黑道上頭兒的威風；也煩您見著朱四爺，替我恭敬問候他罷。我這人也像我的名字一樣，道地是個耍槍桿吃四方的人，粗野不文，來罷，先燒它幾個泡兒提神醒腦他轉朝貼身馬弁說：你去著茶房來，壺裏沏熱茶，爐裏添新炭，先弄些點心來把心給點點，天越冷，胃裏越他媽泛潮。 若說毛六心虛，唐不文的心裏也不太實落，他跟冒突從沒處過，不知談及幫打時，姓冒的盤子怎麼開法？ !他若是價錢開得本份些，自己在塌鼻子面前就能加油添醋，多敲他些銀洋，他若撲上來就玩個獅子大開口，事兒就有些扎手了，這麼一來，毛六愈是卑謙，唐不文愈是客氣；唐不文揣摸毛六是老於此道，毛六以為唐不文是老奸巨滑；倆人誰也不肯把話頭扯直了談，都天上一句地下一句的，兜著不著邊際的圈子。不過圈子越兜越近，各人為各人打算罷了。 鴨蛋頭團長上回攻鹽市，敗得那麼慘快，就連咱們也都是意想不到的，想不到鹽市上真有一把勁兒，咱們頭兒在河南也是急著來，想伸把援手，可惜是遠水救不得近火，有啥用？ !毛六心不在焉的捏著鴉片煙槍，並不急於吸煙，閒閒的吐出話來，可在話音兒裏，總有意無意的誇張鹽市的實力，一面把四判官刮著，暗指著江防軍若不聯絡妥朱四判官合力夾擊，單攻鹽市可沒那麼容易法兒。 唐不文使小拇指甲挖著一邊的耳朵眼兒，挖出塊黃黃的耳屎來彈落在煙盤裏，又伸手捏起紫沙小壺品了一口茶，懶懶的說：那祗是鴨蛋頭差勁，其實單憑鹽市那點兒槍支實力，對江防軍來說，實在算不了什麼！話是這麼攤著，內中的意思是你甭想藉機抬價太高，我業已明白表示江防軍並不一定非找朱四判官幫打不可，有當無試試看是可以的。 毛六聽得出來，他卻慢吞吞的祗當沒聽見，按上煙泡兒，使籤條通了個小洞，就著八角煙燈吸起煙來，拿吸煙消磨時間，表示對談幫打的事無所謂，愛談不談由你。這他媽該叫欲擒故縱，他想。 唐不文又品了口茶，換挖另一隻耳朵。齊小蛇在外間背著手，閒閒的面壁觀賞著一幅山水畫兒，其實兩眼全斜盯在煙鋪上，把兩人那種搓磨勁兒全瞅在眼裏；那個馬弁蹲在火爐邊煮煙土，聚精會神的攪著。街頭響過一串人力車冰冷的鈴聲。包房裏瀰漫著煙土的香味，像一鍋炒焦了的花生。 大寒天調隊伍，大帥一定把這事看得很重了？毛六丟下煙槍兒才說：說實在的，像鹽市這麼做法，簡直可說是造反，江防軍這付擔子夠重的，假如調動大軍，還刨不掉這棵孤樹，一旦等它發起芽來，那可就棘手了！依我看，聽恁鹽市坐大硬不是辦法！日後他們跟大湖澤的民軍勾結起來，此地那些鄉鎮難保不受鼓動？你也抗捐，他也抗稅，那還得了？ ! 唐不文咳了一陣，朝小痰盒裏吐了幾口痰說：至於這個，咱們是早在料中；小鬍子那個旅不攻鹽市，順著河朝西布防，擋著民軍，鹽市三面被圍，咱們先鏟斷它的根，不用刨它，它也就枯死了，那還會發什麼芽？ 毛六眨眨眼，舐舐嘴唇，眼前這隻老狐狸真難對付，他明明請我來談盤子講價的，偏把左話右說著，軟兜兜的推他的太極拳，磨得人牙根發癢。幸好這個悶葫蘆叫一旁觀戰的齊小蛇給劈破了。 我說不老，文公，冒大爺，咱們有句俗話說：眾人一條心，黃土變成金。依我看呢，鹽市那把實力並不算什麼，不過麼，這裏面插進了六合幫的關八，聽說還有幾位退隱的武林人物，事情就沒那麼簡單了。齊小蛇還是背著手，緩緩的從外間踱進裏間來，深思熟慮的說：您全知道的，關八在北地極有聲名，他要是振臂一揮，有好些鄉鎮都會被他煽出火來；若想使江防軍去捉他，一準是勞而無功，唯有朱四爺才是關八的剋星；假如官裏跟朱四爺兩邊合力，事情可就好辦了！ Yep.毛六急忙接渣兒說：祗要官裏有這個意思，四爺他是沒有不答應的。他如今雖不在這兒，祗要談得適合，我多少也能當他一半家。 我覺得齊兄這主意著實不孬，唐不文接著說：不過師長他並沒跟我提過這回事兒，我也難硬替他作主。咱們不妨先談談，假如師長他願意，那當然不過，話又說回來，冒兄您開價不能過高，咱們師長是一向連一個銅角子落地都彎腰挖起一撮泥的人，價錢一高，事兒就談不攏了。這是我私下的話。 那，那當然，毛六說：不過，晚輩我也有兩句私話說在前面；咱們那個頭兒一向是六親可以不認，祗認得一個錢字，凡舉辦事，他是有理沒理錢朝前。正因這樣，官裏若想請他幫打，價錢固不在高，太低了可也不成，即算我能當一半家，那一半還得靠他點頭才能算數，對不？ 唐不文瞧瞧窗外的天色，又掏出掛錶來看看時辰，藉這個把毛六的話打耳邊滑過去，另起話頭說：天也快晌午時了，咱們留著話填滿肚子再談罷！他轉臉吩咐馬弁說：馬上備車，去老半齋 老半齋是縣城裏最聞名的館子，冬令時節是最忙碌的時刻，門前車水馬龍，川流不息，由於唐不文訂席時那張片子，更由於片上所印的銜頭，櫃上特意把賞雪樓空出來待駕。 賞雪樓祗是一座方形的高閣，橫跨在大運河閘口一側，四面都是透明的落地玻璃屏風，極為敞亮，登臨閣上的人舉眼四望，全城都顯呈眼底，尤其是一條像閃光白練似的大運河，流冰疊疊，蔚為奇觀，隆冬時運河封凍，祗有南北兩座大閘，因為水流特別湍急，是常年不凍的；河水在冰層下一路淌流著，到了閘口，便從冰層斷處冒湧上來，再噴著白沫倒瀉下去，發出轟隆震耳的虎吼聲。 可惜這三個人都有著心事，雖然登樓暢飲，但誰都沒有觀賞風光的雅興。彼此碰過杯之後，就又把適才沒談妥的話題拾起來了。 我說冒兄，假如咱們師座要請你們頭兒出面對付關八，