Chapter 20 Chapter 20.Anti-interval

After Marshal Sun Xingye escaped from the back road, the defeated soldiers swarming in the county town looked more like a nest of blind maggots.Although Commander Slack Nose used the name of retreating commander-in-chief to take in these stinky scattered warriors like picking up dung, he couldn't rectify them; those defeated soldiers lost their original organizational system after being defeated by the Northern Expeditionary Army on the front line of Longtan. Not in squads, not in platoons, soldiers and brave men can't find officials, and some bare-bones officials can't find soldiers.

In the Beiyang Army, whenever a battle is defeated, the chances of soldiers and warriors making foreign fortunes are equal to those of winning a battle, perhaps even more lucrative than winning a battle; winning a battle, of course, can receive rewards, bonuses, gambling holidays, and robbing riches households, but there are always high-ranking officials at the top who are suppressing and dividing the work. Unlike a defeated battle, no one cares, turning around and looting all the way, even selling his mother's guns for money; Many of the defeated soldiers taken in by the flat nose did not have guns.

When he was inspecting the group of defeated soldiers, he saw a guy carrying a mortar shell, but there was no one carrying the barrel on the left or right, so he asked curiously: "Hey, you confused guy!"Where is the barrel?What about the neighbors carrying the cannons?These two things cannot be separated. Reporting back to the commander-in-chief, the soldier said bravely: I haven't seen him since that night when he was on the front line in the rain! Fool!Mr. Snub Nose scolded: That day, that day!What day are you talking about? The soldier was leaning on his legs tremblingly, with his eyes turned upwards, as if he was seriously calculating something. After a long while, he bit his tongue and said inarticulately: "Report, report, I didn't see him, It's been a month and three days.

You are not bad at all, Mr. Snub Nose suddenly thought of something, and praised: You are much better than those who throw guns in front of the battle. Seeing that you are so determined to carry the cannon, I will promote you to be the squad leader of the artillery squad, and I will reward you with another ten dollars ! As soon as Snout left, everyone gathered around to ask questions. You silly bird, how do you know that carrying a cannonball can bring such benefits?Carrying a useless thing all the way to death. I, my, my swollen neck, don't say anything for a long time: Who the hell expects such benefits?My mother is carrying such things, and she is reluctant to throw them away, but she can't sell them if she wants to sell them!

As soon as he uttered these words, the surrounding crowd burst out into miserably mocking laughter. In fact, those lives themselves also have a miserable and mocking flavor.The jug was filled with the spirits that were stolen, and everyone drank half-awake, half-drunk, and those who wanted to make a fortune tied up with those who wanted to make a fortune, discussing how to start a robbery, and wanted to run away on business. They look for friends and relatives everywhere, so they can sneak away together, want to prostitute and gamble, and they wander all over the street, pointing their heads to visit brothels and casinos, with short knives in their waists. What about the officials?Busy opening windows, throwing doors, handing out red cards, paying homage to students, boasting of the number of guns they have now received, so that they can get a larger number from Mr. Snub Nose.

Tens of thousands of defeated soldiers ravaged the county town Under the ravages of the defeated soldiers, the ancient county town changed its appearance. The previously prosperous city avenues, Huanhe Street and Shili Changjie all closed their doors and closed their doors. Pack up the things and flee the city to avoid the rebellious soldiers. Only some prostitutes and gamblers are backed by respectable officials in the Jiangfang Army, and they still keep their doors open, creating a kind of obscene and dirty deformed prosperity. There were some disturbances that caused even the flat nose to feel that it was too shameful. A group of defeated soldiers robbed the Tongyuan Bureau in the middle of Shili Long Street, carried the copper yuan out of the warehouse in sacks of sacks, and shouted that they would pay their own wages. Those who fought for each other caused copper coins to be scattered all over the place.Another two groups of defeated soldiers fought with the Jiangfang army defending the city, causing both sides to mount machine guns.Flat nose had to put up big notices everywhere, forbidding robbery in broad daylight (not mentioned at night), forbidding robbery of government agencies (not mentioned by the people), no guns for prostitution, gambling and trouble (knives were not mentioned) , and sent out four groups of patrol teams, with dozens of people in each team, carrying bright ghost knives, and patrolling the street one or two, one or two, and managed to maintain no major disturbances, but it was said that they were jealous He didn't bother to care about such trivial things as breaking his head, killing people inside and outside the casino, and his nose was flat.

His mind is being spent on how to break through the salt market. But the knight Zhang Erhuaxie who came up from Yanshi is also settling down in the labyrinth behind Ciyun Temple in Dongguan, taking root, waiting for the opportunity to assassinate Flat Nose. In the teahouses, restaurants, casinos and brothels around Dongguan, Zhang Erhuaxi was active like a ghost, and no one knew his true face.A new set of yellow woolen military uniform, well-fitting breeches and purple-red riding boots that were polished to reveal his face made him a regimental commander in the Beiyang Army, and his regimental prestige far surpassed that of the many bare regiment commanders in the defeated units. .

In order to find the most appropriate opportunity, Zhang Erhuaxi publicly assassinated Mr. Snub Nose. He pretended to be relaxed and happy on the surface, but his heart was very heavy. He is familiar with the streets and alleys in and out of the city, just like a martial arts practitioner knows his fists and feet, and he will never forget it; when spring comes, the water of the Grand Canal flowing around the city rises and its embankment is flat, which is the time when the ancient county is bustling with business, and people go from south to north. Tourists and merchants make the inns along the wharf full of guests, and the large and small ships from the upstream and downstream are moored from the embankment for nearly ten miles, and have been moored to the center of the river. , when night comes, the bright lights connect each other, forming a bustling floating city on the surface of the glittering gold river; on the pier, there are piles of scattered goods, huge sea fish, baskets of cocoons, and strands of raw silk , stamped bean cakes stacked higher than a human head, baskets of soybean oil sealed with pig urine, new cotton gins and deep-plow iron plows from the south, wool and baled furs from the north , exhausted the turbaned porters on the pier.He also remembers the factory area lined with chimneys spewing fire and smoke day and night, the shops with white-hot gasoline lamps, the drums, firecrackers and long-lasting applause in the dragon boat race in front of the gate, but those scenes have long been forgotten. Disappeared without a trace!Only a gray and black deserted city was left behind.

At dusk, he often walks along the half-ruined city walls and the banks of the Grand Canal with his hands behind his back, reminiscing about the prosperous past of this deserted city, thinking about the words of Guan Baye, Guan Baye is a prophet , He is right, if the Beiyang Defense Forces occupy one day, there will be no peace in the North!But today, at the moment when the defeat of the Beiyang Army is fully revealed, it is too important to assassinate the Slack Nose Commander. If he can be assassinated in public, it will cause chaos without a leader, disintegrate his wishful thinking of taking Yanshi, and save his life. There are many lives in the Northland.In order to assassinate Sagging Nose, I had made up my mind a long time ago and planned to put my life on it. I have a few mentors and apprentices who have devoted themselves to martial arts for many years. They are all single and have no family concerns.But this cunning fox with a flat nose is always on guard. He usually doesn't go out when he has nothing to do. When he goes out, he will be surrounded by dozens of guards. , It will be even more difficult to find another opportunity.

But it is very easy for him to take root in this chaotic city, because Sun Chuanfang's troops have always been numerous and chaotic, so chaotic that even the handsome man himself can't figure out how many guns he has under his command?How many numbers?In terms of provinces, there are Soviet Army, Anhui Army, Zhejiang Army, Fujian Army, and Jiangxi Army. In terms of designations, it is even more chaotic.Most of the officials who retreated to the north were die-hards who hated the Northern Expedition the most, that is, the most typical warlord bureaucrats. , Gambling all night, I'm afraid that the Northern Expeditionary Army will come over to wipe out their bad winds, and to wipe them out means to kill their old lives.Wrapped in the defeated army, they retreated in a panic, regardless of the life and death of their subordinates, they only cared about protecting their small homes, cages, and the money they had collected.

They have always held the outdated notion that money can turn ghosts around, thinking that it doesn't matter if the subordinates' guns are defeated, as long as they have Yinyang under their hands, they can get a number, recruit one by post, and pay for them. , If you pay, you get paid, is a slogan they are familiar with, because once in the famine north, people could not survive the continuous famine years, and the phenomenon of working hard to eat food with their eyes closed used to happen commonly, but these officials were addicted to it. In their own unconscious dreams, they do not know that time has passed. Zhang Erhuaxie hangs around in this group of frustrated little bureaucrats and politicians all day long. Because he has a lot of money, is willing to spend money, speaks well, handles things well, and has much better opinions than those people, so the poor officials in the defeated army Among the children, Zhang Tuanfu soon became famous.He took advantage of this opportunity to try to get close to Commander Slack Nose, while grasping the fear of the group of people, desperately exaggerating the sentiment of the people against Beiyang, the strength of the guns among the people, and separating the defeated army from Beiyang's river defense army, and persuading them not to fight for the collapse. Nose attack the salt market and work hard, because there is no benefit in working hard. He once said so when he was entertaining guests in Laobanzhai. This man with a flat nose, from the perspective of photography, looks like he can't be a great talent. His cheeks are too high, he wants to dominate power, his eyebrows are drooping and his eyes are protruding, his fierce look is restrained, and his heart is vicious and gloomy. Well, just because of his nose alone, it means that he can't have a good official career hehehe. When he mentioned it intentionally or unintentionally, he attracted those guys. That's right, what brother Zhang said is good.A former regiment leader with a mustache shook his wine glass and said: However, whether it is sackcloth or Liuzhuang, there are always five external forms and internal five forms.Of course, it's not enough to just look at the appearance of the commander-in-chief of Slack Nose, but now that he is in command of the military, he seems to be a substitute for the commander-in-chief, is it his internal five-figures? !Well, inner pentagram Yes, yes, another fat pig-like guy shook his body, jingling the medal on his lapel: maybe there is something precious about his inner five.Take my brother for example, I have been with the commander-in-chief longer than him, and my qualifications in the Beiyang Army are not shorter than him, but he swelled his neck, swallowed like a toad and said: The commander was promoted directly to the brigade commander, and the brigade commander was promoted directly to the division commander. The division commander failed to capture Yanshi and should have been beheaded, but not only did he not lose his head, but he changed himself and became his mother's commander-in-chief!But, but me, I see with my mother's eyes that the brigade commander can't be promoted, and the regiment commander has lived his whole life. The evil fire in Longtan has boiled my group of people, so I have to rely on him. what? ! Everyone has their own life, and their lives are different. The one next to him winked and said: "Your brother is taking a romantic life, and the eighth concubine and wife have withdrawn without any shortage, and they don't care about it. They just sink in the country of fat and powder. It's enough to be a flamboyant general! The words made everyone at the table laugh. It's not that there is something valuable about the inner shape of the flat nose. When the laughter stopped for a while, Zhang Erhuaxie still picked up the interrupted conversation and said solemnly: "The flat nose is not like Han Xin, who gave birth to his only son, Fang An. (According to folklore, Han Xin, Marquis of Huaiyin in the Han Dynasty, had different phases, single testicles, and square anus, so he was noble.) Unlike Anlu Mountain, where there were red moles on the soles of both feet, what was so valuable about him?He just relied on a daughter to be a starlet with the handsome man, and he got up on the swing while clinging to his skirt, how could he have the ability to dominate alone? ! According to Brother Zhang, if we want to take refuge in Flat Nose, it seems that we have nothing to make a fortune? A group of greedy fellows stretched their necks and listened to Zhang Erhuaxie; Zhang Erhuaxie said slowly: "Think about it, everyone, the prestige of Marshal Sun Chuanfang back then was not blocked by hundreds of thousands of allied forces from five provinces." The southern army that won the Northern Expedition ended up in a disastrous defeat in Longtan, with no place to stand!It is not a real material that Snub Nose led the Jiang Fangjun by chance. Now that he has proposed himself to take over as the commander-in-chief, isn't he hoping to take advantage of the chaos to get a vote of favor? !However, there was a salt market in front of the throat, and the morale of the gunmen everywhere was extremely high. The army of the Northern Expedition crossed the river as soon as it was mentioned. In my opinion, this mess is enough for him to clean up! Those faces that seemed to be waiting for something dimmed one by one Regardless of our brother Zhang's young age, he is mature enough to speak and judge things!The outdated head of the regiment said: We don’t have guns in our hands now, we’re just empty-handed. If we want to recruit soldiers again, we’ll have to spend a lot of money. We’ve spent money to recruit soldiers to take the lead in the fight against the nose. This post Business can't be done. You are right!Zhang Erhuaxie hastily echoed, "This person with a flat nose can't work together. The overall situation is now in such a state of turmoil. How can I spend a few pennies in my hand on injustice?" !We are now surrounded by enemies, like screws falling into an earthen jar. This is no longer the time to get promoted and get rich. How can we escape for our lives?is the first priority Although Lao Banzhai spent tens of silver dollars on Zhang Erhua's shoes for this banquet, he told the officials of the defeated army that their flat noses wanted to use them to recruit brave soldiers. They were disheartened. At this time, he could have found a chance to assassinate Sagging Nose, but was ruined by some folk legends.Because people in the west of the city rumored that there was a certain day and hour on a certain month, a white-haired old Taoist priest, who went to the mansion of Sagging Nose in Hehuachi Lane to tell his fortune. A toad spirit that escaped the thunder and fire calamity, after being reincarnated as a human, killed too much, and the gods did not want to write off the account, but still recorded a thunder and fire calamity on his head. When the old Taoist resigned, he disappeared in a puff of white gas in the yard!Flat nose thought it was a demon, but the left and right said it was the earth fairy who warned him, and urged him not to go out. Flat nose was afraid of death, so he shrank in the house and did not dare to show his face. Regardless of whether the legend is true or not, it made Tsubi even more vigilant. Not only were there dense posts in front of the house, but even Hehuachi Lane was sealed off as a dead-end lane, and outsiders were strictly prohibited from entering or leaving. Zhang Erhua's shoes are still haunting the area outside Dongguan. The defeated army in the county is gathering more and more Gray waves are rolling everywhere, those who ask for food, those who want grass, those who force horse bran and horse fodder, those who forcibly occupy houses, those who forcibly live in nunneries and temples, those who set up pots and stoves, and those who split doors for firewood. The patrol team can't control it either.All kinds of rumors were flying in those obscene public places. Some said: Although Flat Nose dared not go out, he held meetings day and night in his mansion to break through the salt market so that he could retreat to Lunan; some said: Flat Nose is very ambitious. He sits in one side to take in the defeated army and scattered soldiers from all over the country, and wants to break away from Sun Chuanfang and seek independence. Some said: What kind of independence is he doing? !He won't be able to pass the Yanshi hurdle, and all the civilian guns in the Northland are pointing at him, so it's good if he can save his life! The more anxious Zhang Erhuaxi became, the more relaxed he pretended to be. He knew that it was useless to rely on anxiety alone. With his skill, if he went to the house at night and took the risk of stabbing his nose secretly, although he couldn't say that he would succeed in one fell swoop, how much would he do? There is also some hope, but he feels that doing so will have little effect on the morale of Jiang Fangjun. To assassinate him, it is interesting to do it in public and under the eyes of everyone. He still waited patiently for his opportunity. On the walls of various places, the previous reward posters had long been faded by the wind and rain, and new reward stickers were posted again. Last time, only the leader of the rebellion, Guan Dongshan, was offered a reward. This time, Mr. Fang De was added. Zhang Erhuaxi saw his name, and couldn't help thinking of Baye Guan who had been gone for a long time. He drank some late wine in a small tavern, and when he came out with a revolver in his hand, the sky turned cloudy, and a misty late rain began to fall.Where are you going to spend your time tonight?He pressed the brim of his hat low on his eyebrows, and walked slowly along the stone-paved street corridor. Hey, Zhang Tuanfu.Who is calling him. He raised his head, and recognized the former head of the regiment who pretended to be the boss, with a horse, and he was also shopping like a nocturnal god. The group seats were very upbeat, Zhang Erhuaxie smiled and said: "It's rainy, Mrs. Ru, who is not in the house with you, wants to go shopping." Where are you shopping? !That one said: If I hadn't listened to Brother Zhang's persuasion, how could I be so busy? !I just got back from the pier. What are you doing at the pier so late? That one came over and said in a low voice, "The wind is really tight. We all want to protect ourselves. Seven or eight of us brought four decent civilian boats, made do with dozens of guns to escort the boat, and set off to go to the countryside to collect food." The project is to send everyone's family members to the boat first, and the first group of family members and relatives will set off first. We will leave a boat, and a few single people will stay here, and then there will be no signs of it. Your Madam Ru? gone too!The man shrugged his shoulders and said: Tonight, I'm a homeless person. If you're fine, just go for a walk with me. Where are you going?Zhang Erhua said. casual.The one said: "Go to that, what kind of pavilion is that, it's good to go and listen to the little girls singing."As he spoke, he narrowed his fleshy mouse eyes, with an ambiguous expression. You mean Xiangyun Pavilion?Zhang Erhua said. Oh, yes, yes, it's called Xiangyun Pavilion.The laughing one: That’s right, it’s that charming little place that your brother invited us to last time. I’m afraid we went late and there were no seats left. I have a box there for as long as you like, Big Brother.Zhang Erhuaxie said: Playing the qin under the yellow lotus tree, and having fun in the midst of suffering, is not necessarily a joy. You are really a person who can see it. In the chaotic county town, due to the gathering of defeated soldiers, most of the industries showed a scene of withering, only the Dongguan area was particularly prosperous.Those uncles in troubled times, procuresses in brothels, all have a special ability to adapt to troubled times and a technique of fighting poison with poison, which can grow in the cracks; they win over powerful people in the Jiangfang Army by flattery, flattery, gifts, and money. The rebels were a little apprehensive and had to barely maintain a fair deal.So at night, the maze that stretches for several miles behind Ciyun Temple is still brightly lit, and music and music are everywhere, like poisonous flowers and weeds blooming in the wilderness. Zhang Erhuaxie is not a person who lingers on Fengyue, but in order to spy on the whereabouts of Sagging Nose, divide the forces of the Jiangfang Army that is about to attack Yanshi, and instigate some frustrated bureaucrats in the defeated army to flee, so he has to get involved. The two of them took their horses and walked along the corridor towards the depths of the maze. Lanterns that looked like winking eyes floated past their heads. The cold misty rainy night constitutes a mysterious and charming mood, as if the world is really a maze isolated from the outside world. When the whimpering horns pierced the sky, the drums thundered, when the farmhouses were in ruins and blood flowed all over the fields, it bloomed like a flower in the rainy night in the east corner of the city; the wind on the slightly cold river blew If you don’t enter this street with eaves connected, corridors and winding streets, the slightest bit of rain, you can’t get wet all kinds of colorful lanterns; this place seems to be uprooted from the world of suffering, staying in the void of the night, the atmosphere here is overwhelmed. All kinds of smoked food, rich aroma of wine, all kinds of fats and powders thickened, turned into a precipitated mucus, stuck to groups of flies full of wine, sex and wealth, making the corridor full of human voices. They walked shoulder to shoulder in the crowd. As they walked, the loud sound of guessing fists flew out from the small restaurant full of soldiers. Those guys who were suffering from fright and hunger on the way of retreat, once grabbed the flagon, they forgot what they had done and yelled and fought hard. Fighting wine, the throat is so big that you can almost spit a heart into the wine cup to soak it. They roared, and each other yelled some common folk phrases that use numbers to symbolize auspiciousness: You must be promoted!Quan Fushou. Four or Four Ruyi, it is full of happiness and longevity! The leader of the five classics is full of blessings and longevity!Sixty-six Da Shun Ta Quan Fu Shou Through a transparent glass window, Zhang Erhua glanced at those defeated soldiers who had thrown off their hard hats and unbuttoned their discipline buckles. A soul that is hurt and lost its nature in the flames of war!The many words that symbolized auspiciousness with numbers spit out from their tongues that were numbed by the old wine, which seemed so incompatible with their real situation. Hope fell into the empty wine cup, and the distance grew farther and farther away! Those scenes of being promoted, riding a big horse, sleeping in a warm bed, and holding a concubine are floating in the clouds. It may not be tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow. Going into the mud, hunger and cold, facing the rain of bullets and guns, neither for the country nor for the family, they only fight for the generals who bought them, high promotion, good fortune, wishful thinking, and full house are never what they can enjoy Yes, burying bones in the wilderness is their common and real destiny. In the place where there are many brothels, there is a sound of playing, playing and singing. The soft and soft strings and obscene tunes have a kind of magic that binds people and controls people's hearts, as if even the mysterious night is wrapped up by the soft sounds of wind and moon. Live, no longer flow forward.Many soldiers with crooked hats and jackets draped indiscriminately, reeking of alcohol, go in and out of those whores, hoping to use the little money left in their pockets to buy some false solicitude and false sweet words, Even so, the panting in the darkness may remind them of the past in the hut! They approached Xiangyun Pavilion facing the largest pier on the canal bank. Xiangyun Pavilion is the most luxurious and famous amusement place at the end of the maze for several miles. It is not an ordinary brothel, nor is it a place dedicated to singing, nor is it an ordinary restaurant. Mixed features.The girls who sang in Xiangyun Pavilion were all famous in Jianghuai regardless of their sex skills, but usually, they mainly sang. The facade of Xiangyun Pavilion is tall but not wide, but the karaoke hall is very spacious, with scattered seats downstairs and many private rooms upstairs, all of which seem to be the style of the first-class Haijing opera theater in the north, but the operas it sings are not limited to The cappella of Beijing opera, many local operas, and popular ditties also fascinate customers; in Xiangyun Pavilion, customers can order tea and food at will, and invite a few young children to accompany them for a drink. No wonder the high-ranking officials in the Beiyang Army were fascinated by such a luxurious place. After the flat nose led the army to the north, the Xiangyun Pavilion was extensively renovated to cater to the officials who generally gathered folk fat and rich pockets. Man, it is said that Mr. Snack Nose not only occupies the luxurious box in front of the getai for many years, but also has the status of a shareholder. After Zhang Erhuaxie came to the city, he did inquire that Mr. Snack Nose has the most public appearances in Xiangyun Pavilion. The reason why he spared no expense to book a long-term box at the side of the getai. Because Zhang Erhua walks frequently in shoes and is extraordinarily generous, no one in this area does not know Zhang Tuanfu. As soon as the two of them entered the Xiangyun Pavilion, someone came to say hello and took the clothes from Ma Bian. cap. Master Zhang has friends tonight?The tea room covered with gold teeth said: Your box has just been packed, and I will make tea for you right away. well.When Zhang Erhuaxi asked the guest to go upstairs, he turned his face and confessed: "Later, bring me a few dishes of the new appetizers, two kinds of finer ones, and the original biser sorghum, and call two young children as usual." Yes, Mr. Zhang. Zhang Erhuaxi climbed up the stairs, turned around the bend of the escalator, and saw the box of Mr. Snub Nose covered with thick scarlet felt. The horses with the guns hanging around are patrolling, watching the people who climb the stairs.Zhang Erhuaxie was chatting and laughing with the head of the group, intentionally or unintentionally glanced at the box, seeing this scene, his heart was like a fire. Perhaps Shui Bi should be killed by his gun tonight. I have waited for him here for several nights, and that box was always empty; The assassination of him was such a sensation, but the chances of assassinating him in Xiangyun Pavilion were much more than elsewhere; They, in the name of reporting things, often hang out in the county town to satisfy their lewd pleasures. Xiangyun Pavilion is the place where they meet. If they can put their snub noses down here, it will be enough to make his subordinates lose their souls. His box is slightly in front of the right side of the flat-nosed box, separated by five or six seats, no more than six or seven feet apart, and there is a large pendant light hanging high in the sky, which just illuminates the flat-nosed box. Very bright, as long as Snout appears in his box, he cannot escape the fate of being killed. In order to really seize the opportunity, he chose the No. 3 revolver with a short gun body and easy to carry. Although the shooting range of the revolver is shorter than that of the box gun, after each bullet hole is filled, there is no suction, malfunction, and blindness when firing. Worry about fire, etc., is a sharp weapon in assassination.In case the bullet misses the vital point of the snub nose, he still has a chance to fly over and throw it; he has carefully inspected the hanging chain of the big pendant lamp, it is a string of brass rings that are slightly thinner than the little finger. All he had to do was to jump up and grab the copper chain on the lampshade with his hands, and then he could fly across the air. His lightness was enough to do so with confidence. Until he sat in the box, his thoughts were still drawn by this incident, and his eyes were still looking straight there.But the sound from downstairs interrupted his thoughts. A girl holding a Yueqin and singing a ditty is coming out. He shifted his gaze and looked downstairs, the seats were almost full of visitors, and the yellow light beams of several large funnel-shaped pendant lights shot directly onto the seats from a high altitude, separated by the hot mist and smoky atmosphere between the tea cups There was a mass of black and swaying heads, nine out of ten of them were officers from the defeated army and the Jiangfang Army; beams of light from a few pendant lamps enveloped the stage, and the girl holding a lute and singing was wearing a pink inlaid dress. The tight-fitting little jacket with silver thread, trumpet sleeves, and ruffles have a charming charm. She walks with flowery steps, and two pink silk shoes like mandarin ducks float under the waves of her dark green skirt. Her waist is so slender, she twists and turns naturally like a willow in the wind while walking, and her pretty white smile reveals a teasing and disturbing spring feeling Hey, Brother Zhang, the old group leader's eyes were narrowed into two fleshy slits, his big and loose front teeth protruded from his short and thick mustache, and he praised without thinking: "You are lovely!"What a goddamn sweetie! Zhang Erhua smiled at him, and then glanced at the box in front, the door was still half open, and the chairs were still vacant. The girl walked to the front of the stage, hugged the qin and bowed to the four directions, gathered her green skirt, retreated to a brocade stool and sat down, followed the qin slightly, and the sound of Cheng Cong suppressed the noise from all sides . who is she?The exasperated regiment leader tugged on the cuff of Zhang Erhua's shoes, still squinting his perverted eyes and asked. Here, isn't her stage name clearly written on the horizontal screen behind her? Dare to say, the ex-pilot leader said: You have to know, Brother Zhang, I am blind and illiterate.I clearly knew that her name was written on the horizontal screen, but how could I recognize it? She is the well-known Bai Yurong among the girls who sing Huaiqu. Zhang Erhua Xie said: "The stage name is Bai Fenghuang."Not only does she sing well, her expression is extremely charming, but she also plays the piano well. Hey, wonderful, wonderful!The head of the former regiment held his fat chin with both hands, looked at Bai Yurong's face with hunger and hunger, and said in a thick nasal voice: Don't talk about listening to some piano, my Brother Zhang, just looking at her little face is enough! The girl Bai Yurong on the stage was playing with the strings. From the wide and slightly short cuffs, a pair of bare, round and clean forearms with double jasper rings grew out. The two petite and exquisite little white hands really looked like a pair of white pigeons. Her slender and slender fingers are like fluttering pigeon feathers. She holds the back of the piano weakly with one hand, and inadvertently fiddles with the strings with the other hand. That string of wonderful cong flutters from under her fingertips like a soft wind. Get up, blowing many ripples in people's hearts. It's a pity that she can't meet someone who knows the music and interprets the law. On such a noisy night, behind the lights and smoke, there are countless fashionable eyes and many lusts that have exposed her. Who has that kind of heart to listen to the piano?Before she could adjust the strings, frenzied slaps and urging shouts sounded twice. Zhang Erhuaxie glanced at the box in front of him again, he hadn't come yet, but there were two more plainclothes horses standing behind the chair, one on the left and one on the right, looking at the guarded scene, maybe he was coming soon. He secretly touched the handle of the revolver in his waist and moved it to the most convenient place. At this critical juncture, he was thinking extremely calmly about a difficult problem that he had repeatedly thought about. He himself had never met Mr. Flat Nose, and he knew that it would be extremely dangerous to act rashly based on the image of Flat Nose described by others. Unwise things, it is likely to stab someone by mistake, but the guy on the other side knows a flat nose, so every time I come here, I always bring a few frustrated old bureaucrats with me. After Bai Yurong finished singing a Huaiqu, someone brought her a cup of hot tea to press her throat. She took off the teacup wrapped in ropa pinned to her lapel, and picked up her flower-like red lips to blow the teacup floating on the cup. Leaf stalks. Behind the door of the box in the front, the sound of two guards leaning on their legs to salute sounded.In the blazing din downstairs, this kind of sound, unless someone has a heart, would not pay attention to it. coming!he came!Zhang Erhuaxie thought. He glanced at the box over there from the corner of his eye. A tall, broad general came in. His shoulders were hunched slightly, and his back was slightly bent. He was wearing a brand-new dark yellow military uniform with a full armor belt and a hook on one side. He didn't hang a knife or a sword, and he wore a silky yellow cloak over his military uniform, with a shiny silver collar on the collar of the cloak. Before Zhang Erhuaxie could see his military rank clearly, he shook his shoulders. Arima Ben took the cloak over. Does this white phoenix live up to its reputation?Group seat? Taking advantage of the moment of gossiping with the head of the air regiment, Zhang Erhuaxie carefully looked at his prey; the man took off his white velvet gloves and hit the corner of the table, dragged a high-backed chair to the side of the desk and sat down. Hehe, yes, yes, this girl has both honey and sugar in her throat!The head of the former regiment shook his fat round head, almost blocking Zhang Erhua's sight. But he still took a closer look at the man's face. The man had a plump face, with high cheekbones, but a flat face. There was a tuft of beard under the nostrils. , a cold and unfeeling look can be seen from his thin and curled lips. If this white phoenix didn't have two hands, our master wouldn't have come to support her in person!Zhang Erhuaxie deliberately snarled towards the front box, and took the opportunity to say: Look at the box behind you, look who is coming! The head of the ex-ante group really turned his face away, looked at it and said: I really came here with a flat nose. As soon as Zhang Erhuaxie heard it, he knew that the person who had just come in was not the teacher of the flat nose, but a wimp in the Jiangfang Army. It's really not worth doing it yourself, it's not as important as the regiment leader who leads the troops into battle. Our attendee is very lucky, Zhang Erhuaxie chatted up and said: Compared with his appearance a few years ago, he has changed a lot. You, Brother Zhang, once the head of the air group pointed at the nose of Zhang Erhua Xie, and said affectionately: You messed it up at all, it’s not fat, it’s puffiness! The two clapped their hands, leaned forward and laughed together. At this time, the waiter opened the door and came in, carrying a suitcase, offering four plates of new dishes, several colors of Weiyang and fine dishes, a pot of blue-colored original sorghum and melon seeds and peanuts. Where is the chick? Here we come, here we come, the waiter bowed and said: They will be there soon, Mr. Zhang. Zhang Erhua rubbed his hands together. From the action of the chief of staff dragging the chair to one side, he guessed that Mr. Slack Nose might be late. He showed the look of respectfully accompanying the last seat.Of course, in such an occasion, openly assassinating Snout, I can't escape my life, and I have no plans to escape. A man is doing things, and one person is responsible for the job. I must show this kind of spirit to kill these idiots. Overwhelmed, it's not good to hide your head and show your tail and run away. Since Flat Nose looks like he came here, it is worth waiting for him, even if the next moment, he is facing a life-and-death situation, and he can let go of it and ignore it, isn't Bai Yurong singing another Huai tune again! Master Zhang's box is here, and the voice of the waiter leading the way came from outside: That's right! Two chicks in the same style came in holding hands. They were about the same age, with curly bangs like sheep's horns curled in front of their foreheads, and the ends of their curly hair curled into eyebrows; At the corner, he timidly said a blessing and gave his name, but Zhang Erhuaxi didn't listen, so he said: Come and sit down, there is no need to be so polite! One Wenwen quietly sat down next to Zhang Erhua's shoes, but the other was snatched by the obsessed head of the group, and the eagle pulled it over like a chicken, hugged her on his knees, and clung to her face , while taking a hand from under her side, rubbing her breasts. Hey, my darling, your little chick has just swelled, it looks like freshly fermented dough, and the tip is soft, tell me, who are you in love with?Um?hey hey hey 那個扭側的躲閃著，撐拒著，一面央懇說：老爺，您略為斯文些兒，讓我騰出手來斟酒您吃。 慢慢來，慢慢來，過氣團長說：你總得讓我先親一親，聞一聞！待會兒我吃了酒，手腳就更不會斯文了啦。 過氣團長在張二花鞋旁邊和那個雛兒歪纏著，張二花鞋卻在默默的計算著時辰，他沒有留心聽白鳳凰在唱些什麼，但覺她纖指撥出的一弦一索，都含著廣大民間苦於戰亂的淒涼他跟戴老爺子就是看透了自身力薄，無法拯世救民才相率歸隱的，潛居鹽市有年，豪心俠氣都消減了很多，而關八爺這般看重，臨危相託，剖心瀝膽，使自己師兄弟幾個，不能不跟隨老爺子挺身而出。如今鹽市危況未消，關八爺又北去沒回，自己肩頭這一付重擔，無論如何是卸不脫的了！ 初進縣城時，以為刺殺塌鼻子機會很多，沒想到塌鼻子對他本身安危早具戒心，使自己多次等待落空，假若在今夜刺他不著，他發兵攻撲鹽市，企圖奪路北撤的日子已迫在眉睫，自己所能掌握的機會可就不多了！這責任沉沉的，壓得人透不過氣來。 張爺，您用杯酒罷。他身邊的那個雛兒滿斟了一盞酒，雙手奉至張二花鞋的面前。 張二花鞋接過酒，喃喃默祝著，他心裏有一種聲音說：老爺子，承你傳授給我這些身手，關八爺，承您以大義相託，我張二花鞋雖說文不足治世，武不足安邦，總要做一個有用的人，寧可奉義而死，不敢忍辱偷生！但願我能手刃惡賊，但願我這一死，能使江防軍瓦解，免去鹽市將遭的劫難，能讓北地的老民，活至北伐軍來到的時辰這樣，我就雖死無憾了！ 喝罷，張兄，過氣團長摸不清張二花鞋在想些什麼，嘿嘿的笑著說：您還在想些什麼？來罷，我這是借您的酒來敬您，人生麼，行樂需得及時，咱們是今朝有酒今朝醉呀！ 沒等過氣團長舉酒，張二花鞋朝空一晃杯，那一剎間，戴老爺子和關八爺的臉在他眼前晃動，他一仰臉，把那盞酒懸空傾進喉嚨裏去，默默的沒發一言。 過氣團長乾了酒，跟張二花鞋所懷的心情完全兩樣，他把那個雛兒抱著，坐在他自己的膝頭上，一面上下其手，一面纏著那雛兒嗑瓜子他吃，不但嗑，還要使舌尖度給他。張二花鞋瞧著他這種醉生夢死的模樣，心想，這種樣的北洋軍，若不敗滅，頭頂上的蒼生也就沒有天理了。 他在表面上和過氣團長親親昵昵的喝著酒，兩眼卻不斷的逡視著正面的那個包廂，白鳳凰已經唱完幾段淮曲，抱琴下臺了，塌鼻子師長卻始終沒有露面。 忽然他省悟過來，這個刁滑的傢伙可能是故布疑陣，耍那狡兔三窟的手法，他差出參謀長坐包廂，聽戲曲，擺出親臨的架勢，使意欲刺殺他的人空等，而他也許正在另一個地方作他攻撲鹽市的準備呢！自己早先沒察及，幾幾乎受了他的矇騙；事實證明他的想法沒錯，直至夜深了，雨大了，散座上的人頭紛紛消散了。仍沒看見塌鼻子師長的影子。 一個決意赴死的人受了對方的欺騙，經過一夕苦待沒能得著拔槍躍擊的機會，心情更顯得沉鬱空茫；張二花鞋別了過氣團長，付賬走出來，有一股說不出的悶氣，他一時不想回到旅館去，和一盞孤燈對守，他看了看沿著河堤的燈影，水泊中閃迸起的千萬道光絲，又抬頭瞅瞅黑毒毒的飄著斜雨的天空，冰冷的雨絲打在他的臉上和額上，使他覺得很舒適，很清醒。 這種感覺，引起他雨中散步的興致來。 順隨著這種興致，他離開香雲閣前面平臺，緩步踏進雨裏；雨夜裏的空氣是清涼濕潤的，雨絲密而細，霏霏之中，又帶著些霧屑般的濛濛，這種雨最適宜漫步，祗要不在雨中停佇太久，還不至濕透衣裳。 他把官帽的帽沿扯得略低些，背起手，低著頭，信步朝西邊踱過去。因為堤路筆直的朝西伸展，堤邊站立著一座座鎮水的銅牛，互相用鐵鍊鎖搭著，不但夜景很美，而且越過兩道比較熱鬧的街口後，一路都很寬敞清靜，祗有一些古老的、點燃煤油的路燈，在夜雨中形成一團一團的光球點綴在其間。 路面是遠方運來的赭黃色的姑姥石鋪成的，積水彙成的小水漥遍佈著，映出倒立的燈影和雨絲的跳躍。他的光亮的長筒馬靴踩踏在石面上，發出踏、踏的聲音；他經過一道橫街的街口，聽見一些拎著酒壺、業已喝得東倒西歪的兵勇們在廊下怨罵著，罵江防軍既收容他們，為何不給餉？怨左一火右一火越打越窩心 倒了他媽的八輩子窮霉才幹北洋兵！one said. 上八輩子，還要加上下八輩子！ 另一個把酒壺砸在廊柱上，連壺全砸扁了。 多少夢幻碎在眼前的水漥裏？張二花鞋每見著這些狼狽的兵勇們就不禁起了憐憫，但他實在沒有時間去拯救他們，他受了西邊閘口的水聲的吸引，朝那邊走過去。 水聲是巨大的，持續的，永不疲倦，永不停歇的響著，響著，從黑夜到天亮，從春天到秋天，它永遠那樣有力的鼓舞著有心人，朝前面去，朝前面去，壓力愈強，抗力愈大，力量也愈強，響聲也愈高！水聲轟隆隆的滾瀉在黑夜當中，它像獅吼，像虎嘯，像無數無數沙啞了的喉嚨匯合在一起的吶喊，這巨大的、原始的吶喊使大地都興起了顫震！ 他聽著這麼一種聲音，內心的悶鬱和空茫的感覺都消失了，代替那些的，卻是前所未有的安心；不錯，這並非是水聲，它是廣大民間的憤怒的迸發，萬民希望的高揚，從遙遙遠遠的古往，奔歷千年萬載的時空，一直響到了今天！在鹽市上，他已經聽到過相同的吶喊和呼號，他相信這種吶喊，這種呼號，是任何力量阻不住，斷不了的！鹽市可以被攻破，民舍可以被焚燒，方德先、關東山、我張二花鞋，都可拋頭灑血的死在北洋軍的槍口上，而這轟隆隆的巨響不會消失，它將滾流到未來歷史的盡頭！ 他經過另一道熱鬧的花街的街口，人力車的車鈴聲把他喚醒了。但他很快又沉入另一種思緒裏來。 不錯，今夜是空等過去了，但明天還得把握著才行；塌鼻子師長既這樣的狡猾，自己就不能再這樣癡貓等瞎窟長此空等下去，非得另想辦法不成。 他走到一座鎮水銅牛邊，停住了腳步，一手撫著水淋淋的銅牛脊背，朝河面上凝望著，兩岸的燈影落在河面的流水上，流水波漾波漾的拖長那些燈影，變成條條曲折的光柱，因為離閘口較近，近岸處的流水，不時翻騰起一串串有力的漩渦。 正當他在那兒獨自默想時，他背後的堤路上，傳來牲口的蹄聲和嘶叫聲。他轉臉望過去，看見兩個鄉野打扮的漢子，穿著布衫，腰繫著黑絲絛，頭戴著大竹笠，有馬不騎，都撮著韁繩牽著走路，正經過東邊的另一盞路燈朝西走過來。 張二花鞋瞧在眼裏，心裏怦然一動。 Strange? !這兩個不知死活的傢伙！he thinks. 據他所知，塌鼻子師長自從上回被誑丟了幾千大洋以後，就會囑咐左右遇著可疑的人物，不問三七廿一，就先扣起來再說。鹽市後來差人進縣城活動，全都改頭換面，扮成城裏的商賈，或是從事各行手藝人的模樣，決不敢以這樣的裝束出現在街頭。 如今這兩人這種打扮法兒，任誰祗要瞅上一眼，就知他們決不是本城的人，而是從北地來的；塌鼻子師長素患疑心病，尤獨患有恐懼北地的病，祗要攫住北地打扮的人，沒有不敲打盤問的，總以為它們若不是大湖澤裏的民軍，就必是勾結鹽市的叛民。 這樣看來，這兩個傢伙不是明明找死麼？ 他既抱著這種想法，不由就轉過身來，背靠著鎮水的銅牛，仔細瞧看著他們了。 那兩個傢伙牽著兩匹膘壯的好馬，跟他們衣著相比，顯得有些不倫不類，而這一對不倫不類的土佬，走在縣城的堤路上，非商非賈，更覺得有些不倫不類了。 若說他們倆是一對白癡罷，瞧他們的樣子又一點兒也不癡，若說他們腦瓜子聰明罷，牽著牲口一路走下來，可又笨得可以，他們是什麼樣的人呢？ 這些狐疑經過張二花鞋的腦子，比閃電還快的繞了個圈兒，他總覺有幾點是特別奇怪的。第一，他們若真是一般的鄉農，他們就不會有這兩匹備妥鞍蹬的好馬。他們若真是一般的鄉農，聽說敗軍紛紛湧入縣城，他們躲還怕躲不及，哪有這麼大的膽量大明大白進縣城來？ !第二，就算他是北方的鄉民，木頭木腦進縣城辦事來的罷，看見滿街的兵勇時，總也該有些畏懼了？ !但細看他們的模樣，卻大搖大擺，彷彿有恃無恐的樣子，有一個一面走著，還一面咿咿唔唔的哼著俚俗的小曲兒呢！ 會有什麼樣的得意事兒，使他那樣興高采烈呢？ ! 轉眼之間，那兩人就走過來了。 一雙久歷江湖的眼，雖不敢說是目光如炬，得能穿胸透膚，但至少也具有著辨人的能耐；張二花鞋把那兩個人一瞅，但見他們臉上雖滿布欣悅之色，眉梢眼角，卻隱隱有殺氣沒消，其中年紀稍長，體形略壯的一個，一張蟹殼臉上，生一付森冷的濃眉和含凶帶怒的豬眼，額頭平板，鼻孔外露，一望而知是個又蠢又橫、缺欠心計的人，年紀略輕的那個，賊裏逡逡的，兩粒瞳仁兒在眼眶裏來回跑，像是有很多主意，嘴裏雖咿唔哼著俚俗的小曲兒，卻尾音顫涼，暗含著半分怯意，也許是平素很少進城，對這陌生的城市，有著一份原始的恐懼罷。 面對著這兩個來歷不明的傢伙，張二花鞋疑竇叢生，他很快斷定了這兩個人，要不是意圖勾結北洋防軍的土匪，就是犯下案子在北地難以存身，試圖進縣城抗風來的。他正想迎上一步，把他們截住問上一問，但對方當中體形略壯的一個，牽著馬斜行過來。 請問您這位官長老爺，那人微仰起臉問說：這一帶可有客棧沒有？我跟我這兄弟從鄉下來，打算投店，沿河那條街，竟沒找著客館。 哦，你是找客棧？張二花鞋慢條斯理的說。 不錯，不錯，老爺。另一個也牽著馬過來了。 這一帶客棧多得很。張二花鞋伸手漫指著西邊說：客棧也分三六九等，不知你們倆想住哪一等？你們說了，我好指路給你們。 我說老爺，那個年紀略輕的搶著說：咱們鄉下人，睡牛棚睡草垛睡慣了的，哪兒講究得這許多？ !祗要有個板鋪，躺著好伸腿就成了，咱們祗住小客棧，越小越好，那上等的，咱們花不起那種冤枉錢。 不，不，原先那個瞪了一眼說：我早就聽說城裏小客棧，出名的有三多，蚊蟲多，跳蚤多，臭蟲多，咱們趕長途著著實實的累了一天，哪還經得那麼多的蟲子釘咬？ !依我看，找個上等的也就罷了！ 噯，我說，全哥，你這是怎麼了？ 我不怎麼，我祗要舒服些兒。 你自己說過：在鄉下，我聽你的，進城後，你聽我的。你自己說過的。 我不管，那個眼瞪得更大了：你為了省幾文錢，害我去挨臭蟲釘，跳蚤咬，我不樂意。 good!你不管，你不管就好！另一個脖子也變粗了，衝著張二花鞋說：有您老爺在這兒做人證；我跟他屢次三番告誡過，說城裏地方大，騙子多，那些惡吃詐騙的人到處都是，他們一個個也都是生的一個鼻子兩隻眼，人模人樣的；他們額頭上又沒寫字，誰能分得出來？他沖頭沖腦，不聽我的話，要是上了人的當，吃了人的虧，我可不願擔待。 還沒容張二花鞋答話，那個可又瞪著眼說了：我說，有老爺您做人證正好，自打進城後，這半老天我全受著他的氣，他把我當成三歲娃兒，動不動拿話恐嚇我，我說這，這也不是；我講那，那也不是；就差要我夾著臀不准放屁！ 上有天，下有地！年輕的那個說：我是怎麼脅制你來著？ !我不過拿老人話告訴你，出遠門在外，銀錢不可露白，免得引起歹人紅眼；告訴你，逢人祗說三分話，不可交人一片心！我是一片好心，反遭你的怨毒，你豈不是狗咬呂洞賓嗎？ 說我狗咬呂洞賓？你才是狗咬呂洞賓呢！我沒告訴誰，我身上帶的有兩百塊銀洋，我也從沒跟誰講過真話，難道我要睡得舒坦些兒也不成嗎？ 兩百銀洋打三折是多少？你還講不說真話呢！ 可是日後領著那筆花紅，我沒跟誰講，對不對？ 甭提花紅兩個字好不好？ What are you afraid of?我又沒說那筆花紅是用誰誰誰的兩隻眼珠換來的，如今沒見著塌鼻子師長，錢還沒到手呢！ 你你你到底要怎麼樣？ !我的天爺！年輕的那個急得絕望的嚎叫起來。 我要怎樣？我壓根兒不要怎樣！我祗要睡得舒坦些兒就得了！ 我依你，依你！求你少說話成不成？ 那人攤攤手說：事情都是你惹出來的，你要是早依我，我就不會講這許多了。 張二花鞋起初在一邊聽著，聽出這兩個自以為聰明的傻蛋，恰像此地無銀三百兩那個笑話裏所形容的人物一樣，愈想隱藏心裏的事，一開口就把老底兒全掏出來了，及至他們提到拿眼珠換花紅，他的一顆心就狂跳起來；因為他清楚，塌鼻子前些時曾懸賞捉拿過化名冒突的毛六和齊小蛇，而那個毛六早已被小餛飩手刃掉了，齊小蛇正是自己的化名，後來他又懸賞捉拿關八爺和師兄方勝，這眼珠難道是他們遇害後被剮出來的？ 疑思一起，他就覺得這宗事情絕不尋常，真是無巧不成書，偏偏這宗不尋常的事情叫自己碰上了，自己無論如何也不能把這兩個人輕易放過，非在他們身上追查出真相不可。 依自己的判斷，師兄方勝正在鹽市上指揮若定的揮兵抗敵，不至於遭人陷害，而這兩人並不像從鹽市來的，但單身匹馬去北地的關八爺可就難說了若依常理而論，八爺的身手，雖不一定能勝過專門習武的人，但，但若說對付眼下這兩個毛人，實在是遊刃有餘，而且八爺的膽識超人，槍法又十分神奇，說什麼也不該出這樣的岔事？不過，聞說他在羊角鎮帶了很重的槍傷，用好手好腳的人去暗算一個傷者，那人再是英雄也不成如今沒功夫思索這許多，先拿話拴住這兩個傢伙再說。 你兩個剛從鄉下來，也許一時還弄不清城裏的底細。張二花鞋打定主意後，半陰不陽，慢吞吞的吐話說：打個比方說：今夜你們若不是遇著我，嘿嘿，你們兩人的虧，可就吃大了！ oh!一個吐了口氣。 oh?另一個把個嘴嚇得半張著。 如今縣城可跟往日的縣城大不相同了，張二花鞋說：鹽市喊著保壩護鹽，跟防軍接火之後，但凡是北地來的人，就像你們倆這等裝束打扮的，尤獨像你們倆這等年輕力壯的，更像你們倆這等牽著馬的，嘿嘿，咱們的師長，他 他故意把話頭兒突然頓住，用懷疑的眼色，從上而下，從下而上，反來覆去把兩個傢伙打量著。 他，他？how is he? 他究竟會？ !兩個同聲的問說。 他，他們把你們一律當做鹽市上差來的奸細！張二花鞋聳聳肩，背著手，拿起北洋防軍高級軍官那種官架子，故意用光剌剌的長筒馬靴用力踏地，沉重的踱著八字形的方步，虎虎的說：他會吩咐巡邏隊，用鬼頭刀橫架著你們的脖子，先行 我們不是奸細！一個叫說。 也不是從鹽市來的！said another. 不管那麼多，張二花鞋說：一律先行扣押！ 其實扣押也沒有什麼關係，振全哥，年輕的那個瞅瞅另一個說：祗要有位官長老爺來問話，咱們照實一說，他們就會放了，可不是？ 可不就是！那個說：祗要咱們說，是拿東西送給師長，來領花紅獎賞的，說不定還有一餐酒席可吃呢！ 你們也甭先把算盤打得太如意了！我是團附，我知道得很清楚。張二花鞋說：在江防軍手裏被扣押，夢也夢不著官兒來審問你！一進去，就先鞭抽棍打，狠砸你一頓，然後，每人也有酒席你吃兩壺老酒，一盤滷菜，吃完了就拉出去斃掉你！ 您說就不明不白的把人給斃掉？ 我說團附老爺，他們總不能這樣的不分青紅皂白啊！ 這年頭，不分青紅皂白的事兒多著呢！張二花鞋冷丟丟的說：江防軍斃幾個鄉巴佬算得了什麼？就像伸手撚死一隻螞蟻。 那兩個呆立著，滿臉泛著猶豫；張二花鞋看在眼裏，知道自己的恫嚇奏了效，便更加嚴厲的說：你們兩個身分不明的外路人，要是找不著妥當的保人，祗怕這兒的客棧會不容你們落宿；就算能住進去，那巡邏隊也會半夜三更來把你們捉了去，不信，你們就去試試罷？ 說著，故意邁開步子，擺出要走的樣子。 那兩個傢伙好不容易碰上張二花鞋這樣的一個官兒，就像溺在大河心裏的人攀著一塊木板，怎肯輕易把他放走？張二花鞋在前面走著，兩人急急的牽著馬在後面跟著，一面哀哀的求告著。 我說，團附大老爺，我們實在不知城裏的底細，冒冒失失闖進來，誰曉得這麼緊法兒，您能不能幫幫忙，幫幫忙 您幫了咱們兄弟的忙，有好處，咱們絕不會忘記您的！said another. 他們趕到張二花鞋的前面，把他軟攔著了。 張二花鞋露出一臉為難的樣子，聳聳肩，攤開兩手苦笑說：我把這些厲害，照實告訴你們，因為我看兩位都不像是鹽市來的奸細，不忍心看你們叫巡邏隊冤枉抓了去，糊裏糊塗就丟了腦袋！這在我來說，業已算幫了兩位的忙了，再叫我幫忙，我真不知從哪兒幫起？依你們說，是不是呢？ 那兩個面面相瞥的互望了一眼。 我說，團附大老爺，年輕些的一個說：俗說：救人一命，勝造七級浮屠，您務請幫幫忙，為咱們做個保罷！ 你說做保？張二花鞋用訝然的聲音說：這可不是鬧著玩兒的，做保，我看斷斷使不得，你們沒看看城裏的那些商家，哪家不貼著至親好友，覓保免談，本號對外擔保，一概謝絕，這年頭，老子連兒子全不敢保，保人的擔子重過被保的，何況咱們萍水相逢，名不知，姓不曉的，哪能談得上保字？ 那，那咱們可真的是走投無路了！另一個說：實在不成呢，就煩您老爺設個法兒，引咱們去見師長，咱們要孝敬他一份禮物，那禮物正是他想要的。 想見師長，那可更不容易了，張二花鞋兜話頭說：罷了，我看你們兩個著實糊塗得滿可憐的，保，我雖不敢作，但我可跟客棧裏打聲關照，說你們是我新募來的人；你們先投店住下來，我替你們找兩套軍衣給換上，你們要見師長如今他是總指揮了我再跟你們慢慢兒的設法安排可好？ 那敢情是叩頭也來不及的事。 團附老爺，您真真是太好了！ 走罷，你們。張二花鞋說：我住在花街東角，聯陞客棧，你們兩人跟著我走就是了！ 三個人一前兩後順著堤路走，沉默了一陣兒之後，張二花鞋又說話了：我說你們兩個人，替我好好兒的聽著！人生面不熟，我就出力維護你們兩個，你們不能說是我張團附對不起你們，可是，你們也得對得起我才行。你們自己說，是不是呢？ 是的是的，團附老爺！年輕的那個阿諛著。 good!張二花鞋說：待會兒，你們進了客棧之後，得到我房裏來，我有話要問個清楚，你們若有半句謊話，就是對不起我，到那時，你們休怪我反臉無情，要知道，你倆的命，如今是操在我的手裏。 咱們哪敢瞞您來，另一個說：到時候，您問什麼，咱們自當照實說什麼。 那就得了。張二花鞋說。 三個人來到規模極大的聯陞客棧，店房裏的夥計一瞧見張二花鞋，便都老遠的迎出來，四面叫著張爺，有人替他使乾巾拂雨珠，有人奉上熱茶，張二花鞋朝背椅上一坐，略一抬腿，就有夥計趕著上來，半跪著替他脫靴，並奉上皮質的拖鞋。 你們兩個，把牲口交給他們牽上槽去加料，替我進來歇著罷！張二花鞋朝猶自站在廊下的兩人叫說。兩人交了牲口，拎著布囊進到客屋裏，給強烈得耀眼的燈光照得發呆。 聯陞客棧前樓下的大客堂，無論是裝潢擺設都是上海風的，地面鋪著褐色厚氈，桌椅條凳，光可鑒人，椅背上鑲著雲母石的石板，屋頂全都嵌著精緻的檀木立雕的山水人物、花卉、珍禽，這些這些，都是兩個傢伙生平從沒見識過的，那樣新異，那樣豪華，超乎他們的夢想，這使得他