Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The laughter in the room died down.

Someone stood up and said, "Today, there were people on the street asking about Yang Lin. One was a yellow-faced man, and the other was a white-faced man. One of them walked west along the street asking questions, and the other walked east."

"That's them." The shopkeeper nodded: "I don't know what they are doing."

"Yang Yezhe is out on official business now. I will go to the higher-ups about this matter. You can lead the man to West Street and have a look first." A smart-looking man stood up and sneered, "No matter what his tricks are, we will know after questioning him."

"That's it."

After the few people finished their discussion, they walked out of the house one after another. The shopkeeper came out from the back door, looked around, walked around the street for a while, checked the sky and estimated the time, and then returned to the hotel.

After entering the door, he took off his fur hat and saw that the table by the wall was empty. He walked over to the waiter and called him aside: "Where are those two people?"

"I just finished lunch and went back to my room."

"Find a way to lead them to the west of the city."

"got it."

The shop assistant nodded, went to the back to boil a pot of hot water, carried it to the room of Yang Xiong and the others, and when he arrived at the door and saw that no one was coming, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

bang bang—

"Guest, guest."

Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu were sitting in the room in silence. They were somewhat disappointed that they had not been able to find anyone on their way out today. They were frowning and didn't know what to do. When they heard the voice of the waiter outside, Shi Xiu walked over to open the door and looked at the kettle in the other person's hand: "What's the matter?"

"Bring you some hot water."

"come in."

Shi Xiu said to make way, and the waiter came in and poured water into the copper pot in the room, saying, "By the way, sir, today you two asked me if I know Mr. Yang Lin?"

Yang Xiong suddenly raised his head and looked at him: "Exactly, what happened?"

The shop assistant stuffed the copper can and wrapped it with cloth while saying, "I don't know many people, so I asked the shopkeeper about this matter. He said there was an official named Yang Lin in the west of the city."

Yang Xiong looked at Shi Xiu, and they both showed joy on their faces. He quickly said, "It could be him. Do you know where he lives?"

"I asked the shopkeeper for you." The shop assistant smiled and turned around and said, "There is a braised meat shop in the west of the city, called Zhang's Meat Shop. It is easy to recognize. There is a red sign outside. Walk forward ten feet from it, turn right at the alley, and keep going until you find Yang's Mansion."

"That's great." Shi Xiu said as he took out some copper coins from his pocket and handed them over: "Thank you very much, buddy. It's thoughtful."

"Oh~ Thank you, customer." The shop assistant smiled so hard that his teeth were exposed. He took the copper coin and put it in his pocket, then picked up the kettle and said, "I'll take my leave."

After he left, Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu became restless, so they got up and went out, searching along the way as the waiter had said. It was getting dark before they finally found Yang's mansion. They smiled at each other, then hurried forward to knock on the door, then stepped back and waited.

Bang, bang bang——

The copper ring hit the metal sheet, and a voice shouted from inside: "Who is it?"

Footsteps were heard from behind the door, and then the door opened a crack with a creak. An old man with white hair poked his head out and looked at the two of them. "Who are you looking for?"

"Excuse me." Yang Xiong clasped his fists and said, "This is the residence of Mr. Yang Lin."

The old man nodded: "That's right, you two are..."

"We two came from Nanjing Road, and came to seek refuge with Brother Shi Qian." Yang Xiong said, taking out a small piece of silver and stuffing it into his pocket: "Please tell me where Brother Shi Qian is."

The old man stretched out his hand and wiped it away. Yang Xiong didn't even notice how the silver coins disappeared. The old man retracted his head, opened the door, and smiled: "So you are here to visit. It's cold outside, come in first."

"Thank you."

Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu bowed and thanked them, then walked in. The old man closed the door and led the way. After turning around the screen wall, the two of them followed behind. Shi Xiu looked around and saw that the yard was quite large, and could accommodate four carriages abreast. The road inside was paved with bluestone, and there were some flowers on both sides, but now there were no green leaves and only bare stems, so it was impossible to tell what they were. There were two side rooms on each side, and the house opposite was closed with lights on, as if someone was there.

Something seems to be wrong.

The young man nicknamed Desperate Saburo frowned, feeling something strange in his heart, but he couldn't tell why.

After walking a few steps forward, and just before they had walked less than halfway through the yard, Shi Xiu suddenly pulled Yang Xiong and said, "No, there's something wrong."

Yang Xiong looked at him curiously: "What's wrong, brother?"

The old man walked forward a few steps and turned back.

Shi Xiu looked around and said, "It's dinner time now, why don't we see anyone coming in or out except this old man?" He pointed to the lighted room and said, "The room is brightly lit, but I haven't seen anyone walking around. How can this not be strange? I'm afraid they are trying to trick us brothers."

"You worry too much, brother."

Yang Xiong opened his mouth to say something, and the old man in front of him sneered: "He is a careful person."

The sick Guan Suo suddenly turned around, and Shi Xiu pulled him and said, "Brother, hurry up and leave."

He turned around and was about to leave with Yang Xiong.

wow-

The doors of the side rooms opened and men holding powerful crossbows rushed out. Shi Xiu suddenly stopped and more than a dozen men holding crossbows ran in from behind the screen wall and aimed their crossbows at the two men.

Yang Xiong was startled, but Shi Xiu looked at him with a sullen face for a few seconds, then slowly relaxed with a thoughtful expression.

Behind him, a shadow moved in the brightly lit room. The door opened with a "whoosh", and soldiers holding swords and shields poured out. A young man in a Taoist robe walked over.

Shi Xiu and Yang Xiong turned around and looked at him. The man walked closer and stood behind the shield, frowning at the two of them: "Who are you? Which Yang Lin are you looking for?"

Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu looked at each other. The former swallowed his saliva and didn't know what to say for a moment. Shi Xiu, on the other hand, cupped his hands and bowed: "I am Shi Xiu from Jiankang Prefecture, Jinling. I am honored to meet the Prime Minister of Qi."

Yang Xiong turned his gaze towards him, then looked at the Taoist priest over there.

"Oh?" The Taoist looked at him with interest: "You are from Song? How do you know that I am an official from Qi?"

Shi Xiu glanced at the crossbowmen on both sides, lowered his eyes and said, "Although I am stupid, I know that a crossbow is a battlefield weapon that is not easy to buy. Besides..." He looked up at the Taoist priest and said, "There are dozens of them here."

There was some admiration in the Taoist's eyes: "He is a meticulous person."

Yang Xiong looked at the Taoist priest in astonishment, then he bowed and said, "I am Yang Xiong, the jailer of Jizhou's two courts. I have committed some crimes and come here to seek refuge with brother Shi Qian."

The Taoist was startled: "You know Shi Qian? Then why are you looking for Yang Lin?"

Yang Xiong sighed in frustration, "Brother Shi Qian never told me where he lived or what he did for a living. He only said that he worked for a man named Yang Lin. I would know if I asked him around. What is this man's name?"

The Taoist laughed and said, "So that's how it is. The flood that washed away the Dragon King Temple is the fault of that thief."

With a wave of his hand, the crossbowmen surrounding him on three sides lowered their crossbows, and the sword and shieldmen also put away their stances. The Taoist smiled and walked forward and said, "I am Qiao Lie, you can just call me Taoist Qiao. I know the two of them. Since you two know Shi Qian, why don't you come with me? When he comes back, I will naturally arrange for you to meet."

"Master Qiao." Shi Xiu's heart moved, and he raised his hands and clasped his fists: "Then I wonder what Brother Shi Qian is doing? When will he come back?"

Qiao Lie glanced at him and said, "He is now in the army. I won't tell you what he does. It will be no good if you know."

Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu looked at each other and could only bow and agree.

Soon, the two followed the crowd out of the courtyard. (End of this chapter)