Chapter 127

As soon as these words came out, they were like thunder on the ground, shaking Li Dexian's heartstrings. He temporarily stopped Wang Yingchao's remarks, and his thoughts swept over him like a violent storm. He knew that this matter involved a serious matter. If there was no conclusive evidence, it was likely to trigger the feudal lord. their panic. However, Wang Yingchao did not stop and continued his analysis, believing that the King of Hanjiang had already fled Beijing and Li Debei always believed that the palace would be able to grasp his whereabouts. Wang Yingchao further revealed the events of the Zhuangzi fire and the attack on Yangqu County, and speculated that the King of Hanjiang had colluded with the salt merchant Xun Liu in order to rebel and usurp power. Li Dexian was puzzled by this and asked why he chose to attack Yangqu County. Wang Yingchao hinted that it was to seize gunpowder resources, which the King of Hanjiang had coveted for a long time.

When Li Dexian learned about the gunpowder, many mysteries seemed to be revealed one by one, but he was still confused as to why all the gunpowder was consumed. Wang Yingchao explained that the outside world did not know the truth and mistakenly believed that there was some mysterious treasure hidden in Yangqu County. After repeated thinking, Li Dexian finally agreed that King Hanjiang might be related to the salt merchants and the gunpowder incident, but there was still insufficient evidence to confirm the rebellion. After all, his father had a strong control over the military system, and the vassal king wanted to start a great war. The turmoil is never easy. He quickly deduced that King Hanjiang might have chosen to flee Kyoto because he was worried that Lin Xiaofeng would find out the secret behind it, but he didn't know where he was hiding?

At this time, Lin Taohua whispered in Li Dexian's ear: "As long as you have enough money and gunpowder, even though the world is big, you can't escape the eyes of the law." After hearing this, Li Dexian's eyes flashed with a hint of perseverance, and he bluntly said that he wanted to do something It’s a big deal, and I’d like to ask everyone here if you have the courage to go deep into the tiger’s den with him, the Hanjiang Palace, to find out the truth. Everyone expressed their willingness to follow, so Li Dexian decided to lead 200 elite soldiers and horses to the Hanjiang Palace, vowing to uncover all the fog. At this moment, his heart was intertwined with excitement and nervousness. He had the hope of justice and the possibility of eradicating the enemy with his own hands. If the King of Hanjiang was really not in Kyoto, then all the guesses would be verified, and a big drama concerning the fate of the country was about to take place.

In the cold winter moon, the earth dragon was awakened again, and the palace was filled with a warm and spring-like atmosphere. Emperor Jingjiang summoned Bai Yongyuan, an important minister of the cabinet, and others in Nuan Pavilion. The atmosphere was both relaxed and solemn. He held the imperial memorial in his hand and spoke in a low but firm tone: "I received this report last night. It is said that the coldness of this winter may exceed the level of the heavy snow disaster four years ago. At that time, the number of human and animal deaths in the Gyeonggi area was close to Four thousand. I know that Qin Tianjian’s predictions are not accurate every time, but if this prediction comes true, I am afraid that we will face another catastrophic cold test this winter. What are the best ways to deal with this? Feel free to speak your mind.”

After the ministers read the memorial, Bai Yongyuan responded unhurriedly: "Your Majesty, it is indeed difficult to withstand the cold winter, but this year there seems to be a glimmer of hope. It is said that the Beilang Textile Factory has joined hands with many cloth merchants in the city to significantly reduce the price of cloth. Prices, so even though the weather has not yet reached extreme cold, the prices of clothing and fabrics in Kyoto have dropped significantly. Seeing this, people have taken the opportunity to buy a large number of cold-proof items. Therefore, it is expected that the situation this winter may be greatly improved than before. Among them, the North Corridor Textile Factory is one of them. Indispensable. ”

After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang further inquired about the specific local situation. Li Qiuyan replied: "Recently, there have been similar reports from various places, and the price of cloth has also shown a general downward trend. Due to the low price of cloth in Kyoto, many small traders are rushing to purchase it, and they are The products are sold to other places at high prices, and although the total volume is limited, the impact on the local market is already apparent.”

Emperor Jingjiang frowned and asked after careful consideration: "The merchants are so speculative. If it leads to a shortage of goods in Kyoto, won't it cause damage to the well-being of the people? It is certainly a good thing for cloth merchants to reduce prices, but how to deal with other merchants taking this opportunity to make huge profits? Woolen cloth?"

Li Qiuyan explained: "The textile factory has made arrangements. Several large cloth merchants only supply small quantities to second-hand vendors and are strictly prohibited from reselling them in Kyoto. Violators will be severely punished in accordance with the law. In this way, the impact in Kyoto can be effectively controlled. There are long queues in front of most clothing stores, and people who are in urgent need of cheap winter clothes are willing to wait in line to buy, and the relationship between supply and demand has been balanced to a certain extent. "

When Emperor Jingjiang heard about this arrangement, he couldn't help but praise: "The Beiling Textile Factory built by Lin Aiqing can actually assess the situation in such a way, it is really the pillar of the country!"

A subtle expression flashed across Li Qiuyan's face: "This matter is not directly related to Lin Xiaofeng. When he left Beijing, this strategy had not yet been implemented. In fact, the Sixth Princess personally took charge of the textile factory, formulated relevant policies, and issued strict edicts Everyone in the factory is aware of this matter. There are even rumors among the people that Her Royal Highness is in charge of government affairs. I sent people to investigate and found out that the princess is respected as a role model for women in the world. "

Emperor Jingjiang was surprised when he heard about it and asked for details. He originally thought it was just a trivial matter, but he did not expect that the princess had such a talent and won such high praise. Li Qiuyan further added: "Because the price of the cloth promoted by the princess is extremely close to the people and of high quality, the people do not regard her behavior as an ordinary businessman pursuing profit. Instead, they think that the royal family is considerate of people's sentiments, so the princess has won such a reputation. Not only does she have outstanding Talented and handsome, he also possesses courage and wisdom beyond comparison.”

Emperor Jingjiang looked shy and said humbly: "According to common etiquette, it is not in line with the rules for women to get involved in business affairs. I have indeed neglected this point. How can people say this?"

Chen Shuguang made timely suggestions: "It is the responsibility of the imperial court to help the people. Now we can implement the policy of exchanging old clothes for new clothes. The imperial court will subsidize the price difference and distribute the recycled old clothes to the poor. This plan is extremely feasible. In addition, in view of the fact that The princess is familiar with the operation of the cloth industry and can serve as a consultant. At the same time, Her Royal Highness has also set up a facility called a 'warming house' in various cities in the north, using chicken and duck feathers as a low-cost and efficient thermal insulation material, which is proposed nationwide. Internal promotion.”

After some in-depth thinking, Emperor Jingjiang nodded in agreement: "Master Chen's suggestion is both reasonable and practical. This matter requires detailed planning." When he heard that the prince had also contributed, he was even more happy.

Regarding the "warming house", the prince ordered the construction of a simple wooden house with a built-in stove and hot water, and used discarded feathers to provide insulation to help the displaced and homeless people survive the cold winter. After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang burst into laughter and was pleased that the prince could take the initiative to assume social responsibilities. He asked if this was the prince's own method. Everyone was looking forward to the truth being revealed.

Emperor Jingjiang was full of expectations: "Is this move really the result of the prince's own wisdom? Is it not planned by Lin Aiqing?" Everyone secretly sighed in their hearts: Although Lin Xiaofeng has been far away from the capital, his topic is often mentioned, which makes people sigh. While people are laughing and laughing, they also have to admit his profound influence among the people. However, no matter when and where, the true way to govern is to comply with the people's wishes and truly solve the needs of the people, and this is exactly the goal that members of the royal family are working hard to practice today.

Bai Yongyuan coughed lightly and said in a deep and authentic tone: "Your Majesty, the prince's move is indeed from the heart. If we consider Lin Xiaofeng's acting style, he will never wait until today to carry out such a good deed." After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang said, After chewing on his words carefully and pondering in his mind, he found that Prince Li Dexian had indeed shown a more calm and sophisticated side without knowing it, and had not publicized it in front of others, which made Emperor Jingjiang quite gratified. After hearing this, the ministers nodded in agreement, and all praised the prince for his kindness and virtue, and for his magnanimity as a saint. A satisfied smile appeared on Emperor Jingjiang's face, and he praised sincerely: "It seems that all this is due to Lin Aiqing's careful teachings!" However, the powerful elders felt a trace of sadness in their hearts, thinking to themselves: We have also devoted our efforts to the growth of the prince, but Lin Xiaofeng took the lead and took the lead.

Emperor Jingjiang decided to record the incident in detail in his newspaper and circulate it to various places so that local officials could imitate the prince's actions. He also spoke highly of the prince's recent performance, which had become more mature and steady, and the teachings of his good teachers and friends were indispensable. At this moment, Wang Jingwen turned pale and hurriedly rushed into the palace, urgently reporting the news that the prince had led his people to the Hanjiang Palace to conduct a house raid. After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang's face changed rapidly, and anger swept through his body like a violent storm. When all the officials in the hall heard this sudden news, they were all stunned and speechless. Li Qiuyan and Bai Yongyuan looked at each other, and Bai Yongyuan whispered to himself: "This is what Lin Xiaofeng taught..." There were complicated emotions in his words.

Emperor Jingjiang was furious and ordered the prince to be summoned immediately. Soon after, Li Dexian dragged a prisoner into the hall quickly and announced with excitement that he had successfully captured the "King of Hanjiang". Emperor Jingjiang became even more angry when he saw this. He severely reprimanded the prince for his inappropriate behavior and ordered him to kneel down immediately. Li Dexian snorted coldly and stomped on the so-called "Hanjiang King"'s abdomen, causing him to wail in agony. Emperor Jingjiang was shocked and confused. After careful inspection, he discovered that this person was not the real uncle, but a substitute. Therefore, he ordered that the pretender be taken to prison for interrogation.

Prince Li Dexian explained the whole story in detail to everyone. It turned out that the real King of Hanjiang had already secretly escaped, and the attack on Yangqu County planned by him was even more shocking. After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang turned pale and scolded the King of Hanjiang for his ambition, predicting that he would go straight to Yuanhai City to deal with Lin Xiaofeng. Therefore, he urgently ordered the princes and nobles to quickly dispatch reinforcements to Yuanhai City for support. At this moment, the atmosphere in the entire palace became extremely depressing. Li Dexian revealed the sinister intentions of King Hanjiang without hesitation, causing everyone present to feel chills running down their spines and sweating. Emperor Jingjiang slapped the case table angrily, vowing to thoroughly investigate the truth of the case and restore peace and harmony to the world.

In the Nuan Pavilion, the officials dispersed like a tide, leaving only the figure of Emperor Jingjiang standing alone in the sea of ​​deep thoughts. The surroundings were so quiet that one could hear the ticking sound of time. More than an hour passed, and that time was like a millstone grinding the heavy state affairs in Emperor Jingjiang's heart. Wang Jingwen, that figure is loyal and steady, like a silent statue, standing respectfully aside, his presence is both a reminder and a comfort.

Emperor Jingjiang knew very well that even if the incident of King Hanjiang came unexpectedly and violently, it would not shake the mountain-like responsibility on his shoulders. Therefore, he ordered that a mountain of memorials awaiting approval be presented. Soon after, stacks of memorials bearing the sufferings of the people and the rise and fall of the country were neatly arranged in front of the imperial court. Emperor Jingjiang's eyes swept over each memorial, and his fingertips touched the pages lightly, but he seemed to be flipping through a thousand pounds of worries. Deep in his heart, Lin Xiaofeng's safety in Yuanhai City was like a tight string, always holding him back. For this reason, confidants have been sent to investigate the truth and wait for the news to come.

While Emperor Jingjiang was concentrating on reviewing the memorials word for word, he suddenly heard outside the palace that the eunuch Jing Yike, the eunuch of Yinshou, had something urgent to report. Emperor Jingjiang raised his hand slightly to signal the summons. Jing Yike stepped into the Nuan Pavilion in response, holding a tightly sealed letter in his hand, claiming that it was left by the King of Hanjiang, and specifically stating "Your Majesty personally expresses it". A trace of doubt flashed across Emperor Jingjiang's brows as he accepted the letter that seemed to contain secrets and crises. However, at this moment, something unexpected happened. Jing Yike's face suddenly changed, and his fierce look was revealed. He suddenly pulled out a dagger with cold light from his sleeve and stabbed Emperor Jingjiang's chest. Emperor Jingjiang was calm in the face of danger. His body was as strong as a leopard. He turned sideways and avoided the fatal blow. Then he struck out with a thunderous iron fist, hitting Jing Yike's Adam's apple hard. The assassin was caught off guard and died in an instant. He fell to the cold and ruthless ground. On the palace bricks, the temperature of life quickly dissipated.

Emperor Jingjiang's face was ashen, and his eyes were as deep as the abyss. He slowly opened and read the letter that was full of betrayal and conspiracy. The letter revealed that Jing Yike was originally a personal attendant to the King of Hanjiang. The assassination was obviously ordered by his master and had been planned for a long time. Fortunately, Emperor Jingjiang was quick and the injury was not fatal. He immediately ordered Wang Jingwen to summon the imperial physician to deal with the wound and asked for a strict investigation of any possible remnants of his accomplices in the palace. After hearing the news, the imperial doctor rushed over, quickly bandaged Emperor Jingjiang's wounds, and then left the solemn hall.

Under the dim candlelight, Emperor Jingjiang and Wang Jingwen launched an in-depth and detailed discussion and analysis around this sudden assassination incident. They speculated that the relationship between the King of Hanjiang, Xun Liu, and the salt merchants was complicated and intricate. Behind this time of absconding in fear of crime, there might be a larger rebellion conspiracy hidden.

Faced with such a situation, Emperor Jingjiang made a decisive decision and decided to temporarily block tonight's assassination in order to maintain the stability of the court. After everything was arranged, his thoughts once again traveled thousands of miles to the distant Yuanhai City. There, all members of the Qian family were imprisoned, and Lin Xiaofeng showed extraordinary responsibility. Not only did he transfer all the property in the bank to the Yamen warehouse for safekeeping, but he also personally deployed accounting personnel to conduct detailed counting and statistics. . As the number of people reporting crimes increased sharply, and cases piled up like a mountain, Lin Xiaofeng was even more involved in the complex and complicated trial affairs.

At the end of a busy day, the exhausted Lin Xiaofeng came to the warehouse for inspection. With sharp eyes and a firm tone, he reminded the accounting staff to carefully account for every account, emphasizing that this matter was not only related to his own safety, but also to Yang Qu. The overall interests of the county and the entire country. When the accounting staff heard this, they were all frightened. They all said that they were rich in experience and there would be no mistakes. They would do their best to ensure that all accounts are accurate and guard the numbers and records that matter to the fate of the country as if they were guarding their own lives.

Lin Xiaofeng walked into the gleaming warehouse filled with gold and silver. Seeing the bewildered look of the accounting staff when facing mountains of complicated accounts, she couldn't help but roll her eyelids. He strolled towards a towering pile of silver, leaning against the cold and solid metal texture, casting his bright eyes at Xiang Xiehong who was busy, and asked in a calm tone: "What progress has been made in the investigation of the Qian family's accounts recently?" Xiang Xiehong Hong raised his head to answer, his face full of fatigue and persistence: "I have reviewed the account books for the past year one by one, but I have not found any traces of private salt transactions." After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng frowned and showed displeasure. , sighed heavily: "The cunning rabbit has three caves, its cunning is evident! It is hidden so unfathomably, if you want to uncover the truth, it will be difficult to reach the sky."

The unknown whereabouts of Lu Dexing weighed on Lin Xiaofeng's heart like a huge boulder. He turned his attention to Xiang Xiehong and further inquired about the progress of the entire case. With a bitter look on his face, Xiang Xiehong revealed that some government officials had taken advantage of the chaos to steal public funds and bully the people. If not handled properly, it might trigger panic and turmoil within the officials. A look of determination flashed between Lin Xiaofeng's brows, and he said earnestly: "We must recover every tael of silver that was embezzled, severely punish those involved who violated laws and disciplines, and at the same time, handle this case in a low-key manner to prevent the situation from expanding and affecting Yang Qu. The peace of the county." He repeatedly urged Xiang Xiehong to properly handle the remaining civil lawsuits and be fair and impartial.

In the lobby, Lin Xiaofeng took a sip of tea, rested for a moment, and then called loudly: "Next!" Fei Hui, a scholar in civilian clothes with a bookish look on his eyebrows, walked in quickly and knelt on the ground respectfully. , with a trembling voice, told that he was forced to change his surname due to the oppression of the Ninth Young Master of the Qian family, and now he begged to restore his original surname. When Lin Xiaofeng heard this strange incident, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he immediately ordered to find out the truth.

Immediately afterwards, another scholar named Qian Huixing stepped into the hall with a nervous but determined expression. He claimed that the Yin Fang was in arrears and had not repaid the money, and submitted a novel he had written for Lin Xiaofeng's review. Lin Xiaofeng took the manuscript and read it carefully. He bluntly and respectfully pointed out Qian Huixing's shortcomings in literary creation, but after promising to solve the debt problem, he allowed him to retire with peace of mind.

At this moment, Lu Dexing, who had not been seen for a long time, suddenly appeared in the lobby accompanied by playing the piano. Lin Xiaofeng immediately asked Lu Dexing majestically about his whereabouts these days. Lu Dexing panicked and explained that he chose to temporarily hide from the world in order to avoid the storm. However, Fuqin tearfully accused Lu Dexing of committing inappropriate acts against her. After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng looked stern and decided to make a fair ruling according to the law, and ordered the guards to take Lu Dexing to the backyard for separate examination. At this moment, Fuqin revealed another emotional entanglement that led to Xiang Xiehong's chaos and abandonment, and asked Lin Xiaofeng to seek justice. Although the onlookers couldn't help but laugh at the plot, they still strictly obeyed the order and took Lu Dexing away, leaving Fuqin with tears of gratitude and lamenting his misfortune.

Facing the ensuing complex situations, Lin Xiaofeng remained as calm as ice, knowing that a fair balance requires wisdom and courage to maintain. While he was waiting for the truth to come out, he was silently thinking about how to uphold justice in this chaos, ensure that order in Yangqu County could be maintained, and people's lives could return to peace.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Lin Xiaofeng's mouth. The smile was like a ray of warmth in the early winter frost, reflecting on his iron-fortified face. He could discern the twists and turns and struggles in Fuqin's heart at a glance. This woman was once a gift to Xiang Xiehong from the Qian family. Now she is wandering in the torrent of life, trying to find his protection for stability. Faced with her survival dilemma and unavoidable selfishness, Lin Xiaofeng felt a burst of understanding and compassion deep in her heart. After all, in this troubled world, human nature's helplessness and weak appeals are often unavoidable.

When Lin Xiaofeng asked Fuqin about the specific circumstances of the rebellion and abandonment, she burst into tears and complained that she was forced to serve Xiang Xiehong. She also stated that the two of them had transcended the boundaries between men and women and had become husband and wife. However, Xiang Xiehong became increasingly indifferent to her and even made a false promise to formally marry her. Fuqin begged Lin Xiaofeng to seek justice and resolve her grievances. After hearing this, a deep dumb smile appeared on Lin Xiaofeng's face. He softly called Fu Qin to come closer to him and whispered about the private details between her and Xiang Xiehong. After receiving her affirmative answer, Lin Xiaofeng suddenly burst into laughter. But the laughter contained more emotion about the absurdity of life. He was well aware of the complexity of human affairs in the world, so he comforted Qin with kind words, generously gave her some silver as a living allowance, and warned her that major marriage matters should be decided by himself and Xiang Xiehong, and then waved her to leave.

Lin Xiaofeng turned around and walked into the quiet backyard, only to see Lu Dexing sitting alone by the well, his face full of sadness and unwillingness. After some in-depth questioning, Lin Xiaofeng learned that Lu Dexing had been castrated because he was accused of raping Fuqin, and his heart was filled with injustice and indignation. Lin Xiaofeng comforted him with his generous heart. At the same time, he recalled the difficult years in his previous life and knew that everyone has painful experiences that they did not want to mention. Therefore, he always maintained respect and understanding for the suffering of others. Lu Dexing mentioned Jiaying's deep concern for him, and Lin Xiaofeng decisively ordered Lu Dexing to visit Jiaying immediately to ease her mood and give them a chance to repair their emotional bond.

At this tense moment, Ming Congliang hurriedly came to report that he had discovered a hidden basement in Qian Yanpeng's concubine's residence and found a number of letters from it. These letters revealed a surprising fact: there were inextricably linked relationships between Xun Liu and the King of Hanjiang. What was even more shocking was that the King of Hanjiang was also involved in private salt trading. Lin Xiaofeng read these letters carefully, and was extremely shocked. He realized that the case had involved the blood of the royal family, and its seriousness was far greater than expected. He did not hesitate to order his subordinates to pack their bags, prepare to escort the property in the bank back to Beijing, and arrange for manpower to continue investigating the case. In order to stabilize the people's hearts, he decided to personally oversee and execute the chief culprit Sha Chenglu, in order to demonstrate the fairness and strictness of the law.

Reading those secret letters again, Lin Xiaofeng further learned that the King of Hanjiang and the Qian family had formed an alliance to engage in private salt trade, and the relationship between the two parties was actually shaky. Just as he was deep in thought, Lu Dexing appeared again and reported Jin Jiaying's firm determination to take revenge, which made Lin Xiaofeng furious. Faced with this difficult problem, Lu Dexing came up with a bold and risky strategy: to stun the princess at night and send her to Lin Xiaofeng's room to make her pregnant to eliminate her thoughts of revenge. Hearing this plan, Lin Xiaofeng was stunned and speechless. He felt extremely helpless towards Lu Dexing's radical and inappropriate approach, but he had to admit that this was a dilemma, like a double-edged sword hanging in the air. Above your head, a little carelessness can hurt innocent people, or start an unknown future.

After the secret of King Hanjiang surfaced, Lin Xiaofeng clearly realized that there was no need for him to stay in Yangqu County, a land of right and wrong. At dawn the next day, he decisively ordered the government officials to escort Sha Chenglu and his complicit minions to the city cao, preparing for public questioning and execution. Among them were many gangsters who had participated in the transfer of bank property. Lin Xiaofeng decided not to hide his power and bide his time, but to high-profile and severe punishments to demonstrate justice, stabilize people's hearts, and form a strong deterrent to corrupt bureaucrats. In order to ensure that the situation would not get out of control after leaving Yangqu County, he was determined to take drastic measures to completely clean up the local bad habits before the court sent new officials to take over.

After a day of intensive announcements and publicity, the city hall was already crowded with people, and onlookers crowded shoulder to shoulder. Sha Chenglu committed a serious crime and was sentenced to beheaded in half and implicated the three tribes. However, after careful consideration, Lin Xiaofeng did not immediately execute the punishment of the Yi tribe. Instead, he simply imprisoned his tribesmen and waited for further treatment, and imposed the torture of beheading Sha Chenglu. Those criminal police officers were also tied up one by one. Among them were scum who had resigned from their official positions but absconded with their gold and silver treasures. However, their ill-gotten gains failed to escape the law after all, and they were all recovered and punished. The punishment was to confiscate all family property and be whipped in public. On the execution platform, the wailing sounds of the punished were heard one after another. The people watching were all furious and threw leaves on the platform to express their inner anger and dissatisfaction. After Lin Xiaofeng sat quietly in the case, Jin Jiaying was beside him. They witnessed this shocking scene together. They were well aware of the suffering of the people, so they acquiesced in allowing the people to take this opportunity to vent their grievances, which was also a kind of appeal and release for fairness and justice.

Sha Chenglu was like a trapped animal at this moment. Facing the angry people, his face was expressionless, as if there was still a trace of expectation deep in his heart. As the guillotine fell ruthlessly, his body was instantly cut into two parts, and blood spattered all over the execution platform, making everyone at the scene hold their breath and stunned. During this period, although Lin Xiaofeng did not like such bloody scenes, he still stared at it all with an inquiring mind, trying to find a deeper truth. Sha Chenglu's tragic end was unbearable to watch. Jin Jiaying was about to leave in horror, but Lin Xiaofeng held her wrist tightly, using this scene to warn her that if she dared to assassinate the emperor, she would suffer even more cruel punishments.

After dealing with the caning criminals, Lin Xiaofeng returned to the public house to continue handling other mountainous government affairs. At this moment, a luxuriously dressed man insisted on seeing him to redress his grievances, claiming that he held important evidence that could reveal more secrets of the Qian family. Lin Xiaofeng looked at the visitor carefully and ordered him to produce evidence. The visitor claimed that it was a priceless and mysterious jade tripod. It was forced by the Qian family to customize the jade tripod. It had not been delivered because it involved many taboos, and it is still afraid to show it to others easily. After hearing the description of this jade tripod, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but become very interested in the secrets behind it, and decided to go and check it out in person.

As the group entered the house, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't conceal his excitement and curiosity, and eagerly asked where the jade tripod was. However, at this moment, an unexpected change suddenly happened - he suffered a sudden and violent attack, his eyes suddenly fell into darkness, and his consciousness began to gradually blur...

Pain, it was a heartbreaking pain, completely different from the dull pain in the head. It came from the deepest part of the abdomen, like an invisible sharp blade churning wantonly in the body. Lin Xiaofeng struggled to wake up from the dark coma, and found that his head was tightly covered with a piece of black cloth, and his limbs were restrained so that he could not move. He was like a puppet lying on the back of a galloping horse with no resistance. Every time the horse's hoof hits the ground hard, the severe pain in his belly surges like a rising tide. Along with these painful pulse beats, his consciousness is gradually separated from the chaos. Although it is impossible to tell whether it is day or night at this moment, Wherever he was, but from the endless suffering, he keenly sensed that a long time had passed.

Lin Xiaofeng sighed deeply in his heart, worrying about the current situation of Luo Huajun, his fierce partner who fought side by side in the past. His inner monologue: Does today's sudden change mean that the remnants of the Qian family are making trouble again? The long-term dull life made everyone relax their vigilance, so much so that they could not even carry daggers and muskets for self-defense.

The rhythm of the horses' hoofbeats gradually changed, and a salty sea smell filled the air, indicating that they were galloping towards the sea. Not long after, Lin Xiaofeng was roughly unloaded from the horse and carried into a room. At this time, the sound of waves lapping on the shore could be clearly heard. He was still masked and thrown to the ground casually, waiting for an unknown fate in the deathly silence around him. Finally, he mustered up the courage to break the silence and asked in a steady and powerful tone: "Which hero invited me here?" He heard a burst of applause, followed by a familiar and surprising voice, approving His courage is extraordinary. Then, the hood was slowly removed, and he raised his head slightly, and what he saw was a familiar figure sitting in front of the table, surrounded by guards on both sides, full of majesty. Lin Xiaofeng was stunned. She suppressed the fear in her heart and bowed her hands in salute: "I have met the prince." It turned out that the person in front of him was the mysterious and mysterious King of Hanjiang!
Lin Xiaofeng was shocked beyond words. She didn't expect that the King of Hanjiang knew their whereabouts so well. The King of Hanjiang asked with great interest how the investigation of the salt merchant case was progressing. Lin Xiaofeng told the truth frankly and without concealment. Upon seeing this, the King of Hanjiang ordered the ropes that bound Lin Xiaofeng to be untied, and the guards immediately obeyed the order. Lin Xiaofeng rubbed her wrists that were numb from being restrained for too long, and stood up. Although her face was calm when facing the King of the Han River, her heart was churning like a huge wave. The King of Hanjiang bluntly stated that he wanted to have a frank dialogue with him. However, Lin Xiaofeng used tiredness as an excuse and asked about the condition of his subordinates and asked for a short rest.

The King of Hanjiang readily agreed to his request and informed Luo Huajun that he had also been captured, but his life was not in danger. Later, Lin Xiaofeng was taken to the place where Luo Huajun was imprisoned. The walls were tight and the only two oil lamps swayed faintly in the dim space. Lin Xiaofeng personally pulled off the blindfold on Luo Huajun's head and asked about his physical condition with concern. Luo Huajun signaled Lin Xiaofeng through subtle eye contact to ask the guard to leave the room temporarily. Although the guard was suspicious, he had no choice but to agree to give them a moment of alone time. Luo Huajun quietly revealed that he had cleverly left a mark on the way. Once the brothers found out, they would come to rescue him. In addition, he also had secret weapons such as throwing knives hidden on his body. The two began to plot an escape plan, but unfortunately they were currently on the ship. They could only suppress their anxiety for the time being and wait for the arrival of reinforcements.

After a brief period of tranquility, Lin Xiaofeng was brought back to the King of Hanjiang again. This time, he was placed in a large room with windows overlooking the vast ocean. The King of Hanjiang asked him about his rest with great concern, and Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to accuse the guards of excessive abuse to him. However, everything still seems to be in the hands of the King of Hanjiang. Lin Xiaofeng knows that only by adapting to circumstances, staying calm, and carefully observing every sign of trouble can he find a glimmer of hope in this power struggle.

Lin Xiaofeng provoked the guards with words as sharp as a knife, and they cursed in their hearts. However, frightened by the overriding majesty and iron-fisted punishment of King Hanjiang, they could only swallow their anger. As for the mysterious and unpredictable King of Hanjiang, after hearing Lin Xiaofeng's question, his expression did not change at all. He still maintained his calm indifference and responded frankly: "This place is hidden hundreds of miles away from Yuanhai City. Outside, it is hidden in a secret place where the sea and the sky meet. Even if ordinary people look for it for thousands of years, it will be difficult to find its traces. Moreover, I have three thousand soldiers, and I am loyal to you, which is enough to ensure that you are safe here. "For Lin Xiaofeng, it is true. When asked about his intentions, King Hanjiang firmly denied any intention to subvert the court or usurp the throne. He bluntly stated that what he pursued was an independent family and a new world of his own.

The two sat opposite each other, as if two calm mountains were confronting each other, and started an in-depth conversation about the intertwining of power and interests. The King of Hanjiang revealed to Lin Xiaofeng a past event that had been sealed for eight years: by chance, he acquired a fleet from overseas and discovered an unprecedented advanced salt-making technology from those foreign business trips. Taking advantage of the chaos caused by frequent wars in Haiyun Kingdom, he secretly colluded with the Qian family to carry out private salt transactions, step by step deep into the court, like a sneaking snake and scorpion, quietly controlling the political situation of Jinghai and Jinghai, and even He reached out to the life and death of the Emperor of Haiyun Kingdom, and thus quietly built half of the country hidden in the shadow of the empire.

Lin Xiaofeng listened to this tortuous and complicated narrative, and his heart was like a boulder that stirred up layers of ripples, and he had a deeper understanding of the Hanjiang King's strategizing and unfathomable scheming. It turns out that the King of Hanjiang not only managed his private salt business to perfection, but also had been quietly paying attention to the unique business model of Yangqu County, drawing on its hierarchical and mutually nested business strategies to achieve rapid expansion of his sphere of influence. However, although this model can bring about temporary rapid growth, there are also risks that are difficult to control behind it. Once the court becomes aware of the chaos of private salt trading, it will definitely investigate to the end and unravel this overwhelming situation. secret.

Facing the fact that he and Yangqu County were carefully planned by others, Lin Xiaofeng felt a sense of irritation and helplessness in his heart, and he felt angry and frustrated at being plotted. But he did not choose to escape, but decided to face it head-on, asking the King of Hanjiang many questions that were lingering in his heart. In this regard, the King of Hanjiang showed an open mind and readily agreed to answer all Lin Xiaofeng's doubts, as if revealing to him a magnificent chess game hidden in the dark, with every move filled with exquisite planning and step-by-step calculations. Despite this, Lin Xiaofeng still chose to face all this complexity bravely, determined to find the truth in this invisible war, and find a way out that was both just and conducive to the peace of the people.

Lin Xiaofeng, a man with a calm face and a hint of confusion, stood by the river, with the gentle evening breeze carrying his questions into the distance. His eyebrows were engraved with memories and doubts about the past: "I think back on when I rushed to the Yangtze River disaster area. How could the prince predict that I would pass by Xunliu and allocate disaster relief money in advance? Could it be that the prince really has the power to predict the future?" This question is like a question. A stone that had not been thrown flat for a long time stirred up ripples deep in Lin Xiaofeng's heart.

When the King of Hanjiang heard this, his expression changed rapidly. His subtle expression was like the endless autumn water, and his deep eyes were as solemn as the night. He stared into the distance for a long time, as if looking for answers between memories and reality, and was unable to respond with words for a moment. This sudden doubt.

When Lin Xiaofeng urgently asked the reason again, the King of Hanjiang slowly spoke, his words soaked with the vicissitudes of time and worldly insights: "It is rare in the world for people like you to be completely unaware of your own situation." He said eloquently. It turns out that Lin Xiaofeng's radical style during disaster relief in the capital had already touched the sensitive nerves of all officials in the imperial court. If he went to take a local post, Xun Liu would be implicated, so he laid out a precise chess game early and prepared for it. However, what was unexpected was that when the disaster intensified, Lin Xiaofeng was like a force that emerged from the sky, subverting the original assumptions.

When it comes to the incident in Yuanhaicheng, the King of Hanjiang frankly said that he had heard about it for a long time and sent people to conduct an in-depth investigation. Until he learned that the Qian family was completely defeated by Lin Xiaofeng in one day and night, he couldn't help but feel deeply shocked by Lin Xiaofeng's skills. . Lin Xiaofeng pressed forward step by step, speaking sharply: "The collusion between the prince and the Qian family is so hidden that even the Household Department's inspection failed to detect it. Private salt sales are so rampant, how could the accounts be so flawless?" Faced with this sharp point, When questioned, the King of Hanjiang did not panic, but calmly responded: "The Qian family is as cunning as a rabbit, and they are superior in self-protection. They started making false accounts from the beginning of Haiyun State Household Department to confuse the public, so they only relied on superficial accounts. It is really difficult to detect any flaws." Speaking of Lu Yinsheng, the King of Hanjiang confirmed that he had joined forces with him and donated two million taels of silver to him every year. However, Lu Yinsheng was greedy for money and disloyal, and he preferred his brother. Although they are in the same boat, their respective destiny trajectories are still difficult to escape from the shackles of the established. As for whether there were other accomplices in the imperial court, Lin Xiaofeng pursued her. King Hanjiang shook his head helplessly, revealing that his brother was extremely vigilant and did not dare to take any action easily. When talking about the strategy of establishing his own business, King Hanjiang looked beyond the crowd and pointed directly at the distant coastline in the sky. His words revealed determination and desolation: "Those illegal incomes, including nearly 7 million taels of silver obtained from private salt transactions, were all invested in Although he has suffered heavy losses in shipbuilding, purchasing sea-going ships, exploring unknown routes, and acquiring land overseas, he has gradually built up his own territory. Now he is stuck here and has no choice but to go to sea to find another way to survive. "

The King of Hanjiang talked about Jingjiang's narrow vision and the vastness of the unknown world. Overseas places may contain more treasures and resources, and those weak countries are vulnerable. He lamented that he seemed to be the first brave man to truly open his eyes to see the world, but Lin Xiaofeng bluntly said that he thought he was just a drowning man who was in trouble and struggling to survive. After hearing this, King Hanjiang was stunned at first, and then confessed that he had been treated coldly in the palace, and was rejected for his love of astronomical machinery. The queen of the vassal was even more difficult, and even deprived of her fiefdom, so she had to fight back desperately. He claimed that he seemed to be guided by God and had the good fortune to meet foreign merchants and obtain the secrets of navigation. He firmly believed that this was his destiny and vowed to change his destiny and shape his future with his own hands. Listening to all this, Lin Xiaofeng felt deep sighs in his heart, but he could not agree with the Hanjiang King's belief in "destiny". He only felt that it was filled with a sense of powerlessness and confusion in life.

The words flowing from the mouth of the King of Hanjiang are like a river bursting its banks, stretching endlessly, and they contain an indescribable and lingering melancholy. His eyes were complex and profound, like a solitary boat rising and falling in the boundless sea of ​​suffering in life, letting the wind and waves control it. Although Lin Xiaofeng could deeply understand the pressure he was under, he could not agree with the selfish behaviors of the Hanjiang King - such as hiding sweet potatoes for disaster relief for personal gain, watching the worsening disaster situation in the Xunliu area, and quarreling with the Qian family. Secret collusion and other actions all reveal his ruthlessness in putting people's lives and interests behind his own interests. Lin Xiaofeng responded to these despicable acts with cold and contemptuous eyes, and his heart was filled with disdain for this prince.

Finally, during the long and melancholy narration of the King of Hanjiang, Lin Xiaofeng used his low and powerful voice to interject the question: "My lord, what is your intention to imprison me here?" This sentence is like a sharp knife. With his sword, he instantly cut off the eloquent statement of the King of Hanjiang. A hint of anger suddenly appeared on his face, and he bluntly revealed his innermost plan: he wanted to invite Lin Xiaofeng to go overseas together, and coveted the hidden treasures of Yangqu County. The rare treasure "Land Divine Thunder" is intended to use this artifact to expand the territory and achieve dominance.

Faced with such a straightforward invitation and greedy coveting from the King of Hanjiang, Lin Xiaofeng had many doubts in his heart. The King of Hanjiang tried his best to praise Lin Xiaofeng's talent and even mentioned his experience of being despised and struggling in his early years, criticizing the emperor's brother for his lack of knowledge. The wise man expressed his willingness to treat Lin Xiaofeng with the courtesy of a national scholar. After hearing these remarks, Lin Xiaofeng's face turned slightly red with indignation, and the dissatisfaction in his heart burned like a blazing fire.

Although Lin Xiaofeng was wary, King Hanjiang still held a sumptuous banquet to try to soften his stance. During the dinner, Lin Xiaofeng mentioned the matter of escaping. King Hanjiang quietly introduced Steward Jiang, who was once the first valet of the Emperor of Haiyun Kingdom and had outstanding martial arts skills. This move undoubtedly hinted to Lin Xiaofeng that even if there was an escape, His heart cannot escape the iron fist of Butler Jiang. Lin Xiaofeng sneered at this, mocking Butler Jiang as a villain seeking glory. However, King Hanjiang insisted that he was honest with Lin Xiaofeng, and even expected Lin Xiaofeng to change his address and address him as "Your Majesty."

Lin Xiaofeng firmly opposed such a request. He emphasized that his reputation as a loyal minister had already been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and he would not be able to follow the King of Hanjiang across the ocean, nor would he participate in his ambitious plans. When talking about his own actions, Lin Xiaofeng refuted the accusations made by King Hanjiang and insisted that there is no guilt in all patriotic actions. However, the King of Hanjiang was furious when he heard this, accusing Lin Xiaofeng of sabotaging his major events many times. If he gets the land thunder, Lin Xiaofeng's own safety may face a great threat.

At this moment, deep in the dungeon of Yuanhai City, Liang Huankun and others were intensely interrogating and detaining the Qian family members. Suddenly they learned of the disappearance of King Hanjiang and Luo Huajun. They immediately got ready and left Yuanhai City with fully armed soldiers and horses, determined to track them down. The traces of the two were kept in case the situation worsened and the situation became uncontrollable.

Lin Xiaofeng faced the King of Hanjiang calmly, the perseverance and determination engraved on his eyebrows seemed to be cast from iron: "Your Majesty, there is no need to force it, my bones are as hard as steel, and I am not someone who can give in easily." Although the words were firm, he also noticed that Among them, his sharp edge stands out. After all, he has always upheld the principle of dealing with the world with reason and calmness. After hearing this, the King of Hanjiang frowned and his face was as gloomy as a cold autumn pool. He accused Lin Xiaofeng of refusing his solicitation many times and was still ignorant of current affairs even though he was in jail. He asked sternly: "Do you really think I dare not kill you? ?" Lin Xiaofeng responded honestly, without any fear: "Life or death is up to you."

The King of Hanjiang became increasingly angry, and his smile revealed the shadow of a sword, intending to kill chickens and scare monkeys to frighten the ministers, but Lin Xiaofeng responded tactfully in the flash of lightning: "Please be patient and allow me a few days to think about it, and please allow my entourage to go with me." , To prevent them from being implicated by me and suffering innocently." These words were like a breeze that blew away some of the anger in King Hanjiang. He admitted in his heart that he was too impatient, so he promised to discuss the relationship between king and minister after arriving overseas.

Lin Xiaofeng secretly mocked the Hanjiang King for his arrogance and publicity, but he lost no time in expressing his worries about the risks of going to sea and asked how to deal with a shipwreck on the way. In this regard, the King of Hanjiang looked calm. Although he agreed that there were many dangers in navigation, he confidently pointed out that the giant ship built was extremely sophisticated, large in size and structurally stable, capable of withstanding any storm on the sea. Although Lin Xiaofeng was not completely convinced of the King of Hanjiang's confidence, when he learned that this giant ship cost a lot of money and brought together the efforts of more than a thousand highly skilled craftsmen, the cost of a single ship was as high as 7,000 taels of silver, and there were even ships of the same type to protect it. I knew that the King of Hanjiang had made careful preparations for this operation and was thoughtful.

Mentioning that the outside world was unaware of the voyage plan, a sneer flashed across the corner of the Hanjiang King's lips, revealing the secret that no one paid much attention to. He was using his identity as a shipbuilding family in Gefeng Bay as a cover to get through to the government. Only then could this huge project be carried out quietly. Lin Xiaofeng further asked where he would go after arriving overseas. The King of Hanjiang invited him to enter the mysterious secret room and reveal the truth. Entering the secret room, you will find a dazzling array of exotic treasures. One of the parchment maps is particularly eye-catching. It is said to depict a panoramic view of the world. However, the east and south of the map are obscured by fog monster marks. The text is not in English, which makes people temporarily confused. Difficult to penetrate.

The King of Hanjiang revealed an unknown secret: He had secretly bought a large area of ​​territory in the western Luxi Fort, and now he has established a powerful second lord position there. Regarding Lin Xiaofeng's concern about whether the gold and silver investment was safe, the King of Hanjiang was full of confidence and revealed that he had sent hundreds of cronies to garrison the area. He scorned that insignificant little country and regarded it as a plaything in his hand. The topic then turned to painting techniques. The King of Hanjiang was curious that Yangqu County actually mastered the fine drawing techniques similar to sketches on maps, and asked Lin Xiaofeng if he had ever been taught by overseas people.

Lin Xiaofeng adapted to the situation and cleverly excused himself by saying that he had met a foreigner many years ago, brought him back to Yangqu County and taught him unique drawing skills. The King of Hanjiang traced the origins of the foreigner and asked about the origins of the foreigner and the other treasures he brought. Lin Xiaofeng compiled a story, saying that this foreigner was called "Slime". He was hunted by the church for violating church laws and desecrating a saint. He fled to Jingjiang on a pirate ship during his exile. Apart from these painting skills, he did not Carry other valuables. This story was like a thin veil, temporarily covering the doubts and vigilance in Lin Xiaofeng's heart.

After Slime arrived in Yangqu County, his behavior was quite lawful. Yu arranged for someone to teach him Chinese. Although he was a guest in a foreign land, he showed extraordinary intelligence and a spirit of diligence. In just a few months, he was able to communicate simply. However, the longing for the Saint burned like a burning fire in his heart. One day he claimed to have discovered the New World and wanted to take this opportunity to return to his country to atone for his sins. So he asked me for a loan of silver to prepare for the voyage. Faced with his request, I did not stop him, knowing full well that in the vast sea, he might have turned into a meal in the belly of a fish. After hearing this, King Hanjiang laughed repeatedly, mocking Slime for being short-sighted and extremely ignorant; Lin Xiaofeng also nodded in agreement, deeply agreeing.

As the topic changed, King Hanjiang took out an exquisite round flip-top object and handed it to Lin Xiaofeng. This was a pocket watch carefully crafted by Western craftsmen and purchased at a cost of one thousand taels of silver. This pocket watch is extremely accurate in keeping time. The dial is engraved with Roman numerals, which are subdivided into twenty-four hours, symbolizing the cycle of time in one day. Lin Xiaofeng stared at this strange Western object, with countless emotions in his heart. Although civilization spans thousands of miles of borders, it still follows the same natural laws. When the King of Hanjiang asked him what he thought, Lin Xiaofeng responded calmly and perfunctorily, and then gently placed it among the desk furnishings. With the excuse that night was falling and he needed to go back to his room to rest, he hurriedly left.

By the time Lin Xiaofeng returned to the dormitory, the night was already as thick as splashing ink. Outside the window, the garrison soldiers holding blazing torches were patrolling the city walls. Only the vague outlines of the rolling mountains in the distance were left. In this silence, he felt a little at ease, and began to plan a hiding place and a strategy to deal with possible changes in his mind. At this moment, a melodious and rhythmic bird song came from the distance. He listened attentively and recalled the secret code left by Luo Huajun, looking forward to meeting him to discuss the plan.

At this moment, the door of the dormitory opened quietly, and Jiang Jiajian, the steward of the palace, walked into the room holding a tray, and what he presented was the pocket watch given by King Hanjiang. Lin Xiaofeng felt slightly angry when he saw this, but could not hide his dissatisfaction on his face. However, he still took the pocket watch, put it away close to his body, and coldly ordered Jiang Jiajian to leave. When Jiang Jiajian was embarrassed, he tried to defend his move as the kindness of the King of Hanjiang, but Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to vent his long-suppressed anger, revealing Jiang Jiajian's dark past of poisoning his old master, and ruthlessly satirizing his shameless betrayal.

Jiang Jiajian endured the humiliation and tried his best to ease the tense atmosphere, while Lin Xiaofeng became more and more domineering, calling Jiang Jiajian a despicable traitor. The verbal exchange between the two gradually became more intense, until Lin Xiaofeng angrily slapped Jiang Jiajian with his hand. Holding the pocket watch given by King Hanjiang tightly in his hand, he held it high, ostentatiously humiliating Jiang Jiajian as nothing more than a lackey clinging to the powerful. Jiang Jiajian suffered such a shame and humiliation, and his face instantly turned pale. He couldn't believe that Lin Xiaofeng, who was once respected by everyone in Jingjiang as the most loyal minister, could turn against him so easily.

Lin Xiaofeng was still furious and confessed that he hated insidious and cunning villains like Jiang Jiajian. Although Jiang Jiajian was full of anger, he knew that it was not appropriate to further intensify the conflict, so he could only suppress the anger in his heart and try his best to maintain the harmony on the surface. However, Lin Xiaofeng did not stop there. Instead, he became more arrogant and domineering, and finally completely defeated Jiang Jiajian's last line of defense with a series of extremely insulting words, leaving him speechless in extreme shock and shame, unable to fight back. This silent contest, like a storm in the dark night, tortured Jiang Jiajian, and Lin Xiaofeng highlighted his decisive and strong side, ruthlessly revealing and judging Jiang Jiajian's inner betrayal and hypocrisy.

A satisfied smile appeared on King Hanjiang's face, with a hint of cunning in his eyebrows. He asked the guards about every detail of Lin Xiaofeng's conversation in the room. When he learned that Lin Xiaofeng not only decided to go to sea with him, but also warned Butler Jiang not to cause trouble again, and slapped him to show his decision before they left, King Hanjiang was secretly happy, guessing that the gifted pocket watch had touched Lin Xiaofeng's heartstrings. , although on the surface he is still as stubborn as before, but deep down in his heart, Lin Xiaofeng seems to have quietly succumbed to some kind of power.

When further questioning Lin Xiaofeng's follow-up actions, an attendant hurriedly reported: Lin Xiaofeng carried a lantern and went to the deck alone, seemingly expecting something. After hearing the news, the King of Hanjiang became curious and followed him to the bow deck of the ship with steady steps. Lin Xiaofeng was seen standing alone on the bow of the ship, with the light swaying in his hand, reflecting his lonely but determined figure in the night, as if silently announcing his change and invitation to the outside world. Lin Xiaofeng noticed the arrival of King Hanjiang and pretended to greet him, subtly revealing his surrender in his words. He expressed with tears of gratitude that he could not repay His Majesty's kindness and that he could no longer maintain his previous alienated attitude, and praised King Hanjiang for his kindness. His talents and strategies made him a rare wise monarch in the world. Although Lin Xiaofeng's attitude changed as quickly as the wind and rain, the King of Hanjiang was discerning and accepted his overtures quietly.

Lin Xiaofeng further showed his sincerity and deliberately took out his pocket watch as a symbol of his heart. He bluntly said that he had no choice now but to comply with destiny. After hearing this, the King of Hanjiang felt unspeakably happy. Facing the vast sea, his lofty ideals arose spontaneously, and he hoped that Lin Xiaofeng could work together to open up a new territory. Lin Xiaofeng had mixed feelings in his heart. Although he laughed at the Hanjiang King's grand plan to see the world, he had to admit that there was not much difference in the core of human relationships between ancient and modern times. It was just what they saw and heard and the level of sophistication they experienced. It’s just a difference.

Lin Xiaofeng frankly revealed a secret that had not been mentioned before - what Slime learned in Yangqu County was not limited to painting skills, but also involved a mysterious legend about the land god thunder. He revealed the unique titanium coal resources of the Jini Kingdom, which are an indispensable key ingredient for making divine thunder. Surprisingly, there are rich deposits of such minerals buried underground in Yangqu County. When King Hanjiang heard these words, it was like the morning fog gradually dissipating, and the doubts that had been shrouding his heart for a long time began to become clear. Especially when Lin Xiaofeng described in detail the unique customs of the overseas country of Kinni and its specialty "lychee", as well as the strange sight of the giant fish "Kun" that sprays water on the sea, because these descriptions were surprisingly consistent with the descriptions of his sailors, he responded to Lin Xiaofeng's words More and more convinced.

The King of Hanjiang got to the bottom of it, clinging to the topic and continuing to ask for other materials needed for the land god thunder. However, Lin Xiaofeng kept it secret and only promised to help him complete the matter after arriving at Luxi Fort. Although the King of Hanjiang showed a hint of sullenness for a moment, he soon smiled with relief and agreed to give Lin Xiaofeng the right to move freely on the ship, but he was strictly prohibited from disembarking privately. After Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he laughed secretly in his heart, but on his face he respectfully and humbly thanked him and accepted the order. This contest of wisdom and will has temporarily come to an end, but the contest in the hearts of both parties has not stopped there. Instead, like the undercurrent surging under the sea, it is still quietly playing out, waiting for the next climax to arrive.

The ship Lin Xiaofeng was riding was like a floating dense forest in the vast rivers and lakes, with many loyal confidants lurking in it. They held their breath and waited for that critical opportunity. Liang Huankun was hiding in the dark, holding a looking glass and whispering: "The master is indeed in the cabin!" As soon as he said this, all the followers quietly gathered around Lin Xiaofeng like hearing drums of war. On the surface, Lin Xiaofeng was chatting and laughing with everyone on the boat, but in fact, he was secretly planning a shocking reversal.

The morning light was fading the next day. After Lin Xiaofeng had breakfast, he went straight to the place where Luo Huajun was imprisoned. He was well aware that the King of Hanjiang was suspicious of him, so he expected that all the weapons on Luo Huajun's body had already been looted. This visit did not mention the rescue, but was for the purpose of finding out the truth. The guard took the order and pushed open the heavy cell door. What he saw was Luo Huajun's naked body curled up at the foot of the bed. When he noticed Lin Xiaofeng's figure, his originally weak body tensed up instantly, but he quickly put his head deep. Buried deep between his knees, his eyes were full of sadness and exhaustion, like a wounded lone wolf.

Lin Xiaofeng was determined to have a private conversation with Luo Huajun, so he ordered the guards to retreat. However, the two were loyal to their duties and refused to leave. Faced with this situation, Lin Xiaofeng showed both wisdom and courage, threatening to expose the fact that King Hanjiang abused prisoners. Although the two guards were full of anger, they could only swallow their anger and after weighing the pros and cons, they reluctantly agreed to give them a stick of incense. Time to communicate alone. Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to use his skill and force to force the two guards to withdraw temporarily. In the end, only Lin and Luo were left speechless in the room.

Luo Huajun lowered his voice and revealed a crucial piece of information: reinforcements were approaching quietly, and a careful escape plan was urgently needed. Lin Xiaofeng relied on his in-depth understanding of the ship's hull structure and defense layout to analyze the key breakthrough points in detail, and proposed using rocket launchers as a means of deterrence. Luo Huajun took the lead in breaking out and commanded, while he mingled among the guards, waiting for an opportunity to escape.

Luo Huajun firmly believed that the elite soldiers and horses under Yangqu County could rely on surprise attack tactics to defeat more with less in the mountains and forests, and retreat calmly. Although Lin Xiaofeng was worried about this, she still chose to believe in Luo Huajun's rich practical experience. According to Luo Huajun's plan, he first broke out of the cabin by force, captured the horses and went deep into the jungle to rendezvous, and then immediately launched a rocket attack. Even if he was pursued and intercepted by enemy archers, he had no choice but to fight to the death and resist to the death. In order to ensure Luo Huajun's life safety, Lin Xiaofeng gave him a pair of soft armor, and jointly agreed on the action signal and evacuation route. Every link was precise and strict.

Lin Xiaofeng resolutely decided to take on the important task of attracting the attention of the guards, waiting for the bombardment signal that decided life and death, and jointly launched this exciting and life-and-death escape plan. At this critical moment, Lin Xiaofeng's eyes were firm and cold, like an unsheathed sword, ready to pierce the darkness at any time and welcome the coming storm. No matter how violent the wind and rain were, he would move forward bravely until the dawn reappeared.

Lin Xiaofeng walked out of Luo Huajun's cell, and the waves in her heart were like a surging river, thick and deep. He knew that he was in a dangerous whirlpool, and his heart was filled with the urgency and heaviness of rescuing his best friend. Stepping into his room, Lin Xiaofeng began to carefully plan how to put pressure on the King of Hanjiang to reverse the situation like a craftsman. Just as he was adjusting his clothes and preparing to step out of the threshold, a sudden incident broke the silence in the house - the door was knocked heavily, and two guards led a boy of about ten years old in, with a look on his face. His arrogant and rude demeanor and every move show his arrogance and domineering attitude.

The guard respectfully reported that this person was actually His Highness the Eighth Prince who came in person and insisted on meeting Lin Xiaofeng. The eighth prince's words were full of contempt and disdain. When he mentioned the pocket watch given to Lin Xiaofeng by King Hanjiang, he even laughed at it, showing his disdain. Faced with the ridicule, Lin Xiaofeng's eyebrows flashed with a hint of cold displeasure. He was disgusted with the boy's domineering attitude, but he did not show it. Instead, he responded to the prince with the same calm and determined tone. After mocking his timidity and ignorance, he decisively He ordered the guards to retreat, leaving only himself and the arrogant eighth prince to confront each other in this empty space.

The Eighth Prince made no secret of his purpose, and directly asked for the pocket watch in Lin Xiaofeng's hand. At this moment, a shrewd light flashed in Lin Xiaofeng's heart, and his plan took shape instantly. He pretended to let the Eighth Prince retrieve the items on his own. The moment the Eighth Prince turned around, the anger in Lin Xiaofeng's heart exploded like thunder, turning into actions like a storm. Taking advantage of his unpreparedness, Lin Xiaofeng quickly took action and gave the Eighth Prince a punishing blow, strictly ordering him not to speak out about it. The guards who heard the sound outside the door and rushed over saw Lin Xiaofeng tightly hugging the Eighth Prince who was crying in pain and unable to resist. He explained sincerely that this was just a misunderstanding and asked the King of Hanjiang to come forward for a fair judgment.

Lin Xiaofeng held the injured Eighth Prince hostage deep into the corridor, constantly exerting painful pressure along the way until the King of Hanjiang rushed to the scene after hearing the news. On the surface, Lin Xiaofeng tried his best to comfort the sobbing prince, but in fact, he used this as a means of invisible coercion, making the eighth prince, shrouded in fear, silent and afraid to make any sound. The guards who were watching did not know the truth, but King Hanjiang looked nervous and eager to know the details. Lin Xiaofeng used his wit and eloquence to weave a story, claiming that the conflict was caused by the eighth prince's request for a pocket watch, and begged the King of Hanjiang in grief to forgive him for his reckless move.

The King of Hanjiang stared at the eighth prince with eyes full of tears and asked for the whole story. When he learned everything, he became furious and immediately severely punished the prince. At the same time, the King of Hanjiang chose to protect and forgive Lin Xiaofeng's behavior, shifting the focus of the conflict to the prince. However, just when everyone thought that the turmoil was about to subside, a shocking news came - one of the hostages successfully escaped. The situation suddenly fell into new chaos. Lin Xiaofeng seized this opportunity, quietly took back his pocket watch, and expressed his gratitude to King Hanjiang for his understanding.

Behind this series of farce that seems to have come to an end, there are more complicated conspiracies and contradictions hidden, like a surging undercurrent, indicating that more changes and entanglements will follow in the future, waiting for Lin Xiaofeng to reveal and deal with it. In this world full of unknowns, every tiny move may become a key chess game that subverts destiny.

"Who escaped!" When King Hanjiang heard the bad news, his face instantly turned from white to green, and his eyes almost burst out of his eye sockets. His bloodshot eyes were like two blazing flames: "How can he break through all the obstacles when he is alone?" Blockade and escape?" The guard approached tremblingly and reported, his voice trembling slightly: "The man forced the door open, slashed two people with his knife, took away the sword and helmet, and danced with two swords in one hand. The wind and lightning were unstoppable, and now they rushed outside the ship and disappeared into the night!" After hearing this, the King of Hanjiang shot Lin Xiaofeng's fierce eyes like sharp arrows, and shouted sternly: "Lin Qing, follow me! Head to the deck to find out the truth!”

Lin Xiaofeng was worried about Luo Huajun's safety, and followed the King of Hanjiang quickly to the deck. There was chaos on the deck, archers fired arrows in succession, stones rained down, and on the coast under the thick night, a naked figure galloped on horseback. Although he was in a sorry state, it was none other than Luo Huajun. I saw him riding on a horse. Because his clothes were not covering his body, his buttocks were exposed, and he was surrounded by dangers. However, Luo Huajun was extremely alert. When the horse was injured and accelerated, he adjusted his sitting position in time. Although he was hit by several arrows, he cleverly avoided the vital parts. There were only eight pursuers left behind them, determined to give up.

Liang Huankun and others noticed the movement, and originally planned to send someone to respond, but found that Luo Huajun was deliberately galloping in another direction, and expected that there must be a profound plan. So they ordered everyone to be on high alert and wait for Luo Huajun's return. Finally, after a thrilling chase, Luo Huajun successfully escaped into the depths of the jungle. Lin Xiaofeng felt slightly at peace, but immediately fell into worry about his situation.

Seeing Luo Huajun's successful escape, the King of Hanjiang was furious. He directed his anger at Lin Xiaofeng and asked: "Did your subordinates ignore you so much and escape alone?" Lin Xiaofeng was frightened, but he tried his best to calm down and devalued himself. He said: "This is the work of a traitor. Yesterday, I promised to go overseas with your Majesty to serve. Unexpectedly, this person betrayed his trust and acted without authorization. I ask your Majesty to convict me." The King of Hanjiang stared at Lin Xiaofeng's expression and unexpectedly chose In exchange for forgiveness, he even promised to change his residence to a safer place to appease his nervousness.

After entering the forest, Luo Huajun quickly rendezvoused with his own team, changed into clothes, and the rocket launcher was already ready to go, aiming at the enemy ship and waiting for the best time to launch an attack. At the same time, the King of Hanjiang became increasingly suspicious of Lin Xiaofeng and ordered more people to be deployed to closely monitor his actions. After careful consideration, the King of Hanjiang decided to leave Hong Kong immediately the next morning to prevent Lin Xiaofeng from escaping during the night.

Luo Huajun told Liang Huankun and other brothers in detail about his arrest, torture and thrilling escape journey. Everyone expressed their admiration and admiration for his bravery and resourcefulness. It turned out that all of this was Luo Huajun's elaborate strategy to rescue Lin Xiaofeng. He did not hesitate to throw himself into the trap, and finally broke out of the cage with his extraordinary courage and wisdom. Although the process was full of hardships and resembled a fight between trapped animals, Luo Huajun's heroic performance Everyone was in awe. Everyone organized their equipment and stood ready. When dawn first appeared, they would launch bombardments on enemy ships and launch a life-or-death counterattack, vowing to write their own legendary chapter on this vast sea.

Luo Huajun personally operated six rocket launchers, carefully calibrating their angles and orientations one by one. These guys, which are called "heartless cannons" among the people, are actually simple explosive pack launchers modified from gasoline barrels. Although they look crude and ugly, their inner power is terrifying enough. Once launched, rocks can break apart and people and animals can be thrown into the air. What is even more frightening is that the shock wave generated by the explosion is like an invisible killer, often killing people. It leaves no obvious scars, hence its terrifying name. When Lin Xiaofeng first met this object, he did not expect its destructive power to be so shocking. However, it was this low-cost and simple-to-operate weapon that became a weapon that subverted the war situation and turned the tide at key points.

At this moment, Luo Huajun had carefully deployed all the gun positions. He decisively ordered a specific sharp bird whistle as a signal, indicating that Lin Xiaofeng could fire with all his strength without any scruples. In the cabin, the King of Hanjiang was on guard and sent several personal guards to closely monitor Lin Xiaofeng's every move. When the piercing bird whistle sounded, the guards looked confused. Lin Xiaofeng saw the opportunity and took off his coat in an instant. Disguise, this sudden move made the guards confused for a moment.

In an instant, earth-shaking loud noises hit people's eardrums one after another. Six artillery shells hit the hull of the ship with precision like meteors piercing the night sky, causing water columns to rise into the sky. After falling down, the interior of the cabin suddenly fell into chaos and panic. Lin Xiaofeng had quick eyes and quick hands. He seized this golden opportunity and decisively stabbed the guard who was close by with his knife. Then he quickly changed into the guard's clothes and successfully escaped from the scene through the chaotic situation. At the same time, he shouted that the enemy was attacking to divert the attention of the pursuers. He waited for an opportunity to jump into the water and escape with the help of a prepared boat.

The King of Hanjiang, who was deep in the cabin, was frightened by this sudden and extremely devastating shock. When he confirmed that it was a catastrophic blow caused by the land thunder, he immediately ordered Jiang Jiajian to go all out to hunt Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng ran all the way on the shore, cleverly luring the pursuers to follow him. At the critical moment when he was about to be heavily surrounded, an arrow suddenly shot out from the dark like a death scythe, instantly annihilating the pursuers. Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to ride a horse and escape into the boundless world. In the dark night, it disappeared without a trace. This short but intense conflict was like an extremely cruel cat-and-mouse chase game, reflecting the cunning and tenacity of human nature, and also laid the foundation for the following story to be more complicated, suspenseful, and tortuous.

At the critical moment of life and death, Lin Xiaofeng was in a desperate situation, like a trapped animal fighting. At this critical moment, his brother seemed to be a magic weapon descending from the sky, appearing in time with the force of thunder. Luo Huajun moved like the wind, dragging Lin Xiaofeng, who was exhausted and covered in blood, onto the horse's back, and immediately led the riders to evacuate the scene like a violent storm. When the King of Hanjiang and his men on the ship heard the news, they jumped out of the cabin and chased after him on horseback.

Facing the pressing pursuit, Luo Huajun made a decisive decision and once again ordered a violent bombardment of the large ship to block the enemy. Deep in the dense forest, the rocket launcher made a deafening roar, followed by violent vibrations after the hull suffered heavy damage. The explosion shocked the heavens and the gods, making the pursuers who were pursuing them fearful and did not dare to take another step forward. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lin Xiaofeng and his party retreated into the depths of the jungle and successfully reunited with the main force that had set up an ambush here.

Seeing Lin Xiaofeng's face covered in blood, everyone asked eagerly about his injuries and safety. Lin Xiaofeng endured the pain and responded with a wry smile: "The King of Hanjiang treated me with great courtesy, and even intended to make me his son-in-law. "At this time, Luo Huajun's sharp eyes caught the figure suspected of being the Hanjiang King in the chaos, and proposed to fire another cannon to kill him in one fell swoop. However, Lin Xiaofeng firmly stopped him. He advocated leaving the Hanjiang King alive in order to exploit his weaknesses and contradictions in the future. Decisively, Lin Xiaofeng ordered everyone to quickly pack up their equipment and evacuate this land of right and wrong as soon as possible to avoid long nights and many dreams.

·······
In the distance, the King of Hanjiang commanded his troops to surround and surround them, intending to catch them all. Luo Huajun had an insight into the situation and made a decisive decision to abandon his horse and climb the mountain, taking advantage of the complex terrain of the mountain to launch guerrilla warfare. The team was cleverly divided into two parts, the front and rear. Lin Xiaofeng led the forward through the waves, while Ming Congliang led the rear to investigate the enemy's situation. During this period, they used bird whistles to convey information to ensure coordinated actions.

When they reached the rugged mountain road, Luo Huajun ordered everyone to dismount and walk. Although the pursuers were still closely following behind them, they relied on daily solid professional training and skillful deployment of gunpowder to advance into the mountains with difficulty but determination. However, due to long-term neglect of physical exercise, Lin Xiaofeng was exhausted and unable to continue walking. Seeing this, Luo Huajun insisted on carrying Lin Xiaofeng on his back, but Lin Xiaofeng politely declined. He persuaded everyone to leave first, while he quietly hid under a dead leaf in the jungle.

Lin Xiaofeng calmly analyzed the current situation and speculated that the King of Hanjiang might be afraid of his side's possible request for help. He expected that this pursuit would not last long, probably only for a day or two. In order not to hinder the survival and counterattack opportunities of the entire team, he resolutely chose to avoid the edge alone and wait for the opportunity to come in this dangerous jungle. In this long dark night, Lin Xiaofeng's state of mind was like that of a lonely and tenacious loner, silently enduring the boundless loneliness and trials, looking forward to the dawn light to illuminate the way to counterattack at dawn.

Luo Huajun frowned, as if a river of thoughts was surging in his heart. He suddenly recalled the reality of Lin Xiaofeng's physical weakness, and realized that the original escape plan might not be implemented smoothly. He was worried that Lin Xiaofeng was too exhausted and would not be able to successfully escape from the Han Jiang King's pursuers, so he proposed a plan to Lin Xiaofeng: "As you see, I will select ten elite warriors to escort you north, while the rest will go south to set up an ambush and use gunpowder to create chaos." , to distract the enemy's attention." However, Lin Xiaofeng firmly rejected this proposal. He earnestly pointed out that it is more appropriate to go alone so as not to involve more brothers, and emphasized that he carried a firecracker for self-defense. Find a hiding place in the mountain forest to avoid the sharp edge while waiting for rescue to arrive. Facing Lin Xiaofeng's firm determination, although Luo Huajun was unwilling to do so, he had no choice but to accept it. However, he still carefully told Lin Xiaofeng to carry fireworks signals, enough dry food, and necessary survival knowledge.

(End of this chapter)

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