Detective Di Renjie: The Mysterious Dynasty

Chapter 382: Iron Hand Group (Part )
Inside the cabin, Li Yuanfang was describing the characteristics of Long Feng's martial arts.

He thought hard, assessing his opponent's martial arts skills: "This man's martial arts skills are quite good, not inferior to the snake heads of the Snake Spirit back then!"

Upon hearing this, Di Renjie's brows showed a hint of solemnity: "Oh? How does it compare to Shining Kui Wenzhong?"

Zhao Ji laughed when he heard this: "Of course he is far from it. When Kui Wenzhong was at his peak, he could fight Yuan Fang for dozens of rounds without a clear winner. He was only slightly weaker than Yuan Fang. This guy could only hold out for a few moves under Yuan Fang at best."

"Moreover, this person was very timid. After a few moves, he realized that he was no match for Yuan Fang, so he just wanted to escape. He can't be considered a true master."

After hearing this, Di Renjie nodded slightly, and his worries were slightly relieved.

Li Yuanfang also recognized Zhao Ji's judgment and praised: "Chengyuan's eyesight is not wrong. This person is not surprising except that his martial arts are a bit strange and difficult to deal with."

"In my opinion, he is probably not a match for Hu Jinghui. His strength is roughly the same as that of the Demon Spirit and Shadow among the Snake Spirits."

Zhao Ji also nodded, he agreed with Li Yuanfang's opinion.

Li Yuanfang was silent for a moment, then revealed some doubts: "But, what force does this person belong to, and why is he lurking on the official ship?"

Di Renjie laughed and pointed out the problem: "Didn't Yuan Fang see the assassin's ability to swim?"

Li Yuanfang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized: "Yes, this person seems to be very familiar with shipboard combat, and his swimming skills are amazing!"

Zhao Ji also smiled and added, "Since I set out from the capital, I felt as if someone was following me. They disappeared without a trace until we reached Wuping, Jiangzhou. But I didn't expect them to come back so soon!"

Di Renjie also responded with a smile, with a hint of joking in his tone: "It seems that the 'friends' from Yangzhou arrived very quickly this time!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanfang and Zhao Ji could not help but smile at each other, and their hearty laughter echoed in the cabin.

At this time, Zhang Huan and Li Lang were escorting Zhang Zhi outside the cabin and hurried over. "Go! Go!"

When Di Renjie, Zhao Ji and others heard the voices of Zhang Huan and Li Lang, they couldn't help but look outside the door.

I saw that Zhan Zhi was wearing an extremely strange high-winged hat, and his face was an exact reflection of the four Chinese characters "a rat-like head and rat-like eyes".

He was tied up by Zhang Huan and Li Lang, and was pushed and staggered forward.

"Kneel down!" Li Lang wanted to force Zhang Zhi to kneel down to Di Renjie and Zhao Ji.

The Zhangzhi man was not very smart, but he was a fool who didn't know his place. He just stood with his knees straight and refused to kneel down.

Unfortunately, the situation was stronger than the person, his martial arts skills were not top-notch, and he had no capital to be tough. In the end, he fell to his knees under the tactics of Zhang Huan, Li Lang and others.

Zhang Huan bowed and reported: "Sir, this man is hiding in the bottom of the cabin, carrying a weapon. I suspect he is an accomplice of the previous assassin, so I captured him. Please give me your instructions!"

Di Renjie and Zhao Ji looked at each other with joy on their faces. Although Long Feng had escaped, they did not expect to get an unexpected gain!
"Well done, you did a great job!" Di Renjie first praised Zhang Huan and Li Lang, and then interrogated Zhang Zhi, "What's your name? What's your relationship with the assassin just now?"

Zhan Zhi was stubborn. After looking at Di Renjie, he turned his head away and refused to speak.

Seeing this, Zhang Huan warned sternly: "I advise you to speak honestly, otherwise you will be severely punished and it will be too late to regret it!"

Zhang Zhi sneered and said disdainfully: "Come on, anyone who is afraid of you is not a good man!"

Li Lang got anxious, grabbed Zhang Zhi by the collar, and said angrily: "I think you are not going to accept my toast, so you have to drink a penalty drink!"

Zhao Ji waved his hand gently to stop Li Lang's impulsive behavior.

Li Lang glared at Zhang Zhi fiercely, then let go of his hand indignantly.

Zhao Ji walked forward slowly, with a warm smile on his face: "The one who tried to spy on you on the boat just now was your accomplice, right? Do you know what happened to him?"

When Zhang Zhi heard about Long Feng, his face suddenly changed, but he turned his head away stubbornly: "My senior brother's martial arts is second only to the sect master. He is a top master. How can you be his opponent?"

Upon hearing this, Di Renjie couldn't help but smile, thinking to himself: "Big Brother... Sect Master, it seems that they are indeed a group of people, and they are from the same underworld organization."

Zhao Ji couldn't help laughing, and shook his head and chuckled: "Yes, your senior brother was able to escape from our hands unscathed, he is indeed quite capable."

"But, haven't you ever thought that if he runs away on his own, isn't that the same as betraying you?"

Zhang Zhi was stunned when he heard this, and actually felt that what Zhao Ji said made some sense.

But he tilted his head and frowned, still stubbornly saying: "Humph, you bully the few with your numbers, you are not heroes! Besides, the eldest brother will definitely come to save me!"

At this time, everyone in the room probably knew what kind of person Zhang Zhi was, and they all laughed.

Seeing that everyone was laughing, Zhang Zhi couldn't help but get a little anxious: "What are you laughing at?"

Zhao Ji cleared his throat, suppressed his smile, and warned earnestly: "I'll give you one last chance. Tell us your origins and the identity of the person behind you, and cooperate with us."

"In this case, I can guarantee that you will be treated leniently and will not be held accountable for your past. This is your only chance, so please think twice before you act!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhi just sneered and said nothing, obviously not taking Zhao Ji's words to heart.

Zhao Ji was not surprised by this. He waved his hand and signaled Zhang Huan and Li Lang to take Zhang Zhi away.

Before leaving, Zhang Huan handed over Zhang Zhi's double swords: "This is the weapon this person carries!"

Yuan Fang nodded slightly and took it, and Zhang Huan left quietly. Di Renjie looked thoughtful, while Zhao Ji just smiled calmly and said nothing.

Li Yuanfang carefully examined the two long swords and even waved them a few times.

Then, he immediately shook his head and commented: "The material is okay, but that's all, just two ordinary steel knives."

Di Renjie nodded slightly, looked at Zhao Ji and said, "Did you notice the clothes he was wearing?"

Zhao Ji nodded: "It is popular in the Jianghuai category."

Di Renjie laughed. He knew that Zhao Ji's guess was consistent with his, so he asked Li Yuanfang again: "Yuanfang, you know about the Jianghu, do you know any famous Jianghu organizations in Jianghuai?"

Li Yuanfang was slightly stunned, then fell into deep thought, and after a moment he replied: "Well, if we talk about the most famous underworld group in Jianghuai, it must be the Iron Hand Group!"

Di Renjie was startled, then nodded slowly and said, "I've heard of this name. According to rumors, many major crimes were committed by the Iron Hand Group, but the government has never found any clues."

"So, I always thought that the Iron Hand Group was just a legend. I never thought that this mysterious organization really existed!"

Zhao Ji took over the conversation and said, "I have also heard that the predecessor of the Iron Hand Group was a fortress during the Northern Dynasties. After the Yongjia Rebellion in the Western Jin Dynasty, the Five Barbarians invaded China, and the people of Hebei and the Central Plains often lived together in clans and built fortresses to defend themselves."

"They did not pay taxes or perform corvée labor. They formed associations and relied on force to fight against the government. They were like a country within a country. The government at that time was helpless."

"Later, when Tuoba Wei unified the north, he was unable to eliminate all the forts one by one, so he used a conciliatory strategy and appointed these forts as 'suzerains' to supervise and protect the people!"

When the word "leader" was mentioned, Di Renjie and Li Yuanfang's hearts trembled.

Zhao Ji continued, "Later, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty adopted Li Chong's strategy, implemented the system of three chiefs, used the law of equal distribution of land, and vigorously cleared out and lured and killed many fort owners, and the forts gradually declined."

"The most famous leader was called Li Bo. He had a younger sister named Li Yongrong, who was an excellent archer. It is said that Empress Dowager Hu Ling even wrote a poem praising her."

This involves Di Renjie's professional field. He couldn't help but recite: "Li Bo's little sister is named Yongrong. She lifts her skirt and chases the horse like a rolling tent. She shoots left and right and always shoots double. If women can be like this, how can men be found?"

Li Yuanfang nodded in agreement and added, "Indeed, this also indirectly reflects the high martial arts skills of the members of the fort at that time. When the imperial court destroyed the fort, many members were either killed or captured. Only the elites and masters were able to escape."

"They scattered and hid, trying to escape the imperial court's pursuit. Among these refugees, a peerless master appeared. His name is Yuan Buji!"

"According to my master, Yuan Buji has been learning martial arts from a master since he was young. He is extremely talented and has martial arts skills that ordinary people cannot match. It was this Yuan Buji who gathered the exiled members of Wubi together to form the Iron Hand Group!"

Having said that, Zhao Ji looked at Li Yuanfang with interest.

He was full of curiosity. Who on earth could have trained such a talented disciple like Li Yuanfang?

Judging from Li Yuanfang's age, the master should still be alive...

Di Renjie was secretly shocked: "So, this Iron Hand Group has a history of more than a hundred years!"

Zhao Ji nodded silently. When it comes to foundation, the Iron Hand Group is indeed a bit more solid than the Snake Spirit.

After hundreds of years of inheritance, although the quality of individual masters in the Iron Hand Group may not be as good as the Snake Spirit, their number is more than theirs.

There are only seven snake heads in the Snake Spirit organization, but according to Zhao Ji's memory, when Li Yuanfang was fighting fiercely with the Iron Hand Group on the boat, the number of masters besieging him reached at least double digits!

Add to that the Prince of Ying, Yuan Gui, who showed up inexplicably, and it may not be that easy to deal with the Iron Hand Group!

Zhao Ji's mind raced like lightning, and he finally spoke slowly: "The prisoner just now called us Senior Brother and Sect Leader. We may be facing the Iron Hand Group!"

Li Yuanfang nodded repeatedly: "That's right. Hiring the Iron Hand Group is very expensive. Usually only wealthy families or high-ranking officials in the court can afford it."

Di Renjie muttered to himself, "This is exactly what's happening in Yangzhou's officialdom!"

Li Yuanfang's expression became more serious, and he continued, "Yes, the Iron Hand Group has no purpose, no goal. As long as someone pays them, they will be hired to do things, and their methods are cruel and secretive."

"It can be said that in the past hundred years, the Iron Hand Group has killed countless people and committed many evil deeds, but no one has ever been able to bring them to justice!"

Di Renjie was shocked again when he heard this, and asked quickly, "Why is that?"

Li Yuanfang slowly exhaled, his face full of fear: "First of all, the Iron Hand Group does not interfere in political affairs, nor does it rely on any faction or dignitaries in the court. Everything is just for money. Therefore, even if they are not a thorn in the eyes of the court, getting rid of them is certainly not a top priority."

"Secondly, the Iron Hand Group is full of experts, each of whom is a unique person with special skills. Their actions are mysterious and elusive."

"Several major cases were committed, but there was neither plaintiff nor defendant. The three judicial departments were unable to file a case, and of course there was no way to investigate, so the case was left unresolved."

Upon hearing this, Di Renjie couldn't help but take a breath of cold air: "It's really amazing!"

　Forts have existed since the Eastern Han Dynasty, usually on borders. As the names of forts, forts, walls, and barriers indicate, these forts were created for defense.

　　The more famous ones include Dong Zhuo's Meiwu, as well as Xu Chu and Li Dian in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, who were all famous fortress owners. These people protected themselves according to their clans, and at the same time took in refugees, developed manor economy, and were self-sufficient. In addition, they trained armed forces and plundered the surrounding areas. They were basically a country within a country.

　　After the Five Barbarians Invaded China, this kind of thing became very popular in the north, and it was probably not until the Sui Dynasty that it completely disappeared from the stage of history.

　　But there is no doubt that the owners of the fortress should be mainly Han Chinese. I don't know why Director Qian chose the name Yuan Buji. Yuan is a Han surname, but it obviously has the historical traces of the Tuoba clan changing their surnames, and it has a flavor of the Northern Dynasty Hu people...

　　And the weird hairstyle of Director Qian himself in the TV series is unbearable to look at...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)