Knife splashing

Chapter 100 Setting the trap with one's own body
"what?!"

The old woman's eyes were filled with horror. "Li Siyuan is going to sit back and do nothing. Could it be that... the news was released by the Li family?"

"No."

Lu Kang's face returned to normal at this time, and he said calmly: "Madam, don't you know me? I have done everything so well that I can get to where I am now. If I want to transfer my wealth, there will be no movement at all."

"The news about the secret escort was spread by me in secret, just to confirm the attitude of the Li family."

The old woman was shocked. "Master, why are you..."

Lu Kang waved his hand to interrupt her, looked out the window, and sneered, "I used a trick before and almost put the Li family into an irretrievable situation. How could they let it go?"

"During the first few attempts along the way, Li Siyuan remained silent. I almost thought that this matter could be uncovered, but he still slipped through the trap."

"We are only the first cover-up, the hidden darts are the second cover-up, just to stir up the greed of the bandits. Even if the Niubei Liangshan bandits have no intention of doing so, I will find a way to create the illusion of danger and ask for help from the garrison."

"Commander-in-Chief Tang Yang has already surrendered to Li Siyuan. I'm afraid he has been keeping an eye on my movements along the way. Li Siyuan did not settle accounts with me to show his generosity, but it seems that he is happy to see a corrupt official returning home with silver and being killed by bandits..."

The old woman found it hard to understand. "Master, since he didn't do anything, we can return home in peace and cultivate our descendants carefully. The Lu family may not decline."

"Confused!"

Lu Kang shook his head and said, "Li Siyuan is now a high-ranking official in charge of the military and political power of Shaanxi Province. Why would he need to use a knife to kill people?"

"He doesn't even need to say anything. Flatterers will take the initiative to embarrass our Lu family in order to seek recognition. I dare to conclude that the Lu family will not even be able to obtain the title of scholar for at least two generations."

“Without the protection of an official position, no matter how much wealth you have, it will soon be gone.”

The old woman was also used to the darkness of the officialdom. She knew how those local officials would do anything to get promoted. She was suddenly a little flustered. "Then... what should I do?"

Lu Kang did not answer directly, but looked out the window, "Madam, what do you think of this official post?"

The old woman said truthfully: "It is already dilapidated."

Lu Kang nodded and said, "Since this year, the court has been arguing about one thing, which is to open the official post stations for merchants to stay in. The silver collected will be used to maintain and repair the official post stations in various places."

"Those wealthy merchants travel lavishly, so how could they be interested in this dilapidated government post? The purpose behind this is to elevate the status of merchants."

"There is a struggle in the court now. One side represents the local gentry, who insist on agriculture as the basis, while the other side is the coastal gentry, who believe that commerce can make the country prosperous and should not be suppressed."

"The Lord Wang whom I rely on belongs to the local faction, as does the Li family. However, they changed their allegiance midway and staked their entire fortunes on going out to sea. Although they were in deep danger, they also benefited from the right time and eventually gained the upper hand."

"In fact, even if I get the position, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep it..."

The old woman understood immediately, "Master, do you mean that the local faction will be at a disadvantage?"

Lu Kang sighed, "There are some things you don't understand. The court is short of money. Your Majesty has ambitions to conquer the world, so how can he be bound by the rules and etiquette of his ancestors?"

"The tide has turned. When the nest is overturned, no egg can remain intact."

The old woman was horrified and said in a trembling voice: "Master, I, a woman, don't understand what is going on in the court. What should our Lu family do?"

Lu Kang said calmly: "I naturally have a plan in advance."

"Five years ago, when I was still in office, I helped a Feng Shui master to overcome a disaster. To repay the favor, he revealed a secret acupoint. After I verified it, I secretly sent someone to kill him."

"That treasure cave is extremely extraordinary and secret. After I die, you will secretly bury me in the treasure cave. If managed properly, it can protect the wealth of the Lu family for two generations..."

"I will leak the news later and die in the hands of bandits. The valuables will also be robbed, and the guards will take action. The people will die, the money will be gone, and the Li family will calm down and will not embarrass you anymore..."

"Over the years, I have secretly made plans in Qi and Lu and built some businesses. After Madam returns, I will immediately move the family once the situation calms down..."

"Xiao Wen is old, but as I have been promoted, there are many flatterers around me. They are stubborn and strong on the outside, but weak on the inside. They are not fit for important positions."

"When I am here, I can still control him, but after I am gone, he will surely cause trouble. Even the best feng shui will ruin his fortune. Madam, you must not be soft-hearted when the time comes!"

"Xiaowu is extremely intelligent and patient. He is the hope of our Lu family. I have asked my good friends to send him to Taishan Academy. Yu'er has a gentle temperament, is well-educated and polite. Madam can choose a good sea merchant to marry her to help Xiaowu..."

"Jinan Prefecture is full of literary spirit and occupies a strategic location as a seaport. It is connected to Tianjin in the north and Jiangsu and Zhejiang in the south. It must be the place where my Lu family will rise!"

Listening to Lu Kang's instructions, the old woman felt her heart breaking, shedding tears and trembling as she said, "Master, why do you have to do this, why do you have to do this..."

Lu Kang smiled calmly, "In the past, Qin Fen, the remaining six generations of Qin, unified China and made the family prosperous. It was not the work of one generation. I have been in the ups and downs of officialdom for many years and I am already exhausted. I will not have much time after returning. It is better for me to join the game and plan a future for the Lu family."

As he spoke, he held the old woman's hand and said with a smile: "I am of humble origins, but fortunately, Madam, you have shown me mercy. You did not despise my poverty, so I will not let you down for the rest of my life. Therefore, I will not take any of the concubines you arranged for me."

"It's a pity that Madam still needs to worry about me when I am old. I will leave first, and the Lu family will be handed over to Madam from now on."

"master…"

The old woman was crying uncontrollably.

Lu Kang said in a deep voice: "Also, the scholar I met yesterday, although he tried his best to conceal his true intentions and his conversation and knowledge were extraordinary, there was a bandit look in his eyes. He must be a bandit spy."

"I will use him as a chess piece, madam, please be careful."

As he said this, he looked out the window at the blue sky and white clouds and said with a smile: "I was born in a poor family and have been fighting with others all my life, but unfortunately, destiny is not in my favor."

"This time I will use myself as a chess piece, and make the final move..."

"Twenty years later, Madam, remember to burn paper and tell me the result!"

…………

As the sky darkened, a bonfire was burning in the open space.

Li Yan fiddled with the small wooden box given by Luo Mingzi, and took out the things inside one by one. He divided the yarrow with Wang Daoxuan, and put the thunder and fire pills on his body...

Wang Daoxuan looked worried. "How about we stay away from Qilipu for a while and wait until this is over before we talk about it?"

"It can't be avoided."

Sharifei just happened to be walking over from the inn. He shook his head and whispered, "I just got the news that a secret escort team was robbed in Shilipu. They disguised themselves as villagers, but still couldn't escape. Several good fighters were all beheaded."

"The bandits may have already left Niubeiliang. They are outnumbered and will definitely attack us if they see us pulling the coffin. It's better to be here where there are more people and it's safer."

At this moment, Wu Mao also hurried over, sat by the campfire, and said helplessly: "Brother Li guessed correctly, the guards did not send troops..."

Sharifi laughed, "It seems that the man named Lu is going to die. We have to stay away from him."

Li Yan didn't say anything, but looked at Wu Mao.

Wu Mao smiled awkwardly, "Don't worry, Brother Li. If the bandits really come, I will accidentally drop the dart. Anyway, it's not our fault."

Li Yan nodded and said, "Uncle Sha, go call Master Zhou and the others. Let's form a formation to protect ourselves and wait for this to be over."

Sharifei nodded and ran back to the inn immediately.

After a while, all the members of Chunfeng Class left the inn. They were going on a long journey this time, and the women and children were waiting for them at home. All of them knew some boxing and kicking skills, and class leader Zhou was also an expert in hidden power. They all held sticks and weapons, and looked like they were ready to fight.

At this point, the team suddenly grew to more than twenty people.

Other wanderers and merchants also gathered together with people they knew.

Of course they also received the news, but the most troublesome thing at the moment was that there must be bandits sneaking in here, so they could only find people they knew to travel with them.

Li Yan and his friends gathered around the campfire, all in silence.

Seeing the depressing atmosphere, the escort Wu Mao rolled his eyes, took off the shamisen from behind him, and casually plucked it a few times, clang~dang~dang~.

The sound immediately attracted everyone's attention.

He raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Young Master Li, don't be so tense. This is what the martial arts world is like. There will be wind and rain, fights and quarrels, and it will be over in the next two days."

"It's also life to be sad and to be drunk and to sing. It's also life. If you need to fight, fight. If you need to be happy, be happy. Why make it difficult for yourself?"

"That's true." Li Yan's eyes relaxed slightly and he smiled, "Brother Wu also knows this?"

The escort Wu Mao blinked his eyes and said, "He's from Yulin, he must have learned for a while, otherwise how could he dress like this? Wouldn't he be exposed if he was poked?"

As he spoke, he pressed the strings with his left hand and plucked them lightly with his right hand.

Ding de le ding ~ ding er!
Accompanied by the humorous sound of the three-stringed instrument, he sang with winking eyes:

"In the first watch, the little nun sat in the meditation hall.
Holding a small wooden fish in my arms, I worship Buddha and burn incense.
In the temple, I suffer and chant Amitabha.
Guarding the mud platform, lighting a solitary lamp, how desolate it is..."

Bonfires were lit around the inn, and the sound of the sanxian accompanied by the quick reading of northern Shaanxi drifted in all directions...

……

In the distance, on the second floor of the inn, a short and ugly man heard the faint singing and spat, "Bah, the coward is so happy..."

Under the oil lamp, he was writing and drawing, and all of them were names of people suspected of being the spies. Li Yan and Wu Mao were among them.

After taking another look, he put away the paper, blew out the candle with a puff, then jumped out of the inn window and jumped onto a big tree on the side.

Like a civet cat, he stepped on the thick tree trunk with both feet and rolled to the ground with the force. His movements were swift and silent.

This place was remote and dark, and no one could see him. He walked through the weeds and climbed up the mountain along the dry river. He was so fast that he disappeared into the darkness in a blink of an eye...

…………

The night deepens at Zhongnan Posthouse.

"Killing!"

The shrill screams woke up the entire inn.

"who?!"

The guard Feng Ping and his companion pushed the door open and walked out, just in time to see a figure climbing over the wall. His face changed drastically, but he did not chase after the figure. Instead, he rushed to Lu Kang's room and stood there in a daze.

The postmaster was also awakened and came hurriedly with his men holding lanterns. When he saw the scene in the room, his eyes suddenly went dark and he almost fell down.

In the room, Mrs. Lu and her daughter cried bitterly.

Lu Kang was slumped in a chair, with a dagger stuck in his heart, his head tilted to look out the window, he was already dead, his eyes showed no sadness or joy...

"It's that scholar!"

Feng Ping roared, thinking of Lu Kang's kindness, and turned to rush out, but when he saw Madam Lu fainted from crying, he had to grit his teeth and said, "Cheng Si, Wang Da, you go after them, and the rest of you follow me to protect Madam Lu!"

"Yes!"

The two guards immediately rushed out into the night.

Fengping's right hand trembled, and he stepped forward and closed Lu Kang's eyes.

He gritted his teeth and kept blaming himself in his heart, thinking how come the master had been smart all his life, but in the end he was deceived by that scholar, who became his close friend after just a few words and even had a candlelight chat with him all night long.

I should have been standing by...

…………

"Hahaha!"

On the ancient road in the night, two horses galloped as fast as the wind.

On the horses were two bandit spies from the inn.

"Third brother, no, the young master is wise!"

"Humph, you old fox, you are still being played around by me. With this list, none of the hidden darts can escape!"

"Sir, we killed Zuo Canzheng. What if..."

"It's nothing unexpected. The man surnamed Lu sent people to ask for help from the garrison, but unfortunately no one sent troops. He was upset, so he told me about this when he was drunk. Otherwise, why would I have taken action in advance? Can't you see that..."

"It's not us who want to kill him...hahaha!"

"Quick! Release the carrier pigeon and tell big brother to take action tonight!"

Wow!
The carrier pigeons flapped their wings and flew off into the night.

Generally speaking, carrier pigeons are active during the day and return to their nests at night. Any pigeon that can fly at night to deliver messages has undergone special training.

Those who are proficient in this method are all masters.

What they didn't know was that in the stable at the backyard of the post station, there was also a carrier pigeon, taking advantage of the night to fly towards the Yingpan Post Station...

…………

In the dead of night, the bonfire crackled.

It was already Chou time. Many people around Changfeng Inn had been nervous all night and could no longer resist the sleepiness and fell into a deep sleep.

Of course, no one dared to be careless in this situation. Almost every team left someone to watch the night, and some even set up warning traps in the darkness in the distance.

These are all underworld tactics, and their only function is to serve as a warning.

Li Yan had taken a short nap in the first half of the night and was now full of energy. He sat by the fire, with the Guanshan knife on his knees and his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.

Suddenly, he sniffed, stood up abruptly, and using his hidden strength, slapped the Yunlei Divine Drum with one palm.

Boom!
The sound of the drums was like thunder in the dark night, waking everyone up.

"The bandits have come down the mountain. Fight hard if you don't want to die!"

Li Yan shouted angrily, then signaled the team to be on alert.

Clang! Clang! Clang!
Many people in the team were startled awake, hurriedly drew their swords, and looked around in panic, "Where are the bandits, where are the bandits?"

However, the surrounding mountains and fields were dark and nothing could be seen.

In the team far away, a man from a car dealership was nervous for a while, and when he saw no movement, he immediately cursed: "No one, damn, who is talking nonsense there..."

call out!
Before he could finish his words, an arrow flew from the dark and went straight into his brain through his eye socket.

The man fell to the ground without a sound.

"The bandits are coming, beware of An Qingzi!"

This time, the whole thing went haywire.

Like a signal, arrows shot from the darkness in all directions, as if they were surrounded by an army.

Fortunately, many teams were well prepared. Some picked up wooden boards, and some held up iron pots to block the arrows shot in the dark.

Li Yan and his team were better prepared.

Troupe leader Zhou led the Chunfeng Troupe to remove the lid of the troupe's packaging box and protect all sides.

But in the current situation, they can only passively take the beating.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes and whispered, "Uncle Sha, you guys protect the team. There are only a few people shooting arrows from behind. I will kill them!"

After saying this, he immediately stepped back and disappeared into the darkness.

Soon, several screams were heard from the other side...

(End of this chapter)