Chapter 564

Upon hearing this,

the Kaifeng Prefecture yamen runners looked at each other in dismay.

"Boss, what is the Fifth Young Master going to the Northern Liao relay station for?"

The leading yamen runner breathed out a puff of white air and said: "With this young master's temper, it's definitely not to pay an early New Year's call to the Northern Liao envoys."

"Boss, won't something happen?"

"What could happen? Let's go, go back to drink some hot wine and eat some meat, warm up and sleep..."

Before he finished speaking,

in front of Xu Zaijing and Qingyun, who had not yet left Quyuanjie, a peddler wearing cold-proof leather clothes to cover his figure and a leather hat on his head placed the goods on his shoulder to the side.

This peddler's load looked quite like the one Wu Dalang used to sell steamed buns, with two racks carried by a shoulder pole in the middle.

Looking at the peddler's posture of holding the shoulder pole, it seemed he was about to bow and salute Xu Zaijing and the other.

At the same time,

Xu Zaijing, riding on the little Li horse, just glanced at the peddler and pulled the butt of the long spear he was holding vertically from the leather pocket beside the stirrup.

Relying on the spear shaft in his hand that was more than a zhang long,

before the little Li horse could get close,

the steel spear in Xu Zaijing's hand swung toward the peddler.

"Whoosh!"

The spear shaft in mid-air made a whistling sound.

Just as Xu Zaijing approached, the peddler's hand holding the shoulder pole tightened suddenly, and he gripped the shoulder pole with both hands to gather strength, about to swing it toward the horse's legs!

But at this moment, the spear shaft had already smashed over his head,

and the peddler reacted quickly, instantly changing the swinging motion into a block with the shoulder pole held high in both hands.

Seeing the peddler's arms slightly bent, combining hardness and softness, he was confident that after blocking Xu Zaijing's spear shaft, he could instantly adjust his posture and swing at the horse's legs again!

But...

"Snap!"

The iron-wrapped wooden stick, as thick as an adult's wrist, was directly smashed and broken by the heavy spear shaft.

"Crack!"

The peddler's collarbone and scapula suffered a heavy blow and instantly deformed and sank.

"Ah!"

The intense pain made the peddler unable to help but howl.

The contest between the spear and the stick happened in less than a single breath.

Because the long spear was too long, the spear blade happened not to be used, and the effect of using this spear shaft was unexpectedly good.

Before the peddler's wailing ended,

one of the two men standing at the street corner ahead shouted: "You five or six people, stand still for me!"

Xu Zaijing looked forward and saw several people running and turning into Quyuanjie.

These people were dressed as common laborers in the city, either carrying sticks or ropes on their shoulders.

Standing still and looking at Xu Zaijing, who was still on his horse on the street,

these people gasped for breath and breathed out white air.

A moment later,

those who reacted quickly understood what had happened and turned around to flee quickly.

The others followed quickly.

But the road they were leaving was just blocked by the two men who had shouted earlier.

"Good dogs don't block the way!"

Someone among the few shouted loudly while swinging the stick in his hand.

"Giddyap!"

Qingyun beside Xu Zaijing lightly tapped the horse's belly and shouted angrily as he chased after them.

Looking down at the man who was clutching his shoulder and sitting paralyzed by the rack, Xu Zaijing didn't speak, but slightly lifted the spear butt and struck it toward the man's knees.

"Ah!"

The peddler clutched his knees with one hand and let out another scream.

This scream made the Kaifeng Prefecture yamen runners not far behind shiver. After the crowd looked at each other in surprise, they hurriedly quickened their pace and ran over.

Arriving nearby,

looking at Qingyun, who was chasing the few people at the street corner, the leading yamen runner waved his hand: "Hurry and go help."

Six yamen runners replied and quickened their pace toward the street corner.

Xu Zaijing said: "Watch him, don't let him commit suicide."

"Yes! Fifth Young Master, this little one understands."

As he spoke, the leading yamen runner, who was gasping for breath, swung the scabbard toward the man's mouth.

Xu Zaijing took a look and then rode his horse toward the street corner.

After Xu Zaijing went far away,

looking at the peddler's miserable state,

a yamen runner gasped for breath and said: "Boss, Fifth Young Master... he didn't make a mistake, did he?"

"Are your eyes blind? Which peddler has such a fast reaction to change moves? And damn it, uses an iron-wrapped long stick?"

After speaking, the leading yamen runner looked down at the "peddler" whose face was twisted and who was sweating from the pain in the cold winter morning, and said: "I don't know which thief leader this guy is!? He even dares to provoke the Xu family young master!"

The "peddler" had a broken scapula and had his knees broken by Xu Zaijing,

and his face had also been hit by the scabbard that knocked out his teeth. At this time, he could only lie on the ground, his eyes blank, and said intermittently:

"On the road... it wasn't said... that this Xu Wulang was a silver-like... pewter spear head!"

"All kinds of... cough cough... battle records were all pinned on his head by his father, the Marquis..."

"Cough cough!"

The "peddler" coughed, spitting out blood and teeth.

"How... how is he so... hiss... so powerful!"

Hearing this,

the surrounding yamen runners all laughed.

A yamen runner said: "You thief leader, the person who told you these things is using a scheme to get you killed! Report your name, so we don't know who died."

"Huff!"

"Huff!"

Yan Shun ran with all his might.

With his violent breathing,

the cold morning air rushed into his lungs through his mouth and nose, while the air exhaled from his mouth still had residual warmth, turning into white air in front of him.

"Ha!"

"Tai!"

Behind him, his companions exhaled and shouted, fighting fiercely with the men blocking the road.

"Ah!"

Amidst the sound of sticks and weapons colliding, a miserable cry of pain came.

Yan Shun turned his head to look and saw his companion stumbling forward with a white feathered arrow stuck in his back before falling to the ground.

Seeing this scene,

Yan Shun hurriedly threw the rope on his shoulder to the ground, ignoring the discomfort in his lungs, and continued to run for his life with all his might.

Speaking of which, a few years ago Yan Shun had also been quite prominent. At that time, he was a leader in the Qingfeng military stronghold, with dozens of men under his command, and even called the town stronghold officer Hua Rong, who looked down on people, his brother.

As for why he said Hua Rong looked down on people, it was because Yan Shun had repeatedly expressed his desire to marry Hua Rong's sister, but Hua Rong refused no matter what.

Not only that, Yan Shun also had a powerful sworn brother who entered the Prince Yan's mansion!

When drinking and eating meat, his sworn brother always boasted that he was highly valued by Prince Yan!

Yan Shun didn't believe it at first, until he disguised himself as a robber to rob and kill for money, and inadvertently provoked the steward of the Gao family in Laizhou, and it was his sworn brother who came forward to mediate, which was why he wasn't held accountable.

With such a powerful and prominent sworn brother, Yan Shun naturally pestered him, wanting even more to marry Hua Rong's sister.

But... good times didn't last long, the Prince Yan's mansion's plot was exposed and vanished, and his sworn brother had no news since then, and that thief Hua Rong made things difficult for him repeatedly.

Fortunately, heaven never closes all doors; he happened to know that a powerful person had taken a fancy to this Qingfeng stronghold's town stronghold officer position, so he pinned his own affairs on Hua Rong.

Regrettably, although Hua Rong was dismissed from his military position, the scene of him being dejected and having nowhere to go didn't happen.

Instead, it was said that he defected to a very prominent and powerful young master in Bianjing and went to another place to take up a post.

Taking advantage of this matter, Yan Shun still caught the eye of the powerful person, followed the strongmen, became a believer of Maitreya, and went to Qizhou...

But, it was good times that didn't last long again. For some reason, the Maitreya believers in Qizhou suddenly set fires and killed officials. After the failure and dispersal, Yan Shun could only panic and roll up his valuables to escape from Qizhou.

After entering the capital, Yan Shun spent a period of carefree days and also got to know many idlers and rascals in Bianjing, as well as strongmen and heroes outside the capital.

But the carefree days in Bianjing also meant that money was spent like water.

Soon, Yan Shun ran out of money, and later, introduced by a hero he knew, he entered the Wuyou Cave in Bianjing.

During this time, relying on his skills, he also made a name for himself as the "Brocade Tiger" in Bianjing and the Wuyou Cave.

The day before, the news of the reward for injuring the Fifth Young Master of the Marquis Yongyi's mansion began to spread, and the amount for just injuring him was staggering to hear.

Yan Shun had also heard of the name Xu Wulang, but among those mixing on the road, whose name wasn't blown out?

But Yan Shun sincerely admitted that it was the nobles of Bianjing who were bold enough to boast to the heavens,

"Twelve scouts blocking ten thousand Bai Gao infantry and cavalry!?"

Thief!

He wouldn't dare to say such things even when he was drunk and bragging!

So Yan Shun united with several heroes he knew and came to Quyuanjie this morning to scout.

The hero walking in the front disguised as a peddler was named Wang Ying, who claimed to be good at using sticks and once knocked down a galloping horse with one stick in his hometown outside the capital!

He also said that if he met that Xu Wulang or Xu Liang Liu Lang today, he would let him taste the iron stick in his hand.

But, the result was...

Thinking so much, Yan Shun had only run eleven or twelve steps. When he heard the sound of horse hooves behind him, he looked back in a panic again.

Then,

watching Xu Zaijing on horseback level his long spear, and the Xu family personal attendant further away drawing his bow again, Yan Shun's eyes widened suddenly.

In an instant, Yan Shun felt a flash of inspiration and stopped running. He knelt on the hard and cold ground nimbly, raised his hands high, and shouted: "Grandpa, spare my dog's life, this little one surrenders!"

"Whoosh"

A flash of light passed before Yan Shun's eyes, and then he felt his scalp tighten and cool; it was the long spear blade passing through his hair bun!

A moment later, the messy hair that fell from his head was blown away by the cool wind brought by the little Li horse that swept past.

"Neigh"

The horse's neighing sound rang out,

and then a slight vibration came from the ground under Yan Shun's knees.

"Clatter clatter clatter clatter."

The sound of horse hooves stepping on the ground gradually approached. Yan Shun knelt and looked at the strong legs of the majestic black horse in front of him, and the bursts of white air sprayed from the horse's nose.

"Gulp"

Yan Shun swallowed his saliva, touched the top of his head tremblingly, and then prostrated himself on the ground: "Thank you, Grandpa, for not killing me! Thank you, Grandpa, for not killing me..."

"Go, send the rope over."

Above his head,

a calm voice came.

"Yes! Yes! As you command!"

Saying this, Yan Shun stood up, trotted a few steps to pick up the rope, and walked toward the crowd who had been killed, injured, or subdued by Qingyun and the Imperial City Guard soldiers.

Xu Zaijing followed Yan Shun to the entrance of Quyuanjie. The Kaifeng Prefecture yamen runners had already dragged the "peddler" over.

Looking at Yan Shun, who was handing over the rope to tie people, the leading yamen runner cupped his hands and said:

"Fifth Young Master, this thief leader with the broken leg is the 'Color Tiger' who has been quite famous on the road recently. It is said that he is good at using sticks and likes to abduct good women into the Wuyou Cave to ruin them."

Xu Zaijing nodded and said: "I will take them to the Northern Liao relay station in a while. If this guy can hold on without dying, I will give him to the Kaifeng Prefecture then."

The leading yamen runner and his companion looked at each other and cupped their hands: "Yes."

Xu Zaijing looked at the two Imperial City Guard soldiers again and nodded: "Thank you for your hard work!"

The Imperial City Guard soldier who was limping cupped his hands and said: "It is the duty of this subordinate."

Xu Zaijing nodded, took out his personal seal from his bosom and threw it to Qingyun, and said: "Tell Qingcao to move two boxes of silver from my private treasury to Brother Zhao."

"Yes, Young Master."

Qingyun held the personal seal and replied, then rode his horse toward the Marquis's mansion.

After the thieves were tied up, Qingyun also rode back.

Subsequently,

the rope tying seven or eight thieves, whether dead or injured, was tied to Qingyun's saddle.

Among them, the thief who was hit by a feathered arrow didn't even have the arrow pulled out, and was just dragged along behind Xu Zaijing's horse.

The blood dripping or flowing from the thieves fell onto the streets of Bianjing in winter.

As for the Kaifeng Prefecture yamen runners, some went back to the yamen to report, and some just followed behind Xu Zaijing and the other.

When Xu Zaijing rode out of the Marquis's mansion, it was already the second quarter of the Chen hour (7:30 AM).

After the commotion at the street corner, it was already after the third quarter of the Chen hour.

At this time, the morning sun was rising, and the sky was bright.

Although there were fewer passersby and common people on the streets of Bianjing on a winter day after snow than at other times, it was not deserted.

Among the passersby,

some were peddlers selling New Year pictures and peach wood charms,

some were servants and idlers delivering freshly cooked snacks and fruits to high-ranking families,

some were wealthy squires returning home after drinking and feasting all night with courtesans and friends in brothels,

there were also women dressed decently with servants preparing to enter deep mansions to do business, or stewards and nannies going out early to purchase things,

and of course, there were soldiers patrolling, and ordinary Bianjing commoners carrying night-soil buckets.

On this main street of Bianjing, Xu Zaijing's group was naturally very eye-catching.

After all, there were screams and wails from the tied-up injured, blood flowing all the way, and corpses with feathered arrows stuck in them, which could be seen at a glance.

Those who had injured legs and couldn't keep up were also dragged behind the horses regardless of whether they were dead or alive, and at the very back followed the Kaifeng Prefecture yamen runners.

Such a strange sight was rarely seen in Bianjing, so many people put their own affairs aside, either by carriage or on foot, and followed Xu Zaijing's group to watch the excitement, and soon there were quite a few people.

Not to mention anything else, telling the "clients" in the deep mansions about today's events, or telling relatives and friends before or after the New Year, would surely make people listen in amazement.

At this time,

a woman dressed decently by the roadside recited "Amitabha" silently, looked at Xu Zaijing in the front, and said:

"Young Master! Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda! No matter if these people owe your family money, rent, or have offended you, you shouldn't humiliate them regardless of life or death like this!"

"No matter what happens, let the dead be buried in peace, and can the living be allowed to stop the bleeding?"

"No matter what they have done, they shouldn't suffer such misery."

As she spoke, the woman also pointed to Wang Ying, the "Color Tiger," who was being dragged along with injured shoulders and knees.

Looking at the miserable wails and constant cries of pain from the people behind Qingyun's horse, the surrounding onlookers and common people nodded in agreement.

Xu Zaijing turned his head, exhaled a puff of white air gently, stopped slowly, and did not speak.

The leading Kaifeng yamen runner beside him cupped his hands and said: "Madam, do you know the nickname of the person you are pointing at? And what he has done?"

Hearing the yamen runner's question,

"How would I know what he does!" the woman shook her head.

Some of the onlookers looked at the "Color Tiger" with curiosity, while others looked at Yan Shun, who was the only one walking and uninjured, with suspicion.

The leading yamen runner walked slowly and cupped his hands toward the surroundings: "Does anyone recognize them?"

In the crowd, a pimp accompanying a carriage said in confusion: "This man walking looks like the 'Brocat Tiger' Yan Third Master..."

Yan Shun, tied with a rope, lowered his head.

"That's right, it's him."

"This one is the 'Curly Tiger' Wang Ying, who has recently become famous among the wicked and rascals. By the way, he has an even more famous nickname, 'Color Tiger'."

After the yamen runner finished speaking,

"Hiss!"

Someone gasped.

The onlookers, commoners, wealthy squires, servants, and nannies all whispered to each other to inquire.

Listening to the words "evil, lewd, and plundering," "specializing in ruining good women," and "eating human organs with strange tastes" coming from the surroundings, the woman who had just tried to dissuade them was so frightened that she took several steps back and almost fell.

"Constable, you said this person is the Color Tiger, he has an iron-wrapped jujube wood stick that is invincible in Bianjing, and several famous strongmen on the road have suffered losses at his hands. Where is that jujube wood stick?"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

The yamen runner smiled, held the un-sheathed waist knife with both hands, and cupped his hands: "That stick is right here."

As he spoke, he pointed to the broken wooden sticks tied to the Color Tiger's leg.

Seeing that Yan Shun still had some loyalty, the broken stick was considered to have helped Wang Ying fix his injured leg.

"It's him!"

"It's him!"

"It's this evil thief!"

Someone in the crowd recognized him and shouted,

and then,

frozen snowballs flew out from the crowd and hit the corpse beside Wang Ying.

"Let's go."

Xu Zaijing moved his legs slightly, and the little Li horse continued to walk forward.

Every day when going to school, Xu Zaijing left very early. Those who didn't recognize him would ask the yamen runners on the road.

Along the way,

from time to time, idlers and servants who saw Xu Zaijing would turn and leave, their destination unknown.

Pan Lou Main Street,

in a private room of the Qiyun Tower,

a rapid knocking on the door sounded,

"Young Master, Young Master?"

The voice of the servant Diaoche sounded at the door.

On the bed in the private room, Liang Han, who was hugging a girl, shouted vaguely: "Come in!"

After the door opened,

the servant Diaoche walked quickly to the bed and said: "Young Master, an idler just came to report that he saw Jingge on the street."

"If you see him, you see him. Jingge isn't a girl, so naturally he will go out. Did you give him a reward?"

Liang Han said without opening his eyes.

"I gave it! But Young Master, I heard that Jingge is riding a horse, and behind the horse, he is dragging seven or eight famous wicked thieves and villains of Bianjing! I heard that those wicked thieves and villains are either dead or injured."

"What?"

Liang Han sat up suddenly, causing the courtesan on the bed to shyly pull the quilt to cover her body.

"Quick, let's go see!"

Liang Han asked while putting on his clothes: "Did you find out where Jingge is going?"

The courtesan hurriedly put on an inner garment and helped Liang Han put on his clothes.

Diaoche thought for a while and lowered his head: "It seems to be going to the Northern Liao relay station."

Liang Han stood on the floor from the bed and said: "The envoys from Northern Liao who came to pay New Year's greetings to His Majesty, didn't they just arrive three days ago?"

"Yes, Young Master!"

"Hiss, hurry, hurry, hurry, I have to go see! A big show!"

(End of Chapter)