Chapter 123
The leader of the Tiger and Wolf Army waved his hand and said, "Don't kill this man. He will be useful in the future."
The people around him asked anxiously, "What's the use? If he is useful! What about our dead brothers? If he is useful, what he did is enough to prove that his ability is just so so. Why should we keep him alive? We don't need such a person, why! Why!"
The leader of the Tiger and Wolf Army laughed and said, "You don't know, this man has a wonderful use. He is not one of us, so he will not easily arouse suspicion wherever he goes, especially our enemies, the people of Shaochai Mountain, will not suspect that he is one of us. What's more, he is indeed not one of us, and he is not one of us now. It is better for you to do this. As long as you don't kill him, he will still be useful.
We still need his help in dealing with the Shao Chai Mountain incident. If you kill him now, we will lose more than we gain. If you don't kill him now, we still have a chance to wipe out the Shao Chai Mountain."
They both want to catch the other in one fell swoop.
I don’t know who will be able to catch them all in the end.
Although the Tiger and Wolf Army looked at Jiaming with indignation, they had to stop their actions after hearing what their leader said. They snorted, turned around angrily and walked away, shouting as they walked: "How abominable! If so many people die again next time, I will catch one of them and skin him alive!"
Jiaming said to their leader, "Thank you."
The leader waved his hand and said, "I didn't do this to save you. I did this for the Tiger and Wolf Army's greater plan. You don't have to thank me. As long as I can help you in the future, that's fine."
Jiaming said, "In that case, how about this? I have another idea. I can lure the people from Shaochai Mountain who are hiding here and make them fall into the trap. Then, we just need to rush out and strangle them together, and we can rest easy."
The leader blinked and asked, "What can we do?"
Jiaming said: "The solution is simple. I will go out and find the people from Shaochai Mountain and tell them that the people from Shaochai Mountain have surrounded the Tiger and Wolf Army with full armor. They just need to go over and have a happy reunion, pick up the Tiger and Wolf Army's stuff, kill the Tiger and Wolf Army's people to get revenge, and win a beautiful victory."
The leader asked doubtfully, "Is it that simple? If it were that simple, they would believe us, and wouldn't it be possible that we would be surrounded by them?"
Jiaming said, "We won't be surrounded by them so easily. I can lead them to the Eagle Crying Cave, and you just watch from the mountain. By then, they won't be able to fly away even if they have wings. Kill most of them and let some of them escape. Their people will surely be filled with grief and anger and want revenge. Taking advantage of their revengeful opportunity, we can strangle them to death."
The chief was skeptical, but then he thought that Yingtijian was a good place to go. It was high on top and low on the bottom. If someone was walking on the bottom, they wouldn't be able to see the people up there if they looked up. If someone was on top and looked down, their legs would become weak. Fortunately, there were rocks to lean on, so they wouldn't fall down immediately. Once someone fell, they would be smashed to pieces on the ground.
The reason why that place is called Eagle Crying is that even eagles would cry mournfully when passing by that place, and the sound was so mournful and terrifying that it sounded like an eagle falling to the ground.
If you want to kill someone, that's a good place to go.
The leader of the Tiger and Wolf Army thought about it again and again, nodded, and said to Jiaming: "Okay, since you said so, I will believe you this time and ask you to take the risk alone."
He paused and asked again, "But, that place is very dangerous, anyone can see at a glance, how could they be willing to go there? Even if you told them that our people were surrounded by them, they would definitely think that our people were downstairs and their people were upstairs, what would you do?"
Jiaming smiled and said, "This is even easier. If they don't want to go downstairs, they can go upstairs. You can ambush them upstairs in advance. When they get there, you can just move all the corpses here over there, creating the illusion that a big battle has just taken place there. When they get there and see what's going on, they won't be suspicious. You can just push them down from above when they aren't paying attention.
They are death below, and they are also death above; how can they not be considered dead?
The leader of the Tiger and Wolf Army nodded without hesitation: "Okay, go now!"
Jiaming said, "Okay."
He had not walked far when he was stopped by the Burning Chaishan people. They caught him and threw him in front of the boss.
"He betrayed us!"
The people from Shaochai Mountain shouted to their boss in their camp.
"Don't worry, just listen to what he has to say."
The boss of Shaochai Mountain said.
The people burning wood nearby grumbled, "What else can he say? Can he confuse right and wrong? I don't believe it."
Jiaming said: "I don't have the ability to confuse right and wrong, but I can tell you everything you want to ask me."
The people of Shaochai Mountain asked, "Why did you lead the Tiger and Wolf Army over and cause our brothers to die?"
Jiaming said: "Those are not the brothers from Shaochai Mountain, but those in the town who support the Tiger and Wolf Army."
The man from Shaochaishan was stunned for a moment, then said coldly, "You deserve to die. Well, you're excused for this. Why do you hang out with them?"
Jiaming said, "It's not that I was mixed up with them. Do you remember how you left before? When you left, you didn't take me with you, nor did you take my goods with you. I couldn't leave my goods, so I stayed with my goods. You left on your own, and Sen*wan* organized* and didn't take care of me, so I couldn't leave, and had to meet those tiger and wolf troops with my goods. This is not my fault."
The people at Burning Chai Mountain thought for a moment and said, "It's not impossible. Even if it was because we left without you last time, you just talked to them. You talked to them! What did you talk about? Were you talking about how to harm us?"
Jiaming said: "I did talk to them, but I want them to help you."
"Nonsense! How can they help us? You must be talking nonsense and have no excuse for your mistakes. You are indeed a traitor and a thief. I will kill you! Revenge for my brothers! Revenge!"
The people at Burning Chai Mountain started shouting, and the atmosphere gradually became heated. A man walked out from the crowd and chopped at Jiaming's head. There was a bang, and a knife came from the side and stopped the man.
"Don't be in a hurry to kill him. He still has something to say. If he dies before he finishes speaking, he may become a ghost and come back to seek revenge on you. Can you deal with a mortal body or a ghost? I know you are not afraid, but it's always better to be safe. Also, didn't he tell us that he was helping us? In this case, you should at least listen to him finish his words.
If we don't know what he has done for us, wouldn't that be a shame? If we have the chance to kill all the Tiger and Wolf Army members, it would be our good fortune. If there is a benefit, why not listen?"
The people at Shaochaishan looked at each other, then took a deep breath, and reluctantly suppressed their emotions. They put down the knife that was about to kill Jiaming, and sneered at Jiaming, "Do you think you're lucky if you don't die today? If you don't die today, you'll die tomorrow! Do you think we let you live today because we can't kill you? No! If you can't tell me the truth, I'll still kill you!"
Jiaming nodded: "I understand. Let me tell you one thing. After you listen to it, you will know why I want to talk to them.
I met the leader over there, and the leader of the Tiger and Wolf Army told me that he wanted to wipe out all the people in Shaochai Mountain."
The people around him couldn't wait to shout, "Look! Listen! He has said this, how can we let him go? Brothers, let me kill him and avenge you brothers!"
As he was about to rush forward, he was stopped again. The person who stopped him was also from Shaochaishan. He said to him earnestly, "Listen to the end first."
He was a little indignant, but after hearing what his brother said, he didn't want to be disobedient, otherwise he would be the one with the problem. He thought about it, nodded, and stepped back, staring at Jiaming angrily, as if he could kill someone with his eyes. If eyes could really kill someone, Jiaming would have died long ago.
"This matter is very simple. I told them that I would lure you to a place called Yingtijian. If you follow me there, you will be able to see them. They will ambush you there in advance. You can pretend to be ambushed. In fact, you can send some people to hide in the back and push them down from a high place when they are not paying attention.
Anyone who falls from that place will die and turn into meat sauce, no one is exempted, even a person with skin of copper and bones of iron cannot withstand such a blow, it is much easier to kill people than other places. They knew this place, and agreed to the location as soon as they heard it, but they thought I couldn't do it, so they asked again and again, I have already made it clear to them, you will definitely go.
When you get there, you can work together inside and outside to deal with them. Isn't that great? In order to trick you into falling for it, they will carry the bodies up ahead of time. Carrying bodies definitely requires physical strength, and they will have used up some of their physical strength in advance. You go there ahead of time and appear after they have carried the bodies, catching them off guard. They won't have time to react, so they will definitely be slow.
They are stronger and more energetic than them, faster and more responsive than them, so why can't they kill them?"
“若是這樣,也未必不能,”燒柴山的老大若有所思說,“只是我們不能保證你說出來的話都是真的,你之前可以那麽對他們說話,也可以這麽對我們說話,你不是我們的人,也不是他們的人,誰知道你是什麽地方來的人!要是我們被你害死了,你肯定得利。”
嘉明笑了笑:“老大這話說得很對,只是,我孤身一人,沒有勢力,我得了好處,也沒有人分享,有什麽樂趣?更何況,別人死了,我能得到什麽好處?就算我是專愛殺人的魔頭,也沒有叫別人殺人而自己在旁邊看着的道理。我只是迫不得已和他們虛以為蛇,總不能去死。”
燒柴山的老大将信将疑看着他問:“你這麽說,也不是不可以相信你,但是,你讓我們拿什麽相信你呢?總要有一點什麽給我們吧。若是你什麽把柄都沒有,我們稍不留意被你算計了,被虎狼軍的人殺了,我們豈不是冤死了?”
嘉明點了點頭:“确實如此,可是我渾身上下沒有把柄,怎麽辦呢?我記得我有一個祖傳的寶貝,是一把定風劍,若是着人使用,必定如臂使指,威武靈活,又精巧漂亮,可以收藏,也可以殺人,可以賣錢,也可以賞玩,那東西拿在手裏,好似拿着一縷清風。
若真用了它,那就是舉手投足之間可以定滄海風波,是個十分了不得的東西。
之所以叫定風劍,也是因為,這東西若在手裏,能比旁人快三分,到時候打起來了,真要動手,也不怕別人的,揮舞起來仿佛可以定住一陣風,所以叫定風劍。”
燒柴山的老大十分心動,他們沒有不喜歡好寶貝的,更何況是這種殺人趁手看起來也漂亮的東西,正是在他們的心上了,連忙喊道:“快點,把你的東西拿出來給我們看看!”
嘉明笑道:“我的東西在貨車上,現在被捆住,實在是沒有辦法,也不知道貨車在哪裏。”
衆人都有些失望。
嘉明說:“不知道你們看見我的貨車了沒有?”
衆人面面相觑,都慢慢搖了搖頭,更加消沉了。
燒柴山的老大說:“沒有人看見,想必是被虎狼軍的人奪走了,要是被他們拿了,可怎麽好?”
嘉明說:“我可以去拿,貨車是我的,東西也是我的,他們就算是要搶走,我也是那些東西的主人,于情于理,我都是應該去将東西帶回來的,而且,他們聽了我的話,不會不讓我進去的。”
燒柴山的老大将信将疑,想了想說:“也不是不可以放你去,但你要是不回來怎麽辦?”
嘉明笑道:“不可能的,我來之前就對他們的頭領說過了要找燒柴山的人,不可能去了不回來,別說你們不答應,就是他們也不會答應我的,我要是去了不走,他們要殺我,我要是去了不回來,你們要殺我,我要是去了不離開,豈不是自尋死路?自己把自己的兩頭都攔住。
哪裏有必要那樣呢?”
燒柴山的老大勉強被說服了:“好吧,那你過去。記得快些回來,不要叫他們知道了你的定風劍寶貝的下落和模樣。”
嘉明笑道:“好。”
燒柴山的老大揮了揮手,有人走上前去,将嘉明的繩索解開了。一路把他送出了營地,對他咬牙切齒地惡狠狠說:“我告訴你,你要是敢不回來,我在路上見到你,第一時間給你一刀!”
嘉明笑道:“好兄弟,我知道了,一定回來。”
那人越發惱怒起來,臉色通紅,手裏握着拳頭,好像想要一拳頭砸到嘉明的頭上,但是,嘉明走出去了,他也沒有動手,顯然,他還記得臨走之前,老大對他的叮囑,不算是辜負了期望。
嘉明走到了虎狼軍的地盤,對他們的守衛揮了揮手說:“不好意思,我又回來了,我想起來有一個東西沒有帶走,不知道你們能不能給我開個門,行個方便,要是不能讓我進去也可以,你們把我的東西,幫個忙,送出來還給我吧!要是沒有東西,我就不成了。說不成了!”
守衛疑惑地走出來,打量他問:“你不是剛剛才走出去嗎?難道你走出去沒有多遠就被抓住了才知道沒有東西辦不成事?那你之前那樣運籌帷幄似的,怎麽不記得這件事?你這個記憶和腦子,讓我很懷疑你的能力,你是不是真的可以做到啊?”
嘉明說:“我不能做成,你去怎麽樣?你若是能去,我也不必去了,你若是不能去,我還是要去,你以為我為什麽出現在這裏?還不就是為了你們的事情!如今倒好,事情還沒有成呢,你們就開始趁火打劫了?就算你們天生喜歡幹這個,也不至于沒成就自己唱衰吧?
你若是希望這件事不成功,那就也算了,你回去告訴你頭領,我不敢幹這件事了!這麽沒信心,要我做什麽?我去送死嗎?哼,我又不是白癡。若你們以為我是,我告訴你們不是,我也不想當,你們把我當猴耍,我不幹了!”
他在這裏喊叫起來,不幹了不幹了,裏面的人聽見了,都出來看,有人去叫了頭領,頭領就走出來看,看見了嘉明,發現他在這裏哭喊似的,就走到他面前問:“怎麽回事?”
嘉明說:“還不是這位!他說我不成,我想,他肯定是有辦法的,不如叫他去吧!我還沒擔心自己的生命安全呢,他就開始擔心事情能不能成了,若是事情不能成,我去就是送死,若是事情會成,我還要受這種苦,我為什麽啊?”
虎狼軍的頭領看向那個守衛問:“是不是他說的那樣?”
那個守衛猛地一驚,連忙說:“不是他說的那樣!不是!”
嘉明問:“怎麽不是?剛才不是你說的事情不成了?剛才不是你說,懷疑我的記憶和腦子,現在就不是了?你怎麽前後矛盾啊?不如你睜開眼睛問問周圍的其他人,若有聽見了的人,那肯定是可以作證的。若是能作證,不就能證明我的清白了!怎麽不說?都啞巴了?”
他拍拍衣服說:“果然你們是要我去送死的!我是不礙事,反正都來來去去好幾次了,只是看來,如今你們已經不想要殺死燒柴山的人,何必一開始還那樣興師動衆跑過來,把我攔住?若是你們沒有在半路上攔住我,我早就走了,還在這裏摻和什麽?”
他說自己去送死,還不要緊,那些人并不怎麽在乎他,但是,他一說這些人都不想要殺燒柴山的人了,那些人就開始激動了,喊道:“你胡說!我們怎麽可能不想?只是你現在還沒有辦成事情!怎麽能怪到我們頭上?”
嘉明也不怕,就問:“我沒有成是為什麽?你知道?你知道還說這樣的話就是其心可誅!你就是賊喊捉賊!你要是不知道,那就更好笑了,你不知道你開口說話,是為了渾水摸魚嗎?誰知道你是不是燒柴山的卧底!只有燒柴山的人才希望事情不成!你還敢說你不是?”
那個人一下子語塞起來,支支吾吾問:“你在說什麽?我聽不懂!”
嘉明說:“聽不懂你還來問,你是想要我給你解釋,還是想給燒柴山的人拖延時間?”
那個人別的聽不懂但是一提到燒柴山,他就聽明白了,喊道:“我沒有!我不是燒柴山的人!我也不是為了給燒柴山拖延時間才說這些話!我只是出于關心兄弟和在乎虎狼軍的想法!我說話只是因為我想說話而不是我要向着燒柴山!他污蔑我!他其心可誅。”
嘉明笑道:“我污蔑你?你既然不承認自己向着燒柴山,你為什麽說你說話只是因為你想說話?你沒有思考就說話,就是不為虎狼軍考慮,你若是想了之後還這麽說,那就是故意的還不承認,互相矛盾又隐瞞事實,你還好意思說,你不是燒柴山的人?
若你不是,你憑什麽在這裏阻攔我?你若不是,你為什麽連我都比不上還要瞧不起我?你若不是,虎狼軍的大計就在此刻,你在這裏說那些廢話,你還不是拖延時間?你說話想清楚!要是想不出來,就別說話!少在這裏,掩人耳目。”
那人一下子漲紅了臉,頓時氣得仿佛七竅流血,砰的一聲,躺在了地上,昏迷不醒了。
嘉明哼了一聲,周圍的人七嘴八舌讨論起來,有些人去伸手,想要把地上的人擡起來送到裏面的營帳去,有些人則悄悄警惕四周,以為燒柴山的人會在這個時候出現,像他們之前打燒柴山那樣,打得他們措手不及。
虎狼軍的頭領呵斥道:“安靜!”
場面一下子安靜了許多,虎狼軍的頭領,看向嘉明,打量了他說:“你氣得我的兄弟都昏迷了,我沒有找你的麻煩已經很好了,你現在最好立刻對我說清楚,你出現在這裏是為了什麽,否則,我就殺了你,給我的兄弟出氣!”
嘉明說:“實不相瞞,我本來去了燒柴山,想要對他們說清楚情況的,可是,說了情況,他們不相信,要我作證,我想,我不能帶上虎狼軍的人去作證,只能找一個東西去,若是要找東西去,不能找破爛給他們,否則,他們惱羞成怒,以為我在戲耍把我殺了,就不好了。
我回來是為了拿東西的,就是拿我的貨車裏面的東西,可是,被這個守衛攔在門口,說那些廢話還不算,要我承認自己比他弱,我不認,他就跟我吵了起來,其他人走出來看,之後就是您出來了。”
虎狼軍的頭領将信将疑,看向其他人問:“是這樣嗎?你們都看見都聽見了?誰知道事情的全部發展?若是知道就說出來,要是現在不站出來,之後我發現了,就不是一句話的事情了!事情關系到虎狼軍和燒柴山,你們還不肯說嗎?”
很快有人站出來,第一個人站出來之後,其他人就覺得輕松許多,有些人互相看了看,接二連三站出來作證說:“我看見了,我也聽見了,我知道事情是怎麽發展的,一開始确實是他說的那樣,沒有問題。”
虎狼軍的頭領看向守衛:“他已經說了,他們都說了,你還有什麽要說的?若是你說得不好,我就砍了你的頭,作為贻誤軍機的代價!”
守衛眼珠一轉,心中想到了一個主意,對虎狼軍的頭領說:“我不是要阻攔他,我只是懷疑他去了燒柴山就帶上了燒柴山的探子一起回來了,想趁着我們開門的機會溜進去刺探軍情,我也是為了虎狼軍着想,誰知道會發展成這個樣子,完全就是一個誤會,我不清楚的。”
虎狼軍的頭領冷笑道:“你不清楚?你不清楚你把人攔在外面?你不清楚你在這裏說這些話?你不清楚你究竟為什麽做事說話,到現在還不肯認錯?我也不是一定要說你錯了,可是你看看自己在說什麽?”
守衛還想負隅頑抗就硬着頭皮說:“頭領,有所不知,他出去沒有多久就回來了,出現的時候,身後似乎跟着人,我是警惕才把他攔住,不是為了影響虎狼軍的大計,我已經知道錯了,還請頭領饒過我的命!我願意給頭領當牛做馬,報答恩情!”
頭領看着他,看了一會兒,看向嘉明問:“這個結果,你滿意了?”
嘉明拍了拍衣服,笑道:“怎麽會不滿意呢?頭領都這樣為我着想了,我可是十分感謝的。若是沒有頭領,今天這件事還不知道要扯皮到什麽時候呢!多謝頭領,多謝頭領。不知道現在,我的貨車能不能送給我了?”
話說到這裏,也真是心酸,自己的貨車還需要別人送,好像主客都颠倒了。
頭領點了點頭,對身邊的人說:“你們去把他的貨車推出來給他。”
虎狼軍的人點了點頭,連忙轉身去辦事了,很快,一陣咕嚕咕嚕的聲音傳來,他們推着嘉明的貨車走到了門口,擦了一把頭上的汗,感嘆道:“不知道裏面是什麽東西,這麽重。”
嘉明走過去,掀開了上面的布,在裏面摸索了一陣子,拿出來一個小盒子,是長條形的,表面上是暗紅色的,有柔軟的絲絨質地的花紋,十分漂亮,但也不張揚,是低調而奢華的感覺,其他的人不仔細看,都不覺得這東西貴重,仔細看的人,覺得在別人手裏不好更仔細看。
虎狼軍的頭領是見過世面的人,看了這東西,一眼就知道是好的,肯定也貴,對嘉明說:“舍不着孩子套不着狼,這次你若是把這東西送給了燒柴山的人,就算是你的大功一件,你放心,等事情成了,之後,我們贏了肯定把東西原樣奉還給你。”
嘉明點了點頭,表示感謝:“那我就等着事成之後,喝了頭領的慶功酒,從頭領手裏接過我的東西了!”
頭領笑道:“好啊!”
他只聽見慶功酒,沒注意後半句。
嘉明的重點也不在這裏,拿了東西就走,謝也謝完了,迅速離開了虎狼軍的營地,走到外面,看了看方向,從小路抄近道走到了燒柴山的營地附近,對他們的守衛喊道:“我已經把東西帶來了,我要進去,你們現在打開門,好讓我把東西給老大。”
守衛看了看人,又看了看東西,将信将疑地猶豫着打開了門,并派人去通知老大。
老大知道了這件事,就走出來看,走出來的時候,正好撞上嘉明拿着東西急匆匆從外面往裏面走,嘉明見到了老大,停下來,對他說:“東西我已經拿來了。”
老大将信将疑地打量東西,看見暗紅色的絲絨長方形小盒子,疑惑地皺了皺眉,第一反應以為自己是被人欺騙了,頓時要發怒,又按捺下來,覺得不應該這麽草率,就眉眼間含着怒氣問嘉明:“你是拿了什麽東西回來?”
嘉明笑道:“這就是我對老大提起的定風劍。”
他摸了摸盒子說:“只是這東西在光天化日之下打開,恐怕太耀眼了,我覺得不合适,才沒有現在打開,若是現在老大想看,我在這裏把東西盒子打開了,給老大看也不是不可以,反正,這東西之後還需要老大保管一段時間呢。”
保管一段時間,肉包子喂狗,一去不複回,還不知道,保管一段時間是多久,要是燒柴山的老大不出事,嘉明的東西,大概是回不來的。
這話不方便說,嘉明笑着看向燒柴山的老大問:“不知道老大意下如何?”
老大聽見光天化日之下打開不太好就想進營帳裏面去看,但是,又擔心營帳裏面的火焰太微弱,看得不盡興,委屈了寶貝,就有些猶豫,嘉明笑道:“其實裏面看,外面看,都是可以的,如果老大之後要用這東西,肯定不可能只在陰暗處使用,現在在天光下看了也好。”
老大一聽,連忙笑道:“好啊,好啊,既然你這麽說了,那就這麽做吧!”
嘉明點了點頭,打開了盒子,盒子裏面是寶石珍珠,在天光底下熠熠生輝,周圍的人都不由得瞪大了眼睛,去看,努力伸長脖子,還擔心自己不小心弄髒了寶貝,有人吸溜吸溜地開始吞咽,頗為羨慕,恨不得自己的兩只手是現在捧着那把劍的。
寶石珍珠都是漂亮又珍貴的,但是,那把劍更了不得,在其中不僅不失去自己本身的光彩,反而更加璀璨,仿佛它天生來就是為了奪人眼目的,十分美麗,正應該在衆目睽睽出現,又在珠寶堆積之中容身。
嘉明将這把劍拿出來,對燒柴山的老大說:“除了好看,它還十分鋒利,可以吹毛短發。”
他說着,捏起自己的一點頭發,放在劍口邊上,對着一口氣吹過去,只聽得呼的一聲,不過是眨了眨眼睛的功夫,那頭發就斷掉了,而且不多不少,正好兩半,看起來幹脆利落,十分鋒利,果然如此。
燒柴山的老大大喜過望,連忙走過來,在嘉明身邊仔細觀賞這把劍,笑眯眯拍拍嘉明的肩膀,以示鼓勵說:“好啊,好啊。”
他說着,就伸出手來,就要接過這東西。
嘉明将東西轉交給燒柴山的老大說:“這就是您的了。”
燒柴山的老大一邊說:“這怎麽好意思?”
他一邊笑眯眯地雙手接過東西,恨不得蹭兩下,只是怕貼過去就被削掉頭發罷了。
他拿着東西走在路上,十分閃亮,走了兩步,又走了兩步,轉過頭來,再走兩步,好像高興得不得了了。
邊上的人都望着那東西,目不轉睛,神色之中隐約透露出來一點癡迷,自言自語似的喃喃道:“你們不知道呢,老大曾經結過婚,我看,他現在的表情,比當初結婚的時候還高興許多!”
“後來呢?”
“後來?什麽後來?哦,你是說老大的新娘子?死了。據說是老大親手殺的,因為在床鋪上,捉奸捉雙,看見了奸夫□□不穿衣服裹着被子,躺在一起,還繞着頭發說,以後要殺了老大長長久久,老大氣不過,當時就提着刀把人殺了,這才當了我們的老大,之前都不是的。”
“這麽說,那兩個人該死了。不過,幸好他們死了,不然,我們老大還不知道什麽時候能出現了,帶着我們呢。”
“哈哈哈。”
他們高興了一陣子,很快就收拾東西,準備作戰計劃,準備完了,就開始趕路。
一群人到了鷹啼澗,正好是虎狼軍的人搬運完了屍體,累得一個一個都氣喘籲籲的時候,滿頭大汗,渾身衣服都濕漉漉的,看起來非常需要休息也非常困倦,他們若是能休息的,都坐在地上休息,還用自己的衣服來給自己扇風,好像這樣會涼快舒服一點,但也未必。
燒柴山的人趁着虎狼軍的人不注意,一下子撲過去,将沒反應過來的人,悄無聲息都殺了。
等到虎狼軍的人發現的時候,已經所剩無幾了,虎狼軍的頭領悲憤對天大喊:“怎麽今天就要亡我?當初讓我起來的時候,可不是這麽說的!該死!該死!我不信我會死在這裏。”
但是,話音剛落,就被人從背後踹了一腳,又被人迎面砍了一刀,一時間沒有站穩,從高處搖晃了一下,頓時跌落了,落下去的時候,閉上眼睛,喊道:“今天不是我要死!”
只聽得砰的一聲,他落在地上,變成了肉醬。
燒柴山的人以為自己完全勝利了,站在高處,叉着腰,哈哈大笑起來:“好啊,好啊!敵人都死絕了,我們贏了!我們都贏了!以後這一片的地方都歸我們燒柴山了!”
正在這個準備慶祝的時候,一群人喊打喊殺地沖了上來,燒柴山的人都奇怪底下來的是什麽人,就去看,發現是小鎮子的人,冷笑道:“之前沒有趕盡殺絕,他們現在倒是追過來了,難道還想報仇嗎?也對,不能斬草除根就等于後患無窮,與其等他們,不如現在死了。”
燒柴山的人就連鎮子裏的人也殺了。
好不容易都殺幹淨了,他們或是覺得頭昏腦漲,或是覺得身體疲憊,都躺在地上休息,漸漸睡着了,嘉明從衣服裏面掏出來一顆信號彈,在地面上磕了兩下,就像是打破一個雞蛋的蛋殼,砰砰兩聲,信號彈的外殼居然真的破損出現裂痕之後嘩啦一聲,從裏面流出些許液體。
這些液體是黃白色的,帶着一股随風而來的腥臭味,在外殼打破之前,完全聞不到,但是外殼被打破之後,就完全不能忽視了。
很快,一陣大風吹了起來,這味道到處都是,地上躺着的燒柴山的人身體各自抽搐了兩下,顫抖着大小便失禁,死去了。
嘉明在鼻子前揮了揮手,邁着步子走下鷹啼澗去。
他路過小鎮子,走到裏面,十室九空,手裏提着臨走之前剛剛從燒柴山的老大營帳之中放置完好的定風劍,笑眯眯敲了敲縣衙門口的破鼓,只聽得砰的一聲,那個鼓突然自己倒了下去,嘉明就跨過門檻,進入了縣衙內部,在這裏面找到了沒有出門去的縣太爺。
“好久不見啊,”嘉明熱情地打了個招呼,“縣太爺,您這段時間過得好嗎?”
縣太爺不耐煩地勉強睜開一只眼睛看了一眼來人,揮了揮手,打蒼蠅似的說:“當然過得特別好了!”
嘉明說:“好吧。我來得不是時候嗎?”
縣太爺說:“當然!我現在要睡覺,你這個時候過來做什麽?”
他問了這句話才反應過來:“等等,我這裏怎麽會有你這樣的人?你是什麽時候出現的?你是怎麽進來的?外面的人呢?其他人呢?他們都死了?死絕了?可惡!我就知道他們平時不幹活,只知道偷懶,應該打得更狠一點,免得他們以為我好脾氣,在這裏吵鬧!”
他一下子從床上坐起身來,對嘉明說:“你這個人怎麽回事?你是誰啊?”
嘉明說:“呀,不認得我了,沒有關系,不知道縣太爺還記得不記得,自己之前做過什麽?”
縣太爺說:“嘿,我做的事情多了去了,有必要全都跟你解釋嗎?”
嘉明說:“哦,不跟我解釋,那就跟我這把劍解釋吧!”
他說着,将劍架在縣太爺的脖子上問:“還記得你把一個人丢到監獄的事情嗎?你差點就把他的東西砸爛了,你還說,他殺了許多人呢。”
縣太爺想不起來,哆哆嗦嗦,差點尿褲子:“你說什麽?我不知道!你能不能換一個人問?換一個地方也可以,不要把這種危險的東西放在我的脖子上!”
嘉明笑道:“這種東西就應該在你的脖子上,其實你還配不上它,但是,我也不過是這麽用一下,它應該不會介意。”
縣太爺皺着眉頭心想,什麽瘋子!穿得绫羅綢緞的,原來是這種樣子?可算了吧!
嘉明嘆氣:“好吧。我知道你想不起來了,既然提示了你都想不起來,我就再問你一句,你家裏可曾有紙筆嗎?”
縣太爺說:“啊,有啊。”
嘉明說:“拿出來給我。”
縣太爺摸索着去将東西拿了出來,遞給嘉明:“給你。”
嘉明對他說:“拿着你的筆,壓着你的紙,聽着,寫一句話,蒼天不佑,皇天後土,高德載物,萬物同悲,天下何苦,嗚呼哀哉,痛不欲生!”
縣太爺不知道他什麽意思,聽着他的話,還是哆哆嗦嗦寫了,嘉明看了,讓他找個牆貼起來,不許撕掉這張紙,又在縣衙的牆上寫了這句話,點了頭,松開縣太爺,高興地離開了。
他到了下一個小鎮子,買了一匹馬,快馬加鞭,到了京都,每日在熱鬧的地方對其他人說:“你們不知道,我到過一個小鎮子,鎮長全家都死絕了,可是,縣太爺找不出兇手,後來找出來了,可是,明知道兇手卻不能殺,還找了替罪羊。
喝了酒之後,那位縣太爺在自己家的牆壁上,寫了一句反詩呢!說老天爺真是不庇護他,明明後土慈悲,可以承載萬物,卻為什麽讓萬物都一起悲傷呢?天下的百姓何辜,天下的臣子何苦,真是今天格外痛不欲生起來!
他可真是膽大包天,嘻嘻嘻。”
嘉明也不花錢去找別人說這些話,只是自己每日尋酒作樂,買了許多的可以做衣服鞋子的材料,晚上在房間裏面忙到半夜,處理好一身新衣服鞋子,就穿着出門去,走街串巷地唱歌,不知道的以為他是打更人呢。
晚上不好抓人,他又跑得快,每日穿着不一樣的衣服,都是市面上沒有的款式,又遮住臉,只有聲音,仿佛鬧鬼似的,京都裏面都好一陣子傳着不安全的傳聞,直到這件事終于被許多人知道了,事情壓不下去了,有人就去處理,離開了京都,到了小鎮子,先打聽情況。
那人問到鎮長全家死絕就知道事情不好,又去問縣太爺的事情,都說不知道縣太爺怎麽樣,更是在心裏想,這麽多人都不敢說,恐怕是真的有些事情不能說,還不知道一個人躲在縣衙裏面做什麽!這次一定要把人抓出來,叫他沒法跑掉,回去了也是大功一件。
他想清楚了,就去找人,找到了縣太爺,不巧,縣太爺還真就正在喝酒,嘴裏念叨着牆上的那句話,不知道什麽意思,就被抓起來了,還在掙紮,喊道:“你不能抓我!你是什麽人?周圍的土匪不是都死光了嗎?你在幹什麽!你什麽人!你怎麽敢抓我的?”
來人說:“我是京都來的特使,我要抓你,我就抓得你!你也不必太害怕,我可以把你帶到京都去審問,到時候,有什麽事情沒有什麽事情,都可以清清楚楚,不必你恐慌。”
嘉明是一路跟着過來的,發現縣太爺被抓住了,就去山上找自己早就藏起來的玉佩,找到了玉佩,隔着特使一路回到了京都,但是,突然有點茫森*晚*整*理然,因為不知道怎麽找人就随便找了個地方住下來,每日花錢找人去問。
有一天,突然有一個人走過來打量他問:“你是不是随身帶着一塊玉佩?”
嘉明說:“是啊。”
“能不能給我看一眼?”
“在這裏。”
“不會有錯的,這就是了,你是那一家的人。”
“那?”
“從前,京都有一戶很有錢的人家,全家都十分和善,有一個小公子,更是特別心善,每日外出,都要照顧窮人,施粥給乞丐,日子過得還算快樂,可是,突然有一天,皇帝查抄了他們的家,說從他們家得到的錢都是贓款,是貪污受賄和準備謀反的錢,就都收走了。
他們家沒有了錢,但還有人,就勉強過下去,可是,家裏的老人承受不住打擊,一病不起,死了,年輕人雖然還能幹活,可是,入不敷出,家裏的人就算再怎麽省吃儉用也是許多人,有些東西沒辦法省下錢來,就只能各自出門找活兒幹,做點小買賣,想要糊口。
可是,老爺還在做事,少爺的哥哥突然不行了,聽說是外出做生意的時候,走在路上遇到了強盜,強盜本來只要他們的錢,不要他們的命,可是,他們家已經沒有錢了,要搶錢就要他們的命,少爺的哥哥不顧危險,奮力阻攔,被強盜一刀砍掉了頭,死了。
強盜揚長而去,跟着少爺哥哥的人則把他的屍體收拾回來送到了家裏。
家裏哭聲好幾天沒有斷,少爺又驚又怒,情緒激動被大風吹了,也病倒了,很快就死了。
家裏就剩下老爺和太太,大老爺見家裏不好,收拾錢逃走了,大太太看情況不好,也收拾了錢,回自己家去了,家裏只剩下二老爺和二太太,兩個人相依為命,很快又得了一個小公子,可是,這回,小公子身體格外虛弱,需要許多錢來治病,幾乎養不活,在一次過節就不見了。
全家一貧如洗,小公子不見了之後,二太太就哀傷過度,死了,二老爺也沒撐多久,很快也死了,那屋子就成了空的,後來吹大風,聽起來像有鬼在裏面哭,你不知道,住在旁邊都覺得滲人,很快,那屋子旁邊的其他住戶都搬走了,只剩下沒錢的人,怕鬼但更怕死。
只當那屋子是他們的善心,還能庇護其他人罷了。他們都說,若是那家人還活着,肯定是不會介意他們住進去的。不過,那家人都死光了,想來也沒有機會說介意還是不介意。
至于這塊玉佩,據我所知,是當初二太太留給小公子的,就是那個家亡落敗之後出生還體弱多病的小公子,在走丢之前,身上的東西。你怎麽有這個?”
“實不相瞞,我是來尋親的,我師父對我說,撿到我的時候,我身上只有這個東西可以算能證明身份的,師父死了之後,叫我下山來,如果能找到人,當然很好,如果找不到,我能知道身世,也算不錯。”
嘉明收起東西,笑道:“多謝你了,今天才知道原來是這樣,既然已經是這樣了,我也沒有辦法挽回了,聽天由命罷了。這件事,如果沒有你,我還不知道什麽時候才能明白過來,你既然來了,不如這樣,我請你去隔壁的花茶樓喝一壺。”
“好啊!”
來人笑道。
他就這麽跟着嘉明吃吃喝喝過了一段日子,十分快活,直到有一天,擦了擦嘴,他吃完了飯,對嘉明說:“我要走了,我還有其他的事情要辦,不能一直在這裏。我家裏催了好幾次,實在是沒有辦法了,我還是很想和你一起的。但是,要帶上你,恐怕你不适應長途跋涉。”
嘉明點了頭:“那好,你走吧。”
酒肉朋友就這麽不見了。
嘉明每日喝點酒,打發時間,找點樂子,玩着也就過去了,可是,又是一天他出去玩,被人攔住,拉到了僻靜的地方對他說:“小公子,你怎麽才回來?我們的事情還沒辦完呢。你怎麽能就這麽走了?好像什麽都不知道似的,撒手不管我們了!”
嘉明問:“什麽事情啊?”
那人指了指自己手裏的牌子:“保清明,反膿水,複和睦,護身體。”
嘉明疑惑地皺着眉頭,指着牌子,低聲問:“反清複明?”
那人點了點頭:“是啊。”
嘉明愣住:“可是,我并沒有要做那樣的事情。”
那人搖了搖頭:“不不不,小公子難道不記仇嗎?小公子難道不想為死去的親人正名嗎?小公子難道不是也覺得這個世道糟糕透頂嗎?”
嘉明說:“我不想幹這事情,太麻煩,太累,還太危險,你走吧。我不說你,你也別再來找我,否則,我把你捆起來,丢到縣衙門口去,你看,你還能不能來。”
他說着,轉身走了。
那人是想伸手拉住他的,但是,看他這個态度一時半會是沒法改變的,就猶豫了一下,心想,随他去吧,到了時候,他肯定還是會回來的,我們是一家人,我們必定要在一起的,他不可能單獨在外面,也不可能真正離開我們。更何況,事情還需要用他的名頭,哪裏那麽容易走?
嘉明就這麽走開了。
他準備回到房間休息的時候,有人過來敲門,嘉明還以為是路上那個人,開門的時候,不想說話,可是,一擡眼發現來人是之前在鞋店老板哥哥家見過的年輕人,開了門,讓他進來了。
“你怎麽來了?”
嘉明給他倒了一杯水問。
“實不相瞞,我是前朝的老臣子嗣,父母都已經死了,但是,他們臨死之前拉着我的手對我說,不能辜負了前朝的皇帝,我就沒法不聽他們的話,原本想一輩子不管這些事的,但是,我自從見了你,就覺得不能再拖了,就來到了京都,準備活動,已經有一段時間了。
今天晚上會有一場煙火大會,你可以在窗戶邊上看一眼,很漂亮的,也很熱鬧,我們的活動就在這個時候,會有機會互相聯系,鬧出更大的事情來,只要事情鬧大了,就會有更多的人知道,但凡是想支持我們的,肯定會想辦法和我們接觸,我們就可以得到更多的人。
人手充足了,就更好打起來了。只要時機成熟,我們就要掀翻現在頭頂上那個皇帝了,改朝換代的時刻就在今朝,我告訴你這些,不是想把你拖下水,而是覺得你面善,後來去查了一下你的情況,發現能和你對上號的人,只有一個人,就是被以叛國罪全家抄沒財産的那家。
餘孤,若你被其他人發現身份,就不是餘孤了,就是餘孽。你肯定要被殺死的。就算現在不被殺死,也免不得什麽時候被追殺,走投無路,你希望那樣嗎?我們應該是一條繩上的人!”
年輕人看向嘉明。
嘉明說:“哦,也許,但是我現在不想幹,什麽都不想。”
年輕人問:“你不想改朝換代嗎?”
嘉明想了想:“或許有吧。”
年輕人問:“那你為什麽不願意跟我們一起?”
嘉明說:“我不喜歡約束,也不喜歡跟別人湊到一起,你們本來就很危險了,再加上我,是危險和危險,我簡直不能更危險,我不希望過那樣提心吊膽的日子,我覺得現在就不錯,每天只需要想辦法玩得高興就可以了,太簡單了,什麽都不需要思考,我很快樂。”
年輕人起身道:“好吧,希望你以後也覺得自己很快樂,我來的事情已經說完了,我要走了,如果你想找我,或許我們還有見面的機會。”
嘉明笑道:“好走不送,我們都在京都,見面的機會多的是。”
年輕人點了點頭:“也是,那我就走了。”
嘉明揮了揮手。
年輕人自己打開了門,左右看了看,走了出去,很快就融入夜色之中,不見了。
嘉明鎖了門,躺在床上休息,卻睡不着,一心翻來覆去,腦子裏都是今天的事情,一會兒想到路上被拉住,一會兒又想到年輕人對他剛才說的話,再一會兒,想到了縣太爺家牆上的那句話,又一會兒想到了前陣子送走了告訴自己身世的那個人。
不知道那個人會不會轉過頭來大肆宣揚他的身份,知道他的身份的人應該不少,不然,當初那一家人不可能傳出心善的美名,只不過,時過境遷,物是人非,事情已經到了這個地步,只能走一步看一步了,如果那個人真的說出去了,必定是走不掉的。
到時候,如果要想辦法逃走,肯定牽扯到其他人,如果沒有年輕人和其他人的幫助,他是非死不可了。畢竟,叛國罪,非同小可,鬼知道是怎麽回事,人都死了,事情都過了,連房子都看起來搖搖欲墜,是要爛掉的樣子,周圍的人換了一批又一批。
怎麽能指望他們呢?
嘉明搖了搖頭,心裏嘆了一口氣,喃喃自語:“算了,算了,能不想就不去想,我還着急玩呢,要是每天都這樣,心事重重的,我還有什麽可玩的?”
次日,嘉明出門玩的時候,果然聽說外面的煙火大會比往年都熱鬧許多,還有官差混在裏面,到處抓人,也就是小孩還能嘻嘻哈哈,跟着小孩的人都十分緊張,又怕小孩被拐走又怕自己被當成什麽罪犯帶走,又怕不小心被人偷了東西和錢,不好回家去。
嘉明正在咔嚓咔嚓處理花生米,突然聽見旁邊有人悄聲說:“有一件事你們不知道吧?”
很快有人問:“怎麽?什麽事情?說說看!”
“咱們頂頭上的青天,過不了多久,就要病倒了。”
“怎麽會呢?前陣子不是還聽說好好的?”
“還不是吃丹藥!吃了許多呢。想要求長生不死,可惜了,人哪裏那麽容易就能不死的?現在好了,反而要死了。”
人們搖了搖頭,竊竊私語之後,談論家長裏短。
嘉明吃完了花生米,喝了一點荔枝果酒,搖搖晃晃起身要出去逛街,走在路上,被人撞了一下,聽見那個人說:“真是晦氣!路上都見到了一隊的官差,走在路上還撞上個醉鬼!”
他拍了拍衣服,走開了。
Jiaming thought about it and his eyes widened. He ran back home, packed up his things and hid. As expected, he was not wrong. Soon, the police appeared at his door and knocked on the door fiercely, bang bang bang, bang bang bang, and shouted, "Open the door! Open the door! We know you are in there! If you come out now, it can be considered as surrendering. If you don't come out, it will be considered as resistance!
Don't blame us for being rude! You are asking for trouble."
Before he finished his words, there was a bang, and the officer who spoke kicked the door. Half of the door broke in an instant. It seemed that the door here was not very strong. The officer who kicked the door waved his hand and asked the people behind him to go in and search. After a round of searching, they found things thrown on the ground. It was a mess and looked dirty. They didn't find anyone.
"Damn it! Someone must have let him know and he ran away!"
The officer shouted angrily.