Shuhu Ximeng was the deputy commander-in-chief of the military forces of Nanjing Prefecture in the Jin Dynasty. He was in charge of the Xiongzhou market and trade with the Song Dynasty.
In terms of appearance, Shuhu Ximeng doesn't look like a Jurchen at all. He appears to be gentle and refined, but beneath his refined exterior lies a sinister and vicious heart.
At the Jin Dynasty's market purchasing office, Shuhu Ximeng looked at the boxes of silver in front of him without saying a word, while Jiao Mang trembled with fear as he followed below.
After a while, the muscles at the corners of Shuhu Ximeng's eyes twitched. "Master Jiao, we Jurchens have always been based on honesty when doing business. We've already given you the deposit for the arrows and saltpeter, and now you're returning it. What do you mean by that?"
Jiao Mang smiled and said, "I'm truly sorry, Chief Shuhu. It's not that we don't want to do this business, we just can't do anything about it."
Shuhu Ximeng picked up a silver ingot from the box and said, "Master Jiao, you're too kind. Everyone knows that Xiongzhou is your uncle's territory. If your uncle coughs, the ground here will tremble three times. Is there any business you can't do?"
"General Shuhu, you may not be aware that a judge has arrived in Xiongzhou today. He was appointed by the Emperor himself and sent by the Privy Council. My uncle suspects that someone leaked our deal, and the Emperor is suspicious."
Shuhu Ximeng looked at the silver ingot in his hand and asked, "You want us to kill this prison official?"
Jiao Mang was secretly shocked. This Jin man was really powerful. He guessed it right on the spot. So he nodded happily and said, "That's right. My uncle said that if you assassinate this judge, the emperor won't blame us. Then we can continue the deal."
Shuhu Ximeng held the silver ingot in his hand out the window and looked at it: "Okay! However, our transaction price will have to be reduced by 30% from now on."
"30%?" Jiao Mang was shocked. "Then what profit do we have? Killing the Chief Justice is beneficial to both you and me. Why should we give 30%?"
Shuhu Ximeng smiled and said, "Because we are the ones doing the hard work. You know, if the matter is leaked, it will provoke a war between Song and Jin. Our risk is much greater than yours."
Jiao Mang bit his lip and said, "I can't make the decision on this matter. I have to listen to my uncle's reply."
"Very good! As long as the Transport Commissioner agrees. Please tell us the address of the Chief Justice, and we will take care of the rest."
"Zhan Yunpeng is a bachelor and usually lives in the county government office. I will go back and ask my uncle and give me an answer. Now I'm leaving!" Jiao Mang clasped his fists and left the Jin State Market Office.
At the Jiao Mansion, Jiao Zifu was shocked and angry when he heard the Jin people's conditions: "Greedy Jin dogs! 30%, I'm surprised they even opened an export."
Jiao Mang stood with his hands down and said, "How about we reply to the Jin people and tell them that we don't agree?"
Jiao Zifu stamped his foot and gritted his teeth, saying, "Promise them that as long as the Jin people kill Zhan Yunpeng, everything will be fine!"
It was a dark, windy night, a murderous night. In the Xiongzhou County government office, Lai Fu was panting in the courtyard, his tongue hanging out.
Two dark figures flashed past on the wall, and Lai Fu pricked up his ears, noticing something unusual. Unlike other dogs, Lai Fu didn't bark until he spotted his target.
It was obvious that the two black shadows did not notice the presence of a dog in the yard. They hid in the corner and dared not make a sound.
"Shi Dunzhu, you go ahead!" the tall man in black said in a low voice.
The short man in black, Shi Dunzhu, hurriedly shook his head: "I'm afraid of dogs."
"You useless thing, when we get back, Manager Shuhu will not let you off." The tall man was furious.
Shi Dunzhu was unhappy: "Zhuo Tuo Tangren, if you are not afraid, why don't you go up?"
The tall Zhuo Tuo Tangren glared at him. He had no choice but to grab the wall with both hands and gently poke his head out. Lai Fu's pair of titanium alloy dog eyes were staring at him.
"Wuwuwu~" Lai Fu finally let out a whimper.
Zhuo Tuo Tangren shrank back in fear, patted Shi Dunzhu on the shoulder, and the two of them left the county government office quietly.
Half an hour later, Shi Dunzhu and Zhuo Tuo Tangren came to the corner of the yamen again. This time, Zhuo Tuo had something in his hand.
With a "whoosh", a deadly chicken leg was thrown over the wall into the yard.
After a long pause, the Tangren Zhuotou poked his head out again. Lai Fu slowly got up and sniffed the chicken leg, showing no intention of eating it. He then snorted and walked away.
Zhuo Tuo Tangren had an expression on his face as if he had seen a ghost. He quietly squatted down and looked at Shi Dunzhu: "Dog God?"
Shi Dunzhu was unhappy: "Who are you calling a dog? You are the dog."
Zhuo Tuo Tangren was too lazy to explain to him, so he tugged at Shi Dunzhu. This time, they both stuck their heads out and saw Lai Fu take a few steps, stagger, and finally fall down. It turned out that the drug on the chicken leg could make people faint just by smelling it.
The two of them looked at each other happily, climbed over the horizontal wall, and quietly reached the backyard of the government office.
The moonlight was like water, and crickets chirped in the corner. Shi Dunzhu drew his cold dagger and gently pushed the door open.
With a creaky sound, the door opened and the two of them tiptoed into the inner room.
A person lay horizontally within the light tent, facing inward. The Zhuo Tuo Tangren also drew his short sword from his waist, and with his left hand, he lifted the gauze tent. The two men raised their swords and struck...
Shuhu Ximeng didn't know why he felt a little flustered. He rubbed his hands together in the market, feeling inexplicably nervous.
"Wuleqi, go and see why Zhuotuo and the others haven't returned yet?"
Wuleqi was the prefect of the Duzongguan Mansion and a subordinate of Shuhu Ximeng.
Wuleqi bowed and said, "Don't worry, General Shuhu. He is a warrior of the Great Jin Kingdom and is more than capable of assassinating that Chief Justice."
"No, Jiao Mang from Song said that Zhan Yunpeng is a skilled martial artist. I'm afraid something might happen to them, so you should go out with them and take a look. If anything goes wrong, report back immediately."
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