There is no phoenix

Liu Xianglian said: "I think it's okay. All eight of us have horses and weapons. I think shopkeeper Liu should be relieved. He wants to hire ten, and we should be able to rest assured that there are eight of us."

Li Lei said: "I just don't know how many bandits there are. We have to figure out what to do if we encounter bandits directly, because our goal is to capture the bandit leader."

Shui Rong said: "I don't think there's anything to be afraid of. Shopkeeper Liu originally had seven or eight escorts, so they must be very skilled. Eight of us, together there are sixteen or seventeen people. Even if there are three or forty robbers in that gang, even if they are riding horses, We people can't clean it up?"

Lin Qiyun said: "It's easy to hide with open guns, but hard to guard against with hidden arrows. I see it this way, if you encounter bandits on the road, Xiao Ning and Zheng Rui should carefully check the forest on both sides. Li Xun and I will protect the shopkeeper and his party. You guys deal with the bandits." If there are no bandits on the way, we will also send the shopkeeper Liu out of Xiguan, and then return slowly, or return by several mountain roads."

Liu Xianglian said: "The robbers will move very quickly when they rob. As long as we delay for a while, they will naturally be nervous. I think shopkeeper Lin is right."

Shui Rong said: "It's better for Shopkeeper Lin and Shui An to talk to Shopkeeper Liu first. If possible, we will try this method. It is easy for us to investigate alone, but it may not be easy for us to find the robbers."

Lin Qiyun said: "Then I'll talk to that storekeeper Liu first. If he is willing, I'll let the manager come over to discuss. I guess they have to see a few of us before they can rest assured. When they are relieved, we will help escort, Let's calculate again."

Everyone felt that what Lin Qiyun said was reasonable.So Lin Qiyun and Shui'an went to find someone to talk to.

About half an hour later, Lin Qiyun brought in a man in his 40s.Lin Qiyun said to Shui Rong: "Master Shui, this is Manager Li from Shopkeeper Liu. Besides Shopkeeper Liu, there are seven or eight other people there. Manager Li wants to see us first."

Shui Rong and Liu Xianglian hurriedly greeted that Steward Li, Shui Rong said: "To tell you the truth, Steward Li, we have been out of the capital for more than two months, and we are a bit tight. Steward Li thinks how many of us are satisfied?"

Manager Li looked at the eight people in Shui Rong, and saw that except for Lin Qiyun, they were all strong young men, so he hurriedly asked, "Would any of them know some martial arts?"

Liu Xianglian said: "The few of us are friends and brothers who go out together, we all know some kung fu, and we also have horses and swords."

Li Guanshi heard this, and said happily: "The last time I came here, I met those bandits and was almost robbed. Fortunately, our shopkeeper hired three martial artists, and we didn't meet that powerful robber. Our shopkeeper wants to hire more people." Escorting the goods out of Ping'an Prefecture, as long as we leave Xiguan, we will pay you for your employment. From Ping'an Town to Xiguan, it is only more than 80 miles away. Eight of you, send us out of Xiguan, and we will give you 160 taels of silver. I don’t know how many people are like?”

Shui Rong said: "Okay, let's make a deal! I don't know when Manager Li wants us to leave here to deliver the goods?"

Li Guanshi said: "It is impossible to leave today, we are already very tired from the journey. If possible, our shopkeeper Liu said that we will leave early in the morning, what do you think? Anyway, we will go to Xiguan tomorrow in the dark, stay there for one night and leave the customs. You can come back after you send us to Xiguan, it’s just a one-day trip. There are troops stationed in Xiguan, so we are not afraid there.”

Shui Rong said: "We are all big men, and we don't have any luggage. When we leave tomorrow, we will definitely pack it up tonight. Don't worry about Li Guanshi!"

Li Guanshi smiled and said: "Then I will come tomorrow morning and ask you to go to have breakfast together, and leave early after dinner, so you can wake up earlier."

After Shui Rong answered, Manager Li sat down for a while, seeing that most of the people were young and strong, he left with peace of mind.

After Li Guanshi left, Shui Rong Liu Xianglian and other eight people discussed again.After dinner, they all rested early.

Early the next morning, as expected, Manager Li came over early and invited Shui Rong and the others to have dinner together.Shui Rong and his party brought their luggage, led the horse, and followed Manager Li to the inn where shopkeeper Liu was.

Shopkeeper Liu looked to be in his 50s, and the look and words on his face showed the shrewdness of a businessman for many years.Seeing Shui Rong and the others refreshed, they were naturally happy, and said with a smile: "Several strong men, please come in, this time I have to work for you."

The eight people in Shui Rong also clasped their fists together with smiles and said, "Shopkeeper Liu, you are welcome, we are taking care of each other."

Shopkeeper Liu greeted everyone to sit down, filled a glass of wine for everyone, and said with a smile: "I thank you all for your help. When I leave Ping'an Town and arrive at Xiguan safely, I will definitely invite you to have another drink." Meal! Today we have to hurry, and the lunch at noon may be simple, so everyone will eat more for this meal."

After hearing this, everyone raised their glasses and drank it down.

After dinner, Manager Li and shopkeeper Liu ordered everyone to pack the goods, which contained 20 or [-] hunchbacks and a carriage.Shopkeeper Liu and a young man with a sword got into the carriage, the steward Li and a young man drove, seven or eight other men brought equipment and got on the horse, and four or five men drove the pack.Water-soluble Liuxiang, Lian Shui'an, Lin Qiyun rode behind, Li Lei, Li Xun, Xiao Ning, and Zheng Rui rode in front, and a group of more than [-] people left the inn.

Shui Rong and his party saw that Shopkeeper Liu and Steward Li had arranged so well, and respected his shrewdness.

A group of people traveled more than 40 miles without encountering any abnormalities.

Li Guanshi stopped the carriage for a while, and said loudly to everyone: "Ma Yunpo is ahead. Although the slope is not steep, the road is not very wide, and there are forests on both sides, which is the most dangerous. Be careful! After passing this place, We will find a place to eat. Then we will rush to Xiguan to rest, so hold on, we would rather work harder now!"

Liu Xianglian looked at the terrain in front and the rolling forests on both sides, and said to Shui Rong: "I passed by here three years ago, because I was riding a horse alone, so I didn't pay attention to it, but now looking at the forests on both sides, I really have to be careful. "

Lin Qiyun said: "There is nothing wrong with this uphill road now, because you can still see a place far behind, I'm afraid you must be careful when going downhill there!"

Liu Xianglian said: "Then I'll go up and have a look first." As he spoke, he rode over the team of hunchbacks and galloped uphill.

Liu Xianglian immediately stood on the slope and gasped: Although the downhill road ahead is not steep, the slope is very long, then there is a flat open field, and then there is a long uphill road with dense forests on both sides. In any case, there will be no one.And this kind of place is the most dangerous place to kill people and steal goods, which is very similar to the situation in the mountains and forests where Xue Pan's goods were robbed back then.

Liu Xianglian got off her horse and returned, and said to Li Lei, Li Xun and others who were walking in front of the camel caravan: "I think the place after the downhill is the most dangerous, because the slopes on both sides block the sight of the mountain road, if there are bandits, they should all know them." Choose that place to work, you must be careful!"

Li Lei said: "Well, Li Xun and I will go to the front, and you guys will be behind. If something happens, we must first protect Mr. Shui, the treasurer Liu!"

Liu Xianglian nodded, returned to Shui Rong, and continued to follow the pack team.

After going down the slope, everyone felt a little tired. In addition, the terrain is relatively flat, and then there is a long section of slope to go up. Several guys asked if they wanted to rest, and Li Guanshi said: "The shopkeeper Liu said that Ma Yun will leave. Po went to the place where there is a village in front to rest, and also went there to eat. Now we have to hurry, thank you for your hard work."

After hearing this, everyone had to cheer up and move on.

Many of the forests on both sides are dense with bamboo, and there are a few birds chirping faintly, which makes it even more quiet here.Everyone felt that danger was approaching, so they had to raise their spirits and move forward slowly.

Suddenly a crisp whistle came from the forest, and everyone was amazed. They saw dozens of people holding simple knives rush out of the forest on both sides, and there were twenty or thirty horsemen holding long weapons, and they were already galloping. come over.Among them, two bandit-faced men who looked like leaders, both holding long knives, led in front.The dozens of bandits armed with simple knives and riding horses quickly surrounded Shui Rong's group of people and their goods.

Shui Rong and Lin Qiyun hurriedly approached the carriage, protecting Shopkeeper Liu and Steward Li.Shopkeeper Li hurriedly waved to Shui Rong, signaling not to worry yet.

I saw Li Guanshi took a small package, got out of the carriage, came to the two big men holding long knives and said: "You two heroes, don't look at us as the goods of more than a dozen hunchbacks, but our shopkeeper this time The goods are indeed bulky and worthless, and it is also a small business, this is the tea money from our shopkeeper to all heroes, please raise your hands high, let us pass." He said and offered the small bag.

I saw one of the big men gently picking up the small bag with a long knife, took it and weighed it with his hands, and said with a smile: "The shopkeeper is smart! In this way, leave half of the hunchback and the carriage, and take the rest away! Tell the shopkeeper, he You are a refreshing person, and we will not wipe them all out, you go, you can take seven packs with you!"

Li Guanshi hurriedly said after hearing this: "Hero, how can this be done? These goods belong to all of us, not only the shopkeeper alone, but the shopkeeper asked relatives and friends to pool the capital to transport these goods, so please let us go there? "

I only heard the other one holding a long knife shout: "Second brother, take it all, why bother talking nonsense with them!"

A person next to him said: "Second brother and third brother, listen to their tone, this item must be valuable, you want it!"

The second elder brother heard this, and immediately greeted the people behind him: "Eldest brother has orders, they won't go, let's go, take the seven hunchbacks with us!"

Shui Rong saw that the group of strong men had already gone to lead those hunchbacks, and was about to burst into anger, Lin Qiyun stepped forward and said softly: "This is the second and third, the boss will definitely follow nearby, be careful!"

Liu Xianglian took a look at Shui Rong, hurriedly stepped forward and said to the two big fellows in the lead: "You two heroes, the shopkeeper has already offered tea money, so why be greedy! I think you two can be regarded as upright men with martial arts skills. If you are still alive, why not use your own ability to find a good job, to support your family in an open and honest manner, instead of doing this kind of banditry here for nothing!"

The man known as the second elder brother heard this, and sneered and said, "The road is facing the sky, walk on both sides! I think you can speak clearly as a man, and you seem to be a decent person, but I think you are just working for others now. It’s just a living, what qualifications do you have to persuade us? Let me tell you, I will decide these things today! If you listen to my advice, you take seven packs and a carriage and leave, so as to avoid bloody disasters with swords and swords. If you don’t leave, I will But not a single hunchback!"

After hearing this, Shui Rong couldn't hold back, and hurried forward and said angrily: "You thief! You are strong and strong, why don't you join the army and make meritorious deeds, and you actually do such a robber's deed! I helped the shopkeeper escort the car, and the previous shopkeeper was benevolent and righteous. , I will not say anything. But now that you have received filial piety money and robbed goods like this, then you have to see if you agree with the things in our hands!" He said and drew out his sword.

When the two leaders heard this, they laughed loudly and said, "What an arrogant boy! You don't even look where it is, I want you to know that to be loyal, you have to be capable!" After saying that, he waved his long knife Straight to the water solution.

Shui Rong loudly said to Li Lei and Li Xun in front of them: "Don't let them grab the goods!"

Lin Qiyun hurriedly drove the horse in front of Shui Rong and said: "You protect the shopkeeper first, let them get out of the car to avoid, let me come."

Liu Xianglian and Shui'an also drew their swords to meet the other big man, and the rest of them also held sharp weapons to meet each other.

The second elder brother slashed at Lin Qiyun with a knife, and Lin Qiyun hurriedly drew his sword to meet him.For a moment, there was only the shadow of swords and swords, and the horses screamed.

Shui Rong saw that the man was using a long spear, and Lin Qiyun was using a sword, which was a little too strong, and Liu Xianglian and Shui An were both short weapons, so he rode his horse and rushed to Lin Qiyun, saying, "You take people to protect Manager Liu and Manager Li. I come!"

Hearing what Shui Rong said, Lin Qiyun must have seen the man's flaws, so he had to retreat, and called two guys with knives in their hands, and together with the boy with the sword next to Shopkeeper Liu, they protected Shopkeeper Liu and Manager Li and retreated. On the one hand, seeing the bandit leader named second brother and third brother with high martial arts skills, fighting against Liu Xianglian and others, he was a little frightened for a while.

Although Shui Rong is very skilled, but because he is a sword and the opponent is a long knife, Liu Xianglian and Shui An also use swords, so they can't gain the upper hand for a while.Four or five bandits saw that Shui Rong was good at martial arts and that the second brother couldn't win, so they all surrounded Shui Rong one after another.

I saw the flying long knife called Second Brother, fierce and fierce, fighting against Shui Rong without any fear, because Shui Rong used a saber, and his martial arts are extraordinary, but because the weapon has no strengths at this time, if he wants to resist the opponent, he still has no fear. Beware of the few people surrounding you, for a moment the two of them were on equal footing.

Liu Xianglian and Shui'an are fighting against another person, and there are several people with simple knives who are helping that person. helper.

But Lin Qiyun saw that one of the buddies was holding a spear, so he immediately reacted. Pegasus went over to take his spear, ran towards Shui Rong and said, "Master Shui, catch it!"

Shui Rong was overjoyed, took the spear, immediately became more courageous, threw the sword in his hand to Lin Qiyun, and swung the spear straight for the opponent's door.The man turned his body to one side, held the long knife to meet him, and yelled: "Mother, you have so much strength!"

Before the man could finish his sentence, he had already been knocked off his horse by Shui Rong.

Shui Rong pointed the finger at him, and was about to remove the man's mask when he heard a loud voice: "Don't hurt my second brother!"

When the words came, a masked man galloped forward, and picked up the water-soluble spearhead with a long spear in his hand.

The second brother on the ground shouted: "Brother, this man is amazing!" After saying that, he jumped up and got on his horse again.

The masked man shouted: "Feng Jin, second brother, you lead people to retreat!"

Seeing that the bandit had arrived, Shui Rong secretly rejoiced, brandished a spear to meet the man, and shouted to Liu Xianglian: "Xianglian, don't let them go!"

The so-called big brother held the water-soluble spear with a spear, and said angrily: "You are not escorting the cart, who are you?"

Hearing that voice, Shui Rong immediately felt a little familiar.But seeing the ferocious approach of that person, don't think too much about it.Swing the spear and fight with the man's spear.

When the bandits heard that the bandit leader said to retreat, they all abandoned their goods and retreated to the forest.But those who were called the second brother and the third brother were surrounded by Liu Xianglian, Shui'an and Li Lei, and they were not happy at all.

Lin Qiyun saw that although the bandit leaders were armed with long weapons, they were already at a disadvantage, because these three were no match for Liu Xianglian, who had been picked out.

Those fellows with simple knives in their hands, seeing that Shui Rong and the others are so powerful, the goods have been saved, and they don't need them at all, they have already stood beside the shopkeeper, watching the fighting.

Seeing that the situation was critical, the bandit leader knew that he had to fight quickly to get back, because now it was obvious that Shui Rong and the others were by no means ordinary escorts.If he didn't retreat in time, the three of them would be captured soon.The one called Big Brother said to Shui Rong and the others: "Several strong men, let us go, thank you very much!"

Shui Rong said: "If the three of you know how to dismount and accept surrender, there may be a way out!"

To know how the bandit will answer, read below.