The Bandit’s Strategy

Chapter 27: [It’s not cheap, it’s not worth it] The rent in Cangwu City is slightly expensive

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The Mu brothers were not surprised that Wen Liunian would ask this question—after all, no matter how you look at it, it is a strange thing for a Jianghu sect to travel thousands of miles to help the government suppress bandits, not to mention that the Mu family village usually also Not very helpful.

Mu Wanlei has already made up a set of excuses, "There was originally a set of treasures in Mu's Village, but he was deceived because my father trusted others. After years of investigation, the original thief is now in the vast mountains."

"I see." Wen Liunian nodded suddenly, and asked again, "What's the thief's name?"

Mu Wanlei replied, "Zhao Yue."

"Zhao Yue." Wen Liunian repeated, and then asked, "What does he look like?"

Mu Wanlei took out a portrait, apparently prepared.

After seeing the man's face in the portrait, Wen Liunian gasped and said in shock, "It's him?"

Except for the Mu family brothers, everyone present could only worship.

This kind of divine acting skills, ordinary people don't just say they have it.

"My lord knows this person?" Mu Wanlei was a little surprised.

"I don't really know each other, but is there some misunderstanding?" Wen Liunian still had a look of incredulity.

Mu Wanlei frowned slightly, "Why did your lord say that?"

Wen Liunian said surprisingly, "I have met this person before."

Mu Wanxiong's face changed when he heard the words, and he instinctively glanced at his elder brother.

Mu Wanlei still seemed calm, "Are you familiar with him?"

Wen Liunian's eyes were three points regretful and five points envious, "It would be great if we could really get to know each other."

Mu Wanlei was confused by what he said.

"When I first took office, I met him once." Wen Liunian explained, "At that time, there were thunderstorms and heavy rain. Although it was noon, the sky was already dim."

Mu Wanxiong said, "And then?"

Wen Liunian said, "I was still outside the city at the time, and I didn't have time to go back. Because I was not familiar with the terrain, and the rain was getting heavier and heavier, I was flustered for a while, and accidentally fell on the ridge of the field. Suddenly, there was a flash of lightning in the sky, and then I saw this young man riding a tall horse, appearing like a god on the field ridge."

The picture was so vivid that Mu Wanxiong was taken aback for a moment.

"Then he saved the Lord?" Mu Wanlei guessed.

Wen Liunian nodded, "I also gave me an umbrella." After speaking, he added, "And a steamed bun."

Mu Wanlei shook his head, "It's so believable to meet once."

Wen Liunian was persistent, "But I still don't think he is a bad person, and the people in the city also don't think he is a bad person."

Mu Wanxiong was puzzled, "What does this have to do with the people in the city?"

"At that time, I was grateful after being rescued, but I didn't know who he was, so I posted a portrait in the city." Wen Liunian said, "As a result, the people were astonished, saying that they had never seen such a handsome man before." handsome man."

Mu Wanxiong scoffed disdainfully, it really is a remote place, and he has never seen any big world.

"When the bookseller saw the profit, he immediately opened and printed countless small story books." Wen Liunian took out a copy of "Mr. Be sure not to mention any enmity, otherwise the common people will not only not rent a house, they might even drive you out with a hatchet."

Mu Wanlei casually opened the small picture album, and saw Zhao Yuezheng in it, wearing a costume and playing with a silver gun in a majestic manner.

"It would be a pity if he is really a treacherous and evil person." Wen Liunian sighed, "After all, he is so handsome, I still look forward to having long talks with him day and night."

Mu Wanxiong thinks... this grown-up really speaks... and it's not a girl's house, so why does he look forward to a long talk day and night when he sees a good-looking one

"Your Excellency, you only met him once?" Mu Wanlei closed the short story book and asked again.

Wen Liunian nodded, "Only one side."

"Zhao Yue is definitely not a kind person. The reason why he didn't hurt you that day was either because there was no threat, or because he knew who he was and wanted to win him over." Mu Wanlei said, "He was in my Mujiazhuang back then. There are hundreds if not thousands of innocent souls who died under that demon sword."

"Really?" Wen Liunian frowned.

"Of course it is true, otherwise why would I have come all the way to this vast city." Mu Wanlei said, "If you see it in the future, my lord, it's better to stay away."

Wen Liunian was silent.

Shang Yunze also said on the side, "I told my lord that day, the gangsters in the Cangwu Mountain are not murderous, and you must not judge people by their appearance."

Wen Liunian sighed deeply, obviously still unwilling to accept the reality.

Hua Tang asked, "What treasure was stolen?"

Mu Wanlei shook his head, "This is a private matter of my Mu Family Village, it's inconvenient to talk about it, please forgive me from Protector Zuo."

"Master Mu misunderstood, I didn't want to spy on the privacy." Huatang said, "It's just that when the two sides fight in the future, if someone runs away with a treasure, even if we see it, we won't know it. Wouldn't it be a waste of time? effort."

Mu Wanlei paused when he heard the words, and then said, "It's a glazed cup."

"Glass cup?" Huatang asked, "Red background with emerald edge cloud pattern?"

Mu Wanlei frowned, "Have Guardian Zuo seen it?"

"Not really, but the Palace Master also has a cloud-patterned glazed cup. Zhuang Master Mu should have seen it at the last martial arts conference." Hua Tang replied.

"I see." Mu Wanlei nodded, "Mine is similar."

"This is much more convenient." Huatang looked at the sky, "Master, hurry up and take the two landlords to find a house, otherwise the common people will have to go to work in the fields."

Mu Qingshan agreed, and took the Mu family brothers out, and Shang Yunze naturally went with him.

"Glass cup with cloud patterns on a red background and emerald edge?" Wen Liunian asked Huatang after closing the door.

"Just talking nonsense." Hua Tang said, "Let's see if the two of them are talking nonsense."

"Mu Wanlei probably didn't expect us to ask such detailed questions." Zhao Wudao, "That's why he just wanted to deal with it quickly."

"Looking at his reaction just now, it's probably a lie." Huatang said, "Otherwise, there are dozens of kinds of glazed cups in this world, so there's no reason for me to guess right."

Wen Liunian shook his head, "The more you talk, the less you look like a kind person."

Huatang smiled, "In Jianghu, no one would regard the Mu Family Village as a kind person."

"When will Master Zhao leave the mountain?" Wen Liunian asked.

"About two days later." Hua Tang said, "It's just across from Master Shang's house."

Wen Liunian nodded, looking thoughtful.

The weather outside was fine, Mu Qingshan led people to walk in the front, and went door to door across the city to find the owner of the empty house.

Mu Wanlei said, "Master, can you walk faster?"

Mu Qingshan hesitated for a moment, "I'm already walking very fast."

Muwanlei: …

Ants can crush several nests to death, is this also called fast

Mu Qingshan was a little embarrassed, "Forgive me, I just walk slowly."

Seeing his weak appearance, Mu Wanlei had no choice but to accept his fate.

Fortunately, there are quite a few abandoned and empty houses in the city. After leaving seven or eight families, they were able to house more than 200 people from Mujiazhuang.

Mu Wanlei heaved a sigh of relief, thankfully the matter went smoothly - the only thing that bothered him was that no matter which house he entered, he could still see the portrait of Zhao Yue, which was really an eyesore.

I was a little tired after walking all morning, so everyone temporarily found a tea shed to rest. Mu Qingshan borrowed an abacus from the shop next door, fiddled with it a few times and asked, "Should Master Mu pay in silver or in cash?"

Muwanlei: …

Mu Wanxiong: ...

Seeing that the two of them were silent, Mu Qingshan added, "You need to pay money to rent a house."

Mu Wanlei previously thought that the Mu Family Village had come all the way to help suppress the bandits. Regardless of other things, at least food and lodging should be entertained, but he did not expect to underestimate the thick-skinnedness of the magistrate.

Shang Yunze suppressed a smile.

Mu Wanlei said stiffly, "A bank note."

"The bank note is good and light." Mu Qingshan calculated the abacus, and raised his head after a while, "A total of seven hundred and thirty taels."

Mu Wanxiong opened his eyes wide, "Why is it so expensive?!" Even the inns in the capital are not so expensive!

Mu Qingshan said, "Because these are abandoned houses."

Mu Wanxiong was a little dizzy, shouldn't the abandoned house be cheap

"Your Excellency originally hired craftsmen from outside, and planned to renovate them all, and the craftsmen are already on their way." Mu Qingshan explained, "But if the people in Mujiazhuang want to live, we can only temporarily send the craftsmen back, and delay work to buy them. The materials are all in silver, plus the delay later, the price is already very conscientious."

Mu Wanxiong frowned, "But—"

Mu Wanlei interrupted him forcefully, "Pay the money."

Mu Wanxiong: ...

Mu Wanlei turned his head and glanced at him.

Mu Wanxiong obediently took out the bank note and handed it over.

Mu Qingshan slipped into his hand without even a word of thanks, from a bookworm to a small money fanatic.

Shang Yunze found it funny, and liked it even more in his heart.

"Then let's go back first." Mu Qingshan collected the cash and stood up, "Wait for the two villa owners to arrange their subordinates, and then come to the government office to find the adults."

Mu Wanlei nodded, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Mu Qingshan said goodbye with a smile, and continued to stroll back to the government office.

"How?" Wen Liunian was reading in the courtyard.

Mu Qingshan talked about finding a house.

Wen Liunian was quite regretful when he heard the words, "If I knew it earlier, I would have said a few hundred taels more."

Shang Yunze curled his lips, "If your lord thinks that the money is not enough, you can also increase the rent."

Wen Liunian began to calculate in his mind how much the increase should be, but before he could figure it out, there was a sudden noise outside the courtyard.

"My lord." The dark guard came into the courtyard to say hello - a few days ago, Huatang sent someone to Cangwu Mountain, first went to secretly check the general situation, and just came back.

"Everyone has worked hard." Wen Liunian ordered people to make tea, and then asked, "How is the situation?"

"The mountain is really too big, even if there is a map of the Second Leader, it would take a lot of work to find each one." Anwei said, "But according to the news we heard secretly, since the Lord took office, these bandits have never entered the city to rob. , the days of sitting and eating are long, and some of them are almost unable to hold on."

"What's the point of not being able to persist?" Wen Liunian asked, "Are you planning to fight to the death, or obediently submit and surrender?"

"There should be both situations, but a decision has not been made yet." The dark guard said, "We should continue to wait and see for a while."

"What about Hutougang?" Wen Liunian still remembered the Uncle Zhang in the Shantang.

"I couldn't go up." The dark guard shook his head, "There is only one small path leading to the mountain, and the defense is very tight. If you try to force it, you will definitely startle the snake."

"It seems a bit tricky." Zhao Wudao, "One nest in the east and one nest in the west, it's easy to disperse and fight, but it's a little difficult to get it all together."

"Don't rush to fight yet." Wen Liunian said, "Since some gangsters are already hesitating, let's find a way to solve this part first, and it won't be too late to fight the rest."

Huatang nodded, "That's the only way to go."

Two days later, Wen Liunian wandered over to Shang Yunze's new house across the street, and sat in the courtyard drinking tea.

After a while, Zhao Yue and Lu Zhui jumped in from the back wall.

Wen Liunian said hello.

"What about the rest?" Lu asked, "Why is there only one adult?"

"It's all in the study." Wen Liunian said, "I'm here specially to wait for Master Zhao."

Zhao Yue was a little puzzled, why did he wait for me

Lu Zhui nodded, "Then I'll go to the study first."

Zhao Yue: ...

You are too obedient. "

After Lu chased away, Wen Liunian poured a cup of tea for Zhao Yue.

"What can I do?" Zhao Yue sat opposite him.

"I talked to Mu Wanlei." Wen Liunian said, "He said that a few years ago, the head of the family had bloodbathed the Mu Family Village and took away a cloud-patterned glazed cup."

Zhao Yue sneered, "It's nonsense."

"I know he has no basis, but I still want to ask the head of the family again." Wen Liunian said.

Zhao Yue was funny, "You believed me when I said I hadn't done it?"

Wen Liunian nodded.

Zhao Yue raised his eyebrows, "What's the reason?"

Wen Liunian said, "I have always been very accurate in seeing people. I have never missed a single time since I was a child."

Zhao Yue looked at him for a moment, and then laughed out loud.

"What is the boss laughing at?" Wen Liunian was puzzled.

Zhao Yue said, "It's a rare time when you don't get annoying."

Wen Liunian thought for a while, "Is the boss talking about himself?"

Zhao Yue's expression froze, "I'm talking about you."

Wen Liunian said shyly, "I'm not annoying most of the time."

Zhao Yue looked disgusted.

"The tea is finished." Wen Liunian patted his clothes and stood up, "Let's go to the study too."

Zhao Yue put down his teacup and followed him two steps, "Nerd."

"Huh?" Wen Liunian looked back at him.

"A few years ago, hundreds of people in Mujiazhuang were indeed killed by Jiyue's sword." Zhao Yue said.

Wen Liunian frowned slightly.

"But the knife was not in my hand at that time." Zhao Yue continued.

Wen Liunian was obviously relieved, and probably guessed something.

"Let's go." Zhao Yue said, "Everyone is waiting."

Wen Liunian nodded, followed him back to the study, and didn't ask any more questions.

It was rare to be so quiet.