The man's face changed slightly, and he turned around and shouted, "I am an escort from the Yang Escort Agency, please don't slander a good person."
Zhang Fei stood up and shouted, "I am setting up a fight here for fun, who dares to make trouble?"
The man who spoke walked out of the crowd, clasped his fists and said, "General Zhang, I have seen this man in Luoyang. He has been in and out of the palace with Xiahou Yuan. I cannot be wrong."
The man was startled and shouted, "You... are slandering me!"
The person who spoke sneered and said, "Although Cao's spies are capable, don't forget that the people in my Yanfeng Camp are not vegetarians either."
The man on the stage's face changed drastically when he heard that. He turned around and rushed into the backstage, jumped off from the back of the ring and ran away.
Zhang Fei was furious. He smashed the wine jar on the table and shouted, "Close the city gates and dig three feet deep to find this man."
Yang Song was so scared that he sat down on the ground. When he heard Zhang Fei's roar, he became flustered and got up, stumbled back home and ordered people to close the door.
He hid in the study for a while, then ran into the bedroom and hid under the bed, feeling extremely regretful. He cursed the Cao army spy, saying that since he dared to come to Hanzhong, he should not have any acquaintances, and how could he be recognized by someone? What a fool!
That person came on the scene as a bodyguard of the escort agency, and he would definitely find out about him. Yang Song was completely unprepared, his mind went blank, and he didn't know how to deal with it.
Soon, there was a knock on the door. The soldiers had come to the door. Yang Song was drenched in sweat and felt that under the bed was not safe either. He simply opened the secret passage and went into the warehouse, hiding behind the other party's wooden rack of gold and silver.
Soon he heard someone opening the iron door of the warehouse. Yang Song trembled like a sieve and climbed up to take a peek. However, he pushed the shelf and gold and silver bars fell down from it, hitting his head and bleeding on the spot.
When Ma Su and his men rushed into the warehouse to arrest Yang Song, Yang Song had already died under the burial of gold and silver. Everyone was shocked to see so much valuables.
Even though Ma Su was born into the Ma family of Jingzhou and owned hundreds of acres of land, he had never seen so much treasure. What one can see here alone is probably equivalent to the annual tax revenue of Hanzhong.
He remembered that Liu Qi had repeatedly told him before leaving that even if Yang Song was chopped into pieces, not a penny of the property in the mansion could be lost. What this man had hidden was enough to support the Northern Expedition with money and food.
Ma Su was terrified and immediately ordered the treasury to be sealed and all members of the Yang family to be under guard. No one was allowed to enter or leave the mansion, and the Yanfeng Camp was to take over.
He personally interrogated Yang Bai, Yang Song's wives, concubines and housekeeper. Cao's spies had already been captured, and the Yang family had no way to refute it. After the evidence was conclusive, Yang Bai was beheaded in public and the Yang family's property was confiscated.
When the news came out, the whole city was in an uproar, and the people all applauded. The Yang Song brothers were already notorious, but because of their contribution in welcoming Liu Qi, people dared to be angry but not to speak out. Unexpectedly, they were still not satisfied and colluded with Cao's army. They really deserved to be put to death.
The hidden danger in Hanzhong was eliminated, and Zhang Fei became impatient. He practiced martial arts diligently all day, looking forward to receiving letters from Liu Qi and expecting to meet Guan Yu in Luoyang.
…
Guan Yu sent troops from Nanyang, and the whole world was shocked. Zhang Liao deployed an army of 100,000 to defend the Kunyang area, and the war was about to break out.
When the news reached Jiangdong, Sun Quan, who was hesitating whether to go to the front line in person, immediately set out, taking Zhuge Jin and Zhang Hong across the river to the north, leaving Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong to dispatch food and fodder to fully support Huainan.
Previously, they had finally taken Huainan, but were flooded by Cao's army in Shouchun. Now Liu Qi has taken Yizhou and marched into Xiliang, and is about to take over Guanzhong. This time, Dongwu will never fall behind in their plan to take over the Central Plains.
After the previous defeat in Hefei, Sun Quan was also eager to avenge his defeat. He followed Zhou Yu's advice and appointed Lu Xun as military advisor and Lu Meng as commander-in-chief. The people of Jiangdong were united in launching a northern expedition to Xuzhou.
Just when all the soldiers and civilians of Dongwu were paying attention to the war in Jiangbei, a merchant ship from Jiaozhi arrived in Jianye, carrying pearl shells, corals, dried fish and various deep-sea exotic goods, which caused a scramble.
Since last year, Sun Quan has sent ships to explore the southeastern waters, and more and more fishermen have boldly followed and headed into the deep sea. Although it is risky, they also gain more supplies.
Sun Quan also sent people to purchase these materials. The rarer the items, the higher their value. All the fishermen were eager to go forward, as they thought that what they gained once might be enough to feed and nourish them for a whole year, so they naturally dug deeper and deeper.
Some people discovered many islands one after another and immediately reported to the officers and soldiers, who then sent the Eastern Wu navy to explore. Those who reported the news were rewarded and could even go to the island first to collect supplies.
On the third-floor merchant ship, Taishi Xiang and two followers first selected items. In the end, they picked a lavender coral and a blue fish gall the size of a head, and took them back to the mansion and gave them to Wu Guotai.
Wu Guotai smiled with relief and said, "Zhizhong is indeed filial and still remembers what I said. This fish gall is comparable to deer antlers and Ganoderma lucidum. It can cure your fourth uncle's illness."
Sun Kuang had been bedridden ever since he was injured in the Battle of Huainan. The doctors were helpless. Finally the old lady took action herself and searched for folk remedies to treat him. The blue fish gall was the most scarce thing, and she finally found it.
Taishi Xiang said respectfully, "I have always kept in mind what Madam told me. Now that the Lord has gone north to fight the enemy, there is no one in the mansion, so he asked me to be more respectful to Madam. If you have any orders, just let me know."
The Queen Mother smiled lovingly and said, "You and your father are truly loyal and virtuous. Although you are not as brave as Ziyi, you are refined and wise. I will let Yuan Tan guide you one day. You will be a great helper of the Sun family in the future!"
This was a hint for him to become Gu Yong's disciple. Tai Shixiang was overjoyed and hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Madam, for your support."
Wu Guotai nodded and smiled, "Ziyi and Bofu are close friends. Since Zhongmou has kept you in his mansion, you don't have to be so polite in the future. Get closer to Sun Deng. You two have to support the Jiangdong foundation in the future!"
Taishi Xiang thanked him and asked, "When will the medicine be ready? I'll send it to my fourth uncle."
"What a filial child!" Wu Guotai nodded repeatedly and said, "I still need to prepare some medicine. Come back in the evening to get it."
Tai Shi Xiang said goodbye and went out, and then accompanied Sun Deng to study. After dinner, he brought the prepared medicine to Sun Kuang's house.
On his way back, he was stopped by someone and taken to Huichuntang Medical Clinic on the street. Puzzled, Tai Shi Xiang followed the patient to a ward in the back hall, where he saw a tall old man with white hair and beard waiting for him.
Tai Shixiang was stunned for a moment, and suddenly he was shocked: "Dad?!"
"Don't make a sound!" The man was Taishi Ci. He ordered the door to be closed and then asked, "What's the situation in the mansion?"
Taishi Xiang was very excited. He grabbed Taishi Ci's arm and saw that he was as thin as a stick and his hair and beard were all white. He couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat and shed tears, "Father, how is your condition?"
"Don't worry, there is a solution, otherwise I wouldn't have come to Jiangdong!" Taishi Ci also loved his son very much. He helped Taishi Xiang sit down and nodded, saying, "My son seems to have matured a lot."
Tai Shixiang wiped his tears, resisted the urge to cry, and asked in surprise, "Father is saved?"
Taishi Ci nodded slightly and asked again, "How does the old lady treat you?"
Tai Shixiang gritted his teeth and nodded, saying, "I have gained the old witch's trust."
"Before the truth is revealed, do not be so disrespectful!" Taishi Ci said in a deep voice, "Do you understand why I gave you the name Zhizhong?"