Chapter 183 Forced to cooperate
Chapter 183 Forced to cooperate
As Shan Xiongxin got on the carriage, two sharp knives were placed on his neck, one on the left and one on the right, and a sharp dagger was pressed against his back, making him unable to move.
The soldiers took off the sword at his waist and the dagger in his boots. One soldier tied his hands behind his back. Shan Xiongxin glared at Zhang Huan in front of him and asked, "Where is Qin Qiong? I treated him as a friend, but he repays me like this?"
The soldiers did not give him a chance to speak. They stuffed a rag into his mouth, covered his head with a black bag, and then the carriage sped away.
Coincidentally, just as the carriage that arrested Shan Xiongxin left, another carriage stopped abruptly in front of the inn where Shan Xiongxin was staying. Yang Yu got off the carriage and said to his men, "Go ask if Shan Xiongxin lives here."
The subordinate entered the inn and soon came out and said, "Young Prince, Shan Xiongxin lives here, but he is not here!"
Yang Yu frowned, "Where did they go?"
"His men said that Shan Xiongxin just left and went out with his friends."
Yang Yu was really helpless and had to get on the carriage and turn around to look for Qin Qiong. Fortunately, Qin Qiong's residence was not far from here.
These two people were specially mentioned by his father, and he paid special attention to them.
Shan Xiongxin was taken into a large courtyard and pushed directly into a room, where he was tied to a wooden chair. The soldiers untied his hood and pulled the rags out of his mouth.
Shan Xiongxin was about to curse, but he found a group of officials standing in front of him, all with Dali Temple Tiqi badges hanging around their waists. He swallowed back the words he was about to curse.
"I am a law-abiding citizen of the Great Sui Dynasty. What crime have I committed that warrants my arrest by the Dali Temple?"
Zhao Zhi sneered and threw a large stack of records in front of him. "You trade stolen goods, kill people and rob, and still say you are a law-abiding citizen. What a joke! These records are enough to hang you a hundred times!"
Beads of sweat appeared on Shan Xiongxin's forehead and he couldn't utter a word. However, he knew very well that if the other party really wanted to deal with him, he would not be in this posture now. The other party must have other intentions.
Zhao Zhi continued slowly: "Of course, if you are willing to make meritorious contributions to atone your sins, it is not impossible for us to let you go."
Shan Xiongxin sighed and said, "Just tell me! What do you want me to do? I'm a businessman, I can calculate the gains and losses myself."
"It's simple. Tell us everything you know about the remnants of Northern Qi and the National Protection Association."
Shan Xiongxin said after a while: "I only know how to find them!"
"Tell me! You came into contact with them when you sold the imperial seal. How did you find these people?"
"They have a contact point in Chang'an. I found this contact point and left a message. Then someone came to me. This person wanted to buy my jade seal and offered 6,000 strings of cash. But I don't know who he is."
Zhao Zhi took out the jade seal, placed it on the table, and said calmly: "We need you to do two things. First, tell us where the contact point is? Second, continue to sell the jade seal to the National Protection Association. If you cooperate well and let us catch the person, the jade seal will be returned to you, and you can continue to sell it to Gao Shande. How about this deal?"
Shan Xiongxin pondered for a moment and said, "If that's the case, I can agree, but I have one condition. I hope you can arrest me too."
"can!"
Zhao Zhi agreed to this request, and then asked: "When does Mr. Shan plan to trade with the other party?"
Shan Xiongxin said slowly: "It's this evening, but it's not a transaction. I want to explain to the other party. The other party wants to know when he can get the jade seal?"
"You haven't told me yet, where is the other party's contact point?" Zhao Zhi asked pointedly.
Shan Xiongxin could only sigh and said, "It's an inn in the old city, called Qiao'an Inn. It's quite remote, just across from the Lion Restaurant. I made an appointment with the other party to meet at the Lion Restaurant!"
Xiao Xia disguised himself as Shan Xiongxin's follower and went to the Lion Restaurant. At the same time, the fifty soldiers were divided into two groups. Zhao Zhi led thirty Ti cavalry to Qiao'an Inn, and Xu Min and Cao Taiyue led twenty men to deploy around the Lion Restaurant.
Shan Xiongxin was sitting in a carriage with a gloomy face. Xiao Xia was sitting behind him, calmly looking at the huge head in front of him. At this time, Shan Xiongxin was just a gangster and had not yet become a famous general of Wagangzhai.
Of course, changes in people are influenced by the environment. If Shan Xiongxin had not gone to Wagang, he would always be a businessman mixed up in the underworld, cunning, suspicious, ruthless, and would never have the bearing of a famous general.
But after joining Wagang, his horizons broadened and his pursuits in life changed. The temperament of a gangster businessman gradually faded, and the temperament of a famous general gradually emerged.
Most people live their entire lives without ever seeing their true selves. The times do not give them opportunities, or they themselves do not seize the opportunities.
Shan Xiongxin never dreamed that the young man behind him was Xiao Xia, and he never imagined that his brother Shan Xiongying died at the hands of Xiao Xia.
"Little brother, what should I call you?"
Xiao Xia smiled slightly and said, "My last name is Xia, and you can call me Master Xia, Mr. Shan." "So it's Master Xia. I don't quite understand why the Dali Temple gave you the jade seal?"
Shan Xiongxin gradually developed evil thoughts. There were only two of them in the carriage. He could easily kill the young man and take away the jade seal. As long as he escaped from the capital, where would the people from the Dali Temple find him?
Xiao Xia saw through Shan Xiongxin's thoughts. He smiled faintly and said, "If you think you can kill me, snatch the jade seal and run away, I advise you not to have this idea. Cooperate with the Dali Temple. You can go back to Shanjiazhuang and continue your underworld business. But if you dare to do it, I guarantee that you will not have the chance to go to jail in the Dali Temple. If you don't believe me, just try it!"
Shan Xiongxin was shocked. Is this Mr. Xia's martial arts so high? Impossible!
He was very suspicious, but did not dare to act rashly. Shan Xiongxin was as cunning as a fox. He knew that since the Dali Temple asked this young man to follow them, this man must have his outstanding qualities.
Shan Xiongxin laughed dryly and said, "Mr. Xia, you are joking. I, Shan Xiongxin, will never go back on my promise!"
"This is the wise choice of Mr. Shan. He who knows the current situation is a hero."
Xiao Xia did not create any unnecessary trouble and did not mention anything about his brother Shan Xiongying.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Lion Restaurant. Xiao Xia glanced diagonally across and saw an inn with the words "Qiao'an" written on the lanterns. It turned out that this was the contact point of the National Protection Association in Chang'an.
The mission given to him by Lingyan Pavilion is to prevent subversion. Xiao Xia believes that if this contact point is taken down, other members of the National Protection Association will be so scared that they will flee Chang'an overnight. This can also be regarded as a way to prevent subversion!
"Sir, please follow me to the third floor!"
Xiao Xia, carrying a cloth bag, followed Shan Xiongxin to the third floor. He was wearing a warrior's uniform on the outside, but a close-fitting armor underneath, a fu hat on his head, and a frost sword on his waist.
Soon they arrived at the elegant room on the third floor, where an attendant came out to greet them. He clasped his fists and said with a smile, "My master is already waiting. Please follow me, Mr. Shan!"
Shan Xiongxin nodded, pointed at Xiao Xia and said, "This is my nephew, come with me to see the world!"
"please!"
Shan Xiongxin brought Xiao Xia into the room. In the room was a man in his early thirties and two followers.
The man clasped his fists and smiled, "I'm glad to see Master Shan again. I hope Master Shan will bring me good news."
Shan Xiongxin smiled faintly and said, "Indeed, there is good news. I have already obtained the jade seal, but you must be sincere!"
"Oh? I wonder what sincerity the owner Shan needs?"
"At least you have to tell me who you are. You want to buy the jade seal for no apparent reason. The risk is too great for me. I might as well sell it to Gao Shande."
"My name is Gao Changfeng, and I am the person in charge of the Baoguo Association in Chang'an. Mr. Shan should know the Baoguo Association!"
Shan Xiongxin nodded and glanced at Xiao Xia. Xiao Xia untied the bundle and opened a brocade box, which contained a jade seal.
Gao Changfeng was suddenly surprised and delighted, "How did the owner Shan find it again?"
"Don't worry about this, let's talk about the deal!"
"Let me see the jade seal first!"
Gao Changfeng picked up the jade seal and looked at it carefully. Xiao Xia suddenly launched an attack. His figure flashed and he swung his dagger. The two followers screamed and fell to the ground, covering their throats.
Gao Changfeng also reacted very quickly. He dropped the jade seal and was about to draw his sword, but it was too late. Xiao Xia pierced his right shoulder with a sword. Gao Changfeng screamed and staggered to the ground.
Shan Xiongxin grabbed the jade seal on the ground, turned around and ran outside, disappearing in the blink of an eye. He didn't believe that the Dali Temple would let him go. How could he not seize this only chance to escape?
Xiao Xia didn't care about him. He took a step forward and stepped on Gao Changfeng's lower back, knocking the long sword at his waist away. He pressed the sharp short sword against the back of his neck and said coldly, "If you move, you'll be dead!"
Gao Changfeng was so angry that he cursed, "Shan Xiongxin, that bastard, I must kill him!"
At this time, Xu Min rushed in with his men, and they tied Gao Changfeng up. Xiao Xia asked, "Have you seen Shan Xiongxin?"
Xu Min shook his head, "I didn't see it!"
Xiao Xia chased after him immediately. Just as he was about to go downstairs, he suddenly noticed that the window at the end of the corridor was moving. He immediately ran to the end and saw that Shan Xiongxin had already left the restaurant and was running wildly towards the south. His figure was a hundred steps away.
Xiao Xia couldn't take care of Shan Xiongxin for the time being. He ran down the restaurant and happened to meet Cao Taiyue and his men. Xiao Xia took ten of his men and ran to the Qiao'an Inn diagonally opposite.
(End of this chapter)