Chapter 21: Desperate!

  It's simple, that scoundrel Cao Yi summed it up in a few words.

  A few days ago, Ren Yuan and Zhang Jiamu were discussing buying two good horses. Zhang Jiamu was busy, so he put the matter on his mind. Early this morning, Ren Yuan took the lead, and this month he got a idle job again, so after taking the lead, Ren Yuan slipped away to buy horses.

  The horse market was outside the Desheng Gate, Ren Yuan was a military household, and his eyes for horses were very good. Moreover, he had good luck. He happened to meet two top-notch horses in the horse market, and the owner of the horses had brought many good horses from the mouth of the pass, leaving only two, both of which were three or four years old, strong and majestic, each weighing around 500 catties, a rare divine steed among Mongolian horses.

  Regardless of whether it was good or bad, with his identity as a brocade guard, and the horse owner not wanting to delay any further, he bought it for 8 taels of silver. This price was considered very profitable, if it were to be sold several decades later when large amounts of white silver flooded in, this high-quality horse would at least be worth several tens of taels more.

  Having obtained these two horses, Ren Yuan was extremely delighted in his heart. He was a carefree person and didn't think much about it, so he led the two horses to Zhengnanfang alone.

  Nothing would have happened originally, but the situation in Zhengnan Fang has opened up, and now it's the world of Jin Yiwei. The rascals and idlers in the alley all recognized him, and when they saw Ren Yuan leading two good horses over, everyone gathered around to flatter him. Ren Yuan was also very pleased with himself, gesticulating as he told the story of buying the horses, bragging on one side while waiting for Zhang Jiamu to finish his business and come back.

  The result was that something happened in just a short time. The street corner where Ren Yuan blew his horn was the main road of the village, and many people passed by. Generally, when people saw the Jin Yiwei and the thugs on the street, they would avoid them, but there was a group of people who not only didn't avoid them, but also gathered around when they saw that there were many people here.

  This group of people wore small hats on their heads, dressed in Tsarist uniforms, white leather boots, and held iron whips and chains in their hands. Each and every one of them had a gloomy face, looking like they were owed 800 taels of silver and were down on their luck.

  At a glance, Ren Yuan knew that the visitor was not good. The Dongchang guards were used to kicking trees and making trouble for no reason. In the capital, except for a few people, there was no one who couldn't be provoked by the Dongchang. Originally, the Jin Yiwei didn't have to be afraid of the Dongchang, but now the power of the factory was gradually surpassing that of the guard, although everyone was holding their breath, what could the lower-ranking officials do about it?

  As soon as he saw the patrolmen coming, Ren Yuan stopped talking and waved his hand to disperse everyone. He himself planned to take the horse to the Jin Yiwei's duty station outside the city, where it was still a bit too showy.

  It was originally like this, and the guards of the Eastern Depot saw that they were people from the Imperial Guard, so they hesitated for a moment. The leader of the team waved his hand, and the guards also decided to leave.

  Recently, the Jin Yiwei in Zhengnan Fangli has been very powerful and has accomplished several major tasks. In the face of the Jin Yiwei's aggressive expansion, the Dong Chang seem to have no solution, so everyone is tolerating each other and trying not to cause trouble.

  Things went wrong with the two good horses, Ren Yuan led the horse to walk by, and the originally intended to leave Fanzi Yang suddenly lit up in front of his eyes, and immediately saw these two horses.

  Good horses are hard to come by, and at that time, there were few people in the capital who rode sedan chairs, but many who rode horses or drove carriages. As soon as he saw these two fine horses, the leader of the constables' squad was taken aback and shouted: "You, fellow, come here!"

  He spoke bluntly and with a tone of resentment, "What's going on?"

  "This horse is not bad, I want to buy it from you," said the official as he came over, stroking the horse's mane and examining it again, liking it even more. He then turned to Ren Yuan and said, "Three taels for one horse, I won't cheat you."

  "Three or two?" Ren Yuan smiled and said: "I won't sell it even for thirty taels. Take your hand away, I'm not a horse trader."

  The people of Dong Factory originally had a bit of a provocative mind, and Ren Yuan's response was so impolite that the leader's anger immediately rose.

  According to their thinking, they really didn't bully anyone. When did the people from Dong Chang give money to others? Moreover, it was with a team of dozens of people, equivalent to the deputy captain of the Jin Yiwei Imperial Guard.

  One word out of place, the constable gave an order, and immediately several "attendants" came over, iron chains were put on Ren Yuan's body, and the constable said: "You little devil, you don't look like a Han person at all. You must be a Mongolian spy. Where did you get such a good horse? Take him back, interrogate him strictly, and we must torture out the truth!"

  As soon as the dispute arose between Dong Chang and Jin Yi Wei, all the scoundrels immediately scattered. Ren Yuan was taken away just like that, along with two good horses he had just bought.

  Fortunately, Cao Yi remembered that Zhang Jiamu was also serving under the command of Men Da, and was a prominent school lieutenant. They were counting on the Jin Yiwei to eat, and when others ran away, he came running back to report the news with his butt shaking.

  After finishing speaking, he was already foaming at the mouth. Cao Yi looked at Zhang Jiamu's face and asked: "What to do, sir?"

  Li Ganzi's mind turned quickly, seeing Zhang Jiamu's face was not good, he hastily said: "Sir, can't afford to hard-top the East Factory. Hurry back to see Men Baohu, ask him to come forward, and quickly get the person out. If it passes today, even if the person is gotten out tomorrow, they will be useless!"

  The scoundrels in the capital are all too familiar with the ways of Shuntian Prefecture and Dongchang, as well as Jin Yiwei. Originally, Dongchang didn't have a prison; people they arrested were supposed to be handed over to Jin Yiwei for disposal. But nothing is absolute - if they arrested someone from Jin Yiwei, could they still send them to Jin Yiwei? Without an official prison, there were always a few small dark rooms available.

  As soon as you enter the door, use a stick to beat first, then whip, sandwich sticks, and several rounds of cruel torture. Even if you are an iron-made man, you will be beaten to waste. Even if you don't die, you will be half-disabled in the future. In the capital city, people who were disabled by the East Factory or the Brocade Guard North Town Patrol are not just one or two. There are many in Zhengnanfang!

  Zhang Jiamu also came to his senses: That's right, saving people is urgent!

  Menda's responsibility, he also knew that with his current status, Menda would definitely agree if asked. But he went to ask someone else, then asked the higher-ups, and then said to move the people of the East Factory, and engaged in a lawsuit of verbal sparring, without several days of dragging on, it was certain that no one would be able to get out.

  A few days later, Ren Yuan can still walk on his own, which is very suspicious.

  Go save yourself?

  Even with a relationship as close as that of sworn brothers, Zhang Jiamu still hesitated for a moment.

  The cruelty of the Eastern Depot is even more than that of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The harshness of its punishments, the ruthlessness of its persecution, leaves no room for mercy. Once you are targeted by the Eastern Depot, it's not just your own affair; they won't stop until they've ruined your family and destroyed your life.

  But can't just watch as his own brother gets messed up and crippled?

  This is really hard to swallow...

  Xue Baozi was best at observing facial expressions and body language, he carefully advised: "Sir, a knife on the head of the word 'endure', when it's time to endure, one still has to endure!"

  "Endure? Go to your mother!" Zhang Jiamu finally couldn't bear it anymore. Don't mention any grand principles, and don't think before acting. If he just became a turtle with his head shrunk in like this, he couldn't even protect his own brother. How could he hold his head up in the future?

  "Li Mangzi, go to Men Baihu's place and deliver the message!" Zhang Jiamu thought for a moment, then took off the sword at his waist and said: "Tell him that my life or death with Ren Yuan will be decided at his old home!"

  "Huh?"

  Li Xiāngzi was shocked and lost his composure, wanting to persuade him, but after thinking again and again, he didn't dare.

  Zhang Jiamu's face was terrifying! His complexion was ashen, his eyes were bloodshot, and when he handed over the knife, the joints of both hands were pinched white.

  All the rascals present were frightened. Young Master Zhang has always been polite and courteous to others, unlike ordinary brocade guards who are gloomy and ferocious all day long.

  Now that things have come to this pass, everyone knows he is really angry. If someone tries to persuade him now, it will probably have the opposite effect.

  Zhang Jiamu ignored them and said, "Cao Yi, you take me to chase after him. Xue Pangzi, you find a doctor to follow us - make sure it's a real one, not some quack!"

  "Yes, sir."

  Tsao Yih's words fell like rain, but the scoundrels were all afraid of being deceived and feared evil. The Embroidered Uniform Guard was afraid of him, and the Eastern Depot was even more afraid. He had originally thought to report the news and get some benefits, but who knew that as soon as Zhang Da-ren heard it, he would be enraged? Now he wants to stir up a big affair, and he can't escape either.

  Cao Yi's intestines turned green with regret, and Xue Biaozi was not much better. Both of them looked pale and miserable, although they nodded in agreement, their feet didn't move an inch.

  Zhang Jiamu knew their nature and said in a low voice: "I'll take care of everything, you all hide far away, I'll call you over again."

  Having said that, he pulled his legs and ran, just catching up with Cao Yi leading the way in front.

  This time, I'm going all out with you!

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