Chapter 187 Killing someone with a borrowed knife

Facing Ye Mingsheng's question, Ye Tie carefully recalled the situation at that time, then shook his head and replied:

"Brother Guo only told me about this matter so that I could prepare in advance. As for the other things, I was panicked at the time and didn't ask, so Brother Guo didn't tell me either."

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng pretended to be indifferent and asked:

"Ye Tie, do you think I can trust this Guo Zhanshan?"

After hearing this, Ye Tie was a little confused. He didn't know what the hidden meaning of Ye Mingsheng's words was. After hesitating for a while, he gritted his teeth and whispered:

"Brother Guo doesn't have many followers among the Liaoyang bandits, but he is well-known for his chivalry! I think you can trust him, young master!"

Ye Mingsheng looked a little noncommittal about Ye Tie's answer. After thinking for a few seconds, Ye Mingsheng ordered, "I know what happened. Go down and do your job."

"Young Master..."

Ye Tie looked hesitant about Ye Mingsheng's order.

Seeing his request, Ye Mingsheng remembered something important, smiled and said:
"If conditions permit, you can contact Guo Zhanshan more often, but remember to keep it secret and don't let too many people know."

Hearing Ye Mingsheng say this, Ye Tie was a little surprised. He remembered that Ye Mingsheng was most disgusted with his association with this gang of outlaws. After hesitating for a moment, Ye Tie asked in confusion:
"Master, what are you doing..."

"This is a different time. Back then, you were in Luoan, in the Imperial Guards. Your contact with the Green Foresters was a hidden danger to both you and me."

"But now we are in Liaoyang, where there are all kinds of people and bandits everywhere. Sooner or later we will have to deal with them. In this case, we might as well prepare early. Knowing ourselves and the enemy, we can win every battle!"

"But you must remember that when you contact them, you must be clean and not let too many people know about it. Otherwise, if someone reveals it, you will be in a very passive position!" Ye Mingsheng explained in detail:
Ye Tie suddenly realized what Ye Mingsheng meant when he heard this, and immediately bowed and said:

"Don't worry, Master. I know what to do!"

After seeing Ye Tie off, Ye Mingsheng did not continue to handle official business, but instead found a map of Fengshan County and its surrounding areas from the study.

Looking at the location of Keshangang on the map, a sneer appeared on Ye Mingsheng's lips.

Although he didn't know what purpose Guo Zhanshan had in telling Ye Tie this news, Ye Mingsheng was willing to believe that the news was true.

The reason was very simple. Whether he believed the news or not, Guo Zhanshan would not get any benefit...

Keshan Hill where Hong Min, the ghost-headed knife mentioned by Ye Tie, was entrenched was in the east of Fengshan County, not very close to Fengshan County, at least 200 miles away, and there was also a part of the mountain road. Normally, without traveling at night, it would take Hong Min at least five days to reach Fengshan County.

So the question is, what motivated a heinous bandit to travel such a long way away from his lair to deal with the Ye family?
Is it wealth?
The answer is undoubtedly no. Although the Ye family has some savings, they are considered a wealthy family in Liaoyang, but that's all. In Fengshan County alone, there are no less than ten families with more wealth than the Ye family. And most importantly, not far from Keshangang are Tailai County and Qinggang County, two famous wealthy counties in Liaoyang. If Hong Min wants to make money, there is no need to go so far and take such a big risk to deal with the Ye family.

Since they are not seeking wealth, does that mean the Ye family has a grudge against this bandit named Hong Ming?
Of course not!
If Ye Tie hadn't mentioned it today, Ye Mingsheng wouldn't even know that there was such a person as Hong Min! Moreover, Hong Min had been entrenched in Keshangang for many years. If he had a grudge against the Ye family, he would have taken revenge long ago. Why wait until now?

Since he is not seeking money and has no grudges, why would this bandit Hong Ming be so obvious in his intention to target the Ye family?
If Ye Mingsheng's guess is correct.

This Hong Min must be instructed by someone!
As for who gave the instructions, it is not difficult to guess...

This style of killing someone with a borrowed knife is also the usual method used by that adult.

Ye Mingsheng had already thought about the person's move when he received the vanguard mission from Chen Dechang, but the other party's speed of action was indeed much faster than he imagined!

It seems that they have made up their mind to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, and want to use my head, Ye's, to warn other people who are ready to make moves!
··················
··················
In a mountain village at Jiukong Cliff in Daxing Mountains.

"Zhiping, do you think Ye Mingsheng can make it through this?" Guo Zhanshan, who was already over fifty years old and had a frosted face, leaned back in his chair and looked at his tall and handsome eldest son in front of him, asking with some concern:

"Although Hong Min, the Ghost-headed Knife, is not a good-for-nothing, he and his hundreds of brothers are all very tough guys. They have all seen blood and killed people!"

"Although Ye Mingsheng has recruited two to three thousand people, they were all farmers a few days ago. Can he do it?"

"Do you think we should give him a hand?"

Facing his father's question, Guo Zhiping shook his head slightly and said:
"The reason why Ye Mingsheng was promoted to the fifth-rank Tiger General was because of his military exploits in the surprise attack on Liujing. He was able to capture Liujing in one fell swoop, which shows that he is definitely not an ordinary person!"

"And he didn't come alone. He brought more than a hundred people with him. I've observed these people. They are all good soldiers of the imperial guards. Each of them is wearing a steel sword and armor. With these people here, and we have already told him the news, Hong Min will definitely not be able to do anything to him."

Guo Zhiping paused for a moment before continuing:

"If Ye Mingsheng is like this, and he fell into Hong Min's hands, it means that he is a fool who does not live up to his reputation!"

"If you can't even defeat Hong Min, how can you deal with the next one?"

Hearing his eldest son's analysis, Guo Zhanshan nodded and said with emotion:
“I think the court is serious this time. The money Ye Mingsheng has given out in the past few days just for resettlement expenses is already several thousand taels of silver. Your father has never earned so much in my life... The court is really willing to spend money this time!”

"If the court is unwilling to spend money, how can it overthrow anyone?" Guo Zhiping answered casually, then changed the subject and asked seriously: "Father, do Second Uncle and Third Uncle have different ideas about that matter?"

(End of this chapter)