Chapter 5 chapter Five
Just after midnight, there was a sudden commotion outside the yamen, breaking the silence of the yamen, only the sound of orders, shouts, and the impact of weapons rang out, a huge log was crashing into the gate, and the dull sound echoed in the quiet night sky middle.
Even though the wind and waves were raging outside the yamen and there was chaos, there was no movement in the yamen.
The gate burst open, and twenty of Qian Mou's minions yelled, waving sticks and wielding knives, and rushed into the county government office. A tall black man led the way with a torch in his hand.
All the rogues rushed to the front yard together, yelling loudly: "Where is the dog officer? Get out and be bound, so you won't die!"
The leader of the Hooligans kicked open the gate to the middle courtyard, drew his sword from his waist, stood aside, and ordered all the Hooligans to enter the courtyard.All the rogues entered the middle courtyard, seeing the darkness in the courtyard, they had to stop, not daring to advance rashly.While hesitating, he suddenly saw that the six doors of the hall were opened at the same time, and the lamps and candles in the hall were all lit up, illuminating the courtyard as bright as day.
The eyes of all the rogues couldn't adapt to the sudden change. They could vaguely see the officers and soldiers on the left and right, ready to fight in battle;
On the steps stands majestically the county magistrate Di Gong, with official robes and brocade belts, black gauze and soap shoes, with awe-inspiring righteousness and fiery official authority.On the left is Ma Rong, and on the right is Qiao Tai, both dressed in the military uniform of the cavalry school captain, the goggles and iron shawls are shining brightly, and the colorful tassels on the top of the helmet are shaking non-stop.Both of them bent their bows and set up their arrows, and the arrows pointed straight at the bully in the courtyard.
Duke Di shouted loudly, the sound was like a huge thunder: "The county magistrate of Lanfang Zhengtang is here, please surrender if you don't give up!"
The leader of the rogues was the first to wake up from the shock, and waved his sword and shouted to all the rogues: "We have been tricked, kill a bloody road..."
Before he finished speaking, Qiaotai shot an arrow through his throat.
All the rogues were at a loss, when suddenly there was an order from the back of the hall, the sound was like a bell: "All the soldiers, the time has come, go out with the commander of the brigade!"
Seeing this, all the Poppis looked at each other in blank dismay.At this moment, one of them took a step forward, turned around and said to the crowd: "Brothers, listen to me, it turns out that the officers and soldiers are here, we must not hit the stone with an egg and kill ourselves!" Then he dropped his gun on the ground, shook his head and sighed. : "Thinking that I have been in the army for six years, I have only survived a team of upright backgrounds. This time, all previous efforts have been wasted!"
Hearing this, Ma Rong hurriedly asked: "What is the name of the person who claims to be the leader of the team? Who is he listening to orders in front of?"
The speaker clasped his fists in both hands, and Shi Yirong replied: "Listen, lieutenant, my humble surname is Ling Minggang, and the leader of the 1st Regiment, 2nd Brigade, and 6th Brigade of the Infantry of the 33rd Prefecture under the command of General Zuo Wuwei. Life!"
Ma Rong ordered in a loud voice: "All fugitives from the officers and soldiers will leave the team!"
The five members of Poppi came out in response, and stood in a line behind Ling Gang.
Ma Rong said: "You must be sent to the Military Justice Department for disposal, and you must not disobey orders!"
The other dozen rogues saw that the situation was over, so they had no choice but to arrest them.
Di Gongdao: "Lieutenant, how many deserted soldiers are there in the city? Please ask to know."
Ma Rong shouted to Ling Gang: "Master, ask me the truth!"
"My lord, it's about forty."
Di Gong stroked his long beard and said to Ma Rong. "Lieutenant, when you go to other places to patrol the border, I want to leave some soldiers here to guard the city. You go to the captain of Ming and recruit the fugitives into the army again."
Ma Rong said loudly: "Team Ling and all the soldiers are listening to the order. The county magistrate is merciful and willing to help you. At three quarters tomorrow at noon, the six of you are well dressed and waiting here for orders. There must be no mistakes!"
The six people shouted in unison: "De Ling!" They turned around and went in a team.
Di Gong gave a signal, and all the Yamen soldiers stepped forward to escort the convict to the big prison and put him in chains.
Tao Gan had been waiting at the gate of the cell for a long time, and when he saw all the criminals arriving, they registered their names one by one, and the last one was none other than the cell boss who had just been released not long ago.Tao Gan sarcastically said: "You really did what you said, and you did come back earlier than I expected, but since you come again, you will never go back again." After finishing speaking, he kicked him into the place where he was sitting. cell.
In the central courtyard, the yamen soldiers and soldiers recruited by Fangzheng formed a team and walked towards the patrolmen's lower room.Seeing that his steps were not chaotic and his formation was neat, Duke Di smiled at Ma Rong and said, "It's beyond my expectation that I can make such progress after one night's practice."
Di Gong walked down the steps, and the second Yamen closed the lobby door again.At this time, Hong Canjun came from the back of the hall with iron pots, copper pots, and iron chains on his back. When Di Gong saw him, he praised: "Hong Canjun, your name is Hong Liang, but your real name is worthy of your name. When you give orders, that loud voice So majestic!"
The next day, at sunrise, Sanqi left the county office.Di Gong was wearing a hunting suit and walking in the middle, while Qiao Tai and Ma Rong were wearing patrol cavalry captain's armor, guarding the left and right.
A huge yellow banner fluttered in the wind above the Yayuan, with six big red characters embroidered on it, "Lanfang Military Village Camp", which could be seen from afar.Di Gong turned his head on the saddle to look at the apricot yellow army flag, smiled slightly and said: "My wives have been busy embroidering this flag until late at night."
Three riders headed west to Qian's house.At the head of the gate, Ma Rong fixed the horse, pointed at the door with a whip, and ordered the gatekeeper to say: "Open the door!"
The fugitive who had been sent back to Qian's house the night before had undoubtedly spread the news that the army had entered Lanfang. Mending hesitated for a while, and finally opened the gate to let Sanqi in.
Dozens of servants gathered in the front yard, and they were discussing in groups of three or five. When they saw the three cavalry coming, they did not dare to move rashly, but hid their swords and swords in the folds of their robes.
The three ignored them and walked straight forward.Entering the middle courtyard, seeing Ling Gang leading more than 30 men sharpening their guns and swords, oiling their leather armor, Ma Rong ordered: "Ling Dui Zheng, you bring ten soldiers and come with me!"
There were only a few house slaves in the backyard, and when they saw Sanqi approaching, they dodged to the side.
Ma Rong rode his horse towards the hall at the back of the courtyard, facing two red lacquered gates, carved with dragons and phoenixes on the gates, one could tell at a glance that it was the main hall of the Qian House.
The three of them slammed off their horses.Ma Rong raised his iron boots and kicked the door open.There are also three people in the hall, and it seems that they are doing important business in secret.In the center sits a person on a tiger-skin grand master's chair, with a leopard's head and eyes around him, a swallow's jaw and a tiger's beard, shoulders two feet wide, and a waist ten girth wide.Wearing a small black hat and a purple brocade casual gown.Seeing his appearance, he knew that he had just woken up and hadn't had time to wash and change his clothes.This person is Qian Mou.The other two were Qian Mou's Cetu, both a few years old, sitting on the carved ebony stool opposite.Judging from their appearance, it was clear that they hurriedly put on their robes and had just arrived.
The floor of the hall is covered with animal skins, and all kinds of weapons are neatly arranged against the walls. At first glance, it looks more like an armory.
The three of them raised their heads and suddenly saw the uninvited guest descending from the sky, they were all shocked and could not say a word for a moment.Di Gong also didn't say a word, seeing an empty chair beside him, he walked over and sat down.Qiao Tai and Ma Rong stood still in front of Qian Mou, glaring at him.Seeing this, Qian Mou's two strategists hurriedly stood up and retreated behind the master.
Di Gong said to Ma Rong: "Lieutenant, since the officers and soldiers are patrolling here, the county will entrust you with how to deal with these villains."
Qian Mou gradually calmed down, and when he saw the officer in front of him walking like a tiger, his face was like a full moon.With a wide steel beard, sword eyebrows and bright eyes, majestic and majestic, with a murderous look on his face, he thought that the person who came was not kind, and he was unavoidably afraid. Then he thought again, he had a family of one hundred people, and now three people from the government came to pull out their teeth, wouldn't it? Throw yourself into a trap? Thinking of this, I feel confident.
Ma Rong turned around and shouted, "Captain Ling is right!"
When Ling Gang heard the call, he hurriedly led the soldiers of the Fourth Army to talk about the hall.Ma Rong asked, "Who is Qian Mou, the leader of the thieves?"
Ling pointed to the person on the grand master's chair.
Ma Rong shouted: "The villain Qian Mou has heard that you have committed the crime of conspiracy and treason, and I have been ordered to come and bring you to justice!"
Qian Mou jumped up and roared: "You are so brave, you dare to touch Tai Sui's head! Someone, cut these wild dogs for me!"
As soon as the words fell, Ma Rongzao flew out with a punch, facing the door.Unexpectedly, Qian Mou received the thousand-jin punch, couldn't stand upright, and fell to the ground in response, smashing an exquisite coffee table and a set of precious fine porcelain tea sets to pieces.
Six servants rushed out from the curtain at the back of the hall, each with a sharp weapon in their hands, and wanted to fight, but seeing Ma Rong and Qiao Tai fully clothed, and the master had also fallen to the ground, they couldn't help but took two steps back.Ma Rong shouted: "The officers and soldiers are here, and they will not abandon their weapons and surrender early! Since ancient times, everyone has their own heads, and their debts have their own owners. You are guilty or innocent, and the crime is minor or serious. Our captains have their own districts to deal with."
The bridge of Qian Mou's nose was broken, blood was pouring from his nostrils, he still struggled to raise his head, and shouted: "Left and right, don't listen to his nonsense! Raise soldiers for a thousand days, use them for a while, today the master is in trouble, you have to be brave and take the lead , kill that dog officer on the chair first!"
Hearing this, one of the servants at the head raised his big ax and rushed towards Duke Di.Di'an sat still, stroked his long beard slowly, and dismissed the visitor.But Ling Gang panicked and shouted: "Brother Wang, wait a minute, my younger brother has already told you that the city is now full of officers and soldiers. We must not overestimate our capabilities and act in a wrong way. As the saying goes, a man who knows the current affairs is a hero." , you have to think twice!"
After hearing this, Chief Wang thought that Ling Gang's words were not unreasonable, so he lowered the big ax he raised.
Qiao Tai pretended to be impatient, stomped his feet and shouted, "Tie up these thieves quickly, the captain is still waiting for our army to discuss matters."
Ma Rong's punches are heavy, and Qian Mou has always been bossy and arrogant, but now he has been humiliated, his subordinates have betrayed their relatives, disobedient, wounded and angry, he has already passed out by this time.Ma Rong squatted down and tied Qian Mou tightly without any effort.
Di Gong stood up and said coldly to Chief Wang: "If you persist in your obsession, you will not be forgiven lightly!"
The two strategists have been standing silently in place, so they didn't leave, obviously they were watching the wind.Di Gong turned to them and asked, "Who are you all?"
The old strategist bowed to the ground and said: "My lord, the villain is out of helplessness, so he serves under Qian Mou's subordinates. People call the villain a strategist, but it is actually a decoration by others. The villain I can swear..."
Di Gong interrupted him: "Go to the county hall and confess the truth!" Then he said to Ma Rong: "Lieutenant, let's go back to the county office quickly, lest the captain wait for a long time and only take Qian Mou and these two strategists away , and the rest of the people will discuss it in the future." Ma Rong replied "Yes", and ordered Ling Gang to also tie up the two strategists.Qiaotai untied a thin chain from his waist, made a live snare at one end, put it around the neck of the second strategist, and walked out of the hall after pulling it.When he arrived in the courtyard, Qiaotai tied the chain to the saddle and said, "If you two don't want to be strangled to death, just follow the horse and run!"
Qiao Tai and Di Gong got on their horses one after another. Ma Rong picked up Qian Mou, put it on the saddle, and said to Ling Gang: "The Ling team is listening to the order, and divide your soldiers into four groups. The ten people who captured Qian Mou will be locked in the archery towers of the four major city gates, so that they can be guarded. You and the soldiers of the five armies no longer need to go to the county government office to wait for orders. At noon, the captain wants to send people to patrol the city gates."
Ling Gang responded loudly: "Decree!"
The three riders rode away through the courtyard, while the second strategist walked swiftly behind Qiao Tai's horse.
An old man was waiting for Duke Di and the others in the middle courtyard.The old man was nearly seventy years old, with white hair and gray beard. When he saw the three riders coming through the courtyard, he knelt down on his knees and kowtowed incessantly.
Di Gong reined in his horse and said sharply, "Who's off the horse? Stand up and announce your name!"
The old man stood up timidly, bowed and replied: "The old man's surname is Zhong, and his name is Hou. The steward of Qian's house is a villain. If the master has any orders, the villain will serve him."
Di Gong ordered: "In this case, I have sent you to take care of this house. All property must be properly protected and must not be lost. You will also take care of the women's family, slaves, servants, etc. in the house. Just wait for the yamen to send staff to come and take care of it." .”
After Di Gong gave his orders, he rode away on his own.Ma Rong leaned over on the saddle and asked the steward, "Officials and soldiers sometimes beat criminals slowly with a thin cane, and usually it takes three hours to beat the criminal to death. I don't know if you have seen this kind of punishment?"
The old steward didn't understand the true meaning of the words for a while, so he just replied respectfully; "I am stupid by nature, and I have always lived in this humble land, ignorant of the world. Although I am sixty-eight years old, I have never opened my eyes."
Ma Rong said solemnly: "You have heard the master's order clearly. If there is even the slightest difference in execution, I will let you taste the taste of this flogging!" Paper, stand in place and sieve chaff, unable to move.
Di Gong and other three riders got out of the Qianzhai gate, and the four men rushed to salute them with their guns.
Notes:
Notes: