Nine thousand years old [rebirth]

The granaries in Tongcheng and Chongyang were both looted.

According to the soldiers who reported the letter, when the steward of the Wen family and Yu Zhifu, who was in charge of grain adjustment, arrived at the granary of the Wen family in Tongcheng, they found that the guards guarding the granary had been killed, and the grain in the granary had already been looted.

Tongcheng is not far from Chongyang. The steward of the Wen family was worried about the Chongyang granary, so he asked the magistrate Yu to send someone to rush to Chongyang granary to check. It turned out that the situation of Chongyang granary was the same as that of Tongcheng. The guards were all killed and the granary was empty. Nothing.

Zhifu Yu immediately ordered people to inquire about the news, only then did he know that just last night, there were bandits descending from the Phoenix Mountain area, and the momentum was not small.The common people didn't dare to provoke the bandits, and they didn't dare to pay attention at all. They only knew that these bandits were indeed going in the direction of the granary.

It's just that there was no movement from the granary the next day, so no one cared.

Since ancient times, there have been many bandits in Huguang. Bandits occupy the land and run around, looting houses and even intercepting official banks.Even if the government sent troops several times to suppress the bandits, it would be difficult to clean them up thoroughly.It's just that this time the bandits robbed the granary quietly, the timing was too coincidental.

"As far as Mr. Jiang knows, is this a coincidence or someone instigated it?" Yin Chengyu asked.

Jiang Zheng thought about it seriously, and said, "I'm afraid it's more of a coincidence. Phoenix Mountain is the main peak of Wangtuo Ridge. Wangtuo Ridge faces Tuoshui to the east. It stretches and winds like a crouching snake. The mountain is steep and dangerous. A lot of bandits hide in it, and it is common to go down the mountain to loot when there is insufficient food and grass. The eldest son Wen who appeared today is the son of the first wife of Wen Dadong's family. After his wife died, Wen Dadong's family married another new wife, and even had several beautiful concubines, and gave birth to many children. This Wen Dagong is not favored. His relationship with him is not close. Now that something happened to Mr. Wen’s family and he was pushed out to be the speaker, I’m afraid he can’t wait to execute Mr. Wen’s family as soon as possible and pick out the Wen family and himself. It’s not easy to have more troubles like this .”

Yin Chengyu listened, but did not agree or refute.He pondered for a moment, and said: "As for the matter of disaster relief, we will continue as previously discussed. As for the matter of bandits, we will settle it alone."

How many victims can live with [-] shi white rice.The court will never give up easily.

After dismissing Jiang Zheng, Yin Chengyu returned to the East Courtyard.

As soon as he reached the gate of the courtyard, he collided with Xue Shu who was striding forward.Xue Shu had obviously received the news, and before Yin Chengyu could speak, he said first, "I have already sent spies to investigate the situation around Phoenix Mountain."

It took a day and a night to find out the news.

It was not until the evening of the second day that the spies came to report.

"The granary in Tongcheng Chongyang was indeed robbed by bandits, but it wasn't just the bandits from Phoenix Mountain." The spies said.

Yin Chengyu heard the name: "Are there other bandits in Wangtuo Ridge?"

"According to my subordinates' research, there are at least five villages in Wangtuo Ridge, including Hualin Village in Fenghuang Mountain, Dongxiang Village in Xiannv Peak, Agate Village in Zizhu Peak, Heiyun Village in Shizhao Peak, Tongdong Village in Wanshou Peak... ...Besides this, there are dozens of small villages. The number of people ranges from a thousand to a few hundred. These bandits occupy the mountains and become kings, echoing each other from afar. They do their own things on weekdays, but if they encounter people like the Wen Family Granary The 'Fat Sheep' who are not involved will act together. This looting of the granary is the leader of a few big cottages."

"Have you ever found out where the food is stored?"

"Wangtuoling's villages are respected by Hualin Village. Now the looted food is being stored in a stone cave on the south side of Fenghuang Mountain, guarded by heavy soldiers. At present, these gangsters are discussing how to divide the dirty."

"Wangtuo Ridge has a complex terrain. If the bandits have finished dividing up the loot before sending troops, it will be difficult to recover food." Yin Chengyu looked at Xue Shu: "What do you think?"

"Let He Shan and Ying Hongxue lead the army, they have combat experience in the mountains." Xue Shu said,

Yin Chengyu thought the same way, so he immediately spread the news that He Shanying and Hongxue and the city guards came to discuss matters.

This time, Yin Chengyu did not bring too many troops to Huguang for disaster relief. Now that he wants to send troops to suppress the bandits, he still needs to mobilize troops from Wuchang Mansion.

Asking the general guarding the city to cooperate with He Shanying Hongxue, several people discussed in the study for two hours, and after deciding on a strategy to suppress the bandits, they dispersed.

In the evening of the next day, when the sky had just darkened, He Shanying and Hongxue, who had assembled three thousand soldiers and horses, went to Wangtuoling under the cover of night.The Dongchang fans who had explored the way before went together as scouts.

Yin Chengyu stayed in Wuchang Mansion.

Watching the long and winding procession outside the city, gradually disappearing into the night, Yin Chengyu just gathered up his cloak and went back to the east courtyard of the government office to rest.

Because of an illness just before, Xue Shu was particularly concerned about his health. Under his urging, Yin Chengyu did not spend any more time sleeping on official duties, and went to rest early.

Now Xue Shu is staying in his room openly and aboveboard on the pretext of serving him, and it is warm at night.

It's just a troubled time, and there is no rest in the end.

Before dawn, Yin Chengyu was awakened by the shouts of killing from outside.After waking up, he found that Xue Shu was not on the bed. He fumbled to light a candle, put on his clothes and got up to check, when Xue Shu pushed the door open and came in.

"What happened outside?"

Xue Shu blew out the candle, took the clothes on the screen and quickly waited for him to put them on, while explaining: "The bandits from Wangtuoling have invaded the Fucheng and are heading towards the Fuya. I will take Your Highness to hide for a while. avoid."

"Invaded the Fucheng?" Yin Chengyu was surprised: "How did the city gate break down?"

As soon as the words came out, he immediately reacted: "Is there an internal response?"

The gates of the city will be closed every night. If bandits attack the city, it is absolutely impossible to break through the impregnable gates easily.

Xue Shu said "Yes"; "The soldiers at the east gate opened the city gate and let the bandits in. There were about five or six thousand bandits. Most of the troops in the city were mobilized to suppress the bandits. Right now there are only more than 6000 people left. I was caught off guard, and it was difficult for me to straighten up and fight against the bandits."

While speaking, Yin Chengyu had already put on his clothes.Xue Shu shook off his cloak to put it on for him, and under the guard of the guards, under the cover of night, he quietly left the mansion through the corner gate.

A group of people walked through the alley in the dark without lighting their torches.

Yin Chengyu squinted at the scattered fires in the distance, and said, "Can Jiang Zheng and the others withdraw?"

"Fan servants have been sent to escort them to shelter temporarily." Now there is only an empty shell left in each government office.

"But right now the gates of the four cities have been seized by the bandits. The bandits can't find anyone, and they will probably start searching the city soon." With sharp eyebrows pressed down, Xue Shu said in a deep voice, "This is not an ordinary city. The bandits act quickly with tacit understanding, and they are like soldiers compared to the bandits."

"Soldier?" Yin Chengyu raised his eyebrows, and the recent events were circling in his mind, gradually listing out a clear direction: "Are you here for the lonely?"

Xue Shu nodded, his thin lips pursed into a cold arc.

If the soldiers in formation would never attack the city so blatantly, then there is only one answer: these well-trained soldiers are private soldiers raised.

Keeping private soldiers is a serious crime, and it is definitely not something ordinary people can afford.

In the Huguang area, or in Wuchang Mansion, there is only one family that can afford to raise private soldiers and has the courage to support private soldiers——

"Go to Zhou's house." Yin Chengyu said without hesitation.

When the shouts and killings in Fucheng were loud, Zhou Zhiling didn't sleep either.

The servants of the Zhou family were in a mess when they heard the commotion. Because there was no master to restrain them, the servants and even the female family members in the backyard scattered to escape.

In the study room with only a faint light on, Zhou Zhiling was pacing anxiously, completely ignoring the messy backyard.

"Whether it's done or not, why hasn't there been any news?"

"What are you in a hurry for? A noble man who can't carry his shoulders or pick his hands, can he still fly?" The man who spoke was the big man sitting opposite Zhou Zhiling. His strong muscles can't even be covered by armor.At this time, sitting in the shadow with his legs crossed, he looked like a Rakshasa with an evil face.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhiling was a little relieved. He had been with Fan Hu for a long time, so he naturally believed in his abilities.

It's just that he was still a little uneasy in his heart, hesitatingly said: "The eunuch Xue Shu next to the prince is not a good person, he seems to be the governor of the East Factory, but he was not mentioned in the letter from the lord..."

Thinking of Xue Shu's thunderous method of dealing with Wen Dadong's family, he shuddered, and raised his calm heart again.

"It's just a eunuch, how good can it be?" Fan Hu had never met Xue Shu, so he didn't care much.

But Zhou Zhiling had seen the eunuch's ruthless methods, but he didn't know how to argue with Fan Hu.He couldn't help getting up and turning around a few times. After much deliberation, he still felt that Xue Shu should not be underestimated, so he suddenly turned around and said, "Brother Fan, Xue Shu, you must not—"

Before he finished speaking, all of them stuck in his throat.

Zhou Zhiling's eyes widened in horror, and his gaze was fixed on behind Fan Hu.Because he was too frightened, he could only make a breathy sound of "ho ho".

Seeing his expression, Fan Hu was puzzled and said, "Brother Zhou, have you seen a ghost?"

"..." Zhou Zhiling's heart constricted for a while, but he couldn't even utter a word. He raised his hand in horror and pointed behind him tremblingly.

Back, back!

Fan Hu finally realized that something was wrong, and was about to turn his head to look, but he couldn't prevent a very thin and tough iron wire from wrapping around his neck, twisting and tightening.

Xue Shu did this set of movements smoothly, Fan Hu, who was as burly as a hill, rolled his eyes and kicked his legs, but he swallowed his breath in a moment, sticking out his tongue.

And Zhou Zhiling, who watched this scene with his own eyes, was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, unable to even scream.

Xue Shu glanced at him contemptuously, put away the wire, and casually pulled out the tablecloth from the coffee table, and covered Fan Hu's hideous corpse.

After finishing all this, he just walked to the door and opened the door to welcome Yin Chengyu who was waiting outside.

"It's all taken care of."