Chapter 126
Wang Yingchao held the bag full of mysterious seeds tightly, and secretly wondered about the secret purpose behind King Hanjiang's hiding of such crops. His doubts about King Hanjiang's behavior of concealing such high-yielding crops gradually grew like spring buds breaking through the ground. At the same time, Bi Yuntao also revealed his deep dissatisfaction with King Hanjiang. Both of them felt that there was an unknown dark forest hidden behind King Hanjiang. It was a world full of mysteries and conspiracies that made it impossible for people to understand the whole picture. In the process of groping forward, I am alert at every step and startled at every step.
After Wang Yingchao pondered briefly, a flash of deep thought flashed between his brows, and he slowly said: "Let's put this matter aside for now. Although it has no direct connection with us, it is still quite strange. How can you be free in that tightly guarded farm? In and out? Why are you mentioning the murder suspicion in the farm at this time?" Upon hearing this, Bi Yuntao asked Wang Yingchao for a glass of water, and after drinking it, he slowly began to describe his tortuous experience. From the time he was appointed to the palace until he was assigned to the mysterious secret farm of the King of Hanjiang, where security was tight and personnel access was strictly controlled, Wang Yingchao never had the opportunity to see Bi Yuntao. And Bi Yuntao talked about how he cleverly used the technique of inducing gambling debts to invisibly grasp the hearts of everyone in the farm, and was able to travel freely among them. After hearing this, Wang Yingchao was filled with surprise and asked how he could successfully instigate everyone and escape unscathed in such a complicated network of relationships. Bi Yuntao smiled softly and explained implicitly: He deliberately gave away gambling debts to everyone's relatives and friends, forming an intricate relationship between them, and it was naturally difficult for others to feel betrayal.
Talking about the King of Hanjiang, Bi Yuntao was keenly aware of the subtle changes in his words and deeds, which seemed to be enveloped in a panic and uneasiness, which prompted him to look for opportunities to escape from the farm. Finally, after a sudden fire broke out in the farm, Bi Yuntao confirmed that he was safe and chose to return to Yangqu County. Wang Yingchao deeply admired Bi Yuntao's ability to see into people's hearts and be good at observing words and expressions, but he still had doubts about his ability to determine the whereabouts of the King of Hanjiang just based on the changes in his expression. Bi Yuntao didn't pay too much attention to this. He believed that this was just a reflection of the normal state of human nature. Then he deliberately changed the subject and asked about the current situation of the casino. He learned that one of the people from the Thermal Weapons Laboratory had left the casino angrily because of a lawsuit.
At the same time, outside Yangqu County City under nightfall, the soldiers guarding the city gate were vigilantly performing their tasks, and suddenly they discovered a group of ragged people with suspicious movements approaching quietly. With years of vigilance and experience, the captain, a man named Zhang, immediately captured this strange situation and quickly climbed up the tower to observe carefully. He saw that this group of people was large in number, and their pace and posture were extraordinary that ordinary farmers could not compare with. It was vaguely visible that they seemed to have Hidden weapons, he made a prompt decision and immediately summoned all the soldiers to assemble, preparing to face any changes that might occur with repeated crossbows. At the same time, Liu Xiao and his party finally arrived at Yangqu County after experiencing a series of challenges and difficulties at the toll station. Facing this extremely solid city wall built with a lot of money, they have mixed feelings in their hearts. As long as the right time, place and people gather together, they will not hesitate to take action and kick off this drama that involves life and death, honor and disgrace.
Liu Xiao tried his best to suppress the anger boiling in his chest, and took a deep breath, as if to turn the anger invisible. He put on a farmer's coarse clothes, and deliberately showed timidity and awe on his face to deal with the interrogating officers and soldiers. . Captain Zhang, who was guarding the city, looked at the group of people in front of him with sharp eyes, and the vigilance from his bones made him more and more convinced that they were not ordinary farmers, but bandits in disguise, so he tensed up. He tensed up his nerves and ordered his men to stand ready, not daring to relax at all.
Liu Xiao held the road guide in his hand and tried to use this as evidence to enter the city smoothly, but was decisively blocked by Captain Zhang, who ordered them to step back ten steps and warned everyone that since there were distinguished guests in the city, they would have to wait for a while before letting them go. Secretly, Captain Zhang quietly arranged for crossbowmen to hide in hidden corners of the city, like cheetahs ready to attack, in case a sudden conflict broke out.
When everything was ready and everyone was lined up as required to undergo the security check and enter the city, Captain Zhang smiled slyly in the face of Liu Xiao's puzzled eyes and questions, and used Feng Shui to talk about it, seemingly resolving the tension invisibly. However, when it was Liu Xiao's turn to undergo the security check, Captain Zhang's palm quietly reached towards his waist and touched a hard object. He already knew in his heart that it was no ordinary farm tool, but a dagger. The air between the two instantly condensed into ice, forming a silent confrontation. Captain Zhang relied on his years of experience and strength to pull out the "farm tool" from Liu Xiao's waist, revealing a gleaming dagger. Liu Xiao was shocked and had not yet recovered. Soldiers from Yangqu County poured out from all directions like wolves, firing crossbows and dense arrows. The people who had been waiting in line to enter the city suddenly disappeared. One fell down, and the rest of the uninjured people fled in all directions. Although the repeating crossbow has limited range and poor accuracy, it has demonstrated its powerful deterrence and lethality in such a close defense situation. The whole scene is like a ruthless hunting game, filled with Breathtaking tension and terror.
After a fierce chase and melee, the battle gradually subsided, and most of the people were captured or fell in a pool of blood. Liu Xiao woke up in the chaos, and the wailing in front of him made him feel like a knife. Looking at the wounded and unconscious brothers around him, his heart was filled with endless pain. He opened his eyes angrily, his eyes burning with blazing fire, staring directly at Captain Zhang not far away, and that aura of perseverance and unyielding rushed towards him. Although Captain Zhang admired his bravery, he finally decided to take him back to the Yamen for interrogation. However, Liu Xiao was filled with grief and anger, and let out a tearing roar from the depths of his throat, unwilling to suffer this insult even to death. Faced with Liu Xiao's determination, Captain Zhang looked as cold as iron and responded unwaveringly that he would be brought back to the city to accept fair legal sanctions. Regardless of life or death, the truth must be made known to the world.
As soon as the fighting stopped, Captain Zhang immediately directed his men to organize the battlefield as sharply as an eagle. Although the power of the repeating crossbow is slightly insufficient in the face of conventional weapons, its instantaneous explosive power is still enough to make more than ten people hit by arrows, lying in a pool of blood, their breath gradually weakening. He deliberately asked Liu Xiao to get close to the cold corpses, looked directly at their lifeless faces, and asked: "Why did you come here? Why did you choose this road full of death and despair?" Liu Xiao felt mixed emotions. His eyes swept over each corpse, silently calculating the number of survivors in his heart, secretly worried that if any escapees spread the news to Hu Jiang's ears, Yangqu County might fall into a more dangerous situation.
At this moment, a cloud of dust rose in the distance. Captain Zhang looked over with vigilance and saw Lao Zhu driving a group of horses back from the smoke, claiming that he had bought two thousand horses at a low price yesterday. When Captain Zhang heard about this, although he was envious of Lao Zhu's good luck, he also reminded him that there must be something fishy about the abnormal price. However, Lao Zhu didn't care about this and drove his horse away nonchalantly, leaving only a vague and decisive figure behind. Captain Zhang looked at the disappearing figure and couldn't help but feel a burst of sadness and worry in his heart, as if he had a premonition that a bigger storm was coming.
The lights in the Yangqu County government office were brightly lit, and Wang Yingchao and other officials sat in the lobby for emergency consultations on the incident. They carefully identified the weapons in the hands of the deceased and confirmed that all of them were standard equipment used by the regular army. Then they ordered the prisoners to be severely interrogated, and quickly strengthened the city's defense deployment. At the same time, they instructed the toll station personnel to evacuate and close the city gates to prevent trouble before it happened. After careful consideration, Lin Taohua was worried about the series of subsequent troubles that might result, and suggested that Wang Yingchao report to the prince quickly to seek support and assistance from the top officials of the imperial court.
In the gloomy and cramped prison cell, Xie Hongxin was brutally interrogating Liu Xiao, even taking out a cold steel needle to demonstrate his cruel methods. However, Liu Xiao remained steadfast and unyielding in the face of such a situation, like a stubborn stone, never bowing to the wind and rain. Xie Hongxin pretended to be mysterious and deliberately mentioned the cruel scene of suturing piglets in an attempt to intimidate Liu Xiao. Although Liu Xiao's face turned pale in an instant and his fear was palpable, he still suppressed his fear and gritted his teeth to stand upright. . On the surface, Xie Hongxin seemed to be preparing to carry out more brutal torture, but in fact, he secretly transferred Liu Xiao to another cell and arranged for someone to sing songs day and night, in an attempt to use fatigue tactics to gradually break down his will and force him to Confess.
Under this never-ending mental torture, Liu Xiao finally could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and angrily questioned the other party about this cruel and despicable interrogation method. However, he was told that countless people had chosen to succumb to such inhuman torture. Although Yangqu County claimed to pay attention to morality and humanity when interrogating prisoners, in fact, even if the prisoners were unable to bear it due to mental breakdown, , will also be ruthlessly placed in brick kilns to dig coal and spend the rest of their lives. Liu Xiao's chest was burning with angry flames, but when faced with this twisted and ruthless reality, he couldn't help but fall into deep fear and helplessness, as if he had stepped into a dark and boundless foggy forest, and the road ahead It becomes increasingly unclear, and we can only move forward with our inner tenacity and faith.
Hu Jiang listened quietly to the five brothers in rags describing their tragic experiences, and a ripple of desolation like autumn water suddenly appeared in his heart. The originally mighty team of two hundred people had already collapsed before they even entered the borders of Yangqu County. One of them, a man with a haggard face and half-clothed clothes, burst into tears and choked with sobs, pleading to join the prince as soon as possible, revealing that Yangqu County had now become a fortified iron wall. He revealed that once Liu Xiao leaks the slightest secret of their action plan, the situation will become more dangerous like burning oil.
Hearing the bad news, Hu Jiang's heart was filled with rage, and his face instantly turned ashen, like an ancient well stone tablet that had been beaten by strong winds and heavy rain. He rose up angrily and declared resolutely that he would capture Yangqu County with thunderous force no matter what, in order to repay the prince's high hopes and trust. He knew very well that if this operation could not be completed successfully, the consequences would be a catastrophic chain reaction. So, he made a prompt decision and ordered everyone to get ready at dawn the next day. Even if there was a shortage of horses, they must buy them back. Even if they were short of money, they needed to raise loans from everywhere. They must do whatever it takes to ensure that there is enough food and grass for the troops and horses.
Faced with the thorny problem of the toll station, Hu Jiang decided to adopt an expedient measure after careful consideration. He planned to forge passing documents and enter Yangqu County in a grand manner of suppressing bandits. He also asked all soldiers to put on long swords, arm themselves with the determination of revenge, and prepare to face the coming test of life and death. In this regard, some brothers were worried about forging documents and worried that the truth would be discovered. After hearing this, Hu Jiang snorted coldly, his eyes filled with confidence. The seal token he held tightly in his hand was like a key to opening the city gate. His confidence was enough to deceive the mediocre officials in a small county. At the same time, he also reminded everyone to make all contingency preparations in advance to prevent sudden changes in the situation.
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At dawn the next day, Captain Zhang stood alone on the Yangqu County Gate Tower, letting the morning light fill his body, looking at the distant horizon, with thousands of thoughts surging in his heart, like the undulating lake. A young and energetic brother beside him curiously asked if he missed the gentle woman at home, but Captain Zhang just shook his head and sighed, and revealed his life plan - he was secretly saving money and planning to leave his job next year to go into business. , imitate the monkey trickster Zhu in this county who made a fortune overnight by selling good horses. He used his own life journey as a teaching material to warn young brothers not to underestimate the hardships of life, repeatedly emphasized the importance of material foundation for personal destiny, and bluntly said that a stable material life is the cornerstone of true love and family happiness.
Just as they were immersed in a heated discussion about their future business path, a billowing cloud of dust suddenly rose up in the distant wilderness. Upon seeing this, Captain Zhang immediately grabbed the telescope in his hand and observed attentively. He suddenly discovered an elite cavalry team of about a thousand people, galloping towards them on powerful horses. The formation was rigorous and the momentum was like a rainbow, as if they were an enemy country. The army is overwhelming. Faced with such a severe situation, Captain Zhang did not hesitate to order his strong men to rush to the county government to convey the urgent military situation, so that the entire county immediately entered a state of war preparation, while the people temporarily stayed at home and stayed behind closed doors.
Although the crisis in reality is approaching like a frenzy, breaking their vision of a beautiful future, life is so ruthless and real, forcing them to immediately fall from the ideal world to the cruel reality to face the coming crisis. Baptized by wind and rain.
The emergency military intelligence report from the county government was like a thunder that broke through the calm. After hearing the news, Lin Taohua and Wang Yingchao jumped up the tower like cheetahs and looked in all directions. They quickly waved their command flags, and their strong horses galloped out like flying arrows. They spread the urgent orders to every corner of the market, urging the people to return home and close their homes as soon as possible to avoid the smoke of the coming war.
At this moment, the toll station seemed lonely because the building was empty. A thousand soldiers and horses led by Hu Jiang were like a long river breaking through the ice, approaching the city wall with great force and unstoppable force. When the team marched, their steps were consistent and orderly, as if they had been practicing for a long time, without any trace of chaos. Seeing this scene, Lin Taohua suddenly felt an unprecedented worry in her heart, especially when her brother Lin Xiaofeng was not by her side. This worry was more like autumn water in a cold pond, rushing straight from the bottom of her heart to her spine, which made people feel uncomfortable. shudder.
Wang Yingchao held a telescope in his hand and stared at the invading enemy like an eagle eye catching a rabbit. He carefully identified its organization and equipment and confirmed that this army was indeed a regular organization and that the weapons it carried were more sophisticated and advanced than those intercepted last time. He raised his chest and head high, and shouted to the other party in a loud and powerful voice to ask for his identity. Hu Jiang responded calmly and calmly, claiming that he was a guerrilla general of the Good Fighting Battalion. He was ordered to come to Yangqu to clean up the bandits and urged the city to open the gate as soon as possible. Faced with Wang Yingchao's cautious request for token document inspection, Hu Jiang threw out the token and documents without hesitation, just like throwing stones to ask for directions, only to see the hanging basket hanging from the city wall collect them one by one.
Lin Taohua clenched her fists, and the tension between her brows was like a thread. She anxiously asked about the progress of yesterday's prisoner interrogation, and learned that there had been no substantial breakthrough, and that the institute had actually taken away most of the injured for unknown experiments. This news It was like fire burning her heart, making her furious. While everyone was waiting with bated breath for the verification results of the token document, Lao Tan, the experienced old craftsman in the sealing workshop, rushed to the top of the city panting with anxiety on his face. With just a quick glance, he concluded that the seal on the document was a poor forgery and the token was also a tampered fake. As soon as these words came out, the faces of everyone on the top of the city changed rapidly, and they were as heavy as iron. Wang Yingchao made a prompt decision and decided to activate the artillery defense line and activate the pre-prepared explosive packs to deal with a possible siege. He ordered that when the city gate was opened, Hu Jiang's troops must stand in line and not act without authorization.
However, Hu Jiang had not yet realized that the crisis hanging above his head was quietly approaching. Just when he was full of doubts, he suddenly heard the sound of cracking rocks above his head. He raised his eyes and suddenly discovered that there was a mystery hidden within the city wall. Several short, thick, dark cannon barrels loomed on the top of the wall, like poisonous snakes lurking in the dark, ready to strike at any time. This astonishing discovery gave him a premonition that a storm was about to come. At this moment, Yangqu County was like a beast that had been charging for a long time, waiting for the best time to counterattack. Once triggered, it could instantly transform into a thunderous strike. Catch the enemy off guard.
The tribesmen who had escaped disaster in Yangqu County last time were now as alert as cats smelling a fishy smell. They quietly retreated to a safe distance and waited to see what would happen. When Hu Jiang saw this scene, alarm bells rang in his heart, and an unspeakable uneasiness licked his nerves like a snake's letter. He immediately raised his riding whip and sternly ordered his men to stop moving forward. He raised his head and asked Wang Yingchao, who was standing majestically on the wall, loudly: "What do you mean by this? What kind of conspiracy is hidden in the smashing of the stone wall?"
The city wall responded with a burst of sneers and nervous and busy sounds. The artillerymen were racing against time to load ammunition and prepare to face the enemy. Wang Yingchao stood as steady as a mountain, with a loud and steady voice, and replied to Hu Jiang: "General, don't worry too much! The interior of the city wall in our county is hollow and the stone slab structure is loose and fragile. This is to prevent rocks from falling and injuring innocent people due to vibrations when the army enters the city. , so break some of the stone slabs first to make sure everything is safe." After hearing this, Hu Jiang was full of doubts and asked repeatedly what secrets were hidden behind the broken stone slabs. Wang Yingchao was calm and unhurried, his brows showing magnanimity: "It's just some wooden brackets to support the wall. The city gate will be opened immediately after cleaning."
However, the doubts in Hu Jiang's heart did not dissipate. On the contrary, they became more intense. He decisively ordered his subordinates to close their formation and increase their vigilance. At this time, the twelve artillery guns had quietly filled the barrels and were ready to go, as if the twelve sleeping beasts might wake up at any time. Wang Yingchao's eyes were firm and sharp as an eagle, watching every move of the enemy formation closely. As he gave the order, the bell-like voice burst into the air: "Fire!"
In an instant, the color of the world changed, and earth-shaking loud noises echoed over Yangqu County. Twelve artillery pieces roared in unison, hot flames spurted out, and the artillery shells poured into the team of thousands of people like a violent storm. The sound of explosions was continuous, like thunder and lightning. When Hu Jiang heard the deafening roar, his heart tightened instantly. The horse under his crotch was frightened and lost control. It led him to roll and jump, leaving a sad arc in the air.
Faced with the chaotic scene in front of him, where life and death were on the line, Hu Jiang struggled to get up from the dirt, covered in dust and embarrassed, and he let out a heart-rending cry: "Brothers, retreat quickly!" But in this fearful situation, In the whirlpool of despair, no one answered his call. Immediately afterwards, the second round of shelling followed, and there was another scene of blood and flesh flying and extremely tragic.
Although Hu Jiang narrowly escaped death, he was also seriously injured. He endured the severe pain and used his last strength to direct the remaining brothers to flee to the city gate to avoid the artillery fire. Wang Yingchao had planned ahead and had already arranged to throw explosive packets to fill the blind spot of firepower. In the blink of an eye, a large number of defeated troops gathered under the city gate. Explosive packs were detonated one after another, leaving victims everywhere and the casualties becoming more and more severe.
Hu Jiang was dumbfounded as he watched the once invincible elite army disappear in the blink of an eye, and he himself fell into the abyss of despair and was unable to extricate himself. At this moment, Xie Hongxin led the reinforcements to arrive. Facing the sad scene of Hu Jiang admitting defeat and lamenting, Xie Hongxin expressionlessly slashed his leg bones with a knife, causing him to pass out.
Later, Xie Hongxin led his troops to pursue the fleeing enemy. Lin Taohua witnessed the cruelty and urgency of the battle and knew that the situation was critical. She decisively ordered to speed up the interrogation of the prisoners, and decided to return to Beijing immediately to report to the prince. At the same time, she strictly ordered the reinforcement of the city defense. Wang Yingchao looked solemn, nodded solemnly, and resolutely executed every instruction with meticulous attention to detail.
At the same time, on that distant road, Lin Xiaofeng's carriage and horses had galloped to the foot of Yuanhai City, and a new storm was brewing, which was about to kick off a more magnificent war...
The moment the city gate was about to close, a cold and strong premonition suddenly passed through Lin Xiaofeng's heart like a dark cloud covering the sun. The rare move of closing the city during the day was undoubtedly an unusual prelude, indicating that there was an undercurrent surging in the city and an unpredictable change was brewing. He subconsciously focused his suspicious eyes on Xiang Xiehong, as if this person was inextricably linked to this sudden change. At this moment, the soldiers guarding the city gate noticed a strange motorcade approaching quickly. They suddenly became nervous and sternly questioned the identity of the visitor and the purpose of entering the city.
Lin Xiaofeng calmed down and reported his official title calmly, claiming that he was an inspector appointed by the imperial court and responsible for the important mission of inspecting the place and maintaining public security. He ordered the gatekeepers to open the city gate immediately without delay. .
Hearing this, the originally aggressive soldiers turned pale as paper. In a panic, they hurriedly put down the hanging basket and asked for the verification certificate. Lin Xiaofeng did not hesitate to send his followers to present the imperial edict stamped with a jade seal. When the soldiers received the heavy imperial edict, their panic was palpable. They quickly bowed and apologized, waited a moment, turned around and left in a hurry to report.
Soon after, with a heavy creaking sound, the towering city gate slowly opened, and an official with a goatee stood solemnly in front of the door. This man was Sha Chenglu. Lin Xiaofeng recognized this colleague at a glance, a friendly smile appeared on his face, he greeted him warmly, and asked why he was so solemn to welcome the imperial envoy today.
After Sha Chenglu heard about Lin Xiaofeng's identity, he couldn't help but feel nervous. The recent scenes of the salt merchant turmoil in the city flashed through his mind, knowing that this matter might not escape the investigative eyes of the imperial envoy. Faced with Lin Xiaofeng's questioning about the reason why the city gate was closed during the day, Sha Chenglu explained awkwardly and uneasily: "A few days ago, the Qian Mansion, a wealthy family in the city, was unfortunately hijacked by bandits. In order to prevent the thieves from escaping, we made a temporary decision. The city gates are also closed during the day.”
After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng was astonished and asked about the whole incident in more detail, only to learn that this group of thieves had been rampant for five days and their true identity had not yet been discovered. Sha Chenglu sincerely and helplessly revealed that these bandits were so ferocious that the officers and soldiers were helpless, fearing that innocent people would be accidentally injured if they acted rashly.
Lin Xiaofeng was filled with indignation at this situation and determined to go to the site to investigate the situation in person. He stepped into the city and drove straight to Qian's house. He saw only two soldiers guarding the gate of the house. Lin Xiaofeng asked confusedly where the other soldiers were. Sha Chenglu replied that everyone had gathered around the inner house to prepare. Lin Xiaofeng decisively ordered his entourage to get out of the car and walk together to participate in the operation to capture the bandits. In the carriage, Jin Jiaying followed with light steps. Lin Xiaofeng supported her carefully, with deep concern and tenderness between his brows. This scene did not escape Sha Chenglu's eyes. He had strange ripples in his heart, secretly speculating on the unusual relationship between this stunning woman and Lin Xiaofeng.
Lin Xiaofeng led everyone into Qian's house and decided to start negotiations with the thieves in person. Although Sha Chenglu tried his best to dissuade him and reminded him that although the number of thieves was small, they still had hostages in their hands and the first priority should be to ensure the safety of the hostages. However, Lin Xiaofeng was determined and everyone could only follow his steps and go deep into the mansion. When they walked into Qian's house, they were all shocked by the magnificent scene in front of them. Before the group arrived at the West Tower, they were shocked to find a line of blood drawn on the ground. The officers and soldiers surrounding it were all trembling with fear, and no one dared to cross the thunder pool even half a step. Sha Chenglu warned again that thieves were watching in the building, and once someone crossed the blood line, they would kill and establish their power. However, Lin Xiaofeng did not back down. He resolutely crossed the bloody line. His high-pitched and passionate voice echoed in the house. He announced that he was willing to go to the meeting alone and negotiate with the thieves face to face, showing a fearless brave man. spirit.
Just as Luo Huajun's figure appeared at the window on the second floor, Lin Xiaofeng recognized this former subordinate at a glance, and his inner determination became stronger. He knew that this battle between justice and evil was about to begin.
Lin Xiaofeng's move seemed casual and free, but in fact it contained an unyielding determination. When Sha Chenglu saw this, his surprise was palpable. He never expected that this newly arrived official from the capital would interfere in the local troublesome affairs as soon as he arrived in the city. Sha Chenglu thought to himself: How could an official from the capital be so courageous and heroic? Or is he too reckless and ignorant? He shouted anxiously: "Mr. Lin, this trip is full of dangers. Please get back on your horse quickly and don't put yourself in danger!" However, Lin Xiaofeng did not look back because of this, but looked solemn and spoke firmly: "Mr. Sha, thieves and bandits After five days of arrogance and failure to eradicate the imperial court, how will the people view the actions of our officials? You can endure this situation, but I can't bear it! Listen to my order, and if something happens, I will do it immediately. Attack by force." As soon as he finished speaking, the heavy door of the west tower opened quietly, and the interior was dark, as if there were endless secrets hidden.
Facing Lin Xiaofeng's resolute back, Sha Chenglu awkwardly withdrew his dissuasive gesture, but his heart was filled with ups and downs as he repeatedly wondered about his intentions. Lin Xiaofeng walked into the dark west building without hesitation, and the door behind him closed heavily with his steps. This made Sha Chenglu couldn't help but tremble all over, and turned to look at the soldiers behind him. At this moment, their faces were full of tears. Full of confusion and confusion. Although Lin Xiaofeng's actions today seemed quite abrupt, but if you carefully taste his words, every word of his words was revealed to be reasonable. Perhaps it was his youthful vigor and fearlessness in the face of danger that drove him to make such a decision.
In the west building, Luo Huajun was very excited when he saw Lin Xiaofeng suddenly appeared, and hurriedly came forward to greet him: "Master, how dare you personally risk yourself here?" Lin Xiaofeng asked with concern if anyone was in danger, Luo Huajun quickly replied that everything was safe, He also informed Lu Dexing that he had temporarily taken refuge elsewhere, and that Xiang Xiehong and important hostages were on the second floor at the moment, and then led Lin Xiaofeng to the second floor.
Walking up to the second floor, all the soldiers in Yangqu County stood up to say hello respectfully. Among them, Xiang Xiehong was the only one who was extremely tired and looked haggard. The hostages' mouths were blocked. I originally heard that the government sent people to negotiate, but my hope instantly turned into disappointment. Especially Mr. Qian, who was in tears and his eyes were filled with sadness. Lin Xiaofeng looked around, and after confirming that his subordinates were safe and sound, he sat firmly next to Xiang Xiehong and listened to his deep self-blame for this misstep. While Lin Xiaofeng comforted Xiang Xiehong, he ordered Liang Huankun to describe the entire incident in detail, and couldn't help but respect Xiang Xiehong's perseverance in adversity.
After Liang Huankun finished his detailed statement, Lin Xiaofeng put his arms around Xiang Xiehong and felt deeply that although Xiang Xiehong's temperament remained the same, he showed a responsible spirit in difficult situations. At this time, Lin Xiaofeng had a sudden idea and sang a few passionate lyrics loudly, trying to boost everyone's fighting spirit. However, this song not only failed to arouse resonance, but also made Xiang Xiehong, who was exhausted both physically and mentally, even more frustrated. In the end, he could not resist the sleepiness and fell into a coma. Lin Xiaofeng felt quite embarrassed when he saw this scene, and the bystanders were also puzzled by this affectionate behavior.
Liang Huankun reported again that although he had formulated a breakout plan during the five days of being trapped, he still could not find the location of the crucial ledger because Mr. Qian was stubborn and refused to reveal the truth. Lin Xiaofeng asked Sha Chenglu for details and learned of the intricate relationship between him and the Qian family. After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng secretly felt lucky that he was present at the scene, otherwise the consequences would be unpredictable.
Therefore, Lin Xiaofeng made a prompt decision and decided to take decisive action. He went straight to the struggling and shouting Mr. Qian and asked him about the exact location of his bank account and ledger. Faced with Mr. Qian's resistance, Lin Xiaofeng stopped the farce mercilessly and warned many times of the serious consequences. In order to solve the problem as soon as possible, Lin Xiaofeng even threatened with a dagger in order to force Mr. Qian to submit. In this tense and almost suffocating atmosphere, the psychological battle between the two intensified. The outcome hung on a thread, and it was unknown who would win.
The air in the room seemed to be frozen into a heavy piece of lead, so dense that it was almost suffocating. Lin Xiaofeng's face was as determined as iron and his eyes were piercing, and he decisively carried out the harsh punishment on Mr. Qian. This scene stunned everyone present, as if they were awakened by a sudden lightning. They could not look away and could only witness the cold and cruel fact. Following Mr. Qian's last struggle and cry, the dagger in Lin Xiaofeng's hand was like a biting cold light, piercing people's hearts under the dim candlelight. He sternly announced that he would continue to interrogate the remaining hostages, and threatened to dump one body every half hour as a warning. As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xiaofeng strode away from the west building, his back looking firm and lonely in the swaying light and shadow.
Feng Lindu watched all this dumbfounded, his heart full of fear and confusion, while Liang Huankun hurriedly stepped forward to comfort him and persuaded him not to worry too much. After all, everything Lin Xiaofeng did was to find out the truth and safeguard justice.
Sha Chenglu saw Lin Xiaofeng walking out of the west building and immediately stepped forward to ask for details. Lin Xiaofeng bluntly stated that the number of thieves was actually inconsistent with the previous report. He believed that behind this was a conspiracy by the thieves to delay time and wait for an opportunity to find the Qian family's secret bank vault. Sha Cheng woke up from a dream after listening to the recording. He was deeply contemptuous of the greed and cunning of the thieves. At the same time, he was surprised at how Lin Xiaofeng could escape so easily in such a dangerous environment. Lin Xiaofeng explained that it was precisely because of the division among the bandits due to food shortage that he was able to take advantage of the chaos and escape from prison.
However, Lin Xiaofeng did not relax his vigilance because of his short-lived victory. Instead, he decided to investigate in depth and be sure to find the exact location of the bank. Sha Chenglu suggested with concern that Lin Xiaofeng take a short rest before taking action, but Lin Xiaofeng firmly refused and vowed to launch an investigation immediately. So, he asked Ming Congliang to explore the secret of the bank together. Although Sha Chenglu knew that he did not have specific information about the bank and had only superficial trading contacts with the Qian family, he could only silently cooperate with Lin Xiaofeng's actions.
At this moment, Dafu Hai, the headhunter, found Sha Chenglu privately. He suspected that Lin Xiaofeng was actually a spy sent by Beijing to thoroughly investigate the accounts, and proposed to take this opportunity to eliminate Lin Xiaofeng to ensure his own safety. After hearing this, Sha Chenglu severely reprimanded Hai Dafu for his reckless ideas, warned him not to act rashly, and instructed him to report it immediately if he found any evidence that was not conducive to his own side.
In order to ease the tense atmosphere, Sha Chenglu held a banquet in honor of Lin Xiaofeng. The two exchanged glasses at the wine table, and Lin Xiaofeng revealed for the first time the real reason why the imperial envoy inspected the place - the Xunliu case revealed the seriousness of official corruption, and the imperial court specially sent him to inspect various places to uncover the truth. Although Sha Chenglu felt unprecedented pressure, he still maintained a calm and calm posture, calmly responding to the profound meaning of Lin Xiaofeng's every word.
During the dinner, Lin Xiaofeng proposed that the city gates should be opened in due course, believing that the bandits had nowhere to hide and closing the city for a long time would only exacerbate the hardship of the people's lives. Sha Chenglu had many concerns about this. He was worried that the bandits might bring greater harm to innocent people if they were on the run, so he insisted on not opening the city for the time being. Lin Xiaofeng understood the kindness behind Sha Chenglu's move, expressed respect for him, and raised his glass to pay tribute to Sha Chenglu. The two toasted together again, and the superficial harmony concealed the ups and downs in their hearts.
Soon after, Ming Congliang led everyone back in a hurry. They were all panting and excited, and they seemed to have gained something. Their return heralded that this cat-and-mouse game was about to usher in a new turning point.
Ming Congliang confessed to everyone present without reservation that he had found a secret place that was very likely to hide the bank. As soon as this statement came out, it was like a ground-shattering shock. Lin Xiaofeng and Sha Chenglu suddenly stood up when they heard it. His bright eyes instantly focused on Ming Congliang, eagerly asking for his specific location. Ming Congliang spoke unhurriedly, revealing that the mysterious secret room was cleverly hidden under the rockery, and that people had been sent to tightly seal and guard it. After hearing the news, Lin Xiaofeng made a quick decision and decided to go to find out what was going on in person. At the same time, he arranged for Sha Chenglu to stay in the west building to ensure the safety of the place. He also specially appointed the headhunter Hai Dafu to lead more than 200 elite officers and soldiers to accompany him as a guard. A large group of people arrived at the entrance to the secret room, and saw that the stone door was hidden in the rockery, completely natural, and Ming Congliang's method of cracking the mechanism was breathtaking, as if it was the most exquisite magic show in the world. Faced with the stone door that could not be opened with a key, everyone used all their strength and took turns to go into battle, wielding hammers and axes and striking violently. After some arduous efforts, they finally shook the rock-solid door. The door opens, and inside is a deep and winding passage. After twisting and turning, the front suddenly opens up, and the eyes are filled with mountains of gold and silver jewelry. They are dazzling and dazzling, like treasures in myths appearing in the world!
Lin Xiaofeng was stunned when he was in this glittering treasure house. He roughly estimated that the wealth he saw far exceeded tens of millions of taels of silver, and was even several times richer than the Jingjiang treasury. The people around him were all shocked by the spectacular sight in front of them, with emotions of wonder and greed intertwined in their hearts. However, Lin Xiaofeng always remained sober and calm, knowing that the ledger was the key to unlocking all mysteries. During this period, he quietly paid attention to Hai Dafu's every move, trying to figure out his inner motives and possible changes.
In order to prevent any unexpected situation from happening, Lin Xiaofeng decisively ordered his subordinates to closely guard the exit of the secret room. When the entire team of officers and soldiers lined up, he held a heavy gold brick in his hand and asked everyone a question that struck a chord - what do they think about gold and silver? How is Cai Bao's relationship? At first, everyone looked at each other, and no one dared to respond directly. But as the atmosphere gradually relaxed, some people shyly confessed their love for gold and silver. In response, Lin Xiaofeng not only appreciated his honesty, but also gave the man the gold brick in his hand as a reward without hesitation. This move was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples. People's desires gradually surfaced, and the scene was on the verge of getting out of control.
At this moment, Hai Dafu suddenly spoke up to remind everyone that these mountains of gold belonged to the Qian family. These words were like a handful of cold water poured onto a hot fire, and the originally heated and boiling atmosphere instantly solidified. However, Lin Xiaofeng was not affected by this. He raised the burning torch and let the golden light illuminate the gold brick in his hand, attracting everyone's attention again. He walked leisurely among the crowd, sowing discord with his words, and used his provocative words to further stimulate their yearning for gold and silver. Although Hai Dafu tried to break this confusing situation, he was ultimately unable to stop Lin Xiaofeng's cunning and determined pace. He invisibly controlled the overall situation and imprinted his will deeply into everyone's hearts.
Lin Xiaofeng's eyes wandered over the dazzling gold and silver treasures. He faced the officers and soldiers standing like a forest, took a deep breath of cold air, and his majestic and slightly cunning eyes clicked on each face one by one. He asked: "Brothers, have you ever seen such a mountain of gold, silver and jewelry?" There was a dull and determined response from the crowd: "Never." Lin Xiaofeng's lips slightly raised a sarcastic smile, and then said: "Not only you These strong men have never seen such huge wealth in their lives, and I have never been lucky enough to see it. The Qian family is just a family of merchants. How can they amass such a shocking thing? This is obviously the blood and sweat of the people. Fat!"
Lin Xiaofeng pressed forward step by step, swaying people's hearts with his sincere words: "Even if you risk your life here to protect Qian's family for five days, how can they reward you with an extra penny and a half after rescuing Qian's family?" After the words fell, the surroundings echoed. A firm and decisive voice of denial.
Lin Xiaofeng denounced social injustice and spoke passionately: "Those businessmen treat you like slaves. They come and go as soon as they are called. How is it any different from abandoned worn-out shoes? You are hard-blooded men with military backgrounds. How can you endure this?" Treated with such contempt!" He looked sad and looked back on his family's past: "What I despise the most is this kind of businessman who does nothing to produce and just enjoys the success. Let me tell you, although my father started his career as a civil servant, he is also a businessman. We have the same military roots and the same aspirations.”
Lin Xiaofeng used his superb language skills to skillfully weave words, intertwining the temptation of gold and silver jewelry with the indignation at the disparity between rich and poor. It was like fire thrown into a raging fire, instantly igniting the passion deep in the hearts of everyone present. Ming Congliang stared at the side in astonishment, recalling that when he first met Lin Xiaofeng, he learned that his ancestors had a background as thieves, and couldn't help but secretly speculate about this gentleman's complicated and unpredictable life experience. Hai Dafu listened to Lin Xiaofeng's impassioned speech, and his heart was filled with ups and downs. He was confused that Lin Xiaofeng seemed to be trying to get his hands on the bank, and the soldiers around him were filled with indignation and excitement.
Hai Dafu warned everyone with a serious expression: "Master Lin, we are here to carry out the imperial mission and save the lives of the Qian family." However, Lin Xiaofeng looked dissatisfied when he heard this, knowing that Hai Dafu had destroyed himself twice. plan layout, did not answer this, walked straight to the piles of gold bricks, and said in a steady but powerful voice: "We only live on a meager salary every month, and we live frugally just to pursue the dream of wealth. , do you know how those rich people accumulate wealth? The way of business is not all about hard work, but also about connections and fraud. I am afraid that 90% of these gold and silver treasures are from unknown sources!"
Lin Xiaofeng further comforted his subordinates: "You have worked hard for half your life, but in the end what you get is just a small profit, not even as good as the slaves raised in the merchant's home. And you deserve a share of the gold and silver in this room!" Today I have appointed someone new and I don’t want to treat you with any kindness, but I promise that all the gold and silver I took today will belong to you. No matter what happens in the future, I will bear all the consequences. All brothers can be witnesses!"
Faced with these extremely inflammatory words, everyone's breathing quickened, and their fiery eyes focused on the glittering gold and silver. Lin Xiaofeng's words seemed to have magic power and were deeply imprinted in everyone's heart. Upon seeing this, Hai Dafu panicked and tried to leave the scene, but was stopped by Ming Congliang and others in time, warning him not to act without authorization. In desperation, Hai Dafu could only retreat to where he was and loudly warned everyone not to violate laws and disciplines, emphasizing that this might lead to severe punishment of beheading, and questioning Lin Xiaofeng's true identity and the motives behind it.
Lin Xiaofeng angrily refuted Hai Dafu, pointing out that the brothers had been fighting for several days through life and death, so what's wrong with saving the Qian family and getting a few hundred taels of gold? He took out the imperial edict on investigating the salt merchants with the royal seal in his hand. The evidence was conclusive and could be checked at any time if there were any doubts. He once again gave everyone a choice: whether to obtain gold or silver depends entirely on the balance in their own hearts.
After some inciting encouragement from Lin Xiaofeng, the crowd finally couldn't hold back anymore and rushed towards gold and silver jewelry. Greed, desire, comparison psychology and the blind obedience effect are intertwined, and the situation has once again fallen out of control. Lin Xiaofeng stood calmly and watched the changes. It wasn't until everyone's fanatical mood subsided a little that he began to think deeply: Although there is countless gold and silver, how to use it rationally is the key. After all, things are not what they used to be, and his responsibilities and needs to be considered The problems far exceed those of the small county magistrate era.
Lin Xiaofeng slowly walked towards the controlled Hai Dafu, and calmly took out an account book from his arms, mockingly revealing the fact that Sha Chenglu sent Hai Dafu to monitor him, and speculated that Sha Chenglu was afraid that the contents of the account book would be detrimental to his interests. His own evidence of guilt, so he wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of himself. When everyone was frantically snatching gold and silver, Lin Xiaofeng was used to this scene, but his inner focus had already shifted to more important matters. In the midst of this chaos, he calmly thought about how to make further moves in the game of power, and how to transform the gold and silver treasures in front of him into real political capital and strength basis.
Hai Dafu was so anxious that he was sweating like beads, his face was red, and it was difficult to speak as if his throat was blocked. He struggled to squeeze out a few words: "Mr. Lin, this is a joke, it is absolutely not true!" Lin Xiaofeng heard this, and the corner of his mouth He raised his head slightly and responded with a chuckle: "Whether it's true or not, you are already in danger today. I hate people who spread rumors and slander behind my back the most, but you dare to slander me in person. The time has come for you to live or die." After falling, he carefully put the account book back into his arms, turned around and walked back to the pile of gold and silver, coldly watching the scene of everyone frantically fighting for the treasure.
Upon seeing this, Ming Congliang immediately approached Hai Dafu and warned sternly: "You are dead! My master is meticulous and decisive in killing. You must be careful what you say in the future!" Suddenly he noticed a sharp gaze from afar, Ming Congliang Liang dodged and hid in a corner alertly. The battle for gold and silver came to an end quickly, and everyone left loaded with gold and jade. Although the heavy gold bars in their hands pressed against their hands, they could not hide the smiles on their faces and the excitement in their hearts, which could not subside for a long time.
Hai Dafu took advantage of the chaos to break free and shouted to the crowd: "Brothers, don't believe this man. He is greedy for money and wants to drag you into committing crimes! Follow me and join Mr. Sha, and there will be a big reward waiting for you!" However, his cry was not enough. It didn't resonate, so he was subdued again and a gold bar was forced into his mouth. When Lin Xiaofeng caught a glimpse of this scene, a contemptuous smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, knowing that the gold and silver wealth had been deeply imprinted on everyone's hearts at this moment, and it would be difficult for them to let go easily.
Lin Xiaofeng said sincerely: "You have followed Sha Chenglu for many years, but have you ever had such a windfall? Now that I first arrived in Yuanhai City, you all became rich overnight. Who is the truly trustworthy person?" A soldier in the crowd was the first to respond. : "We believe in Mr. Lin!" Lin Xiaofeng nodded with satisfaction: "You are absolutely right! You really deserve this wealth. The Qian family has countless silvers. They would rather let it rot than help the people. Only you deserve to enjoy it. This wealth! I am doing justice to God by allocating this wealth."
When the noise subsided, Lin Xiaofeng took out the account book and showed it to everyone: "Please listen, although the property is yours, it is not something you have earned for nothing. This account book records the ironclad evidence that the Qian family bribed Sha Chenglu and colluded with each other! I, The purpose of the imperial court is to thoroughly investigate and deal with official corruption. Now Sha and Qian are corrupt and perverting the law, and their crimes are unforgivable! If anyone can help me arrest Sha Chenglu, the gold obtained today will be your reward!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces instantly turned pale, and they all whispered to each other. Lin Xiaofeng continued to analyze the situation: "The collusion between them has been carefully documented. We can capture Sha Chenglu in one fell swoop and rescue innocent people. If you are unwilling to participate in the operation, you need to return the gold you obtained and treat it as if nothing happened; if If you are willing to act together, you will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold if you succeed!”
Faced with such a situation, the crowd fell into confusion. Everyone knew that Sha Chenglu was powerful in the local area, but they still had doubts about the identity and intentions of this strange Beijing official. When Hai Dafu saw this situation, hope ignited in his heart and he sobbed painfully. Lin Xiaofeng has insight into people's hearts and understands the psychological fluctuations of everyone at this time, so he further uses profit motivation and psychological guidance: "Maybe someone has been forced to join it, but after all, he is not the mastermind, so he only needs to punish the culprit. If he chooses not to participate in the action, he only needs to Just return the gold; if you are willing to fight alongside me, you will be rewarded generously once you succeed."
In this psychological game, everyone's emotions fluctuated like waves, and Lin Xiaofeng quietly observed their reactions. Human nature is often afraid of losing what we already have. Once we gain something, we will be happy for a short time; when we face the possibility of loss, we will be extremely painful. With this method of psychological manipulation, people's choices can be effectively influenced. At this moment, between the pain caused by recovering the gold and the temptation of increasing the bounty, coupled with the weakening of rational thinking caused by physical and mental exhaustion, everyone's inner tendencies gradually emerged.
In the long silence, Hai Dafu's sobs could only be heard echoing in the bank. Finally, a loud declaration broke out from the crowd, and it was the soldier who was the first to get the gold. His face was red, he was so nervous that he could hardly breathe, and he announced loudly: "I am willing to accept a reward of two thousand taels to help Mr. Lin catch that corrupt official Sha Chenglu!" Everyone looked at each other and couldn't help secretly sighing that his greed was extraordinary. generally.
Lin Xiaofeng was surprised by this, but he admired the soldier's courage and his greed for his own advantage. On the surface, he promised to give him a bounty of three thousand taels, but in fact it meant copper coins. However, he was not afraid that the other party was greedy, but that he was not greedy enough. After some questioning, he learned that his name was Zhao Gao. Lin Xiaofeng walked up to talk to him and decided to recommend Zhao Gao as the vanguard of this operation. Zhao Gao approached Lin Xiaofeng uneasily. Lin Xiaofeng put his arms around his shoulders affectionately, pointed at Hai Dafu and asked, "Do you know who he is? What position does he hold in the Yamen?" This power game became more and more intense. A battle involving human hearts, desires and justice begins.
When Zhao Gao heard Lin Xiaofeng's inquiry, a trace of regret flashed through his heart, but he still straightened his back and responded with a firm gaze: "He is Hai Dafu. He is usually both our leader and our catcher." Lin Xiaofeng heard this. After saying this, I sighed secretly in my heart. The laws and reality in this world are often at odds with each other, especially in a remote place like Yuanhai City, where officials violating laws and disciplines are banned like weeds. Hai Dafu plays two roles in one person, and he is obviously the ferocious eagle dog in Sha Chenglu's hands.
Lin Xiaofeng glanced at the people around him and expressed his appreciation for Zhao Gao's behavior of facing desires and pursuing interests: "People should cherish and treat themselves well. This truth is simple but often ignored by the world. If you don't dare to face up to it and strive to improve your own life, , how can we truly benefit the people of the world?" So he kept his promise and gave Zhao Gao a reward of two thousand taels in public, and announced that Zhao Gao would take over the position of leader and arrester from now on. Everyone agreed and shouted in unison. Calling "Hello, big brother", the scene was lively.
Lin Xiaofeng ordered the clothes that symbolized power to be stripped off Hai Dafu's body and put them on Zhao Gao himself. While congratulating Zhao Gao in a low voice, he encouraged him to move forward bravely and not be afraid of difficulties and obstacles. Immediately afterwards, Lin Xiaofeng took out a box filled with bright diamonds and announced that whoever slashed at the sand thief would be rewarded with a diamond. Zhao Gao raised his knife and chopped it down without hesitation. Hai Dafu let out a shrill scream and fell to the ground. Lin Xiaofeng immediately fulfilled his promise and threw out a sparkling diamond as a reward.
Under Lin Xiaofeng's command and dispatch, everyone executed the punishments one after another, and the atmosphere gradually fell into a fanatical and cruel state. Faced with this scene, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't bear it, so he gently put down the box full of diamonds, turned around and told Ming Congliang that after taking Sha Chenglu, he must strictly guard the bank, and personnel must be arranged to count the belongings tomorrow and continue to search. Other incriminating evidence. Lin Xiaofeng seemed quite indifferent to the previous practice of distributing gold and silver to his subordinates, believing that the excess money would eventually return to the public treasury so that the court could better use it for people's livelihood needs.
When Hai Dafu lost his breath and died unexpectedly, the atmosphere at the scene suddenly became extremely tense. Lin Xiaofeng was quick to wit, and cleverly weaved a story about a machine malfunction and accidentally killed Hai Dafu, in order to calm everyone's nervousness. Afterwards, Lin Xiaofeng clearly pointed out the direction of the next action, and Zhao Gao responded loudly. The crowd was excited for a while, like a forest of heroes gathered in a church, and they were very excited.
Lin Xiaofeng described in detail the various situations that may arise when he is about to face Sha Chenglu, predicting that Sha Chenglu will be at the end of his rope. At that time, everyone can take advantage of Sha Chenglu's unpreparedness and capture him together. Everyone temporarily put the gold and silver they had obtained back to their original places, tidied up the team, and prepared to attack with Lin Xiaofeng. Looking at the group of high-morale subordinates in front of him, Lin Xiaofeng nodded with satisfaction and once again emphasized the response strategy when meeting Sha Chenglu, asking everyone to keep their mission in mind and work together. In this way, with complex but determined emotions, the group embarked on this bumpy road of catching thieves and saving people, moving forward resolutely towards unknown dangers and challenges.
More than two hundred officers and soldiers surrounded Lin Xiaofeng like a strong wind and hurried back to the west building, while other soldiers from Yangqu County stood firm around the bank like a rock to prevent new entrants from deviating from their original intentions due to the fire of greed. Sha Chenglu had been waiting anxiously in the hall for a long time. His heart was racing like a river and the sea, and he was anxiously looking forward to the development of things. When Lin Xiaofeng reappeared in everyone's sight holding the account book, Sha Chenglu's expression suddenly changed and he called out Hai Dafu's name hurriedly. However, Lin Xiaofeng signaled his subordinates to carry the blood-stained and weak-breathing Hai Dafu to the center of the crowd. This scene Like a bolt from the blue, Sha Chenglu was horrified. He immediately accused Lin Xiaofeng of forging an imperial edict in an attempt to command his subordinates to subdue him.
However, the surrounding soldiers did not make the slightest move, and their eyes all revealed their trust and awe for Lin Xiaofeng. Zhao Gao was the first to respond to Lin Xiaofeng, and led several brothers to quickly surround Sha Chenglu, with the gleaming blade close to his neck. The remaining soldiers who had not yet gotten their hands on the gold and silver treasures began to tilt their minds after hearing Lin Xiaofeng's promise that as long as they helped capture Sha Chenglu, they would receive a bounty of two thousand taels, and that their future efforts would be rewarded. , gradually gave up his protection and loyalty to Sha Chenglu.
Faced with a situation where he was besieged on all sides, Sha Chenglu saw that people around him were turning against him one after another, and he could only plead for forgiveness from Lin Xiaofeng. But Lin Xiaofeng was ruthless and unmoved. He loudly revealed a shocking fact: the so-called robbers turned out to be spies sent by the imperial court. The essence of everyone's actions today was to jointly make a great contribution to the capture of corrupt officials. After hearing this, Xiang Xiehong and Luo Huajun walked out of the west building, followed by a group of loyal subordinates. Feng Lindu witnessed all this and was extremely shocked by Lin Xiaofeng's ability to control people's hearts and turn things around. Sha Chenglu watched his former colleagues and cronies betray him one by one, knowing full well that the power of the Qian family had faded away like the setting sun, so he could only cry out in grief.
At this critical moment, Lin Xiaofeng revealed the Shang Fang sword in his hand, which symbolized the royal authority, indicating that he had the absolute power granted by the court behind him. In despair, Sha Chenglu still tried to use Jingjiang law to question the legality of Lin Xiaofeng's behavior. Lin Xiaofeng sneered at this and said frankly that his acting style is not limited by secular laws and everything is done according to his heart. Finally, Lin Xiaofeng ordered Sha Chenglu to be sent to a dark and damp prison for interrogation, and warned all his accomplices who colluded with him and the family members of Qian who committed the crime that they would face severe punishment. In endless grief, anger and helplessness, Sha Chenglu had no choice but to let the officers and soldiers take him away and disappear from people's sight. From this moment on, the situation in Yuanhai City has undergone a subversive change. A new era seems to be quietly gestating in the darkness and is about to emerge from the cocoon.
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Overnight, the situation in Yuanhai City changed dramatically. In the dead of night, Lin Xiaofeng indeed led the soldiers to the door of the bank. Although the bounty was not immediately distributed to prevent them from being upset after learning the truth, the soldiers and government officials were still full of joy and waiting for what was to come. . Everyone in Yangqu County was properly arranged to rest around the government office. However, those officials who were not aware of the huge changes last night were shocked to find that they were led directly to work in prison when the dawn of the next day dawned.
Lin Xiaofeng was sitting in the solemn court hall, with the four shining characters "Justice" above his head clearly eye-catching. The people in the hall at this moment were all carefully selected people from Yangqu County, although the number had been reduced. But all of them are extraordinary, pragmatic and capable. After a peaceful night's sleep, Xiang Xiehong appeared next to Lin Xiaofeng in high spirits. Seeing the sparse number of people around him, he couldn't help asking: "Master, what should we do next?" Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment, knowing that the Qian family has a deep foundation, so he answered Said: "It is of course crucial to investigate the case, but the first priority now is to properly handle the series of problems left after the collapse of the Qian family, so as not to affect people's livelihood and tranquility. You must know that the Qian family is running rampant in this city, and its interests have long been It penetrates deeply into every corner, and people's lives are closely related to it. Once the building collapses, it will not be a blessing to the people if there is no new order to be restored in time. "
Faced with the current complicated and volatile situation and the panic among people, Lin Xiaofeng decisively decided to order the officers and soldiers to launch a large-scale purge operation in the city in the name of maintaining public order, completely eradicating the remaining forces of the Qian family and suppressing any possible opposition voices. He repeatedly emphasized: "The charges must be quickly laid on the Qian family and Sha Chenglu to prevent the leakage of the news from causing social unrest." Therefore, he decided to open the Yamen tomorrow to hear the case in person, listen to people's complaints of grievances, and provide justice to the innocent people. To compensate, all the funds needed were withdrawn from the Qian family's treasury, and a part of the money was allocated to appease the people and help them tide over the difficulties. The most critical part of this is to sort out the intricate relationship network of the Qian family in detail to ensure the stability of salt production, so as to grasp the core of the overall situation - stable production and security, and promote local development and prosperity.
Xiang Xiehong listened to Lin Xiaofeng's series of concise and meaningful decisions, and felt both admiration and admiration in his heart. At this time, Lin Xiaofeng proposed to use a gramophone to record the interrogation process. Xiang Xiehong wondered why the traditional recording method was not used. Lin Xiaofeng smiled and did not answer. Frankly, besides being a personal hobby, this may become a precious historical document in the future. Afterwards, he immediately ordered a detailed inventory and verification of the bank property to prevent the loss of assets, and handed the account book to Xiang Xiehong to verify the value of the treasures. Lin Xiaofeng humbly stated that he was not good at financial matters and relied on Lin Taohua's help on a daily basis. Now it is difficult to sort out the situation when he is alone, so he appointed Xiang Xiehong to take on this important task.
Finally, Lin Xiaofeng earnestly warned Xiang Xiehong: "All matters here must be properly handled before reporting to the court. You go back first and make arrangements carefully, and you must act vigorously and resolutely." He also secretly prayed in his heart that he would be successful and famous in the future, and return home with glory. Regarding the recording, Lin Xiaofeng silently thought about it. Even though the current role may be limited, if it can be circulated as historical data in the future, it will be an interesting topic. He firmly demanded that Xiang Xiehong strictly follow his orders without any slack.
In the Palace of Qianqing, Emperor Jingjiang was sitting on the dragon chair, wearing a pair of glasses and concentrating on reviewing the newly submitted memorial by Li Dexian. Standing on the desk was a strangely shaped, pot-bellied glass bottle. The crystal clear bottle reflected the flickering candlelight like ice crystals, forming a sharp contrast with the yellowed memorial. Li Dexian stood respectfully on one side, his eyes attracted by the bottle from time to time, with a thoughtful expression on his face, as if he had glimpsed another world in the bottle.
Although Lin Xiaofeng has left Beijing for a foreign country, Li Dexian has not wasted his time. He personally planned the construction plan in the western suburbs and built greenhouse workshops one after another. In particular, the glass workshop was the first to be erected, becoming a pioneer symbol in this desolate land. The construction site in the western suburbs was in full swing. From scratch, Li Dexian experienced the arduous process of brick by brick, furnace and kiln. From the initial chaos to the gradual straightening out of everything, the pain and hardship contained in it was like being smelted by fire. Generally, it gave him a deeper understanding and experience of the theoretical knowledge in the book.
He pays close attention to the sweating figures of the craftsmen, listening to their conversations, gasps while working, and even the occasional disputes. These trivial daily details flow into his mind like a trickle, making the words buried in ancient books come alive. . Whenever inspiration collides in practice but cannot be recorded in time, Li Dexian will return to his study, study classics, chew on the scenes he has experienced personally, and confirm what he has learned in practice.
After the glass workshop was finally completed and put into production, Li Dexian devoted himself to every aspect, from the selection of raw materials to the shaping of the final glassware, observing its secrets in detail. He even tried blowing glassware himself. Although his cheeks were in unbearable pain from the high temperature the first time he tried it, he managed to produce a few rough yet simple works after persisting several times. This heartfelt emotion drove him to give Lin Xiaofeng the first "work" he made by himself. However, unfortunately, Lin Qing was far away from home at the moment, which inevitably made him feel a little disappointed. But then he thought that if Lin Xiaofeng came back and saw this handmade glassware, he would be very surprised. This thought instantly brought him some relief.
After Emperor Jingjiang carefully read Li Dexian's report, his voice was low and majestic: "It seems that you are in good order. The greenhouse project is expected to be completed next month. I want to know, have your studies been abandoned due to busy government affairs? "After Li Dexian heard this, he nodded resolutely, convinced in his heart that he had not neglected his academic advancement while handling official duties. He continued to report that not only the glass workshop was on track and production was running smoothly, but the greenhouse construction project was also progressing smoothly. He especially emphasized that matters related to people's livelihood must be done personally and checked in detail. Emperor Jingjiang looked at Li Dexian, who was becoming more and more steady in front of him, and couldn't help but smile. He mentioned that if greenhouse technology could be popularized nationwide, it would undoubtedly be a great blessing to the people, but he was also worried about what Lin Xiaofeng was worried about. Cost issues may become a bottleneck for large-scale promotion. Li Dexian deeply agrees with this. He firmly believes that the high cost is due to the immaturity of the process and the lack of scale effect. As long as continuous improvement is made, it is not out of reach to reduce manufacturing costs and achieve nationwide promotion.
Emperor Jingjiang paused briefly when he heard this, then his smile gradually grew, and he expressed his approval for Li Dexian's foresight. He ordered the memorial to be sent to the East Palace for the prince to review before sending it back. He also specifically reminded the prince that as the prince, he should not get too involved in trivial affairs and should grasp the overall situation rather than micromanaging everything.
At this moment, Emperor Jingjiang picked up the pot-bellied glass bottle on the table, played with it, and kindly advised Li Dexian not to get too involved in craftsmanship in the future, so as not to cause criticism from others. After hearing this, Li Dexian felt a sense of grievance in his heart, and was about to defend himself, but was interrupted by Emperor Jingjiang, who urged him to deal with other to-do items as soon as possible.
After the prince withdrew from the Qianqing Palace with humiliation, Emperor Jingjiang stayed alone in the palace, carefully examining the glass bottle in his hand, his eyes shining with satisfaction, and jokingly said to Wang Jingwen beside him, the prince still needs more training to appear more stable and majestic. . Wang Jingwen laughed secretly in his heart, but on his face he agreed and praised the prince for his sincerity and filial piety. It was rare in the world for a royal father and son to be so close to each other. Emperor Jingjiang suppressed the smile on his lips, ordered Wang Jingwen to send the memorial and the supplements to the East Palace, and decided to display the glass bottle in the Qianqing Palace. Wang Jingwen accepted the order and left, feeling secretly happy that today's flattery was just right. He secretly calculated that he could still occupy a favorable position in the court during Lin Xiaofeng's absence.
Li Dexian was about to turn around and step onto the threshold of the East Palace when he saw Ou Zhiyong rushing over and reported nervously: "Your Highness, there is Miss Lin Taohua from Yangqu County outside the palace gate asking for an audience, and she holds Master Lin's token in her hand. "When he heard the name "Lin Taohua", Li Dexian's heart tightened and he secretly thought that Lao Lin's return to his hometown was too efficient. However, he did not ask any more questions and just decisively ordered Lin Taohua to be brought into the palace.
Lin Taohua stepped into the solemn and mysterious hall of the palace for the first time. She looked around, her eyes shining with wonder and novelty. Although the palace appears empty and sparsely populated at night, the majestic, solemn and majestic atmosphere still hits people's hearts like a tide. When she finally arrived at the East Palace, she bowed deeply, and then hurriedly but calmly told a thrilling news: "Your Highness, Yangqu County has suffered a sudden attack, and the culprit has been captured, because the Lord is not here at the moment. , please your Highness to seek justice!" After hearing this, Li Dexian disagreed at first and looked at the seemingly weak woman in front of him with joking eyes. However, when he heard that the attackers were not ordinary bandits, but soldiers and horses under the command of the King of Hanjiang, his face changed. In an instant, the clouds gathered, and the amusement in his eyes disappeared.
What Lin Taohua said was resounding and the truth was undeniable. The captured thieves gritted their teeth and resisted, and only revealed the truth after being tortured. At this moment, Lin Taohua, armed with urgent military information, broke into the palace with determination and frankness, and unabashedly exposed the fact that the Hanjiang King's tribe had crossed the border and invaded Yangqu County. When Li Dexian heard the news, his heart felt like a huge stone falling. It was unbelievable that Yangqu County, which had been peaceful for a long time, could fall into such turmoil. He immediately made the decision to go to Yangqu County to find out the truth in person. He immediately ordered his horses to be prepared, and kept pace with Lin Taohua, heading towards the place where the incident occurred.
Arriving in Yangqu County, the city gate in front of me was dilapidated and the bricks and stones were scattered, as if telling the traces of the war that had just occurred. Li Dexian was filled with doubts, and Lin Taohua explained at the side that the gunfire wounds at the city gate were caused by the enemy's fire attack tactics. He was silent and walked straight into the county town to check on the captured thieves. Asked about where they were imprisoned, Lin Taohua replied: Some prisoners were engaged in labor reform in brick kilns, while others were used in penicillin experiments. When Li Dexian heard these strategies about labor education, although he felt that the methods were harsh, Yangqu County under Lin Xiaofeng's rule was indeed in order, and one had to admit that its governance results were remarkable.
When talking about the treatment of the prisoners, Li Dexian's expression became subtle. Especially regarding the regulations that they could only enjoy two days off a year and undergo collective rehabilitation to prevent suicide, he couldn't help but laugh, which was full of profound meaning. Then, he visited the penicillin experiment site in person and saw that the laboratory was spacious, bright and well-lit, but there was a disgusting rancid smell in the air. Many of the captured private soldiers of the feudal lord were tied to the hospital bed and were undergoing some kind of cruel medical experiment. With sharp eyes, Li Dexian confirmed one by one that these people were indeed well-trained soldiers, which confirmed that every word Lin Taohua said was not fiction.
When his sight touched the prisoners whose wounds were worsening but no one was trying to save them, Li Dexian turned pale and asked, "Why weren't they treated in time?" Lin Taohua immediately called the doctor in white coat in charge of the experiment to ask, who responded coldly: "We are waiting for the wound to deteriorate to a certain extent before treating it." After hearing this cold answer, Li Dexian's heart dropped. He knew that this matter involved the feudal king's private soldiers and had become a time bomb for the country. This must be taken seriously and resolved quickly. He began to think deeply about how to properly handle this crisis, which should not only uphold justice but also take into account the long-term national peace and security.
Li Dexian was shocked when he heard the doctor in white coat's defense and took half a step back involuntarily. The room was filled with a pungent stench and a strong smell of alcohol, and the people around him were behaving abnormally. This sight made him secretly horrified: the so-called "reform through labor" in front of him was probably much harsher than ordinary hard labor! Why did Lao Lin let things develop to such a situation? Do all his subordinates behave like this? Lin Taohua keenly caught Li Dexian's doubts and asked angrily. The white coat suddenly looked panicked and hurriedly explained the safety of penicillin and claimed that she had tried it personally. Now facing many wounded people, she just took this opportunity to verify its efficacy. , and at the same time ensure that professional doctors are present to strictly supervise to ensure that everything is carried out within a safe and controllable range. He also added that Mr. Lin Xiaofeng attaches great importance to the research and development of penicillin, has visited the site many times for guidance and inspection, and regards scientific research as the highest honor for his dedication. However, Lin Taohua retorted: "The spirit of scientific dedication should start from oneself, how can it be imposed on others at will?" Then she asked Li Dexian whether he had fully understood the experimental situation.
Li Dexian looked around, feeling uneasy in his heart like waves. Although the laboratory was as bright as day, the strange and depressing atmosphere, especially the needles scattered on the table, reminded him of Lin Xiaofeng's ruthless side in the dungeon, and he couldn't help but secretly sigh that Yangqu County had such a hidden secret. An incredible place. In an instant, he speculated that Lao Lin's move might have gone off the rails, so he decisively urged everyone to leave the laboratory and decided to go to the county government office to investigate the whole incident in detail.
After arriving at the county government office, all the officials gathered together. Wang Yingchao bluntly pointed out that King Hanjiang might have the intention of usurping the throne.
(End of this chapter)
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