Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Duan Tianlei laughed dumbly. The government was smart and knew to send people to guard here, but this number of people was not enough to squeeze through the teeth.

Yin smiled and said: "Palace Master Wei and Hall Master Liu, take the people to get rid of these losers, and the rest will wait to load the goods on the ship."

Duan Tianlei was not worried. After some calculations, he estimated that it would take one stick of incense to drive away the officers and soldiers, and at most three sticks of incense to transport the goods. In this short time, no one should be able to stop him unless there were soldiers and generals descending from heaven.

Sure enough, the guarding officers and soldiers were killed by the water bandits before they could even hold on for half a stick of incense.

The bandits laughed and split up to carry the goods.

Duan Tianlei was feeling proud when he suddenly heard rolling thunder coming from behind him. He was frightened and turned around hurriedly to look.

But I saw smoke and dust rising on the official road, and two to three hundred men and horses swept in like a violent wind, arriving in an instant!

Jia Cong? ! Duan Tianlei reacted instantly and shouted: "Hall masters, lead your troops to meet the enemy, they are few in number!"

"Yes!" The bandits were very brave. With their numbers ten times greater than the official army, they actually launched a counterattack with knives.

Jia Cong sneered, looking for death!

"kill!"

Before he could finish his words, Tie Liu had already fiercely charged into the group of water bandits.

All the soldiers came with hatred, Mo Dao slashed wildly, and they were invincible. In an instant, they cut through the enemy's formation. When they reined in their horses and turned around, they saw a road of flesh and blood, dividing the water bandits into two halves.

It only took one charge to kill the ferocious spirit of the water bandits. They were just a group of grass-roots soldiers. They had never seen such majestic regular cavalry before. They were immediately discouraged and all looked at Duan Tianlei.

Duan Tianlei's scalp was also numb, and he shouted with a nine-ring ghost-headed sword: "Brothers, kill them! They are the only ones!"

The bandits looked at the hundreds of carts of goods that had not yet been transported away, and they mustered up their courage and roared to kill again. What they don’t know is that sometimes numbers of people don’t do much good.

Jia Cong sneered: "Yuanba leads people to guard the dock and no one is allowed to board the ship! The rest of you, follow me to kill!"

"Yes!"

The two hundred cavalrymen again followed Jia Cong and charged back.

I heard screams and screams on the pier, two rounds of charges, and four to five hundred water bandits were wiped out in an instant.

And the cavalry was almost unscathed.

Duan Tianlei looked at the blood and mud on the ground and wanted to give up. Although he was reluctant to part with the looted goods, he was a decisive and powerful man in the world and had an idea in his mind.

"Hall Master Wei, Hall Master Liu, Hall Master Bai, and Hall Master Ou, lead the brothers to resist, and I will fight to find a way out!"

Duan Tianlei shouted loudly and led two hundred of his men to the dock where Zhang Yuanba was guarding.

There are only a few dozen people here. As long as they kill them, who can catch up with me once they get on the boat?

"Don't worry, Gang Leader!" Several hall leaders didn't know it was a scam, and they led more than a thousand people to try their best to stop it.

Jia Cong didn't care about Duan Tianlei and just led his men to charge and kill them repeatedly, smashing the water bandits into pieces and completely defeating them.

"The wind is tight, pull!"

Several gang leaders looked back and saw that the gang leader and others were firmly blocked in the open space in front of the dock.

A big man holding two hammers easily smashed everyone's heads. He no longer dared to resist, roared, and ran away to the left and right.

Nowadays, they don't want to take a boat, let alone think about making a fortune. If they can jump into the river to save their lives, it will be regarded as their ancestors' good deeds.

"Chase!" Jia Cong waved his hand, and his soldiers divided into two groups to pursue him. He led his men to kill Duan Tianlei.

"Old Wei, run!" Hall Master Liu called out, wishing his parents had two legs.

How can two legs run faster than four legs? Hearing the water bandits behind him being overtaken by cavalry, screaming and being stabbed to death one by one, the gang leaders who were running in front felt relieved. According to this killing speed, it is enough for them to run. Go to the river.

As long as they can get into the water, they, the water bandits, can survive.

After running for more than a hundred feet and bypassing the river embankment, the hall masters heard the call of the river water lapping against the shore.

Unexpectedly, another group of men and horses came to kill them from the diagonal stab. Dozens of horsemen, wearing black flying fish uniforms, led by a general wielding a Zen staff, took the lead to block their escape route.

But I saw that man waving his Zen staff and speeding towards me. The two hall masters looked at each other, arousing ferocity, and each raised their weapons to welcome him.

"Well done!"

Kongxing shouted loudly, and the Zen staff danced like a windmill. With the power of the horse, he swung it lightly and knocked the person away like a polo. He fell to the ground with a bang, his muscles and bones were broken, and he was obviously dead.

With a backhand wave of the Zen staff, as fast as lightning, the other person's head had already been shoveled into the sky by the square blade.

Another route of broken troops, also led by two hall masters, rushed toward the river.

Suddenly, there was a whooshing sound, and arrows came like rain, shooting towards the face, instantly knocking the dozen or so people running in the front to the ground.

Hall Master Bai is very skilled in martial arts. He opened his two swords and danced like a wind and rain. He protected his upper body and ran wildly.

Hall Master Ou didn't have this skill, but he was more powerful. He picked up a corpse and held it in front to use it as a shield.

Jie Hui was ordered to rush back and happened to encounter this scene.

Seeing that Jia Cong's soldiers were chasing the bandits, they rushed over to help.

Watching the two people at the front running towards the river, Xie Hui rode up to catch up, bow and arrow ready.

Several arrows were shot out, as fast as meteors, directly hitting Hall Master Bai's double swords.

After a few dings, the arrows flew away.

Hall Master Bai felt that the arrow was so powerful that his arms were sore and numb.

Suddenly hearing the sharp sound of breaking through the air again, Hall Master Bai hurriedly rolled to the ground. Before he could get up, four or five more arrows shot at him, covering every vital part of his body.

Hall Master Bai was horrified and barely blocked with his sword, only blocking two arrows.

Tsk tsk tsk! His heart, lower abdomen, and ribs had been penetrated by arrows.

Hall Master Ou was thankful that he had a "shield" so he didn't have to dodge and block. He walked faster, running with his life against the corpse filled with arrows.

Suddenly, his body was shaken, and half of the bloody arrowhead emerged from his chest. Someone actually shot the arrow through the corpse, and then shot himself through.

What a powerful arrow!

My feet went weak and I could no longer stand, so I knelt down on the river beach.

Whizzing! Several more arrows were fired, pinning the corpse to him.

Only then did Hall Master Ou know what Hall Master Bai had gone through just now.

Jia Cong stared at Duan Tianlei coming for him. Although he didn't know who he was, the way he gave orders suggested that he must be a big fish.

The spear was like the judge's pen of the Lord of Hell. It was scattered in all directions, and Zhang Yuanba attacked from the front and back, easily killing all the water bandits.

In an instant, he was in front of Duan Tianlei.

Duan Tianlei was taking a tough approach. Seeing that Zhang Yuanba was ten times tougher than him, he didn't dare to charge hard, so he roared and struck Jia Cong with his knife.

If he could capture this kid, he would be able to escape as a hostage.

As soon as he engaged in the battle, Duan Tianlei's heart sank to the bottom of the water. He felt that the force coming from the opponent's gun was no less than that of the bronze hammer, and the gun technique was mysterious and changeable, and he didn't know how to deal with it.

In desperation, Duan Tianlei quickly took a few steps back, dodged into the crowd, and used his men's bodies to cover themselves.

Jia Cong gained the upper hand and refused to give up. He urged his horse forward and locked it tightly. The cold light from the tip of his spear fell like rain on his nine-ring ghost-headed sword. It was like rain hitting banana trees, and the sound of gold and iron clashing could be heard endlessly. .

After all, Duan Tianlei was the leader of the gang. He was proficient in martial arts. He gritted his teeth and used all his strength. His broadsword danced into a ball of rotten silver, resisting the all-pervasive rain of bullets. The golden ring on the sword jingled with increasing urgency.

Jia Cong sneered slightly, and the shadow of the gun in the sky suddenly disappeared. The power of the gun suddenly slowed down and stopped firing.

Duan Tianlei slashed the air with his sword, and he was immediately in a panic. The feeling of losing control from using the wrong force made him feel so sad that he wanted to vomit blood.

At this moment, Duan Tianlei felt the tip of the spear rapidly enlarge in front of his eyes, like a poisonous snake coming out of its hole, fierce and sharp, instantly penetrated the gap of his sword, and pierced his throat fiercely.

laugh! Jia Cong withdrew his big gun, and a large amount of blood spurted out. Uh... Duan Tianlei glanced at him bitterly, exhaled his last breath, and collapsed.

Jia Cong snorted coldly, turned around and shouted: "Kill all these thieves!"

"Yes!"

All the soldiers roared in unison, brandishing their swords like the wind and murderous intent like the tide, killing the bandits who had their will taken away like slaughtering chickens and dogs.
-

"Thanks to my brother who arrived in time to turn the tide, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous." Gu Tao came to the door in person, holding Jia Cong's hand tightly, with tears in his eyes.

In this battle, Jia Cong wiped out all the bandits and regained his property, which not only saved the new law but also saved his political life.

"It's nothing to do with me, so why do you need to say thank you, Master Tai? How is the situation in the city?" Jia Cong said with a smile.

Gu Tao said: "Hundreds of houses were burned, hundreds of civilians died, and dozens of large households were robbed. The situation is now acceptable."

Jia Cong nodded. Although many people died, he also avenged the people, which relieved a lot of grievances. If the thieves were allowed to leave safely, the people's grievances would be broken.

"Next, I'm afraid that Shilin, Jiangnan officialdom, and Kedao Yanguan will vigorously impeach and criticize this matter. In the final analysis, it is the Yamen's failure to prevent it. Such evil things are unprecedented since the founding of the country."

"I have ordered people to build a Jingguan outside the city to vent their anger for the people. I think it can alleviate some of the urgent needs. If we can find the mastermind behind this case, we can turn the crisis into an opportunity." Jia Cong said.

Gu Tao nodded slowly and said: "This matter is obviously a collusion between internal and external parties to suddenly cause chaos in an attempt to interfere with the overall situation of the new law. In the worst case, I can be pulled down.

Judging from the thief's intention to rob my brother's family, it is obvious that he wants to force him to submit. Without the deterrence of the Jin Yiwei, the new law will be difficult to implement. "

Jia Cong smiled coldly and said: "I have issued a strict order, and the guards in royal robes will step up the investigation. How can such a big thing be hidden? Besides, there are only a few suspects. Once verified, I will make them regret their lives." "

Gu Tao said solemnly: "It's all up to me. No matter who is involved, kill! Not killing is not enough to deter stubbornness. If there is any responsibility, I will bear it."

Now that his royal flag is in Jia Cong's hands, he has no choice but to take responsibility.

Jia Cong said: "Don't worry, Zhi Tai. Cong has always judged cases impartially. Even if he goes to the Jinluan Palace, what should he be afraid of? If someone participates in the impeachment, it will be nothing more than a quarrel. Anyway, it won't be the first time."

Gu Tao smiled and said: "I have always heard that my brother is calling the wind and lightning in the capital, turning the rain and clouds. He has a wide circle of friends and has the Sacred Heart, so naturally he is not afraid.

Brother, I've been here for a long time, and I don't know anyone in the court, so I'm inevitably a little uneasy. "

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Don't be too modest when making a platform. How can the two central ministers, Huo and Dong, not speak for you? With the endorsement of two prime ministers, who else do you need to recognize?"

The two laughed.

Just as he was talking, he suddenly heard a report coming from his servants, saying that Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jinling, was visiting.

"Let him wait." Jia Cong waved his hand.

Gu Tao's eyes moved and he smiled and said, "I heard that this Jinling prefect was recommended by your family for reinstatement?"

Jia Cong nodded: "It is true."

"This person has always been close to the old party and is not interested in the new law. It would be of great help if we could win him over." Gu Tao said with a smile.

Jia Cong said: "Cong do your best."

Seeing that he didn't understand what he meant, Gu Tao explained: "Brother, this investigation of the Jinling bandit case will inevitably lead to a big fight. Instead of you and me doing it, why not let him do it?

When he came to be in charge of the Jinling area, it was his job to detect rape and theft.

Secondly, if he wants to take advantage of us to take a further step, he must give him a certificate of surrender.

As a prefect, he cannot absolve himself of the blame for the occurrence of such bad banditry in Jinling for the third time. All I need to do is to show some reproach...forgive him for not daring to refuse. "

Jia Cong suddenly realized it and said: "My lord has foresight and considers defeat before calculating victory. Cong admires him. If this case backfires in the future, he can be used as a shield."

Gu Tao smiled and said: "I am a smart man, I can tell you everything at once. I take my leave."

"Sir, walk slowly."

As Jia Cong sent Gu Tao away, he was secretly shocked. These politicians were sophisticated and could kill people by laughing and joking. You should be careful when dealing with them to avoid being sold and paid for by others.

Jia Yucun came in with the servants.

"Brother, my power is unparalleled. He wiped out the bandits in an instant and saved Jinling from fire and water. I'm here to express my gratitude." Jia Yucun stepped forward quickly and cupped his hands.

"How can I say thank you for such a trivial matter? Brother, please take a seat. Serve tea!"

The two sat down and exchanged pleasantries.

Jia Cong said bluntly: "Brother, are you here to teach me?"

Jia Yucun was a little uncomfortable with Jia Cong's straightforward way of talking. He paused slightly and said with a smile: "I have some official business to report here."

Jia Cong asked curiously: "What does local government affairs have to do with Cong?"

Jia Yucun smiled and said: "I don't dare to bother my brother with other secular affairs. But for this matter, my brother has no intention of inserting willows into the shade. The place has benefited a lot, so I have to report it to my brother Ming and thank him in person."

"What's the matter?"

"Since Brother Shi came to Ning, the leading wealthy families such as Jia, Shi, Wang, Xue, Zhen, Chu, etc., seeing Brother Shi's golden face, have all changed their ways and asked for new laws.

So far, more than 50,000 acres of land have been cleared, and there are still many more to come. In the future, the local wealth will be abundant. Isn't it the work of the elder brother? "Jia Yucun said with a smile.

Jia Cong waved his hand and said with a smile: "If the new law is successful, it is because the Jiangnan Governor's Yamen deployed it well and the officials of the prefecture and county worked together. Cong Wan did not dare to plunder the beauty of others, so he deserves this reputation."

"It should be done, it should be done. Without the intimidation of Brother Shi, these wealthy families would not be able to sleep well." Jia Yucun said.

Jia Cong smiled faintly, changed the subject, and said, "Brother, what do you think of this banditry? Although the thief has been eliminated, there is something fishy about this matter."

Jia Yucun nodded and said: "That's true. Considering that Jinling is heavily guarded, how come thousands of thieves entered the city and we were so unaware of it?"

This is unprecedented. Thinking about it, it would never have happened if there was no collusion between the inside and outside. "

"Take it! To be honest, Governor Gu just left, and when he talked about this matter, he had the same opinion as Brother Shi, who is also a hero.

Jinling is the heart of Jiangnan. If such a major case occurs, Jinyiwei will report the truth and alert the court. Once the blame comes from above, my brother, Shoumu Jinling, will bear the brunt.

Even if he is not convicted, it is reasonable to get a low-level exam in the annual examination because the place is unstable and banditry is fierce. Brother Shi, you need to make plans in advance. "Jia Cong said with a look of concern.

Jia Yucun has been secretly observing the situation recently and feels that the new law is the general trend, and he has long been interested in switching to the new party.

Now that I heard this, I felt a chill in my heart. If I got a lower grade in the annual examination, I would definitely not be able to serve as an official anymore. Moreover, for such a major case, the court would be held strictly accountable, and there was no question whether the head would be saved or not.

He hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "I come from a poor family. Fortunately, thanks to the support of Zheng Gong and Yanyuan, I am what I am today. I dare not forget my great kindness and virtue in one day. I also hope that my brother will give me some guidance. If I can survive, I will live like a dog and a horse for the rest of my life." labor."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Although this matter is dangerous, it may not be without improvement. The imperial court will certainly want to pursue the case, because the thieves have disrupted the important land of Jinling and killed many people. The people are frightened and resentful of the officials."

"What Brother Shi said is absolutely true." Jia Yucun nodded hurriedly.

"If the truth can be found out as soon as possible, the people behind the scenes can be punished severely, and the victims can be properly appeased and compensated, wouldn't the people be grateful? Not only is the crime innocent, but it is a meritorious service. It is indispensable to have a clear criminal name and a good reputation in catching theft."

With this merit and the new law's political achievements, and Governor Gu's recommendation, the eldest brother will be promoted to the imperial capital, and rise to the top. Isn't it as easy as turning his back? "Jia Cong said.

What he said made Jia Yucun very happy. Not only did he keep his official title, he was also unexpectedly happy. He stood up and bowed to the ground.

"Brother's words woke up the dreamer. I really don't know how to repay brother's kindness. I only wish to be devastated in repayment just in case. But our government is really powerless to investigate and handle such a major case."

Jia Cong said with a smile: "This matter is also the responsibility of Jin Yiwei. Brothers should do their best. Brother Shi can help from the side."

Jia Yucun was overjoyed and said: "Everything depends on the instructions. I will follow my brother's lead."

Jia Cong waved his hand: "I'm serious in my words. How can I be honest? In this case, brother, take my name card and go to the Governor's Mansion. I can't help with officialdom matters. I need to ask the master to make more mistakes."

Jia Yucun burst into tears of gratitude, bowed his hands repeatedly, and said with emotion: "Brother, I will repay you with my life for the kindness of my life."

"We are brothers from the same clan, but this statement seems to be misunderstood."

Jia Cong smiled and dismissed him. After meeting the guests, he returned to the inner hall to look for the treasure hairpin. (End of chapter)