"PS: Alas, the end is more than 700 words, and it is more than 12 o'clock."

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In the battle of Xiangcun, although Zhao Yu successfully killed Yang Tong, it also caused a lot of losses to the Black Tiger Village, such as Wu Sheng and Feng Xing, the two owners of the village died on the spot, although Liu Heimu, Zhang Feng, and Ma Hong escaped, but their men also suffered heavy losses, so that Liu Heimu needed the support of Chu Jiao to have a chance to compete for the position of the owner of the village.

According to conservative estimates, the number of people lost in Heihuzhai that night was close to 300, which can be called the largest loss since it was surrounded and suppressed by officers and soldiers.

Although this casualty figure is within Zhao Yu's estimation range, it is undeniable that after such a huge casualty figure, it has become more and more difficult for Black Tiger Village to confront the officers and soldiers head-on.

Therefore, in the face of the current officers and soldiers pressing step by step, Zhao Yu decided to shift his strategy.

The so-called strategic transfer, to put it bluntly, is to escape, in other words, it is just to take care of the emotions of the people in the cottage, after all, there are indeed some guys with hard heads in his cottage, such as Niu Heng.

If Zhao Yu directly said to Niu Heng to run away, then the fool would definitely say, "What are you afraid of?" We're going to do it with them, and we're going to die. ”

But now Zhao Yu said that the strategy was shifting, Niu Heng scratched his head and thought about it for a long time, and finally expressed his support.

Similar to Niu Heng, there is also Wang Qing, the difference is that the former is Zhenhan, and the latter is too much about face, but when everyone in the house supports Zhao Yu's strategic transfer, although Wang Qing feels that escaping is too hot, but he has no choice but to keep silent, after all, he is not stupid, he is not stupid enough to confront the officers and soldiers under the mountain head-on with only those people under his hands, otherwise he would have parted ways with Zhao Yu's gang a long time ago, how could he still sit here with anger?

But before the strategic shift, there is one issue that must be considered in advance, and that is the women and children in the cottage.

Most of the women are the wives of the thieves in the village, and some of them are women who were snatched from the villages under the mountain when Yang Tong was in charge. And among them, that is, children, are mainly the children and grandchildren of the thieves in the village, such as Xu Fen, Deng Bai, Deng Song, Ning Niang, etc., who have a good relationship with Zhao Yu and Jingnu.

Zhao Yu didn't think that these women and children would become a burden, he was just worried that these people would not be able to keep up with the villagers, and there would be fearless casualties or even sacrifices when the rest of the villagers made a transfer strategy.

Therefore, Zhao Yu decided to let these women and children surrender to the officers and soldiers, and let the officers and soldiers take care of them on their behalf.

"Are you sure?"

After listening to Zhao Yu's proposal, Chen Mo asked with a frown.

Zhao Yu nodded and said, "Officers and soldiers will not kill women and children indiscriminately, otherwise how is it different from thieves?" The most the government can do is to send them out, but as long as we are alive, Kunyang County will not dare to act rashly. …… It will be as short as three months, and as long as the beginning of spring next year, we can return to Kunyang and bring these women and children back. ”

Speaking of this, he glanced at the people in the hall and explained, "Of course, I just suggest this, not force it. Personally, I think that these women and children temporarily fall into the hands of officers and soldiers, but it is safer than following them to break through and transfer, after all, the sword has no eyes, let alone when the officers and soldiers kill the red eye, if you insist on taking them to break through together, of course I will not prohibit it, I only ask that the rest of the people should not be dragged down at that time. ”

When he said this, he was mainly aimed at Chen Mo, Wang Qing, Chu Jiao, Zhang Feng, and Ma Hong, after all, these four people had the most women and children, as for Liu Heimu...... He could even leave behind Yang Tong, who treated him like a brother, and Zhao Yu naturally wouldn't expect the women and children he cared about.

Seeing that everyone was hesitant, Zhao Yu said again: "You guys should think about it, or you can let them make their own decisions." I can tell them that it's not that we abandon them, and that we will bring them back at the latest next spring. …… If they insist on following us to break through, then ...... It's okay, but when we fall, we'll allocate some of our energy to protect them. ”

Everyone nodded thoughtfully.

Before the meeting ended, Zhao Yu emphasized: "Hurry up, everyone, it is best to make a decision before the officers and soldiers start tomorrow morning. ”

Everyone in the room nodded again.

After the meeting, Zhao Yu asked Jingnu to invite Xu Fen.

I have to say that after Xu Fen came to Zhao Yu's house, he looked a little twisted, and even a little restrained.

Thinking about it, how could Xu Fen expect that Zhao Yu, who he once regarded as his younger brother, would actually become the owner of the village?

Seeing Xu Fen's restraint, Zhao Yu smiled and teased: "What? Brother Xu Fen doesn't recognize me? ”

Xu Fen is still a teenager after all, unlike Guo Da, who scratched his head and said with an embarrassed smile when he heard the words: "Ah Hu, you are now the master of the village, I ......"

Looking at Xu Fen's appearance of scratching his head, Zhao Yu shook his head with a smile and said sincerely: "No matter what I become, Ah Jing and I will never forget the brothers in the room...... Oh, and Ning Niang. ”

These words really moved Xu Fen.

Moved, he asked Zhao Yu: "Ah Hu, you called me here, is there something wrong?" ”

Zhao Yu nodded, immediately got to the point, and told Xu Fen about tonight's affair with the leaders in the village, and immediately said to him: "My suggestion is to let Er Deng and Ning Niang be temporarily taken care of by officers and soldiers, they are too young, I am afraid that when they break through, they will panic and run around, and when the time comes, we will not find them, but encounter danger." Rather than this, it is better to let the officers and soldiers take care of it, as long as we are still there, the officers and soldiers of the three counties will never dare to do anything to them. …… For the sake of safety, I hope that Brother Xu Fen will be with them so that they can take care of him. ”

Xu Fen's face showed a solemn look after hearing this, and after thinking for a long time, he nodded and said, "I believe in you, and I will be with them." ”

Zhao Yu smiled and nodded.

In order to dispel the last doubt in Xu Fen's heart, Zhao Yu revealed the matter of Ma Gai to him again: "Ma Gai, the county lieutenant of Kunyang County, he has the handle in our hands. If you encounter any difficulties, such as officers and soldiers bullying you, etc., Brother Xu Fen can find a way to meet him and say to him, 'Although Yang Tong is dead, the contract remains the same', and he will naturally take care of you and so on. …… Of course, if it's not necessary, don't contact him, this Ma Gai will still be of great use in the village in the future, so it's easy not to expose his relationship with us. ”

As soon as he heard that Ma Gai, the county magistrate of Kunyang County, was actually the internal response of their Black Tiger Village, Xu Fen's eyes widened in horror, and he couldn't believe it.

In addition to being shocked, he was also moved by Zhao Yu actually telling him such a big secret, and muttered in disbelief: "Ah Hu, you actually told me such a secret......

Zhao Yu patted Xu Fen's arm and said with a smile: "Aren't we brothers?" According to the world's saying, Brother Xu Fen still has Da Deng and Er Deng, you are my humerus, I am still waiting for Brother Xu Fen and Er Deng to help me in the future? ”

Hearing Zhao Yu's words that were like promises, Xu Fen nodded excitedly.

After Xu Fen left, Zhao Yu sat at the table and pondered, glancing at the quiet girl who was tidying up the sleeper from time to time.

Let the women and children in the village temporarily throw themselves into the officers and soldiers and be taken care of by the officers and soldiers, this is not Zhao Yu's desire to get rid of the burden, he is indeed deliberate.

After all, at the moment, he is in the Black Tiger Village, there are Ishihara and others in the west, and there is the main force of officers and soldiers in the east, if he breaks through under the black light, even if the officers and soldiers do not attack women and children on weekdays, they will not be able to avoid hurting the innocent at this time - after all, no one can expect the officers and soldiers to still have the spare strength to distinguish who can kill and who can't kill at this time, especially when both sides kill the red eye.

After a long time, Zhao Yu whispered: "Jingnu ......"

"Don't say it."

Interrupting Zhao Yu's words, Jingnu turned around and looked at Zhao Yu with bright eyes.

She was smart enough to guess Zhao Yu's thoughts, shook her head and said, "No matter what, Jingnu will not leave the young master." ”

Looking at her determined gaze, Zhao Yu was helpless.

At dawn the next day, Chen Mo, Chu Jiao, Zhang Feng, Ma Hong and others gathered some of the women and children in the village in the open space in the main village to give them the final comfort and comfort.

When he saw Zhao Yu, Chu Jiao immediately stepped forward and said with a little embarrassment: "Owner of the village, although I have repeatedly persuaded last night, there are still quite a few women who want to follow us to break through together, look at this ......"

"It's human nature."

Zhao Yu nodded and said, "They insist on this, so let them be." It's just that our road to breakthrough may not be so smooth...... The officers and soldiers are not fools, when they see these women and children running out of the cottage to join them, they will immediately guess that we are ready to break through, and when the time comes, they will definitely do everything possible to encircle them, and I am worried that these couples who follow us to break through will not be able to keep up with us...... Master Chuzhai, you go to persuade and persuade again, and I will think about the strategy of breaking through again. ”

"Yes." Chu Jiao nodded and turned to leave.

Subsequently, Chen Mo, Zhang Feng, and Ma Hong also came to talk to Zhao Yu, and the meaning of the three of them was similar to Chu Jiao, probably that their women and children wanted to follow them, and asked Zhao Yu what to do?

What can Zhao Yu do?

Can he still forcibly order these women and children?

The only thing he could do was to refine the breakout strategy again.

Just when Zhao Yu was chatting with Chen Mo, Zhang Feng, and Ma Hong, he suddenly heard a slightly choked voice shouting, "Brother Erhu." ”

The familiar voice made him subconsciously turn his head, and then he saw Ning Niang crying and running towards him.

Bending down and squatting to catch this little sister who was only six or seven years old, Zhao Yu smiled and comforted: "What's the matter, Ning Niang?" ”

"I don't want to go to the officers and soldiers." Ning Niang cried and said, "They are all bad people......

Seeing Ning Niang's frightened face and saying that the officers and soldiers were bad people, Zhao Yu couldn't help but wonder, it was the first time he had heard that the officers and soldiers were bad people.

But if you think about it carefully, Ning Niang grew up in a den of thieves, and it is not surprising that she regards officers and soldiers as bad people.

"Ah Hu."

At this time, Xu Fen also ran over with Deng Bai and Deng Song, and when he saw Ning Niang crying in Zhao Yu's arms, he said embarrassedly: "Ning Niang is frightened...... Sorry to bother you. ”

Zhao Yu shook his head unmindfully, and immediately touched Ning Niang's head and said comfortingly: "Ning Niang, in fact, the officers and soldiers are not bad people......

Facing this ignorant little girl, he also felt a little headache.

After thinking about it, he coaxed: "Ning Niang, the cottage is a little troublesome at present, and the adults in the village are a little troublesome, but the officers and soldiers will not embarrass you, do you think this is good, three months, within three months, Brother Erhu will bring someone to pick you up and take you back to the cottage, and buy you a lot of delicious food when the time comes, okay?" ”

"I don't want it." Ning Niang sobbed and refused.

"Really?" Zhao Yu said deliberately: "The cake made of red beans tastes fragrant and sweet, and the sweet cake that is as thin as your hair after being broken, and your favorite dried mountain fruit......"

“……”

The sobbing Ning Niang subconsciously swallowed her saliva and asked weakly, "Really...... Isn't it delicious? ”

"Of course." Zhao Yu blinked strangely: "In three months, I'll buy it for you." ”

Ning Niang hesitated and said, "Three months, it will take a long time......"

"Soon, I'll go back and give you a wooden sign, you draw one on it every day, and before you can draw ninety lanes, Brother Erhu will come to take you back to the cottage. You see, it's only ninety, and you count to ninety very quickly, right? ”

Ning Niang lowered her head and thought about it, and then said timidly: "Really? Don't lie. ”

"Did Brother Erhu lie to you?"

"Hmm...... All right. Ning Niang hesitated and nodded.

At this time, Guo Da, Niu Heng, Chen Mo, Chen Zu, Chu Jiao, Zhang Feng, Ma Hong, and even Wang Qing all came here one after another, silently watching Zhao Yu coaxing Ning Niang.

Even Wang Qing must admit that Zhao Yu is far more humane than Yang Tong.

At this time, Xu Fen also noticed Guo Da and other leaders in the village, and left with Ning Niang shamelessly.

Watching Xu Fen and Ning Niang walk into the distance, Zhao Yu seemed to have noticed Guo Da and the others who were not far away, and said: "They are also members of my Black Tiger Village, as long as they are willing, we will take them back in the future, and we will not give up on anyone." ”

Hearing this, Chen Zu smiled with interest, while Guo Da, Chu Jiao, Chen Mo, Zhang Feng, and Ma Hong nodded in unison.

At the same time, in the camp of officers and soldiers at the foot of the mountain, the officers and men in the battalion were already burying pots and making food.

And the three county lieutenants Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai have also gathered together to discuss the strategy of attacking Black Tiger Village today.

Because of all kinds of contradictions, the three of them simply did not invite Zhang Jing to discuss together.

And when the three county lieutenants were discussing, suddenly an officer and soldier entered and announced: "Qi three county lieutenants, Heihu Village sent someone to send an arrow book." ”

After that, he handed a letter to Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai.

Because it was Kunyang territory, Ma Gai took the arrow book, opened it, and read it carefully.

After a while, he smiled dumbly and said: "It was sent by Guo Da from the Black Tiger Village, he wants to surrender, he can help us to cooperate with the outside and take the Black Tiger Village." ”

"Guo Da? Yang Tong's left and right hands? ”

Huang Ben sneered, took the letter in Ma Gai's hand and looked at it twice, and then sneered: "Ha, as soon as Yang Tong died, this Guo Da lost his courage and actually wanted to betray the rest of the people to seek pardon...... Such villains. ”

After that, he turned his head and asked Ma Gai and Gao Chun, "What do you think?" ”

Gao Chun took the letter in Huang Ben's hand and glanced at it, stroked his beard and said: "If it is true, they might as well agree to come down and find a way to capture the Black Tiger Village first, as for the life and death of this Guo Da, it is not our word in the future." ”

After a pause, he said again: "I'm afraid that there is fraud in it, and he deliberately lured us to the bait." ”

Hearing this, Huang Ben said with a smile: "Pretending to be in harmony with us inside and out, but actually luring us to attack its main village at night?" In that case, why don't we just do it? ”

"How?" Gao Chun asked.

I saw Huang Ben ponder for a moment and said: "Let's just agree to come down, wait for tonight, you and I will go up the mountain in two batches, I will be the main attacker, and you and Ma Gai will lead people to ambush in the mountain." If this Guo Da really betrays his brother, we will take advantage of the situation to enter the Black Tiger Village; If there is any deception, I will immediately retreat and lead the thief to you, and you two will take the opportunity to kill the thief by surprise. ”

Gao Chun pondered for a moment, nodded and said, "You can try it." ”

Seeing this, Huang Ben looked at Ma Gai.

At this time, Ma Gai was looking thoughtfully at the letter in Gao Chun's hand.

The content of this arrow book is indeed written that Guo Da of the Black Tiger Village wants to surrender, and in the name of surrender, he wants to talk to the officers and soldiers about the conditions, if the conditions are right, Guo Da is willing to betray the rest of the thieves in the cottage.

Unlike Huang Ben and Gao Chun, who cared about the authenticity of this letter, the handwriting of this arrow book made Ma Gai ponder.

Because the handwriting of this arrow letter is the same as the confession he signed that day, it is obviously the same person's handwriting.

Now that Yang Tong is dead, there are only two people left who know his secret, one is Guo Da, and the other is a kid named Zhou Hu.

At the beginning, Ma Gai didn't believe that Yang Tong could write such a confession, and now Yang Tong is dead, but the owner of this arrow book is still there, so it can be seen that the person who wrote his confession at that time was between Guo Da and the kid named Zhou Hu.

I remember that when Yang Tong died, Ishihara and others searched Yang Tong's body, and what made Ma Gai panic was that at that time, he Ma Gai's confession was not found from Yang Tong's body, which also made Zhang Jing not find any evidence to identify him after all, so he could only be released.

Then the question is, who is in his hands now?

Whenever he thought of this, Ma Gai was extremely uneasy in his heart, not so much worried that his confession would fall into the hands of Guo Da or the kid named Zhou Hu, but more afraid of falling into the hands of others, or even being outcast.

"Margay? Margay? ”

"Huh?"

After Huang Ben's repeated reminders, Ma Gai came back to his senses, and he quickly explained: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I also think there is fraud in it, no, I'm thinking about it...... What did you two just say? ”

Hearing Ma Gai's explanation, Huang Ben and Gao Chun were not suspicious, and even the considerations of the two were put aside.

"It's going to be calculated...... Okay, too. ”

After some thought, Margai nodded.

So, that day, Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai gave up the idea of immediately attacking the Black Tiger Village, and instead wrote a reply, pretending to agree to Guo Da's conditions, and sent someone to hand it over to the bandits who were waiting outside the camp.

Around the end of the day, Zhang Jing saw that Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai had not seen Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai leading troops to attack Black Tiger Village for a long time, so he came uninvited and asked Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai for the reason.

At that time, Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai were waiting for Guo Da's response in Ma Gai's tent, and when they saw Zhang Jing coming, the faces of the three were a little unnatural, but considering Zhang Jing's identity, it was not easy to drive him away.

Under Zhang Jing's questioning, Huang Ben, who was the least prejudiced against Zhang Jing, explained the cause and effect.

"Black Tiger Village has an arrow book?"

Zhang Jing immediately said: "Please let Zhang have a look." ”

Hearing this, Ma Gai had no choice but to take out the arrow book and hand it to Zhang Jing.

Zhang Jingzai carefully read the arrow book, and then shook his head and said: "The three of them all want to be bad, this is not that Guo Da wants to betray his companions, nor is it that they want to ambush you, this is the Black Tiger Village's plan to delay the army." ”

Without waiting for Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai, who were stunned, to ask, Zhang Jing immediately explained: "First of all, whether Guo Da really betrayed his companion...... I think you can also guess this, if he had the heart to surrender, he would not have sent men in the daytime, and everyone else would have been fools? As for whether it is a plan to lure the enemy, I can only say that this trick is too simple, I don't believe that the conspirator of the Black Tiger Village would use such a simple strategy, so I conclude that this is the Black Tiger Village's delaying strategy, they want to survive today's daylight, wait until the night, and lead the crowd to break through. There may even be other purposes...... I advise the three of them to march into the Black Tiger Village immediately, and don't let the thieves get their way. ”

It's a pity that when they heard Zhang Jing's words, Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai were unmoved.

Even, Gao Chun openly refuted Zhang Jing's judgment: "General Zhang also made mistakes. …… What's more, what about breaking through at night? There are Ishihara and others ambushed on the west side of the Black Tiger Village, on the side of the camp, we are also staring at the Black Tiger Village's every move all the time, as long as the Black Tiger Village breaks through, we will immediately lead troops to cover up, even if the Black Tiger Village wants to act at night, so what? ”

"What Captain Gao said is extremely true." Ma Gai smiled in favor of high purity.

From the side, Huang Ben didn't speak.

"You are underestimating the conspirator of the Black Tiger Village." Zhang Jing held his breath in his heart and brushed his sleeves away.

And facts have proved that Zhang Jing's judgment is correct.

Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai waited for a whole day, until sunset, and did not wait for Guo Da's reply, but waited for a group of women and children.

After looking at each other, the three of them immediately came to the outside of the camp, and at this time they saw a group of women and children standing outside the camp.

The oldest of the children was only about fifteen years old.

At that time, Ma Gai's subordinate Yang Dang was asking about those women and children, and when he saw Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai appearing, he immediately came to the three of them.

Huang Ben frowned and asked, "Yang Zhutou, these women and children ......?"

Yang Dang hugged his fists and said: "Back to the words of the county lieutenant of Huang County, I asked these women and children, most of them didn't know, they only knew that it was the group of gangsters from the Black Tiger Village who told them to go down the mountain and join us......"

"Defect to us?" Huang Ben looked stunned.

From the side, Gao Chun smacked his lips and said: "Damn, in that chapter, the Black Tiger Village group of thieves is really ready to break through, they think these women and children are cumbersome, so they simply asked them to go down the mountain to join us first, hum, what a cunning group of thieves." But...... There's still a bit of a human touch. ”

"What should I do?" Huang Ben turned his head and discussed with Gao Chun and Ma Gai.

"What else can I do?" Gao Chun whispered: "Can't you kill them?" Aren't we even as good as thieves? Temporarily settle them in a nearby village, and leave the rest to Kunyang County. The top priority is to pursue the Black Tiger Village group that wants to escape. ”

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Ma Gai: "Ma Gai, what do you say?" ”

"Hmm." Ma Gai nodded, and immediately called Yang Kang, the head catcher, and instructed: "Yang Kang, you will bring these women and children to Xiang Village for resettlement." ”

"Yes!"

At this time, a catcher under Huang Ben's hand interjected: "These women and children may not all be persecuted, there must be people related to Black Tiger Village among them, if they are used as a blackmail......

Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai all glanced at the head catcher, and the latter immediately stopped talking.

I have to say, whether it is Huang Ben or Gao Chun, they are all arrogant people, where would they use such despicable tricks? Not to mention Ma Gai, he originally disdained to use this kind of weapon, but now that he has a handle in the hands of Black Tiger Village, he is even more daring.

But in fact, even if the officers and soldiers wanted to blackmail these women and children, they couldn't do it, because at this time, the Black Tiger Village group had already broken through.

"Three county lieutenants, look at the mountain!"

With the exclamation of an officer and soldier, Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai looked up, and even when they saw the location of the main village of Black Tiger Village, there was a faint amount of fire.

"Damn it!"

Gao Chun scolded secretly, and hurriedly said: "Quick! Hurry up and go after you! ”

Immediately, Huang Ben, Gao Chun, and Ma Gai ordered the officers and soldiers under their command and went straight to the mountain.

Looking at the backs of these people leaving, Zhang Jing stood in the camp and watched expressionlessly.

"He must have had another plan to delay the army until the night...... Stupidity! The best time was missed. ”

Zhang Jing sighed and shook his head.

From the side, Li Cheng also said: "Since Huang Ben and Gao Chun don't believe in the general's judgment, then let them go, and they will regret it when the time comes." In the final analysis, it is not our responsibility to suppress the thief, anyway, once the thief leader Yang Tong dies, he is worthy of Lu Kuang's gift. ”

Zhang Jing nodded slightly, turned around and went back to the tent to rest, preparing to leave and go to Liang County next day.