Early in the morning of the second day, the county magistrate really couldn't sleep, thinking about the more than 4,000 bandits, why was he Zhang Xian willing to fight with his own family, and his family was only 3,000 people, more than 1,000 less than these bandits, could 3,000 people really beat 4,000 people? The prefectural order does not believe in this possibility. So, if he knew that he would undoubtedly lose and still gave money and food to the bandits, would he Zhang Xian be playing some conspiracy to harm himself? If the court investigates it in the future, it will still be difficult for him to die? Therefore, the county commander came to the city wall early, walked back and forth, and looked at the neatly arranged bags of grain and silver piled up with white flowers under the city wall, the county commander felt dizzy for a while, and said to the county Cheng and Dutou who were tired of carrying money and grain all night:

"I said that the county is the head of the county, why haven't you seen County Lieutenant Zhang bring people to suppress the bandits? Where is Master Zhang's family? If this bandit transports all the money and grain, the whole city will know about it, and they can't hide it if they want to, how good is this! ”

The county and the head of the capital are also full of grievances in their hearts, isn't this all to blame on you, a dumb official, what kind of county lieutenant is appointed? And you are still obedient to him, strictly ordering us to listen to his arrangement, so that we don't know who the county master is, now you are in a hurry, you say that these are a fart, everyone is the same as you, they have already handed over their lives to the young man Zhang Xian who killed a thousand knives. After all, the county is a scholar, and he is relieved:

"Lord County, a dead horse should be a live horse doctor, as long as Lord Zhang leads the family to drive this bandit away, as long as we get back a little money and food, we can give an account to Lord Li Tingzhi and the imperial court! After all, where will there be no losses? ”

"I hope so!" After listening to what the county Cheng said, the county commander also agreed helplessly.

On the third pole of the day, I saw Zhang Xian with Wang Fu, Niu Dameng and Luo Sandai came to the city wall in a hurry, the county order immediately took three steps and made two steps, and ran to Zhang Xian quickly with the hem of the official uniform, completely ignoring the demeanor of the dignity of a county, and said with a crying voice:

"I said, Master Zhang, what about the people you bring? What about people? Don't tell this officer, the four of you can beat the bandits? Is this really going to hand over money and food to these bandits? If he really handed over so much money and food, once Lord Li Tingzhi and the imperial court knew about it, the official's life would be at risk! ”

The county order didn't see Zhang Xian bringing his family to suppress the bandits, and he collapsed in anger, Zhang Xian was contemptuous in his heart, he was a good hand at making money, but solving the problem was like a full straw bale rice bucket! said to the guard of the prefectural order:

"You send the county lord back to rest, it's enough to have this official here!"

After Zhang Xian finished speaking, the guard lifted the county order and went down the city wall, and the county Cheng and the catcher stood on the city wall and informed Zhang Xian's family that the money and grain had been transported, Zhang Xian nodded and said:

"You two have worked hard, and this credit is indispensable to you! After this bandit is exterminated, you still need to trouble arranging for someone to collect the money and grain and send it back to the treasury. ”

The county Cheng and the catcher both listened to what Zhang Xian said and said the same as the truth, and they couldn't help but look at each other, and they couldn't figure out whether they were too confused or if this Lord Zhang was still dreaming? But he didn't dare to say anything against him, so he had to agree, looking at everything that was happening in front of him, the county Cheng and Du replied weakly:

"But by your lordship's orders!"

Zhang Xian ignored the two of them, and when he saw that people began to gather in the distance under the city wall, he called Luo Santian and asked:

"In three days, you are sure that the route has been investigated clearly according to the requirements of this official?"

"Back to the adult's words, the subordinates have investigated very clearly, last night, the subordinates caught a bandit tongue, only to know that this bandit is really defeated and fled with the Tartars, because of the fear of being dealt with by military law, so the grass is a coward, they number about 1,100 people, in order to strengthen the momentum, coerced several other bandits to rob together, they are also afraid that this Yangzhou city is tall and difficult to attack, and they are afraid of alarming Li Tingzhi Li. Therefore, as the adults expected, they themselves are also to scare the Yangzhou county order, if they want money and food, they will want to leave, or they will leave, and their final destination is to go to the Guangnan region to occupy the mountains and be the king; After leaving Yangzhou City, there are three roads to go to the Guangnan area, one is a wide road, but it has to pass through the school field of Lord Li Tingzhi, and the second is to cross the Yangtze River by bypassing, this road is very safe, there are no imperial soldiers and horses, but it needs to detour more than 100 miles; The third road was a shortcut, but it was a narrow path, five miles from the city over a cliff, about two hundred zhang long, and the narrowest point could only be carried by two people. Luo said methodically.

"Sect Leader Wang, in your opinion, which of these three paths will these bandits choose?" After listening to what Luo Santian said, Zhan Xinxin turned around and asked Wang Fu.

"The adult has already made a judgment, okay, since the adult has opened his mouth, the subordinates will talk about it. These bandits will never take this first big road, because there is the only one they are afraid of on the big road, Lord Li Tingzhi; Although the road to cross the river is safe, it is obvious that they will not walk, thousands of bandits will not run so far with more than 50 catties of grain each, and they will be tired to death if they are tired, and they will take the third narrow road, as long as they do not feel the danger, they can pass the road quickly, save time, save food consumption, and save physical strength, they have no reason not to go. Wang Fu said to Zhang Xian.

"Well, Wang Jiaotou said it very thoroughly, which is why this official insists on letting them get food, these bandits are also greedy enough, 4,000 people want 200,000 catties of food, these grains can save lives when they are hungry, but when they meet this official, they will die! They also don't want to think about how when each bandit is carrying fifty or sixty pounds of grain on his shoulders and is suddenly attacked, they have time to arrange their troops and shoot arrows with their bows and arrows. ”

Zhang Xian paused after speaking, and then continued:

"Well, you did a good job in three days, you will give the order now, let Jiang Wei lead a thousand people to set up an ambush on the road one mile before the cliff, Fang Kun lead a thousand people to set up an ambush on the road one mile behind the cliff, and let Li Jindeshuai set up an ambush on the cliff of the third path, and wait until the bandit archers and bandit leaders cross the river dragon Liu Zuohu on the cliff, immediately pinch the head and tail, and block the way of his advance and retreat, and then shoot the arrow to let Jiang Wei and Fang Kun's head and tail ambush soldiers come out, killing him in the first place can not take care of it! You have to tell them that there are still suspicious soldiers on the cliff, running back and forth under the banner of Lord Li Tingzhi, shouting to surrender and not kill, try to capture them alive, these people will still be useful in the future! ”

After receiving the order, Luo ran down quickly, and ran back to Zhang Xian and said that a lot of angry people gathered at the city gate, and it is estimated that last night the fast soldiers carried money and food to alarm the people, Zhang Xian called Niu Dameng over, and whispered a few words, Niu Dameng and Wang Fu followed Zhang Xian down the city wall together, and just arrived at the city gate, the people around them surrounded and shouted at Zhang Xian:

"What kind of dog are you? Take the blood and sweat of our common people and hand it over to the bandits? ”

"Maybe this dog official is colluding with the bandits, in the past, the bandits had to be pretentious, but now the bandits are not even willing to do it, the Great Song Dynasty has a faint official like you, when will the common people be a head!"

"I became a county lieutenant at such a young age, my kid is about the same size as him, and he is still studying at home, he really has no need to talk about it, and he can't do things well!"

"Everyone must give an explanation to this faint official, my people in Yangzhou City are not soft eggs without eggs!"

The common people roared around Zhang Xian and his party, Niu Dameng moved a big table, handed Zhang Xian a simple horn rolled up in oiled paper, Zhang Xian jumped up, jumped on the table, and said to the people with a simple horn:

"Ladies and gentlemen, don't be impatient, your feelings are understood, but please rest assured, this is not really giving money and food to the bandits, but a ploy, I can't say it to you yet, but this official promises that this afternoon, everyone can see this official bring these bandits to justice! If the official can't do it, he will kill or chop it, and let the fathers and villagers deal with it! Luckily! ”

"That's a good saying, what if you take Yangzhou money and grain, and you run away with the bandits? Where are we looking for you? ”

"This official Zhang Xian is the patriarch of the Zhang family of the Yangzhou clan, this official can run, but it is impossible for the official family to run, right? You can think about it, this official is also a big family in Yangzhou, how can he do something that insults the reputation of the family? Whether this official is a good official or a dog official, please ask your parents and fellow villagers to give you an afternoon to know! ”

"He seems to be really the patriarch of the Zhang family, the youngest patriarch! I've seen it before! ”

"Really? With such a young patriarch still being a county lieutenant, it seems that the family background is really unusual! ”

"Their old patriarch of the Zhang clan, repairing bridges and roads, can be regarded as enlightened gentry, so let's give him an afternoon to see what the result is?"

"Everyone will give you an afternoon, if you run away by then, we will definitely let Master Li Tingzhi arrest you back, and you will be punished!"

The common people were talking nonsense, but it was obvious that everyone was moved by Zhang Xian's words, and Zhang Xian hurriedly continued:

"Thank you, fellow villagers, this official Zhang Xian, I will live up to everyone's trust, and I will definitely bring this bandit to justice! The matter is urgent, and the official will go out and deal with it now! ”

Finally got out, Zhang Xian and a few people rode the horses found by Niu Dameng and ran outside the city, at this time, those bandits were densely packed under the city tower, and the leaders of the bandits were ready to command the team to start the formation, but when they saw the mountains of grain and white silver under the city wall, the formation immediately became chaotic, after all, there were a few young county lieutenants in front, under the premise of feeling safe, normal people faced such temptation, few can be calm. Seeing this scene, Zhang Xian smiled slightly, and said to the bandit leader Liu Zuohu:

"Liu Da is in charge, this official will do what he says, the 50,000 taels of silver and 200,000 catties of grain you want have been prepared, please come and accept it!"

"Come on, go and check the grain and silver taels with a few people", after Liu Zuohu, the leader of the bandits, said that a few minions ran over for a while, and then said:

"Qi Yu is in charge, these grains are all good new grains, and the silver is real, now we are really handout!" A minion shouted at the top of his throat.

"You young official is also refreshing, Lao Tzu likes it, or you follow Lao Tzu to do it, in this troubled era, there are soldiers who are the king of grass, and you are guaranteed to eat and drink spicy!" After listening to the little minion, Liu Zuohu, the leader of the bandits, was in a good mood, and he gained a lot without moving a knife or a shot, which made Liu Zuohu move Zhang Xianwei's subordinates.

"The good intentions of the big boss, the official understands it, but the official can't bear the hardships of going over the mountains and mountains, the big boss should hurry up and take the money and food and leave! In order to make it easier for the big boss to carry, these grains are fifty catties of a sack, one of you is about the same, I hope the big boss will fulfill his promise, and don't go to Yangzhou City in the future, we can buy these money and grain! Zhang Xian softly rejected the bandit leader Liu Zuohu.

"Since the Tao is not the same, it is okay, Lao Tzu promised you, brothers, one person and one bag, carrying the grain, and the silver was carried by Lao Tzu's own soldiers, and when he arrived at the border of Guangnan, he would distribute it to everyone!" The bandit leader Liu Zuohu gave an order, looked up at the looming mountain peaks in the distance, everything went smoothly beyond imagination, and it always made people a little vaguely uneasy, but if you want to say what makes people uneasy, you can't say that you are ugly.