Chapter Seventy-Six: Temptation

Zhao Zizhong led the team to continue to search for the bandits, but only caught a few scattered bandits, and most of the bandits had already run away.

Everyone searched the manor, and the sky gradually dawned. The guards were all tired, and the three brothers led them to Cui Daoshu's study.

There was a lot of crying along the way, and people in all rooms were collecting the bodies and treating the injured family members. Someone came over to thank everyone for beating the bandits away, and Zhao Zizhong humbled a few words and let them have a good rest.

Returning to Cui Daoshu's study, several guards standing guard on the wall cheered, the courtyard door opened, and Du Dalei was the first to rush out, shouting: "Boss, how is the situation outside?" Are you all alright? ”

An Dalang said happily: "The bandits have all been beaten away by us, killed a lot, and captured some prisoners. ”

Du Dalei was a little unhappy, "You don't take me to such a fun thing, I'm bored here!" ”

Zhao Zizhong said softly: "Your kung fu is not good, you can't catch up with Boris, I don't dare to let you go to the battlefield." Okay, let's go in, let's go in and rest for a while after a night of fighting, we're thirsty and hungry! ”

When the people entered the courtyard, many of the guards threw their weapons and sat down on the ground to rest. The servants of the Cui family brought hot water, and everyone took turns to drink it.

Cui Daoshu walked out of the study, his eyes were bloodshot, and his face was a little pale. He asked, "Big brother, what's the situation outside?" Is there a big loss of people in each room? ”

Zhao Zizhong swallowed a mouthful of water, "Hey! The loss is not small! There were dead people everywhere outside, and we were busy chasing the bandits, and there was no statistics on the damage. After everyone has rested for a while and eaten enough, let's go out to maintain order and count the damage. ”

Cui Daoshu called a steward and asked him to go to the kitchen to arrange meals, and the steward agreed to leave. He asked Zhao Zizhong again: "Brother, what should we do next?" I heard the guards say that it was a bandit found by Liu Yan's son, who joined the judicial army, how do we deal with it? ”

Zhao Zizhong said with a solemn face: "'It is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge for ten years. We can't be reckless, after all, Liu Yan is an official, and we can't just kill him. ”

An Dalang had some opinions, "What if you kill it?" That kind of brute should destroy his full door! ”

Cui Daoshu nodded, "What my brother said makes sense, we can't openly start a war with officials, we can only play yin." Didn't we catch the bandits? When Mingzhou Assassin Qian Hongyi comes back after the New Year, I will go to sue, we have all the human and material evidence, are you afraid that you will not be able to sue a judicial officer to join the army? ”

An Dalang muttered, "This is not cool, I can't slash the enemy, I feel aggrieved!" ”

Zhao Zizhong persuaded: "Da Lang, we are not alone now, we can be as happy as we want." There are nearly 1,000 people on Qishan Island who rely on us for food, and the Cui family still has a large group of people. Our group is still very weak and not strong enough to clash head-on with the government. ”

He thought for a moment and continued: "This incident is a wake-up call for us, what we did in the previous period was too ostentatious, and the auction got a huge amount of money, which was targeted by many forces. If it weren't for the fact that he opened up the history of Mingzhou and dedicated the 'Wuliangye' to the king of Wu Yueguo, it is very likely that some of the emperor's relatives would have already attacked us. ”

Cui Daoshu said solemnly: "I almost lost my life this time, and the Cui family also suffered a catastrophe, we should reflect on it." ”

Du Dalei said eagerly: "Old Cui! I don't think I can stay here any longer, who knows if there will be bandits who will rob and kill people one day, so all of you will move to the island! ”

Zhao Zizhong also said, "Da Lei is right, it's not very safe here, and your Cui family should consider moving." ”

Cui Daoshu pondered for a while, looked up and said, "In this way, I will let the female relatives of the family go to live on the island with you, and I will stay here." There is still a lot to do, and we cannot afford to give up our strongholds on the mainland. ”

Du Dalei said: "I have an idea, your Cui family can announce to the outside world that the whole family has moved away, and only some people are left in the manor to take care of the family." The gold and silver treasures will be transported to the city of Mingzhou, so that no one will worry about you. ”

Cui Daoshu nodded, "This is a good solution, let's go to Mingzhou City to buy a big mansion and move the main members of the Cui family to the city." The manor was left with only a few stewards and servants, so that it was safe. ”

Zhao Zizhong said: "I will transfer dozens of guards from the island for Da Lang to stay, and leave a few guards who are proficient in the 'Mandarin Duck Array' to protect your safety." In addition, you have to convince your mother and wife as soon as possible to let them go with us to Qishan Island, which is safer than here after all. ”

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After eating, they rested for a while, and then they got busy. By the afternoon, the damage was counted. Cui Daoshu convened a meeting of the main personnel of the long house, and the brothers also participated.

Cui Daoshu looked at the list and said heavily: "Our Changfang suffered the least loss, only three people were killed, one of them was in charge, and there were two servants. There were a lot of dead and wounded in the other rooms, so I won't say the specifics. Yesterday, thanks to the desperate battle of my brother and his guards, he killed a total of fifty-four bandits, captured thirty-seven, and captured the bandit leader. Everything else ran away. ”

Everyone in the Cui family talked about it, and many people came over to salute the brothers, thanking them for solving the bandits and protecting the Cui family.

Zhao Zizhong returned the salute one by one and said a few words of humility. At this time, a guard came in to report that several people sent to Mingzhou City to report to the official were arrested by the official on the way, saying that they were gangsters.

Cui Daoshu nodded and asked the guards to go down. He suppressed his anger and said to everyone: "There are still a few days before the New Year, everyone must do a good job in the aftermath, help each room to handle the funeral, make every effort to treat the injured, don't be stingy with money, let everyone try to get out of the grief and have a good year." ”

The stewards all went out, and Zhao Zizhong said: "It will be dark in a while, we can't relax our vigilance, let the women and children not leave, build more beds in the study, and we and the guards will take turns on duty at night to ensure everyone's safety." ”

The brothers couldn't stand it anymore, so they all found a place to fall asleep. In the evening, the guards woke everyone up and said that someone had come to visit.

After a while, a group of people walked into the courtyard, and everyone saw that they were all in charge of the Cui family's houses. The first was Cui Mingde, and Cui Mingxun and Cui Daoshi's father and son were also mixed in the crowd.

Cui Daoshu stepped forward to salute, and everyone returned the salute one by one, and they all asked about Cui Daoshu's illness with concern.

He smiled and said, "Uncles and brothers, I'm not sick, I've been poisoned. ”

Many people in the Cui family exclaimed, talking about this shocking news. Zhao Zizhong stared at Cui Mingxun and Cui Daoshi's father and son, wanting to see how they reacted.

Cui Mingxun and his son glanced at each other, and also joined the scolding team angrily, looking indignant.

A young man asked, "Big brother, has the poisoner been caught?" ”

Cui Daoshu shook his head, "I didn't catch it, let him run." ”

"Who is this man?"

"It's a cook in the long house, and I've been coming to my house for three years. His name is Zhou Shi'an, he originally lived in Mingzhou City, his parents have passed away, and now he is alone and has no family. ”

Cui Mingde asked, "Have you reported to the official?" Do you know why he poisoned you? ”

Cui Daoshu replied: "I didn't report to the official, it is estimated that he has been killed." He must have been instructed to harm me, otherwise he has no grudge against me, and there is no reason for him to poison me and take my life. ”

Cui Daoshu paused, "One more thing, last night, when the bandits attacked my residence, the people who protected me went out to meet the enemy, and one of them broke into my bedroom and wanted to kill me. ”

The people of the Cui family were shocked, and a few of them even screamed. Cui Daoshu continued: "Fortunately, I was prepared and hid, but the person couldn't be assassinated, and he wanted to escape, but he was arrested by the guards. ”

Everyone in the Cui family is talking about it, and they are all guessing who the murderer is, and Zhao Zizhong has been observing Cui Mingxun's father and son. When Cui Dao recounted that the assassin had been arrested, he found that Cui Mingxun looked as usual, pretending to be fine. But Cui Daoshi's eyes showed a trace of panic, and the corners of his mouth twitched a few times.

Cui Mingde asked, "Nephew Xian, have you interrogated this gangster?" ”

Cui Daoshu replied: "Not yet, everyone has been fighting with the bandits last night, and today they are busy with the aftermath during the day, so they didn't have time to interrogate him." ”

Zhao Zizhong found that Cui Daoshi's face was getting more and more ugly, blue for a while, pale for a while, and his expression was extremely unnatural. But Cui Mingxun seemed to be casual, and kept talking to the people next to him.

Cui Mingde said angrily: "You have to interrogate immediately, if you can't torture it, you must ask the main envoy as soon as possible, I think it is very likely that the bandit he found attacked my Cui family manor last night." ”

Cui Daoshu replied: "Interrogate the gangster tonight, you must let him speak, An Dalang has many means to deal with him." ”

Zhao Zizhong took a few steps forward, scanned the Cui family with a sharp gaze, and after a while, he said loudly: "If the interrogation results out, no matter who is the murderer behind the scenes, Lao Tzu will definitely kill his whole family!" Never break your word! ”

Cui Daoshi's face was even more ugly, his hands were trembling, and he lowered his head and did not speak. Zhao Zi strode over and said in an unkind tone: "Brother Cui Xian, your face is so ugly, are you sick?" ”

Cui Daoshi smiled reluctantly, "No, I'm not sick." I was scared last night, and I haven't recovered yet. ”

Zhao Zi patted him on the shoulder, "If you are sick, you have to treat it as soon as possible, otherwise your life will not be saved." Am I right? Cui Hyun-di----"

Seeing this, Cui Mingxun walked over to play a round, and he said with a smile: "Mr. Zhao, Xiao'er was indeed overfrightened last night, and now he is still recovering, so you don't have to laugh at him." ”

Zhao Zizhong sneered and said: "Last night, your three rooms suffered heavy losses, and many people were killed, but your father and son hid and ran fast enough!" ”