The fire on the lake grew stronger and stronger.

The pirates who escaped from the reeds were either shot dead by Cao Jun on the spot, or they dived under the water in an attempt to scuttle Cao Jun's big ship.

Some of the water thieves who were about to scuttle Cao Jun's big ship couldn't get close to the hull of the ship at all, and their heads were forced to show their heads by the lake water mixed with lime and plasma.

As soon as they showed their heads on the water, arrows fell head-on.

Some barely managed to get to the bottom of the boat, only to quickly get tangled in the nets.

The more they struggled, the tighter the web became.

In the end, it was impossible for these water thieves to surface, and they could only be drowned alive in the water.

"It seems that this time we can wipe out the water thieves in one go." Looking at the water, Zhao Yun said, "Childe can rest assured." ”

"I can't rest assured yet." Cao Shuo said: "The water nature of the water thieves is excellent, if they do not approach this side, but plan to escape ashore, or simply want to escape into the Yangtze River with the current, our warships have no way." ”

Zhao Yun's face also became a little solemn.

Shore.

Chen Gong scattered the soldiers into groups of 20 people, divided into more than 100 groups, and cooperated with the local garrison to patrol along the coast.

The search teams were not far from each other.

The first ones will go, and the latter will immediately follow.

The water thief who escaped from the battlefield and climbed ashore did not have time to catch his breath before he was hugged by the soldiers of the Cao army who had been waiting for a long time and fell to the ground.

The battle to exterminate the water thieves went far more smoothly than Cao Shuo expected.

Standing at the bow of the boat, Cao Shuo saw floating corpses floating on the water.

He knew that beneath the ship he was standing on must be a number of drowned water thieves.

"Childe, the lake seems to be clean." Zhao Yun pointed to the surface of the lake and said to Cao Shuo: "Do you want the soldiers to search again?" ”

"Definitely." Cao Shuo said: "Water thieves are plagued by Chaohu, if one escapes, it will resurrect in the future." ”

Xiang Zhao Yun smiled slightly, and Cao Shuo continued: "Zilong believe it or not, in two years, we will kill people in Huainan and other places, and there will be a lot of killings." ”

Zhao Yun was stunned: "Could it be that with this crackdown on bandits, two or three years later, there will still be people who dare to gather in the mountains and forests or gather in the water?" ”

"Not like that." Cao Shuo said: "Once a place becomes rich, there will always be a group of people who want to get something for nothing. They kill people and oversell goods, pick quarrels and provoke troubles, if such people don't kill, how can the people live and work in peace and contentment? ”

"Childe has never worried about this in Xudu in the past." Zhao Yun said: "When I think about it, I am more comfortable when I am in Xu Du. ”

"Since you have chosen to conquer the world, people can't be at ease." Cao Shuo said: "My father brought me to Huainan to see if I have the ability to govern this place well. If I can't even do anything about Huainan, Xuzhou and other places, how can I manage a wider territory. ”

"That's what Childe said." Zhao Yun responded.

"Send a small boat to check and check if there are any water thieves left in the water." Cao Shuo instructed Zhao Yun: "Don't leave a single mouth alive!" ”

Zhao Yun turned his head and said to the officer on the side: "Pass on the Gongzi's order, send a small boat to search for water thieves, and not a single one will be left alive!" ”

Cao Jun searched the water for seven days.

Determined that there could be no more water thieves on the water, Cao Shuo left the big ship accompanied by Zhao Yun and went ashore temporarily.

In a house on the shore.

Cao Shuo sat on the top, and Chen Gong and others sat on both sides.

"How many water thieves have been caught by the public platform?" Cao Shuo asked.

"Not many, but more than a dozen." Chen Gong said: "Most of the water thieves have been exterminated by the navy, and those who go ashore should all be captured by the patrol soldiers." ”

Pinching his chin, Cao Shuo said: "The water thieves are all locals, and they are somewhat related to the nearby villagers. You take someone to search the villagers' houses again to see if there are any fish that have not been caught in the water recently. ”

"I didn't go into the water, so I'm not sure if it's a water thief." Chen Gong said: "Is the son going to ......?"

"Cut the grass to the roots." Cao Shuo said: "People always have to pay the price for what they have done, and although those in the water have been destroyed, those who are left on the shore to escape by luck must be caught one by one." I want to make those who are related to the water thieves understand that if they dare to do something murderous and overkill, there is only a dead end waiting for them. ”

"Childe!" Chen Gong hesitated for a moment and said, "In this way, is the criminal law too harsh?" ”

"What time is it?" Cao Shuo said: "In a peaceful and prosperous world, of course the criminal law can be lighter. If you can't kill it, you won't kill it, and if you can't catch it, you won't catch it. But now is a troubled time, and the so-called troubled times must be recoded. If we don't get rid of these at the root, they will cause us more trouble in the future. ”

With an indifferent smile, Cao Shuo stood up.

He walked to the window and looked at Chaohu Lake in the distance, and said to Chen Gong and the others: "Once the general is successful, the bones are dry, and from the day I led the troops to fight, the soft-hearted Cao Shuo has already died. If I want to live and achieve meritorious deeds, I have to be ruthless! Anyone who dares to do evil in the territory under my jurisdiction and does not repent, will be killed! ”

Cao Shuo wanted to kill a water thief, and what he said was reasonable.

Chen Gong was not persuaded again, so he got up and responded: "Don't worry, Son, I will definitely not let one of the water thieves get away!" ”

Cao Shuo waved his hand, and Chen Gong and the others retreated.

Zhao Yun was about to leave with everyone, but Cao Shuo stopped him.

"What else does Childe command?" Zhao Yun asked.

"I don't have any orders." Cao Shuo said: "Recently, I have been planning to establish a standing army, who does Zilong think is the most suitable to lead? ”

"Me!" Zhao Yun replied without thinking about it.

"Zilong commands the Flying Bear Battalion, how can he be distracted from establishing a standing army?" Cao Shuo asked.

"The Flying Bear Camp can be taught to Wei Wenchang." Zhao Yun said: "He is good at martial arts, and he must be competent." ”

"Wen Chang is up to the task." Cao Shuo said: "I'm afraid that the Flying Bear Battalion will change its main general again......"

"I really can't think of a better person than me." Zhao Yun said: "Although Gongzi accepted General Lu, he didn't dare to let him go. General Lu never dared to ask Gongzi for military power, let alone such a thing as preparing for the establishment of a standing army. ”

"Zilong can actually see through such a thing." Cao Shuo said: "You are right, although General Lu is brave, I will not hand over the military power to him. It's not because I'm jealous of him, it's because I'm thinking about him. ”

Zhao Yun looked at Cao Shuo puzzled: "Childe is for General Lu......

"Burdened with the notoriety of the three family slaves, even if I give him the right to fight, will he dare to ask for it?" Cao Shuo said: "General Lu should know very well that once he leaves me, what awaits him will definitely be another defeat and capture. Come to Baimenlou again, but no other Cao Zirong will come forward to save him. Not giving military power is just a tacit understanding between the two of us. ”

"How does Childe plan to build a standing army?" Zhao Yun didn't ask more about Lu Bu, but asked Cao Shuo.

(End of chapter)