After the leader of the bandits was killed, the remaining bandits in the manor also surrendered one by one. After all, even the leader has been killed, what is the use of them resisting again? Of nearly 2,000 water bandits, only about 500 water bandits survived in the end, which was the reason why Hu Le ordered to stop the attack.

Because many of the righteous soldiers and soldiers in this operation were temporarily reorganized from the previous Li Jiashui bandits, they killed people, regardless of whether the other party surrendered or not. If it weren't for Hu Le's order, I was afraid that there would be few water bandits left in the manor.

"Remove all the things that can be removed in the manor, and with so many ships seized this time, you can't let them go back empty." Seeing that the battle was over, Hu Le issued a military order with a smile on his face.

Nearly 1,000 soldiers and hundreds of captives immediately began a big move to the Xu family manor. In addition to the thousands of sets of armor and equipment that had just been obtained from the Qi army, there was also this large amount of money and some cloth in the manor. These, naturally, have also become the trophies of the Jieyi Army.

After emptying the water bandits' supplies, Hu Le waved his hand, and the righteous soldiers who had already prepared immediately began to set fire. The raging fire suddenly rose, and the dazzling light of the fire illuminated the entire Xu Family Manor and its surrounding area for more than ten miles. Now it is late autumn, it is the time of dry weather, coupled with the fire oil thrown by the Jieyi army, supplemented by majesty, the Xu family manor soon became a big fire.

The Xu family manor is the nest of water bandits, which can gather 2,000 water bandits, and this manor covers an area of several miles. Under the blowing of the autumn wind, the fire continued to spread and spread, and finally the more and more intense fire light illuminated half of the sky. There were no other people living around the manor, so the rebels were not worried that the fire would harm the people.

"Withdraw!" Seeing that everything was over, Hu Le ordered coldly. More than 1,000 soldiers and prisoners quickly evacuated the tidal flats, boarded the captured warships directly, and sailed towards the eastern part of Taihu Lake.

The garrison of Wuxing County also discovered the situation here when the fire broke out in the Xu family manor. If it were on weekdays, these garrisons would naturally ignore it. Even if they had to go to investigate, they would have to wait until the next day, and they would never go out at night, for they knew very well who lived there. If it weren't for the fact that these bandits did not resist the government's domination and sent a lot of money and goods, I am afraid that they would have been surrounded and suppressed by the local garrison army long ago. Especially after the Jieyi army occupied the eastern waters of Taihu Lake, the number of garrison troops in the counties around Taihu Lake increased dramatically. Therefore, even the water bandits who could dominate the local area in the past, the counties and towns around the country are not afraid.

The general of the Wuxing County garrison was immediately shocked when he saw the fire in Xujia Manor. Although they were water bandits in the past, they are now the sailors of the Qi army. In addition, he also knew very well that the Xu family water bandits ambushed the envoys sent by the sailors of the Jieyi Army to persuade them to surrender. It is also clear that the people sent from above a few days ago are planning here to ambush the righteous army. Therefore, when the Xu family manor caught fire, the general of the garrison guessed that this must be the revenge of the Jieyi army.

The garrison of Wuxing County naturally couldn't ignore it, after all, it was the Qi army and the navy that had the problem. In addition, they had also planned to ambush the men and horses that the righteous army might come to retaliate against, but they didn't succeed. Therefore, when the Wuxing County garrison saw the current situation, it naturally could not sit idly by.

However, when the Wuxing County garrison arrived at the Xujia Manor, the people of the Jieyi Army had already disappeared without a trace, and the former Nuoda Manor had now become a raging flame.

"It's terrible, the sailor soldiers recruited by Lord Yan are gone......" Seeing this scene in front of him, the general of the Wuxing County Garrison, who knew the inside story, sighed. For Yan Mingfeng who was ordered to come to recruit water bandits, the local government of Wuxing County, which is close to the waters of Taihu Lake, naturally knows the inside story. What he didn't expect was that this was the first water bandit who was recruited by Yan Mingfeng on the land, and just like that, he was destroyed as soon as he was recruited.

The general of the garrison army in Wuxing County was not stupid, and immediately sent people to inspect the water camp of the Xujia water bandits to see if the warships that had been designated as the sailors of the Qi army were still there. The information he received confirmed his suspicion that these people were not ordinary people, but should be members of the Jieyi Army.

On Xiaoleishan Island, Yan Mingfeng, who had just successfully taken down the water bandits all the way, received a report from the Wuxing County garrison before he had time to be happy. After hearing the news, he almost didn't make Yan Mingfeng angry.

Before ambushing the general of the Jieyi Army, Yan Mingfeng guessed that he might get revenge from the Jieyi Army. Therefore, he also changed to stay in Wuxing County, spread his net and waited, preparing to take advantage of the surplus of land forces and the advantage of the opponent's home field, and wanted to ambush the opponent. Unexpectedly, after waiting for four or five days, the Jieyi Army was stunned and did not react. I thought that the Jieyi Army had given up revenge without an advantage, but I didn't expect that it would be counterattacked by the Jieyi Army in the blink of an eye. For Yan Mingfeng, this is completely a slap in the face in public.

"Have you found out where the rebels came from? How many people are involved in the operation? Don't tell me that you haven't even found out the slightest bit of information? Yan Mingfeng, who had returned to Wuxing County, asked Fu Xing, the general of the Wuxing County Garrison, with a gloomy face.

Fu Xing couldn't see Yan Mingfeng's annoyance at the moment, and hurriedly said: "General Hui, according to investigation, the people and horses of the righteous army in this section should be from the Li family in Donglou Town in the past. They used to be water bandits, and their strength was weaker than that of the Xu family. However, before the Jieyi Army said that they would surrender to the Xu family, they had already taken the Li family first. Presumably, adults also know that we have inspected the Li family in Donglou Town before. However, they have already escaped. There are more than 1,000 people in the action of the righteous army. Speaking of which, if it weren't for the righteousness of these water bandits of the Xu family, the people of the Jieyi Army would not be able to help them at all. ”

"Originally, as long as they held out for a while, the garrison of Wuxing County would be able to arrive, and at that time, there would be no problem at all in annihilating the other party. It's a pity that when the Jieyi Army attacked, the Xu family bandits were sleeping. In the end, the only people who could escape their lives were a few soldiers and a small leader who had just returned from Qinglou in Wuxing County. ”

"Now, we have found their lair, but at this moment, where has become a ruin, the Li family water bandits, up and down, have already moved with the Jieyi army a few days ago, it is estimated that they are heading to Wu County in the northeast."

"The Li family?" Yan Mingfeng's face couldn't help but be cold, after they ambushed the people who came to persuade the righteous army to surrender last time, they had already found out about the Li family, but the Li family had already abandoned their home, so Yan Mingfeng didn't care.

"So, I gave them armor and strong bows and crossbows, and they didn't use any of them, and all of them were cheaper? Hateful, this damn Xu Yangcheng, originally thought that he could make it happen, but he didn't expect it to be just a waste. As soon as he thought of the armor and equipment he provided them, the strong bows and crossbows, and the dozens of ballistas that were ready to be installed on the other party's ship, Yan Mingfeng hated it so much, fortunately, Xu Yangcheng was killed by the Jieyi army. Otherwise, even if he escapes with his life, I am afraid that Yan Mingfeng will not let him go.

"My lord, not only the armor and equipment you provided before, but also the more than 100 large and small ships docked in the small inner lake in the north, they were also captured by the Jieyi Army and became the things of the Jieyi Army."

As soon as Fu Xing said this, the annoyance in Yan Mingfeng's heart was even worse. Those small boats are just that, but there are also building ships and armed merchant ships. Even if they recruited several water bandits this time, they did not have large building ships. Of course, Xu Yangcheng's ability to own Lou Chuan is also related to his in-law relationship with the original county governor of Wuxing County. This building boat is also a remnant of the former Taihu Lake sailors. Of course, the sailors at that time were not the Qi army, but the Great Yan Imperial Court.

"Du Zirong, no one in this area knows better than you who cross the waters, you say, after these people attack the Xu family, where will they evacuate?" Yan Mingfeng looked back and asked Du Zirong, the leader of the largest one road among the newly recruited bandits.

"They took the Li family with them, as well as the seized booty, and the biggest possibility at this moment is to turn back to the north. However, because there are other water bandits in the north, and the other party has a lot of property and family, the people of the Jieyi Army will not easily go north in a straight line, so it is very likely that they will be coveted by the major water bandits in the middle of Taihu Lake. In addition, the people of the Jieyi Army should also know that our Qi army is also recruiting water bandits in the center of Taihu Lake. Therefore, it is very likely that the other party will first go east, along the land along the lake, and go north. ”

"Heading north? Very good, I just recruited four water bandits, and none of them are weak with the Li family. Since they detoured to the north and brought their families with them, then, this time, I want them all to be buried in Taihu Lake. Against us, they dared to run to the territory under the jurisdiction of our Qi army to persuade the surrender of the people, and the hand of the Jieyi army was stretched too long. ”

Hu Le and others killed the Xu family, the significance of which Yan Mingfeng was very clear. If you can't give the other party a sharp counterattack, then it will be much more difficult for the Qi army to recruit water bandits. This is very unfavorable for Yan Mingfeng. The Jieyi Army did this, not only to retaliate, but also to give other bandits a deterrent? It's okay if you don't want to return to the rebel army, but if you want to join the Qi army, then you can see the fate of the Kaxu family before making a decision.

"Your Excellency wants to pursue these righteous troops who attacked the Xu family? They have been evacuated for three days, and they are only afraid of ......" Fu Xing, the general of the Wuxing County Garrison, frowned and said, "I'm afraid that it will not be easy to catch up with them." ”

Yan Mingfeng said coldly: "They want to detour north, and we only need to intercept it horizontally." Plus, we're no less populated than they are. In contrast, I fear that they will flee eastward to the western waters of Jiaxing County to the east. After all, it was the territory of the Jieyi Army, and if the other party came ashore from where, that would be the most unfavorable situation. ”

Du Zirong said with a smile: "My lord, rest assured, since this is the action of the Jieyi Army's sailors, especially since the other party has captured so many warships this time, they will definitely not dock in the west of Jiaxing County, but will rush north to join the Jieyi Army's sailors." Although the western part of Jiaxing County is close to Taihu Lake, the waters there are not suitable for docking large ships because of several natural disasters and floods, which have caused the accumulation of silt, and the Jieyi Army has not built a wharf there, so these ships still have to go north. ”

Yan Mingfeng said coldly: "Okay, that's the case, General Ben will have a meeting with them to see what kind of courage the sailors of the righteous army have eaten, and dare to be so presumptuous in the area under the jurisdiction of our Qi army." Du Zirong, you and a few others immediately gather the fleet under their command and pursue with General Ben. In addition, the news that the Jieyi Army team raided the Xu family's lair and robbed all the property and warships of the Xu family's water bandits was spread. Encourage them to attack the small group of the Jieyi Army, and tell them that they should not be afraid of the retaliation of the Jieyi Army, and our army can accept them. ”

Yan Mingfeng was determined to take down the other party this time, so he immediately ordered Du Zirong and other four water bandits to converge together, and while sending a fast boat to check the location of Hu Le and others, he ran straight to the east, preparing to pursue the Li family and others who had already evacuated.

Hu Le and the others are indeed heading east, and as Du Zirong said, they are indeed worried that there will be a large number of bandits attacking them. This raid on the Xu family manor yielded a lot. There are more than 100 warships alone. Of course, most of them were fishing and cargo ships, and a few were armed merchant ships and naval warships.

One night had passed, and it was already the fourth day of their evacuation. Hu Le rested in the cabin for a while, and when he woke up, he saw a faint morning light coming in through the cracks in the ship's plank, and immediately turned over. Although there have been no attacks by large groups of bandits in the past few days, some fleets of bandits have also appeared in the vicinity. This made Hu Le a little worried, because there were too many things on the warship, and there were not enough soldiers and sailors. Even if five hundred bandits were absorbed, there would not be enough men on each ship.

"How's it going, are the statistics out?" Looking at the smiles on the faces of Li Mingjie, Xu Wenle and others, Hu Le asked with a smile.

"According to statistics, there are more than 130 large and small ships, of which 22 can be used as naval warships, and the rest can only be used for civilian use. In addition, more than 300 soldiers and armor were seized, 500 bows and arrows, more than 20,000 arrows, more than 100 crossbows, and 15 crossbow machines. In addition, we have obtained more than 300 pieces of fine cloth and more than 600 pieces of other kinds of cloth. and silver and gold, two hundred and thirty thousand taels. Ha ha...... General, this time, we are rich. Xu Wenle said with a smile.

Hu Le said in a deep voice: "It's a fortune, but these things belong to us when they arrive at the Navy Master's camp." ”

Li Mingjie said in a deep voice: "The general is worried that someone will attack us? No, we are thirsty to death and hang the banner of the Righteous Army, these bandits want to act, but they have to weigh it. ”

Hu Le said in a condensed voice: "Wealth is moving! The news of our attack on the Xu family will definitely spread quickly, and they will definitely know about all the property of the Xu family. Don't look at the number of ships in our fleet now, but many of them are small ships and don't pose much of a threat. In addition, we don't have many soldiers, and we also have families. Against the enemy, not only must you fight the enemy, but also protect these old and weak women and children and these craftsmen. ”

"The reason why these bandits didn't attack us in the past is because we didn't have the interest of letting them do it. We take action against the Xu family, how many people and horses, these water bandits must also be clear. Even the news of the day did not leak at all. However, the ships that have come and gone in the past few days have also made our situation clear. ”

"If these water bandits attack us, and then flee to the west of Taihu Lake, or directly join the Qi army and gather in one place, even if the water division is dispatched, it will be very troublesome. So, we can't afford to be careless. ”

"In addition, in addition to these water bandits, there is also the Qi army. Why did the Xu family ambush us? That's because they have already taken refuge in the Qi army. This also shows that the people who came to recruit the water bandits from the Qi army have already appeared in Wuxing County and the central waters of Taihu Lake. We attacked the Xu family bandits this time, although we deterred the water bandits from all walks of life who wanted to attack us and take refuge in the Qi army, but we didn't give the Qi army a slap. You say, how can the people of the Qi army be willing? ”

"That's why the general didn't go north at once, but sailed east in the coastal waters?"

"Yes, if that is not possible, we can have these small boats transport these old and infirm women and children and craftsmen ashore or to the shallow waters. After all, most armed merchant ships can't get close to shallow water. In this way, it can also reduce the pressure for us to face the battle. Hu Le explained with a smile.

Li Mingjie frowned, and said in a deep voice: "In this way, the old and weak women and children in the fleet and those craftsmen have not delayed our comprehensive strength to meet the enemy. ”

When Hu Le saw Li Mingjie's face, he knew that he was worried about the Li family's family, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, even if these people want to act, it will have to wait for us to start heading north." Don't forget, now we are approaching the western part of Jiaxing County, which is under the jurisdiction of the Righteous Army. Although the army here could not support us, the supplies and families we intercepted could be transported ashore by small boats. In addition, here we can also replenish our shortage of sailors and non-commissioned officers. As he spoke, Hu Le's face turned cold, "If you want to attack us, you have to knock out their big teeth." ”

"Does the general want to relocate the ship's supplies and family members by land to replenish the troops? No wonder we headed straight to the east. Li Mingjie couldn't help but feel relieved.

Hu Le said in a deep voice: "From the recent increase in the number of boats coming and going, it can be seen that many sailors have received the news of our operation, and many people want to attack our idea. This was done not only for the sake of the old and weak women and children and craftsmen who could not participate in the war on the ship, but also to let the bandits know that the money in it had been transported ashore. We are not afraid of confronting the Qi army, but it will be disadvantageous for us to have more enemies after all. ”

"What we need is to be hostile to the Qi army, to surrender the bandits from all walks of life, not to force them to the side of the Qi army. In addition, in the central waters of Taihu Lake, the strength of many water bandits is not small. If we let them join the Qi army, it will be very bad for us. ”