Cao Cuishan never expected his son to go to the county to move the rescuers, but the rescuers came, but his son was beaten and covered in blood, and the ropes were tied and brought to the door of the house. No matter how firm Cao Cuishan's opposition to the People's Party is, he is, after all, just a local landlord. Seeing such a formation, Cao Cuishan no longer dared to open the door to welcome the official army, he couldn't control his son's life or death. Let the family close the door tightly, Cao Cuishan felt his heart fluttering. He clutched his chest and ordered, "Hurry up and hide the things!" ”

More than 500 regular Beiyang troops were not in a hurry, they surrounded the Cao family's courtyard in an orderly and airtight manner, and the Cao family's family guards also lost the will to resist. Cao Cuishan's chaotic mind was completely thinking about how his son Cao Yifeng had offended the boss of the Beiyang Army, he didn't expect that the Beiyang Army was supposed to come to suppress the "Diao Min" who advocated defecting to the People's Party, but after they arrived at Cao's shop, they didn't care about Diao Min's affairs at all, but went straight to the Cao family's compound. Because the Cao family was completely besieged, Cao Cuishan could not be seen, and after the villagers saw the Beiyang Army rushing into the village with great momentum, those "Diao Min" who advocated defecting to the People's Party had already dragged their families and began to flee.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are all our own people. Don't get me wrong, don't get me wrong. Cao Cuishan didn't dare to open the door, so he shouted in a trembling voice inside the door.

"Since it's your own person, what is it that you keep the door closed, Mrs. Cao? Is this anti-thief? The Beiyang Army outside shouted angrily.

It is true that keeping the Beiyang Army out of the door is not a way of hospitality, but the way of hospitality must first be determined that the guests are coming, and as far as the Beiyang Army is so fierce and vicious, no matter how you look at it, it is not a guest, but a group of evil ghosts who come to the door. Moreover, these evil ghosts did not have the humility and prudence of the guests, and when they saw that the Cao family did not open the door, someone had already smashed the door with the butt of a gun. The gate was sturdy, and there was no sign of it opening after a dozen smashes. So the slamming of the door stopped amid the shouts of people outside to stop it.

Before Cao Cuishan could catch his breath, he heard a dull sound coming from the door, and someone began to kick the door. Leaning on the sturdy latch, the Beiyang army outside kicked more than a dozen feet and did not kick open the door. However, Cao Cuishan has been able to determine that this matter will definitely not be good. At this time, everyone else hid in the house, Cao Cuishan's wife was so frightened that her eyes were full of tears, she staggered over and grabbed Cao Cuishan's arm, crying: "Master, what's going on outside?" Aren't we from Beiyang, why did the Beiyang Army fight? ”

"What to cry about! What about funeral? Cao Cuishan shouted. was drunk like this, even if Cao Cuishan's wife was panicked, she didn't dare to shout anything.

After straightening his clothes, Cao Cuishan said to the family: "Open the door." ”

No one moved, everyone in the Cao family looked at Cao Cuishan with surprised eyes, if you don't open the door, you can still hold on for a while, if you open the door, God knows what will happen.

Seeing that his family didn't move, Cao Cui shouted at the door: "Ladies and gentlemen, wait a while, I'll open the door immediately." He walked in the direction of the gate himself. Although Cao Cuishan didn't know what the Beiyang Army outside meant, there was no difference between opening the door early and opening it later. If there is a difference, it is also to take the initiative to open the door to save face a little. If the Beiyang Army outside tore their faces and rushed in, it would be even more unscrupulous.

As soon as the latch was unfastened, the door was slammed open from the outside. Cao Cuishan's skills were not bad, and he retreated a few steps and was finally not overwhelmed by the swarming Beiyang Army. The Beiyang Army, carrying guns one by one, rushed impatiently from the gate into the courtyard. Then when he saw the house, he went in, and when he entered, he forcibly dragged out all the people in the house, men, women, and children. The men's pleading, the women's screams, and the children's cries filled the courtyard of the Cao family in a moment.

Soon, the people of the Cao family were gathered in the middle of the courtyard, and a group of soldiers were half-holding rifles at these people. And the soldiers who had blocked the gate of the courtyard at one time quickly made way for a passage. Outside, a tall officer, wearing a cyan military uniform and a battalion commander's rank badge, strode in.

Even if he saw the Beiyang Army rushing in, Cao Cuishan could still hold on. However, after seeing this person, especially after seeing this person's eyes, Cao Cuishan felt a chill in his heart. It was a pair of sharp triangular eyes, and it was a little out of tune on a round face. However, the expression on the man's face, the sharp gaze, were full of power, and there was an indescribable anger. The commander of the Beiyang Army gave Cao Cuishan the feeling that he was an unscrupulous poisonous snake, so he entered the gate of the Cao family greedily and attentively.

"You're Mrs. Cao, right?" The battalion commander of the Beiyang Army had a Shandong accent.

"It's a contemptible person, but it's not what this boss is called?" Cao Cuishan hurriedly said respectfully.

"His surname is Hu, and his name is Hu Chuankui." The battalion commander said without hesitation.

"Battalion Commander Hu, this ......" Cao Cuishan originally thought that the battalion commander of the Beiyang Army would at least dare not protect his family, but he didn't expect that people would tell his name generously. On weekdays, this is a friendly approach, but the Beiyang Army rushed into Cao's house like a wolf, which gave Cao Cuishan a sense of ominousness.

"Master Cao, I heard that your son-in-law is also the battalion commander of the Beiyang Army. Since this is the case, I might as well say bluntly that there are rules for our Beiyang Army to send troops. The opening fee is ten oceans, the marching fee is two oceans, and the tea fee is two oceans. When there is a war, you have to pay five yuan in advance to take care of the aftermath. According to you, this Cao family shop is just a rebellion against the people. We don't need to talk about the money to buy our lives. This time we have a total of 500 brothers, and before we came, our brigade commander said that this is a matter in the county, and the county has to pay for it. The county order said that since it was Mrs. Cao, what you said, the county order could not help but give face. However, there is no money in the county, and this money still has to be paid by Mrs. Cao. The brother of the accompanying county magistrate can prove it. ”

After Hu Chuankui finished speaking, he beckoned to a tax collector next to him. The tax collector hurriedly stepped forward, first arched his hand to Cao Cuishan, and the tax collector said: "Master Cao, after your young master saw our county order, the county commander specially said that this time the Beiyang Army must spend money, and this cost can be paid by your Cao family." Your young master has repeatedly promised. The county magistrate specifically said that the cost would not be small, and your young master still agreed. You see, this is your young master's paper, as well as the question of the county order, which is clearly written on it. Your young master drew a charge. ”

After speaking, the tax collector took out an official document and handed it to Cao Cuishan. After Cao Cuishan heard this, he completely understood what was going on, and the county order let the Cao family bear all the money that should have been borne by himself, and tricked his son through the situation of the official document. I took the official document and opened it, and sure enough, it was so. The words of the county magistrate sound as if they were just a meaning, such as "reward" and "labor army", but the county magistrate shrewdly used the words "remuneration must be decided by the Beiyang Army" in the official document. Cao Yifeng's fingerprints were also pressed on this sentence. Cao Cuishan was annoyed at first, how could his son be so stupid. But after thinking about it, since the county order was intent on tricking people from the beginning, I am afraid that this was not said to Cao Yifeng at all, but it was written on the official document. Where Cao Yifeng dared to question the official document of the county order, he naturally asked him to press his handprint as he wanted.

Seeing the angry expression on Cao Cuishan's face, Hu Chuankui didn't wait for Cao Cuishan to say anything, he opened his mouth and said, "Master Cao, you must think that I am not close to people. However, there is no rule without rules, there is such a rule in our Beiyang Army, everyone takes money to do things, and takes money to sell their lives. Otherwise, so many brothers ran back and forth for a hundred and ten miles, what is the picture? Mrs. Cao, you think that I will take money from you, but you have to think clearly, your young master still needs to take money when he sends troops in other places. Rules are rules, and it's the same everywhere. ”

Hu Chuankui's tone was sincere and serious, and it could even be said to be sonorous and powerful. Those Beiyang Army under Hu Chuankui were originally trying to make a profit, but now after listening to Hu Chuankui's words, the guilt brought by the conscience of the idea in his heart has dissipated cleanly. I feel that everything I do is quite moral.

Although Cao Cuishan is absolutely unwilling to be blackmailed by Hu Chuankui, he is only dissatisfied with the fact that he was blackmailed, but he does not object to what Hu Chuankui said at all. Cao Cuishan let his son join the Beiyang Army for the purpose of serving the country loyally, Cao Cuishan did not have the concept of the country in his mind at all, although Yuan Shikai was the president, but in Cao Cuishan's eyes, he was just a big official, not a holy emperor at all. The reason for defecting to Beiyang is only that Beiyang is the biggest force in Hebei, and the People's Party's land reform policy sounds scary. Since letting his son be a soldier is completely for profit, Hu Chuankui opened his mouth about interests and closed his mouth about interests, which also met Cao Cuishan's appetite.

However, it is one thing to agree with Hu Chuankui's attitude, and it is another thing to refuse to pay money. Cao Cuishan would never be stupid enough to take out the money. Don't say anything about the opening fee of ten yuan for one person, Cao Cuishan feels that ten yuan is too much for a Beiyang army. So Cao Cuishan was not moved at all, just stood there without saying a word.

At this time, there has to be a round out, the tax collector obviously plays such a role, he saw that the situation was deadlocked, and hurriedly stepped forward and smiled: "Master Cao, the sun is so poisonous outside, we don't have to stand under the sun to talk." Otherwise, let's go inside and talk. ”

Hu Chuankui just smiled after hearing this, since the people of the Cao family in the house had been arrested, he also walked towards the main house unceremoniously. The two tax collectors didn't care whether Cao Cuishan was willing or not, and dragged Cao Cuishan into the main house. After the men had entered, the tax collector closed the door and left the group in the courtyard.

PS: There is one more shift before 12 o'clock.