The two beggars were overjoyed, stood up together, bowed and bowed, and thanked them without saying anything. Hu Shuan turned and walked into the inner room, and took out a small shovel. The shovel is narrow and long, the shovel body is curled, the shovel head is rounded, very sharp, he said to the two beggars: "This is the general tomb robber used to probe the location of the tomb, straight down, dig out a small circular hole, can be more than a foot deep, when you dig the tunnel, you must first use it to survey the terrain, choose the soft soil to dig, otherwise you will encounter hard soil and stubborn stone sections, you will definitely give up all your efforts." ”

"Okay," the bald man took the shovel, "and I'll turn around and put a long wooden handle on it." ”

"Also," said Hu Xuan, "when digging, you must use a small shovel, which is not longer than your waist, choose the path with a small shovel, use a small shovel to dig the earth, and transport it away with a cloth bag, and at the same time, make several triangular wooden frames in advance to support the cave and prevent it from collapsing." This matter is simple to say, but it is not easy in practice, and if you want me to say, you had better practice for two days first, master your skills, and then start. ”

"Yes, we must, thank you, Master Hu."

He Yuan said to Hu Xuan: "I think, you can guide them." ”

The two beggars were overjoyed and looked at Hu Xuan, who thought about it and nodded, "Okay, tomorrow outside the city, you can find a secluded place." ”

5

The place where the beggars were looking was really remote, next to a swamp overgrown with weeds, was a wasteland with crops growing for a few miles, Hu Shu, Shi Suo, and He Yuan, under the leadership of the bald head, came to this place and found that there were hundreds of beggars gathered here.

"You're really strong." He Yuan said with a smile.

"Hehe," the bald head scratched his bare head, "everyone knows that Gai is in trouble, desperate, and just wants to snatch people out, no matter whether this thing is successful or not, Master Hu, the kindness of a few of you, so that the flowers will never forget." ”

A tall beggar in his thirties, who seemed to be a leader, commanded everyone to go to the sentry, choose the terrain, and prepare the equipment, he introduced himself to Hu Xuan: "My name is Duan Laosan, Master Hu, you can afford to call Huazi, help us, if there is a dispatch in the future, everyone will go in the water and in the fire, and there will be no two words." ”

"Now, the officials and bandits are oppressing, everyone can't survive, and there are more and more poor people and people called Huazi," Hu Xuan said: "You don't have a master Hu, call me Xiao Hu, I call you Brother Duan, or Lao Duan." ”

"Okay."

Duan Laosan chose more than a dozen people with a stronger physique, and Hu Xuan concentrated on teaching surveying, digging holes, transporting soil, brackets and other techniques, and He Yuan sat next to him, chatting with Duan Laosan and others with a cigarette pouch and pot. He found that although Duan Laosan was a beggar, he had good thinking and eloquence, a flexible mind, and a keen response, and he was really a talent. According to his own account, he used to be a merchant, but he was sacked by soldiers and horses, and he fell ill, so he fell into despair. Between the words, the analysis and judgment of current affairs are incisive, which surprised He Yuan.

"You should come out and do big things." He Yuan said.

Duan Laosan sighed, "In these years, it is lucky to be able to live, and the ambitions of the early years have been exhausted. ”

He Yuan also found that these beggars, the organization and discipline are very good, everyone does things, unite as one, and obey orders, especially to the "head of the cap" who was arrested, loyal, talking about him, all are admiration, according to the beggars, the head of the cover is a scholarly family, because he was framed, the family was ruined, squatted in prison, and luckily picked a life, he usually understands everyone's suffering, takes care of the weak, and is willing to stand up for his subordinates, so he is deeply supported by the beggars.

After practicing for a day, Duan Laosan was still not satisfied, and decided to practice for another day, in order to save time, Hu Xuan and the other three slept in the grass nest with the beggars.

In the afternoon of the next day, Duan Laosan decided to act, and everyone marched to the city one after another. Several beggars pushed two firewood and straw carts, pretended to be going into the city to sell firewood, hid their tools in the carts, ran to the pre-reconnoitred location, and set up an ambush. He Yuan, Hu Xuan, and Shi Suo also asked to act with them, Duan Laosan thought for a while, nodded and agreed, and ordered the beggars: "If you encounter danger and fight for our lives, you have to let Lao He Xiaohu and them run out." ”

"Of course, does that need to be said?" The beggars said one after another.

Night gradually fell, but fortunately, there was no martial law in the city, so the Hanako were divided into several locations and quietly prepared. He Yuan himself had been arrested by the police, and knowing the terrain in the police station, he and Hu Xuan walked twice outside the backyard wall of the police station, determined the location of the prison, discussed it with Duan Laosan, and hid behind a row of big trees on the side of the road.

In the middle of the moon, the city gradually quieted down, and it was dark far and near, except for a few houses, lit by lights, and most of them were silent in the dark. Duan Laosan walked out of the corner, inspected several sentry and liaison personnel, and then waved his hand, and the beggars began to act.

Two strong men held small shovels that were more than a foot long, and poked hard at the ground, poking a hole a few feet deep after a while, Duan Laosan kept instructing, "Be careful, light, don't make a sound." ”

The other two beggars held small shovels and began to dig along the path, and the excavated soil was transported to the side in time. He Yuan was satisfied, and the beggars were like a well-trained army, and the entrance of the cave quickly extended diagonally downward.

Shi Suo also participated in digging the soil, he was strong, the labor speed was worth two or three people, digging to more than one person, it could only accommodate one person to work, everyone scrambled, according to the arrangement of Duan Laosan, shift work hard, the autumn night was cool, but everyone would see sweat for a while.

Because of the reasonable arrangement, the labor efficiency is very high, and by midnight, the cave has been dug into the ground of the cell and began to extend upward, Duan Laosan instructed: "Light, light, don't let the upper side hear." ”

Finally, according to Hu Shu's measurements, the hole should have been dug under the prison, and it was estimated that it was less than a foot above the ground, and it could collapse at any time, and Shi Suo said: "I will dig these last few shovels, the situation above is unknown now, and we must be ready for war." ”

"I'll go." The bald man rolled up his sleeves, "Stone lock, you dodge, you are a guest, how can I let you go." ”

"I'll go, I'll go." The beggars rushed up.

Seeing this scene, He Yuan and Hu Xuan's hearts were warm, and Duan Laosan separated from everyone, "It's my turn, you guys are ready to respond." ”

In the cave, a candle was lit, Duan Laosan held a small shovel alone, shoveled the soil upward, just shoveled two shovels, and on the top of his head, a large piece of earth and earth stones, slammed down, Rao was prepared, or was smashed dizzy, the corners of his forehead were scratched, and the blood flowed down, he didn't care about these, gritted his teeth, grew up, and drilled out of the cave under the support of the stone lock behind.

Above, it was also dark, and nothing could be seen, but it was vaguely distinguishable that this was a room, and Duan Laosan said softly: "Who is here?" Is Gago not there? ”

"I'm here." A familiar voice came from the corner.

Duan Lao Sansan was overjoyed, "Let's go, Brother Gai, the brothers have come to save you." ”

"I know," the voice was very calm, "we've heard the sound of digging down there, and I guess this is it." Brother Lin, you go first. ”

How come there is still a Lin brother? Duan Laosan didn't have time to think about this, he retracted into the cave, and then, several figures followed him from above, and the stone locks and bald heads in the cave also quickly retracted outside the cave, and a long line of figures came out of the cave.

Soon, the figure of Gai Tou and the other two people came out of the cave, Hu Xuan and the others took a closer look, and Gai Tou was not tall, thin, and really looked like a scholar. Under the moonlight, his complexion looked very calm.

Coming out in front of Gai Tuo's head and body were two young men, in the night, they looked a little familiar, Hu Shuo came to them, looked at them with wide eyes, couldn't help but be taken aback, and shouted: "Xiaolin." ”

These two people are the Hunan college student Xiaolin and his classmates who were rescued when he and Shi Suo were in Baoding.

Although surprised, but at this time everyone had no time to talk in detail, the beggars hurriedly hugged the three people rescued, according to the deployment of Duan Laosan in advance, took out the wooden frame in the pit, and put it into the firewood and grass cart together with other tools, and more than a dozen people divided into several batches, opened the distance, and hurried out of the city.

Behind him, only a black thief hole remained.