It turned out that Zhao Hua left the Zeng family compound with his front foot, and Zeng Fengxian acted urgently with his back foot. He called the housekeeper and the eldest wife, asked them to quickly pack up the gold and silver of the whole family, put them into several large boxes, and asked people to put the carriage in place, and he took his eldest wife, two sons and several cronies to board the car, and took advantage of the night to hurriedly escape from the mulberry garden.

Zeng Fengxian fled, and the family exploded. In addition to the eldest wife and son who were taken away by him, he also has a few concubines at home, they heard that Zeng Fengxian absconded in fear of crime, although they didn't know what the crime was, but they also understood that it was more auspicious to stay, so they hurriedly found someone to set up a car, and prepared to escape back to their parents' house overnight. When the servants and servants saw that their master had run away, they all planned to flee because they had no reason to stay and be faithful. Of course, before escaping, they did not forget to "Shun" something valuable. For a while, the entire Zeng family's yard was in chaos.

Outside the courtyard wall of Zeng's house, He Bencheng, the newly promoted chief flag officer, and more than a dozen soldiers of the survey battalion were lying in the dark, observing the movements inside and outside the courtyard. As soon as Zeng Fengxian's carriage went out, the soldiers had already seen it, Xiong Minfan pointed at each other and said, "Lao He, look, come out!" ”

He Bencheng sneered and said, "As expected by Vice President Qian, this old guy really escaped." ”

"Lao He, I see that this carriage is very heavy, but I am afraid that Zeng Fengxian loaded all the silver taels of the family into the car, and if we don't intercept it, we will let him run away." Xiong Minfan said.

He Bencheng pricked up his ears and listened to the sound of the wheels rolling across the ground, and said regretfully: "But isn't it, this is at least a few thousand taels of silver to make the sound of the wheels so muffled." ”

"Then why don't we hurry up?" Xiong Minfan said.

He Bencheng said: "You are confused, Vice Qian always has an order to put a long line to catch big fish." Daochang Chen has already inquired in the past few days, this Zeng Fengxian has something to do with the local strongman, he ran out with the silver, and he must have gone to find a strongman to stand up for him. Think about it, his family has more than 3,000 acres of land, can he be willing to leave like this? Vice President Qian's meaning is to let him run, let him call someone, and then let's give him a pot of stew. ”

"However, Qian always asks us to keep an eye on the Zeng family's ......," Xiong Min said sneeringly. The Qian he said was Su Hao, and the deputy Qian was Deng Kui, Su Hao's instructions to them were to keep an eye on the Zeng family, and Deng Kui secretly gave them an order to let the tiger return to the mountain. Two voices appeared above, and Xiong Minfan's brain was a little insufficient.

After all, He Bencheng has a higher level and has a deeper understanding of the leader's intentions. He said: "Did Mr. Qian let us stop Zeng Fengxian? ”

"Not really." Xiong Min Fan said.

"That's right, since Mr. Qian didn't let us stop him, then let's let him run. With more than 3,000 acres of land left here, are you still afraid that he won't come back? He Bencheng said.

Xiong Minfan sighed heavily and said nothing.

The carriage that Zeng Fengxian was sitting in gradually moved away, and at this time, the Zeng family's compound also began to be noisy. Someone opened the courtyard door and ran out with the package. He Bencheng waved his hand and shouted, "Brothers, go on, don't let one run away." ”

Xiong Minfan and the others had been waiting for this order for a long time, and before He Bencheng's words fell, everyone rushed out of their hiding place, their spears shining in the moonlight, and rushed straight to the front and back doors of Zeng's house.

"Stop, where to go!"

Xiong Minfan yelled, and a concubine of the Zeng family who had just run out of the courtyard screamed in fright, threw her burden, and knelt on the ground.

"A good man spares his life!" The little concubine shouted, this black light is blind, and she can't see who it is, she just thinks she has met a strong man.

"Don't move, I'll stab you to death if you move!" Xiong Minfan waved his spear and shook it in front of the concubine, then threw her down and rushed into the Zeng family's compound through the open courtyard gate, and the rest of the soldiers followed behind Xiong Minfan and rushed in. The last person to go in took the concubine who fled for her life back and threw her in the courtyard.

"The officers and soldiers are on errands, all stand still for me!" The soldiers raised their spears and shouted in unison.

The people who were rushing to grab things in the courtyard were all stunned, and all kinds of porcelain, calligraphy and paintings fell to the ground crackling. A slower-minded family member subconsciously wanted to dig out the guy to resist, but before the knife was raised, Xiong Minfan had already rushed forward, raised his spear and landed him firmly on the door.

"Ahh The women screamed in horror when they saw blood spurting from the family's chest. All the people were suppressed, and no one dared to defy the law. The Zeng family's family is also majestic in Zhuangzi on weekdays, but in front of the regular army, they do not have any will to resist. He Bencheng only brought a dozen people with him, and he successfully controlled the situation.

"All men, go back to their houses, and do not go about at will. Light all the candles in your house, you guys. Tonight, those who dare to resist, flee or make a noise will be killed! He Bencheng loudly announced the ban to the people of the Zeng family.

When Su Hao and Deng Kui got the report and came to Zeng's house, they saw a thick candle lit in the courtyard every few steps, illuminating everywhere, and even a mouse could be seen running by. Several soldiers stood around the courtyard, and some patrolled back and forth with spears.

Corresponding to the bright appearance in the courtyard, all the houses that live in it are dark, and if you listen carefully, you can't hear the sound of sleeping and snoring, but there are some small movements. Su Hao knew that this was the people in the house who couldn't sleep and were sneaking into the courtyard. A few children were so frightened that they began to cry, and when the mother hurriedly covered the child with a quilt, she was afraid that the cry would anger the officers and soldiers outside and cause trouble.

"Zhao Yashi, Zeng Fengxian absconded in fear of crime, how should this matter be handled?" Su Hao turned his head and asked Zhao Hua, who was following behind.

Ever since he heard that Zeng Feng ran away first, Zhao Hua's legs and stomach have been trembling. He didn't know if Su Hao would put this responsibility on his head, saying that he had come to report to Zeng Fengxian. Indeed, he came to Zeng Fengxian on Su Hao's orders, but Zeng Fengxian ran away, Su Hao could not admit that he had sent Zhao Hua, similar to this kind of thing that made his subordinates top the tank, Zhao Hua has seen a lot.

"Master Su, I really don't know about this. I came to talk to Zeng Fengxian at your behest, this is ......" Zhao Hua pointed at Zhou Ruyuan and Deng Kui, wanting to say that they could testify against him, but the words came to his lips and swallowed back. These two people are Su Hao's subordinates, how can they testify for him.

Su Hao patted Zhao Hua on the shoulder with a smile and said, "Zhao Yashi don't have to be afraid, Zeng Fengxian's absconding has nothing to do with you, you did come to talk to Zeng Fengxian on my orders, it was Zeng Fengxian who had a ghost in his heart and fled when he heard the wind." I'll make this clear to the prefect. ”

"Thank you, Su, thank you." Zhao Hua thanked him repeatedly, the knots in his heart were eliminated, and he returned to the role of the official again: "Master Su, for things like this, all the families of the sinners should be brought back to the yamen for questioning, and the property in this family should be sealed on the spot and wait for the government to dispose of it." ”

"Well, that's right." Su Hao said, "However, it is too troublesome for so many people to be brought back to the official mansion, so let them stay at home." Zhou Juren! ”

"In!" Zhou Ruyuan stepped forward and agreed.

Su Hao said: "You immediately draft a document, report it to the prefect, explain what happened here, and ask the Huai'an Mansion to send someone to investigate." By the way, it is written in the article that the Andong County Ya has sent Zhao Hua, a government officer, to assist in handling the case here, and he is very conscientious. ”

"Yes!" Zhou Ruyuan answered, and then found a place to write official documents.

Su Hao turned back to Zhao Hua and said, "Zhao Yashi, this matter of sealing property is not familiar to the official, you can take a few brothers to do it now." It's the middle of the night, I've worked hard for you. ”

"It's not hard, it's not hard!" Zhao Hua said repeatedly, Su Hao didn't trouble him because of Zeng Fengxian's matter, Zhao Hua was already very content, and doing some work all night was nothing.

After arranging everything, Su Hao and Deng Kui came to the largest living room of the Zeng family and listened to the report of He Bencheng and the others who came in with them.

"You just watched Zeng Fengxian take away his son and the gold and silver fines?" After listening to He Bencheng's narration, Su Hao asked with a smile.

He Bencheng understood from Su Hao's attitude that Su Hao was in favor of them doing this, and he was relieved, he said: "Qianhu, the will you gave us, let us keep an eye on the Zeng family, and don't let the grass startle the snake, so we didn't stop him." ”

"Old Deng, that's what you mean, right?" Su Hao asked Deng Kui.

Deng Kui said: "Qianhu, this matter is indeed what I told He Zongqi to do this. I heard Chen Daochang say that Zeng Fengxian's people have a lot to do with the local strongmen, and after we confronted Zeng Fengxian the day before yesterday, he also sent his cronie Zeng Gui to Wujiagou, which should be to contact the bandit Pang Dengkui. The subordinates want to let him out, let him attract the strongman, let's catch it all and never have trouble. ”

"But if the strongman comes, will we be able to withstand it?" Su Hao asked.

Deng Kui patted his chest and said: "Qianhu rest assured, our more than 200 people, after the training of veteran Xu, have begun to bear fruit." If the thieves are below 300, my old Deng will definitely be able to let them come and go. According to what Chen Daochang learned, Pang Dengkui's bandit nest is about 100 people, including the old, weak, sick and disabled, and we don't need to be afraid at all. ”

"But this war hurts a thousand people and eight hundred. Our survey camp is engaged in surveying and mapping, and if it is damaged in the war, wouldn't it be a pity? Su Hao asked again.

Deng Kui said disappreciatively: "Qianhu, how can there be an army that doesn't fight? Our survey camp is engaged in surveying and mapping, but there is enough white rice every day, and there is meat every other day, which team can eat as well as us? If the strong soldiers who are fed in this way do not go into battle to fight, it will be a pity. Now recruit a bunch of bandits to come over, let the brothers open the meat, practice their courage, and then they can be used in the future. ”

"You did it on purpose, didn't you?" Su Hao said with a smile, "I remember that when I was in Luoshan, Fengcheng, you and Hao Tong took your brothers to suppress bandits and train troops, do you want to do it again?" ”

Deng Kui also smiled and asked in a low voice: "Qianhu, although you didn't say it, according to the guesses of your subordinates, you also want to let Zeng Feng run out first, don't you?" You also approve of my method of recruiting bandits and training soldiers, right? ”

Su Hao waved his hand and said, "It's not because I want to train that I acquiesced to letting you go Zeng Fengxian. I think that there are more than one or two powerful landlords like Zeng Fengxian in Huai'an Mansion. We have provoked Zeng Fengxian now, and there will be Zhang Fengxian and Li Fengxian in the future, and they will come up with different ways to fight with us. Instead of fighting with them one by one, it is better to let Zeng Feng jump higher first, and then we will shoot him to death, so that the other heroes will die, and our affairs will be easier to handle. ”

"Then let's think of a piece." Deng Kui laughed and said, "Is this a double win?" ”

Su Hao said: "Deng Kui, you want to train soldiers, I don't object, but don't joke with the lives of our soldiers." I have already written a letter to Governor Pan, and I have also sent a letter to Li Shida, the commander of Huai'anwei, asking them to send troops over for reinforcements. If the thieves are overwhelming, we just need to point to the end, and the rest of the things will be handed over to the River General Military Mansion and Huai'anwei to solve. ”

"Subordinates obey!" Deng Kui said depressedly. (To be continued)