Mei Xiaoren wanted to take this errand, but it was not easy to take it.

She asked the military attache who had gone with Gao Jingshu to suppress the bandits in the past, and learned that the group of mountain bandits in the Evil Tiger Village were entrenched in the mountains a hundred miles east of Xuanzhou, which was a place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

In contrast, the bandit she suppressed before was not like a bandit, but like a playhouse.

Lao Li gave an urgent order, Mei Xiaoren returned to the General Judgment Office, put the order arrow on the case, sat down and began to ponder, pondering how to suppress this bandit.

Gao Jingshu came back from outside, saw Mei Xiaoren sitting behind the table in a daze, stopped for a moment, didn't rush into the opposite room, walked to her desk and said: "Don't worry too much, I have killed the little evil tiger village many times, and every time I scared it away without much effort, what a bandit, just a bunch of paper tigers." ”

"Scare away" Mei Xiaoren was puzzled.

"When the officers and soldiers arrive, they will be captured if they don't run," Gao Jingshu replied as a matter of course.

Mei Xiaoren was still wondering at first, since the Evil Tiger Mountain is easy to defend and difficult to attack, how did Gao Jingshu suppress the bandits

It turned out that the great victory reported by Gao Jingshu was just to drive it away, and it is no wonder that the evil tiger village can be resurrected.

Her expression did not become relaxed by anyone's words, and she looked at Gao Jingshu and said, "But Lord Governor's intention this time is to uproot them." ”

"That's not a problem, it's just a group of grass bandits, they can't stand the beating, I don't believe you let Zhang Liben find out the minutes of the banditry and show you, and see how they escaped in the past." Gao Jingshu said lightly, and then turned around and went back to his fellow intellectuals.

The previous minutes of the suppression of bandits were indeed available for reference, and Mei Xiaoren then instructed Zhang Liben to find them out.

In less than half an hour, five or six books were placed on her desk, one at a time.

Mei Xiaoren flipped through it casually, and remembered it in great detail from the time of suppressing bandits to how many people were dispatched, almost once a year, and every time Gao Jingshu led people there, not a single soldier was wasted and never defeated.

Judging from the minutes, Gao Jingshu didn't deceive her, the mountain bandits in this evil tiger village are a group of soft persimmons who can't do it, and several times Gao Jingshu led the troops to arrive, and the mountain bandits have fled in the wilderness.

There were two battles between the two sides, and the result was that the officers and soldiers killed a few mountain bandits and no casualties themselves, and then the group of mountain bandits ran away.

Mei Xiaoren asked Ye Zhi to also take a look at these minutes. After Ye Zhi saw it, his tense heartstrings seemed to loosen a lot.

She leaned back in her chair, picked up the teacup and split the foam, and the corners of her lips raised slightly: "This errand is not arduous, Lao Ye, we can breathe a sigh of relief." ”

Ye Zhi nodded, and asked again: "When are you going to leave?"

"Since the mountain bandits are easy to deal with, it will be the same when they are suppressed, let me think about how many people we should bring first."

She flipped through the minutes in front of her and looked at them a few more times. There are about 100 bandits on Evil Tiger Mountain, and Gao Jingshu only brings 200 people and horses every time, it is enough to scare and scare them, but it may be difficult to pursue them with victory.

Suppressing bandits is not her business alone, Mei Xiaoren asked Ye Zhi to call the generals of the government and the head catcher to discuss together, and their proposal is to make an appointment with more people.

When she was studying in the academy, she had read a little about the art of war, and the art of war also said that the number of troops was more than the enemy, and the odds of victory were great.

Mei Xiaoren listened to their opinions but remained silent, only took a page of paper, and wrote two words on it.

Everyone was shocked when they saw it: "The adults only brought 500 people"

"This is different from fighting, where the enemy will not easily flee, and the mountain bandits will abandon their nests to save their lives." Mei Xiaoren said again,

"Lord Tongzhi can scare them away with two hundred people, and you will have thousands of them at every turn, but I'm afraid that we haven't left Xuanzhou Mansion yet, and they have already fled when they hear the news, so what will we do?"

The military general said: "They are cowardly, but the terrain of the hateful Tiger Mountain is dangerous, and I am afraid that it will be difficult for people to eradicate it." ”

"The official thinks that is enough, and besides, 500 people is faster than thousands of people, and the bandits have to be caught off guard." Mei Xiaoren unfolded the folding fan and fanned the wind.

The door directly opposite her was always open, and they were discussing it hotly, while Gao Jingshu sat quietly opposite him and read his official documents.

After all, this used to be Gao Jingshu's errand, and it was a little inappropriate to hang others like this.

Mei Xiaoren asked politely: "I don't know if the Tongzhi Lord has any other advice."

"Since the prefect has sentenced you to preside over this matter, then it is up to you to decide how to suppress it, I have nothing to say." Gao Jingshu only replied to her with a word, then withdrew his gaze and continued to read his official documents.

Mei Xiaoren stood up, knocked on the table with the folding fan in his hand, and emphasized to the people around him: "It's so decided, let's leave in three days." ”

Those present had no choice but to say yes.

After that, Mei Xiaoren personally went to the barracks and the fast room to pick 500 elite soldiers.

It was late at night after arranging everything, Mei Xiaoren and Ye Zhi returned to the mansion, but saw that Jiang Rong had not slept yet.

Jiang Rong was waiting in the courtyard, saw her come back, rushed to her in three steps and two steps, and said urgently: "Villain, you are going to suppress bandits"

His expression was very solemn, at least Mei Xiaoren rarely saw Jiang Rong so serious.

She nodded calmly.

Jiang Rong held her shoulders and shook violently, "Do you know how dangerous it is to suppress bandits?"

"Haven't you seen the danger of my bandits," Mei Xiaoren was still calm.

"That's different, there were only dozens of bandits at the beginning, and there were more than a hundred bandits on the Evil Tiger Mountain" Jiang Rong was anxious, "The prefect gave you the order of arrows, so formal, it can be seen that this is a hard bone to gnaw"

Ye Zhi persuaded: "Gongzi Jiang doesn't have to worry, no matter how many mountain bandits there are, there is no need for adults to carry knives into battle."

"That's not going to happen" Jiang Rong raised his hand and waved, as if he couldn't listen to anything, so he buried his head and walked out the door, "I'll go and talk to Li Daoyuan and ask him to change people." ”

"Stop"

As soon as Mei Xiaoren spoke, Jiang Rong immediately stopped and did not take a step forward.

"I'm sick, I thank you for worrying about me, but the prefect gave me an errand, how can I give it to others." Mei Xiaoren can't say anything righteous, so let's talk about selfishness, she said lightly, "Whether it's an experience, or multiple opportunities for meritorious service, in short, there is no reason to cheapen others in vain." ”

Jiang Rong turned around slowly, his eyebrows locked deeply, "I have to go"

Mei Xiaoren nodded affirmatively, and beckoned to him again, "Come here, I have a little favor I want to ask you for help." ”

Three days later, Mei Xiaoren left Xuanzhou with five hundred men, and Ye Zhi went with her.

She rode in front of her in regular clothes, followed by the elite of the Kuaihe soldiers.

From the government to the city gate, the people of Xuanzhou saw each other off on both sides. Mei Xiaoren only felt that such a scene was like sending them to the battlefield, but she was a civil servant, at most she commanded the government soldiers to suppress bandits, so she should have no chance to go to the battlefield.

The roadside was full of people, Xiao Ru stood at the back of the crowd, frowning at Xiao Mei's distant figure. She kept rubbing the silk handkerchief in her hand, anxious