Jing Feng's footsteps moved, as if he wanted to go with them. Cheng Ruoxuan was so anxious that he wanted to stop him again, but he stopped himself and didn't really catch up. Cheng Ruoxuan was so startled by him that he couldn't help but say something, but when he looked up and saw the anger on his face that couldn't be hidden, he finally stopped talking.

She gradually understood a little bit why Jing Feng couldn't get along with the government. He was too young, so proud, and so eager for justice, but he always did not obey or believe in the authority of the government. How many times has such a person experienced powerlessness in front of the officials of Daliang? But why couldn't he give in after several tribulations?

As soon as the sergeant left, the cabin was half empty. The boatmen were all in shock, and seemed to have a lot to say. However, the helmsman at the stern of the ship glanced around, and the surrounding commotion actually weighed down a layer of life.

Jing Feng watched with a cold face for a long time, and then opened his mouth again: "The adult surnamed Cao only told him not to let us run away, and he didn't tell anything else." Anyway, stay where you are, the big guy is tired for most of the day, relax. ”

He said this recklessly, but it was not without reason. Cheng Ruoxuan knew that although this person was informal, he was also smart and alert, so he took care of him again, and the hand that was originally tugging on his cuff was also taken back. Jing Feng turned to the fire chief again and shouted "Uncle Lian".

The fire chief, who was busy blocking the hatch leading to the deck, answered with a headache, "What's the matter?" ”

Jing Feng said seriously: "I call you uncle, because you always say on weekdays that you are a family when you get on the boat." We are willing to give our lives to you for this sentence. Now that you've somehow changed your course and detained everyone here in a good way, you don't plan to give an explanation? ”

The fire captain was stunned for a moment, and said, "It's also for your good to stay on the ship." Don't you see people's knives coming out? Both sides really have to fight for their lives, so as not to cause you to be injured and killed. ”

"I know, Uncle Lian, you are always willing to think about us." Jing Feng's expression was a little complicated, but he still refused to let go, "But what about the people on the island?" You told me once upon a time that the people on the outlying islands had saved your life. Our sailors who have sailed out to the far seas on our ships have also received the blessings of the outlying islands to some extent. We rowed all the way, why, in the end, we sent a life-saving ghost to the benefactor? ”

There was a fire in his heart, and when he said that, he became more and more rude. No matter how good Rao is fire temper is, he will be angry when he hears it, "What do you kid know?" Cao Yanshi is an official of the imperial court, and he came to clean up the bandits on the order of today's son, so it is your turn to interject? ”

Jing Feng was not to be outdone: "Can the court officials use knives to take people's lives at will?!" ”

"Human life is at stake, so naturally it cannot be disposed of at will. But on the other side is the Tukou. This time it was Cheng Ruoxuan who spoke. The sergeant was indeed a little fierce, but Cao Caotie had previously made it clear to Huo Chang that they were bound by military discipline, and this trip was fair and chaotic, and it was definitely not an indiscriminate killing of innocents. Thinking of this, she finally couldn't help but stand up and let out a sigh of grievance.

Jing Feng didn't expect her to get involved, and her voice was lowered, but she was still angry: "Why are you talking to that official again?" ”

Cheng Ruoxuan met his gaze and asked, "I didn't know Cao Yan before, why should I help him speak?" ”

Jing Feng's expression was stunned, and he asked her; Cheng Ruoxuan was not polite to him at all, and asked: "Let me ask you again, the left guard of the navy army is the imperial capital's guard, and Cao Yanshi is the emperor's capital, so why can't he make a feud with the people of an archipelago in the East China Sea, so why do you want to kill them?" ”

Jing Feng replied: "I should ask the official about this, you ask me what to do!" Having said that, his attitude is no longer as tough as before, and it is obvious that he also feels that his heart is empty.

"You don't have to ask Cao Yan about it, I can tell you as soon as I introduce the female stream." Cheng Ruoxuan said, "Those who use soldiers are not good for the breadth of the soil, not for the strategy of greedy gold and jade; The imperial capital sent troops in order to survive and extinct the world, to calm the chaos in the world and eliminate the harm of the people. Cao Yanshi was a subordinate official of Daliang, and he was ordered to eliminate not his own enemies, but the enemies of Daliang's people. You usually look down on officials, but the burden of maintaining the long-term stability of the Liang is all carried by these people! ”

Originally, she just wanted to admonish Jing Feng, but when she said it, she couldn't help but defend her family. When Jing Feng was not in the government, he always scolded her grandfather's family. Although she was gradually able to understand Jing Feng's grievances, she was a little unhappy in her heart after all. My grandfather had been eating and drinking for decades and had made remarkable achievements in politics, so could it be that because the local officials under his jurisdiction were harsh in governance, he had to bear these contempt and accusations together?

These words had been suppressed in her chest for a long time, and it was not until she said it that it was free. However, as soon as the words fell, she felt that something was wrong with herself—she was in a hurry to say what her husband had taught her husband in the past. Her heart tightened, and when she raised her eyes to look around, she saw that everyone was ignorant.

She sighed silently, a little disappointed and a little happy. These boatmen and villagers, plus a Chen Zhuo who will not have a high military rank, I am afraid that they can't even touch poetry and books, whether these words can be understood is a question, and it is impossible to guess her identity and origin from just a few words.

Jing Feng also seems to understand. He was stunned for a moment, but still stubbornly said, "But that's the folks on the island—"

Cheng Ruoxuan patiently explained to him: "You have lived in the countryside for a long time, even if you have not been harassed by pirates, you have always suffered from mountain bandits. When she talked about it, her words became more and more earnest, "If you treat the mountain bandits as relatives, then it is up to you." But do you think the mountain bandits should be killed? ”

"I don't treat the bandits as relatives." Jing Feng was unconvinced, "How can the islanders be like pirates and bandits? They don't come to the villages on the land very often. ”

"The cause and effect, I'm afraid only the fire chief knows." Cheng Ruoxuan's words pointed to the fire chief, but his eyes were far away at Chen Zhuo who was on the stern of the boat, "The left guard of the navy has a heavy responsibility, and we must pay more attention to real evidence." If I don't explain the reason to you today, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the public. ”

Chen Zhuo still didn't say a word. However, Huo Chang hesitated, looked at him for a long time, and finally opened his mouth cautiously: "The islanders don't dare to go to the land until they go to the land." ”

As soon as these words came out, all the sailors were a little stunned. Cheng Ruoxuan and Jing Feng glanced at each other, and hurriedly looked away. The two of them had just quarreled, and they were a little embarrassed by each other.

The fire chief continued, "Even if there is some land on the outlying islands, it is not as convenient as the abundance and convenience of the land. I know that these people are refugees, and it is reasonable to have a place to repair for a while; However, on several occasions passing ships offered to take them back to land, the islanders refused to accept and insisted on putting down roots on the island. When I know these things, I always suspect that the islanders have something else to do with their migration in the past, maybe they have committed something, or they have provoked someone, otherwise why should they stay on this small island and refuse to come out? But the islanders have never crushed with us, and they are willing to help in shipwrecks, so I treat them as my own and don't pursue the past. ”

A few of the older sailors quietly nodded their heads, and it seemed that they had had similar thoughts. Cheng Ruoxuan paid attention to everyone's reactions, and chewed on what Huo Chang said. Although the outlying islands are remote, after all, they are the territory of Daliang, and there should always be an official in charge of household registration to find out where the islanders came from before they can be allowed to settle down. Even the fire commander could notice that something was wrong, why did the local officials not take any action, and had to rush all the way from the imperial capital to arrest them?

She usually only speculated in her heart, but Jing Feng asked directly, "Since there is nothing to do, why did you attract that incident again?" ”

The fire chief sighed and said, "It's my fault. Three years ago, Lao Lu Tou broke his leg, and the kid who took the helm for him was not skilled, so he didn't withstand the wind and waves, and capsized the boat. I thought that our boatload of people would definitely die, but fortunately the islanders rescued us, and the casualties were not heavy. ”

Jing Feng nodded and said, "You told us about this. ”

The fire chief continued: "It was the depths of winter. We soaked in the water, our clothes were soaked, and we were about to freeze to death. The islanders, who were not acquainted with us at the time, did not let us in, but they borrowed our clothes and made a fire, and finally helped us through the night. ”

Cheng Ruoxuan listened quietly, and couldn't help but think of Ah Huilai. To do this for strangers is to do their best. But if the fire chief led the Liang sergeant to kill them, could it be regarded as revenge? She was so firm when she persuaded Jing Feng before, but now she was a little confused.

The fire chief continued: "I remembered their kindness, and when I was leaving, I specially exchanged a coat with the person who saved me, so as to make friends. He remembered the past, and the old face that was crisscrossed by the ravines also showed a little amazement.

Jing Feng continued: "Could it be that these things today were provoked by this coat? ”

"Exactly." Huo Chang sighed more between his words, and there was a faint sense of sadness, "The year is not as good as the year, and the taxes have been paid this autumn, and the remaining money is actually not enough to support the fleet." But after so many years of sailing, how can you give up so easily! My family had no choice but to sell the old clothes from the old days when they were arrogant. She didn't know what was going on, but she mixed the coat into it. Not long after that, the governor sent someone to come to the door for questioning. I realized that the cloak ......"

When he said this, Chen, who was guarding the stern of the boat, suddenly raised his eyes and shook his head at him.

Huo Chang was stunned for a moment, paused for a moment, and then said ominously: "...... The cloak belonged to a gang of heinous bandits in the past, and the government made several thorough investigations to confirm that it was correct, and then requisitioned our fleet to clear it. He looked at the sailors around him, and his face was not unapologetic, "The sailors on our ship have a lot of friendship with the islanders, and Cao Yan is also aware of the matter, so I am not allowed to divulge this matter, and I will not reveal my identity until I arrive on the outlying island." ”

In this way, it is understandable that he led people to eliminate the islanders and deceived the sailors on the ship. Jing Feng was so angry with the islanders before, and after hearing these explanations, he couldn't speak.

Several people were relatively speechless, standing silently. The wind lanterns swayed back and forth above everyone's heads, illuminating the shadows of the people and scattering their minds. I don't know how long it took, the cabin shook suddenly, there was a chaotic noise overhead, and the movement was not small, and everyone in the cabin was startled, and they all raised their heads together. At first, it was just the sound of footsteps, and after a while, the sound of shouting and killing, screaming in pain, and the sound of swords colliding with each other came in a chaotic manner, and it was endless. It's hitting the ship! Cheng Ruoxuan's eyes widened and stared at the floor above his head, and the tragic scene when the mountain bandits robbed the road that night came to his mind. Xuan's frightened eyes seemed to be right in front of him. A sense of helplessness arose in her heart, and her shoulders shook imperceptibly.

"Don't be afraid." Jing Feng stood beside her and said calmly: "The hatch is sealed, and no matter how fierce the people outside are, they can't get in." ”

Before the words could be spoken, a loud noise was heard, and someone was smashing the door panel where the deck was connected to the main cabin.