East of Huarong City, Liu Zhai.

If you do not die, you will not die.

Despite being placed under house arrest, Liu's family set off fireworks at home.

One of the big fireworks was originally planned to be set up at night, but the second son of the Liu family had to release it now, and the place he chose was just a small courtyard.

With the fireworks scurrying around, a string of fireworks rushed directly into the firewood pile next to him, only when the second son of the Liu family was still proud, the pile of firewood had already ignited a raging fire.

Although the Liu family organized the firefighting as soon as possible, in order to welcome Liu Daxia's return today and clean the house for the Mid-Autumn Festival, the usual vat full of water has almost bottomed out.

When Wang Zhi and Liu Zhong arrived in front of this mansion, the Liu family's mansion was already in flames.

Syllable! Syllable! Syllable!

The door of Liu's mansion was banged very quickly and loudly, and the people inside arrogantly asked the guards outside to open the door.

Li Wei, a thousand households in the Shenji Battalion, personally guarded here, and in the face of the bad demands of the Liu family inside, he responded strongly: "Shut up, go back to put out the fire now, this door can't be opened without the order of the town guard!" ”

Although he was aware of the fire inside, he didn't rush to open the door and let the people inside out.

In fact, it is no wonder, and now Wang Zhi's order is to guard here, who knows if it is self-acting and directing inside, so as to escape here by taking advantage of this fake fire.

Li Wei, a thousand households in the Shenji Battalion, saw Wang Zhi who came over, and immediately respectfully stepped forward and said, "Lord Zhenshou, it seems that there is really water inside, do you want to open the door?" ”

"How many people are in there?" Wang Zhi listened to the movement inside, and it didn't look like he was acting and directing, so he asked lightly.

Li Wei seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and reported honestly: "Just according to your instructions, those maids and old servants have allowed them to go home for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and now except for a group of strong nurses, they are basically the family members of the Liu family!" ”

"Quick, quickly withdraw the chains and pry open the planks to release the people inside!" Liu Zhong saw the fire inside through the crack in the door, and immediately gave an order to tunnel.

It was also a coincidence, the Liu family had just been sealed in the house, but there was a fire inside, and Liu Daxia's family members were all in danger.

Of course, if they can work together to successfully put out the fire, then the door can actually be left open.

"Wait! Bring people down! Wang Zhi immediately stopped, and then looked at the horse lane that followed.

It was Liu Daxia who had just been imprisoned who got down from the carriage, and Liu Daxia was still full of arrogance, but he couldn't help but be stunned when he saw the smoke coming out of his house.

"Liu Daxia, the miscellaneous family will ask you again now, where is the southwest archive?" Wang Zhi walked up to Liu Daxia, and asked with a very firm look in his eyes.

This......

Li Wei and Liu Zhong immediately looked at each other, and Liu Zhong suddenly realized why Wang Zhi insisted on taking Liu Daxia with him, and dared to use this fire to force Liu Daxia to comply.

Although the means are a little despicable, it is a good way to get Liu Daxia to speak.

"Phew! Don't! Liu Daxia spat a mouthful of thick phlegm towards Wang Zhi, and his face was full of disdain.

Bang!

Li Wei was so angry that he immediately stepped forward and threw a heavy punch at Liu Daxia's stomach.

Liu Daxia has always been a pampered official, but when he was suddenly hit by this heavy blow, the whole person immediately fell to the ground like a shrimp, but he glared at this small Qianhu fiercely.

Although he is no longer a member of the Ministry of War, with the officialdom connections he has weaved, it is easy to kill a small thousand households.

In fact, the most terrible thing about their civil officials is not their status, but that they have become an organization that is enough to check and balance the imperial power through various relationships.

Wang Zhi took out a silk white embroidered handkerchief from the wide cuffs, and gently wiped the thick phlegm off his face, but the beautiful face suddenly smiled.

Those who are familiar with him may know that once Wang Zhi shows this kind of smile, the whole person will become stronger, and even often die.

"Wang Zhi, if you don't immediately order the door to open the door to put out the fire, do you want the old man to impeach you and let the emperor cut off your head?" Liu Daxia was still worried about his family, so he threatened angrily.

At this time, although someone inside organized a firefight, there were also screams continuously, and the fire had become uncontrollable.

Wang Zhi naturally couldn't ignore this threat, his eyes looked at Liu Daxia again and said, "Liu Daxia, the miscellaneous family will ask you again, where is the Southwest Archives?" ”

"Don't think about it, you eunuch is the first scourge of my Ming Dynasty, it's simply the second Wang Zhen, you want me to die in the Ming Dynasty, I'm sorry!" Liu Daxia didn't intend to compromise, but he insulted.

Although he wanted to spit on Wang Zhi again, his entire face was pressed to the ground, and he couldn't hurt Wang Zhi in the slightest.

Wang Zhi motioned to his subordinates to remove a chair from the carriage, and said with a heartfelt attitude: "Then the miscellaneous family will sit here with you, waiting for your family to be burned alive!" ”

"Eunuch, you are a grass man!" Liu Daxia saw that he didn't plan to save his family, so he glared and accused.

Liu Zhong had been watching from the side, and now he heard the screams of someone inside who was buried in the fire, and couldn't help but dissuade him: "Father-in-law Wang, this is not appropriate, right?" ”

Liu Daxia is actually bent on seeking fame, but he naturally cares about the life and death of his family.

It was only after seeing Liu Zhong's statement that he knew that the governor of Huguang was worthy of being a civil official who read the books of sages, and it was definitely impossible for him to watch his family being burned to death inside.

Even if Wang Zhi didn't dare to rescue the people in his family in the end, Liu Zhong would definitely not be able to sit idly by.

"Governor Liu, do you think a few members of the Liu family are important, or is the war in the southwest important? Even now, do you still think that a woman's kindness can do good things? Wang Zhi naturally couldn't be dissuaded by Liu Zhong, so he asked lightly.

"Father-in-law Wang, Governor Liu, if the two of you don't save the old man's family as soon as possible, such a bad behavior will let Shilin know, and the world will not tolerate the two of you." Liu Daxia's key target of rebellion was Liu Zhong, and he directly threatened him.

Liu Zhong's brows furrowed slightly, but he made a decision in his heart.

Since he beheaded Qiu Jing of Anlu Zhizhou, he has already known that his path is no longer the so-called virtuous minister, but a good official who wants to really do practical things for the people.

Just as His Majesty's warning "empty talk misleads the country, hard work prospers the country", it is true that there is Liu Daxia's family in it now, but the Annan file is related to the war of the Ming Dynasty against the Li Dynasty.

It is clear which is more important at a glance.

"Pass the order, if there is no order from the miscellaneous family, whoever dares to open the door will be dealt with by military law! In addition, each door is reinforced to prevent people from breaking in! Wang Zhi never felt that he was a good person, and immediately ordered coldly.

Li Wei is a soldier who has experienced the baptism of blood on the battlefield, and even respectfully said: "Humble duty to receive orders!" ”

"Wang Zhi, are you really crazy?" Liu Daxia was firmly controlled, and asked in disbelief.

Wang Zhi was already sitting on the chair, but asked lightly: "Do you want to hand over Annan's files, or do you want your family to be burned inside, you choose?" ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone turned their heads to look at Liu Daxia, and they all wanted to know what choice this virtuous Liu Daxia would make.

"Governor Liu, you are a witness for the old man! If the old man's family is burned to death in the house, this matter is Wang Zhi's fault, and it is he who makes the old man's family ruined! Liu Daxia invited Liu Zhong to help witness, but he directly convicted Wang Zhi.

Liu Zhong didn't expect that Liu Daxia was still unwilling to explain the location of Annan's archives, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help twitching slightly, but he turned his head to look at Wang Zhi worriedly.

It backfired, just when Wang Zhi and Liu Zhong thought that they could use this fire to force Liu Daxia to submit, a voice came from inside: "It's out, the fire is out!" ”

Extinguished?

When he heard the news, Wang Zhi's brows furrowed slightly.

Liu Zhong also sighed secretly in his heart, Liu Daxia would definitely not be able to explain the hiding place of Annan's archives.

"Wang Zhi, count your fate, otherwise, with your actions today, you should be pushed to the guillotine to bury the old couple and children!" Liu Daxia knew that every yard of his house was equipped with a large water tank, so he snorted coldly.

Yes......

It's just that as soon as Liu Daxia's voice fell, a scream suddenly came from inside, and this voice was burned as if it was heartbreaking.

Acting? Or is it true?

The soldiers of the Shenji Battalion outside the door couldn't help but become confused when they heard this heart-rending scream.

What's going on?

When Liu Daxia heard this scream, he immediately looked at his mansion in shock.

Originally, everyone thought that the fire inside was really extinguished, but the development of things was beyond everyone's expectations, but there were heart-rending screams, and the knocking on the main door became more urgent.

The arrogance of the Liu family was gone, and he turned to the door and pleaded: "Please, let us out!" ”

"We've already said it! If your father is willing to hand over the Annan files, open the door and let your whole family live, or you will be burned alive inside! Li Wei deliberately raised his voice and spoke to the people inside.

When the people inside heard this trading condition, they shouted Liu Daxia one after another.

The corners of Wang Zhi's mouth rose slightly, and he sat on the chair very leisurely, opened the white fan in his hand and wrote: "The slave maid went to Liu's house to ask for Annan's file without success, so the house was closed to search, and the Liu family played with fire and set themselves on fire!" Jinchen wants to coerce Liu Daxia to tell the place where Annan's archives are hidden, and if he wants to save the old and young in his family, he can only tell the truth! Slaves and maids are not easy to kill, but the use of soldiers in the southwest is related to the life and death of 100,000 soldiers, and it is related to the Ming Dynasty being able to win the enemy country, so the ministers cannot back down a bit, I hope His Majesty Shengming will be sympathetic to the slaves and maids! ”

Dozens of words were sprinkled and scribbled, but at least Wang Zhi knew what he was writing, and it would become neat when he copied it.

Liu Zhong heard the constant heart-rending sound coming from inside, the entire Liu Mansion was already in flames, and the sound of banging on the door was not strong but weak, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look at Liu Daxia.

He knew that he couldn't persuade Wang Zhi, and there was no reason to persuade Wang Zhi.

What Wang Zhi did was to defeat the Warring States for the Ming Dynasty and consider the life and death of the 100,000 soldiers who were about to go on the expedition, and the Annan archives were originally the things of the Ming Dynasty, so how could Liu Daxia not hand them over?

If Liu Daxia refused to hand over the Annan file to such a field, he really should have let his family die in the fire, which was simply self-inflicted.

"Governor Liu, are you going to be an accomplice?" Liu Daxia knew that Wang Zhi was a hard-hearted person, so he turned to threaten Liu Zhong.

Liu Zhong couldn't help laughing, and said clearly: "Lord Liu, this governor will not make a move, and there is no reason to make a move!" If you don't want your whole family to die inside, you should hand over the Annan file, otherwise no one will be able to save your family now! ”

Yes!

The fire spread faster than expected, and the heart-rending screams were getting closer and closer, and the fire seemed to have burned to the side of the gate, and there was even thick smoke coming out of the crack in the door.

Liu Daxia originally wanted to bet that Liu Zhong and Wang Zhi would not dare to really commit the world's disapproval, but after seeing this situation, he saw the two people who were like iron hearts, and finally relieved and said: "I said, open the door and put out the fire immediately!" ”

"Where? Don't think about deception, you should know that the eyes of the enemy can see through whether you are lying or not, there is only one chance! Wang Zhi closed the paper fan in his hand and put pressure on Liu Daxia.

Liu Daxia did not confess, but put forward a condition: "You open the door first to save my family!" ”

"Miscellaneous ...... I don't believe you! Or can we wait? Wang Zhi has already learned the character of civil officials, and he seems to be very straightforward.

Ahem......

There was a violent cough from behind the door, and there was no even a knock on the door, or it was too light to be heard.

Huarong Zhi County has organized a large number of people to carry buckets to fight the fire, but when they saw the fire in front of them, everyone's hearts retreated.

Liu Daxia knew that he couldn't spend it any longer, so he compromised and said: "The Annan file is still in the archives of the Ministry of War, but I changed the Annan file and replaced it with the Jianzhou file!" ”

The so-called Jianzhou archives are actually the first plough court in Chenghua for three years, because it was a battle that completely crushed the Jianzhou Jurchens, so it did not have too high military value, so ordinary people would not read it, not to mention that the real Annan archives were hidden below

If Liu Daxia hadn't said it, no one really knew that it was hidden so deeply, and it was actually a big problem to find out from so many files.

"Open the door!" Wang Zhi knew that Liu Daxia was not lying, and immediately instructed Li Wei.

It took a lot of effort because it was locked tightly with iron chains and reinforced with layers of wooden planks in the cracks of the doors. It's just that after Li Wei pried the door panel open, he found that the door couldn't be pushed, and he couldn't help but say in confusion: "What's the matter?" ”

At this moment, only billowing smoke came out of it, and there was no movement inside.

"Quick, let's push it away!" Li Wei found that the door was actually able to be pushed, even if he beckoned all his subordinates.

It's just that it's too late!

By the time the door was pushed open, the people inside had long since lost their lives.

Fires don't just kill people, they kill more people from the billowing smoke.

Liu Daxia's four sons and several grandsons were not spared, and those who were lucky enough to escape here have now choked to death at the door.

Still not waiting for everyone to go inside for the final rescue, because the fire and smoke had spread to the door, all the rescuers retreated.

(End of chapter)