Dongting Xishan Island ushered in the dawn in the morning light.

After a night of fierce fighting, the walls and water villages in the east of the lake were in a mess, and corpses were everywhere. Smoke rose everywhere in the stockade, and the fire had not yet been extinguished, and it was charred black.

The officers and soldiers on the big ship landed in small boats and were extending to the island to search for the remnants of the bandits.

These water thieves, except for those who were killed and captured in the battle last night, a small part of their bodies hid their identities and infiltrated the market town. Mixed with the island's inhabitants, it is extremely difficult for outsiders to identify.

The officers and soldiers were divided into small teams and went from house to house.

As soon as they encountered a young strong man, especially the thick and hard knuckles of the index finger, and the rough mouth and palm with calluses, they were all arrested.

Because the stiffness of the knuckles may be caused by often pulling the bowstring and calluses in the palm of the tiger's mouth, but it is caused by holding the weapon for a long time.

In this way, hundreds of people were arrested.

When Lin Fanghe and Xiao Lidong returned to Shuizhai with Zhu Yichen and Xiong Dajing, they happened to encounter a long line of captives who were tied with their hands behind their backs and connected by a long rope, and escorted onto the boat.

"There are so many?" he sighed, and walked down the dock to the officer in charge of the search.

The officer was glaring, carrying a whip, and a group of soldiers next to him were questioning. In the course of the interrogation, if any of them were slow to answer or were looked down upon, the officers and men would pick up their leather whips, open their bows left and right, and the whips would rain down on the beaten people's bodies!

The bleeding from the broken head was light, and a few of them were covered in bruises from the beating, and they couldn't help but fall under the leather whip.

Lin Fanghe couldn't see it, so he walked all the way to the officer's side and asked, "Why did you arrest so many?" Well, how did you identify these people?"

The officer glanced at Lin Fanghe and ignored him: "What are you doing, didn't you see it, we are interrogating the bandits?"

"There won't be so many water bandits?" Lin Fanghe said with a serious attitude, "According to the intelligence, the subordinates of General Feitian and Zhu Yichen on Dongting Xishan Island are probably only three hundred. Last night there was a battle on the beachhead, and more than 200 people were seriously injured and killed......"

"Who are you, why do you know so clearly?" said the officer's eyes with suspicion.

Lin Fanghe smiled faintly: "You don't need to know who I am, hurry up and answer the question? Which one allowed you to do this-"

The officer saw that Lin Fanghe was not small, and he didn't dare to slack off, raised his eyebrows, and said: "Lord Liang, the chief military officer, and Hou Jian, the military supervisor from the capital, have repeatedly told them that every family on this island is guilty, everyone is a bandit, and they would rather kill a thousand by mistake than let go of one!"

"Where are Hou Jian and Mr. Liang now?"

"I don't know, they probably went deep into the island with the troops. ”

"Hurry up and let go of these people, just be guarded, and don't punish and abuse them privately!" Lin Fanghe said sharply and ordered the officers and soldiers in front of him.

The officer lowered his whip and reluctantly snorted.

"Did you hear me? Lin Fanghe's face was cold, and he didn't feel angry.

"Yes. The officer's legs were together.

Then he ordered his subordinates: "Untie these people, gather them together, and wait for them to be dealt with!

Lin Fanghe sighed secretly and turned around, the soldiers had already carried Xiong Dajing off the dock. Xiao Lidong, Zhu Yichen and others also followed. He glanced at Xiong Dajing, turned around and told the commander who led the team: "Excuse me, go to the boat to find a quiet place and properly settle the old gentleman." And take care to keep him safe......"

The commander clenched his fists and said, "My subordinates understand." ”

Lidong stood on the crowded and chaotic dock, looking left and right, not knowing where to go.

Lin Fanghe stretched out his hand to beckon her: "Miss Xiao, the island is too chaotic now, don't go around." It's better to stay with me—"

Lidong nodded in agreement.

Lin Fanghe arranged things one by one, took Miss Xiao with him, walked up to the dock, and entered the island.

The island's towns are in shambles.

Officers and soldiers openly looted and went on a rampage.

Lin Fanghe and the others walked down the street, and from time to time they saw some soldiers picking up apples from the fruit stalls, nibbling on two bites, and throwing them away.

The soldiers snatched the chickens and ducks from the islanders, and the islanders resisted, but were pushed aside.

Two soldiers came out of the restaurant drunk and burped, and the guy chased after him, grabbed the sleeve of the officer's shirt, and begged, "Uncle, you haven't paid for the meal yet." One of the soldiers slapped the guy in the face, "Fuck you, Lao Tzu fights water bandits for you, and you don't even want your life!" You dare to ask for money?"

Most of the remaining islanders were driven to spacious lands.

The officers and troops quickly guarded the exits, seized the commanding heights, and eyed each other. According to the list provided by Lijia in advance, they pulled out the suspicious elements and the families of the bandits, cut off their hair, and ordered everyone to kneel. Punched and kicked, ordered to confess the gold, silver, jewelry, and soft hiding places in the house.

What he couldn't say, he was immediately beaten more severely and violently.

The leaders of the bandits, who had a little face, were all concentrated in a small courtyard and subjected to extremely strict scrutiny. The miserable howls in the courtyard came out from time to time, which made people feel eerie!

Lin Fanghe took Lidong to the high platform and found the ambitious Liang Zongbing.

At this time, he was sitting on a large Taishi chair, covered in armor, and holding the Qinglong Yanyue Knife. Behind him stood a dozen officers and soldiers.

Lin Fanghe arched his hand slightly and asked, "What about Lord Hou Jian, the envoy of the prison army?"

Liang Zongbing bowed: "He just left ......"

"Where have you been?" Lin Fanghe continued to ask.

General Liang was stunned for a moment, and then turned his gaze: "Lord Lin, do you have something to do with Hou Jianjun? ”

"You must immediately order your subordinates to stop this barbaric action. ”

"Why? Winning a battle should be rewarded. Mr. Liang glanced at Lin Fanghe and didn't care.

"The main force of the water bandits has been annihilated, and the rest are scattered and fleeing, and there is no climate for the time being. Now you should comfort the islanders, obey the king's law, and produce everything, why do you use violence indiscriminately and make such a miasma all over the island?"

General Liang's face was serious, and he said sharply: "If you don't give these rebellious Diao people a little bit of power, they won't know that the king's law is strict and they can't offend!"

Lin Fanghe was also not polite, sat on the chair next to him, and looked at General Liang: "I don't dare to accept this." The inhabitants of the island, seven or eight out of ten, are the peaceful and kind people of our Ming Dynasty. In the past, water thieves were entrenched here, wreaking havoc, and these people were bullied and had nowhere to redress their grievances. Now that the official family has swept away the demonic atmosphere and cleared the island, isn't it the time for them to bathe in the king and live in peace?"

"The water has been entrenched here for a long time, and there are many people's hearts attached. If we don't take the opportunity to dig out the roots of the thieves, it will be difficult to ensure that these people will not reunite and resurrect after we go!" (To be continued.) )