The officers and soldiers retreated to Guojiazhuang overnight.

Compared with the time it takes to get from Guojiazhuang to Daliangshan, it is actually faster to go back to Guojiazhuang from Daliangshan.

It was completely dark, but when such an army of several hundred people appeared outside Guojiazhuang, it was difficult for the people in Guojiazhuang to miss it.

"Why did the officers and soldiers come back so soon? Didn't they say they were going to Daliang Mountain to suppress bandits? Or maybe you misread it. It was another army that passed by Guojiazhuang." Guo Juren said with an ugly face.

The passing of bandits is like a comb, and the passing of soldiers is like a grate.

It is definitely not a good thing for officers and soldiers to appear outside their village.

Butler Guo said: "Sir, the servants at home read it right. The banner was the same as that of the army that left our place during the day."

"Is Mr. Zhang here?" Guo Juren asked hurriedly.

Butler Guo shook his head and said: "Mr. Zhang is not here, but I asked Xiao Liuzi to guard outside the gate. As soon as Mr. Zhang comes, please come in."

"Well, you did the right thing." Guo Juren nodded and said, "Mr. Zhang is the governor's most valued staff member. No matter when he comes, you must entertain him well and never let Mr. Zhang feel dissatisfied."

Butler Guo bowed and said, "Don't worry, sir, I will serve Mr. Zhang properly."

At this moment, a person ran in from outside the courtyard and hurried to the study.

"Master, it's bad, something happened."

As the voice fell, a man dressed as a servant ran in from outside.

Hearing the word "accident", Guo Ju's heart trembled and he hurriedly asked: "Tell me, what happened?"

"It's the officers and soldiers. The officers and soldiers have arrived outside our house. I'm calling for you to go out." Xiao Liuzi said, breathing heavily.

"What did the officers and soldiers do when they saw me?" Guo Juren frowned.

Xiao Liuzi said: "I don't know, but many officers and soldiers came and surrounded our house."

Butler Guo on the side said: "Master, this group of officers and soldiers must be here to fight against the autumn wind. Why don't I go and take a look. If they don't want much, just give it to them. Now that Mr. Zhang is not here, if these Qiu Ba mess up,

It’s easy to damage our Guojiazhuang.”

Guo Juren said: "Okay, you go out and take a look. If there is any news about Mr. Zhang, you must invite Mr. Zhang here. As long as Mr. Zhang is here, the officers and soldiers outside the village will not mess around."

"Yes, I will go with Xiao Liuzi to meet those Qiu Ba, see what conditions they propose, and inquire about Mr. Zhang's news by the way." Butler Guo said, and then left the study with Xiao Liuzi.

Soon, he arrived outside the gate of Guo's house.

At this time, there were many officers and soldiers standing outside the door, holding torches in their hands. Facing the door was a general with a single sword on his waist.

"I've met Master Jun." Butler Guo bowed and saluted.

Xu You looked up and down at Butler Guo in front of him, then spat on the ground and said, "Where is your master?"

Although Butler Guo's clothes are better than those of ordinary servants, they are still worn by servants, so it is not difficult to tell the difference.

"My master is not feeling well. He just saw the doctor and has gone to bed now. If you have anything to do, you can tell me," Butler Guo said with a smile on his face.

"Okay, let me tell you." Xu You said, "My lord led troops to pass by your Guojiazhuang. The army is short of food and grass. Your Guo family is a big family in the village. My lord told you to prepare enough for five hundred people."

Three days of dry food, plus five hundred taels of silver."

Butler Guo's eyes narrowed slightly and he smiled bitterly and said: "Master Jun, it's not that our Guo family doesn't want to, it's just too much. Although our Guo family is a big family, we can't raise so much at the same time."

"So it doesn't exist anymore?" Xu You asked with squinted eyes.

Butler Guo said with a grimace: "The Guo family really spent so much money and stuff."

"My adults said it doesn't matter if you can't take it out."

"Thank you very much, Master Jun, for your understanding." Butler Guo cupped his hand, and then said, "The Guo family is willing to give two kilo of rice as a token of their sincerity, and we hope that Master Jun's men will do the same."

"Don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet." Xu You waved his hand and said, "My master also said that if the Guo family can't get these things, the army will come to the village to get them by themselves, and the army will be at Zhuangzi tonight.

Spend the night inside."

"This..." Butler Guo looked bitter and said immediately, "The staff member Zhang next to the governor is an old acquaintance of my master. I hope the military master can give him some face."

Xu You snorted coldly and said: "We will definitely give Mr. Zhang his face, but Mr. Zhang died in Daliang Mountain, and the face of a dead man is nothing."

"Mr. Zhang is dead!" Butler Guo was shocked.

Xu You said in an indifferent tone: "Mr. Zhang was unlucky and died in the hands of bandits in the Daliang Mountains."

Butler Guo's expression changed.

Their master just gave Mr. Zhang one hundred taels of silver yesterday. Unexpectedly, just one day later, he died at the hands of bandits.

Xu You said coldly: "Have you thought about it? Either let your master collect the things that my family wants, or the army will enter the village tonight, and my family can sleep in your Guo family's bed at night."

Hearing this, Butler Guo trembled and said hurriedly: "Master Jun, this matter is too big for me as a steward to make the decision. Why don't you wait a moment and wait for me to ask my master?"

"Then go back and tell your master that if I don't see what my master wants after half a stick of incense, the army from outside the village will enter the village immediately." Xu You threatened.

"Yes, yes, yes, I'm going to see my master right now." After saying that, Butler Guo quickly ran towards the courtyard.

He trotted all the way to the study door in the backyard.

At this time, Guo Juren was walking around in front of the study door. When he saw the housekeeper coming back, he hurriedly greeted him and asked, "How is it? Have the officers and soldiers outside the door left?"

Butler Guo shook his head and said: "Master, Qiu Ba outside the door wants three days' worth of dry food for five hundred people, and five hundred taels of cash. If he doesn't give it, he will enter the village and rob him tonight."

"Bandits, bandits, these are bandits." Guo Juren yelled.

Butler Guo advised: "Master, why not give it as they say? If the army really enters Zhuangzi, the losses will be even greater. Especially our Guo family, we will definitely be taken care of by the officers and soldiers outside the village."

Guo Juren had a dark face and immediately asked: "Where is Mr. Zhang? Is there any news about Mr. Zhang?"

"Qiu Ba outside the door said that Mr. Zhang died at the hands of bandits in the Daliang Mountains." Butler Guo said.

"What? He's dead!" Guo Juren looked in disbelief.

Butler Guo said: "Master, don't hesitate. The officers and soldiers outside the door only gave you half a stick of incense. If you don't get what they want, a large army will enter the village."

Guo Juren opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Butler Guo on the side said again: "Sir, why don't we gather all the things and hand them over to the officers and soldiers outside the village. Once the officers and soldiers leave, we will do the same as last time and let the people in the village gather supplies for our Guo army.

Maybe you can make some money from it."

"Yes, yes, yes, you are right." Guo Juren's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Go and arrange this matter. Remember to ask the people in Zhuangzi for it later. I remember that there are still a few families in Zhuangzi who have land.

, if there is no money, let them use land to pay for it."
Chapter completed!