The North Village, the East Village, and the Middle Village are all located along the Qingliu River. The South Village is located in the pass below the middle peak of Yuhuang Ridge. It is a small basin sunken in the middle of Yuhuang Ridge. It is three or four miles away from the North Village by a mountain road.
At present, more than 400 people of the Xu family and other surnames live and breed here.
The area near Nanzhai is said to be suitable for farming, but as the population multiplies, each person has less than three acres of dry land. It is also far away from Qingliu River, so the harvest from the fields is limited. It is also the most miserable village in Lutai.
Not only did Xu Wujiang's family live in Nanzhai, but Xu Huai's family, Xu Wuliang, Xu Wukun, Xu Wuqi, and most of the old soldiers of the Xu family who returned home from the Jingsheng Army were all from Nanzhai.
They fell into bandits in their early years, and to put it bluntly, they were forced out of hard work. As members of the direct branch of the Xu family, they did not receive special preferential treatment. At this time, half of the military soldiers selected by the Xu family to join the Inspection Department were descendants of Nanzhai.
Compared with the thick rammed earth protective wall of the North Village, which is about ten feet high, the South Village is much simpler. The low wall has lacked repairs for many years, and has collapsed in many places. The cracked holes are overgrown with weeds; the village is full of
Children who run around with their buttocks bare are mostly disheveled and skinny.
Xu Huai, General Xu Wufu, and others had just arrived at Xu Wujiang's house, when Su Di personally invited the last family member of the martial arts family to come over.
Xu Heng stopped her and asked: "Di Niang, Xu Wujiang's father is celebrating his birthday, and you invited my father over for a drink. Why are you doing that?"
"What did Xu Huai say?" Su Di patted her smooth forehead and shouted, "Wujiang's father is celebrating his birthday. On this day, why do we have to invite the head of the family over for a glass of wine? It's rare to welcome Liu Yue from the Red Mansion.
Girl, please come over to join in the fun. I knew Xu Huai, a fool like him, would do anything wrong. If I had known, I would have asked Xu Wuliang to go find the head of the family and the eldest son!"
While talking, Su Di pretended to take a sweat towel and swiped it at Xu Huai, who was holding a knife and leaning against the door frame of the courtyard, and shouted: "I asked you to be polite to the master, what are you talking about?"
"What did I say? Aunt Seventeen, you asked me to invite the master of the family to drink. I said that such a big place, where can I find it? You said that the archery tower is so high that you can see where the master of the family is, so I went to the archery tower, Xu Heng
But he's like a mad dog, yelling when he sees me, why am I not the same person?" Xu Huai asked in a tone of voice.
"You have such a bad mouth, can't you say a few words less? Do you want to stuff it with something?" Su Di held a sweat towel and pretended to stuff it into Xu Huai's mouth, then turned around and gave it to Xu Wufu. Xu Heng apologized and said, "This
Han'er, there's really no way to deal with him. Master, please don't worry about it, eldest son."
Xu Heng's face turned pale with anger, but there were already many tribesmen in the yard, all watching the fun with smiles. Knowing that he was arguing with Xu Huai, a stupid ass, it was him who was wrong, so he turned away and said nothing.
Of course, Su Di's attitude at this time also convinced him that Xu Wujiang was not suspicious of anything. He was simply dissatisfied with Deng Gui's lack of help when he arranged for them to guard Qingxi Village.
Xu Zhongyu, the head of the Nanzhai household, is of the same generation as Xu Bosong and Xu Wujiang's father. He is a clan elder, over sixty years old, and the only Xu family member in Nanzhai. Xu Zhongyu usually does not sit together with Xu Wujiang's family, but
Seeing Xu Wufu coming, he also rushed over with his nephew.
Xu Wujiang's father was panicked when something happened, but he was usually dull and couldn't hold back a few words while sitting there. Others didn't think it was strange, but Liu Qiong'er sat beside him and chatted and laughed.
Xu Huai held the knife in both hands and stood against the door frame, his head almost hitting the lintel. Su Di pretended to drive him away several times, but he remained indifferent and looked at the expressions of everyone in the room unscrupulously.
There were rumors that Liu Qiong'er was redeemed from Yuehong Mansion, and Liu Qiong'er appeared in Lutai Nanzhai today, obviously named Xu Wufu. Xu Heng and his son believed that Xu Wujiang was bewitched by Lu Xiong to participate in protecting Wang Zhen.
Liu Qiong'er's voice was soft and soft, and she knew how to understand other people's thoughts when she spoke. She was calling Xu Wufu, and Xu Heng was sitting in the shabby room feeling like a spring breeze. Two villagers came into the yard in panic, squeezed in from Xu Huai and shouted.
Said: "Xu Wujiang surrendered to the bandits, and Deng Langjun sent Tang Tiande and his men to Lutai to catch him!"
"What? Surrender to the bandits? To what bandits?" Xu Wufu stood up in shock.
"I don't know what happened, but Tang Tiande and his people have already arrived at Nanzhai!" Zhuang Ke reported.
Xu Wufu's face suddenly darkened, and he looked at Su Di gloomily.
How could he still think that there was nothing fishy about the birthday celebration in front of him?
"Wu Jiang led his people to guard Qingxi Village, how could he surrender to the bandits? It must be a slander!" Su Di also felt depressed for the whole day, and reacted as a wife should after hearing the bad news, and shouted sternly, "Who is it?
What nonsense are you talking about? I'll tear his dog-mouth apart! Tang Tiande and Wu Jiang didn't get along with each other in the military village. Wu Jiang and the others were in Qingxi Village. If they didn't surrender to the bandits, they went to Qingxi Village to catch people. Why did they come to Lutai Village?
"
Except for Xu Wuliang, Xu Wukun, Xu Wuqi, Xu Zhongyu and others, most of the people in this room were young soldiers, and they were suddenly panicked.
"Why are you panicking? Nothing is clear yet. I'll go see Tang Tiande later." Xu Wufu said in a deep voice.
Xu Wufu didn't know the details of the matter, so he led people to the dilapidated village gate, hoping to wait for Tang Tiande to come and ask for details before talking about anything else.
Tang Tiande led people over, and of course he wanted to control Xu Wujiang's parents, father-in-law, and brother-in-law as soon as possible. After crossing Qingliu River, he bypassed the North Village and went directly to the South Village.
Xu Wufu received the news from the villagers and rushed to the gate of the village. He saw Tang Tiande riding a tall horse and leading more than 20 soldiers to the gate of the village.
Of course, Lutai Village usually has dozens of villagers, and it is impossible for anyone to break into Yuhuangling and do nothing. At this time, there were also twenty or thirty people rushing here, each armed with swords and bows.
Xu Wufu was a state official and the head of the Xu family, and he looked down on Tang Tiande from the bottom of his heart. Even though he had no intention of supporting the Xu Wujiang family, as the head of the clan, he could not lose his prestige in front of the clan members.
He stood in front of the village gate with his hands on his hips and asked Tang Tiande why he came: "Why is it so good today that Tang Dutou comes to Lutai Village?"
"Xu Langjun," Tang Tianle stopped his horse, and Xu Wufu was not a prostitute, but he also addressed him as "Langjun", "Deng Langjun went to Qingxi Village with Xu Wujiang yesterday, but he didn't want him to bring more than twenty people with him."
The soldiers have all surrendered to the bandits in Hutou Village, Deng Langjun asked me to capture Xu Wujiang and the soldiers and their families and bring them back to the army stronghold to help investigate the case!"
"How is it possible? How could Xu Wujiang surrender to the bandits?"
"It must be nonsense. Maybe someone is slandering it?"
"My men are naturally timid. Even if Xu Wujiang surrenders to the bandits, my men will not follow him?"
As soon as Tang Tiande's words came out, there was another wave of shock in the homes of the military soldiers.
"I wonder what evidence Mr. Deng has?" Xu Wufu asked with a gloomy face.
"Yesterday Xu Wujiang was ordered by Deng Langjun to lead his soldiers to guard Qingxi Village. Deng Langjun strictly ordered him not to fight in vain. After arriving at Qingxi Village, he led his troops to Hutou Ridge and did not return at night. Qingxi Village sent
When people look at it, there is only a mess of blood, but no one or one body. Why don’t they all surrender to the bandits?" Tang Tiande said loudly.
"Oh my God, my husband and the others were killed by bandits and their bodies were not found. Deng Gui and my husband have always had a grudge. Without any compensation, they actually slandered my husband and surrendered to the bandits. Where is the law of heaven?" Deng Gui deliberately arranged for Xu.
Wu Jiang and the others went to die, and Su Di felt angry and resentful in her heart. Of course she was gnashing her teeth when she said these words, and angrily said to Xu Wufu, "I also ask the head of the family to make the decision for my husband, and report to the state government to restore my husband's innocence!"
After hearing what Tang Tiande said, Xu Wufu vaguely guessed what was going on. But Su Di and the rest of the family were grieved and angry. How could he tell the truth?
"Since there is no body left, Deng Langjun said that Xu Wujiang and the others surrendered to the bandits. Isn't it a bit hasty?" Xu Wufu considered his words and asked Tang Tiande slowly.
"Whether it is true or not, Deng Langjun will find out on his own. Tang was just ordered to come here and arrest Xu Wujiang's parents and other soldiers' family members and bring them back to the inspection department to assist in the investigation." Tang Tiande did not know the truth and could only assume that Xu Wufu deliberately pushed the case.
He said in a cold voice without giving in.
"It's just to help with the investigation, but it's all right." Xu Heng glanced at Su Di with a sad look and said.
"What nonsense are you talking about, you bitch! Help me investigate your uncle, I will chop you to death today!" Xu Huai stepped forward, kicked Xu Heng to the point of eating shit, yelled, and pulled out a knife to chop Xu Heng.
.
"How dare you act rudely and violently!"
"What are you kidding about?"
Xu Wuqi, Xu Wukun and others reacted quickly. They quickly protected Xu Heng, held the knife at his waist, and ordered Xu Huai to put away the knife and retreat to the back.
"You bastard, how dare you draw a knife on me!"
There were many armed dealers around, and Xu Heng was not afraid that Xu Huai could really attack and hurt people, but Xu Huai kicked him on the thigh and crotch, as if an iron pillar had hit him, making him feel as if his thigh and hip bones were broken at this moment.
, the pain was heartbreaking, and I couldn't get up from the ground for a long time. My chest was filled with rage, and I yelled crazily at Xu Wuqi, Xu Wukun and the others,
"A good dog doesn't bite its owner. This bitch has gone crazy. Let me chop this bitch!"
"Young Master, why are you so ignorant like this idiot?" Xu Wukun helped Xu Heng up and grabbed him at the same time, not letting him draw his sword to confront Xu Huai and persuaded him.
Xu Wuqi took the sword in his hand, glanced at Xu Wuliang, who was watching the excitement in the crowd, and pointed the sword and scabbard at Xu Huai: "You bastard, get back, don't ask me to take action."
"Deng Gui slandered my husband and turned into a bandit. The eldest son does not uphold justice, but wants to send us, women and children to prison. Turn your elbows outward. What nonsense are you talking about?"
Su Di walked over unceremoniously, stood in front of Xu Wuqi, and asked sternly,
"Are you going to wait for Deng Gui to kill us women and children, throw the bodies into the Huaihe River, and charge us with surrendering to bandits? Xu Wuqi, if you have the ability, just draw your sword and chop me to death here.
."
Today's strategy is that Xu Huai is responsible for the unreasonable part, while Su Di and the others are responsible for reasoning; of course, even if they are reasonable, their momentum cannot be weak.
Xu Wuqi had no idea what to do with Su Di, so he retreated to Xu Wufu and asked him to make up his mind.
"My man died without a body. What nonsense did the eldest son say? How could he ask the officials to arrest us for questioning? What crime have we committed?" A group of young children were also very angry. They all stepped forward and followed Su Di, trying to grab Xu.
Constant questioning.
Someone else pulled Xu Zhongyu, the head of the Nanzhai household, out and said, "Elder son, your elbows are out. Uncle, you are the head of our Nanzhai family. You have to stand up and speak out for justice."
Whether it is the head of the household or the head of the household, he is selected from the upper house, Xu Wufu. The head of the family, Xu Wufu, is elected by each branch and each house to take charge of the family property. If his elbow is really turned out, the clan will not be able to do it.
You may accept it silently.
Tang Tiande looked at everything in front of him and said to Xu Wufu: "Tang came here on the order of Mr. Deng. Mr. Xu, please don't make things difficult for Tang."
Xu Wufu's face was gloomy and uncertain, and he beckoned Xu Zhongyu over to discuss: "We can't ask the officials to arrest people at will, but since Deng Langjun insisted that Xu Wujiang surrendered to the bandits, I'm afraid it was not groundless. Should he first ask Tang Tiande to send Wujiang's father and Di Niang to him?"
Should they take them to the Inspection Department first? If they can find out the facts one day earlier, they can also clear Wu Jiang and the others' innocence one day earlier, right?"
"Master, what do you mean?" Su Di heard clearly and asked sternly, "Wu Jiang's father, can this body withstand prison? You used to plot against me in every possible way, but I was not willing to enter your house.
Concubine, are you here today to avenge your personal vengeance?"
"Di Niang, what are you talking about?" Xu Wufu scolded with a dark face.
Tang Tiande looked at Su Di and sneered: "Di Niang, if you weren't guilty of being a thief, why did you suddenly escape from the military camp yesterday? Today, if you say anything, I will take everyone away!"
"My father-in-law celebrates his birthday today. How come I have committed such a huge crime when I return to the village? Oh my god, since there is no justice, I, Su Di, would die here today and I would not be slandered by you." Su Di shouted sharply,
He hit the big tree next to him.
Su Di's father, Su Laochang, was nearby and grabbed Su Di: "Wu Jiang has not surrendered to the bandits, and no one can taint him. What are you doing stupidly?"
At this time, four or five women ran over in a panic and grabbed Su Di, fearing that she had done something stupid.
