There is no curfew in Runzhou City. After the night market opens, it is even more lively than during the day.
Every night, all kinds of vendors and goons fill the streets, especially on the main street, where pedestrians are even more crowded.
However, tonight, there was not a single human figure on the main street of Runzhou.
The government had sent officers to clear the street a quarter of an hour ago. The reason given was that assassins had broken into the inn and assassinated important officials from the capital. In order to capture the assassins and idlers, they were prohibited from staying on the street.
Assassinating a capital official was a serious crime. No one was willing to go against the government on this matter. In less than a quarter of an hour, there was no one left on the main street.
However, when everyone hid at home and looked secretly on the street, they did not find any officials searching for the assassin. The street was empty and there was nothing.
Just when they were wondering, they felt the ground beneath their feet shaking.
Through the cracks in the doors and windows, one could see groups of heavily armed soldiers rushing past the streets.
"What's going on? To catch an assassin and even use the city defense army?"
"Looking at them, they don't look like they are trying to catch an assassin..."
"Did something big happen in the city tonight?"
…
Everyone in Runzhou City was shocked and confused. Three thousand city defense troops had already surrounded a certain deep house in the city from four directions.
Xiao Mansion.
After being toasted by everyone in turn, Prince Qian was already a little tipsy. He put down his wine glass for the last time, looked at the old man beside him, and asked, "Is it almost time?"
The old man calculated the time and nodded: "It should be almost done."
The Crown Prince of Guizhou stood up, bowed his hands to the four heads of the family, and said, "I'm a bit drunk, so I'll excuse you for now. Let's continue..."
Several people held their hands and said, "Your Majesty, please walk slowly..."
Prince Qian walked outside the hall, paused in his steps, and showed a smile on his face.
Tonight's banquet is not an early celebration. The purpose of tonight is only one, which is to completely control these wealthy merchants with the help of microscopic poison eggs, so as to avoid the worries of occupying the south of the Yangtze River.
At this point, he had made all the preparations before the incident.
Tomorrow night will be the time for trouble, and tonight is naturally a good day. If nothing else happens, the so-called most beautiful woman is already lying on the bed, waiting for him to do something.
The smile on Prince Qian's lips spread. When he walked down the steps, he suddenly seemed to have discovered something. He suddenly raised his head and looked at the sky in front of him.
I saw a burst of red light suddenly lighting up outside the Xiao Mansion. The red light flashed continuously. There should be many torches moving there.
The next moment, someone rushed in from outside and said in panic: "Your Majesty, it's not good, the city defense army has surrounded the Xiao Mansion..."
"What!" Prince Qian's expression changed drastically, with an expression of extreme disbelief on his face.
Tomorrow is the time for the uprising, but something like this happened today. The city defense army surrounded Xiao Mansion. It must not be a good thing. He was angry and anxious, and his face was extremely ferocious.
Almost instantly, Bai Jin and others rushed out of the hall. An old man looked ahead with an angry expression and said sternly: "Did someone leak the news?"
After he finished speaking, his eyes immediately looked at the four masters in the hall.
Although there are many guests in the Xiao Mansion tonight, the only ones who really know their actions are these four masters.
Another middle-aged man looked outside and immediately said: "It's too late, find a direction to break out immediately!"
Bai Jin looked outside, not panicking, and said: "The Xiao Mansion has been surrounded. It is risky to break out. Come with me."
After she finished speaking, she quickly walked towards the depths of Xiao Mansion. Everyone looked at her, hesitated for a moment, and then followed her.
Xiao Mansion, in the garden, Bai Jin pushed open a rockery, revealing a large hole under the rockery, and said: "From here you can lead to the outside of Xiao Mansion. After leaving Xiao Mansion, go to the East City Gate immediately!"
The Crown Prince of Guizhou was shocked and said: "When did there be a secret passage here?"
"When we built the Xiao Mansion, I had someone build one just in case." Bai Jin glanced at him and said, "It's too late to explain, let's go!"
The Crown Prince of Guizhou stood outside the cave, looking back at the front with a look of reluctance on his face.
"If you keep the green hills, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood." The old man looked at the Crown Prince of Guizhou and said, "The accident happened in Runzhou, as well as Taizhou, Yuezhou and other places. As long as we escape, we still have a chance!"
"What a pity..." Prince Qian clenched his fists, glanced at the courtyard where Su Mei was sitting unwillingly, and finally jumped down the big hole under the rockery.
At this time, the Xiao Mansion was already in chaos.
The squire and wealthy people present, including the four major families, were surrounded and looked extremely frightened.
The head of the Su family, Su Zhe, was no longer as calm as before. He stood at the front, looked at the city defense troops, and said in shock: "What are you doing!"
"Shut up now. I'll settle the matter with you later on colluding with the rebels!" Liu Tong glanced at him, waved his hand and said, "Tie them all up, don't let any of them go!"
Hearing the words "colluding with rebels", the bodies of the three masters trembled and their faces turned pale.
The head of the Song family fell down on the steps, his face turned gray, and he said sadly: "It's over, the Song family is over..."
Although Su Zhe and the head of the Shen family could barely stand, the despair in their hearts was not much less than his.
Rebellion is a major crime against the nine clans. No matter the principal or accomplice, no matter whether it is the four major families or the five major wealthy families, as long as it is related to the word "rebellion", the century-old foundation of the family owner will be destroyed with one move...
Among the four, only the head of the Bai family was the most indifferent.
But in the eyes of the other three people, this indifference was like being stunned and dull...
…
Tang Ning stood outside the Xiao Mansion, and Chen Zhou quickly ran out and said, "Sir, the heads of the four major families of Su, Bai, Shen, and the Song Dynasty, as well as many wealthy businessmen in Runzhou, have captured them all, including the Crown Prince of Guizhou and others.
The person escaped through the secret passage and should have gone in the direction of the east city gate..."
Tangning didn't know if there was a secret passage in the Xiao Mansion, but she had made preparations in advance. The four city gates of Runzhou were now closed, and they couldn't escape anywhere.
"Chase." He ordered, and then added: "Tell the generals that the most beautiful girl among the fugitives is our undercover agent, and ask them not to hurt her..."
Chen Zhou cupped his hands and said, "I understand!"
At this time, the Xiao Mansion was filled with cries and cries.
All the squire and wealthy people who came to the scene tonight were captured, and all the servants of the Xiao Mansion who had no time to escape were also captured.
The remaining city defense troops were checking the courtyards one by one. In a certain courtyard, Su Mei walked out of the room. More than ten people in the courtyard raised their bows and arrows at her and shouted: "The rebels have been defeated, why don't we capture them quickly!"
"Put it down!" Liu Tong walked in from outside the courtyard, glared at those people, and said, "These are our own people, put down your weapons!"
More than a dozen people were startled when they heard this and put down their weapons one after another.
Liu Tong stepped forward, glanced at Su Mei, and then did not dare to look again. He lowered his head and asked, "You didn't scare the girl, did you?"
Su Mei looked at him and asked, "Where are your adults?"
Liu Tongdao: "I went to chase those rebels. I thought the girl also left with them..."
[PS: Take a break and continue writing. I will write as much as I can today and try to finish the plot.]
