Xue Lin didn't expect that Han Baihang would withdraw his troops in such an anticlimactic manner. On the way back to the army, he held back a lot of questions and finally asked uncontrollably: "Captain Han, we worked so hard to chase the bandits, why did you just have the opportunity to wipe out the bandits?
But he ordered the withdrawal of troops, isn't this like letting the tiger go back to the mountains?" He couldn't help but complain a little bit when he spoke, secretly guessing Han Baihang's motives, and thinking about going back to Ding Zuopeng to file a complaint.
Han Baihang kept striding, glanced at him, and said calmly: "Commander Xue, suppressing bandits is not a one-day effort. It is easy to destroy Heifeng Village, but it is difficult to destroy the bandits in Mangdang Mountain."
"I'm afraid there is no conflict between the two." Xue Lin said excitedly: "Heifeng Village's crimes are extremely heinous. If we don't destroy him, we can't explain to the people who died in Yongcheng!"
When he spoke, he looked worried about the country and the people and almost made Han Baihang believe him. Unfortunately, Han Baihang knew very well that he usually preyed on the people and was no softer than the bandits, so only a ghost would believe anything he told the people.
Han Baihang said tepidly: "Captain Xue, I said that suppressing bandits is not a day's work. I naturally have my reasons for giving up the attack on Heifeng Village. As for the reason, I don't need to explain to you."
Xue Lin's expression changed several times, he laughed a few times and stopped asking any more questions. According to his past temper, he would naturally break the casserole and ask to the end, but after what happened in Yong'an Town, he was very wary of Han Baihang, especially now in the
In the barren mountain, there were only a dozen brothers around him. If Han Baihang was offended, everyone would be buried in the mountain with just a word from him, so he could only choose to swallow his anger.
Han Baihang saw Xue Lin's wariness towards him and couldn't help but smile coldly in his heart. He had never thought about taking the opportunity to quietly kill Xue Lin and cut off Ding Zuopeng's arm. However, he thought twice about whether he had just arrived in Yongcheng or not.
A few days later, he told Ding Zuopeng that there was no substantive conflict and it would be too reckless to kill people just for a little conflict, so he gave up his murderous intention. He stopped and looked at the advancing troops and shouted loudly: "Speed up."
Hurry up and get back to Yongan Town before dark!"
…
As he anxiously retreated to the bandits' lair in Erlang Mountain, Zhu Chunzi shouted angrily: "Where did the dog-like officers and soldiers come from to ruin my good deeds!"
The second master panted closely behind him, unbuttoned his collar to fan himself inside, and said in a hoarse voice: "It's the Yongcheng officers and soldiers who didn't run away, they must be chasing them from Yong'an Town. I didn't expect them to dare to enter the mountain."
, so careless.”
Zhu Chunzi's face was ashen as frightening. No wonder he was so angry. If Cheng Yaojin hadn't been attacked halfway by the officers and soldiers, he would have eaten Feng Guanglin's gangster pole long ago. Now not only did Feng Guanglin not eat it, but he was also broken by the officers and soldiers.
He lost a lot of manpower, he simply lost his wife and lost his troops. Especially when he thought of the crazy revenge of Black Wind Village, he couldn't help but feel his teeth numb with worry.
The second master glanced at Zhu Chunzi's face and said worriedly: "First master, we have forged a feud with Heifeng Village this time, what should we do next?"
Zhu Chunzi rubbed his face vigorously, regained his composure, and said, "Don't panic! Let the brothers guard the main road into the mountain. No matter how powerful Feng Guanglin is, he can't do anything to us."
The second master opened his mouth but did not say anything. Being trapped on the mountain can only protect himself for a while, not a long-term solution. The villagers will eat the mountain and eat it up. If they don't go down the mountain to plunder, they won't be able to survive for long.
Zhu Chunzi knew this, but now he was at a loss and could only take one step at a time. He felt that since the officers and soldiers came to Yongcheng this time, they had acted with an evil spirit, and he thought of tying himself up.
He killed the county magistrate's concubine. According to the evil nature of this group of officers and soldiers, he couldn't guarantee that Erlangshan would be the next target for surgery. After thinking about it, he felt that he had offended Heifeng Village and it would be bad if the officers and soldiers targeted him again, so he returned
In the bandit's house, he found his concubine who he had raped for many days.
The concubine's eyes were dull, and there were a few palm marks on her face. She was huddled in the corner of the kang with her legs in disheveled clothes. Seeing Zhu Chunzi burst into the door, she subconsciously exclaimed and backed away in horror.
In the past, Zhu Chunzi would definitely have some animalistic desires when he came in, but this time he came back with very clean hands and feet. After coming in, he found a chair and sat down. After a long silence, he said: "I want to let you go back!"
"
The aunt's dull eyes finally gained a bit of sparkle, but then dimmed. She thought that she had already been raped by the bandits. Even if she was released without innocence, she would have no way to survive. She couldn't help but show a look of despair and misery.
look.
Zhu Chunzi knew his concubine's concerns. He was the one who got the advantage. At this time, he did not dare to publicize the matter of sleeping with the county magistrate's concubine. He drank in a low voice and said: "Don't worry, our affairs will not be spread.
When you go back, tell me that I am here for the ransom, and I will treat you with good food and drink these days. I think you know what to say."
The concubine was silent. Zhu Chunzi knew that she had heard her, so he stood up and said, "Please pack up and I will send you down the mountain tonight."
…
It was already evening when Han Baihang led his army back to Yong'an Town. After marching for a day, the whole army was already exhausted. After resting for a night in Yong'an Town, Han Baihang got up early the next day and gathered the strong men. After selecting them one by one, he selected three
One hundred people were reorganized into the Seventh Squadron of the Militia, with Zhou Qing as the squadron leader, and 300 people were selected from the remaining people, and organized into the Seventh Squadron of the Militia, specially reserved for Mei Changyuan, and the remaining strong men were
Distributing Dayang and letting them follow Xue Lin back to the county town.
Xue Lin saw that Han Baihang had expanded his troops by two squadrons. He dared not speak out in anger, and went back to report to Ding Zuopeng. When Ding Zuopeng heard that Han Baihang had blatantly expanded his troops, he immediately became angry. He secretly ordered the gentry to flock to
The county government caused trouble and wrote a letter of ten thousand words to Mei Changyuan, pointing out that the Yongcheng militia was bloated and the county's security funds were unable to make ends meet, and demanded the reduction of troops and generals.
Meichang expected that Ding Zuopeng would not give up. He had already prepared a countermeasure for the reason raised by the gentry, and said plausibly: "There is a reason why the county government expanded the new militia in Yong'an Town. Yong'an Town is adjacent to the bandit den of Mangdang Mountain, and the bandits
Frequent harassment requires a strong militia to be stationed on a permanent basis to guard against bandits. Furthermore, Yong'an Town is an important trade town, and part of the commercial tax revenue can be extracted to pay for military expenses. There is no need to use the militia's original military expenditure. Deploying a militia in Yong'an Town can
It plays the role of keeping bandits away. In the future, the county will be protected from bandits, and at the same time, it can serve as a bridgehead for marching to Mangdang Mountain to suppress bandits, which has a high military effect!"
Of course, these words could not convince the gentry. Faced with the strong opposition of the gentry, Mei Changyuan invited someone out, which made the gentry speechless.
The person Mei Changyuan invited was Mayor Pang of Yong'an Town. Mayor Pang was originally a person who was friendly to Ding Zuopeng. But this time when the bandits attacked, Ding Zuopeng completely ignored the safety of Yong'an Town and sent no soldiers. Let Pang
The mayor held a grudge, and the new militia in Yong'an Town was beneficial to him, so he did not care about offending Ding Zuopeng and stood in the same camp as Mei Changyuan.
After all, Mayor Pang had the final say in Yong'an Town, and with the support of the county magistrate, Mei Changyuan, even though the gentry tried their best, they could not make Mei Changyuan regain his fame, so the expansion of two squadrons was forcibly launched.
