[I read this chapter three times, there can be no typos! 】
Let's talk about Zhu Jinghong and his party. After leaving Yingtianfucheng, he first went to Jurong County and then to Jintan County.
The closer you get to Liyang, the more refugees you can see, and there are many destroyed villages along the way.
He has seen scenes of wives and children separated and families destroyed countless times in the past two days.
Of course, they also encountered small groups of Japanese pirates along the way, and they were all killed by Zhu Jinghong's troops, but this still could not relieve his hatred.
"Master Thirteen, there is a village ahead, let's take a rest for now?"
It is now noon. The sergeants have been walking for more than an hour. It is time to rest and have lunch.
"good!"
Now they have passed Jintan County and are still more than forty miles away from Yixing. They can reach Yixing before dark.
Although they were resting, the soldiers still had a clear division of labor and each found a favorable position, turning the village into a temporary fortress.
Lu Yuxin came back and reported: "Thirteenth Master, everyone in the village has run away. I think they are fleeing..."
"It doesn't matter if you escape, at least you're still alive!" Zhu Jinghong sighed, trying to make him feel better.
"Master Thirteen, there is a corpse here..."
Zhu Jinghong sighed again. Tragedy could not be avoided. Someone was still killed in this village.
As he walked closer and looked at the corpse in the room, Zhu Jinghong felt a surge of hatred in his heart.
Inside the house were women whose clothes had been stripped off. From the scars on their bodies, it could be seen that they had suffered inhuman torture.
"Bury them!"
"yes!"
While everyone went about their business, Zhu Jinghong was led to the farmyard, where food was already laid out.
"Master Thirteen, please have a meal!"
Zhu Jinghong took out the sword from his waist, looked at himself reflected on the blade, and said slowly: "Hou Jing... If I don't kill all these Japanese pirates, I will never be happy!"
Hou Jing also felt uncomfortable. He was also a living person. When he saw the evil things the Japanese pirates did, how could he not hate the Japanese pirates deeply?
"Thirteenth Master, the officers and soldiers have been setting up a new siege. It won't be long before... these Japanese bandits will be unable to escape!" Hou Jing said with relief.
At this moment, the guard guarding the north side suddenly shouted: "There is something moving inside..."
After this warning, only about a second passed, and everyone inside and outside the hospital immediately took action.
Dozens of guards surrounded Zhu Jinghong and exited the courtyard. More soldiers from outside crowded in and surrounded the room where the noise was coming from.
"Who...come out!"
The warning guard held up his shield and held a knife close to the bed in the house. The sound came from under the bed.
What puzzled a group of guards was that they had clearly searched the room just now and there must be no one in the room, so how could there be any movement at this moment.
"come out……"
After scolding him twice in succession, he saw the wooden board under the bed being lifted up and then slowly moved to one side.
There was actually a cellar hidden under the bed. At this moment, a young girl came out. Judging by her attire, it was obvious that she was a maid from a wealthy family.
However, one person came out, followed by a second person, then a third person, four...
Finally, a beautiful girl in a brocade robe crawled out from under the bed with a frightened look on her face.
A total of six people walked out of the cellar, four of whom were well-dressed, and the other two, one older and one younger, must be mother and son, presumably the owners of the house here.
"My lord, we are kind people, and when thieves come, we hide here!" explained the old woman in brocade.
In the past, when Ping saw so many knife-wielding officers and soldiers, this woman would have been frightened, but today she felt particularly relieved after seeing them.
The Japanese pirates were burning, killing and looting, as well as the wailing and crying in the village, which frightened them to death, thinking that they were going to die here today.
Fortunately, they were lucky enough that the Japanese pirates did not discover this place during their robbery, so they escaped.
After the Japanese pirates left, a group of female relatives who were frightened did not dare to come out of the cellar hastily, so they waited until now.
They made a noise just now, and only after confirming that there were officers and soldiers outside, they had the courage to lift the board to check, and then they were discovered by the guards.
Several maids and servants surrounded the young master with their bodies to prevent her from being exposed to a group of men.
The mother and son looked terrified and hid in a corner, saying nothing from the beginning to the end.
Seeing that the danger was over, Zhu Jinghong re-entered the yard and sat down in his seat.
"Looking at the way you are dressed, you don't look like a peasant girl. Who are you?"
The matter needs to be clarified. It is abnormal for a young lady who is supposed to be in her boudoir to appear in the village.
"Back to the general, my husband is promoted to the Ministry of Shipping in Tongzhou City. My uncle and his daughter planned to go to the capital..."
"Unexpectedly, he encountered thieves and got separated from the uncle. He fled in panic and hid in this village. Fortunately, a farmer rescued him and hid him in a cellar, and he was able to save his life!"
"Promoted to Tongzhou City's Shipping Secretary?" Zhu Jinghong read it again, and then looked at Hou Jing.
"There is such a yamen..."
Hou Jing asked: "What is your master's name? How old are you this year?"
"Reporting to the official, our surname is Zhen Mingcheng, and he is already forty-seven this year!"
Listening to the old woman's story, Zhu Jinghong's expression became strange.
So he asked: "Is there... a strange young master in your family?"
"General, how do you know?" The old woman was a little surprised.
"What's his name?"
"Reporting to the official, my third master's name is Zhen Tao Baoyu!"
Sure enough, this is the so-called Jinling Zhen family.
If I remember correctly, the Zhen family also had a concubine who lived with the Supreme Emperor in Ningshou Palace.
The identity was confirmed and there was no need to ask anymore. Zhu Jinghong ordered: "Let them go!"
"yes!"
He was going to fight, so naturally he couldn't bring a woman with him.
As for their safety, there is actually no need to worry. As long as they go east, there will be no danger, because the Japanese pirates move northwest.
However, at this moment, a voice came from among the servants: "General, this little lady has something to say!"
But it was the young lady of the Zhen family. At this moment, she was covered with a veil, so that no one could see her appearance.
"explain!"
"While hiding in the cellar just now, the little girl heard news about some thieves!"
Not all Japanese pirates are Japanese, there are also some pirates transformed from coastal fishermen. The ratio between the two is probably one to one, and the girl from the Zhen family is the latter.
Zhu Jinghong didn't speak, he was waiting for the other party to continue talking.
"Those bandits said they wanted to capture some beautiful young women and give them to their young masters to enjoy..."
Seeing that the girl from the Zhen family stopped talking, Zhu Jinghong couldn't help but feel surprised, and finally couldn't help but ask: "What next?"
The Zhen family girl continued: "This means that their young master must be nearby. If the general can lead the troops to capture him, it will be a great achievement!"
Hearing this, Zhu Jinghong was shocked. This person really had simple ideas.
The Japanese pirates have been gone for so long. Who knows where the so-called young master has fled. There must be a direction to capture him.
"I understand what you said, thank you!"
Zhu Jinghong waved and asked someone to take him away.
Obviously, the situation is different from what the Zhen family girl imagined.
"General, now that you have the news about the little girl, can you agree to a request?"
Zhu Jinghong said calmly: "Say it!"
"Can the general send someone to take us back to Tongzhou? My father will give us a generous gift then!"
In the view of the Zhen family girl, it was too dangerous outside. There were several of them and women outside, and they did not dare to leave without escort.
"I'm not short of money!"
After a pause, the girl from the Zhen family continued: "My aunt is the concubine of the current dynasty. If the general is willing to help, there will be generous rewards in the future!"
(End of chapter)
