It was already dark when Luo Yangming returned home. The whole family was waiting in the main room. When they saw him coming back, they immediately surrounded him. Ding Atao and Wen Yun were even more tearful, holding his arms and refusing to let go.
"Why are you all crying?" Luo Yangming let out a long breath, "Didn't you come back safely?"
"You suddenly ran out in the middle of the night, and there was such a fierce commotion outside..." Ding Atao cried with eyes like rotten peaches, "There is a whole family here that depends on you. What are the benefits of working for the Australians? So, Risk your life and forget your own death!”
Luo Yangming originally couldn't bear to hear his wife scolding the Senate, and would definitely reprimand her if she heard it. However, now her eyes were red from crying because of worry for her, and she couldn't help but feel pity in her heart, and said: "There are many benefits to following the Senate. Don't worry about it. ." After saying that, he turned to Wen Yun and said, "This time your eldest brother has made a great contribution. The Senate will definitely promote him."
Wen Yun was also in tears, but after all, she was young and had nothing on her mind. She was relieved to see Luo Yangming back safely. When she heard what he said, she couldn't help but burst into tears and smiled, saying, "Is it true?"
"Of course it's true."
As he spoke, he sat down on the chair, feeling sore all over his body, and said, "Not only him, but also the workers under him will benefit this time." At this point, he felt like the world was spinning and he collapsed on the ground.
It was chaos now, the women were crying, the men were shouting, and they said they needed to call a doctor as soon as possible. Li Wensheng was older and could control it. He felt his breath and pulse and said, "It's okay, sir. I'm just too nervous. I've been busy for half the night. This time I lost my energy. In fact, I fell asleep. Let him Just have a good rest."
At that moment, everyone was busy asking Luo Yangming to take off his dirty clothes and carry him to Wen Yun's bedroom. Ding Atao told everyone that from now on, the master will not see guests, and there are big things to "wait until he wakes up."
Things have been tidied up here, and it is already dawn. Someone is beating gongs on the street outside and reading the notice of peace of mind along the street: the riots at night have subsided, Wuzhou City and outside are safe, the four gates have been opened, and the people can live and work in peace.
"It's finally peaceful." Ding Atao said to Li Wensheng, "My heart is about to burst out of my throat. I'm really afraid that the officers and soldiers will fight back..."
"Don't worry, Madam, how can the officers and soldiers fight back? They are just a few clowns..."
While they were talking, Ah Chun suddenly came to report: The eldest lady of the Jiang family wants to see her.
"Which eldest lady of the Jiang family?" Ding Atao didn't react for a moment.
"She is the wife of Uncle Jiang, the shopkeeper of Ruijintang Silk Shop..."
"It turns out she is Qiu Chan's sister-in-law." Ding Atao finally came back to his senses. However, although she and Jiang Qiuchan were best friends, they had no contact with the eldest lady of the Jiang family. Why did you suddenly come to visit me? This is not etiquette. And now that the situation outside is turbulent, it would be better to avoid causing trouble.
"Go back to her and tell her that the master is not in good health and cannot see guests. Madam, please go back first. You will definitely come to the house for instruction someday."
Ah Chun followed the order and came back after a while, reporting:
"Madam! The eldest lady of the Jiang family said that she came here because of something important. She also asked the master and his wife to save her family. She also said that this matter has something to do with Jiang Qiuchan!"
Since the matter involved Jiang Qiuchan, Ding Ataoyun had no choice but to take it seriously. She knew something about the personality of the eldest lady of the Jiang family - she was quite snobbish and did not think highly of her family. She would not come to ask for advice unless something important happened.
"In that case, please invite her in."
As soon as the eldest wife of the Jiang family came in, she knelt down on the ground with a plop and bowed her hands: "Madam! Please save our family!"
At this time, not only Ding Atao was shocked, but also Li Wensheng was confused. Ding Atao said quickly: "Why do you have to do this, Madam! When you have something to say, speak slowly. Help Madam up quickly!"
However, the eldest lady of the Jiang family was kneeling on the ground, crying and begging, but refused to get up, and had to ask Ding Atao to personally agree.
"Madam, what do you want me to promise?" Ding Atao became more and more confused, "If you have anything to say, please stand up and speak. If we can help, we will definitely help!"
After hearing this, the eldest lady of the Jiang family stood up crying and sat down on the chair next to her. He rambled on and told the story one by one.
It turned out that Jiang Qiuchan stayed overnight at the Third General Office yesterday and did not return. Early this morning, a group of policemen came and arrested Jiang Rongxian.
"...I spent money and got the news from a detective team. It was his sister who was the one who caused the trouble and implicated my husband..." As she said this, she started crying again. "The people from the detective team said that this matter is very serious." I'm afraid everyone involved in the case will be hanged. This prodigal sister-in-law..." She was about to curse Jiang Qiuchan, but suddenly thought that the only hope in front of her, Ding Atao, was her sister-in-law's close friend. If he offended her, this time would be in vain.
"What?! Qiu Chan was arrested?!" Ding Atao was shocked. To be honest, she didn't care whether Jiang Rongxian would be hanged. The most important thing is that Qiu Chan committed an unexpected crime. After all, she had been in Wuzhou all these years, and Jiang Qiuchan was one of her only close friends in the boudoir. The feelings are very deep, and many things can only be told to her...
"Madam, don't panic, please explain the matter in detail." Ding Atao said.
"Yes, yes..." Seeing her solemn expression, Mrs. Jiang's wife knew that there was hope, so she told the whole story from the beginning, including the fact that she had found someone to inquire about the news.
"...We, the Jiang family, have always been good and law-abiding citizens. This was the case when the Ming Dynasty was here, and it was also the case when the Senate came. Last time, the head of the government said that there was not enough money to buy food, and all merchants were asked to contribute. My family was the first to contribute... "
Although it was time for her to talk and cry. Ding Atao understood clearly: Jiang Qiuchan was involved in a big conspiracy, which involved the murder of the elders. So early this morning, the whole city was raided, and all the principals of the Jiang family were arrested.
Ding Atao immediately thought of Master Hao's arrest last night - wasn't Master Hao recommended by Jiang Qiuchan? He is also the tutor of Qiu Chan’s son! Could it be something that happened to Master Hao?
Thinking of this, she couldn't sit still. Master Hao has been working in his family for so long. If he is really involved in some "rebellion" case, how can his family be immune?
She no longer wanted to listen to the chatter of the eldest wife of the Jiang family, and said: "This matter will be discussed after my husband and I have discussed it. As long as my family can help, I will definitely help! Don't mess up your position."
After sending away the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Ding Atao was anxious in the room. She wanted to wake up her husband and ask him for details, but she was also worried about his health. We had no choice but to discuss it with Li Wensheng. Li Wensheng advised: "Madam, don't be anxious. Australians have rules and regulations. They will not easily accuse people, nor will they wrongly accuse good people. Mr. Hao and Qiu Chan will be fine for a while. We will There is no rush. I will wake up at noon. It will be easy to ask again then."
Zhao Toyota was busy with the aftermath all morning. After dawn, the scouts sent by Qian Duo to Sanhezui came back and reported that Sanhezui had been defeated last night. Most of the prisoners and refugees in the camp escaped, and some Killed. There were only ten retained personnel responsible for managing and guarding the camp. Some were killed and some fled.
"...Some people also followed the bandits."
Zhao Toyota nodded, which was expected.
A preliminary inventory by the reception team sent by Qian Duo showed that there are currently less than 800 people left in the Sanhezui camp, most of whom are women, children and the elderly. There were more than 500 corpses in the camp, and most of the others fled. The camp was essentially destroyed. Most of the buildings were burned down, and supplies and tools in the camp were also severely damaged.
"Who attacked Sanhezui?"
"They are a group of bandits, and they are actually not many in number. But the camp was organized inside and outside," Qian Duo said with a frown, "Jiang Yougong was bombed to death as soon as the war started..."
"Blasted to death? The bandits brought cannons?" Zhao Toyota thought of the sound of cannons outside the city at night.
"The bandits didn't have cannons, but they brought a lot of gunpowder..."
Zhao Toyota still couldn't imagine it, because the camp of the National Army Squadron in Sanhezui was a closed fortress, and it was impossible for the bandits' combat power to be blasted at close range.
"He took some medicine and ran to the Sanhezui camp to 'listen to the opera'!" Qian Duo spat, "I found out later that he went to sleep with the female actor! As a result, the female actor was sleeping with him and was called inside. A cannon from the inside shot him into the sky! TNND really deserves to die!"
Before the important mission, the squadron leader and Guanying Liu of the Third Squadron were actually "listening to a play" and "playing like a female actor." Qian Duo was extremely surprised when he heard this. He had vaguely heard that there was a "problem" at Sanhezui, but he didn't expect the problem to be so big!
"Listen to the opera? Are you saying that Liu Yuanyuan can manage the opera troupe?" Zhao Fangdang immediately thought of the theater boxes ordered by the chief to be sent out, and his head got bigger again.
"Yes, that's the troupe." Qian Duo said, "I don't know the specific situation yet. There was a lot of chaos in the camp and a lot of people ran away. But Liu Zhizhi can't run away from this!"
"How is he doing?"
"I was injured during the explosion and was crushed under the rubble. I managed to save my life! But there were so many dead people in the camp, and there were corpses everywhere. The No. 3 Squadron camp was not lost, but more than half of the people were killed or injured. , this squadron can be considered useless. It will look great once the grain fleet arrives today."
"Whether it looks good or not is another matter." Zhao Toyota said solemnly, "Now we have as much debt as we can and as many lice as we don't itch. How much worse can it get? Sanhezui is an important place, and the No. 3 Squadron's fortress still needs to be repaired as soon as possible - ―After the first squadron comes back this time, they will take over the defense and take a rest. The second squadron will patrol instead.”
"Then there's only one company left in the city during the day..." Qian Duo said.
"Although the Third Squadron has suffered heavy losses, its strength is still there. Once the Third Squadron has been replenished, it will still be possible to patrol the city. Just practice it slowly."
