At Yinshi, it was still dark outside the camp, with a morning star shining brightly in the night sky and no trace of dawn.
The cold wind howls from time to time, blowing on people's faces, making them wet and cold, making people shiver uncontrollably.
"You bitch, it's really cold here!" The soldier guarding the gate of the Zhejiang Army couldn't help getting goosebumps when a cold wind blew by. He shuddered and shuddered and cursed.
"It was very warm during the day, but it turned out to be so cold at night, especially when it was almost dawn. The cold wind blew a lot of snot out of my nose." The soldiers next to me complained.
At this time, a guard guard shrank his eyes, pointed in front of him and shouted, "Brothers are all excited! A group of people came from the opposite side and lit three torches. It seemed that they were coming to our military camp. .”
After the soldiers gave the warning, the soldiers guarding the gate also noticed that someone was coming from the opposite side, and they all braced themselves and prepared for the attack.
The group of people who came got closer and closer, and soon arrived at the entrance of the military camp.
The leader was an old man with a white beard. Although he was old, he was energetic and agile.
A middle-aged man followed close behind and wanted to help him, but was thrown away by the old man. Behind them were a dozen middle-aged and young strong men.
"Hey, isn't that Zhuang Lizheng of Zhuangjia Village? Didn't he just come to reward the army the day before yesterday? Why are he coming to reward the army again today? Isn't the time right?" A gatekeeper soldier recognized the leader of the white-bearded old man and couldn't help but be surprised. road.
As soon as he finished speaking, the guard guard realized something was wrong. Why did the reward army come empty-handed? ! Still looking angry.
It doesn't look like they are here to reward the troops, but rather like they are here to raise troops to punish the enemy. What is going on? !
"He who comes, stop here." The guards on both sides of the gate hurriedly waved their spears and crossed in front of the gate, shouting loudly.
"Master Jun, Master Jun, we are the people of Zhuangjia Village. Please let us in. We want to report to the official. Please let Mr. Zhu make the decision for us." The old man at the head stopped quickly and bowed his hands again and again, with a look of injustice on his face.
"Aren't you Mr. Zhuang Lizheng who came to our barracks to reward the troops the day before yesterday? If you have any grievances, you should go to the Shuntian Mansion. Why do you come to our barracks to ask us to make the decision instead?" asked the gatekeeper.
"It's the little old man, it's the little old man." The leader, Mr. Zhuang, was bowing his head repeatedly, and then he sighed aggrieved, helpless and angrily, and replied with a bitter look on his face, "The reason why we are here is expensive." The army asked Mr. Zhu to make the decision for us, and it was for a reason. Alas, the three military men in your military camp ran to our Zhuangjia Village last night, climbed the wall and broke into private houses, robbed two good women from our Zhuangjia Village, and gave them to What a waste. We heard the noise and led people to block them at home. Unexpectedly, the three military masters were not only emboldened, but also made arrogant threats to us villagers in Zhuangjia Village. We really had no choice but to come to your army to report to the official. , please make the decision for us, Mr. Zhu, and uphold justice for us."
"What? Three people sneaked out last night?! And they went to Zhuangjia Village to rape a girl?!" The guard guard couldn't help being surprised when he heard this. He felt that the matter was serious. After looking at each other, he asked Zhuang Laoli to wait for others. Waiting outside the camp gate, one of the soldiers trotted all the way to report to the camp.
At that time, Zhu Ping'an was washing up. After listening to the report of the gatekeepers, he immediately ordered the entire army to conduct a thorough headcount check to verify whether the Quanying soldiers were full and whether anyone was not in the barracks, so that he could be well aware of it.
In addition, regardless of whether the people who committed the crime in Zhuangjia Village were Zhejiang Army soldiers or not, there were thieves who committed crimes in Zhuangjia Village and raped women. Therefore, without further delay, we should quickly send troops to Zhuangjia Village to capture the thieves.
Therefore, after Zhu Ping'an ordered a thorough investigation of the number of people, he immediately ordered, "Liu Mu, order fifty elite soldiers to follow me to Zhuangjia Village, and prepare a few more vehicles and horses so that Zhuangjia Village can report the case and the people can go there by car. "
After giving two orders in succession, Zhu Ping'an took people to the camp gate to personally greet the villagers Zhuang Laoli was waiting for.
"Mr. Zhuang and fellow villagers, please come into the camp and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up. I have ordered the entire army to conduct a thorough head count and prepare the carriages and horses. When the carriages and horses are ready, we will set off for your village immediately. If it is discovered that a soldier from our camp went out to do evil without permission, I will not take mercy lightly and will give an explanation to your village. If the thief who committed the crime is not a soldier from our camp, I will also bring him in to help your village capture the thief and hand it over to the government. condemn."
After Zhu Ping'an welcomed Zhuang Laoli and others into the guest tent, he poured a cup of hot tea for each of them with a teapot and assured them firmly.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir." Zhuang Laoli and others were flattered and thanked him repeatedly. They didn't expect that Zhu Ping'an was so easy to talk to. He didn't show any favoritism at all and always thought about them. He said with a moved face, "Your Excellency, you are really the great master of Qingtian." Ah, with the words of an adult, our hearts can be put back into our stomachs."
"Mr. Zhuang Lizheng, fellow villagers, I have spoken harshly. As an official in charge of the Zhejiang Army, I am responsible for the execution of punishments and inspections. This is my duty. I am ashamed to say that the day before yesterday, Guizhuang was still eating pots of pulp. Come to our camp to reward the troops. If the criminals are indeed soldiers of our Zhejiang Army, I will be truly ashamed."
Zhu Pingan said apologetically.
"Your Excellency is strict in running the army, and it is well-known. No military camp in the city has better military discipline than the Zhejiang Army. Since we stationed here, we have never done anything to disturb the people. Today is purely an accident and has nothing to do with Your Excellency." Zhuang Laoli and others hurriedly said.
"Report!" At this moment, a soldier walked in quickly and reported the results of the head count to Zhu Ping'an. After entering the tent, he saw that Dazhuang Laoli was waiting for someone, and he couldn't help but look a little embarrassed. He took a step forward and thought Tell Zhu Pingan the result in a whisper.
"Zhuang Laoli is all parties involved and has the right to know. There is no need to avoid taboos, just speak out." Zhu Pingan waved his hand slightly.
"Yes." The soldier accepted the order with clasped fists and reported the result to Zhu Ping'an in public, "Sir, after counting the number of people today, it was found that Liu Gouzi, Han Laosan and Zhang Tiedan are not in the camp, and the rest of the soldiers are all in the camp."
Three people really sneaked out! It seems that what Mr. Zhuang and the others told him is nine-tenths of the truth.
Hearing this, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but stand up with an apologetic look, bowed to the villagers waiting for him, bowed, and said apologetically: "I have done nothing to protect my village, and I have caused harm to your village. I really feel sorry for Mr. Zhuang and all the villagers. "
"Your Majesty, you are serious. Those who committed crimes are deserters. What does it have to do with your Majesty." Mr. Zhuang stood up quickly, not daring to accept Zhu Ping'an's gift.
"Sir, fifty elite soldiers have been ordered, and the chariots and horses have been prepared." Liu Mu came in and reported to Zhu Pingan.
"Okay, Mr. Zhuang, fellow villagers, although you have already traveled all the way, but without further ado, I would like to ask you to have a sip of tea before getting on the carriage and working hard in the carriage to guide the way. Let's set off now." Zhu Ping'an Tell Mr. Zhuang and others.
"It's not hard work for us, it's hard work sir. Thank you so much for thinking about us and preparing a carriage for the little old man and the villagers."
Zhuang Laoli was getting up and said with emotion, Mr. Zhu is worried about our urgent needs. This is a good official who really does things.
Zhu Ping'an led Liu Mu and fifty elite soldiers on horseback. Zhuang Laoli was waiting for the villagers to squeeze into three carriages and gallop towards Zhuangjia Village.
"Sir, this is it." Zhuang Laoli was leading Zhu Ping'an and his party to the east end of the village, pointing to the yard where the incident occurred.
"Woo."
"Beasts, beasts, you will not die well."
At this time, a woman's crying and cursing could still be heard inside.
(End of chapter)
