"How much does Mr. Cao think is appropriate?" Mr. Huang did not say directly, but asked the other party.
Mr. Cao thought for a while and said, "With less money, we will definitely not be able to bribe the leader of the bandits. If we want to keep the whole family safe, I'm afraid I won't have thousands of taels of silver."
"A few thousand taels?" Mr. Huang snorted and said, "A family must spend at least a few thousand taels."
"There are so many, I'm afraid the total of the several companies is over 10,000 taels!" Mr. Cao looked surprised.
I never expected that these people would spend so much money to keep their families safe. No wonder these people had the idea of using money to bribe the bandits to retreat.
If he were the bandit leader and had the opportunity to get tens of thousands of taels of silver for free, he might actually agree to withdraw.
Seeing the stunned look on Mr. Cao's face, Mr. Huang said proudly, "So, do you still think that buying the bandits to retreat is a wishful thinking?"
Tens of thousands of taels of silver can fill several wooden boxes.
Fortunately, so much money was pooled together by several families. If one family were to provide this money, even if they could come up with it, it would be very difficult. At least if the Huang family wants to spend such a large amount of money, they will directly drain the Huang family for many years. The money saved.
"The rebels will not retreat." Mr. Cao shook his head and said, "Behind the rebels is the tiger-character flag, and they all know the tiger-character flag. Legend has it that they have as much money as gold and silver. It is impossible to bribe the bandit leader with tens of thousands of taels of silver."
When the Huang family heard this, not only was he not angry, but he smiled and said, "Second Master Cao's idea is the same as what your eldest brother thinks. We are worthy of being a family."
Second Master Cao looked at the Master of the Cao family.
It's a pity that Mr. Cao still has a straight face, and it's hard to tell anything from his face.
"I have told you, Mr. Cao, everything that needs to be said. What do you think? Have you thought about it? Do you want to contact your brother-in-law and let our people out of the city?" Mr. Huang looked at Mr. Cao and said.
Mr. Cao frowned and said, "You are really willing to give tens of thousands of taels of silver to the bandits for free. In fact, I think that the city of Datong is as solid as a rock, and the bandits may not be able to invade the city."
"We don't know what you said, but we can't bet. The lives of the whole family are in the city. If we can buy a family's life and property with money, everything is worth it." The master of the Huang family said in a serious tone. .
Mr. Cao, who was sitting on the main seat, said: "At other times, I would naturally believe that Datong City could be defended, but it is different now. The defenders in Datong City are far less numerous than the number of bandits outside the city. There are still many bandits. Great chance to enter the city."
The insufficient strength of the garrison in Datong City is no longer a secret in the eyes of the country gentry in the city. This also makes many people in the city have little confidence in the garrison to defend Datong City.
"I just think it's a pity to give so much money to the bandits in vain, and once the court finds out about this, they will be prosecuted." Mr. Cao said worriedly.
Mr. Huang said with a smile: "Don't worry, we have already been prepared for this. The money will not be given to the bandits in advance. The money will only be handed over to the bandits when they enter the city. The people sent to contact the bandits are only If something happens to a servant, he will be pushed out directly to bear all the charges. In this way, the government will not be able to find anything."
"This method is indeed a foolproof strategy. If the bandits cannot attack Datong City, money can be saved." Mr. Cao said with a clear expression.
Mr. Huang said: "Master Cao will never refuse again!"
"Since you have thought everything through, I have no reason to refuse you anymore, not to mention this is also a good thing for the Cao family." Mr. Cao said.
The faces of Mr. Huang and the other squires present showed joy.
Mr. Cao, who was sitting on the main seat, even said: "Since you have agreed, second brother, then hurry up and make arrangements. This matter should be done sooner rather than later. If the bandits invade the city, everything will be too late."
"No rush, there is one thing I want to explain in advance." Mr. Cao looked at the squires present and said, "I can help you contact my brother-in-law, but if you want to leave the city, you must spend money to bribe the city guard. We can't let my brother-in-law take risks and pay for it at the same time!"
The master of the Cao family frowned and said with dissatisfaction: "How much money can there be? The Cao family has given away this money."
"Since the eldest brother is willing to spend money to reward the guards on the city, I won't say anything. Before dark, I will send someone to invite my brother-in-law, and then it will be up to you, eldest brother, to negotiate." Cao Er I said to the Cao family master who was sitting on the main seat.
"Okay, I'll tell your brother-in-law in person." Mr. Cao agreed.
At this moment, the door was pushed open, and a servant of the Cao family walked in from the outside.
As soon as he entered the house, the servant bowed to the Cao family master and then said: "Sir, I have learned clearly that the bandits outside the city have failed to attack the city and have temporarily retreated."
As soon as the words fell, several villagers started talking among themselves in low voices.
"It seems that the bandits can't do it either. Do you guys want me to find my brother-in-law?" Mr. Cao asked the squires present.
The Huang family master said: "Act according to the agreed plan. There are hundreds of thousands of bandits outside the city. Failure once or twice is nothing. As long as there is success once, the result will be different. Besides, no matter what the outcome is on both sides, we will Don’t suffer.”
"Then I will find them in the evening. It would be too conspicuous to find them at this time." Seeing that the bandits outside the city failed to attack the city, Mr. Cao did not change the minds of these people, so he stopped trying to persuade them.
What's more, he is also from the Cao family.
If he could really bribe the bandits outside the city, he, a member of the Cao family, could also benefit from it.
Outside the north gate of Datong City.
Several artillery brigades of the Tiger Character Banner retreated away from the north city wall after bombarding the North City of Datong.
Hundreds of cannons bombarded the North City Gate for nearly two hours. When they returned, the barrels of every cannon were hot to the touch.
If it were an ordinary city, under the bombardment of so many cannons, the city would have collapsed long ago, but the north wall of Datong City still stands in front of the Tiger Flag army.
"What's going on?" Liu Heng asked Chen Xunping, who was returning to the hospital.
Chen Xunping said: "The city wall of Datong City is more difficult to attack than imagined. Hundreds of cannons fired for so long, and only the control towers on both sides were captured. The Qian Tower was too strong and could not be completely destroyed. The corner tower Over there, I'm afraid it won't be usable in the short term, and the cannons installed by the army on the north wall should have been blown up by our cannons. As for the casualties of the defenders on the city, we can't be sure yet."
"Without the two military control towers outside the city, the defenders in the city have lost two arms. Then they can attack the outermost barbican with peace of mind." Liu Heng picked up a small flag and planted it in the north city of Datong City. On top of the two military control platforms outside.
