The smell of blood in the air seems to stir up the blood in some special way, causing the blood to surge. This surging power affects the mind, making people's hearts full of violence and desire.
This is the desire to fight and the desire to drink blood.
Gu Zhengchen took a deep breath, calmed down the inexplicable impulse in his heart, and sheathed his sword. His calmness and wisdom returned again, like a calm and unhurried general, standing outside the battlefield, observing the changes in the battle situation.
Zhao Hailou, Wang Liang and others were brave, and the Beijing troops they brought were all battlefield-experienced sergeants. Their combat power was beyond comparison with ordinary men. After a series of killings, they killed most of the men in black who rushed in. , the remaining few people ran away when they saw that the situation was not good.
Gu Zhengchen immediately ordered a pursuit.
Killing you while you are sick is applicable to every dynasty.
Zhao Hailou, Wang Liang and others led people to fight out of the cave. The six people guarding the outside heard the shouts of killing and fought in from the outside. The battle was divided and combined. Under the leadership of Wang Hu and others, they wiped out one after another In eight mines, more than ten people were killed, more than twenty were captured, and sixty-two miners were rescued.
Gu Zhengchen was sitting in the mountain room, looking at the more than 20 prisoners being brought in, and asked Wang Hu and others: "Is anyone able to escape?"
Wang Hu and others identified them one by one, but no one escaped.
This time the movement was too fast, they were coming from inside and outside again, and there were people leading the way. In addition, most of these people were hiding in the cave, and they were blocked. Some of them wanted to run, but they didn't get far. They were not caught. It means being killed and ending up in total annihilation.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Guo Baijin, who was kneeling on the ground with a swollen face and still gritting his teeth, and said calmly: "Don't you admire the weak and the strong? Why can't you accept this end? Why do you feel the pain of being a shrimp?"
Guo Baijin shouted unwillingly: "Gu Zhengchen, you are cheating!"
Gu Zhengchen sneered: "I'm cheating, isn't it ridiculous? Who ordered people wearing tiger skins to attack and kill me south of Dachaling, right? Do you want me now? What is the purpose of arresting so many people to dig lime mines? ?”
Guo Baijin lowered his head and said nothing.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Guo Hua'er, who had stopped bleeding and looked pale, and asked, "Is your father going to do it, or are you going to do it?"
Guo Hua'er leaned against the wall sadly: "I can't believe that the foundation laid over many years was destroyed in the hands of a scholar! Just do it, we won't do it."
Gu Zhengchen pointed to another passage and smiled: "It doesn't matter if you don't, it's just a big guy you raised in captivity. Have you ever eaten a woman? Yao Zhen, feed her to the tiger!"
A look of horror appeared on Guo Hua'er's face, and Guo Baijin quickly shouted: "No!"
Gu Zhengchen stood up, walked to Guo Baijin, and said coldly: "If you want her to survive, find out your purpose of digging lime mines, find out who you are, and find out who you are working for! Don't expect me to treat someone who wants to The man who fed me to the tiger showed pity for me."
"cannot!"
Guo Huaer looked at the struggling Guo Baijin and shouted.
Guo Baijin clasped his hands tightly, his eyes sometimes determined and then hesitant. It wasn't until he saw Yao Zhen lifting Guo Hua'er that he shouted: "Me!"
"Father!"
Just as Guo Hua'er was about to stop him, Yao Zhen slashed his neck with his palm, causing him to faint immediately.
Guo Baijin was in pain and looked at Gu Zhengchen: "Winner or loser, if we lose, we lose! But Gu Zhengchen, you have to think about it. If you know the truth, you are not far away from death."
Gu Zhengchen frowned slightly: "Death?"
Guo Baijin burst into laughter and said coldly: "Gu Zhengchen, behind the lime mine is a magnificent city wall!"
"City wall?"
An ominous feeling of good fortune arose in Gu Zhengchen's heart
Guo Baijin stared at Gu Zhengchen with one eye, bloodshot eyes filling his eyes: "You are a smart man and you should know what I mean. It's too late to stop now. If you continue to ask questions, you have to carefully consider the consequences."
Gu Zhengchen and Guo Baijin looked at each other. The mountain room was so quiet that it was depressing.
hehe--
Gu Zhengchen smiled bitterly and shook his head repeatedly.
Guo Baijin burst out laughing, quite proud.
Gu Zhengchen rubbed his brows, things were getting a little tricky.
Damn it, it’s not just about digging a lime mine, why is it still related to the Jinling City Wall?
I remembered.
The Jinling city wall is strong and has survived for six hundred years. In addition to strict construction standards and an inscription system that can be traced back to individuals, there is another factor that cannot be ignored:
The adhesive used in the Jinling city wall is no longer the traditional waxy mortar, but lime mixed with porridge!
lime!
Gu Zhengchen saw a big hole that couldn't be filled by one or two heads.
Don't think that the imperial court's construction of the city wall is completely free. It is voluntary labor. It also requires payment of food as reward, and these food are profits.
Limestone is completely linked to profit. From this perspective, it seems that the motivation for digging limestone can be explained.
The reason why it must be the Jinling City Wall and not the Zhongdu City Wall is because the Zhongdu Imperial City Wall was only started in March of the sixth year of Hongwu, and the outer city wall has not yet started.
If what Guo Baijin said is true, then there is a behind-the-scenes buyer in Jinling City. This person must be related to the construction of the Jinling City Wall. He is probably one of the contractors from the Ministry of Works. Are there any of these contractors? Breaking the law and violating discipline is not a good thing at the moment.
"Your sister!"
Gu Zhengchen gritted his teeth. He just wanted to handle some cases in Jurong, catch a few thieves, eliminate a few village tyrants, and then develop Jurong's industry and focus on economic construction. How to investigate Sun Niang's case? One step at a time, directly Jumped into the abyss...
"Hand over the account books."
Gu Zhengchen glared at Guo Baijin fiercely.
Guo Baijin pointed to the passage inside and said coldly: "If the county magistrate wants the account books, just go inside and get them. It's just that the ugly words are ahead, and it's better not to let outsiders see some things, so as not to end things."
"You fucking think you can get over it now?"
Gu Zhengchen got angry, stepped forward and kicked Guo Baijin to the ground. He was so depressed that not only Zhang Pei and Yao Zhen, but Zhao Hailou, Wang Liang and others would definitely tell Mu Ying the whole story when they got back. , Muying will tell Zhu Dalang and Lao Zhu again.
I want to hide it, but can I keep it secret?
Once it starts, there's no going back.
Passing the mountain path inside, I saw two or four stone chambers. The account books were in the nearest stone chamber, with as many as hundreds of books.
Gu Zhengchen flipped through a few pages and ordered people to pack them.
The second stone room, judging from its layout, is Guo Hua'er's "boudoir", and the stone room next to it is a warehouse. In five or six boxes, there are either copper coins or broken silver. It is estimated that there are two to three thousand coins.
The fourth stone chamber has a larger space and three iron fences. Inside is a colorful tiger. Judging from its long body and long tail, and its fierce momentum, it should be a male tiger.
The tiger bared its teeth and roared lowly.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the tiger and asked Zhang Pei, Zhao Hailou and others: "Can you take it away and give it to your Majesty?"
Zhao Hailou shook his head, and Wang Liang was speechless at Gu Zhengchen's thoughts.
You asked us to bring such a big tiger back alive. What do you think? Even if we get an iron cage to put it in, how can we carry it out of the mountain?
A tiger is not a dog. If you give it a bone by clicking its tongue twice, it will follow you. If you tie it to a rope, you won't be afraid of it biting someone.
Gu Zhengchen held his chin and thought.
In the future, Nanjing will build outer walls. One of the city gates is called the Elephant Taming Gate, which is said to be related to the taming of elephants. Naturally, the people who raise elephants cannot be ordinary people, but Lao Zhu.
From this point of view, Lao Zhu may have the idea of setting up a zoo. Giving away a live tiger would not have the same effect as giving Lao Zhu a tiger whip...
Furthermore, the Ming Dynasty's capital army captured the tiger alive. This would be of great help to boost morale and help Zhao Hailou, Wang Liang and others in the future. It would also cause a sensation in Jinling. After the officials heard about it, they would also have to test their merits. Write this:
Gu Zhengchen, the magistrate of Jurong County, went into the mountains to eliminate tigers, and his contribution was attributed to the people.
As for whether Lao Zhu will kill the tiger after receiving it and take the tiger whip for his own use or give it to Zhu Dalang, that is none of his business.
Gu Zhengchen made up his mind: "Build an iron cage and send this tiger to Jinling to present it to the imperial court."
"Mr. Gu, is this inappropriate?"
Zhao Hailou reminded.
Wang Liang and others nodded repeatedly and tried to dissuade him.
Gu Zhengchen chuckled and looked at Zhao Hailou, Wang Liang and others: "Do you want to be the deputy of Qianhu for the rest of your life? And you guys, do you want to be the top soldier for the rest of your life?"
Zhao Hailou's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood the connection, and shouted sternly: "Whoever dares to stop me from sending Tiger back to Jinling is my mortal enemy!"
Wang Liang nodded heavily: "Come here, keep an eye on me. If something goes wrong with the tiger, I can't spare you!"
The sergeants were all gearing up and excited.
Zhao Hailou looked at Gu Zhengchen and felt more grateful. He rubbed his hands and said, "So, thank you very much, Mr. Gu. I will repay this kindness one day."
Wang Liang cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Mr. Gu, for your support!"
"Thank you Mr. Gu!"
All the soldiers saluted.
Gu Zhengchen waved his hand and said seriously: "You followed me into the mountains to solve a major case and saved so many people. This is a great achievement in itself. You deserve everything and it has nothing to do with Gu."
Zhao Hailou, Wang Liang and others do not think so.
Gu Zhengchen walked out of the cave and looked at the miners kneeling in rows outside. They were all sallow and thin, with numb expressions. They seemed not to realize that they had been rescued.
"listen!"
Gu Zhengchen stood on a high place, waited for everyone to look over, and continued: "I am Gu Zhengchen, the new magistrate of Jurong. I investigate the cases of missing people, the Yin and Yang files of the county government, and the cases of false sentences of exile and imprisonment. I have finally found something after pursuing this! From now on, you will no longer need to mine or be enslaved! I will send you away from Wucheng Mountain and back to your relatives!"
The miners looked at Gu Zhengchen one by one without making any sound.
They turned to look at each other, doubting the reality.
Until the breeze blows coldly, someone finally bursts out crying.
"Master County, is this true?"
An old man crawled out on his knees.
Gu Zhengchen walked down from the height and came to the old man's side. He stretched out his hand to help him up: "Of course it is true. Don't you see that those who died and were captured are the accomplices and culprits who enslaved you! Get up!" , if you get up, you are safe and can go home!"
There was a sudden burst of crying.
A man doesn't shed tears easily, but he hasn't reached the sad point yet!
Gu Zhengchen didn't know how much they had suffered and how much they had suffered, and he couldn't put himself in their shoes to understand. He only knew that they wanted to cry at this moment.
