Gu Zhengchen insisted on moving forward, so Xiao Cheng, Qin Song and Duan Shimin had no choice but to accompany him.
Just after walking half a mile, Gu Zhengchen reined in his horse and stopped.
Xiao Cheng looked at Gu Zhengchen in confusion, looked around, and found nothing unusual, so he couldn't help but ask: "Why did you stop?"
Gu Zhengchen frowned and thought: "According to the news sent by Zhang Pei, Wu Kang and Zhou Yuan will send people to disguise themselves as pirates and burn down people's houses in many places to create chaos. We only have these few people, even if they send horses If you run to death, how many places can you go to and how many villages can you save?"
Xiao Cheng was helpless.
It is not clear where these people will go to set fires. This group of people lit a fire and ran away, and the people could not stop them at all.
The appearance of Gu Zhengchen and others in Shuangxikou was just a coincidence as they were passing by, but what about other places? How many coincidences could Gu Zhengchen have?
When they rush over, they can only see the flames of disaster from a distance and cannot catch up with the real culprit of the arson.
It was a futile run.
Unless the key to breaking the situation is found.
Gu Zhengchen got off his horse, stood on the roadside and looked at the stars in the night sky. He made a determined decision and said to Qin Song and Duan Shimin: "You should return to Shuangxikou immediately and order Mei Hong to bring all the four people who were arrested. In addition, let Lin Zhuoju leave the village." Shuangxikou, they will temporarily go to Luoyang Town to settle down. They should not return to the village until the matter is over."
"Here, walking at night?"
Duan Shimin was a little worried.
Gu Zhengchen nodded solemnly: "These people are only responsible for setting fires and making trouble, and do not intend to kill people. The reason why Yan Sangsang almost died is because she saw their faces and threatened their safety. Now Shuangxikou has captured prisoners , those who escape will definitely inform Zhou Yuan of the news, and by then, Shuangxikou will likely be in danger."
The corner of Xiao Cheng's mouth moved: "By taking the captured person with you, the people of Shuangxikou are not in danger, but Magistrate Gu - you are putting yourself in danger."
Gu Zhengchen stepped on the stirrup and got on the horse and sneered: "What we need to solve now is not the problem, but the people who created the problem. As long as the people are solved, the problem will naturally disappear. Therefore, we need to go deep into the tiger's den."
Seeing that Gu Zhengchen had an idea, Qin Song and Duan Shimin immediately returned to Shuangxikou.
Lin Zhuo followed Gu Zhengchen's arrangement and persuaded the villagers to temporarily go to Luoyang Town. They were all poor people with few valuable belongings and could travel far away with just a suitcase.
The unconscious Yan Sangsang was carried on the door panel by the villagers and moved forward carefully with a thin quilt. Lin Chengyi was worried and always watched over him.
Mei Hong brought the four captured people.
Gu Zhengchen tied people behind horses and took them to Hui'an County. If the horses walked faster, these people would have to run and follow. If they couldn't keep up, they would be dragged along. The consequences of being dragged are very serious, especially on this road. There are many small stones on it.
Only Xiao Cheng's horse was not carrying anyone, and he needed the strongest maneuverability to ensure the safety of his team.
After walking for more than five miles, Gu Zhengchen saw a village on fire in the distance. The fire illuminated the sky and the earth there, but he couldn't see the people clearly.
There was no diversion and he went straight to Hui'an County.
In less than an hour, Gu Zhengchen and his party had arrived outside Hui'an County. Instead of ordering anyone to send a message, they circled the county town, from west to north, and from north to east, as if they were looking for something.
Temporary camp.
Zhou Yuan was drinking wine, with two beautiful girls sitting next to him. There was also a woman in red clothes dancing in her long sleeves in the tent, her eyes were charming, and her eyes were flowing like autumn water, which was heart-warming.
"good!"
Zhou Yuan praised her when she saw her long sleeves were like clouds and her steps were like lotus.
This is the benefit of peaceful days!
I think back then, I had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and fought in many battles for the Ming Dynasty. Even when Chen Tong rebelled, I also participated in the battle.
He has many military exploits, but he is just a guard commanding others.
Zhou Yuan was not satisfied with this result. He believed that military achievements could be rewarded with higher rewards. Even if he was not given any rewards, he should at least arrange for himself to be a military attache in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Jinling and other places.
But what's the result?
He was actually placed in a down-and-out place like Quanzhou Prefecture. Apart from looking at the sea every day, there was really nothing to do.
The boring day after day finally ushered in a turning point when a beautiful woman threw herself into his arms.
The Quanzhou Guard has no commanding envoys and no commanding colleagues. The commanding officer is the biggest official. Zhou Yuan can do whatever he wants here, even if he is to serve as a commanding officer, no one can control him.
Having soldiers in your hands has countless benefits.
Some people ask for gifts of money, homes, or women.
Some people treat guests to eat delicacies from the mountains and seas, drink fine wines, and enjoy the pavilions and pavilions.
Zhou Yuan knew that this was the day he wanted desperately.
He raised his head and drank the wine into his throat,
Lower your head and take the beauty into your arms.
Look up and take in the beautiful scenery,
Close your eyes and dream sweetly.
Such days are very comfortable and pleasant.
Whoever wants to ruin such a day for you will become your own enemy.
Deadly enemy!
Now the person named Gu actually wants to rectify Quanzhou Prefecture and let everyone go back to the days of poverty and poverty!
No!
Zhou Yuan frowned slightly when he heard movement outside the account.
Cai Ye walked in and handed over a letter: "Father, the county magistrate sent someone to say that the situation is urgent."
Zhou Yuan received the letter, but he could only recognize a few words in it and couldn't understand it, so he summoned the scribe Yang Jing.
After Yang Jing saw it, he said: "The county magistrate said that Magistrate Gu left Jinjiang City and rushed towards Hui'an County. He asked Zhou to command the officials to deal with it carefully and not to expose any flaws."
Zhou Yuan picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp, and shouted angrily: "I told him to come to Hui'an County instead of coming, and now he comes here again. What does this mean, is he competing with us in a battle of wits and courage?"
The scribe Yang Jing was Zhou Yuan's confidant and knew Zhou Yuan's arrangement, so he quickly said: "Prefect Gu is coming, we need to take back the manpower, otherwise the number of people in the camp will not match and it will be difficult to explain."
Zhou Yuan didn't mind.
The pirates are outside. The sergeant went out to look for the pirates. What do you want to explain?
When Cai Ye saw the opportunity, he immediately stepped forward and said in a low voice, "This is the opportunity for the foster father!"
"Oh, how do you say it?"
Zhou Yuan looked at Cai Ye. This boy was smart and quick in doing things, and he won his heart.
Cai Ye said solemnly: "There is a pirate attack in Hui'an County. This is written in the official document. It cannot be faked. There are also many people who got the news. Now Governor Gu actually left Jinjiang to come to Hui'an and encountered the pirates." It's not an accident. My foster father, as long as you send someone to ambush him on the road, this person will either die or be disabled. By then, he will lose control of Quanzhou Prefecture."
"If this is done, Quanzhou Prefecture will once again return to a time of calm. Even if the imperial court is furious, it can only vent its anger on the pirates and has nothing to do with Quanzhou Guards or Quanzhou Prefecture. The adoptive father can also kill a group of common people and pretend to be The pirates, avenge Governor Gu and ask for credit from the imperial court!"
Zhou Yuan's eyes lit up.
This is a good idea. It can not only get rid of Gu Zhengchen, a powerful prefect, and eliminate hidden dangers, but also take this opportunity to make meritorious deeds. Maybe he can be appreciated by the emperor and promoted himself.
Yang Jing glanced at Cai Ye, who was flattering and good at catering, but didn't have many good ideas. Seeing that Zhou Yuan was a little moved, he quickly said: "If something happens to Prefect Gu, whether it is death at the hands of pirates or an accident, The imperial court will pay close attention to Quanzhou Prefecture. At that time, other guards' troops will be transferred in, the navy will be transferred in, and the court officials will also come according to the order. This is probably not the result that Zhou Qianshi wants to see. Bar."
Zhou Yuan frowned.
Yang Jing's words are not unreasonable. Magistrate Zhang has just left, and Magistrate Gu has died. Then Quanzhou Prefecture will also become famous in the court. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang will definitely send someone to clean up the mess, and this person is likely to He is a person whom the emperor trusts and respects, who holds great power and can take life and death.
Once the situation reaches that point, Zhou Yuan will probably no longer have the power to control the Quanzhou Guard, and Wu Kang and Tang Xian in the government office will no longer be able to control the government office. Even those who participate in politics must be respectful and dare not speak loudly.
Cai Ye glared at Yang Jing and said in a deep voice: "The foster father needs to weigh the pros and cons. At present, Magistrate Gu is too strong and is pressing harder. He has wiped out most of the people in the government office. Yang Baiju has also been killed. Tang Xianwu Wu Kang and Qin Xin may not be his opponents when it comes to interrogating government affairs. Once Magistrate Gu finds conclusive evidence, they will be wiped out! By then, how will the adoptive father deal with himself? "
"Only if Gu Zhengchen dies in Hui'an can all hidden dangers be eliminated. Even if the court sends people to take over Quanzhou Prefecture in the future, at least we will have time to prepare and respond, and there will be a chance. But with Gu Zhengchen in Quanzhou Prefecture, we have no chance. There is a way to survive! The relationship between the two is very serious, which one is more important, the adoptive father must have some considerations in his heart."
Zhou Yuan looked solemn, lowered his head and picked up the wine bowl.
If Gu Zhengchen is left here, the government office will probably be completely controlled by him. Wu Kang, Tang Xian and others will lose their power, and then they will also be unlucky. It won't be long before everyone will go to Caishikou to enjoy the sun at three o'clock in the afternoon. The only thing The difference is that some people can admire it for an extra hour on the pillar, while some people can only admire it for a few glances.
After killing Gu Zhengchen, the government will still be under control for a short time, and he will be safe for the time being. The only thing he needs to worry about is the court's movements and arrangements. But this happened later, at least three months later.
The thing is very clear. As long as Gu Zhengchen doesn't die, everyone probably won't be able to see the sunrise in Hongwu in August. If you kill him, you can at least pick a few flowers from the spring of the eighth year of Hongwu.
Zhou Yuan made up his mind and said to Cai Ye: "You personally lead the people to take action and leave traces of the pirates' killings!"
Cai Ye took the order and left the camp.
Yang Jing sighed secretly and gave his final advice: "This matter is too big. Do we need to discuss it with Wu Tongzhi?"
Zhou Yuan snorted coldly: "Why, I can't make the decision?"
Yang Jing repeatedly said he did not dare.
Cai Ye ordered fifty sergeants and ordered them all to dress in rags and disguise themselves as pirates. Then they put on their bows, arrows and swords and left the camp.
When you arrive at the camp gate.
Cai Ye saw five horses. No one on the horses knew anyone, but behind the horses stood four gray-faced guys, who looked familiar.
Isn't this Zhang Tian?
I'll go and let you set fire, why are you playing with horses? But your clothes are earthy and bloody, and you are more professional at playing pirates than us...
