As Chang Shiro said, after a period of time, more and more people came to the inner city from Hezhou.
Even in a place like Horseshoe Lake, there would occasionally be a few scattered fleeing people who would kneel before Zhuangzi, howl and cry, and beg Xu Mu to take him in.
After confirming the identity of Yapai, Xu Mu would not be in many difficulties, and it was considered a good thing to keep people here.
"Hezhou has not been conquered, but General Zhao has recruited civilians to defend the city. How can we commoners fight? As soon as the rocks and arrows fell, we were too frightened to move. The dead people were piled up in the mass graves behind the south city. .”
The fleeing people who spoke felt pain in their hearts and fainted on the sand. Xu Mu frowned and asked Chen Sheng to send the people into the village to prepare a meal.
Xu Mu couldn't help but feel worried when he thought that Xi Niang's gang of villagers were still in the deserted village outside Hezhou City.
In fact, deep down in his heart, he had already made plans to go to the border.
But before going, he must settle the entire Zhuangzi. As for Chang Shiro's statement that he would help take care of him, it may not be a lie, but if something unexpected happens and he has no time to take care of himself, Xujiazhuang will abandon his son.
"Master, here we come." Gongou sat on the tower with a deep tone.
Xu Mu squinted his eyes, raised his eyes, and looked at the sneaky figures in the wild forest outside Horseshoe Lake.
"Chen Sheng, are you ready?"
"Okay."
"Go do it."
Chen Sheng nodded, summoned three or four people from the village, and walked steadily into the house. After a while, each person picked up a simple wooden box and walked carefully towards the back mountain.
After walking a few more steps, Chen Sheng seemed to turn his leg, and suddenly the wooden box he was holding fell to the ground, making a deep "chuck" sound.
Harsh and clear.
As Xu Mu expected, the three or two figures who had been hiding in the wild forest immediately ran to the road furtively, picked up their horses, and ran madly towards the official road.
Xu Mu watched quietly for a long time before exhaling a breath.
This "revealing wealth" is out of necessity. We are not afraid of thieves stealing, but we are afraid that thieves will remember us. The gang of people in Weicheng Guanfang are looking for the hidden stumps of the old Ma Ti Lake bandits every day, but up to now, it seems that there are no clues.
He had no choice but to provide clues. I just hope that this round of things will end soon, so as not to cause any trouble after he leaves Horseshoe Lake.
…
About half a day later, a dozen or so cavalry officers finally heard the news and came. The leaders were the old official and the fat official Qian Mu.
When the officials were approaching, Xu Mu could still see his old friend Tian Song, following behind with a tired face. He was not riding a horse, but riding a sick mule. He was only carrying half a whistle stick.
"Dong Xu's family." The old official got off his horse with a sneer on his lips.
Behind him, there were several officers holding swords, all with arrogance on their faces.
"What do you mean, sir?" Xu Mu frowned.
"What do you mean? Such a bold little boss, you dare to hide stolen money! Your matter has been exposed!"
The old official looked furious. How much money could he get for a few treasure chests? In addition to those dedicated to the superiors, at least a small part of their group can be left behind.
Anything less will lead to mismatch with wealth.
"Master, I still don't understand." Xu Mu smiled lightly. This incident, if not resolved, will always be a hidden danger.
"Don't be harsh!" The fat official approached and gestured to lift the scabbard. When he found the giant man with the iron tower standing next to Xu Mu, he was startled and he hurried back in fear.
He suddenly remembered that the group of people in front of him were killing bandits.
"You... harbored stolen silver, and the evidence of your crime is conclusive." The old official swallowed his saliva, "Of course, in everything, it is important to get both the stolen money and the stolen money. Please stay out of the way, and I will go into the village to find it."
"Can't find it."
"When officials do things, they still have to ask you if they can do it!"
Si Hu hugged the cleaver angrily, and Chen Sheng, the twenty or thirty people behind him, also gathered around him with a cold face.
"Do, what do you want to do? What do you want to do!" The fat official kept retreating in shock.
"I am an official!"
Xu Mu smiled slightly, raised his hand, and the villagers who gathered around him all made way for him.
"We are from the official family!" The fat official repeated it again before leading a dozen official servants who looked uneasy and walked into the village.
For example, they all heard about Xu Mu's killing of Bang Bang. Thirty old bandits were almost killed.
Such people are not good citizens. If they were good people, they would have offered tea and gifts long ago when they saw officials and their families.
"Chen Sheng, bring a chair to the officer."
The fat official led people to find the stolen silver, leaving behind the old official and two official servants, and Tian Song, whose face was covered with scars, was one of them.
"Don't try to please!" The old official sneered, "If you find the stolen money, you will not be able to escape the blame."
"If it's a slander, the writing staff in Weicheng will have to be replaced."
Xu Mu responded lazily.
He always wants to live in peace and joy, but many people want to trample him to death.
He could only resist and solve the problem along the way.
"Official, I've found it!" At this time, a joyful shout rang out.
More than a dozen officials, including old officials in front of the village, all ran forward crazily.
Xu Mu sat calmly without any expression.
The wooden boxes with several openings were originally placed in a conspicuous place. Of course, there was not a single piece of silver in them, they were all picked up pebbles.
Bang!
The old official was so angry that he threw several wooden boxes on the ground, and the rubble filled with boxes rolled out.
It's dusk.
Not only Zhuangzi's cellar, the woods, and even every corner of the back mountain were searched inside and out, but there were still no clues.
"Chen Sheng, go and light some torches so that the officials can see clearly."
Chen Sheng really ran back, and after a while he held up a few torches and came angrily.
The old official did not come to pick him up. Reflecting the light of the torch, the old man's face was full of unwillingness.
"Officials, why don't you go to the village to rest today and look for another round tomorrow."
"Close the team!"
The old official's face was full of anger, but he was helpless. He knew that if he continued to search, he would definitely not find anything again.
Without even saying hello, he hurriedly asked the fat official to lead the people and rushed back to Weicheng.
Tian Song was at the end, and when no one was paying attention, he punched Xu Mu. But when he turned around again, he found that his sick mule had collapsed on the ground at some point and was foaming at the mouth.
"Those who have been killed by a thousand swords, run back by yourself!" The fat official raised his riding whip, whipped Tian Song twice, and then rushed away with his men regardless.
Under the darkness, Tian Song paused for a long time, then he awkwardly picked up half of the whistle stick and walked out along the extended path.
"Brother Tian, I was the one who poisoned the mule." Xu Mu sighed.
Tian Song stopped and turned around.
"Don't go back to the official office."
"Master Xu...I have nowhere to go back."
"Yes. Come back to the border with me and be a hero for hanging eggs."
"Xu Fang wants to go back to the border? What are you going back to the border for?"
"Beat Digou." Xu Mu said in a deep voice.
Behind him, Si Hu, Chen Sheng and others all had expressions of desolation on their faces.
The night wind blew by, and Tian Song, who was holding the whistle stick, burst into tears.
