This is a little-known village in Tanzhou, and there is a small mark on the map of You County.
Even the declining Black Tiger Temple is clearly marked on the map than Heyao Village.
There are only a few dozen people in the village, and they all live a life of working from sunrise to sunset.
Even at this time, which is close to noon, there is very little smoke.
Many people live a life of eating two meals a day. One meal when they go out in the morning, and another meal around midnight in the afternoon.
Those who can afford three meals a day are the wealthy families in Heyao Village.
And there are only a few such households.
Most families are tenant farmers.
Before Lu Fang, Han Feihong, and Lao Xiao entered the village, they saw many farmers working in the fields outside the village.
Just beside the path.
There is an old farmer working in the fields with a few young men.
The legs of his trousers were rolled up high, and they were covered with mud underneath.
"Old man."
Lu Fang stopped and shouted to the old farmer.
The old farmer tilted his head, then straightened up, "What are your orders, Master?"
There was some surprise in his eyes.
Normally, Heyao Village rarely sees young masters dressed so elegantly and elegantly. The one they have seen dressed like this is from their master's house.
It's from You County.
Lu Fang waved to the old farmer and said, "I wonder if I can come over and talk?"
The old farmer nodded and walked through the mud to Lu Fang.
The young men looked here with doubts on their faces.
Lu Fang whispered: "I wonder if this old man knows the monkey who is the master of Tadong Mountain?"
The old farmer's face changed slightly when he heard this and he didn't answer.
Lu Fang smiled and said: "Don't worry. We are from the county government. We just came here to ask about the situation of the bandits on Tadong Mountain."
"I don't know, I don't know."
The old farmer's face actually became a little frightened.
Lu Fangzheng was helpless. Over there, a young man suddenly said: "Are you really from the county government? Why are you asking about the situation of those bandits?"
Lu Fang chuckled and said, "Of course I plan to suppress the bandits."
The young man came over and said, "There are dozens of people on their mountain. The county government has been completely powerless against them for so many years."
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
The old farmer scolded in a low voice.
Then he hurriedly said to Lu Fang: "Young master, please forgive me. I'm just talking nonsense. I can't take it seriously. We don't know the situation of the bandits on Tadong Mountain."
"father!"
The young man said dissatisfied: "Those guys in Xiahe Village cut off our water source just because they have the backing of ground monkeys! Beat our people! What's wrong?"
"you!"
The old farmer glared angrily, and then sighed heavily, "Alas..."
It seems a little helpless.
Still young...
The ground monkeys have occupied Tadong Mountain for so many years. If the county government is useful, is there any need to wait until now?
Listening to the conversation between father and son, Lu Fang naturally had some thoughts on the old farmer's psychology.
He chuckled and said, "It's been a while since you two have been to the county seat of Youxian. The previous county government was powerless in suppressing bandits, but the new magistrate in Youxian is really here to suppress bandits.
In less than half a month after taking office, two groups of bandits have already been wiped out. You can find out about this when you go to the county seat. Haha, it is precisely because of this that we are willing to run errands for the county magistrate. The county magistrate will explain.
Well, whoever can tell us the information about the bandits will be rewarded heavily by the county government."
Then he took out five taels of silver from his purse and said, "This is the reward."
The young man's eyes brightened slightly.
The old farmer also seemed a little moved.
Judging from Lu Fang's dress, he doesn't look like someone who wants to lie about this matter.
And what can he gain by lying?
Lu Fang saw the expressions of the father and son in his eyes, and added: "The county magistrate also said that if anyone is willing to lead the way for the Chaling Army officers who are suppressing the bandits, I will reward them with thirty taels of silver."
"I'm going!"
The young man said immediately.
The old farmer glared at him, "Are you going to commit suicide?"
"father!"
The young man spoke righteously, "As long as the Grounder Monkeys are here, we in Heyao Village will always be bullied by them! Now even women from other villages are not willing to marry into our village, and all the marriages that my eldest brother had agreed to have been canceled.
I regret it, don’t you remember? When the county government kills the mountain bandits like the Ground Monkeys, we can buy a lot of land with the reward. We won’t have to help other people farm anymore.”
The old farmer frowned and said nothing.
After a few seconds, he said to Lu Fang: "Master, are you serious about what you said?"
Lu Fang said: "Of course we take it seriously."
"I have been hunting and collecting firewood in Tadong Mountain since I was a child. I am willing to lead the way for the county officials." The old farmer said.
"father!"
The young man was a little anxious.
The old farmer glared at him again, "Go back to farming! You're just messing around."
However, Lu Fang could tell that he was afraid that something might happen to his son while leading the way.
He waved his hand at the young man and said, "Go farm!"
Then he asked the old farmer: "Can you tell us about the bandits of the Ground Monkeys first? How many people are there?"
The young man walked away reluctantly.
The old farmer looked at the silver in Lu Fang's hand and said, "There are about a hundred people, and nearly half of them are young men from Xiahe Village a few miles away. The ground monkey's original name is Li Gun, and he is also from Xiahe Village. They have some
They usually live in the mountains, and some live in Xiahe Village. They only go to the mountains when they go out to rob."
Lu Fang nodded lightly and asked again: "Are you really willing to lead the way for us? Can you find the bandit's stronghold?"
The old farmer glanced in the direction of Tadong Mountain and said, "If the county magistrate really wants to suppress the bandits, it won't be a big deal even if I lose my life."
As he said that, he turned around and glanced at the young men working in the fields.
He had five sons, one died in infancy, and there were four left.
The family farmed dozens of acres of land for the landlord's family, but they could barely make ends meet. Even getting married was a problem.
Until now, none of the four sons has married his mother-in-law.
The silver reward Lu Fang promised was indeed very tempting to him.
After hearing what the old farmer said, Lu Fang directly put the broken silver on the field ridge, "I still don't know the old man's name and where he lives?"
The old farmer pointed to a village not far away from the foot of the mountain, where only half of the eaves were exposed. "Sir, the little old man's surname is Chen Mingba, and he lives in this village."
He seemed to be afraid that Lu Fang wouldn't believe him, and said, "Young Master can go to the village to find out the name of the little old man."
"No need."
Lu Fang chuckled and shook his head, "Old man, you are waiting for us at home. When we attack Tadong Mountain, I will send people to look for you."
After saying that, he turned around and walked back to the way he came.
Han Feihong and Lao Xiao followed quietly.
They came here near Tadong Mountain just to find a guide.
Secretly glad that I was lucky.
Fortunately, we didn't find Xiahe Village, otherwise, the secret would have been exposed before we even started. We might even be surrounded by bandits from Xiahe Village.
The old farmer watched Lu Fang and the others leave blankly.
Then he looked at the five taels of silver in the grass on the ridge of the field.
Somewhat unbelievable.
Isn't it too easy to make money?
Then, he hurriedly wiped the mud off his hands on his clothes, picked up the silver, put it in his mouth and took a few bites.