The house is surrounded by a fence. There is some moss on the black mud floor inside.
The village chief was an old man with white hair and a beard hanging down to his chest. He was lying on a bamboo chair, and there were children with pigtails playing with crickets beside him.
What a heart-warming picture of having fun with your grandchild.
Who would have thought that such a village could be a bandit den?
"Ancestor."
The farmer leading the way shouted to the old village outside the fence made of two logs.
Lao Cunzheng opened his eyes, "It's the Li family..."
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly stopped talking when he saw Lu Fang and a large group of people behind the farmer.
Then he stood up slowly and said: "I am old and have inconvenient legs and feet. Please come into the house!"
Lu Fang took Lao Xiao and Han Feihong into the house.
Lao Cun was touching his great-grandson's head and said, "My dear, go play in the house."
"oh."
The little boy obediently agreed and went into the house.
Lu Fang and the others walked closer.
The old village chief saluted and said: "He Demao, the village chief of Xiahe Village, has met all of you."
Lu Fang looked at his expression, "Isn't Lao Cunzheng surprised by our sudden visit?"
Old Muramasa sighed softly, "I have expected this day."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed toward the room, "You three gentlemen, please have some tea in the room."
"No need."
Lu Fang shook his head and said, "We came here just to ask a few questions."
"Please let me know clearly."
"How many people in your Xiahe village have fallen into disgrace and become bandits?"
The old man didn't answer.
Lu Fang added: "The ground monkeys are from your Xiahe village, right? It's not a trivial matter to turn into bandits. The county magistrate wants to suppress the bandits, and those who resist stubbornly should be punished. I think you, old villager, are a sensible person. Could it be that you are a sensible person?"
Do you want to see Xiahe Village decline like this?"
"well……"
The old villager sighed, "These days, being a bandit is more comfortable than farming. I can't control them either."
"But being a bandit and plundering everywhere, have you ever thought about how much evil this has caused?" Lu Fang said.
Lao Cun was looking at Lu Fang with his cloudy eyes, "They...will they still have a way to survive when they come back?"
Lu Fang said: "If you really want to correct your evil ways, it's not impossible for me to give them a chance. There are more than 2,000 bandits in You County, so we can't kill them all."
Lao Cunzheng showed a slightly bitter smile, but suddenly changed the subject, "Lv Ying is a good child. His father was sick and his mother was mentally ill. They both died when he was young. This child eats
It was so hard. When I was seven years old, I followed the children in the village who were more than ten years older than him to go to the mountains to collect firewood, pick up the rice ears that others had left in the fields, and cook for his grandma. In fact, we fellow villagers did not
How could we help him, but this kid recognized our good deeds, became the king of the mountain, and did not forget us. Whatever food and supplies were robbed, they were sent to the village, and every household had them.
These days in the village, he got it from the landlord. Now, all of us in the village are cultivating our own land. In the past, there was only a few mouthfuls of food left every year. Now, the boys in every household are fat and white.
The girls in the village are most willing to marry into our Xiahe Village."
He spoke very slowly, as if he was telling a story.
Lu Fang listened carefully.
He knew that Lu Ying, as mentioned by the old village master, was a ground monkey.
The things that happened to the Ground Monkey were indeed a bit beyond his expectation. He thought that the Ground Monkey should be the kind of ruffian who had been doing mischief in the village since he was a child.
"As a human being, you must not repay kindness. Of course, the people in our village must recognize the goodness of this kid and let him stand on his own feet."
Old Muramasa added: "A bandit is a bandit. I know this very well. It is only a matter of time before officials come to our Xiahe Village. I just want to know, can this kid Lu Ying still have a way to survive?"
"He is the bandit leader." Lu Fang said.
"yes……"
Old Muramasa sighed softly again, "But he also made us people in Xiahe Village live a good life."
"Five days."
Lu Fangdao: "Within five days, let all the young people in Xiahe Village come back. Lu Ying goes to the county government to defend himself. I will make the decision to save his life."
Old Muramasa's eyes narrowed slightly, "Do you really mean what the superior said?"
He had planned not to say anything, otherwise, he would not have said these words to Lu Fang. As he said, one cannot repay kindness in return.
Lu Fang nodded, "Of course. But, there are only five days."
Then, he turned around and walked out of the courtyard.
There are too many bandits in You County.
Of course we have to kill some to serve as a warning to others.
However, it is not impossible to use both kindness and power. Subduing the enemy's troops without fighting is the best result.
In a situation like Xiehe Village, if the Grounder Monkeys were truly wiped out, it might lead to resistance from more people.
"Master Lu, are you really going to let them go?"
On the way back, Han Feihong asked Lu Fangdao.
Lu Fang sighed softly, "My brother killed so many people in the county government. If we don't give them a way to survive, we will really drive those bandits into despair. We don't have enough manpower."
If they get desperate, it's not like those bandits can't do anything but besiege the county government office.
Even if the imperial court becomes angry and sends an army to strangle him, what will happen?
They give up their original territory, go elsewhere, or break into pieces and still survive.
Han Feihong nodded, "I don't know where the bandits like the Ground Monkeys have gone. Why didn't you ask the Muramasa just now? He should know better."
"I won't tell you clearly."
Lu Fang chuckled and said, "If you were Muramasa, would you say that?"
Han Feihong shook his head, "No."
Then he added: "I just hope these guys don't really invade the top of the mountain. In that case, it won't be easy to suppress them."
"That's a good thing."
Lu Fang bent down and pulled out a dogtail grass from the ground and fiddled with the ears, "It means they are afraid. Oh, it's poisoning again, and it's from the top of the mountain. When I get back later, I will ask my brother to give it to the mayors of each town and the township."
The chief and these village officials should send a message to those who go home honestly and forget about the past. Just like this, it will be enough for them to get into trouble. By then, the remaining people will be stubborn people and they will have no scruples in killing them."
Han Feihong suddenly chuckled, "It's a pity that you, Mr. Lu, are not in the military. Otherwise, with your mind, it would be possible to become a general in the future."
"hehe."
Lu Fang also laughed, "Don't praise me so much. With the current situation of the Yu Dynasty, if you don't have a duke or marquis in your family, it's almost impossible to become a general."
Although there was an imperial examination in the Chongqing Dynasty, in fact, the possibility of ordinary people climbing to high positions was still very slim.
Han Feihong pursed his lips and remained noncommittal.
Returning to the county government office, Lu Fang found Lu Liang.
Lu Liang also calmed down from his initial anger. Although he was a little hesitant about Lu Fang's proposal, he finally agreed.
The county government had already returned many government officials, so it no longer bothered the soldiers of the Chaling Army and asked these government officials to deliver messages to various towns and villages.
Just as the government officials were sent out, people from the government office also arrived.