Chapter 344 The government is forced to correct the robbery case Lu
【Shijie Village】
It was night, and the sky had just cast a yellowish twilight, and the yamen began to gradually become active. After Zhu Dian and Lei Heng had a private meeting with Song Jiang in the afternoon, they knew that Chao Gai had got the news and went to Liangshan, so, The original uneasiness in their hearts disappeared without a trace in Song Jiang's simple words. Although Zhu Dian and Lei Heng knew that this trip was in vain, they were happy that Chao Gai was not in danger anyway. I'll accompany He Wanwan from above for a trip so that I can deal with business issues.
At that moment, Zhu Tong and Lei Heng came to the back hall of the temporary yamen. After receiving the message from the county magistrate, they immediately got on their horses with the county lieutenant and came to the Weisi together. They ordered more than a hundred soldiers, including horse archers and others, to join them. He Kuan and the hundred and twenty men he brought joined forces. Everyone under He Kuan was equipped with ropes and weapons. He Kuan and the county lieutenant were riding horses. Zhu Dian and Lei Heng also rode on their own. The fast horses, with simple swords on their waists and long bows on their backs; all the officers and soldiers also held simple swords, and were surrounded by archers on horseback. They came out of the east gate and quickly headed towards Shijie Village as night fell. go.
When this group of people arrived at Shijie Village, it was already midnight, and everyone was making reservations to visit the Guanyin Temple as mentioned in the plan.
Zhu Tong said: "The front is Chaojiazhuang. There are two roads in front and back of Chao Gai's house. If we go to beat him at the front door together, he can leave through the back door. If we go to beat him at the back door together, he will go out through the front door. Chao Gai will leave through the front door." That guy is so talented and has extraordinary skills. Even ten people couldn't hold him with his bare hands. If he had a weapon in his hand at this time, then we would be even more helpless against him; and those who are with him are even more helpless. We don’t know the details of those people, but anyone who dares to make plans for the birthday plan must not be a kind gentleman. Those guys are all rogues, and they must have their own special abilities. If they all fight together, there will be Chao Gai. If more than a hundred dealers and dealers join forces to fight, how can we, more than two hundred people, resist them?"
The county lieutenant nodded and felt that this was reasonable, so he asked: "Then what should we do to arrest this group of thieves?"
Lei Heng and Zhu Tong looked at each other meaningfully, and Lei Heng said: "It's not difficult to catch him. We just need to stir up trouble in the east and west, mix up the situation, and let the guys stir around, and then we can start. Lei Dutou and I divided into two groups. He and I each divided half of the troops, and we both went on foot. We first ambush him at his back door and waited for the whistle to sound. The county captain, you and Mr. He, will lead his group of troops to the front door. Fight in and out, as long as you are strong enough and scare them, they will flee through the back door. When the time comes, Zhu Dian and I will fight out on the spot to catch one, and two to catch a pair."
He Tao nodded, but He Tao felt that he was only one step away from completing the task. His request was not just to catch the thief and bring him to justice. At this moment, she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to gain credit for catching the thief, so she said: "That's very true, Zhu Dutou. Otherwise, you and the county lieutenant will break in through the front door, while Lei Dutou and I will go to the back door."
Zhu Tong said: "Hey Zhan, you didn't know much about this kind of road when you first came here. There are three ways to live in Chao Gaizhuang. I have seen them all the time. When Lei Heng and I go there, we must recognize them." You don't need a torch to know the environment. Sir, you don't know the environment there yet. If this person is leaked, I'm afraid it's not a joke."
The county captain said: "Zhu Dutou is right. You and Lei Heng can each take half of the people there."
Zhu Tong and Lei Heng immediately clasped their fists and responded to the order.
The county lieutenant and He Tao saw that both of them had their heads wet. After half a cup of tea, they had already laid their heads and laid the ambush for them, so they got on their horses and took He Tao's soldiers and horses with them. He Tao galloped towards Chao Gai's village. He Tao put all his horsemen and archers in front to protect himself and the county lieutenant; the soldiers and others on foot galloped behind the horses, shining brightly on thirty or twenty torches. , armed with forks, simple knives, fire sticks, and fishing sickles, they all rushed to Chaojiazhuang.
However, when he arrived at a place that was still more than half a mile away from Chao Gaizhuang, He Tao saw from a distance that there were fires everywhere in Chao Gaizhuang. The fire in the middle hall was burning the brightest, like the top of a mountain peak standing there, and around it There was thick black smoke, swirling like a tornado in Chaojiazhuang. The thick black smoke layer was filled with rolling flames, and the entire Chaojiazhuang was engulfed in a sea of fire. In the midst of it, and under the flames soaring into the sky, everything was shining like daylight.
When He Tao and the county lieutenant rushed to Chaojiazhuang, they reunited with Lei Heng and Zhu Ding who had arrived first. Zhu Ding told the county lieutenant: "Sir, when the villain came, there was already a fire here. The fire is burning at the evil gate. We have surrounded the courtyard layer by layer, but we can't get even an inch closer."
He Tao took a quick look and saw that there were indeed very few fires in the courtyard. Outside the courtyard, he could not feel a trace of wind. However, there were turbulent winds inside the courtyard. How could there be such a big difference between this wall? He Tao was so surprised that he couldn't help but rolled off his horse and walked towards the front door. It was fine at first, but as he walked a few more steps in, he became increasingly troubled step by step. Finally, just three steps away from the door, He Tao Tao had no choice but to stop and couldn't move any further. It was not that he wanted to move forward, but the hot arrogance that hit his face really made him hold his breath. The heat was so intense that he couldn't even take a step forward.
When He Tao walked back, his whole body was as if red-hot iron had been dipped into cold water. Steam was rising all over his body, like clouds and mist, as if he was half an immortal.
He Tao's whole body seemed to have lost all strength, and he said feebly: "It's fatal...it's fatal, we can't get in here. If the thief is in this, there will be no bones left. I'm just afraid that the thief will escape early."
When the county captain saw it, he felt happy or worried, and for a moment he had no idea.
Lei Heng saw it in his eyes and said: "Sir, if we pull all the people and horses now, divide into several groups to search for them, if those people catch fire and die inside, then there is nothing to say, it is us It’s unnecessary, but if the thief escapes, there’s no chance he’ll be caught by chance if he casts a net.”
After hearing this, the county lieutenant and He Tao nodded and applauded.
So, the county lieutenants, He Guan, Lei Heng, and Zhu Dian each brought a group of troops and dispersed to pursue them in the distance. Zhu Dian knew that Chao Gai had escaped to Liangshan a long time ago, so he headed there. After chasing for dozens of miles, there was no trace. I knew that I must have left Qingzhou safely, so I felt relieved and drove forward for a while. When the officers and soldiers following behind me were tired, they returned home and returned to Chao's house. Zhuang came here. At this time, Lei Heng also went around and came back here, saying: "I don't know which way I went in the dark place." Zhu Tong also said: "Where can I catch up? These thieves are very good at catching up." ," By the time the county lieutenant and He Kuan returned to the village, it was already the fifth watch. Everyone looked at each other and found nothing. However, the fire in Chaojiazhuang gradually became normal, and most of its arrogance was weakened. He was on the verge of death. The image of one breath.
Ba observed that everyone was scattered in all directions, and after driving all night, he could not catch a single thief. He looked at the ashes in Chaojiazhuang and cried out: "You can't see people alive, and you can't see dead bodies. How can we go back to Jeju like this?" Meet the governor,"
The county captain sighed again and again, and finally had to capture a few neighbors and take them to Yuncheng County.
Shi Zhixian didn't fall asleep all night. He sat in his study with his clothes on, waiting for the group's report at any time. However, this night made him a little contradictory. Ever since he was admitted to the Juren Examination and ended up in this official position, he never thought that , he will also have moments of tangle. This Yuncheng County is his first stop on his official career. He is determined to be an upright, honest and good official and wants to do something for the people here. However, when he waits When he stepped into Yuncheng County on the first day, everything was far from what he imagined. Except for scattered official duties, it was a scorched earth. And it was at this time that he was confused and confused. This county The largest household, Chao Gai, collaborated with wealthy businessmen in the county to find him, and he was willing to contribute money to build the Yamen without any return, and also repair two streets in the county. Such good deeds were naturally appreciated by the county magistrate, so he went to Chao Gai's house. With great help, all the troops and talents of the yamen were gathered in just a few days, and the temporary yamen was established to allow normal official business to run. All this was the credit of Chao Gai. Others did not know it, but the county magistrate at the time I knew it clearly in my heart, and I was even more grateful. However, now Chao Gai was facing such a serious crime of life and death. Shi Zhixian was a little impatient and uneasy. He was not only afraid that Chao Gai would be caught, but also afraid that Chao Gai would not be able to catch him. That kind of The contradictory psychology entangled him all night, making him restless.
Until the county lieutenant and He Kuan came back dejectedly and reported: "The thieves are all gone and only a few neighbors have been taken away," the magistrate still had a complex expression on his face that was difficult to express.
If he is not caught, then he will be treated as if he is not caught. As long as he is not implicated and blamed, then this time it does not count as "being an official but not making decisions for the people." Therefore, the magistrate interrogated all the neighbors who were arrested. .
The neighbors said: "Although I live near Chao Baozheng, the distance is three or two miles away, and the nearest village is also separated by some villages. There are often people with guns and sticks coming to his village. We go back and forth." It’s not very deep how you know they do such things,”
After hearing this, the magistrate felt that what these neighbors said was reasonable, so when he was about to let them go back, He Kuan became obviously impatient. He bowed to the magistrate, approved it through the magistrate, and then questioned these people himself. , be sure to get some clues from their mouths.
The neighbors were forced to have no choice but to say: "If you want to know where they have gone, grab a few villagers and you will know after asking."
After hearing this, the county captain interjected: "If I can catch the banker, I will come and question you,"
He Guanzhan thought that one day had passed since the ten-day deadline. If there was no progress now, how could he feel at ease? So he said angrily: "If you live around him, there must be people who have close contact with him. When he leaves, I must have told you something, otherwise why didn't any of you come to rescue me when you saw the fire in Chaojiazhuang? I was suspicious at that time. If you don't stand up and tell me now, I will punish each one of you."
So, in the court, they used instruments of torture to pinch the fingers of these neighbors until they were bloody. Finally, when they could no longer endure it, one of the neighbors begged for mercy: "Yesterday afternoon, I met Chao Gai and
A man dressed as a Taoist priest, they all went to a fishing village on the edge of the Liangshan River,"