The more than 100 people led by the officials behaved like frightened birds. They believed that they would scatter as soon as they were slightly frightened. Obviously, these people were no match for the Musketeers at all.
The only person who showed some backbone was the young county magistrate in green robes. He made an impassioned speech and scolded Zhang Ning in the face of violence. But it would be wrong to think that he regarded death as home. Zhang Ning saw the sword in his hand.
He was trembling and his eyes were wide and pale... This man was obviously very scared.
"Raise the gun!" Wei Bin shouted, and the twelve matchlock guns were raised. The sergeants' calm movements were like the victor's contempt for the loser.
More than a hundred people on the opposite side arched their backs and backed away again. You can completely imagine what happened after the gunshots were fired.
The magistrate raised his right foot and hesitantly put it back on the spot, still standing there. Zhang Ning observed him without saying a word and thought to himself: He originally wanted to retreat, right? In the end, he endured it.
Come on, it is true that when people face violence, they only need to take one step back at first, and then they will take many steps back, and then give in.
He was frightened and desperate, and was at a loss for a moment.
For some reason, this stranger touched Zhang Ning's heart... maybe it wasn't a direct line that touched him, but a feeling in his heart. Zhang Ning seemed to be able to empathize with his despair at this moment, and maybe because he looked similar in age,
Was it because he had also been a civil servant? Once this civil servant surrendered to the invaders, his reputation and career would be almost over, at least he would think so.
So he wanted to be broken, but he didn't want to destroy everything? He was forced... When he saw others desperate and losing everything, Zhang Ning felt an indescribable excitement in his heart.
Wei Bin turned his head and looked at Zhang Ning. As long as he nodded slightly, the ruthless lead shot would take away the lives of some people. It is not as powerful as the matchlock gun. It is just a tool. In the Huangdi era, people only had
Stone tools can be used to fight wars.
"Slow down." Zhang Ning said, raised his hand to stop the soldiers, and then got off his horse. He looked back at the two sides of the confrontation and said: "The battle is over... Wei Baihu, restrain the soldiers not to burn, kill or loot without authorization."
He then said calmly, "If you grab one piece of cloth, you will lose ten pieces of cloth in the turmoil. It's not worth it."
"Yes." Wei Bin responded, and all the troops lowered their guns one after another. But Zhang Ning's actions soon made everyone regain their courage. They saw that he was walking towards the opposite side, but the other party's troops had not yet disarmed.
"Sir..." Someone wanted to persuade him, but he still stopped.
Lao Xu and other entourage hurriedly followed him, guarding him nervously. The magistrate stared at Zhang Ning with wide eyes, holding the hilt of his sword tightly.
Zhang Ning walked up to him, looked down at the sword in his hand and said: "Put it down, this thing is just a symbolic thing." He looked at the officials and subordinates behind him: "Put down your weapons, we will not kill innocent people indiscriminately.
."
There was a "ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding", and everyone threw their weapons to the ground. Lao Xu suddenly rushed forward, grabbed the magistrate's wrist with one hand, and with a slight force, he handed down the sword, and then kicked it there.
The magistrate's knees were bent, and the magistrate's lower body was unstable and he fell to his knees. Then he struggled to get up, and was kicked on the back again. He fell to the ground again, his face covered in gray.
The troops rushed up and surrounded everyone at the door.
"Senior... Scholars can be killed, but not humiliated..."
Zhang Ning said: "General Zhang Qi, pick a few people in official uniforms, tie them up, and escort them to other city gates, ask the remaining people to surrender, and tell them that the county government has been defeated, all the officials have been surrendered, and there is no need to resist anymore."
."
"I have the order!" Zhang Chengzong raised his arm to salute, and then led his troops to arrest the person.
"Escort the prisoners to the main hall, ask them to open the prison, and invite the altar leader to come out to meet in the main hall. All officers and men will obey orders, abide by military discipline, and reward them based on their merits."
... There is a picture of a day with a red background posted above the lobby, and a plaque on it has four big characters "Mingjing Gaohang". It seems that many government lobbies like to use these four characters, which represent honesty and integrity. Zhang Ning walked step by step from the door.
He went up and sat down in the public seat. Old Xu Songhu and others stood beside him, and some soldiers escorted the captured officials to the hall.
Zhang Ning took a look at the things on the public case, including the king's order box, official seal, ink pen and other items. Theoretically, with these things, he can control the issuance of decrees in the county, but in the end, people will rule. He is ready to win over the county Yamen Yuan
Some officials, this group of people are "industry insiders". Regardless of whether they are doing it for life-saving expediency or not, as long as they are won over, they can quickly control the local area and begin to utilize the resources of a county.
In full view of the public, the kidnapped magistrate still looked unyielding, but he no longer cursed or had any overreactions.
At this time, a team came in, walked straight to the public seat, and whispered: "Sir, we found the county magistrate's family in the backyard of the county government office, and we have sent someone to keep an eye on them."
After a while, another sergeant came in and reported: "The altar master Hou and others were rescued from the county prison and are outside."
"Quick, please." Zhang Ning, who was silent, immediately said with enthusiasm. He immediately left his seat and walked towards the gate. As soon as he walked down the hall, he saw a dozen people in prison uniforms with disheveled hair walking from the gate.
They got up. I could smell a foul stench from a distance. I don't know how long it had been since they had washed their hands. They probably hadn't washed their faces since they were arrested.
There was a broad-faced man with scars all over his face. Zhang Ning guessed it was Hou Mao. He hurriedly greeted him and said, "We came too late and made Master Hou suffer!"
Without saying a word, the man knelt down on the ground first and kowtowed immediately. The others behind him also hurriedly knelt down in the lobby. The man said: "Hou will not forget the kindness of His Highness the Third Prince today. In the future, as long as His Highness speaks
With one sound, I will never say a word even if I go up to the mountains and into the sea of fire!"
The people behind were excited and said: "We all thought there was no chance of survival and just wanted to be happy. Unexpectedly, we were imprisoned and there were still people to save us..."
"It's easy to talk." Zhang Ning hurriedly supported Hou Mao. No matter how smelly he was, he kindly helped him up, patted his shoulder and said, "One family does not speak the same language, and the leader of Hou altar is my family."
Old minister, I have been following you for more than 20 years, how can I bear to abandon you? Come, please find some doctors to come and heal the wounds of Altar Master Hou and others... Lord Altar Hou, please sit down for a moment, I will tell people to find some rooms.
Get some food."
Hou Mao limped over and followed, turned around and looked at the trembling officials, and let out a "hum". Someone behind him immediately spat at the officials, and one of them cursed: "Just wait for death!"
At this time Hou Mao asked: "Has Your Highness caught the Jinyi Guards?" Zhang Ning turned around and replied: "I haven't seen it." Hou Mao said: "There are at least two Jinyi Guards in Shimen County. They torture us almost every day to extract confessions. Although brothers
They all gritted their teeth and said nothing, but it seemed that they knew a lot and had to find ways to hunt them down and kill them to avoid future trouble."
Zhang Ning thought to himself: This Altar Master Hou has been captured for more than half a month and tortured every day. How can he survive to this day without saying anything?
He estimated that Hou Tanzhu and the others had already revealed all the details, but he didn't intend to expose it... Jinyiwei was specialized in doing this, and his methods were very good. Zhang Ning felt that if he was caught, he might have to confess. No wonder Hou
Altar leader: You can’t ask everyone to be party members who refused to obey under the torture of the enemy until death, right?
Zhang Ning stopped thinking and turned to the officials, glanced at the county magistrate in green robes, and ignored him. He then looked at an old man with a goatee in green robes next to him, pointed at him and said, "You, come out and answer."
Goatee hurriedly walked out and fell to his knees. Without asking him, he hurriedly said: "The court hawks and dogs are extremely vicious, and we are all forced to do so! My colleagues are dedicated to the people and do not want to provoke the noble sect.
But in desperation, he did not dare to disobey, so he offended the king and begged the king to be lenient... Seeing that it was not good to defend the city, the hawks and dogs ran away early. The county officials and their families were all in the city. If they dared to run away, they had to suffer on their behalf.
…”
A prisoner suddenly stood up: "This old bastard surnamed Wang is the official history of the county government, and he is the same as the imperial hawk. He is very diligent in deceiving superiors and subordinates! Your Highness, don't believe what he said. He only surrendered now that he fell into our hands."
I mean, you can do anything if you turn your back!"
Zhang Ning did not speak, but Hou Mao immediately shouted: "Old Fan, sit down, do you have the right to speak here? How to deal with it, His Highness has his own discretion."
"There are many rooms behind the county government office. Take Altar Master Hou and others in, wash up and rest first, and then check on the injuries." Zhang Ning ordered calmly.
After the altar master and the prisoners left the hall, he finally said to the kneeling old man in green robe: "There are rules for being an official, and we have our own rules. Although Wang Dianshi calls me the king, I will wait for you."
Mountain bandits who are not robbing wealthy households and looting their homes, why should they have grudges against each other?"
"Sir... you are wise." Wang Dianshi bowed with admiration.
Zhang Ning said calmly: "You are Dian Shi... It seems that his wife should be the county magistrate? The gentleman next to him or the boss. Who were you officials before and are you still now? I will leave a few officials later to take over the county.
Take out the government registers, files, warehouse accounts, etc., and help with some work. Others can go home to report that they are safe. This can also restore order in the city as soon as possible and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. Wouldn't it be a great kindness?"
The officials looked at each other and started talking quietly. Wang Dianshi hurriedly turned around and advised his colleagues: "People's livelihood is the most important thing. How can you bear to see the city and countryside fall into chaos and people displaced? The most important thing at the moment is to appease the people and beware of thieves taking the opportunity to cause chaos."
The officials who had been timid at first gradually became more active and nodded in all seriousness, "The chaos and chaos are all caused by the suffering of the people, how can I bear it?" "Master Li is right, it is our duty to calm the people down..."
"Hahaha..." Suddenly the young magistrate threw his head back and laughed. All the officials frowned and looked at him in confusion.
Zhang Ning said hurriedly: "Please 'invite' the magistrate to the hall first... Don't worry, gentlemen, I will definitely advise the magistrate so that he can understand and return as soon as possible."