the world is at stake

"Wow, what a shame, a great opportunity was missed. I'm never finished with Zhou Thief."

Mr. Jiang didn't dare to run alone, so he stumbled and went back to the town, looking for the Jiang family's subordinates.He made up his mind that as long as there are enough 30 people, there will be a wave of counterattacks.

There really was a group of pirates who saw the young master of the Jiang family and gathered here automatically to discuss what to do in front of them.Someone came up with an idea: "The attackers are also armed, but they are not many.

There are also many pawns with spears coming in from the direction of the dock.If we can break it down, we might be able to snatch the ship from the pier. "

Some people agree with this idea, and some don't.There are also people who plan to gather crowds to defend the town, hold the people as hostages, or set fire to the town, and die together with the Xinhua rebels.

Whatever the idea, it sounds feasible.Mr. Jiang stood among the pirates and shouted: "It doesn't matter if you rush to the pier or stick to it, let's all be together."

It's easy to just say 'all together', but no one wants to agree.A pirate leader was already furious, pointing at Mr. Jiang and cursing, saying that he shouldn't have provoked the Xinhua rebels and caused such a disaster.

"Jiang, you know that the rebels are rich and powerful, yet you tricked us into gathering a crowd to rob them. Tell me, are you a spy sent by the government?"

"Hey, you're still here to scold me at this time? Don't you know that there are not many dead people in my Jiang family? If it weren't for your own interests, I could call you here?"

The more chaos and chaos, the more chaos and chaos.

At the critical moment, it was impossible to obtain a unified opinion and command.

Mr. Jiang still hoped to gather the bandits and choose another path to break out with all his strength, but before he could convince the other pirate leaders, several grenades fell from the sky and exploded on the ground.

Sixty-seven meters away, Zhou Qingfeng stood on the roof of the restaurant in the town, methodically lit the fuse of the grenade, and threw it when he saw the place where the bandits gathered in the town.He has strong arms and precise eyesight, like a human flesh grenade.

The grenade that fell on the ground blasted the gathered thieves and fled, and all expectations fell through.The surviving bandits can only do their own thing, and it is difficult to form a joint force.

Mr. Jiang was not so lucky this time. One leg was injured by a grenade, and the trouser leg fell off like rags.

Two old bandits from the Jiang family helped their young master to run, and after running about ten meters, one of them was killed by a bullet fired from a distance.Another person dragged Mr. Jiang desperately, and dragged him into a house in the town.

Zhou Qingfeng saw it clearly from a distance, and blew on the smoking muzzle, reached out to grab the gunpowder and bullets from the ammunition box behind his waist, and reloaded.

If bandits appear within 200 meters, they may be shot dead by him.But 'Holy Light' had limited manpower and could not control the whole town, and some bandits took advantage of the chaos to escape.

After shooting and killing more than a dozen bandits, the activities on the street were basically "cops" in gray cotton uniforms.Zhou Qingfeng jumped from a high place, remembering that he had just seen Mr. Jiang's back, and decided to take the life of the bandit leader along the road.

When Zhou Qingfeng walked into the gate of the house where Mr. Jiang was hiding, a bearded bandit suddenly rushed out from the door, holding a short knife and making a sneak attack from behind.He dodges for a while, and the bearded bandit is empty, falling to the ground with a knife.

Turning his head again, he saw Mr. Jiang falling behind the door with his injured leg, holding a rich old man's bun in his hand, and shouted with a horizontal knife: "Your surname Zhou, don't bully me too much.

The Jiang family is willing to compensate you 1 taels of silver, and that's all for today's dispute.My Jiang family has power all over the south of the Yangtze River, and my uncles and brothers all serve in the government, if you kill me..."

Bang... Zhou Qingfeng took out his flintlock pistol and blew Mr. Jiang's head off.The opponent half pulled his head and then disappeared, splashing on the wall of the house.

The bearded bandit yelled and wanted to jump up and fight for his life, but Zhou Qingfeng kicked his chest down and died on the spot.

The old man who was being held hostage had his eyes pressed tightly, thinking that his death was imminent, but he didn't expect that the knife on his neck was loosened, and Mr. Jiang who was holding him fell down with a plop, and instead went on the road first.

The old man was trembling and already incontinent. When he opened his eyes and saw the bandits handing over his head, he quickly fell to the ground, kowtowed and shouted: "Thank you for saving my life, this old man is very grateful."

Zhou Qingfeng glanced, wanting to see if there were no other bandits hiding here, but he saw several servants huddled behind the gate of the house, and a female corpse was thrown on the ground.

"How is this going?"

Seeing the righteous man asking about the woman's corpse, the old man said sadly, "This old man is a cloth merchant in this town. This bandit bullied me to be weak. He broke in the door last night and not only demanded money and food, but also occupied my daughter-in-law.

My daughter-in-law has a strong temper, she hanged herself this morning.This is the misfortune of the family, and the old man has no choice but to hold back the corpse of his daughter-in-law and hastily bury it. "

The old man was crying miserably, but Zhou Qingfeng stepped forward and touched the neck of the female corpse with his feet, and said with a sneer, "Did you hang yourself with strangle marks on the front and back of the neck?"

Ah... the old man was taken aback for a moment, but he stopped crying. He only talked about the misfortune of his family, the insult to the family tradition, and the righteous people don't care about it. He will naturally offer a gift later.

Zhou Qingfeng didn't talk nonsense, raised his flintlock pistol, and fired the remaining one into the old man's head.

The servant of the old man's house was so frightened that he cried. He thought he was saved, but an even more unreasonable evil star came.Seeing the patriarch fell to the ground, they all kowtowed and cried loudly, saying that they had to strangle the young mistress to death as they obeyed orders.

A servant cried and shouted: "My good man, please spare my life. We also know that the young lady is pitiful, so I didn't dare to strangle her. Her body is still weak, maybe she just passed out after being strangled, and she can still be saved."

"Then save them quickly. If you can't save them, I'll kill you again." Zhou Qingfeng said, turned and left the house, and continued hunting in the town.

The servants in the courtyard continued to kowtow, and after Zhou Qingfeng left, they hurriedly moved the young mistress back into the courtyard for rescue.Whether it will be saved or not, only God knows.

The attack of the 'Holy Light' team started around [-]:[-] am and ended at [-]:[-] am. The rest was counting the population and identifying bandits, and it continued until it was almost dark.

A total of more than 320 corpses were collected in the town after the incident, of which more than 250 belonged to the official bandits.The others were innocent residents of the town who were killed last night.

The military team originally planned to fight the enemy coming by water, and then go to fight the enemy by land.But actually found it doesn't work.The NO.50 'Holy Light' man carrying the flintlock was overly excited. Although there were no casualties, his physical strength was exhausted.

As for the "assistant police" they were not trained enough. Three people died in the process of entering the town to suppress the bandits, and more than a dozen were slightly or seriously injured.It took hours to spread them out and gather them together.

There were a lot of problems with this attack, and the military team believed that the tactics were not perfect, and the task of destroying the enemy's main force was half completed, but they stopped when they were good, and retreated to rest first.

By the next day, news of the Battle of Zhaogang Town spread like wildfire.Not only was Songjiang shocked, but the entire Jiangnan officialdom turned pale with shock—the rebels in Qinglong Town are so powerful? !

The prefect of Songjiang reacted very quickly and immediately announced to the outside world - don't talk nonsense, the government of Songjiang is well-organized, all industries are prosperous, and there are no rebels.

It's just that the two local gentry fought each other, and the casualties were a little bit tragic.The government sent people to mediate, and nothing happened.

In addition, the Songjiang Mansion has recently cracked major cases and captured many Jiangyang thieves, and now there are heads to prove it.Such a place is auspicious and happy, and the people all praise it.

Chapter 21

February [-]th, Lantern Festival.

Zhaogang Town has returned to calm, shops are opening one after another, and residents are busy.The shopkeeper of the restaurant in the town was doing calculations behind the counter, and seven or eight guys went to work early, shuttled between the desk and the back hall, and greeted the guests.

In normal years, no matter how hard the townspeople are, they would make a fuss, hang a few lanterns and set off some firecrackers.Wealthy households will pool their money to invite a lion dance team to play along the street, to fill in the festivities and hope for good luck in the year.

But this festival, the town is mostly sad.Dozens of families wore hemp and filial piety, weeping and crying.The deceased had just passed the first seven days, and the funeral procession walked by the street from time to time, carrying the coffin to the burial.

The shopkeeper of the restaurant looked at the white paper money spilled at the entrance of the shop, and hurriedly greeted the waiter: "Go and clean it up, it looks bad luck. No customers come to the door."

The clerk went out with a broom, glanced at the funeral procession in the distance, shook his head and sighed.

Not only Zhaogang Town is like this, but the atmosphere in Daming Songjiang Mansion is quite weird.There was a lot of discussion in the official meetings, and the topic naturally revolved around the current situation.

An important part of the collusion between "officials, businessmen and bandits" in Songjiang Prefecture, the pirate forces were hit hard in Zhaogang Town. More than 400 of the vicious bandits who had been rampant for many years were eliminated, and those who fled were like frightened birds, either fleeing or hiding.

The matter of advancing and suppressing was naturally given up, and the other team on the land route was even more scattered.

This matter is no small matter, it is equivalent to a power reshuffle.

Master Wan from Wujiang arrived in Zhaogang Town by boat to inspect the battlefield that caused the earthquake in Songjiang official circles.He arrived at the pier by boat, lost a penny to the coolie who carried the luggage, and heard many arguments.

"The magistrate issued a notice. Not long ago, Japanese pirates invaded. The local government fought back with courage and indignation, and won a complete victory."

"Actually, the common people know what's going on, isn't it just that the master of Fucheng wanted to suppress the thieves but failed, so he changed his words and absolved himself of responsibility."

"But everyone is still happy. After all, it was the Japanese pirates who died. The hero of Xinhua Village was amazing that day. Thousands of people came and trapped hundreds of Japanese pirates in the town. Days and three nights."

"Among the heroes, there are seven King Kongs. They are nine feet tall, with three arms and three arms. They are all extremely powerful and good at wielding swords and spears. The town collected the corpses after the incident. It is said that the blood and flesh of the bandits were flying, and the horses and men were smashed."

When it comes to the battle scene, the words of the coolie on the dock let himself go, and it sounds unreliable.Master Wan didn't care, he found a restaurant in the town and asked for a private room.

Not long after, a middle-aged man wearing a square scarf came in from outside the private room.The two sides clasped their hands, shouted 'Wan Gong' and 'Master Qin', and sat down after a long look.

Master Wan sat down and asked, "Mr. Wan hastily asked for advice. I want to ask Master Qin, but I want to go to the thief's den in Xinhua?"

Sigh...Master Qin sighed, "I didn't expect it, the whole Songjiang Mansion didn't expect it. The Jiang family is usually so violent that the magistrate wants to give him three points, but he fell on the head of a group of rebels.

He thought that no matter how powerful the rebels were, a fight with the Jiang family who had occupied the south of the Yangtze River for a hundred years would be the limit.Who would have thought that the Jiang family would suffer a crushing defeat?

The body of the young master of the Jiang family was sent back to Fucheng the day before yesterday, with his head shattered.

Master Jiang stroked the corpse and fainted several times, and vowed to be immortal with the Xinhua rebels.But just the night before yesterday, all the seventeen males in the Jiang family's mansion were killed, and none of them were spared.

Master Jiang is such a stubborn person, every family in the prefecture still wants to see what he will do next.His corpse was sitting on the living room, his head smashed to pieces.

More than half of the more than twenty nursing homes were damaged, either killed on the spot or seriously injured and waiting to die.Those who survived by chance but couldn't tell who the attacker was?Most of them only said that there was a dark shadow passing by, and they couldn't tell whether it was a person or a ghost.

He heard ghosts and wolves howling in Jiangfu at night, and his family members went to the government office to report the case the next day, saying that the whole family's men had been exterminated.The magistrate thought that the words were exaggerated, but he went there in person, saw the dead body in a terrible state, and when he came back, he had a headache and fell ill. "

Master Qin shook his head again, "The officials in Fucheng, the county magistrate in Huating, all the divisions sent people to investigate, and they all said it was miserable after they came back. But no one dared to make random ideas, for fear of causing disaster."

Master Wan was shocked immediately, "This big case in Fucheng, what should we do? There are still many uncles and brothers in the Jiang family who are officials in the court, and they will definitely not let it go."

Master Qin smiled wryly, "Who says it's not. It's too difficult to end this case. Everyone knows who did it, but there's nothing you can do about it."

"Can't we send officers and troops to attack?"

"Yes, it is possible, but there are too few people and too many people are not enough. If there is a big trouble, it still can't be suppressed. Not only can the magistrate of my family not keep the black hat, but I'm afraid he can't even keep his life."

A few small dishes were placed on the table in the private room, Master Qin peeled a few edamame beans and threw them in his mouth, then said happily: "But the Xinhua rebels are also interesting, they are obviously rebellious, but they value business the most.

I contacted many merchants who have been to Xinhua Village, and they all said that the rebels focus on construction and do not invade the place.They only expelled all the local gentry, and then tore up graves and demolished houses to equalize the rich and the poor. "

Rich or poor?

After hearing this in the past, Master Wan must have laughed, but now he can't.The Xinhua rebels broke all laws with one force, no matter what the officials and gentry think, they don't care.

"Master Zhifu, what do you mean...?"

"Hey...what's the point? Yesterday the rebels invited acquainted merchants to Fucheng to make a condition, saying that Qinglong Town will be under their management in the future, and they will pay for the money, grain, taxes, and local officials and gentry.

In addition, transportation and trade cannot be blocked, otherwise it will be a war.They also cited a list, expressing their intention to do business with Fucheng.The magistrate read the list, and he broke out in a cold sweat, but he was mostly ill. "

"What do the rebels want to buy?"

"Grain, cloth, pig iron, charcoal..."

"This is what the rebellion needs, and it must not be sold."

"If you don't sell it, the rebels will come to Fucheng. If you can kill Master Jiang yesterday, you can go to the government office tomorrow." Master Wan's heart tightened, knowing that the magistrate was probably just trying to fool things.He neither agreed nor forbade the rebel's request.But the people below feel that it is beneficial, so they will naturally do it.

Master Qin chatted for a while, then left with cupped hands and took a boat towards Xinhua.Seeing his relaxed appearance, it is obvious that he has a plan in mind, and he has reached a certain tacit understanding with the rebel.

Master Wan sat in the restaurant for a long time.In the afternoon, Zheng Dashan from Beiwan Village brought his servants into the private room in a panic, and cried loudly: "Mr. Wan, save me, he will definitely save me."

The last time we met, Master Wan was still watching a play.But when he saw Zheng Dashan again, he had to reach out to help him up from the ground, and pour a cup of hot tea to appease him.

"Why is brother Zheng so embarrassed?"

"The Xinhua rebels killed me in Beiwan Village. If I hadn't run fast, I would have died. Who would have thought that the Jiang family was so incompetent, and they had vowed to kill the thieves before. But in the blink of an eye, they themselves became pirates, thieves Became brave."

Zheng Dashan took a sip of hot tea and let out a long sigh.

"What's the current situation in Xinhua Thieves Nest?"

"Recruiting troops and buying horses. The poor ghosts from all over the world are rushing towards Xinhua. They heard that the thieves are going to give food to help, so they want to take advantage of it. Now thousands of people are crowded there, and all my fields have been taken over."

Zheng Dashan was crying, Master Wan's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he asked anxiously, "Can the Xinhua rebels accept thousands of people?"

"It seems impossible. When I was fleeing, I heard the news that the rebels were not willing to help. It's just that the local poor were hungry and crazy. After hearing the rumors of killing officials and rebelling, they swarmed over. When I fled, all the way It's for defection."

Master Wan patted his thigh, "It's so wonderful."

That's okay?

Zheng Dashan said urgently: "Wan Gong, I was kicked out of the house, I'm like a bereaved dog, don't make fun of me anymore."

"You don't understand. The rebels are already powerful. They can't be suppressed or starved to death, but they can be sustained. Even if they can't be sustained, they will make a big fuss. The magistrate of Songjiang will have to take off his black hat. Naturally, the court can't just sit idly by."

Master Wan said bitterly: "The Xinhua rebels have made too much trouble in Qinglong Town, which made me unable to recover the loan sharks I put in Fucheng. I sent people to negotiate, but they didn't respond. Let Songjiang Mansion be in chaos. , everyone, don’t feel bad.”

Zheng Dashan was stunned for a while before he understood what the so-called 'suspended to death' meant.But he has already been kicked out, and the only way to solve it is to continue to make a big fuss until the Songjiang Mansion can't handle it.

"Okay, I'll arrange more people and encourage more fools from the countryside to rush towards Xinhua Village. Either the rebels will be killed, or the Songjiang Mansion will be blown up."

The two gentry made up their minds and laughed instead.

The 'Holy Light' team, which had just won a preliminary victory, is indeed facing the distress of rising reputation.This is the same as when a countryman goes to the city and finds a place where he can live a good life, and everyone wants to go there.

After Zhou Qingfeng led a team to smash the officials and bandits in Zhaogang Town, Xinhua Village became famous.

The hot air balloon floating at the entrance of the village was originally just a signboard, but now it has become a symbol. Seeing it is like seeing a totem of hope, and running towards it is running towards a new life.

Soon after the war, one after another bankrupt farmers ran towards the village, begging for shelter.In their view, escaping to Xinhua Village can get rid of the oppression of the government and the gentry, and it can also avoid corvee and taxes, which is a way to survive.

In the beginning, there were only 200-[-] people who voted, and the village barely accepted them.

But in just one week, the whole Songjiang Prefecture knew the news of "Xinhua's bravery and bravery to defeat the Japanese pirates".

In the two counties of Huating and Shanghai, there are nearly 200 towns and cities, hundreds of villages, and a population of more than [-] million. There are always some peasant households who cannot survive and want to live in another place.

The water and land transportation to Xinhua Village has become extremely busy, not only merchants who come to buy and sell, but also farmers who drag their children and daughters to join them.

Xinhua Village immediately became Xinhua Town, and the population soared to [-], and it continued to increase.Such a large population presents a huge administrative burden.

Xiao Jinlang made a prompt decision, divided Xinhua into inner towns and outer towns, erected fences to isolate personnel, and implemented militarized control to maintain stability and prevent chaos.

The situation was so serious that even Zhou Qingfeng was at a loss.

He tried to set up a guard post at a certain intersection to stop the influx of refugees, but he saw a little girl about one year old, with mud and tears on her face, crawling on the ground like a cat, calling her mother hoarsely.

The little girl is thin and small, and her mother probably abandoned her in order to enter Xinhua.Zhou Qingfeng, a man with a heart as hard as a stone, carried the child back to the town with a sullen face, and discussed with Qin Qing how to build a nursery.

It is impossible for a child over one year old to bring any benefits to the mission of 'Holy Light', but no one in the team would say that they would ignore it.Qin Qing hugged the child and waved Zhou Qingfeng to go to work. She will arrange manpower, housing, food, and take in the children as much as possible.