The big bandit in the Red Mansion robbed Lin Daiyu at the beginning

In front of the prefectural government office.

A middle-aged official in a red robe and slightly plump,

Standing on the terrace of the Yangzhou prefectural government office,

He clasped his hands and bowed to the officers and soldiers gathered from various county yamen below the stage, with a solemn expression, and spoke in a deep voice.

"Everyone, the criminals are rampant. Yesterday, the family of a Yangzhou official was kidnapped by criminals while on their way to pay homage at Daming Temple outside the city!"

"In broad daylight, under the clear sky, Yangzhou's bandits are so rampant! Although I am a new official, as the prefect of Yangzhou, I have the emperor's order to eliminate the banditry and restore peace to Yangzhou and the people..."

Listening to the eloquent speech of the newly appointed Yangzhou prefect,

The officers and soldiers below all looked listless.

Even at the back of the team, some officers and soldiers were holding a small meeting in low voices.

"Hey, who was kidnapped? Why such a big fuss?"

An informed soldier whispered,

"You don't know this, do you? I heard that the only officials who left the city yesterday to offer pilgrimage were the family of Mr. Lin, the Salt Censor! Didn't you see the Salt Censor from the Salt Administration on the stage? And the salt officials from the Salt Administration were all there too."

"What a scene! Haha, just think about it. The Salt Administration is a very lucrative position. Think about it, think about it carefully!"

The soldier was stunned at first, then suddenly realized,

Suddenly his eyes widened and he looked at his companions excitedly.

"That's right! Lord Lin's wife passed away, and now he only has this one daughter. It will cost a fortune to save her!"

"So, we're going to get rich!"

The soldier who knew the situation sneered.

"Get rich? That requires you to be alive to spend it! Are there any bandits left in Yangzhou now?"

The soldier was slightly startled, a trace of fear appeared on his face in an instant, and he blurted out three words.

"A swarm?!"

The soldiers who had previously known about the situation remained silent.

It took the soldier a while to come back to his senses.

"But why didn't Lord Lin just send someone with silver to Datong Mountain to redeem him?"

"Those people in the 'crowd' advocate for fairness and justice: pay the money and release the prisoners. Why make such a fuss?"

Another officer tilted his head slightly, curled his lips and said,

"Don't you think Lord Lin doesn't want to?"

"We've sent a hundred thousand taels of silver to the mountain, but those bandits have said they don't want a ransom."

"They said they had snatched Lord Lin's daughter back and prepared her for their leader to be his wife!"

The conversation between the few people was quite loud, and many of their companions who were confused about what was going on heard it.

In an instant, there was an uproar.

"What? A swarm?"

"Oh my goodness! That's the group of people who claim to be 'invincible in Yangzhou, beating their competitors like dogs'!"

"Yes, I heard that too. They said that in less than half a year, that group defeated and incorporated almost all the bandits in Yangzhou. Now, they are the only bandit group left in Yangzhou!"

"Can we, the officers and soldiers, be a match for a swarm of them?"

"Mom, I want to go home!"

"..."

Suddenly, someone said,

"Oh my God, Lord Lin's daughter seems to be only eleven years old?"

"How could the leader of a village like this be such a beast?"

The surrounding noises instantly quieted down.

All the officers and soldiers turned their heads to look at the officer who was speaking.

The person who spoke turned pale instantly.

"I, I didn't say anything!"

……

The sun is already high in the sky.

The prefect on the high platform ahead was still speaking eloquently.

All the officers and soldiers below began to feel a little gloomy.

The prefect smacked his lips, still unsatisfied.

"Ahem, well, I'm just saying a few words!"

The officers and soldiers below the stage didn't even have the mood to talk to each other, and all of them lowered their heads to count ants.

On the terrace, an official wearing a light red official robe, with a thin face, a short beard, and a worried look on his face,

He took a step forward and anxiously saluted the prefect.

He interrupted the prefect who was still talking.

"Master Li, it's almost time. My daughter is still waiting to rescue us. Do you think we should set off now? The sooner we go, the sooner we can return!"