Chapter 52: Grab the Shop
This time it lasted longer, about the time of an incense stick. After the candle burned out, there was another loud bang. The surrounding earth was scorched and dark. The power was indeed extremely great.
After trying several fire thunder lanterns with different burning times, and making sure they were foolproof, Yu Huatang recorded all the different lantern types combined with the burning time of gunpowder, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Shortly after Yan Quan reported the number of pirate attacks and the property looted in the past, Zhao Yan called a few of them together to discuss how to catch all the pirates in one fell swoop this year.
After Yan Quan surrendered, he also knew that Lord Zhao was a man of action, so he couldn't help but suggest, "In the past, we always launched a surprise attack after a heavy rain. This year, the rain hasn't come yet. Why don't we send some officials and clerks to the port, disguised as merchants, to keep a close watch."
Wang Zhubu disagreed, "This would be too costly and time-consuming. These pirates are very clever and will pretend to be civilians to inquire about the situation. We can't always send people to watch them."
Zhao Yan listened to their suggestions and said, "Why not send a few fishing boats and bring a few minor officials with them? Take some valuables worth less than a thousand taels, spread the word and lure them out. Don't try to capture them, just wait until they're happy and let down their guard."
Yan Quan asked, "Does your Excellency have any backup plan?"
Zhao Yan said, "We still have to wait for news from Madam Qiaodeng."
Everyone was puzzled when someone hurried in from outside and said, "My Lord Governor, the people from the Lantern Master Hall outside the gate said they are looking for you."
Zhao Yan stood up and followed him out.
The man was a waiter from the Lantern Master Hall. When he saw Zhao Yan, he immediately said, "Sir, our Miss Yu said that the things you requested are ready. We would like to invite you all to come and take a look."
Zhao Yan hadn't expected it to happen so quickly, so he told the people behind him, "Call the heads of each department."
When everyone was led to an open area by the waiter, they saw Yu Huatang coming out of a pit, followed by Xu Fu.
Only then did everyone realize that several large and small areas of this land had been burned by firearms.
Xu Fu squatted down to brush off the scorched earth on his senior sister's body, and then explained the results of their experiment to the adults.
Yu Huatang then lit another fire thunder lamp, and everyone witnessed the effect.
The heads of various departments immediately understood the purpose of the lamp and were all impressed.
Zhao Yan had originally planned to catch them all in a few days, but now he didn't want to wait any longer. He said, "Thank you for your hard work, Miss Yu."
He then ordered the heads of all departments to work together with all the shops in the harbor lanes to replace all the shop lights with fire thunder lamps filled with sulfur gunpowder.
Just wait for the pirates to come ashore to buy, and then calculate the time.
Sure enough, within two days, Yu Huatang was called to the port.
At this time, Zhao Yan was standing on the deck of a merchant ship wearing light military uniform.
The dozen or so ships around were filled with navy or land camp soldiers, and some small boats were also occupied by constables and militiamen who were familiar with the water conditions.
After three incense sticks of time had passed, bursts of violent explosions were heard from the wide surface of the water in Gang Lane, and flames shot up into the sky.
Xu Fu pulled his senior sister back with concern, "Senior sister, there are too many people here, let's go to the deck next to us."
The people along the coast stretched their necks to watch the merchant ship capture the pirates, and they were all excited.
Yu Huatang was no exception. After an hour, a long horn sounded, piercing the sky, heralding victory.
The people along the coast were even more excited, waving the tools in their hands to welcome the returning people.
Rows of soldiers escorted the prisoners off the merchant ship.
Zhao Yan ordered everyone in an orderly manner, "Confiscate the weapons and weapons now, and then count the number of prisoners and supplies."
Then he looked at Yan Quan and said, "It would be best if we could recruit these people as followers. After I submit my report, Lord Yan will be responsible for arranging for them to repair the coastal defense fortifications."
After Zhao Yan finished explaining everything, he saw Yu Huatang in the crowd. He had so many things to say to her, but he was the busiest person at the moment, so he had no choice but to take a few glances and leave.
Yu Huatang and Xu Fu also followed the crowd and saw them off for a long time. They did not leave until the captives arrived at the government office.
Perhaps she was infected by the enthusiasm and joy, so she didn't let Xu Fu send her off on the way home and walked alone.
This road was relatively quiet, and she used to feel happy when walking on it. But today, she felt a little strange walking on the same road. She vaguely felt that someone was following her. She looked back several times but didn't find anything suspicious.
When night fell, she glanced at Zhao Yan's yard. It was pitch black, and he must be busy all night.
Then she closed the door and vaguely felt that someone was wandering outside.
Gradually, the hidden worries in her heart grew bigger and bigger, and finally turned into fear and terror, and she dared not sleep.
Did the person who followed her that night find her home?
she thought in horror.
The bolt had been put down long ago, but she didn't dare to look at it now. She lit the lamp tremblingly, and the fear in her heart deepened.
She curled up in bed, laid out the knives and hoes in the house beside the bed, wrapped herself in a quilt, and stared at the movements outside the hospital.
She heard the sound of footsteps, covered her mouth tightly with her hands, held the knife in one hand, and listened to someone climbing over the fence outside the yard.
At this time, the sound of a night watchman was heard. The man seemed to be frightened and hurriedly opened the fence and left.
But the night watchman's voice faded away after a while, and her heart began to panic again. She waited and waited until she heard the sound of the night watchman's drum again. Now it was already the third watch.
She wondered if that man would come again. It was the dead of night and she was trembling with fear.
I stared at the door with my whole body tense, afraid of the sound of the lock turning.
She was sleepy and confused, and after sleeping for a while, she woke up immediately.
She only breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the night watchman's sound again outside the yard. It was already the fourth watch of the night. Even if the man wanted to come at this time, he wouldn't dare to. Some families who were preparing breakfast had to work at this time.
Hope gradually grew in her heart, but she did not dare to get out of bed. She just picked up the unfinished skeleton next to her and worked on it with full concentration.
But in the end, I couldn't do it. The fear in my heart lingered on me until dawn.
She hugged herself tightly, wondering who that person was and what she was afraid of. She turned over the bamboo strips while waiting for dawn and fell asleep for a while in a daze.
Then she woke up immediately. There was already some light outside the door. She no longer dared to hesitate or stay at home, so she ran out in a hurry.
She ran all the way without daring to stop for even a second. When she arrived at the Baili family's shop, the clerk told her that the young master had gone to the port to meet customers early this morning and would not be back until noon.
She nodded and wanted to wait at the alley entrance, but the shop owner stopped her and said that the young master had instructed that if she came to see him, she should go to the private room upstairs.
She hadn't slept all night, her face was pale, and she was afraid of meeting the man on the road, so she followed the boss upstairs.
I slept on the table in a daze for an hour.
When she woke up again, someone ran up from downstairs and pushed the door open. Baili looked at her and asked in surprise, "Huatang, what happened?"
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