Chapter 24: Breaking into the Huang Family Compound Alone
I don't know when it started, but the snow started falling again. However, unlike the previous heavy snowfall, this time, all that was floating in the sky were tiny, broken snowflakes. When they fell on people's faces, they felt cold and dry, which was extremely uncomfortable.
Du Yunzhang wiped his face and hair covered with broken snow vigorously, cursed himself at the "damn weather", and then turned his attention back to the door in front of him.
Bang, bang, bang—he banged a few more times. "Hey! Is anyone here? Give me a word!" He shouted into the yard. Just like before, there was still no movement inside.
That shouldn't be the case! He pondered. According to the village chief of Chenjia Village, the Huang family compound was bustling with people just a few days ago, coming and going. How could it suddenly be deserted? Could the whole family have moved away? With such a large house and such a commotion, it's impossible for the village to not know about it.
Suddenly, he remembered what the village chief had said during his visit: that the bandits hadn't harmed Chenjia Village at all the night they raided the Independent Regiment. Huang Tan had fled that very night, most likely back to the Huang family compound. So, could it be that the Huang family, fearing an invasion from the Independent Regiment, had shut themselves in and refused to receive any guests?
However, he quickly dismissed his own speculation. If the independent group really wanted to come and demand revenge, how could the Huang family's tightly closed doors prevent them? The Huang family members were no fools, and they naturally understood that staying indoors was not an option. But how could they explain the current situation?
Du Yunzhang pondered this for a moment, then slapped his forehead. Hey, I'm a martial artist, why bother with formalities? With this thought in mind, he walked around the Huang family compound and spotted a boxwood tree standing outside the west wall, its bare branches covered in snow. Du Yunzhang estimated its height and the distance from the wall. Estimating it to be about right, he tightened his sleeves, spat into his palm, took a few steps back, and charged straight for the tree trunk. In a few quick steps, he reached the treetops, used a thicker branch, and with a single leap, he reached the west wall of the Huang family compound. Then, he descended from the flowerbed just inside the west wall and easily entered the compound.
In fact, I should have done this a long time ago! Du Yunzhang thought to himself, if I just wait outside, who knows how long it will take? Fortunately, the west wall where Du Yunzhang jumped was a shady flower garden. If he changed to another place, he would definitely be discovered by the people inside.
After entering the courtyard, Du Yunzhang walked slowly along the wall, tiptoeing. He saw a moon-shaped doorway in front of him, which he thought was the only way from the west courtyard to the main hall, so he walked in that direction.
As he approached the Moon Gate, he heard the neighing of horses on the other side. He assumed this must be the stables for the Huang family compound. Du Yunzhang passed through the gate and, sure enough, there were over a dozen horses tethered to their troughs. This puzzled him: why did the Huang family possess so many horses? Furthermore, the horses were exceptionally sturdy, with thick hooves and high backs, unlike those used by ordinary people. Even more striking was the leather trough for a spear on the saddle beside them—clearly a feature for war horses!
Could it be that the cavalry of the Independent Regiment had arrived at the Huang family compound? Du Yunzhang carefully examined the horses and saddles, but they didn't seem like military equipment - because military horses were always equipped with uniform equipment, but the several saddles placed on the stable floor were all of different styles.
A thought suddenly occurred to Du Yunzhang, could it be that...
Just as he thought of this, he heard the "crunching" sound of snow underfoot in the distance, so he quickly turned around and hid behind the trough in the stable.
"The snow is falling at the perfect time. It just stopped for a day and it's starting again!" said a middle-aged man. Judging from his accent, he must be a local.
"What do you mean, Butler Huang? From what you said, it seems that you hope we can leave as soon as possible?" another person asked in a slightly hoarse voice.
"No, no, Mr. Hong, you misunderstood."
"To be honest, the leader chose to settle here because of his friendship with your Old Master Huang. We exchanged gifts and helped each other during festivals, but in these chaotic times, the real power lies in the strength of the people. Chen Village, and your Huang Family Compound, all rely on the protection of our Black Cloud Village, the great leader, and the people from all over the country. As for those pigtail soldiers, everyone knows how bad their reputation is among the people. And you saw that we, the leader, were brave and knowledgeable enough to attack the regular army. Who among the other people would have such courage?"
"Yes, yes, the headmistress is indeed a heroine, with extraordinary courage and insight. Naturally, our Huang family and even the villagers of Chenjia Village all support her. It's just that... Liuzi just raided the military camp and looted a lot of supplies, and the headmistress is still staying in the Huang family compound, just a stone's throw away from the camp. Isn't she afraid that the Qing army will get the news and send troops to encircle and suppress them?"
"If you don't leak the news, how will the Qing army know?" They had already reached the stable. "It's been freezing cold lately, so don't neglect the fodder."
"Look, we're taking good care of it. But just now someone was knocking on the door and shouting. Could it be the pigtail army?"
"Don't worry, we who are on guard inside the gate saw that this man didn't have a queue, so he's naturally not a member of the queue army. Anyway, there's no movement now, so don't worry about him."
"That's good. What else do you want?"
"After things with the boss are done, I'll listen to her next arrangements." After saying that, he dusted his hands, threw the cigarette butt in his mouth onto the snow, letting it be extinguished by the snow water.
Du Yunzhang's interest immediately perked up when he heard that the Black Cloud Stronghold's leader, the green-robed Deng Erniang, was currently at the Huang family compound. While he wasn't sure what Huang Tan, who had escaped from the military camp, had to do with the Black Cloud Stronghold, the fact that Deng Erniang had braved the danger to remain at the Huang family compound indicated that the Huang family must be closely connected to the Black Cloud Stronghold. The artilleryman, surnamed Hong, had said that Deng Erniang had matters to attend to and wouldn't be leaving for the time being, so he decided to investigate alone.
After the two left, Du Yunzhang followed closely and secretly followed them to the main hall. With his rich experience in the martial arts world, he found the edge of the wall next to the main hall and listened carefully to the sounds in the room.
A woman's hearty laughter could be heard from the room. "Hahahaha, Old Master Huang, what are you talking about? Is Second Mother the kind of person who doesn't repay a favor? Whatever Black Cloud Village has, the Huang family will definitely have a share."
"The boss..."
"Hey! I've told you so many times, just call me Er Niang, just like before." Deng Er Niang laughed again.
Old Master Huang seemed somewhat helpless, and reluctantly said, "Second Mother, look, the military camp has been attacked, the supplies have been looted, and there doesn't seem to be any movement from the queued army. Do you think it would be safer for you to retreat to Black Cloud Village?"
"Old Master, didn't I tell you I still have to wait for my friend Zhang to come back? But it's snowing again outside. How about we take advantage of the snow and attack the pigtail army again?"
Old Master Huang didn't expect that Deng Er Niang would have such thoughts. He was so scared that he shuddered and the teacup in his hand almost fell to the ground.
"Wha...what? Second Mother, this is no joke. You still want to fight the pigtailed army? They were attacked just two days ago, and they are on high alert right now. Aren't you just walking into a trap?"
"What's the big deal? I'm taking advantage of them, thinking they've just been attacked and we won't come back. I'm doing the exact opposite, so they won't expect me to come back and strike back."
"That's not right, Second Mother. After all, they are the regular army of the country. How many men and how many guns can your brothers, plus the big and small Liuzi in this area, have? I'm not trying to boost their morale and destroy your prestige. This time we caught them off guard, but if they strengthen their defenses, you can't guarantee that you won't be like an egg against a rock!"
"Hmph, old man, how could I say such a thing if I wasn't sure?" Deng Erniang clapped her hands towards the outside, "Zi Laihong, let him in!"
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