Chapter 39: Raising Fish in Living Water The young man’s voice was cold and his expression was sinister.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the situation was reversed.
The bandits' palms where they held their weapons were all pierced with wounds. The injuries were not serious, but the pain was so severe that beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads.
"Let us go! Don't you know who the boss of Huashangang is?" The struggling and twisting bandit was still shouting.
"Who is it?" Guizhier asked casually.
She patiently tied the rope around the bandit's ankles, around his waist, and then around his arms, until his entire body was firmly bound.
"It's the famous double-axe Black Wind Demon!"
"Oh." The name sounds quite impressive.
Guizhier clapped her hands and tied him up tightly, like a rice dumpling.
Liu Qianjin also brought with her several other strong scholars and coachmen, and used ropes to tie up the bloodied bandit.
The bandit's face was filled with resentment, but he could not move.
"Look, brother, we are just about to go into the city." Guizhier spoke in a gentle tone, looking like she was willing to talk things over.
"I'll let you go about a mile from the city gate," Gui Zhier said. "Notify your boss and come in person with the ransom."
"That's right." She slapped her forehead, "We need to go into the city to rest before dark. If we're late, I'll report this to the police."
Guizhier pointed at the sky.
In the early spring afternoon, the sky is as clear as washed water, with a few white clouds floating leisurely.
It's only an hour or so before dark.
When these words were spoken, both the bandits and the scholars were stunned.
"We are the kidnappers."
The bandit who was tied up like a dumpling felt that he had no confidence to speak so, and he wanted to cry but had no tears.
He had been keeping an eye on this group of frail scholars since they entered the woods to collect firewood. He waited there for a long time, making sure that they were only capable of verbal battles before he dared to take action.
Unexpectedly, an eagle pecked his eyes.
"Sir, this is not a good idea." Even though Wang Pu was knowledgeable and experienced, he still stuttered.
He was leaning on a bamboo stick, feeling soreness in his ankles and a little dizzy.
I've never heard of asking for ransom from bandits.
"We also need kind-hearted people to sponsor the travel expenses for the exam." Guizhier smiled shamelessly.
The winding, steep, and complex terrain of Huashan Hill is a perfect breeding ground for bandits. They have been roaming around the area for a long time, and even the arrival of government troops would be difficult to eliminate.
But this bad breath can be expressed.
The bandits were carried onto a donkey cart and sat in a row, and then the group headed towards Laicheng.
Looking at the mountains in the distance, they are rolling.
Along the way, there are still traces of the faint white and gray of winter, but inadvertently, a few patches of green have also emerged.
At first, several bandits were cursing and trying to escape.
Only after passing Huashan Hill and approaching the city gate did he resign himself to his fate.
Everyone frowned and hummed from time to time, hoping that the brothers who were released to report the news would be able to inform the boss in time.
"Sir, the bandits are rampant despite repeated bans. Why don't the local sheriffs clear them out?" a scholar asked curiously.
Although they had not yet recovered from the shock given to them by Gui Zhier, they subconsciously felt that this supervisor might really be something.
Learning never ends.
"Heh." A bandit sneered.
"Our Huashangang is the border area, and neither the north nor the south can control it." He gritted his teeth in anger.
If it weren't for the boat capsizing today, I would usually just kidnap passing merchants and either take ransom or seize their goods, and have a great time.
The scholars looked disdainful.
It is shameful that a group of young and strong men with hands and feet do not engage in farming and instead engage in murder and robbery!
Guizhier watched them arguing without refuting.
She dangled one foot by the side of the cart, swaying rhythmically with the donkey's bumps. She still held a blade of grass in her mouth, her eyes slightly narrowed.
"When the imperial court asks officials to suppress bandits, they always have to give them benefits. Either food supplies or weapons and equipment," Gui Zhier explained.
She patted the donkey's back, signaling it to stop, and said with a sly smile, "If you were a local official, what would you do?"
The teacher is going to teach you about policy essays.
The scholars looked respectful, discussed in low voices, and then elected a representative to answer.
A policy essay is nothing more than quoting the words of a sage at the beginning to express one's position, and then discussing the issue in detail.
Even without the polish of paper and ink, the words can be elegant and the sentences can be neat.
Although the bandits were confused, they roughly knew what was being discussed.
"Not only did they arrest people, but they also deliberately humiliated us. Bah." One of the bandits looked at the wound on his palm and spat.
How can you tie up a thief and then analyze how to deal with him in person?
"Actually..." Guizhier yawned, and all the scholars focused their attention on her.
Wang Pu was uneasy, wondering what the master would say. They had little experience in military affairs.
But everyone has racked their brains to think about how to completely wipe out the bandits.
"Your methods are all good." Unexpectedly, Guizhier praised.
As expected of children who grew up in Linghe County, a major military town, they have been influenced by the environment and the countermeasures they proposed are indeed feasible.
"But..." The tone changed.
"Since we can get funding from the court by suppressing bandits, there must be some officials involved." Gui Zhier nodded slightly, her eyes fixed on the front.
"If we don't do our best to wipe out the bandits, we will get something every time. We should report to the court first and then continue to ask for funding next time."
This is called - raising fish in living water!
Everyone gasped when they heard this.
To students who had no experience in general affairs, this seemed too bold.
Guizhier just chewed the grass stem in his mouth carelessly.
It's not just a few officials. Judging from the current situation in Daliang, it's probably rotten to the core.
The bandits only had a few swords and knives, and the long-handled plows and iron hoes were clearly good people who were forced to go up the mountain.
While Wang Pu was pondering the meaning behind this, he looked up at the gentleman.
When the gentleman spoke, his tone was calm, yet his words were not to be outdone. His eyes were firm and bright, revealing wisdom and confidence that made people involuntarily immersed in his speech.
I wonder where the county magistrate invited this hermit master from?
"Just have an idea in mind, and don't answer the questions randomly." Guizhi'er returned to his nonchalant look.
As we were talking, the sun was setting.
The soft golden light slowly spread over the earth like a veil, and the outline of Laicheng gradually became clear.
Its walls were built of massive stones, towering, thick, and solid. From afar, the gates were inlaid with two huge bronze rings, and the golden door nails gleamed in the setting sun.
"Laicheng is actually more magnificent than the central city in the north of our town?" The slender and delicate female scholar was taking the exam for the first time.
She looked up, full of surprise and envy.
When the old students heard this, they felt awkward and didn't know how to respond.
It’s just because Laicheng is in Donglu, it’s just an ordinary small town.
After passing the imperial examination at an early age, everyone feels that they are different from others and fantasizes about achieving great things in the future.
I can’t wait to see all the flowers in Hangzhou and Beijing in one day when my name is on the list of successful candidates.
However, once you have walked the road to Beijing, you will know how big the gap is between the north and the south.
"It will be really lively when we get to Chuhuai River." One candidate felt sour.
"Oh, the sun is about to set. It seems that your boss doesn't want to save you anymore?" Guizhier broke the depressing atmosphere.
She clapped her hands in a pitiful manner, her eyes full of amusement.
"You're talking nonsense! Stop stirring up trouble!"
"Impossible! Our boss values friendship the most!"
The bandits said in unison.
The boss of Huashangang - the famous Black Wind Demon with two axes.
If his men were bullied, he would be furious and pick up his axe to seek justice for his brothers.
If someone in the village was in trouble, he would offer his money and property to help without hesitation, without even frowning.
"We share hardships and happiness together." The bandits firmly believed, "We in Huashangang are like a family, and we value the moral principles of the underworld."
"Even if it's a trap set by you and your corrupt officials today, our boss will definitely come!"
I didn't expect that a question would cause such a strong reaction.
Guizhier raised her eyebrows and carefully considered the weight of each sentence.
"If the boss hadn't been seriously injured a month ago, he would have rushed here long ago." A bandit muttered.
Years ago, there was a young man who was only twenty years old. He was riding a white horse and passing by Huashangang, carrying a red tasseled spear on his shoulder.
At first glance, this kind of person is a martial artist, and the bandits don't want to provoke him.
Unexpectedly, the young man did not follow common sense at all. He challenged the stronghold with a gun alone and beat the leader so hard that several of his ribs were broken.
"Robbery and murder, I've encountered a lot of them along the way!" The young man's voice was cold and his face was stained with blood.
The sinister look made the air around him freeze.
He stood tall and straight, but his feet crushed the bandit's head hard.
"Tell me, who sent you?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
