National color raw owl

Chu Huan was also taken aback, and asked anxiously, "Where is it?"

Dong Shizhen had already taken a pair of scrolls and opened them on the table. Chu Huan only took one look and recognized that it was a map of Xiguan Road, and all the prefectures and counties of the four states of Xiguan Road were on it.

"My lord, it's here." Dong Shizhen pointed to the map and said, "It's in Yuezhou, a village under the jurisdiction of Xiquan County, called Niulan Village."

Chu Huan asked with a stern expression, "Do you know who did it?"

"When the people from the county government arrived, the fire in Niulan Village hadn't been extinguished, and there were corpses everywhere." Dong Shizhen sighed: "The bandit has disappeared, there are only corpses all over the ground, men, women, children, not a single one left... That scene was truly appalling...!"

"Thugs commit crimes and kill innocent people indiscriminately, and the local people don't even know who the murderer is?" Chu Huan clenched his fists and said, "Aren't there any clues?"

"There are clues left." Dong Shizhen hurriedly said: "I saw a lot of horseshoe prints at the scene, and we can guess that the gang of murderous gangsters should be a gang of horse bandits. They came and went quickly...! After a pause, he said: "There are many gangsters on Xiguan Road, but most of them are mobs. There are not many horse bandits in Xiguan who can equip horses to commit crimes."

Chu Huan looked at Dong Shizhen, but said nothing. Dong Shizhen understood Chu Huan's meaning and said, "If there is no accident, it should be the work of Yun Lifeng."

"The wind in the cloud?" Chu Huan asked curiously, "What does this mean?"

"Yunlifeng is a gangster who suddenly appeared not long ago. They have three or four hundred people. Among the rogues in Xiguan, they are not many in number, but they are ruthless." Dong Shizhen explained: "These people are equipped with horses. As far as I know, the leader of them wears a bronze mask, and no one can see his true face. The gangsters who followed him were also covered with veils when they committed crimes, and they came and went like the wind...! He clenched his fists and said, "Because they come and go without a trace, and they can't be traced at all, they are called Yunlifeng, which means like the wind in the cloud, no one can catch them... the leader They are called the Copper Masked Man. This time Niulan Village was massacred, judging from the horseshoe prints left at the scene, it is most likely that the perpetrator was Yun Lifeng."

Chu Huan sneered and said, "What an arrogant name, it's still in the wind...!" Frowning, he asked, "Master Dong, how many thugs are there in Xiguan?"

"I'm afraid there are more than you imagined." Dong Shizhen said with a wry smile: "Almost every county in Xiguan has restless rogues, it's just the number of them, and there are more than a dozen of them...!"

"I heard that the strongest group of bandits in Xiguan is Gourd Village?" Chu Huan raised his eyebrows suddenly and said, "Master Dong has certainly heard of Gourd Village?"

Dong Shizhen hurriedly said: "Your Excellency is wise, Huluzhai is already the biggest cancer in Xiguan, and it is a disaster for one side, and the harm is not small."

"I heard that there are many people in Gourd Village, relying on the geographical advantage, they don't even pay attention to the officers and soldiers." Chu Huan asked Dong Shizhen, staring at Dong Shizhen. There are two groups of people, one of which is the people of Huluzhai. According to Chu Huan's understanding, Huluzhai is located in Hulushan, at the junction of Yuezhou and Tianshan Road, Shazhou. Hulushan stretches for hundreds of miles and is surrounded by arches. The terrain is complex, and General Qiu of Huluzhai relied on the favorable location to gather thousands of troops to do harm to one side.

Dong Shizhen nodded and said: "The bandit leader of Gourd Village is called General Qiu, he is a murderous ghost, thousands of people gathered in his Gourd Village, they robbed their houses, many bandits defected to him, and their power is getting stronger and stronger. Strong, if this cancer is not removed as soon as possible, the consequences will be disastrous...!"

"It's a matter of course for officers and soldiers to suppress bandits." Chu Huan said, "Master Dong, I really want to know how you suppressed bandits before this governor took office. As far as I know, after the Xiliang people retreated, the court still A batch of military equipment, food and grass were sent from the pass. Before General Yu left, he formed the Pingxi Army to suppress the bandits and restore the law and order in Xiguan. How come the law and order in Xiguan is still so bad after so long, what's more , knowing that there is such a cancer in Huluzhai, but the Pingxi Army stationed in Fucheng, and no one moved at all." Seeing that Dong Shizhen was still standing, he motioned Dong Shizhen to sit down and talk first.

After Dong Shizhen sat down, he explained: "My lord, in fact, General Dongfang hated Gourd Village very much. General Dongfang sent troops to Gourd Village twice, but General Qiu's troops could not hold on. The terrain of Gourd Village is too bad. It is difficult to defend, and General Qiu even specially sent people to set up barrier traps on Calabash Mountain. He had thousands of troops, divided them into several camps, and guarded the dangerous places. A lot of soldiers were lost...!"

"If you can't attack twice, you will let the gourd village harm one side?" Chu Huan sighed: "Master Dong, you are the magistrate of Yuezhou, the parent official of a state, and Yuezhou is your jurisdiction. You can't let the territory of Yuezhou Is there such a big cancer? You and General Dongfang have one piece of paper and one weapon, could it be that the two of you are helpless against Huluzhai together?"

"General Dongfang thinks about it day and night, and is considering a strategy for attacking Calabash Village." Dong Shizhen said: "However, the tragedy in Niulan Village has had a huge impact. There are still many people in Xiguan who have not returned home. The common people also want to rebuild their homes and live and work in peace and contentment. The villagers of Niulan Village just returned home not long ago, but after this case, I am afraid that people in Xiguan will be panicked...My lord, you have to come up with a way. To reassure the people!"

Chu Huan pondered slightly, and Sun Zikong, who had already been outside the gate of the residence, ordered him to invite Dongfangxin.

Chu Huan only had two hundred guards in his hands, and the military power was in Dongfangxin's hands. The matter of suppressing bandits, whether Chu Huan was willing or not, had to be discussed with Dongfangxin.

Dongfangxin came here very happily this time. He was dressed in military uniform and arrived at the governor's mansion. Before Chu Huan could speak, he said, "The general has already got the news about the matter in Niulan Village. What is the governor going to do?"

Chu Huan said with a smile: "General Dongfang holds the military power, and Pingxi Army belongs to General Dongfang. This Pingxi Army was established by General Yu to ensure the security of Xiguan. The governor would like to ask General Dongfang about the tragedy in Niulan Village. What are you going to do?"

Dongfang Xin sat on the chair and said with a blank face: "According to my opinion, it is natural to suppress the bandits and kill those gangsters with arrogance. No matter which gangsters in Niulan Village are responsible, all the , will be slaughtered.”

"General Dongfang said it very well." Chu Huan said: "In that case, I don't know where the general is going to start? The governor just talked with Dong Zhizhou. There are at least a few bandits in Yuezhou. Not weak, the general must have a plan in mind if he wants to suppress the bandits?"

"My lord wants the soldiers to suppress bandits, it's only natural." Dongfang Xin looked at Chu Huan, his expression unchanged, "It's part of a soldier's duty to draw out his sword and fight the bandits, but has your lord prepared the money and food to send troops? Your Excellency should know that the three armies have not moved, food and grass go first, there is not enough food and grass, how to suppress the bandits? And the rules of sending troops, adults should know a little bit, mobilizing troops and horses, it will cost money, first you need to send the brothers to settle down Fei, no one is guaranteed to come back alive. If you don’t leave some settling money for your family, who will go all out? Besides, there are pensions and bounties after the bandits are suppressed. I wonder if the adults are ready? "

Chu Huan rubbed his chin without changing his face, and asked, "Pension? Bounty? Settlement allowance?"

Dongfang Xin nodded and said: "Exactly, all of this needs money. Originally, the general didn't need to be reminded of this matter. The general led troops to fight, shed blood and died, and the matter of money and food was originally handled by adults. The general was just worried. My lord has never led soldiers before, so I don't know about sending troops. When I come back, I will reach out to ask my lord for money and rewards. If my lord can't get it, the soldiers will not agree. Unbelievable...!"

Dong Shizhen explained beside him: "My lord, pensions and rewards, needless to say, the soldiers are bloody and desperate. If they die in battle, they must be compensated. If they have made meritorious service, they must be rewarded. These two items are not small expenditures. You must be prepared. As far as the family expenses are concerned, this is actually forced by the environment. There has never been such a thing in the past, but the situation in Xiguan is different from other places. Many of the Pingxi Army are natives of Xiguan, and their family members are all in Xiguan , poor and without food, many families rely on someone in the family to serve as a soldier, relying on the rations and military pay... So after General Dongfang took office, the first time he led his troops to suppress bandits, the lieutenant soldiers asked for a settling allowance. Otherwise, they refused to send troops... At that time, more than a dozen people were beheaded, which almost caused a mutiny, and then Governor Zhu personally came forward to comfort the soldiers, and established the rule of sending troops first to settle down...!"

Chu Huan understood, and asked, "That is to say, the Pingxi army under General Dongfang will only suppress the bandits if he takes the money, otherwise he won't obey the military order?"

"My lord, you don't have to say it so harshly." Dongfang Xin leaned back on the chair, "There are seniors and juniors, and the emperor does not send hungry soldiers. If everyone is hungry, who will go all out? In the end, being a soldier is of course It is to be loyal to the country, and it is also to fill their stomachs. Your Excellency is the Governor of Xiguan, and the soldiers of the three armies will point to your Excellency to give them food. If you are not full, will they go to battle hungry? The last general does not matter, but the three armies The soldiers did not agree."

Chu Huan sneered in her heart, turned to Dong Shizhen, and asked, "A few times ago when we sent troops to suppress the bandits, did you transfer the money from the Department of Housekeeping?"

"No." Dong Shizhen shook his head and smiled wryly: "Now this household department secretary is in vain and is impoverished. The imperial court has not allocated money for a long time, and the household department department is empty. How can I allocate money. Before the riots and bandits were rampant, it would be impossible if we didn't suppress them. The lower officials have no choice but to discuss with the gentry in the city and ask them to donate some silver taels. The purpose of suppressing bandits is to keep one side safe, so it is understandable for them to contribute some silver."

A strange smile appeared on the corner of Dongfang Xin's mouth, and he got up and said, "Now that the Governor is sitting in Xiguan, I will think that those gentry will not flatter my lord...Although my lord raises money first, I will go to the camp to prepare to send troops in the end, as long as the first After granting the settlement allowance, the general promises to send out troops immediately, and will never return to the army until a few bandits are wiped out...!" He cupped his hands casually, "the general will retire first, and wait for the good news from your lord." No Waiting for Chu Huan to say more, he turned around and left.