novelAbuy Chapter 53 Zhongmei's Fate
Chapter 53 Zhongmei's Fate
"Bang!"
Hu Changyong slammed his fist on the table: "Are we really just going to let that corrupt official manipulate us like this? After we get rid of those two scoundrels, Du Heng and Deng Meng, we might be next!"
Jia Zhuo slowly shook his head: "I don't think so. Magistrate Li doesn't seem like the kind of person who goes back on his word."
Li Chongken and Zhong Mei came to see him together, which made Jia Zhuo feel their sincerity, so he was willing to persuade Hu Changyong.
But Hu Changyong had never met Li Chong, so how could he be willing to let his elder brother's daughter fall into the hands of the government?
"But Xiao Mei'er is still in his hands!" Hu Changyong's eyes widened, his expression full of resentment. "You say you want us brothers to listen to him? Fine, then make him release Xiao Mei'er first, and we'll believe you."
"Yes! Release Xiaomei'er!"
"If he won't let go, we'll go rescue him ourselves!"
Behind Hu Changyong, several people kept making noise, their clamor revealing their distrust of the government.
But amidst the clamor, some remained silent.
Not everyone was willing to become a bandit; they were grateful to Zhongmei's father and were willing to help Zhongmei escape.
But now that Zhongmei has fled down the mountain, and they have made contact with the county magistrate again, if they can take the opportunity to become obedient citizens, who would want to go back to the mountains?
However, seeing that most of the people around them were making a fuss, these people did not dare to express their own thoughts, but they already had other ideas in their hearts.
This doesn't mean they blindly trusted Li Chong.
In the eyes of ordinary people, the government was still extremely authoritative in this era. Even some rebels who raised the flag of rebellion could not help but believe the government's promise of amnesty, let alone these law-abiding mountain bandits.
Even after going up the mountain, they still remember to farm; it's no exaggeration to say they are conscientious.
Faced with the restless crowd, Jia Zhuo subconsciously raised his voice: "Don't forget who we are! We are thieves. It's already extremely rare that Magistrate Li is willing to put aside past grievances and talk to us. If he doesn't have some bargaining chip, why would he trust us?"
"Besides, this was Xiaomei'er's own decision! Third brother, don't forget, you led people to investigate the Zhu family for several days. Didn't you find out that Xiaomei'er herself wanted to go to the government? This is her desire for revenge. Are we, her uncles, supposed to stop her?"
Hu Changyong immediately fell silent.
Zhong Mei left a letter saying he was going to the Zhu family to take revenge, but by the time they found out, he was already gone.
For Zhong Mei's safety, Hu Changyong took several brothers to the Zhu family to try to find out Zhong Mei's whereabouts. After receiving news of Jia Zhuo, he led his men back.
Faced with Zhong Mei's request, Hu Changyong really couldn't force her to comply.
"So how do you plan to prevent that person from turning against you?" Hu Changyong asked Jia Zhuo.
Having said that, Hu Changyong was too embarrassed to call the corrupt official "dog official" anymore, but he still couldn't bring himself to address the county magistrate as "magistrate," as he still felt contempt for officials.
In the end, all that could be said was vaguely about that person.
Jia Zhuo naturally understood who he was referring to, and immediately explained calmly, "Although Magistrate Li is well-read, he is still a bit young. If we help him suppress the bandits, with the help of the county's constables and archers, it shouldn't be difficult to storm the stronghold."
Hu Changyong nodded silently.
Although they helped Zhong Mei escape from the mountains, there were still a few elderly people in the mountains who remembered Zhong Tieshan's kindness, but for various reasons they could not follow.
As long as we have the opportunity to contact them, it wouldn't be difficult to break through the village with the help of both inside and outside forces.
Honestly, if they could really put up a fight, the government would be the government after all. They have the advantage in equipment and more people, so they would definitely be able to wipe out the bandits.
However, the main reason why the bandits on Dafeng Mountain can still get away with it is the terrain.
The mountain terrain was complex, and the officers and soldiers did not know the way, so they could defeat them but could not kill them.
Furthermore, the mountain bandits could always retreat and escape into the deep mountains, so they could never be eradicated.
But with the help of an inside man, none of this was a problem.
Therefore, Hu Changyong has no doubt about whether he can win in the end.
Seeing that Hu Changyong did not continue to object, Jia Zhuo's expression softened considerably, and he continued, "Since that's the case, then things will be much easier. After killing those two scoundrels, the village will definitely be in chaos. We know the terrain in the mountains like the back of our hand. Even if we can't repel the government troops, it won't be difficult to lead our men and hide in the mountains."
"As for the county town, we'll leave a few brothers here beforehand. Taking advantage of the empty space at the yamen, rescuing Xiao Mei'er shouldn't be a problem. Xiao Mei'er isn't some weak woman; she might be able to escape on her own without us having to rescue her."
Upon hearing Jia Zhuo say this, Hu Changyong subconsciously grinned.
"She's got a lot of tricks up her sleeve; she can scare a few people just by brandishing a small dagger."
Hu Changyong recalled the past in the village. When he was a child, he was the one who taught Zhong Mei to practice swordsmanship and spear fighting. He knew her skills better than Jia Zhuo did.
Before anyone knew it, Hu Changyong sat down in front of Jia Zhuo again; he had been somewhat persuaded.
At this moment, Zhang Tianfu, a young man standing to the side, spoke up.
He stepped forward, looking slightly nervous: "Strategist, Boss Hu, we don't understand what you're saying. But there's one thing: if we leave Xiao Mei'er in that corrupt official's hands for too long, what if he... what if he bullies Xiao Mei'er?"
Judging from Zhang Tianfu's nervous appearance, the bullying he mentioned was clearly not just a simple act of bullying.
Upon hearing this, several equally young men nearby started chattering again.
As the saying goes, "After three years in the army, even a sow can rival Diao Chan (a legendary beauty)."
They weren't exactly soldiers, but being bandits wasn't that different.
Living in the mountains year-round, it's rare to see many young women. Zhong Mei, as the daughter of the former head of the household, is in the prime of her youth.
In the eyes of the young people in the mountain village, she was like a goddess.
They obviously couldn't accept letting their goddess fall into the hands of a man.
Hu Changyong frowned again; as a man himself, he was also worried about this.
But Jia Zhuo remained calm and unhurried.
He waved for everyone to step back, then whispered in Hu Changyong's ear, "Why are you worried about this? That Magistrate Li is only in his early twenties and already the head of a county; he has a bright future ahead of him. He didn't bring his family with him when he took office, which means he's not married. If he and Xiaomei are in love..."
Jia Zhuo smiled slightly, his expression meaningful.
"You don't really intend to let Xiaomei'er spend her whole life in the mountains, do you? Her parents are gone, we, as her uncles, should think about finding her a good place, shouldn't we?"
As Jia Zhuo persuaded him, Hu Changyong initially frowned, but then gradually relaxed.
He had to admit that Jia Zhuo was right.
In terms of destiny, it seems that no one in Yanggu County can compare to Li Chong himself.
only……
Hu Changyong countered, "Wouldn't that kid look down on Xiaomei'er's background?"
"Then we can only leave it to fate," Jia Zhuo sighed in reply.
After a moment of silence, Hu Changyong made a decision: "Let's trust him for now, but we must be fully prepared."
"Alright!" Jia Zhuo nodded in agreement. "I'll arrange for someone to go back to the mountain to gather information now."