The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 175 Wrong arrest

Daxing County belongs to Shuntian Prefecture, only fifty or sixty miles away from the capital. The Li family’s farm is just outside Daxing County.

The sun had already set. Smoke rose from every house. Some children were running around in the village. From time to time, old people and women came looking for their children with sticks. They would first shout and scold them, then hit them on the buttocks twice, and then drag their children's ears and walk back home.

Li Hu and Ni Er, dressed in plain clothes, were walking slowly on the dirt road in the village. Behind them followed Wang Daniu, dressed as an attendant, and two personal soldiers who were keeping an eye on all directions.

Li Hu walked away and said, "Just take care of the arrangements for this matter. I'll go directly there when the time comes, so you don't have to make another trip."

Ni Er: “Yes.”

Li Hu: "Now that the intelligence network inside and outside the capital is almost developed, we can try to expand to the surrounding areas. Don't feel any pressure. This matter can't be rushed. Take your time. The people must be reliable."

Ni Er replied, "Yes."

Li Hu thought for a moment and then said, "I know you lack capable people around you, so I will find some people to help you. As for the money..."

Ni Er said hurriedly, "I was just about to report to the general that the restaurant made a profit of nearly a thousand taels of silver this year, and I still have some savings at home."

Li Hu smiled and said, "Your intention is good, but I am not short of money. I will ask Wang Daniu to send you 10,000 taels of silver in a few days."

Ni Er smiled and replied, "Yes."

The group walked out of the village.

As he walked, Li Hu's eyes lit up. Not far away was a bend in a small river, and there were several big trees covering it. From there, he could also see the village in the distance.

Li Hu led everyone over.

This is a good location. Looking forward, you can see the village where the leader of the Qinglong Hall is hiding. Looking left, you can see the post road from Daxing to the capital. It is not easy for people to be discovered if they stand under the tree.

Wang Daniu found a stone, and Ni Er quickly took off his cloak and folded it into several layers to cushion the stone: "General, please sit down."

Holy shit! Wang Daniu was shocked. There is someone trying to steal my job.

Li Hu sat down on the cloak and stretched out his hand. A personal soldier handed him a telescope.

It was just getting dark and the whole village was already dark and empty, with only a few houses emitting faint lights.

The cold wind, which had subsided for an entire afternoon, suddenly began to howl.

A scent of medicine wafted out from the courtyard in the center of the village.

It was also empty and dark, with only a few faint lights shining through the door and windows of the main room.

Inside the house, a small oil lamp was emitting yellow light.

At this time, the stove in the corner of the room was very dazzling. The medicine jars on it were emitting steam, and the whole room was filled with the fragrance of medicine.

The Qinglong Hall Master was sitting alone under the lamp, reading a book in his hand.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open!
A gust of cold wind blew in immediately, and the leader of the Qinglong Hall raised his head.

A strong man came in excitedly and said to the Qinglong Hall Master: "Hall Master, that guy confessed!"

The head of the Qinglong Hall put down the book in his hand and asked: "Is there any news about Mr. Bai?"

The strong man said: "Mr. Bai escaped and did not fall into the hands of the court."

After hearing this, the Qinglong Hall Master breathed a sigh of relief.

"There is another piece of news. Several red-robed eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department led the elite troops of the Northern Pacification Department to the south."

The Qinglong Hall Master stood up abruptly: "Oh no! Something is going to happen. Cough cough cough cough"

The man quickly hit him lightly on the back.

Qinglong Hall Master: "Mr. Bai must have gone to Shandong, cough cough cough."

The man was shocked: "The imperial court wants to wipe out the White Lotus Sect's influence in Shandong?!" As he said that, he hurriedly poured out the medicine.

The head of the Qinglong Hall looked at the night sky outside the house and said, "Let's go. Let's go now."

"Master, drink the medicine first." The man came over with the medicine and helped the Master of Qinglong Hall to slowly drink the bowl of medicine.

Just then, a dog barking was heard at the entrance of the village, and then the barking of dogs became continuous, breaking the tranquility of the village.

The leader of Qinglong Hall was startled: "Someone has entered the village!" Then he walked out quickly.

Under the big tree, Li Hu was stunned. What was going on?

Wang Daniu and Ni Er also looked at each other in bewilderment. Their people were now staying in Li’s village, and no one was coming from the direction of the capital!
"It's on fire!" Someone shouted. A spark of fire flashed, and then the village was ablaze!
Li Hu frowned. Could it be that he came from Daxing County? I have never heard that the Imperial Household Department has anyone in Daxing County?

A personal soldier said: "Someone is coming!"

The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard on the official road, and the flashing torches illuminated the running officers and soldiers.

The scene in the telescope made Li Hu freeze. The people who came were actually soldiers from Shuntian Prefecture!

That would be fine, but there was also a green velvet sedan chair, and why did the governor of Shuntian Prefecture come as well? What kind of drama was this?!
At this time, shouts and screams were heard from the village, followed by the villagers' terrified screams and cries!

Wang Daniu: "General, what should we do now?"

Li Hu was stunned. Now that the governor of Shuntian Prefecture and the officers and soldiers of Shuntian Prefecture were here, how could he catch the leader of Qinglong Hall?
Ni Er spoke up: "Shuntianfu's soldiers rushed in."

Li Hu raised his telescope and looked towards the village. Dozens of soldiers from Shuntian Prefecture rushed into the village with spears and swords held high.

Wang Daniu: "They are all gathered together! If this happened on the battlefield, a hail of arrows would kill most of them."

Ni Er: "There are no more than thirty White Lotus Sect members inside."

"Okay." Li Hu stood up slowly. "With so many soldiers, the White Lotus people will definitely not be able to escape. Let's go back to the camp." As he said that, he walked straight towards the village.

Wang Daniu, Ni Er and his personal soldiers quickly followed.

At the entrance of the village, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture came out of the sedan chair.

A blazing fire flashed in his eyes, and he praised the Daxing County Magistrate in his heart. As long as he could catch these suspected White Lotus rebels, it would be a great achievement for him, no matter they were dead or alive.

"Your Excellency, the magistrate of Daxing County is here." The head of the yamen runners whispered behind the governor of Shuntian Prefecture.

The magistrate of Daxing County led an old man towards the governor of Shuntian Prefecture.

Walking up to him, the Daxing County Magistrate whispered, "Your Excellency, he is the head of this village. He was the one who discovered these suspected White Lotus rebels."

The headman knelt down and said, "Master!"

Shuntian Prefecture Governor raised his hand and said, "Get up."

The village head: "Thank you, sir." He bowed and then got up.

The shouting and screaming in the village gradually stopped.

Daxing County Magistrate: "It's time to take him down."

The Shuntian prefect smiled and nodded with satisfaction.

The village head hesitated for a moment and said, "Sir, please be merciful and ask the officials to help put out the fire."

Shuntian Prefecture Governor said "hmm" and suddenly remembered: "What's the matter with this fire?"

The Daxing County Magistrate was stunned for a moment, and asked hurriedly: "May I ask your Excellency, have you sent people to clear out the rebels from the other side of the village?"

Shuntian Prefecture Governor looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?"

The Daxing County Magistrate was startled. Could this be some misunderstanding? !

"Here they come!" the head of the bailiff squad exclaimed.

I saw officers and soldiers from Shuntian Prefecture coming over with several men in black with their mouths gagged.

Shuntian Prefecture Governor: "Take it down. I will ask them a few questions."

The Magistrate of Daxing County said: "Your Excellency, this is not allowed. These people are desperate criminals. Be careful that they bite their tongues and commit suicide."

Shuntian Prefecture Governor nodded and said, "Then continue to block it."

The leading man in black glared at the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture fiercely.

The head of the yamen runners stepped forward and shouted sternly: "Why are you glaring at me? If you glare at me again, I'll dig out your dog eyes!" He slapped the man in the face with his backhand, knocking the cloth out of his mouth.

The man shouted at the Shuntian prefect, "I am a centurion of the Northern Pacification Division!" He then shouted at the head of the yamen runners, "I have a badge in my arms, show it to him."

The head of the yamen runners hesitated for a moment, reached into his arms, and then took out a waist badge with "Northern Pacification Office" engraved on it!
The head of the yamen squad rolled his eyes and fell to the ground.

"You caught the wrong person!" The Shuntian prefect's face turned pale.

(End of this chapter)