At the hour of Yin, it was still pitch black outside the camp. A morning star was shining brightly in the night sky, but there was no sign of dawn.
The cold wind whistled from time to time, blowing on people's faces, wet and cold, making people shiver uncontrollably.
"Damn it, this damn weather is so cold!" The soldier guarding the gate of the Zhejiang Army couldn't help but get goose bumps all over his body when a gust of cold wind blew past. He shivered, shrank his neck and cursed.
"It was warm during the day, but it's so cold at night, especially when it's almost dawn. The cold wind makes my nose run..." The soldier next to him complained in his heart.
At this time, a soldier guarding the gate narrowed his eyes, pointed his finger in front of him and shouted, "Brothers, get up! There is a group of people coming from the opposite side, with three torches, and it seems they are heading for our military camp."
After the soldier gave the warning, the soldiers guarding the gate also noticed someone coming from the opposite side, and they all perked up and were ready for battle.
The group of people were getting closer and closer, and soon arrived at the gate of the military camp.
The leader was an old man with a white beard. Although he was old, he was in good spirits and his steps were brisk.
A middle-aged man followed closely behind and wanted to help, but was pushed away by the old man. Behind them were a dozen middle-aged and young men.
"Hey, isn't that the head of Zhuangjia Village? Didn't he come to reward the soldiers the day before yesterday? Why is he coming again today? Isn't he living a normal life?" A gatekeeper recognized the white-bearded old man who was leading the group and said in surprise.
As soon as he finished speaking, the gatekeeper realized something was wrong. Why did the reward come empty-handed? ! He was also very angry.
It doesn't look like they are here to reward the troops, but rather to call for punishment. What is going on? !
"Stop, you are coming." The soldiers guarding the gate on both sides of the gate waved their spears and crossed them in front of the gate, shouting loudly.
"General, General, we are the people of Zhuangjia Village. Please let us in. We want to report to the police. Lord Zhu, please make the decision for us." The old man in the lead stopped quickly, bowed repeatedly with his hands, looking aggrieved.
"Aren't you the old headman Zhuang who came to our military camp to reward the soldiers the day before yesterday? If you have grievances, you should go to the master of Shuntian Prefecture. Why do you come to our military camp to ask our master for justice?!" the gatekeeper questioned.
"It's me, it's me." The leader, Zhuang Lao Lizheng, bowed repeatedly, then sighed with injustice, helplessness and anger, and replied with a bitter face, "The reason why we came to your army to ask Lord Zhu to make a decision for us is also for a reason. Alas, three soldiers from your barracks ran to our Zhuangjia Village last night, climbed over the wall and broke into the house, robbed two good women from our Zhuangjia Village, and raped them. We heard the noise and brought people to block them at home. Unexpectedly, the three soldiers were not only fearless, but also threatened the elders and villagers of our Zhuangjia Village with wild words. We really have no choice but to come to your army to report to the authorities and ask Lord Zhu to make a decision for us and uphold justice for us."
"What? Three people sneaked out last night?! And they went to Zhuangjia Village to rape a woman?!" The gatekeeper was shocked when he heard this. He felt that it was a serious matter. After looking at each other, he asked Zhuang Laolizheng and others to wait outside the gate, and one of the soldiers trotted to report to the camp.
At that time, Zhu Ping'an was washing up. After listening to the report from the gatekeeper, he immediately ordered the entire army to check the number of people and verify whether the Quanying soldiers were fully staffed and whether there were anyone absent from the barracks, so that he could have a clear idea of the situation.
In addition, regardless of whether the people who committed crimes in Zhuangjia Village were Zhejiang Army soldiers or not, there were thieves committing crimes in Zhuangjia Village and raping women. Therefore, without further delay, we should quickly send troops to Zhuangjia Village to capture the thieves.
Therefore, after Zhu Ping'an ordered a thorough check of the number of people, he immediately ordered, "Liu Mu, select 50 elite soldiers and follow me to Zhuangjia Village. Also prepare a few more carriages and horses so that the village head and the people in Zhuangjia Village who have reported the case can take the carriages to go there."
After issuing two orders in succession, Zhu Ping'an led his men to the gate to personally welcome Zhuang Lao Li Zheng and other villagers.
"Mr. Zhuang and all the villagers, please come into the camp and have a cup of hot tea to warm your body. I have ordered the whole army to check and count the number of people and prepare the carriages and horses. Once the carriages and horses are ready, we will set out for your village immediately. If it is found that the soldiers of our camp have left the camp without permission to commit crimes, I will not let them off easily and will give your village an explanation; if the thieves who committed crimes are not soldiers of our camp, I will also help your village capture the thieves and hand them over to the government for punishment."
After Zhu Ping'an welcomed Zhuang Laolizheng and others into the guest tent, he picked up the teapot and poured each of them a cup of hot tea, and assured them with a firm face.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir." Zhuang Laolizheng and others were flattered and thanked him repeatedly. They didn't expect Zhu Ping'an to be so easy to talk to, not showing favoritism at all, and always thinking about them. They were immediately moved and said, "Your Excellency is really an upright and honest man. With your words, we can put our hearts back in our stomachs."
"Old village head, fellow villagers, your words are too kind. As the official in charge of the Criminal Court and the Zhejiang Army, this is my job. I am ashamed to say that the day before yesterday, your village came to my camp to reward the soldiers with food and drink. If the criminals are indeed soldiers of my Zhejiang Army, I am really ashamed."
Zhu Pingan said with an apologetic look on his face.
"Your Excellency is strict in military discipline and has a good reputation. There is no military camp in the city with better military discipline than the Zhejiang Army. Since they have been stationed here, they have never disturbed the people. Today's incident was purely an accident and has nothing to do with Your Excellency." Zhuang Laolizheng and others said hurriedly.
"Report!" At this moment, a soldier walked in quickly and reported the results of the headcount check to Zhu Ping'an. After entering the tent, he saw the old head of Dazhuang and others were also there. He couldn't help but look a little embarrassed. He took a step forward and wanted to whisper the result to Zhu Ping'an.
"Mr. Zhuang and the village head are all parties involved and have the right to know. There is no need to be secretive and just speak frankly." Zhu Ping'an waved his hand slightly.
"As you command." The soldier clasped his fists and accepted the order, reporting the result to Zhu Ping'an in public, "Your Excellency, today's headcount was found to be Liu Gouzi, Han Laosan and Zhang Tiedan are not in the camp, the rest of the soldiers are all in the camp."
Three people really sneaked out! It seems that what the old village chief Zhuang and the others said is probably true.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Pingan stood up with an apologetic look on his face and bowed to the village elders and other villagers, apologetically saying, "I have failed to manage my subordinates properly and have caused harm to your village. I am really ashamed of the village elders and all the villagers."
"Your Excellency, your words are too polite. The one who committed the crime is a deserter. He has nothing to do with you, Your Excellency." Zhuang Laolizheng stood up hurriedly, not daring to accept Zhu Ping'an's greeting.
"Sir, fifty elite soldiers have been selected, and the carriages and horses are ready." Liu Mu came in and reported to Zhu Ping'an.
"Okay, Mr. Zhuang, fellow villagers, although you have traveled all the way, we should not delay any further. Please have some tea and get on the carriage. Thank you for your hard work in pointing the way in the carriage. We will set off now." Zhu Ping'an said to Mr. Zhuang and others.
"We are not tired, but you are. Thank you for thinking of us and preparing a carriage for me and my fellow villagers."
Zhuang Laolizheng stood up and said with emotion, "Lord Zhu is concerned about our own concerns. This is what a good official who truly gets things done is like."
Zhu Ping'an took Liu Mu and fifty elite soldiers on horseback. The villagers of Zhuanglaolizheng squeezed into three carriages and rushed to Zhuangjia Village.
"Sir, this is it." Village head Zhuang was leading Zhu Ping'an and his party to the east end of the village, pointing to the yard where the incident occurred.
“Woo woo…”
"You beasts, you will not die well..."
At this time, you could still hear a woman crying and cursing inside.