Although Zhang Fu didn't understand why, seeing Zhang Chen's certainty, as if he had a plan, he immediately said, "Lord, don't worry, your subordinate will go and do it immediately."
"Also, let the people outside the city come into the city first to take shelter for a few days."
"Lord, there are so many people, there's no place to settle them in the city."
"There are still some abandoned areas in the north of the city. First, set up some tents for the people to stay in for a few days. After we deal with those mountain bandits in a few days, we will organize them to leave the city and build villages."
"Understood." Zhang Fu acknowledged and turned to leave to carry out the task.
The next day, the streets and alleys of Guangping County were covered with notices calling for the suppression of bandits. The people stopped under the walls, looking at the content of the notices, and there were many discussions.
"Great! Those bandits outside the city should have been dealt with long ago!"
"Alas, what do you know? Is that 'Black Tiger Fort' so easy to deal with? Our young Zhang Chen, I'm afraid he's being too overconfident this time!"
"That's right, I heard that there are several hundred bandits in 'Black Tiger Fort', all of them vicious and evil people. The three bosses are all exceptionally skilled and incredibly brave! If you provoke them, you won't have a good outcome!"
"Alas, the county soldiers have been recruited for less than a month, and their training is not yet complete. Zhang Chen is so eager to suppress the bandits, which is a bit too hasty."
"Who says it's not? If they can't win, the bandits will definitely retaliate. We'll be fine, but the common people outside the city will suffer!"
"No, we must go and stop the Lord, he cannot act on impulse!"
"It's useless, I have a relative working in the County Government. I heard that the advisor tried to persuade him for a long time yesterday, but Zhang Chen wouldn't listen at all."
"What can we do then, alas..."
Outside Guangping County, Black Tiger Fort.
The location of Black Tiger Fort was originally a village in the western suburbs of Guangping County. Last year, the Yellow Turban raged, the village was destroyed by the rebels, and the villagers scattered and fled, leaving this place deserted.
Not long after the "Yellow Turban Rebellion" was suppressed, bandits rose up everywhere. At some point, a group of villains came and occupied this place, built a fort, gathered a band of bandits and marauders, and robbed and plundered everywhere.
When Zhao Xiong was the County Magistrate, he let them do as he pleased, so these bandits became increasingly reckless.
At this time, the bandits in the fort were gathered in the assembly hall, as if there was something to celebrate.
The person sitting at the head was wearing a black robe, was eight feet tall, broad-shouldered and stout, with a full beard, looking fierce and menacing.
Beside him, a large ghost-head saber was leaning against the side of the chair. The back of the saber was thick and wide, and the blade had a faint dark red color, which was clearly the result of years of bloodstains.
There were two other people sitting in the upper seats, one was thin and emaciated, and the other had a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks, with a vulgar appearance.
At this time, beside the Boss, there were also two scantily clad women serving him, every movement revealing their seductiveness.
On the table in front of them were plates of meat and fine wine. The entire fort, from top to bottom, was filled with joy.
The Boss raised his cup and laughed, "Brothers, yesterday we robbed that group of refugees and got twenty oxen, which is enough for us brothers to eat for a while! Today, everyone can eat meat and drink wine to your heart's content, haha!"
"Thank you, Boss!"
"Boss is brave and mighty, only by following Boss can we drink wine and eat meat!"
The Boss said again, "Don't just look at the present, have you seen the fields that those refugees have cultivated? Let me tell you, that grain is being grown for us! When the autumn harvest comes, we will go and collect the grain! Hahahaha!"
"Good! When the autumn harvest comes, we'll go and collect the grain!"
A group of bandits cheered and jumped for joy.
Just then, a subordinate suddenly ran in from outside the door, saying in a panicked voice, "B... Boss... something's wrong!"
"What's wrong, what's wrong! I'm fine! Panicking like this is bad luck!" The Boss cursed angrily, "If you have something to say, say it quickly! If you have gas, release it quickly! Don't disturb my enjoyment!"
The subordinate trembled all over and quickly said, "Boss, notices have been posted in the city saying that they are sending troops to attack us!"
"Hmm?" When the Boss heard this, he immediately glanced at the other two bosses, and then burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahahahaha... What did you say, sending troops to attack? Guangping County doesn't have a single soldier, what will he use to fight!"
"No, Boss, the Magistrate of Guangping has already formed county soldiers."
"Oh? How many people? When did this happen?"
"I heard there are about seven hundred people, it was at the beginning of the month."
"Hahahaha." The Boss smiled disdainfully, "Refugees recruited temporarily, less than a month, where would they get fighting strength? They still want to attack us, it's already giving him enough face that I'm not going to look for trouble with him!"
"Exactly, we brothers, we've licked blood from the edge of a knife, what kind of scene haven't we seen! How can we be afraid of him!" the sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced Third Boss said with a smile.
"Boss, Third Brother, we must not take this lightly." The thin man frowned and said, "The Magistrate of Guangping is the Zhang Family kid. Qu Family Village just sent someone to inform us not to cause trouble for him."
The Boss said with a look of disdain, "Hmph, the Qu family manages everything, but I'm a mountain bandit. If I can't rob this, and I can't plunder that, then what kind of mountain bandit am I? Should I tell the brothers to go drink the northwest wind!"
"But that Qu Yi is not easy to provoke. His subordinates are all battle-hardened veterans. We also suffered a great loss at his hands back then!"
As soon as the Second Boss said this, the Boss's expression suddenly changed.
During the Yellow Turban Rebellion last year, Qu Yi did indeed participate in suppressing the rebellion with the official army. He had indeed experienced the power of the First to Ascend Soldiers.
"Hey, what's there to be afraid of? Didn't he just say not to touch the Zhang Family? What we robbed wasn't the Zhang Family, it was just that group of refugees."
The Boss paused and said, "Besides, Qu Yi also has to abide by the rules of the Jianghu. If the Zhang fellow makes the first move, can't we fight back?"
After hearing this, although the Second Boss felt there was some truth to it, thinking of the bravery of the eight hundred First to Ascend Soldiers under Qu Yi, he still felt some apprehension in his heart.
"Boss, to be safe, why don't we contact the surrounding mountain forts and combine our forces. This way, we will have about three thousand men, while they only have seven hundred. We can surround and kill them!"
The Second Boss was the strategist of "Black Tiger Fort", and at this moment, he immediately began to analyze the battle situation.
"In addition, send a few more brothers into the city to gather information. Only by knowing ourselves and our enemies can we win every battle."
"Alright, then according to your opinion, go and make the arrangements quickly."
After the Boss finished speaking, he stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth and chewed it heartily.
Then, he propped the ghost-head saber on the ground and said to everyone, "Brothers, eat and drink your fill. These few days, all of you keep your spirits up. If those blind county soldiers dare to come looking for death, we will send them on their way!"
"Good!"
"Good!"
...
At this moment, Zhang Chen was in the County Government when he suddenly heard a runner report that many people were gathered outside the gate, repeatedly saying they wanted to see the Lord.
When Zhang Chen heard this, he couldn't help but frown.
What was going on with these people? He was sending troops to suppress the bandits, so why did it seem like he was causing trouble instead?
Zhang Chen quickly followed the runner out of the main hall and arrived at the entrance of the County Government.
Outside the County Government, hundreds of people had gathered. When these people saw Zhang Chen, they quickly knelt down and kowtowed.
"My fellow villagers, please dispense with the formalities quickly. May I ask why you have gathered here today?"
"Lord, this humble citizen dares to request that you leave a way for the people of Guangping County to live!" From the crowd, an old man of sixty walked out. His hair and beard were all white, and he spoke tremblingly while leaning on a cane.
"Old man, what does this mean?" Zhang Chen couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Zifan is untalented and humbly holds the position of County Magistrate. But I ask myself, since taking office, I have not dared to be negligent in the slightest. Why do you say that I am not giving the people a way to live?"
"Lord, you are benevolent and love the people, we naturally know that, but you want to attack 'Black Tiger Fort'. Isn't this forcing us onto a path of death?"
The old man paused and said, "'Black Tiger Fort' has strong soldiers and horses, and they are all desperate outlaws. If you anger them and they kill their way into the city, won't everyone suffer?"
Damn it! It's "Black Tiger Fort" again! A small "Black Tiger Fort" has actually made the people fear them to this extent. It shows how many wicked deeds they have done in the past!
This group of bandits must not be allowed to remain!