Qingxi County, Bangyuan Cave.

After listening to the report from his subordinates, Luo Sihai's black face, who looked thin, wrinkled and said, "So much of our food stock has been consumed. Can't we even survive this year's autumn harvest?"

As a confidant, Ma Saner nodded in a little embarrassedly: "Yes, but this is impossible. Tens of thousands of people are hiding in the mountains and relying on us to help. One or two months are worth the consumption of the past year, so this food is..."

As a recognized mountaineering leader in the area of ​​Bangyuan Cave, Luo Sihai has a great reputation and power in the local area, and is even more face-saving. It is not too difficult to get some food from other hills. But when he thought of the specific number of Fang La people who fled to hide, and the large number of officials who were still stationed in Muzhou City, he felt uneasy.

Bangyuan Cave is a cave, but it is actually not much different from ordinary villages. However, it is larger in scale. It is dozens of miles away. Thousands of families are following the instructions of his leader, and some other forces such as Qinghe Cave and Changming Cave are in harmony with each other. Although they are not recognized by the court, the local forces in Qingxi are overwhelming the county government. He can mobilize thousands of people to make trouble with each other in just one word of Luo Sihai, even...

But even so, Luo Sihai did not dare to really go against the official army. At most, he helped hide Fang La and the others into the mountains and provided food and other needs regularly. But now, the food accumulated over the years is almost over, which really made him feel a lot of pressure. If he really used up all the food and suffered a disaster in two years, what should the brothers below do at home?

Seeing that he was embarrassed, Ma Saner followed and said, "Also, the county town has already posted a full list of notices, saying that we would provide Fang La and others with their location, and as long as the clues are real, there will be a reward. Many people in the cave were a little moved, but because of the fourth brother, you didn't say it clearly."

"Hmph, there is not a single good thing for these officials, and they cannot believe their words. Emperor... Fang La and the others helped us do a lot of things at the beginning, and they have been with us for many years. How can we be so ignorant of being a human being? You pass on the words to me. If anyone really dares to betray his brothers, don't blame me, Luo Laosi, for not being in love!"

Just when Ma Saner nodded in agreement with a wry smile, a brother came to report with a strange look: "Fourth brother, Lu Qi, Gui Wu and others suddenly came, saying that there is something important to discuss with us."

When he heard the person's identity, Luo Sihai frowned even deeper: "What did they come to me for Yuandong for no reason?" These people are equivalent to him, and they are all the leaders of a cave in Qingxi. Although they have a good relationship, they are not as good as visiting them frequently. But since everyone has arrived at the doorstep, he can only nod, "Then let's go and see what they have to say."

Soon, a few men with different heights but also black and thin faces met Luo Sihai, and then were led to his main hall by him. They were not tiled houses like the city, but spacious lobby built entirely of bamboo. In this increasingly hot weather, this room seemed cooler than elsewhere.

After inviting a few guests to sit down, Luo Sihai's eyes mostly fell on two men who were obviously not their side. One of them was fat and the other was gentle and gentle. He was not used to living in the mountains at first glance. Moreover, judging from the respectful attitude of Lu Qi and Gui Wu and others to them, the two of them had a very good identity, so their origin was about to emerge.

There are not so many twists and turns in the mountains, and even if you have any questions in your heart, Luo Sihai immediately asked: "What are these two friends?"

"I forgot to recommend you to your fourth brother. These two are the top figures in Jiangnan today. This is the former Suzhou Promoter and the current Hangzhou Prefect Tong Mutong Official. This is even more amazing. Even if we mention more on weekdays, Mr. Xie Moxie, who is quite admired." Lu Qi smiled and gave an introduction, with a respectful tone.

But Luo Sihai became more and more uneasy, and there was no perfunctory smile on his face: "You two suddenly visited me and I don't know what's the point of doing?"

"Of course, I came to many villagers in the Yuan Cave. When we were in Qingxi County, we also heard that you have shortage of food in the Bangyuan Cave recently, so our government can help you. I dare not say anything else, we are still willing to take out tens of thousands of stones of grain." Tong Mu smiled: "In addition, I heard that there are many mountain goods and silk in your area that cannot be sold, and our government also intends to accept it at the market price. I wonder if Brother Luo, do you intend to do this deal with us?"

"Haha, there is no such thing as unwilling to be like this. It's because our Qinghedong family cannot be thicker than Bangyuandong, so we can't bring out more mountain goods and silk. Fourth brother, how about this deal? "Gui Wu smiled and said.

Tong Mu continued to look at Luo Sihai, smiling and laughing: "If you don't like to get money, you can also exchange food. Anyway, as long as you nod, you can deliver things within half a month."

"When did the government become so loving to the common people, it's really frightening." Luo Sihai didn't answer his words and suddenly asked, "I'm afraid I'm not hiding something, right?"

"What can I think? Now the government in Jiangnan is very different from before. Whether it is General Sun or this prefect, they are all dedicated to the welfare of the people. Why? Fourth Brother, you can't even believe me, Xie Mo? If you really feel untrustworthy, I can stay here as a personal certificate. Now you always believe it?" Xie Mo also smiled.

"Who dares to question Mr. Xie's character in Jiangnan?" Gui Wu hurriedly agreed, "And you don't know, Fourth Brother, we have already traded with the government in the other side of our cave. We are really innocent, and everyone has received considerable benefits."

Luo Sihai's eyes swept over the faces of them again, and then he laughed: "You eat people with short mouths and short hands. I'm afraid you two will help us with other goals like this?"

"It's not a big deal. I just want the brothers from Bangyuan Cave to help find some people. They are a group of traitors who can't rebel but escape into the mountains and forests. To be honest, they are also a big hidden danger to the villagers in Bangyuan Cave. If the government wants to make decisions for the people, they naturally have to help them out and pacify them." Tong Mu said with ease, and finally revealed his real purpose.

After more than a month of publicity and investigation, Fang La Yuanni's whereabouts were almost touched. However, the mountains and forests over there were complicated, and there were also Bangyuan Cave who helped cover up and escape. It was difficult to defeat them in one fell swoop. So Sun Tu thought of bringing these people to his side, preferably they could help catch Fang La people and others together, which led to the meeting today.

Because Tong Mu had never made any decent contributions before, Sun Tu intended him to become the head of the local civil servants in Jiangnan, so he thought that he would convince the people from Bangyuandong. He also believed that with his ability and eloquence, he could do this.

Now Tong Mu really put enough pressure on the other party in a few words, which made Luo Sihai temporarily fall into silence. After a while, he bit his teeth and said, "Although I, Luo Sihai, have no ability, I have the most important word for righteousness. The people on the mountain have a lot of friends with me and have kindness with me. What if I refuse to cooperate with the government?"

"That's so regretful." Tong Mu sighed and smiled bitterly, "The transaction I mentioned before can only be given up. In addition, your charge of harboring rebels will be confirmed. Even if General Sun really wants to defend himself, once the court finds out, the consequences will be extremely serious.

"Also, I've already inquired. Most of the mountain people in the Yuandong area are relying on the mountains to eat, hunt and firewood by sipping silk, and then carry mountain goods to go out for food and cloth. If the government suddenly blocks the mountain and blocks your way out, I wonder if this mountain is enough to support tens of thousands of people?"

His words were light, but the threat was extremely heavy, which immediately shocked Luo Sihai and his eyes became much darker.

Lu Qigui and Wu and others on the other side were also panicked and said hurriedly: "Fourth brother, don't force yourself. The government is not something that we can do if we are the common people. Although Fang La has a deep friendship with you, we have indeed helped him a lot in the past two years. It's really hard to harm all the villagers below for him." Once the government really blocks the mountains and blocks the road, even they will be greatly affected, so naturally they dare not do this.

Seeing that he was still hesitating, Tong Mu simply said everything: "I don't hide it from you. You, Luo Sihai, are the only one in the source cave. Hua Laoguai is already determined to cooperate with the government. If you refuse, we can only find someone else to cooperate."

This sentence finally became the last straw that broke the camel's back. As the words said, Luo Sihai did have an opponent in the Gangyuan Cave. Although his power and reputation were lower, many people supported him. Once the government really supported him as the leader, Luo Sihai's situation would be dangerous.

On one hand, there are a lot of benefits, and on the other hand, there is a deep threat. When these two choices are in front of you, Luo Sihai quickly knew what he should make. Perhaps he boasted of himself as a man of the martial arts world and wanted to be loyal to others, but after all, Luo Sihai, who is not alone, with his family, and even led a cave to the leader of more than a thousand families, would never dare to act voluntarily.

After a while, he finally lowered his head and whispered: "I won't take action, nor will I send someone to take action. I will only give you some specific locations and let you enter the mountain easily."

"Yes. But before that, I would like to ask the Fourth Brother, you are careful about the people going down the mountain. Don't let them go up the mountain again. You'll get involved in this matter." Tong Mu replied very happily, and the matter has been done!

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Chapter completed!