Chapter 404: Ruthless

The Huai Army, established by Wang Jing, has a reputation that surpasses everyone else. Since he has made a decision, no one can go against his will.
He transmitted his orders to the central administrative department and had officials such as Shen Yi and Wang Guangyang from the administrative department dispatch officers to coordinate with local government offices, county guards, and patrol inspectors.
Once the manpower was in place, they began to thoroughly cleanse the areas north of the Huai River.
December 20th of the third year of the Tai Chu era.
In the evening, the sky was already somewhat dim.
Whiteze County is relatively close to Sihong. This county was the front-line base for the Huai Army's campaign to the east of the Grand Canal, and it was where Wang Jing, the general leading the attack on Hou Jing and Pang Shigu, stationed his troops.
In order to accommodate more than ten thousand soldiers to be stationed, a large number of craftsmen labored around the county town to build military camps and fortress walls.
After the army withdrew, these military camps and fortress walls were slightly modified and turned into a place for Bai Ze County to gather the refugees from the north.
To the north of BaiZe is Suqian and other places.
This area is close to Xuzhou and Pizhou, where vassals attack each other in the north, and a large number of refugees migrate south in order to survive.
Originally a county town with only tens of thousands of people, it has now grown to nearly one hundred thousand after constantly receiving refugees.
With so many refugees and migrants, because the central government has not yet issued a decree granting land to be distributed and has not delegated the authority to distribute land to the county level, the fifty to sixty thousand men and women who have migrated south are temporarily arranged as military settlements.
还有许多青壮被征召做工，用劳作来换取米粮。
当然这些人当中，也有自持勇武不愿意种田的人，他们或是在码头做工，或是投靠了县城内的某些豪族。
There are about 50 to 60 thousand people, it is impossible for everyone to be virtuous and kind, among them there are many who are brave and ruthless, ignoring the law.
Many inconvenient and illegitimate deeds of the powerful families in the county are entrusted to these people, considering them an extra pair of gloves.
Both sides agreed immediately, and Baize County is still under the jurisdiction of the Huai Army on the surface,
but secretly, the influence of many powerful families has increased. They want to slowly stir up trouble.
The original Baize County, not to mention that there is no abandoned property on the road and doors are not closed at night, but under the supervision of the garrison, it can also be called a place with simple folk customs.
But with the influx of these migrants, especially those with ulterior motives, the situation has become more chaotic.
The towns near Baize County have become somewhat disordered, with a surface appearance of calm but a brewing undercurrent beneath.
A lantern hangs at the entrance road of the town.
Zhao Zheng huddled in the room, waiting to beat the drum at night. The night was deep and the dew was heavy, and the cold air invaded. He moved his legs slightly, and there were still some bruises on his legs.
“不知道王上什么时候会再分田，我要是能有二十亩地，那里还用在镇子上伏低做小，一不如意就受到镇长和那些畜生的欺负
Zhao Zheng held a wooden stick and toyed with the fire in front of him, his expression constantly changing, sometimes hopeful and sometimes full of resentment.
He has not been in the Huai Army for a very long time.
Before, he struggled to make a living in Pizhou. However, he heard that the Duke of Huai distributed farmland to the people and treated them kindly in the south, so he gritted his teeth and followed the refugee group to Sihong. Afterwards, he settled down in Baize.
The Huai King of Sihong is indeed benevolent to the people, and there are no bandits or rebels nearby. Even the elderly and weak can survive here.
However, it is said that the Huai King is leading a large army southward, and without the Huai King's orders, the officials in the government dare not distribute land or gain popular support on their own.
However, as long as the Huai King returns, he will definitely distribute land.
Zhao Zheng is hopeful about this.
However, with more and more incoming refugees, some of them are troublemakers and bullies. They dare not target the military households in the county and town, so they have set their sights on us, the refugees who were settled here ahead of them.
From small thefts to home invasions.
As for these refugees like Zhao Zheng, they have not yet been officially registered and categorized. Additionally, they are also hesitant to provoke trouble with the government and offend those young ruffians. They have been enduring all this time.
Sometimes, the more you tolerate what others do, the more they take advantage.
Zhao Zheng seldom found a partner to do night watch, and he could get some extra rice and grain every day. But this rice and grain also caught the attention of others. He wanted to go to the mayor to complain, but he heard that the mayor had connections with these thugs, and people who went to report mysteriously disappeared. So he could only tolerate it again.
When he stared blankly at the brazier.
There suddenly came a stifled sound from outside, Zhao Zheng's ears twitched, his face changed slightly, and he immediately picked up a wooden stick beside him. On his journey southward to escape, he had experienced many dangers, and encountered life-threatening situations several times.
Under the life-or-death crisis, his ears became extremely sensitive.
At this moment, he heard the faint footsteps coming from outside. It was late at night, and someone approaching quietly definitely had ulterior motives.
He was about to knock on the copper gong next to him.
But he saw a figure already appearing in the room.
"Your ears are sharp!"
Zhao Zheng's body trembled, only to see this person wearing leather armor, with a long knife hanging around his waist, wearing a military uniform over the leather armor, his eyes were sharp, and he swept his gaze over him while holding the knife.
Dauntlessly imposing.
This is a typical warrior in the military. Judging from his appearance, he is at least a high-ranking officer.
The door opened.
A man dressed in official attire appeared outside, standing tall and straight. He had a short beard and his eyes shone brightly like stars. As he glanced at Zhao Zheng, Zhao felt as if all of his secrets had been exposed by the man.
"I am the magistrate of Baize County, who are you?"
"I am Hu Weiyong."
"He has outstanding political achievements in Baize. Starting as a low-ranking official in the six departments of the county, he gradually climbed up the ranks. Later, he served as the county magistrate in another county before being transferred back to Baize as the county magistrate."
He has achieved this level and can be promoted to become a prefect, magistrate, or a central official.
This time, the king himself has ordered the cleaning up of corruption in various prefectures and counties, and the eradication of foxes and rats within the city and towns.
胡惟庸知道轻重，所以也不拿架子，以县令之尊亲自带着一队兵马，并联合附近卫所的几个百户，开始逐一清理县内。
"I, Zhao Zheng, the night watchman, pay my respects to the magistrate!"
Zhao Zheng's face showed fear as he hurriedly bowed.
Hu Wei Yong nodded slightly and said, "Since you are a night watchman, you must be familiar with the situation in the town. The town's mayor acts unlawfully and recruits criminals. I have been ordered to come here to capture him."
"You go and lead the way. If you can capture the mayor and those outlaws, I will reward you!"
Zhao Zheng was thrilled upon hearing this.
"I will comply with your orders and lead the way!"
In the evening, there were no pedestrians on the streets of the town. Zhao Zheng was very familiar with the situation in the town, especially the residences of the outlaws and thugs recruited by the mayor.
He knows everything clearly.
With him leading the way, the elite troops in leather armor and wielding long knives quietly surrounded two courtyards.
At this moment, the silent night suddenly echoed with the sound of drums.
Shattered the night.
"Listen up, people inside. Open the door and surrender quickly. If not, we will kill indiscriminately!"
The armed team shouted in a deep voice.
The government should perform official duties uprightly and act in accordance with the will of heaven. Even when capturing and eliminating bandits, it is necessary to declare one's identity first, especially in one's own jurisdiction.
A sudden commotion and panic erupted within the courtyard, but no one took the initiative to open the door.
Squad leader glanced at Hu Weiyong.
Hu Weiyong waved his hand, and the squad leader's mouth curled into a sinister smile. Immediately, he broke through the door and shot several arrows whistling through the air, directly piercing through the dozen or so sturdy men who tried to escape.
Blood splattered, and screams echoed throughout the town.
"Good!"
Zhao Zheng, the guide, watched with great pleasure as those thugs and desperados who relied on their strength to cause trouble were knocked to the ground. He felt as if he had just enjoyed a bowl of hot soup, immensely refreshed.