Chapter 1605

Trouble was waiting for him: a group of refugees and bandits rushed into the manor, taking whatever they saw—fruit, vegetables, and wine jars in the cellar, grain, oil, and leftovers in the kitchen, money in the hands of workers and servants, clothes on their bodies, and half-eaten buns left on the bedside—they didn't let anything go! The Yao guard team was naturally alarmed, rushing out and swinging their weapons, beating them until they were scattered.

But the number of refugees was too large, like locusts crossing the border, and the Yao guard team couldn't drive them away for a while.

Dozens of refugees even rushed to the core of Yongquan Manor, setting fires near the mountain cellar and the Apricot Terrace.

They poured oil on the Apricot Terrace and then lit it; even after the rain, the fire soared into the sky.

The Grand Steward Yan Bo led his men to put out the fire everywhere.

The refugees took advantage of the gap in Yongquan Manor's fire fighting to loot everywhere.

Under such a situation, it would be unreasonable for He Lingchuan not to show his face.

In fact, he had just stepped out of the courtyard gate when Zhao Song ran over: "Manor Lord He, you finally came out! The formation, quickly activate the defensive formation!"

Yongquan Manor was too big, and the formation wasn't usually turned on, otherwise the consumption would be staggering.

"Dreaming, dreaming that business is booming, didn't expect that in reality, my manor is on fire." He Lingchuan smiled bitterly, "Commander Zhao has worked hard!"

It was easy to handle now that the master showed his face; Yongquan Manor immediately had a backbone.

He Lingchuan first ordered Yongquan Manor to activate the defensive formation, blocking more refugees outside the manor, then commanded with Zhao Song separately, cutting, surrounding, and intercepting the groups running wild in the manor.

Soon, the scene was under control.

The fire was extinguished, the people were caught, and the grain was snatched back and put back into storage.

Zhao Song caught a few leaders and interrogated them, only to learn that this group of refugees had gathered recently; at first, there were only one or two hundred people, but refugees nearby who couldn't get food came to join one after another, and in less than five or seven days, they grew rapidly, always looting in the suburbs and villages.

There was no way; they couldn't get food and were starving to death, so they could only form a group to come out and grab food.

There is strength in numbers, and they could at least get something to eat.

Zhao Song asked, and this group of refugees also heard from people that Yongquan Manor in the east of the city was rich in oil, with grain, meat, wine, and vegetables; it was a large granary, and digging it open would allow two thousand people to be full for half a month.

As for how this rumor was heard, no one could say clearly.

He Lingchuan cursed "Damn it" in a low voice.

No one could be sure whether this refugee attack was spontaneous or instigated by someone; after all, the villages and manors in the suburbs and towns had recently suffered from refugee harassment, and the government was also busy to death.

He Lingchuan had an important operation tonight, but Zhao Song and the Yao palace guards were all very energetic and still wanted to discuss things with him.

News just came from the south that Cao Wendao was already resting at Taoxi! This guy was as slippery as a ghost, and He Lingchuan had finally managed to get him into the trap. Missing this great opportunity, where would he go to catch Cao Wendao again? Fortunately, Cao Wendao didn't seem to have any plans to move for the time being.

After dealing with the refugee trouble, a dozen palace guards even instigated Wan Qiliang and others to go to the kitchen to find a midnight snack.

The manor was full of big eaters, and the cook would always leave some cakes and sticky rice cakes in the cupboard, but they had already been snatched away.

Fortunately, there were still powdery, sweet chestnuts in this season, freshly picked from behind the manor. The cook boiled them and put them in a basket, which wasn't found by the refugees, so everyone could still grab a handful as a snack now.

After fighting the refugees, more and more people came to the kitchen, and soon there were chestnut shells all over the floor.

The two groups sat together, eating happily.

Knowing that there was still a big job later, Wan Qiliang wasn't like before; the master said to be calm, so they took it easy. Having gone out with the Nine Nether Emperor so many times, they had long practiced a good mentality of knowing when to relax and when to be tense.

He Lingchuan was thinking while waiting, waiting for the rain to seep into the ground.

Tianshui City had been dry for a long time, and the ground was very dry, making the Snail Toad's movements very difficult. Just now, when it brought them into the manor, it had to slow down to rest for a while.

But the previous thunderstorm would soon penetrate the soil, making the underground soil very moist, and the Snail Toad could move freely.

Tonight's opponent was another powerful puppet master, and Dong Rui required every monster puppet to be adjusted to its best state; sharpening the knife doesn't delay the work of cutting wood, right?

"What to do? Can you still get out?" The Soul-Absorbing Mirror sighed, "The whole manor is awake, and even those merchants need someone to appease them."

The merchants and nobles staying in the manor tonight were all frightened by the refugee riot. Yan Bo was arranging for special personnel to send food and medicine to calm their nerves, to fulfill the duties of a host.

Peng Yukui and Maogong were also alarmed and even caught a few refugees who took advantage of the chaos to touch their residences. But Yongquan Manor was too big, and the refugees scattered as soon as they entered; they hadn't been caught clean yet, and there were still fish that slipped through the net.

With the whole manor restless, how could He Lingchuan ride the Snail Toad and quietly leave the manor? Who knows when someone would come to find him.

Just give up the layout like this and let Cao Wendao go?

He Lingchuan said with a dark face: "If the dark way doesn't work, then come the bright way!"

"Ah?" What kind of bright way? "I have a whole official army under my command, when else would I use it if not now?"

"Hey hey, can this matter see the light?"

"Why not?" He Lingchuan sneered, "Cao Wendao wants to take my life, shouldn't the palace guards arrest him?"

Isn't this the duty of the palace guards? He Lingchuan immediately sent someone to invite Zhao Song, who was leading his men to distinguish the refugee leaders.

Seeing He Lingchuan, Zhao Song's first sentence was: "Next, I'm afraid the defensive formation will have to be kept on all the time."

Otherwise, these flies couldn't be driven away, even if they worked twelve hours a day. Not to mention that the main task of the palace guards should be to guard He Lingchuan, not to guard the orchard!

"Commander Zhao has worked hard."

Zhao Song waved his hand: "Why say these things? By the way, what do you want me for?"

"Someone bought a killer, wanting my life."

As soon as He Lingchuan opened his mouth, he gave Zhao Song a big fright. He looked carefully at He Lingchuan's expression; he was full of seriousness, not like he was joking.

"Is this true?"

"True. I just caught an accomplice, he confessed everything, and testified that the mastermind is currently outside the manor, intending to commit the crime when the opportunity arises."

Zhao Song subconsciously repeated it, and also went through it in his mind: "The person who wants to kill you is currently... outside our manor?"

"Yes!" He Lingchuan was solemn, "If Commander Zhao doesn't believe it, why not come and interrogate the fresh and hot prisoner in my hands. Tonight's refugee attack might also have been instigated by them, wanting to kill me during the chaos."

"How unreasonable!" Zhao Song was furious, "Time is tight, I will first take down the chaotic thieves outside the manor, and then interrogate them carefully!"