I am engaged in construction in ancient times

Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Suppressing Bandits

Duan Shubai asked, "How are the villagers who were harassed now?"

The bandits who committed crimes in the mountains are a disgusting bunch. They are like locusts. They burn, kill, and rob without leaving any room. No matter whether your family is rich or poor, they can always make a profit from you. Some naive wealthy people who are ignorant of the world and have read a few vernacular novels may have heard of a few chivalrous bandits and thought that all the bandits in the world were forced to occupy the mountains and become kings. Only when they become poor people oppressed by bandits can they realize how hateful and disgusting those people are.

Zhang Changle sighed and replied: "In Shangxi Village, which was the hardest hit, most of the villagers' homes were emptied of their food. Several families in other villages were also robbed. They not only robbed food, but also abducted many people."

Among the people abducted, there were many women and young men. The bandits naturally abused and raped the women, and the young men were taken hostage by the bandits. If they had money, they could redeem them. If they didn't have money, it depended on the mood of the bandits and the kindness of the mountain leaders. Some were tortured and killed, and some were left in the mountains to do hard labor. After staying in the mountains for a long time, they even became bandits.

"The most important thing now is to comfort the villagers."

Zhang Changle nodded: "Most of the villagers who suffered were resettled in Xinyang City, and they were arranged together with the refugees from Jianzhou. Some of them lived together. The villagers who were injured by the bandits have been treated by military doctors."

"The villagers have been properly comforted."

"What about other villages around Yangcheng?"

"People are in panic. Many people have moved into Xinyang City one after another today."

The crying couple felt regretful after hearing this. Feng Yufeng, the wife, burst into tears. She should have moved to Xinyang City with her daughter long ago. General Duan was guarding here, and her daughter would not have suffered such a disaster.

Her daughter Tingting had already made an engagement with the young man from the Cui family. This autumn harvest was abundant, and the two families were happy. Tingting was sewing wedding clothes at home, and the wedding was about to take place. Unexpectedly, bad news came from the sky. Feng Yufeng felt that the sky was about to fall.

"General Duan, you must make a decision for us!"

The village chief and the couple knelt in front of Duan Shubai and begged for mercy. Duan Shubai helped them up. He looked at Zhang Changle and said, "It is important to appease the people first, and at the same time strengthen the patrols and vigilance around."

Duan Shubai then sneered, "I will not let those bandits go either."

He lifted the village chief's hand and patted the back of his hand: "Don't worry, old village chief, I will avenge you and recover the robbed food. Madam, my soldiers will do their best to rescue your daughter, so please wait in Xinyang City for the time being."

The three people from Shangxi Village nodded while crying.

Duan Shubai had them sent away and told someone to comfort them.

"Changle, go call the five captains over."

Duan Shubai sat in the center of the meeting hall and looked at the map around Yangzhou. His brows were furrowed and his mood was at its lowest. He tapped the table with his index finger bent. He had only been away for two days, and there were rats causing trouble in his territory. Yangzhou has always been plagued by thieves. Now that he has some foundation in Xinyang City, it is time to clean up the doorway.