Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

Chapter 103 Visit

Following this method, Zheng Tu's figure appeared like a ghost in the homes of various wealthy families in Qinghe County.

He didn't say much, but simply explained the advantages and disadvantages.

Few people who can establish themselves as powerful figures in this county are fools.

They knew perfectly well that with the man's abilities, he could enter and leave their house as if it were his own. If he could get in like this tonight, he could probably take their heads while they were fast asleep tomorrow, which would be as easy as turning his hand.

As the saying goes, "You can only be a thief for a thousand days, but you can never guard against a thief for a thousand days." Since we can't do anything to this person, we have no choice but to admit defeat and give in.

Therefore, all the heads of the households complied and expressed their willingness to follow Ximen Qing's lead.

Even those few who couldn't see the situation clearly, didn't know the times, and still wanted to put on airs, Zheng Tu didn't say much and killed them on the spot.

If any of the family's nephews or nieces are perceptive and know how to go with the flow and are willing to take over, Zheng Tu will allow them to do so;

If not, other powerful figures will covet this piece of fat meat that has lost its leader, and it will be devoured in no time.

Zheng Tu acted swiftly, and in less than a night, he had met with all the well-known local gentry and tycoons in Qinghe County.

Those who should be killed should be killed, and those who should be surrendered should be surrendered. No room for leniency should be left. There can only be one unified voice here.

In Qinghe County today, only Ximen Qing's family remains in power.

That night, Zheng Tu had eliminated all his enemies.

From Zhang, the wealthy man of the silk shop, Zhao, the rich man of the money shop, and Sun, the manager of the rice shop, to all the powerful figures who secretly coveted the Ximen family's property, they all bowed down.

Now everything is ready, except for the two of them who haven't finished packing.

Zheng Tu stood on the rooftop, pondered for a moment, and set his target. In a flash, he disappeared into the night like a night owl.

In a dilapidated thatched hut.

Jiang Zhushan was fast asleep, curled up in bed.

He set up a stall at the city wall during the day, but didn't earn much money. He was cold and hungry at night, so he had to rest early.

In the hazy light, I suddenly heard a rustling sound, as if someone had entered the thatched hut.

He opened his eyes groggily, still not fully conscious.

In the dim light, a familiar face appeared before him, grinning at him!

"you……"

Jiang Zhushan was still in a daze, and had just uttered a single word when a punch landed with a thud!

The skull suddenly shattered.

The down-on-his-luck imperial physician died on the spot before he could even utter a sound.

Zheng Tu didn't even glance at the corpse before turning and leaving.

next.

As an assistant official in the county government, the county lieutenant had his own official residence, which was his fixed place of daily residence and office.

If there are police officers or security personnel on duty at night, they will also stay here or take turns on duty.

The county magistrate of Qinghe County was named Shi Xiong, courtesy name Zhongwei, and came from a military family.

He was appointed as a county magistrate based on his father's and grandfather's military achievements. He is thirty-two years old this year, has some knowledge of archery and horsemanship, and knows how to patrol and arrest thieves.

However, he was rigid and stubborn by nature, completely lacking in human sentiment, and was someone who could not tolerate even the slightest imperfection.

He disapproved of both the local gentry's bullying of the people and the collusion between officials and businessmen, but he also could not tolerate the slightest transgression by ordinary citizens.

Whenever a problem arises, he readily invokes legal provisions to intimidate people, without considering reason or sentiment. As a result, he is often reprimanded by the county magistrate for "not understanding the ways of being an official."

He always put on a cold and hard face to everyone, from his superiors to his subordinates. His colleagues in the government office disliked him, and the common people in the city were afraid of him. He was truly a person who was disliked by everyone.

But at this moment, such a temperament makes them an ideal person to ask for help.

At this moment, the study of the military commander was brightly lit by candlelight.

Master Li, one of the local gentry who had just been "visited" by Zheng Tu, was recounting his experiences that night to Shi Xiong.

It turns out that when Zheng Tu threatened each household tonight, a wealthy man named Li was so frightened that he agreed without thinking.

But afterwards, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became, feeling that he had been coerced and had lost face.

Therefore, not long after Zheng Tu left, he went to the county magistrate's office that very night to seek help from Magistrate Shi.

At this moment, inside the guardhouse, Master Li, with a mournful face, recounted the events with embellishments:

"...That thieving man barged into the house, brandishing a sharp blade, and threatened me that I must obey Ximen Qing's orders from now on, or else... That's what happened. I pretended to agree, and that's how I escaped. Commander Shi, you must avenge us!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Xiong slammed his fist on the table: "This is outrageous! Does he disregard the laws of the court?! You wait here, I will immediately gather my soldiers, arrest this scoundrel first, and then submit the official report to the magistrate! No matter how much silver Ximen Qing has bribed the magistrate, I will execute him without mercy! How can such a madman be allowed to escape justice?!"

Having said that, he suddenly stood up and was about to walk out to mobilize troops.

Suddenly, the man opposite him, Master Li, turned deathly pale, his eyes wide open, looking as if he had seen a ghost, and his finger trembled as he pointed behind him!

Shi Xiong suddenly turned around.

But a burly man had appeared inside the guardhouse at some point, quietly watching him.

Who else could it be but Zheng Tu?

Shi Xiong quickly took two steps back and shouted sharply, "You scoundrel! How dare you..."

He reached out and drew the sword from his waist.

Before he could finish speaking, Zheng Tu had already moved as fast as lightning and chopped him in the neck with a hand chop!

"Well!"

Shi Xiong's vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground, limp and weak.

Master Li was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, trembling all over.

Zheng Tu glanced at him, said nothing more, and continued working on his hands.

……

Having finished all his business, Zheng Tu stood in the middle of the street, looked up at the sky, and saw that there was still some time left.

He pondered for a moment, then turned and headed in one direction.

Before long, they arrived at a quiet little courtyard.

This was the house he had previously gifted to Pan Jinlian.

Zheng Tu looked around and, seeing no one nearby, leaped up and nimbly vaulted over the courtyard wall, landing silently.

Zheng Tu walked to the door, but hesitated.

He raised his hand to knock on the door, then lowered it; he raised his hand again, then hesitated. After repeating this several times, he finally shook his head, turned around, and was about to leave.

No sooner had I turned around than a soft call came from inside the door, tinged with a lazy sleepiness, yet quite melodious:

"Is this... Uncle Zheng?"

Zheng Tu paused, coughed dryly, and was wondering how to answer when the door suddenly opened!

But inside the door stood a beautiful and alluring vixen.

She casually threw on an outer garment, the belt undone, draped loosely over her shoulders, revealing a sliver of her fair skin underneath.

Her black hair was half-tied up and hung over her shoulder, clearly indicating that she had hurriedly gotten out of bed.

Her casual attire only served to accentuate her curvaceous and alluring figure.

Candlelight shone from behind her, making her dress half-transparent, vaguely revealing her slender waist and long, jade-like legs.

A pair of large, watery, foxy eyes, filled with a mixture of sleepiness and curiosity, gazed at Zheng Tu.

Pan Jinlian quietly put her right hand behind her back, where she had been holding a pair of scissors upside down.

She had just heard a commotion in the courtyard from inside the house and thought that a bad guy had come, so she quietly took out a pair of scissors for self-defense.

Only when the shadow cast through the window paper revealed the man's imposing figure did they guess it was Zheng Tu, and they quickly hid the scissors.

"Uncle Zheng, what brings you to my door so late at night...?"