"What do you suggest then?" Liu Ce looked up at Chen Xiaobei.
"Miss Liu wrote you a letter before she left, and I'm sure she made some arrangements. Go read the letter first, and then we can discuss further."
Liu Ce nodded and turned to the soldiers behind him, shouting loudly, "Once you enter the village, you are not allowed to harass the civilians. Obey all arrangements."
Although there were more than two thousand people, they were orderly, and they began to find lodgings in the village in small groups. Liu Ce hurried to the place where Liu Rumei had lived.
A guard brought him the letter left by Liu Rumei.
The letter was very concise, briefly explaining that she had taken people to find the Crown Prince, and then asked Liu Ce to discuss any matters with Chen Xiaobei.
After a moment's thought, Liu Ce understood Liu Rumei's intention. By asking him to discuss with Chen Xiaobei, Liu Rumei clearly did not intend for him to lead the team to find the Crown Prince.
But if he didn't go to find the Crown Prince, how should he handle these more than two thousand people? It was a bit tricky.
After much deliberation, he decided to follow Liu Rumei's arrangement and find Chen Xiaobei again to discuss countermeasures.
After listening to Liu Ce's account, Chen Xiaobei understood. Frankly, bringing these more than two thousand people to the front lines was indeed an unstable factor. If they were to rekindle their loyalty to Zhu Meng, wouldn't that be counterproductive? Therefore, Liu Rumei's idea was correct.
But how should these more than two thousand people be arranged?
"The best way is to disperse them. Part of them will temporarily reside in the garrison camp of Qingniu County. Qingniu County has a thousand garrison soldiers. You can send a thousand men there. The forces will be roughly equal, and they won't be able to cause much trouble."
"They can leave a thousand men, and you will also have a thousand men. When the iron chain bridge is repaired, they can help transport supplies down the mountain."
After hearing Chen Xiaobei's suggestion, Liu Ce admired him even more. This was indeed a good plan.
First, let these two thousand people be divided into two groups, one to stay in the county town and relax, and the other to wait for transporting supplies.
He believed that those who transported supplies would surely envy those who were relaxing in the city.
Therefore, after a while, when they went to the county town, they would be grateful.
As a result, they would develop an emotional divide with those in the county town. As long as they were not united internally, there would naturally be no threat.
Thinking of this, he gave Chen Xiaobei a thumbs-up. "A good plan, this method of dividing and conquering them is truly a brilliant idea."
Liu Ce sent people to deliver a letter to Hu Fan overnight, asking him to be prepared to divide the troops the next day.
Upon hearing that he was to receive a thousand soldiers the next day, Hu Fan felt a bit uneasy. After all, these were Zhu Meng's rebel troops.
The strategist Mao You was even more worried, "County Magistrate Hu, I think this is risky. Our garrison has at most a thousand men, but they are poorly trained and cannot compare to Zhu Meng's army. If they really cause trouble, we might..."
Hu Fan sighed, "Yes, that's what they say. But when the Crown Prince left, he specifically told us to follow Liu Rumei's arrangements. Now that she is sending people, we have no choice but to accept them."
After speaking, they looked at each other and sighed heavily again.
And at this moment, in Xiao Jia Town.
Cui Dana finally received news that Cui San and his concubine Chun Xiang had been taken away by the county yamen two days ago, and there had been no news since. Those who went to inquire were all met with closed doors, saying they didn't know where the people were.
Upon hearing this, Cui Dana shook his head and sighed repeatedly.
His son, Cui Shilun, saw this and was very surprised. "Father, what's wrong? Why do you keep sighing?"
Cui Dana looked at his son and sighed, "This matter, it's my fault. I wanted to deal with Chen Xiaobei, so I asked your Aunt Chun Xiang to shed her dignity and set a trap for Cui Fugui."
"I intended for Cui Fugui to admit to adultery, so that I could control him with Chen Xiaobei afterward."
"But Cui San and Chun Xiang were taken to the county yamen, and even Cui Dahai was taken away."
"Father, what does Uncle Dahai have to do with this?"
Cui Dana sighed, "Normally, our family has no dealings with Cui Fugui. Someone familiar had to step forward. Your Uncle Dahai has more dealings with Cui Fugui, so I asked him to handle this matter."
Upon hearing this, a trace of bitterness appeared on Cui Shilun's face.
"If that's the case, then your plan was probably seen through."
"If Cui San went to the county yamen and didn't spout nonsense, perhaps he could be saved. If he falsely accused someone, then it would be a big trouble."
Cui Dana's expression became somewhat uneasy. "If Cui San really said too much, I'm afraid you father will also be implicated, since it was I who asked Chun Xiang to do it."
"Father, to be safe, you should go into hiding. Tomorrow morning, bring more silver, and go to Wannian City to relax. You can come back after a few months when things have calmed down."
Finally, a smile appeared on Cui Dana's face. "Good, I'll do as you say. I'll leave the matters here to you."
That night, after dinner, Hu Fan was reading a book when He Dali hurried in. "Your Lord, Cui Dana's concubine Chun Xiang is crying and begging to see you. She says if you don't see her, she'll die in prison." Su Dan Novel Network
Upon hearing He Dali's words, Hu Fan frowned. He had originally planned to wait until tomorrow, but now it seemed that Chun Xiang had already collapsed.
"Alright, then bring her here. I want to hear what she has to say."
Soon, Chun Xiang, with dishevelled hair, was brought into Hu Fan's study.
Hu Fan had his own considerations for choosing to meet Chun Xiang in the study. Chen Xiaobei was handling this matter privately and did not want to bring it to trial, meaning he did not want to make it a big deal.
"Chun Xiang, do you know why I'm keeping you?" Hu Fan asked directly.
Chun Xiang respectfully kowtowed, and with a choked voice said, "Your Honor, I am wronged! It was my husband who arranged it. He told me to sleep next to Cui Fugui and then cry and make a scene when he woke up. He said that if I did this, he would reward me with three hundred taels of silver."
Fortunately, Chen Xiaobei was not there. If he were, he would have cursed endlessly. Cui Dana was truly a talent. No wonder he insisted on Cui Fugui paying three hundred taels of silver.
Hu Fan did not speak but gestured to He Dali.
He Dali understood and placed brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone on the ground.
"Chun Xiang, write down everything you said, sign it, and affix your thumbprint, and you can go back."
Upon hearing that she could go back, Chun Xiang was naturally happy. She quickly wrote down the entire course of events.
After writing, she signed her name and pressed her thumbprint.
Once everything was done, Hu Fan looked at her and said in a deep voice, "Chun Xiang, I will advise you again, be kind-hearted. If I were to pursue this matter, you would be falsely accusing someone, which is a crime."
"Chun Xiang remembers. Chun Xiang will never dare to do it again."
Hu Fan waved his hand, and Chun Xiang thanked him and left.
"Constable He, what about the other two?"