Huainan, Shouchun Prefecture City.

In the twelfth month of the 10th, the wind is cold and the wind is tight, but no matter how bitter the north wind is, it cannot blow away the heavy lead clouds that cover the city. It is obvious that the biggest snowstorm since the beginning of winter this year will come to Shouchun.

In this climate, the atmosphere of Shouchun is more depressing than usual. Fanyuan, located in the southwest corner of the city, can be called the most rigorous place in the entire city, and is even better than the government office. There are hundreds of officers and soldiers around this forest garden. There are always people patrols and horses for twelve hours a day, so that the idle people around the nearby dare not even get close.

In the eyes of ordinary people, the one who lives in such a well-defended forest garden must be an extraordinary figure, but in fact, the guests who are now staying in Fan Garden are just a few imprisoned people who cannot help but be imprisoned. Yang Qinghou and several real-powered figures of the Cao Gang are under house arrest, almost completely isolated from the outside world.

Of course, the environment and treatment of Fanyuan is much better than being imprisoned, but this did not make them feel relieved, because they knew that such an arrangement meant that their life and death were only between the greedy officials of the Lianghuai River, and they did not even need to be reviewed by any formal procedures. With just one thought of those officials, they would disappear silently.

Because of this, although people have been under house arrest since then, they have been asking questions from time to time, Yang Qinghou and others still gritted their teeth and did not explain the list of Cao Gang, tokens, etc., which not only concerns their own life and death, but also the survival of the entire Cao Gang.

But as time goes on, the other party's patience is obviously getting smaller and smaller. Today, the tone of the officials who came to persuade them to cooperate has become extremely cold, and they are threatening their lives: "Horse Yang Qing, you are still so stubborn. Do you really think that you are still in trouble? I am not afraid to tell you the truth. So far, no less than thirty subordinates of the Cao Gang have come to surrender, and five of them are the helmsman, who should have accounted for more than half of the core members of your Cao Gang outside.

"Not only the key figures on both sides of the Caohe River in Jiangnan, and the area near Jingjiu are already under our control. We can capture them all with just one word, and we don't dare to resist. At that time, you are the murderer who killed them. I advise you to cooperate with us so that we can have a good ending. Otherwise..."

Faced with such a threat, all the Cao Gang officials in the hall had their faces turned pale, worried and angry. However, Yang Qinghou could still see a smile on his face, and his lips curled upwards to look at the lobbyist with a small-eyed and whispered in a calm tone: "You have said similar words for no less than seven or eight times. Do you think I will believe it? You used such despicable and dirty methods to capture us without being interrogated. It is a violation of the law of the Great Yue. Although I, Yang Qinghou, is from the Jianghu, I still know the things in the government, so don't waste your words. I still said the same thing, let me leave safely and talk about cooperation with me. There is still something to do, otherwise, why should I die?"

"That's right, I'm not afraid of death, it depends on whether your elders dare to die with us!"

"He thought he could really cover the sky with one hand? Now many people in Shouchun City know our existence. If you really want to use your strength, be careful of your official position. No, your life should be lost!"

These men of the Caobang are all bloody men. They have lived a life of licking blood all the way over the years. Even if their lives are in the hands of others, they will not retreat at all.

This made Lou Qianhuan, who was lobbying them in front of him, and his face turned pale. He could only say hatefully: "Okay, what a group of guys who are sharp-toned and sharp-mouthed and do not know how to live or die. Since you don't want to toast, then after I report to the adults, I will let you know what life is worse than death!" As he said that, he suddenly stood up, shook his sleeves, and left angrily.

His behavior and reaction were exchanged for a burst of ridicule from Yang Qinghou and the others. They had said the same thing for more than ten times. When did they really take action? However, after the other party left and only a few brothers from the Cao Gang, the smile on Yang Qinghou's face disappeared quickly: "It seems that there is really not much time left for us."

"Why did the gang leader say this?"

"Because this is the second time they have come to ask questions in three days, and they will only come back three to five days later, which shows that they are also anxious, and it seems that there is not much time left."

"There is not much time, how do you say this?"

"Old Road, you are also an old man who has been on a boat for many years. Can't you understand this? We are trapped here, and now the Cao Gang is already in chaos, so the transportation of canals is naturally mostly in a stagnation. In the middle of winter, the river is more likely to freeze, but the Cao River is still smooth. The pressure on my canal transport is far greater than the previous autumn and early winter. Once the major event is delayed, they can't afford it."

"What the leader of the gang means that as long as they drag it down, they will have to let us go?" Everyone was immediately energetic when they heard this.

As a result, Yang Qinghou shook his head and showed deep anxiety on his face: "No, on the contrary, if the agreement is really impossible, they will kill us."

"Will they dare... they are not afraid that the canal transportation will be cut off even if we die?"

"What's there to be afraid of? They are so eager to force us to hand over the power of canal transportation just to prevent exposure. Once we are aware of this, we will kill us all and buried on the spot, and the consequences will disappear. With no evidence of death, who can still hold them accountable?

"For them, it was nothing more than the original plan failed and they failed to seize the power of the canal transport. Even in the chaos that followed, they could still take advantage of the canal transport in the Qihuai River."

Yang Qinghou is worthy of being the leader of the Cao Gang. Even though he was under house arrest and was almost isolated from the outside world, he could still infer the truth from clues. His statement immediately made the brothers' emotions fall again, and he felt desperate: "What...what should I do?"

Although they were yelling just now that they were not afraid of death, they could not hide their panic and unwillingness after really knowing their possible ending. Several people even gritted their teeth and said, "Gangmaster, we might as well fight with them, act tonight and fight out..."

This proposal has really won the approval of many people. For these gangsters, it is better to fight for a fight than to die of cowardice, and they will die more heroically and look more like a man.

Yang Qinghou shook his head: "No, it's useless to die like this, but it will be useless to do anything but a temporary pleasure, but instead fulfill their wishes. Moreover, with the defense outside, we want to fight out without any armed defense, and I'm afraid we don't even have a half-confidence. After all, I'm still a big burden."

"Gangmaster... we will die together even if we die!" Someone thought he was implying that everyone would give up on themselves, and immediately shouted anxiously. At that moment, he won a wave of echoes from others: "Yes, Gangmaster, my brothers will never leave you even if we die."

"Don't say these despicable words. Who said I asked for death? Before the last moment, I, Yang Qinghou, would not accept my fate. Things might turn around." Yang Qinghou retorted seriously.

"But you, the leader just now..."

"I just said that there is not much time left for us to think of ways or wait for rescue, but it does not mean there is no hope."

"Now there is someone who can save us?"

"Yes, our Cao Gang has been in chaos now. Even if someone dares to take action for the gang leader, he may not have the strength."

"Even Gongfeng Mu was afraid to take action because he was afraid of throwing a mouse, let alone others."

Faced with the desperate statements of everyone, Yang Qinghou also sighed. But then, he said seriously: "Who said that there was a chaos in our Cao Gang, and no one could save us? Don't forget that besides our own brothers, we have a lot of help from other gangs."

Although "they?" did not say much, the meaning was clear. Everyone did not have much hope for the officials they were attracted to.

"I mean Li Ling. He is different from ordinary officials. In terms of relationships with us, his abilities and skills are far better than others. Besides, there is Qingxiao's relationship." Yang Qinghou said his greatest reliance, which really made everyone stunned, but then someone said: "Gangmaster, then County Magistrate Li is not in a good position after all, and the eldest lady is also in trouble. Maybe he doesn't know our situation now."

Everyone's expressions changed again because of this. No one dared to mention Yang Qingxiao's matter in front of the gang leader, for fear of causing him to worry, but now, this topic has been raised.

But to everyone's surprise, Yang Qinghou was not worried, but instead smiled calmly: "Qingxiao should have been out of trouble."

His confident tone made everyone stunned again, and then he heard Yang Qinghou continue, "You think, if Qingxiao really fell into their hands, I'm afraid they would have threatened me to submit with her life and death. But until today, they have not mentioned this matter, there are only two possibilities: one, she has escaped from the trap, and the other, she has been killed... With Qingxiao's skills, I think the first possibility is the fact. As long as she takes off, she will definitely seek Li Ling to save us. Li Ling, although he is just a small county magistrate, he has both means and backing, and can always help us get rid of the predicament in front of us!"

Yang Qinghou’s words were indeed reasonable and well-founded, which made the gang members feel certain, and there was a light of hope in their eyes: “What the gang leader said is that it is not yet time for despair, and we still have a chance!”
Chapter completed!