In the courtyard of the Fan family in Chang'an City.
Six corpses lay before everyone, one for each family, a fair distribution.
This time, the Zheng family also made an appearance, with Zheng Lao Er himself attending.
Five second-generation heirs, along with Zheng Lao Er, numbering six in total, all stared coldly at the bodies on the ground.
Wang Shigang picked up the teacup at hand.
After taking a sip, he slammed it down violently!
Damn it! This must have been done by Fang Er's subordinates!
These are gunshot wounds! Besides him, no one has so many guns!
Li Shichang glanced at him.
Did you really need to say that? If this continues, the newspapers will be sold everywhere!
Let's talk about what to do first.
Lu Xuan gave a couple of sinister laughs.
Heh heh, since it has already been ruled as the work of mountain bandits, and they have killed so many people.
It's likely that if the mountain bandits retaliate, it can be explained, right?
Cui Zhengyu looked at him in confusion.
Li Shichang understood his meaning.
He said, with some worry.
You mean, send people to Fangjiazhuang to destroy the workshop that prints newspapers?
Lu Xuan nodded.
Since Li Xiaogong is already prepared, let's solve this from the root!
Burn down his workshop!
Such a large workshop, rumored to also house firearms, glassware, and soap production, it must be quite a spectacle when it burns!
Zheng Lao Er slapped the table.
Do it! Let's do as Xuan Yi said!
Also, each family should provide more manpower. We will only burn the workshop, not harm the people, and abduct the craftsmen! By then, these businesses will be ours!
It is said that Fangjiazhuang is almost empty these days, with all the strong young men going to Baxiang Township to build the shipyard.
His Fang Er's Skyfire Army is also not here. This is a rare opportunity!
My Zheng family will contribute two hundred men!
The others looked at Zheng Lao Er, then exchanged glances.
A strange smile appeared on their faces.
Then they all agreed.
Following Zheng's numbers, each family would send two hundred men.
Speed is of the essence in war.
The six families began to act separately. After the troops were assembled, they dispersed out of the city.
Hai Shi.
Six teams of two hundred men gathered fifteen li outside Tonghua Gate.
This location was closest to the workshops in Fangjiazhuang and could also avoid the three thousand imperial guards guarding the grain seeds.
It could be said to be the optimal route.
Twelve hundred men quietly approached the workshops.
From afar, they could see the waterwheels operating day and night.
Although they were all noble families, they did not dare to use crossbows near Chang'an City.
Close-quarters combat could still be attributed to revenge by mountain bandits, but if they brought crossbows, it would be a major incident!
Zhao Gang was not asleep late at night, leading a group of blacksmiths, working overtime to produce steam engines.
When he went out to urinate, he saw figures moving on the opposite side of the river.
After a closer look, these figures were approaching the workshop.
He was immediately alarmed.
He quickly took out his walkie-talkie to report to Fang Er.
Dong Yao Dong Yao, this is Dong Si, a large number of unidentified individuals have been discovered near the workshop. Awaiting instructions, O wah.
At Fang Residence, Fang Er, who had just gotten into bed, heard the voice from the walkie-talkie.
He quickly grabbed the walkie-talkie.
Dong Si Dong Si, the other party is likely to have malicious intent. Immediately notify Qi Sui and the others to be on guard!
Qi Sui, seventeen years old, was a squad leader in the Skyfire Army who had retreated from a battle outside Pyongyang City.
Due to burns, he had lost an ear. Upon his return, he was assigned by Fang Er to guard the workshop with other retired soldiers.
Qi Sui, being young, agile, brave, and fearless, was directly promoted to the rank of battalion commander by Fang Er.
While he was hiding in the guardroom playing cards with his subordinates, Zhao Gang rushed in.
Old Zhao, what's wrong?
Battalion Commander Qi, quickly, quickly, someone is approaching, at least several hundred people.
The moonlight at night was not very strong, so Zhao Gang could not see the number of people on the other side clearly.
He could only estimate casually.
Qi Sui was greatly alarmed, and then greatly angered!
Brothers, assemble your men! Get your weapons!
Old Zhao! Has the electric fence been energized?
With generators, how could the workshop area be without an electric fence!
Although the voltage was not too high, it was enough to injure someone!
The first time it was energized, it had electrocuted a ram used for testing!
Zhao Gang nodded: It's energized every night at the last moment of Xu Shi, that's the Marquis's order! It's been energized for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
Qi Sui's lips curved into a cold smile.
The other men in the guardroom quickly rushed out, notifying and warning all areas of the workshop.
Outside Pyongyang City, a total of five hundred and seventy men were injured and retired. Excluding those who had completely lost their combat capabilities, there were over four hundred, dispersed throughout the workshop.
Upon receiving the notification, they quickly grabbed the firearms at hand and rushed out.
Then they each took their positions to prepare for battle.
A fire leader led his men to ascertain the number of approaching enemies and reported to Qi Sui.
Battalion Commander, I've confirmed it. There are about a thousand of them, dressed as mountain bandits, only armed with swords and spears, no crossbows. They are all on the other side of the canal and are preparing to cross the bridge.
Qi Sui pulled the fire leader in front of him.
Take a hundred men and go around to their rear. Not a single one of them is to be allowed to escape!
The fire leader, nearly thirty years old, was being addressed by the seventeen-year-old Qi Sui, and showed no signs of displeasure.
He bowed respectfully and said.
Battalion Commander, rest assured! Tonight, not even a mouse will be able to get out from there!
Qi Sui, holding his Dragon Tooth, led dozens of soldiers and quietly moved to a position about a hundred paces from the Longshou Canal.
Many soldiers were already waiting for the enemy here.
Everyone crouched down, "Don't you dare scare the sheep away!"
As soon as the arrangements were made here, the allied forces of the six families stealthily approached.
Their gleaming sabers reflected a cold gleam under the moonlight.
As soon as they crossed the bridge, they saw a net-like object blocking their path outside the workshop.
Cui Minggui, who came from the Cui family of Qinghe, pointed to a Zheng family member behind him.
You, go and break that net.
The Zheng family member was reluctant to take orders from him, and Cui Minggui slapped him across the face.
Your Zheng family is the weakest here. Do you want to try resisting?
The Zheng family member, though resentful, knew that without their main family, anyone could step on them.
He called out three more men from behind, carrying knives, and approached the net, raising their blades to chop.
Then there was a crackling sound, and sparks flashed.
Before they could even cry out in pain.
The four men who chopped the electric fence fell to the ground together, their bodies blackened, and white smoke still spewing from their mouths.