Chapter 0004: Murder and Robbery

Deng Gui could only utter a single syllable before he was once again overcome by a coughing fit, and as he coughed, a mouthful of fresh blood was expelled.

Zhao Han held a pair of scissors against the woman's throat, covering her mouth and nose to wake her up, saying: "If you dare to scream, I will kill your son"

At this moment, the accumulated rainwater in the courtyard is rapidly flowing out through the dog hole

Um um um

Zhao Han knelt between two corpses, gasping for breath like a bellows, utterly exhausted at this moment.

Zhao Han pressed down the tip of his spear and asked again: "What is your name? How old are you?"

"Is that all?" Zhao Han questioned

He returned to the bedside, cut Zhang Chuncai's clothes into many long strips of cloth, and twisted the strips into several pieces of cloth rope. He tied the cloth ropes to a bamboo spear, then secured the scissors to his waist, and swaggered out the door.

The person hurriedly lifted their foot and struck the bed surface with their heel

Inside, there are tables and chairs, clearly indicating that it is not a bedroom, but rather the main room of an ancient residence. He immediately turned and walked towards the adjacent room

The woman replied: "Fire tongs"

Zhang Chuncai thought carefully again and said: "My family's dog hole is square, while his family's dog hole is round"

At last, Deng Gui's struggles grew weaker, his arms hanging down, his whole body convulsing

"Clever," Zhao Han remarked approvingly

Zhao Han menacingly interrogated: "If you don't speak, I will kill your son!"

He returned to check the courtyard gate and found the gap of the door to be narrow. If he wanted to push open the bolt inside, he would have to insert an extremely thin blade.

To accomplish great things, one must not hesitate; otherwise, one will inevitably suffer the consequences. Zhao Han does not have the capital to engage in a back-and-forth struggle with the opponent, and he has no chance of winning even a direct confrontation. He must take the initiative to resolve the issue in one decisive action

Zhao Han carefully opened the window, climbed into the room through the window, and tiptoed to the bedside

The person indoors did not wake up, but merely turned over.

Where is Li Jianguo's house located?

The child's arms were small enough to reach through the window lattice, and Zhao Han quickly felt the window latch inside. However, due to his short stature, he could only push it up with the tips of his fingers. After a few attempts, he managed to dislodge the wooden latch.

Zhao Han asked again: "Is there anything else?"

The woman did not dare to disobey, turned over onto her stomach, and placed her hands on her lower back

Ma Wu was tied under the eaves, occasionally making sounds, hoping that Zhao Zhenfang would untie him

The northern city wall of Tianjin has collapsed for dozens of zhang and has not been repaired for twenty years

There are only some scattered silver coins in the money pouch, which together amount to at most ten taels of silver

After much effort to squeeze in, my sleeves have been torn, and my arms have been scraped, leaving bloody marks.

At last, he became honest and replied: "My name is Zhang Chuncai, and I am fifty-one years old"

"This is the place." Ma Wuzhi pointed at the courtyard gate

The two seemed to have had a "fierce battle" and were now sleeping completely naked, with Deng Guisi sprawled out and snoring loudly.

Ma Wu was terrified to death, and honestly said: "I don't know, I have a visual impairment, I can't see clearly at night"

The woman said: "The lord wishes to seek a position; just a few days ago, he sent a few hundred taels, claiming that he could secure an official post at the dock. The money at home is truly only this much left; I still have some copper coins under my pillow."

Soon, this person found it difficult to breathe and suddenly opened his eyes wide in alarm. He instinctively panicked and struggled, but the sharp point of a spear pressed painfully against his neck. In his fear, he dared not move recklessly, afraid that he might have his throat pierced.

Zhao Han, feeling frightened and confused, asked: "How do I recognize the courtyard wall of the Deng family?"

The scissors pierced his throat, and Deng Gui was abruptly awakened by the pain, instinctively reaching to cover his neck

"What Li Jianguo?" Zhang Chuncai said in confusion, "I don't know him, there is no one named Li Jianguo around here."

Wiping the blood off his hands, Zhao Han returned to the main house's bedroom, tore the rag from the woman's mouth, and asked: "Where is Deng Gui's money?"

On the bed lay two people, one male and one female, and the male was undoubtedly Lord Deng Gui.

Bang bang

In the summer, without a blanket, illuminated by the faint light, it is clear at a glance that there is a woman and two children.

Zhao Han prepared the cloth rope, which came in handy to bind the woman's hands and feet, and he stuffed her mouth tightly.

What is this? Zhao Han touched an axe-shaped object on the table

Where to? Ma Wu was somewhat confused.

This thing is called a dog hole, allowing cats and dogs to enter and exit; its true function, however, is drainage

Is this really the residence of the lord? Zhao Han asked again

"Do not speak, do not run around, wait for my return," Zhao Han instructed

Zhao Han muttered curses under his breath, once again covering his mouth, and continued to search the nearby residential houses.

Soaked to the skin by the heavy rain, with the icy raindrops striking his cheeks, Zhao Han's thoughts became increasingly calm. He carefully searched around the base of the wall, trying to find a low spot in the courtyard wall. After walking back and forth more than ten times, he unexpectedly noticed a small hole not far from the threshold!

At this moment, it is still pouring rain. Zhao Han took his sister out and found Ma Wu not far from next door. He untied Ma Wu's ropes and said: "You can walk on your own. I have killed the marquis. The path you took, I am the principal offender, and you are the accomplice. Do you understand what that means?"

There is a large tree in the courtyard, as well as a stone water tank.

Zhao Han slowly released his grip

Zhao Han exhaled a breath of turbid air, forcing himself to calm down

The siblings both entered the courtyard, and Zhao Han simply took his younger sister to the porch to avoid the rain

Unfortunate

Gah!

Zhao Han felt that something was amiss, as he had learned from Ma Wu that the "Lord" had one wife and one concubine, and according to common reasoning, he should not be sleeping alone.

The concubine fully awakened, nodding in terror and saying: "Mmm mmm mmm!"

Perhaps due to the commotion, the nearby concubine finally awoke

Arriving at the main house, Zhao Han employed the same old trick. This time, however, he had prepared a cloth rope knot in advance. He used the rope loop to secure the window latch, preventing it from falling to the ground, and quietly climbed through the window into the main house's bedroom

Zhao Han not only took away the silver and money, but also several sets of children's clothing, and even made off with two pairs of children's shoes that were in front of the bed

There is only one man on the bed, with a long beard faintly visible beneath his chin

After this person was able to speak, he did not answer the question, but instead pleaded in panic, "Spare me, good sir, spare me!"

Zhao Han was highly tense during his first premeditated murder. He did not originally intend to kill the concubine, but was provoked by her cries and, in a moment of panic, ended up killing her as well

As for incorporating the Beggars' Sect, let's not talk nonsense. One must manage officials and military leaders above, while contending with other beggars for territory below. If Zhao Han were an adult, he might be able to handle it, but he is currently just a ten-year-old child

Zhang Chuncai pondered carefully and said: "The shop's guardian at his home is a lion, while the guardian at my home is a bat"

Ah!

Zhao Han, frightened, quickly jumped onto the head of the bed, covered the person's mouth from behind, and pressed the scissors against their throat, lowering his voice to say: "Do not shout!"

"Stand up and take me there!" Zhao Han reprimanded.

Zhao Han then took his sister's hand and ran through the rain towards the city wall. He did not dare to linger in the dock area, as Deng Gui had someone backing him up.

Zhao Han asked again: "What about the clothes you changed out of?"

The little girl ignored everything, curled up under the eaves, half of her body battered by the wind and rain

Bang!

Zhao Han hurriedly ran to the eaves of the northern house, poked through a paper window pane, and lay there quietly waiting for the lightning

The woman beside him is his concubine, who, in a daze during her sleep, murmurs: "Master, stop making a fuss, haven't you had enough of this yet?"

Zhang Chuncai struggled desperately, but it was a matter of gagging himself with his own foot wrappings

Do not blame me

Lightning struck again, and Zhao Han, aided by the faint light, barely managed to see the situation inside the room

Useless thing

Zhao Han did not leave immediately; he stayed in the room rummaging through the boxes and soon found a weapon—a pair of scissors

She sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes, and yawned, saying: "What is that smell? It is very fishy."

He wanted to scream, but the blood surged into his throat, turning instead into a series of coughs. This fellow grasped Zhao Han's wrist, exerting all his strength to push the scissors upward, while his feet kicked wildly against the bed in a plea for help

Zhao Han continued to inquire: "Is that the old den of your Lotus Society?"

This is a small siheyuan, consisting only of the main house (the northern house) and the east and west wing rooms, without any construction of a back house (the southern house)

The situation has been clarified, and it seems there is a chance to make a bold attempt

Once again searching and rummaging, he found the woman's dressing table and took all the jewelry. As he was about to leave, he stumbled upon a comb and a hairpin. Thinking of his little sister's messy hair, he took both the comb and the hairpin with him.

As soon as he released his hand, the concubine cried out, and Zhao Han quickly covered her mouth again, stabbing down with a pair of scissors.

The dog hole is a vertically oriented rectangle. Zhao Han tried to enter but found that he could not get in while lying flat. Therefore, he lay on his side and wriggled in, finding that both the height and width were just right.

No ... ... cough cough cough ... ...

He pressed the tip of the spear against the person's throat, while using one hand to cover their mouth and nose

What is a paving head? Zhao Han raised a naive question

Zhao Han said: "I only seek wealth, not lives. Honestly turn over and let me bind you!"

The siblings waded through the muddy water, climbed in through a gap in the city wall, and quietly arrived inside Tianjin City

The woman exclaimed in terror: "I do not know."

The den of the Lotus Society is located on South Street, right at the base of the city wall. In the past, there was a major flood that caused a section of the northern city wall to collapse, damaging many houses, and the brothers of the Lotus Society all lived in the ruined houses

Moreover, some are in a state of mental disarray, as if their acts of murder are akin to sleepwalking, compelled by some unseen force to commit such violent and brutal deeds

Hmm. Zhao Zhenfang nodded obediently

The courtyard gate suddenly opened, and Zhao Zhenfang exclaimed with joy: "Second Brother!"

The thunder is louder, the lightning is brighter, and the rain is heavier

Rumbling!

Ma Wu said with a crying tone: "I... I can't remember clearly."

Zhao Han slowly released his grip and asked, "What is your name? How old are you?"

Zhao Han finally smiled: "Very good, you did not casually point me to a place and send me away. Where does the lord reside?"

The woman quickly explained: "This is truly all there is; everything must be accounted for. Those in power, the officials, and the military leaders, who among them does not need to be well-fed? The lord earns a living at the dock, bringing in silver every month, of which fifty percent must be paid as tribute to the garrison and the transport troops, thirty percent is distributed to the officials, and only twenty percent is left for ourselves. I have five children, four of whom are studying, and the expenses for their education, including tuition and stationery, are considerable."

This person wanted to capture himself and his sister, and broke his leg to create a tool for begging; he was merely resisting in advance. Moreover, this individual has committed numerous crimes, and killing him is a service to the public, thus I am not at fault but rather have done a good deed

Zhao Han said irritably: "I am asking you, how many people are there in the Marquis's household? How many men, how many women, and how many elderly and children? Are there any servants guarding the house?"

The woman stammered, "In, in, in... in the east chamber"

This notorious criminal, who occupied the Tianjin Wharf area, specializing in begging, occasionally engaging in theft, and at times involved in the trafficking of children, has met an unclear demise, with even the identity of his killer remaining unknown

Zhao Han said: "Go to the marquis's house"

The opening is very narrow, making it impossible for adults to pass through, but children can.

Hoo ... ...

As for its neck, the blood gushing forth has already flowed down, staining a large area of the cool mat red

The horse regained its freedom and immediately panicked and fled

Zhao Han felt a pile of clothing, first using a belt to bind his hands behind his back, then carelessly stuffing a wad of torn cloth into his mouth

Quickly arriving outside the east wing, Zhao Han quietly climbed through the window to enter

The woman was so shocked that she lost her voice, trembling uncontrollably

Do not shout; if you are obedient, just tap the bed with your feet twice. Zhao Han said in a low voice

Mawu said: "Just his family."

Zhao Han held a pair of scissors to the person's throat and said: "I will ask you one more time, is it square or round?"

Zhao Han asked again: "How many people are there in the lord's household?"

Zhao Han walked over to Ma Wu's side, kicked out a foot without any warning, and then pulled out the gag, asking: "Is the dog hole at the marquis's house square or round?"

Zhao Hansong released one hand and said in a low voice: "Where is Deng Gui? Speak!"

The lord resides on West Wharf Street

There is no guardian, only a cook and a bookkeeper. Ma Wu thought for a moment, counting on his fingers and said, "In the family, there is a lord, along with his two wives, and several children. Are there three children? Or four? It could also be five."

Zhao Han commanded, "Look more carefully!"

He also punctured the window paper of the house on the left. Zhao Han leaned in to listen, and faintly heard the sound of snoring from inside

The woman quickly said, "There is a brick in the corner by the bed, and the money is hidden inside."

According to Zhang Chuncai, Zhao Han quickly identified the target; the door knocker was a lion, and the dog hole was also round

Yes, do not blame me

However, the dog hole is too small for Zhao Han to crawl through, so he can only go back to find his sister, asking Zhao Zhengfang to crawl through the dog hole in the rain and then unlock the door latch for him from the inside

Zhao Han stuffed the fire starter into his bosom, silencing the woman's mouth

The situation was somewhat awkward; Zhao Han was determined to commit murder, yet he couldn't even step over someone else's courtyard wall

Zhao Han tore off this fellow's belt, bound his hands and feet, ripped a cloth to gag him, and stuffed it under the eaves of the door. He said to his sister: "Wait for me to come out, do not wander around!"

Zhang Chuncai said: "At the bedside"

Zhao Han stood in front of the bed, hesitating for only a few seconds before plunging the scissors down.

When they arrived at West Street, Zhao Han and his sister were completely soaked from head to toe

Ma Wudajing was taken aback and quickly replied: "I don't know anything."

Three people are sleeping on the bed, one adult and two children

"Lord?" Zhang Chuncai suddenly realized and quickly said, "Are you looking for the beggar leader Deng Gui? He doesn't live here; you need to go two houses further east."

Zhao Zhengfang nodded and said, "Second brother, I understand"

"Round ... ... is it round?"

The window latch fell to the ground with a loud noise, startling Zhao Han, who quickly crouched down to hide

Ma Wu fixed his gaze and looked closely; he had night blindness, so how could he see clearly? He merely bluffed, saying: "Even with my eyes closed, I wouldn't mistake it. Little ancestor, I've brought you to the place; can you let me go now?"

Zhao Han found a loose blue brick in the corner of the wall, pried it out with scissors, and indeed discovered a money pouch inside

The water gushing from the dog hole made it difficult for Zhao Han to open his eyes and breathe, and he nearly got stuck there, unable to move.

Hoo hoo hoo

The wall of the courtyard is not high, but it becomes very slippery after the rain. Zhao Han, being young and short, failed several times and finally gave up on climbing over the wall

Indeed, I have found the wrong person

Zhang Chuncai was taken aback and said: "The door knocker is meant to hang the door ring"

Zhao Han did not believe it and said, "Isn't 20% still quite a lot?"