Chapter 1398 Cleanup
The discovery of so many weapons from Ma Bo's home shows that these people are not content to lurk in the dark, but have already made preparations for the attack in secret. The weapons discovered so far alone are enough to arm fifty or sixty people. Obviously, the other party is preparing or mobilizing more than just these three people. Even if they remain silent, Chen Yixin can expect that there should be other accomplices lurking there. Nearby areas - such as immigration camps with complex personnel.
The soldiers found a brazier with still embers in the third bedroom into the courtyard, which was full of paper ashes. It was obvious that these people had processed some letters, account books and the like after discovering that they were surrounded. Destroyed by incineration. These items are likely to record information about their accomplices, so the three men did not try to escape from Ma Bo's house before, but first managed to destroy these exhibits to cut off investigation clues.
After rummaging through Mabo's bedroom, the soldiers found a hidden compartment behind the wardrobe and dug out a large amount of belongings. There are more than 5,000 yuan of Haihan banknotes alone, more than 4,000 taels of silver notes from a bank in Jinan Prefecture, and some silver ingots and gold bars. This amount is not the wealth that a rich man like him should have in his family. Of course, no matter where the money comes from, there is only one destination, and that is to be confiscated by the garrison.
Chen Yixin was a little surprised when he saw these properties. Logically speaking, with Mabo's operational capabilities and the scale of the Majiazhuang immigration camp, it would not be easy to pocket such money. But then I thought about it, Ma Bo colluded with people in the Ming Dynasty government, and I'm afraid he got a lot of benefits from it. This guy eats money from both sides, and he doesn't dare to be too ostentatious in Majiazhuang, so naturally he can only hide all the money. .
This practice is actually not surprising. During Haihan's expansion of the control area in the south, there were quite a few people engaging in this kind of operation in Fuzhou and Guangzhou provinces. It is difficult for many people to choose a single position between Ming and Haihan. Therefore, being on both ends of the spectrum, looking forward and backward, and even jumping sideways repeatedly are common occurrences among Haihan partners. Even people with a much higher social status than Mabo cannot avoid such a situation. Chen Yixin had seen many such examples when he was at Dawanshan Island in the Pearl River Estuary.
From the perspective of the person involved, it is indeed difficult for a small person like Ma Bo to choose between two strong men. However, from Haihan's perspective, such a guy who is cheating and not having much effect will naturally have to choose. The object being cleared. Chen Yixin raised his hand, and the adjutant behind him immediately followed him and listened to his instructions: "Notify Zeng Xiaowen and arrest him!"
Although Chen Yixin knew in advance that Ma Bo was not very clean, he did not want to arrest Ma Bo rashly before there was actual evidence. After all, there was an in-law relationship. If there was something hidden, his face would not look good afterwards. . But after capturing these three people, it was basically established that Ma Bo colluded with them to plot evil, and there was no need to wait for Zeng Xiaowen to carefully screen the immigration camp before taking action.
The adjutant immediately took the order and left. Chen Yixin looked at the three prisoners who had lost their resistance and said calmly: "Interrogate these three people on the spot and pry their mouths open within an hour. If you still refuse by then, Anyone who confesses will be dragged out and shot.”
Chen Yixin did not evade when he said this, so the three prisoners naturally listened to his instructions, and their faces changed color after hearing the words. Although they were mentally prepared to be killed by their opponents, they still had a desire to survive. If Haihan wanted to detain them for torture, they would at least be able to survive for a while. But Chen Yixin shortened their lives to a terrifying extent with just a few words. Not everyone can bear the feeling of knowing that their end is coming.
Chen Yixin didn't look at them again. This time he specially transferred several torture experts from Zhifu Island. There was no need to watch the next thing in person, there were professionals to deal with them. Even if these people refused to speak in the end, Chen Yixin wouldn't care too much. After all, there are more than just these three people lurking in this area, and sooner or later others will be found. Besides, even if specially trained intelligence officers like them could keep their mouths shut, could Mabo, who was born in the country, do the same? That is of course impossible. If you can't pry it open here, you can just pry it somewhere else.
Chen Yixin was not in a hurry to leave to clean up Ma Bo. With Zeng Xiaowen watching over the immigration camp, Ma Bo would definitely not be able to escape. In addition to Ma Bo's house and the immigration camp, the troops under his command will also clean up the entire Majiazhuang area today, especially the shops and business inns opened by foreign merchants here. This operation key goals. The composition of these foreign businessmen and workers is very complex, and the interest groups they belong to cannot easily distinguish between the enemy and our camps. Chen Yixin feels that it is more secure to keep an eye on them by himself, and to resolve any conflicts and disputes in a timely manner.
Although these merchants who came to Majiazhuang to do business were civilians, they were similar to what Haihan had encountered in the southern coastal provinces. Most of those who were able to enter the Haihan-occupied areas to do business actually had some or more Little official background. In other words, these people can travel between Daming and Haihan controlled areas. That is not something they can do just by being brave. Without some special background, even if they can come to Fushan County to do business, they can go back After that, he will most likely be investigated by the government on charges of "colluding with foreign countries".
Cross-border trade is an extremely profitable industry, both for Haihan and the bigwigs hiding behind the businessmen. Therefore, even if the Shandong government is openly in a confrontation with the Haihan army occupying Fushan County, there are still some people who will choose to make secret arrangements with Haihan for money and use semi-open trade methods to gain considerable profits. Since Haihan occupied Fushan County for more than a year, the flow of personnel and materials between the two sides has never been truly interrupted. In addition to Haihan's careful control of the military operations, vested interests in the local government of the Ming Dynasty also made a lot of mistakes. strength.
Haihan is naturally happy to see this kind of cooperation in the gray area, which has greatly alleviated the pressure on materials and labor demand in the occupied areas, and is also the main source of local income for the garrison at this stage. one. The Shandong garrison specifically built Majiazhuang into a local trade center, largely due to economic considerations. If such an incident causes the current trading system to stagnate, then Chen Yixin will definitely not allow this to happen.
Chen Yixin's adjutant had not yet sent the order to arrest Ma Bo to the immigration camp, but Ma Bo was already on the verge of collapse. Zeng Xiaowen's roll call was not just about calling names, but arresting people at the same time. When someone's name was called, Zeng Xiaowen stopped the process and asked the person to come out. Then he asked several soldiers to come forward and shackle the person's hands and feet. Although the man tried to struggle at first, he had to calm down after taking several shots from the butt of the gun.
After doing this two or three times, Ma Bo naturally noticed that the targets Zeng Xiaowen arrested were all special personnel with another identity. This kind of highly targeted arrest is obviously not a random attempt at luck, but rather a well-prepared move. He didn't know how Zeng Xiaowen, who rarely came to the immigration camp, found out the true identities of these people, but seeing these people lurking among the refugees being caught one by one, his heart beat faster and faster, knowing that these people were caught After that, it will most likely be your turn.
Thinking of this section, Ma Bo couldn't help but think of sneaking away. But when he looked to the left and right, he could only groan in his heart. There were at least thirty or forty Haihan soldiers within a radius of ten feet. Unless he had the invisibility technique, there was no way he could disappear in front of so many pairs of eyes.
Just as his eyes were wandering, he saw an officer hurriedly running in from the gate of the immigration camp and came straight to Zeng Xiaowen. After the two sides exchanged military salutes, the officer lowered his voice and said a few words to Zeng Xiaowen. Ma Bo glanced over and found that the other party was staring at him while talking. It seemed that what he said was related to him.
After the officer finished speaking a few words, he left directly. Zeng Xiaowen turned back to Ma Bo and said: "This is the latest order issued by the commander..."
Zeng Xiaowen looked at Ma Bo's lifeless face and said slowly: "Ask me to arrest you immediately! Come on, take him down!" Two soldiers stepped forward and held him down from behind. He grabbed Mabo's shoulder and twisted his arm behind his back. When Ma Bo heard the word "arrest", his hands and feet became weak and he was unable to struggle at all. He allowed the soldiers to handcuff his hands behind his back.
"You secretly colluded with foreign lawbreakers and plotted against each other, Ma Bo, do you know your crime?" Zeng Xiaowen looked at Ma Bo who was lying on the ground and coldly stated his crime. Of course, this is just a rhetoric used to arrest him. The real crime still needs to be investigated, but it should be much more serious than the current charges.
Ma Bo knelt on the ground, his body was like sifting chaff, and he was no longer able to speak clearly: "The villain... is unjust... wronged..."
Seeing his appearance, Zeng Xiaowen simply knelt down in front of him and said, "Are you unjust? Do you dare to say that you have no knowledge about the spies lurking in Majiazhuang? I just arrested these people, you Don’t you think they will identify you?”
Zeng Xiaowen actually didn't have the slightest confidence in the few people he had caught. He just picked people based on the list on the report letter he received last night. If the report is true, then these people are most likely to have colluded with Ma Bo. Ming Dynasty spies together. And their identities did not need to be verified at all. Mabo's reaction at this time said everything.
Ma Bo responded in a panic: "Master Zeng, the villain is forced to have no choice... If you let the villain meet Master Chen first, this matter can be explained..."
Zeng Xiaowen smiled and did not respond to him. He stood up and ordered: "Continue to roll call!"
In the final roll call, there were 317 people on the roster, but there were actually only 276 people on the roster. The difference was more than 40 people. This means that one out of every eight people in the immigration camp has a vacant quota, and the expenses Haihan spends on this vacant person will naturally flow into the pockets of rats like Ma Bo.
Of course, this is not the biggest problem. If it is just greed for money, then there is no need for the garrison to set up such a large formation. Zeng Xiaowen arrested five people according to the list listed in the letter. The true identities of these people were the fundamental reason why the garrison took this action.
Zeng Xiaowen returned to Ma Bo again and said: "I will give you a chance to atone for your crimes now. Listen carefully. You should know better than me the true identities of these people I have arrested. Let me ask you, this immigrant Is there any fish that has slipped through the net? ”
Ma Bo seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw and quickly asked: "If the villain said it, can he be exempted from guilt?"
Zeng Xiaowen shook his head and said: "The crime you committed is too big. You can avoid the death penalty, but you cannot escape the living crime."
Ma Bo continued to ask: "Can we keep the family property?"
"Ill-gotten wealth and illegal gains should be handled by the garrison with full authority. As for your real estate title deed, as long as it is verified that the holding period is more than one year, it will be left to your family." Zeng Xiaowen said here that the topic changed: "Ma Bo, now is not the time for you to bargain. Think about it clearly. I can catch these people without your identification. If you are unwilling to cooperate with the investigation, then I will take you into custody first. When Master Chen asks, I will also tell you the truth about your attitude. You don't have to expect Mr. Chen to spare you. I'm not afraid to tell you that Mr. Chen went to find the head of your family before. Since he wants to take you, he will not let the Ma family protect you. Do you understand? ”
"I understand... I understand..." After hearing these words, Ma Bo knew that the situation was over. If he continued to carry on with Zeng Xiaowen, his situation would only become more passive. He didn't bother to think about it for a moment, why after Zeng Xiaowen arrested these five people, he was not sure whether he had arrested all the people who should be arrested. Now that his life was important, he could only vomit out everything he knew about the situation.
"Secretary Zeng, there are still several of their accomplices in the immigration camp... In addition, in the villain's house, there are three people disguised as servants hiding in the third courtyard. The villain can come forward and identify them!" Ma Bo recognized the situation! , no longer taking any chances, just poured beans into the bamboo tube.
"The people hiding in your family can't escape. You first identify all the accomplices in the immigration camp. Then Master Chen will ask about it later, so that I can intercede with him." Zeng Xiaowen had already obtained Ma's family information from the officer who passed the order. After hearing the news about the progress of Zhuangnai's arrest, he knew that the current focus was to thoroughly clean up the immigration camp, so he asked Mabo to take action to show his attitude immediately.
I wish all readers and friends good luck, good health, and lots of wealth in the Year of the Dog!
(End of chapter)