There was an unpleasant smell everywhere in the dark prison. Rats were scurrying around the cell from time to time, and cockroaches and fleas were jumping up and down.

Deep inside the prison is the internal prison, also known as the death row, which is specially used to hold death row prisoners. From time to time, the screams of prisoners can be heard from inside, and the cruel smiles of the cell leaders can be heard.

In recent years, the public security in Guangzhou has become worse and worse, and the prisons are always overcrowded. Among the prisoners are pirates, church members, members of the Heaven and Earth Party, and more of them are unemployed vagrants who have no livelihood and take desperate risks...

The cell where Yang Xuan was located was in the outer prison, which was a general prison and was slightly clean. He had close contacts with the leaders of the Tiandihui, and he should be executed according to the law, so he should have been locked up in the inner prison.

Yang Guozuo always doted on his only son. He spent money to transfer him from the inner prison to the outer prison, and asked his servant Yang Tian to serve Yang Xuan in the prison during the day.

Yang Tian is a member of the Yang family. Since their ancestors, the two families have forged a deep friendship. Yang Tian's grandfather once followed Yang Xuan's grandfather, Yang Yuchun, to return to Xinjiang to quell the Zhangger Rebellion. They were destined to each other.

friendship.

Yang Tian and Yang Xuan grew up together and have been Yang Xuan's followers since childhood.

Seeing that Yang Xuan woke up, Yang Tian quickly asked: "Master, are your injuries better?"

A few days ago, Yang Xuan and his son came to Guangzhou. Yang Guozuo's status was not high and he could not join the upper class society. Yang Xuan met the master of the Zhizhen Hall of the Tiandihui by chance, and they had a good rapport with each other.

The government raided Zhizhen Hall, and Yang Xuan and a bunch of Zhizhen cousins ​​were arrested and thrown into prison by the government.

In recent years, the Heaven and Earth Society has become more and more powerful in the south. It has continuously launched uprisings, openly occupied cities and water passes, set up checkpoints and collected taxes, and many people responded. The Qing government was very angry about this and ordered the southern governor to severely suppress it.

The government regards the Tiandihui Party as bandits, and once discovered, they will be punished with death in the most severe case and exile in the least serious case.

After Yang Xuan was taken to prison, he was inevitably beaten with a beating. Mr. Yang opened the joints in advance, so the jailer didn't attack hard, and Yang Xuan was quickly transferred to an outside prison.

Yang Tian's expression of concern moved Yang Xuan quite a bit. These days, Yang Tian has been taking care of him meticulously.

Yang Tian is five years older than Yang Xuan. He grew up in Yang Xuan's home and is a close companion of Yang Xuan who cannot leave for a moment.

Yang Xuan said: "It doesn't matter anymore. A few days ago, when the government raided Zhentang, he was slightly injured in a fight with an officer. Now he has recovered after more than half a month."

Yang Tian smiled honestly and said, "As long as you don't get in the way, I can also give orders to the master."

Yang Xuan also smiled and said: "A few days ago, I had close contact with the Zhizhen Hall of the Tiandihui. You have always been timid and afraid of getting into trouble, so you advised me not to associate with them. For this reason, I even scolded you and drove you away.

Let’s go. It really shouldn’t be.”

Yang Tian replied: "I was confused. I didn't follow the young master closely on the day of the accident, which made the young master suffer a lot. It's just that we are a family of officials, and we shouldn't hang out with people like the Tiandihui. Master, you are in trouble this time.

After prison, you must listen to the master and never get involved with the Heaven and Earth Society again."

The Tiandihui used the slogan "Anti-Qing and restore Ming" to give future generations the impression of actively opposing the Qing. In fact, the rise of the Tiandihui was not due to ethnic conflicts between Manchu and Han, but because the number of bankrupt workers increased and each other needed to form associations and help each other.

Most of the members of the Tiandi Hui were bankrupt farmers in rural areas and unemployed vagrants in cities. They joined the Tiandi Hui not to fight against the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty, but to help each other economically and improve their plight.

According to the Records of the Qing Dynasty, the national population in the early Qing Dynasty was approximately 60 million. In the early years of Qianlong's reign, the national registered population was close to 150 million. By the end of Qianlong's reign, the population exceeded 300 million. After more than 40 years, by the 20th year of Daoguang

In 1840, it reached 412.8 million.

The population of the Manchus expanded rapidly, and the cultivated land did not increase significantly, but was further concentrated in the hands of landlords. A large number of farmers lost their land, had no food and clothing, and were forced to become homeless.

In the face of overpopulation, people with lofty ideals often lamented: "The population is increasing day by day, but the land is not getting wider", "The livelihood is often difficult and insufficient", "there are more and more idle people"... The Qing emperor also had to admit: "Thinking at night,

There is no good solution."

Overpopulation has resulted in a large number of bankrupt people in rural areas and unemployed vagrants in cities. These people constitute the main body of the Tiandi Hui, which enables the Tiandi Hui to continue to grow and develop.

In Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, the Tiandi Society is particularly active.

After the First Opium War, the Qing government was forced to agree to the five-port trade. Guangzhou lost its trade monopoly, and the Chinese trade center quickly moved from Guangzhou to Shanghai.

Prior to this, most commodities from the Yangtze River Basin entered Guangzhou through Guangdong and Guangxi, supporting countless porters and sailors along the way. The decline of Guangzhou resulted in a large number of unemployed people, who had no choice but to join secret societies such as the Tiandi Society for mutual assistance.

However, the Tiandihui organization is relatively scattered, and even the various mountain halls in the same area are not subordinate to each other. Due to the lack of centralized and unified leadership, the Tiandihui has a great reputation, but it has never been able to form a big climate.

After listening to Yang Tian's advice, Yang Xuan felt a little dissatisfied.

As the saying goes, "When a country is about to fall, there must be evildoers." The Manchu Qing Dynasty has shown signs of decline. For Yang Xuan, getting to know some heroes in the world may not be completely useless.

Yang Tian was timid and fearful, and Yang Xuan didn't want to talk nonsense with him, so he said against his will: "Don't worry. After this incident, I will never associate with the Tiandi Society again."

Yang Tian was overjoyed and said: "Young master has such determination, I will be very happy to hear it. These days, young master, you don't know, I have been worried about you, running to Zhitai Yamen, Futai Yamen, Zhitai Yamen

My leg is broken, my money is running like water, and I finally have some clues."

Speaking of this, Yang Tian looked around, approached Yang Xuan, and said:

"The master found Tao Junmen, and he promised to help. The Taiyuan government has also made arrangements to transport the young master to Huizhou. Huizhou is where Tao Junmen is based. Once in Huizhou, the young master will be kept in custody and he will be free."

The Tao Junmen in Yang Tian's mouth refers to Tao Yu, the then Admiral of the Green Camp Land Route in Guangdong, to whom Yang Yuchun was kind. Recently, the British troops arrived outside Guangzhou, backed by strong ships and cannons, and demanded that the governors of Guangdong and Guangxi perform the Eighth Route Army.

The Treaty of Nanjing and the Five-Port Trade Charter signed between China and Britain years ago allowed the British to enter the city.

The situation outside Guangzhou was tense, and Tao Yu also came to Guangzhou to cooperate with the governor in dealing with the British.

After all, Yang Guozuo was also the eldest son of Zhaoyong Hou Yang Yuchun. How could he do so poorly and even save Yang Xuan so hard?

This is not difficult to understand. Yang Guozuo was mediocre in talent and was not liked by Yang Yuchun. The title of Marquis Zhaoyong was passed on to his second son Yang Guozhen.

Yang Guozhen was also shrewd and capable, and was honored as the Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang. However, he was a Han Chinese and was brave in taking charge of his affairs, which offended many officials in Fujian and Zhejiang. Yang Guozhen was ostracized by the Manchus and secretly impeached, saying that he had embezzled public funds.

Emperor Daoguang was the most frugal in his life, hated corrupt officials the most, and was always wary of the Han people. Emperor Daoguang dismissed Yang Guozhen's marquis, and for Yang Yuchun's sake, gave him a punishment of dismissal and retention.

Yang Yuchun is dead, Yang Guozhen has lost power, and Yang Xuan has committed another serious crime such as colluding with the Tiandi Society. Yang Guozuo is not popular among the governors in Guangzhou and has repeatedly encountered obstacles.

Hearing that the admiral was willing to help, Yang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You can come out of prison and find me first, and tell me that everything is fine and I don't need to worry about him. By the way, I can inquire about the news about Zhentang."

Yang Tian was a little suspicious, worried that Yang Xuan would associate with the Tiandi Society again, but he heard Yang Xuan say: "If everyone in Zhizhen Hall has run away, and the government lacks witnesses, my crime will be lighter."

After sending Yang Tian away, Yang Xuan looked at the injuries on his body. A week ago, he had a few bruises from a fight with an officer, but he was otherwise fine.

When Yang Xuan was young, he admired the rangers of the pre-Qin era. He practiced martial arts since he was a child and liked flying eagles and horses. The last time he fought with the officials, if they didn't have shotguns in their hands, how could Yang Xuan be captured by them?

While he was thinking wildly, a warder approached the cell and brought Yang Xuan a roast chicken and half a jar of rice wine.

Yang Xuan was wondering when the man said: "Master Yang, I was entrusted by Zhizhen Hall to give you some wine and meat. In two days, cousin Zhizhen will rob the prison. If Master Yang doesn't give up, you might as well take the opportunity to escape. I don't know, Master."

Do you have such intention?"

In the dim candlelight, Yang Xuan couldn't see the jailer clearly. From the sound of his voice, he thought he was about fifty. Zhi Zhen Tang dared to come to rob the prison and bribed the old soldiers in the prison, which quite surprised Yang Xuan.

However, his father has already opened up the joints, and Yang Xuan is about to transfer to Huizhou. Is it still necessary to follow Zhizhentang?

Seeing Yang Xuan's hesitation, the jailer whispered: "The brothers of Zhizhen Hall are all in the inner prison, and the young master is in the outer prison. The hall master values ​​Young Master Yang and knows that Young Master Yang is a descendant of Marquis Zhaoyong.

"He specifically asked the villain to ask if Young Master Yang is willing to be released from prison. If Young Master is interested, the brothers from Zhizhentang will break into the outer prison and rescue Young Master Yang. Please give me a clear answer."

Yang Xuan was deeply moved. He was lonely before crossing over, but now he was cared about. Although he got into trouble and went to jail, his father wanted to save him, and the brothers of the Tiandihui also wanted to save him.

One side is a relative and the other side is a brother in the world. Which side should he choose?

Choosing relatives is naturally the safest thing. Choosing brothers in the martial arts world may lead you further and further down the dangerous road.

Yang Xuan is familiar with history and knows that although the Tiandihui has many members, it has never formed a big atmosphere. Although the brothers of Zhizhentang are loyal, they are also disorganized and it is difficult to achieve great success.

He thought for a while and said: "Thank you, brother, for your trouble. Please convey my gratitude to the hall master. However, I am in the outer prison, and my brothers are all in the inner prison. Prison robbery is extremely dangerous, and I dare not let my brothers do it for my own selfish reasons.

They ventured into the outer prison.

"Moreover, my father has opened his joints, and I am out of danger. I will be escorted to Huizhou soon. I only care about myself and cannot rescue my brother. I am deeply sorry. Please apologize to the hall master on my behalf."

Seeing that Yang Xuan refused to comply, the jailer snorted coldly and said, "If the young master changes his mind, you might as well inform me in time. At that time, all you need to do is ask someone to go to the prison temple and say, 'Young master of the Yang family wants to see Lao Wang.'"
Chapter completed!