Chapter 24: Shock (First Update)

  "What?! The Miss of the Ding family has been snatched away?!" Lin Hu was greatly shocked, he hadn't expected such a thing to happen. He asked Luo Jian, who had come to report: "Is this true?"

  "A thousand truths! This matter was indeed spread from the Independent Regiment!" Luo Jian said with great conviction.

  Lin Hu lowered his head and walked back and forth a few steps before saying, "It seems that this kid really has taken a liking to this woman! I had heard earlier that this kid had some dealings with Miss Ding, but I didn't think he actually had feelings for her! Hmm, have him come over, I want to ask him myself!"

  "Yes, General!"

  Watching Luo Jian leave, Lin Hu furrowed his brow and muttered: "What does this kid want to do? He's not someone who covets beauty! Could it be that he has his eyes on the Ding family's assets?"

  。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。

  "What?! Mao Feng has taken Miss Ding away?!" Huang Kui asked in great surprise, but he soon regained his composure.

  "Father, this news is absolutely true! It's been spreading for a while now! With eyes and nose, I think Lin Hu has made his move! We must speed up too!"

  "Shut up! What do you know? Stop making a racket on the side!" Huang Kui scolded.

  Huang Shan Hong's head shrunk back, but he still plucked up the courage to say: "Dad! Isn't this the case? If Lin Hu didn't give his consent, would Mao Feng have dared to do this? I think you should go to Lin Hu and test the waters. If they really are going to take action, then we should too. We may not be able to eat the meat, but at least we can drink some soup!"

  Huang Kui shook his head and said, "Now is not the time to make a statement easily, we need to watch and wait, there will be a day when everything becomes clear. Although the Ding family is very tempting, but there is a premise!"

  Huang Kui stopped talking and looked at his son instead. Huang Shan Hong knew that his father wanted to hear his thoughts, so he hesitated for a moment before saying: "Is it about General Lin Hu's opinion?"

  Huang Kui said in a loud voice: "You have to have this fate! What's the point of talking about it if you're dead!"

  Huang Shan Hong was speechless, his face inevitably revealing a shocked expression. He also thought of the meaning behind his old man's words. Although he was a lecher, he wasn't an idiot!

  After Mao Feng had settled down Ting Xiao Ya, he said to several trusted people: "Immediately send a squad to guard the Ting family, just like watching the house and protecting the courtyard!"

  Although it was not explicitly stated which troops to send, everyone knew whose task this was. Zhao Pingzhou accepted the order and said: "Yes, Comrade Commander, I will dispatch troops immediately!"

  Mao Feng nodded slightly, and Zhao Pingzhou followed him out. Mao Feng knew that Zhao Pingzhou understood his meaning; if he didn't know, then no one else would either.

  Following Mao Feng's words, he said to the battalion commander Liu Chun: "The whole first battalion is on high alert, waiting for my order, and the second battalion is also like this! The guard company and the engineer company must take good care of the division headquarters!"

  "Yes!"

  After everyone left, Mao Feng received a call. It was naturally Lin Hu's invitation. After hanging up the phone, Mao Feng pondered for a moment and felt that he still had to go to Lin Hu's place.

  When Mao Feng saw Luo Jian, he thought that Lin Dashi would not be unfavorable to himself at least. The attitude on Luo Jian's face was very kind, which is enough to explain the problem.

  Luo Jian didn't accompany him and said: "The general is inside, go by yourself! I won't go."

  Mao Feng's smile said: "Alright then, see you later, Deputy Luo!"

  After finishing speaking, Mao Feng adjusted his military uniform and stepped into Lin Hu's study. As soon as he entered, he saw Lin Hu's calm demeanor.

  "Commander, I have arrived under orders!" said Mao Feng with a respectful salute.

  Still in standard military posture, still with an upright figure, Lin Hu couldn't help but admire every time he saw it. He pointed to the chair beside him and said: "Sit!"

  "Yes! General!" Maofeng sat down neatly.

  Lin Hu said: "You went to Ding's house today and made such a big deal, what's going on?"

  Mao Feng's expression turned solemn as he said, "General, I fell in love with Miss Ding Xiangya at first sight. However, her brother Ding Hua refused to give his consent, so I had no choice but to take matters into my own hands and elope with her!"

  "Oh?!" Lin Hu's thick eyebrows rose, and then he looked at Mao Feng with a somewhat gloomy expression: "Do you want to test the law with your own body? Do you think I won't do anything to you? Hmm?" Mao Feng stood up respectfully and said: "Your subordinate dares not! Your subordinate does this for himself, for the team, and also to live up to the commander's expectations of him! Please forgive your subordinate!"

  Lin Hu was actually amused by Mao Feng's words, he nodded and said: "Alright, you tell me, if what you say makes sense, I'll forgive you. Otherwise, humph, you know the consequences!"

  "Your Excellency, this humble officer will not speak of personal matters. Since the establishment of the Independent Regiment, we have been training day and night, and although our combat effectiveness has improved rapidly, the expenses incurred are also astonishingly high. If we do not find a way to secure funding, our training progress will come to an abrupt halt. The current situation is not favorable, and there is always the possibility of a large-scale war breaking out at any time. In order to share Your Excellency's concerns, this humble officer wants to improve the combat effectiveness of the Independent Regiment by all means necessary. Therefore, securing funding is of utmost importance, a top priority. That's why this humble officer naturally turned his attention to the Ding family! This is a win-win situation for this humble officer."

  After finishing speaking, Mao Feng stopped talking, his head didn't lower, nor did it raise, and his gaze calmly met Lin Hu's. Lin Hu saw from this that Mao Feng didn't have any other thoughts.

  Lin Hu's gloomy face had improved a lot, Lin Hu's tone was still quite stern, he said: "You're doing this and you're not afraid of an unstable situation happening in Chaozhou? Nonsense! The Ding family may not be as good as it used to be, but a dead camel is bigger than a horse! Is this something that can be done just because one wants to do it? Otherwise, would I have waited until today?"

  Mao Feng immediately lowered his head and said: "Your subordinate has ruined the general's plan, please punish and discipline me!"

  Lin Hu continued, "Don't talk nonsense. If it were that easy, would you still be standing here? Women are always available, and when the situation improves, you can have whatever woman you want. Isn't it obvious that I don't need to say more about this? The reason the Ding family hasn't made a move is because of the Huang family. Without the Ding family's restraint, the Huang family would be all-powerful. And in the eyes of the people of Chaozhou, the Ding family has always had higher prestige than the Huang family. Can relying on killing and suppression bring me a rich and stable Chaozhou? This is our foundation, and we can't let it fall into chaos. Don't you know that? Aren't you supposed to be a talented person? I think you're also making a mistake! Is it just because of the little Ding Xiaoya that you've become so flustered? You've really disappointed me!"

  Mao Feng's expression didn't change, still bowing his head in respect. Lin Hu let out a low sigh and said: "However, what you did today isn't entirely bad either. At least it stirred up the waters, and the Huang family will definitely be on guard now. They're also anxious, but according to Huang Kui's thinking, he'll probably just observe for now! The Ding family can also take this opportunity to see if they truly are loyal to me! In that case, I ask you, does Miss Ding Xiangya of the Ding family really have feelings for you?"

  "I dare not deceive the commander, it is indeed so! If not, I am willing to take the punishment!" Mao Feng said immediately. Mao Feng had already known Lin Hu's bottom line in his heart, and this bottom line was that he could not be deceived by Lin Hu.

  Lin Hu said, "Well, I think that's how it should be done! You and I will visit the Ding family together, and I'll act as a matchmaker. If the Ding family doesn't give me face, then there's nothing more to say! Without the Ding family, there are still the Dong family and the Fang family. We can support one of these powers to have a big showdown with the Huang family, that's still possible!"

  Mao Feng's face lit up with great joy, he raised his head and said to Lin Hu: "Thank you, General! From now on, I will only follow your orders, I am willing to die for you, no matter what!"

  At night, the curtain of darkness slowly opens. Although the weather is no longer cold, it still has a cool feeling. There are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the street, and many people have already stayed at home to have dinner with their families.

  The sound of horseshoes echoed, eight horses galloping on the street, not fast but enough to outrun pedestrians. Lin Hu and Mao Feng were in front and back, surrounded by guards!

  The Ding Mansion is already in sight, and there's not another word on the way! When they arrived at the gate, they saw soldiers holding guns on guard. After seeing Lin Hu and Mao Feng, the soldiers all stood at attention and saluted with their guns!

  Lin Hu stopped his horse and said to Mao Feng: "Are these your troops?"

  Mao Feng responded loudly: "Yes, General, afterwards I ordered to surround the Ding Mansion, no one is allowed in or out!"

  Lin Hu nodded and said: "Well done! It should be like this! It seems that you are also considered not to have been confused by the beauty of women!"

  "Come on, let's go in!" said Lin Hu.

  Mao Feng followed Lin Hu into the Ding Mansion, half a step behind. At this moment, although the Ding Mansion was still very quiet, the atmosphere seemed a bit flustered and oppressive. There were no servants of the Ding Mansion, nor any human shadows.

  Lin Hu and Mao Feng, along with eight guards, walked into the living room of the Zhong Tang, where they saw Ding Hua. Ding Hua was sitting in a chair, watching them arrive.

  No matter what, Ding Hua still endured the anger and got up from his chair to walk towards Lin Hu. He had to show his attitude. Lin Hu saw that Ding Hua's attitude was still not bad, so he also showed a smile.

  Mao Feng was also smiling at people, Ding Hua greeted Lin Hu and welcomed him, but he didn't say a word to Mao Feng.

  Mao Feng stood behind Lin Hu, and Ding Hua immediately ordered someone to make tea. Lin Hu smiled and said, "Coming here in the middle of the night is indeed a disturbance!"

  Ding Hua then showed his anger and said: "Lin Zhen, as the guardian of Chao Mei Town, you are the parent official of the Chao Mei area, with the responsibility to protect our families and maintain local stability. But today, someone has been allowed to plunder and rob, openly kidnapping people from the Ding Mansion in broad daylight! How can I not be furious about this?"