Chapter 6 Chapter Six
Time passed like this, and the number of reclamation people who came to Taiwan continued to increase. During the Gengxu period, there was another fight for classification in Zhangquan in the Danshui area. Zhang people set fire to the new reclamation area of Quanren near Huwei. The leader, Zheng Yong, led with the purpose of driving all the people from Quanzhou on the north bank of the Danshui River back to the south bank.The cause of this weapon fight was the same as that of the Bingwu year, and it could also be said to be the resurgence of the previous one.
In this new fight, Shi Wanfu and Su Quan, who are from Quanzhou, united their fellow villagers in the Dajilong area, fought back bravely, and fought fiercely in the outskirts of Huwei. Qian Hakka, caught in the middle of a dilemma.Their numbers are not as large as in Zhangzhou, nor in Quanzhou, but people on both sides of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou are desperately trying to win them over, and the Hakkas are unwilling to help either side. The grass was also trampled on, forcing them to cross the river, pass through Balidong, and migrate southward to the relatively barren red earth mountains in the Maoli and Tongluo areas, and try to reclaim land to make a living.
The people of Zhangzhou had already planned this fight, and they had an absolute advantage in numbers. Their firearms and weapons were stronger than their opponents. They surrounded more than 800 men from Quanzhou to the coast on the west side of Jilong Mountain to fight desperately. Blood-stained the gleaming white sand of the shore, a mottled scarlet.
In the end, the bloody battle was going on in the shallow sea. People were chasing and killing each other in the knee-high water. On the blue water, there were floating red velvet-like blood threads.Of course, the Zhangzhou people with a large number of people won the battle. Those corpses lying on the coast or floating in the sea were not even buried or buried on the spot. The sky is festering, and the wind on the coast carries a smell of corpses that can be smelled for miles.
During the Xianfeng period, the inland situation changed greatly. With the support of local parties, Hong Xiuquan set up troops in Jintian, Guangxi, attacked Guangdong, and entered Hunan. Contact, almost all cut off.This news quickly spread to the ears of the land reclamation people, making people's hearts flutter with excitement.
Some private merchant ships came south to the Penghu Islands and the piers in the north and south of Taiwan's main island, like sowing seeds, spreading the situation of Hong Xiuquan's uprising to the people.This news re-inflated the power of the party in Taiwan. They felt that since Hong Xiuquan was able to raise his flag and openly resist the Qing Dynasty, if the people of Taiwan could respond in a timely manner, they would be defeated in the area of Fujian and Guangdong by the Qing court. Shichen, the chance of success is much greater than that of Lin Yuwen and Zhu Yigui back then.
The news of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's uprising plunged the government offices of the Manchu and Qing governments in the north and south of Taiwan into great panic and confusion.Of course, they were not clear about the chaos in the interior for a while, but they only knew that Changmao's momentum was so great that it was almost impossible for the officers and soldiers to resist.This kind of psychological fear made all the officials of the government office feel that they were in danger, and it was considered good to be able to protect themselves.The number of soldiers in the platform squadron is limited, most of them are old and weak. Needless to say, large-scale uprisings, even general flag-raising incidents, are powerless. Help out, now, Fujian and Guangdong are too busy to take care of themselves, and the local gentry are also hesitant to wait and see. Once the anti-Qing incident occurs, they will have nowhere to escape. At present, they have to hide in the government office and regain their usual prestige.
As for the hub of external transportation, the Monka area has the most news and the greatest impact.The Tamsui government office is no longer in business, and Baojia is also in name only. The situation is complicated and chaotic.The local party held a meeting to discuss how to respond to the Taiping Rebellion, unite the villagers, and unanimously raise the flag to fight against the Qing Dynasty.And some short-sighted hooligans think that Zhangquan's old feud of classified fighting is not over, and they just took advantage of the chaos to fight a big one. They still return Zhang to Zhang, spring to spring, yelling in groups, inciting more good people, Seeking revenge in the streets.
As a result, a large number of mobs manipulated the situation, and the result of their random burning and killing made the situation even more chaotic. They threw away a great opportunity to unite and fight against the Qing Dynasty, but the feud between Zhangquan and Quanzhou broke out and turned into a massacre. Classified Rush in Danshui, Zhuchi, Taichung, and Changhua counties.
First, Huang Alan, the new leader of the Quan people in the Bangka area, gathered one or two blunderbuss teams and hundreds of knives in order to destroy the Quanren business on Mengka Street by the Zhang people's mobs. Acting to reward the gods, he planned to go out to take revenge on Zhang people.For the first time, Quanren gathered thousands of people to gather together. Some of them were carrying lanterns, some were holding on to torches, and they listened to Huang Alan's speech on the flat field.Huang Alan said angrily:
Relying on their numbers, the people of Zhangzhou wiped out all our people from Quanzhou on the north shore of Danshui. Now they are stirring up mobs and burning our businesses. We pray to God, this fight must be fought to the end!We also want to drive out all the Zhangzhou people in Xinzhuang and Mengka, and we want to capture their Xikouzhuang, Da'anzhuang and Zhilanyibao, so that they can see that we are not easy to bully.
We will carry Patriarch Qingshui to send troops.The hot-tempered Chen Long said: "The last two times, we suffered a big loss in the Huwei area. We have to avenge this blood feud. We must win!"
The fight is decided to be fought, but as usual, the show of rewarding the gods will continue.
Several opera troupes set up wooden platforms on the field in front of the temple, beat gongs and drums, and made a huge commotion. Men from Quanzhou gathered in front of the stage, watching the play with abandon.Huang Alan and Chen Long had also thought about what kind of accidents would happen on a dark and stormy night. They believed that the other party would never have the guts to come and attack them. As soon as the play was over, he ordered the crowd to attack Dadaocheng first. , approaching Zhilan Fort.
Unexpectedly, people from Zhang nationality knew all the calculations of the other party like the palm of their hands. Chairman Zhuang and several leaders gathered together and decided at that time to carry out a sneak attack at the time when the people of the spring worshiped the temple. It was a matter of discussion. Some people thought that Zheng Yong and Quanren had fought against each other twice, and he was experienced, calm and bold. It was most appropriate for him to take the lead in this matter.Some people advocate that the giant Zhu Wu should be chosen, because he is born with great strength, and the opponent is almost invincible with that big sword. Once he goes, he will surely succeed.Director Zhuang felt that Zheng Yong was the leader of leading the crowd, and he couldn't take such a big risk easily. If the matter couldn't be done, he would lose the general first, and he would suffer a big loss.As for the big sword Zhu Wu, he has more than enough courage but not enough scheming. Putting him on both sides to fight against each other can be said to be extremely powerful. If he is used to lead people to sneak attack, it is the wrong place.
How about the pillars on Lotus Street?
If Zhuzai is willing to go, that would be the best!Mr. Zhuang said: The other party has gathered a lot of people with guns, and a sneak attack is very risky. You have to ask Zhu Zai first and ask him if he is willing.someone said.
Zhu Zai was found and heard that he was going to attack Quanzhou people. Zhu Zai patted his chest and said that he was willing to take the lead. He said:
I am most familiar with the terrain around the Patriarch Temple. Aren't they doing a show and worshiping the gods?I just need to bring fifty people, climb in from the back of the temple, capture their gods, and then fight against them, the opponent will not be able to win!
Yes, this is a good idea, Chen Long said: It is better to capture their gods than to sneak attack them, so that the Quanzhou people will lose their arrogance!
It's a good idea, Mr. Zhuang said: "However, Patriarch Qingshui is the patron saint of the people from the spring, and it is extremely effective. Offending their gods, I'm afraid it will be bad for us, isn't it?"
What does it matter?Chen Long said: We are worshiping the Kaizhang Sage King, and our gods will protect us.
Well, Mr. Zhuang thought for a while and said: Zhuzai, you take fifty people there, and I will gather a brigade to support you. Before dawn tomorrow, we will not let the other party attack first, so we will dispatch from all sides to capture Mengka. , won the first round, and it will be easy to deal with the back.
Zhu Zai went back and counted forty to fifty people. Some of these people were his apprentices, some followed him in the world of Lianhua Street, and most of them were outlaws. Going to the back of the temple, Zhuzai led them, touched behind a low wall, and whispered to the left and right:
Listen, the people on the other side are also watching the theater. We will dig a hole from the back of the temple, sneak into the back hall, capture their gods, and run away with their backs. When they find out that they are chasing us, we have already run back .
These people usually run rampant in the village, fish and meat merchants, and seem to be fearless, but they have an inexplicable fear of the golden body of the patriarch of Wei Ling, and when they hear that they are going to captivate the gods, their legs are frightened.
You are all useless things, Zhuzi didn’t hear anyone who dared to answer, so he said angrily: I came up with this idea. If their gods are really alive, he should first punish me to come to two people to help me dig a hole, and the rest Yes, they are all waiting here. If there are too many people doing this kind of thing, it is easy to go wrong.
The back street of the Zushi Temple is connected by a number of farms, and there are many gaps in it. The pillars with familiar terrain, it is easy to take advantage of no one's attention during the play, quickly touch the back of the temple, hide in the dark, and take out the iron. Shovel to dig a hole.
The play was very lively. Several troupes from the central and southern regions, in order to compete for fame and talent, used their box-pressing skills to beat the gongs and drums loudly and sing wonderful plays. Zhuzai and the others would pick this moment to strike, and hit their patriarch on the head.
Zhuzai and his two men dug the hole very quickly, and before they started, they had already dug a hole in the ground, leading to the shrine in the temple.On the altar in front of the altar, brightly lit candles were flickering, but there were no guards. Zhuzi stretched out his head to inspect it, and turned to greet the two, saying:
Let's do it while no one is in the temple!
The ropes used are all carried with you. The pillar first jumps onto the shrine, knocks down the statue of the patriarch, and carries it on your back.The statue was carved out of red sandalwood, and it was extremely heavy. Only a man with brute force like him, but someone else couldn't carry it on his back.The two assistants hurriedly tied the statue tightly with ropes so that it would not be lost temporarily.
However, after the binding was tightened, a problem occurred: it turned out that the cave they dug was not wide enough, and a person could crawl through with his body bent, but the pillar could not crawl through with the statue on his back.
What should we do?The assistant said anxiously.
It's just a matter of digging a bigger hole.said another.
Bu Zhuzai said: We don't have that much time. I think we have to take the risk of rushing out from the side door and run northward immediately. When they find out, we will chase after them. Those of us who are lying on the other side of the low wall will be able to catch up. While fighting with them, Mr. Zhuang's reinforcements will arrive soon.
All right!The assistant gritted his teeth and said.
According to Zhuzai's calculation, the three of them pulled open the gate of the side door and rushed out, but it didn't go as smoothly as Zhuzai had planned. As soon as they went out, they were held up by one of them within a few dozen steps. The man with the lantern found out, and opened his throat, shouting like a slaughtered pig:
You guys, come on!The people of Zhangzhou ran away with the golden body of our patriarch!
It doesn't matter if he yelled like this, he didn't watch all the plays, and shouted at each other, picked up their weapons and chased the person, while chasing, asking where the person was fleeing.Those who go to the theater don’t go to the theater, and those who perform on the stage don’t do it either. They don’t have time to change their clothes, and they don’t even have time to wash off the paint on their faces, so they copy the weapons used on the stage, jump off the stage, and follow the people around them all the way. chase down.
If it was daytime, let alone two or three people like Zhuzai, even thirty people would all be dead, but in the dark, the lanterns and torches do not shine far away, and the party with more people will cause chaos instead.
Even though the crowd in Quanfang was chaotic, there were still a large number of people, including those who wore costumes and sang operas, chasing them all the way down.Zhu Zi usually runs very fast, but he is tightly bound by a sandalwood statue, and he cannot change his back with his assistant.
The two people following Zhuzai originally ran together with Zhuzai, but they found a large group of people chasing them down, and Zhuzai, who was carrying the statue on his back, ran slower and slower, so they looked after themselves. Run for your life, throw the pillar down and leave it alone!The shout was approaching, Zhu Zai looked back, no matter how courageous he was, he was frightened and panicked; there were at least two or three hundred people chasing after him with lanterns and torches in their hands. There are people in colorful ancient costumes, waving swords and spears, like heavenly soldiers and generals.
The statue was so heavy that the binding ropes sank deep into his shoulders. Only then did Zhuzai realize that it was the most stupid thing to do to tie the statue tightly to his body. In an emergency, he couldn’t change the back. It seems that if there is no support manpower, tonight will be a disaster.
The chasers roared, and the heavy red light formed by countless torches had vaguely outlined the figure of the god-carrying figure running ahead. The man was obviously exhausted, and he was running slower and slower, and he would be gone in a while. I can catch up with him!
Zhuzai didn't need to look back, the dancing red light was so close that his shadow could be traced, he ran to the edge of the big pond, cut two ropes with a short knife, jumped, and even the man and the god statue entered the pond, from the pond Slowly drifting towards the center of the pond.
Those who steal god statues jumped into the pond!
God will let him drown!
The chasers gathered around the big pond, holding up high lanterns and torches to shine on the surface of the pond. They only saw the golden body of the god and Buddha being held up by ropes floating on the water, but they couldn't see the person carrying the statue.Because of the god statue, people from Quanji didn't want to fire guns or shoot arrows, so they could only surround the people who jumped into the pond and wait for Chen Long to deal with them.
Uncle Chen is here!someone said.
Chen Long hurried over with a team of blunderbuss, he ordered some young swimmers to go down to the pond, pick up the statue of the ancestor, and capture the person who stole the statue alive, and forced him to find out who he was tortured by. instigated.According to Chen Long's calculation, at this moment, it is most important to catch a living witness in Zhangzhou. As long as there is a living witness in hand, it is not difficult to torture a detailed statement. It was the other party who deliberately made the first move, so the reason is natural and strong, at least the person who can make the source of the spring is more willing to give up his life.
Seven or eight men went down the pond, and when they picked up the statue, they found that the rope had already been cut by a sharp knife, and the person carrying the statue had already swam away and disappeared.
Perhaps he has drowned in the pond!someone said.
That's it!Chen Long said: Send people to guard the big pond, and we will split up to chase other people.
But after such a delay, they went to chase again, but they couldn't catch up with Zhuzi's men who were crouching behind the low wall, and they ran away long ago!
Although Zhuzai escaped with his life, his hands and feet were cut. As soon as he returned to Lianhua Street, he caught the two assistants who left him in a critical situation, and dealt with them according to the rules of their underworld. up.
This matter failed, Zhuang Zongdong became angry, and early the next morning, he led a brigade and rushed towards the area of the Quan people.
Civilian fights were different from marching formations, and the chaos was out of order. People from Zhangji divided into groups from Zhilanyibao, Da'anzhuang, Gutingzhuang, and Xikouzhuang, and rushed towards Dadaocheng and Mengka. There was a melee in the street with people from Quanzhou; people from Quanzhou also poured out from Xinzhuang and Xisheng, and went straight to the village fort where people from Zhang nationality lived. If you set fire to my village fort, I will also set fire to your village fort. You beat me with this one, and I beat you with that one, fighting fiercely from dawn to dusk.Looking from a height, there are many tongues of flame rising in the market, and thick black smoke billowing everywhere. Which side won?No one can know.
Several streets near the Mengka Wharf were on fire. People from both sides rolled into groups, fighting in the flames and smoke. The brick walls of the streets were covered with human blood, remnant hair and broken flesh. Corpses, some women, ignoring the fighting of swords and swords, embraced the corpses of their relatives and cried in the street. On the streets near Xinmeifeng Pavilion alone, there were nearly a hundred human corpses that died tragically. Among these corpses, who was it? Zhang people?Who is Quanren?It's simply impossible to tell the difference.
In the center of the Bangka area, there are several Quanren temples with strong incense, such as Zushi Temple and Longshan Ancient Temple, which are protected by nearly a thousand people led by Chen Long. Let, therefore, this area naturally become the focus of the fighting, both sides rushed at each other, the dead did not speak, and the living shouted their throats hoarse.
In the fight at dusk, the Quan people were concentrated, while the Zhang people were dispersed. Huang Alan and Chen Long and other two or three groups repelled the weak Zhang people. They kept driving people back to the east of Da'anzhuang, and when the fighting ceased at night, the embers were still burning wildly.
In the early morning of the next day, almost all the well-prepared Quan people were dispatched. Some of them came from Taoziyuan and Daguza. The suburbs in the suburbs of Xiamen were destroyed, and the local Zhang people could not stand on their feet, and they abandoned their houses and fled one after another. Even the giants Zhu Wu and Zhu Zai took their men and went to Zhilan Yibao.
Chen Long occupied Monga, and searched everywhere for the members of the Zhangji Matou Gang, Lianhua Jiekou Gang, Dazhong Miaokou Gang, Zhu Wu, Zhu Zai, and Guo Zhaotang, and even their relatives and family members.
If we want to secure Monga, we must get rid of the other party's internal forces by the root!He said.
In fact, people from Zhang nationality were expelled from Mengka, and they did not fight back immediately. However, along Fangliao Street (now Zhonghe City) and Gangzaizui (now Banqiao City) where Zhangquan borders, the two sides still disagreed. The attack stopped, and the aftermath of this fighting has been extended to Taozaiyuan and Nankan and other rural villages.
Humans are so strange. Once a regional fight occurs, they just stare at each other with their bloodshot eyes wide open. Even if they listen to the news from afar, they can't react to it. .
And the news is often brought by transoceanic merchant ships, saying that the Taiping Army has already gone all the way north, and settled in Nanjing; it is said that pirates from Guangdong Province robbed the grain ships that crossed the sea from Taiwan to Xiamen, causing serious riots in Zhejiang and Fujian. Food shortage.Not long after, it was rumored that the Heaven and Earth Society rebelled in Haizhou County near southern Fujian, and Zhangzhou and Xiamen both raised the banner of the Little Swordsmanship.
Not to mention the matter of crossing the ocean and the sea, during that month, Li Shi, the leader of the Hui Party in Taiwan County, set up an anti-Qing flag. Seized the county, and killed Gao Hongfei, the county magistrate, and dozens of government officials. Immediately afterwards, Lin Gong, the leader of the Hui Party, gathered nearly a thousand people and established the name Tiande. He also captured Fengshan City, killed Wang Tinggan, the magistrate, and opened the warehouse. Release all prisoners.Li Shi and Lin Gong got in touch and led the troops to besiege Fucheng.At this time, the leaders of the Chiayi Association on the North Road, Hong Ji, Zhang Gu, Luo Asha, Lai Zong, and others also raised flags in time to respond, and the various governors' brigades approached Chiayi City.
If the strength of Yinan Road, which sacrificed its life to tree the flag, was combined with the forces of Zhang and Quan in the Danbei area, killing Xu Zongqian from Taiwan Road, forcing him to surrender to South Road Haiphong and Li Fan Tongzhi Zheng Yuanjie, and recovering the whole of Taiwan, it would be a piece of cake, not to mention The South Road Society sent someone to Danshui County, and that person was Chen Shan, a hero from Longxi.
Accompanied by Jin Baoshan, Chen Shan first posted a post to visit the leaders of Quan people, Huang Alan and Chen Long. He said frankly:
Although the Taiping Army has set up a tripod in Nanjing, the troops of the Qing court are still strong in the coastal provinces. Lin Gong, Li Shi and Hong Ji took the risk to set up the flag, and now they are fighting hard with the officers and soldiers led by Zheng Yuanjie. Defeated, it depends on whether the Northland can immediately add a helping hand!The north and the south are thousands of miles apart, and it is not easy for brothers to come here.Anyway, please give me a call back.
Really, Uncle Huang and Uncle Chen.Jin Baoshan said: These days, the outside world has changed too much. Now it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to set up a flag to fight against the Qing Dynasty and recover the whole Taiwan. The person who died was also a fellow from Fujian, so what's the point?I am from the suburbs of Xiamen, and I have never advocated fighting with weapons.
What the two of them said was enough to expose their breasts, and Huang Alan hesitated first.
Uncle Chen, we were very touched when you came to Danshui County after traveling such a long distance. He said: Everything you say is reasonable.But in Danbei, people from Zhangquan and Quanzhou have been fighting each other year after year. Since the reign of Qianlong, they have been fighting until now. You can hear it in your ears. If you talk about Quanfang, you may not be able to talk about Zhangfang.Brother Chen Long and I were just picked up to lead the fight. When it comes to making peace, I don't have that much authority. It's not that I don't want to agree, it's that I can't agree.
Things got very tense, so Chen Long interrupted and said:
I think so, Brother Chen Shan and Uncle Jin, you are both Zhangzhou natives, you might as well go to Zhilanyibao and Da'anliao first, and talk to the leaders of the other party, if they are willing to stop fighting and make peace, it will be a good idea. Things will be easier to handle!We are not strong enough, maybe we can find a more respectable gentleman in the local area to intervene for mediation.
Right!Jin Baoshan nodded and said: This is a way, Brother Chen Shan, I will take you to Zhilan Yibao and Daanliao right away.
The two said their goodbyes and walked through the Mengka street where the two sides had fiercely fought a few days ago. Although the street has been hastily cleaned up, the fire-burned broken walls and broken wood still show a striking black color. The soil and bricks along the street , still left unwashed blood.Jin Baoshan told Chen Shan about these several times of fighting with weapons, although they started and stopped, nearly a thousand people were killed or injured.When Chen Shan asked about the Dasui brothers, who he always cared about, Jin Baoshan said:
Speaking of which, we are ashamed. First they were forced to move to Xikou Village by Guo Zhaotang, where they built a new furnace and lit a fire, and asked them to make weapons for fighting. Later, Er Sui offended Guo Zhaotang and was hanged and wounded. Wishing to be involved in the vortex of fighting with weapons, and Lu, who sells iron and steel, will lead them away!
Is there any news after they left?
Yes, I have!Jin Baoshan said: A few days ago, at the Waizhuang on the east side of Sanjiao Chung, a farmer named Arong Bo came to ask me if I knew Lai Dasui.They mistakenly thought that Brother Dasui had stolen their cattle and caught Dasui who had injured his leg.I explained it to him in detail and sent him back.After that, I didn't hear any news about him, and I thought that he might still be living in that foreign village.
Triangle Chung is not far from here, Chen Shan said: As long as I have time, I will try to find out.
Chen Shan felt very sad when he thought of what happened to the Dasui brothers. Over the years, he, Wang Tong, Huang Wei, Lin Jun and other aspiring friends helped Uncle Lai Huo to do his best for the party. No matter how much toil they endured, they never backed down and planned for themselves. However, those two young people wanted to find a place to settle down, but they couldn't find it in their hometown, and now they can't find either. Sad, think about it carefully, how can there be so many short-sighted people in this world who are only brave enough to fight privately? !
When Chen Shan arrived at Zhilan Yibao, Zheng Yong, the head of the land reclamation, gave him a grand reception. At the same time, he invited Zhuang Zongdong, Xu Baozheng, Zhang Baozheng, Zhu Wu, and Zhuzai to discuss with Chen Shan.Chen Shan analyzed the current situation, and hoped that the people from Zhang and Quan in the Danshui area would make peace with each other and work together to set up flags and raise troubles. He said:
Think about it, everyone, although the area around Danshui and Zhuchi was developed late, the land is fertile and fertile, and there are a lot of people who come to cultivate it. Now there are 400,000 to 500,000 households and one million residents. The squadrons on the ground couldn't look at each other head to tail, and the two rebels on the South Road had the hope of attacking Fucheng.
Among these leaders, Mr. Zhuang is more far-sighted.He first agreed with what Chen Shan said, advocating immediate peace with the people from Quan, but Zheng Yong and Da Dao Zhu Wu firmly opposed it.Zheng Yong said:
We have won the last few weapon fights. It stands to reason that the opponent should compensate us for all the losses during the weapon fight. The price is calculated in cash. Even if they want to make peace, they should ask us for peace first. There is absolutely no winning party. , and humiliated, looking for the other party to ask for peace.
Raising the flag is not a simple matter.Zhu Zai also said: If it is not done well, you will be punished. We help Lin Gong and Li Shi on the South Road. In the future, things will be done. They are kings in the south. What good do we have? !It's not interesting to play tricks for others and play the side drums.
We don’t need to talk about today’s future events. Mr. Zhuang said: There were people who talked about making peace, but we didn’t seek peace from the other party. This didn’t lose the face of our Zhang people; Leave it alone.Am I right?
Rough people like Da Dao Zhu Wu and Zhu Zai speak freely, just to show their bravery, but they don't really think about it seriously. As soon as Mr. Zhuang talked about the truth, Zhu Zai stopped talking. up.
What do the people from Quanzhou mean?Mr. Zhuang asked.
After a preliminary talk, Jin Baoshan said: Huang Alan and Chen Long did not insist on continuing the fight, but they did not immediately agree.For this kind of thing, we can only be a go-between. If you want to make peace, you have to discuss it face to face. As long as both parties are interested, the negotiation can always be successful.
Chen Shan knew that things were difficult to distinguish, but he was still rushing about in both directions.Among the educated gentry in the north, Zheng Yongxi, a Jinshi from Zhuchi, had the highest reputation and reputation, and he was also the most trusted and respected by the local people of Zhangquan and Quanzhou.Chen Shan personally went to Zhuqian to ask Mr. Zheng Jinshi to explain the situation of the Nanlu Shuqi incident, and hoped that the Danbei area would respond.
Zheng Yongxi listened silently. He was not as optimistic as Chen Shan about the raising of flags. He believed that riots like Zhu Yigui and Lin Yuwen were just a mob of vagrants and mobs. It's hard to stand up for long, he said:
He reasoned that scholars should come out to shoulder the burden, but everyone was alone, and many opportunities were delayed.This time Lin Gong and Li Shi acted recklessly, and they will be wiped out in a short time, alas!This can only be said to be luck!As for the fighting in Zhangquan, grievances are reciprocated, and the cycle is endless. The number of people plus the number of days, it is not easy to stop the army and make peace. However, I am willing to try my best to persuade them, so that they can help the South Road.This is just wishful thinking on my part, it's hard to say whether things will go smoothly!
As long as Mr. Zheng agrees to make peace, I am extremely grateful!Chen Shan said: I also know that most of the people in the party are brave and foolhardy grassroots people.As long as there is nothing wrong with resisting Man Xing Han, there will always be someone who will come out to shed blood in the future.
After Chen Shan left, Mr. Zheng Jinshi really took on the burden of mediating disputes.
He sent invitations to officials and gentry from both sides of Bangka, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou, and had in-depth talks separately. He wrote another article on persuading peace, which he asked the bookstore to engrave and print ten thousand copies, and circulated widely, calling on both sides to stop fighting and settle the dispute.For a scholar, this is already a great effort.The impact cannot be said to be non-existent, but it does not stop the clamor of combatants on both sides. They advocate: to make peace, the other party must apologize, apologize, and be responsible for huge compensation.More and more conditions were raised, making it impossible to reconcile, and finally decided to continue the fight.
The most influential gentry came forward to mediate, but in the end the fight could not be stopped, and Chen Shan's hope of raising troops to respond to the South Road in the Danbei area disappeared.During that month, there was a vision in the sky, a fierce drought rainbow appeared in the clear sky, and a humming sound came from Datun Mountain, which lasted for three days and three nights.
In less than half a month, a ship sailing northward from Fucheng brought news that Zheng Yuanjie, a co-prefect of Haiphong of the South Road, had recaptured Fengshan City with his troops.After that, the news got worse and worse. It was said that Lin Gong was arrested and killed by Xiequn. The general Hengyu led the army to the north to break the siege of Chiayi and hunt down the party members. Hundreds of people under Li Shi were killed.As a result, the people on the platform responded to the Taiping Army's uprising, and it ended tragically.
In August, the weather was very hot, and the residents in the Bangka area did not have any concern for the failure of the South Road uprising.People from Quanzhou were doing Taoism in Mengka, and then there was a huge storm in Danbei, which caused sea water to flood in, and wiped out several households of Zhangji residents at the foot of Zhilan Yibao Mountain and on the edge of Suiye.Being a Taoist temple and a storm were originally two irrelevant things, but they were rumored by some good people, insisting that the storm was begged by people from Quanzhou to harm others, so the people from Zhangji rallied again with gongs , Attacked, burned, and looted the place where the Quan people lived, killed people when they saw people, and destroyed things when they encountered them.This time, with the help of the Sanyi people and the sympathy of some Cantonese people, the people from Quanzhou also formed a large group to resist everywhere, and at the same time counterattacked the residence of the Zhang people.This time, the area of fighting has expanded even more. The flames destroyed the county office in Xinzhuang, the Tandi Mansion in Haishanbao, and the Balixinzhuang in Dajiabaobao; Qiu, who stole the idol and was caught and chased by others, almost drowned in a pond, seized the opportunity to approach Mengka and set fire to the Zushi Temple.
The fighting with weapons continued in the chaos. Chicken cages, San Diao, Taozai Garden, Yangmei, and both Zhangquan and Quanzhou also took people into their houses, fighting with each other.Due to the inability of all government officials to manage affairs, the local Baojia was also involved in the vortex of armed fighting. The township Ding Tunyong, who usually guards against bandits and theft, has changed into the main force of armed fighting. There are more than a dozen village castles that were destroyed by the flames of war, not to mention the heavy casualties on both sides.
As far as Zhangzhou people are concerned, the group of Zhilan Yibao led by Zheng Yong took in two brave generals, Da Dao Zhu Wu and Man Niu Zhuzai. Therefore, his status among the leaders of Zhangzhou was raised, and he gradually replaced him. Zhuang Zongdong's momentum; while the Quanzhou people found out the details of the opponent, Chen Long led the elite to find Zheng Yong to fight.In Chen Long's formation, the famous Tiger of Xisheng appeared. He led a single-handed team composed of more than 300 swordsmen, each of them was as brave as a tiger. Chen Long told them that no matter what, they must try to catch alive Man Niu Zhuzai, escorted back, apologized alive at the Zushi Temple, he said:
Patriarch Qingshui came to Taiwan to distribute incense, and has been burning incense for many years. How can we see this ancient temple being destroyed by the other party in our hands? !The patriarch has a spirit, so he should show his supernatural powers, let us capture the culprit who destroyed the temple alive, cut up and sacrifice to the gods, otherwise, our hearts will not be at ease.
Uncle Chen, the Tiger of Xisheng said: In addition to capturing Zhuzai alive, I also thought: They can destroy our temple, and we can destroy their temple as well. Let the gods of both sides fight each other, and see which god is stronger?
right!Someone echoed and said: In this way, the opponent's arrogance can also be reduced, and he can be given justice.
Chen Long himself was originally a person who believed in the patriarch. The temple was destroyed. He thought it was more important than his own disaster. In the midst of extreme anger, he adopted the idea of Xisheng Zhihu and ordered his subordinates to retaliate as much as possible. The temples built by Zhang people set fire to them and burned them down when they got the chance.At the same time, he took care of the tiger of Xisheng and captured Zhuzai alive as soon as possible.
It is not easy for the tiger of Xisheng to find Zhuzai in the melee of various people. Similarly, Zheng Yong holds his trusted trump card, the giant Zhu Wu, tightly in his hand, ready to fight against Xisheng at any time. The tigers chased each other like this, and after several times of fighting with weapons, they failed to meet each other.
Apparently, after Zhuzai himself made great contributions to the people of Zhang by burning the ancestral temple, he knew that the people of Quanzhou must hate him to the bone, and once they caught him, they would have to kill him alive.Although the patriarch is the god worshiped by the other party, after he insulted the gods, he couldn't help feeling guilty and timid. His wife Guo Ajiao, who is a very smart woman, made up his mind for him, telling him not to take the lead in a rampage like usual. explain:
Zhu Zai, you must be careful, don't rely on your strength and think that no one on the other side can stop you. Once you meet the tiger of Xisheng, you will be in danger!
Don't worry!Zhu Zai comforted Gillian and said: "How is that short winter melon compared to our giant Zhu Wu?"In the past few years, just listening to someone preaching about him, in fact, he never showed his face at all. If he really had the ability, he should have shown his face long ago.
That's not the way to say it, Zhuzai.Guo Ajiao said: As the saying goes: People will stumble, and horses will stumble.You listen to me, be careful yourself, you have to send someone out to find out where the one-handed team led by Xisheng Zhihu is, and you try to avoid him.
Zhu Zi is self-aware, knowing that he is not as smart as his wife Gillian, that's why last time he asked someone to tie the god statue tightly to his back. Cutting the rope, throwing himself into the pond and swimming to escape, this life has long been lost in the hands of the people of Quanzhou; he has no reason not to listen to Gillian's words.
Although the fighting with weapons was fierce and chaotic, it was still easy to send people out to inquire about the other party. The single-handed team that Xisheng Tiger belonged to was attacking the front line of Zhongliao and Wayao (now Zhonghe City), so Zhuzai then sneaked back to his old den, Mengka Lianhua Street.
Last time, when Chen Long led people to occupy Mengka, he hunted Zhuzai and his gang at Lianhua Street, killed many of his party members and relatives, and destroyed Guo Zhaotang and Zhuzai's homes.This time, Zhuzai and his wife brought someone back, determined to take revenge, and Guo Ajiao came up with another idea:
我們不妨另想法子，不必成群結黨的去攻打八里新莊（今萬華火車站附近）和西盛，我們要在這裏設埋伏，誘殺對方的頭目。
妳有什麼樣的法子呢？柱仔說。
郭阿嬌指著蓮花街一帶殘破無人的街屋說：
你看，這一帶因為常常拼鬥，商戶和住民，都逃難別處去了，我們就埋伏在這裏，不遠的新美鳳閣，兩邊都沒有損毀，他們入夜後，照樣做生理，有些泉籍的人，常到這邊來飲酒買醉，我們一個一個的暗中對付他們，沒有不成功的。
correct!柱仔說：這真是個好主意。
柱仔手下共有五十多個人，都是年輕力壯、身手靈活的漢子，雙刀郭阿嬌左右，還有五、六個年輕女子，都是跟隨她練習武術的，他們利用斷巷殘牆做掩護，分別匿居下來，等著機會下手。
對方並不知道柱仔已經帶著人潛回他的蓮花街老巢，那些泉州籍械鬥頭目們，總以為他們實際上已控有了艋舺，白天四出掠焚後，晚上收兵回來，亂哄哄的四出尋樂，有的在分攤掠得的錢財物品，有的集眾聚賭，也有的喝了酒，到新美鳳閣來蹓躂，艋舺阿鳳雖攀不上，旁的姑娘仍多得很。
甚至泉方的兩大首領黃阿蘭和陳隆，也常在艋舺阿鳳的宅子裏竟日盤桓，並把那裏當成發號施令的地方。艋舺阿鳳心裏很不願意，也就半真半假的吐露出她潛藏的心意來。
我說，兩位大爺，你們能不能放開新美鳳閣啊？你們盤紮在這裏，對方早晚會把這裏搗毀掉的。
我不信，陳隆笑說：有妳艋舺阿鳳在這裏，對方會搗毀新美鳳閣？大刀朱五、蠻牛柱仔那些傢伙跟妳都有很厚的交情。
快別這樣講了，艋舺阿鳳說：我們吃這行飯，就得笑臉迎人，能得罪什麼人呢？什麼人我們都得罪不起，只有拿好話求你們，放我們一條生路罷了！
嘿嘿，黃阿蘭說：怪不得艋舺各處都毀掉了，新美鳳閣分毫沒動，妳阿鳳這張嘴，抵得過百萬軍馬呢！妳說說看，漳泉分類起械鬥，妳到底站在哪一邊？
我嚒？艋舺阿鳳恣意的笑了起來：我兩邊都不站，只站在我自己這一邊。
這話怎麼講呢？
我既是漳州人，又是泉州人，艋舺阿鳳說：不願見到兩邊的人起械鬥，一死就是幾百上千的人。兩位大爺沒想想，械鬥一打開頭，就沒有完的，不但自己丟性命，日後，兒孫也一樣會遭橫禍，我眼看兩邊打成這樣，又說不上話，心裏只有著急罷了！
嗯，是這樣的？陳隆微有感觸，嘆口氣說：可是，我們也不能隨便受人欺侮呀！八芝蘭山腳下的墾地，泉人也有份，他們把我們村堡燒了，土地佔了，把泉籍墾戶逼到北海邊還不足，又把我們的人逐到海裏去鏖殺，那些事情不講了，火毀祖師廟，該是妳親眼見著的，我何嘗願意起械鬥？情勢逼人，不打也不行呀。
陳大爺，這可不是爭理的事，艋舺阿鳳說：若是講起道理來，漳州人一樣有一肚子委屈，一番振振有詞的道理；兩位都看得見，械鬥把人心都打變了，人殺人，像死雞死狗一樣，不論這邊或是那邊，見了錢財就搶，這樣下去，好人都變成強盜啦滿街亂民，無風起浪，尋私仇、報私怨的也有，姦殺民女的也有，賭博火併的也有，你們做首領的人，管得了嚒？雙方爭理爭下去，只有打，打下去，大家都活不成了！
陳隆和黃阿蘭想想，阿鳳說的話，不但句句都有道理，而且比會黨的陳山和金寶山等人，講得更為透徹，他們從沒想到，一個風塵裏的姑娘，會有這樣的見識！苦就苦在雙方當初沒有想透，如今都陷了進來，好像陷身泥淖，拔不出腳來了。
械鬥歸械鬥，陳隆想起什麼來，對黃阿蘭說：我們總得想個妥當的法子，收拾殘局，不能讓部下變成游民和亂民，大肆洗劫焚掠了。我們怎樣對待漳州人，漳州人就會怎樣對待我們，這樣下去，正像阿鳳所說的，根本不是辦法。
黃阿蘭和陳隆的告誡，顯然沒有什麼用處，那些從各鄉莊保甲來的墾民，在混亂的殺戮裏激發出一種野性來，使他們不願再回到墾拓區去耕田種地，冒險、貪婪混和的慾望，令他們願意拚命的鏖殺、擄掠，歛聚起番銀，投向酒色，恣意而放縱的打發夜晚。這樣一來，雙刀郭阿嬌替柱仔所出的那個主意利用夜暗，分別誘殺泉方的械鬥頭目，很容易的便生了效了。
主意是郭阿嬌出的，誘殺對方的方法，也是郭阿嬌想出來的，她教柱仔和手下的人，儘量不必動刀，免得留下血跡，引人注目，暴露了他們的形藏，她要那些殺手，每人攜帶根麻索，匿在黑暗的街尾或是巷角，只要瞧見有落單的，便冷不防的搶出，用麻索自身後反套住他們的頸子，轉身就跑，接應的人上來，衝著那人腦殼敲上一棍，把他打昏之後，抬著扔進淡水河去。
雙刀郭阿嬌想出的這個方法，行起來真是輕便，不到三天，柱仔他們就弄掉了對方七個人，全都扔下河餵魚去了。怪的是泉籍的人，一直沒有注意到他們的人被對方狙殺了，總以為這些失蹤的人，也許是喝酒喝醉了，也許是窩到那個角落裏賭錢去了，絕不會無緣無故失蹤的。但等到那些屍體，在河岸邊起了水，有人傳報到陳隆的耳朵裏，陳隆這才動了疑念。
你這奇怪不奇怪？黃大爺。他對黃阿蘭說：若說他們是酒醉失腳落水的罷，屍首的頸子上，都有勒痕，頭骨也受過鈍物的重擊，可見都是被謀害的！若說是被人謀害的罷？他們沒離艋舺，到處都是我們的人，誰有那麼大的膽子，連著謀害我們手下的頭目？除非是漳州人派了什麼人過來動的手。
你估得不錯。黃阿蘭說：但對方究竟派了什麼人過來暗襲我們？這還得要查清楚。
嗯，我這已經想起一個人來了！陳隆恨聲的說：那就是他！蓮化街的柱仔！
黃阿蘭認真想了一想，搖頭說：
我看不會是他，柱仔人都叫他蠻牛，他絕沒有那樣聰明，會不聲不響的幹這種事情。
Not always.陳隆說：你忘了？蠻牛柱仔，有個聰明的老婆啊！
陳隆一提起郭阿嬌來，黃阿蘭就醒悟了，當初程秀啟和柱仔交惡，唆使大刀朱五找柱仔的麻煩，不就是由她說和的嗎？她不但心思細密，頭腦靈活，而且一身武功，不在蠻牛柱仔之下，這種事，她丈夫做不出，十有八九，是她拿的主意。
假如這事是她支使柱仔幹的，我們怎樣捉拿那對夫妻呢？他對陳隆說。
我想，我們只有把西盛之虎給調回來，而把他的單刀隊仍放在瓦窰一帶，這樣，對方才摸不清虛實。陳隆分析說：事實上，要想活捉柱仔夫妻兩個，非要西盛之虎親自動手不行，柱仔的老婆既然很聰明，一聽西盛之虎來了，她就會教唆她的丈夫逃走，或是說巨人朱五來這邊，為他們助陣，那樣一來，西盛之虎以一敵三，一定會吃大虧的，唯有暗中行事，使柱仔和他的老婆猝不及防，才有捉住他們的希望。
兩人商議妥當之後，當夜就著專人到瓦窰那一線去，把西盛之虎暗暗的請了回來，當面把若干人離奇失蹤，一個一個的浮屍河上的情形說了一遍，要西盛之虎設法捉拿柱仔夫妻兩個。
在漳州方面，除了耍大刀的朱五我沒有會過，西盛之虎說：旁人沒有什麼人能贏我手上的大鐵錘，不要說是蠻牛柱仔，就連柱仔的師傅，林口的鄭木谷那老頭，也不是我的對手，不過，我聽說柱仔的老婆又美又聰明，主意很多，這些日子，我到處找柱仔那股人，也到處撲空，他老婆一定叫他躲著我，我真不知道怎樣才能找到他呢！
我想，他兩夫妻極可能潛回蓮花街老巢來了！黃阿蘭說：假如我們派出大股的人，去搜查那個地方，也許能捉住柱仔手下的一些人，但那樣打草驚蛇，也會使柱仔夫妻乘機遁走，你得想個法子，誘柱仔出面，即使不能將他夫妻兩人一起捉住，能捉住一個也好。
黃大爺，聽你這樣講，我忽然想起一個辦法來了！西盛之虎說：除非我自己出面，單獨走夜路，用自己做餌來釣魚。要不然，是誘不出柱仔來的。
這是個好辦法！陳隆說：我想，我們不動聲色，只說那些人是失足落水，免得驚動了他們，只要柱仔一出面，我們就盡起埋伏去襲殺他，有你在，柱仔就很難脫逃了。
good!西盛之虎說：我們就這樣幹！
西盛之虎是有心機的矮人，他只糾聚了六、七個跟他練武的徒弟，事先佈置在新美鳳閣附近，到了夜晚上，他換上一身黑色的緊身衣服，把一對鐵錘別在腰裏，在新美鳳閣前後的暗街黑巷裏走動，藉以誘引對方的人。
果然，食髓知味的柱仔，和他那些手下，並沒防著陳隆會及時耍出這一招，把西盛之虎調回來對付他們，這一天，雙刀郭阿嬌正巧回八芝蘭去了，蠻勇的柱仔仍然領人出動，他嫌捕到的魚太小，他一心想捕殺泉方勇猛知兵的首領陳隆。
他們伏在暗巷裏，天黑後不久，柱仔的左右就發現有個穿黑色衫褲的矮子，在新美鳳閣前面徘徊了。
How about it?柱爺。一個說：這傢伙，是自己送死來了。
柱仔要是有腦筋的，當時就該想一想：泉方業已有六、七個人坑在自己手上，而且在河裏也找到幾具浮屍，他們一定有了防備，對這個人的身分和來意沒摸清楚，絕不能輕率的動手。
但柱仔太大意輕敵，認為對方只有一個人，只要用麻索套住他的頸子，還不是很容易就把他結果掉？
他朝左右努努嘴說：
去三個人，幹掉他！
三個被柱仔以為是得力的人手差出去，他們分頭竄到對方身後的黑地裏伏著，第一個人在對方走過他伏身的地方之後，雙手抖一抖套索，一個箭步飛竄出來，舉手把套索反兜住對方的頸子，想把對方揹起來就跑依照他往常的經驗，他只要奔跑出四、五十步地，對方的頸子被套索緊緊絞住，不能透氣，非暈厥不可，那時再在他腦殼上敲上兩棒，對方就一命嗚呼，等著下河餵魚了。
由於手法純熟，距離切近，這一套索倒是套得很準，不過，當那人想揹起對方奔跑時，立刻覺得情形有些異樣了。他一挺腰，沒能揹得動，再挺腰，還是沒能揹得動，對方抓住套索一抖，他反而仰臉躺下了，他想發聲喊叫，招呼同夥的趕來救援他，他剛剛一張口，還沒來得及吐氣出聲，胸脯上便被對方狠狠的踹了一腳，這一腳踹得很重，使他覺得好像當胸被一塊巨石擊中，只吐出一聲短促的悶哼，血便從他的嘴角流溢出來。
snort!那穿黑衫的矮子說：就憑這點本領，也想來興風作浪？太不自量了罷！
他的話還沒講完，背後響起急速的破空聲，一根木棍劃了一個圓弧朝他的後腦猛擊過來。原來第二個漢子，是跟第一個漢子事先聯絡好了的，第一個動手套人，第二個趕上來用木棍敲打對方的頭殼，當他照往常的方法趕上來，發現他的夥伴被人踩在地上，而對方正好背對著自己，當然揮棒就打，認為這一黑棍，定可把對方打倒了。
一棍下去，對方並沒有避讓，卻像飛滾的陀螺似的，在原地移身換步，擰轉過身來，舉起他的胳膊，朝木棒迎架過去。咔吧一聲，那支木棒斷折了，揮棒的人被震破了虎口，蹭蹬的朝後退了兩三步，一屁股跌坐到地上。
但他的身手還算很靈活，滾身站了起來，叫說：夥計們，快上，這傢伙太厲害了！
他這一出聲吆喝，黑地裏一鬨湧上五、六個，從四面八方把對方圍逼住了。
大家亮傢伙，殺！絕不能讓他逃掉！原先的那個扔掉斷折的半截木棒，從腰裏拔出短刀說。
一霎時，短刀和單刀都亮了出來。
你們以為我會逃走？對方站在原地，很沉著的吐話說：告訴你們，我不會逃走的。
Who are you?原先發話的那個說：報個姓名出來，你死後，我們也好送你一塊墓碑，免得做無名之鬼，沒人來替你收屍。
嘿嘿，你們的算盤倒打得如意！對方笑說：老子是從閻羅王那裏來，替泉州被害的人來討債的，今晚上，要你們都死，有種，你們一起上罷！
superior!
為頭的仗著人多勢眾，發出一聲吆喝，四面的人就揮刀湧了上來。對方單手從腰裏拔出一支有海碗大小的短柄鐵錘來，人在原地沒有動，等著對方的單刀砍劈過來，他只要抖手舉錘朝刀刃上一磕，鐺！的一聲，對方的單刀便像斷了線的風箏，脫手飛出去了。
前後不到盞茶的時辰，湧上來的五、六個人，就躺下了四個，有的被對方用鐵錘打碎了頭，有的被對方用腿橫掃中，筋斷骨折，睡地打滾哀呼。
這時候，在附近等著消息的蓮花幫首領蠻牛柱仔，也聽出前面出了岔子了，但他仍然沒想出對方會是泉州第一條好漢西盛之虎，以為不過是一個練過拳腳的壯漢，只要他親自出馬，一定能收拾得了他。
Walk!你們跟我上去接應去！他對他左右的十多個手下說：對方愈是厲害，我們愈不能讓他走掉。
西盛之虎收拾了先湧上來的幾個，拔腳朝西走，還沒走出幾十步地，柱仔便帶著人把他攔住了。
給我站住！柱仔說：這是什麼地方，容得你在這裏撒野！今晚你傷了我的人，就要把命留下。
什麼人講話，有這樣大的口氣？對方停下身說：我才放平你們四、五個，就要抵命？你這些天來，連害泉州六、七個人，又該怎麼講？今夜，我們把帳結算結算也好，我沒殺夠數，還該向你找零呢！
嘿，在我蓮花街柱仔面前講這話，你算是死定了！柱仔冷哼一聲，緊一緊手裏的鋼刀說：你們的祖師廟，我都敢燒，何況你這樣的人？ !
good!我總算找到你了，柱仔！西盛之虎說：我是替祖師爺討債來的，人說：冤有頭，債有主。你當著我的面，招供在先，到時候，該不會賴帳吧？
對方在被許多人攔住時，這樣的冷靜沉著，毫無驚懼，使得柱仔提高了戒心，他說：
你究竟是誰？說明白了，我柱仔不含糊你。
那人冷笑一聲，雙手拔出兩柄鐵錘來，用力一合，使兩柄鐵錘碰擊出一陣火花來說：
不必要我通名報姓，我手上這兩柄傢伙，你總聽人講過罷，你火焚祖師廟，泉州人恨不得把你剝了皮，下鍋煮了分肉吃，我領著單刀隊，四處找你都沒有找著，想不到，今夜被我碰上了，你乖乖的拿命來罷！
西盛之虎！柱仔心裏一凜，脫口叫說：你就是西盛之虎？
不錯，對方說：你若不出面，我就不願通名報姓了，我曉得你是存心躲著我的。
面對著鼎鼎大名的西盛之虎，柱仔實在有些膽怯，但他從沒有跟西盛之虎交過手，心裏也有些不認輸的味道；他看對方的個子，要比自己矮了半個頭，只是身材要比自己更壯實一點，拿對方和巨人朱五相比，顯然這個西盛之虎的氣勢，遠不如朱五那樣懾人，今夜既然雙方遇上了，自己帶著十多個手下人，無論如何也不能不動手就認輸，即使硬起頭皮，也要和對方拚一拚了。西盛之虎的鐵錘再厲害，只不過是一個人，自己這邊卻有十多個人，實在打不贏他，自己總還有逃跑的機會。
打定主意，他便把鋼刀當胸一橫說：
姓王的矮冬瓜，你把自己看高了，沒有用的，你能勝得了我手裏這口刀，再誇口也不晚。我柱仔這多年來，在艋舺還沒有遇過敵手，今夜，我到要試試你這兩柄鐵錘，有多少斤兩？ !
可惜你老婆那個專出壞主意的郭阿嬌不在這裏，西盛之虎說：把你夫婦倆分開來，害得她死前還要做幾天寡婦，對她不太好，對我，也太麻煩了！
蠻牛柱仔被他連著用話一激，火氣上湧，掄著刀大叫一聲，就奔上去了。
你們替我圍上！他叫說。
柱仔儘管叫嚷得很響，但他手下那些流民，一聽見西盛之虎的名頭，個個心裏都懼怕起來，只是遠遠的圍著對方旋轉，沒有敢真的挨上來，掄刀砍殺。這樣一來，柱仔這邊的人雖很多，但都幫不上柱仔什麼忙，還只落他一個人，和對方單獨的拼鬥。
不過，柱仔畢竟是有功夫的行家，他把他的一套刀法施展開來，刀刀夾著一股勁風，直攻西盛之虎的要害。柱仔一面攻，一面儘量避免使自己的單刀和對方手裏的鐵錘硬碰，因為就兵刃來說，單刀輕便靈活，可砍、可劈、可削，算是輕兵刃當中最便捷的，而鐵錘分量沉重，一般使錘的人，多具有天生的大力，力氣和兵器配合，更見威勢，這種重兵器善硬攻，利急戰，三錘能把對方擊倒，那是最好，如果對方採用游鬥的方法，避免硬碰硬折，把時間拖宕下去，使錘的人所耗的力氣，就要比用刀的人大得多，也吃虧得多了。
柱仔雖然蠻勇如牛，這一點腦筋還是有的。
但西盛之虎的力氣太大了，兩柄鐵錘在他手裏，一點也顯不出有沉重的斤兩，加上他頭腦靈活，錘法怪異，使柱仔空舞著那柄單刀，無法近身砍殺他。柱仔不耐，存心照著對方頂門直劈一刀，想試試對方的鐵錘究竟有多重？西盛之虎當然不會客氣，振錘一錘朝上撩出去，噹啷一聲響，把柱仔的單刀直蕩開去，震得柱仔一條右臂都隱隱的發麻。
果然厲害！柱仔心裏想：這個傢伙，也只有巨人朱五才能敵得過他，今夜自己和他動手，想取勝他，實在很難，這樣打下去，如果對方有大股人前來接應，自己可就脫身不了啦！
柱仔一面打，一面朝後退，急欲尋求脫身的機會，但西盛之虎那兩柄鐵錘，緊緊的逼壓著他，使他很難脫身逃遁。柱仔感覺對方力量越打越強，像一隻癲虎般的猛悍，有一次，自己手上的單刀差點被他的右錘磕飛，虎口也被震裂了，鮮血染著刀柄，濕濕黏黏的。
你們趕快退罷！柱仔說。
事實上，柱仔手下的那些傢伙，還沒等柱仔開口，早已拔腿逃走了，黑地裏，只留下柱仔一個人了。他苦撐約有一頓飯的時辰，終於在左肩胛上挨了西盛之虎一錘，儘管他跳躍靈活，那一錘只是擦過，但已經把他打得跌坐下去。西盛之虎飛起一腳，踢飛他手裏的單刀，跨前一步，用鐵錘逼著他說：
你這毀廟的傢伙，今夜你走不了啦！
柱仔還是掙扎著想逃，但他的肩膀帶了傷，一條臂膀拖垂下來，根本無法動彈了。難道祖師爺這樣的有靈？讓自己今夜落在西盛之虎的手上？
這時候，四周人聲喧嚷，隔著殘牆，看得見火把搖曳的光亮，柱仔以為是手下人跑回去約人來應援的，但他立時就發覺自己是想錯了那都是西盛之虎的手下，事先埋伏在左近的。
毀廟的柱仔被捉住啦，來人把他捆上！
隨著西盛之虎的一聲吆喝，左右竄上來三、四個人，把柱仔撥翻在地，連手帶腳都捆上了，用一根木棍穿著繩結，像抬豬一般的，一直抬回新美鳳閣對他們的首領陳隆交差去了。
陳隆打出西盛之虎這張王牌去捉拿蠻牛柱仔，可沒想到西盛之虎這出去的頭一天晚上，立刻就把對方捉了回來。當柱仔被抬到陳隆面前放下時，陳隆驚異的發呆，過後，他拍著西盛之虎的肩膀，誇讚說：
王兄，你真的不愧是一隻老虎用老虎去捉蠻牛，那還有不成功的？ !
你太誇獎了，陳大爺。西盛之虎說：蠻牛柱子算是犯了祖師，走了壞運，我捉住他，倒是很費一番力氣呢。你看該怎麼處置他，人是交給你了！
我讓他多活幾天，陳隆說：等到這一陣亂過去，我要響鑼召聚泉州人，集在祖師廟前的廣場上，把他渾身澆上桐油，慢慢的當成蠟燭燒了祭神。
柱子雖然被捉住了，但老婆郭阿嬌還漏了網，黃阿蘭說：這還得麻煩王兄，能把她也捉住才好。
我聽說她回八芝蘭去了！西盛之虎說：日後有機會，我當然會捉她的。
阿嬌這個女人，神通廣大。陳隆想起什麼來說：她要是知道她丈夫柱仔被捉，她一定會慫恿巨人朱五，帶人過來搗亂的。
一聽到巨人朱五，黃阿蘭皺起眉毛來了。
我說王兄。他對西盛之虎說：這個朱五，可比蠻牛要厲害的多了，他跟你一直沒碰過面，沒交過手，