novelraw Chapter 111 A few more days, away from...
Chapter 111 A few more days, away from...
After a few more days, we will be getting closer to the West Coast.Since the last time the sixth prince of the Xihai Kingdom led people to sneak attack on the imperial army and returned in a big defeat, only a few stragglers escaped, the imperial army has not encountered any obstacles on this journey westward.
However, with the military wisdom of Daiyu and Situ Zhuo, they can keenly perceive the strangeness inside.
Situ Zhuo said to Daiyu: "Yu'er, don't you think it's strange? Logically speaking, the health repair department should send someone to meet us."
Daiyu naturally also thought of this, and said: "General Wei's headquarters is probably besieged, or the Xihai National Army knows another way to bypass the imperial army's defense line." The health repair department has no reason not to stop it.
Situ Zhuo said: "I hope we are trapped, so at least we can still have soldiers when we reach the West Sea; if the General Guard's headquarters has been wiped out, our [-] troops will be exhausted, and we will attack the National Army of the West Sea with all our strength. .”
Riding on the horse, Daiyu raised her eyes and looked into the distance. She could see a vast expanse of whiteness, and suddenly thought that the expanse of whiteness mentioned in the original book is really clean.He smiled and said, "Let's go, you will know when you get to Xihai Yanzi."
Going forward for two days, we passed through the Gobi and arrived at a place with a town.Because it was winter, the large-scale battle stopped, but the people in the city did not dare to slack off, and there were sentries watching outside the city gate.I heard that the imperial army had arrived, and soldiers had already left the city to greet them.
Situ Zhuo led the army into the city and ordered the soldiers to set up camp for repairs, but he himself immediately summoned the guards and magistrates.
This city is not big, and it also has military functions, so many people in the city are also veterans and their families, plus some businessmen trapped here, plus some aborigines in the northwest.
While Situ Zhuo was going to learn about the situation in the city, Daiyu commanded the soldiers to find an open area and sent heavy troops to guard the food and grass; she also sent a few newly trained cronies to explain in secret, and the scouts all nodded yes and went to their own jobs up.Since Daiyu commanded the cavalry to solve the army's dilemma last time, the princess' prestige in the army has become higher and higher.Now Daiyu gave orders, and no one objected.
Seeing Daiyu protecting the food and grass as if guarding against thieves, Xiangyu asked, "Isn't this the imperial court's own city? Why is the princess so careful?"
Daiyu said: "When we entered the city, did my sister see that the city was quite lively?"
Speaking of this, Xiang Yu was also very strange, saying: "I heard my father say that the northwest is barren and the towns are not big. Before entering the city, I didn't expect that there are so many people in a small town."
Daiyu said: "Not all of them are from the city, because the city is located at the east end in the northwest, and many people who fled to the city due to the war have fled to the city, so there are many people. The people suffer the most from the war in winter, and even if they flee from the famine, they dare not Travel across the desert in winter. In other seasons, if you encounter food and clothing shortages, you can huddle together at night to avoid freezing, and you can also hunt to supplement food. Not only is it difficult to hunt in winter, but without clothes and covers, you can’t live in the wilderness at night. , So many refugees crowded here. These refugees who lacked food saw that the imperial army brought a large amount of supplies, and it was inevitable that they would have crooked thoughts."
Xiangyu said: "Speaking of which, they are all the people of the Daling Dynasty. After suffering from the war, it is not too much to think about getting some food. It's just that ordinary people dare to ask for military food?"
Daiyu said: "Of course one or two people don't dare. If someone incites them, there will be more people. Besides, when a widow or a widowed mother comes to beg for food at the gate of the barracks with a scrawny child, we will give it or not. If so If it is given, the people in the city and even outsiders will come to ask for food when they hear about it; Looting. They are all the people of the Great Spirit Dynasty. Could it be that they are really killed? If they are really killed, it will be as the people of the West Sea want."
Xiangyu and Xueyan sighed when they heard it.Although the two of them were not as noble as Daiyu and had a slave status, they didn't suffer much since they were young, and they hated starving people even more.It's just that what Daiyu said makes sense, since you are marching and fighting, you have to think carefully, and you can't mess up the big plan just because you can't bear it for a while.
Xiangyu sighed and said: "It's really hard for the people, I hope the imperial army will win this time, so that the future troubles will be eliminated."
Daiyu smiled wryly and nodded.
At that time, it was very rare to be able to march and fight without disturbing the people, and the military and civilian life like the later generations did not dare to expect extravagant expectations.
A few people were talking, when they heard someone replying that the refugees had surrounded the military camp and were begging for food outside.
Both Xiangyu and Xueyan were nervous, they both looked at Daiyu and asked, "Princess, what should we do?"
Daiyu said: "Send the order, no matter what the situation, no one is allowed to come in." The order went, and Daiyu called Luo Yuan again, ordered a team of soldiers and horses, and asked Xiangyu Xueyan to prepare, and wait for a while. A camp out may be required.
It didn't take long for Daiyu's cronies who had sent out before came back one after another, and reported to Daiyu that they had found out.Those people who were making trouble outside asking for food, which ones did they come from?
Xiang Yu and Xue Yan were startled, and said: "The princess can predict everything."
Daiyu smiled and said, "Let's go." She took her troops out of the camp.
Now that Situ Zhuo is in command of the army, Daiyu is not fighting for power.When sending troops to fight, it is better to have a unified command. If he and Situ Zhuo share power, it will inevitably cause the generals at all levels below to stand in their own teams.So Daiyu still took the command of the previous [-] soldiers, but it was enough to do this.
The concubine is a female family member, so it is reasonable to say that she shouldn't show her face in public, but firstly, the people in the northwest are open and there are not so many rules, and secondly, Daiyu has a high prestige in the army, so there is nothing to stop her from going out.
After leaving the camp, Daiyu directly let the scouts who inquired about the news lead the way, surrounded the mansions of the poor people who had been sent to provoke trouble, and sent someone to inform Situ Zhuo.
At this moment, Situ Zhuo is summoning local officials and local gentry and wealthy households.However, the husband and wife had a tacit understanding. Seeing the people sent by Dai Yu, Situ Zhuo directly ordered them to surround the yamen.
The magistrates and local wealthy households were all shocked, and asked the prince what happened?
Situ Zhuo's demeanor was already somewhat aggressive, but he became even more domineering when he was serious.When he was a prince in the capital, he still had the air of a soldier's killing. This time he marched for more than a month, and he had already fought a battle. The blood in his bones was stimulated, and he became more and more extraordinary.
The border area is high and the emperor is far away. To a large extent, local officials and local rich families are co-governing. The local officials and wealthy households knew that the imperial army was coming, and they had already gathered together to discuss countermeasures.
As for the countermeasures, since it is a war, it is naturally afraid that the court will collect money and food.Generally speaking, this kind of place far away from the capital is mostly collusion between the government and businessmen. As long as it doesn't force the people to have no way out, it can be regarded as a conscience.In this way, there is a saying that the prefect has been cleared for three years and one hundred thousand snowflakes.
So don't look at the scale of this place compared to the Central Plains, but because on the main commercial routes, local officials and wealthy households are all very rich.In order to protect the wealth they have accumulated over the years, these people have to think of ways.
It is said that it was the young county king who came to the feudal clan, and these people felt contemptuous.How powerful can a phoenix son and dragon grandson who is weak and pampered at a young age be?It's just crying for poverty, instigating people to make trouble, and the strong dragon still doesn't overwhelm the snake, what can the ignorant prince and concubine do?After making such a fuss, and taking a little less to make sense of it, not only did they keep a lot of wealth, but they also made the couple feel grateful.
Who knew that this meeting, the prince was indeed young, but he looked scary like a Shura, and he put him under house arrest as soon as he met.
"My lord, what do you mean? It's so good, why did you surround the county government?" In fact, in the border areas, the county magistrates are not as powerful as the local prominent families, but when discussing important matters, the officials have to come forward.
Situ Zhuo still had a solemn face and said: "There is a civil disturbance outside, I am worried that the people will injure you and hurt you, so I sent soldiers to protect you first, and please cooperate." The opportunity to answer, get up directly.
The people in the yamen have evil intentions, and it is inevitable that they are guilty of thieves.Seeing the yamen being besieged, I panicked, several wealthy businessmen looked at each other, and several skilled bodyguards rushed forward.
Situ Zhuo only took Liu Xing and Liu Xianglian's uncle and nephew with him, but Situ Zhuo himself did not relax his training for a moment. In the era of cold weapons, not everyone could control these three at once.
I saw that the bodyguards of a few rich merchants are of course highly skilled in martial arts, but the three of Situ Zhuo are even more unstoppable.Moreover, the three of them seemed to know what the people in the yamen were planning, but as soon as Situ Zhuo's words fell, the three of them took out their weapons, started their moves and went straight to the gate.
There are thousands of troops outside the yamen, unless Situ Zhuo is controlled before the court officers and soldiers surround the county yamen, otherwise even if the wealthy businessmen and local officials in the yamen have their own ulterior motives, they can only die.
Sure enough, Liu Xing found a slightly weaker bodyguard, his wrist shook violently, pulled out a piece of sword flower, tore open the opening, the three of them rushed out of the yamen, leaving the local officials, gentry and wealthy households trapped in the yamen looking at each other.
This means that they originally planned to join forces to plot against the prince, but ended up being caught by the prince.And they didn't plan to talk about it at all.
The biggest wealthy businessman in the city is surnamed Ma. Master Ma has raised a team of soldiers and horses himself. He does business on the surface, but also acts as a horse bandit behind his back.In the past, when the commercial road was prosperous, all merchants who took this road had to pay respects to Master Ma in order to be safe.
Of course, it is said on the surface that the guards of the Ma family are highly skilled in martial arts, and the robbers on the road also give Master Ma a bit of a face; in fact, the merchants also know what is going on.But the manpower hired by the caravan can't deal with the horse bandits, so they have to spend money to eliminate the disaster.This Master Ma is also a leader in the Northwest commercial road. As for how rich he is, the local people don't know.
Until last year, after the imperial court monopolized maritime trade, sea ships sailed to the Arabian Peninsula. The trade on this land route decreased a lot. Many old merchants switched to the sea trade route, and Master Ma’s income also dropped sharply.
Therefore, along the way, anyone who makes money in business like Master Ma will be dissatisfied with the court.On the way to the northwest, Daiyu and Situ Zhuo also discussed this issue, and the two even suspected that the rapid defeat of King Nan'an had something to do with these people whose interests had been damaged due to trade diversion.
Master Ma naturally didn't know that the young princes and concubines who had just come to the feudal clan had such foresight, if they had known earlier, they would not have fallen into the trap.
Master Ma said to County Magistrate Zhao: "Master County Magistrate, don't you be ordered by the imperial court to embarrass us specifically? Even if we fall into the hands of the imperial court, you will not be able to escape from this county office." Said Then, he glanced behind him.
In the northwestern region, you can eat both black and white food, and they are all hard stubble. Master Ma always has guards with high martial arts skills.Even if he was besieged by the imperial army, as long as Master Ma gave him a look, he could drag the county magistrate to be buried with him at any time.
Zhao County Magistrate died unjustly, and said with a sad face: "Master Ma, even if I have ten heads, I dare not offend you, Master Ma."
Master Ma snorted coldly and said, "I'm sorry you don't dare."
Several other local wealthy families also panicked, saying in a hurry: "How good is this, what should we do?"
In any case, Situ Zhuo is also a vassal king of a place. As long as these gentry and wealthy households continue to live in the northwest territory in the future, they should not offend the vassal king.This is also because Situ Zhuo underestimated the enemy, was too superstitious about Master Ma's strength, and was reluctant to take out the money, so the other wealthy households agreed to join forces, even though they knew that they would be inferior as soon as they met.
To be honest, several other wealthy businessmen regretted it, but they did not regret selling the medicine.
There was no crying like Master Ma and others imagined, nor was there a young prince or concubine who couldn't bear it and distributed food to the people who lacked food and clothing. Instead, there was the sound of horseshoes outside from time to time, but it was orderly.
In fact, it didn't take long, but everyone in the county government was on pins and needles.Master Ma naturally wanted to send people out to find out the truth, but now the yamen was surrounded by the imperial army so that not a single fly could fly out, and everyone had to wait in the yamen for when Situ Zhuo would come back.
Situ Zhuo had used his weapons before, even if the entourage and guards of the rich merchants had scruples, if they didn't really hurt Situ Zhuo, it would be considered a tear.It is the most terrible thing to tear the face and not be able to control the opponent, especially when the opponent still has thousands of troops.
Now in the yamen, the county magistrate Zhao, Mr. Ma, and other wealthy businessmen are all uncertain.The more this is the case, the more flustered they are. As long as they are trapped for long enough, divisions will naturally appear within them.
So Situ Zhuo and Daiyu didn't panic, they rectified the military discipline in the city, guarded the food and supplies, not only didn't rush to summon the things locked in the county government, they even started to train soldiers.
As for the others, as long as those refugees who made trouble were captured, they didn't dare to offend Master Ma and others at first, and they didn't dare to say anything.But Mr. Ma was locked in the yamen and was not allowed to come out. The next day he still couldn't see anyone, so they couldn't resist letting go.
What this kind of people are most afraid of is that they will not find someone to back them up.
After the provocateurs were recruited, Situ Zhuo ordered the wealthy households who intentionally provoked trouble to give porridge to the refugees. Now the heads of several families were besieged by the imperial army, and those who stayed at home, such as the wife, the young master, the housekeeper, etc. Yes, even if it is for the lives of the head of the family, he dare not disobey.It's nothing more than giving up some grain and rice, without hurting the left and right.
As for the real refugees, there is no one who takes the lead in instigating trouble, as long as there is porridge and rice, does it matter whether he is brought by the imperial army or a rich household?Just eat what you have.
In ancient times, Situ Zhuo and Daiyu didn't dare to directly use military rations to help the victims, but both of them knew the importance of marching and fighting, and the importance of public opinion in the rear.So while ordering the wealthy households in the city to help the refugees, they sent people to publicize that the rich merchants in the city were rich and unkind, and refused to rescue the refugees.
In short, these rich merchants have to pay for food and rice, but they cannot earn their reputation.
Most of the poor people are illiterate. This propaganda, after thinking about it carefully, these wealthy businessmen have the face of landlords who have no surplus food. Why does the prince have everything when he enters the city? It really is the prince.
Those wealthy businessmen who contributed money and effort heard such remarks, which ones didn't hate it.It's just that the head of the family is now trapped in the county government, not knowing whether he is alive or dead, so he dares not speak out.
When the matter of disaster relief was settled, Daiyu discussed with Situ Zhuo: "My lord, although these gentry and wealthy households dare not do anything when we are in the city, we have to set off anyway, and when we go to the front line, these things are indispensable." People are starting to act like demons again. Why don't we change the defenders in the city and the imperial army?"
What Daiyu meant, Situ Zhuo understood as soon as he heard it, and said: "Excellent. Dispersing the defenders in the city into the army, even if people have bad intentions, once it is diluted to a team of 5 people, it will be done." Nothing will happen. As for the imperial guards in the city, it is enough to leave a thousand or so soldiers from the soldiers we brought. With these people, those gentry and rich families dare not act like a tyrant after we set off , embarrassing the people.
In addition, now that we have a good reputation, we can take the opportunity to recruit troops.Some of these poor refugees are young and strong. If they are willing to join the army, we will also recruit them.Earning a penny of military pay with the imperial army is no better than being bullied here, so that we can also replenish some soldiers. "
Daiyu nodded, and the two began to make plans, and then ordered their cronies to do it.
The imperial army began to recruit troops in the city and made a roster. On the third day, Situ Zhuo took the arrested instigators to the county government.
There are also official residences in the county government. These wealthy businessmen and gentry did not suffer any physical pain, but the mental torture was ample.By the time Situ Zhuo went to the yamen, these gentry had already quarreled several times and completely split up.
Situ Zhuo still had a cold face, and only asked indifferently: "I may not believe you when you say you are loyal to the court. You have to show your sincerity to convince me. Tell me, what have you done?"
How should I put it, such a place where the Emperor Shan Gao is far away and the folk customs are tough, there are many things that can be done for the rich.In addition to inciting refugees to embarrass the imperial army, there are naturally other things.
However, those who can get rich in such an environment, have both outstanding intelligence and ruthlessness, or at least both, so no one was willing to confide in the beginning, and they all said that they were law-abiding.
Situ Zhuo was not in a hurry, and directly told everyone that he had recruited the local defenders to go to Xihai Yanzi, and left the officers and soldiers of the Beijing camp to guard the city, leaving the city tomorrow.Then he said slowly: "Since you all abide by the law, you must be able to do it in the future. This king will go back and order to set off."
If the local gangsters are directly rooted out, and all that is left are armed forces from the Beijing camp, then won't these gentry and rich households become meat on the chopping board?This prince is ruthless, so fucking ruthless.
Finally, a few wealthy businessmen who were not as powerful as Master Ma couldn't bear the pressure, and said, "I recruit..."