In Taiyuan Prefecture, it was chilly in spring, but the soldiers stood still on the drill ground. Only when the command flag was waved would the soldiers who were originally standing like wooden statues suddenly come to life, and like a tidal wave, they rushed to the designated point of attack.
Now that Zhang Yin had been promoted to the commander of the Three Guards of Taiyuan, Zhang Yin was strict with the army, and his orders were like mountains. Ever since a garrison was publicly whipped and shackled for three days for delaying a military order, everyone in the army obeyed Zhang Yin's orders, and no one dared to disobey or delay.
Zhang Yin sat on his horse. The infantry, cavalry, carriage, supply, and artillery battalions took turns to train. The carriage and cavalry battalions were the best. There were 128 chariots, and each chariot was equipped with two hundred-foot cannons, four muskets, and four rocket launchers. Once they charged, the fully armed chariots would charge forward, and within a hundred steps, the iron sand would spread everywhere. Then, the light cavalry would charge forward, and finally, the infantry. Their firepower was strong enough to withstand three rounds of attacks from the Mongolian iron cavalry.
If Ming Destiny's army was equipped like this, it should be enough to fight against the Mongolian iron cavalry on the plains. But due to mobility, this kind of equipment was suitable for defense and decisive battles. If it was used to attack, it would be a different story if the Mongolians dragged them along the endless plains.
In the smoke of the battle, a rider flew to Zhang Yin's side and whispered a few words. Zhang Yin raised his hand and waved, summoning the officer and said, "That's all for today. Return to camp!"
When the signal flag was raised, the army that was charging and killing instantly quieted down. The army began to retreat in an orderly manner, regrouping, and quickly forming into square formations. Zhang Yin nodded in satisfaction. Such an army was truly a tiger and wolf. The so-called Xiang Army that he had organized when he rebelled in Shaanxi would have a hard time fighting against such an elite army.
Li Fuda, the Maitreya Sect Master, initially took the path of the poor people. He developed his power in the countryside and prepared to rebel. Unfortunately, he failed again and again. In the end, he left with the money and elites of the sect that he plundered. He took another path and began to take the path of the upper class. He lured some high-ranking officials and nobles into the sect and arranged the elites of the sect to sneak into the court of Ming Destiny. So far, the progress was smooth.
Li Fuda was ecstatic about this, thinking that he had finally found a way to quickly expand his power and compete with the imperial court. However, this road was also a long one. At least for now, although he could make the whole army obey his orders, he was not sure if these elite soldiers would still follow him with their lives if he raised the flag and rebelled.
The army returned to camp. Li Fuda, alias Zhang Yin, took the lead, leading his personal guards and Imperial Bodyguards out of the drill ground, returning to camp first.
"Your Excellency, the pay has been delayed for almost a month and a half. The army is full of complaints. Yesterday, Commander Guan whipped more than ten soldiers to suppress the commotion, but the soldiers' dissatisfaction is still increasing." It was Zhang Yin's personal guard who spoke. His personal guards were all trained in the Maitreya Sect since childhood. They were loyal and highly skilled in martial arts. However, although there was no one else around them, they were used to addressing him in the army. In case of a slip of the tongue, they would address him as "Your Excellency" regardless of whether he was in front of others or not.
Zhang Yin said, "Delay it for another three days, and then distribute the pay!"
"Yes! Last time, it was delayed for a month. When the quartermaster distributed the pay, he said that the pay had been greatly deducted by the imperial court. This time, five hundred taels of silver came from Your Excellency's pocket. The soldiers are very grateful. This time, it was delayed for a month and a half. Because they believe in you, the soldiers only complained and did not do anything unusual. "
Zhang Yin smiled and did not say anything. It was easy to find some excuses to delay the payment of pay. Moreover, the quartermaster was also his man. Ming Destiny's fate had not run out, and the people's hearts had not been lost. To gain the absolute support of the soldiers, he still needed to make various efforts. There was no need to talk about principles with these ordinary soldiers. They only cared about the food they ate, and a tael of silver was the morale of the army.
When they arrived at the central military tent, Zhang Yin jumped off the horse. A guard beside him immediately flashed over and took the reins. The guard who had just reported said in a low voice, "Your Excellency, the Great Master is waiting for you in your study."
Zhang Yin nodded slightly, but a trace of nervousness flashed in his eyes.
In the study behind the central military tent, a thin old man in a green cotton robe was sitting on a chair and drinking tea. This person was Li Dayi's teacher, Xiao Yueshu, the Great Master of the Maitreya Sect who had participated in the plan to kill Emperor Zhengde in Datong.
Seeing Zhang Yin come in, he hurriedly stood up and bowed, "Greetings, Your Excellency!"
Zhang Yin rolled up his robe sleeves and closed the door. He waved his hand and said, "Yueshu is back. No need to stand on ceremony. Sit!"
He walked to the side of the man in the green robe and sat down. He clenched his five fingers and calmed down, "How is it? Is there any righteous news?"
Despite Zhang Yin's profound cultivation and shrewdness, his voice could not help but tremble when he asked about the life and death of his own son. He hurriedly pulled himself together and poured himself a cup of tea. He took a sip to calm his mind.
The expression of the Great Master Xiao Yueshu became gloomy. He said in a low voice, "I have inquired about the news everywhere. In order to get accurate information, I even went to Sichuan to ask some people who were present at that time. Although the government had put up a notice saying that the Second Young Master … the Second Young Master had been executed, no one had ever seen his corpse. None of the people of our cult in Sichuan had received the Second Young Master's message or signal for help. The Second Young Master … the Second Young Master had been missing ever since he stole the horse from Zhao Jue Temple …"
Zhang Yin's face was slightly pale. He was stunned for a while and then said with a sad smile, "He went to kill Yang Ling to appease my anger. He failed on the verge of success and escaped with injuries. Maybe … maybe he was disheartened and lived in seclusion with the child of the Liu family. Maybe … "
The ambitious man's eyes were glistening with tears. Obviously, he did not believe his own words. But among his three sons, he loved his second son the most. He could not accept the fact that his beloved son had died tragically.
Li Dayi had gone against the order and returned to Datong. He sacrificed a large number of people to save an insignificant woman. This was an intolerable mistake for an ambitious man, even if it was his son. If things happened again, he would still punish Li Dayi according to the sect rules. But as a father, he could not be cold-hearted.
Xiao Yueshu saw Zhang Yin's expression and did not dare to continue the conversation. He quickly changed the topic and said, "I left Sichuan and went east along the river. I went north along the waterway and came back from Shandong. The situation in Qingzhou is on the verge of breaking out. Yang Hu has already contacted the Taihang bandits, but the authorities have not noticed. It seems that Yang Hu is about to rise."
At the mention of this matter, Zhang Yin's spirit was shaken and he really woke up from his sorrow. He smiled coldly and said, "It seems that I have underestimated Yang Hu. This person has even been uprooted, but he can build a new stove and quickly make a comeback. Hey! He is a firewood that can be burned. "
Xiao Yueshu was also amused by his words. He said, "It is often said that heroes are created by the times. The people of Shandong have suffered unspeakably because of the corrupt officials. Their days have always been hard. Some time ago, the hunters in Qingzhou helped the authorities to catch a tiger. Many of them were bitten to death by the tiger, but they did not receive any compensation. The matter became very big, and then they were suppressed by the blood. Their anger and hatred have been bottled up in their hearts. They have long wanted to rebel, but they lack a leader. Yang Hu is just taking advantage of the situation. "
Zhang Yin sternly said, "Otherwise, to be able to take advantage of the situation, this Yang Hu is not stupid. If Qingzhou was not in this kind of situation, would Yang Hu move his troops to Qingzhou? Would he be able to gain a firm foothold and win over the people's hearts so quickly? This person's scheming and ability are not to be taken seriously, but if you look at him as a good-for-nothing, then you are wrong. Our people have already mixed in? "
Xiao Yueshu respectfully said, "Yes, after receiving Cult Leader's instructions, our three Elders who are preaching in Qingzhou donated all their family property to join Yang Hu's' righteous' army as local tyrants, so they are very valued by him.
But … there is one thing I don't understand. This way, our power in Qingzhou will be completely exposed. Moreover, the wealth that the three Elders have gathered from the followers is not a small amount. Is it worth it to pay such a price? If a person like Yang Hu can succeed, then wouldn't it be better for us to directly summon the Xiang army to rebel instead of supporting him? "
Zhang Yin slightly shook his head. He originally believed in the ability of the common people to rebel, thinking that by recruiting followers, he could smoothly pull up the army with a single call, just like how the Ming Cult fought against Dayuan and smoothly took over the world. But ever since the Shaanxi headquarters was wiped out by the government, he did not think that his uncle and himself did not prepare enough. Moreover, at that time, there was a traitor who snitched on them, so they suffered a sudden attack from the officers and soldiers, which was why they suffered a crushing defeat. Instead, he thought that it was the peasant army that could not withstand a single blow, so he turned to believe in subverting Ming Destiny from within.
Especially after he became the commander of the Taiyuan Guards and commanded the elite Ming Destiny border army, Zhang Yin felt even more that the peasant army that had never gone through systematic training would not be able to forcefully contend against the government.
Zhang Yin contemptuously smiled and said, "No, our original plan will not change. It is still to strive to let King Ning take the throne, then stir up internal strife in the Zhu royal family and take advantage of the chaos to replace him. But the current Emperor is still young. Ever since Bai Dengshan was attacked and Jieyu Xianhua's identity was exposed, he has strengthened his guard around him. It is very difficult to find another opportunity to assassinate him. It looks like there is no other way to let King Ning safely take the throne.
Right now, King Ning has just obtained the Three Guards Army, and Daren is helping him train the army. Right now, the situation in the world is becoming better. If we spend three to five years with King Ning, the army will be trained well, and the world of Ming Destiny will be prosperous and stable. At that time, the current Emperor will have grown up and is in the prime of his life. If we want to take over the world again, who knows how many hundreds of years we will have to wait.
Yang Hu's rebellion, although he chose a place where it is easy for the common people to submit to him, but to the north of Shandong there are heavy troops from the border army, to the east there is no one to rely on, and to the west there are hundreds of thousands of troops from the capital. I estimate that if he starts a rebellion, he won't even be able to hold out for three months. If we don't lend him some troops, money, and food, how can he help me disrupt the country of Ming Destiny? "
Zhang Yin put down his teacup and slowly paced around the room. Xiao Yueshu also stood up. Zhang Yin stopped and stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He slowly said, "A hero can achieve success because of the world's situation. There is no absolute success in the world's situation, and a hero often finds a gap in it, persevering and not changing. That is why the world's situation is unsolvable.
Yang Hu is using Qing Province's situation, and we are using Yang Hu's situation. Hehe, the imperial court has the Nine Cauldrons, and the world has the Nine Prefectures. Qing Province is one of the ancient Nine Prefectures. Maybe this Yang Hu can really help us pry open the Nine Cauldrons, create chaos in this corner of the Nine Prefectures, and buy time and create opportunities for us. "
Xiao Yueshu worriedly said, "I'm afraid that nurturing a tiger will bring calamity. Yang Hu is nothing to worry about, but if by any chance he really can achieve great things under our secret support, we will have to go through a lot of trouble to get rid of him. Since Cult Leader has decided to help King Ning take the throne first, then lead the vassal states to attack, and take advantage of the chaos, with a strong enemy like Yang Hu at our side, I'm afraid this idea will be very difficult to achieve."
A cold light flashed in Zhang Yin's eyes. He smiled faintly and said, "This … I have naturally thought about it. Not only have I given Yang Hu a lot of ready-made troops, horses, and provisions, in order to help this bunch of ruffians succeed, I have also prepared a big gift for him. This big gift can help the tiger grow wings now, and in the future, it can also be used to knock off the tiger's teeth and replace him! "
Big gift?
Li Dali?
Xiao Yueshu's heart flashed. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Zhang Yin's boastful expression and swallowed the three words' Third Young Master 'that rushed to the tip of his tongue. He lowered his head and said respectfully, "Yes, Cult Leader's plan is flawless. Uh … when subordinate returned, Yang Ling was in Bazhou raiding an official's mansion. I don't know how the four local swindlers offended him, but he used a trick to burn them to death. According to subordinate's information, Yang Ling will stay in Bazhou for some time. This person has repeatedly spoiled our Cult's plans. Although he is now a Duke, his lackeys are also fewer. Should we … send some people to kill him? "
Zhang Yin's face darkened again. He knew that Xiao Yueshu wanted to avenge the righteous cause. Xiao Yueshu was the Master of Righteousness. For so many years, Zhang Yin had been running around for the great cause of the Holy Cult, and Righteousness had been by Xiao Yueshu's side longer than Zhang Yin's. The two of them were like father and son.
Moreover, in terms of personal future, Xiao Yueshu was already one of the four Great Magicians of the Holy Cult, and his status could not be improved any further. Only when Li Dayi became the Cult Leader could he be above the other three Great Magicians. Once he conquered the world, he could also be conferred the title of King or Marquis. If Righteousness were to die, it would be tantamount to cutting off his future. His hatred for Yang Ling was no less than Zhang Yin's.
Zhang Yin pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No, times have changed. We can't kill Yang Ling now. Now, we have to try our best to urge Yang Hu to mobilize his troops as soon as possible, so as to create an opportunity for us. If Yang Ling were to die, the imperial court would certainly search for the world. Yang Hu might be holed up in Mount Taihang and never come out. We can't take this risk. Yang Ling has already become a Duke, and it will be difficult for him to interfere with the imperial court's affairs. If we want to achieve great things, we can't be calculative about these personal grudges. "
He turned around and saw that Xiao Yueshu still had an unwilling expression on his face. He patted Xiao Yueshu's shoulder and said in a warm voice, "If you want to take revenge, let's seize the Great Ming's rivers and mountains. To achieve great things, we need to know how to judge the time, size up the situation, and make use of it. We can't lose the big picture because of a small thing. Compared to the country, what is Yang Ling? "
* * *
"What is Yang Ling? Don't be unconvinced. If you were to go to Datong, can you defeat the 70,000 cavalrymen of Bayan Huo Sieve and make them flee at the sight of the wind, leaving behind more than 10,000 corpses? They have attacked the border every year since the Yongle Dynasty. They have met many famous generals in more than a hundred years, but they have never suffered a big loss.
Besides, in Jiangnan, the Wei Nation's dwarfs have also come ashore every year to make trouble. They have been making trouble for more than a hundred years, and there are more and more of them. They can't kill all of them. How long did it take Yang Ling to uproot them? Brother Zhang bought four Wei Nation's women to serve him. They are the wives and daughters of those Wei Nation's people. They were the ones who kidnapped our people in the past.
Then there was Sichuan. It was said that the Barbarians, including men, women, the elderly and the young, had a total of twenty to thirty thousand people. The Great Ming Dynasty had once sent out two hundred thousand soldiers, but they couldn't even break through the mountain pass. They blocked the mountain pass for three years, and fifty to sixty thousand soldiers died from an epidemic. They still couldn't do anything to the Barbarians. How many people did Yang Ling bring? These are all century-old shops. Can you do it if you are not convinced? "
"It is strange. Brother, your Zhang Family is also a century-old shop. Does he specialize in dealing with century-old shops?" Feng Lei said with a smile.
Xing Laohu was wearing a purple robe and a skullcap. There were two furry ears on both sides of the hat. He sat cross-legged on the brick bed like a rich landlord and said, "I heard that his courtesy name is Wannian. Yes, the emperor gave it to him."
Liu Qi slammed the table and pointed at his nose, scolding, "If the emperor gave him the courtesy name Wu Song, you will be beaten to death by him sooner or later!"
Xing Laohu put his hands in his sleeves and wiped his nose with his sleeves. He did not speak.
Feng Lei laughed, "Mrs. Xing's surname is Pan."
Xing Laohu rolled his eyes at him. His comical face, two small round eyes, and a red garlic nose made him look very funny.
The weather was still cold. His secluded house was in the west and did not see the sun all day. There were no warm walls in the house. The fire pit below was boiling hot and would burn his buttocks without a cushion. However, the air above was so cold that it choked his nose. Although Xing Laohu's name was famous, he did not drink, so the tip of his nose was red from the cold.
Liu Qi scolded unhappily, "Damn it, Yang Ling has caught all the swindlers in Bazhou. Now it's your turn to play tricks. If he is called Wannian, he will be the nemesis of century-old. You … you …"
Liu Qi picked up a big bowl and drank a mouthful of wine. He grabbed a leg of lamb and tore a piece of meat to chew. He said vaguely, "Don't be noisy. What Brother said makes sense. Why do we rob houses? It's to eat and drink well. If we can really become officials, we can eat the emperor's food. How can our lives get worse?
Think about it. We can all live a good life. Being an official is better than being a sneaky thief, right? You have seen the houses of the officials. We robbed them but they didn't. However, the wealth in their houses is enough for us to rob for the rest of our lives. Brother, speak clearly. Will the imperial court really let bygones be bygones and allow us to be officials? "
Zhang Mao nodded, "The words spoken by the dignified Duke Wei are trustworthy. Duke Wei promised that as long as you come forward and surrender yourselves, you will be pardoned for your crimes. You will be incorporated into Bazhou's guerrilla army. Each of you will be at least a baihu and will be rewarded after you make contributions.
Brother is not a coward. It's just that being a thief is not a long-term solution. It's a chance to be an official. Besides, Bazhou has been cleaned up by him and our existence has been discovered by the imperial court. Even if we can't catch him this time, we won't have a good life in the future. Heroes rise because of power and time. This is a rare opportunity. "
He raised his cup of wine and said calmly, "You guys can discuss what to do next. No matter what, I have to go back. My cousin and my two sons are still being held hostage in prison. Don't worry. If you guys are unwilling, I won't blame you. Roaming the martial world, you should be prepared to be stabbed in the neck. I will stab you calmly and won't even frown. "
Liu Liu frowned and said, "Brother, don't say such discouraging words. You are pulling us to be officials, not to be beheaded. Two of the four bandits of the Eastern Sea have sincerely surrendered to the imperial court and are now high officials of a province. We have heard about this. Hmm … I think we can meet Yang Ling and have a face-to-face talk."
He was the leader of these people. Once he made the decision, they all put away their cheeky expressions and became serious. Liu Qi calculated for a while and said, "Brother, we are bandits. Our capital is unknown. This is also the source of the headache for the imperial court. In terms of capital, we are not as strong as the four bandits of the Eastern Sea. I heard of the four bandits of the Eastern Sea. Fur Seal delayed his surrender and was raided. Snow Cat brought people to Fuzhou but was rumored to be rebelling.
Leaving his nest and going to Fuzhou to rebel, I feel that this matter is a bit fishy. Maybe he met Duke Wei but his sincerity was not as sincere as Beauty Wang and Bai Xiaocao. Then he was killed by Yang Ling. How can a person who beheaded more than a thousand people in one go not be ruthless? Even if we want to go, we have to be careful. "
Liu Liu rolled his eyes and asked, "What do you mean?"
Liu Qi said, "Leave one person and leave a group of people. This way, if the imperial court really wants to use us, then we will no longer be bandits. What if they are deceiving us and want to recruit us and slowly manipulate us? With this hidden chess piece, we won't have all our secrets in the hands of the imperial court. "
Liu Liu's eyes brightened and said, "Yes, this is a good plan. We can attack and defend. It is right to leave a backup plan."
Xing Laohu rubbed his nose again and asked, "Leave a group of people to support us. Hmm, who will stay?"
His question stunned them. Only then did they think of an important question: Those who submitted to the imperial court would become officials. Those who stayed would not have this opportunity. They couldn't be an official for a year and a half, then confess to the imperial court that they left a group of people behind and let the imperial court confer them a position, right? Officials … who would stay?
They looked at each other and were speechless for a moment. These heroic men were not afraid of death and were also particular about loyalty in the martial world. However, it was impossible to have no personal considerations when it came to such a major event that concerned their lives.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Feng Lei patted his chest and said, "I'll do it! I'll stay! "
Liu Qi shook his head and said, "You can't do it. When we broke the prisoner carriage, you were already exposed to the bottom of the sea. The soldiers know that there is a person called Feng Lei."
Xing Laohu sniffed and said slowly, "Actually, no matter who among us brothers stays, I believe they won't have any objections. As for me, I've already bought a hundred mu of land. Even if I don't become an official, I'll be content to be a country gentleman. The problem is that the group of people who stay won't get any land and are unregistered. These things will never see the light of day. Will these poor people agree to it? They are all brothers who are risking their lives with us for food. How can we appease them? "
Liu Liu frowned and said, "That's right. Each of us has a lot of property. In fact, the real problem is how to make those subordinates willingly sacrifice themselves. Most of these people have families to feed. They became bandits just to fill their stomachs. They sacrificed their lives to earn a living for their families. Now that they're not bandits, and they're not allowed to turn good, who can afford to support so many people? How long will it take to support them?"
Liu Liu took a breath and said, "Forget it. This method won't work. It's easy to arrange for us brothers. The problem is that it's impossible to appease so many brothers. We brothers have always advanced and retreated together. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, we'll advance and retreat together this time!"
He glanced around and said, "It's decided. Tomorrow morning, Feng Lei and I will follow Brother Zhang to Bazhou to meet Duke Wei Yang Ling. If he is sincere, after discussing the conditions, Xiao Qi, you and Laohu can bring the brothers into the city and accept the enlistment!"
※ ※ ※
The size and form of the buildings of the government offices varied according to the wealth and folklore of different places. However, the main hall was almost the same. The only difference was that the size of the main hall varied according to the size of the government office.
The main hall was where the cases were interrogated. The second hall was where the affairs were handled. The third hall was also the place where the cases were interrogated. However, it was only used for secret hearings. Serious and immoral criminal cases were interrogated in the third hall. Usually, no one was allowed to listen in.
Early in the morning, the Bazhou government started to interrogate the criminals. Entry and exit were done in the third hall. The corruption of the officials was publicized to the people. The imperial court had to take care of their reputation. They rarely interrogated corrupt officials and allowed the people to listen in. They allowed the officials to describe in detail how they harmed the people to prevent the anger of the people against the imperial court.
The sky had just brightened and the three halls were brightly lit. However, the atmosphere was somber and solemn. The sound of iron shackles could be heard. The gavel in the hall was slammed and the sentence began. The three groups of bailiffs were all present. There were soldiers both inside and outside the hall.
The chief judge was the newly appointed Bazhou Zhizhou, Master Mu. It was a little cold in the morning. In addition to his nervousness, Master Mu's face was green. As he said the word "kill", his legs became a little weak. His face started to turn pale. It was a little scary. The 'Behead' command arrows were also tossed out powerlessly by him.
To the left and right of the official table, two people stood solemnly with their swords in their hands. The one on the left was dressed in an official robe. He had slanted eyebrows, a big mouth, and an aquiline nose. He was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He was the newly appointed Bazhou Prefect, Hua Yu. The one on the right was dressed in chainmail and a helmet with red tassels. He had a thin face and high cheekbones. He had a sharp and unkind expression. He was Zhang Duoduo, a general under the Bazhou You Ji General.
These two fiends, in addition to the pale-faced Mu Zhizhou in the middle, there were also two rows of bailiffs with water and fire sticks in their hands, and dozens of soldiers with spears and sabers, making the small San Tang look like the Hall of the King of Hell.
On the outside, the soldiers were lined up all the way to the main gate. The main streets of Bazhou City were filled with soldiers standing guard. The patrolmen carried their Goose Feather Sabers and wandered around. The execution ground in the west of the city that was usually deserted was once again surrounded with white cloth. Three layers of soldiers and a group of sabers almost surrounded the execution ground so tightly that not even a drop of water could trickle through.
The news spread quickly. Countless people crawled out of their warm beds and gathered on the streets to ask each other about the news. With such a large formation, were they going to kill someone? If they were going to kill someone, who could they kill? Those heartless and greedy officials? Didn't the Emperor always kill people after autumn? Those were all high-ranking officials. How could they be killed so easily?
When the first ray of bright sunlight shone on the earth, a commotion came from afar. The wooden prison carts that had not been oiled for a long time made creaking sounds that made people's teeth ache. They were really killing corrupt officials! On the first prison cart was Bazhou's guardian eunuch Zhang Pipi. On the second cart was Bazhou Prefect Fan Heixin. On the third cart … every person with ashen faces had a blood red 'behead' arrow stuck in the back of their necks.
After a moment of shock and ecstasy, the bitterness and pain of being oppressed and persecuted for so many years welled up in their hearts. It was unknown who cried first. Instantly, it was as if an order had been given. Wails erupted and the people on the streets and alleys were all crying. If a passerby suddenly passed by, they would think that the people in the prison carts were good officials who loved the people like they were their own children to be able to win the people's love and respect.
Before they could vent their bitterness and clamor, anger rose spontaneously. They picked up the bricks and stones in passing and poured them down like raindrops amidst the curses. The men squatting on top of their low walls, eating porridge, also threw their big bowls out. Then they howled and chased the prison cart toward the execution ground. To avoid being caught in the crossfire, the guards and bailiffs quickly escaped from the prison cart and formed a human wall around the people to prevent them from chasing and beating the cart, but they did not forbid them from throwing things.
Before the corrupt officials were escorted to the execution ground, they were beaten until they were half dead. When they were pulled up to the execution platform to verify their identities, their faces were covered with bruises and blood. Their heads were full of leftovers. Even their own mothers would not be able to recognize them.
The drums sounded three times. Imperial Judge Hua raised his eyebrows and limped up to the execution platform …
Yang Ling acted before the imperial edict arrived. He used Zhengde Emperor's decree to swiftly, simply and severely deal with the case of the corrupt officials in Bazhou, as an excuse to quickly pacify the local people's hearts, he announced the execution of Bazhou's garrison Zhang Zhong, Zhizhou Fan Mo Li, Bazhou Zhizhou Gui Dan and the rest of the thirty-one people. There was no need to ask about the execution later, they were immediately beheaded and displayed in public. The remaining thirty-odd people were separately punished with dismissal, exile, exile, imprisonment and other punishments. He cut the Gordian knot and swiftly dealt with the group of corrupt officials.
Yang Ling did not wait at the Prefect Yamen. After reading out the edict for Prefect Mu to execute, he returned to the Temporary Headquarters and took away the dossier on the corruption case of the Bazhou officials. Although Emperor Zhengde had given him full authority to handle all the matters in Bazhou, as an official, the most appropriate way was to report the results to Emperor Zhengde and get his approval. However, the situation was urgent and he could not care less.
Taking advantage of the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager's death, Liu Jin took advantage of the situation and exerted her strength, using a drastic measure to remove the firewood from the bottom of the cauldron to transfer him back to the capital. Once Liang Hong took over these matters, whether it was his personal friendship with Zhang Zhong or his relationship with Liu Jin, Liang Hong might be able to absolve these corrupt officials.
Moreover, once the news of the Empress Dowager's death came, it would be inconvenient to carry out the killing. If the case was dragged on for a long time, no one could predict how the situation would develop. Now, the only thing they could do was to cut the Gordian knot and solve the matter within three days.
The signal cannon sounded once, twice, thrice …
Thirty-one corrupt officials were beheaded. Their heads were strung together and hung on a pole for public display. Three days later, their families were allowed to collect the corpses and bury them. The common people did not leave and gathered around the flagpole as if they were celebrating the New Year.
At this time, six or seven carts were pushed to the side of the execution ground and hawked along the road. The carts were filled with firecrackers and fireworks. The common people who could not express their joy were overjoyed and rushed to buy firecrackers with all they had. Although the price was ten times more expensive than before, the common people still swarmed in.
The rich and powerful people especially hated and feared Zhang Zhong. At this time, they spent a lot of money to buy a small mountain of firecrackers for their servants to set off in celebration. The deputy of the imperial envoy, Liang Hong, hid in the dark and was grinning from ear to ear. When this good-for-nothing heard that Yang Ling wanted to execute the corrupt officials of Bazhou, he was influenced by the incident with the Four Great Swindlers, and thought of another way to earn money.
He bought all the firecrackers and fireworks that were not sold out in Bazhou at a low price. He also sent people to search the surrounding prefectures and counties overnight. He got more than 20 carts and was now hawking them in the streets and alleys of Bazhou.
Liang Hong pinched his smooth chin and flowers bloomed in his heart. "It's good to know the inside information!"
* * *
When the signal cannon sounded three times, Yang Ling's movements stopped for a while. Then, his body movement was smooth and smooth. He held his hands like a ball and rotated them at will. He continued to practice Taiji Fist.
"Yes, that's it. Stepping on the Five Elements refers to the five steps of advancing, retreating, looking, looking, and stabilizing. 'Head of Taiji, embrace the Eight Trigrams, and step on the Five Elements'. If you can practice these three into one, then you will have a small success. "
Wu Hanchao took the towel that Song Ai handed over and wiped his sweat. He smiled and said, "As the saying goes, 'All the skills in the world belong to one family'. In fact, no matter the external or internal martial arts, any sect or school, they all pay attention to movement and stillness, Yin and Yang, hardness and softness. It just depends on which aspect it focuses on. Xiao Ai, your original Zhuang Family Saber Technique was the same.
When it comes to Taiji, it focuses on Yin and Yang. Yin can turn into Yang, and Yang can turn into Yin. The changes follow the Eight Trigrams and the Five Elements. It is always changing because of the enemy's hardness and softness. Taiji has no form. Movement is the law. At the beginning of Taiji, there is no form. It is Wuji. Movement is divided into Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are Taiji. "
Yang Ling also stopped. He slowly breathed in and out and walked to Wu Hanchao's side. The three of them were dressed in martial attire and were as handsome as jade trees. There was hot tea on the small stone table in the courtyard. The weather outside was cold, but it was warm now. The three of them walked to the stone table and sat down. Xiao Ai poured a cup of tea for each of them.
Wu Hanchao said, "It's very rare for you to be able to reach the state you are in today. However, you are still a little restricted by the moves I taught you. Every move and style is particular about order and not out of shape. In fact, there is no need for that. Taiji is born from Wuji, the mother of Yin and Yang. In the process of fighting, there are no fixed moves or routines.
It can only be used when fighting against the enemy. Based on the enemy's movement, Yin and Yang, ever-changing and ever-changing, it can produce changes immediately. It can be hard or soft. It is especially good at using the opponent's momentum. If strong, it can eliminate, if weak, it can attack, borrowing the opponent's strength for one's own use. When the opponent is pressing forward step by step, thinking that he has succeeded, he is already full of flaws. His attack has also been guided by me. It looks overbearing and fierce, but in fact it cannot withstand a single blow. "
Yang Ling seemed to be deep in thought. He smiled and said, "Taiji … Taiji's principle is very suitable for being an official. Smooth as one wishes, exquisite in all directions, advancing and retreating naturally, movement, Yin and Yang. At every moment, one must pay attention to the situation, to the enemy's strength, to the changes in the enemy's and our momentum. One must immediately develop a corresponding countermeasure to attack the enemy's weakness! "
Speaking to this point, he saw Liu Bangchao standing at the corner of the wall with a big stone lock in his hand flying up and down as if it was weightless. He could not help smiling. Suddenly he shouted, "Bangchao, catch the tea!"
While saying that, with a flick of his hand, the cup of tea flew straight toward Liu Bangchao. Being called, Liu Bangchao was taken aback. He raised his head and saw that Yang Ling was asking him to catch the tea. He stretched out his hand to catch the tea, but the stone lock had just been thrown up and was falling down. He hesitated for a moment and wanted to let go of the cup to catch the stone lock, but the stone lock had already fallen to his knees and immediately hit his feet.
Liu Bangchao had no choice but to step back awkwardly. "Bang!" The stone lock fell to the ground, kicking up a cloud of smoke and dust. The cup smashed into the wall and immediately shattered into pieces, the tea splashed everywhere. With a bitter expression, Liu Bangchao looked toward Yang Ling. He thought, "Marshal is so polite, treating me to tea. Look at how stupid I am. Ay, if I had Xiao Wu's skill …"
Yang Ling turned his head around and said with a smile, "This is the situation. This teacup, to Liu Bangchao, is really nothing. But I was the one who asked him to catch the tea, so he had no choice but to catch it. This is a kind of situation. The timing of catching the tea wasn't right and he reacted hastily. As a result, the power that was originally in his hands, that large stone lock, became my help, causing him to be flustered and unable to deal with it.
This is my situation, and because of his situation, it regenerated the changes. Then, the light force of throwing the cup, as long as one grasps the right timing and uses the right person to exert the force, it will cause a series of changes. For example, the stone lock falling to the ground, the cup shattering, and … "
"Marshal, I'm sorry. I'm clumsy and didn't catch it …"
"You guys saw it? Hehe … "Yang Ling smiled cunningly," It's just a cup, it's fine if it broke. Sit down and drink some tea. " He then continued to say to Wu Hanchao, "In terms of martial arts, you are my teacher, and I still have a lot to learn. In terms of officialdom, I am your teacher. In Liu Jin's eyes, what I did in Bazhou was like a big wooden club that had just played with a stone lock.
Liu Jin now borrowed the power of the Empress Dowager's death and borrowed the Emperor's power. A small force, like that light teacup, knocked off the 'stone lock' in my hand and even chased me back to the capital. In order to prevent any future troubles, he even found a trusted aide to catch the stone lock. Hehe, do I have to obediently run forward and apologize? Hmm … If I hid my other hand behind my back with a stone lock in my hand and suddenly threw it out when I ran to apologize, I don't know if he would be able to catch it. "
Wu Hanchao's expression changed, and he said excitedly, "Is Duke preparing to deal with that powerful eunuch who brought disaster to the country and the people when you return to the capital?"
Yang Ling smiled, "Yes, it would be best if the Bazhou Ringing Horse Bandits are willing to surrender. If they aren't, I have to return to the capital immediately after receiving the imperial edict. The Empress Dowager has passed away, and if I don't delay it, it will be a laughing stock. Liu Jin offered me a cup of tea, so of course I have to return a cup of tea. However … I have to choose the most appropriate time to offer the tea. "
Yang Ling's eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze flickered as he said, "A hero not only needs to make use of the situation, but also needs to create the situation. This cup of tea, I must make Eunuch Liu happy. It's impolite not to reciprocate! "
Big Wooden Club propped his chin with a charmingly naive expression, and he listened in bewilderment. Song Ai also propped her chin with a bored expression, "Sigh! You guys can talk about pranking people while practicing martial arts. You men are so sinister. Little Wu, you are now in the Ministry of War, which is also a big yamen. Don't learn bad things from the adults! "
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