"After Liang Hong returned to the capital, Liu Jin immediately brought him into the palace and summoned the cabinet and the six ministries and nine ministers. He publicly accused the Bazhou Bandits, who had been summoned by His Excellency, were arrogant and unruly. They refused to be an official and could not abide by military discipline, so they rebelled. These people were familiar with the situation in the camp. They killed Sir Tong, the guard of the Anti-Theft Camp, seized the armory, and took over Bazhou. This is what we know so far. "
In front of her was a person dressed like an ordinary soldier. The Emperor had ordered Yang Ling to be placed under house arrest. This was an imperial edict that had to be obeyed, so Yang Ling's spy could only wear Song Ai's uniform and sneak in to report the situation.
Cheng Qiyun frowned and asked, "Zheng Heyi, what is the situation in Bazhou?"
The spy from the inner factory, Zheng Heyi, said with a troubled expression, "Second File Chief, I have just sent people to Bazhou to investigate. As for the exact situation, I do not know yet."
Cheng Qiyun said unhappily, "I have left all the important matters in the capital to you. How come you can't even get this bit of information?"
Zheng Heyi said nervously, "Second File Chief, we have about three thousand five hundred people who left the inner factory. Most of them were transferred to Liaodong, Jiangnan, and Minnan by you. There are less than two hundred people left in Hebei. Most of them are used to gather information in the capital and to ensure the safety of the Duke. There is no need to care about the small Bazhou."
Cheng Qiyun knew that he was speaking the truth. There were only about two thousand capable people in the inner factory. Even if there were twenty thousand of them, they would not be able to be seen in the vast land. The small Bazhou had never been the focus of their attention. In addition, after the Three Factories and One Guard fell into the hands of Liu Jin, the inner factory had to be very careful in the areas near the capital in Hebei to prevent people from discovering this mysterious force.
Even he had never thought much of Bazhou. If he could not predict the future, how could he blame others? Now because he was angry that Yang Ling was under house arrest, he felt that he was not human. Therefore, he only snorted and did not say anything.
On the other hand, Yang Ling smiled warmly and said, "It's not Little Zheng's fault. Who would have thought that Liu Jin and I would play Tai Chi here and cause a civil uprising in a small state to affect the war situation?"
Withdrawing his smile, he muttered, "The surrender of the Ringing Horse Bandits should have been properly arranged. I have tried my best to disperse them. However, they are all natives of Bazhou and there are only a few hundred of them. It is easy to separate them and it is very easy to unite them.
Alas, Zhang Mao's family was worth hundreds of millions. Liu Liu, Liu Qi, Xing Laohu, and the others also had families and properties. They had criminal records and were appointed to official positions. Would they use a few hundred people to threaten more than a thousand people to rebel just because they didn't abide by military discipline? There must be something else. If I can find the reason for their rebellion, it might be the reason for me to be exonerated. "
Zheng Heyi was moved and said, "If that is the case, I will go to Bazhou personally and find out the truth."
Yang Ling nodded, then shook his head. He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then sighed, "If I could stay in Bazhou for a few more days, this storm wouldn't have happened. Unfortunately, the plans of man are not as good as the plans of the heavens. The Empress Dowager suddenly passed away, leaving me with only three days. I have to deal with all the corrupt officials in Bazhou within three days, and appease the Rattling Horse Bandits in Bazhou.
Alas, I will then go to the capital to make arrangements and deal with Liu Jin with all my strength. All my energy is focused on the important place in the capital. Who would have thought that a small state like Bazhou … would cause such a big mess. "
He looked at Zheng Heyi and said, "You don't have to be in a hurry to leave. There will be two more people coming later. Wait for me to make the arrangements and you will go with them."
After a while, Song Ai came in with two soldiers and cupped her hands, "Duke."
Even though the two soldiers were dressed in ordinary clothes, they looked extraordinary and had an imposing aura. They did not match an ordinary soldier at all. One of them had a fair complexion and delicate features. It was Valiant Cavalry Captain Wu Hanchao. The other one was more burly and had a calmer aura than Wu Hanchao. He was Xu Tai, the chief military officer of the four armies outside the capital.
The two of them stepped forward in unison and bowed. "Your humble servant is the Minister of War."
Yang Ling nodded and smiled at the two beloved generals, "Take a seat. There is no need to stand on ceremony."
The two of them sat down. Yang Ling first said to Xu Tai, "I heard that His Majesty has ordered you to lead troops to Bazhou to quell the rebellion?"
Xu Tai straightened his back and placed his hands on his knees. He had the temperament of a soldier and replied respectfully, "Yes, what orders does Deputy Marshal have for me?"
The commander of the four armies outside the capital was Formidable Great General Zhu Shou, who was the current Emperor. Deputy Marshal was Yang Ling. However, these two Marshals had a lot of things to do recently. The four armies outside the capital did not have anything important to do except for daily training. Therefore, they rarely visited each other. The former second-in-command of the inner factory, Lian Delu, was now in the Liaodong army. Peng Jizu was Deputy General under Xu Tai.
Yang Ling said, "The people of Bazhou are swift and fierce, the common people revere martial arts. Moreover, for more than a hundred years they have been raising horses for the imperial court. The common people's horsemanship is very exquisite. I have seen with my own eyes more than a hundred Ringing Horse Bandits charging and breaking through enemy lines. Their momentum is like a rainbow. As I expected, their fighting power is higher than the Tatar iron cavalry outside the Great Wall. Although their manpower is small, they are familiar with the local terrain. You are to suppress the bandits, you must not be careless. "
Xu Tai really did not care about the thousands of people rebelling. Hearing Yang Ling's serious instruction, he hastily replied with a solemn expression, "Lowly officer obeys. His Majesty mobilized the four armies outside the capital, he personally summoned lowly officer to see him. He wanted lowly officer to quell the rebellion as soon as possible. Many high-ranking officials in the imperial court accused Deputy Marshal of nurturing traitors and inviting the wolf into the house. They asked His Majesty to investigate Deputy Marshal's aunt's responsibility.
Deputy Marshal should be at ease. In lowly officer's opinion, His Majesty is so cautious that he mobilized the Capital's elite troops to quell the rebellion as soon as possible. He wants to reduce the impact of this matter. He wants to turn a big matter into a small one, a small matter into nothing, so that he can avoid investigating the State Duke's responsibility. When lowly officer goes to Bazhou this time, I will definitely do everything in my power to quell the rebellion as soon as possible and rescue Deputy Marshal from his predicament. "
Yang Ling nodded. Pointing to Zheng Heyi, he said, "This is one of my subordinates. You take him with you. I suspect that Bazhou's Ringing Horse Bandits surrendered and rebelled again. There must be a hidden reason. When you go, try your best to find out the reason. "
Cheng Qiyun's eyes moved and interrupted, "Daren, if there is a hidden reason behind the Ringing Horse Bandits' rebellion, we should find some people who know the truth to come back to the capital as witnesses. If lowly officer is not wrong, Liang Hong should be one of the people who knows the truth. If the Ringing Horse Bandits are rebelling, there must be a hidden reason. For example, from a thief to an official, they were belittled and coerced into extortion. These are common occurrences. Since Liu Jin wants to use this as an excuse to attack Daren, he will not be able to convince others with empty words."
Yang Ling was startled by these words. After thinking for a while, he said, "Not bad, what you said makes sense. Xu Tai, Bazhou's Grand Magistrate Hua Yu is an honest and loyal man. If the Ringing Horse Bandits were extorted and forced to rebel, you can invite Grand Magistrate Hua back to the capital as a witness. "
"Yes, but it is said that Bazhou has fallen and Grand Magistrate Hua's fate is unknown. If Grand Magistrate Hua has unfortunately died in the line of duty, who else can be used?"
"Those officials are at both ends of the fence. Now that I am under house arrest and Liu Jin is in the limelight again, I am afraid those officials may not dare to come forward to testify. I am indebted to the scholar of Gu An County, Mu Jing. If he knows the details, he will definitely help me. Unfortunately, he may not know about the incident in Bazhou... Oh yes, there is also Jiang Bin! Jiang Bin is my old friend and also Zhang Mao's cousin. He once helped me convince Zhang Mao to surrender. If Zhang Mao rebelled again, he may know the reason.
This person will not rebel. In the information he sent back, there is also no news of this person rebelling. You all should act according to the circumstances. If you can find him, he can be a useful witness. If he cannot be found, then... you all can only act according to the circumstances. "
Watching Xu Tai leave with Zheng Heyi, Wu Hanchao cupped his hands and said, "Daren, what do you need me to do?"
The relaxed expression on Yang Ling's face disappeared. He stood up and said in a deep voice, "Hanchao, this time there is really a big matter for you to do. Liu Jin has brought disaster to the country and the people. He has done great harm. Whether this traitor can be eliminated, it all depends on you! "
A stern look flashed across Wu Hanchao's face. Under the candlelight, he exuded a cold murderous aura. He replied sternly, "Daren, I understand. The rise and fall of the country is everyone's responsibility. Regardless of whether it is for Ming Destiny's country or for your safety, I, Wu Hanchao, will not hesitate to get rid of Liu Jin! I do not know when does Daren want me to act. Even if I have to risk my life, I will definitely assassinate that old thief Liu Jin under my sword! "
Yang Ling was stunned, "Assassinate? Who wants you to assassinate Liu Jin? "
Hearing this, Wu Hanchao was also stunned. He asked doubtfully, "Didn't Daren want me to get rid of that old thief Liu Jin?"
Cheng Qiyun giggled and said, "Idiot, now the whole world knows that Daren and Liu Jin are enemies. Liu Jin has been assassinated. Who is the target? Moreover, this is not a confrontation between two armies. As a court official, assassinating a political enemy will not allow me to sleep peacefully for the rest of my life. If one day I am accidentally exposed, wouldn't it be a disaster that will destroy my entire family? "
Wu Hanchao's face turned red. He said embarrassedly, "Then Daren means …?"
Yang Ling looked him up and down. He said to Cheng Qiyun, "Yun'er, are you confident?"
Cheng Qiyun walked to Wu Hanchao and pinched his shoulders. She lifted his chin and looked him up and down with her charming eyes. Song Ai, who was watching from the side, could not hold it in anymore. Cheng Qiyun is not Daren's …. How can she tease Little Wu?
Miss Song's almond-shaped eyes widened. She did not know how to rebuke her. Wu Hanchao reacted after a moment of shock. He stammered, "Cheng … Cheng Second Gear, what are you doing?"
Cheng Qiyun looked back at Yang Ling and smiled. She said, "Daren, General Wu has just arrived at the Ministry of War. There are only a few people in the capital who recognize him. Besides, he is just a servant. No one will pay attention to him. I am confident that I can change his appearance. "
She turned her beautiful eyes and looked at Song Ai, whose face was slightly red. She said, "Other than General Song and other people who are very close to him, even if they meet face to face, others may not be able to recognize him."
"Good!" Yang Ling said happily, "Valiant Cavalry Captain Wu Hanchao will take a month's leave to return to his hometown starting tomorrow. Little Wu, you will have to be a sedan bearer for a while! "
* * *
In Liu Jin's residence, Zhang Wenmian and Liu Jin were having a secret discussion in the study.
Liu Jin laughed, "Heaven helps a good man. Yang Ling wants to bring down our family but the Ringing Horse Bandits that he recruited have rebelled. This is really a trap of their own making."
Zhang Wenmian saw that he was overjoyed and said, "Eunuch Liu, this is not the time to be happy. Xu Tai's army has already gone to Bazhou. You did not tell anyone about our discussion, right?"
Liu Jin picked up his tea and took a sip. He said with a smile, "No, no. The fewer people who know about this, the better. Even if it is my own brother, there is no need to tell him."
Zhang Wenmian was relieved and said with a smile, "That's good. The Ringing Horse Bandits rebelling in Bazhou is just an opportunity. We have to take advantage of this and expand this opportunity. We have to make Yang Ling lose his title and be removed from his position. It is best if he is banished to the army to get rid of any future troubles. "
Liu Jin also laughed sinisterly and said, "That is natural. The Emperor did not care about thousands of rebels rebelling. He only put Yang Ling under house arrest at home and sent his men to watch over him. It is clear that he wants to quell the rebellion as soon as possible and reduce a big problem to a small one so that he can be exonerated. The Army Supervisor this time is Liang Hong. I have already secretly instructed him to hold Xu Tai back. We will also delay the supply of rations as much as we can. We must let this group of bandits blow up the matter, to the point that even the Emperor cannot protect Yang Ling, hmph hmph hmph … "
Zhang Wenmian nodded. He thought carefully and said, "Liang Hong extorting the Ringing Horse Bandits is not an honorable matter. Liang Hong did not make it public and the Ringing Horse Bandits will not beg those officials who already look down on them. Therefore, there should not be many who know that they were forced to rebel. Right now, the officials in court are afraid of the letter in your hands and do not dare to force Liu gong. Liu Gongzheng will take this opportunity to completely topple Yang Ling so that he will never have a chance to rise again. "
Liu Jin smiled and nodded. At this time, the doorman hurried in to report, "Gong-gong, Master Lu is here."
Liu Jin was in high spirits because of a happy event. Hearing this, he said with a smile, "Oh, Master Lu is here? Quickly, invite him in. "
Inside the second door, Lu Shi Jie stepped down from the sedan chair. Dusting off his robes, he said, "I am going to see Liu gong. Second housekeeper, arrange a place for the sedan bearers to stay. Today, I want to stay in Liu gong fu."
Lu Shi Jie was a favorite of Liu Jin's and would often stay in the fu. Therefore, the second housekeeper did not even think and smiled apologetically, saying, "Yes, yes, Master, please come in. I will arrange these matters."
Four sedan bearers carried the empty sedan chair and followed the second housekeeper to the servants' quarters. The four sedan bearers were all young men. One of them was a tall young man with a dark face and thick eyebrows. As he carried the empty sedan chair, he carefully observed the surroundings.
Liu Jin's private residence did not have the qualifications to be protected by the government. However, Liu Jin had hired many servants to protect the residence. Yang Yu and Shi Wenyi, the two degenerates of the Imperial Bodyguard, had also sent Imperial Bodyguards to guard the perimeter in order to curry favor with him. The security could not be said to be weak. However, the security had always been tight on the outside but loose on the inside. No one would have their own backyard filled with guards all day long. Once they entered the second door, there were not many people except for the ordinary maids and servants.
The surrounding houses, roads, and corner doors were all exactly the same as the map drawn by Lu Shi Jie. Wu Hanchao had long since memorized it. At this time, he mainly observed the people coming and going, the specific distance between the buildings, the height of the walls, the rockery between the houses, the flowerbeds, and other places to hide one's tracks.
Lu Shi Jie originally had four sedan bearers, but the one in charge of lifting the curtain made a slight mistake. When the sedan chair arrived at the construction site, Master Lu did not pay attention when he stepped out of the sedan chair and tripped over himself. Master Lu was a refined scholar. Having lost face in front of the servants, he could not help but fly into a rage out of humiliation and fired the sedan bearer.
Master Lu had always been arrogant when he walked and did not look under his feet. The construction site was bumpy, so who could he blame for this? The bearer of the sedan chair was unlucky, but a labourer who was carrying a stone beside him quickly threw away the stone and came over to help him up. Young Master Lu was happy and named him as his bearer. This person was Xiao Wu, now called Xiao Guan.
The sedan bearer saw Wu Hanchao looking around and called out: "Xiao Guan, there are many rules in a big family. Don't look around. Let's go, Master Liu's food is delicious. Even us poor people have wine to drink. In a while, we brothers will drink a few cups. "
Xiao Guan quickly smiled and said: "Okay, okay, listen to the boss. This is the first time I have seen such a big house. It is too beautiful."
When the second housekeeper heard this, he sneered and looked at him with disdain. He said: "Little fellow, go and see. Beautiful? This is the servants' quarters. If you see our Liu Gong's residence, heh heh, it is magnificent. That is heaven on earth. "
When Liu Jin saw Lu Shi Jie come in, he smiled and said: "Master Lu, how is the progress at Xuanming Palace?"
Lu Shi Jie said: "Liu Gong, don't worry. The main hall will be completed in May at the latest."
Liu Jin was delighted and said: "That's good, that's good. When the time comes, we will invite the Emperor and Empress Dowager to celebrate the completion of Xuanming Palace. That will be a great merit for our family."
Lu Shi Jie said with concern: "Liu Gong, these are small matters. I am worried about the situation in the court. Using letters and congratulatory notes as a threat, even though the officials will not stand on Yang Ling's side, the more I think about it, the more worried I am. The officials are so afraid of you. Sooner or later, it will lead to a disaster. You should be prepared. "
Liu Jin smiled: "There are many people who hate our family. What's the big deal if there are a few more? It doesn't matter if they hate me, but they have to have the ability to bring me down. Looking at the court, there is only one such person, Yang Ling. As for Yang Ling... heh heh, as long as the war in Bazhou is not extinguished, he will be finished. Without Yang Ling, there is no one else in my eyes. "
Lu Shi Jie heard that there was a hidden meaning in Liu Jin's words. His heart moved: Liu Jin dares to risk the world's condemnation and use his power to purposely expand the war in Bazhou in order to punish the High Duke?
Lu Shijie's heart trembled, but he absolutely could not ask such a question. He, Liu Jin, and Zhang Wenmian returned to their seats, and only then did he sincerely say, "Duke Liu, this lowly one came here today for this matter. In my opinion, to intimidate the officials, we should use both kindness and authority. This is the long-term plan.
Wen Mian was sure to know that when Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu, went on a crusade against Wang Lang, he also obtained thousands of letters, paintings, poems, and gift lists that his officials used to communicate with Wang Lang. All the officials in the court were terrified. Some wanted to escape, some gathered their family warriors and prepared to fight to the death, and there were even some who contacted each other and wanted to openly rebel.
What about Emperor Guangwu? He burned all the letters in front of everyone, indicating that the officials were in contact with Wang Lang, regardless of the reason, they would not pursue the matter. The civil and military officials were ashamed and grateful. Many of them knelt in front of him, weeping bitterly and repentantly. From then on, they would devote their lives to him, without any other thoughts. "
Zhang Wenmian nodded and said: "Not bad, not bad. This matter is recorded in the history books. Young Master Lu means to destroy the letters to appease the people? But... Liu Xiu burned the letters left by Wang Lang. Liu Gong stored the letters from the officials. If he burns them now, will he be able to win the hearts of the people? "
Lu Shi Jie said: "Not so. I do not mean for gonggong to destroy the letters from the officials. It is because gonggong has the letters from the officials in your hands. This will incur their resentment. Even if they do not dare to make things difficult for gonggong, it is not good to ignore gonggong's orders in the future.
What I mean is, why don't you take out the letter boxes and let Xiao Ke and Wen Mian look through them. Those with high positions and letters that carry some weight should be kept separately. Choose those with lower positions and letters that don't pose a threat to Yang Ling and keep them separately. Once Yang Ling is defeated and no longer a threat, we can return the letters to these people.
Then we can spread the news that these people are loyal to gonggong, so gonggong has returned the letters. This way, these officials will be grateful. The other officials will also be loyal to gonggong. I hope that one day gonggong will return their weakness to them. This way, using bait to fish is better than complete coercion. It will also divide those people. "
Zhang Wenmian thought for a moment and nodded: "Young Master Lu's words are reasonable. Hitting and pulling, tightening and loosening, is the best way to control people. Gonggong Liu can adopt it."
Liu Jin saw that the two advisors were saying the same thing, and happily said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. Housekeeper? Call the housekeeper over and take out the secret box. "
In a short while, Liu Jin's relative, the current housekeeper of the Liu residence, Liu Erhan, hurried over. Upon hearing Liu Jin's orders, he pushed aside the bookshelf at the side and revealed a small bronze door on the wall. Liu Erhan took out a bunch of keys from his waist and picked up a large key and inserted it into the mouth of the bronze door.
When Lu Shi Jie saw this, his eyes flashed with an inexplicable splendor …
※ ※ ※
Xu Tai's army finally arrived at Bazhou. Looking around, it was a wasteland. After the disaster, the entire Bazhou City had completely changed. Everywhere, there were commoners fleeing with the young and old. They did not feel at ease just because Xu Tai's army had arrived.
Liang Hong led his men and horses back to his residence. He saw that the originally magnificent residence had been reduced to a piece of flat land. There was still smoke rising from the ruins. He could not help but stomp his feet and curse.
Liang Hong was cursing with all his might when two commoners sneakily came over. When the soldiers shouted, Liang Hong, who was shouting with all his might, immediately hid behind the soldiers. He glared at them and saw that the two people had ashes all over their faces, like a pair of children. They stomped their feet and shouted at him while waving their hands: "Eunuch Liang, Guardian Liang, we are Squad Leader Hu and Squad Leader Du from the Zhizhou yamen. I am Du Xingyuan, do you still remember me? The Zhizhou has invited you to a drink. We are here to deliver the invitation. "
When Liang Hong heard this, he had some impression of them. After taking a closer look, they were indeed familiar. He said with fear and trepidation: "It … it seems to be them. Bring them over. Wait, search them first!"
The two squad leaders were searched and then escorted to the front by the soldiers. When the two squad leaders reached the front, they knelt down and cried loudly: "Eunuch, you have to avenge us. The Rustling Horse Bandits have entered the city. Bazhou has already been plundered …"
"Speak! Who burned my house? "
"Speak! Where are the Rustling Horse Bandits now? "
Liang Hong and Xu Tai asked at the same time.
Du Xingyuan wiped his dirty face and said with a crying face: "We don't know who burned it. We don't know where the Rustling Horse Bandits are. Bazhou City has been breached. The Zhizhou, Tong Zhi, Imperial Judge and other officials have all died on the city walls. Jiang You Ji took back Bazhou City but it was breached again. There was continuous burning and killing.
The little ones changed into commoners' clothes and escaped with our lives. Now it is a mess. The Rustling Horse Bandits are recruiting soldiers and plundering everywhere. We don't know where Jiang You Ji's soldiers have gone. Little ones, oh oh oh … My child, my child's mother, they are all gone. Ah ah ah … "
When Zheng Heyi heard that Imperial Judge Hua had died in battle, his heart couldn't help but sink. He shouted: "Don't cry. General Xu was ordered by the Emperor to send troops to Bazhou to quell the rebellion and exterminate the Rustling Horse Bandits. Quickly tell us everything you know!"
Du Xingyuan stopped crying after being shouted at. Only then did he tell them everything he knew.
It turned out that when Zhang Mao and the rest attacked the city that night, it was impossible to defend Bazhou City. Other than the Inspection Division and the three teams of bailiffs, there was no one else in the city. However, as the ruler of a prefecture, you could only defend and not retreat. You would rather all die in battle. If you dare to escape, it would be the fate of being sent to the market.
Therefore, the new Zhizhou could only lead all the officials to the city to fight. Imperial Judge Hua had not recovered from his injuries and he limped up the city walls. The Rustling Horse Bandits all had the climbing hooks and scaling ladders from the Anti-Thief Camp. The city walls of Bazhou weren't high and there was no way to guard them all. Two hours later, the Rustling Horse Bandits attacked the city and started to set fire everywhere. Then, they opened the city gates and let in a large group of people. The first calamity of Bazhou City had begun.
The rich families in Bazhou City were the first to be unlucky. Then, the families with some wealth were also robbed. After that, the beautiful women started to be raped and humiliated. The whole city was in chaos. The people who were escaping opened the city gates and ran in all directions.
Before daybreak, Zhang Mao controlled the whole city and started to recruit soldiers. Those who had been bullied by the officials for a long time and those who took advantage of the chaos to rob, rob and rape women felt the sweetness of success. At the same time, for their own safety, they all responded and joined Zhang Mao's troops. The three hundred plus people grew to one thousand and two hundred when they reached Tiangao.
Liu Liu and Liu Qi were overjoyed. Only by rapidly expanding their troops could they have the ability to fight against the imperial court. Therefore, they immediately requested to lead the troops to attack Wen An, Gu An, Yong Qing and Xiong County before the news spread. These county headquarters didn't have any troops stationed there. They could quickly seize enough wealth and recruit the poor people.
Zhang Mao also knew that the most important thing was to quickly strengthen himself. Therefore, he agreed without hesitation. He assigned Liu Liu, Feng Lei and the others to lead an army each to attack the county towns at the same time. However, there were still many things that had not been taken care of in Bazhou City. Some provisions and gold and silver had not been gathered. Zhang Mao volunteered to stay in Bazhou to deal with it.
Liu Liu and the others were worried that Jiang Bin was nearby and would attack when he heard the news. However, Zhang Mao was very confident in Jiang Bin. He believed that he wouldn't abandon his brotherhood for the imperial court. Moreover, if Jiang Bin led the army to attack, he could escape at any time. Even if he couldn't win in numbers, escaping was not a problem. Liu Liu and Liu Qi knew his capabilities. After thinking for a while and considering that the opportunity was fleeting, they agreed.
Zhang Mao left sixty elite soldiers and one hundred and twenty newly recruited brothers to search the large families one by one. Just as he was hurriedly gathering wealth, someone came to report that General You Ji, Jiang Bin, was leading twelve riders to the city and asked for an audience. Zhang Mao sat on the seat of the Zhizhou. When he heard the news, he laughed and said to his left and right, "How is it? My brother is only leading twelve riders to ask for an audience. It's obvious that he's here to join me. Hahaha, quickly come with me to welcome him. "
Zhang Mao excitedly led his men out of the city. He saw Jiang Bin leading twelve of his trusted subordinates and standing at the side of the city gate. When he saw him coming out of the city, he urged his horse and rode over. When he saw him, he said in surprise, "I just went to the anti-thief camp and it was indeed destroyed. The soldiers scattered and fled in all directions. Big Brother, you … why did you really rebel? "
Zhang Mao laughed sinisterly and said, "Isn't it because of that old thief Liang Hong? He extorted countless people and forced them too much. Us brothers couldn't stand this filthy air and decided to rebel. Brother, you're a high-ranking official with a bright future ahead of you. Big Brother won't make things difficult for you. I won't lead troops to attack your camp and you won't come looking for trouble with me. A small Bazhou won't be able to keep me. Once we've gathered enough soldiers, Big Brother will go far away and won't make things difficult for you in your territory. How about that? "
Jiang Bin spat and scolded, "Bullsh * t! What's so great about being an official? We're brothers in this world and our loyalty is as high as the clouds. If you're a thief, as a You Ji General, I can't guarantee that I won't do evil to you. I've calculated that since you want to rebel and the Imperial Court doesn't like me, it's fine if I don't want to be an official. I'll rebel with you! "
Zhang Mao was overjoyed and stared at him, "Is this true?"
Jiang Bin angrily said, "Of course it's true! You still don't believe me? These few brothers are my good brothers who have gone through thick and thin with me. I brought them here from the Xuan Residence. I've told them before and they're willing to follow me. Isn't that why I'm here to join you? I've just taken over the army and I'm really worried. I don't dare to tell them my thoughts. So … with only these few people, they can't be of any help to Big Brother and I feel ashamed to face you. "
Zhang Mao shook the reins of his horse and came over to stand beside him. He proudly said, "If I didn't believe you, Big Brother wouldn't have led these few people out of the city. What's there to be afraid of if we can't attract the soldiers? Brother, you alone are worth a thousand elite soldiers. Come, follow Big Brother into the city. From now on, us two brothers will conquer the country and rule it together! "
Jiang Bin and Zhang Mao clasped their hands together and laughed. They then rode into the city and joined the bandits.
When it was almost noon, the two of them sat in the Zhi Zhou's main hall and looked at the gold, pearls, and jade treasures that they'd collected. They used the Zhi Zhou's official desk as a table for wine. Big bowls of wine and big mouthfuls of meat, they drank to their hearts' content and discussed their next move after the recruitment.
The two of them sat at the same table and drank until they were drunk. Suddenly, Jiang Bin smashed the bowl. In the blink of an eye, the drunken Zhang Mao felt a sharp pain in his neck. His artery had been severed. Hot blood gushed out and splashed onto Jiang Bin's face.
Zhang Mao roared and struck out with his palm. Jiang Bin was already prepared and had already retreated. Zhang Mao pointed his halberd and shouted angrily, "Treacherous little brat!" As soon as the words left his mouth, his vision blurred and he could no longer stand steadily.
Jiang Bin curled his body and retreated. He immediately took down the two sabers hanging on the pillar and wielded them without hesitation. With a 'pu' sound, a large head flew into the air. Jiang Bin stabbed the head of the saber and shouted, "The bandit is dead, who dares to resist?"
He was clad in armor and his face was covered in blood. He raised the two sabers in his hands and on the head of the saber, there was a human head that was glaring angrily at him. It looked as if it was alive and it was truly frightening.
As soon as the twelve valiant warriors from the Xuan Prefecture saw that their general had succeeded, they immediately leaped up and attacked. Like a gale sweeping away the fallen leaves, they slaughtered the few bandits in the main hall. By the time Liu Twenty-seven, who was plundering the city, heard the news and rushed over with his men, Jiang Bin had already led his twelve riders out of the city. They met up with the main force that was waiting in the dense forest for a few miles and charged back again. Bazhou City was lost.
Liu Liu and the others, who had succeeded on the county road, heard the news from Liu Twenty-Seven; as soon as they heard that Zhang Mao had fallen into their trap and was killed, their guts and guts were about to burst. Leading several groups of troops who had threatened them, they marched majestically toward Bazhou. In this battle, Liu Liu and his men did not care about the casualties and attacked the city with all their might. Although the soldiers under him have not been trained, their martial arts and horsemanship are extraordinary and they are not a match for ordinary people.
After fighting for half a day, they actually managed to charge into the city again. Jiang Bin saw that the situation was not good and immediately gathered the remaining soldiers and left the city. Bazhou changed hands again. The Rustling Horse Bandits vented their anger on the commoners and many more families suffered.
When Jiang Bin heard that his cousin had rebelled, and this time it was an open rebellion, unlike the time when he was a Rustling Horse Bandit, he spent a lot of effort. If he did not send troops, due to the relationship between the two of them, he would definitely be impeached by the imperial court and would most likely lose his official position. If he did not send troops, the generals under him would be suspicious of him. They were always worried that he would conspire with Zhang Mao to send himself to his death. How could he win if he sent troops like this? Jiang Bin fell into an awkward dilemma.
He was absolutely unwilling to give up his bright future and follow Zhang Mao in his rebellion. But if he didn't kill Zhang Mao now, his bright future would be ruined by Zhang Mao. Jiang Bin thought about it and finally steeled his heart to kill Zhang Mao.
Wealth comes from danger, opportunities must be fought for by oneself. Zhang Mao was now the person who destroyed his future, but also the person who could give him a high position and a generous salary. Once he made up his mind, Jiang Bin no longer hesitated. He gathered the generals under him and stated his intention in person. He said that he would enter the city first and take Zhang Mao's head before leading the army into the city. Even so, the generals were still doubtful, but they finally nodded their heads in agreement. That was how he came up with this plan to trick them into surrendering.
Jiang Bin had thousands of troops under him. Although according to Yang Ling, they were not as strong as the elites of the Rustling Horse Bandit, they were the most elite troops in Bazhou. When the imperial court sent the army to exterminate the mountain bandits, they were the most capable local troops to help exterminate the bandits. Even if Bazhou City's low walls were thin and unsuitable for defense, it was still taken down by the Rustling Horse Bandits in half a day's time …
Xu Tai's expression turned serious. He immediately ordered the whole army to enter the city and set up camp. He also sent out scouts to find out the movements of the Rustling Horse Bandits so that he could decide on the direction of the army. When Zheng Heyi heard that Jiang Bin had led the remaining troops to escape and his whereabouts were unknown, he could not help but feel anxious. This person was an important person that the Duke had designated and might be related to the Duke's safety. Hua Yu was already dead. If something were to happen to this person, how could he get to the bottom of the rebellion in Bazhou?
Once the army had set up camp, Zheng Heyi quietly went to see Xu Tai to tell him about his worries. Xu Tai was also anxious to find Jiang Bin. However, the governance of the entire Bazhou had been completely destroyed. The army was like a blind man riding a horse blindly. They did not know anything about the situation. Moreover, the army had only brought two days' worth of rations. The supply wagons were all at the back. It was impossible to let the army wander aimlessly.
The two of them discussed for a long time and decided to send out a small group of people. The group would be led by Squad Leader Du, Squad Leader Hu and some government runners who had escaped back. They would disguise themselves as a small group of refugees and ask around for news of Jiang Bin. If they could find him, they would ask him to meet them in Bazhou as soon as possible. At the same time, they would search for information about the Rustling Horse Bandits.
Teams of scouts were sent out. Zheng Heyi went to the prominent places in the city to make some marks. He hoped that the people from the inner factory would see it and rush over to contact him in time. However, Bazhou had been turned upside down. The information channels had been destroyed in the chaos of the war. The remaining intelligence personnel were basically fighting on their own. The fixed information transmitting personnel and transmission nodes no longer existed. The efficiency was extremely low. After waiting for a long time, no one came to meet them. Zheng Heyi could only hope that the heavens would bless him and he would get news of Jiang Bin as soon as possible.
※ ※ ※
In the reed marshes outside the Zhao Family Village of Wen An County, Jiang Bin was hiding with a dozen of his brothers. Many of his brothers were injured. A soldier tore off a piece of cloth and wrapped it around the wound on his arm. He said hatefully, "Motherf * cker, these farmers really can't be underestimated. Sir, these Rustling Horse Bandits are even more ruthless than the Tartars. We have to escape quickly. "
Jiang Bin lay lazily on the reed marshes. Using his two knives as a pillow, he looked at the blue sky where the reeds swayed. He said, "Powerful my ass! If my men and horses were our brothers from the border army, would they be so cowardly? They are all local soldiers. Not to mention that their battle power is lacking, when they heard that there were bandits everywhere, even the generals only cared about their hometowns. They were worried about their own villages and their families. The people are not united. I just arrived and can't recruit this bunch of useless people. Otherwise … "
At this point, he suddenly sat up with a grunt. He said in a low voice, "Silence!"
As he said this, he waved his hand to indicate that no one should speak. At the same time, he lightly grabbed the hilt of his knife. There was a series of rustling sounds as if someone was passing through the grass. His subordinates all raised their knives and held their breath. After a moment, a figure flashed out. Two soldiers leapt up like tigers pouncing on sheep and threw the person to the ground. The blade of the knife was suddenly pressed against the person's neck. The person was so frightened that he screamed, "Spare me, spare me. I am just an ordinary commoner. Warriors, please have mercy …"
Jiang Bin relaxed and shouted in a low voice, "Shut up! If you make any more noise, I'll kill you! Get him up. "
The person was pulled up by the two soldiers. It turned out to be a fair and plump woman. Her figure was smooth and round, and her skin was soft and tender. She even had a green cloth wrapped around her head. At first glance, she really looked like a farmer's family. It was just that her body was a bit like that of a pampered landlord.
Jiang Bin looked her up and down in confusion. When the woman saw Jiang Bin, her two small eyes also suddenly widened. After a long time, the two of them suddenly said in unison, "It's you?!"
The person was overjoyed. He patted his fat chest and said, "You scared me to death. I thought we encountered bandits. Master Jiang, why are you also hiding here?"
Jiang Bin snorted and said, "How am I hiding? My people were scattered. I only brought them here to treat their injuries and rest. County Magistrate Qiao, how did you … Gu An County was also attacked by bandits? "
Gu An County Magistrate Qiao Yushu was dressed like a woman. He pulled off the green cloth on his head and wiped the greasy sweat and reed flowers on his face. He said, "That's right. Gu An doesn't have any soldiers. The bandits broke through as soon as they attacked. Alas, luckily I saw the opportunity in time. I quickly took off my official's robe and changed into women's clothes to sneak out. They only cared about looting and no one paid attention to me."
Jiang Bin curled his lips and said, "Look at you. The bandits can't be bothered to touch you. Why didn't you bring anyone?"
County Magistrate Qiao said with a sad face, "I couldn't. I didn't dare to return to Gu An. I hid here and there all the way here. I heard on the way that the imperial court has already sent an army and they are now stationed in Bazhou City. But I have a duty to defend my land. I can't go there or return to Gu An. It's really a dilemma. "
When Jiang Bin heard that the imperial court's army had arrived, he couldn't help but be overjoyed. "The imperial court has sent troops? Haha, that's easy. Let's go back to Bazhou immediately. Hmm … Master Qiao, you only have three groups of bailiffs under you. You have a duty to defend your land? It's more like there are corpses guarding the land. Don't hide here and there. Come back to Bazhou with me. I'll help you talk to them. I'll say that you led the bailiffs to defend to your death. But the enemy was strong while we were weak. After Gu An fell, you wanted to perish together with the city. Luckily, I led the army to fight the enemy and rescued you. Wouldn't you not be responsible this way? "
With just a few words, Jiang Bin had obtained a great merit. Qiao Yushu was moved to tears when he heard this, hurriedly grabbing Jiang Bin with his oily hands and saying tearfully, "Thank you, Lord Jiang, thank you, Lord Jiang. Lord Jiang is truly my second parent. This Qiao has no way to repay you, I have a widowed sister at home …"
Jiang Bin waved his hands impatiently and said, "Forget it, forget it. Forget about your sister. Ai, my newly married Beauty Wang is most likely finished in this chaos of war. "
He shook his head regretfully and raised his sabers. "Let's go. There are too many people who have joined the rebels. There are people everywhere. And Liu Liu and Liu Qi seem to have their eyes on me. Damn it. Let's take a shortcut back to Bazhou."
He led a dozen people and quietly walked along the reeds for a while. Suddenly, he waved his hand behind him and crouched down. The people behind him hurriedly crouched on the ground. Qiao Yushu panicked and crouched down. The soldiers at the side were so angry that they wanted to curse. Luckily, the people outside were also running for their lives and no one noticed.
They saw a burly man in a green robe carrying a little girl in his arms and a beautiful woman with a slim figure in his right hand. They were hurrying along the soil beside the reeds. The beautiful young woman had a pair of small feet. She was running on the uneven road, swaying left and right. Although she was supported by the man, she still staggered.
Jiang Bin was just about to stand up and call for help when he heard shouts coming from behind. He immediately crouched down again and looked through the gaps between the reeds. He saw that the woman heard the shouts and became anxious. She twisted her ankle and knelt on the ground in pain. The burly man with thick eyebrows and big eyes asked anxiously, "Wife, how are you?"
The woman sobbed, "Husband, I can't do it. Quickly take the child and run. Don't worry about me."
The burly man said anxiously, "How can I do that? Quickly get up, I'll carry you."
At this moment, the pursuers had caught up. The burly man looked back and was extremely anxious. He had no choice but to put down the five or six year old child and said, "Stay with mother and don't leave." He then turned around to face the pursuers.
He didn't expect this burly man to be so skilled. The three or four pursuers had sabers and sticks. He could deal with them with his bare hands. However, he had some misgivings and didn't dare to hurt anyone. He only shouted, "I'm just an ordinary citizen. Why are you all forcing me?"
One of the soldiers peeked at the beautiful woman who was carrying her daughter and laughed lewdly. "It's rare to see such an outstanding wife. Brothers, put in more effort and finish off this burly man. I, your brother, will come out on top. Hahahaha …"
As he said this, he increased his strength and rushed over to pull the little girl away. The young woman screamed and was pushed to the ground by him. He reached out to pull her clothes.
"Husband, husband, save me …" The young woman's eyes were brimming with tears as she screamed for help.
The burly man turned his head to look and flew into a rage. He didn't dare to hurt anyone at first, but now he swung his pair of iron fists left and right. No one could block him and he forced everyone to scatter. He leapt forward like a tiger and grabbed the burly man who molested his wife. He punched the man's temple and killed him on the spot.
The bandits were shocked and angry. They all surrounded him. The burly man picked up the stick next to the corpse and created a whistling wind. For a moment, the burly men couldn't get close to him. At this moment, a large group of horses came chasing from behind. The man in the lead was Liu Liu.
Jiang Bin was startled. He knew that since he had appeared, there must be many bandits following him. He had plotted to kill his cousin and Liu Liu hated him to the bone. If he was exposed today, it would be extremely difficult for him to escape. As a result, he crouched on the ground and held his breath, not daring to make a sound.
Liu Liu saw that the burly man's martial arts skills were extraordinary and he was a good man. He waved his hand and said, "A few of you, don't hurt him." A few bandits beside Liu Liu immediately rushed out. Although the burly man's martial arts skills were high, it was difficult for him to fight against so many people. Moreover, his wife and daughter were beside him and he didn't dare to escape, so he was captured alive.
A steel knife was placed on his neck, but the burly man still refused to accept it. He stared at them angrily. Liu Liu stepped forward and shouted, "Who are you? How dare you! "
The burly man glared at him and said, "What a dumb bandit! You don't even know Lunatic Zhao from Wenan District?"
Liu Liu has always respected courageous and chivalrous people. He was also from Wenan District, so how could he not know this chivalrous and chivalrous Scholar Zhao? When he heard that it was him, he couldn't help but feel deep respect. He quickly cupped his hands and said, "So it's Mister Zhao. I've long heard of your chivalrous name. It's a pity that I've never met you before and offended you. Please forgive me!"
Zhao Sui straightened his back and said, "You go your way and I go mine. Why are you being so courteous with me?"
Liu Liu raised his eyebrows and said, "Corrupt officials are everywhere in the world. We were forced by them and had no choice but to do this business. Now that you're here, if you're willing to invest and help us, I'm willing to follow your instructions. What do you think, Mister Zhao? "
Zhao Sui looked up to the sky and laughed, "You think you can rule the world with just you?"
Liu Liu was neither shocked nor angered. He smiled and said, "Do the nobles have the guts? The winner is the king and the loser is the thief. The hero who emerges after success or failure will inevitably be glamorous. In fact, since ancient times, how are those who achieved hegemony different from us before they succeeded? "
Zhao Sui didn't expect this bandit to be so knowledgeable. He couldn't help but look at him in a new light and the arrogance on his face faded. Liu Liu observed Zhao Sui's expression and smiled, "Guards, don't make things difficult for the wife and children. Please return to the village, I still need to learn from you."
He knew that Zhao Sui was a forthright and righteous man who often stood up for the poor. He was loved by the people but was also ostracized by the officials because of this. Although he was talented, it was still difficult for him to become an official. Zhao Sui did not lack valiant generals but to achieve great things, he was lacking a talent with strategy. Zhao Sui had long been dissatisfied with the officials and he loved his wife and children deeply. Using this as a threat, he might succeed.
Zhao Sui's wife and children were in the hands of the bandits and he had no choice but to follow him back to the village. The bandits surrounded Liu Liu and Zhao Sui and left. Seeing the reeds swaying in the wind and silence returning, Jiang Bin leaped up and said, "Liu Liu has returned to the village. This is a good opportunity. Let's hurry and head to Bazhou to report the news and lead the army to attack!"
* * *
The war in Bazhou continued. Due to Liu Jin's delay in the court and Liang Hong's random actions in the army, the war did not end. Bazhou became more and more corrupted and out of control.
According to the news from the capital, the Rattling Horse Bandits recruited Zhao Sui from Wen An County. Zhao Sui spent all his wealth and joined the rebellion with his brothers Zhao Pan and Zhao Gao, as well as 500 servants and tenants. He was appointed as Liu Hui's Deputy Marshal and changed his name to Zhao Huaizhong.
With his strict military discipline and unified command, the Rattling Horse Bandits who were originally like a disorganized group of soldiers and robbed aimlessly started to move with a purpose. They attacked cities, killed officials and suppressed the landlords. Wherever they went, they would first invite the local gentry and tell the people not to panic and run away.
They recruited more and more people and conquered Boye, Raoyang, Nangong, Wuji, Dongming and other districts. The local guards fled at the sight of them. Although Xu Tai's border army could fight, the Rattling Horse Bandits came and went like the wind and were familiar with the terrain of Bazhou. They could gallop hundreds of miles in a day and night. However, they avoided the capital army and focused on suppressing the aristocrats everywhere and taking in the troops. Xu Tai was restrained by Liang Hong and could only follow behind and help them clean up the mess. Now the main force of the rebels was close to fifteen thousand people.
When the news reached the capital, the Six Ministries and the Emperor were shocked. Liu Jin's faction made a big fuss and kept asking for more troops to be sent to suppress the rebellion. They wanted to kill Yang Ling as an apology to the world. The situation took a turn for the worse. The officials who thought they could quickly suppress the rebellion and Yang Ling was only slightly reprimanded also realized the seriousness of the situation. The capital was clear and the spring breeze was warm, but the officials were gloomy.
That night, Zheng Heyi brought a person to the capital and secretly sneaked into the Yang House under Song Ai's arrangement. That night, the inner study of the Yang House was brightly lit and did not go out.
On the second night, the mansions of Li Dongyang, Yang Tinghe, Jiao Fang, Yang Yiqing and other high-ranking officials also received an unexpected guest. They were worried about the situation in the court and hadn't slept. After the mysterious guest left, the lights in their mansions were brightly lit and didn't go out at all.
At the same time, many civil and military officials in the capital were awakened in the middle of the night. When these officials got up from their beds in bewilderment and hurriedly put on their clothes and walked into the living room, the mysterious person waiting in the living room smiled and presented a gift box. Then, without saying a word, he cupped his hands and took his leave. When they opened the box, full of doubts, they saw that inside were letters, gift lists, calligraphy and paintings for themselves and Liu Jin …
Mou Bin, Dai Yi, Zhang Yong and the others also did not sleep. What was even rarer was that the Military Bureau of the Provost of North Town, which never worked at night, was opened by someone with Mou Bin's handwritten letter. Clanking sounds could be heard throughout the night, and no one knew what was being forged. The old man on night watch was very curious, but unfortunately, the guards were all changed to Mou Bin's trusted subordinates, and no one was allowed to step into the room.
At dawn, hundreds of officials came to the court.
Li Dongyang was carrying a notice written by Zhao Sui to pacify the people. On it were listed the thirty major crimes and sixty minor crimes of Liu Jin, as well as the reasons for launching a crusade against the imperial court. He stood straight at the front of the hundreds of officials, full of energy.
All along, this Grand Secretary, who liked to stay behind the scenes and lay out his plans calmly, knew that today, it was time for him to stand in front of the stage and defeat his opponent fair and square.
The House of Duke Wei was still under the strict guard of the imperial guards, but Yang Ling was wearing a python robe and a jade belt. He sat in the study room, and in front of him was a cup of fragrant tea, with smoke curling up. He was now under house arrest, but he was dressed as if he was going to face the emperor soon.
Sitting opposite him was a brave general, dressed in armor, but purposely covered his body with wounds. His face was smeared with blood, and he was holding a small fan in his hand, and was fanning with all his might, as if he wanted to fan the blood away as soon as possible.
Eerie, a kind of eeriness that made one's heart tremble …
Liu Jin went to the court in high spirits. Ministers were not qualified to discuss politics, but for the past few days, Liu Jin had been a frequent visitor to the court. Last night, he discussed with a few of his trusted subordinates, and was a little sleepy, but he was full of fighting spirit. He decided to take advantage of the good situation in Bazhou, and today, he gathered all his strength to completely defeat Yang Ling, so that he would not be able to make a comeback.
He was wearing a python robe, and there were two sleeves on the front and back of the chest, and there were a total of four pythons. Sitting on the python robe, in the entire court, only he, Liu Jin, and Yang Ling received this honor. However, from now on, there would only be him in the world, and he would truly be below one person, and above tens of thousands.
Liu Jin smiled slightly, and his hand pressed on the jade belt as he looked at the hundreds of officials, like a king looking at his humble and obedient subjects. Suddenly, he felt a little strange, those pairs of eyes were a little cold, a faint coldness, like a group of carnivorous beasts.
An inexplicable chill rose from his back.
At this moment, Emperor Zhengde entered the court. He was wearing a dragon robe, a winged crown, and a five-clawed golden dragon robe.
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