Although the war had not spread to the capital and the imperial court did not believe that these two groups of bandits would dare to attack the capital, the city still became stricter. The number of patrolling officers and soldiers guarding the gates of the nine cities increased threefold. The rushing officers and soldiers reminded the still bustling and quiet people that the world was at war.
Yang Ling sent Lu Shijie out of the Southern City Gate. Inside a black carriage, four well-built attendants were waiting on horseback. Yang Ling said to Lu Shijie: "Brother Lu, although the war has not spread out of Hebei and Shandong, it is still a long way and not safe. These four guards are responsible for escorting you safely to Jiangnan. Gu Daeyong and Yan Song will arrange a ship to send you to Japan as the Ming Destiny's Publicity Envoy.
Now the Jiangnan scholar Tang Bohu is there and is respected by all the famous people in Japan. After Brother Lu arrives, you can spread our Central Plains culture with Tang Bohu and enlighten the barbarians. You can stay there for a year and a half. After you are familiar with the place, I hope Brother Lu can invite more friends from the scholarly world to travel between China and Japan. Besides doing business, you can also teach the culture of our country. "
Lu Shijie was Liu Jin's senior advisor, but only a few people close to Liu Jin knew this. These people were now beheaded. At most, others only knew that Lu Shijie and Liu Jin were from the same hometown and were close to each other. Even this information was erased from the interrogation records by Dai Yi.
In fact, Lu Shijie could stay in the capital as an official. But last time at Wangzhu Creek in Sichuan, Lu Shijie pretended to be arrogant and arrogant. After being ridiculed by Yang Ling, he seemed to be enlightened and had no intention of becoming an official. Yang Ling urged him to stay again but Lu Shijie insisted on leaving. Helpless, Yang Ling invited him to Japan to spread the culture of the Central Plains.
Unexpectedly, Lu Shijie readily agreed. He had also heard that the Jiangnan scholar Tang Bohu was now insufferably awe-inspiring in Japan. Daimyo and generals everywhere revered him like a god and did not dare to blaspheme him. As a scholar, what more could he ask for?
Lu Shijie smiled and cupped his fists. "Don't worry, High Duke. I won't let you down. I'll set off now."
Yang Ling returned the courtesy with a smile. After watching Lu Shijie board the carriage and leave, he said to Big Stick Hammer: "Let's go to the Ministry of War and see how the war situation is."
At present, Yang Ling also held the position of Deputy Marshal of the four foreign armies and had the responsibility of protecting the capital. At the same time, whenever the imperial court had foreign affairs in the past two years, Zhengde had always used Yang Ling. This time, the rebellion of the people in Bazhou and Qingzhou had not attracted his attention. Secondly, he could not bear to let Yang Ling run around all day, so he only put him in charge of the capital's security and advised on the military strategy, often going to the Ministry of War.
The Ministry of War was originally the most leisurely of the six ministries, but now it was the busiest. It was full of military personnel passing in and out, passing on military intelligence, allocations of provisions, laborers, carriages, and other matters. The Ministry of War then passed on the information to the other ministries. The Ministry of War was extremely busy.
Yang Ling hurried into the main hall of the Ministry of War and saw that there were two sets of sand tables in the spacious hall. There was also a huge map hanging on the wall. Some counselors and staff were busy, hurriedly making marks according to the latest information.
The Minister of War, Lu Wan, sat sideways behind a square table. The table was filled with documents piled up like a mountain, almost covering his head and face. Someone was standing beside him, talking to him. Seeing Yang Ling enter, that person shouted, "Lord Duke!"
Yang Ling fixed his eyes on him and saw that it was Jiang Bin. He couldn't help smiling: "Jiang Bin, why are you here?"
Jiang Bin came forward with a smile and said: "His Majesty has appointed me to the position of General Staff. I am going to lead the troops to kill my way back to Bazhou and find that Liu Liu to fight." As he said this, he added quietly: "You also know that there is also my new concubine, a delicate beauty. Now I don't know who has taken advantage of her. Damn it, if I don't go look for her, I won't be satisfied."
Yang Ling held back his laughter and said: "Hmm, you are going to lead the troops to suppress the bandits. You are a reassuring person. When are you leaving?"
Jiang Bin grinned cheekily and said: "Aren't I here to pay my respects to the Minister? The military situation is urgent. I will leave immediately after requesting a general's order. Does High Duke have any other instructions?"
Lu Wan also stood up from behind his desk. He hurriedly came around and cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings to High Duke."
Yang Ling hurriedly said: "Dispense with the formalities. I am here to understand the recent military situation. How are the movements of the bandits in the two areas?"
Hearing this, Lu Wan frowned and said: "High Duke, I have never seen such a battle. Even if the Tatars outside the Great Wall break into our border to attack cities and seize territory, roughly where they will attack, how many troops will they have, as long as we fight a few battles, we will have a rough estimate of their strength and battle intent. But this Bazhou's Ringing Horse Gang, Qingzhou's White Shirt Army … "
He laughed bitterly and said: "It is impossible to guess the purpose of their actions. They attack cities and seize land, mainly with robbery. At the same time, they coerce a large number of commoners to participate in the riots. It seems that they have no long-term plans."
He pointed at the two sand tables and said: "In reality, those things are completely useless. The Ringing Horse Bandits move so fast that even the imperial army following closely behind can't catch up. The information sent to the capital is long out of date. According to the information obtained by the mounted scouts, the Bazhou Ringing Horse Bandits now number about 18,000 people. They are mainly cavalry.
The local horse farmers in Bazhou all raise horses, so it is very easy for them to obtain a large source of horses. Other than that, they have captured cities and robbed large families, and also obtained a large number of horses. These 18,000 people have more than 30,000 warhorses. Each cavalry has two or even three warhorses. They take turns changing horses. Like the wind and lightning, Xu Tai's army has no way of finding them and inflicting heavy damage. "
Jiang Bin pinched his chin and said fiercely: "Send a few more armies and surround them from all sides. Do we still have to be afraid of them flying into the sky?"
Lu Wan shook his head and said: "There is no need for roads in a place that is as flat as a horse's back. There are roads everywhere. How many troops do we need to mobilize? If we can mobilize so many troops, then there is no need for the Ringing Horse Bandits to rebel. Just their rations are enough to bring down the imperial court. "
Jiang Bin smacked his lips and didn't say anything.
Yang Ling asked: "How is Shandong?"
Once he asked about Shandong, Lu Wan's expression became even more serious. He said: "There are not many valuable military reports in Shandong. The main reason is that the situation is too chaotic. When Yang Hu was a mountain bandit, he was still particular about thieves and thieves. He specifically targeted the rich and heartless tycoons and corrupt officials. Now he is abnormally ruthless and unscrupulous.
After this bandit revolted, he deliberately sent some rebels to set fire to houses and destroy fields. When the commoners who fled from the battle returned home, they were homeless. He also left people behind with rations to recruit the commoners to rebel. The commoners had no other way out but to join him. Yang Hu used this method to coerce countless commoners. Preliminary estimates show that in just over a month, his army is close to 80,000 people. The dozen or so counties and towns under the jurisdiction of Qingzhou are now completely ruined. Many of the villages have either died, fled, or joined the bandits. Less than half of the old and young are left. "
"Bang!" Yang Ling slammed his fist on the table. His eyes were spitting fire and his face was ashen. He gritted his teeth and said: "Yang Hu!"
He had never thought that in order to accomplish his goal, Yang Hu would be so heartless that he would use the strategy of exterminating innocent commoners and force them to rebel with him. Many rebels had used this kind of method. Towards the end of the Tang Dynasty, General Soaring Heaven, Huang Chao had done something similar. After retreating from Chang 'an, he even caught people and pressed them into a millstone to make them into meat patties. He also drove a large number of commoners to be used as rations for the army. They were called two-legged sheep. After the Taiping army captured the three towns of Wuhan, they also used the method of burning, killing, and looting to force countless homeless commoners to rebel with them.
In the beginning, these rebels were treated unfairly and oppressed too much. However, after they revolted, once they grasped the power of life and death, in order to accomplish great things and recruit soldiers, they became blinded by greed. They coerced, killed indiscriminately, and used unscrupulous methods, causing the commoners' lives to be plunged into misery and suffering.
While Yang Ling was enraged, a frightening thought suddenly flashed in his mind: Did Red Lady wallow in the mire with him? If she also did this kind of thing, how could he tolerate her? As soon as he thought of this, Yang Ling was suddenly at a loss.
Lu Wan saw his expression and couldn't help but call out, "High Duke, High Duke?"
"Hmm?" Yang Ling suddenly came back to his senses. Lu Wan smiled apologetically and said, "What advice does High Duke have?"
Yang Ling's thoughts flashed like lightning. "No, this time I must think of a way to lead the troops into battle and stop Yang Hu from killing more. However, with my current identity, I cannot volunteer myself. I must wait for a suitable opportunity to ask the Emperor to take charge of suppressing the bandits. "
He calculated in his mind and said casually, "The specific battle matters should be handled by the generals on the battlefield. Opportunities can change in an instant. The Minister is in charge of the central command and must not act arbitrarily. In the big picture, Yang Hu came from Bazhou and must be inextricably linked to the Bazhou Ringing Horse Bandits. We must prevent the two groups of bandits from joining forces. "
Lu Wan deeply agreed and nodded, saying, "The capital region is an important place. Two hundred thousand soldiers are stationed and mainly concentrated on the front line of the capital. This lowly official will dispatch some people to set up three lines of defense in the next few days to prevent the two groups of bandits from joining forces."
Yang Ling continued, "Since Yang Hu has coerced a large number of people to become bandits, his reputation will definitely rise in a short period of time. However, with this, he will have a difficult problem to solve, and that is rations. Shandong is already barren and now it is the beginning of spring. After a winter, there is not much left. Even if he captures all of it, I'm afraid it will be difficult to support the survival of the army. If this person does not join forces with the Bazhou Ringing Horse Bandits, for the sake of rations, he will have to go south. Henan and Jiangsu must be on high alert.
Moreover, Jiangnan is the Great Ming's granary, the source of taxes; this place must not be thrown into chaos. If we lose Jiangnan, the Great Ming's rivers and mountains will be in imminent danger. Jiangnan will certainly have a large number of troops stationed there, ready for battle. If the rebel troops really break out of Shandong, we must not let them take Jiangnan. "
Lu Wan nodded. Yang Ling glanced at Jiang Bin and said, "You should hurry to Bazhou and join forces with Commander Xu and Eunuch Miao. Strive to eliminate Liu Liu and Liu Qi's bandits as soon as possible. Shandong …"
He took a deep breath and said, "Even if it festers a little, it cannot fester all over. Strive to delay the White Shirt Army in Shandong and annihilate them. Try to prevent them from breaking out. In this way, the local soldiers in Shandong and the reinforcements from Tianjin and Baoding may not be able to do it. We still need to transfer manpower."
Lu Wan said in a low voice, "According to the Duke's intentions, Jiangnan needs to be heavily guarded. If we want to transfer troops, there are only three sources. The first is the northern border army, the second is the capital camp, and the third is the southeast or southwest. Whether it is from the southeast or southwest, it will take a long time. I'm afraid that distant water cannot quench the thirst nearby. Only by transferring troops from the capital camp or the border army is more practical.
Although the capital camp has hundreds of thousands of troops, they need to protect the capital. Nothing can happen under the feet of the Emperor. Now that Xu Tai has taken away an army, it cannot be easily transferred. There are many elite troops stationed at the border. What do you think about transferring troops from the border to Shandong to fight? "
Yang Ling nodded and said, "I am only giving you some suggestions. It is not good to make specific arrangements. You should discuss this matter in detail with the cabinet. Minister Yang of the Ministry of Appointments is familiar with the situation of the border army. If you want to transfer troops from the border army, you can ask him for advice."
He thought for a while and said to himself, "Outside the Pass, the Tartars and Walla are fighting each other endlessly. Bayan's general, Jia Si Bu, is leading his troops to independence. Bayan can't even take care of himself and has no spare power to attack the border. The border has been very peaceful. Perhaps … transferring troops from the border is the only method at present."
The Central Plains soldiers have risen. How can the people inside and outside not become restless?
Is the nine sides really peaceful?
※ ※ ※
The Wuliangha Grasslands.
After a fresh rain, the sky was clear and the ground green. The air was fresh. A brilliant rainbow hung on the horizon, like a curved rainbow bridge. The endless grasslands were already covered with grass half a foot high, dotted with all kinds of unknown wildflowers. In the distance, the white yurts were scattered on the grasslands like mushrooms.
Accompanied by the brisk sound of horse hooves, the big leader of the Duoyan Guards, Hua Dang, slowly galloped under the azure sky, accompanied by a few tribal leaders. The herdsmen drove the horses, moving like clouds on the grasslands. Standing on a high slope and looking down at the grassland, a silvery river meandered across the grassland like a jade belt. On the opposite side, there was still a stretch of high mountains. On the top of the mountains was a dense and tall birch forest, shining with a silver light under the sunlight.
The Mongolian horses were not tall, and their manes were not beautiful. However, the horses were short and sturdy. They were very durable. Hua Dang stroked his beard and looked at the growing herd of horses. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips. Next to the moving herd of horses, a purplish-red horse galloped towards him. Hua Dang smiled and placed his hand on the awning to look in that direction. Then, he laughed happily. "Oh, it's my son, Arslan. He has returned."
The horse galloped up the slope. Hua Dang kicked the horse's belly and took a few steps forward.
"Neigh ~" Arslan stopped the horse. The father and son hugged each other passionately. Hua Dang laughed. "Arslan, you are finally back. What are you so happy about?"
Arslan laughed. "Father, I heard some good news. Boyan is going to invade the borders of Ming Destiny."
Hua Dang was startled and frowned. "What a rash child. Gasibu led his tribe to Ordos and disobeyed Boyan's orders. Huo Zhe and Wa La often fought with him. Boyan is very busy. Now that his strength is greatly reduced, does he still have the guts to attack Ming Destiny?"
Arslan's face turned red. "Father, this news is true. My Anda got it from the Roth tribe. Something happened to Ming Destiny, and there are rebellions in Hebei and Shandong at the same time. At this time, they have no time to care about the frontier fortress.
According to the news I received, Boyan is in a very difficult situation. This winter, he had to slaughter a large number of cattle and sheep to survive. Now that spring has returned, they don't even have cattle, sheep, or horses to graze. They are forced to do this. "
Hua Dang's general, Bayar, rode his horse to Hua Dang's side and asked, "This is a little strange. With Boyan's current strength and situation, it is impossible for him to send troops to capture Ming Destiny. How many men did he send?"
Arslan put his hand on his chest and bowed. "Uncle Bayar, Boyan gathered all the warriors who are still loyal to him. There are a total of 16,000 men. When I came back, the army had already gathered and set off. They are indeed heading in the direction of Xuan Prefecture and Datong."
Bayar asked doubtfully, "Your Highness, is Boyan really at the end of the road and at this stage? In the past, when he suffered under Ming Destiny, he would attack us and take food from us when there was a shortage of cattle and sheep. This time, he gave up the easy task and chose to attack Ming Destiny. With 16,000 men to attack the strong walls of the Han people, I'm afraid the amount of loot they can get is very limited. "
Hua Dang smiled reservedly and said, "Although it is difficult to attack Ming Destiny, at least he doesn't have to worry about the Han people chasing him to the grasslands for revenge. Now, Boyan is no longer the overlord of the grasslands. The people's morale is unstable. After the alliance between Fire Sieve and Wala tribe, their military strength is above his.
Gasi Bu established his own tribe and took away an elite army. His power is even weaker. I heard that the Empress of the Mandu Sea is not dead and is now in Gasi Bu's army. A few of Boyan's tribes have secretly gone to Gasi Bu's side. Boyan is now surrounded by strong enemies. Does he still dare to attack us and become enemies with Hua Dang? "
Hearing this, Bai Yin urged his horse forward. He was slightly thinner and looked inconspicuous in front of the strong tribesmen. However, he was one of the main leaders of the three tribes of Wu Liang and Ha and Hua Dang's sworn brother. Listening to their conversation, his eyes flashed and he stared at Als Leng thoughtfully. He smiled and said, "Als Leng, why do you say that Boyan's attack on Ming Destiny is good news?"
Als Leng's young face glowed with a strange expression. He said loudly, "Uncle Bai Yin, don't you think this is a good opportunity? Our tribesmen have had enough of Boyan's oppression. Now that he has fallen, as long as we defeat him, we will have the possibility of dominating the grasslands. This is a good opportunity for us. "
He looked at his father's expression and continued, "While Boyan has secretly mobilized all of his elites to attack Ming Destiny, we can take down their tribe in one fell swoop and occupy a wider grassland for grazing. At that time, our power will increase greatly. With the vast grasslands, we can attract a large number of tribes to join us. We will then have the ability to compete with Huo Xi and Wa La. Father, you will have the chance to become the Khan of the grasslands!"
Hua Dang's heart palpitated when he heard this. He looked at the endless oasis and imagined himself becoming the ruler of the grasslands. His heart couldn't help but heat up. However, when he thought of the reputation of Boyan and Huo Xi, as the leader of a tribe, his long-term caution made him hesitate again.
After all, after so many years, the heroic and invincible image of these two people had been deeply rooted in his heart. Usually, he was not afraid of conflicts with some small tribes for the sake of fighting over the farms. However, if they took advantage of the fact that Boyan was leading his army and robbed his tribe, livestock, and women, then it would be a final battle with Boyan. A tiger would not fall even if it died. Boyan … was an ambitious and ruthless person of his generation.
Bai Yin chuckled and praised, "Good lad, you're ambitious!"
He turned to Hua Dang and said, "Your Highness, from the looks of it, not only is Boyan's people divided, he is also in a very difficult situation. If it wasn't for the fact that he can't hold on any longer, he wouldn't have taken such a risk. Your Highness, we have a strong army now and are strong enough to fight Boyan head-on. Now that Boyan has mobilized his elites to attack Ming Destiny, we can take over his territory and cut off his retreat. That way, we will be able to defeat him in one fell swoop.
Huo Xi and the Wa La, even Gasibu, are all ambitious and fighting to become the ruler of the grasslands. You are also a great hero of the grasslands. Why don't you replace him at this time? No matter whose hands his forces fall into, they will become our new powerful enemy. We should strike first and gain the upper hand. "
Bayar raised his thick eyebrows and said in agreement, "That makes sense. There's a saying, 'take your life while you're ill'. Now is the time when our strong enemy, Boyan, is' seriously ill '. We should make a prompt decision."
The others gathered around and voiced their agreement. Hua Dang hesitated. After thinking for a while, he used his horsewhip to lightly tap on the saddle and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, you must know that we have become mortal enemies with Boyan. A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Now … how confident are we in dealing with Boyan?"
Bai Yin said, "Your Highness, as long as we attack Boyan's territory, Huo Xi and Wa La, even Gasibu, will hear the news and join in to snatch this fat sheep. What threat can Boyan pose? If we give up this opportunity, we will only be able to obtain a moment of peace. Once they grow stronger, they will become the second Boyan. We will still be the target of their plunder and oppression. Boyan's light cavalry is attacking Datong at Xuan Prefecture. There won't be a long battle. The opportunity is fleeting. Your Highness must make a decision as soon as possible! "
Hua Dang looked at the generals under his command. These heroes of the grasslands all had their hands on the hilts of their swords. Their faces showed a resolute and bloodthirsty expression. Hua Dang lowered his head and thought for a moment. Then, he said resolutely, "Alright, we will go back and discuss this carefully. First, we will send someone to Boyan's territory and find out his real movements to avoid falling into his trap. If Boyan has really gone to Datong or Xuan Prefecture, we will immediately mobilize our troops. "
Bai Yin smiled and said, "We also need to send a letter to Ming Destiny's Liaodong Garrison Commander. Say that as King Shunming, Your Highness is loyal to Ming Destiny. You were shocked to hear that Boyan Meng has once again raided the border cities, so you angrily sent your troops to suppress him. In this way, regardless of success or failure … "
Hua Dang was enlightened. He laughed and said, "That's right, it's a success. We can dispel Ming Destiny's wariness. In the future, when we fight against Huo Sieve, Wa La and other tribes, we can gain Ming Destiny's support. If we fail, we can drag the Liaodong Garrison into the water. If they dare to leave us in the lurch, all the vassals who have submitted to Ming Destiny will despise them."
Bayar laughed and said, "Brilliant plan! In this way, we have nothing to worry about. But in my opinion, this is completely unnecessary. Boyan is no longer who he used to be. We will definitely succeed. Your Highness, after all, being King Shunming is not as impressive as being the ruler of the grasslands. You will definitely become the Khan of the grasslands. We, Wuliangha, will become the master of the grasslands! "
Nai Rentai joked, "When that time comes, Hua Dang, who has unified the grasslands, might be able to recreate Genghis Khan's brilliance and power and have a wider world!"
"Hahaha …" The heroes laughed heartily. Hua Dang raised his horsewhip and said with a clear laugh, "Let's go!" He took the lead and galloped towards the grasslands. Behind him, a few strong horses followed closely. The sound of the horses' hooves was like a cool breeze.
Just as they galloped in front of a huge tent, before they could even get off their horses, another horse flew over from afar. It was a red horse that was as red as fire. The person on the horse was dressed in a white robe and stood high on the horse's back. Her arms were spread out as if she was riding on clouds. A head of glossy black hair fluttered behind her head like waves in the wind.
Als smiled blankly and said, "It's Yin Qi. This girl is being mischievous again."
The red horse arrived in an instant. The person on the horse was indeed a young girl. She was dressed in a loose white robe, but the horse was fast and the robe was tightly wrapped around her body. Her body, which was gradually becoming more and more feminine, had already revealed an exquisite and unrestrained curve. Her beautiful hair flowed freely behind her shoulders. She was like a flying goddess with bright eyes and white teeth. Her features were picturesque.
When the horse arrived in front of her, she suddenly lowered her body and straddled the horse's back. She grabbed the reins and giggled as she called out, "Daddy, Brother!"
Hua Dang got off the horse and laughed as he carried his daughter off the horse. He said, "You little girl, the grass is slippery after the rain. The horse can't walk steadily. Be careful that you don't fall off the horse. You're already a big girl, yet you're still so mischievous."
Yin Qi stuck out her tongue and made a face at him. She whispered, "I'm not being mischievous. I have to ride a horse when I go out. I have to ride a horse every day. My legs will become bowed and my butt will become bigger. I don't want to become like you."
Hua Dang was tall and burly with thick eyebrows and wide eyes. When he walked, he had a majestic gait. However, he really did have a pair of bowed legs. In reality, they roamed the grasslands and relied on horses to survive. Almost all of them had bowed legs. Unless a girl came from a rich family and didn't need to ride a horse all day, most of them had bowed legs.
Hearing his daughter's words, Hua Dang laughed heartily and said, "Good, good, good. Daddy will give you a horse carriage next time. If you don't find it troublesome, then you can ride a horse carriage when you go out. Hahaha … Hey, don't pester your big brother. We have important matters to discuss. Go get a bottle of horse milk wine for Daddy."
Hearing this, Yin Qi unhappily glared at him and skipped to the back of the tent. Chief Bai Yin watched her leave and said with a smile, "Qiqige is about to grow into a big girl. Her appearance is also more beautiful than her hair."
Hua Dang sighed and said, "That's right. The children have all grown up … Oh, that's right. Your son Su Khebaru is already eighteen years old, right?"
Bai Yin laughed and said, "That's right. That child is much sturdier than me. At first, he wasn't even as tall as a horse. Now, he really looks like a fierce tiger. That's right. Your Highness, last time I mentioned to you about marriage … "
Hua Dang laughed and said, "No rush, no rush. I only have this one daughter. After the new year, she will only be sixteen. Moreover, I have spoiled this child's temperament. I haven't told her about this yet. If she doesn't agree, there's nothing I can do as her father."
Seeing Bai Yin's displeasure, Hua Dang laughed heartily and put his arm around her shoulder, saying, "My Anda, don't be anxious. Su Khebaru is a rare warrior. His horsemanship and archery are both top notch. Yin Qi likes this kind of young hero. How about this, during next year's Damu Assembly, I will publicly choose a husband for my daughter. If your son is a fierce tiger of the grasslands, then let him fight for her himself. "
Hearing this, the gloomy expression on Bai Yin's face was swept away. She happily laughed and said, "Good, good, good. It's a deal. Haha, when I go back and tell him about this, this brat will definitely be extremely happy. In all of Wuliangha, there are very few people who can compare to my son in horsemanship, archery, and wrestling. Oh … In order to marry his sweetheart as soon as possible, he will have to put in even more effort. "
The two of them laughed heartily as they walked. Outside the tent, there were two female servants slaughtering a fat deer. The sharp knives in their hands were smoothly cutting up the meat before throwing them into a large pot at the side. The water in the pot was boiling.
Seeing their master and the various leaders return, the two female servants hurriedly bowed in greeting. Only when everyone entered the tent with large strides and put down the tent's curtain did they continue to work.
Large pieces of deer meat were thrown into the boiling water. The firewood at the bottom of the pot spouted red flames. The deer's head was cut off and placed on a wooden frame at the side. Its empty eyes were still staring at the raging flames as it cooked its own body …
Within Hua Dang's tent, the plan to send troops to subdue Bayan Mengke was being discussed and perfected.
A deer galloping through the grasslands would eventually become food in the stomach of the hunter. A deer galloping through the Central Plains would be hunted in all directions. However, who was the hunter of the deer in the Central Plains? Who was the fat deer waiting to be slaughtered?
When the country flourished, the people suffered. When the country perished, the people suffered. Regardless of who became the hunter and who became the fat deer, the ones who suffered would always be the innocent people.
* * *
The water in the iron pot was bubbling with blood. Below it, the smashed chairs were crackling. They were all made of high-quality mahogany and boxwood. The fire was ignited by articles on etiquette, poetry, and murals. Many injured soldiers were lying all over the hall.
A thousand years of etiquette belonged to East Lu. The crown of ten thousand years belonged to King Su.
Qufu, Kong Residence!
"I went to take a look just now. Although the house is more luxurious than this one, there isn't a single gold, silver, or treasure inside. That's someone else's temple. It's despicable to dig up tombs and demolish temples. Although we are bandits, we have our own principles. Pass down the order that no one is allowed to … to destroy the Temple of Confucius, "Red Lady said as she walked.
A burly man carrying a large saber on his back, dressed in a white cloak and a red headscarf, cupped his fists and left in a hurry.
This was the eastern neighbor of the Temple of Confucius, the Kong Residence. The Kong Residence was not the residence of Confucius, but the hereditary residence of Confucius's eldest grandson, Duke Yansheng. It was a grand residence with more than four hundred buildings. It was second only to the imperial palace and was magnificent beyond the style of a prince's residence.
In front of it were the three halls and six halls, which were the government offices. There were also the main hall, the second hall, the third hall, the third hall, the Hall of Control, the Hall of Hundred Households, the Hall of Seals, the Hall of Control, the Hall of Records, and the Hall of Music. In the southeast corner of the front yard of the middle road, there was also the prison. To the east of the inner residence, there was a defensive blockhouse. Behind it were the inner residence and the back garden. The originally solemn and respectful place was now filled with soldiers.
Everyone in Red Lady's army also rode horses, some even had two or three horses. The eastern and western courtyards of the Kong Residence, as well as the eastern granary, the western granary, the carriage fence, the horse horn, the firewood garden, and other places, simply couldn't fit all of them. As a result, there were more horses than people in the courtyard. These horses were not tied up and freely gnawed on the flowerbeds and trees.
The Kong Residence was a large family. Although before Red Lady's army arrived, they had already moved dozens of carriages full of gold, silver, fine articles, and important cultural relics away, but they couldn't bring the rice that was piled up as high as a mountain. They still gave Red Lady a considerable amount of wealth. Other than the food for the army and the food for herself, she ordered people to put up notices to open the granaries to help the poor common people.
The Kong Family owned nearly a million mu of land bestowed by the previous emperors. Every year, they would receive several hundred thousand taels of silver. Their financial strength was unparalleled. Just by casually cleaning the bottom of the granaries, it was enough to feed Red Lady's army of less than three thousand people for half a year.
The magistrate had already been captured by Red Lady. Although this corrupt official was greedy, he was even more afraid of death. He wanted to escape, but he also knew that once he escaped, he would only die. He heard that there were less than three thousand people who suddenly appeared. Moreover, they didn't disturb the common people along the way and only extorted money and food from the rich and powerful gentry. Apart from fighting the army head-on, there were very few people who died in their hands. Presumably, they weren't that powerful. With a fluke mentality, he consolidated the city and mobilized the strong people in an attempt to fight.
Originally, the Kong Residence was incomparably extravagant. They even raised their own army. The army's clothing and equipment were no different from the imperial court's regular army. This force could also be used to protect the city. Unfortunately, this Imperial Guard Force was the Kong Residence's private army. In order to protect Lord Yan, they simply didn't listen to his orders. When Red Lady's army arrived, the magistrate realized how terrifying their combat strength was. Even with Lord Yan's Imperial Guard Force, he was afraid that they wouldn't be able to hold on for more than two hours.
The magistrate surrendered without a fight. Red Lady's people gathered the common people and detailed the magistrate's corruption, collusion with officials and gentry, and the unjust imprisonment. Moreover, he helped the eunuch Bi Zhen, who was guarding Shandong, and all kinds of crimes. They beheaded him in public and confiscated his family's property. Then, they opened the prison, released the prisoners, and posted notices to recruit strong people into the army.
After all these things were done, she hurried back to the Kong Residence. When she first arrived, she didn't have the time to look carefully before she rushed to the public trial of the magistrate. Only now did she have the time to look carefully. After passing through three halls, Cui Ying 'er frowned and said, "Isn't this family a high-ranking official? Why is this door so small? It's the same inside. Why is the passage so narrow? "
Next to her was a soldier who had just joined her army. His name was Zheng Daniu. He was originally a servant of the Kong Residence. Due to his low status, no one took him to escape. When the White Cloth Army arrived, he panicked and begged to join the volunteer army to protect himself. Seventh master Xie Zhongbao saw that this boy had some strength and was familiar with the situation, so he let him stay.
Hearing Hong Shuai 'er's question, Zheng Daniu hurriedly took a few steps forward and said respectfully, "Hong Shuai, after entering this door, we will enter the inner residence. According to the rules of the Kong Residence, outsiders are not allowed to enter the inner residence. The door is small and easy to guard. This passage is narrow. In fact, all the passages inside are like this. Only one person can pass through at a time. This is to prevent the servants from hiding in the passage and gossiping."
Cui Ying 'er sneered and said, "There are so many rules in a wealthy family. You even use your brain here. Hey, what's the hole over there for? "
"That, it's called rock flow. Water carriers are not allowed to enter the inner residence. The water they carry has to be poured into this stone trough. When it flows into the inner residence, the people inside can then use it."
Cui Ying 'er was surprised and curious when she heard this. She had never heard of such a powerful rule in a wealthy family. What did they treat women as? Actually, this Zheng Daniu's knowledge was limited. How could the strict and rotten rules be limited to this? During the reign of the Guangxu Emperor, the people had already begun to come into contact with the outside world. Their customs were also a lot more open. However, at that time, there was a big fire in the inner residence of the Kong Residence. Because of the rule that outsiders were not allowed to enter, people were not allowed to go in to put out the fire. Therefore, the fire was allowed to burn for three days and three nights. Seven luxurious buildings were burned to ashes. It was obvious how strict the rules were.
Cui Ying'er shook her head and refused to go further into the inner chamber. She turned to the side of the courtyard. There was a large bluestone on the right side of the front door. There were grooves carved into the stone, making it look like a huge washboard. There were two soldiers carrying water and washing clothes there.
Seeing Hong Niangzi coming, the two men quickly stood up and saluted. These two men were from the Cui family's old stronghold. Although Hong Niangzi couldn't recognize them, they looked familiar. Thereupon she said, "Pass down my order, tell all the leaders to restrain their subordinates. Don't make a mess here. Look, there's horse dung everywhere. We have to rest here for a few days. Looking at the situation, we won't be able to stay here tomorrow."
One of the men laughed and answered. He wiped his hands on his lapel and left in a hurry. The other man laughed and said, "Marshal Hong, this big family is really particular. This washboard is made of large stone slabs. It's really convenient to put it here."
When Zheng Daniu heard this, he explained embarrassedly, "This big brother, you … you're wrong. That's not a washboard, that's … a punishment to kneel. When the servants break the family rules, they have to kneel on the stone slabs and suffer."
"Ah! There's such a thing? " The man scratched his head and laughed dryly, "Damn it. With us around, it's still a washboard. Hehe, hehe."
At this moment, the man who had just left to pass down the order to 'clean up the environment' came back in a hurry. He shouted from afar, "Marshal Hong, Second Master Cheng is looking for you."
Red Madame turned her head and saw Honest Cheng rushing over with a man. At first glance, the man was dressed in a white robe and a white scarf. Judging from his attire, he was a soldier of Yang Hu's army. Red Madame's pretty face immediately turned cold.
Only when the two of them were in front of her did Red Madame recognize that the man was one of Yang Hu's subordinates. His name was Han Bai. This person's relationship with Red Madame had always been good. It's just that after Red Madame and Yang Hu fell out, they didn't have many chances to meet each other.
As soon as she saw him, Cui Ying 'er's expression softened a little. Han Bai hurriedly took two steps forward and cupped his fist in salute before Second Master Cheng. He respectfully said, "Little Brother Han Bai pays respect to Da Sao."
Red Madame snorted and said, "Don't call me sister-in-law. Yang Hu and I walk our own paths. He walks his own path and I walk mine. It's not like you don't know that."
Han Bai laughed dryly, not knowing how to respond. Cui Ying 'er glanced at him and asked, "Why did you come to Qufu? Have you conquered Qingzhou? "
Han Bai's expression tightened. He looked around hesitantly and said, "Sister-In-Law … Ah! No no, Marshal Hong, please step aside for a moment. This little brother has something important to report. "
Red Madame gave him a puzzled look. She brought him to a locust tree and asked, "What is it?"
Han Bai said in a low voice, "Marshal Hong, Big Brother Yang is not in Qingzhou now. He … After you left the mountain and went straight to Qufu, Big Brother Yang attacked Qingzhou for a long time. Unable to conquer Qingzhou, he turned to attack Zibo and Zou Ping. After crossing Jinan, he killed his way to Feicheng. Now, he has already reached Mount Liang."
Red Madame was stunned. She asked curiously, "What is he doing in Mount Liang? Is he going to occupy the mountain and become the king again? "
Han Bai smiled bitterly and said, "Marshal Hong, Big Brother is only taking a temporary rest in Mount Liang. At the same time, he will attack the nearby Juancheng, Heze, and Feng County. But the important thing is … the important thing is that he … he still wants to do something big."
Red Madame's gaze froze. She asked, "What big thing? Why don't you say it? You're a man, don't hesitate. "
Han Bai uneasily rubbed his hands and said, "Not many people know about this matter. Big Brother trusts me, that's why he told me. Logically speaking, I shouldn't let anyone know. But … the more I think about it, the more I don't feel good about it. Other things are fine, but the government forces the people to rebel. We also want to live, so we don't care about other people's lives. At worst, when we conquer the world in the future, we'll treat them a bit better.
But what Big Brother wants to do, this matter is really … Little Brother only dares to tell Sister-in-law about it. Little Brother feels that it's a bit outrageous. Can we still achieve great things by doing this? Once this matter spreads out, it will be a huge disaster. I also tried to persuade Big Brother, but he trusts that Mu Yun too much. It was Mu Yun who gave him this rotten idea … "
Red Madame glared at him with her almond-shaped eyes. She tenderly reprimanded, "When did you become so garrulous? What is it? Long-winded! "
Han Bai clenched his teeth and nervously said, "Sister-in-law, no matter how difficult it is between you and Brother Hu, we are still a family. You should go and persuade him, you can't be muddle-headed."
Red Madame's long, shapely eyebrows stood erect. Just as she was about to show her female prowess, Han Bai finally got to the point, "Brother Hu was instigated by Mu Yun to dig the Yellow River's dam and flood Shandong."
His voice trembled as he said, "Sister-in-law, millions of people will die. When the time comes, there will be countless victims. We can immediately pull out an army of several hundred thousand to control the entire Shandong. But … but such a big matter will spread out sooner or later. This is different from burning houses and trampling crops on the pretext of war. This is clearly killing an entire family. Once the news is leaked, these several hundred thousand soldiers will immediately become enemies who are not afraid of death. They will turn their blades to deal with us. We can't do this! "
"Pa!" Her lustrous jade-like palm slapped the trunk of the ancient locust tree. Suddenly, the branches shook and green leaves rustled down. Han Bai jumped in fright. He saw that Red Madame's complexion was ashen and her beautiful eyes were spewing flames of anger, "This beast, his conscience has been eaten by a dog! Bursting the dam and turning it yellow, he is not afraid of being struck by lightning! "
Red Madame's eyes flashed and asked, "Where is he going to make his move?"
This was the first time Han Bai saw her so angry. He replied while trembling with fear, "Brother Hu wants … wants to plunder the nearby area before digging the dam. Then he will attack Mount Weishan Xia Town and go down the river to find a suitable place to make his move."
"Let's go, take me to see him!"
Han Bai hesitantly said, "Sister-in-law, if you have something to say, say it nicely. Don't quarrel with Brother Hu in front of him. He will definitely listen to your advice."
Cui Ying 'er gritted her teeth and said, "Don't worry! I will definitely … persuade him properly! "
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