: Fight against local tyrants to divide their land

Author: Scholar Wu

: Fight against local tyrants to divide their land

Fortunately, one soldier fired the gun while being stabbed.

It was this gunshot that saved the lives of Qian Mo and other soldiers of the Shenji Battalion.

In fact, Zhang Xiaofan has been shouting: "Master Qian, be careful of the secret passage in the village!"

However, the distance was too far and Qian Mo couldn't hear clearly what they were shouting.

After hearing the sound of gunshots in the village, Qian Mo immediately turned around and found that the Qing army had actually rushed out from the front yard.

So he immediately called on the Shenji Battalion soldiers on the wall to open fire.

Fortunately, there were not many Qing soldiers. After seven or eight Qing soldiers rushed to the front and fell to the ground, the other Qing soldiers retreated into the village.

Qian Mo immediately led a confrontation with the Qing army in Zhuang Nei.

The advantage of time is on Qian Mo's side. As long as the Qing army outside the village is dealt with, the few people inside are still the turtle in the jar.

Therefore, he was not in a hurry to attack, as long as these Qing troops were not allowed to come out to cause trouble.

Outside Tianjiazhuang, the Qing army led by Wang Zaixing was at the end of its rope.

Lu Shanhai also recognized Wang Zaixing at this time. They were both from Jiaxing. The two had worked together in the Ming army, but Lu Shanhai later followed Yang Wenqi.

Lu Shanhai shouted: "Brother Wang, stop making fearless resistance at this time and surrender immediately!"

Wang Zaixing was originally hesitant to surrender. When he heard the call from his old acquaintance Lu Shanhai, he immediately ordered all his Qing troops to surrender.

The fighting power of the Taihu Rebels was indeed strong, excluding the 60 people who were brought into the secret passage by Tian Fulu and the more than 20 people who escaped before the rebels encircled them.

The Qing army killed more than 350 people, while the Taihu Rebels outside the village only killed 13 people and injured more than 30 people.

The Qing troops in the village also quickly surrendered under Wang Zaixing's call.

It's just that after searching Tianjiazhuang inside and outside, no trace of Tian Fulu was found.

So Qian Mo found Mr. Tian again and asked, "Is there a second secret passage in this village?"

Mr. Tian said: "There is absolutely no second secret passage, just this one."

At this time, the soldiers Zhang Xiaofan left behind in the woods had also opened the secret passage mechanism and walked out from the other end.

They said: "Tian Fulu was not found in the secret passage."

Qian Mo said viciously to Mr. Tian: "It seems that you are dishonest, you don't want the right ear anymore, right?"

"Is there any other mechanism in this secret passage? Why don't you call it to me truthfully?"

Seeing that he couldn't hide it, Mr. Tian could only tell him that there was a mechanism in the secret passage that could open a second exit, which was the road leading to Jinshanwei.

Qian Mo estimated that Tian Fulu had already run away when he led his men to confront him, and had been running for some time.

Said: "Since Tian Fulu has already run away, he probably won't be able to catch up. Anyway, people have been arranged to intercept and kill the people who came to report the news on the way to Jinshan Guard. Tian Fulu still can't run away."

At this time, Wang Zaixing knelt on the ground and begged: "I, Wang Zaixing, are willing to lead his troops to rebel against the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty. I hope you will accept it."

Lu Shanhai also nodded towards Qian Mo, indicating that Wang Zaixing was sincere in surrendering.

However, Qian Mo was in a dilemma at this time, because the rebel army now had no suitable base, although he urgently needed people to strengthen his momentum.

But even if the rebels occupied the entire Jiaxing Prefecture, one prefecture and seven counties, they would definitely not be able to hold it.

Facing the main force of the Eight Banners Green Battalion in the Susong area and Hangzhou, he could only hold on for a few more days in Jiaxing, stalling for a while, and in the end he could not escape the result of the annihilation of the entire army.

Moreover, Qian Mo would never do this kind of thing, attracting the Qing army's firepower by himself and assisting others to gain territory.

But right now, other than robbing a handful of money and food, he seemed to have no better choice.

And the area of ​​Taihu Lake that is as big as a sesame seed cannot accommodate any more soldiers and horses.

Just when Qian Mo was in a dilemma, Xia Wanchun rushed over.

Qian Mo asked: "Xiaoyin, why did you come here if you didn't stay at the stronghold to guard?"

Xia Wanchun said: "In the morning, I saw Wu Qi had sent so much money and supplies, and I felt that it was a pity that our Taihu Rebels could not use Jiaxing, which is such a rich and important land for money and food!"

"I have some ideas in my mind, so I came quickly to discuss them with you."

Qian Mo said: "Will Xiao Yin's plan be revealed?"

Xia Wanchun said: "We in Taihu have a lot of small people. Now our development has reached its limit. We really can't raise more soldiers and horses. Why not let the Qing government raise them for us?"

After Xia Wanchun's suggestion, Qian Mo also had a sudden enlightenment.

Said: "Xiaoyin Gaojian, my brother is like a leaf blinding my eyes, and I can't see Mount Tai!"

So he said to Wang Zaixing: "Vice-General Wang is willing to do something wrong, and our rebel army can't ask for it, but now Taihu Lake really can't support more soldiers and horses."

"I would also like to ask Brother Wang to make a selection in the team. Those who are willing to follow our rebel army through life and death can be directly incorporated into our rebel army."

"And those locals who have families and are unwilling to leave their hometowns to fight can continue to stay with you in Jiaxing."

"Our rebel army has already ambushed 100 elite soldiers in Jiaxing City. It is not difficult to capture the city. The credit for recovering the city will have to be taken by Vice General Qin."

"Tian Fulu will naturally be held responsible for the loss of troops and generals, as well as the city and territory."

"When the time comes, I will spend some more money and it will not be difficult to find you the position of Commander-in-Chief. Brother Wang will also be able to provide convenience to our rebel army on the ground in Jiaxing."

Qian Mo then said to Lu Shanhai: "Brother Lu, you are from Pinghu, Jiaxing, but are you from the Pinghu Lu family?"

There are many Lu surnames in Jiangnan. During the Han and Jin Dynasties, the Lu surname was one of the four surnames in Jiangnan, and it was a prominent family in the region.

Pinghu Lu family has many celebrities.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Lu Jiguan, the prefect of Yulin, valued filial piety, and the story of "Lu Ji holding oranges", one of the twenty-four filial piety, has been passed down to this day.

In the Tang Dynasty, Lu Yuanfang was the Prime Minister of Empress Wu. Lu Xisheng and Lu Zhi were both prime ministers. Lu Zhi was the more virtuous prime minister. His academic talents and moral character were highly praised by his time and future generations. Quan Deyu compared him to Jia Yi and Su Shi of the Han Dynasty.

He is considered to be "the king's assistant with talent and the emperor's teacher with learning", and the praise in "New Book of Tang" said that his thoughts "can be used as laws for future generations".

The Ming Dynasty also produced many Jinshi, including three generations of Jinshi, Lu Song, Lu Gao, Lu Guangzu, Wu Jinshi, Jinyiwei commander Lu Bing, etc.

Lu Shanhai understood what Qian Mo meant. He wanted to find a suitable candidate among the Lu family in Pinghu who could serve as an official in Jiaxing as the spokesman for the rebel army!

Lu Shanhai said: "Although I come from the Pinghu Lu family, my Pinghu Lu family's family training is very strict, and most of the officials are honest. Many people are even unwilling to serve as officials in the Qing Dynasty, and I can't think of a suitable candidate for a while."

Qian Mo suddenly remembered that at Master Tian's banquet, there were three other people who came to curry favor with the Tian family and asked for an official position. Let's see if they are suitable.

Two of those three people were county-level officials, one was the county magistrate, and the other was the chief registrar. They were minor officials of the eighth and ninth grades, and it was really difficult for them to take on important responsibilities.

However, there is indeed a fifth-grade Jiaxing Tongzhi (equivalent to the deputy position of the prefect) Lu Bingwen.

Lu Bingwen still felt a little embarrassed when he saw Lu Shanhai. After all, the Pinghu Lu family, as a prominent local family, was very particular about reputation. It was not a glorious thing for him to come to curry favor with the Tian family father and son who were full of evil.

Seeing Lu Bingwen, Lu Shanhai also found it incredible. In his impression, his cousin was only an eighth-grade county magistrate two years ago. In just two years, he actually became a fifth-grade Jiaxing Tongzhi?

I think Lu Bingwen must have been a frequent visitor to Tianjiazhuang, otherwise he would not have been able to rise so quickly.

It was Lu Shanhai who was the first to break the embarrassment and said: "Fourth uncle, you are really prosperous in officialdom. In just two years, you became a fellow magistrate of Jiaxing. You really have a big tree at your back to enjoy the shade!"

Lu Bingwen was no longer embarrassed at this time, and said with a smile: "My nephew is laughing at me. It's not because I am greedy for official position and intends to make friends with the Tian family father and son who are full of evil. It's just that our Pinghu Lu family is a big family with many children in the family. This Tian family father and son

There are many attempts to make things difficult and blackmail you. I deliberately made friends with them, just to keep the other party safe."

Qian Mo understood that what Lu Bingwen said was true. In fact, he needed capable officials who were good at managing things up and down rather than self-proclaimed nerds.

Of course, the premise is that this person must have a heart for Ming Dynasty and have a certain conscience.

So Qian Mo said: "Living in troubled times, it is understandable for Lu Tongzhi to do this. At present, Qing army generals everywhere are constantly rebelling against each other, and the Marquis of Dingxi has stationed tens of thousands of troops in Chongming to prepare for counterattack at any time. I wonder what Lu Tongzhi's plan is?"

Lu Bingwen said: "I, the Lu family of Pinghu, naturally care about the Ming Dynasty. My Lu family is also a big family in Jiangdong. The supply of money and food is not a problem. Even the children of the family can join the army and serve the Ming Dynasty."

Qian Mo said: "Qian Mo is also a Jiashan person. Naturally, everyone is vying to be the first to serve the Ming Dynasty. However, the Qing army is now strong and Jiaxing is undefeated. Our rebel army does not plan to directly launch an attack in Jiaxing for the time being!"

"I wonder if Uncle Lu is interested in the position of Jiaxing prefect?"

Lu Bingwen naturally understood what Qian Mo meant and said: "It turns out that he is the famous prodigy from the south of the Yangtze River in Jiaxing. Lu is disrespectful! I just heard that Tian Fulu has escaped now. How can I get the position of prefect?"

Qian Mo said: "Uncle Lu, there is no need to worry. Tian Fulu can't escape. I will definitely uproot his Tian family's influence in Jiaxing."

"Uncle Lu will naturally have a share of the credit for recovering Jiaxing. Is there any way to win over Uncle Lu, the prefect of Jiaxing? If there is not enough money for our rebels to help us, Tian Fulu must still have money in his mansion in Jiaxing City."

Lu Bingwen said: "Lu can also speak to the governor of Zhejiang. With the credit of recovering Jiaxing, he is naturally more confident. Mr. Qian does not need to worry about money matters. Lu should be responsible for making reliable arrangements in the counties of Jiaxing."

Such people will one day influence the young master to do something."

Qian Mo said: "It's so good. This Tianjiazhuang is so strong. It's a pity to abandon it. Let's use it as a stronghold for our rebel army to stay in Jiaxing."

So Qian Mo found those businessmen again and put all the acres under the Tian family's name into their names.

These merchants will operate the business on their behalf, and after harvesting the grain, they will be divided into 30% and 70%.

The Tian family owns tens of thousands of acres of fertile land in Jiaxing, and everyone is greedy for it.

After getting such a huge bargain for nothing, those businessmen were naturally laughing from ear to ear.

Several businessmen expressed their willingness to donate 50,000 taels of silver and 10,000 shi of grain as funding for the rebels.

In particular, the two businessmen who had privately expressed their willingness to supply supplies to the rebels received the lion's share of the money.
To be continued...