Chapter 440 Entering the city to arrest

For a long period of time, the relationship between the Ming government and the Li and Miao residents on the island was not harmonious. The Central Plains regime's rule over Qiongzhou Island was almost always accompanied by constant battles with the Li aborigines.

The Miao soldiers who were introduced to Qiongzhou Island as a force to quell the Li rebellion fell into a similar situation to the Li people after settling on the island for several generations - without arable land, iron farm tools and corresponding farming techniques, all means of production were destroyed

Under the control of the Han people, they could only survive by relying on the mountains and the mountains. In this difficult situation, they had to pay taxes to the Ming government, perform labor services, and endure various unequal treatments.

The government's deliberate suppression of the Li and Miao ethnic groups will naturally arouse their dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction often leads to major conflicts due to certain small conflicts from time to time. Almost every few years, there will be an outbreak between the government and the two ethnic groups.

, as well as small-scale armed conflicts between the two groups.

Due to this deep-rooted contradiction, the public security situation in any prefecture or county close to the Li-Miao inhabited area is not very good, and Changhua is no exception. Xiao Laosan was the general manager in Changhua County, and he also experienced

There have been several armed conflicts, the most recent of which was just five years ago. At that time, the Li people in Shizidong cut off both ears of the tax collector sent by the county government to collect taxes. They also blocked the access to the mountains, and the Changhua government office was also closed.

All channels for supplying daily necessities to the Li people were blocked. However, the resistance of the Li people did not last long. Three months after the supply lines from outside the mountains were cut off, the Li people still chose to surrender in exchange for supplies that they could not produce on their own.

Salt, medicinal herbs and rice.

In Xiao Laosan's opinion, the traditional methods of dealing with these Li and Miao people should be adopted, blocking their trade channels, and firmly controlling the necessities such as salt, iron, and rice in the hands of the government, which is enough to effectively control these targets.

The lawless mountain people. As for building roads to give these mountain people a chance to get out of the closed environment they have lived in for generations, this approach is simply thankless and very dangerous - after these people get out of the mountains, they are bound to

Competing with the Han people for limited living space and means of production is a conflict that is not easy to resolve.

However, the Haihan people obviously had different ideas. Not only did they want to build a road to the inland mountainous area, but they also had early contact with the local Li people and assisted them in moving out. Xiao Laosan heard that Shi Zidong had already

An agreement was reached with the Haihan people. The Haihan people will build another residential area for them in the mountains five miles north of Changhua County, and guide them to plant some mountain crops - it is said that they are spice crops that can be sold at high prices. Currently, Shizidong

Although the Li people have not yet moved, it is said that construction of a new residential area near the mountainous area has begun. It seems that the Haihan people are not joking. They really plan to move these Li people out of the interior, and will support it.

The Li people started a new business in the coastal area.

This is not good news worth celebrating for Changhua County. Xiao Laosan believes that not only will this not calm down the irritable Li people, but it will also make it easier to give birth to more children due to the shortened distance from the Han inhabited areas.

But since the Haihan people can afford the price and have paid for one year in advance, even if Xiao Laosan has any objections, he can only turn a blind eye and silently pretend not to know. But in this situation

After careful consideration, Xiao Laosan asked the soldiers guarding the city to pay more attention to the construction sites outside the city to guard against the Haihan people playing tricks.

An hour ago, there was a commotion at the road construction site outside the city. More than 20 people left the construction site and ran all the way into Changhua County. Xiao Laosan had also received a report about this. Although the soldiers guarding the city felt that the situation was a bit strange,

However, these people did not carry any dangerous items, and they were all Han Chinese. It seemed that they could not find any reason to refuse them entry into the city, so they were let in. Unexpectedly, the matter did not end there, and soon the Haihan Militia Group

The people arrived, and it seemed that they were heading directly towards the city gate. The soldiers on duty quickly reported to Xiao Laosan as quickly as possible.

"Haihan militia is here? There are hundreds of them fully armed?" Upon hearing the news, Xiao Laosan felt a little pain in his forehead.

Xiao Laosan had heard about the deeds of the Haihan Militia before, but his real experience was after this group of people stationed at Changhua Fishing Port. More than ten days ago, the Haihan people politely handed over an invitation to Xiao Laosan and some local people.

Countless landowners and bosses went to a place outside the city to watch the militia drill. Of course, it was not in vain. Anyone who accepted the invitation to watch could get a set of glass dishes presented by Haihan - this thing

In the market, it costs at least fifteen to twenty taels of silver.

So almost all the people who received the invitation went, and they witnessed with their own eyes the legendary Haihan militia that conquered Annan with muskets and cannons, and experienced what a powerful army is. With Mr. Xiao

From three's "professional perspective", the elite level of the Haihan militia has probably surpassed all the armies he has ever seen, including the so-called regular army stationed in Qiongzhou Fucheng. If the Haihan army is as numerous as the rumors,

With a scale of 1,000 people, that would probably be enough for the entire Qiongzhou Island.

Although Xiao Laosan is just a small boss and has not seen much of the world, he is not stupid. After watching the so-called military exercises of the militia, he also understands that this is a deliberate demonstration by the Haihan people, and it is nothing more than to provide relief to the local people.

These leading figures were reminded not to try to go against them. From this, Xiao Laosan also understood why the Yacheng government in the south turned a blind eye to what the Haihan people were doing, and even intended to cover it up.

In addition to having enough money, it is also an important reason that he is probably always under the threat of force from the Haihan people.

Changhua County is much closer to the Haihan camp than the distance between Yacheng and Sanya. When the weather is good, you can even directly see the sentry tower of the Haihan camp from the county wall. It is also said that the Haihan militia is in the local area.

The number of garrison troops will increase simultaneously with the increase in labor input, which basically means that Changhua County is completely placed under the peripheral supervision of the Haihan Militia. Xiao Laosan has no means of resistance to this situation.

I can only sit quietly in the city and pretend that nothing happened.

The laborers under the Haihan people fled into the city. Xiao Laosan did not take this as a big deal, but the Haihan militia came after them, so he could no longer continue to pretend to be deaf and dumb. After all, the two sides also had a verbal agreement.

People from the militia cannot carry weapons into the city in an organized manner.

Xiao Laosan didn't bother to put on his helmet and armor, so he rushed to the city gate wearing common clothes. At this time, the militia army led by Qiao Zhiya had already arrived at the city gate, and the soldiers guarding the city also closed the city gate in advance to prevent accidents.

Xiao Laosan lay on the crenellations of the city wall, stuck his head out and shouted to the people below: "The Han militia under the city, listen to the order, leave this place quickly, and don't do anything unwise!"

Qiao Zhiya had dealt with this Xiao Laosan twice, so he shouted in response: "Boss Xiao, please come down first and open the city gate. If you have something to say face to face, it's too laborious to shout like this!"

Xiao Laosan said: "After opening the door, your soldiers must be restrained and not allowed to enter the city!"

"Okay, okay, I won't let them enter the city without your permission, right?" Qiao Zhiya waved his hand and said, "Hurry up and open the door."

Of course, Xiao Laosan did not expect to shout a few words on the city wall to make the Haihan militiamen retreat. The purpose of doing so was more to show a gesture, at least to make onlookers think that the situation was still under his control.

As for shutting out the Haihan people, Xiao Laosan had no intention of doing anything so cruel. If the Haihan people were angry and sent troops to attack the city, who would clean up the mess?

In short, if you can talk, let's talk. If you can't, just delay. If you can't even delay...then you can probably just pretend to be dead. With this intention, Xiao Laosan ordered the soldiers to open the city gate.

Qiao Zhiya asked the militia soldiers to stay where they were and stepped forward alone. Xiao Laosan followed suit, and the two held a private meeting outside the city gate.

Xiao Laosan said: "Major Qiao, we agreed at the beginning that the militia would not enter Changhua County!"

Qiao Zhiya shook his head and said: "The situation is different now. We have more than 20 hard laborers who have escaped into the city. If you can catch them and return them to us right now, then we don't have to go into the city. Mr. Xiao, these people can

They are all the bandits who rebelled and caused trouble in Guangdong. If they are allowed to escape into the city, trouble will easily happen."

"How about I give you the next night? After I arrest these people, they will be returned to you." Xiao Laosan didn't completely believe what Qiao Zhiya said, but he didn't want to say it too harshly, so he held off for now.

Qiao Zhiya did not accept this trick at all, and continued to shake his head and said: "Now, hand over the person immediately, or please let us go into the city and catch him ourselves."

Xiao Laosan frowned and said, "Then you don't intend to abide by the agreement you made?"

"The agreement does not allow you to harbor fugitives." Qiao Zhiya said: "Well, I'll give you two options. One is to give way, we go in to arrest people, and then leave Changhua City peacefully. The other is for you to continue.

Block you here, I'll kill you, and then go into the city to arrest you."

"Bold! You dare to murder the imperial official..." Xiao Laosan was angry and scared. He knew that the Haihan people had many tricks and would really do some daring things. It is said that the former general of Yazhou Water Village has taken office.

He died in a pirate attack in less than three months. It was actually something done by the Haihan people. They dared to deal with even the generals, so it seemed that he, as the commander-in-chief, would not have any more sense of security.

"It is precisely because you are an official of the imperial court that I am standing here to talk to you slowly." Qiao Zhiya interrupted Xiao Laosan's weak argument without politeness: "Do you know what we did in Annan Kingdom?

If they don't surrender, we will use artillery to blast the city wall into pieces, and then enter the city to wipe out the remaining ones."

Qiao Zhiya pointed to the city gate behind Xiao Laosan: "For a city wall like Changhua County, I think about ten cannons are enough. What do you think, Mr. Xiao?"

"I, Xiao Laosan, also have hundreds of brothers under my command, how could...how could..." Xiao Laosan wanted to say a few words to make a strong statement, but he really didn't have enough confidence to brag. What is the situation of the army under his command?

, he knew best that if the Haihan people really planned to attack Changhua County with force, these guys probably wouldn't have the courage to fight their opponents to the death.

"Mr. Xiao, why let an avoidable conflict break out? We don't want to offend you, nor do we want to disturb the lives of the residents in the city. We just want to capture these prisoners and take them to where they belong.

"Qiao Zhiya handed Xiao Laosan the steps at the right time: "Mr. Xiao just wants to make it convenient for us to enter the city and we can solve the problem in an hour. After that, our people will leave the county and never stay."

"Is this...appropriate?" Xiao Laosan finally began to loosen his tone.

"There is nothing inappropriate. Our entry into the city is not a hostile act against Ming Dynasty, but to cooperate with General Xiao to arrest the bandits." Qiao Zhiya winked at Xiao Laosan and said, "Actually, we are accepting your command and dispatch.

Go to the city to assist the government, the situation is as simple as that."

"My command assignment?" Xiao Laosan was stunned for a moment, but soon he came to his senses - isn't this the opportunity that he has been looking forward to to be on the list? If he helps the Haihan people this time, he will definitely do it in the future.

Something rewarding.

"That's right, Xiao Ba is always the highest-ranking officer in Changhua. Of course all the armed personnel here should obey your orders." Qiao Zhiya began to put a high hat on Xiao Laosan without hesitation.

"In that case, I'll give you one hour and don't break your promise!" Xiao Laosan hesitated for a moment and decided to take the risk. Because he knew that the Haihan people did not have the need to occupy Changhua County. The area built by the Haihan people on the seaside

The area of ​​the camp has almost exceeded that of Changhua County. Since they have the ability to build a new urban area on their own, Changhua County does not have much value for them.

Qiao Zhiya nodded, then turned back and waved. After receiving the order, the militia army immediately ran into the city in two columns. Also accompanying the team into the city were a number of naturalized citizens who had just been temporarily recruited from the construction site. Their main task was to identify

Capture objects to prevent fish from slipping through the net.

Qiao Zhiya turned around and saw that Xiao Laosan's forehead had begun to soak with sweat. He smiled and comforted him: "Don't be nervous, Mr. Xiao. What I just said was not to deceive you. We just went to the city to arrest people, and we have no other purpose."

Xiao Laosan responded with a strong smile: "This is the best."

Of course, the actual situation was not as peaceful as Qiao Zhiya promised. After entering the city, these militiamen immediately divided into several action groups in squads. Starting from the north gate, they sorted out the streets and houses in the city from north to south. Changhua County starts from

Viewed from the air, it looked like a square. The city was not very large, and there were even fewer places to hide. Soon the militiamen discovered the traces of the fugitives.
Chapter completed!