Chapter 88

In the sky in the east, the fiery red morning glow was as enthusiastic as a mountain and as turbulent as waves. After a night of tranquility, the previous bustle in Changzhou City was once again restored. Compared to the city gates that were closed for a few days, the city gates of Changzhou, which had been closed for a month, had already opened. Vendors entered Songjiang City one after another, as if the chaos had gone a few days ago.

However, even so, when vendors enter the city, they will still be investigated by soldiers. In fact, opening the city is a forced one. If it weren't for the fact that people had already begun to starve to death after the city was closed, resulting in chaos in the morale of the people and the military, Cui Zongtai, as the prefect of Changzhou, would never have opened the city gate.

For Cui Zongtai, as a bannerman, he didn't care about the life or death of the Han people. Although he was also a Han military banner and a Han Chinese, as a Fengtian man, he believed more that he was a bannerman. For him, the life or death of the people in Changzhou City was not more important to defend Changzhou for the court. However, after the garrison soldiers were transferred to Nanjing, he knew very well that he had to rely on the Han people's hometown bravery to defend the city.

Therefore, after a month of closure of the city, hundreds of people in the city starved to death due to the cessation of food at home, facing the beginning of floating morale, the village heroes knew that most of the people in the city were worried about the safety of their families in the city. Although he was still a little unwilling to accept it, Cui Zongtai still had no choice but to order the city gate to open. However, out of caution, he ordered only the east gate and the south gate, and the other city gates were still closed.

"I hope Changshu County can last for a few days!"

Looking at the map, Cui Zongtai was thinking in his mind that it had been so long since the days were going to be, and the reinforcements from the court should have arrived soon. As long as we lasted for a few more days, the Changzhou city would naturally be fine.

"Hmph, it's nothing more than the rabbit's tail..."

In my heart, Cui Zongtai picked up a notice, which was issued by the Jiangyin garrison in the name of Zheng Chenggong. Although the notice was sent in a few days ago, he was the only one in Changzhou City who saw the notice.

"Our vassal is committed to righteousness, punishes the people, and personally governs the masters, and takes the first place to take Nanjing. The people born in water and fire, and restores the majesty of the Han officials. The civil and military officers who were all innocent from the Ming Dynasty, were poor and surrendered to the court, and would rather not be tolerant! The distinction between China and the barbarians is very clear, and the good and free. If you take revenge, you will not wait for the different times; if you return to the right and wrong, the consequences are today.

Anyone who comes to the whole province will be willing to divide the land and split the land; those who come to the town and one town will be determined to judge the land and the merits. If the army arrives, they will be determined to determine the number of merits and promote their merits; or if they come to the body, they will be in charge of their duties and super-elevated. If the Mongolian, Jurchens, etc., are grateful for the world's state, they are not the same, and they will be regarded as one. The eternal masters and reputations will be fought for in a moment. The army will no longer be promoted, and the time will never come..."

"absurd!"

He threw the notice on the table casually, and Cui Zongtai once again took out a piece of paper, which listed some names of people, including local gentry from Changzhou and Han officials.

"What the master said is very true!"

Li Cunpu, who was standing beside him, quickly echoed.

"Extremely absurd!"

As the master, Li Cunpu still continued to speak as before, following the words of the prefect.

"This Zheng thief is extremely arrogant, so let him be arrogant. When the imperial army comes, let's see how long he can be arrogant! At that time, the Zheng thief and his son must be slaughtered!"

The master's words were heard in Cui Zongtai's ears, and he made him laugh,

"He is a good plan for his name. I surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. My son turned against the Qing Dynasty and did not put the eggs in a cage. After the Zheng thief was destroyed this time, our mansion would write to the court to ask Zheng Zhilong to behead him!"

While speaking, Cui Zongtai comforted the master in front of him who had been with him for many years.

"Yuncheng, you have followed the master and I have been traveling around over the years. I have seen the credit and hard work of the master. After repelling the Zheng thief, I will recommend you to release him as an official,"

"ah!"

Choi Zongtai's words made Li Cunpu knelt down and kowtowed.

"Thank you, Master, for your support. I will definitely not forget the kindness of Master's support!"

Cui Zongtai was very satisfied with the master's performance. He nodded slightly and said to Li Cunpu who was kneeling on the ground.

"Master or not, it doesn't matter if you remember my kindness. As long as you live a lifelong mission for the court and be loyal to the emperor, you will be worthy of me..."

"Master, Master, big things are bad, big things are bad..."

Suddenly, the urgent voice of the soldiers from outside the door interrupted Cui Zongtai's words.

"What a scheming thing!"

The anxious voice of the soldiers made Cui Zongtai, who was originally attracting the hearts of the people, feel annoyed, and he even scolded him fiercely as soon as he went out.

"Say, why are you so panicked?"

"Back, Master Yan from Zhutang sent a message saying that there was a large group of Ming army coming towards Changzhou!"

The reply from the servant made Cui Zongtai stunned at first. Just as he was about to order the city gate to be closed, the master beside him reminded him.

"Master, be careful of fraud!"

Are there any fraud?

Li Cunpu's reminder station Cui Zongtai raised his eyebrows and looked at him in confusion.

"What does Yuncheng mean?"

"Master, although Zhutang is on the road to Changzhou in the past, it is not on the road to Changzhou in the past. If the news brought by Master Yan is wrong, the master will rashly close the city gate. At that time, I am afraid that I will cause any chaos in the city!"

Listening to Li Cunpu's warning, Choi Zongtai immediately realized the problem.

This city gate is easy to open. If the city gate is closed rashly, if the people who have not bought food are incited and take the opportunity to cause chaos, how can they deal with it? Maybe, this is the plan of the traitors in Jiangyin. They are so suspicious that they will hurriedly close the city gate, which will cause chaos in the city!

"Yuncheng, then, in your opinion, how should this matter be handled?"

When encountering difficulties, there are masters. For bannermen like Cui Zongtai who are officials in the local area, they almost habitually throw the problems to the masters to deal with, especially when encountering difficulties.

"It's easy to deal with. When I posted a notice yesterday, I once said that I had planned to open the city for five days for the people in the city. But I never said how long it took to open the city every day. Now it has been three hours. Then we will only open five hours now. Even if the thief in Jiangyin has wings, it will be difficult for us in two hours. Not to mention two hours, even two days, I guess we don't think about us. As for the Ming Dynasty, the city gate will only open for three hours. By the day after tomorrow, it will only open for one hour. In the next few days, it will only open for one hour every day. As long as the city gate is open, they can buy food. At that time, the people in the city will naturally not be in chaos."

Looking at the thoughtful prefect, Li Cunpu continued to persuade.

"And the master can also send a horse to patrol around. Isn't it possible for Jiangyin gangs to fly to Changzhou? Even if they really fly to the city of Changzhou, the thousand-pound box will fall, and it will only take a moment to suck it. Why should you worry about it?"

Before the prefect made a decision, Li Cunpu said in a stressful tone.

"Sir, if this is really a suspicious plan for the rioters, if we close the city gate, then there may be a big mess..."

"Yuncheng said very well!"

Choi Zongtai, who had been persuaded, nodded and said.

"We can't fall into the tricks of these Southern Barbarians. So, we will do this according to Yuncheng's idea. Humph, I don't believe it anymore. Could those Southern Barbarians fly?"
Chapter completed!