Chapter 141 Seeing the danger and giving orders, there is no regret in death!
As soon as Lu Xiangsheng sent out the envoy to deliver the message to Gao Qiqian, his own soldiers came into the camp to report. Hundreds of villagers gathered outside the camp gate, claiming to be fellow villagers from the three prefectures in southern Jinan, and asking to see him.
When Lu Xiangsheng heard the report, he asked Zhang Cheng to go with him to the camp gate to meet the gathered people.
Outside the camp, more than 300 people gathered, mostly young and strong, with quite a few elderly people inside. Lu Xiangsheng and Zhang Cheng walked out of the camp gate and asked them why they took the risk.
I saw a strong old man walking out from the crowd of people, his long white beard fluttering in the cold wind.
Lu Xiangsheng saw clearly at this moment that the person who came was none other than Yao Dongzhao, the Julu scholar who fought against the Qing Dynasty. On his waist was still hanging the precious sword that Lu Xiangsheng had given him in the capital when he came to the capital.
Since the Qing troops invaded, he has been communicating with many parties, calling for resisting the Qing troops and protecting his family and country. He has always been popular among the people of the three prefectures in Jinan.
In early October, while he was working in the capital, he learned that Lu Xiangsheng had been sent to Beijing to serve the king, and even visited him personally, in order to implore Lu Xiangsheng to resolutely fight against the Tartars.
Therefore, the people gathered outside the camp gate elected him as the leader. At this time, he did not know that Lu Xiangsheng had been severely punished by Emperor Chongzhen and demoted.
I heard him say in a loud voice: "Master Shangshu, the world is now in a turmoil. In the past ten years, the Manchu Tatars have invaded the fortress one after another, killing the villagers, taking my young men captive, plundering my wealth, silk and grain, raping my wife and daughters, and burning them.
In my house, all the people of the Ming Dynasty should share the same hatred of the enemy and deal with slaves.
The helpless cavalry came, but our Ming army generals collapsed without a fight, and the states and counties also collapsed. This is really heartbreaking!
Your Excellency has no regard for life and death, and has repeatedly defeated his slaves, thinking that he would set an example for the world. But now he has traveled thousands of miles, and even a full meal is not available!
Oh, my God, how can you fight against the rapists on an empty stomach?"
After Yao Dongzhao spoke, his voice became more choked and trembling, and he had to pause.
The people gathered around, whether they were fellow villagers or the soldiers under Lu Xiangsheng's command, all felt like a lump in their throats when they heard this, and felt extremely depressed and uncomfortable.
, only to hear the old man Yao Dongzhao continue to say: "How can you defeat the Tatars with your hungry and tired soldiers and horses? Please listen to your foolish plan and move your army between Guangping and Shunde to recruit grain and grass on the spot and recruit volunteers."
The children of the Three Prefectures have the heart to serve the country, but they have no way to surrender. Once they know that the master is coming, they will be enthusiastic and generous, work together, and obey the command of the master, even if they are mad at you, they will not hesitate!
At that time, you only need to raise your arms and give a shout. Within a few days, the food and grass will be ready, and the righteous people will swarm up and gather hundreds of thousands of people. It is not difficult at all. In this way, isn't it far better than me being alone and helpless and dying in vain?
I hope you will think twice!"
Every word of old man Yao Dongzhao struck Lu Xiangsheng's heart.
In fact, Lu Xiangsheng knew better than anyone else that if he followed Mr. Yao's advice at this time, he would not only be able to avoid the current hardships of being exhausted, hungry and cold, but he might even be able to win a great victory against the captive cavalry.
This reminded him of the advice Yang Tinglin gave him before leaving!
Lu Xiangsheng sighed in his heart: "The hearts of the people of the three prefectures are indeed usable!"
However, although Lu Xiangsheng knew that the hearts of the people in Jinan could be used, he also knew that the people gathered in a hurry. Although they were hostile, they were not trained and were really a mob after all.
Lu Xiangsheng is no longer the Lu Xiangsheng he was in the second year of Chongzhen. After nearly ten years of fighting, he has understood a lot and seen through a lot.
Moreover, he knew better that the people of the three prefectures in Jinan, although they were not at the same level with the government on weekdays, still complained a lot. Now that the world is in chaos and people's hearts are unstable, there are hidden dangers everywhere.
Therefore, Lu Xiangsheng was also very worried. If he organized the people of Jifu to fight against the Tartars, even if they could help him for a while, they might be able to drive the Tartars back.
But after the matter is over, what should we do with the hastily organized people? If we are not careful, they may become a new "hidden worry" for the court.
If there are some "rogue people" hiding among them and taking the opportunity to cause chaos, how can Lu Xiangsheng confront the court?
At that time, wouldn't it be that one wave was not over, but another wave was rising again?
If it really turned out like that, he wouldn't even have the chance to die in battle and be shrouded in horse leather, so he could only die in the Western Market full of humiliation.
Lu Xiangsheng didn't hesitate too much. He raised his hands to Yao Dongzhao and other common people and said: "Mr. Tunchu, elders! I am very grateful to the elders of the three mansions for their kindness and righteousness!
In the ten years since Xiang was promoted to the rank of Rong, he has gone through hundreds of battles without losing a single victory. However, the situation is like this today, so we have no choice but to die in order to repay our country's kindness!"
After listening to Lu Xiangsheng's words, the crowd became even more excited, and they all advised him to move his army to Guang, Shun, and reorganize his troops.
An old man with a rustic look wiped away his tears, stepped forward and said loudly: "Mr. Governor! Don't think that the people are just rustic fools. As long as the army moves to Guangzhou, obeys the rules, and the army and the people are united, they will still be afraid of the power of the Tartars."
Boom?
Sir, you must know that the three prefectures of Jinan have hated the Tartars for a long time. Back then, armed with farm tools and sticks, they followed you to the capital to serve the king, with tens of thousands of people in attendance. Now they are even guarding their own grain and blood relatives. As long as you raise your arms and give a shout, they will definitely follow you.
They are like clouds, but they follow the master's orders.
Sir, just thinking about dying for the country is not the solution, how to drive away the Tartars is the most important thing!"
Hearing this, Lu Xiangsheng shook his head and sighed: "Alas, although Xiangsheng is called governor today, he actually only has more than 10,000 hungry and exhausted soldiers. The enemy on horseback is rushing from the west. I have no reinforcements and even less food and grass. I have to move thousands of miles to fight.
Near exhaustion.
Now that the captives are more powerful, fighting on the battlefield, life and death, there is no need to involve the elders of the three prefectures in Jinan!"
Yao Dongzhao was a little excited. He shouted loudly: "Death may be heavier than Mount Tai, but it may also be lighter than a feather. If you can't defeat the Tartars, what's the use of dying?"
After hearing Mr. Yao's words, Lu Xiangsheng was very moved, but he knew better that if he moved his army to Guangdong at this time, the court would definitely say that he was afraid of slavery and avoiding war.
If he is instigated by someone with ulterior motives again, Jinyi Tiqi will definitely be sent to arrest him and bring him to the capital. By then, even if he, Lu Xiangsheng, has a hundred people, he will have nowhere to defend himself.
But after all, he was a minister of the imperial court, so how could he say such heart-wrenching words to his confidants? How could he say it to the common people and elders of the three prefectures in Jinan?
, you should obey the holy order, but you can violate the imperial edict and move the army to eat without permission?
If you see danger and give orders, you will have no regrets even if you die!"
"But 'if you are outside, you will not accept your orders'." Yao Dongzhao was still trying to persuade him.
"Not only is it difficult to disobey your orders, but the commander-in-chief, Eunuch Gao, is stationed in Jize, dozens of miles away. Although you all have good intentions, if Xiang Sheng dies in Xishi on the charge of disobeying the imperial edict and being timid in the face of the enemy, it will be an injustice for eternity. What will happen?
He leaped on his horse generously and died heroically in a battle on the battlefield!
Xiang Sheng has made up his mind, please don’t talk anymore, elders!" Lu Xiang Sheng said resolutely.
The elders seemed to understand his difficulties. Some shook their heads in disapproval, some sighed, some stamped their feet in disappointment, and some couldn't help but burst into tears because of the critical military situation and the darkness of the court.
Zhang Cheng saw everything with his eyes and couldn't help but shed tears.