Chapter 11: A native chicken and a dog that sells its head
In Lijiazhai, more than ten miles west of Wu'an County, Zhang Guangda laughed and said: "This general, Zhang Guangda, is just a pawn under my commander-in-chief. He has followed me for a long time and made some small achievements. Now he is my commander-in-chief and leads the cavalry camp."
, I was ordered to come to Lijiazhai to raise food."
"It turns out to be Zhang Youyi. May I ask the general how you raised this food?" Although Li Guangqi said it politely, his tone was quite disapproving.
"According to the military order of my commander-in-chief, I will not ask for your grain in vain. Now I will use two thousand taels of silver to buy 500 shi of grain stored in your village." Zhang Guangda said categorically, leaving no room for change.
Li Guangqi's eyes narrowed to a slit, and he spoke for a long time: "Deputy General Zhang led the army into our Zhongzhou to help suppress the bandits. How could I sit back and watch, I should do my best, but Wu'an has been suffering from drought for many years and the rivers and lakes have dried up.
The locust plague was raging again, and most of the grains planted were in vain.
Nowadays, there is not much food in the stronghold, and life is difficult. Although I have the intention, I am not strong enough. However, a guerrilla attack is coming. It is not good for the general to return empty-handed. I should order my subordinates to prepare food for the general.
Fifty stones, no need to leave any silver at all, how about that?"
Zhang Guangda had no expression on his face and just said coldly: "Nowadays, there is a severe drought in Zhongzhou, locust plague is raging, and the people are in dire straits. The gentlemen in each village must be determined to serve the country. Especially now that the country is in chaos, it cannot be cured without heavy laws.
My commander-in-chief has an order: "The reclusive ones will be matched, and the strong ones will be killed." I hope Li Juren will think twice before striking the sword of my commander-in-chief. If it leads to civil unrest in Wu'an, you will be guilty of collaborating with thieves!"
"snort!"
Li Guangqi disagreed and said: "Deputy General Zhang is so loud. Are you trying to force me and other good citizens to die? I will write to the court and tell the truth."
"You go and do your own thing. I will definitely raise five hundred dan of grain today to go back and resume my life." Zhang Guangda said in a very firm tone.
Li Guangqi's eyes were fixed on him, and he said sadly: "Zhang Youyi only has three people here, aren't you afraid that the strong men in our village will leave you three here?"
"Hahaha……"
Zhang Guangda felt cheerful after hearing this, and he said with great pride: "In the days of Julu, tens of thousands of Tatars and cavalry were unable to retain our generals. You are just a strong man in the village, which is nothing more than 'inserting marks'."
It’s just a local chicken and a dog that sells its head!”
Li Guangqi was stunned when he heard this, with a wicked smile on his face. However, he also knew that what Zhang Guangda said was true, but he did not dare to take any action. He only saw Zhang Guangda getting up and walking in the hall to the window, and then stopped to pause and think.
At this time, I heard Zhang Guangda say again: "My commander-in-chief has dispatched troops to go to the 17 forts around Wu'an to raise food. It is precisely because he values Li Juren that he specially ordered me to lead the army here in person. If Li Juren doesn't know this,
Due to the kindness of my commander, I had no choice but to go back empty-handed to recover."
After a while, Li Guangqi seemed to have made up his mind. He turned around and asked, "Is Deputy General Zhang stationed in Wu'an County now?"
"My commander-in-chief is stationed in the county. It will take three days to collect all the food and grass before the army can set off."
"Forget it, I have always admired the reputation of Deputy Commander Zhang. Now I will spend 200 shi of grain and cereals as military supplies. I will not accept any money. I will do my best to suppress the bandits for Deputy Commander Zhang.
." Li Guangqi said generously.
Zhang Guangda was unmoved. He still sat firmly in the big chair and said word by word in a deep voice: "My commander-in-chief has an order. With two thousand taels of silver, I want to buy 500 shi of grain. I will do it myself."
I dare not disobey my commander-in-chief's military orders."
Li Guangqi was walking back, but he was stunned when he heard this. His eyes were gleaming with coldness, and he stared at Zhang Guangda. After a moment, he said: "Zhang Youyi, please go back to Wu'an to report to Deputy Commander Zhang today. I will return tomorrow."
I will go to Wu'an in person, plead guilty to Deputy Commander Zhang, and escort the grain into the city."
Zhang Guangda looked at him and said: "Since Li Juren said this, I will wait in Wujing tomorrow."
…………
"Sir, do you really want to sell five hundred stones of grain to the army?" Uncle Fu asked cautiously.
"snort!"
Li Guangqi held an exquisite small charcoal stove in his hand and said angrily: "Where it is buying food, it is clearly robbing."
Uncle Fu then said, "So what if we don't sell it to him? Do those officers and soldiers really dare to attack our village?"
"Confused!"
Li Guangqi cursed lightly, and then continued: "I didn't know where the officers and soldiers were before, but now they are confirmed to be Zhang Cheng's troops of Xuanfu, how can they dare to resist forcefully."
He put down the charcoal stove on the table, and a servant came forward to take away the charcoal. Li Guangqi said again: "This man is fierce and cruel, and he is highly regarded by the current emperor. Don't say that my grand master is just a retired minister. Even if he is the current minister,
Even the minister of the dynasty cannot afford to suffer such an immediate loss."
"Go quickly and prepare five hundred stones of grain. We will load the truck early tomorrow and I will deliver it to the county in person."
…………
Zhang Cheng purchased a total of more than 9,000 shi of grain and grain from various villages in Wu'an County. In addition to the more than 3,000 shi of grain he had previously saved in the city, there were a total of more than 12,000 shi of grain and grain, which was enough for the people of Wu'an to survive this winter.
Li Guangqi of Lijiazhai personally escorted the grain truck. He claimed that he had donated 700 shi of grain to help the army suppress the bandits. Zhang Cheng met Li Guangqi in the county office, praised him greatly, and warmly invited him to live in Xuanfu.
, and can even provide escorts on the road.
However, Yang Wansheng from Liushi Village in the north of Wu'an County and Du Sicai from Dujiazhuang in the south of the county refused to sell grain to Zhang Cheng. Zhang Cheng directly sent troops to rush into the village to search and arrest them. They were imprisoned in the county office until they were sent to their homes.
After receiving double the amount of grain, he released the two men.
On November 15, the two carriages from Wei Zhice's carriage camp were once again loaded with 2,400 stones of grain and grain, and slowly left Wu'an County.
Li Changsheng's Pro-Military Bureau B was left by Zhang Cheng in Wu'an County to assist Ji Youci in distributing grain and porridge. In name, it was to protect the grain and grain in the city, but in reality it was to stay and protect Ji Youci's safety.
"Nowadays, exiles fill the road, and their skeletons are scattered all over the fields. The ghostly wind blows the green of ghosts and lins, whistling and gathering in the green of the forest. The small bones of the side arms are littered on the road. Every time I walk in the suburbs, my feet are on them, slippery and noisy, like on the hemp straw.
.…..”
The army came all the way, and in the villages, castles, and fortresses it passed, either people were competing to eat, or people were gathering in groups, raising poles and shouting. This was a scene that was unbearable to hear and a sight that was unbearable to see.
On November 18, when Zhang Cheng's army entered Qishui, the whole army stared blankly at the hundreds of floating corpses floating on the river and flowing down the river. They were all as skinny as firewood.
After being in the water for many days, I still haven't seen any signs of swelling, and my eyes are like purgatory on earth.
Behind Zhang Cheng came the voice of the sergeant from each bureau: "Everyone has seen it. If it weren't for Deputy Commander Zhang on the North Road, your family would be like now, either becoming food for others, or that's it."
Life is worse than death.
You all need to cherish the good days now on the North Road, fight loyally for Deputy Commander Zhang, work hard to kill the thieves, and never slack off."
All the soldiers lined up on the bank of Qishui River, looking at the tragic scene in front of them, nodding their heads desperately.
Zhang Cheng was sitting on his horse, also silent. He looked at the Qishui River in front of him. It was very wide. Although there was a severe drought, there was still a lot of water left. The cold wind in winter blew his fiery red cloak high.
With a sound of "choi lang lang", Zhang Cheng took out the sword given to him by the emperor from his waist, and all the generals around him looked at him.
Zhang Cheng flicked the sword with his fingers, and the sword made a dragon chant. He shouted loudly: "I, Zhang Cheng, swear to the sky today that I will restore peace to the world and make this land of China a paradise. No matter who stands in my way."
Every step he takes, I will remove him."
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
He shouted the word "kill" in his last breath, and all the generals and soldiers also shouted loudly, and the sound shook the sky.