The city of Yanshi was in good order, and the people had long been accustomed to it after many wars. Previously, they were driven to defend the city by the city magistrate Xu Ritai and other officials, but they did not work hard.
After the bandit general Gu Dacheng broke into Yanshi City, he not only beheaded the magistrate Xu Ritai, the county magistrate Bai Shilu, the instructor Liu Heng and other officials in front of the county government office, he also opened a warehouse to release grain to help the hungry people in the city.
Because of this, when Zhang Cheng's army attacked the city, many people spontaneously helped the rebels climb the city to defend the city. However, the rebels lacked experience in defending the city and could not take full advantage of the large number of people.
On the contrary, this advantage turned into a disadvantage, causing the various units and units on the city wall to be in disarray and fighting independently, and were unexpectedly defeated by Zhang Cheng's officers and soldiers.
After entering the city, Zhang Guangda once advised Zhang Cheng: "These gangsters who have breasts are their mothers should cut down some of them to serve as a warning to others."
However, Zhang Cheng stopped him and said: "Henan Province has experienced severe droughts for several years and locust plagues. The people have been suffering for a long time, but the government has not seen effective relief. Now that we have obtained the grain from the bandits, we naturally hope that the bandits can defend Yanshi City."
This is the purpose of thieves and bandits. They kill officials and gentry, and release grain to help the hungry people. Their purpose is to win the hearts and minds of the people, but what about the people?
They are the most honest and honest people. Whoever can keep them well fed and live a stable life will be loved and supported by them!"
Zhang Guangda was still a little angry and said: "No matter what, it is wrong to be a thief."
…………
In the evening of December 11, a group of old and young people in ragged clothes and dirty clothes were crying in the lobby of the Yanshi County government office.
"The commander-in-chief has to make the decision for us!"
"Yes...all my grain and rice were stolen by thieves...and were given to those mud-legged people..."
"Zhang Shuai, if you want to help us get back the money and food, we will definitely ask the gentlemen in the provincial capital to ask for credit for Zhang Shuai!"
A chubby middle-aged man smiled evilly and said: "Hey, now that Marshal Zhang has regained Yanshi, we will make those mud-legged people spit out all the grain and rice they have received. Otherwise, we will take him.
My aunt, daughter, and son are here to pay off the debt!"
"Snapped!"
A crisp sound shocked everyone in the lobby, and it fell silent instantly without any sound.
Amid everyone's astonishment, Zhang Cheng said loudly: "Henan has been suffering from famine for many years. As local squires, you should be thinking about the national calamity and know how to repay the country's kindness. You should donate generously to help so that the people can survive the disaster years safely.
Now, your money and food have been released by the bandits to the people in the city. If I forcefully recover it, the people will not have enough to eat, which will definitely lead to a civil uprising. Our army will march westward to Luoyang tomorrow, how can you protect yourself?"
He scanned the people in the lobby with a stern look and said: "Now that I have recovered Yanshi and rescued you from the county jail, I will not let you fend for yourself, and you can still live in your house."
, I will also leave ten shi of grain for each household to satisfy their needs, so I hope you and the others can take care of themselves."
After Zhang Cheng finished speaking, he didn't wait for them to say anything else. He got up and went back to the backyard. The squires had no choice but to leave in groups.
…………
Early on the next morning, Zhang Cheng sent Chen Zhong's Youqi, Su Laohu, Mo Rigen's Mengqi, and Lin Fangping's escorts out.
Taking Yanshi as the starting point, they followed Zhang Cheng's deployment and took turns to investigate all the important roads leading to Luoyang. They were all within the scope of exploration until the layout of the bandits under Luoyang City.
At 3 o'clock in the morning, Wei Zhice's car camp rushed to the gate of Yanshi City, and everyone had lunch together in the county government office. Zhang Cheng made an agreement with everyone during the meal that tomorrow he would send troops westward to Luoyang City to protect the important territory of the vassal.
After lunch, Zhang Cheng took Zhang Chengfang, Zhang Jintai and other boys around the Yanshi City.
At first, the people were worried that after the officers and soldiers regained Yanshi City, they would take back the grain that the bandits had given them. Every household closed their doors tightly, and some even dug deep pits to bury the grain in their homes.
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How could I have thought that following the announcement of peace of the people, it was stated that the grain released by the bandits previously belonged to each household, and that the government and army were only going to strangle the bandits and recover the city, and would not take back the grain from each household.
At first, the common people couldn't believe it, but seeing that many officers and soldiers just knocked on the doors of the merchants' shops, and they were all buying and selling at the same price, so several small shops on the street boldly opened their doors one after another.
It also attracted many hawkers who came to do business. The street in front of the county government office was the most prosperous, bustling and constantly crowded.
Zhang Cheng was very satisfied when he walked on the street. The intruders used rumors to confuse people and win over them. It can be seen that his style is different from the previous gangsters. He can only let the people know through actions. Not all officers and soldiers are devils.
They walked around Yaqian Street and came across a group of children playing on an empty oxcart. One of the teenage children took the lead in singing:
"Eat his mother, wear his mother,
The gate was opened to welcome King Chuang.
King Chuang won’t pay you any food when he comes!”
Zhang Chengfang also heard this very clearly. He stepped forward angrily and asked: "Who taught you how to sing?"
A group of children were frightened by him and seemed to have forgotten to escape.
Zhang Cheng also took a few steps forward and said to Zhang Chengfang: "Chengfang, children's words are unbridled! Don't scare the children."
Zhang Chengfang's face was still full of atmosphere, but she said stubbornly and slightly aggrieved: "They are promoting thieves and bandits, and they should be guilty of the same crime as the traitors!"
Zhang Cheng shook his head and said to him: "If children all over the city are singing like this, can you kill them all?"
He said earnestly: "Remember, all kinds of things have their own solutions. You must learn to find the root of the problem. Violence is good, fast, simple and crude, but it is effective, but not everything can be used."
Kill and kill to solve it."
Wang Yuanjing on the side looked at Zhang Cheng with a thoughtful face, and seemed to have some insights.
Zhang Cheng waved to the children, smiled and asked gently: "Do you also sing other songs?"
The children were frightened by Zhang Chengfang's angry shout just now. Now that they saw many officers and soldiers approaching, they became even more shy and refused to sing any more.
Seeing that they were almost crying from fear, Zhang Cheng could only look at Zhang Chengfang with a smile, shook his head, and continued to move forward while talking to Wang Yuanjing.
Just as I passed another street corner, I heard children singing another song:
"The morning seeks promotion, the evening seeks harmony,
It's hard for poor people to survive these days.
Open the door early to pay homage to King Chuang,
It is a joy to discipline both young and old.”
Even Wang Yuanjing couldn't keep his temper at this time. He looked at Zhang Cheng with a serious look on his face and said: "Commander, if such nursery rhymes are sung throughout Henan Province, the consequences will be disastrous!"
Zhang Cheng was also meditating. He naturally knew the power of these nursery rhymes. This was the most powerful way for thieves to win over people's hearts, even better than thousands of troops.
Suddenly, there was a rapid sound of hoofbeats, and several fast horses galloped from the city gate in the smoke. When they reached Zhang Cheng, they turned over and fell off their horses, saying hurriedly: "Commander, Luoyang City is broken!"