There is indeed no airtight wall in the world. Three days after Tang Qian raided the first manor, the owner of the manor, the imperial censor Bari Zuren, got the news. However, Bari Zuren did not tell Brother Richard about the matter. He knew it very well.
Brother Richard is so shameless. Once Brother Richard finds out about this, he will definitely make a fuss about it and take the opportunity to embezzle everyone's slaves, money and food.
Bari Zuren summoned more than a dozen dignitaries overnight to discuss countermeasures.
Li Kan, the king of Changping, said angrily: "Who knew that the King of Jin was so greedy that most of Chu King Tuoba Aqu's wealth fell into his pocket. The Jiangshan White Jade Cauldron given to King Chu by the late emperor was openly displayed in his living room.
He simply wrote the words 'despicable' on his forehead."
Xia Jinfeng, the official secretary, also said: "In fact, it is not only the wealth of the King of Chu, but also the wealth of the foreign commoners. It is said that all the gold, silver and jewelry were transported into the Jin Palace, which was enough to pull thirty carts."
"It's not that it's said, it's true!"
Privy Councilor Cao Baozong said at the side: "My subordinates in the army told me that three large tents were filled with gold, silver and jewelry, which were transported away by the Jin king's soldiers overnight, totaling fifty-two carts. The emperor also knew about this.
, the Emperor summoned the King of Jin to reprimand him, and the matter was settled."
Bali Zuren said worriedly: "The problem now is that I am afraid that the Song army is also eyeing our wealth. My southernmost manor has been raided, all the villagers are dead, and the food and slaves have been taken away. Fortunately, I
The money is not placed in Nanmian Manor, what do you think we should do?"
Changping King Li Kan asked: "Is it the manor in Shajiao in the south?"
"Exactly!"
Li Kan frowned, "But my manor is also in Shajiao. My housekeeper came here this morning and my manor was not attacked! I just said that a Song Army team was looking for a boat. Is it because there is a boat in your manor?"
Fifteen ships were targeted by them."
Bali Zuren was stunned for a moment. Li Kan's manor was only five miles away from his, but Li Kan's manor was fine. Is it really because of the boat?
"It may be the reason, but I'm not sure."
Li Kan asked Xia Jinfeng again: "Xia Shangshu, is there any news from the Kingdom of Jin?"
Of course, Li Kan was not asking about the Jin Kingdom's reinforcements to Xixia, but about them seeking refuge in the Jin Kingdom. These Xixia dignitaries were not stupid. If they had no way out, they would definitely support the imperial court in their fight against the Song Kingdom. But the problem was that they had a way out, naturally.
It is impossible to donate family property to the court.
Xia Jinfeng nodded, "I am also looking for an opportunity to tell everyone that Wanyan Talan has agreed for us to take refuge in the Kingdom of Jin on the condition that we donate 30% of our property. We can choose where to go, either to Beijing, Datong Mansion, or
In Yunnei Prefecture, I am considering going to Datong Mansion first. I have already sent people to Datong Mansion to look at the house."
Bali Zuren hesitated and said: "The problem of 30% is not a big deal. The key is whether Jin Guo keeps its promise or slaughters us like sheep."
Xia Jinfeng smiled and said: "Jurchens generally keep their promises. I estimate that if I give 30% to the Jin Kingdom court and 20% to the local government, I will basically be able to settle down."
"Then when can we leave?" everyone asked again.
"I plan to wait for the house to be settled and let the eldest son move some of the belongings there first. If you want to go, hurry up and settle the house first. I don't know if I can make it in time."
Everyone looked at Cao Baozong. He was the privy envoy and had a better understanding of the current war situation.
Cao Baozong lowered his head and thought for a while and said, "I am also inclined to King Changping's opinion. The attack on Shajiao Manor was just an accident. It should have been done by a small group of Song Army scouts. According to what we have learned so far, the Song Army's siege baggage cannot be used."
When they were transported here, we were manufacturing siege weapons in Lanzhou. They occupied Mingsha County, so they could only manufacture siege weapons on the spot in Mingsha County.
Therefore, according to the judgment of the Privy Council, the Song Army will begin to attack the city from this winter to next spring. In other words, we still have two months at most. I suggest that we can transfer our belongings to Montenegro first. Once the residence is settled in Datong, we can
You can go directly south from Montenegro to Datong."
Heishan refers to the Heishan Weifu Army Division, the northernmost territory of Xixia, which is the Zhongtao Plain of the Yellow River. Xixia has several military cities there. The commander of the Heishan Army Division is Cao Baohui, Cao Baozong's brother.
Everyone agreed with Cao Baozong's suggestion, and Bali Zuren added: "The wheat harvest will begin in one month. After the wheat is harvested, the slaves and wheat will be transferred together, and then the slaves will be given to the Kingdom of Jin.
At least it can offset the local government’s share of property.”
"Yes!"
"Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me."
Changping King Li Kan waved his hands to calm everyone down, "I have three suggestions. First, this matter must be kept strictly confidential and Brother Richard must never know about it. Second, we must sign a blood pact and join our retreat.
According to the plan, we must join in and let everyone advance and retreat together; thirdly, everyone will start preparations when they get back. Three days later, we will start to evacuate the first batch of property. Brother Cao Xian, do you want to say hello to the Black Mountain side first?"
Cao Baozong smiled and said: "No problem, I will send someone to Montenegro early tomorrow morning to deliver the message, and my brother will come to pick up everyone."
Although they were the only ones talking, there were actually more than a dozen dignitaries sitting next to them, but they just couldn't get a word in.
Everyone immediately drafted a letter of alliance. The eighteen dignitaries present pricked their fingers, pressed their bloody fingerprints, and signed their names underneath, promising to keep the secret strictly and to advance and retreat together.
Before dawn, several people rushed outside the west gate of Xingqing City. The leader rushed to the city and shouted: "I am the manager of Tianlu Manor, King Jin. I have an emergency to report to King Jin. Please leave the city as soon as possible."
Door!"
The soldiers guarding the city reported to the general on duty. Since he was the chief steward of the King of Jin, the general did not dare to neglect and ordered the man to be shaken up.
The city gate requires a warrant from the emperor or the king of Jin to enter and leave the city at night, but there are also special methods. There is an iron chain hanging board next to the city gate. People stand on the board and grab the iron chain, and a pulley is used to swing the person up from the top of the city.
The chief steward of Tianlu Manor and several followers were shaken to the top of the city, and the guard asked: "Did something happen to the manor?"
"Something big happened. Tens of thousands of Song Army cavalry invaded Tianlu Manor yesterday afternoon."
"Ah! Then hurry up and report to King Jin."
The chief steward led his men down the city and hurried to Prince Jin's Mansion
Brother Richard, who was sleeping soundly, was woken up by his men. He asked sleepily: "What's the matter?"
"Steward An came and said something happened at the manor."
Brother Richard suddenly broke into a cold sweat, sat up and said, "Where is he? Bring him up quickly."
Manager An is a Sogdian who has worked for Brother Richard for twenty years and has won Brother Richard's trust.
Not long after, An Yangui, the manor's chief steward, was brought in. He fell to the ground crying, "Your Majesty, the manor is over!"
Brother Richard was so anxious that he slammed the table, "Quickly tell me, what is going on?"
"Yesterday afternoon, 20,000 to 30,000 cavalry suddenly entered the manor. The villagers were caught off guard and were massacred by them. Two stewards and I escaped from the tunnel and hid in the reed marsh. We dared not come out until dark and found a pair of rafts.
Cross the Yellow River!"
Brother Richard was stunned and asked after a while: "Are you sure it's twenty or thirty thousand people, not two or three thousand people?"
"It's twenty to thirty thousand cavalry, otherwise we villagers wouldn't have been massacred one-sidedly."
Brother Richard was right when he thought about it. His villagers numbered 8,000 people, but they were massacred on one side. This shows that the opponent has a large number of people.
His heart suddenly twisted. He had made too much wealth recently, and the palace could not keep it, so he transferred all the grain, sheepskins, and copper coins to Tianlu Manor. There were also tens of thousands of slaves, and the grain alone was worth three hundred thousand dan.
, 500,000 guan of copper coins, more than 500,000 pieces of high-quality sheepskins, medicinal materials, precious woods, bronzes, and even thirty large ships. Now it's all ruined.
Brother Richard is a well-known miser in Xixia. He is extremely greedy for money. He is nicknamed Brother Ajian. He has accumulated a lot of wealth in his life and is known as the richest man in Xixia. Although the wealth in the manor is only a small part, it still makes him rich.
Brother Richard is extremely heartbroken.
He grabbed his chest and was about to faint. Several concubines quickly supported him, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
Brother Richard waved his hands and slowly calmed himself down. He suddenly realized a problem. He also deployed three sentinel detection teams in the south. The Song Army dispatched 30,000 cavalry to go north. Why didn't he get any news?
He hurriedly asked: "Is there any emergency military situation last night?"
The butler shook his head, "There is no urgent military information sent!"
"What about the general military situation?" Brother Richard asked again.
"Reporting to the prince, it was very quiet last night, and no information was sent."
That's not right! Even if there is no urgent military information, general military information should still be sent. I have promised to report the Song Army's movements every day.
Brother Richard suddenly realized that the three sentinel detection teams he deployed had probably been killed by the Song army.
