The main crops in Northeast China are sorghum, rice and corn.
Among the four counties, due to geographical reasons, Xuantu County is not a grain-producing area. The real granaries are in Liaoxi County and Yingping County. The crops in these two counties account for about 70% of all grain in the Northeast, of which Yingping County accounts for another 30%.
As the granary of Yingping County, Jiping County has always been regarded as an important food and grass supply place by the Liaodong Army.
Because of this, Jiping County Magistrate Cheng Tao also came from the Liaodong Army and guarded this granary for the Liaodong Army.
There are two granaries built in Jiping County. In previous years, they were used as grain warehouses for the Liaodong Army. Tens of thousands of grains were stored all year round for emergency needs, which could be used by the Liaodong Army at any time.
This year, the weather in the entire Northeast is actually pretty good, so the grain harvest can be considered bumper.
Since September, grain collection has begun in various places in Jiping County, and officials have been sent to various places to collect grain.
The Liaodong Army has been in the Northeast for nearly a hundred years, and sudden large-scale grain requisitions have happened from time to time. The people are not too surprised, but this year's grain requisition is obviously much more intensive, and not only has there been an increase in various types of open-minded requisitions, but also
There is a lot of food, and there is a reward order issued by the superiors. If they can exceed the task, the village chiefs will not only receive rewards, but may even be promoted. Therefore, these villagers will use all means to make a future. Some villages even levy taxes in advance.
Food for the next two years.
Although the people complained, food from all over Jiping County was still continuously delivered to the county.
At dusk, outside the county granary, more than a dozen carts of grain were being transported to the warehouse, and the warehouse officials were skillfully registering them for storage.
"Your Majesty, all the food in the village is collected from the fields." A young man in his fifties was bending down and cautiously said to Cheng Tao, the magistrate of Jiping County: "The remaining food rations in the village can only last for half a year at most.
About half a year later, I asked you to allocate some food for relief."
Cheng Tao stroked his beard and said, "Don't worry, I won't let them starve to death. I heard that there are a few people in your village who are causing trouble. Is this possible?"
"It's the brothers from the Hu family." The little old man said: "They were so bold, talking nonsense, and wanted to lead the villagers to refuse to pay food. Fortunately, the officials sent by the hall arrived in time, so there was no trouble.
Something happened."
"It is simply lawless for unruly people to do evil." Cheng Tao said coldly: "The Liaodong Army wants to quell the chaos. The troops and horses are not moved yet, and food and grass go first. Don't they understand this truth? If they can't wipe out Long Ruijun's gang of rebels, the entire
A catastrophe will befall the Northeastern capital, and the common people will be displaced by then. Is this what those unscrupulous people want to see? The Hu brothers led the crowd to refuse to pay the grain. They must be spies of Long Ruijun. I have already captured them all.
Arrest him and report it to the county governor, waiting for the superiors to make a decision on how to deal with it."
The little old man said hurriedly: "What the Lord said is that these unruly people should be severely punished."
"You did a good job and overfulfilled the task." Cheng Tao smiled and said, "I will report it to the superiors and evaluate your merits."
The little old man suddenly smiled and said respectfully: "Thank you, sir, for your support."
Suddenly he heard the sound of horse hooves and saw a horse galloping towards him. Cheng Tao looked over and saw that a county official had dismounted from his horse, rushed forward and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, the food protection team is here again.
Already entered the city!"
"So fast?" Cheng Tao was startled and frowned: "The last batch of grain was shipped not long ago, so this is a bit urgent. But is it still Captain Huang from last time?" The visitor said: "No, it's Captain Zhao.
"
"Captain Zhao?"
"He has brought people to the county government office and is waiting for you."
Although Cheng Tao felt that the food protection team had arrived too hastily, he did not dare to neglect it. A captain in the military was much more powerful than him, the county magistrate, and he immediately rode back to the county government office quickly.
When I arrived at the county government office, I was a little surprised to see hundreds of soldiers in Liaodong Army uniforms outside the government office. Almost every person had a horse, and they were all cavalry.
He was a little suspicious. Although the food protection team that came last time also had cavalry, most of them were infantry, and the number this time was obviously much larger than last time.
Entering the lobby, I saw several generals in armor sitting and waiting in the lobby. Seeing Cheng Tao come in, one of them got up and took two steps forward and asked, "Are you Cheng Tao, the magistrate of Jiping County?"
"That's right, your official." Cheng Tao saw several people staring at him, all with swords on their bodies, and glaring at him eagerly. He felt uneasy in his heart and asked with a smile: "Who is Captain Zhao?"
The man already said: "I am Zhao Shengtai."
"Captain Zhao, please take a seat." Cheng Tao felt that the name was unfamiliar and raised his hand: "I will send someone to arrange a meal immediately."
Zhao Shengtai waved his hand and said: "No hurry. Magistrate Cheng, how much food is there in the city now?"
"We have 10,000 dan. If we have three to five more days, we can make up 20,000 dan." Cheng Tao said: "The official has sent people to urge everyone to collect the grain from the fields as soon as possible and deliver it to the city.
.Xiaowei, do you think it will be a few days later to wait for the food to be shipped before sending it to Shunjin? I will arrange your accommodation here."
Zhao Shengtai smiled and said: "Don't worry. That's right. How many guards are there in the city?"
"There are thirty-six people in the three squads."
"Where are the soldiers guarding the city?"
Cheng Tao was suspicious, but still said: "There are two gates in the north and south of Jiping County. Each gate rotates in two shifts. There are fifteen people in each class, which adds up to sixty people." Then he said: "Captain Zhao also knows that the autumn harvest begins, and the county guard
Your Excellency was worried about the lack of manpower here, so he sent another hundred soldiers to help."
The yamen of each of the four northeastern counties are directly subordinate to the county commander-in-chief and are officials, and receive their salaries directly from the county.
However, although the soldiers guarding the city are also under the command of the county captain, they belong to the military establishment, and their salaries are issued from the county. Therefore, although the county officials and the soldiers guarding the city are both under the command of the county captain, they belong to different groups.
Organization, in other words, the county captain has the power to mobilize and command the soldiers defending the city, but has no power to reward and punish them.
"So there are about two hundred soldiers available in the city?" Zhao Shengtai asked.
Cheng Tao hurriedly said: "The captain didn't know something. Recently, there have been a lot of unscrupulous people in some places to collect grain, and there are also some places where the work is ineffective and the progress is slow, so the official sent people directly to urge and supervise. Just two days ago,
There were unruly people causing trouble in Hujiatun, which almost caused a big incident. Fortunately, they were dealt with in time, so there were no serious consequences. Now, sergeants are sent everywhere to supervise. As long as there are unruly people doing evil, they will be arrested immediately. As long as those people see it
It’s amazing. Seeing that those making troubles have no good results, no one dares to say a word.”
Zhao Shengtai said "Oh" and then said: "So there are not many people in the city?"
"In total, there are more than forty people available." "Where is the county captain?"
"Went downstairs." Cheng Tao said: "Yesterday afternoon there was another disturbance in Fanzhuang. Captain Ma led people there. If everything goes well, we should be able to come back tonight."
Zhao Shengtai said: "Master Cheng, could you please summon all the dozens of people who can be used in the city? Call the guards from the north and south gates first, and I will send people to take over the defense."
"Why...why is this?" Cheng Tao asked in surprise.
Zhao Shengtai smiled and said: "The general wants to take over this city, and I have been ordered to come and take over."
"General?" Cheng Tao was even more surprised: "Is it... General Wang?"
"Of course not." A person behind Zhao Shengtai said gruffly: "It's General Qin. Cheng Tao, as a county official and the common people are like ants, you actually assisted the Liaodong Army in conquering Jiping County. It is simply lawless. The general saw Jiping
The people are living in dire straits and cannot sit idly by, so we are sent to take over Jiping County."
Cheng Tao was shocked when he heard this. He turned to look at the door and saw two sergeants guarding the door. His heart sank to the bottom. Only then did he realize that these people were not the Liaodong Army, but were pretending to be the Liaodong Army.
Long Ruijun.
"Tian Yi, He Fen, you two each lead fifty brothers to guard the north and south gates." Zhao Shengtai ordered: "After taking over the defense, immediately seal the city gate. No one can enter or exit without my military order. Zhang Tang,
You take a hundred brothers to the granary and take over the city's arsenal. No one is allowed to take a grain of grain without my military order. Yes, you arrange another thirty brothers to take over the city's arsenal. Listen up, everyone.
During the takeover, anyone who resists will be punished for rebellion without any need to report, and will not be spared any punishment!"
Several of his subordinates bowed their hands in agreement and immediately retreated and went their separate ways.
Cheng Tao saw Zhao Shengtai giving orders and everyone split up, knowing that the other party was well prepared. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He really didn't expect Long Ruijun to be so bold.
Long Rui's arms control covers western Liaoning. Although it also controls Songyang Grassland in Yingping County, it has not yet penetrated the southern part of Yingping County.
Jiping County is only two days away from Shunjin City, and it can be said that it is within easy reach of Huangfu Yunzhao's main army. Because of this, Cheng Tao has always felt that Jiping County is within the protection scope of the county, and he never imagined that this would happen.
A mere few hundred Long Rui troops dared to enter the city in disguise and intended to control Jiping County.
He was stunned and opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"Jiping County is lost, and your crime, Lord Cheng, is unforgivable." Zhao Shengtai looked at Cheng Tao and said, "If you fall into the hands of the Liaodong Army again, you know better than me what will happen to you. Lord Cheng knows very well that the Liaodong Army will separate itself and become independent.
, is already a rebel of the Tang Dynasty, Long Rui's army is ordered to fight against the rebellion, and the confrontation between the two armies is definitely inevitable. The Liaodong Army must be afraid that the officials of the northeastern counties and counties will abandon the city and lose their land, so whenever someone loses their city and loses their land,
If the Liaodong Army killed a chicken to scare the monkeys, it must be severely punished."
Cheng Tao felt his throat was dry, but he knew that what Zhao Shengtai said was indeed true.
"If Jiping is lost, the Liaodong Army will probably send troops to seize it." Zhao Shengtai said: "If this city is recaptured by the Liaodong Army and Mr. Cheng falls into their hands, they will definitely use you to sacrifice the flag. So after we enter the city, Mr. Cheng
In fact, there is no way out. If you want to survive, you can only defend this city with us!" Putting one hand on the hilt of the knife, he looked at Cheng Tao and asked: "Master Cheng, are you prepared to die for the Liaodong Army, or are you planning to help the imperial court pacify the city?