Chapter 461 How can natural disasters compare to man-made disasters
In Huazhou Town, the military commander-in-chief's office was in the Yazhong. This was probably the least dignified military commander-in-chief's office in the Later Jin Dynasty.
Still in the commander-in-chief's house are the secretary that Zhao Ying brought with her and thirty or forty tooth soldiers recruited from the clan.
However, the Zhao family has always been a sect that inherited poetry and rituals, and has no tradition of practicing martial arts from generation to generation. Therefore, the combat effectiveness of the Ya soldiers recruited from the Zhao family and nearby neighbors is actually somewhat average.
Therefore, even though Zhao Ying is a native of Huazhou, and Huayin County, where the Zhao family is located, is one of the three counties under Huazhou, Zhao Ying still cannot mobilize the more than 2,000 nationalist troops who are already entangled in the local area.
Since last winter, Huazhou has suffered from floods and then locust plagues.
Before the autumn harvest, nearly 10,000 households had become victims of the disaster, which was almost the population of a county. They basically had no way of survival.
It was difficult to wait until the autumn harvest, and the autumn grain in Huazhou dropped by more than half. However, the imperial court's autumn tax was not exempted, but required that it must be shipped within one and a half months.
At the same time, in order to ensure that their families and relatives had enough food, the Zhenguo Army simply asked the tooth soldiers to disguise themselves as thieves and plunder everywhere, turning the original natural disaster into a man-made disaster.
In fact, how could the several thousand people and their families and relatives of the Zhenguo Army eat so much food?
These are obviously those generals who are planning to plunder and hoard food, and then sell it at high prices to rob people of their wealth.
As for Zhao Ying, the commander-in-chief, if he can protect his family from being robbed by the Zhenguo army, get some food, and save the lives of his neighbors, that is his greatest ability.
Therefore, when she saw Han Silang whose face was covered with blood, tears and dust, Zhao Ying could only look up to the sky and sigh, and said to Han Silang with great shame.
"Although I am the commander of a town, I don't have many soldiers in my hands. If I don't do anything, I can't do anything!"
Tears rushed down from Han Silang's eyes. Halfway through, they were mixed with dried blood and dust into a dark red mud. He held up a half-finished manuscript with both hands and said to Zhao Ying.
"Third uncle once said that if Zhao Jieshuai cannot save Yuxianzhen, please ask Jieshuai to accept this manuscript.
This is a book on agriculture compiled by my third uncle with all his efforts. If Commander-in-Chief is serious about it, it would be a waste of time to let this incomplete manuscript see the light of day."
When Zhao Ying heard this, she burst into tears. As a scholar, this was the most helpless moment.
He stretched out his hand and was about to pick up the stack of manuscripts, but unexpectedly a big hand stretched out from beside him and grabbed the manuscript directly.
Han Silang raised his head and saw that the person who grabbed the manuscript was a Sogdian with a tall nose and deep eyes.
This Sogdian has an extremely ordinary appearance, one of those people who would never give him a second glance among the crowd.
So much so that when Han Silang first entered the door, he completely ignored the existence of this Sogdian.
Now that the manuscript was taken away, Han Silang discovered that this Sogdian had an indescribable temperament.
He stared at you for so long that you couldn't help but feel a chill in your heart.
Behind this Sogdian, there were six strong men with different looks.
Their common temperament, just like this Sogdian, is not noticeable at all on ordinary days, but after careful attention, you will feel that they are unusual.
Han Silang, who had been on the battlefield, also smelled a fishy odor unique to gold and iron that made people feel a bit permeable.
This fishy smell most often appears on those tooth soldiers who kill people like hemp. These people are all fierce gods on the battlefield.
"The interplanting method, the grafting method, the brewing method, and the powder obtained from lotus roots and lotus seeds, well, some places actually coincide with what my father said in the past.
My father once said that you can get powder from rice, and even in the distance of the ocean, there are several kinds of food, and after you get the powder, it is even more delicious."
Zhang Liecheng looked at the tearful Han Silang, grinned, and took the manuscript into his arms unceremoniously.
He was attracted by the word "agriculture" just now and came here to grab the manuscript because he knew Zhang Zhao cared about this.
"How many miles is it from Yuxian Town?" Zhang Liecheng asked softly.
"More than fifty miles away, we can arrive in just over an hour without any effort." Han Silang's eyes shone with hope.
"Then your family will be saved! A certain family can be delayed for a few hours." After Zhang Liecheng finished speaking, he bowed his hand to Zhao Ying.
"The word has been transmitted. Ambassador Liu of Yuanzhou will send someone to contact him soon. The King of Heaven is waiting for Zhao Jieshuai as the minister of the Ministry of Personnel."
After saying that, without waiting for Zhao Ying to reply, Zhang Liecheng waved his hand, and six guards behind him took Han Silang out of the office gate.
Only then did Han Silang see that there were twenty or thirty men in the same uniform in the alley next to the office.
Each of them had two horses, one with a camel and the other with iron armor and a hard bow on its back.
"Special operation, give this Han Silang a horse!"
Zhang Liecheng waved his hand, and a tall folded-eared horse was led in front of Han Silang.
Han Silang looked at this tall horse, whose shoulder height was only a little shorter than him, and got goosebumps with excitement.
Compared with this horse, the horse he just rode to report the news was like a dwarf donkey.
"You also like the tall horse, the iron armor and the hard bow, right?" Zhang Liecheng grabbed Han Silang's hand and then lifted it up to take a look.
Sure enough, there were thick calluses on the tiger's mouth, and there were marks on the fingers from wearing finger rings frequently.
"He is still a warrior. Don't worry. As long as the patriarch of your Han family really has the abilities mentioned in his manuscript, the King of Heaven will never lack these things, as long as you have the ability."
"King of Heaven?" Han Silang was stunned for a moment, "Are you soldiers of King Zhang Tian?"
"Do you think other than us, who else would save people for half a book on agriculture?"
Zhang Liecheng did not hide his pride, and Han Silang couldn't help but nodded.
....
In Yuxian Town, the young men of the Han family were lying on the ground. The people in the town were crying loudly. They were driven one by one to the center of the town like sheep.
The difference between Dingzhuang and real tooth soldiers is so big. There were more than fifty tooth soldiers in total, and they easily captured this town with more than two hundred Dingzhuang in total.
The earthen walls on all sides didn't play much role at all.
It is actually correct to say that these people are Yaozhou bandits, because they are not soldiers of the Zhenguo Army in Huazhou, but Yaozhou Shunyi Army soldiers in the north.
How can a local native have the nerve to do this? Soldiers still need a little reputation.
So the generals of the Huazhou Zhenguo army pretended to be bandits and went to Yaozhou to plunder everywhere, while the Shunyi army from Yaozhou came to Huazhou to 'mopping up'.
Moreover, both parties have a tacit agreement not to touch the places where family members and relatives at all levels live.
The group of thieves who came this time were the Ya soldiers under the command of Yuhou, the Zhou capital of the Shunyi army.
Marquis Yu, the capital of Zhou, had long heard about the rich people in Yuxian Town. Although he lost a brother this time, he gained a lot.
There are more than a hundred strong men who can basically eat enough. They should have plenty of strength and can just transport back the grain and gold and silver they looted.
As for women, although in troubled times, having more mouths means more consumption, but Yuhou, the capital of Zhou, did not plan to feed them for a long time, so it didn't matter if they only had enough food for a few days.
However, there is no need to keep these old people and children. It is basically useless to them.
There is no need to give orders, the soldiers who are used to doing this kind of thing will naturally know what to do.
They separated the crowd very skillfully, with strong men and women on one side, and old, weak and young children on the other.
"Oh my God! Why do you have to wait for me to be born in this troubled world?"
Han'e originally hoped that these people would be a little kinder and only plunder food instead of taking people away or even killing them all.
But as soon as they started to talk about the separation of the townspeople, I immediately felt that something was wrong. They had encountered the most vicious bandits, who not only wanted to plunder, but also wanted to leave no one behind.
"Old thieves, what are you screaming about? It's because of your bad luck. There is still food left in the disaster years. If one family doesn't come, others will come!"
Zhou Du Yuhou smiled cruelly, and a cruel light shone from his triangular eyes.
However, he said that if he didn't come, someone else would come, which was just an adjective, because they had agreed with the generals of the Zhenguo Army that no one would come.
But as soon as he finished speaking, the sound of horse hoofbeats was heard outside the town, and Marquis Yu of the Zhou Dynasty turned over to the earth wall to take a look.
I saw a flowered horse galloping towards me in the distance. The man on the horse's back was curled up, and the red flag in his hand was constantly waving.
This is the sentinel he sent out. The waving red flag indicates that a large group of enemies is coming.
Is there really someone else who has taken a liking to Yuxian Town?
No! Impossible! Zhou Du Yuhou quickly shook his head. Commander Li of the Zhenguo Army was a very particular person and would not do such a thing.
As the sentry on the horse's back got closer and closer, the sound of horse hooves sounded more intensively.
About thirty or forty horsemen galloped over from a distance, and the speed was very fast.
Seeing that there were not many people on the other side, Zhoudu Yuhou felt a little more at ease.
He roared loudly and left a few people to guard the townspeople while the rest of the tooth soldiers hurried up to the north of the earthen wall to defend against the enemy.
After everyone had climbed onto the earthen wall, the sentinel rider on the horse's back ran up to them.
Contrary to what Yuhou, the capital of Zhou, imagined, the sentry knight had been shot into a hedgehog. There was only a long arrow stuck in the sentry's back, and there were some words engraved on Jiangan Mountain, but he didn't recognize it.
"Iron...iron armor, there is iron armor!"
This extremely dedicated sentry knight managed to hold on until he met Zhou Duhou Yuhou and reported the most important information, and then he fell off his horse with a thud, and he did not know whether he was alive or dead.
"Iron armor?" Marquis Yu of the Zhou Dynasty considered these words for a moment. Could it be that all the people coming were armored cavalry?
Is it Commander An Jie of the Jinchang Army who is here?
Marquis Yu of the Zhou capital was shocked. At this time, An Yanwei, the commander of Jing Zhaoyin (Chang'an) and the military governor of Jinchang, was an upright person. If he heard that they were pretending to be thieves, he might really send someone to punish them.
"Marquis Du Yu, something is wrong! These people are not from our side!"
Just when Zhou Duhou Yu was suspicious, a team deputy next to him suddenly howled.
Marquis Yu of Zhoudu, who was anxious in his heart, opened his eyes when he heard this.
"They shot Zhu Dayan. Of course I know they are not from our side."
"No! No!" the team deputy waved his hands repeatedly.
He had followed Zhao Kuangzan, who had gone to Khitan, for a period of time. When An Shenqi was mediating the conflict between Zhang Zhao and Li Congsuo at the foot of Mawei slope, he had close contact with the Hexi soldiers, so he quickly recognized him.
"I mean, it seems that the war horses of the emperor don't look like the soldiers of our Great Jin Dynasty!"
"Not a general from the Jin Dynasty?" Yuhou, the capital of Zhou Dynasty, frowned in confusion and was suddenly startled.
"Could it be that the Liang Kingdom army is coming?"
Many warriors in Guanzhong, especially the generals, don't like Zhang Zhao very much, and are even a little afraid of him.
Because when I, the Great Ili Khan, entered Guanzhong last time, I showed that he is kind to the people, has strict military discipline, and does not rob or plunder.
This makes the warriors who are used to being the king of heaven with a sword in their hands very uncomfortable.
I feel that Zhang Zhao and Liang's generals are here to break the rules.
"No matter whether he is a king of heaven or not, if the soldiers of Liang State dare to run wild in our country of Jin, a certain family will want to see if they have three heads and six arms!"
Marquis Yu of Zhoudu pretended to be fearless, but then he suddenly became furious again.
Because the Liang cavalry galloping in the distance, they were divided into ten cavalry on the left and right to prevent them from escaping. Then the remaining twenty cavalry began to dismount not far from the northern wall and slowly pushed towards them.
"This is too much!" Marquis Yu, the capital of Zhou, was so angry that his nose was crooked, and he waved the horizontal knife in his hand.
"My sons, please mount your horse and teach these fools of the Liang Kingdom a lesson!"
This man from Du Yuhou made a good calculation. He has more than forty people, which is equal to the number of the opponent. How dare the opponent dare to dismount after dividing half of the troops, and charge the twenty infantry with forty cavalry. How can he be invincible?
?
Horse hooves formed in formation, and shouts were heard everywhere. Forty cavalry soldiers of the Yi army rushed out on horseback.
Thanks to the convenience of plundering horses, each of the forty of them had two horses, and their riding skills were pretty good.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Marquis Yu of the Zhou Dynasty only heard the gentle vibration of bowstrings. Instead of forming a concentrated formation, the people on the other side were even separated.
Because Zhou Du Yuhou and the others also charged in scattered directions, and the dispersed points on the opposite side allowed for more targeted shooting.
Several shrill screams rang out, and people kept falling down around them. The archery skills of these Liang soldiers were quite good.
The not dense rain of arrows actually shot down five or six of them in the last breath.
But that was it, because they still had twenty steps before they rushed to the opposite side. The cavalry used their horse power to stab the spears, which the infantry could not resist. Once they got close, they would be dead.
‘Pfft!’ Zhoudu Yuhou just raised the spear in his hand excitedly, but he suddenly heard a strange sound, followed by a strange smell.
Suddenly, a flash of thunder seemed to flash before his eyes, and he felt dizzy for a while, followed by a dull 'thunder'.
Zhou Du Yuhou only felt an incomparable sting on his face, as if he had hit a hornet's nest head-on, with needle-pricking pain everywhere.
There was something unknown coming into his eyes, making him unable to open them.
Zhang Liecheng sneered and said, "There is nothing better than a pear gun to scare the horses."
Anyone who comes into contact with a war horse for the first time will be frightened and run around blindly.
Once the war horses become confused, it will be easy to deal with them. A frightened horse will turn around and run away. Without human control, it will be easier to become a target.
The soldiers behind Zhang Liecheng also took out their arrows in a leisurely manner, and shot down the cavalry on the running horses like a hare with ease.
Occasionally, there would be a few war horses that were not frightened, and the knights on the horses would not dare to charge anymore, but would turn their horses' heads and run back.
At this moment, the cavalrymen of the Envoys in Brocade, who looked like they were going to divide their forces to block the attack, also turned back to intercept them.
They waved their horses and chariots and completely penetrated the fleeing Shunyi army thieves from both sides, annihilating them in an instant.
Han Silang stared at all this with his mouth agape. In his eyes, those thieves who were extremely cruel were defeated so easily.
....
Four days later, the first group of victims headed from Guanzhong to Hexi set out, led by Han E and Han Silang behind him.
Although the Shunyi army bandits were almost wiped out, Yuxian Town, especially the Han family, could no longer stay.
Because they were robbed by thieves this time, more than twenty members of the Han family died. This also made Han E realize that they could not keep these tens of thousands of stones of food, and sooner or later the entire Han family would be taken away.
superior.
Of course, more importantly, Zhang Liecheng did not give him a chance to choose.
If Han E didn't know what he was doing, he would kidnap him and take him to Hexi.
Because after a simple question and answer, Zhang Liecheng realized that Han E and the descendants he educated did have strong agricultural knowledge.
This is the most lacking talent in the Liang Kingdom! You must know that among the imperial examinations of King Zhang Tian, there were agricultural subjects.
Regarding talents, Zhang Liecheng has always believed in Zhang Zhao's basic principle, that is, don't care whether he is happy or not, just get the melons first.
And just after they left, a larger-scale flood hit Hua and Tongzhou again.
Among them, in Hezhong Prefecture, which was the most serious, the number of victims whose houses were destroyed by floods alone reached 12,000 households, totaling more than 70,000 people.
At the end of September, the imperial envoys sent by the Later Jin Dynasty to supervise the payment of money and food arrived at the four places of Hezhong Protectorate Army, Huazhou Town National Army, Tongzhou Kuangguo, and Yaozhou Shunyi Army to urge Shang.
The missing autumn tax of 210,000 shi.
However, it was not discovered until the envoys arrived at the Four Seasons.
It's over! These guys are delaying the tax for twenty years, and the poor people have no money left to scrape.
Not to mention the poor, even the rich have basically been plundered.
The wealthy rural families who were lucky enough to still have some food simply went out with their entire family and cut off all contact with the imperial court by digging up river embankments, flooding the roads, and rolling huge boulders from the mountains to block the roads.
In just one year, natural disasters and man-made disasters doubled to the east of Chang'an and to the west of Luoyang, like a hurricane, completely wiping out all the civilians in this area.
Only the families of officials and generals and some local wealthy families could survive. Even the prefectures and counties around Kaifeng Prefecture in Tokyo experienced widespread famine.
Seeing this situation, Zhang Zhao could only leave the matter of relocating the Long family and Ganzhou Uighurs to Zhang Xichong, and he personally rushed to Qinzhou to take charge, and asked Liu Zaisheng to send troops to control Danzheng Gorge and prepare to respond to the victims.
He then ordered his brother Wu Guo'er, who had basically surrendered to the Liang Kingdom, and Wu Ying'er, the governor of Weizhou in the Later Jin Dynasty, to come forward and discuss with Liu Jingyan, the governor of Xinning, and let him send troops to escort the victims to pass through Pizhou and Ningzhou and go northwest to Hexi.
Liu Jingyan was from Yanzhou, and the Yanzhou Zhangwu Army had long been controlled by Zhang Zhao. He did not dare to offend Zhang Zhao, so he could only do as he was told.
Since then, two roads for disaster victims to enter Hexi have been determined.
One route takes Pizhou and Ningzhou to Yuanzhou in the Liang Kingdom.
One passes through Chang'an and Fengxiang, and goes to Qin, Wei, He and other states in the Liang Kingdom.
As Zhang Zhao began to recruit disaster victims into Hexi, the officials and people in Guanzhong of the Later Jin Dynasty saw it, but no one reported it to the court of the Later Jin Dynasty.
Because they all understand the truth that King Zhang Tian is saving people.
At the same time, the dispute between the grain envoys of the Later Jin Dynasty and the Jiedushi envoys of the four towns including Huazhou was over. The four towns paid a total of 90,000 shi of grain, which was considered a favor to the court.
In fact, these envoys were sent to the four towns. In addition to collecting money and food, they also had another task, which was to supervise the relief of the victims in the four towns.
Seeing this situation, they were very wise and did not even mention the matter. They quickly took 90,000 shi of grain down the Yellow River and went on a mission.
In October, Shi Chonggui conveyed the decree in the palace, and Gasang Weihan was appointed as the Grand Tutor of the school, and the same things were done.
To commend him for his contribution in the year of great disaster, not only did he not fail to collect taxes, but he also collected more than 100,000 shi in autumn taxes.
It's just that Shi Chonggui didn't know, or he pretended not to know, that after the reshuffle of this catastrophe, the foundation of Later Jin's rule among the people had been completely destroyed.
The entire Central Plains has completely become a situation where the central government and local military leaders co-govern.
Before the Five Dynasties, Liang, Tang and Tang dynasties, the authority of the central government had never declined to this extent.
Sang Weihan was also very proud of the success. Not only did he collect the autumn taxes and win the favor of Shi Chonggui, he also took the opportunity to make money himself, so much so that he took bribes and accumulated a huge amount of goods in the next year.
This made Feng Yu, the brother of Shi Chonggui's aunt Queen Feng, extremely jealous. From then on, Feng Yukai continued to criticize Sang Weihan in front of Shi Chonggui.
In the midst of the storm, an internal fight is about to take place.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
I've been a bit stuck recently, with more than 5,000 words, so I'll leave it at that, I owe you an update, and I'll make up for it once I've adjusted myself.