At Xiangyang Gate in Tongcheng, Pang Yu stood at the tower, touching a blackened city brick with his hand.
Zilai Street outside the wall has been burned to ruins, and many people are rummaging through it to see if they can find anything useful.
Some scattered farmers were selling crops on the street. Almost all villages within 20 miles around Tongcheng were destroyed. Most of these farmers came from 20 miles away.
The situation on the official road was better than Pang Yu expected, because the rogue bandits advanced very quickly. Except for a few camps where the bandits set up camp, most of the damage around the official road was not serious.
In the direction of Lujiang and Anqing, the official roads that used to be bustling with traffic and horses were no longer accessible to merchants. Except for official messengers and a few farmers, there were almost no pedestrians.
There are two porridge sheds under the city gate, which were opened by the county government. Some gentry in the city donated some food.
The people who fled the city were returning home one after another, but a large part of them soon returned to the county town, because most of their villages were burned down. They returned home without food and shelter, and could not even survive, so they had to return to the county town to settle down temporarily.
"Ruan Jin, when you go, don't rush on the way. Please inquire carefully along the official road and around the town. I need you to put more effort into these items."
Ruan Jin had a bandage on his head and looked a little haggard.
During the day and night attack, he also swam across the Tong River and entered the mountains to the west in the darkness. He waited until the rogue bandits retreated before returning to the city.
When he returned to the city, he was wearing peasant clothes with blood stains on them and a stab wound on his head.
What he reported to Pang Yu was that the clothes were found in Sanqing Temple on the mountain. Pang Yu did not ask about the details. He was already very happy that Ruan Jin could come back alive.
Ruan Jin cupped his hands and said, "Team leader, please give me your instructions."
"First, the distance between each camp of the rogue pirates; second, observe the setting of the camps, whether there are trenches, whether there are camp walls, the spacing between camps, and the extent of damage around the camps. You have to see it with your own eyes and record it.
Distance; third, state and county cities, whether the equipment used by the rogues to attack the city is the same as Tongcheng, the length of stay in each city, the surrounding damage range, siege methods, and the number of casualties.
Fourth, important bridges along the way should be recorded, indicating whether they are stone bridges or wooden bridges; fifth, the arrival time of the vanguard of the rogue bandits is how much earlier than their brigade; sixth, the names of each bandit group..." "This, squad leader, subordinates are afraid of.
I cannot remember these many important points, and my subordinates are illiterate."
Pang Yu nodded and said, "I will give you a clerk to accompany you. If you borrow it from the household, you can ask him if you can't remember anything. If you need to record it, let him write it down. Read more and remember more."
When Ruan Jin heard that it was borrowed from a household, he was slightly surprised. In the past, the secretary of the household was very arrogant in the yamen, so when would he be able to work as an errand for these fast guys?
"Originally, this was a job for a horseman, but now there is no horseman available in the city, so I can only let you make this trip.
In short, you must write down everything related to the bandits, no matter how troublesome or detailed it is."
Ruan Jin hesitated for a moment and then asked, "As long as it is something arranged by the squad leader, my subordinates should have done it.
Are you going to go to the border of South Zhili, or are you going to Henan?"
"You have to go only to the southern border of Zhili, Shucheng, Luzhou, Shouzhou and Fengyang."
"My subordinate understands, but this is only the north. Do we still want to go to the states and counties in the south when we come back?"
Pang Yu shook his head, "If Jiang Fan comes back, I will arrange for him to do this. If he doesn't come back... I will go myself."
The two were silent for a while. The express team suffered heavy losses this time. The special equipment was the horse express. There were only three people left in the yamen. The delivery men in several shops on the official road had all run out early. Even delivering letters to Anqing had to be used.
Ma Kuai, all three of them have been dispatched, and there is not a single Ma Kuai in the Yamen.
This time Ruan Jin went to the north to explore and borrowed Zhou Xian Cheng's horse.
Ruan Jin looked up at Pang Yu and asked, "I wonder when the clerk can leave?"
Pang Yu glanced to the north and saw Tang Weimin coming from the direction of Dongzuomen. He turned to Ruan Jin and said, "It should be done within two days. It will take a long time to get there. You need to settle down at home first."
Ruan Jin promised to leave, but Pang Yu stopped him again and said, "The bandits have left not long ago, and I don't know if they will return. The first thing you need to do when you go is to ensure your own safety. If the city is not open, don't stay in roadside inns. Liguan
It's a long way to go and have some accommodation, and you can give some money to live in a farmer's house, so you can be more alert at night."
Ruan Jin bowed and said, "I understand, I will thank the class leader."
After Ruan Jin left, Pang Yu walked north to greet Tang Weimin who was coming.
After the two met, Tang Weimin had a worried look on his face. He waved a calligrapher who was following behind him to leave. He stood in front of the wall and said, "Mr. Sun told me today that during the defense of the city, there was no trace left in any of the warehouses. Your Majesty is extremely worried."
Furious, I'm afraid..." When Tang Weimin said this, he lowered his voice after looking back and forth at no one, "I'm afraid I have to take advantage of the opportunity to defend the city and express my merits, and also investigate this matter."
Pang Yu leaned on the battlement and said, "Today is different from the past. In the past, if there was no food in the warehouse, there would be no food, and no one would die.
Nowadays, rogue bandits are raging, and once the police are dispatched, they can lay siege to the city in a matter of days.
As soon as the people fleeing from the surrounding areas arrive, the city's population will be several times that of normal times. The Yamen must be prepared at all times. This time the siege is short. If the siege lasts for ten and a half days, the grain stores in the city will not be able to support it. Without food, there will be no city."
Tang Weimin frowned and said, "Who would have expected that the bandits are really coming? Brother Pang, you are right. But now there is no shortage and no shortage. The gentry for the porridge shed outside the city donated it. With the current situation, I don't know how long it will last."
Porridge shed, when you finish eating, the master will definitely be even more angry."
"Right now, we will try to bring in some food to solve your urgent need, and then we will talk about the lack of food in the warehouse."
"This matter is not difficult. Tang sent Zaoli to Songyang yesterday. The grain merchant at the dock has some grain in stock. He will send someone to buy some tomorrow. But there is not much silver in the bank, so he cannot buy a lot."
Pang Yu rubbed his forehead and said, "I talked to Wang Wenyao and Yao Pisun and asked them to come forward and ask the gentry to donate some more. But Mr. Tang, you are in charge of money and food. Donation is not a long-term solution. Money and food will eventually come out of the yamen."
There is no food during the defense of the city this time, so it is reasonable for the Lord to be angry. Some people must suffer, but it must not be Mr. Tang. Whoever looks at the warehouse is the one."
Tang Weimin breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Tongcheng was defended. The lack of food in the warehouse did not start from him. He estimated that Yang Erming was not likely to move him. After hearing what Pang Yu said, he felt more at ease. He looked outside the city and said lightly, "
When the grain is gone, the warehouse has to bear the responsibility; when the bank is empty, the warehouse has to bear the responsibility."
"Brother, I think so too. Let's not talk about the previous warehousing. I collected the original material before the Spring Festival and replenished it in the reserve warehouse. Less than a month later, the inventory disappeared. Moreover, I have informed him in advance that it was already
There is a rogue warning."
Tang Weimin said coldly, "Since someone is so ignorant of praise, Tang will not be able to keep him."
During the conversation between the two, the fate of several warehouses had been decided.
This has always been the case with several warehouses running out of grain. It is nothing new in the yamen. However, when it comes to major events such as the invasion of rogue bandits, it is impossible for no one to take the blame. If Tang Weimin wants to protect himself, naturally he can only take the warehouse.
Zi operates.
"Then I'll ask Brother Pang to bring a few quickies tomorrow, and together with Tang, we'll inspect the reserve warehouse and Changping warehouse."
Pang Yu cupped his hands and said, "Listen to Mr. Tang's arrangements."
Tang Weimin had something on his mind and hurriedly said goodbye to Pang Yu. Pang Yu stood on the tower for a while. The outside of the city was devastated. It would take many years to return to the prosperity before the war.
Turning around and going down the city tower, Pang Ding was already waiting at the city stairs. He came over and whispered, "Master, just now Zhuang Chaozheng came to speak. There are thirty-four people in the strong squad who want to leave. Those who died in the battle can't get any money from the Yamen.
The family members of several families were making trouble outside the Ye family’s old house.”
Pang Yu nodded and said without any hesitation, "I know, those who are leaving should pay the Yueyin settlement to them. After all, they helped defend Tongcheng, and they deserve it."
"But there is no money in the Yamen..." "Ask shopkeeper Liu to transfer some money and pay it to them first. Those who died in the battle should be given money as compensation, but... the Yamen should pay it. This is a lot of money. We have money, but
If you can't help me, I'll think about what to do. Let's get those family members settled first, what else is there?"
"Ruan Dacheng's carriage has entered the city. He invites you to meet him at his house."
Pang Yu didn't say much and walked directly to Ruan Dacheng's house in the city. He soon arrived at the door. The servants who participated in the defense of the city all recognized Pang Yu and took him directly to the study.
Ruan Dacheng's face was rosy. When he saw Pang Yu, he laughed and strode over and said, "I said that with strong men like Pang Bantou here, Tongcheng will definitely be able to defend it. As expected, Pang Bantou is in charge of the city's defense and should be the leader of the city's defenders."
achievement."
Pang Yu cupped his hands in greeting, smiled and shook his head and said, "Thanks to Mr. Ruan, I was lucky enough to hold on, but the losses were quite heavy. I feel a little ashamed of the folks in Tongcheng."
"Young Pang, please don't belittle yourself."
Ruan Dacheng and the two sat separately as host and guest. When the servants served tea, there were only two people left in the study.
Ruan Dacheng was about to ask about the merit report document, and while he was still organizing his words, unexpectedly Pang Yu spoke first.
"I would like to ask Mr. Ruan something."
Ruan Dacheng said patiently, "Young friend Pang, it doesn't matter what you say. As long as I know everything, I will tell you everything."
"If I want to be an official, which one is better, a civil servant or a military attaché? What are the paths for each?"