The day after defeating the old camel of Qinglang Peak, Zhou Shiqi's eldest son Zhou Shaoqing returned to Qingshui Village and told Zhou Shiqi that there was news from the militia that Zheng Mao, the magistrate of Yishui County, would come to Qingshui Village in person to investigate.
It turned out that more than a month ago, Zheng Mao had known about the three villages of Qingshui Village, Bajiaotai Village and Shilitun Village that jointly formed a militia. At first, he didn't care. The matter of self-protection in the village was very ordinary.
It is reasonable that a village has a weak power, and it is difficult for several villages to form a group. Later, I heard that Qingshui Village and Wang Family Datun caused a village fight for land. I heard that many people died in Wang Family Datun.
But the people do not raise the people and the officials do not investigate. Moreover, Zhou Shiqi is also the former magistrate of Yishui County. Even in Qingzhou Prefecture, he has many ways. Therefore, Zheng Mao must be polite to him and is happy to turn a blind eye.
Don't make a big mess, just let the above know.
But just a few days ago, he received an announcement from Zhou Shiqi that the thieves from Qinglang Peak came to rob Qingshui Village, but were defeated by the three villages and militia, and more than 300 people were killed. Zheng Magistrate was a big accusation.
Unexpectedly, the militia was a bit strange. Then he learned that the bandits attacked Wangjia Datun and were rescued by the three villages' joint militia, defeating the bandits again. Moreover, more thieves were killed this time, with seven or eight hundred people.
Zheng County Magistrate felt a little unbelievable. He went to Yishui County after the Qing army withdrew in the 12th year of Chongzhen (1639). From the day he took office, the bandits had been in Yishui County.
He was very troubled. After the autumn harvest every year, he would go to various villages to rob and trouble, which also caused Zheng Mao a headache. At first, he wanted to send Dianshi Zhang Guangyuan to lead the inspector's troops out of the city to fight the bandits, but the inspector's office
There were less than 300 people in total. Zhang Guangyuan dared to send troops, but he refused in every way. Zheng Mao had no choice but to do anything to him. He knew that he would give him only for free when he went out, so he stopped forcing him and had to ask the prefecture for emergency help.
As a result, Zheng Maocai had been in office for more than three years and sent more than twenty official documents to the prefecture for help. Qingzhou Prefecture also sent a group of people once, with more than a thousand people to Yishui County to suppress bandits. As a result, he arrived.
After Yishui County, the Ming army had a good meal and good drink for a few days and took away a lot of silver. As soon as he went to the battle, he was defeated by the bandits and returned. Zheng Mao also died of the imperial army.
I will never make any hope for the bandits, and I can only let them go. I just hope that if they don’t come to slam the county town, everything will be fine. As for the people in the villages, it will be decided. Anyway, the Ming Dynasty is now full of beacons everywhere and thieves are everywhere
If you want to blame the bandit, you can't blame him, the little magistrate.
Then I know that this time is different. It is just a militia, and it can defeat the bandits who cannot even do anything to the government army twice. It kills nearly a thousand bandits and captures dozens of them. In the eyes of Zheng Magistrate, it seems that
It is simply a fantasy. The military merits of the Ming Dynasty were calculated based on the number of beheadings, and the Qing army's head was the highest, bandits were the second, and local bandits were the second. Although the people killed this time were all local bandits
But beheading more than a thousand levels is still a reward. If it were in the army, it would be enough to be promoted to several levels.
Therefore, Zheng Mao also developed a strong interest in this militia. Although the county lord Bo Zhou Shaoqing is also from Qingshui Village, he has been working in the county town for more than a month and has not returned home, so he is not ashamed.
The situation of the Chuben villager group could not respond to the questions raised by the magistrate. So Zheng Mao immediately decided to go to Qingshui Village in person to see what this militia that defeated the bandits looked like. He asked Zhou Shaoqing to rush back to Qingcheng first
Water Village, please inform.
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Early the next morning, Zheng Mao boarded his four-person bridge and took the county magistrate Sun Cheng, Dian Shi Zhang Guangyuan, inspector Wang Zhongping and other officials. Under the protection of 200 inspectors and soldiers, he left Yi.
The county town of Shui County came straight to Qingshui Village.
Qingshui Village is only fifteen or sixteen miles away from Yishui County, and it is basically a highway. Therefore, the magistrate and his team arrived at Qingshui Village for more than an hour.
At this time, the county lord Bo Zhou Shaoqing accompanied Zhou Shiqi, Zhao Bingyi, Huang Dongshan with the scriptures, Shang Yi, the chief teacher of the militia, and the three associate teachers Tang Zhen, Huang Dongling, Zhao Yinghao and others, leading two teams of soldiers.
, two or three miles away from the village to welcome the magistrate.
Zheng Mao was informed from afar and hurried out from the bridge and walked forward. Because these three village chiefs were all famous and powerful gentry in the local area. If they wanted to achieve some political achievements in Yishui County, they could not be easily offended.
These people.
Seeing that the magistrate got off the bridge, Zhou Shaoqing immediately accompanied Zhou Shiqi, Zhao Bingyi, Huang Dongshan and others to welcome him. The three of them bowed to Zheng Mao together. Zhou Shiqi said, "The Lord of the Hall is graceful and the village has never been welcomed. I still ask Lord of the Hall of the Hall of the Hall of the Hall of the
Forgive your sins." Because Zhou Shiqi was a retired official, Huang and Zhao also had fame and honor, so they did not have to kneel down to Zheng Mao, just bow down to him.
Zheng Mao also gave a tribute and smiled, "How dare you? This county is abrupt. I want to ask Duke Zhou to forgive me."
Then Zhou Shiqi and others chatted with Sun Cheng, Zhang Guangyuan and others one by one. They often used traffic and were very familiar with each other, so they were polite to each other. Then Zhou Shiqi and his group introduced Shang Yi, like Zheng Mao and others.
People waiting for the militia.
After meeting Shang Yi, Zheng Mao was really surprised. He never expected that the chief training teacher of the Sancun United Militia would be such a young man. Although he was not small, he seemed to be only two at most.
Fifteen years old. In fact, it was not only him, but also Sun Cheng, Zhang Guangyuan and other officials found it really unbelievable.
However, Zhou Shiqi and others immediately asked the magistrate's group to enter the village first and then talked. The group then set off again and walked towards Qingshui Village. Shang Yi waved his hand, and the regiments standing in a square behind immediately dispersed to both sides and quickly
The columns changed into two cases, not only did they become clean and neat, but the two columns were also neatly arranged.
At this time, Zheng Mao and others paid attention to the regiments. They saw them full of energy and majestic spirits, standing on both sides of the avenue, as straight as a javelin, and even the posture of holding weapons was exactly the same, as if they were made with a mold
The same thing. Although there is no armor, it also looks very energetic and majestic.
Zheng Mao couldn't help but feel a little surprised. Looking back at the two hundred official troops he brought out this time, not only were the teams uneven, but each soldier had different appearances, some bent over and some were hooked.
Some swayed left and right. The postures of holding weapons were strange and strange. Some people carried them, some carried them, and some were dragged on the ground. Even the inspector Wang Zhongping lowered his head and looked quite ashamed.
Although Zheng Mao is a civil servant, it can also be seen that the spiritual temperaments of both sides cannot be the same as each other. If they confront each other on the battlefield, the official army will definitely not be the opponent of the militia. It seems that it is not unreasonable for them to defeat the bandits.
Therefore, he couldn't help but praise: "Duke Zhou, the militia soldiers who were united in the three villages are indeed being cleansed!"
Zhou Shiqi smiled and said, "These regiments were trained by Chief Teacher Shang. To be honest, this time they were able to defeat the bandits and rescue the three villages. They were all arranged by Chief Teacher Shang."
Although he was a little prepared, Zheng Mao was still a little surprised when he heard Zhou Shiqi say it in person, so he said to Shang Yi: "I didn't expect that Chief Teacher Shang is young and has such a village. He is indeed young and promising."
Shang Yi also bowed and said, "The Hall is a reward. In fact, this time I defeated the bandits and rescued the three villages. The whole county is urgent. The main commander is in the middle and the commander is well arranged. There are also envoys and inspectors.
A master came to the battlefield to boost morale. Our militia was just following the orders, and only then did we achieve this great victory."
Zheng Mao was stunned for a moment, looked at Zhou Shiqi, Zhao Bingyi, Huang Dongshan and others smiling and nodding, and immediately understood that this was to give this credit to him and the officials in the county.
It turned out that after receiving the news yesterday, Zhou Shiqi immediately discussed with Shang Yi that defeating the bandits this time was a great contribution, but this contribution could not be exclusive, and he still had to give some to the officials in the county.
This is called equalizing profits. After all, there will still be many things that need to be solved by the government in the future.
Of course, Shang Yi knew the interests of it. This situation is common in later generations. Every time he came back from the task, the beginning of that work report was inseparable from the correct leadership of the superior department, the so-called ancient and modern principles. And to put it bluntly, the militia is now
It's just a trait. If the government wants to block you, you can't help it. If you turn a blind eye, it will pass. Therefore, without thinking, I immediately agreed.
Zhou Shiqi was afraid that Shang Yi would be young and did not understand these personal accidents. How could he give up the credit for his hard work to others like this? He was thinking about how to slap more words to convince Shang Yi. Then he knew that he agreed immediately, which was really a bit surprised.
It seems that this young man has a really good mind and will be unlimited in the future!
After the group entered the village, Zhou Shiqi sent the magistrate and his group to his home to rest. Then Zheng Mao asked about the war with the bandits. Shang Yi also explained the entire process of the battle in the past few days to the officials and others in detail.
, He also spoke ups and downs, and some places were exaggerated. He heard everyone nervous, sometimes confused, sometimes happy, sometimes regretful, and as he was drunk and infatuated.
After listening to the explanation, Zheng Magistrate Zheng was still unsatisfied and went to check the corpses and prisoners. Sure enough, there were indeed more than a thousand corpses, and even the prisoners were 70 or 80. He asked a few more robbers who were captured.
, and they confessed, Zheng Mao felt relieved. It seemed that the bandits killed were all real. They beheaded more than a thousand and captured dozens of people alive. This contribution is indeed quite great. It seems that this bad thing has turned out to be
It turned into a good thing.
Zheng Magistrate Zheng was in a good mood and became interested. He also proposed that he wanted to see the training of the militia. Zhou Shiqi naturally satisfied the request put forward by the magistrate, and immediately asked Shang Yi to make arrangements.