Chapter 934 There are copper coins to open the way
Leaving Nie County and heading southeast along the Zhuozhang River, we marched at full speed and arrived at Xiangyuan City within a day. According to the march plan, the army would carry out its first supply here and then continue to move forward.
The biggest limitation on marching speed is supplies.
Although Wang Yu gave an order to Xu Shu to allocate grain and grass to the south, he had no intention of waiting. Instead, after giving the order, he set off on the rear foot. Supplies could only be collected from the counties along the way.
Bingzhou has not been peaceful in recent years. Xianbei people, Huns, Qiang people, and various local forces have fought fiercely in Bingzhou. Today the Huns and Han troops jointly fought against Xianbei, and tomorrow the Huns fought against each other. It was easy to fight off these two foreign wolves.
, the Han army started killing each other again.
Shangdang is the hub of connection between Bingzhou and the Central Plains. In the past five years, it has been occupied by or passed through by nearly ten forces, including Ding Yuan, Yu Fuluo, Zhang Yang, Gao Gan, etc. It is the area where Bingzhou suffered the most serious military disaster.
The people here were already familiar with and adapted to the war. When they suddenly saw a large group of soldiers and horses arriving, there was no need for county guards or magistrates to direct them. The people closed the city gates, pulled up the suspension bridge, and gathered the troops at an extremely fast speed.
Defend the city and many other tactical actions.
The Qingzhou Army's first sentry was a few miles away, and they were still looking at the city gates in the distance with their city gates wide open and crowds of people rushing in and out. However, when they got to the base of the city, what they saw was a scene of tight security and formations.
The scouts were all amazed and felt that the Shangdang's statement about sending out elite soldiers was indeed true. Even the militiamen from Qingzhou who had been trained for two or three years were only at this level.
After announcing the name of the Hussars General, the soldiers and civilians in the city remained indifferent. They still looked like they were facing a powerful enemy. The scouts had no choice but to report truthfully, leaving the problem to Wang Yu to solve.
When Wang Yu arrived at the city, he saw a scene that shocked him. It seemed that all the men and women in the city had come out. From the white-haired old woman to the urchin who had just learned to go to the house and take out bird eggs, they were all lying behind the wall and looking at him.
.
These people all have disheveled faces and ragged clothes, but their postures of holding bows and holding swords are very pure. Those weapons are simple and worn out, but that is the reason why the city in front of them has survived in troubled times and has not been looted by various rebels.
Wang Yu felt a burst of sadness in his heart, but also a bit of pride.
The tragedy is that the war-torn Middle-earth has wiped out all the good things in human nature. The victims no longer trust anyone except the swords and guns in their hands. But having said that, if the people had not taken up the swords and guns to protect themselves, maybe they would have gone to the party.
The place of the Fourth War has turned into a ghost on earth. It was the spontaneous resistance of the people that left a trace of vitality in this ancient Chinese region.
The commander at the top of the city refused to go out and interact with the officers and soldiers, although he could clearly see the hussar general banners unfurled by the guards. As early as four or five years ago, the imperial court had lost its dignity. As long as he had the ability to recruit a group of people,
, no matter what kind of official position you proclaim yourself, as long as you don't call yourself king or emperor, no one will care about you.
Back then, Captain Wu Meng and Ding Yuan were just Captain Wu Meng before their cavalry went south. When they reached Shangdang, they had already become Generals of the Tigers and Lieutenants. There were many evildoers in Shangdang territory.
Zhang Yang, the current governor of Hanoi, was originally just a subordinate of Ding Yuan. Later, he recruited a group of people with his family wealth, and with considerable strength, he suddenly transformed into a general of Jianyi. Before moving to Hanoi, he raised troops to attack
The Dang governor was unable to defeat him at Huguan, but he was so shy that he took away his official position, proclaimed himself the Dang governor, and sent troops to invade the counties.
The combat power of Zhang Yang's army was not as good as that of Ding Yuan's elite frontier army, but its power to cause harm to the people was much greater than the latter. County towns such as Luxian County and Tunliu County were successively destroyed, and the people in the city were left empty-handed until five years ago.
Even now, after all this time, I have not been able to regain my strength.
With these bloody lessons, it is no wonder that the people of Shangdang are so nervous.
"We are the Han hussars, the hussars that never disturb the people! We are here to conquer the national thief Cao Cao. You guys are raising your swords at each other. Could it be that you have been bribed by Cao Cao's thief?" Tai Shici was ordered to step forward and open his hands.
shouted to the people in the city.
"Whether you are a national traitor or a general, please go away quickly and don't make any plans here!" A feather arrow was shot from the city wall, almost sticking to the horse's neck and drilling into the ground half a foot: "Don't come close, the city
There is no food for you! No matter if you are officials or thieves, there is none!"
"His mother-in-law doesn't know how to appreciate it!" Taishi Ci was so angry that he took out the bow from the saddle and wanted to change the color.
If it weren't for the fact that in order to ensure the marching speed, he had to collect supplies along the way, he wouldn't have the patience to chat with a group of unruly people.
My lord's reputation for benevolence and caring for the people is known all over the world. People even praise him in Jingzhou and even places as far away as Jiangdong. However, he received such a cold treatment in Shangdang, which has become his jurisdiction. This is called Taishi with a fiery temperament.
How can kindness bring peace of mind?
"Ziyi, please step aside for now and let Kong Ming come!" Wang Yu stopped Taishi Ci in time and made a decision that the latter thought was absurd.
"Kong Ming?" Taishi Ci looked at his lord in surprise. He didn't understand what role the soft-spoken Zhuge Liang could play at such a time. But he still faithfully carried out this "random order" and retreated, still talking to himself.
Grinding his teeth in annoyance.
That is to say, the Lord has a good temper. If he follows his own wishes and simply sends two heavy-duty thunder trucks over and smashes two holes in the city wall, these self-righteous guys will know how powerful they are.
Amid confused looks on the city and below, Zhuge Liang summoned more than a dozen of his staff and Shi Shiran and walked to the city.
This time the reaction on the city wall was less intense.
Taishi Ci, who has a fierce look on his face, will make people involuntarily feel fear, and fear will bring about vigilance and uneasiness. Zhuge Liang is a young and handsome young man, full of literary talent. How can people be willing to take action?
What's more, the people in the city were relatively ignorant of the news and were not deaf or mute. Even if they had never heard of Wang Yu's reputation for benevolence, they had vaguely heard of the glorious achievements of this powerful neighbor in Hebei.
Everyone knew that if a fight really started, the thousands of garrison troops inside the city, composed of old, weak, women and children, would definitely not be able to stop the fierce and powerful troops outside the city.
But there is no way, you have to bite the bullet even though you know you are losing! This is the experience and lesson that people have summed up with blood and tears in troubled times. If the weak want to survive, they must show a strong enough posture. Pleading and crying can be solved
It doesn't solve the problem. It will only make the robbers see your weakness, and then they will bully you even harder.
With some scruples and persistence, Zhuge Liang walked to the base of the city without any hindrance, at a distance where the people at the top of the city could hear him clearly without having to raise his voice.
"Dear fellow villagers, you must have heard some news. My lord is the hussar general who was personally conferred by the emperor today. Starting from last year, the champion has replaced Gao and Yuan, and has taken over the military and political power of Bingzhou...
…Just over ten days ago, he led his army to fight against 300,000 Xiliang cavalry in Longshan, and defeated the many with a small number, and was defeated..."
Zhuge Liang's voice was much softer than Tai Shici's, and his tone did not fluctuate much, but his words shocked the people of Xiangyuan much more.
The Xiliang Army invaded in a large scale, and the Qingzhou Army rose up to fight back. Both sides unanimously chose the main battlefield in Taiyuan in the north. Shangdang territory was not affected by the war at all. However, hundreds of thousands of troops fought fiercely for several months two hundred miles away. The impact
It's not an ordinary thing, people in Shangdang have heard about it to some extent.
It was precisely because they heard about this war that the people of Shangdang were so nervous. According to normal circumstances, in a war of this scale, no matter who wins or loses, it will eventually cause an extremely heavy blow to Bingzhou.
The Xiliang army won, with a terrifying figure of 300,000, which would eat up the last wheat seedlings in Bingzhou; the Xiliang army lost, with more than 100,000 and 200,000 defeated troops, and more than 100 and 200,000 desperadoes with everything lost.
It will also cause endless killings on the way!
But now when I heard what this little scholar said, the 300,000-strong army was wiped out in ashes without a sound! Could this thing, which sounds like a myth and legend, be true?
"Our army is only going south this time. We need to collect supplies and will not enter the city... I understand your feelings, but after all you are also people under the rule of my lord. Do you plan to divide the territory into a territory and form your own territory?
Is it a country?"
"How dare you, how dare you!" Zhuge Liang's question made the people in charge of the city jump in their hearts. At present, the counties and cities of Shangdang are only in the stage of forming strongholds to protect themselves, and there is no ambition at all.
It's just that everyone has had enough of the abuse of the rebels, and looking at the dark cavalry array outside the city, they feel really unsure.
"Otherwise, is this good..."
Hearing that the tone of those in charge was gradually relaxing, Zhuge Liang finally gave in and said, "I am here to make a decision without authorization. Please withdraw the army for five miles. Then you open the city gate and let me and these colleagues enter the city. Let's
How about trading directly in the city, cashing in cash, and then organizing the manpower to send the grain and grass out of the city for our army to pick up?"
"Buzz!" There was a sudden discussion on the city walls.
"I see that this young gentleman has a kind face. He is a good person. He should not be deceptive!"
"Knowing people but not their hearts. As for the senior officials, Yuan Tan is a member of a well-known family. I heard that his appearance is not bad. When it's time to take advantage of him, how can he be merciless?"
"Xu Baldy, you have to pat your conscience when you say this! Look outside and see that there are more than a few thousand cavalry in that dark area. He has strong soldiers and a reputation for righteousness, and he has repeatedly given in. That is
Renyi, aren't you afraid of us? If you really push the envelope, you'll make that hussar general so angry that all the young and old in the city will be buried with your foul mouth?"
"Yes, although people are hiding in the city, the wheat seedlings outside the city look familiar! It really makes people anxious, so there is no need to attack the city, just let the horses go to the fields, and next year everyone will get it
Drink the northwest wind!"
"Having said that, life is already tight these days. It will take several months before the wheat is ripe and the stored grain is sold. What will everyone eat during the next period of time? Uncle Zhang, you are a highly respected man. Everyone believes in you.
At this time, you have to make an idea."
The old man called Uncle Zhang was the oldest among everyone present. He had white beard and hair, and he looked a bit like an immortal. Although he was elected to lead because of his age and wide knowledge, he still felt that he was the leader.
I really can't come up with any ideas. I just feel that what everyone says is reasonable, but it just can't solve the problem.
After thinking about it, he simply threw the problem directly to Zhuge Liang who was under the city: "The Hussars General is kind and generous, and the young gentleman is resourceful and can understand our difficulties. However, there are still several difficulties..." Trembling Weiwei
As he spoke, he summarized everyone's opinions.
The soldiers and horses outside the city need food for marching, and the young and old inside the city need food to survive. In the eyes of the old man, this is an unsolvable problem. This is what he meant by polite refusal. However, the words left a lot of room, and he wanted to bargain.
It would be best if a small amount of food and labor can be produced in the city in the end.
Unexpectedly, the huge problem in his eyes was just something for the young man below the city to think about. After listening to the old man’s complaint, Zhuge Liang chuckled and said calmly: "This matter is easy to handle... like this
I’m too tired to talk. Why don’t I let me wait until we get into the city and explain it to me face to face?”
Uncle Zhang thought for a while and discussed with everyone, and they all felt that it didn't matter if they let a few scholars in. It was indeed easier to talk in person, so he agreed. When Zhuge Liang sent someone to report back, the cavalry brigade began to retreat. Here they also let go
The suspension bridge opened the city gate a crack and let Zhuge Liang and his party in.
"They are just a bunch of unruly people who don't know the general situation. They only recognize their own petty profits. Why are you so polite to them? Show them how powerful they are. Aren't they good?" Boss Taishi Ci complained impatiently.
"Brother, you went up and got shot with an arrow. When Kong Ming went up, he was welcomed into the city... Are you feeling unbalanced?" Zhao Yun joked on the side, and even slapped his nose exaggeratedly and winced.
Mouth shouted: "Hmm. It has a tangy sour taste."
"Humph! What's so unbalanced about this? I'm not so tolerant!" Taishi Ci was not offended. He snorted coldly: "I just don't understand. Isn't it urgent to go south this time? How can my lord be so leisurely and relaxed?
What? This journey will have to pass through at least seven or eight counties. If every county has to go through this trouble, it would be better to wait for the Yuan Dynasty to send grain directly."
"Do you really think so?" Zhao Yun looked at his adopted brother with strange eyes.
"Is there something wrong?" Taishi Ci stared back.
"It's definitely not right!" Zhao Yun shook his head, very disappointed with his adopted brother's slowness.
"Bargaining, as long as it succeeds, eight achievements will be enough this time. Think about it, what does Kong Ming want to discuss with the people? It's fair trade! The people can sell grain to us at a high price now, and can get it from the second brother later.
Selling grain at a low price is such a good thing, but they still haven't heard about it? When the news spreads, are they afraid that other cities will not open their gates and open the streets to welcome us? "
Taishi Ci thought for a while and shook his head: "It's still wrong! Shangdang is such a closed place, and the news can't spread at all! No one even knows about the Longshan War or the Qingzhou New Deal, and no one spreads it, and they still expect this small favor.
What?"
"You are totally wrong!" Qin Feng appeared out of nowhere and scolded Tai Shici: "People from small families don't care about wars or national decrees at all, because
It has nothing to do with me, it is illusory, and I have no interest in understanding it. It is different when natural beauty is spread and small favors are given, and this will fall on me!"
Taishi Ci frowned and retorted angrily: "Then how come people in places like Jingzhou, Jiangdong, and even Yizhou know about it?"
"Uh, what about this..." Qin Feng was also a non-educator and scolded Tai Shi Ci because of the grassroots status that the latter did not have. When he was surprised by the details, he could only stare.
"As the saying goes: if you have enough food and clothing, you will know the etiquette; if you have enough food and clothing, you will know the honor and disgrace." Wang Yu finally joined the discussion, and his tone was full of emotion.
"Jiangdong and Jingzhou are both land of plenty, and Yizhou is also known as the Land of Abundance. The people in these places are prosperous, and there are many nobles, so they are naturally concerned about world affairs. But Shangdang is the place where the Four Wars were, and it has been in constant turmoil. The people have been
Today I don’t know tomorrow, I have eaten one meal but don’t know the next. It’s too late to struggle, so how can I have time to care about the new policies and the war situation?”
"Haha, Ziyi, do you understand now? This is what the lord said!" Qin Feng grinned and patted Tai Shici on the shoulder, looking proud and proud: "You have to use it for small people.
It’s practical. Only those who are well-educated and know etiquette can speak the truth. For a stupid cow like you, I can only rely on the master’s warning, haha!”
Taishi Ci was annoyed and his eyes suddenly widened. He looked like an angry bull. Wang Yu and Zhao Yun were both attracted by the sight.
"That's not necessarily what the madman said." Wang Yu said with a smile: "In fact, no matter what class you are in, people are all seeking profit. The only difference is that people who have not read can only rely on their own experience. Generally speaking, their vision is a bit unavoidable.
Be more short-sighted. Those who have read understand the principles summarized by the sages and are better at seeing the subtleties and writing..."
"The impact of the New Deal and the war situation all require a certain perspective. To the struggling people of Shangdang, the troubled times seem to be endless. How can they pay attention to those things? In fact, I, the people of Qingzhou, were the same way back then.
It’s the same. Don’t forget, the establishment of the New Deal started with the Reclamation Order?”
After hearing this, Zhao Yun suddenly felt enlightened: "So that's it! My lord's purchase and sale of grain this time is actually killing two birds with one stone. It benefits the people, wins their trust, and at the same time provides convenience for the march!"
"Zilong really understands my thoughts, and I feel very relieved." Wang Yu stroked his beloved general's shoulders and said with a satisfied smile.
"But," Tai Shici was really sour this time: "We are a cavalry army! Even if someone is willing to pass on the news, can they march faster than us?"
"Ride a donkey to look at the ledger, let's wait and see!" Qin Feng rushed to continue: "Ziyi, last time you won the bet against Wen Chang, do you dare to make a bet with me this time? If the news turns out to be true,
We are in front, and I will win! I don’t have any other intentions. As long as we meet you in the future, I will call you brother and don’t scream like a madman. How about that? "
"Just bet..." Taishi Ci was about to agree, but Leng Ding saw Zhao Yun winking all the time. He knew that his sworn brother's senses were particularly keen, so he subconsciously took back the words that were on his lips and said with a groan: "You are a rare kid.
I have this opportunity to be prominent, but I am not aroused by you. I will make you mad, huh!"
While laughing and joking, there was finally movement in Xiangyuan City not far away.
The first thing that started to commotion was the top of the city. Something had happened. It was as if all the houses in the city were suddenly on fire. The old and young people who were guarding the city were forced to go home to put out the fire. The people at the top of the city suddenly dropped their swords and guns and rushed towards the city ladder.
past.
Even though there are thousands of people piled on the city wall, they leave just as quickly as they come, which is just a little longer than a stick of incense. At the top of the city where there were just a few people, there are only a few and a few little cats left.
You can count them on your fingers.
Before the cavalry officers could figure out what was going on, loud cheers rang out in the city. It was said to be cheers, but in fact it was more like the kind of noise in a market. It seemed that there were people shouting at the same time.
Many people work hard to sell their products at high prices and then quickly close the deal.
The deal is indeed done.
The cheers were still lingering, but another incident occurred at the city gate. First, the suspension bridge suddenly fell, and then the city gate creaked and was pushed open from the inside. The next moment, hundreds of people came hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder.
When they came out, they were holding swords and guns in their hands, either holding bamboo baskets or wooden baskets, or holding them on the shaft of the cart. On the rickshaw, there were piles of raised grain bags.
Attitudes have undergone earth-shaking changes.
"The common people are waiting to welcome the general to the city and station his horses!" An old man with white beard and hair, leading a group of old men of about the same age, came straight to the general's flag and knelt down from a distance, showing the utmost respect.
"What, what is going on? Can't you be so arrogant at the front and Gong at the back?" Taishi Ci was dumbfounded. He pulled Zhuge Liang and asked: "Kong Ming, do you know magic?"
"Magic?" Zhuge Liang smiled slightly and said: "Well, maybe it's a magic. People say that money can make ghosts grind. If a lot of copper coins are spilled, even a person with a temper like Wen Chang will never doubt us again.
Do you have malicious intentions?"
The reason for this is very simple. The people in Shangdang did not know the New Deal of Qingzhou, but they recognized Kaiyuan Tongbao.
In recent years, Qingzhou's foreign trade volume has surged, but the newly minted currency has implemented an external tightening policy. The fewer Tongbao in circulation, the higher the relative value, and the wider the recognition, the more rare things are.
Zhuge Liang and his staff brought a large amount of copper coins with them before entering the city. They showed them as soon as they entered the city, which dazzled Old Man Zhang and his gang. The number of Tongbao in circulation was limited, and the profit from imitation was not high, so
It's rare to see it on the market, it only appears occasionally, and it's unlikely to be in large quantities.
Zhuge Liang and others carried tens of thousands of copper coins, more than one hundred kilograms! It would be strange for a small Xiangyuan city not to be shocked to the point of dementia.
Wealth represents strength, and a generous offer represents magnanimity. Thousands of Tongbao are smashed down, and the road is suddenly blocked. The people of Xiangyuan are not vigilant. There are thousands of kinds of robbers in the world, but they have never heard of using them.
Copper coins open the way.
Such a God of Wealth has become a parent official, which is really a good thing that will make you laugh out of your dreams. Besides, Mr. Zhuge also said that it will not take three or five days for the food transportation team behind the army to arrive. The food transportation team only recognizes Yuan Tongbao, as long as there is
With Tongbao, you can buy grain at a fair price!
After the doubts are eliminated, a warm welcome comes. The principle is so simple and applies to both ancient and modern times.