Three hundred and fourteenth chapter blood on the yellow sand
The emperor is getting married. Although it is not a grand wedding, it is still a bit exaggerated to appoint forty-five Western princesses as concubines at the same time. General Zhenguo has a daughter, and this matter is even more important than the upcoming royal wedding. Double
On the day when everyone was celebrating the wedding, the emperor did not issue a general amnesty, nor did he follow the usual rules and exempt the taxes that were due to be paid by various regions during the seven years of Chongzhen. All Chongzhen did was to tell the local officials in the form of a newspaper that they should continue to do what they were doing.
Well, don't even think about taking this opportunity to flatter me.
Officials at all levels have long been accustomed to the emperor's ruthless behavior. Whether they have accepted the reality and started to work seriously or those who have ulterior motives and are ready to cause trouble, they all choose to deal with it silently without exception. They do not give the emperor and the generals who govern the country any chance.
You can save a lot of money by sending congratulatory gifts. Although you can't keep it in your pocket, at least it won't affect the completion of this year's already arduous tasks.
Officials have chosen to abide by the law due to the increasingly strict management system in recent years, but ordinary people do not have so many concerns. Amnesty? They have not thought about this. It is not like a few years ago.
But most of them are villains with huge public resentment. Why release them when they are a scourge that even the Japanese hunting team does not dare to harm?
Free grain? In the Ming Dynasty, when the industrial revolution just started, agricultural taxation still occupies a very important position. The people's thinking is even more simple. It has been a thousand-year tradition to pay for farming. As long as the court can persist in the current low-income agriculture
Just don’t mess up the tax policy and apportion it. If taxes are suddenly waived across the country, they are really worried that Chongzhen will not be able to maintain such a large army. If there is no army to protect the Tatars, what will the Japanese pirates do if they make trouble again?
But when the emperor gets married and the generals have children, what's the point of not making the scene more lively? If it is too shabby for the Western princess's family to see, the people of the Ming Dynasty cannot afford to lose face. The government will elect the highly respected ones without any organization.
Representative, then go and get Zhang Luyin to carry the baggage and go to Jingdao to celebrate the occasion. Those who stay at home should not be idle. After finishing the work at hand, take advantage of the night school to dress up the city to add some scenery.
Throughout the Ming Dynasty, from Liaodong to the Central Plains and then to the Jiangnan region, people everywhere were busy preparing for these two great events. Even Shaanxi, Yunnan, and Guangxi, where heavy troops gathered, were no exception, with lights and colorful decorations everywhere filled with a festive atmosphere.
Huangsha City, said to be a city, is actually just a small village built of rammed earth. This small place located to the west of Jiayuguan has a harsh environment and has no permanent population. The only thing that proves that it has not been completely abandoned is the building in the city that may be
A collapsed inn. At this time of the year in previous years, the rich and melodious bells of the camel team on the Gobi Desert would ring from time to time. When passing by Huangsha City, there would always be people shouting boldly, and the store owners would excitedly serve two
A jar of liquor and water was poured into the pot, and a fresh leg of lamb was roasted, and then a loud shout of "Guest sir, please come in!".
But with the arrival of Zhu Youcong's transfer order, the Ming Empire's military operations lost their final concealment. Sun Chengzong's hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the Western Front Corps were rapidly attacking Linshuiyi, Xidianzibao, and Hong Kong.
Mountain forts and other places gathered together; or the gelding city opposite began to prohibit people from entering and exiting, and hundreds of thousands of Yarkand troops rushed to the aid of Guazhou. It is enough to show that both sides now know what will happen next.
Although this is the front line where a fierce battle is about to break out, and although the Jiayuguan gatekeeper has sent people more than once to persuade the shops to close down, the stubborn Helian Liangyun still did not leave. Instead of leaving, he also summoned relatives and friends to decorate Huangsha City
It was completely new and even had new red lanterns hung up.
Seriously speaking, Helian Liangyun is not from Huangsha City. Although Huangsha City is the last territory of the Ming Dynasty outside Jiayuguan, in the past few years, the poor and weak people in the country have been harassed here for a long time. All those who could escape have finished. He
Lian Liangyun's hometown is Gaotaishuo in the pass. The horse thief who was once a member of the Weizhen side also carried the banner of rebellion with Tuo Yangkun as a small leader. However, he was unlucky and was captured alive by Mao Wenlong as soon as he reached Tongguan.
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In the Ming Dynasty, the people were still relatively ignorant. A drop of water should be repaid by a spring. This was not just a talk. Mao Wenlong followed Zhu Youcong's order and did not kill Helian Liangyun. After returning to his hometown, he also
He didn't want to keep owing such a favor. After thinking about many ways to repay, he finally decided to go to this traffic thoroughfare to open a shop. Firstly, he would trick the businessmen who were passing by and earn some money to increase taxes for the court. Secondly,
Use the experience he gained as a horse thief to help catch a wanted criminal, a spy or something.
"Helian Erwai. Bring me the wine!" As the door was pushed open, a middle-aged man with a beard walked in. He ignored the other people in the store and shouted loudly while patting the dust on his body.
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"Why are you yelling? Can't you be more f*cking gentle?" The drinker at the door was also frightened by the fierce look of the visitor. But it's no wonder that the ghost-headed sword was placed on the table, and he was afraid that people would follow him.
Is he being arrogant?
"Hey? Isn't this Dou Tieniu? You haven't gone to see the Lord of Hell yet?" The guest who had just walked in was about to get angry, but found that the person who started scolding him was actually an old acquaintance.
"Tang, aren't you still alive and well? Why don't you let your old brothers have a glass of good wine and a good meal?" People at the other table stood up to fight against the injustice. It seems that today the people in this small shop are
There are quite a few acquaintances.
"Miao old thief, if you stop making sarcastic remarks, your family will still be short of wine and meat. In recent years, your boys have almost bought up all the horses in Yijinai?" The man surnamed Tang muttered.
He passed a stool and sat at Dou Tieniu's table. He unscrewed the wine bottle and started drinking wine without any courtesy.
"Damn it, uh, how come the business has been increasing over the years? I followed Mr. Huang and the others for a while but got nothing. After a long time, your kid took them all away?" What he said just now was quickly reflected in the store.
There was a huge uproar, and hundreds of people began to point at the man named Miao and curse him.
The man surnamed Miao became angry after being scolded. He slapped the table so hard that the broken pieces kept ringing, and shouted: "What's wrong? Why are you not convinced? I follow Mr. Yuan Chonghuan out of seclusion in March every year. What about you guys?"
At that time, I was sleeping with my mother-in-law in my arms at home! Shouldn't I earn more than you?"
Huang Degong? Yuan Chonghuan? Aren’t those the two commanders-in-chief of the Western Front Corps? Who are the people in this shop now, and why are they still related to them? In fact, these people were once Shaanxi rebels, but they committed
The matter was not serious, and they were all sent back to their place of origin after screening.
These people's lives were saved back then, but they didn't know what to do when they returned home. They didn't know how to farm, and they would lose everything in business. Continue to find a place to be the king of the mountain? Forget it, Zhang Xianzhong is so big
The entire battle formation was crushed like ants by the generals who controlled the country. With just a few of them, they faced off against those ruffians who were armed to the teeth...
But staying at home and doing nothing is not a long-term solution. The imperial court does not help the poor but the emergency. The government only distributes food for three months and has to make its own decisions after eating it. Fortunately, when Wang Zhizhen was in charge of Shaanxi,
So we set the rules. If you really have nothing to do, you can follow the Western Front Corps to buy horses. That is to say, they are responsible for confiscating the property of the Tatars who are grazing across the border, and the regular army who is following them as bodyguards is responsible for the purchase.
This business is perfect for these former horse thieves. How could they be so majestic when they were robbing privately? Whenever you find a team without a license in your pocket, go up and say, "The cattle, sheep and horses are confiscated."
"You want an invoice? No! Dare to resist? Take out some fireworks and set them off casually to show people what organized, disciplined and state-authorized robbery is!"
Of course, this robbery must be carried out with the right person. Yuan Chonghuan is more cunning than Huang Degong. His unit's twice-yearly field training takes place half a month in the morning, so the harvest is relatively rich. And the capture of those who cross the border to herd
Tatars have become an important financial income for Shaanxi in recent years.
"Okay! Okay! Stop making such a fuss, come and try the newly roasted camel meat, and then we can discuss business!" Helian, who really couldn't stand the quarrels in the store, was busy in the kitchen.
Liangyun walked out. It could be seen that he still had some prestige among this group of people, and with such a voice, everyone immediately shut up and went back to their seats.
"Well, we didn't come here just to eat your camel meat. Just tell me quickly what to do."
"Okay. Since all the brothers are here, let's not talk nonsense. Let me remind you that this is definitely something that will cost you your head. If anyone else is unwilling to do it..."
Dou Tieniu was impatient. He didn't even wait for Helian Liangyun to finish his words before shouting: "Helian Erwai, don't you fucking fart here. Since you are here, you don't care about your life!"
"
"Helian Erwai, why don't you take a good look at the people here? Just the things they did back then would have been enough to be beheaded ten times in any dynasty. Now there are so many more people.
Life, what else do you have to worry about?" Patiently wiping the sword that had been covered with dust for many years, the man surnamed Miao's eyes were full of disdain. This is not the case a few years ago. The imperial court has completely broken the legacy left by Taizu. If
It wasn't that the habit he had developed over the years couldn't be changed. He could go to the government and buy two muskets to carry.
"Old thief Miao, where are you looking with those donkey eyes?" Perhaps feeling insulted, the man at the table next to him jumped up, banged his chest, and shouted: "I won't be here this time."
If I plan to go back, I will make it clear to my mother-in-law at home. Take care of the two bastards and find a way to send them to Master Sun's team in the future!"
"Helian Erwai, I hope you don't waste time anymore and hurry up and talk about what's important. Now that everyone is here, no one will leave."
"Say it! Say it..." Everyone in the shop shouted, and the habits he had developed when he was a horse thief and bandit were fully exposed. He had a bad temper and drank the liquor in front of him in one gulp.
Put on all kinds of weapons and prepare to go out.
"Everyone, stop right there!" Helian Liangyun shouted, then bowed deeply and said, "Since all the brothers are determined to give up, Helian will thank you in advance here!"
"Okay! You old bastard, you haven't read for a few days, why are you pretending to be polite? You guys are here just to see the face of the imperial court, don't put money on your face!"
"There is no need to explain the purpose of calling everyone here today." Pointing to the Jiayuguan Pass in the distance, Helian Liangyun said: "Now that the imperial court has assembled a large number of troops in the pass, everyone should know the purpose?"
"What do you need to say? The imperial court wants to recover the Western Regions and restore the majesty of the Ming Dynasty!"
"Recover the Western Region, recover the Western Region..." Helian Liangyun murmured, and his eyes suddenly became moist. "How many years have passed? Even though I have a life-long friendship with everyone, there is still one thing I am not willing to say.
Live the truth.”
"Uh, can you pick out the important things? Don't show off your deceitful and abducting things!"
"No! This matter needs to be discussed!" Helian Liangyun stubbornly interrupted his companion and continued: "Actually, I am not from the Central Plains or even Han. My ancestors were Uighurs who guarded the Hami Guard in the imperial court. Back then,
He fled here because of the defeat..."
"Hey, how long did it take you to hide this trivial matter for so long?" The man surnamed Miao said carelessly: "Isn't it true that I'm going back to Huihui? There are not many Hara Grays among these brothers? But no matter what he is, we are all now.
They are the people of Ming Dynasty!"
"Yes! We are all citizens of the Ming Dynasty! So I gathered everyone together. I want to use this status to give a generous gift to the emperor who is about to get married and the general who is expecting a son!" He Lianliang pointed to Jiayuguan in the distance.
Yun said: "Now the imperial court is about to send troops, but our Ming Dynasty is a state of etiquette after all. How can we use weapons casually?"
"Isn't it just to make excuses for the court? Well, we have already thought about it. We old guys are going to rush to Yarkant to do some business! Are you worried that we can't make them angry and take the initiative to invade our border?"
The thinking of Dou Tieniu and others in the inn was simple. Suzhouwei was a poor place with few specialties, so cattle and sheep must not be rare for the emperor. But didn't the imperial court want to take back the Western Region? Wasn't it hard to find an excuse?
?Just use this as a gift!
"Confused! If you do this, what's the difference between it and the imperial court sending troops directly?"
"Then tell me. Let's see what good ideas you can come up with!" Dou Tieniu was also anxious. There are only a few days until the emperor's wedding. If we wait a few more days, what kind of gift would it be? "
We are all still busy. If your method doesn't work, everyone will have to hurry up and run to the west!"
"Didn't they hoard a large number of troops in the gelding city? I thought they must be short of food, so I asked Brother Tang to go for a trip..."
"Tang, are you going to tell them that there is food in this poor place?" The man surnamed Miao quickly guessed Helian Liangyun's method. They could not take the initiative to provoke. But they could lure the enemy to rob them.
"Old thief Miao, this really makes you talk!" Standing up, the man surnamed Tang said slowly: "Not only did I go tell them that rations for the imperial army are stored here, but I also took advantage of He Lian Er a few days ago.
We took their scouts here for a tour while we were transporting food!"
"Did you bring their scouts? Don't tell them that they will foolishly believe that this is where the imperial army stores food!"
It is true to say that soldiers and horses should move forward before food and fodder are used. It is also a wise saying that soldiers never tire of deceit. But Miao Hanzi's words are also reasonable. In a poor place like Huangsha City, which neither occupies a geographical advantage nor has a large number of troops to garrison, even the most stupid person can
I don’t believe that the Ming army would hide their military supplies here.
"Believe it! Why don't they believe it? Well, I took them to inspect the granaries in the backyard at night. Before I left, I asked them to pack two sacks and go back!"
"What? Have they all been tested?" The man surnamed Miao was really anxious now. He jumped on his feet and yelled: "Helian Erwai, how many people have you tricked over the years? The granary in your backyard can hold at least more than 100,000 yuan.
Are you filling up all the grain and stone just to lure them to grab it? You are not helping the Ming Dynasty. You are causing trouble! If the Yarkand people want to seize so much grain and grass, their morale will not be boosted?"
"How stupid are you? Now that the war is about to begin, why are you still providing them with food and grass?" Helian Liangyun said slowly and calmly: "Well, the total amount of food in the backyard is less than 500 dan, and after they sneakily check it, all the food will be returned.
It’s been poisoned!”
"Less than 500 shi? Then you..." It's really unbelievable. It's simply impossible to fill a large granary that can hold 100,000 shi with less than 500 shi of grain.
"Old thief Miao, have you forgotten that legend from a few years ago?"
"The legend from the past few years? Could it be from Nanda..."
"Well, that's right!"
Nan Juyi did one thing in Shaanxi, which was to quell the military riot that might break out at any time in the first year of Chongzhen. Those present knew how dangerous the situation was back then. Not only did the imperial court default on more than 30 debts,
Monthly military pay, the entire Shaanxi border town could scrape together less than 20,000 shi of food, which could only last for more than half a month. But it was the Nanshan man who used 20,000 shi of food to stabilize the morale of the army and helped the court secure the opportunity to mobilize food and grass.
time.
The methods used by Nan Juyi back then are now widely known. The soldiers who were tricked by him had no reaction other than sighing that they were too damaged. The so-called people who have food in their hands do not panic, but when the soldiers who want to cause trouble see it
After looking at the filled granary, they felt at ease and were willing to give the court time to solve the problem of military pay. But at that time, everyone only focused on opening the top to see the grain, and opening the grain outlet to get the white rice.
, but no one noticed that the Nanshan people were very measured in picking up grain from the same granary every time, never exceeding one hundred dan.
There is nothing commendable about transporting grain back and forth to confuse the public. Nanju's loss was due to his invention of the double-layered granary. The seemingly full granary actually contained the same amount of grain as before, but it was the person in the middle who was harmed by this.
A few partitions were added. This is the method Helian Erwai is now using, and he actually convinced Yerqiang's scouts that there was a large amount of food stored in Huangsha City.
"Now the enemy has taken the bait, and they have gathered more than 5,000 cavalry more than a hundred miles ahead." The man surnamed Tang said with a simple smile: "Well, he is their internal agent, here to help them grab this batch of food and grass!" (Unfinished)