Chapter 1: People preparing to go home
The fifteenth year of Chongzhen was not a good year for Tianfu.
Although the weather has been smooth this year, there is no smile on the face of Shi Kefa, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture.
Li Hongji's million-strong army is in Luzhou, and Yingtian Mansion is close at hand. How can he be happy?
Fortunately, the nobles, salt merchants, and wealthy households in Nanjing City also saw the threat. Therefore, Shi Kefa's strategy of organizing the Yangtze River Defense Line to deal with Li Hongji won everyone's approval.
It was also the first time that Shi Kefa’s decree was executed unimpeded in Yingtian Mansion.
Weapons, food, soldiers, ships, and military pay were all purchased very smoothly.
When Tan Boming entered the study, Shi Dewei, who was discussing matters with his adoptive father Shi Kefa, hurriedly said to Tan Boming: "Brother Mingdao, the bandits are stationed in Fengyang. I will lead five thousand soldiers and horses to Yangzhou in advance. Food and supplies." Are military pay prepared? "
Tan Boxing said: "We have food and military pay. The question is how will the Major General lead the troops into Yangzhou? I have just received an official letter signed by Zhang Tianlu and Zhang Tianfu, the commander-in-chief of Yangzhou.
People made it very clear in the official letter that Yangzhou has a strong army and 200 warships, which are more than enough to deal with the rogues, and we do not need help from Yingtian Mansion."
As he spoke. Place the official letter on Shi Kefa's desk.
Counselor Yan Ermei of Yingtian Mansion, who was also discussing the matter, said angrily: "What time is it, Zhang Tianfu, Zhang Tianlu are still wary of us."
Tan Boming frowned and said: "To be honest, I am I don't agree with sending troops to Yangzhou."
Shi Dewei said: "At this time, the world is in chaos, and everyone has the responsibility to defend the land. The rogue bandits have already arrived in Chuzhou. After all, Nanjing is blocked by a river, and the rogue bandits are not good at water warfare. Naturally, they are safe and sound.
As long as the bandits go south, they will arrive in Yangzhou in one day and night. Once the bandits come in large numbers, what can they do to resist Zhang Tianlu's 20,000 soldiers? Horse?"
Tan Boming looked at the young Shi Dewei and sighed: "Yingtian Mansion is not stable either!"
Shi Kefa pondered for a moment and said to Shi Dewei: "I will go to Zhang Tianfu again. Brother Zhang Tianlu wrote a letter to explain that you are only going to Yangzhou to assist them in their defense. We will bring our own food and military pay. We have no intention of coveting Yangzhou.
The five thousand soldiers and horses are only going to Yangzhou to assist in their defense. You are going to Yangzhou. We must be restrained by brothers Zhang Tianfu and Zhang Tianlu."
Shi Dewei said angrily: "How can we give up the command?"
Shi Kefa glared at Shi Dewei and said: "In view of the overall situation. It’s important!”
Seeing that Shi Kefa had made up his mind, Tan Boming said nothing more.
Shi Kefa, who always attaches great importance to the overall situation, has spent a lot of money and food from Yingtian Mansion...
With this kind of policy without focus and attention, no matter how strong Yingtian Mansion is, , will gradually become corrupt because of this behavior of spreading pepper noodles everywhere.
Seeing Tan Boming's gloomy face, Shi Kefa sighed.He said angrily: "Keep it up."
Tan Boxing gave a wry smile and cupped his hands towards Shi Kefa Gong: "As the Dharma Cao of Yingtian Mansion, I have the responsibility to inform the Master that Yingtian Mansion has been undercurrent due to the arrival of Li Hongji's army. The surge requires soldiers and horses to suppress it.
It is inappropriate to send a major general to take away the five thousand soldiers and horses we have trained so hard."
Shi Kefa smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, Ying Tianfu. The people are docile, and after two years of governance, the people's support has become very clear. As long as we investigate Yingtian Mansion diligently, it will be fine."
Tan Boxing looked at the roof and said calmly: "I hope so."
Yan Ermei smiled and said: "Now that the evils of the Ming Dynasty have been eradicated in Yingtian Mansion, the reason why the young general is allowed to lead troops to Yangzhou is to let the people of Yangzhou know the name of the mansion.
Use the Battle of Yangzhou to establish our authority, and then prepare for our next move to implement the New Deal in Yangzhou."
Tan Boxing said in a low voice: "If you have such ambitions, why don't you order the Major General to follow the example of Warring States Letter. Lingjun is trying to seize power with a big iron cone? Tan Boxing is willing to serve as the second lieutenant of the major general!"
Yan Ermei was surprised and said: "How could Ming Dao make such a foolish statement? What would happen if he did so? The government official is unfaithful, unfilial, and unjust."
Tan Boxing looked at Shi Kefa and said, "Knowing that brothers Zhang Tianfu and Zhang Tianlu are just plain old people, they still let the young general obey their orders. It's okay if the traitors don't come. If the traitors come, the first person to be bad will definitely be the young general.
Master Fu, the reason why the Ming Dynasty is in this situation is because we want to do things. People whose hands and feet are bound by etiquette and have to endure everything end up in such a situation."
Shi Kefa shook his head and said: "Your Majesty has entrusted you to me, and I will repay you with loyalty, know the way, and do my best. Just do what you can."
Tan Boxing sighed and left the study.
After hearing Tan Boming's words, Shi Dewei's mind flickered and he wanted to speak. Seeing that his adoptive father was worried, he finally swallowed what he wanted to say.
Yan Ermei said: "The power of the master, Tan Boxing, and Zhang Xiaofeng is too great, and now they are making ridiculous remarks..."
Shi Kefa didn't wait for Yan Ermei to finish speaking. Waving his hands, he said: "We must unite as one and not chill the hearts of these people."
Yan Ermei cupped her fists and saluted as an apology.
When Tan Boming returned to the mansion, Zhang Xiaofeng, who was writing official documents, put down the brush in his hand, looked up at Tan Boming and said, "How is it?"
Tan Boming whispered: "You said it. That's right, even if I told them the matter clearly, they still thought that the riots organized by Zhou Guoping were just a scabies disease.
I proposed to take advantage of Shi Dewei's stationed in Yangzhou to kill brothers Zhang Tianlu and Zhang Tianfu. The suggestion was also rejected."
Zhang Xiaofeng rubbed his face vigorously and said: "This is what was expected. Our Lord is willing to risk his life, but he is afraid of doing big things, since he can't do big things. , we should push him to do itevent.
Stewie is young, and he is an ambitious person at this time, so he should be able to do it with some encouragement. ”
Tan Boxing said: “You decided to bypass the governor and do this? ”
Zhang Xiaofeng spread his hands and said, “Why not?” Anyway, we will enter Yangzhou sooner or later. "
Tan Boming smiled when he heard this, patted Zhang Xiaofeng's hand and said: "I originally planned to continue to carry the position of Fa Cao on my shoulders to deal with the coming riots. Now, Fa Cao has a new candidate. ”
“Who? Yan Ermei? "
"Yes, what I said today exceeded the bottom line that the government official can bear. It is a natural thing for me to be replaced. It is estimated that I will be sent to serve as the magistrate of a county, and Yan Ermei will replace me. Facao. ”
Zhang Xiaofeng smiled and said: “Don’t use the academy’s trick of fighting wits to bully these old Confucian students, it’s too bullying.
Tan Boming smiled and said: "This is just a trivial matter. I hope Boss Zhou has arranged everything. The county has issued a strict order and given a deadline. We have already exceeded the time limit." ”
The Jiming Temple next to the Drum Tower!
Everyone is dressed in white.
Zhou Guoping sits in the middle, with a gorgeous silk lotus on her head.
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Trying the ribbon, Zhou Guoping said softly: "Old Mother Wusheng has given orders, it's time for us to return to our hometown of Vacuum. ”
After finishing speaking, he continued to close his eyes and meditate without saying anything.
The originally quiet Buddhist hall suddenly burst into discussion.
Waiting for everyone to discuss At the end of the day, Zhou Guoping pressed his hands in the air, and everyone returned to silence.
“Kill the rich, disperse the remaining wealth, free the servants, open the granary and put food, and then return home without worries. home. "
An old monk clasped his hands and said: "Old monk has been waiting to return to his hometown for a long time. Yuankong, let's go, kill the rich people, disperse the remaining wealth, free the servants and maids, open the granary to put food, and then, Return home without worries. "
The white-bearded old monk stood up slowly holding his Zen staff, and left Jiming Temple with a young monk.
"If you don't respect your mother's words, you will fall into the Abi Hell forever. , shall not be reincarnated. "
A tall man who looked like an old farmer also stood up and left Jiming Temple with a few young men.
"Tell the disciples at home that this is what my mother gave me. The last chance you are waiting for, if you miss it, you will have to wait another 10,000 years. "
An old man who looked like a boatman stood up and left with some young people.
An old woman with chicken skin and black hair asked, "30% of the incense money?
Zhou Guoping shook his head and said: "This is the last chance. We are all going to Vacuum's hometown. If you don't want to go, the incense and money are all yours." "
The old woman chuckled and said: "In that case, I will send two thousand people.
Zhou Guoping took off the lotus crown on her head and put it on the old woman's head and said: "I'm going to the Xu family. I'm afraid I won't be able to return to the altar. Please tell old mother Wu Sheng about me when you cast the spell." Hope never to grow oldMother can carry my soul back home. "
The old woman opened her toothless mouth happily and said: "Saint girl, you can go, you can go. The day you start the uprising will be the time when I open the altar and perform the ritual. "
Zhou Guoping nodded seriously and said to the last few men left behind: "Have the gunpowder and weapons been distributed? "
A strong man nodded and said: "We are all ready, just waiting for the arrival of Wu Sheng Old Mother. "
Zhou Guoping untied her hair, opened her arms like a female ghost and shouted loudly at the Maitreya Buddha statue in the hall: "On February 2, the dragon raises its head, which is the day when the old mother of no life comes! "
Seeing Zhou Guoping's madness, the old woman was also crawling under the seated statue of Maitreya Buddha, shaking all over, as if there was a strong devil hidden in her skinny body, about to tear her body apart and get out from inside. .
After a while, the old woman sat up straight and said in a childlike voice that only a girl could have: "On February 2, the dragon raises its head, which is the day when the old mother Wusheng comes. ”
Zhou Guoping glanced at the old woman and saw the two pure white eyeballs in her eyes with no trace of black. She held her long knife, stepped over the old woman’s thin body, and strode away. We arrived at Jiming Temple.
At this time, the sky was gradually darkening, and thin raindrops were floating in the alley.
Zhou Guoping held a vermilion oil-paper umbrella. Wearing a lavender dress, it looked like a bright lilac flower.
Even if it was raining, there were still people at the roast duck stall deep in the alley.
Zhou Guoping placed her long knife on the short side. On the table, he sat on a low stool and said to the boss who had been waiting for a long time: "Old rules, one duck, three-cornered wine, don't add water or other things to the wine. ”
The boss was not surprised by Zhou Guoping’s strange request, because this beautiful masked woman had already eaten sixty-seven ducks at his place, and of course, killed two people.
The bosses in Nanjing City are extremely tolerant of regular customers like Zhou Guoping, who spends money happily and never takes credit, even if she kills someone.
After a while, one day. The delicious roast duck was cut into pieces and placed neatly on the plate. The maroon skin looked like agate under the oil lamp.
Zhou Guoping drank and ate meat without saying a word. >
Soon, a duck and a triangle of wine entered her stomach.
She slapped a piece of silver on the table and said to the boss who collected the money: "If you can't open it these days, just do it." Don't open it. ”