Chongzhen Daming: Starting from Coal Mountain

Chapter 222
"What's the hurry?" Duoduo said, "Even if you want to fight, you have to fight big."

"That's right, what are you in a hurry for?" He Luohui also said contemptuously, "Qinghe is only a few miles away from Shanyang, and if you don't eat the fat of Shanyang, you have to eat Qinghe's hard bone, right? Silly?"

He Luo would be well aware of Duoduo's intention to bring the inlaid blue flag on purpose.

To put it bluntly, it is to use the inlaid blue flag as cannon fodder, specially used to chew hard bones.

Although the old fox Jierharang is very sensible, and the eight kings rarely openly oppose the emperor's father and the regent when discussing politics, political enemies are still political enemies after all, and the Xianglan Banner should be weakened.

"He Luohui, what are you talking about?" Tun Qi frowned.

Even if your master doesn't dare to treat me like this, let alone this slave?
"Why, am I wrong?" He Luohui didn't pay attention to Tun Qi at all, "Even the dogs in Shengjing know how to pick bones with meat, and you are worse than dogs."

"He Luohui, you are looking for death!" Tun Qi was furious.

"Okay, the benefits are not reaped, the two of you quarreled first." Duoduo glared at He Luohui and the two, and then said, "Send the order, the army will bypass Qinghe County and go directly to Huai'an Prefecture!"

Duoduo's general order was issued soon, and the Eight Banners soldiers of the two white banners and the inlaid blue banner, as well as their respective coat servants, circled the city from the south side of Qinghe County, and went straight to Shanyang, seventy miles away.

In normal times, you have to cross the river by boat from Qinghe to Shanyang.

But now the Eight Banners soldiers can cross the Yellow River directly on horseback.

At most, it is to wrap the horseshoe with sackcloth to make some anti-slip measures.

……

The terrain of Shanyang City is a bit special.

Because the canal passes through the middle of the city, it divides the whole city into two cities, east and west.

Among them, the eastern city is larger, accounting for three-quarters of the area, and the western city is smaller, accounting for only one-quarter, but both the eastern and western cities have independent city walls and gates.

Among them, the west city has only two gates, east and west, while the east city has four gates.

Among them, the east gate of the west city and the west gate of the east city are facing each other.

Between the two city gates, there is a gate bridge across the canal to connect them.

In terms of urban functions, Dongcheng is a commercial area and a civilian area, and the canal terminal is located on the side of Dongcheng.

The west city is the military, administrative and wealthy district. Apart from the Shanyang county government office located in the east city, the Huai'an government office, Hecao governor's government office, and the Shanyang storehouse of the House of Internal Affairs are all located in the west city.

Most Huai'an gentry also lived in Xicheng.

The height of the city wall of Shanyang City was originally less than four feet high, and the west wall of the east city and the east wall of the west city, that is, the walls on both sides of the canal, were only three feet high.

It is said that it was because the canal was planned to be diverted when the city was built.

Once the canal is diverted, the two cities can be merged into one city, and there is no need for the middle city wall to exist, and it will not be built to the same specifications as the other sections of the city wall.

But then the canal was diverted to nothing.

The city walls on both sides of the canal also did not increase, but have been preserved.

After Yan Yingyuan arrived in Shanyang, he led Xiangyong to continuously increase and thicken the city wall after training, but only for other sections of the city wall. The walls on both sides of the canal were still only three feet high.

But other sections of the city wall have been increased to six feet.

The former officials did not increase the height of these two sections of the city wall because there was no money and food, but Yan Yingyuan obviously did not. The two low sections of the city wall were deliberately left by Yan Yingyuan for Jiannu.

This is a poisonous bait that Yan Yingyuan left for Jiannu.

Maoxiang and Xiangyong are dismantling the berths on the pier with Xiangyong.

Because these berths are built of wood, removing the wood can not only be used for defending the city, but also prevent it from being demolished by Jiannu to make siege equipment.

In addition to the wood on the berths, the houses outside the city were also demolished.

In addition, the trees within a radius of tens of miles of Shanyang City were also cut down, and all the felled trees were transported back to Shanyang City to make rolling logs and other equipment for city defense.

Maoxiang didn't intend to leave any usable wood for Jiannu.

Now the city walls of Shanyang City are six feet high, without building special siege equipment, the two or three feet high ladders that come with the car are useless.

So if there is no wood, it will be very troublesome to build slaves and attack the city.

Maoxiang led people to dismantle the pier, and Yan Yingyuan was not idle either.

Yan Yingyuan led dozens of Xiangyong to dig ice on the ice of the canal between the east and west cities.

In addition to Xiangyong digging ice, Xiangyong also transported barrels of gunpowder from Xicheng.

According to Yan Yingyuan's request, Xiangyong dug hundreds of ice holes in the ice of the canal, but did not go through them, and put about ten catties of gunpowder into each hole.

Each ice hole has also dug an ice groove, and embeds the lead wire in advance in each ice groove again.

These lead wires are specially wrapped with oil paper, and ice chips are filled on the lead wires, and then watered with a small amount of water to re-freeze it, so that no abnormalities can be seen from the appearance.

All leads converge to the east gate of the west city.

Just as he was busy, Fan Zhongjie, the prefect of Huai'an, hurried over.

"Puheng, Pijiang brother." Fan Zhongjie gave a long bow.

Yan Yingyuan and Mao Xiang are not yet officials, they are just freshmen, but Fan Zhongjie dare not neglect in the slightest, because anyone with a discerning eye can see that the future of Prince Qin's scholars is boundless.

The Holy Majesty has already made it clear that he must reuse Qin Wang Shizi.

"Fu Zun." Yan Yingyuan and Mao Xiang also bowed to Fan Zhongjie.

Although Mao Xiang and Fan Zhongjie came from the same school, they are still known as Fu Zun in front of people.

"You two, you are welcome." Fan Zhongjie waved his hands and said, "That's right, this mansion has moved all the people within a radius of tens of miles into the mansion city according to your request, but you also know the situation of Huai'an mansion. The remaining money and grain have long been searched by the Ministry of Households, and there is not much left, so it is really..."

The transfer and resettlement of people has always been a big project that costs money and food.

What's more, there are more than [-] people who need to be relocated and resettled this time.

Yan Yingyuan frowned and said, "Aren't those nobles and nobles in Huai'an Mansion not plucking a single hair?"

"Don't mention it." Fan Zhongjie said with a dark face, "I'm about to wear out my lips, but these wealthy gentry are only willing to donate a few dozen shi of grain, and the most are no more than a hundred shi."

Boldly said: "These idiots don't understand the reason why there are no eggs after the nest is overturned?"

Fan Zhongjie said: "I'm afraid it's not that they don't understand, but they think that defending the city is the duty of the imperial court and the townspeople, and has nothing to do with them, the nobles and nobles in these places."

Mao Xiang was furious: "These people are really hopeless. If I say that the imperial court should not indulge them, it should treat them like the rich and powerful gentry in Xuzhou and Guide Mansion."

"Brother Pijiang, please be careful with your words!" Fan Zhongjie said.

Fan Zhongjie's expression was slightly unnatural, because the Fan family was also a powerful family in Huai'an Mansion.

"The government is afraid of those people, but I'm not afraid of them." Mao Xiang said with lingering anger, "Am I wrong? These people have enjoyed the benefits of Nanzhi's official land for generations, but they are not willing to share the slightest for the court. That generation is so greedy and stingy, why can’t they say a few words? Not only do I want to say it, but I also want to invite the Holy One to return to the official land of Huai’an Mansion!”

Fan Zhongjie frowned slightly, and said: "Brother Pijiang, what you said is a little too much, you need to know that your Mao family is also a famous and wealthy family in Rugao, if the imperial court treats the Mao family like this, will you be willing?"

"Why don't you agree to this matter?" Mao Xiang slapped his neck and turned back face to face.

There is one thing to say, at this time, Mao Xiang is really planning to use the Rugao Mao family as a sacrifice in his heart.

He has already thought about it, and when this matter is over, he will return to Rugao to clear the farmland by himself.

How do you say it?Members of a group will have a strong sense of belonging or a sense of responsibility and mission in the process of achieving group goals.

The Shiziying group has a very clear group goal.

The goal of this group is to create a prosperous age that has never been seen since ancient times, to reproduce the grand occasion of the Tang Dynasty and all nations coming to the dynasty, and to let the common people in the world have food, clothing, and live and work in peace and contentment.

In order to achieve this goal, Mao Xiang does not mind using Mao's family as a sacrifice.

Because the Mao family is also a member of the Jiangnan Jinshen Group, and has also benefited from the [-] million acres of official land in Jiangnan, and the amount of official land occupied by the Mao family is quite a lot.

Fan Zhongjie suddenly felt that the two of them had something inappropriate.

At that moment, Fan Zhongjie could only change the topic and said, "Brother Pijiang, there is no need to say this beforehand, let's get down to business. How will the [-] people living in the city be settled, and how will the rations be solved?"

Originally, this kind of matter was under the control of Lu Zhenfei, and it was up to Fan Zhongjie to decide if Lu Zhenfei was not around.

But the situation is different now, because Chongzhen has decreed that the defense of Huai'an Mansion will be taken over by Prince Qin's son, so Fan Zhongjie, the magistrate, can only run errands.

Yan Yingyuan and Mao Xiang had the final say on the big idea.

Mao Xiang thought for a while and said, "Free up the empty storehouses of Xingyuan, governor of Hecao, government office, and Shanyang Treasury of the House of Internal Affairs. If it is still not enough, then requisition the houses of the rich and wealthy families in the city."

"There is no discussion on this matter. If you don't agree, you will be charged with collaborating with the enemy and treason."

After a pause, he continued: "As for rations, according to the previously agreed method, we will use work as relief, and organize the strong men or women in every household to help transport various supplies. As long as they participate in the defense of the city, every day One liter of working rice can be received every day, so that everyone, old and young, women and children can eat, and the required working rice is paid from the Sanyang Treasury of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

After Fan Zhongjie said so much, what he wanted was this sentence, and immediately took someone to pay for the rice.

Watching Fan Zhongjie leave, Yan Yingyuan suddenly gave Maoxiang a thumbs up, and praised: "Brother Pijiang, you are undoubtedly a true visionary, unlike other scholars who are just passionate."

"Foresight?" Mao Xiang was stunned when he heard the words, "Brother Wu Heng, what are you talking about?"

"Ah?" Yan Yingyuan finally realized that Maoxiang was no different from other hot-blooded scholars, and immediately touched his nose in embarrassment, and changed the subject, "It's nothing, I mean, brother Pijiang, you are knowledgeable. It is admirable to put the interests of the Ming court and the people of the world before the interests of the family."

"No, it's not this." Mao Xiang shook his head and said, "That's not what you meant just now."

"That's what it means." Yan Yingyuan hurriedly said, "Brother Pijiang, the pier is about to be demolished, so go and have a look."

"Don't change the subject, you definitely didn't mean that just now." Mao Xiang frowned and said, "Brother Boheng, don't try to lie to me, tell me quickly, what do you mean by that sentence just now? What hot blood is on top, who is on top?" gone?"

"Cough..." When Yan Yingyuan was hesitating, Wu Erdan, the captain of the village brave, slid over the ice quickly.

"My lords, two lords, here we come, the army of founding slaves is coming!" Wu Erdan shouted loudly, "It's only ten miles away!"

Yan Yingyuan's expression froze when he heard the words, and he said: "Brother Pijiang, if we are still alive after this battle, I will tell you the true meaning of what I just said. As for now, let us work together to defend Shanyang. "

"En." Maoxiang nodded heavily.

……

"My lord, the big city ahead is Shanyang."

Hou Fangyu pointed to the majestic city outline in front of him, and said eagerly: "This city is the largest port in Huaihe River and Huaihe River. It has been a gathering place for merchants since ancient times. After the emperor Chongzhen fled south, he set up a house of internal affairs and set up a government office in Shanyang. We set up a warehouse, where hundreds of thousands of official rations were hoarded, as well as millions of taels of Zuse silver."

Hearing this, the eyes of Duduo and the nobles of the Eight Banners suddenly lit up.

Duoduo said: "Hou Fangyu, do you know how much grain and how much silver there is in Shanyang Taicang warehouse?"

"I really don't know the exact number." Hou Fangyu shook his head and said, "But judging from the tank ships and merchant ships that transported grain, there are at least half a million shi! There must be one million taels of silver."

"That's pretty good, after all, it's just a warehouse." He Luohui said excitedly, "Master, as long as we take down this Shanyang City, the Southern Expedition Army will no longer have to worry about food shortages."

Duoduo hummed softly, then asked Hou Fangyu, "Are you familiar with Shanyang?"

"Xiaosheng is more familiar with Shanyang than Xuzhou." Hou Fangyu said quickly, "Because Xiaosheng stayed in Shanyang City for nearly half a year a year ago, and walked almost every street in the east and west cities."

This is pure nonsense, it is true to walk all the flower streets and willow alleys in the city.

Because at that time, watching Li Xiangjun singing on the stage every day, the anger was aroused and there was nowhere to vent it, so I could only go to Huajie and Liuxiang to find Yaojieer, sometimes even looking for local prostitutes when money was not in hand.

"Really?" Duoduo said, "Then you should tell me about it."

"Okay." Hou Fangyu immediately cheered up and said, "Shanyang is a thousand-year-old city. According to legend, Wu State built a city and built a canal here during the Warring States Period. However, there was no Grand Canal at that time. The canal built was called Hangou..."

Hou Fangyu spoke eloquently, but Duoduo listened impatiently.

This Hou Fangyu talks so much nonsense that he always misses the point.

At that moment Duoduo interrupted with a black face: "What are you doing with these useless things?"

"Uh?" Hou Fangyu was stunned when he heard the words, didn't you ask me to say it?

"Ah, what? Tell me the main points." Duoduo said, "Talk about the defense facilities of Shanyang City."

"Oh, oh." Hou Fangyu woke up like a dream, and said quickly, "My lord, you have asked the right person. When it comes to the city defense facilities in Shanyang, Xiaosheng really knows everything about it, because the soldiers who supervised the city defense facilities Zi Nai is Xiaosheng's classmate, and Xiaosheng once participated in the construction of city defense facilities with this classmate."

(End of this chapter)