Jia Yujing of Red Mansion

Chapter 310 Zhang Shicheng

It was already midnight when everyone returned to the city. Jia Qiong declined Sun Ren and others' offer to arrange a place for him and stayed directly in the county government office.

Early the next morning, Zhang Zhaoyang recruited a large number of civilians to the dock, and under the escort of three thousand elite men under Jia Qiong, transported a large number of wooden boxes into the city.

Because the quantity was so large, it took two small warehouses to barely hold it.

Lieutenant Shao Xian, who was in charge of the transshipment work, secretly opened the seals of several boxes to check when no one was paying attention. He found that all the boxes were filled with golden bricks.

Shao Weiyuan secretly estimated and was shocked to find that the gold was at least three million taels, which would be equivalent to thirty million taels if converted into silver.

Although the Shao family is a large family in Yancheng and owns many real estate and shops, all of his family's assets are probably worth only one to two million taels of silver.

Never had he seen so much money, especially boxes full of golden gold.

Shao Weiyuan couldn't help but feel that his mouth was dry, his breathing was difficult, and the greed in his heart grew uncontrollably.

Jia Qiong's army entered the city and immediately took over the defense of Yancheng and posted notices to calm the people.

Although Jia Qiong only brought three thousand people into the city, they were all elite troops who had experienced many battles, with bright armor and high morale.

Coupled with Jia Qiong's huge prestige among the people, the people of Yancheng were greatly reassured for a while.

That afternoon, all the wealthy gentry in Yancheng County entertained Jia Qiong at the best restaurant in Yancheng.

Jia Qiong went happily and chatted happily with everyone during the banquet. He also raised more than 2,000 young men and 30,000 shi of grain from various large households.

After the banquet was over, it was already the zenith of the moon, but the four heads of the Sun, Shao, Zhao, and Yuan families did not return home. Instead, they quietly came to the Sun family's mansion to discuss secretly for a long time.

Early the next morning, Sun Xida, a member of the Sun family's main house, went out with two young men.

Because Zhang Shicheng had not sent troops to attack at this time, the gates of Yancheng County were still open normally, but the interrogation when entering the city was much stricter than before.

Sun Xida and others were leaving the city, so they were only asked about the reason for leaving the city and were let go.

They first rode south for several miles, then turned back to the west, arriving in Jianhu County that afternoon.

Sun Xida took out a small copper token and handed it to the gatekeeper, and he was able to enter the city smoothly.

In the largest private house in the county, Zhang Shicheng was drinking with his two brothers, Zhang Shiyi and Zhang Shide, and several leaders, while discussing the dispatch of troops to Yancheng.

Zhang Shicheng was born in a poor "Tingmin" family in Baijuchang, Yancheng County, Taizhou. He also had three younger brothers, Zhang Shiyi, Zhang Shide and Zhang Shixin.

In order to support his family, Zhang Shicheng has been "operating a boat to transport salt" on the official salt boat in Baijuchang with his fellow villagers since he was ten years old, relying on the meager income earned from hard work to support his family.

When he was a boy, Zhang Shicheng "had little physical strength and was determined to be a knight." He was not only physically strong, but also generous and generous.

Although his own family was often too poor to take the blame, whenever the villagers encountered difficulties, he always gave generously and responded to their requests.

Gradually, Zhang Shicheng established a high prestige among the local salt people, and a group of dead brothers gathered around him.

Due to the meager income from transporting salt to the government, Zhang Shicheng teamed up with some bold fellow villagers to start a business of selling private salt.

While transporting salt to the government, they also took some private salt with them and sold it to wealthy households in various places.

A few years ago, when he was selling illegal salt, he was deceived by a large family in Dong'an County.

Not only did he take a large amount of his personal salt without giving him any money, but he also entangled his servants in wanting to take it away from him and send him to the government.

Zhang Shicheng finally escaped and lost two good brothers.

He was forced to abscond to other places, changed his name, bought land and property in Haizhou, Huai'an Prefecture, and switched to the shipping smuggling business. In a few years, he accumulated a lot of wealth and met many Japanese people.

Zhang Shicheng is an ambitious man. As his experience increases, he gradually becomes no longer satisfied with being just a low-status merchant.

When Japanese pirates invaded the Jianghuai area in large numbers last year, Zhang Shicheng served as a leader and secretly gathered many real Japanese pirates after they were defeated. When civil unrest broke out this time, Zhang Shicheng felt that this was an opportunity to change his destiny, so he took advantage of the situation and grew rapidly with the help of many brothers and Japanese pirates.

Zhang Shicheng now controls five counties and has an army of 50,000 under his command.

The leaders under his command were in high spirits and did not take Yancheng seriously at all, so they all asked for battle.

Zhang Shicheng didn't take Yancheng too seriously, because Yancheng was his hometown.

When he was selling illicit salt here, he often had dealings with big local families, and he also had some friendship with the four families of Sun, Shao, Zhao, and Yuan.

After capturing Jianhu County, he had already sent people to quietly contact the four major surnames in Yancheng County.

In order to protect themselves, the four families have agreed to help him secretly capture the city. As soon as his army arrives, the capture of Yancheng will be a matter of course.

What he is thinking about now is just who should give this credit.

Zhang Shicheng glanced around and said to Zhang Shide: "Third brother, it's up to you to attack Yancheng. With the four major surnames helping secretly, it shouldn't be difficult.

You don't need to bring too many soldiers and horses, eight thousand people are enough.

The others will rest for two more days. Once Yancheng is captured, we will send troops to Gaoyou. "

Zhang Shide was overjoyed when he heard this, clasped his fists and said, "Don't worry, brother, I will definitely capture Yancheng as soon as possible.

But those four surnames are extremely rich, and they took advantage of us a lot back then. Could it be that we let them go so easily? "

Zhang Shicheng waved his hand and said: "If we want to achieve great things, we have to take a long-term view. How can we break our promises?

After you capture Yancheng, you must treat them politely and let others see the benevolence and righteousness of our brothers.

Besides, the foundation of the four surnames is in Yancheng. If they can escape, the monks cannot escape the temple.

If we are short of money and food in the future and we have to ask them again, will they still dare not to give it to us? "

"That makes sense!"

"Brother is brilliant!"

"Brother, it's true that Kong Ming is still alive. I admire you!"

……

While Zhang Shicheng was enjoying everyone's flattery, a personal guard came in and informed Zhang Shicheng of Zhang Xida's arrival.

Zhang Shicheng had dealt with Sun Xida in his early years and knew this person. He nodded and said, "Invite him in."

"The villain Sun Xida has met Dashuai Zhang!"

After Sun Xida came in, he immediately bowed and saluted with a very respectful attitude. The reason why the four surnames sent him here was because he had a good temper, was able to bend and stretch, and had an old relationship with Zhang Shicheng.

Zhang Shicheng felt very happy when he saw Sun Xida being so respectful, and said pleasantly: "We are old acquaintances. Brother Sun, there is no need to be polite. Please sit down."

Sun Xida thanked him and took his seat. Zhang Shicheng then asked, "Brother Sun, come here at this time. Is there something wrong?"

"Commander, the Marquis of Wuning, Jia Qiong, suddenly arrived in Yancheng the day before yesterday, accompanied by three thousand elite soldiers.

Now that Yancheng City Defense has been taken over by Jia Qiong, it may be difficult for us to do anything.

In order to prevent the commander from accidentally suffering a loss, Sun came to inform him. "

(End of this chapter)