The white porridge and pickled mustard is enough, why am I wearing a royal robe?

Chapter 134 Welcoming General Huang Fugui and assessing the situation, County Magistrate Liu

Yonghe County is located in the southwest of Shanxi Province, on the east bank of the Yellow River, at the western foothills of Luliang Mountain, and adjacent to Shaanxi Province in the west. The county governs two towns and six townships.

Liu Zhenhua's army was crossing the border, so naturally they couldn't hide it from the patrols in these towns. They didn't know which group of people came here, but they knew that this was a 'bandit crossing the border'.

The news first reached the Yonghe County Magistrate.

When the county magistrate Liu Zhi found out, he immediately ordered the city gates to be closed tightly. During this period, there were always rogues crossing the border, but most of them were just to avoid being chased by soldiers from Shaanxi Province, and they would return to Shaanxi soon.

"Don't panic. It may take as little as one day or as many as two days. These thieves will definitely leave."

Liu Zhi stroked his beard and said, the civil unrest in Shaanxi has been going on for almost a year, and the bandits are basically running around like rats, and this time is no exception.

"But, Lord County Lord, the bandits this time seem to be different."

Inspector Wang Fu said, recalling that group of people in his mind, "Those people used cavalry to open the way. The cavalry were all armed with red tassel spears. They looked very majestic."

"Cavalry? That's called cavalry. It's better to say it's horse banditry. That red-tasseled spear probably plundered the arsenal in some places, took it in your hand, and wore it like a monkey. It's just a look, no real ability."

Liu Zhi frowned, a little dissatisfied with the inspection of Wang Fu. How could some bandits be called cavalry?
"County Honor."

"Needless to say, recruit [-] villagers to brave the city. Those rogue bandits will naturally retreat when they see that there is nothing they can do," Liu Zhi said.

Wang Fu was shocked. The four hundred village warriors said, "Your Majesty, there are a total of 2000 people on the opposite side. We are waiting for the four hundred village warriors. Are they a little short?"

"The county's finances are tight, there is no food and money, and the big households are unwilling to open their mouths. Raising four hundred village warriors is already the limit." Liu Zhi was even more dissatisfied with Wang Fu. He repeatedly interrupted and contradicted him, and some bandits gave him a nine The product inspection scared me out of my nerves, what a shame.

"That's it. You go and prepare. In addition, send someone to report the news to the governor."

"I know," Wang Fu had no choice but to nod in agreement.

After some thought, he decided to take the news to Datong Mansion himself. "I heard that rogue bandits were crossing the border, and the chickens and dogs were restless. They killed officials, people and rich people."

"If the county magistrate is held accountable in the future, there will be no way to hold him accountable."

He rode away. Wang Fu watched the bandits crossing the border with his own eyes. Four hundred local warriors, plus the low city wall of Yonghe, how could they resist the bandits.

When the city is destroyed, all the officials in the city will be spared.

"Through this journey, there are almost ten rooms and nine empty rooms," Liu Zhenhua said with emotion while sitting on the horse. People on the Yellow River side of the Kitchen King have heard about it, but they all have a wait-and-see attitude. However, among them Before the Kitchen King's name was publicized, the people who learned the news fled early.

The reputation of most of the rebels is no longer very good. After all, their actions are no longer just like ordinary people who cannot survive, but more and more like thieves and bandits. No wonder there were so many uprisings in the late Ming Dynasty, almost Like a crucian carp crossing a river.

But in the end, only King Chuang invaded Beijing and succeeded. If he hadn't been driven out of the capital by the Qing Dynasty, King Chuang would have become a model for civilian entrepreneurship.

The key is that the idea that the latter at least promotes is "no food will be paid when King Chuang comes", which can be regarded as winning the hearts of the people, so that the people will not run away after hearing the name of the latter.

The cavalry took the lead in turning back. Liu Zhenhua's cavalry had reached 300 people. They had arrived outside Yonghe County. If it weren't for the many ravines here, they would have arrived a day earlier.

"King Zao, Yonghe County is built with an earthen city wall. The wall is low and only ten feet high. There are not many guards above."

Yang Lichao reported the news from Yonghe County.

Liu Zhenhua was quite surprised. The people in northern Shaanxi were causing so much chaos. Shouldn't Yonghe be more prepared?

Looking at the counties in Shaanxi, any county with a slight wall is defended by the county magistrate and the villagers.

At this moment, Yonghe probably has received the news but he is still not well prepared.

Historically speaking, rogue bandits did not cross the border in Shanxi Province until the second year of Chongzhen. However, Liu Zhenhua's fluttering of butterfly wings caused civil uprisings in northern Shaanxi early. Otherwise, Shanxi probably would not have such a term as "crossing the border" now.

Liu Zhi showed enough respect by letting four hundred warriors defend the city.

Liu Zhenhua was happy to see this scene, but what he had to consider was how to defend after taking Yonghe.

After all, if the city wall is low, it will be really disadvantageous for the defenders. "It will probably take ten or eight days for Datong Mansion to send troops after receiving the news."

Liu Zhenhua made a calculation in his mind. After ten or eight days, Liu Zhenhua estimated that there would be [-] cavalry.

At that time, there is no fear that the other side will send troops to attack the city. If the cavalry goes out of the city and cooperates with the infantry, two thousand can be worth five or six thousand.

The army moved forward and soon arrived outside Yonghe County.

Another inspector under the jurisdiction of Yonghe County was stunned when he saw the horses and neat phalanx outside the city.

He stared at the huge phalanx with some confusion, "Is this a bandit?"

They only have hundreds of people on one wall. The Yonghe County wall is one foot high, six feet wide, and only six kilometers in circumference.

How can such a small town resist an army of this size?

The local heroes who were recruited were all retreating, and there was no way they could fight.

When the inspector Huang Fugui saw this, he knew that there was no need to defend the county seat, so he made a saucy move. He raised his arms on the city wall and shouted, "The rebels are coming. Who will join me in opening the city to welcome the rebels?"

Saying that, without waiting for anyone to react, he took the lead and headed towards the city. He only wished that his parents had lost two legs.

When Huang Fugui came, some village heroes on the city wall reacted and followed Huang Fugui's footsteps and ran down the city wall. Some of the more anxious ones even jumped directly from the ten-foot-high city wall, rolled on the ground and then followed. The footsteps of the people in front came to the city gate. This city gate was not much better than the gate of an ordinary wealthy family.

A city gate like this can be broken open simply by relying on the number of people, and it doesn't even require a siege vehicle.

Huang Fugui opened the city gate and was the first to kneel down on the side of the dirt road ahead.

Liu Zhenhua rode his horse and saw the city gate opened on his own initiative and the Xiang Yong pouring out.

A smile suddenly appeared on his face. This man was sincere. Liu Zhenhua had already discovered that there are too many talented people in the world who are aware of current affairs.

Whether it was Zhang Gou at the beginning, Wang Wu later, or now the person who took the lead in opening the city gate and kneeling on the ground.

Liu Zhenhua rode a horse and walked in the front.

"Welcome to you, General! We are extremely honored to welcome General!"

Huang Fugui fell to the ground and shouted, and the Xiangyong behind him also shouted "Welcome General" one after another.

"What's your name and what do you do?" Liu Zhenhua asked.

"Huang Fugui, a humble official, is from Yonghe County and is a patrol inspector."

Huang Fugui said humbly without raising his head.

"Not bad, very discerning," Liu Zhenhua praised.

"The general is joking. I was originally willing to defend the city with my country warriors, but I was impressed by the general's magnanimity, so I brought my warriors from the city walls here to kneel down to greet the general." Liu Zhenhua was so happy that he cut off his second brother in the palace. He is more or less a popular eunuch, and he has a very talkative mouth.

"Is it possible to take someone to the county government office to tie up the county magistrate?"

Liu Zhenhua asked, this guy is more or less a faggot, he can be treated as a joke, but he cannot be given an official position just because he surrenders voluntarily.

"It can be done. I will never disappoint the general. I will bring someone to tie up the county magistrate."

As he spoke, Huang Fugui stood up and shouted to the village heroes who were also kneeling behind him, "Who wants to tie up the county magistrate with me?"

These village warriors knew that if the rebels said they were rebels, they might be massacred if they were unhappy. Compared with provoking these rebels, provoking the county magistrate was obviously a better choice.

With one call and twenty answers, Huang Fugui led 20 people and rushed towards the county government office. Yonghe was so big, and soon a group of people rushed into the county government office.

While Liu Zhi was still drinking tea, he saw Huang Fugui rushing into the county government office with [-] people.

"Oh? The bandits retreated so quickly? But why did you bring so many people?"

"County Magistrate Liu Zhi, arrest him."

Before Liu Zhiduo could say anything, the 20 people behind Huang Fugui swarmed up.

"What are you doing! You are rebelling! You are thieves! You want to beheaded!"

Liu Zhi shouted.

However, no one paid attention to it and sent it to Liu Zhenhua.

Seeing that these bandits had so many elite riders and such a well-organized team, Liu Zhi immediately understood why Huang Fugui wanted to become a thief.

If it were him, he would do the same.

"you"

"I am the Kitchen King," Liu Zhenhua said.

This sentence caused the surrounding village heroes to talk about it. They had heard of the name of Stove King from the west.

Now they are here. What impressed them most was that the Kitchen King divided the grain and the fields.

No one needed to take the lead for a moment, all the village heroes knelt down one after another, "Welcome to the Stove King!"

they chanted.

Liu Zhi's face turned pale. He naturally knew about the Kitchen King.

He killed the magistrates of two counties in Yanchuan and Yancheng, and defeated the army of the three governors of the imperial court. It can be said that he was a lawless person.

Come to think of it, even if he recruits one or two thousand local warriors, he won't be able to resist this guy.

But the most important thing is that he may die.

"Are you willing to work under my rule?"

Liu Zhenhua asked. He had already inquired about this county magistrate. He didn't usually live in Yurouxiang, but he was considered upright and honest.

In addition, Liu Zhenhua really lacks talents like him, so he asked this question.

Liu Zhi's expression changed. He felt that if he did not become a thief, he would probably die. However, he was an official of the same county and an official of the Ming Dynasty. Liu Zhi always regarded himself as a loyal minister. How could a loyal minister serve two masters? reason.

"Liu County Magistrate, officials are officials of the people, not officials of the Ming Dynasty. You have to know in which world the people can live better."

"Besides, a living official is an official."

Liu Zhenhua's words rang in Liu Zhi's ears.

The latter was immediately discouraged. Throughout the ages, there have been many officials who would rather die than surrender, but there were even more officials like Liu Zhi. After sizing up the situation, Liu Zhi had to say, "I am humble, and I am willing to continue under the rule of the Kitchen King." Do whatever you can.”

"That's right," Liu Zhenhua looked at the man with a smile, "Yang Lichao, sent someone to send County Magistrate Liu to Yan Yan. He will be the magistrate of Yan Yan from now on."

When Liu Zhi heard this, he felt a little relieved, and the feeling of guilt was much lessened. As Liu Zhenhua said, he is the official of the people, not the Ming Dynasty. Since he is still a county magistrate, where can he not do it? .

"Thank you, Kitchen King."

From the county magistrate to the chief registrar, almost all Yonghe officials were recruited by Liu Zhenhua, and the big families in the city were imprisoned by Liu Zhenhua. None of these people were good people. No wonder the county magistrate only managed to recruit 400 people. It was really... With no one to help them, these hard-charging chickens are unwilling to provide money or food.

At this point, Yonghe County fell into Liu Zhenhua's hands without any effort.

On the other side, Ren Hongli and his soldiers also started to attack the city. The defense of Qingjian was not much better than that of Yonghe. The main reason was that Wang Jiayin and others plundered Qingjian on their way north. Now Ren Hongli At this point, the five hundred crossbowmen stood outside the city wall with their divine arm bows. When a round of bows and arrows went down, there was almost no one left on the city wall. Of course they were not dead. Those people saw so many crossbowmen. Then he ran down the city wall.

One by one they opened the city gates and shouted: Welcome to the Kitchen King.

All the soldiers looked disappointed and could only say one word and that was it.

Who dares to think that we can capture the land of two counties without spending a single soldier.

The Qingjian County Magistrate had just taken office. He knew the Stove King's character and his distinction between good and evil, so he led the county government to surrender without any burden in his heart.

What a joke, even the tens of thousands of troops in the imperial court could not deal with the Kitchen King, let alone a small county like his.

At this point, Yonghe Qingjian fell into the hands of Liu Zhenhua, and he took over the two cities. Most of his time was spent on the road.

When the news was known to Liu Zhenhua, he immediately laughed and said, "It would be great if all those counties and cities were like this in the future."

This may be true for county towns, but not necessarily for prefectures. Liu Zhenhua has not yet captured any prefectures, so he naturally sets his sights on Yan'an.

It's just that Yan'an has Yang He, the governor of the three sides. In Liu Zhenhua's opinion, this person is almost a mascot. After all, with this person, Liu Zhenhua has had a few months of peaceful development.

If Yan'an was captured, what should be done with this man? After some thought, Liu Zhenhua decided not to move him for the time being. He set his sights around Yan'an.

If the surrounding counties of Yan'an are captured, Yan'an will become an isolated city. "If the imperial court does not remove these three governors, I will have one more day to develop."

Liu Zhenhua silently calculated that at most next spring, he would have the strength to fight the Ming Dynasty head-on.

Then there will be no need to be so cautious. Right now, we have to rely on the three governors to cover us up.

"Let's live in peace for a while, and then take over the surrounding areas of Yan'an."

Liu Zhenhua made a decision to consolidate Yonghe's territory first. He was not like those rogue bandits who captured the county town and plundered it before running away. He really wanted to mark this place as the Stove King and make it completely Become his territory!

(End of this chapter)