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

Chapter 157 After the War

The burning fireman howled, and the people around him fled in fear.

From time to time, someone would be squeezed off the crowded city wall, either falling to the ground, or directly hitting the attackers below.

However, more people climbed towards the city wall.

They have knives in their mouths. In this kind of siege battle, a saber that can be carried easily is obviously a better choice than a long gun. If you climb up, you can chop. Instead of a long gun, it is troublesome to carry it. It is troublesome to climb. Even climbing up It will be difficult to attack the city wall in the future.

The militiamen looked ferocious and headed towards the city wall on their hands and knees. There was their internal support on top, which was almost equivalent to military merit gained in vain.

Heavenly soldiers, I want heavenly soldiers!

People are afraid of obsession, and this obsession stimulates them to climb up crazily.

Soon, on the wall, militiamen jumped down one by one and rushed towards the men in red uniforms who were fighting with Xiang Yong.

A knife slashed the skin and flesh of the back of his neck.

With the addition of Kitchen King's men, the situation on the city wall became one-sided.

Zhang Nian looked at this scene in confusion. The people who originally thought they were going to fight side by side with him turned out to be the Kitchen King's spies. No, maybe those people had no intention of fighting the Kitchen King and wanted to defect to the Kitchen King.

Then why is the Kitchen King so charming that these people betray him at the risk of beheading.

The name left through the ages is gone, and maybe it will remain infamy for thousands of years.

"What will future generations think of me, a dog official who betrays the people's support?"

Zhang Nian gave a wry smile. When he was in power, although he did nothing but collect gifts and handle official duties, he was not too lively.

The people would not be so resentful.

He looked around. The red, conspicuous red was the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, but at this moment, these soldiers were being wiped out.

Some people apparently spotted him in official uniform.

Zhang Nian felt that after those people discovered him, their eyes lit up instantly, and then they held knives and rushed towards him crazily.

The soldiers along the way had no resistance at all and were hacked to death by those people.

Those people were getting closer and closer to him. Zhang Nian's steps were panicked and he leaned back. When he was in the government office, he had nothing to do and read classics. He saw countless literati, righteous men, ministers and dignitaries facing the enemy's butcher knife. At that time, Zhang Nian felt that he could do it too, facing death with a calm smile.

But when that day came, Zhang Nian became timid and frightened.

What does death feel like? What will he look like after those butcher knives fall? Like those people, blood spurts out, and there is no movement after a scream.

He doesn't want to die.

"Don't surrender, don't surrender."

The rushing heavenly soldiers and militiamen murmured in their mouths.

This man is obviously a high-ranking official. If he were the governor of the three sides, they would make a fortune.

This is the governor of the three sides. Anyone who can snatch a limb can make himself famous in an instant. If you don't believe it, count forward, Xiang Yu, Hongnong and Yang have gone from being an unknown soldier to an unknown person just because they snatched one of Xiang Yu's legs. A huge family that has been passed down for thousands of years.

This is the charm of military merit, which can make countless people succeed.

"Don't surrender."

Zhang Nian kept feeling that these people were mumbling something, so he followed the words and shouted this sentence. Suddenly, Zhang Nian felt a cold air rushing from his tailbone to Tianling Gai.

The opponent wants his life and doesn't want him to surrender. This kind of soldier is probably waiting to cut him into pieces, cut him into eight pieces, or even break him into thousands of pieces.

"No I can't do this!"

Zhang Nian said in horror, and then he suddenly took off his official hat, "I surrender. I surrender, don't kill me!"

"what!"

"grass!"

"Oh shit."

"Hi."

A group of people had already rushed in front of Zhang Nian, and immediately looked distressed after hearing Zhang Nian's words.

Some people even wanted to throw their weapons on the ground in frustration, as if they had lost ten thousand taels of gold.

Zhang Nian looked stunned. Is he so valuable?

Let this group of people show such expressions.

After Zhang Nian surrendered, no one rushed towards Zhang Nian. A field seemed to appear within two meters around him.

Those who rushed in had no intention of killing and surrendering to fish in troubled waters, because there were countless eyes around them staring at them and reporting them for killing and surrendering, which would bring about no less military merit than killing this dog officer.

No one dares to do such a thing at the risk of being reported and discovered by others.

More and more people began to surrender, kneeling on the ground and dropping their weapons.

Their hearts trembled. They didn't know what would happen if they dropped their weapons. The only thing they knew was that they would definitely die if they continued to fight.

"Surrender without killing! The Stove King treats the prisoners preferentially! Put down your weapons and squat at the base of the wall!"

Wang Wu shouted loudly.

He knew that none of his soldiers wanted the other side to surrender, but their officials' goal was to win the biggest battle with the least casualties.

Their military merit evaluation is not the same as that of their subordinates. This is where Liu Zhenhua is smart. If the military merit evaluation system of superiors and subordinates is the same, it is easy for officers to take the lead and cooperate with subordinates to bully them.

This sentence was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. All the soldiers on the city wall put down their weapons, and then squatted in the corner one by one.

I just hope that the Kitchen King's soldiers can surrender without killing them as promised.

The city gate was opened and Liu Zhenhua walked up to the wall.

He looked at Zhang Nian who was wearing official uniform and asked, "Are you Yang He?"

Zhang Nian saw that this person was very popular, and everyone around him looked at him with respect.

I think this person is the Kitchen King.

Zhang Nian did not expect that the legendary Kitchen King would be so young.

I really live up to that word, young and promising.

"My subordinate Zhang Nian, the prefect of Yan'an, Lord Yang He, has been escorted to the capital by patrol."

"Oh?"

Liu Zhenhua was surprised that Yang He had been taken away.

"Why?"

"He" Zhang Nian didn't know how to say it. Isn't this a court secret? To a rebel, after thinking about it, I realized that I have been demoted, so I must have a surrendering attitude.

"The Holy One has decreed that the inspector should keep an eye on Master Yang. If he fails to capture the Kitchen King within the specified time, he will be sent to Beijing and imprisoned."

"I see."

Liu Zhenhua understood, and then he pondered for a while. According to the character of emperors, they usually send a minister to do something. If the minister cannot do it, they usually hold a meeting to select a new capable person.

Then come again to beg the thief.

"Well, I just hope that Yuan Chonghuan will not come with the Guan Ning cavalry." At this stage, the only thing Liu Zhenhua is worried about is this unit.

But after thinking about it, at this moment in Houjin, it was Huang Taiji who was in power, and Huang Taiji was in charge of the political power.

After inheriting his father's foundation, Huang Taiji saw the country's bad governance, so he carried out reforms and made major changes in politics, military, economy and other aspects, making Houjin more and more powerful and posing an increasing threat to the border.

Emperor Chongzhen has appointed Yuan Chonghuan to deal with the Liao Dynasty, and he should not be dispatched everywhere. At present, the Ming Dynasty is not in danger yet, and there should be no shortage of soldiers.

I just don’t know who is coming this time.

But no matter who comes, they must make plans in advance.

At present, the number of heavenly soldiers under his command is approaching the three thousand line, but the good news is that he can upgrade the population limit soon. According to inference, after this upgrade, the population limit will be at least 5,000.

At that time, the reputation will exceed 120,000 in a single day.

A smile appeared at the corner of Liu Zhenhua's mouth. When the time came, he would start with a sniper and take the enemy's head from a thousand steps away. Just thinking about it made people's blood boil.

Seeing the Kitchen King in front of him with an unknown smile, Zhang Nian was shocked and didn't know why the Kitchen King was laughing.

"Go and bring some people from the city."

Liu Zhenhua waved his hand.

Zhang Nian was stunned and didn't know what Liu Zhenhua was doing.

"King Stove, these village warriors are the common people in the city."

Wang Wu pulled over several people.

"How is this person an official? Can he be a slave to the common people and collude with bullies?"

Liu Zhenhua asked.

The words made Zhang Nian sweat flow from his back even in this cold day.

He recalled what the servant Ding of the mansion had said by chance, that there was a Kitchen King in Yanchuan who specialized in killing dog officials and bullies.

Zhang Nian kept thinking about what he had done as an official for many years, and it seemed that he did not bully the people.

"What the Kitchen King said this time, this official, he usually doesn't take any action. Occasionally, corvees can be seen in the city doing their best, and this magistrate is nothing."

This person didn't dare to say it at first, because the magistrate was usually a person in heaven to them, and ordinary people could not see him, but now he appeared in front of him alive.

But after thinking about it carefully, the gods are all here. They have all boarded the boat of the gods, so why should they be afraid of the prefect.

So he shook off everything he knew.

Therefore, the image of an evil official who was an official but ignored political affairs, did not make decisions for the people, bought and sold his official position and allowed his subordinates to be cruel appeared in Liu Zhenhua's mind.

I asked three or four people in a row, and they all said the same thing.

The more Zhang Nian listened, the more frightened he became. If he didn't listen to what these people said, he wouldn't have known that he was so awesome.

Does he usually do so many evil things?

Zhang Nian looked at the Kitchen King with more and more amusement, and his eyes flashed at him from time to time.

"Detain him for execution tomorrow afternoon."

Liu Zhenhua waved his hand. This was the first prefect-level official he had executed. Over the past few days, more than 70% of the officials Liu Zhenhua met were corrupt officials, and the remaining 30% were corrupt officials. Either they ruled by inaction, or they were incompetent and indulged in evil. No wonder later generations' evaluations of the Chongzhen period are that a dynasty with a "whole collapse" is bound to collapse.

Zhang Nian was shocked when he heard this. He shouted quickly: "King Stove, I have already surrendered, why do you still have to kill me! Didn't you promise to surrender without killing?"

Two heavenly soldiers walked towards Zhang Nian and immediately picked him up.

Zhang Nian looked frightened and struggled hard.

"No, Kitchen King, don't kill me! I have already surrendered!"

Seeing the dog official shouting, no one felt pity for him. He was not a common people and did not know the suffering of the people. In Zhang Nian's view, he did not directly prey on the people, but it was his connivance that allowed his subordinates to prey on him. Every cent of the gold and silver treasures under his command is stained with the people's wealth.

"The Stove King is wise."

All the people knelt down and shouted.

"You did a good job."

Liu Zhenhua turned his head and looked at the bloody people.

After receiving the Kitchen King's approval, the village heroes seemed very excited.

Although the Kitchen King did not mention rewards for meritorious deeds, they knew that they would definitely be rewarded.

When the people in the city heard that the imperial rebels were defeated and the Kitchen King's righteous army was victorious, they immediately swarmed towards the city gate.

They all welcomed the Kitchen King's arrival.

Soon, Liu Zhenhua took over the Yan'an government office, which was much more impressive than his Yanchuan county government office.

Liu Zhenhua can only sigh with emotion, it is indeed a place worthy of a palace.

Going to Zhang Nian's house, Liu Zhenhua looked at the boxes of silver on the ground. This silver was much more than what the landlords and squires he had encountered before had accumulated.

The places Liu Zhenhua traveled to were all counties and villages, and the landowners who owned most of them were food, but they didn't have much money.

At present, a prefect, who is in charge of so many states, counties and towns, has collected more money from the people than the landowners in a county in Yanchuan put together.

"The villagers rewarded each other based on their merits. All those who participated in this battle became militiamen. In addition to the registered grain and grain, each person was given an additional three buckets of grain."

"In addition, the compensation for the local heroes and soldiers who died in this battle must be implemented."

"Open a granary in Yan'an County and provide porridge for three days."

Liu Zhenhua handed down the orders in an orderly manner. Now Liu Zhenhua controls one government and four counties, and the population and area under his control have doubled. However, Liu Zhenhua has become more proficient in handling these things.

The people are actually very easy to manage. If you give them visible benefits and give them a head start, you can keep these people in your hands well.

Liu Zhenhua did everything one by one, and coupled with his "divine" legend, the people were even more obedient to him.

"King Kitchen, the people in the city gathered at the registration office and said they don't want food."

Zhang Liang led the horse and reported to Liu Zhenhua.

"Oh? Don't want food?"

Liu Zhenhua was extremely surprised. There were still people who didn't want food?

"Go and see."

The registration office was crowded at this time.

"The Stove King is here!"

I don't know who shouted, and the people immediately looked to the east, and two groups of soldiers walked out surrounded by the Stove King.

"Folks."

Liu Zhenhua went straight to the point, "I heard that you don't want food, so what do you want?"

The people looked at each other, and the person standing in front of them was the legendary Stove King.

If they were asked to make real demands, they would be afraid to do so.

But after a while, someone still had the courage to shout: "Kitchen King, I have read some books and know that it is better to teach people to fish than to teach them to fish. The folks don't want food, they want the sweet potato seedlings."

"This way we can be self-sufficient, and we don't have to bother the Kitchen God to give us food."

The people responded to his words.

"Yes, Stove King, we want sweet potato seedlings to grow and eat ourselves."

"Yes, the Kitchen God gives us food. After we finish eating, we have to trouble the Kitchen God and give us sweet potatoes that we can grow ourselves!"

"That's it," Liu Zhenhua said with a smile: "We will also provide sweet potato seedlings and grain. You will have to spend several months while the sweet potatoes grow."

His clear voice echoed in the ears of the people.

Hearing this, the faces of the surrounding people showed a look of gratitude.

They didn't expect that Kitchen King would be willing to give them food even if he gave them sweet potato seedlings so happily! Give them time to grow the sweet potatoes.

Sure enough, the Kitchen King is as friendly and loving to the people as he is rumored to be.

"Long live the Kitchen King!"

Someone knelt on the ground and shouted, and this kneeling was like a chain reaction. A sea of ​​people knelt down and roared, and the sound came like a wave.

(End of this chapter)