Became a feudal lord in the late Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 10 Meeting Gift

The morning sunlight shines through the window on the new dressing box next to it; Liu Ling woke up early and felt that a smooth body was lying in his arms, especially the two soft and white groups squeezing his arms. Making it difficult for him to get out of bed right away.

But there were still a lot of things to do today. Liu Ling felt it quietly for a while and pushed the bride in his arms.

"You have a taste in your mouth. Get up quickly and wash up."

The wife rubbed her eyes, put her hand on his waist and pinched him, and said sullenly: "You didn't insist on it last night."

"Who told you to like drinking cheese? It's so acidic that it'll make your teeth burn, but you just like it."

The couple talked a lot on the bed and finally got up. The maid had been waiting outside for a long time. The wife was not used to being served yet, so she sat there and asked the maid to help comb her hair, and asked: "Are you going out later?"

"There's a lot going on."

Liu Ling yawned and took a basin of cold water from the hand of the maid next to him. The maid whispered: "Master, that's cold water!"

"The cold is very refreshing."

He put his hand into the cold water and immediately shivered all over. He then picked up a handful of water and splashed it on his face, completely waking up.

"You stay at home. If you need anything, send someone to the government office to find me."

"understood."

When Liu Ling walked out the door, he saw Liu Wan standing outside.

She was wearing gray clothes, cloth shoes, and her face was white. Because of the cold weather, her cheeks were slightly red. She was thin and her hands were exposed from her sleeves. She was slender and beautiful, but she had some calluses, which was her only flaw; She was standing there wondering what she was thinking. When she heard the footsteps, she turned her head and blinked at Liu Ling.

After a moment of silence, she shouted crisply in Liao dialect: "Brother!"

Liu Ling nodded and felt a little weird. He always said that she was his daughter outside, but in the end, this girl insisted on recognizing him as her brother, so he had no choice but to follow her.

He stretched out his hand and rubbed Liu Wan's head, thought for a while, and said:

"There's still chaos in the city. Don't go out and wander around these days. Just stay at home. If I have something to tell my sister-in-law, you should spend more time with her."

"I know." Liu Wan seemed to like the feeling of him rubbing her head. She narrowed her eyes. Liu Ling just took a few steps and suddenly stopped.

"In a few days, I'm going to teach you how to read and write. Don't touch other things in my study. There are pens and ink in there. You can get familiar with them first."

"Oh"

Her delicate face wrinkled immediately, full of frustration and reluctance.

Things at home have been arranged. Zhang Wu has been waiting outside for a long time. There are dozens of soldiers behind him, each standing on one side, rubbing his palms and breathing to keep warm. When Liu Ling saw them, he smiled and said: "I remember to give it to you in the city as well." A house has been arranged.”

"Yes, the soldiers all have a place to live. Thank you, General, for taking care of them."

"They are all brothers."

Liu Ling got on his horse and led them towards the government office. Zhang Wu came over and whispered: "The captain in charge of the garrison in the city sent his subordinates to me after they dispersed last night. He said he wanted to invite me." I will go to his home for a gathering in a few days when I have free time, I am afraid that I am trying to win over him."

"We are from outside. It's normal for them to make some small moves in private. Remember this in advance. When necessary, you can speak out."

Zhang Wu nodded slightly. The officials in the city didn't know that he was originally from the Song Army. Because they were afraid of being blamed after returning, they relied on Liu Ling's name and slowly climbed up step by step. I'm afraid I won't live long. "That Xiao Zhixian is not a good person. He has a straight face and doesn't know what he wants to do behind his back. When we come over, he will be the first person to be deprived of power. These people are used to being treated like local emperors. Maybe they can't even tell how much they weigh. two."

Liu Ling sneered and ordered:
  "The population of the people in the city is very small. I want you to release the recruitment matter in the next few days. The number is too large, and I know it will be difficult for you to do it.
  So I want you to do two things,

One is to send cavalry out of the city to search for the defeated soldiers and refugees outside the city, and tell them that when they arrive in Rongcheng, I can give each of them a share of money and food to settle down.

The second is to recruit soldiers. At least three hundred young men must be recruited as new soldiers in the city. I will ask for weapons and armor from above, and you will be responsible for these. "

Zhang Wu nodded repeatedly.

There are not many young men, but Liu Ling still wants to recruit them into the army as much as possible because he got the words out of some people yesterday.

Rongcheng’s “local pillar industries” mainly include the following:

Smuggling, horse trading, brothels.

Corresponding to several large and small gangs in the city, the first two are actually of the same nature, but the "car gang" responsible for smuggling and the "horse gang" selling horses do not deal with each other. Even gambling is contracted.

The Che Gang specializes in smuggling commercial goods from the Song Dynasty to the Liao Kingdom for sale, or transporting commercial goods such as furs and medicinal materials from the Liao Kingdom to the Song Dynasty.

The horse gangs simply sold horses, buying bad horses from the Liao Kingdom at low prices and selling them to the Song people at high prices. Occasionally, there were some good horses, but they were specially searched for to please the powerful people of the Song Dynasty.

These three families are the big ones, and the rest of the small gangs just rely on them to earn a living.

Moreover, Rongcheng is very close to the Song Dynasty's border, and there may also be manpower deployed by the Song Dynasty.

After reluctantly figuring out Rongcheng's situation, Liu Ling felt as if he had taken office in Echeng. He had a hornet's nest under his hands, and everyone looked like Huang Silang.

The four hundred soldiers in his hand are obviously the strongest, but who is more powerful, the dragon crossing the river or the local snake, depends on how it develops next.

The Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty were still negotiating. During this period of time, he would have to stay in Rongcheng. If possible, he would like to take this opportunity to make a fortune in Rongcheng.

As soon as they arrived at the government office, there were three or four friendly middle-aged people wearing silk and satin standing at the door. When they saw Liu Ling coming on horseback, it was obvious that the latter had not seen them, but these people immediately smiled with smiles on their faces. Come over and bow to him.

"This must be General Xiao Liu. I have long heard that the general is famous as a marksman. We, the common people, admire him very much. Yesterday, the magistrate and the others held a banquet to honor you. The common people have no official or position. Although they admire the general, they also Don’t dare to come forward and disturb me rashly.”

Liu Ling looked at these people and quickly guessed their identities.

"Young man Chen Liang, the names of these people next to you are Cao Mengzhi and Hu."

"General, I still have something to do. If you all can help me, I will understand."

Liu Ling sat on the horse from beginning to end, watching the performance of several people, seeing his arrogant behavior, several people looked at each other, some of them were a little dissatisfied, but Chen Liang, who had been talking, still said enthusiastically: " That’s right, it’s the villain who took the liberty.”

He waved his hand, and someone handed him a wooden box.

"We are of low status, but there are still several properties in this city. When I heard that the general killed the Liao dog, I admired him in my heart, but I had no other respect. So I discussed it with these people, and each took out a shop and gave it to General, the manpower and management inside will also be given to the general!"

Chen Liang smiled generously and said: "I wonder if the general is satisfied with this meeting gift?"

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  (End of this chapter)