A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 639
In the 15th year of Chongzhen, under the first month.

The army of Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen entered Weihui's mansion. Under the hunger and cold, the soldiers of the two armies either looted more or fled one after another. Some officers and generals along the way impeached the two men for robbing the villagers and killing the people.

That day when the army arrived at the city of Zhangde Mansion, what they gained was far from what the two expected.

The local government provided, as well as the grain, fodder, and beans purchased by myself, and they could not support it for a few days. After all, the two combined more than 1 troops, and there were many war horses and mules, which consumed a lot.

Just like the officials and generals along the way, the prefect of Zhangde Prefecture and the local guards, when faced with all kinds of flattery of the two, were humble in words and very polite on the face. Yang obeys and Yin violates.

Looking at the mere ten stones of grain and grass provided by the magistrate of Zhangde Prefecture, Wang Tingchen could no longer bear the anger in his heart, and violently beat the magistrate and the local generals, screaming like slaughtered pigs.

Afterwards, the two must have written a letter of impeachment, but Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen could no longer care about it. Along the way, the memorials of the two impeaching officials from various places, or the memorials of impeachment of the two, may have filled the desk of Emperor Chongzhen. One part less doesn't matter.

It's just that this kind of after-the-fact lawsuit doesn't help solve the current embarrassment, and the two of them understand why Wang Dou is so domineering, and everywhere he goes is extremely tough. If he is not tough, he may not be able to do anything.

Wang Tingchen's display of power was not without gains. The local food and grass supply in Zhangde Mansion increased from ten shi to two hundred shi afterwards. , Three days are needed, but something is better than nothing.

On this day, the army arrived at the Qingshui River. After crossing the river, Weihui Mansion City was opposite. At this time, the army was not very far away from Fengfu. They only needed to pass through a few counties and cross the Yellow River to reach the city of Kaifeng.

Looking at the river, both of them were full of emotions. At this moment, their appearance was disheveled, their beards were disheveled, and their armor was dirty. They did not reveal their identities. Outsiders would never know that they were earls, and would only regard them as refugees.

"Little General Cao, let's set up camp."

"Okay, Brother Wang."

For the upcoming trip to Weihui's Fucheng, neither of them had any hope, so it's better to have an early rest.

The army was about to light a fire and make a meal, when suddenly a relative outside the camp cheered and jumped over to report, and a businessman from the East Road outside the camp asked to see him, accompanied by a huge convoy, full of grain, pigs, sheep, fine wine and other things, all the brothers in the camp were shocked.

"Please come in quickly... No, we go out to meet..."

Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen were very excited. They marched all the way, and got a lot of help from the merchants on the East Road.

When the two arrived at the gate of the camp, the place was already full of people, and they all pointed excitedly. Sure enough, there were many vehicles outside the gate, which were full of grain, rice and beans, and some vehicles carried wine jars, or tied With some pigs and sheep.

Among the soldiers, a fat businessman stood there with a smile on his face.

……

This batch of grain and grass was more than two thousand shi, which was enough to feed the army for many days. Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen couldn't care less about acting reserved in front of outsiders, they were all gobbled up.

The businessman sat quietly at the side, seeing that the two of them were earls, but their faces were unkempt, as if they had been reincarnated from starvation, he couldn't help showing pity on his face, and sighed heavily.

After finally eating, Cao Bianjiao remembered that he hadn't asked the name of the person in front of him, so he was extremely rude, and hurriedly apologized, cupping his fists and said: "I'm sorry, I haven't asked the shopkeeper's name yet?"

The businessman said that his surname was Sun, a native of Baoan Prefecture, and he responded to the shogunate's call to go out to open up business routes.

He sighed and said: "Famine is everywhere, soldiers are in chaos, merchants can't do business."

According to what he said, the current Ming Dynasty is becoming more and more uneven along the road, and there are as many bandits on the road as a cow's hair. Those villagers who have built a village to protect themselves, as long as they can make a profit, they can turn into bandits who block the road. For the sake of a few pieces of dry food, some villagers can kill women, children and pedestrians who pass by without hesitation.

People's hearts have changed. Businessmen in troubled times only need financial resources and force, so they don't dare to travel long distances. This is also the reason why the East Road Escort Bureau is booming. Many caravans need escorts, and many retired soldiers join them.

However, now famine is everywhere, there are refugees everywhere, and tens of thousands of them gather together. Even if the caravan is escorted, facing the crowds of extremely hungry people, mere guards will not help, unless the army is escorted. Again, it's impossible.

There are also officers and soldiers from all over the country, officials, township braves, militias, etc., who are like wolves and tigers, and it is okay to extort money. They often slaughter caravans and take them away with their cars and goods.

This is one of them. For East Road merchants, there is also...

The businessman surnamed Sun sighed: "At the end of last year, all the lands had a faint hatred for me, and the Weihui Mansion was the same, and the business was even more..."

He sighed, remembering that he was in Weihui Mansion, he made friends with many officials on weekdays, did good deeds and accumulated virtues, he was known as Sun Dashan, but now the rumors have changed, inside and outside the mansion, he threatened that he was hoarding, he was actually a profiteer, and there were already hungry people in the city staring at him, Want to attack his rice shops.

He became excited and shouted indignantly: "I don't know what the general is doing. Everything I do is for the country and the people. Why do the government and the people treat it like this?"

Cao Bianjiao sighed: "If you want to make a difference, you will inevitably cut off other people's money. Many people hate the Marquis of Yongning."

Wang Tingchen said angrily: "Who is disrespectful to shopkeeper Sun? Tell me, I will bring some people into Weihui City and chop him up! Old Wang is very angry now."

The businessman surnamed Sun said gratefully: "Uncle Lao Ning is concerned, this matter is over, because there is no support from outside the army, the general has ordered all foreign merchants to withdraw, and focus on Shanxi, Xuanda and other places... I have transferred all of them in the city. Stores, exchange these grains and rice, and bring them to the military camp."

Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen were very moved, and Cao Bianjiao stood up: "These grains... shopkeeper Sun, let me put down the words here, brothers Wang and I will buy every liter of grains and rice at double the market price. Shopkeeper Sun suffers?"

Wang Tingchen hurriedly said: "That's right, more money is needed. We don't have much food and grass in the camp, so we still have money."

The businessman surnamed Sun clasped his hands and said, "You two uncles don't have to do this. Uncles are fighting for the country, and villains can't go to battle to kill the enemy. I only have a little heart. Besides, I am also following orders. When I return to Xuanzhen, the shogunate will give me a hand. Paying money and food, rewarding meritorious deeds, I really dare not accept silver taels from my uncle."

He got up and bowed solemnly: "It's not far from Kaifeng Mansion. When we arrive in Kaifeng City, Chen Yongfu and Chen Zongzhen will surely provide convenience, and the two uncles will have a better life."

He hesitated for a while, but still said: "However, I heard that Chen Zongzhen is having a hard time in Kaifeng Mansion now. The new Governor Gao is oppressing him very much. The two uncles must be prepared."

He made a bow: "Treasure!"

"treasure."

Seeing his leaving back, Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen both stood there blankly.

……

Under the first month, Henan, Ye County.

Ye County is known as the capital of rock salt, but at this time, the sky above the entire city is full of killing sounds, and countless thieves are attacking the city.

The overwhelming flow of people surrounded the small city of Yexian County, and the main force of the besieging people was the hungry people who were attached to them. Especially those who fought in the front line were mostly old and weak women and children who were coerced.

The attacks of the hungry people were divided into multiple waves. After one wave stopped, another wave attacked again. They armed with simple weapons and attacked day and night.

Behind these hungry people, there is a vast array of infantry Chaohai. They all hold spears. Move it.

In the formation of the Jingqi army, a big flag with the word "chuang" fluttered in the wind. Under the tumbling banner, a middle-aged man with a felt hat, an arrow jacket, and a cape, with a high nose and deep eyes, resembled a color-eyed race. The young man rode quietly on the horse, but it was Li Chuang.

Behind him, there are Song Xiance, Niu Jinxing, Li Yan and other literati, as well as Liu Zongmin, Gao Yigong, Yuan Zongdi and other generals who broke into the camp.

Chongzhen's invasion of Luoyang was defeated in 14 years, and he came back again in a short period of time, and the momentum was even stronger. To be honest, even Li Zicheng was surprised.

Looking at the city at this moment, while Li Zicheng was full of ambition, his heart was full of hatred.

The guard of Ye County is Liu Guoneng, the deputy general. Liu Guoneng once became brothers with Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai, and he called himself Chuangshatian.

After Liu Guoneng returned to the army, Li Zicheng and others hated him deeply, so they couldn't stop in Kaifeng. After they attacked Xuzhou, Tongxu, Weishi, Weichuan, Yanling, Linying, Changge, and Xinzheng, they immediately sent troops to come. Ye County.

Looking at the city in front of him, Li Zicheng made up his mind. Ye County has been besieged for many days, and the defenders are tired. It seems that the city can be captured today. He is also looking forward to it. After Liu Guoneng was captured, what expression he would have on himself.

No matter Li Zicheng, the generals under his command, or Niu Jinxing and other literati, they didn't care about driving the hungry people to attack the city. Only Li Yanyin felt unbearable, but he didn't say anything.

At the end of the day, cheers came from below the city: "The city is broken, the city is broken!"

Li Zicheng looked around, couldn't help laughing, and shouted: "Go to the city!"

Chuang cavalry swarmed into the city, and there was endless wailing in the city. Men and women staggered and ran like ants. Surrounded by all the generals, staff, and fine cavalry, Li Zicheng rode his horse into the city.

After entering the city, there were corpses and bloodstains all over the streets and alleys, and there was a strong smell of blood. Li Zi had seen this kind of situation a lot and didn't take it seriously. What he cared most about was Liu Guoneng's whereabouts.

However, everyone will report that there is no sign of Liu Guoneng's thief at the top of the city and the gates of the city. Li Zicheng thought for a while: "Go to his mansion."

When everyone came to the general's mansion, the gate was wide open, looking inside, it was empty, the general Yuan Zongdi entered first, and soon after, he came out with a different expression.

Li Zicheng frowned: "Brother Yuan, what's wrong? Liu Guoneng ran away?"

Yuan Zongdi said in a low voice: "King Chuang will know when he enters and sees."

Everyone followed Li Zicheng into the hall, and they couldn't help being stunned. They saw two corpses lying in the hall, one of them was a female corpse with a bruised complexion and a protruding tongue. It seemed that she hanged herself, but it was Liu Guoneng's wife.

Next to the female corpse, there was a big man in armor, with bloodstains on his neck and a puddle of blood on his body. In his right hand, he was still holding a bloody sword tightly.

Between the two corpses, a child about seven or eight years old, Tong nostalgia, pushed his mother's corpse for a while, and shook his father's corpse for a while, weeping and calling: "Daddy, mother!" .”

Seeing Li Zicheng and others coming in, he looked timidly, with a pair of small hands tightly grasping the clothes on the corpses of his father and mother.

Li Zicheng stopped, stretched out his hand, and sighed, "Liu... Brother Liu, why are you doing this?"

He stepped forward to pick up the child, put it on his lap, and said softly, "What's the name?"

"Fu'er."

Li Zicheng said: "I adopted you, from now on, you will be my son."

But seeing the child struggling hard, he ran back to his parents' corpses, and said timidly: "My son will not be a thief."

Li Zicheng was stunned for a moment, then he became furious and shouted, "What did you say?"

The generals around him were also very angry, only Niu Jinxing, Li Yan and others trembled, looking at the child, they couldn't believe their eyes.

Seeing a group of adults staring at him fiercely, the child was so frightened that he was about to shed tears, but he still held on tightly to the clothes on his father's and mother's corpses, and timidly insisted in a childish voice: "My son will not be a thief." .”

Seeing him make a movement afterwards, he pulled out the small dagger at his waist and cut a slash on his neck, blood gushed out immediately, he struggled and fell between his parents.

"This this……"

The situation in front of him made Li Zicheng wait, and he felt a chill rushing up his back, especially Niu Jinxing and Li Yan, who took a few steps forward, and then stopped in a daze.

The smell of blood spread. Looking at the three corpses on the ground, everyone in the hall was silent in the end.

People at the time sighed: "Liu Guoneng's family died, which lasted through the ages. The most amazing thing is that an eight-year-old child killed himself, which is not recorded in history books."

……

In the 15th year of Chongzhen, at the beginning of February.

In the lobby, Wang Doufan was looking at a copy, and Zhong Zhengxian, the head of the copywriting in the shogunate official office, stood by and waited.

After reading through it carefully, Wang Dou nodded, signed "Agree" on it, two strong and powerful characters, and then stamped his own seal.

Because there are various members of the shogunate responsible for specific matters, most of Wang Dou's daily affairs are signatures and seals, and the word "agreement" can be said to be written very well.

After Zhong Zhengxian went out, Wang Dou stretched his waist, paced back and forth in the lobby, and slowly walked to the bookshelf to see if he could find a history book to read.

As the general yamen of a town and the residence of Yongning Hou, the lobby of Wangdou can be described as grand and spacious, with huge painted walls and several tall screens. The most prominent feature is that there is a row of antique mahogany antiques on the north wall. There are shelves full of neatly arranged volumes of books.

As a yamen, near the lobby, there are naturally two halls, three halls, various types of public housing, etc., as places for the shogunate to work, but Wang Dou seldom goes to those places, except for adding unnecessary pressure to his subordinates, there is nothing else benefit.

If he has free time, he will read books.

I was looking for it, the guard came to report, and Du Xun, the eunuch in charge of Xuanfu Town, asked to see him.

Soon, Du Xun came in frowning, and when he saw Wang Dou, he said impatiently, "Yongninghou, you promised me the silver taels. Up to now, you have only given 5 taels, and there are 15 taels left." Where did you go?"

(End of this chapter)