Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 542

When He Tengjiao returned to the mansion, the family members who had received his news earlier were already packing their bags. The people in the courtyard were busy making a group, and the soldiers of the Governor's Mansion also helped to load the valuables into the cart.

The old housekeeper in the mansion ran back and forth, ordering the servants to handle it with care from time to time.

At this moment, He Tengjiao's eldest son, He Wenrui, came back from outside and happened to meet He Tengjiao, so he hurriedly saluted, "Father."

He Tengjiao nodded and asked, "Is the boat ready?"

"Reporting to father, the boy has prepared six large boats by the river, which should be enough."

He Tengjiao was very satisfied when he heard this, and then he ordered: "Wuchang is a place of right and wrong, you should also prepare and go to Guangnan together. When you get there, take care of your mother. If you have anything to discuss with your sister, the Wang family is now There is nothing that cannot be resolved.”

He Wenrui has been following He Tengjiao all the time, and he naturally understands the current situation. After hearing this, he said anxiously: "Father, the battle is coming, my child will not leave."

He Tengjiao glared at him, "Are you able to wield a knife, or draw a bow?"

He Wenrui was reprimanded not to dare to look up, but at this moment, there was a commotion outside the He mansion. In a short while, outside the mansion, the gentry and common people were all around, clamoring to see He Tengjiao.

These days, the people of Wuchang have been in fear, their moods are up and down, and they can't be at ease. Finally, when He Tengjiao returned to Wuchang with his soldiers and horses, he felt at ease when he thought that Chu Du was in charge.

But who would have thought that at this time, rumors suddenly rose in the city, saying that He Tengjiao had no intention of defending Wuchang at all, that Ma Jinzhong's soldiers and horses had never entered the city, and that the servants in He Tengjiao's mansion were busy packing their luggage, and the boats on the river were ready, We are about to flee Wuchang.

As soon as the people heard it, it was okay. The governor had just defected to the enemy, and the governor of Chu was about to leave again. What should they do?

The gentry were also in a hurry, and hurriedly asked people to inquire, and those who came back reported that the He Mansion was indeed packing up, and now they couldn't sit still.

The Qing soldiers had already arrived at Sanjiangkou, and the gentry had a big family and business. It was too late to clean up at this time, and He Tengjiao could get a boat, but they didn't have to.

Furthermore, the gentry are no better than ordinary people, and they have more or less knowledge. Once Wuchang was lost, more than [-] Qing soldiers rushed in, and the morale of the Ming army was drained. I am afraid that it is very likely that it will eventually lead to a major defeat in Huguang and Jiangxi.

If the situation was like this, fleeing would be death. After hearing the news, many gentry immediately flocked to the He Mansion and blocked the gate of the mansion in an instant.

The guards outside the mansion came in hurriedly, He Tengjiao also heard the movement, and reprimanded very unhappy: "What's the noise?"

The guard hurriedly confessed: "Reporting to the supervisor, many people suddenly gathered outside the mansion, claiming to see the supervisor, and I don't know what's going on with my humble position."

"There's a lot of noise in front of the mansion, what's the point of telling them to disperse quickly." He Tengjiao said angrily. As a governor, he has the majesty of a governor.

"Reporting to the supervisor, the humble post said, but they refused to leave, they must see the supervisor, and the leaders are all gentry in the city, Fang Ge is among them, the brothers dare not be violent."

The elder Fang Ge mentioned by the soldiers was Fang Fengnian, a scholar of the Chongzhen Dynasty. In normal history, it was said that he passed the information secretly for the Ming Dynasty in the second year of Longwu and was killed by the Qing soldiers. But now his family has moved to Wuchang.

When He Tengjiao heard this, he frowned slightly. Gentlemen and unruly people are different. He first said to He Wenrui: "You go and clean up first, and I will talk to you later as a father."

After finishing speaking, He Tengjiao waved his sleeves, then turned and walked towards the gate of the mansion.

In fact, the gentry and the common people gathered to meet officials like this, which is usually not seen. If they are so easy to see, they are not officials.

Officials are most afraid of such group incidents, and at most send a small official to dismiss them casually, or ask the other party to send a few representatives to talk.

Of course, sometimes it depends on the situation, like at this time, when He Tengjiao wanted to come, it should be that the gentry knew that he was going back to the city, so he came to see him. This was his chance to gain prestige, and he was at the door, so he decided to meet him. See.

At this time, as soon as he left the mansion, he saw the three floors in front of the door, and the three floors outside. His mansion was completely surrounded by people, and their anger was obviously wrong.He Tengjiao's face changed, but it was too late to regret.

At this time, a skinny old man looked at him, stepped forward, grabbed his wrist, and asked in a slap in the face: "Master He, do you have enough soldiers? Not old enough to give you swords and bows, okay?" ?”

After the old man finished speaking, before He Tengjiao could react, the surrounding young adults echoed, "There are not enough soldiers, we are willing to take the lead, and the supervisor must not abandon Wuchang."

The old man was Fang Fengnian, a bachelor during the Chongzhen period, with his qualifications and prestige, He Tengjiao was not easy to get angry, and said with a smile: "Where is Mr. Fang, how could it be possible for Mr. Fang to kill the enemy?"

Fang Fengnian heard this, but he didn't want to let go of He Tengjiao. He didn't let go of his hand, he took another half step forward, and then forced him to ask: "Is it because you don't have enough money?"

After speaking, I saw a group of men separated from the crowd, carrying more than ten boxes to the gate of the mansion, and put them heavily on the ground. The men opened the boxes, and they were full of silver.

"If the supervisor is short of money, I am willing to donate money."

Seeing this, He Tengjiao's face sank, but Fang Fengnian said again: "If the supervisor is short of food, the people in the city are willing to eat only one meal and give all the food to the officers and soldiers. I only hope that the supervisor can guard the ancestor's foundation. Mo The people of Chu were massacred by the Qing soldiers, leaving a lifetime of infamy!"

At this time, a scholar rushed up again, holding a piece of white silk in his hand, with patches of bright red faintly showing on it, with words written on it, he knelt down in front of He Tengjiao, held it up high, and listened to his pain Said in a loud voice: "This is a blood letter written by four hundred colleagues of Jianghan Academy. I beg the supervisor not to abandon Wuchang."

Almost at the same time, several scholars rushed forward, without saying a word, they knocked their heads on the stone steps!Knock to death!How can a human head hit a stone, blood came out within two strokes, and several people immediately bled.

The crowd below also boiled up, fell to their knees, and screamed in pain, "Master, you can't go~ The Qing army has no humanity, and the people of Wuchang all rely on the supervisor~"

He Tengjiao's heart fluctuated, he wanted to leave, but didn't the generals agree?

Now that the people are making such a fuss, he will definitely not be able to leave, and not only he will not be able to leave, but his family members will also be unable to leave.

He Tengjiao couldn't help feeling angry, but he couldn't. He looked at the crowd in front of the mansion. Countless people were calling, roaring, and even crying. He sighed secretly, and took the white silk that the scholar held high , said insincerely: "Everyone should rest assured that this governor will try his best to guard Wuchang and never leave the city."

(Sorry for today, I will update again tomorrow)
(End of this chapter)