There are actually no living people in Jingzhou City, but in this town of seven to eight thousand people, only five or six hundred people survived.
When Bai Congxin found them, these people were running for their lives carrying large and small bags.
Bai Congxin originally wanted to call them back, but these people who were frightened by the rebels dared not stop. In the end, Bai Congxin could only order the soldiers to arrest them.
When Bai Congxin brought these crying Jingzhou people back, Zhang Zhao knew that there must be survivors here.
Because there were not many corpses in the northern part of Jingzhou City, and traces of cleaning could be seen, these people should have chosen to leave the city to escape after seeing soldiers coming down the Jinghe River.
"Well done, officials! Let us go!"
"We are all raised by our parents, can we have any sympathy at all?"
"What crime have I committed? Should I suffer the pain of these swords and soldiers? The last month there was a massacre of soldiers, killing dozens of my close relatives and looting all my property and food. What is there to gain from coming back today?"
Hundreds of people were driven back by Bai Congxin. As soon as they arrived at the north gate of Jingzhou, they burst into tears.
Just outside the north gate was the rushing Jing River. These people thought that Bai Congxin had kidnapped them just to kill them by the river.
As for why they were killed? Do you still need to ask? Of course they were killed to make preserved meat, and the river was just right for cleaning, so there was no need to dirty the ground.
Zhang Zhao did not go up to explain immediately, because explaining to them now was definitely not as important as immediately cleaning up the rotting corpses in Jingzhou City.
The temperature has been gradually rising in June. If we don't deal with it now, a major epidemic may begin.
Zhang Zhao also looked at the people who were crying and shouting. They had lived in Jingzhou City for a month or two and were probably infected with the disease.
Lady Han Qi was among the crowd, holding the two children in her arms tightly. Her trembling body, thin face, and eyes revealed a deep hatred for the soldiers with guns and knives in front of her.
Her family was originally from a large family in Jingzhou, with a family of poems and etiquette. Her husband was good at medicine and was highly appreciated by An Shuqian, the governor of Jiedu.
Mrs. Han Qi came from a medical family. She married in Shuzhong and moved to Jingzhou. The couple opened a medical clinic and recruited smart young people as apprentices. They became famous in Jingzhou and even the entire Kansai region.
Unfortunately, there was a war, her parents-in-law were killed, and her husband was kidnapped. Although she escaped with her two children with the help of several apprentices, she had just found a place to stay and was ready to wait for her husband to come back.
I knew that the rebels were coming again.
However, Lady Han Qi looked at it for a while and suddenly found that these 'thief soldiers' were a little different. They were cleaning up the corpses in the city on a large scale, and they were boiling soup by the river. The soldiers' faces were all covered with white cotton cloth. It looked like
Come on, there are some good healers here!
However, Mrs. Han Qi smelled it carefully and found that there seemed to be something wrong with the prescription. Several main ingredients were missing. She couldn't help but wonder, how could someone who knew how to cover the face with fine white cotton cloth be so ignorant of pharmacology?
Zhang Zhao sighed, feeling very unhappy. A total of more than 4,000 corpses were cleared out of Jingzhou City, and most of them had begun to rot.
A clear eye could see that the corpses were covered with knife and gun wounds, and almost all the women were naked. Many babies died tragically next to their naked mothers. Some husbands were hacked to death in front of the door, and their wives and daughters died naked on the beds in the house.
Many pregnant women could not escape death, and their babies had already begun to take shape in their rotting bodies.
There are also many people with mutilated corpses. They were not killed by the insurgents, but were eaten by wild dogs, wolves and even rats these days.
The soldiers of the Guiyi Army followed Zhang Zhao to move the corpses. Many of them were not happy at first, but later, when they saw the tragic situation in Jingzhou City, everyone was silent and felt heavy in their hearts.
"Lao Yan, Lao Bai, Nobu Chang'er, Lie Cheng'er, what do you think?"
Zhang Zhao asked the people who were following him. Yan Jin, Bai Congxin and others also knew that this was Zhang Zhao's habit of adding an inexplicable old character when addressing people.
Yan Jin shook his head, his face unmoved, "Since the middle and late Tang Dynasty, military discipline has been corrupted, and this has been achieved for hundreds of years. In fact, this is not only the case in the Central Plains, but also in Tubo. However, the general cannot control others, but he can definitely control the soldiers under his command.
"
Bai Congxin was even less volatile. He was a horse bandit and tortured and killed babies. Although pregnant women had never done this, he had heard a lot about it.
Uh! Maybe he hasn't committed such atrocities because babies and pregnant women don't appear in business.
But after following Zhang Zhao for five or six years, Bai Congxin was also influenced by Zhang Zhao, and his state of mind was very different from before.
"These thieves are so cruel that they are just a mob. Even if there are one or two fierce people, they will not be able to achieve anything. If Sikong marches eastward with benevolent and righteous soldiers, he will definitely win a complete victory!"
Murong Nobunaga clenched his fist bitterly, "Haier just discussed this matter with Brother Liecheng. The rebels have no humanity. When they get to the battle formation, I will definitely kill him every seven times he enters and seven times he leaves!"
"Yes! If we defeat those rebels, no one will be left alive!" Zhang Liecheng also said angrily. He was from the lowest background and could empathize with the people at the bottom.
Zhang Zhao nodded. At this time, Guo Tiance also rushed over. Zhang Zhao looked at everyone and said.
"Why should I strictly enforce military discipline? In view of this, I, the son of the rebel army, am a loyal soldier who never forgets his homeland. I will not kill indiscriminately or plunder, so that we can live like the rising sun in this chaotic and dark world.
As dazzling as the rising sun, let the world know our loyalty, bravery, benevolence and righteousness.
Tiance, you summon all the secretaries to write down today's tragic situation into a script and regulations, so that all the sons of the rebel army will know that soldiers protect their homes and countries and will never touch the blood of civilians on their hands.
When I return to the rebel army, I must not allow anything like this to happen to tarnish our century-old righteousness of returning to the country. Anyone who dares to commit this crime will be beheaded, no matter how close they are or what their position is!"
"I obey the order! I will definitely spread the word to the whole army, so that everyone knows Sikong's benevolence and righteousness!" Guo Tiance quickly accepted the order, and then went down to prepare.
After the body was cremated, it was almost dark, so the cooks in the Guiyi Army cooked thick corn porridge and baked biscuits.
Originally, everyone drank fish soup along the way. After all, we could save a little on military rations, and the fish caught in the river tasted pretty good when made into soup.
But when they arrived in Jingzhou, everyone saw such a tragic situation, especially after a body floated on the sand on both sides of the Jing River from time to time, everyone no longer wanted to drink fish soup.
Zhang Zhao simply had dozens of thin sheep slaughtered and cooked mutton soup.
After the aroma of the porridge and scones, especially the mutton soup, spread to the captured people in Jingzhou, these refugees, whose food stores had long been looted by the rebels, suddenly became unable to sit still.
They looked eagerly at the direction where the scent was coming from and kept twitching their noses. They didn't know what this group of soldiers wanted to do by catching them but not killing them, and then ignoring them now.
The two little heads in Lady Han Qi's arms were arched. A girl with a messy bun raised her thin face covered with black mud and looked pitifully at Lady Han Qi.
"Mom, Yu'er wants to eat cake!"
Hearing what the little girl said, the little boy on the side rubbed Madam Han Qi's chest with some fear, and suddenly said in a low voice: "Mom, Bao'er is hungry, and Bao'er also wants to eat cakes."
Mrs. Han Qi felt a surge of sadness and grievance, and a few more tears rolled out of her eyes that had already lost tears.
She hugged the two children and didn't know how to answer, so she could only sob quietly. Listening to her cry, the people in Jingzhou around her were also filled with sadness and sobbed together.
At this time, the meal was ready. Zhang Zhao personally brought a dustpan of cakes and asked the soldiers to take the cakes and rice porridge to the group of surviving Jingzhou people.
The people of Jingzhou who were lucky enough to escape with their lives looked at Zhang Zhao blankly. They crowded together tightly and trembled like quails. However, their eyes were not full of fear, but there was also a strong hatred hidden in their eyes.
Zhang Zhao placed the cakes and porridge in front of them, and then waved to a few old men who looked like leaders in the crowd.
"We have to go east to quell the chaos, and the military rations are not very sufficient. Let's give each person a bowl of porridge and a piece of cake."
As he spoke, Zhang Zhao paused. Originally, these people must not have a portion of mutton, but when Zhang Zhao looked at their skinny bodies and some young children who were almost starving, he suddenly felt extremely unbearable.
He turned back to Guo Tiance and said: "Ask the cooks to bring another bucket of mutton soup. The mutton should be stewed until it's mushy. Add a little more salt."
The crowd stared blankly at Zhang Zhao. They were prepared to kill him at the hands of his neck, but they did not expect that someone would give them something to eat. Everyone was doubtful, and no one dared to reply or move.
When Mrs. Han Qi heard that there was something to eat, she felt very sad because of the crying of the two children just now, so she gritted her teeth and stood up.
"Isn't this officer going to kill me? Isn't he going to let us have enough food so we can go on the road?"
Zhang Zhao was still fine, but Guo Tiance next to him was unhappy. He stepped forward, pointed a halberd at Lady Han Qi and said angrily.
"This lady is so dumb that she can't speak. The person in front of you is Sikong, the school inspector, and Duke Zhang in Hexi Festival. Duke Zhang took pity on you and gave you food. How dare you treat your kindness like a donkey's liver and lungs?"
Lady Han Qi smiled sadly after hearing this, "Then what this officer said, today we see officers and soldiers who don't kill people. If there are such officers and soldiers in the world, how can our families be destroyed?"
These words were a bit offensive. Zhang Zhao looked at this thin woman with sad eyes and looked like she was crazy. He wanted to scold her, but he thought that this woman might have had a close family member killed, so she went a little crazy.
Thinking of this, Zhang Zhao couldn't bear it anymore. He tried to soften his voice a little and said softly.
"We are the Guiyi army from Hexi, not the bandit army that looted Pizhou. We were ordered by the imperial court to deal with the traitors. Don't be suspicious and just eat in peace."
After saying that, Zhang Zhao did not stay any longer, but turned around to arrange the garrisoning of the army and other matters.
With the food in hand, Lady Han Qi and other Jingzhou people's faces finally became a little more angry. They wolfed down the food and started eating by the river.
Lady Han Qi broke the crispy Hu cake into small pieces, mixed it with mutton soup and corn porridge, and slowly fed her son and daughter. She was a little curious about the Hexi Jiedu in the distance and was Zhang Gong.
Is there really a benevolent and righteous teacher in this world who does not kill or plunder?
She thought for a while, then asked the old woman next to her to take care of her child, then stood up and walked towards Zhang Zhao amid the worried eyes of everyone.
Zhang Zhao was also preparing to eat something. At this time, he heard the guards yelling from behind. He turned around and saw that the crazy and thin little lady was stopped.
Zhang Zhaochong waved his hand to the guards, signaling them to let the woman come over. Fanshun, who was eating next to Zhang Zhao, quickly stood up and put his hand on the handle of the short knife at his waist.
Although the person who came was a woman and very thin, as Zhang Zhao's personal bodyguard, he still had to be vigilant.
"Slave, on behalf of the survivors of Jingzhou, thank Zhang Sikong for the meal!" Lady Han Qi said with a somewhat stiff expression.
Zhang Zhao smiled faintly and said, "This lady came here alone. She didn't just want to say thank you. If you have anything to say, you can just say it!"
Madam Han Qing nodded slightly awkwardly, but when she spoke, she seemed extremely confident, "I saw Sikong's doctor by the river, brewing medicine to prevent epidemics?"
"That's right! After a major disaster, there will be a major epidemic." Zhang Zhao nodded, "This lady also knows medical skills?"
Speaking of medical skills, Zhang Zhao suddenly gained some momentum when he saw this thin, dirty little lady, and her dirty face actually shone with pride, like a girl who had just laid an egg. Like a little hen.
"Slave, I understand a little bit, but Sikong is brewing Yupingfeng Powder? This is a prescription to prevent the invasion of wind evil, but it cannot prevent epidemics and viruses. Moreover, the proportion of this prescription is not yet mature. If you use it rashly, it will do more harm than good.
The Jade Ping Feng Powder, which is also Sikong, lacks the two medicinal ingredients of raw astragalus and honeysuckle, and the emperor, ministers and envoys mix them randomly. Since you know how to cover your mouth and nose with white cotton cloth to block external evils, how can you use such incomplete prescriptions?"
Ugh! Zhang Zhao turned around and looked at the medical doctors accompanying the army behind him. These "famous doctors" in Hexi were extremely embarrassed.
"Reporting to Sikong, there are indeed a few herbs missing, but these herbs are not available in Hexi, so we can only reduce the number by one or two."
Okay! Zhang Zhao doesn’t blame them at all. Zhang Zhao knows the medical level in Hexi, and he can’t even find a few people who can even identify the medicinal materials.
As for treating illnesses, well! Zhang Zhao never got sick, and even if he did, the monks from Dayun Temple would still be there.
But Dundup had experienced the medical standards of Hexi healers, and when he came back, he told Zhang Zhao that they were not much different from what he had seen on the Qingtang Plateau. They were basically at the level of drinking talisman water.
"This lady can tell there is something wrong with the medicine just by smelling it. She must have extraordinary medical skills. So what kind of prescription should I use to prevent and treat such diseases?"
Zhang Zhao cupped his hands and winked at Guo Tiance. Guo Tiance quickly brought a small wooden stool and asked Lady Han Qi to sit down.
"Of course you have to use Bai Du Powder, because epidemic diseases are caused by the invasion of the evil spirit into the human body.
Only by using the dry Duhuo and Qianghuo to dispel dampness and relieve pain, then use Qianhu, Poria, etc. to strengthen the body and dispel evil, and finally use Bupleurum, Platycodon, etc. to regulate Qi, can we prevent and treat diseases.
It's a pity that there are no precious medicinal materials such as ginseng here, otherwise the effect would be better."
Mrs. Han Qi talked about the prescriptions incessantly, and Zhang Zhao's brain ached when she listened to them.
He doesn't understand anything about cold, dispelling evil, and strengthening the roots!
But when he saw the dumbfounded expressions of the medical doctors behind him, Zhang Zhao felt that this little lady must be capable.
"Dare I ask my little lady's last name? But her family background?" Zhang Zhao finally wanted to make sure.
"The surname of Nufu's family is Zhao, which can be regarded as a family origin. However, it is inherited from Nu's father and brother Han Baosheng. He has always been famous in Shu, and the Lord of Shu has summoned him many times to ask for medicine."
Zhang Zhao had never heard of Han Baosheng's name, but he knew Meng Chang of Hou Shu.
Governing the country is not bad! But he is more famous for his special skills as an intellectual, including poetry, poetry, and horoscopes.
Meng Chang, who was well versed in pharmacology, was certainly not an ordinary person who could be summoned to ask about medicine.
What's more, Zhang Zhao really needs an army doctor who is proficient in medical science, because the situation in Pizhou and other places must be more terrible than that in Jingzhou.
Pizhou not only has a larger population than Jingzhou, but the rebels have been in Pizhou longer than Jingzhou. It is estimated that very few of the more than 20,000 people in Pizhou City will survive.
With the corpses exposed to the sun on this hot day, I'm afraid the epidemic prevention situation is much more severe than in Jingzhou.
Furthermore, in Liangzhou under Zhang Zhao’s current rule, the level of medicine is about the same as dancing to a master and drinking talisman water.
Moreover, Shu is much richer than Guanzhong and Hexi. Even the quack doctors from Shu can be called famous doctors when they arrive in Hexi. What reason does Zhang Zhao have not to recruit a young lady from such a well-educated family?
There is someone who is so proficient in medical skills, regardless of whether he is a man or a woman, why don't you just go to Liangzhou as soon as possible?
Therefore, Zhang Zhao immediately put on the face of a courteous corporal, "I am interested in inviting Madam Han to be the special envoy for epidemic prevention in the army. I wonder what Madam Han wants?"
As soon as Zhang Zhao said these words, Lady Han Qi was stunned, Guo Tiance was also stunned, and everyone behind her, especially the medical doctors from Liangzhou, were even more stunned.
How can women be allowed to serve as officers in the army from ancient times to the present?
However, Zhang Zhao had great authority in the army, and no one dared to raise objections even when he said it. Madam Han was stunned and slowly shook her head, then seemed to nod her head, feeling a little at a loss.
Zhang Zhao knew that although the customs of this era were much more open than those of the Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties, a woman serving in the army would have to face tens of thousands of strong men on a regular basis.
Especially for the profession of a healer, it is inevitable to have close contact, and it is difficult for women to agree to it, so he quickly tried to persuade her while the iron was hot.
"Ms. Han, your family has been destroyed. Is there anything you can't let go of? Don't you want to avenge your family?
The eldest princess of Pingyang in this dynasty was a woman who did not show respect to men. She raised a large army to resist the violent Sui Dynasty, so that countless good men were willing to be driven by her. After her death, she was buried with military honors. When the heroine of the Great Sage Zetian and the Queen of Heaven came to the court, it was the first of its kind in history.
Today, someone just wants Lady Han to be the special envoy for epidemic prevention in the army, so why should you hesitate?"
Mrs. Han Qi's eyes shone when Zhang Zhao said this. She gritted her teeth and said, "I have one more thing to do. If Sikong can agree, I will die for Sikong Xiao!"
Zhang Zhao waved his hand magnanimously, "But it doesn't matter, I agreed first!"
I, Zhang Da Sikong, am definitely the most willing person in the world to give up to those who are truly capable and who I can use.
Moreover, Lady Han is already like this, what kind of excessive demands can she make?
Sure enough, Lady Han Qi bowed her head to Zhang Zhao and then said.
"Jingzhou was robbed by the rebels. Not only the gold and silver, but also the food was looted. Although hundreds of people including Nu escaped with their lives, they had no food. I begged Sikong to let them survive with the army."
"My lady is so kind-hearted!" Zhang Zhao sighed, but then he added.
"However, the military camp cannot support idle people. After they recover, the men will be lucky and the women will be part of the rescue team to rescue the wounded. Is that possible?"
Lady Han Qi looked at Zhang Zhao with reverence in her eyes. Zhang Sikong was actually willing to wait for the people of Jingzhou to recover before working again. He was so thoughtful and benevolent. He was indeed the best official he had ever seen.
people.
"On behalf of hundreds of people in Jingzhou, I want to thank Sikong for his great kindness. My family has a warehouse outside the city, which contains all kinds of medicines. I would like to donate it to Sikong for the use of the army.
Moreover, I can not only prevent and treat epidemic diseases, but also prepare medicines to relieve summer heat, which will definitely make Sikong Renyi’s master free from illness and pain!"
"Hahaha! Okay, Tiance, Madam Han will be paid according to the benefits of joining the army, and we will find three careful women from the people of Jingzhou to take care of Madam Han's children!"
Zhang Zhao laughed three times. This was the reward for his benevolence and righteousness. Not only did he have doctors to prevent and treat epidemic diseases, he also had a warehouse of medicinal materials, and he was also able to prepare medicines to relieve heat.
You must know that the most important thing for the army to fight in June and July is the medicine to relieve the heat. Now that Han Qi is here, he is more sure of conquering the rebels.
....
While Zhang Zhao was following the Jinghe River all the way south, Pei Yuan was also packing his bags in Kaifeng Prefecture, Tokyo.
But instead of going back to Hexi, he went in another direction, Lingwu, under the command of Lingwu Jiedushi Zhang Xichong, who served as Lingwu Jiedushi Chief Shi and Lingzhou Defense Envoy.
Zhang Zhao will soon know the reason why Pei Yuan allowed Shi Jingtang to generously send out the Hexi Jiedu envoys and the Shanlan Hekuo four prefectures observation and disposal envoys.
To put it simply, Pei Yuan gave Shi Jingtang the exclusive sales rights of Hexi sugar to Hedong.
At the same time, he persuaded temples in Kaifeng, Zhengzhou and other big cities to use them as collateral to loan Shi Jingtang nearly 1 million yuan for military expenses.
Perhaps it shouldn't be called a loan, but a multi-party loan, because in addition to the exclusive business rights, Pei Yuan also had to pay more than 600,000 yuan of Hexi silver notes to major temples.
Shi Jingtang will not return the 600,000 guan to Zhang Zhao, but will pay off the 600,000 guan by tax exemption to the Hexi merchants designated by the Hexi Jiedushi.
After finishing this matter, Pei Yuan felt a little sorry for Zhang Zhao, a total of 600,000 yuan!
But he knew that Zhang Zhao would definitely agree, because in addition to capturing the Hexi Jiedushi envoy, Zhang Zhao also got the opportunity to send troops to quell the rebellion.
Just by relying on the various talents and Han people who could be brought back to Hexi after the rebellion was over, Zhang Zhao would definitely not lose money, but the cost of 600,000 yuan was simply too much.
What a shame! A smart person like Pei Yuan still hasn’t grasped the essence of finance. The essence of finance is credit!
Those 600,000 silver notes are just paper. As long as Zhang Zhao has the exclusive method of making sugar, these silver notes bound to sugar will be almost costless silver as long as they are not issued too much.
Mountain, the mountain of silver that Zhang Zhao holds in his hand.
"Guoqiao, do you think we went too far by sending Pei Yuying to Lingwu?"
In the Daning Hall, Shi Jingtang looked at Pei Yuan's back as he left, and asked Sang Weihan unbearably.
Sang Weihan's eyes flashed fiercely, and he turned to Shi Jingtang and said: "This Pei Yuying is good at governing the country, and is even better at making plans. She is actually a figure like Xun Wenruo of Cao Wei and Meng Meng, the former King of Qin.
With the help of such people, Zhang Zhao is entrenched in Hexi and will be regarded as a serious national danger in the future. Pei Yuying must not be allowed to return to Hexi.
The northwest of Lingwu Guxuan was extremely rich and close to the grassland. Jiedu envoy Zhang Xichong had long wanted to resign, and he might have been seized by the Khitan if he was not careful.
There are many miscellaneous barbarians in the northwest. If the Khitans seize Lingwu and subdue the barbarians, the sage may ask for a Kaifeng emperor but not be able to get it!"
Although Shi Jingtang was the son-emperor, his relationship with the Khitans was shameless and somewhat confrontational.
What he and Sang Weihan thought was that after selling the Yanyun Sixteenth Prefecture, Shi Jingtang could still be the emperor of Kaifeng, but if he lost Lingwu and all the barbarians in the northwest returned to the Khitan, it would be completely over.
Therefore, as soon as Shi Jingtang entered Kaifeng, he summoned Lingwu Jiedushi (Shuofang Jiedushi) Zhang Xichong to Kaifeng.
However, Zhang Xichong had long been exhausted mentally and physically, and only wished to return to the Central Plains for retirement. Shi Jingtang persuaded Zhang Xichong to go back because of his persuasion.
However, Zhang Xichong governs such an important place with an extremely unwilling attitude, and problems may still exist.
So the two of them came together. First, they believed that Pei Yuan was Zhang Zhao's mastermind and had the idea of cutting off Zhang Zhao's right-hand man. Second, they wanted Pei Yuan to go to Lingzhou to help Zhang Xichong stabilize the situation.
"If the saint feels sorry for Pei Yuying, he might as well give a posthumous gift to his ancestors, grant his parents a title, honor his hometown, and then promote the talented people of the Pei family to officials.
We can even agree on a three-year period. If the situation in Lingwu is stable, Pei Yuying will be recruited to join the court!" Sang Weihan thought for a while and said to Shi Jingtang.
However, neither of them thought about a problem. Lingwu goes up the Yellow River, which is Lanzhou! There is Huizhou between the two!
But, no wonder, Shi Jingtang could give more to Pei Yuan than Zhang Zhao.
Not only can he be appointed as the prime minister of the central government, but also Pei Yuan can be given the title of wife and son, posthumous gifts to ancestors, title of parents, and promotion of brothers in the clan.
With all this Pei Yuan still wants to follow Zhang Zhao, isn't that unhealthy?
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
6800 words two in one, one update today.
This chapter has been completed!