This general's name is Chen Xinjia, who is currently the commander of Qinzhou Chengjing Guards. He had met Han Gongduan several times before.

The Daliang military system stipulates that, except for Kyoto and the border, all inland states have Xiang troops to protect the territory and the people and suppress banditry. Generally speaking, each state has only one Xiang army, which at most exceeds the conventional limit in number.

However, because of the existence of Chengjing as a companion capital, Qinzhou had two armies, namely Chengjing Guard and Yongping Guard.

As the commander of the Chengjing Guard, Chen Xinjia arrived very timely today, but when he arrived with his troops, the victims had already been frightened by the imperial army, and he could completely stop his subordinates' actions.

Han Gongduan looked away from this person, looked at the trembling victims on the long street, and said to Xu Ren in a deep voice: "Treat the injured immediately."

"Yes!" Xu Ren bowed his hands in agreement, and then led the imperial troops down the stone steps to the middle of the victims to check the injuries of those who had been hit by arrows.

However, instead of expressing gratitude, the victims looked at them with complicated eyes.

There was not only fear in this look, but also hatred that could not be concealed.

Han Gongduan naturally discovered this. In fact, today's turmoil was originally a trap for him, the disaster relief imperial envoy.

If he opens a granary to store grain, it will inevitably attract other people in the city, but the reserves of Changping Granary cannot meet the needs of so many people. If he insists on refusing to back down, the ending will inevitably be like this, plus

Chen Xinjia shot nearly a hundred victims to death with one order. It is conceivable that Han Gongduan, who was already trapped in the quagmire, would become even more difficult.

It is difficult for the common people to distinguish the twists and turns in the officialdom. They only know that they do not want to starve to death. They just want the imperial envoy to distribute some food. However, so many people are killed by the officers and soldiers, and the hatred will inevitably spread very quickly.

Come.

They will only record this blood debt on Han Gongduan's head.

Han Gongduan suppressed his anger in his heart, turned to look at Chen Xinjia and said, "I will truthfully report to Your Majesty what happened today."

Chen Xinjia was slightly startled, then said with a grimace: "Your Majesty, the general was afraid that these mobs would disturb you, so he hastily ordered the arrows to be fired, and did not intend to kill the people of Daliang. I hope you will be considerate, Your Majesty.

A few kind words in front of me."

Hearing these extremely shameless remarks, Han Gongduan's eyes became even colder.

However, he had nothing to do with the other party right now.

Although he is a member of the Dongfu government and has a distinguished status, the rules in Daliang are very strict. People in the Dongfu have no control over the generals in the army. Not to mention that Chen Xinjia is the commander of the Chengjing Guards. Even if he is just a small guerrilla, Han Gongduan

He also has no power to remove him from military service.

Before leaving Beijing, Emperor Kaiping had given him a decree. During the disaster relief process, if any officials were found to be corrupt and perverting the law, officials below the third rank could be beheaded first and then reported. The problem was that this decree was only within the civil servant system. Even if Han Gongduan went out of his way to kill Chen Xinjia on the spot,

The other party's excuses are also impeccable.

On the surface, the situation at that time was indeed critical. Although even Han Gongduan could see that these victims had been stopped and would not pose any real danger, Chen Xinjia was located a bit far away at the time and could not accurately judge the situation in a hurry.

Excusable.

At this moment, Song Ximeng, the governor of Qinzhou, and Yin Luqi of Chengjing Prefecture, who was sweating profusely, hurried over.

The two of them breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Mr. Han was safe and sound.

Song Ximeng had a slim figure and an aristocratic air. He looked nothing like a frontier official who controlled the fate of countless lives. He walked up to Han Gongduan alone and sighed: "As a governor, there are so many rioters under my rule.

I’m really ashamed that I almost disturbed Mr. Han.”

Han Gongduan looked into this man's eyes and said in a deep voice: "Uncle Fang of Song Dynasty, may I ask why the people in the city have no food to buy?"

Song Ximeng glanced at the thousands of victims who were surrounded by sergeants on the long street, and said hesitantly: "Master Han, all the grain merchants have closed down. They say that the grain has been sold out, and the lower officials cannot force them to produce grain."

Han Gongduan heard the implication of his words and suddenly understood the whole story.

The victims were bewitched and tried to attack the imperial envoy's camp. Then Chen Xinjia led his troops to kill some people, which intensified the situation, forcing him to make a choice: either use the food from Changpingcang to relieve the people in the city, or stick to the previous strategy and then do whatever he wanted.

The suppressed and desperate mood spread in the city, eventually leading to even worse consequences.

The atmosphere became very dull, but the next scene made Han Gongduan and Song Ximeng suddenly change their expressions.

Many people appeared at both ends of the long street. Like the victims of the disaster, they had obviously been hungry for a long time. Especially after the people walking in front saw nearly a hundred corpses on the long street, this news seemed to be inserted into the news.

Like wings, it spread rapidly in the city.

…

On a three-story building a few miles to the southwest, seven middle-aged men were sitting in a private room on the top floor.

Wang E sat on the main seat, listening to the reports from his confidants, and the expression on his face gradually became relaxed.

Sun Mingchun smiled and said: "I didn't expect Han Shenzheng to be so benevolent. He would fall out with Song Fangbo for the sake of those humble people."

Zhao Xin, who was sitting opposite him, said proudly: "Brother Sun, don't you understand? If he doesn't transfer the food from Changpingcang into the city today, the people in the city who have been hungry for almost half a month will eat this imperial envoy alive.

grown ups."

The head of the Yu family, Yu Guangcun, twisted his beard and said with a smile: "Han Shenzheng must be in a dilemma at the moment. If the food from Changpingcang is supplied to the people in the city, how will the counties below provide relief? Duke Kunwu is indeed a master of calculation, and he made this decision long ago.

The strategy of retreat is to advance. The heads of six small merchants were given away in exchange for the rabbits of the remaining grain merchants.

With such sorrow, as long as there is no one to sell grain in Qinzhou, can Han Zhengzheng behead everyone?"

Everyone was full of praise, and Wang E said calmly: "This is not the result of one person, it depends on everyone's concerted efforts and sincere cooperation."

Sun Mingchun praised him again, and then asked: "Mr. Kunwu, are we going to start selling grain next?"

Wang E pondered: "If Han Shenzheng wants to calm down today's chaos, he can only use the food from Changpingcang to help the people in the city. In this way, he must rely on us to solve the crisis in the counties below. Everyone, we

At this time, we must be even more humble, so as not to completely anger the imperial envoy."

Zhao Xin touched his forehead and said, "Please give me some advice from Mr. Kun Wu, how to grasp the appropriateness in this?"

Wang E smiled faintly and said: "Tell the grain merchants in control to ask them to intercede with Song Fangbo, the political advisor of Han Dynasty, and ask them to sell grain at a price that is 50% higher than in previous years, so that they can barely keep their capital. For those who really can't afford the money,

People must be allowed to exchange land deeds for food."

Everyone laughed, and the head of the Yu family, Yu Jie, sighed: "It's just right and it will happen naturally. It's wonderful."

Wang E looked around at everyone and said softly: "Please remember that we have nothing to do with these things, and don't give the imperial envoy a chance to fall out."

"I will obey your orders." Everyone responded respectfully.

At this time, one of Wang E's confidants suddenly walked into the private room, came to the side of the middle-aged man, and said in a hurry and panic: "Master Qi, the Marquis of Zhongshan led a thousand cavalry to suddenly enter the city, and is now heading towards the Imperial Envoy's carriage.

!”

Wang E's expression changed drastically and he said angrily: "Didn't he arrive only the day after tomorrow?"

The confidant said with a sad face: "Return to the master, our people were captured by spies under the command of Zhongshan Hou. The news returned in the past three days is all false news. In fact, they arrived in Haiyang County this morning, and then Zhongshan Hou led a thousand cavalry.

Abandon the mission and run straight in from the north gate!"

There was a panic in the room. Zhao Xin stood up and said: "Kunwu Gong, we can't hesitate anymore. I think we should immediately mobilize the manpower under each family's control and simply encourage the people in the city to make the matter a big deal!"

Wang E blinked his eyes quickly, and just as he was about to say yes, a flash of lightning suddenly exploded in his mind. He suddenly reached out and grabbed the collar of his confidant, and said in a cold voice: "Since our people are controlled by the other party, why can he do it now?"

Send a message back?"

The confidant was stunned for a moment and said with fear: "He said... He said that after the mission arrived in Haiyang County, the soldiers let him go and gave him a horse, so that he could rush back to deliver the message."

Wang E's face was gloomy and uncertain. He slowly let go of his hand and shook his head. "Everyone, please be patient. Pei Yue is very good at conspiracy. He is obviously trying to dig a hole for us. Don't fall for his trap."

Sun Mingchun said with a frightened look: "Extremely, maybe he is waiting for us to take action, and then seizes our leverage to reverse the situation."

Zhao Xin sat down and said uneasily: "Mr. Kunwu, are we not going to do anything?"

Wang E had calmed down at this time and nodded: "Don't panic, everyone. No one is more familiar with the situation in Qinzhou than us. Even if he can kill people, he can't conjure food out of thin air. Just wait and see what happens."

Everyone could only continue to sit, their hearts agitated, and they no longer had the leisurely calmness they had just now.

Wang E drank tea calmly, but there was a desire in his heart to turn his head and look north, as if he wanted to see what Pei Yue was going to do.

…

The imperial envoy travels to the palace.

More and more people began to gather here, and the more than 2,000 people surrounded by soldiers began to change their emotions.

Chen Xinjia frowned. This was not a deliberate attitude, but the development of things had deviated from his expectation.

Originally, he just used this opportunity to get Han Gongduan into trouble, but the subsequent changes obviously forced the imperial envoy to make a decision. Chen Xinjia did not want to offend the other party to death. Although civil and military affairs were different, Han Gongduan would obviously become the leader. With this

What good does it do him to have a personal enmity with someone else?

People die for wealth and birds die for food, but Chen Xinjia doesn't want to bid farewell to this world so early.

But the current situation is obviously not something he can handle easily.

Han Gongduan and Song Ximeng looked at each other, their expressions extremely solemn.

The people of Daliang have always been docile, but if they are deprived of food, the two important ministers who have read history well know the consequences.

At this time, Han Gongduan was heard saying softly: "Uncle Song Fang, do you think those people will give up?"

Song Ximeng changed his vague words and said in a deep tone: "No."

Thousands of ordinary people fill the long street. If you look at them one by one, you will find that everyone is very weak. After all, they are just ordinary people who have not had enough to eat for a long time and are unarmed. But if you look down from above, when these people

When people gather together, there is another shocking torrent.

In the hundred years of peace in Chengjing, such a situation has never happened.

The Forbidden Army and the Chengjing Guards led by Chen Xinjia felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy. Everyone was so nervous that they dared not speak out.

There was a suffocating silence in the air.

Until a rhythmic sound of horse hooves appeared at the north end of the long street, easily breaking the determined momentum of tens of thousands of people.

A large flag appeared first, with six characters written on it.

Pei, the Marquis of Daliang Zhongshan.
Chapter completed!