The sky is gradually getting brighter, but there are still a lot of clouds, making the entire sky like a gray lens, making everything look a bit distorted and weird.
The sky is twisting, the earth is gray, and even the people busy at the Gubeikou Pass seem to be twisting, like living creatures or walking corpses.
After hearing the large-scale attack of the Hussars, the whole Youzhou seemed to be restless for a moment, but some people were active and some were passive, but no matter how they moved, they were uncomfortable. No matter whether they were on the crenellations of the city wall
The soldiers on duty, or the civilians carrying and repairing fortifications under the city, always showed some fearful and awkward expressions.
This pass was originally built to defend against the Hu people...
But now, it has become a place of internal fighting.
Perhaps there is nothing surprising. The Chinese tradition is to blame each other, spurn each other, scold each other, and fight against each other. But in fact, most of these mutual problems are caused by stagnant development.
Just like now, Youzhou is trapped in the pass and cannot enter. Wouldn't the remaining land and population have to start to be involuntarily?
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, Youzhou was more or less doing well. But when the Ming and Qing Dynasties established Youzhou as their capital, it was really called being so squeezed that even having an extra space to breathe was a great luxury.
There are always people who feel that they have finally climbed up, so why should they share the sunshine, rain and dew? They have completely forgotten how they hated, resented, and resented the things that occupied the upper part, which they obviously couldn't eat or use, during the process of climbing up.
But they are occupying those who refuse to let go...
The peasants who were coming and going were dragging and carrying things on the ground with their heads downcast.
Supplies of all sizes, both for outward and inward delivery, were crowded together on the south road of Gubeikou.
High and low sounds came and went.
"Give way!"
"Don't jump in line!"
"Give way!"
"Why give in?!"
"Are you going to fucking let me in?!"
"If you're going to fight, get away and stay out of the way!"
These civilians on the South Road don't care who is right or wrong. They just want to finish the job as soon as possible and get the money as soon as possible.
As for what is right and wrong, what kind of strange thing is that?
Is there such a thing in Shandong?
As long as they can calm down for a few days, they, the people of Youyan, feel that they have lived a few more days in the troubled times. As for whether the hussar wins or the prime minister wins, they don't care at all.
The reason why they came to help Cao Jun carry grain and repair the city walls under the oppression of Cao Jun was not because they were willing, but because they had no choice but to make ends meet.
And even though Cao Jun was very careful, cats had their own catwalks and mice had their own paths. The supplies they passed through were more or less contaminated with oil and flowers. After such a long period of half-hungry and half-full days,
This small amount of fuel and money can be considered to prolong life for a while, right?
As long as your luck is not so bad, you might be able to survive this bloody war!
Anyway, the senior officials have said that when you are spanked, you should stick to it, and a slap will not make a difference!
Don't run away, don't make trouble, otherwise it will just be marked red and green without discussion!
Don’t believe in rumors, don’t spread rumors, but whatever the great master says, you must believe it...
Driven by such emotions, whether it is Yuyang or Gubeikou, there is always a little less vitality and a little more death.
It turned out that there were some market vendors at this important pass, but now there are no traces of them. The rest are those who want to go but have no way to go, or who are unable to go for some reason. As for those who are still there
Most of the people who live a good life are eating from the government...
Who is not a fool these days?
It has been three or four hundred years since the founding of the Han Dynasty. Even after Liu Xiu's resurgence, nearly two hundred years have passed. The pioneering spirit and unyielding spirit at the beginning have long been replaced by trivial matters day after day.
It was wasted in it.
Especially the laws of don't fight back, don't help, predict and be courteous, subtly wiped out the last bit of conscience and blood of the Han people.
So here in Gubeikou, most people are just pretending.
Show it to your superiors.
After all, don’t the superiors’ superiors, and the superiors’ superiors’ superiors, just have to look at each other?
Lei Zhong led a group of people and looked at Gubeikou from a distance.
They circled back.
Lei Zhong felt somewhat emotional.
He originally thought that in this world, one could either actively become a lunatic or passively drive him crazy!
But I didn't expect that there was a new way in the darkness.
Sometimes, once you make up your mind, many things become easy.
Lei Zhong immediately put aside all his original tasks and responsibilities, and took Liu Fu straight to the south road of Gubeikou!
As a veteran in the army, Lei Zhong has been in the land of Youyan for quite some time. He can even estimate many things...
For example, now, Gubeikou will definitely send a military quartermaster to pay some amount of money and food to the soldiers of Cao's army stationed in Gubeikou. The purpose is very simple, just to stabilize people's hearts.
Cao Chun must still be in Yuyang, raising food and grass, deploying troops and horses...
But Cao Chun will also come to Gubeikou soon.
No one told Lei Zhong about this, but Lei Zhong knew it.
He knows it all.
He looked at the south entrance of Gubeikou and recalled some of the things he had done in Youyan over the years...
Yes, he actually knew everything, but he pretended not to know before.
It was like someone who had been stationed away for three years and came home to find that his wife had given him a one-year-old Lin'er. His wife said that she was out one day and saw big footprints in the field, and stepped on them out of curiosity.
Just got pregnant...
This is a God-given child!
Lei Zhong chuckled on his face, but felt numb in his heart.
She also stepped on footprints. Damn it, is this the reincarnation of Fuxi? Can she protect herself? This stupid woman just said that she was met by a catfish spirit while washing clothes. This is a better excuse than this!
But life is like this. In the Qin and Han Dynasties, there were many such things. It was enough for the children in the family to have their own surname. There were so many things to pay attention to, how could you still get by?
Prime Minister Cao didn't say anything without looking at him. What could a little boss like me say?
But year after year, piece by piece, although Lei Zhong didn't say anything, pretended not to know anything, and hid everything in his stomach, it would eventually ferment and bubble.
"belch……"
Lei Zhong untied the gourd, took a few sips, burped, then stared at the gourd for a moment, then suddenly snorted and threw the gourd by the roadside. The gourd happened to fall on a stone and cracked.
Became two halves.
Gourd, confused.
I originally thought that I was lucky because I was confused, but now Lei Zhong wants to understand, why should I be confused?
Lei Zhong didn't look at the gourd again and raised his head and moved forward.
When they came back, many people saw it and felt strange, but no one asked a question.
That's right, in Shandong, if it's none of your business, no one will ask "more" questions.
Of course, even if someone really asks more questions, the experienced Lei Zhong can fool him, but many people have clearly seen Lei Zhong come back without any emergency, and still choose to be aloof if it doesn't matter to them.
hang.
Before today, Lei Zhong himself did the same thing, but when he stood on the other side, he realized how big and terrifying this problem really was...
Lei Zhong turned his head and looked at Liu Fu's queue, which had been following him.
Liu Fu and others disguised themselves as "ordinary" passers-by in Youyan.
In Lei Zhong's eyes, Liu Fu and others were not "ordinary" at all.
Nowadays, in the land of Youyan, is there any passerby who can be like Liu Fu and others, who have a rosy face, a fat body, and a round belly and waist?
Look at the real Youyan people around you. Which one is not sallow and thin, dressed in ragged clothes, and looks gray?
But the strange thing is that many people are surprised, but they are not surprised either.
Lei Zhong also figured it out. In Shandong, it is better to do less than to do more. Isn't that the case?
Lei Zhong nodded slightly to Liu Fu, and then led the people forward, pushing away the queues of civilians blocking the road from time to time, "Get out of the way! Don't you have eyes? Get away!"
If you are smart, you will probably be able to detect Lei Zhong's hidden meaning. If you are stupid, you will still think that Lei Zhong is domineering and unreasonable...
When Liu Fu and others saw this, they also shouted loudly and followed closely.
Not long after, we arrived at the gate of Gubeikou South Road.
Gubeikou was originally quite majestic, but unfortunately it was breached by the Hus before and later by the Hussars. As a result, many defenses were destroyed. The trenches that were originally wide and deep at the south entrance are now barely
I dug some again to make it look superficial. Even the broken bricks on the city gate have not been completely cleaned up until now. They are scattered in a pile in the east and in a place in the west.
The soldiers on duty at the city gate listlessly checked the civilians coming and going. It was said to be an inspection, but it was also an errand. After all, the main threat was to the north, and they did not know how long they could survive, nor did they know what would happen in the future.
There is no hope, so they don't care about anything at all, and they don't care about anything in particular.
However, Lei Zhong and his entourage were still a bit eye-catching. Before Lei Zhong's men could get closer, the officer guarding the gate shouted: "Stop! What are you doing here?"
Lei Zhong took a few steps forward, "What else can we do? We have no money to eat! Soldiers' pay! Give us back our soldiers' pay!"
"Wait!" the guard officer stretched out his hand, "You guys stop first!"
Lei Zhong and others were not in a hurry, they just stood still as the guarding officer asked, "We won't leave until we get soldiers' pay today!"
"Yes! I'm not leaving!"
"It is only natural to pay back debts!"
"Give us back our soldiers' pay!"
Lei Zhong's soldiers shouted in confusion.
When the soldiers on the city saw it, they were laughing and joking and didn't care at all.
In the land of Shandong, making military payments is a traditional art, and it happens every once in a while.
"If you want military pay, you have to go to General Cao. You are going to Yuyang. What are you doing here?" The officer guarding the gate subconsciously started to kick the ball, "Yuyang has the money, what can we get here?"
Lei Zhong laughed and said, "Don't try to deceive me! I have heard that the Yuyang Quartermaster is here! Your soldiers' wages have been paid! None of us have any! Do you think we are fools?! Call us the Quartermaster!"
Come out and see me!』
"Isn't this military pay only earned by those who are useful..."
The guard officer still wanted to fool him, but Lei Zhong scolded him: "You Zhang Xun! Don't be so shameless! If you can take care of this matter, you can talk about it. If you can't, just call someone! If you don't get the money today, don't think about us."
Work hard!』
"Definitely, you are so arrogant, I don't care, I don't care..." The guarding officer seemed to feel that he had lost some face, so he added, "Stand to the side, don't block the road, I owe you
Your military pay is fair, but you have no grudges against them, right?"
Lei Zhong turned his head, exchanged glances with Liu Fu who was not far away, and then waved.
Lei Zhong's soldiers moved to the side to make some space.
As for military pay, according to Shandong practice, it is not fully paid.
Because the civil servants in Shandong put themselves in the shoes of these big-headed soldiers and were afraid that after these big-headed soldiers got their military pay all at once, they would either spend it lavishly in a few days, or they would be defrauded and gambled away, so they did not directly
When you find money, write a note and stamp it to indicate that it is temporarily stored somewhere.
They are usually placed in the munitions department of the army.
Then when they need money, these soldiers go to the munitions office to get it.
This will ensure that these soldiers' wages will not be defrauded by some malicious people, and better protect the interests of the soldiers, right?
But here’s the problem…
With so much money concentrated in the Munitions Department, should it be left to grow moldy and rot?
It must be taken out for loan!
Are you going to lend it out? This is a big deal here, and you can't finish it for three days and three nights. So once the soldiers want to collect their own soldiers' pay, the clerks in the munitions department will make things difficult in every possible way, or say
To queue up to get a number, you either have to fill out an application form, or you have to ask detailed questions about the specific use. I wish I could wipe out all three generations of Bingshou's ancestors and ask Bingsou to prove that he is himself and that the money is his own and not obtained by fraud.
Anyway, just don’t give it.
As soon as it was mentioned, there was an order from above, but if they were asked to get a specific order, they couldn't come up with it...
Therefore, if you want to receive military pay, you have to make a fuss.
This can be regarded as a scene in Shandong and appears frequently.
Not long after, the quartermaster from Yuyang appeared at the intersection of the road. Before he arrived, a voice came out, "What are you doing? Do you still want money? Ah? Again.
If you are looking for trouble, you will arrest them all!"
To ordinary soldiers, they are the God of Wealth, standing on their heads like old cows, full of arrogance, and not afraid at all!
When the quartermaster arrived at the door, he clearly saw Lei Zhong, but he pretended not to see it and pinched his beard, "Is it the one who wants military pay? Have you filled out the form to take the number? He is such a big man, and he can't even do this little thing."
Don’t you understand?』
If Lei Zhong really wanted to pay his troops, he would have to be humble. After all, the money is now in the hands of the quartermaster. If he really wants to make a big fuss, even if he gets the money, he will have to settle accounts afterwards, so don't look at the military supplies.
When the officer comes out alone, he looks like a vulnerable group, but in fact the quartermaster is not a person, he is more than just a person!
But today was different, Lei Zhong's eyes gradually turned evil.
Over the years, after he joined the army, he was deducted by the quartermaster, year after year. It was not that he could not give, but that he did not want to give!
So now, it's time to settle accounts.
Of course Lei Zhong knew that the quartermaster in front of him was not the same people who had deducted his military pay over the years, but so what?
And he didn't come here for the soldiers' pay at all. The reason why he shouted for the soldiers' pay was just to distract the defenders' attention...
Tough luck for you!
Lei Zhong glanced at the quartermaster.
Although he had been in the army for many years, he did not recognize all the quartermasters.
This position has always been a lucrative position. Many people are trying to get it, and those with little ability will soon be squeezed out.
But, today, who cares who he is?
When the resentment accumulated over the years breaks out, whoever encounters it will be unlucky!
Lei Zhong walked forward slowly with a smile.
The quartermaster didn't feel anything unusual at first, and he still raised his head and waited for Lei Zhong to come and salute. After all, over the years, haven't there been less disputes about pay? Just a few dollars can get rid of the problem, and
Who cares about the risks involved?
A flash of light flashed in Lei Zhong's eyes, and he pulled out his sword. The sword flashed, and blood suddenly spattered. The quartermaster didn't even have time to shout, and his shoulder straps were cut in half.
The blood splattered and fell backwards!
As soon as Lei Zhong made a move, the soldiers following Lei Zhong also shouted, waving their swords and guns, and rushed straight up!
The guard officer was originally standing aside to watch the show, but he was actually on the stage before he arrived. Just as he was about to hide, Liu Fu touched him nearby, and while the guard officer was attracted by Lei Zhong, he
With all his strength, he rushed forward with a single lunge, and pierced the guarding officer's neck with a sharp knife!
Behind Liu Fu, dozens of men shouted in unison, pulled out swords, guns and weapons from their burdens or packages, and rushed towards Gubeikou together with Lei Zhong and other soldiers!
In the blink of an eye, the defenders at the southern entrance were hacked to death and scattered.
When the civilians at the crossing saw the blood flying, they immediately squatted down and raised their hands to signal. They even felt that they might hinder those people, so they squatted silently and moved aside.
Then he opened his eyes wide, watched the blood flying in front of him, and shouted wildly.
Liu Fu had already unfurled a three-color battle flag and roared like thunder, "Liu Fu, under the command of the Hussars, is here! Cao Cao is an unruly thief! It's a disaster for Youyan! Now the Hussars are coming to the city to relieve all the people from hanging upside down! Those who obey can do so."
Live, those who disobey, die!"
Behind Liu Fu, the men also shouted, "Those who obey will live, those who disobey will die!"
Most of the garrison at Gubeikou were in the north, guarding against Zhang He's army coming from the north with great fanfare, while the garrison at Nandaokou didn't have much awareness of defense at all, and these Cao Jun soldiers were still quite confused. On the one hand, due to inertia,
I don’t want to and don’t know how to change my life. On the other hand, I don’t know what will happen in the future. I can only make ends meet as long as I can.
Therefore, when Lei Zhong and Liu Fu rushed directly to the south road of Gubeikou and killed the general, these Cao soldiers could not stop him at all!
As long as Lei Zhong and Liu Fu open the passage to the north from Nandaokou, the Hussars will capture Gubeikou again!
