In Wengcheng, the east gate of Baoji County, the county magistrate Li Jiayan took off his official hat, sighed, and led his troops to surrender.
In two hours, just two hours, Li Jiayan's mood experienced ups and downs, jumping up and down between extreme joy and extreme fear.
Four days ago, Liu Chengzong's army rushed out of Longzhou like tigers descending from the mountain. The first to reach the Guanzhong Plain were the two camps of Zhang Tianlin and Wei Qian'er.
Zhang Tianlin's fighting style can only be described in one word: fast.
He was like a wildfire on the grassland, fast, fierce and fierce. Li Jiayan had just received the news that the Marshal's army had broken into Guanzhong. He immediately sent the county government horse to Fengxiang to guard Qianhu Station to ask for help. The horse had not yet run out of the city.
They ran into Fengxiang's flag army guarding Qianhu Station at the north gate of the city.
That is to say, the horse quickly spoke a few words and asked: "The county magistrate hasn't allowed you to enter the city yet, why did you come so fast?"
These words reminded the squires in the city, and they immediately lowered the iron hanging gate of the Wengcheng. As soon as the hanging gate fell, the six hundred banner troops of Fengxiang Qianhusuo were divided into two groups. The people outside ran away, and the people inside squatted.
Kneel down, and then let the city know that Fengxiang Qianhu Station has been captured.
They were forced to come here to deceive the city after they surrendered.
As a result, he failed to deceive the city, but instead hired 300 troops to surrender, which made Zhang Tianlin outside the city so angry that she cursed: Why did I run so fast?
If you run slower, the county government's rescuers will leave the city, and the city will be stolen directly by him.
However, even with 300 flag troops deployed to defend the city, Li Jiayan was still frightened so much that he prepared three squads of government officials and urgently recruited civilians to prepare for a desperate fight when Zhang Tianlin attacked the city.
Zhang Tianlin doesn't know how to attack a city, even filling trenches is just a show.
Having served as an independent leader in his early years, he had completely different ideas from Wei Qian'er. Whether he could capture Baoji City was of no concern to him. What the Generalissimo wanted was to control this land and cut off the connection between Qinzhou and Baoji. Taking the city will naturally achieve the mission, but controlling the countryside can also achieve the mission. Moreover, his cavalry is indeed not suitable for siege.
Of course, the camp has complete technical personnel and the ability to attack the city, but Zhang Tianlin is more concerned about whether he can collect all the grain and grass in Baoji County as soon as possible.
Therefore, he only left four generals to camp outside the city, and let the other subordinates, led by the township leaders, run around in Baoji, collecting grain and grass from house to house from the Hao family whose property exceeded the limit set by the Marshal's Mansion. p>
But the less Zhang Tianlin stopped attacking the city, the more Li Jiayan on the city couldn't sleep at night, for fear that he would suddenly send troops to attack the city... He had heard rumors from those who surrendered the flag army: The generalissimo was in Longzhou to break the city, and now Baoji
The city is full of cavalry.
Li Jiayan was extremely scared.
As a result, the siege lasted for two days. Zhang Tianlin had no intention of attacking the city at all, and even divided his troops to station an army in the west. Li Jiayan didn't know why, but he felt that things seemed to have taken a new turn.<
/p>
After all, Zuo Liangyu is stationed in Qinzhou to the west, so perhaps reinforcements are coming from there.
Just thinking about this made him feel particularly excited. Until this morning, he suddenly discovered that the troops besieging Baoji City had actually marched westward amidst the sound of horns and withdrew the siege!
When Zhang Tianlin's cavalry soldiers finally disappeared in the smoke and dust, the magistrate on the city wall collapsed to the ground with his legs weak: "What a life after the disaster!"
Who would have thought that only two hours after Zhang Tianlin retreated to the west, the bell on the north city gate rang again like a reminder, this time the posture was far more terrifying than when Zhang Tianlin came.
The mighty army spread out across the desolate wilderness, and artillery pieces were pulled by donkeys and mules. The densely packed flags quickly occupied the entire field of vision, and the fierce sergeants formed small teams to seize the city.
All advantageous areas outside.
Then the donkeys and mules unloaded the artillery at the front of the position, the sergeants began to pile up mountains of earth, and some people rushed under the city to start the routine to persuade them to surrender.
The soldier with a loud voice shouted loudly to persuade him to surrender, but he was extremely devoid of emotion, because to him it was really just a routine attempt to persuade him to surrender. Everyone on the battlefield knew that their general's surrender was basically the surrender of the Lord of Hell.
Reminder.
It cannot be said that it has never been successful, but most of the people who were persuaded to surrender by Liu Chengzong died unexpectedly.
Even Liu Shizi himself had lost all hope of being persuaded to surrender.
The magistrate and the eunuch who hanged themselves in Longzhou City deeply touched him. In terms of the psychological damage they can cause after a defeat, the magistrate Hu Erchun and the guarding eunuch Li Qimao are undoubtedly the most powerful opponents Liu Shishi has encountered since he started his army. p>
They are far more powerful than Yang Jiamo who led his troops through fire and burned himself, because everyone knows that Yang Jiamo may not survive even if he surrenders, but these two people can survive well even if they surrender without holding on to the city, even better than they survived under Emperor Chongzhen.
He wanted to get better, but hanged himself to death - in Liu Shizi's view, this was a kind of contempt.
It successfully dampened his arrogance.
This kind of behavior is definitely not something that can completely disregard loyalty and righteousness by just saying "normally sit back and talk about your heart, but when in danger, die to repay the king". Talents are useless on the battlefield. Apart from kneeling down to beg for mercy, there is no other way to be loyal to the death. In fact, the person who said this was born in the eighth year of Chongzhen, and was raised by a family of military officers in the Ming Dynasty. He lived to the age of sixty-nine without any disasters under the rule of the Qing Dynasty, and taught all his life.
Everyone has the right to choose which path to take. Liu Chengzong respects this choice, and he also makes his own choice:
We no longer expect to persuade cities to surrender, but just attack them one by one and take the whole of Shaanxi into our hands.
But this time, the city gate of Baoji County was opened.
Li Jiayan is very happy with success. In fact, during the two hours after Zhang Tianlin evacuated, after confirming that Zhang Tianlin evacuated, he led the people to clear the filled trenches outside the city, and also let the county government's sixth house
A subordinate official wrote a meritorious essay to Chen Qiyu.
He wants to tell Governor Chen Qiyu that we have done a good job and will not lose our defense of Baoji.
In fact, there is nothing wrong with his behavior. If he doesn’t want to do big things these days, why would he come to Shaanxi?
Anyone who comes to Shaanxi to be an official is considered to be a person who pursues progress and has ideals.
As a result, before the letter of merit was sent out, Liu Chengzong came, leading an army of tens of thousands and armed with guns and artillery. His little Baoji city couldn't stop him.
Li Jiayan thought for a moment at the top of the city. Rather than being beaten to pieces, it would be better to surrender first without any close combat.
After all, he already knew that Hu Erchun, the governor of Longzhou, was dead. Death would not help. Longzhou should be captured or captured. However, the Marshal's Mansion did not make things difficult for the people and did not massacre the city or destroy the land. This is basically in line with Li Jiayan's views.
I’m thinking about it.
As for the big households... to be honest, as the magistrate of Fengxiang Prefecture, he has long disliked the self-righteous local gentry in Fengxiang Prefecture.
The Marshal's Mansion took their property and confiscated it for the army. Not to mention Li Jiayan's intention to surrender, he just defended himself in the city. When he heard the news, he wanted to jump up and cheer.
The people of Baoji City didn't have any objections to this matter, except for the three hundred bannermen who were imprisoned in Wengcheng anyway.
When they heard that Li Jiayan was planning to open the city to surrender, they became anxious and cursed in the city, and even planned to bring people over to kill Li Jiayan.
After all, if you want to surrender, you should surrender early, and our brothers can be the first to conquer the city; if you want to defend the city, we will defend the city to death, and no one will attack the city, and we will defend it until the government troops come to rescue or break it.
City.
We came to deceive the city, but you gave up to us and drove Zhang Tianlin away; now the generalissimo is here, and you want to surrender again. You are comfortable, but who are we to the generalissimo?
However, Wei Qianhu was running slowly with his troops and reached the south gate. The county magistrate Li Jiayan had already opened the city gate, so he had to go up to the city and point at Li Jiayan and curse him. He did not dare to defend the city anymore to stop Liu Chengzong, so he had to lead
Dozens of banner troops rushed out from the north of the city and fled outside the city.
Liu Shizi couldn't care less about the people running out. He was rubbing his eyes in front of the battle: "Really surrendered?"
Some people have surrendered to him in the past, but like Li Jiayan, who obediently opened the city gate as soon as he finished shouting, it was really the first time for a big girl to get on the sedan chair.
It wasn't until Li Jiayan led the county magistrate and a group of subordinates to the front of the formation, prostrated themselves and presented him with the bronze seal of Baoji Magistrate, that Liu Chengzong calmed down and managed his expression, then he rode out from the army and waved his troops to come forward.
Received the official seal before.
Li Jiayan raised his head and saw Liu Chengzong. He estimated in his heart that this was the Grand Marshal of the Marshal's Mansion, and said quickly: "The villain is ignorant and resists the army. I hope the Marshal will not lower his dignity in the small county."
Liu Chengzong was happy when he heard this, because he knew that Li Jiayan was telling the truth.
This person's performance is very obvious, and he is very aware of current affairs. Zhang Tianlin led many soldiers, but it was difficult to attack the city quickly, so he resisted defending the city; Liu Chengzong led more soldiers and had many artillery. He could not guard the city, so he
Kaesong has surrendered.
On the other hand, if the peasant army comes, then Li Jiayan will most likely lead his army out of the city and kill everyone.
Liu Shizi looked at each other. He actually admired this kind of work attitude. If he could defend, he would defend, and if he couldn't, he would surrender. He neither abandoned the city and escaped, nor killed the lives of soldiers and civilians in vain.
This is just an ordinary person, and his ethics are definitely not as good as those official heroes who know they are outmatched but still fight to the death, or who commit suicide after defeat.
But after such a long time, Liu Chengzong gradually understood that people would not surrender to him if they were really heroes, so what he admires most now are ordinary people who are helpless and accept their fate.
"Get up quickly, don't worry. The county magistrate opened the city to save the city from the war. Not only was he innocent, but he also contributed to the local area." Liu Chengzong said, he got off his horse and walked forward, asking: "It is the time for the handsome manor to employ people.
Are you willing to use it for me?"
Surrender is a huge gamble, and no one can know their fate until they truly surrender.
Even though Liu Chengzong was kind and kind, Li Jiayan was still very uneasy in his heart. After getting up, he quickly said: "I am willing to do my best for the commander-in-chief."
"There is no need to do the same thing. Mr. Li can just continue to be an official."
Liu Shizixin said that the work of dogs and horses can be done. You, the county magistrate, have a beautiful idea. Then my cats, my dogs, and my horses are living happily by the Qinghai Lake. There are endless small dried fish and endless gnawing every day.
big bones.
Being my official is much more tiring than them.
Liu Chengzong admired Li Jiayan's knowledge of current affairs, but he also had doubts about his talent, so he asked with some thoughts on the exam: "Since sir, you are willing, now it depends on your ability. Fengxiang Mansion is full of people dying of hunger. I want it."
To provide disaster relief, the second step is to raise troops. We are suffering from a lack of money and food. You have known about the situation here for a long time, do you have any good ideas?"
Li Jiayan knew that this was Liu Chengzong's test. After thinking for a long time, he finally raised his head and asked Liu Chengzong: "Commander, how many troops do you want to keep in Fengxiang Mansion?"
"Forty thousand soldiers, eighty thousand horses and mules."
Li Jiayan just wanted to slap himself in the face: Why should I open the city gate?
He shook his head decisively and said: "If the commander raises 20,000 troops, Fengxiang Mansion will still have enough power to provide disaster relief this year. However, if there are 40,000 troops and 80,000 horses and mules, we still have to provide relief to the victims. Let alone the current situation, even if Fengxiang Mansion has 120
The five Changping warehouses are all full, and we can’t afford them.”
An expert will know if there is any as soon as he takes action.
When Liu Chengzong heard that there were one hundred and twenty-five changpingcangs, he knew that Li Jiayan was relatively clear about local affairs and was not the kind of fool who didn't know anything at all. So he became interested and continued to ask: "Tell me, tell me.
Fengxiang Mansion raises 20,000 troops in addition to disaster relief, how to raise them?"
"Returning to the commander-in-chief, Fengxiang Prefecture has one state and seven counties. According to the law, there are 125 Changping warehouses with a storage capacity of 237,000 shi; there are 94 social warehouses with a storage capacity of 132,000 shi.
Sixty-one stones, now there is no chief in the mansion, and the Changping warehouse in Fengxiang City has long been empty, but there are still 30,000 stones in Baoji County that have not been moved."
"Gathering together the various places in Changping and Shecang, the villain estimates that there are at least 200,000 dan left in the grain storage, which can be used by a 20,000-strong army for one year."
When Liu Chengzong heard this, he interrupted: "I see there are hungry people in Baoji County, and there is still grain stored in Changping Granary. Why didn't it be taken out for disaster relief earlier?"
"The original grain reserves in Baoji were 40,000 yuan. Last year, the villain ordered his subordinates to take them out and sell them to stabilize grain prices, but this year there was a war..."
Li Jiayan glanced at Liu Chengzong, shook his head in a low voice and said: "Generals from all walks of life lead hungry troops across the border, and they dare not let people know that there is food in the city."
Liu Chengzong choked when he heard this, raised his finger and pointed at Li Jiayan: "You all know it's a hungry army, you deserve to lose the battle!"
But he didn't expect Li Jiayan to be very calm. He shook his head again and said: "Commander, this villain just knows Baoji County. If they are hungry, they need to go to the grain road. If there is no food in the grain road, they will go to the governor. If the governor wants food, he will go to the prefect. It's not the villain who asks the soldiers."
Those who are hungry, Changpingcang is not letting..."
Liu Shizi raised his hand to stop him. Of course the magistrate had his reasons, but if he continued, he would be beaten: "For disaster relief, there are hundreds of thousands of hungry people in Fengxiang Prefecture. I don't plan to immigrate to Longxi. Just tell me
How can I help?"
"It is necessary to prepare for the famine in detail, and the famine relief work should be done properly. The grain for famine relief is limited. The top priority is not to displace the hungry people..." Li Jiayan was quite confident about this, but he paused for a moment as he seemed to be thinking about whether the Marshal's Mansion should move to Longxi.
The meaning of immigration was later explained: "Stop confiscating grain, reorganize the people, and organize fifth-class households."
"It is called the extremely poor, the second poor, the slightly poor, regular households and rich households. The extremely poor will receive rice, the second poor will receive money, and the slightly poor will receive loans. Regular households will be organized to exterminate locusts and the rich households will be encouraged to donate." p>
In fact, when he said the words to stop collecting food, the military attachés and sergeants around Liu Chengzong looked at him with dangerous eyes. It was only the encouragement in Liu Chengzong's eyes that supported him to continue speaking.
Li Jiayan had a decent disaster relief method in mind, but he couldn't stand it and Liu Chengzong misunderstood it.
"You're right, it's not possible to collect grain like this. The rich families in Guanzhong are all in Xi'an. If we go all the way to collect grain like this, they will all run away... Just do as you say."
The greatest advantage of Liu Shizi is that he can listen to advice. He hopes that rich people can also listen to advice. Otherwise, if the persuasion to donate fails, there is no harm in extorting donations.
"I need talents like yours." Liu Chengzong smiled and patted Li Jiayan on the shoulder: "Master Li, the prefect of Fengxiang."