The dark clouds were getting lower and lower, and with the sound of thunder, the summer rain poured down, quickly drenching the entire city of Xuzhou.
At this time, the four city walls were covered with soldiers guarding the city. More than 80,000 people outside the city approached Xuzhou City at almost the same time, with great momentum and loud shouts of killing.
The stones from the catapults roared in and hit the Xuzhou city wall. Occasionally, a few stones fell on the city tower, injuring several Huai'an army officers and soldiers.
However, despite the great momentum, there were only a few people who actually set up ladders to attack the city. Taken together, there were only two to three thousand people attacking the city on all four walls, and most of them were new soldiers.
To put it harshly, they are cannon fodder.
These cannon fodders, not to mention being able to reach Xuzhou City first, even rushed to the gate of Xuzhou City, it was a bit difficult. After shouting all morning and losing hundreds of lives, these Qi people began to retreat.
At this time, it rained heavily, and the large amount of rain washed away the blood stains under the city wall, making it look much cleaner.
While these Qi people were attacking the city, Mr. Shen was already sitting in the Zhizhou Yamen and starting to work.
This Zhizhou Yamen has been replaced by a new signboard by Shen Yi, with the words Huai'an Military Office written on it.
This brand was made by Shen Yi himself. Originally, the brand made by the people below was "Huai'an Military Commander's Mansion". However, although Shen Yi is the actual coach, the imperial edict did not give him the title of coach. He is As the minister of the Ministry of War, Shen Yi supervised the Huai'an Army, so Shen Yi made his own sign and named it the office.
It's simple and easy to remember, and the functions can be clearly distinguished at a glance.
At this moment, in Mr. Shen's study, Zhao Er, Zhao Jizhou, handed a document to Shen Yi and said, "Zi Heng, take a look, these are the accounting offices of me and the army, and these Several accounting offices in Zhizhou Yamen have come up with regulations together, and in a few days they will be preparing to distribute grain in the city in accordance with this regulations."
"With one household as a unit, each household will be issued bills every month according to the family's population, and grain will be distributed based on the bills."
Having said this, he paused and said: "The other thing is, during this period, according to your wishes, Ziheng, we have been confiscating grain from grain merchants and wealthy households in the city. Now we have almost done it. There are several The Han people resisted fiercely and took action against the soldiers."
"Now, those people are temporarily detained."
Mr. Shen was looking through the documents. When he heard this, he looked up at Zhao Er and frowned: "Didn't I tell you that if it is food from a Han people's family, use the gold and silver property confiscated from Zhu Li's house to pay the original price or pay a high price?" Purchase at some price.”
"Since we are buying food, how can there be a conflict?"
Zhao Er moved a chair and sat down. He smiled bitterly and said: "That's what I said, but now the city of Xuzhou is in chaos. If not forced, who would be willing to sell food at this time?"
Shen Yi thought for a while and said, "Let's do this. Han people who have less than 200 kilograms of grain at home don't have to buy grain from them."
"Anything over 200 jins, any extra 200 jins or more will be sold to us."
Shen Yi rubbed his head and said, "If there are people who don't cooperate, you don't have to be polite to them."
Having said this, Shen Yi narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice: "There are also those Han people who took action. Each of them will be beaten thirty times and all their property will be confiscated. If there are still those who disobey and cause trouble..."
"Just throw their whole family outside the city and let them fend for themselves."
Having said this, Mr. Shen snorted.
"You are not a citizen of Da Chen, but you dare to play tricks on us, and you don't have a clue in your heart!"
After receiving Shen Yi's words, Zhao Er breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "With Ziheng's words, it will be much easier for us to do things again."
"In the past few days, many people say that Ziheng is too kind and may protect those Han people."
Mr. Shen shook his head slightly and said: "I have some compassion for ordinary people, but now is not the time to feel compassion for others. No one can stop our Huai'an army from doing things."
Having said this, he paused and said: "The other thing is, after issuing the receipts for buying grain, you must take precautions to prevent anyone from committing fraud."
"Moreover, it's not about distributing food, but selling it."
Mr. Shen looked at Zhao Er and said, "Just don't sell it higher than the market price. It's best to sell it at a price lower than the market price."
Zhao Jizhou scratched his head and said, "Ziheng, I'm afraid it's useless for us to ask for money now, right?"
"The favor of rice is promoted, and the hatred of rice is lost."
Shen Yi said calmly: "At a slightly lower price, these people can still think of us well. If all the food is free, it may cause trouble, and it won't last long. If one day they suddenly start asking for money, it will become Enemy."
Shen Yi said quietly: "We are not going to occupy this Xuzhou city for a while and then leave, but we want to completely recover it. In the future, we will need the imperial court to reorganize the households and the people. We need to consider the long term."
Zhao Jizhou was filled with admiration and praised: "Zi Heng, you are really born to do great things. You cover everything, and you can take a long-term view of all aspects, which makes people have to admire you."
Mr. Shen laughed dumbly: "Senior brother, when did you learn to flatter them?"
"Just telling the truth."
Zhao Er smiled, then looked at Shen Yi and asked: "By the way, Zi Heng, I heard that today the Qi people came to attack the city, and there is a war outside. Why don't you go and take a look?"
"There's nothing to see. They can't get in. It's even hard to get up to the tower."
Shen Yi finished writing the last stroke, dried the ink, and said with a smile: "With the current strength of the Confederate Army, let alone holding Xuzhou, if I lead the troops out of the city now and fight them decisively, the outcome is still uncertain."
Zhao Er had a conversation with Shen Yi in Shen Yi's study. After the rain outside subsided a little, he turned around and left, going down to do some work.
Not long after Zhao Er left, Su Ding, who was wearing a raincoat, hung it outside the door, shook the rainwater from his hair, then knocked on the door outside and said: "Mr. Shen, my subordinate Su Ding wants to see you!"
Shen Yi did not get up, but said lightly: "Come in."
Su Ding then walked in, lowered his head and clasped his fists at Shen Yi and said: "Mr. Shen, all the Qi people outside the city have retreated. Today they attacked the city and more than 400 people were killed. Only about 20 of our troops were injured. , there is no fear of life.”
Mr. Shen looked at the sky outside the window and was a little surprised: "Withdrawing just after noon? I thought Zhou Shizhong was going to attack all day long."
Su Ding clasped his fists and said with a smile: "It seems that Zhou Shizhong is just showing off to the northern court and has no plans to use the troops of the Southern Army to fill the big hole in Xuzhou."
"Um."
Shen Yi stood up, walked to the study door with his hands behind his back, looked at the heavy rain that was still falling outside, and frowned slightly: "But this is not in line with my intention."
After Shen Yi occupied Xuzhou, the reason why he did not contact the imperial court immediately to ask for the imperial court's cooperation in completely occupying Xuzhou Prefecture was that he even wrote to Emperor Hongde to ask the emperor to temporarily suppress the imperial court's support.
Its purpose was to eliminate Northern Qi's effective forces to the greatest extent possible.
Logically speaking, even if Zhou Shizhong himself is not in a hurry at this moment, the Northern Qi court will force him to be anxious. However, on this first day of siege, it seems that the Southern Army is not in a hurry, but is just showing off.
After Mr. Shen looked at the heavy rain outside, he fell into deep thought.
Su Ding stood behind him, lowered his head slightly, and said: "Mr. Shen, the combat power of these Qi people is not much higher than ours. With your order, the brothers will go out of the city to cover up the killing. Anyway, we can't get in." Attack, retreat, and defend…”
Shen Yi shook his head slightly.
"If I had fought hard with them, I wouldn't have been in a hurry to occupy Xuzhou."
Mr. Shen touched his chin and said, "They are not in a hurry, and neither are we."
"Unless the time is particularly suitable, we will also wait and see what happens in Xuzhou City."
Su Ding lowered his head and clasped his fists, and said yes.
Master Shen looked at the heavy rain that was still falling outside, thought for a while, and said: "Today, many brothers in the city were caught in the rain to guard the city. I asked them to boil some medicine to remove the cold. I am also boiling some ginger soup and distribute it to avoid infection. Wind chill."
If too many people are sick, an epidemic may occur.
Su Ding immediately nodded and said: "My subordinates will do it now."
Mr. Shen waved his hand and motioned for him to go.
After Su Ding left, Shen Yi asked Jiang Sheng to find Lin Sheng and Luo Yong. These two clerks of the Di newspaper department were now trapped in Xuzhou City like Shen Yi.
Shen Yi motioned for the two of them to sit down, and then asked: "I want to restore communication with the outside world, can I do it?"
Luo Yong and Lin Sheng looked at each other, and then looked at Shen Yi.
"Sizheng, I'm afraid this requires the cooperation of the Huai'an army."
Shen Yi nodded.
"If you have any trouble, go and find Xue Wei."
Lin Sheng coughed and said: "There is no difficulty. Although Xuzhou City is surrounded on all sides, the circle is too big. It is not too difficult to sneak in, but if you want to get out..."
"I'm afraid the Huai'an Army will need to cooperate."
"What you mean is that the Huai'an army needs to go out of the city to fight in order to provide cover for Di Bao Si."
The two stewards nodded in unison.
Master Shen frowned.
"Then forget it, the sacrifice is too big."
"I'll go find the inner guards and see if they can do anything."
