Chapter 256 Martial Arts Competition to Recruit a Marriage
Lu Kai on the side just asked: "My second brother was killed by this person's father for having an affair with bandits?"
Li Da's face turned even paler.
If the charge of "collaborating with thieves and bandits" is withheld, it will not only be solved by donating money.
That would lead to ruin and ruin.
Therefore, he didn't know how to express his position.
Donating half of the family property? Firstly, it would be too painful, and secondly, it might not satisfy the appetite of the new governor.
Donate all the family property? Then just kill him now.
How can people who are used to living a wealthy life endure the hardship of having nothing?
While he was hesitating, he suddenly saw the old head of the Wang family, one of the three major families, holding up his hands and saying: "To fulfill your ambition, I am willing to donate five million yuan."
After saying that, he ordered his followers to go home and collect money.
Hearing this, Li Da and the head of the Huang family were immediately deceived.
Especially the head of the Huang family, his head is completely shut down. Their three big families are originally the leaders of the fourteen families. If the three of them join forces, even the prefect of the city will have to pay three points.
At least, I don't dare to look so ugly.
But now one gave up on the spot and directly donated half of his family property, while the other was trembling with fear and at a loss.
Seeing that Li Da and the head of the Huang family were still hesitating, Ma Su nodded with a sneer. Zhang Xiu came to Li Da with a knife and slashed with it. Blood splattered on the spot, splattering on the face, body, and head of the Huang family next to him.
On the nearby pillars, the strong smell of blood instantly filled the entire lobby.
Li Da's eyes widened and he fell straight down.
Blood was still gushing out from his neck after it was cut open.
All the gentry who saw this scene trembled.
It is not that the head of the Huang family has never seen someone kill someone on the spot, but that was when he killed someone else, such as punishing a disobedient servant, or killing someone else's wife, concubines, or family property. He has never experienced such a scene where he was the one being killed.
I was a little confused on the spot.
Ma Su immediately shouted: "The Li family has collaborated with thieves and has been brought to justice. All the family property has been confiscated."
Fornicating with thieves?
If the Li family really had an affair with bandits, wouldn't the bandits at that time be you, the prefect?
You look so ugly when you eat.
Ma Di looked at the Huang family leader with a smile, "Master Huang, what do you say?"
The head of the Huang family was startled, and when he came to his senses, he immediately expressed his position loudly: "In order to fulfill your ambition, I will also donate 5 million!"
Ma Su raised the bamboo silk in his hand and took a look, frowning: "Five million? Isn't that right, Mr. Huang, your family has the largest wealth among the three major families, but you only donated five million? You are looking down on me.
Someone is coming..."
Zhang Xiu held the knife and looked at the head of the Huang family with murderous intent.
The head of the Huang family was so frightened that he fell to the ground and said hurriedly: "Big...big...big...sir, I will donate eight million!"
"good, very good!"
Ma Su raised his hand to help Mr. Huang up and said gently: "The ground is cold, Mr. Huang, please get up and talk."
The head of the Huang family looked sad and waved his hands tremblingly to his entourage.
Ma Su looked at the remaining eleven smaller families.
…………
It was night, and the prefect's mansion was brightly lit with candles.
Ma Di, Lu Kai, Yang Wanwan, Huang Xi, Li Sheng, and Zhang Xiu watched as the soldiers counted out the money one by one. The chief bookkeeper, Lu Ming, was counting with notes in one hand and moving chips with the other, burying his head.
A quick calculation.
Lu Kai looked at the piles of gold, silver and copper coins on the ground with bright eyes, happily thinking about what to buy first and what to buy later.
The four major generals were also very happy, especially Huang Xi and Li Sheng. Firstly, they got so much money with nothing; secondly, they finally opened up the situation in Jiaozhou and made a fierce statement. The previous attempt failed and they were chased by the Wu army until they were in embarrassment.
Unbearable anger.
Ma Su frowned.
The number was quickly calculated.
Fourteen families donated a total of 60 million yuan.
This little money is only enough to recruit 10,000 soldiers, which means buying 10,000 soldiers a set of simple weapons, armor, and bows and arrows.
Including the 60 million yuan funded by the Lu family, a total of 20,000 soldiers can be recruited.
The two counties of Yulin and Jiaoshi have a total official population of 260,000. Counting the 3,000 soldiers and horses currently on duty, the militia ratio is close to ten to one.
This is almost the upper limit of the number of young men that Yulin County and Jiaoshi County can recruit.
The number of soldiers is barely enough, but things like food and grass are not yet available.
Lu Kai's brows also frowned.
He thought that with his own working capital, he could easily equip 20,000 to 30,000 troops, but he didn't expect that he could only equip 10,000 troops and horses.
After all the others had left, Lu Kai said to Ma Di: "Brother-in-law, this money is enough. What should we do with the food and grass?"
Lu Kai didn't even dare to mention horses, because it was useless to mention them. Jiaozhou and several surrounding states did not produce horses at all.
Even if you have a horse, you can't afford it!
Ma Su casually put the account book that Lu Ming had compiled back on the table, raised his head, looked at Lu Kai and said, "Then we can only use the same trick during the day."
No, brother-in-law, pulling out the wool like this will make the sheep bald. Lu Kai opened his mouth and was about to give some advice.
But Ma Su waved his hand to stop him and said, "I understand my brother's concerns, but does he understand my concerns?"
"We are still very weak now. If we want to stand firm in these troubled times, stand up to Sun Quan, and protect the peace of the people of Jiaozhou, we must first have the power to protect ourselves."
After a pause, Ma Su continued: "If Sun Quan's army arrives in two months and we have no food and insufficient soldiers, then we may all die."
"It doesn't matter if you die, everyone will die eventually, but are you willing to die so cowardly at the hands of Sun Quan?"
Lu Kai stopped talking. Although he did not believe that Sun Quan was so capable and could defeat his brother-in-law (Ma Di) who was both civil and military, he also knew that a clever woman could not make a meal without straw. No matter how capable the brother-in-law was, he must have the corresponding troops, horses, and equipment.
Only with food and grass can I compete with Sun Quan.
Otherwise, nothing will happen.
…
It was getting very late, and Lu Meng was sitting alone by the dressing table, holding her chin in her hands, looking at herself in the bronze mirror with a spring-colored face, feeling both happy and sad.
Fortunately, this husband is very capable.
What's worrying is that this man is so capable.
At the first watch, Lu Meng finally saw her husband coming back. She quickly waved her hand to the maid to bring the three-times hot meal and stood up to greet him.
After dinner, the couple sat in front of the table and talked softly.
Lu Meng asked the question that had been pressing in her heart for several days: "Husband, why doesn't that powerful woman come to Fucheng?"
In fact, what Lu Meng wanted to ask was: Who is that woman's husband, but she didn't want Shi San (Ma Di) to think too much, so she had to tactfully change the subject.
Ma Su stared at Lu Meng and said with a smile: "She is not used to life in a big city, so she stayed in the village."
"Then does she have a husband?" Lu Meng turned around and asked.
"Of course." Ma Su refused to say another word.
"Her husband is very good, right?"
"That's right!"
"Do you know her husband...concubine?"
"We know her." Ma Su secretly suppressed a smile and said to himself: Not only do you know her, but you also sleep with her husband in her arms every day.
Urgently asking about the key points, Lu Meng squirmed around anxiously, clutched Ma Su's big hand tightly, and asked with great confusion: "Then where is his husband's family name?"
"A family from Jingzhou."
Lu Meng raised her head and glanced at Ma Su, thinking that her husband was from Jiaozhou, not Jingzhou, she suddenly smiled sweetly and whispered softly: "Husband, it's getting late, let's have a rest early."
Ma Su laughed and followed the good path.
Perhaps it was because the knot in her heart was untied that Lu Meng was particularly enthusiastic that night.
…
The next morning.
The principals of thirteen wealthy families were invited to the Prefect's Mansion again.
Ma Di didn't talk nonsense to them at all this time, and directly took out a list and asked Lu Mingna to read it to them.
Lu Ming opened the list and saw the long list of names on it, and immediately said "Ah" in surprise.
Wait until you see the number after the person's name.
Lu Ming said "Ah" in surprise again, with a surprised look on his face.
Lu Kai's face darkened and he scolded: "Ah what? Read it?"
Lu Ming bit the bullet and read from the list: "The Wang family donated 6,000 shi of food, the Huang family donated 5,000 shi, the Song family donated 2,000 shi, the Shi family donated 2,000 shi, the Lin family donated 2,000 shi, and the Qin family donated food.
Two thousand dan, the Zhu family donated two thousand dan of food, the Zhang family donated two thousand dan of food, the Yang family..."
After reading the list in one breath, Lu Ming felt relieved.
As soon as he heard the amount of food and grass his family needed to donate, the head of the Huang family couldn't bear it any longer. He immediately held up his hands with a mournful face and said, "Sir, my family really doesn't have that much food. How about donating five thousand shi?"
Zhang Xiu rushed over like a gust of wind with his sword in hand.
The long knife slashed across, the head flew up, and the bright red blood stimulated everyone's nerves to the greatest extent.
Ma Di looked around at the crowd and said calmly: "At this time of crisis, the head of the Huang family refused to donate. This is unbearable. Now I declare that all the property and family members of the Huang family will be confiscated."
Refuse to donate?
When did the head of the Huang family refuse to donate? He just wanted to pay a little less, so he was killed directly?
The expressions of the remaining twelve family talkers in the hall changed, and they looked at Ma Su in horror.
Ma Su kept a light tone: "Who is in favor of and who is against the content of this list?"
"I'm willing to donate." Everyone said in unison.
…
The spring breeze is blowing.
News came that Lu Dai had once again gathered three thousand soldiers and marched straight to Jiaoxi County.
Lu Kai hurriedly came to Ma Su to discuss countermeasures.
Lu Dai didn't pay attention last time and fell into the trap and retreated. This time he went straight to kill him aggressively. It was obvious that he came to settle the previous debt.
Because his brother-in-law (Ma Su) deceived Lu Dai in his name.
It would be a lie to say that he was not panicked. Lu Kai advised Ma Su to immediately mobilize troops and horses to deal with the upcoming offensive and ensure the safety of Jiaoxi County.
Ma Su said with confidence: "Brother, don't panic, we let Lu Dai run away last time, and we will never let him escape this time. Brother, all we need is this, this, and this..."
After hearing the instructions, Lu Kai felt relieved. So he wrote a letter to Lu Dai, the governor of Jiaozhou, in accordance with Ma Su's instructions. The letter was full of provocation and ridicule, asking Lu Dai to come to Jiaoshi County to deal with him as soon as possible.
As soon as the letter here was sent, a letter of questioning from Lu Xun, who was in Jingzhou, arrived.
In the letter, Lu Xun, in a condescending tone, severely condemned Lu Kai's betrayal of Wu and the bandits, believing that the mere bandits had no future and would kill the entire Lu family branch.
In the end, Lu Xun gave his sincere words of consolation: As long as Lu Kai is willing to find his way back, he will definitely keep him safe in front of Sun Quan. Otherwise, when the army arrives, Lu Kai's family will die.
Lu Kai turned around and threw the letter aside, not caring about it. Instead, he started drinking with Ma Su.
The war is tomorrow.
There is wine today, so let’s get drunk first before talking.
The sky gradually darkened.
Ma Su returned to the backyard with a hint of drunkenness, and saw Lu Meng, who was practicing her martial arts for the first time in a bright red outfit. The belt tightened her already delicate waist to the point where she could hold it, and her posture was rising and falling.
, it’s so beautiful and touching.
Ma Su burped from wine, walked forward with drunken eyes, and put a hand on Lu Meng's shoulder: "Madam, let's practice together?"
Lu Meng stopped her posture and Yingying glanced at him: "Practice and practice, I will not lose to my husband."
Ma Di immediately thought of something and suggested: "How about adding a bonus?"
Lu Meng nodded.
Ma Su said: "I won, and my wife will play with me to the fullest tonight."
Lu Meng's pretty face heated up, she spat secretly, and nodded coquettishly: "What if I win?"
Ma Su chuckled: "Then I'll make sure Madam has all the fun tonight."
Lu Meng was so embarrassed that she took advantage of Ma Su's unpreparedness and reached out to pick up one of his arms. She turned around and put her back against Ma Su's chest. She bent down and exerted her strength, hoping to throw him over the shoulder.
Seeing this, Ma Su immediately hugged Lu Meng's lower back with his free hand. With a strong force on his waist, his center of gravity sank again, resisting her upward push.
Seeing that something was not going well, Lu Meng spun around and broke free from Ma Su's grasp. Just as she was about to throw him into a trap, she found that her husband's lower body was extremely stable and did not move at all, and she almost fell down.
"Madam (husband) is very skilled!" The two of them praised at the same time.
Lu Meng did not dare to underestimate the enemy anymore. She always thought that although she was not as strong as her husband, she was stronger in force and more flexible than him, so she would definitely win easily.
Unexpectedly, as long as she had physical contact with this man, she would lose strength like a conditioned reflex.
This resulted in many of her moves and techniques being compromised and unable to achieve the expected results.
The bright moon slowly rises from the treetops.
In the backyard, the two were still fighting.
But it was no longer a competition, the battlefield had also switched from the courtyard to the room.
…
Lu Dai is seventy-one years old this year. He thinks that he has seen all kinds of storms and waves in his life, and he has already developed the mentality of not changing his attitude even if the mountain collapses in front of him.
But when he received Lu Kai's letter, he still exploded. Holding the letter in his hand, he yelled at Lu Kai, "You are a disgusting person!" and "I will kill you!".
At the same time, Lu Dai was defeated and the news that Yulin County was occupied by bandits also reached Jianye.
The sudden rebellion in Jiaozhou had a great impact on the political situation of Soochow, and even directly disrupted Wu's next plans.
Once Jiaozhou is lost, it means that Soochow will face the dilemma of being enemies on three sides. Previously, due to the end of a series of Northern Expeditions in Shu, Wei and Shu have been in a tense strategic equilibrium situation in the border areas.
Sun Quan originally planned to change the focus of his strategy and send his general Lu Xun to go upstream via the waterway, pass through the Wu Gorge, and attack Yong'an and Badong in the Shu Kingdom.
But before this plan was launched, Jiaozhou was in chaos.
The information Sun Quan received was that the initiator of the rebellion was Shi Xie's youngest son Shi San who appeared out of nowhere, and the branch of the Lu family, a wealthy family that Soochow had always relied on to win over, was an accomplice of this rebellion.
This news was so exciting that it shocked Sun Quan and made him think that Lu Xun was also one of the participants.
Therefore, the first decision Sun Quan made was to send Zhuge Jin to march to Jiangling, in the name of helping Lu Xun, but in reality it was to arrange an informant and take away part of Lu Xun's military power.
Subsequently, Sun Quan ordered a 50,000-strong army led by Zhu Huan, Quan Cong, Ding Feng and other generals to march south to Jiaozhou.
