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Chapter 3 Fighting for the Hero (4)

Compared with the treatment of others, His Majesty the Emperor's rewards for the civil and military officials of Lord Licheng were surprisingly generous. However, both the prefect Pei Caozhi and the general governor Zhang Xutuo felt a little disappointed. Pei Caozhi came from the Pei family in Guanlong, and was related to the Pei family in Guanlong.

Pei Yun, the imperial censor at that time, and Pei Ju, the Huangmen servant, were from the same lineage. It is indeed nothing to be happy to add another honorary servant to this huge family. Zhang Xutuo was already in charge of the Qi army, and now he is officially called Cong.

The title of "Jun Cheng" was changed to "Tong Shou". The name sounded nicer, but the actual duties and responsibilities did not change much.

Neither of them have this interest. To be precise, they care more about local chaos than minor changes in official positions. Only by quelling the rebellion can Pei Caozhi confidently plan to enter the court and show his talents. Only then can Pei Caozhi confidently plan to enter the court and show his talents.

With the peace in the country, Zhang Xutuo had the opportunity to go to the frontier to open up territory for the country. However, the imperial edict deliberately ignored their needs and did not mention the elite soldiers from the foreign government that the prefect was most looking forward to, nor did it mention

And the weapons and armor that Lord Tongshou has been waiting for day and night.

"Didn't your Lordships in the DPRK say when the government troops would be sent to completely wipe out the bandits in the counties of Henan?" After thanking the saint for his grace, Pei Caozhi pulled aside the lieutenant who was delivering the order and quietly

He stuffed a heavy purse into the other person's hand and asked reluctantly.

"You're welcome, Sir. This, our family has never heard of this." The Zhongguan skillfully pinched the shape of the contents of his purse and quickly judged Pei Caozhi's character based on the weight and the feeling on his fingers.

Good or bad. For knowledgeable and smart local officials, he has always been willing to give them more pointers. After thinking about it, he added: "Besides, when the government soldiers come, they may not have the county soldiers from Qi County."

It's very important. Haven't you heard, sir, that Marquis Youwu went to Hebei to fight against thieves, but the whole army was wiped out?"

"But, but I don't have food and wages here, and I don't have good blacksmiths or carpenters to make armors and weapons!" Pei Caozhi was a little impatient and complained about all the things that Zhang Xutuo should have complained to his superior. The soldiers of Qijun were brave and good at fighting.

, is indeed not a lie. But that is mainly because they are fighting at home and have no retreat. At the same time, the training and equipment of the county soldiers are slightly better than that of the rogue bandits. But now the surrounding counties are becoming more and more chaotic, and the bandits who come to harass them are fighting

Experience is getting richer, strength is getting stronger, and the weapons in the hands and the armor on the body are getting better and better. If the court is still as desperate as before, sooner or later the combat effectiveness between the county soldiers and the bandits will lose its balance. By that time

, I am afraid that if the imperial court tries to exterminate the bandits, it will be unable to do so.

"My lord, didn't His Majesty allow you to confiscate the bandit's property? The bandit went around plundering, and finally fell into trouble with you. Doesn't that mean he sent your food and salary to your doorstep? Our family is in the court.

But I heard that if the gold beads found in the old camp of Pei's two thieves are just in stone, they have to be hauled by cart." The lieutenant general put his hand on Pei Caozhi's shoulders and said sincerely.

Only fools will be short of money. Judging from his previous performance, the lieutenant general from Dongdu believed that Pei Caozhi should definitely not be a fool. Since His Majesty the Emperor allowed local officials to confiscate the property of bandits at will, which governor has not

Too fat? Lack of money? What a joke? Just ask a rich family member about the whereabouts of someone from his clan, branch or tenants, and the other person won’t obediently bring a lot of meat to pay tribute?! If not?

Knowing these tricks clearly, who in the palace is willing to travel all the way to another place? The wind and sun are blowing along the way, and they have to be always on guard against being robbed by bandits, not just to get a piece of the local officials' hands.

Soup?

If the thieves were so rich, would they still be robbing everywhere? Pei Caozhi was trembling with anger. He really wanted to order someone to bring the account books over and let the damn eunuch take a good look at how empty the treasury was. But

He still tried his best to suppress his inner impulse. The experience and lessons he had gained as an official for many years were enough for him to be able to do what he said without losing his composure in front of others. "The thieves passed through the place and caused great damage. They just comforted the people afterwards.

, all the proceeds from the battlefield were spent on burying the dead. Moreover, the reason why they were wandering around was because they were crazy poor and had no savings at all. To be honest with my father-in-law, even the soldiers' military pay was collected by the common people." He said.

He looked around and lowered his voice and said, "But the people's financial resources are limited. If they continue to work together like this, I'm afraid they will feel resentful!"

"Well, our family will naturally defend you in front of the emperor when we get back. But now that the Eastern Expedition is imminent, I guess the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs will not care about Henan!" For the sake of the gold ingots in his pocket, Zhong, who came from Dongdu,

The official decided to give Pei Cao Zhi a solid foundation. "If the army hadn't been out of Liaodong twice and failed to achieve success and lost its prestige, the rogue bandits must not have the courage to rebel. After Goryeo surrenders, let's see which rebels dare to continue to be arrogant!"

"What, your Majesty is going to march eastward immediately!" Although he had heard the same words from Li Xu before, Pei Caozhi was still shocked. The Sui Dynasty was so weak that it was about to be blown apart by a gust of wind.

General Li Lang was only eighteen years old. He was so eager to make meritorious deeds that he couldn't see it. Could it be that no one in the civil and military circles of the dynasty saw this? Even if everyone couldn't defeat the emperor, they could at least postpone the Eastern Expedition for a year or two and wait until the country's strength was reached.

After recovering a little, let’s take a long-term approach!

Thinking of this, Pei Caozhi, who had always been timid and afraid of getting into trouble, finally couldn't help it. He expressed his dissatisfaction in a low and urgent voice, "But the people from all over the country have just returned home. They have been there for two consecutive years."

I haven’t planted crops properly anymore. I’ll go to Liaodong again. What will they eat when I come back in the fall?”

As a local official, the old eunuch knew clearly that the cause of rogue bandits was definitely not the imperial army's loss of prestige in Liaodong. Those flat-headed slaves would not care about face until they had enough to eat. But if you really keep them alive

All hope is gone, they can definitely make you disgraced.

"My family, our family also thinks that what the prefect said makes sense. But how can we, the father-in-law, interfere in the affairs of the court? Besides, all the civil and military officials have agreed. Who dares to stick out their tongues anymore?" Zhongguan.

Pei Caozhi splashed spit on his face and frowned in disgust. "How about you write a memorial and I will present it to the emperor for you? Maybe His Majesty will give up the Eastern Expedition after reading your memorial!"

"

This kind of salty answer was just to clarify the identity of the other party. If the old guy in front of him hadn't been quite generous, he would have walked away at this moment. Sure enough, after hearing what he said, Pei Caozhi immediately felt as if he had been struck by frost.

It "wilted" like a beaten eggplant. After clasping his fists and saluting again, the old eunuch gasped and said: "I am also impatient for a moment, please forgive me. Please tell your Majesty the truth about the difficulties in the place!"

"It's easy to say, it's easy to say. You are the parents of the people, and it is your duty to ask for orders for the people!" The lieutenant general from Dongdu raised his hand and gave a half salute, as if he understood why Pei Caozhi had lost his composure just now.

"Thank you so much, father-in-law!" Pei Caozhi thanked him with a smile, but in his heart he began to greet the eight generations of the other party's ancestors. "Things without eggs only know how to collect money, but their knowledge is shorter than that of women!" Thinking of the hundred things mentioned in the other party's words just now.

During the official meeting, his anger immediately changed the target, "A group of trash who only know how to fight for power, no wonder they are compared to lice in the crotch. When the fire outside starts, let's see who can escape in the end!" (Note)

1)

Slander after slander, the old eunuch had to find a way to deal with the upcoming difficulties on his own. Although he was more knowledgeable than some people in the court, he also knew that he was one of the "lice" and the one with the most "crotch"

The one on the outside. After sending the middle official out of the city with a gift, he immediately summoned his subordinate officials to discuss matters.

"The baggage captured in the last battle, as well as the proceeds from selling prisoners, are enough to cope with one battle. But there is no hope for armor and weapons. Firstly, we don't have the money, and secondly, we can't find so many people who can make armors.

and weapon craftsmen!" Hucao Linghuwei reported in a low voice. It is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. The current situation in Licheng is that not only is there no rice, but there are also no clever women.

"We have already received 40% of the tax. If we continue to increase it, I'm afraid it's not just the ordinary people who will rise up to rebel!" After hearing that the imperial court still refused to pay taxes, and also wanted to collect grain, grass and people from the local area, Yang Yuanrang, the chief administrator, added worriedly.

In front of him, there was a thick stack of account books. Some large families had already started to default on local money and food last year. The yamen urged them countless times and almost called the police. Only in the middle of this month did they collect the debts.

Come up. If the assessment is increased next year, some people will definitely take risks.

"The soldiers and civilians who accompanied His Majesty in the Liao expedition this year have just returned home. If we order them to go to Liaodong as soon as spring begins, I am afraid that many people will be driven to Wang Bo's tent again!" Soldier Cao Ji Youzheng sighed and added. Although Wang Bo

Although he was defeated at the hands of Zhang Xutuo, his "Wang Liaodong Death Song!" written by this man was widely circulated among the people. Such frequent recruitment by the imperial court was tantamount to recruiting troops for Wang Bo.

"We are not at peace here either. Yesterday there was a fight in the slum area over a bag of sprouted wheat. By the time the government officials arrived, three of them were dead!" Licheng County Magistrate Wang Shouren looked as if all his colleagues owed him a lot of money.

, "The autopsy results showed that the injuries on two people were not fatal at all." (Note 2)

"I'm too hungry!" The parents and officials were whispering among themselves. This is the worst news they heard today, a hundred times worse than the emperor's upcoming third Eastern Expedition. Refugees living in slums outside the city

There is basically nothing left. If they can't even see the last chance of survival, they will inevitably threaten the people in the city. Although the city wall of Licheng is built high enough, in fact, in front of the surging crowd, it cannot do much at all.

Great effect.

"From tomorrow on, we will open a porridge shed at the city gate and give each beggar a bowl of porridge every morning. No matter how full he is, we will try our best to prevent people from starving to death again!" Pei Caozhi thought for a while and ordered.

"That will attract all the refugees from other places to Licheng, and there won't be enough food in our granary!" Hucao Han Fuzhi objected in a low voice. The number of refugees outside Licheng is already equal to the number of people in the city.

The more people there are, the more people come here. The more people there are, the more chaotic the public security is. The more expensive the food is, the more rice porridge the government needs to provide. The amount of rice porridge that the government needs to provide also increases linearly. If this cycle continues, Licheng will eventually have a supply.

A terrible day.

"I'm going to visit Zhang Tongshou later and ask him to keep a thousand county soldiers in the military camp at any time! As for the food used for giving out porridge, first move some of the military rations, and then temporarily withhold the food that has not been transported to the east capital!" Pei Cao!

After reconsidering the order, he ordered.

Although he spoke in a low voice, he was so frightened that all his confidants jumped up. "Sir, this is absolutely not allowed!" "Please think twice! If you touch the food that should be handed over to the court, it might be misunderstood."

"It's hard for adults to argue," several staff members suggested in unison.

The reputation of Qijun's soldiers for being good at fighting has spread, and if they continue to withhold official rations from the court, it will easily be misunderstood as having evil intentions. In everyone's memory, the prefect, who has always known how to protect himself prudently, has never done anything like this.

"If you have a headache, treat it first!" Pei Caozhi rubbed his temples vigorously and sighed. "The roads are not smooth now, and the food is easily robbed by bandits! Besides, brothers have to eat. It's so cold. Even though we live here,

Even though we are in the city, we must also leave a way for people outside the city to survive!"

This was the boldest decision he had ever made in his life. After making it, not only was he not afraid, but he felt relieved.

"Sir, I have an idea that can help this county survive the difficulties next year!" Yang Yuanjing, who registered in the book, saw that the prefect was taking the lead in breaking the law. He became bolder and raised his hand upwards, saying.

"Let's talk, we are all our own people here. Even if it doesn't work, no one will tell it!" Pei Caozhi nodded and responded.

"The refugees need food to survive, and the local people are unwilling to go to Liaodong to serve in the military!" Yang Yuanrang picked up two account books, each representing a part of the people, and then he overlapped the two account books. "If we put the two groups together,

If people change their identities, both parties can be at peace."

Using refugees to pretend to be locals serving in the military accompanied the emperor on his expedition to Liao, and asked the locals to provide food for the refugees' wives, children, and children. This was a bold idea, but it was indeed in line with Pei Caozhi's principle of treating a headache with a headache.

"How could such a large scale be concealed from the imperial court?" Someone immediately objected. In the past, there were also wealthy families who did not want their children to join the army, so they tried to find someone to pretend to be someone else. But that was just an isolated phenomenon. Officials accepted other people's benefits.

I had to turn a blind eye. If the soldiers and horses sent to Liaodong from a county were all refugees with yellow faces and thin muscles, the generals would definitely find out the clues.

"Do you think other counties can send out soldiers and civilians as scheduled? I'm afraid there won't be many counties that can get the number of people together by then! If we really investigate, is it a serious shortfall that is more serious, or a surname?

Is it too much of a crime to be sorry?!" Yang Yuanrang shook his head and retorted.

This is probably true. The situation in various places is currently chaotic, and the decrees of many counties and counties can no longer govern the villages fifty miles away from the city. It is impossible to gather the troops and horses needed by the court just by relying on the large families in the city. "It is estimated that all counties will

Think of some extraordinary measures!" "I guess the law will not be punished by then!" Everyone began to whisper again. The matter was too important. Even if they agreed in their hearts, they couldn't make their intentions too obvious.

"This matter should not be made public. But the common people collude in private, and we will inevitably fail to detect it." Pei Caozhi listened to everyone's discussion for a while, and finally made a decision.

"Yes, the common people all look similar. The manpower in the yamen is limited, so it is impossible to identify them one by one!" Bing Cao Ji Youzheng added in a low voice.

"Since then, there is another transaction in the slum area outside the east gate!" Hucao Linghuwei smiled and shook his head. In his opinion, all solutions today are to drink poison to quench thirst. But as a local official with a conscience, this

At that time, everyone no longer had many choices.

"If possible, just send someone to collect taxes from it!" Pei Cao said a rare witticism, causing the whole room to laugh bitterly.

"You're fooling me, I'll fool you too! Let's tear down the east wall and mend the west wall. Let's see how long this house in Sui Dynasty can survive." The old lady murmured to herself. Thinking about what he saw and heard this day, he couldn't help but

The emperor recalled the scene when he had just entered the Sui Dynasty from Nanchen. At that time, the Sui Dynasty was full of vitality, the emperor was wise, and all the officials were doing their best. Two of the family members, Pei Ju and Pei Yun, were praised by all the officials as a wise man.

Cai, another one famous for his extraordinary literary talents and upright character. Now, everything has changed. Pei Ju was the mastermind of the first two Eastern Expeditions, and Pei Yun was confident when he asked for bribes in person.

The Great Sui Dynasty back then was only twenty years away from the Great Sui Dynasty now. (To be continued)


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