Chapter 663 Unwilling to join forces, the predecessor of the Eight Character Army
Upon hearing this, Tian Hu's brows immediately knitted into a knot. With a cold face, he asked Qin Sheng again: "Then do you know the details of the people who gathered near Taihang Mountain?"
Qin Sheng thought about it and said: "Chief Tian, the soldiers and horses on the left side of Taihang Mountain, the leaders are called 'Crouching Tiger' Fu Xuan, 'Ghost Fox' Meng De, 'Zhang Ba Leg' Liu Ze , 'Tiedan' Jiao Wentong, among those servants, either he was a coach of the Lianghe Zhongyi Militia, or he was a strongman who used to fight in the green forest. He was the leader of the local brave, and it is said that he was also impatient with the local government. Exploiting and squeezing them, they simply led the villagers to gather grass and green forests and build mountains and villages.
However, although those people can be regarded as people in the green forest, they rarely seek out ordinary people to plunder and cut paths. They either destroy the villages of wealthy families near the Taihang Mountains, or directly attack the counties under their rule. They claim to be just because they can't stand the arrogance of the government. This is the green forest rebel army that gathers in the mountains and forests without harming the lives of good people. So even if the big leader wants to recruit, I'm afraid..."
Qin Sheng only said half of his words, and then he raised his head to look at Tian Hu's face. After all, Tian Hu gathered strong men from all walks of life to not only rob homes, but also kill people and set fires. They could kill them regardless of whether they were officials of the imperial court or old, weak, women and children. Although they are now It can be regarded as the most powerful group of thieves on Hedong Road. However, according to the reckless behavior of Tian Hu and other strongman leaders who looted, burned and killed everywhere, the people in Taihang Mountain would probably look down on them, so how could they move forward willingly? Come to join Tian Hu?
Tian Hu snorted heavily after hearing this. According to his temperament, he usually hates those people in the world who are clearly outlaws but think they are some kind of chivalrous people. To find a way to survive in the green forest, you rely on a knife cut. Licking blood, risking one's life in order to earn a living, and even starting a robber's business, yet insisting on advocating that joining the green forest is to hoe the strong and support the weak. This is different from being a bitch and building a memorial arch. What are the differences between birds?
"What the hell are you talking about, Green Forest Rebels! If that bird guy doesn't know how to show off, he's going to get into trouble with me, Tian Hu! After I take over several prefectures and government offices in the east of the river, I'll look for that guy." Please understand!"
Tian Hu looked gloomy and said in a cold voice: "But the most important thing now is to break the city of Mianshang County. By then, if Xiao Tang's fellow is chopped up with swords, the officers and soldiers will be frightened!"
Ji Wenbing, An Shilong, Qin Sheng, He Ren, Kou Fu and other strongman leaders present heard the words and immediately accepted their orders. Tian Biao, who was beside Tian Hu, also sneered several times. He pulled out the steel knife from his waist and He shouted to the nearly 10,000 thieves at the foot of Shishi Mountain: "Young men, did you all hear clearly? Damn it, gold, silk and food all belong to wealthy families, and all the beautiful women are just like that. We, the powerful officials, are so jealous of the powerful officials! We are beaten in the green forest, and every day we are afraid of being beheaded by the officers and soldiers!
With a fucking head on their shoulders, how come those guys can live happily, but we are in danger? Steal the fuck! Kill the fuck! Fuck the fuck! As long as Mianshang County is broken, women who don’t know the money and food will It belongs to us. If Xiao Tang is killed again, the imperial army led by him will collapse like those useless officers and soldiers in Hedong. Who can stop us then? When my eldest brother takes over Hedong and cedes the land for hegemony, Those of us who tuck our heads in our belts and want to do big things will be able to live a safe life!!!"
Tian Biao just raised his arms and roared, and most of the bandits in Hedong also howled with him. While they responded frantically to Tian Biao, the violent and ferocious animal nature in their hearts seemed to be fully aroused. This group made a living by burning, killing, and looting.
The bandits are more like a group of bloodthirsty and man-eating beasts at this time!
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In Mianshang County, Xiao Tang went to the county government office to meet with the local magistrate, and went to discuss with him how to resist the Hedong thieves who might come to kill him at any time.
The magistrate of Mianshang County is named Li. He is in his mid-thirties, has a thin face, bright eyes, and a thin figure. Judging from his brows and temperament, he looks like a smart and capable civil servant. According to
Xiao Tang thought about it, there had been a mutiny by Mianshang County officers and soldiers, and these days the county was always worried that a large number of thieves would break into the city. Under such circumstances, Li Zhixian was able to deploy limited manpower to maintain the commotion inside and outside the county.
To expand, there must be some officials who are really talented and hardworking.
But after all, Li Zhixian was just a scholar and was not very proficient in the art of uniting troops for defense. He was worried day and night that the county's manpower was too small to resist the large number of thieves. He heard that Xiao Tang, the commander of the army heading to Hedong, was also coming.
When they arrived at Mianshang, Li Zhixian was naturally surprised and happy. After chatting with Xiao Tang for a few words, Li Zhixian ignored the politeness and went straight to the point and directly told Xiao Tang about the defense situation of Mianshang County.
At this time, I heard Li Zhixian say: "Mr. Xiao, after some rectification by the officials in Mianshang County, the rogues and ruffians in the city who took advantage of the bandits in Hedong to cause trouble have been thoroughly investigated, but now in the county
There are only about a hundred official servants left. Even if you add the troops sent by your lord, there are only about 200 people. Moreover, not only is the food stock in the county town limited, the moats and walls are also far smaller than those in ordinary state capital cities...
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There are also two or three towns on the south side of Mianshang's rule that have been invaded by thieves. Although the officials are willing to rescue, the number of available men under Ji Nai's command is already insufficient. If it is as expected by Mr. Xiao, Hedong bandit leader Tian Hu will lead a large number of thieves to attack the county.
, how can we hold on?"
Xiao Tang gently took a sip of the hot tea that Magistrate Li ordered the officials in the yamen to serve, and then said: "There is no need for the magistrate to worry about this. The magistrate can just send people to lead the people from nearby villages and towns to take refuge in the city first, so as not to harm them."
I will be harmed by thieves. When the soldiers come, I will block it, and when the water comes and the earth covers it, when the thieves come to attack the city, I will deal with it with my subordinates.
Nowadays, the thieves in Hedong are rampant in their arrogance. They also regard me, a high-ranking official in the central government who is in charge of all official affairs in Hedong, as a thorn in their side and a thorn in their flesh. Those thieves want to take my life, and I am fully aware of their intentions. Tongtian County
I still have 10,000 troops stationed, and I am about to take advantage of the rebel army to invade the county and attack the city. I will suddenly attack the enemy's flanks. This will not only protect the safety of Mianshang County, but also greatly weaken the vigor of the rebel army!"
"It's good to have such an arrangement, but..."
Li Zhixian only thought for a moment, and then said with a worried look: "It's just that there are only two hundred people guarding the city, and the number of people is too small. Even if there are officers and soldiers setting up an ambush outside, there is no guarantee that the bandits will not fight against Xiao.
The soldiers and horses led by your Excellency's subordinates broke through the city before they could fight. Why not, Lord Xiao, order Ma Xingye, the imperial guard from Tongtian County, to come to the rescue and guard Mianshang County together. In this way, wouldn't it be more effective?"
Xiao Tang pondered for a moment and then said: "Li Zhixian, I also know that acting like this will put Mianshang County in some danger, but I made this arrangement just to provoke Tian Hu and his army to attack.
The thieves are so powerful that they are plundering everywhere in the east of the river, but our army is unable to do its job well. If we blindly divide our troops and garrison them in various places, we will only end up in an embarrassing situation of focusing on one and losing sight of the other.
At present, the bandit army may not know that I want to lure the snake out of the hole. If I order the army to come to the rescue quickly, it will definitely arouse the vigilance of the thieves. If Tian Hu is unwilling to fight hard and leads the army to evacuate, then should I lead the troops to pursue or not? After all,
Nowadays, thieves are wreaking havoc in all the prefectures in Hedong. The affected counties and towns are not only Mianshang County, Pingyao County, Tongdan County and several other places... I am in a dangerous place, and it is precisely to sacrifice my life.
Use it as bait, and strive to eliminate as many thieves as possible through this battle. In this way, more people of Dawn will not be forced to become homeless by bandits and thieves."
Li Zhixian fell into silence for a while after hearing this, but after a while, he sighed: "That's it! Mr. Xiao is willing to put himself in danger in order to wipe out the bandits as soon as possible. Although the lower officials are not talented, they are also depriving the country of their salary.
A minister of the Song Dynasty! Since Mr. Xiao has already made arrangements, I will assist Mr. Xiao in his actions. When the thieves come, naturally the people will be there if the city is there, and the people will die if the city is destroyed!"
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Author's note: Fu Xuan, Meng De, Liu Ze, Jiao Wentong, leaders of the Lianghe loyal militia. After the humiliation of Jingkang, when the Jin army invaded the Central Plains, various rebel armies fought against the Jin army. Song general Wang Yanzeng led eleven generals including Yue Fei
He led 7,000 troops to cross the Yellow River north and regained Xinxiang. However, he was subsequently besieged by tens of thousands of Jin troops. Outnumbered, he led his troops to break through. Later, he united with the rebels from the two rivers (i.e. Hedong and Hebei) in the Taihang Mountains and persisted in resisting the Jin. Leaders such as Fu Xuan
More than 100,000 people from the 19 villages under his command went to join Wang Yan. All the soldiers had the characters "Serve the country with all their hearts and vow to kill the gold thieves" tattooed on their faces to show their determination.
This anti-Jin army in the early Southern Song Dynasty originally originated from the Green Forest Rebel Army, and was later transferred to the official army. Because of its outstanding achievements in defeating the Jin army many times, and because of the eight characters tattooed on its face, it was called the Eight-Character Army.
