Macheng was built by Shile of Later Zhao Dynasty during the Five Hus and Sixteen Kingdoms period. Shile sent his general Ma Qiu south to garrison the border and built a border city, which was named Macheng.
However, this border town used by the northern barbarians to fight against the Southern Dynasties later became a fortress for the southern Han people to resist the invasion of the barbarian people from the north. In the Southern Song Dynasty, Macheng had become an important border town. In order to resist the Mongols' front, Macheng was like the Sichuan at that time.
Like prefectures and counties, the county government was moved from the plains to Shizishan, a dangerous area eighty miles east of the county. From then on, the warlike and simple style of Macheng villagers was developed.
After the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty destroyed the Song Dynasty, although the county seat was moved back to the dilapidated ancient city, the Mongol rulers, who only knew how to bend their bows and shoot eagles, conquered the vast people from the Yellow Sea in the east to the Danube River in the west, but they could not conquer the oppressed
The person’s heart is unwilling to be enslaved.
The situation changed, "Tatars were killed on August 15th", and millions of Red Scarf troops rose up. Macheng blacksmith Zou Pusheng and others rebelled, supported Xu Shouhui from Luotian as king, established the country, changed the Yuan Dynasty and established the capital, and even conquered Huangzhou and other counties.
After the founding, Xu Shouhui's Tianwan regime and Chen Youliang's Han regime cut off the arm of the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties.
The fighting style of the people in Huangma village became more popular due to this.
After more than two hundred years of management during the Ari Ming Dynasty, Macheng developed from a dilapidated cottage town under the Mongol and Yuan rule into a densely populated city with prosperous industries.
The number of Neo-Confucian gentry increased day by day. During the Wanli period, the trend of luxury pervaded both the government and the public. Liu Shouyou, the grandson of Liu Tianhe, the Minister of the Ministry of War, built Liu Jinwu Hao in Xifan. Deng Chuwang, the censor of Henan Province, built the Baike Garden in Nanguan.
The minister Mei Guozhen built the Huanyang Tower in Beiguan, and the Qiongzhou prefect Zhou Liutang also built the Yuanren Pavilion in Xiguan.
Others include the Hengmendi of Shangshu Li Changgeng, the Chiwutian of Hanlin Mei Gongcen, the Lilang Garden of the famous scholar Cao Yinchang, etc... There are many names, vying for splendor and beauty, with various appearances and countless celebrities, officials and gentry.
Since Macheng has a strong and aggressive folk custom and has gathered a large number of officials and celebrities who have served as officials, it is no wonder that after Mei Zhihuan returned to his hometown after becoming an official, he was able to establish a large-scale military establishment without any support from the court.
The regiment training above the people armed the Shen Zhuang army.
But because of this, it was impossible for such a powerful force to be in the hands of a rural gentry who was not directly controlled by the court without arousing some criticism.
Although Mei Zhihuan was a capable official, he had been an official at the Jiubian border for a long time and had few connections in the local official circles in Huguang. The strategy of Shen Zhuang's army had always been to stick to Huang'an. Although his hometown in Macheng had tens of thousands of people, it never
He left his hometown and assisted the Chu army in fighting.
Such a force naturally made both Superintendent Ding Qirui and Governor Song Yihe extremely jealous.
They were jealous of the strength of the Shenzhuang Army and always tried to find ways to capture this regiment in their own hands. They also resented Mei Zhihuan's approach of only caring about his hometown and not supporting the Huguang army, which made Zhang Xianzhong feel very angry.
Ding Qirui is doing fine now. Ever since he left Huguang and went to Anhui under the pretext of chasing down Zhang Xianzhong and the Fifth Battalion of Gezuo, the sea and the sky have become brighter. Every day, he only needs to cooperate with the Ming army in Jiangbei and intercept the Western Battalion.
It can be said that he was too happy to miss Shu. Even if Chongzhen urged him every day, he would try his best to drag him back to Huguang.
But Song Yihe was suffering from a headache. He already had very few mobile troops, but now Li Laiheng's army invaded Suizhou and appointed officials to equalize the land, showing his intention of long-term management.
Recently, this little thief Li even captured Yingshan County, defeated Niuxin Village in the Dabie Mountains, and recruited a lot of Dabie village soldiers. His strength has probably increased again!
Every day, more than a dozen squires who fled from Suizhou came to the governor's office in Wuchang to complain. They said nonsense such as "the land was occupied by local sticks" and "the gentry was reduced to a registered household and a subordinate citizen". Every day they sent
People came to the Yamen lobby to force Song Yihe to send troops to regain Suizhou. Although Song Yihe was a high official in the border area, he knew that behind this large group of gentry, the in-law relationship was very complicated. If he didn't handle it well, his black gauze hat would be on the verge of collapse.
It's really going to end.
"The superintendent and assistant minister Yang Wen died in Shashi because he was weak and had no medical treatment. The superintendent Yang Wenyue committed suicide on the way to Beijing. The Qin governor Fu Zonglong was also beheaded by intruders in Xiangcheng... All these supervising ministers who were higher than me died.
, but I can survive to this day and keep my official position. What do I rely on? I just protect myself wisely and watch the fire from the other side. As long as the bandit's blade is not on my neck, why should I fight the bandit to the death? "
Like Fang Kong, Song Yihe took several nephews with him after he became the governor of Huguang. This not only allowed them to participate in confidential affairs and learn official duties, but also gave the younger generations of these families an opportunity to broaden their horizons and get to know officials.
Now he pointed at the fate of Yang Sichang, Yang Wenyue, and Fu Zonglong, and gave his juniors a good education in "the way of being an official", saying: "The emperor appointed Ding Qirui as the supervisor. Unexpectedly, he has been very cowardly and cowardly recently, which is extremely fallacious.
Many people hid in northern Anhui to avoid the war. I think it will not be long before they are promoted to official positions. Once Ding Qirui resigns, who will be appointed as the supervisor? If Wang Qiaonian has regained his strength in Henan, maybe he will be used, but I think the army of the invaders is as strong as a raging fire.
It’s pretty good that Wang Qionian can survive, let alone the supervisor?”
When his nephews and juniors heard this, they all respectfully praised Song Yihe for his profound knowledge, which was far superior to that of Wang Qiaonian and others. The position of superintendent might fall to Song Yihe.
"There is a clear saying in ancient times, which is that 'to go up without fighting' and 'to stop fighting is to use force'. It would be great if we could defeat the enemy without fighting! We have stationed troops to guard the four borders of Huguang. Even if the intruders occupy Suizhou, they can't.
There is no way to plunder the wilderness, and there is no way to fight, so we can only retreat to Henan. In order to keep the peace in Huguang without fighting, the secret of using military force is in the heart. Isn't it beyond the comprehension of ordinary gentry? They are now spreading rumors everywhere that I have accepted bribes from bandits and want to
Just say that I'm afraid of war and thieves, that's nonsense, it makes no sense."
What troubles Song Yihe the most now is the gentry who have fled Suizhou. Most of their property is in Suizhou. Of course, he will try every means to get Song Yihe to send troops to take over Suizhou City. But how can the intruders be so easy to deal with? He is just using the strategy of calming them down.
These people don't understand Song Yihe's painstaking efforts and spread rumors everywhere that he is afraid of war and enemies. What is his plan?
Maybe he was instigated by the bandits.
"Things on the front line are changing rapidly. How do those gentry understand these things? Your Excellency has a long-term desire to serve the country and has far-reaching intentions. Even if ordinary people cannot understand it, I think the Holy Emperor will definitely understand your intentions." One of Song Yihe's nephews stood up and said
Gongshou said, "My lord's tactics of guarding the four borders have produced great results recently. The merchants in Handong are stable, and there are businessmen in the Huang and Ma areas who presented the Ten Thousand People Umbrella yesterday, which proves the benefits of my lord's use of troops."
Song Yihe raised his eyebrows. He knew that Ding Qirui's performance was poor and he would never be able to hold the position of governor for a long time. There would be great changes in the governorship of the three provinces of Qin, Chu and Henan in the future. Song Yihe knew that it would be difficult for him as a governor to suddenly rise to the position of governor, and he
He is not interested in the governor who is currently being roasted on the fire, but if there is a chance to be promoted to the governor, then the achievement of the Ten Thousand People Umbrella will still be very useful.
"This is really great. It's really rare for the jute merchants to know my painstaking intentions." He stroked his beard and chuckled, and felt that insisting on not sending troops to Suizhou to fight Li Laiheng was the right thing to do. "Except for the Wanmin Umbrella,
What else was brought?”
"Reporting to your lord, in addition to the Ten Thousand People Umbrella, the jute merchants also sent eight thousand taels of silver to reward the army. A famous local merchant, Kendeji, also specially prepared a painting of Xia Yuyu's mountains and rivers."
"Xia Gui's mountain and river pictures?"
"Exactly."
Song Yihe didn't care about the eight thousand taels of silver, but Xia Gui was known as one of the four masters of the Southern Song Dynasty. His landscape paintings were vigorous and moist, but most of his works were not among the people, but were collected by the royal family or the vassal treasury.
A momentary treasure.
"Well...have these merchants and people experienced any inconvenience recently? If anyone has been injured due to the military, please feel free to let me know."
Sending Wanmin Umbrellas to merchants was a common flattery in the late Ming Dynasty, but they even specially sent Xia Gui's famous paintings to Wuchang, which must have something to appeal to.
Sure enough, Song Yihe's nephew immediately said: "Sir, they want to complain about the illegal things committed by the eunuch Mei Zhihuan in the village."