Delong

Chapter 396: The Country’s Destruction (14)

"12 catties of grain, 490 people...you should do some testing first."

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, at the junction of Wei County and Wu'an County on the east bank of the Zhuozhang River, Dou Xiaoniang didn't know that her stepmother was promoted to the chief executive, or she didn't care if she knew it. Yijie was very happy to be the captain of the patrol team, and at this time, she was also in the process of handing over to Su Jingfang in Wu'an County, and she was very busy.

"The check is clear."

After a while, Su Jing, who had brought many people along, responded as usual and asked questions at the same time. "Why did so many people only send more than 1000 stones of food? 490 people, according to your three-to-seven ratio, the total should be a transfer team of 900 people, as well as chariots and horses, and there are military depots on the road..."

"Whether it's a thousand stones or ten thousand stones, they are all for the common people anyway, why should you care about this?" It may be that she was specifically told something before she came, and Dou Xiaoniang was obviously vigilant. "Let me remind you, Colonel Su, for this thousand stones, we must first leave tails for the peasants...According to the rules, from Liyang to here, an extra [-] catties of grain will be given, that is, each person will have to take it away." Fifty catties... of the remaining grain, you must also promise to give it to the people of Mingshui County, and we will send patrols to investigate."

Su Jingfang was stunned for a moment, and looked at the people in the county who immediately showed him a vigilant look, but he didn't say anything, just nodded... The word "flexibility" was tailor-made for him, Captain Su.

In this way, after working hard for more than half an hour, the patrolling cavalry of the Dragon Gang watched with their own eyes the temporarily conscripted civilian husbands took the food and went to the wilderness. Only then did the clerk relax.

However, after finishing the work, whether Captain Dou, Xiaoniang Dou, or Captain Su Jingfang, Captain Su ordered all the ministries to turn back/start, but I was at the end and didn't move at all, as if I had something to say.

"You talk first." Su Jingfang took the initiative to rein in the horse and turn around, and stood up with the opponent.

"Hasn't your master already voted for our Dragon Gang? Why are you so divided this time? Why didn't you organize the people to collect food? Why do we have to hand over?" Dou Xiaoniang asked seriously.

Su Jingfang hesitated to speak, but after a while, he answered seriously: "Let me ask first... You are Li Yang who was picked on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, right?"

"27."

"Okay, 27." Su Jingfang nodded. "Today is the sixth day, right? Exactly ten days, right?"

"Correct."

"Within ten days, you captured Liyang Cang, drove out Qu Tuda, captured 2 people with 1 men under his command, broke through Linqing Pass, captured Yanjin, forced the surrender of the entire Wuyang County, and wiped out the entire Wuyang County. Ji County, captured Wei County, I heard that Xingyang County was also attacked, and Aoshan Cang in Luokou Cang was attacked... right?"

"We didn't win the entire Wei County." Dou Xiaoniang thought for a while and answered seriously. "The cities of Yecheng, Anyang, and Hanling haven't been touched yet..."

"It doesn't matter anymore." Su Jingfang shook his head. "Don't you think you're taking too long a step?"

"I think so." Dou Xiaoniang continued to answer seriously. "As I said at the beginning, if we do this, we will definitely disturb the great masters of the Eastern Capital. Maybe we will pull that Uncle Cao back from Kansai. That's why we are in such a hurry to transport the grain back. But what should we do? ?This year, the common people suffered disasters, and there was not enough food. As the leader of the rebel army, we, the Dragon Gang, don’t take care of it. Who will take care of it? Don’t you know that these grains are the blood of the people in Hebei? You can’t just look at the blood of the people in Hebei. Come on, and then the people will all starve to death, right?"

Su Jingfang opened his mouth, but remained silent.

"It's also the same reason to open the Luokou warehouse. It's the blood of the people in Jianghuai and Jiangdong in the east, and it must be returned to the people." Dou Xiaoniang didn't notice the other party's strangeness, but hurriedly added it, and then asked back. "What else do you want to ask?"

Su Jingfang still didn't say a word. He originally wanted to guide the other party to say and admit that the steps of the Dragon Gang were too big, which might lead to danger, so as to explain why he would keep a distance from the Dragon Gang.

However, Captain Dou was halfway through his speech, and Captain Su realized the problem—this set of rhetoric based on the basic logic of interests was useless to the other party.

If you really say it, the other party will only be more confused, and even despise you directly.

In ordinary times, contempt would be contempt. When did he, Su Jingfang, care about this?However, in the face of the almost stormy offensive of the Dethrone Dragon Gang around this New Year's Eve; in the face of Zhang San's stupidity who knows everything and is smarter than anyone else, but still bumps into him head-on; in the face of Looking at the countless people who came and went across the border, the unmistakable food stocks, relief, and the expected famine that had indeed been resolved; facing this young knight with clear and serious eyes... Su Jingfang remained silent.

"I have nothing to answer." Su Jingfang answered seriously. "It's good that you know everything."

"Then you answer my words." Dou Xiaoniang continued. "What do you mean now?"

"Actually, there is nothing to say." Su Jingfang looked at the clouds above his head and responded calmly. "It's just that my master broke up with your Chief Zhang again because of Zhaojun... That's all. There are still some people talking about the results of the two families. Maybe they will really go against each other if they don't fight well."

Dou Xiaoniang frowned slightly, and seemed to realize something, so she asked directly: "I'm worried that if the great master comes, we will suffer a complete defeat, and it will implicate you then?"

Su Jingfang did not deny it, on the contrary. After hesitating for a moment, he took the initiative to remind: "In short, if the situation is not good, you must not be brave. You should hide and give way so that you can make a comeback. The great master is really like a red mountain when he comes. Press the top, find me when the time comes, and I will take you to hide in the real Red Mountain..."

"Even if I hide, I will hide with our Dragon Gang." Dou Xiaoniang frowned, as if she was a little angry, but suppressed it unexpectedly. "Where do you want to remind me?"

Su Jingfang, who was always able to suppress any situation, nodded, said nothing, but turned and went back as if fleeing.

Dou Xiaoniang was also angry, turned and left.

After all, the two came to a scene and broke up unhappy.

Of course, back to the sixth day of the first lunar month, no one cared about the emotional problems of the two young children. In fact, because of the speed of the attack and the huge results of the Dragon Gang's attack, on this day, although the ripples had just swelled, they still It has had a huge impact.

All stakeholders have to face this round of shocks with a dazed attitude, but many people have realized that the situation has reached a certain crossroads. Will have to get off the ground and move the situation forward... This makes people feel a little frightened again.

There is nothing to hide. Fear of the great master and the real dragon are human nature, it is the historical experience of this world, and even the insights that can see the true context clearly beyond the clouds.

Li Ding was frightened, and unexpectedly did not reply to Zhang Xing's letter, and has been restless for the past few days.

Zhang Shizhao was also stunned, and then seemed to have a strong sense of crisis, and then unexpectedly chose to join the army and participate in the battle against Xingyang... Li Shu was naturally overjoyed.

Li Qingchen was more straightforward. After receiving Zhang Xing's letter, he didn't say a word. He only took advantage of the last chance for the Long army to attack the Luokou warehouse and transship the grain, and fled decisively... Throwing away all the supplies and stocks, disbanding the county soldiers, will have A Jinwu guard in the color of Dongdu arrived at Hanling City at the foot of Hanling Mountain in the southwest of Yecheng, and then suddenly led the three or four thousand troops to the northwest without calling anyone.

But unexpectedly, he gave up the Fuyang road in the north, took the Hongshan Fukou road in the northwest, crossed Hongshan, and arrived in Wu'an County.

And when Su Jingfang returned to Yongnian City, the prefecture of Wu'an County a day later, he was surprised to find that the pale-faced Yecheng Palace Ambassador Li Qingchen had appeared at the guest seat in his master's lobby.

"I mean very simply."

Li Qingchen glanced at Su Jingfang, whom he had met several times, and watched Su Jingfang stop outside the door, but he didn't have the slightest intention of covering up or stopping. "The situation is chaotic, you asked me if Zhong Cheng would personally come over and try to take down Zhang Xing and the core leaders of the Chulong gang... I made it clear that I don't know at the moment... But no one can say that there is no such possibility. And since I, Li Qingchen, was ordered by Zhongcheng, I should try my best to speak at the end. Therefore, I, like Qu Tuda and Qin Er, are doing one thing, which is to preserve my strength as much as possible and avoid Chulong This blow of the gang, wait for Zhongcheng to arrive, and join forces to counterattack!"

"What if Uncle Cao doesn't come?" Li Ding asked coldly. "How do you handle yourself?"

"If Zhongcheng doesn't come, how will you deal with yourself?" Li Qingchen mocked back without hesitation. "Send to Zhang San or to British Duke?"

Li Ding sneered on the spot and wanted to speak.

"Let's demote Zhang San." Li Qingchen suddenly made a choice for the other party. "If Zhang San is demoted, even if you are not under one person and over ten thousand people, you are still the person Zhang San trusts the most. In terms of performance, it is no problem to be a commander-in-chief or a leader. But if you demote the British Duke, say To put it bluntly, although you are also a famous Guanlong family, you will not be suppressed, but that's all... Is there a shortage of famous children from the British Duke? Are you missing a military leader from Guanlong? Or, until now, you still think that What chance do I have to take advantage of the chaos and achieve a personal overall situation?"

Li Ding restrained his smile and calmly fell into the trap of the other party's words: "Why can't we take advantage of the chaos?"

"Because people can't deceive themselves and others, at least they shouldn't deceive themselves and others." Li Qingchen replied with a smile. "Zhang San's move is of course an unwise move to throw himself and the Dragon Gang out, but on the other hand, isn't it true that he did it himself and proved to the world that he is determined to 'share the benefits of the world'? After this incident, The Chulong Gang and Zhang San will either fall into a slump, or they will take advantage of the aura of capturing the hearts of the people in Hebei, the East, and the Jianghuai River... and the British Duke will also take advantage of the situation to enter Guanzhong and reorganize Guanlong. Dare I ask you, a useless official and useless waste, what do you use to stand on your own in the world?"

At this point, Li Qingchen looked at the other party slightly: "Forgive me, Li Silang, I used to be young and didn't know about accidents, and I didn't know you well before I came to Hebei. Don't say it can't compare to Zhang Xing's self-starting momentum, or the British's forbearance to open up the world, even Cao Zhongcheng and Sima Erlong's firmness is a level behind... Don't be self-righteous."

Even if Li Ding had been mentally prepared, he was also a little angry at this time, or rather, he became angry from embarrassment.After all, Li Qingchen's sarcasm actually coincided with his gaffes and fears these past few days.

"So I talked for a long time." Li Dingchang exhaled and suppressed his emotions. "If Uncle Cao doesn't come, how will you deal with yourself?"

"Are you asking me, or the Jinwu guard at Hongshan Pass?" Li Qingchen unceremoniously revealed the other party's intention.

"How about you, what about the Jinwu Guard?" Li Ding didn't bother to hide it.

"If Zhongcheng doesn't come, Jinwuwei...you can swallow it if you want." Li Twelve Lang said thoughtfully. "As for me, life and death have nothing to do with you... You are not so low as to tie me up and sell me?"

"As long as you are in my Wu'an territory, I have nothing to do with life or death." Li Ding reiterated helplessly.

"It's okay, I'll leave right away." Li Qingchen replied immediately.

"What do you mean?" Li Ding suddenly felt inexplicably tense.

"Your Excellency, do you think I'm just waiting to die?" Li Qingchen glanced at the other party with a calm expression. "As I said before, I left Yecheng because I wanted to save useful soldiers for Zhongcheng's counterattack, and if Zhongcheng doesn't come to counterattack... Of course I will invite him in person... I will leave today, immediately Just go, go alone."

Li Ding was slightly vigilant: "You want to cross the Red Mountain, cross Shangdang, Hedong, and go to Kansai... No, Uncle Cao hasn't arrived in the Western Capital yet?"

"The last news is that he is still in Tongguan and has not entered yet." Li Qingchen replied calmly. "I do my best."

"If you arrive, what if he left?" Li Ding asked seriously.

"That's not what you should ask, because at that time, it will have nothing to do with you anyway." Li Qingchen remained calm. "You just need to think about one thing. If I lead the great master from Dongdu to Hebei, and you are in the north, how should you deal with it?"

Li Ding also smiled: "This is not what you should ask."

Unexpectedly, Li Qingchen didn't refute again, but just nodded without commenting.

The two fell silent together. Su Jingfang, who was standing at the door, and Wang Chen, who was sitting next to him, had already put on puppets and said nothing.

After a while, just when Li Qingchen seemed to be about to get up, Li Ding suddenly said, "Why are you bothering? You said that I was overturned to the corner by Zhang San and others, so why not you? Compared with me, your situation is only It will be worse, even if you don't know what thoughts you have, you will only be more helpless than me. I have reached the corner, and you are standing on the tip of a needle... Why don't you forget it, just rest here with me, After all, I still have some capital, which is enough to keep you safe through this twists and turns, and start over from scratch."

That sounded a bit like irony.

In fact, Li Qingchen also laughed immediately: "Master Li actually wants to recruit me? Is it not enough to eat my soldiers?"

Li Ding straightened up and replied earnestly: "This is a theory of sincerity."

"I know...I know!" Li Qingchen was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly sighed in his seat. "I know... it's not just you. Zhang Xing's persuasion to surrender is also a sincere statement. But people, either it's just that breath, if you can go through it, you can go through it, if you can't go through it, you can't go through it; or it's the shrinking , either gritted your teeth and did it, or collapsed and retracted... My current situation is that I can still suppress the shrinking in my heart, and then I can't get along a little bit. The more this is the case, the more I have to cherish my last life. Tone. Li Silang, if a man lives in the world, it’s fine if he can’t make great achievements, but should he be like a grass and tree, silent and decaying with the cycle of the weather? There must be something to do!”

Li Ding opened his mouth, but looked at the other party's pale complexion, thin figure, and a little white hair doped on his head, unexpectedly he didn't say anything, but nodded.

Li Qingchen didn't say much anymore, he got up and left.

After the people left, the hall was silent for a long time, and in the end, it was Wang Chen who broke the silence.

The new captain of the county cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to send someone to inform Taiyuan?"

Li Ding came back to his senses, glanced at the other party, and inexplicably glanced at Su Jingfang standing at the door who was looking into the hall, and then looked at the other party again: "It's okay, you can send someone there."

Wang Chen stood up immediately, and was about to leave, but came to his senses, and quickly explained: "Your Majesty, I'm not making arbitrarily advocating opinions, but thinking about him, and I'm worried that if this person leaves, it may ruin the British government's plan, and I will vent my anger at that time." Come here... These days, haven't you been following the Dragon Clan to go west to talk about Uncle Cao? It is said that once he goes to Kansai or Jindi, he will be disposed of by the British Duke and a great master."

"It's okay, I don't want to offend the Duke of England." Li Ding answered seriously. "Go do it."

Wang Chen nodded in shock, and then hurried away.

As soon as the person left, Li Silang looked at the door again: "Jingfang, what do you think?"

"What did Master say?" Su Jingfang hurried into the hall and asked in surprise. "Who else?"

"Everything." Li Ding laughed. "Everyone... the current situation, Zhang Xing, Duke Ying, Uncle Cao, I, Li Qingchen, and Wang Chen are in shock."

"These things are beyond my ability to speak." Su Jingfang replied sincerely. "Students now feel more and more that their behavior is superficial, and their abilities are just like that..."

"I just want to hear your superficial theory." Li Ding continued to laugh. "tell me the story."

"Then I'll talk about it." Su Jingfang couldn't help but sighed. "The current situation, as Ambassador Li said, has reached the critical juncture, and each household has to make a choice according to the development of the situation. Among them, the actions of the Dragon Gang and Mr. Zhang are actually a bit stupid in my opinion. , but I can’t help but admire, at least after this incident, no one in the world can say that the "benefits of the same world" and "those who are good at profit" of the Dragon Gang and Mr. Zhang are bluffing."

Li Ding nodded heavily: "It's been three years, and it's going to be the fourth year. This guy is still like Gushuipan that day. Once he got angry and became ruthless, he was reckless... It's also admirable."

"As for Duke Ying and Uncle Cao, I don't think they can be generalized... Uncle Cao is a great master, Duke Ying may not be, but at the moment, it is really scary that the latter is hunting the former.

"As for Master, Master has decided on his own, just don't violate the laws of heaven and human relations.

"Li Qingchen...Ambassador Li is a bit like 'If you don't eat for the five tripods, you cook for the five tripods', but he is more disappointed with the situation, as if he is desperately trying to prove something.

"There is also Captain Wang. I just want to remind Master that this person was the Deputy Captain long before Master became the prefect of Wu'an. Even if he has contacts with the Duke of England, it is likely that he has just been drawn in not long ago."

Li Ding nodded: "I guess it's Wang Chenkuo... He and Wang Chenkuo are of the same family and generation, and Wang Chenkuo obviously defected to the British Duke... From this, it can be seen that my ability to control people is just like this."

Su Jingfang didn't answer, but Li Ding looked at the other party and continued to ask, "What about you? How do you think of yourself? Why were you in a daze just now?"

Su Jingfang became dazed for a moment, and then his heart was filled with great fear.

At this time, the captain of Wu'an County suddenly remembered some words of Li Twelve Lang.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, the Dragon Gang broke through Xingyang and surrounded Xingyang Cangshan Farm. On the same day, in the cold wind, Li Qingchen traveled through the entire Jin region alone, arrived at Tongguan, and met the great master he had been thinking about day and night.

This surprised Cao Lin, because it was clear at a glance that the other party still hadn't congealed the pill.

In other words, Li Twelve came running here.

(End of this chapter)