Meishan Su family, Su Yun is the most virtuous

Chapter 410: Win the hearts of the people!

In Tongzhou City, the biting cold wind raged like the howling of ghosts and wolves, blowing up dust and dead branches as it swept through the streets and alleys.

The atmosphere in the shabby courtyard of the Li family was depressing and almost suffocating.

In the middle of the yard, Mr. Li, who was over 70 years old, sat on a wooden bench with a missing corner, his body hunched over like a wrinkled old piece of tree bark.

His eyes were cloudy and dim as he stared at the tightly closed gate. His brows were twisted into a knot and the wrinkles on his forehead looked like dry grooves.

“I heard that the Jingsai Army usually commits all kinds of evil, such as burning, killing, looting, and causing great suffering wherever they go.

If we go into the city this time, I’m afraid our lives will be ruined.”

Mr. Li's voice was trembling and a little hoarse, and his words were filled with deep fear of unknown disasters.

At one side, the young Li Dashan stood under the eaves, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He was wearing a patched coarse linen shirt, his muscles were taut underneath, showing the strength and vigor of youth.

His eyes were sometimes firm, sometimes flashing with uneasiness, and from time to time he looked into the house, where his weak wife and young children were.

Dashan's wife, Axiu, was sitting on the earthen kang in the house, holding their infant son, her eyes full of panic and helplessness.

The older daughter, who looked only about five or six years old, opened her big timid eyes and snuggled up to her mother. Her usual liveliness had disappeared without a trace, and she just looked around anxiously.

Ah Xiu's eyes were red with tears welling up in them, her lips trembled slightly, and she whispered in a low voice: "Oh God, please have mercy on us and help our family escape this disaster."

She hugged the child tighter in her arms, as if she wanted to use her body to build an indestructible line of defense for the child.

Li Dashan looked at his wife and children in the house, then at his worried father in the yard. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

Although he was filled with fear of the Jingsai Army, as the head of the family, he knew he had to shoulder this responsibility.

He secretly made up his mind that if the Jingsai army really dared to break into his home, he would protect his family even at the cost of his own life.

At this moment, a fierce wind whistled past, making the door panels at the entrance of the courtyard clang, as if the terrible Jingsai army was roaring ferociously outside.

The family's heartbeats suddenly quickened, and the entire courtyard was instantly shrouded in an atmosphere of tension and fear.

The faint light of dawn had not yet completely dispelled the darkness of the night, but the sky above Tongzhou City was already covered with dark clouds, like a heavy lead plate, pressing on everyone's heart.

Outside the city, the Jingsai army was gathering densely like a black tide.

The soldiers' armor flickered coldly in the dim light, and the weapons in their hands shone coldly, as if they were impatiently announcing the upcoming battle.

With a sharp horn piercing the sky, the siege officially began.

The Jingsai Army's catapults launched the first attack. Huge stones flew towards the city wall like cannonballs, hitting the wall with a deafening sound. Bricks fell and splashed dust all over the sky.

The archers were not to be outdone. They drew their bows, pulled the strings and released arrows in one go. The dense rain of arrows swarmed towards the top of the city like locusts. The Song soldiers defending the city raised their shields to resist, but many of them were still shot and fell to the ground, with screams rang out one after another.

Under the cover of fierce firepower, the ladder soldiers of the Jingsai Army advanced forward rapidly.

They carried heavy ladders, rushed towards the city wall with shouts, and placed the ladders firmly on the wall.

The warriors climbed up the ladders like nimble monkeys and engaged in fierce close combat with the Song army on the city wall.

There were flashes of swords and sabers, shouts of killing, and blood dyed the city walls red.

Although the Song army fought hard, they gradually became overwhelmed by the fierce offensive of the Jingsai army.

Finally, there was a loud noise at the city gate, and the battering ram of the Jingsai Army successfully broke open the city gate.

The surging soldiers poured into the city like a flood breaking through a dam and quickly advanced to various key points.

In just a few hours, the Jingsai Army successfully controlled the situation in Tongzhou, and the battle to capture the city came to an end.

The people of Tongzhou City fell into endless fear and despair from the moment they heard that the Jingsai Army was approaching the city.

The streets were filled with a suffocating atmosphere of panic, and every household was hurriedly making their final struggle and preparations.

The same was true for Mr. Li's family. In that dim and small room, the atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed like water could be squeezed out of it.

Li Dashan's brows were furrowed, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. He and his wife A Xiu were frantically rummaging through boxes and cabinets.

Ah Xiu's hands were trembling as she carefully wrapped the few gold and silver jewelry in the house with a piece of tattered cloth.

Then, in the corner beside the kang, she lifted up a loose blue brick with great effort and hid the tightly wrapped jewelry inside. She then quickly filled it with soil and stomped on it repeatedly with her feet, trying not to leave any trace.

Li Dashan packed the food that had been accumulated in his family for a long time into a few worn-out sacks, and prepared to secretly transport it to the abandoned woodshed in the backyard under the cover of night and hide it under the pile of firewood.

Li Dashan hid the food and hurried back to the house. He looked at Ah Xiu with a serious expression and said in a deep voice, "Ah Xiu, take out those gold and silver jewelry."

Upon hearing this, Ah Xiu's already red eyes instantly filled with tears. She hugged her young son tightly, subconsciously protecting the corner where the jewelry was hidden behind her, and said in a tearful voice: "Dashan, this is the result of our family's years of hard work, and it's just like this..."

Li Dashan frowned even more tightly, took a step forward, and squatted beside Ah Xiu. Although he tried to make his voice as soft as possible, it was full of unquestionable determination: "Ah Xiu, we have all heard that those soldiers are very fierce.

If they enter our house and find nothing, they will be furious. By then, not to mention the jewelry, I'm afraid our entire family's lives will be at stake."

Ah Xiu bit her lower lip, tears rolling down her cheeks like beads from a broken string. With trembling hands she reached to the corner of the kang, and with great effort she lifted up the brick again and took out the package.

She gently untied the worn cloth, revealing a few simple pieces of jewelry that carried the hopes of the whole family. She stroked them lightly with her fingers, full of reluctance.

Li Dashan felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw his wife like this, but he felt helpless. He took the jewelry, rewrapped it, and found a corner of the cabinet that was conspicuous but not so easy to be found at a glance, and hid it.

Li Dashan's family is just a microcosm.

Some families with daughters in the city were extremely anxious and hurriedly asked matchmakers to marry their daughters off before the Jingsai Army entered the city.

Even if the other person is from a poor family and is older, we don't care. We just want to find a temporary shelter.

Some families, driven by desperation, made heartbreaking decisions.

There was an old man named Zhang in the city, with despair and determination in his eyes. With trembling hands, he took out the hemp rope from his home and forced his young and beautiful daughter-in-law and unmarried daughter to hang themselves.

The daughter-in-law and daughter cried and begged, but Old Man Zhang was disheartened. He said with tears in his eyes, "My children, I am sorry for you. If you fall into the hands of the Jingsai Army, you will be even more miserable. Instead of enduring endless humiliation, it is better to..."

Finally, the miserable crying gradually died down, leaving only the figure of Old Man Zhang collapsed to the ground, heartbroken.

At the city gate, the figures of the Jingsai Army gradually became clear. They were dressed in cold and hard armor, with sharp blades in their hands flashing cold light. Their neat formation was like a steel wall, exuding a chilling and murderous aura.

People's hearts instantly rose to their throats. Many people subconsciously stepped back, hid behind doors, and peeked secretly through the cracks in the doors, their bodies shaking uncontrollably with fear.

However, as time passed, the expected burning, killing and looting did not happen.

After the Jingsai Army entered the city, they quickly and orderly took control of all key points in Tongzhou.

To the surprise of the people, all the soldiers, including those majestic generals, were sleeping outside.

As night fell, the cold wind howled and freezing rain fell in Tongzhou.

The raindrops were icy cold and hit the ground, splashing water.

The people looked at the scene outside through the windows and were shocked.

The soldiers of the Jingsai Army stood tall in the rain, and no one rushed into the homes of the common people.

They either leaned against the wall or huddled together, using simple rain gear to barely block the wind and rain. Some soldiers were shivering with cold, but they still held their positions.

The generals were also in the rain with the soldiers. Their armor had already been soaked by the rain, but they had no intention of retreating.

"Why... why is the Jingsai Army different from what the government said?"

A young man said in surprise.

"Yes, the government said before that the Jingsai Army is a bunch of man-eating wolves!

They like to burn and kill. After robbing money, they take away food and even rape our wives and daughters.

But now it seems that this is not the case. It seems that their discipline is very strict and they do not disturb the people at all."

A middle-aged woman couldn't help but sigh.

The fear in the hearts of the people gradually dissipated, replaced by doubt and admiration.

On this cold and rainy night, the actions of the Jingsai Army, like a warm flame, quietly ignited a different kind of hope in the hearts of the people of Tongzhou.

In the early morning of Tongzhou City, the sun struggled to penetrate the clouds and sprinkled on the land that had experienced a night of wind and rain.

The soldiers of the Jingsai Army held their ground in the rain all night. When the first ray of dawn appeared, they quickly took action and began to help the people in the city restore order in their lives.

A young soldier named Zhang Yong saw an old man at the street corner sighing over the collapsed courtyard wall that was soaked by rain.

Zhang Yong walked up to the old man without hesitation, saluted him, and said, "Don't worry, old man. We will help you repair the wall."

After that, he called a few comrades, brought bricks and stones, and started repairing the house.

They were skilled in their movements; some were responsible for clearing the rubble, some were responsible for mixing the mud, and some were focused on laying bricks and stones.

Although their hands and feet were numb from a night of freezing rain, their eyes were filled with determination and enthusiasm.

The old man stood aside, his eyes full of gratitude, his lips trembling, but he could not speak for a while. In the market, the goods scattered on the ground due to the war were in a mess.

Several Jingsai Army generals personally led the soldiers to pick up the goods one by one and return them to the stall owners.

A woman selling cloth looked at the messy cloth on her stall, which became neat and tidy after being sorted by the soldiers, with tears in her eyes: "I thought our life would be ruined by your coming, but I didn't expect..."

The general smiled and responded: "Sister-in-law, don't be so polite. Protecting the people is the duty of our Jingsai Army. We are different from ordinary troops."

The streets in the city became muddy due to rain, making it extremely inconvenient to walk.

The Jingsai Army organized a large number of soldiers to transport sand and gravel to fill the potholes.

Ignoring the mud under their feet, they bent over and spread sand and gravel on the road with a shovel, and then compacted it with wooden boards.

When the people saw this scene, they plucked up their courage and joined in spontaneously.

Some brought hot water to warm the soldiers; some brought tools to help the soldiers with their work.

For a moment, the military and civilians were united and the scene was bustling.

For those civilians injured in the war, the Jingsai Army set up a temporary clinic.

The military doctors were busy day and night treating the wounded.

A young boy with a leg injury was carefully carried into the infirmary by the soldiers.

The military doctor carefully cleaned his wound and bandaged it to stop the bleeding. The boy's eyes were full of fear and pain. The soldiers gathered around him and comforted him softly: "Don't be afraid, kid, you will get better soon."

As time went by, Tongzhou City gradually recovered its vitality through the joint efforts of the Jingsai Army and the people.

The doubts and fears that the people had about the Jingsai Army had long since disappeared, replaced by deep gratitude and trust.

Inside the provincial government office, candlelight flickered vigorously in the darkness, and the light danced on the wall like a ghost, illuminating the anxious and excited faces of the generals.

Zheng Nian'an's face turned red like a ripe tomato, and the veins on his forehead bulged like angry earthworms.

He took a big step forward, excitedly waving his strong and powerful arms, which drew sharp arcs in the air, and loudly asked for orders: "General! The morale of our army is at its peak at this moment, like a blazing fire, unstoppable!
Looking at the situation in Guanzhong, it was in chaos, like a pile of loose sand.

If we attack Chang'an directly now, it will be like a tiger pouncing on its prey. We will surely be able to capture it in one fell swoop and achieve a great cause that will last for thousands of years!"

His voice was powerful and passionate, echoing in the provincial government office like the ringing of a huge bell.

Su Yun smiled when he heard this, nodded and asked, "What do others think?"

At this time, Ping Zicheng took a step forward with a steady pace, clasped his hands, and said in a clear voice: "Sir, what General Zheng said is of course reasonable, but at present, the people in Guanzhong still fear me like a bandit, and the people's hearts have not yet surrendered.

If we rashly march into Chang'an, our rear foundation will be unstable, just like a building about to collapse, and we will have many worries.

In my opinion, the best strategy is to distribute food to the people first and win their hearts and minds."

Su Yun nodded and said, "Have you taken control of the Tongzhou granary? How much grain and fodder have you obtained?"

The general in charge of logistics immediately stepped out, saluted with fists, and replied loudly: "Reporting to the governor, the granary in Tongzhou has been firmly controlled by our army.

After a preliminary inventory, the granary has a considerable amount of food and fodder. A rough estimate is that there are about 500,000 dan of food, and countless kinds of fodder, which are enough to support our army for a period of time. "

Su Yun nodded slightly, his eyes swept across everyone's faces, and he fell into deep thought. Ping Zicheng saw this and continued, "Sir, these 500,000 dan of grain are a great opportunity for us to appease the people in Guanzhong.

Our army can distribute part of the food to the villages and towns around Tongzhou that have suffered from the war, so that the people can see our army’s goodwill with their own eyes.

At the same time, we posted notices to show that our army’s purpose in this expedition is to overthrow the corrupt imperial court and restore peace to the people, and that we are not bandits who are causing trouble in the area.”

Zheng Nian'an frowned, his face showing anxiety: "Mr. Ping, time waits for no one! The military forces in Chang'an City are empty, it is a good time for us to march straight in.

If we waste time on pacifying the people, if the imperial court's reinforcements arrive, the situation will be unpredictable."

Ping Zicheng turned around, faced Zheng Nian'an, and patiently explained, "General Zheng, marching and fighting requires favorable weather, favorable terrain, and favorable people.

Today, the Guanzhong area has experienced war, the people are displaced and in panic.

If our army can lend a helping hand at this time and provide the people with food and clothing, why should we worry about losing the hearts of the people?
With the support of the people, the Guanzhong area will be as solid as an iron barrel, and Chang'an will naturally be within reach.

On the contrary, even if we are lucky enough to take Chang'an, without the support of the people, we will be like a rootless duckweed and it will be difficult for us to gain a foothold for a long time."

Su Yun tapped the table lightly, thought for a moment, and said in a deep voice: "Qinglan is right.

Pass the order down and immediately prepare to open the warehouses to help the people.

Select elite soldiers to form a grain transport team, and carry grain to the surrounding villages and towns in Tongzhou.

At the same time, we will arrange for literate people to post notices with the troops to clearly convey our military intentions to the people. "

All the generals obeyed the order in unison.

Afterwards, Su Yun looked at Ping Zicheng again and asked, "Is there any new news from Chang'an? How are the reinforcements from the imperial court moving?"

The intelligence officer hurried forward and presented a secret letter: "Reporting to the governor, according to the latest intelligence, the court has learned that Tongzhou has fallen, and is urgently dispatching troops from all over the country to rush to Chang'an.

However, due to the scattered military forces in various places and the long distances, it is difficult to form an effective joint force in a short period of time.

At present, the nearest reinforcements to Chang'an are still a hundred miles away and are expected to arrive in three days."

Su Yun unfolded the secret letter and read it carefully, his expression becoming a little serious.

He handed the secret letter to Ping Zicheng beside him and said, "It seems that we don't have much time left to appease the people.

Three days later, once the imperial reinforcements arrive, the situation will become complicated."

After reading the secret letter, Ping Zicheng's eyes were firm: "Don't worry, sir. Within three days, we will be able to make the Jingsai Army famous around Tongzhou and let the people know the difference between our army and the imperial army."

Su Yun stood up and paced back and forth in the hall. After a while, he stopped and looked at her with a sharp gaze: "Okay! Everyone, the next three days are crucial.

The matter of opening warehouses to help the people must be done beautifully so that the people can see our sincerity.

At the same time, strengthen the defense of Tongzhou City and pay close attention to the movements in the direction of Chang'an. If the imperial reinforcements take any action, report it immediately. "

Su Yun said earnestly: "The people are the foundation of a country. He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. This is an eternal truth.

Although our army is powerful and invincible on the battlefield, without the support of the people, even if we occupy Chang'an, we will be like a rootless duckweed and will not be able to maintain stability for long.

Opening the granaries to help the poor can now solve the urgent needs of the people and let them know that our army is not a brutal army, but a benevolent army.

Then post a "Notice to Reassure the People" and promise to exempt those who help our army from taxes for three years. In this way, the people will surely respond enthusiastically, and our army will have no worries in the rear, and we can march to Chang'an without any risk. "

All the generals bowed and said yes.

In front of the granary in Tongzhou City, people came like a tide, forming a long line that seemed to have no end.

They were ragged, with patches on top of patches, and their worn-out clothes were shivering in the cold wind.

Everyone's eyes were filled with a thirst for food, like a hungry wolf seeing its prey;
There was also a hint of doubt, like a frightened bird, fearing that this was just an illusory dream.

When bags of food were distributed to the people, there was a brief silence among the crowd, followed by waves of exclamations and gratitude.

An old man in ragged clothes, with white hair like frost, a hunched body, and hands shaking like a candle in the wind, carefully took the food, his cloudy eyes were full of tears, slowly sliding down his wrinkled cheeks, and he murmured, "God, I didn't expect such a good thing to happen."

At the same time, "Notices to Reassure the People" were posted on walls and street corners throughout the city.

A group of people gathered in front of the notice like ants, with people moving around and talking a lot.

A literate scholar in a long gown stood on a high place, cleared his throat, and read aloud: "Anyone who helps the Jingsai Army will be exempted from taxes for three years..."

The crowd immediately exploded, "Is this really true?"

"It seems that this Jingsai Army is different from the previous army."

People were whispering to each other, with surprise and a hint of expectation in their eyes.

As time went by, the news that the Jingsai Army opened its warehouses to help the poor spread like wildfire to every corner of Guanzhong.

The people's attitude towards the Jingsai Army gradually changed.

The cold door of the house, which was originally tightly closed, slowly opened, and the look revealed through the gap was no longer one of fear, but curiosity and friendliness.

The common people began to actively communicate with the Jingsai Army. Farmers working in the fields would enthusiastically hand a bowl of water to passing soldiers.
The vendors at the market would tell the soldiers about the local customs and even provide them with intelligence on the enemy.

There were also many young and middle-aged people who, with full of enthusiasm, volunteered to join the Jingsai Army.

In a remote small village, a young man, as agile as a cheetah, came to the camp of Jingsai Army, exhausted, carrying a tattered bag on his back.

His eyes were firm, like the cold stars twinkling in the night sky, and he said loudly: "I heard that you are an army that cares about the people. I want to follow you and do my part for the people."

In the provincial government office, Su Yun looked at the news of people's support that continued to come in, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. That smile was like the warm spring sun, dispelling the cold of winter.

He spoke slowly: "If the people's hearts can be used, Guanzhong can be stabilized. Once the rear is stabilized, it will be time for us to march to Chang'an!"

(End of this chapter)