The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 219 Surrounding Situation
May, the third year of Jianyan.

Wu Jialiang, Guan Sheng, Master Ye, Bruce Lee and a few other old brothers, including Luo Tuimao, left the rebel camp and headed towards Mizhou City.

At this time, the farmlands in the two states and eight counties were thriving under the effects of the new farming methods.

Yue Wenxuan possessed Master Ye and happened to observe the situation in the countryside along the way.

The corn planted in spring is already quite healthy in May, with lush branches and leaves. The corn is tall and strong, so tall that people can hide in it and cannot see it from outside.

There were a few old farmers sitting by the fields. Seeing Yue Wenxuan and his group dressed in rebel uniforms, they were not afraid. One of them waved to Wu Jialiang and said with a smile, "Sir, are you tired? Would you like to come over and sit down and have a drink of water?"

Luo Tuimao couldn't help but sigh, "When we were following Brother Song Jiang, the common people treated us like a scourge. Later, when we infiltrated the imperial court, the people still avoided us like snakes and scorpions. I never thought that now... people would actually take the initiative to invite us to drink water."

Master Ye, possessed by Yue Wenxuan, said, "The people in this area are a bit special. They live west of Jiaoshui County. When the Jin army came last time, they were all relocated. Those who moved back after the Jin army left received compensation for their losses, so they are more friendly to the rebels. As for the people in Dengzhou to the east, they haven't yet deeply experienced the benefits of the rebels."

Everyone nodded: "So that's it!"

Wu Jialiang was suddenly surprised: "Huh? Master Ye! You're being so talkative again today."

Master Ye has two styles. One style is dull and he speaks little, and when he opens his mouth he uses clichés, as if he is reciting famous quotes.

Another style is the current one, which is very flexible and looks like a real person.

Yue Wenxuan smiled and said, "Don't you like my current style?"

Wu Jialiang wiped his sweat awkwardly and said, "It's not that I don't like it, it's just that the sudden change scared me."

Yue Wenxuan walked over to the old farmer, sat down, and started chatting: "Old man, have there been any refugees from Weizhou recently?"

"Yes, of course there are," the old farmer said cheerfully, "quite a few, many of them came here from Weizhou with their children."

Yue Wenxuan: "Did they cause any trouble to your village?"

"No, no!" the old farmer laughed. "As soon as they entered Jiaoshui County, they were met by scouts from Marshal Gong. Any larger refugee groups were escorted to the county seat by scouts from the Marshal's Office. Whenever they passed through our village, the military commander would warn them not to harass the villagers."

Yue Wenxuan nodded secretly. This was the order he gave. It was good that the rebel scouts were following it well.

The old farmer's expression suddenly changed, and he said mysteriously, "The refugees from Weizhou have brought back a lot of news. I chatted with one for quite a while, and he told me that Weizhou is very lively right now."

Wu Jialiang also sat over and asked, "Oh? What's so lively?"

The old farmer said, "There's quite a few bandit kings fighting in Weizhou. There's one called Yan Gao, who calls himself the governor of Weizhou and sits in the city. There's another one called Zhang Cheng, his subordinate, who's the magistrate of Changle. Neither of them acts like an official at all; they're just bandits. They didn't even wait for autumn; it's only May, and they're sending their soldiers into houses everywhere, searching for money and grain. What they find, they claim it's taxes, and they take it all."

Yue Wenxuan: “…”

The old farmer continued, "I heard that there's a king named Zhao Sheng in Qingzhou who's recently sent troops to attack Weizhou..."

Wu Jialiang: "Why is Qingzhou making a fuss? And what the hell is Zhao Sheng?"

This time the old farmer couldn't explain it clearly. It seemed that the information he heard was not detailed enough.

It turned out that the news of the Jin army's defeat in Jiaoshui had spread throughout Shandong, and people who did not believe in it jumped out to cause chaos everywhere.

There was a young officer named Zhao Sheng in Qingzhou who gathered a crowd and occupied Qingzhou. As a result, the situation in Shandong was now quite delicate!
In Laizhou there was an independent Gong Dawang, in Mizhou there was an independent Li Kui, in Weizhou there was an independent Yan Gao, and in Qingzhou there was an independent Zhao Sheng.

This is just like the division of the Eastern Han Dynasty into three kingdoms, with wars never ending!
The old farmer couldn't help but sigh, "Thank goodness I'm in Marshal Gong's territory. If I were in the territories of those other kings, I don't know how I'd get by."

Yue Wenxuan sighed softly. He wanted to save the people in all these places, but he was powerless. Protecting only Deng and Lai states was already the best he could do. As for the other states, he could only watch and sigh.

"I just hope that more people from these places can come here."

After chatting with the old farmer, the group continued on their journey towards Mizhou in the southwest.

When you reach the border between Jiaoshui County and Gaomi County of Mizhou, there is a river called "Jiaolai River".

To the northeast of the river is Jiaoshui County. The villages here appear peaceful and tranquil, with crops growing in the fields surrounding the villages...

Gaomi County, across the river, is completely deserted.

There was a small sentry tower on the river bank, with several rebel soldiers stationed inside. When they saw Wu Jialiang and his group, the rebel sentry actually recognized them and waved from afar, "County Lieutenant Wu!"

After shouting, he suddenly remembered something and quickly changed his words: "Inspector Wu."

Wu Jialiang smiled. As soon as he heard the greeting, he knew it was an old subordinate from Jimo County. "Hey, why are you guarding here?"

The sentry laughed and said, "It's my turn!"

Wu Jialiang: "Is it safe here?"

Sentry: "Not bad! From time to time, people come running over from Gaomi County. They are all poor people. We just need to give them a little guidance and they will go in the direction of Jiaoshui County."

Wu Jialiang nodded: "Have you heard from them what's happening in Mizhou?"

Sentinel: "I haven't heard much. I only know that Mizhou is now controlled by a general named Li. This general named Li is a bit cruel. He cuts off the head of anyone who resists him and hangs it at the city gate."

Wu Jialiang and Guan Sheng both smiled awkwardly and cursed in their hearts: This black guy is just too murderous.

The sentry said, "Inspector Wu, are you going to Mizhou? That's not very safe. It would be very dangerous if you angered that Li guy."

Wu Jialiang: "I'm not afraid of him. He could kill anyone else but me."

sentinel:"???"

Wu Jialiang did not explain, but asked the sentry to bring a raft over, crossed the Jiaolai River, and continued on their way.

Guan Sheng said, "Brother Jialiang, I haven't seen you for a few years. That black fellow has become even more reckless. I hope he won't really attack us, will he?"

Wu Jialiang: "That's not the case. He always listens to Brother Song Jiang and me."

Guan Sheng thought: Heisi did listen to you, but that was a few years ago. I don’t know how he has become now. Alas!

(End of this chapter)