Han Shizu

Chapter 1738

When Liu Fang returned to Xiazhou, he couldn't help stopping in Ma, looking at the refugee camp outside the city, his expression was indifferent, but the melancholy in his eyes revealed some real feelings.Pointing to the refugee camp, Liu Fang asked the officer on duty at the city gate: "Refugees outside the city seem to be quite sparse?"

When the city gate officer heard the question, he replied excitedly and nervously: "Returning to Your Highness, Mr. Zhang has arranged for those refugees to resume farming and animal husbandry around the city in the past two days, and the number of refugees outside the city will naturally decrease!"

Hearing this, Liu Fang nodded and sighed, "This envoy is indeed a capable person!"

On the top of the city wall, there are still rows of wooden cages hanging, inside which are the heads of some rebel leaders. However, after so long, everyone is not surprised, and has long been used to it.

"Pull off those thieves' capitals and burn them!" Liu Fang ordered again: "The stench is far-fetched and unappetizing. Hang your head to show people off to deter the thieves. Now that the thieves are all gone, who will deter them? Take them all away." !"

"Yes!"

After finishing speaking, he rode his horse and raised his whip, and went straight into the city.At this time, there were still heavy troops gathering inside and outside the city. The major battles had long since ended, and the troops were stationed in the barracks. However, Liu Fang was strict with the army, and the control had not been relaxed. The training was on schedule. Except for some military competitions, there were almost no other For recreational activities, when entering the city, you can still hear the loud sound of drills coming from the camp.

The population of Xiazhou City is relatively small, and as a government, political, military and economic center, there are many people in itself.Therefore, the population of the city, except for the officials and army, is mostly celebrities with social status and their servants.

Compared with the refugees outside the city, the life of the residents in the city is obviously better. At least the safety in the city is absolutely guaranteed, but the life is also limited.Not all wealthy businessmen have a lot of food in their homes. When the food is used up, they will also starve.

However, the government is still more concerned, and rations are also opened in the city, but unlike the relief of refugees, they need to buy with money, and the price is high and there is a quantity limit.It’s okay not to buy it, but if you want relief food, go out of the city and stay in a refugee camp. Compared with the two, it’s natural to choose to spend money to avoid disaster.

For this reason, the Xiazhou government also received a fortune from the people, and in the past six months, some families have reached the point of destitution.On the street, the merchants are closed, the vendors are out of business, there are few pedestrians, and even if there are, they all have disheveled faces.

In fact, those who are full of longing and hope that the chaos will end and the government will lift the ban must belong to these gentry and virtuous men of the past.

Liu Fang went straight to the camp, which was originally the mansion of Wang Yu, and it was used as the residence of the camp.Knowing the return of King Zhao, Meng Xuanzhe and Zhe Yuqing, who were in charge of military affairs in the mansion, rushed to greet him, with smiles on their faces.

In this Yulin Rebellion, Meng Xuanzhe was completely outstanding. The Battle of Fengzhou was a great achievement. Although he had to be divided with Li Jilong and other generals, it was a fact that he was the commander in chief of the army.As the prince of Hou Shu, it is really not easy to achieve this step.

Meng Xuanzhe is over [-] years old and has a rich appearance, but he is in good spirits and personable, and he looks relatively restrained, which is easy to make people feel good about him.

Liu Fang looked at the two and said with a smile, "I heard that brother Li Jiqian's head was sent here!"

"Exactly!" Zhe Yuqing said: "The last general has already found someone to confirm, it is correct, it is indeed brother Li Jiqian!"

"Go, let's talk inside!" Liu Fang smiled and stretched out his hand.

In the hall, two heads that had been washed and looked extremely pale were presented in front of Liu Fang.Liu Fang looked him over and smiled faintly: "It's just an ordinary person, except for being younger, there's nothing special about it!"

Zhe Yuqing introduced: "After the Battle of Fengzhou, the bandit army was defeated and fled. Li Jiqian led his troops to escape and fled to the northwest. Supplies, as a last resort, Li Jiqian led his troops southward and sneaked into Lingzhou!"

"They went to Lingzhou!" Liu Fang raised his eyebrows, also a little surprised: "Who killed them?"

Zhe Yuqing said: "It's Zhang Pu, Li Jiqian's military adviser. This person is from Yinzhou. He was originally a small official in Yinzhou. According to him, when Li Jiqian rebelled for the first time two years ago, he was coerced into it to save his life. , helpless from the thief.

Li Jiqian went south to Lingzhou. He originally planned to stay in Liangzhou and unite with the local party to create another disturbance and join forces with Yuan thief in Yanzhou, but he never thought that Yuan thief would be defeated by Wang Shi before him.

The queen king's division wiped out the remnants in Lingzhou, and there was a great chaos. Li Jiqian led the remnants of the bandits, intending to take advantage of the chaos to make a comeback, but was attacked by Wang Shi, Fan Bing, and Dang Xiang. They persisted for two months. In the chaotic situation, there were fewer and fewer fights, and finally fell apart.

Seeing that there was nothing to be done, Li Jiqian decided to escape from Yulin and go outside the Great Wall to seek another comeback with the help of Mobei Khitan.Just when he was preparing to smuggle across the Yellow River, the only remaining subordinates were instigated by Zhang Pu to kill Li Jiqian's brother and take his head to surrender to the imperial court.

Commander Tian Du got his head in Lingzhou and quickly sent it to Xiazhou! "

After listening to Zhe Yuqing's report, Liu Fang stared at Li Jiqian's head again, and smiled faintly: "This man is in trouble in Yulin, causing countless deaths and deaths to the people. He should have died long ago. Your Majesty intends to cut him into pieces and make his bones blown." Gray, it’s a good deal for him to die like this! Take this brother’s head, pack it up, send it to Tokyo, and report it to the imperial court!”

"Yes!"

"Your Highness, what should we do with Zhang Pu?" Zhe Yuqing asked again.

Upon hearing this, Liu Fang thought about it and asked, "Is what he said credible?"

Zhe Yuqing shook his head: "The final investigation has revealed that this person was originally a small official in the Yinzhou Yamen. Because he offended the superior, he was not promoted for ten years. I am afraid that he was not forced to be a thief, and he also had resentment towards the court.

Compared with those mediocre and humble people, these scholars and officials have done more harm.As for his remarks coerced by Li Jiqian, they are even more doubtful. Therefore, the general believes that severe punishment is still needed! "

After listening to Zhe Yuqing's words, Liu Fang nodded and said softly: "However, he offered the head of brother Li Jiqian. No matter what, this is a real credit. Like those who surrendered before, he regards it as beheading Anyway, it doesn’t seem so difficult to accept! As for the literati, they are also more flexible than those grassroots in terms of seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages, and they know how to make smarter and more beneficial choices for them!”

"Then His Highness means to let this person go?" Zhe Yuqing frowned and asked.

"Together with the military adviser who captured Yuan thief before, send it to Tokyo and hand it over to the court! Let the ministers of the court see how these civil servants of the family system are loyal to the emperor and patriotism, and serve the court. That person seems The surname is also Zhang!" Liu Fang thought for a while and said.

"Yes! Yuan Thief's military adviser, his surname is Zhang and his name is Hong!" Zhe Yuqing said.

"These two thieves in Northwest China have similar backgrounds, and I'm afraid they have survived under this name!" Liu Fang said with a little mockery in his tone, "Even if it's the name of a thief!"

"That's it!" After finishing speaking, Liu Fang waved his hand and looked at Meng Xuanzhe again: "Commander Mengdu, how is the withdrawal plan going?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Xuanzhe, who had been silent all this time, immediately took out a report from the hall case and presented it to Liu Fang: "The last general and Zhe general have been drafted, please read it, Your Highness!"

Liu Fang took it, read it carefully, and soon, his brows widened, and he smiled: "Very well, it is well done, but the strength is not enough, the first batch, half of it should be withdrawn first, and those fan soldiers should also be dismissed. Back!"

Meng Xuanzhe showed hesitation, but after thinking about it, he still responded, "Yes!"

Liu Fang said with emotion: "The rebellion in Yulin has basically been settled down to now, and it is time to withdraw the troops and lift the embargo, and return to the local government! The army is long stationed, the court has long been criticized, and the resentment is deep. Your Highness can't suppress it anymore!"

As he said that, Liu Fang raised the report in his hand, and smiled at Meng Xuanzhe: "Commander Mengdu manages his troops well, and he allows Wen and Wu, Xiangshi, with you in charge of military affairs, it may not be easy for the imperial court to pacify Bashu! "

As soon as this remark fell, Meng Xuanzhe, who had maintained a rigorous attitude, suddenly changed his temperament. A look of astonishment appeared on his face. He clenched his fists vigorously and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness's words are wrong. The imperial court's unification of the world is a mighty trend." , no one can reverse it, how can a mere Meng Xuanzhe be able to stop it!"

Liu Fang was taken aback for a moment, seeing Meng Xuanzhe's serious posture, he also put away his smile, and bowed his hands in return: "Commander Mengdu's words are very true, I'm the one who said something wrong, please forgive me!"

It's hard to surrender, especially the prince of Houshu who was Zeng Jin.Liu Fang heard about it. Before the battle in Zhen'anbao last year, Meng Xuanzhe suggested to be careful in case of fraud. As a result, Wang Yu used Meng Xuanzhe's identity to oppress him, forcing him to fight, giving him 500 people, and letting him To eliminate Li Jiqian, but was ambushed and defeated by Li Jiqian, almost lost his life
What Liu Fang said just now, although it was unintentional, but in Meng Xuanzhe's ears, it touched his sensitive place.What's more, when Liu Fang uttered similar words, the nature was even more serious.

Liu Fang has always corrected his mistakes, was considerate of his feelings, and was willing to put down his body and apologize.Hearing what King Zhao said, Meng Xuanzhe felt a little relieved.

(End of this chapter)