Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 164
Sun Chuanting stood on a gentle slope with his hands behind his back, looking at Baishiyuan ten miles away.It was around noon, and the warm autumn sun was shining on the body, making people feel more comfortable.

A few steps away from Sun Chuanting, Fang Wen, magistrate of Lingtai County, as well as Cao Wenzhao, Zhou Yuji, Cao Bianjiao, Luo Shifang and other generals surrounded him.

On the side of the gentle slope is the only road from Baishiyuan to the outside world. Several deep ditches have been dug on this narrow road to completely isolate Baishiyuan from the outside world.

After Sun Chuanting led the Qin army and arrived ten miles away from Baishiyuan at dusk that day, he immediately notified Lingtai County, which was more than [-] miles away to the east, and ordered the county government to recruit [-] people and [-] stones of grain and grass overnight to obey orders. and emphatically stated that a thousand people must carry hoes and shovels and other agricultural tools, and violations of orders will be punished by military law.

Fang Wen, the county magistrate who received the governor's order, did not dare to neglect, and immediately took out all the only two hundred shi of grain in the county's granary, and then called together the big gentry households in the city, and showed everyone Sun Chuanting's warrant; Bandit Wanliu wanted to attack Lingtai County, but happened to be intercepted by the governor and his army, and now the two sides are fighting fiercely in the Baishiyuan area.The officers and soldiers are short of food and grass, and everyone is in urgent need of donations. Otherwise, once the officers and soldiers retreat due to lack of food, the bandits will take advantage of the situation and march into the county, and the consequences can be imagined.

Under Fang Wen's coercion and lure, the big gentry donated money on the spot, whether they were willing or not, and finally raised more than [-] shi of grain.

Sun Chuanting was very satisfied with Fang Wen's performance and praised him a few words.Originally, he asked for [-] shi of grain, but they brought in [-] shi all of a sudden, this kind of ability is worthy of promotion.

Then, the flattered Fang Wen volunteered to direct Min Zhuang to dig the ditch.

Taking advantage of the bright moonlight, it took several hours for a thousand people to dig several deep ditches about one foot deep and two feet wide, completely cutting off the entire road.

These deep ditches are not connected, and there is a place several feet wide in the middle for people to settle down. The total length of the several deep ditches is about fifty steps, which is just within the most lethal range of bows, arrows and firecrackers.When the last ditch on the officer's side was completed, a parapet was purposely built, and then a transparent shed was built with hardwood to prevent the bows and arrows of thieves from being thrown.

Since Sun Chuanting led the army to arrive, the army set up camp, and Min Zhuang dug the deep trench overnight, today is the fifth day.

During this period, Ma Jinzhong and other bandit leaders on Yuanshang organized several large-scale breakout operations every day, but in the end they returned to Yuanshang after losing hundreds of lives.

Zhou Yuji dispatched the only 1000 gunners and more than [-] archers in the Qin army to take turns to fight, and started shooting practice against the bandits who rushed to the first ditch.

Eight musketeers can be placed behind the parapet, and the officers and soldiers form a group of six. After shooting, they return along the sides, and then go up to the back row to continue shooting.

Under such uninterrupted firepower, the bandits suffered heavy casualties.Want to use bows and arrows to shoot at the officers and soldiers. The officers and soldiers are protected by a parapet in front of them and a wooden shed above their heads. Coupled with the wide-brimmed hats and helmets on their heads, the bows and arrows of the thieves cannot threaten the officers and soldiers at all.

After several days of trying to fill the deep ditch in various ways and then tens of thousands of people rushing out to break through failed, the thieves were completely desperate.

Sun Chuanting sneered, walked down the gentle slope to the large tent not far away.

The Qin army camp was set up in the flat field near the Baishi River not far away.The water quality of the Baishi River, which is already small, is clear, and many finger-length fish swim back and forth in the water, giving the Baishui River an extra vitality.

Uncle and nephew Cao Wenzhao rushed over after receiving Sun Chuanting's order, but Sun Chuanting didn't let them bring the army, nearly ten thousand Qin troops were enough to use.

The reason why he recruited the uncles and nephews of the Cao family was to let them go west after this battle, and wipe out the remaining bandits in Gongchang Mansion and Lintao Mansion.Cao Wenzhao holds the title of Lintao Commander-in-Chief, so we can't even visit Lintao, can we?

Now Qin Liangyu is stationed in Hanzhong Mansion, and Sun Chuanting has sent someone to issue a military order to him to sweep up the bandits in Hanzhong Mansion.With the strength of the Sichuan army, this shouldn't be a problem.

After solving the biggest thieves in the Northwest, such as Ma Jinzhong and Hun Tianwang, the uncles and nephews of the Cao family will sweep westward. Except for the thieves in northern Shaanxi who are being attacked by Hong Chengchou, the whole of Shaanxi is basically pacified. The rest is how to relieve the disaster and calm the people. The great entrustment of the Holy Majesty has been fulfilled.

Everyone returned to the commander's tent, Sun Chuanting sat down behind the big case, Fang Wen and others lined up on both sides.These people are not qualified to sit in front of a big official like the governor.

Sun Chuanting looked at Fang Wen and asked: "Your county has been working hard for the past few days, and this official has seen it. The name of your county will be given to the merits of this battle, and the imperial court will reward you according to your merits! You need to guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and be diligent in your ministry!"

Fang Wen was excited, and after going out of the queue, he saluted Sun Chuanting deeply and said, "I will never forget the love of Zhongcheng's support and support! I will never forget what I do! It is my duty to do what I do. If you dare to work for Zhongcheng, I will remember you five times." Nei! From now on, Zhongcheng will be the only one to follow! I will never disappoint Zhongcheng's teachings!"

Fang Wen Chongzhen's four-year Jinshi was sent to the remote Lingtai County because there was no talent in the court, and now he is in his second term.

According to his analysis, if nothing else happens, he will still be assigned to serve in a small county after his term of office expires.If no one promotes and appreciates it, it is not bad to be a fellow student who can at most reach the sixth rank in this life.

Unexpectedly, the opportunity appeared suddenly.The arrival of Sun Chuanting gave Fang Wen a glimmer of hope. As long as he can get close to such an important minister as the governor, his future will be bright.

Sure enough, the hard work of the past few days is worth the credit for his years of hard work.

Fang Wen knew that military merit was the most important thing in the imperial court, as long as a civil official had military merit, his official career would be much smoother in the future. Fang Wen was grateful from the bottom of his heart for Sun Chuanting's generosity.

Sun Chuanting smiled slightly and said, "Gui County is doing well, and I will pay attention to you from time to time!"

Sun Chuanting did not refuse Fang Wen's expressed loyalty.

This young county magistrate in his thirties doesn't have the sour aura he hates the most, but is pragmatic and hardworking, and he is more flexible in handling things, which is worth cultivating.

Although many of my colleagues worked in the central government and the local government in the same year, I don't have any really caring subordinates.

Zhuang Yuanzhou, Xie Renxing and others have not stepped into the officialdom yet, Fang Wen is the first person he admires in the officialdom in the true sense, as long as he performs well in the future, he will not hesitate to promote him.

If you want to gain a foothold in the court, you will not be able to last long without your own team.

Sun Chuanting's statement made Fang Wen very happy. If there were no other people in the tent, he would pay respects without hesitation.I didn't expect that I could also find a backer, and it was still a towering mountain!

Sun Chuanting continued: "The bandits didn't come to attack today. According to my judgment, the bandits have run out of food. As long as they are besieged for a few more days, there is no other way but to surrender! How to deal with these bandits, you can talk freely now! "

Cao Wenzhao went out and clasped his hands and said: "I report to Zhongcheng, I think that most of the tens of thousands of thieves are young and strong, and most of them are from peasant households. It is really helpless to be a thief. After the training, you can get a lot of elite soldiers for the imperial court to drive!"

Although he is called Chief Soldier, he has too few soldiers, and he often feels stretched when using soldiers, so he tends to choose goodness, and he can include one of them under his command at that time.

Cao Bianjiao, who had always been taciturn, murmured in a low voice: "A bunch of bandits, it's the easiest way to kill them all!"

Cao Wenzhao turned his head and glared at him, and shouted, "It's not your turn to speak now! Don't speak out loud!"

Sun Chuanting laughed loudly: "General Xiao Cao is said to be brave, but I never thought what he meant was decisive! This statement fits my opinion very well!"

General Luo Shifang of the Qin Army gave Cao Bianjiao a look of admiration in his eyes. Originally, he looked at Cao Bianjiao who was full of arrogance and looked hideous, but now he suddenly felt that the other party was pleasing to the eye.The thieves should be killed, and the precious food will be wasted if they are kept. As long as the thieves are frightened by killing them, let's see who will have the courage to follow the thieves in the future!
Zhou Yuji cupped his hands and said: "Whether it's capture or selection, everything is decided by Zhong Cheng's will, and the humble job is to obey orders!"

Sun Chuanting pondered for a while and said: "According to my opinion, anyone who follows a thief, no matter whether he is a good person or not, as long as he follows a thief for one day, the vicious nature of a thief will attach to his head and drive his limbs, and his future It is difficult to behave like ordinary people! All such things should be punished! But the benevolence of the Holy One has been lenient in the decree issued. As a minister, we should obey the holy will! Therefore, the thieves in this campaign should also be dealt with leniently to honor the Holy One Virtue! Everything is according to Cao Zongbing's words!"

Cao Wenzhao and others stepped forward to salute and accept orders, but Cao Bianjiao curled his lips in secret, dissatisfied with Sun Chuanting's high-altitude and gentle lowering.

Sun Chuanting continued: "After this battle, the big thieves in the Northwest are almost extinct, but the small band of thieves are still very rampant. They usually rob houses and loot business trips, so that the local officials and people have no intention of production and management. If they are not stopped in time, I am afraid they will take advantage of natural disasters. Time is gradually gaining momentum! I am appointed to be the governor of Shaanxi, and I must not just sit idly by! Therefore, I decided to send one man to the west to conquer Gongchang and Lintao, and another man to go north to conquer Pingliang and In the land of the two prefectures of Qingyang, this official will personally lead a group of soldiers and horses to Ningxia Town! All generals obey the order!"

Cao Wenzhao, Zhou Yuji and others stepped forward to bow their hands and saluted loudly: "The humble job is here!"

Sun Chuanting said in a deep voice: "After the selection of the thieves is completed, Cao Wenzhao will lead his headquarters and the newly formed army to go west to raid, sweep up the thieves and bandits in the territory, and clear up the thieves in the two prefectures as soon as possible! Food and grass can be collected on the spot, and self-determination can be made in case of trouble. , I don’t ask questions!”

Cao Wenzhao was overjoyed.There are tens of thousands of rogues in the original place, no matter how I can pick out 5000 people, adding the original 8000 soldiers, there will be [-] people, and I have finally become a legitimate general guarding one side!Moreover, the implication of Sun Chuanting's words is that he will have the right of self-determination and will not be constrained by local officials, which allows him to use troops to mop up more calmly.

He responded loudly: "The humble post obeys!"

"Luo Shifang led 3000 troops and a newly formed army to go through Pingliang and Qingyang, and to coordinate with Cao Wenzhao's troops. After clarifying the territory, we will follow orders!"

Luo Shifang replied in a deep voice: "I obey my orders!"

Relatively speaking, the banditry on his journey is relatively light. The most important thing is to train the new army well for future use.

"Zhou Yuji led 1000 people back to Xi'an Mansion to train Zhang Wenyao, Tuo Yangkun and other departments. We must see results as soon as possible!" Sun Chuanting continued to order.

Zhang Wenyao and Tuo Yangkun surrendered eight thousand troops, and there must be a heavy general to suppress them, and Zhou Yuji is the most suitable candidate.

After the assignment, the generals dispersed, and Sun Chuanting was going to lead [-] Qin troops to Ningxia Town.

Ningxia Town is a military town, bordering the Tatar Ministry, and shoulders the important task of guarding the frontier.The frontier army has been short of food and pay for a long time, and sometimes there are troubles about payment, and it is impossible to send others to suppress it. It is only appropriate to go there by yourself.

He was about to arrange for Xie Renxing to return to Xi'an, and when he would transfer food and pay to meet him again, Sun Zhian from outside the tent rushed in, came to him with a stern expression, and whispered in his ear: "Zhang Wenyao sent someone to report that the Tuoyang Kun tribe rebelled! Now take the troops to Tongguan, and then wait for the opportunity to enter Henan!"

(End of this chapter)