Paper Maker: This is the end of the Ming Dynasty in Liaozhai

Chapter 160 Another Gamble

Looking at Zhu Youjian who was still looking gloomy, Qian Longxi and others were uneasy, especially Shi Fenglai and the others were even more frightened, worried that Zhu Youjian would send them to prison together in a fit of anger, after all, they were also eunuchs a member.

Just for the few words Zhu Youjian said just now, at least a dozen senior officials of the second and third ranks will be unlucky, even if they are added, it is not surprising at all.

"Dear dears, the thieves have occupied the Jinan mansion, how should we destroy them?"

After a while, Zhu Youjian asked.

"Your Majesty, the walls of Jinan City are tall, and it may not be easy to regain them. We should set up Shandong Governor-General Shandong Military Affairs, and at the same time send troops from Henan and Nanzhili to Shandong to participate in the encirclement and suppression campaign."

Qian Longxi said, although there are more soldiers and horses in Beizhili, the soldiers and horses in the capital will not be easily mobilized until the safety of the capital is endangered, and more of the soldiers and horses in the capital are used to defend the grassland Enter Mongol.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand: "In this case, the cabinet draws up a list of candidates for governor of Shandong, and it will be recommended by the imperial court tomorrow morning."

Hearing Zhu Youjian's words, Qian Longxi and the others immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Zhu Youjian's words showed that he was still sensible. High-level officials didn't make decisions just as they said. The Qing court pushed, and finally the emperor decreed.

Although the emperor can also directly order someone to be the governor, such an official is not recognized by the officials of the world. When it comes to the place, the local officials will not obey the order, and the officials in the court will not punish the local officials for this.

This is the check and balance of the officials on the imperial power. Although they can't do anything to the emperor, they can do nothing. No one wants to have another Hongwu emperor. Of course, they dare not do this kind of thing casually. This is to beat the emperor. The face will only make the emperor completely confront the civil and military officials.

What they are worried about is that Zhu Youjian will break the rules because of his anger. There are only one and countless times of breaking the rules. If they compromise because of Zhu Youjian's anger this time, what about next time?What about next time?
Everyone was discussing who should be the governor of Shandong. At this time, Wang Chengen hurried in and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, Jin Yiwei came to report. The commander and Zhi Fang Haichuan's family disappeared four days ago."

"Fang Haichuan?"

Zhu Youjian frowned and said, "Why did you disappear suddenly?"

Wang Cheng'en said: "Your Majesty, according to Tian Ergeng, the commander of Jinyiwei, the reason why Su Hao became one of Jinyiwei's thousand households in Jinan Prefecture was all recommended by Fang Haichuan."

"Immediately let the Ministry of Criminal Justice issue a wanted arrest at sea. If you are alive, you must see people, and if you die, you must see corpses!"

Hearing that Su Hao was strongly recommended by Fang Haichuan, Zhu Youjian's anger that had subsided a little broke out again. If Su Hao hadn't been for Jinyiwei Qianhu, with the city walls of Jinan Prefecture, he would never have been captured so easily. It is even more impossible to be slaughtered easily.

After a pause, Zhu Youjian continued: "Order Tian Ergeng to mobilize all the guards in Jinyi, and make sure to catch him back. If he can't be caught, let him go to the imperial prison to stay."

"The slave is going here."

Wang Chengen responded quickly.

...

As the news gradually spread, the whole capital instantly fell into a panic, especially the eunuch officials. After Zhu Youjian overthrew Wei Zhongxian half a month ago, they were worried about when Zhu Youjian would take them down.

But at this time, Su Hao rebelled and slaughtered the family of King De. Su Hao is also an eunuch official. Even if they were not implicated in the rebellion, Zhu Youjian can only have a good impression of them when this happened. Strange.

.........

Dezhou Water Transport Terminal.

In the lobby of the Four Seas Gang, Tang Xiangjin, Yang Bao, Tian Ming, Hao Yi, Liang Ping, Luo Yi, Wu Feng, Peng Guan, and Guo Hong gathered together.

"Everyone, according to reports from our spies, the Dongchang Mansion already knows that Dezhou and Linqing Prefecture have been captured, and the troops of Pingshanwei and Dongchangwei have already begun to assemble."

Tang Xiangjin looked around and said solemnly: "In addition, the Tianjin Wei side should have noticed it. I am afraid that it will not be long before the capital side will know that the grain here is the lifeline of the imperial court. I am afraid that the strength of the first encirclement and suppression will be We cannot resist."

Hearing Tang Xiangjin's words, the expressions of Luo Yi and the others were extremely solemn. Although the grain in Dezhou and Linqing Prefecture was only a million shi, they stayed here for three years. They knew better than anyone else how much the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal meant to the imperial court. important.

In terms of food alone, there are too many people in the capital, there are a million people, and all the food in the entire North Zhili is not enough to support the people of the entire capital, and the supply of grain is mainly for the frontier army and officials in the capital. Ordinary people rely more on food trafficked by merchants.

Now they have robbed millions of stones of grain and the canal has been cut off by them. If the grain cannot be recaptured and the canal can be opened, then after the beginning of spring, the capital will most likely fall into famine, the frontier army will be short of food, and there may be a mutiny, so It is very likely that tens of thousands of soldiers and horses will come together for the first encirclement and suppression by the imperial court.

Liang Ping frowned and said, "Old Tang, you mean to abandon this place before the imperial army arrives, and burn all the remaining grain?"

"No, the next step is to face the encirclement and suppression of the imperial army. It is best to transport all the food here back to Fucheng."

Tang Xiangjin shook his head and said: "I mean try to attack Dongchang Mansion. Now we have more than [-] soldiers on our side, which is more than the soldiers and horses of Pingshan Guard and Dongchang Guard in Dongchang Mansion. twice as much."

"Even if we can't take Dongchang Mansion, as long as we can control the canal, we can transport all the grain to the mansion by water."

Hearing Tang Xiangjin's words, Liang Ping and the others showed emotion on their faces. Since they chose to rebel with Su Hao, they naturally wanted to have more chances of winning. After all, it was related to their wealth and lives.

They had thought about attacking Dongchang Mansion before, but they didn't have enough troops, so they had no choice but to give up. But now they have enough troops. They brought 4000 people out before, and Su Hao sent Tian Ming to lead them two days ago. More than 2000 people came over, plus more than 5000 people recruited from Linqing Guard, Dezhou Guard, and Dezhou Left Guard, there are more than [-] people, and it is enough to attack Dongchang Mansion.

As for the ships, Linqing Guard, Dezhou Guard, and Dezhou Zuowei Sanwei were originally guards in charge of water transportation. Each guard had hundreds of large and small official ships, each of which could carry more than [-] shi of grain. , even a small boat can carry two to three hundred shi of grain. Although it is winter, there is no sign of freezing. It is no problem to take a small boat. If you go by water, half a month is enough to carry a million shi of grain. Shipped to Fucheng.

After a moment of silence, Liang Ping said in a deep voice: "For such a big matter as attacking Dongchang Mansion, we must first ask Qianhu for instructions."

"I'll go."

Tang Xiangjin nodded and said, although Su Hao was able to send them here, he had already shown that he trusted them, but they must also have a sense of proportion, for such a big matter as attacking Dongchang Mansion, Su Hao had to nod.

...

Jinan Prefecture, Jinyiwei Yamen.

"Brother Six, I've dragged you down this time."

Looking at He Liu, Su Hao felt slightly apologetic. Although not many people were implicated in his rebellion this time, it was not too small. Acquaintances like Fang Haichuan, He Liu, Zuo Yifeng, and Sun Chuanting might be implicated by him. arrive.

Among them, He Liu and Fang Haichuan were the most implicated. He Liu recommended him to enter Jinyiwei. He rebelled, and He Liu must be guilty of the same crime. He couldn't escape, so after he took down Jinan Mansion, he sent letters to several people.

Forget about Sun Chuanting and Zuo Yifeng. Although rebellion is a serious crime against the Jiu Clan, it is not to the extent that even his father's friends will be implicated, and Zuo Yifeng has only been his boss for a while. If Yifeng would be implicated, the entire Jinyiwei would not be able to escape. Of course, although he would not be implicated and imprisoned, his future would definitely be slim.

"Brother Su, you don't have to blame yourself, you are just protecting yourself."

Seeing that Su Hao's appearance is much more mature than that of three or four years ago, He Liu sighed. Now that he is like this, what else can he say? Besides, when he recommended Su Hao, he already He was mentally prepared, but he didn't expect that Su Hao would make such a big fuss that he would directly start a rebellion.

"Sixth brother, if there is any trouble here, feel free to come to my little brother, and I will never shirk."

Hearing He Liu's words, Su Hao was also a little embarrassed. He Liu, a member of Jinyiwei, was a well-behaved family, but he became a traitor after being implicated by him.

Hearing this, He Liu didn't say much. In the past three years, he has benefited from Su Hao. There are nearly [-] great achievements in recommending Su Hao to share the profit. In the past two or three years, because of Su Hao Because of Hao, the Deputy Qianhu Wu Kun did not dare to target him again, and let him live a comfortable life for two or three years. Now that he is implicated, he can only say that he has paid off his debts.

"Qianhu, Tang Baihu is asking to see you below."

At this time, Liao Qing hurried up.

Hearing Tang Xiangjin's return, Su Hao frowned. Now Tang Xiangjin should be in Dezhou to prepare for the imperial court's encirclement and suppression. Why did he come back suddenly? Could it be that the situation has changed?
Thinking of this, Su Hao quickly said: "Let him come up quickly."

"See Chito!"

After a while, Tang Xiangjin followed Liao Qing up.

"Tang Baihu doesn't need to be too polite, but has the situation changed in Dezhou?"

Su Hao hurriedly asked, those rations are his confidence to deal with the imperial court's encirclement and suppression. If there is any change in those rations, then he can only abandon Jinan Mansion and flee with his people.

Hearing Su Hao's question, Tang Xiangjin didn't answer directly, but glanced at He Liu who was at the side, with a questioning look in his eyes.

"This is Kaifeng Mansion Jinyiwei Baihu He Baihu."

Seeing Tang Xiangjin's eyes, Su Hao waved his hands and said, "My own, if you have anything to do with Tang Baihu, just tell me directly."

"Qianhu, the capital should know about our rebellion by now."

Seeing this, Tang Xiangjin clasped his hands and said: "The imperial army will arrive within a month at most. Now we are transporting grain too slowly. By that time, at most half of the grain will be transported, and the rest will have to be burned."

"Then what does Tang Baihu mean?"

Hearing that the situation didn't change, Su Hao was immediately relieved.

"After discussing with the officials and others, they think that the best way right now is to attack Dongchang Mansion."

Tang Xiangjin said in a deep voice: "You don't need to take down Dongchang Mansion, you just need to control the canal, and the grain can be transported to Fucheng through the Daqing River. It will take half a month at most, and all the grain can be transported to Fucheng."

After listening to Tang Xiangjin's words, Su Hao fell into deep thought, and said after a while: "Are you sure? Now we can't afford it."

"Qianhu, Xiaguan and others have gone through many deduction to capture Dongchangfu City. Xiaguan and others are not sure, but controlling the canal, Xiaguan and others think it should not be difficult."

Tang Xiangjin said with a serious expression.

Hearing this, Su Hao closed his eyes and pondered. Although Tang Xiangjin's plan was good, and he had considered going by water before, the main reason why he didn't make this decision was that he was not sure. It would be fine if he succeeded, but if he failed, not only The thousands of elites he had cultivated with great difficulty would be lost in one day, and even the grain from Dezhou and Linqing Prefecture would fall into the hands of the imperial court again, so he could only lead his people to flee.

"Then let's fight!"

After a long time, Su Hao slowly opened his eyes, and calmly said: "Since we want to fight, then do our best. I will let Jiang Shizhong and Gan Yang take 3000 people to Dezhou and Linqing Prefecture to garrison."

Although the newly recruited recruits are just farmers who have just put down their hoes and don't even have the most basic training, they should be no problem if they are just sent to garrison. can give up.

"Qianhu don't worry, the next official will not let Qianhu down!"

Hearing this, Tang Xiangjin said categorically.

"Go make arrangements."

Su Hao nodded. Although the risk of this gamble is not small, he is not afraid of failure, and he can afford it. With his current strength, as long as he wants to escape, it is very difficult for the court to win him, unless a large number of strong people are dispatched together. Surround and kill him, or if you only send three or five martial arts masters to chase him down, no one will die.

"Brother Su, is there anything I can contribute to?"

At this time, He Liu on the side suddenly spoke.

"Brother Six wants to make a move?"

Hearing He Liu's words, Su Hao couldn't help being taken aback. He didn't expect this at all. After all, He Liu fell to this point because he was implicated. It would be nice if he didn't hate him, and he wouldn't work for him, so He also never opened his mouth to solicit He Liu.

"In Brother Su's place, I don't want to eat and work for nothing, right?"

Hearing this, He Liu just smiled. It would be ridiculous to say that he has no resentment towards Su Hao at all, but now he is very clear about his current situation, there is no room for him in the imperial court. The safety of his family rests on Su Hao.

If Su Hao can defend the Jinan Mansion, then the lives of his family will be guaranteed. Once Su Hao is defeated, his family will have no choice but to escape. As for whether they can escape the court's pursuit or not? , that can only depend on luck.

Of course, the main reason is that he is unwilling to be an ordinary citizen, wasting his strength for nothing, and now when Su Hao is in urgent need of help, he doesn't make a move. After Su Hao gets a firm foothold, he will add to the icing on the cake It's too late.

"If that's the case, I'll trouble Sixth Brother."

After being silent for a while, Su Hao said with a smile, although he didn't know what He Liu was thinking, but He Liu was willing to make a move, so he naturally raised his hands to welcome him.

He Liu's strength is not weak, not to mention Luo Yi and others in the world, even Tang Xiangjin and Liang Ping's Jinyiwei hundred households are not that strong. If He Liu joins, he will be more confident in attacking Dongchang Mansion point.

(End of this chapter)