Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 627 General ([-])

Wu Mu looked at the copy of the government official document that was just delivered.This was just delivered from the postal inspection station at Guanrongpu Post Station.

Although the whole area of ​​Lingao has been controlled by them for a long time, due to the policy of "Ming Pi Ao Xin", the post roads have always been kept unobstructed.After Shan Daoqian arrived at the transportation department, he not only built the post road, but also accepted the post stations along the road by the way, repaired the crumbling houses, and the impoverished postmen also had a guarantee of life.Therefore, the fast horses of the post soldiers with various official documents of the officials still galloped on this post road unimpeded.This gave the State Security Bureau a great opportunity to spy on the movements of the government across the island.Zhao Manxiong set up a special postal inspection station in the Guanrongpu post station closest to Lingao. All official documents that passed through Lingao were opened and copied first, and then sealed and delivered.

Of course, the official documents of the Ming Dynasty also had sealing wax and the like, and important documents had to be nailed and sealed, but this was not a problem for the traveler, whether it was using special letter-taking tweezers to roll the letter, or using a steam blowtorch to dissolve the paste, or even forging official documents. There are people who can do it, even if no one can do it, you can always check the information.

Not only can they see the official documents for Lingao County at any time, but they also have to copy all kinds of government official documents that pass by and send them to the State Security Bureau.A copy is now also copied to the Foreign Intelligence Service.

As usual, these official documents were read by Wumu.Although most of the official documents were written in the vernacular of the time, there were many terms in the official documents, and the ancient vernacular and Mandarin were different after all.It is difficult for modern people to fully understand, so he has a special team with the county government's book office as a consultant to explain the meaning of the official document for him.

Most of the official documents are not of much value, most of them are the daily administrative documents of the counties, and more than [-]% are related to taxation and criminal case handling.This may be excellent first-hand information for those who are interested in studying Ming history, but it is not interesting for Wu Mu.

The exchange of official documents between Lingao County Government and Qiongzhou Mansion is the focus of their monitoring, especially whether Wu Mingjin and his subordinates have privately reported the current actual situation of Lingao to Qiongzhou Mansion.Therefore, whether it is an official document or a private letter, it is subject to the strictest inspection.

The situation is tense recently, and more and more official documents are passing by.Wu Mu was very surprised to find that the official documents sent to Danzhou, Changhua and other places continued to pass through Lingao post stations one by one.It seems that they don't care whether the official document can pass through the "bandit area".

The General Administration of Political Science and Security and the Intelligence Bureau easily knew from past official documents that the Ming army had no plan to send troops from Danzhou—the official documents only ordered the local area to prepare food and wait for it to be sent to Lingao, and there was no plan for the Danzhou garrison to gather for battle Instructions, and did not follow the garrison to steam and clean the firearms immediately.

He opened and read a few of them, but there was nothing special about them.His eyes widened as he opened another letter.

This is an official document calling Wu Mingjin to return to the provincial capital immediately to report on his duties.

A copy of this letter was immediately in Xiong Buyou's hands.Then it was in the hands of the executive committee, and 10 minutes later, Ma Niao's field army headquarters also received the news.

"Of course we can't let Wu Mingjin go to the provincial capital." Xiong Buyou expressed his attitude simply and clearly, "First, he will probably tell everything when he arrives in the provincial capital. Even if he doesn't tell everything, he has a lot of first-hand knowledge It’s not good to reveal some information. Second, it’s still useful to keep this person in our hands. If he goes to the provincial capital, we won’t be able to use him anymore, whether he lives or dies.”

"Of course it's easy not to allow him to go, but if the Lingao model continues in the future, he, the county magistrate, may not be able to be an official if he openly disobeys orders." Wu De is worried about this problem.

"It doesn't matter, just ask him to send an emergency letter." Xiong Buyou said, "Isn't He Ming sending a small group of troops to harass Chengmai and Qiongshan? Let's add some more information. Said that the bandits are besieging the county seat , he is trying his best to defend and cannot get out of the city."

"Can you do it?"

"It can be done by looking for Master Wang."

Inside the county government office, Wu Mingjin and others were in a very depressing situation.The news that the officers and soldiers were coming to suppress the bandits was known in the yamen.Although the servants of this county government either changed or never dared to contact him in private anymore, but the internal government is his family, and he can always get the outside news from them.

The news was just a chatter at first, but then it became more and more solid.The news from everywhere indicated that it was imminent for the governor to send troops to suppress the situation.The servants told him that the Australians were mobilizing their troops, that the roads were full of troops and cannon, and that the ships in the port were also mobilizing.And it was rumored that Australia had sent a new army, ready to fight Daming to the death.

Wu Mingjin's heart was full of contradictions and pain.He knew that he did not commit suicide by mistake at the beginning, nor did he flee to Fucheng alone for emergency.Now there is no way out.You can only "share fate" with the Australians.The Australians won, and I, the vague county magistrate, could probably continue to do so—but I might not be the Lingao county magistrate of Daming.Thinking of this, a burst of grief for the motherland can't help but come to my heart.However, if Daming wins and the Australians pull the anchor and sail away, I can't go with them, abandoning the grave of my ancestors and becoming an Australian!I can only stay and wait to die!

Thinking of this, he could barely sleep at night.He knew very well that once Daming regained Lingao, he would never consider himself a loyal minister of "guarding the isolated city". Not only would his life be lost, his reputation would be damaged, and even his family would be implicated.My wife and children are all in Lingao, and I'm afraid they will die together by then.

Wu Mingjin spent more than ten days in such an extremely contradictory and complicated state of mind. Xiong Buyou knew his inner suffering from the insider installed in the inner office, and was very worried that he would commit suicide suddenly. According to the meaning of the executive committee: Wu Mingjin is a person who is under special protection. So he ordered the insiders among the servants placed beside him to keep a close eye on the county magistrate to prevent him from committing suicide.In addition, he ordered You Guotuan to strengthen his guard in the inner government and the county gates to prevent him from escaping or sending someone to deliver letters in private.

Xiong Buyou decided to discuss this matter with Wang Zhaomin - after all, the seal of the county magistrate is still in the hands of Wu Mingjin.It is inconvenient for me to rob.Although Master Wang has lost his power now, he has become a senior adviser to the Government Affairs Council. He is not dissatisfied with such a life. He has no fame, and he does not eat the salary of Daming. Now he is getting double the salary from the county magistrate and the Australians. Allowance, raising a concubine, living a comfortable life.In my heart, I only hope that this kind of life will be too peaceful until Master Wu leaves office.

Wang Zhaomin knew about the news that the Ming army was about to attack.But he doesn't think the Australians will be beaten.Unlike Wu Mingjin, he often deals with Australians, has been to many places, and knows that Australians are extremely powerful.The encirclement and suppression by the Ming army must have ended in failure.

The biggest adverse consequence of this encirclement and suppression is that the position of Lingao county magistrate of his boss may not be guaranteed.But it doesn't matter much to his own personal interests - he, Wang Zhaomin, can find a new employer and continue to be a teacher.

Xiong Buyou consulted with him and showed him the official document.Wang Zhaomin agrees with the judgment that Wu Mingjin cannot be allowed to go to the province to report on his work, and he also has a positive attitude towards the practice of sending people to help.

"You don't need to let Mr. Wu know about this—he is disturbed now, and bothering him will only make Mr. Wu more difficult." Wang Zhaomin followed the master's usual style and acted boldly, "The seal is in the signing room, signing and stamping the seal." It was originally my errand, so I'll do it."

"Okay. Then I will rely on Master Wang's wonderful pen."

Wang Zhaomin immediately started to write this emergency document. This document was written with great care. Although he knew nothing about the situation in Guangdong, judging from the fact that Wu Mingjin was asked to return to the province, Guangdong officials were not very concerned about the situation in Lingao. Clearly, almost nothing is known about the condition of the Australians.

But the fact that the Australians lived in Lingao three years ago can't be hidden from anyone - Wu Mingjin sent a lot of urgent documents to Fucheng, and the Guangdong side will definitely check the original Tangbao documents now.

It is difficult to explain why the Australians have been in Lingao for three years, and why the local county government has no countermeasures. It is difficult to explain it satisfactorily, especially now when the word "suppression" is in the lead, any excuse will be picked on, only public opinion becomes " When you talk about "caress", it doesn't matter what you say contradicts yourself.

After thinking about it again and again, since it is very difficult to tell a lie, it is better not to tell a lie at all, and just wrote an urgent book, saying that Lingao is currently under siege by the Kun bandits, and the Kun bandits are setting up cannons and building ladders outside the city, preparing to storm the county.The county magistrate is urging the army and civilians in the city to stick to the city.

After finishing writing, I circled and smeared again to be satisfied.Immediately transcribe the seal and give it to Xiong Buyou for review.

"It's just that the person who sends the letter has to spend a lot of trouble." Master Wang said with a beard, "Although the official document only needs to be sent to the prefectural city, in case the magistrate or General Tang Shen asks about the situation in the county, he must be able to speak People who are eloquent and not afraid of death can do it."

"It's okay, I have someone to choose."

Xiong Buyou took the documents, and instead of going back to his office, he went directly to the office of the State Administration of Political Science and Security. He Wumu, Li Yan and others studied the letter repeatedly, and when they thought there was no problem, they called in an intelligence training officer. The local-born Aboriginal intelligence agent who studied in Department A of the Center asked him to send the letter to Fucheng.

Li Yan explained to him one by one how to answer in case of a question.And tell him the dangers he may encounter, and ask him to be careful.

The news that the Kun bandits broke into the Lingaowei Office, harassed Chengmai, and besieged Lingao County finally reached the Guangdong Governor’s Yamen in Zhaoqing through Hainan’s urgent report. Now hearing that Lingao's Kun bandits broke through the local guards again, besieging Chengmai and Lingao counties, wantonly harassing the area, they became even more annoyed, and ordered He Rubin to gather troops as soon as possible and cross the sea to suppress them.In order to supervise He Rubin's combat operations, Wang Zunde appointed Zhao Ruyi, the guard of Hainan Province, as the supervisor.Then, Lv Yizhong was appointed as the painting of praise in his army as an alternate rank.

In this way, He Rubin had two "supervisors" before he was dispatched.Not to mention Zhao Ruyi, it is inconvenient for others to leave their posts without permission in Qiongshan County, but this Lu Yizhong is a trusted confidant in the governor's shogunate, and he came here to urge the war.

Lu Yizhong suppressed various shops in Guangzhou that had trade relations with Australians on weekdays. After a bluff and intimidation, he finally raised [-] to [-] taels of silver, and even the Gao family had to spend a few thousand taels of silver to dispose of it.Although this number could not satisfy Wang Zunde, it managed to restore a little trust.

While Wang Zunde sternly urged the army to go to battle, he stepped up the mobilization of grain, grass, gunpowder, and battle armor, and prepared to ship them from Guangzhou to Qiongshan for storage.

The summer is scorching, but the seaside is cool with gusts of wind. Although this is still the inland river of the Pearl River, the river is wide, and the wind and waves on the river are as strong as those on the sea.The waves kept rushing towards the shore, crashing against the sandy beach and reefs.

Because of the order of Wang Zunde, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, ships in and out of the Pearl River Estuary are prohibited.Moreover, the merchant ship knows that the government is nailing down the big ship at the mouth of the Pearl River recently, so they dare not appear here.So there are only a few fishing boats and naval cruisers on the river.

In the river bay in front of Humen Village, there are many ships with masts like forests.Here are the ships of the Guangdong Navy, as well as various civilian ships temporarily nailed up. Some large ships are full of food and armour, with white sails bulging, and they are heading west to Hainan Island.

In the open space in front of the Humen Village, many military tents have already been set up densely.Banners cover the fields, swords and guns are like forests.The drums and horns correspond to each other.The military capacity is very majestic.

Flags fly from the Yaniangxie Fort opposite Humen Village, one of the main forts on the outskirts of Guangzhou.Surrounded by earthen villages, archery towers, and blockhouses, there are many Ming troops stationed there, and flags flutter in the wind.
He Rubin led a group of generals, aides and personal soldiers to follow Lima Riverside, looking at the army gathered from the whole province.Since the expulsion of Penghu Hongmao Fan in the last year of Tianqi, Guangdong Province has never assembled such a large army.In order to support this army, in addition to using the grain accumulated in official warehouses on Hainan Island over the years, a large amount of additional grain must be transported.Knowing that the Kun thieves had sharp firearms and were planning to besiege the city for a long time, they brought many newly cast cannons and firecrackers from Foshan.And lots of gunpowder.And in the leeward and sunny place behind Yaniangxie Mountain, a new gunpowder factory was set up, and saltpetre, sulfur and willow charcoal were continuously transported from all over the province to be made into gunpowder.

"Soldiers are fine and food is sufficient. If you go to the town, you will be able to reap all your achievements in one battle." Some staff flattered him.

"According to Tang Bao's report: The morale of the Kun bandits has not declined. Not only did they have no intention of retreating, but they destroyed our guards and surrounded our Lingao and Chengmai counties. It seems that there must be a fierce battle before the outcome can be determined. Military affairs It's dangerous, and there should be no negligence." He Rubin was very surprised by the sudden activity of the Kun bandits. Since the Kun bandits have lived a peaceful life in Lingao for more than three years, why are they suddenly attacking everywhere now?Is it really, as Lu Yizhong said, just to retaliate against the government's seizure of the Australian business house?
He vaguely felt that this matter was not that simple.

A middle-aged civil servant stood beside him on a horse.He is Lu Yizhong, who was sent by Wang Zunde as an alternate Taoist title to take on the painting praised by any Rubin army.Although he got the title of Zanhua Military Affairs, everyone knows that this is the supervising army sent by Wang Zunde.

Zhao Ruyi, the official supervisor of the Hainan branch of the army, is still in Qiongshan County, and he will not go to Guangzhou to point fingers.Lu Yizhong was not so easy to dismiss. Not long after he arrived in the army, he kept urging He Rubin to cross the sea to Hainan as soon as possible.

Hearing He Rubin's words, Lu Yizhong hurriedly continued: "Master Zhentai's words are very true. The thieves know that their doomsday is coming, and the so-called poor rats will eat back. Only by crossing the sea quickly can our teacher shock such youngsters."

Everyone knows that Lu Zan's paintings are urging soldiers again.In fact, it claims to be 1, but the 300-strong army has only assembled more than [-] people so far.This is already mobilizing troops in the province, so the speed is much faster.According to the practice of Ming and Qing Dynasties, so many troops mobilized and assembled cannot be sent on the road in one go, because it is difficult for localities to provide food and lodging for so many troops at one time, so troops in various places "group" with two or [-] people. The unit departs day by day.Since they were going to war and not on vacation, soldiers and officers naturally walked as slowly as they could, and they couldn't walk more than twenty miles a day.It is perfectly normal for tens of thousands of people to gather in three or four months.

According to this speed, it will take half a month for the whole army to assemble.Moreover, the troops were improvised. Although He Rubin nominally controlled them, he was not familiar with all the generals under his command who were scattered all over the province.

Unfamiliarity with soldiers is a taboo in war.He Rubin originally wanted to gather the whole army in Guangzhou, take advantage of Hainan's rainy season and the subsequent typhoon weather to review and train there for a month or two, and wait until the beginning of autumn before dispatching troops.But Lu Yizhong's constant urging made him have to cross the sea first with food, Jiazhanhe and his town mark Zhongying.

"The wind and waves are so strong today!" He Rubin looked at the sailing fleet sailing away.Can't help but worry about the safety of the fleet.A few days ago, several ships transporting grain and Jiazhan to Hainan capsized, and many supplies were lost.

"Don't worry, my lord. These sailors are all experienced sailors, and they use big local ships nailed up. They can go to Qiongshan without any problems." The staff reassured him.

Back in the camp, He Rubin discussed with his staff the countermeasures for the march.The governor is eager to ask him to cross the sea to fight, in addition to his eagerness for success, there is also a problem of wasting money.The [-] army has not yet assembled, and the Guangdong Fan Treasury has already spent more than [-] silver, as for the consumption of food, ships, and firearms, it has not been counted.After arriving in Lingao, it will take a few more months to surround the bandits, and the cost will be even greater.

For this reason, he had to make a gesture first and let his most reliable troops cross the sea first.

Watching the first batch of sea-crossing troops leave, He Rubin seemed to be relieved - finally he could have a leeway against the governor.But there was great worry in my heart.He knew very little about the situation of the Kun bandits, and originally wanted to inquire face-to-face after the arrival of the Lingao county magistrate, but unexpectedly the Kun bandits suddenly besieged the county seat, and the county magistrate had to be trapped and unable to rush to the provincial capital.

(End of this chapter)