Crazy at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Wu Shigong sat in his seat, seemingly oblivious to the order of the county magistrate Qi.He was lost in thought now.Wu Shigong's current state of mind is very hesitant.Because he felt: "Although I have tried my best to develop and expand my military force after arriving in Qianhu, my strength is still too weak."

Wu Shigong now owns [-] new recruits after he arrived at Qianhu.In addition to their long guns as weapons, because of the speed of making firecrackers, they only had fifty heavy-duty firecrackers.

But Wu Shigong's cavalry team has more than 240 people.There are also more than seventy medium-sized guns.However, the horses of the cavalry team only achieved one horse for each person after the robbers were eliminated and their horses were captured this time.In addition, because the number of saddles is insufficient.Now, Wu Shigong uses at most [-] people.

Of course, those few people from the artillery team and fifty teenagers as the reserve team must be added.

If Li Lu's news was correct, it would undoubtedly be impossible to deal with tens of thousands of rioters with only 650 to [-] troops like Wu Shigong.Even the county guards are understaffed.

Therefore, as soon as Wu Shigong got the news, he instinctively wanted to retreat into the fortress of Qianhusuo.Although the project of the Qianhusuo fortress has only a rough appearance.However, the outer city wall of Qianhu's fortress has been built to a height of four feet with Sanhe soil after all.Moreover, the rioters can only attack from the direction of the small town, and it is easier to defend than to defend the county.

However, it is impossible for Wu Shigong to do this now, it is impossible for him to give up this county.The duty of Wu Shigong, the Thousand Households Office, was to keep the county seat.Although Wu Shigong's official position as the agent of Qianhu has been suspended, he is still in office.Therefore, Qi County Magistrate's order to use Wu Shigong's troops to defend the county seat was justified.

And the most important thing is that Wu Shigong doesn't want to, let alone give up his official position of acting for Qianhu.Don't say that Wu Shigong spent so much money on the construction of the Qianhusuo fortress and the expenditure on the recruits.Just from the perspective that Wu Shigong wanted to find a refuge that could save his family's life in the troubled times during the Chongzhen period, Wu Shigong needed this official position to act as an agent for thousands of households.

Besides, after this county was captured by rioters, could Wu Shigong really rely on his own troops to keep the Qianhusuo Fortress?In this famine year, Wu Shigong himself stored more than 1 stones of grain in the fortress of Qianhusuo and the righteous storehouse, which was like a fire in the dark, attracting the rioters to rush over like moths.

In an instant, Wu Shigong made up his mind: he must keep this county.But just as he made a decision in his heart, Wu Shigong discovered another problem.That is: in this battle to defend the county, the county magistrate Qi should be the natural leader.Then he used his own troops indiscriminately, what should he do?

In the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, it was a tradition to use literature to control military affairs.Although in normal times, County Magistrate Qi and Wu Shigong didn't have much overlap in their responsibilities and work.However, as long as it is time for war, the county magistrate Qi can give all military orders to Wu Shigong, a thousand households.This is also the reason why County Magistrate Qi issued orders to Wu Shigong just now.

However, Wu Shigong didn't want to listen to the order of County Magistrate Qi.If you think about it with your ass, you will know that the county magistrate Qi will definitely ask Wu Shigong to drive all the soldiers in the fortress of Qianhusuo to the county town to participate in the defense.

In this way, what about the Qianhusuo Fortress?All of Wu Shigong's belongings, as well as Zhao Ruya's four wives and their unborn children, were they just thrown in the fortress of Qianhusuo?That is absolutely not acceptable.Therefore, Wu Shigong must take the initiative back.

When Wu Shigong was thinking about these issues, the county magistrate of Naqi had already called Wu Shigong several times.Seeing Wu Shigong sitting there looking lost in thought, the magistrate of Qi had an angry look on his face.Seeing that County Magistrate Qi was about to lose his temper, Li Lu, who was sitting next to Wu Shigong, quickly nudged Wu Shigong with his elbow to make Wu Shigong pay attention.

Wu Shigong seemed to wake up all of a sudden. He stood up from the chair, bowed his hands to the county magistrate Qi, and said, "Master County, the younger one has been suspended from his post now, and he is not a thousand households. Therefore, the younger I can’t mobilize the soldiers of the Thousand Households Office. I’ll take my leave now.” After speaking, Wu Shigong walked out of the hall without looking back.

County Magistrate Qi choked on Wu Shigong's words, his face was swollen and blue.County Magistrate Qi thought in his heart: "Just now I gloated over Wu Shigong's suspension, and now Wu Shigong has come back with revenge."

But Qi County Magistrate still couldn't save his face for a while, he still wanted to use justice to persuade Wu Shigong.The magistrate of Qi County stood up after the big case, raised one hand, and shouted loudly to Wu Shigong: "Wu Qianhu, even if I offended you. Don't you think about the safety of the people in the county? "

Wu Shigong stopped, turned around and said, "Then I will remember to burn paper money for them." After speaking, Wu Shigong took another step.

County Magistrate Qi was really anxious now, and he continued to shout: "Then what should I do!"

Wu Shigong didn't even look back this time.He said leisurely: "I will burn some paper money for you."

Seeing the appearance and conversation between County Magistrate Qi and Wu Shigong, the officials and gentry beside them, even if they didn’t know what happened, they knew that there must be a big conflict between County Magistrate Qi and Wu Shigong. .

But at this time, how could they let Wu Shigong leave.Therefore, Li Lu and Yao Yuanwai, who were more familiar with Wu Shigong, stopped or dragged him, leaving Wu Shigong where he was.Li Lu kept persuading him, "Make peace with each other. Make peace with each other."

The county magistrate of Qi didn't care about his face anymore, he walked around from behind the big case, cupped his hands and said to Wu Shigong, "What about Wu Qianhu?" Looking at the county magistrate Qi's appearance, his tears were about to flow down.

Wu Shigong also turned around, and asked Qi county magistrate arrogantly: "Then what should I do about my suspension order?"

Magistrate Qi gritted his teeth and said, "In this county, Wu Qianhu's suspension order has never been received. That news must be a misinformation." After saying this, Magistrate Qi threw another bullet at Wu Shigong. Candied dates, "As long as Wu Qianhu guards the county seat, I will definitely ask the court for merit and add officials to Wu Qianhu."

Wu Shigong glanced at Magistrate Qi.Unexpectedly, the county magistrate Qi was quite clever.Wu Shigong then asked: "As for guarding the county seat, who is in charge of the two of us?"

"This..., this is of course my official." With the principle of Wen Yuwu, Qi County Magistrate will not back down.

Wu Shigong did not expect that the county magistrate of Qi was quite principled.He laughed, and then said: "Okay! Then we will all listen to the county lord. Then I will ask the county lord now: The rioters are going to attack the county, so how should the county lord deal with it?"

"Then...then of course we have to guard the county seat." County magistrate Qi said in a lower and lower voice, while he was talking, he also looked at Wu Shigong's face, for fear that what he said would make Wu Shigong unhappy.

"That's right!" Wu Shigong's answer stunned County Magistrate Qi for a moment, and then he heard, "We must talk about the rules of civil and military affairs. But civil officials are the ones who decide whether to fight or not. We military officers It’s a question of how to fight.”

"Since the county lord has made up his mind to defend the county seat, how should we defend it? Then I, Lord Qianhu, will have to give orders."

Wu Shigong's words made everyone on the side look at each other in blank dismay.They all had to admit that what Wu Shigong said was quite reasonable.Besides, after all, in the hearts of all the people around, they still believe that Wu Qianhu is definitely more capable than the county magistrate Qi to guard the county seat.

Wu Shigong didn't care about it, and the embarrassed magistrate Qi immediately started to make arrangements.

"You guys wait here for a while, I will immediately send people to find out about the rioters and call the soldiers from the Qianhu Office." After speaking, Wu Shigong hurried out of the lobby.

Wu Shigong's guards were waiting in the courtyard of the county government.Wu Shigong came out of the lobby, saw Zhang Biao among the guards, and immediately called him over, and asked him to lead ten guards on horseback to inquire about news.

Wu Shigong wanted to send someone to the fortress of Qianhusuo to call for soldiers.Shumo immediately signed up enthusiastically, wanting to accept this arduous task.Wu Shigong didn't pay attention to Shumo at all.If that Shumo went to call someone, then he would definitely not return to the county.

Wu Shigong sent another person to Qianhusuo Fortress and asked him to tell Xue Yongli: let Xue Yongli be in charge of the defense of Qianhusuo Fortress.In addition, let Zhou Xun bring all the 150 soldiers he trained.Let these soldiers bring thirty heavy guns and half of the gunpowder and bullets.Since it was impossible to bring cannons, Wu Shigong asked them to bring the ten three-eyed firecrackers as well.

After making arrangements, Wu Shigong returned to the lobby.Then arrange for these gentlemen to report the number of young men in their families.Moreover, let them go home immediately and make arrangements for these strong men to gather at the county government office within an hour.If these gentry have weapons, it is best for these strong men to bring weapons.Finally, after counting, more than 700 strong men can be gathered in this way.

Finally, Wu Shigong asked the head of the yamen servants, "How many people can you yamen servants get together?"

The head of the yamen servants immediately bent down and replied: "If you go back to Master Qianhu, our county government can gather a total of [-] yamen servants and more than [-] assistants. There are also more than a dozen cell bosses. However, the cell boss To guard the prisoner, it cannot be used."

"Huh?" Wu Shigong frowned, and then asked, "How many prisoners are there?"

"There are twenty more."

"That's all killed!"

Wu Shigong's words stunned the head of the yamen servants.He quickly looked at Magistrate Qi.The county magistrate of Qi just now saw that Wu Shigong's arrangements were well-organized, and he felt a little more at ease.

At this time, the most important thing is to hold the county seat and get through this hurdle.Wu Shigong had to satisfy him first before speaking.The prisoners and the magistrate of Qi County were not related. Although their crimes may not have resulted in death, they are considered unlucky to have met such an end.

So the magistrate Qi waved to the head of the yamen servants and told him to follow Wu Shigong's instructions.

But at this time, an official who was over 50 years old came forward, bowed his hands to Wu Shigong and said, "Master Qianhu, although these criminals have sins, they should be educated. The saint said: ..." Then, the official uttered a long sentence with "Zhihu Zheye".I want to persuade Wu Shigong to take back the order just now.

After the official had finished speaking, the head of the yamen service team whispered in Wu Shigong's ear and said: This official is the county's instructor, and his name is Gong Haoran.Fearing that Wu Shigong would get angry on the spot, the head of the yamen servant added: "My lord, the old master is getting old, and his brain often can't turn around."

Unexpectedly, after listening to Gong Haoran's words, Wu Shigong tidied up his clothes, bowed to Gong Haoran and said: "Mr. Gong, the student has also read sage books for several years. I know that what Mr. Gong said is the truth. The student also I want to ask Mr. Gong more in the future. But, let's live on and talk about all these things first, shall we?"

After Gong Haoran heard Wu Shigong's words, although he was a bit pedantic, he also knew that Wu Shigong's actions were reasonable.Therefore, after bowing to Wu Shigong again, he retreated silently.

Wu Shigong then ordered those officials to take a few yamen servants and assistants to go out of the county town to the nearby Zhuangzi and folk houses, so that the people outside the city could enter the county town as soon as possible.

After arranging all this, Wu Shigong left the lobby.At the entrance of the lobby, Wu Shigong remembered what Gong Haoran said, and couldn't help but mutter a few words.

Shumo at the side asked curiously: "Master, what exactly are you going to say?"

Wu Shigong ignored Shumo.What he murmured just now was the word "backbone".Wu Shigong sighed in his heart: "Although Gong Haoran is a little pedantic, he is also a little stubborn. But isn't he showing the backbone of a scholar, the backbone of a Chinese?"