Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

The distance between Mobei and Jianghuai is more than a thousand miles, and even Beijing couldn't get the news of Fei Yanggu's victory in the first time, let alone Zheng Kezang who was in the south, so everything was going on step by step.

On the seventh day of June in the third year of Wuding, Zheng Jun conquered Tongzhou, plus the previously occupied counties of Rugao, Dongtai, and Yancheng, Zheng Jun's troops had already pointed directly at the Huaihe River.However, at this time, reinforcements from the Qing army have already poured in. In the direction of Huai'an alone, the Qing army has concentrated nearly [-] green flag soldiers in the three provinces of Zhili, Shandong, and Henan. With nearly [-] soldiers, a huge iron tongs is forming.It was precisely in view of this unfavorable situation that Zheng Kezang, who was determined to fight a war of annihilation in Huai'an, had to tear down the east wall to make up for the west wall, and hastily transferred the third and fourth divisions of the Longxiang Army that had just been released to Jiangpu. As a result, there are repeated hidden dangers in the newly occupied areas of northern Jiangsu.

"Tang magistrate." Watching the dust on the official road gradually dissipate, Ma Miao, the deputy commander of the third regiment of the first division of the Shesheng Army, who was ordered to lead a sentry to stay behind, turned to look at the respectful Dongtai county magistrate beside him. "The army's Northern Expedition, the food shortage is very serious. If it is done well, our future will not be a problem, but if it is messed up." Ma Miao laughed dryly. "It's also a big harm to you and me."

"You can save yourself from a humble job." Although Ma Miao's Dongning mandarin made it difficult for the magistrate of Tang County who lived in northern Anhui to listen, Tang, who had a rough idea, finally figured out the meaning of the other party, so he kept promising. "Please rest assured, Mr. Ma, I will send people to all the townships (note: township chiefs, township covenants, local officials, etc.) to collect summer grain as usual to prepare for the army's defeat."

Ma Miao was not surprised by Tang Zhixian's obedience and knowledge. After all, the other party took the initiative to surrender. All the captured, surrendered, and righteous green battalion soldiers from the prefectures and counties in northern Jiangsu have been organized into the army of the Northern Expedition. Tangzhi County, which only relies on dozens of guards to maintain the law and order in Dongtai County, will not have any changes.

However, Ma Miao did not expect that after only three days, Tangzhi County reported to himself with a mournful face: "There are many reports in various villages and places. According to the perennial practice of collecting, I am afraid that it will stir up civil uprisings, so I request to halve it.”

Ma Miao was furious, and immediately interrupted County Magistrate Tang's words: "Whether the tax exemption is exempted or not is a matter of grace, and the people dare to report themselves. This is intimidating the government and has ulterior motives. I don't know how to deal with it in the past."

Seeing Ma Miao's murderous look, the magistrate of Tang County returned in fear: "According to the old practice, if the flower households resist the debt of money and food, it means that the township is not effective in urging the head to collect the money, so it is necessary to pass the case and chase it. It's just, just Now that the army in the front is fighting fiercely, the rear should be quiet and not move, so Lord Ma please think twice."

Ma Miao didn't listen to the persuasion at all, but scolded: "Yijing should not move, are you hoping that the army ahead will be defeated due to lack of food?"

"Don't dare, dare not." County magistrate Tang turned pale. "The low-ranking officer turned his back on the Qing and turned to the Ming. He is already the generation who must kill the Qing captives, and he dares to hinder the army." As soon as he said this, Ma Miao's expression looked a little better, and Tang County Magistrate was slightly relieved. "It's just that most of the rural land is dominated by local tyrants, and the invitation is related to people's livelihood. I'm afraid that it will cause disaster under coercion."

Ma Miao rolled his eyes, and he understood that Magistrate Tang was probably worried that he didn't have enough soldiers to suppress the place, so he suppressed the unhappiness in his heart and asked: "Tang Zun, is this the case in the whole county, or are there individual security villages?" .”

"This is the case for 88 Bao, 350 Jiuzhai, and [-] villages in this county."

"Is this the case in the whole county?" Ma Miao knew the seriousness of the situation. "In this way, the official immediately explained the situation to the upper echelon of the feudal clan. However, the whole county is in agreement. It is strange to think about it. Could it be that someone is in the middle to connect with you? Your county should really find out."

Two days later, in the garrison camp of Dongdi Temple in Dongtai City, Tang County Magistrate and the county's head-captors explained the results of the past few days of secret investigations. As expected, the tax resistance was indeed controlled by someone. The ground publicly publicized that the war between Zheng and Qing was chaotic. At this time, one should guard one's home and defend one's hometown, and should not participate in the period.

"The one who made the most noise was the Liu family of Shiqibao. It is said that the eldest son of the Liu family is an official in Shanxi, and the second son is a Juren of the Qing court. He is very domineering in the first place," the head hunter narrated. "Now, in the name of tax resistance, five or six hundred strong men from four townships and eight neighborhoods have been gathered to defend themselves in the village. It is estimated that their mentality is not so simple."

"Very good." Ma Miao took a bronze medal from her body and handed it to the head catcher. "You take this fourth-class Guoyi Medal first, and I will give you a formal award when you understand the matter and report it to the official." The headhunter was a little confused, but Ma Miao said it solemnly, so he had no choice but to treat it as a treasure Holding it in the palm of his hand with a smile. "Master Tang," Ma Miao turned to look at Tangzhi County. "The pre-military approval document has come, and the summer grain can be halved according to the common people's request, but," Ma Miao's face was a little grim. "The meaning of Fan Shang is to punish the chief villain first to deter the ugly crowd, and then to add grace."

Ma Miao's words meant a bloodbath, and the county magistrate Tang, who knew it well, expressed his support tremblingly. At the same time, he appointed the head arrester and some fast arresters as the forerunners of the garrison, and promised to collect part of the military rations from the big households in the city for sending troops. .

When the county magistrate and the arresting head of Tang Wei's promises retreated, Ma Miao, who was still fierce just now, showed a playful smile on his face: "Counselor Lu, what do you think of this matter?"

The staff officer of the regiment who was named by Ma Miao smiled lightly: "This matter is quite strange. Your Excellency said that someone was colluding, and within two days it was found out that someone was colluding, and before your Excellency asked for food for the troops, County Magistrate Tang offered to ask for food." To raise part of it from Dahu, obviously, some people feel that we are getting in the way by staying in the city."

Ma Miao continued to ask calmly: "Then how much do you think Tang was involved?"

"Magistrate Tang is probably just a marionette. Besides, he has already surrendered to us. Even if the Qing court promises him anything, he will not fully believe it." Staff Officer Lu analyzed. "It must be that someone in the county has coerced him or persuaded him, so he has the intention to lure us out of the city and then close the city and sit back and watch the success or failure of the king."

"It makes sense," Ma Miao nodded at this moment. "Then are we going to follow his mind?"

"Since Mrs. Liu has a son who is loyal to the Qing captives, and has the fact of gathering crowds, it was originally the goal of this clan's suppression, and it should be used to kill chickens and monkeys." Staff Officer Lu put forward his own suggestion. "It's just that there is only one sentry in the city, and one of them is a team of soldiers. How to use the soldiers so as not to lose sight of the other is still up to the adults to decide."

A day later, in a certain room in the city, a soft voice rang out: "Zheng Jun has left the city? Can you see how many soldiers have gone out? Did you take the cannon away?"

"My lord, I can see clearly that the soldiers and horses of Zheng's army have indeed left the city," replied another slightly hasty voice, "There are about a hundred people, and among them there are about thirty people holding bird guns." number, the rest are carrying knives, shields are on the carts, and by the way, the cannons are also taken away.”

"Hundred Laihao?" Since he had learned about Zheng Jun's garrison in Dongtai in advance, he laughed with satisfaction in his feminine voice. "There are only 180 troops stationed by the Zheng army, and more than 50 of them are black soldiers and powerful men. They can fight only a hundred people. Now they have left the city together. It seems that our plan has come true."

"Don't get complacent too soon," said a third voice. "Our people haven't entered the city yet."

"It's not easy to enter the city." Another voice rang out. "The Zaoli guarding the city gate are our people. As long as we let them in tonight, this Dongtai City will be ours." The voice suddenly became angry when he said this. "Tang Yupeng, a bastard, doesn't look at the wind. Now that the war on both sides is undecided, the Qing Dynasty still has the opportunity to repeat itself. They just surrendered in such a hurry. Didn't they put me and other people in the city on fire?"

"Don't speak ill of Mr. Tang, after all, the Zheng family was very powerful at that time." A soft voice persuaded. "Speaking of which, Tangzhi County is still very winking, and now he didn't follow our wishes. In this way, when the incident happens tonight, we can take good care of this old man and don't wrong him."

The third voice laughed knowingly: "Exactly, if the Zheng family becomes powerful, we will still rely on this old parent to solve the problem for us. If the Qing court gains the upper hand, we must fully consecrate the culprit Go up to relieve the danger of the people of Dongtai."

There was a chuckle in the room, and the fourth voice added: "What needs to be taken care of is still indispensable, but it is a blessing to be able to preserve the family and most of the property. Who let us sit at home and come from heaven."

Just as the feminine voice was about to say something, there was a knocking sound at the door, and they were taken aback for a moment. The second voice hurried over to open the door to inquire. Soon, the person turned around with a look of astonishment: "Master, gentlemen, just now I received a post from the Ma Tuanzhi, saying that I thank the master for his generosity in providing food for the anti-rebellion army, and invite the master to have a banquet at the Earth Temple."

"Going to the banquet?" the third voice asked in surprise. "Could it be that this person is aware of something, it must be a Hongmen Banquet."

"I have to go to the Hongmen Banquet," a soft voice followed. "But you don't need to panic. Even if there is no good banquet, it is nothing more than this Mr. Ma is going to make another money. So what if you promise him for the time being. When the sun rises tomorrow, it will be ours. , or ours, no one can take it away.”

"Exactly," echoed a fourth voice. "However, it is said that this person is King Xia's favorite general. Pay attention when the fight starts. It's better not to get hurt."

"It's also simple." The feminine voice took over. "Give him a drink first, then give him two whores, and keep him lying down until dawn"