Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Zhongshidao, Zhonghao, Zhongxi, Zhonglu, Zhongyanchong, Zhongyansong.

Three generations of ancestors and seven castes were brought here.

Zhong Yanchong was carried away and was knocked down by the rebel soldiers. He managed to survive, but the tibia of his right leg was trampled and broken.

There is also a clay pot hanging around Zhong Hao's neck, which contains Zhong Hao's ashes.

Just when Ju Ming was about to speak, a soldier came over and whispered.

After hearing this, Ju Ming ordered: "Bring it here."

Soon a corpse was brought up, it was Zhongshi Dao's younger brother Zhongshi Min.

Ju Ming said: "I just took a breath, but I couldn't save it. I was shot once in the chest and abdomen."

Three generations of the Zhong family didn't react much to the bad news, or they had already been mentally prepared.

Zhong Shidao cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for helping collect the corpse."

Ju Ming said: "I know that the Zhong family has been loyal for generations, so I won't persuade you any more. Those who are willing to stay and serve should tell the soldiers guarding you. Those who are unwilling to stay will be released after three months to prevent you from going back to Gao Gao. Qiu makes plans."

Master Zhong smiled bitterly: "We are all sinners. We are lucky not to be imprisoned. How can we give advice to the commander? The defeated general is extremely incompetent. He is unworthy of the court and soldiers."

"This battle has nothing to do with ability," Ju Ming said. "If you and I were to exchange identities, I would definitely be unable to lead the troops to suppress the bandits. In the middle is the rushing Bao River, and on both sides are cliffs and plank roads. The army is in a dilemma. How can we have half a chance of winning if we press for a battle?"

These words speak to the heart of Zhongshi Dao, and every word is his personal feeling.

Master Zhong was silent for a while, then he suddenly raised his head and said, "Can I see your army's weapons? The ones that make loud noises and thick smoke."

"No." Zhu Ming refused directly.

Zhong Shidao asked again: "Has your Excellency already thought of how to defeat the army before the battle?"

Ju Ming said with a smile: "Is there any need to think about it? If the Shimen Plank Road is blocked, the Western Army will have no choice but to fly over. The longer the time goes on, the more the imperial court will urge, and the Western Army will have no choice but to come by boat to die. Put the prisoners back to disturb the morale of the army, and so on. The morale is difficult to maintain. By that time, even if the camp is not captured by surprise, the rebels can win by storming by boat, but the casualties will be higher. The day Qian led his army to set out, he was destined to be defeated."

"It seems that the defeat was not unjust." Zhong Shidao said to himself.

Ju Ming said: "Your Excellency, you can seriously consider the matter of marrying a daughter of the Zhong family."

Zhong Shidao sternly refused: "It is impossible for a daughter of the Zhong family to marry a thief."

Ju Ming smiled and asked, "What if the emperor decrees a marriage?"

Master Zhong was stunned. He didn't expect Ju Ming to say that. He immediately shook his head and said, "How can an official give a marriage to a rebel?"

Ju Ming asked: "I said that Hunjun will definitely do it. Do you dare to bet?"

"No need." Zhong Shidao felt uncertain. Song Huizong was really ridiculous and could do anything.

Ju Ming said: "Everyone, please move on and watch a good show."

Three generations of the Zhong family, not knowing what to watch, were escorted to the center of the camp.

They found that there were not only many rebel soldiers, but also many disarmed Western prisoners.

Several officials were escorted, or rather dragged, and they were so frightened that they became weak.

Ju Ming pointed at one of them and said: "This guy's name is Huang Sheng. He is a scholar from Xixiang County. I am an old acquaintance. We also used to engage in drinking and playing tricks together. Less than half a month after I started the army, this man came to join us and was appointed as the commander-in-chief. Magistrate of Sanquan County. This year he collected autumn grain in Sanquan County, relying on his friendship with me to feed the common people and line his own pockets."

Huang Sheng's mouth was blocked with rags, and he whimpered, as if begging for forgiveness.

Ju Ming gritted his teeth and said: "Let's not mention these. When I led the troops to conquer Shuzhong, the system was not perfect at that time. The military pay for soldiers with Sanquan registration was first sent back to the Sanquan County Yamen, and then the family members of the soldiers were asked to collect it with their household registration slips. . This beast is so audacious that he dares to reach out to the military pay sent home by the soldiers!"

Three generations of the Zhong family thought it was normal after hearing this.

The military pay delivery system of the Song Dynasty was complete, but it was still being deducted in various ways. Soldiers had long since dared not send mail, not to mention that the rebel army was still a start-up.

Ju Ming ordered: "Declare this man's crime. Give him a pair of armor and a gun. If he dares to embezzle military pay, let him fight with a group of soldiers. If he wins the fight, he will be pardoned!"

The messengers immediately rushed to various parts of the camp to tell the rebels and prisoners who were watching the excitement about the various crimes Huang Sheng had committed.

Regardless of whether they were rebels or prisoners, when they heard that Huang Sheng had embezzled the military pay sent home by the soldiers, everyone looked at him angrily and wished they could skin this guy alive.

A pair of armor and a spear were thrown in front of Huang Sheng.

A mandarin duck squad advanced in formation and confronted Huang Sheng on the spot.

The rag in Huang Sheng's mouth was torn off, and he immediately started crying: "Dalang, Dalang and I had a drink in Shangbaicun. Lu Tixue was also there at the time, and I also praised Dalang for his good poetry. Dalang raised an army, and all the county sergeants and sergeants were watching. I was the first one to join the army. It was just a few military pay and grain taxes. I already know my mistake and will never do it again in the future. I beg Dalang to spare my life..."

Ju Ming scolded: "Put on the armor. Since you dare to embezzle military pay, you should think about how to face the soldiers. The soldiers have not read books and cannot recite poems and debate with you about winning or losing. They can only talk with the swords and guns in their hands." !”

Huang Sheng was still crying and howling, unwilling to hold on to his armor.

Ju Ming sent two soldiers forward to help Huang Sheng put on his armor, and then forced the spear into Huang Sheng's hand.

Huang Sheng finally stopped crying and stood in front of the Yuanyang team, holding a spear and trembling arms, like a chicken waiting to be slaughtered.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Both the rebels and the prisoners laughed, and they laughed heartily. The good show in front of them was so relieved.

They wish they could catch all the corrupt officials in the world and teach them such a lesson.

The mandarin duck team burst into tears with laughter. The team leader suddenly blew the whistle. Huang Sheng was so frightened that he threw down his weapon and ran away, but was stabbed back by the supervising team from behind.

The squad leader said to his soldiers: "Let's play with him."

So, these soldiers shouted and charged at the wolves and thrust their spears in front of them. Huang Sheng was so frightened that he ran away with his head in his hands.

Just like a cat fighting a mouse, the soldiers only scare them, but don't directly kill them.

After playing for a full quarter of an hour, the rebels and the prisoners were laughing so hard. The corrupt official's embarrassment was so funny.

The three generations of the Zhong family looked at each other in confusion. Ju Ming directed this good show not just to let the soldiers vent their anger.

"killed!"

After Ju Ming gave the order, the members of the Yuanyang Team immediately rushed forward and stabbed him randomly.

Throughout Xixiang County, the first scholars to defect to the rebel army were stabbed to death by soldiers.

One after another, a few more were brought in, some were officials and some were officials, and all the charges were related to military pay.

After killing the corrupt officials, Ju Ming rode slowly through the camp, shouting along the way: "Are the soldiers paid enough?"

"Enough is enough!" the rebel soldiers shouted.

Ju Ming asked again: "Have you given enough monthly rations?"

"Enough!" the rebels continued to shout.

Ju Ming asked again: "Would you like to follow me to Tokyo and capture that dog emperor?"

"Yes! Yes!" shouted loudly in the camp.

Not only the faces of the Zhong family's grandparents changed dramatically, but even the prisoners of the Western Army were frightened.

If they wait until they return to their hometown and the court recruits them as soldiers, how can they defeat these rebels who have enough food and pay?

The food and salary of the Zhong family army were not enough.

It’s not that there is too much corruption in the teaching system, it’s that the ones issued to the teaching system are not uniform!

Especially the enlistment fee, each rural soldier was given ten guan as usual. This thing was distributed by the state government, and was transported to the county government and then distributed to the soldiers. At the state and county levels, there are layers of deductions. How much a soldier can receive depends entirely on the conscience of the official.

Ju Ming rode back and called together all the soldiers who had just killed the corrupt officials.

He said to one of the squad leaders: "What's your name?"

The squad leader replied: "My name is Lu Jun."

Zhu Ming said: "Lu Jun will be rewarded for his small meritorious deeds, and the whole team will be rewarded. For the rest of the Yuanyang team, the team leader will receive ten army sticks, and each member will receive five army sticks!"

Everyone was stunned.

Ju Ming explained: "When a tiger catches a rabbit, you still know how to use all your strength. Except for Lu Jun, what were you doing just now? This is a military camp, not a stage. When fighting, you don't know how to form a formation, and you also play tricks on the enemy without striking a blow." fatal!"

One after another, soldiers were stripped of their pants and beaten with military sticks.

The whole audience was in awe.

Those prisoners of the Western Army had gone to the theater to relieve their anger, and they were eager to hear that they had enough food and pay. Now seeing such strict discipline, I feel inexplicable fear of the rebels.

Ju Ming said to the Western Army: "When we get to the ramp, I will give each of you three buckets of food. Don't delay on the way back to your hometown."

Zhong Shidao murmured to himself: "The Zhong family army is finished, and so is the Western Army."

After seeing the rebels who killed corrupt officials and the rebels who had enough food and wages, what would these prisoners think in their hearts?

If you re-recruit as soldiers, the chance of rebellion will be greatly increased!

Zhong Xi said: "This Zhu Tanhua never paid attention to the Western Army from the beginning. He released the prisoners after catching them, again and again, and he was not afraid that the prisoners would gather to fight again. The more he behaved like this, The morale of the Western Army will be lowered, and from now on they will be afraid of Hanzhong bandits."

Zhong Yanchong said in a low voice: "My little sister is not married yet. It would be great if she could marry... This person is both civilized and military, and he is extremely resourceful. He is the best in the world..."

"No nonsense!" Master Zhong immediately scolded him.

Zhong Yanchong closed his mouth, and when he looked at Ju Ming again, there was even some admiration in his eyes.

After resting for a while, the rebels set out with the prisoners.

Three generations of the Zhong family were guarded by Ju Ming's soldiers, and the prisoners were each responsible for carrying a bag of grain.

Let the prisoners transport food...

It was impossible to cause trouble. The generals were escorted together, and the officers were also escorted together. A group of low-level prisoners had no organization at all.

These prisoners were also very obedient. They could not run fast if they carried food on their backs. If they did not carry food on their backs, they would starve to death on the Baoxie Road.

So they obediently helped transport the food, hoping to arrive at Xiegu as soon as possible, then collect the food rations and go home quickly.

Because Zhong Yanchong had a broken calf, Ju Ming took special care of him and allowed Zhong Yanchong's soldiers to carry him away.

Although both his uncle and uncle died in the battle with the rebels, Zhong Yanchong no longer had any resentment in his heart.

It is normal to die on the battlefield. The rebels rescued them when they needed to be rescued. They have done their best to be benevolent and righteous.

When approaching Xiegu, Zhong Yanchong said with difficulty, "I...I want to stay."

The Zhong family thought they heard it wrong, but after confirming it again and again, they felt unbelievable.

Zhong Yanchong repeated again, his tone becoming more firm: "Zhu Tanhua can achieve great things, and I want to stay and work for him. But if I change my name, I will treat it as a death in battle, and I will not harm the Zhong family."