This kind of scene of eating pot pulp made Wu Zheng feel a little embarrassed and unable to face it.

Looking at the simple faces full of ravines due to vicissitudes, Wu Zheng knew that they were the real Han people, and the cohesion in their blood was faintly guiding them and what choices to make.

Because of this, Wu Zheng even easily let go of the officials appointed by the Qing court, as well as the property of the profiteers and wealthy merchants who should have been cleansed.

Wu Zheng didn't dare, he really didn't dare, he was afraid that after the army retreated, the Qing army would liquidate these innocent people.

An old man with gray hair was elected by the people.

He held a bowl of wine that was so turbid that he couldn't see the bottom of the bowl, and came to Wu Zheng tremblingly.

"Dare to ask if this general is the commander of the Ming army in the city?"

Wu Zheng nodded and responded, "I am." ”

The old man held the bowl of wine high, "I heard that the king regained Taizhou, and the old man walked more than 30 miles from home, so he wanted to pay tribute to the general." ”

The old man seemed to feel a little embarrassed, and lowered his hand tremblingly, "The old man could have been able to afford to invite the general to drink a bowl of good wine, but the Tartar went south, and the three sons and daughters-in-law of the old man's family, as well as the two grandsons and a granddaughter, were all lost in the hands of the Tartars. ”

Speaking of which, the old tears are in my eyes.

The people around him all wiped the corners of their eyes.

Wu Zheng's heart felt sour, and he stepped forward, wanting to reach out to pick up the bowl in the old man's hand.

The old man subconsciously shrank his hand, raised his teary eyes and asked, "The general doesn't dislike this bowl of yellow soup?" ”

Wu Zhengqiang opened his eyes and stopped the tears he wanted to roll out and said: "In my eyes, at this time, the old man is not holding yellow soup in his hand, but a piece of the heart of the Jiangbei father and old folks, how can I dislike it?" ”

As he spoke, he took the wine bowl and drank it all, and the wine with a strong sour smell made Wu Zhengqiang endure the tumbling of his throat and swallow it hard, but the tears in his eyes that could not be held back finally fell without a fight.

Smash in the bowl and make a "click" sound.

The sobs of the people sounded faintly, and some women and children choked, and the cries began to be connected.

Yes, after four years of slave life, goodbye Wang Shi went north, how can you control the excitement of the grievances and pride in your heart?

In addition to those who are iron-hearted, how can the people who care about their homeland not communicate with tears?

Wu Zheng stepped forward and helped the old man and asked, "Where is the old man living now?" ”

The old man replied: "The township party can't bear to see the old man homeless, so he let the old man live in the ancestral hall temporarily. ”

Wu Zheng took a long breath, "If the old man has no relatives here, why don't you return south with the army and let the government support you?" ”

The old man was stunned, and he looked at Wu Zheng with his mouth wide open.

All the people who heard Wu Zheng speak opened their mouths wide.

The old man asked after a while: "The meaning of the general's words is that the king is going to return to the south bank?" ”

Wu Zheng looked ashamed and could only nod.

The old man's face and the people's faces instantly dimmed, and that kind of thick disappointment was like a huge and heavy net, netting and tearing Wu Zheng's heart.

Wu Zheng could only explain: "It's not that the soldiers don't work hard, it's just that the Yixing Dynasty is still unable to fight against the Qing court that occupies several provinces with the strength of half a province, and this battle has been fought so far, our army has no ability to go north, and can only negotiate peace ......." ”

The old man asked loudly: "The old man wants to ask the general a word." ”

"Just ask."

"Can Wang Shi still go on the Northern Expedition?"

"Of course you can!"

"Really?"

"Seriously!" Wu Zheng has never made such a solemn promise, and he has never left himself a little room for himself.

"Can the old decay still be seen alive?"

Wu Zheng was stunned, looked at this crumbling old man, and choked for a while.

However, the old man suddenly turned around and said loudly, "What are you crying about? The general responded, and Wang Shi will eventually return north, just a few more days. You may not see it, but you will see it. ”

When the old man said this, the eyes of the people began to shine.

Wu Zheng's blood swelled up, and he said loudly: "My husband is right, I, Wu Zheng, will definitely go on a northern expedition in my lifetime, and I invite the old folks in Taizhou to witness it." Although our troops will withdraw to the south bank tomorrow, the situation is already different from before. Jingjiang is already the land of our dynasty, in addition, according to the peace treaty, the Qing court will not be stationed in Taixing to hoard troops, if the villagers can not stay in Taizhou, they can go to Taixing, if Taixing can not accommodate too many people, you can go to Jingjiang, but also to the south of Hangzhou, Songjiang and other prefectures. ”

Speaking of this, Wu Zheng once again invited the old man and said: "The old man should retreat south with our army, at least, he will not be bullied by the Tartars on the south bank again." ”

The old man gently patted Wu Zheng's hand and said, "The general is kind, and the old man understands it." If you are still young, you should go south with the general, and serve the general in the stirrup and before the battle. It's just that the days of decay are numbered, and it is difficult to leave the homeland...... On the day when the general led the tiger to the north again, if the old man had died, he would also bless the general's victory and the king's recovery of the capital underground. ”

Wu Zheng pursed his lips and nodded.

The old man turned around and beckoned: "Since you have the heart to recommend the old decay to come out, then don't hide it." ”

After speaking, he turned back to Wu Zheng and said: "The general will take these children away, the villagers have all said, let the children go to the battlefield with the general and kill the Tartars." Moreover, once the king retreats, these children will be captured by the Tartars as hard labor or taken as strong men to fight against the king, which will humiliate the ancestors. ”

Wu Zheng looked up, and a dark young man rushed towards him.

Wu Zheng said loudly: "This official is intending to set up a guard in Jingjiang to protect the people on the north bank. Please rest assured that your children are in the army in Jingjiang and will be able to protect you. With them, they can also deter the Qing army at all times, and they dare not act arbitrarily against our Han people! ”

Wu Zheng's words really calmed the people's hearts.

Taizhou is not far from Jingjiang and closer to Taixing.

Hearing that the children are in the army in Jingjiang, and the two sides have reached peace talks at this time, the safety of these children should not be dangerous.

Not to mention, Wu Zheng's words made those parents who were still hesitant to let their children join the army suddenly had the will to let their children join the army.

After two hours of hard work, more than 2,000 people enthusiastically signed up for the army.

If it weren't for the darkness, there would have been more people.

That night, Wu Zheng reaped a windfall.

Jiang Quanyi came to see Wu Zheng, and he led the water division from Jiangdu with Wang Yilin before, and collected most of the Yangzhou Mansion and the surrounding five or six counties, and reported to Wu Zheng in 1510.

When Wu Zheng heard about this, he couldn't close his mouth in surprise.

Indeed, the finances of the General's Mansion were very tight.