Chapter Eighty-Six: Surrendering Officials Lobbying the Castle

Zhizhou exposed his weakness in a panic, how could this escape the eyes of Qiu's old boss.

"Actually! We know more about the court than you do. There are people in the court who have to work hard with the emperor. Let's just talk about our Zhang Dongjia, last time the emperor invited him to the capital, but those ministers found all kinds of excuses to detain our Zhang Dongjia. If the emperor hadn't quietly sent someone to release Zhang Dongjia, he would have really been harmed by those traitorous ministers. Qiu Laodong said unhurriedly, "If you go against us, you are against the emperor." I know that those of you have come back when you hear that the three years have come and that Shanxi can collect taxes. I tell you, it's half the tax. Moreover, the tax must be used for people's livelihood, and every money spent must be agreed by the local people. You don't know that our kiln gang lends at least two million taels of silver to the imperial court every year. During the stable years in Shanxi, at most hundreds of thousands of taels of silver could be collected. Doesn't the emperor know how much and how little? If you come to collect the money, then we will not borrow the money from the kiln. Did you give the emperor's silver? "Qiu Laodong's true and false emphasis on the relationship between the emperor and the kiln gang people is to scare Zhizhou. Officials at the level of Zhizhou are clear about the tension between the ministers of the court and the emperor, but they cannot be clear about the above too specific things.

"This, I am the official of the imperial court, and I can only do it according to the requirements of the imperial court." Zhizhou really didn't dare to get involved in the above things.

"We don't care what the rules of your court are, as long as you break our rules, we are welcome. We are also doing things for the emperor. Yang Jing interjected, "We have already announced that we are not allowed to do anything on the street to sound gongs and open the way, why do you still do that?" Don't you know that the Taiyuan political envoy is in prison for this? ”

"This ....."

"Don't do this," Yang Jing said, "The people have suffered enough after wars, droughts and locust plagues, and you spend so much money to hire someone to sound gongs and open the way for you, doesn't it increase the burden on the people?" Besides, don't you know that we don't charge any taxes? Why do you still commit it? Aren't you afraid that we'll send you to prison? ”

"We don't collect taxes from the people." Zhizhou defended that he was really afraid that the kiln people would send him to prison. He knew that the Taiyuan political envoy had been sent to prison. Although when he left Beijing, the ministers told him that the people of Yaogang did not dare to do anything to them. But now it seems that this is far from the case.

"Did you come from the capital with the silver?" Yang Jing asked.

"No, no, it's not." Zhizhou hurriedly said. He knew that most of the silver in the imperial court was given by the people of Yaogang, and he did not dare to say that he brought the silver from Beijing.

"Then you still collect money from the people," Yang Jing said, "Master, go and bring your accounts." ”

How dare the master take out the accounts and not move.

Yang Jing was afraid of the table case, and said, "Do you still need me to torture you for this matter?" ”

The master looked at Zhizhou hesitantly. Zhizhou said: "This lord of the kiln, isn't this okay? Look at you....."

"You have broken our rules on our territory. I don't think it's a little powerful, you think we're weak and deceitful. Yang Jing stood up and said to Qiu's old boss: "I don't think the old boss will talk nonsense with them, they will say everything when they are locked up." ”

Before the old owner Qiu could speak, the master said, "Stop the anger and stop the anger!" Then he said to Zhizhou: "My lord, I see that they want to see it, so let them see it, there is nothing to keep secret." ”

Zhizhou knew that it would not work if he didn't let them see it, and said, "Look, look! ”

The master took out an account book from the back hall and handed it to Yang Jing, Yang Jing didn't answer, looked at the master and asked, "Where is the income?" ”

"Here."

"Didn't fall?"

"No, no, we have been here for a short time, just this account."

Yang Jing took it and looked at it through the account book. Then he handed it to Qiu's old owner. After reading it, Mr. Qiu said: "We have long stipulated that no taxes will be collected for three years, why do you still collect so much?" ”

"No, no, it's not a tax." Zhizhou said, "This is what those old proprietors saw that we didn't have silver, and took it out for us." ”

"These people, I know that they are very good at slamming the door, you must have scared them and forced them to take them out?" Old Qiu asked.

"No, no, they took it out on their own initiative." Zhizhou said.

"They must have asked for something to bribe you with the silver," Yang Jing asked, "What do they ask you to do?" ”

"No, they just supported us." Zhizhou said.

"Well, according to our rules, these are unclear pieces of silver." Yang Jing said, "I will write down a few numbers, and you can't move the rest of the silver, and you will be banned." We're welcome to move again. I will check one by one according to the list of the money I gave you, whether it was the money you forced them to ask for, or if they bribed you, and what kind of deal did they make with you? ”

Zhizhou listened to Yang Jing's words, and he began to tremble again with anger. If those people dare to say that they are willing to give money to support them, they will definitely say that they forced them to take it. Although those people hate the kiln people, they are also afraid of the kiln people.

Before leaving, Yang Jing asked Zhizhou: "Have the counties below Qinzhou also sent Zhixian?" ”

"Yes, they've all been sent." Zhizhou said.

"What we told you today, you have to inform your magistrates. Tell not to be obsessed, break our rules, and we will not spare it. We will not pursue the past, and if we do it again, we will not be welcome. From now on, we will be strict. ”

After Yang Jing finished speaking, Zhizhou could only nod.

After Qiu Laodong and Yang Jing left this yamen, Qiu Laodong asked: "Boy, our grandfather has acted in this play, can they be honest?" ”

"At least on the surface, they don't dare to be dishonest," Yang Jing said, "but they can't go, and if they don't go, they will have to make something." If the light does not work, the dark will come. ”

"Whether they come in the open or in the dark, we're not welcome to find evidence." Old Qiu said: "It's great that you let them take out the account book today." We know who has their back. So that we have a number in our hearts. ”

"There are so many people who support them, and those castles have all paid for it. Can we all kill them? Yang Jing said.

"You want to kill you, but Mr. Zhang won't do it." Qiu Laodong said, "Let's pick one of these and make an example." ”

Qiu Laodong and Yang Jing frightened the governor of Qinzhou, and of course the officials of Yaogang rejoiced one by one. However, Qiu Laodong and Yang Jing were not in a hurry to move towards Qinshui, they wanted to wait for the news that the Qinzhou Zhizhou would spread the news that the Yaogang people were going to take action in the Qinshui area. When news came from all over the country, the officials of the imperial court were not so arrogant. Old Qiu said to Yang Jing: "Boy! It's time for us to go. ”

Qiu Laodong and Yang Jing took a regiment of infantry and a regiment of cavalry, as well as two squadrons of Yang Jing's special brigade. Yang Jing and their special brigade had a squadron that followed Zhang Zhimu and them to Xi'an, and now they are following Yan Boju and them to Hexi.

When they arrived in Qinshui, they stationed troops outside the city, and then brought the special police officers to Qinshui. In the Qinshui work team, the kiln gang officials have long been looking forward to Qiu Laodong's family. As soon as they arrived at Yaogang, the officials introduced that the officials of the imperial court in Qinshui are much more honest now, and the people who saw us in the past were all shouting and drinking, but now they basically don't go out, and the surrounding owners don't come out to be arrogant.

Old Qiu smiled and said, "Yang Jing! Bring in a few hundred of your carriages and stop them outside Qinshui City. Then have our soldiers build wooden cage carts outside the city to the size of the cart. It should be placed outside for everyone to see. ”

"Oops! I said, old club, are you trying to scare them with this? Yang Jing asked.

"You're half right, and the other half is to use these prison carts to transport away those who don't obey." Qiu Laodong said.

"Good! I'll do it. Yang Jing immediately arranged for the soldiers to build a large number of wooden cage prisoner cars outside Qinshui City.

Qiu's old proprietor was not idle, and began to visit those big families with castles one by one. This time, Qiu's old owner saw them not like the last time, this time he came to visit them as an old friend and a kiln ganger. These big families know that the kiln people will come sooner or later. They have already heard that the Yaogang people made a big fuss in Qinzhou Yamen in Qinzhou, which frightened the Qinzhou magistrate and did not dare to speak up, and also informed the magistrates and counties in various places to restrain themselves and not to anger the Yaogang people. There are also those who donate money to Zhizhou, and they are even more worried, because the Zhizhou of Qinzhou told them that the people of Yaogang already knew about their donation, and let them say that they volunteered, otherwise Zhizhou would be sent to prison. For a while, those big castle owners in Qinzhou were all panicked.

Old East Qiu's family came to visit them, because they were afraid and hopeful, because they thought that they had a friendship with Old East Qiu after all, and they also wanted to probe the wind from his mouth.

Qiu Laodong was also very patient this time, and he started from Qinshui County along the Qinshui River and visited the castles, villages and towns on both sides of the river. Whether it is Pingshang Village, Douzhuang, Guobi Village, Xiangyu Castle, Wu'an, Yuchi, Tuncheng, etc., these large and small village owners and castle owners are relieved to see that Qiu Laodong's family has come to talk again. These people just eat hard and don't eat soft. I thought that the Yaogang people were still unwilling to unite with them, who had backers in the imperial court, and every family had a strong castle with artillery, and Zhuang Ding was bent on all the Qinshui people who were enemies. This time it was still to scare them. Qiu Laodong was not in a hurry, and talked about it one by one.

In fact, the owners of Qinshui have reason not to be convinced by the kiln people. Li Zicheng had many troops in the Qin River valley and launched attacks on Douzhuang, Xiangyu, Tongcheng, Guoyu, Huangcheng and other places in the ancient castle community, but he failed to break through the city wall after attacking for many days, and finally had to withdraw his troops. However, they also know that the Yaogang people are different from Li Zicheng, Li Zicheng's millions of troops have been beaten away by the Yaogang people, and now they have just easily driven Li Zicheng out of Shaanxi, and the firearms of the Yaogang people are not comparable to Li Zicheng. In their hearts, they still don't want to fight against the kiln people.

However, they really can't accept the ultimatum-style conversation of Qiu's old boss.

Let's talk about Xiangyu Castle. Originally, Qiu Laodong and the owner of the village have been old friends for many years, and the old owner Qiu persuaded him: "Old owner, what we Yaogang people do in Shanxi, you must have also seen it." The people are very supportive of us. The emperor is also very satisfied with us, why do you have to get along with us? ”

"Where's the word, Old Boss Qiu! We have always been good friends with the Yaogang people, the last time I went to the Yaogang, didn't I personally follow you? You defeated Li Zicheng, and we were spared calamity, so how could we oppose you? Of course, the owner will not admit it.

"Huh! Come on, you didn't take less money to donate to Qinyuan Zhizhou? Qiu Laodong pointed it out directly.

"Oh! The incident you mentioned, the new Zhizhou and us went out of Qinshui, and the officials in Beijing are all friends, and we can't ignore their difficulties. It's all a matter of the people in my hometown. "It seems that the old farmer has already figured out how to deal with it.

"We also govern Shanxi according to the emperor's will. In order to reduce everyone's burden, we don't collect any taxes, why don't you donate us some silver taels, and still hinder our officials everywhere? Old Uncle Qiu asked forcefully.

"Ah, after all, they are the officials sent by the imperial court, and we still have to listen to them. We are all people! ”

"You know, too. There are many ministers in the court who just can't get along with the emperor. The emperor sent us to govern Shanxi, and they sent officials to follow and make trouble. It seems that you are also sincere and can't get along with us. Old Uncle Qiu asked again, "As an old friend, I want to hear why you can't get along with us?" Haven't you been bullied enough by those corrupt officials in the court? ”

"None of us people can participate in the affairs of the imperial court," said the owner of the village, "and if you want to talk about old friends, I have a few words to say, we hate those corrupt officials in the imperial court." They are greedy, but they take advantage of us and don't care about our business. So everything here is up to us. Besides, I am most dissatisfied with the one-vote election you have organized. Should those poor men and women have the same vote as we do? If those poor sticks choose a poor ghost to be in charge, do we still have to listen to those poor ghosts? Let me tell you Mr. Qiu, here is always our final say, no matter who comes. In addition, many of our fields are exempt from taxes by the imperial court. But your officials say that these will be canceled in the future. How much more taxes do we have to pay each year? ”

"Huh! I can see it, it's useless for me to say anything today. Qiu Laodong said, "This area of Qinshui has always been a very rich place, but what has happened to you?" You recruited all the surrounding mountain bandits into Zhuangzi, and when the bandits are gone, you have become bandits. In the past, the trade routes were all set up everywhere to collect silver taels at will, and the trade routes were blocked. We take over here, can we allow this to go on? People in other parts of Shanxi are living a much better life than you here, everyone has cowpox, and they don't have to worry about smallpox. But you people here don't enjoy those benefits. It is all thanks to you. Will we allow you to go on forever? And your fields are exempt from taxes, and I tell you, many of my fields are also exempt from taxes. We all know how to do that. We have so many people in the land who don't pay taxes, and let those who are poor and can't have enough to eat pay taxes. Isn't it time to change? ”

"Old Dong Qiu, we are not afraid of you. But your caravans in the kiln have always been unimpeded by our passage. When I went to that house, I treated him with courtesy. "The owner also knows that a lot of his land has been spent on silver, and it is tax-exempt in various ways.

"It is because of these that we have endured again and again and want to save face for everyone. How nice do you say we continue to be friends? Qiu Laodong said, "But we Yaogang people don't just think about ourselves. Let me tell you, we kiln gang people don't have to do anything, and the silver is enough for a few lifetimes. So don't you force us to use force? ”

"I know that you are building a large number of wooden cage prisoner cars outside Qinshui City. Let me tell you Mr. Qiu, we are not afraid of you. Tell me what you're going to do? ”

"To be against us is to be against the emperor. If we do not listen to the dissuasion, we will open the castle and kill those who resist. Whoever is alive, regardless of the old or young, will be sent to Hexi and Baotou in wooden cage prisoners to serve in labor, and will never be allowed to return to their hometowns. Kill the returners! We'll blow your castle to the ground. Qiu Laodong said deeply, "As an old friend, I advise everyone not to think that we will be soft." Mr. Zhang said, 'We must have both the heart of a bodhisattva and the means of thunderbolts.' I think it's better for you to see the 'bodhisattva's heart.'" We have a few cities in Shaanxi that have been defeated, and they are rivers of blood. I can't bear to think we're like that here. As an old friend, I tell you, I earned this errand. If it were other generals, they wouldn't have bothered to talk about it. ”

"Huh! We are not intimidated. Although the owner of the village has a hard mouth, the old owner Qiu saw that his fingers were trembling, he was not a soldier after all. It was at this time that the old owner Qiu made up his mind to take this Xiangyu Castle.

Without speculation, Qiu Laodong and the others took their leave. When he went out, Yang Jing, who had not spoken, said: "I'll look at the old club." Our SWAT needs to get a clear picture of the inside and outside of their castle. ”

"I'll see it!" Qiu Laodong said fiercely, "Things that don't live and die by themselves." ”

Qiu Laodong's family talked all the way after they went all the way, and the situation was almost the same. Only the owner of Hewan Village had to stay with Qiu's old owner to eat. The owner said: "Old owner Qiu, you don't have to be difficult for us as small castles, we don't dare to cooperate with you, everyone has been taking care of each other here for many years, no one dares to betray this alliance alone, otherwise they won't survive." ”

Qiu Laodong said: "I have only one request, when we fight, you don't go out, so as not to hurt you." This time, we are determined to solve the problem by force. ”

The lord of the village said, "Do you really want to send away all the people in the castle that have been taken down?" ”

"Yes, no future problems." Qiu Laodong said.

"In fact, those villagers are also pitiful, they all eat other people's food, and they have to listen to the shouting." The owner said, "They also know that the people in Shanxi outside are living a good life, and they also want to have a good life." They're innocent. ”

"Alas! There is no way to do this, and those who stay are hidden dangers. Qiu Laodong said, "Let's try to kill as few people as possible!" ”

The owner lowered his voice and said, "You don't need to knock down all the castles, after you knock down one, take a step back. I'll go and contact the people from the other castles to surrender together. Then the other castles were self-defeating. They all know that they can't hold it, just give them a reason and a chance to surrender. ”

"If it is best as you say," said Qiu Laodong, "we must be ready to attack one by one." ”

-------------

Mt. Fuji erupted, Japan was earthquaked. --Progress of "Memories of the Southern Song Dynasty".