After discussing in the restaurant for a long time, the officials and gentry found that they were in a dilemma.

Originally, they wanted to provide their own food to support the soldiers, but they only had so many tenants that they did not have enough manpower. But if you recruit Xiang Yong again, how much will you be paid?

Li Yan gave ten acres of land by himself, although he had to pay 30% of the harvest, but he didn't have to pay other taxes. What can they give? The land is said to be nothing that can be given, and it can only be given some money and food, and it is completely uncompetitive. If it weren't for the fact that those tenants had worked for them for several lifetimes, they would have been pretty good to these tenants, and they were almost the same as domestic slaves, and those tenants might have to work for Li Yan.

But 50,000 stone of grain, they still don't want to give it out. Each family will cost nearly 2,000 stones, and 20,000 taels of silver. When the famine passed, the value of the silver would rise again, and each famine was a good opportunity for them to make a fortune. If 50,000 stone of grain is released this time, then there is no income left in the past two years, and it will be sent to Li Yan.

Master Liu asked with a bitter face, "Shall we do it?" "Two days ago, his grange was robbed, and the loss was not heavy, but if this situation did not change, his loss would be great.

Master Shen San said helplessly: "Governor Yang (Yang Wenyue), and Premier Ding (Ding Qirui)'s soldiers will definitely not be transferred." Jingying's words didn't dare to let them come. Now I can only find Governor Gao (Gao Mingheng) to think of a way. ”

"Chen Yongfu?" Master Ye frowned and said: "He also asked for a lot of money and food last time, and he hasn't killed a few thieves yet, and when he leaves, it will be a lot of chicken feathers." That is, Li Yan has the best effect, but he wants too much. ”

A few people didn't speak, because most of their land was in the west of Guide City, and it happened to be surrounded by Li Yan's village. At least they felt that most of their own land was safe, and they didn't have to pay Li Yan a grain of grain.

Master Shen said helplessly: "Okay, let's disperse first." Let's all go back and think about what to do. Don't just think about your own interests, if Li Yan really doesn't care, your land may not be safe. ”

The few officials who did not speak bowed their heads, as if they did not hear.

Master Shen San stood up and said as he walked out, "I will inform the Hou family about this incident." After all, his family has some friendship with Zuo Liangyu, if there is really no way, he can only give it a try. ”

When everyone heard "Zuo Liangyu", they all frowned. Zuo Liangyu has become more and more domineering in the past two years, and he didn't even listen to the orders of the Yang Pavilion, and the court didn't dare to punish him. As for looting, not to mention, it's not much worse than a thief.

Li Yan didn't care about the actions behind those officials and gentry at this time, he has been stinting for intelligence now, including thieves and officials. Because this period of time is relatively sensitive, the two largest bands of thieves, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, are near Henan, and the official army is also gathering here.

With the assembly of officers and troops from all walks of life, he must also be careful. Neither can they be recruited by others to participate in the suppression of thieves, nor can they allow other officers and soldiers to come here to suppress thieves. This degree is not easy to control, and it may come into conflict with other officers and soldiers.

Therefore, he must not only have accurate information, but also strong strength. If the conflict cannot be avoided, it will also make the officials and soldiers dare not come nonsense. And he must also start exterminating the thieves as soon as possible, and he must not give the officials and soldiers an excuse to meddle in the affairs of the Guide. After all, there are a lot of officers and soldiers this time, including Yang Wenyue's troops, Ding Qirui's troops, and Zuo Liangyu's troops, adding up to more than 100,000 troops.

Li Yan asked, "Where are Yang Wenyue's troops?" ”

"It's still north of the Yellow River, and it's estimated that it's waiting for Ding Qirui's Shaanxi Army." Sun Sifu replied.

"Where's Zuo Liangyu?" Li Yan asked again. Zuo Liangyu's troops are strange, unlike other troops, which have posts and eat empty salaries. On the contrary, he continued to recruit thieves and let his army continue to expand, and now there are nearly 200,000 troops. There are more than 50,000 in Henan.

Sun Sifu replied: "It should still be in Xinyang, there is no report of movement." ”

"Where are Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong?" Li Yan asked.

Sun Sifu shook his head and said regretfully: "There is no exact location." Li Zicheng should have hid in the mountains of western Henan, and Zhang Xianzhong should have hid in the Huoying Mountains. ”

"The Fifth Battalion of Gezuo is also there, in this way, won't Zhang Xianzhong join them? Then he will be stronger. Li Yan nodded and analyzed: "In this case, will the officials and soldiers focus on Zhang Xianzhong?" ”

After thinking for a while, he asked, "Where is that 'Second Brother Tian' now?" ”

"It should be near the town of Jiyang." Sun Sifu replied: "They have recently made a lot of food, and they should stay there for a while." ”

Li Yan frowned and said, "It's a little far, more than eighty miles, and by the time we get over, they will already run away." miscalculated, it would have been better if they had done it last time they besieged Yucheng. ”

"So what now?" Sun Sifu asked.

Li Yan thought for a while and ordered, "Go and call Su Jing." ”

Although Sun Sifu didn't know what it was, he knew that if Li Yan didn't say it, he shouldn't ask. He just needs to do the things that Li Yan handed over, and he should let him know, so he will naturally say it.

After Su Jing came, Li Yan said straight to the point: "Fuzun, I got a report that Yuan Laoshan and other bandits who fled back to Bozhou appeared near Luyi County. In order to protect the security of the territory under the jurisdiction of this prefecture, I will take the troops to Luyi County. The safety of the city will be handed over to President Wu Qian and them to guard. ”

"This, this, not good." Su Jing said nervously: "If you transfer troops from him, there are also huge bandits entrenched between Yucheng and Xiayi now." If you take the troops and they come, won't the city be dangerous? ”

Li Yan explained: "Fuzun doesn't have to worry, although there are a lot of thieves, they don't have the strength to attack the city. They had only used sieges to extract some food from the city. As long as you can resist and resolutely refuse to give anything to the thieves, they will retreat themselves. Besides, my transfer will be carried out at night, and as long as the thieves don't know that I have gone out with my troops, they will not dare to come. ”

Su Jing still persuaded: "General Li is better not to move lightly, even if he sends troops, he can let other generals lead the troops, why bother to take risks in person?" ”

Li Yan waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "The military situation is urgent, I will leave tomorrow night." In order not to cause panic among the population, I did not tell them. The defense of the city will be tired of the government. ”

Su Jing saw that Li Yan had already decided, and he could only reluctantly agree. All he could do was pray to the gods and Buddhas, asking them to bless the thieves from coming to the city to cause trouble.

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