Chapter 312: The Conspiracy of the Gentry
Li Yan's order was quickly carried out, and the prisoners who were still resting on the road outside the city were quickly mobilized back. The selected sites are the embankment in the southeast of the city and the Huangzhuang in the northwest of the city. Although these two places are not far from the city, they have not yet been eaten by the gentry in the city, which is why Li Yan chose here.
This is much simpler, Li Yan sent people to discuss with the residents here, and exchanged the fields in other places with them, one acre for two acres. In the end, an agreement was reached with the residents here, some for one acre for two acres, and some for one acre for three acres. There is even a family that exchanged two acres of land for ten acres, but this family's land is close to a pond, and the natural value will be higher. Li Yan compensated for the things in their fields with grain, which is one of the reasons why the residents are willing to relocate.
Either way, they all agreed to relocate, which saved Li Yan a lot of things. If someone really doesn't want to relocate, it's going to take a lot of work. There are several rivers around Fucheng, and although the amount of water is very small, the riverbed is still there, and it will take a lot of time to relocate it.
The day after the contract was signed, the troops helped pack up their belongings and quickly moved to the place where they were relocated. Their fields were immediately leveled by the captives, and all the unripe vegetables in the fields were removed.
Hundreds of prisoners, under the watchful eye of the army, began to work in two places at the same time, and the efficiency was not ordinarily high. These captives are tamed, and as long as they work well, they will have enough to eat and a little chance to rest. If you don't work well, or even try to escape, you will be whipped, starved, hung up and exposed to the sun for two or three days, and even beheaded.
The officials and gentry in the city all watched Li Yan's actions coldly. They didn't dare to make any drastic moves, but they just got together every few days to discuss their plans.
But now they have something new to do in the past two days, the old lady of the Hou Mansion, the former Taichang Temple Qing Hou Zhipu has passed away. The Hou Mansion is handling major affairs, and it is said that Hou Sui, the former household secretary who is still in the prison of the Criminal Department, will also be allowed by the emperor to come back to Hou Zhipu to mourn. This is an unusual signal, and since it can be put back for his old father's funeral, it may be reactivated. Didn't Fu Zonglong, the secretary of the military department who was imprisoned not long ago, also be used in his original position? If Hou Sui is also activated, it will still be a book.
Therefore, the officials and gentry of the entire Guide Mansion took action, and while the public order was not bad now, they all sent people over to condole. The entire Hou Mansion has been full of people coming and going these days, and there are constant hangers. Therefore, the gatherings of the officials and gentry became more and more frequent.
The teahouse not far from the Hou Mansion is a private room.
"I heard that Inspector Hong has sent troops to the north," Master Ye said with a smile: "Tens of thousands of troops against 50,000 Qing soldiers, and it is an internal and external attack, this dispatch of troops will definitely solve the problem of Liaodong once and for all." At that time, as long as 50,000 border soldiers are mobilized, the thieves and bandits in the Central Plains will definitely be quickly wiped out. ”
Master Liu sneered: "Li Zicheng was also chased by Governor Fu to Huguang, and Zuo Liangyu and Ding Qirui were guarded in the south, and Zhang Xianzhong did not dare to enter Yu. After the imperial court defeats the Qing court, I think he Li Yan still has something to rely on?! ”
The old man of the Song family also nodded and said: "When the time comes, as long as there is an impeachment note, Li Yan will be disgraced and dismissed!" Whether it is to show the public or to exterminate the family depends on our mood. ”
Master Shen San said: "The key is to have evidence. Although we suspect that Li Yan did these looting incidents of the grange, we have no evidence. Li Yan's soldiers in various places have not been mobilized, which is a strange matter. ”
"Humph!" Master Liu snorted coldly and said, "As long as you enter the prison of the Criminal Department, what kind of confession can't be made?" I don't believe it, he is a martial artist, and he can have the backbone of Yang Lian and Zuo Guangdou! ”
Master Ye said in a deep voice: "Brother Liu is cautious! In that case, it's better to say less! Emasculating pickling tricks, how can we be upright gentlemen?! ”
Master Liu hurriedly arched his hand and said: "Liu has lost his words, please forgive me." It was Li Yan who was too hateful, detained us and others by force, and asked us to take out food before we were willing to release them. He's blackmail! It's blackmail! ”
Master Yang also nodded and said: "Regardless of whether he did this thing or not, it is not good to guard the place, and let the thieves attack the place, it is enough to take him from his post and send him to prison!" ”
At this time, a subordinate came in and whispered a few words to Master Shen San.
Master Shen San nodded with a smile, and then said loudly: "Everyone, I just received news from the capital that the emperor has released Brother Hou from prison and come back to mourn Old Lady Hou." Now that Brother Hou is already on the way, it seems that Brother Hou's recovery is just around the corner. ”
"Hahaha," everyone laughed, "what a delight." As long as Brother Hou can recover, the influence of our Guide Mansion will be re-enhanced. As a key point between the north and the south, Guide should have more troops to defend it, and it should also have a more loyal and brave general to command. ”
Master Shen San shook his head with a smile and said, "As long as the thieves are exterminated, it is useless to ask for so many soldiers, and it is only right to let the imperial court reduce some taxes." We have suffered such a great calamity here, and the imperial court always has to give some relief, otherwise the people will not be able to survive. ”
"Yes, yes," everyone nodded and praised: "Tax reduction and exemption is the right thing, and our losses last year and this year are not small." ”
Li Yan also sent someone to condolence the Hou family, which was considered to be a courtesy. As for the gathering plots of the gentry, he didn't care. No matter what conspiracy they had, at least they couldn't do anything until the duel between Hong Chengchou and the Qing army was decided.
Li Zicheng went to Huguang, and Fu Zonglong also followed. Zuo Liangyu and Ding Qirui were both standing still in the south, Zhang Xianzhong and the Fifth Battalion of Ge Zuo were still wandering around Fengyang, and Shi Kefa's command did not dare to move. At least for now, Guide is still safe.
Li Yan sent people to urge the captives to quickly build barracks, and he wanted to start training new soldiers as soon as possible, so that the number of troops with combat effectiveness continued to increase. At least until the next battle, whether against thieves or officers, he hoped that his available force would exceed 20,000 men. Otherwise, no matter which side you face, the odds of winning are not very good.
Then there is the cultivation of potatoes, which is now in full swing. He assigned the farmers who were involved in planting the experimental plots to serve as a guide for each village to help them grow potatoes. The seeds have also been distributed everywhere, and as for how much harvest there will be, it is up to fate. As long as we survive the hardest winter, we should be fine next year.
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