Confucius Meng anxiously turned to Cui Dazhuang on the side, hoping that Cui Dazhuang would help him persuade Wang Jian to stay and defend the city. But to his disappointment, Cui Dazhuang smiled and ignored his request at all.

Wang Jian stopped teasing him, "haha" and said with a smile: "Master Kong, you said that if you are a merchant in Changyi City, what should the squire do when he hears that the official is going to run?" ”

Confucius Meng didn't think about it: "If the official is them, the first thing the official thinks of is to flee from Changyi." ”

Changyi is too close to Jinan, for the Manchu Qing Dynasty, it is naturally not comparable to Cangzhou City, let alone the imperial capital, and there is no value of possession, because even if you occupy this city, you have to spend a lot of money and troops to defend, it is better to loot it on a large scale, and it is cost-effective to withdraw after getting money and population.

Wang Jian asked again: "Then you say, if the official doesn't run, shouldn't the squires and merchants in the city show something?" ”

Confucius Shimeng's eyes lit up, he suddenly understood Wang Jian's intentions, and nodded again and again: "That's natural, haha, Lord Wang is really wise, the lower officials admire, admire." "How did Confucius Meng know that Wang Jian's bad trick is also the trick of the US imperialists to blackmail protection money, if you don't give it, you will scare you with a picker and make you pay obediently. What he compares with those squires is one word: ruthless. Losing land and abandoning the city, whether it is true or not, even if there is only a one percent chance that it is true, those squires can't afford to gamble. This kind of blackmail cannot be done by the emperor, but can only be done by Wang Jian, the incarnation of the emperor.

After the three of them discussed, Confucius Shimeng said to the officials outside the hall: "Go, call the famous squires and landlords of Changyi, and say that the official has urgent matters to discuss." ”

In just a moment, there were big landlords, squires, and even some bureaucrats in Changyi City, who looked at each other and said in their hearts: Aren't you here to ask for land and silver again?

It turned out that Confucius Meng had come to them once in the morning, and they symbolically raised more than 2,000 taels. Thinking about him, Confucius and Meng didn't dare to really do anything to them.

As soon as a group of people entered the door, they heard a loud voice say: "General Ben hates deserters the most in his life, come on, drag him down, and take fifty boards!" ”

I saw a soldier being dragged out, and his buttocks were quickly beaten to the flesh, and the screams couldn't help but make their hearts furious.

But how did this little trick of dismounting scare the old foxes, and they soon entered the hall as if nothing had happened.

"Master Kong, I don't know what the matter is to find a lower official?" Yang Shining took the lead in saying that the Yang family is a big family in Changyi City, and he is the prefect of Qingzhou Mansion, so these people are the only ones who look to him.

Confucius Meng got straight to the point and said: "Lord Yang, how did you raise the 150,000 taels of silver that the official asked you to raise?" ”

Yang Shining said bitterly: "Master Kong, do you know that these years of war and chaos are also years of locust plagues, and the people are miserable, where do you get any money." ”

Confucius Master Meng said: "Hey, yes, this official also knows your difficulties, and he can only settle his destiny." ”

"Huh?" Yang Shining was a little stunned, he originally thought that he couldn't shirk it, and handed over another thousand taels, but he didn't think that Confucius and Meng would forget it so easily, so that the words he prepared later would not be used.

The two sides were silent for a while, and a voice said, "This envoy will not disturb you, and he will leave." ”

Only then did everyone notice that there was a young man in a python robe in the room.

"Who is this?" Yang Shining asked.

"Oh, this is Lord Jian, the commander of the Jinyi Guard." Confucius Meng introduced: "He is here to bid farewell to this official today. ”

Everyone was puzzled: "Resign? What is the line of resignation? ”

Wang Jian said: "The official got the news, Kong Youde led the 60,000 army to kill again, and it is the duty of the official to protect the emperor, so the official will leave for Jinan the day after tomorrow, and he will come to resign to Master Kong before leaving." After saying that, he didn't look at them, and walked straight out.

Everyone listened to the "buzz" of their heads: Kong Youde has killed again, how can this be good?

After Wang Jian left, everyone was anxious to verify the truth of what Wang Jian said, so they didn't have any intention to chat with Confucius Shimeng, and hurriedly got up to say goodbye.

On the way, a businessman said worriedly: "Lord Prefect, listen to the king's command, Kong Youde has come back again, is it true or false?" ”

"Yes, that Kong Youde kills people without blinking, if he really comes, how can it be good?" Another squire was also worried.

As the saying goes, it's not distressing to destroy something that isn't your own. How could the merchants and the big landlords not understand this truth, what they were most afraid of was that Wang Jian abandoned the city and fled, because if Wang Jian really ran away, they would not even have the opportunity to surrender to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and they would lose their lives.

Yang Shining said in a deep voice: "It doesn't matter if it's true or not, the thief didn't come this time, he will come next time, the plan for today is how to keep Lord Wang." Go back, and the officer will inquire again. ”

Jinyi Guard military camp on the outskirts of the city.

Cui Yi reported: "My lord, there is a person who claims to be the prefect of Yang who asks to see him. ”

Wang Jian packed his bags and said without knowing his head: "I didn't see that Lao Tzu was very busy, I don't see it, let him get out." Cui Yi is still wondering: Why did the adults think about packing up today?

Yang Shining stood anxiously outside the barracks, and after waiting for a while, he saw countless soldiers packing up and preparing to pull out of the camp at any time. He couldn't help but feel even more anxious.

Seeing that the guard finally came out, he hurriedly asked, "Lord Wang is there?" ”

Cui Yi said: "My family said that he is busy now and does not see guests." ”

Yang Shining handed over a tael of silver and asked, "Master Jun, what is Lord Wang busy with?" ”

Cui Yi took the silver and said honestly: "My family is packing up. ”

Yang Shining had a "buzz" in his head, and he said: "If you go to report it again, you will say that there is an urgent matter in this mansion to see." ”

Cui Yi glared and said: "My family has always said the same, he said that if you don't see a guest today, you won't see a guest, please go back." ”

Yang Shining was helpless, and hurriedly walked towards the Confucian Mansion.

Watching Yang Shining leave, Wang Jian ordered the sergeants to put the packed luggage back in place.

"Did Lord Yang say anything?" Wang Jian asked again.

Cui Yi shook his head, handed over the silver in his hand and said, "No, he only gave the little one." ”

Wang Jian smiled: "You can keep it for yourself, it's too little." ”

In the Confucian Mansion, just a cup of tea, the merchants and gentry went and returned. They bowed their heads and bowed: "Master Kong, please save the people of this whole city and give them a way to live!" ”

"Oh, this is what to do, I can't help it, I can't help it..." Confucius Shimeng was about to die of laughter in his heart, he had touched his nose with a gray face for the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and now he finally got out of his heart with a sullen breath, how could he let them go so easily.

Confucius Meng was embarrassed: "Although the official is the prime minister of the big and small things of Yidu City, the king's commander is the emperor's person, except for the emperor, no one can command, and the official is helpless." ”

When everyone listened, they were like mourning.

Just as he was worried, he saw Yang Shining walk in.

The crowd hurriedly asked, "What's the matter?" ”

Yang Shining shook his head with a bitter face, and he said: "Master Kong, the net worth and life of the people in the whole city depend on you, and if you have any orders in the future, this mansion cannot be defined." ”

Confucius Shimeng sneered in his heart: If you knew today, why bother at the beginning. That's what I've been waiting for!

He said: "The resettlement money for these hundreds of thousands of displaced people has not been settled, you see..."

Yang Shining sighed bitterly: it should have come or come, he asked, "I don't know how much silver taels it will cost?" ”

"No more, no less, a whole 150,000 taels of silver!" Confucius Meng asked for 50,000 taels more than before.

Everyone gasped and didn't dare to speak.

Confucius Shimeng looked at them and said coldly: "If you feel embarrassed, forget it, and you can also take care of the city defense by yourself." Drop-off! ”

Everyone hurriedly said: "Don't be embarrassed, don't be embarrassed, you should contribute to the country..." Although 150,000 taels is much, it is nothing compared to the real estate deed. What's more, if the Tartars really enter Yidu City, their lives will be gone, and the silver will still be saved?

Yang Shining said again: "Master Kong, you see that the king commands the envoy..."

The installation fee was finally settled, and Confucius was in a good mood, he said: "Lord Yang don't worry, this official will accompany you on a trip, and I think Lord Wang will still give this thin noodles to this official." ”

The two came to the military camp on the outskirts of the city again, and this time they met Wang Jian very smoothly.

Yang Shining said bitterly: "Lord Wang, for the emperor's sake, you must not ignore the hundreds of thousands of people in the city." ”

"Hmph, this Yidu is not Lao Tzu, what does it have to do with Lao Tzu? Get out of the way, don't delay Lao Tzu to pack up. As soon as Wang Jian heard that Yang Shining was coming again, he asked Cui Yi to take out his luggage again, and pretended to be packing it up again.

No matter what Yang Shining said, Wang Jian's hand to pack his luggage never stopped, and he couldn't help but hurriedly say: "This mansion wants to go to the emperor to join you!" ”

Wang Jian put down his luggage, pointed to his nose and said: "Lao Tzu is the third product of the Eight Classics, you are a small prefect, and you are not worthy of Lao Tzu's shoes, join me?" Joke, you don't pay any money, you don't go out of the land, but you want Lao Tzu to work for you, I'm bah! ”

Yang Shining was sprayed with spittle, and he turned to Confucius Meng Dao for help: "Master Kong, look at this..."

Confucius Shimeng persuaded: "Hey, Lord Wang doesn't know, Lord Yang and the squires generously donated money and decided to donate 150,000 taels as the resettlement fee for the families of the soldiers in the city. ”

Wang Jian's eyes rolled, and he said greedily: "Oh... 150,000 taels! What the? Lao Tzu's soldiers came all the way to this poor and remote place, since there is no Lao Tzu's share, you can talk to Lao Tzu about a fart and entertain Lao Tzu, right? ”

Everyone in the world knows that Jinyiwei is not easy to mess with, so Yang Shining had to say bitterly: "I don't know how much Lord Wang wants?" ”

Wang Jian stretched out five fingers.

"Five thousand taels?"

"Cui Yi, you bastard, where are you dead, hurry up and pack your luggage for Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu can't stay in this ghost place for a day."

"Fifty thousand taels, fifty thousand taels, can't I go out!" Yang Shining wanted to die, at the beginning, Confucius Meng found them, only 100,000 taels of placement fees, but they shirked it for half a day and gave 2,000 taels, but now they spent twice as much, a full 200,000 taels.