Guide Mansion, guerrilla yamen.

"General, beg General Li to be gracious and let my master and young master go." One of the Liu family's housekeepers knelt in front of Li Yan and pleaded.

The last time the Liu family came to make trouble, even Master Liu came in person, so the men of the Liu family basically went, and they happened to be served by Li Yan. Now there are some female dependents and children left in the Liu family, so the one who comes here to intercede is a housekeeper.

And after Master Liu was arrested, there were two more incidents of the grange being robbed outside the city. This time it was the Song family and the Yang family's grange that were robbed, but with Liu Sanye's lesson, these big families did not dare to let their children and grandchildren go out of the city, and the grain in the village was sent in by the Zhuang Shangren, as for the verification or something, it will be said later. So this time only a few stewards were killed, and those tenants who had never seen the world did not suffer any casualties.

With these incidents, the big families in the city finally knew that Li Yan would not protect their fields outside the city. Because the grange of the Song and Yang families is closer to the Fucheng than the grange of the Liu family, and there are also newly built villages around. But there was nothing going on in those villages, which shows that there was a conspiracy in this looting. Therefore, these big families no longer came to Li Yan to make trouble, but chose to continue to fight.

Anyway, they still have shops to buy and sell in the city, anyway, the land is there, as long as Li Yan is gone, they can resume their previous leisurely life. Because they have already gotten the news, Luzhou was broken by Zhang Xianzhong, but it was defeated by Huang Degong. They have now discussed it, and they plan to ask the imperial court to transfer Huang Degong over, even if Huang Degong can't be resident in Germany, he must be able to come over to help suppress the thief.

The reason why the Liu family came to beg Li Yan was because the other families didn't plan to put pressure on Li Yan. And Li Yan is ruthless enough, he really let the arrested people go to build roads.

Although those sons and young masters are not yielding, Li Yan is not ambiguous, and if he doesn't work, he won't have anything to eat. There were already several sons of families who were starved and couldn't stand up, if it weren't for the fact that the place where the road was built was not far from the city, and Li Yan's soldiers didn't completely prohibit sending some food to the prisoners, it is estimated that all of them would have starved to death. Especially those sons who have meritorious reputations, all of them are strong and unswerving, and they will not give in even if they are starved to death.

However, so many people in the Liu family have been caught, and there is no one in the family who even has an idea, and they are all very anxious. The other big families didn't put pressure on Li Yan, and if they wanted the Liu family to come out, they could only come to Li Yan.

Li Yan thought for a while and said, "This time, your Liu family took the lead in making trouble and disrupting the order, so naturally you will be severely punished!" But if you are a first-time offender, I will take it lightly. Your Liu family will take out 5,000 stone of grain, and your Liu family will be able to go. ”

"What?" The housekeeper was surprised and said, "Five thousand stones? We can't take it out. ”

Li Yan waved his hand and said, "You don't have to bargain with me. I know as well as you how much you have in stock. Go back and consult with those you can do, and if you agree, you will bring the grain, and I promise that your grange will not be plundered again. If I don't agree, your Liu family will continue to serve my labor. However, you will not be able to get your food in. ”

"General Li, you have to be forgiving and forgiving. Our lord just came to the yamen to ask for an explanation, why should he be servited? The butler asked sadly.

Li Yan replied: "If they come to appeal normally and report to the official, I have no opinion." However, carrying the coffin and gathering so many people seriously affected the order in the city. If it were in wartime, I would have beheaded them all for collaborating with the enemy! ”

The housekeeper was helpless, so he had to say: "I'll go back and report to my wife, but before we reply, I ask General Li not to let our sons and young masters work anymore." ”

"If you don't reply in three days, you don't have to reply." Li Yan said coldly.

"Okay, I'll get back to you as soon as I can." The housekeeper kowtowed to Li Yan again, and then quickly left the guerrilla yamen.

Li Zhong came out from behind the screen and said worriedly, "Is this good?" Can we fight against these gentry now? ”

Li Yan smiled and said, "What's not to do?" The potatoes are ready, and the experienced farmers have picked them. When the time comes, just let them plant it. At least we don't have to worry about being hungry, whether those officials and gentry pay food or not, we can all get through this year safely. Since they don't want to cooperate with us, there is no need to accommodate them. ”

"But the imperial army's army has already marched into Henan," Li Zhong reminded, "If they say that Ding Qirui and Fu Zonglong are moved, won't we be in danger?" And if the imperial court wins in Liaodong, then there will be more officials and troops in the imperial court. At this time, it is not a wise move to confront the official army. ”

Li Yan said confidently: "The imperial court has ordered Hong Chengchou to take the initiative. If the officers and troops continue to consume, it will be able to drag on for some time, and if the officers and troops take the initiative to attack, they will definitely be defeated. ”

Li Zhong said suspiciously: "This time in Liaodong, there are more than 100,000 elite border troops. And the Qing army is only 50,000, how can it be a sure defeat? ”

"Elite soldiers?" Li Yan sneered: "Are the elite soldiers of the imperial court the opponents of the Qing soldiers? Moreover, there are 50,000 Qing troops around Jinzhou, if they increase their troops again, will the imperial court still have troops to send? ”

Li Zhong still didn't believe it, and persuaded: "Let's wait and talk." If you do it now, you won't be able to turn back in the future. ”

"Second brother, don't worry." Li Yan said confidently: "Even if the imperial court can win, so what? Now we have 40,000 troops, and when the army of the imperial court comes to embarrass us, those recruits should be almost trained. When the time comes, the 30,000-strong army will be assembled and the field battle outside the city will not believe that there will be any officers and troops who can compete with us. ”

"Our troops have high logistical requirements, so we must be prepared with enough arrows and ammunition." Li Zhong said: "We also need to leave a strong enough force to send supplies to the large army." ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "I have already asked Li Dong to start purchasing materials in large quantities." The iron mine has also increased its mining efforts, so the second brother doesn't have to worry. After that, he asked, "You said Master Niu thought of how to make an iron molded cannon?" When did they start the trial? ”

Li Zhong replied: "I have already made an iron mold." I'm here to let you go back and see it. ”

Li Yan said happily: "Great." If the iron molded cannon can be successful, then there will be no time limit for making the cannon, and we can start casting the cannon now. The barrels of the four Franky guns we used were already a little badly worn, and if there were no new ones to replace them, there would be danger in future operations. ”

"Go back with confidence, I'll show you here." Li Zhong also said with a smile.

Li Yan reminded: "Second brother, you can't be soft-hearted. If the Liu family can't give an answer after three days, you can do as I say. ”

"You know, as long as you make up your mind, I'll do it."

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