Wang Sheng returned from Wuchang Mansion.

After seeing Wang Kefan, he took out a thick stack of newspaper documents, as well as a handwritten transcription of the current situation, which were sorted out very clearly and looked clear at a glance.

"The third brother is really capable, he only stayed in Wuchang Mansion for two days, and he collected so much information." Wang Kefan praised from the bottom of his heart, and he knew the whole leopard at a glance, and this information fully reflects Wang Sheng's meticulous and rigorous character.

"Yuntai, you look at it slowly, and we'll talk about it later." Wang Sheng smiled, poured himself a cup of tea, and sat down to rest.

Read down one by one, read the Di Bao documents again, and compare them with the history books in my memory, the context of the general trend of the world is gradually clear, and a scene of the chaotic times emerges in front of me.

After Li Zicheng withdrew from Beijing, he retreated one after another and was trapped in Shaanxi. Jiang Liang, the general soldier of Datong, accepted the Qing court's recruitment, Shanxi fell into the hands of the Qing court, and the Ming troops who surrendered everywhere rebelled.

The Manchu Qing Dynasty fought steadily and gained a firm foothold in Gyeonggi and Shandong.

After Dolgon entered the customs, he first held a funeral for Emperor Chongzhen to win the hearts of the people, and then requisitioned the former Ming officials on a large scale, returned the land and property of the gentry and landlords who were taken away by the Dashun army, abolished the system of ungraded artisan households, and even pretended to suspend the shaving of hair. Compared with the reckless and heroic Li Zicheng, Dolgon's methods are undoubtedly much stronger.

At the beginning of October, the six-year-old little emperor Shunzhi moved his capital to Beijing, plotting Kyushu to "build a 10,000-year-old industry". After the internal stability of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, the troops were soon divided into two routes, and launched another attack on Li Zicheng, Azig went to Shanxi, Inner Mongolia attacked northern Shaanxi, Duoduo took Henan to attack Tongguan, and the Dashun army suffered from the enemy on its back, Shaanxi was in an emergency, and Xi'an was in an emergency.

At the same time, the Southern Ming court was in a state of partial peace.

After King Fu officially ascended the throne of Emperor Hongguang, the party struggle between the DPRK and China became more and more intense, the four towns in the south of the Yangtze River were arrogant and domineering with their merits, the warlords countered the imperial court, Wen Tian was martial, and the armament was relaxed.

The infighting continued, and the strong enemy was fed, but the upper and lower circles of the Southern Ming Dynasty were immersed in the dream of "borrowing the capture of Pingkou". After the retreat of the Dashun army to the west, leaving a large vacuum in Shandong, Henan and other places, the Southern Ming court in order to avoid "provoking" the Qing army, did not dare to send troops to recover the lost territory, and humbly courtesy to the Qing court, sent a northern mission to negotiate peace with the Qing court......

Seeing this, Wang Kefan sighed softly, closed his eyes and thought.

It is very clear in the history books that Li Zicheng fought fiercely with Duoduo in Tongguan and could not win, but Azig broke through Yan'an and Yulin and marched to Xi'an. Li Zicheng was forced to abandon Shaanxi, led his troops to do business in Henan, went south to Huguang, and joined Baiwang.

The Qing army immediately pursued after the Qing army and launched successive southern expeditions, occupying the whole country step by step......

Time is running out!

"Third brother, is the trip to Wuchang still going well?"

"The patrol press of the Imperial History Yamen deliberately made it difficult to block our food and salary." Wang Sheng shook his head, his face ashamed.

"Oh?" Wang Kefan was slightly stunned, nodded again and said: "Huang Shu really started, I have a premonition......

"What now?" Wang Sheng breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, since Wang Kefan had a premonition, he should have been prepared.

"Momentary embarrassment is inevitable." Wang Kefan pondered for a moment and said, "But this is also a good thing, get rid of Huang Shu's constraints, and let's do a big job." ”

Wang Sheng nodded, and then reported: "After receiving our good news, He Junmen was very happy, and personally summoned me, saying that he would promote Yuntai!" However, the reward he gave was also intercepted by the Imperial Historian Yamen. ”

"It's just right to cut it off. In the future, this is all evidence, and I am not afraid of a lawsuit in front of He Tengjiao! ”

The Gongyi battalion is controlled by people everywhere, and the food and salary are extremely limited, Wang Kefan has long wanted to find another source of money and rebuild his troops, and Huang Shu's difficulties just gave him a reason to launch.

After Wang Sheng left, Wang Kefan walked around the house twice and called Jingliang in, he was an inconspicuous soldier, but he had always been able to do things, and it was most appropriate for him to leave this matter to him.

"You go to someone to make some plaques, don't leak the news in advance, there are two kinds of plaques, and the words on them are ......"

Just as he was halfway through, the soldiers came in to report, and the county commander Xu Bingzhong was summoned for something.

Wang Kefan explained to Jingliang and went out to the county office.

Master Zheng Xuan was waiting outside the gate, leading Wang Kefan straight into the inner hall, Xu Bingzhong greeted him, but there was another seven-rank civil official beside him. This person is in his forties, with a thick face, a hooked nose, and a bit of official authority in his demeanor, but his face is blue and gray, and his eye bubbles are swollen.

"Yuntai, come and meet Bu Xianjun." Xu Bingzhong introduced in the center that he was the Lingbu essay of Tongcheng County.

"Luck, luck!" Bu Zuowen is very demanding, his figure is very low, and he first started an alumni relationship with Wang Kefan: "Yixian also studied in the Valley Academy back then, and there was a friendship with General Wang, General Wang's Confucian general who was both civil and military, it is really the glory of my valley!" ”

"Don't dare to be, the seniors are here, I don't know what to see?" Wang Kefan is also a real talent, and it is not too much to call him a senior.

"Shame! It was only because the water bandits attacked and disturbed the city that he came to ask General Wang for help...... "Bu Zuowen is here to move the rescue troops."

"Gongyi's camp is short of food and salary, and I am powerless, I'm afraid I won't be able to help Bu County." Wang Kefan refused without hesitation.

"It's okay, it's okay...... As long as General Wang can protect the city, the county will pour out everything in the treasury and donate food and salary to your army! ”

Turning from a peacekeeping force into a mercenary is a good way to make money, Wang Kefan hesitated for a moment, but saw Xu Bingzhong hiding behind Bu Zuowen, waving his hand vigorously at himself, it was obvious that he didn't want the Gongyi Battalion to leave Chongyang.

"Haojiao Buxian Jun is disappointed, our army suffered a lot of casualties in the previous vicious battle, and urgently needs to rest and replenish the soldiers, and it is not suitable to fight until the recruits are trained and proficient." Wang Kefan thought about it for a while, and then said: "As long as your county can hold out for a month, the Gongyi battalion will arrive in time to relieve the siege of the city." ”

Before the reorganization was completed, the Gongyi Battalion did not have the ability to go to Tongcheng. Bu Zuowen was still unwilling, and begged again and again, but Wang Kefan never let go, and with the help of Xu Bingzhong, he was sent to the Yin Hotel to rest after several persuasions.

"This person escaped from the battle, and he may not dare to return to Tongcheng, but he is afraid that he will come to disturb Yuntai." Xu Bingzhong has insight into the worldliness of officialdom and looks down on Bu Composition's behavior.

"Abandoning the city and fleeing is a capital offense, does he dare?" Wang Kefan was a little surprised.

"Alas, now that the discipline is chaotic, and Bu Zuowen has some background, even if Tongcheng is really lost, he will not be sentenced to death, at most he will be demoted and lose his official position."

Xu Bingzhong complained twice, and then said: "If there is a shortage of food in your camp, I can give you some here, if there is no more, you can still get a hundred stones." ”

Obedient and listening, Wang Kefan complained about the lack of food just now, and Xu Bingzhong left the Gongyi camp in Chongyang, of course, he had to express it.

Wang Kefan was not very satisfied, a hundred stones of grain sounded a lot, but it was only enough for Gongyi to eat for about twenty days, and what he needed most now was silver.

"Thank you, teacher, but I urgently need cash in the camp, can you think of a way?"

"This ......" Xu Bingzhong looked embarrassed: "I also lack cash here, a few days ago, in order to raise young people and repair the city defense, the silver in the treasury was all embezzled." ”

"Borrow a thousand taels of silver for the time being, and you will definitely return it in a month!"

"Don't say a thousand taels, a hundred taels is nothing." Xu Bingzhong shook his head and said, "I'm ashamed, I really can't help my nephew...... Otherwise, I will petition to the Wuchang Mansion and the Imperial Envoy to help you ask for money. ”

"It's useless, even if you bring the lawsuit to the governor's yamen, you may not be able to get it." Wang Kefan said: "Since this is already the case, I have to donate military salaries in the county and ask for some silver from wealthy merchants. ”

"Oh, a few days ago, Song Jiang invaded the border, and the businessmen and wealthy households have already sorted it out, I'm afraid I won't be able to squeeze out much. …… But don't worry, I'll give it a try, and I'll give you an explanation. ”

Xu Bingzhong had already engaged in a fundraiser, begging his grandfather and suing his grandmother, and raised less than 1,000 taels of military expenses, and it would definitely be more difficult for them to pay for it.

Wang Kefan had already planned, smiled and said: "I don't need the teacher to work, I will do this matter myself, I just want to ask the county to cooperate......"

……

Leaving the county government and returning to the Gongyi camp, Wang Kefan kept frowning.

Even if you can donate military salaries from merchants, it is far from quenching your thirst, the newly recruited auxiliaries have to pay for their families, nearly 1,000 soldiers have not yet been paid, and the Gongyi battalion is in a state of waiting for rice to go to the pot, and there is no money borrowed here in Xu Bingzhong, so all the work can only be stopped, and the funds can only be continued after the funds are in place.

The situation is so tense, it's a shame to waste this time!

When he returned to his room, a person came out of the room, it was his mother Liu.

"Mother, why are you here?"

"You don't go home all day, so my mother has to come to see you." Liu smiled and counted a few words, and asked with concern: "My son is full of sadness, should there be something to worry about?" ”

"Oh, it's all military chores, don't worry."

"Fan Yanzi, isn't it your army that has cut off your salary?" Liu asked suddenly.

"Ah, how do you know?" Wang Kefan was very surprised.

"Hehe, the sergeants of your battalion have not been paid this month, they are all from the villagers, how could I not know." Liu Zhengse persuaded: "The military salary is owed for a few days, and those who were injured and disabled in the war a few days ago should always be given to the family with the pension, don't chill the hearts of the villagers." ”

"It's okay, I'll have the silver in a few days."

Wang Kefan let Liu into the house, sat down and poured tea, and then diverted the topic: "I received news today that Jiang Xuan, the chief soldier of Datong, rebelled and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, but ......, my father's whereabouts are still unknown." ”

Wang Kefan's father Wang Rui served as the official of Datong, and since the beginning of the year, the news has been cut off, and for nearly a year, the banner of Datong City has changed, and Wang Rui's fate is also unpredictable.

"Hey, I'm afraid your father has died." Liu was silent for a long time, tears in his eyes.

Knowing husband Mo Ruo's wife, with Wang Rui's character, he will never beg for his life again and again, I am afraid that he has died in the rebels.

"No, my dad is ...... Jiren"

There was no conclusive news about this matter, and there was still a glimmer of hope, Wang Kefan hurriedly comforted him and said some interesting things he had seen in the army to divert Liu's attention. There are many children in the Gongyi camp, and when they heard that Shi Ada's fool was in trouble during the training, Liu couldn't help but smile.

The mother and son talked for a while, and Liu got up to leave, but suddenly stopped to look at Wang Kefan.

"Tell Wei Niang, how much silver are you missing now?"

"Well, at least two thousand taels, more is better." Wang Kefan's heart moved, his family sold land and got a few thousand taels of silver, maybe he could help himself?

Sure enough, the Liu family had this plan, and was very generous to his son, adding another 1,000 taels of silver.

"I'll give you three thousand taels of silver." She paused for a moment, then said with a calm face, "But you have to promise me one thing, you will come home and get it yourself tonight." ”

What does that mean?

Wang Kefan was stunned, and then he understood. These three thousand taels of silver are not taken for nothing, and they have to stay after going home tonight, the Liu family is really scheming, and they want to force him to have a round house with Fu Shihua!

As long as you promise to come down, you can get three thousand taels of silver, and one promise and a thousand gold will be multiplied by three times.

So, yes or no?