On April 19, under the castle of the Daimyo's Mansion, a carriage escorted by eight riders appeared under the Chongli Gate in the southern city. The large stone bridge over the moat had been blocked by layers of rejection of horses, leaving a pedestrian passage, and the carriage and riders could be seen, and the soldiers guarding the bridge were busy moving away from the rejection of horses.

The rider is wearing a bright yellow vest, and the carriage is showing the bright yellow flag, and the people think it is the official lord at a cursory glance, but then look at the vest embroidered with the word "hand", and the carriage flag is the word "tailwind", only to understand that this is an urgent delivery.

The express delivery industry has been booming in the north and south in recent years, except for the unity fist and the folk bandits, as long as it is under the control of the north and south government areas, it can be passed unhindered in wartime, no one is embarrassed, at most it is only to be checked for contraband. The reason is also simple, the express delivery is different from the dart bureau, mainly for the people to send letters and small goods, regardless of what position, just like the hospital to treat injuries and diseases regardless of the north and south, in line with the convenience of others is also with their own convenience, the Manchu government does not regard the urgent delivery as the enemy.

Compared with the express delivery in the north, the express delivery in the south is even more rampant, after all, the family has been developing for many years, with rich money, strict rules and outstanding reputation. And this Shunfeng Express is even more eye-catching, not only the originator of the express delivery industry, its bright yellow logo color in the north is a big violation, but when Yinghua and the Manchu secretly fought in the south of the Yangtze River, Shunfeng Express took on the informal communication channels between the two sides, and the Manchus could only pinch their noses to admit it.

It was not only the downwind that came, but also a whole team of people, and when the soldiers were released, they also secretly said that they didn't know what valuable goods were sent.

The carriage was indeed not ordinary, but it was not a thing, but a person, an old man who was missing an arm, and he rushed to Liu Hong, the chief deacon of the northern district, with the wind.

More than 10 years ago. Yinghua and the Manchu secretly fought in the south of the Yangtze River, and it was this one-armed and lonely Liu Hong who went straight to Suzhou as a messenger, pry open the industrial and commercial opening from Nian Qianyao and Li Wei, and became the honorable envoy escorted by the Manchu government along the road, and the yellow vests that traveled in the north were all his subordinates. The daimyo spread in the north and south. The sturdy man of the year has become a half-old man with gray sideburns, but his temperament is more sophisticated, and no one can shake him like a rock.

The carriage stopped at the Chonglimen urn city and was inspected by the defenders. This inspection is just a formality, and the leader of the team Qian always saw that it was the well-known "one-armed Dai Zong", greeted him kindly, and said casually: "What is the important matter, do you want to work Deacon Liu to go out in person?" ”

Liu Hong said: "It's a letter to you tall and handsome." ”

Mr. Qian shook his head and said, "The big marshal and the young marshal are not there......"

He hesitated for a moment, and then said: "This is not a military secret, the young marshal and the marshal went north with the soldiers of the Xishan battalion the day before yesterday. It seems that he has retreated to Shunde Mansion. Now the prefect is the master of the city, but this prefect is ...... It's not easy to talk, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for Deacon Liu to do it. ”

A few sentences not only informed the movements of Gao Qi's father and son and the remnants of the Xishan camp, but also reminded Liu Hong that the prefect of the Qing Dynasty still controlled the Daimyo's Mansion. If Liu Hong had come to persuade him to surrender, most of them would not have been able to do so, and this Qianzong's tendency had been clearly revealed in his words.

The Anglo-North China Expedition came to an abrupt halt, but the Red Clothes had reached Xinxiang in Henan, and Linqing in Shandong, with the Daimyo's Mansion sandwiched in the middle. There was no way to defend it, and Gao Qi's father and son had to retreat north to Shunde, and the daimyo prefect was able to maintain the situation by his own hands. But the hearts of the people under the ice have begun to crumble.

Liu Hong smiled: "The master misunderstood, we only send letters in a hurry, regardless of the north and south affairs." ”

A look of regret flashed on Mr. Qian's face, but he heard Liu Hong say again: "I brought two letters, the tall and handsome ones can't be delivered, and there is another one." Not...... The client was very annoying, and he didn't even write the recipient. Just say it to ......"

In Mr. Qian's uncertain face, Liu Hong said three words: "Restoration Meeting." ”

A few years ago, the General Administration of North-South Affairs infiltrated the northern green camp through various channels, and used various secret parties to absorb activists from the green camp center to the British and Chinese, and the Guangfu Society was the fastest-growing party that gradually spread to the green camps in various provinces. Yinghua has made great progress in Henan, Shandong and Shanxi, and many prefectures and counties have been promoted by the Restoration Society to cooperate with local green camps to donate cities.

However, because the Manchu Qing Dynasty carried out the pillar theory and the green flag system of the Han army, and the Yinghua coerced all the Manchus with the Manchu order, the Manchus mixed with the banner people, and the generals above the middle level of the green battalion were all included in the flag, so the Restoration Society could only affect the grassroots officers and ordinary soldiers.

Liu Hong mentioned why the Restoration Meeting, Mr. Qian had his own understanding, and in a very short period of time, he completed the psychological transformation that was not enough for outsiders, and complained with a smile: "Deacon Liu also said that regardless of the affairs of the north and the south, you have also joined the alliance in a hurry. ”

Due to the spread of the Liberation Society, not only the Anglo-Chinese North-South Affairs Administration could no longer directly control it, but Shangjun's Heaven and Earth Society could not be controlled one by one, and basically became a spontaneous and autonomous organization.

Mr. Qian nodded resolutely and said: "Henan Sanbiao was left in the Daimyo's Mansion by the young marshal, there is a Restoration Society in the artillery camp, and Deacon Liu can lead the way?" ”

A wall-riding faction seized the opportunity in this way, but in this way, the commission of the helmsman of Shang was more certain, Liu Hong thought like this, and bowed his head slightly.

In a remote barracks somewhere in the barracks in the city, the Henan Governor of the Standard Artillery Battalion was in charge, and the guerrilla tactics hurriedly entered Wen and glanced at his subordinates, and the barracks were tightly covered all around.

When he received Liu Hong's letter, Xiang Wen's hands trembled a little, and he realized that this was a turning point in his fate.

The artillery units in the Green Battalion were a breeding ground for such parties as the Restoration Society, and after years of confrontation between the north and the south, the Manchus also greatly increased the number and coverage of artillery equipment, although the suspicion of the Green Battalion was even greater, and the standard battalion in the Green Battalion undertook the task of garrisoning the cities and passes, and had to be equipped with a considerable number of artillery.

In this era, artillery is a high-tech branch of the army, and people who are illiterate and do not understand arithmetic cannot be artillerymen, but those who can read and understand arithmetic have the basis for accepting Yinghua thought. These semi-intellectuals have no way out of scholars, have not been baptized by Confucianism, like a blank piece of paper, no, like a sponge, hungry and thirsty to absorb the new ideas of the south, yearning for Yinghua more than others.

After reading the letter, Xiang Wen's originally high-spirited face darkened, and he said with some hesitation: "This letter...... It is not the helmsman of Shang, but it is issued in the name of the Alliance. ”

Liu Hong nodded and said, "It's not good for the helmsman to come forward in this matter. It would be more appropriate for the alliance to come and take on it. ”

Xiang Wen sighed: "It's not something that the southern court is willing to do, let's do it, is it appropriate?" ”

Liu Hong said with a smile: "Xiang Guerrilla, do you want to take the credit of the city?" ”

Xiang Wen didn't speak, just nodded slightly. In his opinion, this merit is real, and what is said in the letter, even the chief helmsman of the Heaven and Earth Society is not good for himself to act in front of the official, and he doesn't know how deep the pit is. How dare he stake his future?

Liu Hong's expression remained unchanged, and he continued to smile faintly: "Does Hongyi still care about this contribution to the city?" From Shanxi in Shandong to Henan, there are many people who donate the city, you don't give, others have to give. ”

Xiang Wen was stunned for a moment, and Liu Hong continued: "Xiancheng is still pretending to be a Qing person, if you can raise the righteousness of Yinghua before you dedicate the city." Didn't you just enter Yinghua first? ”

Xiang Wen's breathing was a little short, and he muttered: "But the alliance is just a people, will the southern court recognize this merit?" ”

Liu Hong shook his head and said, "Xiang guerrilla, no, Xiang President." Don't you still understand my Yinghua righteousness? The people's will, the king can not be rebellious, even the order to ask for the full, is based on the people's will of the two courts, the people recognize, the court will not recognize? Your Majesty will not admit it? Among them are there are some joints. I don't even understand, but saving my compatriots from fire and water will only work. How can you be guilty? ”

The members of the Restoration Society on the left and right were moved, and their eyes were cast over earnestly, and Xiang Wen was still weighing, Liu Hong said again: "We are entrusted to contact all parties of the Alliance in a hurry, benevolence and righteousness come first, and this entrustment is an obligation." These words are also from the bottom of my heart. Whatever the President's decision is, I just ask for a reply. This letter is not only addressed to you at the Liberation Society. It will also be given to the rest of the Alliance......"

Hearing that he was not the only recipient of this letter, the last trace of concern in Xiang Wen's heart was crushed by the desire to rob the merit, and he nodded resolutely and said, "This matter...... We did it! ”

Liu Hong's words were not false, just when he entered the Daimyo's Mansion to meet with Xiang Wen, dozens of yellow vests were riding fast to carry this letter, and galloped towards Cheng'an, Yongnian, Handan and other counties, and the recipients were not only the Green Camp Restoration Society, but also local Shang Dynasty and even Manchu officials.

There are not only yellow vests, but also purple vests, blue vests, and green vests in other urgent delivery lines, with Cizhou County as the center, within a radius of hundreds of miles, all kinds of local forces have received similar letters, calling on them to respond to the initiative of the League to save their compatriots who are in a desperate situation.

On 20 April, in Linzhang County, 40 miles east of Cizhou County, the Manchu Linzhang Zhi County faced a group of men and women wearing cyan doctors' robes, with a painful look on their faces.

"Tens of thousands of people are suffering in Cizhou, and the injured and sick don't know how many, we want to go to Cizhou!"

"There are still tens of thousands of bandits and officers there, oh Tartars, the lives of the gentlemen will be lost! There are still many injured and sick people in this county waiting for the gentlemen to save them. ”

"First urgently, then slowly, Cizhou is close at hand, how can we turn a deaf ear!"

These doctors from the Yinghua Jiangnan Medical Association are righteous and awe-inspiring, and they want to go to Cizhou, they have received the news of the alliance and are determined to do their part. You Pingzhi of Linzhang Zhixian County spoke bitterly and strongly persuaded them to stay. He, a man with the green flag of the Han Army, is not enough to exonerate himself from the crime, and he still wants to climb the relationship between these doctors to earn some reputation.

"Since the county is worried about our safety, he will organize the county townsmen and escort us."

After finding out You Zhixian's intentions, a young doctor smiled and made a suggestion, which made You Zhixian's face stiffen, and organized Xiangyong to go to Cizhou, just to escort these doctors? I'm afraid it's just to save the people who are besieged in Cizhou, right? is making such a fuss, in fact, he is waiting for him here.

You Pingzhi wiped the sweat on his forehead and said: "The lower officials only want to hold this county, and when the army of the Celestial Empire comes, they will avoid a killing, and the people of Cizhou will ...... Well, haven't the red clothes of the Celestial Empire gone yet, so how can we be used? ”

The young doctor's surname was Zhao Mingxuemin, who was a student of Ye Chonglou, and he said in a deep voice: "Why did the Northern Expedition stop? It's because the people of Zhili were bewitched by the Manchu Qing Dynasty and are killing each other! ”

You Pingzhi also felt this point, and the unity fist also had signs of it in him, and it was he who suppressed it with both soft and hard.

"It's the same in Cizhou, it's all compatriots cannibalizing! There is no distinction between the thieves and the people in Zhili, what kind of power is it for the red clothes to go north? The torrent swept and overturned, and I don't know how many innocents will be involved. Your Majesty is benevolent, and hopes that the northerners will start from the enemy, and the situation between the enemy and us will be clear, so that the army can continue to move north and avoid more unnecessary killings. ”

Zhao Xuemin looked at You Pingyuan, and his eyes were shining: "The people of Cizhou are compatriots who are dedicated to my Yinghua!" They are being besieged by Tartars and bandits, and tens of thousands of lives are being destroyed. At this time, who is the enemy, who is me, stand up, everyone in the world can see clearly, especially Zhixian, you have made up your mind to go south, why don't you want to take another step forward!? ”

You Pingzhi was already sweating like rain, and said: "But, but that's tens of thousands of bandits and Tartar soldiers, what can this little township courage do in this county?" ”

Zhao Xuemin's smile was full of confidence: "How can it be that relying on the strength of the county and Linzhang County, all parties of our alliance have already gone there, and if they go late, there will be no place." ”

"Master!"

"County Honor!"

The general manager of the county and the leaders of the county government have listened to the enthusiasm and urged in unison.

You Pingzhi sighed: "Such great benevolence and righteousness are not the power of the imperial court, but the rise of the people, which is rare to see in eternity......

He paused and said, "If he doesn't go today, he will regret it for the rest of his life!" Okay, let's go together! ”

A piece of red cloth was moved out of the cloth warehouse and cut into red scarves, Linzhang County not only thousands of townships bravely wrapped red scarves, but also nearly 1,000 Ding Zhuang organized by the Chamber of Commerce also tied red turbans. The tide of red scarves surrounded the cyan medical robes and rolled towards Cizhou to the west.

Almost at the same time, in the barracks north of Cizhou, several generals were shouting at a scholar who had been tied up with five flowers.

"Put you in the oil pot, see if you regret running this trip today!"

"I still came to be a lobbyist, thinking it was Su Qin and Zhang Yi? A mouth can say against us, read and read stupidly! ”

"Don't be verbose, send him on his way!"

The scholar was only in his thirties, with a wide robe and a light face, and he laughed out loud when he heard the generals drink and put themselves in the oil pot.

"I, Ji Huang, don't dare to compare myself to Su Qin and Zhang Yi, my ancestor Ji Kang's demeanor is in front, even if he is in the oil pot, he is only waiting for leisure......"

He also swallowed his saliva and said: "Ji has never eaten human flesh, let alone his own meat, did you fry my leg first, let me taste what it tastes like?" ”

The generals were stunned, they had seen people who were not afraid of death, but they had never seen perverts who were not afraid of death, and the ancestor Ji Kang mentioned in this guy's mouth seemed to be a great man.

"Ji Kang? Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest! ”

"Guangling's Peerless Ji Kang ......"

The scribes in the tent hurriedly explained that they were actually interceding for this scholar. This southern scholar went straight to the military camp to persuade the Henan green camp to turn against it anyway and save the people of Cizhou. But the main generals are all Green Banner people of the Han Army, and they feel that they are no longer tolerated by Yinghua, and it is impossible for them to be said to surrender by a poor man, so they will treat him as if they were sending a mouse, and they will dispose of him casually.

Unexpectedly, this scholar went crazy, but he was extraordinary, full of ancient style, and regarded himself as a descendant of Ji Kang.

Ji Huang rolled on the ground and said, "Come on, come on!" Fry me quickly! Uh, wait for me to write a fateful poem, there is a Guangling sound in the Jin Dynasty, and I have Ji Huang's unique pen in the Ying Dynasty, and I will live up to the ancestors! ”

The generals were stunned, is this a madman or a madman? Thinking of Ji Kang as the scribe said, I was a little apprehensive in my heart, is there really a big deal?

Helping him up from the ground and asking tentatively, Ji Huang held his head high, and his eyes seemed to burn through the military tent: "Ji Mou is not an official in his life!" But Ji has thousands of brothers behind him, kill one of me, and have his own descendants! ”