Compared with the treatment of others, His Majesty the Emperor's reward to the civil and military officials of Licheng Jun can be described as surprisingly generous. But Taishou Pei Caozhi and Tongshou Zhang Xuluo were both a little disappointed. Pei Caozhi is from the Guanlong Pei family, and Pei Yun, the imperial historian of the current dynasty, and Pei Ju, the waiter of the Yellow Gate, belong to the same lineage. The addition of another squire to this large family is indeed nothing to be happy about. And Zhang Xutuo was originally the commander-in-chief of the Qi army, and now the official title has been changed from the county to the general guard, and the name is better, but the actual authority has not changed much.

Neither of them is interested in this, to be precise, they are more concerned about local chaos than a slight change in their official positions. Only by quelling the rebellion can Pei Caozhi confidently plan to enter the DPRK and show his strengths. Only when the place is peaceful, Zhang Xutuo has the opportunity to go to the border to expand the territory for the country. However, the imperial decree deliberately ignored their needs, and did not mention the elite soldiers of the outer province that Lord Taishou looked forward to the most, nor did it mention the armaments and armor that Lord Tongshou looked forward to day and night.

"The court, the lords of the court didn't say, didn't you say when you will send soldiers to completely exterminate the bandits in the counties of Henan?" Thanking the holy grace, Pei Caozhi pulled the lieutenant who passed the decree aside, quietly stuffed a heavy purse into the other party's hand, and then asked unwillingly.

"The old man is polite. Well, we haven't heard of this. The lieutenant skillfully pinched the shape of the items hidden in the purse, and quickly judged the quality of Pei Cao's character by virtue of the weight and the feeling on his fingers. For the interesting and intelligent local officials, he has always been hesitant to give more guidance to the other party, thought about it, and added: "Besides, when the government soldiers come, there may not be any county soldiers from your Qi County." Haven't you heard, Youwuhou went to Hebei to beg for thieves, but the whole army was wiped out! ”

"But, I don't have any food here, and I don't have a good blacksmith or carpenter to make armor and weapons!" Pei Caozhi was a little anxious, and complained about the things that should have been complained about by Zhang Xuhuo. The soldiers of Qi County are brave and good at fighting, and it is indeed not a lie. But that's mainly because they're fighting at home and there's no way back. At the same time, the training and equipment of the county soldiers were slightly better than those of the rogues. But at present, the surrounding counties are becoming more and more chaotic, and the bandits who came to harass them are becoming more and more experienced in combat, and their strength is becoming stronger and stronger, and the weapons in their hands and the armor on their bodies are becoming more and more sophisticated. If the imperial court is still as unruly as before, sooner or later the comparison of combat effectiveness between the county soldiers and the bandits will fall. At that time, the imperial court may not be able to exterminate the bandits.

"My lord, didn't Your Majesty give you permission to confiscate the bandits' wealth? Doesn't that thief plundering everywhere and finally stumbling down on you doesn't mean that he has delivered food to your doorstep? Our family is in the court, but I heard that the gold beads copied from the old camp of Shi and Pei have to be pulled by a car. The lieutenant grabbed Pei Caozhi's shoulder with his hand and said heartily.

There will be a shortage of money in the hands of fools, and from the performance of the previous ones, the lieutenant officials from the eastern capital believe that Pei Caozhi should definitely not be a fool. Since His Majesty the Emperor allowed local officials to confiscate the property of the bandits at will, which Taishou is not fat. Lack of money, jokes? Just find a big family and ask him about the whereabouts of some people in his clan, side branch or tenant household, and the other party still obediently takes a lot of meat to come to pay respect?! If it weren't for the clear knowledge of these cats, the people in the palace who would like to run all the way to the place. Along the way, you have to be on guard against being robbed by the gangsters, isn't it just to get a piece of the pie from the local officials?

If a thief is so rich, does he need to go around plundering? Pei Caozhi was so angry that he trembled, and he really wanted to order someone to move the account book over, so that the damn eunuch could take a good look at how empty the treasury was now. But he still tried his best to suppress the impulse in his heart, and the experience and lessons of being an official for many years were enough for him to do it himself, and he would not easily lose his temper in front of others. "The thieves passed through the place, and the destruction was great. Just after the fact, comforting the people and burying the dead, all the gains from the battlefield were spent. Moreover, the reason why they are wandering around is also because they are poor and crazy, and they have no savings at all. Don't hide it from your father-in-law, even the soldiers' salaries and silver are made up by the people. He looked around, lowered his voice and said, "But the people's family resources are limited, and if they keep doing this, I'm afraid they will be resentful!" ”

"This, when our family goes back, we will naturally argue for you in front of the emperor. But now that the Eastern Crusade is imminent, it is estimated that the military department and the household department will not be able to take care of Henan! "For the sake of the face of the gold ingots in the purse, the lieutenant from the eastern capital decided to give Pei Caozhi a real background." If it weren't for the fact that the two armies of Liaodong had worked hard and lost their prestige, presumably the Liukou would not have had the courage to rebel. When Goryeo surrenders, see which thief dares to continue to be arrogant! ”

"What, Your Majesty is going to the East soon!" Although he had heard the same words from Li Xu's mouth, Pei Caozhi was still taken aback. The national strength of the Great Sui Dynasty was already weakened to the point that it was about to be blown apart by a gust of wind, and Li Lang was only eighteen years old, and he couldn't see it because of his meritorious service. Didn't any of the Manchu civil and military see this? Even if you can't beat the emperor, you can at least drag the Eastern Crusade back for a year or two, and when the national strength recovers a little, you can think about it in the long run!

Thinking of this, Pei Caozhi, who has always been known as timid and afraid of things, finally couldn't help it, and expressed his dissatisfaction in a low and rapid voice, "But the people from all over the country have just returned home, and they haven't planted crops properly for two consecutive years." Go to Liaodong again, what will they eat when they come back in autumn? ”

As a local official, Lao Taishou clearly knew that the cause of the liukou was by no means that the imperial court soldiers and horses had fallen into prestige in Liaodong. Those flat-headed slaves don't care about face until they have a full meal. But you really lose all hope of their survival, and they can definitely make you disgraced.

"Our family, our family also thinks that Lord Taishou has a point. But when the court discusses politics, how can we have the part of our father-in-law to intervene? Besides, all the civil and military officials are in favor, who dares to stick out their tongues indiscriminately. The lieutenant was splashed by Pei Caozhi, and he frowned in disgust. Or, you keep writing a recital, and I will face the emperor for you? Perhaps Your Majesty will give up the crusade after seeing your old twists and turns! ”

This kind of answer is not salty or light, just to point out the identity of the other party. If it weren't for the fact that the old guy in front of him was quite generous, he would have already brushed his sleeves away at this moment. Sure enough, after Pei Caozhi listened to his words, he immediately "wilted" like an eggplant beaten by frost. After clasping his fists again, the old lady said with a gasp: "The lower official is also anxious, my father-in-law forgive me." If there are local difficulties, please tell your majesty the truth! ”

"Well said, well said. You are the parent of the people, and it is also your duty to ask for the people's lives! The lieutenant from the eastern capital returned the salute, as if he understood why Pei Caozhi had lost his temper just now.

"Thank you, father-in-law!" Pei Caozhi thanked him with a smile, but in his heart he began to greet the other party's ancestors for eight generations. "If you don't have eggs, you know how to collect money, but your knowledge is shorter than that of a woman!" Thinking of the public discussion of the hundred officials mentioned in the other party's words just now, his anger immediately changed the target, "A group of wastes who only know how to compete for power, no wonder they are compared to lice in the crotch of their pants." Wait for the fire outside to burn and see who can run away in the end! (Note 1)

Slander is slander, but the old lady has to find a way to deal with the upcoming difficulties by himself. Although he is a little more knowledgeable than some people in the court, he also knows that he is one of the "lice", and he is the one with the outermost layer on the "crotch". After sending the lieutenant out of the city, he immediately convened his subordinates to discuss the matter.

"The baggage captured in the last battle, as well as the proceeds from the sale of prisoners, is enough to cope with a battle. But there is no hope for armor and weapons, first, we don't have that money, and second, we can't find so many craftsmen who can make armor and weapons! Hu Cao ordered Huwei to report in a low voice. It is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice, and the current situation in Licheng is not only that there is no rice, but even a good woman does not have it.

"The tax has already received forty percent, and if it continues to increase, I am afraid that it is not only those ordinary people who will jump up and rebel!" Hearing that the imperial court still refused to pay salaries, and that it also had to collect grain, grass and people from the local government, Yang Yuanrang, the chief bookkeeper, added worriedly. In front of him, there was a large stack of books. Some large families had already begun to default on local money and grain last year, and they were urged countless times in the yamen, and they almost started to catch the arrears in the middle of this month. If the assessment is increased next year, there will definitely be people who will take risks.

"This year, the soldiers and Minzhuang who accompanied His Majesty to Liao have just returned home. If we order them to go to Liaodong again as soon as spring begins, I'm afraid we will drive a lot of people to Wang Bo's tent! Bing Cao Ji Youzheng sighed and added. Although Wang Bo was defeated by Zhang Xutuo, this person did "no song of death in Liaodong!" But it is widely spread among the people. The imperial court requisitioned so frequently, which was tantamount to recruiting troops for Wang Bo.

"We are not very peaceful, yesterday there were people in the shack area who fought over a bag of tooth wheat, and by the time the officials arrived, three had already died!" Licheng County Ling Wang Shouren's expression was as if all his colleagues owed him a lot of money, "The results of the autopsy said that the injuries on the two people were not fatal at all. (Note 2)

"I'm overly hungry!" The parents and officials were talking about each other below. This is the worst news I have heard today, and it is a hundred times worse than the emperor's imminent third crusade. The displaced people living in the shacks outside the city are basically left with nothing, and if they don't even see their last chance of life, it will inevitably threaten the people in the city. Although the walls of Licheng were built high enough, in reality, it did not play much role in the face of the surging crowds.

"From tomorrow onwards, a porridge shack will be opened at the gate of the city, and every morning a bowl of gruel will be given to each beggar. No matter if you're full, try not to starve to death again! Pei Caozhi thought about it and ordered.

"That will lead all the displaced people from other places to Licheng, and we don't have enough food in our granary!" Tozaku Hanfu whispered his opposition. The number of displaced people outside the city has reached the same level as the number of people in the city, and the more hope there is to live, the more people will come here. The more people there are, the more chaotic the law and order, the more expensive the price of food, and the porridge that the government needs to provide also increases in a straight line. If the cycle continues, there will be a day when Licheng can't afford to supply it.

"I'll go to visit Zhang Tongshou in a while, and ask him to keep a thousand county soldiers in the barracks at any time! As for the food used for the soup alms, first move part of the military rations, and then temporarily withhold the grain that has not yet been transported to the Eastern Capital! Pei Caozhi reconsidered and ordered.

Although his voice was low, it frightened several of his henchmen and staff to jump. "My lord, this is absolutely impossible!" "Please think twice! If you move the grain that should have been handed over to the imperial court, if it is misunderstood, it will be difficult for the adults to argue," several staff members suggested.

The reputation of the soldiers of Qi County for being good at fighting has spread, and if the official food of the imperial court is intercepted again, it is very easy to be misunderstood as a conspiracy. In everyone's memory, Lord Taishou, who has always known how to protect himself, has never done anything like crazy.

"Treat a headache first!" Pei Caozhi rubbed his temples vigorously and sighed and commanded. "At the moment, the roads are not quiet, and the grain is easy to be robbed by bandits! Besides, the brothers have to eat, and it's so cold, even though they live in the city, they have to leave a way for those outside the city to live! ”

This was the most daring decision he had ever made in his life, and after doing it, not only was he not afraid, but he felt a sense of relief in his heart.

"My lord, my subordinates have an idea to let this county tide over next year's difficulties!" Yang Yuan saw that Taishou took the lead in breaking the law, and his courage also grew, and he arched his hand upwards and said.

"Let's talk about it, it's all our own people here. Even if it doesn't work, no one will say it! Pei Caozhi nodded and responded.

"The displaced people need food to survive, and the local people are not willing to go to Liaodong for military service!" Yang Yuanrang picked up two account books, each representing a part of the people, and then he overlapped the two account books in one place. "If we change the identities of the two groups, both sides will be able to settle down."

The exiles were used to pretend to be locals who should serve in the military to accompany the emperor to the Liao expedition, so that the locals could provide food for the wives and children of the exiles. This is a bold idea, but it is indeed in line with what Pei Caozhi said, the principle of a headache doctor.

"On such a large scale, how could it be concealed from the imperial court!" Someone immediately objected. In previous years, there were also large families who did not want their children to join the army, and did the trick of finding someone to impostor. But that was only an isolated phenomenon, and officials had to turn a blind eye to the benefits of others. If the soldiers and horses sent to Liaodong by a county are all yellow-faced and thin-skinned homeless people, they will definitely be discovered by the generals.

"Do you think the other counties will be able to send soldiers and people on time? I'm afraid that there won't be a few counties that can get together the number of people by then! It's really hard to say, whether the shortage is a serious crime, or the name and surname are not the same number, it's hard to say! Yang Yuanrang shook his head and retorted.

I am afraid that this is also the case, and the current situation in various places is chaotic, and the decrees of many counties and counties are no longer able to govern the villages and fields fifty miles away from the city. With the big families in the city alone, it is impossible to make up the soldiers and horses that the imperial court needs. "It is estimated that each county will think of some extraordinary measures!" "It is estimated that the law will not be held accountable by then!" Everyone began to whisper again, the matter was too important, and even if they agreed in their hearts, they could not show their meaning too obviously.

"This is not to be done with much fanfare. But if the people collude in private, we will inevitably overlook. Pei Caozhi listened to everyone's discussion for a while, and finally made a decision.

"Yes, the people all look similar, and the people in the yamen are limited, so it is impossible to recognize them one by one!" Bing Cao Ji Youzheng added in a whisper.

"After that, in the shack area outside the east gate, there is another transaction!" Huwei shook his head with a smile. In his opinion, all the solutions today are to drink water to quench thirst. But as a local official with a conscience, everyone has not much choice at this time.

"If possible, you can send someone to collect taxes from it!" Pei Caozhi rarely said a witty remark, which caused a room full of wry laughter.

"If you fool you, I'll fool me too! Everyone demolished the east wall and made up the west wall, look at the house of Da Sui, how long can it last" The old lady muttered secretly in her heart. Thinking about what he had seen and heard in a day, he couldn't help but recall the scene when he had just entered Sui from Nan Chen. At that time, the Great Sui was full of vitality everywhere, the emperor was sage, and hundreds of officials did their best. The two own families, Pei Ju and Pei Yun, one is a virtuous person who is praised by hundreds of officials, and the other is famous for his outstanding literary color and upright character. Now, everything has changed, Pei Ju is the mastermind of the first two crusades, and Pei Yun is justified when he asks for bribes in person.

And the Great Sui of that year is only 20 years away from the current Great Sui.

Note 1: The lice in the crotch of the pants are originally from the "Biography of Mr. Adult" written by Ruan Ji of the Jin Dynasty.

Note 2: Sprouted wheat, wheat grains produced after the germinated wheat is hulled, which is slightly toxic.

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