The Protector General's Mansion in Dengzhou. Although this is the lowest rank after the title of general of many ranks in the empire, he is also the highest military commander in the local area, commanding three garrison brigades and 12,000 troops.

The mansion of Gundam State is quite luxuriously built.

Whether it is the cooperation of rockery ponds or the level of distant and near views, it has the style of Songjiang's classic garden.

In the past, Chi Kaifeng and Zhou Tianrui, who came to the door together, would most likely enjoy it with great interest.

Koda Prefecture, which prides itself on its unique mansion, will also be happy to entertain these two important businessmen in Matsue.

It's a pity that they are full of thoughts, whether they are guests or hosts, and they have no leisure and leisure.

As representatives of the Dengzhou Chamber of Commerce Alliance, Chi Kaifeng and Zhou Tianrui had already discussed it when they came.

Of course, they would not stupidly and directly ask Dengzhou to open the city, surrender the Taiping army, or make any decisions that would be beneficial to the Taiping army at a glance, but went around in a circle and found another way to put pressure on Gaozhou.

"Excuse me, when will the government be able to defeat the thief army outside the city?"

As soon as he sat down, Chi Kaifeng asked unceremoniously.

"Whether the dozens of chambers of commerce in Dengzhou can be maintained depends on the general. I also hope that the general will do his best to lead the army into battle, eliminate the thief army outside the city, and reopen the trade route! I'm waiting for the 400,000 people in Dengzhou, thank you in advance! ”

Zhou Tianrui sang and harmonized and said their request.

This is a very cunning reason and entry point!

On the surface, people asked the officials and soldiers to send troops to exterminate the bandits, but they could not find anything to blame.

But in fact, at present, the Taiping army has occupied an absolute advantage, and the reason why it did not take the last step was because of the scruples about Dengzhou's city defense system.

It took so much manpower and material resources to fight an Osan Mansion, not to mention Dengzhou, which was comparable to Wu'an.

This time, the Taiping army did not have an inexhaustible supply of displaced people to drive away!

However, once there is no advantage in the city wall, with the current strength of the Taiping army, there should be no suspense in breaking the Dengzhou defenders.

Even if the official army was lucky enough to win the battle and forced the Taiping army to withdraw in order to make a comeback in the future, the chamber of commerce in Dengzhou would not have any losses, and Yiqiē would still be the same as it is now.

The business of making sure that you don't lose money is undoubtedly the favorite of businessmen.

If a new group of people rushes to the Protector General's Mansion and shouts for him to send troops, Gaoda Prefecture will immediately turn around and ask the guards to tie him up and throw him in prison for a year and a half.

But the two people in front of them have deep-rooted power in Dengzhou, and behind them are the support of the entire merchant class in Dengzhou and even some nobles and families.

Even if there is no disturbance from the Taiping Army, he still has three major garrison brigades under his command, and Gaozhou does not dare to do anything to them, let alone the current situation.

If one is not good, the current fragile situation in Dengzhou will immediately cause a big mess!

He could only be patient and explained to the two: "President Chi, Brother Zhou, it's not that the general is unwilling to send troops, but the current situation is really inadmissible. The thieves are strong, and if they rush into battle, the slightest mistake may lead to the fall of Dengzhou. The safest situation is to hold on to the city and wait for imperial reinforcements. ”

Chi Kaifeng's face seemed to be in agreement, but it was mixed with suspicion, and asked, "This strategy, the general has also said before." But the question is, when will the Empire's reinforcements arrive? If it drags on any longer, most of our Dengzhou Chamber of Commerce will go bankrupt! Can the general tell us an exact time? ”

Seeing the hesitant look on Gao Gaozhou's face, Zhou Tianrui added fuel to the fire at the right time and said: "General Gao didn't count it in his heart." He was only willing to say that the empire had no reinforcements, but he never thought about how to take the initiative to deal with the thief army. Could it be that the general was afraid of the thief army and didn't dare to fight, so he couldn't defend the city? ”

"Bold!"

When the two businessmen said this, Gouda State was furious.

However, reason still suppressed his anger, and let him reluctantly control the two of them and said: "Ben will not defend the city, naturally there is a reason, and it is not the turn of the two of them to make a big statement here." If it's just for this matter, you can invite the two of you. ”

Seeing that Gao Gaozhou was not good, Chi Kaifeng sneered and said, "General Gao, are you sure you don't want to go out of the city to suppress bandits?" ”

"The plan to defend the city is not the general's arbitrary, but also the governor's intention."

Gao Daizhou had already doubted the intention of the two of them coming to the door at this time, and tried his best to calm down, while thinking secretly, he said cautiously: "If the two of you really have doubts, it is better to go and talk to Lord Wei Chichang in person." ”

"There's not much more to say."

Chi Kaifeng and Zhou Tianrui shook their heads and got up together to say goodbye.

When he was about to go out, Chi Kaifeng turned around and stopped, and said in a word: "Regarding the fact that General Gao is afraid of the enemy and cannot defend to the death, I will personally report to the governor." General, do it! ”

With that, the two of them walked away, leaving only Gaozhou trembling with anger.

Two businessmen even dared to talk about military affairs, they were simply ignorant!

However, after that anger passed, Gao Gaozhou suddenly understood the other party's intentions, and his body couldn't help but suddenly feel cold.

The military discipline and ambition of the Taiping army since they entered Songjiang convinced these merchants that even if the Taiping army became the master, it would not threaten the chamber of commerce.

As a result, they are desperate to change the current stalemate.

As long as you force yourself to fight, no matter who wins or loses, the siege of Dengzhou will be lifted...... For the sake of the Chamber of Commerce, do you want to abandon the empire!

Chi Kaifeng and Zhou Tianrui's thoughts of Gao Zhou, a strong sense of foreboding rose in their hearts.

He had the intention to strike first and solve these forces that had deviated from morality, but he really didn't dare, and there was no evidence.

Governor Chi Chang was already old and mediocre, and he would never be allowed to cause such a big disturbance at this time.

The act of openly coming to the door knows that the other party has nothing to fear, and must be prepared in case of a backhand.

Damn it!

He got up irritably and paced around his general's mansion, eager to come up with a way to change the situation, but underestimating the efficiency and strength of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance.

When the two of them returned from the General's Mansion, a network of countless forces in Dengzhou was put into operation.

The manpower of dozens of chambers of commerce, including some forces that have received their influence, tacitly began to create rumors together.

In just half a day, the 400,000 people in the entire Dengzhou spread: "Although there are many thieves outside the city, they are vulnerable, and they have just finished fighting Wushan, which is the weakest time." If the thieves had finished recuperating and launched an attack after a while, it would be difficult to defeat them. ”

When everyone is swearing to spread the same message, even if it's fake, it can be true.

What's more, this rumor still sounds a little crooked.

Even some minor nobles and low-level civil and military officials in Dengzhou believed it in the ubiquitous propaganda, and asked the defenders of Dengzhou to fight!

If you don't pacify the thieves outside the city, how can you restore the lives of the people in Dengzhou?

If it drags on any longer, the strength of the thief army will become stronger and stronger, and more people will die when the siege comes!

If the thieves are angry, they will slaughter the city!

All kinds of voices spread eagerly, and even if Gao Gao Zhou was in the General's Mansion, he could feel the turbulent public opinion being manipulated outside.

Almost in the evening, as the momentum was sufficient, another explosive news came out: the Dengzhou official army had a chance to defeat the enemy very early, but the general of the protector Gao Gaozhou had always been afraid of the thieves and avoided fighting, which gave the thieves the opportunity to break through the other provinces one by one.

The generals of the unified army are cowardly!

There is no doubt that this news will shock the entire Dengzhou.

There are previous foreshadowing and countless rumors, and the people of Dengzhou believe this without doubt.

If it weren't for the avoidance of the war, why did the 1st Garrison Brigade of Dengzhou always sit in the town and refuse to attack?

If Gundam states want to prove that they have cleared this false accusation, it is very simple, just take the army out of the city and defeat the thief army in a dignified manner!

Fueled by countless promoters, the increasingly strong calls have spread throughout the Governor's Palace, and naturally some people have informed Wei Chichang of the rumors in detail.

At first, of course, Wei Chichang didn't believe it, because it was Gaoda Prefecture that proposed the plan to fight, but he himself vetoed it.

But as more and more people spoke up during the deliberations of the Governor's Palace, even Wei Chichang himself became suspicious.

Chi Kaifeng and Zhou Tianrui, in this situation, as representatives of the Dengzhou Chamber of Commerce Alliance, met with the old governor.

With tears in their eyes, the two described the tragic situation of the Dengzhou Chamber of Commerce after the trade route was cut off, and finally made a request to Wei Chichang: either let the Gaozhou lead the army to fight and pacify the thief army; Either remove the state of Gundam and replace it with a valiant general to lead the army...... Then go out of the city to quell the rebellion!

In short, it is to defeat the enemies outside the city!

Prior to this, the two had already used the forces behind the Chamber of Commerce Alliance to build momentum in the Governor's Mansion as much as possible.

The surging public opinion even caused some people to spontaneously go to the General's Mansion in Gaozhou and smash several baskets of eggs and tomatoes.

It is impossible for Wei Chichang not to know these things.

In series before and after, they have a great deal of certainty and can say that they can move Wei Chichang.

However, after all, they are still the political wisdom of a small old man and his grasp of the overall situation.

Whether Gundam State is afraid of the enemy or not, he is already old and dizzy, and he is a little.

But there is no doubt that there will be no omissions as long as the current shape is stuck in Dengzhou City.

It is certainly possible to defeat the thief army by leading the army out of the city, but what if it fails?

As the governor of Songjiang, he no longer has any chips in his hands and cannot afford to lose.

Therefore, Wei Chichang firmly rejected the request of the two, and said slowly: "If the people of Dengzhou think so, then replace Gaozhou Prefecture...... However, the defenders are not allowed to leave the city! ”

This is the bottom line of Wei Chichang.

It can be said that he is old and stubborn, and it can also be said that he is conservative and afraid of death, but at this moment, the governor of Songjiang withstood the pressure and made the right decision that the Dengzhou Chamber of Commerce did not want!

Realizing that the old man was serious, Chi Kaifeng and Zhou Tianrui quietly exchanged a look, and chose to get up and say goodbye.

Since the most appropriate way is not good, the Dengzhou Chamber of Commerce Alliance may only consider ending up in person!