Early the next morning, at the head of Xiajiang City, the expressions of the officers and soldiers defending the city today looked particularly relaxed.

Because Lord Liang said that the 10,000 reinforcements sent from Nanchang Mansion will arrive at Xiajiang this afternoon.

With the addition of 10,000 fresh troops, the officers and soldiers defending the city felt that the battle to defend the Xiajiang River would inevitably achieve a final victory.

Early this morning, Peng Ji, the magistrate of Xiajiang County, personally took the officials of Xiajiang County to the city tower with a load of wine for the villagers from Qingjiang County to enjoy.

Peng Ji personally carried a loofah spoon to drink wine for the warriors and soldiers in various townships, shouting hard work while drinking.

The villagers of Qingjiang have been fighting hard in Xiajiang County for seven days, and the number of dead and wounded has reached four or five hundred, and they already have resentment in their hearts.

If it weren't for the county magistrate's master's arguments, I'm afraid this guy wouldn't want to pay for the seven-day rations.

But today, seeing that he actually took the initiative to carry the wine to the villagers, the villagers' bad impression of him couldn't help but decrease a little.

"Your brothers have worked hard, in the past seven days, thanks to all the brothers who have defended the city with all their might, so that my Xiajiang county will not fall into the hands of thieves, you brothers have worked hard."

Peng Ji changed his stingy appearance in the past, but had a smiling face, which really made the big guy a little unaccustomed.

"Lord Peng is polite, my brothers and I are also contributing to the country!" A small flag officer in Xiangyong couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

Peng Ji looked at it, and hurriedly answered: "What is the little general talking about, you came from Qingjiang to help my Xiajiang, this grace can be said to be higher than the sky, deeper than the sea, although I Peng someone is stingy, but also knows the gift of the cold lips and teeth, this thin wine is I thank everyone for their hard work in the past seven days to defend the city, I hope you don't shirk." ”

Everyone didn't know what kind of medicine he was selling in his gourd, but seeing his honest expression and smile, everyone didn't take it to heart.

Everyone drained the water and wine in the bowl, and happily wiped their mouths with the sleeves of their clothes that were not visible in color.

"Happy!"

"Yes, I haven't drunk wine for a long time, Xie Pengzhi County's good wine!"

Peng Ji saw that everyone had drunk all the water and wine in the bowl, and couldn't help but smile even more, and he continued: "Brothers Xiangyong, the officials and soldiers of the imperial court are coming in the afternoon, and the task of defending the city of your brothers is over. ”

Hearing this, the villagers couldn't help but frown.

"Master Peng, are you trying to drive the brothers away?"

Peng Ji hurriedly waved his hand and said: "No, no, how can I mean that, I mean, everyone fought very hard in this battle, fought hard for seven days, and the casualties were not small, this afternoon, the 10,000 troops of Nanchang Mansion will arrive, and then you brothers can go home and have a good rest!" ”

"Hmph, Master Peng, do you remember what you said on the day the anti-thieves attacked? You said that we had 3,000 brothers come to defend the city for you, and you gave us two taels of silver for no one, and you gave us two meals a day, but on the first day we entered the city, you let us fight for you hungry, and now that the court army has arrived, you have to drive us away, you are too much, right? ”

"Your brothers misunderstood, your brothers misunderstood, this official didn't mean to drive you, it's just that I have few villains in Xiajiang City, and there are many deficiencies in the treasury, so I really can't support you brothers, I really didn't mean to drive the big guy away!"

"Hmph, you villain, what my lord said is right, you are an ungrateful villain, I won't talk to you, I'll go to my lord!"

Several officers went to the county seat to find their Shangguan Liang Shiji in a huff.

Liang Shiji led 3,000 troops to rush to the aid of Xiajiang, and the office was set up in the home of Li Banghua, the former right attendant of the military department, who was idle at home.

Li Banghua is a native of Gucun, Pangu Town, Jishui County, for the official integrity, in the first year of Chongzhen, Huang Taiji led the troops to attack the Guannei, and the cavalry was beaten to the outside of the capital.

Li Banghua selected 3,000 elite soldiers to guard Tongzhou, sent 2,000 troops to reinforce Jizhou, and personally led the army to be stationed outside the capital, and the army was huge.

However, when defending the city of Beijing, the defenders of the city lit the cannon and mistakenly hit their own army, Zhang Daoze, the governor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, took the opportunity to impeach Banghua, and other imperial historians also wrote to talk about it, Chongzhen dismissed Banghua's officials and let him return to his hometown to live.

After Mo Qian led his troops to capture Luling City in March, Li Banghua received the news that the city was breached for the first time, and he immediately realized that Mo Qian would definitely attack Anfu, so he immediately led his family to move his family wealth into Xiajiang City, and lived in the city.

As soon as Liang Shiji entered Xiajiang City, he immediately came to visit Li Banghua, who was extremely happy and invited Liang Shiji to live in his house.

The two can be said to cherish each other, and they have many common words about governing the country and the army.

Hearing that there were officers looking for Liang Shiji outside, the Li family's family members quickly entered the door to report.

As soon as several officers found Liang Shiji, they explained the situation to him.

"Master, his surname Peng is really not a thing, the officers and soldiers of Nanchang have not yet arrived, so they are in a hurry to drive our brothers back to Qingjiang, I see that the kid doesn't want to fulfill his original promise."

"Yes, sir, when we entered the city, you told him that as soon as our army entered the city, he provided us with food, grass and military salaries, but as a result, our three thousand brothers were almost hungry on the first day, if it weren't for the master's strength, I'm afraid that the dog official surnamed Peng didn't even want to allocate food and grass to us, and the military salary of two taels of silver, we haven't even seen a penny now!"

After listening to the accusations of several officers, Liang Shiji couldn't help but feel quite unhappy in his heart.

He was ordered by the prefect Hu Yongqing to come to support Xiajiang, and in order to hurry, his 3,000 Xiangyong rushed to support on foot with only weapons, but he did not bring any heavy grain and grass.

When he first arrived at Xiajiang City, he Peng Ji promised to allocate grain and grass and promised to pay the army in order to let the 3,000 troops hurry into the city to help defend the city.

At that time, Liang Shiji still felt in his heart that although this Peng Ji was bought from the county, he could still carry it clearly in the face of the big right and wrong, but he didn't expect that after seven days of hard fighting, seeing that the army in Nanchang was about to arrive, he immediately turned his face and didn't recognize people.

Such a villain's behavior, how can it be done by a seven-pin county?

"You go back to the city wall first, beware of today's thieves attacking the city again, and I'll go to communicate with Peng Ji about this matter."

The officers had no choice but to retreat first and go back to the city wall to defend the city.

Seeing off a few officers, Liang Shiji said to Li Banghua beside him: "Li Gong, this county magistrate Peng Ji is so stingy and rebellious, what is the difference between such behavior and villain?" ”

Li Banghua sighed and said: "Alas, the court appoints traitors, I have been idle at home for a few years, this Peng Ji knows a lot about it, this person forgets his righteousness, is short-sighted and greedy for money, and knows nothing about government affairs, and is simply a straw bag." ”