Zhu Changshu saw that Wang Yongguang recommended Mao Yujian so strongly, and thought that Wang Yongguang would not have any selfish intentions, otherwise he would not let the officials of the imperial court improperly go to assist Zuo, so he agreed, and still let Mao Yujian lead the soldiers and horses of the five provinces to attack Guanzhong.

Zhu Changshu also had to tighten his belt again, and took out 300,000 taels of silver to Mao Yujian as the military salary in the strategy pass.

At this point, the focus of the rebels' strategy has shifted from east to west.

Gyeonggi of the Ming Dynasty was temporarily relieved of the crisis of being attacked by rebels.

After seeing Mao Yujian continue to serve as the prime minister of the five provinces of the rebels, Tianqi was silent for a long time, and then said to Zhang Gui: "I, the rebellious imperial uncle, was mistaken by Wang Yongguang and these people!" ”

Zhang Gui also said: "Your Majesty said yes, but this is a good thing for the imperial court. ”

Tianqi nodded, and then asked again: "How is the liquidation of the official gentry of Shunde Mansion?" ”

"It's still in liquidation."

Zhu Guozhen, a scholar, replied at this time.

At this time, Xie Sheng stood up and said: "Your Majesty, Yuan Keli's strategy of liquidating the gentry proposed by them, the minister thinks that it may not be conducive to quelling the rebellion, once the gentry are strictly liquidated, it will make the gentry of the cities that are occupied by the rebels in the future would rather defend than surrender." ”

Seeing this, Zhang Gui asked Xie Sheng: "Do you allow them to wantonly betray the court and not bear the consequences?" How can such a court discipline and majesty exist? ”

Xie Sheng replied: "But it's better than letting more people give their lives in order to maintain the discipline of the imperial court!" ”

"Liquidate now, just so that no more people will give their lives in the future!"

"Otherwise, if a family betrays the court and is not held accountable, then more people will betray the court at will in the future, which will only make it easy for the rebellion to form a prairie fire in a short period of time!"

Zhang Gui retorted.

Tianqi waved his hand and said: "After recovering a city, it is a national policy to liquidate the gentry with meritorious reputation!" No more need. ”

"Yes!"

Xie Sheng and other civil officials who opposed the liquidation of the gentry had to reluctantly accept the reality.

Because of this, the gentry of Shunde Mansion were also liquidated by the imperial court officials and army.

The liquidation team, which had been formed by a group of students from the Wubei Academy in advance, conducted a public trial of these gentry, and like Xia Yunyi, dug up the sins of these gentry, shot many gentry who committed the most heinous crimes, and confiscated the fields of many gentry and distributed them to the people.

This did cause shock and resentment among the gentry in other state capitals who had already defected to the rebels.

They didn't expect the imperial court to be so ruthless and would liquidate them, and the key is that even if they can't find evidence of their gentry's collaboration with the enemy at that time, they will confiscate most of their gentry's land on the grounds of disloyalty.

Naturally, these gentry were reluctant to give up their land.

For example, the gentry of Quang Binh Province are now reluctant to give up their land, and force Li Guanglu, the prefect of Quang Binh, to defend with his gentry, just as he was forced by these gentry to join the rebels before.

"The imperial court does not practice benevolent government, and expropriates violently! It has long been unpopular! Therefore, we would rather resist to the end than let Guangping Mansion fall into the hands of traitors such as you. ”

Therefore, when the army of the Apocalypse arrived outside the city of Quang Binh Mansion, the gentry of Guang Binh Mansion also shouted like this.

"Your Majesty, our meticulous work has already investigated and understood that the gentry of Guangping Mansion were coerced by the people in the city to defend the city for them, and maliciously said that our Son of Heaven's pro-army burned, killed and plundered in Shunde Mansion, and did all kinds of evil. In addition, the military discipline of the officers and soldiers has always been bad, and there are bandits who are like combs and soldiers who are like grates, so the people are very convinced, and they actively defend the city for the officials and gentry in the city. ”

"We can use artillery to directly collapse the city pass, but it is conceivable that after attacking the city, we will still encounter resistance, and then cause casualties."

Lu Xiangsheng replied.

Xie Sheng followed at this time: "Your Majesty, the minister has already said that instead of worrying about whether the dignity of the national law is maintained, it is better to think about how to avoid losing some lives. It's good now, these gentry are directly coerced by the people to resist the court to the end, which is really more than worth the loss! ”

The apocalypse said: "How can there be immortals in battle." ”

"Your Majesty! The minister has a way to surrender the army without a fight. ”

Zhang Gui said at this time.

"Speak."

Apocalypse replied.

Zhang Gui replied: "During the time of His Majesty's pro-life, since the people of Guangping Mansion still had to resist to the end, and did not open the city to surrender, or killed the traitors and sacrificed the city to the court, it means that they have all betrayed the court. ”

"Then we don't need to rush to conquer Guangping Mansion City, why fight for the gains and losses of one city and one pool."

"Open your mind, first carry out the liquidation work in the countryside outside the city, and divide the land outside the city among these gentry who have betrayed the court!"

"After these lands are divided, it is estimated that Guangping Mansion City has already been besieged and exhausted, and when the time comes, Guangping Mansion City will naturally be self-defeating."

"Who taught you this? Why is it always better than you?! It is difficult to think of such a strategy when you think of the countryside surrounding the city, meat eaters! ”

Tianqi asked Zhang Gui in surprise, and then said: "But the siege of the city still has to be attacked, and my pro-army does not see blood, how can I do it." Spread my will, the scholar Zhu Guozhen and the left attendant of the household department Bi Ziyan led the officials to be responsible for dividing the fields outside the city, and the Hou Zhang Gui of Suizhou and the left attendant of the military department Lu Xiangsheng commanded the army to attack the city together with me! ”

"Yes!"

So, then, Li Guanglu, the prefect of Guangping Prefecture, and the gentry soon saw that these officials of the imperial court were taking the official school to Qingzhang their fields outside the city, and even forcibly took over their shops and inns outside the city.

"They plan to divide our fields and properties outside the city first! How can they be so despicable! They are not here to quell the rebellion, they are here to rebel! ”

"What should we do?"

"Princes, hurry up and think of a way!"

"You have a good plan!"

"Why don't you just take the township out and kill it!"

"We can't kill it, if we don't defend the city, we are not the opponent of the tyrant's army at all, and the tyrant's soldiers and horses are a strong army that even the Tartars can defeat! Moreover, not long ago, Mao Gong's 120,000 army was also defeated by them because of the decisive battle out of the city, not to mention that we are only strong and brave, it can be seen that there is no chance of winning out of the city! ”

"Then we can't just sit back and watch them divide the fields of our tribes, my lords!"

The gentry of Quang Binh Mansion were all in a hurry, one by one like ants on a hot pot.

Rumble!

Rumble!

Rumble!

At this time, the cannon of the Guards also rang out.

The city of Quang Binh was bombarded with bricks and stones, and it didn't take long for a large part of the city wall to fall.

"Kill!"

And at this moment, there was a killing sound outside.

Li Guanglu, the prefect of Guangping Prefecture, saw this and said: "Quick! Go and stop the crumbling walls! ”

Poof!

As soon as Li Guanglu finished shouting, he suddenly felt that someone pushed him behind him, followed by a sharp pain.

Li Guanglu looked back, but it was Dai Xingde, the younger brother of the local squire Dai Xingsu, who stabbed him in the back: "You! ”

Poof!

At this time, Li Guanglu felt that his abdomen was also being touched by someone, and he couldn't help but turn around to see that it was another local gentry, Liu Xiuzong, who stabbed him in the abdomen.

"You guys!"

"In addition to serving the country with rebellion, it is today!"

Then, another gentleman shouted, and stabbed Li Guanglu with a knife.

From the moment the court officials and soldiers outside decided to divide their fields among the homeless, they knew that they had no cards to play! Because the countryside can be without the city, but the city cannot be without the countryside.