"This is cement?"

Yan Jizu saw the two thousand bags of cement neatly stacked in the school yard, looked around curiously, and then asked, "With so much cement, how many houses can be built?" ”

Lu Xiangsheng stood next to him and stroked his beard with his hand, and said: "When the cement workshop over there in Aoshanwei delivered the goods, it was mentioned that a bag of thirty catties of cement, plus water, can cover an area of ten zhang square if it is used to smooth the city wall. ”

"So, it's ...... Two thousand bags? This is not enough to strengthen the city defense of Jinan! ”

Lu Xiangsheng said: "There is no way, these two thousand bags of cement have already cost four hundred taels of silver, and Liu Yan gave it to me at a low price." When I came back, I also calculated that if the entire Jinan city was reinforced with cement, it would take at least more than 20,000 taels of silver, which was still a conservative estimate. ”

Yan Jizu sighed and said: "Then forget it, I think these two thousand bags of cement should be used cautiously, good steel is used on the blade, and it should be used tightly on the previous damaged place." As for the rest of the place, I think it's better to forget it. ”

Lu Xiangsheng nodded in agreement.

At this time, it is close to the end of the year, Jinan Mansion inside and outside the city is full of joy, even if the people in the city are generally poor, even if the city has become dilapidated after experiencing two attacks by the Qing army, the joy of the New Year still echoes inside and outside the city.

Lu Huaiying personally sat at the head of the city and supervised the people to use all the 2,000 bags of cement on the city defense, and repaired the city wall and attached defense facilities in the cold winter.

After a few days, the bottom of the 2,000 bags of cement was at the bottom, and only about 70 bags remained, but there were still many damages in the walls.

So Lu Huaiying returned to the governor's palace from the city, wanting to ask Lu Xiangsheng if he wanted to send someone to purchase some cement, but he met Xu Tonghui, a general under Yan Jizu, outside Lu Xiangsheng's study.

"General Xu? But Yan Futai is inside? ”

Xu Tonghui nodded and said, "Yan Futai is discussing things with Lu Duchen, and no one will be allowed in." ”

Lu Huaiying said: "How long has Counselor Xu been waiting? ”

"It's been half an hour."

"So long!"

Lu Huaiying was hesitating whether to go back to the city first, and then come to ask for instructions when the time was right, but saw that the door of the study was opened, Yan Jizu walked out with a very bad face, and said to Xu Tonghui: "Immediately prepare the carriage and horses, and go to the fast with Benfu!" ”

Xu Tonghui didn't dare to say much, greeted Lu Huaiying, and hurried to prepare the carriage and horses.

Lu Huaiying hurriedly saluted Yan Jizu, but only got a cold snort, looked at the half-open door in surprise, and finally pushed the door and walked in.

"The Doge?"

"Come in."

When Lu Huaiying entered the study, she saw Lu Xiangsheng sitting in the room with her brows furrowed, obviously not in a very good mood.

"Something?"

Lu Huaiying said yes.

"It's the cement running out, right?"

Lu Huaiying said yes again.

Lu Xiangsheng sighed and said, "If you ask for instructions to continue to purchase cement, then don't say it." The rest of the city defense will be repaired first. ”

"Governor, it's okay to say elsewhere, but there are still a few defects in the south wall, if you can continue to use cement to repair, the effect will definitely be far better than other methods."

Lu Xiangsheng shook his head and said: "There is no silver, the treasury has bottomed out, and there is no silver!" ”

Lu Huaiying was very surprised and said, "Didn't there still thousands of taels of silver that hadn't been touched a few days ago, and they were all used up in a few days?" ”

"The day before yesterday, the Dubiao Battalion and the Fubiao Battalion purchased a batch of forage and used a sum of silver, and yesterday the Fubiao Battalion purchased some iron materials and used some silver, plus the King of Germany sent someone to collect a sum of arrears, and the treasury has been emptied by the people of the Dewang Mansion."

Lu Huaiying was shocked and said, "Then next month's military salary will also ......."

"Alas!"

Lu Xiangsheng sighed and said, "Just now, the governor and Yan Futai were discussing this matter. The imperial court has not paid military salaries and food for two months, and after the last robbery by slaves, the land of Gyeonggi is in ruins, and the imperial court has no silver. ”

"Originally, the governor still wanted to leave some silver taels and give some money to the soldiers, although it could not be in full, at least let the soldiers take a breath, but now there is no way."

Lu Huaiying also had a bitter face at this time, but he was still relieved: "The governor doesn't need to be anxious, maybe Yan Futai can borrow money and food for emergency." ”

"Borrow? Who else can I borrow? ”

Lu Xiangsheng said: "Inside and outside the city of Jinan, everything that can be borrowed, the governor and Yan Futai have already borrowed it. If it weren't for the fact that the city of Jinan was besieged by the army of slaves and thieves twice in a row, the governor and Yan Futai borrowed on credit on the grounds of rectifying the soldiers and horses and repairing the city defense, and it is estimated that they would not be able to borrow a tael of silver. Now that all the money and food borrowed on credit has been used up, no one will be willing to borrow it anymore. ”

At this time, Lu Xiangsheng was sad and indignant in his heart, the supervision battalion and the Fubiao battalion were rectified, and finally improved, and the combat power and equipment were improved to varying degrees, but at this time, the money and grain were cut off, and the court could not count on it, I really don't know where the money and grain of the Ming Dynasty are, why are the people of the world and the soldiers who defend the country so poor!

Lu Huaiying looked at Lu Xiangsheng with a sad face, and was also sad and angry in his heart, and suddenly said: "Governor, my subordinates think that it is better to try Liu's guerrilla suggestion, those corrupt officials and illegal businessmen have hoarded a lot of money and food, as long as they copy some people's homes, the governor and Yan Futai will have money and food for military training!" ”

When Lu Xiangsheng heard this, he was also a little shaken in his heart, but then he shook his head: "There is no need to discuss this matter!" Today's situation is the result of the bloody battles fought by all the soldiers in Julu and under the city of Jinan, and this governor must not give people a handle because of a temporary predicament, so that the traitors of the DPRK and China will interfere in the rectification of Shandong's defense! ”

Lu Huaiying shook his head, in his opinion, things have entered a dead end, and only by breaking it all can it be possible to turn the situation around. But Lu Xiangsheng obviously doesn't have Liu Yan's courage, or Lu Xiangsheng has too many shackles, and in the current situation, he can't overturn it at all.

"How are the Doges going to break the game?"

Lu Xiangsheng thought for a long time, then stood up abruptly and said, "The military salaries of the Supervising Battalion and the Fubiao Battalion will be postponed until the middle of next month. If the governor and Yan Futai could not raise money and food by then, they would summon the soldiers of the Governor Battalion and the Fubiao Battalion to the school, and the Governor would personally explain the reason to the soldiers. ”

Lu Huaiying was dumbfounded on the spot.

That night, Lu Huaiying returned to his residence and thought about it, feeling very uneasy.

If Lu Xiangsheng announced in public that he would suspend the payment of military salaries, no matter what the reason, it would be a fatal blow to the morale of the Supervisory Battalion and the Fubiao Battalion, and the rectification of the officers and men of the two battalions would be doomed to give up halfway. Without the guarantee of money and food, who will practice with peace of mind, and who will work hard for the imperial court?

So Lu Huaiying made up his mind, wrote a letter overnight, and then sent someone to Jimo Camp City.

One morning a few days later, Liu Yan received a letter sent by Lu Huaiying, and after reading it, he also sighed: "Lu Duchen has reached a dead end!" ”

In history, Lu Xiangsheng died in the Battle of Julu and did not serve as the governor of Shandong at all. Therefore, Liu Yan has no historical facts to refer to, so naturally he can't guess the specific situation of Lu Xiangsheng now.

After reading this letter, Liu Yan knew that Lu Xiangsheng and Yan Jizu were already "penniless", and they couldn't even make up next month's military salary.

Don't look at the Dubiao Battalion and the Fubiao Battalion are the pro-military battalions of Lu Xiangsheng and Yan Jizu, but in the chaotic era at the end of the Ming Dynasty, an army that has no money and food and does not mutiny almost does not exist. What Liu Yan knows is that the Qi family army and the white pole soldiers can do it.

The Tianxiong Army that Lu Xiangsheng just founded may also be able to, but now the Supervisory Battalion is no longer the Tianxiong Army of the year, and after several rounds of expansion, there are few veterans left of the Tianxiong Army before, and they are basically temporary recruits.

Liu Yan can imagine that when Lu Xiangsheng announced in public that the Governor's Mansion and the Governor's Yamen had no money and food to pay their salaries, what would be the reaction of the tens of thousands of soldiers in the two battalions, and there was a high probability that they would mutini on the spot!

Even if there was no mutiny on the spot, the morale of the people in the Supervisory Battalion and the Fubiao Battalion was shattered.

Liu Yan thought about it again and again, so he wrote a warrant and sent someone to send it to Lingshanwei immediately, and handed it over to Yue Ming, the money and grain official, and asked him to immediately prepare 20,000 taels of silver and 5,000 stone of grain.

At the same time, Liu Yan also wrote a warrant to Chen Xun, the guard officer of Lingshan, ordering him to mobilize soldiers and horses, transport this batch of money and grain to Jinan Fucheng, and deliver it to Lu Xiangsheng.

In the warrant sent to Chen Xun, there was also a handwritten letter from Liu Yan, Liu Yan said to the captain who sent the warrant: "This handwritten letter must be collected, tell Chen Ethics, you must hand over the handwritten letter to Lu Duchen." ”

"Order!"

Jinan Mansion City, Governor's Palace.

On this day, it snowed heavily in Jinan, and the people in the city hid at home to avoid the cold, the streets and alleys in the city were empty, and even the shops along the street were closed, and everything in the huge city was depressed.

However, a large convoy entered the city of Jinan in such weather, and rushed towards the governor's palace in the thick snow and bitter winds.

Lu Huaiying excitedly pushed open the door and let the cold wind pour into Lu Xiangsheng's study, Lu Xiangsheng looked over with a stunned face, only to see Lu Huaiying's frozen red face, full of joy.

"Is there news from Yan Futai?"

Lu Huaiying said: "Governor, it's Guerrilla Liu!" Liu Guerrilla sent someone to send a batch of money and food, and next month's military salary has been settled! ”

"What!"

Lu Xiangsheng said in surprise: "Isn't it also difficult for Liu Yan, where did he raise so much money and food?" ”

couldn't wait to answer, Lu Xiangsheng immediately put on a big hat, let Lu Huaiying lead the way in front, and rushed directly outside, wanting to see the money and food sent by Liu Yan with his own eyes.

Outside the gate of the Governor's Palace, hundreds of carts lined up, making it spectacular on the snow-white streets.

Lu Xiangsheng and Lu Huaiying watched all this, and their hearts were both moved and excited, with mixed feelings.

After seeing Lu Xiangsheng, Wei Han hugged his fists and said: "I've seen Lu Duchen!" The last general was ordered to escort 20,000 taels of silver and 5,000 stone of grain to this point, and asked Lu Duchen to inspect it. ”

Lu Xiangsheng raised his head and sighed, and a line of tears flowed down, because of Liu Yan, the supervision camp and the Fubiao camp were saved.

Lu Huaiying, who was on the side, saw that Lu Xiangsheng was a little out of shape, so he hurriedly took the letter handed over by Wei Han, and then asked: "It is also very difficult for Liu Guerrilla to attack over there, how did this money and grain be raised?" ”

Lu Xiangsheng was also puzzled, and also looked at Wei Han.

Wei Han clenched his fists and said: "Qi Qi Lu Duchen and Lu Shenjun, my family has written it in the letter, and I also ask Lu Duchen and Lu Shenjun to take a look at the letter." ”

Lu Xiangsheng took the letter handed over by Lu Huaiying, stood in the snow and unfolded it, only to see that only a few sentences were written in the letter: "The last general heard that the governor was in urgent need of money and food, so he sold part of his family property and raised some money and food to help the emergency, and asked the governor to use it to tide over the difficulties." ”

"Liu Yan, he actually ......"

Lu Xiangsheng shook his head and sighed, although he was in disbelief, he was very moved, and said to Wei Han with his fists: "Please hand over the money and food with General Lu, and the accompanying soldiers will go to the military camp in the city to rest." A letter of repair will be sent to Liu Guerrilla. ”

Wei Han clenched his fists and took his life.

Some people died, but not completely......