First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Seeing this, Ru Zhongbai was really sad and indignant!

He has received the grace of Tuotuo, and now he has the status he has today. Now that the prime minister is about to collapse, and the millions of troops have no masters, what will happen to the world then?

"The prime minister was dismissed, and loyal ministers were murdered. My Great Yuan Dynasty is at the end of its rope!"

Ru Zhongbai stood up abruptly, startled the officials for a moment, Ha Ma was about to call the guards, and suddenly, Ru Zhongbai slammed headfirst into the pillar.

With a snap, the skull split open and blood gushed out.

Ru Zhongbai's eyes widened, and he was still muttering, "No, no, stop, stop..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Ru Zhongbai died in full view!

Emperor Da Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then frowned, waved his hands lazily, "Bury him."

With just this one sentence, His Majesty the Emperor walked away as if in a wasteland.

Tuotuo was dismissed, and the censor remonstrated with his life.

The news spread quickly, and most of them could no longer calm down.

The forces of all parties are turbulent, and they are all blown up, and they can't wait to make a fuss about this matter.

Tuotuo's party was so sad that the rabbit died and the fox was so sad and indignant. Some people wrote letters to express their grievances, and some simply hung up their crowns and begged to go.As for Hama's side, they were rejoicing instead, and they criticized one after another, saying that Tuotuo raised dead soldiers and cultivated party members, such as Ru Zhongbai and his like, they had no court in their hearts, they were just Tuotuo's eagle dogs.

If Tuotuo wins and returns to court, why don't you immediately follow the story of Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo?

The chaos in the Yuan court continued, and it didn't slow down at all because of Tuotuo's downfall. On the contrary, the fight became more intense.However, Zhou Huiniang's news was sent out half a day in advance, and in this half day, he ran over five hundred miles.

Then the speed was even faster, and the business road established by smuggling grain, a distance of two thousand miles, was delivered to Zhu Yuanzhang in only three and a half days.

This speed is simply jaw-dropping. I have to say that the power of money is really amazing.

Especially after crossing the Huaihe River, they simply used carrier pigeons to deliver messages and deliver information to them.

Holding a small note, Zhu Yuanzhang was trembling all over.

He knew exactly what this news meant, and he knew Yuan Ting's arrangements much earlier than Tuotuo.

"Mr. Zhang, what shall we do?"

Zhang Ximeng was also terrified. He trembled, looked carefully for a moment, and gritted his teeth: "Master, go all out and attack Yangzhou! There are 80 people there, enough to make our strength skyrocket!"

Chapter 126 Food is everything!

If we talk about the most lost city in history, Yangzhou is not only the first, but also the top three.

Since the completion of the Grand Canal, Yangzhou is located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and guards the key points of the canal. The combined transportation of rivers and rivers has an invincible location. It is probably the Shanghai of later generations. After all, there has long been a saying that Yangzhou is the most prosperous place in the world.

The advantage of Yangzhou is not just a simple location. Yangzhou is close to the main production area of ​​sea salt. Salt merchants from Huaihe River and Huaihe River gather in Yangzhou. These salt merchants who hold the wealth of the world have piled up the prosperity of Yangzhou with countless gold and silver.

It may be dry to say so, but Zhou Huiniang can tell that, apart from Yangzhou, which place is willing to spend so much effort to train a brothel singer.

If it is in Haozhou, it will go bankrupt before the customers come to the door. There is no market and no spending power.

Only Yangzhou, which gathers the wealth of the world, can have such a big hand.

As for a woman, once she becomes an oiran, she is a daughter of a song and admired by countless people. The brothel and the oiran are not simply masters and servants, but partners, and they can even enjoy some dividends.

Of course, the premise is that you must reach that height. Ordinary girls, even some outstanding ones, are just dolls and cash cows in the hands of others, and they are not qualified to be equal at all.

But at the level of Zhou Huiniang, the situation is different. She can make those rich men bow their heads and obey their ears. When the brothel is in trouble, she needs to resolve it.If the pressure was too great, she would simply break the pot and encourage those benefactors to attack the brothel, it would not end well.

Because of these, Zhou Huiniang had the opportunity to escape from Yangzhou.

It is also ironic to say that the brothel worked hard to train Zhou Huiniang to read more. She did read a lot, and it was beyond the control of the brothel. She realized that she didn't want to be a cash cow anymore.

This is quite a bit of the British MI[-] painstakingly selecting talents and sending them to learn Russian to prepare to deal with Moscow. As a result, they learned Das Kapital, and in turn sold the English.

But in any case, Yangzhou is still the leading metropolis at the moment. In terms of population size, it even surpasses the Jiqing that Zhu Yuanzhang is thinking about.

Plotting Yangzhou and occupying this city, Zhu Yuanzhang's strength will be improved by leaps and bounds.

Now that Yuan Ting has decided to depose Tutuo, these 10 yuan troops are not worth mentioning, and the next step is to snatch the spoils.

Only Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Shicheng were qualified to participate in this grand banquet, but at this moment, Lao Zhang was still surrounded in Gaoyou, dying.

And Lao Zhu completely seized the opportunity.

Judging from the current situation, Gaoyou, Baoying, Taizhou, Yancheng, these Huaidong cities were all controlled by Zhang Shicheng in the past, and they were mainly salt workers, and they were separated from Lao Zhu's main force by the canal. Even if there are many difficulties, there is a high probability that it will still fall into Zhang Shicheng's hands.

But Yangzhou is on the lips, and Feng Guoyong was sent to seize Zhenzhou, which has paved the way for attacking Yangzhou.

In order to maintain the life of 80 people in Yangzhou, not only merchants, trade flourished, handicraft workshops in the city, textile smelting iron, papermaking and printing... These industries are quite developed, with a large number of employees and a high level.

It is no exaggeration to say that if Yangzhou is captured, the precious banknotes planned by Zhang Ximeng can be implemented immediately.

The existing weapons production scale can also be expanded tenfold.

And artillery, firecrackers!

As long as Yangzhou is here, it will grow explosively in a few years.

Behind a Yangzhou, there are too many things represented.

Zhang Ximeng kept chatting about his imagination on the road, and even talked about Lao Zhu so passionately and excitedly.

I have long heard that Yangzhou is good, but I didn't expect it to be so important!

"No matter how much we pay, we must take Yangzhou!" Old Zhu made up his mind.

No matter what you do, you must know yourself and your enemy.

There is an urgent need to investigate the situation in Yangzhou.

"Sir, if you don't mind, let me go!" The person who spoke was Xiaoju, Zhou Huiniang's little maid... Ever since Zhou Huiniang and Jiang Puxin went to Dadu, Zhang Ximeng kept the little girl by his side.

He didn't mean to be a jerk at all, he just wanted to take good care of her, and when Zhou Huiniang came back, he would return the little girl to her.

But at this time, Xiaoju stepped forward, she was going to Yangzhou to investigate the situation.

Not to mention, looking around Zhang Ximeng, there is really no one who knows Yangzhou better than Xiaoju.

But the problem is how a teenage girl, Jiaojiao Didi, sneaked into Yangzhou, and what should she do if something unexpected happens to her?

Zhang Ximeng firmly disagreed, but Xiaoju's attitude was very firm. This girl is also a bit stubborn!

"The girl went to Dadu, and the third uncle also went. They are all a hundred times more dangerous than me! Is it okay if I go back to Yangzhou? I was sold to Yangzhou when I was eight years old. I know the situation inside best. Who else can I use?" ?”

Zhang Ximeng said sullenly, "Although that's the case, do you know what to look for? Do you know what information is useful? You took a trip in vain, and you took the risk. You don't know anything. What did you go for?"

Xiaoju, who was criticized, lowered her head. She was fiddling with the front of her skirt, and suddenly raised her head again, "I want to repay you! You, you gave me so much land, I, I can't eat for nothing! This is what the girl told me. It’s just low, if you don’t know how to repay your kindness, you will be even more low-key!”

When the little girl spoke of being excited, tears welled up in her eyes, she tried her best to stretch, but she still rolled down, looking very pitiful.Sure enough, if there is a master, there will be a servant. This girl is really similar to Zhou Huiniang. Although she is a weak woman, she has a heroic heart.

At this moment, a kid suddenly squeezed in.

"I, follow her! I can protect her!"

It was Sapphire who spoke.

Zhang Ximeng was also taken aback, "Are you going?"

"That's right, I haven't been to Yangzhou yet, let me go, I'm very smart, and I can also martial arts, ordinary people can't beat me."

This sentence Zhang Ximeng admits, Lan Yu has a tiger's head and a tiger's head, very strong, like a calf.

After joining the army with his brother-in-law, Lan Yu studied and practiced martial arts every day, and her stature jumped up, like a spring bamboo shoot, changing every day, and her skills improved a lot.

He is not very old, so it happens to be confusing, let him accompany Xiaoju to the city, let alone, there is hope for great things.

"Then do you know what news to check after entering Yangzhou?"

"I know, it's just the heart of the army and the people. Let's see how the Yuan army stationed in Yangzhou is doing. Is there any opportunity for us..." Lan Yu talked eloquently, full of confidence.

Zhang Ximeng nodded, but after thinking for a while, he said: "You can enter Yangzhou, but remember, you can't bump into it. It's best to take pictures of the people in the brothel, Xiaoju to strike up a conversation, Lanyu, you find a way to get them Bring it out, I'll ask directly, it's safer!"

When Lanyu heard this, Le Diandian agreed, he grabbed Xiaoju who was smiling through tears, ran out in one breath, and quickly disguised herself.

Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyelids, why did he have a sour smell, when did Sapphire and Xiaoju get along so well?

"Sir, you are too dull."

Li Wenzhong said unceremoniously.

Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyes angrily, "You're quicker than me, aren't you?"

Li Wenzhong shrugged, "Anyway, my father has already chosen a marriage for me. When I am sixteen, I will let my uncle help preside over the marriage...Sir, hurry up!"

"Bah!" Zhang Ximeng spat at Li Wenzhong directly, "Entered the grave at the age of 16, you are hopeless in this life, curse you to have a son who will worry about you forever!"

Li Wenzhong didn't care at all, it's better than being single!

Zhang Ximeng just didn't bother to talk to him. When your precious son is born, you will know that you will suffer a disadvantage if you don't listen to the old man.Zhang Ximeng turned around and went out with his hands behind his back, called Lan Yu over again, and explained carefully, then he agreed to the two of them to disguise themselves and sneak into Yangzhou.

About a day and a half later, Sapphire and Xiaoju came back, together with an old boatman named Lao Qi, who was also Zhou Huiniang's boatman.

Lao Qi rowed a boat, and his mother-in-law was very good at cooking, and she was also very famous in Yangzhou.

It is even often said that there are three unique things in Zhou Huakui's painting boats, besides coloring, it is eating!

It's just that this stunt is not Zhou Huiniang's, but Seventh Sister-in-law's.

"Master, save Yangzhou! Help!"

Lao Qi knelt on the ground, crying bitterly, and stunned Zhang Ximeng, "How is the situation in Yangzhou?"

"Not only is it bad, it has become a region, people cannibalize people!"

Zhang Ximeng was even more surprised. He asked Lao Qi to sit down, poured him a cup of tea, and asked Lao Qi to talk slowly, how did Yangzhou, which is like heaven, become like this?

Lao Qi lamented and told the story... It turned out that Zhang Shicheng once briefly touched Yangzhou, and Zhou Huiniang ran away at that time.

But then the main force of the Yuan army attacked, Zhang Shicheng was trapped in Gaoyou, and Yangzhou fell into the hands of Boluo Puhua, the southern king of Yuanting Town.

After the Yuan army entered Yangzhou, there was naturally some looting and killing, needless to say.

Some wealthy businessmen and literati with good strength escaped secretly and went to the south of the Yangtze River to avoid disaster.

But most of them stayed in Yangzhou.

In the chaos of war, where can I go? It is best to be at home. A broken home is worth tens of thousands of dollars. Who wants to be a mourner?

The common people feel that as long as they endure it, it will pass, and they will not sacrifice their population.

But gradually, the people found something was wrong.

Since Gaoyou was still in the hands of Zhang Shicheng and the canal was cut off, the Yuan court relied more and more on sea transportation. The grain from the south of the Yangtze River was shipped directly to Beijing by sea, and Yangzhou was left aside.

You must know that those grains are not only for the supply of Dadu!There is still a lot of grain, which will go north with the tank boats, and the cities along the way must rely on these grains to fill their stomachs, especially in Yangzhou, where 80 people eat and drink, what an astronomical figure!

But no one would have imagined that the water transportation was cut off, and the yuan army and the red scarf army fought bloody battles. Yangzhou was the first to be unlucky!

Worse also followed. There were tens of thousands of people in the hands of Boluo Puhua, the southern king of Dayuan Town.

"My lord, save Yangzhou quickly. The gang of thieves from the Yuan army lied to people a few days ago, saying that Gaoyou City was destroyed, water transport was restored, and everything was available. But it has been almost three months, and there is no one in the city. We had enough to eat, and we hid on the boat, relying on the money and jewelry given by the girl before, we could exchange some food in front of us, but just the day before yesterday, a few human leg bones floated beside our boat, it must be Those refugees, as well as the guys in the business, they have no work, they are hungry, so, they eat human flesh!"

Lao Qi trembled with his hands, tears streaming down his face.

This heavenly place has started to eat people!

How could Zhang Ximeng not be shocked.

In fact, in history, during the period at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Yangzhou did suffer catastrophe.After Tuotuo was defeated, there was a man named Zhang Mingjian. He controlled a group of people named Qingjun, also known as spearmen, and occupied Yangzhou.

This Zhang Mingjian has a very scary hobby. He likes to eat human flesh with blood on it, eating it piece by piece... At the end of Yuan Dynasty, little Ah Ming!

Later Zhang Mingjian was defeated by Miao Daheng sent by Zhu Yuanzhang and captured Yangzhou.

At this time, there are only [-] households left in Yangzhou's household registration!

That's right, from 80 people to only eighteen households!

Some people say that Zhang Mingjian is a cannibal king who has eaten tens of thousands, tens of thousands of people... Obviously, this is impossible. Zhang Mingjian should be a cannibal, but he lives on human flesh all day long , people have long been neither human nor ghost, and the consequences of cannibalism can be known by referring to mad cow disease.

Since Zhang Mingjian didn't eat so many people, where did the people of Yangzhou go?

In fact, this is not difficult to understand. Yangzhou relies on the Yangtze River and the canal and has gathered 80 people. The grain produced in Yangzhou is not enough for so many people to eat, so it must be transported from outside.

However, during the war, the water transport was stopped, and the transportation on the Yangtze River was also restricted. There was no food. What choice did the common people have but to die and flee?

Naturally, the city of 80 people disappeared, leaving only eighteen households!

This point is also true in future generations. In any big city, if the surrounding support is cut off, and there is no food and vegetables, the fate of the citizens is guaranteed to be much worse than that of ordinary people in the countryside!

"Food! Everything is food!"