Fenghou

Chen Qing nodded again and again, he only thought about buying food, but forgot to rely on himself, "The old man said it very well, Chen Qing has been taught, I will definitely do it!"

Seeing Chen Qing's modesty, Qiao Lin was happy in her heart, and continued: "The second thing, I want to chat with you about the fortress."

Chen Qing cheered up, this was also the issue he was most concerned about, he quickly said: "Please tell me, old man!"

"Actually, I just want to tell the general that fortresses are like broken bamboos. Even though there are three hundred fortresses in Qinzhou, as long as the general splits the nodes of the thick bamboos, it will be easily solved later."

Qiao Lin's thinking was exactly the same as that of Chen Qing, and Chen Qing asked with a smile, "Is Zhoujiabao a node?"

Qiao Lin nodded, "Zhoujiabao is the biggest node, followed by Anyuan Village in Gangu County and Dingxi Village in Qin'an County. Split these three nodes, and the problem of the fort village in Qinzhou will be solved."

"Then how does the old man think the Zhou Family Fort will be solved?"

Qiao Lin stroked her beard and said: "The owner of Zhoujiabao is called Zhou Xin. This person has also been a professor in the state school for several years. I worked with him. I know this person very well. He is despicable, treacherous and cunning. Violation is his specialty, if he shows his favor to the general, don't trust him, this person has no integrity, he will never do what he promises, and also, be careful of his brother-in-law."

"Who is his brother-in-law?"

"It's Li Dujian. Li Dujian married Zhou Xin's cousin."

Chen Qing suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. No wonder Wang Huai wanted to take Li Dujian to ask for money and food. It turned out that it was this relationship, but Wang Huai didn't tell himself.

"Is it related to Wang Huai and Zhou Xin?"

Qiao Lin smiled lightly, "The Wang family and the Zhou family in Chengji County are both the best families in Qinzhou. They have coexisted in the same county for a hundred years. Are they not related? Zhou Xin's mother is surnamed Wang!

So I came to visit the general today, nominally to talk about land reclamation and farming, but in fact I want to remind the general that to solve the Zhoujiabao, we must not cooperate with the state government, otherwise they will not know if they sell it. "

Chen Qing walked a few steps with his hands behind his hands, he knew what to do?

……

Early the next morning, the whole city of Chengji County was mobilized. Except for the elderly over 60 years old, children under the age of seven, and patients who were paralyzed in bed, all other residents of the city were mobilized by soldiers to open up wasteland outside the city and plant corn and beans. , the seeds are provided by the army.

The elderly and children at home are not idle, and they are required to plant melons and gourds in front of and behind their houses.

At the same time, Chen Qing sent seven teams of soldiers to deliver letters to the other seven counties in Qinzhou, asking the county officials to organize the people in the county to plow the land in spring. If seeds were needed, all the seeds would be provided by the army.

In fact, the situation in the counties of Qinzhou is better than that of Chengji County, which is governed by the prefecture. After all, they have not been occupied by the Jin soldiers, and the county officials are all there, but the granaries, like Chengji County, have been exploited by the Jin soldiers.

Farmers in the counties have long planted winter wheat and do not need to be urged, but this time Chen Qing’s campaign to promote spring plowing is not aimed at the farmers, but at the residents of the county. The business is very dilapidated and withered. The people in the city have no income, and food becomes a problem. Chen Qing can provide relief for a few months, but what about in the future?

Therefore, they have to farm the land by themselves, and before the recovery of all walks of life, they have to solve the food rations of every household.

In fact, it is easy to say, but how can it be so easy to do?Mobilization alone is enough. After all, they are all human beings, not animals, so they can’t be driven away just by driving them away. The army has to forcibly drive them away at critical moments.

But even if the people are driven out of the city, how to farm the land is still a hassle. Where is the land?Is there an owner, who is with whom, and what kind of land is planted?

It would take ten days and half a month just to sort out these chores, but they don't have that many people to do this kind of thing, even if there are people, the farming season will not wait for anyone.

So the easiest way is to concentrate on a few thousand acres of official land, and three or four people are responsible for one acre of land, plant it casually, and distribute the harvest evenly when the time comes.

It's a bit confusing, but it's better than talking and doing nothing.

Just when Chengji County started to vigorously engage in the national mass production movement, people from Zhoujiabao came to Chengji County.

Chapter 183

The senile old man in front of him is actually Zhou Tong, who was famous back then?

It really surprised Chen Qing, and didn't Xu Ning say that Zhou Tong was dead?

"The Jingkang period was too chaotic, too many people died, and it was difficult to distinguish the truth from the news. It is not surprising that I died."

Zhou Tong sighed and continued: "When I was young, I wasted too much energy. Now my body is completely broken. I'm just an old man lingering on his last breath. I just come to the Zhou family's old house in Chengji County to take care of me. General Chen, don't expect too much."

The implication of Zhou Tong is to tell Chen Qing not to take himself as a hostage, and the affairs of the Zhou family have nothing to do with him.

"Who should I go to for the Zhoujiabao incident?"

Zhou Tong pointed to the middle-aged man not far away, "That steward Jia is Zhou Xin's confidant, he came here on Zhou Xin's order, the general is looking for him!"

Chen Qing didn't make things difficult for Zhou Tong. After all, he learned some of Zhou Tong's riding and shooting skills indirectly through Xu Ning. He arranged a carriage for the soldiers to take Zhou Tong into the city.

At this time, the soldiers brought up a middle-aged man. This middle-aged man was a steward named Jia Quan. He was indeed Zhou Xin's confidant. He was in charge of managing the property of the Zhou family fort. , Zhou Xin sent him to negotiate with Chen Qing.

In fact, what Jia Quan wanted to see now was not Chen Qing, but Li Dujian. He didn't expect to meet Song Army soldiers and brought them directly to Chen Qing.

At this moment Jia Quan was very nervous, his usual cleverness and eloquence were all gone, he was so frightened that he knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly: "The villain Jia Quan pays his respects to General Chen!"

Chen Qing glanced at him coldly, "Are you the person sent by Zhou Jiabao?"

"The villain is just... in charge of delivering the message!"

Zhou Xin asked him to negotiate with Chen Qing on his own behalf. He only realized when he saw Chen Qing's cold eyes. How could he have any qualifications to negotiate with the envoy of Qinzhou?

"what do you want to say?"

"Master Zhou heard that the imperial army's military supplies are in short supply, so he is willing to support the army with a thousand shi of grain."

"and then?"

"Then... Fort Lord Zhou promises to pay taxes to the government on time every year, according to the twentieth tax stipulated by the imperial court."

"Is there anything else to explain?"

"The other thing is to let Zhou Tong, the most respected and respected old man of Zhoujiabao, live in Chengji County as a hostage. The castle owner promises not to break his promise."

Chen Qing nodded, "I have seen the sincerity of your castle master, let me think about it, and I will reply you tomorrow morning."

Chen Qing waved his hand, "Take him down!"

"Thank you, General!"

Jia Quan breathed a sigh of relief, got up and saluted, and hurried down.

Zheng Ping next to him said angrily: "This is called sincerity? One thousand shi of grain is enough to send us away, and he also said to pay taxes, and pay fart taxes at the end of the year. It's just delaying time to fool us."

"What are you in a hurry?"

Chen Qing glared at Zheng Ping, "What kind of bullshit castle master is he? A commoner can pay taxes for two thousand households? What kind of bastard condition is this? Am I just so easy to fool?"

Zheng Ping was speechless for a while, scratched his head and said embarrassingly, "I thought you really thought he had compromised!"

"You've been with me for several years, why haven't you made any progress at all, you can't hold back when things are too big, you just yell nonsense, and I insist on scolding you every time."

"This time it's the humble job's fault, and it was also the humble job's fault yesterday."

Zheng Ping was scolded so submissively that he didn't dare to talk anymore.

Only then did Chen Qing slowly say: "I went to see Zhoujiabao yesterday. It's really not easy to fight, and it's not that it can't be defeated. It's just that a strong attack will cause heavy casualties. The gains outweigh the losses, so we have to use tricks. When you don’t know anything, it’s your duty to organize the people to cultivate the land and guard the camp in the city.”

Zheng Ping was a little unwilling and said: "Actually, I am very good at doing all kinds of conspiracies and tricks!"

Chen Qing smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "I'm better than you!"

……

At night, the county residents who had worked all day were exhausted and went to bed early. At the fourth watch, everything in Chengji County was completely silent. A cavalryman shouted loudly: "Xining County's emergency military report, open the city gate quickly!"

The city gate was opened, and the cavalry galloped into the city. The sound of horseshoes resounded through the city, and the cavalry shouted all the way: "Xining County Emergency Military Report!"

Half of the residents in the city were awakened by the sound of horseshoes and shouts, and the people were discussing and speculating that the Xixia army must have invaded Xining County.

The soldiers who reported the news entered the barracks. Not long after, the drums of the barracks sounded, and the tense atmosphere began to spread in the city.

Soon, the lanterns of the state government were also lit, and Wang Huai sent someone to invite several important officials to discuss the matter.

The prefectural yamen meeting hall was brightly lit, and Chen Qing, the governor, sat in the lobby, next to Wang Huai, the general judge, Zhang Xiao, the military recorder, Li Yong, the governor of the capital, and six cao join the army, including Sihu, Judiciary, and Sishi.

Chen Qing was in full armor, with a long sword on his waist. He said to the crowd: "Just received the military report that a Xixia army of more than a thousand people invaded Xining County from Huizhou. The situation in Xining County is critical. I must immediately lead the army to support it!"

Xining County is located in the northwest of Qinzhou. It stretches out like a long antenna, sandwiched between Pingliang Prefecture, Deshun Prefecture and Huizhou. Xining County is located at the top of this antenna. It was invaded by the Xixia Army. Strange, even ordinary people can guess.

"Did the general leave overnight?" Wang Huai asked.

Chen Qing nodded, "We will set off at the fifth watch. I came here just to hope that everyone will continue to organize spring farming for the common people. This is a major event that cannot be stopped. It must be completed in one go. I have asked Zheng Ping to lead the army to cooperate with everyone, and there is also porridge relief. It can’t be stopped, it will continue to be implemented every day, and Zhou Jiabao is willing to negotiate with the government. I think this is a good thing, but it involves many specific details, and I will negotiate with Zhou Jiabao when I come back.”

Chen Qing arranged things one by one, then got up and went back to the barracks, Wang Huai sent him out of the state office, walked to the steps, Chen Qing said with a faint smile: "Why is Li Dujian not in good spirits, is there something wrong at home? "

"I haven't heard of it! Maybe it's because I didn't sleep well."

Chen Qing nodded, "I don't know much about Li Dujian's situation, Wang Tongshou should pay close attention to him these few days!"

After finishing speaking, Chen Qing got on his horse, bowed his hands and saluted, and urged the horse to run quickly with a dozen cavalrymen.

Wang Huai was confused for a while, what does it mean for him to pay attention to Li Dujian?

……

At five o'clock, Chen Qing took two generals, Yang Zaixing and Liu Cui, and [-] cavalry to leave the barracks, left the north city gate, and rushed north along the official road.

Before dawn, Jia Quan, who was restless in the inn, was taken to the mansion by the butler of Li Yong, the capital prison.

As soon as he entered the study, Jia Quan asked impatiently, "What happened? Why was the army mobilized at night?"

"Didn't Guanshi Jia hear the military newspaper at night?" Li Yong took a sip of hot tea and asked calmly.

"I seem to have heard something, but I didn't hear it clearly, and the horse ran over."

"It's an emergency military report from Xining County. The Xixia people invaded. I knew that the Xixia people wanted to integrate Huizhou and Deshun Prefecture. The nail in Xining County would definitely be pulled out, but I didn't expect it to come so soon."

"The Dujian means that Chen Qing led the army to Xining County?"

Li Yong nodded, "The situation over there is very urgent, he led the army to rush there overnight, and explained a lot of things to the state government before leaving."

Jia Quan quickly asked, "Did you mention us?"

Li Yong chuckled, "Of course I will mention you. What Chen Qing meant was that you have a good attitude and are worthy of recognition, but the details still need to be discussed."

Jia Quan was taken aback by these words, he didn't understand, "What do you mean by this? What are the details that need to be discussed?"

"It means that your sincerity is not enough. One thousand shi is a little less food. I estimate that it will cost at least two thousand shi. In addition, the conditions you offered are indeed too vague. The details need to be clarified. For example, if you are willing to pay taxes, then How to pay specifically? How many acres are there? How to calculate the household tax, etc., do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand. I will go back and tell Master Zhou immediately. Then what should I do? Should I continue to discuss with the state government?"

"No! Chen Qing is personally responsible for this matter. Prepare the details. When he comes back, he will be the first to find you."

Jia Quan nodded silently. Fortress Master Zhou was not sincere at all, and he would not pay a penny of taxes. It was just to delay time. How could he prepare for the details if the Fortress Lord was asked?

Chapter 184

In the dark night, a cavalry of 2000 men was galloping south.

This army was the Chen Qing cavalry who went north to fight against the Xixia Army two days ago. After running northward for more than a hundred miles, they turned south and went straight to Zhoujiabao.

Going north to fight against Xixia and the so-called negotiations are just a smoke bomb for Chen Qing to relax the vigilance of Zhoujiabao and prepare for the Song army's raid on Zhoujiabao.

Now that he has decided to kill Zhou Jiabao's chicken to scare the monkeys in all the castles in Qinzhou, no matter whether Zhou Jiabao is sincere or not, Chen Qing will kill it.

The army was still ten miles away from Zhoujiabao. The cavalry stopped, and the soldiers got off their horses one after another, rearranged their equipment, and left their horses in a forest. Two thousand soldiers rushed towards Zhoujiabao on foot.

Not long after, the army arrived at the bridgehead, and Zhao Xiaoyi, who arrived earlier, reported to Chen Qinghui: "Reporting to the control system, all the hidden sentries at the foot of the mountain have been pulled out."

The last time Chen Qing came here, he found some shacks next to the wheat fields, which looked like they were used by farmers to guard the crops, but the farmers in the shacks blew their horns when he arrived, and Chen Qing suspected that these shacks were actually Zhoujiabao. There are secret whistles placed at the foot of the mountain, and even Chigu Town has their secret whistles, such as tea sheds selling snacks.

"Where is Chigu Town?"

"We searched three tea shed mud huts and found gunpowder bows and arrows in one of them."

Chen Qing nodded. They had already arrived at the foot of the mountain, but so far there was no call to the police, so it can be concluded that the hidden sentries of Zhoujiabao at the foot of the mountain have been pulled out.

Chen Qing raised his head and looked up the mountain. The first defensive wall was about [-] steps away from the foot of the mountain. During the day, [-] steps were not far away, but at night, [-] steps seemed far away. The torches stuck on the top of the wall It turned into dots of stars, as if hanging in the night sky.

Tonight's day was well chosen, with dark clouds and no moonlight or stars in the sky. It was windy and dark, suitable for a sneak attack.

Everyone was still waiting, and two Song army scouts had already gone up. Not long after, there was movement ahead, and two scouts who went up the mountain to investigate came back.

"Regulations are rewarding!" Zhao Xiaoyi reported.

Chen Qing immediately ordered to build a marching tent, and a candle was lit inside the tent, and there was a thick curtain outside the tent, so that no light could come out.

While drawing on paper, a scout described: "To enter the first defensive wall, you must pass through a sentry gate. There is a sentry post on the top and a thick wooden door below. It caused the alarm bell to ring, and it is estimated that the alarm switch is in the sentry building."

"What does the sentry building look like? What is the status of the sentry?" Chen Qing asked.

"Actually, it should not be called a sentry building, but a sentry booth. It has a cover on the top, a wooden fence on the bottom, a bell hanging directly above it, and a torch on each of the four corner eaves. It is easier to identify. Then inside the sentry box There were three sentries, none of whom slept."

"Are you sure there are only three?"

"It is certain that the humble staff saw them changing guards, and there is no fourth person."

At this time, Yang Zaixing asked from the side: "How far are you observing the guard post?"

"About sixty steps, there are two stone tablets over there, you can hide behind them."