Troubled times: Start practicing spiritual practice by taking care of your sister-in-law

Yong'an three years, January 3rd.

Chen Mo led an army of 50,000 people, starting from Chongzhou. The troops were divided into three groups and entered Hexi.

Chen Mo, Yue Ruyan and others led the main force of 40,000 Chen troops.

Xiao Jing and Wu Yanqing each led five thousand troops and divided into two groups.

Finally meet up at Luonan.

The reason why Xiao Jing and Wu Yanqing were allowed to lead only 5,000 soldiers and horses.

It was because after King Chong fled, the land west of Hexi became a piece of loose sand.

As the vassal king of Chongzhou, the reason why King Chong was able to cultivate tens of thousands of soldiers and horses and had enough money and food to support so many soldiers and horses.

They were all supported by the noble families in Hexi, and Prince Chong was also their backer.

Now Chong Wang Chen Mo was beaten to pieces and fled to Luonan like a bereaved dog. At the same time, he also abandoned these noble families in Hexi.

Therefore, there is no need to use force to take over the land in Hexi. Chen Mo wants to take advantage of the identities of Xiao Jing and Wu Yanqing, the heads of two prominent families, to take over the land in Hexi without any bloodshed.

And these five thousand soldiers and horses are to prevent some stubborn people among them.

…

January 4th.

The main force of Chen's army successfully entered the "Tianjia Pass", a key pass in Hexi.

What was waiting behind the gate was not the Weichang County officials who were the first to bear the brunt of the desperate counterattack, but the Weichang County magistrate, who came with tears in his eyes and the gentry and nobles in the city to greet Chen Jun.

Among them, Zhao Yuanwai, who had the most prestige in Weichang County, burst into tears and said: "Dong An Guo, you are here. The traitor Chu Yan used coercion and inducement to deceive us, deceive the imperial court, and use the imperial court's hand to impose tyranny on us." The people have been suffering for a long time due to heavy taxes and forced labor. The old men and many squires in Weichang have endured humiliation and heavy burdens for many years and have been waiting for my loyal ministers to save the people of Weichang from disaster."

This scene somewhat confused Chen Mo and Chen Jun soldiers.

Good guy, Da Song non-stick pan is yours.

Obviously you are supporting King Chong behind the scenes, but now it is King Chong who is coercing and coercing you.

But don’t raise your hand to hit the smiling person.

Moreover, Chen Mo's slogan was that he came to Beijing to serve the king.

Since he knew the squires and nobles of Weichang County, Chen Mo did not pursue their previous affairs.

Chen Mo said: "Thieves like King Chong who try to overthrow our Great Song Dynasty really use all possible means. They really deserve to be cut into pieces by a thousand cuts."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanwai breathed a sigh of relief and said flatteringly: "Dong An Guo has come all the way. Lao Zhuo and all the squires specially set up a thin banquet in Hongyun Tower to welcome An Guo Gong. I hope An Guo Gong can appreciate him."

Chen Mo nodded.

At the banquet, Zhao Yuanwai and the local squires and officials hurriedly expressed their loyalty to Chen Mo, offering beauties and food.

Chen Mo collected the grain, but he didn't touch the beauty.

Later, I heard from Sun Meng that these ladies were all concubines of the squires besides Zhao Yuan.

The corner of Chen Mo's mouth twitched slightly. He realized at that time that none of the beauties presented were virgins.

Chen Mo sighed, the world had misunderstood him too much.

Lu Sheng and Chong Wang were already like yesterday's flowers, so they could not afford any setbacks along the way.

When passing through Hexi, Chen Mo adopted a gentle policy.

Like in Fengzhou, there is no public trial platform in Hexi.

But not all members of the family are like Zhao Yuanwai, there are some who do not know what is good and what is bad.

January 11th.

Chen Mo received a message from Xiao Jing.

It was said that some of the noble families, including the Zhang family of Zhangquan County, the Yan family of Jinze County, and the Gao family of Wuyi City, were unwilling to cooperate and asked how to deal with it.

There are several reasons for being unwilling to cooperate.

Whenever Chen Mo visits a county, his first step is not to go to the granary or bank in the city.

It is the yamen's record library, which first grasps the local household registration files, yamen's account books, land deeds and sales, etc.

Find out how many households there are and how many acres of land there are.

According to Xiao Jing's investigation, the Zhang, Yan, and Gao families in Zhangquan County, Jinze County, and Wuyi City control nearly 90% of the local farmland. According to yamen records, each family only owns more than 100 acres. .

Xiao Jing took a look and knew that there were a lot of concealments, and that the fields were nominally in the hands of the common people, but the real land deeds were in the hands of these big families.

As the head of the Xiao family, he knows exactly how muddy the water here is.

So he found people from these big families and hoped that they would cooperate honestly.

But instead of cooperating, they secretly played tricks.

For example, the land is transferred to the names of the family members of the family, the wife's family, and various relatives and friends.

In short, there are endless ways to avoid them.

And the reason why they are like this.

It was because they knew that Chen Mo was attacking the gentry and dividing their fields in Qing, Yu, Lin, Huai and other states.

But these fields are their lifeblood for them, and they definitely cannot be taken away by Chen Mo, so they use this method to fight and negotiate with Chen Mo.

We know that you, An Guogong, want to win people's hearts.

Yes, we are willing to cooperate.

So I plan to give 30% of the land to you to distribute to the people.

But there are conditions for this.

You, Duke An Guo, also want to reduce taxes on my land and property.

Xiao Jing naturally knew this meaning, so he also wrote it in the letter.

Of course, if there is enough time, this matter can still be handled slowly to reduce the impact.

But Chen Mo's main purpose is to enter the capital to serve the king.

This kind of thing in the land of Hexi is completely done casually.

Give 30%?

What about sending beggars away?

I finally eradicated King Huai, defeated King Anping, and defeated King Chong.

All this effort, so many casualties and so many casualties, just for your 30%?

Obviously all the land west of Hexi belongs to me.

I take 30% of my land and you keep 70%. Do you still want me to thank you?

There are still conditions. I dare you to conceal the 70%, but you don’t want to pay one cent of tax?

OK OK.

Since you are unwilling to cooperate.

Then

Chen Mo's reply to Xiao Jing only had one word.

the next day.

Xiao Jing from Zhangquan County received a reply from Chen Mo.

There is only one word "kill".

Chen Mo understood the reason why these major families did not cooperate.

He just thought that he was the same as King Chong and wanted to use them.

As a local aristocratic family, they have formed a dense network of relationships in Hexi through their interests, restricting and balancing each other. Without their help, it would be really difficult for outsiders to manage local affairs.

But Chen Mo is really not afraid.

His team is ready.

The fundamentals are stable.

No need to use them at all.

After reading Chen Mo's reply, Xiao Jing sneered a few times. Of course, this was directed at Zhang, Yan, and Gao families, and said: "Our Duke An Guo is not the King of Huai or the King of Chong. Just by you, he can't do it." Dare to seek skin from a tiger."

After muttering, Xiao Jing shouted, "Here comes someone."

"The general is here." Xiao Jing's deputy general walked in.

"If the notice goes down, we can take action."

"promise."

The Zhang family is considered an old family in Zhangjia County.

Even in terms of family history, the Zhang family is older than the Xiao family, but there has never been any decent official since their ancestors.

Zhang Quan, the ancestor of the Zhang family, was the county magistrate of this place in the previous dynasty.

At that time, this place was not called Zhangquan County.

It was all because of Zhang Quan's meritorious service in flood control at that time. After his death, this place was renamed Zhang Quan County, which is still used today.

At the gate of the city, there is still a monument erected by the people of the previous dynasty for Zhang Quan.

Due to the shadow of their ancestors, the Zhang family has never produced any high-ranking officials in the past dynasties.

But when Emperor Taizu first founded the country, the prestige of the Zhang family in Zhangquan County was still extremely strong. For this reason, Emperor Taizu posthumously granted Zhang Quan a posthumous title. In recognition of Zhang Quan's achievements in water control, he even gave the Zhang family a gold medal to avoid death.

If a descendant of the Zhang family commits a capital crime, they can be spared death by holding this death-free gold medal.

Officials of the previous dynasty were posthumously granted titles by the current emperor. There were not many such honors in history.

From then on, whenever there was a flood in Hexi, the officials in charge of flood control would come to the Zhang family for advice.

During the holidays, the local county magistrate and prefect will also send people to send greetings to the Zhang family.

As time goes by, the Zhang family has been rumored to be magical by the people, and their relationship can even reach heaven.

Some officials who didn't understand the details would even take the initiative to curry favor with the Zhang family.

Later, when troubled times came, King Chong wanted to recruit troops, but he had no money or food, and the Liang family was not enough. Moreover, the Liang family not only supported King Chong at that time, but also supported King Huai, and more importantly, King Chong. The king then thought of the aristocratic families in Hexi.

Because it was "asking for wealth" and King Chong also wanted to have a virtuous reputation, his attitude was slightly lowered.

And this gave the Zhang family an illusion.

Even if you think you are a vassal king, you have to give yourself a bit of slack.

In this case, why don't you, Mr. An Guo, give yourself face?

In the Zhang family's study.

Now the head of the Zhang family is named Zhang Shao, and he is discussing the development of the family with his butler.

"Later, you go to the Yan family and the Gao family in person and tell them not to let go. As long as we unite as one, the fate of Quanquan, Jinze, Wuyi and other counties will not change. Even An Guogong will do it." Compromise to me." Zhang Shao said.

The housekeeper was a little hesitant. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said it: "Master, we only gave 30%. Isn't it a little less? I heard that Chen Mo is a master who kills without blinking an eye."

"Young Master?" After hearing this, Zhang Shao became a little angry and shouted: "Do you know how much the 30% is? Your family has been a slave for thousands of years and you can't make so much.

Do you know that people's hearts are not enough, and if I give too much, they will only think that I have more. Thirty percent, I still give him face. These are my fields, my fields. I have given them to you. Whoever feeds you and feeds you will have to go out to be a beggar.

Then Chen Mo is also a pig-headed person. He does nothing wrong in winning over people's hearts. He also allocates fields to them, starves them for a few days, and then gives them a bowl of porridge to solve the problem. However, it has to be so complicated. "

After saying that, Zhang Shao spat and shouted to the outside: "Where are the people? Where are they dead? I'll bring you the honey water for the master."

The housekeeper was so scolded by Zhang Shao that he didn't dare to raise his head and was about to resign.

A boy ran in in a panic: "Master, it's bad, something happened."

After entering the study, the servant knelt down in front of Zhang Shao and said in a panic: "Master, it's not good, a group of Qiu Ba outside surrounded the house, and they smashed it all up when they came in."

"What?" Zhang Shao's expression changed when he heard this, and he hurriedly said: "But Chen Jun, who Xiao Jing brought here a few days ago?"

"Exactly."

The so-called wartime is just a quick word.

From the time the Zhang family was ransacked to the time Zhang Shao was taken to the execution platform for questioning, not even half a day passed.

Looking at the executioner walking all the way behind him, Zhang Shao realized that the executioner was serious. He was immediately frightened and said hurriedly: "I have a gold medal for immunity from death awarded by Emperor Taizu. It can save me from death. You can't kill him." I."

The general in charge of the execution was not Xiao Jing, but a captain of the Chen army. He was not well-educated and was a vulgar man. At this moment, he said playfully: "Gold medal of immunity from death? Take it out and let me see. If it is real, I will let you go."

Zhang Shao: "..."

At that time, he was subdued by the soldiers who rushed in before he could react. After his house was searched, he was taken here without even being tried. Where could he get the gold medal of immunity from death?

Seeing Zhang Shao was speechless, the captain laughed and said: "You dare to deceive me when you are about to die.

Come on, execute the execution."

The Yan and Gao families also suffered the same fate as the Zhang family.

When the news of the "downfall" of the Zhang, Yan and Gao families spread, the gentry who followed the three families to fight for their own interests suddenly dispersed and collapsed. They found Xiao Jing and expressed their willingness to cooperate.

…

January 26.

Wang'an County in Hexi.

In the government office.

Chen Mo took a red pen and drew circles on the map. Each circle he drew indicated that the circled area was his actual control area.

"Sure enough, the front of the army opened the way faster than anything else. Now that it's solved, I don't have to stab me in the back later."

Chen Mo drew two routes on the map.

The route on the left leads to Tianchuan.

Tianchuan was originally the capital, but it was moved to Luonan by Xu Guozhong at that time.

"Why did you draw the route to Tianchuan?" Xia Zhining asked in confusion.

"I'm thinking about the escape route of Lu Sheng after his defeat. At that time, Xu Guozhong was able to take the emperor to Luonan when facing the army of Huai Wang and his king, so it is not impossible for Lu Sheng to take the emperor back to Tianchuan. I'm thinking about whether to set up an ambush here first for later use." Chen Mo said.

"We haven't even reached Luonan yet, and you're already thinking about what will happen after Lu Sheng's defeat. What if..." At this point, Xia Zhining shut up immediately. It was indeed unlucky to say this now.

"United Front, every step forward, you have to think about the next few steps, dozens of steps in advance."

As he said that, seeing that there was no one else around, Chen Mo hugged Xia Zhining's slender waist and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you practice in the past few days. Do you want a child so much?"

Xia Zhining's face turned red instantly, and she pushed Chen Mo away, saying stubbornly: "Who said I didn't practice, it's just that you didn't see it."

Chen Mo smiled and looked at her, saying: "How about we go out and have a little truant first?"

"You're going to die." Xia Zhining knew that he was making fun of her, and she was so angry that she slapped Chen Mo with a cold face.

"We are an old couple, and you are still so embarrassed." Chen Mo said, and didn't move anymore, because he had heard the footsteps outside.

It was Yue Ruyan who came in: "The two heads of the Xiao and Wu families have arrived."