Number of People

  Chapter 1051 Geng-character scroll Drunk in the light to see the sword Xiao Qiang (1)

Several tens of miles away from Lulong, Feng Ziying and his party can feel the change of the situation. Although it is not obvious, Feng Ziying has been to Zhenzi Town several times in the past few months, and he is no stranger to the situation here. .

  In the late autumn, the land of Eastern Jidong looks a bit empty and desolate, coupled with the policy of strengthening the walls and clearing the wilderness, the originally prosperous Zhenzi Town is deserted.

Feng Ziying also wandered around intentionally. In the past, the population of Dazhenzi Town was about 700 to 800 households, about two to three thousand people. Everything is available, there is an endless stream of business travelers traveling from south to north, and the flow of cars and horses is endless. Before approaching the town, you can feel the lively scene.

  But now the entire town is only a few dozen households, and the policy of fortifying the walls and clearing the wilderness is still going on. Before the government issued a notice to retreat the Mongols, only some bold or carefree people dared to risk their lives to come back to seek a living.

  Zhenzi Town is located about 30 miles north of Kaiping Zhongtunwei, and has close contacts with Kaiping Zhongtunwei.

  With the implementation of the policy of strengthening the walls and clearing the wilderness and the outbreak of the war, the garrison troops of Kaiping Zhongtunwei also quickly moved westward, and moved to Liangcheng Station in Baodi territory to the west.

It is an important place for military supplies. Due to its location in the south, although there is only one battalion of the Jizhen Army stationed here, there is also a battalion of the preparation battalion here. In addition, the city has high walls and thick walls surrounded by the Chao River. , The terrain is low-lying and complex, with swamps all over the place. This geographical environment is actually very unfavorable for the march and stay of the Mongolian horse team.

  The city of Liangcheng also has a water gate leading directly to the Chaohe River, which can communicate with the outside world by boat. Even if the city is besieged by the Mongols, it can be blocked without fear. Therefore, Liangchengsuo has also become an important place in the southeast of Gyeonggi after Tianjin Wei.

When Feng Ziying's cavalry team entered Zhenzi Town, they attracted hidden eyes hiding in the town's houses. At this time, a large cavalry team could appear in this area, except for the official army, only the Mongolian cavalry team up.

  Feng Ziying and Zai Sai met here a few days ago. At that time, Feng Ziying asked Wu Yaoqing to conduct a secret search of this area. Dozens of households in Zhenzi Town still sneaked back one after another and did not obey the official orders.

  Feng Ziying didn't pay much attention to it at first, until Wu Yaoqing secretly reported to him that some of the people who sneaked back had connections with the White Lotus Sect, which aroused his vigilance.

  The threat of the White Lotus Sect has always been lingering in Feng Ziying's mind, making him dare not take it lightly.

In the Linqing civil uprising, the White Lotus Sect was just a small test of the chopper's guidance, and it set off a huge wave. If the White Lotus Sect became the dominant player, he didn't know what would happen under the instigation of religious fanaticism. However, he knew that the current Da Zhou really could only take tonics, not cathartics.

  Luanzhou has always been the focus of Feng Ziying's request to Wu Yaoqing and the others to monitor.

Judging from all aspects of the situation, the proliferation of the White Lotus Sect in Yongping Mansion is more severe than that in Shandong, at least it is more dangerous than that in Dongchang Mansion. For this reason, Feng Ziying wrote to her father-in-law Shen Xing, asking Regarding the situation of the Eastern Mahayana teaching activities in Dongchang Prefecture, Shen Xing’s reply mentioned that the situation in Zhuzhou and counties of Dongchang Prefecture is acceptable, but it is said that the situation in southern Shandong is more complicated.

  There are traces of the White Lotus Sect in almost every prefecture and county in Yongping Prefecture, but the understanding of the White Lotus Sect by the government offices of the prefectures and counties is obviously a bit negligent and slack, but it is indeed difficult to deal with it.

Especially for some superficial religious believers, there are not many methods of enlightenment in this era, and it is difficult to have much influence on this kind of group that can be called the oppressed by relying solely on the squires and clan forces in the countryside , and may even make them more together and more fulfilled.

Fortunately, Feng Ziying's reminder and urging as an acquaintance also made all counties start to take more or less action, especially demanding that those wandering preachers who cross townships and counties should be resolutely arrested and severely punished. This is to a certain extent The spread of this momentum has been somewhat curbed.

   After leaving Zhenzi Town, Feng Ziying couldn't help turning her head to take a look.

Seeming to have sensed Feng Ziying's worry, Wu Yaoqing urged the horse to catch up, "Your Excellency, don't worry too much. Although there is a White Lotus Sect activity in Zhenzi Town, there is an inspection department here. Master Zhao of the inspection department is quite capable. I have already Tell him, he will take care of it."

   "I hope." Feng Ziying was noncommittal, and he still had some doubts about the professionalism of the officials below.

  Wu Yaoqing smiled, "Master Zhao's wife and family run a grain store in this town of Hazelnut, and he knows better than anyone else what the White Lotus Sect will bring if there is an incident."

   "Oh?" Feng Ziying nodded, this is true, these guys will only be enthusiastic if they are bound to their own interests.

  Both Yang Sichang and Zheng Chongjian were very curious about this man who often haunted Feng Ziying.

Previously they thought that this ordinary man was Feng Ziying's long-term follower, or a servant arranged for him by Feng Ziying's father, but the conversation between Feng Ziying and him did not seem like that kind of pure master From the conversation, especially Feng Ziying was very serious and careful when talking with him, which made them very curious.

  In such an occasion, the other party took the initiative to report something to Feng Ziying. Although it was difficult to hear because of the distance and the horse riding, but from the change of Feng Ziying's expression, it could be felt that Feng Ziying attached great importance to his words.

Wu Yaoqing was also very knowledgeable, and quietly retreated after finishing speaking, Yang Sichang asked: "Ziying, you seem to be quite capable as a long-term follower, I think you have to ask him to ask any questions you have? Did you invite him?" Staff?"

Unlike Yang Sichang and the others who were court officials in Beijing, Feng Ziying was already considered a member of one party. In Yongping Mansion, a mansion with a population of one million, it was under one person, above ten thousand, with aides, and even a team of aides. , are not surprising.

Young officials like Yang Sichang, in the six ministries of the imperial court or the Metropolitan Procuratorate, mostly focus on doing business. It is rare to really plan and make decisions, so basically no one will invite staff, but there are some One or two is more common, but the personal follower is not so much a counselor for the master, but more of running errands for the master to do some chores.

"Wen Ruo, I'm just an acquaintance. Where do I need any staff? Yaoqing was my father-in-law's entourage in the past. Later, before my father-in-law passed away, he was entrusted to me to help me with some things." Feng Ziying said lightly. .

After Yang Sichang was taken aback, he realized that the father-in-law that Feng Ziying referred to was not the father of Shen's daughter, who is now the prefect of Dongchang Prefecture, but Shen Ting, the father of Lin's daughter In charge of the Lianghuai Salt Administration, he is indeed qualified to support a group of staff and staff. This should be the most capable person among them, so he will entrust it to his son-in-law.

  Yang Sichang nodded with a smile: "It's better to be Ziying, and the third wife, and the father-in-laws will always think of Ziying if they have any good things."

   "Wen Ruo was joking. Your father is now the governor of Yunyang, so he must need a real staff team. The management of the refugees in Jingxiang is not easy, especially now that the chaos in the southwest has emerged, and the imperial court asked Mr. He to be the governor of Yunyang. It is also a rainy day."

Feng Ziying cleverly brought the topic to Yang He, and Yang Sichang didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he became worried for his father, "Ziying, Bozhou is still dormant, but the inner and surrounding chieftains are getting closer and closer. It is estimated that the company will take action in the near future.”

Yang Sichang's gloomy tone showed that he was not optimistic about the situation in the Southwest, "Master Geng is training the new military army in Chongqing, and I hope the Ministry of War can provide them with firecrackers. Ziying, I heard that Foshan Villa is in Yongping. While mining and smelting iron, we also jointly set up a firecracker workshop with the Bingzhan Bureau and the Military Weapons Bureau to make firecrackers, how is the progress?"

Yang Sichang’s question made it difficult for Feng Ziying to answer. It’s not a secret, but at present, it’s said that the Bureau of Military Warfare and the Military Weapons Bureau are still in preparation, but in fact, some firecrackers have been trial-produced in the early stage, mainly for the new army and Offset the firecrackers that Zhuang Ji promised to Liaodong.

After pondering for a while, Feng Ziying finally replied: "Wen Ruo, to tell you the truth, Zhuangji will be able to produce firecrackers when the Mongols withdraw from the side wall. There must be some problems with the quantity and quality in the early stage, but next year, it will definitely be a problem." It can come back to normal, but it’s probably too late for brother Chucai, but the firecrackers are too late. There are still some knives and guns in the military bureau and military bureau. I think the military department can be transported to Chongqing first. Comrade Dunley, I'm afraid something will go wrong."

  Yang Sichang frowned, "The meaning of Ziying...?"

"I don't mean anything else. The Denglai Army was formed at the beginning. The soldiers are all from Shandong and Xuzhou. They may not be able to adapt to the mountains and climate in the southwest, and they have never fought. It is really a joke if they become another Beijing camp. .”

Feng Ziying's explanation seems to be correct, but in fact Yang Sichang always felt that there was something unsatisfactory in it, "Wang Ziteng is a veteran general, can they consider these situations? And the Denglai Army has been stationed in Huguang for a long time. Is it almost the same for climate adaptation?"

   "I hope, but I suggest that the Ministry of War should be more thoughtful. Can the troops from the three sides be mobilized? If Ningxia, Gansu is not easy to move, but what about the soldiers from Yulin and Guyuan?"

Feng Ziying didn't argue. He was always wary of Wang Ziteng's Denglai Army. He always felt that the other party went to Huguang so easily. He might have some intentions, but he couldn't tell what the problem would be. But Jia Yuanchun...

   "Soldiers from Guyuan Town?" Yang Sichang hesitated for a moment, "Guyuan Town's troops are weak, and it was originally used as a reserve team for the second town of Yulin and Ningxia..."

"Since it is a reserve team, why is the preparation different? It is better to go to Xi'an and Yunyang without spending too much food, than to stay in Guyuan all the time?" Feng Ziying asked: "Wen Ruo, you should suggest to Mr. Chai one time."

  (end of this chapter)