The eleventh year of Chongzhen (1638), the first day of February.
After the Shangyuan Festival, Bao Xuezhen settled down in Dapanbao. With Liu Yan's support, he opened a medical clinic and began to select suitable children and teenagers as apprentices in the fort.
A few days later, a reply came from the inspection department of the ancient town. The inspection inspector Song Gongming made a favor and transferred Bao Xuezhen's "personnel relationship". From then on, Bao Xuezhen was an official employee of Dapanbao.
At the same time, Wang Yue, Wang Bo, Zhang Yi, Xu Ming, Miao Shao, and Chen Xun also began to train the sentinel troops.
Zhang Yi led his troops to be stationed in the salt field, and Chen Xun led his troops to be stationed in the military camp area. Enough houses and some courtyards had been built on both sides to accommodate the soldiers of these two posts.
The other four sentry men and horses are all stationed in Dapanbao. At this time, on the school field outside Dapanbao, you can see the men and horses intensely practicing every day. The military households who have not yet started spring plowing are very interested. The happiest thing every day is to gather together. Watching the soldiers drill on the fort wall, there will be bursts of cheers or boos from time to time.
The salt drying field, soap workshop, and winery were operating normally. On the first day of the new year, caravans from all over the place came to pick up the goods. Chief Flag Officer Jia Hongyu even personally brought people there as usual to deliver bags of sea salt and boxes of sea salt. Soap and jars of Shaoguo wine were loaded onto the cart.
In the general flag officer's hall, Liu Yan took Jia Hongyu to drink hot tea and chat. The rest of the merchants, including those sent by Song Gongming, the inspector of the ancient town, were entertained by the small flag officer Wang Yue. Only Jia Hongyu was received by Liu Yan personally.
"Haha, Brother Jia has gained a lot of weight recently."
Jia Hongyu patted his already fat belly and said with a smile: "I have indeed gained a lot of weight. There is nothing I can do about it. Thanks to Mr. Liu, my life is so comfortable now. I have flowers every month." The endless money is like a dream."
"Brother Jia, you're welcome. The money we made is the result of our brothers' concerted efforts. I can't say who is doing it because of whom."
The two talked for a while, and Jia Hongyu said, "I wonder if Mr. Liu has been reading the pond newspaper recently?"
Liu Yan was slightly stunned and said: "No, I heard that the Qianhu Office in front of Xiahe Village has not sent the pond newspaper for two months. Has Brother Jia seen the latest pond newspaper?"
Jia Hongyu nodded and said: "It is true that there has been no news from the Qianhu Office for two months, but a few days ago I went to the Guzhen Inspection Department for work, and saw a handwritten Tang newspaper there. It was from last month.”
"Something happened to the court again?"
Jia Hongyu said: "In today's world, what day will something happen to the court? It's our Shandong!"
Liu Yan frowned slightly and asked, "What happened to us in Shandong?"
"Last year, we had severe droughts all over Shandong. People everywhere have been displaced. After winter, there was heavy snowfall everywhere, but the local governments were unable to provide relief. It is said that corpses littered the fields in every prefecture and county. How miserable!"
Liu Yan sighed heavily and said, "In this case, civil uprisings are likely to break out in various places in Shandong this year!"
"General Manager Liu is indeed an outstanding person, I guessed it all!"
Jia Hongyu said: "It is said that civil unrest has broken out in many places across the country, and the scale is not small."
Liu Yan said hurriedly: "Brother Jia, please explain in more detail."
Jia Hongyu paused and then spoke.
Since the beginning of winter last year, the victims of the disaster in various parts of Shandong Province have begun to riot, either joining bandits from various places, or simply pulling up a group of people and starting to fight. Bandits, large and small, emerge in endlessly across Shandong Province.
At the end of last year, bandits Pei Shouzheng, Ma Ruiheng, Liu Tongxiang and others gathered in Guan County, Shandong Province to start a rebellion and attack the surrounding villages and cities.
At the same time, the victims of the disaster in Yanzhou, Jining, Caozhou and other prefectures also started to revolt, and the momentum was very large, with the potential to start a prairie fire.
In addition, there are also some small groups of bandits who have also fled into various parts of Shandong. They fight on the move in various prefectures and counties, harass local areas, and continue to recruit disaster victims and small groups of thieves from various places, and gradually develop.
After hearing this news, Liu Yan also became alert. From this moment on, the real turmoil finally came.
Jia Hongyu looked at Liu Yan who was deep in thought and said with a smile: "General Liu, don't worry. Although chaos has gradually begun in various parts of Shandong, we here in Lingshanwei are still at peace. After all, we are close to the sea and it's too far away." , there won’t be any chaos here for a while.”
Liu Yan smiled and then asked to leave the meal. Jia Hongyu waved his hand and said, "Forget it for today. I have to go back and accompany the team leader. We brothers will talk about it next time."
When Liu Yan saw this, he didn't force him to stay. He sent Jia Hongyu out of the fort and returned to the flag hall with a frown on his face.
"I really didn't expect that Li Zicheng's troops would also appear in Shandong. Why do I remember that Li Zicheng should be roaming around Shaanxi and Shanxi at this time, and he was most involved in Henan. Why did he end up in Shandong?"
Liu Yan was confused, but he didn't know that more than ten days later, in a valley in the Malshan Mountain of Zhucheng, a man who looked like a scholar had led a large army to occupy the place.
This man is the shopkeeper Bai whom the salt lord Sun Qian contacted before. At this time, more than 3,000 people have gathered in the valley and are setting up camp here.
"General Bai, the bandits we collected along the way are too mixed and have no fighting power at all. On the contrary, they are consuming our food supplies. Why not drive those bandits to attack Zhucheng tomorrow and make some noise?" "
Shopkeeper Bai's name is Bai Miao. He was originally a down-and-out scholar. Later, when he could no longer survive, he joined Li Zicheng's team and was gradually promoted, becoming a talented general in Li Zicheng's old camp.
At this time, Bai Miao looked at the subordinates who came to report, and said with a smile: "I still have use for those people. Although they are not good at fighting, they are still qualified to be used as cannon fodder."
The subordinate's name was Bai Dazhuang, who was the capable general of Baimiao. He said at this moment: "General, are we going to Lingshan Guard? What kind of oil and water is there? We might as well go north to the Qingzhou and Yanzhou areas. Not only do they have a large population, There are many, and we can also replenish food and grass on the spot and gradually increase our strength."
Bai Miao shook his head and said: "Although there is turmoil in various parts of Shandong now, the imperial court's strength in Shandong is still very strong. We alone cannot make any big waves unless King Chuang can send a team of troops to support. But now …”
Having said this, Bai Miao sighed, and then continued: "Although Lingshan Guard is remote, I am very interested in it. Do you still remember Sun Qian?"
"Sun Qian?"
Bai Dazhuang said: "That salt owl?"
"right!"
Bai Miao said: "Before, Sun Qian mentioned a large fortress under Lingshan Guard. He said that it was very wealthy, with a large amount of money and grain reserves, and there was also a commander-in-chief named Liu Yan who was said to be very capable. ! To be honest, I am very interested in this person.”
"General, do you want to take this person in?"
"yes."
Bai Miao said: "I have talked with Sun Qian in detail and know some things about Dapanbao. If Dapanbao is really what Sun Qian said, then Liu Yan is so powerful that he can build a stronghold in just one year. , managed a fire road pier with 20 or 30 people into a large-scale fort that accommodated thousands of people, and also trained a pier army with considerable combat power. Why can't we use such talents for our own purposes? ?”
Bai Dazhuang said with a smile: "The general's idea is very good, but he is the chief flag officer of the imperial court and lives comfortably in his own camp. Who is willing to abandon everything and join us?"
"It all depends on people."
Bai Miao said: "If Liu Yan is not willing to serve King Chuang, then I don't mind getting rid of him. No matter where he is, such a person will get ahead sooner or later. If he gets ahead in the court, he will be very important to us." The threat will be great, if it can’t be used by me, then it must be eliminated as soon as possible!”
After finishing speaking, Bai Miao stood up, walked to the door of the tent, looked at the biting cold wind outside, and said: "This is not far from Lingshan Guard, and we don't have to hide our whereabouts anymore. Starting tomorrow, the army will Travel day and night to attack Dapanbao!"
Bai Dazhuang said: "General, there are so many bandits across Shandong now. These people hate the imperial court to the core. I think we should slow down and recruit more people to strengthen our strength. Even if those bandits are not strong enough to fight, it is still good to wave the flag and shout. "
"Ha ha."
Bai Miao said with a smile: "Remember, soldiers are not more numerous but more skilled. When it comes to the battlefield, the only ones we can really rely on are the eight hundred knights we brought out. The remaining two thousand bandits can only fight with the wind. So. The more people and horses, the better. The key is to use them in the right positions.”
"Yes, my subordinate has learned a lesson!"
The cold wind suddenly rose up, howling out of the valley, raging eastward, crossing the wilderness and abandoned villages, and finally blew outside Dapanbao.
In the blink of an eye, it was the end of February. On this day, Liu Yan came to the fort wall and looked to the north, with solemnity written on his face.
After learning from Jia Hongyu about the sudden civil unrest in various parts of Shandong, Liu Yan summoned Chen Xun, Wang Yue, Wang Bo, Zhang Yi, Miao Shao, and Xu Ming to urge everyone to intensify the training of the sentinel troops.
Liu Yan then went to the Firearms Supervision Department and the Armor Supervision Department. Accompanied by Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le, he inspected the construction of weapons and equipment.
At this time, all the weapons, spears, swords and shields required by each sentinel army have been fully equipped, and hundreds of thousands of fixed-load ammunition have been stored. It can be said that the quantity is astonishing, let alone such a reserve quantity. Thousands of households in front of Xiahe Village were attacked, and even the entire Lingshan Guard was the first to bear the brunt.
However, the production of armor is still insufficient. Currently, only forty-nine pairs can be produced per month. Although it is already very good in the eyes of others, it is still far from the standard required by Liu Yan for all employees to wear armor. Now each sentry It can only guarantee that all swordsmen, shieldmen and spearmen can wear armor, while only some of the gunmen can wear armor.
"I don't know where the bandits are now!"
Liu Yan was most worried about these thieves. After all, Li Zicheng was too famous as a troublemaker. No matter in the late Ming Dynasty or in later generations, his men were equally difficult to deal with.
Now Liu Yan felt the pain of not being able to keep up with the intelligence. He was like a blind man, unable to notice his opponent's every move and could only respond passively.
"Chief A."
Liu Yan sighed, suddenly heard a shout and looked back, it was the flag officer Chen Xunha walking over.
"Are you all ready?"
Chen Xun said: "Don't worry, Commander A. The seeds, cattle, farm tools, fertilizers and other materials needed for spring plowing have been shipped back. A total of more than 3,700 taels of silver have been spent. This is a specific list. Please give me a detailed list." Take a look."
Liu Yan took the list and simply looked at it. He saw that the prices of cattle, seeds, farm tools, etc. had increased a lot, especially for cattle. Now the price of a cattle had risen to twelve taels of silver. It was simply Outrageous!
"well!"
Liu Yan sighed, feeling distressed for himself, let alone ordinary people. The current world is really unbearable.
"Distribute it as soon as possible and keep records. These things will be gradually repaid by military households in the future."
"yes."
Suddenly, Miao Shao, the flag officer, quickly ran up the fort wall and shouted loudly: "Captain A! The leader of the team sent someone over and asked Commander A to rush to Wangjiazhuang immediately to discuss matters!"
"What happened?"
"Thieves, a large group of thieves are coming towards our Wangjiazhuang!"
