At the end of September, Yan Jizu, the governor of Shandong who led his troops back to Jinan Fucheng, stood on the ruins and couldn't help but cursed angrily. The surrounding Ming army generals did not dare to respond and had to stand far away.
Yan Jizu, named Shengqi and Tonglan, was a native of Longxi County in the Ming Dynasty and a Jinshi in the 47th year of Wanli.
This time the Qing soldiers invaded, Yan Jizu, as the governor of Shandong, had an overview of the money and food for the soldiers and horses in Shandong. He was naturally the first to bear the brunt. He was determined to fight to the end and was preparing to gather soldiers and horses from all over the area to set up defenses in Qingzhou Prefecture and Jinan Prefecture to stop the Qing Dynasty. The army was stationed in the north to prevent Qing troops from going south and eroding the hinterland of Shandong.
However, Yang Sichang, the Minister of War, misjudged the current situation and ordered Yan Jizu to lead his troops to move to different places, and finally ordered him to lead his troops to garrison in Dezhou. Yan Jizu's standard troops only had 3,000 men. They were originally intended to defend the city. However, in less than a month, they were transferred around by the Ministry of War and changed defenses three times. In the end, they were exhausted and were attacked by the Qing army. To Jinan Prefecture.
During this period, Yan Jizu knew that the troops and horses in Shandong were not of much use, so he wrote to the Ministry of War several times, asking the court to mobilize troops and horses from all over to assist Shandong. However, no reinforcements came, and even Liu Zeqing, the commander-in-chief of Shandong, was unwilling to lead his troops back to Jinan. Such a situation in the government made Yan Jizu extremely angry.
At this time, Yan Jizu led his troops to Jinan Fucheng. At the same time, he mobilized troops to clean up the ruins in the city, look for surviving people, and wrote to surrounding counties and counties to move the population as quickly as possible to enrich Jinan Fucheng. At the same time, Yan Jizu immediately sent his confidants to various places to verify the achievements of various ministries.
"With the war going like this, I, the governor, must make those who are afraid of the enemy pay the price!"
Yan Jizu roared angrily, and the summoned general Xu Tonghui cupped his fists and accepted the order.
Xu Tonghui was originally Yan Jizu's servant. He was later transferred to Shandong Beidu Si Dengzhou Camp to lead troops, and then was transferred back to his side. He was Yan Jizu's confidant general.
The military system of the Shandong Guard Station was somewhat different from that of other places. Because Shandong faced the sea and was already facing the threat of Japanese pirates, the imperial court made some fine-tuning on the original guard system of Shandong.
Above the hundreds of households in various places is the Qianhu Station. Above the Qianhu Station are not all commanding envoys, but the three military camps of Jimo Camp, Dengzhou Camp, and Wendeng Camp that were added during the Yongle period. The Lingshan Guard where Liu Yan was located was under the control of Jimo Camp.
These three battalions have jurisdiction over all 24 guard posts in Shandong. Jimo camp has jurisdiction over four guards including Andong Guard, Lingshan Guard, Aoshan Guard, and Dasong Guard, as well as Shijiu, Xiahezhai, Jiaozhou, Fushan, Xiongya, and Haiyang Guards. Wendeng camp has jurisdiction over four guards, including Jinghai Guard, Chengshan Guard, Weihai Guard, and Ninghai Guard, and four thousand households; Dengzhou Camp has jurisdiction over three guards, including Dengzhou Guard, Laizhou Guard, and Qingzhou Guard, and three thousand households. Household. The camp is equipped with military officials such as generals, commanding officers, and commanding officers. The general officer will be the commander of each battalion, and will be in charge of the overall battalion affairs together with the commanding officer and commanding officer. In this way, a military system of battalions, guards, and defense stations was successively established in the eastern part of the Shandong Peninsula.
"I heard that Lingshan Guard's record this time is good. In this case, you go straight to Lingshan Guard and check from Lingshan Guard first!"
Xu Tonghui said: "Sir, my subordinates heard that Lingshan Guards killed a defensive officer and lost many soldiers and horses, but they reported a great victory. The victory report has been sent to the capital, and now His Majesty already knows the news..."
Yan Jizu said: "It is precisely because His Majesty also knows about this that he asked you to go to Lingshan Guards first. This time we have suffered successive defeats in various places in Shandong, and even the city of Jinan was burned down. If Your Majesty is blamed, we will all lose." If an official is imprisoned, no one can escape, do you understand?"
Xu Tonghui understood immediately and whispered: "I will rush to Lingshan Guard now. If this good news is true, I will write a detailed report."
"Well, that's good. Those who have merit cannot be left behind, and those who have no merit cannot be added. Do you understand?"
"My subordinate understands!"
A few days later, Xu Tonghui arrived at Lingshan Acropolis. When Li Jiwen, the conduct officer, heard that Hu Zongming had arrived to report, he couldn't believe it until he saw Xu Tonghui striding in wearing a military uniform. Ji Wencai hurriedly came out to salute.
"I didn't know that your Majesty is coming here, and I am missing out on welcoming you from afar!"
Xu Tonghui smiled and said, "Okay, don't worry about these customs. Let's go in and talk."
"Yes, yes, sir, please come in!"
Li Jiwen let Xu Tonghui in and winked at Hu Zongming. When he saw Hu Zongming shaking his head slightly, he felt something bad in his heart.
After the three of them sat down, Xu Tonghui went straight to the topic and said loudly: "In the battle on Yaoshan Mountain Road outside Qingzhou City, Zhang Hailin, the defender of Qianhu Station in front of Xiahe Village of Lingshan Guard, was killed in the battle. Is this true or false?"
Li Jiwen didn't expect that Xu Tonghui would ask about this matter as soon as he came up. He suddenly sweated like rain, nodded and said: "This matter is true. At that time, the defense officer Zhang Hailin was in the lead and was leading..."
"The soldiers of Lingshan Guard suffered heavy casualties, with no less than a thousand dead and wounded. Is this true or false?"
Xu Tonghui did not listen to Li Jiwen's explanation at all, which made Li Jiwen scream in his heart. Li Jiwen knew that Xu Tonghui was a confidant of Shandong Governor Yan Jizu. Now Shandong General Liu Zeqing was recruited to North Zhili to deploy defenses. This Shandong Governor Yan Jizu was not only himself The "county official" is also "now in charge", so naturally he is heartbroken.
"Yes, yes, it's true. The soldiers and horses have not been trained for a long time..."
"snort!"
Xu Tonghui's face suddenly became a little ugly, and then he waved his hand to stop Li Jiwen's words, and asked again: "Then the one hundred and thirty-four beheadings written in your victory report included the beheadings of more than a dozen vests and a special expert." , is this true or false?”
"Sir, this is true, it's true, it's absolutely true!"
"Your Majesty, this is indeed true, there is nothing wrong with it!"
Having said this, Li Jiwen became energetic and shouted loudly, and even Hu Zongming next to him also started shouting. At this time, the two of them couldn't care less about their moral integrity. They wanted to prove their record first.
"oh?"
Xu Tonghui tried hard to suppress the excitement in his heart, and tried not to change his expression, and then said: "The soldiers and horses of your Lingshan Guard are so invincible that they can behead one hundred and thirty-four people. Do you think I am an idiot?"
"grown ups!"
Li Jiwen said loudly: "Most of the soldiers and horses of our Lingshan Guard are indeed unable to fight, but the Wangjiazhuang Baihu Station under the Qianhu Station in front of Xiahe Village is different. Liu Yan, the team leader of Wangjiazhuang, is a fierce general. Not only were his soldiers and horses well-trained, but all of them wore armor and were equipped with sophisticated firearms. Their combat power was outstanding, so they beheaded a lot of people!"
After hearing this, Xu Tonghui suddenly became energetic. Unexpectedly, when he came to check this time, he also found an unborn warrior?
"Well, in that case, it makes sense."
Xu Tonghui stood up, and Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming hurriedly followed suit. Xu Tonghui said, "Let's go, take me to check the heads of the Qing soldiers. I will check them one by one!"
"yes!"
A moment later, in the backyard of the official residence, one hundred and thirty-four heads were neatly placed in the yard. A large wooden basin was placed in the center of the yard. Water had been placed in it. A servant was holding the heads of the Qing soldiers. Place them in the water one by one.
"The face of the head is facing upward, it floats without sinking, the beard and hair are not newly shaved, and the teeth and facial features are slightly different from those of me from the Central Plains. It is the head of a real slave!"
This time, Xu Tonghui specially brought a professional soldier to clear the heads of these soldiers. Listening to the soldiers inspecting each one one by one, and delivering the verdict on the spot, the smile on Xu Tonghui's face became brighter and brighter, until the last head was found. After passing the test, Xu Tonghui burst out laughing and praised Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming: "I didn't expect that Lingshan Guards still has loyal ministers and good generals like you. When I go back, I must report the truth to Master Futai, along with that Call Liu Yan, the team leader, to ask for credit for you!"
Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming suddenly let out a sigh of relief. They finally passed the test, so they clasped their fists and became humble. At the same time, they also talked about the thrilling aspects of the battle. The two people talked about it. It was clearly Liu Yan who led his troops to turn the tide. , but according to Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming, it was the combined efforts of everyone that won the battle.
"Okay, this is not the place to talk. Let's go in and talk in detail."
"Yes, sir, please come inside."
"Oh, be sure to put these heads away. Use more lime and salt them all to prevent them from rotting in the hot weather."
"Yes, what my lord said is that my subordinates will arrange manpower right now."
The three of them returned to the main hall. Xu Tonghui asked Li Jiwen to step aside, and then said: "The victory report you reported only said who had the credit, but it did not mention the heads. How many heads were beheaded by who? We must show them today. Here’s an explanation.”
"It turns out that we are going to separate the heads!"
Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming looked at each other and had a rough idea in their minds.
Li Jiwen said: "Sir, this is what my subordinates think about these heads. The Qianhu Station in front of Xiahe Village will definitely take the big heads and give them 80 heads. Then the remaining 30 heads will be given to the governor, my subordinates." I will share twenty-four among others. What do you think, sir?"
"Ha ha!"
Xu Tonghui laughed loudly and said, "I don't care how you divide them. Take a hundred of these heads and give them to me to take back. They will be considered as the governor's."
"What?"
"grown ups!"
Li Jiwen was a little anxious. There were still Jimo Camp and Lingshan Guard levels left. How could a mere thirty-four heads be enough?
"Sir, my subordinates are also in difficulty, please forgive me!"
"If I understand you, who will understand Master Futai!"
With that said, Xu Tonghui clapped his hands and ushered his followers in. The two followers also carried a large wooden box and placed it directly in the center of the room.
Xu Tonghui walked to the box with a smile. After opening the wooden box, there was a whole box of white silver inside. Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming were dumbfounded.
"There are ten thousand taels of silver in this. Master Futai asked you to appease people's hearts."
After saying that, Xu Tonghui took out one thousand taels and gave it to Hu Zongming, and then took out two thousand taels and gave it to Li Jiwen. The two hurriedly shied away, who dared to ask for such money?
"You won't take it?"
Xu Tonghui was a little angry, sat back on his chair, pointed at Hu Zongming and said coldly: "If you don't take it, how will Commander Li take it?"
Then Xu Tonghui pointed at Li Jiwen and said, "If Commander Li doesn't take it, how can I take it? If none of us take the money, how can Mr. Futai give us any help?"
Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming looked at each other, and then sighed.
Then Li Jiwen said: "Since your Excellency has made it clear, I will tell you directly. One hundred heads will be taken away by Your Majesty, but for the remaining thirty-four heads, Jimo Camp can only divide four." , the remaining thirty heads were divided into eight for Lingshan Guard, six for Zhongqianhu Station and Jiaozhou Guard Qianhu Station, six for Qianhu Station in Xiahe Village, and six for Wangjiazhuang Team Officer Liu Yan Ten."
After hearing this, Xu Tonghui raised his eyebrows, then laughed and said: "Okay, let's do it! I will go back to Jinan Fucheng today and report this matter to Mr. Futai in person."
"Jinan Fucheng?"
"Yes, reconstruction matters are heavy now, and Mr. Futai is too busy to do anything. I must go back as soon as possible."
Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming hurriedly flattered you: "Your Excellency is loyal and loyal, I admire you very much!"
33
Some people died, but not completely...
