"Is this cement?"
Yan Jizu saw the two thousand bags of cement neatly stacked in the school yard. He looked around curiously, and then asked: "How many houses can be built with this much cement?"
Lu Xiangsheng stood nearby, stroking his beard with his hand, and said: "When the cement workshop in Aoshanwei was delivering the goods, they once mentioned that a thirty kilogram bag of cement, plus water, would be used to smooth the city wall. It can cover an area of ten feet square.”
"So, this is... two thousand bags? This is not enough to strengthen the defense of Jinan City!"
Lu Xiangsheng said: "There is no way. Four hundred taels of silver have been spent on these two thousand bags of cement, and Liu Yan gave it to me at a low price. I also calculated it when I came back. If the entire city defense of Jinan City is used, Cement reinforcement will cost at least more than 20,000 taels of silver, which is still a conservative estimate."
Yan Jizu sighed and said, "Forget it then. I think it is better to use these two thousand bags of cement with caution. Good steel is used on the blade. Let it be used on the damaged areas first. As for other places, I think it is better to use it." ”
Lu Xiangsheng nodded in agreement.
It was approaching the end of the year, and there was a lot of joy inside and outside Jinan City. Even though the people in the city were generally in poverty, and even though the city had become dilapidated after two attacks by the Qing army, the joy of the new year still echoed inside and outside the city.
Lu Huaiying personally sat at the head of the city and supervised the civilians who used all two thousand bags of cement for city defense, repairing the city walls and ancillary defense facilities in the cold winter.
A few days later, the two thousand bags of cement were exhausted, leaving only more than seventy bags, but there were still many damaged areas on the city wall.
So Lu Huaiying returned to the Governor's Mansion from the top of the city, wanting to ask Lu Xiangsheng if he should send someone to purchase more cement. However, he met Xu Tonghui, a general under Yan Jizu's command, outside Lu Xiangsheng's study.
"General Xu? But Yan Futai is inside?"
Xu Tonghui nodded and said: "Yan Futai is discussing matters with Lu Duchen, no one is allowed in."
Lu Huaiying said: "How long have General Xu Shen been waiting?"
"It's been half an hour."
"so long!"
Lu Huaiying was hesitating whether to go back to the top of the city first and ask for instructions at the right time, when he saw the door of the study room opened, and Yan Jizu came out with a very unhappy expression, and said to Xu Tonghui: "Prepare the carriages and horses immediately, follow me Fu Go Hua Zhai!"
Xu Tonghui did not dare to say anything. He greeted Lu Huaiying and quickly went to prepare the carriage and horses.
Lu Huaiying hurriedly saluted Yan Jizu, but only received a cold snort. He looked at the half-open door in surprise, and finally pushed the door open and walked in.
"Supervisor?"
"come in."
Lu Huaiying entered the study and saw Lu Xiangsheng sitting in the room with a frown on his face, obviously not in a good mood.
"Is something wrong?"
Lu Huaiying said yes.
"We ran out of cement, right?"
Lu Huaiying said yes again.
Lu Xiangsheng sighed and said: "If you ask for permission to continue purchasing cement, then don't ask for permission. The remaining parts of the city defense will be repaired first."
"Master Governor, everything else is fine. It's just that there are still some defects in the south city wall. If we can continue to use cement to repair them, the effect will definitely be far better than other methods."
Lu Xiangsheng shook his head and said, "There is no more money. The treasury has bottomed out. There is no more money!"
Lu Huaiying was very surprised and said: "Didn't there still be thousands of taels of silver untouched a few days ago, and it was all used up in a few days?"
"The day before yesterday, Dubiao Camp and Fubiao Camp purchased a batch of fodder and spent a lot of money. Yesterday, Fubiao Camp purchased some iron materials and spent some money. In addition, King De sent people to collect it. There is an arrears, and the treasury has been emptied out by people from Prince De’s Palace.”
Lu Huaiying was shocked and said: "Then next month's military pay is also..."
"well!"
Lu Xiangsheng sighed: "The governor and Yan Futai were discussing this matter just now. The imperial court has not issued military pay, money or food for two months. After the last slave raid, the capital was in dilapidated condition and the imperial court had no money."
"Originally, the governor wanted to keep some silver coins and give some salary to the soldiers. Although it was not a full amount, at least it would give the soldiers a breather, but now there is no other way."
Lu Huaiying also had a sad face at this time, but he still said with relief: "The governor does not need to be anxious, maybe Yan Futai can borrow money and food for emergency needs."
"Borrow? Who else can I borrow from?"
Lu Xiangsheng said: "Everything that can be borrowed inside and outside Jinan Fucheng has been borrowed by my governor and Yan Futai. If Jinan Fucheng had not been besieged by slaves and thieves twice in a row, my governor and Yan Futai would have reorganized their troops and repaired it. We borrowed money on credit for the reason of city defense, so we probably won’t be able to borrow even one tael of silver. Now the money and food borrowed on credit have been used up, and no one will be willing to borrow it anymore.”
At this time, Lu Xiangsheng felt sad and angry. After the reorganization of the Dubiao Camp and the Fubiao Camp, they finally improved, and their combat power and equipment were improved to varying degrees. However, at this time, the money and food were cut off, and the court could not count on it. I really don’t know where the money and food of the Ming Dynasty are, and why the people of the world and the soldiers of the Wei Kingdom are so poor!
Lu Huaiying looked at Lu Xiangsheng with a sad face, feeling equally sad and angry in his heart, and suddenly said: "Supervisor, I think it is better to try Liu Youyi's suggestion. Those corrupt officials and unscrupulous businessmen have hoarded a lot of money and food, and they just need to copy some people At home, the governor and Yan Futai will have money and food to train their troops!"
Hearing this, Lu Xiangsheng felt a little shaken in his heart, but then he still shook his head: "There is no need to discuss this matter! Today's situation was achieved by all the soldiers fighting bloody battles in Julu and under the city of Jinan. The governor must not let it happen for a moment. He was so trapped that he gave people the power to let the traitors in the court intervene in the matter of rectifying Shandong's defense!"
Lu Huaiying shook his head. In his opinion, things had reached a dead end. Only by breaking through everything could the situation be reversed. But Lu Xiangsheng obviously does not have the courage of Liu Yan, or Lu Xiangsheng has too many shackles on him. With the current situation, it is impossible to overthrow it and start over.
"Then how are you going to break the situation?"
Lu Xiangsheng thought for a long time, then stood up suddenly and said: "The military pay for the Governor Biao and Fubiao camps will be postponed until the middle of next month. If the Governor and Yan Futai cannot raise money and food by then, we will summon the Governor." When the officers and men of the Yingying and Fubiao Yings arrived at the school grounds, I personally explained the reason to all the officers and men."
Lu Huaiying was dumbfounded on the spot.
That night, Lu Huaiying returned to his residence and thought about it, feeling very uneasy.
If Lu Xiangsheng announces the suspension of military pay in public, no matter what the reason is, it will be a fatal blow to the morale of the Dubiao Battalion and Fubiao Battalion, and the reorganization of the soldiers of the two battalions will be doomed to fail halfway. Without the guarantee of money and food, who would practice with peace of mind, and who would work hard for the court?
So Lu Huaiying made up his mind, wrote a letter overnight, and then sent someone to Jimo Yingcheng.
One morning a few days later, Liu Yan received a letter from Lu Huaiying. After reading it, he sighed: "Lu Duchen has reached a dead end!"
Historically, Lu Xiangsheng died in the Battle of Julu and did not take up the post of governor of Shandong at all. Therefore, Liu Yan had no historical facts to refer to, so he naturally could not guess Lu Xiangsheng's current specific situation.
After reading this letter, Liu Yan realized that Lu Xiangsheng and Yan Jizu were "penniless" and could not even make up for next month's military pay.
Even though Du Biao Camp and Fu Biao Camp were the personal military camps of Lu Xiangsheng and Yan Jizu, in the troubled times of the late Ming Dynasty, there was almost no army that could not mutiny without money and food. What Liu Yan knew was that Qi Jiajun and Baiganbing could do it.
The Tianxiong Army just founded by Lu Xiangsheng may be able to do it, but the Dubiao Battalion is no longer the Tianxiong Army it used to be. After several rounds of expansion, there are not many veterans left in the Tianxiong Army, and they are basically recruits recruited temporarily.
Liu Yan could imagine how the tens of thousands of soldiers in the two battalions would react when Lu Xiangsheng announced in public that the Governor's Mansion and the Governor's Yamen had no money, food, and military pay. They would most likely mutiny on the spot!
Even if there was no mutiny on the spot, the morale of the people in the Dubiao and Fubiao camps was shattered.
Liu Yan thought about it again and again, so he wrote a warrant and sent someone to Lingshan Guard immediately. He handed it to Yue Ming, the money and grain officer, and asked him to immediately prepare 20,000 taels of silver and 5,000 shi of grain.
At the same time, Liu Yan also wrote a warrant to Lingshan Guard Officer Chen Xun, ordering him to mobilize troops and horses to transport the money and grain to Jinan Fucheng and deliver it to Lu Xiangsheng.
The warrant sent to Chen Xun was also accompanied by an autographed letter from Liu Yan. Liu Yan said to Captain Ye Bushou who sent the warrant: "Keep this autographed letter away and tell Chen Caoshou that you must keep the autographed letter." Leave it to Lu Duchen."
"Got the order!"
Jinan Fucheng, Governor's Mansion.
On this day, it snowed heavily in Jinan. People in the city hid in their homes to avoid the cold. The streets and alleys in the city were deserted. Even the shops along the street were closed. Everything in the huge city was desolate.
However, a huge convoy entered Jinan Fucheng in such weather, rushing towards the Governor's Mansion amid thick snow and biting winds.
Lu Huaiying excitedly pushed open the door and let the cold wind pour into Lu Xiangsheng's study. Lu Xiangsheng looked over with astonishment, and saw Lu Huaiying's face, which was red from the cold, full of joy.
"Is there any news from Yan Futai?"
Lu Huaiying said: "Supervisor, this is Liu Guerrilla! Liu Guerrilla sent someone to send a batch of money and food, and the military pay for the next month has been settled!"
"What!"
Lu Xiangsheng said in surprise: "Isn't it also very difficult for Liu Yan? Where did he raise so much money and food?"
Unable to wait for an answer, Lu Xiangsheng immediately put on his cloak, asked Lu Huaiying to lead the way, and rushed outside to see with his own eyes the money and food sent by Liu Yan.
Outside the gate of the Governor's Palace, hundreds of large cars were lined up, which was very spectacular on the snow-white streets.
Lu Xiangsheng and Lu Huaiying watched all this, and they were both moved and excited, with mixed feelings.
The person escorting the convoy was General Qian Wei Han, who was led by General Zuo of the former battalion. After seeing Lu Xiangsheng, Wei Han clasped his fists and said, "I have met Governor Lu! I have been ordered to escort 20,000 taels of silver and 5,000 shi of food here. Please invite Governor Lu." Please check it."
Lu Xiangsheng raised his head and sighed, and burst into tears. Because of Liu Yan, Dubiao Camp and Fubiao Camp were saved.
Seeing that Lu Xiangsheng was losing his composure, Lu Huaiying on the side hurriedly took the letter from Wei Han, and then asked: "Liu Guerba's side is also very difficult. How did you raise the money and food?"
Lu Xiangsheng was also confused and looked at Wei Han.
Wei Han clasped his fists and said, "This is to be reported to Governor Lu and General Lu. My lords have written it clearly in the letter. Please also ask Governor Lu and General Lu to read the letter."
Lu Xiangsheng took the letter from Lu Huaiying and stood in the snow to unfold it. There were only a few words written in the letter: "The general heard that the governor was in urgent need of money and food, so he sold some of his family property to raise some money and food for emergency relief. Please Governors use it to tide over difficulties."
"Liu Yan actually..."
Lu Xiangsheng shook his head and sighed. Although he couldn't believe it in his heart, he was very moved. He clasped his fists and said to Wei Han: "Please pay the money and food to General Lu Shen. The accompanying soldiers will rest in the military camp in the city. I will compile a letter from the governor and bring it to Liu Guerrilla.”
Wei Han clasped his fists and accepted the order.
Some people died, but not completely...
