"Mr. Cheng, you can't be so absolute. We are trying to eliminate thieves for the people, so it is appropriate for Baixin to give some food and grass. If we are in Zhujiazhuang, I will take care of all the food and grass for the army. Qinbei Pavilion"
Zhu Chaofeng said that he was not an official and could represent the people.
"What's more, this food is not just borrowed but not returned. We just wait until the thieves are driven away and the food is returned to the townspeople."
Zhu Chaofeng didn't wait for Zhang Shuye to speak, and continued, food is the most important thing now. The soldiers of Dongping Mansion and Dongchang Mansion may be able to endure it for two days, but the farmers in Zhujiazhuang cannot bear it, and many people are already full. He complained and clamored to go back to Zhujiazhuang, not wanting to be the enemy of Liangshan anymore.
"What you said is reasonable, but you still have to negotiate with the people to borrow food. Don't act like a thief!"
Although Cheng Wanli thinks this is not good, there is no food in the army now. If we let it go, if a mutiny occurs, the consequences will be far more serious than borrowing food.
"yes!"
Dong Ping was overjoyed, clasped his fists at Cheng Wanli and left.
"Zhifu Cheng, none of the thieves have ever been like this. How can we be worthy of this official uniform?"
Zhang Shuye looked at Cheng Wanli and said.
"There is nothing we can do about it. Tell the people that after we repel the thieves, this year's taxes will be reduced or exempted."
Cheng Wanli said to a Yuhou.
"Since Zhang Zhixian is unwilling to borrow food, does he have a strategy to retreat from the enemy?"
Cheng Wanli looked at Zhang Shuye. Although he was quite critical of Zhang Shuye now, he knew Zhang Shuye's ability very well. He could only rely on Zhang Shuye to defeat the enemy.
"We will break out tonight! This place is forty miles away from Dongping Mansion. If we force a breakout, we can always go back."
Zhang Shuye said.
"How sure are you?"
Cheng Wanli was a little moved, looked at Zhang Shuye and asked.
"Thirty percent, we have 10,000 people, and if we force a breakout and pay six to seven thousand casualties, we should be able to return to Dongping Mansion."
Zhang Shuye said, if Liangshan didn't have more than 2,000 cavalry, there would be another 20%.
"Only 30%!"
Cheng Wanli felt disappointed after hearing this. The success rate was a bit low. He now had 12,000 soldiers and horses.
"Prefect Cheng, we are not surrounded by soldiers. Those in Zhujiazhuang are all farmers. Without systematic training, they will not be of much use in a war."
Zhang Shuye whispered to Cheng Wanli that there seemed to be a lot of people on their side, but in fact the fighting power was far inferior to that of Liangshan, otherwise they would not have been besieged in Anshan Town.
"Master Magistrate, the thief uses flying arrows to send messages!"
A soldier ran in from outside and presented a letter.
"Hmm! What!"
Cheng Wanli originally looked impatient, but when he saw the handwriting on the envelope, his expression changed drastically. He taught his daughter's handwriting step by step, and he couldn't fake it since he was a child.
Everyone looked at Cheng Wanli in confusion, wondering why the magistrate had suddenly lost his composure. Everyone was staring at the letter in Cheng Wanli's hand, wondering what the thief had written in his heart.
"This...Ni...zi!"
Cheng Wanli looked at his daughter's letter to persuade him to surrender, and the veins on his forehead popped out with anger. He gritted his teeth and said, he was so angry that it was useless to give birth to a daughter. He turned his elbows outward, and now he was helping the thieves to persuade his father to surrender. It was simply unbelievable. Dutiful son.
Cheng Wanli stared at the letter in his hand. After a short period of rage, he felt worried again. His daughter had been studying in the back hall since she was a child and had little contact with outsiders. Now she was kidnapped by a thief, and a weak woman was trapped in a vicious trap. The hand of a thief is at stake, and the misery needs no explanation. When he thinks of this, how can his father sit still?
"Assemble your troops and go out to kill the enemy tonight!"
Cheng Wanli shouted to everyone.
"Master Prefect, this..."
Everyone was confused as to why Cheng Wanli, who had been hesitant just now, became so furious now.
"Mr. Magistrate, please don't be angered by the thief. This thief is best at fighting at night. If he goes out, he will definitely fall into the trap."
Zhang Qing clasped his fists and said, Cheng Wanli is raising an army out of anger, which is a taboo for military strategists.
"Mr. Magistrate, what did the thief write in his letter?"
Everyone looked at Cheng Wanli in confusion, and even more curious about the letter.
"Nothing, just a sarcastic letter!"
Cheng Wanli stuffed the letter into his sleeve. He couldn't let everyone know about his daughter's letter. His reputation was small and his daughter's reputation was great. If everyone knew that his daughter was kidnapped by a thief, his daughter's reputation would be ruined. .
Seeing that Cheng Wanli was relieved, everyone no longer bothered about the letter.
"Master magistrate, this is Zhuge Kongming's provocation method to deal with Sima Zhongda. You must not fall into the enemy's plan."
"Master Magistrate, why not fight the thief after dawn?"
Everyone started talking.
"Then we will send troops tomorrow!"
Cheng Wanli was so confused now that he got up and left.
Everyone just thought Cheng Wanli was still angry and didn't take it seriously. Only Zhang Shuye frowned and thought, feeling that the letter was not simple.
Outside Anshan Town.
"Leader Sun, will my father come out?"
Cheng Wan'er looked at Anshan Town and asked Sun Lei that her letter had been sent in for a long time, but there was still no movement in Anshan Town.
"It's not that easy! Magistrate Cheng is the head of a government, and he is leading tens of thousands of people. How could he leave the city and surrender just because of a letter from you?"
Sun Lei smiled and shook his head. He never thought that Cheng Wanli would surrender like this. If he came out, he would lead people to fight to save others. He was here tonight to listen to what was going on in the town.
"Brother, it's started!"
Pang Wanchun said in a low voice with pointed ears.
Everyone held their breath and concentrated, hearing waves of low cries and curses, mixed with the barking of dogs and the crow of cocks.
"What's this?"
Cheng Wan'er looked at Sun Lei and others in confusion, wondering why they were listening to this.
"The town has sent troops to grab food."
Sun Lei said with a smile.
"Sent troops to grab food!"
Cheng Wan'er looked at the town in disbelief. The voice sounded real. She didn't want to believe that her father would do such a thing.
"Prefect Cheng's army has run out of rations. What will we do if we don't start with the townspeople?"
Sun Lei said.
"Brother, if you do this two or three times, there will probably be a rebellion in the town."
Wen Huanzhang listened to the voice and said, the resistance of the townspeople is still very fierce. The government and army's failure to collect food will definitely lead to conflicts. Now that Liangshan's army is out, the townspeople will definitely want to take refuge.
"More or less, Anshan Town is not big to begin with, and ordinary people cannot store enough food to support an army of more than 10,000 people for a long time."
Sun Lei nodded and said, Anshan Town only has a few thousand citizens, how can it support an army of more than 10,000 people? Excessive looting may lead to a civil uprising, which is what he wants Zhang Shuye and Cheng Wanli to see.
"The prefect should lead his troops out tomorrow to fight. Brothers, please prepare."
Sun Lei looked at everyone and said.
"Brother, don't worry, we will capture Magistrate Cheng alive."
Everyone laughed and said that since Sun Lei had promised not to kill Cheng Wanli, they would naturally capture him alive.
Everyone dispersed, but Cheng Waner's face was full of worry. These "ferocious" thieves in front of her were always not so trustworthy.
"Don't worry, Miss Cheng. Although my brothers are rude, they do what they say."
Sun Lei comforted Cheng Waner with a smile. Everyone's words just now were full of laughter. They all thought that he was interested in Cheng Waner, but in the ears of Cheng Waner, a woman who had never seen anything sinister, it turned into a malicious joke.
Free reading in Qinbeige
