After coming down from the city, Zhao Tong quickly returned to Xuanfu Division and urgently conveyed military orders one after another.
The curfew that was originally implemented after the city was closed was directly upgraded, and people who went out were ordered to return home an hour earlier and were not allowed to go out.
All major intersections are subject to martial law and inspections. In accordance with military orders, Jiangning City is cut into countless small pieces. People who are not from this area are strictly prohibited from stepping out unless there are special reasons. Forcibly crossing the traffic jam will be punished as a thief, and they will be punished on the spot.
Various fortifications were stepped up in the city, including tunnels, traps, and rooftop archery towers. Among them, the west outer city and the west inner city were the most important. There were secret military points hidden not far away.
The common people were not affected too much by these military orders. Jiangning was a big city, and people generally did not go too far from home when going out to work. Otherwise, they would not be able to make much money due to the time spent on the road, so they almost never left the designated area during the day. .
But the big gentry family is different. The local gentry has shops all over Jiangning City, and their businesses are spread across all walks of life. After dividing the area, the shopkeepers from outside can't come to report the details of the accounts, and the gentry inside can't see the business situation. The daily income could not be transported into the house, so he was dumbfounded.
The situation of the nobles who came from other places was better. They had stored food for a long time, so it was okay not to go out. However, those who had previously bought a house in a civilian residential area planned to pretend to be ordinary people once the city was destroyed. At this time, they couldn't help complaining. I regret not moving there earlier to hide.
At this moment, it is impossible for these nobles to go to Zhao Tao to explain, because the streets in the divided area are all under martial law. They can't get out, and they can't rely on their status. Those soldiers are Tokyo's forbidden troops and they don't want to buy into them. .
One day later, the entire Jiangning City fell into a state of extreme anxiety. Almost everyone's nerves were tense. The people were afraid of trouble. Seeing the streets full of swords and guns, how could they dare to go out to look for work? Anyway, there was enough food left at home to make porridge. For several days, the nobles were sitting in the mansion restless, some fell ill directly, and some were even frightened by the tense atmosphere in front of them and started talking nonsense.
This situation is not an exaggeration. Every time Fang La's army entered a city, they did not move any of the people in the city, but only captured the gentry and tortured them.
Boil human oil, light human lamps, peel off skin and cramps, remove bones and cook meat, do whatever cruelty you want, and do whatever you want to do, as fierce as you want, and even kidnap young women from rich families into the army, without even asking what they are doing.
However, Fang La's army mostly had no offense against the ordinary people in the city, at least at the beginning of the incident, when the troops were sharp and the people's hearts were in line, they did so.
As for the other scene of the subsequent defeat, it was very different from the beginning of the uprising. This is clearly remembered in "Qingxi Bandits" written by Fang Shao of the Song Dynasty, and will not be summarized here.
Therefore, the nobles were scared to death. Things like boiling people's oil and lighting people's lamps were frightening to death, so there were the above-mentioned things like talking nonsense when they were sick.
In the guest room at the back of the Xuanfu Department, Zhao Tong was drinking in the room, while Zhu Xiuniang sat on the couch opposite and stared at him blankly.
Zhu Xiuniang knew more or less what was going on in the city outside, and Zhao Tong didn't let anyone hide it from her.
Some of the terrible things that Zhu Xiuniang had guessed in her mind were gradually coming true. She was so panicked that she couldn't wait to ask Zhao Tan as soon as he came in. When she saw that Zhao Tan had no expression on his face and didn't answer any explanation, she became even more sure that Zhao Tan had ulterior motives. , fearing that he was about to commit violent acts, he actually imitated the words in the script and cursed him in anger.
It's a pity that even if the words in the storybook are curses, they are all polite. Zou Zou has never said such slang and vulgar words since she was a child. The two curse words were just a sneer from Zhao Tan, and she couldn't continue. I could only sit by the couch and watch blankly.
Zhao Tong was drinking. After a few drinks, he suddenly said: "Where did you learn the curse words? Don't let me hear it again, otherwise I won't be as polite as before. Please know that the most important thing for me is punishment, but I don't want to use it in a show." It’s just on you, mother.”
Zhu Xiuniang looked at him, with anger in her eyes. At this moment, she was almost blind. She didn't care about the manners of a lady, and said: "Hypocrite, liar, your reputation for virtue is all fake!"
Zhao Tong narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard this.
"Xiu Niang, what did you say?"
Zhu Xiuniang paused for a moment after hearing the words, then gritted her teeth and continued without hesitation: "You, you are a hypocrite, deceiving the world and stealing your reputation, deceiving the world and the court. As long as I don't die, I will go to Tokyo to file a complaint, and I will definitely sue you. This evil king!"
"Evil King?" Zhao Tong sneered and stood up, slowly walked towards the couch, and said: "What an evil king. If Xiu Niang, you don't mind being a bad woman who talks vulgar words, then I will too. Don’t be afraid of being an evil king!”
After that, he arrived in front of Zhu Xiuniang, raised his hand and tore it apart. There was a sound of tearing, and a touch of white was revealed. Zhu Xiuniang immediately screamed, covered her chest with both hands, and hid in the corner of the couch.
Zhao Tao looked at her coldly and said: "I don't want to hear any rude words from Xiu Niang in the future. You are the most talented woman in Shezhou. If Jiangnan happens this time, you will be the most talented woman in eastern Zhejiang. You too After the orders of your parents and the words of the matchmaker, you have married the king as a concubine to the king. You must always remember your identity and do not embarrass the king or the royal family of the Song Dynasty!"
Zhu Xiuniang immediately lost her composure. She no longer cared about the tattered clothes and pointed at Zhao Tong with a delicate finger: "You, what on earth do you want to do? When did your parents order a matchmaker? What are you talking about?"
Zhao Tong looked at her and said slowly: "Mr. Zhu has agreed to the marriage. It is naturally the order of my parents to betroth you, Xiuniang, to me as my concubine!"
"This is impossible, my father will never agree to this!" Zhu Xiuniang was stunned, and a trace of certainty appeared on her face: "My father will never let me be a side chamber, absolutely impossible!"
A hint of joking appeared at the corner of Zhao Tong's mouth: "What Grand Duke Zhu said with his own mouth, and this king heard with his own ears, how can it be wrong?"
Zhu Xiuniang said angrily: "You are lying to me, this is impossible, these are all lies made up by you, I want to see my father, you let me go back to see my father!"
Zhao Tong looked at her, shook his head, and said: "This is what I said, and you don't believe it. What did you say before that if I tell you, your family will definitely agree. Didn't you lie to me first?"
Zhu Xiuniang was immediately speechless, trembling with anger, and her anger and grievances were beyond words.
Zhao Tong said leisurely: "Just stay here for a long time, just treat everything as starting from scratch."
"What do you mean, starting from the beginning?" Zhu Xiuniang was shocked when she heard this, and she looked horrified. She suddenly felt bad in every way, as if the sky was about to collapse.
Zhao Tong no longer remained silent, turned around and walked out the door with his hands behind his back.
"Zhao Tong, you, please speak clearly!" Zhu Xiuniang's panicked voice came from behind, and she called her by her name without any regard for etiquette.
Zhao Tong walked out of the room without looking back. His face looked a little ugly. He couldn't tell what kind of emotion he was in. Hesitation, helplessness, determination and other attitudes were mixed together, making him seem to be absent-minded for a moment.
Later, Zhu Xiuniang's weak voice sounded again: "Zhao Tong, you liar, let me go home, you..."
Zhao Tong involuntarily quickened his pace, and there was a trace of confusion in his expression...
The three days passed so slowly that everyone in Jiangning City seemed to live like a year.
This generation of Jiangning people have never experienced war. Even if they are a hundred years old, they have never seen what war is like. They never thought that one day they would be besieged by a rebel army, and there would even be the danger of the city being breached.
Everyone is dumb. Although it is said that Fang Lajun never bullied the people and only killed corrupt officials and evil gentry, so what?
Could it be that when Fang La comes, he no longer has to live a hard life every day, can he eat meat, drink wine, and no longer be oppressed by others?
The common people don't know, they are ignorant about all this. Although the people in Jiangning City work hard every day, they still live a better life than the tenant servants in the rural villages. They like a peaceful and stable life, even if they are hungry. , when they are bullied, they always think that it will be over if they endure it, and they don’t want to fight.
There was Mingjiao before Jiangning City. Naturally, there are many branches of Mingjiao in such a big city. Just a few days ago, Zhao Tao ordered Yao Pingzhong to build a statue of Mingzun. Except for one that was taken to Qingliang Temple, the rest was placed on the bank of the Qinhuai River. Pretend to hold a lecture.
Because there were Mingjiao logos painted everywhere outside, people from the Jiangning branch were asked.
This inquiry was so outrageous that the people in the Jiangning branch were immediately shocked beyond measure. The Right Envoy of Light of the Holy Religion was actually in the city at this moment, and he had also brought many believers from other places.
The master of the branch altar in Jiangning is called Duanmu Neng. Although he is only a flag bearer, he is the leader of a party and has great power. After learning the news, he immediately went to the teaching point on the bank of the Qinhuai River. Guangming Youshi made him Naturally, I didn't see it, but I did see the pangolin tiger Yao Meng who was also the flag bearer.
Both of them were Red Flag Envoys. Although Duanmu Neng was the local instructor, Yao Meng, the mountain tiger, was directly under the command of the Light Envoy, with a higher status and more dignity, so they had a great conversation.
There are more than 3,000 Mingjiao believers in the Jiangning branch. Yao Pingzhong, who used the pseudonym Yao Meng in Luzhou, was shocked when he heard the news. These more than 3,000 believers were undoubtedly a stab in the back in the city. He went back Then he hurriedly reported to Zhao Tong.
After hearing this, Zhao Tong was not worried but happy. He spoke secretly to Yao Pingzhong and made Yao Pingzhong break into a cold sweat.
According to Zhao Tong, except for those who went to Qingliang Temple, there are only more than 800 Green Liuzhuang believers brought from Tokyo in the city at the moment. However, there are a few who want to do this big thing, and it is difficult to kill them all. We can't let the imperial guards pretend to be believers, and these people came just in time.
Zhao Tong's plan is actually a bit complicated. No mistakes can be made in any link. Once an error occurs, it is very likely to cause the entire plan to fail, making his efforts in vain, and even falling into a passive situation.
Outside the city, Fang Qifu was deceived. As the right envoy of light, he pretended to discuss with the opponent a sneak attack on Jiangning, and tricked the opponent into the city to trap and kill him.
The city deceived the Jiangning branch of the Mingjiao and used them to kill the nobles in Jiangning city, and they could also use these people to take the blame afterwards. After all, it is an indisputable fact that these believers of the Jiangning Mingjiao branch joined the rebels and massacred the nobles. There is no such thing here. No loopholes.
This is Fang Lajun's plan against Mingjiao.
As for the nobles, they initially closed the city and made a plan to catch turtles in an urn. Then, in order to prevent them from making a fuss in the city and wanting to leave, they asked Wu Song, Luo Jinshui and others outside to perform a trick out of thin air. A brilliant idea for blooming.
Finally, there is Zhu Xiuniang. The chess piece of Zhu Xiuniang is not a free chess piece, and it is not that Zhao Tong wants to take her by force because of her lust. Instead, she is used as an important secret. After all, all the nobles in Jiangning City are dead, even if The Ming Cult is taking the blame, and there is no flaw in the evidence, but it does not make sense emotionally. The absence of loopholes does not mean it must be true. After all, everyone is dead, and there is no evidence to prove it.
And with Zhu Xiuniang here, as the only remaining member of the gentry clan in Jiangning City, Zhao Tao brought her into the palace. Even if she was the only one, it was enough to block everyone's mouth and make those who had doubts unable to guess. After all, it was still. If someone from the gentry clan is there and she marries him, King Qin, it can be regarded as a marriage with the gentry clan.
As for whether Zhao Tan revealed what he wanted to do to Zhu Xiuniang intentionally or unintentionally, and made Zhu Xiuniang suspicious, this was also part of the plan. He wanted to let her know, and even make her sure that it was him, Zhao Tan, who did this, otherwise he would return to Tokyo in the future. Her doubts did not subside, and she searched for traces of the matter everywhere, investigating secretly, but it only led to bad things.
As for how to let her know, and at the same time make her refuse to reveal the information and think of ways to take revenge, Zhao Tong has not yet thought about it. He cannot kill him. At most, he can lock her up and prevent others from seeing him after he returns.
A whole series of plans were laid down, followed by various arrangements, cutting up areas in the city, laying out various ambushes and traps, waiting for Fang Qifu to enter the city and catch the thieves.
On the morning of the third day, Fang Qi's Buddhist army launched the most violent attack outside Jiangning City since the city was besieged. The soldiers rushed to the bottom of the city desperately. Some of them had already become believers of the Ming Sect, and they shouted "What's going on in the sect?" Slogan, wielding swords and guns, fearless of death, even if he was shot to the ground by an arrow, he still struggled to crawl forward, shouting: "The bright world, the vacuum hometown, no life and death, eternal light!"
These slogans became louder and louder, and in the end, the city walls around Jiangning were filled with loud slogans, including the troops in the distance who had not crossed the moat, and they were all shouting together.
On top of the city, all the defenders were frightened. Under the constant slogans, the rebels seemed not afraid of death or pain. Even though they were injured, they still marched forward with blood. Watching it made people feel numb. Ma, I was frightened.
After several attacks on the city, ladders began to be erected below. These ladders were being built crazily towards the top of the city. Some of them were deflected by the defenders' quick eyes and sticks with spears and sticks, while others were caught by hooks from above without even noticing. He was clinging tightly to the battlement. When the bottom fell, he was locked by gravity and could not be pried away.
And just as the siege soldiers were climbing up the ladder with their shields on their backs, boiling hot water was poured down the ladder from the top of the city on all sides.
The hot water was taken off when it was boiling and rolling on the fire. At this moment, the covered face fell down. Even with the shield on his head, he couldn't bear it. Most of the soldiers who stepped on the ladder to attack the city were wearing cloth armor and had no face coverings. , their hands and faces were exposed. As soon as their skin touched them, they immediately screamed. They had no strength to climb the ladder, and many of them fell down.
And even if it was poured on the body, it was hot today, there were no clothes under the cloth armor, and it was instantly soaked, and it would not be able to withstand it. As long as it stayed on the ladder for a few more breaths, it would fall down as well.
But even so, Fang Qifu still refused to withdraw his troops. He reorganized the siege soldiers, put on leather armor and thick clothes, and continued to attack. However, the defense on the city was too tight. The siege battle continued until the afternoon, and there was still no one. The soldiers climbed to the top of the city. As the corpses piled up under the city, Fang Qifu then ordered his troops to retreat and withdraw the attacking team to the other side of the moat... (End of this chapter)
