The night was getting darker, and except for the occasional barking of dogs in the night wind, there seemed to be no sound at all. The whole world outside the official's residence seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.
However, in this complete silence, Cui Jingzhi and Yang Wenwen in the study were in a daze and couldn't stop sighing.
The messenger has been sent down to rest.
When the servant came back, he said that the fabric and flesh on his thigh were stuck together and could not be pulled off no matter how hard he tried. Finally, he used warm water to dissolve the blood scab and then removed it.
"There is nothing wrong with the messenger. Just now, the housekeeper called someone who is familiar with Chuzhou to come and see him. He has indeed been seen in Chuzhou."
Looking at the dancing candlelight on the table, Cui Jingzhi said in a hoarse voice.
Yang Wenwen, who was sitting opposite him, sighed deeply, cupped his hands and said, "This person can't be a fake, because he doesn't have to lie to us! But I just can't figure it out. A few days ago, I was still suffering from ringworm and scabies." How could these fast pirates suddenly become so powerful? According to the messenger, this time there are at least 8,000 pirates, and there are people commanding them behind the scenes. They are not the previous group of bandits!"
"If something goes wrong, there must be a monster! But it's useless to say this now. The top priority is what should we do!" Cui Jingzhi closed his eyes and shook his head silently after hearing this.
After all, it’s your own family who knows your own affairs!
Yangzhou has always been prosperous, and according to the law, a prosperous place must be stable and have few weapons!
Therefore, in Yangzhou, neither the folk customs nor the soldiers can be associated with being tough.
In addition, since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Tang Dynasty has always implemented a policy of strong branches and weak branches!
Sixty percent of the world's military strength surrounds Chang'an.
As for the remaining 40%, they are also in the Turkic border, Nanzhao, and Goguryeo in the north.
This time, the three thousand soldiers and horses that the governor brought to Chuzhou's aid were already more than half of Yangzhou Road's troops!
The remaining people were mostly old, weak, sick and disabled. It was difficult for them to line up with guns, so how could they fight against the pirates with a notorious reputation? !
"Ask for help from Your Majesty! In addition, Yangzhou City will be on combat readiness starting tonight! Lock the city gates tightly, prepare to use wood and roll stones, and all the local braves will wear armor and prepare for battle!" After thinking for a long time, Cui Jingzhi finally gritted his teeth and said.
When Yang Wenwen heard this, he was suddenly startled and asked anxiously. "Then, what should the people outside the city do?"
Cui Jingzhi laughed sadly, shook his head slowly and said: "Send someone to issue a warning. Those who can enter the city should try to enter the city! Those who cannot enter the city, let them run west! Run to the mountains! No matter how many pirates come, they will always be in trouble. Let’s plunder first, we won’t stay long! Tell them that after the pirates are gone, their home and land will still be there…”
"But! There are always people who don't want to leave home!" Yang Wenwen clenched his fists and said with a trembling voice: "Besides, after the pirates passed, the land will still be there, but will that family still be there? Those sea pirates will still be there." It’s not like you don’t know the Kou’s style: burning, killing, looting, like locusts crossing the border, they will only leave a piece of red land!”
"What can we do!"
When Cui Jingzhi heard this, for some reason, all the hesitation, fear, anger and other emotions in his heart suddenly burst out!
He stood up suddenly, glared at Yang Wenwen with his hair and beard all hairy, and said: "You have been an official for so long, why do you still have the air of a scholar?! The pirates are outside now! The purpose is very clear, it is our Yangzhou! What do you mean? No lockdown?
Without sealing off the city, would you be able to defeat 8,000 pirates? Or can I survive? ! Do we have to fight so hard that we bleed into rivers, and then the city is breached and wiped out, in order to put an end to your pedantic idea of keeping the whole place safe? Do you understand the principle of choosing the lesser of two extremes? ! "
Although Yang Wen Zhang and Cui Jing Zhi get along very harmoniously on weekdays and are considered friends, when broken down, there is still a big gap in their identities!
As the county magistrate of Yangzhou, Yang Wenwen is only a sixth-grade official even if he is in Shangxian County!
But Cui Jingzhi is a Yangzhou Taoist official. He is responsible for government affairs centered on Yangzhou City and hundreds of miles around. He is actually a fourth-rank official. There is a difference of four ranks between the two. They are not the same at all. hierarchical.
Therefore, when Cui Jingzhi got angry, Yang Wenwen could only shut up and did not dare to say more.
"Hey, Lao Yang, don't blame me for speaking harshly. Now we can only protect Yangzhou first! As for His Majesty's blame in the future, I will take the blame!"
Maybe it was because the anger in his heart was vented, or maybe because he felt that what he just said was indeed a bit harsh and hurt his friend's heart. After Cui Jingzhi said the harsh words, his tone couldn't help but soften again.
Yang Wenwen smiled hard at Cui Jingzhi, saying that he didn't care, and then sighed and said: "Hey, it would be great if Chang'an could send troops here!"
Cui Jingzhi smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It's impossible. Chang'an is two thousand miles away from here! To deal with eight thousand pirates, we need at least five thousand troops. With so many soldiers and horses coming, it will take more than a month at least! By then, , it’s too late for anything.”
Yang Wenwen also knew how unrealistic his idea was, and could only murmur in a low voice: "It would be great if we in Yangzhou also had soldiers and horses like Chang'an. In front of our heroic soldiers of the Tang Dynasty, thousands of pirates are nothing more than native chickens and tiles." A dog can break it with one drum!”
Cui Jingzhi nodded slowly: "Yes, it's a pity that we in Yangzhou have never had a heroic army to defeat the enemy since Emperor Sui... Wait! Isn't there a Wuhou in our city?"
Halfway through the words, suddenly, the eyes of the two people lit up almost at the same time, and a figure instantly appeared in their minds, becoming clearer and clearer.
"Although Xiao Hou has made outstanding achievements, he came to Yangzhou and he obviously did not lead the army. If he had to rely on him alone, could he have done it?" Yang Wen Zhang's heart was beating fast and he looked at Cui Jingzhi hesitantly and asked.
Cui Jingzhi's face was dim and uncertain, and he said in deep thought: "I can't control that much, Quan treats a dead horse as a living horse doctor! And such a big thing happened, as the Marquis of Wu, there is no reason for him not to know about it!"
"Then let's go now?" Yang Wenwen nodded and asked tentatively.
Cui Jingzhi nodded heavily: "Go now!"
At night, two fast horses broke the tranquility!
Cui Jingzhi and Yang Wenzhi did not ask the servants to follow them, and rode alone to Xiao Han's house.
Cui Jingzhi tried his best to drive the fast horse under him, and looked at the two familiar red lanterns in the distance. Cui Jingzhi's heart began to tremble more and more.
In fact, there was something he didn't tell Yang Wenzhang just now, that is, he vaguely remembered hearing when he went to Chang'an to review his duties: Xiao Han is a man who has been tricked by ghosts and gods, and cannot be judged by common sense!
In addition to this, there are many other myths about how one person can single-handedly stop Wang Shichong's 100,000-strong army, draw thunder to scare away Jieli Khan's million-strong army, and so on!
It's just that these things are too miraculous. Zi Buyu has strange powers and chaos. He hasn't witnessed them with his own eyes and has no way to tell others?
