Wang Lin knew that this was Li Hongzhang's troops coming to monitor, and he immediately ordered his men to ride close to him holding white flags and negotiate with the other party to explain.
"Don't shoot... don't shoot the military master on the opposite side... our own people... are all our own people..."
"Stop! Just stop fifty steps away, don't move forward..."
Wang Lin's personal entourage, holding a white flag and riding a horse, did not dare to move. Fifty steps away from the opposite side was a river of light composed of torches and lanterns. There couldn't be thousands of troops in the shadows?
The light was so dazzling that the attendant could not clearly see the faces on the opposite side and could only distinguish individual figures, but the sound of the clatter of the gun bolt and the sound of the bayonet and equipment clashing could be clearly heard.
The army gathered together naturally carried murderous intent, and this personal attendant felt that his lower back was so tight that his crotch was a little cold!
At this time, someone in the Huai army shouted, "Why are there still people on horseback carrying rifles? Damn it, didn't I say you are not allowed to lead troops across the road? Who asked you to lead troops?"
"Master Jun! Master Jun, listen to me, Master Jun, listen to me... They are not soldiers, they are all government officials who maintain law and order!"
"You Mingjian, there are tens of thousands of civilians hauling food, and no one cares about it, right? Someone steals, someone robs, and if there are still people who escape, it will be a loss of heads if the military situation is delayed!"
"Haha, especially you can't delay the food and grass for the military lords in Handan City...it's all last year's new grain, the best wheat, don't dare to adulterate the military lords!"
Listening to Chang Sui's explanation, the tense atmosphere in the military formation lowered a bit, and some of the guns were slowly lowered. The officers discussed, "Let's go! Remember, as long as there is one person in military uniform, we can Shot!"
"I understand, I understand, Master Jun, I guarantee that no one is wearing a military uniform, so you can rest assured..."
"Go forward. At dawn, we will unload grain at the forage yard in the west of Yongnian County. Not even a grain of 200,000 shi will be missing. We must leave Handan and enter Xingtai at dusk tomorrow..."
"Yes, yes, we are urging these untouchables to pull the cart quickly and ensure that they will all cross the border tomorrow evening..."
After the two sides negotiated, the army blocking the road finally began to loosen up. The civilians, who had been frightened for a long time, waved their riding whips and continued to move forward!
The border between Zhili and Henan during the Qing Dynasty was not exactly the same as in later generations. For example, places such as Changyuan, Dongming, and Nanle were all under the rule of Zhili at this time.
Handan belongs to the capital of Guangping Prefecture. It is a long and narrow prefecture, not wide from north to south. After entering from Henan, you can basically leave Handan in one day and one night and enter Xingtai, which is Shunde Prefecture.
Xingtai was the capital of Shunde Prefecture during the Qing Dynasty.
One day and one night is how long it takes a grain truck loaded with grain to consume. If an empty truck crosses the border in one day, it will be about the same!
Wang Lin knew that time was running out, and they and Li Hongzhang were making secret deals. Although Handan's countryside had been devastated by famine and war, there were still surviving people in the larger towns.
As long as there are people, there will be gossips. It is better to do less than to do more. It is better to cross the border as soon as possible!
"Let's go... we will unload grain in Yongnian County at dawn, and we must enter Shunde Mansion at night. Once we enter Shunde Mansion, His Majesty's army will meet us. By then our mission will be completed!"
"Damn it, whoever falls behind will be whipped... to death!"
Those who maintain order are carefully selected old government officials and Wang family's lackeys. With the support of Guiziliu, Wang Mian is simply a local tyrant in Henan. He has thousands of thugs, and wearing a military uniform can be regarded as all the way. A warlord.
These people only obeyed the orders of the Wang family and received orders from the eldest young master. They were very cruel in their attacks. Anyone who walked slower, and even those who accidentally fell down on the road, were whipped, causing them to roll on the ground in pain!
The Huai army on both sides of the post road followed slowly a hundred steps away, on the one hand to monitor, and on the other hand to isolate the contact between these grain transport teams and the people of Guangping Prefecture.
After a night of silence, under the urging of the whip, the vanguard of the grain transportation team finally arrived in Yongnian County at dawn. Not daring to enter the city, the grain transportation team started unloading grain in the large forage yard in the west of the city.
The huge sacks contained last year's newly harvested wheat. The common people were reluctant to part with the good food. If there had not been this civil war, all this food would have been transported north to the imperial court via the Grand Canal or the railway.
After arriving in the capital, it became a staple crop among the nobles of the Eight Banners, and their favorite fried noodles in summer!
But today, the people of the capital have no good luck. All these will be sent to Guiziliu's rebels and become supplies for the rebels to attack the capital.
As long as there are many people, it is easy to unload 200,000 shi of grain. After unloading, the grain transport team simply ate dry food in the field for breakfast. Soon after eight o'clock, the grain transport team was ready to set off again.
According to Wang Lin's wishes, these grain transport teams should go back to their hometowns and south to Henan after unloading 200,000 grains, but at this time he met a person.
"Huh? Mr. Qin...you are so lucky. Your subordinates have always sent messages to you, but we haven't seen you for a long time!"
Master Qin, who was doing business with Li Hongzhang, actually came to Yongnian County to meet Wang Lin!
"Hahaha... Young Master of the Wang family, it's been a long time since we last met! Last year we were having flower wine together in the capital. You were young and mighty, and you found five of them in one night. I'm so envious of my brother!"
Wang Lin felt proud instead of ashamed. He raised his head and said, "It's nothing, it's just five. Next time you go to the capital, I'll show you the real majesty!"
"That's natural! The eldest son of the Wang family, he is a talented person who can even abduct Master Sai! In fact, if you think about it this way, this little Hunjun can be regarded as a scapegoat for you?"
Hahahaha... The two of them suddenly burst into laughter, as obscenely as they wanted.
Wang Lin could not help but nod as he recalled the taste of Master Sai, "What a beauty, how wonderful... When His Majesty breaks into the capital and overthrows the Hunjun, I would like to taste it again..."
"No problem...I'll do it for you! After the capital is breached, you and I will be part of the liquidation army. Anyone who enters the capital and is a direct descendant of the Hunjun will have their homes confiscated!"
"You can rob any house you like, take the gold and silver you like, and seduce any woman you like... A Saishi Master is nothing, so don't worry, brother..."
The two chatted for a long time, and soon got to the point again. Mr. Qin said, "Don't leave these empty-carriage workers. We will go to Shunde Mansion with us. There are secret missions that need them!"
"Oh? Are there still goods to be transported? OK, I'll give the order right now..." Wang Lin didn't know what the situation was, but it was just a few thousand people with empty trucks. The untouchables asked them to work wherever they wanted. Where to go.
After their government thugs received the order, they quickly drove away the civilians who were resting in their empty carriages and asked them to continue heading north. The common people did not dare to argue with these wolf-like thugs, so they could only force themselves up and continue heading north.
When Wang Lin left the forage yard, he looked back at the grain and sighed, "In this troubled world, it's better to have a gun. You can get 20% in vain without doing anything, and then we have to acknowledge his favor!"
"If you have a gun, you will be a grass-headed king... Damn it, I will definitely force my father to buy more guns and ammunition later!"
