This summer night, Liaocheng Mansion is destined to be a sleepless night.
A fire suddenly broke out in the Xicang Camp of Liaocheng Prefecture. It can be said that in a short period of time, the whole city of Liaocheng Prefecture was shocked.
It was a hot day, and looking at the fire that turned half the sky red, we knew that the fire was so fierce that it was not a problem that a few people could solve. Although they didn't know what caused it, looking at the huge fire, everyone felt something was wrong.
Historically, vassal towns in various places have been like beasts with their mouths wide open to the common people. No matter how good a feudal warlord is, he must rely on the taxes of the common people to survive. The materials and property stored in warehouses in various places are the lifeblood of the feudal town's survival.
Although Liaocheng Prefecture is not a large vassal town, as one of the strategic places under the jurisdiction of the Tianping Army garrisoned in Dongping County, it has a lot of supplies. Although these materials have nothing to do with the people of Liaocheng Prefecture, how many people have been fed by the circulation, transportation and distribution of these materials?
Looking at the fire with such alarming intensity, I don't know how much supplies have been lost. Moreover, the various supplies piled up in Xicang Camp were only a few meters apart. If the fire spreads due to the intensity of the fire, I'm afraid the entire Xicang will be destroyed.
So don't talk about the worries after the fire. Whether it was the panic among the people in the city or the alarm among the refugees outside the city, there were also some inexplicable worries.
After all, many people in the city can rely on Xicang to survive and find food. Although those refugees outside the city cannot legally enter the city, they can occasionally have some opportunities. Because supplies from Xicang need to be sent from time to time, and if the people in the city don't have enough, they will always go out of the city to find some strong people who can help with the work, and they can also get some small rations.
Many people in the city knew that a fire broke out in Xicang. People outside the city could not enter and could only see this direction from a distance. Although I was not sure that the fire started in Xicang, I still felt panicked.
You must know that the Xicang Camp in Liaocheng Prefecture is a special place in Liaocheng Prefecture. It is heavily guarded and cannot be approached by ordinary people. For such a huge fire to occur, things must not be that simple.
The big families who first received the information sent their servants to investigate to see what caused it or whether they could get some benefits from it. Naturally, they don't know what happened in Jufulou. No matter who is in charge of Liaocheng Mansion, they will only live for their own existence.
People in this world, as long as they are motivated by profit, may be the same everywhere.
Thinking of the supplies and hoarding in the camp, many people looked at the fire and sighed.
It’s not that no one went to put out the fire, but many people wanted to put out the fire. First of all, the garrison responsible for each city gate, after receiving the orders from the defense envoy one after another, immediately led the patrol training team to go to support.
As for the watchmen on each street, they went from house to house shouting and beating gongs, calling on the young and middle-aged people to come forward to participate in firefighting and rescue supplies.
Except for those people from wealthy and high-profile families, they would not take the initiative to go there without receiving the order from the head of the family. On the other hand, the people who were relatively close to the Xicang Camp hurriedly gathered over almost immediately after the fire broke out.
Although we saw a fire burning in the camp, and it seemed that three large piles of supplies on the side were on fire, no one was allowed to enter. The answer was naturally that the guards in the camp were trying their best to put out the fire. Seeing that the fire was getting bigger and bigger, even ordinary people who came close obeyed the order.
But what is surprising is that when everyone hurried all the way, there seemed to be a huge crowd of people, but they still couldn't get close. After someone asked, they found out that no one had come to take command, and the guards did not dare to let everyone into the camp.
The fire was getting bigger and bigger, and people could be heard shouting, but through the ten-foot-high wall, no one could see what was going on inside. However, someone also noticed something was wrong. Except for the dozen or so guards with weapons at the door, it seemed that all the other soldiers guarding here were missing.
When everyone's public sentiment was high, a group of nearly a hundred soldiers came. Although they entered the fire scene of Xicang Camp, more than ten soldiers were added to the door, but the public was not allowed to enter for the time being.
Some people speculated that there might be some important supplies involved in the camp. Although everyone was a little confused and wanted to put out the fire, there was nothing they could do if the soldiers refused to let them go. On the contrary, many people came over to watch. There seemed to be more and more people, but they were still blocked by the defenders.
In a compound not far from the Xicang Camp, in front of a window above an attic, two people were looking at the camp in front of them, which was in flames. Even from a distance of several hundred meters, the firepower still felt overwhelming.
The faces of the three people illuminated by the fire were red. The three people looked at the fire quietly, and there was no sound for a while.
"I don't know what Brother Yan Si thinks!" The man standing on the left is wearing a suit with floral embroidery as the pattern and a black robe as the background. His eyes seem to be dancing with the fire in the distance, with two balls of fiery red flames dancing. flower.
He looked at the man in green clothes in the middle beside him, and as soon as he finished speaking, his eyes turned to his right. It seems that although I asked the person in the middle, my original intention was to ask the person on the right. His tone was calm, and there didn't seem to be any big fluctuations in his expression.
The man in the middle has a slightly rich face, and his figure also gives off the impression of being extremely rich, typical of a wealthy family. He looked friendly and kind, giving the impression that he was a harmless person.
Hearing the words of the man on his left, he inadvertently showed a hint of surprise in his eyes, but this look was immediately covered up by his smile. He still had a deep meaning. He glanced at the man in Xuanyi who was speaking, but he didn't immediately open his mouth to answer him.
The face of the man in black clothes on the left remained unchanged, and he seemed to be looking at the fire in the distance as if nothing had happened. But this rich man looked to his right, where he saw a man in black clothes who was almost half as thin as him, and said in a deep voice: "What do you think, Brother Xiaofu!"
Most of this thin man was almost blocked by this rich man. He was dressed in a simple black robe and it seemed that he would be hard to find in a crowd. Although his appearance is not impressive, it seems that there is no way to block his aura.
Although the two people here were also standing in front of the window and were even taller and richer than him, they bowed slightly in front of this thin man. Dressed in black clothes, he is not a big shot, but looking at his aura, it is obvious that he has always had a certain status. He must have deliberately concealed his appearance and identity.
"If a certain family is not mistaken, everyone has missed the best opportunity to cooperate with Red before. Each family takes itself too seriously, which makes Red feel a little helpless." The man sighed slightly.
The man in black clothes who spoke first had a hint of embarrassment on his face. He was the owner of this house, Cai Qingyun, and he was the boss of Kechang Trading Company, a famous trading firm in Liaocheng Prefecture. In order to gain a foothold in Liaocheng Prefecture, they had contacted the governor Reid many times before. Because they had some background and power, Reid had been trying to win their support.
The wealthy man in the middle is actually Zheng Heng, the representative of the Zheng family in Daming Prefecture. His nickname is Huan Yansi, and he also has a huge foundation in Liaocheng Prefecture. Not only does he represent the Zheng family in charge of the industry in Dongping County, but he is also a wealthy man in Liaocheng Prefecture and is currently one of the people who owns the most industry and land.
Hearing this thin man speak, although he didn't mean to blame, it was obviously in response to everyone's initial discord. Although there was a hint of embarrassment on his face, he still had a smile on his face.
After all, as a member of a large family, although he could participate as a representative in this kind of cooperation with the forces of the vassal town, he did not have the right to accept it outright. The previous contact between several companies and Reid was just to obtain the maximum benefit for the family in Liaocheng Mansion, so he didn't have much burden in his heart.
"Tonight's incident was not accidental. Although it seemed a bit sudden and unprepared, everything was still expected. We are here, and we are used to taking it for granted, and we have ignored many things!" He seemed to be feeling a little emotional. , looking at his red flame, one side turned a little white, obviously the fire was getting bigger and bigger.
"Obviously someone has planned it for a long time. Although the Lei family's power in Liaocheng Mansion has not yet been established, it is a good development in the open. The other party can avoid the eyes and ears of the Lei family and set fire under the eyes of the guards. It must be It's just a matter of time before this happens. If nothing unexpected happens, earth-shattering changes will happen in Liaocheng Mansion." The thin man said quietly, his voice was hollow but made people feel a little cold.
Zheng Heng and Cai Qingyun even had some respect for him. The identity and status of this man named Wang Xiaofu were far beyond their reach. He rarely shows up, but all the forces in Liaocheng Mansion basically act based on his looks.
He looked at Cai Qingyun, the man in black clothes on the left, and asked, "Have the people sent out not come back yet?"
"The first group of people have come back to reply. The Wang family's return banquet tonight is normal. Even Red and our people saw them entering Jufu Tower with their own eyes!" Cai Qingyun said with certainty.
"What a good plan, what a good plan! Not only are the commanders of the three armies here, but also the defense commanders and governors are here. No one is left behind!" The thin Wang Xiaofu looked at the fire in front of him and said calmly: "Everything can only be done by looking for opportunities. Let's wait and see the detective reports coming out of the camp and the final news from the Jufu Tower!"
The rich Zheng Heng was thoughtful, and asked tentatively without saying a word: "Liaocheng Prefecture is also a new big state in the surrounding area, and its popularity now even overshadows Dongping Prefecture. The imperial court attaches great importance to this place, so there shouldn't be any It's a big deal! If something happens,,,,,,!" He seemed to ponder for a moment, and looked at the thin Wang Xiaofu, with a somewhat flattering look in his eyes: "What should we do with our family and people in Liaocheng Mansion!"
"Dazhou? It's just because this is a big state! That's why some people are eyeing it!" Wang Xiaofu said quietly, suddenly a light flashed through the slits in his eyes, as if he remembered something, and his face became moved for the first time: "A certain family understands !”
"White Wolf Village horse bandit!"
The three people almost lost their voice and said it in unison. For a moment, the three people looked at each other with a look of horror in their eyes.
Outside, there was the sound of the watchman desperately shouting for water, and the sound of gongs was even more disturbing at this night.
The horse quickly passed the order in the city, and the governor Shi Leid and the defense commander Shen Ba jointly issued a notice.
Because of a fire in Xicang Camp, the four gates of Liaocheng Mansion were ordered to be closed to prevent refugees and horse bandits from flooding into the city. Those who are not idle fire fighters in the West City area are not allowed to watch and block roads when they go home immediately. If anyone is found to disturb people's hearts, they will be killed without mercy until the matter at Xicang Camp is over.
Of course, when the people in the city heard the news, except for some strong laborers, one or two from each family came out under the leadership of the village chief, and the rest all returned one after another. Even those who were brave and wanted to watch the excitement had no idea after seeing soldiers taking to the streets.
Things seemed to be going on in an orderly manner here. What many people didn't know was that the military camp outside the city was also preparing to come to Liaocheng Mansion to put out the fire under the arrangements of the general after receiving the Tiger Talisman order from the defense envoy.
The Xicheng Camp was not only involved in court supplies, but it was also where the supplies for the Northern Expedition were stored. The defense commander ordered everyone to come and put out the fire, but no one thought much about it. What's more, when there is no war, you may be promoted because you are fighting fires. Who doesn't want to show this kind of good thing?
Everyone didn't even wear armor, and they didn't even bring weapons. So they hurried to Ximen under the leadership of the general. Naturally, there were people at the west gate to respond, because the city gate had been closed. At this moment, I saw soldiers wearing only thin clothes below the city. The people on the city tower ordered everyone to gather and line up to enter the city.
Although everyone came to put out the fire, after all, there was a garrison camp, so the general meeting still had to be arranged routinely, and soldiers were left on duty in the barracks. There were less than a hundred people left in the barracks outside the city tonight, and everyone took it for granted. After all, the materials in the Xicang Camp were damaged, and all the people in Liaocheng Prefecture were in danger.
Looking at the soldiers marching into the city, Ji Hongchang had a smile on his face. He glanced at the young man named Ye Zhu next to him and said quietly: "How's it going over there at Blue Wolf?"
"Don't worry, Wolf King. Blue Wolf has made arrangements, and all the brothers have been arranged to join the army." Ye Zhen looked at the soldiers trotting into the city, and suddenly whispered: "Wolf King, really let it go." Them!" His voice was trembling.
Looking at the expectant eyes in front of him, Ji Hongchang deeply understood what he was shouldering, and said in a deep voice: "They are just like us. What's more, killing can't solve the problem now. In the future, we will only have to look at our people to take care of their hearts!"
"Thank you, Wolf King, for your teaching!" Ye Zhu raised his hands in a military salute.
Ji Hongchang naturally understood what Ye Zhu meant. There were few people on his side, so even if he got Wang Junge to join, everyone would get what they needed. If you can't deal with the strength of these Liaocheng Mansion soldiers, even if you have occupied this Liaocheng Mansion, it will have no effect on your own plan, and it will be a huge disaster.
Because occupation is only temporary, but occupation is the long-term solution!
If he can only occupy it, he may be expelled at any time, because he only has a team of a few hundred people and cannot attack or defend. This is not the result Ji Hongchang wants, nor is it the result of this trip plan. I need to gain a foothold here, and I also need to develop my strength here as a fire source.
To carve out a base of his own in the hinterland of the Central Plains, Ji Hongchang understood that he was dancing on the tip of a knife, which was tantamount to poaching a piece of meat from the heart of the Central Plains feudal town. Thinking back to when he promised Liu Jixing, Ji Hongchang never thought that he would complete this task.
After occupying Liaocheng Mansion, if the Zhou court simply sent troops, there would be nothing to worry about. Now there are dangers from all directions. If Zhou State sends troops to gather together, if you are not careful, these people will be killed.
As my mentor in Bole, I am my mentor in this life. Whether he taught him martial arts or asked him to follow him and be loyal to Liu Jixing, Ji Hongchang did not doubt his choice in the slightest. So I accepted this task and made great achievements now.
Ji Hongchang believed in Shiwu. Of course, after having a heart-to-heart talk with Liu Jixing, he felt that he had an extra responsibility in his life. Because of that heart-to-heart talk, he also believed in this young emperor. He knew that he had found the goal and pursuit of this life, and he would rather die for this pursuit.
After that, he went deep into the Central Plains again. Not only did he successfully pass the sea passage, he also received hundreds of war horses sent by Captain Jike for support. And in a short period of time, the team that started as a junior team of more than a hundred people has developed into a cavalry team of 500 people, and has become the White Wolf King who is proud of the Central Plains.
The success of Bailangzhai is obvious, but Ji Hongchang is not proud at all, because he knows that this success is not his own. This is not only due to the fear of life and death of the Wolf Riders, but also the great efforts of many intelligence personnel and the selfless contributions of many people with ideals.
Therefore, Ji Hongchang has a balanced mentality. Not only is he loyal to his master, but he also has more respect for Liu Jixing. Liu Jixing is not only his firm backing, but also the person who opens another window for him.
Judging from the plan instructed by Liu Jixing, the capture of Liaocheng Mansion was the biggest surprise during Zhou's northern expedition, and it was also a risky move made by Liu Jixing.
Ji Hongchang thought so at first, but as he learned more about the surrounding intelligence of Dongping County and gained a deeper understanding of the Zhou Dynasty's court. Now it is clearer that although he is playing a risky move, it is not a dead move that cannot be solved with one move.
This is not only due to the internal reasons of the Zhou Dynasty court, but also due to the lack of popular support in this era. Ji Hongchang naturally didn't know at first why Liu Jixing wanted him to make such a risky move, but now he had a vague idea of the real reason why Liu Jixing was so bold.
Occupying Liaocheng Mansion seems to be a dangerous situation, and everyone with a discerning eye knows it!
But everyone has overlooked an important reason, that is, the current lack of troops in the Central Plains. It not only wanted to prevent the Khitan and Liao Kingdom from invading the border, but also considered stabbing the Han Kingdom in the north. Of course, they had just wiped out the prestige of the Tang State. If chaos breaks out in the Central Plains, the Tang State might rise again.
That's why Liu Jixing decided to give him the option to add a little trouble to Guo Rong when he was marching north. Ji Hongchang didn't know the real and specific reason, he just executed it. And Ji Hongchang now has the greatest confidence that his access to information and resources are much faster than that of the Zhou Dynasty court.
In this way, if you occupy Liaocheng Mansion. Even if Guo Rong found something wrong and sent people to encircle and suppress him. Now I have enough time to disperse and escape. This sounds a bit ridiculous, but it is also a disguised way of preserving strength.
Of course, if there was no encirclement and suppression, Ji Hongchang could develop his power as much as he wanted. This is Ji Hongchang's greatest strength, and also his greatest pride since he found out the details of the Zhou Kingdom.
Originally, with Ji Hongchang's thoughts and character, since he occupied Liaocheng Mansion, there was no reason to quit easily. But Liu Jixing told him a reason, because the dispersion is not an escape but a strategy.
If Liaocheng Prefecture cannot hold on, it will disperse its power. As long as the Central Plains court feels like a bone spur in its throat, it will be the greatest success of Ji Hongchang's team. Because it hinders the development of the Central Plains, it means that Liu Jixing has a better chance of winning in the Central Plains' struggle for hegemony.
Taking the first successful step is to pave the way for the second step in the future.
The first step is naturally the basis of the plan. Since the first step has achieved results, it is natural to hope that the second step can be smoothly extended.
Reality is often crueler than ideals and plans. Although this first time went smoothly and there was not much risk, how can we consolidate this rare achievement?
This is what Ji Hongchang is most concerned about!
If Ji Hongchang was simply planning it himself, he would definitely not act like this. Because to seize Liaocheng Prefecture and then occupy it as a base is to put yourself in a situation of death and survive.
Liaocheng Prefecture is not another place, it is a state capital extending in all directions. Not only can you go to sea quickly, but you also have the convenience of the Grand Canal, and of course the smooth land route. Such a developed gateway and hub is both a good thing and a bad thing now.
Because if it were in peacetime, it would be a good thing here, but in this era of war, it is entirely possible that it would immediately become a cannon fodder.
Because Liaocheng Prefecture is surrounded by the Central Plains state capitals, as the state capital in the center of the Central Plains vassal town, if it wants to quell the chaos, it will be attacked from all directions. Therefore, the purpose of luring these soldiers into the city was to detain them all.
According to the wishes of Ji Hongchang's men, it was natural to kill them all. But Ji Hongchang thought about the future. If these people could be detained and then slowly trained, they would be a huge force that cannot be ignored.
Ji Hongchang dares to take risks, and he is not stupid!
These soldiers are all ordinary people, and it is not easy for anyone. One thing he understood was that Liu Jixing had told him a story. After listening to this story, he deeply understood that the people are the most powerful force of a political power!
Therefore, Ji Hongchang believes that only by relying on the people and the power of the people can a political power last long!
