"No, didn't they make a fuss some time ago? It is said that many people from the Han Army Banner were sad because they could not go to encircle Zhang Rui." Liu Shiliu thought about it after Li Muying's prompting.
"Yes, that's him. Didn't the Manchu soldiers leave nearly 2,000 people, and with some auxiliary soldiers, it was nearly 4,000. Why, so many people didn't surround him? I heard that he only had about a hundred people. That's all." Li Muying asked strangely
"No. Not only did they not, but they seemed to have suffered a defeat. That's why they were so desperate to make money." Tan Xialu's tone dropped as if he was telling a huge secret.
"Is there such a thing? What is the beginning of people like Zhang Rui? Are they all descended from the gods? Nearly four thousand people will be defeated by more than a hundred people? Did I hear it wrong? When did these dog officers and soldiers become so unbearable? ." Liu Shiliu immediately questioned the accuracy of the news after hearing what Tan Xialu said.
"Don't say you don't believe it. I didn't believe it when I heard it just now. But this was said by a "old man" who dug it out from the Green Camp pacesetter who participated in the war. That is to say, the two of them were related, and he didn't believe it when he was drunk. Be careful what you say. It is said that all those who participated in the war were given death orders, and anyone who dared to speak out would be killed." Tan Xialu replied seriously
"So, is Zhang Rui really that capable? He defeated nearly 4,000 officers and soldiers with more than a hundred people." Li Muying asked impatiently
"Brother, things are not that simple. What "Lao Di" said is even more outrageous. He said that in fact the governors of Guangdong and Guangxi and the generals were captured, and they are raising money now to redeem their people." Tan Xialu seemed to take the credit for this, A bit showy
"Xia Lu, if there is anything else you know, please finish it in one breath. Don't drag it on." Liu Shiliu also ordered Tan Xialu anxiously.
Although their Tiandihui claimed to be against the Qing Dynasty and restored the Ming Dynasty, they never had any war with the Manchu Qing court, and they did not dare to directly confront the Manchu Qing court.
At this time, they just attracted the poor people below to join the association, and then adopted a non-cooperative attitude towards some orders issued by the Manchu court.
Even though they currently have 20,000 to 30,000 troops on their books, more than 99% of them are traffickers, bankrupt farmers, vagrants and other lower-class people.
Not to mention that no one reported them, even if someone did, it is estimated that the officials of the Manchu and Qing court would not care. After all, it doesn’t take much to wipe out this ragtag group of people. The soldiers and horses used to surround and suppress Zhang Rui were enough, so they couldn't help but not be enthusiastic about understanding Zhang Rui.
"Yes, Brother Sixteen." Tan Xialu replied after hearing the sound: "It's not that I don't want to say it, it's just that the following statement is a bit too mythical compared to what I learned before, so I don't want to say it."
"What's going on? Don't be in a hurry. Speak slowly and tell me all the information you have about him." Li Muying no longer paid attention to his cigarette rod and put it aside. At the same time, he poured a bowl of crude tea from the table and handed it to Qin Xialu.
"Thank you, brother." Tan Xialu took the tea and drank it in one breath.
Seeing this, Li Muying poured him another bowl. Tan Xialu thanked him again, but he was not in a hurry to drink, but said slowly:
"Actually, I found someone to find out about Zhang Rui long before those dog officers and soldiers wanted to attack him. Zhang Rui is truly a legend. He rose from obscurity to fame in a matter of months."
"Some time ago, didn't someone here sing the discipline song of the anti-bandit team?"
"That's what happened. At that time, I said who has such ability, can actually compose such a simple and easy-to-understand song to sing, why, this is his composition?" Liu Shiliu took over what Tan Xialu said and said
"It was indeed him who did it. Not only that, he also said to Wuzhou: 'If anyone really can't survive, you can go to Zhilian Mountain to find him, and he will give you food and warm clothes.'" Tan Xialu continued. said
"Are there really such capable people in this world? Don't we poor people just want to have enough food, clothing, and music to be together? Can there be such a place in the world?" Li Muying felt a little yearning after listening to Tan Xialu's words. said
"Yeah, the next legend is here. We heard from some of the 'straw sandals' in Foshan that the environment there is very good, and every family can have enough to eat and a house. , I heard that they will be distributed in pieces when the time comes."
"Can I get these for free if I go directly?" Liu Shiliu asked the question in his mind
"He didn't mention this, but judging from what he meant, he probably still has to work in exchange for it. If he goes there, he'll give it as a gift. There won't be enough gold and silver to give him as a gift!" Tan Xialu replied guessingly.
"That's probably it. Otherwise, how could he get so much money? Don't we all have to donate membership fees from the brothers below? Isn't Zhang Rui the 'Innocent Mother'? Do you think his behavior is like that of the White Lotus Sect? That one?" Li Muying asked
"It's not like that. At least he looks like he's doing real work. The White Lotus Sect's approach is just to deceive people." Liu Shiliu expressed his thoughts.
"It's exactly what Brother Liu Liu said. He is not like the White Lotus Sect and doesn't do practical things." Tan Xialu agreed with Liu Liuli's statement and continued to tell what he knew.
"Because he also organized everyone to open up wasteland together. It is said that the cleared fields will be distributed to everyone. Each family can get at least five acres, and the rent is calculated at two bushels per acre. This rent will be the same regardless of the harvest. At the same time, he also After all, this rent has already paid the royal court’s taxes.”
"If he could really do what he said, then he would really be a saint. Even the imperial courts of the past dynasties couldn't do this kind of taxation. Look at how much the tenant farmers can get for themselves after a busy day. Harvest?" Li Muying said with some sigh.
"Hey... who can say otherwise? Especially now that the Mangos are still bullying us everywhere, with all kinds of injustice. It's a little better here, but the bullying in the north is even more serious..." Liu Shiliu also sighed with emotion.
After listening to what Li Muying and Liu Shiliu said. Suddenly, Tan Xialu felt extremely fond of Zhang Rui.
"No, as the helmsman said, if he can do it, he will indeed be a saint. But speaking of saints, the people over there are secretly saying that he is a disciple of the 'Huaguang Emperor'." Tan Xialu was a little confused. Said eloquently
"How is this possible? Only those ignorant people would believe such nonsense." Liu Shiliu said with a mocking look on his face.
Tan Xialu looked at Liu Shiliu's appearance and felt a little angry for some reason. He also felt strange, but he had such an emotion. So, as if he wanted to personally provide evidence to convince Liu Shiliu, he actually said to them in a nagging tone:
"I don't believe it either. But just yesterday, I asked what happened over there, and he sent back the message that this Ruineng pulled out thirty artillery pieces in ten days, and those Green Camp soldiers said it was just these artillery pieces that He beat them stunned, which led to the tragic defeat."
When they heard Tan Xialu say that Zhang Ruineng could pull out thirty artillery pieces in ten days, both Li Muying and Liu Shiliu showed surprised expressions. But before they had time to ask questions, Tan Xialu lowered his tone again and said quietly:
"That's not all, there is another even stranger thing."
