None of the civil and military officials expected that Hong Chengchou could offer such incredible conditions for amnesty. The first two were reasonable, but the last one left everyone speechless. c∮八 c∮八 c∮Read c∮ book, ⌒o≈
The surrendered rebels and soldiers killed each other to avoid the dissatisfaction of the officers and soldiers. After all, the two sides had been fighting for many years and had deep grudges, especially against Zhang Ni's subordinates, who wanted to get rid of them quickly.
If Hong Shaobao were to pardon more than 600 traitors at once, most of whom were blood debtors, it would obviously arouse criticism from others, and he would even be violently criticized if word spread to the court.
Therefore, if you are demoted, you only need to use the head of your comrade as a form of surrender, so that you can stop the mouths of some people with ulterior motives. In the capital, with Mr. Qiantose on your side, the matter can be reduced to a minor issue.
For Hong Chengchou, this was also a helpless solution, because if you killed the prisoners directly, the rebel army would fight to the death in the future, and no one would think of surrendering. This would be extremely detrimental to the army's invasion plan. This move was really unreasonable. wisdom.
And being pardoned if you surrender doesn't work either. After burning, killing and looting, the thieves knelt down and surrendered to avoid death. This was detrimental to the court and the people. These people had to pay a certain price in exchange for amnesty.
Through these three conditions, the number of traitors who finally enjoyed the amnesty became a small number, and they also had certificates of surrender. This could be explained to the court, and the number was acceptable.
"Dang~!"
"The time has come!"
"Everyone, stop waiting! Throw away your weapons!"
Seeing that the incense had been burned, Hong Chengchou sent people to blow gongs. The civil servants and generals on the city began to think that this method was a bit unbelievable and cursed in their hearts. After waiting for this moment, they were still unfinished.
The fighting situation below also met Hong Shaobao's general expectations. Only less than a hundred soldiers survived, and the rest either died or were about to die.
The guys who were still standing were all injured. If it wasn't for their good luck, they might have followed those unlucky ones to the road to hell.
At this moment, everyone had a similar thought in their minds, that is, this old thief Hong's tricks were really powerful. No wonder the "Eight Kings" were extremely afraid of him.
But no one dared to complain, let alone be stupid enough to curse Hong Chengchou in public. Otherwise, if he could survive this condition, he would be shot into a hedgehog by the archers on the top of the city.
Everyone is working hard below just to survive the time of burning incense. When the prescribed time limit is up, these people no longer want to continue fighting.
On average, the number of heads required by each person is definitely enough, and there may be a few more, but they are not needed, and they can survive anyway.
"Don't...go...save...uh..."
Those wounded soldiers lying on the ground, dying, still hope to receive timely treatment after the fighting is over, so that they can survive.
Companions who are standing will not pay attention to their appeals. Just now they were killing you to death, but now they have to reach out to rescue them. This is a bit childish.
Besides, if they can agree, I don't know whether Hong Shaobao agrees or not. Their lives are now in their hands.
"Let those who can walk stand on the right side. Those who cannot walk should wait where they are. The conditions of amnesty are still valid. Let doctors go to treat them. Those who are seriously injured do not need to be rescued."
For those who were lucky, Hong Shaobao still kept his word. He would not let someone with a lame leg be buried. Those lowered pawns that had lost their rescue value had to give up. Reading in 88 years, ◇o≮
Seeing the corpses on the ground, these soldiers couldn't help but recall the previous battle. The siege was so brutal, but this time they were facing their own companions, that's all.
The doctor immediately went over to check one by one. After simple wiping, applying medicine and bandaging, and then counting, he found that a total of eighty-eight people had survived the killing.
Including the 113 people who met the conditions before, the total is 201. These people will receive amnesty and return to their hometown of Shaanxi.
Hong Chengchou comforted everyone in public and said sincerely: "You can rest assured. Although Hong has not a good reputation in your hearts, he can still be regarded as a man of his word. Since this is an amnesty, as long as you from now on If you no longer do evil and live a good life, the local government will treat you as ordinary people. I have an old relationship with Zuo Maodi, the governor of Shaanxi, and will send someone to bring a personal letter. After the governor reads it, he will I will make arrangements for you and others. Today, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince oversees the country. Tomorrow is changing with each passing day. Oil fields, coal mines, and gold mines have been opened in Shaanxi. You follow the orders of Governor Zuo and no longer need to worry about food and clothing. If your hometown is elsewhere, I can also do it. This is the office. Each person can receive one hundred taels of settling-in allowance, and you can return to your hometown to resettle your family business, and your livelihood will be arranged by the government. If someone absconds halfway, becomes an enemy of the court again, and is captured again, he will be executed immediately! "
This move can be regarded as the most sincere and reasonable, using both soft and hard tactics. It is not difficult to ask Zuo Maodi to arrange work for two hundred people, especially in mines and oil fields where labor is scarce. Zuo Maodi will be satisfied for the sake of his former poker friends. Hong Chengchou's request.
These people are definitely not people who can be taught. Hong Chengchou will not want them. If the war goes unfavorably, they will definitely think of changing again. Since they cannot kill them all, they can only return to their place of origin and give them to Zuo Maodi.
Of course, it was not Bai Sai. Hong Chengchou still gave each person a hundred taels of silver. After the term was over, they could survive for three to five months. After receiving the money from work, they might be able to stabilize.
He has already planned their future lives. If some of them still want to return, it is up to Zuo Maodi to deal with them.
Shaanxi is also different from before. The prince ordered 60,000 new troops to be organized and trained in northern Shaanxi. Zuo Maodi also held millions of taels of town silver and began large-scale oil extraction, mining, and potato planting.
The poor people now have a way to make ends meet and will no longer be hungry. In addition, Zuo Maodi is vigorously suppressing bandits in various places. If anyone still wants to fight against the imperial court, it will not be that easy. I am afraid that they will not even be able to recruit soldiers and horses. .
Wang Cheng, the prefect of Xiangyang, approached Hong Chengchou and asked for instructions in a low voice: "Shaobao, are these surrendered soldiers going to be released like this?"
These people had scared him so much before that even Xiangyang City was under the fierce attack of the bandit army and was about to be in danger, so Wang Chengzeng was so unwilling.
Hong Chengchou first glanced at the other party, and then turned to look at the surrendered soldiers at the foot of the city: "What else? The prefect thinks that I can kill all the rebels in the world? If I kill prisoners, who will surrender to the army in the future?"
As a commander-in-chief who is on his own, of course he has a long-term vision. The amnesty for these people is to give a warning to the traitors and soldiers who are still fighting against the army. If they continue to resist, they will die. If they surrender, they will be pardoned and receive a hundred taels. silver.
This is very important for quickly disintegrating Zhang Ni's tens of thousands of troops. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has said that public opinion and military attack are equally important.
Anyone who can recruit two thousand thieves can be made a deputy general.
If you pull over five thousand troops, you will immediately be named the chief military officer.
If he could recruit two general officers, Zhang Ni's troops would be severely weakened.
Seeing that although Hong Chengchou was smiling, his words were really not kind, Wang Chengzeng hurriedly and humbly said: "Shaobao is far-sighted, I will teach you!"
He was a local official and did not need to consider long-term battles with the bandits. Hong Chengchou was different. The commander-in-chief's main task was to suppress the enemy, so he had to have a long-term plan.
Regarding the annihilation of Zhang Ni's troops, all available methods, regardless of whether they will work or not, must be used. Military means are the final solution.
The combat power of Zhang Ni's troops is not low, but that does not mean that they are all stubborn. Faced with the high salary offered by the imperial court, some people will definitely be tempted. As long as the time is right, they will choose to surrender or even fight back. Maybe.
These are the people Hong Chengchou wants to lure and win over. Those who are not reused under Zhang Ni and are excluded by his colleagues can abandon the dark side and join the bright side.
"Let those who are pardoned be tattooed, and after going through the formalities, they can be sent back to Shaanxi!"
It is impossible to just put it back without doing anything. You have to tattoo it on your arm to make a mark. It will also be easy to check your identity later.
The imperial staff, the local government, the commander-in-chief's camp, and the surrendered soldiers themselves each hold a voucher for easy verification. Once one of them is lost, having multiple copies archived will make it easier to replace it.
Since they are newly surrendered, they are still under surveillance. The confinement will not be lifted until after three months. Currently, they need to be locked up during the process of being repatriated back to their hometowns. Ten people in a team will be escorted back home by officers and soldiers.
At this time, a cloud of dust rose in the distance, and a group of people appeared. This was not the bandit army that had returned, but the vanguard force led by the commander-in-chief Ma Ke.
According to Hong Shaobao's request, Ma Ke's troops were to cross the river to Xiangyang to join the main force of the government army, while Miao Youcai and Feng Ju were to move to Fancheng along the north bank of the Han River after annihilating Zuo Liangyu's troops.
Hong Chengchou was worried that the men and horses sent by Zhang Ni to pretend to be on the north bank of the Han River would raid Fancheng, so he ordered two generals to go to support him. It would be best if Fancheng could sit back and relax.
Ma Ke's troops had more than 16,000 troops. Among the general troops under Hong Chengchou's command, Ma Ke's troops were second only to Liu Guoneng and Li Wanqing's troops, and their combat strength ranked second, surpassing Li Wanqing.
Therefore, it was used by Hong Chengchou as the main force. After Li Wanqing stayed in the Gucheng area, with Ma Ke coming to help, the combat effectiveness of the counter-rebellion army could be guaranteed.
After hearing the report, Hong Chengchou ordered: "Today the whole army washes and rests. When Mao hour comes tomorrow, immediately set out to pursue Zhang Ni's army!"
He also wanted to go into the mountains to pursue Zhang Xianzhong now, but his soldiers had just marched a hundred miles and their legs were extremely tired, so they had to wait a night.
If it hadn't been for the leggings taught by His Highness the Prince, the soldiers had saved a lot of energy to a certain extent. Normally, it would have been difficult to break camp and set off tomorrow.
We can only continue to use Luo Dai's cavalry as the vanguard, shuttling back and forth to strengthen the connection with the four generals in front - Yang Yufan, Mou Wenshou, Tang Tong, and Jiang Mingwu.
Feng Ju's 5,000 troops crossed the river with the help of the navy. Hong Chengchou personally led four generals including Yang Guozhu, Liu Guoneng, Ma Ke, and Feng Ju to follow behind. This time, Zhang Ni must not be allowed to disappear again, and must be pursued. Reluctant to give up.
Miao Youcai's troops were stationed in Fancheng, and they were close friends with Yang Shi'en of Xiangyang. If something happened, they could rely on the Xiangfan navy to rush to rescue, making it difficult for Zhang Ni's men to make a sneak attack.
Zhang Ni's main force was being pursued by the official army, and it was difficult for the partial army to capture Xiangfan. After making this arrangement, Hong Chengchou thought that everything was safe and he could confidently and boldly fight to the death with Zhang Ni's army.
For Xiangyang, the first thing is to appease the surrendered soldiers, the second thing is to diagnose and treat the wounded soldiers, and the third thing is to issue silver rewards according to the results of each department, otherwise everyone will have no interest in continuing to fight Zhang Ni.
It was Luo Dai who made the greatest contribution. He led his troops to repeatedly defeat the enemy's attacks. He was rewarded with 8,000 taels of silver according to the number of robbers killed. He was rewarded with 10,000 taels of silver for killing Ma Yuanli. He was rewarded with a reward of 5,000 taels of silver for capturing the king alive and the other half. The gold belongs to Liu Zian, who worked together to capture the thief.
The total of 23,000 taels of silver was really a huge sum of money. Luo Dai took 5,000 taels for himself, mainly to reward his soldiers, and the generals and lieutenants at all levels under his command received the same amount.
Someone sent someone to give two thousand taels of silver each to Liu Guoneng and Li Wanqing, who had borrowed troops from him, which was regarded as reciprocating the favor, and the rest was divided up by the soldiers.
Ding Liang, the commander of the mortar battalion, was also unambiguous. When defending the city, his artillerymen repeatedly performed extraordinary feats, which were repeatedly praised by Xiangyang deputy general Yang Shien and Xiangyang prefect Wang Chengzeng. They also captured Zhang Junyong in the field and were rewarded. Ten thousand taels of silver.
Although Yang Shien was a guard general and subordinated to Fang Kongzhen, the governor of Huguang, he was rewarded by Hong Chengchou for his outstanding performance in the battle.
Capturing Wang Shangli and others and exchanging them for Gucheng officials was a great achievement. Then he shot and killed the rebel general Liu Jinzhong, thwarting the rebel army's sneak attack on Xiangyang.
After daybreak, he repelled Zhang Hualong's attack. Each of these three things could earn him 5,000 taels of silver, totaling 15,000 taels.
The Xiangyang Navy rushed to the rescue and successfully prevented the rebels from crossing the river. In addition, they frequently transported soldiers and baggage. It was considered a meritorious service and was rewarded with 10,000 taels of silver.
Ma Ke led his troops to eliminate the rebel Zuo Liangyu. Although he was fighting his own people, he was still acting under orders and went out in full force without any hesitation. He then advanced decisively and quickly joined the main force, so he was rewarded 10,000 yuan by Hong Chengchou. Seven thousand taels of silver.
Feng Ju and Miao Youcai were both rewarded with five thousand taels of silver for their meritorious service in besieging "Zuo Ying". Moreover, Hong Chengchou did not investigate Zuo Liangyu's property separately. This made the three soldiers' pockets bulging, and they were all very happy.
Before taking action, these three general soldiers all received an "appearance fee" of five thousand taels from Hong Shaobao, so beating Zuo Liangyu was not much poorer than beating the bandit. Because of this, they would do their best to kill Zuo Liangyu. Jade was put to death.
At this moment, Hong Chengchou had not received any news about the life and death of Zuo Liangyu and his son, so he did not increase the reward of silver. He waited until it was certain that he would be rewarded with another five thousand taels.
These 90,000 taels of silver were just spilled out. It would have been unimaginable before. Now Hong Chengchou is wealthy and has arbitrary power.
There are three hundred thousand taels of silver available every month. As long as his generals can enforce orders and prohibitions and fight bravely, he will certainly not begrudge the reward of tens of thousands of taels.
And let those who are waiting for the opportunity know that if you fight as before, you will not get any money. If you are found to have killed someone and taken merit, then it will not only be a matter of not getting a reward.
Zuo Liangyu is the most obvious example. After Hong Chengchou rewarded him, he informed the entire army of the misdeeds of the "Left Thief" and ordered everyone to take this as a warning. If there is any similarity, they will be punished.
Hong Chengchou went south this time and has killed one prime minister and three general soldiers so far.
Especially for frontline generals, Hong Chengchou would not tolerate any bad behavior such as deserting the battlefield, killing good men and taking credit, let alone be lenient. Three generals in chief were killed, and there was no shortage of one more.
On the contrary, as long as you fight bravely and advance troops quickly, you can get a lot of silver. Hong Shaobao has not yet used the 600,000 taels of silver he got from Prince Xiang's Mansion. 11
