Contrary to Zhao Kai's expectation, Kaifeng City was still as bustling as ever. The common people at the emperor's feet were still crowded in the streets, busy with their own business. Almost none of the shops in the streets and alleys are closed. There are many people occupying the road and setting up stalls along the street, and the sound of hawking is endless. There are also many women carrying baskets with home-made snacks and fruits, selling them through the streets, some of them are quite attractive...
Zhao Kai and his entourage did not display the emperor's guard of honor, but rode low-key on the East Street inside Xinsong Gate, heading west, and then entered the inner city of Kaifeng Mansion from Lijing Gate. What you see along the way are scenes that are no less prosperous than in the past.
Moreover, the defense of Kaifeng Fucheng was limited to a wooden fence within the outer city wall. Outside the outer perimeter of Kaifeng, there are all kinds of sheep and horse walls and gate walls. Outside the sheep and horse walls, there is also a row of forked wooden blocks erected to block the enemy. The moat has also been widened a lot.
The city wall outside Kaifeng Prefecture is also covered with various newly built fortifications. The female head wall, fork rafts, and magpie platform (a high platform for placing bed crossbows or cannons) are densely built. There are also many convenience doors dug at the bottom of the outer wall of Kaifeng Mansion - these convenience doors are used to quietly mobilize the elite soldiers in the city out of the city to fight back!
The defense battle of Kaifeng Mansion cannot be a "tenfold siege", so there will not be more enemies outside Kaifeng Mansion than there are defenders inside the city. In this case, it is absolutely a bad idea to stay in Kaifeng City and not go out. Because of the large number of defenders and many civilians and officials who had not escaped, Kaifeng City required a large amount of supplies to maintain, and it was difficult to last long. In other words, it is impossible to consume the enemy by consuming military supplies. The most feasible way is to rely on fortified cities to launch defensive counterattacks, and use continuous sudden and short counterattacks to consume the enemy's effective strength...
Of course, these convenience doors used for counterattack may also become a breach for the enemy to invade Kaifeng Fucheng. Li Gang and Yu Wencuizhong also had corresponding methods long ago. When these toilet doors are not in use, they are blocked with door jambs and horse-repelling guns. There are also many straw bags filled with soil piled inside the toilet door, which can completely block the toilet door when necessary.
In addition, within the city wall of the outer city of Kaifeng Mansion, a circle of land was cleared and a not very wide but very deep inner trench was dug. On the side of the inner trench facing Kaifeng City, another wooden fence was erected.
The city defense facilities in Kaifeng Prefecture seem to stop at wooden fences.
Outside the wooden fence is a tightly guarded line of defense. And within the wooden fence... was the most prosperous, comfortable and affluent citizen life in the Middle Ages.
The Kaifeng city defense system that Li Gang and Yu Wencuizhong spent great efforts to build not only did not make the people in this mountain-top city feel the approaching threat of war, it actually made everyone feel more at ease.
When Zhao Kai and his party walked along East Street to Daxiangguo Temple and Zhouqiao Wazi, he found that there were huge crowds of people inside and outside Daxiangguo Temple and Zhouqiao Wazi! In the nearby Bian River, there are boats and passenger boats connected end to end, with sails and beams like clouds!
This bustling scene not only stunned the two "countryside widows" Guo Tiannu and Sister Ximen, but they also uttered exclamations that would attract a burst of contempt. Even Zhao Kai, the Lord of Kaifeng, found it incredible... No Are many people already running away? Why does it look more lively than before?
"Here, why is this more lively than before? Why are there so many people?"
When Zhao Kai and his party turned from East Street onto the 200-step-wide Royal Street, they were finally far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and could ask questions to Yu Wencuizhong, who was a horse's head behind them.
"Reporting to Your Majesty," Yu Wencuizhong said with a smile, "If someone goes, someone will naturally come. The dignitaries from Kaifeng Mansion have gone to the southeast, and the wealthy officials from Hebei have all come to Kaifeng Mansion to take refuge."
"What?" Zhao Kai was stunned again and again, "How did they get here? Aren't they afraid of being robbed by gold thieves?"
Yu Wencuizhong said: "Your Majesty, now all the gold thieves in the Hebei West Road area have been withdrawn, leaving only Junzhou Pharmacist Guo. And this Pharmacist Guo only guards Liyang, Wei County, and Linhe (belonging to Kaide Prefecture) The four counties of , Neihuang and Neihuang (belonging to Daming Prefecture) did not disturb the people very much, and they did not go out to harass the court's territory. Therefore, the way south for the wealthy and official households in Hebei has long been unimpeded. Guangwu Bridge (Guangwu Mountain Floating Bridge) ) There is a lot of traffic there every day.”
"Why don't they go to the southeast to avoid trouble?" Zhao Kai asked again.
"Where is the Kaifeng Mansion in the southeast?" Yu Wencuizhong said, "Besides, the current war situation is not bad, and there are rumors everywhere that peace talks are imminent...at worst, it will be an alliance with Chanyuan, and we will be able to live in peace in the future. So Hebei Officials and wealthy households are not willing to travel too far."
"Then, what about the supply?" Zhao Kai frowned, "There are so many people, and there are many King Qin's troops... By the way, where are the rebels of King Qin? Why don't I see a few of them?"
Yu Wencuizhong said again: "Thanks to your Majesty's great blessing, there has been abundant rain these days. The water levels of the Bianhe River, Huimin River, and Caihe River have risen very quickly, and the water transportation to the southeast has been restored. Moreover, the Taishang Palace also helped the court supervise the various routes in the southeast to raise supplies. It is shipped to Kaifeng Prefecture, so the supply is very sufficient.
In addition, as of yesterday, 120,000 King Qin's rebel troops had arrived, and 80,000 people had been recruited by Kaifeng Prefecture. Together with the original Sanya forbidden army, there were 220,000 people. Among them, 100,000 were taken away by Xianggong Li, leaving 120,000, all of whom were stationed in Jinhua City..."
"Jinhua City?" Zhao Kai was stunned.
Yu Wencuizhong explained: "It is a military city expanded on the basis of Jinmingchi and Qionghuayuan... Originally, the military camps in Kaifeng City were mixed with the people's residences, which was not easy to manage. So Li Yuanshu and his ministers Then he moved the camp of the rebels, militia, and imperial army under the control of the camp to Jinming City, and occupied the buildings in Qionglin Garden and Jinmingchi."
When Zhao Kai heard this, he felt a little unhappy. He originally thought that Li Gang enclosed Qionglin Garden and Jinming Pool for him and the school beauties to play with, but now they have turned into a military city.
It seems that the posthumous title "Wenzhong" is not suitable for Li Gang! Zhao Kai thought to himself: It has to be changed to "Wenzheng"...because building the Jinming military city is a serious matter!
There are many empty houses in Qionglin Garden, Jinmingchi and their surrounding areas, and the transportation is convenient. There are also many open spaces that can be used as school grounds. It is indeed a good place to station troops and train troops.
Just when he was thinking about changing his posthumous title to Li Gang, a group of officials in purple robes and scarlet robes had already come out from the yamen on both sides of the imperial street to pick him up - Zhao Kai entered the city quietly this time, so as not to alert the Kaifeng Mansion. Officials and people. But now he is riding on the imperial road with so many people, and in front of him is Liang Fangping, a big man, leading a few people with imperial equipment to clear the way. Of course, he will alert the high-ranking officials working in the yamen.
"I respectfully welcome His Majesty to pay tribute and return to the court!"
When a group of senior officials saw Zhao Kai, who was wearing ordinary purple military uniforms and riding a horse, they all saluted and congratulated him... It seemed as if the gold thief had been repulsed, and Li Gang was not surrounded by anyone in Chengshi County.
Zhao Kai didn't want to dampen the interest of these treacherous ministers and ignorant officials, so he had to smile and say to them: "Ping Sheng, I am a little tired and have to go back to the palace to rest. I won't go to court early tomorrow. After lunch, the two governors and the camp officials will The envoys and camp commanders will come to Chongzheng Hall to discuss matters!"
After saying that, he waved his hand and said, "Everyone, please step back!" Then he said to Yu Wencuizhong, "You can go and do your work too... Remember to post a notice to reassure the people and tell the people that the golden thieves' front has been blocked. , I have also returned to the palace!"
Although Zhao Kai is very dissatisfied with the peaceful atmosphere in Kaifeng City, he still has to whitewash it... He can't say that he has lost the battle, can he? How much does that damage your prestige? Besides, he did temporarily contain the golden thief's offensive.
Finally he can go back to the palace to see the school beauties... He has been the emperor for almost two months, and he has not been able to properly hold hands with his harem beauties. This is really a waste of life. .
Thinking of this, Zhao Kai said to Sister Ximen: "Sister, I will take you into the palace... you will be my imperial concubine from now on!"
"Thank you all for your kindness." Sister Ximen naturally smiled from ear to ear.
Guo Tiannu, who was with Sister Ximen, saw that Sister Ximen had benefited, and she also smiled and asked: "Everyone, where are the slaves?"
Zhao Kai glanced at her and said with a smile: "You are still my slave, and you will follow me into the palace!"
"Slave, thank you for your kindness..." Guo Tiannu pouted, looking a little dissatisfied, but she had no choice but to express her gratitude like Sister Ximen.
Zhao Kai burst out laughing: "Goddess, don't pout, I can't live without you as my slave...I have to take you with me wherever I go!"
Take it with you everywhere! This treatment is unique!
As soon as Zhao Kai said these words, those officials who had not gone far couldn't help but turn around and take a few more glances at Guo Tiannu, who was dressed as a warrior... It turned out that this woman was the official's confidant, and she must take good care of her. Flatter!
Zhao Kai didn't bother to think about the thoughts of his subordinates. He just smiled and rode forward, heading all the way to Xuandemen.
Over at the palace, it was also known that Zhao Kai was back. Xuande Gate, Daqing Gate, and Zichen Gate had all been opened wide. Queen Zhu Fengying and Concubine Pan Cailian also put on their costumes and brought with them the chamberlains and palace attendants, as well as the 30 A "campus beauty sister" lined up in Xuandemen to welcome Zhao Kai back.
As soon as Zhao Kai entered Xuandemen, he saw the scene he had dreamed of seeing these days. A large group of warblers and swallows were paying tribute to him upright. They were good-looking people and their voices were pleasant. If you pull one person a day, it will take 32 days to finish! And they are not heroic women like Guo Tiannu and Ximen Dajie who can follow them everywhere and are not afraid of going to the battlefield...
Zhao Kai originally wanted to return to the Dingtao front line earlier, but when he saw these beauties, he immediately felt that he wanted to stay in Kaifeng Mansion for a longer time... Well, not for the sake of the young lady, but to lead the entire The Song Dynasty’s anti-gold cause!
The new soldiers have to be trained, the rebels have to be integrated, money and food have to be raised, and Hebei's defenses have to be carefully guarded... By the way, Yue Fei has to be found! Therefore, it would be more advantageous for Zhao Kai to stay in Kaifeng Mansion!
