Li Yuandao: "Let's find a place to talk. There are many people here, so it's not suitable for talking."
"Okay, okay, I'll make some arrangements now, and then I'll accompany His Majesty to the city to talk. The food is being transported and disembarked here. This is cheap relief food provided by the Gu family in Suzhou, Wuyue Kingdom. Can I please go and say hello to the people who transport the grain from the Gu family? Let the county magistrate accompany them to hand over?"
Li Yuan nodded and said: "There is no need to go into the city. The matter is urgent. Just say hello and we will find a quiet place to talk."
"I obey my command." Ji Hong bowed his hands and led Li Yuan to the dock.
Li Yuan saw a shed set up next to the pier. There were blue and white curtains hanging around the shed. Several neatly dressed people who looked like guardians were standing around the shed with their hands folded. Their eyes were bright as if they were guarding someone. The entire bamboo shed It seems out of place with the surrounding environment.
"Your majesty, please wait a moment. I'll come as soon as I can." Ji Hong cupped his hands and said.
"Go." Li Yuan smiled.
But when he saw Ji Hong holding up the hem of his robe, he walked quickly to the curtain of the bamboo shed. He bowed his hands and seemed to be saying something to the people in the shed. He nodded and smiled in a very respectful manner. Soon after, he bowed again and turned around to leave. return.
"Your Majesty has been waiting for a long time. I have humbled myself to say hello to the Gu family. Now why don't you go and talk in a secluded place over there. There is a tea shed. Your Majesty can just rest. It's just a little shabby. It's really a bit humiliating to Your Majesty." Hongpai smiled.
Li Yuan nodded and said with a smile: "No problem, very good."
Ji Hong stretched out his hand to invite him, and Li Yuan walked toward another simple tea shed not far away. After walking a few steps, Li Yuan turned around by accident and saw a small corner behind the curtain of the bamboo shed. A pair of beautiful autumn eyes were looking at him.
Seeing Li Yuan looking at him, the man immediately lowered the curtain, blocking the exchange of glances.
Li Yuan was confused: "Did the Gu family send a woman to transport food? No wonder they put up a curtain to cover it."
"Your Majesty, please sit down. I will make you a cup of hot tea." Ji Hong's words interrupted Li Yuan's thoughts. Li Yuan smiled and nodded and sat down. Ji Hong diligently and carefully made a bowl of tea for Li Yuan.
"Bad tea and fresh water, please quench your thirst, Your Majesty." Magistrate Ji said with a smile.
Li Yuan picked up the tea bowl, and the smell of onion, garlic, ginger and vinegar hit his nostrils. Li Yuan quickly put down the tea cup. This was making tea, which was the way to eat it that Li Yuan couldn't eat.
"Magistrate Ji, let's make a long story short. I'm here for one thing. Not long ago, my army captured Jinling, but Li Jingsui and Xu Ruchang escaped by boat with an army of 60,000 to 70,000 people, intending to capture the land of Wuyue.
I led my people all the way south to Changzhou, and found that Changzhou had been looted by them, with countless people killed and injured, and even the governor Liu Faneng died in the government office. Now the large and small ships they sent to plunder Changzhou, carrying more than ten thousand soldiers and horses, are already on the north river a hundred miles away, and will arrive in Wujin tonight at the latest.
Your place is a small county. Logically speaking, the Jin army would not come to ask for food, but now that the Gu family is releasing food here, the situation is different. Fortunately, I relied on the power of my BMW to overtake them and have already arrived in front of them, so I will take countermeasures with you here. "
Just as Li Yuan finished speaking, Ji Hong, who was pouring tea for himself, shook violently. His hand shook and the teapot fell. The tea bowl on the table was also smashed. The hot tea splashed everywhere, making a mess.
"What? The Jin army plundered Changzhou? Aren't they going to attack Wuyue? Changzhou was flying the flag of the Tang Dynasty, why did they plunder their own city! Are you telling the truth?!" Ji Hong He asked with a pale face.
Li Yuan frowned and wiped the splattered tea powder on his sleeves, and said solemnly: "Of course it's true. Do you think what I said is a lie?"
"No, no, I'm so shocked. I'm disrespectful. Please forgive me! I'm completely unprepared. When the Jin army's fleet went north to Changzhou, they naturally passed by Wujin, but I didn't expect them to be there." To burn, kill and plunder your own territory?
Your Majesty, there are merchants in Wujin now providing food. How can we let the Jin army go? What to do? So what should we do? "Ji Hong panicked, stamping his feet and rubbing his hands, and his face was sweating nervously.
Li Yuan frowned and said, "Of course we have to prepare to face the enemy immediately."
Ji Hong said hurriedly: "Yes, yes, we need to prepare quickly. But this humble position is without Zhou Zhang. Please give your Majesty's advice to save the people of Wujin!"
Li Yuan thought for a moment and asked, "How many troops are stationed in Wujin County now?"
"Soldiers and horses? Where are the soldiers and horses in Wujin County? There are one or two thousand young men and women available in Changzhou County next door, which borders Wuyue Kingdom and has a developed population. This county is only a small county, with only 300 regiment drills, plus the government officials arresting the heads of some small When all the officials are together, there are four hundred and fifty people in humble positions. Is that enough?"
This question, "Is it enough?" almost made Li Yuan vomit blood. More than 10,000 soldiers and horses are coming, and you still ask if 450 of them are enough. Does County Magistrate Ji not understand military matters, or is he just confused by fright?
"Listen, I tell you to do three things immediately. Listen carefully. They must be done before sunset, otherwise it will be too late." Li Yuan said solemnly.
"Your Majesty, please give me your orders. I will obey them immediately." Magistrate Ji said, wiping his sweat.
"The first thing is to ask you to immediately send someone to inform the Changzhou County Magistrate and other officials. The sooner the better, I want to discuss with them face to face. In your opinion, what will Changzhou County Magistrate and others do? Submit yourself to my great Chu and serve me?"
"Your Majesty, Ji Qing, the magistrate of Changzhou County, is the brother of Beizhi, a close relative of flesh and blood. Beizhi guarantees that he will die for Chu and be loyal to Your Majesty! Beizhi immediately sent someone to inform him that Changzhou County is not far away. Before noon, We will definitely arrive." Ji Hong said.
Li Yuan nodded and said: "Very good. The second thing is to stop the food distribution on the dock immediately and inform the people to return to the city immediately to prepare. They must all evacuate Wujin County before dark."
Ji Hong said in astonishment: "Your Majesty wants all the people to evacuate without leaving any one behind?"
Li Yuan said in a deep voice: "Yes, not only must everyone evacuate, but all food and supplies must be cleared away. Neither a person nor a grain of food must be left behind."
Ji Hong swallowed his foam and said: "Your Majesty, you are humble and courageous. Can this issue be discussed? Just leave Wujin County like this. If the Jin army comes, won't this county be doomed?"
"With all the people and food taken away, what use does the Jin army have for this empty city? Magistrate Ji, don't be confused. Even the big city of Changzhou could withstand the Jin army's attack for an hour, and the people in the city suffered countless casualties. The tens of thousands of people in Wujin County There is not even a single defensive force in this small town. Do you still expect to be able to defend Wujin? If the people do not evacuate, they will suffer a massacre.
Li Jingsui's Jin army is now crazy. You are the head of a county, and your first priority is to protect the people. Even if the county seat is destroyed by the Jin army, it doesn't matter. In the future, I will order the Ministry of Household Affairs to allocate funds for reconstruction. But if the common people were killed or enlisted in the army, it would be an irreparable fault. "
Ji Hong was horrified and lowered his hands and said: "What your Majesty said is that Bei Shi is confused. Bei Shi immediately ordered to do it. What is the other thing?"
Li Yuan thought for a while and said: "You go and arrange these two things. Especially the second thing, there is no need to delay. The people are definitely not willing to leave their homes, so a lot of persuasion and explanation work must be done, and at the same time, panic and chaos must be avoided. . As for the third thing, I will go to the pier first and take a look. I will tell you in detail later."
Ji Hong cupped his hands and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I'll do my humble job now."
