In fact, it is not that there are no living people in Jingzhou City, but in this town of seven to eight thousand people, only five or six hundred people survived.
When Bai Congxin found them, these people were running for their lives carrying large and small bags.
Bai Congxin originally wanted to call them back, but these people who were frightened by the rebels dared not stop. In the end, Bai Congxin could only order the soldiers to arrest them.
Zhang Zhao knew that there must be survivors here when Bai Congxin brought these crying Jingzhou people back.
Because there were not many corpses in the northern part of Jingzhou City, and traces of cleaning up could be seen, these people should have chosen to leave the city to escape after seeing soldiers descending from the Jinghe River.
"Well done, officials! Let us go!"
"They are all born and raised by their parents. Do you have any sympathy at all?"
"What crime do we have? Should I suffer from these swords and soldiers? In the past month, there have been insurgents, killing dozens of my close relatives, and looting all my goods, food and grass. What can I do if I come back today?"
Hundreds of people were driven back by Bai Congxin. As soon as they arrived at the north gate of Jingzhou, they burst into tears.
Outside the north gate was the rushing Jing River. These people thought that Bai Congxin had kidnapped them just to kill them by the river.
As for why he killed? Do you still need to ask? Naturally, they were killed and made into preserved meat. The river was just right for cleaning, so there was no need to dirty the ground.
Zhang Zhao did not go up to explain immediately, because explaining to them now was definitely not as important as immediately cleaning up the rotting corpses in Jingzhou City.
The temperature has been gradually rising in June. If we don't deal with it now, a major epidemic may start.
Zhang Zhao also looked at the crying and shouting people. They had lived in Jingzhou City for a month or two and were probably infected with the disease.
Lady Han Qi was among the crowd, holding the two children in her arms tightly. Her trembling body, thin face, and eyes revealed a deep hatred for the soldiers with guns and knives in front of her.
Her family was originally from a wealthy family in Jingzhou, with a family of poems and etiquette. Her husband was good at medicine and was highly appreciated by An Shuqian, the governor of Jiedu.
Mrs. Han Qi came from a medical family. She married in Shuzhong and moved to Jingzhou. The couple opened a medical clinic and recruited smart young people as apprentices. They became famous in Jingzhou and even the entire Kansai region.
Unfortunately, there was a war, her parents-in-law were killed, and her husband was kidnapped. Although she escaped with her two children with the help of several apprentices, she had just found a place to stay and was ready to wait for her husband to come back. I know that the rebels are coming again.
However, Lady Han Qi looked at it for a while and suddenly found that these 'thief soldiers' were a little different. They were cleaning up the corpses in the city on a large scale, and they were also cooking soup by the river. The soldiers' faces were all covered with white cotton cloth. It looked like Come on, there are some good healers here!
However, Mrs. Han Qi smelled it carefully and found that there was something wrong with the prescription. Several main ingredients were missing. He couldn't help but wonder. How could someone who knew how to cover the face with fine white cotton cloth be so ignorant of pharmacology?
Zhang Zhao sighed, feeling very unhappy. A total of more than 4,000 corpses were cleared out of Jingzhou City, and most of them had begun to rot.
A clear eye could see that the corpses were covered with knife and gun wounds, and almost all the women were naked. Many babies died tragically next to their naked mothers. Some husbands were hacked to death in front of the door, and their wives and daughters died naked on the beds in the house.
Many pregnant women could not escape death. In the rotting bodies, babies had already begun to take shape.
There are also many people with mutilated corpses. They were not killed by the insurgents, but were eaten by wild dogs, wolves and even rats these days.
The soldiers of the Guiyi Army followed Zhang Zhao to move the corpses. Many of them were not happy at first, but later, when they saw the tragic situation in Jingzhou City, everyone was silent and felt heavy in their hearts.
"Lao Yan, Lao Bai, Nobu Chang'er, Lie Cheng'er, what do you think?"
Zhang Zhao asked the people who were following him. Yan Jin, Bai Congxin and others also knew that this was Zhang Zhao's habit of adding an inexplicable old character when addressing people.
Yan Jin shook his head, his face unmoved, "Since the middle and late Tang Dynasty, military discipline has been corrupted, and this has been achieved for hundreds of years. In fact, this is not only the case in the Central Plains, but also in Tubo. However, the general cannot control others, but he can definitely control the soldiers under his command. "
Bai Congxin was even less volatile. He was a horse bandit. Although he had never tortured or killed babies or pregnant women, he had heard a lot about it.
Well! Perhaps he did not commit such atrocities because babies and pregnant women were not among the merchants.
But after following Zhang Zhao for five or six years, Bai Congxin was also influenced by Zhang Zhao, and his state of mind was very different from before.
"These thieves are so cruel that they are nothing more than a mob. Even if there are one or two fierce people, they will not be able to achieve anything. If Sikong marches eastward with benevolent and righteous soldiers, he will surely win a complete victory!"
Murong Nobunaga clenched his fist bitterly, "Haier just discussed this matter with Brother Liecheng. The rebels are inhumane. When they get to the battle formation, I will definitely kill him every time he enters or exits!"
"Yes! If we defeat those rebels, no one will be left alive!" Zhang Liecheng also said angrily. He was from the lowest background and could empathize with the people at the bottom.
Zhang Zhao nodded. At this time, Guo Tiance also rushed over. Zhang Zhao looked at everyone and said.
"Why should I strictly enforce military discipline? In view of this, I, the son of the rebel army, am a loyal soldier who never forgets his homeland. I will not kill indiscriminately or plunder, so that we can live like the rising sun in this chaotic and dark world. As dazzling as the rising sun, let the world know our loyalty, bravery, benevolence and righteousness.
Tiance, you summon all the secretaries to write down today's tragic situation into a script and regulations. You want to let the sons of the rebel army know that soldiers protect their homes and countries and will never touch the blood of civilians on their hands.
When I return to the rebel army, such things must not happen to tarnish our century-old righteousness of returning to the country. Anyone who dares to commit this crime will be executed, no matter how close he is or what his position is! "
"I obey the order! I will definitely spread the word to the whole army, so that everyone knows Sikong's benevolence and righteousness!" Guo Tiance quickly accepted the order, and then went down to prepare.
After the body was cremated, it was almost dark. The cooks in the Guiyi Army cooked thick corn porridge and baked Hu cakes.
Originally, everyone drank fish soup along the way. After all, we could save a little on military rations, and the fish caught in the river tasted pretty good when made into soup.
But when they arrived in Jingzhou, everyone saw such a tragic situation, especially after a body floated on the sand on both sides of the Jing River from time to time, everyone no longer wanted to drink fish soup.
Zhang Zhao simply had dozens of thin sheep slaughtered and cooked mutton soup.
After the aroma of the porridge and scones, especially the mutton soup, spread to the captured people in Jingzhou, these refugees, whose food stores had long been looted by the rebels, suddenly became unable to sit still.
They looked eagerly at the direction where the scent was coming from and kept twitching their noses. They didn't know what this group of soldiers wanted to do by catching them but not killing them, and then ignoring them now.
The two little heads in Han Qi's arms were arched. A girl with a messy bun raised her thin face covered with black mud and looked at Han Qi pitifully.
"Mom, Yu'er wants to eat cake!"
Hearing what the little girl said, the little boy on the side rubbed Madam Han Qi's chest with some fear, and suddenly said in a low voice: "Mom, Bao'er is hungry, and Bao'er also wants to eat cakes."
Mrs. Han Qi felt a surge of sadness and grievance, and a few more tears rolled out of her eyes that had already lost tears.
She hugged the two children and didn't know how to answer. She could only sob quietly. Listening to her cry, the people in Jingzhou around her were also filled with sadness and sobbed together.
At this time, the meal was ready. Zhang Zhao personally brought a dustpan of cakes and asked the soldiers to take the cakes and rice porridge to the surviving Jingzhou people.
The people of Jingzhou who were lucky enough to escape with their lives looked at Zhang Zhao blankly. They crowded together tightly and trembled like quails. However, their eyes were not full of fear, but also hid a strong hatred.
Zhang Zhao placed the cakes and porridge in front of them, and then waved to a few old men who looked like leaders in the crowd.
"We have to go east to quell the chaos, and the military rations are not very sufficient. Let's give each person a bowl of porridge and a piece of cake."
As he spoke, Zhang Zhao paused. Originally, there was definitely no portion of mutton for these people, but when Zhang Zhao looked at their skinny bodies and some of the young children who were almost starving to death, he suddenly felt extremely unbearable.
He turned back to Guo Tiance and said, "Ask the cooks to bring another bucket of mutton soup. The mutton should be stewed until it's mushy. Add a little more salt."
The crowd looked at Zhang Zhao blankly. They were ready to kill them at the neck, but they didn't expect that someone would give them something to eat. Everyone was doubtful. No one dared to reply or move.
When Mrs. Han Qi heard that there was something to eat, she was heartbroken by the crying of the two children just now, so she gritted her teeth and stood up.
"Isn't this officer going to kill me? Isn't he going to let us eat well so we can go on the road?"
Zhang Zhao was still fine, but Guo Tiance next to him was unhappy. He stepped forward and pointed his halberd at Lady Han Qi and said angrily.
"This lady is so dumb that she can't speak. The person in front of you is Sikong, the school inspector, and Duke Zhang in Hexi Festival. Duke Zhang took pity on you and gave you food. How dare you treat your kindness like a donkey's liver and lungs?"
Lady Han Qi smiled sadly after hearing this, "Then what this officer said, today we see officers and soldiers who do not kill people. If there are such officers and soldiers in the world, why would our families be destroyed?"
These words were a bit offensive. Zhang Zhao looked at this thin woman with sad eyes and looked like she was crazy. He wanted to scold her a few words, but he thought that this woman might have had a close family member killed, so she went a little crazy.
Thinking of this, Zhang Zhao couldn't bear it anymore. He tried to soften his voice a little and said softly.
"We are the Guiyi army from Hexi, not the bandit army that looted Pizhou. We were ordered by the imperial court to deal with the traitors. Don't be suspicious and just eat in peace."
After saying that, Zhang Zhao did not stay longer, but turned around to arrange the garrisoning of the army and other matters.
With the food, Lady Han Qi and other people in Jingzhou finally looked a little more angry. They wolfed down the food and started eating by the river.
Lady Han Qi broke the crispy Hu cake into small pieces, mixed it with mutton soup and corn porridge, and slowly fed her son and daughter. She was a little curious about the Hexi Jiedu in the distance and was Zhang Gong.
Is there really a benevolent and righteous teacher in this world who does not kill or plunder?
She thought for a while, then asked the old woman next to her to take care of her child, then stood up and walked towards Zhang Zhao amid the worried eyes of everyone.
Zhang Zhao was also preparing to eat something. At this time, he heard the guards yelling from behind. He turned around and saw that the crazy and thin lady was stopped.
Zhang Zhaochong waved his hand to the guards, signaling them to let the woman come over. Fanshun, who was eating next to Zhang Zhao, quickly stood up and put his hand on the handle of the short knife at his waist.
Although the person who came was a woman and very thin, as Zhang Zhao's personal bodyguard, he still had to be vigilant.
"Slave, on behalf of the survivors of Jingzhou, thank Zhang Sikong for the meal!" Lady Han Qi said with a stiff expression.
Zhang Zhao smiled calmly, "This lady came here alone. She didn't just want to say thank you. If you have any questions, you can just say it!"
Madam Han Qing nodded slightly awkwardly, but when she spoke, she seemed extremely confident, "I saw Sikong's doctor by the river, brewing medicine to prevent epidemics?"
"That's right! After a major disaster, there will be a major epidemic." Zhang Zhao nodded, "This lady also knows medical skills?"
Speaking of medical skills, Zhang Zhao suddenly gained some momentum when he saw this thin, dirty little lady, and her dirty face actually shone with pride, like a girl who had just laid an egg. Like a pullet.
"Slave, you know a little bit, but Sikong is brewing Yu Ping Feng Powder? This is a prescription to prevent the invasion of wind evil, but it cannot prevent epidemics and viruses. Moreover, the proportion of this prescription is not yet mature. If you use it rashly, it will do more harm than good.
The Jade Ping Feng Powder, which is also Sikong, lacks the two medicinal ingredients of raw astragalus and honeysuckle, and the emperor, ministers and envoys mix them randomly. Since they know how to cover the mouth and nose with white cotton cloth to block external evils, how can they use such incomplete prescriptions? "
Well! Zhang Zhao turned around and looked at the medical doctors accompanying the army behind him. These "famous doctors" in Hexi were extremely embarrassed.
"Reporting to Sikong, there are indeed a few herbs missing, but these herbs are not available in Hexi, so the order can only be reduced by one or two."
All right! Zhang Zhao didn't blame them at all. Zhang Zhao knew the medical level in Hexi, and he couldn't even find a few people who knew all the medicinal materials.
As for treating illnesses, eh! Zhang Zhao had never been sick, and even if he was sick, the monks from Dayun Temple would still be there.
But Dundup had experienced the medical standards of Hexi healers and told Zhang Zhao when he came back that they were not much different from what he had seen on the Qingtang Plateau. They were basically at the level of drinking talisman water.
"This lady can tell there is something wrong with the medicine just by smelling it. She must have extraordinary medical skills. So what kind of prescription should I use to prevent and treat such diseases?"
Zhang Zhao cupped his hands and winked at Guo Tiance. Guo Tiance quickly brought a small wooden stool and asked Lady Han Qi to sit down.
"Of course you have to use Bai Du Powder, because epidemic diseases are caused by the invasion of the evil spirit into the human body.
Only by using dry Duhuo and Qianghuo to remove dampness and relieve pain, then use Qianhu, Poria, etc. to strengthen the body and dispel evil, and finally use Bupleurum, Platycodon, etc. to regulate the Qi mechanism, can prevent and treat diseases.
It's a pity that there are no precious medicinal materials such as ginseng here, otherwise the effect would be better. "
Mrs. Han Qi talked endlessly about the prescriptions, and she kept talking about her family treasures. Zhang Zhao's brain ached listening to it.
He doesn't understand anything about yin-cold, dispelling evil, and strengthening roots!
But when he saw the dumbfounded expressions of the medical doctors behind him, Zhang Zhao felt that this little lady must be capable.
"Dare I ask the lady's last name? But her family background?" Zhang Zhao finally wanted to make sure.
"The surname of Nufu's family is Zhao, which can be regarded as a family origin. It is just inherited from the father of the Nufu family. My brother Han Baosheng has always been well-known in Shu. The Lord of Shu has also summoned him many times to ask for medicine."
Zhang Zhao had never heard of Han Baosheng's name, but he knew Meng Chang of Hou Shu.
As for governing the country, it’s not bad! But what is more famous is that he is particularly good at playing the tricks of a cultural person, including poetry, poetry, and divination.
Meng Chang, who was well versed in pharmacology, was definitely not an ordinary person who could be summoned to ask about medicine.
What's more, Zhang Zhao really needs an army doctor who is proficient in medical science now, because the situation in Pizhou and other places must be more terrible than that in Jingzhou.
Pizhou not only has a larger population than Jingzhou, but the rebels have been in Pizhou longer than Jingzhou. It is estimated that very few of the more than 20,000 people in Pizhou City will survive.
With the corpses exposed to the sun on this hot day, I'm afraid the epidemic prevention situation is much more severe than in Jingzhou.
Furthermore, in Liangzhou under Zhang Zhao's current rule, the level of medicine is about the same as dancing with a master and drinking talisman water.
Moreover, Shu is much richer than Guanzhong and Hexi. Even the quack doctors from Shu can be called famous doctors when they arrive in Hexi. What reason does Zhang Zhao have not to recruit a young lady with such a well-educated family?
There is someone who is so proficient in medical skills, regardless of whether he is a man or a woman, why don't you just go to Liangzhou as soon as possible?
Therefore, Zhang Zhao immediately put on the face of a courteous corporal, "I am interested in inviting Madam Han to be the special envoy for epidemic prevention in the army. I wonder what Madam Han wants?"
As soon as Zhang Zhao said these words, Mrs. Han Qi was stunned, Guo Tiance was also stunned, and everyone behind her, especially those medical doctors from Liangzhou, were even more stunned.
From ancient times to the present, how can women be allowed to serve as officers in the army?
However, Zhang Zhao was very authoritative in the army, and no one dared to object even if he said it. Madam Han was stunned and slowly shook her head, then seemed to nod her head, feeling a little at a loss.
Zhang Zhao knew that although the customs of this era were much more open than those of the Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties, a woman serving in the army would have to face tens of thousands of strong men on a regular basis.
Especially for the profession of a healer, it is inevitable to have close contact, and it is difficult for women to agree to it, so he quickly tried to persuade her while the iron was hot.
"Mrs. Han's family has been destroyed. Is there anything you can't let go of? Don't you want to avenge your family?
The eldest princess of Pingyang in this dynasty was a woman who did not show respect to men. She raised a large army to resist the violent Sui Dynasty, so that countless good men were willing to be driven by her. After her death, she was buried with military honors. When the heroine of the Great Sage Zetian came to the court, it was the first of its kind in history.
Today, a certain person just wants Lady Han to be the special envoy for epidemic prevention in the army. Why should there be any hesitation? "
Mrs. Han Qi's eyes shone when Zhang Zhao said this. She gritted her teeth and said, "I have one more thing to do. If Sikong can agree, I will die for Sikong Xiao!"
Zhang Zhao waved his hand magnanimously, "But it doesn't matter, I agreed first!"
I, Zhang Da Sikong, am definitely the most willing person in the world to give up to those who are truly capable and can be used by me.
Moreover, Madam Han is already like this, what kind of excessive demands can she make?
Sure enough, Lady Han Qi bowed her head to Zhang Zhao and then said.
"Jingzhou was robbed by the rebels. Not only the gold and silver, but also the food was looted. Although hundreds of people including Nu escaped with their lives, they had no food. I begged Sikong to let them survive with the army."
"My lady is so kind-hearted!" Zhang Zhao sighed, but then he added.
"However, the military camp cannot support idle people. After they recover, the men will be lucky and the women will be the rescue team to rescue the wounded. Is that possible?"
Lady Han Qi looked at Zhang Zhao with reverence in her eyes. Zhang Sikong was actually willing to wait for the people of Jingzhou to recover before working again. He was so considerate and benevolent. He was indeed the best official he had ever seen. people.
"On behalf of hundreds of people in Jingzhou, I want to thank Sikong for his great kindness. My family has a warehouse outside the city, which contains all kinds of medicines. I would like to donate it to Sikong for the use of the army.
Moreover, the slave can not only prevent and treat epidemic diseases, but also prepare medicines to relieve heat, which will definitely make Sikong Renyi's teacher free from illness! "
"Hahaha! Okay, Tiance, Madam Han will be paid according to the benefits of joining the army, and we will find three careful women from the people of Jingzhou to take care of Madam Han's children!"
Zhang Zhao laughed three times. This was the reward for his benevolence. Not only did he have doctors to prevent and treat epidemic diseases, he also had a warehouse of medicinal materials, and he was also able to prepare medicines to relieve heat.
You must know that the most important thing for the army to fight in June and July is the medicine to relieve the heat. Now that Han Qi is here, he is more sure of conquering the rebels.
. . . .
While Zhang Zhao was following the Jinghe River all the way south, Pei Yuan was also packing his bags in Kaifeng Mansion, Tokyo.
But instead of going back to Hexi, he went in another direction, Lingwu, under the command of Zhang Xichong, the Lingwu Jiedushi envoy, and became the Lingwu Jiedushi envoy Chang Shi and the Lingzhou defense envoy.
Zhang Zhao will soon know the reason why Pei Yuan allowed Shi Jingtang to generously send out the Hexi Jiedu envoys and the Shanlan Hekuo Sizhou observation and disposal envoys.
To put it simply, Pei Yuan gave Shi Jingtang the exclusive sales rights to remove the sugar from Hexi and Hedong.
At the same time, he persuaded temples in several major cities such as Kaifeng and Zhengzhou to use them as collateral to loan Shi Jingtang nearly 1 million yuan for military expenses.
Perhaps it shouldn't be called a loan, but a multi-party loan, because in addition to the exclusive business rights, Pei Yuan also had to pay more than 600,000 yuan of Hexi silver notes to major temples.
Shi Jingtang will not return the 600,000 gu to Zhang Zhao, but will pay off the 600,000 gu through tax exemption to Hexi merchants designated by the Hexi Jiedushi.
After finishing this matter, Pei Yuan felt a little sorry for Zhang Zhao, a total of 600,000 yuan!
But he knew that Zhang Zhao would definitely agree, because in addition to taking down the Hexi Jiedu envoy, Zhang Zhao also got the opportunity to send troops to quell the chaos.
Just by relying on the various talents and Han people who could be brought back to Hexi after the rebellion, Zhang Zhao would definitely not lose money, but the cost of 600,000 yuan was really too much.
What a shame! A smart person like Pei Yuan still hasn't grasped the essence of finance. The essence of finance is credit!
Those 600,000 silver notes are just paper. As long as Zhang Zhao has the exclusive method of making sugar, these silver notes bound to sugar will be almost costless silver as long as they are not issued too much. Mountain, the mountain of silver that Zhang Zhao holds in his hands.
"Guoqiao, do you think we went too far by sending Pei Yuying to Lingwu?"
In the Daning Hall, Shi Jingtang looked at Pei Yuan's back as he left, and asked Sang Weihan unbearably.
Sang Weihan's eyes flashed fiercely, and he turned to Shi Jingtang and said: "This Pei Yuying is good at governing the country, and is even better at making plans. She is actually a figure like Xun Wenruo of Cao Wei and Meng Meng, the former King of Qin.
With such people assisting the left, Zhang Zhao will be entrenched in Hexi and will be regarded as a major national danger in the future. Pei Yuying must not be allowed to return to Hexi.
The northwest of Lingwu Guxuan was extremely rich and close to the grassland. Zhang Xichong, the Jiedushi envoy, had long wanted to resign, fearing that the Khitan would seize him if he was not careful.
There are many miscellaneous barbarians in the northwest. If the Khitan people seize Lingwu and subdue all the barbarians, the saint may seek to be the emperor of Kaifeng but not be able to get it! "
Although Shi Jingtang was the son-emperor, his relationship with the Khitans was shameless and somewhat confrontational.
What he and Sang Weihan thought was that after selling the Yanyun Sixteenth Prefecture, Shi Jingtang could still be the emperor of Kaifeng, but if he lost Lingwu and all the barbarians in the northwest returned to the Khitan, it would be completely over.
Therefore, as soon as Shi Jingtang entered Kaifeng, he summoned Lingwu Jiedushi (Shuofang Jiedushi) Zhang Xichong to Kaifeng.
However, Zhang Xichong had long been exhausted mentally and physically, and just wanted to return to the Central Plains for retirement. Shi Jingtang persuaded Zhang Xichong to go back because of his persuasion.
But in such an important place, Zhang Xichong manages it with an extremely unwilling attitude, and problems may still exist.
So when the two of them combined, firstly, they believed that Pei Yuan was Zhang Zhao's mastermind and had the idea of cutting off Zhang Zhao's right-hand man. Secondly, they wanted Pei Yuan to go to Lingzhou to help Zhang Xichong stabilize the situation.
"If the saint feels sorry for Pei Yuying, he might as well give a posthumous gift to his ancestors, grant his parents a title, so that his hometown can be honored, and then promote the talented people of the Pei family to officials.
It can even be agreed that within three years, if the situation in Lingwu is stable, Pei Yuying will be recruited into the court! "Sang Weihan thought for a while and said to Shi Jingtang.
However, neither of them thought about a problem. If Lingwu goes up the Yellow River, it will be Lanzhou! There is Huizhou between the two!
But, no wonder, Shi Jingtang could give more to Pei Yuan than Zhang Zhao.
Not only can he be appointed as the prime minister of the central government, but also Pei Yuan can be granted the title of wife and son, posthumous gifts to ancestors, title of parents, and promotion of brothers in the clan.
With all this, Pei Yuan still wants to follow Zhang Zhao. Isn't that sick?
Absolutely impossible!
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
6800 words two in one, one update today.
