Two days later, Gou Xi's subordinate officer Fan Ren arrived in Donglai County for the second time.
Faced with the ultimatum-like request of Gou Xi, the governor of Qingzhou, Liu Yu refused without any hesitation.
"I heard that Gou Qingzhou is killing people every day in Linzi. Now the whole Qingzhou people are trembling with fear. It is really not a benevolent government that cares for the people. This year, Donglai has been plagued by disasters. Fortunately, the tax exemption has allowed the people to breathe. Gou Shijun is so persecuting It’s very urgent, aren’t you afraid that the people of Donglai County will become resentful?”
Liu Yu, who was sitting in the hall, said unceremoniously.
In the hall below, the guards and soldiers lined up on both sides were holding swords and guns, staring at Fan Ren and his group with fierce expressions.
Hearing what Liu Yu said, Fan Ren secretly groaned in his heart. Liu Yu's son was clearly going to go against Gou Xi. As an official subordinate to the Qingzhou governor, he should have protected Shangguan, but he was afraid of upsetting Liu Yu and causing trouble. I didn't know how to speak for a moment.
"Gou Shijun is a hero. He has the hope of the whole country and has the ambition to bring peace to the world. In troubled times, he should use the heavy code. How can he quell the rebellion without gathering the power of Qingzhou?"
At this time, an official accompanying Fan Ren said.
"Who are you?"
"My scribe, Pengcheng Liu Hui."
After thinking about it, Liu didn't remember Liu Hui.
"How dare you, a little scribe, speak nonsense about world affairs?"
Liu Yu didn't expect that such a little scribe would not be as frightened as that fan.
"Gou Shijun is actually..."
"Okay, no need to say anything more, please return today."
Liu Yu didn't let him speak anymore and directly issued an order to expel the guest.
After driving Gou Xi's envoy out, the staff around Liu Yu began to speak.
"Ming Gong, if you have offended Gou Xi so much this time, I'm afraid he will not let it go."
"Yes, General, how about I go and chase some of the envoys back? We can try to comfort them with some kind words, and at the very least we can implement a delaying strategy."
"What are you afraid of? Gou Xi, the butcher, really regards me as the county guard under his command. In these troubled times, as long as we have strong soldiers and horses, no matter how hard he is, what can Niu Xi do to me?"
Qingzhou, Linzi, governor's office.
"It's extremely arrogant. Liu Yu, a Taoist thief, is looking for his own death."
Gou Xi, the governor of Qingzhou, was very angry when he heard that Liu Yu, the governor of Donglai, had once again disobeyed his orders.
"Brother, if you don't let me lead five thousand soldiers and horses to attack Donglai County, I will definitely get Liu Yu's head back within ten days."
An official wearing a military commander's robe said next to him.
This person's name is Gou Chun, he is Gou Xi's younger brother, and he is currently serving as the Qingzhou Biejia.
"I heard that Liu Yu was the number one general in the Donglai bandit army before. Although he was a bandit in vain, he should have some abilities. He must have four to five thousand men now. I'm afraid he may not be able to defeat ten people with only five thousand soldiers and horses. Win within days.”
Although Gou Xi looked down on Liu Bogen and his group of Donglai thieves, she still decided to look up to Liu Yu based on the principle of caution when seeking enemies.
"What do you think, brother?"
Gou Xi thought for a while and said.
"To deal with such ignorant and stubborn thieves, you should be like a tiger fighting a rabbit, destroying them with one blow. Then you immediately mobilize ten thousand soldiers and horses, and recruit some powerful soldiers, and I will personally lead them to defeat the remnants of Liu Yu and these traitors. .”
Gou Chun was quite surprised when he heard that his brother was going to personally lead the army to attack Liu Yu.
"If my brother goes to Donglai, how will we deal with the thieves in Dunqiu, Yanzhou?"
Shortly after Gou Xi was transferred from Yanzhou to Qingzhou by Sima Yue, Wei Zhi, the prefect of Dunqiu County in Yanzhou, was coerced by fifty to sixty thousand refugees and started a rebellion. Half of Yanzhou was alarmed. The Luoyang court could only once again place its hope in Gou Xi to put down the rebellion.
"Hmph, isn't Sima Yue already the leader of Yanzhou Mu? Let him worry about it himself."
Gou Xi now holds a grudge against Sima Yue, King of the East China Sea, and wishes Sima Yue would make a fool of himself.
When the situation in Yanzhou develops to the point that Sima Yue can't handle it, he will shoulder the responsibility of the public and quell the rebellion. At that time, his reputation will be improved to another level. At that time, he will lead his troops to stay in Yanzhou. Look at Sima Yue. What can you do to yourself?
"Brother, there are fifty or sixty thousand Dunqiu thieves. If they are allowed to wreak havoc, will they become powerful?" Gou Chun said with some worry.
"Wei Zhi, the governor of Dunqiu, is just a mediocre person. What's so scary about a mediocre person leading a bunch of rabble? When I come back from Donglai County, I can wipe them out at my fingertips."
Because he had all the household registers in Qingzhou in his hand, which clearly recorded which household had how many people in it, as well as each person's name, age and physical condition, Gou Chun gave the soldiers who needed to be recruited with a single swipe of his pen at the household register. The choice is made.
When Gou Xi ordered a crusade against the rebels in Donglai County and ordered the dispatch of the sons of various powerful men to join the army, none of these powerful men dared to disobey.
After all, Gou Xi came to Qingzhou with tens of thousands of victorious troops, and after months of killing people to establish his authority, there was no one in Linzi who was not afraid of him.
Therefore, when Gou Shijun issued the conscription order, these powerful men not only did not dare to disobey, but also redoubled their efforts to fulfill Gou Xi's orders, fearing that they were not good enough and would cause Gou Xi to kill someone on their own.
Moreover, the soldiers recruited by Gou Xi were all people above the yellow list. These people were all the children of powerful families. How could they go on this expedition alone? The worst-case scenario was that they would have to have a servant with them.
By the time Gou Xi led his army to leave Linzi and set off eastward, the total number of his army far exceeded the expected 20,000 and had reached more than 40,000.
Most of these powerful children in Qi did not understand military affairs, and they encountered Gou Xi, who was strict in running the army. After setting off from Linzi, they had only traveled three miles, and four or five of them had already violated military law and been beheaded.
For a moment, the entire army was silent, and everyone became extremely cautious, fearing that they would be beheaded.
Gou Xi also inspected the supply preparations of various counties and counties along the way, and punished all those with shortages. Even if some officials made small mistakes, Gou Xi did not report them to the court for impeachment, but beheaded them on the spot because they had a holiday. The scepter has the power to kill petty officials and civilians during wartime.
In this way, Gou Xi led an army of tens of thousands, killing people all the way. When he arrived at Beihai County, which is adjacent to Donglai County, five days later, he had killed more than a hundred people in five days.
When Gou Xi entered Pingshou City, 70% to 80% of the people in the city ran away when they heard that the butcher was coming.
