The war has been decided, but the people in the county still dare not come out, and the streets are empty.
Da da da!
The war horses with horseshoes stepped on the bluestone, making a crisp sound.
The sound of horse hooves was like stepping on the hearts of the people in the county, making them tremble.
Some brave people quietly opened a crack in the door and looked outside.
When he saw a group of cavalry, he looked frightened and frightened.
"Brother Han!"
A loud shout came.
Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw Gu Song leaning half of his body out of the window on the second floor of an inn in front of him, waving to him excitedly.
Han Zhen made a gesture, and Gu Song immediately disappeared from the window.
Not long after, the door of the inn was opened, and Gu Song ran up to meet him, followed by Zhu Ji.
Seeing Han Zhen and others covered in blood and filled with evil spirits, Gu Song asked: "Dare Chi's army be beaten away?"
"Um!"
Han Zhen nodded.
Zhu Ji on the side breathed a sigh of relief, and the big stone in his heart was finally relieved.
When he learned that Gan Chi's army was besieging the city last night, he thought he was going to confess here.
Han Zhen ordered: "Zhu Yuanwai, inform the caravan to set off and return to Linzi County immediately."
"good!"
Zhu Ji nodded hurriedly, turned around and hurried back to the inn, and began to organize the caravan.
"Brother Han, the pig iron hasn't arrived yet." Gu Song reminded.
Han Zhen waved his hand: "No wait, I will inform the magistrate of Qiancheng County later and ask him to send people to deliver the pig iron to Linzi County."
Say Cao Cao, and Cao Cao will arrive.
While the two were talking, a group of people came to the end of the street.
The leader is wearing a green court dress and a straight-footed futou.
As he moves around, the two wing horns on his official hat tremble slightly, like a dragonfly flapping its wings.
This person must be the magistrate of Qiancheng County.
Walking closer, the magistrate said loudly: "I am Xie Ding, the magistrate of Qiancheng County. Which army are you waiting for?"
Han Zhen did not dismount, but raised his hands and said, "Qingzhou Army Han Zhen has met Xie Zhixian."
Qingzhou Army?
A strange look flashed in Xie Ding's eyes, and he suddenly understood.
Others were confused, especially the young man holding the dragon stick, who looked confused.
Doesn’t Qingzhou only have the navy and the armed guards?
When did there be another Qingzhou Army?
"presumptuous!"
Suddenly, a loud shout sounded.
But behind Xie Ding, Zhuo Ben, who was also wearing a blue court uniform, pointed at Han Zhen and shouted angrily: "How dare you wait for Qiu Ba to sit upright on your horse when you see Xie Zhixian and this official, and you don't quickly dismount and salute!"
Clang!
As soon as he finished speaking, the sixteen cavalrymen drew out their long knives from their waists, their eyes wide with anger, and their murderous intent was fully displayed.
The young man's heart skipped a beat and he immediately ducked in front of Xie Ding to protect him.
Zhuo Ben's expression changed, and he was so frightened that he took a few steps back. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Han Zhen turn his head slightly and look at him.
With just one glance, Zhuo Ben felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, and his hands and feet felt cold.
idiot!
Xie Ding cursed secretly in his heart, then smiled and smoothed things over: "The war has just been settled now, so there is no need for those red tapes. I would like to thank all the soldiers of this county for taking the trouble to come to our aid."
Han Zhen didn't speak, his eyes slowly swept over everyone.
For a moment, everyone's breath was stagnant, as if they were being targeted by a bloodthirsty tiger.
On the black blade, thick blood slowly gathered at the edge and dripped onto the bluestone.
After a while, Han Zhen made a gesture, and the cavalry behind him put their swords back into their sheaths.
The overwhelming evil aura gradually dissipated.
Xie Ding secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "This county has prepared some thin wine to celebrate the achievements of all the soldiers."
This Xie Ding is a sensible person.
Han Zhen looked at him with a half-smile but not a smile, and politely declined: "I appreciate County Magistrate Xie's kindness. There is no need to celebrate. We can just send the pig iron to Linzi County in a few days."
"In that case, let's wait until next time." Xie Ding said with a regretful expression.
The young man holding the dragon stick looked at Han Zhen curiously. When he saw the horse in his hand, he couldn't help but exclaimed: "Is your horse made of fine steel?"
Han Zhen recognized him as the person who was shouting on the city wall before, raised his eyebrows and said, "Why, do you want to try it?"
Hearing this, the young man's eyes lit up and he looked eager to try.
Just as he was about to respond, Xie Ding on the side quickly said, "My nephew is naughty, General Han, don't take it to heart."
After saying that, Xie Ding glared at the young man fiercely.
The young man had a drooped face and suddenly stopped.
At this time, Zhu Ji had already organized the caravan.
"Xie Zhixian, take your leave!"
Han Zhen waved his hand and led the long caravan away.
Seeing Han Zhen leave, Xie Ding let out a long breath and broke out in a cold sweat.
Zhuo Ben said angrily: "This Qiu Ba gang is so arrogant and domineering. It's really abominable!"
"Shut up!"
Xie Ding scolded: "If you want to die, don't take us with you!"
Xie Ding felt frightened when he thought of Han Zhen's murderous gaze just now.
If one of them hadn't been handled well just now, I'm afraid that everyone in the group would be dead now.
"What...what's the point of this?"
Seeing that Zhuo Ben hadn't noticed the clue yet, Xie Ding was speechless.
After working together for more than a year, he had long discovered that Zhuo Ben was pedantic and slow in dealing with the world, but he didn't expect to be so stupid.
It’s really a fool’s errand to read!
The officer in the crowd reminded in a low voice: "Master Zhuo, there are only two armies in Qingzhou, Zhenhai and Wuwei!"
"ah?"
Zhuo Ben was stunned for a moment, but when he came to his senses, he said solemnly: "This person dares to pretend to be an official of the imperial court. He is really bold. Xie Zhixian, this matter is of great importance. We need to write to the state government to report the details."
Hearing this, everyone looked strange.
Xie Ding was too lazy to pay attention to him, flicked his long sleeves, and walked straight towards the city wall.
The war has just concluded, and there are still a lot of things waiting to be dealt with, so I really don’t have time to talk to this nerd.
Then Zhu Ji took the post from Zhizhou's seal with him, and Han Zhen traveled hundreds of miles to rescue him. Isn't it clear what the relationship between the two is?
Submit a letter to the state capital?
When something goes wrong, a play will be staged, "Who in the hall dares to sue me?" 'Absurd drama.
To put it bluntly, even if Han Zhen is really just a bandit, they still have to accept this favor when they rush to rescue him.
How can we repay kindness with hatred?
…
…
After leaving the city gate, a cavalryman turned his head and glanced at the county seat, and said in an angry tone: "County Magistrate, we just killed those officials and took over Qiancheng County directly."
Han Zhen smiled slightly and explained: "The time has not come yet, so Xie Ding is a smart man. Keeping him will do more good than harm to us."
The biggest reason why Linzi County was able to seize it so smoothly was the cooperation of Changzhi County.
With the signboard of Changzhi County, even if the people in the county knew that things had changed, they would not panic.
Only when subordinate officials and yamen servants can perform their duties honestly can scholars feel comfort in their hearts.
If Changzhi County had been killed, the situation would have been completely different.
It is easy to kill a group of officials in Qiancheng County. They can be solved with just one charge.
But what about after killing?
He currently does not have the extra manpower and strength to support his management after seizing the county by force.
Hearing this, the cavalryman scratched his head, then his eyes lit up, and he suddenly said: "I understand, the county magistrate is raising pigs, fattening them up and then killing them!"
"Haha, this metaphor is quite vivid."
Han Zhen couldn't help laughing.
Nie Dong rode up to us on a war horse and asked, "County magistrate, what should we do with these prisoners of war?"
"Bring back!"
Han Zhen ordered.
Young men with strong temperaments joined the army, and the rest either farmed or worked.
At present, there is a shortage of people in various places in Linzi County, and Changzhi County is worried about escaping from the mountains all day long.
Taking these more than a thousand prisoners of war back should allow him to have a good sleep.
No matter in which era, demographic dividend is a top priority.
The Northern Song Dynasty could survive the Western Xia and Liao Kingdoms because of its large population.
Han Zhen asked: "By the way, what are the casualties of our army?"
"Six cavalrymen and twenty-two infantrymen were all slightly injured!" Nie Dong sounded a little proud.
Facing the 7,000-8,000-strong Gan Chi Army, only 28 people were slightly injured. Such a record is indeed something to be proud of.
This is also because they are wearing bamboo armor. If they were wearing a full set of iron armor, I am afraid that fewer soldiers would be injured.
Of course, the main reason is because the combat power of the dare Chi army is too weak.
It's really ridiculous that a team of seven or eight thousand people doesn't even have a crossbow.
"good!"
Han Zhen nodded with satisfaction and ordered: "Arrange the injured and injured to go to the caravan ox cart, and the others will escort the prisoners of war and set off!"
There were thirty-seven riders when they arrived, and a mighty one when they returned.
These more than a thousand prisoners of war were their harvest from this trip. Although they looked less substantial than gold and silver, their actual value was far greater than copper coins.
…
In Qiancheng County.
Xie Ding paid his condolences to the archer warriors guarding the city and gave him some symbolic rewards.
There was not much money, only three to five hundred coins.
The defenders who died in battle were given two pensions.
No way, not every magistrate is as wealthy as Chang Magistrate.
Xie Ding still has some conscience. During his term of office, he did not exploit the people too much. In addition to his salary, he could only get a few hundred thousand dollars of filial piety money every year.
After comforting the people in the county for a while, Xie Ding returned to the county government office.
In the backyard of the county government office, Xie Ding was having dinner with the boy.
The young man took a mouthful of rice and asked vaguely: "Uncle, is Han Zhen really a bandit?"
"Don't talk when you eat, don't talk when you sleep!"
Xie Ding frowned slightly and scolded.
This young man's name is Liu Qi, and his father Liu Zhongwu is the military commander of the Luchuan Army. He has served in the frontier army for many years and has made great achievements in battle.
In the early years, he advocated recruiting the Tibetan princes to surrender. After some overall planning, the Tubo people actually led their troops to surrender.
As a result, Tong Guan took credit for such a huge achievement.
It was not until Song Huizong sent envoys to express condolences to the Western Army that he learned the truth from Liu Zhongwu.
It was precisely because of this incident that Tong Guan became jealous of him.
In recent years, the border troops were short of pay and food, which led to Liu Zhongwu's several defeats against Xixia. Tong Guan was not willing to let go of this opportunity and continued to suppress and exclude him.
Liu Zhongwu was worried that his family would be implicated, so he entrusted his youngest son Liu Qi to his wife's brother to help take care of him.
"oh!"
Hearing this, Liu Qi nodded, finished the rice in the bowl in a few seconds, then put down the bowl and chopsticks and said: "Uncle, I've finished eating, can you talk now?"
"..."
Xie Ding had nothing to do with his nephew, so he could only reply: "This man looks down upon the wolves, and has an unruly temperament. Even if he is not a bandit, he is definitely not a kind person. The murderous intention just now does not seem to be a lie, he is afraid that he really wants to kill me." The thought of waiting.”
Liu Qi shook his head and said: "I think this person is a hero of the world!"
He is the son of a general. He has practiced martial arts since he was a child, and his stick skills were personally taught by Zhou Tong.
As a martial artist, he naturally couldn't stand the behavior of literati.
Especially a rotten scholar like Zhuo Ben.
When Zhuo Ben scolded Han Zhen just now, he felt a little uncomfortable, but he didn't show it due to the presence of his uncle.
Even if Han Zhen killed Na Zhuo Ben in the street, I'm afraid he would only clap his hands and applaud.
Seeing the longing look on his nephew's face, Xie Ding felt guilty and quickly said with a straight face: "Don't think that I don't know your little thoughts. You are staying in the county town and are not allowed to go anywhere. You and I were together a while ago My father wrote to me that he doesn’t want you to join the army again, and I mean the same thing.”
"In the past few years, it has been easy for people around me to study and study, and it will be easy for them to take the imperial examination and enter official careers in the future."
Studying for the imperial examination?
Liu Qi's expression changed, and he suddenly had a bitter look on his face.
Let him go into battle to kill the enemy, and he won't even frown.
But reading, that was simply more uncomfortable than killing him.
Seeing that he had a grimace and said nothing, Xie Ding said sharply: "Did you hear that?"
"Uncle, I understand!"
Liu Qi looked respectful on the face, but already had some concerns in his heart.
This attitude made Xie Ding's eyes flash with a hint of satisfaction, and then he picked up his chopsticks and continued eating.
(End of chapter)
