Returning to the book hall study, Han Zhen ordered his clerk to find a map of Qingzhou.
Compared with the map within Linzi County, the map of Qingzhou is not so detailed. Fortunately, the mountains, rivers and rivers are all marked one by one.
Linzi County is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with two rivers, one small and one large, passing through it on the left and right.
The small river on the left is Mianshui, and the large river on the right is Zishui.
Xiaodong River is a branch of Zishui River.
Because it is close to Zi River, it was named Linzi County.
The Zihe River runs through the entire Qingzhou from top to bottom.
Yidu is a bit far away from the Zihe River, more than 20 miles away, but it is located in the direction of Zhen Haijun Barracks.
It is simply impossible to transport 120,000 grains back at once.
It can only be temporarily stored in the naval barracks in the town, and then transported back to Linzi County by water along the Zi River.
You only need to inform Luo Sha about this matter. There is no need to explain clearly. He is a smart man. He has been in the officialdom for so many years and knows what things should be asked and what should not be asked.
For this night attack, a thousand men were dispatched, taking boats down the Zi River.
…
But it was said that after Liu Qi fled in shame, he carried the dragon stick, rode his horse out of the military camp, and ran all the way towards Qiancheng County.
We walked and rested all the way until we finally returned to Qiancheng County in the evening.
The traces of the tragic war not long ago have not been completely eliminated, and the smoky and charred areas on the city wall are still vivid.
Although the corpses outside the city have been removed for many days, there is still a disgusting smell permeating the air.
Seeing the sun setting in the west, two city guards were preparing to close the city gate when they saw a man galloping towards them on horseback.
Even though they were separated by a distance, the two of them recognized Liu Qi at a glance.
Just because the coiled dragon stick is too eye-catching.
When Liu Qi came closer with his horse, a government official asked curiously: "Xiao Yameni, where have you been these days? Why haven't I seen you?"
With a personality like Liu Qi's, he is destined to get along anywhere.
In less than two months since he came to Qiancheng County, there was no one he didn't know well, from archers to subordinates.
He is even more familiar with it than Xie Ding, the county magistrate.
"Go out and relax."
Liu Qiqiang smiled.
Seeing that he was not very interested, the two government officials stopped talking.
In the backyard of the county government office, Xie Ding finished his official duties for the day and was sitting in the courtyard having a meal.
The dinner was very shabby, consisting of a plate of vinegar and celery, a small plate of pickles, and a portion of gruel.
The Xie family has cultivated and studied in the family, and has lived in poverty all their lives.
Although the salaries of officials in the Northern Song Dynasty were generous, when Xie Jiang was still there, he often provided aid to poor scholars. He had no money left and only had a thin coffin after his death.
Xie Ding's generation still upholds the character of his grandfather. Part of his salary is sent back to his hometown to support his wife, children and children, and the rest is used to support poor students.
Although corrupt officials are rampant nowadays, there are still some scholars who stick to their true intentions and character.
However, the situation of these people is not very good.
Xie Ding was heartbroken about the current situation in the court, but he couldn't do anything.
He Changyan and Chen Guan are quite important, one is number one and the other is third overall.
The results of it?
The two impeached Cai Jing several times, one was demoted to Tongzhou and the other was dismissed from office.
What can he do if he is a seventh grade county magistrate?
Secondly, Xie Ding actually knew very well that the root cause lies with the current officials.
"Alang, Alang!"
Suddenly, the old servant ran into the backyard at a trot.
Xie Ding put down his chopsticks and said in a deep voice: "How is it appropriate to panic? What happened?"
"Alang, Xiaoyanei is back!"
The old servant looked happy.
A hint of joy flashed in Xie Ding's eyes, and then he snorted with a straight face: "Huh, does this evil beast still know how to come back?"
Seeing this, the old servant persuaded him in a low voice: "Alang, it's not easy for Xiaoya Nei to come back. Don't be cruel to him anymore."
"Leaving without saying goodbye has made the elders in the family worried, and you still expect me to look good on him?"
Although Xie Ding said this, his expression softened a bit.
At this time, Liu Qi took the dragon stick and walked into the backyard: "Uncle, I'm back."
After looking him up and down, Xie Ding could not help but feel relieved when he saw that he was in good condition.
Liu Qi's biological mother is Xie Ding's biological sister, and he has been very fond of this sister since he was a child.
Aiwujiwu, he is also very close to this nephew.
Xie Ding said sternly: "Do you know you were wrong?"
"I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have left without saying goodbye, causing my uncle to be worried."
Liu Qi drooped his head and looked downcast.
Seeing his pitiful look, Xie Ding couldn't bear to say harsh words anymore and said warmly: "Can we have dinner?"
"No."
Liu Qi shook his head.
"Don't wait here in the yamen, I will go and serve the rice now."
Without waiting for Xie Ding's instructions, the old servant walked towards the kitchen and came back soon with a large bowl of porridge.
"Thank you Heng Bo."
Liu Qi thanked him, sat down, and wolfed down the vinegar, celery and pickles.
He was really hungry. He only had one meal in the morning, and then he traveled all day long. He was in a hurry and didn't bring any solid food. He was already hungry.
The large bowl of porridge was finished in a blink of an eye. Knowing how much he ate, the old servant immediately went to fill up another bowl.
After two bowls of porridge, Liu Qi felt much more comfortable in his stomach, but his mood was still low.
What Han Zhen said today made him feel ashamed.
At his age, when he is competitive and cares about face, he can't stand it.
Even if Han Zhen didn't mention it, he would have no shame in staying in the military camp and would leave voluntarily.
After all, it was Liu Qi who took the initiative to defect late at night, and Han Zhen treated him well. In just a few days, he was promoted to the commander of the cavalry battalion, commanding more than 500 elite cavalry.
To be honest, this trust is even greater than that of his father.
As a result, when discussing important matters, I was timid.
He didn't know who the county magistrate would appoint as the commander of the cavalry battalion after he left.
It should be Lao Jiu. This guy is originally from the Western Army. He has great martial arts and can be considered a fierce general.
He watched the cavalry battalion grow and develop little by little, from the initial thirty or so people to more than five hundred people.
Every cavalryman among them is an elite selected by him from among the infantry...
Thinking of this, Liu Qi couldn't help but sigh, and the lonely look on his face became more intense.
Xie Ding thought that he had seen the dangers outside, and was disheartened. He couldn't help comforting him: "I have said before that Han Zhen is so unruly and unruly that he is easy to deal with. But you go out for a walk this time. No matter what happens, I will become more knowledgeable and realize that people's hearts are dangerous, and I think I will be a little calmer in my dealings with others in the future."
"..."
Liu Qi moved his lips, intent on explaining.
At this moment, I heard Xie Ding ask with a puzzled expression: "Come to think of it, how could Han Zhen let you go so easily?"
When he thought about it, Liu Qi defected to Han Zhen, just like a sheep entering a tiger's mouth.
How could he let go easily without biting off a piece of meat from the Liu and Xie families?
"I...I was driven away."
Liu Qi looked ashamed.
Drive away?
Xie Ding's movements of stroking his beard were stagnant, and he said in disbelief: "Han Zhen, my son, took the initiative to drive you away?"
"Um!"
Liu Qi smiled bitterly and nodded.
He didn't say the reason for driving him away. He felt that the county magistrate was upright and he couldn't be a villain, even if the other party was his uncle who loved him.
At this time, Xie Ding was completely confused and said curiously: "It's weird, the sun actually comes out in the west."
Unable to figure it out, Xie Ding was too lazy to think about it and ordered: "When I come back this time, I can't be willful anymore. I should study hard."
When Liu Qi heard the word "study", he felt a pain in his head and quickly changed the subject: "Uncle, what do you think of the golden man?"
"Golden man?"
With a trace of disdain in his tone, Xie Ding replied: "The Northland are barbarians. They drink hair like hair and drink blood. They cannot be educated."
Hearing this, Liu Qi couldn't help but frown slightly and reminded: "But the Jin people destroyed the Liao Kingdom. Last year, the two Northern Expeditions both returned with great defeats. The Jin people have seen through the reality of the Song Dynasty, and will wait until it is completely pacified. The Liao Kingdom will probably send its troops southward."
"If it is destroyed, it will be destroyed. These barbarians are no different from the Liao and Xia. They only need to be given some coins and open a mutual market. It will not take long for them to learn our Chinese characters, read the poems and books of our sages, and learn about our Hua nation." etiquette."
Xie Ding took this opportunity to educate Liu Qi: "Soldiers are also deadly weapons, and saints have to use them as a last resort. Not to mention the Han and Tang Dynasties, the Liao and Xia countries in front of us have been engaged in military warfare for many years. What are they doing now?" ? The Liao Kingdom was destroyed by the Jin people who were even more aggressive, and Xixia was about to fall apart, and the country would not be able to generalize. Although the Jin people were tyrannical for a while, they would follow the footsteps of the Liao and Xia in a few decades."
Liu Qi was shocked when he heard this.
This is my uncle, and he ended up thinking the same way.
Previously in the Qingzhou Army, he often discussed the affairs of Xixia and the Jin people with Nie Dong, Wei Da and others. They all agreed that the Jin people would definitely go south.
The reason is very simple. There is a rich but thin and cowardly neighbor living next door. How can the barbaric Jin people endure it?
And once the Jin people go south, with the current combat power of the Western Army, they will be like a mantis.
Liu Qi retorted: "If the Jin people insist on going south, what should they do?"
"Don't be unfounded. At the beginning of the founding of the Song Dynasty, the Liao Kingdom was going south every year."
Xie Ding said sincerely: "I know you are dissatisfied with the matter of Sui coins. You grew up in the frontier army and were tainted with the spirit of the army. I don't blame you for having such thoughts. But do you know that before Tan Yuan's alliance, , the Liao people went south every year, and the Hebei states were frightened three times a day. The people in the north were in dire straits, and every time they fought, millions of dollars were wasted. Five to six out of ten of the tax revenue from the treasury was spent on the battlefield."
"In comparison, the money in the Sui coins is just a drop in the bucket. Why not use a few Sui coins in exchange for a hundred years of rest and recuperation? What's more, after the opening of the mutual market, with the help of merchants, it won't take long to earn back and return wealth to the people. "
Liu Qi became anxious and said hurriedly: "Uncle, things are different now than when Emperor Taizu was the emperor. At that time, when the Song Dynasty was first established, there were many soldiers and generals, and they were all veterans who had experienced hundreds of battles. The land of Hebei had the tranquility of the Tang Dynasty. The Serbian Army is guarding it. But things are different now. The Forbidden Army and Xiang Army in various states have long been eroded and cannot bear a fight. Only the Western Army still has the strength to fight."
"But in the two Northern Expeditions last year, the Western Army suffered heavy losses, with only one out of ten left. Although it recruited another 100,000 troops, they were all new recruits who had never been on the battlefield and had little fighting power. How could they stop the wolf-like force? Tiger’s golden man?”
Last year, the 100,000 elite Western troops could not defeat the Liao people. Now it is simply a daydream to rely on a group of new soldiers to stop the Jin people who massacred the Liao people.
Xie Ding scolded: "Even if the Jin people go south, there will be military commanders such as Tong Guan and Zhong Shidao to deal with it. Why do you need to worry about it?"
"I..."
Liu Qi hesitated to speak, showing a hint of stubbornness in his helplessness.
"well!"
Xie Ding sighed and said warmly: "I know you love the military, but it is not easy to be a warrior in the Song Dynasty. Your father is a living example. Studying for the imperial examination and becoming an official as a civil servant is the right way."
It was time to study for the imperial examination again. Liu Qi felt irritated in his heart, and replied: "What if you become an official? Uncle, you are the magistrate of a county, but you can govern the people in poverty. In order to raise money, your wife and children are separated, and you sell your land." , but still can’t do anything?”
"..."
Xie Ding was silent.
He was very convincing when he talked about golden people and Sui coins.
But Liu Qi's words, every word was like a knife, really pierced his heart, and the key point was that there was no way to refute it.
After a moment, Xie Ding spoke slowly and said bitterly: "The officials... were just bewitched and deceived by traitors such as Wang Fu and Li Bangyan."
Liu Qi curled his lips and said, "Uncle, please don't deceive yourself and others. The upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked. It is precisely because today's officials are fatuous that there are so many traitors in the court."
"Be careful!"
Xie Ding shouted loudly.
Liu Qi was unconvinced and muttered: "You said that the county magistrate is a rebel, but the rule of rebels is infinitely better than the rule of the imperial court. The people live and work in peace and contentment, and the subordinate officials are clear and diligent, so it is better to let the county magistrate win the world!" "
"What did you say?"
Xie Ding's expression changed drastically.
(End of chapter)
