After the discussion, several thousand-man team captains went back to select the people to be sent to the baggage team. Huang Zhong also went back to prepare the soldiers and armor for the baggage team. In the end, only Yang Yuan was left behind.
Liu Heng said to Yang Yuan: "Let your Foreign Intelligence Bureau investigate the matters in the Xuan Mansion. Is there really someone who is trying to lure the people fleeing from Liaodong to come to Lingqiu?"
"Yes." Yang Yuan responded.
"Also." Liu Heng said, "If someone really tricks Liaodong refugees to come to Lingqiu, it will easily cause a crowd reaction. By then, there will be more than 40,000 people coming to Lingqiu, so you have to bring the news to us. Let the bandits from various hills plunder Datong and some large gentry households, bring back more food, and make Datong flourish in all directions, leaving Xu Tong too busy to take care of himself and no energy to deal with us."
As he spoke, he added: "We can't suppress the bandits even if we collect the money to suppress them. I want to see how Xu Tong responds to the censure of the officials and gentry in Datong."
"Yes." Yang Yuan agreed and said immediately, "The number of bandits we have dispersed is not large. Why don't we take the opportunity of the refugees from Liaodong coming to Datong to expand our manpower and strengthen the strength of each village."
"This is what I'm going to tell you next." Liu Heng said, "There must be some bachelors or people without family members among the people in Liaodong. People like this can be dragged up the mountain if they can, and it can also relieve themselves. There’s pressure from Lingqiu.”
Yang Yuan nodded.
Liu Heng continued: "The training on the various hills must not be relaxed, especially after the Liaodong people join again, we must pay close attention to the training, and we cannot let those Liaodong people who join really think that they are bandits and can do whatever they want. "
"I understand." Yang Yuan nodded solemnly.
Liu Heng stood in the room, looking through the window in the direction of Datong, and murmured to himself: "Let's see how long you can stay as governor?"
At this moment, Li Yunqi walked in from outside, came to Liu Heng, and said, "Master, there is news from the grassland."
As he spoke, he handed over a bamboo tube.
Liu Heng took the bamboo tube, opened the stopper on it, and took out a letter from it. When he saw the paint on the envelope, he took the letter out.
After reading the letter, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a smile.
When Yang Yuan saw him at the side, he knew that good news had come back, so he said, "Master, has Deputy Director Li brought back any good news?"
"It's indeed good news." Liu Heng said with a smile, "Tumote agreed to let us build a warehouse. The location is at the Dahei River outside Bansheng City."
"This is really good news." Yang Yuan couldn't help laughing.
Liu Heng stuffed the letter back into the envelope and turned to Li Yunqi and said, "Send an order for Huang Zhong to prepare some craftsmen for building forts and burning bricks. He will leave seclusion in three days and go to the grasslands to build forts."
"Yes." Li Yunqi agreed.
"Also," Liu Heng added, "tell Zhang Hong that his 3,000-man team came out of the customs with the craftsmen. After the new castle is built, he will be stationed there from now on."
"This subordinate will bring the news to Captain Zhang Qianren." Li Yunqi responded.
Yang Yuan on the side said at this time: "If we send the 3,000-man team over, will it arouse the resentment of the Mongols?"
"It doesn't matter." Liu Heng waved his hand and said, "The grassland is so big, sending more than a thousand people is not conspicuous. Besides, the imperial court has banned the horse market. It is impossible for Tumote to buy what they need through the horse market. The only thing we can rely on is our fleet with the tiger flag."
……………………
The Fan family's motorcade left Jizhen and walked on the grassland, not even daring to wave Fan Ji's flag.
"Butler, didn't you say that Jurchens will come to protect our convoy? But we have been in the grassland for so many days, and we haven't even seen a Jurchen."
The person who spoke was a clerk from Fan Kee Chamber of Commerce. He was left by Fan Youfu to serve him, so he sat in the same car with Fan Youfu.
Fan Youfu glanced at the line of grass in the distance, frowned, and said: "The master has sent people to Horqin. I believe that Jurchens will arrive soon. Please wait patiently."
The guy said with a grimace: "It's not just a small worry, but people in the convoy are actually panicked. The news that our convoy Fan Ji sent to Horqin twice before was robbed has spread, and now many people are clamoring for help." Go back to Ji Town."
"Who spread the rumors?" Fan Youfu glared.
The guy smiled bitterly and said: "It doesn't matter who spread the news now. If the Jurchens don't come again, I'm worried that the convoy will really return to Ji Town."
"Dare!" Fan Youfu said coldly, "If the convoy wants to go back before it reaches Horqin, I will definitely skin them."
This time the boy didn't answer.
Because he knew that even if he really went back, at most he would not work for the Fan family in the future, and the Fan family would not dare to do anything to them. But if he encountered that group of vicious horse bandits on the grassland, then everyone in the convoy would Lives will be lost on the grassland.
Which one is more important, he believes everyone can weigh it.
On the grass where the wheels passed, they left strips of crushed grass and wheel marks.
As the sun gradually set in the west, a man wearing mail and carrying a straight knife came to Fan Yongfu's carriage.
"Steward Fan, it's getting dark soon. When should we set up camp?"
Fan Youfu raised his head and looked at the sky, and then said, "Excuse me, Commander Xia, so we can go two miles further. We will set up camp when it gets darker."
Captain Xia, who was on horseback, hesitated for a moment and then said, "Okay, just listen to Butler Fan. Let's walk an extra two miles."
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Xia." Fan Youfu bowed his hands towards Mr. Xia.
Head Guard Xia said: "Steward Fan, you are so polite. This is what our escorts do. Since my boss asked me to walk an extra two miles, I naturally have to listen to my boss. However, I have something I want to ask Butler Fan about."
"Commander Xia, please speak." Fan Youfu said in the carriage.
"Then I'll tell you straight away." Head Guard Xia said, "I heard someone said that Butler Fan hired a Jurchen to be the escort for the motorcade. Is this true?"
Fan Youfu hesitated for a moment, then thought that once the Jurchens arrived, the other party would know about it sooner or later, so he said, "It is true."
At this time, Biaotou Xia's face darkened and he said, "Steward Fan can't trust these people anymore."
"Captain Xia has misunderstood." Fan Youfu said hurriedly, "My Fan family naturally trusts Capt. Xia, otherwise we wouldn't have hired Capt. Xia to be our guard."
Xia Biaotou said with dissatisfaction: "If that's the case, then why do we need Jurchens to come? If we had known that your Fan family invited Jurchens, we would not have taken this trip at all."
The carriage suddenly became quiet.
