"Yes, there shouldn't be!" Hu Mingyi said uncertainly.
When Li Guangyi brought him to Datong to take office, most of the soldiers and horses of the Tiger Character Banner had already gone to the grasslands, so they did not have a special understanding of the military situation of the Tiger Character Banner.
When it comes to military weapons like cannons, I still think that the imperial cannons are more powerful.
At this moment, countless gunshots suddenly resounded through the sky.
There were so many cannons and the sound was so loud that even the doors and windows in the governor's office were shaken by the sound of the cannons, and it seemed like the earth was shaking.
Li Guangyi slipped under the chair uncontrollably.
Hu Mingyi, who was next to him, hurriedly stepped forward to hold him up, preventing Li Guangyi from slipping under the chair.
"What, what's going on?" Li Guangyi asked stuttering.
Hu Mingyi carefully looked around and said hesitantly: "It seems to be the sound of artillery."
"Where, where did the gunfire come from?" Li Guangyi not only stuttered, but his right hand that went to carry the bowl of tea on the table was also trembling, and he failed to put the tea cup to his mouth several times.
Hu Mingyi hesitated for a moment and said, "It should be the sound of our cannon!"
"We have so many cannons? Why didn't I know?" Li Guangyi looked at Hu Mingyi suspiciously.
The sound of the cannon just now was obviously not the sound that the dozen or so cannons on the top of Datong City could make.
"Yes, right!" Hu Mingyi said uncertainly.
He didn't believe in his heart that the sound of these cannons came from the defenders on the city, but he was even less willing to believe that the sound of these cannons came from the hands of the rioters.
"The old man is in trouble, the bandits are attacking the city."
As the words fell, the government servant who had been sent out by Li Guangyi to inquire about the news ran in from outside.
When Li Guangyi saw someone coming back, he asked eagerly: "Tell me what's going on outside?"
"Chaos, the bandits have attacked the city, and there are many cannons. The city has turned into a mess. Vice General Li is going to support the north wall." The Yamen officer gasped.
Li Guangyi asked nervously: "Have the bandits invaded the city?"
"That's not true, but the bandits brought a lot of cannons. I heard that many people died on the north wall." The officer said the information he had found.
When he heard that the bandits were still outside the city, Li Guangyi softened and slumped on the back of his seat. He let out a long breath and murmured to himself: "It's better that we haven't entered the city. It's better that we haven't entered the city."
The voice was not loud, except for himself, even Hu Mingyi next to him could not hear clearly what was said.
"Okay, you go down first!" Hu Mingyi signaled to the Yamen servant that he could leave.
The yamen servant bowed to Li Guangyi, bowed and retreated.
Hu Mingyi took two steps forward, stood next to Li Guangyi, and whispered: "Dong Weng, it seems that the cannon fire just now was made by bandits. Judging from the sound, there are probably hundreds of them."
While he was speaking, the sound of gunfire outside was still ringing out.
Li Guangyi looked up at Hu Mingyi.
"The rebels have so many cannons. We only have a dozen cannons. It is difficult for us to be the opponent of the rebels. Moreover, the number of soldiers guarding the city is far less than that of the rebels outside the city." Hu Mingyi said.
Li Guangyi's lips moved twice, and finally he said: "Do you have any better way to defend yourself against the enemy?"
"Students believe that the only way to defend Datong City is to continue to collect money from the gentry in the city and recruit more civilians to defend the city," Hu Mingyi said.
Li Guangyi looked at Hu Mingyi and said hesitantly: "The affairs of the common people are easy to handle, but the money of the squires is not so easy to get. The last time the king came forward, he already asked for a sum of money to defend the city. Now I want to get money from these squires." I’m afraid it’s not that easy to have money in hand.”
He was not optimistic that the government could still take money out of the pockets of the squires in the city.
"If you don't give them money, tell them that once the bandits break the city, they will lose all their money and their houses and property. Only by guarding Datong City can their family property and lives be saved," Hu Mingyi said.
Li Guangyi frowned slightly and said: "When the bandits outside the city used to do business, they had good relations with many squires and officials in the city. These squires may not believe what you say."
"Being friends before the rebellion was a thing of the past. Now that the Tiger Character Banner has rebelled, they are rebels. As long as a city is breached by rebels, the wealthy households in the city will never have a good end. I believe that as long as we act rationally, With love, the wealthy squires in the city will not fail to understand these principles." Hu Mingyi analyzed for Li Guangyi.
Li Guangyi stroked his beard and looked thoughtful.
After a while, he said: "Are you sure this method can defend Datong City?"
"Now we have only this option." Hu Mingyi looked at Li Guangyi and said.
Li Guangyi hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "Okay, I'll do as you say. However, you can personally handle the matter of asking the wealthy gentry and wealthy households in the city to provide money, and leave the matter of recruiting civilian husbands to the people below. "
"The bandits have attacked the city. The students should hurry up and try to find more money and recruit more civilians to defend the city." Hu Mingyi said.
Li Guangyi nodded.
The town of Datong is related to his career as an official. Once the town of Datong also falls into the hands of the bandits, he will be charged with losing his feudal vassal and losing his land at the same time, and his official career will be cut off.
The situation of the Donglin Party he was friends with was no longer as good as in previous years. Once something happened to him in Datong, there would be few people in the government to speak for him, and he would probably end up like Xiong Feibai.
Hu Mingyi left Houya and went to the wealthy gentry in the city to donate money to defend the city.
Li Guangyi, who was sitting alone in the back office, pressed his temple with his hand.
The sound of shelling by the rebels made him less optimistic about his ability to hold Datong Town. He only hoped that he could hold on until the court's reinforcements arrived.
He failed to suppress the rebellion in Datong, which was considered incompetent at best. At most, the imperial court removed him from his post and allowed him to return to his hometown, but at the most, he lost the town of Datong, and at the least, he was taken back to the capital and imprisoned.
"Sir, someone just shot a letter with a bow and arrow." A servant came in from outside with an arrow in his hand.
When Li Guangyi saw the arrow in the officer's hand, his eyes shrank and he said, "What letter? Have you caught the person who shot the arrow?"
"The young ones only found the arrows and the letter on the door, but not the person who shot the arrows." The Yamen servant lowered his head and said.
Li Guangyi was not surprised that he caught the best one but failed to catch the person who shot the arrow and delivered the letter. He stretched out his hand and said: "Bring the letter to me."
The officer stepped forward, held the arrow in both hands and handed it over with the letter on it.
Li Guangyi took the arrow and pulled out the letter on it from the arrow.
First, he looked at the feather arrow in his hand and found that it was just an ordinary feather arrow. He didn't see anything.
Then he opened the envelope, took the letter out, spread it out and read it in front of him.
After reading it, he nervously said to the yamen officer who sent the letter: "Except for me, has anyone read the contents of the letter?"
"No one has seen it. As soon as I found the arrow and the letter, I sent it over immediately." The officer shook his head.
Li Guangyi put the letter paper in his hand back into the envelope and said at the same time: "Go and find Mr. Hu for me. Tell me that I have something important to see him."
"Young man, go right away." The yamen servant bowed, turned around and left the yamen.
