Zhao Yutu, who was riding a carriage, stayed in Zhenchuan Fort overnight and returned to Datong Town the next day.
When we returned to Datong Town, the snow had stopped.
There are many people on the street clearing the snow in front of their homes and on the street. There are at least one snowdrift in front of each house, and many have two or three.
Zhao Yutu took a car to the main town office.
There were two guards standing outside the main town office door. He showed his bronze medal to prove his identity and was let in. However, all the guards he brought with him stayed outside the main town office door.
At this time, the general town office had not undergone subsequent expansion during the Manchu and Qing Dynasties. Even so, it occupied a wider area and had a more sophisticated layout than the governor's office.
The guard outside the signing room went in and reported the matter, and then Zhao Yutu was taken into the signing room.
"Proprietor." Zhao Yutu looked at Liu Heng behind the table and bowed.
Liu Heng, who was handling official business, raised his head and said to Zhao Yutu: "You find a place to sit by yourself and wait until I finish handling the matters at hand."
After saying that, he continued to work.
Zhao Yutu walked to the stove, pulled over a bench, sat down, and put his hands on the stove to warm himself.
Zhao Wu, who signed the mortgage room, poured a cup of hot water and handed it to him.
After a while, Liu Heng finally finished what he was doing, then raised his head, looked at Zhao Yutu and said, "Have you finished dealing with Yang Hewei's affairs?"
"When my subordinates came back, the land was almost divided, and the finishing work of Su Naichen and Qian Shi's families was also handed over to Jiao Yun." Zhao Yutu said.
Liu Heng came out from behind the table with a pipe in his mouth and said with a wry smile: "There was a white disaster on the grassland. Many cattle and sheep froze to death, and more than a dozen herders died. Deputy Director Li kept complaining and asking for money and food. Now I am one big and two big, and I wish I could break a piece of silver into two halves."
"We are about to use troops against the Xuanfu. Money and food are already tight, and my subordinates are counting on Deputy Director Li to provide support." Zhao Yutu immediately cried for himself.
They are unwilling to use their money and grain to support the grasslands.
Liu Heng sighed and said: "I know it's not easy for you here, but you can't ignore the grassland. Think of a way to squeeze out some money and food to send to the grassland."
"It's not that my subordinates are unwilling. They are going to use troops against the Xuanfu soon. It's still early for the summer harvest, and there really isn't much money and food." Zhao Yutu complained for himself.
Liu Heng comforted him and said, "I can understand your difficulties. Let's do this. Send a thousand stones of grain to the grassland first. After we capture Xuanfu, we will prepare a batch of grain to send to the grassland depending on the situation."
"A thousand stones!" Zhao Yutu's face turned bitter, but he also knew that this was the bottom line and he could not refuse, so he said helplessly, "I will prepare now."
Liu Heng comforted him: "Be patient for now, and it will be fine when the taxes are collected next year."
"That's all it can do." Zhao Yutu took a long breath.
Not long after the Tiger Banner occupied Datong, taxes could not be collected until the next year, and a lot of money was spent to divide the fields. So many captives were sent to the grassland and they also had to eat, which cost a lot of money for food.
Even though Tiger Character Banner seized a lot of money and food in Datong, for Zhao Yutu, who was in charge of the Logistics Bureau, the money and food seized was only recorded in the Logistics Bureau's account books and was immediately spent.
The Logistics Bureau still has to worry about money and food.
Zhao Shujiao, who came from Shanhaiguan, was still on his way to Datong. Apart from this, the state capitals around Datong did not take any action against the Tiger Flag. Until the end of the year, there was no war in Datong.
"The general rewards you guys with several jars of wine and a sheep. The sheep has been stewed in a big pot. It's time for everyone to have a drink." The speaker was a rough and arrogant man with a beard on his face.
Unlike later generations, people in this era like to shave their beards cleanly. People prefer to keep their beards. Many men in their thirties have long beards, and some people with beards even have big beards all over their faces. .
"Thank you General for the reward."
Someone among the soldiers guarding the top of the city shouted loudly, and soon many people on the top of the city shouted the same.
"Okay, let's all guard the city well. I'll go down below and take a look. Don't let anyone steal our mutton." The general who defended the city told the others on the city and walked to the horse path under the city wall.
"Look at me, sir, don't eat it! Brothers are all counting on this mutton meal today." A soldier on the top of the city joked.
"Go, go, uncle, am I that kind of person? Don't worry, I'll keep it for you." After saying that, the general walked down the city wall along the horse path.
It snowed a few days ago in Zhangjiakou Fort, and there is still a lot of snow on the top of the city that has not melted.
Standing on the top of the city, the cold wind was biting. Many soldiers guarding the city huddled behind the crenellations, and a few people huddled together to keep warm.
"Hurry up the beacon, the Tatars are coming."
On the turret at one corner of the city wall, some soldiers discovered a large number of cavalry outside the city.
"The Tartars are attacking the city, the Tartars are attacking the city."
There were soldiers on the top of the city running down the city, shouting loudly, hoping that everyone in the city would hear the news.
At this time, the soldiers on the top of the city did not bother to take shelter from the wind behind the crenellations and began to light the beacon fire.
The weather was dry and cold, and because it had just snowed, the hay and wood used to light the fire were relatively moist. The smoke column quickly rose, and even the strong wind in the air could not disperse it for a while.
News of the Tatar attack quickly spread throughout Zhangjiakou Fort.
The city guard came to the city wall with his soldiers and servants.
"Where are the Tartars?" The general who had just arrived on the city wall asked a soldier guarding the city.
The soldier pointed to the outside of the city.
The guard looked in the direction of the finger.
Wherever he could see, he saw a large number of cavalry heading towards Zhangjiakou, but the distance was too far and it was difficult to estimate the number of invading cavalry at the moment.
"Damn it, don't let me live a good year." The guard said harshly.
Today is the New Year, and the Tatars attacked the city at this time, which made him very unhappy.
"Post the notice when the weather clears, and you personally escort them to the execution ground for execution." Zhao Yutu explained.
Jiao Yun nodded.
The official document was stamped with the seal of the Military and Political Department, and he knew that the execution of these people was approved by the proprietor.
At this moment, a big man wearing cotton armor walked in from the door.
"Director, the carriage is ready."
Zhao Yutu walked aside, put on the leather jacket hanging on the hanger, picked up a cotton hat and put it on his head, and said: "Yang Hewei will be left to you and Huo Shouwei, the new county magistrate. We are already on our way here, and I hope you can cooperate well in the future."
"It's snowing so heavily outside, sir, why don't you stay one more day and wait for the snow to stop before leaving." Jiao Yun saw that Zhao Yutu was leaving despite the heavy snow and wanted to persuade him to stay.
Zhao Yutu waved his hand gently and said: "There are still many things in Datong Town waiting for me to go back to deal with, so I won't stay here."
After saying that, he walked out.
There was a thick layer of snow on the ground, leaving clear footprints on it.
On the street in front of the Yamen Gate, there was a large cart pulled by two horses parked, surrounded by a group of cavalry wearing cotton armor and felt hats.
When the driver saw Zhao Yutu coming out of the Yamen, he quickly put the stool on the ground for Zhao Yutu to step on.
Jiao Yun stood beside the carriage, helped Zhao Yutu get into the carriage, and watched as the carriage and the cavalry guarding it walked away.
