"Report to Ying Zheng that a spy was caught outside the camp. He claimed to be the magistrate of Kaifeng County and said he wanted to see you Ying Zheng."
The patrol team that caught County Magistrate Chen sent someone over to report it.
Although the sky was getting dark, the night was still not too deep, and Xiao Wu and Jia Shenwu were both in the camp.
"Well, I got it, bring the people here!" Xiao Wu told the soldier who delivered the letter, then turned to look at Jia Shenwu aside and said, "It seems there is news about the fifty thousand taels of silver you want."
Hearing this, Jia Shenwu chuckled and said: "It has been delayed for so long, why should I add a little interest, otherwise I would have been waiting in vain."
"Don't add too much and scare people away. All the money you get will be lost." Xiao Wu joked with a smile.
Jia Shenwu smiled and said: "No, as long as he holds the signed document, he can only do things for us obediently. It's a pity that he is only a civil servant, otherwise I would have forced him to open the city gate and let us in." city."
"You are really greedy." Xiao Wu raised his finger and pointed at him, smiled, and said immediately, "Shandong Beiwa Dusi has tens of thousands of soldiers and horses rushing towards Kaifeng Mansion. Shi Zheng sent someone to send a letter to remind us to be careful."
The Tiger Character Banner's Foreign Intelligence Bureau had already begun to deploy in Shandong, Sichuan, Guizhou and other places in the past two years. With the news coming back from the capital, Shandong Beiwadu Division had not yet dispatched, but the Tiger Character Banner army in Henan had already received the news.
"How can there be so many soldiers and horses? There are only a few thousand regular soldiers, and the rest are civilians?" Jia Shenwu said.
When the imperial army is dispatched, it will inevitably bring a large number of civilians to transport grain, grass and military supplies for the army.
The civilian men who transported grain and grass were all temporarily transferred from the local area. They were laborers and needed to endure heavy labor. The food was only enough to ensure that they could barely survive starvation.
However, when the body is too seriously overdrawn, some civilians will still die on the road, unable to return home.
"What's the difference between the regular soldiers of the Ming Dynasty's military guard and the common people? If you give the civilian husband a sword, you can become a regular soldier. They are all the same." Xiao Wu said casually.
After hearing this, Jia Shenwu smiled and nodded: "When you say that, it's true. It's not wrong to say that they have tens of thousands of troops."
While the two were talking, County Magistrate Chen was brought in.
"I've met the two generals." County Magistrate Chen took the initiative to say hello to Xiao Wu and Jia Shenwu with a smile on his face.
At this time, Jia Shenwu had already put away his smile and said coldly: "You still have the guts to come here, you bitch. I'm so angry that I just want to chop off your head to vent my anger."
"General, spare your life." County Magistrate Chen trembled with fear. He was really afraid that the other party would pull him out and chop off his head. He said quickly, "I came here just for the fifty thousand taels of silver."
After hearing this, Jia Shenwu moved his arm from the table, stood up, walked towards Magistrate Chen with a smile on his face, and pulled out a dagger in his hand.
This frightened County Magistrate Chen and he collapsed on the ground.
Jia Shenwu bent down, pressed the dagger in his hand to cut the rope that bound Magistrate Chen's hands, and said with a smile: "The people below really don't know how to do things. How can they tie the God of Wealth with a rope? I will punish him severely when I turn around." them."
"It's okay, it's okay." County Magistrate Chen breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't want to kill him.
Jia Shenwu helped County Magistrate Chen up from the ground, patted the dirt on his body, and asked: "I wonder where the money was sent? Do you want me to send someone to help Magistrate Chen move it?"
"No, I haven't brought it yet." County Magistrate Chen stammered.
Jia Shenwu's face immediately turned gloomy, he held the dagger in his hand against Magistrate Chen's chin, and said coldly: "Are you kidding me?"
County Magistrate Chen broke out in cold sweat.
"No, I don't dare. This time I came here just to follow the orders of Governor Yang to discuss how to deal with the general. As long as the general agrees, the money can be sent over tomorrow."
Magistrate Chen looked at the dagger under his chin nervously, and his Adam's apple couldn't help but squirm.
"I wish I had said this earlier." Jia Shenwu put away the dagger and said with a smile on his face again, "Tomorrow you will send us one hundred thousand taels of silver, and we will retreat."
"No, isn't it fifty thousand taels?" County Magistrate Chen stuttered.
Jia Shenwu said with a smile: "You have been delayed for so long, so you have to charge some interest. It's not much anyway. I think you can afford it."
"One hundred thousand taels is too much." Magistrate Chen looked bitter.
He kept cursing these rebels for being shameless, and he really couldn't afford one hundred thousand taels of silver.
Although a lot of gold, silver and copper coins were confiscated from the Yun family, the total amount was only 60,000 to 70,000 taels, which was still far from 100,000 taels. Unless all the antiques, calligraphy, paintings, properties and fields seized from the Yun family were exchanged for silver. This will take time, and who knows if these rebels will raise prices again during this time.
When Jia Shenwu saw that Magistrate Chen was unwilling to give him one hundred thousand taels of silver, his face immediately sank and he said, "What? One hundred thousand taels is too much?"
"I really can't afford as much as one hundred thousand taels, can you give me less?" County Magistrate Chen asked tentatively.
Jia Shenwu threatened: "No, it's only one hundred thousand taels. I can't get the money. I'll have hundreds of copies of the document you signed and spread it throughout the city."
"Can you give me some time? It takes time to prepare so much money." The threatened Magistrate Chen had to give in.
After all, the money used to give to the rebels was the court's money, and the black hat belonged to him.
Jia Shenwu looked back at Xiao Wu.
Neither of them thought that with just a scare, they could double their fifty thousand taels of silver into one hundred thousand taels of silver.
"That's it, give him three days, and if he doesn't receive the money, he will spread out the document he signed." Xiao Wu said.
Jia Shenwu glared at County Magistrate Chen and said, "I'm giving you an advantage. Our camp promised to give you three more days to raise money. If you can't get the money again this time, don't blame me for being rude."
As he spoke, he swiped the dagger in Magistrate Chen's temple and chopped off a strand of hair.
"We can definitely get it together, we can definitely get it together." County Magistrate Chen nodded repeatedly to assure him.
Jia Shenwu took back the dagger and said with a straight face: "Okay, go away, go back and prepare the money."
The soldiers in the tent took Magistrate Chen out.
As soon as the person left, Xiao Wu said: "Aren't you afraid that he won't come out after he goes back? By then, both people and money will be lost."
"The money belongs to others, but the black hat belongs to you. These officials are all smart and know how to choose what is best for themselves." Jia Shenwu walked back to the table and sat down.
Xiao Wu picked up the kettle and filled the teapot with some water. He handed the teapot to Jia Shenwu and said: "At present, the officers and soldiers of Huguang and Sichuan Gui are blocked in the Dangzikou area. The troops of Shandong Beiwadusi are The officers and soldiers won't be able to get through for a while, it would be better if we can take this opportunity to capture Kaifeng Fucheng."
"What do you mean?" Jia Shenwu asked hesitantly.
Xiao Wu said: "This County Magistrate Chen was able to collect 50,000 taels of silver in such a short period of time, and he also promised to collect another 50,000 taels of silver in three days, which proves that he has some ability. Why don't we push him harder and see if we can get one out of him?" Gap, help us capture Kaifeng Fucheng."
