After making some brief explanations, Liu Fang stood up to leave and prepared to return to the military camp. He insisted on his habit. However, Wu Ping hesitated for a moment and took the initiative to call: "Your Majesty!"
"What else is there?" Liu Fang looked at him doubtfully.
Wu Ping held up his hand and said, "Your Majesty, please move to Beiguan!"
Winter inevitably gives people a gloomy and gloomy feeling, especially when there are dark clouds floating in the sky, and the world is even more shrouded in gray tones.
On the fort, right at the wind outlet, the north wind howls and whines, and the wall made of bluestone and loess gives people a sense of solidity. This is the key to a strong pass.
Several basins of charcoal fires were burning brightly. Although the north wind was strong, it could not extinguish the swaying flames. Facing the bad weather, it seemed hard for the garrison to close the door. After all, the heat released by the charcoal fires could not play much role in keeping out the cold. , However, at this moment, everyone straightened their chests and showed their loyalty to their duties, because His Royal Highness King Zhao went to the city in person.
Of course, Liu Fang did not come here to inspect the defense and military appearance. The cold winter wind was raging wildly, with his hair on his temples fluttering and his hunting robes hunting. Liu Fang stared at the scene outside Guide Castle with a stern expression.
Under the cold weather, the traces of the war seemed to be frozen and were vaguely visible. Of course, due to battlefield discipline, there were no corpses left everywhere, and they were all cleaned up.
The Guide Road was opened up relatively wide, at least allowing large vehicles to pass through. There was an open space in front of the fort along the mountain plateau, but now it was occupied by a dense crowd of people.
There were men and women, old and young, sitting or lying down. It was unclear how many people there were, but it looked quite "spectacular". The strong ones were holding their swords, while the weak ones were clinging to them and sleeping. However, without exception, they were all shivering in the cold wind. In fact, some people simply leaned under the fort wall, hoping that the firelight on the fort could dispel some of the chill, even if it seemed insignificant.
Needless to say, these people outside Guardburg are all refugees fleeing the war to the south. Although the Yanzhou Rebellion broke out only one month ago, the civil order in Yanzhou has completely collapsed. During the chaos, everyone's bottom line has been reduced to the lowest, and everyone's first goal is only "survival".
For the ordinary people in Yanzhou, the winter of the 21st year of Kaibao was extremely cruel. In the face of the rebellion, they had no more choices.
Either being coerced into the rebel army, or being plundered and killed, those who really did not want to be associated with the rebels had no choice but to seek self-protection and refuge, either by hiding in the mountains or by flocking to the city to seek protection from the government.
However, Yanzhou only has two cities, Dingbian and Yanchi, with limited carrying capacity. Generally speaking, Guizhou is not qualified to enter a safe city, and after accepting a wave of refugees, it refused to open the city.
Even so, there are still a large number of Yanzhou people who rely on the second city. Even if they cannot enter the city, they are relatively safe outside the city. At least it is better than the scattered people who are preying on the rebels. The two cities of Yanchi and Dingbian are just like in the winter night. A little flicker of fireflies brings a tiny bit of hope to people.
Of course, not everyone chooses to seek asylum in the Second City of Yanchi, Dingbian. Yanzhou is already extremely unsafe. Many people have to choose to drag their families with them to escape this war-torn place. Guide Road is a road of hope. , but it is also a difficult journey.
They brought the old and the young, and brought their families with them. Even though the distance was not too far, they were always facing danger. Only the Yanzhou officers and soldiers, through the actions of Wang Xuanzhen and others, slightly attracted the attention of the rebels, were able to give them Strive for some chances of survival.
But even so, only three out of ten who fled south to Guide Castle survived. However, when they arrived at Guide Castle, their way of survival was closed by the government, and their hope almost turned into despair.
Under the strict orders from above, Wu Ping, the town general, did not dare to open and close the door to let people go. Instead, he closed the door tightly and waited for the refugees, even guarding these refugees to the death.
Regarding the strategy of blocking Yulin, the government and soldiers around Yulin implemented it very resolutely. Not to mention the rebels, even the refugees were not allowed to pass through.
Of course, there are many factors involved, not only the impact of the imperial court's strategy of suppressing bandits, but also local protectionism. For the military and political officials in Guannai Road, chaos in Yulin will lead to chaos, and they cannot endanger themselves. They try their best to avoid becoming a "beggar-thy-neighbor" neighbor. If they face a threat, they must resolutely eliminate it. In terms of protecting the market, the bureaucrats of the Han Dynasty can often burst out with strong combat effectiveness.
For Wu Ping, the general of Guardburg, although he felt pity for the refugees, he did not dare to act rashly and was merciful to the refugees. If something went wrong, no one would pity him.
As a town general, his most fundamental task is to guard the fort. Even without instructions from above, he will choose to guard the fort strictly. However, in the past, it was because Guideburg lacked strength and had no one who could really make the decision, or even be willing to make the decision.
Now, King Zhao Liu Fang personally led the army and was about to enter Yulin to quell the rebellion. Wu Ping felt that he could make a report on the refugee issue. This was his last effort. If His Highness King Zhao couldn't solve it, then what would happen to his small town? General, what can be done? Even now that he has been promoted to lieutenant general, he is still penniless.
On the fort, Liu Fang stood up like a pine mountain, looking down at the unavoidable people in front of the fort, his face expressionless, but the more he looked like this, the more solemn he felt.
After a while, Liu Fang asked Wu Ping: "How many refugees are there outside the fort? How long have they been in Guideburg?"
Wu Ping did not dare to be negligent and immediately replied: "Your Majesty, there were only more than 300 people at first. However, after the generals defeated the rebels, they came in greater numbers and gathered more and more. It is feared that there are thousands of people now." .”
"Just let them suffer outside the fort?" Liu Fang said softly.
Hearing this, a trace of panic flashed across Wu Ping's face, and he replied with some uneasiness: "Your Majesty, the general will not rescue him unless it is the general. There are too many refugees. In order to avoid an accident in Guancheng, we have to turn a blind eye. The general has also sent people out of the city before. , some more grain and charcoal fires were used, but it was of little use, and caused looting and chaos, resulting in a lot of casualties, so we no longer dare to take action rashly."
Seeing that Wu Ping was a little nervous, Liu Fang shook his head and comforted: "I'm not blaming you. You did a good job. You knew the importance and fulfilled your responsibilities."
"Your Majesty is wise!" Hearing this, Wu Ping breathed a sigh of relief and said quickly.
At this time, Liu Fang finally showed an ordinary expression and said with a wry smile: "If I were wise, I should know how to solve this refugee problem!"
Obviously, Liu Fang was somewhat conflicted about this matter. The imperial court's intention is very clear. It is to completely block Yulin and use any means to control the chaos within Yulin. In terms of specific implementation, it will not take into account anything. The current situation is urgent, and one-size-fits-all is the most effective and efficient method. .
Take the thousands of refugees under Guideburg as an example. What if there are rebels among them? This is not easily distinguishable. As the commander-in-chief of suppressing bandits and counterinsurgency, Liu Fang's mission was to eliminate the Yulin rebels and clear out the rebels. He had no more time and energy to focus on this matter.
On the other hand, if something goes wrong and thieves infiltrate the customs, who will bear the responsibility? The Guannei Road is the base camp of Yulin's counter-rebellion, and there must be no problems. In the past month, there have been riots in more than one place, and the prison camp in the pass is the hardest hit area. If there are no Yulin rebels among them, The instigation is obviously impossible.
Under such circumstances, the policy of closing off the customs and blocking the border must be resolutely implemented. According to the policy, people and animals from Yulin are not allowed to leave, and materials from outside the customs are not allowed to enter. Yulin must be locked up and the rebel army trapped.
In the past, many survival materials in Yulin had to be imported from other states. Once this plan came out, although the rebels would suffer, the people of Yulin would also suffer.
Liu Fang also had a clear understanding of this point, but this price was nothing in the eyes of the court, which had unified its understanding early on. Determination, thoroughness, cruelty and ruthlessness were the basic attitude towards the Yulin Rebellion.
But there is one thing to say, Liu Fang is not a political animal after all. There is still a trace of passion in his heart. He loves the officers and soldiers, hates the rebels, and has compassion for the people, especially those refugees outside Guide Castle who are waiting for food.
The cold wave is coming, and many people have died of cold and hunger, struggling in the ice and snow. Of course Liu Fang knew that most of these thousands of people were definitely not so-called traitors or spies. Those who could survive the hardships and dangers and reach Guideburg could at least prove that they were not willing to associate with traitors.
However, the harsh policies of the imperial court seemed to disappoint them and even despair them.
(End of chapter)
