At this time, in Qingling County, the sky was filled with blood-like red clouds.
Many unburned houses were still emitting black smoke, the streets were deserted and deserted, and the entire county seemed like a dead city.
Only in some remote alleys can you see some men and children who are pale and dirty, looking like beggars.
Many of them had enough food and clothing last night, and their families were happy.
But as the rebels entered the city, they shot valuable property when they saw it, and raped any pretty women they saw. It was completely inhumane!
Those who resisted were killed, and most of those who survived did not have the courage to fight.
But they are not much better alive than dead. They have lost hope in life, but they are suffering in their hearts. They are also suffering while alive!
However, not everyone feels this way.
At this moment, Chunfang Pavilion is still full of singing and dancing, full of joy and laughter.
The brothel girls with heavy makeup were drinking and laughing with the rebels. They were originally in the business of flesh and blood, and they would accompany anyone. There was no difference between the rebels and the wealthy businessmen and landlords.
In the wing room on the second floor, a charming woman with beautiful face and graceful figure was drinking with a rough black-faced man.
This woman's name was Hongmei, and she was the leading courtesan in the pavilion. As soon as she was filled with wine, she smiled brightly and said, "Come, sir, have another drink!"
The big man was a captain, with a dark face full of beard. He laughed and said, "Okay, beauty, I'll have another drink!"
The dark-faced man finished drinking the wine, took the beauty into his arms, kissed her, and was about to take off the woman's shirt.
Suddenly there was a bang, the wooden door shattered, and a tall but pale man in black flashed in and grabbed him like a chicken.
This is the Xuanyin warrior specially sent by Liu Feng to protect Wu Tianliang.
After a while, downstairs.
The black-faced man was thrown to the ground by the Xuanyin warriors. When he looked up, he found that military advisor Wu Tianliang was looking at him with a frosty face, and there were more than a dozen of his confidants in custody on the left and right. He suddenly became smart, kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Military advisor, spare your life!"
Wu Tianliang said coldly: "The Lord ordered us to stay here to collect property, but you lead your subordinates to indulge in sex here! Someone, drag him out and kill him!"
The two soldiers immediately held down the black-faced man.
At this time, a handsome young captain next to Wu Tianliang clasped his fists and said, "Now is the time to employ people. It is better for the military advisor to spare Captain Li's life for the time being and let him serve his crime!"
Wu Tianliang pondered for a moment and said: "The death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be forgiven. I will drag him out and beat him with a hundred military sticks. The others will each have fifty military sticks. Remember first!"
Captain Li was dragged out, but he turned back and gave the young captain a grateful look. He was a master warrior and could still carry a hundred military sticks.
"Military advisor, what should we do with those women?"
The young captain asked. He was talking about not only the things in front of him, but also the things he robbed last night, which are now being held in one place.
"No one is allowed to be taken away. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed!"
Wu Tianliang said coldly. If they really take these women with them, not to mention affecting the marching speed, these soldiers will also spend their energy on those women, and they will have no time to fight. These soldiers must be raised like hungry wolves in order to maintain strong combat effectiveness.
Immediately, Wu Tianliang left dozens of bags of grain, led two battalions of 500 people, loaded their belongings into a carriage, and began to leave quickly.
The reason why they left this food was that they would not starve to death, and it would be best to become refugees, and eventually flock to Qinghe County to consume the food.
Because the most difficult thing in defending the city is not manpower, but food and grass.
At the gate of the city, a thin, dirty girl held a pair of scissors and confronted Wu Tianliang's officers and soldiers for a moment, and then rushed forward.
The Xuanyin Death Soldier standing next to Wu Tianliang flashed, grabbed the girl's little hand, and was about to slap the girl to death.
A voice sounded: "Let her go!"
Xuanyin's dead man let go of the girl as he was told.
The little girl was not grateful and rushed forward with the scissors, but was restrained by Xuanyin Death Soldier again.
Wu Tianliang stared at the stubborn girl in front of him, which vaguely overlapped with a certain figure in his memory. Maybe he still had a trace of his conscience, maybe the girl touched the weakness in his heart. He smiled and said: "Take her and let's go!"
Half an hour later, Qinghe County.
Ling Feng and his party walked out of Zhou Mansion.
Although Zhou Yulang is the county guard, since the Yu family and the Qiao family have both left, the Zhou family is no exception.
At this time, Ling Feng was holding an account book in his hand, which registered the number of people and specific names of Zhou's soldiers who joined the army, as well as the amount of silver and grain contributed.
Like the Qiao family and the Yu family, the Zhou family paid 200,000 taels of silver and donated 300 shi of rice. Because the situation is different, a few hundred stone meters is particularly precious.
Of course, the Qingjiao Gang was no exception and also donated 200,000 taels.
And Ling Feng was not afraid of Zhou Yulang embezzling or cheating.
All military personnel first reported to the county governor's mansion and then gathered at the captain's mansion. Today, Song Tianhao temporarily takes over the duties of the captain and trains soldiers.
All money and food were handed over to the management of the county magistrate, and were jointly supervised by Zhou Yulang, Song Tianhao, and Ling Feng.
The three major aristocratic families have been dealt with, and everything else is easy to deal with. Only Jiuzhou Bank and Zhennan Escort Bureau are difficult to deal with because they are all from official backgrounds.
Behind the Nine Provinces Bank is the Great Chu Court, and behind the Zhennan Escort Bureau is the current emperor's brother, King Zhennan.
Both forces have innate masters in charge, but Ling Feng is the only one who takes charge personally.
A quarter of an hour later, Ling Feng arrived at Jiuzhou Silver.
In front of the counter, a short, fat old man in a yellow shirt with a smile on his face said: "This distinguished guest, would you like to deposit money or exchange it for cash?"
Ling Feng smiled and said: "No, Shopkeeper Pan, I'm here to ask for money!"
Shopkeeper Pan's smile suddenly disappeared and he said coldly: "Deputy Gang Leader Lin, who do you think our Jiuzhou Bank is? You dare to come here to act wild. I advise you not to make the mistake!"
Ling Feng said calmly: "Now that the war is approaching, I would like to ask Shopkeeper Pan to cooperate! Since it is the imperial court's silver, it is no longer reasonable to use it as military pay!"
Shopkeeper Pan sneered and said: "Ignorance! All the money from Jiuzhou Bank is handed over directly to the state treasury! If you want military pay, the Ministry of Household Affairs should hand it over to the Ministry of War, and then the Ministry of War will issue it!"
Ling Feng sneered and said: "Now the killers in the Netherworld Palace outside the city have cut off contact with the state capital. Now there is a war, and the soldiers have to fight to the death. Of course, the settlement allowance must be paid first. If you don't comply, I will call you immediately. People are crowding us, let’s see how you end up!”
Shopkeeper Pan's expression changed and he shouted: "Come here, capture this troublemaker!"
At this moment, two yellow-shirted guards arrived in a flash. Their fists condensed black energy and smashed into Ling Feng.
Both of them were innate masters. Their movements were extremely fast. In an instant, they hit Ling Feng with two fists.
Ling Feng's figure suddenly disappeared and appeared behind the two of them.
With a bang, both of them were punched in the back. They fell to the ground, vomiting blood, and couldn't get up for a long time.
Shopkeeper Pan looked at Ling Feng approaching with murderous intent, his heart trembled, and finally he honestly handed over 300,000 taels of silver.
Later, Ling Feng came to the Qinghe Branch of the Zhennan Escort Bureau. To Ling Feng's expectation, the escort leader had a good relationship with Yang Wei. Knowing that Ling Feng had saved Yang Wei's life, he happily handed over 20,000 taels of silver. He also decided to take about a hundred people from the escort agency to join the army.
Other wealthy businessmen and landowners will be easy to deal with. Just let Xiao Wenliang and other Dharma protectors lead some helpers.
In the afternoon, at the Duwei Mansion, after Song Tianhao gathered the people in the county and city, nearly 5,000 people gathered. Nearly half of them are warriors or above, and the rest are all martial arts students in the training stage. Their physical fitness is good. A little exercise is enough to defend the city! To be continued.
~~b~~
