Seeing that the Northern Barbarians were defeated, the soldiers and civilians at the top of the city cheered again.
Ming Dechang's eyes also changed when he looked at Huang Shan.
"My dear nephew, you are about to become pregnant now!"
"Now that you have made such a contribution, the court will definitely reward you."
"At that time, you may not need to be sent to the army, and you will only need to do hard labor in the city for a few months."
Huang Shan also smiled when he heard this. He didn't need to be sent to the army. It would be great to be able to stay in the county.
When the time comes, if Ruyan is brought to the county seat and he and Ruyan live together, isn't that the same as not being punished?
"Thank you uncle for your kindness!"
Huang Shan bowed to Ming Dechang, and Ming Dechang said with a smile: "Don't thank me, thank the person you should thank when the time comes."
Ming Dechang's words left Huang Shan confused.
Who should I thank? Could it be that Ming Dechang was referring to his superior officer?
While talking, the northern barbarians outside the city once again retreated to their camp.
The soldiers and civilians at the top of the city were even more happy.
The people in the city also breathed a sigh of relief when they learned that the northern barbarians outside the city had retreated.
Only the old and weak, women and children dared to go out, either to barter or to comfort each other.
At present, the shops in the city have been blocked by Ming Dechang.
First, to prevent someone from taking advantage of the situation and robbing the store.
Secondly, it is to prevent merchants from taking advantage of the chaos to increase prices and do evil.
However, the financial backers behind these shops were quite dissatisfied with this. When they learned that the Northern Barbarians had retreated, they immediately came to the county government to find Ming Dechang.
Ming Dechang was discussing the evening patrol with Capt. Zhao in the lobby.
These big households came in under the leadership of the petty officials.
"Magistrate Ming, what do you mean by blocking our store?"
"Could it be that when the Northern Barbarians come, the people won't have to buy or sell? We won't do business?"
Huang Shan, who was sitting nearby, heard this and looked at these menacing big players.
When the wealthy people saw Huang Shan sitting in the lobby of the county government office, their eyes showed a bit of contempt.
Huang Shan was a little puzzled by the sudden contempt from the big players.
Didn't you provoke them yourself?
But soon Huangshan figured out the whole story.
This means not doing bad things and not being afraid of ghosts knocking on your door.
The Huang family was once a big family in the county. They were implicated in a major case and ended up having their homes ransacked.
So the Huang family's cake back then was divided up by these big families now.
He, the only child of the Huang family, used to be addicted to gambling, so naturally they would not take him seriously.
But now that he has made a name for himself, can these big business owners who have carved up the Huang family's cake feel at ease?
When Ming Dechang heard the questions from the wealthy households, he immediately acted like a county magistrate.
"Why do we need to ask you for instructions on what we are doing in this county?"
"Now that the army is pressing down outside the city, the words of this county are military orders."
"If you obey this county's words, you will be the righteous soldiers who help this county fight against the Northern Barbarians."
Suddenly Ming Dechang's expression and tone became stern.
"If you don't listen to this county and send an official document from this county to Liuzhou, you are just a bunch of troublesome people who are taking advantage of the Northern Barbarians' incursions to commit insurrection!"
“How to choose, I don’t need this county to teach you!”
"roll!"
The wealthy people who were angrily scolded by Ming Dechang were so angry that they were shaking all over. One of them gritted his teeth and pointed at Ming Dechang.
"My surname is Ming. You are just a civil servant. Being a county magistrate is the end of your life."
"My eldest brother is a serious second-ranked Jinshi. I've made me anxious, so I asked my eldest brother to take part in your study!"
Ming Dechang sneered when he heard this, grabbed the token fire sign on the table and threw it on these wealthy people.
"Then you might as well guess, after I resigned, why I was able to serve as a parent official in my hometown because of my family background!"
“There are quite a few county magistrates from Daqian Juren, but only a handful of them are parents’ officials in their hometown!”
The big players finally resigned.
Ming Dechang, still angry, looked at the backs of the wealthy people and cursed.
"This bunch of bastards wanted to escape from the city last night and even bribed the soldiers guarding the city."
"Fortunately, the soldiers understood their righteousness and did not accept their bribes."
"Otherwise, I don't know what trouble will happen!"
Huang Shan withdrew his eyes from the wealthy people, stood up and walked to Ming Dechang.
"Uncle Ming, eight hours (sixteen hours) have passed since the Northern Barbarians invaded last night."
"You should have received the news in Liuzhou, right?"
Ming Dechang thought for a moment, then nodded and said that based on the transmission speed of emergency military information, Liuzhou would normally have received the news and sent people to Daliang City, the capital, to report the military information, let alone the news.
"Wait a little longer. It will take time to gather troops and horses, and to mobilize food and fodder."
...
Late at night, Huang Shan, who was resting in the county government hall, was awakened by Capt. Zhao.
"Yellow Hero!"
Upon hearing this, Huang Shan immediately waved his hand and said, "Captain Zhao, do we still have to be so polite in our relationship?"
"From now on, if I call you brother, you can just call me brother."
Zhao Captou had always taken good care of him before, and even saved him once in the city.
Huang Shan already regarded Capt. Zhao as a friend in his heart.
After hearing this, Capt. Zhao nodded and walked toward the lobby with Huang Shan.
Under the night, Huangshan couldn't see Capt. Zhao's expression, but he always felt that Capt. Zhao was a little strange.
When Huang Shan arrived at the lobby, he found Ming Dechang, his master, and two captains of the Forbidden Army sitting in the lobby with miserable expressions.
"Sir, I brought Brother Huang here."
Ming Dechang nodded, looking at Huang Shan with bloodshot eyes, and a sad look on his face.
Huang Shan was stunned when he saw this, and immediately took a few steps forward.
"Uncle Ming, what's going on?"
The master on the side let out a long sigh when he heard this, walked up to Huang Shan and explained the reason.
"Half an hour ago, a Liuzhou soldier sent news that we have no reinforcements."
"What!?"
Huang Shan yelled, his eyes full of disbelief.
"Why doesn't the imperial court send reinforcements?"
"Aren't the people of Cao County the people under Da Qian's rule?"
Ming Dechang stood up at this time and waved his hand to the master to step aside. He explained to Huang Shan in person.
"My dear nephew, actually this is not the express will of the imperial court."
"The military information should not have been sent to Daliang City yet."
Huang Shan immediately asked back.
"That means the chief officials of Liuzhou City are afraid of the Northern Barbarians and dare not send people to support us!"
Ming Dechang shook his head, with a bit of bitterness on his face.
"The Lord from Liuzhou definitely wants to send troops here."
"It's just that the troops he can mobilize at the moment are less than a thousand. Facing the more than three thousand Northern Barbarians outside the city is undoubtedly a drop in the bucket."
"There are no reinforcements. This is the conclusion that the Lord came to after judging the situation, so he sent people over to let us prepare in advance."
Huang Shan clenched his fists and looked at Ming Dechang and said angrily: "Why do the adults in Liuzhou think that the imperial court will not send reinforcements?"
"Does the imperial court want us to fend for ourselves?"
