Regardless of the fact that people outside the city are not allowed to enter the city, they are agitated but have no choice but to talk about the situation inside the city.
Since Gaokan asked Tian Mi to go to the Yamen of Daming Mansion to file a complaint, the traces of Song Jiang and his party were missed. At first, there was no movement. It was not until the second day that something was wrong.
In the past, the streets were bustling with activity early in the morning, but today there was no one to be seen.
Only the north wind whistled, blowing the smoke and dust, giving it a dead and depressed look.
Gao Kan went out from the inn and saw something strange outside. He called someone to ask: "What's going on outside? Why is there no one there?"
The inn clerk had just woken up and was still in a daze.
Hearing the sound, he didn't believe it for a moment. He rubbed his eyes and looked out. Sure enough, he saw that the street was empty, as if half of it had been looted by bandits.
Wu Zi couldn't help but wonder: "It's strange. At this time in the past, all warehouse traders should have opened their shops long ago, and the streets were full of people begging for food. Why can't I see any of them today?"
Gao Kan saw that he didn't know, so he didn't ask any more questions. He just ordered him to prepare food and wait for everyone to eat it.
At the same time, he called the guy who was looking after the frame in the middle of the night and called someone on the street to ask questions.
After burning the incense, Lin Chong, Tian Mi, and the rest of the waiters came to the front and gathered together. They had just sat down and were ready to eat when the waiters who had gone out earlier hurried back.
He walked in and said, "Sir, it's too bad, the city is under martial law!"
"What?" Lin Chong and Tian Mi couldn't hold back after hearing this and stood up in shock.
Gao Kan kept his composure, beckoned people to sit down and talk, and asked: "To be more clear, why is the martial law enforced?"
"Reporting to the young master, I just went out to look for someone. I didn't even see anyone for two streets. I finally saw a scholar who was in a hurry. I grabbed him and talked to him before I explained to the villain."
After the waiter sat down, he continued: "I heard that Daming Mansion issued a strict order early this morning. The four gates were closed. Every household in the city was closed and their private parts were not allowed. All the soldiers inside and outside the city and the Xiang army were mobilized. After entering the city, some of them strictly guarded the four gates of the city wall, and some of them formed small teams to patrol the streets in the city."
"All residents in the city must be inspected to verify their identity!"
Hearing this, everyone else's faces showed surprise.
Trade was developed during the Song Dynasty, and there was an endless stream of business people from all over the country. Daming Mansion, as an important town in the north and close to Bianliang, Tokyo, was also very prosperous, attracting visitors from all over the world.
On weekdays, there are not even 10,000 but 8,000 foreign business travelers coming in and out of the four city gates.
Even in critical moments, there has never been a time when all the gates were closed and the whole city was under martial law.
How can people not be surprised when something like this happens suddenly?
Even if some monstrous thieves really entered the city, there would be no need to go to war in such a big way. It would feel like someone was trying to attack Daming Mansion.
Tian Mi's mind was racing and he whispered: "Master, could it be..."
Gao Kan only glanced at him and told him to swallow what he said. He also ordered: "Since the city is under martial law, you must abide by the rules. Don't leave the inn today. If the officers and soldiers come to investigate, you must take the initiative." Make your identity clear and cooperate with us to verify your true identity, and in short, do not argue with the officers and soldiers."
"Yes." The guys said.
"Okay, let's all eat. Coach Lin and Shopkeeper Tian, come with me."
Gao Kan said, stood up and called Lin Chong and Tian Mi to talk upstairs.
After entering the room, Lin Chong walked behind and carefully closed the door.
After everyone sat down, Tian Mi couldn't help but said: "Sir, the officials of Daming Palace suddenly ordered the whole city to be closed. Is it because of the heroes of Liangshan?"
Gao Kan glanced at him and said: "It is possible, but the people in Liangshan should only be from a beginning, not the whole picture."
"Is there anyone else?" Tian Mi asked in surprise.
"It's just Liangshan, including going to Jiangzhou to rescue Song Jiang and his party, and recruiting a few more people along the way, there are only a few hundred people. How about imposing martial law on the entire Daming Mansion and mobilizing all the troops inside and outside the city?"
Gao Kan frowned and held his forehead in thought.
After a moment, he continued: "Unless, the affairs of everyone in Liangshan will affect the whole body!"
"What do you mean, Master?" Lin Chong couldn't help but ask.
"Daming Mansion is the capital of Hebei East Road, and its terrain is critical. However, there are many mountain bandits and bandits in the territory. They have been invading the place all year round, and the government and army are helpless."
Gao Kan frowned and said: "In the past, these mountain bandits and bandits all stood on the top of the mountain and established themselves as kings. Although they robbed families and homes, they could not achieve success and they did not pose much threat to the important places of the government."
"But once someone sets up a big flag and can call on these bandits to gather in one place, it will be different!"
"Young master, what you are saying is that Chao Gai, Song Jiang and his entourage are going to set up a banner in Hebei?" Lin Chong was shocked.
The Song Dynasty had been weak for a long time, the official family was in decay, and the people had deep resentments.
Rebellions occurred almost every year in various places, but most of them were quickly suppressed by the government and the army, and none of them took off. However, in the long run, a lot of troubles were laid.
Shandong, Hebei and other places have had strong folk customs since ancient times, and there are many heroes and chivalrous people.
As the saying goes, "A chivalrous man uses force to break the law." These two places are also the places where rebels are most likely to break out.
However, because there was no one general who could subdue the leaders of the crowd, most of them were working independently, which caused some waves at the beginning. In March and May, the officers and soldiers were called upon to defeat them one by one.
But the current situation is different.
Both Chao Gai and Song Jiang have great reputations in the world, and they are the people who respond to everything.
Now that the two of them are together, they have already gathered more than a hundred heroes, as well as many soldiers and horses.
It would be better if they were asked to quietly bypass Daming Mansion and reach Liangshan. Their traces would be revealed halfway, and the officers and soldiers would be asked to join forces and surround them.
They couldn't escape, so they just kept doing nothing and raised a big flag in Daming Mansion. In this way, they contacted heroes from all over Hebei to gather together, and in the blink of an eye they became a powerful force.
Even more brazen, there are people from Shandong.
Just overnight, rogue bandits appeared all over the territory of Hebei East Road.
Daming Mansion is the closest to Chao Gai, Song Jiang and others. If they become ruthless, rush to kill the surrounding officers and soldiers, and go straight to Daming Mansion to kill, they don't know whether the city can be defended.
Moreover, the city was originally a mixed bag of fish and dragons, and no one could predict whether there were thieves and bandits working in the city.
With such calculations, it is understandable that the entire city was ordered to be sealed off and house-to-house searches were conducted to verify the identity of each person one by one.
However, what Gao Kan was thinking was that he had never thought of this change.
What worries him even more is that if Hebei is really in chaos, and if Shandong is affected, the entire northeastern Song Dynasty will be plunged into chaos with rogue bandits. The government and military forces will be restrained by bandits, and the border will inevitably be empty.
The Kingdom of Jin had been coveting the Song Dynasty for a long time, so it was impossible to let go of such a great opportunity.
They had just gathered a large army to destroy the Liao Kingdom. Now they mobilized again. Their troops turned around and marched straight to the northeast, all the way down the border. Who could stop them?
Isn't this the same as an unintentional move on his own, but it has greatly advanced the progress of history. In less than half a year, the 200,000-strong army of the Jin Kingdom will arrive at Bianliang City in Tokyo?
The more he thought about Gao Kan, the more anxious he became. All his plans had only just begun. At this time, let alone stopping the Jin army, self-protection would be a problem.
