At the same time, Lu Xiangsheng was inspecting Julujiazhuang. Everything he saw before him made him feel very heavy.
There are many droughts in the Central Plains, so the harvest in Jiazhuang will naturally not be good. More importantly, the raging bandits have made the harvest of the crop fields even worse. If it hadn't been for Lu Xiangsheng's persuasion, the squires in the village would have brought out the grain, and the people in the village would have starved to death long ago when the Tatars besieged the village for so many days.
But even so, now in Zhuangzi, the old, weak, women and children have been given a limited supply of food, and they all lie at home and minimize their activities. Those who are a little stronger will eat a little more, but they all have to do things to help those under the city wall. Therefore, even with that little food, I was often so hungry that I felt dizzy.
The only ones who could have a full stomach were the Ming soldiers and the young men in the village who were defending behind the wall. But from this day on, those who were not on duty also began to drink water.
Seeing the old, weak, women and children, and the disabled soldiers lying hungry along the way, Lu Xiangsheng felt uncomfortable. But he knew that it was just these grains and they had to be distributed like this, otherwise Zhuangzi would not be able to survive at all.
When he climbed to the highest roof of Zhuangzi and saw the increasingly tall earth mountain outside the village, his mood became even heavier. If the terrain of Jiazhuang was not suitable for the Manchu Tatars to build several more hills, it is estimated that Jiazhuang would not be able to defend it anymore. But even so, once the earthen mountain outside is built high enough, coupled with the superior strength of the Manchu and Qing Tatars, when the Manchu and Qing Tatars launch an attack, Zhuangzi will be in the most danger.
Hu Dawei, who was following Lu Xiangsheng, asked in a low voice with a worried look on his face: "Sir, will the Manchu Tatars withdraw?"
He knew Lu Xiangsheng's overall plan and knew whether Jiazhuang could rescue the siege. He could only hope that the Manchus would not be determined to fight to the death and that bluffing could scare away the Manchu Tatars. But looking at the severe situation in front of him, he was a little worried, fearing that Jiazhuang would not be able to wait for that day.
"It's hard to say!" Lu Xiangsheng turned to look at him, with a hint of worry on his face: "Dorgon is not an impulsive person, so he will not be determined to burn the boat, but for this reason, he will not believe it easily. Those are the news. It’s hard to say whether the bluffing strategy will work!”
Having said this, he turned to look at the mountains outside, looking at the Tatars who had begun to finish their work as the sky gradually darkened, and his tone became firm again and said: "But no matter what, as long as Jiazhuang can hold on, we will definitely There is hope! There is nothing we can do about the outside world. Now, we can only deal with what is in front of us and try our best to persevere!"
After hearing this, Hu Dawei understood that the key to the war in front of him was the leader of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Will Dorgon believe that the elite of the Ming army has arrived and choose to withdraw? So, will Dorgon believe it?
He couldn't understand or guess this, so he could only raise his head and ask the sky.
In fact, Lu Xiangsheng did not tell Hu Dawei. In his heart, he was not sure at all. When the two armies are facing each other, it is within the commander's normal means to spread such rumors. Based on threats alone, judging from the calm behavior of Dorgon of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, it is probably a bit difficult to be fooled!
The most deadly thing now is the dirt mountain outside the village. It is estimated that it will be completed in half a day. According to the size of this earth mountain, there can be at least fifty archers standing there. When the time comes to shoot arrows from a high position, Zhuangzi will have no way to resist.
Thinking of this, Lu Xiangsheng made a decision, turned around and looked at Hu Dawei, and said seriously: "I have a narrow escape mission for you to do!"
"Just by your orders!" Upon hearing this, Hu Dawei immediately clasped his fists and responded without hesitation.
Lu Xiangsheng was not surprised by this. He told him the mission and started making preparations. In order to defend Jiazhuang, all means were used.
While they were worried and busy, Xue Guoguan, the assistant minister of the cabinet who was far away in the capital, was also full of worries. He didn't know how to return home. It was only after the housekeeper asked for instructions again and again that he came back to his senses. He shook his head with a heavy heart and replied: "Let Madam and the others eat." Come on, I won’t eat it!”
After saying that, he turned around and walked to the study, where he sat quietly alone.
After an unknown amount of time, the door to the study room was gently pushed open, and then a voice rang out: "Master, you must have something to eat!"
Xue Guoguan heard the sound and turned around to look, only to see his wife taking a food box from the maid's hand, indicating to the maid to close the door, and she entered alone.
Putting down the food box and turning on a little light, the lady saw his expression and said softly: "My master's character is actually not suitable for today's officialdom. Otherwise, I should not be an official! The Xi'an Prefecture is not very nice now." , we can go to Jiangnan, I heard that the scenery of the water town there is very good, we can buy some more fields and plant some peach blossoms around the house..."
While speaking, she took out a dish from the food box and gently placed it on the table. Her movements were gentle and skillful, which did not affect her speech at all.
Xue Guo watched and felt even heavier. At this time, he really regretted his impulse. I have nothing to do, but what about my family? Now not only is Dongchang starting to have a lot of activities, but there is also news from Jin Yiwei. Both the factory and the guards were offended by him. The most important thing was that the emperor favored the factory guards and did not believe in him. Not to mention the pastoral life that his wife yearned for, it was a question whether he could get out of the capital.
"Master... Master?" Mrs. Xue Guoguan saw that her husband was distracted again, so she couldn't help calling out several times. Seeing his eyes looking at her, she said again, "In this Ming Dynasty, the old chief minister of the pavilion is so dazzling. , The master's temperament is not in harmony with other people's, and he doesn't know how to adapt. I think it's better to not be an official, so I don't have to worry so much about state affairs..."
Listening to these words, Xue Guoguan suddenly gave a bitter smile, then shook his head and said: "Madam, it's too late! I can't look back! Even if I resign, they will not let me go."
When Mrs. Xue Guoguan heard that the matter was so serious, she was shocked and dropped the chopsticks she just picked up, making a crisp sound when they fell on the dish. But she didn't care at all, she just looked at Xue Guoguan, her eyes immediately turned red.
Seeing his wife's gaffe, Xue Guoguan strengthened his determination, looked at his wife and said: "Don't worry, madam, it's just a matter of burning the boat. My husband has already decided. Since the emperor still believes in the eunuch, then my husband will escalate the matter. For I don’t believe it anymore. Is the emperor really willing to ignore the Ming Dynasty and remain indifferent? "
"Master..." Mrs. Xue Guoguan just finished speaking, but she couldn't continue and tears began to fall.
She understood that her husband's recklessness could never be changed, which was completely different from Wen Shoufu's femininity. But eunuchs are so easy to deal with. What if the trouble gets bigger and the emperor still favors eunuchs? In this world, are there too many things that confuse right and wrong? If the emperor were wise and wise, the world would not be like this!
Xue Guoguan didn't care about this, he had made up his mind, and said to his wife: "Madam, help me sharpen ink for my husband. Even if it is not for the Ming Dynasty, but for this family, I will work hard for my husband! This time, we will kill the shabby factory guards." Everything must be made public! If the emperor still insists on trusting the factory guard, then my husband has a clear conscience and is worthy of the emperor’s kindness and Lord Wen’s support!”
Wiping her tears, knowing that once her husband made a decision, even nine oxen could not hold him back, Mrs. Xue Guoguan had no choice but to follow the instructions and start polishing her ink, waiting for Xue Guoguan to write the memorial. In her heart, she was actually pessimistic. If the emperor really had enlightenment, how could the Ming Dynasty become so bad!
In this Ming Dynasty, there were bandits raging inside, the Manchu Qing Dynasty showing off its power outside, and natural and man-made disasters, leaving no one with any hope! My husband refused to listen to me and insisted on being in charge. So what about the ministers in the cabinet? It’s just a matter of watching the show and competing with each other, and no one is really doing anything. Even women would not believe that the emperor was wise under such circumstances!
When Mrs. Xue Guoguan was secretly feeling sad and slandering the Ming Emperor, Xue Guoguan himself began to write quickly, and before he knew it, the eloquent memorial of ten thousand words was completed.
Xue Guoguan threw away the brush and felt that the depression in his chest was gone. Just as he was about to comfort his wife, the butler's voice suddenly sounded at the door: "Master, it's not good, the Jin Yiwei broke in!"
