From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 324

Kaifeng Prefecture, the government office was full of people.

As the prefect, Lin Qichang has been in a state of anxiety for the past month. Pressures from all sides have kept him awake all night.

The guards block the door every day to demand money, the gentry block the door every day to demand people, and the people block the door every day to demand food.

This Kaifeng Prefecture is not my Kaifeng Prefecture alone, it is the Kaifeng Prefecture of the court, why are all of them looking for trouble with me!

"Everyone, calm down! Stop arguing!"

Lin Qichang spread his hands and said, "I am only the governor of a state, and my official position is only the fourth rank. I can't make such a big decision."

"The imperial edict has arrived, allowing each family to start militia training, isn't that enough!"

An old man said anxiously, "Lord Lin, Zhang's troops are at the gates of the city, Kaifeng Prefecture is in danger, and when the city is broken, it will be the day of our demise!"

"As early as a year ago, we asked you to write to the court and request troops to suppress the bandits. However, in this situation now, the court actually asked us to protect ourselves?"

"Hundreds of thousands of taels of silver were spent, and hundreds of thousands of militia soldiers were trained, but they only lasted for half a month. Those lazy people can't fight at all except for eating!"

Another middle-aged The man said, "Yes, we can't run away, can we? Every family has thousands of acres of good farmland. If people run away, the farmland will be gone! Don't you, Lord Lin, also occupy tens of thousands of acres of land? Are you willing to leave?"

"Shut up, shut up!"

Lin Qichang said anxiously, "What's the point of saying these? If the court doesn't send troops, it's useless for us to be anxious. Can I influence the decision of His Majesty? Can I influence the decision of the cabinet? I am a fourth-rank official. I am a person of character in Kaifeng, but in front of Lord Jing, I am not even a fart."

"Can quarreling solve the problem? It's better to think of a way to hold on for a few more days."

The major gentry families were silent. It's not that they have no cultivation or a bad mentality, but they have been tortured by the fear of so many days.

The old man gritted his teeth and said, "If it continues like this, Kaifeng will definitely not be able to be defended. At that time, my Zhou family can only move to my hometown in Jizhou."

As soon as this sentence came out, the hall was even more suffocatingly quiet.

Everyone looked at each other, with only helplessness in their eyes.

Lin Qichang was also worried. These gentry could leave. At most, they would abandon their fertile land, take their silver and belongings, and find a new place to settle down.

But he, the prefect, could not leave. If he abandoned the city and fled, his entire family would be exterminated.

"Everyone, can you take away the silver and the fields?"

"You can take away your descendants, but can you take away the ancestral tombs?"

"The major families have been here for at least a hundred years and have prospered for four or five generations. Do you really want to abandon the century-old foundation?"

"I think we should not be so anxious. No matter how cruel the thief Zhang is, he did not attack us! We still have people to fight, so we can hold on for a while!"

The old man said in a deep voice: "If we continue to fight like this, I am afraid that we will lose the city and the money, and we will end up with nothing."

Lin Qichang gritted his teeth and said: "At least hold on for another half a month. The thief Zhang has limited food and grass, and I think he will eat it all. Now is the spring farming season, and he doesn't have so much time to spend with us."

Everyone looked at each other and could only remain silent.

...

Things were just as Zhou Yuan expected. After the porridge was distributed on the first day, the refugees chased after them. On the second day, the number of refugees soared from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. It is said that there are more refugees rushing here.

If this continues, the 60,000 troops of the Five Camps will not be able to continue their journey and will have to cook porridge every day.

Li He saw it with his own eyes and was anxious in his heart. He couldn't help but find Zhou Yuan and whispered: "Marshal, we can't go on like this. It's better to release a batch of food and let them divide it among themselves."

"The refugees are all selfish ghosts. They will definitely rob and fight and kill each other. We should get out as soon as possible and support Kaifeng."

Zhou Yuan put down the map and said slowly: "You said it well. If we do that, we can get out. Even if it gets to the ears of the court, we can't be blamed."

"But in that case, wouldn't it prove that we were at a disadvantage in the first battle with Zhang Bailong?"

Li He smiled bitterly, but didn't dare to answer. He couldn't just admit defeat. This was the decision that the commander should make.

Zhou Yuan said: "We have two million dan of grain, which are being transported to Kaifeng Prefecture from Shandong, Jizhou, Huguang and other places. Behind us are the escort teams of tens of thousands of people from the Ministry of Revenue and Shanxi merchants..."

"Li He, do you know how tragic the ending will be if we lose this battle?"

"The Shanxi merchants will be finished, the Five Army Camps will be finished, the Central Plains will be finished, and the Great Jin will be in trouble."

"There is no way out in the battle of national destiny. Do your own thing. I have my own plan."

Li He sighed and clasped his fists and said: "I obey your order!"

He could only choose to trust Zhou Yuan, although he didn't understand what Zhou Yuan was going to do.

In fact, about a quarter of an hour later, Zhou YuanLiu Fang was called to the tent.

"Li He is impatient and is suitable for fighting on the front battlefield. You are steady and you plan before you act. I have a special task for you."

As the deputy commander of the left garrison of the Fifth Army Camp, Liu Fang is young, but mature and methodical.

"Please give me your orders, Marshal!"

Zhou Yuan said, "Tonight, you will lead 3,000 people to take off their armor, wear ordinary clothes, and put on headscarves and hairbands to complete the disguise."

"Tomorrow at noon, porridge will be distributed. I want you to lead these 3,000 people to come and grab food under the banner of Zhang Bailong's Kaidai puppet army."

While speaking, Zhou Yuan took out two pieces of white paper, on which were drawn the style of the puppet army and the flag of the Kaidai Dynasty.

Liu Fang's eyes lit up, and she was surprised: "Can we imitate it?"

Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and said: "Wrap the headscarf well, make a few more flags, and the refugees will naturally recognize it."

"After looting the food, find a place to hide yourself, and wait for noon every day to grab food and porridge on time."

"After four days, the refugees will hate the Kaidai Dynasty puppet army to the core."

"By then, I will ask Xiang Yong to cooperate with you and try to make it as realistic as possible."

Liu Fang had already heard what Zhou Yuan meant, and couldn't help laughing: "Then this If these refugees follow us to Kaifeng Prefecture, won't they eat Zhang Bailong!"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "It's not that simple. Zhang Bailong is not a fool. Maybe he has a way to deal with the refugees? After all, these refugees only recognize food."

Liu Fang whispered, "I will do all this, please rest assured, Marshal."

"Go!"

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and ordered, "Go and call Guan Dayong for me!"

"Yes!"

After Liu Fang left for a while, Guan Dayong strode in.

"Boss, you are looking for me?"

He was a man who didn't know etiquette. He sat on the stool directly, picked up the apple on the table and started to eat it.

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "Dayong, I'm afraid you will starve again. You have to go back to your old job and be a refugee."

Guan Dayong raised his head, his eyes were dull, and suddenly he felt that the apple in his mouth was not so fragrant.

Zhou Yuan smiled and said, "I will give you two thousand elite soldiers, all of whom are new Shandong refugee soldiers. You all have rich refugee experience and know how to survive among the refugees, how to gain status, and how to build reputation and prestige."

"I want you to blend in tomorrow and gradually master these refugees. At least your words should have an influence on them."

"You must incite these refugees to hate Zhang Bailong. After all, Zhang Bailong sent them to me. I can't let them eat food for nothing."

Guan Dayong laughed and said, "Boss, I don't understand, but my brothers do."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, "Remember, keep it secret. There are not only you in the refugee group, but also Zhang Bailong's people. Don't Let them find out that you are soldiers in disguise. "

Guan Dayong said: "Then do we have to catch those people and kill them?"

"Of course not!"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "If they don't look for you, just do your own thing and grab food every day. If they look for you, then make friends with them."

"Anyway, from tomorrow on, you are refugees. Just do what refugees want to do. Do you understand?"

Guan Dayong stared and shook his head: "I don't understand!"

Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and said: "Go and call a few of your brothers to me."

"Okay!"

Guan Dayong walked away stupidly, and took two more apples.