Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

The merchant ships at the county dock suffered another disaster and were directly requisitioned from the county magistrate.

It was the ship of Lu Guanren, the richest man in Xixiang. No matter how wealthy the businessman was, he had to catch him blind. When the government sent troops, he had to admit defeat.

In this march, in addition to archers, there were also farmers from the outskirts of the county, and fifty people were forcibly recruited as civilian laborers.

Fortunately, there is boating along the way, otherwise the number of civilians would be even greater.

Chen Ziyi sat on the deck, staring at the river in a daze, missing his horse a little.

He had long planned to join the army, but his mother was crying and his father was beating and scolding him, refusing to let him leave his hometown.

This time I came to be an archer in response to the recruitment purely to realize my dream.

But to his surprise, he met a magical young man who practiced military training well. Chen Ziyi was so tempted that he wanted to see a real army. When Heifeng Stronghold was breached, he insisted on going to Qinfeng Road to join the army.

There is newly acquired territory there, and there will be no shortage of battles to fight, and we will definitely be able to make achievements.

A good family man like him took the initiative to join the army, brought his own war horse, and was good at riding and shooting. After joining the army, he could become a small leader. And he doesn't have face tattoos, he only has tattoos on his wrists, which is different from those thieves who join the army.

"Chen Dutou, Dutou invites you to discuss matters." An archer came over and said.

Chen Ziyi went to the cabin and met Zhang Guangdao on the way. The two nodded to each other.

After entering the cabin, Ju Ming greeted him with a smile: "Brothers, come in and sit down!"

Although Zhang Guangdao was a bandit, he sat upright.

Chen Ziyi, a good man from a good family, had his body crooked and acted carelessly without formality.

Ju Ming poured tea for them himself: "Loose tea doesn't taste good, so just drink it."

"It's okay." Chen Ziyi picked up the drink and started drinking.

Ju Ming said: "We have made a big noise in the county, and the thieves in Heifeng Village must have known about it. The thieves must either abandon the stronghold and escape as soon as possible, or be prepared to defend the stronghold."

Zhang Guangdao said: "Heifeng Village has been in business for decades and there are so many tea mountains and fields. They are determined not to leave."

"Then we have to attack by force or lure the thieves out." Chen Ziyi said.

"Before we attack Heifeng Village, we should go to Xiabai Village and sit down first," Zhu Ming said. "Brother Chen may not know that there is a powerful man in Xiabai Village called Xiaobai Yuanwai..."

Chen Ziyi squeaked, "I've heard of this person."

Zhu Ming continued: "Xiaobai Yuanwai has always been in collusion with Heifengzhai, and even helped thieves sell stolen goods. He also colluded with Zhu Zongdao, and has already become a gangster. What Xiang Zhixian means is, let us take Xiaobai Yuanwai away as well. Suppressed."

"This is easy to handle. It's just a strong country man." Chen Ziyi said.

Ju Ming smiled and said: "If you can outwit me, you don't have to kill me by force. My two brothers will act based on my look."

All the way down the river, there were no dangerous shoals and the speed was extremely fast.

That afternoon, the fleet docked at Xiabai Village.

This is the closest village to Heifeng Village. It is normal for the archers to stay one night and continue their march to the Thief Village tomorrow morning.

Ju Ming hung a sword on his waist and held a spear in his hand. Before he got off the boat, he shouted: "I'm here to tell you, whoever dares to destroy the people's crops will be punished with ten military sticks for the first time and twenty military sticks for the second time! Serious soldiers." , the soldiers and the civilian husbands went to the threshing floor in the village, and rested there in the evening after dinner."

"Everyone has an order..."

In the past, a surname was added to the military title of Zhu Ming, but now he is called Dutou.

And Zhang Guangdao is still the "Zhang Dutou", and Chen Ziyi is still the "Chen Dutou". Although they are on the same level as Ju Ming, they are by default just subordinates, and only Ju Ming can be the leader.

Groups of archers lined up to disembark, and the people in the village were so frightened that they ran away.

The reputation of archers is not very good.

When the people saw Ju Ming entering the village with his archers, they all hid in their homes and took a peek. The timid ones even fled to the mountains with their cows and chickens.

Soon they discovered that these archers seemed different.

Not to mention looting, they didn't even trample the crops.

In fact, if you want to achieve such military discipline, you only need to strictly control it and provide soldiers with adequate food and pay during normal times.

Most armies in ancient times couldn't do such a simple thing.

Following the archers off the boat were the servants of Xiang Zhixian.

This guy's status was similar to that of a military supervisor. He made it clear to the magistrate that he didn't trust those officials, nor did he trust Ju Ming very much.

There were also a few government officials who were responsible for household affairs and military affairs, and were in charge of money and grain accounting books. Civil servants were also dispatched by them.

They came to the threshing floor to set up camp, light a fire and make food, just waiting for the novices to fall into a trap.

…

When the archers first landed, Officer Xiaobai already knew about it and sent someone to inquire about the specific situation.

At this moment, he was discussing with his "counselor" Huang Chunhe.

"Zhu Erzhen was killed?" Xiaobai asked outside.

Huang Chunhe nodded and said, "It's absolutely true. I asked the neighbors in the city, and they all said that Zhu Er led his subordinates to fight with archers in the street. All of his subordinates were armed with sharp blades. On the contrary, they were archers recruited by the government, and their weapons were in a mess. "

Officer Xiaobai said angrily: "It seems that Zhu Er is really evil. He gathered a crowd to rebel and was noticed by the county magistrate. He is afraid that we will be implicated."

Huang Chunhe said: "Probably not. We are just doing business in partnership with him. How many tea growers in the county do not partner with him? Except for the old member Bai, relying on his prestige in the county government, he completely ignored Zhu Er. He directly sold private tea with Lu Guanren."

Officer Xiaobai asked worriedly: "Could it be that the officers and soldiers this time can really break through the Black Wind Stronghold?"

"It's hard to say," Huang Chunhe shook his head. "Yang Jun is dead. Yang Ying is unpopular and cannot suppress those bandits. But Heifeng Village occupies a favorable location after all. There is only one road up the mountain. No matter how many officers and soldiers there are, they can't use it. Who can do it? You won’t know who wins until you play.”

While talking, a servant ran in to report the news.

"Who is the leader of the archers?" the young member asked outside.

The servant said: "Xiao Zhu Xiucai from Shangbai Village is the young man from a foreign country. He has been giving orders. There is also a middle-aged man whom I met when my husband and I went to the city. He is the servant of the magistrate Xiang."

Huang Chunhe guessed: "The news I heard is that Zhu Xiucai defected to Xiangzhi County and made a big fuss in the county government, going against the subordinate officials in the county government. This servant is probably the supervisor sent by Xiangzhi County."

Xiao Bai said with a smile: "Zhu Xiucai fell out with Bai Zongwang (Old Bai Zongwang) when he voted for Xiang Zhixian. The reason for causing trouble in the county government must be because of Xiang Zhixian's instructions. These two people can cooperate in the future. After the troops are stopped, I will take my belongings and go on the road to the magistrate."

"That's right." Huang Chunhe said.

Officer Xiaobai asked again: "Is the ship tightly guarded?"

The servant replied: "Those archers have gone to camp in the threshing floor, and I am afraid there are not many left on the ship."

Xiaobai said with a sneer: "But he doesn't know how to fight. If thieves come to attack at night, they will burn all his food and grass. I will go to work for the army right away, bring some wine, and give him a ride."

As a big local family, when officers and soldiers come, novice members must go and reward them.

Taking the pig and sheep wine to the threshing floor, the young member looked like a good citizen and said enthusiastically: "It's good to be here, military men. In my village, next to the Black Wind Village, I am on guard day and night. If the thieves are eliminated, I will I can sleep peacefully from now on. A mere gift is not a sign of respect, I just want to comfort the soldiers."

"It's easy to say, I'm very thirsty and I just need some wine to moisten my throat." Ju Ming said with a smile.

Officer Xiaobai quickly said: "If the military master likes fine wine, I will send some more after the bandits are defeated."

Ju Ming held out three fingers: "Three hundred catties of good wine."

The young member scolded his mother in his heart, but he smiled apologetically: "There is not enough fine wine in the village, so I will send someone to buy it in the county town."

"Haha, you are very eye-catching," Ju Ming laughed happily, and then waved, "Come closer, let's drink together tonight."

The young member, without doubting his presence, bowed forward.

Clang!

With a dragon's roar, the sword was unsheathed.

The young officer looked in disbelief. He looked at the sword piercing his chest, pointed at Ju Ming and said, "You...you..."

A moment ago, he was still thinking about getting Ju Ming drunk.

Zhang Guangdao and Chen Ziyi attacked at the same time, using swords and guns to kill the two followers except Xiaobai.

The rest of the servants were so frightened that their legs and feet were weak and they did not even dare to run. They knelt down on the spot holding the wine jar and cried hoarsely: "Master, please spare your life!"

The servants and supervisors of Xiangzhi County were also trembling at this moment and hid among a group of civilians.

Before Xiao Bai was completely dead, Ju Ming struck again with his sword, and then ordered: "The county has ordered that Bai Zongmin colluded with the rebels. Follow me to the Bai family's house to capture the remaining villains!"

The miscellaneous soldiers and civilians stayed behind, and three teams of regular soldiers were left behind, and the rest were all sent out.

When the villagers saw this, they cried loudly, thinking that the archers were coming to plunder. They were so frightened that they helped the elderly and children to flee into the mountains.

The Bai family was also on the run, and Bai Sheng led his troops in pursuit.

Although he witnessed the murder of his enemy with his own eyes, it always felt like a dream. He had endured it for so many years and got revenge so easily?

In the past, trying to kill Xiaobai seemed to be more difficult than climbing to the sky, but it turned out that all he needed to do was stab him with a sword.

What a relief!

Bai Sheng suddenly realized something. Individual martial prowess was of no importance. Brothers had to work together to exert their strength. Just having brothers is not enough. You must have an official identity before you can kill people and steal goods openly.

After more than half an hour of tossing, the Bai family was completely controlled, and those who escaped were mostly captured.

A private armed force raised by a novice officer. When he heard that his master was dead, he did not dare to resist at all and honestly put down his weapons.

A group of old, weak, women and children cried the loudest, kowtowing crazily and begging for mercy.

Ju Ming pulled up the chair and sat down, and said to Bai Sheng: "If you want revenge, you can do it yourself."

Bai Sheng was shaking with excitement. He pointed at Huang Chunhe who was kneeling on the ground and said: "This guy's name is Huang Chunhe. He is a scholar. He is very vicious and often gives bad ideas to Bai Zongmin. My father regards him as a friend, but he seduces me. Dad gambled and defrauded my family of all their property!"

Ju Ming said: "Cut it off. Cut off the head and bring it to the magistrate for use."

"Master, spare your life," Huang Chunhe shouted, "I have important military information to report!"

Ju Ming sneered: "Tell me, what's the military situation?"

Huang Chunhe said: "Please, Master Jun, agree to let me live."

Ju Ming played with a teacup: "Let me guess, is it possible that bandits are attacking at night?"

"Jun...how does Master Jun know?" Huang Chunhe looked surprised.

"I'm not stupid. I brought all the troops ashore and put the food and grass on the boat waiting for people to burn it," Zhu Ming said with a smile. "I'm just afraid that the bandits will be timid and dare not come over at night. If this is the only important military information, then there is nothing wrong with keeping you." usefulness."

Only then did Huang Chunhe realize that the officers and soldiers had already made a plan to lure the enemy, and he quickly said: "I am willing to be a lobbyist and persuade the thieves to surrender. The military master can capture the thieves' stronghold without a single blow."

"Don't listen to him, Du Tou, he's a liar!" Bai Sheng was afraid that Ju Ming would agree.

Ju Ming put down the tea cup: "Kill him."

Before Huang Chunhe could speak again, Bai Sheng drew his knife and stabbed him.

Blood splattered, and the servant supervisor quickly closed his eyes, not daring to look at the bloody scene again.

Ju Ming asked the remaining people: "Besides the money in the house and the cellar, did Bai Zongmin hide his money elsewhere? Whoever can tell, I will spare his life."

"I know!"

"I know it too!"

"In the county seat!"

In an instant, three people shouted.

Ju Ming said to his servants and supervisors: "Since these goods are in the county, I will not handle them. When the details are asked, the county minister can go and get them on his own."

The servant supervisor said happily: "Dutou is really capable of doing big things."

Xiaobai's family wealth is really large, and Xiang Zhixian can take advantage of the opportunity to make a lot of money.

As for whether eating alone in Xiangzhi County will arouse the anger of subordinate officials, is it none of Ju Ming's business?

The officials from the military case and the household case are still on the ship, and they have been drunk in advance by the supervisor.

Ju Ming asked Bai Sheng again: "Is there anyone among them you want to kill?"

"Yes!" Bai Sheng nodded.

"Leave one for me." Ju Ming said.

Bai Shengxi said: "I will only kill one, but I can leave two more."

Bai Sheng walked up to a young man, drew his knife and stabbed him. This man was Bai Zongmin's son, and he took the girl Bai Sheng liked to be his concubine.

Having avenged his great revenge, Bai Sheng said: "Du Tou, I don't want any reward, I want to ask for other rewards."

Zhu Ming nodded and said: "I have heard about you. I can't help you get the land back. From now on, follow me to Heifeng Village and I will give you some land there. As for the girl who was robbed, since she is your sweetheart, let me go It doesn't matter whether you live or marry, you can handle it yourself."

Bai Sheng suddenly knelt down and kowtowed several times: "My life belongs to Brother Zhu from now on!"