I

The generals in the Ming Dynasty had great power and often led the way, and the best ones were like deputy generals.

The defense is much weaker. It may guard a whole road or a whole city, and it is often under the control of the general.

Ji'an Mansion is particularly interesting. There is a position called "Ji'an Guards General".

This is a legacy from the mid-Ming Dynasty when there was no strict distinction between generals and guards. It shows that there has been no war in Ji'an for a long time, and the court is too lazy to make changes. An outdated official position still remains to this day.

The Ji'an garrison general is a mobile military attaché, and his office is at the general's office.

This guy doesn't even have a servant, he only has a few big soldiers, his combat effectiveness can be compared to that of a government servant, and his main income comes from empty pay.

Last winter, Zhao Han captured the city and chopped down the garrison general.

Civil servants took up their posts one after another, but the garrison generals were not replaced. The office of the garrison generals has been occupied by the eunuch Zhang Yin.

Zhang Yin did not dare to live outside the city anymore for fear of being caught by the rebels again. Moreover, Chaoguan has also disbanded recently because peasant riots have appeared near Chaoguan.

Wang Tiaoding waited in the general office for a while, and Zhang Yin finally showed up.

"I've seen Zhang Zhenshou." Wang Diaoding didn't give him a good look. He hated eunuchs very much.

Zhang Yin said with a smile: "Our family knows that you civil servants can't stand people without eggs. Don't worry, you won't have to look at it soon."

Wang Diaoding was a little surprised: "Why did Zhang Zhenshou say this?"

Zhang Yin sighed and said: "Our family has received the emperor's order and will return to the capital on a certain day. Eunuchs from all over the country have to withdraw. You who wear big turbans win."

Wang Diaoding was startled when he heard this, and then he was overjoyed and wanted to call "Your Majesty the Holy Ming".

Emperor Chongzhen, no matter what he did, he did it in bursts.

When the civil servants and military generals failed to provide adequate support, he would appoint eunuchs on a large scale and even let eunuchs control the army, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Now three years have passed, and the eunuchs have created a mess, and the resentment of the officials and the people has reached its peak.

As a result, Emperor Chongzhen made another sweeping move and recalled the eunuchs who had been sent out across the country. The eunuchs and supervisors of the frontline army, the eunuch supervisory departments of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the eunuch supervisory taxes in various provinces were all abolished indiscriminately!

Of course, the withdrawal of the eunuchs is also temporary. When it is found that the civil servants and military generals are not effective, the eunuchs will be sent out again next year.

And they intensified their efforts, raising the power of the eunuchs and supervisors to the highest level since the founding of the Ming Dynasty!

Simply insane.

Governing a big country is like cooking small dishes. Chongzhen's governance was all about fierce fire. When he found that the pot was burnt, he immediately turned off the pot and used strong fire again when the pot was cold.

Zhang Yin said angrily: "Zhao thief broke one of my legs, and it took me two months to recover. Now it's still aching in the rain. Since I'm going to be transferred back to the capital, how can I be so angry before I leave!"

"Shou Zhang wants to suppress the bandits?" Wang Diaoding asked.

"How can I suppress bandits? I'm just doing what Jingke did," Zhang Yin showed a sinister smile, "I have been looking for assassins since the end of last year. Governor Li has already wiped out the Poyang water bandits, and I rely on my connections to fish out one. Come here. people!"

One of the attendants brought out a box and carefully placed it on the table.

Zhang Yin pointed to the wooden box and said, "There are three hundred taels of silver in it. When the assassin succeeds, you can give the silver to him."

Wang Diaoding asked in confusion: "Why did you give me the money?"

Zhang Yin explained: "In the whole city, you, Wang Zhixian, are the only ones who are working together to suppress the bandits. We believe that you will not embezzle the money. The assassin is a giant bandit from Poyang Lake. As long as he kills the Zhao thief, he can be punished, and There is still a bounty to be collected. Take the silver and the assassins back with you. I will take the boat back to Beijing tomorrow."

It was useful for Zhao Han to keep the eunuchs, but unfortunately he couldn't guess what Chongzhen was thinking, so he recalled all the eunuchs.

The most depressing person is undoubtedly Wang Heng, the tax superintendent of Qianshan.

The eunuch regained his strength and drove the demon Zhang Puwei into the mountains. Just as he was waiting for the final blow, he suddenly received an order to return to Beijing immediately to resume his duties... As soon as Wang Heng left, Zhang Puwei would definitely come back to kill him. The Qianshan gentry extremely hoped that the eunuch could stay.

Of course, from a national perspective, the gentry and merchants were very happy that the damn eunuchs finally got out!

Wang Diaoding returned to the county government office with the money. In the evening, the assassin finally came to see him.

"What's your name?" Wang Diaoding asked.

The assassin replied: "Gujian Mountain."

When he heard it, he knew it was a false name. Wang Tiaoding didn't bother to ask any more questions. He just said: "The Zhao thief is thirsty for talents. You can lie and pretend to defect to him, and then wait for an opportunity to assassinate you. After you succeed, not only will there be money to take, but I can also I recommend you to serve as a military officer in this county."

"I will live up to my trust!" Gu Jianshan said with his fists in hand.

The next day, Gujianshan took a boat to Yongyang Town with a two-handed war sword stuck on his back.

His original name was Gushan, a native of Sichuan, and a son of a military family.

Not only did he read books, but he also became a scholar and traveled all over Sichuan to visit famous mountains. Once, when he was studying Taoism in Qingcheng Mountain for half a year, he came home and found that he was missing. Because he was involved in a pay mutiny, his father and brother were both imprisoned and threatened with death, and all his female relatives were sent to the Jiaofang Division.

Gushan was renamed Gujianshan and he worked as a ranger in eastern Sichuan for several years. In order to avoid being arrested by the government, he wandered all the way to Poyang Lake and happily became a water bandit.

Not long ago, Li Maofang and Wang Siren raided Poyang Lake, and Gu Jianshan was betrayed by his men and captured.

He was originally going to be beheaded, but the eunuch paid him to fish him out and let him assassinate Zhao Yan, the giant bandit in Luling. Once the assassination is successful, he can become a good citizen and end his years of banditry.

After docking and disembarking, Gu Jianshan came to the inn and inquired: "Excuse me, where is Mr. Zhao? I came here to seek refuge."

Just as the big shopkeeper was about to answer, Xu Ying suddenly came over and asked, "Who are you from?"

Gu Jianshan said: "I am in Gu Jianshan. I was originally a water bandit in Poyang Lake. I was defeated and fled a few days ago. I have heard about the name of Mr. Zhao in Luling for a long time, so I came here to join his army."

"You stay at the inn first and then go to the General Military Mansion tomorrow. Mr. Zhao is not free today." Xu Ying said.

Gu Jianshan asked: "Is Mr. Zhao not here?"

Xu Ying smiled and said: "Mr. Zhao is getting married today, how can he have time to see you?"

Gu Jianshan could only stay in an inn. He couldn't sit still after thinking about it, so he went out to step on the plates with his long sword on his back.

Xu Ying is no longer in the inn, he is going to have Zhao Han's wedding wine.

As he walked, Gu Jianshan found many people rushing toward the General Military Mansion with their things.

Gu Jianshan came to a man and said, "Old cousin, are you going to have Mr. Zhao's wedding banquet?"

The man said: "Mr. Zhao is getting married, and we are all going to give gifts."

"What are you planning to give?" Gu Jianshan asked.

The man smiled and said, "I am a potter. I will give Mr. Zhao a pottery jar so that he can make pickles and eat them."

Gu Jianshan glanced at it and saw that the pottery jar should be in the bamboo basket the man was carrying. He couldn't help but sneer in his heart, thinking that this Zhao thief was really hateful, exploiting the people through marriage, even small things like pottery jars.

However, Gu Jianshan gradually discovered something strange. Because every one of the people I saw along the way were very happy and had no worries of being exploited.

Soon we arrived outside the General Military Mansion. The four gates were heavily guarded, and countless people were blocked outside and not allowed to enter.

Fei Chun held up a paper loudspeaker and patiently explained: "Dear fellow villagers, Mr. Zhao said that no one should give you any gifts, just go home and work in the fields. Mr. Zhao didn't want to alarm the people. I don't know. Who spread the news? Especially those who have official duties, according to discipline, they are not allowed to give gifts to officers! Folks, please go back!"

A peasant woman carrying a bamboo basket came forward and said, "Sir, Mr. Zhao's marriage is a great joy. I don't have anything else at home, just a few eggs, which I will save for my wife to eat during the confinement period."

"Take it back, take it all back," Fei Chun said until his mouth went dry. "You are giving gifts like this, and if I accept them on my own initiative, I will make a mistake!"

More and more farmers came to give gifts. Some people in remote places even came with gifts in the middle of the night after receiving the news yesterday.

As it approached noon, thousands of people had gathered around the General Military Mansion, and the number continued to increase. There were even people standing on the farm ridges in the distance.

Gu Jianshan was a little dizzy. He found another farmer and asked, "Fellow, if you don't give Mr. Zhao a gift, will you be resented?"

"Isn't it?"

The farmer smiled and said: "Mr. Zhao doesn't follow the etiquette when he gets married. If this spreads out, why don't you get stabbed in the back? Look at this cradle, I just made it for my grandson. I heard that Mr. Zhao is getting married, so I just took it out as a gift. . If Madam gives birth to a big fat boy and grows up sleeping in a cradle made by me, Old Li, the ancestral graves of my Li family will emit green smoke."

Gu Jianshan finally understood that these farmers who gave gifts were not forced to do so, but came here sincerely.

Suddenly, a farmer shouted: "If Mr. Zhao doesn't accept it, we have to give it away. I'll put mine here!"

This statement reminded other farmers, and they all placed gifts in the open space in front of their doors. Moreover, they were very orderly, and retreated far away after they were put away, without hindering others from coming forward.

In the blink of an eye, all kinds of messy gifts were piled up at the door.

There are cloth shoes provided by the villagers, chickens, ducks and other poultry, freshly caught fish, eggs in bamboo baskets, furniture such as benches and chairs, snacks steamed from new wheat, and many daily necessities... all It's worthless, but it represents the most precious thing in the world.

Gu Jianshan stood there and watched. He came to assassinate Zhao Han, but at this moment he felt that he was nothing.

How can you kill such a person?

If he really does it, he will probably go to the eighteenth level of hell after death!

"Mr. Zhao will live a long life!"

"Bodhisattva protects Mr. Zhao from illness and disaster!"

"Madam, give birth to a son soon!"

"..."

Many farmers put down their gifts and knelt down to the General Military Mansion from a distance, shouting various blessings.

Gu Jianshan had forgotten his mission. He searched all over his body but could not find any suitable gift. Suddenly, he took off his weapon, a two-handed sword made of fine steel, and took it over and put it together with the villagers' gifts.

Gu Jianshan retreated to a distance, straightened his clothes, and bowed straightly to the door: "Xuzhou scholar Gu Shan, congratulations on Mr. Zhao's wedding!"

"Eaaah!"

Suddenly, the door of the General Military Mansion was pushed open, and Zhao Han and his newlywed wife walked out of the door hand in hand.

"Blessed by Bodhisattva, may Mr. Zhao have many children and many blessings!"

"Mr. Zhao will live a long life!"

A large number of farmers fell to their knees in an instant, and many farmers who had just stood up knelt down again when they saw Zhao Han.