I

Yang Jiamo was hungry, cold, and sick. He drank some porridge these days, and he was already so thin that his cheeks were sunken.

After waking up, he wanted to thank his benefactor in person, but actually he wanted to understand the situation.

Soon, his benefactors walked into the cabin, and there were quite a few of them.

Moreover, they are all dressed up as scholars!

In Fengcheng County, Gan Dashou was elected, Yuan Bingkun was elected in Fengcheng County, Yu Shiqin was elected in Nanchang Prefecture, Tu Tingying, a scholar in Nanchang Prefecture, Yuan Maoling, a scholar in Fengcheng County, Gan Tangshu, a scholar in Fengcheng County, Tu Zhi, a scholar in Fengcheng County...

"Mr. Yang, I haven't seen you for half a month. Why are you so haggard?" Yu Shiqin looked surprised.

Yuan Bingkun said: "General Manager Yang worked so hard and thought so hard that he fell ill from overwork. It's really sad."

Tu Zhi said: "I heard from Mr. Zhao in Luling that there is a famous doctor who sent Mr. Yang for treatment. He will definitely be able to cure the disease."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

All the scholars burst into laughter.

Yang Jiamo suddenly came to his senses and shouted in horror: "You...you are actually planning to join a band of thieves!"

Yuan Bingkun sighed: "Who would be willing to become a thief if he could protect his family and the country? Last year, I, Yuan Jiaxian, helped the governor recruit more than 300 soldiers, and also donated money and food to support the salary, just to wipe out the bandits as soon as possible. But what is Li Maofang doing? The soldiers blackmailed the gentry and robbed the people. They were obviously fighting in Linjiang Mansion, but they actually extorted money into Fengcheng!"

Yuan Maoling sneered: "Even so, our Yuan family has no resentment. After the governor's defeat, we still donated money to support him. But Fengcheng County was besieged for many days. We and other Fengcheng scholars went to Nanchang to persuade them. Li Maofang just stood still. This guy is as timid as a mouse. From now on, he may only dare to stay in Nanchang. He can no longer take care of Fengcheng County.

Tu Zhi said: "Since Governor Li ignores Fengcheng, we, the Fengcheng scholars, can only find our own way out."

Yang Jiamo struggled to get up and wanted to fight these scholars, but he had been hungry for many days and had no strength at all. Yu Shiqin kicked him back to the bed.

Tu Tingying took out a copy of "Datong Collection" from his arms, waved it towards Yang Jiamo and said: "This is the book of salvation. Mr. Zhao of Luling must be a heroic hero."

The Tu family also belongs to a wealthy family in Jiangxi and has been doing business for generations.

Tu Changhan led his slaves in Fengcheng County to seize the gate and present the city. Tu Tingying and Tu Zhi then ran to Zhao Han. Representing the three branches of the Tu family, they turned their backs on the court one after another. In their eyes, Zhao Han was not a devil, but a cutie who encouraged the development of industry and commerce.

Gan Dashou remained silent. Although his home was in Fengcheng County, it was far away from the county seat, but closer to Fuzhou Prefecture. His family lives in the mountains. Although they are a prominent family in the mountains, they don't have much land. "Datong Collection" is very suitable for him. Historically, this person would be a Jinshi in more than a year. His agricultural policy when he was the county magistrate was ordered by Chongzhen to be promoted to the entire Huguang.

Although Gan Tangshu also had the surname Gan, she was far away from Gan Dashou's family. Just a few days ago, more than 20 of the fleeing guardsmen rushed into his house and looted it. The Gan family hurriedly summoned their slaves to resist. Although they repelled the defeated soldiers, Gan Tangshu's father fell and suffered a fracture, and there were also signs of a stroke.

These more than ten scholars and candidates were all completely disappointed with the imperial court!

In a blink of an eye, we arrived at Ji'an Fucheng. A few boys dragged Yang Jiamo off the boat, and everyone went to the General Military Mansion to see him.

"I'd like to inform you that Jiangxi Commander-in-Chief Yang Jiamo has been captured here." Yuan Bingkun said with his hands in hand.

After a while, everyone was brought in.

Three civil servants and eleven scholars actually took the initiative to vote by boat. This made Zhao Han very happy, and the general soldiers did not matter.

The scholars reported their names, and Zhao Han greeted them warmly and invited them directly to the inner house for tea.

Yang Jiamo was also tied in. After seeing Zhao Han, the guy suddenly shouted: "Mr. Zhao, I am willing to surrender!"

Zhao Han said: "No need."

"I'm really willing to surrender." Yang Jiamo said anxiously.

Zhao Han sighed: "It's really not necessary."

Yang Jiamo became more and more anxious: "Mr. Zhao, you have ships to the south and horses to the north. From now on, I can help you train the cavalry in your northern expedition!"

Zhao Han was a little impatient and ordered: "Stop his mouth."

"Mr. Zhao, we must have cavalry in the north. You don't know how ferocious the bandits and the Tatars are... Uh-huh..." Yang Jiamo was pushed to the ground, struggling with a rag stuffed in his mouth.

Zhao Han asked: "How did you catch this person?"

Yuan Bingkun said with a smile: "Brother Ziyu (Gan Dashou) is kind-hearted. When he saw someone trapped on the sandbar, he hired a boat to take him back to Xigang. Unexpectedly, he turned out to be the Jiangxi General Soldier."

Yu Shiqin said: "I once saw this animal in Fucheng, Nancheng, and recognized it at a glance."

Yuan Bingkun specially introduced: "Brother Ziyu is a child prodigy, and he became a scholar at the age of nine."

Damn it, these child prodigies are more outrageous than the last. What the hell is it about being a scholar in Jiangxi at the age of nine?

Zhao Han immediately exclaimed: "There are really Wenqu stars in the world!"

Gan Dashou said quickly: "I don't dare, I just have a better memory."

After some small talk, Zhao Han got important news.

Due to the resurgence of military warfare, the rebels seemed to be showing signs of attacking Nanchang, and the gentry in Nanchang counties finally became impatient.

These gentry were mainly divided into three categories:

The first category is the scholars in front of me, who take the initiative to represent their families.

The second type is a coward and accepts everything as it comes. It seems difficult to understand, but there are many such gentry.

The third category is recruiting soldiers to help the government fight wars.

You recruit dozens of troops, and I recruit hundreds of troops. Adding up the scattered troops, plus the troops from other magistrates and counties, it is very likely that tens of thousands of troops will be recruited before the New Year!

Among them, there were also those who fled to Nanchang with their money. Their hometown was under the rule of Zhao Han. For example, Liu Tongsheng, a Jishui Juren, after escaping to Nanchang, originally wanted to study in peace and take the Jinshi exam, but now he also plans to spend his wealth and recruit soldiers.

Zhao Han obviously made these people anxious. Once Nanchang is captured, it will be a matter of time before he takes over the entire Jiangxi.

"Mr. Zhao, please take Nanchang quickly!" Yuan Bingkun suddenly shouted with his fists clasped.

"Mr. Zhao, please take Nanchang quickly!" The other scholars shouted together.

Zhao Han said with a smile: "The city of Nanchang is high and the pond is deep. It is difficult to capture it quickly. We need to plan for the long term."

These guys all live in Nanchang and Fengcheng. Only when Zhao Han captures Nanchang City will they truly feel at ease. If the war drags on for several years, not only will the common people suffer, but the gentry and wealthy families will also have to continue to bleed. The war requires money and food, and when the common people have no room for exploitation, the governor and the Third Division will definitely go to the wealthy families to persuade them to donate.

In particular, the Nanchang clan experienced the Ningwang Rebellion a hundred years ago, and the losses they suffered at that time are still fresh in their memories.

King Ning did not embarrass them, and Wang Yangming did not embarrass them either. Xu Tai, a military general who arrived afterwards, killed Nanchang until his corpses blocked the streets in the name of tracking down Prince Ning's remaining party members.

Yu Shiqin cupped his hands and said: "We all know what Mr. Zhao means, which is to build a high wall and slow down the kingship. We are afraid that after capturing Nanchang, the imperial court will be surrounded and suppressed by heavy troops. But has Mr. Zhao ever thought about it? Even if Nanchang is not attacked, the imperial court will not Do you pay attention to it? The imperial court has not sent an army so far. It is not unwilling to listen, but it is impossible. The imperial court is short of money and food. The northwest bandits and the northeastern Tartars have made the emperor and his ministers miserable. Even if Mr. Zhao occupied the entire Jiangxi, the imperial court was unable to encircle and suppress him. .”

Tu Tingying also advised: "Nanchang is an important town in Jiangxi, a place where all kinds of qi gather, and it can be used to seize the foundation of the world!"

Zhao Han could only say: "Within one year, I will take Nanchang."

From a military perspective, the only places that must be taken are Taihe County and Wan'an County. After capturing these two counties, the officers and soldiers of Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian in the south can be blocked. Only the navy can be used to block the officers and soldiers of the south.

As for the north, to be honest, Zhao Han didn't even want to keep the Fengcheng County he had just captured. That poor place was not conducive to defense.

But so many scholars took the initiative to defect, and most of them were from Fengcheng. Zhao Han had to take it if he didn't want it, otherwise he would definitely disappoint these scholars. Wang Tingshi, who is working as a senior internal response, will also be disappointed and feel that he is not taken seriously by Zhao Han.

Seeing that the scholars were not in high spirits, Zhao Han said with a smile: "I will occupy Fengcheng County. Fengcheng County is less than a hundred miles away from Nanchang Fucheng. After I consolidate the Fengcheng territory, I will harvest it by next autumn at the latest After that, we immediately sent troops to attack Nanchang!"

This promise finally reassured the readers in front of them that they could still afford to wait for a year.

Fourteen scholars and scholars were sent by Zhao Han to attend classes at Bailuzhou Academy. Wang Diaoding must have something in common with them.

A few days later, Fei Ruhe returned with the prisoners.

"More than three thousand prisoners were captured," Fei Ruhe said, "They all committed crimes in Yongfeng County and were all sent to the iron mines for mining?"

Zhao Han said: "Anyone whose hands are stained with the blood of civilians will be sent to mine!"

"That's okay," Fei Ruhe said with a smile, "There are hundreds of Ehu soldiers, and I was recognized by them. What should I do with them?"

Zhao Han asked: "Didn't they kill people randomly?"

Fei Ruhe sighed: "It's very complicated to say. These Ehu soldiers were originally recruited and trained by the eunuch Wang Heng to exterminate the religious bandits in Shanglu Town. Wang Heng's army was not strictly disciplined, and the soldiers killed indiscriminately in Shanglu Town. But Wang Heng was recalled to Beijing by the emperor, and the Ehu soldiers returned home to farm, and were later recruited by the prefect Zhang Yinggao. Zhang Yinggao's military discipline was very strict, and he was well-paid. In this sneak attack on Jishui, several hundred Ehu soldiers were among the The elite are relatively obedient. They must have committed robbery, but fortunately they did not kill anyone or rape women."

"Only looting, not killing, do you believe it?" Zhao Han sneered.

Fei Ruhe was a little embarrassed: "At least I won't kill many, only those who want to resist."

"Tell me, do those Ehu soldiers have many acquaintances?" Zhao Han revealed directly.

Fei Ruhe said: "There is a clan brother who has not graduated from the fifth server, and a dozen clan members who have graduated from the fifth server. The rest are all good family members near Ehu. They are really elite. Faced with the siege and ambush, they didn't even They collapsed and still gathered around the prefect of Guangxin when they surrendered. They are veterans who have trained for more than two years and have seen blood in actual combat! Moreover, they did not kill many civilians, at least not compared to other soldiers."

Zhao Han thought carefully and said: "After breaking up the troops and reorganizing them into regular troops, I want to expand the army and prepare for war!"

Taihe County was devastated by the thief Sailu Bu. Almost all the landowners were killed, and the people's lives became even more difficult. Moreover, due to the war, a large number of people died or fled. Zhao Han could move some farmers there to alleviate the problem of insufficient cultivated land in the existing territory.

Moreover, only by capturing Taihe County can the terrain gap in the south be blocked. No matter how many officers and soldiers come, he will not be afraid.