Chapter 1069 To Yanzhou

The northwest is desolate, the land is not easy to grow, and it is difficult for people to survive. Moreover, it is on the front line of the war. Although it is not as desolate as the northwest in Gansu, it is equally desolate.

Yanzhou belongs to Fuyan Road, and the population here is mostly concentrated in the vicinity of Jingzhao Prefecture. The front-line places where the war is fought are not populated. The most are soldiers. The people here are not easy. They have to worry about the harassment of Xixia and be oppressed by a large number of thieves.

"I heard that in Bianjing, people over there say that the thieves are old men, but here, they are all military masters..." The old man sighed, took the boiled water from the fire, and added water to the exquisite little silver pot for the young nobleman in front of him.

Wang Yan fried the dried meat in the pot, picked up two pieces with chopsticks, and gave them to two little people, a man and a woman, who were squatting beside him and watching eagerly. They were dirty, but at least they had clothes to wear. Not afraid of the heat, he took the dried meat with his black little hands and ate it slowly with a sizzling sound.

"Dongliang, bring two pieces of candy and soak them in water."

"Hey."

Little Dongliang next to him responded, took out a big box from his shoulder bag, took out three yellow candies, and found three broken bowls in the house, one for each bowl, and soaked them in hot water, making a bowl for the three of them.

"No, no..." The old man was about to stop Little Dongliang's actions, but he couldn't say why he couldn't.

The two little ones couldn't hear the old man's words at all, and just stared at the bowl in Little Dongliang's hand with their eyes wide open...

"It doesn't matter, my family is a big family, how can I miss these few pieces of candy and a few bites of meat?" Wang Yan smiled and waved his hand.

The old man smiled embarrassedly and said nothing more. After Xiao Dongliang handed over the bowl, the old man quickly took out all the sugar from the hot water with his hands, and stood up to find a small wooden box to put it in.

"It's okay if it's a little sweet. Keep it for a few more times. Thank you for your pity." The old man showed his big yellow teeth and smiled honestly.

"Nothing, it's for you."

"Are you here to do business? But I don't look like one. I look more like an official."

"Oh? How do you tell?"

"There were officials who stayed at my house before, and they all looked the same. But you are more of a relative than them, and those officials don't care about the mud legs."

The working people are of course wise, and the old man is also a little slick. Seeing that Wang Yan was always smiling, giving dry food, dried meat, and sugar cubes, he naturally let go a lot.

"My father-in-law is also good at judging people. I was transferred to our Yanzhou to be a minor official, in Fushe. If you have any problems in the future, you can come to Fushe to find me, and I will do my best." The old man smiled and did not respond to this question. Instead, he asked curiously: "I heard that there is a Wang Xianggong in Bianjing City who has arrested many people and done great things. I wonder if you know this Wang Xianggong?" Xianggong used to be the title of the prime minister. As the past hundred years have passed, this title has gradually become compatible with the lower officials. Officials with higher positions can be called Xianggong. But there is no doubt that Wang Yan is still not qualified. But for the people, they don't care. It seems that the deputy director should be called the director, and the deputy mayor should be called the mayor. It's almost the same meaning. Any official who is called Xianggong can't help but feel secretly happy. Without waiting for Wang Yan to speak, Xiao Dongliang smiled and said, "The Wang Xianggong you mentioned, is Wang Yan? The inspector of the inspection office in Beijing?"

"How can I know so many things? I just know that it was Wang Xianggong who arrested many officials and raided many wealthy families. Last year, I saw hundreds of people tied together and sent to the north every few days at my doorstep. The escorting officials asked for water here, and I heard from them that those tied up were nobles. Later, a caravan of merchants stayed overnight, and I heard from them that I knew about it."

Xiao Dongliang nodded: "My son Alang is indeed an official in Beijing, but his position is too low. Wang Xianggong is too powerful, and my son Alang dare not approach him."

"That's the truth." The old man nodded in approval, "I don't know about other things, but I know that good officials have bad luck."

The old man said it casually, and he actually spoke the truth.

Wang Yanxiao asked, "Is life okay at home, old man?"

"My dear, you can see that we, the three of us, depend on each other for survival. I work on a few acres of thin land for Mr. Liu. We live near the official road, deliver water to people, and ask for some rewards. We can survive."

The old man said before that his wife died early. He had two sons, but one did not survive when he was a child, and the other died when he was conscripted to work. His daughter-in-law remarried, and he raised these two children by himself.

"How much rent do you pay for farming Mr. Liu's land?"

"40% rent, so we can have some food left over at the end of the year."

Wang Yan nodded and asked with a smile: "What do you think of Mr. Liu?"

"My dear, if you want to know what Mr. Liu thinks, I really don't know. Mr. Liu's business has spread to Bian Jing and Jiangnan, so why would he care about us peasants? Even if someone owes him money or grain, he won't rush to ask for it. Only if it's really delayed for a long time, Mr. Liu's family will come to take the land, or turn the family into slaves. It's only natural to pay back debts, and there's nothing we can do about it.

My family used to have dozens of acres of land, but there was a severe drought and there was no harvest. My father borrowed grain from Mr. Liu, but he didn't pay it back the next year, so it was worth a few acres of land. Just like this year after year, the land became Liu Dahu's. The land that the old man is farming now belonged to his family fifty years ago. In the past two years, it seems that there is no way to do anything. Before the old man dies, he must find a way out for these two babies. "

Wang Yan understood that this old man was more cautious and did not say anything bad, but only talked about ordinary things. After all, Wang Yan is an official. People naturally think that officials are the same as those wealthy and powerful families. Of course there is nothing wrong with this understanding, so it is understandable that he dare not say it.

Since he didn't want to say it, he certainly wouldn't force it. Instead, he asked the old man about the Song-Xia war he knew. After all, Xixia broke into Yanzhou back then. The old man was still a bit hazy despite his age. Known...

Hundreds of years before and after the Song-Xia War, provocations continued all year round in the border areas. The current time is considered to be the end of the first Song-Xia war, which is Li Yuanhao's founding battle. Fan Zhongyan and others participated in that battle.

The Song Dynasty was defeated, and there was a Qingli peace negotiation.

The general content is that Xixia professed vassalage to the Song Dynasty and canceled the imperial title. Li Yuanhao accepted the title of the Song Dynasty and became the Lord of Xia. The generals, soldiers, and households captured by both sides during the Song-Xia war will no longer be returned to the other side. From now on, if people on the border between the two sides flee to the other side's territory, neither side can send troops to pursue them. Both sides will return the fleeing people to each other.

During the war, the Song Dynasty territory occupied by Xixia and other border areas where Fan and Han lived were drawn as boundaries. Both sides could build their own castles on their own territory. The Song Dynasty granted Xixia 255,000 silver, qi, silk, and tea every year, and set up forays at the Baoan Army and Gaoping Village.

The Security Army is close to Yanzhou, which is a buffer zone for both sides to do business with each other. Of course Wang Yan has business there, and the most famous one is his incense shop, which is highly respected by Xixia officials and wealthy officials. Not only Xixia, but also Liao. The dignitaries are all fond of this style, and women especially like it.

In addition to the incense shop, there are other businesses such as livestock, leather goods, medicinal materials, pearls, jade, salt, etc., which are relatively abundant in Xia and Liao, and his family purchased them. The things he sells for takeout, in addition to various perfumes, soaps and the like, are tea, icing sugar, and fine salt. They are all high value-added products. Xixia has a huge deficit on his side, but obviously, they do not Don't understand this.

If Wang Yan came to power in the future, both Liao and Xia had to contribute. Wang Yan led troops to fight against them, and it was a credit to him that he was promoted to an official. It was also a credit to him to earn more supplies from them with the broken perfume.

In fact, Wang Yan wanted to be the governor of the Security Army, where he could control the market and launch an economic war on Xixia. Of course, economic warfare may appear to be non-violent, but in fact it is not. After all, it destroyed the Xixia economy and aggravated their internal conflicts. Without even thinking about it, Xixia would definitely invade the south in a large scale to divert the conflicts.

But correspondingly, Wang Yan has been operating for many years. Even if the army is really stretched and cannot defeat Xixia, it can always be maintained. As long as Xixia can defend the first wave of fierce attacks, it will be over.

And he can also make a fortune from it and accumulate greater power.

But these are all beautiful thoughts. After all, he is the governor of Yanzhou, and his hands can't reach that long, so he can only exert influence slowly...

As a state government office close to the border, although it is not as prosperous as Baoan Quan, Fushi's business is relatively good. Because coming from the east, whether you pass through Tongguan and go north along the Yellow River, go north along the Luoshui River, or go over the Taihang Mountains and pass through Taiyuan, most of them have to stop at Fushi.

This place is considered a stop in the trade with Xixia. Naturally, the business development here is pretty good. But there are not many people here, and even if there are people, they don’t have high spending power, so it can only be called a good place.

Wang Yan came with the caravan all the way, and he went through a lot of checking on the people's sentiments along the way. Shulan was not worried about being intercepted and killed on the way, but he encountered several groups of robbers on the way. After all, the people in ancient times had always It's all quite difficult.

Just like that, after a long journey, Wang Yan took Xiao Dongliang and others to Fushi County.

Looking at the loose and careless gatekeepers at the city gate, shouting at the people entering the city, Xiao Dongliang curled his lips: "Alang, the soldiers here are not good, no wonder they can't defeat the group of barbarians in Xixia. And that one Not even the city gatekeeper. Look at his disgusted look. What the hell!"

"angry?"

"Angry! What a waste!"

Wang Yan smiled and said lightly: "Go and beat them until they die."

"Okay, Alang." Xiao Dongliang turned around and took out a few whistle sticks from the car and handed them to the other four strong followers. The five people just walked over with the sticks.

Of course, the dozen or so soldiers guarding the city saw it, and they all raised their guns, but they didn't pay much attention to it. The officers and officials leading the team shouted loudly, making Xiao Dongliang and others stop.

Not only did they not stop, but they started running. After just a few steps, they started fighting with thunder and bang.

Wang Yan clasped his hands behind his back and strolled up to the scene to watch the excitement.

Although he promised to beat him to death, Xiao Dongliang and others were still measured in their attacks. At least they were not as cruel as eye-piercing or kicking in the crotch. They were just swinging the whistle stick hard on the body. These people are all wearing armor, and it's all blunt trauma, so it's not a big problem.

Xiao Dongliang and others were able to deal with this group of gatekeepers with ease. Xiao Dongliang even brought the fight to the little official who was yelling at him, took the time to give him a big mouth, and even made up for it.

Whether it is individual force or the combined attack of many people, it is far beyond that. They are all good soldiers trained by Wang Yan. They can also read and write, and can write and calculate. They are all officers.

The battle continued, and Xiao Dongliang and others were unilaterally beating them with whistle sticks from beginning to end.

After about ten minutes, more than fifty soldiers in disorder finally ran out. They held long spears and formed an encirclement. Xiao Dongliang and others finally stopped.

Wang Yan stepped forward with his hands behind his back and asked: "Who is in charge?"

"Who are you?" A man in his thirties with a full beard stopped his men from making further movements, frowned, and walked up to Wang Yan with his hand on the knife on his waist.

Xiao Dongliang came behind Wang Yan and took out Wang Yan's petition and transfer documents from his shoulder bag: "Take a good look at it, don't make mistakes."

The man took the paperwork and read it very seriously. Wang Yan could clearly see that the man's eyes suddenly shrank and his hands trembled. But then, he looked up at Wang Yan and started to tear up the document. At the same time, he shouted: "How dare this person pretend to be an official of the imperial court, and he won't take it down with me!"

Wang Yan smiled, stretched out his hand and pinched his wrist. Without much force, he just turned it slightly at an angle and twisted his hand off. Then a gentle palm was placed on his chest, forcing back his unspoken cry of pain. At the same time, a quick side kick broke the man's calf bone.

Taking the document from his hand and handing it to Xiao Dongliang behind him, Wang Yan took out the ring knife from the man's waist and said loudly: "I am the new magistrate of Yanzhou, Wang Yan. This person wants to kill the official and rebel, thinking that I made it. You must think clearly about the consequences of killing an official."

"Don't listen to him... uh..." Even though his veins bulged in pain, the man still wanted to encourage his men to chop Wang Yan to death, but he couldn't say anything because his jaw had been removed by Wang Yan.

Then he twisted off his other arm, kicked him to the ground, and directly inserted the knife into his good leg, nailing it to the ground.

Wang Yan stood with his hands behind his back and said loudly: "You all know the consequences of pretending to be an official of the imperial court. There is no need for me to do such a thing. I will give you a chance. Now stand still and put away your guns." , then everything is easy to say. "

When he finished speaking, he suddenly opened his eyes and shouted angrily with a louder voice. In an instant, everyone facing him jumped up and stood up straight. He turned around and looked around. Everyone he saw stood with their guns raised.

Wang Yan nodded with satisfaction and asked Xiao Dongliang to go to the car and get his official uniform. At the gate of the city, in full view of everyone, he took off his outer robe and changed into his special purple uniform.

They were frightened by Wang Yan just now, but looking at the former commander lying on the ground, some people were wavering and were wondering whether to stab Wang Yan to death. But as Wang Yan took out the purple official uniform and put it on, no one had this idea anymore.

Wang Yan put on the winged official hat with both hands, held it upright twice, and then put down his hands.

He asked the bewildered soldiers in front of him, "Where is the deputy commander?"

There was silence for a long time, no one answered.

"Mute? Speak!"

After Wang Yan urged him dissatisfiedly, someone behind him said hesitantly: "In response to the official announcement, Vice-Capital Commander Xiu Mu is at home."

Wang Yan turned around and saw that his armor was neat and he was very energetic. He asked with a smile: "Who are you?"

"The villain Zhang Da is the corps commander of this capital."

"Have you ever fought against Xixia soldiers?"

"Three years ago, when we deployed to Dantou Village, the barbarians provoked us, and the villain formation killed two people."

"Very good, you are all over now." Wang Yan nodded: "Arrange people to go to the city to call the officials."

"Uh..." Zhang Da looked around and said calmly, "Ms. sir, I'd better go on your own as a villain."

"You are the head of the capital, how can you run errands? Please bring in some people, and I will see who dares not to go."

"Chen Liu, go."

"Yes, Dutou!" The boy named Chen Liu shouted at the top of his lungs, grinned and ran away.

When he saw that they were his own soldiers, Wang Yan shook his head and said nothing. Xiao Dongliang glared at him: "You're so worthless."

The latter responded with a simple smile and didn't say much.

Of course, you can't be idle while waiting for someone. Wang Yan put Nadu's chin on his head and asked, "Tell me, why do you want to kill me?"

"You're pretending to be... ah..."

But it was Xiao Dongliang who grasped the handle of the knife that was inserted into his thigh and turned it gently, causing his head to scream in pain and his eyes to widen with anger.

"You must know my reputation. There are very few officials in the world who say good things about me. They say that I am a cruel official who gave birth to a son without an asshole. They also say that he will die sooner or later by swords and arrows. He uses prophecies to harm me. . According to them, I was very cruel and was the first to invent the punishment of Lingchi. But who knew that this punishment was created by the prison chief in Yangzhou, but it was only because I talked to the old man He Saner in the Jingzhong Circuit Prison. With just one mouthful, he has become a master. Many people in the world have misunderstood me."

Wang Yan looked distressed and then asked with a smile, "No one in Yanzhou has tried it yet. How about I start with you and let me see how hard your bones are. I'm a pillar."

"Here we come, Alang." Xiao Dongliang chuckled, took out the knife on Dutou's legs, and let him roll in pain, took out the knife-like dagger inserted in his waist, "Let's start with the hands first, please. The older brothers took over and stopped him, so that he wouldn't be affected by the knife."

Several other servants came over with a ferocious smile, and without saying a word, they pressed their heads firmly to the ground.

"I went under the knife..."

Xiao Dongliang said politely to Dutou, and then carefully took the knife and scratched the back of Dutou's hand, as if hesitating where to cut.

"I said! I said..."

Xiao Dongliang curled his lips and didn't stop moving at all. My master said, now that it has started, there must be a blow, otherwise it will be shameful...

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