Chapter 1072 Provocation

Yanzhou in winter, as far as the eye can see, is full of loess and dead grass, which makes it a bit more chilling.

But the land of Yanzhou is full of enthusiasm for construction. Even though many projects are suspended during the winter, there is still a lot of work to be done to prepare for production and construction activities in the spring.

And not all projects have been stopped. For example, some simple work such as digging holes and mining. The petty officials, big businessmen, criminal gangs, etc. who were arrested before have to work. After all, this is already the northwest, so we can't bother sending it to Lingnan. What's more, Yanzhou is the time to employ people, and of course these people cannot be wasted.

It is inevitable that as long as they can't die, they will work to death, so that the remaining light of their lives can finally warm the ancient land under their feet and make their final contribution to the people on this land.

In a courtyard near the official road, smoke rises from the chimneys of houses made of loess mixed with straw and stones. Inside the empty door that was open to let in the sunlight, you could see an old man doing carpentry work by the stove. Two children nearby were playing with the wood flowers they had dug out.

Hearing the noise, the old man raised his head and saw a large group of people coming outside, many of them even soldiers wearing armor. He recognized a few of them, they were county officials, and now they all had smiling faces, standing behind an upright man wrapped in a fur coat with a smile on his face.

The old man was stunned for a moment, wiped his eyes, and then ran out quickly, about to kneel down.

"I have met my husband, I have met my husband..."

Wang Yan was already walking in, and he supported the old man with a smile, preventing him from kneeling down: "Why are you so polite, my father-in-law? How can I receive such a great gift?"

"Why can't my husband bear it? The old man even gave my husband a longevity tablet at home. I offer incense on the first and fifteenth day of every month, hoping that my husband will live a long life."

Wang Yan shook his head in a funny way. There were too many people giving him the Changsheng brand. Yangzhou, Hangzhou, and Beijing, including the current Yanzhou. Although he was assassinated in Hangzhou, the people were just spectators. When he was in the capital, there was no one to help him, and it even became a joke among the people in the capital after dinner.

But that doesn't stop them from respecting Wang Yan, nor from their hope that Wang Yan will live a long life. Of course they know who is good to them, but sometimes they have to consider themselves first.

If there were fewer people who killed him, if anyone in the crowd of onlookers had the courage to shout and take the lead to rush out, the person who killed him would be beaten to death.

This is not because of elitism, but because people need someone to lead them and someone to tell them what to do. Just like when Zhang Mazi took office in Echeng, he had to take the lead and set an example. Only in this way can the oppressed and exploited people have the courage to resist and form an unstoppable force to overthrow and shatter the darkness...

He accepted the kindness of the people. Although, longevity seems to be a curse on him, after all, he is not yet twenty-four this year, and he still has some life...

Xiao Dongliang followed him and asked with a smile: "Do you know who my Alang is this time?"

The old man snorted slightly proudly: "Old man is not stupid. How can I figure it out after all these days? It is said that the old man asked Wang Xianggong that day, you, the young man, were holding back your laughter because you were laughing at the old man's joke. . Mr., come in quickly and drink some hot water to warm yourself up.”

Seeing him looking at the group of people outside at a loss, Wang Yan patted the old man's arm and said, "No need to pay attention to them."

The old man couldn't help but glance at the large group of people freezing over there, and then focused on the officials he knew. He led Wang Yan and his servant into the house, and hurriedly made two bowls of crushed tea leaves. Hot water.

Wang Yan asked Xiao Dongliang to take two more brown sugar cubes, and then made sugar water for the two children to drink. The old man's movements were still so natural and smooth.

"My husband, life has gotten better these past six months, right?"

"Okay, how can it be good, Mr. Xian? After Xian Gong left that day, in less than a month, people came to take away the whole family of Liu Dahu, and then people from the county came to Qingtian, and the old man was re-naturalized. To be honest, Xian Gong, I wanted to run away at that time, but later I heard that there was a lot less tax, and the old man’s two grandchildren could still get compensation...what..."

"Subsidy." Xiao Dongliang answered with a smile.

"Yes, it's a subsidy. I'm going to find my wife to come over next spring, and we'll run a school in Zhuangzi, the home of Liu Da's family. My two grandchildren won't be forced to study. If they can read and write, they will be able to make a decent living in the future. , to find a wife and support the family. This little granddaughter can also marry into a good family. That's not all. The county has cleared the land and allocated ten acres of land to the old man, and he only pays one tax per person. Still a bit tired, but there is hope in my heart.”

"Don't worry, I think the feeling of being lonely, old and weak like you has been registered. When we farm in the spring, the county will send some manpower to help. If there is no manpower in the county, I will also send soldiers here. If it's not enough, I'll call out the Forbidden Army soldiers. Then I'll boil some hot water to quench the thirst of the soldiers."

"thief……"

Wang Yan shook his head: "If any sergeant dares to offend the people, the county magistrate cannot trust me. If I bear the humiliation and come to play drums outside the gate of Fushi City, I will let them dig mines for the rest of their lives. Even if I am transferred to another place in the future, I will also But if the people in my caravan tell me the truth, they will tell me that those who harm the people will also have to pay the price."

"Okay, okay, my husband is a good official, a good official..."

They chatted for a long time, mostly the old man talking about the huge changes that had taken place in his life in the past half year.

Wang Yan was an official, and although he didn't hold back his farts, his bad farts were not directed at the vast majority of the people of the Song Dynasty. On the contrary, his bad farts were for these people, and he was naturally doing real work.

In fact, the people of the Song Dynasty had a hard life, so many of Wang Yan's actions had just begun, and they had already given the people a chance to live again and breathe a sigh of relief. They made them deeply aware of the difference from the past and felt the huge changes. If compared, their sense of happiness was actually the greatest.

Under his strong orders, the policies were basically implemented. The big households were seized, the fields were divided, the taxes were reduced, the criminal gangs disappeared, the big houses of the big households were converted into schools, and there were various road, water conservancy and other construction projects, which hired labor at a cost. Attract big households to invest and stabilize prices in the state. All these are great things for the people, and they are naturally the most touched.

The old man kept smiling when he talked about these things, and said he wanted to live a few more years, waiting for Wang Xianggong to govern Yanzhou better.

"Sir, you are no longer sitting in the court. Why did you come out? Are you here to inspect and see if anyone is fooling you?"

"My father-in-law is smart. That's right. Besides, I'm going to the north to take a look."

"Oh, Sir, are you going to fight? Oh, it's just that I'm old, otherwise I would have enlisted in the army. I feel safe under you. There is a young man in our village who was selected into the Xiang army. I heard that he died when he was paying the rich. Now his family is the best in the village. Sir, you will definitely be very good at fighting. If you defeat Xixia, everyone will live a more relaxed life..."

The people may not hate Xixia, but they really hate the many extra taxes and labor services due to border affairs, which are all imposed on them...

Wang Yan just agreed with a smile, and did not tell the old man about the chain reaction, because he came out this time to pull this one.

In the past six months, he has fully adjusted Yanzhou, almost mobilizing the greatest forces that can be mobilized in all aspects of Yanzhou, arranging personnel, and making plans for the next three years in Yanzhou.

As long as the development is carried out step by step, the supervision work is done well, and problems are adjusted in time, there will be basically no major problems. So Wang Yan left Fushi and went to the front line in the north...

Bidding farewell to the old man who had hope for the future and wanted to live a few more years, Wang Yan led the team to continue to go north, and the first stop was Qingjian.

Qingjian has a considerable strategic position. Maybe it has no advantageous position on the big map, but it keeps an eye on Xixia, preventing the Xixia army from rushing down along the Yellow River, breaking Yanzhou, reaching Guanzhong, and then knocking on Tongguan, passing Luoyang, entering the North China Plain, and directly taking Bianjing. Similarly, it also keeps an eye on the Xixia army, making it difficult to cross the Yellow River, cross the Taihang Mountains, and reach North China.

Moreover, there are also large troops stationed in the direction of Lishi (Lüliang) on ​​the other side of the river, keeping an eye on the Xixia army and making it difficult for them to cross the Yellow River. In this way, there was a blockade in the east of the Yellow River, and there was Yanzhou in the west of the Yellow River, which kept Xixia firmly outside Guanzhong and Taiyuan.

But they just held on. The Song-Xia war lasted for a hundred years, and the Zhao Song Dynasty fought hard on the Loess Plateau, but they didn't get out. They were all harvested by the later Jin Dynasty, and finally destroyed by the descendants of Genghis Khan.

When Wang Yan came to Qingjian, Zhong Yan, who had received the news long ago, greeted him respectfully with the civil and military officials of Qingjian, with great pomp.

"I haven't seen you for several months, and the governor is still so handsome."

"Zi Zheng is also full of energy."

Through Zhong Yan's introduction, Wang Yan smiled and met every Qingjian civil and military official who looked at him with a curious look in their eyes, and then followed Zhong Yan to look around Qingjian.

The main purpose was to watch the boys perform martial arts, feel the military power of the Zhong family army, and then look at the barracks, inspect the camp, talk to the soldiers, etc. It was basically a routine operation for leaders to inspect the military camp.

Overall, the conditions were quite difficult, and basically they didn't eat well or sleep well. Of course, there was no way to do this, after all, the conditions at that time were like this.

"Zi Zheng is a good commander."

After looking around, Wang Yan still gave a high evaluation. As a military commander, Zhong Yan's level was sufficient.

"The governor praised me too much. This is my duty."

"It's not easy to do my duty." Wang Yan shook his head and chuckled. "Although I have never seen the garrison of the imperial army in other places, I can imagine that Zi Zheng is the best."

"I dare not take credit. If we talk about commanders, who can compare to Di Gong? I heard that Di Gong has quelled the rebellion of Nong Zhigao and returned with a great victory."

Although Zhong Yan said that he did not dare to take credit, he then mentioned Di Qing. Speaking of Di Qing's victory, he looked yearning...

"I feel Zi Zheng's patriotism."

"It's difficult..." Zhong Yan shook his head, with a sense of desolation.

Wang Yan felt that Zhong Yan's discouragement did not come from the battlefield, but from the upper level.

Of course, there is no problem with this. Civil officials are more important than military officials. Even a strong man like Di Qing, after returning from the rebellion, will also be disciplined by civil officials. There are problems with the dog's head at home and sleeping in the Buddha Hall of Daxiangguo Temple. In short, they just don't like him.

Relatively speaking, a military officer of Zhong Yan's level is actually more comfortable, with fewer troubles, even though he is also fighting in shackles.

Zhong Yan's desolation was only for a while, and then he regained his spirits and continued, "Zhou Zhi, go up to the tower to have a look?"

Wang Yan happily followed Zhong Yan and went up to the tower.

"That's where the Xixia army is. Over the years, they have built houses and city walls. There are about 5,000 soldiers on the opposite side, led by Ye Lizhong, who is not a fool, but very brave. It is said that he has some relationship with Ye Liwangrong, but the truth is unknown."

Ye Liwangrong was a famous general of Xixia. He participated in the famous battles of Sanchuankou and Haoshuichuan, and captured Song generals Liu Ping and Shi Yuansun, both of whom were very powerful. However, Liu Ping did not surrender and died. Shi Yuansun was later released and died of depression.

However, Ye Liwangrong's end was not good. He was killed by Li Yuanhao. Some say that because Li Yuanhao abolished the queen, Li Yuanhao's queen was named Ye Li. Others say that it was because he fell into Zhong Shiheng's alienation plan.

No matter what the reason, it is generally inevitable that the bird is dead and the bow is hidden.

Wang Yan nodded and asked, "I think the other side is constantly looking for trouble and there is no peace. Zi Zheng, what do you think if your army goes to war with them, what are the chances of winning?"

"I often think about what the prefect asked. There is no barrier here, and it is flat, so we have to fight with all our strength. The men of the Song Dynasty are not weaker than the barbarians of Xixia, and the troops are equal and well-equipped, so the odds of winning or losing should be fifty-fifty."

Wang Yan did not speak, but put his hands in the sleeves of his coat, stood straight, and looked at the Xixia military camp only 500 meters away.

It was hard to see clearly at this distance, and only a group of people could be seen over there. No matter how good his eyesight was, he could not see what they were doing from such a distance. But he could roughly feel that Xixia was still relatively comfortable. Of course, in terms of living conditions, both sides were similar.

He looked up at the sun in the west, which was very big, round, and red. But it was a pity that there were no clouds in the sky, otherwise it would be a beautiful scene of thousands of miles of burning clouds.

Zhong Yan did not interrupt him. He knew Wang Yan was talented and thought that Wang Yan was enjoying the scenery and writing sour poems. Others were naturally even quieter. They didn't dare to breathe loudly for fear of disturbing Wang Yan.

After a while, Wang Yan ordered without turning his head: "Call Zhang Da."

Xiao Dongliang sighed, turned around and stood on the tower, covered his mouth like a trumpet, and shouted loudly.

After a while, Zhang Da came up: "Husband."

"Have you rested well?"

"Drank hot water, ate dry food, and the brothers are all good."

"Do you have the courage to meet the Xixia barbarians?"

Before Zhang Da spoke, Zhong Yan was startled: "Zhizhou, you can't..."

Seeing Wang Yan turned his head, Zhong Yan swallowed his saliva, and felt a little uneasy in his heart, but he still resisted Wang Yan's gaze and continued to speak, "Zhizhou, don't dare to start a war lightly."

"Zi Zheng is a military general, how can he hear Are you afraid of fighting? Does Zizheng think that I am so unwise to send a thousand people to fight? It's just a provocation. There is no reason why the barbarians of Western Xia can come to provoke, but our Song Dynasty cannot. "

Wang Yan waved his hand, "Zhang Da, select a group of people to fight with Western Xia. Zizheng, have someone serve wine to the boys, and kill them after drinking."

"Yes!" Zhong Yan said nothing more, turned around and winked at his men, who went to arrange things, and then selected his men again, gathered troops, and went out of the city to support.

"Zhang Da will lead the brothers of this city to fight, sir, watch." Zhang Da shouted loudly, turned around and left, and his momentum was already rising.

Seeing Zhang Da leave excitedly, Xiao Dongliang came up: "A Lang..."

"Life and death are determined by fate, you have to think about it carefully."

"I have also practiced martial arts for so many years, and have eaten so many precious medicinal herbs from A Lang. Now I have the opportunity to show my skills. I am sorry for A Lang's cultivation. I will not regret it even if I die!"

"Go."

Xiao Dongliang knelt down and kowtowed, then turned and ran away, went down the tower to find someone to arm himself...

Wang Yan did not stop him. Everyone has their own destiny, and he can't stop the damned. Besides, what Xiao Dongliang said was right. He did invest a lot in this kid. His skills are enough, and he also understands military formations and joint attacks. There is no big problem.

In fact, the training goal for Xiao Dongliang is to be a qualified intelligence chief. However, because Xiao Dongliang is only fifteen years old, he is not qualified enough. The current intelligence work is handled by the old housekeeper Wang Manfu.

This is because he does not pay attention to the timeliness of intelligence now, but to the comprehensiveness of the news. Because he still has a long life ahead of him, he is calm...

As Wang Yan's order was issued, Zhong Yan could not stop him, and the whole Qingjian moved. The soldiers now knew the whole story, and they were fully armed, cursing and swearing, not only to meet Zhang Da and other wing troops, but also to prevent a bigger change that would catch them off guard.

Zhang Da, Xiao Dongliang and others didn't care about that much. They sorted out their weapons, wiped their knives, checked their crossbows and shields, and sharpened their guns on the bluestone before the battle.

But they were not silent, but everyone was talking and laughing. Although they all wrote suicide notes before leaving Fushi, they were still telling each other about their affairs at this time, and it was actually lively for a while.

Until several large jars of wine were brought up, they simply drank a bowl of wine without breaking the bowl to boost morale, because it was really a waste. But their morale was not bad, because they had no worries. Besides, the husband sent out the most trusted book boy, what did they have to fear? Die or die!

The city gate slowly opened, and Zhang Da, who had been promoted to commander, gave a final speech, telling everyone not to panic, just like in the previous training.

Then, they walked out of the city gate with firm steps, arranged in formation, the armor pages flared, and the steps were in unison, and they walked towards the opposite side so firmly.

"Woo~"

The desolate horn sounded, followed by the heavy sound of war drums.

Wang Yan held the drumsticks in both hands and beat the war drums vigorously to cheer for his good men.

It was visible that the Xixia camp in the distance was in a panic, but after a while, a 100-man team was sent out tacitly.

It was roughly the same configuration as Wang Yan's side, with more than ten cavalrymen and the rest of the sword, shield and spear infantry. At the same time, thousands of people rushed out from the opposite city gate to respond. And the sound of war drums was raised.

As the 100-man teams of both sides stood a hundred meters apart, the drums suddenly became excited and the frequency accelerated. The people on both sides shouted and charged directly...

I would like to thank the good brothers who voted for the monthly ticket, recommended ticket and read books silently for their strong support!