Chapter 33 Retreat

Ying Yi had to admit that what Zheng Yunzhi said made sense.

But he said: "However, we don't know whether the intruders still have a large army nearby. If so, they may come back tomorrow. The Huguang soldiers and horses are indeed a life-saving straw, but with all due respect, Mr. County, I don't I don’t trust Huguang Bing. What kind of person Zuo Liangyu is, the county magistrate should know better than me."

Zheng Yunzhi was silent after hearing this.

Ying Yi could see his confusion.

Zheng Yunzhi sighed for a long time: "However, Ye County is too important. It cannot be lost!"

Ying Yi said: "The ancients said: If you save people and lose land, everyone and land will survive. If you save land and lose people, everyone and land will be lost. The county magistrate has read many more books than me."

Zheng Yunzhi said: "It's not that I don't know the truth. I'm not someone who doesn't know how to adapt. But after all, you don't know that Ye County has the food and grass supplies needed by the 30,000 troops for half a year!"

"Food and supplies!"

Ying Yi was stunned and suddenly realized.

I see.

Ying Yi also did not expect that in addition to the two million taels of military pay to be transported to Ye County, there were also grain and grass supplies for the 30,000-strong army that were also stored here. In this way, the importance of Ye County cannot be abandoned.

I heard Zheng Yunzhi say: "This batch of supplies has been secretly hoarded since last year. When I take office here, it is a heavy responsibility to hoard supplies and guard food and grass for the army. I moved the people away and turned Ye County into an empty city in order to weaken the The thoughts of the bandits to attack Ye County. I thought that in the dark, I could hide from the bandits, but I didn’t expect that the traitors leaked the news about military pay and roasted Ye County on the fire. Now I am in a dilemma. "

"Once we evacuate Ye County, a large amount of supplies, including half a year's food and fodder for the 30,000 troops, will be a total of 200,000 dan. How will they be transported away?! Will they be given to the bandits?!" He was heartbroken.

Ying Yi fell silent.

Two hundred thousand stones of food and a large amount of supplies are not easy in this world. If he just gave up like this, not to mention Zheng Yunzhi, even Ying Yi himself would probably jump off a cliff.

His mind was spinning, and he suddenly asked: "I have walked around the city several times, but I didn't see any obvious place to store food supplies."

Zheng Yunzhi said: "The grain supplies are hidden in the cellar under the county government. After all, we have to avoid the eyes and ears of the bandits, and we can't do it openly. Otherwise, if the bandits knew that there was a large amount of food and grass in the city, the traitors would have sent troops long ago without the traitors leaking the news. Coming to attack."

Hearing this, Ying Yi took a long breath and said with a smile: "If this is the case, the county magistrate can rest assured."

Zheng Yunzhi said angrily: "How can you teach me to be at ease?!"

Ying Yi said: "The county magistrate was in the middle of the situation and didn't think clearly for a moment. When we evacuate, we may not be handing over food and grass to the bandits."

"How do you say this?" Zheng Yunzhi was confused.

Ying Yi smiled and said: "Your Majesty, listen to me. If we set a fire and burn Ye County completely when we retreat, what would your Majesty think?"

"This..." Zheng Yunzhi's expression changed, and he thought about it carefully. After a moment, he showed a look of surprise, and suddenly smiled while stroking his hands: "Yes, yes. I was in the middle of the game, and I took food and grass too seriously, and I didn't even think of this. Point. You are right. If we retreat and set fire to the county seat, the bandits will see that it has been burned to a white ground. Naturally, they will not think that there are still 200,000 shi of food hidden underground."

"Exactly." Ying Yi said: "After the bandits retreat or after Ye County is recaptured, we will start to provide food. After all, we will not let the bandits take advantage."

Zheng Yunzhi relaxed suddenly and let out a breath: "It seems to be a lucky coincidence. In order to avoid the eyes and ears of thieves, I planned to hide things in the cellar. Now it really saved my life, haha... God will not destroy me Zheng Yunzhi ah!"

Ying Yi reminded: "I don't know how many people know about the food stored in the cellar. The leakage of the news about military pay has caused such a big disaster. The news about food supplies must not be leaked."

Zheng Yunzhi waved his hand and said: "Don't worry. The contents in the cellar are my plan and are limited to Ye County. No outsiders can handle them."

The imperial court stored grain in Ye County. How to store it was Zheng Yunzhi's business. No need to report. Therefore, Zheng Yunzhi was in charge of storing grain in the cellar. The people who handled it were just a few people close to him, and no one else knew about it. Even the people who transported grain and grass during this process only secretly transported the grain and grass to Ye County. As for where they were hidden, they didn't know.

He added: "All the people in Ye County have left, leaving an empty city. Although the people have the habit of storing grain in cellars, if the people leave, the food will naturally have to be taken away. As soon as the bandits see the city burned to a white ground, they will have no doubts."

Of course, this isn't really foolproof.

There is a contingency for everything. What if the thief is lucky and suddenly discovers it?

But Ying Yi would not say this. Zheng Yunzhi also selectively ignored it. What can you do without risk?

Ying Yi then said: "Now we don't have to worry about anything. County Lord, please evacuate as soon as possible."

Zheng Yunzhi took it seriously and said, "Then tonight."

After the two discussed the matter, Zheng Yunzhi asked about military pay.

Ying Yi said: "The military pay is now in Xiaowangzhuang." He told what happened along the way to transport the military pay: "I saw changes in Ye County, so I didn't dare to transport the military pay, so I temporarily transported it to Xiaowangzhuang and hid it."

Zheng Yunzhi heard that the military pay was still good, so she felt relaxed: "As long as the military pay is still there, I will feel relieved."

"The military pay, food and grass are all there. It seems that the thieves' spirit has been exhausted."

He laughed.

Ying Yi only shook his head secretly and said nothing.

At midnight, Ying Yi took a manpower of one hundred households to escort Zheng Yunzhi and other family members and some craftsmen out of Ye County.

Although Ye County is an empty city, there are still some craftsmen. Many armaments require craftsmen to manage them, and they are indispensable. Including Zheng Yunzhi's family, there are more than 200 people in total. To retreat tonight, those without combat capability will be removed first. Just in case, Ying Yi will personally escort them. After sending them to Xiaowangzhuang, they came back to pick up Zheng Yunzhi, then set fire to Ye County and left here completely.

During this period of time, Zheng Yunzhi also wanted to create some false appearances in the county to confuse the thieves. For example, if you pile up damaged and irreparable armaments in a room, or get some food out, once the fire passes, it will naturally leave traces. When the thieves take a look, they will burn everything they see, and there will be no more traces. Search Ye County’s thoughts carefully.

Likewise, good military equipment that cannot be taken away will be hidden in the cellar. Waiting to come back later.

In the night, Zheng Yunzhi told his wife and children: "With Ying Baihu escorting us, everything will be safe. If something happens, just stay calm."

Although his wife, concubines and children were worried, they could only nod.

Then Zheng Yunzhi nodded to Ying Yi beside him: "I'll have to trouble Ying Baihu."

Ying Yi cupped his hands and said, "It is my duty to do so."

"Let's go." Zheng Yunzhi waved her hand.

Ying Yi got on his horse and said, "Your Majesty, please wait for a moment. I will return in as many as Yin hours."

Zheng Yunzhi smiled and said, "Be careful along the way."

When Ying Yi and his party disappeared into the darkness and could no longer be seen, Zheng Yunzhi sighed slightly and said to Zheng Wu beside him: "Hurry and prepare, don't delay."

"Yes, sir."