Chapter Thirty-seven Persuasion

Ying Yi's heart flashed, thinking of the 200,000 stones of grain buried under the ruins of Ye County, he couldn't help but sigh.

Zheng Yunzhi was a qualified official, and the 200,000 shi of grain was military ration. He had never thought of using the 200,000 shi of grain to feed more than 20,000 people. They just hope that the imperial army will wipe out the bandits and then move the people out.

But Ying Yi knew that this was impossible.

Chongzhen has been in power for fifteen years, and the Ming Dynasty is about to end. Destroy the bandits? nonexistent.

"I hope so." Ying Yi said in a low voice.

Zheng Yunzhi smiled and said: "Although we are in the mountains now, we cannot block our ears and eyes. That's why I asked you to come. When the Huguang soldiers will arrive and when Ye County will be recaptured, we must know in time so that we can strain."

Ying Yi nodded: "What the county magistrate said is absolutely true."

Zheng Yunzhi said: "In addition, I plan to recruit more soldiers and horses. The establishment of five hundred households is too thin and cannot withstand a war. There are more than 20,000 people here, and there are eight or nine thousand young people. How about three thousand? Recruit two more Fifteen hundred people.”

After a pause, he said: "There is scarcity of land in the mountains, but there is a surplus of labor. Many people have nothing to do and cause trouble all day long. It is better to reorganize them and bind them with military orders."

Ying Yi heard this and applauded: "This is a good idea. However, the county magistrate, with three thousand soldiers and horses, consumes no more food and grass than the common people."

Zheng Yunzhi nodded slightly: "I know it too. So..."

He hesitated for a moment: "There is not enough food in the mountains. What I mean is that since we are soldiers, we must use military rations."

Ying Yi understood what he was thinking as soon as he heard it.

Zheng Yunzhi is indeed flexible.

It is true that military rations cannot be touched, but it is more reasonable to use military rations to support the army. Although that batch of military rations was prepared for the war to suppress bandits, the recruitment of troops and horses now is also to prepare for the war to suppress bandits.

"The county is wise." Ying Yi laughed: "Don't worry, the county, I will find a way to get a batch of grain from Ye County."

Zheng Yunzhi twisted his beard and sighed: "I have no choice but to do this. Remember to take out some iron materials when you get food. We don't expect to have three thousand soldiers and horses, but we must have all the weapons."

"Then this matter should be done sooner rather than later." Ying Yi said: "Let's start tomorrow. Use one day to select the soldiers, and then I will take them to training. I will also inquire about the news and find opportunities to get food."

After leaving Zheng Yunzhi, Ying Yi came out of the cave and saw Sun Xiucai waiting outside.

The two of them walked to a remote place, and Sun Xiucai said: "Brother Ying, I think we should move that batch of military pay as soon as possible. Xiaowangzhuang is not safe... I mean, there are too many people who know that the military pay is in Xiaowangzhuang."

Ying Yi pondered for a moment: "What do you mean?"

Sun Xiucai said: "The county magistrate has no time to take care of the military pay now. I don't know when the Huguang soldiers will come. I want to secretly transfer the military pay to the vicinity of Bibo Valley."

Bibo Valley is the small valley that Ying Yi discovered. It is now where the surviving people of Xiaowangzhuang live.

Because there is a small lake, it was named Bibo Valley by Sun Xiucai.

"Not necessarily." Ying Yi said: "The county magistrate just told me that we will expand the army to three thousand. I'm afraid that military pay will be used."

The military rations stored in Ye County can be used, why can't the military pay be used? After all, this county magistrate is a flexible person.

When Sun Xiucai heard this, he was surprised: "Three thousand?"

He thought for a moment, clapped his hands and said, "This is a good opportunity! Brother Ying, it is time to take advantage of this moment to take control of the military pay in your own hands, and then control this army!"

"Master the army..."

Ying Yi pursed his lips.

Sun Xiucai was anxious: "Brother Ying, please don't act out of emotion! This army must be controlled no matter what. Otherwise, if the war continues, how can we protect... the people?! Although Zheng County Zun has talents, I think he I was too optimistic and didn’t see the situation clearly!”

"But..." Ying Yi sighed secretly: "If I seize the military pay, it will be like falling out with the county magistrate."

Sun Xiucai shook his head: "If it is a last resort, what if you fall out? In my opinion, it is the Wang Zhongguan who is more difficult to deal with."

"Wang Zhongguan..." Ying Yi also thought of him.

Sun Xiucai said: "Eunuchs and Dongchang fans are not easy to get along with. In my opinion, it is better..."

There was a cruel look in his eyes, and he wiped his throat with his fingers.

Ying Yi was surprised: "It's too much."

He said: "Although Wang Zhongguan is a close official of the emperor, he is a rootless apple here. As long as he is coaxed, he will not cause any trouble. Taking ten thousand steps back, even if there is any trouble, it can be solved. Hold your hand to hold it down."

Sun Xiucai nodded slightly after hearing this: "That's true."

The two of them walked to the cliff without knowing it.

The moon is bright tonight, and the dusk is like a veil. Sun Xiucai looked up at the moon and suddenly asked Ying Yi, "Brother Ying, please explain to me, what do you think?"

Ying Yi said leisurely: "As mentioned earlier, we use the power of the government to avenge our deep hatred."

"That's it?" Sun Xiucai said.

"Otherwise?" Ying Yi said.

Sun Xiucai shook his head: "Revenge through the hands of others, in my opinion, is inferior. It is better to use your own hands to take revenge."

"Oh?" Ying Yi smiled: "Isn't the first thing you thought of at the time the officers and soldiers?"

"One moment and another moment." Sun Xiucai disagreed: "At that time, it was just you and me, and we were alone. Now you have the opportunity to control thousands of soldiers and horses, and with your bravery, why should you still pin your hopes on others? I can finally see it clearly. Even a man of Zheng County Zun's ability has not seen the situation clearly. What else do I have to hope for? He actually thinks that the imperial court's suppression of bandits can be successful. Isn't this a joke? The bandits get stronger the more they fight. , the imperial court failed to suppress it repeatedly, and it became weaker and weaker as time went by. Not to mention the discord among the troops on all sides, Zuo Liangyu and his ilk behaved worse than thieves. If Zheng County is left to its own devices, others will Even if we take out 30,000 soldiers and horses, those bastards will trick us to death. Wang Qiaonian is a lesson learned from the past!"

Ying Yi couldn't help but look at him with admiration: "Xiucai, you..."

Sun Xiucai smiled: "Do you think I am different from before? It's not that I have changed, it's just that I have seen through it these days."

He said sadly: "Is the Ming Dynasty coming to an end?"

Ying Yi was silent.

The so-called knowledgeable people do not necessarily have to be smart. The Ming Dynasty has reached this point, and many people can see it. It's just that some people don't want to believe it. Such as Zheng Yunzhi.

Sun Xiucai suddenly turned his head: "Brother Ying, you have wisdom, kindness, courage, and courage. Look at these people in the valley below, and then think about Xiaowangzhuang. How many disasters are there in this world? I don't know. I believe Zheng County Zun can protect them, but I believe in you."

"You think too highly of me." Ying Yi's face was as dark as water.

Sun Xiucai sneered and said: "If I am wrong, I will dig out my eyeballs. Brother Ying, bandits are slaughtered, officers and soldiers kill good people, bones are left in the wild, and people eat each other. I, Sun Xiucai, don't have great courage, I just don't I wish that what happened to my wife, children and young children would happen again in front of me. Are you willing?!"

Do I?

Ying Yi asked himself.

"No." He closed his eyes.

He said in his heart: "I don't want poison to spread in the last days, let alone Zhu Xia's perdition..."