Chapter 88 Ding Qirui

Zuo Liangyu didn't ask about the first half, but only the second half, because Zuo Liangyu knew that Hao Yaoqi would not take the two million taels of silver with him.

If he were to put himself in his shoes, Zuo Liangyu wouldn't do this.

In the army, there are many people and mixed eyes. Once Liu Zongmin arrives, it is impossible to hide the news. Not many people knew about the matter itself. In Zuo Liangyu's view, Hao Yaoqi would definitely hide it from most of his subordinates and send his close associates to hide it, so as to cover other people's eyes and ears.

"General Zuo, does he have a map?"

Zhang Shi said.

Zuo Liangyu waved his hand, and someone brought a roll of maps. Zhang Shi took it and unfolded it in front of Zuo Liangyu and others. With a glance, he pressed his finger on a place at the southern foot of Yuzhou North City Mountain.

"right here."

Zhang Shi said: "The Bai River Valley is very secretive. In addition to the Bai River Valley, the places that the county magistrate previously guessed include Yufang Pass and Niutou Ridge. But later we found that there were suspicious people in the Bai River Valley, about two to three thousand people."

"It must be here without a doubt!"

Zuo Mengeng shouted: "Father, besides us and the thieves, where are there so many soldiers and horses in this area? It's not us, it must be the thieves! With such covertness, I guess the military pay is hidden here!"

Ma Shixiu also nodded repeatedly: "Young Marshal's words make sense. Commander Zuo, I think Hao Yaoqi may have a desire to be independent. He is pretending here, and when the time comes, he will pull the pole and stand on the top of the mountain by himself. Two million taels, It’s not a small amount.”

Zuo Liangyu looked thoughtful. After a moment, he waved his hand and asked Zhang Shi, "The military pay may be hidden here, but there are still some joints in the document. You need to make it clear."

Zhang Shi secretly thought that Zuo Liangyu was cunning, but said respectfully: "General Zuo, just ask the villain."

Zuo Liangyu said: "The document of County Magistrate Zheng said that the bandits sent reinforcements south again. What is the situation now? What if when I, the general, sent troops to take back the soldiers' pay, the bandits' reinforcements suddenly arrived and something went wrong?"

Zuo Mengeng and Ma Shixiu reacted immediately, and both looked at Zhang Shi.

Zhang Shi said hurriedly: "General, please be kind."

He paused and said: "My county magistrate also has this consideration. Before the villain came, that is, this morning, the county magistrate received a report from the detective sentry, saying that there were thief scouts from the direction of Kaifeng appearing in the north of Ye County. . Because of this, the county magistrate immediately ordered the villain to pay homage to the general."

Zuo Liangyu nodded slightly.

Zhang Shi continued: "According to the estimation of the county magistrate, most of the bandits' reinforcements will arrive in Ye County tomorrow at most, and the number should be between ten and twenty thousand."

Zuo Liangyu frowned slightly when he heard this.

Zhang Shi added: "But when the villain came, the county lord personally told the villain to tell the general not to worry. When the county lord came to Ye County last year, he started to move the people of Ye County away. Now they are all in Fangcheng Mountain. There are tens of thousands of them. During the time when the county leader evacuated the county seat, he selected and organized 5,000 young men. He asked me to tell the general that I would fight to the death to hold off the thieves for reinforcements. I only hope that the general will send troops quickly to regain the military pay."

At this point, Zhang Shi sighed: "The county magistrate has already decided to die!"

When Zuo Liangyu and others heard this, they were immediately overjoyed. As for what Zhang Shi said about County Zheng, it has nothing to do with Zuo Liangyu.

He hurriedly asked: "Are there really five thousand young men?!"

Zhang Shi said: "There are really five thousand young men. Although they were short of soldiers and armor, the county officials overcame them. They cut trees into soldiers and fought to the death with the thieves. When the villain came, the county officials had already begun to mobilize the young men and were ready to set off. "

"How does Magistrate Zheng plan to hold back the bandit reinforcements?" Ma Shixiu suddenly asked.

Zhang Shi replied without thinking: "Stay in Ye County. The county master said that if there are 5,000 people stationed in Ye County, the bandits will not dare to go south unless they break through Ye County."

When Zuo Liangyu heard this, he couldn't help but clapped his hands and praised: "What a good magistrate Zheng, he turns out to be both civil and military."

He stood up and said, "Zhang Baihu will wait here for a while, and I, the general, will go meet with Governor Ding regarding this matter."

Zhang Shi hurriedly said: "General, the army is like a fire, and we are short of soldiers and food. I am afraid that my county master will fight to the death with the bandits at this time. General, please be sure to send troops as soon as possible!"

Zuo Liangyu smiled: "Just wait."

Zhang Shi said: "I dare to ask the general to hurry up. I must rush back to Ye County immediately. If I get the favor of the county, even if I die, I will die in front of the county."

Zuo Liangyu and the others looked sideways.

Ma Shixiu said: "He is still loyal."

...

Zuo Liangyu held documents, wore armor and helmet, and went to pay a visit to the governor Ding Qirui with his sword in hand.

Ding Qirui was a Jinshi in Wanli forty-eight years. In his early years, he held important military and political positions such as the chief of the Nanjing Ministry of War, the doctor of the Ministry of War, the prefect of Taiyuan, and the right to participate in politics as the inspector of Shandong.

This person has had ups and downs throughout his life, but overall, he has a prosperous official career. After the former commander-in-chief of the suppression of bandits, Yang Sichang, died due to an unfavorable campaign against bandits, Emperor Chongzhen promoted Ding Qirui to the position of Minister of the Ministry of War, and gave Shang Fang the sword to oversee the campaigns against bandits in Huguang, Henan, Sichuan, and the armies in the north and south of the Yangtze River. However, Ding Qirui did not fulfill his duties smoothly, and saw the invasion again. The thieves are powerful and they dare not fight against the intruders.

There was a battle in Henan last year, which resulted in the death of Wang Qionian, the governor of the three sides. It can be said that Ding Qirui has done almost nothing since he took charge of the division.

A supervisor like Ding Qirui and a general like Zuo Liangyu are probably a match made in heaven.

One is incompetent and courageous, and the other is like a thief.

At present, the matter of military pay is of great interest. Zuo Liangyu had long been jealous, and had previously proposed sending troops to attack Hao Yaoqi and Liu Zongmin in an attempt to defeat these two bandits. But it was rejected by Ding Qirui.

But Zuo Liangyu did not persist - because he was not sure at that time that the military pay had fallen into the hands of the thieves. What's more, war is not a child's play. The soldiers and horses under Zuo Liangyu's hands are the capital of his support and self-respect, and he dare not sacrifice them too much.

Ding Qirui objected to Zuo Liangyu, firstly because of fear, and secondly because all the troops to suppress thieves from all sides were not yet in place. Call him steady or timid, after all, he is not willing to easily start a battle with the bandits.

Ding Qirui is incompetent, but that doesn't mean he has no worries. Emperor Chongzhen repeatedly urged him to send troops to suppress the thieves. He refused with various excuses, but he was also afraid that Emperor Chongzhen would fight him to the end in anger. Since Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, even his chief ministers have been changing crops like seedlings in the fields, and they have also been ruthless in killing people. It is impossible for Ding Qirui not to worry.

Stationed in Yuzhou these days, Ding Qirui couldn't help but sigh when he was carrying people on his back.

I don’t know when I will be dismissed from office by the emperor.

"What a shame these soldiers are, so arrogant and domineering..."

At this time, Ding Qirui couldn't help but hate Zuo Liangyu and other generals. As a supervisor, what he did was tasteless. No matter Hu Dawei, Fang Guoan, Yang Wenyue or Zuo Liangyu, they didn't like him very much.

He believed that he was determined to suppress thieves, but he was unable to do so because he could not get the cooperation of his subordinates.

At this time, an attendant came to report that it was Zuo Liangyu who wanted to see him.

Ding Qirui rolled his sleeves and snorted: "Teach him to wait in the front hall."

That said, Ding Qirui couldn't keep Zuo Liangyu waiting for a long time. After all, he had to rely on these soldiers to be considered a supervisor. If you don't give the soldiers face, they might make him suffer at some point.

He straightened his clothes, walked to the front hall, turned around the corridor, and the expression on his face suddenly changed, becoming warm and gentle. As soon as he entered the front hall, he smiled and said: "How can Kunshan have time to see me today? "