Chapter 422 Going up the mountain
On the second day, Zhao Zhen took a group of sergeants and headed to Yuncheng County in a mighty manner.
By the time Zhao Zhen arrived, it was past noon time. Fortunately, pigeons had already passed the message, hot soup and rice had been prepared, and everyone settled down in a small military camp outside the city.
After settling the sergeants, Zhao Zhen led a group of heroes and went to the county with [red-haired ghost] Liu Tang, Zou Run, and Zou Yuan. The county magistrate Kong Hou, the bookkeepers Ding Chou and Sun Guang were all waiting at the county government office.
In the back hall of the county government, everyone was seated, and Zhao Zhen introduced the newly arrived brothers and sisters Pang Wanchun, Pang Qiuxia, Lei Jiong, and Ji Ji.
Speaking of which, although Kong Hou had been here for a long time, Zhao Zhen only met him briefly and arranged to go to Yuncheng County. Now that we meet again, I still feel that this person is very popular.
World Log
Name: Kong Hou (Hero, the birth of the true king of elixir thunder and thunder house to adjust the spirit and control the qi and regulate yin and yang and the heavenly doctor.)
Nickname: None
Race: Human
Reputation: 150 (formerly Kongmu of Yizhou Prefecture, he is loyal, generous and upright, specializing in suppressing the strong and supporting the weak.)
Occupation: Confucian scholar (descendant of the Great Sage)
Sub-profession: Doctor (proficient in medical skills, saved countless lives.)
Level: Level 3, Level 1 (Strength 15, Commander 40)
Attributes: Strength 20, Constitution 23, Agility 15, Spirit 43
Skills: Level 4 of the Six Arts of the Gentleman (ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and arithmetic, strength +2, constitution +2, agility +2, spirit +2), level 4 of the Four Diagnostics (inspection, hearing, asking, and understanding, spirit +4), prescription Level 3 (prescribe the right medicine, spirit +3)
Commander-in-Chief Skill: Admonishment Level 2 (loyal and good-natured, serving the country as a minister but not one’s own life, popular support +2)
Martial arts: Swordsmanship (little success, +5 force when using sword weapons, Twenty-Four Powers Gentleman Sword.)
Equipment: Shakuhachi Sword (second level, imitating the sword of a saint, made of meteorite iron. Characteristics: self-cultivation to respect, sharpness +3, solidity +2)
Everyone met again, and then Kong Hou asked people to pass the dishes around. At the banquet, Kong Hou asked: "Officials, how can we arrange the provincial examination in February?"
Zhao Zhen told Xiao Rang what he said, and Kong Hou replied: "So that's the case. I thought that from now on the subjects would be opened in February. Although it's okay, if I tell you, I thought we were imitating Chunwei and going beyond the limit. "
Zhao Zhen said: "Now it is just a helpless move. "Book of Rites·Xue Ji" says: 'The ancient teachers had private schools in their families, a party with a school, an orderly technique, and a state-owned school.' There are also government decrees in Houtou Prefecture, and counties , township, village Public schools should be set up to teach the people, and private schools can also be set up for wealthy families. The magistrates of each county should still visit the villages and recommend talented people to become officials. "
Kong Hou hesitated for a while and said: "Officials, there are many scholars in Yuncheng County, but the most talented one is a woman."
"Oh? Which family is this daughter from? The state does not despise women. If you have the ability, you can also become an official." Zhao Zhen said.
Kong Hou said: "This man is a widow, so the whole city calls him Wang Gongren."
Lei Heng heard this and said: "So it's this person."
Zhao Zhen asked: "Commander Lei has heard of it too?"
"This Wang Gong is from the Wuzi imperial examination. His husband's family is a member of the Wuzi imperial examination. The Wang family can be regarded as a big family in the county. This scholar Wang has been an official for many years, and the Wang family has also been awarded a title and is a member of the Gong family. Unfortunately, it is not forever, and the scholar Wang died of illness and left behind A young wife. This Wang Gong is well-educated and knowledgeable. Although she is a widow, she manages her house in an orderly manner. Everyone in the county knows that she does everything right." Lei Heng said.
Kong Houdao said: "I have heard about this Wang Gong man many times during the time I have been here. Senior officials can also ask people to inquire about it. It would be best if they could replace me as the county magistrate. In this way, I can be in charge of prison litigation and investigation. , specializes in prisons.”
After hearing this, Zhao Zhen frowned and said: "She is a widow at home, I'm afraid we can't invite her out easily."
"It doesn't matter. Xu Qingniang, the niece of Xu Zhi County, is a good friend of her. She is now a guest at Wang's house. I just ask her to speak. I have also talked with Xu Qingniang. This person is also a very talented person." Kong Houdao .
After hearing this, Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "To be able to receive such praise from Kong Zhixian, Xu Qingniang's knowledge must be good. They say that when you recommend talents, you should not avoid relatives. I asked everyone to recommend talents. Xu Rongfu has this niece in his own family. But didn’t speak.”
"And you, Kongzhi County, your family also has heroes, why don't you mention it."
Kong Houdao said: "Although Changsheng and Weisheng have been studying since childhood, they lack experience and are not familiar with worldly affairs. Only after several years of experience can they take on big responsibilities."
Zhao Zhen said: "That being said, if you don't let him take up the post, how can he gain experience?"
Kong Hou said "uh" and didn't know what to say.
Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "Of course, the chief official of a county would not dare to let the two of them get started, but he can do it by going to Liangshan County to be the chief clerk. It is just right for Xiao Tongpian to teach him, so that he can be able to serve in the future."
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Kong Hou heard this and quickly thanked him. He said: "In this way, when the high official returns, the dog will go with the high official."
Zhao Zhen nodded and then asked: "Kongzhi County, what is the situation in Yuntai Gang and Duozi Mountain?"
Kong Houdao said: "Master, Yuntai Gang and Duozi Mountain are two hills in the county. They are not very high, they are just continuous. But those who commit crimes and the farmers who have no livelihood will go to the mountains and forests. Hide. The former county magistrate Shi Wenbin once lured many villagers from the mountains and organized the people into households. Now the remaining ones are stubborn and often go down to disturb the villages and rob people. Merchants are used to getting something for nothing.”
"These days, two generals, Zou Run and Zou Yuan, disguised as mountain people, have found out clearly that there are six settlements in the mountain. Therefore, they asked the high officials to order that all the mountain people be moved down the mountain, allocate land, and register for construction. Book.”
After hearing this, Zhao Zhen asked: "Are these six settlements all engaged in robbery for a living?"
Zou Yuan said: "Officials, although these six groups know each other, they rarely interact with each other. There are four places in Duozi Mountain, and the Qiuzi Temple, a Taoist temple on the top of the mountain, is one of them. Most of them are farmers who can't survive, sheltering the Taoist temple and farming. Temple fields. There is another place where households in Zhangjiazhuang, Yuhuang Temple Township, were unable to harvest anything because the river flooded the land. The county officials were forced to pay taxes, so Li Zheng led all the households in the village up the mountain to watch. Under the constraints of the Lord and Li Zheng, they cultivated wasteland, collected wild fruits, and hunted to make a living. ”
"The remaining four places are now reduced to going down the mountain to rob and plunder caravans to make a living. The two places on Yuntai Gang are the most brutal. The two leaders do not use their real names. One is called Iron Flying Leopard, and the other is called Fierce Axe. The two of them occupy the cloud There are five or six hundred people gathered in the east and west foothills of Taigang, who enjoy killing people. The other two places can be spared, and it is best to destroy them. "
After hearing this, Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "It seems that your uncle and nephew have already made inquiries and will go to destroy these two villages tomorrow. The remaining four places will be decided by spreading the message."
Kong Hou also said: "Yes, Zhangjiazhuang is located in the valley between two mountains. The terrain is flat and streams pass through the mountains. It is a good place. The heads of Tiefeibao and Mengdaaxe are shocking, and together with the other four places, They all moved here and re-registered the population and fields. It is also a big village.”
Zhao Zhen nodded after hearing this.
He said to everyone: "In that case, we will make rice at the fifth watch tomorrow. The troops will be divided into two groups. Brothers Liu Tang, Zou Run, and Zou Yuan will take 1,000 people to the east foot of Yuntai Gang. I will then send two brothers Lei Jiong and Ji Ji. Bring your bows and crossbows to help. I only use these followers here.”
Liu Tang wanted to say more, but Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said: "Brother, don't worry. Although there are not many sergeants, there are many good guards. The only sharpshooters are brother and sister Pang Wanchun, Pang Qiuxia, Miss Liqing and Hua Baoyan." Four. Everyone in Shenji Camp is good at shooting, and this group of thieves doesn’t have much armor.”
"After clearing up the unstable factors in the mountains, we will go hunting in the mountains. We will use ten pieces of exquisite gold and silver jewelry newly made by Zheng Tianshou brothers as a bonus. County sergeants, Xiangyong, and those with archery skills can also sign up."
Liu Tang glanced at Lei Heng and said: "In Yuncheng County, except for the two brothers Song Gongming, Zhu Dian and Lei Heng, the three brothers Chao Gai and Ruan from the countryside are all under the command of the high officials. Others. The only two people who are good at martial arts are Zhao Neng and Zhao De. Now their families have fled, and I don’t know who they have gone to.”
Zhao Zhen said: "If these two people were not of bad character, it would be a good idea to become the county's top dog." After the banquet, Zhao Zhen did not rest in the county office and took everyone back to the military camp.
On the second day, the army set off, and Liu Tang sent several guides to lead the way. After leaving the county town and going 20 miles east, the troops were divided into two groups according to the plan.
Zhao Zhen went straight to the Tiefeibao camp at the west foot of Yuntai Gang. The spies lying on the road at the foot of the mountain reported that they were coming up the mountain. After hearing this, the Tiefeibao ordered all the minions on the mountain to dress up, leaving no men and horses to guard the camp. Come down the mountain.
The two armies broke up and Lei Heng was the first to shout: "Unprovoked grass bandits, the high official Zhao Zhen of Liangshan Prefecture is here. If you don't get off your horse and be bound, how long will it take! You also need to know [The Winged Tiger] Lei Heng's name .”
The Iron Flying Leopard was furious after hearing this: "What [winged tiger] is just a pawn of the government. It's all the incompetence of officials like you that has brought us to this point. Today I will take your life first, and then I will kill you for being such a corrupt official." ”
As he said that, he brandished the iron gun in his hand and was about to go forward to fight.
Lei Heng also raised his sword and was about to step forward. Pang Wanchun couldn't bear it for a long time and shouted: "Look at the arrow." A sharp arrow hit Tiefeibao and he dismounted.
When Zhao Zhen saw this, he raised his spear and shouted: "Fire the arrow."
Upon hearing this, the sergeant of Shenjidu, led by Liu Shi, Fan Ying, and Fan Shi, took up his bow and shot at the bandits.
For a while, the grass bandits screamed again and again. After three rounds of arrows, there were ten to three or four grass bandits on the field. The female cavalry stepped forward, and the remaining bandits abandoned their weapons and knelt down to beg for surrender.
After occupying the camp, Zhao Zhen did not intend to execute the surrendered bandits, but tried his best to treat the injured. After that, these people would be sent to the Yuncheng County prison camp for hard labor, and the number of years of hard labor would be determined according to the amount of evil they committed.
As for those who were killed, their heads were cut off and circulated around the county, while the rest were burned and buried on the spot.
Xilu did not waste a single soldier, but Donglu was fierce with his axe. He was also a rude man. When he saw the officers and soldiers coming to suppress him, he didn't take it seriously. He only asked his two leaders to lead 300 people to meet the enemy. He was still drinking and having fun in the village.
In less than a quarter of an hour, only a hundred of the 300 minions were defeated and retreated. As soon as the two leaders took up their positions, they were ordered to be shot by Lei Jiong and Ji Ji.
Meng Daaxu was so shocked when he heard this that he woke up from the wine. He quickly asked someone to dress him up, and climbed up the wall of the village carrying a forty-nine-pound heavy iron ax.
Seeing that the officers and soldiers at the foot of the mountain were well equipped and in large numbers, Mengdaaxe asked the defeated minion: "Isn't that the new regiment trainer [Red-haired Ghost] Liu Tang of Yuncheng County?"
The minion said: "We have never seen the person the leader mentioned. We only saw from a distance that this person has a piece of cinnabar on his temple."
Meng Daaxe said: "Guard the stronghold wall carefully, prepare gray jars and hammer wood, and don't go out to fight in the waves. Wait until it snows, and the officers and soldiers will naturally withdraw. We will still drink and eat meat, and be at ease." ”
After hearing this, all the minions cheered up and prepared to resist the enemy.
Liu Tang was not in a hurry and just let the sergeant advance slowly.
When the sergeant pushed closer to the place where the arrow could be shot, the huge ax on the wall of the village clenched the handle of the ax nervously with both hands, preparing to fight.
While he was concentrating on watching the movements of the officers and soldiers in the distance, a big man behind him raised his big ax and chopped off his head with just one blow.
A big man on the side picked up the head of the big ax and shouted: "The big ax is dead. Anyone who wants to survive must throw away the sharp blade in his hand and kneel down to surrender."
Several powerful ax henchmen saw it and rushed forward to snatch it with all their lives, but were killed by Zou Run and Zou Yuan with two big axes. As these ten men were killed, the others dropped their weapons and knelt down to beg for surrender.
But it turned out that Zou Run and Zou Yuan had disguised themselves as minions in the stronghold in advance, and took advantage of the defeat and panic to get in between them and enter the stronghold. While Meng Daaxe was thinking outside the stronghold, he chopped him to death in one fell swoop.
Zou Run ordered people to open the wall of the stronghold and welcome Liu Tang and other people outside the stronghold.
Before Liu Tang and his men could finish cleaning up the stronghold, Zhao Zhen had already led his troops and horses to escort the prisoners.
After the two sides met, Zhao Zhen asked Liu Tang to send a team of sergeants, carrying the heads of Tiefeibao and Mengdaaxe, to send messages to other villages to recruit surrender. And
Send the message to each village and prepare a roster for inspection. Anyone who disobeys will be killed.
Seeing the heads of iron flying leopards and fierce axes everywhere in the village, they did not dare to resist and expressed their respect to the soldiers who were delivering the order.
Zhao Zhen then asked Zou Run and Zou Yuan to lead the sergeants to escort the young men captured in the two villages and circle around the foot of Duozi Mountain, and once again shocked the mountain people.
Then the two men escorted the prisoners back to Yuncheng County.
The leaders in charge of the various villages all brought gifts and asked to see Zhao Zhen in the strong ax village.
The four people came along the road and saw soldiers at the foot of the mountain burning corpses, and blood was spilled everywhere on the mountain road. They entered the stronghold tremblingly and prostrated themselves on the ground, saying they were willing to surrender.
Zhao Zhen asked the Taoist below: "Are you the Taoist Lu of Qiuzimiao?"
"A high-ranking official is just a poor person."
Zhao Zhen said: "I heard that Qiuzi Temple recruits villagers to cultivate the temple fields, and there are many obstacles to Taoist temple registration?"
After hearing this, Taoist Lu said quickly: "My lord, the temple does not intend to recruit villagers to develop wasteland. It's just that these are mostly poor people, and the temple is just providing a shelter."
Zhao Zhen said: "By providing a place of refuge, you can avoid complying with state policies. Taoist temples and temples only need to practice well and pay respect to Buddha and gods. They should not shave their heads or raise money for farmers."
Deer Taoist hurriedly said: "Don't worry, high official, Pindao will disband the villagers when he goes down, and register all the Taoists in Guanli. Pindao is good at raising deer, so everyone calls me [Deer Taoist]. I specially selected one today." The boxes of good deer antlers were presented to the officials.”
When the others saw it, they were not far behind and presented them with the gifts they had brought.
(End of chapter)