Chapter 1897 Friend or Enemy
This is the last touch of darkness before dawn and the darkest moment of the night.
Because when the rising sun is about to rise in the east, the sunlight below the ground level shines on the upper atmosphere two to three kilometers above the earth, scattering the original starlight. Because the upper atmosphere is thin, the sunlight it scatters cannot pass through. The bottom layer is dense atmosphere.
In this way, there is no starlight on the earth, and it cannot receive the scattered light from the sun, so it becomes the darkest moment of the night.
In the darkness, the soldiers on duty in Jiaxing City stood guard dutifully, their eyes carefully staring into the distance.
Suddenly, a light point appeared in the distance, then another light point appeared, then another light point, and finally a string of light points appeared.
The old corps leader on duty knew that they were torches, which represented that there were soldiers and horses coming towards Jiaxing City.
So, the old captain immediately turned around and kicked the young man in the team, urging, "Someone, there is a troop of soldiers coming from the official road in the distance. I don't know whether it is an enemy or a friend. Quick, Xiaohei, run away. Hurry up and report it to the general."
"Oh, go now. "The new recruit Danzi Xiaohei immediately turned around and ran towards the city, shouting as he ran, "General, general, there is a troop of troops coming from outside the city."
Soon, all the generals who were responsible for guarding the city gate were there. After learning the news, he quickly sent someone on horseback to report to the prefect of Jiaxing.
"What? A troop of soldiers and horses from outside the city are coming straight to the city gate?"
The news reached the magistrate's yamen meeting hall, causing a panic. Both the civil and military officials were not calm anymore. They had been slapped on the chest before. General Wang and General Zhao, who were making a sound, both lowered their heads to study the patterns on the teacups. As for the prefect Zhao who was sitting in the chair, he was even more frightened by the news, and the tea in his hands was shaken out.
"Are the soldiers and horses outside the city enemies or friends?" Magistrate Zhao was a magistrate after all. Although his voice was trembling, he immediately got to the point.
The soldiers and horses outside the city are nothing more than these two, and the possibility is very high; if it is the enemy, it is Japanese pirates. After all, a village in the north of the territory was attacked by Japanese pirates, and it is not uncommon for Japanese pirates to approach the city; if it is friends, , it is reinforcements. Zhao Chongcai sent General Zhao to Yangcheng Guards two hours ago to ask for reinforcements. Calculating the time, it is almost up.
“Yes, are the troops outside the city invading Japanese pirates or reinforcements?”
After hearing Magistrate Zhao's question, the officials in the hall realized, yes, don't panic yet. We haven't yet figured out whether the soldiers and horses outside the city are friends or foes. Once they are confirmed to be Japanese pirates, there is no need to panic anymore. Not too late.
Moreover, reinforcements are more likely. Master Fu Zun sent people to Yangcheng Guard for more than an hour to ask for help. Yangcheng Guard is about fifty miles away. With one visit and one return, two hours is almost the right time. .
"Ahem, go back to the government, sir, I don't know if the people outside the city are Japanese pirates or reinforcements. The defenders on the city only saw a string of torches a few miles outside the city, and they shouted loudly Shouting that soldiers and horses are coming."
The messenger's face turned red with embarrassment.
"Look at what you did, why didn't you report it without investigating clearly?" Several officials in the hall frowned and scolded.
"No, I don't blame them. They reported the news as soon as they saw someone coming, ensuring that the news reached the city as soon as possible and giving the city time to prepare. They did a good job. If they waited to find out whether it was Japanese pirates or reinforcements outside the city, the day lily would be cold. ”
Zhifu Zhao waved his hand and instead of punishing the messengers, he praised them and confirmed their report.
"I think the soldiers and horses outside the city must be reinforcements. Calculating the time, from the time General Zhao left the city to ask for help from Yangcheng Guard to now, it is almost two hours. According to the arrival of Yangcheng Guard at our Jiaxing City, it has been almost two hours. Cheng, almost just right. Japanese pirates are impossible. , according to the news from Suzhou, there were only a few hundred Japanese pirates left and they fled in all directions. The Japanese pirates who fled to our Jiaxing Prefecture must be only a small group of Japanese pirates. How did they come to attack our Jiaxing City?"
Bings. Chief Fang Zhang stood up and analyzed.
"Yes, yes, I think they are also reinforcements. Our Jiaxing City is not inferior to Suzhou City. Moreover, when the Japanese invaders invaded Suzhou, Lord Fu sent troops to garrison Jiaxing City. Now we have With more than 2,000 elite soldiers guarding the city, and including the various policemen in the city, there are at least 2,500 troops. The remaining Japanese pirates can attack the village. If they attack our Jiaxing City, they will be seeking death!"
"Exactly, the reinforcements from outside the city have arrived, and we in Jiaxing City can rest easy. Not to mention the remnants of the Japanese pirates, even if they mobilize all the Japanese pirates from their lair in the forest, there is nothing we can do in Jiaxing City."
Many officials agreed and believed deeply.
"Huh, I hope it's a remnant of the Japanese pirates. My spear has been hungry and thirsty for a long time, so I can just quench its thirst."
The potbellied General Wang had people speculating about the soldiers outside the city. When Ma was a reinforcement, he stood up with a shy belly and said with a haughty look.
“However, I also hope it’s Japanese pirates. The men under my command have been screaming with suppressed joy for a long time. When the Japanese pirates come, I just take them out of the city to fight for a while, which can be regarded as giving them a break. What’s left is They have nowhere to vent their energy, and they have taken advantage of the girls in Hualou in vain," the thin General Zhao also said with his head held high.
"Okay, you don't need to guess anymore. Follow me to the city gate. Whether this army from afar is an enemy or a friend, we will know at a glance." Magistrate Zhao waved his hand to stop everyone's guessing. He ordered to everyone.
"My lord, a gentleman should not erect dangerous walls. You are the head of a mansion, and you must not be involved in danger."
Zhang heard that Magistrate Zhao wanted to take them there The city gate was the first to stand up and object, with a look of concern for Magistrate Zhao.
“Yes, if you don’t know whether the troops outside the city are Japanese pirates or reinforcements, Mr. Fu Zun, you should not take the risk to go to the city gate. Wait until the soldiers at the city gate confirm whether they are enemies or friends outside the city. , it’s not too late for Lord Fu to make a decision.”
"Yes, if we can't wait for the city gate officers to distinguish between friends and foes, then it's enough for us to go. Mr. Fu Zun, you have a noble body, it's better not to take risks. Mr. Fu Zun is in the government office. Just direct from the center.”
"That's right. Your Excellency, we only need to take command at the Yamen. We can leave the troops and horses outside to us."
A group of officials stepped forward to express their loyalty and advised Magistrate Zhao not to take risks and stay in the Yamen. Just direct.
"You don't need to persuade me any more. This is the time when I, Jiaxing, are on the verge of death. As the head of the Jiaxing Prefecture, how can I hide behind it! Even if I am as noble as an emperor, if foreign enemies invade, When the country is in danger, it is also necessary for the imperial commander to go on a personal expedition, not to mention that I am a small governor. It is my duty to protect the country and the people!"
Zhifu Zhao waved his hand and insisted.
After finishing speaking, he glanced at the corner of the meeting hall, where a fifty-year-old Sima scribe was writing furiously and nodded with satisfaction.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, does not avoid danger and is concerned about the people. He is truly a role model for our generation. We must follow your example."
A group of officials stepped forward to flatter him. (End of this chapter)