Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 414
Yanzhou Prefecture, Zou County.

A Yi River runs through the whole county and connects with canals, bringing a different kind of prosperity to this place.

Near Yishui, a high-walled courtyard with blue bricks and green tiles, lying high on its stomach, looked like a beast, wantonly observing Yishui.

In Shandong, a water-scarce province, Yishui not only means commerce, but also represents a large amount of arable land, well-irrigated land.

The Zhao family is a powerful man by the Yishui River, or a gentry.

Mr. Zhao, Zhao Wenfeng, as a 60-year-old student, is well-known in Zou County, black and white.

Therefore, almost [-]% of the irrigated land by the Yishui River, about [-] mu, belonged to the Zhao family.

But now, as a sandwich area between the Manchu and Ming courts, the gentry in Shandong are in an embarrassing situation.

Hauge killed indiscriminately in Shandong, not only killing the rich and poor army of the Shun army Guo Sheng's department, but also smashing the entire Ming army in Shandong.

Coupled with the Eight Banners garrison in Dezhou and Qingzhou, the heavy pressure is placed in front of the Shandong gentry, which can be said to be as heavy as Mount Tai.

Therefore, whether it is Emperor Hongguang or Emperor Shaowu, their appeal in Shandong is not great.

"Father, there are thousands of family members in our Zhao family, plus the nearby folks, we can easily pull out thousands of people, and the entire Zou County can be restored—"

Just as Mr. Zhao was lying on the kang, warming the fire, and sniffing snuff, the young and energetic young son ran over, his heavy breathing, conspicuous like a cloud.

His eyes were red, and he kept humming: "The imperial court said that as long as one county is recovered, it will be the magistrate, and one prefecture will be the magistrate. Our family is going to be prosperous."

"Chengde!"

Mr. Zhao patted the table and said coldly: "The winter never stops, do you want our Zhao family to have no children or grandchildren?"

"But, dad—"

Zhao Chengde was puzzled.

"Nothing but."

Mr. Zhao squinted his eyes, with a serious attitude: "Shandong has been in chaos for so many years, and how many troubles have been encountered, don't you have a long memory?"

"Dezhou, Qingzhou, and the Eight Banners are stationed. What's the use of us occupying Zou County? When the time comes, the entire Zhao family will be lost and buried with a county magistrate?"

"Yes..." Zhao Chengde lowered his head, aggrieved.

After he left, Mr. Zhao sighed: "Who wouldn't want to be in Ming Dynasty, but in this troubled world, you can't help but decide!"

Immediately, the eldest son also ran over, with an ugly face and said:

"Father, there is news from the county government that in order to raise military funds, Jinan requires Zou County to collect a thousand taels of silver and a thousand shi of food within a month—"

"what?"

Mr. Zhao was instantly flushed with anger, and his saliva flew all over the place:
"Didn't you pay a sum last month? The county lord will distribute money and food again?"

"It's unreasonable. The apportionment in the past few months is more than the taxes paid since the Chongzhen year. How can we act recklessly."

The eldest son smiled wryly and said: "I heard that the Qing army encountered obstacles in going south. There are many castles, and it will take a lot of time to conquer them one by one. We can only come with the money and food!"

"Where are those mud legs?" Mr. Zhao said angrily.

"Father, there are a few nails on the muddy legs, our Zhao family tree is very popular, and they are thinking about us."

"Damn it!" Mr. Zhao, who has always been gentle, couldn't help scolding him: "This Jian slave is greedy and greedy. Does this look like sitting in the world?"

After venting, Mr. Zhao compared his strength and had to compromise again: "Go and prepare, you can't help yourself!"

Having said that, he has already begun to think about how to link up with the local gentry and resist the tyranny of the yamen.

Just when he breathed a sigh of relief, the second son suddenly ran over, panicked and said:

"Father, something is wrong!"

"What's the matter, take a breath and talk again."

Mr. Zhao said with an ugly face.

"News came from the yamen, saying that someone has filed a complaint, saying that we are colluding with the Ming army and preparing to rebel and seize the city!"

"Which bastard spread this nonsense?" Mr. Zhao roared angrily, "I just want to enjoy life in peace, how could I link up with the Ming army?"

"Father, I can't tell. I heard that the county magistrate is going to fool me, but the government office is serious and wants to do something. If it wasn't for my classmate's relationship with the government office, our Zhao family is really doomed!"

"Now the yellow mud is falling off the crotch, and I can't hide it."

Mr. Zhao sighed: "The whole Shandong is looking for money like a lunatic, and our Zhao family has fallen into it, and we can't escape."

Therefore, he summoned the whole family, old and young, to clean up urgently, and moved most of the members to the remote village in the mountains, while he and some family members waited for the arrival of the government officials.

I just waited for a long time, but there was no sign of it.

Two days later, a group of hundreds of people marched mightily, and the huge flag with Ming characters dazzled in the sun.

"This matter?" Mr. Zhao looked intently, with a bad premonition in his chest.

Immediately a young man appeared in front of the village, with his arms crossed and shouted:

"Our king is a thousand households in Zou County personally appointed by the imperial court. He knew the situation of Mr. Zhao's family, so he specially drew his sword to help, beheaded the hundred and eighty government servants, and saved your life—"

Hearing this, Mr. Zhao rushed to the door with anger and blood, and instantly went limp, muttering in his mouth: "It's over, it's really over, the Zhao family is over!"

Although the rest of the people did not know the story of the Water Margin, they also understood that killing the servants was tantamount to rebellion.

Originally pinning their hopes on private interests, the Zhao family, who was bleeding profusely, completely lost hope.

After a long time, Mr. Zhao trembled and said: "Take out a hundred stones of grain, ten pigs, and reward this group of master masters."

After getting a satisfactory harvest, the thousand households in Zou County left contentedly and went straight to Zou County.

His purpose is simple, to take down Zou County.

The Zhao family, who followed closely behind, also had to link up with other in-law families and secretly sent troops to help them occupy Zou County.

Accompanied by the fall of Zou County, it seemed that the horn of counter-offensive was sounded in Shandong.

The layout of Jinyiwei in several places in Shandong has finally shown the effect of blooming everywhere.

A large number of gentry, like the Zhao family, were forced to be tied to chariots and had no choice but to rebel; or their hearts were devoted to Daming and did not want to be slaves; or they were blinded by fame and fortune and wanted to make contributions.

Of course, the tyranny of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, which exhausted its land to fish, was also a motivating agent.

With the help of the gentry, the bandits gathered in cottages and bandits, and they no longer fought in small troubles. Instead, they exploded with amazing power, easily took down prefectures and counties, and slaughtered yamen.

Almost in the blink of an eye, half of Shandong changed hands.

Yanzhou government is governed, Yang is nourished, and the flag is erected anyway, and Daming is almost ruling Shandong again.

As the most important boundary, the main canal, Jining Prefecture, is also surrounded by groups.

Once this city is breached, the grain roads of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties will be completely cut off.

And sitting outside the city of Jining is Chuyu, a hundred households of Jinyiwei.

Although he didn't know how to lead troops, many bandits had to accept adaptations under his flickering and formed a large army to besiege Jining.

10 troops surrounded Jining.

(End of this chapter)