lady, please calm down

Chapter 384 Nationwide Mobilization

On the sixth day of November, Sun Dingqiu, the former commander of the Wuhe Army, and Mao Biao, the former commander of the Wusu Army, were beheaded in the street.

His family's acres of land were confiscated from public funds.

A total of thirteen people, including Cangzhou Prefecture magistrate Hong Shuoye and below, were dismissed from office and tried for crimes. The entire officialdom of Cangzhou Prefecture was almost completely wiped out.

The industrial acres of the criminal officials and others were also transferred to the name of Zhongyuan Agricultural Reclamation.

Zhongyuan Agricultural Reclamation was established by Cai Hua last year, with Qi State Treasury and Luliuwei Agricultural Reclamation each holding a half share. It was originally intended to unify the operation of millions of fertile fields in Kaifeng Prefecture that were seized due to the Tokyo Rebellion.

The fertile farmland in Kaifeng Prefecture cannot be compared with Huaibei. If the Huaibei faction forcibly takes over it, it will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among the officials and the army.

This joint venture seems much milder. At the same time, the profits from Qi's treasury can also be used to build the Tokyo Ten Town Xiang Army and the Forbidden Army that have fallen under Chen Chu's control.

In short, Chen Chu can no longer only consider Huaibei. Qi's finances and military also need his support. He can neither make Qi's treasury too rich nor let Qi's finances collapse.

On the same day, Chen Chu wrote to the court and reported the Jin army's invasion of the country. He also reported the crime of "abandoning the people" by Cangzhou civil and military forces, and escorted Hong Tuiye and others to Beijing for trial.

This time, Jia Rou gave Chen Chu the right to "appoint and dismiss civil and military officials, kill them first and then report them". Naturally, Chen Chu wanted to repay the favor. By handing Hong Tuoye and others to the court, it was to protect the court's face.

In addition, Chen Chu's report also included a list of official transfers. Jiao Tu was promoted from a squad general to the commander of the Wuhe Army, and Ximen Gong, a fellow magistrate of Caizhou, was asked to be transferred to the magistrate of Cangzhou.

Here they were busy rebuilding the organizational structure of Cangzhou, but Han Qixian, who was still stationed on the other side of Fucheng, received the news that Wang Wenbao and the Alihe tribe had been annihilated the next day.

In the Thousand Miles Plain, the Jin army was also a horse army. Even if they were completely wiped out, there might not be any fish that slipped through the net and escaped.

The day Han Qixian received the message, he ordered Han Chang and Guo An to retreat twenty miles and enter the county seat of Leshou County to defend it with the city wall.

That posture was as if they were worried that the Qi army would cross the river and attack proactively.

At the same time, he sent an emissary to meet Cai Si, the magistrate of Fucheng. The emissary's mood was obviously infected by Han Qixian. When he met Cai Si, he excitedly said: "What do the Qi army want? You are crossing the border to ambush Alihe. The two There is no possibility of relaxation in the country! Wouldn’t it be a waste of Han Gong’s hard work!”

He was the one who tipped off the news, and now he was the one who was furious when he learned of A Lihe's death.

In fact, his thoughts are easy to understand. The premise of informing the Qi army is that Han Qi first feels that the Qi army can't do anything to Alihe, and at most he can drive him away. If the latter loses a few sergeants because of this, Han Qi can also use this to express his feelings. See his book "Disrespecting Your Majesty's Order".

At the same time, it will not affect the business cooperation relationship between Korean enterprises and Fucheng.

But who would have expected that out of the thousands of soldiers who left the camp, only less than ten returned?

At this time, the Korean enterprises got out of the game first, and it is foreseeable that the Jin Kingdom will send out a large army soon. The Nanjing Road of the Jin Kingdom is close to the Qi Kingdom. If the two countries go to war, tens of thousands of Jin troops will be stationed.

By then, I don’t know what kind of damage will be done to Nanjing Mansion, where the Han family is based.

Therefore, at this time, Han Qixian was both surprised that the Qi army had the ability to wipe out two battalions of the Jin army, and he was also angry with the Qi army's courage.

"The difference between what you said is that as far as I know, our army did not cross the border to enter the country. Those killed by our army were all those who resisted in our Qi territory."

Cai Si killed him and did not cross the border, but the Han family envoy refuted: "This is what Alihe's subordinates said themselves! It was said that the Qi army ambushed on the north bank of the boundary river, which made our army unprepared and suffered a big loss. "

"The words of a defeated army may not be taken seriously. Maybe he deliberately slandered our army for crossing the border in order to force your country to avenge Shangguan!"

"Bullshit!"

"Sir, this is unreasonable. The final analysis of this matter is that your soldiers did not obey Han Gong's orders and attacked our Daqi territory without authorization! Why do you still look like you are raising an army to investigate the crime? Is it our fault?"

The two people were arguing more and more urgently. The envoy of the Han family looked at Cai Si coldly and said, "You and I both know that this matter is crooked! It's just that Mr. Han's hard work was in vain. Everyone said that senior officials in Huaibei He is very young, and he behaves with a youthful chivalry, but now it seems that it is true. But Cai Zhixian needs to know that doing something knowing that it cannot be done can be called youthful spirit, or it can be called stupidity!

For the sake of temporary pleasure, he caused a big disaster. If this happens, there will be a war between the two countries in the future! Let's wait and see, Magistrate Cai may wish himself well. "

The Han family envoy handed over his hands and walked out of the meeting hall.

Cai Si stood there for a long time, silent. In fact, he had a lot of reasons to refute the secret envoy about the Cangzhou incident. After all, it was the Jin army who committed the crime first.

However, even if civil servants like him talk nonsense, it cannot change the fact that the confidence of both sides needs to be supported by their respective soldiers.

On the seventh day of November, Chen Chu transferred the fourth and sixth regiments of the fourth brigade stationed in Fucheng to Cangzhou. Brigade commander Zhou Liang was responsible for guarding the territory. At the same time, he started recruiting troops. After eliminating the old and weak Wuhe and Wusu armies, they were organized into a new army. .

On the eighth day of the lunar month, Sun Dingqiu and Mao Biao traveled from east to west to Cangzhou, Yongjing Prefecture, Jizhou and Xingzhou in Hebei Province.

This incident was a considerable shock to the troops stationed in various places. After Qi established itself, its defense strategy was to focus on the south and despise the north.

The officers and soldiers on the Hebei Road recognized Jin as the superior state and turned a blind eye to the Jin soldiers' cross-border behavior. However, Sun and Mao confirmed one thing with their heads, that is, the King of Chu would not allow any more troops to cross the border. Such a situation has occurred.

On the ninth day of the lunar month, Wang Yan's only brigade of Hebei Road, which was good at mountain warfare, entered Xingzhou, which is near the Taihang Mountains to the west.

On the tenth day of the lunar month, the three cavalry armies of Chen Chu's eldest son, Xiang Jing, and Baoxi returned to Fucheng.

Accompanying them were several large vehicles, on which were more than 900 levels of heads.

On the 12th, after arriving in Fucheng, they built a small Beijing temple on the south bank of the boundary river with the heads they brought back, facing the north base.

Brother Peng and other generals applauded this move.

Although Cai Si and other civil officials did not agree, they also understood that this was the King of Chu's intention to make it clear to the soldiers and people of Hebei that there would be a war with the Jin Kingdom, and it was the kind of war that could only advance but not retreat.

Thanks to Chen Chu's rising prestige in the Huaibei faction, Cai Si, Cai Kun and others still devoted themselves to preparations for the war even if they had different opinions.

On November 13, the envoy from Nanjing Road of the Jin Dynasty arrived in Tokyo and handed over a fierce letter of credence.

He once again accused the Qi army of killing the Jin army across the border, and emphasized that "Da Jin did not want to go on a conquest, but Qi, as a country of his nephews, repeatedly violated the majesty of the superior state, Da Jin could not bear it. If Qi did not hand over the murderer, Da Jin would When the heavenly soldiers arrive, it will be the time when your country will be destroyed! '

Zhang Chunxiao, the Minister of War, just like Cai Si, killed the Qi army without crossing the boundary river. The Jin army violated the border and the Qi army resisted, and there was no fault.

The two sides started talking again.

But the murderous credentials indicate that this border disaster has finally slipped into an irreversible abyss.

No one in the imperial court doubted that the Jin Kingdom would definitely retaliate this time. However, the Hejian Mansion where the incident occurred was too far away from Huanglong Mansion. It would take at least more than a month for the news to arrive and the Jin Kingdom troops to come south.

Pessimists believe that Qi Guo Zuo only has more than a month left.

Due to the death of the late emperor last year, the "Xuanqing" era name just changed this year will most likely not have "Xuanqing 2nd Year".

Optimists represented by Du Zhaoqing, the Minister of Rites, believed that since the Qi army could annihilate nearly Qianjin's army, it would be possible to win another victory.

But whether you are a pessimist or an optimist, there are no capitulationists for the time being.

First of all, the King of Chu was personally involved in the Cangzhou incident. If the murderer was handed over as requested by the Kingdom of Jin, would it be possible to hand over the King of Chu?

Who dares to say this.

Secondly, it is also related to Jia Rou's attitude. Not long ago, His Highness appointed the King of Chu as the Governor of Hebei and Marshal. He also supported grain and grass, and his will to resist was very obvious.

Even His Highness is like this. Whoever jumps out again will seem too unclear about the situation.

Compared with the worried officials in the court, the response from the people was mixed.

Some people feel that the unprecedented formation of the Qi army to annihilate the Jin army represents the rise of the Han family's glory. From then on, they will no longer be affected by the bird-like attitude of the Jin people!

Some people also feel that the world is in chaos, and some wealthy families have begun to train their servants and hoard food to protect themselves.

No matter what you think, it has become a common consensus among the people that the stable life that has been stable for a few years will be broken again.

In this case, it becomes an important matter who is the first to cause trouble between Qi and Jin.

In mid-November, He Xingfu, director of the "Newspaper Promotion Association", summoned representatives of newspapers from various places in Tokyo to go to Hebei Road in person to try to find out.

A few days later, the battlefield media group arrived in Cangzhou. Chen Yinglang, who stayed there, warmly entertained them and made appropriate arrangements.

He first spent two days leading the media group to inspect the scenes where the Jin army burned and killed them after they invaded the country. The burned ruins still remain in those villages. Individual survivors told the media group what they experienced from late night on the fifth day of the lunar month to the early morning of the sixth day of the lunar month. , still can't control myself.

All kinds of tragic situations make people cry.

Subsequently, Chen Yinglang arranged for many people who had witnessed the incident to be interviewed, including Lu Yuanke, a scholar, Tao Yuanwai, a squire, Ding Jiao, a woman, Jiao Tu, a soldier, and prisoners from the Prison Camp.

Such a complex and diverse class undoubtedly greatly increases the authenticity of the information, and thus a large amount of first-hand information has been accumulated.

It is reported that Zou Zhengdao, the editor-in-chief of Daqi Qiyao Magazine, cried several times during the editing process.

On November 26, the battlefield media group returned to Tokyo. The next day, more than ten newspapers including "Ru Bao", "Da Qi Qi Yao" and "Caizhou Five Days Talk" simultaneously reported what they saw and heard during the trip to Hebei Road.

The headline of the Confucian Daily first published the survivors' personal experiences in an extremely bloody and realistic way: "The strong men are given the heads of oars; the women are raped and humiliated and then filled in the wells; the babies are impaled on the stems and dance around as a show"

After the chilling description, Confucian newspapers regarded Chen Yinglang, Zhu Chun and other scholars who were "unafraid in the face of danger and organized people to hide" as models and praised them lavishly.

In fact, it is a hint to readers that scholars still need to cheer up in times of crisis. Especially after being captured by the Jin army, Zhu Chun refused to disclose the hiding place of the people despite being tortured. This was regarded as an external manifestation of the scholar's character. Highly praised.

After the Confucian Daily suffered a fire that year, the staff was reorganized, but the majority of editors were still Confucian scholars, with some private information mixed in.

Daqi Qiyao has been in Tokyo for a long time, and their reporting style is more court-oriented. In short, the report written by Zou Zhengdao implicitly reminded the court officials that the ambition of the Jin Kingdom has not changed for more than ten years, and they should not treat the Jin Dynasty again. The captives had illusions, and everyone in the court supported the king of Chu to keep the powerful enemies outside the country, so that they could find a glimmer of hope in the dead end.

Apart from these two newspapers, the one with the clearest and firmest attitude was naturally the Caizhou Five-Day Talk.

In the front-page headline written by Ayu, he said: "If the King of Chu had not resisted the enemy in Hebei, the people of Cangzhou who were executed yesterday would be what thousands of Qi people would suffer tomorrow."

The Jin people are cruel, as the tragic situation in Tokyo twelve years ago has clearly proved. If anyone dares to say that they cut meat to feed tigers and accept humiliation now, they are both stupid and bad!

Today, on our Hebei Road, we have the strong army of Huaibei, the brave and righteous people like Pan Xiong, the thousands of people in the Central Plains, and the strong army of the northwest that has experienced battles for a long time!

Hebei Road is the barrier of Qi State, and the entire territory of Qi State is behind Hebei Road.

We have 20 million soldiers and civilians in Qi. If all the sons and daughters are like Jiao and Zhu She, if every woman is a heroine like Ding, what should we fear in the mere Kingdom of Jin? '

Ayu's report was very important. It stopped the mouths of the possible "surrenderers" with the words "neither stupid nor bad". It was almost equivalent to making it clear that anyone who dared to mention "compromise" at this time would be a traitor to the country.

Then, he secretly pointed at the words "the powerful northwest army that has experienced battles for a long time".

In August, the Qi Phnom Penh disaster broke out, but the northwest army leaders all pretended to be deaf and dumb, and no one had any intention of sending reinforcements.

Only Zhe Yanwen, Jing Peng and other second generations wrote several letters to Chen Chu in their personal capacity, inquiring about the situation while also expressing emotional support to Chen Chu.

Chen Chu didn't expect them at all.

But Ayu’s piece of propaganda put Northwest General Men on fire.

In short, newspapers and offices from all over the country spoke out one after another, and a consensus was quickly formed among the officials and the people, that is, the Jin army must not be allowed to poison the whole country again.

The tragic situation in Tokyo back then and what is happening to the people in Cangzhou today are all bloody lessons.

When the King of Chu defended the enemy in Hebei, he was protecting the people of Qi from tigers and leopards.

This is the role of the battlefield media corps. It gave Chen Chu a moral foothold.

In late November, a fund-raising event started spontaneously in Huaibei and quietly swept the entire Qi State.

The incident began when Zhao Xiaoniang, the princess' sister, together with Wu Junru, Liu Daya and other girls, came to the south camp of Caizhou City carrying a piggy bank in which they had saved their own money for several years, and smashed it in front of the quartermaster. jar.

After counting them one by one, ask the quartermaster to send the money to the front line to buy candies and winter clothes for the soldiers.

The Huaibei Army's military expenditures are not so short, but this atmosphere is undoubtedly a huge incentive for frontline soldiers.

On the eve of the national war, only if the top and bottom are united and the people are united can the whole country be mobilized.

If we can mobilize the whole country, we will be in an invincible position.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, perhaps unable to sit still after seeing the news, Zhe Yanwen, the son of Linfu Road Jie Commander Zhe Keqiu, led 500 troops to aid Hebei Road.

The next day, Kuang Siliang, son of Kuang Daogu, the commander of Xin'an Army in Jingzhaofu Road, set off with an army of 300 horses.

This small amount of troops will not have a big effect, but now that the whole country is united, their Western Army must show an attitude.

Two days later, Li Ke, the military commander who had arrived at Hebei Road, received a secret letter from the Kingdom of Jin.

As before, the letter was full of Ah Subo's numbers. Li Ke personally compared the "Journey to the West" and translated the numbers into words one by one according to the number of pages, lines, and words.

Even though I was mentally prepared, I still couldn't help but be surprised when I saw the translation.

'On November 22nd, Emperor Jin appointed Wanyan Zongbi as commander and led 6,000 Jin troops and 30,000 Liao and Han troops to go south, claiming to have an 80,000-strong army. Or enter Hejian at the end of the twelfth lunar month or the beginning of the first lunar month. I hope the King of Chu will deal with it carefully'

The secret text has always been brief, but this time the secret line of the Jin Kingdom added "I hope the King of Chu will deal with it carefully", and it was obvious that "Emei Peak" was also nervous.

That day, after Chen Chu saw the letter, he didn't say anything. He only ordered Erlang and Xiao Yi to stay outside and not allow anyone to disturb him. He spent the entire night in the official office looking at the map of Hebei Road.

The fifth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Ximen Gong, who received the transfer order, arrived in Fucheng with Xiaoxin's 8th Regiment, Qin Dachuan's 12th Regiment, Meng Xianliang's 14th Regiment, two battalions of the Artillery Regiment, and the Central Plains Reclamation staff who were responsible for clearing the property of Cangzhou prisoners.

The generals did not bother to wash away their dust, so they went into the city to see the King of Chu. However, they couldn't help but look at each other in shock when they learned that the King of Chu had been looking at the map since yesterday and no one was allowed to disturb him.

Erlang and Xiaoyi were Chen Chu's personal guards, and they had brother-like feelings towards the latter, so they naturally knew Chen Chu better.

Although Chen Chu had been waiting for this day since the Jin army invaded Cangzhou, when the truth came, the two of them still felt the tremendous pressure on Brother Chen.

Yes, it's no longer the time to 'run away to the mountains when things fail'.

Now Brother Chen is responsible for the life and death of tens of thousands of soldiers, as well as the safety of tens of millions of people in Huaibei and even the entire Qi State.

Ximen Gong probably guessed the reason, couldn't help but smile, turned around and clasped his fists and said: "In that case, I will come back to see Yuan Zhang later. Sanniang, please go in and talk to Yuan Zhang."

It's about morning and noon.

The winter sun shines lazily in the room, but the oil lamp has not been extinguished yet.

Chen Chu stood with his hands behind his hands in front of a map covering the entire wall, calculating the deployment of troops everywhere, trying to find some undiscovered flaws.

But I heard a creaking sound from the door shaft.

Chen Chu, whose train of thought was interrupted, stood on the spot and scolded, "Didn't I say no one is allowed to disturb me?"

No one responded behind him. Chen Chu couldn't help but turn around and saw a plump scholar wearing a blue robe standing in the door, looking at him with a smile.

Because he had been in front of the map for a long time and used his eyes too much, Chen Chu's eyes failed to focus immediately, and the picture in front of him was blurry.

Subconsciously I rubbed my eyes and took a closer look. Oops, isn’t this my little ponytail?

The joy just rose, but the next moment I was angry again. Fucheng was about to become the front line. No one dared to say that it was 100% safe when staying here!

"Why are you here!" Chen Chu said with a face.

In the past, Cai Hua was never merciful with her words. Not to mention bickering with Yu Nong and Mao'er, even Chen Chu had no objections.

They came all the way here, but when they met Chen Chu, his face turned grim. It was a good time for Cai Hua to retaliate.

But at this time, there was no dissatisfaction on her part, and even the charming smile on her face remained intact. Cai Hua, who had her back to the door, raised her foot and closed the door accurately.

Then he stepped forward and stood a foot in front of Chen Chu. He looked up at the latter's red eyes and Aomori's stubble, and suddenly put his arms around Chen Chu's waist.

Hey, Chen Chu was a little confused. He regretted the words he just blurted out out of pure worry.

I was waiting for Cai Hua to respond with something like, 'You're heartless, people come all the way to see you.' Didn't you think she was so docile today?

"Hold me! You idiot!"

Cai Hua lay on Chen Chu's chest and let out a sweet moan. Chen Chu, who was a little unable to react, hurriedly wrapped his arms around Cai Hua's waist like a young child.

But Cai Hua was not satisfied. She took Chen Chu's big hand on her waist with her backhand, pulled it down a little, and stopped on the beautifully curved peach. Then she let out a satisfied groan.

How can there be such a person? He invites people to touch his butt when meeting him!

"Why did Hua'er come to Fucheng? The war here is fierce and dangerous. What if something happens to you?"

Chen Chu sighed in Cai Hua's ear, and his words softened instantly.

Cai Hua was silent for a moment, tightened her arms around Chen Chu's waist, and then whispered in a sad voice: "Puppy, it's all my fault. Recently, all my thoughts have been on Ji'er, so much so that I have neglected the puppy. , you have to bear so many things on your own. Now, I am here to accompany you."

Chen Chu couldn't help but hesitate, then lowered his head to kiss Cai Hua, but Cai Hua smiled, raised his hand to hold Chen Chu's chin and pushed him away, then bent his eyes and smiled seductively: "How long have you not shaved? Come on, I I’ll help you cleanse your face and shave it first. I’ll let the king handle it later, hehe.”

(End of this chapter)