Sweep Yuan

Chapter 71 A True Hero Doesn't Hold Past Grievances Against Him

The reason for kidnapping Liu Xingge's family was to prevent Xue Xian from killing them in a fit of rage and damaging the reputation of the Red Turban Army. Letting them go would mean there was no possibility of subjugating them, and keeping them would be a waste of food and manpower to guard them.

However, these matters involve ideological disputes within the Red Turban Army and are not suitable for outsiders to discuss.

Shi Shan was struggling to find administrative talent and was extremely busy. He squeezed out precious time to meet with Liu Xingge, thinking that the man would surely offer some guidance upon his return. However, the old man instead started talking nonsense in a sarcastic tone, which immediately displeased him.

"You risked returning to the city just to ask me this question?"

of course not.

Liu Xingge left the city and returned, not only because he was suspicious of the actions of the bandit leader Shishan, but also for a more important reason: he had been kidnapped by the bandits for several days and then released unharmed. If he said he hadn't joined the bandits, who would believe him?

Moreover, Lingbi County is currently occupied by another group of bandits. He doesn't know how that group compares to the one in front of him, but he knows that if someone else had kidnapped him, they certainly wouldn't have let him go so easily.

A simple comparison shows that it's better to stay in Hong County than to rush back to Lingbi.

Moreover, once the imperial court dispatches a large army to quell the rebellion, Hong County will be recovered sooner than Lingbi, which is located on the inner front.

Based on what I've seen and heard these past few days, the bandit chief of Shishan is not particularly wicked. His actions during the march and after the city fell were in accordance with the principles of benevolence and righteousness. If we can persuade him to release Lin Chihudu, it would be a practical thing to do for the court.

Furthermore, if we could recruit this person and restore Hong County, it wouldn't be impossible to take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness to launch a counterattack and capture Lingbi or even Suzhou. That would be a great achievement.

Thinking of this, even though Liu Xingge had long since given up on his official career, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

"I have read through the history books and have never seen anyone who spreads heresies and misleads the masses achieve great things. Although you have joined the bandits, you have not harmed the people and should have a heart that desires good. Why not release the Darughachi, the magistrate of Hong County?"

The imperial court has always been lenient; if our troops recapture Hong County, we can use that to try and secure a pardon. Although I have been retired for many years, I still have one or two old acquaintances who can introduce you. If you can abandon the rebellion and submit to the emperor, and achieve merit again, I can still guarantee you a minor official position.”

"Hahaha!"

After all that, it turned out the old man had come back to persuade him to surrender. Shishan was amused by Liu Xingge's words.

"Old Liu, didn't you just ask me why I arrested you and then released you?"

Liu Xingge was indeed puzzled by this question, just as he was puzzled by why Shishan had suddenly changed his expression.

"Why?"

"I am a rebel, and it is only natural for me to rebel and kill officials. As for a washed-up dog like you who is devoted to serving the Tartars, I will kidnap you when I am unhappy, release you when I am happy, and kill you when you piss me off. What reason do I need?"

"You! You! You scoundrel, you stubborn fool—"

Liu Xingge had never been so humiliated by a lowly commoner. He was instantly enraged, his face turning purple, his beard trembling. He was about to hurl insults, but fearing he would truly anger the villain, he swallowed the words that were about to escape his lips. Then, with a cold expression, he flicked his sleeve and angrily said:

"Hmph! You are hopeless! When the imperial army arrives and the rebel army is reduced to dust, I hope you will not regret it. That's all I have to say. I'm leaving now. Farewell!"

"Get it for me!"

Chen Daye, who had been standing to the side, couldn't stand it any longer and immediately stepped forward to grab Liu Xingge.

Liu Xingge turned his head and glared at Shishan.

"you--"

"Coming and going as you please? Do you really think this place is a vegetable garden for Grandpa?!"

Although Liu Xingge's attempt to recruit Shishan failed, it served as a reminder of just how stubborn the minds of the people of his time could be. Yesterday, Shishan had arranged for Feng Yu and others to draft a list of local heroes, but he did not immediately intend to win them over. However, having witnessed the stubbornness of the intellectual elite of the time, he changed his mind.

"Fourth Brother, tell Gong Wu to take a team and come with me to Qing Shi Fang."

Qing Shi Fang, Deng Residence.

Despite yesterday's defeat, Deng Shunxing did not give up his efforts to gain wealth and power in this chaotic world. Although he was injured and unable to show his face in public, he kept a close eye on the situation in the city.

Yesterday, the "Red Heart Camp" posted notices to reassure the people at the four gates and sent people to go deep into the neighborhoods and alleys to beat gongs and publicize the "Six Articles for Reassuring the People," so that he could have a preliminary understanding of Shishan's governing program and correct his mistaken perception of them as bandits.

Deng Shunxing praised the Red Turban Army for their magnanimity in "not holding grudges against the past" and immediately changed his name to the Righteous Army. However, he still had doubts about whether the measures to stabilize businesses and exempt taxes and stabilize prices could be implemented. Early this morning, he sent his two sons to the East and West cities respectively to inquire about the situation.

When Deng Youlong returned, his father had just changed his ointment and was recuperating in a recliner.

"The shops in the East Market have all opened for business, and most of them are stockpiled goods, but the vegetables and firewood were indeed delivered to the city today. The bandits—the rebels—also paid for their purchases on the spot."

Cash settlement is not difficult; even the Yuan Dynasty could do it. After all, the paper money is just a piece of printed paper with extremely low cost. At worst, they could just print more stacks. The result would be that the court's credibility would be ruined, the paper money would rapidly depreciate, and it would be boycotted by the people.

Deng Shunxing thought that the rebel army probably didn't have the ability to print counterfeit money, but after conquering cities and territories along the way, they must have a lot of precious banknotes in their hands. It would be human nature to take the opportunity to use some of them. However, if they did that, their efforts to stabilize the market would probably be in vain.

"Did the rebel army use paper money or copper coins for their accounts?"

Deng Youlong clearly hadn't paid special attention to this detail; after thinking for a while, he said:

"It seems they didn't use paper money; some used copper coins, and some used grain in exchange for money. Also, although the rebels purchased a lot of things, apart from vegetables and firewood, the quantities of other items were not large. I think the rebels' actions were just to set an example, but they were enough to stabilize people's hearts."

"That was a brilliant move!"

Having narrowly escaped death yesterday, Deng Shunxing has become much more open-minded and sincerely expressed his gratitude.

The value of copper coins compared to paper money goes without saying, and grain is undoubtedly the most important resource for stabilizing people's hearts in chaotic times. By grasping grain as the fundamental element, the rebel army has captured people's hearts.

Unfortunately, one wrong step and all of this was no longer his concern.

Immediately, Deng Shunxing thought that recruiting young men to repair the city defenses and clear silt and filth would consume a lot of food. The rebel army was also exchanging food for goods and expanding its army to prepare for war. Where could they get so much food?
The answer is almost obvious—go to the big players and demand (or rob) them.

Thinking of this, he seemed to smell the blood in the air and secretly rejoiced that he had already squandered most of his family's farmland and had little surplus grain, so he didn't need to worry about this problem.

"The Liang, Fan, Huang, and Yang families are probably going to get restless. We should stay away from them."

"Yes, I know. I've already told people that Father is seriously injured and will not be able to receive guests for some time."

Deng Youlong was young and inexperienced, and did not understand the danger involved. Only after he finished answering did he realize the absurdity in his father's words, and asked in confusion:

"Father, do they dare to fight the rebels? What about us?"

Deng Shunxing was somewhat disdainful. He himself couldn't even defeat the rebel army, so what could these families possibly do against them? But subconsciously, he also hoped that the two sides would fight each other, because only when the city was in chaos again would he have a chance.

"Whether we fight or not, what am I supposed to do—"

Just then, Erlang Deng Youde's voice rang out from outside the courtyard.

"Father! Commander Shi is here at our house."

(End of this chapter)