Wanli 1592

Chapter 818 A Special and Bold Idea
On the third day of September, Xiao Ruxun, who had arrived in Shaoyang City, received a letter in the official office in Shaoyang City that had to go through many places before it was delivered.

The letter came from Zheng Ying who captured Shen Yiguan's hometown. It was sent by Zheng Ying on August [-]th. Xiao Ruxun was very curious about it and read the letter overnight.

The content of the letter is not much, it is very simple. First, I greeted Xiao Ruxun's current situation, cared about Xiao Ruxun's safety, exchanged feelings between generals, etc., and then changed the subject and mentioned my own confusion and problems.

The area occupied by Zheng Ying is Ningbo Mansion. At present, the whole Ningbo Mansion is under his control, and Xu Tu has begun to attack the outside world. They are all newly surrendered troops, and their forces are expanding rapidly.

According to Xiao Ruxun's orders, he confiscated the Shenyiguan family and several big families who used private soldiers to violently fight against the Zhennan army, and then took away the money and distributed the land and houses to tenants and some landless farmers. It has received a very good response from the local area, and many farmers are grateful to the Zhennan Army.

Within the scope of Ningbo Mansion, those big households have also settled down and dare not speak out.

However, when Zheng Ying pulled the main force out of Ningbo Mansion and continued to attack other elite areas in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, there was an incident of local clans rioting in rural areas behind the newly stabilized Ningbo Mansion.

Specifically, the few soldiers of the Zhennan Army who stayed in the local area were killed by private soldiers jointly mobilized by local big families, and many people died. After Zheng Ying knew about it, he immediately sent troops back to suppress it.

Although the incident was calmed down, there was one thing that puzzled Zheng Ying.

Some surviving Zhennan Army soldiers protected the Burmese officials and fled back and told Zheng Ying that when those big landlords brought their guards and servants to attack them, they were surprised to find that some of the private soldiers and servants who attacked them had previously allocated land tenants and landless farmers.

Obviously receiving such great favor from the Zhennan Army, but turned around and wanted to attack the soldiers of the Zhennan Army, which made Zheng Ying very puzzled, and at the same time resentful. I have the idea of ​​killing people.

Zheng Ying realized that the army in the rear was not large enough or strong enough, so he planned to divide the elite of the Zhennan Army to station in various places to maintain stability and deter the local clans. At the same time, he also asked Xiao Ruxun to give him some support.

The headquarters of 5000 people is really stretched to maintain stability while also marching troops to attack other counties. Those newly surrendered troops are not very reliable.

All in all, Zheng Ying said that he has no aggressive strength for the time being and needs Xiao Ruxun's reinforcements.

After receiving this letter, Xiao Ruxun fell into deep thought.

The long contemplation did not end until Xiao Ruxun's newly recruited staff to deal with documents, Xie He, brought some processed documents to Xiao Ruxun for instructions.

Xie He was curious about the reason for Xiao Ruxun's meditation, and asked Xiao Ruxun, so Xiao Ruxun showed him the letter.

After reading the letter, Xie He looked at Xiao Ruxun and asked, "How does the commander-in-chief plan to deal with this matter? Do you want to send more troops to Zheng Ying's troops?"

Xiao Ruxun looked at Xie He.

Xie He, whose name is Qingquan, is the staff he got after he was stationed in Guilin City, and he is also one of the very few scholars who take the initiative to serve him.

Although he was just a poor scholar, he began to take the imperial examination at the age of 15. After ten years of wasting time, he was only a scholar. His parents died of exhaustion in order to support him in studying, and the family's fields were sold cheaply. Letters can be eaten for nothing.

In order to survive, he has also done many other things, basically he has tried to do serious jobs that can earn a living. He has a strong desire to survive, and he has basically given up on the imperial examination, and he has a deep feeling for those who are favored by heaven. of jealousy.

After Xiao Ruxun led the army into Guilin City, he knelt beside Xiao Ruxun's horse and asked Xiao Ruxun to give him a bite of food. He could read and write.

Knowing how to read and write is a very good advantage. Since Xiao Ruxun entered Guangxi, he has also paid attention to recruiting some scholars to do clerical work for him. He mainly faces poor scholars. The poorer the better, the better if the family has no property.

These people are all living outside, and the spirit of being a scholar has been almost polished by the cruel reality. It is easier to recruit to do things, and their thinking is more practical. They belong to a group of scholars who can absorb and unite.

Now there are more than 100 poor scholars in Xiao Ruxun's main force, and there may not be any people who can do things among them.

These days, with the exception of some scholars and Jinshi from real big families, most of the Jinshi who are sent out to become officials are confused at the beginning. , to the place can only euphemistically called inaction and governance.

If we really want to talk about the understanding of the folks, these poor scholars are much better than them. Unlike those proud disciples of saints, these down-and-out disciples who are willing to take refuge in Xiao Ruxun are more practical. Handy for specific errands.

This is Xiao Ruxun's strategy. He doesn't expect scholars above Juren to join him. There are only poor scholars in the world who don't have poor scholars. What he can win are the poorest scholars these days.

Xie He was one of those pieces of jade that wasn't too fine, but it was still a piece of jade after all. The handwriting was beautiful and responsive. The tasks entrusted to him were handled in an orderly manner. He was serious and responsible for his work.

Although the desire for money is not ordinary, it doesn't matter, there is nothing wrong with liking money, as for the unconcealed hatred and jealousy of those who raise people and scholars, that's even better, it's better to say that there is no better existence than this.

So Xiao Ruxun transferred him to her side, as a confidential secretary, helping him with some matters, transcribing some official documents, and having more contact with him in normal times, and trusting him more.

At this moment, Xiao Ruxun looked at Xie He, and a special and bold idea emerged in his heart.

"Qingquan, I want to ask you a question."

Xie He nodded: "Excuse me, Marshal."

"Do you know why those farmers who have benefited from our army want to help those high-ranking families who invaded their land to attack our army?"

Xiao Ruxun looked at Xie He, wanting to know his answer.

Xie He has been at the bottom of the society all year round, and has studied, unwilling to sink, so he has his own unique views on the people at the bottom of the society, which is different from most scholars. This is what Xiao Ruxun likes about him.

Sure enough, Xie He shook his head helplessly.

"According to the subordinates, they can only see the land in front of them, and can't see other things. They have been driven by high-ranking families as slaves for many years, and they have even gotten used to it. They feel that there is nothing wrong with this, as long as they have a bite to eat. , and it doesn't matter.

Our army first arrived and gave them land. Although they were grateful, the habits of many years were not so easy to erase. They were more used to being enslaved by high-ranking and powerful families, rather than being rescued by our army and becoming self-employed farmers.

When our army is strong, they feel that they are protected, so they obey our army, but once our army is frustrated or its power is weakened, these people are very unreliable, and they will change their positions when they are slightly threatened. It is useless for these people to show favor blindly. "

(End of this chapter)