Qi Ning did not expect that the capture of Xianyang would be so smooth, and the people of Xianyang did not expect that the king's flag would change on the city wall overnight.
The Chu army entered Xianyang City and controlled the situation in Xianyang as quickly as possible. Many people still feel like they are in a dream. Only when they see the Chu cavalry passing by on the street do they know that Xianyang is Things have really changed.
For more than ten years, the people of Xianyang have become accustomed to the Qu family being domineering in the northwest.
Although the Qu family and his son were greedy by nature, Qu Yuangu exacted excessive taxes, and Qu Manbao bullied men and women, for most people, they could at least survive.
Ordinary people have always had very low requirements for themselves. As long as they can have enough food and clothing, they are content.
The Chu people occupied Xianyang City overnight. People were not only horrified, but also panicked. They didn't know what kind of fate they would face next. Moreover, after the Chu army entered the city, they immediately blocked the streets and alleys and attacked the city. A ban was issued on the entire city, preventing people from going out easily.
The atmosphere in the entire Xianyang City seemed extremely solemn and depressing.
The northwest is a land prone to disasters. Before the Northern Han Dynasty completely pacified the northwest, the vast mountains of the northwest were filled with countless forces, large and small, fighting against each other. Countless people were war-torn and displaced in the war.
It is better to be a peace dog than a person in troubled times.
No matter how much the Qu family squeezed them, as long as there was no war, the people were content.
However, the Chu people appeared in the northwest, and people were worried that the Chu people would soon plunder Xianyang.
All along, when the rebels in the northwest are fighting, they have always treated the people as fish to be slaughtered, and have stripped off the last piece of clothing from the people.
Chu and Han are enemies. Now that the Chu army has entered Xianyang, of course they will not show mercy to the people of the empire. They have not taken any action for the time being, maybe they are just planning how to do it. Xianyang is the largest city in the northwest, and there are dozens of people in the city. Ten thousand people, if they really want to carry out robbery, they should have a plan.
The common people were on tenterhooks, and the gentry and wealthy men were even more terrified all day long.
The Ma family has thrived in the northwest for hundreds of years and is a native of the northwest. Although the northwest mountains have gone through countless wars, the Ma family has survived one war after another, and In the eyes of northwest people, the Ma Shi family is definitely a famous family in the northwest.
Ma Wencheng just celebrated his sixtieth birthday a few months ago, and he is now the patriarch of the Ma Shi family.
After the Northern Han Dynasty conquered the northwest, they were very polite to the aristocratic families in the northwest. Perhaps the Northern Han Dynasty court knew very well that in order for the northwest to truly belong to the Northern Han Dynasty, it must first make the aristocratic families in the northwest kneel before the court.
The Ma family did not suffer too many disasters under the jurisdiction of the Northern Han Dynasty. Even after Qu Yuangu came to the northwest, he was still polite to the Ma family and other big families, although everyone tacitly understood that some big families would be here every year. A large number of generous gifts were sent to the Zhenxi General's Mansion on various festivals, but the peace gained by spending money and eliminating disasters was also enjoyed by some wealthy families in the northwest.
The Ma family is not only a very prestigious family in the northwest, but also has many members who hold official positions in the northwest. They need money and power, and power. Now that the Chu army has entered Xianyang, for such a big family, it is of course... The impact is huge.
The Chu people ordered the entire city to be banned, and Ma Wencheng could only stay in his house, feeling frightened and worried.
When a group of Chu soldiers knocked on the door of Ma's house, the whole Ma family was in shock. They thought that these soldiers would swarm in, burn, kill and loot the house. However, when the other party took out an invitation card and invited Ma When Wencheng went to Zhenxi General's Mansion as a guest, everyone in the Ma family was extremely surprised. They didn't know what kind of medicine the Chu people were selling in the gourd.
Of course, Ma Wencheng did not dare to refuse the invitation from the people of Chu. He tidied up and changed into a pair of very close-fitting clothes. Then he left the house and found that the other party not only sent an invitation, but also sent The carriage is coming.
After boarding the carriage, Ma Wencheng was thinking about various possibilities and how to deal with various situations. When he arrived at the Zhenxi General's Mansion, the carriage stopped. After Ma Wencheng got off the carriage, there were already people in front of the door. I invited Ma Wencheng into the house before, and everything seemed very polite.
Ma Wencheng tried his best to appear calm.
He has lived for most of his life and has experienced countless ups and downs in the land of the northwest. He has also seen too many characters. During the chaos in the northwest, Xianyang really rotated the king's flag. Every time Xianyang changed hands, the aristocratic families here would be destroyed. They came to him, and they seemed polite on the surface, but the purpose was just to get the wealthy family to pay for it. Once they hesitated for a moment, the group's expressions changed. Ma Wencheng had seen many tricks of killing chickens to scare monkeys.
The more polite the other party is, the more they will ask for.
Today, the Chu people asked someone to pick him up, which was extremely polite. Ma Wencheng knew that the other party just wanted to ask for something from him. Now that things have happened, even if his family property has been taken away, there is nothing he can do, as long as It would be great if the Ma clan could survive this disaster safely.
Ma Wencheng was led to a large hall in the Zhenxi General's Mansion. In fact, he was quite familiar with the Zhenxi General's Mansion and would come here at least three or four times a year.
The Zhenxi General's Mansion was originally a huge building in Xianyang. After Qu Yuangu came to the northwest to take office, he expanded the Zhenxi General's Mansion several times. Now the Zhenxi General's Mansion is the largest building in Xianyang City, covering an extremely large area. Even Ma Wencheng, who often visited the General's Mansion, couldn't tell how many courtyards there were. He only remembered that it was rumored that there were at least thirty or forty courtyards in the General's Mansion.
He came to this hall. It was not the main hall of the General's Mansion, but it was very spacious. As soon as he entered the hall, he saw that there were many people inside. He glanced around and found that most of the people in this hall were familiar. , they are the heads of some aristocratic families living in Xianyang. They are very familiar with each other on weekdays. When everyone saw Ma Wencheng come in, they were not surprised, but they all bowed their hands like Ma Wencheng.
"Everyone has tea first." The person who led Ma Wencheng over said: "The Lord has some official business to deal with and will be here soon." Without any nonsense, he retreated.
As soon as the man left, a dozen people came forward and surrounded Ma Wencheng.
"Master Ma, I got news early this morning that all the officials in Xianyang were controlled by the Chu people." A person whispered: "The guards in the city have also been disarmed. Now Xianyang is already a state of Chu." Something in the palm of a person’s hand.”
"What do you think he wanted to do by bringing us here?"
"What to do? What else can you do? It's just to be polite first, then to fight, invite us to have a cup of tea, and then force us to come out with money."
"Master Chen is right. We are going to spend money to eliminate disasters this time, but we don't know how big the appetite of the Chu people is."
"The wealth will definitely be destroyed. Whether it can eliminate the disaster is another matter. You see, after the Chu people entered the city, there was no big four looting. It is very unusual, but the more this happens, the less simple things become. "
Everyone gathered together and talked in low voices.
Ma Wencheng raised his hand to signal everyone not to talk too much. After everyone calmed down, he said softly: "Anyway, if they just want money, it's not a big deal. I'm afraid they have other agendas."
When everyone heard this, they all looked at each other, and someone whispered: "Master Ma, is it possible that he wants our lives?"
Ma Wencheng didn't say anything. Someone next to him sneered: "You can't say for sure. We are all old aristocratic families from the northwest. Maybe the Chu people think we are troublesome and will find us this time and sweep them all away."
Everyone even changed their color.
"Don't make any wild guesses." Ma Wencheng walked over and sat down on a chair, saying, "Now that they're here, let's make peace with them. We'll know what their intentions are soon."
Everyone had their own thoughts and returned to their seats to sit down. Some people whispered to each other, but more people were silent and waited for the lord to appear.
After a while, footsteps were heard outside. Everyone looked up and looked towards the door. Soon they saw a figure coming in. The person was dressed in casual clothes and looked young. The person glanced at everyone, cupped his hands and said with a smile: " Everyone has been waiting for a long time, I am Qining, inviting you to come over and discuss anything."
Everyone had already stood up, and Ma Wencheng bravely said: "Excuse me... are you the lord of the Jinyi Qi family of Chu State?"
"Exactly." Qining said with a smile.
Everyone's hearts were awe-inspiring. The reputation of the Jinyi Qi family was naturally known all over the world. These northwest wealthy families were well-informed. After the Chu army entered the city, everyone soon knew that the man who led the army into Xianyang was Qi Jue of the Jinyi Qi family of Chu State. Master, I was a little hesitant when I saw Qi Ning was so young. But when I heard Qi Ning admitting his identity, he hurriedly bowed to Qi Ning and saluted, but I was surprised, thinking that this Lord Qi Ning is so young. , it is really unbelievable that he could lead the Chu army to conquer Xianyang without any bloodshed.
Qi Ning raised his hand and said: "Don't be restrained, everyone, please sit down and talk." He walked over and sat down at the main seat first, and then everyone dared to sit down. Then someone brought tea, and Qi Ning smiled and said: "Chu The army entered the city. I was worried that if there were no rules, many soldiers would make mistakes, so I just issued a military order. After entering the city, all Chu soldiers must obey the three military orders. Not only the Chu soldiers, but also other people in the city. You must abide by these rules.”
Everyone looked at each other. Qining saw everyone's thoughts and said with a smile: "Those who kill must be put to death, those who hurt others must be punished, those who rob must be severely punished, and those who steal must be convicted. No one is allowed to violate these four rules, even if they are I must also abide by these four chapters of the covenant."
Everyone was startled, and then many people looked suspicious, obviously not believing it.
In everyone's memory, when any army invaded Xianyang City in the past, no one did not kill and loot first. Even when the Northern Han Dynasty invaded Xianyang, they burned, killed, and looted in the first few days, and the city was in chaos.
Lord Qi suddenly announced the four chapters of the agreement, and if he said that he would hold the Chu army's hands and feet firmly, everyone really didn't believe it.