So Qiu Yizhi sent an order to Zhao Chengxiao to immediately beat the war drums in front of the military camp and assemble the entire army.
Zhao Chengxiao received the order, immediately dressed up, ran out of Shanyin County quickly, raised the drumstick himself, and the war drum outside the general's camp was beating as loud as the sky.
The lieutenants of the army heard the sound of drums. Although they did not know what was happening outside the camp, they all remembered the most basic military order of "advance when they hear the drums and retreat when they hear the gold." They hurriedly put down what they were doing, put on their uniforms and swords, and started from there. People filed out of the military camp and lined up neatly in four rows and five columns at the city gate according to the order they had trained on weekdays.
Zhao Chengxiao was the general person in charge of the training of this group of local warriors. Seeing that they were gathered neatly and neatly, he was very happy, but his face remained calm. He stood quietly in front of the troops, motionless and silent.
In less than a blink of an eye, Qiu Yizhi, escorted by his eighteen soldiers, quickly walked out of the city gate and saw that all the troops had lined up. The queues were solemn and orderly, and the troops were majestic and neat. The demeanor of Lao Youyan, an elite soldier.
Therefore, a smile immediately broke out on Qiu Yizhi's face. Just as he was about to speak, he heard someone shouting from the top of the city wall: "Look! Look! Lord Qiu is here!"
Qiu Yi hurriedly raised his head and looked up. It turned out that the people in the city heard the sound of drumming and didn't know what happened. They all gathered on the top of the city wall to watch the excitement.
So Qiu Yizhi cupped his hands and clasped his fists, bowed to the people, and said: "Fellow fellow villagers, I have received a military order from above, saying that the Japanese pirates are arrogant and have gathered under Jinling City. We are about to lead the army to destroy them..."
Before he finished speaking, someone among the people said loudly: "Something happened in Jinling City. The people in Jinling City should solve it themselves. Why should we send people from Shanyin County to work for them?"
Someone in the crowd on the top of the city wall immediately echoed: "That's right, that's right. The people who come out of Jinling City all breathe with their nostrils facing the sky and walk with their eyes on the top of their heads. When they see us, they are like country people. Now they are better. What’s the point of asking us to save him?”
His words were obviously very popular, and some people in the crowd agreed.
Qiu Yizhi was stunned after hearing this.
He grew up next to Zheng Rong since he was a child. At that time, Zheng Rong was not the emperor, but he was also the powerful King Youyan. There were even people in Youyan Road who did not know who the emperor was, and they all knew King Youyan. The entire military and political power of Youyan Road is under the control of Zheng Rong, and there are always orders and prohibitions. If a soldier asks the question "I am a soldier of Xingzhou, there is something going on in Yanzhou, why should I be called?" Being laughed at by everyone, if he encounters an officer with a bad temper, he may not be able to avoid a slap in the face.
However, Qiu Yizhi is now just an official with eighteen soldiers under his command, and among the two hundred newly recruited soldiers, if the few common people just raised questions, they may not have this idea in their hearts.
The soldiers are in danger and the battle is fierce. If there is a moment's hesitation on the battlefield, there will be an unpredictable abyss in front of us. What's more, if there are such internal and external thoughts, once the war is unfavorable, it will ferment and morale will collapse instantly.
So Qiu Yizhi pondered for a moment, then bowed deeply to the people on the city wall, and said: "You can say these heart-felt words to the official, that is your trust in the official. In this case, the official will naturally also I can’t hide anything from you, but I also have a few words from the bottom of my heart that I want to tell you. I wonder if you would like to hear them?”
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from the city wall: "Sir, please speak! Sir, please speak!" There was a commotion.
Qiu Yizhi waited for the crowd's noise to subside, and then said loudly: "Everyone, everyone has heard what we just said. This is what everyone said from the bottom of their hearts, and it is also out of love and care for the children of this family. However, I feel that it is wrong. !” He emphasized the word “wrong” specially.
Qiu Yizhi glanced at the people around him, and after hearing the sparse whispering, he continued: "Just now, a gentleman said that we people in Shanyin County should not interfere with the affairs of Jinling City. But everyone wants to Think about it, is the matter in Jinling just a matter in Jinling? If nothing else, take the soldiers under my command as an example. They never share their food and drink expenses with the elders of the county. The money earned from these small businesses. So how is this business done? It is nothing more than selling the goods produced in Jinling abroad and making a profit. Therefore, if the city of Jinling falls, then what will happen to this newly formed army? These soldiers will all be demobilized, and what will everyone rely on to defend their homeland?"
Seeing that the people were silent, Qiu Yi seemed to have touched them a few words just now, so he said again: "Actually, there is a truth behind this. Think about it, the Japanese pirates are fierce and greedy. If they rob Jinling City, If they were plundered, they would naturally not be satisfied. They would think that there was no one in China, so they would go around burning, killing and looting. Although our Shanyin County is far away from Jinling, it is not a poor place. Can the Japanese pirates be let go? "
Qiu Yizhi took a breath and then said: "If the Japanese pirates come to your door, we will still act like it has nothing to do with us - if they beat the neighbors, you will not help; if they beat your house, the neighbors will not come to take care of it." You will be defeated by foreign enemies one by one, and no one will be spared. Think about it, is this true?"
He saw that the people watching the excitement on the city wall had been convinced by him and kept nodding. Then he turned around and said to the two hundred recruits: "The same goes for you. You are not just obeying my military orders this time. That's all, but to contribute your own strength to protect your family and country. Every time you kill one more Japanese pirate, the chance of your parents, wife, and children being attacked and killed by Japanese pirates decreases. Think about it, everyone. Is the burden light? Do you dare not to kill the enemy with your heart?"
Qiu Yi is very eloquent, and even well-educated Confucians can often be persuaded by him. The two hundred new people he recruited were all countrymen who had never seen the world. In just a few words, he was convinced by his words, and some of them touched their hearts and secretly shed tears.
When Qiu Yi saw that everyone's mood had been stirred up by him, he shouted: "We are about to go on an expedition and it is rare to leave our hometown. Come on, all the troops kowtow to their fathers, which can be considered as repaying the kindness of raising them!"
All the soldiers obeyed the order, put down their weapons, knelt down and kowtowed several times in the direction of the city wall.
A tragic atmosphere suddenly enveloped this small county town. Not to mention the soldiers who were on the expedition, even the people on the city wall who were interjecting just now were silent. There were also several sons and husbands in the army. The women were already sobbing!
But I heard Qiu Yizhi give another order: "All troops stand up and set off!"
The soldiers obeyed the order and quickly picked up the Japanese swords and shields on the ground. They didn't even dare to reach out to wipe away the tears from the corners of their eyes. They lined up neatly and moved quickly forward.
Qiu Yizhi had fully entrusted the general affairs of the march to Zhao Chengxiao. Therefore, although he gave the order to set off, he did not follow the team. Instead, under the escort of Yuchi Jiming, he returned to the county town to deal with some matters. Stay behind to deal with the aftermath.
He came all the way to the county government office, and happened to see Xu Rong—his highness Zheng Xin’s eyes and ears beside him—standing next to the county government office, looking confused and at a loss, so he stretched out his hand to call him over. .
When Xu Rong saw Qiu Yi's call, he quickly walked up to him, bowed his head, and only said two words: "Sir", but he didn't know what else to say.
Qiu Yizhi stood at the gate of the county government office and asked, "Mr. Xu, I have been ordered to go on an expedition. You are my secretary's staff, why don't you come to see me off?"
Xu Rong still didn't know how to respond after hearing this, so he just apologized hesitantly.
Qiu Yizhi sneered and said, "Mr. Xu, regardless of his promising future, came to a remote county like mine to work as a clerk for a humble official like me. You know the reason behind this, I know it, but I know it." It's just a tacit understanding. But I dare to ask Mr. Xu, apart from the slightly harder work when cleaning up the property, have you ever done anything wrong to Mr. Xu?"
Xu Rong thought about it carefully and realized that Qiu Yizhi's question was quite reasonable - since he came to Shanyin County, apart from Qiu Yizhi's indifference to him, he had never been in trouble. I have never lost money, and I have more money than I did before in His Highness’s Palace.
So Xu Rong shook his head and said, "My lord is very kind to me and has never treated students badly."
"That's good." Qiu Yizhi pondered for a moment, then carefully weighed his words and said, "Let me take a look at the land situation in this county compiled by you. It is very detailed and clear. It shows that you are not a mediocre person. The relationship between His Highness and me The grievances and grievances between us will naturally be settled between us. As the saying goes, "Gods play chess and mortals are not allowed to whisper." Sir, don't let your great future and great talents be involved in right and wrong. "
Qiu Yizhi said these words with a bit of persuasion and a bit of warning, and seemed to be thinking about Xu Rong in every aspect. For a moment, he nodded repeatedly.
So Qiu Yizhi said: "I have also worked for the Emperor and several His Highnesses. I know the difficulties involved. Since Mr. Xu has an important responsibility, he can naturally do it. But since Mr. Xu is my clerk, I also have something to do. , I need to ask sir to do it.”
Xu Rong was stunned for a moment, thinking that this cunning and sharp little county magistrate must be sending him out to do some hard work again. However, now that he was looking up to others, he could only nod his head and said: "You're welcome, sir. If you have anything to do, just ask me."
Qiu Yizhi glanced at Xu Rong calmly: "Mr. Xu also knows that I have been ordered to go to Jinling to exterminate the Japanese pirates, and the county is empty. Therefore, I also ask Mr. Xu to temporarily hold the county government seal and take charge of the county government affairs for me. How about that?" ?”
Xu Rong's eyes lit up after hearing this: Qiu Yizhi's arrangement, isn't it tantamount to handing over the power of Shanyin County to himself during his absence
He couldn't help but have some doubts - Qiu Yizhi knew that he was sent to monitor him, so why did he give such important power to himself? Isn't this too bold
But he couldn't help but be a little moved.
Xu Rong's reputation as a Jinshi was extremely glorious in the eyes of others, but he was inconspicuous in the capital. After more than ten years of work, he was just a small official with a bright future. He was not willing to waste his life in vain, so he gave up his official position and joined the sect of His Highness Zheng Xin, hoping to make a difference. However, there were many famous people in Zheng Xin's mansion, and he could not make a fortune at all after entering the mansion, so he was sent to the south of the Yangtze River to do this shameful job.
Xu Rong was used to meeting gentlemen in the capital who were always full of benevolence, justice and morality. They all used each other and were wary of each other - even in the most tender greetings, they had to be wary of whether the other person was talking sweetly and secretly; even the most friendly faces were afraid of them. Even if it is the most timely consolation, the other person is afraid that the other person will be sad. Such political life of more than ten years of intrigues, watching the fire from the other side, and adding insult to injury has completely worn away the idealistic high-spiritedness that Xu Rong had when he first entered the officialdom! (To be continued)