Chapter 209 Treating Prisoners
It is said that the arm cannot twist the thigh. The city lord is now at the peak of his power, and everyone can see that the world is going to be in chaos. But Xu Deyuan still wants to go against the city lord at this time. He is simply stupid!
"Wait a moment. I'll write a letter to my fourth sister and see what she suggests on how to handle this."
Jiang Yongkang was stunned for a moment.
Ask Xu Yinxi?
That's Xu Deyuan's daughter. Who in this world can really sacrifice her own family for the sake of justice?
Jiang Yongkang was puzzled, but Xu Zhenying continued, "I'll write her a letter and give my second uncle a pseudonym, let's call him Brother Goudan. I'll also explain the whole story and see how my fourth sister will deal with this stranger."
Jiang Yongkang's heart skipped a beat.
If Xu Deyuan's real name was concealed, according to what Xu Deyuan did, to put it mildly, it was betrayal of relatives, and to put it more seriously, it was treason!
Xu Yinxi's treatment of outsiders is not as easy as she appears to be. She might be someone who will not show mercy.
If Xu Yinxi did not understand Xu Zhenying's intention and just sent the letter away, then Xu Zhenying's move would be nothing more than putting Xu Yinxi on the spot.
Jiang Yongkang didn't quite understand Xu Zhenying's thoughts, so he reminded her, "City Lord, if Xu Yinxi knew you'd lied to her like this in the future, would it affect the relationship between you two sisters?"
Xu Zhenying didn't hesitate. He smiled and said, "I didn't lie to her. I just wanted to tell her, and all of you, that starting from me, the emperor who breaks the law is subject to the same punishment as the common people. I also hope that she can put aside her own status and look at this matter rationally, and give my second uncle the most reasonable judgment."
Jiang Yongkang took the letter and felt it was heavy.
Before leaving, he placed something wrapped in red cloth on Xu Zhenying's desk and said, "This is your fourteenth birthday present."
Xu Zhenying looked up, but the man had already gone far away, and only his tall and thin back could be seen.
She could only shout at the back: "Brother, my birthday has already passed."
The man waved his hand from a distance, "It's made up."
Xu Zhenying curled her lips into a smile, then opened it, revealing a dagger inlaid with agate. The blade looked sharp, and the size of the handle perfectly fit the curvature of her palm.
It should be tailor-made for her.
Wow, Jiang Yongkang looks a little cold, but I didn’t expect that he is actually a warm man.
It’s true that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Xu Zhenying put away the dagger and called a meeting to discuss the next steps.
Wang Sanniang, Mo Jinchun, Ming Xiaoshuang, Liu Paner and others all took their seats in turn with notebooks and pencils.
"Although we haven't received a response from the chief executive yet, we need to get our work done first. Let's all share our thoughts."
Now the people under Xu Zhenying have developed subjective initiative. Long before coming to Qianzhou, they had already thought about possible problems and measures.
Liu Pan'er had fought on the front lines, so she understood the situation better than the others. She was the first to speak, "City Lord, Qianzhou is very special. The people living here are very complex. Although there are only four well-known chieftains, there are more than a dozen factions, large and small. Many of them live deep in the mountains and forests, never leaving their homes. These people are difficult to gather, and they hate the Han people very much. They won't truly submit to us anytime soon. If they keep stirring up trouble, we will easily be put on the defensive."
Wang Sanniang also said, "I don't think the village chieftains will give up power to us so easily. They are the local indigenous people and the largest in number, so they naturally want to occupy Shunyuan City. I just don't know what the other small chieftains think. If they unite, we won't be able to take Qianzhou Prefecture without a fight. After all, we just occupied Jinzhou and need to invest a lot of energy to manage Jinzhou and make it our territory. We won't be able to deal with Qianzhou affairs in the short term."
Ming Xiaoshuang said, "Sanniang is right. If that were the case, Jinzhou would be facing enemies on two fronts. If Qianzhou and the Great Zhou court join forces, Jinzhou would be immediately attacked from both sides. Therefore, both now and in the future, we must be on good terms with the chieftains."
"That's right," Xu Zhenying nodded. "So even though we haven't occupied Qianzhou yet, we still have to start planning some things. Xiaoshuang, the people of Qianzhou aren't familiar with us. You're best at propaganda. Find storytellers to tell us about our Lan County policies in teahouses, bookshops, and brothels. Use the familiar Lan County pigs and the land reclamation as a key point to quickly win the people of Qianzhou over and unite with us. Secondly, we have to be wary of the Tusi rebels launching surprise attacks. I saw some of the younger members of today's meeting agree with our views. See if you can win them over. The lower-class Miao people aren't actually very warlike; they're most concerned about taxes. Use this to attract them and see if you can recruit some of our comrades. Thirdly, as I said at the meeting earlier, when it comes to personal interests, the locals aren't necessarily united. Unite a few of the smaller Tusi. If necessary, spread the word that the village Tusi has been privately contacting us and wants to fully seize control of Shunyuan City. This will make the smaller Tusi anxious—"
"A plot to sow discord? A counter-espionage plot? Fishing in troubled waters?" Ming Xiaoshuang nodded immediately, then smiled gleefully, "The City Lord's move is brilliant. This way we can quietly dismantle their internal alliance. As long as the small chieftains steer us in this direction, we'll definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort."
"Less flattery, more work."
Ming Xiaoshuang was not annoyed at all when being scolded by Xu Zhenying. He could tell that Xu Zhenying was the strictest with him.
What is strictness? Strictness is love.
In other words, he is the one the city lord values most.
"Finally, everyone, think about this over the next few days and come up with ideas for the development of Qianzhou Prefecture. If all goes well, Qianzhou will be ours within two weeks. By then, everything here will need to be developed and constructed. I've outlined a few directions. Go back and do more research, using data to determine how to develop Qianzhou. Don't let us take over Qianzhou and still let its people remain poor. The same will apply in the future. In any town we take over, no one should be left behind. They must at least be able to afford food and clothing!"
Everyone hurriedly started recording.
"Qianzhou boasts high annual temperatures, high humidity, and abundant rainfall, along with fertile soil, making it ideal for growing a variety of crops. First, medicinal herbs, second, tea, and third, citrus fruits. When you return, consider carefully how to develop these industries. Considering our existing land, farmers, and market conditions, quickly draft a Qianzhou development plan."
Several people's faces fell instantly, and Xu Zhenying could even hear their wailing in their hearts.
However, Zhang Wanjun behind him had a look of anticipation on her face. She really wanted to ask the city lord if their personal guards could also join.
Her family used to farm and work as carpenters, and her maternal grandfather's family also ran a tea business for a while. She was the person who had the most contact with these people.
Xu Zhenying was thinking: What a great paper! Her supervisor used to like her writing reports the most.
What a great opportunity to experience it.
Xu Zhenying coughed softly, ignoring the bitter expressions on everyone's faces. "Give it to me before I go. Oh, and just a friendly reminder, the report must include the feasibility of the plan, the conditions and resources required, and the expected results." Of course, Xu Zhenying also made promises. "If it's well written, it will be directly included in Qianzhou's five-year development plan. Then you'll be the most important contributor to Qianzhou's development."
Sure enough, the ancients did not eat enough bread. After Xu Zhenying's encouragement, everyone immediately became excited again.
Before leaving, Ming Xiaoshuang asked, "City Lord, what should we do with the prisoners we captured?"
"Stay here, help with the land reclamation first, and then undergo transformation. We'll then conduct an assessment and assess the situation. We'll promote those who are willing to join us, and send those who don't."
Ming Xiaoshuang immediately felt something was wrong. "City Lord, we can't let them go. There's no precedent for releasing prisoners. The Tartars in the north slaughter all their enemies. Although we're not as inhumane as the Tartars, even if we don't kill them, we have to trap them here and make them do hard labor for us!"
Xu Zhenying smiled and said, "I have three points. First, even if it means war, I, Xu Zhenying, do not want my achievements to be built on a pile of bones. Second, if we don't want to let the enemy go, we must fully influence them. If we do a good job of ideological work, I think no one will want to leave. Third, after releasing these prisoners, send more people to spread the word, especially to the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Let the soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty know that we will treat the prisoners well. Who will be willing to fight for the Great Zhou Dynasty in future wars?"
When he heard the third point, Ming Xiaoshuang's eyes lit up!
Yes, those who charge into battle are most afraid of letting their guard down. Now if they knew that Xu Zhenying’s captives were living better than them, they would naturally not fight on the battlefield with the determination to die.
Whose life is not life?
"What about that young general from the Zhou Dynasty, Bai Ci'en? Should we release him or arrest him? I heard his father has a bad temper. It would be troublesome if we detained him."
Xu Zhenyu pondered, "Whether he stays or leaves, there are pros and cons. It's better to just let him do it. Give him a set of questions and let him do them. If his score is too low, kick him out. I don't want to keep idle people here!"
Ming Xiaoshuang immediately rubbed his hands together, unable to conceal his excitement, "I know!"
How could Ming Xiaoshuang not be excited about this?
Bai Ci'en is a legitimate second-rank military general. In the past, Ming Xiaoshuang couldn't even see him. Now, Ming Xiaoshuang can even interrogate a second-rank official alone. It's exciting to think about it.
It’s a pity that Zhao Qiaonian and the others left early, otherwise, based on the relationship between the city lord and Zhao Qiaonian, Ming Xiaoshuang would not have gotten this good thing.
So, sometimes people’s choices are really important.
Ming Xiaoshuang went there happily.
But Bai Ci'en, who was in prison, was not in such a good mood.
Originally, he had almost driven the natives into the mountains, but suddenly a group of bandits appeared from nowhere, first gave them wrong information to make them lose their way, then used smoke to drive them into the mountains, and finally dared to set fire to them!
In this battle, Bai Ci'en suffered heavy casualties, including the death of several thousand brothers, and he and several of his generals were captured.
This time, Bai Ci'en finally understood what it felt like to be a prisoner.
At this moment, he was locked up alone in a solitary confinement cell. There was only a small window at the top, but the room was still a little cold.
He has been detained for three days.
Unlike what he had imagined, the people in Qianzhou did not deliberately blame him. He didn't know who was in charge of Shunyuan City now, because in his opinion, if the natives were in charge, then he had killed so many natives with his men, and the natives would want to kill him immediately and would not keep him for so long.
If that gang of bandits——
Bai Ci'en felt it was unlikely.
There weren't many bandits in that group, so how could they have the ability to save him from the natives?
Haha, maybe everyone knows his identity and wants to use it to control my father.
But if they wanted to capture him, why did they leave him here to fend for himself? From beginning to end, apart from a soldier guarding him, no one else appeared.
After all, he is the son of a military officer. How could these people not even prevent him from being kidnapped?
Is this ignoring him or trying to intimidate him?
Bai Ci'en endured a difficult time in prison. On the one hand, he worried about how he would explain himself to his father and the court after returning to Beijing. On the other hand, he was also worried about whether he would die here. After all, his ambitions were unfulfilled, he was still so young, and his child was just born and not yet grown up.
Bai Ci'en was lost in thought when he heard footsteps coming from the dark corridor. Ming Xiaoshuang was walking slowly towards him with a few soldiers.
The jailer seemed to be extremely respectful to him, which showed that this person was of high status.
Soon, Bai Ci'en identified the newcomers by their attire. The soldiers were dressed so strangely, not like those from the Zhou Dynasty, nor like natives. Instead, they were of their own kind.
Without exception, they all had short hair, no wonder the people of Qianzhou Prefecture called them the Green Head Gang.
But Bai Ci'en, who had been leading troops for many years, knew from several encounters with Jiang Yongkang that the people of the Qingtou Gang were not bandits at all.
He had never seen such disciplined, organized and absolutely obedient bandits.
These men were all tall and strong, full of vigor. Regardless of gender, they all had strong appearances, with very few frail individuals. Furthermore, they were agile, and their deployment was meticulous. Whether fighting alone or in a group, they possessed both outstanding individual qualities and the ability to function as a united force.
The more Bai Ci'en thought about it, the more terrifying it became.
Where on earth did these young thieves come from?
Who is the leader?
Why did it appear in Qianzhou?
Why did the soldiers cooperate with the chieftains to attack the Zhou Dynasty?
Could it be that they are planning a rebellion?
There were too many questions in Bai Ci'en's mind, so as soon as Ming Xiaoshuang walked into the cell, alarm bells immediately rang in his heart.
It’s not Jiang Yongkang, and the soldiers are respectful to this person. Could he be the leader of the Qingtou Gang?
Bai Ci'en looked at Ming Xiaoshuang as if he were facing a formidable enemy.
Ming Xiaoshuang was also observing Bai Ci'en, and sighed silently in his heart: Oh, this is a hot potato!
Just throw it away, I'm afraid of letting the tiger return to the mountain.
Keep it, I'm afraid this kid's father will send troops to attack.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
