Chapter 252 The Villager Leading the Way
The strong man wiped his tears, still in shock, and continued, "My lords, our place borders Xiangshui Village in Jinzhou Prefecture, only about twenty miles away. They often distribute medicine, food, seeds, and other things. Last year, people in our village almost starved to death, and it was the village chief who shamelessly went to ask for some food. The children there are studying, and our village is poor and can't afford teachers, so we can only ask some school-age children to come here to teach. Each family can chip in two or three cents. The propaganda worker was also willing to tell us about Jinzhou Prefecture, so we know a little bit about it."
Seeing Ming Xiaoshuang's half-belief and half-doubt, the man quickly pointed to the sky and swore, "Sir, everything I said is true. Thanks to the blessing of Jinzhou Prefecture, our village is now planting sweet potatoes!"
"Oh, really?" Ming Xiaoshuang naturally knew that Xu Zhenying's policies were all about pushing outward, so the propagandists at the border not only had to convey and explain the policies of Jinzhou Prefecture, but also had to attract the surrounding counties and villages.
"Yes, it's true. I even know about cowpox! Many children in Xiangshui Village have been vaccinated against cowpox. We are so envious that our eyes are red!" The strong man looked at the dense crowd of more than a thousand people. Even if he was slow-witted, he understood something. "Are you all going to war?"
Someone held a knife to his neck and said, "You shouldn't have known better than to ask! Be careful or you'll lose your head!"
The man turned pale with fear. He seemed to realize that Ming Xiaoshuang was the leader of this group, so he just looked at Ming Xiaoshuang and said, "The propagandist from Xiangshui Village said that the soldiers of you Jinzhou Prefecture are strictly disciplined and never kill innocent people. You are all good people!"
Ming Xiaoshuang couldn't help laughing when he heard this, then he said with a straight face, "Stop talking nonsense! You know we're going to fight, and you still dare to talk to me?!"
Seeing Ming Xiaoshuang smile, the man stopped trembling and said bravely, "It seems that you have been wandering in the mountains for a long time. Are you lost? You just asked to go to Guanghan County. I know a small road that can lead you out of the mountains and to the county town within a day—"
"Oh?" Ming Xiaoshuang raised his eyebrows, somewhat unconvinced, and looked him up and down, as if to confirm his identity.
The man looked frightened, but still mustered up the courage to bargain, "But...but...General, I have a condition..."
"Tell me about it."
The man seemed to muster up his courage, "I hope the people in our village can also get that cowpox vaccine!"
Everyone was stunned, but no one said anything.
Ming Xiaoshuang naturally didn't say that everyone could get the smallpox vaccine. He just pretended to be thoughtful. The man was a little unsure, afraid that Ming Xiaoshuang would disagree, so he quickly said, "Even if the adults in our village can't get it, at least the children have to get it!"
Ming Xiaoshuang frowned and put on a fierce expression: "Do you really trust our Jinzhou Prefecture's miracle medicine? Have you forgotten that Jinzhou Prefecture is the territory of the rebels?"
The man waved his hands quickly, "We ordinary people don't care about rebels. To be honest, it's a treasonous thing to say. So what if the emperor changes every day? What does it have to do with us? We ordinary people just eat, drink, defecate, urinate and sleep! Don't scare me. Anyway, we know exactly what life is like in Jinzhou!"
Ming Xiaoshuang laughed, "Why, are you still asking for our intelligence every day?"
"That's right! Take Xiangshui Village, for example. They were dirt poor last year, just like us. But since the mountain king came, he's been distributing grain, seeds, and even piglets! The children in Xiangshui Village started reading and writing two months ago, and the village even has a teacher sent from the city! Let's not talk about all that. We walked over 20 miles of mountain roads to get to Xiangshui Village quietly. At noon, every household smelled of meat! And it was only October, and people were already smoking meat! Not to mention that they kept telling us how good cowpox was and how it could prevent smallpox! When we came back, we kept saying, "When will the rebels from Jinzhou Prefecture attack our village? That way, we can also live such a good life—"
The man's sincere words actually made everyone present feel a little sad.
Not long ago, their wishes were as simple as the man before them: simply a bowl of hot soup and a warm meal. If it weren't for the city lord, how could they be like this now, charging into battle and achieving great things?
When teaching, the military culture teacher often said that no matter how war is glorified, the essence of war is actually the plunder of resources.
But they often discuss it outside of class.
Their war is a just war!
They just wanted the people of the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, who lived in dire straits, to be like them, no longer suffering from hunger and cold, to be rewarded for their efforts, and even to live uprightly and with dignity!
They have the responsibility and obligation to make everyone in the world live a good life!
Ming Xiaoshuang also felt a little emotional. "Brother, if that's the case, I'll make this decision. As long as you take us to Guanghan County via a shortcut, and we take Xingyuan Prefecture, I will definitely have everyone in your village, not just your village, but the entire Xingyuan Prefecture, vaccinated with the cowpox vaccine!"
"You keep your word?!" The man's eyebrows almost flew up in delight. Then he said hesitantly, "Little one...can I make another offer?"
Without waiting for Ming Xiaoshuang to speak, he spoke to himself, "I know that many villages in Jinzhou Prefecture are doing some kind of standardized breeding program. They say a pig can grow to 200 kilograms in six months! If I take you on a shortcut, can you make our village the first to raise these Lanxian pigs?"
Ming Xiaoshuang was a little angry and amused, "My fellow villager, do you have any other requests? Why don't you tell me all at once?"
The fellow was a little embarrassed this time. "Nothing else... How about I tell you when I think of it?"
Ming Xiaoshuang was so angry that he fell backwards.
"Come on, do you even know the way? If you keep haggling, we won't fight in Xingyuan Prefecture!"
The man was even more anxious than them when they heard about not attacking Xingyuan Prefecture. He waved at them and led the way, "No, generals, Guanghan County is very close to here, you should attack them quickly! Come on, I'll take you down the mountain now! Don't delay the important business!"
On the official road of Xingyuan Prefecture.
Zhou Cangwu gambled everything. First, he had someone get Prefect Yan drunk, and then he left the city in the name of training.
Five thousand fully armed men left the city, leaving only a group of guards in the city. In an instant, Jinzhou Prefecture seemed to be drained of its resources, with no defenses left, like an empty city.
After a group of people had marched out of the door in a mighty procession, Zhou Cangwu finally told his men the truth: "According to reliable intelligence, the rebels from Jinzhou Prefecture will soon attack our Xingyuan Prefecture! I got the intelligence in advance, and today we are going to ambush where the rebels must pass. As soon as they arrive, we will immediately launch an ambush and wipe them out! We will set out from Xingyuan Prefecture, kill all the elite troops from Jinzhou Prefecture first, and then rush all the way to Jinzhou Prefecture to capture Xu Zhenying alive! Recapture Jinzhou Prefecture and Qianzhou Prefecture! If you want to achieve great things, follow me to kill the rebels! I won't be greedy for any military merits, and I guarantee that if you follow me, you will achieve great things and be awarded a title of nobility or prime minister!"
These words immediately made the soldiers' blood boil!
"No wonder people in Xingyuan Prefecture have been so uneasy these past few days. Suddenly, the common people are all praising that traitor! This is actually his plan!"
"They're just a bunch of rabble, nothing to worry about! Our five thousand elite soldiers can wipe them out in no time!"
But someone was worried: "General Zhou, have you informed the prefect about our secret departure from the city?"
Zhou Cangwu said nonchalantly, "Prefect Yan is old and timid. If we tell him about the attack on Jinzhou Prefecture, won't those officials be scared to death?!"
Everyone burst into laughter. "That's right! Those civil officials only cause trouble for us. They know nothing about war and can only hide behind us at critical moments. General Zhou is right. Prefect Yan has always looked down on us warriors. Besides, our local military power has nothing to do with him! I think we should just chop off that traitor's head first, and then bring it over to Prefect Yan as a snack! Let's see if he dares to cause us trouble again!"
"That's right! We join the army to achieve great things. The fighting in the north is raging, and we are almost exhausted! Let the soldiers see blood, and let these rebels know the power of our court!"
Zhou Cangwu aroused the morale of the army with just a few words. A group of 5,000 people rode on light horses and carriages and galloped quickly on the official road from Xingyuan Prefecture to Jinzhou Prefecture. Then they reached Hushangang, and Zhou Cangwu ordered everyone to stop.
He pointed his whip at the mountains and ridges. "This is the only way from Jinzhou to Xingyuan. It's low-lying and has high ground on both sides, making it perfect for an ambush. We'll set up camp here and wait for those rebels to pass by, then we'll ambush them!"
Someone immediately flattered him, saying, "General Zhou's military tactics are truly superb. He's sure those rebels will arrive, and none of them will return alive! We're just waiting to pick up their heads and earn military merit!"
Just as he finished speaking, he heard movement in the bushes on both sides, followed by a rustling sound.
Zhou Cangwu's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up—
Suddenly, flags were planted all over the mountains, and countless soldiers in long coats and trousers appeared. They occupied the high ground and spread out on both sides.
Zhou Cangwu and the leader's eyes met for a moment, his expression changed drastically, and he almost screamed with all his strength: "Not good, there's an ambush——"
As soon as he finished speaking, a "whoosh" sound was heard, and then arrows fell from the sky like a torrential rain. The sky seemed to have turned gray. Under a densely woven net, the soldiers of Xingyuan Prefecture screamed and fled in all directions.
They raised their shields in panic, trying to block the arrows flying from the sky, but they were also accompanied by countless rolling logs weighing thousands of pounds.
The soldiers of Jinzhou Prefecture took advantage of the time and location. The log rolled down the slope at an increasingly faster speed, sweeping away dozens of people in an instant!
There was no time to scream, no time to escape, and some soldiers even had no time to draw their swords, and their lives were taken away in a panic!
They didn't even get to see what the soldiers from Jinzhou Prefecture looked like or what kind of uniforms they wore before they died!
Zhou Cangwu, upon reaching this point, understood perfectly well that this was a trap set up by the rebels and the Lian family. He was furious and annoyed, drawing his sword and pointing it at the man surrounded by a crowd at the highest point: "Capture the leader first! Everyone, cover me as I charge forward and capture Xu Zhenying alive!"
Oh, you want to capture Xu Zhenying alive?
Around Xu Zhenying alone, there are the twelve personal guards selected this time. Each of them is talented in both literature and martial arts, tall and strong, with muscular bodies. They are all powerful generals who can stand alone against ten thousand enemies.
As Zhou Cangwu made his final, frantic struggle before death, Xu Zhenying didn't even raise her eyelids. She just raised her foot slightly and took a half step back.
Twelve guards immediately surrounded her, and then three archers drew their bows to their full length, aiming at the person rushing upwards frantically below.
“Sizzle——”
The arrow shot out of the bow like lightning, piercing the slightly cool air at lightning speed and heading towards Zhou Cangwu!
One arrow hit Zhou Cangwu's knee, one arrow pierced his hair crown, and one arrow broke the armor in front of him!
Such tacit cooperation and unwavering archery skills made even his opponent Zhou Cangwu feel his scalp tingling.
What a great archery skill!
At this moment, Zhou Cangwu finally reacted.
He made a fatal mistake.
That is...underestimating the enemy.
He subconsciously assumed that the rebels in Jinzhou Prefecture were a mob, but how could a mob think of luring him out of the city gates and ambushing him? How could a mob have such well-dressed and solemn soldiers?
No...no...Xingyuan Prefecture cannot be destroyed in his hands.
Anyone can surrender, but he, the leader, cannot surrender——
Seeing Zhou Cangwu struggling to get up, Xu Zhenying knew that he would not surrender. She waved her hand and whispered, "Kill the commander!"
There is no murderous intent, but it makes people feel inexplicably cold in their hearts.
Xu Zhenying raised his arms and shouted, "We will only kill the commanders. We will not kill those who surrender! We will not take prisoners! We will distribute land and food!"
When Chang Zizai saw Zhou Cangwu had fallen, although he didn't know if he was dead or not, he immediately shouted with all his might: "Your commander is dead, surrender quickly! Our city lord said that those who surrender will not be killed! We will distribute land and food to everyone in Xingyuan Prefecture, and the soldiers will receive one tael of silver a month, and your children will be allowed to learn to read and write! Quick, everyone, shout with me, no prisoners will be killed!"
Everyone obeyed and quickly followed Chang Zizai's lead, shouting, "The commander is dead, those who surrender will not be killed!"
"The commander is dead, those who surrender will not be killed!"
In an instant, the sound echoed throughout the valley—
Zhou Cangwu, who was lying on the ground, gritted his teeth in anger. He climbed up shakily, but no word of explanation came out of his throat.
No, he is not dead yet, there is still hope for him——
Then, the moment he raised his head, the archer's personal guards had already aimed at him.
“Puff.”
The arrow pierced his forehead, hitting the red heart. The blood seemed to have bloomed a three-petal red flower on his forehead, which had a strange beauty.
Xu Zhenying raised his arms and shouted again, his voice resounding through the clouds: "The commander is dead, those who surrender will not be killed!"
The soldiers of Xingyuan Prefecture were either killed or fled. The 5,000 soldiers who were so aggressive before setting off were reduced to just over a thousand in the blink of an eye.
The game is over.
What's more, their commander is already dead, so they have no reason to fight to the death!
Immediately, some soldiers dropped their weapons, their faces covered in blood, and looked at them in confusion.
I don't know who was the first to kneel down and shout, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Then more people looked at their companions who knelt down one after another, and seemed to be infected, and knelt down reluctantly to show their loyalty.
The generals have all died in battle, let alone these small fry?
It doesn't matter who you fight with, your own life is more important.
In just half an hour, while Xu Zhenying's eight hundred men were still unharmed, they had already wiped out most of the elite troops of Xingyuan Prefecture.
Xu Zhenying frowned as he looked at the soldiers kneeling down below.
Mo Jinchun hurriedly said, "Everyone, stand up! Our city lord doesn't like people kneeling to him. You are all real men, why are your knees so weak?"
Gu Guihua immediately played the villain and said with a smile, "Everyone, please stand up quickly. As long as you surrender, you will be our people of Jinzhou. Our city lord treats his soldiers and civilians very well!"
A soldier with a bloodied face looked at Xu Zhenying, trembling slightly, but still bravely asked, "Your Majesty, do the soldiers in Jinzhou really eat meat every day?"
Xu Zhenying smiled slightly, his eyes a little complicated, "As long as you are my soldier, I will try my best to give you the best life."
Upon hearing this, Mo Jinchun thought that the city lord was quite serious in his words.
Yes, as long as I can become a soldier in Jinzhou Prefecture... But the competition for becoming a soldier in Jinzhou Prefecture is fierce, is it that easy?
But the soldiers of Xingyuan Prefecture didn't know this. They were so grateful that they immediately dropped their weapons and followed Xu Zhenying wholeheartedly.
Chang Zizai came up to Xu Zhenying and suggested, "City Lord, why don't we strip the clothes off the dead, put them on, and stuff their hair into our hats? When it gets dark, we can pretend to be soldiers from Xingyuan Prefecture and charge our way in!"
Xu Zhenying gave him a thumbs up and said, "Just do as you say."
Mo Jinchun also came to report: "City Lord, judging by the time, County Magistrate Fang and his men should be arriving soon."
"Is there a medical team accompanying us?"
"Yes, there are fifty doctors accompanying the army this time, ten doctors in each team, and they are five miles behind us."
"Okay, leave one person to wait for Fang Xun and the others to come and clean up the battlefield. Then change into the clothes of the Xingyuan Prefecture soldiers and we will explore Xingyuan Prefecture at night!"
That night, the people in Xingyuan Prefecture had already fallen asleep.
A waning moon hung high in the sky, and everything in Xingyuan Prefecture was silent, without a single sound.
The guards on the city wall were dozing off, standing on the wall as if in a dream or awake state.
Another long and boring night.
Suddenly, a burst of hurried horse hooves was heard on the official road, startling the hundreds of soldiers on the city wall and waking up.
Someone with sharp eyes immediately said, "Those look like General Zhou's men! Why do they all seem injured?"
I saw about fifty or sixty people rushing over on horseback. They were dusty, covered in blood and mud, as if they had just fought on the battlefield. They looked extremely embarrassed!
The leader shouted, "I am General Zhou's subordinate. General Zhou led us out for training when we encountered rebels from Jinzhou Prefecture. We are now engaged in a fierce battle with them at Hushangang. The situation is extremely urgent. Open the door immediately so I can report to the prefect! If you are even a moment late, I will chop off your heads!"
The soldiers on the city wall were already half asleep, and after taking a quick look, they were terrified and immediately ordered the city gates to be opened.
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