Zhu Cixiong recovered two states and three counties in just a few days.
Zhang Rong wanted to take advantage of the time when Zhu Cijiong's army had not yet gone far and the military power was still there.
Go to those places as soon as possible to deal with the local gentry and landlords.
Raid their homes, chop off their heads, and divide their land.
Complete the redistribution of means of production.
If the time interval is too long, they will forget their military power and find ways to rebel or even deal with Zhang Rong.
However, Zhu Cijiong moved south too quickly, and Zhang Rong alone could not complete the task in such a short time.
So Zhang Rong decided to divide his troops.
He found Bolo and Suksaha and asked, "Do you know how to raise the money?"
Bolo and Suksaha nodded at the same time: "Got it."
"Now that we know, let's divide our forces and raise money." Zhang Rong pointed at Bolo and said, "You go to Suzhou, and I will order the local Jinyiwei to cooperate with you."
Zhang Rong turned his head and looked at Suksaha again: "You go to Suining to raise money and food, and the local Jinyiwei will cooperate with you."
"We need to act quickly, use ruthless means, and raise a lot of money and food."
Bolo and Suksaha looked at each other and stood still.
Zhang Rong was a little unhappy: "Why? Don't you want to do it or can't do it?"
Bo Luo lowered his head and replied: "We are afraid that without the admiral's deterrence, the gentry and landlords in various places will not cooperate."
Zhang Rong replied coldly: "If they don't cooperate, they will be executed. If they cooperate, they will be spared."
Bolo was still a little worried: "We don't have many soldiers, I'm afraid..."
"Don't worry," Zhang Rong patted Bolo on the shoulder. "If someone dares to attack you, fight if you are sure, run if you are not. As soon as I get the news that you are asking for help, I will immediately borrow troops from His Royal Highness Prince Ding to quell the rebellion."
Bolo and Suksaha looked at each other again and hesitated for a while before bowing at the same time: "I obey your command."
One day later.
Zhang Rong went down along the canal and arrived outside Pizhou city.
He did not stop here.
After arranging the task of raising money and grain for the Jinyiwei, he continued along the canal to the outskirts of Suqian County.
The gentry in Suqian city had already learned about the situation in Qufu and Xuzhou through various channels.
Without waiting for Zhang Rong to finish posting the notice.
The gentry and landlords in the city took the initiative to take out the donation ledger and handed the money to Zhang Rong at ten times the amount.
In addition, some silver that was not exchanged for Ming Yuanbao was handed over.
After counting, Zhang Rong found that there were only more than 100,000 taels of silver.
Too little.
He still used the old method and called on the people to report the gentry.
After waiting for a long time, not a single citizen came forward to report.
This was far beyond Zhang Rong's expectations.
He came to the door and asked his attendant: "Where are the Jinyiwei in Suqian City?"
"Your Excellency, they haven't arrived yet."
"Keep looking until you find it."
In order to find out what exactly happened, Zhang Rong ordered people to go outside to gather information.
Not long after, the East Factory guard came back and said, "Commander-in-chief, something seems to be wrong."
"What's wrong?"
"The people in the city seem to have some concerns. They won't answer any questions, and even if they do, they hesitate and say irrelevant things."
"Catch a few people at night and ask them what's going on."
"yes."
It was night.
The Dongchang thugs sneaked into the homes of three or four civilians and arrested them all.
The people were unwilling to speak at first, but after the torture instruments were shown, they told the truth.
It turned out to be after Zhu Cijiong left.
A group of people who called themselves the East Factory came to the city and called on the people to expose the gentry's private hoarding of silver.
The common people reported the incident enthusiastically, thinking that they could share the gentry's money.
The result was that all those who participated in the reporting were arrested by the authorities.
His whereabouts are unknown after he was thrown into prison.
Only then did the people realize that they had fallen into a trap.
When they saw Zhang Rong's notice, their first thought was conspiracy.
So they all chose to keep silent, for fear of falling into the trap again.
Zhang Rong was stunned after hearing this: "The people said that the East Factory has been here once?"
The attendant beside him nodded: "Yes, doesn't the admiral know?"
Zhang Rong shook his head: "Of course I don't know."
The attendant frowned and analyzed: "It seems that someone is impersonating us."
Zhang Rong was furious at first, but then he smiled and said, "Impersonation is good, that's great."
The attendant was confused and asked in a low voice: "Why are you laughing, Admiral?"
“Hahaha!” Zhang Rong laughed uncontrollably. “There weren’t enough charges to kill them originally, but now they’re pretending to be the Eastern Depot, they’re going to die anyway!”
That night.
Zhang Rong led his troops to raid the Suqian County Government Office.
The Suqian magistrate and all the yamen runners were arrested.
Before the torture, everyone kept their mouths shut.
But when the red-hot iron touched their skin, the pungent smell and severe pain instantly made them realize the reality.
Everyone cried and begged: "I said, what did I say?"
After recording the statement, it was already bright outside.
Zhang Rong, the governor of the Eastern Depot, brought all the people involved in the case to the street and handed them over to the people for trial.
The people had long since had enough of the officials' threats and oppression, and they shouted, "Kill them, kill them."
Zhang Rong was not in a hurry to take action.
He doesn't care about the lives of those involved in the case.
But he had to consider the consequences.
Raising money and food is a time-consuming and laborious task.
Before killing these people, he had to find suitable replacements to help him do the job.
After investigation, he privately found a local gentleman named Liu.
He asked the other party to help him raise money and food.
The benefit is that all previous crimes can be written off.
The gentleman named Liu was extremely happy and agreed immediately.
Zhang Rong went to the street again and made the crimes of the people involved public.
Amid the excited shouts of the people, all these people were beheaded in public.
Zhang Rong stayed in Suqian for another half a day and then set off for the next stop: Taoyuan County.
Zhu Cixiong had just captured Taoyuan and was preparing to attack Huai'an City.
After learning that Zhang Rong had entered the city, he summoned him immediately.
Zhang Rong knelt down and saluted Zhu Cijiong: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you!"
"Get up, no need to be polite."
"Your Highness, do you have something to ask me?"
Zhu Cijiong nodded heavily: "Yes, according to the information from the spies in Nanjing City, a group of Jinyiwei experts have come over there. According to the time calculation, they have arrived at the front line of Huai'an Prefecture."
Zhang Rong lowered his head and thought for a while: "Your Highness, do you think they will cause trouble in the rear of our army?"
Zhu Cijiong nodded again: "Yes, our army is moving south too fast, and the rear is unstable, so it is easy to cause trouble."
Zhang Rong asked, "Your Highness, what do you want me to do?"
Zhu Cixiong replied: "I have been busy with the war recently and have no time to take care of the affairs of the Jinyiwei. You are the commander of the East Factory and you know the Jinyiwei very well. I want you to deal with the gang coming from Nanjing."
Zhang Rong thought for a moment and kowtowed again: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will definitely fulfill my mission."
Zhu Cijiong shook his head with a serious face: "Don't rush to promise, tell me your plan first."
Zhang Rong chuckled: "My method is to lure them with benefits and catch them all in one fell swoop."
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