Shudu.
The sun was scorching at noon, making the bluestone road hot. In such weather, people should have stayed at home to enjoy the cool air, but the West Market signboard was crowded with people.
All the people stretched their necks to look at the poster that had just been posted.
"Make way for someone who can read."
An old man carrying an empty vegetable basket was leading the way with a shoulder pole, followed by a thin scholar in a faded gown.
The crowd automatically parted to allow the scholar to reach the front.
The scholar took a look at the content of the notice, his face changed, and his body began to tremble. Someone bumped into him from behind.
"Why the hell are you shaking? Tell me what the notice says."
The scholar's voice trembled a little. "The court wants to... want to increase taxes in Yizhou... Your Majesty, please ask for the people..."
At this point, the scholar took a deep breath and continued, "I was falsely accused by a villain of plotting a rebellion."
The noisy crowd suddenly quieted down. Everyone looked at each other. The old man who brought the scholar here asked, "Anything else? Read Quanhu."
The scholar swallowed his saliva and suddenly raised his voice, "The imperial court has sent a large army to the border, intending to forcibly collect taxes..."
Before he finished speaking, the crowd exploded, everyone's face changed drastically, and a woman's legs weakened and she almost fell down, and was supported by someone beside her.
"Your Majesty swears to live and die with Yizhou."
After the scholar finished reading, he turned around and looked at everyone, "It is difficult for the prince to fight against the court alone. I hope that those of us who have money can contribute money, and those who have strength can contribute strength."
The surroundings were quiet for a moment, and suddenly someone shouted at the top of his voice, "The prince has always been thinking about our Yizhou, but now he is being slandered for treason. This is simply unreasonable. Since the prince lives and dies with Yizhou, I will live and die with Yizhou too."
"Yes, the prince is truly doing good for us. Not only did he reduce our taxes, he also dealt with those grain merchants who raised the prices. I will join the army now to repay the prince's kindness."
"Let's go together. The court is incompetent and only knows how to increase taxes without caring about our lives. If it weren't for the prince helping us, our lives would be even worse."
"Damn the imperial court. Last year, there was a severe drought and the imperial court didn't allocate any grain for disaster relief. If it weren't for the prince opening the granaries to release grain, my whole family would have starved to death. This life was given by the prince, and now I will return it to him."
"Even if the prince really rebelled, I would follow him. The prince treated us so well, and now he has been framed by a villain. It is time for us to serve the prince."
“…”
A crowd of people started shouting, filled with indignation. This was not only the case in the West Market, but also in the East Market and the South Market.
At the same time, similar reports appeared in various counties of Yizhou.
For a time, the whole Yizhou was in an uproar. Some people wanted to sign up for the army, or take out their family’s money and surplus food to defend Yizhou together with Xiao Cheng.
Xiao Cheng had been operating in Yizhou for so many years, and his character building was very successful. No one doubted whether Xiao Cheng really wanted to rebel. Everyone thought that it was the imperial court that forced the prince to this point.
They would never allow such a good prince to be framed by the court!
…
Palace.
Xiao Cheng looked at the garrison lieutenants from various counties and the generals of the border troops who had been summoned, and said in a deep voice: "The imperial court has sent troops to attack. You and I have no way to retreat. We can only fight."
The captains all had different expressions when they heard this. They had anticipated this scene since the moment they wrote their letters of allegiance, but they did not expect it to come so soon.
However, it was different from what they expected. They thought the prince would take the initiative, but they didn't expect that he would become passive now.
Zhou Su took a deep breath, clasped his fists and said, "I am willing to die for you, Your Majesty!"
He had no way out and could only follow Xiao Cheng to the end.
Other captains also expressed their opinions. Yuan Zheng felt extremely complicated. He had also written a letter of loyalty, but he didn't think there was anything wrong with it at the time. There was nothing wrong with being loyal to the prince.
He just wanted to be valued by the prince, so that he might have a chance of promotion.
But he never expected that the imperial court would send troops to attack, and the documents had already come down, which clearly stated that Xiao Cheng was plotting treason, rather than being falsely accused of treason for increasing taxes as stated in the notice.
Yuan Zheng had no intention of rebelling, but there was nothing he could do now. By writing the letter of allegiance, Xiao Cheng had a handle on him. If he did not stand on Xiao Cheng's side, Xiao Cheng would probably get rid of him immediately.
Now, even if we don’t want to oppose it, we will be forced to oppose it.
"You all go back and gather your troops to come to Shudu, and fight a decisive battle with the imperial army in Shudu."
"We have the advantage in defense. If we win, you will all be meritorious officials. When I wear the yellow robe, you will all have served me well."
Xiao Cheng spoke slowly, without holding back, and expressed his ambition directly. The court had already convicted him of treason, and it would be useless to exonerate himself, so it would be better to be straightforward.
These officers are different from the common people. The common people would not have the intention of rebellion unless they could not make a living.
So Xiao Cheng used the court's tax increase to arouse the anger of the people.
The captains would lure them with benefits. Would it be necessary to choose between being a captain for life or becoming a general after success?
Besides, he had the leverage over her, so she had to agree even if she wanted to.
The captains' breathing became a little rapid. If the prince could really succeed, they would enjoy endless wealth and glory.
Fortune and wealth are achieved through risk, so just go for it.
They all clasped their fists and said, "We are willing to die for you, my Lord!"
The terrain of Yizhou is rugged, and in many places one man is able to block the passage of ten thousand. As long as heavy troops are sent to guard the main transportation routes, it will be difficult for the imperial army to enter.
Now the imperial court is at war with the northern Hu, and the troops that can be mobilized will be effective.
Yizhou originally had 100,000 border troops and 200,000 government troops. Last year, Xiao Cheng took advantage of the invasion of the southern barbarians to recruit an additional 100,000 government troops.
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