When Qi Xiuwu went out to fight this time, Shen Xi gave him an extra force, which was five thousand men.
Of the original five thousand men, more than a thousand have been lost along the way, leaving less than four thousand. Including the more than two thousand men recruited along the way, the total number is six thousand.
Dealing with the more than 10,000 people in Shanghe County was more difficult than attacking and conquering, as they were defending.
Moreover, the powerful families on the side with government troops, in order to save their lives and protect their property, were not familiar with Qi Xiuwu and his group, so they would definitely support the government troops first.
The difficulty of attacking Shanghe County has increased significantly once again.
Commander, reducing the food and fodder supply at this time and making me find it myself is really difficult for me.
This was also something Shenxi did intentionally. If he continued to maintain the pride of a noble family and believed that things that originally belonged to those noble families should be protected and returned, he would eventually be used by those noble families.
The powerful families need to both unite and suppress each other.
Simply suppressing them will provoke them to unite against a common enemy, while blindly uniting will make them think you are easy to control, which will put you in an even more passive position.
Geng Tianrong, the magistrate of Shanghe County, paced back and forth inside the county office.
A few days ago, just when they were about to be defeated by the rebel bandits, the Qi family, a prominent family in the city, took the lead and organized more than 2,000 soldiers to defeat the bandits together with the government troops.
That's how half of the county was saved.
But after that, a stalemate ensued, with neither the bandits nor the government troops able to drive the other side away.
Later I heard that Bian'ai County sent people to attack, and they were unstoppable.
At first, Geng Tianrong was startled. Why would Bian'ai County attack Xiahe County and Shanghe County?
Were they sent by higher-ups to provide support?
But he didn't receive any message from his superiors.
If they weren't sent to provide support, what authority does Bian'ai County have to come here?
You've crossed the line, understand?
Later, Geng Tianrong had someone inquire in detail and learned that there were two reasons.
One reason is that bandits from Xiahe County harassed Bian'ai County, which angered the current magistrate of Bian'ai County and a cult leader named Chenxi, so they sent troops to fight the bandits.
Another reason is that the Eighth Prince's wife's manor was located in Xiahe County and had been occupied by bandits. The Eighth Prince's wife wanted to take back the manor, which is why she asked Bian'ai County to send troops.
If you're going to fight bandits, then fight bandits. If Xiahe County is getting in your way, then you should just fight Xiahe County. Why did you have to come to Shanghe County?
The Eighth Prince's wife's manor was also in Xiahe County, and now it has been taken back. What does it have to do with Shanghe County?
Also, when did the soldiers in Bian'ai County become so powerful?
Xiahe County was ravaged by bandits, the county magistrate was killed, and a small part of the government troops fled to his area.
The soldiers from Bian'ai County were able to quickly occupy Xiahe County and wipe out the bandits completely.
Now they have also taken over half of the townships in Xiahe County.
We were soon arriving in Xiahe County.
Should he welcome them or be wary of them?
Geng Tianrong was completely bewildered.
Be on guard, he definitely can't win. Welcome him? Who knows what his purpose is?
He had already sent a messenger to inform Yu Dakai, the prefect near the capital, but had not yet received a reply.
If the governor seeks their help, they are welcome; otherwise, they must be prepared.
However, Bian'ai County seems to be more focused on bandits. In the future, the bandits can be sent to lead the charge to weaken each other's strength.
Thinking of this, he summoned his advisor: "Find someone who is eloquent and persuasive to go to the bandits and tell them that the troops from Bian'ai County have come to attack, specifically targeting the bandits."
Let's see what they do.
The advisor then asked, "Sir, do you have any intention of joining forces with bandits?"
Geng Tianrong shook his head: "It's not about uniting with them, but about temporarily trucing with the bandits. If we keep at this cost, the people in Bian'ai County will benefit."
"Alright, Zongyuan is eloquent, I'll let him go!"
Geng Tianrong didn't care who went; he just wanted someone to notify the bandits to temporarily cease hostilities.
"Go."
The advisor withdrew and immediately sent someone to inform the Qi family of the news.
At the same time, Zong Yuan was sent as an envoy.
The bandit leader, Zhao Laoda, was drinking and eating meat, with a beautiful woman in his arms.
"Second brother, we've been at an impasse with Geng Tianrong for a month. This can't go on forever."
Li Lao Er was not tall and appeared very kind and polite, but in reality he was ruthless and had been eyeing Zhao Lao Da's position.
But now, Boss Zhao has a high reputation among the bandits, and he shares a portion of the money and beauties he gets with his subordinates.
Zhao Laoda is also very good at fighting, so it would be too difficult for Li Laoer to take his place.
He thought that if he could use the government troops to kill Zhao Laoda, that would be the best outcome.
At this moment, Li Lao Er, holding a glass of wine, glanced at the beauty in Zhao Lao Da's arms, his eyes darting around: "Boss, don't worry, our troops outnumber the government troops by a lot, we'll take them down sooner or later."
Old Zhao pushed the beauty in his arms toward Old Li: "She's yours now."
Old Zhao wasn't stupid. He could tell that Old Li had taken a fancy to the beauty in his arms. Anyway, he was tired of playing with her, so giving her to Old Li would be a way to win him over.
Li Lao Er was the most educated among them; most of them were lucky to even recognize their own names.
Li Lao Er was at least a student who had passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations.
Li Lao Er caught the beauty, kissed her on the cheek, and chuckled, "Thank you, Boss."
Then he poured the wine in his hand directly into the woman's mouth, causing her to cough repeatedly and her eyes to well up with tears.
Li Lao Er liked beauties with tears in their eyes.
"Boss, we can't just keep watching the government troops. What about those people in Bian'ai County?"
Li Lao Er was eyeing Zhao Lao Da's position again, as Zhao Lao Da was needed to fight at this time.
"They don't outnumber us either, and besides, it won't be that easy for them to break in. As long as they weren't sent by Geng Tianrong to help..."
Suddenly, Zhao Laoda couldn't continue. "The soldiers from Bian'ai County, were they summoned by Geng Tianrong?"
Li Lao Er said, "The documents we intercepted did not request foreign aid. It seems that Bian Ai County sent troops here privately."
What are they doing here?
"I just heard the news myself. It's said that the bandits in Xiahe County offended the magistrate of Bian'ai County and the leader of a religious sect. Another story is that the Eighth Prince's Consort came to Xiahe County, which caused unrest there, and the Eighth Prince's Consort almost lost her life there."
"Then they should just take Xiahe County. Why are they getting involved in Shanghe County?"
"Boss, I heard they've been fighting bandits. We'd better join forces with the bandit strongholds outside the city to defend it together."
"Alright, you're in charge. Go and send someone to contact those people. I think they'd be happy to join forces with us."
Just then, a subordinate reported: "Reporting to the chief and the second chief, Geng Tianrong has sent men."
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