Across the Water Margin: Officials of Ximen

Page 334

Dong Ping, just as Ximen Qing, Wu Yong and others could see, was just a brave fighter, but not a qualified leader.This guy has repeatedly underestimated the enemy and rushed forward, causing his subordinates to fall into a siege and fight hard, but he never made any progress.Today, without ascertaining the situation around the battlefield, he rashly launched an attack on the official army, once again putting his subordinates in danger.

Relying on his high martial arts skills, Dong Ping's body is protected by heavy armor, and he charges around in the army with two guns, so he doesn't care about the life and death of the subordinates behind him.It's a pity that he didn't go far, and was stopped by three generals Jiang Zhong, Zhu Biao and Hu Yong, and the four fought together like a revolving lantern.

Even though Dong Ping has the courage of all men, how can he withstand the siege of Jiang Zhong, Zhu Biao and Hu Yong?After more than ten rounds of fighting, Dong Ping saw that Jiang Zhong and the three were brave generals, and it would be in his own interest to continue fighting.

After the main general Dong Ping fled, his cavalry also had no intention of fighting, and they all broke through and followed him to Dongping Mansion.Jiang Zhong and Wang Jun led troops all the way to hide and kill, and wiped out most of the bandit army. Only Dong Ping led more than 200 cavalry to fight to the death and escape to the east bank of Jishui.

Jiang Zhong and others saw that Dong Ping had left the boundary of Shouzhang County, and another bandit army came to meet Dong Ping in the distance, so they stopped pursuing and let Dong Ping go.

Xiang Chong came in a hurry with his soldiers and horses, but he saw that Dong Ping was defeated, and he and the two hundred remaining defeated soldiers behind him crossed Jishui in embarrassment and ran towards him.Xiang Chong hurriedly caught Dong Ping, and then looked at the west bank of Jishui, only to see the noise of people and horses over there, maybe there are five or six thousand people?Seeing that Dong Ping had suffered such a miserable defeat, Xiang Chong didn't dare to fight Jiang Zhong and others, so he hurriedly joined forces with Dong Ping and fled to Dongping Mansion without looking back.

Jiang Zhong and the others gathered their soldiers and horses, and after meeting the prefect Cheng Wanli and Wang Jun, they escorted them into Shouzhang County and stationed in the city.Accompanied by Wang Jun and the magistrate of Shouzhang County, Cheng Wanli, who was still in shock, hurriedly inspected a circle of Shouzhang County. Seeing that although the county is small, it is complete, has enough food and grass, and can garrison troops, so he discussed with Wang Jun to let him stay here. Stationed, trained [-] soldiers brought from Dongping Mansion into battle-ready soldiers, worked together with the Dulonggang rebels to build a line of defense, defended against Liangshan bandits, and prepared for a counterattack.

When Cheng Wanli was discussing the military situation with Wang Jun, Jiang Zhong and others in Shouzhang County, Nazhi County brought two more people to the county government office to inform Cheng Wanli of a new military situation.

The two newcomers to the county government turned out to be Zhang Wenyuan, the governor of Yuncheng County, Jezhou, and Zhao Neng, the head of the capital.The two of them reported to Cheng Wanli, the magistrate, that Song Jiang, the leader of the Liangshan bandits, led troops to capture Jeju City to the south of Liangshanpo. After killing the magistrate of Jeju, he divided his troops to attack the counties in Jeju.

Just yesterday, three bandit leaders, Li Ying, Lei Heng, and Du Xing led troops to occupy Yuncheng County and killed the magistrate of Yuncheng County.Zhao Neng's brother, Zhao De, who was also the capital of Yuncheng County, was killed by bandits while guarding Yuncheng County, and died heroically for the country.

The security guard Zhang Wenyuan and the capital Zhao Neng had nowhere to go when the city was destroyed, so they had to flee to Shouzhang County in a neighboring county to take refuge, and reminded Shouzhang County to be careful.

Cheng Wanli, the magistrate, heard the sad news that Jeju Quanzhou fell to the bandits of Liangshan, and he felt mixed feelings in his heart, and he couldn't tell what it was like.

The magistrate Cheng Wanli was full of fear and fear.He didn't expect that the Liangshan bandits were so powerful now that they were able to capture Dongping Mansion and Jeju at the same time.If it hadn't been for the help of senior officials Ximen Qing and Wang Jun, I'm afraid I would have been killed by thieves like the magistrate of Jeju.Thinking about it now, it really sends a chill down my spine.

At the same time of fear and fear, Cheng Wanli also looked at the map on the table and was very sad. Dongping Mansion in the east of Shouzhang County and Yuncheng County in the south were both occupied by Liangshan bandits. Among them, if we want to defend Shouzhang County, I am afraid that we will face a hard battle.

Now the thieves in Jeju, Liangshanbo, and Dongping Mansion have joined together and formed a big momentum. It is not an easy task for me to counterattack and take back Dongping Mansion!

Cheng Wanli, the magistrate, was afraid and worried, but there was also a trace of happiness in his heart that could not be understood by outsiders.The killing of the Zhizhou of Jeju and the fall of the whole state have fully demonstrated the strength of the Liangshan bandit army. Compared with it, his move to abandon Dongping Mansion is not a big fault.You only need to explain to the court that you want to preserve your strength and fight back against the bandits, and the officials at Yushitai can't do anything to Cheng Wanli!If I can really lead the army to wipe out the bandit army and regain Dongping Mansion and Jeju, then I will not only have no faults, but also great merits!

The prefect Cheng Wanli was full of ambition, and suddenly wanted to see Ximenqing from Yanggu County immediately.

Chapter 539 Ximen Qing's Circle of Friends

When Cheng Wanli, the magistrate, learned about the fall of Jeju from Zhang Wenyuan and Zhao Neng in Yuncheng County, Jeju, Ximenqing, who was far away in Ximenbao, Yanggu County, had already obtained the latest information about Jeju and Dongping Mansion from Brother Qiao Yun.

When Ximenqing heard that Chao Gai and Wu Yong's Liangshan bandit army killed a beautiful carbine, took a detour to capture Wenshang County, and then defeated Dong Ping's army with a trick to lure snakes out of the cave, causing Dong Ping, a shameless man, to defect to the enemy. He couldn't help shaking his head. I smiled wryly a few times.

After all, I still underestimated those thieves!Compared with the cunning and vicious Liangshanbo bandits, these officers and soldiers in the states on the east and west roads of Beijing are really useless.If there is no help from myself, I am afraid that the entire Dongping Mansion will fall into the hands of Liangshan robbers like Jeju?

It's a pity that a big victory under the Dongping Mansion City still did not change the fate of Dong Ping's fall into a bandit and the fall of Dongping Mansion City.

Fortunately, I also made some arrangements, and the information was timely, and the various shops in the city were withdrawn to Yanggu County in time, without much loss of property.

Moreover, Cheng Wanli's family, the magistrate of Dongping Prefecture, also survived. It is said that Yao Erlang and Yao Wenqing have brought Cheng Wanli's family into Yanggu County and are on their way back to Yanggu County.

Wang Jun and Yao Wenqing have made a contribution to the officials and me this time!

Ximenqing judged that Chao Gai, Song Jiang and others in Liangshanbo had changed their previous strategy of retreating and plundered cities and lands recklessly.

Therefore, the bandits will never be satisfied with the one and a half states currently occupied, and will frantically attack the surrounding states to expand their territory and influence.Next, there will be a tug-of-war, let's chase!

This time is a good opportunity to train troops, just to hone the army that has been secretly trained in the past few years.In addition, in order not to compromise too much of his own strength, Ximen Qing decided to participate in the war with the official army as the main force and his own army as the supplement.At the same time, mobilize the power of allies to jointly attack Liangshanpo bandits.

Ximenqing gathered all the brothers in Yanggu County together, informed them of the current battle situation between Dongping Mansion and Jeju, and made arrangements for the next attack and defense.

In order to defend the base camp in Yanggu County, Ximenqing let Luan Tingyu and Wang Jin lead troops into Dong'e County, where they confronted the Liangshanpo bandit army, waited for the official and allied forces to arrive, and then attacked Dongping Mansion from the north.

In order to gather strength in Dong'e County, Ximenqing wrote letters to Elder Zeng and Shi Wengong in Zengtou City, Lingzhou, asking them to send troops to fight against the bandits.

Back then, Ximenqing had an alliance with Zengtou City, and the two joined forces to fight against the giant bandits in Hebei and Shandong.Now is a good time for Zengtou city to fulfill the covenant.

Ximenqing also wrote a letter to "No Feather Arrow" Zhang Qing, the military governor of Dongchang Mansion, inviting him to stay in Yanggu County for a while when he was ordered to hunt down thieves.

Although Dongchang Mansion belongs to Hebei East Road, it borders Dongping Mansion on Jingdong East Road and is not far from Liangshanbo.Liangshan Po bandits are so powerful this time, they may not attack Dongchang Mansion, and the court will definitely let Dongchang Mansion send troops to fight against the bandits.Therefore, Zhang Qing is bound to fight Chao Gai, Song Jiang and others.Ximen Qing also wanted to see Zhang Qing's skill in beating people with stones.

According to Ximenqing's expectations, Dong'e County will gather the existing army of Dong'e County, the army of Luan Tingyu and Wang Jin, the allied army of Shi Wengong of Zengtou City, and the official army of Zhang Qing of Dongchang Prefecture. , can be called a luxurious lineup.When they are assembled, it will be no problem to go south to recover Dongping Mansion.

Regarding the defense of Shouzhang County in the southeast of Yanggu County, Dongping Mansion has now withdrawn. The official army under the temporary command of Wang Jun, the local soldiers of Yanggu County and the coalition forces headed by Jiangmen Shenzhong are not weak.

However, Shouzhang County is now under the attack of Chao Gai and Song Jiang, two gangsters, and needs to increase its strength.Ximenqing asked Hu Sanniang to return to Dulonggang Hujiazhuang, and combined with Hujiazhuang, Zhujiazhuang and Hong Zhenjun, she commanded Dulonggang reinforcements as the backing of Shouzhang County.

Hu Sanniang was originally the eldest lady of Hu's family village, the darling of Mrs. Hu, and also the eldest female boss in the hearts of the three Zhu brothers. She had the greatest influence on Dulonggang.It is most suitable for her to lead the troops of Dulonggang.

Hu Sanniang wanted to go out with Ximen Qing several times to kill thieves, but failed. This time, she finally got the opportunity to lead the army independently, and immediately led her cavalry team south to Dulonggang excitedly.

While arranging for Hu Sanniang to go south, Ximenqing also asked Brother Qiao Yun to go to Tangyin County, Xiangzhou, Hebei.Ximenqing's nephew Yue Fei and others have been looking forward to following Ximenqing to kill the robbers, and this time they should be given some chances to fight.

In order to prevent Chao Gai's army and Song Jiang's army from attacking Shouzhang County, but besieging Yanzhou to the east, Ximenqing also asked Yanzhou to attack the four brothers Shi Jin, Zhu Wu, Chen Da, and Yang Chun from Yingshan and Ling Zhen from Taohuashan in Qingzhou. Brothers prepare for war.

Ximenqing's instruction to Shi Jin was to try his best to assist the Yanzhou army to defend Yanzhou.If the bandits in Liangshan are powerful and Yanzhou's officers and soldiers are useless, then don't bother to fight. You need to move back to Qingzhou Taohuazhuang in time, rely on the solid defense specially built there with Ling Zhen brothers, and unite with Qingzhou officers and soldiers Qin Ming and Huang Xin. Taohuazhuang.

Taohuazhuang is now Ximenqing's artillery research and development site, Ling Zhen brothers are key talents in the manufacture of firearms, Ximenqing can't tolerate any mistakes there.

In order for the two brothers Qin Ming and Huang Xin in Qingzhou to support Taohuazhuang in time when an accident occurs, Ximenqing also sent them gifts and letters, suggesting that they prepare for the war, and it is best to station in Qingfengzhai first. An army responds.

The east and west roads in Beijing are in chaos, and it is impossible for Qingzhou on Jingdong East Road to stay out of the matter. Sooner or later, the imperial court will let Qingzhou send troops.And if Yanzhou is captured by Liangshanbo bandits, the next target may be Qingzhou. How can Qin Ming, who is the general manager of soldiers and horses, not guard against it?

Furthermore, the two generals Qin Ming and Huang Xin have a deep hatred with Song Jiang!I believe that as soon as the imperial court's order to dispatch troops arrives, Qin Ming and Huang Xin will kill the robbers in Liangshanpo with red eyes.

The current situation, on the small battlefield, is that the Liangshan Bo bandit army, under the command of Chao Gai and Song Jiang, is attacking Yanggu County, Shouzhang County and Dong'e County where Ximenqing's forces are located from the east and south. .

On the battlefields of Hebei and Shandong, it was Ximenqing's various allies who attacked Liangshan Po bandits from both Hebei in the northwest and Jingdong East Road in the northeast.

Ximen Qing believed that as long as he could defend for a while and let the officers and allies complete the anti-siege of Liangshan Po bandits, he would be able to defeat Chao Gai and Song Jiang and drive them out of Dongping Mansion and Jeju.

I just don't know if Chao Gai, Song Jiang and others continued to guard Shuibo Liangshan at that time, or fled south to Huaixi area?

At this time in Huaixi, there is no Wang Qing's powerful party, only a weak official army, and it may be difficult to resist the Liangshan bandits going south.

The father and son Liu Shiquan, Liu Guangzu and Liu Guangzong from Sizhou in Huaixi once gave Ximen Qing a thousand taels of gold. How could Ximen Qing forget such a friendship?

5 Chapter Forty

Ximenqing didn't forget to give himself 1000 taels of gold, entrusting his children's future to his Linhuai city landlord Liu Shiquan.That Liu Shiquan was called Liu Dalang, he cherished guests and took care of the idlers all his life, and recruited people from all walks of life, even Gao Qi and Gao Taiwei once voted under his sect.Thinking about it this way, Liu Shiquan must have no shortage of capable people, but there is a powerful force lurking in the Huaixi area.

Ximenqing sent the men who followed him to Jiangnan last time to Linhuai City, Sizhou, Huaixi, and handed over his own letter to Liu Shiquan, Liu Guangzu, and Liu Guangzong father and son.Ximenqing told Liu Shiquan and his son about the bandit rebellion in Liangshanpo, Beijing East-West Road, and told them to beware of the bandits going all the way south and making trouble in the Huaixi area.Ximenqing also mentioned in the letter that he had organized volunteer soldiers to help the government wipe out the Liangshan bandits.

Ximenqing's letter not only reminded Liu Shiquan and his son to make preparations in advance, in case of accidents, and conveyed his friendship and goodwill to his father and son; on the other hand, it also hinted that Liu Shiquan and his son could make a difference.I hope that they can also use their hidden power to help the government suppress the thieves and create more trouble for the Liangshanpo robbers who may go south.

After Ximen Qing finished making arrangements at home, Hu Sanniang couldn't wait to go to Dulonggang. Luan Tingyu, Wang Jin and other brothers also led the army and set off to their destination.However, Ximenqing left Ximenbao and entered Yanggu County to do other important things.

At this time, Yao Erlang and Yao Wenqing had returned to Yanggu County with the belongings from Dongping Mansion and the family members of the prefect Cheng. Ximen Qing wanted to receive the property and arrange other important tasks for Yao Wenqing. The two also wanted to settle the family members of the prefect Cheng Wanli , waiting for Cheng Wanli to come to Yanggu County to meet his family.

In Yanggu County, only the mansion of Ximen Qing is the most luxurious and spacious.And after Ximenqing moved to the manor outside the city, Ximenbao, the ladies in the mansion in the city also followed to Ximenbao, and the whole house was almost idle, except that Ximenqing lived in Yanggu County occasionally when he went back to Yanggu County for business. .

Now that the magistrate Cheng Wanli's family needs to be resettled, Ximen Qing naturally couldn't wrong Cheng Zhifu's family, so he vacated his mansion and gave it to the magistrate Cheng Wanli's family to live in.The original servants and maids in the mansion, Ximenqing also kept them all, and asked them to serve the prefect Cheng's family members wholeheartedly.