Chapter 495: The Jiedushi Arrives, Doesn

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In a village on the outskirts of Liaocheng, a soldier of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army was beating a gong, gathering the villagers at the village entrance. Especially the big households, even the whole families and their servants, were driven here.

Of course, those people initially resisted and refused to cooperate. But after He Changqi cut off one man's arm, the dog‑like brats that were itching to rebel fell silent.

Seeing that over a hundred households in the village had gathered, Che Guangqian raised a metal horn, shouted with a hoarse voice: "Villagers, we are the Fang Jiedushi; we know that in recent years the officials and even Huangfu Weiming have been extorting and oppressing you, making your lives miserable.

So we have specially come to bring you grain and cloth!"

After speaking, he tore off the cloth covering several flat carts behind him, revealing bag after bag of grain.

The amount wasn't large, but the bags were open, and the contents were genuine!

The villagers who had never eaten pork nor seen pigs running were stunned.

Qiu Ba, just not coming to requisition grain is already courteous, and now they even bring grain?

Although the amount is a bit small, something is better than nothing!

"One sheng per person, line up to receive grain; after you finish, don't leave!"

Che Guangqian wasn't being modest either, he just started distributing the grain.

Now, some people began shouting "Long live the Jiedushi!"

The farmers have their simple worldview and a certain low‑born cunning. Shouting a couple of times without losing meat, whether the benefactor is the Fang Jiedushi or Li Jiedushi, the one who gives grain is a good Jiedushi!

Originally there wasn't much food, and soon each person had a share; those with cloth bags used them, those without used their clothing to hold the grain. The villagers' previously tense expressions vanished. Groups of three or five gathered, whispering, all looking relaxed.

Because this grain‑delivering army wouldn't raise a blade against them. At least they wouldn't harm these poor, miserable folk.

"Villagers, do you think the grain is a bit scarce?"

Che Guangqian shouted.

"Yes, commander, could you give us more?"

Someone in the crowd laughed and asked.

"Fine! Then give more, because our Jiedushi is kind‑hearted!"

Che Guangqian said a line, walked into the group of big‑household families, and said to one man in a brocade robe who seemed like the clan head: "Does your household still have surplus grain in the storehouse?"

Huh?

Hearing this, the great landowner Wang of the village froze. The earlier secret joy of receiving grain vanished instantly.

He then recalled that the Dao balances by supplementing the lacking and taking from the excess!

These Qiu Ba don't rob ordinary people because those have no profit, but they haven't said they won't rob the big households!

For a moment Wang was at a loss, unable to speak.

Seeing him silent, Che Guangqian said coldly: "Open your household granary, open it and distribute grain! Five shi per person!"

Upon hearing this, Wang immediately knelt, kowtowed to Che Guangqian and wept: "Commander, you may kill this old man. Our household doesn't have that much grain; we have no pots to smash or iron to sell!"

Hearing this, Che Guangqian seemed thoughtful, looked around and asked: "Is it really that little?"

"Probably not, but still not much!"

"Yes, yes, his family has a hundred mu of good fields."

The villagers whispered to each other, many started to jeer. At this moment, the big households' usual virtue—or lack thereof—was evident.

"Alright then."

Che Guangqian helped Wang to his feet, patted the dust off his body and said: "Winter isn't far; first empty your household granary for the villagers, give out as much as you can, do a good deed for the countryside. As for the portion you lack, take the villagers with you to the Beizhou treasury to fetch it!"

Speaking, he immediately pulled a pre‑written document from his pocket, handed it to Wang and continued: "Write down how much grain you distributed, take the slip, and lead the people to Beizhou to claim it. Every household that receives grain from you must send someone with you to Beizhou. Once there, each household can claim grain!"

Che Guangqian gave Wang a half‑smile, and beside him He Changqi, seeing the local biggest landowner still hesitating, shouted loudly: "The Jiedushi gives you grain, and you still don't accept! With a knife in hand, I'll kill you; everything in your house will be ours! When the time comes we'll give to whoever we like!"

Hearing this, the watching farmers' eyes lit up, and they simultaneously shouted: "Distribute the grain! Distribute the grain!"

"Distribute the grain! Open the storehouse and distribute!"

Seeing the crowd's anger hard to quell, refusing to distribute was impossible, Wang gritted his teeth and shouted.

After speaking, he took the charcoal pencil Che Guangqian had prepared, signed his name on the document, and wrote down the amount of grain to be distributed.

Having finished, he looked eagerly at Che Guangqian and said: "Commander, Beizhou is the great granary of Hebei; is the Fang Jiedushi's promise to distribute grain true?"

"Of course it's true; if we were to deceive you, we'd just kill you, your family would be gone, and the Jiedushi would give grain to whoever he wants."

"Is it worth making it so complicated?"

Che Guangqian gave Wang a fake smile and patted his shoulder.

Then, looking around at the crowd, he shouted: "Villagers, first go to the Wang household to collect grain, then follow Wang's orders to go to Beizhou Qinghe Grand Granary, a hundred li away; remember to push a cart! We'll go with you!"

Now the onlookers were completely relieved.

Cheerful crowds swarmed around Wang and headed to his house; in a flash, over a thousand people left in one sweep.

"Old Che, what is the Jiedushi up to? We even sent out two carts of military grain!"

He Changqi nudged Che Guangqian's shoulder with his elbow and whispered.

They're already a benevolent teacher by not plundering the countryside; sending out their own military grain is unheard of.

"We're only three thousand strong, still want to stir up trouble in Hebei. Even if we could take a hundred, the odds are still low."

Che Guangqian said gravely, letting out a long sigh.

"Who says it isn't? So we should just burn the Qinghe Granary in Beizhou, then run away on the floating bridge of Lu County!"

"This place isn't one to stay long."

A hint of worry flashed across He Changqi's face.

He may be a bit slow, but his battlefield sense remains sharp.

This solo incursion, deep in Hebei's interior, is enemy territory. A slight misstep could wipe out the whole army.

"That's why we must borrow strength! Without borrowing strength we can't fight this battle."

Che Guangqian tossed a casual reply, ordering the Qiu Ba behind him to prepare for the next village.

They are racing against time; speed is their only advantage.

……

Inside Liaocheng County Office hangs a map of the prefecture's counties; at this moment, Fang Chongyong stands before the map, holding a charcoal pencil and sketching.

From time to time someone comes in to report, and Fang Chongyong blacks out a spot on the map and marks it.

In the southwest of Bozhou lies Wushui County;

Directly west, there is Tangyi County;

To the northeast are Gaotang County and Boping County;

Due north is Qingping County.

Wang Nande has already led the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army with two thousand men, racing on horseback toward Qingping County.

The remaining few are scattered across the region on various errands.

At that moment, a scout‑clad figure walks in and bows to Fang Chongyong, saying:

"Jiedushi, General Wang has already captured Qingping County. The county magistrate opened the city gates and surrendered without resistance."

Hearing the news, Fang Chongyong finally feels his tension ease. Though this was never a cause for worry and was expected, he still feared a snag at the critical moment!

"Did Wang Nande open the granaries for the locals of Qingping?"

Fang Chongyong asked in a low voice.

"Replying to the Jiedushi, yes, we released everything—no grain was left! All done according to the Jiedushi's orders, and we even opened the large households' granaries!"

"Good! Go back and tell Wang Nande that he must hold Qingping County; this Jiedushi will immediately lead troops to join forces with him."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand broadly, pointing at the main hall's doorway, and said,

"Understood!"

The scout's tone was clearly excited!

After about half an hour, the various detachments sent out returned one after another.

Bozhou is extremely densely populated—one village every three li, one township every five li, people everywhere.

Yet the area is not large; even from Liaocheng to Beizhou Qinghe is less than a hundred li.

Here the tension between people and land is acute, and the relationship between large landholders and tenant farmers is strained.

Che Guangqian and He Laohu leave earliest and return latest, because they are responsible for the villages surrounding Liaocheng County, the most densely populated area.

Seeing the two return, Fang Chongyong asked Che Guangqian, "How is Liaocheng County doing?"

"Jiedushi, it's as good as it can get! No need for us to intervene further; the villagers who received grain accompany us all the way and run errands for us!"

He Changqi said with an excited expression.

Although he didn't fully understand Fang Chongyong's grain‑distribution, the locals' feverish excitement truly startled him.

Regarding "free rides", everyone seemed unusually enthusiastic. The thrill of gaining without labor, like being knocked out by a pie falling from the sky, far surpasses the meager sustenance earned after a year's hard work.

As for going to Beizhou Qinghe, the large landholders know they shouldn't, yet they can't refuse.

If they don't open their own granaries, they risk being slaughtered on the spot by Qiu Ba of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, ending up with a notorious reputation of demanding money but not caring for life, becoming a joke among rural farmers.

Weighing the two evils, they chose the lesser; they have to go to Beizhou Qinghe, which is not far—just a two‑day march.

The self‑cultivating farmers and tenant households have only one thought: a moment of free ride is a moment of pleasure, and continuous free rides are continuous pleasure.

They have no clue how risky the trip to Beizhou truly is! Even if they sense a bit, they won't take it seriously!

Many think that once they make this trip, they won't have to worry about food for the next year or two.

Now the world grows more chaotic; who knows if there will be a chance to farm next year?

Thus these people's actions are faster than the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army; many have already pushed carts toward Beizhou Qinghe County.

Across Bozhou the situation is much the same: large landholders open granaries for ordinary folk, then all head to Beizhou Qinghe.

Seeing the first step of the plan proceed smoothly, Fang Chongyong nods slightly, looks around, and says,

"We abandon Liaocheng; after all, the supplies in the government storehouse have already been dispersed. The locals think well of us and won't leak information to Huangfu Weiming. Now everyone follows this Jiedushi to Qingping County.

We only carry seven days of dry rations; if we fail to take Beizhou Qinghe within seven days, we will discard all baggage and retreat to Lu County. Understood?"

"Obeying the Jiedushi's command!"

All the generals present shouted in unison, their hearts tightening.

No matter how effective these daring moves are, victory or defeat will still be decided on the battlefield.

"If you want to win five million, even with the God of Wealth blessing you and invincible luck, you still have to buy a lottery ticket!"

"Gentlemen, Bianzhou is a canal hub; wealth is inexhaustible.

Later inform the troops that after returning to Bianzhou there will be rewards, and they need not worry about the seized goods.

"Set out!"

After speaking, Fang Chongyong strides out of the office, his heart in turmoil, unusually anxious.

He remains composed, but only for the sake of his subordinates. In rear‑area operations, he himself has no certainty.

As far as the war goes, burning the Qinghe County treasury in Beizhou would be enough to finish it.

But this move cannot stop Huangfu Weiming's southward advance; at most it makes the Hebei rebels fight harder, insufficient to turn the tide.

Only by disrupting Hebei's rear, cutting off the rebels' ability to replenish, can Huangfu Weiming be forced to spend time on rear affairs. This gives Xuanwu Town six prefectures more time to expand the army, repair walls, build granaries, and train unified troops.

The death count in this battle is not the measure of victory or defeat.

By now the sky has darkened; after the main force left Liaocheng, Fang Chongyong flicked his horsewhip toward the north and asked Che Guangqian, "How many li is this place from Qingping County?"

"Replying to the Jiedushi, the junior officer has already inquired among the villages. This place is less than fifty li from Qingping County, with no small paths or major rivers blocking the way."

Che Guangqian answered with a clasped fist.

Bozhou's situation differs somewhat from elsewhere.

The weather plays a part; some waterways exist in summer but not winter, yet none are major rivers—just ditches.

Geographical advantage simply does not exist; it's flat as a plain, all around empty and vacant, easy to attack but hard to defend.

Only the aspect of "people's harmony" is quite special.

The population of Bo Prefecture is truly huge! Villages are everywhere, thick and dense!

And even more populous is Bei Prefecture; just Qinghe County alone has a population equal to that of an entire other prefecture—exceeding five hundred thousand!

Whoever controls the hearts of the people in these places controls an invisible force.

During the mid-to-late Tang period, Weibo Garrison could become the biggest troublemaker among the regional militias precisely because of its dense local population, allowing it to easily raise a force of a hundred thousand.

"Once we reach Qingping County, we can temporarily slow down."

Fang Chongyong's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he spoke without changing his expression.

All the generals nodded, not understanding why.

"Are the preparations ready?"

Fang Chongyong suddenly recalled something, turned his head, and asked Che Guangqian.

"Jiedushi, everything is ready!"

Che Guangqian dismounted, ordering his personal guards to raise two huge banners, each hung on a wooden pole over a zhang long.

The left banner reads "Poor folk can't survive—go to Bei Prefecture," and the right banner reads "Fang Qing has arrived, no grain taxes."

"Let's go to Qingping County to meet up with Wang Nande."

"If Huangfu Weiming does not give justice to the people of Hebei, then we will enforce Heaven's will!"

Fang Chongyong, who doesn't even balk at selling his son's inheritance, drew his Wind Phantom Blade and shouted loudly.

"Enforce Heaven's will!"

"Enforce Heaven's will!"

"Enforce Heaven's will!"

The officers in the army all shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens!

The great army continued northward, pressing forward under the cover of night.

Che Guangqian suddenly thought of something, rode up beside Fang Chongyong, and asked in a low voice: "Jiedushi, we cannot underestimate the locals' marching speed; if they reach Bei Prefecture ahead of us, what do we do if we alert the enemy?"

"Oh?"

Fang Chongyong looked at him with a half-smile, saying nothing.