Chapter 335: Inciting Rebellion

Since the failure of the northern expedition, Xuzhou has become the main battlefield for the rebel army and the imperial army.

In order to seize this strategic key point, both sides fight every few days, and overall, both sides have wins and losses.

Liaodong Army Camp.

"Fifth brother, the court has issued an imperial decree again to urge the dispatch of troops; dragging it on like this is not a way!"

Shi Jingzhong said with a difficult expression.

Taking advantage of the party strife in the court, the Shi family united with the Liaodong military generals to clear out dissidents and quickly grew big in Liaodong.

In the eyes of the outside world, they are unruly and lawless military governors, but they know clearly themselves that the status of the Liaodong Garrison is not stable.

Compared to real military governors, the biggest problem of the Liaodong Garrison is that there is no stable rear to provide them with money and grain.

Everyone's logistical supply relies heavily on the court's support.

Wanting to manage Liaodong, the Hu Ren is a difficulty that cannot be bypassed.

The Hu Ren created the glory of the Liaodong Garrison and also limited the further development of the Liaodong Garrison.

The former nurturing of bandits to bolster one's own power was lifting a rock to hit one's own feet.

Behind the glory is actually an abyss.

Caught between the court and the Hu Ren, the days are not easy.

For the sake of logistical supply, on many issues, they have to make compromises to the court.

The wolfish ambition shown by the Hu Ren makes the Liaodong Garrison feel like a fishbone in the throat.

Forced by realistic needs, on one hand, they bargain with the court, and on the other hand, they lean toward the court to express loyalty.

"The court has already issued the silver for the expedition; dragging it on like this will certainly not work.

Big brother also sent a letter saying that the Hu Ren have just beaten up the various tribes of Guifang and are now preparing to conquer Goguryeo.

Once these problems are dealt with, the Hu Ren will march south again, and the scale will only be larger than the last time.

The court has strengthened the defense of the Xuanda region, and the several major border garrisons that suffered heavy losses are rapidly recovering their strength.

No one knows where the Hu Ren will start from the next time they invade.

Without the court's support, wanting to hold the current territory is very difficult.

Affected by the war, the price of grain in the Liaodong region is getting higher and higher; if this continues, the soldiers and civilians on the front line will not be able to live.

The clan's meaning is for us to help the court and quell the rebel army as soon as possible."

Shi Jinglin said calmly.

It is not that they are loyal to the Great Dayu court, but that they need Dayu now.

Half of the military grain on the Liaodong front line is supplied by the northern provinces, and half comes from Huguang.

After the rebel army grew big, the grain from Huguang was gone, and it all relied on scheduling from the north.

Half of the gap is not so easy to make up.

The supply of military grain is not timely, and the quality of grain declines, which has become the norm.

No matter how much trouble is made, it is useless; in order to scrape together this military grain, the court has also tried its best.

Smuggling trade certainly earned a lot of money, but now even with money, one cannot afford sky-high grain.

Similarly, dispatching troops south to quell the rebellion is, to a certain extent, also because the military grain supply on the front line is insufficient, and they cannot afford to raise so many soldiers.

In a sense, they are not fighting for the court, but for their own rice bowls.

"Fifth brother, do you mean to dispatch troops according to the imperial decree and reclaim the region north of the Yangtze River?"

Shi Jingzhong asked uncertainly.

Defeating the rebel army is easy, but wanting to quell the rebel army is difficult.

Cavalry is fierce in field battles, which doesn't mean they can be invincible when attacking cities.

If they really fight to the death with the rebel army, they will also have to pay a not-small price.

"Of course, not!"

"The strength of the rebel army is something you have experienced; it is much stronger than we expected before.

Reclaiming a few prefectures and giving the court an explanation will suffice.

The matter of risking one's life should be left to that bunch of nobility.

They have received imperial favor for generations; now is the time to repay the court, so we, these blades of grass, don't need to join in the fun!"

Shi Jinglin said mockingly.

Affected by the art of balance, the nobility faction and the border garrison faction, which belong to the military general camp, were long ago divided into two interest groups.

Clearly, they are the ones guarding the Nine Borders and protecting the court's safety.

As a result, their status and treatment cannot catch up with that bunch of nobility who are pampered and spoiled, so naturally, they will be unbalanced in their hearts.

The Emperor supporting military generals is also supporting the nobility.

When paying attention to the Nine Borders, it is all when troops need to be used.

The nobility broke the unwritten rules to serve as Viceroys, and they also made efforts to fight for it, but the result was failure.

The Emperor regards them as military governors, and the civil officials also regard them as unstable elements.

If it weren't for the Liaodong Garrison's strength being insufficient and unable to leave Dayu's support, they would have long ago stopped doing it.

Now that it is time to risk their lives, naturally, they cannot count on them to work hard.

"Fifth brother, this probably isn't good!"

"Actually, fighting to the Yangtze River is also a good choice.

Since ancient times, Huaiyang has been a wealthy place; even if we can't take the salt fields as our own, it's not difficult to get some salt from them.

As long as the rebellion-quelling war doesn't end, we can use the war needs to temporarily manage these places.

Getting a few million taels of income a year is easy.

Even the grain that the old home lacks most can be raised from the local area.

If there is a change in the world..."

Shi Jingzhong's words were too seductive, directly hooking everyone's greed.

Working for Dayu, everyone just needs to cope.

But working for oneself is completely different.

The huge profit of the salt industry is known to everyone in the world.

Getting a few million taels out is not a problem at all.

"Done!"

After looking at everyone, Shi Jinglin decided decisively.

Interests move people's hearts.

Everyone wants to make this fortune, and he cannot stop them.

Under the raging fire, the magnificent Zhou Mansion was reduced to a pile of ruins.

"Take the grain and retreat!"

Bai Er ordered coldly.

Borrowing grain failed, and they were forced to change to a strong attack.

After paying a painful price and breaking into the Zhou Mansion, the team lost control.

Originally they only intended to rob a wave, but the subordinates lacked discipline, and after killing until their eyes were red, they directly slaughtered the whole Zhou family.

The tragedy has already happened, and there is no room for maneuver.

The Zhou family has people serving as officials outside, and the court will certainly pursue it to the end; the imperial army's suppression is only a matter of time.

Suddenly stepping onto a path of no return, Bai Er's heart was full of apprehension.

Having served in the border garrison, he knew how far this grass-roots team was from an elite force.

Once the court suppresses them with heavy troops, these people simply cannot resist.

What is even worse is that the grain stored by the Zhou family was not as much as expected, only less than five hundred shi.

For an individual, five hundred shi is a huge number, enough for a person to eat for half a lifetime.

But for his team of a thousand people, everyone eating sparingly, they could only cope for a month.

The actual situation will only be more severe; these strong men came out to rob mainly to seek a way of life for their families.

With a harvest, they cannot just take care of themselves; they must also send a share home.

"Big leader, the family is still waiting to save lives, let's distribute part of the grain first!"

On the way back to the mountain, a middle-aged man begged.

Before today, many people were honest and simple farmers.

If it weren't for the lack of grain at home, few people would dare to do this kind of business.

After paying the casualties of dozens of people, they only exchanged for a few hundred shi of grain, but no one felt it was a loss.

In troubled times, human life is the least valuable thing.

Baishui County's disaster situation is serious, the government did not provide timely relief, and many families were on the verge of collapse.

Against this background, Bai Er could respond to a hundred calls.

"Okay, the brothers who participated in this action, each will be distributed three dou of rice.

It's not that I, the boss, am not righteous, mainly because this harvest only has so much.

After distributing, there will only be some rations left.

Where the future way of life is, I still need to calculate carefully!"

Bai Er said with a solemn expression.

Deep in his heart, he knew very well that he had stepped onto a path of no return.

He thought about doing one job and then stopping in time, but the reality was cruel.

Robbing the Zhou family is not enough, so he can only go rob other big households.

But landlords and gentry are not fools; knowing that the Zhou family suffered a disaster, they will certainly be prepared.

The next time they go out to rob, it won't be so easy.

The difficulty of attacking is high, which is nothing more than a problem of how many lives need to be paid; the most thorny thing is that the grain stored in the hands of landlords and big households is not much.

Who didn't know beforehand that the disaster would continue; landlords consumed quite a bit of grain when they annexed land in the early stage.

"The big leader is righteous!

Now in this time, except for you, who is willing to release grain!

Big leader, rest assured, wherever you point, we will fight.

There are many big households in the world; robbing the Zhou family is not enough, then go rob the second Zhou family; it won't let everyone starve!"

The clever Bai Liu immediately led the rhythm.

The idea of borrowing grain from the "Zhou family" was his; now that the situation is out of control, he can only bite the bullet and go on.

Next, they will face the imperial army's suppression; winning over the hearts of the team becomes very important.

The effect was very obvious; with someone leading, the blind crowd also followed and shouted.

Now there is no other choice; not wanting the whole family to starve to death, they can only follow and do it.

Morality, in the face of hunger, is completely worthless.

Mountain stronghold, celebration banquet.

Bai Er held a roasted chicken in one hand and a bowl of rice wine in the other, eating without any image.

The little brothers below were also eating, but what they held in their hands were steamed buns.

What was in the bowl was not rice wine, but hot meat soup, vaguely seeing meat cubes.

Eating meat in big mouthfuls and drinking wine in big bowls was just a dream.

In a disaster year, people couldn't eat their fill, and there was no energy to raise livestock.

Big households like the Zhou family naturally had livestock, but that was production material.

Everyone was just a mountain bandit; the concept hadn't changed yet, and they couldn't bear to lay hands on the mules and cattle that plowed the land.

"Big leader, Elder Sun of the Sanyang Association has come to visit."

Hearing this news, Bai Er's face changed slightly.

The Sanyang Association is a vest created by the White Lotus Sect to avoid government pursuit, and there are quite a few believers in Baishui County.

However, in the past, he was not interested in these deceptive cults and had no dealings with them.

Just finished robbing the Zhou family, and people came to the door; it was obvious that someone in the team had leaked the news.

If the White Lotus Sect people could receive the news, then the government should also have received the news; this means his good days are not long.

"Guests are guests, please!"

Bai Er said with feigned boldness.

In the past, he could not hook up with the Sanyang Association, but now he couldn't.

Imperial army suppression is imminent; more friends mean more paths.

People are specialized in rebelling and have rich experience in resisting the court's suppression; maybe they can help.

"Big leader Bai, long admired!"

After being led into the door, Elder Sun clasped his fists at Bai Er and said.

"Elder Sun is polite.

Bai has also long admired your association, just never had the opportunity to visit.

Today Elder Sun came to visit, making my stronghold..."

When using books, one hates having little; dragging the text halfway, Bai Er embarrassingly found that he had forgotten the words.

Fortunately, in the mountain stronghold, it was all a group of rough men, one by one busy showing off their rice, and couldn't understand what he was saying at all.

"Big leader Bai is too kind!"

"Sun came this time mainly to convey the meaning of the president, hoping that our two families can join forces to take down Baishui County City.

After the matter is done, the wealth in the county can be divided equally."

Originally just conveying a letter, but realizing that the other party's cultural level was limited, it was very likely a illiterate person.

Worried that the other party couldn't understand the content of the letter, Elder Sun immediately chose to open the door and see the mountain.

Anyway, from the moment of slaughtering the whole Zhou family, these people in the stronghold stepped onto a path of no return, so there was no need to worry about anyone going to report.

"Elder Sun has such a big hand.

But why choose to cooperate with us; with your association's strength in the county, taking Baishui County should not be difficult?"

Bai Er asked suspiciously.

Excessive development and utilization led to a sharp decline in soil fertility in Guanzhong, which had long since not returned to the prosperity of the Han and Tang dynasties.

The northern Shaanxi region is even more poor and backward, and the economy is very backward.

The place is poor, and the yamen is also poor.

A county city like Baishui, even the three classes of yamen runners had to be recruited for corvee, and the institutions in the county were also in a state of constant shortage.

Especially in recent years, the taxes below could not be collected, and income and expenditure were seriously unbalanced.

The soldiers guarding the city were only some old and weak, and their combat effectiveness was negligible.

"Big leader Bai is joking; if it were just that bunch of people in the county yamen, taking the city would naturally not be difficult; the trouble is the civil corps in the county.

That bunch of gentry have close relations with the court and will not sit idly by and watch us take the county city; by then, they will certainly dispatch troops to destroy it.

However, their combat effectiveness is also not strong; as long as our two families join forces, solving them is not a problem!"

Elder Sun answered calmly.

In fact, these were just excuses; the real purpose was mainly to pull people into the water.

The White Lotus Sect rebel army in Guangxi could fight all the way to the Central Plains, which doesn't mean they are also fierce.

Once the rebel flag is raised, it will inevitably lead to the imperial army's suppression.

They usually preach, at most fight with local ruffians, and killing one or two people requires careful planning.

Fighting with the imperial army with real swords and real guns, everyone has no bottom in their hearts.

The representatives sent by the rebel army can help train the army, but that requires time.

Mountain bandits and outlaws' combat effectiveness is average, but they have killed people after all.

Pulling these people into the rebel army can also increase a point of winning odds.

"Elder Sun is so frank, aren't you afraid that we will report to the court?"

Bai Er asked immediately.

Reason told him that there is no such thing as a pie falling from the sky in the world.

Wanting to share the spoils of war still depends on strength.

Prior promises are all drawing cakes; nothing is real until it is in hand.

He only has some reputation in the village and can pull up this team in front of him, which is his limit.

The Sanyang Association is all over northern Shaanxi, and the believers that can be mobilized will be dozens of times his.

Not to mention sharing the spoils of war, maybe after the uprising succeeds, they will directly annex his team.

"Big leader Bai, you won't report it.

The Jinshi who is an official outside the Zhou family has a position much higher than the Baishui County Magistrate.

The County Magistrate cannot, and dare not, pardon your crimes.

Moreover, the success probability of this uprising is very high.

Besides us, there is also the support of the Eastern King; we are not fighting alone.

Big leader Bai, you may not know that our Eastern King dominates the Shu region and is about to march north to Guanzhong.

Our uprising is actually to echo his northern expedition.

Besides the Eastern King, the Holy Sect also has the Western King occupying Huguang, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang, and the Southern King crossing the Yangtze River.

Half of the world is in the hands of the Holy Sect!"

Elder Sun immediately started bragging.

If the White Lotus Holy Kingdom had not split, and the three kings had united with all their strength, it might indeed have had such momentum.

Unfortunately, the three families fought on their own, missing the best opportunity to seize the world, and now the situation has changed.

However, the changes in the outside world were not something that the mountain bandits in Baishui County could figure out.

Even most of the people present didn't know where the places he mentioned were.

"You occupied half of the world, why hasn't any news been passed out?"

Bai Er asked in disbelief.

In his impression, Dayu was still strong, and it was not something that could be easily shaken by a few uprisings.

If the court was really made of paper, he wouldn't have holed up in the mountains as a mountain bandit; he would have long ago killed down the mountain to join the entrepreneurship army.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 336 ===== 【336-