Chapter 061: Marching into Ziyun Mountain
The prefect was suddenly stunned. Yes, he had been submitting memorials here continuously, and the eunuch had even promised to deal with Zhao Yulin, so why didn't Lin'an issue an edict?
Not only that, the Lin'an court also implicitly criticized him and asked Jiazhou to reorganize the troops. This meant that he was incompetent in managing the army and the military preparations were lax. There must be something wrong with the government army that couldn't even eliminate a bandit.
In fact, the garrisons in these various places are almost the same. The generals falsely report the number of soldiers and collect empty salaries, the military management is chaotic, weapons are sold privately, and there is a lack of training. Of course, their combat effectiveness is low.
However, Zhao Yulin's Shenwei Army was a real force with as many troops as possible. The troops were strictly managed, the soldiers were well fed and warmly dressed, and they were not sloppy at all on the training ground. Comparing the two, the difference was obvious.
The prefect put down the tea bowl in his hand and asked how he could mobilize the Shenwei Army to go north to Ziyun Mountain to suppress the bandits?
Chen Yun was stunned and said that the lord was too polite. The Shenwei Army was still the army of the Song Dynasty. As long as they were treated equally, he believed that Zhao Yulin would send troops to Ziyun Mountain.
The prefect said angrily that he would cross the river and ask the question in person.
Chen Yun hurriedly said that there was no need for the adults to go in person, just call him over.
The prefect stood up and said he was leaving, he couldn't wait any longer.
Chen Yun immediately followed him across the river to find Zhao Yulin.
At this time, Zhao Yulin was doing some ideological work for Huo Fenghuang. This girl had been training the troops desperately after they were transferred to the old military camp. The continuous super-intensive training over the past few days was almost like the training of special forces.
Zhu Congwen saw that she was not in good condition, so he asked Zhao Yulin to do some work. Fenghuang was happy to see him coming, but immediately reported with a dark face that the 9th Squadron was training and asked the commander to give instructions.
The two female guards behind Fenghuang burst out laughing and quickly turned their faces behind them.
Fenghuang said sternly: "What are you laughing at? You have no respect for your superiors. You are punished to run five laps." Seeing that the two girls were standing there motionless, she yelled at them to start running.
When Zhao Yulin saw the two soldiers running away, he asked her why she was making things difficult for the young sisters and was angry with him.
Phoenix ignored him and walked along the runway.
Zhao Yulin asked him what he had done to let down the Ninth Brigade. Tell him what he had done.
Phoenix said "No." and ran forward.
Zhao Yulin walked towards the first squadron somewhat helplessly and ordered them to stop training and sit in a circle. He wanted to hear their opinions.
The soldiers said the food was good, the equipment was new, the clothes were adequate, and they had no complaints. But the training tasks were a bit heavy, and they were exhausted like dogs every day.
One soldier stammered that the captain was angry with the third young master and took it out on them. Several soldiers laughed and immediately forced it back.
After some encouragement, Zhao Yulin left the First Squadron to look for Fire Phoenix. When the girls in the battalion saw him coming, they slipped out one by one.
He personally went to refill the Phoenix's water supply and asked Fan Zheng to bring his gift.
The young man immediately handed over a glass teapot. Zhao Yulin smiled and said, "Look at the newly made crystal teapot. It contains Qingcheng Mountain's new tea this year."
The Fire Phoenix expressed its gratitude in a lukewarm manner.
Zhao Yulin didn't say anything to her. After comforting her, he went to talk to Zhu Congwen.
Zhu Congwen said with a smile that it was all because of his handsome looks. Rumor has it in the army that Fire Phoenix had set his eyes on Zhao Yulin as early as in Lingxiao Mountain.
He was a little confused.
In fact, Zhao Yulin did have a feeling.
That night on Lingxiao Mountain, when Fenghuang's hand brushed across his cheek like a gentle breeze, he felt that Fenghuang's behavior was unusual. He said helplessly, "She is the only female captain of the Shenwei Army, and everyone should care about her."
Zhu Congwen said in a tone that everyone could understand that he would take care of his woman himself, so who else would dare to touch her?
At this time, Fan Zheng came in and said that someone had come to his house and asked him to go back quickly.
Zhao Yulin hurried back home, and Chen Xiaomin hurriedly told him that the Jiazhou prefect had arrived.
When he went in, he saw Chen Yun having tea with the prefect, and he bowed and sat down with a smile.
The prefect directly said that Jiazhou would no longer collect money from Cuiping Mountain, and asked when the Shenwei Army would set out to attack Ziyun Mountain?
He asked about the accounts of Cuiping Mountain?
The prefect said angrily that Jiazhou had checked everything clearly, Cuiping Mountain's accounts were clear, there were no problems with the taxes, and the documents had been sent to Xuzhou.
Zhao Yulin did not bother to argue with the prefect, saying that the Shenwei Army was ready to serve at any time, but after heading north to Ziyun Mountain, they would have to manage Yujing Town and pay income tax in a 50-50 split.
The prefect was stunned, stared at Chen Yun and asked if there was such a way of doing things?
Chen Yun said that what the Shenwei Army wanted was to increase their share of taxes. This seemed to be against the law, but it was actually beneficial to the court. The rapid increase in taxes in Xuzhou in recent years was achieved in this way.
The prefect slapped his thigh and agreed, and then did it.
Zhao Yulin said that he would send troops tomorrow.
The prefect was also straightforward. After getting Zhao Yulin's assurance, he stood up and said goodbye.
He asked Fan Zheng to notify the military camp to hold a meeting in the evening.
That evening, they discussed and decided: the Second Battalion stationed in Yunding Mountain would be responsible for the task of suppressing bandits, and Miao Gui would be appointed as the team leader, leading officers and soldiers above the rank of squadron leader of other battalions to observe the operations.
After the meeting, Huo Fenghuang returned to the military tent to play with the glass tea jar that Zhao Yulin gave her. When the two personal guards saw it, they exclaimed, "Wow, what a big crystal jar."
Fenghuang boasted that the tea inside was sent by the leader of the Qingcheng Sect, and it was tribute tea that only the emperor could taste.
Two guards surrounded her, looking at her and saying that the third young master liked the young lady.
Fenghuang put the teapot back to its original place in a huff and said, "What's the point of liking it? I already have two wives."
The next day, Zhao Yulin led his team to Ziyun Mountain. Han Yongchao welcomed them into the central military tent and reported to him that the Second Battalion had taken action upon receiving the order and had fully taken over the defense of the government army.
Zhao Yulin said that he would be the direct commander of this battle and everyone was here to observe his battle.
Han Yongchao opened the meeting, pointing to the map of Ziyun Mountain and introducing the situation: the bandit Ba Chi Qing had gathered about 500 people on the mountain, but these 500 people were tough and had strong fighting power. Because they had robbed a large number of the official army's standard weapons and baggage, it was extremely difficult to attack the mountain head-on.
The Second Battalion was located near Jianwei and had started investigating Ziyun Mountain years ago. They should be well aware of the bandit situation. They planned to take a two-pronged approach of a frontal feint attack and a sneak attack from the back mountain.
Zhao Yulin asked Miao Gui and several other team leaders to join the discussion and let them decide how to fight.
Miao Gui said that the Shenwei Army was now equipped with so many new equipment that they could all be used for a try. If the frontal advance went well, they could adapt to the situation, turn the feint attack into the main attack, and go straight up the mountain.
All the generals agreed with Miao Gui's point of view, but Zhao Yulin still let Han Yongchao make his own decision.
He wanted to train the junior officers' ability to command independently. The battlefield is always changing rapidly , and front-line commanders must be allowed to make independent decisions.
The next day, the Shenwei Army deployed iron barrel cannons and catapults to start the battle. Just a dozen iron barrel cannons fired simultaneously, and the bandits were defeated. In addition, the catapults accurately threw thunder bombs to remove nails. The soldiers wearing new helmets and new armor attacked very smoothly.
Bashiqing was extremely cunning and did not expect the Shenwei Army to suddenly appear at the foot of Ziyun Mountain and launch an attack as soon as they took over the defense.
He couldn't stop them at all, so he deployed most of the bandits to the front to intercept the Shenwei Army. However, the Shenwei Army, which had powerful firepower, advanced on the explosion points of the iron barrel cannon, and his defense lines collapsed one after another.
This forced him to start planning his escape.
However, at 3:00 in the sun, the Shenwei Army appeared behind Ziyun Mountain. The second battalion climbed up the cliff at the back of the mountain and launched a successful sneak attack. Under the two-sided attack, the bandit defense of Ziyun Mountain immediately collapsed, and more than a thousand warriors of the Shenwei Army rushed up.
Zhao Yulin saw through the telescope that the Second Battalion's infantry and artillery coordinated very well, and he was very satisfied with the soldiers' bravery. The generals of each battalion were looking through telescopes. Chen Xian's lens-grade glass was finally produced.
He had just returned to the big tent to have tea when Han Yongchao came down with Ba Chi Qing.
Lao Han said that this guy changed into a minion's clothes and thought we didn't know him . We had already seen him carefully through the telescope.
All the generals burst into laughter.
Zhao Yulin said with a smile not to let him escape, break his legs and hand him over to Jiazhou for punishment, and confiscate his property and send it back to Cuiping Mountain for confiscation.
This time he no longer handed over the full amount, but followed the example of the government troops and took it for himself.
Upon seeing this, Ba Chi Qing immediately begged for mercy, saying that he still had treasures and gold and silver to offer to the third young master, and only begged to be spared from death.
Zhao Yulin said that he dared not accept anything from Ba Chi Qing. It was not that the Shenwei Army wanted his life, but that the Jiazhou prefect did not want him to live.
After saying that, Zhao Yulin waved his hand, and a soldier picked up a short stick and walked towards him. The guy was so scared that he screamed and begged for mercy, saying that he had an explanation.
Lei Man said that our Shenwei Army’s search dogs have already found the glass and treasure he hid. Is there anything else to say?
Soon, the screams of Bashaqing were heard.
Zhao Yulin murmured in his heart, it turned out that the seemingly vicious Ba Chi Qing was so afraid of death.
He ordered Yang Xingyun's Eighth Battalion to take over the defense and station in Yujin, Jianwei, and the Second Battalion to go back and replace them with new Shenbi crossbows.
Immediately, Zhao Yulin took the stolen items from the prefect and took the main culprit Ba Chi Qing to Jiazhou.
When the prefect received the gift from Zhao Yulin, he immediately tied Ba Chi Qing to a stake and chopped him off. Ba Chi Qing's head fell to the ground immediately, and blood gushed out. Zhao Yulin saw that the prefect didn't even blink, and thought he was a ruthless character.
The prefect praised Zhao Yulin for a while, pointed at General Niu and a group of government army generals and said, "Look, speed is of the essence in war. This is the combat power of the Shenwei Army. If you can catch up with half of them, I will thank God and burn incense."
He waved his hand and went to the inner hall, and the generals filed out.
Zhao Yulin came back and asked Miao Gui to organize the brothers to continue discussing the gains and losses of the battle, while he took the wounded back to Yibin.
In the Lin'an Palace, the emperor had already received intelligence from Xuzhou that the court did not allow the production of grain wine. The Shenwei Army cooperated with the Dali Kingdom to build a new town, occupied Dali's land, and used Dali's grain to brew Jinsha Yuye and Baiguoxiang. They also made a lot of money, but the court could not collect their wine-making tax.
They were all handed over to the Dali Kingdom.
The eunuch in charge said that the boy was a big bad guy. Last year, the liquor tax in Xuzhou alone was tens of thousands, but this year it was all gone.
Everything concerning Zhao Yulin was made up by historians.
The emperor knew it very well. He was in a bad mood and felt something strange after drinking the Golden Sand and Jade Liquid, so he asked Prime Minister Xuan Shi to come into the palace.
