Chapter 1422 The arrival of the army

Zhang Pucheng, the magistrate of Fushan County, has hardly opened his office in recent months. This is not because he is lazy, but because Fushan County has now changed its owner. The county government's decrees cannot leave the city at all, and their influence even within the city is becoming more and more important.

Little Zhang Pucheng was unable to make any strong resistance to Haihan, and could only acquiesce in Haihan's local influence.

Of course, Zhang Pucheng is not without integrity, righteousness, and loyalty. It's just that between "living to enjoy glory and wealth" and "dying silently", he finally chose the former. What is he doing now?

He didn't have to do anything. Haihan would send him a generous "office fee" every month and keep the place in order for him, allowing him to live a life of a rich man without having to worry about anything. If you ignore it,

Judging from the positions of both sides, it can really be said that life like this is a happy one.

Of course, Zhang Pucheng also knew that his cowardice in Fushan County would not be recognized by Dengzhou or even the Chief Envoy of Shandong. But now the higher authorities still need his presence as a mediator and messenger, so they can tolerate his almost treasonous behavior.

Do nothing. But if Haihan withdraws from Shandong in the future, the superiors will no longer sit back and watch him continue to sit in the Fushan County government office, and they will definitely liquidate him. So while becoming a rich man, Zhang Pucheng has already

Silently, he began to plan a way out for himself.

The reason why he was willing to accept Haihan's benefits was, on the one hand, because the price offered by Haihan could not be refused, and on the other hand, it was also because Haihan had considered extremely thoughtfully how officials like him could escape punishment from the imperial court in the future.

There are corresponding arrangements. To put it simply, it is to leave the Ming Dynasty when necessary and start a new life as a Haihan citizen.

But if he really has to leave the Ming Dynasty in the future, it will be particularly important for him and his family to have a stable source of income if they don't want to sit idle. Last year, Zhang Pucheng had arranged for a close confidant to go to the Haihan Colony in the south to confirm that

The more than 200 acres of spice plantations subscribed locally are already in operation, and he learned that many of the bosses who invested money behind the local plantations were from the Ming Dynasty, so he felt a little relieved. As long as the situation is not right, he will arrange it immediately

My family took a boat to go south from the sea. When the time comes, if the court wants to accuse me of anything, it will be up to them. Being able to live well is the most important thing.

However, Zhang Pucheng still occasionally has nightmares, dreaming that the Haihan army suddenly landed on Zhifu Island, and then marched westward, sweeping across the Shandong Peninsula, destroying the cities they encountered, burning, killing and looting, which plunged Shandong into a situation worse than the Denglai Rebellion.

In the midst of serious war and fire disasters. Every time he woke up from this kind of nightmare, Zhang Pucheng would feel a deep sense of guilt, as if all this chaos was caused by himself. He could only comfort himself, Haihan people

He had promised himself more than once that he would not take the initiative to use force against Shandong and had no intention of invading the Ming Dynasty. Now that the society in Fushan County is stable and the government is harmonious, I believe that the Haihan people will not go back on their word.

But his idea was shaken by the news that just came today. Haihan sent a very large armed fleet, which far exceeded the size of the fleet previously stationed on Zhifu Island. The two states of Denglai and Denglai were basically incompatible with each other.

There are not enough maritime weapons to threaten Zhifu Island, so why did the Haihan people mobilize such a large fleet to come to Shandong? Zhang Pucheng's subconscious reaction was that Haihan planned to attack Shandong.

Half of Shandong's military strength was destroyed by the Denglai Rebellion a few years ago. The remaining half of the armed forces, among which the elites were mobilized in large numbers to the Central Plains to kill the peasant armies, left only some weak garrison troops guarding the place.

.For Haihan, who has strong ships and powerful guns, Shandong's local military defense force can only be described as vulnerable. And with such a big piece of fat, the Haihan people are not good men and women, so what reason do they have to keep looking at it?

Don't eat it in the stomach? Thinking of this, Zhang Pucheng felt that the reality was about to match the content of his nightmare. He couldn't help but panic in his heart. Once the fight started, he, a local official, would have no room for maneuver. Could it be that it was really true?

Is it time to abandon your official position and run away?

"Sir, we need to make an idea as soon as possible!"

Han Qin, the chief catcher of the Fushan County government, urged Zhang Pucheng with an anxious look on his face. He was the one who told Zhang Pucheng about the arrival of the Haihan fleet on Zhifu Island, although Han Qin had already been forced to compromise with the outsider Haihan under pressure.

, but no one could remain calm enough when facing the Haihan army. Next, whether Fushan County should resist behind closed doors or surrender with open doors, the county magistrate Zhang Pucheng must express his attitude.

The benefits that Han Qin could get from Haihan were naturally not as generous as those of Zhang Pucheng, the county magistrate, who could not buy a farm of hundreds of acres in the south and become the boss. But Haihan also promised him that if the situation in Shandong worsens one day, he must

If he has to leave here to save his life, then Haihan will arrange a job for him in the south, and his income and living conditions will never be lower than now. Although this verbal promise is not binding, Han Qin still

I chose to believe in Haihan’s reputation.

But neither Zhang Pucheng nor Han Qin wanted Haihan to use force in Shandong. No one wanted their living environment to be greatly turbulent. They had all experienced the horrors caused by the war, and they did not want to do it again.

Seeing such a scene happen, if the outbreak of war cannot be prevented, then at least arrangements should be made as soon as possible to avoid this catastrophic disaster.

Zhang Pucheng gritted his teeth and said, "Have you really confirmed this news?"

Han Qin said: "My brother-in-law, who is in a humble position, is working on the dock of Zhifu Island. He said that the Haihan Fleet arrived yesterday evening, and every boat was full of soldiers. At night, the entire dock was lit with torches, and the people on the boat arrived all the time.

It was only finished at midnight. The people who came by boat this time were at least several thousand soldiers and horses, so we can’t fake it!”

Zhang Pucheng took a breath and thought that Haihan quietly transported so many troops from the south. This could not be just to show off his force or to conduct troop exercises. The purpose was probably to capture Denglai.

They came from two states. It’s just that Dengzhou is still some distance away from Zhifu Island, and there is a city and thousands of garrison there. Haihan will have to go through a lot of trouble to conquer Dengzhou, but his own Fushan County is right in Haihan.

Right under their noses, if they really want to cause trouble in Shandong, the first thing they should do is to completely take over the place. It seems that their work as a county magistrate is about to come to an end.

Zhang Pucheng remembered something and asked Han Qin: "Does President Huang Ba know about this?"

There were only about a hundred Ming troops stationed in Fushan County, and General Huang Qu was considered a smart man who knew current affairs. He had long been deaf and dumb to Haihan's actions outside the city. Although Zhang Pucheng didn't know what Haihan was doing.

There are no benefits to Huang Qu, but he will not treat the only military attache in Fushan County too badly. Now that the Haihan army has arrived, Huang Qu will be the first to bear the brunt, and his attitude may determine the fate of this small county.

Will it fall into war?

Han Qin nodded and said: "Boss Huang's nephew is also working on Zhifu Island. I think he should have received the news. He is a smart man and he will not do stupid things."

"You have to have that ability if you want to do it! He only has a few people under his command, and they are probably all gone now. How can he fight against the Haihan army? Go and invite Mr. Huang here, and say that you have something to say.

Business." Zhang Pucheng said it easily, but still planned to confirm Huang Qu's attitude in person. If Huang Qu had any other plans, Zhang Pucheng would have to try to remove himself first to avoid being implicated.

Huang Qu came soon. Maybe if Zhang Pucheng hadn't invited him, he would have come. Whether it was war or surrender, such a big matter could only be decided by the only two local officials representing the civil and military camps.

. And Han Qin, as a close subordinate of Zhang Pucheng, is also qualified to stay and participate in this discussion.

"Master Zhang, you are thinking too much." Huang Qu knew very well what the other party wanted to discuss with him, so after sitting down, he got straight to the point: "Not to mention that I don't have many soldiers under my command, even if

Even if we are fully loaded, I will not jump out and do that thing of using a mantis as a chariot. If we want to die for our country, we should have died a year ago. Since we have been living an ignoble life until now, then living is the only business."

Many of Huang Qu's soldiers quietly left the county to serve the Haihan people, and some have even immigrated to the south. And as he said, even if they choose to die for their country, it will not help the situation now. The Haihan people will not

They would not care, and the court would not treat them as loyal ministers. Even if they died in the county, they would probably not even get a splash. After all, when it comes to the means of controlling public opinion mouthpieces, even if they are flattering, they cannot catch up with Shanghai Han.

Therefore, not only did Huang Qu not intend to resist, but he actually wanted to persuade the county magistrate Zhang Pucheng to give up his unrealistic illusions and make saving his own life his top priority at the moment.

From a certain point of view, their ideas actually coincided with each other. The desire for survival in human nature, or to put it more unpleasantly, the fear of death, made it impossible for them to muster the courage to fight against the Haihan army.

Arrive. Since you have already chosen to compromise and settle down before this, it doesn't make much sense no matter how hard you try at this time.

Zhang Pucheng pondered: "What Mr. Huang means is that we take the initiative to surrender to Haihan and offer the city?"

Huang Qu sneered: "What do I mean? Isn't that what Mr. Zhang meant?"

Although both of them had the idea of ​​​​surrender, they were not willing to bear this bad reputation, and there was inevitably some conflict between their words. However, Han Qin, a bystander, understood clearly and persuaded with a wry smile: "Two adults, now you can

It’s no longer time to be grudge-y. You two will probably have to leave here in the future, and maybe you will have to become naturalized as Haihan in the future. The sins you committed in the Ming Dynasty may be considered great merits if you put them in Haihan!"

The two of them looked at each other and thought that although Han Qin's statement could not stand up to scrutiny, it still made some sense. At this time, whoever took the initiative to surrender might get better treatment afterwards, while the one who acted slowly might get better treatment.

It was seen as following the trend.

However, Zhang Pucheng was cautious by nature. Even though Huang Qu's words had basically stated his attitude, he didn't have to worry about the boss going against him. He still had other things on his mind.

"Huang Bao is always a smart person, so naturally I won't worry. But Qishan Institute... I wonder what their attitude is?" Zhang Pucheng looked at Huang Qu and asked, "Does Huang Bao know what Feng Qianhu means?"

Huang Qu responded expressionlessly: "Qishan Institute is Qishan Institute's business and has nothing to do with me. If Feng Qianhu wants to challenge Haihan, then let him do it."

Qishan Qianhu Station is only a dozen miles away from Fushan County. After Haihan landed on Zhifu Island, the first thing he removed was a post set up by Qishan Station in Zhifu Bay. Qianhu Feng Fei, who was stationed there,

Although he was frightened by the force of Haihan and could only turn a blind eye to everything that happened on Zhifu Island, Feng Fei obeyed orders from Dengzhou and had never chosen neutrality like the two men from Fushan County. Huang Qu expressed his attitude in order to distance himself

The relationship with Qishan Institute. He did not think that Qishan Institute, which only had a few hundred soldiers, could resist the invasion of thousands of Haihan troops. If Feng Fei could not see the situation clearly, he would deserve to die.

Zhang Pucheng saw that Huang Qu was impeccable and immediately admired this guy's determination. Before the Haihan people came to Dengzhou, Huang Qu and Feng Fei were visiting each other from time to time, and the two parties even agreed to become in-laws. However, disaster was imminent.

Flying separately, Huang Qu was out of self-preservation, so there is nothing wrong with doing so. It is better to live alone than to seek death together.

Zhang Pucheng made up his mind and said: "Since Mr. Huang's thoughts are consistent with mine, it is better to contact the important officials of Haihan as soon as possible to inform us of our attitude to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings later."

Huang Qu nodded and said: "Master Zhang's words make sense, but I once heard the young General Chen say that action is worse than a heartbeat. Since we have made up our mind, why bother to find someone to convey the message, why not I personally went to Zhifu Island to show my feelings."

Zhang Pucheng hesitated: "Is it necessary to do this?"

Huang Qu stared at him and said noncommittally: "If Mr. Zhang feels it's inappropriate, then don't force it. Just wait for the news in the county seat."

Hearing this, Zhang Pucheng thought to himself that you still want to leave me and eat alone. How can this fulfill your wish? He immediately said: "The situation is unclear now, and it is still risky to go to Zhifu Island. I will go with Mr. Huang Ba. What happened?"

It’s good to have someone to take care of you.”

In his heart, Huang Qu looked down on Zhang Pucheng's civil servant style, acting like a mother-in-law and speaking hypocritically. However, Ming Dynasty had always respected civil servants. Although he was a little unhappy, he still did not look down on him in person.

After the two discussed it, they prepared their cars and prepared to set off. Han Qin originally wanted to follow, but Zhang Pucheng was worried that the people in the city would panic and chaos after hearing the news that Haihan's army had arrived, so he ordered Han Qin to guard the city.

In case something happens in the county town.
Chapter completed!