Chapter 243 Bandits!

In the summer of the fifth year of Zhengde.

Xiong Xiu, the left minister of the Ministry of War, was ordered to go to Hebei to urge Ma Zongzheng reform.

In fact, not only him, but also all the officials from the Ministry of War, from the Minister of War, Yang Yiqing, to the officials from various departments, all pounced on Ma Zheng in various places.

His Majesty the Emperor intends to eradicate the shortcomings of Ma Zheng, so all the officials of Taipu Temple were imprisoned and tortured and have not been released to this day!

Under this premise, even Xiong Xiu did not dare to say anything, not to mention that Li Dongyang also gave him numerous instructions that the Huguang Party members should follow His Majesty's will in the future, so as to eliminate His Majesty's hatred of the Huguang Party members. disgust.

And this time to patrol Hebei and clean up the horse administration in Hebei is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity.

But what Xiong Xiu didn't expect was that the people of Hebei were deeply harmed by Ma Zheng, and the situation was very serious!

This blessed place close to the capital should have been prosperous and peaceful, but what you saw was full of devastation.

In order to enrich their own pockets, local officials forced local people to work as horse farmers.

The labor burden on horse farmers is extremely heavy, and they have to pay a lot of money to ensure that they keep good horses. Daily fodder alone is a huge expense, which not only delays agricultural production, but also requires high costs when the horses they raise die or the stallion breeding is insufficient. compensation.

How to compensate?

As Yang Yiqing said, "The cost of raising a horse is ten taels, and the person who pays for the horse is always ten taels." If raising a horse itself requires ten taels of silver, then the bribe paid to the official in order to let the horse pass the inspection will cost at least ninety taels. , that is to say, the burden on horse farmers is exactly ten times that of the Hongwu period during the reign of Emperor Taizu Gao!

The horse-raising national policy customized by Emperor Taizu Gao in the past has already changed its taste and has become a corrupt method for officials to plunder the people's wealth!

The impoverished people had to "sell their land, sell their property, and sell their men and women to make up for what they had, which was unspeakably miserable."

After entering Hebei, one sentence after another was inspected. The sentence that Xiong Xiu heard the most was that someone described it as "the most serious problem is food in the south of the Yangtze River, and the most serious problem in Hebei is horses"!

The harm caused by Ma Zheng has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, making people despair!

You know, Hebei is close to the capital, which is an important part of the capital!

This is the case even in the Gyeonggi region. Can you imagine how miserable the situation will be in other places?

For a time, Xiong Xiu and other officials could not help but feel compassion. They actively responded to the court's call and tried their best to investigate the harm caused by Ma Zheng. They showed no mercy to the corrupt officials they encountered!

The new leader of the Huguang Party seems to have rediscovered the passion and enthusiasm he had when he was studying hard in the cold window.

He Xiongxiu made this trip only for the people, only for the Ming Dynasty, not for selfish reasons!

The accompanying officials also had a supervisory censor named Ning Gao, a native of Liaodong. He was a Jinshi in the ninth year of Hongzhi and was moved to the supervisory censorship in the first year of Zhengde.

This person has quite the fierceness of Liaodong. Although he is only a scholar, he acts vigorously and decisively, and is extremely decisive and ruthless.

All the dirty and tiring work that Xiong Xiu didn't want to do was given to the supervisory censor.

Ning Gao was quite happy about this. After all, he had chosen the path of censor, so he naturally wanted to be named.

What name do you want?

Naturally, he is a man of integrity and strict enforcement of the law.

Only in this way can he be promoted in his official career. After this tour of Hebei, it is unlikely that he will be able to go further.

Therefore, Xiong Xiu and Ning Gao cooperated tacitly. One was to appease officials and the people, and the other was responsible for tracking down corrupt officials.

Hebei Ma Zheng gradually improved as a result, and it seemed to be somewhat beneficial.

However, the arrival of a piece of news ruined everything.

Ning Gao hurriedly walked into the room and found Xiong Xiu who was still reviewing official documents.

"Master Xiong, something happened."

"Hebei thieves attacked the grain team."

"Hebei thieves?" Xiong Xiu frowned, and his face instantly turned livid.

The so-called Hebei thieves refer to a group of bandits who specialize in robbing homes and houses, headed by brothers Liu Liu and Liu Qi.

Liu Liu Mingchong and Liu Qimingchen were born in Wen'an County, Bazhou. They were born in poor farmers. They were originally honest farmers. However, due to the Ma Zheng in Hebei Province, they were forced to sell their land, marry men and women, and even fled directly and became refugees. As a result, It didn't take long for him to transform into a famous Hebei thieves!

These two brothers were brave and good at riding and shooting, and coupled with Qi Yanming, who was eager for justice and justice, they really made a big name in this place in Hebei.

Because in the name of "robbing the rich and giving to the poor", they specifically targeted the gentry and large households, but they did no harm to the common people and won a large number of people's support. There were even some informants among them, so the government repeatedly encircled and suppressed the capital. Ended with failure.

Xiong Xiu couldn't help but frown.

"Why did they rob the grain team?"

"There is a severe drought in Bazhou. This batch of grain is used to provide disaster relief to the people. How dare these damn thieves do anything to the disaster relief grain?"

Ning Gao sneered and said: "These thieves usually do things like robbing homes and houses. The so-called "robbing the rich and giving to the poor" is just to put money on their faces and deceive the ignorant Guizhou people."

"Bazhou is experiencing a drought and the land is thousands of miles away. There is no food everywhere. Don't these thieves want to eat? Of course they will be moved when they see the food!"

Hearing Ning Gao's words, Xiong Xiu frowned even more tightly.

"Something is not quite right!"

"Even if they are just trying to survive, they can just loot houses and rob wealthy gentry families as they did in the past, so why bother..."

Before he finished speaking, another official rushed in hurriedly.

"Sir, something happened!"

"After those thieves stole the disaster relief food, they went straight to the disaster area and distributed the food one by one to the affected people. The Hebei thieves became famous and won the support of the people!"

"These thieves also said that they wanted to steal the disaster food because they were worried that corrupt officials would exploit it. Less than 30% of the food that fell into the hands of the victims was less than 30%. Now that they distribute it themselves, they can ensure that the victims Receive food..."

As soon as these words came out, Xiong Xiu became furious.

"Damn thing!"

"After this incident, Bazhou only knows about horse thieves and not about the imperial government!"

The reason why those thieves did this was to deliberately arouse the people's disrespect for the government and the imperial court, and undermine the prestige of the imperial court and the government in the hearts of the people!

To put it bluntly, these damn horse thieves are tantamount to rebellion!

Xiong Xiu immediately looked at Ning Gao and said in a deep voice: "Yu Shi Ning, these thieves must be eliminated as soon as possible. If we continue to let them go, they will change sooner or later!"

"Please Ning Yushi rush to Bazhou immediately to investigate the horse thieves. I will request your Majesty's order immediately. Ning Yushi can go with peace of mind."

"After I have eliminated Ma Zheng, I will immediately rush to Bazhou to help you!"

After Ning Gao heard this, he immediately set off and took orders to rush to Bazhou.

Looking at his back, Xiong Xiu fell into deep thought.

"Sir, Yushi Ning is a bit ruthless in his behavior and has the style of a cruel official!"

"If we send him there... I'm afraid it will... provoke a civil uprising!"

Civil uprising!

These two words carry too much weight.

Xiong Xiu sighed.

"This Ning Gao is as ruthless as a cruel official. How could I not know this?"

"But the problem is that the Ma Zheng matter is not over yet. If I go there in person at this moment, all the previous efforts will be in vain!"

"Furthermore, Liu Liu, Liu Qi and other thieves can do whatever they want in Bazhou, and the blind obedience of local people is an indisputable fact. Under this situation, it is meaningless for ordinary officials to go. Only cruel officials like Ning Gao can go. Kill the chicken to scare the monkey, and even wipe out this thieves in one fell swoop!”

The officials beside him nodded in understanding, but Xiong Xiu frowned.

The situation in Bazhou is becoming increasingly chaotic, and someone must go to suppress it. No matter how cruel methods are used, this unhealthy trend must be forcibly killed!

When the people lose their respect for the government!

When the people lose their support for the imperial court!

When the people become respectful to the bandits!

Then, it naturally means that the imperial court has lost the support of the people in Bazhou!

And at this time, if no one goes to suppress them, use thunder to destroy and kill the damn bandits, and use their heads to kill chickens and monkeys, then the next step for these bandits will become... rebels!

Civil uprising!

Rebel!

This is the word that emperors, generals, ministers and all officials are most afraid of hearing.

But now, Xiong Xiu had a premonition that a shocking change was taking place in the land of Bazhou.

That's why he immediately sent Ning Gao to suppress it, hoping to stop those damn thieves!

"Ning Gao, Ning Gao, I hope you won't disappoint me!"

After muttering something in a low voice, Xiong Xiu immediately took out pen and ink to write an official document, reporting the Bazhou horse thieves in detail and mentioning his worries and speculations.

He is not the Marquis of Zhongshan and has the power to control the local army and horses, so he can only report the matter to the court immediately, hoping that the court can respond in time!

However, this urgent memorial was deliberately withheld when it passed the General Affairs Department, and Xiong Xiu had no idea about it.

Wen'an Depression is located in the eastern part of Wen'an County. It is low-lying and is known as Dongdian. It is one of the eight major depressions in Hebei.

During the flood season, there are white sails dotted on the river, and misty willows on both sides of the river. Going eastward, you can go directly to Tianjin, and go upstream to connect with Baiyangdian.

At this moment, Wen'an Wa has become the lair of thieves, and the world-famous Liu Liu, Liu Qi and Qi Yanming are all here.

Different from the two farmers, Liu Liu and Liu Qi, Qi Yanming was a serious scholar with a reputation in the imperial court.

However, he was impatient and righteous, and he failed to pass the imperial examination, so he gradually gave up the idea of ​​continuing the scientific examination, and instead made friends with heroes who helped spread wealth and justice, and he made a lot of good names.

It's just that if his behavior falls into the eyes of local officials, he will naturally be considered a "dangerous element".

The magistrate of Wen'an County directly asked the government officials to find an excuse and threw Qi Yanming into prison. He also wanted to beat him up and charge him with some crimes, preferably one that could be beheaded directly, or that could be exiled. , either kill or exile such dangerous elements, anyway, deal with them as soon as possible.

Brothers Liu Liu and Liu Qi had been favored by Qi Yanming when they fled in their early years, so when they heard that Qi Yanming was wrongfully imprisoned, they immediately rushed to Wen'an County and took advantage of a dark and windy night to kill Qi Yanming. Got rescued.

Qi Yanming was also completely disappointed with the Ming Dynasty because of this incident. He completely gave up his courtesy and became the leader of the Hebei thieves. He used his not-so-subtle tactics to lead the brothers Liu Liu and Liu Qi to do it. A righteous deed of "robbing the rich and giving to the poor"!

The robbery of disaster food and distribution to the people was Qi Yanming's personal plan.

Facts have proved that the risk they took was worth it. At least they survived and won the hearts of the people of Bazhou!

With Qi Yanming's poor knowledge, he also knew the principle of "those who win the hearts of the people win the world".

Of course, the world is still too far away for a bandit leader.

Qi Yanming just wants to do what he thinks is right and protect as many people in Bazhou as possible, and that's all for the rest of his life.

At this moment, a celebration party was being held in the big village, and the bandits were drinking and playing finger-guessing games. It was very lively.

Liu Liu and Liu Qi also kept praising Qi Yanming, saying that he was a wise and resourceful Zhuge Liang. These praises made the boss a little flattered.

However, at this moment, a group of uninvited guests suddenly came.

I saw a man in silk walking in with a thug, and then he came forward and reported a few words to Qi Yanming in a low voice.

Qi Yanming frowned after hearing this, and subconsciously looked at this "uninvited guest".

"Who are you?"

"What do you want to do with us?"

The man smiled slightly, facing the wolf-like eyes of these bandits, he was not afraid at all.

"Don't worry, sir. I am a merchant from Jiangnan."

"I came to Bazhou to do business, but seeing that the people in Bazhou were living in poverty, I couldn't do business anymore."

"But after learning about the heroic deeds of the heroes, I admired them, so I sent a batch of gifts. Please accept them, sir!"

"Oh!" Liu Liu laughed and said, "Is there really such a good thing in the world? Is this the benefit of reputation?"

"Hey, what gift did you send? Bring it up and let me see!"

The merchant smiled and shook his head, saying: "The gifts are outside the hall, a total of five carts!"

"Three carts of food, one cart of armor, and one cart of crossbows!"

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was silent.

The originally noisy and bustling Dazhai fell into a dead silence in an instant!

Qi Yanming stood up suddenly in shock, staring at the newcomer.

"Who are you?!"

"Do you want to kill all of us?!"

Food is fine, it is indeed what they need most.

But armor and crossbows are strictly prohibited by the court!

Once anyone is found to have privately stored armor and crossbows, their family will be confiscated and their property will be exterminated without mercy!

Because the defensive power of armor and the lethality of crossbows are simply incomparable!

To put it more bluntly, if anyone dares to privately store armor and crossbows, it means that this person wants to - rebel!

Otherwise, why do you keep these two things privately? Do you think it looks good?

Even farmers like Liu Liu and Liu Qi know what things cannot be touched. If they really touch them, it will be a capital crime of confiscating their property and exterminating their family!

In the eyes of the court officials, their bandits were just a group of bandits and vagrants. They could be suppressed or not, or they could turn a blind eye.

But once they accept this batch of California crossbows and are discovered by the court, they will no longer be bandits, but real rebels!

At that time, the court will certainly urge the local government to encircle and suppress them, kill one by one, and wipe out the whole family without mercy!

So, this matter is not a joke.

Qi Yanming has not yet thought about turning from a bandit to a rebel!

Most of their brothers' families are still in the village and town!

The merchant seemed to have expected it, and was not surprised to see this situation. Instead, he shouted solemnly: "The emperor has lost his virtue and disasters have occurred frequently. He has appointed treacherous ministers to disrupt the government. Local officials have made up excuses to extort the people's fat and blood. The people are miserable and the people are living in misery!"

"All these heroes have seen it. If it weren't for this, I believe you would not give up your peaceful life and be forced to become these bloodthirsty bandits!"

This sentence undoubtedly touched the hearts of everyone present.

If those dog officials were not too greedy, if this damn world was not too dark, if they were not forced to gather and make trouble, they would have given up their good lives and become bandits who lick blood on the edge of a knife!

In fact, the people's demands have always been simple. They just want to farm the land in peace and stability, and just want to live their lives with their families. Even if life is a little hard, it's a little hard, at least they can still live, that's all.

However, some people don't want them to live a stable life. Some people have to "force them to Liangshan" and force them to be thieves and bandits!

This damn world is cannibalistic!

Qi Yanming took a deep breath and then stopped looking at this person.

"No matter who sent you, I'm not interested!"

"You damned bastards, you just want us to be scapegoats!"

"No matter what your purpose is, I will never take these armors and crossbows!"

"Come on, send them out of the camp, including those damned armors and crossbows!"

As Qi Yanming gave the order, Liu Liu and Liu Qi immediately stood up and surrounded the merchant.

"Please come in!"

"We can't afford your gift, please..."

Before the two brothers finished speaking, the merchant told them a shocking bad news!

"You two brothers, should be the heroes Liu Liu and Liu Qi, right?"

"Perhaps you don't know yet, the court sent a cruel official to catch thieves, this man is called Ning Gao."

"As soon as this cruel official arrived in Wen'an County, he forced the county magistrate to send soldiers to arrest all your relatives. This morning when I left the county, they were all hanged on the top of the city gate, including your eighty-year-old mother..."

As soon as these words came out, the brothers Liu Liu and Liu Qi felt their heads explode, and then their eyes went black and they almost fainted.

"Don't panic!"

"This can't be true!"

Qi Yanming scolded sternly, and then glared at the visitor.

"What on earth do you want to do..."

"The family members of the headmaster were also arrested, but because of your status as a scholar, you are still in prison, but you are expected to die."

The merchant sneered again and again and looked at Qi Yanming leisurely.

The latter froze in disbelief, and then immediately shouted: "Send someone quickly to find out whether the news is true!"

"Since I dare to say this, it must be true. There is no point in deceiving you, right?"

The merchant from the south of the Yangtze River sighed and said: "You heroes, if you lose your deer, the whole world will chase you. As long as you can be the spark that starts a prairie fire, then all the heroes in the world will follow suit and form a prairie fire, just like in the late Yuan Dynasty. In troubled times, let’s work together to overthrow this damn Ming Dynasty!”

"A single spark can start a prairie fire. You are all the same fire that started a prairie fire. You are the true heroes who resisted the catastrophe. Your names will go down in history and your reputation will last forever!"

Everyone: "!!!"