readsfreenovel Chapter 163 Supervision and execution
Chapter 163 Supervision and execution
Lin Shiqi was just about to have someone shoot a letter of surrender into the city, but he saw from afar that the gate of Wuxi was slowly opening.
As the county magistrate Feng Xidong and the government officials walked out with nervous faces, the county magistrate held the official seal that symbolized power in his hand, and the officials beside him lowered their heads.
Lin Shiqi put down his telescope and laughed, "Hahaha, you really know how to handle the current situation. Old Chu, it's a pity that your letter of persuasion to surrender was of no use."
The clerk Chu Zhangyin looked at the county magistrate leaving the city and said with a smile: "General, I was not of any use this time. I can use it next time."
"That's right. Keep this letter for now and use it when we get to Changzhou City."
Outside the city gate, the flags of the Meng army were flying. A team of Meng army soldiers, holding weapons, slowly moved towards the city gate. When they reached the foot of the city, Feng Xidong was afraid of causing misunderstanding, so there was no guard on the top of the city. All the guards under the city put down their weapons and squatted under the city wall.
Seeing that he had taken control of the city gate, Lin Shiqi led a battalion of soldiers to Wuxi City. Meng Jun watched the county magistrate and officials closely. Feng Xidong said in a trembling voice: "We are a small city with few people. We dare not resist the heavenly army. I hope the general will have mercy on us."
Lin Shiqi rode on his warhorse, looked down at Feng Xidong, and said, "County Magistrate Feng is indeed a wise man. Don't worry, you will be safe."
After saying this, he took the official seal from the county magistrate, and then issued an order for the soldiers to enter the city and control the four gates, the government office, the treasury and other important places in the city. He then sent a messenger to deliver an urgent message to Meng Jun in the rear.
…………
Jiangning City, Governor's Mansion, morning.
The news that Meng Jun had sent 300,000 troops to Wuxi soon reached Jiangning. Hong Chengchou looked at the military report with a frown on his face. Mao Xiang beside him asked curiously, "Governor, what's the matter?"
Upon hearing this, Hong Chengchou said to Mao Xiang meaningfully: "Meng Jun has sent out an army of 300,000 soldiers, heading towards Jiangning."
Mao Xiang was delighted, but soon reacted and said with a heavy face: "The 300,000 troops of Meng must be a lie. I'm afraid it would be a big deal if there are only 50,000 or 60,000 troops."
"Suzhou and Songjiang are rich, so they can easily support 100,000 soldiers, not to mention Zhejiang. Meng Jun might actually have 300,000 soldiers." Hong Chengchou narrowed his eyes and stared at Mao Xiang.
When Mao Xiang surrendered to Hong Chengchou, he was delighted, thinking that the hearts of the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River were gradually turning to him. However, Mao Xiang's expression made Hong Chengchou suspicious. When he heard that the thief Meng had won, he looked happy.
Although it was a slight change, it caught his attention. The more Hong Chengchou thought about it, the more he thought about it. Mao Xiang had resisted the Qing Dynasty so much in the past, but why did he suddenly surrender? At that time, the Qing Dynasty had not yet been completely unified. There were still chaos in various places, and the tax-collecting land in Jiangnan had been lost. The ownership of the world was still undecided.
Mao Xiang could have waited for the imperial court to call him up, so why would he risk damaging his reputation and come to him? Thinking of this, Hong Chengchou became even more suspicious. However, he could not torture Mao Xiang without any evidence, as this would certainly hurt the scholar's heart.
"Impossible, there are definitely not so many Meng thieves," Mao Xiang vowed.
Upon hearing this, Hong Chengchou did not respond, but remained silent for a moment, then changed the subject and said, "Pijiang, the court has sent an order that Huang Daozhou is stubborn and unyielding, and has ordered this governor to kill him on the spot."
Mao Xiang was shocked and hurriedly advised: "Sir, Mr. Shi Zhai's literary reputation is well-known in Jiangnan. He is just an old man now. He is not a threat to the court. Why bother to kill him?"
"I reported to the court and begged for his life, but the regent rejected my request and ordered his immediate execution," Hong Chengchou said lightly.
Mao Xiang was thinking about contacting Meng Bian and asking him if he could rescue Mr. Shi Zhai. It would be a pity if such a loyal and righteous man died like this.
Just as Mao Xiang was thinking hard about how to rescue him, Hong Cheng's words came slowly: "I also admire Mr. Shizhai's literary reputation, but the king's order cannot be disobeyed. Since the regent ordered to kill him as soon as he arrives, then he will be beheaded in the downtown area tomorrow."
After Hong Chengchou finished speaking, he glanced at Mao Xiang and said, "I am old and cannot stand the sight of blood. Tomorrow Pijiang will supervise the execution for me."
Mao Xiang was stunned and was about to refuse, but when he looked up and saw Hong Chengchou's gloomy face, his heart tightened and he couldn't say the words of refusal.
Even after leaving the Governor's Mansion, Mao Xiang's mind was still in a mess. On the one hand, he wanted to save Huang Daozhou, and on the other hand, Hong Chengchou's expression made Mao Xiang extremely uneasy. On the way back, he deliberately stopped from time to time, or looked at the shops, and looked back inadvertently, as if someone was watching him.
Mao Xiang didn't dare to go into the tea shop to contact Lu Ping, so he could only go back home first. As soon as he opened the door, Dong Xiaowan came to greet him. She saw that Mao Xiang's face looked not right. The weather in February was still cold, but there were beads of sweat on Mao Xiang's forehead.
"Husband, what happened?" Dong Xiaowan asked nervously.
Mao Xiang heard this, not wanting Xiao Wan to think too much, so he pulled a smile on his face and said, "Nothing, don't think too much."
"Husband, husband and wife are one body. Do you look like nothing happened?" Dong Xiaowan said angrily.
Mao Xiang was silent for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth and said: "The Qing court has ordered the execution of Mr. Shi Zhai, and Hong Chengchou has ordered me to supervise the execution."
Dong Xiaowan frowned upon hearing this. She was smart and reacted immediately, saying, "If my husband oversees the execution of Mr. Shizhai, the scholars of the world will spurn my husband. My husband, even if we cannot save Mr. Shizhai, you cannot personally oversee the execution. Can you please refuse this matter?"
Mao Xiang shook his head, looked at Dong Xiaowan, stroked her hair, and said slowly: "Xiaowan, in a few days, I will find a way to send you out of the city"
"Husband, why?"
"Hong Chengchou may have some suspicions, otherwise he would not have let me supervise the execution, and..." Mao Xiang paused for a moment and said uncertainly: "It seems that someone is following me today."
"Then I cannot leave. If I leave, won't my husband be more suspicious?"
Mao Xiang sat on the chair in a somewhat irritable manner. This didn't work and that didn't work. Dong Xiaowan said at this time: "Husband, why don't you ask Master Meng?"
Mao Xiang sighed and said, "I haven't seen him for many days, but there is a tea shop on the street outside my home. That is my contact point. If there is any emergency or intelligence, I can contact him. But now I may be watched by someone. If I act rashly, I am afraid I will be exposed."
Dong Xiaowan smiled and said, "My husband, you forgot about me. I am a woman and I have to buy some meat or clothes every day."
Mao Xiang suddenly became alert and said, "Madam, what you said makes sense. Let's go there this afternoon. The name of the tea shop is Chayuanju. But just in case, don't go in directly. Wait a minute, I will write a secret letter. Remember, the owner of the shop is Lu Ping. If anyone else, don't disclose this secret letter."
"My dear husband, I know how powerful you are."
……
Changlin Town, on the march.
Several cavalrymen, riding their war horses, came galloping.
"Report, Governor, urgent report from Lin Tongzhen"
Yu An quickly stepped forward, took the military report from the messenger, and then handed it to Meng Jun.
Meng Jun took it, opened it, and smiled. He then ordered Xia Wanchun beside him, "Order Lin Tongzhen to continue marching towards Changzhou. Two days later, arrive at the foot of Changzhou, set up camp, build siege equipment, and wait for the arrival of the main army to join forces to attack the city."