Steel Dynasty - Chapter 26

[Chapter 26 Qian Dafu was injured]

“Colonel Lu!” When they saw each other, the sergeant protecting Qian Dafu immediately dismounted, knelt on one knee, and said with a look of shame on his face: “Please punish your Highness and the Colonel, we are waiting for you.” Protect Butler Qian.”

“What’s going on!”

Xiao Ming felt a faint anger burning in his heart. He was assassinated before, and now Qian Dafu was injured again.

The leading sergeant said: “Your Highness, we have been searching for mines for a month. According to His Highness’s instructions, we have found a lot. We were about to come back and report to Your Highness. We never thought that we were ambushed by bandits on the way. Although we escaped after a bloody battle. , but Butler Qian was still hit by an arrow.”

“Bandits?” Lu Fei frowned and said worriedly: “Your Highness, the cold winter is coming, and many people who can’t survive will become bandits and make a living by looting. , Now these bandits dare to openly attack the government. It seems that the bandit chaos this year is more serious than in previous years.”

Lu Fei’s eyes were strange when he spoke, which seemed to be accusing, meaning that although you have made no big mistakes in the past five years, But there was no success. The barbarian rebellion three years ago made the six states even more impoverished and chaotic.

“Send Butler Qian back for treatment first!” Xiao Ming said to the sergeant escorting Butler Qian, ignoring Lu Fei.

The leading sergeant responded and quickly rushed towards Qingzhou City with the unconscious Qian Dafu.

The group quickly followed and entered Qingzhou City. Xiao Ming immediately summoned the medical officer from the Governor’s Mansion to come over and treat Qian Dafu.

There was such a big movement in Qingzhou City, and Pang Yukun was also alerted and arrived at Prince Qi’s Mansion.

The medical officer checked and said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, Steward Qian did not hurt his internal organs. He just lost blood and passed out. He only needs to remove the arrow, bandage it, and recover for a while.” “

Doctor Sun has excellent medical skills. “Since the problem mentioned is not big, there should be no problem,” Lu Fei said.

Xiao Ming also breathed a sigh of relief, “In that case, let’s all go out and let Dr. Sun treat Butler Qian.”

The three of them went outside, and Lu Fei said angrily: “These bandits are really bold. I will lead them as soon as the snow stops. The army went to encircle and suppress. “

“Encirclement and suppression can only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. If the people are well-fed and well-fed, who will turn into bandits?” Pang Yukun said, somewhat referring to Sang and Huai.

Lu Fei said: “Then what should Pang Changshi see?”

“In the past, Captain Lu would encircle and suppress bandits every year, but the bandits failed many times. Now His Highness has launched farming and tax reductions, although they have won the hearts of the people, but There is no effect in the short term, so in my opinion, it is better to surrender than to encircle and suppress them. These people are people who cannot survive. As long as they are given a bite to eat, they will not follow the real thieves,” Pang Yukun said. .

Lu Fei asked, “What if they refuse?”

“Of course we will use hard and soft tactics. We will naturally encircle and suppress the bandits who do not surrender. If they surrender, we will treat them with courtesy. In this way, it will not be a problem for us to survive this cold winter. As for next year , the people’s land has harvested, and the banditry has naturally disappeared,” Pang Yukun said.

Xiao Ming nodded, “Just do as Pang Changshi said and prepare with both hands. The bandits are very scattered, and it is very difficult to encircle and suppress the mountains due to heavy snowfall. Starting today, we will be giving porridge at the gates of the cities of various states, but the bandits who attacked Qian Dafu, You must not be lenient, otherwise how can I be worthy of him and the soldiers?”

Lu Fei clasped his fists and said, “Don’t worry, Your Highness, I will definitely bring this wave of bandits to justice.”

Pang Yukun said bluntly: “Your Highness, don’t kill indiscriminately, just catch the bandits. Otherwise, if word spreads, who will surrender?”

Although Xiao Ming was very angry, Pang Yukun’s words were not unreasonable. He said, “Pang Changshi is right, capture the thief and capture the king.”

Lu Fei agreed. The sound was that I went to the military camp to prepare.

“Your Highness, I am going to prepare porridge and notices to the various states. However, the governor’s office does not have enough silver. Can your highness allocate some silver from the Equipment Department to buy corn?” Pang Yukun looked like Xiao Ming owed him money.

Speaking of being rich, the Equipment Department is naturally the richest now, but no matter how rich he is, he still can’t withstand the daily porridge.

Xiao Ming said with heartache: “Okay, I will allocate some silver coins to you for the time being, but can Pang Changshi also advise my father to allocate some silver coins to help this king tide over this difficulty?”

“Your Highness, your Majesty, please give me some money .

If you don’t transfer the money, doesn’t it depend on you, Your Highness?” Pang Yukun said, raising his eyelids slightly.

Xiao Ming was depressed. What Pang Yukun meant was that he was worthless in Xiao Wenxuan’s eyes. The last time he sent a letter to Xiao Wenxuan, it never came to light.

It seems that Xiao Wenxuan is really planning to starve himself to death here.

“Go, go, you and Lu Fei just want to see my joke.” Xiao Ming angrily drove Pang Yukun away.

Pang Yukun smiled half-heartedly, turned around and left Prince Qi’s Mansion. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but it was royal matters that he couldn’t get involved in.

Watching Pang Yukun leave, Xiao Ming frowned. It is true that misfortunes never come singly, and blessings never come in pairs. Once the equipment department’s money is allocated, it will undoubtedly affect the current development of various technologies in the equipment department.

And this was the last thing he wanted to see. In this way, he could only go to Xiao Wenxuan.

Because the vassal king guarding the border was not supported by the imperial court without allocating silver, although his fiefdom was not the main target of barbarian plunder.

“What should I do?” Xiao Ming thought hard. Now he is making things worse. The new policy has not yet yielded results, and the banditry has started again.

After pondering for a while, Xiao Ming remembered Empress Zhao of the current dynasty. This Empress Zhao was the biological mother of the current prince, and was very favored by Xiao Wenxuan. It was precisely because of her that Xiao Wenxuan still refused to depose the prince no matter how stupid he was.

And Empress Xiao loved spices very much, even to the point of paranoia. The high officials in the court often collected some fragrant cakes and other things to please her.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ming had an idea. This time he had to change his strategy and launch an attack from the rear. The production of modern perfume was no problem for him.

And the current conditions are sufficient.

He planned to brew a batch to give to his mother, Concubine Zhen, and then use Concubine Zhen to insinuate Queen Zhao to help him turn his back on the matter.

Even if it fails, he can still ask Concubine Zhen to help him sell in Chang’an to earn silver.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ming felt a little relieved.

“Your Highness, Butler Qian is awake.” While he was thinking, Zi Wan came out of Qian Dafu’s room and said.

Xiao Ming immediately walked in. At this time, Dr. Sun was bandaging Qian Dafu, and Qian Dafu was about to sit up when he saw him.

“No need to get up.” Xiao Ming said.

(End of chapter)