Chapter 76 take risks

The news that Huang Zongxi and his 3,000 rebels landed in Tanshan spread rapidly in Haining and Haiyan within one day, and shocked the officials of the two counties.On the one hand, they closed the gates of the city tightly and took full precautions; on the other hand, they sent people to Hangzhou in a hurry to report to Zhang Cunren, the governor of Zhejiang in the Qing Dynasty.As a result, on the third day, a Qing army reinforcement of about several thousand people rushed to Haining.They did not take the initiative to attack the rebels, but only set up camp at the foot of Dajian Mountain, which was ten miles away from Tanshan Mountain, and assumed a posture of attacking and defending, and attacking later.As a result, Huang Zongxi was forced to be cautious.Because this time the army is the first battle of the Western Expedition, it is related to the beginning of the entire military plan, and he feels a heavy responsibility; and he uses the 3,000 newly trained troops under his command to attack the enemy's 1,000 battle-hardened soldiers , It is indeed difficult to say that there is a certainty of victory.As a result, after repeated research with Wang Zhengzhong and others, he finally decided: immediately send someone back to the Longwangtang garrison, report to Sun Jiaji, and suggest that Sun Jiaji contact the Shaoxing Rebel Army stationed at Xiaowei Ferry, and ask the other side's coach, Yixing Bo Zheng Zunqian, to send troops. Land from between Hangzhou and Haining to cut off the retreat of the Qing army's reinforcements and cooperate with their attack.Unexpectedly, after the envoy was dispatched, three days passed, and five days passed, but there was no response from Sun Jiaji, so the war dragged on in anxiety...

In order to ensure that the first battle will be won, Huang Zongxi has his full reasons for doing so, but he doesn't know that the delay of the war will make Zha Jizuo, Liu Jingting and others who are currently lurking in Haining City ready to attack the city situation has become quite difficult.Moreover, due to the inability to get in touch with the city, Huang Zongxi didn't even know that among these lurkers, Shen Shizhu had unfortunately died. On the contrary, Yu Huai and Zhang Weichi had been added. Friends take the risk. Indeed, when it comes to Mao Xiang finally deciding to join this circle, I am afraid that even he himself is a little unexpected.Because let alone being a refugee, the whole family, the old and the young, now all depend on him to support them.Neither his parents nor his wife would agree to his participation in such a conspiracy that could lead to a fatal disaster; even he himself, after a year of ups and downs and hardships, has lost all vigor and single-mindedness. I thought that I could bring my family back to Rugao safely, and then live in seclusion in the countryside for the rest of my life, and my wish was fulfilled.It was only when he learned that he had risked hundreds of miles and finally found his Yu Huai again. He turned out to be a member of the rebel army with a secret mission. Then he learned that Shen Shizhu and Liu Jingting were also sent by the rebel army in eastern Zhejiang to follow Zha Jizuo When he arrived in Haining, his mind changed.From the mouths of these old friends, Mao Xiang learned many things that he didn't know or didn't know much about in the past. For example, King Lu's army has expanded to 100,000 people, not only Zhang Guowei, Zhu Dadian, Sun Jiaji, etc. Bingzheng, assisted by experienced generals such as Fang Guoan and Wang Zhiren, has repeatedly defeated the Qing army in the past year and successfully consolidated the territory in eastern Zhejiang. For example, in addition to the turmoil in eastern Zhejiang, the king of Tang also ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor in Fujian a year ago, and changed his name to Yuan Longwu, which won the support of rebels from all over the country.In addition, the anti-Qing struggle in Jiangxi, Hunan, and even the outskirts of Nanjing was in full swing and in the ascendant.If, before this, Mao Xiang was struggling for the survival of his family, it was like falling into a nightmare that was extremely distressing but could not be shaken off, then these latest news, this kind of unexpected The scene, however, was like a dazzling brilliance, which made him wake up suddenly, and saw a vast sea and sky, and the scene of turbulent clouds, so that his eyes were dazzled, and he couldn't help being excited.In particular, learning that Shen Shizhu, a thin and frail friend, died bravely trying to break through the city gate, while another friend Huang Zongxi became a general of the rebel army and was about to lead his troops across the river, Mao Xiang felt the shock in his heart. And ashamed, more than words can describe.In addition, once Yu Huai and others mobilized again, he made up his mind and resolutely agreed.However, in order to prevent his family members from panicking and crying when they learned about it, he kept quiet, not even his father.This is the first time in his life.Perhaps because of this reason, he finally couldn't help but secretly revealed to Dong Xiaowan.Surprisingly, the concubine understood and supported his decision very much, and said that he would keep it secret for him.This made Maoxiang somewhat relieved, so he actively participated in the planning circle of Zha Jizuo and others...

Right now, it's May 28th.In the afternoon of this day, a group of friends who participated in the conspiracy gathered in a secret room in the Cha family mansion to discuss the matter of responding to the rebel army's attack on the city.This secret room is located behind a Buddhist hall in the back garden, with Buddha statues in the front, and a cobblestone-paved patio in the middle, half covered by a lush loquat tree.The Buddhist hall is surrounded by a pond full of lotus flowers, and only a small bridge connects to the outside, so the environment is indeed quite secretive.This group of friends in the circle is not the first time to hold a secret meeting here.However, just now, they learned from the stern-looking Zha Jizuo that due to an extraordinary accident, the plan to take over the rebel army was in danger of being exposed, which made everyone very nervous. There was a momentary silence.

The incident that Zha Jizuo mentioned really made everyone not nervous.Originally, due to Shen Shizhu's death and Ling Junfu's failure to enter the city as promised, the attempt to seize the city gate by organizing a riot by force failed. They have turned to split up and use various relationships to secretly infiltrate the defenders in an attempt to get rid of them. Without knowing it, he controlled the city gate in his hands so that when the time came, he would welcome the rebels into the city.Of course, this is not easy, especially when Shen Shizhu tried to swindle the city gate, the county magistrate Zhang Yaoyang has become more vigilant than ever.In the next few days, he sent his officers to search the city wantonly, declaring that he would dig out his accomplices.Fortunately, Liu Jingting and Yu Huai were able to escape quickly at that time, and the Cha family had deep roots and influence in Haining, so they managed to weather the storm.But in this way, sending people to infiltrate the sergeants defending the city would be much more difficult and risky.Later, it was still Zha Jizuo who, relying on his family relationship, stepped up his search, instigated rebellion and bribed the defenders, and finally won over some people.At the same time, due to the lack of soldiers in the city, Zhang Yaoyang had to conscript civilians from various Baojias to assist in the defense.This also provided Zha Jizuo with the opportunity to install his confidants.Up to now, among the six gates of Haining City, at least at the east gate and south gate, they have placed their own people.Especially the south gate, because it successfully instigated a captain named Zhou of the defending army, it is more hopeful that it will become a major opening for the rebels to break the city in the future.Unexpectedly, since the news that Huang Zongxi led the army to land in Tanshan, the county magistrate Zhang Yaoyang was very nervous.In order to strengthen the control over the various sects, he recently sent some capable subordinates to supervise them.The person in charge of the south gate is a master surnamed He.This man was dry and thin, usually with an air of neither yin nor yang, and he was quite scheming and deceitful.He seemed to have sniffed out a bit of smell, and watched more closely for every movement on the door. Yesterday, he suddenly took the captain surnamed Zhou and a civilian husband back to the county government office, interrogated him for a long time, and then released the captain surnamed Zhou, but Leave that civilian husband behind.And that civilian husband happened to be a capable confidant placed by Zha Jizuo.So, did the captain surnamed Zhou confess him?If so, once that cronie is tortured and interrogated, will he also confess to the Cha brothers?These are still uncertain at the moment.Although the Cha brothers had already sent someone to the yamen to entrust their relationship and inquire about the news, they only learned that the cronies are currently being detained in prison, and have not been tried or sentenced.As for how to deal with it next step, it is not clear.As a result, the Cha brothers couldn't help being less nervous, so they hurriedly summoned everyone to discuss how to deal with it... In the midst of nervous thinking, Zhang Weichi finally broke the silence, "If you can't bear the threat of torture, and the confession will come out, everyone will die!" This is undoubtedly what everyone present thought.So everyone exchanged a worried look, and no one said a word.

"Isn't there an interrogation? Maybe not?" Someone said hopefully, it was Yu Huai. Liu Jingting sighed: "I'm in prison, do you still expect to come out whole? This time, I'm afraid he will lose a layer of skin if he doesn't die!" "Then—" Yu Huai blinked, "Can you find a way to rescue him?" "Yes, try to spend some money!" Zhang Weichi also chimed in. Zha Jikun glanced at them, then shook his head: "If they can be rescued, the student and the younger brother have been rescued long ago! The people inside said that this person is under strict supervision by Mr. He, unless it is the magistrate of the county, who else will be rescued?" I dare not sell it!"

"Then what should we do? We can't just sit here and wait to die!" Zhang Weichi couldn't help feeling anxious. No one answered.The secret room fell silent again.The fragrance of lotus blossoms coming in from the window becomes clear; in the depths of the invisible bushes, the long and loud cicadas are disturbing. Faced with this situation, although Mao Xiang who was sitting on the side didn't say a word, his heart was agitated.Yes, when he decided to participate, he knew that this matter was no small matter, and he would take a huge risk, and if he failed, he would even risk his life.However, he never expected that things would happen so fast and so suddenly. "Ah, how could this happen?" He thought, "Why didn't something happen sooner or later? I just joined in a few days, and something like this happened? Hey, even people were taken away. I'm afraid this Lou The stabbing is not small! Once the truth is revealed, the implications will be serious, and I am afraid that none of these people can escape! They are lucky, they have finally risen up and fought, at least they have competed heartily with the tartars. Work hard! But as for me, I have hardly done anything. Wouldn’t it be worth it to lose my life like this! Besides, what should I do if I leave a big family behind..." I was so worried in my heart , I heard Yu Huai put down the teacup, and said angrily: "Huang Taichong and the others are really terrified! They have occupied Tanshan for ten days, but they keep lingering and never entering the army! If this drags on, he We can afford it, but we can't afford it!"

"It's not that Huang Taichong doesn't want to enter the army." Zha Jikun explained, "Didn't the Tartars send reinforcements from Hangzhou? I'm afraid they are planning a strategy to defeat the enemy. Well, this battle is no small matter, and Meng Lang really can't do it." "But what should we do now?" Zhang Weichi asked with wide-eyed eyes, "If there is no other way, then it's better to separate and escape for the time being, it's better than sitting here and waiting for death!" "Escape, I'm afraid I can't escape." Someone said slowly, it was Liu Jingting, "If that captain really stabbed something, I'm afraid that the whole house will be caught by the public. Already!"

But Zha Jikun shook his head: "That's not likely. When you invited everyone to come, the students had already checked all around, and there was nothing unusual. At this moment, there are people watching all the time, and there is no report coming in." "Oh, yes, you can still escape." Maoxiang thought again, "In this case, then we have to hurry up! However, I am afraid that all the gates on the four sides of the city are tightly closed, and if you can get out of this house, you will not be able to escape. Out of the hands of the government—Of course, you can also try to hide, with their Cha family's power in the city, it's not difficult to find us a safe place, I don't know them..."

"Things are so difficult now," Zha Jizuo, who had been listening quietly all this time, finally said, "is that we still don't know what's going on. It's hard to say right now, even if the captain got involved. Therefore, you can’t act rashly or act too hastily, so as not to overwhelm the enemy and waste all your previous efforts! But it’s not going to work if you don’t take precautions. Therefore, I hurriedly invite everyone here today to let everyone know about this and know what’s going on. But—” He paused , raised his eyes, "Brother Danxin is right, rather than everyone staying here and being caught without a fight, then everyone should really leave immediately, find a safe place to hide, and avoid the limelight before we talk!"

"I'm leaving, so what will Xian Kunzhong do?" Yu Huai asked. "Huang Taichong and the others might attack sooner or later. Someone has to take care of the response. It won't work if everything is empty here. Besides, there may not be anything wrong. Even if something happens, life and death will be up to my brother!" Yu Huai froze for a moment, then shook his head: "Then I won't leave either! Blessings are shared, and disasters are shared, I don't think anyone can leave!" "Yes, no one is allowed to leave!" Zhang Weichi also chimed in.

Maoxiang had already regained hope, but when he heard what they said, his heart suddenly sank again: "Ah, no one is allowed to leave?" He thought, "What should we do? Could it be that he really stayed and waited to die? Yes, like now In this way, if he really dies, he will be loyal and heroic. If people compile history in the future, they will conclude that I, Maoxiang, died in the affairs of the king, not in the ravine for nothing! Besides, Huang Taichong’s soldiers have already arrived at Tanshan Mountain Well, maybe before Zhang Yaoyang kills the killer, the situation will be reversed—then, why don’t you stay? It’s just, just... hey, forget it! In fact, even if you don’t die, so what if you get away with it? Can go back to that dilapidated home, continue to face those gangs of people, worry about food and clothing every day, worry about food and fear, suffer from poverty, endlessly! How far is this kind of humble life like insects and ants from death? I'm afraid that even death is worse than..." Thinking of the life in the past, Mao Xiang felt a strong resentment, loathing and fear in his heart.So in contrast, he felt that staying or not going might not be a choice that could be considered. "To be honest, I have been dragged down by my family for too long, and I have incurred too many misunderstandings and accusations. No matter what, I am finally worthy of them! This time, let me make up my own mind , like a hot-blooded man, do it vigorously once, and die once! Yes, as I said, I will always prove to the world that I am not inferior to others, and I am definitely not a coward who is greedy for life and afraid of death!" Thought After such a turn, it was strange to say that the inseparable feelings that had always haunted him a while ago suddenly became indifferent. On the contrary, he felt a sense of generosity and determination from the bottom of his heart, and he began to feel a kind of Excitement like never before... "Well, there's no need for all of them to leave," Liu Jingting's voice came again, "In my opinion, Mr. Mao and Mr. Zhang might as well go first. The old man and Mr. Yu stay and see the situation." "Ah, why did you let me go first?" Zhang Weichi seemed puzzled. Liu Jingting didn't answer, but just looked at Brother Cha with his small eyes hidden under his eyelids.Zha Jizuo obviously understood.He nodded and said: "Father Liu is right. The two brothers had nothing to do with this matter. They were forced to come in by younger brothers. They had to spend a few days with each other. There is no need to be innocently involved. What's more, both of you There is a family here, and brother Pijiang is the only support for the whole family, so we must get out as soon as possible!" Hearing what he said, both Zha Jikun and Yu Huai nodded repeatedly.Yu Huai even walked up to Mao Xiang, made a bow, and said apologetically, "Brother Lei should not be implicated in this because of my brother. I hope my brother will forgive me!" Mao Xiang blinked, and for a moment, felt that Nao couldn't understand what they meant.But then, he felt a little angry and anxious.And this kind of anger and anxiety, and because he realized that the other party's arrangement was actually tantamount to excluding him from the circle of daring to serve the country in front of him, and let him return to that pitiful, insect-like life. Moderate and quickly become intense and sharp. "No! I won't go!" He stood up abruptly, and said loudly like a quarrel, "I won't go! If you want to go, you go!" He walked out a few steps and hid far away.Everyone exchanged a puzzled look, obviously surprised by this violent reaction; however, they gathered around and began to try their best to persuade.But Maoxiang gritted his teeth and refused to agree.In this way, the lips of the friends were so dry that they were at a loss...