strictlysupreme Chapter 193 Sun Ting's Arrival
Chapter 193 Sun Ting's Arrival
Sun Ting first asked the court to open the warehouses and release grain. He selected 5000 elite cavalry from the business. He was facing an army trained and led by Yuan Quan, the son of the old general Yuan Chong, and his old subordinates. So he did not dare to take it lightly. The reason why he was sure that 5000 people, plus the local mobs, could defeat them was to take advantage of the refugees who wanted to receive relief. As long as there was a stutter, they would not follow Yuan Quan and others! So he asked the government to post notices on a large scale at the beginning. At the same time, take out a part of the grain to make the refugees believe that the notice was true. I am afraid that many refugees have already received the grain. Walk towards the original place of Northwest County.
While Sun Ting was on his way, he asked about the latest military intelligence.
"What is the current situation of the rebels?" Sun Ting saw it while sitting in the carriage, and the soldier who came back from inquiring about the news couldn't help but ask.
"Report to the commander! The rebels have not made any moves and are still stationed outside the Northwest Prefecture!" The scout who was gathering information reported at this time. You have to know that this information was quickly transmitted by pigeons through the secret channel of Emperor Chongming.
"It seems that Yuan Quan still hasn't learned the essence of a real mercenary! They are now weak and have no supplies from the rear, but they have been stationed in one place for a long time! They don't attack, and they don't move! This is a taboo in military strategy!" Sun Ting was more confident at this time. He certainly knew that the reason Yuan Quan did this was to force Emperor Chongming to restore his father's reputation. But as the commander of an army, it is naturally undesirable to act on emotion like this.
If it were him, he would definitely bring his army to recruit more refugees while the imperial court was not reacting, causing chaos in all the counties in the west. Only then would he have the capital to negotiate with the imperial court.
Sun Ting shook his head. How could he have such an idea? Yuan Quan was also simple, so it would be easier to solve the rebellion of the Northwest Army.
"Have the Northwest County and the surrounding counties started to provide relief to the victims according to the court's regulations?" Sun Ting suddenly thought of the most important question. The key to whether his judgment this time would be successful was the movements of the victims. If the local authorities pretended to obey but secretly disobeyed, the victims would not receive relief. Instead, they would lose trust in the court. This would be even more dangerous.
"General! All places have started to provide relief to the victims! However, due to the drought, the food reserves in all places are insufficient! So many victims can only get some watery porridge!" What the soldier did not mention was that in some places, only a few pots were prepared symbolically, and many victims could not get any relief.
"It's fine if it's bland! It's better than starving people to death! Send a message immediately to the prefects and county offices everywhere! The imperial court's order must be conveyed to the disaster victims! Let them return to their hometowns! The imperial court's disaster relief grain will only be distributed in their hometowns! If they don't go back, the imperial court will regard them as rebels!"
Sun Ting wanted to cut off the possible foundation for Yuan Quan and others to develop as soon as possible. But he still overestimated the officials in these places. Some local officials really had no food. So they casually made some watery soup for the victims. Some wanted to profit from it. Make the food in the treasury their own. In short, the victims got rice porridge that was bright enough to reflect their appearance. Some went too late and couldn't even get it. In this situation, how could they believe what was said in the notice that they would be able to distribute food when they arrived at their hometown. Only a few began to walk towards their hometown. Those people were attached to their hometown. As long as the court could give them food to tide them over the difficulties, they were willing to go back.
Henan County is to the east of Northwest County. A large number of refugees gathered here anxiously! With the publicity in the past few days, some people have started to receive some food and headed towards Northwest County where they originally lived.
Sun Ting's strategy began to bear fruit, and the victims began to return to their hometowns, which was undoubtedly a great help to his military operations. However, he also knew that this was just the beginning and the real challenge was still to come.
"Tell the officials in various places to ensure that the distribution of grain is fair and just, and there must be no corruption. Otherwise, once discovered, they will be severely punished!" Sun Ting said sternly to the deputy general beside him. He knew that the integrity of these officials was directly related to the reputation of the court and the success of this operation.
At the same time, Sun Ting was also speeding up his journey, knowing that the decisive battle with Yuan Quan was coming. Although he was confident in his army, he also knew that Yuan Quan's army was not a mob, they had rich combat experience and firm beliefs.
"General, the Great West Gate is ahead. From here you will enter the territory of Northwest County! A large number of refugees have gathered here. I heard that many of them have started to return to Northwest County in the past two days." The deputy general said, pointing ahead.
Sun Ting nodded, looking forward firmly. He knew that this battle was not only related to the stability of the northwest, but also to the stability of the entire Dakun Dynasty. He must win, and he must win beautifully.
Sun Ting led 5000 cavalrymen this time. Following these cavalrymen were several thousand people escorting grain and supplies. In fact, their number of troops was also around 1. This was also a disguised support from Emperor Chongming. You must know that these famous men who escorted grain and supplies could become soldiers on the battlefield as long as they were given weapons. This team of 5000 cavalrymen and several thousand deputy officers came to Daxiguan in a mighty manner!
Sun Ting was preparing to rest at Daxiguan and mobilize more than 2 garrison troops from Henan County and several surrounding counties to assist him in the battle.
Sun Ting was on the wall of Daxiguan, looking at the densely packed refugees below, and asked the Daxiguan guard standing beside him.
“Are there always so many refugees here?!”
"My Lord Sun! Ever since the drought in Northwestern County, many people have entered Henan through the Great Western Pass! Later, the governor of Henan County issued an order for us to keep the refugees outside the pass! So there are more and more people here! Does this mean that many people have received food and left? Otherwise, there would be more people here?" The guard looked at Lord Sun nervously.
"Besides here, where else can we enter Henan!" Sun Ting looked at the Daxiguan built along the mountains. This area can be guarded well!
"Of course there are! But that requires passing through a very long mountain range! It is difficult for ordinary people to get there, especially when there is a lack of food and water! This is why so many people have to pass through this pass!" The guard must have arrived at this time.
"In that case, it is not easy for those rebels to pass through that mountain!" Sun Ting asked again at this time!
"This is natural! The situation in Northwest County is very special. Northwest County has a large number of loess mountains. If you take the wrong road, sometimes you have to detour dozens of kilometers! It is difficult to get out without sufficient water and food! Not to mention a large-scale army!" The defender said very confidently.
"Can you tell that there are rebels among the victims?" Sun Ting planned to use this place as a rear base. He wanted to store the troops mobilized from all over the country and the food and supplies needed by the army at Daxiguan. So he wanted to find out the specific situation of Daxiguan. He also wanted to deal with the refugees outside the gate. Otherwise, the food and supplies behind him might be snatched away by these people as soon as he left.
"I really don't know! These people are all similar in terms of clothing and movements! I really can't tell whether there are rebels among them!" The guard of Big Watermelon shook his head at this time.
"I have an idea to distinguish them! The rebels are generally well fed, while the ordinary refugees must have been hungry for a long time! When you cook porridge later, add some stones to the bowl of porridge!" Sun Ting quickly thought of a way to judge. He must deal with this group of refugees. Otherwise, he would not dare to take the army to Northwest Prefecture with peace of mind!
Someone immediately started preparing the porridge, which was already thin, by mixing a lot of small stones into it.
What Sun Ting didn't see was that some of the refugees looked up at the top of the city wall from time to time.
Among the refugees, several had already recognized him. These were the old men from the Northeast Army who had come with Du Chong.
"It's really Sun Ting! I didn't expect him to be so human now!" Du Chong secretly complained below. At the same time, he tried not to be so conspicuous. You know, he had dealt with Sun Ting a lot in the past. Although he hadn't seen him for many years, no one could guarantee that Sun Ting would recognize him.