Chapter 3 A Chance to Change Destiny There is a lot of rain in the south, and the rain soaked the official roads, softening the dirt roads. The big trucks left many ruts and even the occasional footprints. A folding fruit knife was in the rut. The length of the fruit knife when folded is about 10 cm, and the handle is wrapped in plastic. Jiang Qingzhi was confused. The education he received over the years made him subconsciously regard the big tripod in his mind as a scene from a dream. But this is the Ming Dynasty! It would take several hundred more years for plastic to appear. “Who’s blocking the way!” When the escorting soldiers behind saw that the team had stopped, they started to curse angrily.
The prisoner behind him took the opportunity to rest and said gloatingly: "Sir, it's Master Maocai!" The word "master" carries a sarcastic tone. In the past, these people would have to bow their heads and avoid Jiang Qingzhi, but now they were all prisoners sent to the army. The feeling of pulling a god down from the sky made the prisoners behind them secretly happy, and they wished that the soldiers would rush over and whip Jiang Qingzhi. The sound of hurried footsteps came from behind. The criminal turned back triumphantly and prepared to report. Jiang Qingzhi bent over and coughed violently, then picked up the fruit knife and put it into his sleeve. "What's going on?" The soldier came over with a whip in his hand, looking unfriendly. "General, Jiang Qingzhi deliberately refused to leave." The prisoner's name was Yang Gongcheng. Jiang Qingzhi looked back, gasping for breath. "My lung disease is acting up. I'm leaving now." To compete with the soldiers at this time is not cool, but ridiculous. The sergeant narrowed his eyes and said, "Don't delay the journey, otherwise..." "Yes." Jiang Qingzhi felt relieved and immediately caught up with the team. Yang Gongcheng muttered: "This guy is neither humble nor arrogant, why didn't the general punish him? Yesterday, I smiled at him but got slapped instead." At this point, the Ming army was almost completely helpless, especially the southern army. The south was the base camp of the Ming dynasty's scholars and merchants. Years of peace had led to a lack of fighting spirit in the army and the generals. The officers and soldiers became the coolies of the nobles and their superiors, and suffered terribly. Most people who have been bullied for a long time dare not retaliate. Instead, they turn around and bully those who are weaker than themselves. Smiling and bowing your head will only arouse the violent nature of these soldiers.
Jiang Qingzhi was once a local leader and a small warlord, so he was familiar with all these things. Jiang Qingzhi followed the team while putting his hands into his sleeves and playing with a fruit knife. The warmth of spring and the stimulation of cold metal made Jiang Qingzhi's mind extremely clear. all of these. It's true! Jiang Qingzhi had only one thought at this moment: go home! Even though all the gossipy women were waiting at home for him, their rich son-in-law who was rumored to have made a fortune in South America, he still did not hesitate. Even though the women looked at him as if they were selecting goods, he was happy to do so. Isn’t it just a blind date! "There are still more than 200 years left to complete the 500-year national life." How to save the country? Jiang Qingzhi was a college student after all. He had been interested in history since he was a child and had read a lot of history books about the Ming Dynasty. In fact, the Ming Dynasty's national destiny began to decline after Zhu Zhanji. Some subsequent emperors also wanted to work hard to govern the country, such as Emperor Jiajing. After ascending the throne as a foreign vassal, Emperor Jiajing was ambitious to make a difference and had a honeymoon period with his prime ministers. But soon, the two sides clashed over the status of the previous emperor and the biological father of Emperor Jiajing, thus starting a decades-long secret war between the emperor and his ministers. This is the famous Great Etiquette Dispute, and its root cause is still the power struggle between the emperor and his subjects. In the 21st year of the Jiajing reign, several palace maids almost strangled Emperor Jiajing to death on the dragon bed while he was sleeping. The Taoist priest in the palace could no longer live there... Emperor Jiajing moved to the Western Garden and from then on lived in seclusion, becoming the most devout believer of Taoism. From then on, the king was no longer a king, and the minister was no longer a minister. There were Japanese pirates in the south, who troubled the Ming Dynasty for many years. To the north, there are foreign tribes from the grasslands who are constantly eyeing the Central Plains. Later, during the three major expeditions of the Wanli period, there were calamities and man-made disasters at night, and smoke of war was everywhere. The former slaves took advantage of the situation and rose up, opening their bloody mouths towards the Ming Dynasty on the grounds of some deep hatred... There are many external worries. Internal conflicts continue. How could such a Ming Dynasty extend its reign by 224 years? Even the famous tinker Ranieri would have to kneel down. This is a dead end! But I have to go.
What he must do now is to find an opportunity to atone for his sins and save his life. Yang Gongcheng behind him stopped muttering, and Jiang Qingzhi heard a gurgling sound, which meant he was hungry. As prisoners of exile, they could only eat one meal a day, which was coarse food and not enough to fill them up. According to the custom, this was done all the way to prevent the prisoners from thinking of escaping after eating too much. Jiang Qingzhi was very hungry and looked back. Yang Gongcheng swallowed his saliva and sneered, "Give me the food later and I'll spare your life. Otherwise...if I find an opportunity along the way, I'll definitely kill you!" As he spoke, Yang Gongcheng subconsciously turned around and looked towards the end of the team. Jiang Qingzhi's gaze was the same. He looked over his head and at the tall young man walking at the back. Along the way, the young man tried his best to protect his original body. The day before yesterday, he fought for Jiang Qingzhi and beat three prisoners alone. He was beaten with ten sticks by Chen Ba's men and moved from Jiang Qingzhi's side to the back of the team. The boy is called Sun Chonglou, nicknamed Shitou, and is 13 years old. Five years ago, Jiang Qingzhi met Sun Chonglou who fainted from hunger on the street and rescued him. The Ye family didn't need this bit of food, but Jiang Qingzhi was the son of a son-in-law after all, and his mother died of complications during childbirth. All this made Jiang Qingzhi have a bad reputation in the Ye family. Picking up a beggar on the street... What do you mean? Do you think your family members are unreliable? Jiang Qingzhi asked Sun Chonglou what he wanted to do. Sun Chonglou said he wanted to learn martial arts and then be the young master's bodyguard. Jiang Qingzhi planned to let him learn from the escort master, but Sun Chonglou found a master for himself... Sun Chonglou went to learn martial arts every now and then, but Jiang Qingzhi had no idea what he had learned... After all, he was a sickly person and had no chance to fight with others, so Sun Chonglou could not find a place to use his skills. Soon after Jiang Qingzhi was imprisoned, Sun Chonglou followed him in. When asked, this fool actually said that he wanted to go to jail with the young master. But you can't sit in this prison whenever you want! A fool has his own way. Just as someone from the Ye family came to rob the Jiang family's property, Sun Chonglou broke the bones of those people and successfully met up with his young master in prison. When sentencing, the officials of Suzhou Prefecture were quite interesting. They said that since the master and servant wanted to be together, they would grant their wish. So, Sun Chonglou joined the team of exiles. "Stone." Jiang Qingzhi shouted. "Hey!" Sun Chonglou raised his head, his childish face full of concern, "Master, are you feeling unwell?" "Not bad." Seeing that he was still lame, Jiang Qingzhi bowed to the two soldiers behind him and said, "It would be bad if the stone delayed his progress. Please do me a favor and let me help him walk." The number of exiles must not be less... Of course, if they died of illness on the way, that would be another matter. If someone was missing for no reason, the generals of the garrisons would not take it lightly, and a piece of paper could bring bad luck to the escorted soldiers. After all, every prisoner here is considered an excellent laborer and cannon fodder in the eyes of the generals. The two soldiers sneered, but Chen Ba said, "If you fight again, you will be held responsible." Although Sun Chonglou was only thirteen years old, he was more muscular than an adult. That day, he fought one against three and swept them easily, which made Chen Ba feel a little sorry. Jiang Qingzhi bowed to express his gratitude, and Sun Chonglou happily ran forward, but he forgot that the rope in his hand was tied to the prisoner in front of him. As he ran, he pulled down several prisoners in front of him. This shows how strong this kid is.
The master and servant finally reunited. Sun Chonglou slapped Yang Gongcheng on the back of his head, his eyes flashing with ferocity: "If I see you baring your teeth at the young master again, I will dig out your eyes." Yang Gongcheng looked back at Chen Ba, who didn't care about the quarrel. Thinking of the cruelty of Sun Chonglou beating the three criminals the day before, Yang Gongcheng shrank his neck and said, "I dare not." Jiang Qingzhi patted Sun Chonglou on the shoulder and said, "You shouldn't have come, kid." Sun Chonglou sniffed, "Without the young master, I would have starved to death. Master said that we should distinguish between gratitude and resentment. The young master treated me as a human being and saved my life, so I should die for him..." Sun Chonglou seldom mentioned his master, and Jiang Qingzhi was not interested in knowing him. Silly boy! In the utilitarian society of later generations, people like Sun Chonglou are considered fools in the eyes of the world. "Don't worry, young master." Sun Chonglou rubbed his stomach. "When I get back to Taizhou Prefecture, I will kill the Japanese pirates and make amends for my sins." I’m just afraid that this broken body won’t be able to survive until that day! Jiang Qingzhi smiled bitterly in his heart, but was quite moved. "Xiaoqi, fireworks ahead!" A sergeant shouted. Jiang Qingzhi looked back and saw fireworks rising in the distance on the left side of the official road. Chen Ba ordered two soldiers to check. Everyone also sat down by the official road to rest. The officers and soldiers had dry food and drinking water, but the prisoners could only swallow their saliva on an empty stomach. Not long after, two soldiers came running back with pale faces. "Xiaoqi, the Japanese pirates are looting the village!" "The Japanese pirates actually landed here?!" "How many people?" Chen Ba stood up suddenly. "More than thirty people!" More than ten soldiers looked pale. According to rumors, one Japanese pirate could defeat ten enemies at a time. Even three hundred officers and soldiers may not be able to stop more than thirty Japanese pirates. There are only a dozen officers and soldiers here, plus dozens of serious criminals. All the heroic spirit in Chen Ba's heart disappeared. escape! This is the first thought. "We were discovered when we came back." A sergeant said anxiously, suggesting that they should run faster, otherwise...
Chen Ba looked at the prisoners and said, "Grandpa, watch them carefully. Anyone who dares to escape will be killed without mercy!" If the Japanese pirates were to chase them, Chen Ba would bet that none of his men would escape. As for the prisoners, who the hell would care about them? "Chen Xiaoqi, I have something to say!" The young man's clear voice came. Everyone looked and saw that it was Jiang Qingzhi. Chen Ba said coldly: "Speak!" This is an opportunity... When Jiang Qingzhi was a small warlord in South America, he experienced many crises, including several times when he was surrounded and suppressed by superior government forces. He bowed calmly, and his demeanor made Chen Ba secretly praise him: He is indeed a young scholar, and his demeanor is more calm than the centurion officials he had seen. This is also the reason why he was willing to waste precious time to escape and listen to Jiang Qingzhi's nonsense. "There are dozens of Japanese pirates, but this is the heartland of the Ming Dynasty!" The young man's voice echoed along the official road. "There are guard posts around. If you don't help after hearing the news, it will be a serious crime. So I conclude that the pirates must be worried." "So what?" Chen Ba became impatient. "I have a plan to repel the enemy!" Jiang Qingzhi said, with calmness in the boy's eyes. "Speak!" Chen Ba looked at the fireworks in the distance, feeling anxious. "Have you ever heard of the Empty City Strategy, Chen Xiaoqi?" Chen Ba shook his head. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms was first published in the first year of the Jiajing reign, so it would take some time for it to become truly popular. Jiang Qingzhi pointed to the woods on the right. "It can cause people to drag branches through the woods, raising dust." Jiang Qingzhi looked at the prisoners and said, "If you succeed, you can ask for merit and redemption for these prisoners. Please agree, Xiaoqi." The prisoners' eyes lit up instantly, and some even shouted, "We are willing to die!" "I would rather fight the Japanese pirates to death than go to Taizhou Prefecture to die!" The prisoners were extremely excited. Chen Ba couldn't help but gasp as he watched. He bet that if it weren't for their status as officers and soldiers, these dozens of prisoners would be able to easily defeat his men. This... isn't this just dozens of extra assassins out of nowhere? The scholars and officials loved to boast about their talents in both civil and military affairs, but compared with this talented man, they were just a pile of shit… An idea flashed through the mind of a soldier who had some military talent, and he murmured with regret: “If such a talented man had not committed any crime, he might have been promoted to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in a few decades.” Chen Ba was at least somewhat cultured. Hearing this, he understood Jiang Qingzhi's intention. His eyes lit up, but then he hesitated. "Chen Xiaoqi, are you worried that the Japanese pirates will rush in recklessly and hurt these brave warriors?" Jiang Qingzhi said with a smile. In fact, Chen Ba and his subordinates were afraid of death.
But everyone wants to carry a sedan chair, and Jiang Qingzhi has been in South America for several years and is well aware of this. Chen Ba's face was dark, and it was unclear whether he blushed or not, but he nodded. "In that case, I'm willing to be the bait." You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. "You?" Chen Ba knew the consequences of escaping: he would not be able to take the prisoners away, and if he returned he would either be killed or sent into exile. But at least I can live a little longer! Jiang Qingzhi said firmly: "I am willing to confuse the enemy!" The Empty City Strategy requires someone to confuse the enemy in front. Jiang Qingzhi turned around, "Stone!" Sun Chonglou easily untied the ropes that bound the two men, and everyone looked at Chen Ba. Chen Ba remained silent, which meant he acquiesced. Jiang Qingzhi and Sun Chonglou walked slowly forward. Then stand still. If they ran away, Chen Ba, who had horses, could easily catch up with them. And if Jiang Qingzhi's empty city plan failed, Chen Ba, who had horses, could also move in calmly. Chen Ba looked at Jiang Qingzhi deeply. If he escapes, he will die. Will Jiang Qingzhi's empty city plan succeed? Chen Ba thought it was difficult. But he would try anyway! After all, if it failed, it wouldn't be him who would be killed by the Japanese pirates. "According to this disease... follow Jiang Maocai's instructions!" Unconsciously, Chen Ba's way of addressing Jiang Qingzhi changed and became more respectful. Far outside the village. There are many figures. The Japanese pirates are gathering! …… New book released, two updates every day during the new book period, time: first update: 8 am, second update: 14 pm. Brothers, the most important thing for a new book is votes, monthly votes, recommendation votes, collections... The more you get, the better the new book will perform. Jazz will work hard on writing, and the rest is up to you brothers. Thank you! (End of this chapter)