Chapter 190: Substitute Fighter Goes Online!
Bingzhou.
The location of the Yu Zhu Army, currently the largest rebel force in the Xuanwu Kingdom.
This is the great province closest to the turmoil of the Demon Kingdom.
Bingzhou did not suffer too many attacks during the chaos of the Demon Kingdom.
Occasional scattered attacks were also repelled.
The losses were extremely minimal, but because of this, it absorbed the largest number of refugees from the chaos of the Demon Kingdom.
Even though the government authorities tried their best to provide disaster relief and suppress the situation, under deliberate instigation and incitement.
The so-called uprising was also an inevitable matter.
The uprising process was extremely smooth, almost without suffering any resistance.
Or rather, from the start of the uprising, Yu Zhu had already made those who would resist unable to resist.
Yu Zhu is the leader of this rebel army.
Outside rumors abound that Yu Zhu is eight feet tall, broad-shouldered and round-waisted, able to wield a hundred-jin large blade, and eats half a pig in one meal.
Inside Bingzhou City, the Monster Suppression Division.
A middle-aged scholar with a slightly pale complexion, a slender figure, and looking as if weak as the wind sat on the main seat, staring solemnly at the sand table in front of him.
On his left sat several armored strong men, while on the right were scholars dressed similarly to him.
This scholar who looked as weak as the wind is exactly Yu Zhu, rumored in the outside world to be able to eat half a pig.
"Cough, cough..."
Yu Zhu couldn't help but cough a few times. He raised his sleeve to cover his mouth, and a slightly hoarse voice came from his mouth:
"The Jinshui City defenders are still holding out and not coming out?"
The burly military general on Yu Zhu's left spoke in a muffled voice:
"Regardless of cursing or feigning defeat, they don't send a single soldier out. Furthermore, it's been heard that they replaced the commander of the three armies with a little-known young general."
"The Xuanwu Kingdom is probably also acting desperately in sickness and changing doctors in a hurry. Changing generals during battle is a great taboo in the military. I say, why not launch a full-scale assault and take it down by force."
Yu Zhu shook his head slightly upon hearing this; when things are abnormal, there must be a demon.
His hidden chess piece within the Xuanwu Kingdom had clearly succeeded in making the prioritized cleanup of himself the Xuanwu Kingdom's primary goal.
Therefore, the Xuanwu Kingdom's army had attacked him fiercely some time ago, which also allowed him to find an opportunity.
But now, it seemed as if the national policy had changed.
If one thinks about the matter of changing the general in another way, perhaps what the Xuanwu Kingdom high-level officials actually want right now is a commander-in-chief who is obedient enough and doesn't need his own ideas, and whose task is simply to defend Jinshui City properly?
Yu Zhu's face became slightly unsightly.
Actually, not only does the Xuanwu Kingdom lack food, but his rebel army also lacks food extremely.
The consumption of over a hundred thousand people and horses every day is an enormous expenditure. How could a single prefecture's land possibly support them?
The food supplies foraged from attacking cities and seizing territory previously were also consumed extremely quickly.
Regarding this account, Yu Zhu had calculated it. Even if they are frugal, the army rations can last for at most another three months.
For some unknown reason, Yu Zhu suddenly felt a spine-chilling sensation of being seen through.
As if someone had seen through his flaws at a glance and was preparing to watch him make his dying struggle.
Yu Zhu looked at the lead scholar on the right and hurriedly asked:
"Has there been any letter from the hidden chess piece? Has Zhao Xuan discussed any new plans recently?"
The scholar shook his head slightly: "No more news. I fear there is another situation."
Yu Zhu instantly made the worst preparations while hurriedly pursuing the question:
"How is it on the Chizhou side? Can they coordinate with the uprising?"
"As for news from Chizhou, it should arrive today. Calculating the time, waiting a little longer and it should come."
Yu Zhu nodded slightly upon hearing this, holding onto some expectation, and sat back down on his chair.
The general who had spoken earlier saw that Yu Zhu had sat down and closed his eyes. Although he knew that this weak-looking scholar had judgment almost like prophecy.
But the rebel army that had gathered disaster victims had no such thing as an army soul. If there were no battle results for a long time to satisfy that group of soldiers who were like fierce bandits, morale would collapse extremely quickly.
He couldn't help but open his mouth and said: "Jinshui City is just a small city. It only needs a fierce attack for a few days; how could there be a reason it can't be taken down? I am willing to be the vanguard."
Yu Zhu did not open his eyes, only gently spat out a single word:
"Wait!"
With the utterance of this single word, the tent instantly became quiet. The general who had spoken earlier could only remain silent upon hearing this.
For the next more than an hour, the interior of the tent was unusually quiet.
Until a report came from outside the tent:
"There is a letter from Chizhou!"
Yu Zhu abruptly opened his eyes, looking toward the outside of the tent.
The scholar naturally understood that his lord's body was weak. He hurriedly stood up and walked out of the tent.
Then, holding the letter with both hands, he walked quickly to Yu Zhu's presence.
Yu Zhu remained silent for a long while, subsequently reached out to take the letter, tore open the seal, and began reading the intelligence.
One could see that the more Yu Zhu looked, the more rapid his breathing became. After finishing the last page, he suddenly slapped the intelligence onto the table.
Yu Zhu's tone was slightly rushed: "Bad... bad... bad!"
This was the first time the scholar saw Yu Zhu's face so deathly pale, and his tone was rushed, as if he had lost his composure.
He also hurriedly reached out to look at the intelligence sent from Chizhou.
Most of the content was simple exchanges of situations, but only one "good thing" was specifically mentioned.
The Xuanwu Kingdom had issued an order to forcibly borrow rice and grain from various wealthy merchants. The grain borrowed this year would be repaid when there is a surplus after the autumn harvest next year.
If it cannot be repaid in one year, repay it in three years, and without any interest.
Anyone who does not comply will directly have their homes and grain confiscated for resisting the imperial decree.
This decree quickly aroused the dissatisfaction of the wealthy merchants and powerful clans. The Xuanwu Kingdom is currently dispatching troops to suppress the wealthy merchant clans.
Nowadays, grain is lacking everywhere. Grain prices are at their highest in history, and profits are calculated by multiples.
Waiting three years until grain is not lacking to repay it, how much will grain prices be worth then? How much money is the difference? And how much land will the wealthy merchants and powerful clans be able to encircle less?
Many wealthy merchants and powerful clans expressed that they are willing to privately subsidize the uprising near Chizhou.
The scholar looked at it and slightly frowned, saying: "This move by the Xuanwu Kingdom looks a bit like smashing a cracked pot. They should be out of grain to provide relief. We have the assistance of the wealthy merchants and powerful clans. The time, place, and people are all on our side..."
Yu Zhu suddenly coughed a few times, then opened his mouth in resentment:
"You are confused!"
"Have you ever seen merchants rebel?!"
"Borrowing grain isn't taking their lives, but doing this with us is truly risking their lives. If the situation is slightly wrong, they will turn back to the Xuanwu Kingdom!"
"They have families and businesses; how would they press their entire family's lives down just because they earn a little less money? When the time comes, it might just be this group of people ruining our great undertaking!"
"The ones who can truly follow us in the great righteousness are that group who will starve to death if they don't eat!"
"The Xuanwu Kingdom is now forcefully requisitioning grain to use for disaster relief. The disaster victims have food to eat; they won't starve to death, so why would they rebel?!"
"Without people who are about to starve to death rebelling, do you expect that group of wealthy merchants to bring knives and do it with you?!"
As Yu Zhu's voice fell, the tent instantly became quiet.
Under the prompting, the scholar also quickly understood the implication. He looked at Yu Zhu, his voice unconsciously carrying a slight tremor:
"Then this..."
Yu Zhu shook his head slightly, struggling to stand up, took a deep breath, and said:
"The Xuanwu Kingdom has invited a capable person. We probably can't wait for the Xuanwu Kingdom to reveal its flaws like before."
He looked at a general nearby and said: "Raise the army! Within ten days! I want to enter Jinshui City!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
The generals received the order and exited the tent.
Yu Zhu finished giving the order and sat back down on his chair again.
At this moment, Yu Zhu truly understood that a wise man absolutely not inferior to him had sat down at this table and was competing with him on the same field.
For some unknown reason.
It was the first time Yu Zhu felt nervous...
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