Chapter 557 Wanting to impose a crime
Chapter 557 Wanting to impose a crime
"Brother, that guy surnamed Wei is going too far! The New Year is almost here, why are they still suppressing the bandits? Isn't this just causing trouble for us?"
On the street, Cheng Yaojin followed Qin Qiong, complaining, "And that Liu Zhan is nothing, why should he be the commander? The 6,000 elite troops of Qi County were founded by you, big brother, you should be the commander!"
Qin Qiong stopped and glared at Cheng Yaojin, "Are you done yet?"
"It's not over yet. I have to go on a blind date during the New Year. I don't have time to fight bandits!"
Qin Qiong laughed, "That blind date was just something someone else said, but you took it seriously!"
Cheng Yaojin immediately became angry, "Why can't it be true? Can't I get married? That young lady from the Qi family likes me very much. Every time she sees me, she is full of affection. I like her too!"
Qin Qiong nodded, "When we come back from this bandit suppression, I will ask for marriage from the Qi family on your behalf, but now you must stop making trouble and give General Wei face, otherwise if you anger him, I won't be able to save you!"
"I understand. Give him face!" Cheng Yaojin said listlessly.
Wei Wentong arrived in Qi County with an army of 20,000. His mission was to wipe out the Baohui Society that was entrenched in the Shandong Peninsula. However, due to poor information, the court did not know that the Baohui Society had already perished due to internal strife.
But it didn't matter to Wei Wentong. He would go and wipe out the bandits whether there were any or not. Making money was his real intention.
Inside the big tent, Wei Wentong angrily said to the new governor Liu Zhan: "You are the governor of Qi County sent by the court. Who is Qin Qiong? Why do you care about him so much?"
Liu Zhan was also Yuwen Shu's confidant and served as Huben Langjiang. After Yuwen Shu was assassinated, the emperor was grateful for his loyalty and entrusted all the generals recommended by him with important tasks. Liu Zhan was appointed as the governor of Qi County.
Liu Zhan was still Wei Wentong's subordinate. Although he was very good at scheming, his martial arts skills were poor and he had no real talent or skills. He couldn't even pass the test of riding and shooting. It was certainly difficult for him to lead Qi County's 6,000 elite troops.
Liu Zhan said with a bitter face: "The key is that the soldiers of the government all listen to Qin Qiong and ignore me at all."
Wei Wentong was so disappointed that he gritted his teeth and said, "You are really useless. I don't listen to you. Can't you kill people? If one is not enough, kill two. If two are not enough, kill ten. As long as you dare to kill people, your military prestige will stand up."
Liu Zhan sighed and said, "I am afraid that killing people will trigger a mutiny, and I will be killed instead. The key is that there is Qin Qiong as a stumbling block. If we don't get rid of him, this army will not be able to be controlled at all!"
Wei Wentong actually also took a fancy to the army trained by Qin Qiong. It was very elite and better trained than the ordinary Sui army. However, this army was a local army, and it was not convenient to directly annex it. But there was a way, such as constantly replenishing troops during the bandit suppression process. In this way, the Qi County army could be gradually absorbed, and the court would also recognize it.
But Wei Wentong also knew that if he wanted to absorb this army, Qin Qiong would be an obstacle that he could not bypass. Wei Wentong pondered for a while and said coldly: "Go and suppress the bandits! In the process of suppressing the bandits, find an excuse to kill him."
On December 20th, Wei Wentong led an army of 20,000 towards Beihai County. According to the court's regulations, when the regular army went on an expedition, the local army had to follow as logistics. Qin Qiong naturally led his 6,000 Qi County troops to follow and escort the food.
These 6,000 soldiers can be called the Qin Family Army. No matter they are the core soldiers or the middle and low-level generals, almost all of them are Qin Qiong's apprentices and old subordinates. Tongpan Liu Zhan wanted to take over this army, but no one paid attention to him. Every order he gave had to be conveyed by Qin Qiong, otherwise no one would execute it. So Liu Zhan hated and was angry, but he had no choice.
At this time, Qin Qiong's general Fan Hu rode forward and asked in confusion: "Brother, why is the team going to Beihai County? We should go to Gaomi County to suppress the bandits!"
Qin Qiong also found it strange. The remnants of the Baohui army were no longer in Donglai County. They fled to Xushan in Gaomi County. It was definitely wrong for the team to go east. They should go south.
"Perhaps General Wei doesn't understand the situation. I'll go and explain it to him!"
Qin Qiong urged his horse to gallop towards the front of the team. Soon, he caught up with Wei Wentong and shouted, "General Wei!"
Wei Wentong stopped his horse and asked calmly, "What's the matter?"
"General Wei, should we go to Gaomi County?"
"Why?"
"General Wei may not know that the Baohui Society had an internal conflict last year and its leader Gao Zhu was killed. Now Gao Shida is leading several thousand remnants to escape to Xushan in Gaomi County. There are no more bandits in Beihai County and Donglai County." Wei Wentong sneered and said, "It seems that General Qin and I have a different understanding of bandits. The Baohui Society had tens of thousands of bandits at most. They killed people and set fires, and then turned around and said they were not bandits. Did they forget about the crimes they committed in the past? For me, once a bandit, always a bandit!"
Qin Qiong said anxiously: "General Wei, if we settle accounts like this, the rebellion will never be quelled!"
Wei Wentong snorted, "How to suppress the bandits is my business, it's not your turn to make decisions!"
Qin Qiong felt helpless and could only lower his head and said, "I understand!"
Qin Qiong turned his horse around and returned to his team. Several generals surrounded him and asked, "Brother Qin, what did the marshal say?"
Qin Qiong sighed and said, "Marshal Wei wants to settle accounts. All those who have been bandits will be regarded as rebels and be settled!"
General Jia Wuben was immediately anxious. "General, if we settle accounts like this, many people in Zhangqiu County and Zoucheng County will be in trouble. The banditry that has been quelled may be stirred up again. Is he here to suppress the bandits or to cause trouble?"
"Hmph! He's not here to cause trouble, he's here to make money!" Cheng Yaojin next to him hit the nail on the head.
Everyone was silent. Cheng Yaojin's words touched the heart of the matter. Everyone actually thought so, but they just didn't dare to say it out loud.
After a moment, Qin Qiong said: "If they really mess up, we can persuade them again. If they really can't be persuaded, there is nothing we can do!"
At noon the next day, the army arrived at Zhangqiu County, which was the birthplace of the Baohuihui rebellion in Shandong. Wei Wentong ordered the gathering of more than 100,000 men in the county, excluding the elderly and children. All young and strong men with calluses on their hands were regarded as having participated in the rebellion and were arrested for interrogation.
Wei Wentong also released the ransom standard, three strings of money for one person.
For a time, Zhangqiu County was in chaos and the whole county was in uproar. Everyone from top to bottom cursed the shamelessness of the officers and soldiers, but despite the curses, they still had to find a way to redeem the people. Those who had money paid directly, and those who had no money tried to borrow money. There were curses and cries everywhere.
The imperial army might not care, but Qin Qiong's army couldn't stand it. Zhangqiu County belonged to Qi County, and many soldiers in Qin Qiong's army were from Zhangqiu County. Even if they were not from Zhangqiu County, they had relatives living in Zhangqiu County.
Dozens of generals came to Qin Qiong and strongly requested him to stop the shameless behavior of the imperial army.
Although Qin Qiong knew that he couldn't stop it, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go find Wei Wentong again.
Qin Qiong had no idea of Wei Wentong's skills. Wei Wentong was just waiting for Qin Qiong to plead for him!
Inside the big tent, Wei Wentong took a sip of tea and said coldly, "I've told you before that you can only execute the decisions I make, and it's not your turn to make decisions. Do you think that you can ignore me just because you are a local boss?"
"I dare not blame the Marshal, but the idea of using money to redeem someone is a bit... a bit inappropriate!"
"Do you mean to tell me to kill all these tens of thousands of people?"
Qin Qiong was startled and waved his hands quickly, "That's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?"
Wei Wentong questioned Qin Qiong, "You have repeatedly interfered with my decision. You are committing a crime of insubordination. I have long been fed up with you. Someone, come here!"
At Wei Wentong's command, the soldiers ambushed on both sides of the tent rushed forward and pinned Qin Qiong down. Wei Wentong shouted, "Drag him out and behead him!"
(End of this chapter)