From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 328

The Kaidai Dynasty's bandit army retreated in a mighty manner, with smoke and dust everywhere. Seeing this scene, the Kaifeng garrison couldn't help but cheer.

After a month of defending the city, fighting day and night, almost everyone was on the verge of collapse. Seeing the enemy retreating at this moment, how could they not cry with joy.

Zhou Yuan took a deep look at Cai Ni's back, then sighed and said, "Let's go into the city!"

The army slowly approached the Kaifeng tower, and the garrison generals and others had already strode over.

"We pay our respects to the Loyal and Martial Lord!"

Their voices were quite vigorous.

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, "Get up, let's go back to the city."

The group rushed into the city in a mighty manner. Kaifeng Prefecture Yin Lin Qichang had already received the news and came to greet them with officials of all sizes.

"Lin Qichang, your humble servant, welcomes the Imperial Envoy!"

He was very excited. He finally waited for his savior and could not help but shouting: "We have prepared a small banquet in the restaurant to welcome you!"

While speaking, he saw the woman next to Zhou Yuan and his heart trembled. What a beautiful woman. It was true that the Loyal Martial Lord was fond of women.

Li Yu'an was so sharp that after sensing the gaze, he glanced over. The momentum almost frightened Lin Qichang to the point of being unable to stand.

Zhou Yuan said lightly: "Leave the banquet for you to eat. I will go up to the tower first."

After speaking, he looked at the guard Dong Zhongliang and said in a deep voice: "Let's go to the tower to take a look, including the guard's residence, etc."

"Yes!"

Dong Zhongliang was slightly stunned, nodded immediately, and took Zhou Yuan and others to the tower.

This tower, which was several feet wide and high, was now in ruins.

The dark blue bricks were covered with traces of knife and axe carving, and old blood stains were stained on them, emitting a strong stench.

Countless defenders wearing simple military uniforms, holding long spears, stood there stupidly, not knowing what Zhou Yuan was doing.

"What are you standing for! Kneel down!"

Dong Zhongliang yelled, and the soldiers knelt down quickly and lowered their heads to the ground.

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, "Don't use this. We are all brothers in the army. Get up."

"General Dong, what do they eat? Where do they live? What is the situation of defending the city this month?"

Dong Zhongliang said in a deep voice, "The enemy army is very united. They arrived here a month ago and only rested for two days before launching a fierce attack."

"Tens of thousands of people attacked the city gate, and hundreds of ladders were set up. It took only half an hour to kill their way onto the city tower."

"But their individual combat capabilities are weak and their quality is poor. Once faced with huge sacrifices, they are prone to collapse."

"Almost every time, they fight up, and we fight back, repeatedly fighting for control of the city tower."

Speaking of this, Dong Zhongliang's voice was a little low: "We only have 4,000 people in total. Even if the brothers are united, they can't hold on physically. In the first five days, more than 2,000 people died."

"With less than 2,000 people left, how can we withstand the attack of the Kaidai bandit army? Fortunately, with the participation of the civilians, nearly 100,000 people have joined in succession, and we can barely defend the city tower."

"But the militia has no combat effectiveness after all, and the sacrifice is huge."

Zhou Yuan said: "What is the specific number?"

Dong Zhongliang said: "After a month of fighting back and forth, more than 20,000 bandit soldiers died, not counting the injured. We... There are more than 700 brothers left in the garrison camp, and nearly 50,000 civilians have died."

Zhou Yuan took a breath of cold air. The ancient saying is: You can attack the city only when you are ten times stronger than the enemy. Now the Kaidai bandit army is attacking the city, and it can beat the defenders like this. It's really terrible.

As if knowing what Zhou Yuan was thinking, Dong Zhongliang said, "Those bandits are rushing up like crazy. It's hard for us to stop the first wave of attacks. Only if we kill them hard will they be afraid and then flee."

"To be honest, if they had kept their initial momentum, Kaifeng would have been broken long ago."

Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment and nodded slightly.

He looked at the messy defenders around him and realized that these were not regular garrisons at all, but civilians participating in the militia in Kaifeng.

For a bite of food, or for this city, both public and private, they came to this tower purgatory and endured the test of fate.

"General Dong, count the list of soldiers participating in the defense of the city and give it to me."

"Each person will be given one stone of grain, and the sacrificed will be given two stones each."

Dong Zhongliang raised his head, his face full of astonishment.

The defenders around him also widened their eyes and could hardly believe their ears.

"What are you standing there for?"

Zhou Yuan frowned and shouted.

Dong Zhongliang woke up as if from a dream, and immediately cried out: "Sir? Really? One dan per person? Two dan per person for the dead? This... how much grain do we need to distribute!"

What does one dan per person mean? More than 100 kilograms of grain! It's enough for a family to eat for most of the year. If they save a little, they can even eat for longer..

After all, in this era, people all drink porridge. One or two grams of rice and half a bucket of water are enough for four or five people to drink a few bowls.

Looking at the surprised faces of these people, Zhou Yuan could only wave his hand and said: "There is enough food! I can afford it! In total, it is more than 100,000 stones of food!"

"Give me the list tomorrow, and then notify the families of the soldiers to go out of the city to collect food!"

"The soldiers of the five military camps will be stationed on the high slope outside the city gate."

Dong Zhongliang opened his mouth, but before he spoke, his eyes turned red.

He fluttered and knelt on the ground, choking and saying: "On behalf of my brothers, I kneel down to thank the great grace of the Loyalty and Martial Earl!"

The surrounding defenders realized that they were not joking, and then they all knelt down.

In this era, how many lives have been lost for this food.

Zhou Yuan said in a deep voice: "They are your brothers, but not my brothers? Kaifeng City is yours, but not mine? It doesn't belong to the court?"

"Stand up! Cook meat in the evening and let the brothers have a good meal!"

Dong Zhongliang said happily: "Good! Good! I will prepare it now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li He came over and whispered: "General, Lin Qichang brought a group of officials and gentry and nobles to the tower."

Zhou Yuan sneered: "They are well-informed. I want to see what they can say."

"General Dong, you go and take care of it. I will handle the things here."

He strode forward and came to the highest point of the tower, overlooking the whole world.

Ahead was an endless wilderness, with long grass and flying warblers, lush spring, and green plants covering the earth.

Lin Qichang and others had already come over and said in unison: "We are here to see the Earl of Zhongwu."

Zhou Yuan glanced back at them and said: "What's the matter?"

Lin Qichang smiled and said: "Since the Earl of Zhongwu has come to Kaifeng, the major families request to withdraw the militia and let the Five Army Camp take over Kaifeng Prefecture."

Zhou Yuan said: "The militia is theirs. It has nothing to do with me whether it is withdrawn or not. Kaifeng Prefecture should naturally be taken over by the Five Army Camp."

Lin Qichang nodded and said happily: "The Earl of Zhongwu is right, but this militia cost a lot of money. With such a great sacrifice, the court should make up for the money spent on defending the city, right?"

Zhou Yuan suddenly turned around, His eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he said coldly: "Are you an official of the Jin Dynasty or an official of the nobles and gentry?"

Lin Qichang was so frightened that he shuddered and took a few steps back, and hurriedly shouted: "Lord Zhongwu misunderstood, I just said this, after all, the defense of the city also relied on the noble families before."

"If I don't promise to pay the money, they won't join the war!"

Zhou Yuan smiled and said lightly: "The inner court will announce the order."

A female guard stood up, swept a circle with a cold look, and shouted: "Your Majesty has an order!"

Everyone looked at each other and knelt down quickly.

The female guard said in a clear voice: "The Emperor of Heaven and Mandate of Heaven, this decree says: The Central Plains has a long history. In ancient times, the Three Sovereigns ruled the world and the Five Emperors divided the world. Now it is the upper state of the court and the blessed land of the people. However, fertile soil nourishes the people, and natural disasters bring evil. In the past two years, bandits have been in chaos in the Central Plains, and the pseudo-court has been in trouble. The people in the area are living in misery. When the heaven is in urgent need, the holy power will come. Therefore, the commander-in-chief of the North City Military Department, the Earl of Zhongwu, and the Grand Commander of the Five Military Camps, concurrently serve as the Grand Marshal of Suppressing Bandits and the Grand Commander of the Central Plains, go to the Central Plains, patrol on behalf of the heaven, eliminate bandits, investigate the administration of officials, cleanse the filth of the Central Plains, and return the world to the clear sky. Hold the emperor's sword and act as you see fit. Wherever you go, it's as if I'm in person. I decree this."

Everyone knelt on the ground, shocked beyond words. It's okay to be the Grand Marshal of Suppressing Bandits, but you also have to be the Grand Commander of the Central Plains?

You are in charge of military affairs, and you also want to be in charge of political affairs? I also gave you the Emperor's Sword?

Then you really became the emperor of the Central Plains.

Zhou Yuan slowly drew out the Emperor's Sword and said coldly: "Lin Qichang, as the prefect of Kaifeng, you have received the grace of heaven. At this time of great disaster, you do not think of being loyal to the emperor and serving the country. You sell official positions, accept huge bribes, use public power to suppress the people, force land annexation, and kill court officials. The evidence is conclusive, and you deserve to die!"

"I will kill you first with the Emperor's Sword!"

After he finished speaking, the sword came out, and a head flew up, splashing blood all over the ground.