The Silent Reforms of Eldridge Chapter 58

I ran for my life every day, hiding here and there, hoping to find a village where I could stay temporarily for a few days. But after the military disaster, some of them were deserted. The terrain of Liangshan Pass is particularly dangerous. This is the ancient Liangshan Pass, and the residents are also unruly.

On the day I arrived in Guan County, it was getting late. I saw a large village on the roadside, so I ordered my entourage to stay in the village. The residents agreed, and I pulled the car into the village. I saw that the fortifications and trenches on all sides were very neat, and the guns, cannons, and spears were arranged in an orderly manner. As soon as he entered the village, someone wearing a filial piety hat came up and cried: "How are you living your life?" When asked why, the villagers replied: "Bing Yong broke into my house and asked for wine and meat. Not only did he not give me a penny, When leaving, he stabbed people with the back of his knife and robbed property. "I saw soldiers from Hunan, Hubei, and soldiers from Sichuan living in the village. I thought it was these people who were responsible, but I couldn't control these people, so I had to explain to the villagers. : "Officials who lead troops in the army are only responsible for the battalion they lead, and cannot manage other people's battalions - only the general can take charge of each battalion."

We stayed at a Gongsheng's house and told him in advance: "We will pay for the rice, flour, grass, and beans we use tonight and then use them. Your family will never suffer a loss. If my people harass you , just tell me, I will punish you severely." Gong Sheng felt relieved after hearing what I said.

When I was about to set off the next morning, the villagers grabbed a soldier and presented him with the stolen goods as evidence. I asked Bingyong which battalion he was from, and the answer was that he was from the Sichuan Corps. I reprimanded him: "You are in the camp, and your monthly food and military pay are sixteen taels of silver. The court is very generous to you. Living in someone else's house without them asking you for money is already a great friendship. You two How dare you try to plunder?" The villagers cried: "There are so many brave soldiers coming and going, and we can't bear it. We dare not kill Master Wang when he crosses the border. What should we do if we are bullied by them? At this time, the county seat has been breached and the county magistrate has fled. Even if we file a complaint, we can't find a place to do so!

I told them: "The Qing Dynasty was unlucky, and strange disasters came from the sky, which caused the destruction of all living beings. The imperial court sent troops to suppress the rebels, originally to save the people from disaster. If the soldiers are brave enough to protect the people, they are the official army. If the soldiers are brave enough to rob you, they are bandits." "The officers and soldiers cannot be killed, but thieves can be killed. It's not convenient for me to make decisions for you. You can discuss it yourself." The villagers said angrily, "Since you don't want to take care of it, we know what to do."