Xie Ming

Chapter 323: Huang Degong

Crown Prince Zhu Cilang was in charge of the logistics and military supply pressure of the northern march, so he asked Xiao and Huang for advice to see if they had any suggestions or countermeasures.

As Xiao Jingchuan had just arrived in Jinan, he had no idea about the specific situation within the Jiangbei Army, so he had no choice but to instruct Huang Degong to report the details first.

Huang Degong told him everything, including the total number of troops from various towns in northern Jiangnan who were heading north, as well as their consumption.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince, Xiao, Qiu and a few others were able to understand the situation.

Seeing such a large number, Zhu Cilang also coughed lightly to clear his throat before continuing the conversation.

"Cough cough."

"Well, it seems that the money and food spent by the army heading north is indeed not a small amount!" replied the prince.

"Ah, yes!"

"Your Highness is right!" Huang Degong hurriedly agreed.

"Ugh"

"Actually, if you ask me, these expenses, if they were covered according to this budget, the military supplies in the near future could be considered barely enough to cover them!"

"But, it's just..." Huang Jieyan paused and intentionally brought up a new topic.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wei, who was very perceptive, also came to talk.

"Oh? Just what?"

"Haha, Your Highness and I are both new here, and we don't know much about the specific matters. If you have any ideas, Admiral Huang, please feel free to speak frankly!" Xiao Lang responded.

“Ah, haha.”

"Yes!"

"In fact, Your Highness and Commander Xiao are really unaware of the actual situation!"

"That is, Gao Jie's troops in Fengyang and Liu Zeqing's troops in Yangzhou are really wasting too much money and wasting money without restraint!"

"As a result, the logistics and fodder were running out of steam and were overwhelmed with supplies, and eventually problems arose!"

"Haha, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already arrived at the army today!"

"Then, I, Old Huang, won't be afraid of offending anyone!"

"This has not been going on overnight!"

"Your Highness, you don't know that when the four of us marched northward, we had just reached the southern border of Shandong when Gao and Liu started to complain about the lack of food and supplies!"

"After that, they even used the excuse of insufficient logistical supplies to wantonly plunder the people's property along the way and openly let their soldiers rob the people of their food. This is extremely evil!"

"As for me, I have always been in different military garrisons with him, and it is difficult for us to control each other, so, ah, I can't help him much!"

Huang Degong's report pushed Gao Jie and Liu Zeqing to the front.

I don't know whether he is intentionally trying to curry favor with the powerful and take advantage of the opportunity to clear himself, or whether he is really speaking the truth!
However, no matter what, the bad deeds of Gao and Liu are probably true!
So, the flutes were connected to each other, and the gaps were smooth and the conversation was correct.

"Humph!"

"Allowing soldiers to cause trouble is a disgrace to the Ming army!" Xiao Yu.

"Alas, Governor Xiao is right!"

"Who says it's not?"

"Not only that, it stands to reason that since you looted the supplies, then, then you should at least pay for part of the supply yourself to relieve the logistical pressure. If that's really the case, then Old Huang, I won't say much!"

"I'm not the kind of person who likes to talk about others behind their backs!"

"but!"

"This this"

"What these two towns have done is truly intolerable!"

"He's such a thief with two eyes!"

"They completely disregarded the sentiments of the people, the laws of the country, and the military regulations, and looted every place they passed through!"

"They have plundered so much money, and now they are still openly asking the imperial court for military supplies after they have finished their business!"

"They used the hardship of the march as an excuse to make demands, extort bribes, and do whatever they can to get what they want!"

"Ugh!"

"At the White Heaven Conference, Governor Xiao's words about making a fortune from the national crisis are not an exaggeration at all!"

"This is a shameful act that enriches oneself and ruins the country!"

"The way you eat is too ugly!"

"During this time, because of these messy things, I have quarreled with them a lot along the way!" "Haha, because of this, I have offended the subordinates!"

"Alas, my Lord, I, Old Huang, am at a loss for words!"

Huang Degong smiled naively and bitterly, and also complained a lot about his grievances.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zile was delighted to see this situation.

You know, originally, before entering Jinan, Xiao Lang and De Zhizhong had been racking their brains to divide the towns in northern Jiangsu for future layout.

After observing for a day, he found that the situation here is much easier to deal with than previously expected. Xiao Lang feels much more at ease about this.

"Oh yes!"

"There was a great show in front of the Governor's Office this morning. I wonder if Your Highness saw it?!"

"There is a grain official from Jiangning who came to the government office to complain about Liu Zeqing's hijacking of grain and fodder from the canal!"

"Haha, I just wanted to see you, Admiral Huang, but I just happened to run into you!"

Xiao Hu, thinking of the Qingpao Ma's civil affairs and the charges against Gao and Liu, added fuel to the fire!
Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang did not say a word. Instead, Huang Degong, seeing that the conversation was directed at him, immediately continued the conversation.

"Ah, yes!"

"Hey, Overseer!"

"He is the co-governor of Jiangning Grain Road, Ma Weimin!"

"I know everything about this person and this matter!"

"But, these... these messes, I am not in the position to be involved, so I can't get involved!"

"Haha. That's why I'm deliberately avoiding meeting you!"

"Your Highness, please forgive me for asking the governor to follow you!"

"Ugh!"

"Although I have received your royal decree, my Chuzhou detachment will be stationed in Jinan, and we will be in charge of Jinan affairs!"

"This is my job, there's no room for negotiation!"

"But, Your Highness, you also saw it today!"

"As long as his other three garrisons are not transferred from Jinan, I am in an awkward situation!"

"For many things, it's not right to intervene, and it's not right to ignore them either!"

"It's a dilemma!"

"It's only been a few days, but I already feel that my hair has turned a lot whiter!"

"It's all their fault!"

"It's so fucking pathetic just thinking about it!"

"This, this is only possible because of His Highness's generosity. I, Old Huang, would dare to say these things!"

"I'm not afraid of any more taboos."

"Instead of letting these people like me, Old Huang, stay in Jinan and make trouble, it would be better for us to quickly get those Jiannu in the north to attack us as soon as possible!"

"I am here to lead the troops, I don't like those roundabout ways!"

"It's better to fight early and do it quickly than to squeeze and cross, and it's more refreshing and neat!"

Huang Degong cleverly expressed his feelings to win people's hearts.

After hearing this, Zhu Cilang smiled knowingly, brought the tea, took two sips, and then drank the snacks that had just been served.

"Haha, don't be in a hurry!"

"Admiral Huang, according to what you said, you must have suffered a lot before!"

"However, now that I and Commander Xiao have arrived here!"

"Then the situation in Jinan will surely undergo some adjustments in the future!"

"Well, Xiao Lang, you see, I followed you to Shandong this time, and I have left you a big mess to deal with! Huh?! Hehe"

"From now on, you have to find a way to pick up Huang Qing and the other two!"

Zhu Cilang set the tone and said something in the middle, then turned the conversation to Xiao Jingchuan.

Hearing this, Xiao Lang had no choice but to smile bitterly.

(End of this chapter)