Fenghou

Chao Kun looked like a literati, with a very good temperament, which made the introduction officer Zha Nong feel good. He also clasped his fists and said with a smile: "I went to Bianliang Taixue to study when I was 20 years old. I stayed in Bianliang for six years, and Xuanhe returned for five years. Fozi."

It turned out that I had studied in Bianliang, so it's no wonder that the official language is so good.

Chanon smiled again: "Wait a moment, I will arrange the boat, and then take you to the post to rest!"

Just as Chao Kun was about to say no, Zhang Jiugong gave him a wink, and Chao Kun shut up in time.

Chanong went to command the fleet to dock, and Zhang Jiugong said to Chao Kun in a low voice: "This Chanong is a Sanfoqi nobleman. He has been a guide officer in the port for more than ten years. For crops, it is best to ask him for help."

Chao Kun hesitated and said, "I'm afraid that there will be restrictions on Sanfoqi, and the species will not be allowed to spread overseas."

"It's nothing. The Sanfoqi government never cares about such things. On the contrary, he encourages all kinds of species to be sold to the Song Dynasty. They want to make money, don't they?"

Chao Kun nodded and said with a smile, "Aren't they afraid that we won't buy their things after we learn how to plant?"

Zhang Jiugong smiled and said: "If this is the case, we would not buy their spices hundreds of years ago. They are not stupid. They know that only they can grow many crops. If we need them, they will plant them in large quantities, and then they can grow them." Made money."

"I see!"

At this time, a little black child came over with a bunch of yellow bananas, and he didn't know what to say, Chao Kun only heard a ba la la.

Zhang Jiugong broke off a few ripe yellow fruits and gave the child a handful of copper coins. The child left happily, and Zhang Jiugong handed one to Chao Kun. But it's not as big as here, nor as sweet. Young master, try it."

After Chao Kun ate a banana, he repeatedly praised how sweet it was, and asked with a smile, "I remember that there are more gold and silver coins in Nanyang, how can we exchange them for our copper coins?"

"It's about one to ten, but it's unrealistic to expect this to make money, the amount is too small."

At this time, Chanon walked back quickly and said with a smile: "Let's go! We will take you to the posthouse, where it will be more comfortable. Do you have a lot of luggage?"

Chanong glanced at it, and a dozen people followed behind with their luggage on their backs. He nodded to Chao Kun and said, "Mr. Chao is really a wealthy family! Half of those big boats belong to Mr. Chao's family!"

Chao Kun said indifferently: "They are here for business, it has nothing to do with me, I just came to collect some rare things, things that Da Song didn't have."

"Which aspect specifically? See if I can help Mr. Chao?"

"Minerals, specialty products, fruits, crops, and vegetables are all fine."

"Do you need a lot?"

"I'm going to take it back and try it out, and if it's popular, I'll make a larger purchase."

Chanon was immediately interested, and said with a smile: "Tomorrow is just my day off. Tomorrow morning, I will take you to the big market. There is everything there!"

……

They live in a good place, each in a separate wooden building, served by a local girl, and the food is the best, only a hundred dollars a day.

Chao Kun guards his body like a jade, so naturally he will not waste his precious first time in Nanyang. Although the girl who serves him keeps showing favor to him, he is not moved at all.

After a good night's sleep, the next day he was full of energy. Chanong came as scheduled and changed into a white silk shirt. Chao Qing also changed into a fine linen green shirt. He wore a flat scarf and held a folding fan. They locked up their luggage. , and then followed Chanon to the big market.

The big market in the city is different from the trading market in the seaport. The trading market in the seaport is for foreign trade, and they are all kinds of bulk goods, while the big market in the city is the Sanfoqi domestic market, which sells everything. Of course, Sanfoqi is In a Buddhist country, killing is opposed. There are basically no meat sellers, but there are animal sellers, and they are all bought back as pets.

The big market is bustling with people, and there are various stalls one after another.

Chanong is good at observing words and expressions. Seeing the disappointment on Chao Kun's face, he smiled and said, "What do Mr. Chao want to buy?"

Zhang Jiugong next to him said with a smile: "Mr. Chao heard me talking about the past 30 years ago on the road. He wanted a big round fruit!"

Chanon patted his forehead and smiled, "I see, come with me!"

He came to a large fruit stand, pointed to the piles of large round fruits on the ground and said, "There are several kinds!"

Coconuts are definitely not, Lingnan also produces them, pineapples are also produced in Quanzhou, another big fruit Chao Kun picks up, only smells a stench, Chao Kun almost throws up.

Chanon laughed loudly, "This kind of fruit smells bad, but tastes delicious!"

Chao Kun looked back at Zhang Jiugong, Zhang Jiugong shook his head, "It's not the kind of food I saw!"

Chanon asked: "Where did Jiugong see it?"

"That was 30 years ago. On the canoes of the natives of the island, they seemed to be using them as food. The inside was hollowed out, and it could still hold fresh water. It was a golden flat ball, about this big!"

Zhang Jiugong compared the size, and Chanon had never seen it before, but he had a way, "Follow me!"

Everyone came to a simple shop. The owner of the shop was a native of the island. Cha Nong spoke to him in local dialect and made gestures.

The shopkeeper nodded, and brought out a big melon from the back room. Zhang Jiugong's eyes lit up, "That's it!"

Chanon asked a few more words, and said with a smile, "This is a tulu melon brought back by their warriors from a distant continent, and they grow it for food."

Chao Kun laughed and said, "Sell me this melon!"

After Chanong translated, the shopkeeper glanced at the folding fan in Chao Kun's hand. He pointed to the folding fan and made an exchange gesture. Chao Kun laughed and said, "Deal!"

Chao Kun handed him the folding fan and taught him how to open and close it. The shopkeeper happily went to the back room with the fan in his hands.

Zhang Jiugong hired a footman to hold melons for him, and continued to walk forward. Chao Kun saw a basket of red fruits that he had never seen before, and asked, "What is this?"

Zhang Jiugong knew it, and said with a smile: "This is a palm fruit. It is very oily. It doesn't seem to be native here. It was brought by overseas businessmen. It is grown well here. It can be eaten as a meal after cooking."

When Chao Kun heard that it could be eaten as a meal, he said, "I bought this basket."

Chao Kun then bought a bunch of special products, he bought a few of all the ones he had never seen before, even the smelliest kind of fruit, he also bought a few, of course he bought the greener ones, which should be ripe when he goes back up.

He hired more than a dozen footmen to carry things for him. Of course, Chao Kun didn't treat Cha Nong badly, and gave him a set of high-quality Jianyao porcelain as a reward.

Back at the post house, Chao Kun said to Zhang Jiugong: "Finally, we need rice seeds that can be harvested three times a year. Please ask Jiugong to get it for me."

Zhang Jiugong said with a smile: "I just asked Cha Nong for some."

Chao Kun shook his head, "This kind of authentic crop is different from fruit, and it will definitely limit the spread of it. I was afraid that rice seeds would arouse his vigilance, so I didn't mention it, but I still need rice seeds!"

"I understand. You should be cautious. I'm trying to find a way to get rice seeds from the Han merchants. I know a few old friends who are doing well here."

Zhang Jiugong went out to find a relationship. Two days later, Zhang Jiugong handed Chao Kun a wooden box, which was filled with high-quality local rice seeds.

Ten days later, Chao Kun left Palembang by boat and returned to Quanzhou.

Chapter 78 Sneak Attack

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, an army of 6 to [-] people marched mightily in the dark night. The torches stretched for nearly twenty miles. They had already entered the territory of Suzhou and were heading north along Surabaya.

This army is General Han under the command of Han Shizhong, the Xuanfu envoy of Huaidong. At this time, the imperial court is slowly and continuously transporting food and supplies to Yangzhou, and is preparing for war. According to the general progress, it will be after the spring in mid-February Only then will the war begin.

However, the experienced Han Shizhong created a time gap. He sent troops in early January to attack in the ice and snow, catching Li Qiong's army by surprise.

At the front of the team, Han Shizhong stared solemnly at the north. He himself did not approve of the Northern Expedition to attack Shandong Road. They did not have the capital and were no match for the Jurchen Army.

Attacking the Central Plains that the Western Army has already occupied is like fratricide, and the public opinion of the world will not tolerate it. In fact, they are also no match for the Western Army.

The final goal can only be to attack Li Qiong in Xuzhou. After spending so much money and food to send troops to the Northern Expedition, only three or four states were taken in the end, which is still the Huangpan District. I wonder if the court has calculated this account?

In fact, it was really helpless for Han Shizhong to send troops at this time. He had already sensed the signal of the imperial court's withdrawal. Ever since Yue Fei was stripped of his military power and demoted to Lingnan as an official, Han Shizhong knew that he might be the next one.

Of course he won't be as miserable as Yue Fei, he didn't offend anyone as straightforwardly as Yue Fei, he participated in suppressing Liu Miao's rebellion, and he was able to save him, so his ending will definitely be better than Yue Fei's.

But Han Shizhong knew that his resignation was not only about changing his own fate, but about the fate of many people. What about his generals?

All the generals under him were single-handedly selected by him, and they were loyal to him. The Han family army was not called for nothing. Even if he resigned for retirement, he had to give his subordinates a good home, so that he could give the Han family army an explanation.

He didn't want his Han family army to be frightened like the Yue family army, be arbitrarily demoted by Zhang Jun, and most of them defected to Chen Qing in the end.

Of course, going to Chen Qing is not a bad thing, and it can be regarded as a very good destination, but the process is very painful and the military achievements are great, but the result is the court's ruthless treatment, which is emotionally unacceptable.

Han Shizhong wanted to send troops to capture Suzhou and Xuzhou before the imperial court ordered the withdrawal, so that he could get a chance to negotiate with the imperial court.

There are still ten miles away from Fuli County, the prefecture of Suzhou, and Fuli County is a hill ahead. There are only [-] troops in the entire Suzhou.

Han Shizhong ordered the army to extinguish all the torches and rest on the spot, waiting for the news from his scouts. The order was passed down, and the long fire dragon disappeared quickly, and the [-] troops were silent.

It was the middle of the third watch at this time, and the clouds were thick and dark, and the night was extremely dark, and no one could be seen within a dozen steps, which was the best opportunity for a night attack.

Han Shizhong urged his horse forward slowly, walked more than a hundred steps, bypassed the cover of the hill, and the outline of a county suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.

A quarter of an hour later, several scouts rushed back, and the leader of the scouts reported: "I told the Xuan Fu envoy that there was no trace of the defenders on the top of the city, but there was a faint light of fire. It should be the patrolling defenders warming up on the top of the city. .”

"Which city is it in!"

"Report to Xuanfu envoy, at the head of Nancheng!"

"Did you see the flames on the other walls?" Han Shizhong asked again.

"No flames!"

Han Shizhong nodded and asked again: "How about the moat?"

"The moat is still frozen, so thick that people can walk on the ice."

Han Shizhong immediately ordered: "Where is General Xie?"

Controlling Jie Yuan stepped forward and clasped his fists: "The end is here!"

"You can lead [-] elite soldiers from your headquarters and take ten siege ladders to sneak attack on the west city. After you succeed, light three torches as a signal and open the city gate!"

"The end will obey orders!"

After preparing for a while, the leader Xie Yuan led two thousand Song troops to rush to the west wall. The soldiers carried ten siege ladders and ran in groups of 200 people.

There are no defenders on the top of the city, and it is pitch black. At this time, the New Year has just passed ten days, and the defenders are still immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year. It will be called the end of the New Year after the Ghost Festival, and they will gradually come back to their senses. , and then began to consider the defense of the city.

The defenders never dreamed that the Song army would attack the city during the New Year, and the defense was obviously relaxed. At the third watch, there were no soldiers on patrol at all, and all the soldiers on duty at night went to find a place to sleep.

At this time, Han Shizhong led an army of [-] troops two miles away from the city gate, waiting for the result of the siege.

Ten siege ladders hooked the city wall, and two thousand troops quickly climbed up the city. Xie Yuan rushed to the top of the city first, and the soldiers sleeping on the top of the city were awakened one after another. With a sound, he got up and fled. Many soldiers were unable to escape and were stabbed to the ground by chaotic spears.

Two thousand soldiers quickly climbed to the top of the city. The soldiers divided into two groups. Some soldiers put down the suspension bridge on the top of the city, opened the iron bolts of the city gate, and lit the torches. Xie Yuan sent a thousand soldiers to rush down to open the city gate.

At this moment, Nanchengtou hurriedly rang the alarm bell, "Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!" Han Shizhong's army was discovered.

Immediately, the alarm sounded all over the city, and the alarm bells sounded everywhere, but it was too late, the west gate was opened, and Han Shizhong led [-] troops to swarm towards the gate...

The guard Chen Tao yelled loudly, and the sleeping soldiers woke up one after another. They hurriedly put on their clothes, and they didn't even have time to put on their armor.

A soldier rushed over and shouted: "General Chen, the Song army has entered the west city, tens of thousands of people!"

Chen Tao shouted anxiously: "Open the north city gate and retreat!"

Chen Tao led thousands of people to rush out of the North City Gate. At this moment, there was a shout outside the North City Gate, followed by thousands of arrows. Chen Tao couldn't dodge in time, and was shot like a hedgehog, killing him on the spot.

Nearly a thousand soldiers were also shot and killed, and the rest of the soldiers fled back to the city gate in fright.

Han Shizhong was a generous man, although these soldiers used to be Song soldiers, followed Li Qiong to surrender the Jin soldiers, and then surrendered to Chen Qing, and now they surrendered to the Song Dynasty again, Han Shizhong still allowed them to surrender.

The Song army took down Fuli County and Suzhou with almost no injuries.

Han Shizhong left [-] troops to guard Suzhou. After a little supply, he personally led an army of [-] to turn east and fight towards Pizhou.

Three days later, Han Shizhong conquered Xiapi County, and the [-] defenders of Pizhou were wiped out.

Han Shizhong immediately led an army of [-] to turn around and enter Xuzhou, and went straight to Pengcheng County.

In just ten days, the Han family's army broke through three states in a row. Li Qiong, who was guarding Pengcheng County, did not dare to rescue them. He watched helplessly as all [-] troops were lost.

At this time, there were only more than [-] defenders in Pengcheng County. On the one hand, Li Qiong urgently entered the state of combat readiness of the entire army, and on the other hand, he sent a pigeon letter to Jingzhao for help.

Chapter 79 Rescue

Han Shizhong led an army of [-] to go north suddenly, catching Li Qiong by surprise, and Li Qiong's pigeon letter for help reached Jingzhao three days later.

It was late January at this time, and the warm breath spread throughout Guanzhong. The willows had turned green, the ice and snow had melted, and flocks of cheerful birds were flying in the sky. Farmers began to fertilize the winter wheat to protect the seedlings and loosen the land.

Chen Qing was preparing to go to Hanzhong and Bashu for an inspection, which took a month and a half, but a distress letter from Li Qiong Feige disrupted Chen Qing's plan.

In the early morning of this day, Chen Qing said to his family while having breakfast: "The plan may change. I may not go to Sichuan Road and Hanzhong Road to inspect, but I may go to Xuzhou."

"Husband, is it because of the war in Xuzhou?" Lu Xiu asked.

They all read the newspapers and knew that the imperial army seemed to have the upper hand when they attacked Xuzhou, and the situation was not good for them.

Chen Qing nodded, "The situation is more complicated. Maybe Jin Bing will take the opportunity to counterattack. If we don't deal with it properly, our previous efforts will be wasted."

"How long will the officials go?" Zhao Qiaoyun asked.

"It's probably about one and a half months, but it's not easy to bring family members this time."

Chen Qing looked at Yu Lian, and Yu Lian's eyes were gloomy. She had been looking forward to going to Bashu with her husband for almost a month, but she didn't expect the plan to change.

"I'll be at home today and tomorrow, and I'll leave early the morning after tomorrow."

……

At night, Yu Lian did her best to welcome Chen Qing, letting his passion explode in her body again and again.