Fenghou

Tang Huai nodded, he remembered something again, and said in a low voice: "The humble official suspects that Zhang Xian has already been wooed by Zhang Jun."

"How does General Tang know?"

"Zhang Xian has a nephew named Zhang Daqiang, who came to join Zhang Xian at the beginning of the year. When one of his subordinates drank with him, he drank a few more glasses and bragged about his visit to a brothel in Shouchun, talking about what happened last year. , indicating that he came from Shouchun, not Bianliang as mentioned in his resume.

And as far as I know, Zhang Xian doesn't have any nephews, only one nephew, who died a long time ago, I don't know where this nephew came from?It took me two days to realize that he was most likely an undercover agent sent by Zhang Jun. He served as Zhang Xian's banner officer and happened to be in charge of the connection between Zhang Xian and Zhang Jun. "

Xu Mu pondered for a moment and asked, "Will Wang Gui come to Beijing?"

"The humble official thought that he would go to Lin'an and tell the emperor about his grievances. The emperor promised to promote him to be the governor of the capital at the end of the year. He has always been loyal to the emperor."

At this time, Shen Changxin, Xu Mu's subordinate, ran over and said, "Qi reported to join the army, Cai Rang has something urgent to look for, and the humble officer brought him here, and he is outside."

Tang Huai was startled, got up and wanted to leave through the back door, Xu Mu grabbed him, "It's better for you to meet each other, you know each other well, and we will all be colleagues in the future."

"Okay!" Tang Huai sat down again.

Xu Mu gave Shen Changxin a wink, and Shen Changxin went out. Not long after, he led Cai Rang into the room.

"Xu Canjun, the situation is a bit..."

Cai Rang suddenly saw Tang Huai, and was stunned. Xu Mu smiled and said, "They are all from our own family. Sit down and have a glass of wine, and talk slowly!"

Cai Rang and Tang Huai smiled knowingly, and the embarrassment just now disappeared in this smile.

Cai Rang sat down and said, "General Tang must have told Xu Canjun about the emperor's edict."

Xu Mu nodded, "I see, General Tang said, Wang Gui wants to join the debriefing?"

"Exactly!"

Cai Rang sighed and said, "I just met Wang Gui. He has already made a decision. He would rather die than be wronged. He wants to go to Beijing to report on his duties and explain the situation clearly. He has made up his mind and I can't persuade him."

Xu Mu asked with a smile: "Does Cai Canjun know that Zhang Xian is probably Zhang Jun's person?"

"I don't know, but I'm not surprised at all. Zhang Jun is staring at our [-] troops. How could he be uneasy about inserting his people?"

Cai Rang was very anxious, and he hurriedly said, "Xu Canjun, the situation is urgent, what should I do now?"

Xu Mu pondered for a moment and said, "Cai Canjun wants to persuade Wang Gui to let Tang Huai sit in Xiangyang and transfer Zhang Xian away from Xiangyang City."

"I can persuade Wang Gui, but I'm afraid that Zhang Xian will also defend Xiangyang. In the past, he was responsible for defending Xiangyang. Wang Gui and General Tang led the army northward to defend."

Xu Mu smiled slightly, "Don't worry! King Yong and Zhang Jun have an agreement that Zhang Jun will not fight for Xiangyang, so Zhang Xian will never propose to guard Xiangyang."

Cai Rang and Tang Huai looked at each other, both of them had a look of surprise in their eyes, it turned out that King Yong had already arranged everything step by step.

The first thousand and 110 eight chapters Xiangyang

Inside the big tent, Wang Gui said to Cai Rang: "You don't need to persuade me to join the army. I have considered it for a long time. If I can surrender to the Western Army, I surrendered last year. Don't wait until now. Zhang Jun slandered me for having an affair with the Western Army, and the imperial court summoned me for this." Going to Beijing to report on my work, if I don't go, it will be equivalent to confirming Zhang Jun's slander, so I must go to the court to report on my work, even if I lose everything, I have to prove my innocence."

There was silence in the big tent. At this point, it is really hard to persuade any more. Cai Rang said slowly: "If the control has been decided, the humble official can understand and will not persuade again. What the humble official is worried about is what will happen next. As for the matter, Zhang Jun will definitely find a way to annex our army. I suggest that the soldiers should be divided into two groups, one side guarding the Han River, imitating the Western Army to block the river, so that Zhang Jun's army cannot pass the Han River, and the other side defending Xiangyang City. Support until the imperial court investigation team arrives, once the imperial court investigation team arrives, Zhang Jun will not dare to act recklessly, and it is very likely that the general will return to Xiangyang."

Wang Gui thought for a while, and then agreed, "We can divide the troops into two groups, one for defending Xiangyang and the other for Hanshui. What do you think of the arrangement when joining the army, or follow the old rules? Tang Huai stays outside, Zhang Xian stays inside?"

Cai Rang shook his head, "In the past, it was possible to arrange it this way because Tongzhi was in the capital, but it can't be arranged like this when Tongzhi went to the capital. I think that Tang Huai is cautious, more conservative than flexible, he is more suitable for defending the city, and Zhang Xian is flexible. It's changeable, and I think it's more appropriate for him to guard Hanshui."

"This... let them choose for themselves!"

Wang Gui immediately sent someone to find Tang Huai and Zhang Xian, and after a while, the two walked into the big tent, "Please order!"

"Since the imperial court ordered me to return to Beijing to report on my duties, I thought twice and decided to return to Beijing. I have made up my mind, and you don't need to persuade me anymore."

The two nodded silently, presumably Cai Rang had already persuaded him, but Cai Rang couldn't persuade him, let alone them.

"I am now worried about my arrangements after I leave. Cai Canjun suggested that I divide my troops into two groups, one for Xiangyang and the other for Hanshui. What do you two think?"

Tang Huai and Zhang Xian looked at each other, of course they also expected so, Tang Huai said: "Two armies guarding Xiangyang, in fact there is only one army, once Xiangyang falls, both armies will be lost, if the two armies guard separately, no matter which one If an accident occurs in the army, it can warn the other army, and I agree with the two armies to guard separately."

Wang Gui nodded, then looked at Zhang Xian, Zhang Xian also bowed and said: "Xiaozhi also agrees to separate the guards. In the past, I was guarding Xiangyang. This time, I asked to be released. I am willing to guard Hanshui. This is fair to everyone. .”

Wang Gui was worried that Zhang Xian would not guard the Hanshui, which would make Tang Huai feel dissatisfied. After all, the conditions for guarding Xiangyang are good, but the conditions for guarding the Hanshui are relatively poor. Unexpectedly, Zhang Xian would take the initiative to ask to guard the Hanshui, and let Wang Gui Feeling relieved, Wang Gui said happily: "General Zhang is so considerate of the overall situation, I am more confident, good! It is so decided, General Tang guards Xiangyang City, General Zhang leads troops to guard Hanshui, with Yicheng County as the foundation."

Wang Gui never dreamed that the three of them had a tacit understanding, let alone that Zhang Xian, who he sent to guard the Han River, had taken refuge in Zhang Jun as early as the beginning of the year. Weak, too unreliable, surrounded by two predators, it will be a matter of time before it is swallowed.

Wang Gui finally made the decision to return to Beijing to report on his duties. In the afternoon, he took a dozen of his own soldiers and followed the emissary to Lin'an to report on his duties.

At the same time that Wang Gui left Xiangyang and returned to Beijing, the 1 Xiangyang army was also divided into two groups. On the one hand, Tang Huai led [-] troops to continue defending Xiangyang, and on the other, Zhang led an army of [-] to Yicheng, which is close to the Hanshui River. County, defense Han River.

……

In the middle of the night, Chen Qing, who had just returned to Jiangling, was awakened by a knock on the door in his deep sleep, "What's the matter?" Chen Qing asked.

"His Royal Highness, there is urgent information from Xiangyang!"

"I see!"

Zhao Yingluo hurriedly got up and put on clothes for her husband, and she also put on her underwear herself, and washed her husband briefly.

Chen Qing walked out of the room and came to the outer hall, where he saw several soldiers waiting for a long time with a messenger.

The person who sent the letter was Xu Mu's subordinate. He quickly walked up to the hall and bowed: "His Royal Highness, Wang Gui has rushed to Lin'an to report on his duties, and Zhang Xianjun is going to defend the Han River. Currently, Xiangyang Mansion is guarded by General Tang Huai's 1 people."

Chen Qing was overjoyed. He immediately issued a military order, ordering Liu Qiong, who was in Dengzhou, to lead [-] troops to Xiangyang City. Chen Qing immediately packed up and led [-] cavalry to go north from Jiangling.

Two days later, the army passed by Wang Yan's tomb. Chen Qing worshiped Wang Yan's tomb and left five hundred coins, ordering the local gentry to take good care of the tomb and not destroy it.

The army continued to go northward, and it was still fifty miles away from Xiangyang. At this time, Chen Qing got the news that Zhang Xian led an army of [-] troops across the Han River, and went south to join Zhang Jun's army.

At the same time, Chen Qing also got news from Xiangyang that Liu Qiong's [-] troops had already entered Xiangyang, and the overall situation was settled. Chen Qing immediately led the army to continue to Xiangyang.

Outside the city of Xiangyang, Liu Qiong led the crowd out of the city to welcome His Royal Highness King Yong. Chen Qing appeased everyone one by one. He then promoted Xiangzhou to Xiangyang Prefecture, appointed Xu Mu as the prefect of Xiangyang, appointed Cai Rang as the general judge of Xiangyang, and appointed Tang In order to control, Huai also announced that the military positions of the remaining surrendered generals would not change, but they would be promoted to one level in the military rank, and everyone was happy for a while.

Rested overnight in Xiangyang City, and early the next morning, Chen Qing, accompanied by everyone, went to Hanshui Wharf outside the city to inspect.

Chen Qing smiled and asked Liu Qiong, "You are familiar with Shangzhou. I want to know how to get from Xiangyang to Shangzhou by water?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, you can go to Longju Village in Shangluo County by taking a thousand-stone cargo ship."

"Can't we go further north?" Chen Qing asked again.

"Walking is possible. There is a long section of rocky and dangerous shoal, about [-] miles away. Ships blocked from going north can only walk on rafts. If the [-] miles of river is dredged and the river channel is dug a little deeper, then The Qianshi cargo ship can continue to go north for about [-] miles and arrive at Shangluo County."

Chen Qing also has some experience now. It takes about 5 people to dredge a 50-mile river for five months, and the wages are about 70 guan. Including other material expenses and warehouse construction, Shangzhou will need about 60 guan. The warehouse must be built, but in order to dredge the short [-]-mile river, it will cost [-] million yuan. Chen Qing is not so rich.

Chen Qing asked Cai Li again, "May I ask Cai Tongpan, can Xiangyang berth the Wanshi cargo ship?"

Cai Li had just been promoted to the general judge of a government. He had been excited all night, and now he looked a little tired. At this time, when Chen Qing asked him, he froze for a moment, and it took him a long time to react. However, there are only five thousand stone cargo ships at most."

Chen Qing nodded. According to his experience, if he can berth a cargo ship of [-] shi, then there is basically no problem in berthing a cargo ship of [-] shi. A large amount of cargo was transported to Xiangyang by a huge ship of thousands of stones, and then transferred to Shangluo County of Shangzhou by a thousand-stone cargo ship, and then transported to Guanzhong by camels and carts, what good ideas do you have?"

Tang Huai, who had been silent all this time, raised his hand and said, "Your Highness, I have an idea!"

Chen Qing had a good impression of Tang Huai, so he smiled and said, "Tell me, what do you think?"

Tang Huai pointed to Jiangxin Island and said, "The Yuliang Island in the Hanshui River of Xiangyang occupies a large area. I suggest that a group of warehouses can be built on Yuliang Island. The north side of the waterway is wide enough to park thousands of stone ships, and the south side of the waterway is slightly narrower. For the Qianshi cargo ship, unloading and loading are separated, and the original Xiangyang wharf can continue to be used for civilian use.”

This plan is very good, Chen Qing nodded approvingly, and then asked: "Is there anyone living on Jiangxin Island?"

Tang Huai shook his head, "It used to be, but during the Wanyanchang Southern Expedition, Jiangxin Prefecture was requisitioned to store supplies, and it is now a barren place."

Chen Qing said happily: "After I returned to Jingzhao, I immediately sent people over to explore and draw up plans. There are only two things that your government has to do now. One is to recruit civilians to log a lot, and the other is to level the land on the island. Fish ponds and the like are filled in and compacted to prepare for the large-scale construction of warehouses and docks in the future, and the money and food needed by the peasants will be requisitioned, and I will let Shangshuxingtai on Jingnan South Road transport them to you."

The first thousand and 110 nine chapters are tricky

Chen Qing only stayed in Xiangyang for three days, then set off from Xiangyang to the north, took the Shangzhou Road back to Chang'an, and inspected the situation of the Shangzhou Road.

Chen Qing took Zhao Yingluo on a few thousand-stone passenger ships and headed north along the Han River, while cavalry guarded the shore.

But after only one day, he turned into Danshui. If he continued to walk along Hanshui, the ship could sail directly to Hanzhong and Nanzheng. This was also an important reason why Chen Qing wanted to take Xiangyang. As a transit point for goods, Hanzhong can also be transported by water. Various agricultural products and specialty products can be transported abroad, and various materials can also be transported into Hanzhong, and Hanzhong's economy can gradually develop.

The boat enters the Danshui and continues to go north. It needs animal power to pull the fiber. More than a dozen mules are pulling the fiber rope and walking slowly. Fishing nets on fishing boats.

After traveling northward for four days, the passenger ship arrived at Shangluo County, and then went northward to the rapids and rapids for twenty miles. You can take a hundred-stone boat or raft, but a thousand-stone cargo ship will stop at Shangluo County.

Chen Qing stayed in Shangluo County for a day. Accompanied by the county magistrate, he found a large open land by the river. This place is only two miles away from the county seat and close to the official road. A huge cargo transfer station will be built here.

After Chen Qing landed, under the guard of [-] cavalry, he took a horse-drawn carriage and continued northward to Guanzhong. However, many businessmen with keen senses quickly bought land in Shangluo County. They all realized that Shangluo County would soon become a prosperous business district. county seat.

Their business acumen is right. A year later, a huge warehouse cluster city and a civilian warehouse area were built accordingly, and business in Shangluo County began to flourish rapidly.

……

Lin'an, Changfeng Teahouse, Hu Yun called Wang Mu and Dong An, "There are two things I need to discuss with you two. The first thing is that Wu Jie's son found me this morning and asked me for help. Wu Jie last night passed away."

Wang Mu and Dong An were not surprised. Wu Jie was dismissed by the court because of his involvement in the Yue Fei incident, and was placed under house arrest in Yongzhou for two years. At the beginning of the year, he was pardoned because of his serious illness and returned to Lin'an for treatment. However, he was seriously ill and finally went there.

"Why did Wu Jie's son ask the special envoy for help?"

Hu Yun smiled wryly and said: "Wu Jie doesn't want to be buried in Lin'an, but wants to go back to his hometown and be buried beside his parents. His family plans to cremate him and take his ashes back home, but they only have twenty coins in total. I can’t even afford a coffin, let alone send it all the way back to my hometown, and I can’t even afford a cemetery when I return home, so I asked for help.”

Wang Mu was surprised: "Wu Jie is so embarrassed?"

"All his money was used to help more difficult soldiers. He had no money left, and he was dismissed by the court again, and his salary was gone. One can imagine the embarrassment of the past two years, but he was very stubborn. Apart from accepting his brother Wu Ling's help, Besides, we don’t ask anyone for help, and we don’t know about it. Only after he died of illness, his son came to us when he was really helpless. I gave him 100 taels of silver and told him to build a coffin and buy a coffin first. Find a monk to save him."

Dong An thought for a while and said: "Actually, there is no need for cremation. As far as I know, there is a corpse delivery shop in Lin'an, which can store the corpse in a freezer and send it to Chengdu by special boat. It will cost several hundred yuan for a trip. If it is sent to Chengdu, we can take over and continue to send his body back to his hometown. The key is to have enough ice along the way, and we have the strength to do it.”

"Where is Wu Jie's hometown?" Wang Mu asked.

Hu Yundao: "His hometown is in Deshunzhou, Xihe Road, but his parents are buried in Pingliang County, Weizhou, so he must go to Jingzhao first, and then take the Jingshui Road from Jingzhao to Pingliang County. I will take charge of this matter." Coordinating with Chengdu and Jingzhao, I will report to King Yong, and we will find a corpse shop, all expenses will be paid by us, and then Dong An will need to send a few men to follow."

Wang Mu suddenly slapped his forehead and laughed, "You don't need to find a corpse shop for this matter, but Zheng Tongquan. I remember that he has an ice boat, which specializes in long-distance transportation of frozen mutton. We don't need to go to Bashu, but directly to Shangzhou. If Shangzhou transfers to Jingzhao, you can use a cart to pull the ice coffin, otherwise, if you take the Shu road, the ice coffin cannot be transported, and it will be disrespectful to the dead."

Hu Yun nodded, "This is the best way. I'll go find Lao Zheng, but Dong An still needs to find some people to follow."

Dong An patted his chest and said: "No problem, I have more than 100 people under my command, and I have enough manpower."

Hu Yun glanced at him, and said calmly: "If I talk about the second thing, you will complain that there are not enough people."

"what's up?"

Hu Yun sighed and said, "His Royal Highness entrusted us with a very difficult task. He asked us to prevent the imperial court from obtaining large ships."

Wang Mu and Dong An looked at each other, 'prevent the imperial court from obtaining sea ships', what kind of mission is this?

"This... Your Highness means that the imperial court is not allowed to form a navy?" Dong An couldn't help asking.

"It should mean that, but it just makes me a little bit at a loss!"

Hu Yun sighed, looked at Wang Mu again, and said with a smile, "You are a military adviser, so tell me!"

"I?"

Wang Mu smiled wryly, "I don't know anything, what should I say?"

"Then you come to ask a question, and in the question, maybe we can think of a countermeasure."

"All right!"

Wang Mu is also a master at asking questions, and he can ask key points on many things.

Wang Mu thought for a while and asked, "Which step has the court already taken?"

Hu Yun hesitated, "You mean...requisitioning ships?"

Wang Mu was a little dissatisfied and said, "Of course, what should I ask?"

Hu Yun shook his head: "The imperial court has not requisitioned ships, not even a plan..."

"Wait! Wait a minute!"

Wang Mu quickly interrupted him, and said with a smile: "I've been talking for a long time, is it just a pre-judgment by His Royal Highness Yong? The court hasn't thought about the issue of the navy yet?"

"Maybe it has been thought of, but no consensus has been reached, or the discussion has not yet started, but sooner or later, once the emperor realizes the seriousness and urgency of the problem, they will speed up the progress, and even the emperor will use the power of the emperor, The decree is directly enforced, so we cannot relax because of it.”

Wang Mu pondered for a while and said: "Since the imperial court has not implemented it, things will be easy to handle. We can send people to various ports to publicize and plan ahead. In this way, ship owners in various ports will find ways to hide their ships or sail them to Quanzhou to hide."

Dong An shook his head, "I don't think the effect will be very good!"

"Why do you say that?" Hu Yun asked.

Dong An said indifferently: "Businessmen value profits, but if we shout that the imperial court will take over the ship, I guess many people will not believe it, because once they believe it, they will stop doing business and hide the ship, and they will lose money , so they will weigh the pros and cons, and they must wait until the court really takes action before they will really hide the ship, this is only the first reason."

Hu Yun frowned, and asked again: "What about the second reason?"

"The second reason is that the monk can't run away from the temple if he can run away. You hide the boat, no problem, arrest you and your children and grandchildren, 'click!' Cutting off a head, is the life or the boat important? In the end, it will be determined. Will obediently hand over the ship."

Wang Mu nodded, "Boss Dong is right, my consideration is too simple, unless the sea merchants flee to Quanzhou with their family and boats, they will definitely be caught, but we still have to publicize and tell them a way, Flee to Quanzhou with your family and big boat, and you will be able to escape disaster."

"I agree with this!"

Hu Yun nodded, "It's better to say than to say nothing, tell them a way, if they bribe the local government, maybe they can really escape to Quanzhou."

Wang Mu continued: "This is just a preventive link. After the imperial court collects a certain number of sea-going ships, how do we destroy them? This is the most important thing we need to do. At this stage, we alone can't , Dangtu's Wang Qing must also lead his army to join."