Fenghou

Chapter 291 Deserters
Chen Qing quickly took the map and spread it out on the table. Everyone gathered around. The map was marked in detail, and the information Chen Qing wanted most was also there. There were one hundred and twenty ships. Sure enough, the main force went to Changde Mansion. The reason why he defeated Yang Yao was largely because the opponent's warships were not many, and they didn't know fishing net tactics. Now that they understand fishing net tactics, they won't It will be so easy.

In addition to the warships, the number of troops is also marked, a total of nearly [-] people, half of which are Yang Yao's direct army.

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, Yang Yao's strength was still very strong, much stronger than he imagined, and it seemed like a fluke that their victory over Junshan was also a fluke.

Chen Qing stared at the map for a long time and said: "With the fifty warships in our hands, we can't defeat Yang Yao. If we want to win in the end, there are only two ways, either increase our warships, or reduce the opponent's warships."

The defeat of Junshan had a great blow to the morale of Yang Yao's army, especially the opponent's coach was the notoriously evil genius Chen Qing, which made Yang Yao's soldiers feel deeply afraid, whether it was Yang Yao's direct army or other generals. All the subordinates deserted one after another.

Yang Yao was very worried about this. At this time, Huang Cheng, the army who was urging food outside, came back, and Yang Yao hurriedly discussed countermeasures with the army division.

Huang Cheng said with a smile: "The morale of the army is low. The main reason is that our opponents are too fierce, which makes the brothers feel the fear of death. I have learned from the army that the soldiers portrayed Chen Qing as a murderous devil without blinking an eye. Saying that he will eat people for three meals, although he is the opponent who uglifies, it also makes the soldiers have a strong fear. To eliminate this fear, we must defeat the opponent once, so that the soldiers can find out that demons are nothing. It's scary, and morale is up very quickly."

Yang Yao sighed, "How could it be so easy to defeat him? He actually used a fishing net to crack my car and boat. I really don't know how to fight."

"Your Majesty doesn't know how to fight. The reason is that you don't know the opponent. As the saying goes, you can win every battle if you know yourself and the enemy. If you don't have a lot of important information, we will miss the opportunity. For example, I heard an important piece of news."

"What important news?" Yang Yao asked hastily.

"I heard from a businessman that a huge fleet of warships passed through Jiangzhou and headed east."

Yang Yao was taken aback, "What does this mean?"

"If the news is true, it must be that the Song Dynasty court transferred the warship fleet back to Runzhou to defend the Jurchens."

"Is the news true?"

Huang Cheng shook his head, "I don't know, it's just the rumors heard by the businessman. Whether it's true or not, the king must send someone to investigate, not only the situation of the warships, but also the strength of the enemy army. We don't even know how many troops Chen Qing has. The third is to understand the changes in the situation after the Qi army attacked Jingzhou. Chen Qing must have been affected. Only by grasping this information can we discover and seize the opportunity."

Yang Yao was ashamed and said: "The military advisor is right, I really should pay attention to information, I will arrange it now!"

Immediately, Yang Yao selected [-] elites from his confidants, pretended to be deserters, and fled back to Yuezhou to inquire about Yuezhou's intelligence.

Yang Yao is the head snake of Dongting Lake, and of course the subordinates he dispatched also have strong connections.

He sent a leader named Li Shun, the son of a wealthy merchant in Yuezhou. Li Shun's father was named Li Yaoming, who had considerable assets in Baling County and opened three restaurants, two inns and a boat house.

Li Shun is Li Yaoming's youngest son, he was doted on since he was a child, and he grew up to be a feared little devil. Five years ago, Li Shun fought with someone in the street and beat him to death. Arrange for his son to hide in Changde Mansion.

Not long after Yang Yao's rebellion, Li Shun joined Yang Yao's team and was like a fish in water among the bandit army. In the past few years, he had been mixed into the official position of commander and became Yang Yao's confidant.

The sudden appearance of the youngest son made Li Yaoming both surprised and delighted. The children of many people around him had fled back. Of course he hoped that his son could also go home. All kinds of documents were burned, and the former officials died or fled. The son's criminal record has long been gone, and there is no need to worry about him going to jail.

Li Yaoming was overjoyed at his son's return, and he praised his young son's promise to everyone he met, but on the third day, he suddenly died down, like an eggplant beaten by frost, his whole body withered away.

This morning, a man in his thirties was wandering in front of the barracks with serious thoughts, wanting to enter the barracks, but he didn't want to, as if he couldn't make up his mind.

Zheng Ping returned to the camp with a few of his men. He has always been known for his meddling in other people's affairs. He took a few glances at the man and hurried forward and asked, "Brother, what's the matter?"

"I'm fine!"

The man turned to leave, Zheng Ping winked, and several of his subordinates stopped the man.

"Look at your sneakiness, maybe you are a spy!"

The man's face turned pale with fright, and he waved his hands quickly, "General, I'm not a spy, I'm a businessman in this city, I have something to report to Governor Chen"

"Then go in and talk, I'll help you contact Chen Dutong."

The man had no choice but to follow Zheng Ping into the barracks.
In fact, Chen Qing was not in the barracks either. He was the governor of Yuezhou, and he was also inspecting the people outside the city. He didn't return to the barracks until around noon. He had just entered his tent when Zheng Ping came running like a gust of wind.

"Dutong, there is an important situation!"

"What did you discover again?" Chen Qing asked with a smile.

"I met a man at the gate of the barracks this morning. He was hesitant, as if there was something wrong. I was more curious and brought him into the barracks for interrogation. It turned out that he was related to Yang Yao's spies."

Chen Qing became interested, "What kind of man?"

"It's the proprietor of the Dongting restaurant in the city. His name is Li Ping, and his father's name is Li Yaoming. They have all met."

Chen Qing remembered that he had indeed met this Li Yaoming, a well-known wealthy businessman in Baling County.

"and then?"

"Then Li Yaoming's youngest son, Li Shun, came back a few days ago. Li Shun was also under Yang Yao. According to him, he became a deserter. Li Yaoming was so happy that he gave his youngest son the operation of a restaurant. As a result, the youngest son took the shopkeeper of the restaurant the same day. All the clerks were driven away and replaced by his own people, and his father was forced to drive out all the clerks from the other two restaurants and use his people. His second brother was dissatisfied and said a few words, but he stabbed him. Now lying at home, the eldest brother Li Ping couldn't bear it, so he came to complain, and he suspected that the third brother was Yang Yao's spy."

"Is this a fight for family property between brothers?" Chen Qing laughed.

"It can be regarded as a fight for family property, but don't you think it's strange? You actually brought thirty subordinates back."

Chen Qing simply said frankly: "In fact, I have known about Li Shun for a long time."

Zheng Ping's eyes widened, "How does Dutong know?"

"Thirty people appeared together, such an obvious target, do you think Wang Hao can't find it?"

Zheng Ping couldn't say a word, and Chen Qing said again: "Wang Hao has already arranged someone to watch secretly, how do you deal with this reporter?"

Zheng Ping scratched his head, "I told him, as if nothing happened, no matter what his brother wants to do, he will agree to it. If his brother is really a spy, we promise that he and his father will not be held accountable."

"It's a better arrangement."

"Dutong, I suggest that it's better not to startle the enemy, and simply follow the plan."

Chen Qing laughed, "You have a lot of bad ideas, and I happen to be busy these two days, so I'll leave this to you!"

Zheng Ping was overjoyed, and hurriedly bowed and said: "The humble official will definitely do a good job in this matter!"

(End of this chapter)