Daming kill

Chapter 166 Undercurrent
On the south side of the Shishui River, hundreds of people are quarreling chaotically at the head of the pontoon bridge formed by a long row of small boats.

On the other side of the river, Huangpi County stands by the water.

This county town is very characteristic, it is surrounded by water on three sides, and among the six city gates, there are two gates in the east, west and south, and the north side which is not surrounded by water has no gates.

The three sides of Wumen are facing Sheshui in the middle, east and south, which means that Huangpi County is located on the corner of Sheshui.However, there are no bridges on both sides, and the only way to cross the river is by boat.

Although the west side of the county seat is not facing the Shishui River, there is also a moat dug to divert the Shishui River, and there is a permanent bridge near each gate.However, the two city gates here have urn cities, while the other four gates have no urn cities.

Since Huangpi County was occupied only yesterday morning, only one of the six city gates, Jingfu Gate (Danan Gate), was opened for passage. This temporary pontoon bridge built by boats became the only way in and out of the city.

This may be for the benefit of defense or the name of the city gate is more auspicious.

A group of more than a dozen cavalrymen yelled from behind the crowd to disperse the chaotic crowd and went straight to the bridge, followed by a small group of horses and donkeys dressed as officers and soldiers.

"Liu Duizheng, what soldiers and horses are following you?"

A soldier of the peasant army guarding the bridge, wearing a bowl helmet and cowhide armor, hurried forward to ask, holding a waist knife, and looked at the attire, he should be the leader here.

"What does it have to do with you?" The leading man on horseback replied a little impatiently.

The little leader guarding the bridge was stunned for a moment, but he still said politely: "Our army can enter the city, but the Xinna army is not allowed to enter the city. Brother, I must check one or two."

"Ge Laosi, what do you mean? I didn't know this rule when I left the city in the morning, you did it on purpose!" The big man on horseback was furious without giving any face.

The face of the little leader guarding the bridge was a little stiff, but he didn't explode. It should be some instinctive awe of the big man on horseback.

He pointed to the crowd of people gathered behind the big man on horseback to watch the excitement, and then said lightly: "Liu Duizheng, you can't say that. You didn't have this floating bridge when you left the city! Some things will change. I didn't do it on purpose. Make things difficult for you. Just look, those behind you are all volunteers and officers and soldiers who came to vote, none of them let in, and no one can lead them.”

Hearing the words, the big man on horseback looked around, his tone gradually calmed down, and he wondered, "Why is this?"

It seems that he is not an unreasonable person.

The little leader guarding the bridge sighed, and then said: "There are too many volunteers and officers and soldiers who came to vote today, and the city has already taken in a lot. The manager ordered me to set up a sentry here to persuade the latecomers not to enter the city again."

"What's the matter? Shouldn't we be happy that there are so many voters! Why do you want to block it? Wouldn't this chill the hearts of all the righteous people?" The big man on horseback was very puzzled.

just...just...

There were many echoing voices from the surrounding crowd, and many people seemed to think so.

The little leader of the bridge guard was choked to look around, gritted his teeth, moved forward and whispered: "We have newly acquired this city, and we don't have enough troops, so the boss is a bit unreliable!"

"The rebel army is short of soldiers, so don't they need our help."

A voice emerged from the crowd, obviously a person with sharp ears, and a person who likes to stand out.

Then, more voices chimed in chaotically again.

"It seems to make sense."

The big man on horseback spread his hands to the little boss guarding the bridge, as if I wasn't trying to make excuses.

The little leader guarding the bridge was even more helpless, so he had to report his fist to the big man on horseback: "Captain Liu, it's not that I, Ge Lao Si, deliberately made things difficult for everyone. It's really that I have been ordered by the general manager directly, so I have no choice. I can only stay outside the city for the time being and suffer some grievances."

The big man on horseback was stunned.

I guess I also understand that it doesn't make any sense to embarrass this little leader who guards the bridge.

He scratched his head and thought for a while and said: "Since there are many people coming into the city ahead, it's not bad for my group. I don't care about others, just let the people I bring in, and I will tell you where the boss is. , I will not let you complain."

The face of the little leader who guarded the bridge twisted, wondering: "Liu Duizheng, you always just keep watch around and rarely care about these trivial matters of surrender and rebellion. Why are you making an exception today?"

"I didn't want to. But after a day of investigation, the officers and soldiers were all huddled in Hanyang and Wuchang, and there was no sign of them, let alone any changes. Most of the officers and soldiers who came to surrender behind me had horses and mules. I don’t want to ignore my fellow from Shaanxi,” explained the big man on horseback.

"Are they together?"

The little boss guarding the bridge was startled, Ben's left hand holding the knife couldn't help grabbing the scabbard, while his right hand twitched unnaturally.

Hahaha…

The big man on horseback laughed.

Then, he turned his head to look behind him, turned back and said with a smile: "Don't worry. The dozens of them were originally several groups, and they didn't know each other. They were gathered together by me. You see, there are also scholars. Yes! I caught it."

The little boss guarding the bridge let go of the scabbard in embarrassment, but said, "But this..."

"Ge Lao Si, don't do this or that. Among them are my fellow countrymen, and I can't afford to be ashamed. Besides, I and the manager are also from the same township. If there is anything I will do for you, I owe you some face. You just let us go there." The big man on horseback directly took the words.

The face of the little leader guarding the bridge was even more troubled. He looked around for help, but the soldiers guarding the bridge around him were all silent, and no one supported him.

As a last resort, the little leader guarding the bridge had no choice but to give up resistance and waved his hand and said, "Let go."

Walking on the pontoon bridge, Liu Dui, who got off his horse and walked, was chatting with Ge Laosi who insisted on crossing the bridge with him in a good mood.

"When was this pontoon bridge built? It's so fast! I remember that when I left the city in the morning, I haven't collected a few boats yet!" Team Liu asked.

Ge Laosi pointed to a few old men, young men and women sitting scattered at different bows, and said: "Thanks to the help of these fishermen and righteous people. Yesterday, the officers and soldiers went to Dashui River and around the Houhu Lake. People were terrified and rushed They fled in all directions. The fishermen rowed all night and arrived almost noon."

"Hmm! I know about the Guanjun Dasuo River and the Houhu Lake. The place is extremely poor, full of water, and the roads are difficult. When I was exploring the south along the Shishui River, I also saw some fishermen along the Hebei River. I don't want to see them now. Gathered so much." Team Liu said with emotion.

Behind the two of them, a fat black man in a bloated and tattered thin padded jacket, who was helping to lead the horse, followed quietly all the time, without saying a word, only taking the opportunity to glance around.

And soon, he found familiar figures one by one.

Dong Jiangpeng, who was chewing a piece of dried fish, exchanged glances with him, and then continued to look at every person and every animal that passed between the planks of the hull, just like a standard curious boy.

Dong Jiangpeng's grandfather was mending fishing nets at the bow of a boat as if no one else was around.

The pretty black girl named Xiu Gu stood on the other bow of the boat where Grandpa Dong Jiangpeng was in, holding a long bamboo pole in the river with a turban wrapped in awe.

……

Old people, women and teenagers, plus a few dry men in their prime, everything is so simple and natural, so it's hard to be on guard.

Of course, it would be even more perfect if there were children.

After entering the city, Liu Dui, who said goodbye to Ge Laosi, said to Malan who was leading the horse for him: "You are a bit late to cast now, and you don't know how to use a bow. It is not easy to get ahead. However, you are finally If you can ride a horse and follow me, you will be safe."

"Thank you, Mr. Liu. I will follow you from now on. Sigh! It's also my fault. If I had known the ability of Mr. He, the "Ge Liyan", I would have come to follow him even if I traveled across mountains and rivers." Ma Lan said angrily.

"Ge Liyan" was He Yilong's nickname, and it was He Yilong's vanguard that occupied Huangpi County.

As the sky had begun to darken, the cavalry generals of the Peasant Army who entered the city followed their officers and troops and arranged most of their troops to a group of infantry, then went straight to a rather imposing house.

That's where they live.

Let a few officers and soldiers who were with Ma Lan go to feed and wash the horses, and let his subordinates go into the house to hold the women in the house to eat, but Liu Duizheng changed a horse himself and took Ma Lan with him. Go to the county government to find the biggest leader of the Peasant Army in the city, that is, the general manager, and return to his life.

While waiting with the horse outside the county government office, a skinny monkey dressed as an errand boy appeared in front of Ma Lan holding two steamed buns with meat in them.

"This is what I asked you to get inside. It's not enough to eat. You need to drink water and bring it inside. It's hot." The thin monkey said loudly on purpose.

While speaking, he pretended to be unconscious and glanced at the few guard soldiers leaning against the gate of the county government office without any rules.

Ma Lan comprehended and immediately tied Ma aside, and followed Skinny Monkey into the county government office.

"Why did you come in? How many people came in?" The thin monkey who was watching Malan drinking water in a remote miscellaneous room asked in a low voice.

After swallowing a sip of water, Ma Lan said softly: "There are 10 people who came in with me. Before I entered the city, I saw that there were dozens of our people blocked on the pontoon bridge. They should not be able to get in."

"That's just right. They can just block the bridge to defend the bridge. Otherwise, it's really not easy to rely on those young soldiers pretending to be fishing boys."

"How many people did we come in?"

"There are two hundred little ones. It's too easy to get in. I've never seen such a lax and easy-to-deceive army."

Suddenly, the screams of women and the hip-hop of men in the county office became violent, and Ma Lan couldn't help frowning.

The thin monkey also turned his head in the direction of the sound with some playfulness.

But in the room, he couldn't see anything, it was just a subconscious movement.

After a while, the thin monkey said contemptuously: "The information from the staff office is indeed correct. Their military discipline is far worse than that of Li Zicheng's troops, and they place too much emphasis on pleasure. It is said that the two armies are still facing each other across the river, so they should restrain themselves .”

Ma Lan nodded, and continued: "They are careless. But it may be that the location of Huangpi is too remote and difficult for Hanyang and Wuchang, and they are too relieved. I walked around and really understood Why are Huangpi and Wuchang Hanyang so close, but they all say that the customs are completely different. It’s really hard to do anything without a boat.”

Huangpi County is a brick city with a circumference of 3714 meters and a height of about 5 meters. It is next to the Shishui River running from north to south.

"Dong Shilang's Diary" once lamented that Huangpi City is tall and difficult to attack, farther than neighboring counties.

Although Huangpi County during the Anti-Japanese War was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty on the original site of Huangpi County in the Ming Dynasty, the posture should not be too different.

The south and west of Huangpi County are full of lakes and swamps.

In the east, there is not only Shishui as a screen, but also the adjacent Wuhu Lake with a water area of ​​more than 100 square kilometers.Although the water of Wuhu Lake recedes in autumn and winter and there are many channels in the lake, it is still an excellent natural moat for the army.

If the officers and troops stationed in Wuchang and Hanyang wanted to attack, they not only had to go up the river by boat, but also had to face the situation that the water was everywhere and it was difficult to launch an attacking army.

These are the important reasons why the peasant army He Yilong's vanguard troops dared to occupy the county with less than a thousand people.

Of course, it is even more speechless that the government and army easily abandoned the solid Huangpi County.

The peasant army also became more at ease after learning that the officers and soldiers stationed in the lakes and swamps to the south began to frantically empty the ships in the surrounding waters after they won the city.

Successive easy victories have made them full of contempt for the officers and soldiers and full of confidence in their own strength.

As for the common people and the officers and soldiers vying to vote, it is not surprising. Although there are a bit too many and a bit fast, it is also understandable.

Zuo Liangyu's 20 men defended Xiangyang and retreated in one day, and countless rebels surrendered. After fleeing for hundreds of miles, they should be even more frightened.

So far only a few hundred surrendered soldiers have come, and they are all here and there. It seems that there is really nothing to worry about.

"They only entered the city yesterday morning, and only at night they started to destroy the houses of officials and wealthy households, asking for money and robbing women. You haven't seen it, there is resentment everywhere in the city." The thin monkey continued to disdain.

"What? Are there many rich and powerful families in this city?" Ma Lanqi asked.

"It's quite a lot. After all, there is a river connected to the Yangtze River, and Wuchang Mansion is a first-class prosperous place. Although there are not many official families, there are still quite a lot of families with some floating wealth."

"Oh!"

Ma Lan didn't take it seriously for a while, but then put down the water bowl and said, "I'm going out first, I can't drink water for too long."

But the thin monkey held him down, and it seemed that he still had something to say.

"Wait a minute. I heard from inside that the team of cavalry who brought you in captured a scholar named Chen Sheng nearby before returning to the city."

"Yes what's the matter?"

"You'd better be careful about this scholar named Chen Sheng, I think it's a bit weird."

"how to say?"

"I met him in Wuhu Lake this morning before entering the city pretending to be a righteous man. I said that I came to Huangpi to find friends. The bandit soldiers who were looking for a boat in the lake saw that he was alone, so they didn't make any trouble and let him go. It stands to reason that he should have After running away, why was he caught back in the afternoon? And he was still around here?"

Malan's small eyes narrowed immediately, and he pondered: "Is there really something abnormal?"

Notes:

Note 1:

Regarding the military establishment of He Yilong's Ministry, no definite information was found, and no further research was done.But what is certain is that it is completely different from Li Zicheng's department.

This article only compiled a setting based on the name of the peasant army in the late Ming Dynasty that appeared in historical documents, and it should not be taken seriously.

Note 2:

According to "The Chronicles of Ming Dynasty", "Li Zicheng ordered Qiqu to congratulate Yilong to go to De'an to see yellow and hemp. Yilong arrived at Huangpi, blocked the water, and stopped taking 800 Zuo Liangyu's remnant soldiers and returned..." It can be seen that Huangpi was at that time The surrounding waters must be very complicated, and it is also known that some of Zuo Liangyu's army surrendered to the peasant army.

Note 3:

The Shishui in the Ming Dynasty is not consistent with today's river course. Its water turns westward for a long time in the south of Huangpi County before turning south again, and makes the entire southern city close to the Shishui.

Note 4:

Wuhu, formerly known as Huanghan Lake, was renamed Wuhu because Huang Zu, a famous general at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, trained troops here. In later dynasties, many celebrities also trained troops here.

Huangpi County Chronicle records this way: "Wuhu Lake...is more than forty miles around, the plain is open, the summer water rises, the vast ocean is thousands of hectares, and the autumn and winter water flows out, which is the thoroughfare for communication."

It can be seen that the vastness of Wuhu Lake.

It is said that before liberation, the area of ​​Wuhu Lake was still 180 square kilometers, and the area receiving rainwater was as high as 540 square kilometers.

(End of this chapter)