Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 86 Reaction of the Parties
"Why did you capture this Tatar?"

Liu Wu was stunned and explained:
"I saw that even though he was unconscious, he was still chanting "Zhuangzhi is hungry to eat Hulu meat". I was afraid that there was some fraud in it."

"Okay, keep it for now."

Li Yu also found it strange that a Tatar read Yue Fei's Manjianghong.

It's a bit unreasonable.

What if it was an undercover agent who broke into the enemy's interior?

Take it back and check its quality before deciding whether to kill or keep it.

"Count the number of people." He did not forget this last step.

"56 people were supposed to be present, but 50 were actually present. There are also 6 corpses. They are all here."

Liu Wu reported loudly.

Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief: "Return."

The big ship quickly turned around and headed south.

On the Grand Canal, ships are constantly coming and going.

This scene just now was witnessed by more than a dozen ships passing by.

The other ships quickly sailed away, away from the place where this was happening.

There was a ship standing still.

"Shoot it and make it go away."

The ship quickly went in the opposite direction.

In the cabin, everyone was still immersed in the emotions of the battlefield and could not extricate themselves.

Many people's hands were nervously holding the handle of the knife.

His expression alternated between ferocious and nervous.

This is a normal stress reaction after killing someone on the battlefield for the first time.

Li Yu said loudly:
"Brothers, the world is unfair. If you want to live like a human being, just follow me."

"From now on, the emperor's decision does not count, the officials and gentry's decision does not count, the swords and guns in our hands have the final say!"

"With guns, food, and money, Suzhou is the Li family's state."

……

The three captives, who were tightly bound and gagged, were immediately dumbfounded.

The two Bailians looked at each other desperately, thinking that they had met one of their own, and they were ecstatic.

The stunned Tatar officer, the knight who loved Chinese culture, had a look of death on his face, it was over.

The rain is getting heavier.

At Hengtang Station, everyone quietly changed boats.

The old ship sailed into Taihu Lake.

Be prepared to go in a circle and throw off any possible sighting boats.

Then it will berth at Xishan Island Pier for overhaul.

Change up your appearance, just in case.

Mr. Hu Ba finally breathed a sigh of relief and watched the ship leave.

The rain is getting heavier,

He actually felt a little lucky that it was raining well.

When they returned to Lijiabao, everyone was surprised to find that the water level was rising very quickly.

The simple docks are already underwater.

And the drainage ditches dug outside the fort are full of ditches.

The rainwater flows along the ditch and flows into the river.

Everyone was busy for another hour, cleaning up everything from head to tail.

The two cannons were scrapped and retained for later reprocessing.

Blast furnace smelting of iron and steel must be launched.

However, there are too many things going on at the moment, so we can only do them one by one.

……

The bodies of the brothers who died in battle were greeted by their families.

Looking at the sad family members, Li Yu said:

"Brothers who died in battle, give them a generous burial."

"Lijiabao will support their families for a lifetime."

After comforting the family members, the morale of the soldiers was stabilized.

He quickly interrogated the prisoners.

"Who do you belong to? Let me go, I am also a member of the Jianghu." Wang Liansheng was very uneasy.

There is something wrong with him.

The White Lotus Sect's treatment of traitors was extremely cruel.

If you fall into this religion, a quick death is the greatest happiness.

Li Yu spoke:

"I am the helmsman of the Suzhou branch of the Tiandihui. My surname is Chen. In my life, I love fighting injustices. When I saw the officers and soldiers arresting you, I couldn't help but help."

Wang Liansheng's eyes flickered, he hesitated for a while and then whispered:
"Thank you, Captain Chen, for your life-saving grace. We are members of the White Lotus Sect."

Li Yu signaled to let go of this guy first.

Wait until you mentally relax your vigilance, and then slowly talk.

"I admire you very much, you have turned Suzhou Mansion upside down."

"It's just a fluke. Compared with Captain Chen's feats, we are too shallow."

"Now that you've been exposed, what are your plans in the future?"

"I definitely can't stay in Suzhou. I want to fly far away."

"Do you want me to send you back to the White Lotus Sect?"

"no, I'm fine."

Wang Liansheng was taken aback and quickly refused.

……

Then, I realized that my answer was unusual.

Quickly explained:
"I'm afraid I'll implicate them, so let me go south alone to avoid the limelight."

"What did you do before?"

"I'm at Xujiang Pier, just hanging out for a meal."

"Xujiang Pier, that's a good place to make money every day."

"That's Mr. Fan's property. I'm the leader. I supervise dozens of people who carry big bags every day. I give out a chip every time I carry it."

Wang Liansheng's mood also relaxed and he spoke very casually.

Li Yu's eyes lit up.

The Fan family is an old acquaintance.

There are rare things to live in, so you have to make good use of them.

It turns out that with more than a dozen men and three or five guns under his command, he dared to touch the tiger's beard.

Now, I am even more daring.

"You have some food and wine first, and slowly tell me about Xujiang Pier."

"Master Chen, what do you want to know about?"

"It doesn't matter, you can say whatever you want."

Wang Liansheng started to brag while devouring the food.

Size of cargo handled from terminals, main types.

Find out what's so tricky about the Fan family's profits.

Then there is the official who is covering the back, and the official who is eyeing the pier.

Everything was explained in detail.

Li Yu listened very carefully and nodded frequently.

He even asked someone to bring some more wine.

"Enough is enough."

"You are being tortured. Drink some wine to relieve the pain. We are all good men, so there is nothing to be afraid of if you drink some wine. This helmsman has always believed that only those who can drink have a strong rebellious spirit."

……

Wang Liansheng did not dare to answer the conversation and drank silently.

After leaving the cellar, Li Yu asked Du Ren:

"What do you think of this guy?"

"Ayu, I always feel that this guy is afraid of you and is very evasive."

"He's on my territory, so it's normal to be afraid, right?"

"maybe."

The two held umbrellas and walked up to the fort wall.

The rain still hasn't stopped, and there is a vast expanse of white everywhere.

Du Ren pointed to the west in annoyance and said:
"Our saltpeter field is probably over."

"There is nothing we can do about natural disasters. Keep the existing gunpowder well and make sure it doesn't get damp."

"Don't worry, it's all stored off the ground on a wooden stand. The mouth of the altar is also sealed with wax."

Li Yu nodded. The humidity in Jiangnan was daunting.

However, the recent rain has been a bit unusual.

"If this continues, do you think there will be floods?"

Du Ren was stunned for a moment, thought for a moment and then said:

"It stands to reason that it won't happen. Local chronicles record that there is no major flood in this province."

"The absence of floods does not mean there is no waterlogging."

Li Yu was alert and took several people wearing raincoats to check outside the castle.

The terrain of Lijiabao is high and rainwater can be drained quickly.

However, when I walked to the river, I found that the original pier could no longer be found.

"Commander, stop."

"I come."

Lin Huaisheng quickly stopped him, preventing him from moving forward.

He was afraid that if he took one step in vain, he would be dead.

……

Lin Huaisheng untied his waist knife, took a bamboo pole, and carefully explored the water.

After a while, he held the bamboo pole and shouted:

"The river has risen so high."

Li Yu was shocked, it was almost 1 meter.

"How many days has it been raining?"

"It's been five days."

"Let's go to the west side and have a look at the saltpeter fields."

Not surprisingly, all the saltpeter fields were soaked in water.

Straw crumbs and fermentation foam float freely in the water.

A very unpleasant smell.

It scares everyone away.

"No need to look at it, it's all ruined."

"Fortunately, those kids managed to collect one round before it started to rain."

The 21 surviving children have a strong sense of belonging to Lijiabao.

This is a kind of psychological reconstruction after being on the verge of death but being rescued.

This is exactly what Li Yu wants.

"Let's go back."

Back in the castle, Li Yu first went to the children's residence.

Perhaps, it is more appropriate to call it a dormitory, a clean Datongpu.

Bedding and clothes are all new.

A group of children were lying at the window watching the rain, and their faces were happy when they saw themselves.

They all came up to say hello.

"Are you still adaptable to the environment in the fort?"

"We live in a tile-roofed house and eat three meals a day. I couldn't even think about it before."

Li Yu looked at a group of bald children and couldn't help but smile.

The children giggled too.

Among them, he only remembered the name of Li Dahu because he was the tallest.

"From now on, your surname will be Li, and my surname will be yours. Are you willing?"

"willing."

"Okay, he will be my adopted son from now on."

"Master, what should we do?" Several girls asked timidly.

"My surname is also Li, do what I do, ah, no, adopted daughter."

"Thank you, foster father."

Li Yu felt that the title of adopted father, adopted son, adopted daughter was more pleasing to the ears.

Others always feel less serious.

……

Li Yu summoned Yang Yunjiao and made a roster of these adopted sons and daughters.

"Sir, those brothers who died in the battle today also have children."

"Well, what do you want to say?"

"Master, why don't you include them as well?"

Li Yu slapped the table, this is a good suggestion.

One flock of sheep is also driven, and two flocks of sheep are also driven.

However, these people do not need to change their surnames, nor do they need to be adopted as adopted sons. "How about we call it Children's Camp?"

"The slave thinks it sounds good."

As a result, there was another group in Lijiabao.

Armed Guards, Migrant Labor Corps, Logistics Department, Children's Camp.

There is also the Xishan miners’ coolie camp.

When Li Yu thought about it, he also remembered Fan Jing's reminder and the complaints of Zhang Tiejiang and his son.

A team of craftsmen must also be formed.

Blacksmiths, carpenters, and cobblers all had to absorb the expansion.

The blacksmith workshop, the gunpowder workshop, and the machine tool workshop were all organized into a craftsman camp.

It’s time for Lijiabao to consider formalizing and establishing itself.

Not counting the Xishan miners, there are already 500 people.

If we don't sort it out carefully, management will easily go into trouble.

Li Yu locked himself in the study,
After half a day, I finally came up with a plan.

Lin Huaisheng (chief) and Xiaowu (deputy) are in charge of the armed escort.

Fan Jing (chief) and Lai Er (deputy) are in charge of the logistics department.

Yang Yunjiao (chief) and Liu Wu (deputy) manage the refugee labor team.

Blacksmith Zhang and his son were in charge of the craftsman camp.

Wei Xiu, in charge of carriages, boats, mules and horses.

Du Ren, in charge of Xishan Coal Mine.

Li Yu personally manages the Tongzi Camp.

……

The logistics department includes warehouse, purchasing, kitchen, and accounts.

It can be said to be the department that handles the most money.

Although Laiji is the deputy and is mainly responsible for purchasing, he spends half of January running around outside.

When you leave Lijiapu, others will respectfully call you Lai Daguanren.

However, the financial power is in Fan Jing's hands.

Every entry or exit of money must be approved by him.

Liu Wu participated in the operation to ambush the official ship, but after all, the absorption time was too short.

The will to rebel is firm, but the qualifications are still young.

Therefore, he can only be used as deputy.

His skills are enough to intimidate workers.

Although Yang Yunjiao is a woman, she has a family tradition of salt merchants and is shrewd and takes care of things in an organized manner.

Under special circumstances, female subordinates are more loyal than male subordinates.

The principle can refer to the relationship between eunuchs and emperors.

Similar to vines and trees.

The only dependency.

There is nothing to explain about other people's arrangements.

Du Ren supervises the Xishan Coal Mine and must also take on the responsibility of dealing with the Chamber of Commerce.

He is a good dancer and there is no pressure on him.

As for the security of coal mines.

Li Yu picked a great candidate for him, Liu Akun.

Akun's body is as big as a brown bear's and his methods are something even a pervert would put to shame, so he will surely intimidate the miners.

After the meeting,
Xiao Wu found him quietly.

"Military advisor, how about I take your surname too?"

"Does your grandma have any objections?"

"My father died too early. My grandma said it would be great to be your adopted son."

Li Yu observed his expression, and it didn't look like he was faking it.

"That's fine."

"My foster father is here." Xiao Wu knelt down on one knee, then stood up and ran away with a smile.

From now on, he is Li Xiaowu.

Li Yu slandered,

This guy must be 14 years old.

I am an unmarried young man who actually has more than 20 children.

Say it, who will believe it?
……

The result of continuous rain,
All roads leading from Lijiabao to the outside world were flooded.

There was water everywhere, and it was hard to tell whether it was a road or a river underneath.

If you force yourself to go on the road, you are likely to miss the mark and drown.

Fortunately, there is a large amount of rice and salt stored in the warehouse in the fort.

There will be no shortage of food for several months.

"Military advisor, you are truly the reincarnation of Kong Ming."

"Oh?"

"Hey, if we didn't have these coal cakes, we would have to eat uncooked rice every day."

On this day, cutting firewood was impossible.

Even if there is, it is still wet and cannot be burned.

Clothes cannot be dried either.

At this time, coal cakes shine.

Still cooking and drying clothes.

Not only the people in Lijiabao, but also the people in Suzhou City began to change their tone.

Some people began to praise the coal cake as a rescue.

Otherwise, how can I live my life by wearing wet shoes and eating uncooked rice soaked in water every day?

The people in Jiangnan have all experienced it.

Li Yu's notoriety has been slightly reversed.

People from the Suzhou Firewood Chamber of Commerce are frantically urging the goods.

The people in Xishan Coal Mine were required to work overtime without eating or sleeping, dig out the coal, process it randomly and transport it to the capital.

People rushing to buy coal cakes have lined up outside the alley.

The shopkeeper of a shop looked at the patio,

Close your eyes and listen to this wonderful beating sound, and sigh:
"What God rains is not rain, but fucking copper coins."

"List the price, and the price will increase from now on. A piece of coal cake will increase by one penny."

……

Two hours after the Grand Canal robbery occurred, the Jiangsu governor's Yamen learned about it.

Because of the passing ships and people on the shore, it was obvious that the dead were officers and soldiers.

He immediately ran away and ran away from right and wrong.

Report to the official?That is impossible.

They are all people of the Qing Dynasty, pretending to be enthusiastic and foreign.

Such a big case, after reporting it to the police, you still want to leave?

When you meet a ruthless court official, you will be considered a suspect first.

If you meet someone who is relatively upright, you will also be told that you cannot leave for the time being and that you must cooperate with the trial at any time.

Until the real culprit is found, just stay in the yamen.

but,

Is it inappropriate for you, a commoner, to live in a back hall and be treated like an official?
Living in the second hall, on an equal footing with the clerks in the sixth room?
Living in the lobby is unsightly.

Forget it, let's go to jail.

This place in the yamen suits your temperament.

Find a slightly cleaner private room and lock it inside.

Cooperate to testify in court at any time and describe the witnessing process to court officials at all levels.

Speak on your knees!
Not a single word is wrong!

Otherwise, the anxious court official might give you a slap in the face.

Teach this heartless hapless guy a lesson.

The people of the Qing Dynasty all understood the above.

Therefore, it was a full hour after the tragedy happened.

Only then did an official ship pass by, discover it, and quickly report it to the supervisor of Hushu Chaoguan.

The supervisor immediately relayed the news to the nearby Eight Banners soldiers.

Vice-capital Hai'er heard this and realized that the matter was serious.

After taking a troop of cavalry along the canal and witnessing the scene.

Regardless of the heavy rain and slippery ground, he galloped into the city on horseback.

They broke into the governor's office all the way, and this was the beginning of the scene.

……

Afterwards, Li Yu heard the whole story from an enthusiastic clerk in the governor's Yamen.

It was not surprising that he was shunned by the people.

However, I am very interested in the reaction of Qing officials.

No prevarication, no perfunctory.

It's a level-by-level report.

The deputy commander who reported the news lost two horses, and the road slipped and broke their hooves.

There is also a cavalryman who can't tell where is the road and which is the river in the vast white field.

He rushed into the river and was swept away by the water.

And immediately, a battalion of green soldiers left the city in the rain.

Going up and down the Grand Canal, fishing for people back and forth, looking for evidence.

Every two hours, a battalion is rotated.

The military system of the Qing army consisted of a battalion of green soldiers, with approximately 500 men.

Although his fighting ability is sparse, he is still obedient.

After several days of large-scale manhunts, more than 100 Green Camp soldiers fell ill and more than 20 people disappeared and died.

Got nothing!
Worse still, because of bad weather.

No witnesses could even be found!
This made Ma Zhongyi curse, and the conscience of the merchant ship was so bad.

The one riding the horse is the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which flows back and forth like a shuttle, with white sails like clouds.

It's not like the three slopes in the suburbs of Beijing, where you won't encounter a single ghost for three days.

A few miles ahead is Xushuguan, where a tax of 50 taels of silver is paid a year.

However, no matter how he curses, you come back quickly.

It was impossible for those ships to pay attention to him.

From the shipowners to the sailors, they all warned each other and would never admit that they passed through that section of the canal on a certain day of a certain month and year.

Didn't pass by, didn't see, nothing happened.

Deny three times!
……

"Haier Hadutong, could you please lead the troops and capture everyone within a 3-mile radius?"

"Master Ma, you're welcome."

Haierha was a loyal minister of the Qing Dynasty.

He led 500 cavalrymen, wandered around for several days, and successfully captured some people.

Finally, someone who couldn't bear the punishment confessed and revealed a clue.

That day, he was collecting small nets by the canal.

Zeng heard the sound of cannons and saw several ships fighting.

Ma Zhongyi came over after hearing the news:
"What does that boat look like? How are the people on it dressed?"

"The boat is just an ordinary boat. It passes by in the canal every day. The people on the boat seem to be mourning."

"what?"

"They all wear white mourning."

Ma Zhongyi felt depressed and couldn't get up.

He held on to the wall and went outside to take a breath.

"Master, are you okay?"

"Liu Lu, do you still remember the days when we were hunting outside the customs?"

"of course I remember."

"Perhaps, in a few months, we will have to go back outside the customs again."

"Master, is it because of the Bailian case?"

"Yes. No matter how kind the emperor is, he can't spare us this time."

The sadness on Ma Zhongyi's face is real.

Liu Lu's loyalty is not mixed with water.

He silently handed over the handkerchief:

"Master, it's okay, I'll stay with you."

"I would like to say something taboo. It is bitterly cold outside the pass. Although it is the land of Longxing, no one wants to stay there. They look forward to entering the pass and living a good life."

"I think the people outside the pass are not as down-to-earth as they are here in Jiangnan."

"you're right."

The master and servant were quite emotional under the umbrella.

Although Jiangnan is a good place, people's hearts are too bad.

It's bitter cold outside the customs, but the old guys are honest and honest.

……

(End of this chapter)