Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 281 Revenge
Xiao Rang asked, "What do you mean, sir?"

Zhao Zhen said, "I heard from Brother Huangfu Duan that the war horses in the ranch were transferred back to the army, so I asked this question."

Xiao Rang heard this and said with a smile, "Sir, I came here just for this matter. I just received a message from the scholar on horseback that the matter has been properly handled."

Zhao Zhen heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this. He invited the two to sit down in the hall and then asked them about it in detail.

Xiao Rang said, "Before leaving, the great master told us to be careful about Jingyang Town. We dare not neglect it. After thinking about it, we think that the enemy is in the dark and we are in the light, which is too passive. We should find out the movements of Jingyang Town. Therefore, we asked the new brother Duan Jingzhu to pretend to be a merchant and go to Jingyang Town to investigate."

"It's true that Yun Tianbiao has never let go of his hatred for Zhujiazhuang, but he doesn't dare to take action openly because of his status. But he is not willing to suffer a loss. He recruited a group of well-dressed men from Fengyunzhuang, his hometown, and pretended to be merchants. He ran into Duan Jingzhu and his brother. He secretly eavesdropped on their words and found out that he wanted to take advantage of the night to destroy Zhu Gui's tavern at the foot of Dulonggang."

"After hearing this, the scholar and I gathered cavalry from various places and quietly sneaked into Dulonggang to ambush. When these people passed by, the cavalry rushed out and wiped out this group of people in one fell swoop. I think the scholar will be able to escort the prisoners back today. When the time comes, we will know the answer by asking them."

Zhao Zhen said, "It was a close call. Although there are many soldiers stationed in Dulonggang and there are many strong men in that restaurant, they are not fully armored. If they were to encounter the enemy in a hurry, I'm afraid they would suffer a lot of casualties. Fortunately, you two were alert. It seems that this restaurant needs to strengthen its defenses as well."

"It just so happens that I bought a batch of rattan armor from the main world. I was planning to send it to the navy to use as a replacement for the leather armor. So I'll take out fifty sets and send them to the restaurant to hide them. If anything happens, it can help to delay things for a while."

Xiao Rang said with a smile, "It was Yun Tianbiao's bad luck. Who would have thought that this group of people would run into Brother Duan Jingzhu. I wonder what the rattan armor that the owner of the manor mentioned is?"

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen asked Zhao Yuanli to fetch a pair and had a farmhand put them on. Xiao Rang walked up to take a look and said, "This rattan armor is suitable for the restaurant. Compared with leather armor, this rattan armor is obviously used by the militia. But I smell a smell of tung oil. Has this armor been soaked in tung oil?"

Zhao Zhen immediately explained how to weave the rattan armor. Xiao Rang listened and said, "No wonder the great official wants to send it to the navy. This armor is light, does not sink in water, and is as protective as leather armor. There is a lot of moisture on the ship, and the rivets on the leather armor are easy to rust. This armor is suitable. The only problem is that it is flammable. I am afraid that the navy cannot use this armor."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Brother, you are right. The rattan armor is only used in small quantities by the navy. I think it can still be used in the militias of various villages. In addition, it can also be used in military camps for military training and martial arts competitions. The most suitable thing is to make rattan armor side shields, which are light and suitable for cavalry side shields."

"As for the several types of rattan that are not afraid of fire, we should weave rattan armor and equip an army separately. If anyone thinks that the rockets can be broken, he will suffer a great loss."

Pei Xuan said: "Sir, fire arrows have always been used in naval battles. If there is really a rattan armor that is not afraid of fire, it is better to give it to the navy. Giving it to the infantry is just icing on the cake. The navy is a life-saving weapon. Even if they accidentally fall into the water, the sailors have a better chance of survival due to their unsinkable properties."

Zhao Zhen said: "Brother, you are thoughtful. Once the blood vine armor is made, send it to the navy."

At noon, Zhao Zhen invited Xiao Rang and Pei Xuan to have dinner together. During the meal, Xiao Rang told Zhao Zhen all the big and small things that had happened in Liangshan County during this period. The discussion ended only when Wu Yong brought back the prisoners at You time.

After greeting each other, Zhao Zhen asked, "Scholar, can you interrogate me clearly?"

Wu Yong said, "Sir, I sent someone to interrogate them on the way. This group of people are all from Jiangnan Fengyun Manor, and the leader is the spear and stick instructor of the old manor owner Yun Wei. Unfortunately, he was trampled into a pulp in the chaos. According to several leaders who knew the situation, they were all ordered by Yun Wei to come and follow Yun Tianbiao's arrangements. They only knew that they had to burn down a restaurant, and regardless of success or failure, they would go south directly and don't have to go back to Jingyang Town to report." Xiao Rang said, "In that case, Yun Tianbiao must have arranged people to gather information recently. You can send people to prepare in advance so that he can come but never return."

Wu Yong said: "Brother Zhu Wu is waiting there, but this official road is busy, and there are caravans passing through Jingyang Town every day. He has also found out everything in the town."

Zhao Zhen asked, "Scholar, have all these people been captured and killed?"

Wu Yong said, "This group of people, including a personal soldier leading the way, totaled 31 people. We dispatched the Third Division where Instructor Lin is, the First Division where Luan Tingyu is, and the Sixth Division where Shi Jin is, totaling 600 cavalry, to chase and intercept them, and not a single one escaped. Because we were afraid that Yun Tianbiao would make a feint to the east and attack in the west, he would send people to attack Liangshan County, so the cavalry of Sun An and Li Ying stationed in Heihu Temple Town was not mobilized, and the soldiers in other places were also prepared. Now it seems that Yun Tianbiao just wants to vent his anger and dare not do it himself."

Zhao Zhen frowned and said, "You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't be on guard against thieves for a thousand days. Over time, there will always be a time when you are careless. What should I do?"

"We are also under the jurisdiction of the Song Dynasty. If we go into battle in person, we may give people a chance to criticize us. We need to think things over again and can't act rashly." Xiao Rang frowned, looking a little worried.

Wu Yong said: "It's not difficult. The old lady in front is coming to the county to visit my wife. Why not send someone to pick her up and ask the great official to write a letter. As long as we can convince the old man to transfer Yun Tianbiao away from here, there will be no worries."

Zhao Zhen said: "Given the relationship between Yun Tianbiao and Zhujiazhuang, Yun Tianbiao must have a backer in the court. I'm afraid Old Taishan will be in trouble."

Wu Yong waved the goose feather fan in his hand and said, "It's just a horizontal transfer, which shouldn't be difficult. As long as Yun Tianbiao can be transferred away from Yanggu, there will always be vacancies in Dong'e, Feicheng, Pingyin, Wenshang, etc. Only in this way, we don't have to guard against the sudden attack in Jingyang Town every day, and there is no need to station two cavalry troops in Heihu Temple Town. We can rely on the local militia to maintain it."

Zhao Zhen thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll ask my wife to write a letter and ask my mother-in-law to pass the message. This way it will be easier to accomplish."

Wu Yong said: "This is the best."

"Who can go?" Zhao Zhen asked.

Wu Yong thought for a moment and said, "How about Jiao Ting and Shi Qian taking a group of soldiers to accompany Manager Zhao Xing?"

Zhao Zhen said: "Let Fu Yu bring 20 cavalrymen with him."

After this was settled, Wu Yong asked, "Sir, are we going to kill the twelve captured men?"

Zhao Zhen shook his head and said, "Let's interrogate him again and see if we can get anything else out of him. If he cooperates, how about putting on shackles and sending him to the prison to pound rice?"

(End of this chapter)