Win the Ding 1617

In Guangzhou in April, it is the season of colorful flowers, grass and warblers.Both sides of the Pearl River have recovered from last year's war, and farmers in several villages are preparing to plow the fields with their oxen and plow sticks on their shoulders.

Arriving in the city of Guangzhou along the Pearl River, on the Tianzi Wharf, a group of officials from all over Guangdong Province gathered here.

It can be seen from the patterns of animals on the robes of the officials that these civil and military officials in Guangdong Province have grades ranging from seventh-rank magistrates to third-rank generals. They stand dejectedly on the pier, and the servants of the soldiers and family behind them are all The drooping head is lifeless, which is quite different from the vibrant scene in this beautiful spring.

A burst of drum music came, and a team of honor guards and flags came like a rainbow.

"Be alert! Marshal Li and Mr. Jiang are here!"

The officials reminded each other and tried their best to put on a smiling face to greet their immediate boss Li Shouhan and the political envoy of Guangdong and Guangxi Jiang Yihong.Not long after the Yingyi disturbed the Humen Rebellion, the imperial court sent a decree to transfer Zhang Jingxin, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, to go north to Beijing to await impeachment.Although this is better than ordering the Jinyiqi School to go to Beijing and be imprisoned, it is still a great punishment.On the other hand, Shou Han managed from top to bottom, and the big bosses in the cabinet and the respectable eunuchs in the palace gave countless benefits to them. In the end, Governor Zhang was removed from the office, and he was sent back to his hometown for honor.

However, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi did not send anyone to come, but Mr. Jiang Yihong has always been acting as his agent.

This is tantamount to a disguised recognition of Li Shouhan's control over Guangdong and Guangxi.

The first step after Shouhan took control of Guangdong was to arrange for officials from Guangdong and Guangxi to visit Nanzhong in batches.These officials are worried that they will go to the legendary place of smog and plague, and they will never return.That's why I'm here crying and dejected.But if you don't go.Guangxi is still suppressing the rebellion of chieftains and religious bandits everywhere. If you offend Mr. Li, a military order will come down and order yourself to suppress the bandits. All gone.

"Everyone, please."

Jiang Yihong, the political envoy of Guangdong and Guangxi, was red-faced.He gestured with both hands to the Guangdong officials who gave him a salute.

"Jiang is not talented. At the invitation of the governor, he traveled to Nanzhong a few days ago. Here are a few unwritten poems. Please comment and give some pointers."

Jiang Yihong began to recite the poems he wrote when he went to Hue and other places to purchase food and weapons in February.

"As soon as you enter Nanzhong, your eyes will open. This body is suspected to have entered Penglai. If you bring Liu Ruan here, you will mistakenly believe that Taoyuan will not return."

There is no shortage of antithesis, metaphor, words, and allusions. Mr. Jiang's poem is well done.Slightly calmed down everyone's hearts.

"My colleagues. Since Li invited everyone to travel to Nanzhong, he naturally wanted to do what the landlord wanted. He should have accompanied everyone there in person. However, the military affairs are entangled, and the sacred order cannot be violated. I had to ask my dog ​​Huayu to accompany you to Nanzhong for a while. Swimming. The governor has ordered people to arrange all the affairs of your trip. You can rest assured about your food, daily necessities, clothing, housing and transportation. Although Nanzhong is remote and wild, there are some scenic spots to enjoy."

"The roads are as open as stone, the cars and horses are galloping like flying, and the houses and buildings are as high as six or seven floors. The factories and workshops are full of smoke, and the towns are full of fire trees and silver flowers after nightfall. Everyone, what a sight to see!"

Jiang Yihong played up his experience of Nanzhong very provocatively there, and all the officials reluctantly dispelled the emotion of parting from life and death, and greeted Li Huayu and others who were representatives of the Nanzhong Army with smiles.When they learned that this young man with a golden crown and brocade robes like a jade tree facing the wind had just done a great job in Fusang not long ago, killed Fusang corpses, and turned tens of thousands of people into laborers and slaves. All of them paid their respects suddenly, and there was a chill down their backs.

A mere young man is so ruthless, what would it be like if Mr. Li did it himself?Several officials could not help but secretly speculate.

There was a commotion on the river, and more than a dozen ships transporting grain and unloading hurriedly followed the call of the people on the pier to adjust their sails and move their positions. Hastily put away the gangplank, and lifted the anchor to make way for several naval warships going upstream from the Pearl River Estuary in the distance.

The leading battleship is the Fubo, Shouhan's ship.

This gigantic warship, about twenty feet long from head to tail, has always been a symbol of the strength and deterrence of the South China Army in the minds of Guangdong military and political officials, not only because it is Li Shouhan's own ship, but also because it is Li Shouhan's own ship. The flagship of the ship itself is the draft of thousands of materials, the numerous sails, dozens of different calibers, large and small, and the power that a single salvo can turn a town into a sea of ​​​​ruins. The ship is both respected and feared.

"Everyone, please take a trip to Nanzhong. Naturally, it is more suitable to go by boat. The boat passes through the sea area of ​​Qiongzhou and enters the area under the jurisdiction of our Nanzhong Army. Land from Hejing and take a look at the factories and mines there. The shipyard, and then go south along the way to Hue and Chaigun areas. You can experience the customs and customs of Nanzhong. Then you will board the boat from Cam Ranh Bay and return to Guangzhou after a short rest in Qiongzhou. What do you think? ?”

As the head of the accompanying group, Li Huayu explained the itinerary in an orderly and clear manner, which made everyone mesmerized.

"Because it is necessary to transport food to Guangdong and Guangxi. First, it is to relieve the victims and survive the spring famine. Second, it is to ensure the military rations of the bandit suppression troops. It is also necessary to escort the prisoners in Fusang back to build the road between Guangdong and Guangxi. This ship is convenient. There is a lot of shortage, and my father does not have the ability to turn beans into soldiers, so I have no choice but to wrong you and take the gunboat of my father and my South China Army Navy."

The official who was good at figuring out what he wanted immediately turned his clever brain and read several meanings from Li Huayu's meaning: First, we have economic strength!During the spring famine season in March and April, we have surplus food to supply military and civilian food in Guangdong and Guangxi, ensuring social order and stable prices in Guangdong and Guangxi.Second, we have military strength. If you don’t believe me, go and see the captives transported from Fusang one by one!Third, we have the economic strength to build roads and bridges among the mountains and rivers in Guangdong and Guangxi!Fourth, we treat you as our own.Otherwise, how could it be possible for you to casually board such a powerful weapon of the country like the commander's ship?

Li Huayu's words made Yan Meier and Li Muhua, who comforted the milfs and showy officials' families among a group of officials' families, couldn't help but tears welled up in their eyes. Grow up!

The official has already started drafting, preparing to write the opening chapter of Journey to the South, how to use the most gorgeous rhetoric and the most beautiful chapters to exaggerate the kindness of the lord.

There was a clear and crisp password sound from the ship, and the newly decorated Fubo.Under the actions of the sailors working together.After a few technical moves, it parked steadily beside the trestle of Tianzi Wharf.

Amidst the sound of drums, the officials boarded the battleship Fubo one by one, and began to look around with curious eyes at this battleship that had never been in such close contact.Instead, be curious.Look at the huge artillery on the emplacement.The officials couldn't help feeling proud. "With such a strong ship and sharp guns, why can't my lord worry about raising his might in a foreign land? Turning the tide and falling down immediately?"

Several horn guns sounded, and the six ships headed by the Fubo slowly left the Tianzi Wharf.Draw a beautiful arc on the Pearl River and drive to the mouth of the Pearl River.

Looking at the shadows of the sails in the distance, there was another sob on the pier.Yan Meier, Li Muhua and the others had to comfort these female relatives again, "Don't be sad, I'll be back in a month or two. Wouldn't it be a good thing to bring you back a few pieces of jewelry from Tianzhu and Dashi?"

"That's right, don't be sad. Longshengxing in the city has opened two new shops, specializing in the sale of some high-quality gemstone jewelry. I just ordered someone to tell the shopkeeper that they are temporarily closed for business today, and they are waiting for me."

The temptation of jewelry to women is huge. Hearing such good news, the female relatives slowly stopped crying, got into sedan chairs and followed Yan Meier's guard of honor.

"Arrogant what?!"

Sitting in his car, Li Muhua looked at the guards of honor at Yanmei'er in the distance, and couldn't help but feel sour and then proud, "My son is the eldest son, and now he's starting to work again. Who will say about this family business in the future?" Forget it, not necessarily!"

"Master Jiang, you and I have to go back to work." Watching the pier gradually recovering to its original state, Shou Han greeted Jiang Yihong with a smile.

"That's right, Governor please!"

In the blink of an eye, the pier was busy and chaotic again. Countless porters rushed to the few grain ships that had just arrived, preparing to recapture the losses lost in the half-day, turning their rested strength into bamboo sticks, The kind that can be exchanged for Tongbao when off work.

Needless to say, the busy scene on the wharf, only that the fleet sailed out of the waters of Guangzhou, sailed with a southerly wind, and slowly raised the sail, and when the sail was full of wind, it began to speed up, and the officials who boarded the boat at the right time Shout out.

What is called galloping like lightning, what is called almost galloping horses, are not enough to describe the speed of this ship.

"Slow down! Slow down!"

Some officials couldn't take it anymore, and kept begging the sailors on the ship, praying for the speed to be slowed down.

"It's already slow. The Fubo can travel more than ninety miles per hour at the fastest, and it's less than forty miles at the moment. If it wasn't for waiting for those small boats, we should have left the Pearl River Estuary by now!"

Seeing the boats, the towns and villages, the shepherd boys, the cattle farmers, the fishermen, and the boats are receding as if they were flying. This scenery, which could have made the officials happy with poetry and chanted some good sentences, has become a scene that makes these learned people shudder. .

"It takes more than [-] miles of waterway to travel in one hour, and it takes three days, at most three days, to reach Hejing. Load the grain, and then sell it northward. It takes five days to travel from the Pearl River Estuary to the Minjiang Estuary, and half a month. One back and forth."

The Guanliang Langzhong, who is good at calculating wealth, grabbed the railing of the boat, and kept calculating in his mind how to combine this trip to Nanzhong with his own business.

After deciding to go to Nanzhong, relatives from many families came to the door and asked to go together, regardless of life or death, as long as they can go together.The purpose is to be able to transport the grain, salt, fine sugar, cloth, various ironware, and wrought iron produced in Nanzhong to Fujian, Jiangxi and Hunan for sale.

"Brother-in-law, to tell you the truth, the people I'm connecting with have contacts with the Zheng family. As long as we can purchase food from Nanzhong, we don't have to worry about it. We can directly go to several ports in Nanzhong. If the contract is transferred to Zheng's business name, the price will be increased by [-]%. This is a good deal with no profit!"

"Increase the price by [-]%? Brother, don't bully your brother-in-law who is a scholar. He doesn't know how to run a business." The wife on the side couldn't stand the lack of greed of her natal brother.

"One stone of round-grained rice is only three cents of silver for shipping to Guangdong at most, and the lowest price of rice in July in the south of the Yangtze River is five cents for one stone! Ten times the price of this rice is only three cents for one stone, yet you say that the price will be increased by [-]%? Really? Are your brother-in-law and I slaughtered like sheep?!"

"Besides, isn't the Zheng family close to the Li family? Why don't you go out and buy food yourself? Instead, you want to do this kind of thieves? There must be a shady way to get rich, and you can't let The Li family knows it. If it wasn’t for the dozens of times the interest, his Zheng family’s silver came from the sea? The wind?!”

The one who was caught by his own sister with a gun and a stick was beaten, and the brother-in-law was defeated.Had to surrender.

"Good, my dear sister! Indeed, as you said, the Zheng family collected these contracts with several times the interest, but brother, I also need some money to pass on!"

After some haggling.The sister, brother-in-law and brother-in-law reached an agreement.The brother-in-law will share [-]% of the profits as transportation expenses, and the other [-]% will be shared with a group of idlers who run errands for the brother-in-law.

Going to Nanzhong with this in mind is the concept of Yin and Yang of life and death, and half of the people who come to Nanzhong with rakes holding money.However, there are also outliers.

This alien is standing at the bow of the ship at this time.Facing the warm wind with a slightly salty taste.The officers and sailors on the same ship chattered in Nanzhili Mandarin.

this.It is the Jiangyin Xu Hongzu who we have seen before who lamented the low prices in Guangdong when he was traveling in Guangdong.This time, he just happened to travel to Guangzhou at the invitation of his fellow countrymen. He heard that he had such an opportunity to visit Nanzhong.Immediately drilled a hole in the mountain and shamelessly asked to go to Nanzhong together to enjoy such an opportunity to travel at public expense.

When the ship passed Neilingding Island and Dachan Island and was about to enter the mouth of the Pearl River, two ships came flying across the waves from afar.

"Hey! So fast! Don't be hit by it!"

Xu Hongzu shouted loudly, trying to remind the sailors to pay attention.

"Whose ship?"

"Look, the flag is the boat of Shopkeeper Li Er. The south wind is so fierce and the sails are full. What's the rush?"

"Hi! The south wind is blowing. It's the season of spring famine, which is a good season to sell grain to the north and the interior. It's no wonder Li Er is not in a hurry!"

While discussing, several sailors touched the fire ropes in their hands towards the fuses of the two large Buddha Lang machines on the bow, firing salutes to the ships approaching from afar.At the same time, two small puffs of white smoke rose from the opposite ship, followed by the faint sound of gunfire.

"Second uncle doesn't know what kind of big business it is, so it's like this?" In his cabin, Li Huayu, who was chatting with several prefects and generals, was drinking tea, watching Li Peiting's boat like two flying fish from the porthole. Passing by the same way, without any intention of slowing down, I couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

However, Nahan is only fleeting, and Huayu has to work 12 points to deal with these Guangdong civil and military officials in front of him.

After leaving the Pearl River Estuary, the fleet continued south along the coast of Guangdong. All sails were raised to the top of the mast, and with the help of the wind, they moved faster and faster.Xu Hongzu watched the scenery of the ship speeding by on the side of the ship and couldn't help reciting aloud, "Riding the wind and breaking the waves will sometimes hang the clouds and sail directly to help the sea".There was a sound of vomiting and seasickness in the cabin behind him.

With the help of a telescope borrowed from the signalman, Xu Hongzu carefully looked at the countless heads on the coastline that were landing like ants along the coast.

"Sir, what is that?"

The deck gunner who was asked was very happy about Xu Hongzu's respectful title.Looking in the direction of his finger, there was a dense crowd of people on the coastline.

"It should be the labor captives brought by the young marshal from Fusang this time. These people should be assigned to build roads in Gaozhou, Qinzhou, and Lianzhou."

Xu Hongzu knew a thing or two about the wanton construction of roads in Guangdong and Guangxi, but mobilizing civilians was a big deal, and officials everywhere planned to make a good profit from it.I don't want the Li family's father and son to be outstanding, but they actually use the coolies in Fusang country who can work six hours a day without seeing the sun as long as they eat and drink to build roads? !

From the heads of the clusters of people, it can be seen that there are at least [-] people, and there are so many people building roads in Qinzhou, Gaozhou alone. Then, the Pearl River, known as the essence of Guangdong, from the provincial capital Roads to Bao'an, from the provincial capital to Chaozhou, etc., must have more people building roads.

"That's natural! My lord requested that the road leading to Bao'an be opened to traffic before the Dragon Boat Festival, so we will naturally have to send more people to work day and night."

The gunner replied to Xu Hongzu very proudly, "Once the road is connected, the price of rice, cloth, oil and salt in the provincial capital should not be changed."

The sky quickly darkened during this fast-moving march, and the sky was slowly falling like a black veil, and soon the sky and the earth became dark.The fleet originally planned to pass through the Qiongzhou Strait at night, but looking at the men on the ship who were spitting out of breath, if they continued to sail, some of them might not even vomit their bile.Hua Yu had no choice but to order the ship to anchor in Xuwen County, so that these gentlemen could take a rest and recharge their batteries. (To be continued..)