Aspirations

Chapter 143
Lu Dongliang happily grabbed a handful of copper coins, put them back into the cabin, and picked up the iron pot to sell hot water, which was also sold out in a short while.Everyone still wanted hot water and tea eggs, but he shook his head and waved his hands, but there were none.

But Zhang Xuehua smiled mysteriously, got up and came to the bow, and greeted one of the soldiers: "Officer, what are you doing? It's so cold in the water, you are not afraid of freezing?"

The soldier had just come up from the water, his lips were purple from the cold, and he was trembling all over: "Taiwei Yan asked us to go into the water to explore the depth of the mud, but I don't know what he wants to do. We soldiers just need to obey orders."

Zhang Xuehua handed over a tea egg in time, with a smile on his face: "Come on, sir, eat a tea egg to warm up first."

The soldier enjoyed Zhang Xuehua's warmth like sending charcoal in the snow, showing a trace of gratitude: "Thank you, old man." He took the tea eggs and ate them in two bites.

Zhang Xuehua swept his eyes and saw Yan Hao sitting on the bow, more than ten feet away from the stern, so he handed over another tea egg: "There are three tea eggs left in total, and I will give you another one. Hush, don't say anything." , it will be troublesome for other officials to find out. Didn’t you ask the official’s name?”

The soldier choked uncomfortably after two mouthfuls of tea eggs, and Zhang Xuehua lost no time in handing over hot water. After the soldier drank it, he immediately felt much more comfortable all over his body, and when he looked at Zhang Xuehua again, his eyes became warmer.

"Old man, my name is Shen Liangren." Shen Liangren knelt down and whispered, "Is this old man really a man?"

"Exactly."

"The silt at the bottom of the Hutuo River is more than one foot deep. If the silt is not cleared in time, I'm afraid there will be floods sooner or later." Shen Liangren felt a little closer to Zhang Xuehua, and turned his gratitude to Zhang Xuehua into knowing everything, " I am originally from Guangzhou. I grew up by the water and know the nature of water well, so Yan Taiwei sent me into the water. But as far as I know, Yan Taiwei has no plan to dredge the silt. It seems that he is burying wooden piles in the mud ..."

Zhang Xuehua was startled, but on the surface, he pretended to be relaxed and smiled: "The little old man has been fishing and sailing on the Hutuo River for decades, and he has never heard of the possibility of burying wooden piles in the mud. Isn't that true?" Is it going against the grain?"

"Who says it's not?" Shen Liangren smiled mysteriously, looked around, and said in a very low voice, "The wooden piles buried in the mud are mostly to sink the ship."

Zhang Xuehua is also an old river worker. He was awakened by the words, and he patted his head and said: "Yes, the wooden piles can be buried deeper, about a foot above the water surface, and the draft of the small boat is shallow, so it doesn't hinder it. The draft of the big boat is deep, just enough to hit it. If the depth is properly controlled, you can hit any ship you want."

"Hush...Don't speak loudly, old man." Shen Liangren turned around and looked at Yan Hao, seeing that Yan Hao was directing people into the water one by one, and didn't notice that he was talking to Zhang Xuehua, so he was relieved, "I have something to ask, I don't know what the old man would like Don't want to save the little one's life?"

Zhang Xuehua's heart jumped: "The official's words are serious, the little old man is just a small river worker..."

"The old man doesn't know something. The younger one is from Guangzhou. He has been working in Zhending for many years. He wanted to go home, marry a wife and have children. However, he was in the army and couldn't get away. Now there is a good chance to get away." Shen Liangren's face appeared. There was a strange expression and excitement, "If my guess is correct, Taiwei Yan ordered people to bury piles at the bottom of the river to murder the emperor."

"Ah!" Zhang Xuehua was scared out of his wits. Rebellion is a serious crime that destroys the family. He didn't even dare to think about it, but when he encountered it, he turned around and ran away, "It's terrible, it's terrible, it's important to run for your life."

Shen Liangren grabbed Zhang Xuehua: "Old man, don't panic, Taiwei Yan won't kill you, why are you running away? The villain can't understand that after these yamen servants and soldiers buried piles, most of them would be silenced in order to prevent the news from leaking out. It also includes the villain. The villain is not afraid of death. When he joined the army, he thought about dying for the country. He just died because of conspiracy. Taking advantage of the opportunity to feign death, escape from Zhending, and return to Guangzhou under anonymity, so as to provide for the retirement of parents and die, and fulfill the duty of a son. I hope the old man will be fulfilled!"

Zhang Xuehua also calmed down a little at this time. He lowered his head and thought for a while, and felt that it would be okay to help Shen Liangren escape. you?"

"When the villain goes down the river again, he will pretend to be buried in the mud, and then swim quietly to the back of the bridge pile of the Zilong Bridge. The old man will row over and secretly transport the villain to the other side." Shen Liangren had tears in his eyes, " The villain does not want to bear the crime of treason and get an eternal infamy, the parents in the family are old and there is no one to take care of them. The villain dare not disobey orders, so I have to take 36 tricks as the best policy, and I hope the old man will save me."

Zhang Xuehua couldn't see others cry, so he immediately softened his heart: "Okay, the little old man will help you, save a life, and win the construction of a seven-level pagoda. But the official, the little old man can save you, and you have to Do something for the little old man."

"For the grace of saving lives, you will be recreated with kindness, just let the old man tell you." Shen Liangren was overjoyed.

"It won't be too late until I save you ashore." Zhang Xuehua made up his mind, secretly proud in his heart, if this matter is settled, Xia Xianzun will be happy, and he will truly become Xia Xianzun's person like Lu Dongliang.

"Shen Liangren, it's time for you to get into the water." Yan Hao shouted at Shen Liangren, "Come here quickly, there is something important for you to do. Boatman, leave quickly, if you don't leave again, be careful and punish you."

Zhang Xuehua hurriedly responded, and winked at Lu Dongliang, and the two of them rowed away and headed for Zilong Bridge.

Shen Liangren came to Yan Hao, thinking that Yan Hao had noticed the secret conversation between him and Zhang Xuehua just now, but Yan Hao didn't even look at the leaving boat, handed him a black stone the size of a fist, and said: "Shen Liangren , They say you are the best at water, you tie the fire thunder to the bamboo pole and put it in the mud, remember, the deeper the better."

"Yes." Shen Liangren didn't dare to ask more questions, but he believed in his judgment even more firmly in his heart. In addition to laying piles, Yan Hao also laid mines, with ulterior motives.He glanced at the yamen servants and soldiers around him again, and sighed in his heart. After the incident, it is a pity that these yamen servants and soldiers who have been kept in the dark will most likely be silenced.

Shen Liangren tied Huolei to the bamboo pole, took a few deep breaths, stood by the side of the boat, turned around and looked at Yan Hao and the others, closed his eyes, and jumped into the river.

The river water was icy cold, Shen Liangren opened his eyes wide, and saw that several wooden stakes had been erected at the bottom of the river.The wooden stakes are as thick as the mouth of a bowl. If a big ship hits it, at least it can make a big hole.If the wooden pile is supported by fire mines, if it explodes at the touch of a button, no matter how strong or how big the ship is, it will sink.

He had already heard that the emperor would make a southern tour, and he had already guessed something, and now his judgment became more firm.He took off the fire thunder tied to the bamboo pole, tied it to a wooden stake, then swam half a foot away, and struck the fire thunder with the end of the bamboo pole.Once, twice, three times... The thunder and fire flashed and exploded.

A huge current of water rushed in, and Shen Liangren was hit in the water and rolled several times, almost unable to lose his breath.Although he is very good at water, he still drank a few sips of river water.After he recovered a little bit of sobriety and found the direction, he used his hands and feet together, took a breath, and swam towards the direction of Zilong Bridge.

On the surface of the water, after a loud noise, the sky was full of splashes.The water splashed all over Yan Hao, and Yan Hao was startled immediately, and then the impact of the water waves made the boat shake a few times, and he almost fell down again.

Everyone was shocked.

"No, it exploded."

"Shen Liangren is afraid that something is wrong."

"It must have blown up."

"Why didn't there be blood when it was blown up?"

"Don't be dazed, hurry up and save people."

"That's right, hurry up and save people."

While speaking, several people jumped into the water.Not long after, several people boarded the boat and shook their heads one by one, saying that Mr. Shen Liang was either alive or dead, probably stuck in the mud and never found again.

Yan Hao's face was ashen, the death happened on the first day, and he remembered the experience of being humiliated by Xia Xiang before, and he burst into anger, and he shouted angrily: "Don't panic, don't make noise! ​​Isn't it just that a soldier died, Don’t make a fuss! You, you, and you, go into the water and rebury the stakes. And you, schoolboy Fu, go into the water and tie the fire mines and place them in the mud. Quick!”

Everyone was afraid of Yan Hao, and they went into the water one after another.

As soon as the explosion sounded, the legs of Zhang Xuehua and Lu Dongliang, who were tens of feet away, trembled in fright. They had never seen fire and thunder before, and someone used gunpowder to fry fish in the river before. The sound was louder than the one just now. Nothing less than that.It was Zhang Xuehua who just talked to Lu Dongliang about Shen Liangren. Lu Dongliang was a little scared and didn't want to be troublesome. He was urging Zhang Xuehua to leave quickly and didn't have to wait for Shen Liangren when he suddenly exploded.

The two were stunned for a moment, and Lu Dongliang was even more frightened. He didn't dare to stay any longer, and he rowed to leave regardless of Zhang Xuehua's obstruction.After only a few strokes, a person suddenly emerged from the water, grabbed the plank of the boat, and passed out after only saying a word.

"help me!"

It was Shen Liangren.

Although Lu Dongliang was timid, he couldn't see death without saving him. People who sailed on the river all the year round had an unwritten rule, no matter who fell into the water, they had to be rescued, otherwise they would offend the river god.The two hurriedly pulled Shen Liangren onto the boat, hid in the cabin, and quietly rowed away.

Yan Hao was directing people to go down the river to bury piles and test fire mines, but he didn't notice the boat not far away.When he found out, the boat had sailed away.Although a trace of doubt flashed in his heart, it was fleeting. After all, there are many boats on the Hutuo River, and most of the boats look similar.
Thinking about it again, Yan Hao was slightly startled. Today is just a drill. When the layout is really started in the future, the river must be closed and no boats are allowed to pass. cause trouble.

Although the sound of the explosion spread far away, it still did not reach the ears of Xia Xiang and the others, because at this time Xia Xiang and the others had already left Zhending City and came to the outskirts.

Shiyangjin drove out of Zhending City, bypassed the east gate, and stopped on the shore.Lian Ruohan paid the boatman 30 taels of silver, not only enough to charter the boat, but also more than enough to repair the damage caused by the collision.The boatman was very happy, and changed his previous sad face.He also heard that there were both Xia Xianzun and Zheng Tongpan on board, and he was even more overjoyed.

Autumn is just right, the sun is as bright as spring.As far as the eye can see, it is desolate.Thousands of trees are withered and the prosperity is gone. Not only the crops in the field are full of bleakness, but even the willow trees on the bank have lost all their leaves.

"Zhangtai willow, Zhangtai willow, is it still green in the past? Even if the long strip seems to be hanging down, it should be broken by others. Willow branches, Fangfei Festival, the hated parting every year. A leaf suddenly announces autumn with the wind, even if How can you be defeated when you come here!" Cao Shujun shook his head and recited a poem, pointing the fan in his hand to the mound in the distance, "Xia Xianzun, Zheng Tongpan, how about I climb the mound and look far away?"

"What's so interesting about the mounds? There's no one waiting for you when you cross the mounds." Cao Shuli smiled sweetly and looked into the distance. "There is a forest in the distance. The scenery in the forest must be good."

"In autumn, all the flowers are gone, and the sight is bleak, and the scenery is shockingly sad. Appreciating the vastness and majesty of autumn, not the fragrance of birds and flowers." Cao Shujun retorted Cao Shuli, not without a smug smile, "I just chanted The poem, just in time for autumn, you also recite one?"

"Cao Lang-jun's suggestion is very good. How about I wait for everyone to recite an autumn poem?" Lian Ruohan lifted her skirt, jumped over a puddle of water, and stood under a tree. She narrowed her eyes slightly. Eyes, the sun shines on her beautiful face like the morning glow, "It can be self-created, or it can be written by predecessors."

Xia Xiang has known Lian Ruohan for some time, and this is the first time he has seen Lian Ruohan offer to compare poems.Although Lian Ruohan is the head of the good times and a businessman, she is also a well-educated woman.

"I will accompany you." Zheng Hao smiled slightly.

"My poem just now doesn't count, let me have another one." Cao Shujun was unwilling to let others go, and said first, "Flowers don't bloom together with a bunch of flowers, and independence is not enough. I would rather die with the fragrance on the branch than the north wind. middle."

Xia Xiang commented: "Not vulgar, not beautiful, not flattering and unyielding, Cao Langjun's heart is full of fragrance, which is amazing."

"It's time for me to be an official." Zheng Haowei pondered for a while, and blurted out, "Qing drunk, he galloped through the pen array, chatting and laughing to solve the chess game. It's a fleeting time to sigh when you go out, and you see the leaves flying by the lake."

"The poems recited by Zheng Tongpan are sentimental because of the passage of time, and sentimental because of the falling leaves. Although the feelings are sincere, they lack a bit of vitality and responsibility for the country and the people." Xia Xiang smiled slightly, Walking towards the mound unhurriedly, "Since ancient times, autumn has been sad and lonely, and I say that autumn is better than spring. When the sky is clear and the cranes line up on the clouds, it will lead to poetry to the blue sky."

"Liu Yuxi's "Autumn Ci" quoted by Xia Xianzun is certainly good, but poetry expresses aspirations, and everyone has their own preferences." Lian Ruohan brushed her hair and smiled quietly, "White rocks emerge from Jingxi River, and the sky is cold and red leaves are thin. There is no rain on the mountain road , Empty Emerald Wet Human Clothes."

(End of this chapter)