Chapter 204 Liu Yu was shocked when he first entered Qingzhou

Author: Shenwen Benshen

Chapter 204 Liu Yu was shocked when he first entered Qingzhou

Compared with other states, Qingzhou has had no major military disasters since it put down the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

Occasionally, if some bandits appear, each county will send troops to suppress them.

A stable environment will stimulate the recovery of people's livelihood and economy.

Especially after the great harvest that Qingzhou ushered in last year, handicraft industries such as iron smelting, lacquerware, copper casting, and textiles also began to recover.

The Haiyan Factory built by the Prefectural Mufu was also sold to salt merchants in need.

Among them, the Qingzhou salt merchant escort fleet, which is closely related to Haiyanfang, has gradually taken shape.

The predecessor of this salt merchant escort fleet was the pirate Guan Cheng who was active in Dongnae County.

Guan Cheng lives on a small island overseas, has 5,000 warriors under his command, and has 300 large and small ships. He is the strongest water pirate force on the Qingzhou sea.

Now that we have chosen to cooperate with Qingzhou to protect Qingzhou's salt merchants and fight against other pirates at sea, both parties are quite happy.

after all.

This is a good thing, and you don't have to worry about conflicts with Liu Bei who is robbing families and homes.

When you go out to seek wealth, who would have trouble with money?

Before Taishi Ci went to Yangzhou, Guan Cheng had not yet cooperated with Qingzhou. At this time, he was quite surprised: "Xian Ming, did you recruit Guan Cheng to surrender?"

In Qingzhou, the only water thief who can rival the navy army is Guan Cheng.

Zheng Ping shook his head: "It's not a surrender, it's just some cooperation in terms of interests."

"The salt merchants in Qingzhou will sell the produced sea salt to other places, while Guan Cheng is responsible for guarding the sea and waterways."

Taishi Ci looked surprised: "I didn't expect Guan Cheng to be willing to be the salt merchant's guard."

Zheng Ping smiled and said: "Being a salt merchant's guard can make more money than robbing families, and the risk is less. How can Guan Cheng be unwilling to do so?"

"Ziyi can take my letter to Donglai to see Guan Cheng. If he can bring the fifty warships back to Qingzhou, he can give them five warships as a reward."

Taishi Ci was surprised: "But these Wujun warships are more sophisticated than Guan Cheng's ships. Doesn't this make Guan Cheng's power more uncontrollable?"

Zheng Ping shook his feather fan gently, his eyes burning: "Even if you raise a tiger, you still have to give the tiger a bite of meat to look after the house and the courtyard!"

"If the warships of Wu Commandery cannot attract Guan Cheng, why would Guan Cheng bring those fifty warships back to Qingzhou for us?"

Taishi Ci was still a little worried: "What if Guan Cheng seizes all fifty warships?"

Zheng Ping chuckled: "From now on, the salt from this salt merchant will no longer go by sea or water. If Guan Cheng is unkind, I will be unjust and hurt each other. Guan Cheng will suffer the loss."

With warships, they can only dominate at sea and on the water.

But if Qingzhou gathers all its soldiers and horses on the coast, it will not be an easy thing for Guan Cheng to be unable to obtain supplies on the ground in Qingzhou for a long time.

The fact that Guan Chengneng chose to cooperate with Qingzhou and serve as the salt merchant's escort proves that he is good at weighing the pros and cons.

It was very unwise for Guan Cheng to give up the interests of the salt merchant escort for fifty warships and then form a deadly feud with Qingzhou.

Taishi Ci was doubtful about the letter, but still took Zheng Ping's letter to Donglai County to see Guan Cheng.

"You really want to give me five warships as reward?" Guan Cheng's eyes shone.

Wujun's warships are much stronger than those built by Qingzhou's original dockyard.

It is marketable but priceless. If you want to buy it, you have to find connections.

Taishi Ci nodded: "Wu County is blocked by Yangzhou Governor Liu Yao's heavy troops. As long as these fifty warships can be brought back, the five warships promised to you will not be less!"

Guan Cheng laughed: "Who can win over me, Guan Cheng, on the sea? I will take over this business!"

"Recently, a group of salt merchants' ships are going to Yangzhou. I will personally lead a team to escort them. Will General Taishi come with me, or will he appoint someone else to hand over the ships?"

The reward for five warships is enough to cover the risk.

Taishi Ci said solemnly: "I will go in person."

Firstly, Taishi Ci was responsible for connecting with the Wujun ship merchants, and secondly, Taishici also wanted to see Guan Cheng's command skills on the water.

Although Guan Cheng is an ally of Qingzhou now, conflicts of interest may arise in the future.

Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you be victorious in every battle.

the other side.

After all, Gongsun Zan still remembered his past friendship with Liu Bei and gave up his original intention of letting Liu Yu stay in Zhuocheng. He sent Liu Yu, Xian Yufu, Xian Yuyin, Zhao Yun, Tian Feng and other civil and military officials, as well as Ju Shou who resigned angrily, along with their family members.

Hundreds of people were handed over to Guan Yu and others for escort to Qingzhou.

Gongsun Zan also made a gesture with Liu Ye and allowed Liu Yuhaosheng to recuperate in Zhuxu County.

Due to the presence of old, weak, women and children, Guan Yu and others could only walk ten to twenty miles a day. They walked for three days and had to rest for one day. Liu Yu, who was in a depressed mood, had to go to the beach to watch the sea.

It took almost a month before the team arrived in Bohai Country.

Although Guan Yu wanted to arrive at Linzi City earlier, he did not dare to rush too much.

After seeing Lu Zhi grow old overnight, Guan Yu had some new understandings of these old officials of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Yu's mood at this time would not be much better than Lu Zhi's in the past.

Entrusted by Liu Bei to keep the imperial seal, he fell into the trap of Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan because he underestimated the enemy.

Not only was the imperial seal lost, but Liu Bei, the king of Hejian, became the new emperor.

One country, two emperors.

This is division!

And all this was caused by Liu Yu's mistakes.

Self-blame and regret made Liu Yu feel depressed and uneasy.

"General Guan, the march is too slow."

"Su is worried that Yuan Shao may use tricks."

Lu Su was a little worried.

Since Chen Deng had not yet come to Qingzhou, the position of military advisor for the first camp was temporarily filled by the young Lu Su.

Guan Yu admired this "Confucian scholar" who was skilled with bows and horses, could shoot a hard bow, and was also heroic.

Guan Yu knew Zheng Ping's intention of asking Lu Su to be the first to set up camp, so he often gave Lu Su practical tips on how to march and set up camp.

"Zijing, if you can persuade Da Sima, the march will naturally speed up." Guan Yu half-squinted his red eyes, but his eyes did not leave the "New Book of Lu" in his left hand.

Lu Su shook his head: "If Su could persuade him, he wouldn't come looking for General Guan."

Guan Yu stroked his beautiful beard with his right hand and said: "Since we can't persuade him, we can only attack the enemy with troops, and the water will come to the earth weir."

"Yuan Shao wanted to use a trick. He just used Gongsun Zan's name to assassinate Grand Sima, and then framed the blame on Gongsun Zan."

"In this way, Yuan Shao can take the opportunity to get rid of the general Gongsun Zan and integrate the soldiers, militia and horses of the two states of Youji."

"Only Yuan Shao can enjoy the merit of this support."

At this moment.

Guan Ping came wearing a small armor and said: "Father, there is a group of refugees ahead. I heard that Da Sima is here and want to ask for some food."

Lu Su was surprised: "Where is Da Sima?"

Guan Ping said: "Da Sima ignored the obstruction and went to the location of the refugees."

Lu Su exclaimed: "No, this may be the enemy's trick!"

Guan Yu's red phoenix eyes suddenly opened.

And in front.

A group of refugees in ragged clothes, all with sallow complexion and thin skin.

Liu Yu couldn't bear it and asked people to carry some food and distribute it to the refugees.

Among the refugees, a pair of ferocious eyes quietly appeared.

Liu Yu looked at this group of refugees and couldn't help but sigh: "Jizhou is rich, but there are so many refugees. The country is in turmoil, and I can't attack thieves. How sad."

And on the side.

Tian Feng glanced at the refugees with sharp eyes and whispered to Zhao Yun: "Zhao Sima, be careful that there are assassins hidden among the refugees."

Zhao Yun understood and took a few steps closer to Liu Yu calmly.

Just when the food was being transported and prepared to be distributed to the refugees, the group of refugees suddenly started to grab the food like hungry wolves seeing sheep, as if they were afraid that they would not be able to grab it if it was too late.

"Fellow folks, don't mess up, everyone has it!" Liu Yu hadn't noticed anything strange yet.

But someone in the crowd had already pulled out a sharp knife.

"According to the order of Duke Yuan, kill the traitors!"
To be continued...