It has been more than six years since Shen Yi came to this world in the fifth year of Hongde.
In the past six years, he has experienced too many things and too many twists and turns, but in terms of pressure...
There is no doubt that guarding Huai'an Mansion is under the greatest pressure this time.
Because of this matter, the emperor did not endorse him. In other words, Shen Yi was entirely responsible.
It can be said to be "responsible for one's own profits and losses".
But risk also means opportunity.
If Shen Yi can defend Huai'an, even if he doesn't fight any good battles and just defends it, he will gain huge political capital and be promoted in rank.
more importantly.
When the time comes, Shen Yi will gain not only rank, but also status.
He will suddenly become a "senior person" in the court, a figure who can speak on key issues.
But these are all things for later.
For Shen Yi now, the most important thing is to defend Huai'an, and to defend Huai'an at the minimum cost.
On the morning of the third day of August, when Shen Yi was still inspecting the defense line along the Huai River, Luo Yong, the secretary of the Di Reporting Department who had followed him from Fengyang Mansion to Huai'an, jogged all the way and ran up to Shen Yi.
Because he was exposed in Fengyang Mansion, Luo Yong could no longer survive in Fengyang, so he now spends most of his time with Shen Yi and is mainly responsible for the intelligence work around Shen Yi.
Most of the communication between Shen Yi and the Di newspaper department was done through him.
Luo Yong walked up to Shen Yi, lowered his head slightly, and said, "Sizheng!"
Seeing that something was wrong with his expression, Shen Yi turned around and waved away the followers around him, then looked at Luo Yong and asked, "Is there something wrong?"
"yes."
Luo Yong breathed out slowly, then looked up at Shen Yi and whispered: "According to the intelligence from the internal guards and some information collected by the brothers from the Di Reporting Department, there are a large number of ships on the Huaihe River northwest of Huai'an Prefecture.
Assemble on the shore..."
After hearing the news, Shen Yi was not panicked.
Because this was something he had already foreseen, it was just that it came late and it came early.
Mr. Shen squinted his eyes, looked at the river bank, and said slowly: "How far is it from our defense line?"
"East-west direction...about a hundred miles."
Luo Yong lowered his head slightly and said: "I guess they are afraid of attracting our attention. Their ship assembly point is still far away from Huai'an Mansion."
Shen Yi nodded silently, and then said: "I understand."
Luo Yong coughed, looked at Shen Yi cautiously, and asked, "Sizheng, do you want to contact the Di Reporting Department in Bei'an?"
Among the eight teams of the Di Newspaper Division, one entire team was arranged by Shen Yi to go to Northern Qi. This was not a secret among the top management of the Di Newspaper Division. It was just who Shen Yi sent and how he sent them.
No one knows anymore.
Shen Yi glanced at Luo Yong and shook his head slightly: "This is not something you should worry about. You don't have to think about it at the Di newspaper office in Bei'an. Just treat it as..."
"Just pretend they don't exist."
"alright."
Mr. Shen rubbed his temples and said, "Continue to find out the news. If there is anything urgent, send someone to me immediately."
Luo Yong bowed his head respectfully, turned around and went down.
After Luo Yong left, Shen Yi turned to wave to Jiang Sheng who was not far away, and said: "Go, bring the two generals Ling and Xue to see me, and tell them that I have something important to discuss with them."
Having said this, Shen Yi paused and said, "Also, Su Ding, who is under Xue Wei's command, was also called to discuss the matter."
Jiang Sheng nodded and immediately turned around and went down.
At this time, the main leaders of the Coastal Division, including Shen Yi, Ling Xue and others, were patrolling along the Huaihe River. It was easy to call people. At noon, when Shen Yi was still eating in a tent, Ling Su and three others came
They arrived one after another, and after entering Shen Yi's tent, they bowed their heads respectfully to Shen Yi, who was still eating, and saluted with clasped fists.
Mr. Shen put down his rice bowl, pointed to a few cushions in the tent, and said, "There are no chairs here, so just sit down."
They were all military attachés and did not have as many things to do as scholars, so they all sat down happily.
After everyone sat down, Ling Su looked up at the middle-aged man Su Ding sitting behind Xue Wei, smiled at Su Ding, and nodded.
Although Su Ding has now become Xue Wei's deputy, his rank has not been raised. He is still at the Qianhu level. He bowed his head slightly to Ling Su in return.
After the three people sat down, Shen Yi didn't waste any time and said straight to the point: "Everyone, the latest information is that Qi people's ships have assembled on the north bank."
"Although the place where they gathered is still more than a hundred miles away from Huai'an Mansion, if nothing else happens, the target will be us."
Having said this, Shen Yi glanced at Ling Su and asked: "General Ling, why are you facing the enemy?"
Ling Su immediately lowered his head and replied without hesitation: "Mr. Shen, brothers have completely taken over the defense of the Huaihe River. The troops will come to block the water and cover the ground with the soil. Starting tonight, the general will personally lead a night patrol of the Huaihe River. Once he discovers that there are
When someone approaches, the general will immediately organize his soldiers to meet the enemy!"
Shen Yi did not speak, but turned to look at Xue Wei and asked: "General Xue, what about you?"
"What General Ling said is certainly true, but..."
Having said this, Xue Wei paused and looked back at his partner who had been with him for a few days. After thinking for a while, he lowered his head slightly and said: "Mr. Shen, this Huaihe River is not the Huaihe River of Qi people. They can gather on the river bank.
We can also use ships. Our warship in Yueqing has now sailed to Huai'an..."
"My subordinates think that we can sail the ships to the Huaihe River and keep an eye on those Northern Qi ships. If they make any changes, we can be alert immediately without saying anything,"
"Our ship has artillery. If necessary, we can directly sail the ship to meet the enemy."
As soon as Xue Wei finished speaking, Su Ding stood up. He bowed to Shen Yi, clasped his fists, and said: "Mr. Shen, Mingzhou Guard is along the coast. When I was in Mingzhou Guard, my subordinates were quite familiar with water battles.
Some warships have also sailed by, and my subordinates requested that they sail to keep an eye on the Qi people on the north bank."
Shen Yi glanced at Xue Wei and Su Ding, then his eyes fell on Su Ding, and said indifferently: "The warships of our coastal capital are much larger than ordinary ships. Are you familiar with them, General Su?"
"Go back to Mr. Shen..."
He lowered his head and said: "When the warship first arrived at the port of Songjiang Prefecture, my subordinates went up to take a look. It is indeed much larger than ordinary warships, but the general will still make it."
Shen Yi nodded and said, "Then let's do it."
He looked at Su Ding and said: "Remember, don't get too close to them. The warships of Northern Qi probably also have artillery. Compared with us, those Qi people are more unscrupulous in their words because they are closer.
They might just shoot you."
Mr. Shen paused and continued: "If the Northern Qi ships are too close to you and have bad intentions, then you don't need to ask for permission and just blast them."
Su Ding bowed his head respectfully, his voice trembling with excitement.
"I obey my orders!"
Shen Yi looked at Ling Su again and said, "General Ling, you are in charge of the western part of the defense line."
"General Xue leads the east."
"Once the Qi people take action, there is no need to ask for instructions on the spot, just treat them as Japanese pirates and beat them."
"Also, there is one thing you should pay attention to."
Mr. Shen also stood up. He looked at the three subordinates and said: "Those who go to the front line must be wearing armor. Those who have no armor or only leather armor should stay behind for the time being. Don't let them go."
Face Qi Ren directly."
"The fireworks for reporting the news have also been made for you, and you all have them in your hands."
Shen Yi paused and continued: "The meaning of the three colors of fireworks must be kept in mind. After seeing the fireworks asking for help, those who can support should immediately support them, and those who cannot support should set off fireworks to report elsewhere."
"The entire defense line must be integrated."
At this point, Shen Yi shouted: "Do you understand?"
All three people stood up, bowed respectfully to Shen Yi and clasped their fists: "I obey!"