"It's just that this mission is urgent. You didn't have time to return to the court to receive your reward, so Your Majesty asked me to bring your reward!"
Su Chen said and asked someone to bring out a few things: an official uniform, a seal, a jade belt, and some gold and silver!
"Congratulations to General Dingyuan!"
Liu Rengui knelt down on one knee:
"General, thank you for your kindness!"
"Thank you, Marshal, for your support!"
Su Chen patted Liu Rengui on the shoulder: "Everything is a meritorious service that the general deserves!"
Then Su Chen smiled again and said: "I remember Rengui, you were born as a civil servant. With the military honor you received this time, it seems that you will probably be able to become a general or a prime minister in the future!"
Liu Rengui hurriedly handed over his hand: "The commander-in-chief praised me!"
"If you can serve the Tang Dynasty and serve His Majesty, there will be no difference between your civil and military positions!"
Su Chen asked Liu Rengui to sit down, and after everyone chatted for a few more words, they started to get down to business.
"Rengui, how is the fleet assembly going?"
"Go back to the Commander-in-Chief and follow the Commander-in-Chief's instructions to gather everyone in the east of Snake Island."
Su Chen nodded: "Ren Gui, please rest for a while. After lunch, we will go to Snake Island together."
"Tomorrow I'll go south and see how the paddle boats perform along the way."
Liu Rengui clasped his fists and said yes, and then said: "General, there are still some things that I don't know whether to take seriously..."
Su Chen glared at him: "If you tell me, why should you take it seriously? What is it that makes you hesitate?"
"The commander-in-chief asked the general to pay attention to the situation of pirates. There has been some news recently."
"pirate?"
Li Chengqian, who had been listening nearby, suddenly asked a question.
"They are all supported by those noble families!"
Su Chen explained to him.
"Weren't they all wiped out in Wuhuhai?"
Su Chen smiled and said: "That group was completely wiped out, but the aristocratic family must have more than just that few ships and manpower."
Li Chengqian whispered: "I thought there were only that many..."
Su Chen said to Liu Ren: "I have received your report. They are also running to Japan, right?"
"Ignore them for now, the sea is so big, we can't annihilate them all, and we can't take care of them now."
Liu Rengui shook his head and said, "That's what we discovered before. Recently, we discovered that many ships are running south."
"Running south?
The Shengsi Islands and the Zhoushan Islands are the maritime bases of Jiangnan sects, which is quite normal."
Liu Rengui continued to shake his head: "They crossed Hangzhou Bay and continued south, and even went south of Taizhou!"
"The general is worried whether they will go to Fuzhou?"
Su Chen stood up suddenly: "Fuzhou?"
Liu Ren's track: "The general is not sure either. Sun Renshi and the others lost track of them on the sea in Taizhou, but they are not far from Fuzhou further south, so the general is a little worried."
"Chart!"
Su Chen called out.
Immediately, a navy spread a chart on the table.
"After Wuhuhai, the commander said there was no need to hide the gunboats anymore, so the general set the course of training southward."
"Ten days ago, six frigates followed three galleys and discovered three pirate ships at Wusongkou. Master Sun Ren ordered them to follow them to see where they were going."
"It turned out that they passed directly through the Shengsi Islands, then continued south, and then followed them farther and farther. After chasing for three days, they found that they kept running south."
Liu Rengui explained the situation at that time.
"I'm afraid that someone will find you and lead you all the way south on purpose. It's almost impossible to follow you without being discovered on the sea. They also have glasses."
Su Chen said with some doubt.
"According to Master Sun Ren's report, it shouldn't be the case. They should have discovered they were being followed here, and then fled in full sail,"
"Before, they sailed with half sail, and it looked like they were fully loaded with cargo."
Liu Rengui pointed to the location near the Jiushan Islands and said.
“Half sail?
The pirate is sick, where is the sea view?"
Su Chen asked.
"I don't know why. Master Sun Ren shouldn't make false reports!"
Liu Rengui answered truthfully.
"Then they started to flee, but Master Sun Ren didn't catch up?"
Liu Rengui nodded: "Commander, it was to test the galley, and it has traveled too far. If we don't come back, the fleet will send a ship to find them."
Su Chen stared at the chart. The big ship coming out of Wusongkou was full of cargo and ran to the south of Hangzhou Bay. Where did it want to go?
Did you really go to Fuzhou?
Forget it, go to Fuzhou and ask the local officials in Fuzhou carefully.
Especially if they want to take advantage of Fuzhou Shipyard, they will be in big trouble!
Fuzhou does not need Yangzhou. With Fuzhou's current defense capabilities, the government would really be unable to resist pirates supported by aristocratic families.
Liu Rengui was afraid that this might happen, so he reported it to Su Chen.
"Forget it, our voyage mission is still important. Even if the Fuzhou Shipyard temporarily stops working, there won't be much loss."
"Let's all rest for a while. If the warship needs supplies, hurry up and set off early in the afternoon."
Liu Rengui clasped his fists in agreement and went out.
"You are very optimistic about this Liu Rengui, and you are still a general?"
Su Chen nodded and said: "I have studied this person's resume in detail, and His Majesty has also sent people to investigate. Yunwen Yunwu is a very capable person."
"It's just that I was unlucky and offended a lot of people, so I'm unknown."
"If this big food trip goes well, your Majesty will give him a viscount no matter what when he comes back!"
When the Royal Navy was formed, Li Er's original intention was to give the position of deputy commander to you, Sun Renshi.
Su Chen took a look at the list and found that Liu Rengui was also on it. He was happy at that time.
I still remember a lot of the famous historical general Su Chen.
So Sun Renshi was more unlucky, and his position as deputy commander was lost.
It cannot be said that it is gone. Sun Renshi is still the deputy commander, but this deputy commander is one level lower than the original deputy commander.
After lunch and a short rest, Su Chen and Li Chengqian boarded a naval cruiser, also known as a gunboat, and headed straight down the Yangtze River toward the East China Sea.
In the early Tang Dynasty, the coastline at the mouth of the Yangtze River was very different from that in later generations.
Hu Douzhou is not yet connected to the mainland, and Chongming Island is still a small sandbank that just emerged from the sea.
Moreover, there are many sandbanks along the coast, and a sharp-bottomed sea-going ship with a deep draft like a gunboat is in danger of running aground accidentally.
The gunboat moved cautiously between the sandbars.
Li Chengqian was very excited when he saw the gunboat for the first time!
"There are so many artillery pieces on one ship! No wonder the Battle of Wuhuhai was so easy!"
"The enemy's ship was blown to pieces before it could even get close. There will be no need to join forces in the future!"
He knew the power of artillery. Li Er took him to test it.
Although the artillery on this ship looks a bit small, it is still an artillery piece. What kind of wooden hull can withstand one shot from it?
It was also the first time for Su Chen to see a real sailing gunboat. He always felt that it was far worse than what he had seen on TV in his previous life.
