"The red sun is scorching like fire, and the fields and rice fields are half withered.

The farmer's heart is like boiling water, and the princes and princes are shaking their fans."

On a hot summer day, Zhang Xing sat under the shade of a tree by the port on one side of the embankment, with obvious ice energy exuding from his body. He held a bowl of ice water and read out such a concluding poem unconvincingly.

There were more than a dozen big bosses sitting next to them. The bosses didn't know whether they were suppressed by the cold ice energy or the ice water, but many people were secretly trembling in their hearts.

In the end, it was Xie Minghe who couldn't stand listening anymore, and indeed he was the only one who dared to say:

"Master Zhang, five days ago you went to inspect the fields. You felt that it had not rained for many days. You were digging ditches in the fields to divert water and recited these few sentences with a hoe. Who in the world disagreed with your concern for people's livelihood? I called a few people at Jiangling the day before yesterday.

The old farmer asked about the drought situation at this time, and they all said that it is not a major disaster, but the ditches abandoned by the war must be cleaned up in time to prepare for drought relief. You ordered and distributed the documents to repair the ditches. When you read this poem again, everyone felt that you were here.

Pity the laborers... Now that the matter has been settled, everything that can be done has been done, and it may not stop raining, and we have to cross the river to do other things, how can we still say this?"

Zhang Xing nodded: "What Chief Xie said is true, then I'll change it to another poem."

People around him breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s noon on the day of hoeing, and the sweat is dripping from the weeds.

Who knows dishes on the menu, A Journey?"

Zhang Xing blurted out and recited it. "How? It's catchy, short and powerful, and it might be passed down to future generations."

Xie Minghe opened his mouth, but didn't say anything anymore. He just lowered his head and took a few sips of ice water.

On the other hand, Dou Lide, who was about to go to the East for the first time, managed to say half a sentence: "It is always good for the leader to care about farming."

The rest of the people waited, and no one said a word. They just went to bring ice water to drink, knowing whether it was cold or warm.

Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait too long. After a while, a dozen large and small ships appeared from the other side beating gongs and drums. The middle one was obviously a converted grain-carrying sand ship during the imperial court’s three expeditions.

Upholstered in red and green satin.

Looking at this scene from a distance, Zhang Xing couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, because the last time he saw this posture was when he was choosing the Huaiyou League in Huaishang, and the other leaders in Hebei also laughed out loud.

"Who do you think it is?" Zhang Xing stood up and asked, feeling a little anxious and helpless.

"It can't be Xu Dalang's instruction." Chen Bin blurted out.

This is natural.

"It's unlikely that it's Chief Chai Da or Empress Bingliu." Wei Xuanding also twisted his beard and smiled. "It's probably the two brothers Lu Dayue and Lu Xiaoyue who made their own decisions... They were born in the water, simple-minded, and now they are rich."

"Is the navy... very wealthy?" Zhang Xing finally grasped a point. "As far as the Lu brothers are concerned, where did such colorful silk come from?"

"It's definitely not setting up traffic jams on the river or robbing merchants. They don't dare." Xiong Bonan immediately realized the meaning of Zhang Xing's words and immediately explained. "I guess it's the smuggling business in the east... Liquor

, grain, high-end silk and satin, these things come from Kinki, and if you want to distribute them downstream, Jishui is naturally the main channel, but there is no reason not to go along the river, especially after the four counties of Hebei are stabilized, Hebei business must go here.

.”

"Then there should be business connecting the river from north to south. Hebei is short of everything now, but wealthy families are still not short of money. They want fruits, livestock, grain, lacquerware, ironware, and even jewelry from the south." Dou Lide interjected.

road.

"So the river transportation is all the business of the Lu brothers?" Zhang Xing was suddenly confused and began to inquire further.

"That's not to say...with Jibei as the separation, the upper reaches are the Lu brothers, and the lower reaches should be Cheng Dalang and the former Pu Tai Army, as well as Fan Bao, Zuo Caixiang and several Qi County leaders..." Wei Xuanding blurted out

And yes.

"Both Cheng Mingqi and Fang Yanshi?" Zhang Xing was extremely surprised. "Isn't it enough that the Fan Bao family enjoys Zhangqiu's iron pot business and controls the transportation downstream of Jishui River?"

Wei Xuanding was silent for a moment and continued: "But as far as I know, it is indeed the case."

Most of the others remained silent. Wang Shuyong, Zhai Qian and others who were accompanying him went to look at the sky and the earth.

"I know this." At this moment, an unexpected person suddenly spoke, but it was Dou Lide. "The two Lu brothers are actually not strong enough. Their defense area is generally from Puyang to Sikou Pass.

It is not easy to distribute downstream. Then Chief Cheng Da, who has always been meticulous, saw that no one was doing the downstream transportation business, so he took the initiative to find Chief Fan who had shipping experience. Several leaders from Pu Tai who were responsible for downstream military affairs and Chief Zuo worked together.

I took this business.”

At this point, Dou Lide also explained a little: "The reason why I know this is because last month Fan Wang was ordered to guard Chiping... Cheng Dalang went to find him to join the army. He was a little unsure and asked someone to ask me.

.”

The others looked at this Hebei leader, each feeling strange and not knowing what to say.

"Good eyesight." Zhang Xing sighed. "It's also a good method... When you see a blank market, you don't take advantage of it directly. Instead, you bring people with technology and capital together with all stakeholders to eat, and the others are the original ones.

I don’t want to get involved, and in order not to offend anyone, I can only come together... As expected of Cheng Dalang, if it were me, I would do the same thing. In fact, this is how the Huaiyou Alliance started."

People around me didn't hear it right, and they didn't know whether it was praise or disapproval. Some words were completely confused, and they didn't dare to say anything.

"Let's cross the river first, and then we'll talk about it later." Zhang Xing saw that the red-colored boat had reached the center of the river, but he abandoned the topic and led the yellow gelding forward.

The people around him were relieved and followed him one after another, but they couldn't help but fell a few steps behind, leaving only King Xiongtian and Chief Wei behind.

However, when he arrived at the ferry and saw the ship getting closer and closer, Chen Bin couldn't hold it back. Regardless of the fact that there were many people behind him, and Wei and Xiong beside him, he went straight forward to persuade him in a low voice: "Longtou,

We still have to give the leaders a way to benefit, and we can't control things too strictly. That's the way things are in the world. If you are too strict, they will think you are unkind rather than strict in your laws."

"I know." Zhang Xing nodded immediately. "I know it in my heart... Cross the river and say."

Chen Bin nodded and stopped talking. Wei Xiong and the other two, as well as several leaders with high cultivation levels behind them, just couldn't listen.

After a while, the boats lined up and came to the harbor, and everyone boarded the boats one after another. Zhang Xing, who said he had a good idea, scolded him: "Lu Da... there are dozens of us crossing the river. Why are you looking for dozens of boats?" ! Those who are still wearing red and green, those who know naturally know that I am on a routine inspection of the Eastern Territory, and those who don’t know think that I have come to Henan to take a concubine and marry me! When word spreads to Dengzhou, am I still alive?"

After saying that, he laughed.

The people around him also laughed in apology. Lu Dayue was embarrassed for a moment and could only rub his hands: "Be careful next time... I really don't know that the leader doesn't like ostentation."

This matter was revealed.

It's just a crossing, the big ship is launched, but many times it turns back to the other side.

Accompanied by many leaders, including the Lu brothers, Zhang Xing boarded the Sikou Pass ferry on the other side. Here, Xu Shiying and the commander-in-chief of logistics in the eastern border, Dongping Liuhou Chai Xiaohe, plus Jibei Liuhou Bing Yuanzheng , Zheng Detao, who stayed behind in Qijun, Zhang Jinshu, the security and internal affairs officer of Nan'an, and other leaders came here with many people to welcome him.

Just after landing, with about ten steps to go, Zhang Dalongtou suddenly turned around, pointed to the river, and suddenly woke up: "You said... we have been crossing the river for almost half a year, why didn't we think of building several pontoon bridges on the river? There are some pontoon bridges on the east side of the river. The pontoon bridge has been standing for hundreds of years! Lu Da, you have been on the river for a long time and know the joints. Do you think it is possible to build a pontoon bridge?"

Lu Dayue was startled for a moment, and immediately responded: "Of course the pontoon bridge can be erected, but there is a saying... it is difficult to erect if the river is wide, and it is difficult to erect if the river is narrow, and it is difficult to erect if the water is strong. It freezes in winter and melts in spring, and it has to be neatly closed. It also needs to be easy to clean up and down the fleet... Therefore, it is best to be in a place with Hejian Island, and Hejian Island must be stable..."

"Yes! There is a large Hejian Island on the bridge east of Hedong, and there is not much water transportation up and down." Zhang Xing was stunned, and asked seriously again. The others also came to see Lu Da seriously. "Is there a Hejian Island on the big river? ?”

Lu Dayue thought for a while and continued to answer: "Yes, there is one between Wuyang County and Dongjun, and there is also behind Douzigang in Qijun... You can go and have a look."

Zhang Xing nodded: "It's hard work for you. Ask your men to walk along the river and see where it is convenient to build a pontoon bridge. If we can build it, we will build it... After all, the North-South China Unicom is a matter of life and death for our gang. It is a military and economic matter." We all have to rely on it, and the more convenient it is, the better. When there is a war, it freezes, and we need to put it away... we can just send it to Jiangling after the hydrological information is sorted out."

Lu Dayue quickly responded.

Among the other leaders, there were those who had just met him and didn't know anything; there were those who were careful and knew the whole story, but were either relaxed or nervous, or lamented that Zhang Longtou had great skills or felt that Zhang Longtou was unable to hide things and had a lack of temperament, but they didn't show it on their faces. ; There are also those who are not careful, but they are also ignorant...you can't tell it anyway.

In this way, everyone acted as if nothing had happened and set foot on the land of the Eastern Territory again.

On the day of arrival, Zhang Xing let the leaders who lived in the east do their own thing. When it was time to return home, including Jia Runshi, when it was time to visit relatives, they would only be notified to rendezvous in a few days. As for the rest, they were roughly divided. After that, Xiong Bonan took people to inspect Qi County and Langya County in the east. Wei Xuanding went to Jibei, Lu County, and Dongping to inspect. He himself was going to take Chen Bin, Dou Lide, Xie Minghe, Cui Suchen, Yan Qing, Wang Xiongdan, etc. People are going to look westward to see Dongjun and Jiyin.

However, it doesn’t start right away.

At least Zhang Xing only sent Wang Xiongdan to the east to fight at the front station, and the rest simply stayed at Sikou Pass that day.

Zhang Xing himself, together with Xiong Wei and Xiong Wei, had direct discussions with Xu Shiying, Chai Xiaohe, Bing Yuanzheng, Zheng Detao, Zhang Jinshu and others, and listened to their reports on the military, economy, people's livelihood, public security and other matters on the South Bank in turn.

After saying this, it was almost dark. Cui Twenty-six and Twenty-seven, who were taking notes, were so tired that their hands were sore. There were many forms handed over, but Cui Suchen, who hardly spoke along the way, was unhurried.

, organized quickly and properly.

Not surprisingly, in the evening they had dinner together in the public house at the ferry, and when they returned to the back hall, Xiong Bonan and Wei Xuanding had to go on patrol tomorrow. Even if they were not tired, they each had their own group of people.

In order to deal with it, they separated early and went back to their respective courtyards; then Chai Xiaohe, Bing Yuanzheng, Zheng Detao and other civil servants were probably shameless, so they left directly and went back to their residences; only Xu Shiying and Zhang Jinshu

But they all refused to leave. Among them, Zhang Jinshu reported several things that were difficult to talk about in public.

"What do you think of Chen's internal affairs?" After listening, Zhang Dalong looked around, but asked Chen Bin first.

"May I ask what the leader is asking about?" Chen Bin asked sternly. "Is it the official matters during the day or the things that Zhang Internal Affairs is talking about now? Is it the things on the river or the whole Henan thing?"

"We all ask." Zhang Xing is also a bachelor. "I want to hear your opinions."

"Of course the biggest thing is Langya County, but there is nothing to say about this matter." Chen Bin was slightly refreshed and immediately spoke. "Everyone is right overtly and covertly, but many local powerful people are doing it secretly.

Falling to Xuzhou Sima Zheng... If you find evidence, kill when you need to. If you can't find it, you must respond in time. I think the method Xu Dalang gave today is the right way. Force the big households over there to move here.

Come from the north."

Zhang Xing nodded, then looked at Cui Suchen: "What do Cui Erlang think? Is this feasible?"

Xu Shiying and Zhang Jinshu immediately went to take a look at this familiar person.

"This is an extraordinary matter for the frontline military and state. There is no need to refer to any laws." Cui Suchen naturally knew what Zhang Xing meant and immediately answered. "It's not just that. I think there are many reasons for many things in the East. The leader is only in Hebei.

Just ask me about the laws of the three counties."

"That's not the case. Isn't the East Territory still a place outside the law?" Zhang Xing immediately shook his head. "You still have to express your opinions more."

At this point, the person sighed again: "Langya's matter is naturally this matter, but the key is why people's hearts are not attached to it?"

"Isn't it natural that people in Langya are disloyal?" Xie Minghe disagreed. "It was the most chaotic place after the rise of the rebels. These rebels were undisciplined and the wealthy people hated them. However, those rebels were all under the banner of the Zhishi Army.

Banner, later we placed the Zhishi Army in Langya, so in the eyes of the big families, the Zhishi Army is of the same origin. Since our army has accepted the Zhishi Army, it is naturally one, and the previous accounts must be settled. "

"If you say that, what about Dengzhou and Hebei?" Zhang Xing asked immediately. "The rebels there had very poor discipline at the beginning, and we also acted as leaders of the rebels."
To be continued...