In the late afternoon, Zhang Yanling and his entourage galloped out of Guangzhou City, fully armed, and headed straight for the Pearl River Pier outside the South City Gate.
When arriving at the pier, Zhang Yanling was surprised. The pier was crowded and noisy. Ships gathered on the Pearl River and there were many sails.
Zhang Yanling's face turned livid with anger. He wanted to hide the news as much as possible, but he didn't expect it to be so lively. It was just a huge crowd of people, and the gongs, drums and trumpets were played loudly. Many people gathered together, and they didn't know what they were doing.
"Go and ask, what's going on? Who made such a big fanfare?" Zhang Yanling reined in his horse above the pier and shouted in a deep voice.
The two guards galloped away, but he didn't need to ask, Wang Hong and Qin Yong were already galloping over under the sun.
"I have met the Marquis." Wang Hong and Qin Yong saluted.
Zhang Yanling pointed at the situation on the pier with cold eyes and said: "What happened here? Who told you to make such a big fanfare? Did your words fall on deaf ears? I told you to keep a low profile to prevent the news from leaking to the enemies of Tuen Mun Island.
You should be on guard. What are you doing?"
Wang Hong and Qin Yong looked at each other and laughed bitterly.
"Mr. Marquis, this is not our idea. We are about to ask Mr. Marquis for instructions. The people in the city and the boatmen got the news from nowhere that we were going to attack Tuen Mun Island, and they all came to join the war.
"The boats on the river are all their boats. General Qin and I tried hard to persuade them, but they just didn't listen. They said we should fight the red-haired ghosts, and they had to follow whatever they said." Wang Hong cupped his hands and said.
Zhang Yanling was both angry and funny. Although these people had good intentions, this matter was not a joke.
"This is nonsense! Absolutely not. Go and persuade them to leave immediately. This is for fighting, not fishing. Besides, how did they know that we were going to attack Tuen Mun Island? Who leaked the news?" Zhang Yanling shouted.
"Master Marquis, no one leaked the news. I asked, and they said they guessed it themselves. They said that the Marquis had captured the red-haired ghost and gathered troops and ships at the pier. He must be going to fight the red ghost on Tuen Mun Island.
Mao Gui is here for a decisive battle, so they all came." Qin Yong scratched his head and said.
Zhang Yanling was speechless, but he couldn't blame Qin Yong. He actually understood that such news was difficult to block, so he had to seize the time to send troops. As long as he didn't stay still and wasn't stupid, just watching the mobilization of the South China Sea Guards and Horses,
With the gathering of warships, we now understand what is going on.
"We have tried to persuade them, but the people refused to go back. They all said they would help us. It is their wish to attack the red-haired ghosts. They went voluntarily, regardless of life or death. So we kowtow to them. Lord Marquis,
What do you think we should do?" Wang Hong shouted.
Zhang Yanling glared at them and rode towards the crowd on the pier. Although the people were interested, Zhang Yanling still had to persuade them to leave. This battle was not something they could participate in.
Above the steps of the Deep Water Pier in the middle, gongs and drums are being played intensively, and the crowd is noisy. A large group of people are gathered there, incense is lingering, and the atmosphere is extremely lively.
Zhang Yanling and others came on horseback, and soon someone recognized Zhang Yanling and shouted loudly.
"Look, everyone, Lord Zhang from the capital has arrived."
As soon as he shouted out, all the people turned their heads and bowed.
"Hello, Lord Marquis."
"Master Zhang is polite."
Zhang Yanling had no choice but to dismount from his horse and salute. The gongs and drums also stopped, and the crowd automatically made way for a passage. Zhang Yanling also saw clearly what the scene was like, surrounded by people, with cigarettes swirling around and the gongs and drums noisy.
It was a huge incense table facing the pier. It was about ten feet long and several feet wide. It was about the same size as an altar in a temple. In other words, it was an altar in front of a Buddhist niche, because Zhang Yanling saw it.
It was filled with various tributes. Pigs, cattle, sheep, fish, rice, noodles, steamed buns and fruits, bowls of wine, and two smoke-filled incense burners.
In the middle, an exquisite tablet is placed, with a long line of gilt characters written on it: protect the country and protect the people, the wonderful spirit Zhao Ying Hongren Puji Tianfei Mazu empress
Zhang Yanling suddenly realized that these people were worshiping Mazu. This is a common god of belief among seaside people, from south to north. Before going to the sea, people have to worship and pray for Mazu to bless the safety of the sea and the fish.
Good wishes such as a good harvest.
"Master Zhang, you came just in time. We are paying homage to Mazu and praying to her to bless the officers and soldiers in their triumphant victory over the red-haired ghost. We and the common people respectfully ask the Marquis to offer a stick of incense and let Mazu bless you to achieve victory."
The old man with gray beard stepped forward and said with cupped hands.
"Yes, yes, yes, please Lord Zhang to offer incense. Mother Mazu will definitely bless the officers and soldiers to defeat the red-haired ghost and win the victory." The people around them shouted one after another.
Zhang Yanling bowed his hands and saluted the old man, and said in a deep voice: "I have been offering incense to worship Mazu. However, my father-in-law, can you tell the people that after the worship is over, you will go back to the city to wait in peace, and you must not follow me.
Officers and soldiers go out to fight. This is absolutely not allowed."
The old man said loudly: "Master Zhang, the common people are spontaneously going to follow the officers and soldiers to fight the red-haired ghosts. These red-haired ghosts have bullied us too much. We are not afraid of death. Even if we die, we will never blame you."
Yes, we all do it voluntarily."
Zhang Yanling frowned and said: "I understand that the villagers want to help voluntarily, but this matter still cannot be done. Warfare is a matter for officers and soldiers, how can we let people die? How is that polite? We understand our good intentions, but this matter still cannot be done.
"
The old man raised his hands and said: "Master Zhang, do you know why we take the initiative to follow you to fight the red-haired ghosts? Because we people hate these red-haired ghosts. Many people here have relatives who have disappeared inexplicably.
Said it was a red-haired ghost
In the past two years, we fishermen no longer dare to go out of the Pearl River Estuary to fish offshore. Those red-haired ghosts destroyed the Mazu Temple and sailed to intercept our fishing boats at sea. Many of our fishermen were killed and injured by them.
.No bones were found.”
"Yes, Mr. Zhang, we suffered miserably from these red-haired ghosts. Two months ago, my two sons and I were fishing at the mouth of the Pearl River. The red-haired ghosts passed by in a big boat and fired arrows for no reason.
My youngest son. If the eldest son and I hadn't gone into the water and hid under the boat, all three of us, father and son, would have been killed by them."
"Master Zhang, my daughter has been missing for many days and must have been kidnapped by the red-haired ghost. I will definitely find her this time and take her home. Please allow us to kill the red-haired ghost."
"My son is also missing. He must have been kidnapped by them."
"And my wife, she went to Yuexiu Mountain Guanyin Temple and disappeared. Some people saw that the red-haired ghost abducted her. The government doesn't care, and we can't do anything. This time Mr. Zhang went to fight the red-haired ghost, and we will definitely go there.
.I beg the Marquis to agree."
"Please Lord Marquis, please have mercy and let us go."
"...let's go."
All the people nearby begged.
Zhang Yanling frowned and hesitated. It seemed that these people had suffered a lot. Their desire to take revenge was very urgent and was definitely not impulsive.
"Master Zhang, please listen, the red-haired ghost has done so many evil things, and everyone has spontaneously gone to help. Not only that, the red-haired ghost also destroyed our temple of Mazu on Tuen Mun Island and desecrated us.
The gods in my heart bring shame to the people along the coast of Guangdong. They do bad things.
We are so heartless. We are going with you this time to avenge ourselves. We are also going to avenge Mazu. Mazu will definitely show up and help us drive away these red-haired ghosts. Please agree, Lord Marquis. We
Kowtow to Lord Marquis." The old man with a gray beard knelt down and kowtowed.
"Please Lord Zhang, let us go."
All the people knelt down and kowtowed to Zhang Yanling.
Zhang Yanling hurriedly stepped forward to help the old man up, but the old man refused to get up despite any words. Zhang Yanling frowned and sighed, knowing that they were determined to go. If he insisted on stopping him, he might have to struggle for a long time, but he might not be able to stop them. Because
this
In addition to the great hatred that their family members were abducted, disappeared or killed by red-haired ghosts, these people also have the anger of having their faith insulted. In their hearts, they cannot even protect their families, not even the temple of Mazu in which they believe. That is
How painful.
If you resolutely refuse to let them follow, they will definitely follow and you won't be able to stop them. In that case, it will be a mess and it will be very troublesome. Instead of doing this, it is better to organize them. It may not be a big help, but
At least don't do a disservice and die in vain.
"Folks, get up and talk. I promise you, that's all." Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice.
"Haha, great. The Marquis has agreed, folks. The Marquis has allowed us to go kill the red-haired ghost together." The old man with a gray beard shouted happily.
When everyone heard this, they all smiled and were very happy.
Zhang Yanling waved his hand and said: "Listen to me. I allow you to kill the enemy, but you must promise me a few things, otherwise we will not discuss it."
"As long as we are allowed to kill the enemy, let alone a few things, a hundred can be done." Everyone shouted.
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Okay. The first thing is that it's impossible for so many people, men, women, and children to rush there in a mess. This is to fight, not to catch a temple fair. I heard that you have one hundred and fifty fishing boats, large and small.
It's not suitable either. You streamline 80 fishing boats, with ten people on each boat, and select 800 young and strong men to sail the boats. No old, weak, women or children are allowed on board."
"Ah? How come there are so many people here?"
"Yes, then I can't go. I'm old, but I have strength."
Everyone said one after another.
The old man with a gray beard said in a deep voice: "Stop talking. The Marquis is right. What are so many people doing in such a mess? It's impossible. Listen to the Marquis."
Only then did everyone stop making noise.
"Second thing. All accompanying civilian ships must obey orders and are not allowed to make decisions on their own. Military discipline must be observed in battles, otherwise you will be doing a disservice. Instead, the plans of the officers and soldiers will fail."
"Okay, Lord Marquis is right. You must obey the command." The old man with a gray beard said loudly.
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Third, after the battle starts, you are responsible for assisting the officers and soldiers in the battle. You are not allowed to rush to the front or directly participate in the battle, unless you are required to do so. This is not to look down on you, but it is the officers and soldiers who should take precedence in this battle.
Go up. You can only go up if we are all finished. I don’t want to take your lives as a joke, even though you are willing.”
The old man with a gray beard nodded slightly and said: "Master Hou is kind and righteous, for our sake, we agreed."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Very good. Just these three items. Since I have agreed to them, I will act immediately. I will give you half an hour. If it is overdue, it will be invalid."
All the people nodded in agreement. Zhang Yanling turned around and walked towards the horse. The old man behind him stopped him.
"Your Majesty, please stay a moment. You haven't offered incense to Mother Mazu yet. After offering incense and drinking wine, Mother Mazu will bless this battle to be a success."
Zhang Yanling smiled and nodded: "Okay, I will offer a stick of incense to Mazu and ask for her blessing."
Under the attention of everyone, Zhang Yanling walked towards the incense case. The old man handed over the incense, Zhang Yanling held it with both hands, knelt in front of the incense case and saluted.
"Goddess Mazu bless you, Mr. Zhang stood up for us, the people of Guangzhou. Please ask Goddess Mazu to appear and bless him to win and avenge us." The old man shouted loudly.
Amidst the roar of gongs and drums, Zhang Yanling lit the incense and inserted it into the incense burner respectfully.