Chapter four hundred and seventieth great momentum
At dawn, Yangzhou City gradually became lively.
After the city gate opened at Mao hour, merchants and traveling farmers rushed in and out of the city gate.
The boats that arrived yesterday were unloading their goods at the dock and were brought into the city at this time. There was a lot of noise and bustle among the carriages and horses.
From Yangzhou east to the Yangtze River, you can go to the sea to Japan, Ryukyu and other places in Southeast Asia. Therefore, Yangzhou has become one of the most important transshipment stations for foreign countries in the country, busier and more tense than any other city.
However, the atmosphere today is a bit strange. There are a large number of officers and soldiers in the city and outside the city, and the inspections for crossing the border are much stricter. There are long queues of merchants and people entering and exiting.
However, although everyone was anxious, no one dared to complain, because under the protection of the army, the Yangzhou general manager and his officials went out of the city together and gathered at the dock in Nancheng to wait.
Such a situation naturally arouses the curiosity of business people coming in and out.
You must know that the Yangzhou Governor was an important minister of the Sui Dynasty. The only people who could ask him to go out of the city to greet him were the only ones who, besides the emperor who was seriously ill at this time, were the prince, the patron king and other senior princes with real power, as well as members of powerful families.
The head of the house.
Many people were waiting to enter the city, watching curiously, and couldn't help but talk about it.
Which big shot is it that can actually be the general manager of Labor Yangzhou?
Soon, the melodious sound of bugles sounded on the Yangtze River, and a huge fleet of boats slowly came into view of the officials and people on the shore.
The big flag with the word "Wu" flying high on the mast is particularly flamboyant, and the slightly lower flag with the word "Lei" is very arrogant in the river wind.
Among the officials and people in the dark side, their hearts were shocked when they saw the fleet, and many people showed relaxed smiles on their faces.
Among the merchants and civilians in the distance, there were those who were knowledgeable. Seeing such a scene, they could not help but exclaim in a low voice: "I didn't expect it to be this person who personally took action!"
"What kind of big shot comes out with such a big pomp?"
The merchants and people nearby asked out of curiosity: "It seems like there aren't such great people in the south, right?"
"Who said no?"
The well-informed commoner curled his lips and said angrily: "Didn't you see the flag on the mast of the river boat?"
"That's the banner of Wu, Marquis Wu, right?"
The sharp-eyed merchants hurriedly spoke and exclaimed: "The thunder-character flag hanging below, could it be that the old man Wu Hou personally took action?"
"exactly!"
The common people who were the first to recognize what the flags flying on the river boats meant said proudly: "There are very few people with the surname Lei. There seems to be no general named Lei under the command of Marquis Wu, right?"
It was the Marquis of Wu who came in person!
All the merchants and people on the shore were shocked. They didn't expect that this man would actually take action in person?
All businessmen and people who have some knowledge of the situation in the south know that Wuhou is considered a vassal town. Although it appears to respect the laws of the Sui Dynasty, in reality it is like a local emperor.
Basically, there was no room for Wu Hou to intervene in the affairs of the Sui Dynasty, and there was no room for imperial intervention in the development of Wu Hou's leadership. A stable situation was formed early on.
As for Wu Hou, he is an extraordinary existence. He is truly the best master in the world. Every move he makes can cause shock in the world. He has always stayed in his territory and has no intention of coming out. He also does not want to make too much noise.
Now, not only did Wu Hou personally go out, but the general manager of Yangzhou and his officials also went to the dock to wait in person. It was obvious that the two parties had reached a tacit understanding, but they just didn't know what they were targeting?
As long as the merchants and common people with a keen mind knew that something terrible would definitely happen within a short time of the Sui Dynasty, otherwise the imperial court would not be able to invite Wu Houlei, the world's best master, to personally take action.
That's right, anyone with a good brain and normal logical thinking will know that Wu Hou's personal dispatch must be due to the court's active invitation. Otherwise, given Wu Hou's usual 'house' attribute, he would generally not leave the territory easily.
Wandering around.
The merchants and people watching from a distance did not dare to shout loudly, but the Yangzhou Zongguan and his officials standing in front of the pier were in a pretty good mood.
As Yangzhou has been the foundation of Prince Yang Guang for nearly ten years, it is impossible for outsiders to take advantage of it.
The current general manager of Yangzhou is naturally a confidant of the prince Yang Guang, and Yangzhou is the most important city after Daxing and Luoyang. The general manager in charge of the military and political power here naturally knows the secret agreement between the prince and Wu Hou.
He also agreed with this, although the prince paid a huge price for it.
But no matter how high the price is, it can't compare to the fact that the prince can inherit the throne safely and smoothly. With the support of Wu Hou Leihu, the best master in the world, the prince's confidence is much greater.
That is to say, Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty became seriously ill too quickly, and the time for Yang Guang to become the prince was too short. Otherwise, if Yang Guang had been allowed to operate as the prince for a few more years, there would be no need to worry about unexpected changes.
After all, behind the deposed prince Yang Yong stands the Buddhist sect.
Anyone who knows something about the situation in the world knows how powerful Buddhism is. It is definitely a powerful force that can influence the situation in the world.
Not to mention anything else, there are more than 700 Buddhist temples in the Jiankang area across the Yangtze River alone.
As long as there are ten monks in each Buddhist temple, that is 7,000 monks. Including their tenants, the population they can use is at least more than 50,000!
In a sparsely populated place like the South, it goes without saying what 50,000 young people means.
Perhaps, this is also the main reason why the prince gave Jiankang as a gift to the Marquis of Wu.
Wu Hou was born in a demon sect, and he was a member of a Taoist sect. He was definitely not in the same pot as the Buddhist sect. We might as well let this powerful master in the world suppress the arrogance of the southern Buddhist sect.
Despite this behavior, Wu Hou may have taken advantage of him, but Prince Yang Guang, including the Yangzhou manager, did not have the confidence to suppress the power of Jiankang Buddhism. Instead of allowing Buddhism to take advantage, it would be better to take advantage of Wu Hou.
.
At least, Wu Hou has never shown his unruliness and has never compromised on his obligations to the Sui Dynasty. This is quite satisfying.
Boom!
At this moment, the sound of a huge boat splashing against the water came. From the Yangzhou general manager and his subordinate officials to the ordinary government officials, they couldn't help but feel shocked: Here they come!
Ten large boats docked beside several trestles, and several long pedals were put down on the boats. The sergeants, who were full of energy and stupidity, got off the boats one after another, and marched in an orderly queue to quickly protect the exits of the trestles.
"Tear, they are all third-rate players!"
A guard next to Yangzhou Governor took a breath of air and said with shock: "Wu Hou is so generous!"
"Is this difficult?"
After hearing the alarm from the guards around him, the Yangzhou general manager said with some confusion: "There should be quite a few third-rate soldiers in the army!"
"There are quite a few!"
The guard nodded and said: "But they are all pillars of the army. They are either captains or captains. It would be too difficult to transfer them, unless you ignore the risk of greatly reducing the army's combat effectiveness!"
The Yangzhou general manager's eyes flickered, he remained silent and just watched the capable generals coming down from ten large boats in a steady stream, not knowing what he was thinking.
A total of five hundred third-rate sergeants protected the dock berth extremely tightly. Only then did Lei Hu get off the ship under the protection of a hundred personal guards, which once again aroused the shock of the personal guards around Yangzhou General Manager.
"A second-rate fighter. The hundreds of personal guards around Wu Marquis are all second-rate fighters!"
Now, not to mention this personal guard, even the general manager of Yangzhou has changed his mind. He knows very well what the concept of hundreds of second-rate personal guards is, that is, the prince Yang Guang and the Sui Emperor Yang Jian can make such a big statement.
The so-called leader of aristocratic families, without some mobilization, would not be able to produce so many second-rate players in a short period of time, which shows how generous Wu Hou is.
Not only the officials who had been waiting for a long time were frightened, but also the businessmen and common people watching from a distance could not help but change their colors and dare not make any noise.
Five hundred third-rate masters serve as the vanguard, and one hundred second-rate masters serve as the bodyguards. This feat alone is incredible, not to mention the fact that there are a steady stream of powerful generals stepping off the ten large ships.
"Marquis Wu is so generous. With the strength he shows right now, he can dominate the south!"
"I have long heard that Wu Hou has many good players under his command, but I didn't expect that there are so many. Third-rate players just appear for free!"
"Tsk, tsk, no wonder Yangzhou's general manager personally came to greet him. Who with such strength would dare to do so carelessly?"
"..."
The businessmen and common people did not dare to make loud noises standing far away, which shows how much shock and pressure Lei Hu's trip brought to them.
The general manager of Yangzhou came forward with a group of subordinate officials. Across the 500-man military formation, which was as neat as a rock, he laughed and said: "The Lord Wu is here. I am honored to be here!"
"The manager is welcome!"
Lei Hu waved his hand and directly passed the military formation composed of 500 third-rate warriors who were guarding the front. He came directly to Yangzhou General Manager and his party, and said calmly: "We are all working for the prince, so there is no need to be polite. Let's go to the city first.
It’s not good to be stuck on the pier and hinder others!”
At a glance, Lei Hu glanced at the densely packed merchant ships docked at the docks and the many isolated docks. Lei Hu had no idea of sparing the people, and at the same time he was amazed at the prosperity of Yangzhou.
In normal history, the emergence of formal dock workers should be in the Ming Dynasty. Looking at the scale and throughput of Yangzhou dock, it is obvious that the number of dock workers needed is definitely not a small number.
"That's how it should be, Marquis Wu please!"
The general manager of Yangzhou was a little surprised, but he didn't feel anything was wrong. He followed Lei Hu's words and led the way directly, leading Lei Hu and his party into the bustling and noisy city of Yangzhou.
Lei Hu was not polite and followed him under the strict protection of one hundred personal guards and five hundred bodyguards.
The ten large boats behind were still disembarking a steady stream of men and horses, as well as military armor and weapons, which soon caused a huge sensation on the pier.
Lei Hu left early with 600 elite guards, and an army of 400 third-rate warriors came down from the big boat behind, as well as 30 warriors drawn from Iron Gate, and ten warriors invited by the Martial Alliance.
Second-rate masters, and ten first-rate masters invited from the Martial Arts League!
Such a formation shocked the knowledgeable people on the dock. They thought that Lei Hu's trip was so grand that he brought out thousands of third-rate generals in one go, as well as one hundred and fifty others.
A second-rate master, accompanied by ten first-rate masters.
With such a momentum, I'm afraid this is what the emperor is going to do when he travels, right?