Chapter 607 Several scars in the Hall of Diligence
Han Ergou, wearing a lake-green robe, stood behind the eunuch leading the way with his hands lowered, and walked towards the gate of Qinzheng Palace.
"Dong dong..."
Han Ergou felt that his heart was beating very fast, just as he was as nervous as when he knew that the naval salary was high and he was waiting to be selected by the captains.
The entrance to the hall was filled with crimson and lake green guards. Han Ergou looked at them, feeling nervous.
These are all warriors who have survived hundreds of battles. If they can be selected as guards, they not only get good salaries and high treatment, but they are also not dangerous.
It would be great if you can come by yourself anytime.
Just as he was thinking about it, the eunuch in front suddenly stopped. Han Ergou couldn't react in time and almost couldn't stop the car and hit the eunuch's back.
"The meritorious sergeant Han Ergou of the Wangjiang Navy was brought here."
The eunuch's voice was soft and soft, which made Han Ergou behind him feel a little upset. This eunuch was really effeminate.
"Come forward, generals."
Li Qing's voice sounded on the imperial steps.
Han Ergou took a deep breath and walked ahead. When he was three steps away from the imperial steps, he kneeled on the ground.
"Han Ergou has met His Majesty."
"Duan Xiu has met His Majesty"
"Song Chunan has met His Majesty"
In front of the royal steps, there were many strong men from the navy kneeling on their knees.
Li Qing stood up and gave instructions:
"You generals are safe, Governor Su Ping has sent me a letter, enumerating your meritorious service in this Wangjiang naval battle, asking you for merit, and also giving you a knighthood."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
The kneeling soldiers of Han Ergou immediately spoke loudly.
Li Qing smiled and pointed at Zhao Pu from the Ministry of War.
"Zhao Pu, this matter will fall on you. You must make sure that their rewards are fulfilled, and the best and the most severe."
"There is no problem with your rewards, but Master Zhou Ping said that our navy suffered heavy losses this time. If there are no new large ships and auxiliary ships to supplement it, the navy will not even be able to go out to sea."
"The Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shangshu, said that he has no money and is only willing to allocate enough money to build a stern battleship. I have been worried about this matter for more than a month."
"Before going to court today, I asked the prince about this matter. The prince said, let you, the navy soldiers who are still walking, come and tell us the adults in the court about naval battles, tell the origins of the scars on your bodies, and show off
Tell us about your own military exploits."
All the navy officers were stunned when they heard this. What does this mean? Do you want to praise your merits? But this is the Palace of Qinzheng and you cannot go shirtless, so how can you praise your merits?
Zhou Yuan stood in front and said in a calm tone:
"Your Majesty, I know that the prince is a man who never does anything without a clear purpose, but I really can't afford to spend this amount of money to build a warship."
"Don't talk about the six of them coming to praise their merits. Even if all the navy officers and soldiers come, my household department will still say that money really can't be used like this."
Li Qing waved his hand to stop Zhou Yuan from continuing, and glanced at several navy officers.
"Han Ergou, take off your regular robe and let Master Zhou Yuan see the scars on your body."
Although Han Ergou is used to obeying military orders, this is the Qinzheng Hall and His Majesty is sitting in it, so it is really difficult to take off his regular robe.
Dong Cheng scolded beside him angrily:
"At the Battle of Wangjiang, five fire boats attacked the enemy. Your grandson boarded the grasshopper boat without blinking an eye. At that time, he was not afraid of death. Why, it would be difficult for you to take off your robe!"
Han Ergou was aroused by Dong Cheng's bravery. He stretched out his hand and pulled, and his robe was pulled open, and several buttons were broken.
Zhou Ping cupped his fists and saluted Li Qing:
"Your Majesty, please order me to personally point out the scars for Captain Han."
Li Qing waved his hand, signaling Zhou Ping to start.
Zhou Ping took a few steps forward, pointed at an oval scar that had scabbed on Han Ergou's chest, and asked:
"Captain Han, this scar is an arrow wound, right? The scar as thick as an arm is not a crossbow arrow. How did it come about?"
Han Ergou took one look at the scar and said boldly:
"This was the end of the war. Governor Su personally took the risk and led us to attack the enemy's only remaining medium-sized auxiliary ship. We were shot with an arrow by the crossbow on the auxiliary ship."
Zhou Ping's face straightened and he shouted loudly:
"There are arrow shields on the big ship, there are also fish scale nets, and there are life-size shields. Can't they stop these crossbows? Is it because Su Ping was corrupt and perverted the law and diverted all these weapons to be sold?"
Han Ergou glanced at Zhou Ping in astonishment, thinking that this old guy is really evil.
"Sir, all those things have been burned. Our big ship fought fiercely with two enemy battleships for more than two hours. Everything on the deck that could be burned was burned, including large shields and fishing nets.
Already."
Zhou Ping pretended to be angry:
"Then in this case, no matter how many large ships are built, it will be useless. They will all be burned by the enemy and beaten."
Han Ergou sneered:
"Those were our captain and the Yingte people's two stern battleships. At the end of the battle, if one of the masts hadn't collapsed, their fishing nets and wooden shields would have been fine."
"Hmph, if it hadn't been for the wise prince to put all the ballistas and birds on the big ship, we would have been eaten up by others, and none of us would be left."
Zhou Ping pulled Han Ergou and turned his back towards the courtiers.
"There is also a big scar here. I think it is similar to the scar in front of you. Was it caused by a crossbow arrow?"
"yes"
Han Ergou roared hoarsely.
"The crossbow arrow was so powerful that it penetrated my body directly. If the commander-in-chief hadn't had quick eyesight and quick hands, he grabbed the crossbow arrow, and I would have been torn apart by the tail of the crossbow arrow."
Zhou Yuan patted Han Ergou's shoulder and continued to ask:
"This area, which spans most of the waist and abdomen, is an injury caused by a thin arrow during a close encounter, right?"
"It's a good time to fight hand to hand."
Han Ergou glanced at the ministers, especially Zhou Yuan, and glared at him fiercely.
"But it wasn't the rapier that caused it, it was the iron hook. Our big ship was besieged by two fighting ships. A small enemy grasshopper boat saw the opportunity. When it passed our big ship, it threw the iron hook and came up to attack it.
The commander-in-chief is taken away."
"I pushed the commander away, and this hook made such a big mark on my body."
"At that time, as long as there was such a big ship that could hold off another big ship of the British, we would not be attacked by the small grasshopper ships and led by their noses."
Zhou Ping patted Han Ergou on the shoulder:
"It's good to live, it's good to live."
Han Ergou shook his head:
"I, Han Ergou, am lucky to have survived such a serious injury, but I would like to ask your lords, Zhou Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance."
"Since we have the money to build a stern battleship, why should we delay the construction and let our brothers use their flesh and blood to fight against the enemy's stern battleship and the enemy's crossbow iron hooks."
Zhou Yuan was speechless for a moment. The impact of those two wounds just now was too great. In the past, he had only heard about the damage done in the battle and how many people died, but these were nothing compared to the wounds that seemed to open his mouth wide.
Straightforward impact.
Is it right or wrong to insist on not giving money?
"My wound is no smaller than the one on Old Han's body."
Duan Xiu, who was also a school captain, took off his coat and showed a huge scar across his stomach to everyone.
"When the warships collided with each other, the Yingte's arrows killed all the sergeants who were manning the artillery. A crossbow arrow as thick as Zhou Shangshu's thigh passed through my belly."
"Good guy, my intestines were leaking out at that time. The doctor in the army blocked my intestines back. I thought I couldn't survive, but I didn't expect to die."
"I, Duan Xiu, said the same thing. We have money in Han Dynasty, why don't we build ships?"
