The Mali people captured the southern port and used it as a transit hub. Weapons, provisions, and soldiers all had to be transited through here.
In order to facilitate the docking of troop transports and warships, the Mali people repaired the southern port, dug new and deeper berths, and cleared the silt in the port so that large ships could enter the port.
The sun rose in the east, and as soon as the red sun rose above the water, three troop ships and two cargo ships sailed into the port.
Under the supervision of the whip-wielding overseer, the ragged Chu slave workers began to work. The sounds of scolding and whipping continued, and the stumbling Chu people walked onto the dock.
"Snapped"
A thin man carrying a big bag was whipped on the back by a sharp man.
The rags that had turned into silk threads were completely torn in an instant, revealing a striking whip mark.
"If you don't raise your eyes when you see me, I will kill you."
The Mali supervisor was cursing, with a sarcastic smile on his face.
The thin man staggered, but he still endured the pain and continued to move forward.
After unloading the big bales in the warehouse, the thin man wiped his face, and when the supervisor was not paying attention, he slipped into the middle of the big bales and hid in a temporary resting place.
"Qi Laosi, what happened? Did you get whipped?"
Immediately someone asked eagerly.
Qi Laosi showed the whip on his body to others, bent down and opened two large bags, touched the ointment he had hidden in advance, picked out a little with his nails, asked his companions to help, and applied the ointment on the whip marks.
"Let's go, let's go to work. If the overseer finds out, you'll have to be whipped again."
Qi Laosi applied the wound medicine and immediately walked out.
His companion lying lazily on the ground mocked Qi Laosi:
"What's the point of being so interested? You don't get paid."
"Mali people who suffer from the plague will have their homes raided sooner or later, and their chrysanthemums will bloom."
"Hey, Fourth Brother, aren't you a Han? Why doesn't anyone come to rescue you? Don't they all say that your Han country is very strong?"
Qi Laosi’s honest face was full of smiles:
"If you work hard, you'll get beaten less. It's better to have no money than no life."
Qi Laosi said, looking at the movement outside, he slipped out while the supervisor was not paying attention, helped a slave worker unload a big bag, and followed him outside.
After putting the sack on his back again, Qi Laosi was whipped by the supervisor again, and his steps became even more staggering.
After putting down the sack in the warehouse, Qi Laosi wiped the sweat from his forehead, tugged at the clothes that he wanted to completely ruin, and walked out with his head lowered, his heart full of sorrow.
When will days like this end?
It has been three months since he was captured as a slave by the Chu people. His parents are old, his wife is sick, and his son is young. These three months must have been difficult for them.
Qi Laosi looked at the sky. The sun was getting higher and higher, and the sky was starting to get hot.
In the distance on the sea, several black spots were heading towards the port.
Qi Laosi thought with envy in his heart, it would be great if our Han country also had such a big ship. With the prince in charge, he could come to save him.
No, the prince has commanded an army and is unparalleled in foot combat. Even without such a large ship, he can still defeat these plague-stricken people.
It's a pity that the prince doesn't know that he is suffering here. If he knew, he would definitely come to rescue him.
Escape.
Qi Laosi suddenly had such a thought in his mind.
The youngest son and the old father in the family are both short of food and clothing. I can no longer endure the hardship here. I don’t know when I will die. I am not paid for the work I do. How can I support my wife, children and children when I go back?
But if you can't escape, you will die.
While unloading the big bag and walking back, Qi Laosi looked up at the tall wooden fence at the port. There were two corpses hanging on it. Those were the people who wanted to steal. After they were caught, they were beaten to death and hung on the
Shown to the public above.
Qi Laosi was so scared that if he was beaten to death, he would never be able to see his wife and children again.
The day passed quickly. Qi Laosi received two black noodle buns from the kitchen, filled his own black porcelain bowl with a bowl of salty soup without any leaves, and entered the shack tiredly.
"Honest brother, let's have some soup."
Qi Laosi gave the black porcelain bowl to an injured companion lying in the shack.
Chen Laoshi was ordered to sneak into Nanfang Port with several Pao Ze. While working, he sprained his foot due to an accident and had rested for four or five days. During these four or five days, the Mali people did not provide him with food.
Only with the help of a few Pao Ze and Qi Laosi could he survive.
Chen Laoshi took a sip of soup and took a few mouthfuls of black-faced steamed bread before lowering his voice and asking Qi Laosi:
"Fourth, what do you think about what I told you?"
Qi Laosi's face changed slightly. He looked around and saw that no one was paying attention to his house, so he stammered:
"I don't dare"
"I still have a wife and children to support. If I die after doing this job, no one will be able to support them. I can't die."
"coward"
Chen Laoshi cursed and stopped talking.
The prince's army is about to attack the southern port. If the news cannot be sent out, I don't know how many brothers' lives will be lost.
However, Manli was watching closely. Apart from digging to escape, there was really no way to send the message. His injury affected the progress of the digging even more.
"Let's do this. I won't let you join. I just want to help and give you money. If you continue to work here, you won't have any money. When things are done, I will give you the usual money."
Chen Laoshi looked at Qi Laosi with some resentment. Many people begged to join Dingxiang Guard, but they might not be able to come in. He could be his introducer. On the contrary, he did not dare to join because he was afraid of death.
Qi Laosi's eyes lit up. Are you rich?
"I did it"
Qi Laosi's honest face is full of smiles. Although he doesn't have much money, he can still buy a lot of food, so he won't be too shabby when he goes home.
In this way, Qi Laosi worked during the day and dug holes at night.
Half a month later, the hole was finally dug.
That night, Chen Laoshi, whose leg injury was already serious, arranged for Qi Laosi.
"Don't move if you hear any noise at night. You can go home tomorrow."
Hearing this, Qi Laosi glanced nervously at the slave workers in the shack, and saw that everyone was fast asleep and no one was paying attention, so he let out a sigh of relief.
"What, the prince is calling?"
Qi Laosi looked at him with hope. If the prince calls, it will definitely be successful.
Chen Laoshi nodded, "It's about to start, don't move."
With that said, Chen Laoshi stood up, rummaged under the blanket for a while, took out a shovel, and started to walk out.
"Honest brother, you don't want to go."
Qi Laosi grabbed Chen Laoshi, his face full of worry:
"The Mali people are so powerful, we can't beat them."
Chen Laoshi turned back and glanced at Qi Laosi, his face full of disdain:
"The Mali people are powerful, but our Han army is invincible."
Patting Qi Laosi on the shoulder, Chen Laoshi walked to the door of the shack holding a shovel. The sound of horse hooves could be heard outside.
Chen Laoshi squinted his eyes slightly and looked into the distance.
The charge of the invincible Han army is about to begin.
"Xi Lv Lv"
Amidst the neighing of the strong horses, the iron cavalry crashed into the southern port like a torrent of steel, cutting through the curtain like a sharp knife and breaking into the Mali camp.
