Sun Bin originally planned to visit Liu Yongfu in person when he entered Annan, but he was busy with the resettlement of Chinese refugees on the way and never had time to go. After staying in Annan for more than a month, he also had to consider returning to Natuna Island to arrange other things, so he took advantage of the opportunity.
Before leaving, he asked Ye Chenglin for news about Liu Yongfu.
"When I met with Chief Liu, I mentioned Mr. Liu to him. Chief Liu was very happy to hear the news about Mr. Liu and said that he would follow me back to see Mr. Liu. Later, he gave up the idea of leaving the village immediately after being dissuaded by his subordinates, and then asked me to tell him
Sir, after a while, after finishing his busy work in the village, he will meet him in person."
"But I can't wait for him to come to Halong." Sun Bin shook his head and said: "There are many things in Nanyang, and the affairs on the Malay Peninsula have not yet started. I will leave Annan in two days to go back to take charge of other things. I can't stay here.
Wait here for his arrival."
Sun Bin used to work under Liu Yongfu. Although he later left the peasant army, he still had some personal feelings for Liu Yongfu.
"It's a good thing that Mr. Sun is thinking about his friends, but Leader Liu's current situation is different from when he first fled to Annan. There are thousands of people from various forces in the Gaoping area who have defected to the Black Flag Army. The Black Flag Army has five or six battalions under its command, and there are more than 1,000 young and strong soldiers.
With a thousand people, the power is not much different from what it was on the mainland."
"Did Brother Ye discover something about Leader Liu?"
Sun Bin realized that there was a deeper meaning in Ye Chenglin's words and asked.
"Mr. Sun and Chief Liu are old friends. I'm telling you the truth, sir. Don't be offended."
"It doesn't matter, just say it."
"When I first entered Gaoping, I found a few sneaky people leaving the camp. I was careful and sent five brothers to follow them secretly. While following, the five brothers discovered that they were spies sent by the Qing army to make contact.
Black Flag Army.”
"Is there any real evidence?"
"I don't dare to talk nonsense. Three Qing army spies have been brought back to the camp. Sir, you can ask in person." After Ye Chenglin said this, he glanced at the soldiers who followed him. Several soldiers quickly brought back three men with pigtails.
.
"Tear off their coats and show their true colors, sir."
"Yes, sir." Five or six soldiers came forward and pulled off the coarse cloth they were wearing in a few times, revealing the Qing army's green battalion uniforms underneath.
"Tell me who is the leader among you. What is the plan of the Manchu and Qing Tatars in sending you out of the country?"
"Hmph! I am the commander-in-chief of Mr. Feng, the governor of Guangxi in the Qing Dynasty. You rebels should not think that you will be safe if you escape to Annan. Mr. Feng has already asked the governor and the court for instructions to go out to Zhennanguan to suppress the bandits. When the army comes out,
Pass, that is when you will be destroyed."
One of the three soldiers, a thick braided soldier, was not afraid of Sun Bin and others. His shoulders were held down by two soldiers and he knelt on the ground and still said: "Master Feng understands that you and other rebel bandits were originally good people, but they joined the bandit army because they lived in poverty.
This is a helpless act, so Mr. Feng is merciful and gives you a chance to atone for your sins. As long as you agree to join Mr. Feng and serve the current imperial court, your past sins will not be punished. If you help when the army of the country and the dynasty comes out to annihilate Wu Ni,
Mr. Feng is willing to report to the court that Paul is waiting for an official position."
The commander-in-chief of the Qing army persuaded the editor in front of Sun Bin. Seeing that no one refuted, he thought he had persuaded them and continued: "Don't miss the great opportunity before you. Let me go as soon as possible. I won't care about today."
If the matter is delayed too late and misses Mr. Feng’s important event, it doesn’t matter how many heads you have on your head, you won’t be able to save it!”
"Tatar lackeys want to scare your grandpa, but grandpa is not afraid of you!"
Sun Bin and Ye Chenglin did not move, but they annoyed a soldier from Rio Grande do Sul. They kicked the Qing army commander over, stepped on him several times, and said in confusion: "Mr. Sun, don't listen.
The Tatar lackeys are talking nonsense, so let’s settle the matter with one blow.”
"If you dare to beat up a senior official of the imperial court, I won't let you go!"
The Qing army kicked him to the ground, refusing to accept the soft approach.
"Xianxian Sun, Mr. Feng is very good at running the army. It is not easy to get useful information from his officers and soldiers."
"Feng Zicai is a famous general in the Qing army, and he is really good at managing his subordinates." Sun Bin nodded, not denying Feng Zicai's talent.
"Brothers, stop now. I want to ask him a few questions." Sun Bin stopped the National Defense Force soldiers who started beating him and said, "Did Feng Zicai contact Liu Yongfu when he sent you out of the customs? Tell him honestly. Otherwise, there are many ways in the camp to let you go."
You speak."
In order to suppress the uprising of the Han people, the Manchu and Qing courts formulated very harsh punishment methods. Correspondingly, in order to retaliate against the Qing army, the peasant army also used various methods to punish prisoners.
Perhaps it was Sun Bin's threat that played a role. The Qing army commander directly explained: "Liu Yongfu is cowardly and courageous. He wants to recruit An and return to his hometown, but he is unwilling to be a member of the imperial court to encircle and suppress Wu Yazhong's rebel forces. I have not completed the task of Feng Yongfu."
The mission assigned by your Excellency was accidentally caught by you on the way back. Now that you have finished asking your questions, please give me a quick reward, not your mother-in-law!" After the general said this, the Qing army twisted his neck upwards, looking like a loyal minister.
"Take them first and keep them under strict supervision!"
"As ordered." The soldiers beat and kicked the three Qing spies away, and the high slope suddenly became quiet.
"Brother Ye, you have personally met Leader Liu, how did he behave?" After thinking for a while, Sun Bin broke the calm and asked.
"The subordinate expressed his intention to solicit in a tactful way, but Leader Liu deliberately changed the topic and did not answer directly, so the subordinate did not know what Leader Liu really thought."
Sun Bin had been with Liu Yongfu for a year or two, and had some understanding of his character. Liu Yongfu had no ambitions, and he was forced to follow the Tiandihui uprising in the first place. But now that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has been destroyed, most of the uprising forces in the country have been defeated by the Qing army.
Scattered and annihilated, the Manchu Qing government had hundreds of thousands of troops with experience in counterinsurgency, and the chance of overthrowing the Manchu Qing court was very slim. In despair, given Liu Yongfu's character, it was very possible that he would have the idea of taking refuge with the Manchu Qing court.
Judging that what Qing Jun said was generally true, Sun Bin's face immediately became solemn.
"Feng Zicai was born as a general. In order to gain the trust of the Tatar court, he would definitely try to eliminate the forces of Wu Yazhong's peasant army scattered in the border areas. The Qing army's entry into Annan is of great importance, and we must prepare in advance.
Brother Ye, while I am away from Annam, you will be responsible for everything in Halong. You must always pay attention to the activities of Wu Yazhong's troops. If there is an emergency, send someone to notify me immediately. I will leave two armed merchant ships behind.
Dragon, used as a liaison vessel."
"If what the Qing spies say is true, a large number of Qing troops will soon enter Annan to fight. If they leave you at this time, the troops will not be in chaos."
"Feng Zicai may have really reported to the Qing Dynasty to send troops to Annan, but the Tatar court was busy quelling the Shaanxi-Gansu rebellion. If Wu Ya finally did not take the initiative to return to Guangxi to cause chaos, they would not agree to send troops to Annan. And Annan belongs to the French
In terms of sphere of influence, the Qing army still has to worry about French intervention when sending troops. Even after some wrangling and compromise, the Qing army will have to wait until a year and a half before it wants to send troops to Annan, but now there is no need to worry about the threat of the Qing army."
The problem of the Qing army was temporarily put aside, but Ye Chenglin couldn't make up his mind on how to treat Liu Yongfu, and finally had to ask Sun Bin for advice.
"Leader Liu already has the intention of being recruited. After I leave, you can continue to maintain contact with the Black Flag Army, but please do not trade rifles, weapons and other weapons to them to prevent the Black Flag Army from truly defecting to the Qing army."
