Chapter 14 You can meet thieves when you go to Hefei
Although in the long run, Shen Shuren took advantage of Wu Weiye's doubts and took the opportunity to ask Yang Sichang to take credit, which was a very effective choice.
The matter has been done for two months and has been done so beautifully. When the final "performance calculation" comes, how can we not strive to get more rewards?
However, wealth is always gained from risks, and if you want to make more money, you have to pay corresponding hard work and risks.
The Imperial College's naturalization deadline before each provincial examination does not open a backdoor for Shen Shuren alone.
It has been agreed that those who enter prison before the end of July will be treated the same as those who passed this year's rural examination, that is, they will be stuck until the end of July, and they will not have to wait more than a day.
Now that it was mid-July, the time left for Shen Shuren to travel back and forth between Nanjing and Hefei would definitely not exceed half a month.
During this period, we must also consider that Yang Sichang is in a high position, and it is not easy to see him and he may have to wait in line.
The land north of the Yangtze River is now in chaos. Scouts of rogue thieves may appear at any time, and patrolling Ming troops are also conducting frequent checks.
All in all, it's still not easy.
Chen Shuren never fought an uncertain battle, so when he left Nanjing to cross the Yangtze River and march westward, he took strict security measures.
On the one hand, he would try his best to use waterways if he could.
The Shen family's influence on the water is still very large. The sailors on the boat even carry bird guns and turtle dove guns. The sand boats that follow the eldest young master out are also the strongest and sharpest.
Even if you encounter an infiltrated bandit, as long as you don't get off the boat, the enemy won't be able to kill them.
When encountering areas where it was really necessary to travel by land, Chen Shuren also prepared dozens of horses and even wore cotton armor for all his elite servants.
Of course, all these military preparations had to have an excuse, and Shen Shuren had already thought of it - using the quota his father Shen Tingyang received from Chongzhen for "preparing for the pilot project of water transportation to sea reform".
Since the reform of the Long-term Transport Law during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, water transport was carried and escorted by guards. Although Shen Tingyang's pilot project was only a few ships in size, it was still legal to deploy hundreds of water transport troops.
Along the way, when passing through Dashengguan (in Ma'anshan) around Nanjing, and when checking along the river at Tuwei (in Wuhu) and other places, Shen Shuren used the excuse of "water transport trial" and gave them a little money for tea. , all the laxly armed Ming troops were allowed to pass.
After crossing the Yangtze River and entering Chaohu Lake through Ruxushui, as they got closer and closer to the Hefei front line, the Ming army's weapons inventory became more rigorous.
On this day, it was already July 18th, and several boats of the Shen family arrived at the mouth of the Feishui River on the north bank of Chaohu Lake. As long as they entered the Feishui River, they could go upstream to Hefei County.
However, at the mouth of the Feishui River, the fleet also encountered the most stringent investigation to date. The Ming army guarding the mouth of the river actually had strict military discipline.
Chen Shuren originally wanted to give him a little money to speed up the customs clearance, but he didn't expect that it would be self-defeating.
When the Qianhu, the gatekeeper, saw them taking out the money, they thought Chen Shuren had done something illegal and insisted on a thorough investigation.
Fortunately, Shen Shuren completed all the procedures and it only took half a day, but he finally passed.
When the time came, the guard Qianhu asked suspiciously: "Since this is a water transport trial and it complies with the law, why did you try to bribe me with money in the first place! Hurry up, things are not peaceful near Feishui recently, Gezuo Wuyingliu The Lin Cultivation Department among thieves has already fled here.
Shi Futai and Mr. Huang have repeatedly warned us to be careful and not to let thieves rob strong civilian ships and sneak across the Fei River and Ruxu River. Otherwise, there will be no peace in the area north of the Yangtze River in Nanjing."
The second half of Qianhu's sentence was also to excuse himself. He already knew that the Shen family was powerful and didn't want to offend, so he explained a little more.
Shen Shuren also wanted to know more about the frontline military situation, so of course he would not argue with him, and even pretended to give in at every turn:
"The general's military discipline is strict, and the young man admires it so much, how can he blame it. Nowadays, the country is changing, and we need more diligent, loyal and brave people like the general. I don't know what the general is called and who is under his command. I am going to Hefei. Maybe I can meet Yang. Mr. Ge, if you have the opportunity, you will definitely show the general's diligence and rigor to the highest standards."
The thousands of households became embarrassed when they heard this, and quickly apologized and said, "Don't you dare, my surname is Zuo, Zuo Zixiong, and I am under the command of General Huang of Lufeng. My General Huang is now returning to Anlu Shifutai Control."
Chen Shuren thought about it for a while, and then he finally figured out that Huang Degong, the commander-in-chief of Lufeng, should be Huang Degong, and Shi Futai was naturally Shi Kefa, the governor of Anlu.
Since Yang Sichang went south and temporarily stationed in Hefei to arrange the containment work on the eastern front, the most effective civil and military personnel under him at present are Huang Degong and Shi Kefa.
However, when he heard that this Qianhu family was named Zuo, Shen Shuren was still a little worried. He tentatively added a question: "Since the general's surname is Zuo, is he related to General Zuo of Wuchang?"
Chen Shuren knew history and still trusted Huang Degong's subordinates, but he had to be wary of those who were related to Zuo Liangyu.
After all, in history, Zuo Liangyu finally raised troops to attack Nanjing in an attempt to "clear the emperor's side". To put it bluntly, he wanted to set up another puppet. If Shen Shuren wanted to make great achievements in the future, he would definitely have to be wary of Zuo Liangyu.
Fortunately, Zuo Zixiong answered simply: "I just happen to be named Zuo, and I don't know General Zuo."
After the two chatted, they said goodbye in a relatively harmonious atmosphere. Zuo Zixiong and others disembarked, and Shen Shuren also asked the sailors to re-anchor and set sail.
But not long after the sailors finished twisting the anchor rope and set out, several mounted scouts suddenly came running from far away on the west bank of Feishui River.
Zuo Zixiong quickly climbed up to take a look, and found that it was his subordinate who sent out to investigate.
When the scouts got close, they didn't care about entering the pass. They shouted a warning from afar: "Thousands of households, be careful. The Lin Cultivation Department has already attacked several miles away. The bandits have also gathered horses. We can't keep the distance." ."
Zuo Zixiong only thought for a few seconds, then slapped his thigh: "No! The thieves' eyes and ears must have been eyeing a fleet heading north from Chao Lake! The water in Chao Lake is so wide that they can't easily seize the ships, so they just Wait until you enter Feishui before you start!
Let Mr. Shen turn around and stop moving forward! Quickly prepare your elite troops to go out to meet the enemy! If Lin Chengcheng wants to seize the ship, help Mr. Shen escape!"
Several hundred households and others under Zuo Zixiong's command all looked at each other in confusion: "Thousands of households, bandits are always out in force, and they are always very powerful. We, the few hundred people, can just defend Hekou Village, but we can't go out to fight in the wild."
"You are trying to disobey military law! Go and prepare quickly!" Zuo Zixiong ordered sternly. He first ensured that his subordinates began to line up and prepare, and then he took the time to reason and boost morale:
"Although the thieves are numerous, those who come with such ferocity must only have Qingqi in the lead. It's not that I look down on Lin Chengcheng, how many war horses can such a bandit army gather! He is nothing more than a fox pretending to be a tiger, relying on the other four battalions to control the officers and soldiers I'm scared to fight, so I came to get some.
The life and death of the man named Shen has nothing to do with us, but their boats are sharp and look better than the warships of Jiangfang. If they fall into the hands of the bandits, they will easily escape to the Feishui River, east of Ruxu, and who knows what will happen next. How many poor people are trapped by them!"
Encouraged by Zuo Zixiong, the Ming army, which only had a few dozen cavalry and 300 infantry that could participate in field battles, finally plucked up the courage, feeling that there might not be many enemies.
The Ming army hid behind the gate of the village, all waiting for orders with solemn expressions. Zuo Zixiong did not rush to open the gate of the village, but just watched from a high place.
If Shen Shuren can escape and turn back on his own, then he will not go out to rescue him. If Shen Shuren is finished too quickly, there is no need for him to rescue him. Only when he is just so close will he go out to gain military exploits. .
The Shen family's fleet in the distance reacted quickly. They slowly turned around in the narrow Fei water and changed their direction to go downstream again.
The thieves and generals of the cavalry unit of the Fifth Battalion of Gezuo on the shore burst out laughing when they saw this scene:
"Boys, these boats look good, and they probably have a lot of treasures. Take advantage of the narrow river here, and seize them quickly. The king will definitely give you a big reward when you get back! Yang Lao'er also wants to set up a net to block the king, and wait until he jumps over the river. The water is approaching Chuzhou, let’s see how the army blocks it!
The man on the boat really didn’t know how to die. When he saw our army approaching, he still had time to turn around instead of changing the stern to the bow and lowering the boat downstream. He deserves to die!"
Many of the ancient inland river boats were shuttle-shaped with sharp ends at both ends. It would not be a problem to misplace the bow and stern of that kind of boat, and it could still be driven, as long as the direction of the sails and oars was changed.
But if the head and tail are messed up, the seaworthiness will definitely be reduced, and the speed and bumps will be affected.
Chen Shuren insisted on turning the ship around and then evacuating, which was also a sharpening of his skills. On the other hand, he also had confidence in the cannons and muskets on his ship.
As soon as the fleet turned around and returned, the bandit cavalry had already rushed to the shore of Feishui. They were just a stone's throw away from the fleet. It looked like there were more than two to three hundred cavalry.
It seems that Lin Chenggong has also invested a lot of money, gathering a considerable number of horses and using them to move around to snatch strategic materials with high mobility.
As soon as the rogue cavalry entered the shooting range, they began to throw arrows at the ship one after another, and some dismounted and waded into the water to try to intercept the climbers. It was a mess. It was just that it was difficult for the cavalry to load gunpowder on their horses, so they didn't see it. Musketeers.
Shen Shuren was so afraid of death that of course he hid in the inner cabin that was tightly protected by wooden planks. He only let the butler Shen Fu who followed him command the resistance.
Although Shen Fu was just a servant, he also traveled across the sea and went to North Korea to do maritime trade. Because of his good performance, Shen Tingyang was assigned to take charge of the Korean medicine shop at home after he came back. Finally, he was transferred to follow the eldest young master. .
Most of the sailors who passed by the sea trade had killed people by licking the blood with their swords. These servants were all selected by Shen Tingyang, so they were still calm while holding the musket.
Shen Fu asked his servants to hide behind the planks of the boat to show weakness, and not to shoot without waiting for orders.
Having had enough of pretending to be pigs and eating tigers, the bandit cavalry mistakenly thought that the boat had no resistance and began to step into the mud on the river arrogantly. They even dismounted and tried to climb onto the boat.
Shen Fu shouted loudly, and asked the sailors to open the wooden board covering the porthole. A dozen original turtledove blunderbuss imported from the West and 40 or 50 domestic bird blunderbuss were divided into two batches and opened fire. The rogue cavalry fell to pieces.
Afterwards, those among the servants who were armed with spears also rushed onto the deck with shields on their hands, while peeping to see if there was anyone approaching the side of the ship who wanted to climb up. When they saw one, they stabbed them down with their spears in one hand, as if they were defending a city.
The bandits had no idea that the several "tank boats" had such strong firepower, and they were caught off guard and suffered a lot of casualties. The key was that their morale plummeted, and they all thought they had been ambushed by the army.
Chen Shuren listened to Shen Fu's report that he had killed dozens of thieves. He thought quickly in his mind and immediately ordered: "Don't just use muskets! Let everyone shout, Shi Futai Huang's army has already killed thousands of soldiers. Lin Chengcheng fell into Shi Futai's plan to lure the enemy!"
Shen Fu was stunned for a moment, and then he quickly realized what he was doing. He admired the young master's quick mind for being able to make such a damaging move with just his mouth.
As more than a hundred servants shouted, the bandit cavalry became more and more confused. Especially when they saw so many firearms on these ships, which were said to be Shi Kefa's bait to lure the enemy, the bandits simply believed it as soon as they heard it, and no one doubted it.
Zuo Zixiong, who was in the stronghold at the mouth of the Feishui River in the south, saw this and realized that the opportunity was too late. He gave up his pretense and rushed out with the Ming army.
While shouting at the crowd, they pretended that they were really ambushes left by Shi Kefa's clever plan.
Lin Chengcheng's cavalry, who came out to rob strategic supplies, was completely defeated. Zuo Zixiong pursued and beheaded dozens of people, and snatched back nearly a hundred ownerless horses before withdrawing the troops and returning to the camp.
As for Shen Shuren, he did not let anyone get off the boat to pursue him. After all, one of his servants would die before returning to Nanjing. His own safety was the most important thing. There was no need for his subordinates to leave the bunker and go ashore to fight.
Zuo Zixiong gained military exploits and became more and more grateful and admired Chen Shuren. After taking care of the heads and trophies, he sent out dozens of cavalrymen and decided to personally escort Chen Shuren to Hefei County.