Chapter 1517 Xijin Ferry
Yangzhou, Xijin ferry.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. The breeze surrounded the river and gently brushed the bluestones of the ferry pier. There was a gurgling sound. The silver-white moonlight poured into the river and turned into broken silver all over the river.
A huge fleet sailed slowly in the middle of the river. Several sampans were put down from one of the warships, and then without stopping, they crossed north to Hangou via Xijin, followed the Huai River into the Tongji Canal, and entered Guanzhong.
Several sampans slowly arrived at the riverside under the moonlight. They did not choose to approach the pier. Instead, they docked at a rocky shore not far from the pier. Small iron anchors were thrown from the sampans into the shore. In the shallow water, then one by one, strong men in black jumped onto the rocks on the shore. More than 20 people paused for a moment to sort out their equipment, and then quietly but quickly disappeared from the ferry.
The moon is shining brightly, only the river is gurgling and the sound is melodious in the middle of the night...
*****
Xijin Ferry has been an important ferry on the Yangtze River since ancient times. To the east is Xiangshan Mountain as a barrier to block the raging tide. To the north is the ancient Hangou ditch. It is a natural harbor with a stable coastline and a cliff.
During the Six Dynasties, the route across the river here had been fixed.
The unprecedented scale of the "Yongjia South Crossing", more than half of the northern refugees crossed the river and landed ashore from here. In the fifth year of Long'an in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Sun En, the leader of the "Five Pecks of Rice Road", led "one hundred thousand soldiers and one thousand building ships" from the sea into the river and arrived at Zhenjiang. control west Jindukou, cutting off the connection between the north and the south, and besieging Jianye, the capital of Jin, was defeated by the Beifu soldiers led by Liu Yu. Afterwards, the attack on Linhai County failed. The generation of heroes was at the end of their rope and committed suicide by drowning. The eternal hegemony was shattered like a dream...
Xijin Ferry has long been a ferry that has evolved into a small town. The road is paved with bluestone slabs, extending from the pier to the center of the town. On both sides are houses and gables made of blue bricks.
The night leaks deepened, and Qiu Shenji had no intention of sleeping.
He stood up, wearing only a middle coat, and opened the door. The cold moonlight poured in like silver frost, and the cool river breeze blew slowly, which slightly relieved his depressed mood.
There was a noise in the ear room on one side. Not long after, a sleepy soldier pushed the door open, yawned and said in surprise: "Why don't you rest restless, sir? Tomorrow we will cross the Yangtze River and enter the southern boundary of the Yangtze River. Boats like these are sailing on the river." Don't even think about the stability Yes, the waterways in the south of the Yangtze River are densely populated, but they are full of narrow boats, which are swaying uncomfortably. This place is still thousands of miles away from the South China Sea. Of course, we dare not embarrass you, but you should take more care of yourself. .”
This soldier escorted Qiu Shenji all the way to Nanhai for distribution. Because of Qiu He's status in the army, who would dare to suffer for Qiu Shenji? Although he was sent to the army, he had traveled all the way and stayed overnight since he left Guanzhong. It was like traveling in the mountains and rivers, and there were all kinds of boats and cars along the way, which was safe and comfortable.
Logically speaking, the best way to get to the South China Sea is to follow the canal directly into the Yangtze River, then go down the river to Huating Town, and then take a sea ship to Nanyang or Dashi from Huating Town to the South China Sea.
However, Qiu Shenji refused to do this no matter what he said. He had to cross the Yangtze River from Xijin and go south, crossing Lingnan to the South China Sea!
The soldiers thought it was a bit incredible. Isn't this looking for trouble...
However, Qiu Shenji had his own plans.
He was not a timid young man, but he was certainly not a foolhardy man. When he thought about it, whether in Huating Town or the fleet at sea, they were all Fang Jun's men. As he "coveted" Princess Changle, he was trying to take Princess Changle away. Fang Junzhi's "forbidden wife" to marry home "underestimating the enemy", will he still survive if he falls into the hands of these people?
The sea is vast, and it is easy to lose a few people to feed the fish. However, sailing on the sea is very dangerous, and missing a few people is even more commonplace and natural...
Therefore, Qiu Shenji would rather trek through thousands of mountains and rivers than be in Fang Jun's territory...
Hearing the soldiers' words at this moment, how could Qiu Shenji not hear the complaints in them? Who doesn't want to take a leisurely trip on a spacious and comfortable sea ship, but has to take a road that is ten thousand times more difficult?
In the past, if someone had such an attitude, Qiu Shenji would have been furious a long time ago, but now these people were ordered to escort him. Even if they were afraid of the power of the Qiu family and did not dare to embarrass him, they still suppressed him in the end and had no choice but to do so. He smiled and said: "The road is a bit difficult, but I There is no need to worry, my father has already sent troops to station in various places, and there will be people making proper arrangements wherever he goes. You just need to treat this trip as a fun trip. It may be a little delayed in time, but as long as you get to the place, you will be rewarded. If you offer it, you will be satisfied.”
The soldier then said sarcastically: "What are you saying, Mr. Lang? It's convenient for others. Since Mr. Lang wants to take this road, we will accompany him."
The officials in the Ministry of Justice didn't care which way Qiu Shenji took or how long it took to reach the South China Sea. How could they, little pawns, care about that?
In the end, it was just like Qiu Shenji said, and just treat this mission as a fun, and treat Qiu Shenji well. Forgive him that he would not dare to disobey the emperor's order and escape halfway. Anyway, there is still a considerable amount of money to get when he gets there. ……
"In that case, let me go to bed first, sir, and I hope you have a good night's sleep as well."
After the soldiers finished speaking, they yawned and turned back to the house to continue sleeping...
Qiu Shenji put a smile on his face and stood in front of the door with his hands behind his back.
It was a long way to go to the South China Sea, and the reason for the long journey was not because Qiu Shenji was afraid of the harsh environment in the South China Sea and the torture and frustration after being sent to the South China Sea, but because he hoped that his father, who was far away in Chang'an, could persuade His Majesty to take back his life.
He was only in his twenties, and he still had great revenge in his heart, but he never thought that he would be tricked by Fang Jun and end up being sent to the South China Sea...
In the letter he received from his family yesterday, his father had mentioned that he had gained access to King Jing, and had joined forces with several military leaders to plead with His Majesty. According to His Majesty's style of treating powerful generals in the army with kindness, he will almost certainly forgive his sins.
Even if he cuts his job to serve the people, as long as he is not burdened with a criminal background, he can calmly get back on his feet!
The father in Beijing has already started to operate. Perhaps before he leaves the south of the Yangtze River after crossing the river, His Majesty's pardon will be sent quickly...
Thinking of this, Qiu Shenji felt a little more relaxed and looked up with interest at the stone tower standing on the street in front of the door.
This is a rare stone tower for crossing the street. The lower half of the tower is built with stones to form four stone pillars. The top is covered with strips of stone to form a frame-shaped pedestal, under which people and horses can pass. The base of the tower is made of two identical Xumi bases. On the Xumi base is a round lotus-covered base and a flat drum-shaped tower body. There are thirteen circles of belt-shaped reliefs on top, symbolizing the thirteen levels of heaven. There is a Dharma wheel and a small round lotus seat on top. The wheel is engraved with "Eight Treasures", and above it is the top of the tower.
There are the same inscriptions on the east and west side of the stone pagoda pedestal. It lies in the middle of the small street, with the moonlight pouring on it like water, which gives it a sense of simplicity and elegance...
After standing at the door for a while, a wave of fatigue hit him. Qiu Shenji yawned, turned back to the house, closed the door, returned to the couch and fell asleep peacefully.
In a daze, a slight sound of footsteps sounded in my ears...
The Qiu family started with martial arts, and they have been generals for several generations. Qiu Shenji is even more intelligent and agile. Even in his sleep, he suddenly wakes up. Before he wakes up, his right hand subconsciously reaches under the mattress and holds a dagger. .
……
Outside the house, a soldier happened to get up at night. He was too sleepy to go to the toilet, so he untied his belt in the shadow of the window and wanted to pee.
Suddenly he felt a gust of cold wind behind him, and the hair on his neck stood up suddenly. The soldier's heart tightened. He turned around in shock and saw a group of men in black jumping off the wall of the courtyard. Their steps were as light as civet cats. There was a soft rustle, and the horizontal knife in his hand reflected the white moonlight, and the cold light shone everywhere!
The soldier was stunned, and then suddenly shouted: "Who... uh!"
A crossbow arrow, accompanied by the crash of the bowstring, suddenly pierced his throat, and his cry stopped abruptly like a duck with its neck cut off.
The man in black obviously did not notice the soldier hiding in the shadow in front of the window. Although he killed him with one arrow, he still alerted the enemy!
The leader raised his sword and said in a muffled voice: "Kill! Leave no one behind!"
Before he finished speaking, he saw the front door being kicked open from the inside with a "bang" sound, and Qiu Shenji's broad and burly figure appeared at the door, holding a gleaming dagger in his hand, and shouted in a hissing voice: "Come here! There is an assassin!”
This trip went to the South China Sea. Although he was sent away for a crime, the Qiu family sent a guard composed of more than ten generals to protect Qiu Shenji's safety along the way. What Qiu Shenji wanted at this moment was to wake up his generals. The group of black-clothed men in front of him only numbered about twenty people. He had more than ten generals and more than ten soldiers. Especially since he was the top three with unparalleled military power, even if Even if the injury has not healed, it does not necessarily mean that he will not be able to fight!
However, to his surprise, when he shouted, all the generals in the room were awakened and rushed out shouting. However, the reaction of the men in black in front of them was beyond expectation! The men in black in the front row did not rush up to kill him as quickly as possible, but... squatted down one after another?
Then, Qiu Shenji's eyes were about to burst and he was so frightened that he lost his mind!
I saw the man in black in the front row lowering his body, just enough to reveal a row of loaded crossbows held by the man in black behind him...
"Boom!"
Before Qiu Shenji could move, a muffled sound was heard. More than a dozen crossbow arrows left the bow almost at the same time, passing through the cold and clear moonlit night sky in an instant, and "puff, puff, puff" they were nailed to Qiu Shenji's body in no particular order. (End of chapter)