Chapter 4155: Private Army
The water of the Yangtze River is shallow, and the super battleships on both sides of the deck can only sail when the Wusong River rises, and cannot go deep into the upper reaches of the river. Therefore, Su Dingfang is stationed at the military port, with Liu Rengui and Xi Junmai leading more than 50 ships of various sizes along the river. Go up the river and head straight for Jinling. At the same time, contact the informants and spies hidden in the south of the Yangtze River to determine the size and number of the private armies in the south of the Yangtze River, as well as the planned place to cross the river to the north, and be prepared to intercept and obstruct them.
Dozens of ships sailed out from the military port in a mighty manner, sailed down the Wusong River, and then upstream along the Yangtze River. These ships were not conspicuous in the ocean, but when they were gathered together in the Yangtze River waterway, they could be said to be connected by boats. , the sails blocked the sun, which naturally made the spectators shocked and speechless, and they all asked what the navy wanted to do?
There are tens of thousands of troops in the Nuo Da Navy, and there are thousands of generals, soldiers, craftsmen, etc. in a single military port. Naturally, it is impossible to tightly block the news, so the news that the navy went up the river and went straight to Jinling cannot be spread like wildfire, causing a panic.
Some merchants traveling to and from Guanzhong said that Guanzhong was now inaccessible. The King of Jin controlled Tongguan to isolate things from the east and west. Guanzhong was already in raging war and Chang'an was almost in ruins... The entire Huating Town was in panic.
The informants of various families in Huating Town in the south of the Yangtze River were shocked when they saw the navy's brazen attack, and hurriedly reported the situation to their heads...
For a time, the whole Jiangnan was filled with war drums and roaring winds.
……
The climate in the past two years has been unpredictable, with frequent winds and heavy snow in winter and continuous rain in summer. Not only have disasters occurred frequently in the Guanzhong area, but also in the land of plenty in the south of the Yangtze River, natural disasters have occurred. In particular, floods caused by increased rainwater causing rivers to surge have occurred from time to time.
In a place as beautiful as Jinling, it rains continuously for several days from time to time. Although the wealthy people can enjoy tea and enjoy the rain at ease, the poor people are very likely to suffer from floods. As a result, the floods destroy their farmland and reduce the amount of cultivation in a year. No harvest...
However, the weather has suddenly cleared up in the past few days, and the river water that has surged for many days has gradually receded, and the turbulent river has returned to its former calmness. However, the sediment washed down from the upper reaches has made the river water turbid, and it still looks like the current is fast and full of whirlpools.
Before the people of Jinling had time to celebrate that they had finally saved the river embankment and avoided flooding for two days, they were shocked by the countless people, horses, grain, and luggage that had gathered.
On the official road to and from Jinling, there are thousands of people and carriages, and there is an endless flow of people day and night. The usually empty city outside Jinling has turned into a huge camp, with people shouting and horses neighing, and materials piled up, causing people to drown and drown. Filthy.
On the river, there are countless large and small, luxurious or simple boats on both the upper and lower reaches, gathering near Yanziji. The boats are connected and boundless.
The entire Jinling City was shocked by this vision. The people didn't know what was happening, so they were terrified...
The Lishui and Pogangdu rivers flow from high to low, gradually merge, and go straight north until they are blocked by the mountains at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain, then turn to the west, run through Jinling City from west to east, and flow into the Yangtze River. Jinling has been a place where battles have been fought since ancient times. Every time dynasties changed and political power changed, there was almost always a war. The city was burned down, rebuilt, and destroyed countless times... For thousands of years, the city was rebuilt on the ruins again and again, and the population was changed again and again. Migration came from all directions, but the Qinhuai River was the only one that flowed into the river day and night, giving birth to generations of splendid civilizations and leaving behind beautiful legends one after another.
The Qinhuai River runs through Jinling City and goes out for dozens of miles from the West City. Due to the low-lying terrain, it converges into a lake. It is the famous Mochou Lake in Jinling. Until the lake is overflowing, it continues northward and flows into the river. It passes through a river bend and the shore is covered with water. Bamboo plants and dense forests are planted, with several exquisite houses nestled among them. The bamboo leaves are whirling and the shade is dense, just like the scenic scenery of forests and springs.
This is the "Golden Bamboo Garden", a villa of the "Lanling Xiao Clan", the first clan in the south of the Yangtze River, who has lived in Jinling for a long time. It is usually quiet and leisurely, and it is a place where the elders of the clan rest and escape the summer heat.
It's a sunny day today, but the "Golden Bamboo Garden" that is supposed to be quiet and comfortable is full of cars and horses, and there is an endless stream of foreigners coming to the door...
Xiao Xun was dressed in silk straight, with white beard and hair, and a slightly stooped back. He was sitting on his knees in the middle of the lobby. The clean floor was clean and light, and he had a carved lacquer table in front of him. The aroma of a pot of tea lingered, and he slowly sipped it. Tea, with drooped eyelids, seemed to turn a blind eye to the people from various families who kept entering the hall.
As the eldest member of the Xiao clan, he actually does not want to live in Jinling.
The Xiao family originated in Lanling County, Donghai County. During the Yongjia Rebellion, the Yiguan family migrated south. The Xiao family in Lanling had no choice but to leave their hometown and cross the river to Jinling. They lived on the left side of the river and moved to the mainland. Because the clan members often cherished their thoughts, Therefore, the place was renamed Lanling, but in order to distinguish it from his hometown, they all called it "South Lanling". Suddenly, more than a hundred years have passed.
The tribesmen living here, the customs and customs are all the same as those of their homeland. Xiao Xun was born and raised here, and now that he is getting older, he often misses the past. How could he be willing to go up the river and settle in Jinling?
However, compared with Nan Lanling, Jinling is a scenic spot in the southeast and the hub of gathering of north and south. The gathering of humanities and wealth is extremely important to the Xiao family of Lanling. The head of the family, Xiao Yu, was an official in Chang'an, and all the brothers in the family were regarded as ancients. He had no choice but to reluctantly sit here...
There was an endless stream of people coming to the hall, all sitting on the mats set up around him, drinking tea or whispering to each other. The noise was like flies around the ears, which was very annoying.
Xiao Xun frowned tightly, put down the teacup, and tapped the table in front of him with his knuckles. The noise in the hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone looked at him.
Today, the Xiao family of Lanling has long become the well-deserved "leader of the Jiangnan clan", and he, the second-largest person in the Xiao clan after the head of the family, Xiao Yu, has even more prestige than Xiao Yu. He is very old and virtuous. Generous portions...
"Is everyone here?"
Xiao Xun raised his voice and asked.
The middle-aged man with a short beard who was sitting on his knees beside him said respectfully: "Back to my father, we have almost arrived... But many families did not have their heads here, only their nephews and nephews."
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After saying this, he raised his head and glanced at everyone in the hall, looking extremely dissatisfied.
This time, the entire Jiangnan clan had reached an agreement and gathered here to discuss the important matter of forming a private army to send troops to Guanzhong. However, during the previous discussions, everyone swore that they would support the King of Jin in seizing the throne at all costs for the future of Jiangnan. , but when things came to a head, they only sent some nephews and nephews from each family, and almost none of them who were important members of each family were missing.
In this room full of children from various Jiangnan families, he could actually name only a few of them... It was simply too much of a lie.
Xiao Xun didn't have any anger at all, his eyelids were always drooped as if he couldn't open his eyes, and he said calmly: "It doesn't matter, haven't we sent all the soldiers, money and food before we arrived? The Jiangnan gentry are all in the same spirit. No one wants to get together." Just get together and disperse when you want.”
How could he not know what these people were thinking?
Not only did he want to support the King of Jin in seizing the throne, but he was also afraid that the prince would be liquidated after he was firmly on the throne. He was looking forward and backward, and was in a dilemma. He wanted to eat mutton, but he didn't want to be smelly, and he had to erect an archway when he was a cousin... …
But people's hearts are like this, so we can't be demanding.
Sometimes, it doesn’t matter what they think, as long as they have soldiers, money and food delivered, it doesn’t matter what they think in their hearts...
A young man with oily hair and pink face moved forward behind the kneeling crowd, squeezed out a slightly embarrassed smile, and his eyes wandered: "Junior Zhang Wang, I want to teach Duke Nanhai that I will bring five hundred soldiers, food and supplies this time. A thousand stones, several leather armors and weapons, I wish everyone a great success Cheng, Qingyun is on the rise! However, my father is ill and is on the sickbed. As a son of a human being, I should carry the decoction and medicine at my knees as a filial piety. Therefore, I cannot follow the army north to Guanzhong and must return home immediately... I hope Duke Nanhai will forgive me."
Xiao Xun was the son of Xiao Kui, Emperor Ming of the Liang Dynasty. He was once granted the title of King of Nanhai. After the fall of the Southern Liang Dynasty, the Xiao family was forced to go north to the capital of Sui Dynasty and was placed under house arrest. These titles were naturally invalidated. However, the Jiangnan clan has always looked up to the Lanling Xiao clan, and Xiao Xun was indeed a highly virtuous and highly respected person. Therefore, most people in Jiangnan called him "Nanhai Gong" to show their respect.
Hearing the young man's words, everyone in the hall immediately whispered to each other and became a little noisy. The majestic "Jiangdong Zhang Family" only came out with so few people and a few stones of food. Not only did the head of the family not arrive but only sent one nephew, he even sent this nephew. They all have to say goodbye halfway.
And listening to his words, it is clear that he means "I wish you all great success in your great ambitions. I will give you some supplies and express my feelings. Success or failure afterwards has nothing to do with me."
Xiao Xun was older. Although he heard Zhang Wang's words clearly, he was a little confused for a moment. His grandson Xiao Guan, who had a short mustache next to him, hurriedly moved forward and reminded him in a low voice: "This is the legitimate son of the Zhang family in Jiangdong. Originally a few years ago The family was in decline, but since it contracted several salt farms in Huating Town, it has made a lot of profits. In recent years, it has built several sea-going ships at Jiangnan Shipyard to participate in maritime trade, and there is a faint sign of revival. ”
After explaining, he saw his grandfather frowning in thought, so he turned around and straightened his back, looked at Zhang Wang, with a calm expression on his face, and said coldly: "The Zhang family in Jiangdong has always been the pillar of the Jiangnan gentry, and can serve as an example for us. Decide on the immediate matter How can your family stay aloof from the fate of our Jiangnan gentry? We abandon our families and go north to Guanzhong to fight bloody battles, but you just sit back and enjoy the success. There is no reason in the world."
"Third Young Master is right. Why are we going north to fight, and the children in our clan are willing to die just to create a new world for the Jiangnan clan, but your Zhang family is sitting back and enjoying the results?"
"And you put out so few people and so little food, and you just want us to charge into the battle?"
"It's so shameless!"
The scoldings came and went, and there was a crusade.
Zhang Wang felt sweat on his forehead. The hall was almost filled with representatives from various Jiangnan clans. He had offended everyone by accident. How could he live in peace in the future?
He quickly clasped his fists in a bow, and begged for mercy with a grimace: "Everyone, please listen to me! Unless the Zhang family is greedy for life and afraid of death, and refuses to join hands with you to fight for the world, it is really a steel knife on the neck, artificial Daozu, I am a fish! My Zhang family has been living in Wu County for generations since the Han Dynasty. We are only separated by a river from Wu County, and my family's home, property, shops, and even the whole family, old and young, are all under threat from his troops. If I accompany you to mobilize your family troops to go north to Guanzhong, you will live or die, succeed or fail. People make plans and God makes things happen, but the Zhang family will be destroyed in a short time!" (End of Chapter)