Chapter 16 Poor
"But what should we do?" Han Kuang was a little worried.
"Guard Commander, let's just rush over. Our six ships are all sixteen-oared fast ships. When the signal is given, thousands of oars are racing. Their thrust is so powerful, how can they catch up with us?"
The speaker was one of Han Kuang's subordinates, also named Han, known as "Xiao Han". He was a member of Han Kuang's tribe. He had practiced sword fighting with him since he was a child, and he had gained martial prowess.
But as soon as he finished speaking, he was stopped by another man wrapped in a green turban:
"Xiao Han's words are wrong. Yesterday, the water bandits attacked us. Although we were not seriously damaged, the strength of several other tribute ships was greatly damaged. This ship may not be able to move fast. Moreover, our tribute ship has a heavy draft, even if it is at full strength Shake, I guess I can’t run.”
Xiao Hanhua was robbed and became angry and scolded:
"You cuckold slave, how dare you underestimate me? Are you saying that a certain family's sword is not good? Get lost"
The young man is also a member of the Guards, but he has always been despised by the people in the Guards because of his humble status as a subordinate.
He kindly mentioned something, but was humiliated by Xiao Han, and his face turned pale for a while.
Xiao Han did not even look at the green man, but continued to Han Kuang:
"Chief Guard, our young master, don't we still have two canal boats? If we ask for people, won't this manpower be enough?
Besides, since the draft was heavy, the two canoes were simply sunk in the river. If such a big boat could not catch up, the small fighting boat would not help.
Go ahead, Captain! ”
Han Kuang said nothing, stroking his beard and thinking. Thinking of that unruly figure, I made a decision:
"Okay, let's do it. You are responsible for this. You and Yang Mao go together, each leading a team and taking charge of a boat. When we get to Chengshi, I will go down and deal with them first, and you guys can do it quickly. Make it more beautiful. ”
In this way, without knowing it, Sun Tingchang and others became victims of the conflict between eunuchs and party members.
Poor, deplorable.
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By late afternoon, the fleet arrived at Chengshi.
Zhang Chong and the others had already eaten two rounds of rice and rice. Sun Tingzhang was still spinning anxiously.
I kept talking about why the Taoist gods I worshiped when traveling were not effective at all, why I had nightmares at night when I went out, and why my old wife’s loom was broken.
All in all, the idea was that he regretted coming here.
Zhang Chong didn't feel good either. He originally wanted to take advantage of this trip to get to know a few more people and see more.
But who could have expected that they would encounter water pirates. Now he doesn't know what will happen next?
It feels really bad to not have control over your destiny.
There is another person who has been trembling since the boat started, and that is Ding Sheng, who is a conceited ranger.
Ever since he saw Li Jin, he had this kind of virtue, and no one knew why.
Zhang Dan asked, but he didn't answer. He just looked at Zhang Chong, which made Zhang Chong look bad.
He grabbed Ding Sheng and shouted:
"Why are you acting like a girl? If you have something to say, please tell me immediately."
Zhang Chong's roar brought Ding Sheng back to his senses.
He saw that the fleet had arrived at Chengshi, and each ship was preparing to drop anchor one by one.
He immediately accelerated his tone and whispered to Zhang Chong:
"The King of Jibei has a grudge against the Li family. I think there will be a fight when we get to the shore. What do you think we should do?"
Zhang Chong was shocked when he heard this. He didn't ask Ding Sheng why he came to this conclusion.
Because, he himself vaguely felt something was wrong.
He found that the four tribute ships of the King of Jibei had surrounded two of their Jinan state's canal ships, and the warriors on the ship were staring at him and others from time to time.
He knew something must be going on, but he didn't expect that the two groups of people would have a grudge.
As for the grudge, he didn't care, he had to find a way to deal with it quickly.
He found Chief Sun Ting and roughly explained the situation. Tingzhang Sun didn't panic anymore. He pondered for a while, and then asked Zhang Dan to run to another boat and call Tingzhang Zhou who was leading the team, so that the two ships could discuss it together.
After a while, Pavilion Chief Zhou came over on the hanging board.
This week, the pavilion chief is much neater than Lao Sun. He is in his thirties and also strong.
After he arrived, he chatted with Lao Sun for a while and talked directly about the matter.
"Old Sun, I know you. You have always been quick at finding your wits. I heard that you were also the most alert in the army.
If you hadn't reminded me this time, I wouldn't have known there would be such a big disaster? Tell me what to do next. ”
Sun Xun waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to say more. He first asked:
"How many people do you have left? Can the boat speed up?"
Zhou Tingchang's face darkened:
"When we set out, there were fifty-three people including the boatmen. After last night, only fourteen of them were still able to move. Twelve were left with minor or serious injuries, and the rest were gone. Oh, this damn world. ”
Sun Xun was shocked when he heard this. He never expected that their loss rate was so high.
However, fortunately, there are enough people to sail the boat.
He thought for a while:
"Lao Zhou, that's what I think. As soon as we reach the shore, let's disembark first. No matter what happens to the man named Han, let's disembark honestly.
After all, it’s a tanker, and those inspections don’t dare to do anything to us. The most we can do is delay it for a while. Let’s make less money this time and go straight to Xingyang without stopping. I guess there's still enough time.
Don’t be dissatisfied. Compared with those who died last night, we are still alive after all.
I have come to understand that nothing is more important than getting home safely. Do you think this is true? ”
"Yes, yes, your method is safe. When the boy came before, he couldn't explain clearly. He said that King Jiyang's people were going to fight with the Li family, so we should prepare in advance. What he said made me feel scared.
Who are we, unfashionable petty officials, to get involved in this matter? What can we prepare?
Your old grandson is right, so let's go first. When the time comes, we can do whatever we are asked to do. After all, we are all public servants, so what can we do? ”
As he said this, Lao Zhou gave Lao Sun a good show.
The matter was settled in this way, regardless of King Jiyang's tribute ship, it would be disembarked first when it arrived.
Zhang Chong and the others didn't have any good ideas. They couldn't escape alone, so they had to adapt to circumstances.
In this way, under the guidance of Li Jin's patrol, the fleet arrived at a port.
Everyone followed Lao Sun's wishes and got off the boat first.
Li Jin and the others were stunned by the cooperation of the boat, but they didn't think much and arranged for someone to lead them.
But Lao Sun's move directly put Han Kuang and the others there.
They didn't dare to do it. If they tried to run, they would be short of manpower and wouldn't be able to run.
Especially Xiao Han, who kept dragging Han Kuang:
"Chief Guard, this is obviously a military port. Then Li Jin brought us here directly instead of going to the county office. He is obviously trying to show off. We can't get off this ship."
"Then Li Jin is the river patrol leader. If he didn't take us here, where else could he take us. I think Xiao Han is just scared and suspicious." The same green man said casually.
Xiao Han was so angry that he pulled out the knife and was about to chop him, but was stopped by everyone.
Until now, Han Kuang could only sigh:
"That's it, let's get off the boat. How dare this man named Li draw his sword in front of me, a man of 400 stone." After that, he took the guards and got off the boat.
Only Xiao Han stomped his feet bitterly, looked at the green man with hatred, and finally got off the boat helplessly.
Zhang Dan followed Sun Xun, Zhang Chong and others and filed into Li Jin's village.
This is a typical rural inspection water village. The place is not big, but the stables, pastures, barracks, and timber are all complete. Zhang Chong looked east and west along the way.
I kept seeing soldiers wrapped in turbans cutting horse grass from nearby swamps and then returning to camp under the sunset.
Zhang Chong, Sun Xun and the captains of several other ships were led into a large tent alone, while the others were arranged to another place, where they would have large barrels of wheat rice to eat.
Zhang Chong secretly hinted to Duman and his little dad to ask them to pay more attention, but he always felt a little uneasy.
Duman and the others nodded seriously, and then Zhang Chong followed them into the tent.
In the big tent, huge butter candles had already been lit, and soldiers were constantly passing by, carrying drinks or carrying fat pigs.
All in all, it looked like they were going to have a big banquet.
At this moment, Han Kuang and the others were also brought in.
There were twenty of them, all warriors on the tribute ship. It was different from what Zhang Chong saw on the boat.
At this time, Han Kuang was dressed as an elite warrior, wearing a plain scarf, two crotch armors, and a fighting sword in his hand, looking down on everyone like a mediocre slave.
The warriors behind him were also wearing leather armor and carrying their swords on their right shoulders. Although the swords were not unsheathed, they were filled with murderous intent.
They first looked at Li Jin, who was sitting on Hu's bed.
He still looked as sickly as ever. He had a brazier in front of his feet and was wrapped in the big cloak. He looked completely sick.
Although Li Dian and other tribesmen and guests also held sap in their hands and hung knives on their waists, and looked like warriors, compared with Han Kuang and the others, they were not even half inferior.
Seeing Li Jin's useless behavior, Xiao Han in Han Kuang's team couldn't help but "chi".
Li Jin ignored it. He used his Huanshou knife to stir the brazier to make the flames bigger. Then he looked around and saw that almost everyone was here, and said casually:
"You all have the important responsibility of transporting grain and tribute, and you shouldn't stay here.
But after all, the robbery last night needs to be clarified. Otherwise, if anyone asks, I, the river patrol leader, will not be able to explain it.
Therefore, I have no choice but to keep you here.
But don't worry, although I, the Cheng family, Li family, am not a domestic hero, I still have a certain way of doing things. Come friends, of course there will be drinks, and please don’t mind the farmhouse gravy. ”
After finishing speaking, he clapped his hands and motioned for everyone to take their seats.
Sun Xun, Lao Zhou and others naturally took their seats obediently and knelt on the straw mats, trembling with fear.
Han Kuang and others did not move and looked at each other.
It was the same Xiao Han who stepped forward and said contemptuously:
"Li, don't do this with your grandfathers. Even if you want to serve this drink, it depends on whether your grandfathers drink it?
Stop talking nonsense and use whatever tricks come your way. I would also like to see how this Jishui tiger turned into a sick cat. ”
With a "bang", a bartender hit Xiao Han in the corner of his eye, causing blood to flow from his eyes.
After Li Jin shook off the wine prince, he spat on the ground and scolded:
"What kind of castrate? I thought it was eggless, but I didn't expect it to be pickled, smelly fish and rotten shrimp."
Seeing that Han Kuang and the others had drawn knives in their hands, he said disdainfully:
"I've always been kind-hearted, and I can't see anyone pitiful by myself. So I had to watch it with everyone."
As he spoke, he clapped his hands.
Then there were two parts: a bloody man with disheveled hair was dragged out from behind the screen and led all the way to Li Jin's bed.
Han Kuang and others were shocked when they saw this man.
(End of chapter)