At the end of October, Dapanbao.
Chu Yunfei sent news about Sun Qian to give Liu Yan a heads up. Sun Qian is a man who must retaliate for his anger. He is different from Chu Yunfei, who is a private salt dealer, but a salt lord through and through. Once he gets the idea, Sun Qian will really die!
Liu Yan knew very well that he did not hand over the profitable sea salt business to Sun Qian, which made him hate Dapanbao. Therefore, since Sun Qian has forced Chu Yunfei this time, he will definitely do something about the salt drying field. action.
For a desperado like Sun Qian, Liu Yan knew very well that no one else could manage the business he could get. If they use violent means to beat him, he can succeed Chu Yunfei in taking over the sea salt distribution business, or even directly take down the salt drying farm in one fell swoop. Liu Yan estimates that Sun Qian will not hesitate at all, and maybe he has already secretly mobilized manpower. .
So Liu Yan summoned several small flag officials to discuss and made arrangements.
Liu Yan left Chen Xun's banner men and horses to garrison Dapan Fort. There were hundreds of young soldiers in Dapan Fort, so Chen Xun's banner men and horses alone were enough to defend Dapan Fort.
Then Liu Yan was going to personally lead the three banners of Wang Yue, Wang Bo, and Miao Shao to the north of the salt field. There was a depression in the woods there, which was very suitable for an ambush. Liu Yan was going to lead his troops there to wait for Sun Qian to come and use the salt field. The salt field was used as bait, and they tried to decide the outcome in one battle.
As for Zhang Yi's bannermen, they continued to be stationed at the salt drying field as a garrison force on the surface, so as not to surprise Sun Qian by rashly transferring them.
In addition, Xu Ming led the Ye Buqi team to also go out and stand by outside the salt drying field.
At this time, Liu Yan spent more than a thousand taels of silver to buy horses and equip the soldiers with war horses for the whole night. Although the monthly expenses for raising horses increased greatly, just one month's fodder cost more than 300 taels of silver. But Liu Yan didn't hesitate at all, and directly provided Ye Buqiu with the best war horse he could buy.
With the war horses, Xu Ming can lead the soldiers who do not collect the flag at night to provide quick support, or they can be temporarily used as cavalry. The military strength of Dapanbao will be rapidly increased in a short period of time.
Chen Xun, Wang Yue, Wang Bo, Zhang Yi, Miao Shao, and Xu Ming were all excited when they heard the news. If Sun Qian really led the crowd to attack the salt drying field, he would cut off everyone's wealth. This would be courting death. .
At this time, there was no need for Liu Yan to mobilize anymore. Everyone's fighting spirit was very high, and they were gearing up for a big fight. Good times were hard-won, and everyone should protect them with all their strength.
After Wang Yue expressed his determination with everyone, he smiled and said to Liu Yan: "Captain A, do you need to send someone to contact the team leader this time? After all, there are members of the team leader in the salt drying field. Let's inform the team leader. , maybe there will be reinforcements coming.”
Liu Yan also considered this matter, but then shook his head and said: "We have no real evidence for this matter. Sun Qian's attack on the salt drying field was only inferred from Chu Yunfei's warning. Upward The official report seems to have insufficient evidence. Now we don’t even know when Sun Qian will bring people to kill. How can we report this matter to the leader of the team? So we can only rely on ourselves at the moment. Even if we have to report it to the leader of the team, We have to wait until Sun Qian shows up."
After everything was deployed, Liu Yan asked Chen Xun to lead his troops to guard the Dapan Fort, and also mobilized some young and strong military households in the fort to jointly guard and defend.
"No matter what happens, even if the sky falls, you are not allowed to lead an attack. You just stay in the fort!"
Although the Dapan Fort has not yet been completed, the walls on all four sides have been largely completed, with only some arrow stacks and parapets left unfinished. There is no problem for the troops to defend the fort.
But once he attacks rashly, with Sun Qian's cunning and cruel character, Chen Xun, an honest man, will probably suffer. If not, Sun Qian will take advantage of the loophole and enter the castle, and the joke will be big.
Therefore, Liu Yan repeatedly asked before setting off, and Chen Xun also solemnly agreed: "Don't worry, Commander Jia, my subordinates will be careful to stick to their guns. If I don't see Commander Jia coming back, I will never lead my troops out."
Then Liu Yan led the Three Banners troops to ambush in the woods in the depression. Although this forest was not big, it was still more than ten acres in size. There were more than 100 Three Banners troops led by Liu Yan. It was impossible to hide here. question.
This time everyone carried rations for more than ten days and a large amount of water. Liu Yan was also prepared for a protracted war and waited here to die.
In order to hide his whereabouts, Liu Yan ordered everyone not to light a fire to cook food every day, so they ate dry food and drank cold water in the woods, staying hidden and waiting for Sun Qian and his group to arrive.
All the Dunjun troops were rigorously trained by each small flag officer. Although the training time was not very long, under the blessing of the "Infantry Drill Code", they completely fulfilled the orders and prohibitions. Although camping in the wild at this time was hard, there was no one Dunjun complained.
However, after everyone waited for several days, Sun Qian and his group were still missing. Every day and night passed, there was only the uninterrupted autumn wind blowing in the woods, and looking around, there were only trees that were gradually turning yellow and swaying in the wind. Apart from that, There is no one else outside.
After a few days of waiting, although Liu Yan remained calm on the surface, he began to mutter in his heart: "Did I guess wrong and Sun Qian's goal was not the salt drying field? Or did Sun Qian smell the danger in advance and change his mind temporarily? Don’t you dare to come?”
Miao Shao and Wang Bo were a little discouraged after several days of waiting. They felt that Sun Qian was just a private salt dealer. Maybe he was deliberately scaring Chu Yunfei to steal business, and killed some people to scare Chu Yunfei. Run, and you can come over and take over. Could it be that a private salt dealer still dares to fight against the government and soldiers? Then he is not robbing business, but rebelling!
Although Wang Yue also felt that Sun Qian and his group should not dare to come, but looking at Liu Yan who was still confident, Wang Yue did not dare to show any boredom, and instead often helped Liu Yan to cheer everyone up.
Liu Yan smiled dumbly when he saw this. This Wang Yue was really a qualified follower. He could always stand up at the right time and solve some minor troubles for himself, even if the solution was not very effective.
However, Miao Shao and Wang Bo did not give Wang Yue face. Every time Wang Yue flattered Liu Yan, Miao Shao and Wang Bo would sing in harmony and sarcastically mock Wang Yue, which made Wang Yue very angry. It's a loss of face.
Watching the three people bickering with each other, Liu Yan also smiled. This can be regarded as a little joke in the boring wait these days.
Fortunately, the morale of the more than a hundred Dunjun troops is still very high. Although it is very hard to be stationed in this forest every day, under the influence of Liu Yan's policy of having enough food and pay, all the Dunjun troops obey Liu Yan's words. It can be said that wherever Liu Yan pointed out, all the Dunjun troops would kill. This time, everyone had been lying in wait for several days and nights in the woods in this depression, but they did not see any wavering in the morale of the Dunjun troops. Liu Yan was very pleased to see them.
Just like this, two more days passed. By midnight, most of the Dunjun troops had gone to bed. Only a few Dunjun troops in charge of vigilance were on vigilant duty. Liu Yan, Wang Yue, Wang Bo, and Miao Shao were on guard duty. They haven't slept yet, and they are gathering together to discuss something quietly.
At this time, the surrounding woods in the depression were quiet, except for the sound of insects, there was no sound at all.
Just half an hour ago, Xu Ming specially sent someone over to report that the area around the northern periphery of the salt drying field was safe and that no suspicious people were found.
Liu Yan let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that waiting tonight was in vain: "Why don't you go back to the castle to rest for two days tomorrow? Everyone is already tired during this period."
Liu Yan calculated in his mind that although Dapanbao was not close to the salt drying field, he could arrive in less than half an hour if he marched in a hurry. With Zhang Yi's troops stationed there, there should be no major problems and he could hold on until he could lead the main force to rush. Come support.
Just as Liu Yan was thinking about it, Wang Yue, who was sitting opposite, suddenly opened his mouth wide, raised his right hand and pointed at the night sky to the north, and exclaimed loudly: "Commander Jia, look quickly, it's fire!"
Liu Yan stood up suddenly. Sure enough, under the northern night sky, the orange-red firelight was swaying, like a huge beast roaring in the dark night.
"It's over there at the military camp!"
Liu Yan felt a surge of anger rising straight to the top of his head, and immediately led his troops to rush to support. Damn it, Sun Qian didn't directly attack the salt drying field, but went to burn down the water conservancy facilities in Dapanbao, bastard!
In addition to the water conservancy facilities in Juntun, there is reclaimed farmland. What is the fire burning now if it is not a water conservancy facility?
Wang Yue, Miao Shao, and Wang Bo hurriedly called to the Dunjuns who were on duty at night. They all woke up the Dunjuns together. After a little tidying up, everyone was ready to set off.
"Send someone to contact Xu Ming. If you don't collect the flag at night, rush to support immediately!"
"yes!"
Liu Yan led the soldiers of the Three Banners to trot all the way in the dark night. Although he was anxious, Liu Yan did not want to run over with all his strength. Even if he arrived, he and the more than 100 soldiers of the Three Banners would be exhausted, and he would have taken advantage of Sun. Qian is a group of thieves. So rushing to Juntun at this time, Liu Yan could only suppress the anxiety in his heart, save his energy and jog over.
Fortunately, the two Dunjun soldiers sent out quickly contacted Xu Ming's troops. Xu Ming also saw the fire in the north at this time, and hurriedly led thirty-six soldiers who did not collect at night to rush to support.
Less than half an hour later, Liu Yan led his troops to the military camp. Everyone stood next to the big water tanker, their faces looking very ugly.
At this time, the large waterwheel had transformed into a huge fire tower. The raging fire was burning, eroding the once tall waterwheel. There was a constant crackling sound in the fire, and Liu Yan even saw burning wooden sticks coming from it. Falling in mid-air, the big water tanker is finished!
At the same time, Wang Yue commanded his Dunjun to patrol around, then walked to Liu Yan with a pale face and said: "Captain Jia, the irrigation wells and canals nearby have been damaged. At least a few of them nearby have been destroyed." The water conservancy facilities on hundreds of acres of cultivated land have to be rebuilt!”
At this time, Xu Ming also rode over. After dismounting, he said: "Captain Jia, my subordinates took a look around the area. No one was found. I can be sure that there is no one else within five miles nearby except us."
Liu Yan nodded, indicating that he heard it, then his expression changed, and he shouted: "Everyone rush to the salt drying field immediately!"
Everyone was stunned at first, and then realized, could this be a plan by the thief Sun Qian to lure the tiger away from the mountain? Sun Qian actually used a large fire as bait to lure everyone here!
I saw Liu Yan pointing at Xu Ming and shouting: "Take the first step with others immediately!"
"yes!"
Xu Ming jumped on his horse anxiously and shouted: "Let's go, let's go to the salt drying field!"
More than thirty soldiers set out in a hurry on horseback. Liu Yan also led the remaining soldiers of the Three Banners to catch up on foot. More than a hundred people ran panting in the dark night. Everyone was filled with anger. Liu Yan He was even more furious that he was being led by Sun Qian. This bastard was really impatient!
