"General! General!" Zhang Kai shouted with a raised voice, chasing after the old soldier a few steps.
The old soldier ignored him and just hooked the side of the boat with an iron hook and flipped it out.
Zhang Kai put his head out and shouted to the old soldier: "General, are you going to run to the sea?"
"Um?"
When Zhao Bin was in Yexian, because of Guo Ning's suggestion, he asked a blacksmith to make an iron hook and tied it to his arm with a leather ribbon, thinking that he had an iron hand. This iron hook is very useful, but he is not yet proficient in using it. For example, when getting off the boat now, he has to slowly figure out where to use the hook to exert force.
At this moment, others were thinking about how to place the hooks, when they suddenly heard Zhang Kai's words...
Zhao Bin paused and used the iron hook to hook himself back: "You young gentleman, don't talk nonsense. We are all soldiers of the Kingdom of Jin. What are we going to do at sea?"
Zhang Kai took half a step forward and whispered: "General, I guessed it right, right?"
"Interesting, interesting." The old soldier sat down on the side of the boat again: "Why do you think so?"
Zhang Kai looked around and saw the soldiers starting to search for the wounded on the ship. He quickly waved and asked the few remaining sailors around him to help.
He turned around and sat next to the old soldier, and whispered: "General, I heard that the Great Jin Kingdom has not been successful in fighting against the Black Tartars in recent years. The soldiers suffered heavy casualties and the court was at a loss. Is it true?"
"That's not bad. Speaking of which, not only the soldiers suffered heavy casualties, but the civilians suffered even more."
"I also heard that Yang An'er has rebelled in Shandong recently, and Sui Wang Shouxu has occupied Kaifeng Mansion. There is also a Khitan Yelvliu brother in the north who is causing trouble... Dajin's territory of thousands of miles has been in chaos. Is it true?"
This guy knows quite a lot!
Although Zhao Bin had not taken the Kingdom of Jin seriously for a long time, the Jin and Song Dynasties were the kingdoms of uncles and nephews. Northern Han children like Zhao Bin had never taken the Song Kingdom seriously since they were young. Hearing a man from the Southern Song Dynasty speak so straightforwardly, he felt a little awkward. He snorted coldly and acquiesced.
Zhang Kai continued: "Then King Sui and the Khitan people are still far away, let's not mention it. After Yang An'er's rebellion, the Jin Kingdom's defense troops in various parts of Shandong may have a hard time, right? I won't hide it from the general. , our Huainan East Road area in the Song Dynasty has received a lot of reformed people these days."
The so-called "returners" are the name given by the Song Dynasty to those who fled from the Jin Dynasty to the Song Dynasty. The so-called "return to right" refers to the people of that generation who "were from the Central Plains in the Yuan Dynasty. They were trapped in Tibet and then returned to the Central Plains. They turned from evil and turned to rightness."
The Song Dynasty did not attach much importance to these reformers, and even had some contempt for them. However, the continuous increase in the number of converted people indeed proves that the Kingdom of Jin is on the verge of collapse. Zhang Kai was able to do business on the border between Song and Jin countries with a small boat worth a thousand materials. He had a basic understanding of this.
When he said it to this extent, it was hard for Zhao Bin to deny it.
At this time, several old soldiers dug out two companions from the pile of dead people. They were both killed by being accidentally caught in the siege when the soldiers were fighting hand-to-hand.
For Zhao Bin and other veterans, the intensity of the fight just now on the ship was very low. However, if you often walk by the river, your shoes will not get wet. Whenever there is a fight, some unlucky guy will die. After all, they have been veterans for decades and should have expected this day.
On the one hand, these old soldiers selected by Zhao Bin did have injuries of one kind or another and were not suitable to be in the army. On the other hand, most of these people were ruthless and thorny, and did not obey military discipline.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, Zhao Bin is depressed because of his injury and disability. In fact, he is such a person. It is too easy for him to find similar people.
They were originally in the army and were subject to strict military discipline. Even burning, killing and looting had to be within the scope of military orders. Anyone who dared to disobey would definitely be severely punished. And when they left the army and went to the Inspection Department and Records Department, their actions were even more restricted. After all, they were surrounded by peaceful and good people, and they couldn't just attack them when they got angry.
After being depressed for several months, they finally found the joy of fighting. Deep down in their hearts, everyone was simply ecstatic.
Even if his companion is dead at this moment, everyone can understand and see through it. While carrying the body, someone was chanting: "Xu Lao Si, Xu Lao Si, you brag about your sword skills every day, but in fact, when are you not relying on heavy armor to show your prestige? Now we are fighting on the water, we can't use heavy armor, you see , you should die! It’s time!”
Someone on the side explained: "That's because Old Xu is missing an arm and can't use the mission card. What does it have to do with the armor?"
A few old soldiers quarreled and carried the body off the boat, but no one looked sad.
Zhao Bin stepped aside. Zhang Kai felt that the words of these old soldiers were too cruel, so he subconsciously stepped aside and moved over.
"General, I see that you are all young, and you are all more or less injured... Let me tell you the truth, General, please don't be angry... I guess you all suffered losses on the battlefield, and in the big battle... I can’t stay in the Jin army any longer, so I want to find a ship, or go south to the Song Dynasty to return to the imperial court, or become a maritime merchant, right?”
At this moment, Zhou Keshan was still far away. Zhao Bin didn't know whether it was appropriate to express his thoughts frankly, so he hesitated. The two were silent for a while, and Wang Erbai climbed over the side of the boat.
He was Alixi who had just joined the army. When they were fighting just now, the veterans did not give him a chance. But now that the fighting has stopped, these newcomers have to see blood and cruel scenes, so I don’t know who instigated Wang Erbai to help.
Wang Erbai was clinging to the side of the ship when he heard Zhang Kai say that Zhao Bin and others could not stay in the army any longer.
He was a straight-tempered person and immediately became angry: "What can you say, you guy! Jiedushi treated us well! He gave us eight sheep! There was also a box of snacks, which were very delicious!"
As he spoke, he strode forward and put his hands on his hips to look at the corpses all over the ship. Before I could hold on for two breaths, I was choked with blood in my nose and vomited out "Wow".
The sheep and snacks Wang Erbai mentioned were gifts given to Zhao Bin by Guo Ning half-jokingly. This is the love between warriors in Northern Xinjiang. Although the gift is light, the love is heavier than the mountain.
When Zhang Kai heard this, he understood it wrong.
He only said that these old soldiers fought desperately and suffered such serious injuries, but in the end they only got eight sheep and a box of snacks.
This is really cruel! In the Song Dynasty, there was a war with the Jin Dynasty during the Kaixi period. At that time, the imperial court clearly issued an edict to the soldiers who died in the battle: Those who were seriously injured and not allowed to be conscripted would be imprisoned for life. Even those who were laid off due to old age and weakness after the war would have their salaries reduced and be included in the remaining staff, rather than just letting them go.
Of course, imperial edicts are always good, but when implemented in practice, they will inevitably lead to many drawbacks. But no matter what, the treatment is better than the treatment of these old soldiers in front of me? These people had served the country to the point where they were missing arms and legs, and in the end, they were dismissed with eight sheep and a box of snacks? Force them to go to sea to fight for their lives?
This general from the Kingdom of Jin is so ruthless!
The embarrassment of these veterans made Zhang Kai even more convinced of his own opportunities.
He lowered his voice and said to Zhao Bin: "General, I have a suggestion. Do you want to hear it?"
"you say."
"The storms at sea are dangerous and different from those on land. Many sea merchants and pirates have even more complicated rules. No matter how brave the generals are, it may not be easy to go deep into the sea rashly. Besides, you don't seem to know how to swim?"
Zhao Bin groaned and nodded.
"So, General, can you steer the ship? Can you set the sail? Can you row the oar? Can you stargaze? Can you make waves? Can you measure the water? Can you measure the wind? Do you know the channel? Do you know the undercurrent of the reef? Are you familiar with the various ports? Do you know the routes for buying and selling goods?"
This series of questions almost made Zhao Bin stagger.
He was about to say, I have a companion named Zhou who knows something about this, but he saw Zhang Kai stood up and patted his chest:
"I, Zhang Kai, Zhang Zihe, have some family property in Mingzhou of the Song Dynasty in the Southern Dynasty. However, I have been traveling on the sea all year round, and finally encountered disaster, and the capable people around me are scattered. General, you are all going to the sea anyway, why not accept me Employment. I have a foothold in the Song Dynasty, and it is not difficult for you to settle down. As for me, I rely on your protection in my business journey. We will work together and get what we need when the time comes... It can be considered me How about repaying everyone for your life-saving grace?"
Zhao Bin rolled his eyes and stared at the confident Zhang Kai.
After looking at it for a long time, he slowly said: "Zhang Langjun, your idea is not bad. However, there are hundreds of us brothers, and the expenses are not small! How big is your family fortune? How big is your business? You can afford to hire us. ?”
"this……"
Zhang Kai was stunned for a moment, and someone suddenly said to him: "Mr. Zhang Lang, do you know where we people came from?"
Looking up, he saw that it was a tall and thin scholar with a jade pendant hanging from his waist. Zhang Kai was surprised, but he felt relieved when he saw Zhao Bin's calm expression.
"Sir, please tell me."
"Those of us are either old soldiers in the army or wealthy locals from Shandong. Although we are now in a downturn, we still have some connections with the army and have some connections. If you, Mr. Zhang Lang, really want to repay us... don't do it... If you speak the language of employment, we can do business together and make a fortune together.”
Zhang Kai was still hesitating, and the scholar took half a step forward: "Zhang Langjun was chased by pirates today, there must be a reason. Even if you escape, the business in your hands may not be stable from now on. But if we help, we can protect your business You are as stable as Mount Tai, who dares to touch you, Mr. Zhang Lang..."
Zhao Bin waved the iron hook: "Ask us first!"
Zhang Kai nodded, but subconsciously felt a little wary.
These people are not simple. Could it be that they want to turn their backs on guests?
Just as he was thinking about it, not far away, Wang Erbai spat out "Wow" again. Zhang Kai looked up and saw several sailors under his command slowly collecting the corpses of the bow of the ship, the miscellaneous officer, the gang envoy and other leaders, as well as the corpses of other companions, and placing them in one place one after another.
The old boatman's body was carried over and placed side by side with his son. There are several other people who are old people in Zhang Kai's family. They have watched Zhang Kai grow up. Zhang Kai has always regarded them as family members.
Due to excessive blood loss, several corpses looked pale before, but now, because the remaining blood began to coagulate, and there was a faint dark purple under the skin, they looked particularly hideous.
Anger flashed across Zhang Kai's eyes. He clenched his fist and said solemnly: "Then let's do it together."
7017k
