"Captain, there is someone on the island coming towards us on a raft."
On the boat, there were people who had been keeping an eye on the situation on the island. Now they saw the raft on the island going into the sea and hurriedly came to Duan Ping to report it.
Duan Ping picked up the monocular and glanced at the rafts on the sea, and then said: "Look on the raft closest to us. Is that person the one who went to the island with Guard Xu?"
A sailor on the side took two steps forward, leaned his upper body out of the side of the ship, looked in the direction of the raft for a while, then turned back and said, "They are our people."
Duan Ping put away the monocular and said, "Tell the people on the boat to be on guard and see what they are going to do?"
There were soldiers on the ship. After hearing the order, they picked up their weapons and stood guard on the side of the ship.
As the raft slowly approached the big ship, someone on the raft was heard shouting: "Captain Duan, Guard Xu asked me to come over and say that he would unload the things we brought and put them on the raft for the people on the island to take back."
The person who spoke was the person who went to the island with Xu Xuewu.
Duan Ping said: "I'll have people move things out of the cabin. You ask their rafts to come over one by one, load one raft and then bring another raft over."
"Okay." The man on the raft agreed.
Soon, a raft rowed towards the big ship and stopped under the big ship.
Duan Ping looked at the people on the raft and said, "You guys wait below. The things will be brought up in a while, and someone will hand them over to you. But if you force boarding, don't blame us for being rude."
The man paddling the raft was a refugee from Liaodong, but he was accompanied by a small flag, who said: "We will wait below, but don't be mean, don't forget that your people are still in our hands." .”
Pieces of soldiers and armor were put on the ship's deck and piled near the side of the ship, and then a stone of food was moved out of the cabin. ,
Unlike boats, rafts are not waterproof, so Duan Ping only asked soldiers to send soldiers to the raft below, and at the same time said to the people on the raft: "There is still some food on the boat, and your raft cannot load it. It is best to get a boat over." "
"You wait."
The person speaking this time was a commander, who also had the highest official position among the people who came to the sea on a raft this time.
Several rafts were loaded with some soldiers and armor, and they began to row the rafts to the island.
Mao Chenglu, who was standing on the shore, looked at the raft on the sea and said, "There are really soldiers. It seems that there are quite a lot of them."
Chen Zhong, who was standing next to him, said thoughtfully: "This tiger-character flag is a little hard to understand. Businessmen are all doing it to make money, but this tiger-character flag actually gave us soldiers and armor for free. When did businessmen become great philanthropists?" .”
"You said these soldiers and armor were given away for free?" Mao Chenglu was stunned.
He had been guarding the shore before and was unaware of the conversation between Xu Xuewu and Mao Wenlong on the island.
Chen Zhong nodded and said: "The man named Xu Xuewu who came to the island told our general that their boss knew that it was difficult for us people on the island, so he specially sent soldiers and food."
Mao Chenglu said: "I didn't expect that this business called Tiger Flag is not bad. Knowing that we are in difficulty here on Pi Island, it sent so many practical things, especially soldiers and armors, which is what we lack most now."
"I just don't know what their proprietor's idea is?" Chen Zhong frowned.
Mao Chenglu smiled and said: "No matter what their intentions are, as long as the things are in our hands, it will be impossible to regret it. If you don't believe it, just look at it, as long as the things are on the shore, even if they ask for money, my adoptive father will not Give them a penny.”
Chen Zhong smiled and did not answer.
Because he knows that this is not a matter of whether to give money or not, but that they have no money at all.
The raft quickly docked, and pieces of armor were removed from the raft by the Liaodong refugees on the shore and brought to the shore.
Mao Chenglu walked over, bent down and picked up a knife, pulled it out of the scabbard, looked at the cold light shining on the blade, and said to the subordinates on the side: "Bring your knife here."
The person next to him handed over his knife.
Chen Zhong on the side asked: "What do you want to do?"
"Didn't you say that Tiger Flag's weapons are easy to use? I'll give it a try and see which one is better, their knives or the knives we use."
As the words fell, Mao Chenglu took the new knife he had just received and slashed at the old knife in his other hand.
The two knives collided together, creating a spark and a screeching sound like frosting.
Mao Chenglu took the two knives away in his left and right hands. He first looked at the old knife in his left hand, which showed a gap, and then looked at the new knife in his right hand. The blade was smooth and flat, with no damage at all.
Seeing this, he couldn't help but praise and said: "It's really a good sword."
With that said, he threw the old knife back to his subordinates.
Chen Zhong on the side said: "If the two knives cut each other a few more times, the old knife will definitely be cut off. It seems that the tiger-character flag's knife is indeed worthy of its reputation."
"It is indeed a good knife." Mao Chenglu said, "The knife just now can be made of Fujian iron, not the junk from the Ministry of Industry."
Chen Zhong looked at the man who took the knife in surprise and said, "Did you spend your own money to make this knife?"
The soldiers and armor used by these people were all sent to Liaodong through the Ministry of War, which was what Mao Chenglu said was junk.
"The young one spent fifteen taels of silver on the knife made of Fujian iron." As he spoke, the man looked at the gap in the blade with pain.
Chen Zhong said with emotion: "I used to hear people say that the Tiger Flag's weapons are useful, but now I know that they are really good. If all of us have a weapon like this, the chance of surviving on the battlefield will be much greater. "
"Don't worry, I took a look. These armors are enough for more than 200 people. When the time comes, each of us will pick a good sword and a good suit of armor." Mao Chenglu glanced at the armors being moved to the shore.
Chen Zhong said: "With these soldiers and armors, we can build a fighting team of more than 400 people."
Mao Chenglu nodded in agreement.
Although there are only more than 200 pieces of these armors, including weapons and armor, if they are taken apart and used, there are more than 400 pieces, which can be divided among more than 400 people.
"Du Si, can you change the knife for me? Just the one I just had will do." The man holding the knife with the gap looked at the knife that was carried to the shore.
"You kid." Chen Zhong scolded with a smile, "Don't worry about it. No one can touch these things without the general's order."
The man looked at the armor piled on the shore with a pity expression.
Mao Chenglu said with a smile: "You used to show off the knife in your hand in front of me. What's the matter? Are you feeling itchy to see how good my knife is?"
The man chuckled and said, "Who wouldn't like such a good knife?"
Mao Chenglu smiled and said: "When the things are delivered to the general, I will ask the general for a knife to give you, but the knife in your hand has to be handed over. Our island is short of soldiers and armor, and it is impossible for you to use it alone." Two knives."
"I understand, little one." The man nodded.
Chen Zhong saw that the soldiers and armor on the raft had almost been moved, and said: "You stay here, I will take these soldiers and armor to see the general first."
"Go ahead!" Mao Chenglu said, "There is still food on the ship and it will be transported ashore. I will go see if there is a ship to transport the food."
Naturally, rafts can no longer be used to transport food, but boats are needed.
Chen Zhong arranged for people to take the soldiers on the shore and go to the island. 11
