Chu Yun and Han style, beautiful in the south and strong in the north.
As early as the Emperor Yao's period thousands of years ago, Xuzhou had built a city called Pengcheng, the Great Peng Kingdom.
When Xia Yu controlled the floods, he determined the mountains and rivers of Jiuzhou, and Xuzhou became one of the nine states.
Since Xuzhou began to have human footprints, it has become a battleground for military strategists from ancient times.
During the Ming Dynasty, Xuzhou established its government and controlled the water and land connections between Zhili, Shandong and Henan. It was bordered by Yanzhou in the north, Huai'an in the east, Guide in the west, Fengyang in the south, and the Yellow River, canals and water transport converged.
If trouble occurs here, transportation from north to south of the empire will be interrupted, and the ancestral land of the central capital will be in danger.
When the sun has set in the west on this day, the blue sky is gradually dyed red by the sunset, and the ground is orange. In Xuzhou City, officials at the prefecture and county levels as well as the generals of the Guard Command and Envoy Department were already carrying flags, carrying the pick-up banners out of the city, and rushing to the river section outside the city where ships could dock.
In order to meet the upcoming fleet of the Emperor Taisun, Peng Jingxiu, the magistrate of Tongshan County who rarely rode on horseback, frowned and looked at the vast road ahead: "His Royal Highness Taisun will bring a thousand royal guards and naval officers and soldiers of the fleet." To escort 50,000 dans of grain and grass, should we bring more people there?"
Peng Jingxiu said he was worried and looked like he was loyal to the country.
The guard commander Dai Chi, who was riding in front of him in military uniform and with a lancet on his waist, turned his head and glanced sideways at the county magistrate: "According to the imperial court's decree, all the troops and horses of our Xuzhou Guard have gone out of the city to provide relief to the disaster and rescue people." Common people. Even the Beijing troops who left Beijing last year to relieve the snow on both sides of the Yangtze River, tens of thousands of them diverted to Kaifeng Prefecture. Under such circumstances, where did Dai County ask me to get people from? "
Peng Jingxiu was stunned for a moment and opened his mouth.
However, Dai Chi was the commander of the Xuzhou Guard, and his rank and official status were higher than him.
Xu Zufa, the magistrate of Xuzhou Prefecture, who was riding alongside Dai Chi and whose equestrian skills were not inferior to Dai Chi's, looked back at Peng Jingxiu, then turned to Dai Chi and said: "There are hundreds of officers from the prefecture and county's third class, plus the commander's personal soldiers. Three hundred people, when Taisun's fleet arrives, these people will ask the commander to take control of it together, and make sure nothing goes wrong when the fleet docks to transport food."
Xu Zufa has been in office in Xuzhou for some years, and he has managed the affairs well.
Dai Chi nodded when he saw the prefect talking.
"If it weren't for the idiots from Lankao County, why would this happen?"
Xu Zufa smiled: "Since my grandson is here in person this time, not only will the idiots in Lankao County be in trouble, but Kaifeng Prefecture will also be in trouble."
Speaking of this matter, Xu Zufa couldn't help but have thoughts in his mind.
My own Xuzhou Prefecture was also one of the prefectures and counties affected by the disaster, but as soon as the flood came upstream, all the people under my jurisdiction were immediately mobilized to provide disaster relief. As soon as the imperial decree arrived, all the officers and soldiers of the guard station were dispatched to ask for money and food, and the government office did not delay at all.
Kaifeng Mansion will be in trouble this time. As long as Xuzhou Mansion does well, in the eyes of the grandson, it will be a real achievement of a capable minister.
Perhaps, in a big mansion like Kaifeng, you can try it yourself.
Or maybe clear things up and return to the capital to become a ministry official?
Xu Zufa was thinking that this was his official career, and unknowingly, the person he was welcoming had already arrived near the canal between Luliang Mountain and Dadong Mountain in the northeast of Xuzhou City.
There is a dense network of rivers here. There are even rivers under Dadong Mountain that directly connect to Weishan Lake in the northwest. There is also an auxiliary river that forms an arch connecting the upstream and downstream of the canal.
Because this time the Yellow River flood broke out in the upper reaches, and the water flooded without any resistance, the rivers outside Xuzhou City also swelled, and there were countless ulcers. There was almost a vast ocean between Dadong Mountain and Luliang Mountain, and it was almost impossible to transport water here. It’s hard to move forward.
Beside the river in front, tall masts began to be erected, and canvas was being folded.
Xu Zufa couldn't help but feel energetic.
Just when he was about to urge everyone to speed up and rush to the river bank to meet His Highness Taisun.
However, a team suddenly emerged from the diagonal stab. All members were on horseback, wearing cloth armor, long knives on their waists, long blazing guns on their backs, and long spears wrapped on their horses.
This is an elite team.
When stabbing from an angle
When the team that suddenly broke out appeared in front of him, Xu Zufa only paused for a moment before reacting.
Dai Chi was already shouting, calling his soldiers to gather in front of the team.
Dai Chi himself grabbed the handle of the knife, silently pulled it out, and dragged it diagonally behind him, showing his guard.
"But they are from Xuzhou Prefecture?"
The teams from both sides gradually approached, and inquiries suddenly came from the heavily armed elite team.
Dai Chi was stunned for a moment, then turned back to look at Xu Zufa who was being protected behind him.
Xu Zufa nodded.
Then, Dai Chi led two soldiers forward carefully.
"Who are you? This place is under the rule of Xuzhou Prefecture. Foreign soldiers entering the country must have transfer orders from the Ministry of War and the Governor's Office."
Dai Chi didn't think that these people who were so well-equipped could be rioters or other types of people like the green forest.
At present, the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty is expected, and there are no reports of rebels appearing in the Central Plains.
These people can only be the military horses of the imperial court.
However, the imperial army and horses have always been strictly controlled. No one dares to step out of the guard station without the transfer orders from the Governor's Office and the Ministry of War.
"The Imperial Guards of the Imperial Army have been ordered to pick up officials from the Xuzhou Prefecture."
The elite soldiers equipped with muskets came out and announced their names.
Dai Chi's eyelids suddenly shrank.
It turned out to be Jin Yiwei!
He couldn't help but feel a little more curious in his heart when he looked at the soldiers and horses who were not wearing the flying fish uniforms of the Royal Guards under the cover of night.
At this time, Xu Zufa, the prefect of Xuzhou, who was behind, had already driven his horse to Dai Chi's side and looked at the soldiers and horses in front who claimed to be the Jin Yiwei.
"Whose order are you following?"
"This is the order from His Highness the Grand Sun." One of the Jinyi Guards drove his horse forward a little, and his eyes fell on Xu Zufa: "This must be Magistrate Xu. Your Highness personally called out his name. Magistrate Xu must go there if you want him." .”
As he spoke, Jin Yiwei took out a token from his arms.
With the last ray of light on the horizon, Xu Zufa could see clearly that it was indeed Jin Yiwei's token.
But Xu Zufa still said cautiously: "I wonder where your highness is now?"
"His Royal Highness is currently at the foot of the Great Pagoda Mountain."
Xu Zufa's eyes moved slightly.
Datta Mountain was still six or seven miles away from the canal. At this moment, Taisun had already stepped ashore and quietly ran to the foot of Datta Mountain.
This is very abnormal.
Xu Zufa suddenly looked sideways at the huge fleet of boats on the river in the distance.
"Prefect Xu, Your Highness has been waiting for you for a long time."
The Jin Yiwei people reminded him again, and Xu Zufa just reacted.
Raising his head to look at the other party, Xu Zufa had a smile on his face: "I'm going, I'm going now. I'd like to ask you all to lead the way."
…
"Your Majesty, Xu Zufa, the magistrate of Xuzhou Prefecture, is here to see His Highness the Emperor Taisun."
"Your Majesty, Peng Jingxiu, the magistrate of Tongshan County, Xuzhou Prefecture, is here to see His Royal Highness the Emperor Taisun."
"Last general, Dai Chi, commander of the Xuzhou Guard, pays homage to His Royal Highness the Emperor Taisun."
Data Mountain is actually not very big, only one mile from east to west and less than a hundred feet wide from north to south.
At the southern foot of Data Mountain, Xu Zufa, Dai Chi, and Peng Jingxiu had already seen the emperor's grandson who was standing on a high place, holding a copper pipe in his hand and looking towards the canal, surrounded by many royal guards.
Xu Zufa was very careful. Seeing that the emperor's grandson had no intention of looking back at him and the others, he carefully turned his head and looked at the foot of the mountain to the east.
It was an extremely large convoy connected end to end, tightly covered with tarpaulin, and the wheels were pressed deeply into the road. A large number of officers and soldiers guarded the left and right.
Among them, Xu Zufa even saw soldiers and horses from Huai'an Prefecture, people from Suqian County and Pizhou County!
Xu Zufa felt that he might have seen it wrong, and couldn't help turning his head to look at Dai Chi beside him.
Dai Chi glanced sideways, and then nodded cautiously.
Xu Zufa suddenly felt bad.
Who would have thought that when Taisun entered Xuzhou Mansion, before they could rush over to greet him, Taisun had already disembarked the boat with his people.
Moreover, these carriages at the foot of Data Mountain at this moment are obviously carrying the 50,000 tons of grain and grass.
Now there are soldiers and horses from Huai'an Prefecture who should not appear in Xuzhou territory.
Something big is going to happen.
Xu Zufa became nervous in an instant, and his heart became suspended.
He is the prefect of Xuzhou, but if something happens in Xuzhou and he doesn't even know about it, then it is impossible for him or his left to escape the charge of negligence.
For a moment, Xu Zufa became flustered.
"Your surname is Xu. It's interesting to know Xuzhou."
Suddenly, a sound brought Xu Zufa back to reality.
He raised his head and saw that His Highness the Emperor Taisun had put down the long tube at some point and turned to look at him.
Xu Zufa was excited and hurriedly started to perform the ceremony again.
Zhu Yunxi waved his hand and looked at the official of Xuzhou, the prefecture: "I don't need to be a formality. I asked you to come here. I just didn't want you to go to the wrong place and be scared. Here, I will accompany you alone. It’s a good show.”
After finishing speaking, Zhu Yunxi gestured to Yutian beside him.
Yutian took a telescope from the side and sent it to Xu Zufa. Others also sent a telescope to Dai Chi and Peng Jingxiu.
Xu Zufa was already full of doubts.
At this time, a group of people came quickly from the foot of the mountain.
They are all dressed like fishermen here in Xuzhou Prefecture.
Xu Zufa was completely confused and had no idea what good show he would watch later.
Zhu Yunxi looked at Nan Tianpeng who was coming with his people, with a smile on his face: "Are you all ready?"
Nan Tianpeng still had moisture on his body, so he bowed and saluted from a distance: "Your Highness, everything is ready. The brothers are already heading towards the fleet now."
Zhu Yunxi nodded and stopped talking. Under Xu Zufa's gaze, he once again picked up the telescope and put it in front of his eyes, looking at the fleet of ships in the distance with countless lights on because the sun had completely set.
Xu Zufa, Dai Chi, and Peng Jingxiu imitated the emperor's grandson and put the telescope in front of their eyes.
The cylinder was suddenly magnified and pulled into the canal in front of them. The three of them were frightened and their whole bodies trembled violently.
But the next moment, the scene of the fleet moored on the canal attracted the three of them.
In the middle of the fleet, the ships carrying grain and grass were unloading from the ships to the shore under the illumination of countless lights.
Is that also food?
Xu Zufa and the others were puzzled. If what the fleet was unloading now was grain and grass, then what was loaded on the carriage at the foot of Data Mountain?
The three of them didn't wait to find out.
On the river at the beginning and end of the fleet, stars of fire suddenly appeared. Through the telescope, the three of them seemed to be able to hear bursts of roaring sounds.
Those small boats covered the entire river and rushed towards the fleet.
In a few moments, there was chaos on the river bank.
Xu Zufa finally saw clearly what those things were moved from the ship.
It’s bags of stones!
This is a trap!
In an instant, Xu Zufa understood exactly what was happening now.
There are thieves in Xuzhou Prefecture who want to rob food.
Xu Zufa held the telescope in his hand, but drops of sweat were already oozing out of his palms.
However, the voice of the emperor's grandson entered Xu Zufa's ears at this moment.
"Let's just watch and see what these people will do."
Xu Zufa swallowed his saliva and stared at what was happening in the telescope with wide eyes.
Boat
The warships at the head and tail of the team had already made a thundering roar. Huge flames burst out from the warships, and fire bombs were fired from the warships at the river boats rushing over from the river.
However, these shells seemed to have no accuracy today, and could only set off huge waves of spray and mist on the river.
Finally a trumpet sound sounded on the treasure ship.
The warships at the head and tail of the fleet began to set sail and move.
As the warships started to launch, the small boats rushing towards the fleet also began to turn their bows and flee in the direction they came from, as if they were extremely unwilling to be sunk to the bottom of the river by those huge warships.
A chase and an escape situation began between the two.
This must be to distract the warships, and then there will be an ambush to attack the fleet!
Xu Zufa didn't understand the art of war, but he still understood the actions of those river boats that rushed towards the fleet first and now started to flee.
He couldn't help but turn his telescope to the treasure ship parked on the river. He couldn't understand why the commander on the ship didn't even understand this?
Sure enough, after about a quarter of an hour, the warships at the head and tail of the fleet had already sailed a long way away.
Then on the north bank of the river, in the direction of the Great Copper Mountain, two groups of people rushed to the river pushing carriages filled with things.
Subsequently, these heavily loaded carriages were thrown into the river.
In the blink of an eye, the river was filled with blockages.
It is impossible for the warship to come back for rescue!
Although when the chaos just occurred, Xu Zufa saw that those moved from the cargo ship were stones.
But now that the river is blocked and there are no warships in line, even if these thieves cannot grab food and grass, what if the fleet is set on fire?
Xu Zufa didn't dare to think about it.
The treasure ship was the emperor's grandson's ship, which was equivalent to the dignity of the imperial court outside.
At this time, as the river is blocked.
On the bank of the canal in the direction of Da Tongshan, no less than two thousand men and horses suddenly appeared out of nowhere and began to rush towards the fleet with long ladders, pontoon boats, etc.
Xu Zufa moved the telescope forward a little, and looked cautiously at the emperor's grandson beside him.
There didn't seem to be any reaction.
Xu Zufa couldn't help but frown.
Wait until he pays attention to the telescope again.
Suddenly, he discovered that from under the slope on this side of the river, there were artillery pieces pushed up to the embankment.
One by one, the officers and soldiers flattened the muzzle of the cannon, facing the thieves rushing over from the other side.
On the decks of the cargo ships docked on the shore, raincloths were lifted one after another, and artillery pieces were revealed on the other side of the river.
These are the artillery installed on the warships of the Ming Navy.
Almost instantly, before Xu Zufa could react, a huge bright light erupted on the entire canal.
Then, an invisible wave of air spread through the telescope, and then there was a huge roar that spread from the river all the way to Data Mountain.
Xu Zufa's hands trembled and his whole body was shaken.
The telescope couldn't help but shake.
The scene in the camera jumped from the fleet and the artillery to the thieves on the other side.
The next moment, a scene appeared that Xu Zufa would never forget in his life.
I saw the continuous roar of artillery.
The cannonballs flew across the river, plunged into the crowd on the other side, exploded in the air, and exploded into countless small fragments.
Then there were balls of bright red blood mist and countless pieces of flesh, together with the remaining limbs and broken arms, exploding in mid-air.
One cannonball can almost take away the lives of three or five thieves, while those who are far away will be overturned by the air waves of the cannonball. Before these people can land, they will be hit by the exploding cannonballs next to them.
, and then turned into a ball of blood mist.
In the gaps between these gunfires.
From the treasure ships and cargo ships on the river, there are even more pairs of crossbows that shoot crossbow arrows as thick as a child's arm. The arrow is like a shovel, shoveling the thieves in the gap between the shells into two pieces like cutting a melon.
Then, the crossbowmen and archers on the ship fired their bows and arrows one after another, and fell into the group of thieves on the other side.
It was almost one-sided suppression, without any delay.
Seeing this, Xu Zufa was already convinced that this was a trap that His Royal Highness had laid out a long time ago. He was just waiting for these thieves to arrive and plunder the fleet so that they could be destroyed in one fell swoop.
"Your Highness, they are trying to escape!"
Seeing that the thieves who had turned into cannon fodder began to show signs of turning around and fleeing, Xu Zufa couldn't help but let out a low cry.
Zhu Yunxi smiled slightly: "Prefect Xu might as well take a closer look."
Xu Zufa quickly picked up the telescope and looked across the canal.
I don't know when, when the thieves were about to turn around and flee, from the distance on the rivers on both sides, there were groups of officers and soldiers, and a fisherman with a harpoon and hatchet in his hand, who had already passed by from both sides. He surrounded the thieves and cut off the other party's escape route.
These thieves are dead!
When Xu Zufa saw this, he still didn't know what was happening before and after.
He put down the telescope and looked back at the fishermen standing not far from the crowd.
Zhu Yunxi also put down his telescope at this time. It was a trap set for the purpose of robbing food, which was known in advance. There was really nothing to see.
He looked blankly at Xu Zufa, who was still stunned, and smiled slightly: "It seems that the eight hundred miles of water heroes here in Xuzhou Mansion are nothing more than this."
Xu Zufa immediately trembled.
With a pop, Dai Chi and Peng Jingxiu knelt on the ground.
"I await the death penalty and please be punished severely by Your Highness."
