"What do you think of this boat?" Igillenbod's voice came from behind. Acton quickly turned around and bowed to it: "Great, I have never seen a boat that can run so fast. Even if there are twenty people rowing the boat, it can't be as fast as him!"
"Really? In fact, this is less than half of his speed!" Ijilianbode laughed: "After all, this is an inland river, unlike the sea where you can gallop at will!"
Actun nodded. He believed what Igilianbod said. The reason was very simple. He saw with his own eyes that only one of the two masts had a sail raised, and it was only raised about half. It is conceivable that if all the ships How fast can this boat go if the sails are raised?
"How far is it from Fuchu? Is the water deep enough for our ship to travel?" Igilianbod asked the question he was most concerned about.
"Originally I said it would take two days, but depending on the speed of the boat, it will take at most a day and a half!" Akdon replied confidently: "As for the water depth, you can rest assured. I chose that place as a market town because there is enough water there. Shen, if your boat can reach our village, it can definitely reach Fuchu!"
"Oh, that puts me at ease!" Ijilianbod said with a smile. This place is surrounded by wild lands. If there is a problem with the ship, it will be all over.
At this time, it started to rain, and people on the deck retreated below the deck, leaving only a few people who had to stay on the deck. Actun saw turbid muddy water rushing into the river on both sides. From time to time, there were fishermen wearing raincoats standing on their bark boats. They looked at the big boats passing by on the river in surprise. He couldn't help but feel an inexplicable feeling in his heart. Pride.
"Do you know where the river below our feet comes from?" Igillenbod asked.
"Are you talking about Tumen Water?" Acton asked.
"Domen Shui? That's what you call her?"
"Yes, Tumen means ten thousand!" Acton explained: "This river is a collection of many rivers, so it is called this name. As for where it comes from, I don't know. I have to ask. Only the learned old people know!”
Ijilianbod nodded. He and Shen Faneng were the only two people on the ship who knew the true purpose of this voyage. If the readers of this book are not so forgetful, they should still remember what Wang Wenzuo encountered on the way to the Pyongyang City when he led the troops. During the battle with some Mohe people, Wang Wenzuo was surprised to find that the arrows used by the Mohe people were much heavier than those used by the Goguryeo people. After interrogation, he learned from the prisoners that the iron weapons of the Mohe people came from a It comes from the market town called Fuchu. In the Middle Ages, having the ability to forge iron weapons yourself was of vital significance to a nation's military strength.
So after Wang Wenzuo was able to free up his hands, he immediately sent the two of them to find this market town called "Fochu". The task was simple: find the location of Fochu market town, understand the source, output and technological level of its iron ore, and The market town's population, defense level, and finally, if possible, establishing good relations with it and preferably being able to trade with it.
Wang Wenzuo's final request was not approved by most people. For example, Shen Faseng thought that there was no need to go to such trouble: after figuring out the location and defense of the market town, it would be easy to send a small expeditionary force to destroy it. ? Those Mohe people were subjects of Goguryeo. If we did business with them, wouldn't we be doing business with Goguryeo? Regarding the objections of his subordinates, Wang Wenzuo just replied calmly: "Look further, have you forgotten our predicament in Baekje? Don't think that winning Goguryeo is the end, more troublesome things are still to come! "
As a latecomer to Wang Wenzuo's military and political clique, Ijilianbod cautiously kept silent at that time. His qualifications and achievements were much less than those of Shen Faseng and Cui Hongdu. It was a taboo for newcomers to express their attitude easily. But when he was chosen as Master Shen's deputy, it would not be appropriate to remain so silent. So he said to Monk Shen: "There are few wise people in the world but many fools. The Lord is always observing the comings and goings and revealing the secrets slightly. Is there any truth in speaking outright in everything? Since we are the minions of dogs and horses, we should be reticent and cautious in our actions." valid reason!"
After hearing these words, Master Shen was convinced. Although he was the leader and Yijilianbode was the deputy, everything was discussed with Yijilianbode before issuing orders. It was as if the two people's official positions were reversed.
As the voyage continued, the frequency of boats on the river became more and more frequent, and most of them were birch bark boats, which are small boats commonly used by the Northeastern people. Covered with smoked birch bark or other animal hides, the boat can be lifted ashore when not in use, and then the skin can be removed to dry. This lightweight boat is very suitable for local rivers with shallow drafts, wetlands, and divergent harbors. The characteristics of vertical and horizontal, frozen in winter, are also partly canoes. They looked at the approaching large ship in surprise. A few people even pulled the ship over, waving their arms and shouting loudly.
"What are those barbarians shouting?" Shen Faseng asked.
Igilian Bod couldn't hear clearly either. His eyes turned to Acton, who replied knowingly: "They asked us if there was any salt on the ship. If so, they could trade it with us for the skins!"
"You can answer them!" Ijilenbod said, turning to the captain and shouting: "Stop the ship and drop anchor!"
"What's wrong?" Master Shen asked.
"Those people said they would trade their furs with us for salt!"
"Haha, you have to stop the boat just to do this small business?" Shen Faseng laughed and said, "You don't really think of yourself as a businessman, do you?"
"Business is a small matter, it's important to get more information from the other party!"
"It's okay, I don't understand these barbarian words anyway, I leave all these things to you!" Shen Faseng shook his head impatiently and walked below the deck: "I leave all the things here to you, I have some I’m sleepy, go to bed first!”
"Yes!" Igilenbod responded. At this time, the ship had lowered the sails and anchored, and slowly stopped. Several small boats caught up with it. The leader was a strong man with a few pieces of wild boar teeth dotted in his braided hair. With a pheasant feather as a headdress, he yelled a few words to the boat. Ijilianbod still couldn't understand, so he asked Actun: "What did he say? It seems that the language is different from yours!"
"They said there were five bear skins and twelve deer skins, and they asked how much salt they could exchange for?" Acton said, "They are Blackwater Mohes, and we are White Mountain Mohes, so the accents are naturally different!"
"So that's it!" Yijilianbod asked: "Then how do you calculate the price of salt here?"
"I don't know about this!" Akdon said with a bitter smile: "Sometimes it's more expensive, sometimes it's cheaper. You can't say for sure, it all depends on what the vendor says! Our village is not bad, it's a little closer to the seaside, and the salt in places further inland is The price is even more expensive, and a good bear skin can sometimes only be exchanged for one or two pounds of salt!"
"Yes!" Ijilenbod knew that the merchants who could sell salt here would definitely sell at a lower price and receive generous gifts. He turned around and gave some instructions. After a while, two sailors brought up a straw bag. Ijilenbod De said to Acton: "Ask them to bring two bearskins and five deerskins, and this bag of salt will be theirs!"
"So cheap?" Acton was surprised. Judging from the way the two sailors were carrying it, the bag of salt weighed at least seventy or eighty kilograms. Judging from the local salt price, even if it contained five bear skins, it would cost ten kilograms. It was not enough to bring all the two deer skins, but he still translated it according to Yijilianbod's instructions to the Mohe people below.
"Seriously, you are really kind-hearted people!" The leading man was overjoyed when he heard this and hurriedly said: "Please wait a moment, I will send someone back to get the leather immediately!"
"It doesn't matter, just tell him there's no need to worry!"
Acton translated Igillenbod's words. The leading man looked at Acton and suddenly said a few words loudly. Acton's face suddenly changed. He turned back to Igillenbod and said, "It's not good. Oh no, something big happened!"
"What's wrong? What did that man say to you? Are you like this?"
"He said that Da Molizhi has issued an order to recruit troops from all Mohe tribes. Military envoys holding white-feathered arrows are everywhere on the road. Why am I running around?"
"Da Molizhi ordered the conscription?" Yijilianbod was stunned when he heard this. He quickly asked Acton to confirm again and again, and then he hurriedly asked someone to wake up Shen Faseng who was resting below the deck. To everyone in Northeast Asia at that time, Da Mo Li Zhi only represented one person, and that was Goguryeo's powerful minister Quan Gaesumun. Although he acted violently and ignored the then King of Goguryeo, he was a rebellious minister and traitor. But it was he who had led the troops to repel the Tang Dynasty's overwhelming armies time and again in the past decades. You must know that it was at the same time: Turks, Tuyuhun, Xueyantuo, Baekje, Wa and other prestigious countries all fell under the hooves of the Tang army, but Goguryeo could always stand firm. It can be said that the people of the Tang Dynasty were resentful and disgusted with him, but they had to admit that he was indeed a significant figure.
"Can you confirm again that he is talking about Quan Gaisu Wen? This must not be careless!" Shen Faseng looked solemn.
"Yes, Acton, could you please ask if the Da Mo Li Zhi he is talking about is Quange Suwen?" Yiji Lianbod asked.
After listening to Acton's inquiry, the Mohe scratched the back of his head: "I only know that Da Molizhi issued an order to mobilize troops, but I don't know if it was Quan Gaisuwen!"
When Chen Faseng and Yiji Lianbode saw this, they knew that they couldn't ask anything, so they ended the transaction hastily and continued to go out of the town, hoping to get the real news from there.
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Liucheng, Yingzhou (today's Chaoyang, Liaoning), the seat of the Andong Governor's Mansion.
There was a long sound of horns in the dark night. In the gazebo outside the city, Ah Zhiluo stood up and subconsciously clenched the horizontal knife. He heard movement from downstairs. Yes, he was not the only one who woke up.
The sound of the horn lingered in my ears, and the guards at the Wang Pavilion stood up one after another, picked up their crossbows, and looked towards the source of the sound. When the trumpet sound completely disappeared, even the strong wind froze. People loaded their crossbow strings, changed positions in silence, and listened attentively. A horse neighed and was immediately comforted. Suddenly, it seemed that everyone was waiting for something.
"Be careful!" Ah Zhiluo lowered his voice and gently patted his companions on the back. This is the Anton Governor's Mansion, which governs eleven governors and thirty-three vassal cities. Anything can happen here. Any careless mistake will not only cost you your own life, but also harm the lives of millions of people.
A few minutes later, Ah Zhiluo heard the sound of horse hooves. He turned his head and cast a consulting look at his companion on the side. He found that the other party also had the same expression, and it was obvious that the other party had also heard it.
"Is there the sound of horse hooves? Are they from Mohe or Goguryeo?" A Zhiluo asked.
"Maybe they are Khitans!" the companion replied.
"The Khitans must also be careful! No one knows what these guys are thinking!" A Zhiluo said. As he said, the Khitans did surrender to the Tang Dynasty at this time, but who knows what will happen next moment. ? You can never be too careful here.
"Could he be one of ours?" Someone whispered: "For example, catching, guarding, and shooting animals!"
"Them? At this time?" Ah Zhiluo frowned. The ones the man mentioned just now can be said to be the best in the Tang army. They are all capable of riding, archery, and bravery. But this kind of people How could he appear here at this time?
"No matter what, we must go down and take a look!" Someone whispered: "If it is one of our people, then we must take care of it!"
Ah Zhiluo glared at the man fiercely, but in the end he nodded: "Yes, we must go down and have a look! I will take six people out, and the others will be guarded by me. No one is allowed without my order." Open the pavilion door!”
Ah Zhiluo got on his horse and passed through the pavilion gate and ditch. There seemed to be countless demons hiding behind the darkness outside, choosing people to devour. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, spread out, line up in two lines, and keep your distance!"
Ah Zhiluo walked for a while and faintly heard the cry of killing. He rode forward and said to his companions: "Everyone must have heard it. Dismount and wrap the horse's hooves with cloth! Don't make any noise!"
After this was completed, everyone led the horses and walked slowly in the direction of the sound, as the night wind blew away the clouds, revealing the moonlight. Ah Zhiluo saw dozens of horsemen surrounding this hillock, constantly shooting arrows at the top of the hill. From time to time, someone was hit by an arrow and fell off his horse. It was obvious that someone on the top of the hill was being besieged.
"These are Mohe people!" A soldier pointed at the riders who were surrounding them and said, "The people above must be ours!"
"Yes, Pavilion Chief, what should we do?"
"What else can we do, rush forward? You can't just ignore your own robe, right?"
"There are thirty or forty cavalry over there, and there are only seven of us. Aren't we going to die if we charge forward?"
"So what? You don't care if there are too many people? I don't see that you are a coward, Kuan!"
"Shut up, are you itching?" Ah Zhiluo cursed. He looked at the hillock he was besieging, then at his brothers, and thought for a moment: "Wang Kuan, please put the torch on your horse." Collect them all, retreat a hundred steps back, and when they hear the sound of the trumpet, they all light up!"
(End of chapter)
