The wind howled and the ship rocked.
Zhang Xianzong also became anxious, suppressed the matter of Zhou Wang, and said quickly: "Think of a solution quickly."
The old boatman was calm and said: "Sir, there is no ferry nearby, and the ship cannot dock. We can only anchor and wait, and then we can continue moving forward after the wind weakens."
"If the wind stays strong, can we still stay on the boat and wait?"
Pan Xing asked.
The old boatman shook his head and said: "The strong summer wind comes and disappears quickly. If there are no accidents, the wind will weaken within two hours. By then, going north with the wind is the fastest way."
"grown ups."
Song Li looked at Zhang Xianzong, hoping that he would make up his mind.
Zhang Xianzong thought for a moment and said in a deep voice: "Drop the anchor!"
"Sir, this man has evil intentions. How can you listen to his one-sided words? We should immediately find a shoal to dock and hand him over to the local government office. We will rush to Kaifeng."
Gao Wei objected loudly.
Zhang Xianzong glanced at Gao Wei and said to the boatman: "Thank you for your hard work. As for what you said, I have written it down. I just hope that you can help us reach Kaifeng safely. After that, I will report the matter to the court and hand it over." Let the emperor decide, what do you think?"
The old boatman kowtowed violently and shouted: "Thank you, sir!"
The ship dropped its sails and dropped its anchor. Although the wind was strong, it was no longer a serious problem.
Everyone in the cabin fell into silence.
In the 24th year of Hongwu's reign, the Yellow River's seizure of the Huaihe River should be a natural disaster. This was the unanimous understanding of the imperial court. But after this natural disaster, no one can say whether there will be a man-made disaster or not.
"I'll go out and take a look."
Gao Wei put on his raincoat and walked out of the cabin.
The wind and rain were coming, and the rain instantly wet Gao Wei's face.
At the stern of the boat, an old boatman was holding a long bamboo pole to measure the depth of the water.
Gao Wei wiped the rain off his face, took two steps forward, looked carefully, then walked over, coughed lightly, and said: "Do you know that your words will kill many people, including Yourself and your grandchildren.”
The old boatman glanced at Gao Wei, lifted up the bamboo pole, and said, "I don't know that much. I just know that all the people who didn't deserve to die are dead, and none of the people who deserve to die are dead."
"Don't you think about yourself and your grandson? Framing a vassal king is a death penalty. I advise you not to mention King Zhou again when you talk about this matter, otherwise, God will not be able to save you!"
Gao Wei warned.
The old boatman shook off the rainwater from his body, sat on the bow of the boat, let the wind and rain beat down on him, and said sadly: "If there really was a God, so many people wouldn't have died."
Gao Wei's eyes were cold. If he was allowed to live, there would be more turmoil in the Ming Dynasty!
If one person dies, the world will be peaceful, that’s right!
Gao Wei walked behind the old boatman and was about to take action when he heard footsteps behind him. Gao Wei looked back and saw Xue Xia standing not far away, weighing a stone in his hand.
"Damn it!"
Gao Wei secretly gritted his teeth, turned and walked towards the cabin. When passing by Xue Xia, he said in a deep voice: "I hope you can think carefully. If he is alive, the emperor will be in trouble, and the Ming Dynasty may collapse! The death of an unknown person is the worst outcome. Good results! I am alive and well, and my allegiance is to the current Holy One, and I have absolutely no selfish motives!"
Xue Xia's eyes were deep as he watched Gao Wei walk into the cabin, turned around with difficulty and looked at the old boatman.
Gao Wei's words are not unreasonable.
If what the old boatman said is true, then Zhou Wang Zhu Ju is guilty, and the crime is inexcusable!
If the emperor dealt with Zhu Xi, how would Zhu Di, who is Zhu Xi's brother, feel?
How will it act?
Now Zhu Di is a figure that the emperor relies on very much. Zhu Di is needed for the training of the three major battalions, and Zhu Di is also needed on the northern border!
If Zhu Di is dissatisfied with Zhu Di and no longer serves the court, then who will give the three battalions to be trained? Who will be responsible for guarding the northern border in the future?
Xue Xia raised his hand, and the stones in his hand suddenly flew out
, passed through the old boatman's hair, and flew into the river.
"Hey, my skills are rusty."
Xue Xia sighed, turned around, and walked into the cabin.
The old boatman only touched his head and felt something strange, but because of the wind and rain, he didn't notice anything.
In less than two hours, the wind actually became lighter, and even the rain became a little weaker.
Upon seeing this, Zhang Xianzong immediately ordered to set sail. The ship took advantage of the southeast wind and headed northwest along the river.
After arriving in Suqian, Zhang Xianzong and others went ashore in the rain to inquire about the news with Suqian officials. They found that the local officials did not take it seriously and thought it was just an ordinary summer rain.
Zhang Xianzong was furious, blamed several people, and ordered Suqian officials to use all government officials and recruit migrant workers to inspect the river embankments.
One day after leaving Suqian, the sky gradually cleared up.
Zhang Xianzong and others were obviously more relaxed. As long as the weather cleared up, it would be no big deal. But that night in Europe, heavy rain struck again, this time more violently, and the water line of the Yellow River reached its highest level during the flood season in previous years.
The boatmen did not dare to move. It was raining so heavily that it was impossible to sail.
As a last resort, Zhang Xianzong and others took the old boatman ashore in Pizhou, went to the post station to change horses, and headed straight to Xuzhou in the rain...
Huaiyuan, Guohe River Embankment.
Li Wu, the leader of the yamen team, led twelve migrant workers, wearing raincoats, to patrol the embankment.
"Team leader, when will the rain stop? It's been three days, right?"
Migrant worker Wang Jiu asked somewhat distractedly.
Li Wu took a sip of rainwater, looked up at the gloomy sky, and said, "I want to know that there is no need to stay here with you group of miserable people patrolling the embankment?"
"Don't say anything!"
An old man in his fifties suddenly shouted.
Li Wu and others stopped and looked at the old man Li Laosan.
Li Laosan walked to the embankment, put up an awning with his hands, and squinted at the swirling river water. Suddenly, Li Laosan lay down on the embankment, listening to the embankment.
"Li Laosan, don't scare me."
Li Wu was a little nervous.
Li Laosan stood up, his face was covered with mud, and he said seriously: "No, this embankment is not safe. We need to evacuate immediately. Hurry up and call people. Everyone runs to higher ground."
Li Wu stared at Li Laosan and said in disbelief: "What are you talking about? This embankment is obviously in good condition, but do you know that if you say something wrong, you will be beaten to death by the county magistrate!"
Li Laosan shouted sternly: "It doesn't matter if you kill me, I still have my family! Why are you still standing there? When did I lie to you, why don't you leave!"
"Here, squad leader, what should I do?"
Li Wu swallowed his saliva, stared at Li Laosan, and said, "Why do you say this levee is unsafe?"
Li Laosan shouted angrily: "You bitches! When I was fishing in the river, you were still wearing crotchless pants! Go back and call for help! The embankment has burst, run away!"
Li Wu looked at Li Laosan who was running away, gritted his teeth, and said sternly to the people next to him: "What are you still doing? Listen to him! Shouting, even if my throat is broken, I have to shout everyone out!"
"The embankment has burst! Run!"
The sound penetrated the rain curtain and echoed on both sides of the embankment.
In less than an hour, Huaiyuan City fell into panic. The people wailed, dragged their families and families, and ran desperately to the east.
"Li Laosan, you are in the wrong place. Everyone, follow me to Guishan!"
Li Wu couldn't help shouting when he saw that Li Laosan was running eastward with his family, and many people were following him.
Li Laosan stopped and shouted sharply: "Go to Tushan and Jingshan, follow me!"
"What the hell are you doing?"
Li Wu walked up to Li Laosan angrily and shouted: "Do you know that there is no shelter at all in Tushan and Jingshan. It's okay for us men to get wet in the rain, but what about women and children? You will kill them. !”
Li Laosan looked at Li Wu with a sneer and said: "Going to Guishan will kill them!"
"You're talking nonsense! There is the Dragon King Temple on top of Turtle Mountain! At least it can accommodate some women and children!"
Li Wu clenched his fists.
Li Laosan raised his head and sneered: "You see, no one listens to you, do you know why?"
Li Wu looked back and saw the people around him looking at him in silence.
"Listen to me and go to Guishan. There is the Dragon King Temple there. Grandpa Wang, you are senior, please say something."
Li Wu shouted anxiously.
"Son, Li Laosan is right, we people can only go to Tushan."
Grandpa Wang leaned on a cane and shook his head helplessly.
Li Laosan greeted everyone to go to Tushan, but Li Wu gritted his teeth and took his family and a group of people to Guishan.
Guishan is only three miles away from Huaiyuan City. Because there were many women, children and elderly people, the group walked for half an hour to reach Guishan. Li Wugang wanted to take people up the mountain, but was arrested by the government officials who rushed out.
"I'm the class leader, what are you doing?"
Li Wu looked at his two men and shouted sharply.
"What are you doing? Hey, Li Wu, you are so brave!"
The magistrate of Huaiyuan County came over with people and shouted to the people who wanted to enter the mountain: "The Guohe River levee has not breached at all. This guy lied about it. Come here, hang him up and beat him! He was the one who was beaten to death." You deserve it! Lying about the disaster is a serious crime!"
Li Wu was hung on a tree nearby. He looked at the people who came with him, all wet, and his heart was full of pain. He shouted: "Master Magistrate, even if you kill me, I won't say a word." If you complain, please ask the county magistrate to let the people go into the temple to take shelter from the rain!"
"Shelter from the rain? This is the Dragon King Temple. How dare they, a group of poor ghosts in rags, come here? The Dragon King will also get angry when he sees it! Anyone who dares to climb a mountain and enter the temple will be beaten back by me!"
The magistrate gave the order solemnly, and then shouted to everyone: "You all go home, there is no flood at all! Liu Si, what are you doing standing still? Beat me!"
The whip struck Li Wu. Li Wu trembled violently, gritted his teeth and shouted: "Let women and children enter the temple!"
"Hit him hard and kill him!"
The magistrate gritted his teeth and shouted.
The sound of whips became more and more intensive, and just when Li Wu was weak and fainting, a sound like thousands of thunders came from a distance, and the sky in the distance became even more vast.
"The embankment collapsed."
Li Wu raised his head feebly, looked into the distance, and the corners of his mouth turned bitter: Li Laosan was right.
The strong movement also shocked the county magistrate. Within a quarter of an hour, someone screamed: "No, the embankment has burst. Lord Magistrate, the embankment has burst!"
The people looked at the magistrate sadly, shivering with cold, and some of the middle-aged men gnashed their teeth and stepped forward step by step.
The magistrate looked miserable and shouted quickly: "Guishan has been requisitioned by the government. If any of you dare to break in, you will be charged with attacking the government office and will be punished! Magistrate, guard this place and don't allow anyone to enter the temple!"
After saying that, the magistrate led the people and ran to the Dragon King Temple without looking back.
Outside, it was raining heavily and it was cold.
In the temple, it is leisurely and warm.
Before the magistrate arrived and stepped into the temple, he saw his wife and children coming towards him with a spring breeze on his face.
"Daddy, this rain is so fun."
The boy ran over through the rain.
The magistrate hugged his son, looked at his wife holding an umbrella, and said with a smile: "Since my son likes it, how about we go and ask the Dragon King to let it rain for a few more days?"
"Great."
The boy smiled. Hearing the noise, he pointed outside and said, "Dad, why is it so noisy outside? What happened?"
The magistrate shook his head and said: "It's nothing, it's just a group of mud-legged people who are disobedient and came over to take away my son's sleeping place."
"That's not possible. They are here. Where can I sleep? Daddy, please fight them back. Just like last time, let the dogs bite them. It will be fun."
The boy gestured excitedly.
