The catcher of Zongyang County under the city just turned the boat around and rowed back twice. Then I saw another small boat rowing in the darkness, and there was also this person standing on the boat. But there was no one else behind him, and no boat came. Suddenly, the catcher hurriedly rowed the boat and turned around, and shouted to the city: "The military master in the city, there is no one, there is only one person, and there is only one boat." ”

At this time, the people on the opposite boat also shouted, "The military master of the city, I am the steward of the Fan Ji firm in Jiangning City, I am from the wharf of Yuxi Town, Hezhou, and I have important military information to report to the governor." Please, the military lord of the city, open the city gate and let me in. ”

When the defenders of the city heard this, they were immediately rejoiced. said with a smile: "What's the matter today, a catcher is about to report the military situation, and now the manager of a business is also going to report the military situation." Why is there so much military intelligence in this world? Why don't I have military intelligence to report? ”

The steward of Fan Ji said: "It's true, we are in Yuxi Town, and we saw a lot of thieves coming, they said that they were some kind of Ming Restoration Army, and they also seized many of our goods, saying that they wanted to requisition ships. Let me go into the city, and I'll report to the Governor. ”

The defenders in the city suddenly said impatiently: "Your goods have been lost, go to the governor of Hezhou to find them for you, and it is useless to come to the governor's yamen." Now on the ground of these two rivers, there are too many people who claim to be the Ming army. However, most of them are bandits and bandits who occupy the mountains. Thinking of you is also thinking of the court, and not being held accountable. It is night, and the gates of Nanjing City must not be opened. Get out of here, or we'll let our arrows go." ”

As he spoke, he asked people to prepare bows and arrows and aim them at the city. The two people on the boat under the city didn't dare to make a mistake when they saw this. Hurriedly shouted: "You have military intelligence and don't report it, you can't afford to take this responsibility." We're really here to report on the military situation, there are only two of us, what are you afraid of? Seeing that the people in the city were really going to release arrows, the two did not dare to stay, so they hurriedly rowed away.

After the two of them left the water gate, they were reprimanded by the guards of the city at the Sanshan Gate not far away, and the two had to go ashore first. It's just that at this time, the entire city of Nanjing has fallen silent. The two were helpless, as long as they went to find an inn to stay overnight, but both of them came in a hurry, and they didn't lead the way at all.

The two searched around but couldn't find a place to stay, and finally walked to Mochou Lake and sat down in front of the gate of a restaurant. The catcher said quickly: "The defenders of Jiangning City are really irresponsible, where is there to report the military situation and not let them enter the city." ”

The steward of the Fan Ji firm said tiredly: "Don't say it, let's sleep for a while, and then go to the governor's yamen tomorrow." When the time comes, let the people of the Doge's Palace dispose of them. With that, the two of them fell asleep in front of the restaurant.

Maybe it was rowing all the time, and then running around and getting tired, and the two slept until after dawn. was woken up by the second child in the restaurant, and the two left. The two didn't have time to eat, so they went directly to the governor's yamen.

When I came to the governor's yamen, I finally entered the yamen. But no one paid any attention to the two of them, just an errand servant, who led them to the corridor next to them and waited. This was an hour, and neither of them slept well last night, so they fell asleep again in a daze.

In the morning, Lang Tingzuo, the governor of Liangjiang, put on his official uniform under the service of his servants. Slowly came to the outer hall of the governor's yamen, and said to the little official: "Is there any official document today, and there are any results of the recent investigation of the officials who surrendered to the pirates?" ”

The little official hurriedly said: "My lord, there are not many official documents today, just some ordinary official documents. As for the officials who surrendered to the pirates, there were a lot fewer reports from all over the country, and it is estimated that they have been investigated and dealt with almost as well. However, many people are complaining about Zhu Guozhi, the governor of Jiangsu, saying that he is making a big mess of unjust imprisonment among the people and looting people's money. ”

Lang Tingzuo said: "Let the patrols of all places continue to track down those officials who have surrendered to the pirates." As for Zhu Guozhi's matter, it is a matter that the emperor has assigned, as long as there is no civil unrest, everything will be left to him. ”

The little official hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, the subordinates will go back to them." The little official was just about to leave, but suddenly remembered and said: "By the way, my lord, this morning Menzi came to report, and two people came to the governor's palace early in the morning to see the governor, saying that there is an important military situation to report. ”

Lang Tingzuo frowned and said, "What are the identities of these two people, have they not been verified?" Did they say where the people were? The little official said: "Menzi asked, one is the catcher of Zongyang County, and the other is the manager of Fan Ji firm." ”

Lang Tingzuo groaned: "What kind of military situation do these two people have? Zongyang County's arrest didn't go to Anqing, what did he do in Jiangning? The little official hurriedly said: "The adults don't want to see it, I'll let the door go back and send it away." ”

Lang Tingzuo said: "Wait, there is another person you just said who is the manager of the Fan Ji firm, and he is the manager of a firm, and he also has a military intelligence report?" Which Fan Kee firm is he, have you asked clearly? ”

The little official hurriedly smiled and said, "This little one is not clear, if it is not small, go and ask." Lang Tingzuo said: "It's okay, you go and ask first, and ask where the military situation is." If it is not too important, let them go directly to the prefect yamen of the state capital, and let the green camps and local catchers in various places deal with it quickly. ”

The little official hurriedly went out to inquire about the specific situation, and it didn't take long for the little official to reply. Ying Tian's prefect Wang Shaolong hurriedly came in and said, "Your Excellency, something is wrong. Lang Tingzuo said: "Why are you so flustered? ”

Wang Shaolong hurriedly said: "Your Excellency the Governor, can you not panic?" Early this morning, a lot of displaced people entered Jiangning City. It is said that the Ming army came from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and even Anqing was captured. The soldiers pressed in, and Jiangning City was in danger. ”

Lang Tingzuo was shocked: "When did this happen? Why didn't anyone come to report it? Wang Shaolong said: "How did I know that these displaced people who have escaped are everywhere. There are merchants from Anqing Mansion, and defeated soldiers from Ningguo Mansion. Even the rich people in Yingtianfu, some Lishui, and Jurong fled to Jiangning City. ”

Lang Tingzuo hurriedly said: "Wait, where did you just say that it was captured?" Wang Shaolong was stunned for a moment and said, "Anqing, what I just said about Anqing is Anqing." Lang Tingzuo jumped up and shouted outside: "Have the people who went to inquire about the military situation come back?" ”

There was a person outside the door, and he replied anxiously: "My lord, I'm back, I'm back." It's terrible, something big is wrong. As he spoke, he saw the little official just now running in, and he took two breaths and said, "Lord Governor, Anqing is lost, and the Ming army has reached the Taiping Mansion." ”

Wang Shaolong also jumped up in fright and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?" Even if Anqing is lost, it is impossible for the Ming army to come to Taiping Mansion at once. Lang Tingzuo said: "You tell me in detail." The little official said: "Those two people came from the locality, and the people of Zongyang County saw that there were many Ming troops in Anqing, and there were many warships of the sailors on the river. They didn't have time to check the specific situation, so they sent people to Jiangning to warn them first. ”

Wang Shaolong breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Fortunately, if the Ming army went down the river, it is estimated that they have already arrived in Jiangning by now." Lang Tingzuo said: "What does the other business manager say?" The little official said: "The steward said that they met the Ming army in Yuxi Town, Hezhou, and the Ming army seized all the merchant ships at that time. He also said that they would confiscate all the goods to the Ming army as military pay, and then the Ming army would use these ships to cross the river. ”

Lang Tingzuo frowned and said, "They want a cargo ship to cross the river?" So what are they used to do in Anqing? Wang Shaolong said: "Could it be that our sailors of the Qing Dynasty discovered them, and the Ming army couldn't cross the river in Anqing, so they secretly ran to Yuxi Town to grab merchant ships to cross the river?" ”

The little official said: "My lord, this is very likely, otherwise, those Ming troops must have already come to the Yangtze River." There is no need to run to Yuxi Town and risk detaining those merchant ships. After all, on the cargo terminal, there are mixed fish and dragons and dense personnel. This is an easy way to expose military intelligence. ”

Wang Shaolong said: "Then since this is the case, then they have nothing to fear." Since last year, there have been outlaws in various places, waving the banner of the Ming army, and occupying mountains as kings in various places. They should have attacked and captured Anqing, but they were blocked by the sailors. That's why they went everywhere to find merchant ships, wanting to cross the river and come to Jiangnan to plunder. ”

Lang Tingzuo said: "Don't be careless, whether they are bandits or the real Ming army." We should all send troops to Anqing as soon as possible, Anqing is the barrier of Jiangning. With the loss of Anqing, Jiangning is in danger of being attacked at any time. Wang Shaolong said: "Yes, I think it is better to move the residence of the governor of Caojiang back to Anqing." In that way, the upper reaches of Jiangning will no longer be exposed, and Anqing will be used as a barrier for Jiangning, which can also keep Jiangning from being troubled by upstream bandits. ”

Lang Tingzuo said: "There is no urgency in this matter, after all, the pirates are the most important thing now." Wang Shaolong said: "Your Excellency, you can't help but be anxious." At present, most of the troops are deployed on the front line of coastal defense, even in the city of Jiangning, and only the Manchurian Eight Banners are stationed, and the others are only 5,000 defenders. Now I want to send troops to Anqing, and there are no troops to adjust. ”

Lang Tingzuo said: "Don't worry, I'll go to see General Aung Bangzhang Jing Kakhamu and ask him to send someone to go." If it really doesn't work, let Wang Dacheng, the garrison of the right battalion of the water division, go to Anqing, thinking that they have some rabble, and they don't have much combat power. As long as we get through this time, trust us. ”

Wang Shaolong said: "Otherwise, we should send someone to the Taiping Mansion to investigate, when the pirates came to attack last year, these places directly surrendered to Zhang Huangyan, it is difficult to guarantee that they did not surrender now, and they will not give us news." Otherwise, how could we have let the thief army occupy Anqing without any news? ”

Lang Tingzuo said: "That's right, you can arrange this matter, the newly appointed governor of Jiangning has not yet arrived, you should take care of it more first." Also, don't do things in a hurry, look at how you are also a dignified prefect, how you hear that the wind is rain. There is no demeanor that an official of the court should have, which is really detrimental to the dignity of the court. ”

After speaking, Lang Tingzuo got up, and then said: "I'll go to the Kaqam side first to see if he can lead the army to Anqing." Wang Shaolong said on the side: "Yes, the lesson of the Governor is that after being humiliated, you must pay attention to your direct words and deeds. ”

As soon as he said this, he heard a commotion in the city outside, but it was Tikhamu himself who had already arrived at the governor's palace. As soon as he entered the door, he said loudly: "Lang Tingzuo, why did I hear that the Ming army appeared in Anqing again?" Lang Tingzuo hurriedly greeted him and said, "General Kakham, I was about to discuss this matter with you?" There are so many untouchables who are in turmoil, and they want to ask General Kaqam to take the soldiers of the Eight Banners and go to Anqing to quell the rebellion. ”

Titicham said: "Just such a thing, do you want me to go in person?" It's just a bunch of chaotic people, and we still need the Eight Banners soldiers to quell the rebellion, why can't the Governor's Mansion even send these soldiers? ”

Lang Tingzuo said: "It's not that I have to bother the soldiers of the Eight Banners, but now there are no soldiers here in the Governor's Palace." Most of the soldiers who came to rescue Jiangning have now returned to their hometowns. We will also deploy heavy troops along the coast and at the mouth of the Yangtze River. There are 10,000 Caojiang sailors in Guazhou, 5,000 defenders in Zhenjiang, and 6,000 coastal defense soldiers in Suzhou. Liang Huafeng had 10,000 officers and soldiers in Chongming. In addition, Songjiang and Changzhou each left 8,000 garrison soldiers. ”