Han Xiufeng and his entourage rushed to Wanfu Bridge, followed Han Bo, who was guarding at Wanfu Bridge, to the outside of Yangzhou through Daqiao Town, and found Wang Jiansheng who was guarding outside the city and more than 80 coolies who were originally carrying salt in Taiba.

originally planned to let Yu Qinghuai and Li Zhiyong lead the coolies to go to Yizhen with Wu Wenming as agreed before, but Wu Wenming saw that the coolies not only had no weapons, but also had yellow muscles and thin faces, ragged clothes, and looked similar to calling Huazi, so he regretted it again, saying that he would just go back alone. People can't look down on it, Han Xiufeng has no choice but to let Yu Qinghuai and Li Zhiyong bring a few family members to Yizhen with him.

Sending Wu Wenming and the others away, Han Xiufeng and his entourage rushed to a three-room, two-compartment, six-in-back, antique courtyard by the canal with Han Bo and Zhang Guangcheng's cousin, and as soon as they walked into the Nanmu Hall with four pillars and five beams and an octagonal lotus petal Ruyi pattern stone foundation, Han Xiufeng asked curiously: "Who is this courtyard?" ”

"Master Han, this yard is a salt merchant's industry, he will go to our corner slope to buy salt every year, and he has become friends with his brother after coming and going. At first, I didn't bother him, and I didn't know that his family was here, but I happened to meet him on the road the day before yesterday, so I knew that his family was here, and I planned to take my family to Shao Bo for refuge, leaving only an old servant to take care of the house. Han Bo looked back at Wang Jiansheng, and continued: "I thought that Brother Wang had arrived, and Master Han would also arrive soon, so I couldn't have a place to stay, so I begged cheekily, but I didn't expect people to agree." ”

Han Xiufeng groaned: "Go to Shao Bo to take refuge temporarily, Shao Bo is as dangerous." ”

He knew that he had gone to Shao Bo because he had relatives there. He said that if the bandits killed Shao Bo, he would take his family and relatives to Qingjiangpu. ”

"He can afford to put it down, much better than those salt merchants in the city who are watching and even taking chances."

"That's right."

Han Xiufeng took the tea brought by Wang Jiansheng's family and asked, "Brother Wang, where do those young men recruited by Lu Daming and Liang Liu from Taiba live at night?" ”

"A dozen of them live in the front yard, and the rest live by the river," Wang Qianli paused, and then added: "This salt merchant is rich, not only does he have this big mansion, but there are more than a dozen rooms by the river. Originally, it was rented to others to do small business, specializing in the business of boatmen and sailors on the river, but when I heard that the thieves were going to kill them, all those who did small business ran away, and the dozen or so rooms by the river were empty. ”

"Have you gained anything in the past two days?"

"Yes, the late student is preparing to report it." Wang Qianli took out an account book from his sleeve and couldn't help laughing: "Yang Dianbang is nowhere to be found, those soldiers of Cao Biao have no leader, and many of Cao Biao's green battalion soldiers have already run away." We came late, and only met a few dozen, and as long as we gave us 100 cents, they were willing to sell us knives, guns, and even clothes, and in the past two days we received two horses, six bird guns, two spears, forty-two knives, sixteen pieces of cotton armor, more than 30 coats, forty-two iron helmets, more than 300 catties of lead, and more than 100 catties of gunpowder. ”

"So all the green battalion soldiers of Caobiao have run out?" Han Xiufeng asked solemnly.

"It's all gone!" Zhang Guangsheng took over the conversation and said with a bitter face: "Now there are more than 200 green battalion soldiers from the Yangzhou battalion and more than 100 people from the salt fishing battalion left in the city, as well as a few yamen officials. ”

"Where is Zhang Yiguo, where is Zhang Yiguo?"

Han Bo hurriedly put down the teacup and said helplessly: "Master Han, as soon as I received your letter, I went to Zhang Yiguo and probed his tone. As a result, he found that he seemed to be very close to the deputy general Zhu Zhanao, Zhu Zhanao gave him a lot of knives and guns, and he raised some food and salary from the gentry, and he was leading the more than 300 villagers he recruited to practice in Taohuaan, intending to intercept bandits in Taohuaan. ”

"You didn't mention that we plan to guard Liaojiagou?"

"I didn't mention it, he was very pedantic, I didn't dare to mention it."

"It's good that I didn't mention it." Han Xiufeng looked around at everyone: "Everyone, the news of my coming here will also be leaked, if everyone knows about it, then we will really die and die." ”

"None of us said anything, except for Wu Wenming, no one knew you were here." Zhang Guangsheng said hurriedly.

"Wu Wenming is fine, the main reason is that he can't let those old men in Yangzhou City know." Han Xiufeng motioned to Pan Er to spread out the map, frowned tightly and said, "I really want to hide it, before coming here, I really planned to deal with the bandits here or Daqiao Town, and then retreat to the east bank of Liaojiagou." But when I came, I realized that no matter whether it was here or Daqiao Town, almost all the people who could run ran away, and those who didn't run not only couldn't help us, but the thieves would even turn against each other when they came, and it was estimated that the fairy temple was similar. So we can't listen to Old Ghost Xu, we have to think long-term. ”

As Han Xiufeng said, from Yangzhou City to Wanfuqiao, several big towns in this area, one is more prosperous than the other, especially Daqiao Town, there are as many as three or four hundred shops, restaurants, restaurants, inns, and money villages, but now there are not a few people in the town, and almost all the shops and restaurants are closed, even if they are not closed, they are left with one or two guys to watch the store.

The gentry and those rich shopkeepers either went to Fanchuan, Shao Bo, Taizhou and other places to avoid trouble, or went to the countryside, and those who did not leave were all poor. Especially those poor people who are begging for a living on the river, not only are they not worried that the bandits will kill them, but they even have some expectations, if the bandits really kill them, God knows if they will rebel!

Thinking of this, Wang Qianli couldn't help but ask: "Master Han, what should we do then?" ”

Han Xiufeng stood up and pointed to the map: "Everyone, not only do we have to guard Wanfu Bridge and Fairy Temple, but we also have to divide our troops to guard Shao Bo, but these three places can be guarded, and if we can't hold it, we will retreat to Yiling." We will take the Baita River in Yiling as the boundary, and other places will be occupied by bandits, but the bandits must not be allowed to cross the Baita River! ”

"The Baita River is only forty miles away from Taizhou!" Zhang Guangsheng muttered.

"Although it is closer to Taizhou, but the grain and grass can be helped," Han Bo stared at the map and said: "Not only can the grain and grass be helped, if Old Ghost Xu sees that the bandits have been killed to the Baita River, he will definitely send someone to gather the nearby young men to help, after all, further east is the boundary of Taizhou, he speaks well, unlike in Jiangdu." ”

Han Xiufeng sat down and said: "I don't just think about the grain and grass, and it's not just whether Old Ghost Xu will summon Qingzhuang to help, but after the bandits capture Yangzhou, it is impossible not to leave troops to garrison, Yangzhou is eighty miles away from the Baita River, how many troops can the bandits divide?" How far do you dare to go alone? ”

"Master Han, what if the bandits send a large army to attack Taizhou?"

"If the bandits really send a large army, they should attack Shao Bo, and then go north to attack Qingjiangpu."

"Fengji Warehouse! Qingjiangpu is the granary of the world! ”

"If I am a bandit, let me choose the two places of Taizhou and Qingjiangpu, I will definitely choose Qingjiangpu, which is not only the thoroughfare of nine provinces, but also the 'granary of the world', so as not to delay my efforts in Taizhou."

Zhang Guangsheng asked in a low voice: "Master Han, are you saying that we will divide our troops to intercept first, and then retreat to Yiling while intercepting, and when the bandits reach Yiling, it is already the end of the crossbow, not only can we defend, but we can even chase and suppress it in turn!" ”

"It depends on your young master, and now the only ones that can be used are the five regiments of Xiangyong under your young master and Master Li." Han Xiufeng looked up at Wang Jiansheng, and then said: "You have also seen whether the dozens of young men newly recruited by Brother Wang can fight, and I will write a letter to your cousin later, telling him that after leading the five regiments to come over bravely, as long as he can hold off the bandits for six days, the rest will be handed over to me." ”

"Master Han, are you going to use these six days to train the newly recruited young man?"

"Not only drills, but also gather young people to dig trenches and build up villages, and make some preparations without racing against time to intercept them."

"Then Master Han, when are you going to let your brother lead the villagers over?" Zhang Guangsheng asked.

Han Xiufeng was about to speak, but Wang Jiansheng's family hurriedly ran in, and as soon as they entered the hall, they said eagerly: "Master Han, Third Young Master, Zhenjiang has fallen, and Zhenjiang has been captured by bandits!" ”

"How do you know?" Wang Jiansheng stood up and asked.

"The refugees said that there were more than a dozen boats from Zhenjiang at this time, and the boats were full of refugees," the family wiped their sweat and said breathlessly: "I heard that the refugees said that Yang Futai went to Jiangyin with the remnants of the defeated army, they didn't know if Jiangyin could hold it, so they didn't dare to follow, so they all hired boats to come here." ”

Han Xiufeng thought that he was really unlucky, before coming to Jiangsu, Duan Dazhang and Huang Zhongyin helped write two letters of recommendation, but they couldn't use any of them, and then thought that the bandits had captured Zhenjiang, Han Xiufeng didn't dare to wait for the news from Yizhen's side, and said categorically: "Guangsheng, hurry up and write to your cousin, no, you don't need to write a letter, you go to Jiangyan now, please your cousin and Master Li hurry up and lead the township to Jiangdu!" ”

"After coming, then divide the troops to guard Shao Bo and the Fairy Temple?" Zhang Guangsheng asked with a sad face.

How could Han Xiufeng not know that he was worried that his cousin's soldiers would not be enough, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Forget it, as long as they come to guard Wanfu Bridge, as long as they can help me drag the bandits who went from Wanfu Bridge to Taizhou for six days." ”

"Master Han, what about the Fairy Temple and Uncle Shao?" Han Bo asked subconsciously.

"When the newly recruited young men come back, you and Lu Daming will lead a hundred young men to the Fairy Temple. Brother Wang, when the time comes, you will lead a hundred young men to Shao Bo. ”

In front of Zhang Guangsheng, it was inconvenient to ask many things in detail, although the situation was not very good, Han Bo and Wang Jiansheng still gave up their orders. Zhang Guangsheng didn't dare to delay for a moment, and he didn't even bother to pack his luggage and set off to return to Taizhou.

As soon as he walked on his front foot, Han Xiufeng said lightly: "Qianli, Han Bo, the Guazhou Inspection Division is located in the Fairy Temple, and Shao Bo has the same Inspection Division, and guarding these two places is a matter of Guazhou Inspection and Shao Bo's inspection." It has merit in guarding them, and it has nothing to do with us if they can't keep them. ”

"And what do you want us to do?" Wang Jiansheng asked puzzled.

"Go wait for a few people."

"Waiting for whom?"

"The first two Huai salt envoys Dan Minglun, the two Huai salt envoys Liu Liangju, the Yangzhou prefect Zhang Tingrui, the Jiangdu magistrate Lu Wuzeng and the Ganquan county magistrate Liang Yuandi!"

"What are they waiting for?" The more Han Bo thought about it, the more confused he became.

Han Xiufeng said coldly: "Not only did they not defend the city well, but they also pooled money to ransom the city with the bandits, causing us to fight hard with the bandits, this account can't be counted like this." I dare to conclude that if the bandits are killed outside Yangzhou City, they will definitely run to the Fairy Temple, Shao Bo and other places, and you will definitely be able to wait for them. ”

Wang Jiansheng asked eagerly, "What about after that?" ”

"Don't follow them, just follow them, you can go wherever they go, just say that Old Ghost Xu sent you."

Han Bo reacted suddenly, and couldn't help but smile: "Yes, yes, yes, I'll follow them later!" ”

Wang Jiansheng had never been an official, so he didn't know what kind of medicine was buried in Han Xiufeng's gourd, and was about to speak, when Han Xiufeng sneered: "The imperial court will know about what they did sooner or later, and they also know that once the East Window incident happens, the emperor will be furious, and even ask for their heads!" So they must want to hide quickly to avoid the limelight, and then find a way to ask someone to help intercede, and only show up when the emperor is angry. And if you follow them, you can't hide, and if you don't follow, you'll have to pay for money. ”

"Really! Master Han, how much money do you think is appropriate for them to pay? ”

"This is life money, and they are all the most oily officials in the world, but Minglun, Liu Liangju and Zhang Tingrui will pay 20,000 taels alone, and Liang Yuandi and Lu Wuzeng will get 10,000 taels if they don't say anything, and they will follow them without money, and when the emperor's will arrives, they will take them down and send them to the minister for investigation."

"Which chincha to give it to?"

"There is no Qin Cha at this time, and it will be there after a while, even if it is not time, it will be sent to the capital. However, I dare to conclude that they will not dare to take their lives as a child's play, and they will definitely give money honestly. ”

Eunuch Wang was happy, and after thinking about it, he couldn't help but ask: "Master Han, what about after we get the silver?" ”

"If you get the money, you will go to Yiling to meet me, they will not be so stupid as to talk nonsense, and they will not dare to confront Old Ghost Xu, in short, just act as if this incident has never happened." Han Xiufeng smiled and said, "I originally wanted to count Zhang Guangcheng as a part, but his cousin didn't believe me, and if he didn't believe me, forget it, we can have more points when the time comes." ”

"Master Xie Han is carrying!"

"It's all your own, don't see it like that."

Han Bo didn't expect that he could also make a fortune here, so he couldn't help but get up and said, "Master Han, when will they abandon the city and flee for their lives, and where will they run, we can't just guess." If I go to the city and keep an eye on it, I can't let these boiled ducks fly. ”

"It's fine to keep an eye on it, but be careful, not to be noticed by them, but also to watch out for bandits."

"I know, I'm measured."

What made Han Xiufeng cry and laugh was that Wang Jiansheng actually asked by inference: "Master Han, Yang Dianbang is also a fat sheep, or a big fat sheep, should we find a way to find out where he is hiding, and then follow him?" ”

"Forget Yang Dianbang, he is a cabinet bachelor, he has been a waiter of the Ministry of Rites, the governor of Cangchang and the head of the household department, and now he is the governor of Caoyun, and he is over eighty years old. The emperor will not cut off anyone's head, at most he will take his post and remove him from office. ”

"Can't be provoked?" Wang Jiansheng asked with a bitter face.

Han Xiufeng patted him on the arm and said helplessly: "I can't afford to provoke, I can't provoke!" ”