"Five thousand to seven thousand, are you sure there are only so many people!" Shen Chongming's brows furrowed deeply, the difference in the number of people is a little bigger!

"There should be no mistake, after marking out of Guangzhou City, all the way south, on the way to Shunde, there has been no bandits, but since the Shunde County, the bandits that appear on the way to the south have gradually increased, and the bandits have gradually increased all the way to the south, and they have found a large number of bandits gathering in Lubu Town, which is nearly fifty miles away in the south of Shunde City, and it seems that Lubu Town should be their big camp, and they have dressed up and sneaked into the town, and counted them before and after, counting the repeated people, that is, more than 7,000!" opened his mouth and said a few words, and Ma Erdan's words slipped a little smoother.

Shen Chongming of Lubu Town has seen it on the topographic map, it is located near the mouth of the Pearl River, if there is a large group of thieves gathered here, it must be the base camp, so the number of people Ma Erdan got should be about the same.

"Hehe, no wonder there are always people saying that the number of thieves has reached 13,000 recently, it seems that they are bluffing!" Shen Chongming sneered, but he made Zeng Yiyi's bandits' intentions clear, he must have bluffed to make the imperial court believe it and then mobilize troops, so they could take the opportunity to seize the vacancy and make a big move.

"My lord, what are you going to do?" Looking at Shen Chongming's smile, Ma Erdan couldn't help but ask, I don't know what bad ideas my lord has come up with to trick people.

"Hehe, don't they want the imperial army to be led by his nose? Then let's do as he wishes, this Guangzhou city is a big fat meat, I don't believe they are greedy! Shen Chongming clenched his fists, once he lured the bandits to the open ground under the city, it would be the time when their entire army was destroyed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this official has already found out the den of the bandits, and tomorrow I am going to lead the troops out of the city to suppress the bandits in one day, and the great work is about to be completed, and then Guangdong will return to peace, and your business can also be restored!" Shen Chongming invited all the wealthy businessmen who came to the yamen to threaten him that day, and said with a smile on his face.

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but get excited, since the last incident, everyone has been a lot more honest, but seeing the silver that was originally in hand slipping away little by little, their hearts are even more anxious.

Everyone thanked Shen Chongming for their kindness, Shen Chongming waved his hand and smiled: "You're polite, the things of the past few days are also the official's anxiety, and I can't compensate you here, and I hope you can make more contributions to the prosperity of Guangdong in the future!" ”

Everyone should be right, who will not say a word in the official's face.

"Lord Qincha, dare to ask how many soldiers and horses you are going to lead to suppress the bandits this time, and how sure you are of success, after all, Su Dusi has also led people out of the city to fight several times, but they all returned with feathers, and they are immortal!" One of them got up and said with a dry smile, everyone had curiosity, and everyone also wanted to know if the imperial army could completely exterminate Zeng Yi's bandits this time, after all, the Lord Qincha in front of him was too young, and he didn't look like a general who could lead troops to fight, so he could only rely on the number of people to overwhelm the other party.

Shen Chongming was waiting for this question, and immediately smiled: "Don't hide it from you, this official has found out that the bandits are only 5,000 people, and they are all rabble, and they are not opponents of the imperial army at all, but for the sake of safety, I am ready to send 9,000 troops to wipe out the bandits in one go, and return Guangdong to a peaceful and prosperous era!" ”

When everyone heard this, they bowed their heads and talked excitedly: "Dare to ask Lord Qincha, if you lead 9,000 troops out of the city to suppress bandits, I am afraid that there are not many troops in this Guangzhou City!" "The man asked again.

Shen Chongming was stunned for a moment, and then said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, the city of Guangzhou is tall, not to mention that there are still a thousand men and horses stationed there, even if it is defended by some villagers, the bandits will not dare to come, besides, the official already knows the exact location of the bandits, they want to attack the city of Guangzhou, unless they can defeat the army of nine thousand imperial courts!" ”

"What the adults said is, how can just thieves shake Guangzhou City, it's the villain who is too worried!" The questioner put on a smile and sent Shen Chongming's sycophant: "Since the army is on the march, we can't stand idly by, we can't do anything else, it's okay to reward the soldiers and boost morale, and I hope your grace will allow you!" ”

"Hehe, okay, well, then it's troublesome, with your reward, the morale of the soldiers must be high!" Shen Chongming's face was full of joy, and he looked greedy for money.

Very politely sent everyone to the door, watching the small sedan chair gradually disappear, the smile on Shen Chongming's face slowly dissipated, and he greeted a subordinate and ordered: "Go, inquire about the details of the person who asked him today, this official is of great use!" ”

This person's questions are always to the point, as a businessman is so concerned about the war, it is really a little abnormal, if the guess is correct, it is very likely that it is Zeng Yiyi's internal response in the city.

The other party has a good reputation in Guangzhou City, and it is easy to find out, and the subordinates who were ordered to investigate rushed back in less than an hour: "My lord, that person's surname is Li Maocai, and all the Maochang shops in the city are his family's property!" ”

"Have you ever found out how his family got started!" Shen Chongming found a little greasy from this name, and there is also a Mao character, this Li Mao may have just made a fortune.

"Checked, it is said that Li Maochang was only the shopkeeper of a small cloth village in Guangzhou City eight years ago, and he has had good luck over the years, and the business has become bigger and bigger, in just eight years, Maochang is not much better than those century-old rich businessmen in the city!"

"Hehe, what a powerful way to make money, if he says that there is no one behind him, I'm afraid he can only deceive ghosts!" Shen Chongming muttered, but he was worried in his heart, this Li Maocai has been in existence for eight years, and he has been lurking for such a long time, I am afraid that it is not something that a bandit leader who has no vision can do, I am afraid that there is another cat in it!

Shaking his head, knowing that Xiang Ye couldn't figure out this matter, he could only wait for the future to find conclusive evidence to interrogate Li Maocai, thinking about it, Shen Chongming raised his head and ordered: "Go, please ask Master Su to arrange a few people to monitor Li Maocai, don't let go of his every move!" ”

"Lord Qincha, you really want to take nine thousand men and horses out of the city to suppress bandits!" Su Chenwu, who heard the news, said with a worried face, Guangzhou City is the capital of Guangdong, and all the money and grain from all over the country are hoarded here, and there must not be any mistakes, otherwise no one can afford this responsibility.

Shen Chongming was happy in his heart, if Li Maocai was really guilty, he was afraid that his scheming would not be shallow, and in just one afternoon, this matter would spread all over Guangzhou City, and even if Zeng Yi really succeeded at that time, no one would doubt the rich businessmen here today.

"Hehe, don't hide it from Lord Su, this is just a ploy of the official, the official suspects that Li Mao, a wealthy businessman in the city, is Zeng Yi's internal response in the city, so he said that he wants to lead 9,000 troops to suppress the bandits, and also lead Zeng Yiyi to take the bait, then we will be able to complete the battle, and a big battle can wipe out all the bandits under Zeng Yiyi, saving time and effort!" Shen Chongming said energetically, with the momentum of shaking his palm.

Su Chenwu was stunned for a moment, then understood, high-fived and smiled: "Lord Qincha is very strategic, so that we don't have to go to great lengths to find the traces of Zeng Yi's bandits, we just need to stay in Guangzhou City to wait for work!" ”

"Hehe, Master Su is right, but all this has to be arranged in detail, I'm afraid that the bandits won't be easily fooled, so we still have to do enough, early the day after tomorrow, the official will lead nine thousand men and horses out of the city, and six thousand of them will look for an opportunity to ambush and wait for Zeng Yi to lead people into a trap, and the remaining three thousand people will be personally led by the official to pretend to be nine thousand men and horses all the way into Lubu Town!"

"Lord Qincha, this can't be helped, let's let the lower officials lead the troops out of the city! You are in command," Su Chenwu hurriedly said, this is a dangerous errand, once Zeng Yiyi sees through and sets up an ambush, where can these three thousand men and horses be opponents.

"Hehe, Master Su don't have to worry, this official didn't really go out of the city to suppress the bandits this time, once the situation is not good, just flee back with his brothers, besides, as long as there are five hundred Shenji Battalion soldiers mixed in, if Zeng Yi dares to come, he will definitely come back!" For the five hundred men and horses under his command, Shen Chongming can be said to be full of confidence. Although the south is not suitable for cavalry combat, there is still no problem with short-distance and small-scale assaults, and only 500 long-trained soldiers of the Shenji Battalion are enough for him to drink a pot.

"My lord, it's better to be careful, there are a lot of bandit spies along the way, and it won't be good once you fall into their ambush!" After suffering several defeats in a row, Su Chenwu still has lingering fears about the ambush of the bandits.

"Hehe, Lord Su rest assured, no matter again and again, as long as you take it step by step, even if there is an ambush for the bandits, it is nothing? This matter has been decided in this way, you know this matter, I know God knows, and it is strictly forbidden to tell anyone before it is done! Shen Chongming solemnly admonished, the so-called strategy can only be used when others don't know, otherwise everyone knows about it, and this strategy will be gone.

"Yes, don't worry!" Su Chenwu got up and hugged his fists, his fat cheeks were full of perseverance, a thousand men and horses were stationed in the city defense, in case the army could not return to help, it would be a chore.

"Qin sent Shen Chongming to lead nine thousand troops out of the city to suppress bandits!" Holding the note in his hand to convey information, Zheng Tianshi raised his eyebrows and fell into deep thought.

This is an opportunity, it is a great opportunity, Guangzhou City is the capital of Guangdong, there are countless grains, grasses, gold and silver in the city, if you can really capture Guangzhou City and loot all the property inside, the sect leader has been preparing for the army, food and grass and military salaries will be settled, so that the original plan to raise troops can be greatly advanced.

But the words are divided into two ends, such a simple truth, those old oilmen in the square can't see it for a reason, how can they put Guangzhou City in danger.

Shaking his head, Zheng Tianshi couldn't make up his mind for a while, whether he should fight or not.

"Dharma protector, Zeng Yi is here!" The guards outside the courtyard gate hurriedly ran in and said, Zheng Tianshi hurriedly put away the note in his hand, with a light smile on his face, still with that detached expression.

"Heavenly Master, I heard that there is news again, is there any movement in the official army!" As soon as he entered the door, Zeng Yiyi asked impatiently.

Zheng Tianshi's pupils shrank, and his eyes were a little more vigilant when he looked at Zeng Yiyi, it seemed that he had underestimated this seemingly rugged pirate leader, and he actually knew to send someone to spy on him.

After a pause, Zheng Tianshi smiled and said: "Hehe, the island owner is so quick news, the news has just come from Guangzhou City, nine thousand officers and troops left the city early this morning, and there are only more than a thousand officers and soldiers left in the city!" In the blink of an eye, Zheng Tianshi had a plan in his heart, the temptation of Guangzhou City was too great, whether it was a strategy of the official army or not, he had to try it, the big deal was to break up the nine thousand officers and soldiers who went out of the city first, anyway, he didn't think that Zeng Yi would swallow the money and food of Guangzhou City, just to weaken him with the power of the official army,