Chapter 215: Running Wuluo Island

Hearing Liu Yun ask like this, Chen Yufeng said without waiting for Zhang Zhimu to speak: "Such a beast must not leave him, and it is a disaster to let him go." ”

Zhang Zhimu hesitated for a while and said: "Let's put his business aside first, the question is what should we do with the big boss?" Sent to the government, there is no guarantee that he will not talk about the matter of the silver treasury. If we don't send it over, we can't occupy this place justifiably. ”

Ouyang He said: "It's okay, tell him, if he says it, his son will die, and he will be obedient." ”

After Lu Chengxiang and Li Zhi came over, Lu Chengxiang, Liu Yun, Li Jing and others went down to the vault to check and count, and came back and said: "The amount of gold and silver is large, and the master has a very clear record and there is no mistake. I think these things are put here first, and we can just take the jewelry with us, and these things should be turned into silver so that we can use them. ”

After Li Zhi finished talking with the third master, he said to Zhang Zhimu: "I want to take this person away, he is still of some use." ”

Zhang Zhimu asked, "Do you think this person is reliable?" ”

Li Zhi smiled and said, "There is no absolutely reliable person. But his family is here, and if we take him away and not send him to the government, we will save his life, and I have a way to make him obedient. ”

"You're eyeing a few of the shops outside of him, right?" Zhang Zhimu asked.

Li Zhi replied: "Not only two shops, but in order to survive, he also confessed several eyeliner that had been buried for many years, which is what I am interested in." ”

Zhang Zhimu said to Li Zhi: "There is still a task to be handed over to you. After you take the second master, give him a little silver and let him go. Tell him to be a good person in the future. ”

Li Zhi has a characteristic, Zhang Zhimu assigned the task, he generally does not ask why, just performs.

Liu Yun and the others had already collected the scattered and escaped water bandits one by one, and there were more than 400 water bandits in total, and more than 600 water bandits died between the three and second gates.

Liu Yun still used the old method to deal with these water bandits, and let them expose each other, and as a result, there were more than 200 water bandits who killed people and raped ** women. In order to envelop and appease the people here, Zhang Zhimu decided to give an explanation to the people here. Asked how the second master could gather all the people in the village, the second master said that he only needed to ring the bell, and no one dared not come out when he heard the bell.

There is a big bell erected in the courtyard of the Juyi Hall, and when the bell rings, the men, women and children in the village all come to the open space in front of the Juyi Hall one by one. It seems that the water bandits must be very cruel to the people in normal times, so that the people dare not come out and gather as soon as possible.

When the bandits who had tied up all these flowers were pulled out and stood in front of these people, these people let out a burst of surprise. But no one dared to squeak.

Zhang Zhimu stood in front of these people and said loudly: "Hello folks! I am Zhang Zhimu from Yaogang. Everyone has seen that the tied water bandits in front of you have been entrenched here for many years, and they have oppressed the villagers. We will soon send these criminal bandits to the government, and what awaits them will be capital punishment. Their debts are to be paid, and those who die at their hands and those who are humiliated by them will be comforted. The suffering of the villagers is over from today. I also saw that this was once a rich town, and in the future, everyone could continue to live a free life, and in the future, the rice you produced, the fish and shrimp that you hunted, and the beads you stepped on will all belong to you, and you can sell wherever you want, and no one will dare to interfere with you. I hope that the villagers can choose their own leaders, and they will manage everyone's affairs, and the safety issues will be guaranteed by our kiln gang people. ”

The people below whispered one by one, who was very happy, but still no one dared to come out to speak. Zhang Zhimu knew that they had been frightened by the water bandits for a long time, and he couldn't believe that it was true. So Zhang Zhimu was not in a hurry, and after the meeting, everyone dispersed and went home. These tied bandits were escorted back to Xuzhou by Liu Yun and Fan Chengkun and handed over to Xuzhou Zhizhou. The bold people saw that these bandits had been taken away, and they ran home one after another to inform their families.

Lu Chengxiang brought a lot of daily goods this time, and he also arranged for the opening of those original shops and taverns, of course, the shopkeeper was sent by Lu Chengxiang. These commodities are much cheaper than before, and the people are very friendly when they see the officers and soldiers of the kiln gang, and they are not afraid. The women also took out their savings to buy some things to go home. Some people who don't have silver can get a good price for what they produce, and they can suddenly be several times more than before, which makes the whole village slowly lively. You can hear the laughter of children everywhere.

Early one morning, several old men from the village came to look for Zhang Zhimu. In fact, Zhang Zhimu is waiting for them.

After everyone introduced each other, Zhang Zhimu politely gave everyone a seat and tea, which made several old people who came here very moved, and an old man said: "Zhang Dongjia, you are the savior of our Wuluo Island, we have been hurt by these water bandits who have lost their conscience." "I couldn't cry when I said this. A few people who came with me also couldn't stop wiping their tears.

This Wuluo Island used to be a large island inhabited by thousands of people, where you could grow rice and go to the lake to fish and catch crabs, and lived a very prosperous life. If you're lucky enough to catch a superb pearl, you can get rich overnight. Such myths are not uncommon on the island, and several large families on the island basically make their fortunes in this way. Being rich also brings a lot of trouble, and the island has been robbed by water bandits several times. There is no way for everyone to raise funds to build a walled wall on the island, but although the walled wall has been built, there are some honest people on the island, or in an accidental situation, the water bandits attacked the village and occupied the village. At that time, the leader of the bandits was the father of the big boss who sent him away, and they raped and burned them in the village, killing nearly half of the people on the island in three days. The big boss succeeded his dead father, Ban'er, who took over the stockade. Their father and son have been here for decades, and the population of the island has plummeted, and the rest of the people are barely surviving.

After listening to the stories of several old men, Zhang Zhimu said: "Don't hide it from you, now it can be said that the world is in chaos outside." Our Ming Dynasty was coveted by the Manchu Qing and Tatars in the north, and Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong in the south, and the world was really not peaceful. We, the people of Yaogang, did not take up arms to protect ourselves. ”

An old man said: "Zhang Dongjia, don't leave us alone, we can't afford that kind of intrusion anymore." Those days are really not human. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Everyone can rest assured that we will leave some people to help you guard the village, but in the long run, it is up to you to defend the island." Of course, we will provide you with some weapons, and we must not let the tragedy of the water bandits entering the stockade repeat itself. I hope that everyone can elect their own representatives, and we can discuss things with us. ”

An old principal said: "Don't hide it from the Zhang family, we are the ones who were elected by everyone to meet you." There are things we can do on behalf of everyone. ”

Zhang Zhimu asked them to accompany him to several other islands to have a look, and these people readily agreed.

Taking a steamboat, Zhang Zhimu, accompanied by a few of them, went around several surrounding islands, and they came forward to explain what had happened in the past few days to the residents around and on the islands, of course these people were happy, they were finally liberated, and they could live in their own way without being oppressed by the water bandits.

After returning to Oshima, Zhang Zhimu and the others discussed who would stay here. Liu Yun finally said: "Alas, I was reluctant, so I had to leave Shi Xiu behind." He is also an old man who followed his uncle from Lingshui Wharf. This person is bold and careful, and he can use his brain when encountering problems, and I think it will be of great use in the future. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Let him open up the situation here, the two people left by Taiyue Mountain will also be replaced in the future." Now it is necessary to keep a reliable person to hold this place. This is our only stronghold south of the Yellow River, and we should not be careless. ”

Fan Chengkun said: "Leave 50 of my sailors, they are familiar with the nature of the water, and the more than 200 musketeers will be a little worse when they go to the water." ”

Ouyang He took over and said, "What Commander Fan said is that in this case, there should be three hundred of our soldiers and Lu Zong's people left here. In addition, there are 400 water bandits who surrendered, and if you train well, you will be able to cope with general things. As long as you are not careful, a small number of people will not be able to enter the village. ”

After Liu Yun and Shi Xiu finished talking, Shi Xiu agreed to stay and guard the island.

Zhang Zhimu talked to Shi Xiu alone and told him that the strategic significance of this island should not be underestimated, even from an economic point of view. There are two things he wants him to do after he has put together the people on the island:

First, by looking around, the shore around the island is very flat, and you can build a cofferdam far away from the shore during the dry season, so as not to rush into the cofferdam when the water rises. Draw out the water in the cofferdam and add it with lake mud, and level it well, and it is a good land. It is convenient to irrigate here, and in the future, the kiln will bring fertilizer here, and it will definitely produce a lot of grain.

Second, Zhang Zhimu quietly told Shi Xiu that he could experiment with artificially cultured pearls. As for how to cultivate pearls, Zhang Zhimu used to watch the science and education films on TV, and he didn't know anything too detailed, that is, he told him to cut off the mantle membrane tissue of the river mussel with a sterilized knife and make small balls, and put it in the river mussel to produce pearls. In this matter, you must slowly understand that those river mussels here can produce pearls, and then consider it, and in the future, the kiln gang will send you disinfection medicines, glass plates, scalpels and other things. Things have to be explored slowly.

Shi Xiu listened to Zhang Zhimu's words: "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I will do my best to manage these islands well." ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "There are two things to pay attention to in your work, one is to unite the people here; Second, if the situation changes, you must not panic if you can't contact the kiln gang, and you must have long-term preparations for independent combat. ”

Shi Xiu said: "I also came out of the poor pile at Lingshui Wharf, and I know that the life of the people is not easy. I can't make everyone here live like the kiln, but I'll do my best to make them better. ”

Zhang Zhimu was very moved when he heard this, and he said: "After I go back, I will renovate a steamship suitable for sailing here as soon as possible and give it to you." The fish and shrimp produced by the people here cannot be eaten and sold, and can be salted into salted fish or dried into dried fish, and we will buy them, which will increase the income of the people here. Make life here a little better. In the early stage, you need silver, although you open your mouth, for example, you need to build a cofferdam and need to transport it. We will give it ourselves, so that we do not add to the burden of the people here. They have to be paid for their work, and their hearts are flesh and blood, and they will be of one heart with us. ”

When the boats that escorted the bandits returned, they brought back a lot of cloth, oil, salt, and many other daily necessities. Zhang Zhimu asked the representatives of the people to help distribute them to everyone by household, telling them that the people of Yaogang knew that they had been oppressed by the bandits for too long and that their lives were too hard, and these things were given to them by the people of Yaogang.

The people on Wuluo Island felt like a dream for a while, and before they could figure out what was going on, Zhang Zhimu and they had already left the island in the morning mist. They have bigger things to do. When the people on the island knew that Zhang Zhimu and the others had left, they knew that the great benefactor had left. Many of them felt sorry because they didn't have time to thank their benefactors.

As soon as Zhang Zhimu returned to Xuzhou, Lord Zhizhou sent someone to invite him.

Zhang Zhimu took Yang Yulin to the Zhizhou Yamen, and the Lord Zhizhou greeted him from afar and said, "Zhang Yishi, you have made a great contribution." This is a great contribution to the benefit of the people and the relief of worries for the court. How much time did our officers and soldiers spend, and how much money they spent, they didn't do anything, so you can do it with a wave of your hand. ”

Zhang Zhimu replied: "The officials and soldiers of the imperial court will no longer suppress bandits, but will only spend silver. So they can't stop the bandits. ”

Zhang Zhimu's words made Lord Zhizhou very embarrassed, but Zhang Zhimu was telling the truth, and he couldn't refute it, saying, "Ah, I have already reported this matter of yours to the imperial court." The court will definitely reward you. ”

Zhang Zhimu understood that when he reported it, he would definitely say that this matter was carried out under his wise leadership, which was the same as in his previous life.

Zhang Zhimu asked: "How to deal with those water bandits?" ”

Lord Zhizhou said: "These criminals, Liqiu will ask and behead them together, and they will not be spared." ”

Zhang Zhimu deliberately asked: "My lord, the people on those islands have been harmed by the water bandits, can you go and relieve them?" ”

Lord Zhizhou didn't expect Zhang Zhimu to mention this, and said: "This, you see, the money we hand over to the court every year is barely enough. Without money, I am powerless. It's better to be like this, since the Zhang Dongjia rescued them from the sea of suffering, you good people will do it to the end, reach out to help them. ”

In fact, Zhang Zhimu gave him a problem, that is, he didn't want to let him fight there again. No official wants to take care of another place in need of relief.

stopped in Xuzhou for more than two days, first, it took time for Li Zhi to take over a shop and an eyeliner, and on the other hand, those merchants in Xuzhou had to treat them, because Zhang Zhimu was originally a big businessman they wanted to contact, and Zhang Zhimu got rid of the bandits for them, they all broke their heads and wanted to invite Zhang Zhimu. As a result, Zhang Zhimu returned drunk every night for the past two days. At night, Yang Yulin relied on Yang Yulin to take care of her, Yang Yulin not only felt sorry for Zhang Zhimu, but also felt that it was a very happy thing to have the opportunity to take care of Zhang Zhimu.

In addition to the fact that the wine in Xuzhou is a little unbearable, there is another thing that makes Zhang Zhimu very difficult. These merchants all proposed to ask for a copy of the "Kiln Gang Weekly", because here, if anyone says that they have not seen the "Kiln Gang Weekly" is already a very faceless thing, if anyone has a copy of the "Kiln Gang Weekly", it is definitely a very beautiful thing.

Zhang Zhimu was a resolute supporter, and did not touch the 5,000 newspapers left to Li Mao. Otherwise, it's not enough to post it all here.

When he left Xuzhou, he left the remaining 300 cattle and 2,000 horses in Xuzhou, and the cattle, horses, and livestock in this area of Xuzhou were not sold. For other goods, Lu Jun has been fighting with his father to keep more, but Lu Chengxiang has no choice but to leave a little more.

When leaving Xuzhou, according to Fan Chengkun's request, those wheels were left in Xuzhou, and the rest of the fleet continued to go south and went straight to Huai'an. This time when they went to Huai'an, Zhang Zhimu and the others went ashore to lead a few people to drink a drink, and they did not stop in Huai'an after stopping for the night.

These warships couldn't enter the canal, so they stopped in Huai'an, and Fan Chengkun led people to be in charge. The boats were dragged behind the flat-bottomed steamer and headed for Yangzhou together. The thousand-year-old canal is marked by the sound of steam whistles and the roar of steam engines, signaling the dawn of a new era.

On the shore, people all the way looked at this steamboat with thick smoke, and they really thought it was incredible that such a ship could drag such a string of ships through the canal.

The horse team on the shore is in charge of Liu Yun, and this section of the journey should be safe, as long as the horses are managed. The long team of horses is also something that everyone is interested in, because it is rare for thousands of horses to march for more than ten miles at once. When he was about to arrive in Yangzhou, Li Jing took people ashore and personally rode a fast horse to deliver a letter to Li Mao.

When the fleet arrived in Yangzhou, Li Mao's team was already waiting on the dock. The most unexpected thing is that Lu Chengxiang's nephew Lu Qi and Fan Chengkun's son Fan Song greeted the crowd on the dock. At first, Zhang Zhimu didn't see it clearly, but he felt that there were a few people with particularly dark skin in the crowd on the shore who were a little familiar, and when he got closer, it turned out that it was Lu Qi and Fan Song who were back, which made Zhang Zhimu, especially Lu Chengxiang, very happy.

Everyone was polite on the dock for a while, and Li Mao began to direct people to arrange the location of the cargo ship to berth.

Since Liu Yun's horse team was about to arrive, Li Mao arranged a place for the horses. Although the place of the Yangzhou branch is large enough. But it couldn't fit five or six thousand horses. A lot of horse fences were built outside the courtyard wall.

Zhang Zhimu said to Li Mao: "I feel much easier to go south this time than last time, although this time I came all the way through the battle." Because when you arrive in Xuzhou and Yangzhou, you have your own place to live, and you don't need to find an inn. I feel very down-to-earth and feel at home. Next time I go to Kaifeng, I also have my own store, and everyone is full of praise for the house you bought. The place is big enough and the location is good. ”

Zhang Zhimu excitedly talked a lot to Li Mao. In fact, Zhang Zhimu wanted to know more about Lu Qi and Fan Song going to Nanyang at this time.

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