Chapter 128: Huai'an buys a shop

After sending Yan Boju and them away, the camp suddenly became much quieter. Without the voices of the women and the laughter of the children, Zhang Zhimu suddenly felt empty in his heart.

Liu Yun and Liu Chenghuang are seizing the time to train the team. After two days of recovery, the newly formed cavalry was ready to train in formation. These cavalrymen were already in good health, and after two days of conditioning, they quickly recovered almost. And these cavalrymen have been trained for a long time before, so it is easy to get into the state after resuming training.

Ouyang He and Chen Yufeng were also studying the tactics of these cavalrymen without muskets and their coordination with musket cavalry. The 2,000 infantry are now mainly trained in horseback riding, because now each of them has a war horse, and if they do not master the technique of riding horses well, they cannot play the role of horses.

Li Jing still led his special forces to patrol everywhere, not letting go of any clues.

The next day, Li Jing came to Zhang Zhimu's tent. At this time, Chen Yufeng and Ouyang He were also there. Li Jingchong said: "Today we are going to attack, and those Manchu troops should send people over again." Since we don't know when they will come, we will come back a few days late, so you don't have to worry. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "You go this time, at most two days, if you don't wait for anyone, you must come back." We're thinking about something else. ”

Li Jing agreed and went.

Zhang Zhimu: They really waited for two more days, and Li Jing and they came back. Not only did they come back, but they also brought back a team of scouts sent by Jiang Zongbing. It turned out that after Li Jing and the others came to the ambush site, they took out a special eiderdown sleeping bag from their backpack and spread it on the ground, and after they were hidden, they waited for the prey to take the bait. This special eiderdown duvet cover is very lightweight, and when not in use, it can be compressed and packed in a pocket, which is lightweight and warm without taking up space.

At first, Li Jing didn't understand, what did Zhang Zhimu ask them to do with this thing? Later, Zhang Zhimu asked them to stay in the wild for one night, just after October, it was also very cold to stay in the wild for one night. The next day, Zhang Zhimu asked them to bring an eiderdown sleeping bag and go to the field to sleep for the night. Now Li Jing and the others knew that this eiderdown sleeping bag was a good thing, and they didn't dare to use this thing to cover their bodies tightly at night, it would be too hot.

When they returned, Zhang Zhimu told them that such sleeping bags could sleep in the snow in winter. They kept trying it, but it still hadn't snowed. Even if it didn't snow, the November nights in the north were already very cold, and now Li Jing really knew that this thing was really easy to use.

They had been lying in ambush for two days, and just as it was dawn and they were about to withdraw, they heard the sound of horses' hooves ahead, and they thought that the prey they were waiting for had arrived. But to their disappointment, it was a team of scouts sent by Jiang Zongbing. Li Jing and the others had no choice but to show up. When these detectives saw Li Jing and them ambushing here, they said to withdraw, there was no one in front of them. Those Manchu troops had long since left, and they did not know where to go.

It turned out that this team of scouts had been searching and advancing, and came to the camp of the Manchu army, and the traces of the camp were still there, but the Manchu army was gone. They expanded their scope to search everywhere, and as far as they searched Zhangjiakou, they found no trace of the Manchu army, so they had to come back first to report the news. I didn't expect to meet Li Jing and them here, so they came back together. After briefly talking about the situation, this team of Jiang Zongbing's scouts was about to return to their camp to report the situation. Zhang Zhimu didn't stay long, and told them to bring a message to the chief soldier, and we will go over to meet him tomorrow.

After Jiang Zongbing's scouts left, the cadres of Yaogang also held a meeting together. Let's discuss the form in front of you. Now there are two possibilities, one is that the Manchu army did not wait for their liaison officer to bring the Mongol army and their division, they felt that the situation had changed, so they withdrew to the outside of the Great Wall first; Another possibility is that they couldn't wait for these Mongol cavalry, so they went to Zhongshu Province (now Hebei Province) first.

Chen Yufeng said: "No matter what the reason, now that they are out of the way, we should go to Zhangjiakou first." Get down to business. ”

Others also unanimously agreed with Chen Yufeng's opinion, and Zhang Zhimu had no choice but to agree with everyone's opinion. In fact, what Zhang Zhimu can't say is that these Manchus will immediately kill Zhongshu Province and then go to Shandong to plunder. I want to take a little action to interfere with them. But now the conditions are not ripe, so let's go to Zhangjiakou first to sell the goods in hand, and then talk about which eight businessmen in Zhangjiakou still have to spend some energy to deal with it.

So the meeting decided to prepare for the day tomorrow, and if there were no accidents, the caravan would set off the morning after tomorrow.

The next day, Zhang Zhimu, Chen Yufeng, and Yang Yulin, under the protection of Li Jing, came to Jiang Zongbing's camp again, and waited outside the big tent for the soldiers to pass the letter, and after a while, the soldiers came out and said, "Your Excellency, please go in."

Zhang Zhimu and the others entered the big tent and saw Jiang Zongbing discussing the military situation with his deputy generals and other generals in front of a large map. Seeing Zhang Zhimu and them coming in, General Jiang introduced these generals to Zhang Zhimu one by one. These generals have long heard of Zhang Zhimu, and they are also very polite to Zhang Zhimu.

Jiang Zongbing said directly to Zhang Zhimu and them: "This morning, I have sent a team of men and horses to the front to restore the defense of Yanghewei's guards. So it's very safe here. As for where those Manchu troops went, we haven't been told yet. But the road from here to Zhangjiakou can be walked. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "I am here for this matter, we plan to leave for Zhangjiakou tomorrow, Jiang Zongbing has recovered Yang Hewei, then we have no worries about the journey within this day." This time, we are here to say goodbye to adults. After speaking, Zhang Zhimu stood up and said, "I see that the adults are studying military affairs, so we won't bother." ”

In fact, Jiang Zongbing is really studying military affairs with his generals, and Jiang Zongbing should not be a guest at this time. But Zhang Zhimu is a guest who is too special for Jiang Zongbing, he can't help but see it, but fortunately, his generals also know about Zhang Zhimu's righteous deeds to the Datong defenders, so they won't have an opinion. But Zhang Zhimu had already seen this, and he really didn't have anything else to do, so he took his leave.

Jiang Zongbing was really busy, and he didn't stay deeply, so Zhang Zhimu and the others got out of the big tent, got on the horse and returned to their camp.

Ouyang He and the others saw that Zhang Zhimu and them were back, so they came to Zhang Zhimu's tent together.

Seeing that everyone was together, Zhang Zhimu said: "Let's have a meeting to discuss tomorrow's itinerary." ”

Ouyang He said: "We have consumed a lot of ammunition, although we deliberately brought some more this time, but the consumption is still more than we thought." Each musketeer came with a hundred rounds of solid ammunition and one hundred shotguns. Now half of the shotguns are consumed, and a third is also consumed by the solid ones. This time the musketeers will be replenished. Otherwise, without bullets, a musket is not as good as a stick. Most of the oil mines have been consumed, and the explosion mines have consumed a little and a half. **Consumption is not much. If there are not many battles in the future, it will be enough. It's just that the Manchu soldiers don't know where they have gone. Let's prepare a little more. ”

Chen Yufeng said: "We still have the ** given by General Jiang Bing. It's just that there is no bamboo, otherwise we would still use the method when we went south, using bamboo *** thunder and fire oil mine. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "There is nowhere to find bamboo now. We can tie ** to the bow and arrow to make rockets, as we did when we went south. We have seized a lot of bows and arrows. ”

Ouyang He said: "Our tactics of blowing up the Mongolian cavalry are really too effective. We're going to have to use this method more in the future. So you should prepare a little more *** now, so as not to be too late to do it now. ”

Zhang Zhimu nodded approvingly and said: "What Mr. Ouyang said will be done immediately, and it is really twice the result with half the effort if you use it well." Back to the kiln, we can use rubber as a sheath to make a *** that can be used in water, so that the scope of our use will be expanded. In the future, it will also be used to pull fire mines, which will be safer and more reliable to use. ”

Zhang Zhimu also knew that these people couldn't understand what it meant to pull fire and thunder all of a sudden, and he didn't explain more. Fortunately, now these people are used to some things that Zhang Zhimu said they don't understand, and they know that as long as Zhang Zhimu says it, it will be realized in the future, so they don't ask.

After discussing tomorrow's affairs for a while, everyone was about to adjourn. At this time, the guards came in and reported that Li Wei had brought people back. Before Zhang Zhimu could ask what was going on.

Li Wei came in at once. Li Wei, who came in, saw that everyone was here, and said happily: "But let me catch up, you are all here." ”

Zhang Zhimu was also very happy to see Li Wei, and said, "Come and sit, tell me why your kid is here." Didn't you let you carry grain? ”

"yes, tell me about it." Everyone also asked Li Wei gossipingly, and Li Wei didn't know who to answer.

Zhang Zhimu gave Li Wei a bowl of water, and Li Wei drank the water in one go, and then said, "Who are you asking me to answer like this?" Are you afraid that I will rob you of your credit? You have destroyed so many Mongolian soldiers, and you have made great contributions, and you are still afraid that I will fight? ”

Li Jing laughed and said, "You're late, and you don't have a chance to fight if you want to." ”

Chen Yufeng stopped everyone's jokes, "Tell me why you're here?" ”

Li Wei hurriedly said: "I didn't come without permission, it was Mr. Yan who agreed to me to come." ”

"Tell me about the situation." Zhang Zhimu said.

Only then did Li Wei explain the situation carefully.

Li Wei and Yan Xing escorted the caravan together, and they arrived at the kiln gang smoothly, but Yan Xing and the others didn't want to enter the kiln gang like this, he was afraid of causing unnecessary trouble. Not far from Yaogang, Yan Xing and the others turned into a fork in the road to hide, and when the caravan had passed, he led the team out and went directly back to Niutou Mountain. Since Li Wei and Li Yunhe sent a fast horse to inform the family in advance, the family also sent someone to greet them.

Huang Yukun didn't expect such a big team to come back this time. When the caravan arrived home, Huang Yukun mobilized everyone in the kiln gang to help, and even Lu Bingyi and his disciples came out to help. The horses and livestock were smoothly enclosed in the fence that had been built long ago. Most of the goods brought back were also transported to the cave for storage.

When the students heard that the caravan was back, they didn't have any mind to go to class, Huang Yukun and Lu Bingyi discussed and felt that the children's hearts could not be contained, and the effect of the class would not be good, so they gave the children a day off. The children were overjoyed and came out to gather around the caravan to help.

Listening to Li Wei's introduction of the family, everyone was very willing to listen. Everyone is also worried about the situation at home.

Li Wei said that the dormitory buildings at home have almost been built. When he came, Huang Yukun had already sent someone to inform the people from Niutoushan to move to Yaogang. Li Wei also said that the newly built houses are equipped with glass windows, and the inside can be lit. From the outside, you can see what the people in the house are doing.

Hearing Li Wei say this, everyone laughed again. Someone said, "Then I don't live in a house with glass windows." ”

Zhang Zhimu smiled and said: "In the future, every family will have to hang window curtains, and you can't see anything at night." There was another burst of laughter.

Chen Yufeng said angrily: "It's useless for you to say something, tell me why you're here?" ”

Li Wei continued. It turned out that after Li Wei arrived home, it didn't take long for Zhang Zhimu to send a fast horse from Datong to Yaogang. After Li Wei received the letter, he immediately used the two hundred taels of steel-reed carriage he brought back, hired a batch of camels, and loaded 10,000 stone of grain. Ben Datong came with those musketeers. The journey was very smooth, because the bandits on the road hid far away when they saw that it was the caravan of Yaogang. Since there was someone who went back to deliver the letter to lead the way, Li Wei soon came to Datong. In Datong, Li Wei heard that there were already two caravans of kilns, which happened to be camped outside Datong City. Li Wei hurried over and saw that it was Yan Boju and Yang Jing's caravan. Yan Boju told Li Wei that he had just arrived yesterday, and that a small group of caravans had been waiting here for several days.

In this way, they discussed, and after Li Wei's repeated requests, Yan Boju agreed that Li Wei would bring back two hundred musketeers and one hundred and fifty steel spring carriages to chase Zhang Zhimu and them. Leave a hundred musketeers to follow Yan Boju back to the kiln. The fifty steel reed carriages he brought with him pulled the copper and silver exchanged with the general soldiers of Datong and followed Yan Boju back to Yaogang. The matter of sending 10,000 stone of grain to Datong will be run by Yang Jing again. After the next unloading of grain, the exact 200 steel spring carriages will be left to the general army of Datong.

After hearing this, Zhang Zhimu said: "Uncle Yan's task is not light, and he sent you back." He doesn't worry about us. ”

When Li Wei heard this, he hurriedly said: "I asked Mr. Yan, and he said that these horses are much easier to catch than our four thousand wild horses." We didn't dare to be careless along the way, so it didn't matter much. Mr. Yan said that the people who followed him knew that it was his own business, and they did their best, which also saved him a lot of worry. But going back all at once is enough for the family to be busy. When I came, Mr. Yan also set off, and he sent a fast horse back first. It is estimated that I can get home a few days early, and the family can prepare in advance. ”

After listening to Li Wei's words, Chen Yufeng smiled and said: "This old thing is still successful, and I still know how to do things." ”

Zhang Zhimu knew that Yan Boju looked lazy on the outside, but in fact, he was very aware in his heart, and he was definitely a person who could take care of things. This time he let him perform once, in fact, this kind of thing is very exercised, Liu Yun and they have changed a lot after going north and south. Looking at Liu Yun's demeanor now, it is definitely the demeanor of a steady general.

Now, Li Wei, a general, has returned, and there are 200 musketeers, and there are 800 musketeers, and the strength has increased a lot.

Lu Chengxiang was very happy when he saw another 150 steel spring carriages coming, "With these carriages this time, we can buy more goods and come back when we arrive in Zhangjiakou." We don't buy horses, we'd better be able to turn the silver into goods and bring them back. ”

Now Zhang Zhimu's caravan has become Liu Chenghuang replacing Liu Yun and leading people to open the way in front, or Li Wei leading people to break off, and Liu Yun commanding in the middle. In this way, Zhang Zhimu and others have much more peace of mind. But this time the caravan was much longer than before. The front goes out for a long time, and the back can move. The quality of the Mongolian leather tents is still good, Yan Boju and they took the rest, and Lu Chengxiang asked everyone to bring it.

The caravan went all the way to the outside of Yanghewei before setting up camp. After Yang Hewei was broken by the Mongol army, the Mongol army completely looted and destroyed it again, and all the houses were set on fire, but the fortifications had not yet had time to be destroyed. The defenders sent by General Jiang could only set up tents and camp on the ruins. Some of the people who came back one after another were still looking for something they could use in their burned houses. The whole situation was very miserable.

Zhang Zhimu couldn't stand it anymore, so he asked Lu Chengxiang to leave some of the extra Mongolian tents for the people here, and some horse meat and grain salt for them. Otherwise, these people will not be able to survive even if they come back.

The defenders of Yang and Weixin also came from Datong, and they were also very familiar with Zhang Zhimu. Zhang Zhimu went to visit them, and they were also very polite. Zhang Zhimu brought a lot of horse meat, and these officers and soldiers were very happy when they saw it. Zhang Zhimu said to the pipe belts of these defenders, everyone hold on, next year we will prepare to open a transportation route here, and prepare to set up a station in Yanghewei, and then I will find a way to bring some food for the brothers. These officers and soldiers were overjoyed when they heard this, and they felt bad luck when they were originally selected here to guard such a destroyed guardhouse, and they were all depressed. Hearing Zhang Zhimu's words, there was finally something that made them interested, and they couldn't be happy. They also knew that Zhang Zhimu gave them 10,000 stone of grain as soon as he was there, and he was not a stingy person.

The pipe band said: "Zhang Dongjia, even if you set up the site here, we can help take care of anything." Soon, the chief soldier will send someone to repair the house for us, and it will be much better if you come here again next year. The fortifications here are complete, and it is fast to repair the houses. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "When the spring warms up next year, I will also come to build a house and build a station here, and at that time it will be indispensable to trouble the brothers." ”

The pipe band said: "Don't worry, I have all kinds of people in these soldiers, carpenters and masons, and you will squeak when the time comes." ”

Zhang Zhimu easily handled the relationship with these officers and soldiers very well, thinking that this was the first stop after leaving Datong, and it was here. It is best to build an inn here, there are no inns here before and after, in addition to receiving the buses of the transportation company, you can also do business with passing merchants.

Leaving Yang and Wei Shi Yang and Wei said, Zhang Dongjia rest assured to go, the scouts I sent yesterday did not find the shadow of the Manchu army until Huai'an.

On the first day after leaving Yanghewei, he camped outside a small village where no one had run away, and Li Jing came back after going out and said that he had found traces left by a large group of people camping not far ahead. However, no trace of the Manchu army was found.

In the evening, Zhang Zhimu, Chen Yufeng and others discussed and didn't come up with a clue, and they didn't know why more than 20,000 Manchu troops disappeared. Chen Yufeng said: "Regardless of him, if we can't meet better, we will go to Zhangjiakou to do our business." ”

After setting off the next day, there was nothing to do all the way, and the caravan arrived at the camp outside Huai'an City.

This Huai'an County is also an ancient county seat, it is located in Shanxi Zhongshu Province (Hebei) Mongolia border, known as the three provinces of chickens. Huai'an means "the court is benevolent, and the people are at peace with grace". However, due to the turmoil, the people in the county have already run a lot.

Zhang Zhimu and the others entered the county seat before it was dark and the city gate was not closed. The streets in the county town are very deserted, and they don't seem to be angry at all.

Lu Chengxiang said that if we set up a station here, it would be better for everyone to take the opportunity to buy an inn in a panic now. Zhang Zhimu can do it if he wants, so he doesn't have to build another store by himself. A few people said that it was better for us to live in the city today, and the camp would be handed over to Liu Yun and them.

I saw an inn in front of me that looked good, and a few people went in. There were almost no customers in the inn, and a shopkeeper was also sitting there napping. Hearing someone coming in, the guy hurriedly got up and asked, "Are the guest officers staying in the hotel?" ”

Lu Chengxiang went over and said, "Do you have a room?" Arrange a few for us. ”

When the guy heard this, he shouted, "There are a few rooms above." Back please. ”

The guy shouted, it was to inform the guests who came later. The guy led Zhang Zhimu's people to the backyard. Lu Chengxiang asked the guy, "You don't seem to have any guests?" ”

The man said, "Alas, there are no guests in the chaos." Our store will not be able to open soon, haven't you seen that several inns in the city are closed? ”

Lu Chengxiang looked back at Zhang Zhimu, Zhang Zhimu thought in his heart, if he really wanted to sleep, someone would send a pillow.

Waiting for Zhang Zhimu and others to live in the guest room, he felt that this inn was okay, the inn had a total of two courtyards before and after, there were more than 40 guest rooms, there was a good face in front, and the location was also good.

Lu Chengxiang said to Zhang Zhimu: "I'll go to meet their owner. And he went out.

As soon as Zhang Zhimu and the others finished washing their faces with the hot water brought by the buddy, Lu Chengxiang led the two people in.

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By the way, I recommend "Memories of the Southern Song Dynasty", similar to this article, it is also a "technology flow" through the novel, but it takes place in the Southern Song Dynasty, Yashan, Anti-Yuan, Restoration, and European World Wars.