After Zhao Gou's deployment, he mobilized a large army and attacked it in groups, making Fang La's defense unguardable, and making Fang La's occupation of a lot fewer states and counties. Today, Fang La's power is only eight states, a total of twenty counties, all of which are under the jurisdiction of eight states. Eight states, namely Shezhou, Muzhou, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Changzhou, Huzhou, Xuanzhou, Runzhou.

At this time, Jiaxing, Songjiang, Chongde, and Haining were all county governance, and Fangla occupied eight counties in the south of the Yangtze River, across the Yangtze River, so that the army led by Zhao Gou wanted to attack Fangla again, and only by crossing the Yangtze River could it reach Hangzhou. For this reason, Zhao Gou convened everyone to discuss how to make a decision again.

Zhao Gou said: "The Fangla rebels are powerful and cannot be underestimated. In front of it is the Yangtze River, which is the first dangerous place in the south of the Yangtze River. Across the river is Runzhou. Only by breaking through Runzhou and using it as a foundation can we lead the troops into the south of the Yangtze River and attack Hangzhou, where Fang La is located. However, if you want to cross the Yangtze River quietly, it is not a simple matter, I don't know what your best plan is? ”

Zeng Xiaoyun continued: "Marshal and colleagues, a few days ago, I got a report from a spy that Runzhou has Fang La's privy counsellor Lu Shi and twelve commanders guarding the riverbank, all of whom are strong in martial arts and should not be underestimated. If you cross Runzhou, it must be a bloody battle, with the strength of our army, I am not afraid of him, but it is a pity that I am an army, not a navy. ”

Wu Yong said in a deep voice: "In the Yangtze River, there are Jin and Jiao Ershan, leaning on the city of Runzhou. Our army can send a few brothers who are familiar with the water to explore the road and inquire about the news across the river. If nothing is discovered, our army can use boats to cross the river by relying on the topography of the Jin and Jiao Mountains, avoiding the eyes and ears of the enemy. ”

Zhao Gou asked: "The armies of the DPRK and China are all armies, and there are no naval armies, how can there be brothers who are familiar with water, and only rely on the Liangshan brothers." Moreover, this distance is not a little bit, and only people with excellent water quality can go there. If you know how to water but can't guarantee your safety, it's useless to go. ”

Everyone was silent, and they all clearly knew that the Yangtze River stretched for 9,300 miles and was connected to three rivers, namely the Hanyang River, the Xunyang River, and the Yangtze River. From Sacheon to the sea, there are many places in between, which is called the Yangtze River. As for the two mountains, they belong to the middle of the river, and the terrain is dangerous, and only those who are agile must be able to walk.

At this time, Zhao Gou led the army to Huai'an, and it was not far from Yangzhou. If you want to continue the attack, you can only send your brother to find out the news. There were also a few brothers in the Liangshan army who were very good at water, and they all stood up and said in a loud voice: "Marshal, we are willing to go!" ”

Zhao Gou raised his head, looked at the three Ruan brothers, Zhang Shun, Li Jun and others who stood up, and said in a deep voice: "Do you know how dangerous it is to go?" If you are the slightest mistaken, you will be discovered by the enemy, and your life and death will be unknown! If it really hurts my life, then it's my responsibility, and I'll talk about it. ”

The three Ruan brothers and others were all very good people with excellent water nature, and they were ready to die when they stood up. Ruan Xiaoer replied: "Marshal, several of us are people with excellent water nature, and we are as flexible as fish in the water, even if we encounter the Fang La thief army, we can jump into the river to save our lives. ”

Wu Yong answered: "Marshal, they are reasonable, and the water nature is indeed second to none, and no one can match it. If none of them are up to the task, I'm afraid we won't be able to reach them. Now is the time when the two armies are fighting, and the only way to do this is to place heavy responsibilities on them, and not to delay the fighters. ”

Zhao Gou pondered for a moment and said, "Since this is the case, then you will go." However, you must not go all of them, and you need to leave a few people behind to meet them. If something really happens, it's better to be prepared, it's better to be like this. Chai Jin, Shi Xiu, and the two of you went with Ruan Xiaoqi and Zhang Shun, and the others stayed in the rear and stood by. ”

The little whirlwind Chai Jin and the desperate Saburo Shi Xiu hurriedly agreed, and Zhao Gou continued: "The four of you can go in two ways: Zhang Shun and Chai Jin all the way, Ruan Xiaoqi and Shi Xiu all the way. You can go to Jin and Jiao Ershan, and then rest for one night, and then inquire about the truth of the thieves' nest in Runzhou after recuperating and recuperating, and come to Yangzhou to reply. ”

Ruan Xiaoqi, Zhang Shun and the other four nodded solemnly, and then said goodbye to Zhao Gou and quietly left. The four of them went in two separate ways, and took two soldiers with them, making a total of eight people. When they left the barracks, they immediately changed their clothes, dressed up as merchants, and hurried along the road in Yangzhou.

When the people heard that the Song army was fighting with the Fangla rebel army, they had already left the village with their families and found a place to hide. The four of them looked at the people with their children and daughters along the way, sighed helplessly, and then continued to move forward, stayed in Yangzhou City, prepared dry food and acted separately.

Shi Xiu and Ruan Xiaoqi took two soldiers pretending to be merchants and went towards Jiaoshan; Chai Jin and Zhang Shun also brought two people, carried the dry food by their side, each carried a sharp knife, carried a Pu knife, and the four of them went to Guazhou to prepare to cross the river to Jinshan.

At this time, it is the early spring season, the spring flowers are blooming, the fragrance of flowers is coming to the nose, when they arrive at the Yangtze River, look away, what catches their eyes is the snow waves, rolling smoke waves, like a fairyland on earth, can not help but admire. However, they didn't stop too much to enjoy the view.

Zhang Shun and Chai Jin looked around, and saw the blue and white flags in the distance, and there were many ships on the shore. It's just that on the shore, there is no wood. Chai Jin was surprised: "On Guazhou Road, although there are houses, it seems that no one lives in them, and there are boats but no ferry wood pulp, how can this be good?" ”

Zhang Shun said: "In this way, we have to rest here for a while, and after finding the people in the village to find out the truth, we will discuss how to cross the river to Jinshan." ”

The four of them had to go to the riverside, and they found several houses in a row, but no one answered, and all the doors were closed. Everyone pushed it, but when they saw that they couldn't push it open, they couldn't force the door in, so they could only go around to the back of the thatched house, and through the gap in the eaves, they saw a figure shaking inside, and they knew that there were people in the house.

Zhang Shun, Chai Jin and others knocked on the door again and shouted: "Mother-in-law, please open the door, we are merchants who come and go, and we want to borrow a boat and cross the river." ”

After a while, a silver-haired old woman opened the door tremblingly, and Zhang Shun then asked, "Mother-in-law, why don't you open the door at home?" ”

The mother-in-law replied: "It's not a secret, now the imperial court wants to start a war with Fang La and exterminate Fang La." I am here at the mouth of Feng Shui, and if the imperial court wants to cross the river, it must pass through here. We are all poor people, where can we manage the affairs of the war between the imperial court and the army of Fangla. However, if the imperial court let us send the soldiers across the river by boat, what if we were injured by mistake? ”

In desperation, some families moved away, and their children took refuge elsewhere. However, this place can not be left unattended, the old body is very old, if the imperial army comes, it will not let me, the old woman, go to the boat to cross the river, and this is the root of the old body, where can I walk for a long time, I can only stay here to watch the house. ”

Zhang Shun hurriedly asked: "The four of us want to cross the river, but I don't know where there is a boat?" ”

At first, the four of them looked at the boat that was lined up and thought it was a ferry, but there was no wood pulp. When they got closer, they found that all the ships that were stuck on the shore had been carved holes. Originally, with the help of these boats, any one of them could cross the river. Now, I have to find another way.

The mother-in-law said, "Where are the other ships?" Recently, the lord of Runzhou City heard that the imperial army was coming to attack Runzhou City, and he had already collected all the ferries and sent them to Runzhou City. As for the boats outside, they were all untaken and all of them were scuttled through the bottom of the boat. However, these boats are the livelihood of us fishermen, and how can we survive without them? ”

Everyone was silent, they were all ordinary people, in order to survive, they had to embark on this road, especially Zhang Shun had been fishing for a living before, and the lack of boats was like losing his life, unable to make a living, there was only a dead end, and his heart was also extremely angry.

Zhang Shun continued: "It's getting late, the four of us want to borrow it for a few days, and then use some silver with you as room money, I wonder if my mother-in-law agrees?" ”

The mother-in-law raised her head and replied, "There is no need for silver, they are all poor people, and it is useless to have silver during the war, so you will rest here." However, my family does not have enough food to eat, and there is no bed mat, and the army of the court is coming again, so if you don't mind, then live here. ”

Zhang Shun said: "Please rest assured that we will arrange these things and will never disturb you." ”

So, the mother-in-law opened the door and let Chai Jin and the other two enter the house together. There was plenty of space in the thatched hut, where the mother-in-law slept while the four of them lived in the hall. After they came in, they took out the knives, luggage, and some dry food and baked cakes, and gave a little to the mother-in-law, so that the only way to do this is to rest here for one night and then make plans.