From Xiangyang to Changsha by waterway, it is necessary to pass through the Han River, the Yangtze River and then the Xiangjiang River, and these three water systems are connected. At this time, although it was a cold winter and the moat had been frozen, the water surface of these three rivers was wide and the water flow was rapid, and it was not frozen. The fleet has long been familiar with this waterway, and a lot of supplies have been prepared on board, and there is no need to dock for supplies on the way.

Liu Xin insisted on going to Changsha in person this time, and another purpose was to inspect the navy, ships and this waterway by the way. His plan is not only limited to unifying the Central Plains, but has set his sights on the sea, although it is still a very distant thing, but Liu Xin is now beginning to take precautions.

The boat traveled on the water for two days and entered the Yangtze River. In these two days, Liu Xin was not idle, he used this time to have a preliminary understanding of the structure of the ship, the key points of navigation, and the communication of the fleet.

It was now nearly dusk, and Liu Xin was still in the cabin talking to a few elderly sailors who were not very experienced.

Liu Xin said with a smile: "Let's talk about it, what suggestions do you have for our water army." ”

These sailors had a good impression of the approachable young state pastor in front of them, and a middle-aged sailor with a long beard and dark skin stood up first and said: "Hui Lord, my surname is Wang, and everyone usually calls me Lao Wang." Since the lord asked, I will say it directly. I originally made a living by fishing in Xiangyang, but I was later conscripted into the army, and because I was familiar with the surname Shui, I was transferred to the Jiangxia Water Army. There are more than 2,000 people who have been transferred with me, we have been stationed in Jiangxia for many years, and we have not seen each other with our families all year round, and we are very homesick, can the lord also give us a few days off? ”

Liu Xin nodded and said, "Well, Lao Wang said it very well, this issue can be considered later." ”

Another sailor, Da Niu, was encouraged, and also stood up and said, "My lord, we have nothing in Jiangxia, but the local army always bullies us, and we usually don't dare to go ashore alone. I don't understand, we are all soldiers of the Han Dynasty, why can't we respect each other. ”

Another sailor stood up and said, "My lord, the people we came here this time were all transferred from Xiangyang. Most of the Jingzhou Navy are Jiangxia natives, and they usually don't get along with us in old age and death, and they do their own thing. If there is a war and we can't cooperate with each other at all, can the lord build another water village on the Han River in Xiangyang, transfer us all over, and separate from them. ”

Liu Xin brought these sailors over, originally wanting to hear what advice they could give to the development of the navy and all aspects of the warship, but he didn't expect that they all seemed to be full of scratches, it seems that the problem of the navy is not small, he couldn't help frowning.

Seeing Liu Xin's solemn expression, all the sailors couldn't help but feel worried in their hearts, and they all stopped talking. Liu Xin was about to want them to continue, but Zhao Yun hurriedly walked in and said, "Big brother, several clippers suddenly appeared on the river, blocking the way of the team. ”

Liu Xin's heart sank, and said, "Let's go, go to the deck and have a look." ”

Halfway through, two lieutenants greeted him and said, "Lord, there are three clippers blocking the river in front, it seems to be a group of rangers." ”

"Ranger? Swordsman! Liu Xin was shocked, there was more than one more, did they want to rob the rich and help the poor!

Zhao Yun hurriedly explained: "The rangers are just idle unemployed vagrants, who do more stealing, robbing, and fraud. ”

Liu Xin realized that it was not a hero of martial arts, but his own peers, and his mood calmed down, and asked the two captains: "How do you know that it is a ranger?" Do you know where they came from? ”

The two captains said in unison: "Hui Lord, the last general has been in the navy for many years, and he knows a lot about things on the river. There is no doubt that these clippers belong to the rangers, but those who dare to openly intercept the ships of the navy, except for the Jinfan thieves, no one else must have the courage. ”

"Sail thief!" Liu Xin was even more surprised, isn't that Gan Ning?

As they spoke, they had already reached the bow of the ship, only to see Wen Ping commanding the archers to wait for them. Liu Xin looked around, only to see three clippers lined up, and the sail on the middle boat was actually made of a colorful brocade forging, and the sunset shone on it, emitting a dazzling light, no wonder it was called a brocade thief.

There were not many thieves on the fast boat, there were only one or twenty people on each boat, and many of them were also dressed in brocade jackets, and it was obvious that they had gained a lot from robbing houses and houses. In the middle of the bow of the boat stood a person, who seemed to be underage, holding a big knife in his hand, dressed in a colorful brocade jacket, and the river breeze blew, and there was a crisp ringing sound of "Ding Ding Dangdang".

Liu Xinzheng wondered to himself, took a closer look, and found that this dressed young man with bells and whistles was full of bells. Liu Xin couldn't help but despise them.

Just when he was relaxed, he heard a burst of "Jinfan thief!" in his ears! It's a brocade thief! Exclaimed. Liu Xin turned his head to look and saw that the panicked people around him were all middle and lower-level officers, and ordinary soldiers and sailors did not panic in the slightest. Liu Xin suddenly became vigilant, these ordinary soldiers and sailors were only transferred from Xiangyang this year, and they had never encountered a Jinfan thief, and these middle and lower-level officers had obviously learned his power. This shows a problem, except for Cai Mao, the officers in the navy are basically promoted from the old army, and they are all locals of Jiangxia, no wonder those Xiangyang sailors just now have ideas. It seems that after going back, I will have a good talk with Cai Mao, and I must find a way to change the composition of the officers.

By this time, the young man had already cried out, "Listen, the people on the other side of the boat, leave half of your belongings, and let you go!" ”

Hearing the young man's shout, the two naval cadets said to Liu Xin tremblingly: "Lord, the Jinfan thief is brave, we are still ......"

Wen Ping interrupted them angrily and shouted: "How can this be reasonable, there are so many officers and soldiers, and you have to be afraid of a few little thieves!" ”

Liu Xin caught a glimpse of Zhao Yun going to get a bow and arrow, and knew that he was also a marksman, vaguely remembering that Gan Ning was killed by a bow and arrow in history, and hurriedly stopped: "Seventh brother, wait for me to talk to him." ”

In just a few moments, Gan Ning's clipper had already approached this side.

Liu Xin stepped forward with his head held high and shouted, "It's Gan Ning who came in front?" ”

The young man seemed stunned for a moment, and then asked, "Yes, how do you know me?" ”

Liu Xin smiled: "Sure enough, it's you." Do you know who we are? ”

Gan Ning laughed and said, "Aren't you the Jingzhou Water Army?" In my eyes, it's not much different from a local chicken and a dog. ”

The scots around him burst into laughter.

Liu Xin was not annoyed, stopped Zhao Yun and Wen Ping, who were eager to try, and said: "Gan Ning, I am Liu Xin, Mu of Jingzhou, let me tell you the truth, I do have a lot of property on this ship today, but you don't want to take any of it." ”

Gan Ning raised the big knife in his hand and said disdainfully: "It doesn't matter if you give it to me or not, but if you ask me about the knife in my hand, it won't agree." ”

Liu Xin said indifferently: "Gan Ning, it's not that I underestimate you, in terms of numbers, we are much more than you; As for boats, your few dinghys are not enough to touch; In terms of martial arts, you are no match for my brother. I can't think of anything you have to be confident in? ”

Gan Ning listened to his words, was stunned for a moment, then sneered, and said: "I said Lord Zhou Mu, this is on the river, and fighting does not depend on a large number of people. What is the use of martial arts, we also have to see how the surname Shui is. ”

Liu Xin still said calmly: "Oh, so you are very confident in your water surname?" Dare you make a bet with me. ”

Gan Ning asked alertly, "What do you want to bet on?" ”

Liu Xin's face sank, and he said: "I'll bet with you, let's set off from here together to see who can swim to the other side first." If you swim to the other side first, half of the property on my ship will be shared with you, and the Jingzhou Navy will make a detour when they see you later. If I swim to the other side first, you will be at my disposal. ”

Gan Ning hesitated, the other party was a regular imperial court navy, although he had fought with them many times in the past, and they were defeated, but no one dared to guarantee that he was a victorious general, if he could defeat him in the surname Shui, wouldn't it save a lot of trouble. However, at this time, it was the cold winter of the ninth month, although the river was not frozen, the river was cold to the bone, and it was Gan Ning, who had been begging for life on the water for many years, and after October, he would not easily go into the water unless he had to.

Liu Xin saw that Gan Ning didn't speak, and said contemptuously: "Hmph, what kind of Jinfan thief, don't you dare to make this bet with this official?" It turned out to be a coward too. ”

Gan Ning couldn't be excited, and seeing Liu Xin's polite appearance, he secretly thought, these officials are all pampered, I'm afraid they don't even dare to go into the water, they must have scared me just now, so he gritted his teeth and shouted: "Okay, I'll bet with you!" ”

The cold wind on the river was cold, standing on the bow of the boat wearing a cotton robe could still feel the slightest cold, Zhao Yun looked at the Taotao River, this section of the river is very wide, although their position is not on the riverside, but from here to the other side of the swim is also eight hundred steps away, and can't help but say worriedly: "Big brother, you must not take risks, or let me go down." ”

Liu Xin gently patted Zhao Yun's shoulder and said, "Seventh brother, I am absolutely relieved of your martial arts, but when it comes to the surname Shui, you are not the opponent of this Jinfan thief." Don't worry, I won't lose. ”

At this time, there was a sound of "Ding Ding Dangdang" on the opposite side, it turned out that Gan Ning saw that Liu Xin did not move, thinking that he was timid, and he couldn't wait, so he took off his brocade jacket and threw off the bell.

Seeing this, Liu Xin also stripped off his clothes, leaving only a pair of pants, revealing a strong muscle. He secretly took a breath to drive the cold away, and then said: "Gan Ning, you count one, two, three, and we will dive together." ”

Gan Ning pursed his mouth and said, "It's better for you to count, lest you lose and say I'm cheating." ”

Liu Xin laughed and said, "Okay, then I'll count, you can hear clearly." One...... Two...... Three! ”