The seized money and property had been transported to the land, and the news that the Jieyi Army had taken over was brought back through the scout ships of the various bandits who probed the news, which immediately made those who originally had ideas from all walks of life die down.

Originally, for the sake of property, they might have taken action against the fleet of the Jieyi Army, at most, when the Jieyi Army's sailors were approaching, they would take refuge in the Qi army. Now on the Taihu Lake, in addition to all kinds of water bandits, that is, the Jieyi Army and the Qi Army are facing each other. Since it is hostile to the Jieyi army, it is not a way to defect to the Qi army. However, this is also their retreat after taking action, not that these water bandits are willing to defect to either the Jieyi Army or the Qi Army.

In particular, the bandits of the central waters, who live on the islands and are isolated from the land, are not afraid that the two sides will attack their lair with superiority on the land. Speaking of water battles, they are confident that they are not bad with both sides. However, this does not mean that they are willing to be hostile to either side.

For these bandits, a free, unfettered life is what they need now. And when you go to join the sailor, you naturally have to obey other people's military orders and be subject to various constraints.

Therefore, when the news that the rebels had transported their belongings to land came back, these bandits had no idea of continuing their operations. After all, there is no benefit, and they deliberately attack forces that are stronger than themselves, which is something that no fool will do.

However, when Yan Mingfeng of the Qi army heard the news, he secretly scolded angrily. He originally planned to use these attractive benefits to lure the bandits from all walks of life, make them hostile to the Jieyi army, and then force them to surrender to his side. Unexpectedly, the fleet of the Jieyi Army did not stop in the western waters of Jiaxing County, but the property obtained from the looting remained in Jiaxing County and was transported to Songjiang Mansion by land.

However, even so, Yan Mingfeng did not dispel his idea of using this fleet of sailors of the Jieyi Army. The news that the Jieyi Army attacked the water bandits recruited by the Qi Army and annihilated them all, under his own promotion, has completely spread throughout the waters of Taihu Lake, especially the central and southern waters.

This also made many water bandits look down on the Qi army, or rather, on Yan Mingfeng and them, the envoys of the Qi army who recruited the water bandits. At the same time, they also valued the ability of the Sailor of the Jieyi Army. After all, the Jieyi army was within the jurisdiction of the Qi army, and attacked the Qi army's naval division with a small number of troops, but it was a complete victory over the other party. Therefore, when Yan Mingfeng encountered the next few bandits, when he was about to recruit the other party, he was despised by the other party, and used this battle as an example, which made his face very dull.

In addition, not only Yan Mingfeng, the envoy of the Qi army, but also the situation of the other two roads, is also comparable to Yan Mingfeng. This made the other two Zhao'an envoys very dissatisfied with Yan Mingfeng. Because of your failure here, the entire Zhao'an cannot go smoothly. Although Yan Mingfeng hadn't heard from the other two colleagues, Yan Mingfeng understood that they must have cursed themselves in their hearts. Therefore, Yan Mingfeng must now do something to Hu Le's team.

After Hu Le and the others transported the bandits' families, craftsmen and belongings ashore, it was equivalent to relieving themselves of the biggest burden. Subsequently, with the assistance of the Jiaxing County Government, a group of soldiers were supplemented. Although these soldiers are not from the navy, they are all water-savvy. After all, there is water all around, and many of the soldiers are local fishermen. So, it's still no problem to let them act as a water army.

After replenishing his corporal to 2,000, Hu Le did not immediately go north, but consulted with many captains under his command and decided to counterattack the Qi army sailors who were preparing to attack the Jieyi army on this water.

"The general's intentions, we want to split into three and attack separately? In this way, although we can make our goals smaller, we can also surprise them. However, our strength has also become weaker, if we are alone against the sailors of the Qi army, I am afraid that ......" After listening to Hu Le's arrangement, Li Mingjie, who was relieved because his family was able to make proper arrangements, couldn't help but worry.

Hu Le smiled and said, "It's okay! The division of troops this time is two weak and one strong, two virtual and one real. Our troops are divided into three places, and the purpose is to let the opponent's sailors also act separately, so that we can gather all our strength and destroy them all the way. In addition, although the strength of the Qi Army's water division looks strong, there are four water bandit combinations. However, they have always been water bandits, and they cannot be called water masters yet. Judging from the news obtained by the Flying Eagle Guard and the Shadow Guard, these four water bandits were recovered by this Qi army envoy with Yan Mingfeng, and it was only a few days, and they didn't even integrate, how can we compare with our regular sailors? ”

"Three sorties, one east, one west and one north, appeared in three places, so that the Qi army could divide its troops. In this way, we can destroy it all the way with superior forces, let these so-called Qi army sailors take a good look at the strength of our Jieyi army, and let those water bandits who want to defect to the Qi army know what kind of decisions they should make. ”

"What if they don't divide their forces?"

"No division of troops, no division of troops, we will gather to the west, with the intention of attacking the nest of the four water bandits. Will they still be able to go then? It is true that these water bandits have defected to the Qi army, but they still exist independently. In other words, they value their own nest, and their own interests are above the military orders of the Qi army. This is also the disadvantage of the Qi army recruiting these water bandits, but not integrating them. Although the Qi army is like this, it can quickly recruit many bandit teams, but even if they are more than us, they are not our opponents. Hu Le said in a deep voice.

The time for the Qi army to recruit the water bandits was only in these few days, but the Jieyi army persuaded the water bandits for more than a month. However, Yan Mingfeng was able to recruit four people in a few days. Perhaps, this Qi army has already been arranged, but this also shows how fast they are. And if it is put on Hu Le, I am afraid that sometimes even one is a problem.

The reason why this is the case is because the Qi army recruited water bandits, which was forced to do so, and it was necessary to suppress the water division of the Jieyi army in the waters. So, they give these water bandits a lot of freedom rights. The Jieyi Army was different, they persuaded the water bandits to merge the water bandit team into the water division of the Jieyi Army, and selected the appropriate people to be soldiers, and the unsuitable ones were arranged on the spot to become the people. Many of the bandit leaders, who were accustomed to being free and giving orders, were reluctant to surrender to the Jie Yi army, so the movement of the jie Yi army was much slower. However, in this way, the strength of the Jieyi Army's sailors is much stronger than that of the other party. Because of this method of the Qi army, these teams that have already flaunted the banner of the Qi army's water division are still water bandits in essence.

"Li Mingjie and Xu Wenle, the two of you each have a unit, and they will act in the east and south respectively, and you must let the Qi army sailors know your traces, but you can't let the Qi army sailors get close. In order to make your speed faster, the warships of your team are all fast ships, so the combat effectiveness will not be too large, and the purpose is to disperse the strength of the Qi army. If the Qi army does not move, then you will meet in two ways and go from the north to the west. ”

Yan Mingfeng led more than 100 large and small ships, with more than 3,500 water bandits, and headed towards the east. Before they could catch up with the men and horses of the Jieyi army, they got the news from the clippers who were inquiring about the news from the water bandits, and in the north and south of them, there were fleets of the Jieyi army, and in terms of numbers, they were comparable. In addition, there is a part of the fleet to the east.

This kind of action of the Jieyi Army made Yan Mingfeng a little overwhelmed. At present, his strength is far superior to that of the other party, but the other party has divided his troops and appeared, which makes Yan Mingfeng a little worried. The performance of the Jieyi Army in Wu County, Yan Mingfeng is very clear. As a subordinate of Shen Tuxiong, he was taken by the Qi army from the old nest of Wu County, and he has not been able to recapture it so far, so he naturally understands the methods of the Jieyi army.

Yan Mingfeng was worried, but for the four water bandits below, he was not worried. In their opinion, the overall strength of the other party is inferior to their own, and now that they have a division of troops, they can completely follow the division of troops and annihilate the other party. After all, your own forces are far superior to those of the other side, and the more dispersed the opponent's strength, the greater your advantage.

Yan Mingfeng naturally did not underestimate the other party like the water bandits under his command, he naturally did not agree to divide the troops, but wanted to join forces and attack the other party with superior forces. As long as one way is eliminated, the strength of the Jieyi army will be reduced, and there is no need for him to follow the other party to fight separately. Yan Mingfeng understands that the other party's division of troops naturally has the other party's calculations, and on the premise of not knowing the other party's plan, it is definitely not a good way to follow the division of troops.

Yan Mingfeng chose the North Road, because the North Road was the only way for the Jieyi Army to turn back. In Yan Mingfeng's opinion, as long as they take the north route, the remaining fleet of the Jieyi Army can be wiped out step by step.

However, before he could get close to the northern fleet, he received news that the fleet of the righteous army on the east side had joined the northern route and retreated northward. At the same time, the road to the south began to run westward, and the target seemed to be the lair of the four water bandits.

Seeing this, Yan Mingfeng had nothing, he insisted on continuing to pursue the north road, even if he couldn't destroy the other party, he could drive it out, and then turn back to the west and besiege the people who went west. At that time, the fleet of the righteous army on the way west will not be able to get out. In this way, although you can't completely annihilate the other party, it can be regarded as a great success if you can get rid of all the way.

However, Yan Mingfeng thought well, but he overestimated his control over the four water bandits under his command. For the four centaurs under his command, his lair is more important than the fleet that pursues the Jie Yi army. Therefore, after learning that the people of the Jieyi Army were heading towards his rear, the leader of the four water bandits had his own opinion.

As a last resort, in order to appease these four people, and also to take down the people of the Jieyi Army. Therefore, Yan Mingfeng began to divide his troops. All the way north, to pursue the retreating Jieyi fleet in order to force them not to join up with the other group. The other part went westward to besiege and kill the other general. In order to let these water bandits do what they wanted, Yan Mingfeng let his cronies be in charge of the northern front, and he personally led his troops westward to besiege and kill the group of Jieyi Army sailors who dared to toss in his rear.

However, before Yan Mingfeng could catch up with the fleet of the Jieyi Army advancing westward, he got the bad news that this Jieyi Army Sailor had destroyed Shujia Island, the old nest of the Shujia water bandits in the four routes under his command. Moreover, from the mouths of the Shujia water bandits who fled for their lives, it was learned that after the fleet of the Jieyi Army took Shujia Island, because the water bandits' nest was lax, they were ready to divide their troops to attack the other three places.

Is it okay to pay it back this time? I've been killed. In particular, Shu Lin, the leader of the Shu family's water bandits, was even more sad and angry and asked Yan Mingfeng to go all out to surround and kill this water bandit. And the other three water bandits even asked the army to march towards the location of their lair.

Yan Mingfeng suddenly had a big head, at this moment, he understood that the people of the righteous army were clearly using tricks to divide the power in his hands, and originally he only had half of the power in his hands, if he was dividing the troops, then there would only be more than ten warships and hundreds of soldiers from all walks of life.

Of course, theoretically speaking, the strength of the Jieyi Army after the same division of troops is still weaker than itself. However, there is no definite information on whether the other side will divide its troops or not. In addition, now Yan Mingfeng has seen the contrast between the strength of his own side and the other party's true strength. Perhaps, in terms of numbers and troops, one's own naval army is superior to the other party, but in terms of strength, the combat effectiveness of the Jieyi army is greater than that of one's own. It can be said that one side is a water bandit, but the other side is already a regular water sergeant.

Although Yan Mingfeng repeatedly told his subordinates that this was a trick of the Jieyi Army, he could not be fooled and could not continue to divide the troops, he only needed to go straight to the nearest road, take all the horses and horses, and join with the other two places to completely defeat the Jieyi Army. Of course, Yan Mingfeng also took advantage of the situation to merge their four water bandits all the way to the city, just like the Jieyi Army, to form a complete team of water divisions.

However, none of the four bandit leaders below disagreed. In particular, Shu Lin, after learning that the Jieyi army did not kill all the families of the bandits on the island, decided to go back to investigate and settle down. The leaders of the other three water bandits reluctantly accepted what Yan Mingfeng said, join forces in one place, arrive at the nearest place first, and after converging the old nest people, they will be in the place where the other water bandits live. In doing so, not only will the troops not be insufficient after the division of troops, but it will also be able to gather the men and horses and ships left by the various bandits on the island to watch the house.

In the end, Yan Mingfeng saw that his three-way men and horses had already exceeded the strength of the Jie Yi Army's water division, so he did not force Shu Lin's troops to act with him, and let him return to his lair. After all, Shu Lin's hometown was attacked, and if he didn't let him go, it would be a little unreasonable.

Aside from the ordinary people who went to the north road, there were only more than a dozen large and small warships and more than 500 water bandits. However, because it was a turnaround, he didn't pay much attention to it.

Shujia Island is not large, irregular oval, in the west of the island, there is a place with an embedded depression, here is Shulin Wharf, where ships dock. After learning that the lair had been attacked, the number couldn't help but delay for a moment, and rushed back. He couldn't even sleep at night, and when he thought that his old nest was broken by the Jieyi Army, and the family business he had accumulated was seized by the Jieyi Army, Shu Lin felt a faint pain in his heart.

On the second day, the sky was slightly bright, and Shu Lin and the fleet finally approached his old nest, Shujia Island. However, because the water port where the ships were berthed was to the west, they had to take a detour to the northern tip of the laugh before they could land.

"Alas...... How do you say it to the brethren? Listening to the lively chatter of the brothers outside because they were coming home, Shu Lin couldn't help but shrink his brows. After a while, he sat up and rubbed his face, and walked out of the cabin, about to tell the brothers the news that Shujia Island had been patronized by the Jieyi Army, when he heard the voice of surprise from the lookout man standing in the watchtower: "Where is the fleet over there?"

"Fleet?" Schrington felt bad, and the fleet had just rounded the northernmost point, and then went south, back to the docks of the waterport. But at this moment, there was a huge fleet of ships on the opposite side, and it was also approaching quickly in an offensive state.

"That's a lot, no less than fifty or sixty searches!" A water bandit beside Shu Lin said in surprise.

"Damn! This is the warship of the Righteous Army. Didn't you say that they had all gone north? Why are you still here? Seeing the bright flag on the ship in front of him in the approaching fleet, Schrington felt cold.

Xu Ying, the leader beside Shu Lin, also beat a few spirits, and said to Shu Lin in a trembling voice: "Leader, ...... Is that...... That's the fleet of the sailors of the Jieyi Army! How did they end up here? "Xu Ying also knew about the attack on the lair, so he was very frightened that the fleet of the Jieyi Army would appear here.

"What should I do?" Shulin immediately summoned several leaders to discuss the matter at hand. Now there are three paths before them. They had more than a dozen warships, large and small, but the only ones that could really play an important role in the water war were five large armed merchant ships, in addition to hundreds of boatmen and oarsmen and five hundred sailors. But the warships on the opposite side are several times larger than their own, and there are two building ships, and these two building ships alone can already suppress their five large armed merchant ships.

Moreover, the two sides are now opposite each other. Therefore, the most direct way is to rush over, with the advantage of wind direction, and rush through the interception of the Jieyi Army, how much can you escape.

In addition to facing the strong charge head-on, that is to retreat. However, now they are moving forward with a tailwind, then retreating is a headwind, and besides, it will take time for them to turn around. Whether they can escape the pursuit of the sailors of the Jieyi Army is still two theories. According to the size of the opponent's fleet, it is completely possible to let the clippers hinder their escape first, and then surround and kill the whole army. So, retreating will not work either. Besides, the appearance of the Jieyi Army's naval division fleet here was clearly to set up an ambush in advance to ambush itself. Who can guarantee that there will not be several large ships intercepting in their rear?