Shu Zhengqing bowed down and said: "General Hui, there are two mountains to the east, one is Fish Mountain and the other is Dangshan Mountain, and there is a bandit in each mountain. The bandit leader of Dangshan is called Lu Xingxing, and some people say that he is Lu Mingyue's brother, his real name should be Lu Xingxing, and most of the bandits under him are Lu Mingyue's old subordinates. After Lu Mingyue was exterminated by the imperial court, these remnants occupied the mountains as cowards, robbed houses and houses, and occasionally attacked the passing ships on the canal. The iron cables in front of the general's fleet should have been laid by them. Most of these people were northerners, and they were usually only ambushed on both sides of the river, forcing the ships to submit with bows and arrows. ”

Da was stunned and nodded, and then asked, "What is the origin of the bandits from Yushan?" ”

Shu Zhengqing's face became solemn: "General Qiyu, the bandit leader of Yushan is a big black man, with an unknown surname. In order to ensure the smooth flow of the canal, many people moved from all over the country to live along the river, and they were responsible for dredging the river and pulling fiber and moving goods on a daily basis. Recently, there have been frequent wars, and these people have no way to live, so they gather in the mountains and forests led by the big black man. The men in the strong suits who jumped into the water just now are them. The two bandits of Yushan and Dangshan once fought because of something, and they often fought in the future. They must have seen that the general's three official ships were luxuriously decorated, and they had evil thoughts, and there would definitely be another ambush ahead. ”

Da was stunned and frowned: "Knowing where these two bandits are, why didn't the local government send troops to clear them?" ”

Shu Zhengqing sighed and said: "The general doesn't know, this place is the junction of the three counties, if the soldiers and horses of Liang County come, they will escape into Qian County, and when the soldiers and horses of Qian County come, they will flee to Pengcheng County, and when the soldiers and horses of Pengcheng County get the news, they will already hide in Liang County." Lu Xingxing's subordinates also went to more than a dozen counties back then, and went into the mountains and forests, like mud cows entering the sea, without a trace. The bandits in Yushan were originally local people, and they were the most well-informed, and before the officers and soldiers arrived, they had already fled or simply hid among the people. However, this group of bandits never harmed the local people, but only kept an eye on the passing ships. ”

Liu Ziqiu listened to it in the cabin, and his face couldn't help but sink. According to Shu Zhengqing, the local people have a good impression of the bandits in Yushan, and even the government sympathizes with them. Although these bandits did not harm the local people, their attacks on passing ships would affect the north-south trade route of the entire canal. Liu Ziqiu, who came from later generations, knew very well that this canal would become a golden water vein for a long time to come, which would bring a huge effect to the country's economy, but no one could allow anyone to destroy it.

Thinking of this, Liu Ziqiu decided not to hide in the cabin anymore, but picked up the curtain and walked out.

Seeing this, Da was about to salute, but saw Liu Ziqiu wave his hand and said to Shu Zhengqing: "I think you answer properly and talk extraordinary, you must also be full of poetry and books." ”

Shu Zhengqing saw that Da was stunned and respectful to Liu Ziqiu, and his heart couldn't help but be overwhelmed. When he joined the army, he naturally knew what position the commander of the Dao Command was, and even the commander of the capital had to respect him, and he was obviously a big man. Shu Zhengqing suddenly became cautious, gave a deep salute, and said: "Back to the adult, the villain has been studying since he was a child, but it happened to be in troubled times, so he had to put pen to paper." ”

Although Liu Ziqiu has continuously improved the treatment and status of soldiers since he came to power, not everyone in this world is willing to join the army, after all, since ancient times, the idea that traffickers and pawns are inferior has long been ingrained. It can be heard from Shu Zhengqing's words that he is also a desperate and helpless move to be this centurion.

This situation is not something that can be changed in a short period of time, and Liu Ziqiu is not demanding of Shu Zhengqing's thoughts, he nodded and said: "Since you read poetry and books, you should be aware of the law and discipline." Whether it is the people on both sides of the strait or the businessmen in the past, they are all the people of my Han Dynasty, and they should all be protected by the imperial court, how can they allow bandits to cause chaos? If I hadn't seen the official sign on the ship, I'm afraid you wouldn't have risen up so quickly to reinforce it! ”

was said by Liu Ziqiu to think about it, and cold sweat oozed from Shu Zhengqing's forehead. Although the young man in front of him is the same age as him, he gives people an invisible coercion, which is invisible, inexplicable, but real, so that Shu Zhengqing does not dare to have the slightest lie. Shu Zhengqing "pounced", suddenly knelt down on the deck, and bowed his head and said: "Lord Mingjian!" Although the bandits of Yushan plundered merchant ships, they only took goods and goods, and did not indiscriminately harm people's lives. Although the villain has the duty to patrol the river, if the persecution is too hasty, it will only increase the casualties. Besides, those treacherous businessmen are accumulating and exploiting the people, so this is also a lesson for them! ”

Shu Zhengqing is not the only one who has this kind of prejudice against businessmen, in fact, if a businessman has a dispute with another person, the local government will often make a judgment unfavorable to the businessman when trying the case. It is precisely because of this that many businessmen choose to take refuge in major families in order to seek a solid backer.

"You get up first." Liu Ziqiu did not think that he had the ability to change this kind of thinking in the short term, so he did not study Shu Zhengqing's wrong behavior, but waved his hand and said, "There are indeed treacherous people among the merchants, but there are no unruly people among the people?" There are good and evil people, and how can they be distinguished by occupation? In this world, scholars, engineers, soldiers, and merchants are indispensable. If there are no merchants, how can there be currency? Why do you want to make the north and the south? You are a reader, think carefully, and understand the truth. ”

"But!" After a pause, Liu Ziqiu's tone suddenly became stern, "If you eat the imperial court, you should be loyal!" If you come to patrol the river, you must not let the thieves run rampant! ”

Shu Zhengqing couldn't help but shudder, and hurriedly said: "Back to the adult, the villain didn't dare to be negligent." However, these bandits are elusive, and the villains are also powerless. ”

Liu Ziqiu also knew that he relied on a centurion who patrolled the river, and more than a dozen clippers wanted to exterminate the two bandits, which was a fantasy, so he didn't criticize him too harshly, just waved his hand and said: "You step back first, and notify the county guards of Qian County, Liang County, and Pengcheng County, as well as the commanders of the sailors and local armies stationed in these three counties to come to see me." ”

Shu Zhengqing couldn't help but be startled when he saw his big breath, but he still stiffened his head and asked, "I don't know what to call an adult?" ”

Liu Ziqiu glanced at Da stunned, and Da was stunned and hurriedly took out a waist card and said loudly: "You take this thing as a letter, this general is here, who dares not to come!" ”

Although the official position of the imperial guards is not too high, after all, he is the person next to the emperor, who dares to neglect it? Although Shu Zhengqing couldn't guess Liu Ziqiu's origin, but with the identity of Da Xuan, presumably the three county guards and those chiefs would not dare to disobey.

……

After Shu Zhengqing retreated, the curtain of the hatch was opened again, but it was Gao Xiu'er who walked out of it and said softly: "Husband, do you have to stay here?" ”

When she was attacked just now, Gao Xiuer went down to the bottom to protect a few children. However, there are gangways inside and outside the cabin of this official ship, Gao Xiu'er has been in Changshan Village for so many years, of course she understands that at this time, the lower you are, the more dangerous it is, so she has already brought Liu Sigen and them up through the gangway in the cabin. Of course, when the crisis was solved, she kept hiding behind the curtain, and naturally she could hear it clearly.

Liu Ziqiu nodded slowly and said: "The two bandits of Dangshan and Yushan are two tumors on the canal, which must be eradicated, otherwise there will be endless disasters!" ”

Gao Xiu'er said with a smile: "It's just two small bandits, as long as the husband mobilizes a large army, it is not a revolt to exterminate them." ”

Liu Ziqiu smiled and said, "The imperial court has raised so many local troops, and it is time for them to take on some roles." Moreover, the bandits in Dangshan are easy to say, and they will be destroyed if they are destroyed, but the bandits in Yushan are related to the local people, so they must be dealt with carefully. Not only this place, but the entire canal must be cleaned up with great efforts. Xiu'er, you draw up a will for me to Mr. Wei, and ask him to send orders to all places, one is to crack down on the thieves around the canal, and the other is to restore the river workers of the year. But there is one rule, it is strictly forbidden for river workers in various places to form gangs, and if they are found, they will be severely punished! After speaking, Liu Ziqiu sighed again: "Some things are only clearer if you have seen and experienced them with your own eyes." It's not in vain to go down to Jiangnan this time! ”

I have to say that Yang Guang set up a river engineer after digging the canal, which is indeed a very powerful idea. After all, the canal is not naturally formed, and over the years, it will inevitably produce siltation and collapse, which need to be regularly inspected and maintained by river workers. Although Yang Guang may have dug the canal only for his own selfish desires, the role of this canal in the country's economic and social life cannot be erased, and Liu Ziqiu certainly wants to maintain this canal.

……

Shu Zhengqing's efficiency is not slow. Five days later, Wu Junwu, the commander of Liang County, Min Bo, the commander of the local army, Tan Guoyuan, the commander of the local army, Du Xinhou, the commander of Pengcheng County, Ji Mingming, the commander of the local army, and Qiao Wei, the commander of the naval division, came to the bank of the Xiayi Canal.

At this time, three huge official ships had docked, and the guards had also set up camp on the shore. When these guards came ashore, they immediately became vigorous, and although there were only five hundred men, they could hold a camp so impregnable that it would be difficult for thousands of troops to break through. The big village in the middle is Liu Ziqiu's imperial tent, guarded by a hundred female guards, and it is difficult for ordinary people to get close to it.

After the officials of the three counties arrived, they were arranged with Shu Zhengqing in a camp on the outskirts, guarded by guards, and no one was allowed to enter or leave at will, including their entourage, which made those officials somewhat apprehensive. After all, they received the news and have not even seen Da Da's stunned face so far. The most worried are Wu Junwu, the Taishou of Liang County, and Min Bo, the commander of the local army, after all, the official ship was attacked on the ground under their jurisdiction, and if they dig deeper, they will be the most responsible.

It wasn't until the sixth day that a team of guards came over and said in a deep voice: "Take off your weapons and follow a certain audience!" ”