Introduction: In a very hidden place by the river, Zeng Guofan saw the shipyard where he had great hopes for affection.

Afraid of being blocked, Xiao Fusi claimed that Lord Zeng came to see the ship, but no one believed it.

Touching the drag that was about to go into the water, Commander Xiangyong burst into tears, and from his heart he sighed that "Changmao can no longer dominate the Yangtze River".

As soon as Xiao Fusi heard this, he hurriedly listened attentively, and sure enough, he heard the sound of clanging coming into his ear drums. But the sound is very ethereal, intermittent, intermittent, as if it comes from nature.

Xiao Fusi handed over the horse to his soldiers, walked quickly to Zeng Guofan's side and said, "My lord, we seem to have gone the wrong way again. You always listen carefully, it's the back tinkling. ”

Zeng Guofan looked around and said to Xiao Fusi: "Fusi, you send someone to the front to look for it." We're here to rest. I've never had such hot weather in Hunan. ”

A personal soldier quickly followed Xiao Fusi's instructions and ran forward on horseback.

About two quarters of an hour later, the soldiers returned along the same route and said to Zeng Guofan: "My lord, we have gone the wrong way again. ”

Zeng Guofan asked: "Isn't this a three-mile shop?" Unexpectedly, the geography outside Hengyang City is so complicated. ”

The soldier replied: "This is Sanlipu, but when we just left the city pass, we should turn and walk under the embankment." We didn't crutch, so we were wrong. Further on, it is Silipu. ”

Xiao Fusi said: "It's only Peng Xianggong!" I can't wait to hide the boat under the water! ”

Zeng Guofan got back into the car and went back the same way. Walking to the city wall, I gradually approached the embankment, and saw that there was indeed a road hidden under the embankment, which was not very wide.

After getting off the embankment and walking about two miles, two rows of simple mud and straw houses appeared in front of Zeng Guofan's eyes. This is clearly a shipyard. There is a bamboo fence more than one person high around it, with sharp tops on top of it, leaving only one gate for people to enter and exit.

On the periphery of the site, Tsang ordered the car to stop, and all the horses were tied around the car.

A pro-soldier hurriedly opened a large umbrella and quickly covered Zeng Guofan's head.

Xiao Fusi was still leading the way in front and walked into the gate first; Zeng Guofan, surrounded by his own soldiers, followed Xiao Fusi into the shipyard.

As he walked, Zeng Guofan raised his eyes to observe the terrain of the area. The terrain is much higher than the river, and it is backed by a large mound of sand, and the workshops are set up in sheds made of bamboo mats. Looking here from the river, it should be a fish drying ground; From other directions, it is a large dirt mountain. Looking at the terrain here and the location of the shipyard, Zeng Guofan couldn't help but admire: "God really sent Peng Xueqin to help me succeed!" ”

More than a dozen Xiang Yong, who patrolled the sentry, blocked Xiao Fusi's way with guns.

Xiao Fusi took a step forward, and his fingers followed Zeng Guofan, who was behind, and said: "Lord Zeng has arrived, why don't you go and inform Lord Peng to greet him!" ”

All Xiangyong was stunned for a moment, and looked at Zeng Guofan.

One person smiled at Xiao Fusi and said, "Your eldest brother may be a real band." Zeng is a squire, how can he dress up like an old showman? You said that he was Lord Zeng, and I didn't dare to doubt it, but only Lord Liu was in charge of things here. But Lord Liu also left early in the morning, saying that he was going to pick up Lord Zeng! Now, you've got another Zeng! ”

Zeng Guofan was surrounded by all the soldiers at this time, walked in front of Xiang Yong, and was approaching the five tall tows.

Xiang Yong shouted from behind: "Just look, don't touch it with your hands!" Lord Liu is not allowed to touch with his hands! ”

Xiao Fusi ignored it and pulled his legs to chase Zeng Guofan.

More than two dozen workers were busy around the mopping. Someone is nailing the iron sheet, someone is polishing the ship's bon. There are also two people carrying buckets of lacquer and painting the polished wooden boards. Not far away, a large amount of bamboo, iron sheets and planks are piled up, and hundreds of people carry them here. At the top of the mountain, there is a small lookout post, and there are people looking here, presumably for the overseer.

Zeng Guofan walked quickly to the five tall and sturdy tin tin tows, and his heart couldn't help but feel hot. He looked at the boat from boat to boat, and the more he watched, the more excited he felt.

The workers were so busy with their work that no one paid any attention to him, and let him go around and see it.

Zeng Guofan suddenly stopped, stroked the bottom of the boat with his hand, and said in his mouth: "My Xiangyong also has a big war ship!" Long hair can no longer dominate the Yangtze River! ”

After finishing speaking, he walked slowly again.

Walking like this, watching, and touching, Zeng Guofan's eyes suddenly became wet, and two lines of hot tears rolled down.

Zeng Guofan stood still, looked up to the sky and sighed from his heart: "God help me to achieve it!" ”

Xiao Fusi followed behind Zeng Guofan, and suddenly saw Zeng Guofan crying, he couldn't help but be stunned, and hurriedly said: "My lord, I can't cry in the wind!" My mother was blind because she cried in the wind! ”

Zeng Guofan realized his gaffe at this time, so he hurriedly took out a cloth towel to wipe away his tears, but said in his mouth: "Fu Si, how have you ever seen me cry?" I shed tears when I see the wind! You go and ask the worker, where are Lord Liu and Master Peng? We've been here for a while, why haven't they shown up? ”

Xiao Fusi forgot what Xiang Yong said and hurriedly asked the people around him to ask. The soldiers quickly came back and said, "My lord, the worker said that only Lord Liu is in charge of things here." Master Peng practiced water courage by the river not far ahead. Lord Liu went to pick up the adults outside the city early in the morning! ”

Zeng Guofan said as he walked back: "Perhaps, Zimo is waiting in the regimental training yamen in Hengyang at this time. Okay, the boat also saw it, let's go to the river to see Xueqin first, and then go to the city to meet Lord Liu. In this way, in two months, the ships will be launched. ”

Xiao Fusi said happily: "My lord, I have grown so big, I have never seen such a big ship!" On a ship as big as this, it's worth dying if you sit on it! ,, my lord, what kind of ship is this? It looks like a tocrat, but it's bigger than a tocrater. It's rare! ”

Zeng Guofan said as he walked: "This should be a drag, but the model is larger." The details of the situation, as soon as they entered the city and asked Zimo and Xueqin, they knew everything. ”

Zeng Guofan stepped out of the fence to the front of the car, and looked back at the five big tractors twice, and then was helped into the car by his own soldiers.

At this time, a carriage pulled a cart of watermelons came over, followed by two Xiang Yong.

Xiao Fusi was overjoyed when he saw it, hurriedly ran over, pointed to Zeng Guofan's car and said, "Lord Zeng came to see the boat, and you Lord Liu took a fork in the road." Cut a few melons to quench your thirst! ”

As soon as Xiang Yong, who was escorting the car, heard that Lord Zeng had arrived, he immediately ran over to greet him, and said in his mouth: "Lord Zeng, I have seen it!" I've seen it, Lord Zeng! ”

When the two arrived in front of the car, they were about to give a salute, Zeng Guofan had already lifted the curtain and said, "The weather is too hot, don't be polite." The craftsman is working hard, so hurry up and send the melon in. ”

A Xiang Yong said happily: "Sure enough, it's Lord Zeng!" ”

After speaking, the two hurriedly gave Zeng Guofan a big gift, then ran back to the car, and one of them hugged a big watermelon, stuffed it into the hands of his own soldiers, and said, "Quench your thirst." ”

Zeng Guofan smiled: "You guys quickly send the melon in." ”

The two saluted again, and then walked back and escorted the melon cart into the fence.

Xiao Fusi walked over, took out his waist knife and opened the melon one by one, handed Zeng Guofan a piece first, and then stood aside and waited.

Zeng Guofan took the melon, hesitated for a moment and said: "No formality today, eat melons together, and then go to see the." ”

When Xiao Fusi heard this, he hurriedly said loudly: "My lord has something to say, what are you waiting for?" ”

Before he could finish speaking, he had already taken a large piece and ate it first.

With two watermelons in the stomach, everyone felt much cooler.

The soldiers crowded around the car and walked forward with great spirits.

Xiao Fusi muttered quietly as he walked: "There is no boat, how can this exercise be practiced?" ”

Zeng Guofan, who was sitting in the car, was also thinking about this question at this time.

In the distance, I saw an attic made of bamboo poles towering in the water by the river. One person stands on top of the attic, holding a blue flag in his left hand and a red flag in his right hand. This attic is obviously a training podium.

On the surface of the river, dozens of bamboo rafts are arranged in four directions, east, west, north and south. On the bamboo raft stood more than 20 people with guns. Because of the heat, the water warriors were all shirtless, wearing shorts, and barefoot.

When I got closer, I saw that the person standing on the command platform was Peng Yulin.

As the flags danced, the teams on the water constantly changed formations. Suddenly gathered into a ball, and suddenly scattered into petals, which made Zeng Guofan dazzled.

Xiao Fusi was amazed: "This Peng Xianggong is really capable!" Use a bamboo raft as a boat! ”

Although Zeng Guofan didn't say anything, he was also amazed again and again in his heart.

Peng Yulin, who was engrossed in training Shui Yong on the stage, suddenly found that there was a horse-drawn car and hundreds of Xiangyong in front of the stage. He took a closer look and found that the person who came to see the exercise was Zeng Guofan.

Peng Yu hurriedly stopped practicing, walked down the attic, and shouted: "My lord is coming to Hengyang, why don't you place a roll?" ”

As he spoke, he had come to Zeng Guofan's body and was about to perform a great gift.

Zeng Guofan grabbed him and said: "Xueqin, it's me who should give the salute, not you, you have made a great contribution to Xiangyong!" How did you come up with the idea of practicing courage on a bamboo raft? ”

Peng Yulin said: "What did the adults say? My lord, the five tows that are about to be launched, have you seen them? Let's go, I'll take you to see it all over the place! ”

Xiao Fusi said: "Peng Xianggong, I was born in Xiangxiang and grew up in Xiangxiang, I don't know how many kinds of tugboats I have seen!" ,,Why is this old drag you make so big? ”

Peng Yulin said with a smile: "I increased the size, so it became bigger, the load is its length, and the inflexibility is its short." ”

Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "There are longs, there must be shorts." Xueqin, you explain the camp affairs, and let's go into the city to see Zimo together. ”

Peng Yulin agreed, turned around and ascended the command platform again, first waved the red flag, and then waved the blue flag three times.

Zeng Guofan looked at the river again, and the bamboo raft began to slowly lean towards the river, and the raft of water bravely left the raft and went ashore in an orderly manner.

Peng Yulin's training method opened Zeng Guofan's eyes. (End of chapter)