Chang Tao's suggestion, Yin Chengyi finally listened to it. After all, he didn't want to be beaten all the way to Jiangnan by thieves.

After seven or eight days of rest in Rizhao, the fleet left the port again, sailed south for some distance according to the route Chang Tao had described, and then turned into a tributary of the Huai River and headed for Hongze Lake.

At this time, the legions on the front line had received news that Yin Chengyi, the governor of Dadu, was leading a new fleet to the south, and was preparing to unify the command of all naval forces and compete with Bao Yuchun for control of the river.

Regarding this matter, whether it was Yang Li of Yiling, Ma Hongjie, and Murong Xue, they couldn't help but shake their heads again and again.

Emperor Li Bing did not know Yin Chengyi's true ability, but the generals who fought in front of him knew it. The Grand Governor, who relied on speculation and luck to ascend to the top, was at best at the level of a captain, and letting him command the naval battle would be another disaster for Shengtang.

Xu Youchang also had similar worries, so he found Li Jiangyao and discussed how to deal with the huge variable in front of him next.

"Jiang Yao, don't you really think that Yin Chengyi has the ability to defeat Bao Yuchun, right?" Xu You's sword eyebrows tightened: "It's not that I said something frustrating, when Lao Bao was the governor of the navy, he was still a small lieutenant in the East Palace, he had never led soldiers, never fought, and never had contact with the navy fleet. Not to mention competing with Bao Yuchun, he can't even beat the thieves, it's a joke! ”

Li Jiangyao was busy with something in his hand, and he replied: "I read Chang Tao's letter, more than 600 capital warships, and they were beaten by hundreds of broken ships and had no power to fight back, which is indeed a bit unreasonable. ”

Xu Youchang rolled his eyes and snorted, "Why can't you say it?" It's simply insulting to the military! This alone is enough to remove him from his post. ”

Li Jiangyao put down the things in his hand, turned his head and smiled: "Then what can you do?" The emperor likes such loyal ministers, and he is not afraid to defeat the battle. ”

"Aren't you worried at all?" Xu Youchang was puzzled: "Yin Chengyi's rank is the highest on the front line, and he is ordered to command all the sailor fleets, including our Kunpeng army. Do you really want him to harm the soldiers of the Tenth Army? ”

Li Jiangyao saw that Xu Youchang was a little anxious, so he also put away his smile: "Do you have any plans?" ”

Xu Youchang nodded: "Yes, indeed." I've already thought about it, when Yin Chengyi arrives in Yangzhou, don't come forward, I'll deal with him! The Kunpeng Tenth Army was formed by me, I have the final say, he likes to sue whoever he likes, I don't listen to his blind command! ”

Li Jiangyao looked at his good brother, waited for a while and asked, "It's over?" ”

"It's over!" Xu Youchang replied arrogantly: "He is a stupid pig, why should I listen to his command?" ”

Li Jiangyao shook his head gently: "I'm afraid this won't work......"

Xu Youchang raised his hand to interrupt him: "Jiang Yao, I know you don't agree, and I know what you want to say. At this time, it is not a question of national righteousness, but a major matter related to the life and death of the whole army! One general is incompetent, and the three armies are exhausted. No matter what you say, I won't let the Kunpeng fleet obey Yin Chengyi's command, unless you remove me!" ”

Speaking of this, Xu Youchang immediately added: "No! Even if you remove me, the Tenth Army must not bow to Yin Chengyi and be at his mercy. ”

Li Jiangyao hugged his shoulders and said with a smile: "Friend, you have disappointed me a little. pondered and pondered, just thinking about not listening to Yin Chengyi's command? The bold Xu Shuai is on this pattern? ”

Xu Youchang was about to open his mouth to refute, but he suddenly realized a trace of unusual meaning from Li Jiangyao's words, and looked at Li Jiangyao with surprise and joy: "You...... What do you mean? ”

"What you want is just not to obey Yin Chengyi's blind command, and what I'm thinking about is that you shouldn't let this metropolitan governor command at all." Li Jiangyao smiled faintly: "In my opinion, Lord Yin is just an escort officer, and his only mission is to send us warships." ”

Xu You stood up suddenly: "You mean, grab the ship?!" ”

"Look at what you said, what do you mean by robbery? At best, it's a loan. Li Jiangyao smiled evilly: "Everyone is the army of the imperial court, and they are all here to fight traitors, so aren't the things of the imperial court also our own?" ”

Xu Youchang reacted and couldn't help laughing: "Jiang Yao, Jiang Yao, I really convinced you, you are more ruthless than me!" Doing this, aren't you afraid that the emperor will trouble you? ”

Li Jiangyao smiled: "The emperor is not happy with me, it's not a day or two, and it's not bad at all." Besides, if you don't obey Yin Chengyi's command, isn't it also a rebellion? In the end, the account still settled on my head. Rather than being so unhappy, it is better to do a little more perfectly. In short, we can't just watch Yin Chengyi kill the lives of the soldiers, but give the rebels a chance! ”

"Good! I'll listen to you! Xu Youchang patted his thigh and said excitedly: "What are you going to do?" Do you want to kill Yin Chengyi? ”

A cold light flashed in Li Jiangyao's eyes: "I think Yin Chengyi has lived to the end." This person has always been in cahoots with Wei Zixuan and has done a lot of bad things, even if he is not Lao Jianhua's internal response, he has been making trouble in the court for a long time, which is tantamount to aiding and abusing. Yin Chengyi had been hiding in the imperial capital before, and I didn't want to make trouble, so as not to affect the counterinsurgency process, so I didn't move him, but now this guy is self-righteous and trying to go to the front line of the river to make trouble, then don't blame me for being unkind! ”

Xu Youchang bowed slightly: "You're right. The Governor's Mansion led by Yin Chengyi is the operational decision-making body of the Shengtang Army, and its destructive power is too great. Since he sent it himself, we must not miss this great opportunity. ”

-

"Report to the Governor, there is the mouth of the canal ahead!"

Yin Chengyi stood on the handsome platform of the flagship, holding the railing with both hands, looking at the swinging river in the distance, he was full of spirit for a while, and he was indescribably happy.

He turned his head and smiled at Gong Chengze, who was standing beside him: "Brother Xian, out of the estuary, less than twenty miles to the west, is Yangzhou Port." You've been here to inspect military affairs before, but are there any fun places to recommend to this commander? ”

It's good that he didn't mention inspecting military affairs, but as soon as he mentioned this, Gong Chengze couldn't help but feel angry.

Last time I was ordered to inspect, I happened to meet Ye Rongcheng who attacked Yangzhou Taizhou, and he was inexplicably pulled to top the vacancy of the Xuanwu Army, carrying the rebel attack to death, and almost lost his life here. What's the fun to go for? Where to die, do you want to go with sincerity?

Thinking like this, Gong Chengze didn't dare to show it, and hurriedly flattered: "Brother Yin Yaxing." However, my little brother was unfortunate that I came here last time, and I was attacked by rebels, so I didn't have time to find a fun place. ”

"It's okay." Yin Chengyi smiled and waved his hand: "When we get to the place, it's not too late for us to find it slowly." Yangzhou should be the jurisdiction of the Zhenjiang Army, right? Did you notify Li Jiangyao that Xu Youchang came to greet him? ”

Gong Chengze was stunned when he heard this, and immediately responded: "Brother Yin doesn't know, Yangzhou is indeed responsible for the defense of the Zhenjiang Army, but Li Jiangyao has always been in Luzhou, I'm afraid he can't come in person." ”

Yin Chengyi snorted coldly in displeasure: "Tell me, how arrogant this Zhenjiang army has become, it simply doesn't take the emperor and the court seriously." Isn't it just relying on yourself to make some contributions? Without them, the Turks would not have been able to drive away? Can't the rebels be extinguished? I don't believe it! ”

Gong Chengze nodded again and again: "Brother Yin is right. Not only Li Jiangyao, but also Murong Xue. Relying on himself to follow the emperor at the earliest, he has the skill of following the dragon, and he looks down on everyone. ”

"He's the first fart!" Yin Chengyi said angrily: "Can Murong Xue be earlier than me? When Ben Shuai served the emperor, he was still playing martial arts. Brother Xian, I have heard all your grievances, the last time I was ordered to inspect military affairs, I counted him Murong Xue as the least to give you face. Don't worry, this matter is on my brother and me, this time I have to clean him up! ”

Gong Chengze was secretly happy when he heard this, and hurriedly slapped a few more sycophants, coaxing Yin Chengyi to be overjoyed, and further consolidating his plan to suppress the Qinglong general.

The two talked and laughed, and sailed out of the canal with the warship and into the river.

As Yin Chengyi said, the mouth of the canal is not far from the Yangzhou wharf, and the fleet went upstream, and arrived smoothly in the evening. By this time, the port had been emptied, and the lieutenant of the local garrison was leading his men to wait in a queue on the dock.

The flagship and a small number of warships were moored, while the rest of the main forces stayed in groups on the river outside the harbor. Yin Chengyi strode down the trestle bridge, and the captain of the Zhenjiang Army stepped forward to salute, informed Yin Chengyi, Gong Chengze and others of their names and positions, and welcomed the arrival of the imperial fleet.

Yin Chengyi saw that the Zhenjiang army sent to greet him was only a lieutenant, and he didn't even see a deputy general, so he was immediately very dissatisfied, and after complaining a few words with a gun and a stick, he immediately got on his horse and entered the city.

However, the lieutenant of the Zhenjiang army stopped Yin Chengyi and reminded him that on the other side of Yangzhou Port was the rebels' Jingkou Water Village, where a large number of broad-sea fleets had been stationed for a long time. If the Metropolitan Governor leaves his naval division and goes to Yangzhou City, which is more than 20 miles away, to settle down, once something happens on the river, I am afraid it will be too late to respond.

Gong Chengze listened to the side and nodded repeatedly. Although he is greedy for glory and wealth, at least he is still a soldier, and he has also suppressed bandits and poisoned soldiers, so he is not so neglectful of warfare. Therefore, he also followed Yin Chengyi, the fleet had just arrived here, or stay on the ship for the time being, and then go to the city to rest after a few days of stability.

"I want to live with you, Ben Shuai is tired of staying on the ship!" Yin Chengyi said unhappily: "What's so terrible about the rebels on the other side? Unless Bao Yuchun comes in person, they won't be able to eat my 600 battleships! ”

Gong Chengze saw that the other party insisted on going to the city to rest, he couldn't help but feel helpless, he pondered for a while, and said to the lieutenant of the Zhenjiang army: "The governor of Yin is indeed a hard journey, otherwise, you accompany the governor of the capital to live in Yangzhou City, so that you can be entertained, don't slack off, and embarrass your General Li and General Xu." The officer will stay here for the time being, so that he can take care of the fleet. ”