This place is fifty miles north of Suzhou. It is called Yong Bridge, also called Fuli Bridge, and later called Yongji Bridge.
Built during the Renzong period of the Northern Song Dynasty, it is the world's first large-scale wooden arch bridge and is a famous scenic spot in Suzhou, Fuli Xiaodu.
Due to the importance of Yongji Canal in the Tang and Song Dynasties, Suzhou was established at Yongqiao. Because of this bridge, it became a city.
The long arch bridge gathered a large number of people and businessmen, carrying luggage and enduring the scorching sun, slowly moving forward along with the long queue.
"Ding dong——"
A bunch of copper coins were thrown down, and there was a loud crisp sound.
"Let's go!" Wearing a bamboo hat, the guard waved lazily.
Immediately, the travelers carrying their luggage eagerly stepped onto the arch bridge.
At this time, a merchant holding a mule was pulled, and the hand that dropped the copper coins was also caught:
"Who are you fooling? Five pennies for a person and twenty pennies for a mule. Don't even think about getting past it!"
The guard's eyes shone brightly and he scolded sternly.
That expression looked like he was bearing a blood feud.
The businessman trembled and took out some more copper coins from his arms in fear.
"Not enough!" The guard shook his head and sneered: "You kid just fooled me, give me double."
The businessman glanced at the longer and longer queue behind him and could only swallow his anger and took out another twenty coins from the chain.
Unexpectedly, the guard snatched it away and stuffed it into his arms.
"Get out of here, don't let me see you next time."
But the team was full of envy, and even took it for granted.
People all want to take their own lives and never resist.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake, and looking from a distance, bursts of smoke and dust were raised.
As time went by, the smoke became larger and larger, and the sound of horse hooves could be heard.
"No, enemy attack, enemy attack -"
On the arrow tower, the napping guard suddenly woke up and couldn't help shouting.
Immediately, the entire bridge turned into a mess.
The people crossing the river couldn't wait to flee in all directions to avoid the coming military disaster.
The scattered garrison, which numbered no more than a hundred people, had no fighting spirit and couldn't wait to surrender.
Of course, the most important thing is to put away the money.
Horse hooves kicked up dust. The cavalry were basically wearing light leather armor, helmets on their heads, and long bow quivers on their backs filled with long arrows.
"You just voted in that way?"
Hu Xinshui looked at the guards kneeling in a row and couldn't help but sigh. It was so easy.
Ever since he was captured in Henan and joined the cavalry battalion, he has served as commander-in-chief with three to four hundred people under his command, so he can be considered a figure.
"General, spare your life!"
The big man with a raised buttocks, a big face and a round waist couldn't wait to beg for mercy:
"We are just collecting money, we don't know how to fight."
Hu Xinshui took a quick glance and saw that most of these people had only three or five spears, waist knives, and long bows, and not a single blunderbuss.
Obviously, he didn't lie.
"Control the bridge quickly!"
Hu Xinshui was too lazy to pay attention to them, and directly ordered his subordinates to do their work, and checked the stability of the bridge.
Half an hour later, the army arrived.
As a forward, the cavalry battalion is obviously qualified.
"The cavalry found that the bridge had not been repaired for many years and was very damaged. It would be dangerous if they tried to cross the bridge by force."
"Then let's repair it for a long time first."
Li Jingwu looked at Fuli Bridge, which was not small in size, and said indifferently: "Fortunately, it is made of wood, so it will last for a few days."
Afterwards, the news that the cavalry battalion was praised spread throughout the battalion.
"good!"
Guerrilla patted him on the shoulder: "As expected of Guan Ningjun."
Hu Xinshui was overjoyed. After this battle, it seemed that he could become a Qian President.
With 80,000 troops, plus a large number of civilians and livestock, it took five days just to cross the river.
However, the cavalry battalion, as the vanguard, must have crossed the river on the first day.
Hu Xinshui, who was full of energy, constantly explored the bridges, water flows, villages and towns, and official roads, and then sent them to the base camp behind.
He even had to find a suitable place to camp every thirty or forty miles, which was an arduous task.
When necessary, bridges and roads must be repaired and this is the job of the pioneers.
"Brother, why can't you understand the map?"
Hu Xinshui looked around, then stretched out his neck and asked the big man who was also riding a horse.
I saw that the big man was holding a wooden ruler and a thin pen in his hand, and the map in his hand was full of children's graffiti.
There are all kinds of patterns, which look quite weird.
"It was taught in the military academy, have you forgotten?"
Although the big man has an unshaven beard, he speaks very calmly and appears quiet.
"Up north and down south, the dots are townships and villages, the circles are counties, and the squares are states and prefectures..."
As he spoke, he was a bit eloquent: "Look at '][', this is the bridge; these two triangles strung together are the woods; the two parallel lines are the official road..."
"alright!"
Hu Xinshui's head hurt when he heard this, and he couldn't help but say: "The Suijun Academy only teaches reading. When did they teach these things?"
"Oh, this is taught in the school set up by the Chief of Staff."
The big man rubbed his head and said sheepishly: "In addition to me, there are a hundred people accompanying the army to draw a detailed map of the entire Huaihai area."
"Do you want to show this picture to the commander?"
Hu Xinshui's heart moved and she asked hurriedly.
"That's right!"
The big man nodded and immediately persuaded: "According to the news, in the future, all officers above the rank of general will be able to read pictures. Brother Hu, the sooner you start learning, the greater the benefits will be."
Hearing these words, Hu Xinshui immediately said: "Brother, I'm counting on you these days."
The two of them were chatting happily when suddenly, the horse started to panic.
Hu Xinshui even felt the ground shaking slightly.
He quickly lay down on the ground, and after a while he got on his horse, panicking:
"Come on, these are at least thousands of cavalry, we can't deal with them!"
At this time, the advantage of one person and two horses was revealed. In a short time, hundreds of people escaped.
After the news was reported, Li Jingwu's expression changed: "It seems that Gao Jie is really going to rebel."
"This bird man dares to raise an army and go south. He should be chopped alive."
Hui Dengxiang couldn't help it and said loudly.
"After all, there are 200,000 people, so we have to be careful."
Qin Yiming had a psychological shadow on the bandits and couldn't help but say.
"Two hundred thousand?"
Li Jingwu shook his head and sneered: "At least we have to fight in half. Let's see. This battle is easier than imagined."
"What if the Manchus and Qing Dynasties move south? Shandong is not far from Xuzhou!"
On the side, Bai Wang frowned, showing a trace of doubt.
"Let's not mention the weather for the moment. How can the Manchu and Qing Dynasties go south? Even if the Manchu and Qing Dynasties send troops, I will not be afraid."
Li Jingwu's eyes swept across the crowd: "Our cavalry battalion and heavy infantry battalion are all here, so what's the point of the Eight Banners?"
When Yan Guochao heard this, he couldn't help but puff up his chest.