Returning to his official room, Chen Qing spread out a map of the northern part of Shaanxi Road and found on the map the place where the fleet was hijacked, where the Xiaoqing River flows into Yanshui.
"What else was found at the scene?"
"A small boat and an old boatman who was stabbed to death were also found."
Chen Qing pointed at the mouth of the Yanshui River with his pen and said: "There should be a sentry tower here to monitor the other side of the Yellow River."
Guan Shigu sighed, "The sentry tower has been attacked by surprise, and all twenty sentries have been killed."
"Any news about the surviving soldiers? About this sneak attack army."
"There are about two thousand cavalry. They are all wearing black armor and are very fierce. I think they are the elite black armored cavalry of Wanyan Nianhan."
"What else can General Guan tell me about this black-armored cavalry?" Chen Qing asked again.
"I just heard that this black-armored cavalry has about 5,000 people. Wanyan Nianhan selected it from the 50,000 Hezha Meng'an Army. The general is called Ba Lisu..."
"etc!"
Chen Qing interrupted Guan Shigu, "Isn't Ba Lisu the younger brother of Yin Keshu? He should be in Taiyuan now, right! How did he become Wanyan Nianhan's confidant general?"
"Reporting to the prince, Ba Lisu means strongman in Donghu language. Many people are called Ba Lisu. Yin Keshu's younger brother is called Wanyan Ba Lisu. Nianhan's trusted general Ba Lisu is named Pucha.
His name is Pucha Balisu, or Pucha Batu, and he is generally called Batu internally."
"Is this person very powerful?"
Guan Shigu nodded, "Being able to become a captain of ten thousand black armored cavalry is definitely not an ordinary figure. A few years ago, he led three thousand cavalry across the Yangtze River, from Wuhu to Lin'an, and defeated Tian Shizhong and Huzhou successively.
Liu Qi's 20,000 troops forced the emperor to go to sea, and 3,000 of them looted and returned. It is said that not a single soldier was injured."
"Nonsense!"
Chen Qing snorted coldly, "How is it possible that in a fierce battle with 20,000 Song troops, not a single soldier was injured? Especially Liu Qi's army is not a weak force."
"I also feel that there is something strange about my humble position. It should be that Wanyan Nianhan wanted to create a god by publicizing that he had not injured a single soldier. However, the prince must not underestimate the enemy."
Chen Qing said coldly, "I am not underestimating the enemy. I just dared to steal my 30,000 barrels of kerosene from Yanzhou. I really want to meet this person."
At this time, the officer reported at the door, "The King of Internal Guards is here!"
"Let him in!"
Not long after, Wang Hao hurriedly walked in, knelt down on one knee and saluted, "See the prince!"
"Wang Tongzhi, I have given you a task. You can do it yourself or leave it to your subordinates. Our 30,000 barrels of kerosene were robbed by the Jurchens together with the ship in Yanzhou. There must be an insider involved. I am very worried about Fu.
There are Jurchen internal agents lurking in Shi County, and they are working together to seize Fushi County. You internal guards must dig out the spy who betrayed the fleet information as soon as possible."
"I understand, I will leave for Yanzhou today."
"There's no rush. Make arrangements at home and set off early tomorrow morning."
"I humbly obey orders!"
.........
At this time, Jiang Yanxian, who had been silent, said: "Due to the current situation in Hedong, I would like to suggest that the king adjust the strategy in Hedong."
Chen Qing's Hedong strategy was formulated after returning from Xixia last year. The coach was still Wanyan Yinkeshu. At that time, he planned to send 150,000 troops to attack Hedong Road from the north and the south. Now the situation has changed. Not only Wanyan Nianhan led an army of 50,000
After entering Hedong and forcibly seizing the command, and Chen Qing also captured Shaanzhou, it was completely possible to send troops to Hedong from Zhongtiao Mountain. In this way, the original plan was a bit unsuitable for the situation.
Chen Qing nodded, "I understand what Chang Shi means. An army of 150,000 is indeed not enough. At least 250,000 troops are needed, but I am still preparing for a three-line attack. Now I am waiting for news from Datong Prefecture."
"As long as the prince understands what I mean, especially this time Wanyan Nianhan took away 30,000 barrels of kerosene. It is obviously a key defense against our attack. The prince must also have corresponding countermeasures."
Chen Qing sighed slightly, "Yes, the Yanzhou kerosene robbery case has far-reaching consequences. We have indeed underestimated the enemy recently. We actually know that shipping is risky, and the enemy has changed its commander wisely, but we are still reluctant to do so.
It is my responsibility to change camel transport."
"If the county king is determined to prepare for a three-line attack, he should start making preparations."
Zhou Kuan added: "At present, we have sufficient money and food, which is enough to support our long-term war in Hedong."
Chen Qing said to everyone: "Actually, I have made arrangements, and I am still waiting for a suitable time."
Everyone looked at each other in shock, and Jiang Yan first asked: "I wonder what the opportunity for the prince to wait for is?"
Chen Qing smiled faintly, "Hedong is Wanyanchang's territory. It was forcibly occupied by Wanyan Nianhan. How can Wanyanchang give up? I will see if the 50,000 Hezha Meng'an troops in Hebei go north. If Hezha Meng'an
If the army goes north, then Wanyanchang will be completely defeated, and Wanyan Yinkeshu and Wanyan Balisu will also be transferred away. But if Wanyan Nianhan refuses to give up Hezha Meng'an army, then the internal fighting in Hedong will be
It will break out, and it is very likely that Wan Yanchang will arrive in Hedong. At this time, the time is ripe for me to send troops."
"But what if Wanyan Nianhan gives up the Hezha Meng'an Army?" Guan Shigu asked.
"Then I will wait another year or two. If Wanyan Nianhan is forced by the Emperor of Jin, he will definitely attack Shaanxi Road and use war to resolve his own crisis."
Speaking of this, Chen Qing concluded to everyone: "In one sentence, our Eastern Expedition must be consistent with the internal strife of the Jin Dynasty in order to obtain the greatest benefits from their internal strife, so what we have to do now is to strengthen intelligence
,Intelligence, intelligence!”
.........
Five days later, Wang Hao personally led 300 elite internal guards to Yanzhou.
Wang Zhen, the commander of Yanzhou, was a subordinate of Niu Gao. He was a 26-year-old young general. His father was the famous commander of the Eight-Character Army Wang Yan. After Wang Yan was killed in Xiangzhou, Wang Zhen resolutely joined the army.
He followed Chen Qing from Jiangling Prefecture, was assigned to Niu Gao's command, and was promoted to commander step by step from the capital.
In the Yamen of Yanzhou Prefecture, Wang Zhen, together with Liu Yi, the prefecture magistrate, and Li Jinyang, the magistrate of Fushi County, discussed with Wang Hao the tasks assigned by the county king.
Wang Zhen took the lead and said: "Actually, we are also looking for various possible leaks, but judging from the current situation we have, it should not be the fault of the boatman."
"Why wasn't it the boatman?"
Liu Yi sighed and said: "The thirty-four boatmen are all dead. They were all killed with their hands tied behind their backs. No one survived."
Wang Hao nodded. In this case, it really has nothing to do with the boatman.
"So how many people know the shipping time and the details of the goods? Have you checked them?"
Wang Zhendao: "Sending the ship is a matter for the military. The plan was made a month ago. Strictly speaking, there are only seven people who know about it. But in fact, this is not the case. There should be many people who know about it."
"Why do you say that?" Wang Hao asked.
Liu Yi smiled bitterly and said: "Because there is only one kind of material shipped from Yanzhou, which is kerosene. There are more people who know the ship's departure time. The state and county governments all know it, and the stewards on the dock also know it. Wang Zongzhi, a humble official
What I mean is that this is not a secret, this is actually something everyone knows."
"So you don't have a clue yet?"
The three of them were silent. They really couldn't find any clues.
Wang Hao thought for a while and said: "I heard that there is still a small boat with an old boatman who was stabbed to death. Who is this old boatman? Have you found his family?"
"The old boatman's name is Liu Er. He lives in Fushi County. He has no wife or children and is single. The boat was rented by Liu Er."
Wang Hao thought about it and the only clue was Liu Er. He stood up and said, "Take me to Liu Er's house to have a look!"
The county magistrate Li Jinyang stood up and said: "Of course, I will take Wang Tongzhi there, but I want to say one more thing. In fact, our county government has checked it and found nothing."
Judge Zhong Huan, who had remained silent, said lightly: "The investigation by our internal security guards and the investigation by the county government are not the same thing."