Volume 1 Little Yuanba Chapter 42 Han Shoubei complains
Geyang belongs to the boundary of Guangxin Prefecture. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, high in the north and south and low in the middle. It is the intersection of Geyang River (Xinjiang), Gexi and Gexi.
Due to the convenient water and land transportation, the branch capital department placed the food and grass transfer point for the frontline counter-rebellion army here, and sent a garrison attaché to lead more than a thousand soldiers and nearly 400 kudin to guard it.
The Marching Department also assigned officials here, with one clerk each responsible for managing the incoming and outgoing accounts and mobilizing transportation personnel.
As usual, the masters who should be sent were not allowed to enter the warehouse at will, so they set up camp at a higher point on the beach in the north of Westport.
The good thing about this place is that it is close to Gexi water, so you can jump in and take a quick bath at any time.
You must know that Geyang is a basin. Although it is late summer, it is extremely hot and people are sweating just sitting there.
The camp was still in a mess, and the locals had stayed away and walked away. Only a few brave people came together to sell cold melons (watermelons) and melons to make a small amount of money.
As soon as the camp was set up, Li Dan went to Sheng Baihu and told him that he had a letter from Wei Qianhu, the Marching Secretary, who had asked him to bring it to Han Defei, so he wanted to go to the garrison Yamen.
Sheng Baihu was startled and quickly said that he was going to the Yamen to collect the documents and that he should go together. So the two of them each rode their horses and walked into Geyang City chatting happily.
After advancing, Sheng Baihu was first called in to ask a few questions and exchange documents. Then Han Shoubei ordered a Chinese Army flag bearer to come out and invite Li Dan to come to the hall to speak.
After giving up his seat, serving tea, asking a few questions, and reading Qianhu's letters, Han Shoubei was surprised that this young master could receive such high praise from everyone, and wondered that the few people who said good things about him were from the north like himself.
Just now Sheng Baihu was also very impressed, saying that he cleverly managed to calm down the situation and calmly stabilized the team on the road. It was really like the waves behind pushed the waves ahead!
He felt that Li Dan didn't seem to have any idea of looking down on people from the north. Maybe it had something to do with him being born in Shandong, or maybe he was too young to feel this way?
In any case, Han Shoubei was currently short of manpower. Now that he had this new force and thousands of civilians, he had to make good use of it.
The more we chatted, the closer we got to each other, and the conversation gradually turned to the current war. Seeing Han Shouwei sighing in various ways, Sheng Baihu was surprised and asked hurriedly:
"But the front line is not going well, which makes you worried?"
Han Shoubei looks ten years older than Sheng Baihu and is from Luoyang, Henan.
He is a veteran in the army and is much more tactful. Naturally, he will not say anything about "the officers and soldiers are not in a good position to fight". Instead, he shook his head and said:
"No, our army controls Shangrao and has stabilized the front line. Although the rebellious mining bandits are numerous, they cannot advance even half a step.
However, I am short of manpower, so the transportation of grain and grass can only rely on waterways, and the transportation capacity is limited. Yu Shenjiang urged me many times, but I have no choice but to make things difficult for my clever woman.
Dear brother, look at me, a few strands of my beard have turned gray!"
"There is a waterway on the river in Geyang, so you can get twice the result with half the effort. Even if you go upstream against the current, it won't make you so worried and sleepy, right?" Sheng Baihu asked puzzledly.
"My dear brother, I don't know something. The mining bandit Lou Zi occupied Qingxi Town and discovered the key points of our army. He went down the Tongshui River and entered the Geyang River several times to intercept my fleet transporting grain and grass.
Seven or eight days ago, Lin Baihu encountered him again while being escorted. Lin Baihu was caught off guard and was hit by a boat, and he himself fell into the water.
If it weren’t for the accompanying soldiers who fought tooth and nail to salvage him, he would be in the belly of a river fish right now!”
Sheng Baihu was displeased after hearing this, and slapped the table! He said, "How dare you, the little thief Zuo'er, be so rampant and dare to fight against the imperial army!"
"There is a leader in his gang named You Sanjiang. He is not only good at water, but also extremely cunning and fierce.
He is also a local and is familiar with the situation and geography, so he cut off the transportation of baggage by waterways, which caused great harm!"
"This..." Sheng Baihu had no temper when it came to the water battle. He was a northerner and didn't understand this. He blinked and asked, "Doesn't your Excellency have any good countermeasures?"
"There are countermeasures, so I asked for help from the branch capital department and wanted to transport it by land on the north bank. Only two of the three hundred households under my command have fallen. I have no one to relieve my worries. What can I do?"
After hearing this, Sheng Baihu cheered up and was no longer afraid of taking the land route! He immediately said: "If your Excellency feels that I can still use this official, please issue an order and I will make this trip for you!"
"Oh, are you confident? If it is delivered as scheduled, it will be a great achievement!"
Li Dan watched coldly from the side, seeing Sheng Huaien's eagerness to take credit for this achievement, and thought to himself, wouldn't you be able to drag me along?
Just when I thought this, I saw him looking over with eager eyes: "What do you think, Master? Are you willing to go with Sheng?"
"Brother Shaonai, General Han is stationed here and knows the enemy's situation and the people's situation better than you and I. Let's hear what your lord has to say.
The so-called plan before taking action is to decide and take the land route, but do you know that the north bank is still safe?"
Hearing Li Dan call himself a general, Han Shoubei felt inspired.
As the name suggests, the position of garrison means that you stay there to guard against the enemy. In other words, you are responsible for transporting food and logistics at the back. As for the great contribution of killing the enemy, don't think about it. If you win, you will benefit. If you lose, you will follow.
Sitting next to the ban, a typically unpopular position.
He was a northerner who was transferred to a hot and humid place in the south. It was already hard for him, but he had to endure the humiliation and sit on the cold bench just because according to the rules of the Ministry of War, northerners could be promoted to a higher level after serving in the south for three years.
When the defense level is upgraded to guerrilla, then it can be said that he has officially entered the ranks of generals. So he is very happy to be called a general now. After all, it is a good luck.
"The rebels have never set foot on the north bank since the war started," he told the two of them proudly and mysteriously:
"Because a guerrilla battalion of about 2,000 people from the guerrilla Du Wu belt is stationed here, patrolling the Jiangyou defense line from Geyang to Guangxin.
Later, there were more than a thousand garrison troops from Xing'an County as backup, so the enemy never dared to cross the river to attack."
"Oh, why did I see the people farming as usual when I came here, without any signs of war or panic? That's it!"
Sheng Huaien nodded and asked: "In that case, why don't we take the land route on the north coast instead of transporting it by water?"
Li Dan smiled and said: "It must be because the land route is winding and winding, and it takes time and effort!"
"Hey, it's exactly what Sanlang said." Han Shou pointed with his hands: "At this time, the river is wide and deep enough to carry grain ships, and there are no big waves or ups and downs.
Although the waterway goes against the direction of travel, it can be reached within three days by boat, while the land route is safe but takes five days.
Therefore, during the military meeting, an order was made for water transport, but we never expected that the mining bandits would collude with local gangsters, capture a large number of merchant ships in Qingxi Town, modify them and use them to attack me, and the waterway will be blocked!"
"I understand!" Sheng Huaien slapped his thigh: "Even so, I am not afraid of him when fighting on land! What do you think of Sanlang?"
These words really made people laugh and cry. Li Dan thought to himself, you fool, how can two thousand soldiers block hundreds of miles of river? But this cannot be said in front of Han Guards.
He lowered his head and thought about it, then cupped his hands and said, "Common people have three questions, please forgive me."
"You're welcome, Saburo, please speak!"
At this time, Han Shoubei also noticed that Sheng Baihu repeatedly invited Li Dan, either because he really wanted to share the credit with Sanlang of the Li family, or because Li Sanlang had something that could help him.
However, this has nothing to do with him. He only needs the two of them to agree and deliver the food and grass safely.
"First of all, my lord, how much supplies are going to be transported, how many people are going to be sent, which way to Shangrao? Are there any military guards along the way to support us?"
"There were many rebels and bandits outside the city of Shangrao. The generals fortified the walls and cleared the country in time. A total of 8,000 soldiers were gathered into the city, and 4,000 people were trained to help. The city can be protected without worries, but there is insufficient food and grass.
Although we tried to replenish it three times later, not many arrived due to the obstruction of the mining bandits.
At present, the food, horses and fodder for the soldiers and civilians in the city are only enough for less than a month, and the imperial reinforcements still need half a month to prepare before they can set off, and their arrival will be a month later.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to add another 18,000 shi of grain, 2,800 shi of fodder, 2,800 shi of soybean meal, about 10 shi each of soy sauce and salt, 20 shi of gunpowder, 60 muskets, six crouching tiger cannons, and 200 armors.
vice……."
While he was talking, he paid attention to the expressions of the two people. He saw that Sheng Baihu's face gradually changed, but Li Dan remained calm, and he couldn't help but feel surprised in his heart.
"Well, there are two land roads from the north bank to Guangxin County. The Eagle Rock one is more steep and not advisable. I think it is more appropriate to take the Lingyan Temple.
If it is decided, we will immediately revise the defense and ask Guangxin County to send troops to Fengling Pass to respond."
"Your Excellency said that there are guerrillas blocking the river bank, but it is inevitable that small groups of enemies will flee. If we encounter the enemy, it may be difficult to resist with the number of people under Shanda's force in a desperate situation. Is there anything you can do first?"
"It's not difficult. I intend to set up a transport camp, with Sheng Baihu as the commander, and I will supplement you with 300 soldiers, making the full force 500 men.
If the enemy is small, fight, and if the enemy is large, then guard the baggage and slowly return to Xing'an City. This will be enough to protect you!"
Li Dan nodded slightly and asked the last question: "How is the road condition on the Lingyan Temple road? Do you know? Can you take a horse-drawn carriage?"
When he asked Han Shoubei and Sheng Baihu, they understood that Li Sanlang wanted to use cars and horses to transport the goods as much as possible.
"This road is an official road, and even at its narrowest point two cars can run parallel. So far, the communication between Geyang and Shangrao has been carried out by postal riders. The road is still smooth and there are no reports of banditry."
"Is this an official road? Is there an inn?" Sheng Huaien asked hurriedly.
"There is no post station. Since the establishment of the branch capital, there have been express delivery stores. From west to east, there are three relays: Hengfeng, Sipu and Fenglingguan.
Not to mention the two ends, Sipu Fort is not small, with more than fifty soldiers and soldiers." After Han Shoubei finished speaking, he looked at their expressions and said with a smile:
"The task is certainly not easy, please tell me what you need, and I will do my best to help!"
"That's better." Sheng Huai'en exclaimed: "We camped at Hengfeng on the first day, shopped at the shop the next day, and then went to Fengling Pass. There is not much of a safety problem.
The key is transportation capacity. How can we transport such things? Carrying them on our shoulders will definitely not work!" He said and glanced at Li Dan.
"That's what Shanda people said." Li Dan said. He calculated in his mind that these things add up to more than 20,000 dan. Even if there are five newly built carts, each of them can only hold 20,000 dan at most.
stone.
The transport capacity is so far apart, how can this be so good?
"It needs to be transported safely and quickly. Even if Geyang gathers thousands of people sent by various governments, it will be difficult to do it with human effort.
If we want to collect livestock and vehicles, I'm afraid we really need to ask Mr. Han for help! I wonder how many vehicles and horses the camp currently has if we gather them together?"
Among the civilians sent from various places, Li Dan was not the only one who brought carts and horses.
The imperial court stipulated that a rickshaw could be used by two people, an animal's foot power could be used by three people, and an animal-drawn vehicle could be used by five people.
Therefore, some wealthy families only provide chariots and horses to replace the heads, but this situation is rare.
Han Guards is the chief officer, and he knows very well the current situation of the number of people, vehicles, and livestock in the camp. He immediately replied:
"Now there are 367 taels of animal-drawn carts in the camp, carrying more than 1,700 livestock, and 243 rickshaws.
I know this number is far from enough, and I can't give it all to you to prevent it from being used elsewhere. Alas, this is the most worrying part!" He sighed deeply as he spoke.