Japanese pirates attacked on a large scale, and Huayang County urgently requested help.
Ta-ta-ta.
The sound of rapid horse hooves passed by in a flash.
The messengers once again left in all directions carrying Mo Canghai's tearful letter asking for help.
Jinghu County.
Because there were pregnant women in the convoy, a team of three thousand people was moving slowly like a snail on the post road to the south.
Chen Xiuzhu on horseback was in a dilemma.
"Your Highness, Master Shangshu advises you not to worry about anything and wait until you return to Xingji City to see His Majesty."
Chen Xiuzhu nodded, but couldn't help but glance to the southeast.
After walking for so many days, he has now sorted out the current situation in Yunchui territory.
"Then Huayang County..."
"Your Highness," the servant of Shangshu Mansion hurriedly stopped him, "Huayang County is none of our business, and it is not on the way back. You don't need to ask about it at all. We'd better go back to Xingji City."
As he spoke, he raised his head and glanced at the back of the motorcade.
"And our team only has 3,000 people. Even if we all block the Dinghai Pier, we will probably die in vain and it will not have any effect on the battle situation."
Chen Xiuzhu took a deep look at this person and silently looked away.
Previously, the prince was ordered to go to the border to practice for one year. After the expiration, he could return to the prosperous Star City.
In the end, Chen Xiuzhu chose to stay at Beihaiguan, and later went to Baekje Golden Dragon Beach to fight against the Japanese pirates with Xiao Zheng's Japanese troops.
In fact, these were not all Chen Xiuzhu's own ideas, but more those of his maternal grandfather, Luo Ken, Minister of Industry.
That is, while ensuring your own personal safety, make the most of those generals who hold military power.
You don’t ask for the other party to completely stand by your side in the future, you just ask for at least not to turn against you.
This was true for Huang Shitao of the Beihai Pass, and Xiao Zheng was the same for the Japanese army; the same was true for the East China Sea barrier Lu Fuhai, and even more so for Wei Junqian of the Starfall Army.
As for Mo Canghai...
Chen Xiuzhu didn't understand this county captain.
He subconsciously raised his head and glanced at the western skyline.
When he was in Beihaiguan, in addition to Huang Shitao, the general who guarded the customs, Chen Xiuzhu also came into contact with the Yanhui Corps that was stationed at Beihaiguan at that time, and he also had some friendship with Tian Hongyan, the general of the corps.
It's just that Tian Hongyan is not doing well now.
Almost everyone in the world was condemning him for supporting his own troops during the Dingxi counterattack and for not saving his friendly troops.
There are even vague rumors from Star City that they want Xia Bangwei to replace him and become the new general of the Yanhui Legion.
Thinking of this, Chen Xiuzhu touched his swollen chin.
Since it is possible for Xia Bangwei to be promoted from a local county lieutenant to a general of the army, it is naturally possible for Mo Canghai.
Therefore, after Chen Xiuzhu saw the letter asking for help he sent, he couldn't help but become concerned.
After all, it's better to provide help in times of need than to add icing on the cake.
However, now that his grandfather had clearly expressed his opposition, Chen Xiuzhu had to slowly withdraw his thoughts and stop thinking about it.
————
Dinghai Pier.
Whoosh.
The sea breeze blows eastward at moderate speeds.
The surface of the East China Sea was still peaceful, and as far as the eye could see, there was no Japanese pirate sail at all.
But everyone knows that this is just the tranquility before the war.
Boom boom boom, clang clang clang.
People were coming and going around the pier, and the sounds of various knocks were mixed together, which was deafening.
Everyone is busy strengthening coastal defenses.
Some of these people are Mo Canghai's local garrison, but most of them are ordinary people from nearby areas.
They have lived here for generations. As long as the Japanese pirates come ashore, the fate of their families can be imagined.
Mo Canghai's deputy lieutenant, Zhang Yang, was looking around with his hand on his sword, shouting reminders from time to time.
"Everyone, please work harder and be more serious. If you work harder now to build the anti-landing fortifications firmly, you will be able to bleed less when the Japanese pirates arrive and do their work at the same time."
"yes!"
"knew."
"Don't worry, sir. We are working hard."
…
There were responses from all around.
"Very good." Zhang Yang nodded with satisfaction.
After the inspection, he went up to the tall watchtower, raised his telescope and looked eastward. He was relieved when he saw that there was still no enemy on the sea surface.
The slower the Japanese pirates come, the better. That way, more fortifications can be built on the shore and offshore, and the war will be fought with greater confidence later.
"Sir," a soldier climbed up, "I just received news that the post road leading to the imperial capital in the west and the post road leading to Pinghai County in the south are both blocked."
Zhang Yang couldn't help but frown, "What's going on?"
This is Dinghai Pier.
As long as it was a dock, it meant that there was a dense flow of goods and people, so the imperial court built wide and flat post roads or roads nearby that extended in all directions.
Because the roads are well built, even if the Chinese New Year is approaching and countless people and caravans are rushing home, there will rarely be road blockages.
"Are there Japanese pirates wreaking havoc?" Zhang Yang's heart trembled.
Dinghai Wharf and Huayang County are in urgent need of assistance from various counties.
If the post road is blocked or even destroyed, then the news will not be able to spread, and people and materials will not be able to enter, it will be troublesome.
"No." Xiao Bing quickly shook his head. "Sir, Deputy Lieutenant, it is those local gentry who are fleeing towards Xingji City or Sulan City with a large number of slaves and family property."
"These bastards have many people and cars, and they don't want to part with their property everywhere. They harass them as they walk and even let people sell them on the spot. They stop and go, gather together, and block the post road."
"Damn it!" Zhang Yang was furious.
"These local tyrants and evil gentry usually only know how to use the fields to fish and feed the villagers, making the common people miserable."
"Now the Japanese pirates are here. When they see something is wrong, they take their gold, silver and jewelry and run away without looking back."
Now it's even more blocked.
"This kind of bastard who can neither share wealth nor adversity should be killed with a single blow."
After all, Zhang Yang was so anxious that he ran around in circles, but he couldn't think of a solution.
In the end, he could only yell with a dark face: "Send a letter to the Lord Commander immediately to explain the situation here."
"Yes!" the soldier responded and hurriedly got off the watchtower.
well.
Zhang Yang let out a long sigh.
It's wartime now, and according to Yun Chui's law, the officers and soldiers who protect the homeland and the country have the greatest authority.
It's okay if the local tyrants and evil gentry don't stay to resist the enemy. They take away a large number of servants and even block the post roads. It's easy for the soldiers to kill them all with swords.
However, the Japanese pirates will soon arrive at Dinghai Pier, and Zhang Yang does not have many soldiers at his disposal, so he will not dare to divide his troops to clear the road.
————
Western part of Huayang County, Dongyizhuang.
The once prosperous town is now in chaos.
"Wang Yuanwai, there are so many people coming in and out of your house, where are you going?"
"It turns out to be Yuan Wai Li." Yuan Wai Wang wiped his sweat, "We are going to hide in Xing Ji City."
"Xingji City?" Li Yuanwai frowned, "It's too far. Our whole family is just going to stay with relatives in the next county for a while."
hey-hey.
Wang Yuanwai looked around and lowered his voice.
"Commissioner, you don't know something, right?"
"Our master's family in Xingji City sent people over and said that the imperial court is not prepared to control Huayang County. Therefore, the Dinghai Pier may not be able to be defended. The master's family wants us to sell everything here immediately, and then leave with our family and money.
.otherwise……"
"Really?" Li Yuanwai was shocked.
"Of course it's true." Wang Yuanwai was a little proud, "The news of the Japanese pirates appearing in the East China Sea has long been known to everyone through newspapers and people's mouths. But you didn't find that the border guards everywhere were stationed in place and didn't move at all.
?"
hey-hey.
He lowered his voice again.
"According to people sent by the master's family, His Majesty has been in poor health recently, and the princes are ready to make a move, so Xingji City has no intention of paying attention to this."
Damn it.
Li Yuanwai was shocked, "Then I have to quickly pack up, sell my things and leave."