April in Beiping County is the middle of spring, when warblers are flying, grass is growing, and greenery is abundant. Dense forests cover this vast and fertile wilderness. Beside the forest, the wet water is like a wide jade belt, winding and winding.
Turn and flow to the distant sea.
On both sides of the Ru River, abandoned villages gradually began to show signs of life, with smoke rising from cooking stoves and busy farmers vaguely visible on the abandoned farmland.
On the official road beside the Ru River, a group of hundreds of cavalry galloped over. The fierce sound of horse hooves broke the quiet morning. Farmers in the distance put down their hoes and looked at the galloping cavalry curiously.
After several days of traveling day and night, Yang Yuanqing came to this sparsely populated land again. He was at the forefront of the cavalry, running south quickly under the escort of 500 cavalry.
At noon the next day, the cavalry gradually arrived at the mouth of the Rushui River where the shipyard was located. Compared with the desolation they saw last time, there was obviously life around the shipyard this time.
Many farmers who migrated south deliberately set up their homes near the shipyard. Three or four villages appeared in the wilderness, and the population gathered together, gradually forming a town called Rukou Town, surrounded by large areas of farmland.
Although the town is still relatively simple, several shops have appeared selling some daily necessities. The reopening of the shipyard has brought business opportunities to many people.
About two miles away from the town, there is a long wall. The gate has been renovated. The original iron gate has disappeared and turned into a gate like a gate. There are soldiers patrolling above. There are also several soldiers standing guard at the door.
Abnormal people enter.
Both sides of the gate are filled with farmers selling vegetables, various vegetables, fresh eggs, chickens and ducks, fish caught from the wet water in the morning, and various prey. More than a hundred housewives and elderly people are carrying baskets
When shopping for groceries, the gate is bustling with people and is particularly lively.
Several soldiers noticed the arrival of a large group of cavalry in the distance, and quickly drove the farmers selling vegetables aside to make way for them. In a moment, the cavalry arrived at full speed.
Because there were many children running at the gate, Yang Yuanqing slowed down his horse. He looked at the lively spontaneous festivals on both sides, and there was no anger in his eyes. On the contrary, this liveliness and vitality gave rise to hope for the future.
There were about a thousand troops stationed at the shipyard. The general was General Ying Yanglang, surnamed Yu. He heard from the soldiers that His Royal Highness the King of Chu had arrived. He was so frightened that he quickly ran out, knelt down on one knee and performed a military salute, "This is my humble duty."
Yu Zhenwu, see the manager!"
"General Yu, no courtesy!"
Yu Zhenwu stood up. He saw that there were too many people selling vegetables on both sides, blocking the road into a narrow road. He felt a little uneasy and said quickly: "I'll drive them away immediately."
Yang Yuanqing waved, "That's not necessary. You can build some greenhouses outside and let them sell vegetables in the greenhouses. This not only maintains order but also facilitates the shipbuilding craftsmen, instead of driving them away roughly."
"I understand the humble position and immediately arrange for soldiers to build a shed."
Yang Yuanqing got off his horse and walked into the shipyard. Zhao Guangcai, the chief minister in charge of the shipyard, also came up to him, bowed and saluted, "See His Highness the King of Chu!"
Zhao Guangcai was about thirty years old. He was born in the Fengzhou imperial examination. He was originally a Cang Cao in Luo Shixin's army and joined the military. He was recommended by Luo Shixin as the shipbuilding director and was responsible for various affairs of the shipyard.
Yang Yuanqing smiled and nodded, "Excuse me, Chief Zhao. I received the report you wrote, so I came to inspect the progress of the ship construction."
Zhao Guangcai wrote the report ten days ago. Unexpectedly, King Chu would arrive in just ten days, which made him a little nervous. From this, he also knew the importance King Chu attached to the shipyard.
"I am willing to give a detailed report to His Highness the King of Chu."
Yang Yuanqing nodded and walked into the shipyard. From a distance, he saw hundreds of ships moored on the river mouth and coast. Compared with last time, many large ships had been repaired and large masts were erected.
It was covered with sails.
Yang Yuanqing later learned that there were more than 400 warships moored at the Ruhekou shipyard, half of which were unfinished ships, and the other half were ships that had participated in the Goryeo War. Some of them were damaged, so the ships were moored at Ruhekou.
For repairs in the field, these ships can be used with only minor repairs. This is why a large number of ships have been repaired in less than two months.
In the distance, rows of houses have been built in a wilderness by the river. The river is crowded with women washing clothes. Groups of children are running and playing by the river. In the distance, there are several large boats with boatwrights busy at work.
.
"How many shipwrights are there now?" Yang Yuanqing asked.
Zhao Guangcai quickly replied: "Reporting to the manager, there are a total of 1,900 households of shipwrights and more than 2,000 craftsmen. Together with women, children and the elderly, there are nearly 6,000 people. Basically, they are from Donglai, Beihai and Gaomi counties."
"There are six thousand people."
Yang Yuanqing frowned slightly. He didn't expect so many people to come. "This will require officials to be sent."
"It is necessary to send officials. I suggest building a city and county. With the support of shipbuilding, the county will soon flourish."
Yang Yuanqing thought for a moment, this is indeed necessary, he will consider it. At this time, the two brothers Zhang Long and Zhang Hu heard that the King of Chu had arrived, and immediately rushed to him, knelt down and kowtowed, "Little man Zhang Long, Zhang Hu comes to see Chu
Your Highness!...
Brothers Zhang Long and Zhang Hu won a huge reward for recruiting shipwrights. They were very popular and had management skills. Currently, they are in charge of two thousand shipowners.
Yang Yuanqing smiled slightly and said, "Without courtesy, Zhao Shucheng's report praised the two of you for your cooperation. Thank you for your hard work."
"This is what ordinary people should do."
The two brothers were both grateful and ashamed of Zhao Guangcai. In fact, they did not cooperate very well. At the beginning, they had a big quarrel with Zhao Guangcai due to the housing conflict, but later they gradually became tacitly cooperative.
As the group walked towards the mouth of the river, Zhao Guangcai whispered from the side: "To report to His Highness the King of Chu, one hundred and fourteen ships have been completed. I wonder when will the navy be established?"
Yang Yuanqing has always been considering establishing a navy, but there are no suitable generals now. Hu'er, the best navy general in the Sui Dynasty, is now in Xiao Mian's place, and he is already old, but several of his sons have inherited their father's business.
He is quite capable of leading a naval force. He has already sent people to contact him, and there should be results soon.
Yang Yuanqing pondered for a while and said: "There is no need to worry about the navy for the time being. You have people here who are good at sailing."
"There are many people. The Zhang brothers are masters of sailing and have very rich experience."
Yang Yuanqing looked back at the Zhang brothers behind him and said with a smile: "I want to take a boat out to sea later, and I would like to ask you two brothers to drive the boat."
"I am willing to sail the ship for His Highness!"
Everyone boarded the largest warship, which was a huge transport ship, four feet high and fifteen feet long, capable of transporting 800 soldiers. This warship was also the flagship of Laihuer's attack on Goryeo.
It has now been repaired.
There are still several shipwrights on the big ship busy coating the ship with tung oil. There are three floors on the ship. The bottom tank can also carry food and livestock. The sails, cables, and anchors are all equipped and ready to go to sea at any time. Yang Yuanqing walked out of the ship's side.
Along the way, the sea breeze blows in your face, and flocks of seagulls chirp on the water, which is refreshing.
"General manager, do you want to go out to sea for a walk?" Ying Yanglang general Yu Zhenwu suggested with a smile.
Yang Yuanqing looked at the boundless ocean in the distance, and in his heart he had the courage to brave the wind and waves.
"Okay! Let's go for a walk on the sea!"
The whole ship immediately became busy. Zhao Guangcai went to find more than a hundred outstanding sailors among the shipwrights. Yu Zhenwu led more than a hundred soldiers with strong water skills to board the ship. Zhang Long personally took the helm, hoisted the sails and untied the cables.
With a shout: "Sail!"
The big ship staggered away from the shore, and soon drove out of the river mouth and into the blue sea. There was a slight wind and waves on the sea. The big ship rose and fell, chopping the waves on the sea, and a group of seagulls circled at the stern of the ship.
Yu Zhenwu said at the side: "General Manager, this is the Bohai Sea. Go straight south and you will reach Donglai County in about four days. To the west is Hejian County, to the east is a large peninsula hundreds of miles away, and at the southern end is Bi
Luxury city.”
Yang Yuanqing nodded. Bishe City was later Dalian. Now the entire east of Liao River is the land of Goguryeo. He turned back and looked to the north. To the north was Liaodong Bay.
"How far is it from here to Pyongyang?" Yang Yuanqing asked thoughtfully.
"It will take about ten days to walk eastward through the mouth of the Bohai Sea, and then drive for another seven or eight days to reach the mouth of the Pyongyang River."
Yu Zhenwu was a little excited. Could it be that the general manager restarted the shipyard to attack Korea? But he did not dare to ask. Yang Yuanqing stared at the east with his hands behind his back and fell into deep thought for a long time.
…
…
Huaiyuan Town, Yan County, was once a logistical center for Yang Guangdong’s expedition to Korea. Hundreds of warehouses were built to store a large amount of food and military equipment. As time went by, these huge warehouses had long been abandoned, and the warehouses were empty and filled with weeds.
Clustered.
Huaiyuan Town has also become deserted during the bustling period. At its most prosperous, there were millions of civilians and troops concentrated in this area, but now there are only more than a hundred households, making a living by farming and trading businessmen.
Huaiyuan Town has become lively again in the past few days. An army of more than a thousand people has arrived near Huaiyuan Town. This is Gao Kaidao's army. Gao Kaidao personally led a thousand personal guards to Huaiyuan Town to hold talks with the Korean envoys.
Due to the great victory of the Sui army in Hebei, Gao Kaidao, who was separatist in Liaodong, was deeply afraid. He knew that it would be his turn next. In order to protect himself, Gao Kaidao finally chose to surrender to Korea.
In the camp, Gao Kaidao was worried. He got a quick report that Sui Army General Luo Shixin led an army of 50,000 troops to camp outside Linyu Pass. It was obvious that they were about to launch an attack on Liaodong.
Although Goryeo has promised to support him, this is only verbal support, which is far from enough. What he wants is Goryeo's substantial support for him and to send troops to help him.
But Gao Kaidao also knew that the Koreans were wolves. Once their army entered Liaodong, they would not leave again. Gao Kaidao was a little hesitant, but as the situation became increasingly tense, he resolutely decided to lead the Korean army into Liaodong to help