"General! General!" Zhang Kai shouted with a raised voice, chasing after the old soldier a few steps.
The old soldier ignored him and used an iron hook to hook the side of the ship and flip it out.
Zhang Kai poked his head out and shouted at the old soldier: "General, are you going to run to the sea?"
"Um?"
When Zhao Bin was in Yexian, because of Guo Ning's suggestion, he asked a blacksmith to make an iron hook and tied it to his arm with a leather ribbon. He just thought he had an iron hand. The iron hook was very useful, but he didn't use it well enough.
Skilled, for example, when getting off the boat now, you have to slowly figure out where to use the hook to exert force.
At this moment, others were in the middle of the moment, thinking about how to place the iron hooks, when they suddenly heard Zhang Kai's words...
Zhao Bin paused and used an iron hook to hook himself back: "You young gentleman, don't talk nonsense. We are all soldiers of the Kingdom of Jin. What are we going to do at sea?"
Zhang Kai took half a step forward and whispered: "General, I guessed it right, right?"
"Interesting, interesting." The old soldier sat down on the side of the boat again: "Why do you think so?"
Zhang Kai looked around and saw the soldiers starting to search for the wounded on the ship. He quickly waved and asked the few remaining sailors around him to help.
He turned around and sat next to the old soldier, and said in a low voice: "General, I heard that the Great Jin Kingdom has not been successful in fighting against the Black Tartars in recent years. The soldiers suffered heavy casualties and the court was at a loss. Is it true?"
"That's not bad. Speaking of which, not only the soldiers suffered heavy casualties, but the civilians suffered even more."
"I also heard that Yang An'er has rebelled in Shandong recently, and Sui Wang Shouxu has occupied Kaifeng Mansion. There is also a Khitan Yelvliu brother in the north who is causing trouble... Dajin's territory of thousands of miles has been in chaos. Is it true?"
This guy knows a lot!
Although Zhao Bin has not taken the Jin Kingdom seriously for a long time, the Jin and Song Dynasties are the kingdoms of uncles and nephews. Northern Han people like Zhao Bin have never taken the Song Kingdom seriously since they were young. Listen now
A man from the Southern Song Dynasty said it so straightforwardly, and he felt a little awkward. He snorted coldly and acquiesced.
Zhang Kai continued: "Let's not mention that King Sui and the Khitan people are still far away. After Yang An'er's rebellion, the Jin Kingdom's defense troops in various parts of Shandong may have a hard time, right? I won't hide it from the general.
, the Huainan East Road area of Great Song Dynasty has received a lot of reformed people these days."
The so-called "Gui Zhengren" is the name given by the Song Dynasty to those who fled from the Jin Kingdom and fled to the Song Dynasty. The so-called "Gui Zheng Ren" refers to those people who "were from the Central Plains in the Yuan Dynasty, but later fell into Tibet and returned to the Central Plains. This is because they turned from evil and turned to justice."
Although the Song Dynasty did not pay much attention to these reformers and even had some contempt for them, the increasing number of reformers did prove the shaky state of the Jin Dynasty. Zhang Kai could travel between the Song Dynasty and Jin Dynasty with a boat worth a thousand materials.
Doing business on a country's border requires a basic understanding of this.
When he said it to this extent, it was hard for Zhao Bin to deny it.
At this time, several old soldiers dug out two companions from the pile of dead people. They were both dead when they were accidentally caught in the siege when the soldiers were fighting hand-to-hand.
For Zhao Bin and other veterans, the intensity of the fight just now on the boat was very low. But if you often walk along the river, there is no one who doesn’t get your shoes wet. Whenever there is a fight, some unlucky guy will die. Anyway, they are all veterans of decades.
I should have expected this day long ago.
On the one hand, these old soldiers selected by Zhao Bin do have injuries of one kind or another and are not suitable to be in the army. On the other hand, most of these people are ruthless and do not obey military discipline.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, Zhao Bin is depressed because of his injury and disability. In fact, he is such a person. It is too easy for him to find similar people.
They were originally in the army and were strictly restricted by military discipline. Even burning, killing and looting had to be within the scope of military orders. Anyone who dared to disobey would definitely be severely punished. But after they left the army, they went to the Inspection Department and Recording Department.
There are more restrictions on what you can do. After all, there are peaceful and good people around you, so you can't just attack them when you get angry.
After being depressed for several months, they finally found the joy of fighting. Deep down in their hearts, everyone was almost ecstatic.
Even if his companion is dead at this moment, everyone can understand and see through it. While carrying the body, someone is chanting: "Xu Lao Si, Xu Lao Si, you brag about your sword skills every day, but in fact it's not the case."
Relying on heavy armor to show your prestige? Now we are fighting on the water. We can't wear heavy armor. Look, you are dead! It's time!"
Someone on the side explained: "That's because Old Xu is missing an arm and can't use the mission card. What does it have to do with the armor?"
A few old soldiers quarreled and carried the body off the boat. No one showed any signs of sadness.
Zhao Bin stepped aside. Zhang Kai felt that the words of these old soldiers were too cruel, so he subconsciously stepped aside and moved over.
"General, I see that you are all very young, and you are all more or less injured... Let me tell you the truth, General, please don't be angry... I guess you all suffered losses on the battlefield, and in the big battle...
I can't stay in the Jin army any longer, so I want to find a ship, or go south to the Song Dynasty to join the imperial court, or become a maritime merchant, right?"
At this time, Zhou Keshan was still far away. Zhao Bin didn't know whether it was appropriate to express his thoughts frankly, so he hesitated. The two were silent for a while, and Wang Erbai climbed over the side of the boat.
He was Alixi who had just joined the army. When they were fighting just now, the old soldiers didn't give him a chance. But now that the fighting has stopped, these newcomers have to see blood and cruel scenes, so I don't know who instigated Wang Er
Bai Lai helps.
Wang Erbai was clinging to the side of the ship when he heard Zhang Kai say that Zhao Bin and others could not stay in the army any longer.
He was a straight-tempered person and immediately became angry: "What are you talking about, fellow! Jiedushi treated us well! He gave us eight sheep! There was also a box of snacks, which were very delicious!"
As he said that, he strode forward, put his hands on his hips and looked at the corpses on the boat. Before he could hold on for two breaths, he was choked with blood in his nose and vomited out "Wow".
The sheep and snacks Wang Erbai mentioned were gifts given to Zhao Bin by Guo Ning half-jokingly. This is the affection between warriors in northern Xinjiang. Although the gift is light, the affection is heavier than the mountain.
When Zhang Kai heard this, he understood it wrong.
He only said that these old soldiers fought desperately and suffered such serious injuries, but in the end they only got eight sheep and a box of snacks.
This is really cruel! The Song Dynasty had a war with the Jin Kingdom during the Kaixi Year. At that time, the imperial court clearly issued an edict to the soldiers who died in the battle: Those who were seriously injured would not be conscripted, and they would be imprisoned for life. Even if the soldiers were killed after the war, they would be imprisoned for life.
Those who are old and weak and have been eliminated will also have their salaries reduced and be included in the remaining staff, rather than just letting them go.
Of course, imperial edicts are always good, but when implemented in practice, they are inevitably full of disadvantages. But no matter what, it is better than the treatment of these old soldiers in front of me? These people have served the country to the point where they are missing arms and legs. In the end,
Just gave them eight sheep and a box of snacks, and sent them all away? Forced them to go to sea to fight for their lives?
This general from the Kingdom of Jin is so ruthless!
The embarrassment of these veterans made Zhang Kai even more convinced of his own opportunities.
He lowered his voice and said to Zhao Bin: "General, I have a suggestion, do you want to hear it?"
"you say."
"The storms at sea are dangerous and different from those on land. The rules of conduct for many sea merchants and pirates are even more complicated. No matter how brave you are, it may not be that easy to go deep into the sea rashly. Besides, you don't seem to know how to swim?"
Zhao Bin groaned and nodded.
"So, General, can you steer the ship? Can you set the sail? Can you row the oar? Can you stargaze? Can you know the rain? Can you measure the water? Can you measure the wind? Do you know the channel? Do you know the reef tide?
Are you familiar with the various ports? Do you know the routes for buying and selling goods?"
This series of questions almost made Zhao Bin stagger.
He was about to say, I have a companion named Zhou who knows something about this, but he saw Zhang Kai stood up and patted his chest:
"I, Zhang Kai and Zhang Zihe, have a little family business in Mingzhou of the Song Dynasty in the Southern Dynasty. However, I have been traveling on the sea all year round, and finally encountered misfortune, and the capable people around me are scattered. General, you are all going to the sea anyway, why don't you accept me
Employment. I have a foothold in the Song Dynasty. If you want to settle down, it will be easy for you. As for me, I rely on your protection in my business journey. Let's work together and get what we need when the time comes... It can be considered me.
How about repaying everyone for your life-saving grace?"
Zhao Bin rolled his eyes and stared at the confident Zhang Kai.
After looking at it for a long time, he slowly said: "Zhang Langjun, your idea is not bad. However, there are hundreds of us brothers, and the expenses are not small! How big is your family? How big is your business? You can afford to hire us.
?”
"this……"
Zhang Kai was stunned for a moment, and someone suddenly said to him: "Mr. Zhang Lang, do you know where we people came from?"
Looking up, it turned out to be a tall and thin scholar with a jade pendant hanging from his waist. Zhang Kai was surprised, but he felt relieved when he saw Zhao Bin's calm expression.
"Sir, please tell me."
"Those of us are either veterans in the army or wealthy locals from Shandong. Although we are now in a downturn, we still have some connections with the army and have some connections. If you, Mr. Zhang, really want to repay us...you can't
If you speak the language of employment, we can do business together and make a fortune together."
Zhang Kai was still hesitating, and the scholar took half a step forward: "Zhang Langjun was chased by pirates today. There must be a reason. Even if you escape, the business in your hands may not be stable from now on. But if we help, we can protect your business."
You are as stable as Mount Tai, who dares to touch you, Mr. Zhang Lang..."
Zhao Bin waved the iron hook: "Ask us first!"
Zhang Kai nodded, but subconsciously felt a little wary.
These people are not simple. Could it be that they want to turn their backs on guests?
Just as he was thinking about it, not far away, Wang Erbai spat out "Wow" again. Zhang Kai looked up and saw several sailors under his own command, slowly gathering the bow of the ship, doing chores, envoys and other leaders.
The corpses, as well as the corpses of other companions, were also placed in one place one after another.
The old boatman's body was carried over and placed side by side with his son. There were also several people, all old people in Zhang Kai's family. The old people had watched Zhang Kai grow up, and Zhang Kai had always treated them all.
As a family.
Due to excessive blood loss, several corpses looked pale before, but now, because the remaining blood began to coagulate, and there was a faint dark purple under the skin, they looked particularly ferocious.
Anger flashed across Zhang Kai's eyes. He clenched his fists and said solemnly: "Then let's do it together."
