Cutting over the end of the Ming Dynasty: a dog-leg knife at the beginning

Chapter 851 Shock 1
Xue Siming was drinking tea with Han Peng when he learned that Yang Menglong was assassinated. When his subordinates hurried in to convey the news to him with a panicked look, the recognized number one general of the Heluo New Army trembled, and the tea came The glass spilled out.He threw away the tooth cup, grabbed the hem of that subordinate, lifted him up, and let out a deep roar: "Is this true? If you dare to spread rumors, I will kill you!"

Han Peng's expression was stern, his eyes were like cold electricity, and he stared at that guy, his meaning couldn't be clearer: If you dare to make fun of this kind of thing, you just wait for the head to fall to the ground!

The subordinate said in fear: "It's true! When Lord Hou entered Chixian City, he was shot by gangsters, shot in the abdomen, seriously injured, and unconscious!"

Xue Siming shouted: "Who, who did it!? I'm going to kill him!"

Among so many generals, he has the deepest friendship with Yang Menglong. It was Yang Menglong who appreciated him and brought him back to the Heluo New Army from a guard similar to a beggar, and gradually trained him to become the number one general of the Heluo New Army He couldn't repay this kindness, this friendship even if he was smashed to pieces. Now that Yang Menglong was assassinated and his life and death were uncertain, how could he not be angry!
The subordinate said: "It is said that Cao Gang did it..."

Xue Siming gritted his teeth, his expression became a little ferocious, and he said word by word: "Hmph, Cao Gang!"

The Cao Gang is a gang formed by those water workers who rely on the canal for their livelihood. They have quite a large force, especially in Shandong and Hebei. Leap through the canal.Of course, this is not to say that the Cao Gang is a group of big villains, they are just a group of poor water workers, and they form cliques just to gain some benefits for themselves. It is a day's work in exchange for two meals. They are absolutely vulnerable groups. If they don't get together, they will only be bullied more severely.Just because the Cao Gang has a strong influence, every time the White Lotus Sect wants to rebel in history, it will always do everything possible to incite the water workers to work with them, and once the water workers are successfully incited, the troubles of the Ming and Qing governments will not be ordinary. up.Because the water workers are strong men who have lived in the canal for many years, have a strong physique, a relatively high degree of organization and obedience, and can endure hardships. They are rare elite soldiers in ancient and modern times. With them joining, the rebel army It is bound to increase in strength.It is also because of this that the Ming and Qing dynasties were very cautious on the issue of water transportation. They knew that sea transportation was more efficient and cheaper, and water transportation had become a heavy burden for the country. In addition to the interests of too many people, the millions of water workers are also a force that they dare not ignore: Water transport is the lifeblood of water workers. If the water transport is abolished, their jobs will be gone. They will definitely rebel. Once they rebel , I don't know when it will be settled.Yang Menglong has always strongly advocated the waste of water transport and the promotion of sea transport, and for two years in a row, most of the taxes, money and food in Huguang have been transported by sea instead of water. ...

If it was really done by the Cao Gang, then the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal might be stained red by the water workers' blood!

Han Peng waved his hand to let the subordinate who delivered the news back down. He took out a new cup and poured a cup of tea for Xue Siming to calm him down. He tapped his fingers on the table, frowned, and said in a deep voice : "It can't be the Cao Gang!"

Xue Siming's voice was cold: "It wasn't Cao Gang who did it, who else could it be?"

Han Peng said: "In April of this year, when Lord Hou was dealing with the hailstorm in Henan and Shandong provinces, he interviewed hundreds of chief waterworkers and asked them to find a way to find another job. After a few years, when Liaodong was recovered, they were allowed to immigrate. In Liaodong, each person was allocated [-] mu of land, and most of the chief waterworkers expressed that they could accept it, and then a large number of waterworkers also put down their old professions, some went to serve as soldiers, and some went to farms as workers... also That is to say, the Cao Gang is acceptable to the plan of leaving the canal to immigrate to Liaodong, and Hou Ye also has the ability to destroy Jiannu and regain Liaodong. The life of the water worker’s children has brought about an overwhelming misfortune for me!” He emphasized his tone: “Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the life of Jiannu is very difficult now. The Xiongjun built an insurmountable iron wall, and Hou Ye implemented the new policy in Huguang with amazing efficiency. When Taiwan was recovered, the sea commercial route was opened, and the wealth from Xiyi was continuously obtained, he should move to Jiannu The knife is gone, the Cao Gang will not be so stupid to attack him at this time!"

Xue Siming struggled a bit, and asked, "It's not Cao Gang, who could it be?"

Han Peng sneered: "Master Hou has offended you the most, and who is the one who you least want Master Hou to carry out the New Deal and regain Liaodong?"

Xue Siming crushed the cup in his hand with a snap, his chest heaved sharply, and he gritted his teeth and said, "They...they are so courageous and ruthless! If they do this, they won't be afraid of retribution!"

Han Peng was worried: "Assassination has always been just a link in the whole plan, and more ruthless methods are probably yet to come... We have to prepare early!"

Xue Siming rubbed his forehead and said, "Tell me, what should we do now? My mind is very confused now and I have no idea at all!"

Han Peng said: "Leave 2000 people to live in Fujian, I will take 4000 people back to Guangzhou, and you will bring the main force of the entire army back to Nanyang! Nanyang is the foundation of our new army in Heluo, and there must be no loss! Must be fast, It might be too late!"

The Heluo New Army's spread is really too big. The two legions have a total of more than 4000 troops, and their jurisdiction extends from the Central Plains to the coast of South China. There is no problem in normal times, but once a big crisis occurs, it will Starting to be stretched thin.Han Peng also had no choice but to know that Yang Menglong's life or death was uncertain, the enemy was hiding in the dark, and there were more cruel tricks behind him. The Heluo New Army could only passively accept the attack. If the main force continued to stay in Fujian, it would only become more passive. It was better to first Return to Guangzhou and Nanyang, hold on to the basics, and respond to changes by remaining unchanged.Xue Siming also agreed with this and said: "Okay, I will ask Zhong Ning to lead 1000 people to guard Xiamen, and the main force of the army will return to Nanyang immediately!"

Han Peng said: "Be careful, Lord Hou has already been murdered, our new army can't lose the number one general anymore!"

Xue Siming's expression was stern: "They want to touch me, it's not that easy!" He suddenly darkened, and said with a trace of panic: "What if something happens to Lord Hou?"

Han Peng said: "Even if something happens to him, isn't there still a wife? My wife doesn't have such talent as him, but Xiao Gui and Cao Sui can still do it! And he has a couple of sons and daughters. After more than ten years, the young master will be Grown up, Lao Tzu is a hero, he is a hero of the world, and his son will definitely inherit his career... Our new army will not be defeated so easily!"

Later, Li Yan's secret letter arrived, first confirming the news of Yang Menglong's assassination in the letter, saying that Yang Menglong had handed over the general and political power to him and Qi Hu before he was seriously injured and fell into a coma.He ordered the Heluo New Army to leave a partial division to guard Xiamen, and the main force to return to Guangzhou, Wuhan, Nanyang, and Luoyang as quickly as possible, and to form the third army as quickly as possible. The commander of the army was represented by Yan Yingyuan. The protection, must not be lost!

Xue Siming and Han Peng blocked the news from the army, and arranged the withdrawal of the troops with astonishing efficiency. Zhong Ning was left to guard Xiamen. The boat went back upstream and returned to Nanyang.The emergency withdrawal did not cause much controversy among the Heluo new army. They knew that they would not need to go to the battlefield from the beginning of the battle of Taiwan. They stayed in Fujian and ate seafood for more than a month. They were really tired. Let's withdraw, only a few officers felt that the withdrawal was too hasty, and raised their opinions to their superiors, which resulted in a scolding meal.

With the withdrawal of the Heluo new army, Fujian, which was already calm, suddenly caused waves again.Master Pang Yong walked into the governor's yamen with a happy face, and shouted at Zou Weilian: "My lord, good news, great news! That warrior was assassinated, there are many dangers, and our chance has come!"

When Pang Yong rushed in, Zou Weilian was reading a secret letter from the capital with an ugly expression on his face.He put the letter away and looked at Pang Yong with a strange expression and a strange voice: "Opportunity? What opportunity?"

Pang Yong waved his arms excitedly, saying and gesticulating: "My lord, don't you know yet? After learning that the warrior was assassinated, the Heluo New Army dropped a large number of luggage and withdrew in a panic, leaving only a thousand People are guarding Xiamen! Now the hearts of the Heluo new army are already fluttering. As long as the adults win over and show favors, the new army will be grateful and take the initiative to vote! As for the Zheng family, they are just forced by the new army. They only need to write a letter in their own handwriting to let them return to their original posts, and they will immediately turn against the Heluo New Army and wholeheartedly seek refuge with Your Excellency! Once Zheng’s rebellion, the new army stranded in Taiwan will be killed. I have become a lone army completely, and I can't even come back! In this way, the power in Fujian is in the hands of adults, why can't we make a great cause!"

The corners of Zou Weilian's mouth twitched, he wanted to laugh but didn't look like he was smiling, it was as weird as it could be.In fact, what Pang Yong said was exactly what those big shots in the capital wrote to him to ask him to do, but those big shots in the capital were even worse, and added one more thing to him: Try to win over Shen Tingyang, if you really can't win him over, get rid of him!Shen Tingyang is the commander-in-chief of the Denglai Navy. The fate of the Heluo New Army in Taiwan and Yang Menglong is in his hands. If he can be brought over or get rid of him, the Denglai Navy will be in chaos. Even if Yang Menglong can If you survive, it will be difficult to return to the mainland.Even if he has great abilities, how much can he accomplish by guarding an isolated island? In the past, Zou Weilian was very interested in these tricks of killing people without paying for his life, but now he is a little bit bored...Fujian has all the power in his hands ? This is a big joke. He has been the governor of Fujian for several years, and no one takes him seriously if the government order does not leave Fuzhou City!It was Yang Menglong who handed over all the powers to him after he settled the Zheng Group, and he tasted the taste of power for the first time. The most wonderful thing is that Yang Menglong belongs to the kind of character who lies on the gun with 360 degrees and no dead ends. Whatever policy, just do it freely, even if it messes up, it doesn’t matter. With Yang Menglong standing up to it, what are you afraid of? It is the first time in these few months that he can act freely, govern according to his own plan, govern the local area, Now those guys came over and told him that as long as Yang Menglong is brought down, the power in Fujian will belong to the governor’s office. What a joke, do you think I’m a fool? Once Yang Menglong falls, the governor will soon be emptied again, and he will become stronger again Zheng's group will only get worse, maybe even Fuzhou City won't be left for him!Governor Zou is also fed up with a group of people who don't understand farts riding on his head, gesticulating, yelling, and accusing him at every turn. He would rather not have such power in his hands!And no matter how fiercely the Donglin Party yells, the facts will not change: the Donglin Party, which claims to be a gentleman, has made this country a mess and is on the verge of collapse. The New Deal, which is called treason, has brought this country back from the brink!
Not everyone can open their eyes and speak nonsense with no conscience.

Zou Weilian, who was in a mess of thoughts, lost interest, interrupted Pang Yong's eloquence, and said that he should be quiet and let him go out.Pang Yong stomped his feet anxiously, what a great opportunity, what are you still hesitating about? But Zou Weilian is the boss, he has no choice but to go out.

Zou Weilian took out the secret letter, read and read all the arrangements and promises in the letter, the more disgusting it became.He threw away the letter, paced back and forth, and finally stood still in front of a large character, staring at the words on it, and said in a low voice: "Build a heart for the world, build a life for the people, continue learning for the saints, and create peace for all generations... Shaking his head self-deprecatingly, "It's difficult, it's too difficult! Just talk about it, but if you really want to do it, it will be the end of the champion! This country is so big, why can't it accommodate him?" , let out a long sigh: "Come on, I have spent most of my life cautiously, and I have spent most of my life in mediocrity, and I have achieved nothing. Now let me go crazy and go crazy!" Returning to the desk, I called a confidant , lowered his voice and said: "You leave for Xiamen immediately, and invite General Zhong to come over to discuss something important... Be sure to keep it secret. If the news gets out, I will definitely not spare you!"

(End of this chapter)