Fenghou

In the rear, two thousand cavalrymen were chasing after them quickly. This fleet forced their way out of the city, causing an uproar in the city, but the guarding soldiers couldn't explain why.

Yang Yizhong was furious, and personally led two thousand cavalry in pursuit. The two thousand cavalry rushed all the way, and after a while, the cavalry chased the checkpoint, and saw the checkpoint was in chaos. He asked sharply, "What's going on?"

Chapter 65 clarification

The soldier said loudly: "A boat broke through the checkpoint just now. Unfortunately, Officer Li was shot by an arrow, and the post was also broken."

Yang Yi became more and more annoyed in the center. He urged his horse and continued to chase forward with [-] cavalry. He faintly saw the shadow of the fleet, and the opponent was about to enter the Qiantang River.

Yang Yizhong was in a hurry and shouted: "Speed ​​up!"

The cavalry galloped forward like the wind, and the fleet was also speeding up. They pulled up the sails. It happened to be the north wind. The night wind was strong and the speed was much faster. The first ship had already entered the Qiantang River, and the second A ship also entered the river.

The cavalry also chased closer and closer, and it was two hundred steps away from the tail boat. Dozens of warriors raised their crossbows and shot at the cavalry. Arrows shot randomly in the darkness, and several cavalrymen couldn't dodge in time.

The cavalry who were chasing were startled and slowed down their horses one after another. At this time, the second round of arrows came again, and the cavalry quickly blocked it with their shields. Frightened in their hearts, they couldn't help slowing down their horses again. The distance from the tail boat was stretched to three hundred steps, and they escaped from the crossbow arrows. lethal range.

At this time, it was too late for Yang Yizhong to speed up to catch up. He watched the last big ship sail into the Qiantang River and disappeared on the wide river. He was still at a loss as to who the other party was.

……

In the middle of the night, a carriage stopped in front of Baoji Cabinet Square, and a middle-aged man came out of the carriage. This man was Shi Guangping, the sixth grandson of Shi Shouxin, the founding hero of the Song Dynasty. The Duke of Kuaiji, he is also the number one proprietor of Baoji Cabinet Workshop.

Although it was midnight, the cabinet in the Baoji lobby was still brightly lit, and more than a dozen important stewards and accountants were waiting in the lobby.

The chief steward, Wang Yan, stepped forward to salute, and Shi Guangping asked, "Has your grandson been released?"

"Reporting to the proprietor, it was released, and the two of them are safe and sound."

"Where is the guy they killed? Has the body been found?"

Wang Yan hurriedly said: "The guy didn't die, he came back by himself. According to him, he was hit on the head with a stick, and then lost consciousness. He went to the doctor to see, the problem is not serious."

Hearing that the clerk was not dead, and the other party was just threatening, Shi Guangping's face softened a lot, and he ordered again: "Show me the money withdrawal certificate!"

The big tent quickly handed the wooden box to the proprietor, Shi Guangping looked at it, and asked again: "Are you sure it is correct?"

The big accountant nodded, "The receipt was written by Beizhi himself, and Beizhi also left a subtle mark on it. The marks are all there, and the jade pei is also perfectly stitched. There is no problem with the voucher for withdrawing money."

Wang Yan added: "Hu Yun himself admits that they have wiped out Zhang Tai, and this wealth is King Yong's spoils of war."

Shi Guangping glanced at the crowd, and said slowly: "I have discussed with several proprietors, and everyone agrees that this matter should not be made public. Since the money has been taken away by the other party, we should stop making trouble for ourselves. Speaking out will not only affect our reputation, but also offend the court, so I came here to tell everyone that we must strictly keep the secret, and if anyone leaks this out, he will be expelled immediately, do you remember?"

Everyone bowed together and said: "We remember!"

Shi Guangping beckoned Wang Yan up again, and said to him in a low voice: "The ten big ships are trying to break through the customs. Yang Yizhong will definitely search all over the city tomorrow, and he will definitely find us here. If Yang Yizhong asks you, you Just deny it."

"I will certainly deny it, but it is true that ten large ships went out from us yesterday evening, and I cannot account for that."

"I know, I have already borrowed twelve big boats, and they are moored behind me, and the boatman has been replaced by my servant, so you can put some unnecessary sundries on the big boat, and say that we are cleaning the warehouse and preparing to deliver Yang Yizhong has no evidence for copper coins, and he can't do anything to us."

"I see, don't worry, the proprietor, I will deal with it."

……

Early the next morning, Yang Yizhong began to search all over the city, and soon found the Baoji cash drawer. Someone reported that there were more than a dozen large ships parked on the river behind the Baoji cash drawer yesterday.

Yang Yizhong came by boat, but he saw that the back of the Baoji cabinet was indeed full of large ships. The back door of the cabinet was opened, and more than a dozen clerks were carrying things, all of which were rotten boxes, broken furniture and the like.

The shopkeeper Wang Yan stood aside and watched with a smile.

"Treasurer Wang!" Yang Yizhong shouted.

Wang Yan turned around, cupped his hands and said with a smile: "So it's General Yang, why did General Yang take the boat?"

"The street is safe and sound, but there are frequent accidents in the river, so the river should be inspected."

"The general is right. The thief sneaked into the Baoji cabinet shop the year before last, and they just walked along the river."

Yang Yizhong looked at the boat and asked, "What is the cabinet workshop doing?"

"The warehouse in the cabinet workshop is not enough. Let's clean up some old junk and see if we can increase the warehouse space."

"Why do you need more than a dozen big ships? Are there a lot of things?"

"It's not a lot of junk. Two or three ships are enough. The other ships are used to transport money. The Pingjiang Mansion and Zhenjiang Mansion cost a lot of money. If you want to send a batch of money to supplement it, you may ask General Yang to send troops to escort it."

Yang Yizhong laughed and said, "No problem, the military charge is cheaper than the martial arts school, and it's also safe."

Without showing any signs of expression, he asked another boatman, "When did your boat come?"

Wang Yan secretly yelled loudly. Fortunately, the proprietor was prepared, and the boatmen were all pretending to be servants.

The boatman scratched his head and said, "Report to General, we came here yesterday afternoon."

They came here yesterday afternoon, so it wasn't them. Yang Yizhong looked around again and found nothing unusual, so he turned the bow and continued to inspect the next suspicious place.

But in the end, nothing was found. Yang Yizhong suspected that it was the intelligence spies of the Western Army, but he didn't have any evidence. Of course, Yang Yizhong would not make trouble for himself. He didn't report it, so the matter was left alone.

……

That afternoon, Yang Yuanqing, commander of the Jiangling garrison, came to Baling County. Although Yang Yuanqing was one of Chen Qing's veterans, his current official position was only that of a commander, and he had not yet reached the command of the Shangjun. After being ruled, Zheng Ping didn't have much military merit, he just guarded Bashu, but he was Chen Qing's number one trusted person.

Yang Yuanqing made a mistake at the beginning and was biased towards the imperial court, thus losing Chen Qing's trust. Although he tried to make up for it over the years and was considered loyal, it was a bit late.

He was only in his forties, and his beard and hair were already half white.

The reason why Yang Yuanqing came to Baling to look for Zhong Huan in person was because he was quite disturbed. They clearly controlled the Yangtze River, so how did Zhang Jun's boat transport smuggled salt across the Yangtze River?He was a little unclear. He knew that although King Yong didn't say anything, it didn't mean that King Yong didn't suspect that he was also involved in smuggling salt.

In fact, Yang Yuanqing did not participate in the smuggling of salt. He was very cautious. He would not do this kind of thing, and he would not dare to do it.

But he himself couldn't tell, what was the problem?

Yang Yuanqing came to Daying, and soon, Zhong Huan came out to greet him. Although Zhong Huan was only a commander of the internal guards, he had a gold medal from King Yong. Not a system.

Zhong Huan bowed and saluted, "Welcome Yang Tongzhi to Baling!"

Yang Yuanqing nodded with a smile and said, "General Xiaozhong has worked hard during this time!"

"Guardian Yang, please enter the camp!"

"General Xiaozhong please!"

The two came to the main barracks, where the guests and the host were seated, and soldiers came in to serve tea.

Yang Yuanqing hesitated for a moment and said, "I came here this time to declare one thing. I absolutely did not participate in the sale of private salt. General Xiaozhong, please don't worry."

Zhong Huan laughed and said, "I don't doubt Yang Tongzhi either!"

Yang Yuanqing sighed, "But some things are easy to misunderstand! I didn't participate in the sale of illegal salt, so how did these illegal salts cross the river? To be honest, I can't figure out the reason."

How could Zhong Huan not doubt it?Yang Yuanqing was the biggest suspect, but he took the initiative to clarify, which was very unexpected to Zhong Huan. Since Yang Yuanqing took the initiative to clarify, it shows that he did not participate.

Chong Huan thought for a while and said, "There are two possibilities. The first is that Yang Tongzhi's subordinates participated privately; the second is that official ships participated in transporting private salt."

Yang Yuanqing shook his head, "It's impossible for my subordinates. We have a separation system between man and ship. Everyone uses a ship that is not fixed. If someone uses a military ship to transport smuggled salt, he will leave traces and be discovered by other troops the next day. , it will definitely be reported, the official ship is possible, the Jiangling county government office and the government office are both on the north bank, but the Jiangling government's jurisdiction includes both sides of the Yangtze River, so the official ship will go back and forth across the river, and we never check the official ship. It is also very possible that we generally do not check ferries, so both ferries and official ships may become smuggling salt boats."

Chapter 66 Official Ship

Zhong Huan smiled slightly and said: "We have already considered the transition ship. During this time, our people pretended to be river vegetable farmers and took the ferry every day, but there was no sign of transporting illegal salt. In fact, there are fishing boats. My men I also pretended to be a fisherman and went fishing in the river, but I didn't find any fishing boats transporting salt."

"But General Xiaozhong ignored an important factor!"

Yang Yuanqing pondered for a while and said: "General Xiaozhong is stationed in Yuezhou, they dare not act rashly, especially when you sweep the salt dealers in the south, so many officials have been killed, how could they be careless during this time."

Zhong Huan nodded, "General Yang is right. It seems that I have to leave Yuezhou for a while."

"General Xiaozhong can take his men to Jiangling!"

Chong Huan shook his head, "Going to Jiangling is still the same thing, if you want to go to Bashu!"

……

Yang Yuanqing left, and soon Deng Jinshan brought three old fishermen to Zhonghuan's official house. The three old fishermen knelt down to salute, and Zhonghuan hurriedly asked the three to get up.

"I know that the sons of the three of you are all in the Western Army. We are all a family. I invite you here this time to ask for your help."

"No matter what the general says, we will definitely do our best!"

Zhong Huan said softly, "I won't hide it from you. I came to Jinghu South Road to destroy illegal salt on the order of His Royal Highness King Yong, but the salt dealers are very cunning. We are here. They won't show up. We just leave. They just show up to trade, you know what I mean?"

The three nodded together, "We understand!"

"So please help me to monitor the official ship. I will monitor it day and night to see how many times they cross the river every day and night. It is better to monitor its waterline to see if it has a deep draft when it comes from the north."

"Just monitor Yuezhou?"

Zhong Huan nodded, "Yes! Just monitor Yuezhou."

Chong Huan has found that Yuezhou sells the largest amount of private salt, which shows that Yuezhou is a general distribution place. Private salt first goes to Yuezhou, and then is transported to the states along the lake through Dongting Lake. You can find the clue by keeping a close eye on Yuezhou .

"We understand, we will do our best!"

"After the matter is completed, I will have a big reward, and I will never reveal that you have done things for me."

All three agreed, and Zhong Huan would leave three alert soldiers to guide them.

After the three old fishermen left, Zhong Huan called over a dozen soldiers, who stayed behind to monitor the ferry, and everything was properly arranged.

Early the next morning, Zhong Huan found Cheng Guangya, the magistrate of Baling County, and said to him with a smile: "We have received a new mission and we are going back to Bashu. Thanks to the assistance of Cheng Zhi County, I was able to eradicate the salt lord Zhang Tai and so many big salts." Trafficker, I will definitely put a good word for Chengzhi County in the report."

Cheng Guangya was overjoyed and thanked repeatedly: "I wonder when General Zhong will leave?"

"We are going to leave today. All our bills have been settled, and the remaining food and grass can be shipped back to Chengzhi County."

"The humble official understands, so I wish the general a smooth journey."

"Thank you!"

Cheng Guangya left immediately and returned to the county seat. Cheng Guangya still came to the government office. In fact, Cheng Guangya knew everything, but he adopted the three no principles, no participation, no leaking, and no offense. Naturally, he would not say anything to Zhong Huan .

Yuezhou governor Wang Kuang listened to Cheng Guangya's report with squinted eyes, thanked him a few words, sent Cheng Guangya away, and then called Sima Hugong.

If Zhong Huan carefully investigated Hu Gong's background, he would have avoided a lot of detours. Hu Gong was Zhang Jun's fellow villager, and he was related to Zhang Jun. He was appointed Sima of Yuezhou, and he was recommended by Zhang Jun when he suppressed Liu Guangshi's rebellion.

As soon as Hu Gong entered, Wang Kuang asked, "The inner guard is leaving, do you know?"

Hu Gong shook his head again and again, "I don't know the lowly position, but it's a good thing for them to leave!"

"Hmph! What if they are playing hard to get?"

"Probably not! He doesn't necessarily know the situation in Yuezhou. He might think that the extermination of the salt lord Zhang Tai is the end. Didn't the Supervision Department take all the criminals away? It's the right time for him to end now!"

"That's what you take for granted. I have been observing this person. Although this person is young, he is very experienced in dealing with things. The things that kill and offend people are all done by the deputy, and he does not show up. It is normal for such a person to play hard to get. "

"Governor, I haven't purchased any goods for two months. Zhang Shuai has already sent someone to look for me three times. I'm under a lot of pressure!"

"I see, let's see the situation! I will send someone to keep an eye on him. If he really goes to Bashu, he can buy some goods appropriately, but it must be hidden. It is not allowed during the day, only at night."

"Governor, you can't do it at night. It's easy to be detected by the patrols. They can't distinguish the official ships at night, and the official ships sail at night. It's weird, but it will make people suspicious. Our Yuezhou still has a large area of ​​jurisdiction on the north bank of the Yangtze River. Official salt is normal, and patrol boats never ask."

"I see, you let your subordinates hold the official salt guide, so that there is nothing wrong with it."

……

At dusk, Zhong Huan's team boarded the boat and left. Wang Kuang, who had never shown his face, appeared in the farewell team for the first time, but he still didn't really show up. Instead, he sat in the carriage and watched the team go away on the boat from a distance.

Every soldier was carrying a large bag of local specialties, no matter how he looked at it, he would not come back again, but Wang Kuang was still worried, so he sent two people to follow the other side's fleet on a passenger ship.

Five days later, Wang Kuang got the news that Zhong Huan's fleet had passed Yiling.

He was a little relieved, and ordered Hu Gong to make purchases.

This afternoon, a scholar came down from the Junshan Ferry with two entourages carrying bookcases. The scholar was Zhong Huan who had disguised himself. He was about the same figure, but his appearance was completely different. His skin had turned white and his eyebrows had also changed No, the face shape is also different. Wearing a son's turban on his head and holding a folding fan in his hand, he is a handsome scholar, and he is completely different from the commander of the inner guard wearing armor.

Of course, this is Zhong Huan's true face, he was born as a Jinshi!

Chong Huan came to the beautiful Junshan Island to study and lived in Junshan Town. Many scholars will come to Junshan to study, preparing to take the imperial examination next spring, and pay homage to the Concubine Xiang Temple by the way.

Zhong Huan's subordinates had rushed to Junshan Island from all directions, including 160 water ghost scouts who disembarked halfway, as well as more than [-] internal guard soldiers brought by Qin Kuangming from Changsha, and Zhong Huan stayed in Baling County to carry out military operations. There were more than [-] internal guards under surveillance, which counted to [-] people. In addition, ten Qianshi warships supported by Yang Yuanqing had already entered Dongting Lake from Huarong County.

At night, his subordinates came with an old fisherman and reported to Zhong Huan: "We found that the official boats of Yuezhou Prefecture have been crossing the river suddenly since the day before yesterday. Before, they only crossed the river once or twice a day. Now It takes five or six times a day, and the boat has a deep draft when returning."

"What about at night?" Zhong Huan asked again.

"There are no official ships at night!"

Zhong Huan nodded, and asked another inner guard soldier, "Has the market price of private salt dropped now?"

"Reporting to the commander, the price of private salt has dropped today, and it has returned to fifty Wen a catty."

The private salt market is very sensitive. It can be said that its price is the weather vane. Before that, Zhong Huan fought against private salt in Tanzhou, but his army was stationed in Baling, so that the private salt in the north did not dare to go south, and the inventory was insufficient. The illegal salt in the Yuezhou market The price has risen immediately, from fifty yuan per catty to sixty yuan, and now the price has fallen again, indicating that the supply of private salt has resumed, which proves from one aspect that the fisherman found that the official ship was abnormal, and it should be transporting illegal salt.

"How many official ships are there, and how big are they?"