People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 458 Above Biwan, inspecting the armies

Biwan is clear, and you can faintly see a trace of blood at the bottom of the lake.

The high mountains on both sides are steep, and the dense forests are deep and secluded. In the past, there were occasional hunters who went deep into it, but now they have disappeared.

On the official ship in the middle of the Wujiang River, Li Xuan was wearing a black fish-scale armor, holding the eight-sided Han sword, standing on the bow, observing the surrounding terrain with a solemn expression.

In the end, Li Xuan's eyes fell on a dozen or so three-masted ships lined up above Biwan.

There is a simple trebuchet on the front and back of the deck of the big ship, and a large bed crossbow on the inside.

Dozens of strong soldiers holding swords stood upright on the deck.

More than a dozen large ships lined up, looking mighty and powerful, not to be underestimated.

The sharp eyes swept over some details, and the invisible details in the dark appeared clearly in front of Li Xuan's eyes.

Except for the first few warships belonging to Muzhou Dushuisi, all of the warships at the back were remodeled from old merchant ships.

The size of the trebuchet above does not match. Although it can be used, its real power is only [-]% of its true power, and it may be even less.

They are all tricks to deceive people.

The combat power of this navy is far from as strong as Li Xuan originally expected.

……

A fast boat sailed out of the bay, and the leader was Yuan Lin, who had gone to Shanheguan to deliver the letter.

Yuan Lin, who was wearing blue clothes and silver armor, quickly boarded Li Xuan's official ship. As soon as she stood firm, Yuan Lin bowed to Li Xuan respectfully: "I have seen the prince!"

Li Xuan glanced at Yuan Lin, then looked at more than a dozen warships in the distance, and the countless soldiers on them, and suddenly asked, "Has the matter of last night been settled?"

Yuan Lin's brows and eyes twitched immediately, but they completely relaxed when she turned sideways.

He then bowed his hands to Li Xuan sincerely, and said sincerely: "My lord, everything has been settled."

"That's good, let's go!" Li Xuan stopped asking, and waved her hand to the back, and the official boat immediately headed towards the entrance of Biwan.

From the center of Biwan, swaggered in.

Seeing this scene, Yuan Lin was about to say something when a sharp gaze fell on him.

Li Zhu, standing behind Li Xuan, holding a long knife tightly in his hand, was scanning him up and down with sharp eyes.

It seemed that as long as he made a slight move, he would be chopped off immediately.

At this moment, Li Xuan looked at Biwan in front of him, and said in a low voice: "Qinglong Bay looks wide, but it's only two miles deep... Entering here, once the exit is blocked by someone, it's like being choked. You can't move at all, how could you go in here?"

The Wujiang River is vast, and there are enough places for boats to stop, and there are no merchant ships on the river now, and the whole river belongs to them, so there is no need to be so careful.

"It's the wind!" Yuan Lin cupped her hands with a wry smile, and said, "A few days ago, the southeast wind was very strong, coupled with the strength of the Wujiang River, if we stop in the middle of the river, we only need a bumper on the upper reaches, and I will be able to catch the boat in no time." Damaged."

"I see." Li Xuan nodded.

Although Li Xuan herself is a novice in water warfare, Shen Lin, the guard of Sanhe Pass, is a good one.

Although Sanhe Pass was unable to withstand the attacks of more than a dozen warships due to its terrain, it was not easy to take it down.

It is also impossible for the Muzhou Navy to enter Wuzhou without paying a price.

What's more, there are many checkpoints in the back, as well as Lanxi County, and even the legendary King of Nanchang who can call wind and rain.

There was a trace of fear in Yuan Lin's eyes as she looked at Li Xuan.

Under the black fish scale armor, Li Xuan was wearing a gold silk robe with a black background. Under the morning light, she looked extraordinarily solemn and noble.

Yuan Lin is also from a family, so she naturally knows that the most powerful people in a family are not the children of the direct line, but the children of the collateral line who have received all the education, have enough talent, and have a difficult way up, but have enough ambition.

Li Xuan, the king of Nanchang County, is undoubtedly such a character.

Not only Yuan Lin thought so, but Yuan Chao also thought so.

Seeing Li Xuan's official ship approaching quickly, Yuan Chao stood with his hands tied with a solemn face.

Behind him stood dozens of navy generals and team leaders in black uniforms.

Standing on both sides of the ship were dozens of Muzhou soldiers holding long lances, staring at these navy generals and team leaders, they did not have any weapons in their hands.

His expression was inexplicable, somewhat gloomy.

……

With a sound of "click", the plank of the ship was placed between the two ships, Li Xuan took Li Zhu, Zhou Qian and Su Bao, and two Qianniuwei set foot on the warship.

"Criminal Yuan Chao has met the Nanchang County King, the County King Qianqiu." Yuan Chao bowed immediately when he saw Li Xuan.

"I've seen Nanchang Wang Jun Wang Qianqiu!" A group of black-clothed generals and the team leader all bowed their hands to Li Xuan at the same time.

"Excuse me, everyone." Li Xuan slightly raised her hand and looked at the crowd.

He knew that these people were all here now, and the people on other ships, even if they had other intentions, couldn't move at all.

Now, as long as Li Xuan can convince this group of people, he can return safely with a whole Muzhou navy.

From now on, the overall situation in Muzhou can be completely determined.

Li Xuan's expression softened, and he said in a gentle voice: "This king can spend a lot of time with you here today, which shows that there is still some fate between you and me. This is also God's favor. Give you the opportunity to return to your hometown and be with your family. Reunite and spend the rest of our lives together."

In a word, to reunite with their families and spend the rest of their lives together, many people in the black-clothed general team were moved, but there were also many people whose faces darkened.

Li Xuan sighed softly: "Maybe fate is ruthless, family members are separated, after you return, you may be able to reunite with your relatives, or you may be able to reunite and have children. At least in my king's opinion, you are still very young... As long as you have the ability, not to mention getting married and establishing a career, it is not impossible to be named a marquis and worship a minister, and your name will last forever... These are better than becoming a loess."

A pile of loess, buried under the nine springs.

The expressions of all the people present were suddenly tense.

"My lord!" Yuan Chao took a step forward at this time, cupping his hands and said, "To start a family, one must eventually have a field. My family is quite barren, and not long ago, a lot of land was allocated to my family. If... the imperial court will These fields will not be taken back."

With Yuan Chao's words, all the people present stared at Li Xuan.

Li Xuan's expression became solemn. Although Yuan Chao was cunning, he really intended to surrender. And these generals, after losing their leader, they cared more about themselves, their treatment after surrender, and what they already had. .

"If it's as expected by the king." Li Xuan glanced sideways at Yuan Chao, then looked at the crowd and said, "After the catastrophe in Muzhou, the central government will reduce or exempt this autumn's tax, and the land will be re-cleared and divided." , This is inevitable, including household registration and property registration, all will be re-conducted.

As for your affairs, it doesn't matter how much you have now. The court will redistribute according to the household registration.

Based on the current situation in Muzhou, the king guarantees that each soldier will have a hundred acres of land.

As for you, you will still have military positions at that time, and each of you should have [-] mu. "

The government and the people are different, and everyone knows it.

Li Xuan looked at everyone present, some of them were relieved, while others were a little embarrassed.

Li Xuan's expression turned cold immediately: "Sometimes people, don't be too greedy. If you take too much, not to mention outsiders, even your own people will be dissatisfied. When something happens, no one will help you. Now anyway, although there is merit, but once the merit is rewarded, it is no longer merit.”

Among the countless soldiers of Tianyin Sect, those who became team leaders and captains were at least a little bit smart and had good eyesight.

With a few words, Li Xuan explained the matter directly, and when they looked at the other people, their faces softened a lot.

But there are some people... Li Xuan clearly recorded their faces.

"After Muzhou, everyone has a chance. It depends on who can seize the opportunity. You may as well think about it." Li Xuan's eyes swept over the faces of everyone present, and then looked at Yuan Chao, with a gentle voice. Said: "That's roughly the case, Mr. Yuan, why don't we go and see other ships."

"Everything is up to the prince's order." Yuan Chao looked at the people present and shouted: "You are all waiting here. I will accompany the prince to inspect the ships."

"The last general obeys the order!" More than 20 Tianyin sect generals stood with their hands together.

……

I got off the big boat, stood on the small boat, and walked slowly to the depths of the Bijiang River.

Li Xuan put one hand on the Eight-Faced Han Sword, and at the same time looked sideways at Yuan Chao: "Mr. Yuan has worked hard. You can subdue so many generals with a single effort. Your ability is really extraordinary. This king will definitely report it truthfully. The saint sees it In my eyes, it will be useful in the future."

"Thank you, my lord, for my reward." Yuan Chao hurriedly cupped his hands, and said, "I am today, thanks to my lord's defeat of the bandits at Meiling Pass, so I was able to seize the opportunity in a hurry, and persuade these Tianyin soldiers to surrender in one fell swoop."

"These sailors are different from those infantry after all. If they are equally fierce, Mr. Yuan, I'm afraid there will be a battle between you and me." Li Xuan couldn't help but shook his head emotionally. , he couldn't see the fearlessness of these other Tianyin soldiers at all.

"Most of them are fishermen from the vicinity of Longshan in Muzhou. Although their lives are difficult, compared to the refugees, they are still able to get by... Originally, there were indeed many devout Tianyin believers among them, but the officials took action. By then, they have all been killed." Yuan Chao looked solemn.

Li Xuan nodded. Due to the special nature of the navy, they could only recruit more soldiers from fishermen.

Although the life of fishermen is difficult, it is not impossible to survive. It is quite different from the common people who only rely on land for survival.

Although Yuan Chao was a speculator, he had a keen eye. He sensed that the Tianyin Sect was going downhill. He seized the opportunity and took action immediately, controlling the entire navy in one fell swoop.

Li Xuan's gaze flicked over Yuan Ying who was on one side of the deck. He and his five hundred soldiers were Yuan Chao's greatest confidence.

Li Xuan patrolled past one ship after another.

The stones from the catapults on each ship were all removed, and the bowstrings from the crossbows were all unloaded.

They really intend to abandon their arms and surrender.

Every time Li Xuan passed a ship, she assured the soldiers on board that there would be no problems in their future.

……

As soon as Li Xuan stepped onto a warship in the middle, he couldn't help but pause slightly, and turned to look at Yuan Chao: "Is this where the accident happened last night?"

"Yes." Yuan Chao looked into the depths of the cabin, and said solemnly: "The three brothers of the Bai family who were originally imprisoned here were the Zhoushan pirates. They are the people who are the least willing to surrender to the imperial court. They were preparing to receive the sailors, but they were not included in the negotiations, so they suddenly exploded."

"What about people?"

"Two of the Bai brothers were killed on the spot last night. One of them tried to escape by water, but was intercepted by Jiulang, and was finally shot to death by random arrows and set on fire." Yuan Chao's expression showed a trace of fear.

Li Xuan smiled faintly, what happened was nothing more than using various means to force them to take risks and finally kill them with one blow.

"In addition to the three brothers of the Bai family, there is Changshui Colonel Zhu Xi, how is his condition?" Li Xuan's face became serious.

Captain Zhu Xi of Changshui is the official supreme commander of the navy, and it was precisely because of the trust of Captain Zhu Xi of Changshui that Yuan Chao took control of the navy in one fell swoop.

"Lieutenant Zhu is imprisoned at the end of the fleet."

Li Xuan nodded: "My lord, go and see him. After his affairs are settled, I can return to Sanhe Pass."

(End of this chapter)