In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 746 The Li Thief's Wanbao Merchant Ship

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
The breach in the dike in Chenqiao Town continues to widen.

From its initial size of less than three zhang, it has now expanded to ten zhang!
The entire town of Chenqiao was flooded, with rooftops completely submerged.

Fortunately, the residents here were usually relocated to Kaifeng City or Zhuxian Town, which are at higher elevations, well before the rainy season.

So there weren't many casualties.

At this very moment, the surging Yellow River continues its ceaseless flow.

The swirling mud and sand turned the entire sky gray.

You can smell the earthy smell from a great distance.

Most of the river water flowed downstream along the river channel.

Only a small portion flowed into the town through the breach.

Even so, for the grain transport office and the three ministries of government, which were already short of manpower and ships,

Blocking the breach is a significant challenge.

At this moment, on the levee that has not yet collapsed,

One by one, disheveled and haggard officials were carrying wooden buckets.

The cement, concrete, and clay that were just delivered were applied to the embankment to secure the remaining sections.

A gap of more than ten feet can still be filled.

If the collapse reaches thirty feet, there will be no way to reverse it; we can only wait for the water level to drop.

Therefore, the Three Departments spared no expense.

We tried every method, whether it was usable or not.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Once you're done applying it, go back and fill another bucket. You absolutely can't stop!"
Don't panic if you get swept away.
There are small boats waiting in Chenqiao Town; someone will rescue you!

“Those who die shall have their sons inherit their fathers’ businesses and receive additional compensation.”

A middle-aged man who looked like a military officer was holding a megaphone.
Shout loudly to both sides of the dam.

Hopefully, this will appease the soldiers and officials who are working.

But the results were minimal.

The group continued working with their heads down, silent and lifeless, like zombies.

Finally, the middle-aged man stopped shouting when his voice became hoarse and his head was spinning.

His bodyguards rushed over to help him up.
"Sir, please go down to the embankment and rest for a while. You haven't slept for three days."

The middle-aged man glared at him fiercely:
"Stop talking nonsense and go urge them again. Haven't the sandbags been loaded yet?"
Bring the pre-installed parts first to seal the sides of the collapsed embankment.

The guard looked troubled, glanced at the official in crimson robes on the opposite embankment, and shook his head sharply:

"Yes!"

On the south side of the dike, Li Zhigang wore a scarlet robe already covered in mud and sand.

Holding a megaphone, they kept shouting:
"Fellow villagers, the rain upstream will stop soon."

Now we need to keep the dam from collapsing.

"Once the water level drops, we can re-seal the dike!"

Not far away, nearly two thousand laborers raised their heads.

Even beneath the surging river, the sounds that could be heard were intermittent.

But that splash of red in my line of sight was particularly glaring!

The angry curses and complaints that were about to come out of my mouth stopped abruptly.

Regardless, the head of the Provincial Administration Commission was in the most dangerous position.

Li Zhigang stood at the breach in the dam.
As I watched more and more clay and bamboo being washed away, my heart sank.
If the water level does not drop, the dam will continue to collapse.

just
Li Zhigang raised his head and looked at the gloomy sky at the end of his vision.

When will the rain stop?

Shen Zao, who had just rushed back carrying a bamboo basket, saw Li Zhigang standing at the break point.
I felt like my heart was about to jump out of my chest.
Especially since the surging Yellow River is just half a meter away.
He quickly threw down the bamboo basket, scrambled forward, and, not daring to look at the broken end, pulled Li Zhigang back in one swift motion.

"what are you doing!"

Li Zhigang's eyes widened; he was just about to hold the loudspeaker in front of his face.

He was about to give another impassioned speech when he was abruptly interrupted and nearly choked to death.

"My lord, you must take charge of the overall situation!"
If you fall, your nephew will have to go down and save you.

"If things go wrong, my son and I might become wandering ghosts in the water, and my father's lineage would end."

Shen Zao was crying and sniffling, her voice choked with sobs.
I glanced at the Yellow River below the towering dam and was so frightened that I quickly looked away.

Li Zhigang broke free from his restraints:

"What nonsense are you talking about? We're right here on the embankment."

"If it collapses, we all have to go inside. What difference does it make if it's near or far?"

Shen Zao already knew about this.

But looking at the solid dam below, he felt somewhat reassured, at least it was safer than the one at the very front.

"My lord, let's not talk about that anymore."
"Please step back and have something to eat. This is something my nephew managed to snatch with great difficulty."

Shen Zao picked up the fallen bamboo basket.

He took out a still-warm flatbread and handed it over.

Because it fell on the ground, it was already covered in mud and dust.
However, it's clear that neither of them paid attention to these small details.
Compared to the mud and ash stuck to the dam, this is nothing.

Li Zhigang took a big bite, put his hands on his hips, looked at the gloomy weather not far away, and sighed heavily:
"Is there any new news from the Grand Canal Transport Office?"

Shen Zao pulled him back a little more, then quickly shook her head:
"No news. The two gentlemen have already gone upstream."

The dikes there also showed signs of collapse, and nearly five thousand garrison troops have been dispatched to reinforce them.

"damn it"

Li Zhigang launched into a tirade of curses.
"It already rained, why is it raining again out of the blue? What a nuisance!"

"Sir, fortunately the river in Chenqiao Town isn't too turbulent, and the embankment isn't collapsing too quickly."
I heard from some laborers that in fast-flowing waters...

"If it collapses, everything will be lost. Like us standing on the dam, we'll be submerged in an instant."

"What nonsense are you talking about? The newly built dams are all earth-stone and masonry dams."

It will only collapse little by little, it won't collapse all at once.

Don't worry, we're safe here.

Li Zhigang glanced at him and spoke calmly.

Shen Zao was somewhat skeptical of this statement.
He turned his gaze and noticed that, apart from the ten guards assigned by the commander, there were...

The rest of the people kept their distance from the very front of the dam.

There were only twelve people, including him, at a distance of three zhang from the breach.

For a moment, Shen Zao felt like crying but had no tears left; she even considered returning to the capital.

The Yellow River is too dangerous; one wrong move and you could lose your life.

He took out a sesame seed cake, intending to brush off the dirt and grime.

Finding my hands even dirtier, I just ate them like that.
However, he ate very carefully, afraid of biting into a stone.

Li Zhigang then asked:
"What's the public sentiment like? Have the rumors circulating been brought under control?"

Shen Zao's expression darkened again, and she shook her head, looking dejected.
"My lord, apart from the laborers on the dike..."
Everyone around you calls you a jinx, saying you bring trouble wherever you go.

When they first arrived in Zhuxian Town, they made a complete mess of the place.

Now that the dam has collapsed again, our reputation is truly ruined.

I heard that some people have gathered and started causing trouble at the government office, saying they want you to leave.

Li Zhigang's forehead veins throbbed, his eyes flashed with anger, and he burst into a tirade:

"What does the matter of Zhuxian Town have to do with me!"

Shen Zao said helplessly:

"The wicked are using the pretext of flood control to cause trouble."

Now the whole of Kaifeng knows that the adults have come to control the floods and repair the dikes.

"He's an imperial envoy; who else could he scold if not the emperor?"

After saying that, Shen Zao leaned closer and whispered:
"My lord, I also inquired about..."

The news initially came from the canal transport guild, saying that you had delayed their work.
The story became increasingly outlandish and bizarre over time.
"By the time we reach Chenqiao Town, sir, you will be utterly wicked."

"Damn it! I've risked my life, and I still can't get justice? This is absurd!!"

Li Zhigang took a vicious bite of the flatbread.
Looking at his scarlet robe, now blackened, he inwardly groaned. A fourth-rank official already had to face pressure from all sides, making his job far more difficult than that of a fifth-rank official.

As he ate his flatbread, he watched the river water flow in continuously, his heart heavy.

He turned to look at Shen Zao and beckoned him closer:

"Pack your luggage for your return to Beijing."

Shen Zao, with a flatbread in her mouth, stood there dumbfounded, and hurriedly said:

"My lord, we cannot back down!"

If we slink back now, we'll really be the ones taking the blame.

He knew that the Three Departments had come several times in the past few days.
The implication was that the disaster was severe, and they were to be sent back to the capital to report on the situation in Henan.
This was done in order to request more money and grain from the imperial court.

Moreover, the construction of the dam with cement ruined the livelihoods of many people.
Others were just hoping they'd get out of there as soon as possible.
That's why there's so much blame and abuse.

Li Zhigang glanced at him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes:
"I didn't expect you to be so stubborn."

"My lord, a man's life depends on his pride; we absolutely cannot let this go!"

Li Zhigang nodded and spoke calmly:
"You're right."

Shen Zao had just breathed a sigh of relief, but Li Zhigang's next words left him stunned:

"Get ready, call two more large trucks, and bring back some Henan specialties on the way back."

"grown ups!"

"Alright, my mind is made up!"

Li Zhigang's voice was stern and his attitude resolute!

Seeing this, Shen Zao also pursed her lips twice.

His eyes dimmed little by little, and a hint of disappointment appeared in them.

"My lord, I will go and prepare it right away."

"Ah."

Li Zhigang noticed the change in his attitude and nodded calmly.

The breaches in the dikes of Zhuxian Town and Chenqiao Town did not affect this area.
Even the water level of the Cai River didn't rise much.

The market was still in a mess, with only two officials slowly tidying it up.
After all the boats were released, no new boats entered the Yellow River due to the rising water level, and the river became empty.

A sense of desolation permeated the harbor, as if it had been deserted for a long time.

As noon approached, the sky was overcast.
The morning sun disappeared behind the clouds and never came out again, giving people a bad feeling.

On the Cai River, more than ten official boats suddenly appeared on the previously empty and calm waterway.

They surged toward the port of Zhuxian Town in a mighty procession.

The two clerks who were cleaning heard the noise.
His expression was extremely strange, and he quickly climbed onto the high platform and stood on tiptoe to look.

On the deck of the official ship, more than a hundred soldiers were neatly arranged.
Among them were some ragged, fearful people.

They were soaking wet.

It looked like they had encountered a flood; some even had luggage and livestock with them.

The officials quickly picked up the command flags and began waving them incessantly, directing the ship into the harbor.

Before long, all fourteen official ships had docked.
A vast army of soldiers poured off the ships.

The leader was Tang Xingbang, who was wearing armor.

He looked at the empty port and the desolate market, his face terribly gloomy.

For five whole days, they traveled upstream along the river.

They searched at least a thousand boats on the river, almost leaving Henan province.

Let alone the goods, we couldn't even see a shadow of them!

At this moment, two clerks rushed over.

Seeing Tang Xingbang's imposing presence, he bowed deeply.
"General, may I ask who you are? And where did these disaster victims come from?"

Tang Xingbang was deep in thought when he was abruptly interrupted by the person in front of him.

A flash of violence crossed his eyes, and he slapped her across the face.
"Snapped!"

The clerk who spoke was slapped and sent flying.
"Ask, ask, ask? Is that a question you're even qualified to ask?"

Tang Xingbang turned back to the disaster victims who were anxiously waiting on the boat and cursed:

"You lowly commoners, aren't you going to get off the ship? Are you planning to stay here and refuse to come down? Or should I carry you all down myself?"

The scene was deathly silent, except for his angry roars, and the pervasive sense of fear and dread.

Tang Xingbang ignored all that and said in a deep voice:

"Return to the government office!"

The group ignored the mess in the market and the disaster victims.

Instead, he went straight back to the government office in Zhuxian Town.

Tang Jingye's cavalry also returned at this time.
They should appear even more disheveled, the entire army looking travel-worn as if they had just embarked on a long journey.

Tang Jingye dismounted, his face filled with barely concealed anger.

Compared to a single patrol of the river channel,

In those five days, he traveled almost the entire official road south of Kaifeng.
Even the other people involved in the blockade met with several groups of people.

The only thing missing was that caravan heading south.

The two men exchanged a glance at each other at the entrance of the government office, both realizing they had been tricked!

After sitting down in the main hall of the government office, the two gulped down cold water to relieve their inner turmoil.

Tang Xingbang spoke first:
"I suspect we've been set up."

"What do you mean? The confession is false?" Tang Jingye asked, his breathing rapid.

Tang Xingbang spoke calmly:
"It's very possible. Another possibility is that we didn't arrest all the people that day."

Someone escaped the port and went back to report the news.
This made them change their plans, even turn back!

"That's unlikely."

Tang Jingye shook his head.
"At our marching speed, even if the caravan runs as fast as they can, they can't outrun us, unless they hide in the mountains and forests."

Tang Xingbang rolled his eyes and shook his head helplessly:

"The entire official road and waterway were lined with wheat fields."
It stretches for dozens of miles; even if they wanted to run, they couldn't outrun us.

Moreover, it's not just us who haven't found it,
The fact that no one else was found is something to ponder.

Tang Jingye grew increasingly angry at his words and suddenly stood up:
"No matter what, continue to torture those survivors."

The sheer number and ease with which people confessed is hardly surprising.

"Yes, this time we'll have to resort to some extreme measures."

A shadow crossed Tang Xingbang's eyes, and he also stood up.

The two went together to the government prison.

The hundred or so soldiers guarding the area looked on with respect upon their arrival.
"General!"

Tang Jingye spoke in a deep voice:
"Bring the best generals in the army for severe torture."
Before sunset, I was supposed to know the caravan's true whereabouts!

"Yes!"

Instead of resting, the two rushed into the cell and quietly watched and waited!

In less than fifteen minutes, the prisoners, covered in wounds, were bound with instruments of torture and subjected to indiscriminate torture.

The damp and desolate prison cell was instantly transformed into a living hell.
The faint smell of blood that had just dissipated surged back up, even stronger than before!
Time passed slowly, and two hours flew by in the blink of an eye, with both threats and inducements employed.

Finally, Tang Jingye obtained a piece of intelligence that was completely different from what he had seen before.
He stared intently, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he clenched his fist tightly:
"Damn it! We've all been tricked!!"

Tang Xingbang took the document and reacted in a similar manner.

He stared blankly at the bloodied and mangled figures bound to torture devices, and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Bait?

This was actually a decoy deliberately designed to mislead them?
Did the real caravan leave that very day?

Is this the last one yet?
Even Tang Xingbang himself had some recollection of that last merchant ship, the "Wanbao."
Because at that time only two ships remained.
Initiate simultaneous checks and release all at once.

He even felt a strong sense of humiliation!
Right under our noses!!

They slipped away right under our noses!
"Let's go, gather our men, we'll continue the pursuit!"

Tang Xingbang shouted hoarsely, then looked at those still being tortured and cursed:

"Fight them! Fight them until they die! Let's see what else they can come up with!"

(End of this chapter)