In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 749 Life and death are destiny, wealth is in heaven

Southern Zhili, Xuzhou.

Xuzhou Port, located on the banks of the Grand Canal, is an important node for north-south water transport.
Located at the confluence of the Yellow River and the Grand Canal,

By utilizing the Yellow River and Grand Canal systems, goods from Xuzhou Port could be transported to various destinations.

It was the first stop for all northern merchant ships transporting goods to Yingtian in Southern Zhili.

Compared to Zhuxian Town, Xuzhou Port is much larger.
The entire river was shrouded in a light mist, so wide that the banks were almost invisible.

Chen Jingyi stood at the bow of the ship, gazing into the distance.
Roughly estimated, the river channel is at least twenty zhang wide, and in some spacious areas it can even reach thirty zhang.

The roots of the trees on both banks are thicker than a person.

Even from a distance, you can see the port with its dense concentration of ships.

At first glance, the buildings seem to stretch endlessly, resembling a town standing tall.
Upon arriving here, everyone can feel a rich and profound atmosphere.

All of this is because Xuzhou Port has a long history, which can even be traced back to the pre-Qin period.

At that time, the water transport in the State of Xu was extremely developed.
Later, Emperor Yang of Sui built the Tongji Canal, and Xuzhou became an important water transport hub.

During the Yuan Dynasty, the Grand Canal was extended to Xuzhou.
This further enhanced its strategic position, making it a place that was almost a battleground for military strategists.

In the current Hongwu reign, it was not only a strategically vital location,
It is also one of the most important material transfer centers on the north side of Yingtian, with a dense number of boats passing through the river.

The Dongyue merchant ship appeared somewhat small here.

Especially the ships anchored in the naval port, which stand like towering mountains.

As the ships approached, the bustling atmosphere of the harbor began to emerge, with various vendors' cries filling the air.
What made Chen Jingyi's eyes light up was

The handcarts, traditionally used in the military, are now widely used here.

Each one was painted in a distinct blue and yellow, so that it could be clearly seen even in the thin mist.

The laborers struggled to move the goods, and after stacking them onto the handcarts,
They would usually breathe a sigh of relief and show some smiles.
The pulling of the carts from now on will be much easier, and it will be a rare rest time for them.

Chen Jingyi had experienced the Yuezhou civil unrest and knew that handcarts would leave many laborers without work.

But in Xuzhou Port, this problem doesn't seem to exist.

The area around the port was also densely packed with people, and he also noticed a very clear division of labor.

Pulling a cart is pulling a cart, and moving goods is moving goods.
Even the person pulling the cart was a woman with rough skin.

For goods that are not neatly arranged,

She often started swearing.

But this often elicited laughter from the group of laborers, creating a strange sense of harmony.

"Increased productivity will lead to an increase in the labor force!"

He thought of the pamphlets in the military headquarters.
He understood things he hadn't understood before.

In the past, this woman would never have done such hard work, much less appeared in a place like the docks.
Nowadays, while handcarts have taken away some people's jobs, they have also brought some easy work.
Chen Jingyi smiled, silently thinking to himself:

"If there's work to do, there's food to eat; that's good."

At this moment, Manager Sun rushed out of the cabin, his face showing some panic:
"Lord Chen, Lord Xu has disappeared!"

Chen Jingyi remained calm after hearing this and spoke in a low voice:
"No need to panic, Lord Xu has already boarded another ship and set off ahead."

Manager Sun was stunned for a moment, looking around blankly:
"When did you leave? I... I didn't know?"

Chen Jingyi smiled:

"This is classified information; it's too dangerous for you to come with us."
So he was sent to Huguang (Hubei and Hunan provinces), taking a detour to Yingtian (Nanjing) to avoid the encirclement.

Manager Sun looked enlightened upon hearing this, and then laughed:

"Lord Chen is truly wise."
However, we're already in Southern Zhili, isn't this a bit redundant?

Chen Jingyi did not answer immediately, but remained silent for a long time.

He didn't speak until the noise around him grew increasingly louder:
"Manager Sun, once we arrive at the port, you and your crew can disembark. We'll walk the rest of the way ourselves."

"Disembark?"

Manager Sun froze, his expression instantly turning serious:

"Sir, what do you mean by this?"
The Princess Consort has given instructions that I, this old man, will ensure your safe arrival in Yingtian.

How could I abandon you all and leave you behind?

"The road ahead is dangerous."

"It's alright, this old man has traveled all over the country for many years."

Back when the Great General was fighting in Dadu (Beijing), I, this old man, delivered grain to the army.

This little danger is nothing to this old man.

Chen Jingyi smiled, somewhat impressed by the profound heritage of the Prince of Zhongshan's mansion.
Families like this have friends, relatives, and former subordinates all over the world, and there are people everywhere who would die for them.

Chen Jingyi handed over the telescope in his hand:

"Look, there are informants on both sides of the strait, and people are also scouting from the high points of the port."

Entering Southern Zhili is the last chance for those who want to block them; they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
If you don't leave now, it will be too late to leave later.

Manager Sun was taken aback upon hearing this, but without any hesitation, he took the telescope and began looking around.
Soon, several people from both sides of the strait were seen looking around with binoculars.
Startled, he quickly put the telescope down.

Chen Jingyi smiled:

"It's alright, the telescope can see farther than they can."

Manager Sun finally breathed a sigh of relief.
However, he didn't continue looking, but said anxiously:
"Lord Chen, why don't we take the land route? The Prince's Mansion also has shops in Xuzhou. Let's ask him for help."

Chen Jingyi shook his head firmly:

"After you disembark, take some men to find the people from the Prince's residence."
Don't go to Yingtian, head towards Shandong, it's safe there.

As for us, Manager Sun, there's no need to worry.

Manager Sun wanted to say something, but Chen Jingyi waved his hand:
"This is a military order."

Manager Sun's expression was complicated as he glanced at the person before him.
He glanced again at the idle soldiers standing on the deck and nodded slightly.

"Alright, after you disembark, take your crew and leave. Lord Chen, please be careful."

"Do not worry."

Having said that, Chen Jingyi took out a letter from his pocket:
"I would like to ask Manager Sun for a favor: please send this letter to Qingzhou via the post station."

My wife is pregnant and has been away for so long, so I'm writing this letter to ease the worries of my family.

Manager Sun looked at the letter, his breathing becoming rapid.

He wasn't stupid; after thinking for a long time,

He took the letter and nodded emphatically:

"General, take care!"

"Um"

"Position six, position six, stop and don't move."

The Dongyue merchant ship quickly entered the port.
Under the direction of a young clerk, it stopped at port number six.

There are still two rows of boats between here and the actual shore.

After the Dongyue came to a stop, the young official ran and jumped along the wooden planks securing the ship.

When he stood on the deck, he merely glanced around and smiled:
"There are quite a lot of people. Where did they come from? Let me take a look at the clerk."

Chen Jingyi regained the humility usually reserved for merchants and boatmen, and immediately bent his back:

"My lord, we come from Jinan Prefecture in Shandong Province."
"We're going to Yingtian to buy some goods. Please take good care of us, adults."

As he spoke, Chen Jingyi placed two banknotes under the document and handed them over.

The young clerk appeared to be in his early twenties, with a completely dark complexion, but he was very strong.

After taking the document, he touched the paper money at the back.

With a slight smile, he handed back another one:
"Take it, this is the rule. It's not easy for you to do business, so you can't take more than you need."

Chen Jingyi quickly took it, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes:
"Thank you, sir."

The clerk opened the document and looked at it page by page.

It contains all the port stamps from departure to stopover, as well as some cargo records, covering everything in great detail.

"Hmm, no problem. How long do you plan to stay here?"

"Reporting to you, sir, two days."

"it is good."

The clerk drew a brush from his waist, drew two circles on the document, and handed it back.

"If you want to stay a few more days, you'll have to ask me to draw up the route; otherwise, leaving port will be troublesome."

"Yes, yes, thank you, sir!"

Chen Jingyi bowed deeply, feeling a sense of relief.

Southern Zhili was truly different; this was the smoothest journey he had ever undertaken.
They weren't harassed, nor were they thoroughly inspected; even asking for money was done in a very proper manner.

Moreover, he noticed that the young official had an excellent demeanor, and assumed he came from a wealthy family.
If it weren't for blending in with the crowd, they probably wouldn't have accepted this money.

The young clerk left quickly.

When he stood on the shore, he took out the megaphone from his waist and directed the next ship to enter the harbor.

Chen Jingyi looked at the dozen or so people behind him who had finished packing their luggage:

"Manager Sun, let's hurry up and go. We won't disembark until evening."

That way, even if we are discovered, you will have time to make your escape.

Manager Sun pursed his lips and nodded slightly: "Farewell!"

As more than a dozen people disembarked, the deck suddenly felt much emptier, and the atmosphere became heavy with their departure.

Chen Jingyi looked at the many brothers before him and spoke in a deep voice:
"Go back and write a letter, and send it to the post station after you leave the ship tonight."

The soldiers disguised as shop assistants remained silent.
There was no fear or apprehension in his expression, only calmness.

They were the most elite scouts and spies in the army.
Every battle was a brush with death.

They had long since lost all fear of death.

Even when it is truly about to arrive,
They still had some hope.

Seeing that they were still standing there in a daze, Chen Jingyi suddenly laughed:

"What is it? Is there anything else?"

The soldiers, whose expressions had been solemn, finally relaxed.
Some smiled, while others sighed.

After scanning the area...
They rushed back into the cabin, and everything was quiet.

A day passes in the blink of an eye.
As evening approached, there were few merchants left entering Xuzhou city outside the north gate.
Instead, they set up camp in place and prepared to queue up to enter the city the next day.

Merchants continued to pour out of the city.

They did not stop, but hurried on their way while there was still light in the world.

The official road outside the city gate was not as bustling and noisy as it had been during the day.

Instead, it had a more languid feel, like the sunset.

However, the muggy heat hadn't subsided, leaving many people drenched in sweat.
After a long day's work, the officials leaned against the barricades, fanning themselves with their clothes to ward off the heat.

Just wait until the sun sets.
They could then close the city gates and finish their day's work.

Just then, the sound of thumping hooves suddenly rang out.

The city guards, who had been squinting and lounging around, immediately became alert, stood up abruptly, and gripped their long swords tightly at their waists.

The city gate guard also emerged from the shady gate opening, looking towards the distant official road.
At the edge of the horizon, a dozen or so courier soldiers rode warhorses.

Waving a flag bearing an urgent dispatch, they sped over.

The dust kicked up behind them made their figures appear and disappear intermittently.

Upon seeing the urgent message flag, the city gate guard's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly waved his hand:
"Quickly, quickly, remove the barricades and chevaux-de-frise, prepare to let them pass!"

The soldiers immediately got to work, a vague sense of unease creeping into their hearts.

Why is it another urgent dispatch? What's going on in the North?
More than ten riders quickly rushed up and slowly came to a stop.

The leader dismounted and, while taking out the documents, said:
"We are scouts from Yanshan, reporting our victory. We need to travel to the capital. Please arrange for food and drink, and then we can change horses!"

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the city gate guard, who nodded repeatedly:

"Alright, hurry into the city; there's a supply depot at the foot of the city wall."

"Don't be shy about using them; the warhorses will be transferred from headquarters, and they are all the best."

"Thank you!"

The courier bowed and led his warhorse quickly into the city.

The city gate guard watched their hurried retreating figures, a thoughtful expression on his face:

"Good news? Where did you hear the good news?"

Soon, the city gate commander thought of the northern expeditionary army that had gone beyond the pass at the beginning of the year, and his eyes widened suddenly.

Won?

Just as he was basking in his joy, an even more violent clatter of hooves sounded:

"dong dong dong"

The earth began to tremble slightly again, and the dust began to dance.

The city gate guard looked into the distance, and a black dot appeared first at the edge of his vision.

Gradually, as more and more black dots emerged,
A giant black dragon appeared at the end of the official road, stirring up dust that covered the mountains and plains in a vast and mighty wave.

The city gate commander's expression changed slightly; he could tell that the black-armored soldiers in front of him were of Ming military standard.
But where's the banner? Which movie is this?
"Quickly! Set up the deer stockade and barricades, and close the city gates!!"

At a command, the soldiers who had just rested began to work again.

The heavy gates of the north city wall also began to slowly close!
Until the thousand or so soldiers rushed close.
The city gate then let out a dull "bang!"

"Who is coming!!"

The city gate guard had already rushed onto the city wall, looking down at the approaching people with a solemn expression.

The army numbered nearly two thousand, all cavalry, each heavily armored.
Judging from their appearance, they looked somewhat disheveled from a long journey.

Tang Jingye did not answer the city gate guard's question, but instead waved his hand.

Soldiers rushed forward with documents from the Ministry of War and the Governor's Office.

Before long, the city gate guard saw the document, and his expression suddenly turned strange.

He glanced down at the city walls again.

He had heard from his colleagues that a 2,000-strong army in Kaifeng had not returned for several years.
It was always hanging on the document in the city, ready for passage.

What's going on today? They're actually going back to Beijing?

"Open the city gates and report this to the lord."

"Yes!"

Below the city walls, Tang Jingye's expression was grave.

They tracked them down almost day and night, and finally arrived in Xuzhou.

He was somewhat worried, fearing he wouldn't be able to catch up with the Wanbao.

The city gates opened quickly.

The group filed in and entered the northern camp of the city.

Before the Xuzhou officials arrived,

Tang Jingye distributed the portraits of the ships and the manager that he had prepared beforehand.
He then ordered three hundred men to search separately, sweeping through the entire Xuzhou wharf.

After doing all this, Tang Jingye finally rested in his military tent, his mind heavy with thoughts.
We've already arrived in Southern Zhili.
If we still can't find anyone, then it's all over.

However, despite searching for days with people scattered along a ten-mile stretch, there was still no trace of them.

This gave him a vague sense of unease.

Just as he was lost in thought, a group of over a hundred men rushed into the camp.

The leader quickly dismounted and rushed into the military tent.
He immediately spotted Tang Jingye sitting at the head of the table, and his eyes lit up:
"Dedicated!"

Tang Jingye's gaze suddenly pierced over, his eyes widening slightly as he felt the man looked somewhat familiar.

After only a couple of breaths of thought, he remembered who the person was and abruptly stood up:

"Zhao Xi?"

"Hahaha, what brings you here so suddenly?"

You didn't even tell me! I could have prepared food and drinks to welcome you home!

The newcomer stepped forward laughing, patted him hard on the shoulder, and looked delighted.

"What are you doing here?" Tang Jingye asked, his face showing shock.

The person before me is the youngest son of Zhao Yong, the Marquis of Nanxiong; we grew up together.
However, as they grew older, they scattered to different places, and their contact decreased significantly.

"Sit down, sit down, please sit down first," Zhao Xi invited him to sit down.

Only after the two of them sat down did Zhao Xi's expression regain some seriousness:

"It was the Marquis of Ji'an who transferred me here. I just arrived a few months ago, and he said he wanted me to guard the northern gateway for grain transport."

He then asked, "And you? How did you get back from Kaifeng?"

Tang Jingye held his breath, a sudden surge of joy washing over him.

He had previously been worried about how to conduct a large-scale search and arrest operation in Xuzhou City.
It turns out that people from the capital had already been sent here.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Jingye dismissed everyone around him.

He recounted everything that happened in Liaodong and in Henan.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi looked somewhat incredulous and stammered:
"The Marquis of Runan has been arrested?"

Tang Jingye nodded solemnly:

"That's right. Based on the itinerary, the Wanbao merchant ship should be near Xuzhou right now!"

"Then...then send people to search immediately!!!"

Zhao Xi's voice suddenly rose, his face showing apprehension.

If a person is sent to the capital, they are all doomed.

"I've already gone to look for him, and I hope Zhao will help."

"My lord, my lord!"

Before Tang Jingye could finish speaking,

He was interrupted by hurried footsteps and exclamations.