Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 135: Three-party Calculation

The army was quickly mobilized, and Fang Yong led the troops personally. Even the second imperial examination that was about to be held was temporarily handed over to Jia Yucun and Wu Yuan. This time he was determined to use thundering means to wipe out all rebellions and shock the morale of the army.

Songjiang Mansion.

Ever since Ding Wanke won the credit for capturing the city of Zhenjiang last time, he was promoted by Fang Yong to be the commander-in-chief of the navy of Songjiang Prefecture, in charge of the troops under Han Wenlong and Luo Yi.

This was not only Fang Yong's reward to Ding Wanke for taking over Zhenjiang, but also a means for Fang Yong to divide Ding Wanke and the other two.

One of the three people who were originally on equal footing suddenly became superior, which would inevitably lead to open and secret struggles among the other two. This was an unsolvable conspiracy. Even if Ding Wanke and the other two were brothers, they would part ways because of this.

Inside the Governor's Mansion, reports came from his subordinates.

"Commander-in-chief, this is bad. The jailer who let the foreigner go was killed today, and his family was also killed. We checked all the remaining foreigners, but we still couldn't find the one who harmed the young lady's innocence..."

boom!
Ding Wanke crushed the teacup in his hand, and blood flowed out along the porcelain pieces.

Not long ago, Ding Wanke, in order to show his hospitality, held a banquet at his home to entertain the envoys of the British Empire.

However, just as the party was about to begin, a foreigner broke into the bathhouse in the backyard of his home, where Ding Wanke's daughter Ding Qiuyue happened to be bathing...

When the foreigner saw his daughter's innocence, he fled. The family servants chased him and finally caught up with him at the banquet.

The appearances of the foreigners were very similar and difficult to distinguish, and in a blink of an eye I couldn't find anyone.

When Ding Wanke learned about this incident, he was furious. He was extremely fond of his daughter Ding Qiuyue, and he had drunk a lot of alcohol at the time, so he somewhat lost his mind, so he ordered his men to arrest all the foreigners present.

But soon.

Ding Wanke immediately realized that something was wrong after he came to his senses.

Although he hosted the foreigners at the banquet in his own house, the location of the banquet was still quite a distance away from his family's backyard, and there were servants guarding the way. How could the foreigners get in easily?
Moreover, after the foreigner was exposed, many servants who guarded the yard went to hunt him down. However, since it was the foreigner's first time there, he was very familiar with the terrain of his own yard. He easily avoided the pursuit of everyone, hid in the crowd at the banquet, and disappeared.

This is obviously wrong. Someone is plotting against me!
After Ding Wanke realized this, he immediately ordered people to take those foreigners out of the cell and protect them. Even if he took a step back, these were all distinguished guests of the Marquis of Huaiyin. Even if there was a "murderer" among them, he could not deal with it privately.

However, what he didn't expect was that in just a short while, someone got there first and released a foreigner in the prison!

The military prison was so tightly guarded, yet a mere foreigner managed to escape so quickly. It was obvious that there was collusion between insiders and outsiders!

Ding Wanke immediately sent people to interrogate the jailer who deliberately released the foreigners, but the other party was tortured so badly that nothing could be learned from him.

Ding Wanke suddenly felt that there was a huge conspiracy surrounding him.

Ding Wanke's high political awareness made him immediately contact Lin Lin, the commander of the Huaiyin Army stationed in Songjiang Prefecture.

Since Songjiang Prefecture was an area that had just been conquered by Fang Yong, a suitable prefect had not yet been sent there. The local administration was jointly handled by a 3,000-man Huaiyin army and Ding Wanke's army.

The commander of the Huaiyin Army was Lin Lin, a distant relative of Daiyu. Because he had some knowledge, he was coaxed by Lin Ruhai to come and compile a book.

Lin Lin disliked literature and loved military affairs. After editing a book with Lin Ruhai for a period of time, he begged Lin Ruhai to recommend him to the army. He made many contributions in Fang Yong's subsequent battle to capture Huizhou.

Since he was recommended by Lin Ruhai, Lin Lin had a high starting point. In addition, he did have some ability, so he was quickly promoted after the war and was responsible for garrisoning the Songjiang Prefecture.

After Ding Wanke contacted Lin Lin, Lin Lin attached great importance to the matter and immediately sent someone to deliver a letter to inform Fang Yong.

Seeing several messengers leaving, Ding Wanke felt relieved and began to investigate the previous incident with all his strength.

Ding Wanke sent someone to find Daxi's former torture expert to interrogate the jailer who deliberately let the foreigner go. When it comes to torturing people, Daxi is still the best.

After two days and three nights of intensive interrogation, threats and inducements, the jailer finally gave in.

Then he was silenced.

The subordinates hurriedly reported to Ding Wanke, and the scene just now happened.

The sharp porcelain fragment pierced deeply into Ding Wanke's palm.

Ding Wanke was extremely angry. The jailer was under strict guard in the prison. As soon as he showed any signs of loosening his tongue, he was killed instantly. There were definitely not many people in the entire Songjiang Prefecture who could do this. Ding Wanke had already vaguely guessed who was the mastermind behind the scenes.

This bastard went too far by touching his own daughter!
However, without evidence, Ding Wanke did not dare to mobilize troops on his own.

Now all he could do was wait for the general to get the news and come over to make the decision for him.

In the military camp, Han Wenlong laughed out loud when he learned that Ding Wanke had been humiliated.

Ding Wanke came from a poor family, but now he has climbed over his head. Han Wenlong has been dissatisfied with Ding Wanke for a long time. Now seeing Ding Wanke being humiliated, he is even happier than if he himself were promoted and made rich!
No, when faced with this situation, I have to give Ding Laosuan some trouble!

Han Wenlong laughed loudly and led his troops to the residence where Ding Wanke was imprisoning the envoy of the British Empire. He ordered his men to rush into the yard and then beat up the foreigners inside.

Even Earl Sweet, who was over fifty years old, was hit hard by an electric shock. The old nobleman cursed Han Wenlong as a barbarian.

Upon seeing this, his nephew Willy tried his best to stop Sweet. Having done business here for many years, he knew how arrogant the Daxi people were. Merchants had no status here, and the status of the Yi people was even lower than that of the merchants.

Except for Fang Yong whom they had met before, the others treated them with no respect at all. Now, even if George III came in person, he would have to be slapped twice before he could leave.

In this situation, all they can do is endure the humiliation and wait for Fang Yong to come and rescue them.

By the time Ding Wanke received the news and rushed over, Han Wenlong had already led his men to evacuate.

Ding Wanke was extremely angry and thought to himself: It turned out to be him!
Luofu.

Two people were talking in a gloomy voice in the study.

"Ding Wanke would never have thought that it was you who did this!"

"It's a pity that this guy was really alert and protected those foreigners in advance, otherwise "the foreigners died suddenly and the governor rebelled." How pleasant it sounds!"

"Haha, Master, don't worry. I have already killed all four messengers. Han Laocou's men have also agreed to cooperate with us to set up an ambush along the way. Han Laocou is doomed to fail. This time, Ding Wanke and Han Laocou will both die, and only you, Master, will benefit!"

"Okay! Hehehehe..."

Chongming River, a tributary connecting to the Yangtze River.

Fang Yong's fleet came down the river.

Warships were lying in ambush in the Chongming River ahead of the route.

The general on the ship said:
"Soldiers, the imperial army has arrived and has set up an ambush on the other side of the river. Commander Han has decided to join the light and has ordered me to lead you back to the imperial court to eliminate the Huaiyin traitor!"

"Now is a great opportunity for you and me to make achievements. When the Huaiyin rebels attack, you and I will fight our way out. When the court's ambush ships hear your cries for killing, they will all come out in full force. Together, we will wipe out the Huaiyin rebels, ennoble your wife and children, and bring honor to your family. Today is the day!"

(End of this chapter)