Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 20 Time is running out
"Qing County" was not named until the eighth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, and it has been less than three hundred years since then. This place, like Cangzhou, belonged to Yan and Qi in ancient times. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it had the reputation of "Martial Arts and Greatness". The martial spirit has been passed down from generation to generation.

You have to know that not everyone can escape from the Cao Gang. Just like the escort agencies that emerged during this period due to the prosperity of trade and the turbulent times, they need someone above them with a knife in hand to "break through" the key links in the transportation of goods, otherwise they will not be able to move forward.

After hearing the report from the scouts, Zhu Cilang immediately sent Chang Denggui with ten armored soldiers. Each soldier wore only a light chain mail and a robe commonly worn by servants of dignitaries of that period. They were to escort Li Banghua, who had volunteered, to Linjiazhai near the canal dock to contact the Lin family's canal gang and discuss the specific transportation matters.

He doesn't need to worry about the situation in Qing County, but when going south along the canal, the most critical part is the Cao Gang, and having only a guide is far from enough.

Li Banghua has been an official for many years and is knowledgeable. Zhu Cilang has nothing to worry about when he assigns him to be in charge of this matter and find out the truth.

Naturally, there was no need for him, the Crown Prince, to personally take action in such matters. He only needed to wait for news in a safe place.

Knowing when to do things personally and when to delegate things to subordinates is a must-read for a crown prince!
In comparison, looking at the sky gradually darkening, Zhu Cilang is now more worried about the heavy rain that is about to fall.

The weather is changeable at the turn of spring and summer. In the blink of an eye, half of the sky is covered by a thick layer of dark clouds, which even seem to be rolling from south to north.

Bursts of dull thunder were heard, and the sky quickly darkened. Zhu Cilang rode his horse and, under the guidance of Chen Fu and the protection of Lin Changfeng and others, he and his soldiers quickly found a deserted village to shelter from the rain.

However, this deserted village has long been in ruins. The earthen houses in the village have either had more than half of their roofs collapsed or two of the four walls collapsed, and the remaining two walls look shaky and seem to be about to collapse at any time.

In such a violent storm, Zhou Shixian, Lin Changfeng, Chen Fu and others dared not let Zhu Cilang take shelter in such a place. Lin Changping hurriedly took out an oil coat and straw hat from his saddle bag, put them on Zhu Cilang, and also gave him his own oil coat.

Zhu Cilang was like this, with his back against a fairly solid earth wall, and was pushed against the wall by the towering Lin Changping. The latter was wearing a straw raincoat, and Zhou Shixian also put a hat wrapped in an oilskin on his head.

Originally, they wanted to use local materials to build a simple rain shelter using two seemingly solid earth walls to protect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince from wind and rain, but they were stopped by Zhu Cilang before they even started.

"How disgraceful?" Zhu Cilang pushed Lin Changping away and motioned him to stand aside. Although the boy was tall and strong as an ox, it would be useless to do so in such a heavy rain.

"Everyone, take shelter from the rain. Once the rain stops, we'll go straight to Linjiazhai."

"But, Your Highness"

Zhou Shixian wanted to say something, but was glared at by Zhu Cilang and immediately retreated.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

After all, it is still unknown whether this so-called shelter is effective or not, but now the raindrops as big as beans are crackling down, causing dull pain when they hit the face. In the wind and rain, it is difficult to open the eyes. If a dozen soldiers are really asked to build a shelter in this heavy rain with the lingering power of winter, half of them will probably collapse the next day.

However, although the rain was fierce, it came and went quickly, and stopped in less than two quarters of an hour. However, most of the soldiers were soaked by the rain. Even Zhu Cilang, who was finally blocked in the middle by five guards wearing straw raincoats and hats and oil coats, was half wet.

"Chen Fu, send someone ahead to contact Linjiazhai and ask Mr. Meng to complete the contact as soon as possible. Also, prepare warm clothes and ginger soup." Zhu Cilang gave the order as soon as he saw the rain stopped.

"Everyone else, organize your team and set off immediately!"

"Yes!" Chen Fu accepted the order and immediately went down to make arrangements. At the same time, Zhou Shixian also immediately arranged for scouts to contact the Night Guards who had just dispersed to the two wings. He had to keep abreast of any movement within ten miles.

The group galloped on horseback, heading straight towards Linjiazhai. The dark clouds in the sky had just dispersed a little, but soon formed again. It looked like there would be a heavy rain soon.

Zhu Cilang and his soldiers had just run two or three miles when they saw Li Banghua coming towards them. Although the old man's buttocks were sore and his bones were almost broken due to riding horses for several days, and he had to apply medicine every night to relieve the pain, he was still strong and came and went like the wind without any delay.

"Whoa!" Zhu Cilang reined in his horse and stopped right in front of Li Banghua. Seeing that the other party was also a little wet, he immediately asked:

"Mr. Meng, to cut to the chase, how did the conversation go?"

"Your Highness, the matter has been settled. However, two batches of ships from Linjiazhai have been dispatched. The remaining ships cannot carry so many of us at once. We may have to go south in batches.

However, those are short-distance commercial shipments. The farthest one is only sent to Linqing, and it will take two days to return to Qingxian. In the end, it shouldn't take too long."

Zhu Cilang nodded after hearing this, and then asked, "How long will it take to get to Xuzhou?"

"Ten days, sailing day and night, we can reach the destination in ten days if we are fast!" Li Banghua paused, then continued: "However, south of Xuzhou, the river is silted up, making navigation difficult."

Now, the spring flood has begun and the canal has been flooded for a long time. Navigation is possible from Jinghai to Xuzhou, but to go further south, we have to wait until May, otherwise we can only rely on trackers.

Zhu Cilang had no memory of the situation in Xuzhou City at that time, but he was sure that the Shun army had definitely not controlled Xuzhou in the original history, and that was enough.

Moreover, if he could sail south smoothly, his troops would be able to rest and recuperate. With nearly a hundred elite cavalrymen at his disposal, those small military leaders in the south would not be able to hold him hostage.

"Can the Cao Gang provide us with the supplies of food and beans for our troops?"

"That's no problem. They have been sailing on the canal for many years, and the farthest they have been is Jiujiang. They have familiar shops along the way, but the prices will be much higher." Li Banghua replied with a bow.

"Money is not a problem. The most important thing is to be quick. Once we're on the boat, everything will be easy."

Zhu Cilang now has the army in his hands. No matter Linjiazhai or Wangjiazhai, they are no match for him. However, there is no need to force many things if possible. But when it is necessary to force them, he will definitely not hesitate.

"Li Zicheng should have discovered by now that I have broken through and headed south. He will definitely send his elite troops in pursuit. We probably don't have much time left."

Li Banghua was suddenly shocked when he heard this. After breaking out and heading south, he did not encounter any powerful Shun army on the way, nor did he have any news of pursuers. He had overlooked this point.

So, the old man didn't even bother to ask Zhu Cilang whether he had enough silver to pay the deposit. He immediately whipped his horse and wanted to lead the way for Zhu Cilang.

(End of this chapter)