Chapter 166 Undercurrent

On the south side of the Jishui River, hundreds of people and horses were blocking the head of a pontoon bridge formed by a long row of boats, arguing in a row.

On the other side of the river, Huangpi County stands near the water.

This county town is very unique. It is surrounded by water on three sides. Among the six city gates, there are two gates in the east, west and south. There is no gate in the north which is not surrounded by water.

The three sides of Mumen, the east, east and south are all facing the Yishui River, which means that Huangpi County is located on the corner of the Yishui River. However, there are no bridges on these two sides, and you can only take a boat to cross the river.

Although the west side of the county seat is not adjacent to the Sheshui River, there is a moat dug to divert the Sheishui River, and there is a permanent bridge near each gate. However, the two city gates here have urns, while the other four gates have urns.

The city without urns.

Since Huangpi County was only occupied yesterday morning, only one of the six city gates, Jingfu Gate (South Gate), was opened for passage. This temporary pontoon built by a boat became the only way in and out of the city.

This may be done to facilitate defense or to give the gate a more auspicious name.

A group of more than a dozen cavalrymen shouted from the back of the crowd to disperse the noisy crowd and went straight to the bridge. Behind them were a small group of people leading horses and donkeys dressed as officers and soldiers.

"Liu Duizheng, what troops are following you?"

A soldier from the peasant army guarding the bridge, wearing a bowl helmet and cowhide armor, hurriedly approached him and asked, holding a sword on his waist. Judging from his appearance, he should be the leader here.

"What does it have to do with you?" the leader, a big man on horseback, replied impatiently.

The little leader guarding the bridge was stunned for a moment, but he still said politely: "My army can enter the city, but Xinna's army is not allowed to enter the city. Brother, I have to do an interrogation."

"Ge Laosi, what do you mean? Why didn't I know this rule when I left the city in the morning? You must have done it on purpose!" The big man on horseback was furious without giving any face.

The face of the little leader guarding the bridge was a little stiff, but he did not explode. It should be that he had some instinctive awe for the big man on horseback.

He pointed at the crowd of people gathered behind the big man on horseback to watch the excitement, and then said calmly: "Liu Duizheng, you can't say that. You didn't have this pontoon when you left the city! Some things will change. It's not my intention.

I want to make things difficult for you. Look, the people behind you are all volunteers and soldiers who came to vote. They are not allowed to enter, and no one can lead them."

The big man on horseback looked around when he heard this, and his tone gradually calmed down and asked curiously: "Why is this?"

It seems that he is not an unreasonable person.

The little leader guarding the bridge sighed, and then said: "Today there are too many volunteers and volunteers from the government and army, and the city has already accommodated a lot of them. The general manager ordered me to set up a sentry here to advise the latecomers not to enter the city again."

"What's the matter? Shouldn't we be happy that there are so many people coming to vote? Why are we trying to stop them? Doesn't this chill the hearts of all the righteous people?" The big man on horseback was very puzzled.

Just...just...

There were many echoing voices from the surrounding crowd, and many people seemed to think so.

The little leader guarding the bridge was choked and looked around. He had no choice but to grit his teeth, then leaned forward and whispered: "We have newly acquired this city, and we don't have enough troops. The general manager is a little untrustworthy!"

"The rebels are short of soldiers, so they need our help even more."

A voice emerged from the crowd. He was obviously a sharp-eared person and someone who liked to show off.

Then, more voices echoed in confusion again.

"That seems to make sense."

The big man on horseback showed his hands to the little leader guarding the bridge, as if he was not trying to force his words.

The little leader guarding the bridge was even more helpless and had no choice but to retaliate to the big man on horseback: "Liu Duizheng, it's not me, Ge Laosi, who deliberately made things difficult for everyone. It's because I had to do this under the military order directly issued by the general manager. All the righteous men are afraid that for a while

I can only stay outside the city and suffer some grievances for the time being."

The big man on horseback was stunned.

He probably also understood that there was no point in embarrassing the little boss guarding the bridge.

He scratched his head and thought for a while and said: "Since there are many people entering the city from the front, it's not bad for my group. I don't care about others. Just let the people I brought in. I will tell you where the manager is.

, I will not let you suffer any complaints.”

The little leader guarding the bridge suddenly twisted his face, wondering: "Liu Duizheng, you always just keep an eye on the surrounding area and seldom pay attention to such trivial matters as attracting surrender and accepting rebels. Why did you make an exception today?"

"I didn't want to. But after a day of exploration, the officers and soldiers were all huddled in Hanyang and Wuchang. There was no sign of them, and no movement was heard. Most of the officers and soldiers who surrendered behind me were accompanied by horses and mules, and there were also

My fellow Shaanxi fellows cannot be ignored," the big man on horseback explained.

"Are they in the same group?"

The little leader guarding the bridge was startled. His left hand holding the knife couldn't help but grab the scabbard, and his right hand twitched unnaturally.

Hahaha…

The big man on horseback laughed out loud.

Then, he turned his head and glanced behind him, then turned back and said with a smile: "Don't worry. These dozens of people were originally in several groups. They didn't know each other. They were gathered together by me. You see, there are still scholars.

Yes! I caught it."

The little leader of the bridge guard let go of the hand holding the scabbard in embarrassment, but said: "But this..."

"Ge Laosi, don't worry about this. Some of them are from my hometown, and I can't afford to embarrass anyone. Besides, the manager and I are also from the same hometown. If I help you with anything, I owe you a favor.

Just let us pass." The big man on horseback took over the words directly.

The face of the little leader guarding the bridge was even more troubled. He looked around for help, but all the soldiers guarding the bridge were silent and no one supported him.

As a last resort, the little leader guarding the bridge gave up resistance and waved his hand and said, "Let's go."

Liu Dui, who was walking on the pontoon bridge and dismounted from his horse, was in a good mood and started chatting with Ge Laosi, who insisted on accompanying him across the bridge.

"When was this pontoon built? It was so fast! I remember that when we left the city in the morning, we hadn't collected many boats yet!" Team Liu was asking.

Ge Laosi pointed to a few old men, young men and women who were sitting scattered at different bows and said: "Thanks to the help of these fishermen and volunteers. Yesterday, the people of the government and the army were frightened at Dasuo Jianshui and around Houhu Lake.

They fled in all directions. These fishermen rowed all night and arrived almost noon."

"Well! I know about the army's Dasuo Jianshui and Houhu. The place is extremely poor, with swamps everywhere, and the roads are difficult. When I explored the south along the Jishui River, I also saw some fishermen going north along the river. I didn't want to do it now.

So many people gathered together." Liu Duizheng sighed with emotion.

Behind the two men, a fat black man wearing a bloated and tattered thin cotton coat, who was helping lead the horse, followed quietly without saying a word, only taking the opportunity to look around with his eyes.

And soon, he found familiar figures.

Dong Jiangpeng, who was chewing a piece of dried fish, looked at each other and then continued to look at every person and every animal walking between the wooden boards of the ship's hull. He was exactly like a standard curious young man.

Dong Jiangpeng's grandfather was repairing a fishing net on the bow of a boat as if no one else was around.

The beautiful black girl named Xiugu stood in awe on the other bow of the boat where Grandpa Dong Jiangpeng was, wearing a scarf and holding on to a long bamboo pole propped in the river.

…

Old people, women and young people, plus a few mature men, everything is so simple and natural, so it is difficult for people to feel wary.

Of course, it would be even better if we have more children.

After entering the city, Liu Dui, who said goodbye to Ge Laosi, said to Ma Lan, who was holding his horse: "You are a bit late in coming here now, and you don't know how to use a bow. It's not easy to get ahead. But you finally got it."

If you can ride a horse and follow me, you will be safe."

"Thank you, Mr. Liu. I will follow you from now on. Alas! It's my fault for my bad luck. If I had known what "Grand Eye" Mr. He was capable of, I would have come to follow you even if I traveled across mountains and rivers." Malan said angrily.

"Ge Liyan" is He Yilong's nickname, and it was He Yilong's vanguard force that occupied Huangpi County.

Since the sky was starting to get dark, the peasant army scout cavalry who entered the city assigned most of their official troops to a group of infantry and then went straight to a rather impressive house.

That's where they live.

He asked several officers and soldiers who were with Malan to surrender to feed and wash the horses, and asked his subordinates to go inside and hold the women in the house for dinner. However, Liu Duizheng changed a horse and took Malan with him.

Go to the county government office to find the biggest leader of the peasant army in the city, the general manager.

While waiting with the horse outside the county office, a thin monkey dressed as an errand boy appeared in front of Malan holding two steamed buns filled with meat.

"This is what I was asked to get you from inside. It's not enough to eat. You need to drink water inside. It's hot." Skinny Monkey said loudly and deliberately.

While speaking, he also pretended to unconsciously glance at the few guard soldiers who were leaning against the gate of the county government office without any rules.

Ma Lan understood the situation and immediately tied the horse aside and followed the thin monkey into the county government office.

"Why did you come in? How many people came in?" The thin monkey asked in a low voice while watching Malan drink water in a remote side room.

After Malan swallowed his water, he said softly: "There are 10 people who came in with me. Before I entered the city, I saw dozens of our people among the crowd blocked on the pontoon. They probably won't be able to get in."

"That's just right. They are blocked outside and can guard the bridge. Otherwise, it would be really difficult to rely on those young soldiers pretending to be fishing boys."

"How many people did we come in?"

"It's so easy for Xiao Erbai to get in. I've never seen such a lax and easy-to-deceive army."

Suddenly, the screams of women and the laughter of men in the county government office became violent, and Malan couldn't help but frown.

The thin monkey also turned his head in the direction of the sound with some fun.

But in the room, he couldn't see anything, it was just a subconscious action.

After a while, Thin Hou'er said with some contempt: "The intelligence from the staff office is indeed correct. Their military discipline is far worse than that of Li Zicheng's troops, and they are too focused on pleasure. Ordinarily, the two armies are still facing each other across the river, so they should restrain themselves.

."

Malan nodded and continued: "They are careless. But maybe the location of Huangpi is too remote and difficult for Hanyang and Wuchang, so they are too relieved. I walked around the surrounding area and I really understand.

Why are Huangpi and Wuchang Hanyang so close, but they both say their customs are completely different? It’s really difficult to do anything without a boat.”
To be continued...