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cabin.

Xu Nianzu closed "Datong Collection", sighed and said: "You really want to follow the thief?"

Xu Fengcai said: "Brother, do you think this great Ming country can still be saved?"

"It was hopeless ten years ago, let alone today." Xu Nianzu had a painful expression.

The three brothers Xu Fuyuan, Xu Fengcai, and Xu Zhiyuan have been separated.But Xu Nianzu lived in Xu Jie's old house, which was bestowed by Emperor Jiajing.

Before Chongzhen ascended the throne, Xu Nianzu read the Tang newspaper every month and cared about the world's major events.

But he failed in many trials, and there was no way to serve the country.Moreover, he didn't want to get involved in party disputes, and he didn't bother to buy an official to take office.

Seeing the situation getting worse day by day, Xu Nianzu suffered so much in his heart that he even made up his mind to die for his country.

In the entire Xu family, Xu Nianzu is the person who understands the situation the most.He played with his wine glass and said with a wry smile: "In the holy period, Brother Yu persisted in reading the Tang newspaper, and also inquired about Jiangxi news from merchants. Two years ago, I knew that Zhao Han would win the world, and his government is actually the hero of the ages. But I Can the Xu family really follow a thief?"

"How does brother plan?" Xu Fengcai asked.

Xu Nianzu said: "When the Jiangxi soldiers arrive, I will cooperate with them to divide the land, and then commit suicide in the house. My branch is small, and I hope that the holy period will take care of it in the future."

Xu Fengcai was startled and said: "Brother, how can you be so confused? You said that Zhao Han is the hero, why didn't you help him wholeheartedly, but committed suicide instead!"

Xu Nianzu asked back: "Do you live in the mansion bestowed by the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and become a minister of the new dynasty?"

"It's fine if you move out!" Xu Fengcai said depressedly.

"It's a deception." Xu Nianzu shook his head and said.

Xu Fengcai changed his mind, and said, "Brother, you have a way to repay your kindness. You can go to Zhao Han to become an official. As long as you become a big official, you can persuade Zhao Han to treat the Ming royal family well."

Xu Nianzu was startled, and suddenly swallowed the wine in the glass.

When the two brothers came to Hangzhou, they first contacted Wang Mingran and finally met Xu Ying in person.

"Mr. Huang, write me a letter of recommendation quickly, I want to go to Ji'an, Jiangxi immediately!" Xu Fengcai said straight to the point.

Xu Ying said with a smile: "Does the Xu family in Yunjian want to join Jiangxi?"

Xu Fengcai said in a low voice: "Mr. Zhao's elder sister is at Xu's house right now."

"Mr. Zhao's sister?" Xu Ying was inexplicably surprised.

Zhao Han gave Xu Ying three tasks: first, to establish an intelligence network; second, to promote Datong thought; third, to find her sister.

Xu Fengcai said: "Mr. Zhao's elder sister is now my third brother's concubine...a good concubine, a good concubine! The third brother's main wife is the daughter of a rich family. If she divorces his wife, she may be the laughingstock of the neighbors. But the third brother has already brought her The younger brothers and sisters moved out and lived alone in the villa, taking care of them lovingly and not treating them harshly."

"I'll write a letter immediately and send a boat to take you there," Xu Ying said.

After sending Xu Fengcai and Xu Nianzu away, Xu Ying also left immediately to visit Zhao Zhenlan at Xu's house.

The Xu brothers took a merchant ship to Zhenjiang and then changed ships to Jiangxi.

It's not lonely on board, there are three famous prostitutes, Wang Wei, Lin Xue and Liu Rushi are all there.

It is true that Wang Mingran and Lin Xue liked each other, but they both knew very well that there would be no result.Lin Xue said that she was going to Jiangxi, but Wang Mingran didn't want to keep her, and even gave her silver to wish her a smooth journey.

When they came to Zhenjiang, someone picked them up.

Li Fenglai, the owner of the ship, entertained them personally. The cargo was originally a grain merchant.Due to the prohibition of grain export last year, he simply started a cloth business, transporting coarse cotton yarn and coarse cotton cloth produced in Jiangxi to Huaiyang for sale.

This is a new industry. Although Jiangxi used to produce cotton cloth, its scale and quality are not comparable to those of Jiangnan, so it can only be sold in neighboring provinces.

After the improvement of the hydraulic spinning machine, a large amount of coarse yarn can be spun, and many merchants immediately followed up.Even the landowners who had been divided into fields, because they had a lot of silver in their families, put into production and built water conservancy spinning machines one after another.

It did not impact the traditional family workshop, but it also promoted it!

Rural women in the cotton-producing areas of Jiangxi first knead cotton slivers at home and sell them to hydraulic spinning mills by the pound.He also bought thick veil from the hydraulic spinning mill, spun it into thick cotton cloth, and sold it to merchants like Li Fenglai.

But there is a phenomenon that makes people vigilant. Due to the huge profits, many farmers have switched to cotton, which will inevitably lead to a decline in Jiangxi's grain output.

Moreover, if anyone improves the loom, there will probably be textile factories, and the number of cotton fields will increase greatly!

Zhao Han is discussing with the officials how to ensure the size of the grain fields.At least until the grain is abundant, the grain fields cannot be allowed to decrease, otherwise the time to unify the world will be greatly delayed.

Li Fenglai set up a banquet in the cabin, and everyone came to sit down.

The merchant ships opened and greeted each other.

Xu Nianzu first asked: "Is Jiangxi still embargoing food?"

"At least the ban will be lifted after the summer harvest." Li Feng said.

Xu Nianzu said: "Oh, Jiangxi is embargoed, and the famine in the southern provinces is even worse!"

"It will be fine in two years." Li Fenglai said.

Xu Nianzu said: "After the Xia Harvest, Zhao... the general army will definitely send troops again. The prefectures and counties around Dongting Lake should be taken in the summer. It depends on the east, whether he will go to Zhejiang or Fujian first. According to the normal number of routes, it is inevitable Send troops to Zhejiang. Wait until Zhejiang is consolidated, and then attack Susong's mansions from north to south, so that Jiangnan will be in his hands. But Zhao Zongbing seems not to want to take Jiangnan quickly to avoid fighting with the imperial court's northern army. He may attack Fujian first this summer. "

Wang Wei showed surprise, Xu Ying asked her to write a letter to Mao Yuanyi, apparently to attack Fujian first, but this young master of the Xu family guessed it right.

Xu Nianzu also said: "After taking Jiangnan, Zhao Zongbing compared Huaiyang. In this way, the Jianghuai natural dangers can be attacked and defended, and the Jianghuai saltworks can be taken. To take Jianghuai, there are two options. One can go north to Shandong and Henan. , and two can take Yunguichuan from the west.”

The cabin is full of literature and art, only Xu Nianzu has a military role, and the others can only sit and listen obediently.

Chapter 286 [Zhang Xianzhong]

Anqing.

Zhang Xianzhong supported more than [-] troops and had been besieging the city for half a month.

Can't beat it.

There were only [-] defenders in Anqing, but they were united as one, and even the common people came to help, fearing that they would be looted after the city was broken.

Zhang Xianzhong's cavalry were all scattered, and the sentries extended for a radius of twenty li.If officers and soldiers come to rescue Anqing, if there are few reinforcements, they will take the initiative to annihilate them, and if there are too many reinforcements, they will run away.

Today, Zhang Xianzhong does not want to go to Sichuan.

Zhang Xianzhong has great ambitions and has always wanted to fight the Yangtze River.With Nanjing as its base, sitting in the best place in the south of the Yangtze River, it can rule at least half of the world!

Historically, Zhang Xianzhong crashed headlong into Sichuan, purely at the instigation of counselor Wang Zhaoling.Later Zhang Xianzhong wanted the whole army to go out of Sichuan, occupy the northwest and seek the world. Wang Zhaoling again provoked dissension, saying that once Zhang Xianzhong left, the generals who stayed in Sichuan would definitely rebel and stand on their own.

Zhang Xianzhong's mass murder in Sichuan was also caused by Wang Zhaoling.

Of course, it must not have killed as many as the history books said.

Although the author of "Shu Bi" has all kinds of black Zhang Xianzhong, he also recorded a sentence pertinently: "(Zhang Xianzhong) has kept great ambitions since he broke Wuchang, and he did not kill much."

……

The peasant army advanced step by step, and in a blink of an eye they came to the moat, and the officers and soldiers on the city began to shoot arrows.

Suddenly, someone in the city shouted: "The thief ship!"

On Zhang Xianzhong's side, sentry cavalry also rushed over: "The officers, soldiers and sailors are here, the officers, soldiers and sailors are here!"

The peasant army that was attacking the city was immediately recalled by Ming Jin.

The attackers and defenders, both inside and outside the city, were all frightened by the Jiangmian fleet.

The Jiangxi navy, which has expanded its army to 4000, already has hundreds of warships of all sizes.In addition to practicing, he usually assists the transshipment envoys in transporting official money and food in Jiangxi.

At this moment, ten large ships of 400 yuan and thirty medium-sized ships of 200 yuan came from upstream.

Zhang Xianzhong rode his horse to the riverside himself, muttering to himself: "The officers, soldiers and sailors are not so majestic, they seem to be the flag of Jiangxi Zhao's bandits."

"The Lame General" Bai Wenxuan followed, confused, "Zhao Bandit is going to attack Jiangnan?"

"I'm afraid we will really fight." Zhang Xianzhong was a little frustrated.

Such a majestic naval fleet is enough to break the natural danger of the Yangtze River, and Zhang Xianzhong never even thinks about crossing the river to occupy Nanjing.

"His mother!"

Zhang Xianzhong cursed: "Order all the ministries to stop attacking Anqing, and go north immediately to help that bastard Li Zicheng!"

Now that the Jiangxi thief Zhao is ready to attack Jiangnan, and there are powerful navy.In Anqing, where Zhang Xianzhong still beat Mao, this place is easily besieged by officers and soldiers, so it is better to go north to Henan to help Li Zicheng.

Of course, it is false to help, but it is true to disturb the arrangement of officers and soldiers.

Pretend to go to Henan, mobilize officers and soldiers from all walks of life to chase and intercept, then look for a gap and immediately go west, jump out of the encirclement and return to Huguang (Hubei).

Seeing Zhang Xianzhong's sudden withdrawal of troops, the defenders in the city were in shock and did not dare to lead their troops to fight out.

Even after Zhang Xianzhong left for several days, the Anqing garrison did not dare to move, for fear of being killed by the thieves - Zhang Xianzhong often did this!

After marching for thirty miles, they began to set up camp.

Zhang Xianzhong summoned his generals to discuss matters. Apart from Bai Wenxuan, the descendants of Siyi Kewang, Li Dingguo, Liu Wenxiu, and Ai Nengqi were all present.

"The king of Zhao in Jiangxi may be able to conquer Jiangnan this year," Zhang Xianzhong said to the generals, "Let's not attack Jiangbei. Even if we take down both Huai and Huaihe Rivers, we will only stand here and serve as a shield for that Zhao."

"Father," Sun Kewang took out a copy of "The Collected Works of Great Harmony", "I found this from a landlord's house."

Zhang Xianzhong knew a few words, but as for his educational level, he was probably on the same level as a Mongolian boy who had been in school for half a year.He glanced at the title of the book and asked, "The book in Shanxi?"

Sun Kewang said: "Father, this is the Datong of Datong in the world, not the Datong of Shanxi."

"That Zhao Tianwang's book?" Zhang Xianzhong asked.

"Yes," Sun Kewang said, "I have consulted my master, and I have figured out the meaning of the first article."

Zhang Xianzhong said with a smile: "Tell me, what kind of articles the surname Zhao wrote."

Sun Kewang said: "The Great Harmony of the World means that the world belongs to everyone, not from any family or surname. We must choose people with good moral character and ability to be officials, and we must also be trustworthy..."

"That's a good point, the surname Zhao has knowledge in his stomach." Zhang Xianzhong nodded in approval.

Sun Kewang continued: "Everyone should be close to each other, treat other relatives as your own relatives, and treat other sons as your own sons. Some people will die when they are old, young and strong can find a job, and children can grow up alive. Widowers Men, widows, and disabled people all come to support them. Men can beg their wives, and women can marry their husbands...Scholars don’t play tricks, common people don’t become thieves, and they don’t have to close their doors at night.”

After Zhang Xianzhong listened, he was silent for a long time.

"Oh," Zhang Xianzhong sighed, "Who wouldn't want to live such a good life? I can't even dream of it. What else is written later?"

Sun Kewang said: "My child doesn't know much about reading, and I can't read enough. I haven't asked my master yet."

"Call Master here." Zhang Xianzhong said.

Sun Kewang said: "On the way to retreat today, the master wanted to escape, but was killed by the child."

Zhang Xianzhong warned: "Please ask for another one tomorrow."

Zhang Xianzhong was in Gucheng last year and listened to "Sun Tzu's Art of War" for several months.Although he still didn't understand a lot of content, he still felt that he had benefited a lot.

It's a pity that the master who explained "Sun Tzu's Art of War" actually ran away when the troops were transferred.

After another day of marching, Zhang Xianzhong not only invited his master, but also got a copy of "Records of Female Generals of Datong".

Because of the illustrations, Zhang Xianzhong was very interested, so he asked the master to talk about the record of female generals first.

This book can be listened to as a story. After listening to it, Zhang Xianzhong clapped his hands and praised: "The surname Zhao is interesting. There are so many Sun Erniangs and Hu Sanniangs in the army." He also said to the generals, "Women also have skills, and they can choose strong women If you join the army, you might be able to produce a few Sun Erniangs and Hu Sanniangs."

"Yes!" The generals responded.

In fact, these generals are all fantasizing. They have read the illustrations in the book, and they pay more attention to the beauty.

As for choosing strong women to join the army?

When Zhang Xianzhong was at his lowest point, the generals killed his wives one after another!

Zhang Xianzhong didn't take it seriously when the master talked about "Theory of Personality" again with trepidation.But in the next few days, he listened to "Theory on Dividing the Land", "On the Release of Slaves", and "On the Family, the Country and the World", and was immediately convinced by Zhao Han's set of rebellious theories.

Another day passed, Zhang Xianzhong summoned all the generals and said: "I decided to go to Yunyang to lay down a piece of land and learn from that surnamed Zhao. First distribute the land to the soldiers, and then to the common people. Let go."

Li Dingguo said: "Father, the soldiers and the common people have divided the land, and they sincerely support it. But when the officers and soldiers come, we have to run away. Isn't the land divided for nothing?"

Zhang Xianzhong pondered for a long time: "Try it first."

After a long while, Zhang Xianzhong said again: "Jiangxi Zhao Tianwang is well-known, and it seems that he has some real skills. When the officers and soldiers are led by the nose, we will jump out and run southwest when we reach the border of Henan. When we reach Huangmei County, we will send people to follow him." Contacts with the surname Zhao. They are all rebels, let’s see if we can help each other, and we will fight officers and soldiers together.”

……

However, Xu Fengcai, Xu Nianzu, Liu Rushi and others also encountered the Jiangxi Navy Fleet on the way.

Standing on the deck, Xu Nianzu said in a daze, "Is this going to hit Jiangnan?"

"Brother, look at the sides of the ship." Xu Fengcai pointed to the warships and said.

Xu Nianzu glanced over and found that the sides of each boat were tied with ropes to giant logs, and the giant logs were tied up and floating on the water.

"Why are you carrying a lot of wood?" Xu Nianzu wondered, "Is it to make siege equipment?"

Xu Fengcai said: "To build siege equipment, such huge trees will not be used."

Li Fenglai came over and said, "That's oak oak, which is used to build sea-going ships. Last year, notices were posted in various prefectures and counties in Jiangxi to prohibit cutting oak oak. If there is an oak oak that is hugged by two people, report it to the government as soon as possible. If the situation is true, report the letter People can be rewarded with one tael of silver."