Chapter 407 The Prince's Fury

"The most important thing is to preserve the ancestral lineage and strengthen the ancestral system. Once a person is good, he will be loyal to all nations."

"The military commander Lu Gongming stayed behind in Nanjing. His weapons were far-reaching and his appearance was extraordinary. The king's career was at the beginning, his business was established, his war work was difficult, and his conquests were unsuccessful... He was far-reaching, and he had a foresight in both the government and the field. It was appropriate to do so. Taking advantage of the tripod industry, he can be established as the crown prince, and he will be in charge of the affairs of the world."

In the palace of the Han Dynasty in Lushan, Chen Hui nodded with satisfaction as he listened to the edict drafted for him by his subordinates to confer the crown prince. Yes, yes, the writing is gorgeous, and Chen Ming is given full credit. "Very good, very good!"

Then he grabbed Wu Xizeng's hand and said, "Every preparation must be done strictly, tightly and quickly." The canonization of the prince requires a series of etiquette. Chen Mining has already arrived in Hubei and will soon be transferred to Xiangyang. We will arrive in Lushan soon!

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will live up to the holy hope."

Lu Gong's crown prince canonization ceremony did not need Chen Hui to give special orders, Wu Xizeng would handle it perfectly.

In the past few years, among the old group of people, he was the only one who had only a superficial relationship with the second generation. Ren Meng was in charge of the grain bureau, Zhang Chi was the military minister, Zheng Hongyu and Wei Xiuzhi were both seniors from Chen Mingjun, even though Wei Xiuzhi eventually jumped out of the logistics system.

Among Chen Hui's early team members, Wu Xizeng had the least contact with Chen Ming.

Duke Lu was going to officially become the crown prince of Chen and Han. Wu Xizeng took this news out of the Han palace with him, and it immediately spread from the palace.

Last month and this month, the King of Han gave birth to a new son and a daughter. Although none of the important relatives and ministers in the court said a word, their auras always became a little weird.

There is no way, Chen Ming's current power and prestige are too great and too powerful, and his power is too great and prominent. Many people judge others by themselves, and feel that Chen Hui may not always like such a 'threatening' son. There has been no father and son in the Tian family since ancient times. But Chen Ming's advantages were something that Chen Hui couldn't touch.

Before, Chen Hui had no choice whether he only had one son or his legitimate son. But isn't there another baby born now? Chen Hui is not too old and has good health. If you wait ten or twenty years, you will have fun.

People never hesitate to use the worst angles and darkest psychology to speculate on others. The difference is that those who are pro-Lu are worried, while those who are far away from Lu are gloating.

——Even if Chen Hui cannot really shake Chen Ming's status as successor, if the King of Han changes his mind, Chen Ming will definitely be in more trouble.

Even though Chen Hui celebrated Chen Ding's birthday in an unusually grand manner, it only suppressed the 'darkness' in some people's hearts.

Now that the news of Chen Ming's canonization as crown prince has spread, when countless people find out that Wu Xizeng is indeed preparing for the crown prince ceremony, some people with dark psychology are blushing. Not even a trace of the faint clouds floating over Mount Lu was left.

The only impression left on everyone was that no matter what the public opinion was, King Han's face was always smiling.

For a time, Li Xiaomei and even Gao were greeted by congratulations from countless people. Mr. Gao was indifferent and Li Xiaomei was in a normal mood.

Her son should be the prince and her husband should be the prince. Isn't this what it should be? Isn’t this natural and natural?

Chen Han's world was conquered by her son and her husband. Chen Ming deserves to be the crown prince!

Likewise, this news was quickly delivered to Chen Ming.

At this time, Chen Ming had already gone north from Wuhan to Xiangyang.

Robert, Perrier and others, who had just seen China's inland big cities in Changsha not long ago, now have a deeper understanding of China. Wuhan - Wuchang, Hanyang, Hankou, these three are separated by the Yangtze River. , cities along the Han River, the total population is certainly less than one million people, the economic and population of the three cities are still at the During the recovery period, although the establishment of many factories brought a new vitality to Wuchang, the time was still too short, but the total population would not be less than 500,000. Among them, Wuchang and Hankou - Hankou has been upgraded to a county and included in the scope of Wuchang Prefecture - the momentum of development is particularly strong.

There are about 200,000 locals in Wuchang, that is, people with Wuchang hukou. Counting migrant workers and the floating population, the city has no less than 300,000 people. On the opposite side of the river, Hankou was an important place in Hubei Province, where merchants gathered and sailboats filled the river. In its heyday, it was no less than Wuchang. [Some data say that there are more than 200,000 household registrations in Hankou, and some data say that the population of Hankou reached one million at the end of the 18th century. If the 'hukou' mentioned in the previous data refers to the number of households, it would be consistent, but it doesn't feel right. Too likely. It has a population of one million. According to legend, only London at that time in Europe had a population of one million, while Paris had only four to five million people in 1810]

Of course, Hankou suffered heavy losses in the previous war, but with the pacification of Hubei and the stability of the entire southern country, Hankou once again entered a period of prosperity, with all kinds of arts, diverse human beings, and the land as the strategic point. It was the thoroughfare of nine provinces, and the original salt, There are six major industries: cashmere, rice, wood, flower cloth, and medicinal materials. Except for the medicinal materials industry, which is somewhat in decline, the others are recovering rapidly. The population has also increased dramatically from less than 70,000 to 80,000 people at one time to more than 100,000 people now.

"This place will become the most important city in central China in the future."

In front of Robert, Perrier and others, Chen Ming drew a circle on the map with a pen, circling Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang. "Wuhan! These three cities will soon be combined into a new city. Its name is Wuhan. As the provincial capital of Hubei Province, it is also the largest and most important city in the middle of the Yangtze River and even in the middle of China."

"If everything goes well, in ten or twenty years, you can step into this place at will."

Chen Ming took the opportunity to reiterate his "business philosophy" - freedom and openness.

After receiving the news from Lushan, Chen Ming's nature was obviously much higher today. In the afternoon, accompanied by Liu Dezhao, he invited Robert and others to climb the Yellow Crane Tower to enjoy the scenery of the Yangtze River. Nine months ago, he also watched here as the large army of the Fu Han Army, which entered Jiangnan for the second time, boarded a warship and said goodbye to Wuhan amid the cheers of the people on both sides of the strait and the continuous salutes!

It took less than a year to sweep the south. This speed is still incredible. Just like Zhu Yuanzhang's northern expedition to the Central Plains, it took only one year to sweep the Central Plains, North China, Shanxi, and capture Dadu.

Sometimes, when the war is about to start, it is so unstoppable.

Feng Sheng'e will be scolded and criticized by countless old and young people of the Qing Dynasty in the future. The Battle of Changzhou, which he presided over, sounded a real alarm for the demise of the Qing Dynasty's rule in the south.

…

The drizzle fell, and the air was condensed with a unique moisture and freshness of the mountains and forests. The mountains and fields of Xiangxi in winter do not have the greenness of spring, but people can also be intoxicated by the mist and drizzle. This is all the winter in Xiangxi!

Here you can hardly see snow falling, but more of it is continuous rain. There is no grandeur of winter rain, nor the impatience of summer rain. It is not fast or slow, and the drizzle is just like this, spreading between heaven and earth. Clear water drops drip from the eaves.

The distant forests were filled with mist, and the scene two miles away was completely submerged in the lingering mist. The mountains that rose and fell one after another, the vast mountains had always hidden a team of hundreds of people. It was too easy and simple.

Therefore, since ancient times, there has been a constant plague of bandits in Xiangxi, even in times of peace and prosperity.

Luo Tian didn't have the ability to see the weather and rain, although he was a native of Xiangxi, he didn't have that ability. A group of people went to Lizhou to collect autumn wind, preparing to rob some money and food, and women to go back for the New Year, but they were caught by the Second Brigade of the Hunan Army. Half of the team of three or four hundred people was broken, and they finally rushed into the mountains.

The clothes of the group were soaked, and many people's faces were frozen. They finally touched the mountain in front of them and hid in several connected caves on the mountainside.

After entering the cave, Luo Tian divided his men into four groups. One or two hundred bandits almost disbanded immediately. Except for those who were attached to the police, the rest could not wait to make a fire and sit around to roast.

The fuel was the half-wet and half-dry fallen leaves and branches in the forest. What ignited them was some dry firewood in the cave, or even the dried feces of animals.

In this area, if there are a lot of dry firewood or traces of human activities, or even broken bones, in a cave deep in the forest, don't be surprised. Because there have always been many mountain hunters in this area, no matter how deep the forest is, there will be human footprints. Those natural caves are mostly the best camping sites for mountain hunters. It is normal to have dry firewood in the cave, and it is abnormal to have no dry firewood! Don't be afraid of bones, just blame the person for being unlucky and being torn and eaten by wild beasts.

As long as there are no piles of bones in the cave and no fishy and unpleasant smell, there will be no problem. Of course, this is in contrast to the lonely hunters and mountain people, not the bandits under Luo Tian who have knives, guns and a large number of people.

Finally he could breathe a sigh of relief, and Luo Tian's mind began to turn to something else. He went out to collect money, and was caught by the Fu Han army. If the old bandit walking in front hadn't found something wrong and fired a gun in time to alert the police, he would have been killed.

This is definitely not a coincidence!

Luo Tian didn't think that the Fu Han army had found out the information in advance. He felt that he must have been sold out.

"If I knew who did a good thing, I would be a coward if I didn't give him a big red robe." One third of the family assets were lost in the hands of the Fu Han army, and Luo Tian's heart was bleeding.

"Master Tian, ​​we can't not avenge this hatred..."

"Brother, the fourth brother has been killed..."

Bandits always remember to eat but not to be beaten, and they will always take revenge for every grievance. Luo Tian, ​​who was hit hard by a stick, was destined to have no chance with the Fu Han Army. But now what they need to do most is to return to their old nest while outsiders don't know.

As a bandit, the danger of internal fighting is no less than that of the officers and soldiers outside. Luo Tian only has one or two hundred defeated soldiers left. If he is robbed and killed halfway, he will really be dead.

A dead horse will die if he runs to the mountain.

This sudden winter rain put an end to the two-day pursuit of the Fu Han Army. Luo Tian finally brought back only a few hundred and fifty people to his old nest, which was a big loss. But what made him even more heartbroken was that Luo Tian, ​​who returned to his old nest, inquired from many sources, but couldn't find out who sold him out?

After entering winter, more and more Fu Han Army scouts appeared in the Xiangxi area, cooperating with the few local dark camp forces to spy on the intelligence of the Xiangxi bandit army. Liu Fei did pass on detailed intelligence to the Fu Han Army, but how could the Fu Han Army only listen to Liu Fei's one-sided statement when it came to important military matters?

"We should send people to look around this area again. Those valleys, ravines and caves that can hide hundreds or thousands of people. Check it again." He Erhu knew that the bandits in western Hunan were not to be wiped out now, but at least to Will the areas of Yongding, Sangzhi and Yongshun be cleaned up? These three places are too close to Lizhou and Changde. If there are a few murders during the Chinese New Year, even if I don't end up as an official, my future will be bleak, right?

"If you don't come across it, forget it. If you do, we will know whether the person comes back alive or not."

The drizzle made my clothes wet, and it was freezing cold. No team can roam the mountains and forests on a large scale. The bandits will only stay firmly in their lair at this time.

He Erhu decided to take advantage of this moment and opportunity to check again some of the omissions in the places he had filtered.

The longer time passed, the greater the pressure on him.

Especially after Ben Jinzhong led his troops to retreat into Guizhou, the main enemy faced by the Second Brigade of the Hunan Army became bandits. They suffered a loss against Ben Jinzhong because they had fewer people and weaker weapons. However, they were still weak against the bandits, and it was the second brigade that suffered.

Coincidentally, just when He Erhu released his elite scouts and entered the mountains again, Liu Fei, the giant bandit in western Hunan who had been helped by the Fuhan Army, finally made the most important decision in his life. .

"What are you afraid of?" In the Baojing County Yamen with the smell of blood, Liu Fei, holding a knife in his hand, squinted at the few powerful people under his command, as well as the large and small people who had gathered under his command these days. The leader of more than a dozen bandits.

In the middle of the county government hall, there was a corpse lying upside down. This corpse was Liu Fei's guest last night, but now it has become the victim of his men. This person is the liaison officer sent by the Fuhan Army to Liu Fei's staff.

Liu Fei chopped the man over with a single blow in the name of being a 'fine craftsman'.

There were two bandit soldiers kneeling on the ground. These were the minions Liu Fei had assigned to the liaison officer before.

"Chen Han is making a big scene now, but no matter how big the scene is, what can they do to us? There were bandits and cottages in western Hunan thousands of years ago. Even when the imperial court was strong, it could not drive us all away. What does Chen Han and the Fuhan Army count now?

At most they are a Southern Dynasty. Old Qianlong in the north is their biggest enemy. How much time and troops did Chen Ming waste on us? "As Liu Fei shouted, the pale faces of those present gradually turned rosy.

Liu Fei was even more happy when he saw this in his eyes, "Yes. Chen Ming is very powerful and is the best general in the world, but no matter how powerful he is in Xiangxi, it will be useless. In our place, the most powerful thing is not the people, but the mountains. It is a dangerous, complex and changeable terrain.

We brothers gathered in the mountains and forests, drank from big bowls, ate large pieces of meat, and slept with women wherever we wanted. It was so enjoyable. But what about Chen Han? Think about the military regulations and disciplines that Ha Zi [Silly] just mentioned. It’s not me, Liu Fei, who has cut off everyone’s official career. You all think about the rules and regulations. Can you all abide by them?

What will be the consequences if we can't hold on? "

"When you violate military rules and disciplines..." Liu Fei sneered, looking at everyone in the hall with sharp eyes, "The serious ones will lose your head, and the minor ones will lose your official position. Then you will be punished for seeing a small official as big as a sesame seed." With a smile on his face, can you bear this?"

"Anyway, I can't abide by military rules and disciplines, and I can't stand my anger. Then I simply don't want to be an official like Chen Han."

"We are in the mountain village and we will continue to live our happy life freely."

In troubled times, heroes emerge, and heroes create the situation! Although Liu Fei didn't want to achieve great achievements like Chen Han, he felt that he was fully capable of becoming the king of Xiangxi. In his hands were not six or seven thousand bandits, but a full eight thousand bandits, three to four hundred automatic muskets, more than two thousand shotguns, and even more native guns. There are also more than 30 large and small cannons, plus more than ten cannons left behind when Ben Jinzhong retreated to Guizhou.

Moreover, there are many dangerous places in Guzhangping, and the Jinhua Mountain, Lijiadong and other places he manages are even more dangerous. He really didn't believe how much effort the Fuhan Army had to fight him in the mountains and ravines.

When the Fuhan Army leaves, Xiangxi will be his territory. Liu Fei, who had ambitions rising in his heart, was destined not to become a bird in the hands of the Fuhan Army. Although he did not dare to compare himself with Chen Ming, he couldn't help feeling jealous of Chen Ming in his heart.

The Chen family's previous status was too ordinary and ordinary.

"Master Shenrong is right. The Chen Han and Fu Han armies are not the places we should go. The rules of the Chen family are too strict. We brothers are used to living freely in the mountains and forests. Who can bear such restrictions?

The Qing Dynasty and Chen Han still have battles to fight, and they don't even care about us here. Let’s guard Xiangxi for the Qing Dynasty first. Maybe Mr. Qianlong in Beijing can give our brothers the title of Commander-in-Chief, General, or Duke. "After Liu Fei was awarded the title of General, he asked his subordinates to address him as "Shenrong". The previous leaders and Feiye were not allowed to call him "Senrong".

"At that time, our brothers will be able to make a name for themselves in the world! It's worth dying."

"Hu Ba is right. Follow wolves to eat meat, and follow dogs to eat shit. But wolves that eat meat fed by people are still dogs, and they are still domestic dogs. Why do we people let wild dogs go and be used as guard dogs? ? "For those here who came from bandits, the word 'freedom' still carries a lot of weight.

Chen Ming led his team out of Wuchang and headed straight for Xiangyang along the Han River. He had no idea that the anti-bandit campaign in Hunan had suddenly changed dramatically.

The Fu Han Army had worked hard to raise a dog, and finally raised the puppy to a big dog. When it was time for the big dog to serve, the dog not only did not help the Fu Han Army catch rabbits, but also bit back at the Fu Han Army.

The guarantee of the Fu Han Army's combat effectiveness, the strict enforcement of military regulations, became the biggest reason for the dog's betrayal. Although that was just an excuse!

On the day Chen Ming arrived in Xiangyang, Hunan sent an urgent report that Liu Fei had "rebelled". He led his troops to "sneak attack" Yongshun Prefecture City. This was originally a trap set by both sides, but Liu Fei made it real and really took Yongshun City. More than a dozen officials of all sizes under the Yongshun prefect who had just taken office, more than 200 defenders and hundreds of police and city residents were killed. Chen Ming smashed the jade paperweight on the spot.

Furious!

Ungrateful wolf, it turns out that I mistook an ungrateful wolf for a pastoral dog!

"Liu Fei, damn it!" The good mood along the way was completely ruined by this news.