After sailing out of the mountains in northern Guangxi, we entered the narrow and winding Xiangtan Basin. Through the tributaries of the Xiangjiang River flowing through the territory, it connects the Hunan hinterland like an inverted maple leaf-shaped Hunan Central Plain. It is also the so-called agricultural area and large granary in later generations that "Hubei is ripe and the world is full" is located.

However, although the technology of building embankments has long appeared in the local area, the development level is still insufficient in this era; and many places are still occupied and divided by rivers, lakes and water saps. After all, as the largest wetland in the south, Yunmeng Daze has not completely disappeared.

There are also extraordinary and various types of earth barbarians and mountain barbarians scattered between the mountains and rivers. There are also water bandits between the Yunmeng Daze, and river thieves are hiding in it. Therefore, most of the Hunan observations during this period were generally known for their remoteness and danger; and they are regarded as one of the evil places for officials and those who are terrified of being in trouble.

The only advantage that Lingnan, which is both exiled and demoted, is that it is at least closer to Chang'an, the western capital, and the eastern capital Luoyang, and the water and land transportation is more convenient; but in terms of the suitable climate and product environment, it is both wet and hot, and inferior to the Annan area, which is fertile and fertile. Therefore, the beginning of large-scale development has to wait until the establishment of the Chu regime of Ma Yin decades later.

However, except for the obstruction of Wuling Mountain, I realized that the situation in Guizhou was not accidental. But at least other places except the city were relatively calm. Even if many wealthy families and powerful families were handed over, they were just some small-scale local riots. However, after arriving in Quanzhou, which was adjacent to Hunan, there was only a complete chaos and a barrenness that could be seen from time to time.

After the army left the ridge, they encountered at least dozens of waves of snoopers throughout the day. Although most of them were ragged and unkempt, they could escape from the distance.

The detective team and wing guards who were put on the shore to go to the police patrol also received more news and experiences in the countryside far away from the river bank. There were bandits rampant and hungry people running around, and there were new groups of land and villages everywhere; and they were extremely vigilant to guard against all outsiders and things.

The people wandering on the road seemed not afraid of the banner of the rebel army at all. There were signs of people trying to follow and encircle the riders as scouts, but they were easily freed by experienced treasure hunters. However, the information and judgments they brought were undoubtedly shocking.

Although these forces wandering in the wild cannot threaten the small number of rebels stationed in prefectures, counties and towns, they may hinder the navigation of larger fleets; however, the chaos and disorder among the people have caused other consequences; in a short time, many passing civilian ships and commercial ships were robbed and damaged, leaving only the burned charred wrecks stranded by the river.

There are even some suspected human and animal bones scattered among them. Just looking at the way they were torn to pieces, it makes people feel a little chilling.

After getting used to the relatively safe and peaceful daily life outside the ridge, I felt particularly touched when I saw these familiar cruel things. Then I suddenly realized that this is the most common thing in the troubled times in the world today. The peace and busyness I enjoyed outside the ridge were only a year or two before, and the new things gradually emerged.

"You can't slack off... and you have to earn more Tian Fen to marry and have children to protect your family..."

He cheered and encouraged himself.

Since more ships were collected under the city of Guizhou for transportation, the actual marching speed was further increased; although this time, he did not encounter the night rise that Huang Chao encountered when he went north, and he followed the trend and went forward hundreds of miles and passed through several states in one go;

However, when most soldiers rest on board and board on the boat, they save time for camping and marching together, and can also be said to have been traveling a hundred miles a day without any obstacles. (Of course, it is not a geographical straight line, but a detour along the curved river.)

At this time, small entertainment activities such as storytelling, chess, card plays, and songs that cooperated with publicity methods were able to be launched on various large ships that transported troops. For a time, songs and folk songs with various tone and accent began to ripple one after another among these river boats with clouds of sails, and drove away many birds and beasts along the coast and the desolate atmosphere.

Then there were some boring and self-aware and brave people who were in a narrow space on the boat. After obtaining Zhou Huaian's permission, they were also put ashore to carry out some small-scale military competitions to hunt wild animals and capture prisoners. Zhou Huaian even fired various lottery tickets to encourage them. He also gained more than a dozen local game with different flavors and also learned some of the experiences circulating in the local area.

For example, the official army from Jiannan Road and Qianzhong Road have already fought, and the thieves from all over the country have abandoned the guards and fled... For example, Huang Chao's headquarters has been wiped out and died in Jiangxi, and the remaining troops have begged for surrender to the court. There are different truths and falsehoods, and there are exaggerated rumors.

This is the second time he led his troops to sail on the waterway (the time at sea does not count). Therefore, the ships carried by tens of thousands of military forces were divided into five front and back formations that maintained a certain interval for safety and stability. Among them, the first, third and fifth sequences are the troop transport fleets that concentrate most of the combat effectiveness, and also represent the response posture of the forward, defender and the central army.

The large ships at the beginning and end of each formation have reserved space and room for operation for corresponding crossbows and equipment, and there are full-body brawls to alert and standby in case of accidents. Once the whistle is blowing, the soldiers in the cabin in the rear who are resting and training in turn will quickly get armed and prepare to dock and line up to prepare for the enemy.

The second and fourth sequences are the transportation sequences of materials, machinery, vehicles and livestock that are not deducted; then between the two sequences, there are lights (night) and flags (day) within the field of view to maintain contact and convey orders;

In this way, if there are any emergencies and accidents, you can get the support and response from the first two armed forces, and then there are also a shored roar and a boat that is fast-rowing as an auxiliary means of communication and alertness. It can be said that in addition to some hidden dangers such as stranding and bottoming of rivers and reefs that are difficult to avoid during the dry season, the journey can be basically safe.

Therefore, when I came here a little dull and boring, there was no force that was not open to the eye to get out of trouble, or I became the target of practicing most soldiers who were a little bored on the boat to relax their shins;

The only accident and small episode during the period was that when the boat was slowing down at night, someone climbed onto the gang of a transport ship in the fourth formation under the cover of darkness and stole the remaining food prepared by the kitchen on the ship to the Linchen service handover. Then, because he was greedy and could not walk, he made a noise and was caught on the spot.

Then the next day, I found that there were a few young men and women who were so thin that they couldn't tell the difference in gender. So as Zhou Huaian personally issued a punishment and redemption, they were left on the ship to do the cumbersome work of dealing with filth and garbage.

After the vast fleet arrived in Yongzhou, Zhou Huaian had no longer had much patience to negotiate and go to the scene. Amid the noise of chaotic cries and shouting, he quickly landed ashore and occupied the dock and seized the city gates. Then he lined up in line to rush into the Taiping soldiers, and rushed into the state yamen without saying anything, and controlled everything inside and outside.

Zhou Huaian officially announced the acquisition of the rebel troops stationed in the local area to the officials who were driven over and the dozen or so out of their clothes, and established the second Taiping Army Food Station.

However, the situation of the local rebel army that was finally found was quite worrying; or the comfortable life of permanently resident in cities made these rebel army degenerate and decline very quickly.

Therefore, there are 3,400 soldiers in the city, which are known as five battalions on the left and right sides of the city, but in fact there are less than 2,000 people in the camp. If this is the case, it would be fine, and there are many styles of falsely reporting the military quota to Zhang Shengshi.

For example, if there are a hundred people, they dare to call themselves the commander, and five hundred people are the generals of the same party. If they don’t call a commander, the military leader will be embarrassed to go out to meet people. For example, when Huang Chao has tens of thousands of people, they will already dare to call themselves “the commander of the millions of rebels in the country”. Once they are enslaved by more than 100,000 tribes, they will simply open a mansion to call Wang Jianyuan and divide many officials into office.

However, among these two thousand people, there were a large number of elderly, weak, sick and disabled people, and there were only eight or nine hundred young and strong soldiers who could be used. Moreover, most of the personal soldiers of the rebel generals were personally accompanying the villagers. Other soldiers could barely pick up swords and guns and pretend to scare the subordinates; and in their camps, there were even women who were drying everywhere and children running around the ground.

In the strange situation like them, which is both empty inside and outside, it is really a rare exception to have been colluded with the potential resistance forces in the city and the active earth groups outside the city.

In this case, Zhou Huaian also gave them three choices:

One is to join and accept the transformation of the Taiping Army, starting from the deputy position of the corresponding rank, but if you fail, you must send it out of the army and accept the dismissal of the army.

One is to give up his original military affairs and relations, and bring all the existing soft and wealth, wealth and family to move outside the ridge, so that the more stable and prosperous Cantonese government would live a better life.

Another thing is to take the voluntarily followers and provide certain amount of Zibo grain funding to go north to join the Huang Wang's formation.

"We all know the benefits of Canton..."

One of the oldest generals with gray hair and wrinkled faces, always looking frowning, tried to scratch his head and sighed.

"I don't know if there are any other regulations or rules, so as not to be unable to ignore the face if I violate it unintentionally..."

"There are no special rules... As long as you don't commit crimes and oppress the people."

Zhou Huaian said lightly.

"There are everything in the local area, can't you buy it if you have money?..."

As a result, after a lot of contempt, almost all of the three chiefs and deputy chiefs and five other generals of the city's rebel army chose the second path; but no one chose the third path. Obviously, although their will and body have been corrupted by a comfortable life, their basic IQ and common sense are still there.

The only other man with long face and deep cheeks and slightly curly hair chose the first suggestion, which made Zhou Huaian look at him a little more respectful. After all, he is a person who dares to take risks in the new system to seek progress and opportunities. He is somewhat of a foundation of ability and ability, and should be encouraged.

"I don't know where you should borrow it as any title."

Therefore, Zhou Huaian asked Yan.

"I dare not, I am here in Gao Jichang, a native of Qianshi, Shaanxi (now southeast of Sanmenxia, ​​Henan). Since the first year of Wang Ba, I have been following the righteous army in Bianzhou..."

The other party said respectfully.

"I also led the right leader to the right and took the lead as a military academy in front of Hongzhou."

"Since you have the courage to break the formation, you can use the best of your use...

Zhou Huaian smiled and listened to his self-report.

"I am missing a teaching Sima under my account, you can do it..."

"I am humble...but by leading the army."

He was also slightly stunned and then responded happily.
Chapter completed!