Yingshang Ferry.

The sun in early summer was already a little hot. Before the 19th hour, the sun had already burned the bluestone slabs on the pier. More than a dozen masters hid under the wooden shed beside the pier, waiting for the arrival of the grain ship.

Although Ying River flows through Yingshang and there are many swamps along the way, the amount of water in Yingshui has been much smaller after two consecutive years of drought, and many swamps along the way have dried up, which means that it is not easy for the surrounding fields to obtain convenient irrigation water sources.

In addition, the wars that have started with ants thieves over the years have caused the irrigation ditches to be disrepaired for so many years. The harvest last year was very bleak, and this year, I am afraid that summer grain will be a harvest that will make people beat their chests and stamp their feet.

In this season when the green and yellow seasons were not in line, the grain prices in Yingshang also soared, reaching 1,400 yuan for rice, and a dou of white flour rose to 2,100 yuan.

Fortunately, it is now under the jurisdiction of Huaiyou. Although it still belongs to Yingzhou in name, the continuous arrival of grain ships has stabilized the grain prices in Yingshang County at the current price and are no longer rising.

The division of Yingzhou in the north and south seemed to have become a tacit understanding between Huaiyou and Caizhou.

The Caizhou soldiers had not gone south, and the Yingzhou navy has stopped after appearing at the Shilibao Wharf outside Ruyin City more than a month ago, launching a round of attacks.

From a distance, the walls of Yingshang County still seem to be crowded with people.

Some areas were demolished and reinforcing and increasing, and some new horse faces and whistle towers were added. The Masters shouted, "Hi Yo Hi Yo", carrying a stone up the springboard. Under the vicious sun, no one complained about hardship and fatigue.

These days, it is not easy to make a living, and the weather is not good, and floods and droughts have continued. The refugees from the north have spread to Yingbo and the two prefectures.

When a place cannot find the opportunity to eat, they will continue to move south without hesitation, which has become the only option for refugees from Heshuo, Yanyun and Yizhou.

After the Ant Thief Rebellion, Yingshang had no ten or three local households. Except for the situation in the county that was not robbed, the situation in the countryside was also very bad.

The arrival of refugees is like locusts and wants to eat. If they cannot be allowed to stay in the local area, they will continue to go south, cross the Huai River, and rush towards the three states of Guangxishou.

Under such circumstances, considering the autumn planting in the second half of the year and the reclamation in the coming year, Wang Miao and Meikuang had to ask for help from Shouzhou.

If too many refugees cross the Huai River, they will also bring an impact to the three states of Guangxishou that have finally settled down. Since last year, the victims from Yingbo and the two states have fully supplemented the population of these three places. Now they no longer need refugees.

One of the solutions is to digest it on the spot. Relief of disaster victims is on the one hand, and on the other hand, reinforcing the urban defense system of Yingshang, the strategic fulcrum, has become an option.

It just so happened that a large number of refugees went south and could also be used. Although it could not be solved all of them, part of the solution was considered part of it, and labor was used to exchange for the family's survival food. This was also considered a two-game.

Several horses came out of the east gate and headed straight to the dock.

The teachers in the wooden shed were in a commotion, but they quickly calmed down with the scolding of the managers on the dock.

Several warships were still stationed on the banks of the river, and the navy soldiers on the ship remained vigilant. It was strictly forbidden for idlers to approach the warship within twenty steps.

"Brother Kuang, can you please leave the navy army on your side to Zheng Jian?" Wang Miao, who was walking with a horse, smiled and teased the other party.

In the past two months, the two have been together for storms, and their relationship has become increasingly tense.

"Haha, Jiulang, there is no such thing as the Mei family naval army or the Tian family naval army. Now there is only the Huaiyou naval army. When the king takes Xuzhou, the Huaiyou naval army will not know what name should be changed to?" Mei Kuang said angrily: "Zheng Jian is the best in the Zheng family. At least he performed well in the naval army and can be a commander of this army. The naval army is the naval army of the emperor, not a certain person. The Mei family and the Zheng family are now serving the emperor. Why are they unwilling to go to Xuzhou with one person?"

"I can't find it." Wang Miao was indeed very happy to work together with Mei Kuang again.

The order from the emperor from Shouzhou was given to Xu Ziqing for the defense of Yingshang, Zhang Yue and Zheng Jian assisted, and Wang Miao and Meikuan immediately returned to Shouzhou after completing the handover and made arrangements separately.

Although he said in the letter that he would make a separate arrangement, the envoy had already verbally explained that he and the two wanted to reorganize the existing forces of the Huai Right Army with Jiang Feng so that they could enter Xuzhou as soon as possible.

"The Caizhou army's surprise attack on Bozhou is a great excitement for the emperor." Wang Miao's eyes turned around the dock and took it back. "But the collapse of Bozhou also easily made Caizhou think of annexing Xuzhou. The term "outside and strong" in the middle is too accurate to describe Huaibei, just like paper, it can be broken with one poke. Who doesn't want to take a bite?"

"The key lies in time. If you want to fight, you have to make a big move. Otherwise, Caizhou will definitely intervene, and that will be troublesome." Mei Kuang's eyes were far away. "Your Majesty should have realized this and let you and me go back. I guess the Heshuo Army you recruited will play a big role."

"I just said that there are no Heshuo Army now, they are all Huaiyou Army." Wang Miao turned his words back, "But these people are indeed more suitable for fighting in the north. I guess you have other arrangements."

"Your Majesty has made no plans, how can you not make any arrangements?" Mei Kuang shook his head, "I still feel that the pace is too fast. I guess Chen Wei will complain again."

"It may not be necessary. Look at the grain transported by this ship. It is said that the grain in the Shouchun warehouse is being sold to Xuzhou and even Yanyun. Brother Kuang knows how much grain prices in Xuzhou and Yanyun have risen to? Haha, you can't even imagine that it is several times more expensive than our Yingshang. How much profit can you make in and out?" Wang Miao said calmly: "Otherwise, what will you do to consolidate the army?"

Mei Kuang shook his head, "The consumption will not be small after the battle in Xuzhou. This little grain price difference alone is far from enough."

"That's natural, but what about Shouzhou kilns? One kiln after another, I didn't see the fleet from Shouzhou to Guanzhong stopping? I either walked on the Bian Canal or the Wuguan Road. I was a little confused. How could you understand so much?" Wang Miao shook his head and sighed.

"So we have to be subordinates, and the king is the king." Mei Kuang also said with a little thoughtful look in his eyebrows.

When we arrived at the pier, soldiers had already come to take over the horses.

A general jumped off the military ship and rushed over, "I have seen the yasu lord and commander."

"No need to be polite, Erlang, this kind of naval army will be handed over to you. Lord Xu is still rectifying the city defense, you must be careful." Wang Miao waved his hand and pondered for a moment, "The Caizhou military has Bozhou. It is estimated that the possibility of taking the initiative to attack is small, but it is also necessary. Although it is not suitable for war in Ruyin, it cannot be left alone. It is appropriate to patrol or even advance north to Shenqiu to maintain a certain amount of pressure so that the Caizhou army cannot enter Bozhou at will. This is very necessary."

"I understand." Zheng Jian clasped his fists and bowed.

"In addition, someone has important matters when returning to Shouzhou with Lord Mei. If someone's prediction is correct, he will probably use it here within three months. Therefore, the survey along the line between Xiaoru River and Yingshui must be stepped up, and there should not be any slightest neglect. At that time, if the war situation needs it, he will go to war immediately." Wang Miao thought for a while and said.

"Jiulang is worried about adding troops to Bozhou here?" Mei Kuang also heard the implicit sound.

"Well, once our offensive is launched, Yingzhou will have to take action. It is best to force Bozhou to transfer troops back to help. At least we cannot increase the troops here, so as to reduce the pressure on us in Xuzhou."

Wang Miao did not avoid Zheng Jian. Generals of this level of military commander were already qualified to know these grand strategies. Moreover, these things were about to be unfolded, and even Caizhou could not hide them. The key is whether you have the ability to intervene.

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Zheng Jian looked at the sail shadow gradually fading away, tightened the handan knife on his body, and a burst of passion surged in his heart.

He is very clear about his responsibilities.

The main responsibility of the infantry army is to defend Yingshang, the nail inserted into Yingzhou, so that the Caizhou army cannot swallow it or pull it away.

With the special geographical location of Yingshang County, half of the county is bypassed by Yingshui River, only the west gate exits, and the east gate is adjacent to the dock, even within the attack range of the navy fleet. Therefore, as the city walls are raised and reinforced, the defense pressure is not great.

But their responsibilities are different. It is not just to assist in defending Yingshang, but the more important task is to put pressure on the Caizhou army in northern Yingzhou, forcing them to be unable to be safe and stable, and even keep them under pressure that they may face any blow at any time.

He had learned about the positions of his two uncles.

Uncle Zheng Ju has been officially appointed as the chief of the chief, Chen Wei. This is a very prominent position and the nature of his work is even more important.

The second uncle Zheng Hong had already entered the mansion, and it is now said that he was even more assisting the marching Sima Cui Shang in charge of military affairs.

This means that the Zheng family has finally won the recognition of the emperor with their own efforts, which is gratifying.

Zheng Jian knew very well that he was much inferior to Mei Kuang in martial arts level, but he believed that in naval combat, the role of martial arts level had become increasingly weak, especially after boarding the ship with the fire dragon cannon and heavy magic crossbow, coupled with the use of sails, the combat effectiveness of the naval army was undergoing subtle changes from melee to long-range strikes.

If this long-range strike tactic can be organically combined with the fleet's manipulation tactics, the navy's combat effectiveness will also usher in a leap.
Chapter completed!