Chapter 43 The Rolling Yangtze River Passes East
Chapter 43 The Rolling Yangtze River Passes East
The fire was blazing, and Qiweizi was reduced to ashes in an instant.
Hai Qing recounted the things that the Loyalty Camp did when they came to Qiweizi, including killing people, setting fires, and stealing food and money. A village with a strong army and a strong horse was completely destroyed...
I didn’t know this when I was in Beijing, but this damn regular army does the same things as bandits.
Second brother is now leading his troops into the city. What kind of evil things are he going to do?
Here, Song Laosan and Lin Bozai gathered the team, and Shao Quanzhong grabbed Shao Hengzhong who was directing his men to transport grain onto the sampan.
"Brother, look at our names, they are so similar, outsiders must think we are brothers, I think this is God's will.
Let's just make this a reality, become brothers in life and death, fight side by side, and accomplish something great. What do you think?"
Shao Hengzhong was shocked, "Sir, that's too high a position for me."
"What the hell! I was born a beggar, and the situation I have today is all thanks to the help of my brothers.
You are a loyal, honest and kind person, which suits my taste the most. It is better to do it today than to wait for a day. Let's become sworn brothers now."
Shao Hengzhong certainly had no objection. After comparing their ages, they found out that they were the same age. Shao Hengzhong was born in the third month of the lunar calendar, just one month younger than Shao Quanzhong.
After the two men finished kowtowing to the north, Shao Hengzhong stared at Shao Quanzhong and said, "Brother, you have been very kind to me. Now we are brothers. I am not good at talking, so I won't say much. From now on, I will serve you wholeheartedly."
Shao Quanzhong didn't say anything, but just patted Shao Hengzhong on the back gently.
Logically, Shao Quanzhong's three original sworn brothers were all present, and they should have sworn brotherhood together again and arranged their seats according to their age.
Hai Qing stepped forward to remind Shao Quanzhong, but was pulled back by Tian Xing. He gently shook his hand at him, sighed, and said nothing.
Zhang Siwen stood behind Shao Quanzhong and smiled foolishly, as if he knew nothing.
Qiwei actually belongs to Taixing County, but it is closer to Jingjiang by water. That is why Liu Erguaizi colluded with Jingjiang government and acted arrogantly in Jingjiang.
Now if Shao Quanzhong wants to go to Jingjiang, he has to take the Yangtze River waterway.
In Qiweizi, several horses belonging to Liu Erguaizi's gang were also seized. Horses were of little use in this water town, and were basically used by the leader to show off.
Haiqing was used to serving the prince, so he thought about things more carefully than others. Since Shao Quanzhong was going to Jingjiang, no matter what he was doing, he would definitely go back to visit his parents' new home.
If one does not return home when he is rich and powerful, it is like walking in the night in fine clothes. The grand scale of Shao Quanzhong's return will surely be as good as possible, and his parents will also have more face in the eyes of their new neighbors.
Haiqing ran over and personally led a horse to the sampan, ready to show off to his second brother when the time comes.
The sampan is small and it is very difficult to load a horse. Fortunately, the river from Qiweizi to Jingjiang is wide and the current is gentle, so it is not a big problem if only one horse is loaded.
This time, the 260 people only boarded 20 sampans, and the other 10 were loaded with food and silver and guarded by the Heng Camp, which was ordered to be temporarily stationed here awaiting orders.
The Zhong Battalion set sail in a sampan with the respectful farewell of Shao Hengzhong and all the officers and soldiers of the Heng Battalion.
As the commander, Shao Quanzhong sat in a slightly more spacious sampan and only brought ten personal soldiers led by Zhang Siwen.
Several personal soldiers were rowing the sampan. Zhang Siwen pulled Shao Quanzhong's sleeve and said, "Second brother, you and Shao Hengzhong are sworn brothers without bringing your eldest and third brothers. Won't they be unhappy?"
Shao Quanzhong sighed, "I have no choice.
Brothers sworn brothers are divided into different groups based on distance. You are definitely the one I trust the most, but you are unwilling to lead the troops.
I am the leader of the Huai Army. In the future, it is inevitable that I will have to go to Beijing to meet the emperor, or even be ordered to visit overseas. At that time, who will be in temporary command of the entire Huai Army?
My eldest brother and third brother must be loyal to me, but they are traitors.
When my eldest brother leads a Xingzi Battalion in the future, he will definitely not have any ulterior motives and will listen to me. I hope the entire Huai Army can be handed over to him.
I went abroad. He is a rebel but he has more than 100,000 elite soldiers. What do you think he is most likely to do?
He won't take my position, but if he gives me the yellow robe, wouldn't I become the leader of the rebels?"
"Second brother, are you really not going to rebel in the future?"
"Brother, there are many ways to conquer the world. Rebellion is the worst option and should only be used as a last resort.
If the Qing Dynasty were to collapse, the monarchists would still be able to conquer the country with full legitimacy.
Those who are foolish enough to start a rebellion first never have a good ending.
By that time, I will be half a year older, so you have to remind me, brother, not to be fooled into becoming emperor, because that would be a bad move.
Even if I am old and confused, I should still be able to listen to your words." "Second brother, do you plan to let Shao Hengzhong lead the Huai Army when you leave the military camp in the future?"
"Brother should have guessed my idea. Not letting him take charge of the entire Huai Army in the future is actually to avoid him being in a dilemma. Didn't you see that he looked relieved?
My brother is a smart man and he won’t blame me for this.
As for whether Shao Hengzhong can do it, we still need to observe and it is not something that can be decided now. It is still a long way to go. Without a few years of fighting, how can we pacify the Taiping Army and the Nian Rebellion?
China has suffered many disasters and will have many opponents in the future. The war must continue, and there will be plenty of opportunities to test Shao Hengzhong.
"But you, my fourth brother, can't always be my personal guard captain, right? Have you ever thought about what you want to do in the future?"
In front of Shao Quanzhong, Zhang Siwen did not pretend to be stupid, but looked up and thought about it.
“When I was a child, I accompanied the children of noble families to study, and I kept thinking about it.
Why can I only be a companion student when we are both human beings, while children from noble families can take the examinations for the title of scholar, juren, jinshi, and rise to higher positions and make fortunes? Can't this world be more fair?"
Shao Quanzhong laughed loudly, "Kings, princes, generals, and ministers, are they of different species? Brother, do you want to be a rebel like your elder brother and third brother?"
Zhang Siwen shook his head solemnly, "Even if the rebellion succeeds and a Han dynasty is established, and my brothers all become rich and powerful, I will only be the one who becomes the superior one.
Children from poor families have no chance of success.
So, I still haven’t figured out what I want to do.”
Shao Quanzhong's eyebrows suddenly stood up, "Brother, your idea is quite dangerous. Is it your own idea, or did you listen to someone's instigation?"
"After I was kicked out of a noble family, I begged for food for half a year, and then I met you, my brother. How could someone bewitch me?"
"That's good. Alas, industrialization can make a country strong, but after a country becomes strong, the people will become restless.
Brother, I still don’t know what to do in the future. I didn’t understand it in my previous life.
Fortunately, there are still a few decades left, so I can think about it slowly."
The Yangtze River rolls eastward, and the waves hit the sampan.
Zhang Ershazi's simple words made Shao Quanzhong fall into deep thought. He remained silent all the way, with his hands behind his back looking up at the sky, looking lost and distressed.
In the evening, the ship arrived at Jingjiang Port and the Zhongzi Battalion went ashore and organized its troops.
Unexpectedly, Shao Quanzhong took off his military uniform, put on an official robe and a sixth-rank hat, rode on a tall horse, and led his troops towards Jingjiang County.
Two hundred fully armed regular soldiers, carrying a banner with the word "loyalty" on it, marched into the city under the leadership of a sixth-rank military officer. How could the two soldiers guarding the gate dare to intervene? They could only run to report to the county magistrate.
Shao Quanzhong smiled and ordered, "I want to go home to see my parents, you guys line up here and wait first."
Lao Shao's courtyard was in an alley, and it would be too crowded for so many soldiers to go in, so two hundred soldiers remained on the street.
Jingjiang is a small town, and the two companies of soldiers standing there blocked the entrance to the county government office intentionally or unintentionally.
How embarrassing.
Song Laosan and Lin Bozi adjusted their formation and opened the gate. Now, there was a company on each side of the county government gate, with a solemn military appearance and shining bayonets.
Shao Quanzhong only brought his personal soldiers, entered the alley, dismounted, and walked into the yard.
Shao's father and mother heard the noise on the street and went out of the main room to see what was going on, but Shao Quanzhong had already entered the yard.
He took two quick steps and knelt on his knees, "I greet you, my father and mother."
The two elders were shocked to see a high-ranking official kowtowing to them. Then they realized that it was their son who returned, and were both surprised and delighted.
Wow, the Shao family has become rich. When his son passed away more than a month ago, he was a yamen runner, but now he is an official.
Before he could say goodbye, the guard at the door shouted, "Jingjiang County Magistrate You Da wants to see you."
(End of this chapter)