Daye twelve years, August 5, Poyang Pier.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. The Song siblings, accompanied by Kuo Zhong, traveled around the mountains and rivers every day. Sometimes, they would spar with each other. They were very happy.
However, the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching. It would be inappropriate for them to stay any longer, so Song Shidao asked Kuo Zhong to resign.
"Brother Song, Yuzhi."
"I've already ordered people to prepare a fast boat to travel south along the Gan River. We'll reach Nankang County City in less than seven days.”
"In addition, five hundred guards will escort the gold and silver and await Brother Song's orders.”
Kuo Zhong said with a burning gaze.
Yesterday, the marshal had already made a deal with Song Shidao. One million taels of silver would be used to purchase large quantities of mulberry wood, Chinese Fir, and leather.
The Lingnan area occupied by the Song Dynasty included Xiping, Shi 'an, Yi' an, Longchuan, Nanhai, Cangwu, Yongping, Yulin, Yongxi, Gaoliang, Hepu, Ningyue, Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen, Rinan, Qier, Zhuya and Linzhen. The area roughly covered the later Guangxi, Guangdong, Qiong and northern Annan.
The climate was warm, the terrain was complex, the vegetation was lush, and the development level was relatively low. It had a large number of precious minerals and wood resources.
At present, the sudden emergence of the marshal's army had caused many dukes to be deeply apprehensive, and even their external purchases had been hindered. If they could cooperate with the Song clan, the things of the Eighteen Lingnan Prefectures could completely travel north along the Gan River from Nankang County City to Peng Lizhe in less than twenty days.
This was also the reason why Kuo Zhong wanted to befriend the Song siblings.
"Don't worry, Brother Kou!"
"I'll immediately go back and order people to prepare the goods.”
Song Shidao nodded solemnly.
"I'm leaving!"
Song Yuzhi looked at Kuo Zhong with some reluctance before turning around and leaving.
She had been more relaxed with Kuo Zhong these days than she had ever been before. She had received unprecedented respect from him. It was a concept of equality that was inconsistent with the current mainstream thinking, and it was also a humorous conversation from later generations.
It had to be said that the image of Li Shimin that was engraved in Song Yuzhi's heart had been replaced by Kuo Zhong.
"Major."
"This is urgent news from the Baling Thousand Households.”
As Kuo Zhong watched the Song brothers leave, Fu Junhao rode his horse to his side and handed him a letter.
Kuo Zhong opened it and his expression changed. He said in a deep voice,""Inform Young Master Ling, County Chief Bu, Supervisor Chen, and Ba Fu to gather.”
"Yes."
The few cavalrymen in embroidered clothes following Kuo Zhong immediately left.
......
An hour later.
Ba Mansion, Main Hall.
Yun Yuzhen had already arranged for the maidservants to place the brewed tea on the table, while the Brocade Guard stood guard outside the main hall.
Xu Zhiling, Bu Tianzhi, and Chen Laomou sat in the hall with solemn expressions. The Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, Fu Junhao, sat with them.
"The Brocade Guard's Baling Thousand Households Agency has just sent news that there's a change in the Baling Gang.”
"Baling Sect Master Lu Kangshou was assassinated and is dead.”
"Baling Gang's third in charge, Xiang Gui, supports Xiao Xi's ascension and has already taken control of the entire Baling Gang.”
Looking around at the crowd, Kuo Zhong said this expressionlessly.
What was that?
Hearing this.
Everyone's expression changed.
The Baling Gang was the second-in-command of the eight gangs and ten guilds. They had a huge influence, with 300 gambling dens and 200 brothels. They had a rich intelligence network and had always been engaged in the despicable acts of human trafficking. They had a large amount of personal gain and were very rich.
The gang had more than 200,000 members, all over Hunan and Chu. The 800-mile Dongting Lake had the tendency to become the inner lake of the Baling Gang.
If Lu Kangshou was the sect leader, with his unambitious and indulgent personality, he naturally wouldn't pose any threat to the marshal's army.
But now that Xiao Xi was in charge, the situation would be different.
Xiao Xi was the descendant of Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan. People called him the grandson of the Jade Face Emperor. He was also the county magistrate of Luochuan in the Great Sui Dynasty.
The Xiao family of Nanliang had a complicated influence in Jingchu. Jiangling of South County was once the second largest city in the south, second only to Jiankang. It had also built the capital of Xiliang for the Xiao family. If Xiao Xi integrated the power of Baling Gang, Baling County, Mianyang County, and South County would be connected together, and the middle of the river would be blocked.
In this way, it would be a dream for the marshal's army to go with the flow and seize Ba Shu.
Furthermore, South County alone had 60,000 households and 300,000 residents. Baling County had 10,000 households and Mianyang County had 45,000 households. That was 600,000 residents.
In comparison, the seven counties of Yuzhang had a total population of 80,000 households, which was about 400,000 people.
"Major!"
"How could a Zongshi realm intermediate stage Lu Kangshou be assassinated so easily?”
Bu Tianzhi stroked his long beard and asked a question.
To be able to sit on the position of the Baling Sect's Sect Master, one must first have outstanding martial arts skills. In order to kill Lu Kangshou, who was in the middle Zongshi realm, one must be at least a master in the late Zongshi realm.
Not only him, Xu Zhiling and Old Mou Chen were also filled with confusion.
"The assassin was the shadow assassin Yang Xuyan.”
"He's the direct disciple of Evil King Shi Zhixuan, the only successor of the Heaven's Repairing Dao.”
"Not only does Yang Xuyan know the 'Phantom Body Movement', he also knows the' Immortal Pressing Art'.”
Kuo Zhong said lightly.
"Whoa!"
Hearing this, everyone present revealed shocked expressions.
Shadow Assassin Yang Xuyan had actually mastered Evil King Shi Zhixuan's unique secret skill. This talent and strength were probably at the top of the younger generation.
Other than the two dragons, there were few people in the world who could match them. No wonder they could succeed in assassinating them.
In fact.
Not only was Yang Xuyan Shi Zhixuan's disciple, but he was also the bloodline of the Great Sui's Crown Prince, Yang Yong. He was also the atom of the Bright Revered Sect.
He was extremely talented and created the " Black Hand Demonic Technique " by combining the " Immortal Pressing Art " and the " Wisdom Scripture of Controlling the Origin of All Laws ".
In the original novel, Yang Xuyan's martial arts and resourcefulness were on par with Kuo Zhong and Xu Zhiling. It took Shuang Long, Ba Fenghan, and Hou Xibai to kill him.
"Young Master Zhong!"
"We can't just watch Xiao Xi stand firm and cut off the river.”
Xu Zhiling suddenly opened his mouth and attracted everyone's attention.
"Young Master Ling."
"What do you think?"
Kuo Zhong looked at Xu Zhiling and asked.
During this period of time, apart from studying martial arts and battle techniques, Xu Zhiling had also mastered Chen Zhibao's book of war from the world in the snow. He had a clearer understanding of the situation in the world and had completely changed.
Without any hesitation, Xu Zhiling immediately added,"The first to strike is the strongest, and the second to strike is the worst.”
"We should change our strategy and go up the river. We should seize Jiangxia County as fast as lightning.”
"Jiangxia Prefecture is not only adjacent to Mianyang, but it is also the connection between the Han River and the Great River.”
"After controlling Jiangxia, our army will be able to look down from above and suppress the Baling Gang. We can also go north from the Han River to Guanzhong.”
"Good plan!"
Bu Tianzhi and Chen Laomou echoed in praise.
After the Marshal's army destroyed Poyang Sect, they had more than two thousand ships, enough to accommodate a hundred thousand soldiers.
Whether it was going down the river or going up the river, their mobility was far superior to any feudal vassal in the world.
If they were to seize Jiangxia County with lightning speed, they would definitely be successful. Moreover, Jiangxia County had seven counties under its jurisdiction and had 100,000 people. The terrain was flat and the soil was fertile. It had always been an important grain-producing county and was enough to support the Young Marshal Army to gain a firm foothold here.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。