The Red Mansions

Chapter 139 Tentative Offensive

February [-]th, morning.

All inspections, government servants, and helpers in Cixi County were dispatched to the gates of the city, all main roads outside the city, and rural entrances and exits, and strictly checked the identities of those entering and exiting.

The people from the Patrol Battalion took over the city defense early in the morning.

The bazaar that will be held every two days has also issued a notice a few days ago, and it is temporarily cancelled. When will it reopen, we are waiting for the government to issue a notice.

The head of the square, the head of the chamber, and the elderly in the city, the head of the city, the head of the village, Li Xu, the village head, the head of the gentry and the patriarch, etc. outside the city, all went to the front line to maintain social order and stability, and mobilized the able-bodied to serve as logistics personnel.

When the people of Cixi learned that the pirates might come to attack them, they didn't dare to neglect, and formed a group under the government organization to build fortifications.

Although Cixi has not been really attacked by pirates until now, Shaoxing and Ningbo, which are not far away, have been burned, killed and looted by pirates, and the people have changed their colors when they heard about it.

The entire Cixi City was in turmoil because of Jia Yun's order. After the initial chaos, it soon stabilized.

When it was almost noon, the county government office received the report document sent by Xia Baichuan.

"Issuing a letter in the name of the official, let him stay at the post station outside the city for a few days, and wait for the county government to notify you when he will officially take up the post!" Jia Yun ordered the official directly without thinking about it.

In the station outside the city, in the wing room.

Xia Baichuan glanced at the official document after receiving it, and then handed it to Liu Yongan who was sitting opposite him with a blank expression.

Liu Yongan took a look and frowned.

"That young magistrate is so cautious?" Liu Yongan was very puzzled.

Xia Baichuan gave him a sideways look, and said: "I advised you not to arrange a surprise attack on Cixi on the day of the county examination. Anyone with a little brain can figure out that I don't follow the rules and want to take office on this day, there must be something strange .”

He pointed to the door and said angrily: "Look now, the streets and alleys are full of government inspectors and yamen servants. The hundreds of Japanese pirates you have arranged in the countryside are waiting to be encircled and suppressed if they dare to show their heads!"

"I was hurt by you. Judging from Jiazhi County's actions, he clearly suspected that I had colluded with pirates!"

"Hey, I waited for three years for the test, not to mention being disturbed by the family, and there is a great possibility of being stigmatized as a pirate, my life is over!"

Liu Yong'an smiled and said, "Don't be angry, a wise man will make mistakes if he thinks about it. I also thought that young man was simple."

"To tell you the truth, if you hadn't reminded me, I would have almost forgotten that I have met the county magistrate several times!"

"Tsk tsk, I can't imagine that a shopkeeper has changed suddenly. He has become a county magistrate. The world is really impermanent. The changes are too great..."

Years ago in the Cixi Guild Hall, he really didn't recognize Jia Yunlai, mainly because when he met Jia Yun earlier, Jia Yun's status was too humble and inconspicuous, not worthy of his attention.

After laughing, Liu Yong'an saw Xia Baichuan's brows were tightly frowned, and said in relief: "Don't worry, I am determined to take the life of Nazhi County this time."

"Just the day before yesterday, our people had landed in Shangyu, and the main force went straight to Hangzhou, Jinling and other places! Try to rescue the leader as quickly as possible, and then we can free up manpower, return to Cixi, and revenge!"

"As long as that young magistrate is killed, won't the entire Cixi County be covered by your county magistrate?"

"At that time, we will kill some civilians, shave their heads and pretend to be Japanese pirates, and you can use it as a reward, and you can be promoted to the magistrate if you don't keep it..."

Xia Baichuan sneered and said, "I don't know what to say, you are so easy to get promoted when you are a county magistrate?"

"Jia Yun was able to be promoted to the county magistrate in the first place because he saved the lives of countless officials. Speaking of which, it was the opportunity you created for him to make meritorious service!"

Hearing this, Liu Yongan slapped it hard on the table, his face was cold, and he gritted his teeth and said:

"That's why Jia Yun has to die. Last year, he not only spoiled our good deeds, but killed many brothers in the gang, and even the second and fourth leaders were murdered. Can we not report this Qiu An?"

Xia Baichuan shook his head and sighed, he really didn't want to deal with this Liu Yongan, he felt that Liu Yongan was arrogant and not enough to make things happen.

But he was born in the Xia family in Jiangxi, and he is a collateral child of the Xia family. If he wants to get the support of the family in his official career, he must listen to the family's arrangements, which is really helpless.

Xia Baichuan sat silently, allowing Liu Yongan to be impotent and furious, and only after he calmed down did he ask:

"I heard that Jia Yun is highly skilled in martial arts. Don't blame me for not reminding you. It may be difficult for your few hundred Japanese pirates to break into Cixi City."

Liu Yong'an nodded, and said, "I really missed it. I thought I could take advantage of the opportunity of your appointment and the convenience of the city gate being wide open, and go straight in. Unexpectedly, Jia Yun saw something strange."

"Nowadays, the entrances and exits of Cixi are strictly controlled, and those Japanese pirates are stopped in the countryside. Unless they attack hard, it will be really difficult!"

After thinking for a while, he sighed and said, "Well, after all, time is too tight. Some time ago, I sent people everywhere to praise Jia Yun's new patrol camp, which has attracted the attention of many big shots."

"If we had acted earlier and caused chaos in all parts of Zhejiang earlier, maybe he would have been transferred by his superiors to support him, and this would have given us an opportunity to take advantage of!"

In fact, the main reason why they were in such a hurry to make trouble was that they had heard reliable news that Diao Wenjun, the leader of the Black Shark Gang, would be sent to the capital for trial in the near future.

Once Diao Wenjun enters the capital, there is 100% no hope of survival.

As for robbing Diao Wenjun on his way to Beijing, it was also very difficult. I heard that people from Jin Yiwei were in charge of escorting him.

Although Jin Yiwei's reputation is not good, his combat strength is not ordinary.

The key is that their intelligence has always been accurate, and if there is any disturbance, they may be detected in advance, and if they go to rob the road, they will crash into the big net they weave.

Therefore, Liu Yongan and other members of the Black Shark Gang decided to act hastily after discussion.

Send people to make trouble in Zhejiang to attract the attention of the government, while the main force goes straight to Jinling, so the possibility of rescuing Diao Wenjun is even greater.

As for the attack on Cixi, it was entirely done by the Black Shark Gang in order to wash away the shame of defeating Ningbo last year.

Xia Baichuan said: "Now it is impossible for you to expect your superiors to transfer Jia Yun away."

"Cixi will hold the county examination tomorrow. This is the most important thing in the local area every year. No one is so ignorant of the rules and proposes to transfer Jia Yun at this time."

Liu Yong'an thought for a while, and pondered: "It seems that there is only one way to attack by force, so tonight, I will order those Japanese pirates to attack Guanhaiwei, and use these Japanese to test how good Cixi's defense is!"

"If Guanhaiwei is strong enough to resist, then we can only wait for the rescuers to come back, and then join forces to attack Cixi. If Guanhaiwei can attack, then it will be easy..."

evening.

Jia Yun received an urgent official document from Hangzhou and Ningbo, which said that just today, several counties in Zhejiang were attacked by Japanese pirates at the same time, causing heavy losses.

These Japanese pirates engaged in guerrilla tactics, roaming around, killing and robbing. The defenders of the cities did not know their specific combat routes, so they could not formulate targeted plans for encirclement, pursuit and interception, and could only passively defend.

What makes people speechless is that until now, it is still uncertain how many Japanese pirates there are in Zhejiang. The enemy's situation is unknown, so the defenders can only hide in the city, let alone go out to encircle and suppress.

Regarding this situation, Jia Yun was very light-hearted and didn't know what to do, so she could only take care of herself first.

On the city wall, Jia Yun leaned on the female wall and looked at the somewhat hazy night illuminated by the moonlight.

The night wind was blowing, very softly, bringing a little bit of coldness.

At this time, inspector Luo Zhijian came to report on horseback, saying that Guanhaiwei was suddenly attacked by Japanese pirates.

"Hundreds of Japanese pirates suddenly appeared in the evening and stormed Guanhaiwei several times, but they failed to break in." Luo Zhijian reported.

"Later, Japanese pirates seized Woling from Barracks Mountain and landed on the shore. Guanhaiwei Commander Qin Mingzhong led his troops to fight in the barracks mountain and Dongshantou area. They fought against the enemy and resisted the enemy outside the city.

Jia Yun said unexpectedly: "There are really only a few hundred Japanese pirates?"

"The answer is yes, the subordinates dare not be negligent in the slightest. Before returning, they went to the front line to confirm that there are no more than 300 Japanese pirates at most!" Luo Zhijian said.

Jia Yun pondered and asked, "Can Commander Qin still persist?"

Luo Zhijian said: "My lord Qin asked the subordinate officials to give me a message, saying that fortunately, my lord urged him to step up his training a few days ago, so that he can effectively resist the invasion of Japanese pirates. He is 100% sure to resist the invasion of hundreds of Japanese pirates."

After hesitating for a moment, Luo Zhijian reminded in a low voice: "My lord, I went to see those Japanese pirates in person. They are all elites. Although one can't be used against a hundred, one can be used against five. We can't take it lightly!"

Jia Yun glanced at him and confirmed, "I see clearly, are they real Japanese pirates?"

"It's a real Japanese, and it will never go wrong!" Luo Zhijian affirmed.

Jia Yun frowned, secretly thought that the pirate had hooked up with the Japanese pirates, and maybe there would be a big move.

So he told Luo Zhijian: "Go back to Guanhaiwei, and advise Commander Qin to take it easy, don't love to fight, and don't chase after it. The Japanese pirates stormed Guanhaiwei, and the element of testing the truth is more important."

After Luo Zhijian was dealt with by Jia Yun several times, not only did he not alienate him, but he showed signs of taking the initiative to seek refuge with Jia Yun.

For this kind of situation, Jia Yun would not push him out of the door, so she called him more recently.

Luo Zhijian was also happy. After all, his superiors valued him so they would use him. If he really wanted to ignore him, that would be the most troublesome.

After receiving Jia Yun's order, Luo Zhijian immediately took people back to Guanhaiwei.

Jia Wenlin looked at the back of Luo Zhijian's leaving, and asked in confusion, "Master, this man looks like an idiot, don't worry?"

Jia Yun said with a smile: "Use it no matter what you don't mind, we must be cautious about everything, but we can't always be suspicious, otherwise we should stop doing things."

Jia Wenlin nodded half-understood, and then asked: "Then will our scouts be released?"

"Let it go, why don't you let it go?" Jia Yun rolled his eyes at him and said, "I said just now that you should be cautious in doing things, but your ears are blown?"

Jia Wenlin: "..."

(End of this chapter)