nucmednet Chapter 119: The prosperity is in ruins
Chapter 119: The prosperity is in ruins
"The others go first, we'll wait for a while and let him in," Du Chenyu stood in front of me and watched the communicator run to me.
"Report, Captain Hu arrived at Zhenziba at 3 o'clock last night and launched a surprise attack overnight. At the beginning, the other side was almost unprepared. We raided all the way and directly surrounded more than joint defense members in the camp. Then Captain Hu arranged for me to come back and report the news. If nothing unexpected happens, the Zhenziba area has been taken now," the communicator said and fell to the ground tiredly. "Good, very good, Brother Hu did a great job. Let this brother go down and rest, and we will continue to set off," Du Chenyu ordered.
In winter, the river surface was covered with white fog, the ground was covered with a layer of white frost, and the cold wind was biting. Du Chenyu was sitting in a larger boat with a sunshade tarpaulin that could accommodate nearly 20 people. Surrounding it were some fishing boats, swallowtail boats, and sheepskin rafts with sailors sitting on them, floating down against the cold wind.
In order to speed up, half of the people on the boat were equipped with a small bamboo pole. As Jiang Zhong used a long bamboo pole to push the boat away from the dock at the stern, the team members on both sides paddled hard in the water. The boat quickly left the shore and quickly moved away along the center line of the Qinghua River. The stern of the boat was dragging long water waves, like a white ribbon floating at the stern.
The waterway is 50 miles long, with a speed of more than 20 kilometers per hour. There are two rapids and dangerous shoals on the road that large ships cannot pass through. Due to the fast-flowing water, heavy ships cannot pass through. Therefore, most people can only get off the boat at the shore and climb over from the foot of the rock wall. Only a few people are left to control the boat and row down the rapids. It was not until 10 o'clock that they arrived at the Zhenziba area.
"Report, the First Battalion has completed the control of the Zhenziba block, but the nearby areas are still occupied and the resistance should not be underestimated. We dispatched 4 squadrons for this operation, with 6 casualties and several injured. We captured 216 militiamen, killed 38 people, and seized 176 guns of various types. The report is completed, please give instructions." Hu Laosi ran to the river to report.
"How many ships have you collected?" Du Chenyu asked.
"Currently, we have collected only 24 ships of various sizes, which can carry about 200 people," replied Hu Laosi.
"Leave Wu Xu's 10th Squadron to defend Zhenziba Street. If they encounter a strong attack, they can retreat without fighting. The remaining 4th and 11th Squadrons will take the boat, and the 1st Squadron will join the reconnaissance team to walk to Enyang. Make the handover as soon as possible and then set off." Without too much delay, after giving the instructions, they continued to sail downstream, gradually entering a wider river and speeding up. However, they still encountered insufficient water in Yanzigou and had to get off the boat and push it.
After 11 o'clock, they boarded the boat at Zengjiaba and immediately rushed to Enyang Street. Enyang Town is a major material distribution center in northern Sichuan, an important water and land wharf, and has a very developed business. It is divided into Enyang River Old Market, New Market, and Huilong Market. The three markets are parallel and face the river. The population is relatively dense. It is said that more than a thousand merchants travel to Enyang River for purchase and sale during the market hours, and hundreds of wooden boats dock at the wharf. There are countless porters and sliders of all kinds. The transportation is busy, from Zhengzhi, Mumen, Houba to Quxian, Nanchong, Hechuan, and Chongqing. The population of the neighborhood is not 8000, but 50. There are hundreds of businesses. The largest Yuji brand employs more than shop assistants. There are dozens of salt shops, teahouses, and warehouses (hotels) in the town.
There is a folk song saying:
"The Tongjiang River and the Nanjiang River are neither as fun as the Enyang River."
Yiyang Mountain three packages three turns,
Jinluan Palace of Wenchang Pavilion.
Twenty-four salt shops on Huilong Street,
The meat is hung on both sides of Houjiezi.
Umbrella Street is filled with dry goods umbrellas.
The Yuwang Palace sells thread-type local cigarettes.
Banbian Street specializes in selling onions and garlic.
There are thousands of homespun cloths in Jishenlou.
Qifeng Bridge chicken, duck and rabbit eggs,
Bamboo and fruits are placed on each side of the river dam.
On the main street, there are mats, cups, plates, bowls, and cups.
Xiazheng Street paper goods are very beautiful
Xinzheng Street’s silks are brightly colored.
Candies from Hekan are transported and sold to several counties.
Put aside the domestic products on Tongshi Street.
The Wangye Temple is filled with grain.
There are baskets of goods on the back of the ginger market.
You can choose between turtle, pigeon and cat.
Firewood and straw are piled up like mountains in Hengjiezi.
Fish Market Street sells specialties from the Ba River.
Yellow locust trees, cows, and straw sandals are piled up one after another.
The Zaojiaoshu Department Store has a complete range of products.
The lower railing is filled with walnuts and peanuts.
There are jars on the upper railing.
A workshop for grinding rice and flour was opened in Qijia Lane.
There are iron goods stalls everywhere in the land temple.
There are strings of baking cages on the river dam, and sticks are thrashing around in Xinchang Street.
The bull market is full of people,
Tea houses and restaurants are scattered all over the town.
When Du's army crossed the Qifeng Bridge, they saw a different scene. The street was deserted, with white flags hanging high everywhere and people in mourning. A gust of north wind blew, blowing up paper money on the ground and making it fly in the air. Several houses near the street were burned to ashes. A middle-aged woman with three children knelt on the roadside, burning paper money, "Oh... you damn bandit, master, you left like this, leaving us orphans and widows. What should we do? Wuuu... Wuuu... What should we do?" "Daddy... Wuuu..." they cried.
The streets were littered with broken furniture and door panels, and were deserted. Several shops were open, and the shops were damaged by the earthquake. Tables and chairs were lying on the ground in a mess, and the shelves were tilted in the middle. "Stop... Stop... We will shoot if you keep running, stop... bang... bang..." A skinny young man, wearing a tattered cotton jacket, was being chased by three bandits wearing flowered hats. At the turn, the bandits fired two shots, and the young man fell to the ground instantly.
"Divide the troops into three groups. First, clear out the bandits who are still committing crimes inside the streets. Don't show mercy, execute them on the spot." Du Chenyu couldn't stand it anymore when he saw this scene. Zheng Qi was labeled a bandit just because he didn't indulge his men in lewd women, and many people supported him. There was no justice in the world.
Lei Jianqin was quick and knocked down several bandits in an instant, rescued the young man, and helped bandage the gunshot wound in the thigh. "Don't be afraid, little brother. We are the city defense brigade and we won't hurt you," Lei Jianqin comforted the young man who was shaking with fear.
"I...I...I have no money, please don't kill me." He still hadn't come to his senses, and kept shouting as if he had been scared out of his wits.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. We are specialized in killing bandits. Why would they chase you?" Du Chenyu touched his hand.
Probably because Du Chenyu looked like a child, he looked kinder and he gradually came to his senses.
"My dad was captured by them. I hid in the cellar inside the house and only came out today. Then I saw the bandits. I was scared and turned around and ran, but they beat me. Ouch..." Only then did he remember that he had been shot in the thigh and began to groan.