35
"Brother Mingde, please stay here for the next few days. It's a small place, and I don't know if you can get used to it." Cheng Xi took Lu Jian down to the cabin and pointed out the place to live.
Because they were on the Lin family's ship, there were only four livable rooms in the cabin, and each one was so small that someone as tall as Lu Jian couldn't even straighten his back.
Lu Jian laughed and said, "Brother, you're underestimating me. When I was in Jiaozhi, I even slept on a grasshopper boat. It was common for me to follow a merchant caravan for more than ten days. I don't have anything to complain about as long as I have a room to live in."
Cheng Xi raised her eyebrows, really confused by his luxurious appearance.
Well, for someone who left home to work at the age of fifteen, what kind of hardship can he not endure?
Since he wasn't picky about where to stay, Cheng Xi changed the subject: "I live next door, so just call me if you need anything. Don't worry about the journey, we'll be near Luoling Island in about seven days, so there won't be any delays in landing. You can tell me what you want to eat in advance, and I'll have someone prepare it."
This really makes one feel at home. Lu Jian sighed and laughed, "These are all trivial matters. Go and take care of yourself, my dear brother. Don't worry about me."
After all, they were going out to sea, and as the leader of the Red Flag Gang, how could Cheng Xi have time to spare? After all, he had been on a boat before, so there was no need to trouble him with these trivial matters.
Cheng Xi didn't bother to be polite with him: "Okay, I'll go arrange the training first. If you get bored in the cabin, you can go up to the deck for a walk."
Although the tactics have been roughly arranged, both harassment and siege warfare still need to be carefully planned, and ways to deal with different situations must be figured out.
She had to do all these things herself, and she also had to keep an eye on the fleet to see if Sun Erlang could command the flagship well. With so many things waiting for her, she had no time to entertain guests.
After giving a few more instructions, Cheng Xi left the cabin. Lu Jian ordered someone to tidy up the room a bit, then called Lu Sanding in for questioning.
"What do you think of this fleet?" Although he intended to open up a sea route, Lu Jian didn't know much about the fleet and had not been on a ship many times, so he naturally wanted to listen to his subordinates' opinions.
"Master, is this fleet really newly established? It doesn't look like it!" Lu Sanding, who had been holding back a lot of words, quickly replied, "I see that everyone on board is well-trained and has a clear division of labor. There's no messy atmosphere like on ordinary fishing boats. There's even a place at the stern where bamboo spears, swords, shields, and other items are stored. They're obviously used to it, and I'm afraid these crew members are also capable of fighting. That's not all. Each ship also has flag bearers and drummers, and from time to time you can see people on the big ship waving flags to send messages. There's also a small platform on the mast of that big ship, similar to a watchtower, which should be used for early warning. This method is not something that ordinary people can use!"
Lu Sanding was just a leader of a family army and had no experience in leading a large army, but he also knew the importance of communication when fighting.
To be able to come up with a drill method and have several ships learn it, what kind of ability is this? If he said that a ship gang with many years of experience could do this, he would still believe it.
But it is surprising that a newly established fleet can do this.
After listening to Lu Sanding's detailed explanation, Lu Jian nodded slowly: "A strong army must have famous generals. I'm afraid that Gang Leader Cheng is even more powerful than you and I imagined. During this period, you must obey his orders and must not act rashly. Also..." He paused before continuing, "When you return, check whether General Qiu has any nephews or nephews who have escaped."
The previous contest made Lu Jian certain of one thing: Cheng Xi came from a military family.
Grace and temperament may deceive others, but the skills cannot be faked.
That kind of acrobatic technique that could kill an enemy with one strike would be a secret in any family, a skill that could be used to kill enemies and gain merit on the battlefield. The flag signals and drums mentioned by Lu Sanding were commonly used in military formations.
Only a family of generals who have led the army for generations can raise such a talented young man.
He was born into a family of generals, was good at naval warfare, skilled in the use of troops, quick-witted, brave and resourceful. Why would such a man end up at sea and become the owner of a ship gang?
Lu Sanding's eyes widened: "Master, are you saying..."
Lu Jian's expression was calm: "Maybe I guessed wrong."
General Qiu's entire family was wiped out. If he truly had a remarkable nephew, how could he have been allowed to escape? Furthermore, that man's temperament was somewhat inconsistent. What young man with such a deep blood feud would be so carefree?
Lu Sanding hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "But if I guessed right, then he's a wanted criminal of the imperial court..."
Lu Jian laughed out loud: "What do you think we are doing now?"
Lu Sanding was stunned for a moment, then suddenly lowered his head in shame.
They established a transnational grain route, and now they're colluding with two bandits, aiming to dominate the region and control the sea routes. In front of the emperor, what's the difference between them and the imperial prisoners? General Qiu died unjustly, after all, but they really don't complain even if they're hanged!
Lu Jian waved his hand and said, "Just investigate, don't make it public. Whether it's true or not, Gang Leader Cheng is our ally and someone we must win over. We must not treat him lightly."
Of course, if Cheng Xi really has something to do with General Qiu, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for him.
The identity of General Zhenhai was too special, and he was feared by the imperial court and hated by pirates.
If word got out, even the Red Flag Gang might face a crisis of survival. This was a weak spot, but also a rope that could tie up the majestic dragon horse and allow him to drive it away.
After all, drifting on the sea, one needs a backer, right? Lu Jian's lips curled slightly, revealing a smile.
…
There was no cargo in the cabin, so even if there were a dozen people standing there and a large table was set up, it didn't feel crowded.
However, what was placed on the big table was not wine, meat or food, but a sand island with a few small flags on it.
"This is the last review before the war. Anyone who has any objections must raise them immediately. If there are no problems, we will proceed according to the plan." Cheng Xi said solemnly while standing in front of the sand table.
After six days of sailing, the fleet arrived at the designated sea area. Sun Erlang had just received an order to return with the flagship and the remaining ships.
They have to prepare to turn around, and if nothing goes wrong, they will arrive at Luoling Island tomorrow morning.
The time was neither too early nor too late, the full moon on the fifteenth day of the lunar month, which was the scheduled time. Therefore, this pre-war meeting was extremely important.
No matter how novel a sand table is, it will lose its novelty after a few days. Everyone agreed in unison, waiting for the leader's orders.
Cheng Xi glanced at everyone and returned his gaze to the sand table. "Luoling Island's main fortifications are built at the harbor. Outsiders like us will most likely dock there. Master Lu will use the excuse of transporting wine as an excuse to have the ships anchor as far forward as possible, but the enemy will likely be heavily guarded. The island's defenses and sentries are unknown, and the enemy's number can only be roughly estimated. Therefore, we can't focus on attacking the enemy, but rather on disrupting them."
This was also the core tactic of this war. None of them had ever been to Luoling Island, and all the information on the sand table was obtained from the Lu family.
However, it is hard to say how accurate the word-of-mouth tradition is. Considering the complexity of the pirate camp, siege warfare is basically not considered. Tactics need to be more flexible and focus on disturbing the enemy.
"Aniu, you lead the team to stay at the dock. If our ship is isolated, use wine to bribe the guards, take advantage of their carelessness, lead people to approach the gathering place of the pirate ships from underwater, use kerosene to set the ships on fire, and cause a commotion at the dock. If our ship is not isolated, directly hold a banquet to entertain the thieves, and when they are drunk, form a formation to break out. All spearmen must carry kerosene cans, try to expand the fire, and plunge the dock into chaos." Cheng Xi ordered.
Having heard these arrangements countless times, Li Niu nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, Gang Leader, we have practiced the formation thoroughly and will not make any mistakes."
This time they used a new formation. Although it was a land-based battle method, it wasn't much different from the ship-based methods. Therefore, it only took a few days for everyone to become familiar with it and no longer feel intimidated.
Cheng Xi gave another warning: "Remember, your goal is not to attack, but to cause chaos. Everyone should shout phrases like 'The Qingfeng Gang is attacking' or 'The boss has escaped on the boat'. You must disrupt the morale of the troops. If you can get the bandits to rush aboard and escape, that would be even better."
This is also the biggest advantage of taking action at the dock. Pirates rarely have the determination to fight to the death, and changing with the wind is their way to save their lives.
If the dock becomes chaotic, there will be a lot of thieves who take advantage of the chaos to escape by boat.
After saying that, Cheng Xi turned to Lin Meng and said, "Mengzi, bring ten people with us ashore and pretend to be soldiers from the Lu Mansion. When the dock becomes noisy, follow my instructions."
Lin Meng immediately responded: "I will follow the leader's orders!"
After instructing his men, Cheng Xi turned to Lu Jian and said, "Brother Mingde, are you sure the bandits won't stop the guards when we get ashore?"
Lu Jian said in a deep voice, "They dare not stop me. I have already entered the dangerous area. If I am not allowed to bring guards, the negotiations may fail. Even if it is to lure the enemy, they will let me lead the troops ashore first. After all, the enemy is numerous and we are few. Only twenty people are not a big deal."
This was also what they had agreed on: to bring ten Lu family soldiers and ten Red Flag Gang crew members, a total of twenty people to form a guard. This number was neither too many nor too few, and it would not pose a threat to the pirates, but would also stabilize Lu Jian, the visitor, and there was a high probability that he would be able to pass.
Cheng Xi pressed on: "What about when we enter the tent? Will there be a body search?"
This time, Lu Jian pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "It's not the main military tent, so it probably won't be that demanding. I just guess we can't bring too many people in."
"That's good." Cheng Xi nodded. "Brother Mingde, please bring your sword and shield me. If there's any danger in the tent, we'll have a way to deal with it."
The master already carries a sword, so who would care if a servant carries a weapon? By then, everyone's attention will be drawn to Lu Jian, and it will be easier for her to act.
Lu Sanding immediately became alert upon hearing this: "Didn't we say we would wait until midnight to take action after everyone falls asleep? How could something go wrong in the big tent?"
"No one can be sure what will happen then, so we naturally have to take more precautions." Cheng Xi said frankly.
This made Lu Sanding speechless, but Lu Jian smiled and said: "Although I don't have much martial arts skills, I can still swing a sword a few times. I'll do as you say."
This was exactly the attitude Cheng Xi needed. She continued, "Although we've agreed on a time to attack with the Qingfeng Gang, we still don't know when they'll arrive or from which direction. What we need to do is create a commotion and muddy the waters. If we can take advantage of this situation to stir up trouble, we can kill the bandit leader and seize Luoling Island directly. If we can't, we'll protect Master Lu and ensure we escape unscathed. Therefore, everyone on the island must obey my command and not act rashly."
This kind of tactical planning is actually almost the same as having nothing.
Back then, Cheng Xi, the team leader, would have been punished. But in this age of cold weapons, communications, enemy reconnaissance, and firepower support were all out of reach, so the only option was to perform well on the battlefield.
Cheng Xi relied on the forty crew members on board who had been trained by her and were already able to use simple formations. If it were only the Lu family, she would have a headache.
However, these extremely simple tactics, in the eyes of everyone, are no different from the legendary "Art of War". Even Lu Jian himself has to praise Cheng Xi's ability of "temple calculation".
Everyone understood their responsibilities and began to move. Most of the crew members removed their leather armor and changed into worn clothes. Lin Meng's men changed into the attire of Lu Mansion soldiers. Large jars of wine were brought to the deck, ready to be unloaded upon reaching shore.
Even Lu Jian himself changed his clothes and carried a sword.
He already looked like a nobleman, and now with a sword on his back, he didn't look sharp, but rather more free and easy, with a bit of the demeanor of a celebrity.
Standing next to this flower stand, Cheng Xi, dressed as a servant in blue clothes, became even more inconspicuous.
Lu Jian looked at Cheng Xi with some surprise: "How come Dalang changed his clothes and even his appearance?"
Then he saw that his phoenix eyes and sword-like eyebrows turned into drooping eyes and s-shaped eyebrows, and his original appearance was instantly reduced by 80%. Add to that his slightly hunched back and slightly dark skin color, and he looked like a humble and obedient servant, as if he had become a completely different person!
Cheng Xi smiled slightly: "Master, you are joking. Isn't this what I look like?"
So you've already gotten into the role? That sly smile made Lu Jian laugh too: "Then it's not appropriate to call him Da Lang. How about calling him Ah Cheng?"
"But the Cheng in Qiancheng? Thank you very much, master." Cheng Xi bent down, and his thin figure, which was originally made to look smaller by the loose clothes, suddenly became a few inches shorter.
Lu Jian burst into laughter when he heard this.
Amidst laughter, the two ships set sail again and headed towards the island where the pirates were entrenched.
This life is unbearable!
Sitting alone in the room, Wang Luer felt restless and his head and eyes were throbbing with pain.
The current situation on the island is really depressing. The boss is timid, the second in command is shouting for war and killing, and he, the third in command, is really caught in the middle and is neither a human being nor a villain.
However, the threat from the Qingfeng Gang is right in front of us, and just sitting there doing nothing is not a good idea. I can only hope that this secret talk will be of some use.
Just as he was feeling worried, someone suddenly came in and reported, "Captain Wang, the Lu family's ship has arrived!"
Wang Lu'er stood up in a flash, collected himself, and said in a deep voice, "I'll go take a look!"
As one of the leaders, he certainly knew that it was the Jiangdong Lu family who gave them the boats and money to allow them to gain a foothold on Luoling Island, and he also knew what the third young master wanted to do.
But if the enemy is too powerful, he can call in the Qingfeng Gang! Now that the person has arrived, he must meet him first.
Anyway, the second brother has been sent out, and now there are only him and the eldest brother on the island, so any problems can be handled privately.
When I hurried to the port with my men, I saw two ships slowly approaching.
After all, not many people knew that the Lu family came to the island, and Wang Luer did not dare to stop the boat in a conspicuous place. He specially found a remote area. However, because the location he chose was too remote, there was not even a dock. The boat had to be docked far away, and a small boat had to be sent from the shore to pick it up.
Of course, although this is troublesome, it is still quite safe. If Mr. Lu has any backup plan, he probably won’t be able to use it.
Wang Lu'er, feeling confident he had done his job well, waited for the boat to return with his hands behind his back. Unexpectedly, when the boat arrived, several burly men jumped out. The leader immediately said, "My master wants to bring some things down. Please send a few more boats."
Wang Lu'er's brows immediately furrowed. "The island is fully stocked. Why is Mr. Lu going to all this trouble?"
The man snorted coldly, "Do you have any good wine? The master brought it here specifically for the peace talks."
Hearing this, Wang Lu'er swallowed his saliva with a gulp. Good wine was indeed hard to come by. The Lu family could provide money, food, and weapons, but not much wine. They had recently been at odds with the Qingfeng Gang, so their income was low, and wine was even rarer.
How many men on the sea don't love wine? They brought it all the way from far away, so why not accept it?
"Send a few more boats to pick up the people!" Wang Lu'er ordered immediately.
So the one boat became four, and they began transporting the wine jars back and forth. Because the wine jars were large and the boats were floating on the sea, they had to exert force to catch them. Therefore, each boat could only carry four people and two jars of wine. After several trips, a row of wine jars was piled up on the shore, and a dozen or so servants from the Lu Mansion were added.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
