Golden Branch

"kill!"

Countless torches flickered, and the shouts of countless people resounded throughout the Yi River.

Governor Li was stunned for a moment, with a flash of astonishment in his eyes, but he quickly calmed down.

I had long anticipated that the Prince of Qi might have a backup plan!

Yang Chong has several great generals and hundreds of thousands of troops under his command.

No matter how young, arrogant, conceited, or self-righteous Yang Rui was, it was impossible for him to have only 600 guards around him when he returned to Qi on a business trip.

Perhaps, at the beginning, Yang Rui really only brought 600 people.

However, as he vigorously cleared out the hidden households and fields in the Yi River and targeted the river bandits, he would gradually feel the pressure and call for reinforcements.

There are Zhechoufu in Qingzhou, Qizhou and other places.

The generals of Zhechoufu were not like officials like Li Cishi and Lu Huaixin. Li Cishi and others were appointed by the court and had their own families and forces behind them.

Even if they served as officials in Qi, they were not members of the Qi Palace.

Most of the generals in Qi's Zhechoufu were powerful generals under Yang Chong. Their main purpose in Qi was to help Yang Chong defend the area!

As long as Yang Rui, the Prince of Qi, has a letter and a seal, he can mobilize the soldiers of Zhechoufu.

"...You have a backup plan? So what!"

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Li Shishi's eyes. "The combined forces of the several major Zhechoufu in Qi only have about three to five thousand men."

"These people are indeed brave and skilled in battle. They are veterans trained by Yang Chong. But they forgot that this is Yizhou!"

There is Yi River in Yizhou!

A group of landlubbers who are not good at water fighting want to clear out the banditry on the Yi River... To put it bluntly, they may not even be able to get a boat to carry people!

Wang Mian huddled in the corner, unaware of Governor Li's secret pride.

Otherwise, she would definitely say "embarrassedly": The largest shipyard in Qi, the largest shareholder is the Prince of Qi's Palace.

Wang Mian never forgot about going to sea and going to the ocean, and if he wanted to go overseas, he had to have a treasure ship.

In later life, Wang Mian visited the wreckage of Zheng He's treasure ship. Combining historical materials, Wang Mian roughly drew a picture of the treasure ship.

The "students" of the Dongshan Academy's Gewuxue continued to enrich the drawings, trying to build a treasure ship that could truly sail through the deep seas and oceans.

Wang Mian cooperated with the Princess of Qi and Concubine Jiang to open a shipyard in a coastal state in Qi.

On the seashore, the Prince of Qi's Palace not only built treasure ships, but also recruited a large number of young and strong people who were proficient in water.

These people, after training at the seaside, their water skills and combat capabilities can definitely surpass those of inland pirates!

As the Crown Prince of Qi and the biological son of the Princess of Qi, Yang Rui naturally knew about his family's property and could mobilize his own ships and "navy".

Wang Mian built treasure ships and trained people who were proficient in water, mainly for the purpose of going out to sea to search for treasure.

Well, even if we cannot travel to the New World in the next few years, we can first take a trip to the waters near our home, such as the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

For example, a small island that is famous for its abundance of ghosts and animals is the famous Treasure Island.

You can go mining first, it will make money faster than robbery!

The Prince of Qi's palace built treasure ships and trained the "navy" in preparation for the southern expedition.

"...Today at the Yi River is just a rehearsal!"

Yang Rui stood at the bow of the boat, with his back to the ground. The little lights on the river had already turned into dazzling stars in his eyes.

Governor Li probably could have anticipated that he had "reinforcements", but Governor Li did not know that these were not "reinforcements" but Yang Rui's real trump card.

Yang Rui came to Yizhou, ostensibly to complete the court's task of clearing the river, but in fact, he was also responsible for training sailors for the Prince of Qi's Palace.

Yang Rui glanced at Li Zhishi, Lu Huaixin, and even Wang Lin from the corner of his eye——

"These people have probably forgotten that I haven't always been this gentle and modest gentleman!"

As the eldest grandson of General Yang Ji, the eldest son of General Zhenjun, and a descendant of the Yang family, a family with generations of military honors, Yang Rui joined the army at the age of twelve.

He went to the battlefield at the age of thirteen, and led troops at the age of fifteen to defeat the Turks!

Yang Rui is not a gentle gentleman or a weak scholar. He was once the most outstanding young general of the Yang family!

Afterwards, the previous dynasty was in turmoil, and various warlords rose up in rebellion.

Yang Ji also sent troops to "support the king", and Yang Rui was one of the bravest generals under Yang Chong.

It was only as the Yang family occupied more and more territory and Yang Ji's momentum to the top became unstoppable that Yang Rui began to restrain his edge.

Yang Chong recruited many famous scholars and great Confucian scholars to be teachers for his son. Yang Rui temporarily took off his armor and picked up the pen.

Two or three years ago, when the new dynasty was established, Yang Rui had transformed into what he is today, a refined, reserved, and gentlemanly man.

But beneath this gentle surface, Yang Rui is still the son of a general who can ride a horse to kill enemies and train the army!

"kill!"

"Destroy the bandits! Go straight to their lair!"

"Kill!"

The shouts and cries of killing swept over from both sides of the Yi River like a tsunami.

Along with the earth-shaking sound, tiny sparks of fire gathered from the shore to the river surface.

"Boat?! They actually have a boat!"

Seeing the fast-moving clusters of flames, Governor Li finally lost his composure.

His old face was full of disbelief.

What horrified him was not only that Yang Rui had gotten enough boats, but that in Yizhou, his territory, Yang Rui, a foreigner who had just crossed the river, had been able to hide from his eyes and ears and get so many soldiers and boats!

Yang Rui was able to "hide the truth" perfectly, not only because of his own strong abilities, but also because he must have received some "help".

"A mole! There is a mole!"

Governor Li suddenly realized this. He turned his head abruptly, and a sinister and suspicious look swept across Lu Huaixin, Wang Lin and other officials.

Originally, these people were considered his "allies". Even if they were not his family, there was still an exchange of interests.

Alliances of interests are the most stable and also the most fragile.

When their common enemy provides more bargaining chips, the so-called alliance will collapse in minutes!

"Who? Who is it? Or have all these bastards turned against us except me?"

Governor Li was shocked and confused, and he directly listed all his "companions" as suspects.

It’s a pity that Governor Li couldn’t get the answer at this moment.

Because Yang Rui's "water army" has launched an attack.

Whoosh! Whizzing!

Feather arrows flew through the air with a sound. The sailors were still on the shore, but the rain of arrows had already rushed towards the "pirates" who were besieging the pleasure boat and trying to assassinate them.

"Ah!" Someone was hit by an arrow and let out a shrill scream.

"Splash!" The person who was hit by the arrow fell directly into the river.

After one round of shooting, one tenth of the hundreds of "water bandits" were killed.

At this time, a part of the "navy" had already skillfully driven the large ships and quickly rushed to the river.

They began to encircle and suppress the remaining "water bandits".

Of course, there were also some "river bandits" who realized that they had fallen into an "ambush" and wanted to fight to the death, trying to die together with Yang Rui. They ignored the rain of arrows and risked their lives to climb onto the pleasure boat.

Swish!

Lou Yu drew out his sword and blocked Yang Rui directly.

Lou Yu was smart. By this time, he had already understood Yang Rui's entire plan.

Lou Yu and the one thousand Lou family soldiers were actually part of Yang Rui's plan.

Yang Rui started planning from the first day he set foot in Yizhou.

The so-called borrowing of troops is nothing more than a target erected.

People mistakenly believed that Yang Rui was indeed short of manpower and had to ask a child for help.

The subsequent teachings, and even the "entrusting of important tasks" to a child like Lou Yu, were all means to confuse the enemy.

Lou Yu was used by Yang Rui!

But what if I was being used?

Lou Yu is no longer the naughty kid who only knew how to use his cleverness to play tricks on others two or three years ago.

Yang Rui led him into an adult world, exposing him to more and more complex problems.

In this world, things are not black and white. There is no absolute good and evil, right and wrong!

Being used?

Only valuable people will be exploited!

If it is worthless garbage, it is not even qualified to be used!

Besides, being used now doesn’t mean you’ll be someone else’s pawn for the rest of your life.

One day, he will sit in front of the chessboard and become the chess player!

In addition, putting aside the so-called "exploitation", Lou Yu really learned a lot from Yang Rui.

He could feel Yang Rui's sincerity towards him.

A gentleman does not care about his deeds.

He was taught that "an elder brother is like a father", and that is true.

He realized his own shortcomings, that's true.

It is also true that he has a higher and clearer goal in life.

What's more, this "exploitation" itself is the best lesson for Lou Yu——

Don't trust people easily!

Before doing anything, you must be fully prepared!

No matter what time, always leave yourself a way out!

...These were all brought to him by Yang Rui.

Lou Yu didn't say it, but he was grateful in his heart.

Yang Rui taught him without preaching in a condescending and self-righteous manner, but by setting an example in a subtle and silent way.

Lou Yu even felt "fatherly love" from Yang Rui.

Of course, Lou Yu would not "climb above his station" to marry the Prince of Qi. He would remember this favor and repay it in the future.

"Ayu!"

Seeing Lou Yu like a loyal little wolf cub, although still a cub, he bared his sharp little teeth and stood firmly in front of him.

Yang Rui remained gentle and calm, with nothing unusual in his eyes or expression.

At his current state, it is no longer possible to discern his inner thoughts from his outward appearance.

However, Lou Yu, who was standing in front of Yang Rui, still felt a trace of warmth.

Yang Rui felt his kindness and responded!

"Brother doesn't need your protection yet! You're tired today, so step back behind me and have a good rest!"

Yang Rui reached out and gently held Lou Yu's shoulders.

Lou Yu’s eyes blurred, and he spun around and was pushed behind Yang Rui.

With a clang, Yang Rui drew out his sword and trembled with the "water bandits" who rushed up.

Lou Yu: ...I was underestimated!

However, he wasn't annoyed either.

He turned around, stood back to back with Yang Rui, waving the sword in his hand to protect Yang Rui's back!

Yang Rui pierced the "water bandit's" chest with a sword. He caught a glimpse of the short but ferocious figure from the corner of his eye, and his heart became more at ease:

The little wolf cub was raised by him!

……

"what!"

"Don't kill me! Don't kill me! I'm not a pirate! I surrender!"

Not all "water bandits" are fearless and brave.

As more and more "Yang family navy" rushed over, Yang Rui's side could not take the city for a long time, and the "water bandits" became mentally exhausted.

Some people screamed, some knelt down and begged for mercy, and some jumped directly into the Yi River.

However, those who jumped into the river could not escape.

Li, the governor, who had collapsed on the ground with a pale face, couldn't understand: where did Yang Rui get so many soldiers who were skilled in water battles?

Governor Li was in a trance. He seemed to see the officers and soldiers all over the river, and also seemed to see the tragic scene of his own head being chopped off and his entire family being confiscated.

"It's over! It's all over!"

Not only Governor Li, but also Lu Huaixin and one or two county magistrates were enveloped in pain and despair.

Especially Lu Huaixin, he is the confidant of the King of Chu.

He was the mastermind behind this conspiracy against Yang Rui. Even Governor Li could make up an excuse by saying "I was deceived", but Lu Huaixin had no excuse at all.

Once Yang Rui successfully controls the situation, he will raise his sword... The Lu family is finished!

The entire Lu family will not collapse.

But the best outcome for his family, or even his branch, is confiscation of property and exile!

Lu Huaixin listened to the shouts and pleas for mercy coming from all around him and closed his eyes tightly.

Wang Lin, who was secretly hiding in the corner, watched the scene after scene with a gloomy face.

The King of Chu's men were defeated so easily?

Can’t even withstand one round?

Oh no, it's not a complete failure yet.

After all, there are still a large number of bandits in their lair, and the nobles from various families have been kidnapped by them.

However, at this moment, a fast horse came running from the shore.

The knight dismounted swiftly and ran to Yang Rui, kneeling on one knee. "Your Highness, the bandit's lair in the reed marsh has been breached. Of the 329 bandits, 89 were killed or wounded, and the rest have all been captured!"

He did not kill them all, but left some alive. It was not because Yang Rui was merciful.

Firstly, Yang Rui needed these pirates to confess and to exonerate some of them.

Secondly, Yang Rui needed "laborers" to do the hard labor.

With these pirates, Yang Rui could completely avoid recruiting ordinary people and directly let these people work like beasts of burden.

Not only these pirates, but also the major families involved in the conspiracy.

Yang Rui will not kill anyone, he will only turn these people from nobles in a high position into hard laborers who work like slaves.

It's not just his river, but also the new capital city, which needs manpower to build.

Yang Rui felt that he was a caring and good grandson. Since his grandfather could not find a reason to eliminate those aristocratic families who monopolized the court, he was in Yizhou to help create a gap.

My father is wise and will definitely seize this opportunity to carry out a major purge in the capital.

Yes, “also”.

Because Yang Rui will have a match in Yizhou first.

With the confessions of the pirates, including Governor Li, Lu Huaixin, the Zhao family, the Cheng family, and their mutual denunciations, Yang Rui will definitely be able to use the solid evidence to cleanse the entire Yizhou.

The house was searched, the main culprit was executed, and his family members were confiscated by the government.

The land, population, etc. occupied by these major families in Yizhou will also be taken over by Yang Rui.

It's not just money for river repairs, it can also raise a lot of military expenses -

Maintaining an army is too expensive!

As the crown prince of Qi, Yang Rui was not only the most satisfied heir to the Qi king, but also the chief steward of the entire palace...