Chapter 530: Confronting the Enemy in a Single Boat

Su You raised his hand to stop him: "Deputy Envoy Zhou is serious. Su You has never taken himself seriously. Don't take me too seriously either. Deputy Envoy Wang knows how to predict the enemy and is well-known in the court. I trust him."

."

"I am your Majesty's personal patrol officer. I have no reason to run away from the battlefield. Besides, the situation is urgent and there is no room for maneuver."

"After my ship reaches full speed, it will be incomparable to your Fu-style ship. Ask the sergeants on your ship to board my big ship. Brother Xiaoqi, prepare to sail and set sail! Hachiro, first-level combat readiness!"

This ship is a Meishan type, but it can accommodate hundreds of people when fully loaded, and only requires six people to operate it.

Su You gave the order, and more than a dozen soldiers and engineering teams on the ship immediately took action. Soon Zhou Yongqing and Wang Guangzu discovered that the wooden pillars on both sides of the ship were put on with the rattling accessories, and they soon became

A rack of ballistae.

Next to each ballista stood three people and a rattan box. The box was opened and inside were ten spindle-shaped porcelain bottles.

There is a small hole on the head of the porcelain bottle, and in the small hole is a threaded copper ring.

Zhong Yi began to distribute small candle-like pillars to each group. The small pillars also had a threaded copper pipe on the head and a short red conical head.

One person in the group took off an iron ring from his waist. There were various key-like tools on the iron ring. He took out one of the iron rings and began to put the small pillar into the porcelain bottle and tighten it carefully.

The whole process was very fast and silent. Before all the sergeants of the two men had boarded the ship, Zhong Yi came over and stood at attention: "Report, the ballistae is ready! Waiting for instructions!"

Then Zhang Qi also came over: "Report! Driving preparations are complete, waiting for instructions."

Wang Guangzu was anxious and rushed to the stern of the ship to greet his soldiers, which was a hindrance.

Su You asked Zhong Yi: "Where is the thunderbolt?"

Zhong Yi looked stubborn: "On the Xiongzhou River, the ballistae can cover the whole area. There is no need to reveal the secret of the thunderbolt cannon to the Liao people!"

Su You nodded: "Okay, with this sentence, you will be credited. From now on, you will take over the command of the ship. In terms of military matters, I only have the right to make suggestions, not decisions."

Zhong Yi punched his right chest with his fist: "I will never disgrace my life!"

After saying that, he turned around.

At this time, the sergeant finally finished boarding the ship. Su You said to Zhang Qi: "Full sails, Xiongzhou!"

The Meishan type now also has a high iron tube mast. The sailors cranked the wheel, raised the longitudinal sail to the top of the mast, and then adjusted the direction. The hull was suddenly pulled diagonally several degrees by the sail, and the speed became faster and faster. In the end, it was as strong as

galloping horse.

The detection site was originally within the territory of Xiongzhou, and there were almost no boats on the new river. The Meishan type followed the wind and the current, and flew towards the destination with a fierce attitude.

Wang Guangzu and Zhou Yongqing looked at each other and saw the excitement in each other's eyes.

This is an artifact that can cover a territory of four hundred miles in one day! This is faster than our sentry ship!

In less than half an hour, the Meishan type drove through Xiongzhou and arrived at a ferry east of Xiongzhou.

This was originally the Juma River Basin, the boundary river, but now it has become part of the Yellow River.

A large group of troops was setting up camp on the other side, and many engineers were building pontoons, pretending to be preparing to cross the river.

Wang Guangzu looked at the troop flag: "Xiao Xi, Lin Ya of Liao State, is also an old rival in both civil and military fields."

Zhou Yongqing was extremely resentful: "This is the man who caused the Song Dynasty to lose hundreds of miles without a single blow!"

There is a reason why Zhou Yongqing is so angry.

In the last years of Renzong's reign, the Liao people fished in the boundary river and crossed the border to cut willows, which led to conflicts with the Song people.

The Liao State sent Xiao Xi to impose military oppression on Hebei, and at the same time made rude demands to the Song Dynasty to cede territory.

At that time, the Song Dynasty was at a disadvantage in the war with the Xixia people, so it naturally could not harden its attitude. Song Renzong used the excuse of "having been at peace with the Liao Dynasty for many years and did not want to compete" and redefined the boundaries of Shuozhou with the Liao Dynasty, dividing the original area to the north of Shuozhou.

The areas belonging to the Song Dynasty were ceded, and the national border was moved from the south of Liufan Mountains to the northern foot of Huangwei Mountain.

At that time, he served as the envoy to exchange documents for the cession of territories. The civil minister was Han Zhen and the military minister. The court originally designated Zhou Yongqing.

Zhou Yongqing expressed his anger and resolutely opposed this approach: "Borders should not be given lightly to others. Our duties are bound to the territory and we are unwilling to do it."

However, under the control of the Zonghe faction, the imperial court still insisted on going its own way.

Zhou Yongqing wrote another chapter and stated his interests, but it was still not accepted. The imperial court required him to carry out the order.

Zhou Yongqing was so angry that he threw away his official title and returned to his hometown to work as a farmer on the grounds that his mother was ill.

After this incident passed, Zhou Yongqing was re-appointed and successively served as the governor of Gaoyangguan, Dingzhou, Jingyuan Road, and finally arrived in Hebei.

Resolutely "not fight the enemy with ground", this is the warrior creed in Zhou Yongqing's heart.

Su You also knew about this and patted his arm: "Don't worry, deputy envoy, there is nothing the Liao people can do this time."

Zhou Yongqing looked at the opponent's large force of 40,000 people: "I'm afraid it will be difficult to defeat the 40,000 Khitan cavalry just by relying on the attendants to control this ship."

Su You laughed loudly: "What is a cavalry? Can it go into the water?"

Wang Guangzu also laughed loudly: "Xiao Xi was bluffing. The Liao army sent out as many as 150,000 and as few as 70,000. Forty thousand is probably the largest military force Xiao Xi can mobilize privately. This person knows that Hebei is suffering from disaster.

They came here to extort benefits, and it was definitely not the Khitan court’s idea!”

Su You nodded: "We see the same thing, so Deputy Ambassador Wang knows what to do?"

Wang Guangzu said with a smile: "All the soldiers are hiding and going all the way to the house, so that the Khitan people can see our ship clearly."

Wang Guangzu's son Wang Xiang also came over and stood with Zhong Yi.

Zhong Yi was speechless when he saw Su You: "Open the window, walk a hundred steps to the shore, mount the crossbow, and be ready to fire!"

Zhang Qi swung the steering gear, the sailors released the brake of the sail wheel, and the longitudinal sail fell instantly under the action of gravity.

The sailboat immediately stalled, then made a 180-degree flexible turn, the bow of the ship turned upstream, the inertia was offset by the water flow, and then the iron anchor made a stop, stopping firmly.

"Okay!" Zhong Yi didn't know that Zhang Qi had this skill, so he immediately cheered. This bought him too much time to adjust the angle of the crossbow.

The progress of the project on the other side was disrupted by the arrival of the Meishan type, and the Liao people responded very quickly. The horn sounded, and the cavalry brigade escorted the engineers back, leaving behind a pile of wood.

Soon, an armored general appeared on the shore. He waved and a flag was set up beside him. This was a signal to send an envoy.

Su You said to Zhang Qi: "Brother Xiaoqi, go get my court clothes."

Zhang Qi was anxious: "Young Master!"

Zhou Yongqing also said anxiously: "My benefactor, I absolutely cannot do it."

Su You smiled and said: "What's wrong? With this ship, no matter what Xiao Xi's strategic intention is, it can no longer be realized. The floating bridge is a joke in front of our ballistae."

After speaking, he looked at the Liao camp opposite: "They are too careless. Even if they let the central army bloom, it will not be difficult."

Zhong Yi said: "Teacher, I will accompany you."

Sun Neng and Wang Xiang grabbed it out and said in unison: "I, I will accompany you!"

Su You said to the two deputy envoys Wang and Zhou: "Xiao Xi is Lin Ya, the Privy Councilor of the Liao Dynasty. You are not as good as you. If you know that I am here and can't get out, firstly, you will lose the face of the Song Dynasty. Secondly, you will be able to serve as an official in the future."

Excuse."

"I also have a position. I am the Vice-Capital of the Privy Council of the Great Song Dynasty, and I can be called an enemy of Xiao Linya. So this matter is not about me competing with the two for credit. I have to take action when the arrow is on the string."

After speaking, he smiled at Wang Xiang and Sun Neng and said, "You two are really the only ones who are the most powerful generals! Come on, let's go to the Liao camp for a walk!"

A small boat sent Su You and the three people to the shore. Wang Guangzu looked at the back of Su You's purple-robed futou and said to Zhou Yongqing: "Old Zhou, you have a hard life. You left Weizhou late for one term and greatly defeated Liang Zuo's achievements.

If it’s not good, it will fall on you, brother! With such courage as Su Shizhi, even if he is a commander under his subordinates, it will make him angry!”

Zhou Yongqing was very angry: "It's all your fault! You didn't stop your benefactor, but secretly encouraged me. If it's not what you expected, don't blame me for denying my friendship with you for so many years!"

Wang Guangzu said carelessly: "Don't worry, my own son is still with the waiter. That Xiao Xi is also a respectable person. He can kill him with one knife if you and I go forward. If Su makes a move, he, the old boy, will never dare to act rashly!"
Chapter completed!