Sanshui County is only 60 miles away from Guangzhou. The Xijiang, Beijiang, and Suijiang rivers converge within the territory, and the shipping industry is developed. It is close to Guangzhou and is considered a water and land hub. In addition to the green battalions of the Qing Army stationed there, local landlords also set up militia groups.

Su Sanniang's enemy is Chen Zhonghao, an evil gentry in Sanshui County. Chen Zhonghao owns 400 acres of paddy fields in the county and has four wooden boats traveling to Guangzhou. His family is very wealthy.

The governor of Guangdong and Guangxi encouraged the establishment of a militia group. Chen Zhonghao was very active and built a militia group of 200 people with his tribe as the backbone. With the militia group, Chen Zhonghao could further expand his strength, annex land, and control shipping.

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Su Sanniang was determined to take revenge and accused Chen Zhonghao of Chen Zhonghao's crimes all the way to Yang Xuan. She said:

"Chen Zhonghao was extremely harsh on the tenants, charging them 70% of the land rent. The tenants had paid the land rent, but the remaining grain could not feed the family at all. This year, he used the excuse of holding group training and charged another 50% of the land rent.

"In addition, he also used militia groups to collude with the government and exploit boatmen and porters. Workers who dared to resist would be fired, or beaten severely. My husband was dissatisfied with Chen Zhonghao's deduction of wages, so he took the lead in arguing with him, and was fired.

The vigilante group arrested him.

"By the time I got the letter and rushed over, Su San was already dying and there was no water or rice left. After Su San's death, I asked the county magistrate for help and knelt in front of the county government office for three days. Instead, the magistrate accused me of causing trouble and dragged me out.

"If there weren't many porters present, I'm afraid I would have received a severe beating..."

Yang Xuan expressed deep sympathy for Su Sanniang. He turned his horse's head and looked at the scattered Tiandi congregation behind him, feeling a little disappointed.

The leader of the hall, Yin Zheng, was not active in this operation and was suspicious of Yang Xuan, so he only allocated him twenty horses and two hundred "straw sandals".

"Straw Shoes" are the lowest-ranking members of the Tiandihui. They are responsible for executing orders and are equivalent to the lowest-level soldiers.

Most of these twenty war horses and two hundred "straw sandals" are old, weak, sick and disabled, and are too embarrassed to carry out such a big task.

Compared with the Tiandi Huitang Army, Zhizhentang mainly operates in Guangzhou City, engaged in smuggling tobacco and soil, and does not usually practice military affairs. This time when they went to Sanshui County to attack the militia, the "straw sandals" were mostly afraid of difficulties.

Yin Zheng's wishful thinking was that it would be best if Yang Xuan could defeat Chen Zhonghao. If he failed, Zhizhentang could also take the opportunity to eliminate the old, weak, sick and disabled and reduce Yang Xuan's prestige.

He knew that he could not stand up to Yang Xuan, so before leaving, he promoted Yang Xuan to the title of "White Fan", promoted him to a higher rank, and improved his prestige among the "straw sandals". In addition, at Yang Xuan's request, the "Red Stick"

Liu Minhu was also able to accompany him.

Previously, Liu Minhu followed Yang Xuan to cause chaos in the private camp. He admired Yang Xuan so much that he had become Yang Xuan's confidant.

The team of more than two hundred people had just walked about ten miles when the formation broke up and stretched for a mile long.

Yang Xuan was quite disappointed and asked Su Sanniang: "How many transport workers and boatmen are there in Sanshui County? When we arrive in Sanshui County and openly attack Chen Zhonghao, how many people will respond to us?"

Su Sanniang thought for a while and said: "There are three major rivers in Sanshui County: Xijiang, Beijiang, and Suijiang. There are at least 30,000 to 40,000 transport workers and boatmen. Now that business travel in Guangzhou is cut off, everyone has lost their livelihood and has no food or clothing.

"The workers are desperate, and many of them have gone to Deqing Prefecture and Wuzhou Prefecture in Guangxi to join the boat army. When we get to Sanshui County, we will definitely get a response from the workers. We have more than 100 workers from Lingshan, so we will definitely respond.

"In addition, there are four to five thousand outsiders who may respond to us. Even if 10% of the people join us, there will still be four to five hundred people. It is enough to deal with Chen Zhonghao's two hundred regiments."

Yang Xuan nodded and couldn't help but look at Su Sanniang a few more times. She was about twenty-three or four, three or four years older than Yang Xuan, but she had rich experience and was full of heroic spirit.

Now that Su San died tragically, Sanniang's eyes were red and swollen from crying, and there was a sense of perseverance in her haggardness, making her look even more touching.

Yang Xuan is a general, and has been exposed to it since he was a child. He is familiar with the story of the "Yang Family Black Flag Army" and has certain military literacy. Although Yang Xuan in the future society is a middle-aged social worker, he is familiar with history and has studied military affairs.

The attack on Chen Zhonghao will be the first battle in which he raises his flag for rebellion. He must treat it with caution. If he becomes famous in one battle, he will be able to open up the situation in the future.

However, can these two hundred weak "straw sandals" defeat Chen Zhonghao's two hundred militia?

With these straw sandals, it's okay to let them cheer and cheer from the sidelines. But can it be done if we let them go into battle to kill the enemy?

Yang Xuan was deeply worried and ordered them to gather and rest. He also asked Yang Tian to call Liu Minhu from the rear of the team to discuss with him how to defeat the enemy.

Some people couldn't stand the hard work and immediately lay down when they heard that the march had been stopped. Some people even took out their smoking utensils and smoked cigarettes.

Yang Xuan was very angry, but he didn't want to get angry. He brought Yang Tian, ​​Liu Minhu and Su Sanniang to the side. He said:

"We, the two hundred straw sandals, are old, weak, sick and disabled, as well as a ragtag group. I think it would be very difficult to expect them to attack Chen Zhonghao's militia. We must first work hard to rectify them so that they can form formations and know how to advance and retreat.

"Soldiers are more valuable than elites. I think it's better to get rid of all those who smoke movies and are weak and sick, leaving only a few dozen who are strong and capable of fighting. What do you think?"

Liu Minhu quickly said no, he said:

"These days, no one has a living. Joining the Tiandi Society is just to make a living. The hall master allocated us two hundred old, weak, sick and disabled people. It is clear that he wants to embarrass us and make us be evil and eliminate them.

"We have just left the Zhizhen Hall and before we have engaged with the enemy, we laid off our own people first. I'm afraid it will chill the hearts of our brothers. It's inappropriate.

"Besides, even if we want to select strong and capable warriors, we still need someone to transport food and someone to carry firearms and ammunition."

When it comes to food and ammunition, Yang Xuan gets angry.

Yin Zheng only allocated food for five days, and it took two days to go back and forth, leaving only three days for fighting.

There were fifty flintlock muskets in the Zhizhen Hall, but Yin Zheng only gave ten to Yang Xuan. These flintlock muskets were purchased from foreigners and were much easier to use than the official birdguns.

There are also two foreign cannons weighing 200 kilograms in the hall. They are made of wrought iron and are strong and durable. Yin Zheng regarded them as treasures and refused to lend them to Yang Xuan at any cost. He only gave him two 100-kilogram cannons.

A heavy earthen bronze cannon.

Only then did Yang Xuan think of the militia. He didn't know what the militia's equipment was like, so he asked Su Sanniang, "Sanniang, what's the fighting strength of the militia? How is the equipment? Do they have guns and cannons? Are the regiment brave enough to fight to the death?"

Su Sanniang sighed and said: "Chen Zhonghao's militia is funded by the General Administration of Regiment Training, and the regiment warriors receive a monthly salary, so their combat effectiveness is acceptable. Their equipment mainly includes spears and broadswords, as well as native guns and cannons.

"Last year, hungry people rioted and went to various landlords' homes to eat grain. Most of the landowners in Sanshui County were forced to open warehouses to help the people. Chen Zhonghao relied on his militia and refused to open warehouses. The hungry people attacked several times, but were repulsed by the militia.

"After my family Su San died, Chen Zhonghao ignored him and continued to withhold wages, regardless of the workers' lives. The porters and boatmen on the Xijiang River once had a quarrel and had a fight with Chen Zhonghao's militia.

"The workers were disorganized and several people were killed or injured. Instead, the government praised Chen Zhonghao for his ability to control the bandits."

It seems that the enemy cannot be underestimated.

However, Chen Zhonghao was extremely angry with the people, and the porters and boatmen were desperate. As long as Yang Xuan led his troops there, he would definitely get a response from the unemployed workers.

The key is that Zhizhentang's straw sandals are too weak and disorganized. If they are not trained and rush into battle, they may not be able to match the militia.

Yang Xuan thought for a moment and said: "The militia has a limited number of people and is unpopular. I am confident that we can defeat them. But we cannot take it lightly. Time is running out. We must divide our work and cooperate and use three days to prepare for the war.

"Sanniang, please return to Sanshui County as soon as possible, secretly gather workers, select those from out of town, strong and talented, desperate, and willing to follow us, and organize a team of three to five hundred people. At that time, we will attack the militia.

When the situation arises, ask them to help you fight.

"Min Hu, you call all the 'straw sandals' and select fifty strong ones from two hundred people. Ten people will operate bronze cannons and ten people will operate flintlock guns. I will be responsible for training these twenty people.

"Ten good horses were selected from the twenty horses, and they were paired with ten riders to serve as cavalry. Yang Tian was responsible for training these ten cavalry. The remaining twenty men served as infantry, and Min Hu was responsible for training.

"Finally, there are more than 150 people who serve as military men and will be responsible for the military chores in the future. They have nothing to do for the time being. Let them practice running and Min Hu will be in charge. Those who want to take the opportunity to escape, let them go.

For those who stay, we will entertain them normally.
Chapter completed!