From Xiangyang to Changsha by water, through the Han River, the Yangtze River and then to the Xiang River, these three water systems are connected. Although it was the twelfth lunar month of winter, ice had already frozen on the moat, but the three rivers were wide and the water flow was rapid without freezing. The fleet has already been familiar with this waterway, and many supplies have been prepared on board, and there is no need to dock for supplies on the way.
Liu Xin insisted on going to Changsha in person this time, and another purpose was to take a look at the navy, ships, and this waterway by the way. His plan is no longer limited to the unification of the Central Plains, but has set his sights on the sea. Although it is still a very remote event, Liu Xin is now starting to plan ahead.
The boat sailed on the water for two days and entered the Yangtze River. During these two days, Liu Xin was not idle. He used this time to get a preliminary understanding of the structure of the ship, the main points of navigation, and the communication of the fleet.
It was almost dusk, and Liu Xin was still in the cabin and had a heart-to-heart talk with a few senior sailors who were not experienced.
Liu Xin said with a smile on his face: "Let's talk about it, let's have any suggestions for our navy."
These sailors were very fond of the approachable, unassuming young state shepherd. A middle-aged sailor with long beard and dark skin stood up and said, "Go back to the lord, my surname is Wang. Everyone usually They called me Lao Wang. Since the lord asked, I just said it straight. I used to fish for a living in Xiangyang, but was later drafted into the army. Because I was familiar with water, I was transferred to the Jiangxia Squadron. Transferred with me. There are more than 2,000 people. We have been stationed in Jiangxia for many years, and we can't see our family all year round. We are very homesick. Can the lord also give us a few days off?"
Liu Xin nodded and said, "Well, Lao Wang said it very well. This issue can be considered in the future."
Another sailor named Daniel was encouraged and stood up and said, "Master, we were nothing in Jiangxia. It's just that the local army always bullies us. We don't dare to go ashore alone. I don't understand. They are all big soldiers, so why can't they respect each other more."
Another sailor stood up and said, "Master, all of us who came this time were transferred from Xiangyang. Most of the Jingzhou naval forces are locals from Jiangxia. They usually don’t interact with us and do their own things. If you encounter them In the war, there is no way to cooperate with each other. Can the lord build another water village on the Han River in Xiangyang to transfer us all over and separate them."
Liu Xin brought these sailors over, in order to hear their suggestions on the development of the navy and the various aspects of the performance of the warship. I didn’t expect that they all seemed to have complaints. It seems that the navy’s problem is not small. , He couldn't help frowning.
Seeing that Liu Xin's expression became solemn, the sailors couldn't help feeling anxious, and they stopped talking. Liu Xin was wanting them to continue speaking. Zhao Yun hurriedly walked in and said, "Brother, several clippers suddenly appeared on the river, blocking the way of the team."
Liu Xin grabbed her heart and said, "Go, go and have a look on the deck."
Only halfway there, two school lieutenants greeted him and said, "Master, there are three clippers blocking the river, like a group of rangers."
"Range? Heroes!" Liu Xin was shocked, and more than one came, do they want to rob the rich and help the poor!
Zhao Yun hurriedly explained: "Rangers are just idlers who are idle and unemployed. They do more of theft, robbery, and fraud."
Liu Xin realized that it was not a martial arts hero, but his own colleagues. He felt calmer and asked the two school lieutenants: "How do you know that it is a ranger? Do you know how they came from? ?"
The two captains said in unison: "Back to the lord, I will be in the navy for many years and know a lot about the things on the river. These clippers must be owned by the rangers, but those who dare to intercept naval ships openly, except for the Jinfan thief, No one else has the guts."
"Jinfan Thief!" Liu Xin was even more surprised, isn't that Gan Ning
As long as they spoke, they had already arrived at the bow, and Wen Pin was commanding the archer to wait. Liu Xin looked around and saw three clippers lined up. The sail on the middle ship was made of a multicolored brocade. The setting sun shone on it and gave out a dazzling light. No wonder it was called the Jinfan Thief.
There are not many thieves on the Clippers. There are only one or twenty people on each boat. Many of them are also dressed in beautiful costumes. Obviously, they usually have a lot of rewards. There was a person standing in the middle of the bow, who seemed to be underage, with a big sword in his hand, dressed in a colorful coat, and the river breeze passed by, and there was a crisp bell of "Ding Ding Dangdang".
Liu Xin was wondering, and when he took a closer look, he noticed that this garishly dressed boy was full of bells, and he couldn't help but smile. It turned out to be a group of young and Dangerous! Liu Xin couldn't help despising them.
When he was in a relaxed mood, he heard an exclamation of "Jinfan Thief! It's Jinfan Thief!" Liu Xin turned to look, and saw that the panic all around were middle and lower-level officers. On the contrary, the ordinary soldiers and sailors did not panic at all. Liu Xin suddenly became vigilant. These ordinary soldiers and sailors were only transferred from Xiangyang this year, and they had not encountered the Jinfan Thief, and these middle and lower-level officers had obviously experienced his skills. This illustrates a problem. Except for Cai Hao, the officers in the navy are basically promoted from the old army. They are all natives of Jiangxia. No wonder the sailors in Xiangyang had ideas just now. It seems that after I go back, I have to have a good talk with Cai Wei, and I must find a way to change the composition of the officers.
At this moment, the boy had already yelled and shouted: "Listen to the people on the opposite boat, leave half of your belongings and let you pass!"
Hearing the shouts of the young man, the two navy captains said to Liu Xin tremblingly: "Master, the Jinfan thief is not to be brave, we still..."
Wenpin interrupted them angrily, and shouted: "It's unreasonable, so many officers and soldiers are here, and I have to be afraid of a few small thieves!"
Liu Xin caught a glimpse of Zhao Yun going to fetch a bow and arrow. He knew that he was also a sharpshooter. He vaguely remembered that Gan Ning was shot to death by a bow and arrow in history. He hurriedly stopped and said: "Seventh, wait a minute, wait for me to talk to him."
In this moment of effort, Gan Ning's Clippers had already approached here.
Liu Xin walked forward with her head raised and shouted loudly: "But Gan Ning is the one who is here?"
The boy seemed to be taken aback, and then asked: "Yes, how do you know me?"
Liu Xin smiled and said, "It really is you. Do you know who we are?"
Gan Ning laughed and said, "Aren't you the Jingzhou navy? In my eyes, it's not much different from a chicken."
The bandits around him let out a roar of laughter.
Liu Xin was not upset, and stopped Zhao Yun and Wenpin who were eager to try, and said, "Ganning, I am Liu Xin, Mu Liu Xin from Jingzhou. Let me tell you the truth. Today I do have a lot of property on this ship, but you don't want to take it away. Every minute."
Gan Ning raised the knife in his hand and said disdainfully: "It doesn't matter if you give it to me, but if you have asked about the knife in my hand, it won't agree."
Liu Xin said calmly: "Ganning, it's not that I underestimate you. In terms of the number of people, we are much more than you; in terms of ships, your small boats are not enough to touch; in terms of martial arts, you are not my brother's opponent. I can't think of what you are so confident about?"
After hearing what he said, Gan Ning was taken aback, then sneered, and said, "I said Master Zhou Mu, this is on the surface of the river, and fighting is not based on crowds. What is the use of Wu Yigao? I have to look at it. How watery is it."
Liu Xin still said calmly: "Oh, so you are confident in your water quality? Can you dare to make a bet with me."
Gan Ning asked alertly: "What do you want to bet on?"
Liu Xin's face sank and said, "I'll bet on the water with you. Let's start from here to see who can swim to the other side first. If you swim to the other side first, you will share half of the property on my boat. See you in the future. Take a detour to you. If I swim to the other side first, you will leave me at my disposal."
Gan Ning hesitated. The opponent was a regular court navy. Although he had fought with them many times in the past and beat them to the bottom, no one can guarantee that he is a victorious general. If he can beat him in water. , Didn’t it save a lot of things. However, at this time it was a cold winter. Although there was no ice on the river surface, the river water was very cold. It is Ganning who has spent many years begging for life on the water. After October, it will not be easy to enter the water unless it is a last resort. .
Seeing Gan Ning not speaking, Liu Xin said contemptuously: "Huh, what Jinfan thief, don't you dare to make this bet with this official? Turns out to be a coward too."
Gan Ning could not be irritated at first, and seeing Liu Xin's gentle and gentle appearance, he thought to himself that these officials are all pampered, and I am afraid that they dare not even get out of the water. They must have scared me just now, so he gritted his teeth and shouted: " Okay, I'll bet with you!"
The river is cold and windy, and you can still feel cold when standing on the bow of the boat wearing a cotton robe. Zhao Yun looked at the Taotao River. This section of the river is very wide. Although their location is not on the riverside, they swim from here to the other bank. There were also eight hundred steps away, and he couldn't help but said worriedly: "Brother, you must not take risks, or let me go down."
Liu Xin patted Zhao Yun on the shoulder and said, "Seventh brother, I am absolutely relieved of your martial arts, but when it comes to water, you are not the opponent of this Jinfan thief. Don't worry, I won't lose."
At this time, there was another ringing of "Ding Ding Dangdang" from the opposite side. It turned out that Gan Ning saw that Liu Xin hadn't moved and thought he was timid and couldn't wait. He took off his coat and shook off the bell.
Upon seeing this, Liu Xin took off his clothes completely, leaving only a pair of pants, revealing a strong muscle. He secretly sighed and drove the cold away, then said: "Gan Ning, you count one, two, three, we dive together."
Gan Ning licked his mouth and said, "You still count, lest you lose and call me shameless."
Liu Xin laughed and said, "Okay, then I will count, you hear clearly. One... Two... Three!"