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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 222: Canal Bandits

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    omJiangnan Canal, formerly known as Jiangnan River and Zhejiang Western Canal, is the southern section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal.  It starts from Zhenjiang and Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province in the north, goes around the east bank of Taihu Lake to Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, and ends in Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province in the south.  As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, due to the low terrain and dense rivers and lakes between the Yangtze River and Qiantang River, canals connecting rivers and lakes had appeared.  After generations of excavation and dredging, the Jiangnan Canal began to take shape.  In the sixth year of Emperor Yang's reign in the Sui Dynasty, the ancient canal route south of the Yangtze River was re-drilled and widened to form the present-day Jiangnan Canal.

    People in the south of the Yangtze River commonly call the Jiangnan Canal "Guanhe" or "Guantang".  The canal starts from Zhenyang in the north, passes through Danyang, Changzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, Jiaxing, and Tongxiang to Hangzhou.  The canal connects the Yangtze River to the north, the Qiantang River to the south, and the Jindan Licao River, Wuyi Cao River, Xicheng Canal, Wangyu River, Liuhe, Wusong River, Taipu River, Wuxingtang, Pinghutang, Huatingtang, Hangzhou-Ningbo Canal, etc.  The canals are connected and are the main river transportation routes in the south of the Yangtze River.

    In the Jiangnan water towns, using rivers instead of roads is another characteristic.  There were almost no roads here in ancient times, just a pool of water.  Boats are the main means of transportation.  There are two connecting tools between land and land: the mobile one is the boat and the fixed one is the bridge.  If you're close, take the bridge; if you're far, or if you're transporting goods, go by boat.  Therefore, Jiangnan is a world of boats and bridges. Shaoxing has more than 5,000 bridges, and a small new town has 72 bridges, which is far better than Venice, the water city.

    Many bridges mean developed waterways.  In the not-too-distant past, every family here had a boat.  This is true in big cities, and even more so in rural areas.  At that time, boats were as popular as every family in later generations had bicycles, and many families had cars.  The river is the road, the road is the river, and the river course is the road south of the Yangtze River.

    As the saying goes, you can eat mountains if you rely on mountains, and you can eat water if you rely on water. Many people in Jiangnan rely on waterways for their meals.  The poorer people don't even have their own houses. The whole family squeezes into a awning boat. This is their home, and the family on the water is their collective name.

    The vertical and horizontal waterways also brought a headache to the people. In ancient times, there were three disasters: dragons, water bandits, and floods that harmed the people.  The dragon is actually the alligator.  The water network in the south of the Yangtze River is densely covered. In ancient times, there were many crocodiles, which often appeared and ate people. As the population in the south of the Yangtze River increased, the living space of crocodiles was gradually squeezed by humans. Since the Southern Song Dynasty.  Crocodiles are rarely seen in the waters near Suzhou and Taihu Lake. After the Qing Dynasty, crocodiles were gradually squeezed out of the densely populated water network areas, and their habitat became larger waters such as the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake.  The disappearance of crocodiles is one less hazard, but water bandits and floods have never stopped in the dense water networks and waterways near Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai.

    The water bandits have been active in Suzhou, Hangzhou and Wuzhong since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.  During the Three Kingdoms period, many generals of the Wu State were born as water bandits. Although successive dynasties successively attacked them many times, they had little effect. Water bandits were like weeds in the field, which sprouted again after being cut.

    In the early years of Xianfeng, taking advantage of the Taiping Rebellion, another group of water bandits appeared at the junction of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.  The leader was in his thirties and was blind in one right eye. He was known as One-eyed Zhao Qi, a native of Suzhou.  In his early years, this man was a tenant farmer outside Suzhou City. Due to natural disasters, his harvest was lost, and the government and landlords exploited him tightly. He accidentally killed a grain officer who came to collect grain, and was forced to join the water banditry.

    Zhao Qi worked as a sharecropper in his early years and knew that life was not easy for the poor, so he gathered a group of water bandits.  It specialized in robbing official ships and merchant ships, which frightened merchants from far and near and called this area the river of death.  Zhao Qi and others usually pretend to be coolies pulling goods from the ferry. When there is a deal, they gather together to do it.  Therefore, despite repeated unsuccessful campaigns by the government, they could not be found.

    Since the Taiping Army advanced into southern Jiangsu, Zhao Qi and others have restrained themselves a lot. As long as it is a ship carrying the Taiping flag, they will let it go.  Taiping Navy General Tang Zhengcai led a Taiping Navy to the waters of Suzhou and Taihu Lake. Tang Zhengcai admired Zhao Qi's reputation and once wanted to meet with Zhao Qi for recruitment. However, the war then became tense, and Zhao Qi and others waited and waited.  After seeing the Taiping Army's attitude towards victory or defeat, the matter was temporarily shelved.  But the two sides still reached a tacit agreement that the Taiping Army would not offend Zhao Qi, and Zhao Qi would not rob the Taiping Army's ships.

    In the morning of this day, one of his brothers reported to Zhao Qi that there was a large ship that was moving suspiciously. The water on the ship was very deep, and it seemed that it was carrying valuable cargo. Moreover, there were many officers and soldiers wearing Qing uniforms on the ship, but they did not attack the government.  The flag looks like an official ship, which has arrived at Jinniutang.  On weekdays, Zhao Qi and his gang of bandits wouldn't dare to act rashly when encountering a fleet of official ships or the Qing army's inland water divisions. But now that they hadn't opened a business for three months and heard that there was only one big ship, Zhao Qi immediately took action.  He ordered his men to gather his brothers and ships and prepare to rob the ship.

    At noon, sure enough, a large boat slowly came to the Suzhou waterway and sailed into the Wusong River. The Wusong River is still called the Wusong River here, but when it reaches the boundary of Shanghai, it is called the Suzhou River. The Wusong River is only one or two miles wide.  There are reeds and water plants on both sides, and there are many forks. Zhao Qi and others have long been ambushing in several forks of Wusong River.

    Seeing the arrival of the ship, it turned out that the water on the ship was very deep. Zhao Qi squinted his left eye and took a look. He was overjoyed and let out a cry:At the whistle, several small boats shot out of the harbor at the same time, flying close to the big ship.

    Zhao Qi, holding a steel sword, flew onto the ship in one stride. On the bow deck were seven or eight men wearing Qing uniforms. They were stunned by the sudden appearance of Zhao Qi, and hurriedly drew out his sword to fight.  But these people didn't seem to be used to fighting on the water. When the boat of Zhao Qi and others collided, the hull of the boat shook, making several people unsteady on their feet.

    Zhao Qi stepped forward and chopped the two people down with a knife. Later, several people were also hacked to death on the spot by the water bandits who boarded the boat one after another.

    Fighting and screams were heard from the bow of the ship, and more than ten people dressed as Qing troops were immediately snatched out from inside and from the stern of the ship. Zhao Qi and other ten water bandits immediately started fighting with these water bandits.  After fighting for a while, these Qing soldiers were not used to water warfare and gradually suffered heavy casualties.

    At this moment, a Qing army general was snatched from the ship. He was wearing the uniform of a third-grade military attach¨¦ of the Qing army. He shouted sternly: "Stop!" After he stopped shouting, several Qing soldiers gradually retreated, and some water bandits robbed the ship.  As for the difference between civil and military forces, as long as the opponent does not fight desperately, they will not make a fatal move. Seeing the opponent retreating, Zhao Qi also called his men to retreat temporarily.

    "Are you the boat owner?" Zhao Qi shook the steel knife and said, "Quickly leave the valuables behind, jump into the river yourself, and spare the lives of you bastards!"

    As soon as he finished speaking, the group of Qing soldiers yelled and cursed loudly. The Qing general who led him took a step forward and calmly faced the water bandits. Then he pointed at Zhao Qi and shouted loudly: "You bandit, you are actually doing this in broad daylight."  If you dare to rob an official ship, aren't you afraid of the king's law?"

    Zhao Qi laughed loudly and said: "You are such a dog official, but you still dare to show off your strength when death is imminent. Come on, kill them all!"

    "Wait a minute!" The Qing general on the bow said hurriedly: "I have something to say!"

    Zhao Qi squinted his left eye and asked, "What else do you have to say?"

    "I am an official of the imperial court." Na Qingjiong replied calmly: "Those who are suppressing bandits in Suzhou have urgent business and rush to Shanghai. If this brother can let us pass, I will be very grateful.  "

    Zhao Qi sighed: "You bitch official! In the past five years, we have robbed countless official ships, and they are all corrupt officials! For an official like you, I will take your head to ask for rewards from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!"

    "Are you really unwilling to give me a way?" The Qing general said with a smile: "If you are willing to let me go, I can recommend you to be officials in the imperial court. From now on, you will follow me to be popular and drink hot food."

    Zhao Qi took a look at the Qing general and said coldly: "Dog officer, how can I, Zhao Qi, be willing to be a court eagle dog? If the word spreads, it will disgrace my reputation! Kill me!"

    The water bandits swarmed up again, and after fighting for a while, most of the thirty or so Qing troops on the boat were killed. The Qing general was good at martial arts, but he was not used to fighting in the water. He was chopped off by Zhao Qiyi on the foot, and was finally killed.  People hold down.

    In the end, seven Qing soldiers, including the Qing general, were captured and tied to the bow of the ship in a row.  "Stop talking nonsense!" Zhao Qi sneered: "The leading officer will stay, and later he will tie up the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom camp for reward, and the rest will be chopped into pieces to sacrifice to the river god!"

    Just when the water bandits were about to kill the prisoners, the water bandits on the bow of the boat suddenly shouted loudly: "There is a ship coming from the east! Look, the flag is a peaceful ship!"

    Zhao Qi chuckled and said: "You came just in time, brothers, please give me a reward to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!"

    When the Qing general heard this, his expression changed greatly, and he hurriedly said loudly: "Brother, if you have something to say, please let me know. As long as you let me go, I still have a large sum of silver in Shanghai. I can give you one hundred thousand taels of silver with both hands."  superior!"

    Zhao Qi snorted and said with a smile: "Guan Guan, do you think I'm a three-year-old child? Where can I ask you for money when I get to Shanghai? I'm afraid you'll turn your back on me and use it as a fake.  The rebels are taking credit. Stop talking nonsense. If you say one more word, I will kill you!"

    The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's ship sailed over from the Suzhou River. There were three large ships and more than ten small boats escorting them. Seeing this large ship from a distance, the Taiping Navy navy separated several small boats and came first.  Zhao Qi and others caught the Taiping Army's small boat and explained the cause of the incident. The Taiping Army's small boat turned around and reported to the general on the big ship. After a while, a Taiping Army's large boat approached, and the two boats connected and put up planks.  Come, Zhao Qi and others escorted seven Qing prisoners to the Taiping Army's ship.

    The Taiping Army ship was strange. In addition to the Taiping Army soldiers wearing red turbans, there were also many foreigners dressed in colorful clothes. Zhao Qi and others had never seen foreigners. Out of curiosity, Zhao Qi and others gathered around to watch.  once.

    A general of the Taiping Army stepped forward, clasped his fists and said, "This general is Yao Yuan, the savior of the West Palace under the command of the Western King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom."

    Zhao Qi returned the greeting and said: "I am Zhao Qi, an idle man begging for food on the Wusong River." The two exchanged pleasantries, and Yao Yuan had heard of Zhao Qi's name, and he accepted it immediately.

    After the greetings, Zhao Qiyi waved his hand and pushed several Qing prisoners forward and said: "General Yao, these people are the dog officers of the Qing court. They were captured by us and specially presented to the general."

    Yao Yuan was overjoyed and immediately asked about the Qing general's identity, but several people refused to tell him. Finally, Zhao Qi's men found the Qing general's customs seal letter on the Qing warship and presented it to him. Yao Yuan saw it and said with great joy: "Zhang Guoliang! Who are you, a thief?"  Zhang Guoliang and Zhang Yaotou!" (To be continued. Please search Piao Tian Literature, the novels are better and updated faster!¡¤.
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