On August 14th, the twenty-first year of Jiayou's reign, one month had passed since the pirates attacked Sifang Island.

As soon as night fell that day, dozens of naval vessels flying black flags flying with the sun hurriedly turned around and fled to Sifang Island.

"Chase!"

Liang Xiao gave the order and led Dayin's ships in hot pursuit.

Gu Changjin did not follow. He waited until the dozens of warships made of fine iron disappeared from sight, then walked back to the camp.

In the camp, Pan Xueliang was studying a batch of confiscated firearms.

Seeing him returning, he quickly put down the musket in his hand and called out respectfully: "Master Gu."

Gu Changjin nodded slightly and said: "Ms. Feng is going to Sifang Island with General Liang this time, and will make another contribution. Wait. When I return to Shangjing, I will ask the emperor for credit."

Pan Xueliang responded respectfully, struggled for a few breaths, and finally asked what was in his heart.

"On that day, it was clear that you and my mother secretly sneaked into Sifang Island and planted explosives. When the pirates returned to Sifang Island in a hurry, as long as the explosives were detonated, all the pirates could not be wiped out, at least they could be completely destroyed. The battle between Dayin and the pirates was a complete victory. "

These pirates on Sifang Island have always been a cancer in Dayin's waters. Since the founding of the Dynasty, Dayin has also sent naval ships to Sifang Island to suppress them. The bandits came back defeated every time.

However, this time, Pan Xueliang knew that even if this cancer could not be completely eradicated, at least his vitality would be severely damaged, and the sea area south of the Yangtze River and the coastal counties would be peaceful for many years.

This is a great achievement.

The generals who went to Sifang Island today were all going to be promoted to official positions, but Master Gu did not go.

Obviously this was a strategy that Master Gu came up with. It was he who recruited A Niang and persuaded A Niang to take him to Sifang Island. It was also he who led thousands of soldiers to sneak into Sifang Island, buried explosives, and left one for Sifang Island to deliver a fatal blow. backhand.

But now, they are all following General Liang's orders.

Although there is merit, it is not great merit.

Pan Xueliang felt that he was not worth it.

"This is your credit," the young Gongshi said with a stubborn look, "Your Excellency should have boarded the ship tonight and gone to Sifang Island with General Liang!"

Gu Changjin raised his eyebrows and looked at Pan Xueliang. For a long time, he Said: "Winning a battle is never the result of one person. Let's not talk about anything else, let's talk about the soldiers who came to the island with me to plant explosives that day. They all came from the garrison department, and General Liang spent several years on it. The trained soldiers. Sifang Island is vast. Without them, how could I have planted all the explosives in one night

? How could this battle be won in just one month? The people who have been guarding Yangzhou have always been stationed here all year round. The most important thing is-"

Gu Changjin paused and said slowly: "If Governor Liao is no longer the governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, who does Pan Gongshi think is qualified to serve as governor?"

"Of course it is General Liang." Pan Xueliang blurted out.

"For Pan Gongshi and countless people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, General Liang is the best candidate. But for those who go to Beijing, General Liang is not the best candidate. General Liang has fought many victorious battles over the years, why is he always Can't you take the position of governor?"

Pan Xueliang frowned and thought for a while, and then suddenly said: "Because General Liang never depends on anyone."

As soon as he said this, he suddenly understood why Mr. Gu and Eunuch Liu were together . We must give the greatest credit to General Liang.

This was to push him to the position of governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and to block all opposition in the court.

What he was thinking just now was all the work of one person, the work in front of him.

Mr. Gu and Eunuch Liu thought about the overall situation of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, no, it should be said that it was the overall situation of Dayin.

Pan Xueliang couldn't hide his emotions. He bent down and bowed to Gu Changjin solemnly, saying: "Sorry, I've learned a lesson."

The next morning, at 2:00 a.m., a loud sound that resounded through the sky came from Sifang Island.

The fire shot into the sky, illuminating the darkest sky before dawn.

In the evening, Liang Xiao led tens of thousands of soldiers to Sifang Island and spent several days sweeping Sifang Island.

When the loud noise came from Sifang Island, Liao Rao woke up from his drowsiness. It took him a moment to figure out that the sound was that Sifang Island had been bombed.

He opened his eyes with difficulty and said to Liu Yuan on the side: "Eunuch Liu, why don't you go get a share of the pie?"

"We are afraid of missing Governor Liao's last words."

Liu Yuan flicked the wick to make the light in the tent brighter. After a while, he replied casually.

Liao Rao wanted to laugh, but he couldn't laugh out loud. His weak voice vibrated slightly in his chest, and soon fell silent again.

"As expected of the people taught by the old minister, you, Qixin, Fan Jinshu. Who else? Gu Changjin, Pan Xueliang? Ah, and the one who is sitting in the Jinluan Hall now." Liao Rao said in a distant voice: "You guys are forcing me If the emperor attacks the Qi family and Queen Qi, won't he be afraid of being rejected by the emperor in the future? "

Liu Yuan smiled, "It's just a matter of being loyal to the emperor. If the emperor wants to blame me, we will accept it."

Liao Raoqi said. She looked at him for a long time and sighed softly: "I will not plead guilty."

If he pleads guilty, those who follow him and his family will suffer from him.

Death on the battlefield is the best destination for him.

Wu Riming's blow to his abdomen was something he deliberately did not avoid.

Liu Yuan did not expect Liao Rao to plead guilty, so after leaving the camp, he sent someone to invite Gu Changjin. An hour later, a carriage slowly headed from the camp to the inner city.

Rong Shu himself heard the massive explosion on Sifang Island.

This loud noise woke up countless people in the city from their sleep. They ran out of the house in fear and stared at the fire in the distance for a long time.

"What happened? With this loud noise, could it be that pirates have come ashore?"

"No, no, the fire is clearly in the direction of Sifang Island. Something happened on Sifang Island!"

"Could it be that General Liang is encircling Sifang Island? Previously Lu Baotou said, the pirates on Sifang Island can no longer hold on any longer! "

...

The people were in fear all day long, until in the evening, a man rode a maroon horse into the city and brought the news that Sifang Island had been bombed. The hearts of the people finally settled down.

For a moment, the cheers were cheering, the gongs and drums were sounded, and the battle almost knocked down the moon that was about to emerge from the sky.

Rong Shu had just come from the City God's Temple and saw Gu Changjin riding his horse at the city gate from a distance, talking to the people.

Under the moonlight, the face with deep outlines was made more cold and handsome by the soft silver armor.

The people surrounded him on three levels inside and outside, and they didn't know what the man said. The people suddenly knocked on the gongs in their hands, and the overwhelming "bang bang" sound was heard all over the place, making the ears hurt. .

Many gray-haired old people were beating gongs and weeping with joy.

Luo Yan strolled up from the front and said in Rong Shu's ear: "Master Gu is telling everyone that the pirates on Sifang Island retreated last night. General Liang commanded the warships to chase the enemy and bombed Sifang Island. From today on, Yangzhou is officially unblocked!”

This time, the pirates attacked the city fiercely. The sound of artillery fire on Zhongyuan Night made people panic. All the shops in the inner city and outer city were closed. Many wealthy households even dragged their families to the side with their servants as guards. The state capital went into hiding.

For a whole month, the people in the city could not sleep peacefully even a day.

Now that the pirates have returned to Sifang Island and the blockade of Yangzhou has been lifted, how can the people not be overjoyed?

Rong Shu's heart was also surging.

Until October in the previous life, Yangzhou was still struggling to support itself. Even if it won the battle later, it was only a miserable victory.

In this life, many Yangzhou people survived, but those who died were those vicious pirates.

She bent her eyebrows and said with great joy: "Today happens to be August 15th. This time, the people of Yangzhou will not miss the Moon Mother's Day."

The evening breeze blew the strands of hair from her cheeks out. A gentle arc.

Gu Changjin's eyes slowly swept across the smile on her cheek.

He shouldn't have come to the inner city to report the news, but he took the initiative and made the trip himself.

Mei said its name was to invite people to Chunyue Tower.

But he knew his own selfish intention was to see her and see her smile when she learned that the pirates were defeated and Yangzhou was unsealed.

Perhaps his gaze lingered for a long time, and the girl looked over subconsciously. The two looked at each other for a moment, and she suddenly knelt down and saluted him generously.

Those who work for everyone are worthy of admiration.

She admires all those who protect their country.

Not only her, but also Luo Yan, who was used to treating Gu Changjin as someone who could pry him off, couldn't help but cup her hands at him and perform a military salute with a serious look on his face.

This scene was somewhat beyond Gu Changjin's expectation.

The last time he left the City God's Temple, this girl didn't even look at him.

He thought that this time she would try her best to avoid him again.

Unexpectedly, she saluted him solemnly across the crowd.

The sound of gongs and drums seems to hit people's hearts.

Gu Changjin lowered his eyes and a deep laugh escaped from his throat.

The breathless pain caused by her in the wine cellar dissipated in an instant.

He always thinks twice before doing anything, is used to self-denial, and is used to being harsh on himself. The lack of care that day was probably the only time he lost control since Ah Zhui's death.

When he woke up in the Chenghuang Temple, he was even thinking, what should he do?

He knew very well what kind of path he was taking. At the end of this road, what was waiting for him might be supreme power, or it might be an eternal hell.

When Gu Changjin pushed open the door of the wine cellar and held her in his arms, he made up his mind. He wanted her to wait for him.

Wait for him.

But she obviously didn't want to.

That's right, why should she be willing to such a selfish thought?

The moment he fell off the horse, he originally wanted to give up.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw her face and heard her voice, and his heart skipped a beat again.

He can't give up his heart, he can't give up his heart.

So, what else can we do, Gu Changjin?

He admitted it.

No matter what the means, no matter how hard he stalks her, he doesn't want to let her go.

It is the time when the sweet-scented osmanthus sprouts golden stamens and blooms with thousands of yellows.

In the half-dark moonlight, several old osmanthus trees under the city wall were shaken by the passing wind, and their petals looked like broken gold.

Gu Changjin clamped the horse's belly, and the horse's hooves trampled on the golden flowers everywhere, and walked to the front of her car.

The man dismounted and said to the girl who was about to get in the car: "Miss Rong, can you come with me to Chunyue Tower? I need to see Miss Lu Yi."

Lu Yi?

Rong Shu looked back in surprise, and her eyes paused on his face.

The man's expression was very serious, even a little serious. The look on his face was extremely magnanimous.

"But for Governor Liao's matter?"

Gu Changjin nodded.

Rong Shu lowered his eyes and thought for a while, then nodded and said, "I'll go with you, sir."

Chunyue Tower.

It was still that dark, narrow corridor, and it was still that unpleasant smell of rotten wood.

Two footsteps of different weights sounded in the darkness. On the second floor, the old wooden door creaked, and the light in the corridor suddenly flooded into my eyes.

Rong Shu narrowed his eyes and said, "My lord, go find Aunt Guo first, and I'll go find Sister Lu Yi."

Chunyue Building has not been open for business this month, and Guo Jiuniang is resolutely directing the people below to hang up lamps and burn incense in preparation for tomorrow. Children open the door to welcome guests.

She caught a glimpse of Gu Changjin's figure from the corner of her eye. Her beautiful eyes widened and she asked in surprise: "Why are you here, Mr. Gu?"

After entering the room, after hearing Gu Changjin's intention, this old bustard who had been having sex for more than ten years came to his attention. She opened her mouth and refused: "No, our Chunyue Tower cannot get involved in Liao Rao's matter. You should find someone else to help you." As soon as

she finished speaking, the door curtain suddenly made a sound.

Lu Yi held a banana fan embroidered with Zhai birds perched on the branches, stepped in, and said to Guo Jiuniang: "Mom, I want to see Governor Liao, and I will see you today."

Rong Shu followed Lu Yi and said with a smile: "Aunt Guo, don't worry. I will accompany Sister Lu Yi and I will definitely protect Sister Lu Yi."

Guo Jiuniang glared at Lu Yi, who looked stubborn, and then glared at Rong Shu, who had a smile on her face. Her teeth were sore . , said: "Go quickly! Go quickly! If you don't leave, I will drive you away myself!"

After a pause, he said harshly: "Go back as soon as possible!"