The sun is blazing, and thousands of people are stepping up construction in a corner of Mulang River.

The Mulang River separates Wuzhou and Xizhou from east to west. The widest part of the river is nearly five miles, and the narrowest part is less than 300 meters.

The current location of the construction is the narrowest part of the Mulang River, called Liangshuikou, which is only more than 270 meters wide. When the water level is low, people can walk directly across it. This location is very important.

When Huang was here, he built a defensive fortress here and stationed 300 troops. After Li Xun took office, he also attached great importance to this place and increased the number of troops stationed to 1,000.

A group of dozens of people stood not far away. Li Xun pointed and said something from time to time. Several officials stood aside to listen to Li Xun's work opinions.

The Mulang River is not far or close to Wu'an City, more than thirty miles away. It is Wuzhou's first line of defense against the Dashi Empire. With the full opening of trade between the two countries, it will definitely attract a large number of people. Safety issues are

It's the top priority.

Ten days ago, after a long conversation with Fan Zhongyun, Li Xun immediately wrote a letter in his own hand, in the form of a secret note, directly to Zhao Zhi, expressing his voice.

A few days ago, Wang Renzircon sent a letter to Li Xun, stating that the court had reached a resolution and agreed to fully open trade with the Dashi Empire. The edict would arrive in Longyou in the near future. Wang Renzircon asked Li Xun to start construction immediately to build the Shifusi Yamen.

, and the trading ferry.

Li Xun immediately recruited people and started construction. During this period, Fan Zhongyun gave Li Xun a suggestion to build the Shipping Department at Liangshuikou. In this way, even if the chief officer of the Shipping Department was an official of Yang's party, there would be

With the army watching from the side, he did not dare to go too far, and Li Xun now also served as the transfer envoy of Longyou West Road. Together, even if he could not directly intervene in the government affairs of the Shibosi Yamen, what he said would be heard in the city.

The main officials of the Shipping Department must have a very heavy weight in their hearts.

For everything, you must be prepared with both hands. This is something Fan Zhongyun often said, and Li Xun deeply believes in it.

More than a dozen cavalrymen came from a distance, led by an officer, a man in his early thirties and fully armored. When they came closer, the man dismounted, raised his hands to Li Xun and said: "Captain, the materials brought from Suzhou are as follows:

The money and food have arrived."

Li Xun asked: "When did you arrive?"

"The goods have just been transported to Wu'an City. After sorting them, they will be sent here immediately. The soldiers will report the goods. When the general learns the news, he will come immediately to report to the governor."

Li Xun nodded, looked this person up and down, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes. Now is not a tense period of war, the weather is so hot, everyone, including himself, is wearing casual clothes, but this person is

He is fully armored, carries his weapons with him, and is meticulous. He is really very masculine.

This person's name is Li Cunxiao, he is a general of the rank of Zhonglang. He was once a subordinate of Yuwen Zhen and served him for many years. After the Battle of Longyou, he was ordered by the court to stay in Longyou instead of following Yuwen Zhen back to Fengjing.

, and was finally controlled by Wang Chengxi. Wang Chengxi valued him very much and tried to win over him many times, but Li Cunxiao disdained Wang Chengxi's character and always ignored him. In the end, he angered Wang Chengxi and was deprived of his military power. Later, Li Xun

Successfully divided Yu Yanhui and took the opportunity to reduce the army. Wang Chengxi suffered a fatal blow, and Li Cunxiao was also implicated. Frustrated, he was originally ready to resign and return to his hometown, but what followed was the foreign people.

When a large-scale riot broke out and a critical moment came, it was Li Cunxiao who gathered the remnants of his troops, fought desperately, and escorted Wu Heng, Wang Chengxi and other key officials to Wu'an City. After the riot, dozens of civil and military officials, including Wu Heng and Wang Chengxi, were arrested.

He was deprived of his official position and sent to Fengjing for interrogation. Li Cunxiao was originally one of them, but Shanqiu came forward to persuade Li Xun to keep Li Cunxiao and serve him.

Shanqiu and Li Cunxiao had no friendship, but Shanqiu and Yu Wenzhen had some friendship. When the two were together, Yu Wenzhen talked about Li Cunxiao several times and regretted not bringing this person back to Fengjing. At that time,

The Battle of Longyou has just ended. Yu Wenzhen has made great achievements and is about to be reused. His daughter has become the Princess of Qi. He must separate and keep a distance from many of his old generals. Otherwise, Zhao Zhi's strict precautions against military generals will lead to his death.

Not sure what will happen.

So after knowing what happened to Li Cunxiao, Shanqiu came out to intercede. Li Xun gave Shanqiu face, kept Li Cunxiao, and invited him for an interview. After the two met, Li Cunxiao was serious, meticulous, and neither humble nor overbearing.

, gave Li Xun a very good impression, so he boldly appointed this person and appointed him as the military envoy of Liangshuikou, commanding a thousand soldiers to garrison Liangshuikou.

Li Xun glanced behind Li Cunxiao. Not only him, but also the dozen or so cavalrymen behind him were all like Li Cunxiao, wearing thick armor and carrying weapons with them.

Li Xun looked to the left and right and sighed: "Now that I see how strict Li Cunxiao is in running the army, I realize my ignorance. As the governor of Wuzhou, I have been so lax in my vigilance. This is my fault. I should learn more from Li Cunxiao."

.”

"The commander-in-chief is too humble, and he really cannot be worthy of being a general."

Li Cunxiao looked at Li Xun in surprise and said politely and modestly quickly, but he had other thoughts in his heart. Last time, he was ready to return to his hometown and bid farewell to officialdom. Then, he was suddenly summoned by Li Xun. The two only met once.

He was appointed in a daze. Today, Li Xun disregarded his own face and said these words. Is he just pretending, or is he really so open-minded?

Li Xun smiled and didn't say anything, but he had other thoughts in his mind. Li Cunxiao was indeed a talent, and staying in the small Liangshui Pass was a bit unfair. He could be sent to Xiazhou to train soldiers with Sima Zhong.

, or use it elsewhere.

After the inspection, Li Xun returned to Wu'an City. On the way, he saw soldiers escorting materials, money and food from a distance. Li Xun glanced at them for a few times, without stopping, and continued moving forward.

For the construction of the City Shipping Department, Li Xun only needed to provide personnel, labor costs and materials, etc., which were paid by the Governor's Office of Longyou Road. The labor costs paid by Li Xun were very high, because he had the lead in the previous construction of Wu'an City.

The common people believed in Li Xun, so they were very motivated. Within a few days, more than 3,000 people were recruited.

Returning to Wu'an City, outside the Governor's Mansion, Li Xun saw a group of more than a hundred cavalry. From the style and color of their armor, it could be seen that these people were not his own soldiers.

"Captain, you are back."

Lei Wanhai came up to greet him. After Shan Qiu was promoted to sub-general, he began to take charge of the army. The personal barracks were taken over by Lei Wanhai. His current official position is Lang General.

With Lei Wanhai's support, Li Xun dismounted, pointed at the cavalry, and asked, "Who are these?"

Lei Wanhai said: "Captain, Miss Li Qingying is here, and these people are her guards."

Ah! Li Qingying is here? Isn't she in Fengjing? Why is she here suddenly?

Although he was confused, when he heard that Li Qingying had arrived, Li Xun's face suddenly showed a look of surprise. He threw the whip to Lei Wanhai and trotted into the Governor's Mansion.

When I arrived at the living room, I took a quick look and saw that it was indeed Li Qingying. Li Xiao was also here, and Fan Zhongyun was drinking tea and chatting with his sister and brother.
Chapter completed!