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Chapter 1101: Through the Three Gorges

"You'll really pay us?" The single question almost broke through Zhu Cunji's composure.

He had originally come out to ostentatiously raise their wages, seeking a moment in the spotlight, hoping to bask in their gratitude and fill a small emotional void. He never expected to simply scare the boatmen instead. Truly, it was unexpected.

Zhu Cunji couldn't help but stomp his foot and bellow from the ship's rail. "What kind of person do you take me for? Am I the sort to default on a few measly coins? Look at who I am! I'm the world's most—"

Zhu Yujian quickly leaped out from behind him, clapped a hand over his mouth, and dragged him down onto the deck. "Hush! What are you shouting about? Do you want to cause trouble?"

Zhu Cunji's mind snapped back. "Oh, right."

Zhu Yujian advised, "Spouting useless nonsense at a time like this is less effective than simply offering an advance payment."

Zhu Cunji's eyes widened in realization. "Right, right, right! The advance payment option!"

He sprang up, pulled out a silver ingot weighing at least five *liang*, and tossed it onto the shore. "Here, catch! Five *liang* upfront!"

The boatmen hesitated, not daring to pick up the silver. "It can't be fake, can it?"

Zhuge Wangchan burst into laughter. Zhu Cunji's approach to the common people was still lacking. He simply didn't understand that the lowest strata of laborers, hardened by a lifetime of hardship, weren't accustomed to good fortune simply falling from the heavens. After all, pies never just fell from the sky.

He quietly instructed a few logistics soldiers. They leaped ashore, retrieved the five-*liang* silver ingot, then fetched several strings of copper coins from the ship's hold. Returning to the bank, they placed the coins into the intermediary's hand. "The money will be held by your people for now. You just focus on pulling the boats; you'll be paid for whatever you pull. That... *cough*... that hero just now, his words are good. Small boats will earn you one hundred ten *wen* each, medium boats two hundred twenty *wen*, and large boats three hundred thirty *wen*! Thank you all for your hard work."

Copper coins couldn't be faked!

Even poor quality copper coins were still coins, and they could still be used.

The boatmen let out a cheer, their enthusiasm burning brighter than before. Shouldering the tow ropes, they pulled with renewed vigor.

With their spirits lifted, they not only worked energetically but even felt like singing.

A group of boatmen, pulling the vessels, began to shout their chant.

"Feet push stone, heave-ho!

Hands scoop sand, heave-ho!

Naked bodies, heave-ho!

Climbing higher, heave-ho, ho!"

For those not adept at expressing themselves through words, song would serve.

On the boats, the militia soldiers watched the scene, tears inexplicably welling in their eyes. Some rolled up their sleeves, ready to jump ashore and help.

But Zhuge Wangchan spoke up. "Hold your posts! Why do you carry those flintlock rifles? While helping pull the boats might move *you*, what if rebels attack at this very moment? Will you scramble back to the boat for your rifle, looking utterly disheveled? What if it's too late?"

The logistics soldiers reluctantly abandoned the idea of helping, picked up their flintlock rifles, and vigilantly scanned the hills and forests on both banks.

There were many ways to defend their homes and nation! Some carried guns into battle, some managed supplies in the rear, some handled transport, others engaged in research and development...

The most crucial thing was to fulfill their own roles!

With the tireless efforts of the boatmen, the massive fleet navigated through the Yangtze River's Three Gorges, continuing its advance toward Sichuan.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A flurry of flintlock shots erupted. At the northern gate of Yunyang County, large groups of rebels were frantically charging toward the city walls.

Stationed in Yunyang County was Cheng Xu, the general commander of the Gao Family Village expeditionary force into Sichuan. His four "great" generals – Padi Tu, Zheng Gouzi, Gao Chuwu, and Zheng Daniu – had each led a thousand men to various surrounding counties.

Cheng Xu himself commanded only a thousand men, holding the fort in Yunyang.

The rebels had scouted Yunyang County, confirming that only a thousand militia members were garrisoned there. Boldly, they launched their attack, only to smash themselves against the "iron plate" that was Cheng Xu.

A militia soldier aimed at a rebel outside and fired with a "bang," sending one rebel tumbling down. The soldier swiftly pulled the bolt, the rifle's mechanism shifted, pushing forward at an angle. The gunpowder residue and incompletely burned paper scraps remaining in the chamber were ejected, and then a spring pushed a new bullet into the breech...

The soldier aimed outside again, squeezed the trigger... but it wouldn't budge!

"Ah, the paper cartridge residue has jammed the breech again!" the soldier cried out.

The soldier cried out.

The squad leader beside him cursed furiously, "Didn't we go over emergency procedures during training? If your rifle jams, why don't you damn well retreat and fix it? What are you yelling about here?"

The soldier meekly endured the squad leader's scolding, retreated a good distance, and with practiced speed, opened the breech to clear the jam.

Meanwhile, his comrades quickly filled the gap left by his temporary absence.

Bolt-action rifles loaded with paper cartridges indeed had a significant chance of jamming.

However, even if only a few hundred guns didn't jam, their firepower was terrifying enough to sweep aside any force armed with cold weapons.

The rebels outside the city were utterly routed, unable to even approach Yunyang County's low walls. After leaving behind a pile of corpses, they retreated, disheveled and defeated, back into the mountains.

Cheng Xu pondered for half a second whether to pursue them into the mountains. The answer was: no!

What mountain could a thousand men possibly search? Lost in the Shu Mountains, a thousand men wouldn't even make a ripple.

He turned back, surveying the situation within the city, and his brows furrowed deeply.

Yunyang County was filled with refugees, pressed shoulder to shoulder, sitting or squatting, cramming every street corner.

Cities in those days were generally small, especially county seats. A single section of city wall was often only two *li* long, and ordinarily, they weren't considered crowded. This was because the common people, needing to farm, were necessarily spread throughout the countryside, not all rushing into the county town.

But with the rebels causing havoc, driving the common folk into the county towns, how could these small cities possibly accommodate everyone?

With such a surge in population, grain prices in the county town skyrocketed...

Cheng Xu could do nothing but anxiously await the arrival of the logistics team.

"Cheng Xu, go to the riverside. The logistics team has arrived."

The Heavenly Lord embroidery on his chest suddenly spoke.

Cheng Xu was overjoyed. "They're here!"

When the Heavenly Lord himself delivered the notification, there was no doubt of its truth. He quickly dashed, two steps at a time, to the southern gate of Yunyang County. The gate overlooked the surging river, where a vast flotilla of small cargo boats was approaching the county town.

Cheng Xu was ecstatic. "The logistics team has finally opened up the shipping route!"

The militia immediately began shouting throughout the city, "Hiring dock porters to move grain! Excellent wages! If you're strong, come quickly!"

The refugees, anxious about their lack of work, now had a job. Large crowds of them swarmed forward.

Before long, vast quantities of supplies began to be moved ashore.

The militia soldiers could finally begin distributing gruel to aid the populace.