The two companies were led by an army lieutenant surnamed Wu, assisted by a second lieutenant of the navy, one and a half companies of the army, and the other three platoons were a navy company of dissatisfied sailors temporarily stationed in Shidao Bay, with a total of about 530 men.

Among these people, there were two military doctors, four ambulance soldiers, 23 scouts, one artillery platoon, and the rest were infantry and sailors, mostly armed with wolf's tooth rifles and Nan Japanese flintlock guns, and they also brought with them three twelve-pounder howitzers and a six-pounder cannon, which could greatly strengthen the firepower of Xishan Village and Yangma Island.

And although the Lieutenant Wu who came over was not at the same level as Liu, before he came, he was ordered to come here to listen to Liu's different commands, so Liu Wei was still in charge of the whole situation.

And after they set off, they received a new order from Fujian, after here, the military command was mainly handed over to Lieutenant Wu, and other things were also specifically responsible for Liu Wei, and the two people coordinated, and in case of contradictions, Liu Wei listened to Lieutenant Wu in the military aspect, and Liu Wei listened to Liu Wei's arrangements in other affairs.

This Lieutenant Wu is an old man in the Seawolf Army, he has participated in many wars, and he has rich combat experience, this time after Fang An and Lin Yiyang considered it, they thought that Lieutenant Wu was a good candidate, and they didn't send another person to rush over, so they let Lieutenant Wu shoulder the command of military operations here, which also saved a lot of trouble.

In addition to these more than 500 infantry, they also sheltered dozens of Shandong locals along the way, some of these people were horse thieves caught by them, and some were salt dings who ran a single gang, all of whom had a little kung fu, could ride horses, and could fight on horseback.

These people saw that the group of sea wolves was so strong, and felt that in the troubled times, it was quite good to be able to follow this group of people, although they could not be completely trusted, but they could also be used, so they were temporarily incorporated by Lieutenant Wu and brought them over.

In this way, they not only got a large number of infantry reinforcements, but also a small group of cavalry, these people are probably not very good at charging into battle, but there is no problem with using them as scouts, and when necessary, they can also be temporarily used to pursue the enemy's rout, which is of great benefit to improve the combat power of Xishan Village.

Coincidentally, on the morning of the third day when Lieutenant Wu led his troops to Xishan Village, the scouts sent out to investigate the news rushed back to Xishan Village and reported bad news to Liu Fei and Wu Shengtian (Lieutenant Wu).

A group of about 2,000 rebels, carrying about 2,000 refugees, appeared on the official road from Dengzhou to the west of Muping County, less than 20 miles away from the county seat of Muping.

Muping County has also learned the news at this time, and suddenly the city exploded like a nest, and hurriedly put the hundreds of defenders in the city and nearly a thousand young men who had just been recruited, caught up with the city wall, and prepared to defend the city.

Moreover, the governor of Ninghai Prefecture, not long after Liu Wei received the news, he sent a few messengers, rode fast horses, and rushed to Xishan Village, asking to see Liu Yi.

Liu Wei didn't need to see them to know what Lord Zhizhou was thinking about at this time, it must be that Zhizhou wanted to ask Liu Wei to send some township warriors to practice, or a family member, to the city to assist in defense, because during this time, the Ninghai Prefecture government has discovered the strength of this Liu Wei, and Liu Wei has not been weak in Xishan Village.

Therefore, Zhao Zhizhou here heard that the rebels were coming, so he thought of asking Liu to reinforce Muping County.

Liu Wei and Wu Shengtian hurried together and discussed whether they should help Haining Prefecture with this favor, but in the end, Liu Wei thought that this favor still had to be helped, because at present, he has attracted the attention of the official and has caused official concern by taking in refugees here with great fanfare.

If the rebels come this time and let the rebels take Muping County, in addition to offending the local government, I am afraid it will not be of much benefit to them, after all, as mentioned above, although the rebels have made a lot of trouble this time, they will definitely not become a big deal in the end, and they will be exterminated sooner or later.

Once the rebels attack Muping County in Ninghai Prefecture at this time, if they sit idly by and don't save them, they will inevitably be remembered by the government afterwards, and sooner or later they will turn around and come to them for trouble, so now is an opportunity to eliminate the government's worries about him, as long as they can help the government block the siege of these rebels this time, then the Haining Prefecture government will definitely not interfere too much with them in this area in the future.

So after some discussion, Liu Wei still agreed to meet the people sent by Zhizhou, and when a few messengers were brought into Zhuangzi, Liu Wei greeted them out of the gate of the mansion and brought them into the guest hall of the mansion.

Just as he was about to let someone serve tea, the person who led him stopped Liu Yi, and said with burning eyebrows: "Liu Yuanwai, there is no need for tea, what time is it now, where is the leisure to drink tea!" Let's get down to business!

This time, I came down to the next place, but I was entrusted by Lord Zhao, and I wanted to ask Liu Yuanwai to send some villagers to the city to assist in defense, I don't know if Liu Yuanwai can help us at this time!

Before letting me come, Lord Zhao specially instructed that as long as Liu Yuanwai agreed to send someone, then everything else is easy to say, and Master Liu just mentions it!

But whoever goes to the county seat, everyone Zhao promises that as long as they arrive in the county seat, they will be paid two taels of silver first, enough food and food every day, and wine and meat! Afterwards, the rebels retreated, and each of them was rewarded with another ten taels of silver! If Master Liu thinks it's not enough, you can still discuss! ”

Liu didn't pretend to be embarrassed, rubbed his hands and walked around the room a few times, raised his head and said, "If you want to say that Lord Zhao and Brother Tai, you have really been down for a while!" This busy villain shouldn't be able to say no!

But brother, you also know that my family has a big business, and the rebels are coming, if they can't take the county seat in a day or two, they will definitely have to collect food everywhere nearby, and my Xishan Village will definitely bear the brunt of it, if I send everyone to the county seat, in case the rebels come to attack the village in Xia, then I am afraid that I will not be able to hold here!

Look at this ......"

Although Liu Wei and Wu Shengtian had decided just now that they wanted to send someone to help Haining Prefecture with this, they couldn't agree to it too neatly at this time, otherwise, how could these officials accept their feelings lightly, so when it was time to take it right, they still had to take it easy.

As soon as he heard Liu Yuanwai's words, the person who came to invite him was anxious, and his face immediately sank, and he said unhappily: "Is Liu Yuanwai going to resign?" Before Lord Zhao came down, he said that there were no eggs under the nest, in case the county seat was not protected, would your Xishan Village still be preserved? When the rebels know that you have a large amount of food hoarded here, and that you have gathered such a large number of people, how can they not send heavy troops here to attack your village fort?

At this time, let's stop talking nonsense, what are the requirements of Liu Yuanwai, you might as well put it forward in person, as long as you can call the shots, you will try to meet Master Liu, and I will definitely explain it to the adults after I go back! ”

At this point, Liu Bu pretended to be embarrassed, pondered for a while, and then pretended to grit his teeth, and clapped his hands and said, "That's it!" Lord Zhao said well, there are no eggs under the nest, since Lord Zhao can afford me Liu, this time Lord Zhao is useful, then there is no excuse in the next, so let's do it, I will transfer two hundred villagers and family members in the afternoon, and ensure that they are all strong young and strong, each of them is a good man, let them rush to the city! But I have a few conditions, and I hope you can agree! ”

This one came to ask Liu Wei to send people, and as soon as he heard that Liu Wei agreed once, he sent two hundred family members and Xiang Yong to the city to assist in defense, and he was immediately happy! These days, Zhizhou has been sending people to various townships and villages to transfer townships and villages to bravely enter the city to assist in defense, but the gentry in each township can send thirty or forty people to the city at best, which is quite face-saving! Moreover, most of the people sent to the city are old, weak, sick and disabled, and they are not used at all!

But Liu Wei actually agreed to send two hundred people this time, and guaranteed that all of them were young and strong men, which was too face-saving, if there were two hundred more such new troops in the city at this time, then the certainty of defending the city would be a little more.

As for Liu Wei to put forward some conditions, he can't care about it at this time, as long as he can bring people back to the city, then even if Liu Wei makes some excessive requests, he can only meet him! Now it's more important than anything else to defend the city!

So the poor man immediately clenched his fists with great joy, gave Liu He a deep salute, and said loudly: "Liu Shanren really understands righteousness!" In the next generation, Lord Zhao thanked Liu Yuanwai! As for the conditions, Liu Yuanwai just mentioned it, as long as it is not too excessive, presumably our Lord Zhao will definitely agree! ”

After Liu Wei pondered for a while, he said: "My conditions are not too much, first, these family members and townsmen I sent, I hope they can guard the north gate, and I don't want others to interfere, the matter of leading the troops, I want my family to take care of it in the future, and I can't split and deploy my two hundred people, this is very important, if the adults can agree, I dare to guarantee that as long as they have one alive, the north gate will definitely not be lost, otherwise, please forgive me for not sending them over!" ”

After listening to Liu Different's request, this messenger who was sent, in fact, he can't be regarded as an ordinary messenger, this person who was sent is actually an inspector, who has dealt with Liu Differently before, and has also accepted bribes from Liu, so he is an old acquaintance.

After he hesitated for a moment, he was a little embarrassed by the condition proposed by Liu Wei, because Zhao Zhizhou was personally responsible for the deployment of defenses in the city, but all the Xiangyong who were transferred to the city were uniformly dispatched, but Liu Wei asked to put his people at the north gate, and they also wanted their own people to take charge, which was really not easy to do.