Delong

Chapter 202 Walking in the Snow (1)

In November and the twelfth lunar month of this year, the Jishui River Basin entered the coldest season of the year as promised, and there were three or four snowfalls intermittently.

According to information feedback, the downstream is okay, probably because it is close to the East China Sea, or it is covered by the terrain of Dongyi, so although the snow fell, it did not delay the gap and melted quickly, so that no excessive snow accumulation was formed.On the contrary, in the upper reaches of Jishui, all the way to Liangjun and Xingyang, the wind has been cold for several days, and the snow has been falling heavily, so that there is an obvious superimposition of snow layers.

This is of course a great thing, because it is conducive to farming season.

In this era, the foundation of the entire society is still agricultural production activities.

At the same time, in this era of accelerating turmoil, this kind of snow and severe cold seem to have pressed a pause button for the era, so that everyone can temporarily take a breath and think about their own future like a fish swimming in the ice. and the direction of the times.

Of course, some of this thinking is conscious and some is unconscious.And some people seem to never be able to see their own destiny clearly.

On the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, a huge team including a large number of servants, palace people, a small number of Jinwu Guards, and three Jing'an Taiwan patrol groups crossed the Sishui River, passed the Xiaoguan Pass, and came to the territory of Xingyang.

As soon as he arrived here, Zhang Shizhao, the minister of Xingyang, and the local governor of Xingyang led the local officials, [-] troops from the county, and thousands of civilians to meet him.

As a result, an even larger ranks of 3 or [-] people formed immediately.

Three days later, this huge team arrived at Guancheng, the county government, where they drove the team to the completely frozen canal and the avenues on both sides.Six days later, the team arrived in Putian, and ten days later, the team arrived at the border of Liang County. row team.

On the night of the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month, the team arrived at Chenliu, the first important town in Liang County.

Besides, Cao Wang, the prefect of Liang County, is a remote clan, and Liang County is a big and rich county. When the queen and concubines and princesses are here, Cao Wang naturally has to do his best, so that night in Chenliu City, he went to a place in Chenliu City that was said to be a local wealthy family. The banquet was held in the huge inner hall, and local ladies and talented folks were allowed to accompany them inside, while a group of local officials hosted the banquet in the outer hall.

However, Cao Wang is not only a remote clan, but also serves as the sheriff in a place like Liangjun, which can be regarded as near Ji, and now he is also in troubled times. The so-called political capital is sufficient, and his political attitude is self-evident. , unavoidably brought a little arrogance beyond the usual posture, and even deliberately humiliated and manipulated.

The three Zhu Shou and the three Hei Shou who came out of Jing'an Terrace were left at the banquet, and they were the guests of honour. Zhang Shizhao, Gao Jiang, the dignified Minister of the South Yamen and the Governor of the North Yamen were instead thrown out together with a group of father-in-laws. In the city, Cangcheng is chilly, and there is only a small banquet in the porch...even cold wine, and no serious dishes.

It attracted many father-in-laws to scold their mothers, and some even swore that when Jiangdu regained power, he must give Cao Wang a good look.

"Mr. Zhang regrets accompanying him?"

Everyone was bored with the feast, drank a few more cups to warm up, each scolded and then dispersed, but Gao Jiang, who was keenly aware of the unconcealable worry in Zhang Shizhao's brows, stayed here specially, and waited until there were fewer people, Fu and did not leave. table to ask.

"What do you regret?" Although it was only two or three years ago, Zhang Shizhao was no longer in the spirit of the past, and even showed his old age. He was a little tired when he picked up the wine at this time. "Time is fate, like you and me, we all rely on the saint for wealth and power. Now the saint is in Jiangdu, and I am like you. Staying where I am is just sitting on wax every day... Anyway, life is good, I will explain in the future Forget it, it should be done by the saint's side."

Gao Jiang nodded heavily... If not, why would the entire palace tend to go south?

On the one hand, it is true that there is the will of the sage, and on the other hand, it is also because the entire palace is built around the sage, and as the sage suddenly turned to Jiangdu, Dongdu, from the authority of the Beiya to the cost of the palace, almost plummeted .

The saint enjoys his own blessing, but without the saint, what are you court servants?

This caused the group of people who were trembling in front of the saint to miss the previous days instead, and the commotion intensified.Under such circumstances, if someone with a heart spread a rumor that Uncle Cao would send all his servants to the army and all the palace servants would be women in clothes, there would naturally be a clamor.

In fact, the remaining several thousand Jinwu Guards who were deeply influenced by the Beiya were supposed to come, but they were detained by Cao Lin and filled up as soldiers.

"What is Mr. Zhang worried about? Is it difficult to explain when he sees the saint?" Gao Jiang couldn't help asking after feeling emotional.

This is also a heart problem of his. The tower repair has collapsed, okay, and it happened twice.
"No." Zhang Shizhao only drank the wine in one gulp, but he was frank. "The saint can't wait to see everyone abandon Dongdu and go to him. As long as you don't mention the embarrassing things in the past, don't fight for power in Jiangdu, and stay honestly, there will be no trouble to explain? Those things before, If we really have to study it carefully, we are not the only ones who are difficult to explain.”

Gao Jiang sighed and didn't answer. Obviously, he understood what the other party meant.

However, it was Zhang Shizhao who drank a few glasses of wine at this time, and gradually regained some of his usual attitude, but asked in reverse: "So, Lao Gaoyi thought that when you arrived in Jiang, someone would chase you twice?"

"good."

"If you are worried about this, why do you want to go to Jiangdu eagerly? Old man Cao doesn't allow you to touch the emperor's eldest grandson. Why don't you stay in Xiyuan and grow vegetables at your own house to take care of yourself? Is it because you are afraid that old man Cao will not let you go?"

"No." Gao Dugong replied in a deep voice. "The main reason is that I'm not afraid of death, I'm only afraid of being poor, and I'm afraid of having nothing to do... If the saint wants to kill me, I will admit death."

Zhang Shizhao, who started to drink by himself, was taken aback for a moment, then drank it all down, and then suddenly looked at the double moon in the sky and laughed.

After laughing, Fu felt that his mouth was full of bitterness, and then his body shook slightly, so that he became slightly drunk... Some emotions, once they exploded, he would be stronger than any duke, but why did they explode?
He is Zhang Shizhao, drunk with worry and anger is enough.

"But if this is the case, why is Zhang Xianggong still worried?" Gao Jiang on the other side thought about it in reverse, and felt surprised.

"One is worried about the overall situation, and I don't know how long this situation can last." Zhang Shizhao answered simply. "The other is that the road is difficult to walk... Dongjun and Jiyin nearby have already fallen into the hands of thieves. Although the local tyrants are still supporting the bottom, the two people who make the decisions are actually two acquaintances with insight and ability. .”

"Li Shu, Zhang Xing... I know about it." Dugong Gao also became serious in an instant. "It's true that we have to guard against it... But, I also asked clearly before coming here. Didn't their main force go to the east?"

"Indeed." Zhang Shizhao nodded. "But although Li Shu is gone, Zhang Xing is still there, and there should be tens of thousands of people..."

"What can a thousand bandits do to us?" Gao Jiang asked seriously. "Although I didn't bring in the rest of the Jinwu Guards, there are still six thousand troops and thousands of soldiers. Among the experts, Uncle Cao is not stingy. The patrol inspection is also the seniority of the old black ribbon, and the two new black ribbons are simply the masters of Fulongwei before. The situation in the Eastern Capital is so difficult, but the three of them brought the most elite three inspection teams, what else can they do? , although the prefect of Cao is rude, it is said that he has stationed soldiers in Chuqiu and Yucheng next to Jiyin to block the way of Jiyin bandits..."

"It's a good thing the Jinwu Guard didn't come." Zhang Shizhao shook his head after hearing half of it. "Just like the Jinwu Guard, coming here will only add to the chaos... On the contrary, at the moment, the local troops, county soldiers, and three teams of patrols you mentioned are indeed guaranteed to be armed, but the weather is not good and the military strength is not stable. The truth."

Gao Jiang became serious, and asked seriously: "Master Zhang, please speak frankly."

"The snow is too heavy and the road is too difficult to walk. If we go further, we will go south. I am afraid that the snow will melt quickly. It will be cold but not frozen. The road is covered with snow and mud, and the river is covered with ice. You can't walk people or sail boats..."

"This is the right time, there is really no other way, but to bite the bullet and leave as soon as possible."

"Of course there is no way... Another thing is that this kind of military strength cannot last long. The troops stationed in the army are going to guard the eastern capital, and it is even more impossible for the county soldiers to leave the county. There are few things caused by the civilian husbands, so I dare not let them accompany them. Yes, so once you leave a county, you have to change people... But if you go on like this, what will Qiao County say? Qiao County only has [-] troops, which is very dangerous."

"really."

"Besides, starting from Qiao County, there is the core territory of the Huaiyou League. The Huaiyou League is a thing made by Jianghuai tycoons and water bandits. More than [-] people can easily gather more than [-] people... Now that the sages are in Jiangdu, they can't see the spring livelihood, and they are afraid that grass has grown in their hearts, but because the Xuzhou camp is beside them... And when the time comes, once we Entering Qiao County, the road is difficult, Zhang Xing led his troops through Dang County and went south, urging the Huai You League to rebel, we only have [-] soldiers, and we can't even control the team, what should we do?"

"I have to guard against it." Gao Jiang became more serious, and then immediately woke up. "What does Mr. Zhang think?"

"I would like to ask for a decree to go to Xuzhou Daying, and please come to Qiao County to pick him up as much as possible." Zhang Shizhao spread his hands. "How else?"

"But, where in Xuzhou would he obey Yi's order and send troops without authorization?" Gao Jiang's eyebrows tightened. "Sages are most taboo about this, right?"

"I can only try." Zhang Shizhao was still frank. "There are a lot of troubles, let's do our best..."

"So, Zhang Xianggong also thinks that Xuzhou may not send troops?"

"Half and half." Zhang Shizhao remained calm. "It depends on whether they have fought for power and profit, and ended the infighting..."

Gao Jiang was at a loss for a moment.

This is not to say that he does not believe that Xuzhou Daying is engaged in internal fighting.

What are you kidding, what has Dong been doing for the past six months?
Of course, they fought for power and profit, and formed cliques to engage in infighting.

What Jiang Du is doing, you don't need to ask.

That group of people went to Jiangdu and re-established half of the country's system. They must compete for positions, territory and military power, and there is a new conflict between the local and the outside.

What are Youzhou, Taiyuan, and Xuzhou doing? Do you still have to guess?
Everyone came out of the imperial court, who doesn't know who?Internal strife means death, but you would rather die than engage in internal strife!Even if the sky falls, we will fight among ourselves even if we die together!
Of course, Dugong Gao must not know that even the rebels in the neighboring county have formed cliques and engaged in infighting in the past six months!
It is impossible not to engage in internal fighting, and it is impossible in this life.

All in all, internal strife is inevitable, but Gao Dugong was momentarily at a loss as to whether he would send troops to respond when the internal strife was over, or when the internal strife was intensified.

"If General Tuwan put down the rebellion honestly, it would be great to take the Hanshui Avenue..." At this point, Gao Dugong also felt a little sad.

"This is what I want to say that disasters come from within... In this world, people's hearts are growing grass, and it looks safe on the outside. No one knows who can be trusted. God knows which powerful army will rush away at once. If we break up, someone will suddenly feel malicious." Zhang Shizhao poured himself the last half glass of wine, looking at the sky with emotion. "For example, about General Tuwan, I think I am a smart person, but I really don't know why he left... Was he instigated by those in Kansai to deliberately trouble Old Man Cao? Or was he hinted by the saint? Or was he angry? Gone? Or do you think that Jiangdu can make a comeback? Or is it simply that the war is unfavorable and you can't fight?"

Gao Dugong firmly believed that the reason why Tu Wanchanglun left was provoked by the people in Guanlong, because the main line of internal struggle in Dongdu before was the suppression and counter-suppression of the people in Guanlong by Uncle Cao.

However, listening to Zhang Shizhao now, he also became at a loss.

Among other things, the sage hinted that Tu Wanchang's theory that the grand master led troops there was a possibility that was in line with the sage's personality and was destined to be impossible to falsify.

"Do your best!" After thinking for a long time, Gao Jiang could only feel so emotional.

Zhang Xianggong naturally had nothing to say.

In this way, the next day, the team set off again to the south.

And just after leaving Chenliucheng for less than ten miles, in the morning, a routine vehicle skid caused the team to come to a standstill. The most honorable woman in the team may also be the woman with the highest status in theory in this era. That is the queen. For some reason, she suddenly took the opportunity to call Gao Jiang, the actual person in charge of the main team, the governor of the North Yamen, and said that she had something to ask.

"Your Highness." Gao Jiang, who was specially dressed in a gorgeous python robe representing the status of the governor, rushed over today and bowed his head in front of the huge palace carriage. "What orders does Your Highness have? Your servants must do their best."

"There is nothing else." A gentle female voice immediately sounded in the palace carriage. "It's just that when we were in Xingyang, we encountered livestock and vehicles skidding again and again..."

"Your Highness, don't worry." Gao Jiang suddenly said seriously. "But with the presence of my ministers, I will never delay the journey... Besides, the local government will make up for the vehicle along the way, so it won't be a problem."

"I... Ben Gong didn't mean that." The female voice obviously hesitated, and then explained further. "It was last night. I heard from the local female guests that the further journey will be covered with snow that is very deep, some even knee-high. I can't help feeling a little worried... The road is difficult, and the weather is cold, so I have to rush I'm afraid it will shake people's hearts and cause dissatisfaction, so that they will flee, and once people's hearts are scattered, they can't go on even if they are on their way."

Gao Jiang was silent for a while.

He probably understood that after listening to the description of the difficulties, the queen was afraid that the team would have a situation like the three expeditions to Dongyi... But to be honest, who wouldn't be afraid?Discussed with Zhang Shizhao last night, what difficulties does he not know about?
The only thing I'm afraid of is that I'm afraid of returning home, so why not leave?
If you die, you will die in Jiangdu.

At this point, Gao Dugong was frank: "Your Highness, don't worry, we are different from Sanzheng... Sanzheng is the reason why those people escaped because they were captured from their homes and went to fight in Dongyi. I was afraid that I would die if I went to Dongyi; but this time, it is only natural for us, the palace servants and servants, to go to Jiangdu, but we stayed here in Dongdu. County soldiers and civilian husbands don’t need to go out of the county, so this trip is completely different from the three expeditions.”

"Governor Gao is very right." The voice in the palace car was a little slower, it seemed that he had heard the answer he wanted to hear.

"As for the snow..." Gao Jiang thought about it for a while, and continued to be serious. "Your Majesty, please open the shutter and take a look with your own eyes."

There was a slight movement inside the carriage, and then the palace carriage opened a side door, raised a thick blanket stretched up and down, and rolled up a silk curtain.

However, looking out from the inside of the car, it is doomed to be a vast expanse of whiteness, and I don't know how to look at it.

Seeing this, Gao Jiang continued to point out: "Your Highness, please send a personal female officer out of the car..."

After a while, a man dressed as a woman jumped out of the car trembling.

"You." As the governor, Gao Jiang was naturally not polite to the female officer, and directly pointed at her. "Walk into the untrodden snow over there, and don't turn back without my order...but be careful not to fall over."

The male and female officials did not dare to hesitate, their bodies were trembling, but their feet were agile, and they directly followed the order to step forward into the snow with one deep step and one shallow step.

"Okay, come back." Seeing that the female officer had gone far enough, Gao Jiangfu shouted again. "You don't need to dust yourself off with snow powder, just go up and show His Highness where the snow is..."

The female official turned back in a hurry and boarded the warm palace carriage. The snow marks on her body melted away almost immediately, but only her calves were wet.

"Did your Highness see it?" Gao Dugong couldn't ask.

"I see." The queen was obviously relieved again.

"Actually, if it is really difficult, the biggest difficulty is probably in Qiaojun. There are not many troops stationed there. I would like to ask your highness to write an edict and send it directly to the Xuzhou camp. Please send a support soldier to Qiaojun. side...that's the right way."

The queen became nervous again: "The sage doesn't like the harem issuing orders so easily."

"It doesn't matter." Gao Dugong seemed to have thought about it for a long time. "If your Highness is interested in this matter, you only need to write a decree. First, praise Cao Taishou and Liang Jun for their good reception here, and then ask Zhang Xianggong, Cao Taishou, and Luo and Xue, the two permanent inspectors, and ask them about the Qiao County in front of them. How about the strength of the army? Is it as appropriate as Liangjun? In this way, they will discuss it in front of the team, and then hold His Highness's order to invite troops to Xuzhou, so it is not considered as His Highness intervening in the military."

There was silence in the palace carriage for a while.

Gao Jiang couldn't bear it, so he could only urge him: "His Royal Highness, just now His Highness still felt sorry for the tens of thousands of servants in the Eastern Capital Palace who worked hard on the road in the snow. Now that they can protect the team well, why are they still hesitating? If you really hesitate, wait until the spring snow melts. If you can’t get out of Qiao County, then your future is hopeless.”

"Gao Dugong is right, I put the cart before the horse and got confused." The palace car responded immediately. "This palace will write the decree."

A moment later, a decree with the queen's seal was written, and the female officer held it out, and the queen also opened the door of the car and gave orders to the outside:
"So, only Duke Lao Gao is left."

"Your Highness, please sit in the car, and your ministers will come down to make decisions on the road." Gao Jiang saluted sincerely. "This time, I will never fail the sage's entrustment."

When the queen heard the word "sage", she said nothing, just nodded, and then ordered the door to be closed.

After a while, the team continued to move forward, but plunged into the vast white land of the Central Plains.

That is to say, on the same day, as their sentry horses turned back, Zhang Xing gathered many left-behind leaders here in the county town of Jiyin County and in the hall of the county mansion, preparing for the final discussion and decision.

At this time, in addition to Zhang Xing, the chief Wei Xuanding, the chief leader Zimian Tianwang Xiong Bonan, the chief leader Xu Shiying, the chief leader Niu Da, Zhou Xingfan, Jia Yue, the Lu brothers, Guo Jingke, etc. , Du Caiqian, Chai Xiaohe, Huang Junhan, Zhang Jinshu, as well as Guan Xu, Zhou Weishi and other new leaders, plus Shang Huai'en, the younger brother of Shang Huaizhi, Yan Qing and other new leaders.

There was even a leader of Dangshan who was sent by Wang Zhen, how to sit and feel uneasy at this time, that is a fat leader surnamed Fan, who is said to be very famous in Dangshan.

Big and small, the county mansion is actually full to the brim.

Obviously, the news that the front line is still attacking the city and opening maps these days has seriously stimulated everyone in the rear. From top to bottom, from civil to military, no one can sit still.

"Report the information!" Zhang Xing, who had withdrawn the case and sat in the first place, looked away from Cook Fan and pointed at Yan Qing, who was publicly appearing on such an occasion for the first time.

Under the strange gazes of many people below Chief Wei Xuanding, Yan Qing stood up calmly, holding a piece of paper in both hands, and began to announce the information:

"When the southbound team left Xingyang, there were a total of 5000 people, most of whom were palace servants and servants. They carried more than a hundred carts, hundreds of uncovered carts pulled by donkeys and horses, and countless cages. Among them, the Queen With the vast majority of high-ranking concubines, including the family members of King Qi, and a small number of family members of officials..."

Hearing this just now, many bumpkins in the hall have already started to sigh, and Wei Daoshi, the initiator of the idea, is even a little excited, and just wants to call him a good guy.

Of course, the good guy didn't shout out, but Zhang Xing couldn't help but frowned: "Why are there so few people and things? Is it really like fleeing from disaster?"

After saying a word, the whole room was silent, and they shut their mouths honestly.

"I can only guess that Cao Zhongcheng wanted to retain manpower and material resources, and at the same time control the family members of Jiangdu officials as hostages." Yan Qing quickly explained. "That's why the scale of this southward travel was artificially limited, and the utensils and goods in the palace were controlled."

"It should be so." Zhang Xing sighed for a moment. "Go ahead!"

"Yes." Yan Qing made enough gestures, really as careful and conscientious as an official. "Besides, it may be that something went wrong in Nanyang. Cao Zhongcheng wanted to keep people, or he felt that the team was not large, so he didn't accompany him as he thought before. Instead, he relied on the local troops and county soldiers to escort them alternately. ...

"The person in charge should be Gao Jiang who has said many times before. He is the actual core of the team, but Zhang Shizhao doesn't care about things...

"As for Liang Jun and Qiao Jun, everyone knows the ups and downs, the characters, and the strength of the troops, so I won't go into details. If anyone really doesn't know, you can ask again...

"It is worth mentioning that the first, second and third tour groups of Jing'an Terrace were all accompanied by escorts. The three Zhushou were Luo Fang, Xue Liang and Shen Ding. Luo Fang was Cheng Dan, and Xue Liang should have just made Dan. , all are the adopted sons of Cao Zhongcheng, and Shen Ding is the former vice-president inspector of the old black ribbon. Now that he has been promoted, he does not know whether he has broken through the realm or has reached the qualifications and needs to employ people. The three black ribbons are Qin Bao, Li Qingchen and Lu Chang Heng..."

Hearing this, Zhang Xing's eyelids finally twitched under the weird attention of everyone.

"Zhang Longtou." Wei Xuanding saw the other party's eyelids twitch with his own eyes, and just smiled while pinching his beard. "How many of these six people do you know?"

Hearing this, Zhang Xing just said with a blank face: "Luo Fang is brave but not resourceful, but he is all-rounder, let Xiong Tianwang win it; Xue Liang has neither courage nor strategy, Shen Ding is a bureaucrat, these two are Ning Dan He is also a waste, Xu Dalang and I can both be victorious... But Qin Bao and Lu Changheng, both my former confidants and subordinates, are also rare heroes, the former is heroic and violent, and the latter is calm and steady. As far as cultivation is concerned, we must also be careful of their ability to lead the army... As for Li Qingchen, I really can't think of what to say about him, I can only say that at the end of the day, he was once as famous as me in Jing'an Terrace."

Xiao Zhou nodded instinctively.

Now, the atmosphere in the hall became a little tense and strange, only one Xu Shiying didn't know what was going on, but actually took a charcoal pencil and scribbled something on the paper in a hurry.

Niu Da next to him had sharp eyes, and saw that this fellow wrote these six names again, and then drew a circle on each of Xue Liang, Qin Bao, and Lu Changheng, and drew two circles on Luo Fang's name, and hesitated for a while. After that, three circles were drawn on the three characters of Li Qingchen.

The same treatment as Gao Jiang, Zhang Shizhao and the prefect Cao Wang introduced earlier.

PS: Good afternoon everyone.

(End of this chapter)