A thousand-year-old family that began with the Battle of Makino

Chapter 17 The Southern Expedition failed miserably
King Nineteenth Year
The emperor of Zhou led his army from Qiandi, crossed Sanguan, went down the Han River, and arrived at Lu. It was the rainy season, and many of the soldiers were sick.

Bai Huan went to the middle division commanded by the emperor. After arriving at the middle division, Bai Huan asked to see the emperor, but was refused, so Bai Huan turned to look for Cai Gong.

Cai Gong was the Grand Sima. Because he was Bai Huan's direct superior, the two had a lot of friendship. Soon, Cai Gong invited Bai Huan into his military tent.

"Doctor Huan, come and have a barbecue. Don't catch the cold." Cai Gong saw that Bai Huan was soaked by the rain and led him to the brazier.

Bai Huan anxiously said to Duke Cai:
"Mr. Cai, I'm not in the way. The most anxious thing now is the army. It's raining so heavily. We don't have so many preparations for this southern expedition. The soldiers are all soaked in the rain. What is the emperor going to do?"

Cai Gong looked at Bai Huan, sighed and said:
"Why don't I know it? But now the emperor doesn't see me."

Bai Huan asked in surprise: "How is it possible? You are the Great Sima."

Cai Gong said lonely: "I am a great Sima, but I am a great Sima if I have soldiers and horses. Without soldiers and horses, I am only a great Sima. Besides, because I opposed the emperor's expedition during this southern expedition, the emperor has been treating me too much recently." There is an alienation, I guess, I will go back this time. I may just go back to the country and seal it off."

Bai Huan said anxiously: "Then what should I do? I went to ask to see the emperor, but the emperor didn't see me either. What's going on?"

Cai Gong said: "It's not surprising. In recent days, many people have gone to the emperor to ask the emperor to return to the court. Maybe the emperor was bored and refused to see people!"

When Bai Huan saw this, he was also anxious and said, "Oh! What should I do?"

Seeing Bai Huan's urgency, Cai Gong asked curiously:

"Even if there is a lack of shelter from the rain, as long as more trees are cut down, so many people can quickly build a wooden shed that is enough to protect them from the rain. It is not a pressing matter."

When Bai Huan saw that Cai Gong asked and could not see the emperor, he did not hide anything and said directly: "Cai Gong doesn't know something. Logically speaking, it rains so heavily for so many days in a row. The water level of the Han River should have risen a lot. , but I have discovered in the past few days that the water level of the Han River has not risen very much, so there must be something fishy in it."

Upon hearing this, Cai Gong said: "This is not a big problem. Maybe the embankment broke somewhere upstream and part of it flowed to other places. This can also ensure that the water level of the Han River does not rise."

Bai Huan said: "This possibility cannot be ruled out, but what if the Chu people dammed the upstream to store water? The Chu people have lived in the south for a long time and have a much more accurate grasp of the southern climate than we do. They must know that there will be a rainy season recently, so they go there in advance Build embankments upstream to store water, and when the time comes, the embankments will burst and the water will be released, and our troops will have no place to survive."

Duke Cai was shocked when he heard this and said, "What should we do?"

Bai Huan continued: "Our army went down the Han River and camped near the water along the way. When the flood arrives, our army will have nowhere to run!"

When Cai Gong heard this, he was shocked and turned around anxiously. Finally, he made up his mind and said, "No, I will risk my life today to explain my interests to the emperor." After that, he walked towards the emperor's palace.

At the gate of the emperor's palace, the guard told Duke Cai that the emperor had something to do and he could not see Duke Cai. He asked Duke Cai to choose a day to see him.

Seeing this, Cai Gong quickly shouted and pushed the guards into the palace: "I have an urgent matter to see the emperor!" The guards saw that Cai Gong was an important minister of the Zhou Dynasty and a relative of the Ji clan, so they were reluctant to use force, and were actually attacked by Cai Gong. The man broke in.

When Emperor Zhou saw Cai Gong breaking in, he couldn't help being furious and said to the guards: "What are you doing? Let people break into my palace casually. If there were assassins, wouldn't I just die?"

Then he said to Duke Cai: "You are an important minister of the Zhou Dynasty and a prince, and you despise the Zhou rites so much. Do you want to be expelled from the country and seize the title?"

When the guard saw this, he was immediately frightened and fell to his knees, saying, "The Emperor forgives me!"

Cai Gong hurriedly knelt before the emperor anxiously and said: "I have a matter of life and death and I want to see the emperor. I am rude. I ask the emperor to punish me after listening to what I said. I will have no complaints!"

When the Emperor of Zhou saw Cai Gong and knelt down to him, and heard him say that there was a matter of life and death, he had no choice but to listen to him, and said to the guard:

"You guys, get out of here, I will take care of you later." Then he said to Cai Gong: "Since you said there is something important, then I will see if you have any major life-or-death issues. If not, you will go back to the feudal country." Retirement!”

Cai Gong quickly stood up and saluted the emperor: "Here", and then looked at the warrior Xin Yumi on the emperor's right.

When Emperor Zhou saw Duke Cai looking at Xin Yumi, he said unhappily: "Why, do you want my guards to go out? What do you want to do?"

Upon seeing this, Cai Gong could only say: "I dare not, please inform your Majesty. Your Majesty should know that these days are the rainy season, but the water level of Han River has not risen at all. This is really a matter of life and death!"

When Emperor Zhou saw Cai Gong talking about the Han River, he thought he wanted to persuade him again, so he said sarcastically: "What? Is Cai Gong going to be a water officer? He is so concerned about the Han River. Besides, do I need to know?" There are so many things going on in this world, do I have to keep my eyes on this little Han River?"

When Cai Gong heard the emperor's sarcasm, he knew that the emperor had not thought of the danger, so he had no choice but to continue:
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, it doesn't matter whether the Han River rises in normal times, but now our army is camped next to the Han River. It stands to reason that with such heavy rain and continuous rain for so many days, the water level of the Han River should have risen a lot. But the water level of the Han River has not risen very much in the past few days, so there must be something fishy!" Emperor Zhou chuckled and said, "Don't think Mr. Cai doesn't understand military affairs. Part of the water flows away, which can also ensure that the water level of the Han River does not rise."

After hearing this, Duke Cai sighed and said, "I thought so at the time, but what if someone builds a dike upstream to store water?"

Emperor Zhou thought for a while and said thoughtfully: "You mean, the Chu people built embankments upstream to store water?"

Cai Gong replied: "This is not impossible. Besides, the Chu people have lived in the south for a long time and have a much more accurate grasp of the southern climate than we do. They must have known that there will be a rainy season recently, so they built embankments upstream to store water in advance and waited until the time came."

Emperor Zhou responded: "When the time comes, break the embankment and flood the water, and our army will be washed away and annihilated!"

After saying this, Emperor Zhou quickly called the commander-in-chief of the Central Division and asked him: "Has our army sent troops to the upper reaches of the Han River to investigate the situation upstream?"

Hearing this, the commander-in-chief of the middle division wondered: "Your Majesty, it has been raining heavily recently, and it is difficult to march. How can we send people out to explore the enemy's situation?"

When Emperor Zhou heard this, his face turned pale with fright, and he suddenly said: "Go and pass the order quickly, and immediately move the army to higher ground."

When Emperor Zhou saw the commander-in-chief's expression of embarrassment, he suddenly said angrily: "Go and deliver the order quickly, you XXX, if you dare to neglect me again, I will kill you first."

Suddenly there was a "rumbling" sound outside, and a faint shout of "The water is rising!" could be heard vaguely.

Emperor Zhou muttered: "It's over!"

Upper Han River
The commander-in-chief of the Chu army saw that the water was almost full, and immediately ordered the dikes to be dug. Then he watched the rolling river water rushing downstream along the growing gap. He chuckled and said: "Emperor Zhou, have a taste of what Chu people are doing to you." Give me a tribute gift!"

The flood rushed down the Han River, and all the trees, stones, and soil along the way were carried down. This is the power of God, and it cannot be stopped by just hanging up.

Bai Huan stood outside the palace, anxiously waiting for the news inside. Suddenly he heard a "rumbling" sound, and then saw the flood connecting with the blue sky, running towards him. Bai Huan cursed secretly, and was overwhelmed by the flood. Coerced.

When Bai Huan was still struggling in the flood, he suddenly touched a tree and hugged the life-saving tree. When he was happy, a stone in the flood hit him, and Bai Huan was hit and spurted out blood. , at this time the flood brought Bai Huan and hit the rocks in the river hard, and Bai Huan died.

At the moment Bai Huan died, a piece of jade suddenly appeared in the mind of Bai Zhen, who was far away in Baiyi. Bai Zhen, who was studying in the study, burst into tears, which made the servants feel strange.

After the flood gradually subsided, Xin Yumi carried the body of Emperor Zhou ashore. Then he found the body of Cai Gong floating in the river, so he quickly jumped in and fished out Cai Gong. In another place, five White Guards were anxiously looking for their family leader.

Suddenly they found a corpse on a stone in the river. The jade pendant on it was shining in the sun. They hurriedly swam over to take a look. Sure enough, it was Bai Huan. They dragged Bai Huan back to the shore and tremblingly explored Bai Huan's body. He snorted, but there was no breath at all. He quickly leaned on Bai Huan's chest and listened to the beating of his heart, but there was no rise or fall at all.

The five White Bear Guards collapsed. On the spot, one White Bear Guard committed suicide. An older White Bear Guard said to the three younger White Bear Guards:

"My master is very kind to me. If my master hadn't saved me from the mountain, I would have died there. Today my master died here because we didn't protect him. How could we have the dignity to go home?" Seeing the people, you three must live well. Take our two bodies back if you can. If you can’t take them back, bury them on the spot. But the body of the head of the family must be brought back to Baiyi for burial. Finally, please The family will take good care of my wife and children, and I will go!"

Then he committed suicide and died. Seeing this, the other three Bai Huan guards silently helped them collect the bodies. They found wood and made a simple coffin. They put Bai Huan's body inside and then returned to the temporary home with the three bodies. Camp.

Winter of the Nineteenth Year of the King

The troops of the Southern Expedition returned to Luoyi.

When he went there, the emperor personally led the expedition, accompanied by the Eighth Division of Luo and the Eighth Division of Yin. When he came back, the emperor died, and only three of the sixteen divisions were left. The Zhou Dynasty suffered unprecedented tragic losses in the south.

After Wang Shi returned to the north, Duke Zhou granted Xin Yumi the title of Marquis of Xi Di. On the way back to Baiyi when Bai Huan's coffin was escorted by the White Guards, they saw that almost every house in Luo and the old land of Yin and Shang was in plain clothes, and every household was in white silk.
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King Honglu Zhao widely criticized Jingchu, but only hunted southward.

——"Historical Wall Plate"

King Zhao of Zhou personally led the army to conquer the east and the south. Judging from the performance of King Zhou Mu in later generations, although King Zhao died in a different place, the expansion of the Zhou Dynasty into the south was completed by King Zhao of Zhou.

——"Opinions on the Defeat of King Zhou Zhao's Southern Expedition"

(End of this chapter)