It is summer, and the Xiangjiang River is full of water and rolling northward. After a heavy rain, it becomes even more turbulent, but it is also refreshing and relieves the heat of the hot summer.
The four boats broke through the turbulent river and headed southward. The speed was very fast. There were still traces of rain all over the hull. The flag on the bow had long been folded, and four wooden sticks were deployed. Under the control of the boatman,
Keep paddling.
There were more than twenty Hunan soldiers on each ship. The leader of the ship was a young officer. His armor was soaked and not yet dry. He was holding a sword in his arms, leaning on the canopy of the boat, with his eyes closed.
The hand is on the handle of the knife, as if ready to draw it and fight at any time.
The boat was very quiet, and the atmosphere was very solemn. Except for the sway of the river and the sound of the boatman's gun, there was no noise. The four soldiers on the boat were all Zhou Xingfeng's personal soldiers, die-hard loyal ones.
On the night of the 19th, when they were evacuating to Baling, these people were ordered by Zhou Xingfeng to sneak out and hide in Fengshan. They boarded four ships that had been prepared in advance and quickly headed south, aiming straight for Changsha.
This journey, entering the Xiangjiang River through Dongting and crossing Xiangyin, went smoothly except for the delay caused by a heavy rain before. On weekdays, although there are not hundreds of boats competing on the Xiangjiang River, there are not many boats passing by.
, but now, wherever you look, you can see a deserted scene, even fishing boats are rare.
"Captain, we're crossing the river!" The soldier on guard at the bow of the ship turned to report to the officer.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I glanced over with a cold gaze, and the ordinary face suddenly became a bit fierce. I looked towards the west bank, and I could see obvious waves as the water rushed into Hunan.
After passing Weikou, there are only sixty or seventy miles of waterway left from Changsha. No matter the physical strength, we must go at full speed and we should arrive in one and a half hours.
After thinking for a moment, the officer ordered in a deep voice: "Replace with Xiangji and head south at full speed. We must reach Changsha before sunset!"
"yes!"
"Captain, what do you think is the situation in Changsha now? If the Han army has captured it, then we..." A chief looked at the officer and asked.
"The speed of the Han army should not be so fast. If Changsha falls, there will not be a Han ship on the river!" The captain was familiar with the water conditions and terrain, and responded. After thinking about it, a look of determination appeared on his face: "Jie
The commander is kind to us, and the wife is even more kind to us. Even if she dies, she will return to Changsha to protect the wife and the young man and fulfill the command of the commander!"
After saying that, the officer walked out of the boat canopy and looked to the north, with a complicated expression, worried and sentimental. Baling may have been conquered, but what about the safety of Commander Ji...
Since the second year of Qianyou, the people of Hunan have suffered from wars and disasters. For many years, war and turmoil have always been the main theme of this land and city. And the hardest hit is Changsha, the largest city in Hunan.
's city.
The Ma brothers fought for power and burned half of the city wall in a fire. The barbarians captured all the treasures accumulated over the years. The Tang army destroyed Chu and even robbed Changsha of all their money and goods.
Together with the Chu people, they drove away the Tang army, adding a touch of bloodshed inside and outside the ancient city. Zhou Xingfeng took control of Changsha and recovered somewhat, but the generals of Langzhou were also fighting among themselves, and they could never get rid of the war.
The impact of last year's great famine has not yet dissipated, and this summer the whole country is fighting against the imperial army. There is a war in the north and Changsha is in turmoil.
The summer sun shrouds, shining brightly on the inside and outside of the ancient city of Changsha. It is hot and humid, irritating the mood of the soldiers and civilians. At this time, Changsha is full of depression and people are scattered. The streets are deserted, the people have hungry faces, and the soldiers
If the mind is absent-minded, all the generals and officials will have their own evil intentions.
During this period of time, news came one after another from the north, including the fierce battle at Sanjiangkou, the defeat of Liyang, the fall of Wuling, and the iron hooves of the Han army marching towards Yiyang.
The stormy background was like a rope strangling the throat, suffocating. However, for the soldiers and civilians in Changsha, many people were already looking forward to the quick arrival of the Han army for relief. It was said that after the Han army descended on Wuling City, they
Release food for the army and feed the hungry people.
Compared with the incidents in other states and towns in Hunan, where weapons are on the rise, the situation in Changsha is equally bad, but overall, it has not deteriorated to that point.
It’s not that the generals and officers in the military government worked together and took appropriate measures, but that Zhou Xingfeng had a good wife. His wife, Yan, grew up in humble beginnings like Zhou Xingfeng. However, after becoming rich, she still did not forget her original intention, went to the fields to work in person, and sympathized with the sufferings of the people.
He persuaded Zhou Xingfeng to give him a lenient sentence, and he has always had a reputation as a virtuous person.
During this week's trip to the north, Yan was in charge of the overall situation in Changsha. Of course, the fact that Changsha was not in chaos was also caused by many factors.
First of all, a group of people headed by Secretary Li Guanxiang worked hard to maintain it so as to lay a good foundation for the subsequent dedication of the city.
Secondly, the Wude Division, the secret agents of the Military Intelligence Division, fell silent, because there was no need for a turbulent Changsha to camp in the south.
Finally, and most importantly, Mrs. Yan distributed the only surplus grain in Changsha's warehouses to the people, and distributed the property of the Air Force Government to the soldiers, which not only cured hunger but also calmed the morale of the army. In this way, Changsha was barely able to maintain itself.
order.
Wuping Jiedu Yamen, inside the official office, Secretary Li Guanxiang and several staff members were sitting, making tea and discussing matters. Official duties had long been idle, and there was nothing to deal with. Other states and counties had long been on their own, and Changsha was half-dead and muddle along. People like them,
He just waited for the Han army to receive him, even with anticipation.
"If it hadn't been for this heavy rain, the Han army would have arrived in Changsha!" an official sighed.
"We have all set off to Yiyang. Yiyang is only more than a hundred miles away. The cavalry can arrive in half a day, so we can't wait much longer!" another person said.
"I haven't received any news from the north for a long time. I wonder how the war in Yuezhou is going now?" one person said.
"Why, are you still worried about Zhou Xingfeng's safety?" someone teased.
"After all, there is a friendship between master and minister! The Commander-in-Chief has a resolute character and goes against the will of nature, which is ultimately regrettable!"
"Since ancient times, those who go against the will of heaven will never end well. The Han army came south and was devastated, and its strong resistance to Yuezhou only caused more casualties to my husband from Hunan!"
"The people of Hunan have suffered from the scourge of war for a long time. Now they are exhausted. They are all crying for food and want peace. I only hope that this senseless disaster can end soon..."
"The army's food reserve is less than a hundred shi. If the Han army doesn't come again, we will all be hungry!"
"We can still bear it when we are hungry, but if we starve to the garrison in the city, disaster is just around the corner!"
"..."
The aroma of tea overflowed in the office, and the air smelled much better. A group of staff were discussing it heatedly. Li Guanxiang was sitting in the main seat, but he seemed very calm, neither impatient nor impatient, and listened quietly to the discussion.
"Secretary Li, are you not worried at all?"
[Get cash red envelopes] You can get cash by reading books! Follow WeChat and the public account [Book Friends Base Camp], cash/point coins are waiting for you!
Glancing at the person who asked the question, Li Guanxiang said calmly: "What's the use of worrying? The situation is irreversible. Everyone in the military government has been working very hard for so long. It's rare to have leisure. Drink more tea. Wait until
The Han army has entered the city. Under the rule of the imperial court, our future is uncertain and it is difficult for us to have such leisure..."
An official came in and stood at the door. When he saw him, Li Guanxiang asked, "What's the matter?"
"Someone has returned from Yuezhou, and he is a soldier of Commander Jie!" the official replied.
"How many people? Where are they?" Li Guanxiang's calmness immediately disappeared from his face and he became serious, and he asked hurriedly.
"There are more than a hundred soldiers, go directly to see the madam!"
His brows couldn't help but frown, and there was a hint of solemnity. Someone beside him couldn't help but ask: "Is there anything going on?"
Li Guanxiang was also worried about this. At this juncture, he couldn't make any mistakes. He stood up, walked a few steps, and ordered: "Hurry up and contact the two commanders Sun and Wang!"
Sun Wang was the commander of the only two remaining garrison battalions in Changsha. He had already colluded with Li Guanxiang, and they had made preparations to dedicate the city early.
In the inner hall, the returning officer knelt down and lowered his head. Behind the case, a woman with simple clothes and light makeup sat. She was not beautiful, and her complexion was even a little rough, but
With a solemn temperament that makes people dare not be insulted, this is none other than Zhou's wife Yan. She is holding a child in her arms and looking at him with innocent and ignorant eyes. It is Zhou Xingfeng's youngest son Zhou Baoquan.
After opening the letter handed over by the officer, some of the ink had melted. After reading it silently, two lines of tears fell involuntarily on Zhou Baoquan's face.
Finally unable to hold it back, a sad sobbing sound sounded...
