The current situation in Luoyang, the eastern capital, is just as the imperial envoy who came to convey the order said. The soldiers and people of Hecheng are looking forward to the arrival of reinforcements day and night. I don't know whether it is done deliberately or for other reasons, but the way the rebel Yang Xuangan uses troops is extremely unreasonable.
On the third day of June, he took control of the city in Liyang and rebelled. He recruited Cao Fu and more than 10,000 people to join the army. Immediately afterwards, he sent his troops westward to take Hanoi. After two days of storming Hanoi without success, the rebels turned around and marched towards Hanoi.
Go east to attack Xiuwu. Wang Xuanyi, the magistrate of Xiuwu County, led the people to defend Linqing Pass. Yang Xuangan did not have a ladder, so he rushed a car and other things to break through the pass. He turned around and continued eastward to the Ji County Ferry, from where he crossed the Yellow River south.
After crossing the river, the rebels abandoned the city fortresses along the way and headed west along the Yellow River embankment to attack Luoyang. As they walked, they forcibly recruited people to join the army. When they arrived outside Luoyang City, the total number of soldiers and horses had reached 100,000. Yang Xuangan ordered his younger brother Yang Jishan to lead the army.
The left army of three thousand marched westward along the Luoshui River from the south of Yanshi. He ordered his younger brother Yang Xuanting to lead the right army of five thousand elite soldiers from Baima Ban (Note 4) to cross the Mang Mountain to attack Luoyang in a roundabout way. He led his own troops as the rear army.
They all responded. Fan Zigai, the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs who stayed in the eastern capital, saw the enemy's fierce incoming force and had no choice but to rush in. He sent Henan Lingda Xi Zhenyi to lead 5,000 troops to resist Yang Jishan, and Henan Zanzhi, Pei Hongce, to lead 8,000 soldiers to fight against Yang Xuanting.
Da Xi was well-intentioned and had no knowledge of military affairs, and his five thousand elite soldiers were defeated by Yang Jishan's three thousand civilians. Pei Hongce was unable to support himself, so he fought and retreated. In the blink of an eye, he had lost four battles, from the suburbs to the base of the Luoyang city wall.
The veteran general Yu Wenshu received an urgent document from the Eastern Capital and ordered the troops to advance separately and supply supplies along the way. They must arrive in Luoyang before the end of this month. Because Yu Wenshu had already sent troops to the Xiongwu Camp when they returned from the Eastern Expedition.
More than 15,000 war horses were plundered, so the Xiongwu camp moved the fastest among the reinforcements. They had crossed Laishui a few days ago and went up the Sui Dynasty official road from near Tuan County.
More than ten thousand soldiers galloped on horseback, and the official road rolled like a torrent. When the late emperor was still alive, he organized the people to build the official road, which was flat and straight. From Tuoxian County on the south bank of Laishui River to Jixian County on the bank of the Yellow River, it was smooth for thousands of miles.
There is no obstruction. Except for a few narrow sections over the mountains, most of the official roads are wide enough for six horses to travel abreast. According to the current marching speed, within ten days, the Xiongwu Camp will be the first reinforcement from Liaodong to arrive near Luoyang.
Upon hearing the news that the officers and soldiers were about to pass by, the people near the official road had already stayed away. It was already early July, but no one had harvested the wheat in the fields. The yellow wheat ears were beaten by the rain.
Immediately new wheat sprouts grew from the tips of the ears. Groups of birds sang and jumped in the wheat fields. When they heard the sound of horse hooves, they flapped their frightened wings and fled into the distance like clouds of smoke. During the march, everyone often
I saw all kinds of voles, hamsters, and small animals with short tails whose names I don’t know, dragging their round bellies, staggering across the official road, and rolled into the road the moment they were about to be trampled to pieces by the horses’ hooves.
Bian Tian Ridge.
"I've seen people waste things, but I've never seen such a waste!" Zhou Daniu mumbled next to Li Xu. When he was in his hometown, he also touched a plow stick, and he knew to some extent that it was difficult to farm. Now the people in this place are working hard.
Not harvesting the good wheat, but letting it sprout in the fields, and feeding the birds and mice, is this not a prodigal act? If you don't harvest grain, what will the government pay for next year's rent, and what will the common people chew? Is God merciful?
, will the strong wind blow the millet to the door of someone's house?
"There is no way, the men are still in Zhuo County, few can come back in time! Now the house is full of women and children, they are thinking about harvesting the autumn, but they don't have the strength!" Zhang Xiu shouted for himself next to him. The elders in his hometown defended themselves. Tuoxian County is also under the jurisdiction of Shanggu County, which is only more than a hundred miles away from Yi County, the hometown of him and Xu Zi. In the past two years, the emperor had wiped out all the young men in several border counties in order to conquer Liao Dynasty. Like Zhang The heads of large households like ours are almost forced to go to the fields themselves. Those small households that cannot afford to buy servants or hire long-term or short-term workers can only watch the wheat rot in the fields?
"It's all caused by Yang Xuangan. If he didn't rebel in the rear, we would have pacified Liaodong this year. Once the Liao incident is resolved, the court will not need to mobilize the people. The crops in the fields have been harvested, and we don't have to rush like this. Thank you for your hard work!" Xiongwu Battalion Commander Shi Zhao Ziming explained to everyone with confidence.
This was the argument he came up with after discussing with Li Xu, Yuwenshi and several core generals. Old General Yuwenshu ordered all troops to resupply along the way. After more than 300,000 troops passed by like locusts, the local government treasury could not count on them. What else could be left? The officers and soldiers had no choice but to do this, so this bad debt must be blamed on Yang Xuangan.
"When we catch that bastard, let's use him to light a sky lantern!" Zhou Daniu scolded angrily.
"His grandma is only capable of rebelling in the nest. If you have the ability, go and fight the Goguryeo people!" Several soldiers echoed loudly.
The sound of horse hooves was very loud, so the soldiers spoke loudly. All kinds of complaints and discussions reached Asahi's ears in waves, making him feel particularly upset.
'This place is less than two hundred miles away from Yixian. You can ride back and forth in a day and night on horseback.' Strong homesickness kept attacking him, and he wanted to order the soldiers to stop several times. Although the excitement brought by the title and gold medal was still Yes, but the closer I am to home, the stronger the feeling of homesickness becomes. I haven’t been home for more than half a year. Xuzi really wants Xiongwuying to repair in Suicheng for a day or two, so that he and Zhang Xiu can find excuses to sneak away. Go home, let your father and mother see the imperial edict and the gold medal, and share the joy of success with yourself.
The ancients said, "If wealth does not return to its hometown, it will be like traveling at night in brocade clothes!". Xuzi did not need to let his parents and fellow villagers boast that he was capable and promising. He just wanted to see the smile on his mother's face, or sit at the table and spend time with her. He watched his father drink another bowl of turbid wine. After becoming Yuwuro Shogun, he tasted many good wines. So far, none of the wines were as strong as his uncle's private brew.
But the words Yu Wenshiji said yesterday morning weighed heavily on his heart, forcing him to muster up his energy and urge the soldiers to rush to the battlefield as soon as possible.
"In the short term, it will be a blessing for you. Zhongjian will have to think carefully about what will happen in the future!" After the Battle of Wuming Valley, Yu Wenshiji no longer stuck out his tongue like a poisonous snake, but his words became more and more interesting. Xuzi knew that in front of so many soldiers yesterday, Yu Wenshiji only said half of many words. But the hesitant reminder and Scale Claw's analysis had already benefited him a lot.
Xuzi cannot expect Yuwen Shiji to think about everything for him and explain everything clearly like Liu Hongji. His friendship with Yuwen Shiji is not that deep, and it is far from the point where they can talk about everything. He is not a retainer of the Yuwen family either. , Yuwen Shiji had no responsibility to support him. Before going to bed last night, Xuzi synthesized the imperial edict and Yuwen Shiji's analysis, and came to a conclusion. Certain wealthy families in the imperial court who have been in the family for generations are likely to exclude themselves, and The reason why His Majesty the Emperor gave himself the gold medal was to remind those wealthy families that the royal family was supporting General Li Lang.
"I am His Majesty the Emperor's retainer!" This conclusion once excited Xuzi for a little while. As a Sui citizen who had read many words of loyalty, at this moment he deeply felt His Majesty the Emperor's kindness to him. But he remained calm.
After coming down, he began to worry about his future.
How long can His Majesty the Emperor maintain his support? Xuzi is not sure. The emperor's thoughts are not something he, a rookie who has just entered the officialdom, can guess. From Yuwen Shiji's hints, Xuzi vaguely feels that His Majesty the Emperor seems to be a
People who ignore their promises when they are happy, but easily forget their promises afterwards. Many children from wealthy families that Asahi knows have this problem. Because life is too smooth, they tend to be too ambitious when looking at problems. After encountering setbacks, they are particularly easy to give up on themselves. With
When making friends, they like to make promises easily, but when they should fulfill their promises, they are used to evading responsibility!
Xu Zi knew that he should not speculate on an emperor through the eyes of ordinary people, and also understood that this kind of thinking was a bit rebellious, but when it came to his own destiny, he couldn't help but guess the worst about the situation.
After much deliberation, Xuzi decided that he would listen to Yuwen Shiji and try to leave as few excuses to others as possible. Therefore, even though his home was just around the corner, he decided not to go back for a visit. In the middle of the night yesterday, he got up and wrote under the lamp.
He wrote a letter home and briefly introduced to his parents the good news that he had received a knighthood and a gold medal for immunity from death. Before the army set off this morning, he asked Zhang Xiu to send a team of trustworthy soldiers to quickly send the letter home. By the way
, Xuzi asked his soldiers to transport the 1,500 horses rewarded by His Majesty the Emperor back to the Li family, and 200 horses to the Zhang family.
"With these strings, my father and uncle will be able to stock up on food to survive this winter and next year!" Asahi thought gloomily while riding on the horse. Based on the scenes he saw along the way in the past few days, it is inferred that there may be trouble in some places next year.
There was a food shortage. Especially in the counties of Hebei, a large number of young men and women were conscripted into the army for two consecutive years. Only women, the elderly and children were left at home, so the output of the fields naturally dropped significantly.
"I really don't know what they will eat next year? Even if every family has money, where can they buy food?" Zhou Daniu's voice sounded around him again at an inappropriate time, and the people around him heard smoke rising in their hearts. He and his five
Zhang Xiu took all the brothers out of the prison camp and became his own soldiers. Because they didn't know each other without fighting, Zhang Xiu arranged for Da Niu to be the leader of the team, commanding fifty people and serving the general's food and daily life. As expected, he did what he wanted.
After becoming an officer, Zhou Daniu did his best, but he never had a moment of leisure except bragging or nagging.
"Brother Zhou, shush--" Qian Xiaoliu, a soldier walking next to Zhang Xiu, stretched out his finger to remind Zhou Daniu not to be too arrogant. Although the sound of horse hooves around was chaotic, everyone's words could still be heard by the general.
Ears. When Zhou Daniu was talking nonsense just now, Mr. Li frowned several times. If he continues like this and offends the general, he might have to go back to the prison camp to suffer.
"What's wrong, Sir Lang Jiang?" Zhou Daniu asked in a low voice, not realizing that Li Xu frowned because he was talking nonsense. "What's wrong, Xiao Liuzi, tell me, tell me!" He led the horse forward.
Rein, asked relentlessly. The kind-hearted Qian Xiaoliu was afraid of being misunderstood for talking about the general behind his back. His face turned red with embarrassment, and he tried his best to hide by the roadside, but he could not escape Zhou Daniu, the maggot attached to his bones.
"Whoever made the Lord unhappy, Liu Zi, tell me, the Lord has been very kind to us. Whoever made him unhappy is with our brothers..." Zhou Daniu kept nagging, lest others not know his loyalty.
The two of them got so close that they unknowingly disrupted the cavalry formation. Captain Zhang Xiu rode up to him and raised his hand to hit him with a whip. After being beaten, Daniel finally remembered that he was already a captain.
Amidst the roar of laughter from everyone, he ran back to where he should be. While grinning and sucking in the cold air, he greeted Zhang Xiu's parents in his heart.
"You son of a bitch, how dare you hit me. If it wasn't for the sake of your kindness to me!" He 'killed' Zhang Xiu seven times in his stomach using different techniques, and again on different battlefields.
After 'rescuing' Zhang Xiu several times, he finally regained his balance in his heart. After being bored and silent for a stick of incense, he began to secretly study Master Lang Jiang's figure and weapons.
"No wonder he is so skilled. He is so tall and wide, so naturally he is very strong!" Zhou Daniu muttered silently in his heart, "If I were as tall as him, maybe I could be a general. That black armor
Not bad, I don’t know how much it’s worth. The big horizontal sword is not bad either. I seem to have never seen such a wide and curved horizontal sword. I don’t know where he bought it. And the gold medal yesterday, I don’t know if it is pure gold or not.
Gilded." His eyes were shining, longing for the dream of getting a gold medal one day. Suddenly, his eyes were attracted by the long spear carried by another empty-saddled war horse following the general.
"This horse trunk looks good, but it seems that Mr. Lang Jiang has never used it before? Can he use it? What will he do if he can't keep his horse trunk?" Zhou Daniu raised his head and looked around. He wanted to find someone to ask this question.
, but saw a few post horses approaching quickly in the gap deliberately left by the army on the left side of the official road.
"Urgent military situation, urgent military situation. I have been ordered by General Manager Yuwen to send a message to General Li. The military situation in Dongdu has changed. The military situation in Dongdu has changed!" The messenger reported loudly while galloping on his horse.
Zhou Daniu's curiosity was immediately aroused. He stretched his neck and looked straight at the messenger. He saw the military book wrapped in red paint being taken by Zhang Xiu from the messenger's hand and held out to Li Xu. Then he saw Li Lang
The general unfolded the military letter and his expression changed countless times in an instant.
When setting up camp in the evening, Zhou Daniu's curiosity was finally satisfied. Outside the Chinese army's tent, he heard Zhao Ziming, who joined the army, relaying the latest news from the front to the generals who came to discuss matters, "Pei Hongce was defeated again, and Fan Zigai beheaded him."
After that, those who were defeated did not dare to enter the city and all surrendered to Xuangan.'
Among the generals who surrendered were Han Shihe, the son of the founding father Han Qinhu, Yang Gongdao, the son of King Guan*, Yu Rou, the son of Yu Shiji, the internal historian, Lai Yuan, the son of the general Lai Huer, Pei Shuang, the son of the imperial censor Pei Yun, and Dali Qing.
Zheng Yan, the son of Zheng Shanguo, Zhou Zhong, the son of Zhou Luohou, and other more than 40 distinguished descendants.
The followers of the rebels have now involved the seven ministers of the dynasty. (Note 5)
