The new residents who survived the disaster returned eastward from Zhuanglang River in wooden boats, and then arrived at Lanzhou from the Yellow River.
For most of the people who returned to the Yijun, it was their first time to take a boat.
They looked at this land with anxiety. Although they knew that the Song Dynasty would resettle them, how and how to resettle them? No one knew what fate awaited them in the future.
Cao Zongshou was worthy of his tenacious vitality. He only lay down for two days before he was able to get up again. Except for his broken arm, the arrow wounds on his body were actually scabbed. There was nothing wrong with his whole body. He was extremely tenacious.
He stood on the bow of the boat and looked at the Lanzhou Pier in the distance, as well as the pontoon bridge and walled city across the Yellow River.
The pontoon bridge in Lanzhou is made of boats. There are four large iron oxen holding iron rings on each side of the bank. Each of these large iron oxen weighs tens of thousands of kilograms. The two iron oxen holding in their mouths are held by iron rings.
An iron chain was made across the Yellow River.
More than twenty ships were lifted up and lined up across the Yellow River by iron chains. Each ship was connected with long wooden boards, covered with wooden planks, surrounded by fences, and finally connected to both banks.
And when this fleet returning east passed by.
The river guards walked to the center of the pontoon bridge and the iron rings used to connect the ships were untied from the center. The six ships in the center of the pontoon bridge were driven aside under the control of the boatmen to make way for a river channel.
The fleet returning east passed through the gap in the pontoon and arrived at the dock in Lanzhou.
Cao Zhongshou and the people of Guiyi Army were amazed when they saw this ingenious design. Not only the pontoon bridge that could be opened and closed, but also the four big iron oxen on the shore were enough to shock them for a long time.
A veteran of the boat division smiled and introduced to Cao Zhongshou: "This Lanzhou pontoon bridge is built in spring and harvested in winter, otherwise the ice on the Yellow River will destroy the pontoon bridge."
"That's it." Cao Zhongshou felt strange as he listened to the Chinese spoken in the Central Plains.
Immediately when the boatman arrived at the dock on the Yellow River, Cao Zhongshou saw a unique scene inside and outside Lanzhou.
In the distance, several upstream cowhide rafts were sailing with him to the Yellow River Ferry Terminal. The dozens of miles of river beach near the pier were planted with farmland, vegetable fields, and there were bungalows and temples on high places, creating a lush scenery.
More than a dozen large water trucks are spitting water to irrigate the fields.
There are several large ships in the middle of the river, with two paddle wheels spinning.
Cao Zhongshou couldn't help but ask the veteran general: "Old general, what is this?"
The veteran said: "You said this thing in the river is called a boat mill!"
"Ship mill?" Cao Zhongshou asked.
The veteran smiled and said: "Yes, some are built by wealthy families, and some are built by government officials. If the people want to grind flour, they can use this boat to grind flour and pay some wages."
Cao Zhongshou suddenly said: "It turns out to be a water mill. What a wonderful workmanship!"
The veteran smiled and said: "These are all things we are accustomed to. This boat mill and this waterwheel were both introduced when Lao Zhang Jinglue was in charge of Xihe River. Now, not to mention Lanzhou, they are all along Xihe Road. They are known by the officials and the people.
It’s convenient.”
Cao Zhongshou said sincerely: "I heard that Mr. Zhang Jinglue is Zhang Longtu. His reputation spreads far and wide throughout the party, and even we in Liangzhou are in awe."
When you get to the dock, you will see the majestic pass of Lanzhou City.
Lanzhou was an important town during the Han and Tang Dynasties. After the city was recovered in the Yuanfeng Year, it was immediately renovated.
Li Hao, a famous general who defended the city, expanded Lanzhou City to the north in order to take advantage of the natural moat of the Yellow River.
Nowadays, the North City of Lanzhou has been built all the way to the bank of the Yellow River, making the city easier to defend and harder to attack. There are stones like turtles and red colors on the river bank of the North City of Lanzhou that lie under the city wall, so the people call it Stone Turtle City.
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When Cao Zhongshou looked at Xiongguan, any border town in the Song Dynasty would be as prosperous as Xingqing Mansion in Xixia.
Although Liangzhou City is large, it looks lackluster. There is not much business and travel, and the population is not large.
While Cao Zhongshou was thinking carefully, the ship was about to dock when he heard several gunshots from the shore.
This scene made Cao Zhongshou and others panic, and the veteran hurriedly advised: "General, don't be frightened, the envoy and the county guard are coming to the dock to welcome you."
Cao Zhongshou calmed down after listening to the veteran's explanation. He also heard that the transit envoys and the magistrate of Lanzhou came to greet him at the dock. This should indicate that the officials of the Song Dynasty paid great attention to their return eastward.
…
Fan Yu, the transshipment envoy of Qinfeng Road, Li Hao, the magistrate of Lanzhou, and Sun Lu, the Lian visiting envoy, were all on the dock to welcome Cao Zhongshou's arrival.
The political significance of the Guiyi Army's return eastward was very clear to the two civil servants, Fan Yu and Sun Lu.
In fact, Zhang Yue had already told the two of them in the hall letter that they should be "well placed".
It is a basic skill to figure out what is best in the officialdom. The three words "placement, proper placement, and good placement" have three meanings.
After Cao Zhongshou got off the ship, he first bowed to Fan Yu at the prompting of the veteran.
Fan Yu helped him up and said: "His Majesty Jinkou'er returned to the rebel army with all his troops. He gave up his comfort, surrendered and traveled thousands of miles. This is an act of submission rather than surrender."
"You are all heroes returning from the East. Since you are heroes, you don't need to pay this big gift."
Cao Zhongshou's eyes filled with tears when he heard this, and the dozen or so leaders of the rebel army and the Long family behind him were also deeply moved.
“I don’t know where is the direction to Bianjing?”
Others immediately gave Cao Zhongshou a considerate thumbs up.
Cao Zhongshou and others immediately knelt down in the direction of Bianjing and said: "Your Majesty, Cao Zhongshou, bow down and pray for all blessings!"
Fan Yu looked at the other party with satisfaction, obviously very wise.
After finishing speaking, Cao Zhongshou and other leaders took off their precious swords or scabbards inlaid with gems from their bodies and said: "We carry this with us, and I beg the commander-in-chief to present it to Your Majesty on your behalf."
"In addition, there is also a seal from the Jiedu Envoy of the Guiyi Army!"
Fan Yu smiled slightly and ordered his servants to accept it, saying: "You are sincere in your intention to submit. Your Majesty has already ordered me to make proper arrangements. Everyone should prepare a winter coat first. In addition, we have food, tea and salt. We will not treat you unfairly."
Cao Zhongshou was inexplicably grateful and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward, and thank you Commander Cao for your kindness."
Thinking of so many good men who sacrificed their lives for the continuation of the tribe, everyone couldn't help but shed tears.
Fan Yudao: "In addition, I heard that many people died during this trip. In order to commemorate the loyal souls, I also ordered the temples in Lanzhou City to conduct a ritual ceremony. As for the rest of the resettlement, we await the decree of the imperial court."
Cao Zhongshou and others were even more moved when these words came out.
After settling Cao Zhongshou and others, Fan Yu and Sun Lu immediately took a look at the seal presented by Cao Zhongshou to the Jiedu Envoy of the Guiyi Army.
Fan Yu said to Sun Lu: "What do you think of this seal?"
Sun Lu said, "After the verification, I feel that 70% of it is true."
Fan Yu said with a smile: "It doesn't matter if it is fake. In the past, when the imperial court was unable to capture Liangzhou, this seal was worthless. But now, whether it is true or false, we have a name and explanation. We will present it to Bianjing for His Majesty's inspection.
It’s Longyan Dayue.”
Fan Yu and Sun Lu laughed when they heard this.
Sun Lu smiled and said: "The fact of returning eastward is a feat, and it is only right that you and I can do our best."
"However, it is a great achievement for us to welcome the Guiyi army back to the court. As the saying goes, when you drink water, don't forget the man who dug the well."
"When you and I discuss this matter, we need to make it clear to the Prime Minister how he plans the strategy."
Fan Yu smiled and said, "I understand this without you having to tell me."
"I heard that many people in the imperial court questioned the Guiyi Army, and even thought that he was going to separatist forces and rebel. Thanks to the Prime Minister's efforts to overcome all the objections."
"As for our great achievements, this is just the last thing we can do."
