Eight hundred and forty-eighth chapter rush to help Taoxiang
Liu Xiu was happy. Why did he ask this for no reason? He couldn't say anything more to Xi Cheying's rhetorical question. After sitting here for a while longer, Liu Xiu stood up and left.
After Liu Xiu left, a maid walked up to Xi Cheying and whispered: "It's rare for Your Majesty to come to Lecheng Palace. Why doesn't the beauty ask Your Majesty to accompany the King?"
Liu Xiu had always had a habit of taking his "wife" with him when he went on an expedition. This "wife" might be his wife, like Guo Shengtong or Yin Lihua, or she might be a concubine, like Xu Xiling.
Now Guo Shengtong has just given birth to the third prince Liu Kang, and his body has not recovered yet, so it is impossible for him to go to war with Liu Xiu. And Yin Lihua is about to give birth, and it is even more impossible for her to go to war with Liu Xiu.
Xu Xiling is quite possible. In other words, the only one who can compete with Xi Cheying now is Xu Xiling.
Xi Cheying glanced at the maid and said slowly: "If I take the initiative to speak, Your Majesty will definitely not allow it, but I can let Your Majesty take the initiative to come to me."
The maid looked at Xi Cheying strangely. His Majesty had already left, but before he left, His Majesty never said that he would take you, Beauty Xi, with him!
Xi Cheying smiled confidently and said with certainty: "Your Majesty will definitely come to me."
Liu Xiu did not come to Lecheng Palace again, but Liu Xiu asked Zhang Kun to bring a message to Xi Cheying that she could go on an expedition with the emperor tomorrow.
Xi Cheying knew very well that compared to Guo Shengtong, Yin Lihua, and Xu Xiling, His Majesty did not look at him differently.
Not to mention she can't compare to the favored Yin Lihua, the queen Guo Shengtong, even Xu Xiling, who is also a beauty, she can't compare to.
What else can I do if I am not particularly favored, but I want to receive special treatment? There is only one way, which is to make myself useful and make His Majesty inseparable from me.
During Liu Xiu's expedition, Zhang Bujun's movements were particularly important. Whether the Han army had to face Zhang Bu, Dong Xian, and Pang Meng at the same time, or Dong Xian and Pang Meng, there was a world of difference between them.
Don't.
Precisely because of this, being able to grasp Zhang Bu's movements in time is the key to this battle.
In front of Liu Xiu, Xi Cheying deliberately revealed that she knew Zhang Bu's every move, which forced Liu Xiu to carefully consider whether he should take Xi Cheying with him on the expedition.
Among Liu Xiu's harem, Xi Cheying's foundation was the weakest, and she did not have an emperor's heir, but her position was very stable, all due to her own ability.
If Xi Cheying were placed in modern times, he would be an admirable professional elite.
People thought that Liu Xiu would probably bring Xu Xiling with him for this personal expedition, but no one expected that Liu Xiu would unexpectedly bring X Cheying with him.
Liu Xiu went to Lecheng Palace only a handful of times. Among people's influence, Xie Cheying was not favored. But now, it seems that his previous understanding was wrong. There is a place for Xie Cheying in His Majesty's heart.
.
This time Liu Xiu went on a personal expedition and transferred 5,000 cavalry and more than 50,000 infantry from Luoyang. Together with the accompanying Huben, Yu Lin and logistics, the total force was close to 70,000.
Liu Xiu led his army from Luoyang, passed through Chenliu County, and entered Liang County. Liang County was Liu Yong's hometown at that time, and Suiyang was here. The Han army besieged Suiyang twice, and Liang County was also suffering from wars.
bitter.
In the past, Liang County was definitely the richest county in Yuzhou, but now, Liang County's situation is no longer as good as other counties.
To the east of Liang County is Chu County, to the north of Liang County is Shanyang County, further north is Rencheng County, and further north is Dongping County where Pang Meng is located.
The first destination of Liu Xiu's expedition was Rencheng County. The edict he gave to Wu Han, Gai Yan, Wang Liang, Wang Chang, Ma Wu, Wang Ba and others also asked them to gather troops in Rencheng County.
After entering Liang County, Liu Xiu led an army and stationed outside Meng City. The Meng County magistrate took the county officials out of the city and entered the Han army camp to pay homage to the emperor.
Liu Xiu did not come to Liang for inspection this time, but passed by Liang during the campaign. However, what he saw and heard along the way made him a little worried about the situation in Liang. After meeting Magistrate Meng, he understood
The situation here in Ichiban Meng County.
Meng County originally had a population of more than 30,000, but now there are only more than 10,000 left. The population loss is very serious.
After listening to Magistrate Meng's introduction, Liu Xiu frowned and said, "People are the foundation of a place! Without people, there are no roots. In the future, Magistrate Xin's plans for the governance of Meng County?"
The name of the Meng County Magistrate is Xin Gui. He is in his thirties. He is fat and chubby. He has a smiling face and looks more like a businessman than an official.
Hearing Liu Xiu's question, he said with sincerity: "Wei Chen... Wei Chen must do his best to govern Meng County well and not let His Majesty down!"
What he said disappointed Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu asked him how to recuperate in Meng County, but his reply to Liu Xiu was empty words.
Liu Xiu said slowly: "What I need is not your loyalty."
"Uh, Wei Chen... Wei Chen..." Seeing Xin Gui hesitating and breaking out in sweat, Liu Xiu waved his hand irritably and said, "Okay, you can go back."
"Wei Chen...Wei Chen resigned." Xin Gui also knew in his heart that he failed in his performance in front of the emperor this time. He didn't even know how he got back to Mengcheng.
Liu Xiu was greatly disappointed with Xin Gui, the county magistrate. Meng County, which originally had a population of more than 30,000, now only has about 10,000 people left. As the magistrate of a county, Xin Gui has never thought about how to recuperate and restore the county.
Yuan Qi, what's the use of keeping such an official?
As soon as Xin Gui walked away, Xi Cheying came in from the outside. She smiled and comforted: "Your Majesty, there is no need to be angry. Xin Gui was originally an official of Liu Yong. Later, General Gai invaded Liang, and Xin Gui surrendered. General Gai
He has been on war and has no energy to govern the Liang region, so he has been retaining the officials who surrendered."
Gai Yan was very good at fighting, but his ability to govern local areas was really not that good. During the first Eastern Expedition, Gai Yan had clearly captured Suiyang, and later he was able to restore Liu Yong. Through this, it was not
It is difficult to see how poor Gai Yan's ability to govern the place is.
Liu Xiu glanced at Xi Cheying, shook his head and said: "The chaos in Liang will not last long. When the master returns to the court, Liang must be rectified."
He originally planned to rest here in Meng County for two more days, but the next day, news came back from the front that Pang Meng had led an army to launch a fierce attack on Taocheng.
The person currently stationed in Taocheng is Taishan Governor Chen Jun. Pang Meng is stationed in the north of Taoxiang, and his intention to attack Taoxiang is very obvious. As the Taishan Governor, Chen Jun can just sit idly by and ignore it.
Chen Jun had tens of thousands of soldiers and horses under his command, but these soldiers and horses had to be used to defend Zhang Bu. When he arrived in Taoxiang, the soldiers and horses he brought plus the local soldiers and horses in Taoxiang, totaled only 10,000 people.
Ten thousand people had to resist the tens of thousands of troops led by Pang Meng. One can imagine how dangerous this battle would be.
After Liu Xiu received the news, he did not bother to rest and recuperate. He personally commanded thousands of light cavalry and 30,000 elite infantry, carrying no baggage but only rations. He set out from Meng County and went north all the way to Rencheng for a rush march.
Before setting off, Liu Xiu had no intention of taking Xi Cheying with him. After all, the rapid march was too difficult, and she, a woman, might not be physically able to sustain it. Xi Cheying didn't care, and said seriously: "Your Majesty, you don't have to worry about me.
Even if it’s hard work, I can bear it!” After a pause, she added: “What’s more, I came out with Your Majesty, so wherever Your Majesty is, I should be there!”
Her words moved Liu Xiu. After thinking about it, he finally decided to take Xi Cheying with him. Xi Cheying was wearing a gorgeous dress, which was not suitable for riding a long distance. Liu Xiu was thinking of letting her change clothes.
As a result, when Xi Cheying walked out of the tent, he was already wearing a helmet and a robe, and he was brave and handsome.
Liu Xiu was startled when he saw Xi Cheying wearing armor. Long Yuan, Xuying and others who were following Liu Xiu were also startled. It was too disrespectful for such a majestic beauty to be dressed like this.
Already?
Unexpectedly, Liu Xiu's eyes lit up and he nodded repeatedly. Xi Cheying walked up to Liu Xiu, saluted Liu Xiu in the way of a general, and asked with a smile: "Your Majesty, how do you dress up this concubine?"
Are you still satisfied?"
Liu Xiu was happy and said with a smile: "Very good!" As he spoke, he asked someone to bring the war horse over. Then he held the reins with one hand and held Xi Cheying's arm with the other to caress her on the war horse.
Xi Cheying's martial arts skills are much better than Xu Xiling's. Even if he wears heavy armor, he doesn't need help from anyone else to mount his horse.
However, she did not refuse Liu Xiu. She smiled at Liu Xiu, and with Liu Xiu's support, she jumped up and climbed onto the horse with a light and graceful movement.
Liu Xiu praised in his heart! He then mounted his horse and said: "Give me the order and set off northward!"
Five thousand light cavalry and 30,000 infantrymen, not carrying any baggage, all went into battle lightly. They left their camp and began a rapid march north.
From Meng County to Rencheng, you have to pass through the entire Shanyang County. Even though Liang County and Rencheng County are small counties, Shanyang County, which is sandwiched between these two small counties, is a large county with ten counties in its territory.
county.
Liu Xiu and his party had to walk more than a hundred miles to reach Rencheng.
The light cavalry was okay, after all, there were horses to travel, but the most difficult thing was the infantry, which had to run on two legs for more than a hundred miles. To make a long story short, Liu Xiu and others only took one day to complete the entire journey.
Entering Rencheng County, Liu Xiujun first arrived at Kangfu County. When he arrived at Kangfu County, not to mention the infantry, which felt like their legs were about to break, even the cavalry and even the war horses couldn't bear it.
A general ran up to Liu Xiu and said breathlessly: "Your Majesty, it is getting dark now. Our army... Our army should rest temporarily in Kangfu!"
Liu Xiu's face darkened and he said: "No, the war in Taoxiang is critical and we can't delay for a moment. Even if we travel all night, we have to reach Rencheng tonight!"
After speaking, he looked at Xi Cheying beside him and asked: "Cheying, can you still persist?"
Xi Cheying wiped the sweat from his forehead, nodded heavily to Liu Xiu, and said, "I can continue on my way!"
Hearing this, Liu Xiu's eyes showed relief, and at the same time he turned to look at the general.
My concubine, you are still able to continue on your way, but you tell me that you can no longer hold on and must take a rest? Liu Xiu did not say this directly, but the meaning was obvious.
The general turned red with embarrassment. Without saying a word, he turned back to his team and shouted loudly: "We must get to Rencheng tonight! Brothers, hold on! We have to drive another ten miles!"
When Kang's father arrived in Rencheng, it was already very close. There was only more than ten miles between them.
With Liu Xiu's insistence, the exhausted Han army drove more than ten miles and finally arrived in Rencheng County that evening.
Liu Xiu led his army in such a hurry that his troops became the first team to arrive at Rencheng, while the teams of Wu Han, Gai Yan and others were still on their way to Rencheng.
The news that Liu Xiu had personally conquered the city and led the Han army to Rencheng reached Pang Meng's ears immediately. Pang Meng took a breath and said to himself: Liu Xiu came so fast!