Chen Caozhi, Xie Daoyun and more than 300 people left Hefei. The weather has changed. It used to be clear and clear, but now it is drizzling all day long. Looking up through the rain curtain, the clouds are thick and dark. It seems that the rain is
It can be stopped in two days, not three days.
There was a severe shortage of horses in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The three hundred strong sergeants under Ran Sheng, except for the corps commander, pick commander, camp commander and two scout cavalry, were all on foot. They had already made plans for a long journey. They had all the rain gear, but the raincoats and bamboo hats.
Moreover, the roads were muddy and we could only travel five or sixty miles a day.
About three hundred miles from Hefei to Shouchun, the mountains in Huaiyang are undulating and criss-crossed by water systems flowing into the Huaihe River. This place belonged to the Chu State during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Thousands of years ago, Sun Shuao, the commander of the Chu State, once made his fortune here.
The Wilderness of Guanhulou was known as Shaopi in history. Shaopi is a large-scale water diversion and irrigation project that is as famous as Dujiangyan. It is shaped like a long vine with melons and can irrigate vast hectares of fields. This made the Chu State strong and prosperous. However, today, due to frequent wars, the past
The rich granaries also appear desolate, and tall dock walls can be seen standing in the wilderness.
The Eastern Jin Dynasty was afraid that the refugees from the north would pour into Jiankang and endanger its power, so it prohibited the commander-in-chief Zong who led a large number of refugees from crossing the river. Except for a few refugee commanders like Xi Chao's grandfather Xi Jian who were able to gain a foothold in Jiangdong, most of the refugee commanders and their clansmen
The tribes stayed in the Huaihe River area, each building a fort, like an independent kingdom. The Eastern Jin Dynasty often granted those refugee commanders with numerous clans the post of overseas county magistrates, or gave them the title of general to show their favor.
During the Northern Expedition, these sect commanders would also send troops to join the Jin army to participate in the war. After the strike, they would all return to Wubi, regardless of military households. Therefore, those who had always supervised the military affairs of the Huaizhou states, such as Yin Hao, Yu Liang, Xie Shang, and Xie Wan, had no regard for these
The refugee commanders tried their best to win over them. Xie Daoyun knew this very well and told Chen Caozhi all the way.
Chen Caozhi saw that the weather was bad and the road was difficult to travel, so when he was about to arrive at Shaopi, he asked Daoyun not to send him off again.
Xie Daoyun rode her brown mare, wearing a round hat and a raincoat. She had a unique heroic spirit and said: "Now that I have returned to Duke Huan, I have to send my son off to Shouchun. How can I have to return halfway just because of a little storm?"
! Moreover, I like to travel. I have never been to Shouchun, and I want to visit it."
Chen Cao smiled and said: "Life is on the road." He stopped trying to dissuade him. If it were not for the inconvenience of Xie Daoyun being a woman, he would have been willing to have Xie Daoyun accompany him to Di Qin as a deputy envoy. Xie Daoyun was talented and knowledgeable.
It was definitely his powerful help, which was already revealed when Kuaiji died.
Forty miles past Shaopi is Shouchun City. In the afternoon of that day, Chen Cao ordered the sergeants to hurry up and rest again in Shouchun. Because it rained for two days, the water in Shaopi with a radius of hundreds of miles increased, and the lake surface
It is also much wider. The shortcut to Shouchun is flooded, so we have to take a detour. Moreover, it rains and it gets dark quickly. It is already dark at Youshi. According to the sergeant who is familiar with the terrain, it is still fifteen miles away from Shouchun City, and
Fortunately, the rain had stopped now, so Ran Sheng urged the sergeant to move quickly, and arrived at Shouchun County before it became dark again, before the next rain came.
When everyone was walking in a hurry, they suddenly saw a group of people rushing out of a fork in the road, each holding a sword and a gun, shouting to leave the money and spare your life. When they found out that it was the Jin army, the leader said that they had misunderstood, turned around and left, followed by dozens of his men.
People come and go as quickly as they come, disappearing into the night in a blink of an eye.
Ran Sheng was furious and wanted to chase after him, but Xie Daoyun shouted urgently: "Chen Zisheng, don't chase!"
Chen Caozhi also hurriedly ordered Ran Sheng to come back, but Ran Sheng said angrily: "Thieves from somewhere, thinking that we are traveling merchants, are coming to rob us!"
Xie Daoyun said: "This is not a thief, he is a refugee from nearby Wubi. It is common to rob merchants. As long as no one is killed, it is difficult for county officials to strictly prohibit it."
Chen Caozhi said "Hey" and thought to himself: "This is a troubled time when we cross the river. I used to read "Book of Jin" and "Shishuo Xinyu" and saw that Zu Ti, the hero of the Northern Expedition, led his troops to rob
I was very surprised. It is said that Xi Jian also robbed wealthy households when he was a refugee commander. Shi Chong, the richest man in the Western Jin Dynasty, made his fortune through robbery. When he was the governor of Jingzhou, he robbed blatantly. Living in troubled times, robbery seems to be the way to survive."
Ran Sheng fell silent. He remembered that when he was young, he wandered in the north of the Yangtze River with Uncle Jing. Uncle Jing would rob and kill people every day. Otherwise, his master and servant would not be able to survive until now.
At this moment, Xie Daoyun suddenly exclaimed, and the mare leaned under his crotch. Xie Daoyun fell off the horse. However, it turned out that the left front hoof of the mount stepped into a puddle. The horse struggled to stabilize its body and did not fall.
Xie Daoyun fell directly into the puddle.
Ran Sheng was closest to Xie Daoyun and wanted to go over and pull Xie Daoyun up, but stopped. Looking at Chen Caozhi, Chen Caozhi hurriedly got off his horse and came over to help Xie Daoyun up. Xie Daoyun was so clean that he was covered in mud and water.
Before, she felt very embarrassed. This time she crossed the river to go north. Although she brought more than ten slaves from the tribe, because she was marching, she did not bring any maids, so no one came to serve her at this time.
Xie Daoyun injured her left knee and most of her robe was wet. Chen Caozhi helped her to a carriage. There were five carriages on Chen Caozhi's mission, two of which were loaded with various newly made weapons.
Samples were prepared to negotiate with Di Qin to exchange horses. The other two were loaded with dry food and some sundries. The remaining two-column luxury carriage was given to Chen Caozhi by Langya King Sima Yu as an envoy.
Xie Daoyun got on the carriage, and Chen Caozhi handed Xie Daoyun's baggage on the brown horse to her. Chen Caozhi led the horse and followed the carriage on foot, heading towards Shouchun in the dark.
The carriage rumbled on the muddy road. Xie Daoyun in the carriage put on clean clothes and looked at the dark sky from the carriage window. He thought to himself: "Zizhong's mission to Di Qin this time is really not comparable to that of Kuaiji Tujuan. I
It would be quite inconvenient to be the deputy envoy."
But I heard Chen Caozhi say: "Tell me a story about Emperor Wu of Wei Cao Mengde and Yuan Shao and Yuan Benchu when they were young. Please tell me to brother Yingtai. Brother Yingtai has a good memory and must know it."
Xie Daoyun was familiar with "Three Kingdoms", and after thinking about it for a while, he knew what Chen Caozhi wanted to say. When he was about to say it, he suddenly said: "Zizhong, please speak."
Chen Cao said: "I remembered it because of the refugees just now. When Wei Wu was young, he had a good relationship with Yuan Shao as a ranger, and watched the wedding of Yuan Shao, so he sneaked into the master's garden and called Hu Yun at night, 'There is a thief.' Qing Qing
Everyone in the hut was out of sight, but Cao Cao entered, drew his sword and robbed the bride, and when he came back out with Yuan Shao, he got lost and fell into thorns, and was almost captured by his pursuers."
Xie Daoyun laughed and said: "During the Three Kingdoms period, robbers produced talents. Didn't Sun Jian's generation also rob and loot and do anything?"
While laughing and chatting, we arrived in Shouchun before we knew it.
General Xizhong Lang and Yuzhou Governor Yuan Chun had returned to Shouchun at this time. When they learned of Chen Caozhi's arrival, they immediately invited Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun to meet him at the county government office to see what Chen Caozhi admired by Sima Huan.
What kind of person is he?
Chen Caozhi had not bathed at this time, and the skirt of his robe was stained with mud, and he was quite weathered. However, facing Yuan Zhen, who was guarding one side, he looked calm and talked calmly. Yuan Zhenzhi was surprised to discuss the affairs of Jiangzuo and the Central Plains with Chen Caozhi. Chen Caozhi answered every question without giving much explanation.
Yuan Zhen said sincerely: "Although Chen Caozhi has good demeanor and good talk, he is just a clear-minded scholar with no original ideas. Huan Wen said that he has the talents of a king, which is exaggerated." He said: "Chen Cao was sent as an envoy to Di Qin. Fearing that the road would be difficult, Murong Ping withdrew from Runan and Chen County, but left the puppet Yan Zhennan general Murong Chen to station in Xuchang. Without Xuchang to support Luoyang, he feared that it would be difficult to hold on. The champion general Chen You who defended Luoyang could not hold it, and Chen You You sent me a letter the day before yesterday, asking me to report to Huan, Grand Sima, that I want to withdraw from Luoyang. If this happens, the road to Chang'an will be blocked. What can I do? Why not change the route to Jingxiang via Hanzhong and then to Chang'an?"
Shen Chiqian and Ran Sheng stood beside Chen Cao. Shen Chiqian paled when he heard this. His father Shen Jin was in Luoyang. Shen Jin had vowed to live and die with Luoyang. If the Jin army abandoned Luoyang, Shen Jin would be in danger.
Yuan Zhen was a member of Yu Xi's party, and his words showed his contempt for Chen Caozhi. Chen Caozhi said lightly: "General Chen wants to withdraw from Luoyang. He must wait until I have passed Luoyang before retreating. It is not too late to retreat before the Yan army arrives." , just abandon the city and leave!"
Yuan Zhen sneered and said: "Xuchang has been lost and Luoyang is difficult to defend. If the Yan army arrives, it will be impossible to retreat."
Chen Caozhi and Yuan Zhen did not talk to each other. They exchanged a few words and then left.
When Xie Daoyun and Chen Cao returned to the post house, Xie Daoyun said, "Zizhong had many reservations about his talk with Yuan Zhonglang. Why?"
Yuan Zhen was a warlord with no foresight. He had no future in confronting Huan Wen. Chen Caozhi had no need to show off his talents in front of Yuan Zhen. He smiled and said: "It's useless to talk more. It's better to be more subtle. As the saying goes, ogling." Why bother showing it to a blind man?"
Xie Daoyun laughed.
That night, Chen Caozhi wrote a letter to Huan Wen, asking Huan Wen to send troops to reinforce Luoyang. Only by guarding Luoyang could the expansion of Di Qin's power be curbed. As for the seemingly aggressive Murong clan of Xianbei, Chen Caozhi thought it was not a cause for concern. The Murong clan Will be destroyed by brotherly feud.
Early the next morning, Chen Caozhi handed the letter to Xie Daoyun and asked her to present it to Huan Wen. He also said: "Brother Yingtai, take me to the bank of Feishui River and to the foot of Bagong Mountain to say goodbye."
There was no rain in the early morning. Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun rode out of the north gate of Shoucheng together. They saw the stretch of Bagong Mountain in the distance and the lush trees. Chen Caozhi said: "Brother Yingtai, you and I gallop up to the grass in the middle of the mountain." How about Poe?”
Xie Daoyun said with a smile: "I would like to attach my tail."
The clouds are thick and condensed, but the sky that is not covered by dark clouds is blue and pure. The vegetation on Bagong Mountain is scattered, and there are clouds and mist in the forest valleys. This is where Liu An, the king of Huainan, achieved the Tao, and the chickens and dogs ascended to heaven. There seemed to be a fairy spirit lingering there.
Chen Caozhi and Xie Daoyun stood on horseback halfway up the mountain and looked at the vast wilderness on the south bank of the Feishui River. Chen Caozhi chanted in his heart: "The wind is roaring and the cranes are roaring, and the grass and trees are covered with soldiers. Isn't this the place where Xie Xuan's 80,000 Beifu soldiers defeated the 800,000 Qin army?"
Xie Daoyun saw that Chen Caozhi had a different look on his face, as if he was revisiting his old place. He was a little strange, but he didn't ask anything. There were so many surprising things in Zizhong. Stepping on the dewy vines, I feel the joy of being on the road.
