Emperor Sui Yang

Yang Ming's general order hoped that Zhang Xutuo would attack Changlu and Jingcheng in early May, but Zhang Xutuo had already sent troops before he received the prince's general order.

Qingchi County, where he is located, is separated from Changlu County by the Yongji Canal, and Changlu County is separated from Liu Heitai's Jingcheng by the Zhangshui River.

There are two major branches of Zhangshui, Qingzhangshui and Zhuozhangshui, both of which originate from the hinterland of Taihang Mountain in Shanxi. Among them, Zhuozhangshui is 250 kilometers long and Qingzhangshui is 200 kilometers long. It was called Hengshui in ancient times. Yes, it is the Hengshui of Laobaigan, Hengshui. Hengshui County in Xindu County is named after it is located on the bank of Zhangshui River.

Zhang Xutuo needed to cross the Yongji Canal and hit Changlu, and then cross the Qingzhang River and hit Jingcheng.

So these are two tough battles, because the rebels on the opposite side will not let you cross the river comfortably.

A 3000-person ferry vanguard, led by Luo Shixin, set up a pontoon bridge in the dark on the night of April [-]. The boats brought by Xuanzang had their hulls next to each other and were covered with wooden planks. A pontoon bridge could soon be built.

The plan was to build six pontoon bridges within a fifteen-mile stretch of the river. The minimum guarantee was to keep three pontoon bridges from being destroyed. After all, they were the attackers and would suffer a big loss if they crossed the river too slowly.

But the scouts on the opposite side also noticed the movement on the river bank. I don't know how many crossbowmen came, shooting blindly at the river with black lights. It was a dark and windy night, and no one lit a fire. They just cursed across the river with their eyes darkened.

Who are you scolding?Mainly the generals on both sides, Zhang Xutuo's eighteen generations of ancestors were greeted, and he himself was scolded as a loser.

A pontoon bridge was built, and 2000 people under Cheng Yaojin's command began to cross to the other side. When the torches were lit, arrows from the rebels on the opposite side fell like rain.

The sound of clanking echoed through the dark night, and the arrow hit the refined shield without causing any damage at all.

The army under Zhang Xutuo did not have such a thing, but Xuan Zong did. Since Cheng Yaojin was responsible for the forced crossing, it was reasonable to lend the shield to others.

As for the armor, I will definitely not borrow it. Even though everyone is one of our own, no one will lend their life-saving gadgets to others.

Cheng Yaojin himself carried a large shield and took the lead, fighting hand to hand with the rebels who boarded the pontoon bridge.

The rebels did not know the location of the pontoon bridge at first, so they had no way of attacking. Now that they saw the fire, they naturally knew where to attack. The rebels who boarded the bridge were responsible for blocking the attack, followed by those who used hammers and axes to smash the bridge.

Luo Shixin and Cheng Yaojin just fought back and forth with the rebels. After the bridge was damaged, they continued to build it. Some of the guards on the pontoon bridge felt that they were not far from the other side, so they simply jumped into the river one after another and swam to the other side. .

But such a move has little effect other than helping the pontoon attract firepower.

The water in Yongji Canal is very deep and difficult to swim across.

As for Xuanzang, he was waiting quietly by the river bank in the south. The harder the attack in the north was and the more enemy troops were involved, the easier it would be for him to cross the river. He had a boat in hand. He didn't build a bridge and just took the boat. cross.

"There have been scouts on the other side, but we still have no chance," Hou Junji said.

Xuan Zong said: "We have a boat, what are we afraid of? Forced crossing!"

As Xuan Zong gave the order, hundreds of small boats leaning on the shore quickly boarded people and rowed towards the other shore.

In fact, their whereabouts had been discovered by Xie Leng. After thinking about it, Xie Leng felt that the group of stowaways in the south should be the main force. The group in the north seemed to be fighting hard, but in fact they were covering up.

So he urgently mobilized an army of [-] and rushed to Xuanzang. Around early in the morning, Xie Leng's army arrived and started a melee with Xuanzang's troops crossing the river.

There are also refined weapons on Xie Leng's side, mainly from deserters, but the number is not large. Good steel is used on the blades. There are five hundred refined rebels arrayed in front.

A tragic battle began.

After Yang Ming waited for Su Lie, he immediately headed north and entered Qinghe County.

Passing through Guantao County and Linqing County along the Yongji Canal, you will reach Qinghe County, the capital of Qinghe County. Everything you see along the way is a peaceful scene, which shows that the Cui family has managed this place well.

Outside the city gate, the prefect Xie Wen led the officials and core members of the Cui family to greet Yang Ming.

Yang Yuanqing led his troops into the city first. After confirming that it was safe, Yang Ming entered the city. He carefully sailed the ten thousand year ship to Yang Ming's position, guarding against the sky, the ground, and the air.

At the county guard's office, Yang Ming sat down on the main seat, then raised his palms to signal everyone to sit down.

"Northeast of Qinghe County is Wucheng County, and just north of Wucheng County is Gaojibo. This place is only seventy or eighty miles away from Qinghe County, but the people in the city live and work in peace and contentment and have not been disturbed by thieves. Cui Gong is indispensable," Yang Ming He looked at Cui Fuli with a smile.

This is the second time he has seen each other. The first time was when he borrowed food from others when he was repairing Luoyang.

Cui Fuli smiled and said: "Thanks to your majesty for your great blessing, and also to thank the prefect for calming down the place, Qinghe is now in its current state. It is not due to us."

"You are so humble," Yang Ming said with a smile: "Xie Wen is here, and I still need your help."

Xie Wen hurriedly said: "Cui's loyalty to the emperor and the country can be seen from the sun and the moon. I serve here and have received a lot of help from Duke Cui. I am always grateful."

He is Xiao Mohe's eldest disciple and Chen Shuyi's eldest brother. He is not considered an outsider to Yang Ming.

Yang Ming nodded: "Su Lie's [-] soldiers and horses have been stationed by the Qingzhang River in the north of the city to guard against the bandits from the river going south. This is now the front line. Everyone must be prepared to fight to the death with the bandits at any time."

Cui Junshi said: "Your Highness, don't worry, our clan is fully prepared and we are just waiting for His Highness's order."

"The water in Qingzhang is sometimes shallow and sometimes deep, so it is not suitable for sailing," Cui Junzhou, the prime minister of Qinghe County, said: "Should Your Highness order Cui Shishu's army to cross the river and station themselves there."

After Yang Ming pondered for a moment, he said: "Let him go to Wucheng County. After Tu Wanxu arrives, Cui Shishu will go north along the canal and enter Pingyuan County to quell the rebellion."

"So, Your Highness is going to use Gucheng County Duke as the main force to attack Xindu?" Cui Junzhou said.Yang Ming smiled: "Don't ask too much about military affairs. This is not something you should know."

Cui Junzhou suddenly looked deflated. He was the younger brother of Cui Junchuo and Cui Junsu. His status in the clan was not low, but his official position did not qualify him to interfere in military matters.

Don't talk about him. As the prefect, Xie Wen can only cooperate and has no right to know.

In wartime, the military takes over, and the military can take over everything.

"Gao Biaoren will take over the military rations you prepared and send someone to hand them over," Yang Ming said calmly.

Gao Biaoren stood up and looked at the Cui family. He was Yang Ming's subordinate in charge of transporting the army's supplies. He must be in charge of the food provided by the Cui family, so that Yang Ming could rest assured.

Gao Jiong's son would never betray Yang Ming.

After a brief meeting, Cui Fuli immediately understood Yang Ming's hint and left with his clan members.

Yang Ming then looked at Xie Wen: "Isn't it difficult to work in a place like this?"

Xie Wen smiled bitterly and sighed: "There are many difficulties. As a prefect, I only show my appearance. But fortunately, Your Highness is here. They will cooperate obediently from now on."

Yang Ming's personal guard Zhu Sanli said: "You are also someone close to His Majesty, a third-rank local official, why do you need to look at their faces?"

Zhu Sanli is Ma Laoliu's brother. They were both old men in the Jin Palace. Ma Laoliu and Xie Wen were both Yang Guang's Qianniu guards, so they were old acquaintances.

But Zhu Sanli is loyal to Yang Ming right now. After all, he is not Yang Guang's pure confidant, but for Yang Ming, he is.

Xie Wen sighed: "Third brother doesn't know something. In Qinghe County, no one with a foreign surname has the right to speak. That's why, my predecessor is Cui Gong (Cui Zhongfang). It is difficult for ordinary people to die here." "

Cui Zhongfang is the head of the Boling Cui family, and he has a very high prestige. Before he came to Qinghe County to take up the post, he was the minister of Sinong Temple, which is equivalent to the boss taking up the position, so he has an easier job.

In fact, the main reason is because Boling Cui and Qing He Cui were originally from the same family.

Xie Wen and his family were great during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, but they are definitely not good now. They just keep their word in the south. After crossing the Yangtze River, it depends on the faces of the powerful families in Guanzhong.

"What's going on with those rebels in Gaojibo?" Fang Xuanling asked: "It's so close to Qinghe County, why have they never robbed the county?"

Xie Wen was stunned and looked at Yang Ming with a troubled expression.

Yang Ming smiled and said: "It's hard to say, so don't say it."

Xie Wen nodded gratefully, admiring the prince even more in his heart.

To put it bluntly, it was just a private deal. Under what circumstances would the rebels not go around burning, killing and looting?
When you are full.

Where is Gaojibo?Qingzhang Water seeps out to both sides of the river bank, a wetland with a radius of more than 100 miles, covered with reeds and swamps.

Can there be food here?So what do they eat?
The Cui family gave it to me.

So Jiancheng guessed from the beginning that the Gaojibo group was fattened by the old Cui family.

But Xie Wen couldn't say this. Hebei's largest family was involved, and the court was helpless.

Since saying it is useless and will cause trouble, there is no need to say it.

This is called seeing through but not telling, and continuing to be friends.

Now that everyone in the hall is Yang Ming's own people, he will naturally say whatever he wants.

"That Cui Shishu is unreliable, not our headquarters, and should not be reused, but the thirty thousand soldiers and horses still have to find something to do for them," Yang Ming said: "Let them go north along the canal immediately, capture Pingyuan County, and then fight with Zhang Xutuo Convergence.”

Xue Shou said in shock: "Didn't His Highness just say that Cui Shishu would not be allowed to leave until Tu Wanxu arrived?"

Fang Xuanling laughed and said: "His Royal Highness also said just now that the Cui family cannot ask more questions about military affairs. How we deploy them will not be told to others."

Xue Shou curled his lips: "Yes, I am honest."

Everyone laughed.

So Xie Wen was naturally very happy because the prince did not regard him as an outsider. In fact, he also hoped to get closer to the prince. After all, there was Chen Shuyi among them.

The relationship between senior brothers and sisters is very good. Although it is difficult to see each other again now, the relationship between childhood will accompany people throughout their lives.

After people grow up, it is difficult to make true friends.

If you think too much, others will think too. If you are not honest, how can you be sincere?Unlike when I was a child, I was innocent and as clean as a piece of white paper.

Last week, my relatives traveled to Shandong and brought back some Shandong-style pancakes. I ate one and injured my upper jaw. I developed a white blister. I originally wanted to use a needle to pop it, but I was afraid of infection and was shaking. After searching for a long time, I decided to let it go slowly. Although it didn't heal for a week, the Shandong cake is really hard.