Changle Floating Life

Chapter 45

No. 20 days after Pei Zhaoye left Beijing, on the seventh day of October, he had already arrived at the junction of Qingzhou and Yunzhou, and he would enter the border of Yunzhou in one day's journey.

Although there were women accompanying them along the way, King Duan and his party traveled lightly and swiftly.It shortened Pei Zhan's two-month journey to Beijing to one month.Sleeping in the wild is commonplace, and it often takes three or four days to settle in an inn.Pei Zhaoye's move is because he hates the way that the states and counties along the way are greeted and sent, and he is afraid that there will be incidents on the road and people will make use of it.

The only exception was in Yongcheng, Qingzhou, where King Duan and his party made an exception and even visited Baijia Village outside the city.

At noon on the seventh day of the seventh day, the convoy made some adjustments in the wilderness.

It's late autumn, but the midday heat is still there.The princess got out of the car to breathe because she was feeling bored.The accompanying maid hastily pulled up the blue curtain.Before the roadblock was set up, the concubine looked forward, passing through layers of crowds, and saw Prince Duan looking far away from a high hill.

He is tall and tall, looking intently at Wei Pu's future.The look of gazing at Jiangshan is heart-pounding.

On the plain not far away, a man and a rider were galloping rapidly.After this person met with the detective horse sent out, the detective horse blew the whistle.When Pei Zhaoye got off the high post, Xu Shichen, the commander of the guards, greeted him, and said happily, "The messenger from Yunzhou Prefecture has finally arrived."

Since they set off, they have only received three letters from Yunzhou, and everything is going well.But it has been ten days since the last time a messenger was sent.

When the messenger came to him, Pei Zhaoye's heart was already cold.I saw that the man was bruised and exhausted, and fell directly from the horse.So irrigate the irrigated water, and wrap the wounded wounded.After a while, the man woke up and saw Duan Wang struggling to take out a red-labeled beacon from his chest.

Pei Zhaoye opened the letterbox, glanced at it, and his heart sank.He handed the letter to Xu Shichen to pass it on, and said solemnly: "There is a rebellion in Yunzhou."

When Xu Shichen was looking at it, Wu Xiaocun also squatted on his shoulder and looked around.Commander Xu couldn't get rid of this guy, so he accepted his fate and handed him the note, saying to Pei Zhaoye, "Yunzhou is the place where His Majesty's dragon dives, and has always had elite soldiers and strong generals. Why are the government soldiers so useless? After the grain depot was opened, the rice ran out and the people scattered, so it was not difficult to appease."

However, Pei Zhaoye felt that his thinking was too optimistic, so he turned to the messenger and asked, "Tell me about the situation in Yunzhou Prefecture in detail."

The man said that half a month ago, a group of bandits hijacked the sheriff of Yunzhou Prefecture, and also took the arsenal, causing chaos in the city.On that day, the steward Zhou of the palace asked him to leave the city quickly and deliver a letter to King Duan on the way.But when he reached the gate of the city, the samurai guarding the city had forbidden him to leave the city, and he was almost caught by the rebel army.This person hid in the pigsty for three or four days, and fell out of the city at night.After walking for another ten days, he snatched the caravan's horse halfway, and finally caught up with Duan Wang head-on.

Wu Xiaocun twisted his beard and said: "In other words, this is old news half a month ago." The current situation is changing rapidly, and now I don't know what is going on.

Pei Zhaoye immediately ordered someone to bring a pen and paper, wrote a simple memorial of the situation here, stamped his seal, and ordered someone to send it to the capital.After the memorial was written, he was momentarily at a loss.Xu Shichen asked him: "My lord, Yunzhou is in chaos, what should we do?" Pei Zhaoye asked: "Where is the nearest town?" Xu Shichen replied: "I can go to Xuecheng tonight, and I will order someone to go and greet the county magistrate in advance. , by the way to inquire about information."

Pei Zhaoye nodded, Xu Shichen turned to leave, Wu Xiaocun suddenly said without thinking: "Xue Cheng is not good." Pei Zhaoye suddenly looked up at him.Wu Xiaocun looked straight at him and said: "The terrain here is peaceful, you can't pass in front, and you can't retreat behind."

Xu Shichen's ears were callused by his friends along the way, and he said angrily: "Except for Xuecheng, there is no other big city nearby to inquire about news."

Pei Zhaoye walked up to Wu Xiaocun and asked, "Where does Mr. Wu like?" Wu Xiaocun stroked his beard and said, "Your Highness should agree with me. Qinghe County, which is three days away from here, is the largest thoroughfare in Yunzhou. There are a lot of soldiers and food, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Your Highness should have prepared early."

The old killer suddenly spoke to five people and six people, which frightened Xu Shichen, who was born in the army in his early years, into sweat.He turned to King Duan in amazement, and Pei Zhaoye ordered them all to get up. Take fifty soldiers and Mr. Wu to Qinghe, and ask someone to escort the princess to follow."

The world is in trouble, a fatal autumn.No one dares to say more nonsense.Three days' journey, one day and one night without rest or sleep, arrived.When King Duan entered the city, Qinghe County Magistrate Pei Kai was still asleep.

Pei Zhaoye of the county government went directly to the chief seat, Xu Shichen counted the government soldiers and arsenal, and Wu Xiao checked the grain and account books.Pei Kai, who was considered an uncle in the genealogy, thought he had committed something, so he knelt in the lobby disheveledly and shouted, "Master Imperial Envoy, spare me!"

Pei Zhaoye didn't have time to greet him, so he first asked about the situation in Yunzhou City, and the news he got was as good as what the messenger said.No matter how many details there are, it is just that the bandits demolished the state capital, killed the guards, and plundered the city wantonly.Pei Zhaoye threw a puzzling question to Pei Kai: "Does the emperor know where these gangsters came from, and how did they gather together overnight?"

Yunzhou is different from other vassals and towns. Although it is located on the border, its status is naturally extraordinary because of the birth of an emperor.Don't say that the soldiers are rich in fine food and the soldiers are rich, even the ordinary people look like they are possessed by dragon spirit.When it comes to rebellion, Xichuan, which is in dire straits, is not rebellious, Jiangnan is not rebellious, and Zhongzhou, where the rich and powerful are rampant, is not rebellious. Why is it Yunzhou, a border land?

Pei Kai sighed secretly before saying: "Your Highness has been away from Yunzhou for too long..." At this moment, a messenger suddenly entered the hall, saying that there was movement in Yunzhou City. "What happened?" Pei Zhaoye asked.The messenger peeked at him and dared not speak for a while.Wu Xiao said sideways: "My lord, I forgive you for your innocence." Then the little soldier dared to say: "I heard from the nearest Luanliang County that a rebel flag was hoisted in Yunzhou City, and the bandit soldiers spread the word that they wanted to rebel. It is the banner of King Duan."

Pei Kai was so frightened that he fell off his seat, covered his mouth with one hand, and looked at the superior in shock and fear.

Pei Zhaoye got down from his seat to help him up, and asked the messenger: "Who is the leader of the bandit? Who do they listen to?" The soldier didn't dare to look at him, and timidly said: "I heard that it is a man named Yuan, What is it called Yuan Huaike?"

Pei Zhaoye was greatly surprised: "Isn't this person assassinated and exiled? How can he do evil?"

"Oh!" Wu Xiaocun yelled for a long time, clapped his hands and said, "So that's how it is." Everyone in the hall looked at him eagerly.Wu Xiaocun rationalized his thinking for a while, and then said: "Your Highness, Yuan Huaike's exile is on the border of Youyun, not far from Yunzhou City. Yuan Huaike fought with Princess Zhenguo in Saibei in his early years, and there are many old friends in the Northern Army ..."

"I don't believe that my Dazhou's robes would be instigated by such a sinner." Pei Zhaoye's eyes were red, and he gritted his teeth and said, "He dares to play my banner! I just said what a coincidence. Once I return to the border of Yunzhou, I will There's a rebellion happening."

The timing was just right, it must have been premeditated, and someone commanded it remotely!

Wu Xiaocun changed his usual hippie smile, the wrinkles on his forehead tightened, and he said solemnly: "This is someone who framed you, Your Highness must think carefully about his actions."

That's right, Yunzhou is under siege, news must have reached the capital, what will my father think of me then? !

Pei Zhaoye made up his mind, and cupped his hands to Qinghe County Magistrate Pei Kai, "Please also ask the emperor to give a full account of the scene here to His Majesty, and return my innocence!" Pei Kai was called "the emperor" by him. He was dizzy from screaming, so he agreed immediately, and went back to his seat to order someone to tidy up his pen and ink.

Wu Xiaocun and Xu Shichen consciously surrounded Pei Zhaoye. They both felt that the most urgent task was to report to the capital while repairing the city and watching the changes.

However, the development of the current situation did not give them much time.

Two days later, Princess Duan's motorcade also slanted into Qinghe County.Along with them, there was also the eight hundred li urgent document from the imperial court, which was handed over directly to Qinghe county magistrate.But at this time, Qinghe County was under Pei Zhaoye's control.Pei Kai was also happy to be the shopkeeper and let Wang Duan take a look first.

The document stated: "King Duan" in Yunzhou City rebelled, and if the states and counties along the way intercepted King Duan's convoy, they would all capture them, and then report to the imperial court, and they would be rewarded for their merits.

"This..." Pei Kai, the county magistrate of Qinghe, was extremely embarrassed. The [-]-mile rush was not early or late, but it happened to be at this time, so it was clearly a harm to him! "Your Highness, don't worry, when my memorial arrives at the capital, His Majesty will understand that this is a misunderstanding."

Pei Zhaoye smiled wryly: "I'm afraid that my lord's memorabilia will not be handed over to the imperial court at all!"

Pei Kai widened his eyes and collapsed on the seat.Does this count as "being" rebelled?

Xu Shichen was furious, grabbed the capital emissary by the hair, and shouted: "Who said that King Duan rebelled in Yunzhou? Open your eyes and see who is sitting on it?" The emissary in yellow was so frightened that his face was like gold. Paper, groaning like a stutter: "General... General... Spare me..."

Wu Xiaocun asked, "Yunzhou is now surrounded like an iron barrel. You came from the capital, how did His Majesty know that Yunzhou was rebellious? Has anyone got the scriptures? How does His Majesty react?"

The imperial envoy in yellow trembled and said: "The chiefs of the nearby counties have signed up, and the Duanzi flag is hung on the city of Yunzhou. I heard that the Ministry of War has recruited troops to prepare for rebellion."

A great sense of grief and indignation welled up in Pei Zhaoye's heart.He slammed his fist on the table, punching a big hole in the wooden table.

Wu Xiaocun took a step forward and said, "Your Highness, anyway, the pot of shit has been taken down, so it's time to calm down and think about what to do next. For the past two days, I've been thinking that although Yuan Huaike has martial arts, he is also brave. How to take down the entire Yunzhou City."

Pei Zhaoye raised his eyebrows to signal him to continue.

"The place where he was exiled, the border of the dark clouds, the world of ice and snow, hundreds of thousands of prisoners, after the pardon, promised gold and silver beauties, they can serve as soldiers."

All the people present were shocked.

Pei Kai stammered, "Those are one hundred thousand villains, once they enter Yunzhou City..."

"Tucheng. I'm afraid Yunzhou is gone now."

Pei Zhaoye sneered a few times: "It's like what Yuan Huaike did."

There was no smile on Wu Xiaocun's face, and he said: "Your Highness, the accompanying officials and their family members are all in the capital. It is advisable to return to the capital as soon as possible, and express your grievances to His Majesty. The so-called lightning is too fast to cover your ears..."

Pei Zhaoye smiled wryly: "I've come here, you told me to run away with my tail between my legs?"

Wu Xiaocun lifted his hem, knelt down in the hall, and said: "Yuan Huaike is not someone in the pool. My old Wu has dealt with him for many years. He is a leader who can do anything. Your Highness is here, Wangfei Also here, Your Highness needs to think twice before acting."

Xu Shichen drew his sword out of its sheath with a "shua" sound: "He, Yuan Huaike, is carrying the handle, and we are all cowards?!"

There was deathly silence in the lobby.

After a while, Pei Zhaoye asked: "Mr. Wu, what do you think Yuan Huaike's tricks are?" Wu Xiaocun said: "Although it is a mob, a group of mad dogs with a tiger leading them is enough to kill. Yunzhou is too small, not enough What they eat. Crowds, teachers and teachers are easy to scatter, Yuan Huaike will continue to spur them to grab enough benefits to strengthen himself." Pei Zhaoye asked: "Where do you think he will go?"

"In the east of Yunzhou, there is a Xingping warehouse on the boundary of Youzhou. This is the pearl of Saibei, a land of fish and rice. Once you occupy this place, open a warehouse to give relief, call for volunteers, and you can quickly grow your momentum. If you fail, you can also flee north to the Hu tribe. .Yuan Huaike will definitely go there next time.”

Pei Kai, the magistrate of Qinghe County, suddenly said, "What if the surname Yuan goes south? This place is not far from Yunzhou City."

Wu Xiaocun bared his teeth and smiled at him: "Qinghe City has a lot of strong soldiers, and it can last for a year or so, so you don't have to worry about it."

Everyone's eyes, either expecting or apprehensive, were all on Pei Zhaoye.Pei Zhaoye thought for a long time, and ordered people around to invite the princess to come out.

Pei Kai, the county magistrate of Qinghe, curled his lips, thinking: After all, he is a brat, he can't do things well without a hair on his mouth.At this time, I still want to be greedy for gentleness. Do you want to ask women and Taoists?

In less than a quarter to three, the princess came out from the back of the hall in plain obedience.Behind her were two maids and two servants, and the four together carried a big mahogany box.

Pei Zhaoye asked her to sit down, and everyone knelt down to pay their respects.After paying her respects, Pei Zhaoye briefly explained what happened today, and asked her, "Princess, what can I do?"

The princess has felt ominous since three days ago, when Pei Zhaoye left her and went to Qinghe.At this time, he said lightly: "Women have the righteousness of three obediences, and there is no self-dedicated way. Your Highness can do whatever you want." Zhu Huiniang ordered her men to open the box on the ground, which was full of jewels: "This is the concubine's dowry. Take the lead, please distribute it to the soldiers, Your Highness."

She got up and gave a blessing to everyone in the hall, her face was still calm: "Nowadays, we must borrow talents to bring order to order. With Your Highness at your side, why should I worry about it?! Starting today, my concubine will be closed. Fasting at the door, praying for the lords, outside the three doors, there is no way to die!"

After the woman finished speaking, she raised her skirt and walked briskly back into the inner room, leaving a group of elders staring at her.Pei Zhaoye's face was pale and white, and he forced a smile to Pei Kai: "The family members are staying here temporarily, I'm bothering the emperor." Pei Kai waved his hands again and again: "Princess Gao Yi, women don't give up their eyebrows!"

Only Wu Xiaocun kept looking down at Wang Duan's right hand holding the sword, the veins in that hand were loose and tight, tight and loose.He intuitively felt that if the concubine showed a little panic or asked to return to the capital, she would be classified as a spy of the prince's party, and blood would be splashed in front of the hall!

The arrow has to be fired on the string.Pei Zhaoye took a deep breath and said loudly: "Xu Shichen counted five thousand soldiers and horses, and followed me to Xingping at night. Mr. Wu stayed in Qinghe County to help Mr. Pei Kai defend the city."

With one order, all the generals performed their duties.Pei Zhaoye walked past Wu Xiaocun, and asked in a low voice, "Marquis of An Ning, did he expect this, and that's why he asked Mr. to come with me?"

Wu Xiaocun wanted to cry but said without tears: "Young master is not a god. He is just afraid that Zuo Fengmian will find excuses to arrest me in the capital, and he wants me to come to the prince's side to gain fame and find a backer." He was just unlucky, he was plagued by plague wherever he went.The mess from the last time I went to Jiangnan hasn't been cleaned up yet.

"After this battle is over," Pei Zhaoye patted him on the shoulder in a rare way: "I will be your backer!"

Grandma a bear!Wu Xiao thought to himself, then I must have my life.

On the tenth night of October, King Duan led five thousand cavalry to Xingping County on the border of Youyun.In the afternoon of the next day, it rained heavily and the armor was completely wet.In the evening, when re-queuing, there was a strange noise in the front left.The dispatched scout came to report: "There is a large group of people coming from the west, and it seems that they are also going to Xingpingcang. The flag is not clear."

Pei Zhaoye suddenly jumped from the ground to the horse, shouting: "Form!" He clenched the sword around his waist, and silently prayed in his heart: Gradually, bless me!Bless it is Yuan Huaike who came!

All of a sudden, the armor rang together, and the horseshoes trampled wildly.Amidst the rain and fog, a black shadow became clearer and clearer.

Finally, the leader of the team could see the figure clearly.

"It's Yuan Huaike, I'll recognize it even when it turns into ashes!" Pei Zhaoye drew out his sword and shouted loudly, "Come on! Stop them, don't allow one person and one rider to enter Youzhou indiscriminately!"

On this side, Pei Zhaoye fought hard in the wilderness, while on the other side, the capital was also in a mess.

After the news of Yunzhou's rebellion came, the capital was shaken, everyone was suspicious, and everyone was terrified.

It was originally said that Yunzhou was occupied by refugees.Shocked, Pei Zhan even issued an order to the counties along the way, asking for increased vigilance. If he meets Duan Wang and his party, he must ensure safety.If Pei Zhaoye had stayed in Xue County as originally planned, he should have received this edict.It's a pity that Pei Zhaoye bypassed Xue County and went directly to Qinghe.

Later, the states and counties near Yunzhou wrote letters saying that the mob was flying the banner of King Duan.At first Pei Zhan didn't believe it at all, but he couldn't bear the crowd's talk, and Xue County responded that King Duan and his party had bypassed, so Pei Zhan had to be dubious.So he went to court in a hurry and called all civil and military officials to discuss.That's why there was the urgent document of eight hundred miles later, to win the king's chariot and horse, and to reward him for his merits.

Marquis An Ning didn't have to attend the Chang Dynasty, so when the news reached Ye Jianqing's ears, it was only a little later than the officials.

Lan Shan wrung his fingers and counted: "If King Duan walked fast, he should have reached Xue County by now. It is far away from the capital and close to the rebels, what should we do? I don't know what kind of bad idea Mr. Wu came up with. No."

Yuan Huaike was exiled in Mobei, and he was still able to make waves, which really made them in the capital look at him with admiration.

Ye Jianqing thought about it back and forth, and felt that the timing was so ingenious, if it was a coincidence, it would be a bargain. "Someone is making trouble in the capital. The third prince has been sick since His Highness left, hasn't he?"

The author has something to say: it's almost over~~~