When Yuan Shu received the military report, he read it once and couldn't believe it. He read it twice, three times, and five times in a row. After reading it five times, Yuan Shu's body was shaking, as if the blue wind was blowing out of thin air. He was dizzy and his ears were ringing for a moment, and his five senses and six senses felt like it was... It is difficult to see things clearly if they are entangled in one place.
When he woke up again, it was already a quarter of an hour later. Yuan Gongli found himself leaning on the case, still holding the military newspaper in his hand, while his children were surrounding him, their eyes full of anxiety and sorrow.
Yuan Shu coughed and waved them away. Then he threw the military report in his hand on the case and called the messenger over. He asked: "How many troops have been sent by the imperial court? Is there no movement in the east?"
The messenger reported truthfully: "There are fewer people on Zhongli's side, and more on Yicheng's side. Although both are less than 10,000, they are not much different. General Ji said that all Pengcheng and Zhang Xian should have gone south." He said this , paused, showed an embarrassed look, and continued to talk about Bai Bo's actions, "There is no movement in the east, it's just that people are migrating like last month, it's just..."
But he couldn't continue talking.
After Yuan Shu continued to ask, the envoy hesitated and said: "It's just that the people at Yicheng said that the imperial court sent troops to conquer because they heard that the envoy secretly kept the national seal. General Ji thought that this was the news released from the east. .”
Hearing this, Yuan Shu was furious and cursed: "Bai Bo Shuzi! Without me, how could he survive?! I swear to eat his flesh!"
But not long after he became angry, he then thought: How can he fight against Bai Bo when he is a weak country with few soldiers? He is forced by the Han army in front of him, and it is difficult to predict how many days he can survive. It is no wonder that Yang Feng regards him as a worn-out shoe. . In troubled times, faith is inherently unpredictable. Didn't he also count on Bai Bo to stop the Han army? It's just that Yang Feng walked in front.
These thoughts made Yuan Shu discouraged, and he asked resignedly: "Does General Ji have any words to say, how many days can the two cities be defended?"
The envoy bowed his head and replied: "The general said that Zhongli may be able to defend for another twenty days, but Yicheng is on the north bank of the Huai River and I'm afraid he won't be able to defend it. The general advises the envoy to make plans in advance."
Yuan Shu laughed at himself twice and waved the envoy to retreat. He knew in his heart that Ji Ling's so-called early plan was actually an explicit advice to everyone to make peace with their destiny and flee across the rivers and seas. But in this situation, where can I escape?
So the remaining officials in Jiujiang gathered in the palace hall to discuss the matter with him. Speaking of Yuan Shu's current post-general mansion, the talents in his mansion are not as good as before. A year ago, Yuan Shu had both young talents and high-profile county officials under his command. However, after the Ruying battle, most of them were captured and killed by the Han army, and many of them were captured. Veteran ministers such as Shi Yiguan and Yan Xiang were recruited, and most of the rest defected to Sun Ce. Today, there are only a few people like Shu Shao and Liang Gang left in the mansion. After hearing the news that the Han army was attacking, everyone looked at each other and smiled bitterly.
Yuan Shu asked Liang Gang, "If we leave now, how many people can we take with us?" Liang Gang sighed and said, "Reporting to Duke Ming, there are about three thousand people inside and outside the city." Everyone couldn't help but be silent. There were more than three thousand people in the city. In today's world, what can be done? If the city is lost again, the dignified generals from all directions will probably be the same as grass bandits.
But he still had the imperial seal. Yuan Shu thought that as long as he had these thousands of people accompanying him and found a way to go north, and he dedicated the imperial seal, he would always leave a way out for his children.
Therefore, Yuan Shu thought about countermeasures and felt that he should let Bai Bo contain the Han army. But the route to the Huai River was cut off, and the overland route to Guangling would not be accepted, so he had to find another way.
Yuan Shu suddenly had an idea. He could go to Chaohu first. There are many water thieves in Chaohu, and he usually has many contacts. At this time, he can use his old friendship to buy some of them with heavy money. With the navy, we can escort him south to the river, and then float to Fuhai Island at the end of the river. Fuhaizhou is located in the center of the river (today's Dongxian County) and is surrounded by the East China Sea. The Han army will not be able to attack, so he can wait for a good opportunity here. Once Bai Bo showed signs of confrontation with the Han army, he could take the opportunity to go north as planned.
He told this idea to everyone. Although everyone was a little worried, they had no other way, so they all decided to do this. That night, the whole city of Shouchun held up torches and pretended to be frightened by the Han army, but in fact they were carrying property and luggage in the city. Although there were only three thousand soldiers left in the city, there were a lot of things that were busy being moved. Donkeys and horses were brought out in groups, occasionally mixed with the cries of women, creating a mess. As a result, the team of 3,000 people turned out to be a force of 6,000 or 7,000 people, and the whole city was awakened. They did not light the lamps and listened silently in the darkness to Yuan Shu's team arguing at the city gate until the end. Yuan Shu's pretense failed to deceive even one person.
"Shura Martial God"
At this time, Yuan Shu stood at the south gate, supervising the movement of teams carrying baggage. This trip is far away to Fuhaizhou, and we don't know how long we will stay, so the food, rice and baggage are the most important. Shu Shao led the people to load and unload more than two hundred cars, and in the blink of an eye, the night became thin. Just when they were finishing loading, Liang Gang came over with a few soldiers, with a troubled look on his face.
Yuan Shu knew that it was his family affairs that caused him trouble, so he asked, "Who is still making trouble?" Liang Gang hesitated to explain, so he went up and down the city to look. It turned out that Mrs. Feng was quarreling with several concubines, competing for carriages and horses to carry her own silk and satin. Yuan Shu came downstairs and shouted at several people: "What time is it? Why are you arguing? If you don't want to leave, just stay here. I'll have less mouths to eat!"
This sentence made several women blush and wanted to argue with him, but they held back. Although Yuan Gongli was harsh on his subordinates, he had always been gentle towards his family. The women were quarreling here, and they seemed to be arrogant. Now their attitude suddenly changed, which confused them. The women were a little scared, and after muttering a few words, they were helped by the domestic slaves to get on their horses and leave the city.
It was already dawn. Yuan Shu put on his military uniform and watched the team slowly move forward. Then he looked back at Shouchun City gradually disappearing in the sky. He couldn't tell how he felt in his heart. He knew that he would probably never come back here again. , but there’s no telling where he can go in the future.
Because he had a lot of money and few soldiers, Yuan Shu walked very slowly. He could only cover forty miles in a day. After walking for four consecutive days, they walked from Shouchun to Hefei, and they were already exhausted. . Yuan Shu asked the team to rest in Hefei, and then sent people to Chao Lake to contact the water thieves.
There were originally a lot of water thieves in Chaohu Lake. At its peak, there were more than 10,000 people. They took Chaohu Lake as their base and occupied Shaopi. According to the complex water network between the two lakes, some people were encircled and suppressed from the river, so they fled north to the Huaihe River. Someone was encircling and suppressing them on the Huai River, so they fled south to the river. Therefore, no one could control them for many years and they became the dominant force in Yangzhou. Whether it was Yuan Shu, Tao Qian or Bai Bo's army, they could only choose to recruit troops.
But this time Yuan Shu sent people to contact him, but there was no news, not to mention the heavy bribery, and there was not even a reply. After waiting for five days in Hefei, Yuan Shu finally couldn't bear it any longer and personally led more than a thousand people to the edge of Chao Lake, raising a flag to interview the water thieves. The water thieves then came forward, but they were facing Yuan Shu from a distance on the water. Just shouting from afar.
The leader of the coming water thieves said loudly: "General, please come back now! Zhu Niao has entered the southern sky, and his surname is no longer Yuan!" After saying that, the coming water thieves all displayed the banner of General Polu and the crimson flag. Standing between the cockroaches, it merged with the reflection on the lake into a red light, which made Yuan Shu stunned and didn't know what to say.
Then another young man walked out of the leading boat. I saw him half-armored, wrapped in a cloak, wearing a turban on top, embroidered shoes on bottom, holding a cyan feather fan, half-covering his chin, revealing only a pair of lying silkworm eyebrows and a pair of auspicious phoenix eyes. Even if he didn't utter a word, he was full of romance. The energy is overflowing.
Yuan Shu recognized that it was Zhou Yu, and was frightened for a moment. He only heard Zhou Gongjin say loudly on the boat: "Mr. Yuan, from the east and west of Shaopi, to the north and south of Chaohu, all the naval forces among them have surrendered for me. Why does Mr. Yuan need to file a case again?" ? Why not just go back and take care of yourself for a few more days, and Bo Fu will come south to meet you."
After Zhou Yu said this, Yuan Shu couldn't help being extremely discouraged when he learned that he would get nothing from this trip. He also remembered Sun Ce and Zhou Yu's betrayal during the battle between Ruying and Yuan Shu. If we are blood relatives, is this how you will repay us?!"
Zhou Yu heard this and sneered: "Everyone who deceives the emperor and usurps them will be punished! Mr. Yuan, where did your national seal come from? I don't need to say more!"
As soon as these words came out, Yuan Shu suddenly felt that he was wrong, and the soldiers around him were also in a commotion. When Zhou Yu saw this, he was not prepared to start a war. He wanted to leave Sun Ce a chance to take revenge, so he led his troops to retreat. Yuan Shu could only return to Hefei.
It was already February, the ice and snow were melting, the spring breeze was picking up, and green buds were gradually growing on the dead branches of willows. However, when it fell into Yuan Shu's eyes, it made him feel sad. He thought silently: Spring has arrived, and everything is recovering, but this Between heaven and earth, is there no place for Yuan Benchu?
I spent a few days in Hefei like this. Suddenly one night, he said to his wife, concubines and children: "I sent people to find a large ship in Liyang, which can accommodate a hundred people. We can't stay here anymore, so we'd better leave quickly!" After that, without allowing his wife and children to object, he threw it away. The people in the lower part of the city and the city, with only the imperial seal wrapped in their hearts, took Shu Shao and other old friends and hurriedly fled south on horseback.
With horses' hooves flying like rain, Yuan Shu traveled seventy miles overnight until he arrived before Liyang. When the soldier who bought the boat for him saw him, he did not dare to delay at all, and immediately led a group of people to the dense forest by the river. Looking from a distance, he could indeed see a four-foot-tall ship on a shoal. Yuan Shu was overjoyed and said to the soldier: "When I arrive in Hebei, I will take credit for you!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, the soldier cut off Yuan Shu's left arm with a backhand knife and captured him to the ground. Suddenly, shouts of death came from the surrounding dense forest, and hundreds of people came out of it, surrounding Yuan Shao and his party. live. It turned out that Yuan Shu's plan to buy a ship and separate from the crowd had been suspected by Sun Ce, and the soldiers he sent also rebelled for Sun Ce.
Yuan Shu was in severe pain and had no idea what was going on. When he regained his consciousness, he realized that a person was standing in front of him. Yuan Shu raised his head and was at a loss. It took him a long time to realize that the person in front of him was Sun Ce, the general who broke the captives.
Sun Ce saw Yuan Shu's downfall and thought of how much he had promoted and promoted him in the past few years, and thought of his father's unjust death. He didn't know how to feel in his heart. Seeing Yuan Shu's pleading look, he slowly said: "I I won’t implicate Mr. Yuan’s family. I will hand over the imperial seal to Mr. Yuan, and I can let Mr. Yuan settle it on his own.”
Yuan Shu smiled bitterly, used his remaining hand to untie the jade seal soaked in blood from his chest, held it up in front of Sun Ce, and then said in a hoarse voice: "Since he is a rebellious minister and traitor, I'm afraid he will be whipped if he leaves his body behind." The corpse will not suffer such a crime, so let me throw him into the river." Sun Ce nodded slightly, and after taking the jade seal, he personally lifted Yuan Shu up with both hands, strode to the shore, and put him into the water.
Yuan Shu was like a leaf, drifting slightly in the river until it was dozens of feet away, before slowly sinking into the water.
Shu Shao, an old friend who was accompanying him, shed tears when he saw it, and couldn't help but said: "I am so poor that I have abandoned myself like dust." Then they all threw themselves into the river.
In February of the fifth year of Yanxing, Sun Ce took in all the members of Yuan Shu's family, and then led his troops to the north, successfully taking over the entire Jiujiang county. He then ordered a tomb to be built at the place where Yuan Shu poured water, finally showing some of his past feelings as a monarch.
