Chapter 172 Cai Yong’s beloved daughter
Poor embroidered household girl, lying alone next to the ancient Buddha with a green lantern. ----------Cao Xueqin's "A Dream of Red Mansions"
First, Chen Long learned that Liu Biao sent troops in three directions but did not show his support, and only asked Cai Yan to return to Luo. Wen Ji said goodbye and remained silent. Although she knew that Chen Long had traveled thousands of miles to help her and went through all kinds of hardships to save her, she didn't have deep feelings in her heart. If I hadn't been greedy for life and feared death, and married the Xiongnu Zuoxian King who insulted me, thus losing the most moral integrity of a girl, maybe I would have given up everything, fought for myself to join the army, and tried every means to stay by Chen Long's side.
Farewell today, I saw Chen Long was speechless. He seemed to understand his silence and hoped that he could return to his father Cai Yong to cultivate his body and mind. Cai Yan deeply hoped that Chen Long would say something about staying, but he didn't say anything.
From then on, the Cai Yong Mansion in the deep alleys of Chang'an had a depressed young female owner. She only had the guqin as a companion and Bailu as a friend. Although she was not always accompanied by the ancient Buddha with a green lantern, she was deeply saddened by the death of her heart.
It was on such a quiet day that Cai Wenji recalled the Huns fragments and gradually continued to write the next few beats of "Nine Beats of Hujia". Although I only wrote nine beats due to my short experience, the brewing sadness and melancholy are the same as those in "Eighteen Beats of Hujia" in the official history.
After Dong Zhuo's death, Cai Yong was rescued by Chen Long and lived in seclusion in Chang'an. He was not happy until his daughter returned. Unexpectedly, Wen Ji was too repressed and affectionate, depressed and unhappy, so Cai Yong had to take a long time to deal with it. Unfortunately, it was going to rain and my mother was getting married. As time went by, I had no choice but to let Wenji do whatever she wanted.
Both father and daughter are literary giants, and they like to write poems every day to relieve their worries and anger. On this day, Cai Yong saw a manuscript on Cai Wenji's desk. There were a few lines of Juanxiu calligraphy written on the white cloth: "One beat of the bamboo slips and one beat of the piano, and no one knows the resentment in my heart. Two beats of the string, and the strings are broken, and the ambition destroys the heart." I am sad because I am broken."
"Three shots of feeling about the present and the past, sadness and hatred. When will it be over? The worldly mind is different, the body is in trouble, and the desires are different. Who can talk to it? There are many difficulties in thinking and wandering. The four shots are more sad. Raise your eyebrows and look forward to The moon is caressing the elegant harp, the five beats are cold and the meaning is getting deeper. Looking back on the past, it is difficult to carry the luggage, and the six beats are sad and want to stop playing. There are water and grass, and the homes and bases are built, and the cattle and sheep gather in the wild fields like bees and ants, and the grass is gone. The water is exhausted, the cattle and sheep are migrating. Qipai Liu hates it and hates living here. Why does the sky have eyes so that I can drift alone? Because the earth has a spirit, why should I be in the south and the north of the sea? I don't live up to the sky. How can the sky deserve it? I am a great match, and I live up to the gods. Why did the gods punish me for traveling across the deserted state? I made eight beats here and planned to arrange the best. How could I know that the song will be completed? My heart will turn to sorrow."
"The sky is boundless and the earth is boundless, and my heart is also filled with sadness. Life is fleeting, like the passing of a white horse, but I cannot be happy when I am in my prime years. I want to ask the sky to complain, but there is no fate in the sky. I raise my head Looking up at the clouds and smoke in the sky. Who can pass on the nostalgia of the nine shots?"
After Cai Yong read it, he was affected by the sadness between the lines of his beloved daughter, and deeply sighed to himself how to let his beloved daughter feel relieved. Looking at the last sentence of the ninth beat, it seems that the daughter has feelings for someone, but cannot convey her feelings. Thinking of Chen Long traveling thousands of miles to save her life, could it be that Wen Ji likes him?
The more he thought about it, the more he was right. Cai Yong finally made up his mind to fight for something for his daughter. He put a pen on another piece of cloth, imitated Cai Yan's handwriting, and wrote a letter. In it, he described it euphemistically and had deep feelings. It seemed that he was just writing to Cai Yan. Small daily things, but reveal a deep attachment to someone. Finally, he copied the nine-beat poem into the letter, sealed it secretly, found a reliable boy, gave him more money, and ordered him to go to Lingling to find Chen Long, and be sure to deliver the letter personally.
Just as the boy left, Cai Yan's music started playing again, making him cry and complain. Mrs. Cai Yong knew that her daughter was sad again, so she rushed to her side to comfort her. Suddenly, Cai Yan felt that his face was a little swollen and his complexion was turning black and yellow. He was worried that his daughter would be sick, so he sent for a doctor. The doctor looked at his face, felt his pulse, and then said joyfully: "I congratulate you, madam, your love is so happy!"
Besides, Chen Long sent his men to bring the Lingling defense plan to the generals defending Lingling. He took his troops, stayed overnight at dawn, and went straight to Xinye.
Huang Zhong and Wei Yan entered the position to attack Hengyang along the Xiang River. The city of Hengyang was quiet and unpopular, which was unpredictable. In fact, Chen Ying only led a few hundred men to guard Hengyang, and the rest of the troops were transferred to the Lingling front line. Even Chen Ying's old partner Bao Long led troops to the front line. This arrangement is actually all because of the undercover Huang Zhong who has absolute strength along the way.
Huang Zhong was in his prime at this time. He received arrangements from Chen Long and had already made plans. On this day, he pretended to say hello and asked people to invite Wei Yan. He held a banquet in the military tent to entertain his colleagues.
Wei Yan did not doubt that he was there, and rushed to Huang Zhong's big tent to attend the banquet. After a pleasant drink, he raised his troops to capture Hengyang and avenge the loss of Hengyang that day.
After a few drinks, the conversation started, and the two of them entered the harbor chatting. Huang Zhong suddenly picked up a strong bow and opened it like a full moon. The bright arrow was aimed between Wei Yan's eyes.
Wei Yan was horrified. He knew that Huang Zhong could pass through Yang at a hundred steps and did not dare to move. He asked, "Han Sheng, why are you doing this?"
Huang Zhong sneered and said: "Today the troops are approaching the city, we have to do this, because this Hengyang is my lord's city."
Wei Yan was shocked and said angrily: "Your master's city? Has Han Sheng already surrendered to Chen Long?"
Han Sheng said: "My lord is General Chen, the lord of Lingling, who is extremely talented and talented. He helped Changsha generously that day, but was suspected by Liu Pan, Han Xuan and others, so I have surrendered to him."
After saying that, he smiled and said: "Chang Wen, I know you are talented and versatile, so why should you be loyal to Han Xuan, that ruthless mummy? He is jealous of talents and has been putting me in the remote You County. How can I know what he will do in the future? I wouldn’t do this to you.”
Wei Yan hesitated and said: "Han Sheng, Han Xuan is very obedient to me and I am quite trustworthy. How can I bear to abandon him like this?"
Han Sheng waved the arrow in his hand and shouted: "If this is the case, justice is the present, so don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Wei Yan hurriedly said: "Wait a while for the promotion of the Han Dynasty. I have heard for a long time that General Chen Long treated the people well and his reputation spread among Jianghuai, Hunan and Han Dynasties. Therefore, the Lingling imperial examination was unprecedentedly grand and had the atmosphere of a new dynasty. Didn't I know that he was the master of Zhongxing? , much better than Liu Biao. However, this sudden change has made me rebel. My wife, children, and children are all in Changsha. It is difficult to obey this fact. Can you please allow me to think twice?"
Huang Gai shouted: "The article is wrong! When it comes to dealing with the people, I am naturally the best in the world. You take care of your family. I will stand up and go back. I will drive Han Xuan away by surprise and occupy Changsha. I will go there in person." Visit your wife and children at home. A true man can decide what he wants. If you don’t want to, surrender, and I’ll put an end to your wife and children’s concerns with one arrow!"
Wei Yan was so frightened that he waved his hands quickly, gritted his teeth and said, "Han Sheng! Last time Chen Long saved us and others in the suburbs of Changsha, I have grown to admire such a handsome man. Come on, Han Sheng, please put down your bow and arrows."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and wiped it on the arrow. Blood drops immediately dripped from his fingers. Wei Yan dropped the blood drops into the wine cup in front of him, drank it all in one gulp and said: "Han Sheng! How can you not believe my bloody oath?" !Today, I, Wei Yan, swear an oath to be loyal to my lord Chen Long. If I violate this oath, I am willing to die alone!"
Huang Zhong laughed loudly and called out: "Good brother!" He took off the arrows from the strong bow in his hand and threw them away, raised his glass and drank with Wei Yan.
Early the next morning, Wei Yan and Huang Zhong both ordered their troops and horses and returned to Changsha by boat. When their men asked why they retreated without fighting, they both said they were ordered to retreat and had other plans.
Chen Ying, who was at the head of Hengyang City, saw Liu Biao's warships retreating along the Xiang River from a distance. He smiled and said: "Wei Yan has surrendered. As expected, Changsha will soon be named Chen."
When Wei Yan entered the city, Han Xuan was shocked and asked why, but Wei Yan raised his knife and chopped it to death on the top of the city. Wei Yan raised Han Xuan's head, signaled to the Changsha garrison, and shouted: "General Han Sheng and I have taken refuge with the wise and wise Lord Chen Long. If you are willing to surrender, you can follow. If you are willing to leave, I will give you travel expenses." At this time, Huang Gai sent someone. They suppressed the Wei Yan family on the outside and ordered people to protect Wei Yan's family. The soldiers knew that these two generals were both civil and military talents, and Chen Long had a strong official reputation, so most of them were willing to surrender.
In this way, Chen Long captured Changsha without a single blow, and his power suddenly covered Dongting Lake and the south bank of the Yangtze River, shaking Jiangxia. At this time, Jin Xuan, Cai Mao, and Liu Pan's armies had entered Lingling. The first line of defense deployed by Xi Zhicai was right in front of them, and the war was about to break out.
Chen Long's troops have also arrived in Xinye County and have driven away the local officials appointed by Liu Biao. Xiangyang is across the river. Now that the strategic steps have been completed, where can we find a boat to cross the river? Although the Xiangyang side knew that a troop had arrived in Xinye, they took advantage of the danger of the river and ignored it. They only conducted naval drills on the river by Zhang Yun, the commander of the navy, day and night.
At this time, news of the fall of Changsha spread, and Liu Biao's military morale was greatly disturbed, which immediately caused a chain reaction.
First of all, Liu Biao no longer had troops to attack Changsha. Jiangxia was in danger, and Changsha had many warships. If he sent troops to conquer part of Jiangxia, he was fully capable of crossing the river to fight the enemy forces in Xinye.
Secondly, three factions of opinions emerged regarding the movements of Cai Mao and Liu Pan's troops. Mrs. Cai and Liu Biao both believed that they should immediately retreat to defend Jiangling and defend Xiangyang; the staff headed by Kuai Liang believed that they should move to Changsha to eliminate Huang Zhong and Wei Yan; while Kuai Yue, who was accompanying the army, believed that the situation in Lingling should remain unchanged and respond to Kuang Kuang's attack. Attack Lingling, take away Chen Long's lair, and bet with Chen Long that Liu Biao can defend Xiangyang.
It was true that the public was right and the mother-in-law was right. In the end, Liu Biao couldn't defeat Mrs. Cai. In addition, intelligence reported that Xinye on the other side seemed to be Chen Long's main force and had strong combat power. So he decided to order the troops to retreat to Jiangling quickly to prevent being attacked from both sides. Before retreating, Kuai Yue sighed: "What a pity, how can we listen to women and delay the military plane?" Cai Mao heard this and couldn't help but feel resentful in his heart.
