Because they were accompanied by their family members, these people also brought a large number of production, farm tools, and other supplies, which would inevitably slow down the marching speed.
Zheng Bao came up with the idea, and asked him to take 500 troops to load the heavy equipment that could not be used on the road on the ships. At the same time, he also transported some of the old, weak, young and sick family members who were difficult to travel long distances, from Chaohu Lake to the Yangtze River via Ruxukou, and took the waterway. Meet Yuan Yao in Xunyang.
Zheng Bao occupied Chaohu Lake. As the saying goes, he relied on the water to draw water. He had hundreds of large and small boats under his command, and there was no shortage of people who were good at water.
Although most of the boats are river boats and lake boats, which are difficult to navigate on the Yangtze River with its vast water and rough waves, Zheng Bao has his own way.
So he gathered ropes, putting the big ship first and the small ship second. A large boat leads a small boat, and ropes are connected between the boats while maintaining a certain distance.
This is enough to ensure that the boat will not be overturned or blown away by ordinary wind and waves on the river, unless it encounters extreme wind and waves.
What Yuan Yao lacks most now is time. Although he doesn't want to divide his troops, he finally agreed to Zheng Bao's request.
But even so, after setting off, Yuan Yao found that the entire team could only travel more than twenty miles in one day.
If it were not for Zheng Bao to lead the fleet to transport the baggage and the young and old who could not trek, I would probably have to walk a dozen miles at most every day, and it would take at least two months to reach Xunyang.
Along the way, Yuan Yao also experienced firsthand what it means to "make roads across mountains and build bridges over rivers".
When they reach the point where they are stuck between rocks and trailers, in order not to take several days of detours, the team will choose to pass through the mountain path. At this time, they have to cut down trees and dig out the rocks to open up a road for the vehicles and horses to pass.
Fortunately, there were not many mountains blocking the way, and most of it was plains. But there are many rivers, and logs and reeds often have to be cut down in advance and pontoons laid to allow large troops to cross.
Within a few days, Yuan Yao and Lu Su discovered Lu Dai's talent almost at the same time.
Lu Dai was only in charge of the rear army for a few days, and he arranged everything in the rear camp properly. There are a thousand old and weak people in his hands, all doing their best and performing their duties.
Even for Yuan Yao's most troublesome military dependents, Lu Dai also figured out a way to make this extremely chaotic group of ordinary people orderly during the subsequent march and camp.
The overall speed of the rear camp increased within half a month, and sometimes even exceeded the marching speed of the front army and the middle army. There was a phenomenon that the rear camp had to rest for a while while waiting for the front army to open the way.
Yuan Yao and Lu Su were surprised to see that Lu Dai had the ability to turn a forward into a hindrance.
"Young Master, I have lived in Huainan for a long time. I have made friends with countless heroes in Huainan. I can say that I have a lot of treasures about the famous people in Huainan, but I have never heard of Lu Dinggong's name!"
"But the young master was able to spot Ding Gong's differences at a glance. It can be said that he has unique insight and is truly a god!"
Lu Su clicked his tongue and said strangely.
Although Yuan Yao was relieved in his heart, he still said angrily on the surface: "Zijing, how come you, an honest man like you, have learned to flatter me? This is not how I teach you new idioms for you to use!"
Yuan Yao was very bored during this period. When he had nothing to do, he discussed idioms and allusions with Lu Su and Liu Fu. He taught these two people many idioms that had not appeared at this time. The two were often surprised by Yuan Yao's witty remarks.
"The young master is not only thirsty for talents, but he also knows people well and can treat the virtuous corporal, which makes me a little tempted!"
I don't know why, but Liu Fu always feels that Yuan Yao's actions are quite to his liking. Maybe both of them have the trait of preparing for a rainy day.
Yuan Yao was overjoyed when he heard this. Could he conquer Liu Fu today?
"I think the front army has been quite ineffective in opening roads and building bridges recently. Why don't you let me give the front army some guidance?"
"If it works, the young master can treat me as a guest from now on. I won't be able to live free of charge under your tent every day."
Although Liu Fu just wanted to be a guest for the time being, rather than serving Yuan Yao directly, Yuan Yao still agreed.
This is a good sign after all!
“With Mr. Yuanying’s guidance, you can get twice the result with half the effort!”
"Sir, just like Ding Gong, how about receiving a salary of six hundred shi according to rank?"
"So good!"
With the master of construction Liu Fu digging mountains and building bridges, the peacemaker Lu Su taking charge, and the model worker Lu Dai taking care of the funeral, Yuan Yao's marching speed was greatly increased.
The originally planned fifty-day trip took only forty-one days to reach Xunyang Banzhou Ferry.
This also includes the three days Yuan Yao was delayed in administering Wancheng in Lujiang County.
Previously, the county government of Lujiang was Shucheng, but because Sun Ce besieged Shucheng for more than a year when he attacked Lu Kang, many people died of starvation in Shucheng, and the city walls were dilapidated and it was no longer suitable for county government.
After Liu Xun became the prefect of Lujiang, he moved the county administration to Wancheng.
Yuan Yao stayed in Wancheng, naturally to look for Er Qiao.
But even if he asked Liu Xun for Wancheng's household registration book and conducted a direct household registration search, he could not find the so-called "Qiao Gong", let alone a family with the surname Qiao that had two daughters.
The surname Qiao is not a common surname, and there are only three families with the surname Qiao in Wancheng. Yuan Yao has visited all of them one by one, and there are no two women named Qiao of the right age.
Huang Yi, who followed Yuan Yao into the city, couldn't help but wonder. Ever since he was struck by lightning, Yuan Yao was no longer the same person as the lecherous Yuan Yao before. He was no longer a womanizer at all!
Even Feng Fangnu, who had spent a lot of effort to get her, really just treated his father and had no other intentions at all.
Just listen to Yuan Yao chanting every day, "Where are Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao?" "Where are you, Er Qiao? It's been so hard for me to find you!"
Could it be that Yuan Yao was caught in a nightmare? Are you confused by these two dream girls named Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao in your dream?
Huang Yi couldn't help but feel worried, so he privately found Zhang Zhongjing, who was buying medicinal materials in the city, and told him his guesses and worries.
After hearing this, Zhang Zhongjing seemed to have some understanding.
In the evening, Zhang Zhongjing found Yuan Yao, who was looking at the sunset on the horizon, and asked tentatively:
"I heard that the young master came to the city today and refused the banquet given by Prefect Liu, just to look for the two young ladies?"
"Why, Mr. Zhongjing, do you know the whereabouts of Er Qiao?"
Yuan Yao let out a long sigh and no longer had any hope.
He was puzzled at this time. All the history books clearly recorded that Sun Ce and Zhou Yu only took in the big and small Qiao after they conquered Wancheng!
Why can't I find it myself?
Is it God's will? The two young and old Joes have already been destined to belong to someone?
"I'm just wondering, is there a possibility that the surname of Qiao is the same as the surname of Qiao next to Muzi?"
"After the surname Qiao was Ji, the surname Qiao was derived from the surname Qiao. Have you ever thought that Erqiao Tianmu is also Erqiao?"
"Yeah, why didn't I think of that!"
Yuan Yao slapped his head. He only recalled the history books, but he ignored the issue of homonymous surnames!
"Let's go, call Huang Yi. Let's go back to Wancheng now and check for people with the surname Qiao!"
Zhang Ji hurriedly grabbed Yuan Yao and signaled that that was not what he meant.
"Young Master, do you still remember that in Shouchun, you asked me to go to General Qiao Rui's mansion to diagnose and treat the Qiao family's eldest daughter's cold syndrome?"
Zhang Zhongjing didn't mention it, Yuan Yao had already forgotten about it.
Yuan Yao recalled it for a long time before he remembered that such a thing had indeed happened.
In order to deal with the Qi Qin family, he casually said something to ask his disciple Zhang Zhongjing to help treat the disease.
"It seems that this has happened before, so what?"
At this time, Yuan Yao still didn't connect Qiao Rui's daughter with the big and small Qiaos, or the big and small Qiaos.
"When I went to get treatment, I saw a young girl waiting beside me. She was the sister of the Qiao family's eldest daughter."
"When these two sisters call themselves or call each other, they don't call each other sister, sister, sister. Instead, they call each other "Big Bridge, Little Bridge!"
"My elder sister calls my younger sister Xiaoqiao, and my younger sister calls my elder sister Daqiao. But except for her two sisters, the rest of the family only calls them eldest miss and second miss!"
"Presumably the names of these two people's bridges and small bridges are only known to those close to the family and not to outsiders!"
"I wonder if this second bridge, big and small, is the second bridge that makes Mr. Yuan dream about it?"
Hearing what Zhang Zhongjing said, Yuan Yao immediately felt a chill in his head and felt weak in his spine, thinking of a possibility that he had never thought of before.
"The two bridges, big and small, are so beautiful and fragrant?"
Yuan Yao asked in disbelief.
"No!"
But Zhang Zhongjing shook his head.
Isn't it?
"How can the eldest daughter of the Qiao family be simply described in four words: beautiful and fragrant? It's simply..." Zhang Zhongjing suddenly couldn't think of any words to use to describe what he saw with his own eyes.
"This is simply shocking to me!"
"What about Xiaoqiao?"
Yuan Yao asked quickly.
"Xiaoqiao? Didn't I just say that?"
"Xiaoqiao is still a young girl, only twelve years old. It's not my place to judge!"
After all, Zhang Zhongjing is an honest man who has read a book. A gentleman says something but doesn't say it. Commenting on the young girl's appearance and figure is really not in line with the education he has received.
Yuan Yao said frantically: "Sir, please tell me!"
"Don't be impatient, young master, please consider your words!"
Zhang Zhongjing was very embarrassed, but he still said:
"Although General Qiao's second daughter is still young, her figure and appearance are already mature. She is quite similar to her elder sister. She has the appearance of someone who will conquer a country!"
After all, Zhang Zhongjing still remembered that Yuan Yao suffered from a very strange kind of soul-leaving syndrome, and his condition had only improved recently. In the end, it was the kindness of the doctor who was afraid that Yuan Yao's excessive emotions would cause the disease to recur.
The well-known Jiangdong Erqiao turned out to be Erqiao.
Not only that, but the big and small bridges that he was looking for so hard were the biological daughters of Qiao Rui, his general under Yuan Shu.
The most terrible thing is that Erqiao's father, Qiao Rui, rushed to marry Daqiao to Yuan Yao. Qi Qin even said that even if she couldn't be a wife, the Qiao family would accept Daqiao as a concubine.
And he, faced with the top beauties from the Three Kingdoms who came to his door, actually didn't agree!
This is not the world's most stupid person, what is this?
"Ahhh!" Yuan Yao looked up to the sky, wanting to cry but without tears.
"This, this, this..."
"Ahhh!"
Yuan Yao was so angry at his own stupidity that he became dizzy, his body couldn't stop shaking, and he couldn't say a word.
Bang bang bang!
Yuan Yao gave himself three mouthfuls!
Seeing Yuan Yao going crazy for some unknown reason, Zhang Zhongjing thought it was a recurrence of Yuan Yao's Soul Leaving Syndrome.
Yuan Yao quickly held down Yuan Yao, who was about to slap him in the mouth: "Young master, you can't do that!"
"Young Master, why is this?"
"Young Master, don't hit the wall!"
"Someone is coming, someone is coming quickly!"
But at this time, Yuan Yao was completely unable to be suppressed. Although Yuan Bao and several personal attendants hugged Yuan Yao's limbs, Yuan Yao, whose eyes were completely broken, still had to break free.
Zhang Zhongjing didn't know where he was at this time, and soon he ran back with an oil paper bag and a jug of wine.
"Doctor Zhang, I asked you to call someone. Where are the people you called?"
Yuan Bao tried his best, but Yuan Yao couldn't do anything at this time.
Zhang Zhongjing opened the oil paper bag, revealing the powder inside, and muttered:
"Brother Hua Tuo, don't fool me, this Ma Fei Powder should be useful!"
Yuan Bao was surprised and asked: "Medical Officer Zhang, what are you doing?"
"Do you want to get the young master drunk? This pot of wine is not enough! What is this powder?"
I saw Zhang Zhongjing pouring a little hemp into the wine pot and shaking it hard.
The medical sage of this generation had never seen such an urgent disease, and he was sweating profusely at this moment.
"If the disease is knotted inside and cannot be reached by acupuncture, you should first take alcoholic beverages to make you feel drunk..."
"In a moment, you can make people lose track of their affairs, and let others split them without any pain..."
Zhang Zhongjing kept convincing himself that he must believe in the efficacy of Ma Fei San. When Yuan Yao opened his mouth and gibbered, he poured the whole pot of wine mixed with Ma Fei San into Yuan Yao's stomach.
