On the 28th, the new Huaidong economic envoy Guo Rong, together with his deputy envoy Zhao Kuangyin, led thousands of imperial troops allocated by Liu Chengyou and the supplemented Suzhou regiment to return east to Zhongli, preparing to capture Sizhou.
Before leaving, Liu Chengyou had a whim and asked Guo and Zhao about the "North-South Controversy" in the Han Dynasty during the Khitan invasion and rebellion in the late autumn. He listened to their thoughts and discussed them afterwards.
In this regard, Zhao Kuangyin directly stated that the Southern Expedition was the country's established strategy and a God-given opportunity, which was undisputed. Guo Rong, on the other hand, after hesitating for a while, told Liu Chengyou that if the Han Dynasty gathered for another three years and there was a drastic change in the north, he would recommend that your majesty make an all-out Northern Expedition and restore the entire north.
Judging from the answers given by the two, there are obvious differences in the personalities of the two, with Guo Rong being more adventurous.
On the 29th, the camp set off from the mouth of the vortex. With a large amount of supplies, Liu Chengyou took a warship and sailed up the Huaihe River. Wang Pubei returned to Fuli to guard, and continued to coordinate and dispatch logistics to support the army. Wang Pu, the food envoy of the Huainan front camp, accompanied him to the Xiacai camp.
Since the spring of the third year of Qianyou, he was sent to Huaibei by Liu Chengyou to raise food and wages for the southern expedition and stockpile warehouses. Liu Chengyou had not seen Wang Pu in the past two years. After two years of hard work, Wang Pu looked thinner, but his physique was obviously stronger. The temperament of the white-faced scholar at the beginning was also worn away, but his whole person became more capable.
Liu Chengyou still valued the talent of the prime minister he had appointed. When Ukou saw him, he directly asked him to accompany the driver, and he started to work as a driver again. Wang Pu was also a novice.
On the side of the ship, facing the waves and the north wind, Liu Chengyou looked at Wang Pu and said, "I regret a little bit that I sent you to Huaibei!"
"Why did your Majesty say this?" Wang Pu was a little surprised.
Pointing at Wang Pu's more weathered face, Liu Chengyou chuckled and said: "The image of Wang Langjun, who was graceful and elegant in the past, has been ruined. Isn't it like burning a harp and boiling a crane?"
Hearing this, Wang Pu was stunned for a moment, and then he handed over his hand: "Your Majesty, you are joking!" While agreeing, he was inevitably a little surprised. In his eyes, the emperors in the past had always been dignified and solemn.
"Okay, let's stop joking!" Liu Chengyou pressed the hull of the boat and asked, "It's not easy to serve in the army, isn't it?"
After hearing the question, Wang Pu looked slightly depressed and said solemnly: "When I was studying, I knew that it cost a thousand gold a day, and then a hundred thousand troops were raised! But now I have personally experienced the events before and after, the transportation of food and equipment, the mobilization of soldiers and horses, and the consumption of people's power. , How huge it is. In this month's war alone, nearly half of the two-year-old camp of Ying and Su was consumed!"
Seeing Wang Pu's deep emotion, Liu Chengyou pointed up and said: "You are quite impressed by his position and his political affairs! Because of this, I plan to eat in Huainan because of the enemy. Think carefully!"
"I plan to leave this matter to you. On the other side of Haozhou, Zhongli has fallen, and the other counties and towns are not of concern. I regard you as the magistrate of Haozhou, to handle state affairs, announce Han policies, appease the people, and raise military resources. forage!"
After hearing the order, Wang Pu felt that he had been assigned a heavy responsibility and worshiped tactfully: "Your Majesty has a long-term vision. The war is not over yet, and he is already considering the matter of returning the land to rule. I will do my best to help your Majesty settle Haozhou!"
These literati just like to think too much. Liu Chengyou's meaning is very simple. He wants to bring food to Huainan. Of course, there was nothing wrong with him considering it that way.
The entire section of the Huaihe River from Wuokou to Xiacai was under the control of the Han army, and there was no need to worry about attacks by the Tang army's navy. Hundreds of miles of waterway can be reached in one day. Of course, in order to synchronize with the land riding, the speed has been slightly slowed down.
In Xiacai, on both sides of the Huai River and at both ends of Fuliang, two company camps have been deployed. Since the previous great victory, the Han army has been stationed here, resting and training, and consolidating the results of the victory. During this period, as the commander-in-chief of the army, Wang Jun was very high-spirited and scolded Fang Qiu. The emperor, using Wang Pu as his envoy, came to the camp to commend him personally. In front of the generals in the front camp, he praised Wang Jun very high and made him He is more arrogant and does not take other people seriously.
Basically, except for the commanders of the two imperial armies, it was rare for anyone else to pay attention to him. Different from most of the generals and soldiers, Wang Jun himself lived in Xiacai City, and the general's tent was set up in the county government office. As a result, among the Huai army, secretly, there was a lot more criticism towards the commander Wang Jun. After learning about the situation in the front camp, Liu Chengyou breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time he couldn't help but worry about the morale of the army.
However, after resting for more than ten days, following Wang Jun's order, the Han army in Cai moved again, braving the cold wind, packing their bags and preparing supplies. On Wang Jun's order, he went south again and surrounded Shouchun.
Accompanied by Murong Yanzhao, Wang Jun patrolled the river bank. Wang Jun was dressed in noble armor, with a haughty look on his eyes and face, commanding authority from all directions. Murong Yanzhao followed beside him, with a slight worry in his expression.
Two large floating beams were suspended above the Huai River, but at this time, a floating beam on the north side was in chaos. Two of them collapsed, causing the entire floating beam to shake a lot. Dozens of soldiers and several vehicles of ordnance fell directly into the water.
At both ends of the floating beam, people were rushing down from the bridge. People were rescuing people and reinforcing people around them. In this winter, it was a bit chaotic in the rush.
When Wang Jun understood the situation clearly, he was furious: "Who supervised the construction of Fuliang?"
"Commander back to the capital, it's Kang Yan, the deputy envoy of Yingzhou regiment training!" Shen Shihou was standing by and replied quickly when he saw his anger.
Raising his hand, Wang Jun directly ordered: "Send this command to capture this person, deal with him according to military law, and kill him at the bridge to warn him of his crime!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Shihou was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect that Wang Jun was going to kill someone directly.
On the side, Murong Yanzhao heard this and couldn't help but said: "Fu Liang is unstable and Kang Yan is in trouble. Just give him a little punishment and reinforce him. Why do we need his life?"
Glancing at Murong Yanzhao, Wang Jun waved his hand and said: "Yanzhao, you don't have to intercede for me. Fuliang is the bloodline of our army, and the relationship between lives is not an ordinary oversight. If we advance and retreat when facing the enemy, If this situation is serious, it may affect the victory or defeat of our army, and it cannot be solved by just strengthening it. Such negligence cannot be tolerated in a major military battle. I, the commander, will kill Kang Yan to restore the authority of the army! "
After saying this, Wang Jun glared at Shen Shihou: "Why are you standing there in a daze? Why don't you give me my command?"
Seeing this, Master Shen Hou did not dare to be negligent and hurriedly followed the order. Murong Yanzhao did not try to persuade him any more, but just frowned slightly and looked at Wang Jun, who seemed to have handled an insignificant matter. Murong Yanzhao felt something in his heart, which was somewhat obvious. Wang Jun was trying to establish his authority. Obviously, he had heard about the recent criticisms in the army. It's just a pity that Kang Yan ran into him without even a chance to explain and beg for mercy, and lost his life.
Looking up at the movements in the Han camps on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Murong Yanzhao hesitated for a moment, then raised his hands and said, "Dushuai, would you like to think again about going south to Shouchun?"
"I asked you, Murong Du Yuhou. You opened your mouth several times, but hesitated. What did you say, but you persuaded me not to send troops?" Wang Jun tilted his head, looked Murong Yanzhao up and down, and said calmly: "You don't have to Advise me, the army is resting here for a long time. If it is delayed any longer, it will really slow down the Shouchun garrison and stabilize the morale of the army!"
"At this time, just as the army is moving south to encircle Shouchun and cut off its external aid channels, we must also take advantage of the water to transport the food and equipment to the right place before the water freezes! This winter, we must break the city. No matter what happens, we must attack Shouchun City. Otherwise, how could the pseudo-Tang court in Jinling be in a hurry? Guo Rong, a junior, has the ability to destroy the city, how can my handsome army lag behind them!"
Seeing Wang Jun's stubborn look, Murong Yanzhao's expression became even more bitter. He thought about it and said, "Although Du Shuai's words are reasonable, we are not in a hurry. Now there are not many soldiers guarding Shouchun. I The army does not have an absolute advantage in terms of strength. His Majesty’s cavalry is approaching, should you wait for the accompanying imperial troops to arrive before heading south and besieging the city?”
Mentioning this, a dark look flashed in Wang Jun's eyes. He glanced at Murong Yanzhao, his voice became cold, and said: "Your Majesty has entrusted me with the deployment of the front camp. I have exclusive power to conquer. Don't block my order, otherwise, you will be killed." No mercy! The emperor is coming, and I am heading south to prepare for him!"
Unable to persuade Wang Jun, Murong Yanzhao was helpless and had a headache. However, he had no intention of speaking again, as that would only annoy Wang Jun and make the relationship between the two parties continue to become rigid.
That's right, after Cai Dajie, the relationship between Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao began to have conflicts. To put it bluntly, Wang Jun felt that Murong Yanzhao was an informant placed around him and was a bit of a hindrance...
In fact, Wang Jun was extremely unhappy about the emperor's visit in person. After all, when the emperor came, there would be no chance for him to show off his power. This was revealed in front of the generals in his words and deeds.
Weiji, at Xia Cai Dutou, facing Fuliang, Kang Yan, the deputy envoy of Yingzhou regiment training, was beheaded during an unyielding struggle. Kang Yan was certainly not an important figure in the army that conquered the Huai River, but he was also the deputy envoy of regiment training. He was killed by Wang Dushuai with just one word. For a moment, the whole army was in awe.
After Cai Han's army was prepared to march south to Shouchun at Wang Jun's urging, Xiang Xun, the commander of the Jingjiang army, took the emperor's golden order and edict and went south to stop the movement of troops and order the troops to wait for the arrival of the emperor. Make a decision.
A military order made Wang Jun very angry and wanted to send troops, but the generals refused.
