It is summer, and the Xiangjiang River is full of water and rolling northward. After a heavy rain, it becomes even more turbulent, but it is also refreshing and relieves the heat of the hot summer.
The four boats broke through the turbulent river and went southward at a very fast speed. There were still traces of rain all over the hull. The flag on the bow had long been folded, and four wooden sticks were deployed. Under the control of the boatman, Keep paddling.
There were more than twenty Hunan soldiers on each ship. The leader of the ship was a young officer, whose clothes and armor were wet but not yet dry. He was holding a sword in his arms, leaning against the canopy of the boat, with his eyes closed and his hand on the handle of the sword, as if he was ready to draw it and fight at any time. .
The boat was very quiet and the atmosphere was very solemn, except for the vibration of the river and the sound of the boatman's gun. The soldiers in these four ships are all Zhou Xingfeng's personal soldiers, and they are die-hard loyal soldiers.
On the night of the evacuation to Baling on the 19th, these people were ordered by Zhou Xingfeng to sneak out and hide in Mianshan. They boarded four ships that had been prepared in advance and quickly headed south, aiming straight for Changsha.
This journey, from Dongting to the Xiangjiang River and through Xiangyin, went smoothly except for the delay caused by a heavy rain before. On the Xiangjiang River on weekdays, although there are not hundreds of competing boats and there are not many boats coming and going, but now, as far as you can see, it is a deserted scene, and even fishing boats are rare.
"Captain, we're crossing the river!" The soldier on guard at the bow of the ship turned to report to the officer.
As soon as he opened his eyes, his cold gaze swept over him, and his ordinary face suddenly gained a fierce temperament. I probed my head and looked towards the west bank. The Wei River was rushing into Hunan and I could see obvious waves.
After passing Weikou, there are only sixty or seventy miles of waterway left from Changsha. No matter the physical strength, we must go at full speed, and the shift will arrive in an hour.
After thinking for a moment, the officer ordered in a deep voice: "Replace with Xiuji and head south at full speed. We must reach Changsha before sunset!"
"yes!"
"Captain, what do you think is the situation in Changsha now? If the Han army has captured it, then we..." A chief looked at the officer and asked.
"The speed of the Han army should not be that fast. If Changsha falls, there will not be a Han ship on the river!" The captain responded as he was familiar with the water conditions and terrain. After thinking about it, a look of determination appeared on his face: "Jie Shuai is kind to us, and my wife treats us even more kindly. Even if I die, I will return to Changsha to protect my wife and the young man, and fulfill the commander's orders!"
After saying that, the officer walked out of the canopy and looked to the north, with a complicated expression, including worry and sentimentality. Baling may have been conquered, but what about the safety of Commander Ji...
Since the second year of Qianyou, the people of Hunan have been suffering from wars and disasters for a long time. For many years, war and turmoil have always been the main theme of this land and city. The hardest hit was Changsha, the largest city in Hunan.
The Ma brothers fought for power, and a fire burned half of the city wall. The barbarians captured all the accumulated wealth in the treasury. When the Tang army destroyed Chu, they took all the money, plundered property, and almost emptied Changsha.
Together with the Chu people, they drove away the Tang army, adding a touch of blood inside and outside the ancient city. Zhou Xingfeng took control of Changsha and recovered somewhat. However, the generals in Langzhou were also fighting among themselves, and they could not get rid of the war.
The impact of last year's great famine has not yet dissipated. This summer, the whole country is fighting against the imperial army. There is a war in the north and Changsha is in turmoil.
The summer sun enveloped the city, shining brightly on the inside and outside of the ancient city of Changsha. It was hot and humid, irritating the mood of the soldiers and civilians. At this time, Changsha was in a state of depression and people were scattered. The streets were deserted, the people looked hungry, the soldiers were absent-minded, and the generals had their own agendas.
During this period of time, news came one after another from the north. There was a fierce battle at Sanjiangkou, the defeat of Liyang, the fall of Wuling, and the iron hooves of the Han army had descended on Yiyang.
The stormy background is like a rope strangling the throat, suffocating. However, as far as the soldiers and civilians of Changsha were concerned, many people were already looking forward to the quick arrival of the Han army for relief. It is said that after the Han army descended on Wuling City, they released military rations to feed the hungry people the next day.
Compared with the incidents in other states and towns in Hunan, where weapons are on the rise, the situation in Changsha is equally bad, but overall, it has not deteriorated to that point.
It's not that the generals in the military government worked together and took appropriate measures, but that Zhou Xingfeng had a good wife. His wife, Mrs. Yan, grew up in humble beginnings like Zhou Xingfeng. However, after becoming rich and powerful, she still did not forget her original intention. She personally worked in the fields, sympathized with the sufferings of the people, and persuaded Zhou Xingfeng to give him a lenient punishment. She has always been known as a virtuous person.
During this week's trip to the north, Yan was in charge of the overall situation in Changsha. Of course, the lack of chaos in Changsha was also caused by many factors.
First of all, a group of people headed by Secretary Li Guanxiang worked hard to maintain it so as to lay a good foundation for the subsequent dedication of the city.
Secondly, the careful spies of the Wude Department and the Military Intelligence Department fell silent, because there was no need for a turbulent Changsha when camping in the south.
Finally, and most importantly, Mrs. Yan distributed the only remaining grains in Changsha's warehouses to the people, and distributed the Air Force's property to the soldiers, which not only cured hunger but also calmed the morale of the army. In this way, Changsha was barely able to maintain itself. order.
In the Wuping Jiedu Yamen, inside the official office, Li Guanxiang, the secretary-general, was sitting with several staff members, making tea and discussing matters. Official affairs have long been idle and there is nothing to deal with. Other states and counties have long been on their own. Changsha is half-dead and muddle along. They are waiting for the Han army to take over, even with anticipation.
"If it hadn't been for this heavy rain, the Han army would have arrived in Changsha!" an official sighed.
"We have all set off to Yiyang. Yiyang is only more than a hundred miles away. The cavalry can arrive in half a day, so we can't wait much longer!" another person said.
"I haven't received news from the north for a long time. I wonder how the war in Yuezhou is going now?" one person said.
"Why, are you still worried about Zhou Xingfeng's safety?" someone teased.
"After all, there is a friendship between master and minister! The commander-in-chief has a resolute character and goes against the will of nature, which is regrettable after all!"
"Since ancient times, those who go against the will of heaven will have a happy ending. The Han army came south and destroyed everything, and its strong resistance to Yuezhou only increased the casualties of my husband from Hunan!"
"The people of Hunan have suffered from the scourge of war for a long time. Now they are exhausted. They are all crying for food and want to be safe. I only hope that this senseless disaster can end soon..."
"The army's food reserve is less than a hundred shi. If the Han army doesn't come again, we will all go hungry!"
"We can still bear it when we are hungry, but if we starve to the garrison in the city, disaster is just around the corner!"
"..."
The aroma of tea overflowed in the office, and the air smelled much better. A group of staff were discussing it heatedly. Li Guanxiang was sitting in the main seat, but he seemed very calm, neither impatient nor impatient, and listened quietly to the discussion.
"Secretary Li, are you not worried at all?"
Glancing at the person who asked the question, Li Guanxiang said calmly: "What's the use of worrying? The situation is irreversible. Everyone in the military government has been working very hard for so long. It's rare to have leisure time. Drink more tea. Until then The Han army has entered the city. Under the rule of the imperial court, our future is uncertain, and it is difficult for us to have such leisure..."
An official came in and stood at the door. When he saw him, Li Guanxiang asked, "What's the matter?"
"Someone has returned from Yuezhou, and he is a soldier of Commander Jie!" the official replied.
"How many people? Where are they?" Li Guanxiang's calmness immediately disappeared from his face and he became serious, and he asked quickly.
"There are more than a hundred soldiers, go directly to see the madam!"
His brows couldn't help but frown, and there was a hint of solemnity. Someone beside him couldn't help but asked: "Is there anything going to happen?"
Li Guanxiang was also doubtful. At this juncture, he couldn't make any mistakes. He stood up, walked a few steps, and ordered: "Hurry up and contact Commander Sun and Wang!"
Sun and Wang were the commanders of the only two remaining garrison battalions in Changsha. They had already colluded with Li Guanxiang, and they had made preparations to dedicate the city early.
In the inner hall, the returning officer knelt down and lowered his head. After the case, a woman with simple clothes and light makeup sat. She was not beautiful, and her complexion was even a little rough, but her temperament was solemn, making people dare not insult her lightly. This was Zhou's wife Yan. Holding a child in his arms, looking at him innocently and ignorantly, it was Zhou Xingfeng's youngest son, Zhou Baoquan.
After opening the letter handed over by the officer, some of the ink had melted. After reading it silently, two lines of tears fell involuntarily on Zhou Baoquan's face.
Finally unable to hold it back, a sad sobbing sound sounded...
