The valley water flows into Luo. The water veins in the Heyin area are developed, and the Heluo civilization was born from this. The valley water is the branch most closely connected with the Luo water.
Gushui is not very long, and the basin only covers the area from the west of Luoyang to Weihan. However, it is the most important water transportation in the west of Luoyang. In recent years, it has also played an important role in the development and revitalization of the Heluo area.
Along the valley water towards Luo, it is freed from the pressure of mountains. The farther east, the gentler the water flow becomes. The water is clear, shaded by green trees on the banks, reflecting sparkling waves in the summer sunshine. The water is not monotonous, and boats can always be seen, mostly Bian boats that are most frequently used by people on inland rivers in the north.
Close to the waterfront, several cities and towns have sprung up on the main road between Luoyang and Guannai. Although the scale cannot be compared with the eastern region, relying on the east-west exchange route, the prosperity is not much inferior.
The roads are not crowded with people, but there is never a shortage of caravans, and the closer they get to Xijing, the more densely they become. After moving west to Luoyang, the imperial court carried out large-scale infrastructure construction around Xijing, especially road construction. The Hanzhi Road leaving Luoyang in the west had reached Mianchi by the ninth year of Kaibao.
A wide straight road lay quietly on the land of Heluo. On the flat stone road, from west to east, a team and an army slowly drove forward.
Looking around, it is estimated that there are thousands of people. In the Han Dynasty, especially close to the important areas of Gyeonggi, it is very rare for troops to mobilize and march on this scale.
There are many flags. In addition to the black military flags, several Chinese flags are particularly conspicuous under the sunlight. The character "Liu" takes the lead, supplemented by the flags of Wang, Yang, Guo and others.
There is no doubt that at this time, only one army was transferred to Beijing. Emperor Liu specially ordered the Han army from Mobei and the Western Regions to go to Beijing in triumph to present the prisoner palace and receive the reward.
The entire army is made up of cavalry, with some basically being infantry and also horses. There is no shortage of horses in the northwest Han army. Although they escaped from the arduous and cruel expedition, they still maintained a tight formation. These are the elites of the Han army who have survived hundreds of battles. Military discipline has almost become instinctive. Although it is not deliberately revealed, it releases an awe-inspiring chill. Qi.
The iron hooves stepped slowly across, kicking up bursts of smoke and dust, and the dense hooves stepped on the open road, playing rich notes one after another. Among the teams, there were more than two hundred carts escorted. In addition to material supplies, they were all trophies prepared to be presented to the imperial court, and there were also some prisoners.
For example, Yelu Dilie, the Taiping King of the Liao Dynasty, was the highest-status figure among the prisoners and one of the most important manifestations of the Han army's military exploits in the Western Regions.
When the remnants of the Liao army in the Western Regions were being annihilated, some Khitan generals fought desperately, such as Yelusha, who was originally appointed by Yelujing, and would rather die than surrender. Yelu Dilie also led his subordinates to resist until the end, but in the end he did not have the courage to face death, and finally surrendered and became a prisoner of his subordinates.
Compared with ordinary prisoners, Yelu Dilie was treated better. At least he was given a separate prison car, and the Han army did not mistreat him. His journey of thousands of miles back east was relatively smooth.
However, as a direct descendant of the Liao Kingdom, Yelu Dilie, who was once ambitious and arrogant, this fate of allowing himself to be exploited and losing his dignity still deeply hurt his heart. Of course, it is better to die than live. Compared with life, the so-called honor and disgrace are nothing.
"Your Highness, after passing Yanxi Town, we are not far from Luoyang. We should arrive in Beijing today!" In the marching formation, Murong Defeng, who was wearing a military attaché uniform, said to Liu Fang beside him in a relaxed manner.
Emperor Liu had previously issued an edict to summon the expeditionary soldiers back to the capital, and asked Prince Liu Yang to send someone to greet them. Liu Yang directly handed over this task to Murong Defeng, a close minister of the East Palace.
As for Murong Defeng, knowing His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's concern, he worked extra hard and led his people to fly westward. It took him twenty days until he was about to cross the Hexi Corridor before he received the expedition soldiers who had been ordered to return to the capital. .
Liu Fang rode a horse all the way back to Beijing. Walking thousands of miles away was still a hard journey. At this time, Liu Fang, like most of the soldiers, was tired, but he was about to arrive in Beijing, and he was excited.
The fine stubble on his lips seems to be witnessing Liu Fang's growth, and his young face is full of an incompatible temperament of vicissitudes of life. Listening to Murong Defeng's words, his usually bright and sharp eyes were a little blurry, and there was infinite emotion in his tone: "I'm finally back!"
Liu Min was also wearing light armor, shining in the sun. He raised his hand to wipe away a layer of fine sweat on his forehead, and then said: "I still remember that I set out from Xijing last year in late spring. I never thought that once I went there, When I return to Luoyang next year, it will be mid-summer..."
Compared with Liu Min, Liu Fang's time abroad was obviously longer. He went on tour with Emperor Liu seven years after opening the treasure. When the Liao Dynasty underwent drastic changes and the Northern Expedition was launched, he went to Guasha to join the army. All in all, it spanned two years. Although the many experiences during this period were hard, my mind was always firm and there was no trace of weakness or emotion. But at this time, apart from sighing, my heart was filled with ripples, and I felt a sense of timidity close to home. .
"After all these years, I don't know if Luoyang's scenery remains the same. Don't go back to Beijing. It will feel strange!" Liu Fang couldn't hide the smile on his lips.
After hearing this, Murong Defeng also responded: "Luoyang is changing with each passing day, but its prosperity remains the same. Your Highness has been away from Beijing for a long time. You may be surprised, but Your Majesty and your ladies are always thinking about your two Highnesses!"
Hearing this, Liu Fang's eyes became more eager. Liu Min looked at Liu Fang and said with a smile: "There is also a sister-in-law, I am afraid she is also worried about her, and she is eager to see her husband!"
Facing Liu Min's talk and laughter, Liu Fang was stunned for a moment, with a little tenderness in his eyes, but more of a feeling of guilt. To say how deep the relationship between him and his wife Zhao Yuan is, it is not that deep. He went on a patrol with him before he had time to cultivate it. It took almost two years. After all, he was the wife of Ming Media, and Liu Fang still had a sense of responsibility. It's always been heavy.
Seeing that the fourth brother didn't say anything and noticing the complicated look on his face, Liu Min lost his usual serious and silent expression and snickered: "The fourth brother's face is full of tenderness. It seems that he misses his sister-in-law. Don't worry, wait. I saw her after I returned to Beijing. I can’t believe that Concubine Xian is still pressing for a grandchild..."
Hearing Liu Min's teasing, Liu Fang immediately laughed and scolded: "You kid, you are so interested in making fun of me, do you also miss women? Having tasted the taste of women, you know the taste of women? Don't worry, when I return to Beijing this time, I I will definitely find some Han beauties for you!"
Liu Min suddenly became serious, raised his neck slightly, and said: "Fourth brother's kind words, I thank you in advance! However, I, Liu Min, can't just recruit any kind of beauty I want!"
"Yes! After all, he is the King of Wei of the Han Dynasty. If you are interested in a lady from a famous family, why don't you squeeze through the door and send her to the house?" Liu Fang turned to tease Liu Min.
Having fought together, supported each other on the battlefield, and experienced life and death together, the relationship between the two brothers, who were not close at first, has obviously deepened. When they talk, they are no longer unfamiliar as in the past. They are very harmonious and have few scruples.
When the Liu Fang brothers went out to fight, they couldn't help but vent their instinctive desires as men. For the first time, Liu Min, a young boy, was handed over to a Khitan girl.
Of course, don't mention any feelings, they are just trophies, and they were abandoned long ago during the battle...
"Go, report the news of your upcoming arrival in Beijing to Commander-in-Chief Yang and Wang!" After talking and laughing, Liu Fang rushed to one of his guards and ordered: "Send the order and tell the whole army to cheer up and speed up. We are a victorious army. , we must enter Beijing with a high-spirited attitude!"
"yes!"
Wang Yansheng was ill, and Yang Ye completely delegated his authority. All the command and arrangements for the return trip of thousands of miles were handed over to Liu Fang, with Yang Yanzhao assisting him. On the battlefield, Liu Fang was able to command operations. Off the battlefield, his experience in commanding and managing troops also improved rapidly. The more than 3,000 troops were arranged in an orderly manner. There were basically no omissions along the way. Even if there were some problems, they were solved quickly. Solved promptly.
"Rixin, thank you for coming all the way!" Liu Fang looked at Murong Defeng again and said, "I need to trouble you to make one more trip to Luoyang first to coordinate the arrangements after returning to Beijing!"
"Yes!" Murong Defeng naturally had no reason to refuse Yan Ku and responded immediately.
"Yuan Xian, take a few people with you and accompany Rixin. I will lead the army to follow!" Liu Fang said to Yang Yanzhao again, and in a few simple words, he arranged the matter.
"Yes!" Yang Yanzhao also responded decisively, and then called a few knights, and together with Murong Defeng, they rode eastward along the galloping road.
