Chapter 426 Crossing the River
After entering October, Heyang Nanqiao entered an intense reconstruction stage.
Yang Bao, the captain of Du Branch, took 150,000 cans of grain to the south bank for unloading. The large carts and small carts were immediately filled with grain and transported to the north bank via a temporary pontoon bridge - this pontoon bridge was washed away twice. It was finally built for the first time and was not used until the final stage of the war. Now it can be put to use.
The Forbidden Army also sent thousands of soldiers to camp near Nancheng in Heyang.
As for whether they can ensure the smooth completion of the bridge construction, only God knows. Anyway, after a month of reorganization, this force still looks like that on the surface.
On the fifth day of October, Wei Fu arrived at Nancheng, Heyang, and stayed overnight at the ferry, preparing to take a boat to Zhongli City the next day, and then arrive at Zhamati via Heyang North Bridge.
The accommodation conditions are not bad. I heard that the Chao (Shao) Ting (thief) planned to build a large inn here, divided into two parts, the north and the south, for messengers, generals, and officials to rest, eat, and change horses. This should be That's it
If there are pedestrians or businessmen who want to stay at the inn, they can just pay.
With walls, posts, and food, isn’t it better than sleeping in the wild?
After dinner, Wei Fu wandered around, looked at the bricks piled in the corner, picked up a piece and looked at it.
This is a corded tile with fine texture and stamped "Nan Zhen Guan Tile".
Good guy, these are actually bricks and tiles produced by the official kiln.
Zhen Guan Shu is a government office. Simply put, its biggest business is operating official kilns and firing bricks and tiles.
In addition, stone slabs, stone carvings, and clay utensils are also made.
There is also funeral business, such as inscriptions in front of luxurious tombs, tomb stone animals, etc. There is nothing the Zhen Guan Office does not do.
The Yamen is located in the southeast of Luoyang, so it has the words "Nan Zhen Guan Wa".
After walking around, I found that it was too noisy outside, with the sound of sawing wood and carriages and horses everywhere, so I returned to the courtyard and happened to meet another resident.
The two of them greeted each other and found out that they were both officials. One was a big farmer from the Nanyang Kingdom (Wei Fu), and the other was a retainer of the former Princess Xiangcheng and the current Heyang Order (Cheng Yuantan), so they sat down Chat next.
When they sat down, both of them subconsciously tightened the letters in their sleeves, fearing that others would see them.
What Wei Fu has in his hand is a letter written by Princess Liu of Nanyang to Shao Xun.
What Cheng Yuantan is holding is a letter written by Xiangcheng Princess Simimao Yao to Shao Xun.
Wei and Cheng are both delicate people, so naturally they will not let the other party discover this little secret.
“I heard that the Huns’ cavalry marched southward in large numbers to herd horses in Hanoi, but I don’t know what happened.” Cheng Yuantan first raised the topic.
“I don’t know as much as Mr. Cheng.” Wei Fu smiled bitterly and said, “I only heard on the road that the ships kept transporting grain, grass and military supplies to the north bank day and night, and brought back many sergeants on the way back.”
“Mr. Chen actually thinks there are too many troops on the north bank?” Cheng Yuantan said in surprise: “Then why are you recruiting troops from various families?”
“Oh? The troops brought by Mr. Cheng... "Wei Fu asked.
"Of course." Cheng Yuantan nodded and said: "There are forty-seven cavalry in total, which are the princess's soldiers. They are all paid to Chen Gong to strengthen his military strength."
"Are there any other tribes?"
"I don't know much about the others. I only know that the uncle Wang's concubine Jing sent his brother Jing Cheng to lead thirty cavalry to join the army." Cheng Yuantan said: " Well, Yin Xi of the Yin family in Changping led his tribe Baiqi to join the army. It was just heard that it was not accurate or there was a mistake. "
Wei Fu thought to himself, that's all, but the Yin family in Changping. Don't do anything fake.
This is a local noble clan in Yingchuan. There are women in the clan who are concubines in Chen Gong's mansion. It is not surprising at all to join the army.
After the evening ceremony at the beginning of the year, the Yingchuan nobles no longer looked forward and backward, and began to spend money.
“The hometown of Huaiying Tuqi is indeed extraordinary.” Wei Fu said with emotion: “Today we saw dozens of cavalry going north on the road. I asked if it was after the Runan Tuqi that the donkeys and mules rode northward. Join the army."
The descendants of Huaiying Tuqi are mainly distributed in Yingchuan, Runan and Nanyang.
Especially in Runan, there are many famous mountains and rivers, rich in donkeys and mules, and there are many people with some basic skills in riding and fighting - even if they really forget their ancestors' skills, they have more or less practiced horse riding, which also shortens the training time. .
"Chen Gong won the battle of Zhemati, and the cavalry losses should not be small." Cheng Yuantan added: "Conquering the private knights of aristocratic families is also a helpless move. Yingchuan and Runan were so After a search, there were fewer young men riding horses and hunting in the countryside."
Wei Fu nodded lightly.
In fact, one of his tasks on this trip north was to meet Duke Chen and obey his orders. As for what the tasks are, it is generally clear. The first is to buy horses, and the second is to recruit soldiers.
Chang'an has been recovered, and you can reach Lantian through Wuguan.
With the name of Nanyang Palace, Jingzhao Wei's identity, and the protection of more than a thousand soldiers, after some negotiation, he should not be left in trouble. After all, Duke Chen was a loyal minister of the Jin Dynasty. There was no need for the governors and governors of Guanzhong to embarrass him.
In addition to buying horses and recruiting troops, there are also other tasks, such as contacting Nanyang Wangbao in Qinzhou.
This can be done together with buying horses and recruiting soldiers, which is very convenient.
Of course, this kind of thing cannot be without danger.
Guanzhong is newly restored and in a mess. Do governors and governors have strong control over local areas? Not strong at all.
Many of the Qiang and Di barbarians who were summoned by them robbed and killed many people. The people in Guanzhong were also annoyed by them and even fought with them, thinking that they were no better than the Huns. The refugees talked a lot about these things, and Wei Fu had already heard about them.
Can a thousand soldiers effectively protect them? Especially when carrying belongings.
It’s really hard to tell.
However, Wei Fu was willing to take this trip for no other reason: he saw Mr. Chen’s ambition.
After a great victory, we did not feel arrogant or arrogant, but prepared for a rainy day and recruited troops. This is the way to do great things.
Moreover, he had a vague feeling that Mr. Chen had been staring at Guanzhong and thinking hard about how to intervene in Guanzhong. This made him admire him even more, and he became very motivated and wanted to do something in order to achieve success.
The two then chatted about poetry and music for a while, and then went back to their respective rooms to rest.
The next day, Wei Fu left early in the morning.
He took more than ten followers with him, boarded a ship transporting supplies, and headed north.
It was foggy on the river and nothing could be seen.
The old boatman also cheered up and carefully steered the boat towards the north shore.
The Heyang South Bridge that once spanned the north and south has been burned down, and craftsmen and servants are trying to rebuild it.
Wei Fu stared for a long time with his eyes wide open, only to see a ship returning from the north shore. There were more than 20 sergeants on it. There was no armor and not all the equipment.
Obviously, this is Duke Chen’s field army. Most of them are from Yuzhou, so they will probably be allowed to go home.
Extremely bored, he looked at the cargo in the cabin, and it turned out to be salted jelly beans, mallows and turnips.
"This turnip is pretty good." Wei Fu picked up a juicy turnip and said with a smile: "Is there anyone in Luoyang who grows this vegetable?" "Yes." The boatman replied: "There are thirty acres of vegetable fields in Chuanshe, where they grow mallows and turnips. They are all from Xiangcheng. I don't know much about the seeds they brought here."
Chuanshe is the inn.
Post stations generally have post fields, where grain, pasture, fruits and vegetables are grown to support the expenses of the post station. It is not surprising that a large post station has hundreds of acres of farmland.
“All Jianbu from Chuanshe are from Xiangcheng?” Wei Fu was a little surprised.
"The officials stayed at the Chuanshe last night, don't you know?" The boatman said in surprise: "There are more than ten jianbu in the Chuanshe in Nancheng, all of them are soldiers in the field. Most of the people in charge are veterans of the Silver Spear Army. , was injured and couldn’t fight, so he was working in Chuanshe.”
“Getting salary in Chuanshe?” Wei Fu asked.
To be honest, for more than ten years, there have been endless wars, and the inheritance houses in various places have long been finished.
There are generally two ways to transmit official letters and news between the country and the DPRK.
The first is to have a dedicated person deliver the letter, changing horses but not people until the letter is delivered.
One is to send letters by circulation, that is, the "jianbu" of sending letters only goes back and forth between two fixed transfer houses, and the speed is relatively slow.
Nowadays, letters are basically delivered by dedicated people, and they also have to be equipped with guards and extra horses. There may not necessarily be a place to stay at night, so the risk is still relatively high.
"No salary." The boatman said: "Mr. Chen gave Nancheng Chuanshe hundreds of acres of land, with fields, pastures, orchards, and vegetable beds. What do messengers and generals eat when they come and go on business? There are rules for everything you drink. You have to pay for the excess. You also have to pay for business travel. "I'm afraid there is no business travel now."
"The official is right." The boatman said: "I heard that Mr. Chen gives some rewards from time to time. At the beginning of the month, when the old man rested at the Chuanshe, he saw ten pieces of silk sent by officials. If it were a peaceful year, , this is a great inheritance. If it can be passed on to descendants, I will be willing to die to ensure that the family is rich."
"Yes, what would the three cities of Heyang be like in the peaceful years. ..." Wei Fu sighed.
After sighing, he smiled and said to himself: "Mr. Chen really has nothing to say to the old man who follows him to fight. Let him have no worries and just fight to the death."
The oar rowed across the river, making a "swishing" sound. After a while, Zhongli City emerged from the mist.
On Hezhu, some people were picking vegetables, some were cutting grass, and some were slaughtering pigs and sheep. They were busy, but in a relaxed mood.
It seems that they are not too worried about the battle situation on the north bank.
Some ships stop here to unload cargo and take people on board.
Their ship continued northward and did not arrive at Hepu Pier until the mist dispersed.
The sun gradually rises, shining brightly on the north shore.
Wei Fu climbed onto the causeway and overlooked the north, and was immediately shocked by the grand scene.
(End of this chapter)