Chapter 0024: Crossing the Luo River (Part 1)
On the official road, the three thousand cavalry led by Yuwen Tianbao were galloping on the official road, but soon they stopped their horses. The three thousand cavalry behind him also stopped their horses. Yuwen Tianbao looked at the two roads in front of him.
"Where does this road lead to?" Yuwen Tianbao looked into the distance and saw that the two boundary markers on the official road had disappeared without a trace. Only two huge pits were left there, which had obviously been dug by someone.
"In reply to the general, this side is heading to Xin'an Posthouse, and this side is heading to Hancheng." The military guide said quickly.
"Hancheng? Xin'an Post?" Yuwen Tianbao looked at the official road in front of him, thought for a moment, and said loudly: "Let's go to Hancheng." He remembered that Xin'an Post belonged to Mianchi, and after Mianchi was Luoyang, but Hancheng was heading southeast. Luoyang had a large number of troops, and if the rebels went to Luoyang at this time, they would be doomed to die. Only by going to Hancheng could they escape the pursuit .
In the city of Hancheng, Li Yu and Zheng Yuanwu walked side by side. Fortunately, in that era, the transmission of news was so slow that Hancheng did not know that Yang Xuangan had been defeated. In fact, in their opinion, Yang Xuangan had already captured Luoyang and was heading towards Guanzhong. Yang Zhiji resigned at this time. On the surface, he was resigning, but in fact, he was avoiding Yang Xuangan's attack.
"General Yang, have the rebels arrived at the city of Hongnong?" Zheng Yuanwu asked worriedly, "Could it be that Luoyang has really fallen into the hands of Yang Xuangan?"
"Hey! Yang Ni's army has hundreds of thousands of soldiers, how many soldiers are there in Luoyang? We can't stop them!" Li Yu rolled his eyes and sighed, "You also know what Hongnong is. That's Yang Ni's lair! If we don't leave now, when will we leave? His Highness Prince Cai is a member of the royal family, how can he fall into Yang Ni's hands?"
"Yes, yes." Zheng Yuanwu's eyes rolled, and no one knew what he was thinking.
"However, although we have captured Luoyang, the pursuers are right behind us. Yang Ni can only capture Guanzhong with peace of mind if he defeats Lord Yuwen." Li Yu saw Zheng Yuanwu's eyes and chuckled, "This situation is unlikely. After all, Lord Yuwen's troops have survived hundreds of battles. Yang Ni will definitely fail. Tongguan is not so easy to break through."
"Yes, yes." Zheng Yuanwu nodded repeatedly and his expression returned to normal.
Li Yu saw this and laughed in his heart. If he had known this, he should not have pretended to be someone in the court and directly raised the banner of Yang Xuangan. Perhaps it would be better to go through more trouble. Yang Xuangan's rebellion was really supported by many people. Zheng Yuanwu was a member of the Zheng family in Xingyang, and he should have been one of the candidates who supported Yang Xuangan's rebellion.
"Your Highness Prince Cai had no choice but to do this. We should have gone to Beijing after leaving Hongnong this time, but we are few in number. It would be bad if Yang's troops appeared on the road. It would be better to take a detour to Guandong, where the power of the imperial court is located." Li Yu suddenly said, "However, Lord Zheng, Your Highness Prince Cai is a member of the royal family after all. What Yang Xuangan needs at this time is a banner, which will match his status and allow more people to follow him. In fact, Yang Xuangan asked Your Highness Prince Cai to lead the army and oppose Your Majesty. Who is Prince Cai? He is loyal to the emperor. What I am worried about now is that the rebels will come to pursue Your Highness Prince Cai."
"How dare you! The traitor Yang really doesn't take the people of the world into consideration. How can our Great Sui Dynasty allow rebellion to run rampant? General, don't worry. If the traitor Yang really sends troops, we will definitely stop the rebels." Zheng Yuanwu and others said, patting their chests.
"Yang Ni won't be able to be so arrogant for much longer. Now there is the natural barrier of Tongguan in front of him and the pursuit troops of Lord Yuwen behind him. He will definitely be defeated. What I am worried about now is that he will go to Yiyang. It is rumored that the magistrate of Yiyang is a member of the Yang family. If someone comes here under the banner of General Yuwen in the future, Lord Zheng must be careful. Yang Xuangan is insidious and cunning. He may use this method to trick the city gate open and open the passage between Hongnong and Yiyang. At that time, the court will have to expend a lot of effort to pursue Yang Xuangan." Li Yu sighed.
"General, are we going to escort Prince Cai to Yiyang at this time?" County Magistrate Han Hao hesitated.
"They say they are going to Yiyang, but they actually want to go east along the Luo River to Luoyang to join General Yuwen." Li Yu said in a low voice, "This matter is of great importance. I am also worried that others will know about it. The three adults are all pillars of the court, so Yang naturally dare not hide it."
Zheng Yuanwu and others nodded in agreement after hearing this. This was the only correct explanation. If they went directly to Luoyang, they might run into Yang Xuangan's rebels. The same would be true if they went to Yiyang. Only by advancing eastward along the Luo River could they avoid Yang Xuangan's rebels and go directly to the city of Luoyang to join Yuwen Shu's army.
"General, don't worry. If any rebels come, we in Hancheng will definitely stop them outside the city." Zheng Yuanwu's eyes turned. Since Yang Xuangan had not yet entered Guanzhong and Yuwen Shu's army had already arrived, it meant that Yang Xuangan would definitely be defeated. Moreover, if they wanted to capture Yang Zhiji, it would be at most a small force. Although Hancheng had fewer troops, they could still hold out for a while.
"That's great." Li Yu was delighted and said, "When His Royal Highness Prince Cai returns to Luoyang and reports to the Emperor, he will surely reward the three of you."
"I dare not, I dare not. As a subject, it is my duty to do so. It is my duty to do so." Zheng Yuanwu, Han Hao and others nodded repeatedly.
"In that case, please arrange wine, food and boats as soon as possible so that His Royal Highness Prince Cai can go east through Luo River." Li Yu said with a smile.
The Luo River is not wide, but it would take time for 400 cavalrymen to cross the river. Only by requisitioning ships from the government can they cross the river quickly.
"This?" Han Hao immediately looked embarrassed after hearing this.
"Why? Is it difficult to mobilize boats? There are so many fishermen around Luoshui River, but there are no boats?" Li Gu behind Li Yu couldn't help but sneered, "Who can be held responsible for delaying the important event of His Royal Highness Prince Cai?"
"How dare you interrupt me when I'm talking to you gentlemen," Li Yu scolded. He then turned around and said with a smile, "I know it's very difficult to mobilize so many ships, but as long as we have money, there is nothing we can't do." As he said that, he took out a few gold bars from his arms and put them in Zheng Yuanwu's hand.
Seeing this, Zheng Yuanwu shook his head repeatedly. How could he accept Li Yu's gold? He said, "No, no, it's an honor for me to work for His Highness. The reason why Lord Han hesitated is that there are not enough boats around Hancheng for His Highness to cross the river."
"What's the difficulty? First, mobilize the boats, cross the Luo River, and lay bamboo rafts on them. Let us cross the river first, and then the prince will take the boat to the east, and we will guard the prince on the south bank, isn't it?" Li Yu laughed.
Zheng Yuanwu and others were stunned, and they felt contempt in their hearts. This guy looks tall and mighty, but in fact he is just a coward. He is probably afraid of your pursuers , so he crosses the Luo River first and escapes for his life.
"This?" Zheng Yuanwu hesitated.
"Your Highness." Li Yu suddenly approached the carriage.
There was a cough in the carriage, and soon he said, "It seems that this prince who resigned from his post is of no use to me."
"I dare not, I dare not, Your Highness is joking." Zheng Yuanwu's face changed, and he quickly said: "County Magistrate Han, County Lieutenant Zhang, hurry to the Luo River, requisition boats and bamboo rafts, and send Your Highness across the river first." With four hundred cavalrymen, two carriages, and some food and fodder, it is not an easy task to cross the river.
"Yes." A bitter look appeared on Han Hao's lips. If he wanted to requisition so many boats and bamboo rafts, he could only find the wealthy people in Hancheng. However, since he was working for King Cai, he dared not accept any money. All the money would eventually go to the county government. Han Hao glanced at the gold in Li Yu's hand, and finally let out a sigh, then rode away on his warhorse.
"General, the best restaurant in Hancheng, Guiyan Tower, is in front of us. I have already asked people to prepare wine and food. Why don't you go and have a few drinks first?" Zheng Yuanwu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this.
"No need, the prince is ill! If he doesn't want to see strangers, let's go directly to Luoshui. The county magistrate can have the wine and food delivered to Luoshui." Li Yu would not waste time here, so he said quickly. As soon as he finished speaking, a few coughs came from the carriage, and there were faint voices of women.
"Alright, alright." Zheng Yuanwu heard the cough and really thought that Yang Zhiji was not in good health, so he could only nod his head repeatedly. He immediately asked someone to notify Guiyan Tower to send wine and food to the Luo River for the army to enjoy.
