It was already dark, and the torrential rain that had been falling since noon had not stopped.

The muddy road seemed to have no end, Duan Shao glanced back, and the soldiers who followed him were already scattered, not in formation, and some soldiers even sat in the mud on the side of the road, no longer moving forward.

After landing on the shore, Duan Shao led his soldiers all the way to the northeast, and now before he reached Xuzhou, the soldiers under his command were already exhausted.

The north bank of the Huai River had already fallen into a relatively chaotic situation before the Qinhuai army launched its offensive.

The struggle for the throne of the Northern Han Dynasty led to a shortage of logistics for the Han army stationed on the north bank, although Zhong Liao governed the army very strictly, but the extremely long defensive line could not be exhaustive, some soldiers who could not eat enough to rob the people, at first it was just some low-level soldiers secretly to loot, and later there were even generals and colonels in the army who led people to rob the people in an organized manner, although Zhong Liao executed many people for this, but many people have fled to the north.

At first, it was just to avoid being looted by the Han army, but later it was spread everywhere that the Chu army was going to fight soon, so the people of the Han State on the north bank were like the people of Chu on the south bank.

When the Chu army fought through Huaishui and the Han army withdrew, in order to replenish military supplies, the already dilapidated villages and counties on the north bank were looted.

Duan Shao also thought of being on the shore, and if he was lucky, he could rob some grain, but after walking for two days, not only could he not see a grain of rice, but even a human figure was difficult to see.

Hurrying day and night, and hungry, even the well-trained Dongqi sailors were difficult to support, many people really couldn't hold on, began to eat grass roots and bark, some soldiers fell behind, but never followed, sent people to look for it, but they have already fled.

Although Duan Shao was angry in his heart, he was helpless, it was too late to move forward now, so naturally he couldn't send someone back to arrest him.

"Your Highness, there is a forest in front of you, and you can't walk anymore, so why don't you rest in front for a while." Yuan Buye hurried over from the front: "Your Royal Highness, you have been walking in the rain for a long time, I am afraid that you will get cold!" ”

When it rained at noon, Yuan Buye persuaded Duan Shao to find a place to shelter from the rain.

Although Duan Shao has practiced some fist and foot kung fu, but it is only some flower fist embroidered legs, since he was a child, he has been clothed and fed, and his body is delicate, Yuan Buye is worried that Duan Shao will be cold and sick after the rain, and now this army is completely dependent on Duan Shao, once Duan Shao has a problem, this team that is about to collapse at any time will collapse in an instant.

It's just that Duan Shao categorically refused and insisted on moving forward in order to show that he could share weal and woe with his subordinates, and also to prove that he could bear hardships and stand hard work.

Now Yuan Buye saw that Duan Shao's face was pale, his lips were even a little in estrus, and he was tired, and he knew that Duan Shao was afraid that he would not be able to support it.

Duan Shao glanced forward, and in the night, he only saw that it was pitch black, and he muttered for a while before asking, "Can you send someone to check?" ”

"Men have been sent to explore the way ahead, and the forest is large enough for us to take shelter from the rain and rest in it." Yuan Buye said: "There is no Chu army and Han army in this vicinity, and it is very safe." ”

Duan Shao nodded slightly: "That is the case, let everyone go to the forest in front of them to rest for a while." ”

After walking for half a pillar of incense, when they arrived at the forest, Duan Shao ordered the team to rest on the spot, and the soldiers got the order, many people did not even enter the forest, so they sat on the muddy road outside the forest, the prince guard and the cicada secret forbearance escorted Duan Shao into the forest, and found a big tree, Yuan Buye asked people to carry the big boxes in, Duan Shao sat down on the top of the box, and the prince guards and the flying cicada secret forbearance were distributed around to guard.

"Your Highness, take a saliva." Yuan Buye took off the leather bag around his waist and presented it to Duan Shao, now there is nothing to eat, so he can only drink water to satisfy his hunger.

Duan Shao was actually very uncomfortable now.

He was born in a royal family, and he has been clothed and fed since he was a child, how could he have suffered such a pain? Even when Linzi City fled, at least there was food by his side, so as not to starve, and now he has not eaten for two days, before Yuan Buye let people dig up the grassroots to pay respect, but the grassroots Duan Shao is really difficult to choke, and the dignified Prince of Qi, if he really wants to eat the grass roots, wouldn't it make the world laugh if he spread it? In the past two days, he just drank water to satisfy his hunger, and was drenched by this heavy rain, his whole body was already weak at this time, if he didn't stop and rest at this moment, Duan Shao suspected that he would have to fall down if he walked a little further.

After drinking half a bag of water, Duan Shaocai sighed: "In this way, let's not talk about arriving in Puyang, I'm afraid that we won't even be able to reach Xuzhou." ”

"Your Highness, if we speed up, we will definitely be able to reach Depeng City in two days." Yuan Buye said: "Pengcheng's side will definitely be replenished." ”

"Two days?" Duan Shao saw that many soldiers had begun to cut the bark on the trees with knives, and said with a wry smile: "Everyone is already exhausted, it is not easy to hold on until now, and there is no physical strength to speed up." After thinking for a while, he said, "How many people are there?" ”

"More than 400 people fled along the way, and more than 1,000 people are in the ranks." Yuan Buye said in a low voice: "The inferior general is only worried that there are still people who will flee, and tonight he will be arranged to be guarded by the general, if anyone wants to sneak away, kill them immediately!" ”

Duan Shao waved his hand, shook his head and said: "That's it, now, let him go as soon as possible if you want to leave, if you can follow here, they are already loyal." ”

"Your Highness is generous, and the humble will obey the order." Yuan Buye arched his hand and said: "Your Highness will rest for a while, and when you set off, the humble general will come again to ask Your Highness." Yuan Buye frowned, followed the sound and looked over, only to see a group of black shadows not far away coming to this side, holding down the handle of the knife at his waist at the moment, and stepping forward, only to see that hundreds of soldiers were stopped by several prince guards at this moment, and the prince guards had already drawn their swords out of their sheaths, and the blades were pointed forward, but the group of soldiers were also holding knives in their hands, and a few people shouted loudly, one of the stout soldiers ripped open their clothes, revealing their hairy chests, and shouted sharply at the prince's guards: "Come and come, cut here, Anyway, he can't live, but it's a pleasure to kill Lao Tzu with a knife. ”

"Zheng Biao, are you going to rebel?" Yuan Buye pressed the handle of the knife and stepped forward, his eyes staring at the man like a knife.

Yuan Buye's loud shout made the noisy sound calm down instantly, and when everyone saw Yuan Buye coming, some people showed a trace of fear.

"Your Highness is resting, what do you want to do here?" Yuan Buye stepped forward.

The man pulled up his shirt and said, "Captain Yuan, we wanted to see His Highness, but we were stopped by them, so we ......!" ”

"Without His Highness's order, whoever dares to approach will be killed!" The prince guard is still the usual indifference.

Yuan Buye frowned and said, "If you want to see Your Highness, what is the matter?" ”

"Captain Yuan, everyone hasn't eaten for two whole days, how long will this last?" Zheng Biao was obviously still a little bold: "Do you want to be hungry like this all the time?" As he said this, the soldiers who had been quiet became noisy again, and the movement here had attracted the attention of the other soldiers, and many soldiers gradually gathered around this side, and the people gathered more and more, and the black pressed a large area.

Yuan Buye said in a deep voice: "There is a shortage of food, and you all know it yourself, and it is because of this that we have landed." Your Highness, like you, has not eaten for two days, and when we rush to Pengcheng, we will be able to eat. ”

"Peng Cheng?" Someone in the crowd sneered: "How far is it to Pengcheng, and are the people of Chu there?" Do you want us to throw ourselves into the net? ”

Yuan Buye sneered: "Are you afraid of the people of Chu? ”

"Yuan Duwei, if we were afraid of the people of Chu, we would not have followed the Metropolitan Governor until now." Someone in the crowd shouted: "It is natural for a soldier to eat food, and now that we don't even have a bite to eat, how can we fight and restore the country?" ”

"We can't get enough to eat on the ship, and now we can't see even a grain of rice, so what else do we want? Are you just waiting to starve to death? ”

The morale of the soldiers was already low to the bottom, at this time between the noise, some people thought that they would have to eat grass roots and bark for a living, and they were even more angry, and their emotions suddenly became excited, and the people behind squeezed to the front, and the people in front were suddenly forced to move forward, and several prince's guards put their blades on the chests of the soldiers in front of them, and shouted: "If you go forward, there is no forgiveness!" ”

At this time, the other prince's guards also found that the situation was not right here, and ran over to support.

But the prince's guards add up to only a dozen people, although they are brave and loyal, but in the face of more and more naval soldiers, they are like mantis arms as a car, but they are also forced to retreat again and again.

"Are you going to rebel?" Yuan Buye shouted continuously, he had already drawn a knife in his hand, and suddenly felt that his shoulder was patted, and when he turned his head to look, he saw that it was Duan Shao who had already walked over.

Duan Shao saw the soldiers gathered together and shouting, and his heart sank, knowing that what he was most worried about had finally happened.

Now is the most critical moment, he knows that if he is not careful, the consequences will be unimaginable, two steps forward, all the soldiers saw Duan Shao coming, and their voices suddenly became a lot smaller, Duan Shao glanced at it, and then said: "Everyone is hungry in the rain, and this palace knows it in his heart." You are all the most loyal warriors of my Daqi, and it is the fault of this palace that this palace did not let everyone eat enough. But now in the predicament, we should work together to tide over the difficulties, this palace believes that we will soon be able to find food, as long as we get to Puyang, this palace will reward each of you, make up for everyone. ”

After a period of silence, Zheng Biao boldly said: "Your Highness, Puyang is too far away, and the brothers are now only thinking about whether they can survive now." If Your Highness can let us live, we will naturally swear to follow Your Highness to the death, but .....! ”

"But what?" Yuan Buye said coldly.

"But if this continues, everyone will starve to death." Zheng Biao said: "If this is the case, it is better to let everyone find something to eat, even if they can't all survive, it is better than starving to death." ”

Duan Shao said: "You are right, if everyone thinks so, then even if you go to find something to eat, this palace will not stop you, whoever is like leaving, you can leave now." ”

"Your Highness, if you want to go, you can always distribute the general's salary to everyone." Zheng Biao said: "Many of these people have wives and children waiting at home, and they have been soldiers for many years, but now they are going back empty-handed? Before we set off, the Metropolitan Governor asked us to bring the general's salary, and asked His Highness to distribute the general's salary now! ”

Yuan Buye sneered: "Zheng Biao, it turns out that you remember those silvers?" ”

"What's wrong with being a soldier and getting paid?" Zheng Biao said loudly.

When he said this, the back all shouted, the sound was noisy, and the soldiers behind crowded forward again, Zheng Biao and many soldiers in front were forced to move forward, the prince guards drank victoriously, and retreated step by step, one of the prince guards put the tip of the knife on Zheng Biao's chest, and in the noise, a miserable scream was heard, and someone saw Zheng Biao's body shaking, and suddenly fell forward.

This change was very sudden, the prince guard who was holding the knife against Zheng Biao's chest was stunned for a moment, although the situation was chaotic, but he was able to control his strength, although the blade was against Zheng Biao's chest, but it did not pierce into it at all, but this Zheng Biao suddenly fell for some reason.

The soldiers on the side were stunned for a moment, only to see Zheng Biao lying motionless on the ground, and suddenly heard someone say: "Killed, guards..... The guards killed Zheng Biao! ”