Salt and iron and Caoyun, has always been the blood and lifeblood of the Tang economy, both are indispensable, after the Anshi Rebellion, the court implemented the "military plan, relying on the Jianghuai" financial policy, it is for this reason, the economic center of gravity of the Tang Dynasty has gradually shifted to the southeast, but the southeast salt, rice grain and other rented property, mainly rely on water transport to Kyoto and other places and for the needs of the army, in view of the war caused by the Bianhe River system to obliterate the shallow stalks, the boat barrage overflow, the difficulty of fighting money and rice, in the early years of Qingzhi, spend great efforts to dredge the water transport, and the government hired river division sailorsIt is precisely because of the smooth transportation of salt and rice that the political stability and peace of the people have gradually recovered the economy of the Tang Dynasty.

But since the split of the Cui family, the Tang Dynasty's Cao Yun seemed to have a nightmare, the Bianhuai warlords repeatedly cut off the Cao Yun and looted the Cao boats, so that the imperial court's financial revenue fell into a difficult situation, only owed Xuanren six years of 100 officials as much as 550,000 guan, by March, Zuozang's savings were less than 200,000 guan, and the financial crisis has become a top priority that threatens the survival of the imperial court.

At the court meeting on 1 April, it was decided to urgently transfer 1 million salt taxes from Gangneung to Beijing.

The starting point of the Cao Yun route of the Tang Dynasty was actually Yuhang County, but because the salt and iron prison was located in Guangling, the money and grain remitted from all over the Jianghuai were also concentrated in Guangling first, and then shipped north from Guangling, along the Cao Canal into Huai, and then from the Huai River into Bianshui and finally into the Yellow River in Heyin, and along the Yellow River to Chang'an by Tianbao Canal, the threat mainly appeared on the Huai River to Chenliu section, which passed through Cui Qinggong and the original Li Huaixian's territory. It's just that Cui first followed Li and didn't wait for Li Huai to do it first. Cui Qinggong was already in the mouth first.

On 13 April, Wang Yahou, the Jianghuai transshipment envoy, collected nearly 5,000 boats, loaded with millions of pounds and 500,000 stone of grain, and set out from Jiangdu in three batches in turn. Those who have a heart along the way have heard the wind and moved.

At dawn, the white mist of milk is shrouded in the Huanghuai Plain, this is the territory of Fuli County, Peng County, the sound of chickens has been heard on both sides of the Caoqu canal, a group of people who get up early at the ferry are anxiously waiting to get on the boat, and there are only occasional merchants sleeping in the wild on the official road who carry the burden and walk tiredly, it is a quiet and ordinary morning.

Suddenly, there was a fierce sound of horses' hooves on the official road, and a cavalry team broke through the dense fog and galloped like lightning. Passing by the people who were waiting to cross the river, a gust of wind swept away the fog, and the people saw only about thirty or forty horses rushing by, and in a moment they dissolved into the fog and drove away in a north-west direction, and the passers-by chattered and speculated about what might happen, but none of them could guess two days later. There will be thousands of ships coming from the south.

After Fuli County and then go northwest about 200 miles, it entered the boundary of Qian County, in the battle of Xiangyang at the beginning of the year, Wei Deqing sent troops to occupy Qian County, but soon under the threat of Cui Qinggong's return to the army, he gave up Qian County and returned to Chenliu, and the current general stationed in Qian County is Cui Qinggong's original four King Kong four - Ma Dawei

, with more than 20,000 garrisons. Ma Dawei is about 50 years old, and Cui Qinggong's other generals are different, he is a rare civilian official, born with a white face and a long beard, the earliest is Cui Qinggong's marching Sima, in Li Huaixian's split, he was awarded the title of Three Treasures by Cui Qinggong because he kept most of Cui Qinggong's military rations. Become one of his commanders. Now his line is stationed in Qian County.

A group of thirty scouts finally galloped into the gates of the city at dusk and headed straight for the garrison in the north of the city. Half a month ago, he received a flying pigeon from Cui Qinggong, ordering him to pay close attention to the movement of the boat, and once the boat entered the county, he would immediately intercept it.

Ma Dawei is in charge of money and food, he knows better than everyone the importance of this million yuan to Cui Qinggong, although the Eastern Expedition to Xiangyang has gained, but most of them are fattened generals and some soldiers who participated in the looting, and Cui Qinggong's army itself did not get much money, on the contrary, a battle almost consumed the money and food accumulated in the past few years, and Wei Deqing's robbery made Cui Qinggong suffer heavy losses, Cui Qinggong's 200,000 army has almost reached the point of running out of money and food, if there is no replenishment, Even if the army does not mutiny, a mass flight of soldiers will be inevitable.

At this time, the imperial court's million-dollar boats were coming, although Ma Dawei also knew that the political consequences of the robbery were very serious, but he, like Cui Qinggong, still decided to start without hesitation, after all, survival is the first priority.

"Report to the general, scouts have news to report."

The news from outside the tent lifted Ma Dawei's spirits, and he had been waiting for a long time.

"Hurry up and let them in!" Marvian ordered in a panic.

In a moment, the scout team was walking quickly into the tent, and he knelt down on one knee and saluted: "General Qiqi, my subordinates have discovered the whereabouts of the boat." ”

"Where are they now?"

"The subordinates found that they had left the Huai River and went north, and it is estimated that they are now approaching Fuli County, and the Cao boat was originally divided into three sections, but after entering the Cao Canal, it was changed to two teams, less than fifty miles apart, with a total of about 5,000 ships, which is very large, and there are 2,000 cavalry guards."

"Millions of dollars!" Ma Dawei gasped, the formation of 5,000 ships, he couldn't do it even if he wanted to keep a low profile, the matter really came to an end, he was a little hesitant, did he really want to take the money and food?

"If you don't take it, you will be won by Wei Deqing in the north." There was a stern reprimand at the door of the tent, and when Ma Dawei turned around, he found that it was Cui Qinggong, I don't know when he arrived?

Ma Dawei was so frightened that he hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down and saluted: "See the prince!" ”

"Humph!" Cui Qinggong snorted heavily, he first returned to Ruyang from Chang'an, and after learning the news of Guangling's departure, he immediately rushed to Qiaojun, and just now he saw that Ma Dawei was still hesitant when he learned the accurate news, and he couldn't help but be very annoyed in his heart, "You are still my marching Sima, don't you know the embarrassment in the army now?" What are you hesitating about! ”

Ma Dawei was frightened in his heart, and hurriedly explained: "My subordinates don't dare! The subordinates are thinking that there are still countless money and grain to be transported north in Guangling, and if we rob it, the follow-up will not come back

"You idiot!" Cui Qinggong was extremely annoyed, "If we don't intercept it, Wei Deqing will also do it, do you still expect a next time?" ”

"Yes! Subordinates know their mistakes. Although Ma Dawei didn't think that Wei Deqing would intercept the boat, under Cui Qinggong's obscenity, he had to bow his head and admit his mistake.

Cui Qinggong's anger subsided slightly, thinking that millions of dollars were coming, he couldn't help but smile and said: "Okay, what I should say has been said, I came this time to see millions of dollars enter my warehouse." ”

When he reached the tent, he suddenly remembered something, and asked the scout, "Can you find out who the escort is?" ”

"Report to the prince, when the boat left the Huai River and entered the water, a team of people and horses joined the boat, and it was quite powerful, but I don't know who it was?"

Cui Qinggong nodded, presumably this is the envoy Li Huai, I heard that he did not go to Donghai County, but went directly to Guangling from Peng County to the south, he should be in the team, thinking of this, he said to Ma Dawei again: "This time the envoy is the new military squire Li Huai, tell the brothers to be careful, just rob the boat, don't make a big deal about it, let alone hurt Li Huai, do you understand?" ”

"Subordinates obey!"

At night, Cui Qinggongdi's army began to mobilize, and an army of about 10,000 horses marched in the starry night to Bianshui, east of Qian County.

On 18 April, on the night of the movement of Cui Qinggong's army, another army of about 20,000 men also wore the stars and the moon, and rapidly moved south along the Bianshui, aiming directly at the boats loaded with money and grain.

The night came fast in the south, and before the last rays of the sun had had time to fade, the stars were already shining brightly in the deep blue sky, and the shadows around them were coming together more and more tightly, narrowing the vast plains

Under the dark sky, a big boat is leisurely moving south under the starlight, on the small boat, Li Chuanyun, dressed in Taoist clothes, sits on her knees, she looks up at the night sky, her white jade-like face flashes a hazy luster under the starlight, and her eyes are full of yearning for the starry sky.

Behind her stood two young and heroic guards, both of whom were disguised as men, and these were two of her men, strong in martial arts, holding their long swords tightly in their hands.

"Look, Miss!" A maid pointed to the shore, and saw about a hundred paces away, a continuous stream of black shadows running southward, no one lighting torches, only the sound of chaotic footsteps, the clatter of horses' hooves, and the sound of armor striking swords, which were the night march of the soldiers. Li Chuanyun smiled, turned around and asked the boatman, "Boatman, where are we now?" ”

The boatman said with a smile while rocking the boat: "We are still in Xiayi County now, but after crossing a small bridge in front, we will enter Qian County." ”

"Thank you."

Li Chuanyun turned her head and stared at the army on the shore again, and after a long time, she couldn't help but say to herself: "It's almost over, a dog-eat-dog battle is about to begin." ”