The leaves in the south of the Yangtze River have just withered and yellowed, and under the holy decree of the Son of Heaven of the Tang Dynasty, Yang Lian took Lin Renzhao, Chen Tie and others to escort porcelain, tea, pearls and other things, first preparing to take a boat from Jinling to Guangling, and then from Guangling along the canal all the way north.

Before leaving, Yang Lian visited Bian Hao, Liu Renzhan and others, in fact, everyone knew the situation in Beijing, the king of Qi was weak, and Dongping Gong had the support of Prime Minister Sun Sheng and others, and had the upper hand. Even if Bian Hao did not support the King of Qi, he knew the thoughts of today's son, and felt that Yang Lian had recently been favored by His Majesty, and after successfully forming an alliance with the Khitans and the Han people, he was greatly rewarded, in addition to giving 5,000 acres of land, 500 taels of gold and silver, rewarding goldfish bags, and giving General Dingyuan, a Wusan official of the five grades.

It is said that the Son of Heaven was going to give Yang Lian a big reward, but he was persuaded to say that Yang Lian was still young, and if the reward was too much, I was afraid that Yang Lian would get carried away, so His Majesty reduced the reward. At this time, regardless of whether it is true or not, Yang Lian does not want to be promoted too quickly, he hopes that he can fight more battles, so that he can make a name for himself in the army and gradually regain the heart of the army. It's a pity that the Son of Heaven has no idea of moving troops for the time being, firstly, because of financial limitations, and secondly, because he was afraid of Wu Yueren.

After arranging everything properly, Yang Lian boarded the ship with Liu Xin and others and headed north. The canal in Datang is still smooth, and there are many houses and cities on both sides of the river, dotted with the jade belt of the canal like stars.

"Jiangnan, it's really prosperous." On the fast boat, Liu Xin sighed. Compared with the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, it has just been ravaged by the Khitans. The ravaged Central Plains is dilapidated. This is also the reason why the imperial brother sent him to the Tang Dynasty for peace talks.

"It's fun here, don't think about it." Yang Lian said with a smile, the language was not to ridicule Liu Xin, but Yang Lian felt that the entire Tang Dynasty court. It is lifeless, and it seems prosperous on the surface, but it has been corroded and emptied inside. It's like a huge piece of wood, which has been hollowed out on the inside, and looks bright on the outside, but if it is hit by an external force. It will become a waste residue. Intoxicated by the prosperity on the surface of Jiangnan, isn't Li Jing exactly like this? He has forgotten what the most important rule of survival is in troubled times.

Liu Xin thought that Yang Lian was ridiculing him, but he also thought that this sentence was not wrong, a comfortable life would indeed make people lose their fighting spirit, and when the Han Kingdom was first built, he must not learn from Liu Adou. I can't get away with it, I forget what the most important thing is.

"Thank you, General Yang, for the reminder." Liu Xin said that for Yang Lian, his feelings are really complicated.

Yang Lian was stunned for a moment, then reacted immediately, and couldn't help laughing: "King Cai is too worried, he just saw this scene and felt something." ”

Liu Xin's eyes narrowed. Recalling Yang Lian's words, in my heart. Suddenly, an idea came to mind, when I arrived in Kaifeng, I must do everything possible to leave Yang Lian behind, if I can serve the Han best, if not, then kill. He must not be allowed to return to Jinling, otherwise, he is likely to be the strongest opponent of the Great Han.

Although Liu Xin thought so, his face did not show it.

Yang Lian's gaze inadvertently swept over Liu Xin, with confidence on his face. This smile made Liu Xin a little unsure.

The ships went north along the canal. Gradually enter the post-Guangling, at this time the canal gradually has a tendency to narrow, this canal that has been dug for more than 300 years, experienced the war at the end of the Tang Dynasty, some places have been blocked, the two Huai gradually stabilized under the governance of Yang Wu, and after several years of governance in the Tang Dynasty, the canal is still smooth, but some places seem narrower.

The ship stopped at Guangling, this row of mighty ships attracted the attention of many people, the Guangling guard got the news, rushed to check, when he learned that the ship was the envoy of the Han State, he was busy with soldiers to welcome Yang Lian, Liu Xin and others off the ship.

Yang Lian was a little hesitant, but after thinking about it, he decided to stay in Guangling for one night. At this time, it was still early, and Yang Lian planned to take a turn in Guangling.

Guangling used to be the capital of Yang Wu, and it was no less prosperous than Jinling. When Xu Wen held power, he began to run Jinling, which was considering that Yang Wu had been operating in Guangling for many years and had deep influence, Xu Wen ran Jinling, and once the situation was unfavorable, he would divide the river and rule. It's a pity that he couldn't imagine that he worked hard to seize power, and finally cheapened his adopted son Xu Zhihe.

After Li Yu seized power, he served the puppet court for several years, and finally couldn't stand on his own feet and took Jinling as his capital. However, Guangling, located north of the Yangtze River, is still valued by Li Yu, Guangling is the eastern capital of the Tang Dynasty, with 20,000 soldiers and horses stationed, which shows the importance of the Tang Dynasty to Guangling.

Liu Xin held an observant attitude, followed behind Yang Lian, he observed the layout of Guangling City from time to time, for the Han State, once it chose to go south, breaking through Shouzhou, Haozhou, Chuzhou and other places, Guangling was exposed to the Han Army, Guangling is close to the Yangtze River, using this place as a base, attacking Jinling, is the best plan.

Guangling suffered from war at the end of the Tang Dynasty, after the painstaking management of Emperor Yang Wuwu, Guangling gradually restored its former prosperity, and now the population plus the garrison, about 370,000 people, and Jinling 400,000 people are almost the same, is the second largest city in the Southern Tang Dynasty.

Yang Lian tour, just nostalgic, the bits and pieces that have happened here, as if alive in the mind again, Guangling City, the former imperial city, is still as majestic as a mountain, but Zhu Yan has changed, no longer surnamed Yang, but surnamed Li. Where did Liu Xin know Yang Lian's thoughts? Circle around the city with him, to Dongguan Street, along the old street, to the city gate, the rolling canal water is flowing, on the side of the canal, the words of the Grand Canal are vigorous and powerful.

Liu Xin saw Yang Lian standing on the edge of the canal, staring into the distance, and he was even more surprised in his heart, he didn't understand, Yang Lian just saw the Grand Canal more than a thousand years ago, and he felt some emotion in his heart. After staring at the Grand Canal for a long time, Yang Lian turned around, the wind was bleak, I hope this time is not the cold of the canal, and the strong man will return with glory.

Yang Lian returned to the county office, ate, and went to bed early, but Liu Xin tossed and turned, and couldn't sleep, on the one hand, he was thinking about how to go south in the future, and on the other hand, he was full of curiosity about Yang Lian. When he got up on the second day, Liu Xin's eyes were black and he looked like he was not resting well.

Yang Lian is in good spirits, yesterday by the canal nostalgia, just a moment of emotion, but success can not rely on fantasy, he needs to move forward step by step, down-to-earth to strengthen his own power, and go to the Han Kingdom, it seems to have no meaning, but for the Tang Dynasty, or for Yang Lian, it is of great significance.

After breakfast, the canal sailed north, passed through Gaoyou, and arrived in Chuzhou three days later. Chuzhou is the junction of the Tang Dynasty and the Han Kingdom, and the Tang Dynasty built countless defense facilities on the Huai River to prevent the Central Plains Imperial Court from going south, and the city of Chuzhou is solid, which can be described as impregnable. Long before arriving in Chuzhou, Yang Lian sent people to Chuzhou to inform Liu Yanzhen, the assassin of Chu and Haizhou.

Liu Yanzhen had already waited on the side of the canal with the large and small civil and military officials of Chuzhou, and when she saw the boat of Yang Lian and his party coming slowly, Liu Yanzhen narrowed her eyes and carefully looked at the flag hanging on the boat. The word "Yang" on it fluttered high, looking extremely arrogant.

Liu Yanzhen has a young general by his side, his nephew, named Liu Zheng, only twenty years old, Liu Yanzhen likes him very much, takes him with him, and plans to hone him well. Liu Yanzhen was in charge of the military and political affairs of Hai and Chu Prefectures, and had great power, but this person fought bravely and often bribed Feng Yansi, Wei Cen and others, so he was reused. Li Jing is also a confused emperor, where does he know Liu Yanzhen's virtue? Feng Yansi, Wei Cen and others were demoted and exiled, but Li Jing did not punish Liu Yanzhen.

Liu Zheng hesitated a little and said in a low voice: "Uncle, is this Yang Lian really ordered to envoy to the Han Kingdom?" ”

Liu Yanzhen shook his head, he didn't know. However, he knew that the things he did must not let Yang Lian know. If he really knew, there was no official in the world who didn't talk about it, Liu Yanzhen decided to bribe Yang Lian. If Yang Lian's oil and salt don't enter, then Liu Yanzhen has only one way to go, and that is to kill!

However, Liu Yanzhen couldn't say this, he just smiled slightly, and he had already made up his mind to pay attention.

The ship got closer and closer, and when it came to the dock, the ship was anchored, the sampan was lowered, and several heavily armed soldiers walked down, these soldiers of the Southern Tang Dynasty were brightly armored and looked majestic, but Liu Yanzhen scoffed, such an army may not be of any use in a war.

Although Liu Yanzhen is greedy for ink and has a brutal personality, he does have a hand in fighting, which he sees very accurately. In fact, these soldiers of the Southern Tang Dynasty were unbearable to fight, and Yang Lian also deliberately selected this batch of soldiers with silver-like pewter spear heads to achieve the effect of confusion.

Yang Lian walked out, his eyes staring at Liu Yanzhen, Liu Yanzhen came to greet him in person, giving Yang Lian enough face, but at the same time, it also proved that this is a person who is good at pandering, Yang Lian secretly has a heart of vigilance. However, Yang Lian still walked down with a smile.

With such a big official, Yang Lian can't afford to provoke it for the time being.

"Liu Tingshi, don't come to harm? Thinking that Liu Tingshi fought on the battlefield and made great achievements, it is really admirable. Yang Lian laughed, as happy as he was on his face.

Liu Yanzhen was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted that Yang Lian was taking the initiative to show goodwill. Since Yang Lian is like this, Liu Yanzhen can't lag behind, and he also smiled: "Liu Mou heard about General Yang's name as early as Chuzhou, and now when I see it, it is really a vain man under the fame, and General Yang's merits, Liu is really admired." ”

Liu Yanzhen said, strode forward, stretched out a pair of calloused hands, and held Yang Lian tightly. The smiles on the faces of the two were very harmonious, but Liu Xin, who was on the side, felt that under the enthusiastic appearance of the two, it was very hypocritical.

This made Liu Xin a little wary of Yang Lian, and when he arrived in Kaifeng, it was still unknown whether he could successfully control Yang Lian, but when the sheep entered the tiger's mouth, Liu Xin felt that it was impossible for Yang Lian to escape.

Liu Xin's strange expression attracted Liu Yanzhen's attention, he looked at Liu Xin with a smile, arched his hand, and said, "This heroic and extraordinary must be King Cai." ”

"Look at my memory." Yang Lian patted his head, looked at Liu Xin with a smile, and said, "Liu Tingshi, this is the envoy of the Han Kingdom, King Cai." ”

Liu Yanzhen and Liu Xin talked a few words, Liu Yanzhen waved her hand and said, "The autumn wind is sad, the two of you follow me into the city!" ”

"Please!" Yang Lian said, walked side by side with Liu Yanzhen, and entered Chuzhou City.

PS: Answer to the book friend Snow Rabbit, it's a little busy. The house leak and the overnight rain, today this chapter was written for more than three hours, the head is a little hot, the chest is tight, coughing, maybe I have a fever, it's late again, I hope I can sleep well, and I hope that tomorrow can be updated smoothly. (To be continued.) )