Wang Yuan arrived in Qingjiang County, Chuzhou in the middle of the night. Pen~Fun~Ge www.biquge.info Although the people were sleepy and lacking, Wang Yuan was able to reach Qingjiang ahead of the rebels' ships in advance, and Wang Yuan was also relieved. At night, the gate of Qingjiang County was closed, and Wang Yuan could not enter the city. Coupled with the fatigue of the people, Wang Yuan had to decide to spend the night in the nightclub next to the official road outside the northern city, and then enter the county seat tomorrow at dawn to find local officials to identify themselves and discuss countermeasures. Although time was pressing, the rebel fleet would not arrive at Qingjiang until at least tomorrow evening, and there was still a day and a night to prepare.

There was nothing to say all night, and when the rooster crowed the next day, Wang Yuan got up early, and led the horse out of the store after grooming. After riding a horse for half an hour, when the sky was bright, Wang Yuan had already arrived outside the gate of the north city of Qingjiang County. But to Wang Yuan's surprise, the north gate of Qingjiang County was tightly closed, and there were no people entering the city at the city gate. Even the towers of the city were empty, and several flags fluttered lazily at the head of the city.

Wang Yuan shouted a few times at the head of the city, but there was not even a single figure on the head of the city. When I was anxious, I suddenly heard the sound of squeaking wooden wheels turning from the path under the city, and when I looked around, it was a common man pushing a peaceful cart from the road under the city from west to east.

Wang Yuan hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "This big brother, dare to ask, why doesn't this north city gate open?" ”

The people in the cart looked Wang Yuan up and down, wiped their sweat and said, "You are a foreigner." Don't you know that the North City Gate is not open today? And not only today, but also tomorrow and the next two days, and the gates of the city will not be opened. ”

Wang Yuan hurriedly said: "I am indeed not a local, I am from Xuzhou City in the north. But I don't know why the north gate doesn't open. ”

"From today on, at the wharf of the East Gate, the grain ship of the Cui family will release grain at a reasonable price on the wharf, and the officials and soldiers of Qingjiang County will go to the wharf to maintain order. In the three days of grain release, only the east gate was opened, and the other three city gates were closed. No, I'm also going to get food at the docks. The people explained.

Although Wang Yuan didn't quite understand what he said, it was obvious that the north city gate would not open, but the east city gate was open, so he could only go around the east city gate and enter the city.

Wang Yuan had the heart to inquire about the inside story, and immediately beckoned to the people and said, "Brother, you get on the horse, I will give you a ride, and you will lead the way for me." It's all from the small river trail, and I'm afraid I'll go off the road. ”

The man hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Don't you dare, I haven't ridden a horse, and I didn't have to break my bones." Besides, did I lose this chariot? ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "Don't worry, my horse is very stable." The chariot is very simple, hanging behind the horse's buttocks. ”

After saying that, Wang Yuan immediately bent down and reached out, grabbed the gang of the Taiping car, lifted the car with one hand, and hung it on the hook behind the side of the war horse, and fixed it slightly with the rope, but it was also very stable.

The people tried to stop it, but it was too late. He only stood on the ground and smacked his tongue: "This brother looks at the skinny muscles, how can he have so much strength." I can't move this car alone. This big horse is also powerful, and this heavy thing hangs behind his buttocks, and he doesn't move at all. ”

Wang Yuan laughed and said, "Don't look at me thin, my bones are full of meat." Come on. ”

The man clumsily climbed on the horse's back and sat behind Wang Yuan, Wang Yuan lifted the reins, and the horse walked forward, and the man was so frightened that he hugged Wang Yuan's waist. Although Wang Yuan felt a little weird, he could only endure it.

After getting off the official road, he walked east along the Qianmo trail outside the city wall, although Wang Yuan wanted to save time and reach the east gate quickly, but there were trails and ponds and lakes all the way, and the path was dense like a spider web, and he couldn't get up if he wanted to be fast. And if it weren't for the people pointing out the direction behind and telling Wang Yuan that the road was leading to the river without a bridge, and that there was a small bridge connecting the road, he would have avoided taking a lot of unjust roads.

Although it was delayed for some time, Wang Yuan also asked what happened on the way. It turns out that last year's catastrophe also spread to all parts of the southeast. Although there are abundant water sources in the south, food prices in the south have skyrocketed due to the severe drought and chaos in the north. Unscrupulous businessmen hoarded Juqi to raise the price of grain, but the people were forced to pay taxes on low-priced grain, resulting in even the local people not being able to afford food.

Faced with such a situation, the Cui family, a wealthy family living in Yangzhou, took the initiative to express his willingness to sell a huge amount of grain at a parity price, and the intention was naturally to relieve the people. Naturally, this move was greatly welcomed by the people. Since the autumn of last year, every two months, the Cui family has transported many ships of grain from Yangzhou to Chuzhou. Qingjiang County also got three boats. Therefore, when it came to the day of grain distribution at a low price, the county commanders of Qingjiang County and the soldiers of the official government regiment all went to the Dongmen Wharf to assist in the distribution of grain. Therefore, several other city gates were not opened due to manpower limitations. The people also gathered at the East Gate Wharf to buy grain at a reasonable price according to their accounts. This common man named Zhao Liu, who lived in a small village in the west, slept late today, so he didn't take the Beicheng path to the east gate until this time.

"You say, this is the Cui family in Yangzhou? Which Cui family? Wang Yuan asked.

"Cui family, you don't know this?" Zhao Liu looked at Wang Yuan as if he was looking at a monster. "Who doesn't know the Cui family? The big tycoons of Jiangnan? It is said that Emperor Wu moved from Qinghe to Jiangnan during the time of the Emperor. The family has thousands of acres of fertile land, hundreds of millions of furniture, and is so rich. It is said that their family is closely related to the current royal family. There are several princesses who married into the Cui family on their ancestors, and there are many big officials. ”

Wang Yuan suddenly realized that this Cui family was the Cui family of Qinghe who had five surnames and seven clans who moved to the south, and it was the Cui family that Qin Guofu said could be called the first wealthy family in the Tang Dynasty. I didn't expect this Cui family to be so good at things, at this time, when the price of grain was as high as gold, they were willing to take out a large amount of grain and sell it at a low price, which was not an ordinary magnanimity. You must know that Qingjiang County is only a small county town, and you can get relief here, not to mention the large and small cities in the south, how much money it should be. However, in Wang Yuan's opinion, the big hao clan naturally has their purpose in doing this. Spending money to win people's hearts is probably the reason why they stand up at this time.

Let's talk about it, most of the hour later, the two broke through the spider-web-like Qianmo path and went onto an avenue. At this time, the morning sun was rising, and the flat land in front of it was steaming, like a white ribbon rising from the flat ground. There was a loud commotion in the white mist, and waves came.

"It's almost here, this brother sees that you are in a hurry to enter the city, you let me get off the horse, and I will push the cart and go by myself." and will not delay you from entering the city. In front of you is the pier by the canal. But if you go into the city to find someone, I'm afraid you have to listen first, now that most of the people in the city are on the docks to get food, you may not be able to find the person you are looking for when you enter the city. Zhao Liudao.

Wang Yuan agreed, let Zhao Liu get off the horse, took the Taiping car for him, and urged the horse to run forward. Soon after, after crossing a small slope, Wang Yuan saw a huge and busy one that appeared in the steaming white mist. But I saw a huge open field outside the east gate of the county seat, and countless people were surging. Countless people are moving around. The noise, the shouts, the shouts, the laughter, the neighing of mules and horses, the creaking of wheels, and the cries of children surrounded Wang Yuan like a huge wave rushing in his face. Looking farther away, the masts of tall ships are clearly visible on the wide river channel where the water is steaming, and the huge sails turn in a white halo under the morning sun. On the wharf, people who came and went like ants carried grain bales in a queue from the bow of the ship to the wharf.

This situation and this scene made Wang Yuan greatly admired.

The sky is divided into day and night, and the earth is divided into north and south. Since ancient times, Huaishui has been a dividing line between north and south. Datang is no exception. The Huaishui River lies between the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, becoming a geographical boundary dividing the north and south of the Tang Dynasty. From Huaishui to the south, it can be called the rich land of the south and the place where merchants circulate and flourish. The reason is very simple, the Huaishui Yangtze River basin is fertile and rich, and the lakes are intertwined with many water networks.

In this era when land transportation is quite hindered, there are countless river networks that can be used to build boats, which is naturally a great convenience. Qingjiang County is just a small county town on the north bank of Huaishui, but judging from the size of the wharf and the density of ships moored, it is clearly one of the beneficiaries. Most of the people in this county depend on this pier and the canal that leads to it.

Although the scene in front of him was exciting, Wang Yuan also had deep worries. Obviously, the people here did not know that disaster was imminent, and the rebel fleet was rapidly approaching here on the canal more than a hundred miles away.

Wang Yuan didn't have time to think about it, so he rode his horse down the dirt slope and went straight to the dock. When they reached the periphery of the crowd, the handsomeness of the horseman under the crotch and the handsomeness of the horseman attracted the attention of the people. On the black-clad steed sat a handsome and extraordinary young man, a figure that had never been seen in Qingjiang County.

"Who are you? Do not trespass on horseback. Several of the regimental soldiers who maintained order were wearing shabby armor, and when they saw that the knights on the horses were also wearing armor, but it was obviously much better than their own, they were a little ashamed of themselves. This also aroused their jealousy, and it was clear that Wang Yuan's horses were still patrolling the periphery, so they also ran over and scolded them.

"Brothers, dare to ask if the county order of this county can be here?" Wang Yuan asked with his fists clenched.

"Who are you? What do you want to do with my Ma County Order? He doesn't have time to see you. A regimental practitioner said.

Another regimental training soldier looked Wang Yuan up and down, "Where did you get this armor?" And where did this horse come from? Look at you, the armor and horses are all stolen, right? It's not really coming. ”

"Yes, from the truth. Do we have this armor style and this war horse in Qingjiang County? Tell me, stolen from there? The rest of the regimental training soldiers asked together.

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "What are you kidding, I am from the north, I have something important to see your county order, take me to see him quickly." ”

"Who's kidding you? Get off the horse and explain clearly. Do you have something important? We have an important business, and our important thing is to find out where you stole it. A regimental training soldier said loudly.

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "Hugh is rude." If you delay something important, you guys will be out of luck. ”

"Ho, it's pretty horizontal. Brothers, pull him off the horse. Give a few slaps to taste first, and make his mouth hard. A regimental soldier shouted, and he was the first to come forward to grab Wang Yuan's reins.

Wang Yuan shouted coldly: "Look for death." With the reins in his hand, the black horse rose with its head held high, its front hooves flying in the air, and brushed the ears of the regiment of training soldiers. The training soldiers of the regiment were half frightened to death, and they fled with a crawl. The rest of the group were furious when they saw this, and they rushed up to grab Wang Yuan's leg and pull him off the horse.

Wang Yuan scolded angrily, kicked on the helmet of a group trainer, kicked him on the heel, and then bent down to reach out, grabbed the arm of a group trainer, and pulled him onto the horse. At the same time, his wrist flipped and a dagger crossed his throat. The soldier screamed in fright.

"Don't move, I want your dog to die." Wang Yuan shouted.

Seeing this, the rest shouted, "There are thieves, there are thieves." Come on people. Li San'er was taken by him. ”

This shout immediately alarmed the audience, the people retreated in fright, the regimental trainers whistled again and again, and soon dozens of regimental training officials rushed over shouting and scolding.

Wang Yuan scolded coldly: "A group of dogs, don't ask about it. I'm too lazy to ramble with you. Take me to your prefectural order. ”

There is no need to call the county order at all, after such a fuss, Ma Pengju, the county magistrate of Qingjiang County, who was talking with the personnel of the Cui family to release grain, immediately got the report and hurriedly rushed over surrounded by more than a dozen officials.

"What's going on? Who are you, that man? How dare you commit murder in broad daylight? Ma Pengju shouted.

Wang Yuan said: "Who are you?" I want to see the county magistrate, but these people came up and said that I was a thief and wanted to take me without asking. ”

Ma Peng said: "This official is the county magistrate of this county, who are you, and why do you want to see this official?" ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "You are the county magistrate of this county?" ”

"Exactly, are you going to come to my disadvantage? Then I also let go of the person you held hostage, and the official is here, what are you going to do? ”

"It's a bit backbone." Wang Yuan smiled and pushed the regiment of training soldiers off the horse, and the soldier escaped from death, regardless of the pain caused by the fall of his buttocks, he hurriedly crawled away.

"Ma County Order, it's polite." Wang Yuan arched his hand.

"Tell me who you are, holding the public hostage here in broad daylight, intending to commit murder, are you guilty?" Ma Pengju said coldly.

Wang Yuan jumped off the horse, and more than a dozen officials were so frightened that they took a few steps back. Wang Yuan took a few steps in front of Ma Xianling, and the officials raised their swords and shouted, "Stand back." ”

Wang Yuan smiled, stretched out his hand into his arms, took out a black iron plate and said, "Doesn't the county order want to know who I am?" If I don't come forward and give him this card, how will he know who I am. ”

"Just throw it over, don't come forward." A servant shouted.

Wang Yuan sneered: "Cowardly as a mouse. So many of you are here, are you still afraid that I will not be able to commit murder? ”

Hearing this, Ma Pengju stepped forward proudly, and the officials and regimental practitioners hurriedly said: "Ma County order be careful. ”

Ma Pengju frowned and shouted, "What are you afraid of?" Can he eat me? ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "The Ma County Order is still the same. ”

Ma Pengju snorted, stretched out his hand to take the waist card to look at the words on it carefully, suddenly his expression changed greatly, he looked up at Wang Yuan with a look of surprise on his face, and stammered: "You...... You are ......"

Wang Yuan nodded and said, "Exactly." ”

Ma Pengju said repeatedly: "Damn it, damn it, the lower official should die." It's rude to not know that the big driver is coming. ”

As he spoke, Ma Pengju lifted his robe and was about to kneel down and salute.

Wang Yuan hurriedly stopped: "No need to be polite, in public, I don't want to reveal my identity, please keep it secret for me." ”

Ma Pengju stood restless and blamed himself, and all the officials around him didn't know why, and they all looked at Ma Xianling in surprise with a respectful look, not knowing what was going on.

"Ma County Order, who is this person?" A regimental trainer asked, stretching his neck.

"You dead people, don't go out and keep order. What are you doing here? Don't you have to move the food down the ship? Don't you need to send someone to watch the count? Just go. Ma Pengju shouted. The officials and regimental exercises suddenly scattered and left, and they were puzzled in their hearts, not knowing what the identity of this young man was, and even the Ma County Commander was so respectful to him. Such a young man, dressed in an ordinary soldier's attire, doesn't look like a noble king, what's going on?

"Wang Xiangguo, the lower officials don't know Mount Tai with their eyes, and these people under him are also troublesome people, who offended Xiangguo, and ask Xiangguo to forgive him." Ma Xian Ling said continuously.

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "Don't take it to heart, they are still responsible, and it is also appropriate to see strangers for interrogation, but it is too arrogant and unreasonable, and they directly regard me as a thief." ”

Ma Xian Ling was embarrassed, and said repeatedly: "I will deal with them when I turn around." ”

Wang Yuan waved his hand and said, "It's not necessary." ”

Ma Pengju said: "Why did Xiangguo come to this county alone? I didn't see the entourage, and I didn't notify the county before I was fine. ”

Wang Yuan said: "It would be nice if I could inform it." The matter was urgent, and my horse was fast, so I came here alone. My 3,000 cavalry guards are on their way. ”

Ma Pengju was even more puzzled, and said nervously: "What is the matter, the Minister of Labor is here in person?" ”

Wang Yuan said: "Let's find a place to talk, there are many people here, and it is not suitable to talk." ”

"Okay, okay, the lower official will arrange it, and then accompany Xiangguo into the city to talk. Xiaguan is transporting grain and getting off the ship here, which is the affordable relief grain provided by the Cui family in Yangzhou. Xia Guan went to say hello to the Cui family's grain carriers, and asked the county to accompany them to hand over. I don't know if it's possible? ”

Wang Yuan nodded and said, "You don't have to go into the city, the matter is urgent, you say hello, and we can find a secluded place to talk." ”

"Okay, okay, Xiangguo will come with me." Ma Peng raised his hand and saluted, leading Wang Yuan to the dock. Wang Yuan saw that next to the wharf, there was a shed, and there were blue and white curtains hanging around the shed, and several neatly dressed people who looked like they were standing around the shed, their eyes blazing as if they were guarding someone. The whole bamboo shed and the surrounding environment seem out of place.

"Xiangguo waits, and the next official will come when he goes." Ma Peng raised his hand.

"Please." Wang Yuan smiled. But seeing Ma Pengju carrying the hem of his robe and walking quickly to the curtain of the bamboo shed, he bowed and seemed to say something to the people in the shed, nodding and smiling, and his attitude was very respectful. After a while, he bowed again, turned and walked back.

"Xiang Guo waited for a long time, and said hello to the people of the Cui family, now let's go to a secluded place over there to talk. There is a tea shed, and Sangkook is just resting. Ma Peng said with a smile.

Wang Yuan nodded and smiled: "Very good." ”

Ma Pengju stretched out his hand to ask for guidance, Wang Yuan walked towards another simple tea shed not far away, walked a few steps, Wang Yuan turned around, just in time to see a small corner behind the curtain of the bamboo shed, and a pair of autumn water eyes inside were looking at him. Seeing that Wang Yuan was also looking at it, the man immediately lowered the curtain and cut off the handover of eyes.

Wang Yuan wondered in his heart: "Could it be that the Cui family sent a woman to transport grain?" No wonder make a curtain to cover ......"

"Please sit down, and the lower official will make you a cup of hot tea." Ma Pengju's words interrupted Wang Yuan's thoughts, Wang Yuan smiled and nodded and sat down, and Ma Pengju diligently made Wang Yuan a bowl of tea.

"Inferior tea and fresh water, please quench your thirst." Ma Xianling said with a smile.

Wang Yuan picked up the tea bowl, and a smell of onions, garlic, ginger and vinegar came to his nose, and Wang Yuan hurriedly put down the tea cup. This is boiled tea, which is exactly the kind of eating that Wang Yuan can't eat.

"Ma County Order, let's make a long story short. I'm here for one thing. Not long ago, we regained Luoyang, but An Qingxu and Yan Zhuang took an army of 70,000 or 80,000 men and sailed south along the canal, intending to capture the southeast. I led people to chase Xuzhou, but Xuzhou had been ransacked by them. Now hundreds of their large and small ships carrying seventy or eighty thousand soldiers and horses are already on the northern river a hundred miles away. We will arrive at Qingjiang tonight at the latest. I relied on the strength of BMW's feet to surpass them, and I rushed to their heads to report the news and take countermeasures. ”

As soon as Wang Yuan's words were finished, Ma Peng, who was pouring tea for himself, shook his body, his hand shook, the teapot fell, the tea bowl on the table was also smashed, and the hot tea splashed everywhere, a mess.

"What? Are you telling the truth? Rebels...... Seventy or eighty thousand rebels are rushing here? Ma Pengju asked with a pale face.

Wang Yuan frowned and wiped the broken tea powder that was splashed on his sleeve, and said in a deep voice: "Of course it's true, don't you think I'm telling a lie?" ”

"No, no, Xiaguan...... Xia Guan was too shocked, Xia Guan was rude, and Xia Guan was completely unprepared. Xiangguo, what can I do? So what can I do? Ma Pengju panicked, stomped his feet and rubbed his hands, and his face was sweating nervously.

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "I'm afraid that the Ma County Order will immediately prepare to meet the enemy." ”

Ma Pengju hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, you need to prepare quickly." This one...... Xia Guan is gone, so please ask Xiangguo for advice. ”

Wang Yuan thought for a while and asked, "How many soldiers and horses are stationed in Qingjiang County?" ”

"Terracotta? Where are the soldiers and horses in Qingjiang County? There are 3,000 soldiers and horses in Shanyang County, where Chu Prefecture governs. This county is only a small county, there are only 200 regimental training, plus the officials and some small officials who catch the head together, the lower officials can gather 350 people. Is it enough? ”

This sentence of 'is it enough', Wang Yuan, who almost asked, vomited blood. People are coming with an army of 70,000 or 80,000, and you still ask if the 350 people are enough, this Ma County Commander is afraid that he is frightened and confused.

"Listen, three things are going to be done at once, you listen. It must be done before sunset, or it will be too late. Wang Yuan said solemnly.

"Okay, please ask Xiangguo to give orders, and the lower officials will do it immediately." Ma Xian Ling wiped his sweat.