(Xie: The reward for the bean paste bun with mung beans.) Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info thanks: Ai Ruotong, moshaocong, 100 possibilities, tkoman, magical golden beetle, have ideas for you and other brothers' votes. ）

In a short time, forty or fifty large boats and hundreds of small boats had gathered on the course of the Grand Canal at the gate of the city. The number of people on both sides of the embankment has also reached 10,000. Wang Yuan gave the order to load the earth-rock shipwreck to block the shipping channel. For a time, tens of thousands of people went up and down the river embankment, and countless Taiping carts pushed dirt, rocks and mud bags in and out from inside and outside the city, filling large ships with earth, gravel and sandbags, and pressing the sides of the ships only a few inches from the water.

According to the established direction, under the guidance of experienced boatmen who know the depth of the waterway, one after another large ships sank into the river, and the huge waves and whirlpools were amazing. In the river channel between the east and west city walls, which is more than 30 zhang wide, dozens of large ships were swallowed up in a few hours. Before the sun set, more than 100 small boats were also chained, loaded with earth, gravel and sand, and sank in several rows in the river. By the time everything had subsided, the waterways between the walls had formed a shipwreck barrier jutting out of the water. With such a huge project, it took less than a day to see the results.

However, Wang Yuan was not satisfied, he ordered people to carry logs, and several rows of huge wooden piles of different horizontal and oblique layers were driven on the shipwreck belt, and these large wooden piles penetrated the mud and stone ships and strung them together tightly to form a whole. In this way, even the most powerful ships will not be able to break through the barrier under the water and enter the city.

In this situation, even Shen Zifang, who was skeptical and resistant to this at the beginning, and some officials in Yangzhou had to admit that this Captain Wang's stupid method had indeed worked. This shipwreck barrier is not afraid of fire or strong impact, and it is enough to ensure that the open channel into the city will not be breached by the large ships of the rebels.

However, Wang Yuan felt that it was far from enough, and he knew that in order to block the attack of the rebels' seventy or eighty thousand troops, these measures were far from enough. Even the entrance to the city from a blocked river could still be crossed by a light boat if it was not blocked with heavy troops. After all, the shipwreck barrier is protected against large ships with deep drafts and many troops, and the gap in the large wall is destined to be the focus of the rebels' attacks for swimming or light boat travel.

So Wang Yuan issued an order to strengthen the suspension bridge above, so that the archers could be stationed above and a large number of defensive materials could be stacked. Thousands of soldiers and civilians began to carry rough ropes and logs from both sides of the walls, and began to widen and strengthen the suspension bridge above the waterway between the two walls. This work is extremely difficult, because these suspension cables have no force, and they are completely fixed by the tensile force on both sides, and the effect is very poor.

But fortunately, Wang Yuan had experience in building suspension bridges, which also came in handy at this moment. At both ends of the city wall, several zhang high barriers were built, and the suspension bridges were connected to the fortress with ropes one by one, forming a pattern of cable-stayed bridges. The stability of the suspension bridge is ensured. On top of this, the rope bridge is reinforced with ropes and logs, as well as wooden planks. In this way, the solidity of the suspension bridge is greatly improved. Of course, the defects of this rope bridge are also obvious, because it has to be built with ropes and logs, and if it is attacked by the rebels, it is afraid that it will not escape the fate of being burned.

This problem is also difficult to completely solve for a while, and Wang Yuan has no time to solve it. Wang Yuan had to use the simplest way to prevent fire, which was to wrap the ropes of the rope bridge in river silt and use soaked logs to reinforce the support. At the same time, prepare water dragons and buckets at the head of the city to extinguish the fire in time.

The night was dark, and the moon was in the sky. Yangzhou City is still brightly lit, just like a city in the sky. Between the red and green, there is the sound of silk and bamboo, and the singing is in the ears. Even in the face of great enemy pressure, this fireworks city cannot change its special design.

However, in addition to the pleasures of some people pursuing drunken dreams and death, the city walls at the north gate of the city are a different scene. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians are still wearing stars and moons to complete one defense preparation after another. Some people pursue drunken life and dreams, some people pursue pleasure and luxury, and some people pursue something else. For example, a positive and optimistic face, such as a brave and fearless responsibility. For example, use your actions to defend everything you cherish. The difference between people can be seen from this.

Under the city wall of Beicheng, Cui Ruoyu came to the city by car again, and she quietly ordered the maidservant girl who followed to go up to the city with a box of meals to give to Wang Yuan to eat. This is the third time she has come to the city to bring food to Wang Yuan. Although she herself felt that it was inappropriate, it seemed that coming here so frequently to bring food to Wang Yuan would cause criticism. But she always couldn't stay quietly in her house, and always wanted to take the opportunity to take a look at this captain Wang who had been sticking to the city since the morning.

Through the lifted curtain, Cui Ruoyu saw the tall figure standing on the city wall. When the moonlight is in the sky, the figure is like a landscape against the backdrop of the sky, standing tall and resolute, proudly above the wind.

……

At the second watch, Wang Yuan finally walked down the city wall of the north city. At the end of the day, Wang Yuan was exhausted in order to coordinate and direct various operations, and even his voice was hoarse.

Under the city gate, the guards on night saw Wang Yuan coming from the city, and they all got up and saluted. Although this Captain Wang is not their boss, today, Yangzhou soldiers and horses have seen the ability of this captain from the Shence Army. Everything was carried out in an orderly manner under his command, and everything was properly arranged. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have their own division of labor under his one-man command, and this ability to plan calmly and freely has really convinced many people.

"You have worked hard, you still have to be on duty at night, and you have to stare at it with wide eyes." Wang Yuan nodded at them and instructed in a hoarse voice.

"I don't have to wait, it's Captain Wang who works hard. Captain Wang, go back and rest. The soldiers said one after another.

Wang Yuan nodded, led the horse to turn over, and slowly walked along the embankment street towards the city. Hundreds of paces out of the square, Wang Yuan began to urge the horses to speed up. Suddenly, in the shade of the trees on the side of the road, someone whispered, "Captain Wang, please stay." ”

Wang Yuan was stunned for a moment, turned his head to look, but saw a carriage parked next to the street. Next to the carriage, a small figure stood there, waving at him.

Wang Yuan immediately recognized who it was, hurriedly rode his horse over, and said with a smile: "Miss Cui, it's so late, why are you still here?" ”

It was Cui Ruoyu's carriage, she had been waiting for Wang Yuan to go down to the city since it was dark, and finally waited for Wang Yuan after a few hours.

"Didn't you just go down to the city? I happened to be passing by here, but I didn't expect to meet Captain Wang. Are you going back to my house to rest? Cui Ruoyu lied.

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "I can only bother your Cui family again, after a busy day, I forgot to ask where the pavilion in Yangzhou City is." It's too late to find out now. ”

Cui Ruoyu smiled and said, "Then you don't have to go to the pavilion, I'm afraid the pavilion is already closed." ”

Wang Yuan nodded and said, "That's right, the pavilion is not as comfortable as your guest room." Does Miss Ruo have anything else to do? ”

Cui Ruoyu said: "It's okay, let's go back together." ”

The coachman drove the carriage around, and Wang Yuan rode his horse slowly to follow Cui Ruoyu's carriage. Cui Ruoyu opened the car window, lifted the curtain, exposed a beautiful face in the car window, and spoke to Wang Yuan without a word.

There were no pedestrians in the market for a long time, probably affected by the news that the rebels were coming, and Yangzhou City, which was originally a city that never sleeps, was also quiet for the first time. However, the colorful lights in front of the shops and restaurants on both sides of the street are still shining brightly, illuminating the whole street beautifully.

"The people of Yangzhou really love beauty. He is not stingy with lamps and candles, and lanterns are hung in front of every house. It's all beautiful and beautiful. Wang Yuan looked at the lights on the street and smiled.

Cui Ruoyu sneered and said, "Look at you confused, isn't this just a few days after the Shangyuan Festival?" The Shangyuan Festival is naturally to hang lanterns, Yangzhou City's annual Shangyuan Festival is the most lively, this year's Shangyuan Festival has just passed a few days, some lanterns have not been removed, so you can see the lights of the city. There aren't so many lanterns on weekdays. ”

Wang Yuan was stunned for a moment, and then smiled bitterly. Counting the days, the Shangyuan Festival has already passed on his way south, and he doesn't know what day it is.

"It turns out that the Shangyuan Festival has passed, and the days go by so fast. I'm afraid it's already the twentieth day of the first month. Wang Yuan sighed.

"Twenty-one." Cui Ruoyu pursed her lips and smiled: "It turns out that you didn't celebrate the Yuan Festival, it's really pitiful." ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "There's nothing pitiful, I haven't had a decent holiday with my family for several years." What Chongyang Dragon Boat Festival Yuan Day Shangyuan, almost all of them are spent in the army. There were also a few festivals when we were fighting the enemy on the battlefield. ”

Cui Ruoyu nodded slightly, with a loving expression on her face: "Actually, it's just a day, don't care." For example, on the Yuan Festival, isn't it just to look at the lanterns and guess the lantern riddles? Looking at the lights all over the city, isn't it still the atmosphere of the Shangyuan Festival? If you have a good view, it's the Shangyuan Festival today. ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "There is some truth in what you say. I deceived myself, today is the Shangyuan Festival, and there is a lady of the Cui family who accompanies me to go shopping and enjoy the lanterns, but it is enviable. ”

Cui Ruoyu sneered and said: "You think of beauty, I don't accompany you to enjoy the lanterns, I also spent time on the boat with Xiao Lian on the Shangyuan Festival this year, and I am not much better than you." ”

Wang Yuan saw her smile brightly, his heart moved, and he smiled: "Then think of me as accompanying you." Before and after getting off the saddle, he waited for Miss Cui to enjoy the lanterns, but begged Miss Cui to be happy and give some reward money when she went back. ”

"A whip for you." Cui Ruoyu chuckled.

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "A meal of stir-fried meat with bamboo shoots is also good." ”

The coachman who was driving the carriage did not speak like a clay sculpture and wood carving, and when he heard this, he couldn't help shaking his shoulders and grunting.

Cui Ruoyu suddenly realized that she was flirting with Wang Yuan, and it was in front of the coachman, and she was immediately ashamed. Wang Yuan also hurriedly stopped, secretly blaming himself for liking people, this eldest lady of the Cui family is not something that can be flirted with. Later, the coachman will go back to report to Cui Daoyuan, and he is afraid that he will not be able to eat and walk around.

Both of them were a little embarrassed, and the air suddenly fell silent, and all they could hear was the rustling of the wheels of the carriage, and the sound of the hooves of the big black horse clattering on the ground with a crisp sound.

"Shall I make a lantern riddle for you to guess?" Cui Ruoyu suddenly said, "Aren't we enjoying the lanterns?" How can there be no lantern riddles when enjoying lanterns? ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "Okay, you hit a guess." ”

Cui Ruoyu thought for a while and said: "The merits of the people of heaven are not endless, and it is rare to have merit without luck. Because the town is chaotic, just because the number of yin and yang is different. ”

Wang Yuan raised his head and thought for a moment, then looked at Cui Ruoyu and laughed. Cui Ruoying frowned and said, "What are you looking at me?" Guess the riddle. You won't be able to guess this riddle. ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "Miss Ruoyu is worthy of being the person in charge of the Cui family, I heard that Miss Ruoyu is in charge of the dispatch of the Cui family's affairs, business and goods, right?" ”

"What do you say? We're guessing riddles, not chatting about family life. Cui Ruoyu said angrily.

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "What I'm talking about is the mystery, Miss Cui deals with money and goods all day long, isn't this the mystery that must be used every day?" Sure enough, it is three sentences that do not leave the bank, and even a lantern riddle is related to your Cui family's business. The answer to the puzzle is the abacus. ’”

Cui Ruoyu sneered and sighed, "Sure enough, you guessed it." ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "Admit it, I don't know if there is a reward." ”

Cui Ruoyu smiled: "I guess if you make one, if I guess it, won't it be clear?" ”

Wang Yuan picked his fingers and praised: "Sure enough, he is a businessman, shrewd and tight." ”

Cui Ruoyu covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief, and the flowers and branches of laughter trembled.

Wang Yuan frowned and thought about it, and sighed: "I don't have much in my stomach, I can't think of a riddle, so you can guess it." We're clear. ”

Cui Ruoyu said angrily: "It's boring, it can't be done." ”

Wang Yuan said helplessly: "There are really no riddles, or I will sing you a song about the Shangyuan Festival." ”

"Lyrics? Okay, too. I didn't know you could do it too, and you like these things. Cui Ruoyu teased.

Wang Yuan smiled and didn't answer, looking at the lights of the city, a poem appeared in his heart, so he chanted in a dumb voice: "The east wind blooms thousands of trees at night, and it blows down, and the stars are like rain." BMW carved cars are full of fragrance. The sound of the phoenix flute moves, the light of the jade pot turns, and the fish and dragon dance all night. The moth snow willow is golden, and the smile is full of dark fragrance. The crowd looked for him thousands of times, and suddenly looked back, but the man was there, and the lights were dim. ”

Cui Ruoyu was silent and speechless, and only said softly after a while: "Is this song composed by you?" ”

Wang Yuan smiled and didn't answer, but said, "Is this song good?" Should it not be the case? ”

Cui Ruoyu said softly: "What a good word can be described." The crowd looked for him thousands of times, and suddenly looked back, but the man was there, and the lights were dim. What a beautiful artistic conception, such a sad look back. I'm not very good at poetry, but it's the best I've ever heard. ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "You are right, you can't ask for it, you can't give it up, even if the regret of missing it is bleak and sad, it is also a kind of beauty." ”

Cui Ruoyu looked at Wang Yuan in a daze and said, "Who are you?" I don't believe you're a lieutenant in the military. Are you hiding your identity? I always feel like you're not telling you about it. ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "Miss Ruo Yu thinks too much, I didn't write this word, and I didn't say it, I just borrowed flowers to offer Buddha." How could a man like me write such a good song? If this song has caused you a lot of questions, Miss Yu should have not heard this song. It's late at night, and I'm tired. I think it's time for us to pick things up. ”

……

Cui Mansion entered the second time, although it was already late at night, the candles were still swaying in Cui Daoyuan's study. Cui Daoyuan sat on a large mahogany chair, and his three sons stood beside him in turn. Standing behind him was the slender Liu Tan, who had followed Cui Daoyuan's personal guard for decades, Master Liu in Cui Ruoyuan's mouth.

In front of Cui Daoyuan, there stood a middle-aged man dressed in black. If Wang Yuan was present at this moment, he would definitely know this person. This person is none other than Chen Bangyan, the Taishou of Chuzhou.

"Cui Weng, Kunihiko has come to see you, are you okay?" Chen Bangyan saluted respectfully, and said extremely respectfully to Cui Daoyuan.

"Hehe, Bangyan, why did you come to Yangzhou? Didn't I hear that you were evacuating with more than 100,000 people in Chuzhou to the south? Why don't you make arrangements with you? Where have the people been evacuated now? Cui Daoyuan smiled.

"Oh, what Cui Weng said is right, Kuniyan is indeed retreating south with the people, and they have all crossed the Huaishui the day before yesterday. Now a few subordinate officials and the people continue to evacuate south, and they will arrive at the Jiangpu ferry in a few days. Naturally, Bangyan was going to retreat south with the people, but when Bangyan heard that Cui Weng was personally sitting in Yangzhou City and preparing to fight the rebels in Yangzhou, how could Bangyan not come to meet Cui Weng. Cui Weng rest assured, I have already explained and arranged the evacuation of the people. Chen Bangyan smiled.

Cui Daoyuan smiled, waved his hand and said, "Even if you still have the heart, you still know to come and see me." But at this time, you should personally escort the people of Chuzhou to Jiangning and settle them down. I came to visit me on purpose, and I received this intention, but it was not done properly. Sit down, sit down, sit down and talk. ”

Chen Bangyan even claimed that it was, turned his head and saluted respectfully to the three brothers Cui Yuanbo, Cui Yuanping, and Cui Yuanrong, and Cui Yuanbo and the other three also returned the salute. Both sides are already familiar with each other. Because of the ban of the imperial court, although the Cui family has taken root in the southeast for so many years, there are no officials above the fourth grade in the Cui family, because the imperial court does not allow it. Of course, this does not affect the Cui family to infiltrate the southeast officialdom, and after Cui Daoyuan became the head of the family, he took a roundabout strategy. The Cui family could not be a four-grade official, so he used the influence and financial resources of the Cui family to let scholars who were not from the Cui family get involved in officialdom and become local officials. Through these agents, the Cui family can manipulate the southeastern officialdom at will.

This Chuzhou Taishou Chen Bangyan is such a person. At that time, Chen Bangyan was poor and had no livelihood. Although he is a small man of letters, he has no way out. Cui Daoyuan fell in love with him, gave Chen Bangyan great support, and finally helped him step by step to the position of the Taishou of Chuzhou. Chen Bangyan is naturally grateful to the Cui family. The two sides naturally glued tightly together. There are really many people like Chen Bangyan, such as Taizhou Taishou Wan Pengcheng, Yuezhou Taishou Zhou Rong, Jianzhou, Quzhou, Wenzhou and other state capitals, all of whom were also supported by Cui Daoyuan to the official throne and became the agent of the Cui family in the officialdom. Of course, at best, it is to use each other, but to put it mildly, people like Chen Bangyan are actually equivalent to the senior domestic slaves of the Cui family.

Everyone sat down one after another, and Chen Bangyan said with a smile: "Cui Weng, what your old man just taught is that Bangyan really shouldn't come to Yangzhou at this time. But you don't know that Bangyan has an extremely secret matter to report to Cui Weng and several sons. Kunihiko couldn't help but come. ”

"Oh? What's that? Cui Daoyuan picked up the tea cup, slowly scraped the foam off the upper layer of the tea with the lid, and took a sip.

"This is a big deal, your old man must be shocked when he says it, and a few sons must also be shocked." Chen Bangyan said with a smile.

Cui Yuanrong frowned and said, "Chen Bangyan, what are you selling?" Toss the old man up so late, and you're still selling it here. ”

Chen Bangyan hurriedly said: "Okay, okay, it's Bangyan's, isn't it, that's it." Chen Bangyan's neck stretched out like a giraffe, with a mysterious smile on his face, and he lowered his voice and said: "Old man, several sons, I heard that there is a captain Wang from the Shence Army who returned to Yangzhou with the eldest lady, right?" ”

Cui Yuanbo frowned and said, "Yes, what are you going to say?" You don't want to talk nonsense and ruin Ruoyao's reputation. ”

Chen Bangyan hurriedly said: "Where did the eldest prince go, Bangyan didn't mean that." Bangyan wants to ask you, do you know who this Captain Wang is? ”

"Isn't he Wang Fang, the captain of the Divine Army? It was the one sent by the Shence Army to inform the rebels of their southward movement. How? Haven't you seen him in Chuzhou? The second son, Cui Yuanping, frowned.

Chen Bangyan smiled and said, "It seems that I came to the right place this time, and sure enough, you were all deceived by him." Of course I have seen him in Chuzhou, but in Chuzhou, he is not Captain Wang. When his identity is revealed, you will be surprised. ”

The father and son of the Cui family looked at each other, and Cui Yuanbo said: "Chen Bangyan, isn't this surnamed Wang the captain of the Shence Army?" Is it a fake? ”

Chen Bangyan laughed in a low voice: "It's indeed a person in the Shence Army, but it's not a captain. His true identity is that Wang Xiangguo, the generalissimo of the current Tang Dynasty, the generalissimo of the counterinsurgency and conquest, the envoy of the three festivals of Jiannan Longyou and Hexi, and the commander of the Shence Army, Wang Yuan. ”

"What?"

"How is that possible?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the room seemed to have cast a fixed spell, and everyone was dumbfounded and stunned like a clay sculpture and wood carving. But Cui Daoyuan was still drinking tea slowly, but when he heard Wang Yuan's name, his thin fingers trembled, but there was no expression on his face.

"Is that true? Is it really Wang Yuan himself? Cui Yuanbo asked in a deep voice.

"Is that still fake? He blew up his identity with Ma Pengju in Qingjiang County in Qingjiang County, and Ma Pengju also looked at his generalissimo's waist card, so can it be fake? For some reason, he asked Ma Pengju not to reveal his identity, but Ma Pengju didn't dare to hide it from me, and several of my main officials in Chuzhou knew his identity. He seemed a little upset when he learned that we all knew his true identity. I don't know why he still has to hide his identity, follow Miss Cui to Yangzhou together, and still deal with himself as a school captain. Chen Bangyan said in a deep voice.

"I could see that something wasn't quite right with this guy, and I thought he didn't want to be a lieutenant. How can there be a school captain who sees my Cui family calmly, and how can a small school captain actually dispatch tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in an orderly manner. Cui Yuanping smacked his lips.