The next day, Cheng Yue said goodbye to the ministers in Suzhou, politely refused to send him away, and boarded the imperial boat again with the concubines, led by the people sent by Tuhuan, and sailed north along the canal.

Heading north through Yangzhou, Changzhou, and Xuzhou, Cheng Yue was just in time to meet with officials from all over the country, and any problems could be solved on the spot. After getting on the boat in Xuzhou to meet him, Cheng Yue crossed this strategic point and reached the border between the Yuan and Song dynasties.

Knowing that Cheng Yue led 7,000 elite soldiers to come, the border of the Yuan Dynasty was like a great enemy, and the heavy troops who arrived from all over the country gathered on standby. Kublai Khan also sent Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi, two old friends whom Cheng Yue had met before, to greet him here.

Because the southern expedition was unsuccessful, after Meng Qi returned to the court, he still went to Shandong to persuade the peasants. This time, Cheng Yue traveled north along the canal, and Kublai Khan thought that he had seen Cheng Yue before, so he sent him to take charge of the hospitality along the way.

Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi waited for many days, but Cheng Yue's boat was still nowhere to be seen. The two were anxious, but fortunately, a few days later, they finally got the news that Dehuan was sent by Dehuan, and Cheng Yue hit it off at first sight in Suzhou, and they spent five more days.

Zhang Hongfan immediately concluded that there must be a reason, and it could not be as simple as the news said, so he immediately reported the matter to Dadu.

When Kublai Khan heard about it, he acted very quickly, and immediately asked Zhenjin to send someone to investigate, and ordered Zhang Hongfan to continue to wait.

On this day, he received a report confirming that Cheng Yue took the Southern Song Dynasty imperial boat, led 2,000 sailors and 5,000 cavalry, went north along the river, and arrived at the border two days later.

After Zhang Hongfan discussed with Meng Qi, he didn't dare to be careless, and quietly laid down heavy troops along the coast to prevent Cheng Yue's surprise attack. The two of them personally led 3,000 cavalry and 1,000 sailors to wait in Lanling County, the closest to Xuzhou.

Two days later. Cheng Yue's lead has arrived. Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi set up a position by the canal in Lanling County, waiting for Cheng Yue's arrival.

At three o'clock, I saw smoke and dust in the distance, and the rumbling sound of horses' hooves was getting closer and closer like rolling thunder. Soon, a large number of elite cavalry with black pressure came over the galloping road on the shore, wearing the new military uniforms that the officials and people of the Yuan Dynasty had been accustomed to in these days, and rushed towards Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi.

Zhang Hongfan stood up and stopped his sergeants from showing their blades. Otherwise, Cheng Jun will die of laughter.

Cheng Jun was the first general, with a vigorous body and an abnormal toughness, and he galloped to the front of the horse and was stopped by the Yuan army. The general reined in his horse and shouted: "Chen Yi, the battalion commander under the command of the Metropolitan Governor, is here, dare to ask the other side, but is it Zhang Hongfan, Master Zhang and Master Meng Qimeng?" ”

Chen Yi was one of the three generals before Su Liuyi, and later joined Zhang Gui's department. Zhang Gui couldn't come this time, so in order not to prevent him from making meritorious contributions in front of Cheng Yue, he asked Cheng Yue for a favor. also sent him to follow Cheng Yue.

Zhang Hongfan shouted: "It's Zhang, General Chen, please come and speak." ”

When the Yuan army heard this, he made way of a passage. Chen Yi ordered his cavalry to dismount and wait, lined up the Yuan army, walked to Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi, and bowed his hands and said: "I have seen two adults, and in the future, I will explore the way for the Metropolitan Governor, and the Metropolitan Governor's ship will arrive in half an hour." ”

The two returned the salute, and Zhang Hongfan smiled: "Is the governor okay?" I haven't seen him for more than half a year, and I really miss it. ”

Chen Yi smiled: "The Metropolitan Governor is fine. Yesterday, I also said that I miss the two adults and are anxious to meet, haha. ”

Meng Qi smiled: "I don't know if the Metropolitan Governor wants to rest in the city or on the boat?" Tell it down, and the subordinate can arrange it. ”

Chen Yidao: "The Metropolitan Governor has made it clear that he doesn't want to harass the place, so he rests on the boat all the way, and Lord Meng has a hard time." ”

Meng Qi nodded and exclaimed: "The Governor of the Metropolitan said before that the government should be people-oriented, and the lower officials have been taught. ”

Chen Yidao: "The Metropolitan Governor wants to invite the two adults to meet on the ship, and if the two adults are willing, they can also take the Metropolitan Governor's ship with the Metropolitan Governor to Dadu." ”

Zhang Hongfan said: "Since you have been summoned by the governor, dare not obey your orders? However, it may not be very convenient to take the governor's boat, so the official's boat is parked on the shore and follows the governor's boat. ”

Chen Yi was not reluctant, the three of them roughly settled the matter, and chatted for a while, and half an hour came in a flash.

Chen Yi had been paying attention to the river, and when he saw a red-gold flag faintly appearing on the horizon in the distance, he immediately pointed at it and said, "It's here!" The Governor has arrived! ”

Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi perked up and took a deep breath, both of them feeling obvious tension and excitement.

Cheng Yue, you're finally here!

Cheng Yue's imperial boat appeared in front of the Yuan army, from Zhang Hongfan to ordinary soldiers and civilians, all of whom saw the imperial boat of the Southern Song Dynasty for the first time, and they were all amazed by its luxury and delicacy, which also showed how respected Cheng Yue's status in the Southern Song Dynasty was.

Cheng Yue sat in the cabin, holding Rou Niang in his arms, closing his eyes and recuperating. These days, he indulges in pleasure with his concubines, and he is especially fond of Rou Niang. Rou Niang is also deeply in love with Cheng Yue, twelve hours a day, and she doesn't want to leave Cheng Yue for a moment, so that Lilac, who wants to compete with her for favor, is helpless.

Zhang Shufang got the report, walked to Cheng Yue's side and said: "Official, the ship has arrived in Lanling, Xiao Zhen just saw Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi with a telescope, the two of them brought 3,000 cavalry and 1,000 sailors, please give the official an order." ”

Cheng Yue opened his eyes, smiled slightly, and said, "These two guys, what are you doing with so many heavy troops along the way, it's boring." You ask Xiao Zhen to invite the two of them up, you all avoid it first, my wives are too beautiful, it's not good to make them angry. ”

The concubines beside her all got up and entered the cabin with a smile, and Rou Niang kissed Cheng Yue on the mouth nostalgically, and also retreated, leaving only the two ladies to wait.

Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi were summoned by Cheng Yue, boarded their official boat, and quickly leaned next to the imperial boat, Xiao Zhen put down a soft ladder, and the two of them couldn't be picky, so they climbed up the ladder.

When I first boarded the deck, I saw Cheng Yue walking down the stairs and coming to them with a smile to greet them.

The two hurriedly saluted. Although Cheng Yue is not a colt now, everything has been compared to the courtesy of the colt and the kings, strictly speaking, they have to kneel.

Cheng Yue put his hands on his hands, helped the two of them up, and said with a smile: "Come slowly, you two have not seen each other for a long time, why did you suddenly break up?" You are my friends, and there is no reason to kneel down to your friends. ”

Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi were moved in their hearts, greeted Cheng Yue with warmth, and praised Yuzhou a few words, and then went upstairs with Cheng Yue to Cheng Yue's cabin to talk.

As soon as they entered the cabin, the eyes of the two lit up, and two beautiful women in new-style Luo skirts saluted them with a smile.

The two knew that it must be the concubine brought by Cheng Yue in the name of the maid, and returned the salute respectfully.

In fact, with their status, even the Han concubines of the Mongol kings do not have to be like this. Regardless of the Yuan and Song dynasties, concubines were playthings, and Mongolian nobles often exchanged Han concubines to play with, and it was common to kill a few when they were angry.

But Cheng Yue is different, his concubines have a very high status, almost equal to his wife, and if he is rude to them, Cheng Yue will be unhappy. Zhang Hongfan and Meng Qi have heard Cheng Yue talk about these things, and they know Cheng Yue's unique quirks, so they are very respectful to the two ladies.

Cheng Yue invited them to sit down, Zhang Hongfan glanced at the unusual chair in front of him, and said curiously: "Governor, what kind of chair is this?" How does it look so thick? Is it comfortable? ”

Cheng Yue patted the soft chair and said, "Oh, this is the soft chair I just made for a short time, the long one is called the soft bench, it is indeed very comfortable, do you want it?" I still have some on board. ”

The two heard that it was a good thing newly created by Cheng Yue, so there was no reason not to want it, so they nodded happily several times, for fear that Cheng Yue would not be able to see it. Carefully sit down and give it a try, ahhh It's so soft! I couldn't help but give Cheng Yue a straight thumbs up.

The two ladies brought tea, and Zhang Hongfan smiled: "How many such chairs are there on the ship of the Grand Governor?" This one...... Hehe, can the lower officials ask for it all? ”

Cheng Yue smiled and said: "That's not good, there are not a few soft chairs in this one, they take up too much space, and I don't bring so many." Well, I'll give you a few more, and don't go out and talk about it. ”

The two smiled and thanked Cheng Yue again.

Meng Qi said boldly: "Governor Dadu, can the lower officials learn to do it?" This soft chair is not difficult to make, right? ”

Cheng Yue said: "Actually, it's not difficult, if you want to do it, you can do it, I can't stop it." But it's impossible to do it so well, there's a secret here, and the fabric is unique to me, so of course I won't tell you. ”

Zhang Hongfan said with great interest: "What other good things did the Metropolitan Governor bring on this trip, can you open the eyes of the lower officials?" ”

Cheng Yue said: "Except for the things I want to give to the Great Khan this time, most of them have already been sold to Dayuan, and I didn't deliberately hide anything." ”

Zhang Hongfan wanted to mention the matter of steel, but after thinking about it, he still didn't say it, and he couldn't get anything good if he said it.

The three of them hadn't seen each other for a long time, chatting and chatting very happily. By noon, Cheng Yue invited them to dinner together. The two of them almost swallowed their tongues after eating, and the more they felt that Cheng Yue was really amazing.

After lunch, the two of them returned to their own boats and accompanied Cheng Yue's boat, while the 1,000 sailors brought by the two were behind Cheng Yue's sailors, and distanced themselves from their boats.

In the evening, the boat stopped at the shore of Tengxian County, north of Lanling County, and the county commander boarded the boat to meet him, and was very surprised to hear that Cheng Yue decided not to get off the boat because he was worried about disturbing the people.

The county commander's surname is Mo, and he is a Han Chinese, but because the north is under the long-term rule of the Jin Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty, he does not have much closeness to Cheng Yue, who is also a Han Chinese, but only laments that Cheng Yue is different from those Mongolian nobles. If the Mongolian nobles came here, there was not a single one who would not make a fool of themselves. Immediately ordered to send more local specialties to thank Cheng Yue for insisting on not disturbing the people.

After hearing about it, the people in the county were moved, and when they heard that the county order was conscripted, they sent out labor to send fruits and meat and rice to Cheng Yue's army. (To be continued......)