At dusk the next day, Wang Yuan and others caught up with the large army heading south. I have to say that the speed www.biquge.info of action of the large army is too slow. It had been nearly two days since they set off from Pingyuan City, but when Wang Yuan and the others caught up with them, the team had just arrived in Anyang County, forty miles south of Pingyuan County.

When Wang Yuan rode his horse up a dirt slope behind him, as far as the eye could see, a meandering stream of people stretched for miles, slowly walking forward at an extremely slow speed. That's not much faster than a turtle.

The hundreds of cavalry in charge of guarding in the rear discovered the traces of Wang Yuan and the others, and because they didn't know who was coming, they immediately raised the alarm. The procession, which was walking slowly, was suddenly in chaos, and the people fled in a hurry. Wang Yuan hurriedly led Tan Ping and his people to rush down the hillside, and when the cavalry found out that it was Wang Yuan and his party, the alarm was lifted, and the ranks of the people slowly calmed down.

Not long after, Yan Zhenqing, Li Heng and others came to inquire and were surprised to see Wang Yuan and others returning empty-handed. Ah Luo also helped Gongsun Lan, who could walk, to the rear, and when he saw Wang Yuan coming back like this, he also felt very strange.

"Erlang? What about Sister Xin'er? What about the people? Why didn't you see it? Could it be that you're following behind? Arlo looked back at the hillside in surprise.

Wang Yuan shook his head and said, "Don't look at it, they didn't follow, because we didn't find any trace of them at all." ”

Everyone was in an uproar and asked what was going on. Wang Yuan told what happened in a low voice, and everyone was terrified when they learned what Wang Yuan had seen and heard on this trip.

Yan Zhenqing frowned and rubbed his hands and said, "Wang Xiangguo, this is a tricky matter. Mrs. Zun and thousands of people are nowhere to be found, and the rebels are sweeping in again, how can this be good. Although we expected the rebels to pursue, we did not expect to come so quickly. According to the photographer, I am afraid that it will be possible to catch up with us in four or five days. ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said, "It's really tricky. Our march is too slow. I thought you had already left Pingyuan County and arrived in Yunzhou, but I didn't expect you to arrive in Anyang. A march of this speed will be overtaken in five days. It will take more than ten days to reach Baimadu on the bank of the Yellow River, and at this speed, you will definitely be caught up halfway. We need to speed up, or things are going to go bad. ”

Yan Zhenqing confessed repeatedly, frowned and smacked his lips and said, "Wang Xiangguo, the lower officials know that the speed of the march is indeed slow. Xia Guan was also worried, and he also wanted to speed up. But lo and behold, the roads are muddy, and several rivers are swelling and blocked. Most of the people are old and weak, and all the shoes and carts are used to travel, but such roads often make the cars and horses sink into the mud. Everyone walked exhausted and simply could not pick up the pace. The people are no match for the soldiers. The soldiers can give strict orders to speed up the march, but it is useless for you to give strict orders, people, do you still have to whip them, and you can't deal with them with military law? ”

Wang Yuan looked at the chaos around him, frowned and nodded, "That's it, I'll talk about this later." It's getting late, so let's find a place to camp and rest first, and then we'll discuss countermeasures in the evening. I also want to catch my breath, we haven't rested all the way, and everyone is tired enough. ”

Yan Zhenqing agreed repeatedly, hurriedly gave an order, found a dry wooded ground in front of him, and gave the order to camp. Hundreds of carts stopped at the edge of the woodland, and the people who had been walking for a long day, exhausted by the muddy roads, gathered in and around the woodland, lying on the sun-drenched semi-dry ground, sighing and complaining. Tens of thousands of people were like a swarm of ants scattered all over the ground, and even the roads for cars and horses to move were blocked.

Wang Yuan frowned when he saw this scene, knowing that the people really had no discipline, and Yan Zhenqing must also be worried. Yan Zhenqing loves the people, so he must not be willing to restrain the people too much and force them to do anything, but this is not possible. If these nearly 40,000 soldiers and civilians can reach the banks of the Yellow River alive, such lax discipline must be a huge hidden danger, and it is not enough to ensure a smooth arrival at the destination.

The people occupied the space inside and outside the dry woodland, and Wang Yuan and others had to stop by a small dry shrub outside of Lixu. The sun sets, and the twilight is four. Wang Yuan and Gongsun Lan Aluo and his wife gathered around a bonfire. A Luo wiped Wang Yuan's muddy boots, while Gongsun Lan was baking pastries and boiling soup on the fire, while asking Wang Yuan about Li Xin'er and them.

"Erlang, Xin'er, the team of them and the people is also huge, and the team of seven or eight thousand people is a big target, how could it suddenly disappear? It stands to reason that if you are eighty miles away, you will definitely see them. At their speed, they should be at least fifty or sixty miles west of Plains City. It's a strange thing. Gongsun Lan frowned.

Wang Yuan fiddled with the bonfire and frowned and said, "Yes, I can't figure it out." But if you encounter a rebel rout, there should be a trace. On the way, I saw only the corpses of scattered fleeing rebels, but not a single corpse of a civilian. It's really evil. The troop of soldiers and horses we encountered was eighty miles away, apparently coming from the west, and it was impossible for them to encounter the Twelve Niangs. ”

Gongsun Lan nodded and said, "Then don't worry. It is impossible for the thieves' brigade to encounter the twelve mothers, the only thing that may encounter them is the rebel soldiers and horses who fled that night. But according to what you said, it is unlikely that there will be a rout of the army and a fierce battle among the people, otherwise there would be no reason for the corpses of the people? Where the hell are they going? It's really heartbreaking. ”

Wang Yuan was silent, Gongsun Lan sighed, and reached out to hand over a fragrant piece of baked bread. Wang Yuan stretched out his hand to take it, took a bite and chewed slowly. Although his stomach was grumbling with hunger, and although the bread was fragrant, Wang Yuan had no appetite at all. He was convicted of himself.

"You won't blame me for not staying behind and continuing to look for news of Xin'er Qing'er and Zi'er." Wang Yuan finally asked this sentence.

Gongsun Lan glanced at Wang Yuan with disgust and sighed. Wang Yuan smacked his lips and said, "You must be blaming in your hearts, blaming me for not getting Xin'er and the others back." Hey, I really should have kept looking, I shouldn't have just run back. If Xin'er and the others make a mistake, I'm afraid I won't be able to forgive myself. ”

Gongsun Lan stretched out her hand and gently tapped Wang Yuan's forehead and said, "You are also too careful." If you encounter a rebel brigade, of course you have to come back and let us know and be prepared. The lives of the 40,000 soldiers and civilians here are, of course, the most important thing, your decision is not wrong, don't think nonsense. ”

Ah Luo also said in a low voice: "Yes, we don't blame you, although we are also worried about the safety of Sister Xin'er, but Sister Xin'er and their auspicious people have their own natural appearance, so they should be fine." Didn't you say you didn't notice anything unusual? Maybe Sister Xin'er and the others found the enemy's traces, so they took the people to change the route, or they were hiding somewhere. Anyway, I think they'll be fine. ”

Wang Yuan sighed and nodded, "Thank you for comforting me, I hope it is as you say." I hope Xin'er and the others are okay, otherwise I will really regret dying. ”

Gongsun Lan said solemnly: "Look at your decadent self-reproaching appearance. If you've made a choice, why regret it later? You are right to give up looking for Twelve Niang for the safety of 40,000 soldiers and civilians, if Twelve Niang and they really have an accident, it is not your responsibility. You do what you have to do, and Providence will do the rest. Don't forget, there are still 40,000 lives to be protected, and if you sigh, won't the people be terrified? After eating the bread and drinking a few sips of soup, it is only right to go and discuss with them how to deal with the next problems. ”

Wang Yuan's body was shocked, and he bowed to Gongsun Lan and said, "What my cousin said is that I shouldn't feel sorry for myself here, there are still many important things to do at the moment, and it's my fault." Thanks for the reminder. ”

Wang Yuan finished eating the bread in two bites, took a bowl of hot soup brought by Gongsun Lan and poured it into his stomach, wiped his mouth and said, "I'm going to gather them to discuss things, don't stay up late, rest early." Especially my cousin, my body is still very weak. It is better to recuperate early. ”

Ah Luo handed over the polished shiny boots, served Wang Yuan to put them on, and helped him briefly cut his hair bun and clothes, and the two women watched Wang Yuan get up and walk towards the camp of the people who were in the dark.

"Hey, Erlang is so tired, look at him, his steps are a little staggering. He lost a lot of weight during this time. Arlo sighed.

"Are you distressed?" Gongsun Lan smiled.

Ah Luo chuckled and said, "Doesn't Sister Gongsun feel sorry for him?" He was only twenty-three years old, and so many burdens were on his shoulders. has done so many great things, but how much slander and pressure has been endured. Unfortunately, I couldn't help him, so I could only watch from the sidelines. It would be nice if I had the ability of Sister Gongsun, at least I could help him a lot. ”

Gongsun Lan smiled and said: "There is only so much I can help, everything still depends on him." He was really tired and tired, but it was his life. The heavens will descend on the people, and they must first suffer their minds and starve their bodies and skin. All the pressure and pain he was going through at the moment was a process he had to go through, and no one could help him. ”

A Luo smacked her lips and said, "I don't understand what my sister said, but it seems to say that he is this fate, which sounds quite pitiful." ”

Gongsun Lan smiled and said, "Is he pitiful?" At the age of twenty-three, he is the Tang Xiangguo, holding heavy soldiers. One person is below and ten thousand are above. The wife and concubine at home are waiting, and I don't know how happy I am. Do you know how many people in the world envy him? His stress and tribulation come from himself, if he takes a step back, he can live freely, but unfortunately he is not the kind of person who takes a step back, he just wants to go all the way up, so he is miserable and tired. Sister Aluo, don't worry about him, if he could be crushed, he would have collapsed a long time ago. ”

Ah Luo smiled: "What my sister said is that it is also unfounded that we are worried about him. Come, I'll wait for my sister to eat something, go to bed early to nourish my body, and don't think about anything else. ”