Zhang Chuchen followed Lu Qing into Zhang Xuan's official mansion, she looked at this small mansion with a little curiosity, compared to the Wuchuan Mansion that she had lived in for many years, covering an area of 100 acres, this official mansion with a size of only five acres was indeed not big, but it made Zhang Chuchen feel warm, this is a real home, although it is very ordinary, but she has never felt it.

"It's a bit deserted, isn't it?"

Lu Qing said with a smile: "There are not a few subordinates, we all brought them from Luoyang, the general is not in the mansion these days, I am afraid to sleep alone, Miss Zhang came just in time." ”

"Oh-"

Zhang Chuchen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and asked with a smile: "Where did your general go?" ”

"It seems that I am going to inspect the Yangtze River, and I will go for ten days, and today is only the third day."

While talking, they came to the back house, there are two courtyards in the back house, Lu Qing pointed to the courtyard on the right and said: "This courtyard is a little smaller, but it is enough for one person to live, Miss Zhang will live here temporarily, I will immediately ask Steward Xu to arrange someone to clean up, now you might as well come to my room to sit." ”

Lu Qing's yard is very elegant, planted a hundred-year-old pear tree, the tree is full of green pears, a cluster of verdant bamboo is planted in the corner, the flower wall is high, the vermilion lacquer gate is usually closed, and there are two soldiers standing at the door.

They did not squint their eyes, and when they saw the arrival of their wife, they bowed together.

Lu Qing nodded, pushed the door and walked into the courtyard, there are a total of four rooms in the courtyard, all of them are inner and outer suites, one is Zhang Xuan's inner study, one is the bedroom of their husband and wife, the other is Lu Qing's living room, and the other is the residence of Ah Yuan and Lixiang.

The two sat down in the living room, Lixiang served them tea, and Lu Qing sighed softly. said to Zhang Chuchen: "I told the general more than once that there is no need for soldiers to stand guard at home, but he refused, saying that it was unsafe, and I couldn't help it, but it was really inconvenient." It's not that I can't believe them, but they are men after all, and this is an inner house, hey! ”

Zhang Chuchen took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "The safety of the inner house must be guaranteed, but why doesn't the general recruit some female soldiers?" ”

"I also suggested that it would be best to recruit some female soldiers to guard the inner house, but he was too busy and didn't have time, so he only stayed in Jiangdu for two days and went out again."

Zhang Chuchen thought for a while and smiled: "Since Madam thinks it is very inconvenient for them, let them go back." I'll protect Madame for a few days, and although I'm no match for your general, I'll have absolutely no problem dealing with ordinary thief assassins. ”

Lu Qing shook his head, "Then what's the matter, you are my guest, how can you let the guest be a bodyguard?" ”

"It's okay, it's a gesture, and besides, I'm an old friend of General Zhang. It is also incumbent upon Mrs. to protect her! ”

"This is good!"

Lu Qing smiled happily: "Since this is the case, I will trouble Miss Zhang." ”

"Madame, you might as well call me Wu Niang. This is the nurse my father gave me, and I have never used it. ”

"It's okay, I'll call you Wu Niang, it's more agreeable."

Lu Qing smiled and said, "Can Wu Niang tell me about what I have seen in the Western Regions?" I'm interested. ”

"Of course, then I'll start with Guzang Mountain, which was the first place we went."

On the third day after returning to Jiangdu, Zhang Xuan went south to the mouth of the Yangtze River. Patrolling the Yangtze River by boat, thirty large ships loaded with 3,000 soldiers slowly moved on the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River in the Sui Dynasty was much wider than in later generations, and Chongming Island, Shanghai and other places in later generations were still in a vast ocean, and Nantong was still an isolated island at the mouth of the Yangtze River, called Hu Tuozhou. This is the largest island in the Yangtze River, and there are many similar islands, scattered in the Yangtze River.

After sailing for two days, the big boat arrived in Liyang County, Zhang Xuan stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the sparkling river, flocks of seagulls hovering on the river, in the blue sky in the distance, several fishing boats in the river riding the wind and waves, which was refreshing.

"General, that's Tianmen Mountain!" Jiang Du, who accompanied Zhang Xuan to inspect the Yangtze River, pointed to a mountain on the south bank and introduced.

Zhang Xuan nodded, the mountains on both sides of the river in this area are undulating, the terrain is steep, and they often see the mountains coming out suddenly, in the morning, they are very amazed when they see Chu Mountain, but compared to Chu Mountain, this Tianmen Mountain is more steep and tall, it is really like a gate from heaven.

"Yes, this place deserves to be called the Jiangnan screen, the strategic position is quite important, the quarry rock we saw in the morning is a natural ferry, if there are troops stationed there, there is a husband when the pass, ten thousand people do not open the trend."

"The general is right, it was originally an important garrison of the Chen Dynasty, with 5,000 garrisons, but unfortunately it didn't play a role."

"Why is that?" Jang Hyun asked with interest.

"At that time, Yang Su led the Great Sui Navy to fight with the Chen Dynasty Navy in this area, sinking dozens of warships in a row, and the South Bank Navy witnessed the tragic scene, they were frightened, abandoned their armor and fled, and as a result, the Sui Army occupied Quarry Rock without blood."

Zhang Xuan smiled, "In the final analysis, it is still the national situation, the country is strong, the military is mighty, the enemy army will naturally flee in despair, and the Chen Dynasty will not escape the fate of annihilation even if the Yangtze River is in danger." ”

At this time, Zhang Xuan turned his eyes and saw that Luo Shi's confidence was restless next to him, and his eyes were worried, so he asked with a smile: "Is Shixin a little seasick?" ”

"Seasickness is not true!"

Luo Shixin scratched his head and said: "I heard that Liyang County is Du Fuwei's lair, will we meet Du Fuwei's army?" ”

Zhang Xuan smiled slightly, turned back to the partial general Zhao Luo and said, "General Zhao will tell him." ”

Zhao Luo said with a smile: "General Luo don't worry, although Du Fuwei also has a little navy in the Yangtze River, they are all small boats, at most more than 100 ships, mainly used by sentinels, and his navy is in the Huai River, which has been annihilated by us." ”

"Why doesn't Du Fuwei train the navy on the Yangtze River?" Luo Shixin asked puzzled.

"There are many ways to say it."

Zhao Luo explained: "One of the most popular theories is because Du Fuwei himself is a northerner, and he is bent on returning to the Central Plains to fight for hegemony, so he puts the naval forces on the Huai River. ”

Zhang Xuan said with a smile on the side: "If this is the case, then his nest should not be located in Liyang County, but in Zhongli County or Huainan County, wouldn't it be more convenient to go north to fight for hegemony?" ”

"This is just a more accepted statement, but there is another statement that may explain the general's doubts."

"What is it?"

"Because Du Fuwei has not been in Jianghuai for a long time, his army is mainly formed by gradually annexing other bandits, but the biggest water thief in the Yangtze River does not buy his account"

Speaking of this, Luo Shixin and Su Dingfang next to him asked in unison, "Who is it?" ”

Zhang Xuan smiled and said, "It should be Lin Shihong, the giant thief of Poyang!" ”

Zhao Luo nodded, "The general is right, it is Lin Shihong, at this time the first water thief in the Yangtze River, there are thousands of large and small ships, two years ago Du Fuwei incorporated the Nanling water thief Han Ruowang, got hundreds of warships, this Han Ruowang was originally Lin Shihong's younger brother, after being absorbed by Du Fuwei, Lin Shihong was furious, and destroyed Han Ruowang overnight, all the ships were snatched, Du Fuwei finally got nothing, this is also Du Fuwei's worst defeat in Jianghuai, and he did not dare to touch the Yangtze River again. ”

"That's the reason why it's more reliable!"

Zhang Xuan nodded, "I'm just saying, what Du Fuwei is a northerner, so his heart is to the north, that's pure fart, if he takes a step to the north, the court will immediately strangle him, even if the Wagang army does not allow it, and in the southern region, the control of the court is much weaker, it's not that he doesn't want to go to the south, but there are obstacles." ”

Everyone nodded their heads, and as soon as he said this, he suddenly became enlightened.

At this time, a soldier shouted from behind: "General, it seems that a clipper is coming." ”

Zhang Xuan walked to the side of the ship, looked into the river, and saw a small boat speeding towards this side, the sail was painted red, this is a letter ship, Zhang Xuan felt a bad feeling in his heart, could something big happen?

After a while, the boat approached Jang Hyun's big boat, and a soldier on the boat shouted: "Is the general here?" ”

"What's the matter?" Jang Hyun asked.

"General, General Chen of Langya County has an urgent letter delivered!"

On the one hand, Chen Haishi was born in Langya County, and on the other hand, he was also a Sui general in the past, and his prestige in Langya County was quite high.

In order to eliminate the small remaining bandits in Langya County, the Ministry of War adopted Zhang Xuan's recommendation and appointed Chen Haishi as the governor of Langya County, leading 3,000 troops to garrison Linyi.

To a certain extent, Chen Haishi is also Zhang Xuan's person, he sent someone to send an urgent report, Zhang Xuan's heart suddenly became nervous, could it be that something happened in Beihai County?

After a while, the messenger was taken to the big ship, he knelt down on one knee and handed over a volume of urgent letters, Zhang Xuan unfolded the letter and read it, and after a while, he turned back to the nervous generals and said: "It's not Qingzhou that has an accident, it's Donghai County that has an accident." (To be continued.) )