The 30,000 elites of the Eastern Capital, including the Baoguo Army and the old department of Qian Peng, have arrived in Luokoucang, and all kinds of siege equipment are also under the joint supervision of Yuan Tiangang and the mechanical genius Cui Hongdan.

However, the weather has changed, Li Mi's front foot has just walked, the middle reaches of the Yellow River have rained heavily, and it seems to be evil, or Zhejiang and Zhejiang, or fluttering and sprinkling, either heavy clouds and dense fog, or Xiao Xiao cold rain, occasionally sunny for a day or two and immediately dripping, the originally flat and hard wilderness fields into a large mud pit, people step on it, the mud can flood the instep, the horse hooves step on it, can leave six or seven inches of deep pits, even the flat and solid official road has become a winding mud dragon, the road surface is sticky and slippery, muddy.

In such an environment, Chen Fuliang was unable to take the tiger prison with high moats and deep moats in the city, and was forced to change the established strategy of frontal assault and surprise victory, blindly surprising, in a vain attempt to lure the Wagang army out of the decisive battle, and defeat Zhai Rang in the field battle, but unfortunately, Chen Fuliang's notoriety was too loud, and he was a thief who knew that if he wanted to take advantage of Chen Fuliang, he was looking for death, plus Li Mi's kind advice before leaving, so no matter how Chen Fuliang showed the enemy and lured the enemy to profit, The Wagang army just relied on the Tiger Prison Pass and did not come out, and had the determination to boil Chen Fuliang back to the Eastern Capital and then try to forge ahead, Chen Fuliang also understood the determination of the Wagang Army after two failed attempts to lure the enemy, so he could only give up helplessly, and honestly stepped up the construction of Luokoucang City, preparing to consolidate the key defense of Luokoucang first, and then try to recapture the Tiger Prison Pass.

In the face of such a situation, Pei Renji, the super moldy man who lost the Tiger Prison, was of course more anxious than Chen Fuliang, and prayed for God's mercy all day long, so that the rain would stop and let go of the sun, so that the Sui army could attack, but unfortunately Pei Renji, who was unlucky, always wanted nothing, the more he pleaded for the sunny, the more the rain was endless, and the continuous rainwater filled the Maoqu pond ditch, and flowed to the stream canal, and rolled up with sediment, grass roots and leaves and other debris rushed back and folded, flooding with soybean milk-like white foam into the Luoshui Shizi River, and then poured into the Yellow River, The water levels of large and small rivers soared together, and within a few days there were signs of flooding.

Although Luokoucang is located between the angle of Luoshui and Shizi River, the terrain is very high, and enough drainage ditches are prepared during construction, Chen Fuliang does not have to worry much about Luokoucang being flooded, so Chen Fuliang is worried about the situation in the eastern capital Luoyang City, the Luoyang East Capital City built by Luoshui suffers from floods almost every year, and the people's squares on both sides of Luoshui are often damaged by floods, and there have been many lives for this reason, so every time the flood floods the eastern capital government has to have a headache of three points. Now that Chen Fuliang has stayed behind in the Eastern Capital, he must be responsible for the military and civilian people in the Eastern Capital, and of course he must be vigilant against the possible flooding of Luoshui.

Although Chen Fuliang had ordered the government of Luoyang and the two counties of Henan to strengthen the embankment and prepare for flood control, but on the third day of the first month of March, the Eastern Capital still sent an urgent report to Chen Fuliang with a fast horse, saying that the Luoshui in the Eastern Capital was overflowing, affecting Ancong, Cihui and other people's squares, and the water level of six squares had been able to submerge the calves, and the flooded embankments in that area were also in danger.

There is no choice, in view of Yuan Tiangang's prediction that the rain will not stop in a short period of time, Chen Fuliang, who has a heavy responsibility, can only decide to return to the eastern capital to preside over the major flood control affairs, and arrange for Liu Changgong to lead Ma Sanbao and Kan Liang to lead an army of 10,000 to temporarily stationed in Luokoucang, continue to build and strengthen the cangcheng and be responsible for protecting the safety of the cangcheng, and also asked Pei Renji to lead the Henan capture army to be stationed on the high ground east of the Shizi River, and Liu Changgong's army is at an angle, closely monitor the movements of the Wagang army entrenched in the Tiger Pass, and he will lead the rest of the army to return to the eastern capital.

After making this decision, Pei Renji, who was eager to make meritorious atonements, of course asked Chen Fuliang to let him command Liu Changgong's army, but unfortunately his distant nephew Chen Fuliang not only refused without giving face, but also explained to Liu Changgong alone: "If the Wagang thieves come to attack Luokoucang, you must immediately ask Pei Renji to rescue him with all his might." If the Wagang thieves attack Pei Renji, you can't act rashly, even if the Wagang thieves surround Pei Renji, you can only let Ma Sanbao lead an army of 3,000 to guerrilla harassment at most, and relieve Pei Renji's pressure, you and Kan Liang must not leave Luokou Cangcheng without my order! ”

Liu Changgong, who was most afraid of a tough battle, of course agreed to Chen Fuliang's request, and was also very grateful to Chen Fuliang for his decision to let Kan Liang stay in Luokoucang - with Kan Liang, who was the most capable of fighting a tough battle under Chen Fuliang, to stay and help, even if the Wagang army poured out of the nest to surround Luokoucang and attack on all sides, our General Liu was confident to hold on until Chen Fuliang sent troops to rescue. During the period when Chen Fuliang returned to the Eastern Capital, he arranged for Huya General Xie Zichong to lead an army of 5,000 to garrison Huiluocang between Luokoucang and Luoyang to protect the safety of this granary that supplied the whole city of Dongdu, and did not dare to pin all the hopes of blocking the eastward advance of the Wagang Army on Pei Renji, an unreliable uncle. (The scale of grain storage in Huiluocang is much smaller than that in Luokoucang.) ）

On the afternoon of the fifth day of the first month of March, Chen Fuliang returned to Luoyang City in the continuous spring rain, and the left and right deputy Yuan Wendu and Duan Da led many civil and military officials to Shangchun Gate to meet Chen Fuliang. The younger generation is really ashamed of His Majesty this time, and he is ashamed to see His Royal Highness. ”

"Chen Liushou, you must not say that." Duan Da hurriedly said: "The Tiger Prison Pass was not lost by you, it has nothing to do with you, you failed to recapture the Tiger Prison Pass, and it was also because the Heavenly Father refused to be beautiful, and he couldn't use troops in the heavy rain for days, and His Majesty will definitely not blame you." The three of you and the three horsemen scare off the Wagang thieves, and try to ensure that the Luokou warehouse is not lost, and when Your Majesty hears the news, you will definitely be happy, and you will be rewarded. ”

"Yes, Chen stays behind, you must not be so depressed." Yuan Wendu also said: "The Tiger Prison Pass is located in Xingyang County, not supervised by our Eastern Capital, Pei Renji lost the Tiger Prison Pass because he is incompetent, and we have nothing to do with the East, Your Majesty knows thousands of miles, rewards and punishments are clear, and you must understand that Chen has no merit in this matter, and the blame is only on Pei Renji." ”

Chen Fuliang sighed, knowing that Yuan Wendu and Duan Da's comfort were all well-intentioned, and Emperor Yang of Sui would not put the guilt of losing the Tiger Prison Pass on himself no matter how stupid he was, but the Wagang Army entrenched in the Tiger Prison Pass was like a sharp knife, always against Chen Fuliang's back, making Chen Fuliang unable to sleep and eat, and he didn't dare to close his eyes at ease when he slept, and it also made Chen Fuliang always have a heavy heart, and he couldn't open his heart to anything.

No matter how worried you are, it's useless, if you can't get it back, you can't get it back, Chen Fuliang can only honestly enter the palace to see Yang Tong to apologize, and ask Yang Tong to punish him for his crime of returning without merit, Yang Tong personally picked up Chen Fuliang, and comforted Chen Fuliang repeatedly, saying that he knew that Chen Fuliang couldn't get the Tiger Prison Pass because of the weather trouble, and said that Chen Fuliang not only had no fault in this trip, but also made great achievements, and gave Chen Fuliang a big reward on the spot, Chen Fuliang thanked him, and asked about the flood situation in Dongdu. and asked to go to the scene of the flood immediately to check the situation, Yang Tong agreed, and also arranged for Yuan Wendu and Duan Da to lead hundreds of officials to accompany Chen Fuliang to check.

It was also a coincidence that Chen Fuliang and his entourage had just left the imperial city, and Fei Yao, the eastern general guarding the Tianjin Bridge, came to report, saying that the water level of the Luoshui River had risen sharply and had flooded the bridge deck, and at this moment the time had passed, and it was getting late, and the hundred officials were afraid of being swept away by the flood, so they did not dare to cross the bridge, and Chen Fuliang did not force them, and immediately ordered Yuan Wendu and Duan Da to lead the hundred officials to return to the imperial city to preside over the flood control of the northern city of Luoyang, and he led three hundred personal soldiers to cross the bridge and inspect the situation in the southern city where the flood was the most severe.

In the face of Chen Fuliang's move, Yuan Wendu and Duan Da and other civil and military officials of course advised Chen Fuliang not to take risks, and it was not too late to wait for the water level to decrease slightly before crossing the river to inspect, but it was a pity that the Great Sui actor Chen Fuliang did not appreciate it, and shouted I am staying in the Eastern Capital, I don't take risks for the people of the Eastern Capital, who takes risks for the people of the Eastern Capital? Then the first one walked on the Tianjin Bridge, and crossed the river to inspect the people's situation with the flood that had submerged their feet and necks, which moved the hundred officials of the Eastern Capital with continuous admiration, and also drove Lu Chu, Zhao Changwen and Guo Wenyi and other civil and military officials who were not afraid of death to risk crossing the river together.

The sky is eyeless, except for a relatively thin official who was almost swept away by the flood, Chen Fuliang and his entourage actually crossed Luoshui to Nancheng, and then went to the area of Ancongfang, which was the most severely flooded, what surprised Chen Fuliang was that the embankment in the northwest of Ancongfang had already shown signs of collapse, and the sack of soil that raised the embankment had been washed out of a gap about five or six zhang long. The soldiers and the people were carrying sacks to plug the gap, but because the water was too strong, the sacks were washed away by the flood as soon as they were thrown into the gap, and the river continued to flow into the city, and the river water in the streets of the city was waist-high.

Tie Qing pushed away Gai Cong and Tian Yan and other civil and military officials who came up to salute with a blue face, and came to the side of the gap regardless of the danger, and judged that the water potential of the gap was only chest high, Chen Fuliang shouted without hesitation: "Prepare the rope, two hundred soldiers, tie the rope to the waist, and the person jumps down to block the gap!" ”

Chen Fuliang's order was immediately executed, and the two hundred soldiers were immediately assembled, and the ropes were all tied to their waists, but when Tian Jia ordered the soldiers to jump into the gap to block the water, none of the soldiers dared to move. Seeing this scene, Chen Fuliang did not hesitate, immediately picked up a rope, and tied it to his waist with his own hands in the exclamations of the onlookers, and Lu Chu next to him was in a hurry, and hurriedly came up to stop him, "Stay ......, stay behind, you can't ......, you are the ...... of the east, the ...... of the east, and the east is left." ”

"Less nonsense!" Chen Fuliang rudely pushed Lu Chu away, strode up to the frightened soldiers, and shouted, "Brothers, you know who I am! The eastern capital stayed behind Chen Yingliang! I know you are afraid of death, of being swept away by the flood, and I am afraid of you! However, don't forget, our food, clothing, and meals are all provided by the people for taxes and food! What is the use of the people to feed us? The embankment is about to break, and the people are going to suffer, at this time we don't sell our lives, who will sell our lives?! I was the first to jump! You all keep up with me! ”

Roaring, Chen Fuliang pushed away the civil and military officials in front of him, and was really the first to rush to the breach, jumping into the rolling torrent in the screams of countless soldiers and civilians, the cold river instantly swallowed Chen Fuliang, and almost washed Chen Fuliang down the embankment, fortunately, the soldiers behind him tightened the rope in time, and Chen Fuliang barely stayed at the breach.

Plop, plop, one after another water sounds came, under the personal drive of Chen Fuliang, those soldiers of the Eastern Capital jumped into the rupture one after another, jumped into the rupture with tears, and hooked hands with Chen Fuliang's body to top the torrent, Chen Fuliang's personal soldiers also followed suit, only in a moment, the breach that was washed out by the flood was already crowded with Dongdu soldiers who only exposed their shoulders and heads, and the flow of the river surging into the city was greatly reduced.

Earth-shattering cries sounded up and down the embankment, taking advantage of the opportunity of Chen Fuliang personally leading the army to intercept the river, the soldiers and civilians rushed to put the sacks into the gap, and most of the flood water that was blocked by the Eastern Generals could no longer wash away the sacks, and the sacks full of earth and stones were able to sink to the bottom and gradually close. At the same time, under the personal drive of Chen Fuliang, the loud military songs also sounded up and down the embankment......

"The wolf smoke rises, the rivers and mountains look north, the dragon rolls up the horse, the sword breathes like frost and ......, what a pity to die to repay the family and the country, endure the sigh and choke speechless, blood and tears are full of ......."

When it was dark, the gap in the embankment finally closed, and Chen Fuliang, the actor of the Great Sui Dynasty who had been frozen to a blue face and a white mouth, was finally fished out by the officials and the people, and in the face of countless soldiers and civilians in the Eastern Capital who were crying bitterly, Chen Fuliang, who was soaking wet, just smiled, and then tilted his head and broke his ...... on the spot, oh no, he passed out on the spot.

After the news spread that Chen Fuliang, the general of the Eastern Capital Left Behind the Right Military Guard, personally jumped into the river to plug the gap, the whole city of the Eastern Capital was amazed and moved, and the people in the city were all grateful to Emperor Yang of Sui for leaving them such a good dog official, and the civil and military officials finally understood why Chen Fuliang was able to ride on their necks at a young age to make a fortune, and the soldiers of the right military guards outside the city also cried bitterly after hearing about it, and rushed to ask to enter the city to assist in the flood fight, and the military and the people were united, Striving to fight against natural disasters and floods, Chen Fuliang's so-called reputation of loving the people like a son also reached its peak in the eastern capital at once.

I have to say a word of conscience for Chen Fuliang here, he was unconscious on the spot as soon as he was fished up, Chen Fuliang is really not acting this time, half of the reason for the coma is freezing, and half of it is tired from days of hard work, plus the foundation of the body is not very good, and he also launched a high fever at night. But fortunately, Chen Fuliang is no longer the poor boy who couldn't even pay Langzhong's outpatient fees, after Yang Tong learned the news, he immediately sent the Miyagi Imperial Doctor to Lushunfang to treat Chen Fuliang, Chen Fuliang's condition did not deteriorate, but he also had to rest in bed for a while.

Shouldering a heavy responsibility, poor Chen Fuliang did not dare to rest at ease even if he was bedridden at home, and he still had to care about the military situation of the Tiger Prison Pass and the Luoyang disaster every day, but fortunately, there was no war on the side of the Tiger Prison Pass, and the Luoyang flood disaster had not expanded because of the concerted efforts of the Luoyang military and civilians, and every time he encountered danger, he could eliminate it in time, and there were not many things in Luoyang City that made Chen Fuliang worry about it. But what made Chen Fuliang feel a little strange was that Yuan Wendu and Duan Da, who came to visit him every day, as well as his accomplices Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng and others, often took advantage of their inattention to make eye contact with each other, as if they were deliberately hiding something from themselves.

Finally, when Fang Xuanling glanced at Wei Zheng again, Chen Fuliang couldn't bear it anymore and asked, "Brother Qiao Song, Mr. Xuancheng, what are you doing sneakily with your eyes?" Why can't you just say something? ”

Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng once denied it, but Chen Fuliang said: "Don't hide it from me, I can see that something must have happened, you are afraid of me, so hide it from me, it doesn't matter if you tell me, it's not that I haven't seen the wind and waves, and I'm not afraid of any kind of bad news." ”

Forced by Chen Fuliang, Fang Xuanling said helplessly: "Brother Xian, we have something to hide from you, but this matter has nothing to do with our Dongdu, it doesn't matter if you know it or not, so we don't want to tell you." ”

"Say it, it's okay." Chen Fuliang urged.

"Then I'll say it." Fang Xuanling said helplessly: "Brother Xian, the situation in Taiyuan has gotten out of control, although the old general Yun Dingxing has won a few battles, barely suppressed the momentum of the thief Zhen Zhai'er, and expelled Zhen Zhai'er to the northwest of Taiyuan County, but there is a Mayi lieutenant named Liu Wuzhou, but he killed Wang Rengong, the Taishou of Mayi, gathered the crowd to make trouble, Zhen Zhai'er in the south, and Liang Shidu in the west, attacked Loufu County, and also captured Fenyang Palace. ”

"Then my cousin Li Jing, how is the situation?" Chen Fuliang hurriedly sat up straight and asked, "There is also Fan Zi Gaifan staying, how is his situation?" ”

"Brother Xian, rest assured, when Liu Wuzhou was in turmoil, Li Juncheng was in Shenwu and was not affected." Fang Xuanling hurriedly comforted Chen Fuliang, and then lowered his head and said: "The situation of Fan Liu's stay is bad, his condition is already serious, after hearing the news that Fenyang Palace was occupied by thieves, he fainted directly, and after being rescued, he ordered his subordinates to put shackles on him and prepare a prisoner car, just wait for His Majesty's will to arrive, he will go to Jiangdu to ask for death." ”

Chen Fuliang was silent, and said after a long time: "This is the will of heaven, it is not human power to recover, now it depends on whether His Majesty can make up his mind, and replace Grandpa Fan with Yun Dingxing as the Taiyuan guard, although Yun Dingxing is shameless, he still has some ability to do things, if he takes over Taiyuan to stay behind, the situation in Taiyuan may still have hope to be saved." ”

"Brother Xian, then do you plan to recommend Yun Dingxing to take over as Taiyuan Guard?" Fang Xuanling asked tentatively.

Chen Fuliang was silent again, then shook his head, and said: "I can't recommend it, I don't dare to recommend it, Yun Dingxing's foundation is too shallow, he doesn't have a strong backer in the imperial court, and several of his grandsons are all ......, it is too dangerous to recommend him, and he may be caught by my political enemies, so I can't recommend him, I can only ask His Majesty to self-determination." ”

"It's really a mess." Wei Zheng next to him sighed: "Our Dongdu army is involved by Wagang thieves, Qu Tutong has to guard against Liang Shidu, and Wei Liu's guard there is also old and sick, and there are a large number of rebels led by Sun Hua to make trouble, and the deputy Yin Shishi does not dare to leave Daxing at will, and he can't spare his hands to help Fan Liushou, so he can only watch the situation in Taiyuan erosive and unable to clean up." Internal and external troubles, smoke everywhere, natural and man-made disasters, this Great Sui is ......, alas. ”

Chen Fuliang lowered his head and sighed in his heart, "What is the internal and external troubles of the Great Sui River?" Now that Yang Guang is not dead, the imperial court is still there, my so-called Eastern Capital Stay Order is not out of Henan County, and I have to ask Emperor Yang of Sui to ask Yang Tong for instructions on every move, and there are Yuan Wendu and Duan Da to contain it, when can I be the master of my own house and let go of it? "How's it going?"

"Brother Xian, rest assured, when Liu Wuzhou was in turmoil, Li Juncheng was in Shenwu and was not affected." Fang Xuanling hurriedly comforted Chen Fuliang, and then lowered his head and said: "The situation of Fan Liu's stay is bad, his condition is already serious, after hearing the news that Fenyang Palace was occupied by thieves, he fainted directly, and after being rescued, he ordered his subordinates to put shackles on him and prepare a prisoner car, just wait for His Majesty's will to arrive, he will go to Jiangdu to ask for death." ”

Chen Fuliang was silent, and said after a long time: "This is the will of heaven, it is not human power to recover, now it depends on whether His Majesty can make up his mind, and replace Grandpa Fan with Yun Dingxing as the Taiyuan guard, although Yun Dingxing is shameless, he still has some ability to do things, if he takes over Taiyuan to stay behind, the situation in Taiyuan may still have hope to be saved." ”

"Brother Xian, then do you plan to recommend Yun Dingxing to take over as Taiyuan Guard?" Fang Xuanling asked tentatively.

Chen Fuliang was silent again, then shook his head, and said: "I can't recommend it, I don't dare to recommend it, Yun Dingxing's foundation is too shallow, he doesn't have a strong backer in the imperial court, and several of his grandsons are all ......, it is too dangerous to recommend him, and he may be caught by my political enemies, so I can't recommend him, I can only ask His Majesty to self-determination." ”

"It's really a mess." Wei Zheng next to him sighed: "Our Dongdu army is involved by Wagang thieves, Qu Tutong has to guard against Liang Shidu, and Wei Liu's guard there is also old and sick, and there are a large number of rebels led by Sun Hua to make trouble, and the deputy Yin Shishi does not dare to leave Daxing at will, and he can't spare his hands to help Fan Liushou, so he can only watch the situation in Taiyuan erosive and unable to clean up." Internal and external troubles, smoke everywhere, natural and man-made disasters, this Great Sui is ......, alas. ”

Chen Fuliang lowered his head and sighed in his heart, "What is the internal and external troubles of the Great Sui River?" Now that Yang Guang is not dead, the imperial court is still there, my so-called Eastern Capital Stay Order is not out of Henan County, and I have to ask Emperor Yang of Sui to ask Yang Tong for instructions on every move, and there are Yuan Wendu and Duan Da to contain it, when can I be the master of my own house and let go of it? ”