Chapter 291: The dispute over the canal transportation (Part 2)

Just as Li Fengyun was sitting on the boat and staring at the army on the shore, a one-armed general stood on a hill, also staring at Li Fengyun's boat. Unfortunately, the night deceived his eyes. He could not see clearly the people on the boat, but was more thinking about the boat itself.

Wei Deqing rushed back to Chenliu four days ago. Like Cui Qinggong, in the face of justice and reality, he chose the latter. He had controlled nearly 70,000 soldiers and 70,000 live young and strong men. He consumed a lot of food every day, as well as military uniforms, weapons, tents, and other large daily expenses, and even military pay. He could not pay wages by fighting like Cui Qinggong. He could not do it. His strict self-discipline made him strictly demand the army, not robbery, not rape, and not forcibly occupying houses. But in this way, his funds and food sources were also severely tested.

In order to support the army, he was forced to do many things that he had to rob local granaries, occupy the government's public fields, pretend to be a bandit and kidnap the children of large households to extort money and grain, etc. Now, seizing this million-dollar salt tax is also of great significance to him.

"If you really want to make an idea, I can't do anything about it, but you have to remember that Cui Qinggong must take the blame...."

Before leaving, the head of the family seemed to be still echoing in his ears. Wei Deqing sighed softly. After this incident, he would learn from Zhang Huan well. He also believed that this was the most effective way to inspire morale and stabilize the morale of the army. Although he hated Zhang Huan to the core, Wei Deqing also admired him very much. In just six years, he became the largest warlord of the Tang Dynasty and firmly controlled his foundation. He was completely incomparable to Cui Qinggong, Zhu Li and others.

"General, we have entered Qiao County." A personal guard suddenly pointed at a small stone bridge path.

Wadeqing nodded, "Send the orders to the three armies, and you can camp and rest after traveling fifty miles, and send additional scouts to the front to investigate the news."

He put his hand on the curtain and looked towards the dark front. The earth was pitch black, and only the Bian River was slightly shining with stars, as if a black jade belt was extending to the south. His heart began to feel a little excited. At this moment, the canal ship should have arrived in Qiao County.

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The sky gradually became brighter, and a red sun radiated thousands of golden lights, shining on the vibrant land of the Huanghuai Plain. A spectacular scene appeared in the Bian River about ten miles south of Yongcheng County, Qiao County. Two rows of canal ships were walking side by side. The black fleet could not see the tail at a glance. It was more than ten miles long. Each ship was full of coins or grain, and it was very deep in water. The head was a large ship, like a dragon head, cutting through the waves and leading the way forward.

On the west bank of the Bian River, teams of cavalry ran back and forth, conveying the news from the front and rear. Although there were two thousand cavalry, they seemed insignificant compared to the fleet that lasted more than ten miles, just like a few buttons left on the long gown.

In the distance are endless and gentle hills, covered with large areas of dark green forest.

Above the big ship, the new left minister of the Ministry of War, Li Huai, the prince of Jiyang County, was staring forward with his hands behind his back. The gorgeous light scattered on him. On this morning full of vitality, he seemed a little tired and his eyes were full of worries. Indeed, the fleet had entered Cui Qinggong's territory, and he could not close his eyes almost overnight.

Li Huai is about fifty years old and is the eldest son of Li Mao, the King of Shou. Some people say that his biological mother is the famous Yang Guifei, but the imperial concubine entered the palace and entrusted her as a concubine to avoid suspicion. However, as time goes by, as the scandal between Emperor Minghuang of Tang and Yang Guifei has become a past event, the truth of his life experience is not so important.

Li Huai also has a younger brother, Li Wei, the King of Sishou. Six years ago, his son Li Yao almost became the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, but Li Qiu robbed this rare opportunity in a thousand years. For this reason, the Li Huai brothers and Li Qiu formed an indissoluble bond.

This time, Cui Xiaofu appointed him as the left minister of the Ministry of War, in order to ease the conflict with Li Qiu and make up for the biggest rift between the royal family.

Li Huai himself also knew this. Although he accepted Cui Xiaofu's appointment, it did not mean that he and Li Qi could have a happy relationship. No! The position of Emperor of the Tang Dynasty cannot be compensated by a left minister of the Ministry of War.

"Prince!" a cavalry shouted loudly on the shore, "There is no situation behind, everything is normal!"

"There is no situation in Yongcheng County ahead, it's normal!" Another cavalry rushed back and shouted.

Li Huai waved his hand and said, "I understand, go and explore again!"

At this time, one of his followers stepped forward and whispered: "Prince, you haven't slept all night, why don't you go into the cabin and rest for a while!"

Li Huai felt that he was indeed a little exhausted, so he nodded, "Okay! I'll take a moment and call me in Yongcheng County."

Just as he was about to enter the cabin door, he suddenly heard a strange sound, rumbling and muffled, just like the muffled thunder passing by the sky, but the morning glow is everywhere, where can there be thunder?

He couldn't help but stop and looked to the shore in surprise. He saw that the cavalry on the shore also strangled their horses and looked around in surprise.

"Who is it!" Suddenly a cavalry discovered something. He shouted loudly, but in half, his shout turned into a scream. He fell from his horse and a wolf-toothed arrow shot through his throat.

"No, there are ambushes!" The other cavalry also noticed the abnormality and screamed, but it was too late. The arrows in the woods were like raining rain. In an instant, hundreds of cavalry shot like hedgehogs, and their war horses neighed and fell down the Bian River.

Li Huai was so scared that he saw soldiers rushing out of the woods, stretching back for a mile, rushing towards the canal boats like a large ants. There were tens of thousands of people. The number of cavalry guards was too small and scattered everywhere, so he could not compete with them. These regiments were training and escaped. Some of them moved their horses back and fled back, while others simply jumped into the river and swam to escape.

Just when the canal ship was in a dilemma, Cui Qinggong's ambush had already reached the shore. The temptation of the canal ship loaded with money made their eyes red. Groups of soldiers shouted wildly, jumped into the water and climbed onto the canal ship, split the felt with a knife, threw a large handful of copper coins into the sky, and laughed wildly.

Li Huai already understood that Cui Qinggong had attacked the Cao boat. He looked pale and held the boat's side and forced himself to calm down. He didn't believe Cui Qinggong dared to kill himself.

But things were not as simple as he thought. Soldiers who had been stimulated by money had lost their minds. Some people began to climb onto the big ship regardless of the ban and screamed. Their thinking was simple and simple. The simple flat-bottomed ship was packed with copper coins, so the big ship with gold and painted buildings was packed with gold and silver treasures.

Li Huai's dozens of followers shouted loudly, and drew their swords to slash the riots who were climbing onto the ship. The ship shook left and right, screaming endlessly. At this time, a team of cavalry rushed over and waved their swords to shout at the soldiers around the ship. Li Huai seemed to hear these soldiers being called off the ship, and he felt a little relieved.

But at this moment, Li Huai suddenly saw two officers jumping up from the bow of the ship. They were wet all over, each carrying a long knife, staring at him like a wolf, shining, less than one meter away from him.

Li Huai's legs were trembling when his vicious eyes were staring at them. He turned around and ran into the cabin. Five or six guards beside him rushed forward while yelling: "Are you crazy? This is the Minister of War."

"The general did not say whom to spare?" An officer laughed wildly, jumped over, and the sword flashed by. The two followers had already fallen to the ground, and a cold long sword slashed towards Li Huai's back.

Li Huai's legs were so weak that he could not move, and he had no courage to look back. He suddenly heard the sound of a knife slashing the bones. A violent pain came from his lower body. He screamed, and his eyes turned black and he knew nothing.

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Two hours later, the canal transport fleet began to turn around from Yongcheng County and sailed to Qiao County along a Cha River. On the river bank, Ma Dawei kept apologizing to Li Huai in the carriage.

"Before my master left, I repeatedly reminded me not to hurt the prince. I also specially sent a team of personal soldiers to warn them not to harass the prince. Please believe our sincerity..."

In the end, Ma Dawei's voice became less and less. He felt that he had no need to explain. Li Huai was lying weakly in the carriage, his face was pale yellow, and his eyes were so weak that he had no hatred. His legs were cut off with his knees. Thanks to the timely rescue of his entourage, he did not die, and the two officers who caused the accident also fled without a trace. Afterwards, Ma Dawei ordered hundreds of officers above the entourage to line up for Li Huai's entourage to identify him, but was rejected coldly by Li Huai's entourage.

"Please tell Cui Qinggong that he will explain this matter to the Empress Dowager." After Li Huai's entourage leader said, he waved his hand, "Let's go!"

The group of people guarded the carriage and slowly headed towards Yongcheng County.

Ma Dawei kept looking at their carriage and walked away, and then he smiled helplessly and turned around and ordered: "Start up and drive the ship back to Qiao County."

After about two hours of leaving, the ship had sailed for more than twenty miles. It was gradually coming to the afternoon. Seeing that the fleet had completely left the canal, Ma Dawei finally fell, and ordered: "I will order my brothers to stop the boat and rest for half an hour."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly heard the roar of horse hooves coming from behind him. He was shocked and turned around and looked into the distance. He saw a long black line appearing several miles away. At this time, a soldier galloped from the distance and reported loudly: "General, Wei Deqing, Wei Deqing's army is chasing us."

Ma Dawei's heart sank suddenly, and millions of dollars were indeed not so easy to get.

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On April 20, the seventh year of Xuanren, the canal ship carrying a million jin of salt tax and 300,000 stone of rice was intercepted by Cui Qinggong's generals in the south of Yongcheng County, Qiao County. Li Huai was seriously injured in the melee, but the mantis stalked the cicada and the oriole was behind. Just as Cui Qinggong had just succeeded, Wei Deqing, who came to hear the news, personally led 20,000 troops to participate in the snatch of the canal ship. The two armies fought in a melee. Cui Qinggong's army was finally defeated because of the loss of troops. The canal ship changed hands again and was taken away by Wei Deqing's sword.

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In Jiangling County, a sudden heavy rain blocked Zhang Huan's itinerary. The sky was getting hotter and the rain also changed from fine spring rain to heavy and fierce. Occasionally, there was a heavy rain that only happened in summer. By chance, Zhang Huan encountered it today.

This is Jingmen Inn. It was a bit sultry just now. It was already pitch black. The mo clouds had already covered the entire four fields. The rain began to fall, and it was getting heavier and heavier. The deep darkness enveloped the uninhabited fields. A lightning struck by, and the earth was shining white. In the heavy rain, a slim figure led the horse to flee into the inn in panic.

Fierce thunders and dazzling lightning illuminates the dark sky at every moment, the sound of heavy rain and the roar of strong winds, these powers liberated from nature and unscrupulously exert their power on the roof.

This majesty between heaven and earth forms a sharp contrast with the silence in the room, giving people a sense of sacredness. The lights in the room are soft, warm and quiet. Zhang Huanzheng leisurely lying on the soft couch to read books, as if the heavy rain outside the window is like the battle for the canal boats in Qiao County, and has nothing to do with him.

Of course, he didn't care whether the million yuan of money was eventually returned to Cui Qinggong or Wei Deqing. No matter who it belonged to, Pei Jun would definitely come to him in the end, or even beg him. As it turned out, Caoyun could only go to Xiangyang.

But none of these matters. What matters is that he will get another new force, Li Huai, Prince of Jiyang and Li Wei, King of Sishou, did Cui Xiaofu want to use the Left Minister of the Ministry of War to seize his power? But what's the use of establishing it? Will Zhang Huan be willing to hand over the Ministry of War? No! Cui Xiaofu thought it too simply, and the governor of Shuofang could not be exchanged for the Ministry of War.

Zhang Huan smiled faintly and put the book together, "Who is outside!"

"Governor, it's your old friend." The personal soldiers' voices were a bit strange, as if they were holding back their smiles.

"Old friend?" Zhang Huan was a little surprised. He stood up and walked to the door. Li Dingfang flashed to the side with a strange expression. He saw a person standing at the door with a rather gloomy expression.
Chapter completed!