Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 111 Hitting Its Tail

The southeast of Chang'an leaves Wuguan, which has been the most important traffic channel between Qin and Chu since ancient times.

Shangzhou, which governs six counties including Shangluo, is at the turn of Qin and Chu. According to the danger of mountains and rivers, it goes to Nanyang and moves to the east, and enters Lantian and passes to the right.

However, since the Kingdom of China, the military importance of this road has rarely been reflected, because there is basically no threat to the southeast of Chang'an.The only time it happened was during the Zhu Xi Rebellion in the fourth year of Jianzhong. Shang Ke, the military envoy of Shence, led his army back to Guanzhong from Xiangyang alone, and he followed this path.

Therefore, Lantian Wuguan Road has basically become the main channel for personnel exchanges between Chang'an and Jianghuai in peacetime.Envoys of the imperial court went to Dongchuan, Qianzhong, Jianghuai, and Lingnan to follow this path, and scholars who sought fame and wealth also followed this path, so it is also called "the path of fame and fortune".As for the transportation of bulk materials, if the Henan warlords do not stop them, they will still be transported by the Bianhe River.

"This road is really good, it's so wide." Shao Shude, under the guard of his own soldiers, climbed up a small hill, overlooking the avenue shrouded in hoarfrost.

On the avenue, a surprise battle has just ended.More than [-] rebels were chased by the Fufang army, and they only wanted to run away. As a result, they were attacked by the infantry of the Tielin army who had ambushed in advance in Hangongdui.

It's so easy and enjoyable to follow and chase the enemy.Use a stance to catch up first, so that the troops behind you will stand by and even stop to fight.At the same time, the elite advance to the front to ambush, wait for you to run back after the battle, and give a surprise attack when you are relaxed, and you can often win a good victory at a small price, such as today's one.

"Marshal, this is the second post road in the country besides the two capital post roads designated by the Dezong Dynasty. It has been renovated for many years, and it is no small matter. It is actually not difficult for the nest thief to go this way." Chen Cheng said a little bit about the just-concluded battle. Not surprisingly, he didn't even think about it, and chatted with his lord about the geography of mountains and rivers in the southeast of Chang'an.

Shao Shude nodded to express his understanding.After the mid-Tang Dynasty, the national economic center of gravity gradually shifted to the south, and the "Road of Fame and Fortune" almost communicated with more than half of the country, which is naturally extraordinary.What's more, if the transportation of the Bianhe River is blocked, this is also a backup road for money and grain from the south to enter the customs. How can it not be well maintained?

The place where they are now is called Han Gongban, also known as Han Gongdui.It is located in the northern part of Lantian County. After crossing Hengling Mountain, you will reach Lantian Station. Yuan officials were demoted, and Duoci died here. Han Gongdui was mentioned in Bai Juyi's "On the Road to Lantian for the First Time".

Today is March [-]th of the third year of Zhonghe, more than [-] court officers and soldiers are still having fun in Chang'an City, looting property, raping women, and have no intention of coming out to pursue them.In order to prevent people who are loyal to the emperor and love the country and not money, the nest thief also made an insurance, that is, they left a lot of treasures, cloth, copper coins, grain and even livestock along the road, and put them at intervals to hinder the speed of pursuing soldiers.

The more than 1 people in the south camp did not dare to stop the enemy from fleeing south, and they could not enter Chang'an to plunder.After reluctantly attacking, seeing so many good things on the road, I immediately smiled and accepted them cheerfully.

A few days ago, the Tielin Army encountered soldiers and horses from the Southern Battalion returning to the north on the road.Those people packed big and small bags and gained a lot. Now they only want to take the goods home quickly, and have no intention of chasing and fleeing at all.Some friendly soldiers of the Jingyuan Army also mysteriously told the Tielin Army to go after them quickly, there are still good things on the way, which makes people dumbfounded.

Of course, the Iron Forest Army would not delay their work by picking up the property.They already have a complete system. The auxiliary soldiers draw some people to collect the goods and register them in the warehouse. The soldiers are responsible for chasing the enemy without delay.

"Marshal, 25 miles southeast of Han Gongban is Lantian County, 25 miles southeast of Hangong Station, [-] miles southeast of Lanqiao Station, and there is a mountain between the two posts. The bandit army set up a stronghold on the mountain and left an army to guard it. According to the news sent back by the scouts, Chen Cheng said: "The main force of the nest thief is on the boundary of tens of miles between Lanxi Station and Xiang (diào) Ping Station. gone."

Lantian Pass is the Gao Pass in Qin Dynasty, 170 miles away from Chang'an.After running so far in six days, the speed of the bandit army is still relatively fast, but it is only a normal marching speed.Considering that they are retreating, this speed cannot be said to be very fast.

Nest thieves are very confident in the goods, money and food abandoned on the road, as if they can break tens of thousands of pursuers.

"How much have we gained?" Shao Shude asked.

"There is not much food, only about 9000 hu, money is only about [-], and there are more than [-] pieces of silk." Chen Cheng replied.

"Not much." Shao Shude was a little dissatisfied.

"There are still a lot of treasures, which should have been robbed by the nest thieves in the Chang'an palace or rich people's homes, but it is difficult to estimate their value. Some draft animals have also been collected, with a total of more than [-] heads." Chen Cheng replied.

"Jingyuan Army's gang of thieves took away all the good things!" Shao Shude felt helpless.They were fast enough, but still no match for the sergeants camping to the southwest.The things that have been snatched now are quite a lot, but they are lower than expected, and the two or three thousand hives captured before and after are still worth something.

"Further to the south. I want to attack the stockade where the bandit army stands. If I can take it down, I can scare the crowd and make them panic. If there is a disorder, there will be opportunities, and the luggage may be discarded. "Shao Shude said.

"Marshal, it's best to decide in advance where we will chase the furthest."

"The farthest is Lantianguan. I wanted to catch up to Xian'e Station and Shangluo County (now Shangzhou District, Shangluo City), but it's too far away after thinking about it." Shao Shude quickly made a decision.

Shangluo County is the seat of Shangzhou, three hundred miles away from Chang'an.The reason why I want to go here is that Shao Shude's later generations have visited Xian'e Peak near Xian'e Station. Many poets of the Tang Dynasty left famous works here, which is very touching to read.It's just that he is the leader of the army now, and he has tens of thousands of soldiers who trust him, and Xia Sui still has people waiting for him, so he can no longer let his temper mess around.

Now that the plan has been made, there is nothing to say, just keep chasing!
Li Xiaochang who sent troops together also got some goods, but less than Shao Shude.He didn't want to pursue him anymore, because the imperial court decided to divide the four prefectures of Fufang, separate Dan and Yan prefectures, and hand them over to Li Xiaochang to govern.

He wished he could go back now, and find trouble with Dongfang Kui.But Shao Shude only took one look at him, and Li Xiaochang changed his mind, and sent his nephew to bring 2000 people back first, and then he brought 5000 people to follow.As for the more than 3000 Hebei sergeants originally under his command, they have already received their rewards and returned to town.

On the afternoon of March [-], the army arrived in front of the enemy village.As usual, the Fufang army attacked first, and the Tielin army sent a part to go around behind the mountain.The bandits were a little panicked. Considering that after two days, Huang Wang's main force might have run forward for dozens of miles, they had no intention of holding on, so they scattered to break through.

After breaking through this stronghold, there will be no major obstacles along the way.The Xiasui and Fufang armies left some troops behind to escort the captives and luggage, and the main light soldiers chased after them, and finally caught up with a part of the enemy's rear army in the Lanxiyi area.The thieves didn't expect that after running for so many days, there would still be people chasing after them. They were so angry that all the treasures along the way were thrown away for nothing?These hungry Tang dogs are going to fight with you!

The fight was indeed a fight, and the two armies fought next to the post.There were more than [-] rebels, and more than [-] were pursued by the Xiasui and Fufang armies. After fighting for a quarter of an hour, the rebels collapsed, leaving their luggage and fleeing south.

Shao Shude ordered a chase, and he returned to the camp only ten miles away from Lantian Pass.At this time Li Xiaochang had counted the goods, more than [-] dendrobium military rations, plus some money and silk, more than a thousand horses and mules.Shao Shude counted, and although there were quite a few, it was still not as expected. Could it be that he was really the "Unfed Tang dog" scolded by the thieves?
But what is comforting is that dozens of bandit artisans were captured, which was exactly what Xia Sui needed urgently, and they were taken away together.

If you chase further, you will get to Lantian Pass, which is not easy to fight.And most of the time Huang Chao noticed him, and if he didn't keep it together, he would gather an army and give him a hard time, so let's just accept it.Along the way, more than [-] nesters have been captured, plus some food, money, draft animals and treasures, let's go home.

The Battle of the Yellow Nest has finally come to an end.

Well, this is for myself.In fact, for Zhu Wen and Li Keyong, it is far from over.Huang Chao took the Wuguan Road in Lantian, and went all the way southeast from Shangzhou, passing through Taohuayi, Wuguan, Qingyunling, Fenshuiling, and Yangchengyi to Dengzhou.It is more than 850 miles away from Chang'an, and it will only be a month. Huang Chao is about to leave the mountain. At that time, there will be another bloody storm on the land of Henan.

Needless to say, Zhu Wen's Xuanwu Town is in crisis.It is said that he took 500 people to take office, and the Yajun in Xuanwu Town would not listen to him, not to mention that there is no money and food inside, and there is a man-eating devil outside.In the eyes of people who do not know the history, no matter how you look at it, it is just a pill.

The Hedong Jiedu envoy that Li Ke used was not taken for nothing, at least not yet, and he had to continue to go to Henan to suppress the thieves.

These two are very busy.As for himself, he was going back to Xiazhou.

(End of this chapter)