The Han River divides the north and the south. The Xiangyang City on the south bank and the Fancheng City in the north are often collectively referred to as Xiangfan. They face each other across the river, and when the water level is calm, there is often a floating bridge connecting them.
It was like a city split in half by the Han River.
The northern wall of Xiangyang where Zhao Yan and Niu Jin were at the moment was right on the bank of the Han River. They could see the movements of the Wu army's ships in the river clearly, so there was no need to send out scouts to investigate.
Niu Jin, whose courtesy name is Shucai, is now fifty-two years old.
If we count from the time when he followed Cao Ren to guard Jiangling, he had been stationed in Jingzhou and Xiangfan for a total of 22 years. He stationed troops here, started a family here, and if we talk about the geography and hydrology of Xiangyang, no one is more familiar with it than Niu Jin.
Zhao Yan only smiled slightly after hearing Niu Jin's flattery, and then pointed to Yuliangzhou in the east and said, "The Han River is flooded, and the navy of Jingzhou of the Great Wei has already moved up along the Yu River north of Yuliangzhou and stationed between Dengxian and Caiyang. If the Wu army only patrols on the Han River, they will never be able to find them. The Yu River is narrow, and they dare not rush in."
"Now the ground outside Xiangyang is muddy and the Wu army is unable to capture the city. If reinforcements arrive, the Wu army will naturally retreat."
Niu Jin sighed softly and kicked the bricks on the city wall with his right foot: "Thanks to the supervisor for sending General Xiahou to Jiangxia a few days ago. We are not afraid of the Wu army attacking Xiangfan. If the Wu army attacks Jiangxia, it will be more troublesome."
"Why not?" Zhao Yan nodded: "Shucai, what do you think the Wu army will do next? Besiege Xiangyang or Fancheng?"
Niu Jin thought for a moment and said, "Given the current weather conditions, the Wu army will not be able to encircle Xiangyang or Fancheng in a short time. They can only occupy Yuliangzhou and other sandbanks in the river and wait for the water to recede."
Zhao Yan said, "The rain has stopped in the past two days. If the water on the shore is completely receded, it will probably take two or three days. If we can make it so that the Wu soldiers can go ashore, it will take at least six or seven days."
"For six or seven days, the Wu soldiers will be helpless." Niu Jin said firmly, "Lu Shi is in Fancheng. He should have seen this and headed north to Luoyang to report the news. I will protect the governor here until reinforcements arrive."
Zhao Yan nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work. If there are any damaged parts of the city wall, please repair them in time. Don't save on wood, bricks and stones. If there are not enough, you can always tear them down from the houses in the city!"
"Yes, sir!" Niu Jin raised his hand and saluted.
……
There was only the Yellow River between Henei County and Henan Yin where Luoyang was located. As the water level in Mengjin gradually decreased, Cao Rui was able to cross the river from Mengjin.
Cao Rui left Shanyang County on the morning of the 10th and arrived at the northern bank of Mengjin Ferry on the evening of the 10th. It was already near noon on September 11th when he crossed Mengjin and headed south to the north of Luoyang City.
I don't know whether it was Wei Zhen or someone else's work, but the official road from Mengjin Ferry to Luoyang City was repaired so clean and intact that it seemed as if there had never been a flood.
Cao Rui left Luoyang at the beginning of the fourth year of Taihe and returned in September. It can be said that he had returned victorious after a long expedition. Just as Qinzhou was newly established in Guanxi in the second year of Taihe, Yingzhou was newly established this time. The territory of the court was expanded, and the whole country was filled with joy.
Five miles north of the city, ceremonial guards, drums, and the emperor's carriage from the palace were all set up. Officials of Luozhong from top to bottom, with rank of 2,000 dan and 1,000 dan, as well as the nobles and relatives of the city, were waiting on both sides of the official road.
Guanqiu Jian led a thousand cavalrymen in the front. By the time Cao Rui himself saw the team coming to welcome him, all the ministers had already bowed and cheered.
Cao Rui had already experienced such a big return to the court for the third time, having returned from the conquest of Huainan in the first year of Taihe and from Hanzhong in the second year of Taihe. The rituals and ceremonies could no longer move Cao Rui, and he only wanted to see the people he should see.
As for who I want to meet...
Of course, the court officials wanted to see the two cabinet ministers Dong Zhao and Wei Zhen who stayed in Luoyang. In the harem, in addition to the two eldest and second sons who were crowned as kings, there was also the third son Cao Shou who was born not long ago.
And the mothers of these little babies.
The welcoming team of ministers was headed by Grand Commandant Hua Xin, followed closely by Dong Zhao and Wei Zhen.
Cao Rui reined in his horse and stopped in front of Hua Xin, then dismounted and looked down at the 73-year-old Wei official who was still sitting on a chair: "Why is the Grand Commandant here to greet me?"
Hua Xin bowed his head and saluted, then smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, I am old and sick and of no use to the country. Your Majesty has returned victoriously from the 4,000-mile expedition to Liaodong. If I cannot come to greet Your Majesty, then I will be of no use to the court at all."
"I sent people to carry me out of my home, and only then did I get to see your Majesty."
Cao Rui also knew that Hua Xin was in poor health. Hua Xin had been bedridden and unable to attend the funerals of Zhong Yao and Empress Wuxuan Bian.
Hua Xin at this time was no different from Zhong Yao and Zhong Yuanchang, who were carried out of the city in a chair because they could not walk in the first year of Taihe. They were all doing it for their children and grandchildren.
Cao Rui sighed softly: "I already know the general's feelings towards me. Hua Weirong is now an official in the Honglu Temple, right?"
The so-called Hua Weirong is Hua Biao, the oldest son of Hua Xin. Hua Biao is 27 years old, which seems to be much younger than Hua Xin. It's just that Hua Xin's early sons were separated in the war.
Hua Xin stretched out his hands tremblingly, and Cao Rui understood and stretched out his left hand for Hua Xin to hold: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Weirong is indeed an official in the Honglu Temple."
"Let him come to my side and take up the post of Imperial Guards." Cao Rui said, "Zhong Yu has been an Imperial Guardsman by my side for several years. He is now in mourning at home in Luoyang. I have also appointed Du Shu as the governor of Liaodong, so I am short of one more person." Hua Xin bowed and said, "I thank your majesty for Weirong's grace. When I return home today, I will let Weirong take up his post in the palace tomorrow."
"Very good."
After Cao Rui let go of Hua Xin's hand, he turned sideways and looked at Dong Zhao and Wei Zhen.
"I have been away from Luoyang for more than half a year. Thanks to Mr. Dong and Master Wei for their hard work in taking care of things for me."
Dong Zhao and Wei Zhen bowed in unison.
Dong Zhao was the first to speak: "We are in Luoyang, but we are just doing our duty. How dare we say it is hard? Your Majesty is fighting outside, and that is the real hardship."
Wei Zhen also responded: "I am the same."
"You have done a good job in disaster relief in Sili and Yuzhou." Cao Rui nodded, and then looked at Dong Zhao: "As for Mr. Dong's resignation, I have already rejected it. Did you receive the news?"
Dong Zhao looked a little embarrassed, and bowed again: "It is your Majesty's fault for being reckless."
Cao Rui chuckled and said, "This matter is not over yet. I will announce Lord Dong's arrangements at the court meeting tomorrow."
This……
Cao Rui greeted the ministers who came to greet him, then got into the carriage and slowly drove towards the Luoyang North Palace. A group of ministers followed behind him, and Dong Zhao rode on the horse with a confused expression.
My plans? What plans can I have?
Could it be that Your Majesty values Huang Quan more than me? After all, Your Majesty fined Huang Quan three months' salary, but fined himself a year.
Since he couldn't figure it out, Dong Zhao didn't bother himself. He shook his head and continued to sit on his horse and move with the team.
Soon, Cao Rui's carriage arrived in front of the south gate of the North Palace. The ministers dispersed as instructed, while the ministers of the six ministries and nine ministers were notified and came to the palace in the evening for a banquet to celebrate.
Since he had already paid homage to Empress Wuxuan Bian in Yecheng, Cao Rui did not need to go to the ancestral temple to pay homage to the spirit and offer sacrifices. In addition, the mourning period had already ended, so he returned directly to the palace.
The carriage and the ceremonial procession slowly came to a stop, and Cao Rui walked down the wooden vermilion steps from the carriage. The palace attendants, imperial guards and other eunuchs who followed him also dismounted.
The palace gate was already open. As Cao Ruifang entered, he saw a little child jumping and running towards him. It was clearly his second son, Cao Yan.
Empress Dowager Guo glanced at Sun Luban meaningfully. She saw from the corner of her eye that it was Sun Luban who put Cao Yan, who was in her arms, on the ground. The child was young and ignorant, so he would naturally run towards his father. On the contrary, the three-year-old eldest son Cao Qi was standing at the edge of his mother Mao's skirt, respectfully bowing.
Empress Dowager Guo took a few steps forward and said, "The emperor has returned victoriously. I congratulate him!"
A group of female relatives behind him also congratulated him.
"Thank you, mother, for your congratulations." Cao Rui responded hastily, then bent down and picked up Cao Yan: "I have been away from Luoyang for more than eight months, and Yan'er has become so heavy."
The two-year-old Cao Yan kept shouting "Father" and giggling, and patted Cao Rui's neck with his hands. He was obviously very excited as he hadn't seen his father for a long time.
Cao Rui smiled, and when he found Mao Yan, he raised his chin and said, "Qi'er, come here, father."
Cao Qi looked up at his mother, and only after Mao Yan squatted down and patted his back encouragingly did Cao Qi jump forward. Cao Rui also stretched out his right hand and picked him up.
"Mother, I will return to the palace first. I will have to trouble you to take care of everyone here."
Queen Mother Guo nodded with a smile and said, "We will be back from Yecheng in a few days. Rui'er has worked hard. Now that we are back in the North Palace, it's time for him to have a good rest."
"The children are getting heavier, so don't hurt their arms. I'll leave Qi'er and Yan'er to me."
"Very good." Cao Rui smiled and nodded, holding his two sons on the left and right, playing with them for a long time, and talking to the two children. Only when his arms felt a little sore did he put Qi'er and Yan'er down.
Cao Rui nodded to his more than ten concubines, and his eyes stayed on Mao Yan and Sun Luban the most. Then he turned and walked towards the bedroom.
Empress Dowager Guo was also an experienced person. The emperor was only in his twenties now and had just returned from an expedition of more than half a year. She naturally understood what he wanted to do. As expected, the emperor walked in front and Empress Dowager Guo was giving instructions to the concubines behind him. Mao Yan and Sun Luban quickly followed the emperor.
The other concubines were full of envy, but they didn't dare to say anything. They had no children, and if they dared to express jealousy in front of the Queen Mother, they would really think they were too lucky. (End of this chapter)
