Guanqiu Jian had already given up the army. After he ordered the generals to return to Jixian, he quietly left with a group of troops, and then walked eastward from the north of Pinglu Canal. To the east is the sea and the mouth of Qinghe River.
Everyone found a boat here and prepared to go south by sea to Soochow.
In summer, the color of the sea is blue, and the scenery is even more beautiful, especially when the weather is sunny and calm. But everyone knows that the sea is terrifying. Once there is a storm, the majestic power is not something that ordinary people can resist. The ocean contains so much power Danger is like the bottomless sea water. People who leave the land are just tiny duckweeds.
Moreover, the ships at this time were all flat-bottomed (people had not yet thought that the bottom of a ship could have a sharp bottom), which was extremely risky. Large ships such as building ships were definitely not allowed to enter the sea, as they would capsize if blown! Contrary to what most people imagine It’s different. Currently, you need a small boat to take the sea route.
But at this time, Guan Qiujian could only take risks. He had thought repeatedly recently that Soochow was the only place to go!
Youzhou cannot stay or defend it. Once the army enters Youzhou and appointed officials begin to exercise their power, Guanqiu Jian will lose his power and become a prey for promotion. Moreover, Liu Mao, the general of Youzhou Army, has already Kou Loudun, the Shanyu of Wuwan, was hunted and killed. At this time, the Xianbei people in the north of Youzhou were not very reliable either.
What else can we do besides taking the sea route?
The group of people has prepared a boat and is temporarily staying in a wooden shack left by a fisherman. The entourage has already gone to a nearby village to buy things. The group is going to stock up on some supplies and plans to set sail from the mouth of the river tomorrow morning...if there is no wind and waves. .
Amidst the sound of the waves, Guanqiu Jian took out the pen and ink in his bag and was about to write something. At this moment, he suddenly noticed that there was a flash of fire outside, so he hurriedly got up and walked outside the simple wooden door.
I saw that the wooden boat chained to the shore burst into flames for some unknown reason!
His younger brother Guanqiu Xiu also noticed it, rushed over and asked loudly: "Who set the fire?"
Guanqiu Jian quickly realized the problem and secretly shouted that it was not good.
Sure enough, Gong Shou came over to the wooden shed, with several armored soldiers beside him. The armor was no longer useful, most of them had thrown away their armor, but Gong Shou's men still kept a few sets of armor!
Guanqiu Xiu and others immediately reached for the swords at their waists, and he asked sternly: "General Gong, did you ask someone to set the fire?"
Gongshou did not answer. He walked to a place not far away and stood there. Looking back to the left and right, he said: "If we go out to sea in a boat like this, we will all die in the water! General Guanqiu why not give our brothers a favor and let us make up for our mistakes."
Guanqiu Xiu said angrily: "Your brother once followed the envoy and died in battle. Are you actually such a person, thinking of betraying the envoy?"
Gong Shou felt vaguely guilty and argued: "I have always served with all my heart and have never had any intention of betrayal. At that time, I guarded the south entrance of Pinglu Canal and failed to stop Deng Ai's army because I was deceived by Deng Ai."
He recalled for a moment and then said: "Deng Ai sent someone to deliver a letter of challenge. I thought he was going to attack the fortress, so I stepped up my defense. Unexpectedly, Deng Ai had quietly left Nanpi in the early morning. By the time the scouts noticed it, he had already chased him. It’s too late.”
Only then did Guanqiu Jian speak: "There are always winners and losers on the battlefield. It is useless to worry about it now. I don't blame General Gong much."
Gong Shou said coldly: "I just don't care now! Even if we are lucky enough to escape to Soochow by sea, can the general let me go?"
At first, he was still a little embarrassed, but after he said what was in his heart, his tone gradually became firm, "There is no way to survive, so why should we all die in vain together!"
Guanqiu Jian said: "The outcome of this battle has been almost determined from the first half hour of the war. Even if Deng Ai failed to burn the pontoon bridge on the Baima Canal, the war still cannot be reversed. It will only drag on longer. Youzhou The families of the military officers and soldiers are not in Youzhou. Once a frontal defeat occurs, the morale of the army will be gone. How can I blame all the responsibility for the failure on a partial army of General Gong?"
Guanqiu Jian said it very sincerely, because he really thought so too.
Sometimes people only see the comparison of military strength on the display, but those who occupy the center of Luoyang always have an advantage. Qin Liang should be able to withstand a temporary defeat, but Guanqiu Jian cannot!
Therefore, when the troops were raised in Yangzhou, King Qin's army entered Luoyang within a month; otherwise, if it was delayed on the road and made no progress, the morale of the army would have problems, and the result would not be like that.
When Gong Shou heard this, he hesitated a little, but he turned his head and glanced at the burning ship and the tense atmosphere at this time, and his eyes were stern again! Gong Shou said in a deep voice: "Please, general brothers, hand over your troops." Blade, lest things get too ugly."
"Whoa!" Guanqiu Xiu finally pulled out his sword from his waist.
Guanqiu Jian looked at the opponent's number and armor, then glanced at the fire in the distance, stretched out his hand to stop his younger brother, and suddenly sighed, "It's not necessary." After that, he unbuttoned his belt and decisively put on his sword. The sheath was thrown to the ground.
Gong Shou immediately called to his subordinates, stepped forward and took away the weapons of several people, and then tied them up with ropes. However, he did not kill Guanqiu Jian.
The preparations for going to sea were suspended, and Gong Shou sent out fast horses that day to find the official camp.
... Tens of thousands of officers and soldiers were in Zhuoxian, so it was easy to find out. Gongshou's messenger went to Zhuoxian, and when he arrived at the county temple and was questioned, he told the story.
Mrs. Xun lived in the front hall courtyard of the county temple, and she happened to hear about it.
Mr. Xun was not imprisoned at all. Most of the time he was just kept under house arrest in a wing room. However, he occasionally walked around the courtyard without encountering many difficulties.
Du Yu, who works under General Wei, even came to visit yesterday and showed great respect to Mrs. I'm sorry, madam.
These people have nothing to do with the Guanqiu family. They obviously treat the Xun family with courtesy out of the favor of Mrs. Xun's natal family, the Xun family of Yingchuan.
When Qin Liang came out of the palace and walked to the stables, she met Xun in the corridor. She bowed to him and immediately asked: "Will General Wei kill my husband?"
Qin Liang was silent for a moment and replied calmly: "Not for the time being, but Guanqiu Jian will not escape the death penalty for treason."
Mrs. Xun asked again: "General, are you going to the mouth of Qinghe River?"
Qin Liang nodded and said: "I finally caught him. I am planning to follow the cavalry team and meet him in person."
Mrs. Xun hurriedly begged: "Please allow me to go with you, general, just to meet him. I don't know when we can see you again! I can ride a horse."
At this time, Du Yu, who was standing next to him, said, "Mrs. Xun and Guanqiu Jian are married after all."
When Qin Liang heard this, he nodded and said, "Okay." After saying this, he walked away without waiting for Mrs. Xun to thank her.
The large group of cavalry left Zhuoxian and set off to the southeast. The next day, people rushed to the mouth of Qinghe River. There were messengers from the army to lead the way. They quickly found a desolate place on the seaside.
Qin Liang rode to a wooden shed and saw a rebel general walking over with a few people. The general glanced at the flag behind Qin Liang, bent down and bowed in obeisance, "General Gui Gongshou, pay homage to Qin Liang." General!"
Qin Liang was still sitting on the horse and just nodded in greeting. Deng Ai, who was behind him, patted his horse and stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying: "I am, Deng Ai. It's a pleasure to meet...General Gong."
Gong Shou looked embarrassed, and when he returned the gift, he couldn't help but look at Deng Ai a few more times.
Qin Liang asked: "Where is Guanqiu Jian?"
"Report to General Qin. He is being held in a shed." Gongshou turned around and said, "Bring him out!"
After a while, Guan Qiu Jian, whose arms were tied behind his back with hemp rope, was escorted out of the wooden shed. When Qin Liang saw the long-faced bearded man, he immediately recognized that it was indeed Guan Qiu Jian!
In the past, Qin Liang had only met Guanqiu Jian once at Cao Shuang's house, but in the past two years, he had often thought about this person. Now that they met again, Qin Liang felt a little complicated.
Because he had been threatened by Guanqiu Jian and insulted by Xiwen, Qin Liang was full of hatred and anger towards this unfamiliar person.
But people's feelings will indeed be greatly affected by the situation. Guanqiu Jian finally turned into the miserable and embarrassed appearance at this time, and many of Qin Liang's emotions towards him also faded away. Qin Liang's biggest feeling at this moment was, On the contrary, it is a kind of relaxation. The comfort of finally being able to let go of cares and worries.
Moreover, during the Youzhou rebellion this time, Qin Liang and others faced a very dangerous situation. Now that they had overcome the difficulties, he couldn't help but feel a little unspeakable.
Qin Liang got off his horse and stood in front of Guan Qiu Jian. Guan Qiu Jian was still tied behind his back. There was no etiquette between the two of them, they just looked at each other.
After all, the two sides must have often thought about each other before and after the war. If they wanted to talk, there should be a lot to say. However, talking too much at this time was of no use. Qin Liang took the initiative and said: "Zhong Gong seems to be able to relax. "
Qin Liang observed it from Guan Qiu Jian's eyes. Although Guan Qiu Jian's eyes looked dejected, there was indeed a kind of relaxation like giving up.
Only those who continue to struggle will become anxious. When you are desperate, you will feel more relaxed after giving up.
Guanqiu Jian looked at Qin Liang, nodded and said, "Yes."
He is Qin Liang's enemy, but Qin Liang also feels that he does have some general temperament and can face strong winds and waves calmly. Naturally, Guan Qiujian will not yell or even cry for mercy like ordinary people do when they are desperate. No swearing.
Guanqiu Jian hesitated to speak and looked at the subordinate generals beside Qin Liang. Seeing this, Qin Liang walked towards the seaside and turned around and said: "There is no need to stop him." However, Rao Dashan still followed. He came up and looked at Guanqiu Jian carefully.
Qin Liang and others had been riding horses on the coast for a long time, looking for this wooden shed. It was only then that he suddenly noticed the sea breeze, the waves on the sea, and the surrounding scenery.
The sea breeze may be the reason for the high salt content. When it blows on the face, the touch of the skin is indeed different from the ordinary breeze.