Starting from the plains and going upstream along the river is the fastest way to reach Luoyang. Of course Liu Bei and others also know that this is the fastest way. But there are not enough boats, so they can only walk there.
.
Pingyuan and Luoyang are about a thousand miles apart.
In ancient times, the distance that infantry could march in one day was only fifty to sixty miles. Liu Bei had to march for more than twenty days from the plains to Luoyang.
Liu Bei led an army of four thousand, including 500 cavalry and the rest were infantry. Each of the four thousand troops was equipped with a spear, a ring-head sword, a bow and arrow, three bowstrings, thirty-six arrows, and a crossbow.
One, three crossbow strings, and 100 crossbow arrows. The food and grass provided can last for more than twenty days.
In December, the weather was unusually cold. The cold wind howled like a knife, scraping across my face and causing extreme pain.
The cold wind blew by, and Chen Meng hurriedly stretched out his hands to tighten the collar around his neck. This collar was prepared by Xijun Liu Yingmai for Chen Meng when he set out.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were no scarves, so Chen Meng took out a piece of his clothes and wrapped it around his neck to resist the cold.
Seeing Chen Meng's behavior, Liu Bei and others did not forget to laugh at Chen Meng and said that such behavior was not the behavior of a man.
However, when Chen Meng saw these people's faces that were as red as a monkey's butt from the cold, he couldn't help but laugh back.
Starting from Pingyuan County, we headed west along the river and entered Yanzhou in a few days.
Under Liu Bei's governance for more than half a year, there were no rebels in Pingyuan County. However, after entering Yanzhou, there were more rebels.
However, this is not a bad thing for Liu Bei and others. After all, there are bandits to suppress, and it will also help Liu Bei replenish his personnel and food.
Entering the east county of Yanzhou, after learning that Qiao Mao, the governor of the east county, and other princes were leading troops to Suanzao County in Chenliu County, Liu Bei became a little anxious and ordered the entire army to rush to Suanzao County as soon as possible to join the coalition forces.
It is more than a thousand miles from Pingyuan to Luoyang, but it is only more than 700 miles from Pingyuan to Jujube. After a long journey of more than ten days, Liu Bei finally led his army to arrive at Jujube in early January 190 AD.
At this time, Cao Cao, the commander of the Dian Military Academy, Zhang Miao, the governor of Chenliu, Zhang Chao, the governor of Guangling, Qiao Mao, the governor of Dongjun, Yuan Yi, the governor of Shanyang, Bao Xin, the prime minister of Jibei, Liu Dai, the governor of Yanzhou, and others had already led their troops to Suanzao County.
Hundreds of thousands of allied troops gathered together in one place, and the military tents stretched for dozens of miles.
Among all the military tents, there is one military tent that is the most majestic. On that day, various princes were discussing Dong's plan in this military tent. Cao Hong, Cao Cao's subordinate, entered the military tent at this time and whispered to Cao Cao:
"Ming Gong, a man outside the military camp who calls himself Pingyuan Commander Liu Bei said that he has received documents to challenge Dong and has led his army here in the hope of joining the coalition forces to defeat Dong."
The garrison at the gate of the allied military camp changes every day. Today it happens to be Cao Cao's subordinate Cao Hong who leads his troops to guard the gate of the military camp.
After Cao Cao heard this, he was slightly surprised, but he didn't show it.
"First introduce Xuande into the military camp. After I explain it to everyone, then invite Xuande into the tent."
After Cao Hong walked out of the military tent, after a while, Cao Cao saw that everyone was silent, so he said to everyone:
"Pingyuan ordered Liu Bei to come here with more than a thousand troops under his tent, hoping to join the coalition forces and join us in attacking the traitor Dong Zhuo."
After Cao Cao finished speaking, other people in the tent showed strange expressions. It seemed that few of them knew about Liu Bei.
"A small county magistrate is here to join in the fun. We are discussing national affairs now, and the people here are all prefects and governors. How can there be a place for him, a small county magistrate? He's gone.
Just go." Qiao Mao, the governor of Dongjun, said angrily.
"Yes, it is not the turn of a county magistrate to come forward in the crusade against Dong Zhuo. If Dong Zhuo's fellows knew that we have a county magistrate here, wouldn't they laugh at the fact that our coalition forces are empty? Mengde, let your subordinates conquer this county.
Order them to be driven away!" Shanyang Prefect Yuan Yi then expressed his thoughts.
Although the other people did not express their thoughts, it could be seen from their facial expressions that most of them had the same thoughts as these two people.
After hearing what everyone said, Cao Cao was also a little unhappy. He didn't expect that these people would judge heroes based on their official positions. Cao Cao couldn't help but think to himself, Dong Zhuo appointed me as the captain of the Xiaoqi School, I didn't even do it, I ran out of Luoyang, now I can say
I am also a white person. Don’t you people also look down on me?
"We gathered here to defeat Dong Zhuo's traitors, serve the Han Dynasty, and support the Han Dynasty. Xuande was originally a descendant of the Han Dynasty royal family. He also made many military exploits during the expedition against the Yellow Turbans, and was named Pingyuan County Magistrate for his merits. This is
You are indeed loyal ministers of our great Han Dynasty. If you hold Xuande outside the door, won't you let the world think that we are neglecting our loyalty!"
"Cao thought that we should immediately welcome Xuande into the tent to tell the world that we welcome people who are loyal to the Han Dynasty to join the coalition. Isn't it beautiful like this?"
After Cao Cao finished speaking, Jibei Prime Minister Bao Xin said:
"What Meng De said makes sense. Since Xuande has made great achievements in annihilating the rebels, he must also have some military talents. Isn't this kind of person exactly what we need!"
"Since we have called on the people of the world to rebel against Dong, if one of the people in the world comes here, there is no reason to drive them away. We will definitely not do such unjust things."
When Bao Xin said this, the others were speechless. If you, Bao Xin, don't want to do such unjust things, do you want us to do such unjust things?
****
After Liu Bei informed the soldiers guarding the gate of the camp about his origins, he stood outside the camp and waited. Not long after, Cao Hong walked out of the camp and came outside the camp, saying to Liu Bei:
"Pingyuan Order, my Minggong has already made it clear that he will first ask Pingyuan Order to enter the camp. After my Minggong explains it to everyone, Pingyuan Order can enter the tent."
Under the leadership of Cao Hong, Liu Bei and others came to Cao Cao's tent and were waiting. On the way here, Liu Bei not only learned Cao Hong's name and surname from the conversation with Cao Hong, but also learned what they were.
The princes came here.
"My eldest brother is a descendant of the royal family, but he has to wait here. It's really annoying." Zhang Fei, who came with Liu Bei, waited outside the tent for a while and became a little reluctant.
Guan Yu did not follow Liu Bei here, but took Liu Bei's four thousand troops to the camp.
"Third brother, wait patiently for a while! Those people in the tent must have much higher official positions than us. It is normal for others to despise us. Don't worry about it." Chen Meng persuaded Zhang Fei.
"Hmph! Official positions are of great use. In today's world, if we talk about heroes, no one can compare with our elder brother. These people are all sparrows, but my elder brother is a swan."
"Third brother, don't talk lightly. We are here to join the coalition's crusade against Dong Zhuo. The people in the tent are all ministers of my Han Dynasty, and their talents are far higher than mine. Third brother, please don't look down on them."
"I don't look down on them, I just can't stand how they look down on their elder brother." Zhang Fei muttered in a low voice.