Prime Minister

Chapter 1182: The Feat of Returning to the East

Chapter 1182: The Feat of Returning to the East

The new citizens who survived the disaster returned eastward via the Zhuanglang River on wooden boats, and then reached Lanzhou via the Yellow River.

For most of the people of the Guiyi Army, it was their first time to take a boat.

They looked at this land with trepidation. Although they knew that the Song Dynasty would resettle them, no one knew how or what fate would await them in the future.

Cao Zongshou was indeed very strong, and after lying down for only two days, he was able to stand up again. Except for his broken arm, the arrow wound on his body had actually scabbed over, and there was nothing wrong with his whole body, which was extremely tenacious.

He stood at the bow of the boat and looked at the Lanzhou wharf in the distance, as well as the floating bridge and the fortress across the Yellow River.

The floating bridge in Lanzhou is built with boats, and there are four large iron bulls with iron rings in their mouths standing on each bank. Each of these large iron bulls weighs tens of thousands of pounds, and the two iron chains made of iron rings in their mouths cross the Yellow River.

Iron chains lifted up more than twenty boats and arranged them horizontally on the Yellow River. Each boat was connected by long wooden poles, covered with wooden boards and surrounded by fences, finally connecting the two banks.

And when this fleet returning east passed by.

The river guards walked to the center of the pontoon bridge and the iron ring used to connect the boats was untied from the middle. The six boats in the middle of the pontoon bridge were driven aside by the boatmen to make way for the river.

The fleet returning eastward passed through the gap in this pontoon bridge and reached the dock in Lanzhou.

Cao Zhongshou and the people of the Guiyi Army were amazed at the ingenious design. Not only the opening and closing floating bridge, but also the four huge iron bulls on the shore were enough to shock them for a long time.

An old general on the boat team smiled and introduced to Cao Zhongshou: "The Lanzhou floating bridge was built in spring and harvested in winter, otherwise the ice on the Yellow River would have destroyed the floating bridge."

"So that's how it is." Cao Zhongshou felt strange when listening to the Chinese language spoken in the Central Plains.

Soon when the fleet arrived at the Yellow River wharf, Cao Zhongshou looked out at the unique scenery inside and outside Lanzhou.

In the distance, several upstream ox-hide rafts were sailing towards the Yellow River ferry terminal with him. The dozens of miles of river beach near the terminal were planted with farmland and vegetable fields, and there were bungalows and temples on the high ground, a lush and green scene.

More than a dozen large water wheels were spitting water to irrigate the fields.

There were several large ships in the middle of the river, with two plank wheels spinning on them.

Cao Zhongshou could not help but ask the old general: "Old general, what is this?"

The old general said, "You mean this thing in the river? It's called a boat mill!"

"Ship mill?" Cao Zhongshou asked.

The old general smiled and said, "Yes, some were built by wealthy families, and some were built by government officials. If the common people want to grind flour, they can just let someone use this boat to grind flour and pay them some wages."

Cao Zhongshou suddenly realized: "So it's a water mill, what a masterpiece!"

The old general smiled and said, "These are all things we are used to. This boat mill and this waterwheel were introduced when the old General Zhang was in charge of Xihe. Now, not only in Lanzhou, but also in the entire Xihe Road, they are very convenient for officials and civilians."

Cao Zhongshou said with deep emotion: "I heard that Mr. Zhang Jinglüe is Zhang Longtu. His reputation is known throughout the Tanguts. Even we in Liangzhou are in awe of him."

When you get near the dock, you will see the majestic city of Lanzhou.

Lanzhou was an important city during the Han and Tang dynasties. After the city was recovered in the Yuanfeng period, it was immediately renovated.

As a famous defending general, Li Hao expanded Lanzhou City to the north in order to take advantage of the natural barrier of the Yellow River.

Today, the North City of Lanzhou has been built to the bank of the Yellow River, making the city easier to defend and more difficult to attack. There is a turtle-like stone on the river bank of the North City of Lanzhou, which is red in color and lies under the city wall, so the people call it the Stone Turtle City.

When Cao Zhongshou looked at the majestic pass, he thought that any border town in the Song Dynasty was as prosperous as Xingqing Prefecture in Western Xia.

Although Liangzhou City is large, it seems lifeless, with little business and travel and a small population.

While Cao Zhongshou was thinking carefully, the ship was about to dock when he suddenly heard several cannon shots from the shore.

This scene made Cao Zhongshou and others panic. The old general quickly advised: "Don't be alarmed, General. It's the water transport envoy and the county governor who are here to meet you at the dock."

Cao Zhongshou calmed down after listening to the old general's explanation. He also heard that the transport envoys and the prefect of Lanzhou all came to the dock to greet him. This should mean that the officials of the Song Dynasty should attach great importance to their return to the east.

……

At the dock, Qinfeng Road Transport Commissioner Fan Yu, Lanzhou Prefect Li Hao, and Inspector Sun Lu were all at the dock to welcome Cao Zhongshou's arrival.

The political significance of the Guiyi Army's return to the east was extremely clear to the two civil officials, Fan Yu and Sun Lu.

In fact, Zhang Yue had already instructed in his invitation to the two of them to "place them well".

In official circles, it is basic skill to guess the intentions of superiors. The three words "resettlement, proper resettlement, and excellent resettlement" have three meanings.

After Cao Zhongshou got off the boat, he bowed to Fan Yu first at the suggestion of the veteran.

Fan Yu helped him up and said, "Your Majesty, you have come with all your strength, abandoned your comfort zone, surrendered, and traveled thousands of miles to submit, which is an act of submission, not surrender."

"You are all heroes returning from the east. If you are heroes, you don't need to do this kind of ceremony."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhongshou's eyes filled with tears, and the dozen or so leaders of the Guiyi Army and the Long family behind him were also deeply moved.

"I wonder where is the direction of Bianjing?"

Others immediately pointed a finger at Cao Zhongshou out of consideration.

Cao Zhongshou and the others immediately bowed down and knelt in the direction of Bianjing, then said: "Your Majesty, I, Cao Zhongshou, beg you to bless your majesty!"

Fan Yu looked at the other party with satisfaction, obviously very knowledgeable.

After that, Cao Zhongshou and other leaders took off their precious swords or scabbards inlaid with gems and said, "These are what we carry with us. We beg you to present them to Your Majesty on our behalf."

"In addition, there is a seal of the governor of Guiyi Army!"

Fan Yu smiled and ordered his men to accept the gifts, saying, "You are sincere in your submission. His Majesty has already instructed me to properly accommodate you. I have prepared a winter coat for each of you. In addition, I will provide you with food, tea, and salt. I will not treat you unfairly."

Cao Zhongshou was filled with gratitude and said, "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for the reward, and thank you, Commander Cao, for your kindness."

Thinking of so many brave men who sacrificed their lives to keep the tribe going, everyone couldn't help but shed tears.

Fan Yu said: "In addition, I heard that many people died on this trip. In order to commemorate the loyal souls, I also ordered all the temples in Lanzhou to hold a ritual. As for the rest of the arrangements, we will wait for the imperial court's decree."

Cao Zhongshou and others were even more moved when these words were spoken.

After settling Cao Zhongshou and others, Fan Yu and Sun Lu immediately took out the seal of the governor of Guiyi Army presented by Cao Zhongshou and looked at it.

Fan Yu said to Sun Lu, "What do you think of this seal?"

Sun Lu said, "After my investigation, I feel that it is 70% true."

Fan Yu smiled and said, "It doesn't matter if it's fake. In the past, when the imperial court was unable to take Liangzhou, this seal was worthless. But now, whether it's true or false, we have a name and a reason. If we present it to His Majesty in Bianjing for his review, His Majesty will surely be very pleased."

Fan Yu and Sun Lu laughed when they heard this.

Sun Lu smiled and said, "Returning to the East is a heroic act, and it is only natural that you and I can do our part."

"But we have done a great deed by taking in the Guiyi Army. As the saying goes, when you drink the water, you should remember the person who dug the well."

"When you and I report this matter, we must explain the Prime Minister's plan."

Fan Yu smiled and said, "I understand this without you having to tell me."

"I heard that many people in the court questioned the Guiyi Army, and some even thought that he was going to split off and rebel. Thanks to the Prime Minister for his efforts to overcome all objections."

"As for our great achievement, it is only the last thing."