Author: Potato Sweet Potato Pie

It is more than a thousand miles from the capital to Weihaiwei, more than fifteen hundred miles to be precise.

In this era without cars, planes, or high-speed rail, marching is really an extremely painful thing.

In particular, the grain and grass baggage transported was too heavy and contained a large number of firearms and artillery. It was too expensive, so it was not possible to take a boat and could only go by land, which was even more painful.

At least Xia Yuan felt it was very painful. In the first few days of the march, he was still riding a tall horse, majestic, but later he gave up his majesty and lay directly on the mule cart.

Oxen have good endurance and strength, but they still have to cultivate land. Horses can run and pull, but have poor endurance. Donkeys enjoy more blessings than horses and have better endurance than horses, but they have a very stubborn temper. Once they lose their temper,

He didn't move for a long time and even acted violently.

The mule, a cross between a donkey and a horse, has the best of both worlds, except that it is a eunuch.

But pulling a cart has nothing to do with whether you are a eunuch or not.

Therefore, in ancient times, mules were the first choice for marching and fighting and transporting heavy supplies.

Xia Yuan lay on the mule cart for a long time without moving, while Wang Shouren rode beside him. Several times he wanted to ask if his mentor was dead, but felt it was rude.

I could only keep casting worried looks at him.

During this expedition, Xia Yuan's position was to assist in the administration of the Japanese expedition. It didn't sound like a serious official, but this official was actually very serious and had quite a lot of power. In theory, he could directly participate in all matters related to the Japanese expedition.

Of course, being able to obtain such a powerful position has nothing to do with his big face, his title of Marquis of Changde, or whether he is the emperor's son-in-law.

It just has something to do with his status as a civilian official. In the Ming Dynasty, whenever he went on an expedition, there would definitely be civilian officials accompanying the army. The civilian officials who accompanied the army must have great authority and could directly participate in military affairs.

This was a rule in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, but it disappeared in the later period, because civilian officials directly controlled the army.

But now that Xia Yuan does not have the command of the army, these 10,000 soldiers are only under his command temporarily and will have to be handed over when they reach Dengzhou.

Fortunately, he was not just a mere commander. In addition to Wang Shouren, a man with first-rate military skills, he also brought Lao Wang, and the emperor's father-in-law also transferred some forbidden troops from the palace to act as his bodyguards.

There were not many people, only two to three hundred people in total. Such a small number of people would not be of much use on the battlefield, but if there was a crisis, it would be enough to cover his evacuation, right?

The road was bumpy and bumpy. Xia Yuan felt uncomfortable being bumped around. He couldn't sleep anymore. He opened his eyes and raised his head, "Bo An, where are you now?"

Seeing that his mentor was not dead, Wang Shouren breathed a sigh of relief and replied: "Teacher, we have arrived in Dengzhou Prefecture now. We are still dozens of miles away from Weihaiwei, and we will arrive soon."

Hearing this, Xia Yuan seemed to have made up for all his overdraft. He felt that life suddenly had hope. He suddenly sat up from the car and his eyes were wet with excitement. "It's almost there. It's finally here. If not, I will die."

On the way."

Wang Shouren said: "Teacher, if not, I would rather ride a horse. The road is bumpy and sitting on a mule cart will inevitably lead to suffering."

Xia Yuan waved his hand, "If you don't ride a horse, you will suffer the consequences of the mule cart, but it is better than riding a horse. Riding a horse makes your butt hurt. If you ride a horse all day, does your butt hurt?"

Xia Yuan's sudden question made Wang Shouren stunned for a moment, but he still replied honestly: "The student is in some pain."

"That's it, so don't ride a horse. Riding a horse not only hurts your butt, it's also easy to get hemorrhoids."

With that said, Xia Yuan moved to the side and patted the vacant seat, "Why don't you come and sit in the car too?"

"I thanked my teacher for his kindness, but the student still refused to sit down. The student felt that he should be spared."

Seeing that he refused to sit down, Xia Yuan did not force him, but just said: "Mr. Li Ge knows, right? He thought the same as you back then."

Wang Shouren frowned slightly. Before he could figure out the relationship between the two, the faint sound of horse hooves suddenly came from behind, and then roared towards him.

The two turned to look. Xia Yuan even stood up in the car. They could see a cavalry troop rushing past in the distance. It was roughly estimated that there were about a hundred people.

Tens of thousands of soldiers marched in a very long line. There was no cavalry, but they were all at the front of the team. In the middle were their convoys transporting baggage, and at the back were the infantry.

Where did this group of cavalry come from?

Watching the cavalry go away, Xia Yuan didn't look back until he could no longer see the figure, "Bo'an, what do you think these people do?"

"Students don't know. Judging from the direction, they may be coming from the capital. They may be messengers."

Although this cavalry was quite unexpected, and it was not certain whether it was a messenger or not, Xia Yuan did not pay too much attention and sat back again. His mule cart was loaded with military rations, and it was quite comfortable to lean on it, at least better than

It's much more comfortable to lean on the cannon, except for the shaking.

Leaning on the grain bag, Xia Yuan let out an uncomfortable sigh. He closed his eyes and just wanted to see if he could sleep for a while. It would be best to wake up and arrive at Weihaiwei.

However, the sound of horse hooves came again, but this time it was not from the side and behind, but from the side and in front.

And getting closer and closer, it was obvious that the cavalry that roared past just now turned back again.

Xia Yuan didn't want to pay attention to it this time, but he faintly heard shouts, "Where is Marquis Changde!"

"Where is Marquis Changde!"

"Where is Marquis Changde!"

"."

"Teacher, I'm calling you."

"I know." Xia Yuan stood up from the mule cart again and looked up. As expected, the shouts came from the cavalry, but the number was nearly half less than before, with only dozens of people left.

The perimeter of the grain transport team was running back and forth, and everyone was shouting loudly: Where is Marquis Changde!

Xia Yuan raised his arm, waving it while turning his head and said: "Shout, shout, tell them that Marquis Changde is here."

Hearing this, hundreds of guards around him quickly shouted: "The Marquis of Changde is here!"

The voices of hundreds of people spread far away, and the cavalry clearly heard them. The shouts stopped. After a while, a few people who were not wearing armor, but just wearing fancy clothes walked in.

When they arrived, several people clasped their fists and saluted Xia Yuan. The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties. He didn't look very strong, but rather lean. He said, "I'm a member of Jinyiwei, Shi Wenyi. See you.

Go to Changdehou in person."

Hearing this self-introduction, Xia Yuan was startled for a moment. The second-in-command of Jinyiwei, the second in command in Jinyiwei, is usually in charge of the capital. Why is this person here if he doesn't stay in the capital.

And looking at the dust and fatigue on his face, he seemed to be rushing here in a hurry, day and night, without much rest.

Thinking in his mind, he also clasped his fists and returned the salute, "Shi Tong knows that there is no need to be polite. I don't know if you are looking for me. What's the matter?"

When Shi Wenyi heard this, he cupped his hands again and said, "Please give Marquis Changde a chance to speak."

As he said that, he took out another waist card from his arms and said, "This is my waist card. If Marquis Changde is worried, please check it."

This battle made Xia Yuan even more confused. He lowered his head and glanced at the badge, then looked away. He immediately got off the mule cart and met the Jin Yiwei named Shi Wenyi, who was not very artistic in appearance.

Tongzhi walked aside.

"There are people everywhere here. There can be fewer people than this one. If Tong Shi knows something, just tell me. If it doesn't work, just whisper to me, but don't get too close. I'm afraid others will misunderstand."

Shi Wenyi didn't whisper anything into his ear, but lowered his voice, and when he spoke, it was Wang Zha.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has disappeared. I wonder if you have ever seen him here, Marquis Changde?"
Chapter completed!