Lead-gray clouds filled the sky, pressing low to the ground.
The autumn rain comes one after another, from morning to night.
When the cold wind blows, a biting chill hits your face.
The streets are full of stains.
It was a turbid current washed out by rain mixed with ashes and blood.
There were not many houses left in the city, and the candlelight was as bright as a will-o'-the-wisp from a distance.
Footsteps sounded, and the last light went out.
Wang Xuan got off the carriage, gently opened the door, and came into the messy courtyard.
"This house is very big, with three entrances. The owner is eager to sell it and only needs ten thousand yuan." The servant followed behind and said softly.
Wang Xuan did not reply, but looked towards the corridor in the distance.
A cold and quiet woman stood there, with a graceful figure and fluttering clothes. The expression on her face was full of curiosity and confusion, like an elf who had just entered the world.
"Ayu, what are you doing?" Wang Xuan asked.
Wang Jingfeng retracted his hand with a "Ah" sound, and the goddess's aura disappeared instantly.
"Brother, I'm trying to see if this is rain or snow." Wang Jingfeng said.
Wang Xuan shook his head helplessly and said, "Come in with me."
After that, he walked into the central hall.
The main room was roughly tidied up, but there were not many household items.
The ground was not paved with tiles, and the dark brown soil was high and low. The desk was placed on it, crookedly.
"Brother, why are you here? The war has only been over for half a month, and the war is so chaotic that it scares people to death." Wang Jingfeng complained after walking in.
"I came here for business." Wang Xuan felt guilty when he said this.
"What's the business?" Wang Jingfeng was stunned, she thought...
"Chu Ming (Wang Shu) is here from Pengcheng." Wang Xuan said: "The canals will freeze soon, and this year's water transportation has only been half completed. A few days ago, ships have set off to Changyi (Gaoping Administrative Office).
Brother, why don't you come here to supervise me? This courtyard will be the Duzhi branch from now on, and someone will be sent to stay behind."
"You lied to me." After Wang Jingfeng finished speaking, he lowered his head.
Wang Xuan didn't know how to answer.
"I met Mr. Chen today." Wang Jingfeng said again.
"Huh? When?" Wang Xuan asked in surprise.
"When you go out."
"Mr. Chen has come in?"
"Mr. Chen returned from the State of Lu, sat there for a while, and then went to Jinxiang."
"Why go to Jinxiang?"
"I heard that they are going to give out rewards to the Silver Spear Army."
"Oh." Wang Xuan suddenly realized, and then asked doubtfully: "Why did Mr. Chen say this to you?"
Wang Jingfeng shook her head slowly, obviously she didn't know much about it. Then she seemed to think of something, and her mood improved, and she said a little proudly: "Mr. Chen, please see that I look beautiful."
Wang Xuan helplessly held his forehead and sighed: "Mr. Chen defeated the Huns. From now on, what kind of women will not be available? Who dares to make irresponsible remarks to him?"
"But -" Wang Jingfeng was a little unconvinced: "There is no woman in Luoyang who is more beautiful than me."
Wang Xuan decided not to talk to his eldest sister.
The more you talk, the more enthusiastic she becomes, and she really has the capital to be proud of. Otherwise, his father would not use the eldest sister as a bargaining chip - but who knew that Mr. Chen had such a strong taste that he actually liked a cold woman like the second sister? .
Thinking of his father Wang Yan, Wang Xuan's thoughts returned to business.
Langya King Sima Rui made a big move this time.
Zhou Fu had been wiped out and fled back to his hometown in Runan. Yangzhou was finally unified, and it was no longer like the two governors talking to each other before.
In the battle of Shouchun, Chu Zhong (Wang Dun) was the nominal commander, but the battle was actually fought by his subordinates. He was only responsible for logistics, coordination, liaison, reporting of merit and other chores.
Gan Zhuo (the great-grandson of Gan Ning), who had the highest military exploits, once served as a soldier in the Sima Yue shogunate, and this time he was appointed as the governor of Xiangzhou - the original governor Xun Tiao had been appointed by Du Tao.
After Zhou Fu was defeated, King Langya, who was in charge of the military affairs of the five states of Yang, Jiang, Xiang, Jiao and Guang, sent troops northward to capture Xiapi. He defeated Zhao Gu in Pengcheng and fled north with his remaining troops.
After taking over Xuzhou, King Langya appointed Zu Ti as the governor of Xuzhou.
Wang Shu had tipped him off about this matter. I don’t know what his motivation was. However, Wang Xuan had already sent someone to inform Mr. Chen. Perhaps this was Chu Ming’s purpose.
Speaking of which, Wang Xuan now also realizes what it feels like for a big family to have officials divided into different factions.
Most of the descendants of the Langya Wang family went to Jianye to work for Langya Wang Rui.
His father and he were in Luoyang, claiming to be neutral, but in fact they were secretly leaning towards Chen Gong.
It is a relatively tactful way to send a message between the family members of each party.
But it seems that Mr. Chen doesn’t agree with this choice?
Wang Xuan thought hard and secretly went back to discuss it with his father and find another person.
In Xuzhou, everyone currently maintains a tacit understanding.
King Langya's navy began to retreat, giving up the territory it had gained.
Chen Gong also did not get involved in Xuzhou.
Both sides retained respect for the court, albeit only superficially.
However, after this battle, anyone with eyes and brains can see that the situation in the Central Plains is undergoing profound changes.
****
On the post road, it was muddy on a rainy day.
The battle was about to end, and the place was deserted with few pedestrians.
Through the light curtain of rain, you can see the shadows of dry trees on the embankment parallel to the canal.
The river embankment has been in disrepair for a long time and is dilapidated and intermittently broken.
There are several ancient locust trees and willow trees standing beside the post road, and their thick and twisted trunks are covered with arrow marks.
There were a few crows standing on the treetops, making a loud noise, making the bare fields far and near particularly desolate.
A long motorcade drove over, and the first car was loaded with dark things—heads?
In fact, there is more than just this one, there is a second one, a third one behind...
The crows became excited and chattered even louder.
The wind was howling all around, and the drizzle gradually turned into sleet.
These heads were quickly infiltrated and covered.
Occasionally, the convoy would stop outside a manor or fort to take a rest.
At this time, the head on the vehicle will become the object of onlookers.
After being introduced by the coachman, these nobles and powerful disciples realized that these were the heads of Xiongnu beheaded near Gaoping, with a total of more than 2,400 heads.
Hearing this, everyone stood in awe and looked at the spacious and tall carriage with fearful eyes.
The chariot was sent from Xuchang, along with a large amount of supplies and thousands of auxiliary troops, to pick up Duke Chen and return.
Some knowledgeable people whispered that it was probably one of the six large carriages given to Kaifu Yitong Sansi by the imperial court. It was made of exquisite materials, exquisite workmanship, luxurious decoration, and reflected luxury and majesty everywhere.
I see!
No one thought it was inappropriate. After all, King Sima of Xincai had received such a ceremony, so why couldn't Mr. Chen do the same?
In the two battles at Heze and Gaoping, the cavalry defeated the cavalry and killed the Xiongnu in a majestic manner.
There was also a surprise attack on Dongwuyang from the river, which made the thieves shaken on all fronts and lost the courage to continue fighting.
With such martial arts, who dares to talk nonsense?
After being amazed, everyone waited quietly by the road, hoping to see Mr. Chen.
The luxury car stopped.
"You go down, I won't go." Wang Jingfeng pinched his nose and said angrily: "Those heads stink to death."
"Does it smell bad?" Shao Xun smiled.
"You deal with dead people every day, and you can't smell it anymore." Wang Jingfeng gave him a sideways look.
"Isn't it because I'm working so hard to be nice to you?" Shao Xun asked.
Wang Jingfeng blushed and lowered his head, but then he secretly smiled and said, "I am really beautiful, right?"
Shao Xun: "..."
Shaking his head, after getting off the carriage, a group of people immediately bowed and saluted: "Mr. Chen."
Shao Xun returned the gift and after saying a few words, he stood on the roadside and looked at the endless wilderness.
"After the spring begins, the imperial court will send the new Prime Minister over, and I will need your help with some matters then." Shao Xun said suddenly.
"Mr. Chen, it's okay to say it." Everyone looked at me and at you, and finally pushed one person forward and said.
"The Kaocheng shogunate wants to resettle 3,900 households in the seven counties of Gaoping." Shao Xun turned around and said: "General Zhenjun, Yang Shijun will allocate part of the money and food, and you can help me a little bit."
Have any objections?"
Everyone was silent for a moment.
Fortunately, the man who was pushed out was smarter. He glanced over the Xiongnu's head and said immediately: "I have no objection."
Shao Xun nodded and said: "That's right. The exact amount will be shared with you after the Prime Minister takes office."
Gaoping was a vassal state, which was the same as his Chenjun.
The first Gaoping County Duke was Chen Qian, the son of Cao Wei Situ Chen Jiao and the founding hero of the Jin Dynasty.
After Chen Qian passed away, it was passed down to three generations: Chen Yu, Chen Zhi and Chen Cui.
When the Xiongnu invaded, Chen Cui's fiefdom was breached. The Chen family's men and women died or fled, and the rest were plundered by the Xiongnu.
The Prime Minister also died.
Theoretically, the imperial court should choose one person from the remaining members of the Chen family to adopt to Chen Cui and take the title of Duke of Gaoping.
But Shao Xun didn't want the Chen family to continue to dominate Gaoping Country.
Among the seven counties of Gaoping, there are only four gentry on the stage.
The Chen family of Gaoping County is one, there are the Tan family, the Xi family in Jinxiang, and there is also the Luqiu family in Juye - when Sima Yue was the Taifu, Lu Qiuchong served as the chief historian in the shogunate and later became an official in the court.
Lu Qiuchong was a little scared when Luoyang was besieged this time. He resigned from his post and planned to go to Kaocheng again to carry out the work for Sima Yue's son.
As for the reason for this, of course it was discovered that Shao Taibai had appeared in Henan. With him around, Kaocheng would be safer than Luoyang. Even if there were no good positions in the general and shogunate of the army, he would still have to occupy a hole first.
The so-called "3,900 households" mentioned by Shao Xun are actually the 3,900 remaining members of the Yamen Army.
He has decided to take advantage of the favorable opportunity when Gaoping was defeated to move the entire Yamen Army to seven counties to serve as government troops and strengthen his control here.
There is Dongping Kingdom as a barrier to the north of Gaoping, which is not on the front line of the war. Once the enemy invades, they will inevitably enter the three countries of Dongping, Puyang, and Jibei first, which can act as a buffer for Gaoping, which is on the second line, allowing the government troops to gather in time.
He had already thought of giving the post of Gaoping Prime Minister to Yu Zhi who was idle at home.
As for the fate of Gaoping State, he preferred to directly abolish the state and establish counties, and let Yu Zhi become the prefect.
Today's talk about money and food with these local scholars was not really necessary, it was just a test of obedience.
These grandsons are all just outsiders, and they respect everyone they come to.
After the new Prime Minister took office and the troops were deployed, the space for them to gain traction was greatly reduced.
To put it bluntly, it means actual control.
Chapter completed!