Facing Zhao Guangyuan's questioning and wise eyes, Zhu Yixi couldn't help but sigh and said with emotion: "To be honest, Tongguan has been broken."
"Tongguan?" Zhao Guangyuan was stunned, and then said: "Don't hide it from me. If Tongguan is broken, how can Supervisor Sun get away with it?"
"Supervisor Sun, alas!"
Zhu Yixi shook his head and said: "Supervisor Sun also died in Tongguan."
As he spoke, his momentum suddenly increased, and he said urgently: "The million-strong army of thieves has already entered the pass. Shaanxi is so big that we can only let him run wild."
"With such a large-scale army and horses, although Hanzhong faces difficulties on the Chencang Road, can it survive alone?"
"Commander Zhao, are you sure you can fight against the intruders?"
This series of questions caught Zhao Guangyuan off guard.
Can these thousands of people be able to withstand the invading army?
I and others were defeated by hundreds of cavalry, so what confidence do we have?
"This..." Zhao Guangyuan thought for a while, his face turned pale, and then he smiled bitterly and said:
"To be honest, I don't have the confidence."
Isn’t this the end of it——
Zhu Yixi was extremely satisfied, looked at his helpless eyes, and then said in a deep voice:
"The superintendent relies on Hanzhong and me, but I have no talent. Although there are only a mere 10,000 people, they are equipped with artillery and are all elites. I still have some confidence in the invading army."
Zhao Guangyuan raised his head, his eyes full of doubt.
Seeing this, Zhu Yixi couldn't help but said: "I won't deceive you. I have left thousands of people to garrison at Dashan Pass."
"But these are not enough. We need a lot of materials, soldiers and horses, and supplies to barely resist the invasion of the thieves and save our lives, Guanjue."
"You also know that civil servants have always had great ambitions and limited talents, and they don't know how to pretend to understand. Due to helplessness, I had to recruit all the soldiers and horses in the government..."
"Oh I got it!"
Zhao Guangyuan suddenly realized.
In order to resist the intruder, he had to obey the authority in a hurry, and because of this, he was reckless and had a conflict with him.
Literary men have always been self-righteous, and it is right to avoid them.
Therefore, the original intention is good, but the execution is too rough.
All this is really a misunderstanding.
Seeing his appearance, Zhu Yixi felt happy, with a heavy look on his face and sincere eyes:
"Brother Zhao has been a loyal man for generations. I wonder if you would like to join me in resisting the intruders and staying together for warmth?"
"If I can preserve Hanzhong and protect the Ming Dynasty, how can I refuse?"
Zhao Guangyuan's eyes were bright at this time, he stood up and said in a loud voice:
"I have little talent and little knowledge. This time, I really made a fool of myself."
"By the way, general, what's your surname?" Zhao Guangyuan asked belatedly.
Hearing this, Zhu Yixi instantly became energetic. He raised his chest and said proudly:
"After entering the clan, my name is Zhu Yixi and my courtesy name is Jingming. Brother Zhao can just call me Jingming."
"It turns out they are members of the clan. No wonder they are so outstanding. It's disrespectful and disrespectful."
When Zhao Guangyuan heard this, he couldn't help but look at him, and he was inexplicably surprised. Then he felt relieved and breathed a sigh of relief.
Since Wanli, the clans have been liberalized, and many people have become officials, including middle-level Jinshi candidates. However, the court does not have much control over the lower clans.
However, there are very few people who can lead thousands of troops.
"Where, where, the clan is in decline, thanks to the promotion by the supervisor!"
Hearing these words, Zhu Yixi felt an inexplicable sense of relief in her heart.
Is this how Uncle Liu Huang feels? It feels so good.
"Brother Zhu, a defeated general cannot be said to be brave."
Zhao Guangyuan sighed, cupped his hands and said with a wry smile: "Since you are the commander-in-chief of the suppression of thieves, you can do whatever you want from now on."
Zhu Yixi hurriedly helped him, pretending to blame him and said: "Oh, that's wrong. You and I, brothers, are too outspoken to say this."
"We brothers should work together to fight against the intruders. Where can we tell the difference between you and me?"
Since we are brothers, your troops and horses will naturally be indistinguishable from each other.
Zhu Yixi smiled sincerely.
In order to appease people's hearts, Zhu Yixi did not directly recruit the soldiers and horses from Yangping Pass, but only took away 2,000 people.
He asked Li Jingwu to guard and gave him a look.
Li Jingwu understood and laughed.
Then, at the end of October, Zhu Yixi took Zhao Guangyuan to Nanzheng.
This trip, a round trip, only took six days due to the rapid march.
"Congratulations, general, on gaining a general."
Zhao Shu was smiling all over his face.
"Zhao Guangyuan is very knowledgeable and loyal to the imperial court. He is worthy of being a loyal minister."
Zhu Yixi sighed: "It's just that my talent is mediocre, so I can only use it temporarily."
Zhao Guangyuan was trustworthy even though Zhao led his disciples to death and slavery. He was an enemy of his father, and they were sworn in. He was just not very smart.
However, the powerful general has already taken the lead, and it is not yet his turn to take over.
Zhao Shu smiled softly and said: "What the general said is true."
"However, now, it is a double happiness."
"Oh, I see."
Zhu Yixi suddenly realized, then smiled and said: "You are talking about my marriage, right?"
"What the general said is true." Zhao Shu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your marriage with Sun Mansion can be said to be a powerful addition to a tiger. With the remaining power of Governor Sun, Hanzhong will run much more smoothly."
"The marriage, in that case, let's settle it first."
Zhu Yixi touched her chin. The beard there was already quite light and suitable for marriage.
As the saying goes, take a virtuous wife and take concubines.
Regarding the choice of his first wife, Zhu Yixi had long understood that it was a political marriage.
Sun Xueniang is tender and fair, has a good appearance and a gentle temper. She is also the daughter of Supervisor Sun, so she is a suitable wife.
As for Miss Miaoxian, she can only take a concubine.
"Although Miss Sun observes filial piety, it only takes half a year."
Seeing Zhu Yixi frowning, Zhao Shu hurriedly explained, fearing that Zhu Yixi would be dissatisfied.
"I understand that."
Zhu Yixi nodded, looked at Zhao Shu and said: "Now, the situation is unknown, and we don't know what will happen to the Great Sanguan. We must seize the time to recruit troops and collect supplies."
"The intruder is like a stick in the throat!"
"General, don't worry."
Zhao Shuxin said: "The three thousand sets of winter clothes from Hanzhong Mansion will be sent to Dashan Pass in a few days. The food and grass were dispatched three days ago."
"Now, the most important thing is that we don't have enough troops. You only have 10,000 people in your hands, so you are limited by your strength!"
Hearing this, Zhu Yixi agreed: "Including the thousands of people in Pingyang Pass, I am only ten thousand people, which is really insufficient."
"And the new recruits can't compete with the old thieves. We need more veterans."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shu asked Zhu Yixi about the issue he had previously considered, whether to go east or west.
"Gongchang Mansion? Yunyang Mansion?"
Zhu Yixi fell into deep thought.
Gongchang Prefecture is located to the west of Hanzhong Prefecture, which is the former Longyou. It is accustomed to sending out strong troops, but it is too close to Lintao Prefecture and Lanzhou.
As expected, it must be where Li Zicheng's military strategy is located. He will not go north unless the back garden is well taken care of.
What's more, Lintao Town, also known as Gansu Town, one of the three sides, where strong soldiers gather, will definitely be hit.
Go, it's too dangerous.
Yunyang Prefecture is located at the junction of Hubei, Henan, and Shaanxi. It is also very dangerous to face the intruders' troops in Huguang.