Chapter 1843: Repayment of old grudges to posterity
Outside Zhongshan City, in an abandoned Tudir Temple, more than forty Han Chinese wearing bamboo hats and commoners sat in an open space outside the temple without saying a word. They were all silent, in the wild forest outside the temple.
, the crows were heard, and occasionally there were the calls of wild dogs and jackals, but these people turned a deaf ear to them.
There was a sound of gentle footsteps, and an old woman in ragged clothes, carrying a cane and a broken bowl, walked over shakily. However, all the guests in bamboo hats stood up in unison and looked at
Facing the visitor, the old woman with gray hair and a face like dead tree bark slowly raised her head, looked directly at a middle-aged man sitting at the door of the mountain temple, and said in a voice like a broken gong: "
Why bother making steel?"
The middle-aged man took a deep breath and said loudly: "It's so soft around your fingers." He took off his bamboo hat, and a square and weathered face unfolded in front of the visitor, "Princess Lan, how have you been on your journey?"
The old woman nodded gently and raised her face. Murong Lan's stunning face was revealed in front of everyone. She smiled slightly: "I didn't expect that after so many years of separation, Brother Lu's style remains the same. It's a pleasure to meet you, a pleasure to meet you."
This middle-aged man was the direct family governor of the Fanyang Lu family who was the governor of Youzhou at that time. Lu Pu was also the great-grandson of Lu Zhan who stayed in the north during the Yongjia Rebellion. He is also the current head of the Lu family.
The disciple, he looked at Murong Lan and said in a deep voice: "Princess Lan, take out half of the talisman of justice left by your ancestors and ask me to come here. What are your instructions?" As he said this, he took out his left and right hands.
The half piece of sandalwood talisman has been polished by the years, and its edges and colors have been polished for at least nearly a hundred years. When put together, it becomes a complete wooden talisman, with four big characters written on it - any kindness must be repaid!
Murong Lan sighed softly: "Brother Lu is indeed a man of faith, and Fan Yang Lu is really true to his words. I never thought that the kindness of our Murong ancestors back then would be rewarded today. But Brother Lu
As the governor of Great Yan, he did not serve Great Yan during the national crisis but abided by the agreement made a hundred years ago. This is something I, Murong Lan, cannot understand."
Lu Pu smiled slightly: "Because this governor of Youzhou is not the kindness of Dayan to my Lu family, but my Lu family has been guarding our hometown for many years. The people in Fanyang area of Youzhou just recognize our Lu family, regardless of the Hebei area.
No matter how the political power is changed, I, the Lu family, can protect the country and the people. When my brother Ling raised the army to restore the country, I, the Lu family, also relied on the prefectures and counties to stand alone and did not favor any party. Fu Pi and brother Ling were given the post of governor of Youzhou at the same time.
, and we also accepted it at the same time. Princess Lan, as the envoy back then, should be most aware of this."
Murong Lan smiled slightly: "My brother has abided by the agreement and has not collected taxes in Fanyang area for so many years. The tax collection is only symbolic. It can be said that compared to other days under the Yan rule, Brother Lu and Fan Yang can be treated more leniently.
, isn’t such kindness enough for you to repay Dayan when he is in trouble?”
Lu Pu said calmly: "Over the years, we have been paying taxes as agreed, but we have never lost a stone or rice. This is our Lu family's obligation to Dayan. As for the levy, we agreed not to levy the Han people in Fanyang.
Nothing has changed now. With a hero like Princess Youlan of Dayan here, the Wei army will not be wiped out so easily. I still have confidence in this."
Murong Lan curled up her lips: "It turns out that Brother Lu thinks he doesn't owe Dayan anything, and that's the case for you Han noble families in Hebei. It's just that this loyalty order was already a hundred years ago, and you actually still give it to him
Admittedly, this surprised me a bit.”
Lu Pu shook his head: "That's different. Back then, there was great chaos in the north and the barbarians invaded. My great-grandfather, Lu Gong, was a close friend of Liu Kun, the governor of Bingzhou in the Jin Dynasty. He did not go to the south, but stayed in the north to fight with him.
We share life and death. Later, Liu Kun was defeated and died. Great-grandfather had no choice but to join Later Zhao. When Later Zhao fell, great-grandfather was killed. However, ancestors and great-uncles took their own clansmen and tribes. One group went south to join the Jin Dynasty, and the other group went north to Liaodong.
, came out of the fortress and attached to your Murong family. My grandfather, Ba Yan, was protected by your Murong family. This loyalty token was passed down in order to repay your Murong family's kindness. Half of it is in your hands, and the other half is in your hands.
In the hands of my descendants of the Lu family, I have agreed that I will help you, the Murong family, no matter what happens, to repay old kindness. Today is the time for us to repay our kindness."
Murong Lan sighed: "I remember that my eldest brother didn't use this token when he rebelled against Yan, or when the former Yan was destroyed, but I didn't expect that it would be used today. Before his death, my eldest brother left it for me.
The secret order says that your Lu clan is the real deadly weapon to restrain the Wei army."
Lu Pu curled up his lips: "We, the Fanyang Lu family, have lived in Hebei for many years and have tens of thousands of troops to protect the country and the people. But after all, they are not regular troops, and they are far inferior to your Murong family's armor and cavalry.
, I’m wondering, how can we help you this time?”
Murong Lan smiled slightly: "I, a native of Yan and Xianbei, are good at bowing and horsemanship, galloping on the battlefield, and charging into battle. This is our strength. But this time, I don't need a majestic formation, but an extraordinary force."
Lu Pu frowned: "I brought 3,000 men and 20,000 shi of military rations this time. Aren't they here to guard Yecheng? Do you want us to go into battle to fight the Wei army? That's not driving sheep to feed tigers.
What?"
Murong Lan shook his head: "I have soldiers in Ye City, and I don't need you if we want to fight. However, if we are to attack the Wei army by surprise, you must be the one to do it. Brother Lu, I know that your Fanyang Lu family has
In addition to the huge family business, they also operate and control more than half of the merchants and traders in Hebei. The so-called traffickers in Hebei are mostly your Lu family's business, right?"
Lu Pu nodded: "Yes, but that was a time of peace, and now it is a time of war. Most of our businesses have closed their doors. What, you want us to transport military rations to the army? I'm afraid it's not that easy. Now the Wei army
They are rampant everywhere, and even those of us have to dress up as small businessmen and hawkers and come to Zhongshan in batches, let alone directly provide military supplies for Dayan."
Murong Lan smiled and waved his hand: "Now Tuoba Gui has withdrawn from the siege of Zhongshan and turned to attack Xindu. Once he captures Xindu, he will definitely not retreat like this and will definitely besiege Zhongshan again. When the time comes, how many times will it be possible for him to retreat?
The supply of rations for a hundred thousand troops will become a big problem, and at this time, I need you to provide rations to the Wei army. Brother Lu, your 20,000 stones of rations are ready."