In Hengshan at the end of March, the chill gradually faded away, and the warm spring breeze blew from afar.
A large willow tree was planted next to the post road, its branches fluttering in the spring breeze. Wild flowers bloomed under the willow, bright and pleasing to the eye.
Shi Zan and more than ten followers were galloping on the thoroughfare leading to Yanzhou.
There was a restaurant on the roadside. Shi Zan was hungry, so he took people there.
The sky slowly became gloomy, and after a while, a drizzle started to fall.
The drizzle washed away the flowers and leaves, cleared away the dark dust, soaked the farmland, and nourished the earth.
It's good rain!
Shi Zan stood on the roadside, looking fascinated.
Among the layers of hills and ravines, raindrops as fine as cow hair are flying everywhere.
It should be raining in spring in Xuzhou now, right? It's a pity that people have lost their crops and can't farm.
General Xu Wen handed a large plate of meat to the outside. Shi Zan stopped staring and sat down to devour the meat.
"Is this beef?" Shi Zan could tell after taking one bite.
"Beef." Xu Wen was so full of rumors that he just replied vaguely and continued to enjoy the meal.
There is so much beef for you to eat in the Central Plains, and you can only eat it in places close to the grasslands, but it is impossible to eat it often, otherwise there would have been beef restaurants all over Youzhou and Hedong. Under Shao Shude's rule, households must have raised a lot of beef. Cattle, otherwise it would not be so widespread.
The shop must have been open for a long time, and the stone steps were covered with moss on both sides. Raindrops fell along the eaves, creating a deep depression in the ground.
A dog ran back from a distance, saw a large group of strangers, whined and turned away.
Shi Zan smiled and then calmed down, because the sound of horse hooves could be heard in the distance.
"The commander-in-chief has prepared a banquet for you and me in Dongcheng. I didn't expect to have dinner here halfway through." The visitor's tone of voice was not very good. Shi Zan didn't take it seriously. After wiping his hands on his robe, he stood up. He saluted and said, "May I ask, who is Shuofang Military Academy?"
"Eat quickly and hurry up. The commander is waiting in Yanzhou City." The visitor waved his hand and said.
Behind him were dozens of sergeants, all of whom dismounted and stood aside, waiting silently in the rain.
They were resentful towards these Xuzhou sergeants. If it hadn't been for the sudden arrival of these people, the commander would have taken the Tielin Army back to Lingzhou long ago, and everyone would have been able to see their families as soon as possible.
The commander-in-chief cannot be blamed, so he can only blame the people of Xuzhou.
"Get up and go! Bring whatever you haven't eaten with you." Shi Zan didn't waste any time and immediately ordered.
The followers responded one after another, and soon they finished packing, mounted their horses, and set off.
Dozens of riders quickly headed north along the post road.
The wind got stronger and stronger, and the unlocked firewood gates in the villages on both sides of the road swayed back and forth in the wind and rain.
Farmers in the fields wear coir raincoats and are busy.
Water birds perch in the reeds and chirp happily.
On the small river, a small boat passed by, loaded with corn and firewood.
Soon, the huge city walls of Yanzhou's five cities appeared in front of them.
…
"Ten days of watering is not as good as one rain." Shao Shude took a nap in the post house before getting up.
After tucking Zhao Yu into bed, Shao Shude put on his robe under the service of the maid and came to the study.
"Commander, Shi Zan is here."
"Let him in."
The soldiers carefully searched Shi Zan's body to make sure that no sharp weapons were hidden, and then brought him in.
"Shi Zan, the governor of Sizhou and the commander of the Three Houses in Xuzhou, has met the Prince of Lingwu County." Shi Zan, with a sad face, only glanced at Shao Shude and saluted.
Shao Shude sat still and said: "Please sit down in the office and serve tea."
Shi Zan did not refuse and sat down directly. This time he raised his head openly and looked at Shao Shude.
"How much grain is there in Xuzhou?" Shao Shude asked straightforwardly.
This is the core issue.
In the Battle of Wukang Town in the first year of Wende, Shi Pu led 70,000 cavalry to fight, but the result was a disastrous defeat, and the main force had been defeated.
In the Battle of Luliang the next year, Xuzhou's remaining elite troops were defeated again by Pang Shigu, and they were doomed to defeat.
The main reason why they have not been destroyed is that the Xuzhou soldiers have become timid and have adopted a relatively pragmatic strategy of focusing on defense.
Offense and defense are, of course, not the same thing.
Even if Shao Shude evaluates it, an army that dares to attack, even if its winning rate is lower, is better than an army that only defends and has a higher winning rate.
The two requirements for soldiers and generals are not at the same level at all.
Xuzhou's main force was destroyed, and the remaining defeated troops could only defend. But what's the use? The people couldn't farm.
After the army rations are finished, go to the surrounding countryside to collect food. If you can't collect it, can you still defend it?
"If you return to Lingwu County Prince, you can hold on for more than half a year." Shi Zan replied.
"What about half a year from now?"
"Maybe we can take advantage of the unpreparedness of the Bian army and go to the surrounding areas to collect grain."
"This is not a solution." Shao Shude shook his head and said: "Even as far away as Lingxia, I have heard that floods occur every year in Xuzhou, wars continue, and sixty-seven out of ten people are scattered. Even if there is surplus food, it will be difficult to collect it, and the people will be forced to death.
"
Shi Zan felt a little dissatisfied, but felt that his words were true.
The dissatisfied part is that Xuzhou can continue to defend for a while. If more rations can be looted from the people, it will not be a problem for a year.
Moreover, after the people's food is robbed, the Bian army can be dragged down.
He had seen before that Zhu Quanzhong dispersed military rations to help the people of Xuzhou, but dispersing military rations would inevitably increase the burden on the rear and cause greater consumption.
But this is indeed not a long-term solution, and it will eventually fail, sooner or later.
"I heard that Yang Xing secretly sent people to resume production in Huainan. We may form an alliance with him and borrow food and grass." Shao Shude said: "This year our army will also go eastward from time to time to contain the Bian army. Shi Sikong is a sensible person and should know what to do."
"I'm afraid the Prince of Lingwu County doesn't know yet." Shi Zan said with difficulty: "When I left Xu, my father had already made a plan. After the snow melted, he sent his generals south to attack Huainan, plunder the army's supplies, and recruit soldiers.
"
"What?" Shao Shude stood up suddenly.
Shi Zan smiled helplessly and stopped talking.
Shao Shude also laughed, and he laughed angrily.
A military leader is a military leader, and his brain circuitry is different from that of normal people.
There was no owner in Huainan. Even though Yang Xingmi was at war with Sun Ru, he still sent people to the north of the Yangtze River to seize the territory. Shi Pu, you are so lucky, you actually went south to plunder. You think Yang Xingmi is easy to bully.
However, Yang Xingmi recruited a large number of Cai soldiers from Jiangbei, and their combat effectiveness was no longer the same. Shi Pu's group of defeated soldiers might not be able to defeat others.
But that's actually not the point.
The point is, shouldn't we befriend Yang Xingmi? Yang Xingmi is discerning. He is willing to lend food to even strangers. If Shi Pu asks, he may not be able to get it, so why do it have to be like this?
"Shi Sikong agreed to move the town a few days ago, but now he has gone back on his word. Is there any movement in Si and Hao two states?"
"Go back to Lingwu County Prince, there should be no problem in Si and Hao Prefectures."
"Tell the truth!" Shao Shude raised his voice and said, "Xuzhou is in danger, and this is not the time to cover up."
All the Shao soldiers in the study looked at Shi Zan with burning eyes.
Shi Zan paused for a moment and then said: "Si and Haozhou are a little unstable. They may use the excuse that my father has moved the town and surrender to Quanzhong."
"Fetch Deputy Chen." Shao Shude ordered.
Chen Cheng was the deputy envoy of Jiedu, which was the chief staff officer of the feudal town. During the Tielin Army era, there were only 4,000 soldiers. At that time, the only dozens of civilian personnel in the army were assigned to Chen Chenggui.
Zhao Guangfeng's staff position was to accompany the army, and his official position was to be the deputy envoy of Jingyuan Jiedu. He was the second-ranking staff member in the army. Each of them was responsible for his own affairs.
Chen Cheng came quickly. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Shao Shude standing there and stepped forward to salute.
"Deputy Envoy Chen, sent someone to Chang'an to ask the imperial court to immediately issue an edict appointing Shi Pu as the Jiedu Envoy of the Reform Army (the official name of Xu Zhen), and to travel day and night to the Xu Si prefectures."
"As commanded."
"Is there anyone in the office who can be trusted?" After giving the instructions, Shao Shude turned around and asked.
"Yes." Shi Zan didn't know what Shao Shude wanted to do, so he subconsciously replied.
"Maybe we have to go back to Xuzhou." Shao Shude said: "Deputy Envoy Chen, when he goes to Xuzhou to deliver the message, he should send the middle official Han Quanhui as the envoy."
"Han Palace Superintendent is brave and resourceful, so he is suitable for this position." Chen Cheng immediately understood that he wanted to send a trustworthy person to Xuzhou to intervene in local affairs and reverse the situation.
"There are some things that I need to explain clearly to the Palace Supervisor Han in advance."
"As commanded."
After Han Quanjie slipped back from Shu, life was difficult. He expressed his loyalty to Shao Shude several times and invited him to Shuofang to supervise the army.
Shao Shude did not agree. Qiu Weidao is an old man and has been living in seclusion in recent years. He heard that he wants to cultivate immortality. Shao Shude is too lazy to take care of it. All the expenses in the Supervisory Army Courtyard are not lacking. The rewards during festivals are always indispensable for the Supervisory Army, and he returns them privately.
He received many gifts. Among the Qiu clan members who came to seek refuge, the talented ones served as officials and the courageous ones were recruited into the army. They truly fulfilled their promise to Tongfugui.
Han Quanhui wants to come to Shuofang to serve as a supervisor. Where do you place Qiu Weidao?
However, if he can make a contribution this time, it will not be without good results. It all depends on how he performs.
Shi Zan didn't leave the post house until evening. When he went out, he was sweating all over his back.
"How's it going inside the yamen?" Xu Wen stepped forward and asked.
"We will continue to wait for news from Chang'an." Shi Zan was not in a very high mood and said: "The Lingwu County Prince is extremely ambitious and wants to surround Zhu Quanzhong."
"What kind of encirclement method?" Xu Wen asked.
"Go over there and talk." Shi Zan led the horse and walked to a large locust tree in the distance. While taking shelter from the rain, he said: "The King of Lingwu County asked the court to send out angels quickly to recover the original decree. This is an important task.
My father is a governor, so as not to give evidence to some people, he has surrendered his loyalty."
According to the system, when someone is appointed as a commander-in-chief, the angel must first go to the official's office and read out the imperial edict and grant the banner in front of the generals of the upcoming military palace and the officials of the supervisory military academy.
Theoretically speaking, the matter is not over at this point. We still need to go to each state, the state governor will come out to welcome him, and read out the imperial edict again. This is the entire process. But nowadays, in this season, the first step is usually completed, and the last step is completed.
It's not necessarily the case, some have finished it and some haven't.
Si, Hao Erzhou, do you say they are not loyal to Shi Pu? This may be an injustice. I will accompany you to send troops and fight with you. This is the fifth year of the war with Zhu Quanzhong. The fight was so brutal, everyone is very interesting.
.
But it was indeed the end of the rope, and there was only a thin line between surrendering and not surrendering. Shi Pu agreed to move the town, but then regretted it when the matter came to pass. This may become a subtle factor that prompted the two states to surrender. Zhu Quanzhong had a way to convince himself.
The excuse for deceiving myself is not that I am unfaithful, but that the court has a purpose.
"Zhu Xuan, what will Zhu Jin do?" Xu Wen suddenly asked.
These two brothers are now brothers in need in Xuzhou. They rescue each other even though their lips are broken and their teeth are cold, but the ending is often very bleak.
"Most likely someone will have to be sent. Just now, Prince Lingwu asked Zhu Xuan what the honorary titles of Zhu Jin and Zhu Jin were. He probably wanted to give them promotions, or even promotions. In this case, an angel would be sent to Yan and Yun to announce the decree.
Who knows who is going there." Shi Zan said: "I think this court is like Shao Shude's chamber pot. Use it if you want to use it. If you don't want to use it, just throw it away. I'm afraid it won't be very interesting if I wait to enter the court."
"Yamen, Sikong asked you to join the court in order to preserve the blood of the Shi family." Xu Wen said.
Shi Zan was silent. This time when he entered the court, he brought his wife and children with him. He really had no intention of going back. This was also his father's request.
"Bang!" Shi Zan punched the trunk of the locust tree and gritted his teeth: "As long as Shao Shude can attack and kill Zhu Quanzhong, so what if I become his dog? I will kill whoever he wants to kill, even the emperor.
Yes, as long as we can kill Zhu Quanzhong."
Xu Wen was shocked when he heard this and said hurriedly: "Yamen must be careful. When entering the court, only one of the three thousand Xu soldiers will follow the yamen. But you must be cautious in everything. Don't give up on yourself before the Shi family is at the end of its rope."
.”
"I know." Shi Zan breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "When Cain endures, he will endure."