"Lord, it's you and me again this time?" On the spacious official road, Zhou Cang looked at the surrounding wilderness and looked at Chu Nan with some worry.
"Dislike it?" Chu Nan asked with a smile.
"How dare you, general? It's just that if someone really assassinates you, your general may not be able to protect the public safety." Zhou Cang said with a bitter smile.
He had almost no outstanding performance in the Battle of Jizhou. Whether it was Qi Men Tian Di or the military battle, he could only act as an errand boy beside Chu Nan. He was not needed in the battle. Even the generals were there by themselves.
It seemed that he was not ranked in the battle. From the beginning to the end, Zhou Cang was more like a soy sauce player. Even the newcomer Zhao Yun was better than him, which greatly frustrated Zhou Cang's confidence.
"How come there are so many strong enemies under our army?" Chu Nan said with a smile: "Besides, although I don't have many troops, how do you know that I have no other means of self-protection?"
Zhou Cang glanced at the demon ants and demon mantises on Chu Nan's shoulders. The combat power of these two demon pets could only be considered average. Even though Chu Nan had other insects on his body and the goshawk above his head could provide support from the air at any time, but
If you really encounter a strong enemy, a demon pet of this level will be of no use.
"Let's go, don't miss the time." Chu Nan did not explain, and took Zhou Cang to continue heading west. According to the planned route, he would enter Hedong from Luoyang and then go to Guanzhong, then Xiliang, Bingzhou, You
Zhouzhou, and finally to Jizhou, Qingzhou and then back to Xuchang.
During this trip, the distance traveled and the cities experienced were more than double that of the last time. Moreover, there are still many problems that need to be solved in Xiliang. The estimated time is...three years.
It is undoubtedly unreasonable in the eyes of others to go out on inspection just after taking over as Prime Minister, but only the core members of Chu Nan know the significance of Chu Nan's departure to the court, not to mention that he still needs to refine
The luck of the six states resembles its own dragon spirit.
As for the safety issue, Chu Nan has naturally considered it. In addition to the demon ants, demon mantises, and goshawks that can be seen at the moment, there are twelve demon beasts within a ten-mile radius of him that are probing around at any time. If they encounter them, they may attack them.
If Chu Nan poses a threat to someone, he will give a warning in advance.
As for the accompanying soldiers, Chu Nan would become a conspicuous target. It was impossible for him to bring an army with him. Goshawk's job was not to protect him, but to lead him to escape when he encountered real danger.
The two masters and servants were walking like this. There was no need for Chu Nan to strengthen his cultivation. The grain varieties in the Central Plains were enough to be promoted to all states. Regardless of the type or quantity, they were enough to support the whole country. In fact, even for Jingzhou, Jiangdong, and Shu
, Chu Nan has never restricted the sale of cultivation, but whether it can be cultivated is a question they should consider.
If the method of farming in the Central Plains could really be adapted to the land in all directions without Chu Nan's help, Chu Nan would be very happy.
If we learn from it, perhaps the grain output of the Central Plains will double.
Along the way, unless they finally refine their luck, the two of them would not go to the county town to reveal their identities. Most of the time, they would go and eat wherever they went. Starting from Luoyang and going to Xiliang, normally if they were traveling in military formation, it would take up to ten days.
It can be reached, but Chu Nan is obviously not in a hurry. What he wants to change is the earth's veins. Every time he walks a certain distance, he must use earth dragons to change the earth's veins to increase fertility, and then use flying pigeons to send a letter to the prime minister's office to inform this person.
You can start farming in one area and then move on to the next area.
It took nearly seven months just to get to Xiliang.
Jincheng, Han Mansion. After Ma Chao returned from taking the position of Colonel Protecting Qiang, Ma Teng left Pang De behind and took his family to Xuchang. This was the previous agreement with Chen Gong.
When the Xiliang coalition forces were ambushed by Xinpi and Guo Yuan in Xihe County, they suffered heavy losses. After returning, Han Sui wanted to take the opportunity to capture Xiliang, but Pang De later returned to guard it. However, even so, Han Sui captured most of Xiliang, including horses.
The Ma family's territory was not lost, but Han Sui had already taken over Xiliang, so the Ma family's momentum was naturally suppressed by Han Sui.
However, in the battle between Yuan and Chu, the news that Chu Nan finally won forced Han Sui to give up his plan to swallow up the Ma family. After all, Ma Teng was the governor of Xiliang appointed by Chu Nan. Attacking Ma Teng at this time would be an enemy of Chu Nan, who was in full swing.
, Han Sui was naturally unwilling, and even took the initiative to surrender in order to gain a chance to continue to survive.
But soon, the New Deal began to be promoted in Xiliang. Although Ma Teng left, Ma Chao still implemented the court's New Deal and began to promote it in Xiliang.
No matter how powerful the Central Plains nobles are, they can't defeat Chu Nan, let alone Xiliang. With the dilapidated scene of Xiliang and even Guanzhong, the nobles with some background are almost gone, and it is even harder to compete with Chu Nan. As for dealing with Ma Chao, Han
So I didn't dare.
Not to mention that the entire imperial court is standing behind Ma Chao. Dealing with Ma Chao is likely to attract the imperial court's attention. The land of Xiliang is originally vast and sparsely populated. Over the years, the generals have been fighting and losing a lot of population. There is not much population left.
, the Battle of Xihe severely damaged Xiliang's vitality. Even if Han Sui had integrated most of Xiliang's forces now, he was still far inferior to the imperial court's master of hundreds of battles.
Even regardless of the attitude of the court, Han Sui would not have the confidence to defeat Ma Chao alone. After returning from the court, he could clearly feel that Ma Chao had grown a lot, not only in his martial arts and military skills, but also in his conduct as a person.
He behaves in a very orderly manner, and he has the bearing of a famous general.
Coupled with the Ma family's prestige among the Qiang people, Han Sui had no confidence in defeating Ma Chao even if Ma Chao was now in a weak position.
But now there was a good opportunity, which made Han Sui hesitate.
Chu Nan has come to Xiliang, and there are not many guards around him!
When he heard the news, Han Sui's first reaction was disbelief.
Although he has never met Chu Nan in person, he still has some understanding of his behavior. Although Chu Nan is young and Han Sui can be his father according to his age, Chu Nan is quite steady in his behavior. Even if he takes risks,
And he would never put himself in danger.
How could such a person come to Xiliang alone?
"How did you learn about this?" In the study, Han Sui looked at Cheng Gongying in front of him and asked with a frown.
"The news came from old friends in Guanzhong that the Prime Minister had left Xuchang at the beginning of the year and was heading west. Everywhere he went, he traveled around without contacting local officials. He would only go to the government office to inform him when he left.
It is said that he is quite miraculous. As soon as he left, the local crops grew wildly, and it took only a month to reach maturity. They all thought it was a god who came to the world." Cheng Gongying said.
"Although Xiliang has nominally surrendered to the imperial court, the military power has always been in our hands. Could it be that Chu Nan came here because of this incident?" Han Sui frowned.
"I don't know this subordinate, but I heard that something similar happened three years ago. At that time, Chu Nan newly acquired the Central Plains, and he traveled around the Central Plains like this. It took two years, and then the Central Plains' products doubled and the people became rich. I thought it was a legend.
, but now it seems that this statement is true." Cheng Gongying shook his head, it was difficult to judge this matter.
"If you really did what you did back then, you really should go to Xiliang." Han Sui nodded. He had some old friends in Xuchang back then, and he knew this matter better than Cheng Gongying. Now that Chu Nan has taken over the northern states, he did this
, which makes sense. It also means that people have no time to pay attention to me. They are just passing by to improve Xiliang's products.
Although Han Sui was very curious about how he did this, it seemed that he did not come here specifically to deal with him, which made Han Sui sigh in relief.
He took out a letter, frowned and read it for a moment, then put it down with a headache.
"My lord, what are you worried about?" Cheng Gongying looked at Han Sui curiously.
"This is a letter sent by Huangfu Li, please take a look!" Han Sui pointed to the bamboo paper on the table.
Cheng Gongying took the letter and found out that the Huangfu family was a large family in Xiliang. Since the death of Huangfu Song, the Huangfu family had gradually declined. When Li Guo was in charge of the government, Huangfu Li was more active. Later, Huangfu Li went to Xuchang with the emperor.
, there is little information. We only know that after Chu Nan came to power, Huangfu Li claimed that he was ill and had to be in office. Therefore, he escaped the subsequent fight between Chu Nan and the imperial party.
But this time, Huangfu Li obviously got the news of Chu Nanxi's arrival and wanted to give it another try. However, the Guanzhong area had been sorted out by Chen Gong. Although it was not as stable as the Central Plains, the power of the gentry was also purged by Luo Ping'an.
The people in Guanzhong were almost wiped out, so they wanted to take action in Guanzhong, but they were obviously powerless, so they wanted to bring Han Sui along with them.
If Chu Nan died in Xiliang and his youngest son was just one year old, he would obviously be unable to inherit his father's inheritance. The power Chu Nan had established now would inevitably fall apart and the world would return to chaos.
But if the siege fails, then Han Sui will be unlucky, so Han Sui is worried about this matter.
This is indeed a great opportunity, but if it fails, there may be no place for him in the Central Plains.
"What do you want, my lord?" Cheng Gongying looked at Han Sui and lowered his voice subconsciously.
As Han Sui's confidant, Han Sui trusted Cheng Gongying even more than his son-in-law Yan Xing, so he discussed the matter with him.
"Now the New Deal is pressing harder and harder. If we continue to follow the New Deal, our officers and soldiers will fall apart even if they don't need to take control of the horse." Han Sui smiled bitterly and said: "But such treacherous and unethical things are indeed..."
Cheng Gongying understood.
In the past, when the warlords in Xiliang raised troops, they basically squeezed the people's power endlessly to be able to raise such a large number of troops. However, after the implementation of the New Deal, this road was obviously broken. The Xiliang army and the court were responsible for raising it.
This is not a free bargain. When a soldier eats food, whoever gives it will follow him. But with Ma Chao here, it is obviously not possible for him to plunder the people to obtain supplies like he did in the past. Ma Chao is very sad about this, or
He said that he only did this thing after coming to Xiliang.
The food was given by the imperial court, which meant that Han Sui's role in it had actually lost its significance. It was just that the soldiers were accustomed to following him, so they were temporarily stable.
But as time goes by, this person's heart will disperse.
So from Han Sui's point of view, it would be in his best interest to kill Chu Nan. However, Han Sui is not willing to take this risk, because if the incident fails, he may face Chu Nan's pursuit.
Kill, let alone Xiliang, there may not be a place for him in the Western Regions.
"Can Ma Chao be designed to kill Chu Nan?" Cheng Gongying asked.
"Ma Chao knows Chu Nan well, how could he fall into the trap?" Han Sui shook his head, but then paused and turned to look at Cheng Gongying.