Chapter 196: It's hard to vote for Liu Ping with me
The cavalry rushed past, and the infantry rolled in.
The battle ended soon. On the north bank of the Wei River, more than 15,000 Qiang and Hu people came ashore one after another. Some were killed on the spot, while others were pushed into the river. All of them were slaughtered.
It's not that they are murderous, but that they can't feed themselves, and the Han soldiers themselves can't have enough to eat.
In this battle, nearly 40,000 Qiang people died.
The water accumulated for seven days, and the flood peak rushed out for more than ten miles. No one could count how many Qiang people were swept away, and no one knew how many of those people could survive. The Han army was unable to collect the corpses. It was an extremely wasteful operation.
It was a huge project of manpower and time. Their supplies were only enough for a few days, and they could not take care of the possibility of causing a plague.
There were about 30,000 to 40,000 Qiang people on the other side of the river. They had fled the river bank in fear and were probably returning to Wangyuan.
As for the exact number of people in the county, Liu Xiang didn't know, and neither did Dong Zhuo.
Looking at the Wei River that was gradually calming down, Dong Zhuo didn't want to cross the river. The army was no longer able to fight. He invited Liu Xiang: "Our army is going to Anding County for repairs. Yicheng, please follow me to withdraw."
He doesn't want to go back to the Longguan camp now, and he doesn't want to receive another military order asking him to die. Zhang Wen, the dog thief, almost killed him.
The friendly forces were unwilling to cross the river, and Liu Xiang would not fight alone. Anyway, the military order he received was to rescue Dong Zhuo. Whether he could destroy the Qiang people on the other side had nothing to do with him.
As for withdrawing the army with Dong Zhuo? Are you going to become his vassal?
Only a fool would go.
Liu Xiang resisted and said: "Our army was ordered to come to the rescue. Now that the task has been completed, it is natural to return to the camp to resume orders. I am no better than Brother Zhongying. I am alone outside. I have to be careful everywhere and will not be free."
Dong Zhuo coveted the Anping Army's three thousand barbarian cavalry, but he had no idea of annexing Liu Xiang's troops. It would be shameless to annex the reinforcements. If this news spread, he would no longer have to be a man, and no one would come to rescue him in the future. His subordinates
I'm afraid they will have to disperse.
"Zhang Wen is greedy for money and very stingy. I'm afraid the horses lost by Yicheng will not be replaced. Go to settle down with Mr. Dong, and Mr. Dong will find a way to help you make up for the gap."
"Can the lost horses be replaced? If Zhang Wen chopped off his head, can Brother Zhong Ying also make up for it?"
Dong Zhuo shook his head helplessly, Liu Xiang's refusal was firm, and his idea of abducting this boy failed. Forget it, instead of envying others, it is better to train himself. He said goodbye: "Yicheng came to help, Dong must have
Report later and say goodbye."
Liu Xiang returned the greeting and said goodbye: "Brother Zhongying, take care."
Dong Zhuo's army began to withdraw its troops and prepare to move north.
At this time, two people were saying goodbye on the remaining embankment on the north bank of the Weihe River.
Fan Xian limped and was about to leave.
Jia Xu persuaded with a headache: "Ziming, even if you want to join Liu Yicheng, you have to recover from your injuries. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Fan Xian turned around and complained: "What's wrong with Liu Pingnan? Do you think so little of him? Why can't you get along with me?"
“If the ground is thin, large things will not be supported; if the water is shallow, large fish will not swim; if the trees are bare, large birds will not be able to live there; if the forest is sparse, large animals will not be able to live there.”
Fan Xian sneered: "Dong Zhongying is covered in fat and really big. Jia Wenhe's eyes are so bright. He can only see fat and stupid people."
Jia Xu couldn't laugh or cry, and earnestly tried to persuade him to stay: "Ziming, you and I have known each other since childhood, and you have always regarded me as your brother. How could I see you jump into the quagmire? Then Liu Yicheng was in a worrying situation. He was a rebel, and he was close to the common people and persecuted the scholars.
The court is afraid, and the virtuous people are far away. It cannot last long and cannot be left. Why don't you listen to me?"
"Liu Pingnan has an outstanding military strategy, is approachable, and is courteous to his subordinates. He is truly a leader of the Ming Dynasty. His soldiers are loyal and sharp, and his armor is sharp. He also occupies Youzhou, has millions of followers, and has a stable foundation. Besides, he is a member of the Han clan, so there is no comparison.
Not as good as Dong Zhongying? Brother Wenhe, tell me that the world is about to be in chaos, and it is the time for heroes to rise. You have a beautiful heart, why can't you look at the world and have to be confined to a corner of Liangzhou?"
Jia Xu let out a long sigh and said quietly: "It is easy to look at the world, but it is difficult to defend your homeland."
Fan Xian frowned: "A real man has great ambitions, how can he be dragged down by his family?"
Jia Xu didn't like hearing such heartless words, so he said viciously: "Listen to my advice and don't go, otherwise I'll break your other leg. I'm afraid you'll forget how I beat you and called you brother."
"
"Haha." Fan Xian sneered: "It's just an excuse if you don't mention this. I will get angry when you mention it. You were twelve years old and I was only six years old. Are you proud of me for defeating you?"
"This is the glory of my life." Jia Xu twirled his beard proudly.
"Come, come, come." Fan Xian pulled out the long sword from his waist: "I have been practicing swordsmanship for more than twenty years, and today I will take revenge."
"Hold on!" Jia Xu knew that he was no match, so he quickly changed the subject: "I'm talking to you about business, how can I hold a sword against each other? Zi Ming's temper is too impatient. This is not good, very bad!"
"If you talk about business, talk about business. What did you do when you were a kid? This is the shame of my life." Fan Xian took back his sword and invited him again:
"Wen He, come with me to join Liu Pingnan. Your talents will be reused, so why waste time in Liangzhou? The Guandong gentry looks down on us Liangzhou people, so Liu Pingnan is already the best choice. When you were young, you
You were promoted to Xiaolian, and the imperial court also recruited you as a Langguan. "What's the result? I went to Luo for a while and came back dejected. Those Guandong aristocratic families are not from the same family as us, so don't take any chances anymore."
Jia Xu was often depressed because he had talents but could not put them to use. Seeing that when he reached forty and his eldest son was already married, he was afraid that his life would really be wasted.
Liu Yicheng of Youzhou, with his different ambitions and fighting against the world from one corner, would really not be able to last long, so what if he had an outstanding military strategy? He couldn't afford it, and he himself knew this truth, so he risked leaving his lair and came to fight two thousand miles away.
Fate, but under the general trend, it is difficult to resist.
Jia Xu didn't want to watch his friend jump into a trap. He tried to persuade him a lot, but his friend was stubborn and was really helpless. If he tried to stop him, he might lose his only friend.
He couldn't help but sigh again: "Oh! Ziming, do you really want to go?"
"I have made up my mind, Wenhe, Liangzhou can no longer stay. You know better than anyone else that this place has been completely chaotic and irreversible. Dong Zhongying is not the master of the Ming Dynasty. How long will you continue to observe?"
Everyone has their own ambitions. Jia Xu said goodbye with his hands crossed: "Ziming, the road ahead is bumpy. The most important thing is to save your life. Remember, remember."
Unable to persuade his friend to change his mind, Fan Xian was a little discouraged. He returned the favor and said goodbye: "I will keep this in mind, Brother Wenhe. See you later."
Fan Xian limped onto the carriage and drove eastward. Jia Xu quietly watched his friend disappear into the distance.
A guard nearby reported that the team had been marching for a long time, and the general urged them to speed up the march. If they didn't catch up, they would fall behind completely.
Jia Xu got on his horse and headed north quickly. The two of them went their separate ways. They traveled thousands of miles across mountains and rivers, but they didn't know what their situation would be like in the future or whether they could see each other again. They didn't know what the road ahead was like.