The General's Mansion was the former Taifu's Mansion. The mansion was very large and could station three thousand soldiers and horses inside and outside.
However, the materials and craftsmanship inside are not as good as those of General Wei's Mansion. Probably Sima Yi didn't put so much thought into the construction of the mansion. The scene is quite spectacular, because this mansion is on the southeast side of the palace, very close to the palace walls and towers. All clearly visible.
Just a few days after Wang Gongyuan's birthday party, Ma Jun took the initiative to come to the General's Mansion. Qin Liang promised to do it at Gongyuan's birthday party.
Hearing that Ma Jun asked for an audience, General Wang Ling immediately asked someone to take him to the inner house to meet him. Wang Gongyuan, Pei Xiu, Wang Shen and others also went.
Wang Ling is in good health, but his teeth are about to fall out. He usually only eats porridge and rice in the morning, and breakfast is also very light. So he usually goes back to the inner house to have one meal in the morning. Normal people only eat two meals a day, and Wang Ling wants to eat For four or five meals, he likes to eat porridge, soup and soft cooked meat.
Sima Yi's concubine Bai was snatched back by Wang Ling. Wang Ling ignored Bai at first, but soon discovered that the porridge cooked by Bai was very suitable for him. Probably Bai had also taken care of the old man Sima Yi for a long time, and he had already Experience. Now Wang Ling likes Bai's porridge very much.
But when Gong Yuan and others entered, they saw that the person next to Wang Ling was Mrs. Bai. Mrs. Bai was sitting on her knees and adding porridge to Wang Ling's bowl.
Because the smell is not easy to escape in the house, the air is filled with the fragrance of grains and minced meat. Smelling the smell, Gongyuan also felt salivating in his mouth, thinking that the porridge cooked by Bai's might be really delicious.
Ma Jun stood in front of several cases, bowed to Wang Ling, explained his purpose of coming, and said: "At the beginning of May... on the tenth day of the lunar month when I went to court, I informed you of the arrangements of the general... and I first explained the arrangements of the young master. The matter came two days late."
Gong Yuan couldn't hear it smoothly and thought that Deng Ai also stuttered. Zhong Ming seemed to like to associate with people who stutter?
Wang Ling took the porridge bowl, put it on the small table in front of him, and said in a casual tone: "On the tenth day of the fifth lunar month, Zhong Mingzhen informed Deheng A the next day, no later than no time. What did he say? of?"
Ma Jun immediately replied: "We should do our best in state affairs."
People who stutter but have a clear mind often speak incompletely and will select important content and speak briefly.
When Wang Ling heard this, he laughed and turned to look at Gong Yuan.
Gongyuan felt a little complicated for a while. Although no one said it clearly, because Zhongming had contributed so much in the battle of King Qin, the Wang family was actually wary of Zhongming. Zhongming was not arranged to lead the troops in this attack on Wu. , but Zhongming still helped sincerely. So Gongyuan felt a little sorry for Zhongming.
However, for the sake of the family's future, Gongyuan felt that there was nothing wrong with everything.
He remembered what his father, Wang Ling, said after meeting Sima Yi. Sima Yi mentioned that Jia Kui was just hypocritical. At that age, he was just planning for his descendants. Gongyuan believed that his father thought the same way. Yes, I have been protecting my family for so many years.
Sure enough, Wang Ling also said: "Zhong Ming is still reliable in his work."
Ma Jun cupped his hands and said: "General... how many trebuchets do you want to build and what is the construction period?"
Wang Ling looked at Pei Xiu who was standing aside.
Pei Xiu immediately bowed slightly toward Wang Ling, turned around and said: "Build more than a new cross, and it should be completed by mid-September at the latest. Of course, the sooner the better. Our army must reserve at least three months for attacking the city. Please." Can it be done?"
Wang Ling picked up the bowl of porridge and ate it with gusto. He didn't say anything for the time being, but he was probably listening attentively to the conversation between the subordinate officer and Ma Jun.
Ma Jun thought for a while and asked: "Has the wood in the upper reaches of the Qishui River been completely dried? The wood must... be dried in the shade first, otherwise the size will change."
Pei Xiudao: "There are some dried shipbuilding timbers. I need to send someone to count them first."
Ma Jun said: "As long as the wood... wood is enough, the requirements of the General's Mansion can be fulfilled."
The two continued to talk, and Pei Xiu even asked about the general process in detail, very attentively. Ma Jun's speech was not fluent, and his speech speed was relatively slow. The two of them talked for a long time.
Wang Ling had finished the bowl of porridge he had just added. Mrs. Bai asked him if he wanted more. Wang Ling shook his head and put the porridge bowl on the table.
At this time, he spoke again: "That's it."
Pei Xiu and Ma Jun stopped talking and bowed to the superior together: "Here."
Wang Ling glanced at Pei Xiu, was silent for a moment, and then looked sideways at Wang Shen and said: "Chu Dao went to Wancheng with Deheng. If something happens to you, help Deheng solve it. Ask the state and county officials to facilitate it. Don't delay." The construction period is over.”
Wang Chen bowed and said, "I accept your order."
Pei Xiu and Ma Jun have known each other for several years and are considered old acquaintances. However, I heard that they had a dispute. This is probably because my father did not ask Pei Xiu and Ma Jun to go south together.
It is said that the two people were arguing about a wheel-shaped stone chariot. Pei Xiu thought it could not be built, while Ma Jun believed the opposite. Pei Xiu considered himself knowledgeable and eloquent, at least his words were clear. In addition, he was young and energetic at the time. In the end, he won the fight. However, Ma Jun had a very stubborn temper. Even if he could not convince others, he was not convinced in the end.
Since Wang Chen and Ma Jun had nothing to do with each other, it would be more appropriate to send Wang Chen to assist Ma Jun.
Although Wang Chen first defected to Cao Shuang, then to Sima Yi, and now works as a servant in the general's mansion, he behaves loyally. He is probably the kind of person who understands current affairs. As long as the Wang family is powerful, Wang Chen is still reliable. Yes, and he is not afraid of offending anyone and will inform the General's Office if anything happens.
...After Ma Jun left the General's Mansion, he immediately drove north and came to General Wei's Mansion to meet Qin Liang.
Qin Liang was not in the mansion, but in the old office room on the west side of the front hall.
The room is not big, but because of this, Huan Fan, Qin Sheng, Yang Wei, Xiong Shou and others are closer to each other, unlike in the hall where they are far away from each other and it is difficult to talk. Moreover, the distance is close, Qin Liang can speak more clearly Feel everyone's expressions and tone. Under human rule, the most important thing is of course the employment of people.
After Ma Jun entered General Wei's mansion, he was also invited to this office. Ma Jun was the young master, so everyone made a special place for him, and he knelt down opposite Huan Fan.
However, Huan Fan hadn't finished talking yet, so Ma Jun could only wait.
Huan Fan was talking about the military garrison. The family members of the military garrison in Lujiang County had gradually moved to Xiangcheng, Jiaxian and other places, but the military garrison had to be relocated from other places to Lujiang County to consolidate the defense of Lu'an City.
This is how things were done at this time. Many things were discussed verbally, and then someone was found to take charge of it. There was a lot of autonomy. There were also some written warrants, but the documents that were mainly written on bamboo slips were relatively simple.
Ma Jun came relatively late, and everyone had already talked about what they wanted to talk about. After Qin Liang and Huan Fan finished talking, several people present stood up and left.
Qin Liang sent everyone out of the room, then turned around and sat down with Ma Jun again.
Ma Jun said that he had just gone to the General's Mansion, and Pei Xiu asked him to make at least ten trebuchets and replacement wooden parts before mid-September. Wang Chen would follow Ma Jun south to Wancheng.
Qin Liang listened to his narration silently, with mixed feelings at the same time.
The preparations for conquering Wu have entered the implementation stage, but Qin Liang is unable to participate and has to ask Ma Jun to help. Moreover, Wang Ling actually asked Wang Chen to go with him. Is it because he is worried that Qin Liang's people will cause trouble?
At that time, before Yangzhou launched an army to attack Sima Yi, Wang Chen took his people to Shouchun to deliver an edict and made Wang Ling a Taiwei. At the same time, he was also responsible for detecting whether there was any sign of an army in Shouchun. Now Wang Chen followed Ma Jun to preside over the construction of stone throwing. It seems that the machine can also monitor from the side. This person has experience in doing this kind of thing.
Qin Liang did not show his inner feelings and listened to what Ma Jun said almost expressionlessly.
Ma Jun stuttered and spoke slowly, giving Qin Liang enough time to think. So as soon as Ma Jun stopped speaking, Qin Liang responded immediately, almost without hesitation.
Qin Liang said: "The time to attack the city is only a few months in autumn and winter. In the spring, the troops will have to retreat when the water rises. After the wooden parts are completed, it will take time to transport them south from the Huishui River. Deheng should seize the time and complete the production as soon as possible."
Ma Jun cupped his hands and said, "Here."
Qin Liang continued: "Based on experience, if we start preparing now and send troops this year, it is very likely that Wu will not be able to find any signs in Jingzhou, and this campaign may have unexpected effects. But if the construction period is delayed, the battle will have to wait until Next autumn and winter, after such a long time, the movements of our army may be discovered by Wu spies in advance. The construction period will affect the outcome of the entire campaign and cannot be neglected."
Ma Jun said: "Don't worry, General Qin. As long as there are enough materials, a large number of wooden parts can be made in a few months. Whether building a ship or a trebuchet, the most time-consuming process is drying the wood in the shade, which takes two or three years."
Qin Liang nodded and said: "Very good. You will follow the requirements of the General's Office and do your best to handle your own affairs."
Qin Liang's attitude is not a big problem. Officials like Ma Jun naturally hope that Qin Liang's power will be further enhanced, but Ma Jun and others have already obtained high official positions at this time, and they still have to consider protecting what they have obtained. thing.
Wang Ling and Qin Liang are relatives. If they have a good relationship, at least others will not feel too dangerous.
Ma Jun said, "Those who had experience in dismantling and constructing trebuchets in the past were stationed in Lujiang County. Now they should be in the middle base, the backbone... In the second battalion, I have to lead some soldiers away."
When Qin Liang heard this, he immediately picked up the brush on the wooden case, wrote two lines on the slip, put the date on it, then covered it with the seal and picked up the bamboo slip: "Qing went to Qin Boyu and Yang Fude. Let them allow you to select people."
Ma Jun stood up, took the bamboo slips, took a look at it and said, "That's all right. I'll be sure to make preparations as soon as possible and leave the capital for Wancheng."
Qin Liang said: "Deheng will wait a while and have lunch together."
Ma Jun cupped his hands and said: "There are still some... cumbersome preparations. When the servant returns to Beijing from Jingzhou, he will come to see General Qin again."
"That's fine." Qin Liang stood up again to see Ma Jun out. The two bowed to each other and said a few words of farewell.
When Ma Jun walked to the corridor, Qin Liang couldn't help but sigh. He was also dissatisfied, but at this point, he couldn't use clumsy means to hold back Wang Ling.