At the beginning of November, not long after Luoyang received the good news, Her Royal Highness the Empress Dowager sent an envoy south to Yangzhou, issued an edict to commend the meritorious soldiers, and shipped a batch of silk cloth as a reward from the royal family.
The Huainan front line received the imperial envoys and distributed the silk cloth. This batch of things was mainly distributed to the injured soldiers.
Pensions for the families of disabled soldiers killed in battle will be allocated from the national treasury and the general's office; rewards for merit are calculated separately. In addition to the sources of the national treasury, there are also goods obtained from victory and robbery. The general's residence has exceeded 10,000 households, but it is said that the general's Life was not extravagant, and most of the goods were distributed to the families of the wounded and wounded soldiers. But some people secretly said that this was the general's invitation to buy people's hearts.
Ah She and her companions were given several pieces of silk. They left first with their belongings and rode north along the Yingshui River in horse and mule carts. They passed Lejia City in the twelfth lunar month.
At this time, it started to snow lightly in Yuzhou, with snowflakes floating in the air, a layer of snow on the ground, and even the treetops covered with snow. When the convoy arrived in the east of Ruyang, the two of them were about to say goodbye.
The companion's family's farm is in Yingyin, and they have to continue northward along the Yingshui Road. The Aji's family is in Jiaxian, and from here they have to branch off, follow the Toulu Canal, and go north along the Rushui Road.
I originally thought that my companion who was stabbed in the stomach would die, but I didn't expect that he would be saved. The army doctor and the servants took good care of him, and my companion actually survived. After his wounds were sutured, there was no suppuration, nor did maggots grow. He was just infected. I had a high fever for a few days and almost died, but then got better.
They both belong to the Luoyang Chinese Army, but are not in the same camp. After this separation, it will not be easy to see each other again in the future. After spending many days together to recuperate, Ah She was still a little sad when they parted, but she was also happy. The companions said goodbye to each other. Ah Zhi only said one sentence, "I know you are still alive."
Ah's situation is not bad either. The doctor said that his leg bones will grow well and he can return to the military camp in a while.
In the middle of the twelfth lunar month, the convoy that A She was in stopped at Jiaxian County, and he was helped out. Then the people from the Shijia Army came with an ox cart and took him back to their home village.
The oxcart walked along the muddy dirt road for a long time on the endless snow. When the undulating terrain appeared in the north, Ah She knew she was almost home.
Sure enough, the village came into view. Even though the surrounding snow covered much of the scenery, the roads in the village and her house still made her feel very familiar and friendly. Just because the weather was cold and people were all in the house, the surroundings seemed very strange. Deserted.
The oxcart stopped outside the mud-walled yard covered with straw and snow. The driver helped Achi out of the oxcart, silently handed him a wooden staff, and then brought down a bundle of silk cloth wrapped in burlap. .
Achi said, "It's cold. Let's go inside and have a bowl of hot porridge."
The coachman said, "I have to go back and recover."
Ah Zhi could only nod, "That's fine."
The driver raised his head and glanced at the smoke rising from the yard, then waved his whip. Achi thanked the cattle drive again, and then went up to knock on the courtyard door.
With a "creak", the wooden door opened, and the person standing in the yard was his little daughter. Then there was a soft sound, and the wooden basin in the girl's hand fell into the snow, and she called "Father!"
Ah Zhi suddenly smiled and responded with a "huh" sound.
The daughter hurriedly came up to support Ah She and choked with sobs, "What's wrong with father's leg?"
A-chi cursed and said, "I received a blow from the water thief, but my leg bone can be healed. I have to return to camp after it's healed."
The daughter said, "That hurts too, doesn't it?"
When Ah Zhi heard this, her heart warmed, but she said calmly, "Go and carry the bundle of silk in and give it to your mother."
The sound of talking attracted other family members, and soon my mother, brother, and others came out, and everyone gathered around Ah Shen and started talking in a variety of ways.
Ah Chi turned around and glanced at his daughter in the crowd. People are often so strange. He remembers that when he was in Dongguan, it almost became his last wish to come back to see his daughter; but when he actually saw her, he was attracted by everyone again.
All kinds of trivial matters distract your attention, but you don't pay enough attention to the things you once cared about most.
Maybe because of different situations, my thoughts will be different.
But no matter what, this year Ah Chi can buy some wine and meat, rush to make new clothes for her family, and celebrate the new year happily. But most of the other officers and soldiers in the Chinese army will not be able to come back before New Year's Eve.
...This expedition was relatively short. This was because Zhuge Ke was a happy man. After the war started, the war ended in a few days! But the follow-up matters took some time. When the Wei army returned to Shouchun, it was already in the middle of the twelfth lunar month.
Qin Liang can't go back this New Year's Eve.
Shouchun is the most important city in Huainan and a stronghold for storing grain. All kinds of materials are relatively sufficient. Wang Feixiao did not attend the celebration banquet in person, but arranged for his subordinates to raise a large amount of wine and meat to reward the army in Shouchun. Qin Liang could not stay for a few days.
He also sent his teacher back to the DPRK.
As expected, the second uncle Wang Feixiao had recognized the sword Qin Liang was wearing. Because the war was about to begin, he didn't bother to talk about such small things. Now that the Huainan War is over and everyone has returned to Shouchun, they are in the mood to start with small things.
Chat.
Wang Feixiao also guessed that the sword was given by your king. So Qin Liang relayed his greetings, and the two talked about the past for a long time.
Talking about the battle of Xiaoyaojin in the summer and autumn of this year, Wang Feixiao could not help but feel a lot of emotion. When people relax, the content of the conversation can easily go off topic, and the discussion is not limited to a certain topic.
The temperature in Huainan is also low in the twelfth lunar month, with wind and snow blowing outside, and a fire burning in the house. Wang Feixiao put on linen mourning clothes again and drank tea; Qin Liang drank wine, and the rice wine had been warmed several times. Ordinary rice wine, when drunk cold
The soy sauce smell is really obvious and not very tasty.
Talking about the Battle of Xiaoyaojin, Wang Feixiao mentioned a man named Jian Pei, who was once a vassal recruited by Ma Mao when he was the magistrate of Zhongli County.
Qin Liang couldn't help but ask, "Does Jian Pei know Ma Mao's identity?"
Wang Feixiao obviously didn't pay attention to such details. He was stunned for a moment and said, "I didn't ask. But Ma Mao has been in Soochow for several years and has not been found out yet. Jian Pei probably didn't tell anyone."
The second uncle pondered for a moment and then said, "He seems to be the chief of archers and horses in a certain county. He can be regarded as having made meritorious service during the Battle of Xiaoyaojin. I will promote him to an official position so that he will not be dissatisfied, and everything will be fine."
Qin Liang just heard that Jian Pei suggested testing firepower and traps. On a whim, Qin Liang said he wanted to see Jian Pei. It happened that all the people following the Yangzhou Army were in Shouchun at this time, so Wang Feixiao sent someone to call them.
Governor's Mansion.
Not long after, a middle-aged man with a broad face came to the door of the room and greeted him respectfully, "My lord, pay my respects to the King and Governor!" You could hear that his voice was a little trembling, nervous and nervous.
Wang Feixiao said, "Come in and talk." Then he introduced, "The general is here."
Jian Pei hurriedly bowed deeply and said, "I don't know the general. Please forgive me, general."
Qin Liang simply said, "Now we know each other, sit down."
Jian Pei thanked him and knelt down under the wooden table. Qin Liang poured a cup of rice wine and pushed the wine cup forward. Jian Pei hurriedly supported him with both hands.
Qin Liang asked directly, "Do you know about Ma Mao's rebellion against Soochow?"
Jian Pei said, "I used to be a subordinate of the magistrate of Ma County and knew about this."
Qin Liang asked again, "Do you know why he went to Soochow?"
Jian Pei pondered for a moment and said cautiously, "Magistrate Ma just informed that he was going to Soochow and asked his servants to come to Shouchun to find another way out."
When Qin Liang heard this statement, he immediately felt that Jian Pei should have guessed something inside, but did not tell it. When Qin Liang observed Jian Pei, Jian Pei also raised his head and glanced at Qin Liang, and he immediately lowered his eyes again.
Holding the bartender.
Qin Liang turned to Wang Feixiao and said with a smile, "Jian Pei didn't rush to the Governor's Mansion in Yangzhou to tell the truth. It's worthy of him."
Wang Feixiao said with a smile, “Zhong Ming’s words make sense.”
Qin Liang said calmly, "Second uncle, would you like to give him up to me?"
He was just a horse archer. If Wang Feixiao cared, he would have used it long ago. As expected, Wang Feixiao said generously, "Just take away those who Zhong Ming can use."
Qin Liang turned around and said, "Will you come to the General's Mansion and be the governor of the Horse Army?"
Jian Pei immediately paused and said, "Since I have been appreciated by the general, I am willing to do my best! I will do whatever I can to help you."
Qin Liang said kindly, "You will go back and prepare your trip first. In two days, you will return to Luoyang with the army. You can bring your family members with you. There are many houses inside and outside the general's palace."
Jian Pei bowed and said, "I obey the general's order." Then he picked up the wine and drank it all in one gulp, then bowed to Wang Fei and said, "Please leave."
Wang Feixiao sat for a while longer, then said goodbye and left.
Probably because of Jian Pei, Qin Liang thought of Ma Mao in Soochow again. He immediately called Yinci into the courtyard and asked, "In Lejia City before, we mentioned setting up a stronghold in Shanyangchi, Xuzhou, sir."
Is it done?"
Yinci cupped his hands and said, "Come back to the general, I have arranged people on the island in the lake and regularly transport supplies from Zhongdushui. The people who came back said that the island is surrounded by reeds, there is no one inhabited within a hundred miles, and it is very hidden."
.If you don’t know this place in advance, it will be difficult to be discovered.”
Qin Liang nodded and said, "Very good, is there any news about Ma Mao?"
Yinci said, "Not yet."
Qin Liang muttered, "As expected, we arranged an escape route for him, but he did not give up easily. He just wanted to confirm that the General's Mansion was worth the risk and sacrifice of his life."
Yin Ci bowed and said, "General, treat others with sincerity, and they will repay you with their lives."
Qin Liang was noncommittal, but felt that Ma Mao was still okay.
Ma Mao himself at least had some knowledge and talent, so he could sneak into the Soochow gentry. At the same time, he was cautious so that he could not be discovered for a long time. The most important thing is that judging from the content of the secret letter Ma Mao sent back, he should be willing to join Qin Liang.
.After all, Wang Ling, who used him in the first place, is now dead. Wang Ling's son is not the only one who can switch to the front.