Not to mention that all the soldiers stationed in this military camp are Cao Zhi's soldiers. Even if there are dozens of Lujiang soldiers, who would come here to eat instead of sleeping in a warm bed in this freezing cold night?
Da Tongfang came to eavesdrop. After a while, Xu Chu turned around in Cao'an and after confirming that no one was outside, Xia Houyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
At this time, Cao Zhi had walked to Li Ru's side, put his hand on his shoulder, and said sincerely: "Mr. Li is indeed an extraordinary person. He can actually come up with so many benefits from what most people regard as drudgery. He will achieve great things in the future.
It will be created by your golden words."
Li Ru just finished speaking his high opinion, and he was also feeling uneasy. After all, he had only been Cao Zhi's adviser for a day, and his first idea was so bold and reactionary. But the words of affirmation just now by Cao Zhi were also his.
This was the first time he met someone who didn't call him a fool, idiot, or idiot. He knew that he had succeeded. He had surrendered to a wise master who had great ambitions in his mind. Li Ru excitedly raised his hand and grabbed Cao Zhi's arm, and said gratefully:
"My lord is an extraordinary person. In the future..."
Cao Zhi interrupted him and said: "Let's not talk about the far distance. Let's discuss the immediate situation first. Lu Kang does not allow me to bring my own troops and horses. It will definitely be difficult to command Lu Kang's subordinates. Without Lu Kang's navy, the ones I brought
The troops don’t know the nature of water and are not familiar with the Lujiang River water system. They will just be at the mercy of others. What do you think, sir?”
Li Rulue pondered deeply and said: "The lord of Lu Kang's navy wants to use it, and the lord also needs to bring his own soldiers and horses. The lord can negotiate with the prefect Lu, and each side will contribute half."
"Good idea, I decided to reply to Lu Kang tomorrow and accept this mission." When he said this, Cao Zhi was serious and did not mean to be joking at all.
Xia Houyuan felt sad for a while and thought to himself: "These two brothers have the same virtues and always like to take risks!"
Li Ru's eyes turned red, and he said sincerely: "My lord Mingjian, this expedition is extremely dangerous, maybe... Hey! If my lord doesn't despise Li Ru for being a useless scholar, Li Ru is willing to go with my lord."
.”
Cao Zhi knew that this was a measure commonly used by counselors to express loyalty. Most lords would not let a helpless counselor follow them into danger or fight when they are moved. But Cao Zhi has been exposed to too many modern TV dramas.
Inspired by the show of determination, he resolutely agreed to Li Ru's request, which made Li Ru wonder about it for three days.
Cao Zhi's idea is very simple. You came up with the idea, so just follow him! There are many people with ideas around him. This is Cao Zhi who is unconventional. It is not easy to be his subordinate. You can never guess him.
What are you thinking about.
Although Xia Houyuan repeatedly reserved his opinions and repeatedly reminded Cao Zhi to think twice before acting, Cao Zhi had made up his mind and Xia Houyuan's words were useless.
In fact, to be honest, Xia Houyuan was also moved by Li Ru's words, but as Cao Zhi's brother, he still did not advocate Cao Zhi's personal danger. In the end, Xia Houyuan had no choice but to ask to go with Cao Zhi, and recruited Cao Zhi and the rest.
The generals unanimously opposed it.
Everyone understands that it is impossible for all of Cao Zhi's generals to go out with Cao Zhi, and someone must stay behind in Anhui City. But Xu Chu, Li Dian, Wang Ping and even Cao An are not willing to be the ones who stay behind in their turn.
These young men are not law-abiding people. It can even be said that these people are extremely restless. How can they stay behind when there is such a lively battle.
In the end, Xia Houyuan became their joint victim. With unanimous consensus, Xia Houyuan was designated as the best candidate to stay in Wancheng.
Afterwards, everyone discussed some details and dispersed at the fourth watch.
The next day, Cao Zhi replied Lu Kang's willingness to fight. Lu Kang was very happy. Cao Zhi took the opportunity to remember Professor Li Ru's words, saying that he was not familiar with the Lujiang soldiers and had difficulty in cooperating with Lu Kang.
After some haggling, Lu Kang finally had to give in to Cao Zhi's request and take half of his own troops and a thousand sailors that Lu Kang had equipped for him to form a coalition and go to Ruxuwu to ambush Zheng Bao, a water thief who might have escaped.
The time was set for ten days later. At Cao Zhi's request, during this period, Cao Zhi would eat and live with the thousands of Lujiang navy troops to enhance mutual affection and facilitate future actions.
Lu Kang readily agreed to this modest request, and on the same day he allocated one thousand of the originally prepared two thousand naval troops to move into Cao Zhi's North City.
Among these thousands of navy troops, all are "water thieves, bandits", that is, "bandits" who make a living by robbing. There is a large swamp covered with reeds in the northeast of Lujiang River, which is called "Ruxuwu"
, covered with dense water and grass for countless miles, this is the only way to Chao Lake. Most of these naval forces came from there, and they are familiar with the geographical environment there.
After this group of people settled in Cao Zhi's military camp, Cao Zhi first got to know them. In the troubled times of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, it was not easy to be a bandit. According to Cao Zhi's imagination, the one who became a bandit was Wang Da, and the one who was a thief was Wang Da.
Wang Er, it doesn’t matter who you are, officials, soldiers, nobles, or Jiangxia barbarians. As long as you dare to enter their territory, you will follow the bandit’s temper and kill them. They are so carefree, why do they need to pay
The government works hard.
There is a saying that "the oxen who plow the fields have no shelter, and the hamsters have more food." The oxen who pull the plows work hard all their lives, but they may not even have enough forage to eat. When they get older, they will suffer a knife, which is not as good as those who steal food and move it.
The rats in the barn eat refined grains and are fat and comfortable.
In the world of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, this was not the case. The thieves lived by hiding in the reed swamps, robbing and killing passing business travelers, doing justice to God, killing the rich and helping the poor, which could be regarded as one of the thieves in the forest.
Although they were living through life and death, they could only live hand to mouth, and they were often rounded up and strangled by the government. In the years when wars broke out frequently, merchants and merchants came and went, and the thieves were even more naked and had no food to eat.
Later, this group of people was recruited by Lu Kang and organized into the Lujiang Navy. Although becoming an official army was not as satisfying as killing people and selling goods in Ruxuwu, they had food and pay. They were not as good as before.
Next meal.
After Cao Zhi learned about their situation, he began to build relationships with them. In modern times, Cao Zhi was accustomed to leaders who would say whatever they said to anyone, and now he has the guidance of experts who were once gangsters, such as Li Ru, Xu Chu, and Wang Ping.
, knowing that most of this group of people were careless people, he chatted with them before dinner on the first day. He cupped his fists and handed over his hands, and directly asked the captains: "You heroes, you used to be thieves who roared in the mountains and forests.
?”
The generals of the navy were shocked when they heard this. They were now soldiers recruited by the imperial court. The officials had long said that they would not take the blame for their past actions. I wonder what the new officer meant by saying this again?