But it was said that Huang Xu, since Liu Chan took Nanyang, he has been leading 20,000 soldiers and horses to be stationed on the border between Nanyang and Yingchuan.

When the news of Wei's move to the north came, Deng Ai ordered Huang Xu to go north to Xuchang to prepare to take over Wei's territory.

And Deng Ai was very witty, knowing that Wei had abandoned the land south of the Yellow River, and Yanzhou, Wei had forcibly relocated the people north. Zhuge Liang will definitely not sit idly by, and will definitely lead his troops north to prevent Wei from relocating the people.

After Zhuge Liang went north, Yuzhou was empty, and Dongwu got the land north of the Yangzhou River, and Bao Buqi would enter Yuzhou and threaten Zhuge Liang's rear.

Therefore, Deng Ai did not take the army north to Xuchang, but stood still in Nanyang and waited for Zhuge Liang's dispatch.

Sure enough, as Deng Ai expected, Zhuge Liang led his troops north, worried about the instability of the rear, so he asked Deng Ai to lead his troops east into Yuzhou and sit in the rear.

At this moment, Deng Ai had already led his troops eastward, and Nanyang was guarded by Zhoutai.

As for Huang Xu, he was stationed in Yingyin County, not far from Xuchang.

Due to the fact that the army was only 20,000, and in view of the fact that Wei took the initiative to abandon the territory, Huang Xu did not have troops under the city, and pressed Sima Zhao too hard.

If you press it too tightly and leave no way to live at all, Sima Zhao will see that it is difficult to break through, and burn Xuchang with a fire, and the big man will lose a lot.

After all, most of the people have migrated, and these big cities are the foundation for future recovery.

As soon as Sima Zhao retreated, Huang Xu, who was stationed in Yingyin, got the news, and then led his troops to Xuchang.

Half a day later, Huang Xu led his troops to Xuchang City.

Huang Xu did not rush into the city, and led his troops outside the city to wait for someone to be sent into the city to investigate.

The scout quickly came out and reported to Huang Xuyu: "General Qiyu, the Wei army has retreated, and the city is empty. ”

Huang Xu said with a calm face: "It's empty, and the people have been relocated?" ”

The soldier sighed and said, "The general will go in and take a look!" ”

"Into town!"

Huang Xu waved his hand and entered the city with his soldiers and horses.

When I entered the city, I felt a sense of desertion, such a large city, but the streets were empty, as if it were a dead city.

"Who?" Suddenly, Huang Xu's ears moved, and he looked at a mansion on the left and shouted.

The door of the house was closed, but with Huang Xu's loud shout, there were footsteps immediately after.

"Humph!" Huang Xu snorted coldly, turned over and dismounted, and headed towards the mansion.

There was no movement inside, but Huang Xu still heard a burst of sounds of his heart beating faster due to nervousness.

Huang Xu seemed to understand something, his face softened, and he said softly: "Open the door, we are the Han army, not the Wei army!" It won't hurt you! ”

It's just that there is still no movement in the house, and Huang Xu did not forcibly break the door, but stood outside and waited.

After a long time, there was a creaking sound and the door of the house was opened.

An old man in his sixties and seventies, with a yellow face and thin muscles, and a slight limp in his walking, walked out slowly, but Huang Xu's sharp eyes still saw a child hidden in the corner behind the door.

The old man trembled and saluted Huang Xu: "I have seen the general, please spare the general!" ”

"It doesn't have to be this way!" Huang Xu stretched out his hand to help the old man up and said, "I am a Han general, not a Wei soldier." I heard that the Wei State forcibly relocated the people, and Xuchang has become an empty city, why didn't you leave? ”

Seeing Huang Xu so gentle, the old man couldn't help but burst into tears: "Little Lao'er has never seen a general with such a good temper as you, so that the general knows that those who kill a thousand knives say that they are migrating people, but as long as they are young and strong children, the old, weak, sick and disabled are not wanted."

When they saw that I was old, they refused to take me with them, and my son and daughter-in-law had already let them take them captive, but fortunately I hid my grandson and did not let them find out. They also took away the food in my house, and the little old man has been hungry for three days. ”

"Grandpa, I'm hungry, I miss my mother!"

The kid hiding in the corner ran out, seven or eight years old, holding the old man's leg and crying.

"Grab something for the old man to eat!" Huang Xu turned around and called out to a Han soldier.

When Han Jun heard this, he hurriedly took out a few pieces of glutinous rice made of sweet potato flour from the package and walked up. This thing is a very precious dry food, not only delicious, but also very anti-hunger.

"Hurry up and eat it!" Huang Xu took the dry food and handed it to the old man.

"Thank you, General, thank you, General!" The old man took the dry food, hurriedly fed it to his grandson, and finally picked up a sweet potato cake and ate it.

Seeing the appearance of the pair gobbling up, Huang Xu couldn't help but clench his fists and his eyes were red.

Wei relocated the people, as long as they are young and strong, don't be old and weak, those old and weak have no children, how can a person live? How many people have to be ruined by this move.

"Ahem!" Xu was hungry for too long, and the child ate too quickly, so he choked.

"Water, eat slowly!" Huang Xu hurriedly untied the water bag and handed it to the child, while patting him on the back to help him calm down.

The old man watched from the sidelines, and when he saw this situation, he couldn't help but burst into tears.

Looking at the bleak street in front of him, Huang Xu sighed and said, "Hey, this Xuchang's prosperity is enough to rank among the top ten in the world, right?" I didn't expect it to become an empty city today, and I don't know how many years and months it will take to recover. ”

For example, the first city today is Chang'an.

After expansion, Chang'an has become a megacity large enough to accommodate millions of people, and although it is not yet filled, there are still 300,000 or 400,000 people.

Moreover, Jiang Wei has also made some achievements in the Western Regions in recent years, stabilizing the countries in the Western Regions, and there are also businessmen coming and going between the Han Dynasty and the countries of the Western Regions, which is very lively.

Although Chang'an is not deep, it can be said to be the first city in the world in terms of population and prosperity.

After Chang'an, Luoyang, Yecheng, Xuchang, Jiankang, Chengdu, Jiangling and other cities are neck and neck.

As for Xiangyang, it also has the capital to become a first-tier city, but it was on the border before and has not been able to develop.

However, now that the Han Dynasty has obtained Nanyang, if he gets Si Li and opens up the connection between Chang'an and Luoyang, Xiangyang will also develop quickly, and the potential is even above Jiangling.

The old man listened to Huang Xu's words, and said: "General, I don't think Xuchang may be an empty city, if the little old man can hide with his grandson, others will definitely do the same." And as soon as the news of the relocation of the people spread, many people were scared and went out of the city in advance to hide.

The general only needs to make a list to calm the people and find the people who went out to hide, although this Xuchang City cannot restore prosperity, but it will not be without a little popularity. ”

Listening to the old man's words, Huang Xu patted his head and said: "Why didn't I think of this, come here, pass the order, divide three thousand men and horses, go to the surrounding areas of Xuchang, and find the people who went out to hide."

Soldiers and horses were stationed outside the city, and they were not allowed to enter the city without an order, let alone enter the houses of the people. Zhao Wen, you bring some people to Zhang Bang Anmin, Li Feng, you count the population, Zhang Su, you are responsible for supplying grain and grass materials to the people. Now that the weather is getting colder, if the people are starving to death and freezing to death, I am the only one who asks! ”

The old man stood aside, listened to Huang Xu's instructions, and knelt down with a plop: "I have heard for a long time that the Han army is a teacher of benevolence and righteousness, and when I see it today, it really deserves its reputation." On behalf of the people of Xuchang, Xiao Lao'er thanked the general. ”

"The old man doesn't have to be polite, this is what we should do, the weather is cold, go into the house to rest, I will send someone to bring food soon."

.。 m.