Chapter 8 Arrow on the String Section 25 The second year of the founding of the Han Kingdom (199 AD). New Year's Day, Jinyang.

This year's New Year was spent in a joyful and tense atmosphere. Her Royal Highness the eldest princess and the ministers of the court and the central government worked hard to prepare for the Central Plains War.

At the same time, the whole of Hebei was spreading the news that the imperial court would send troops to conquer the desert again at the beginning of the year, and various prefectures and counties also began to recruit people after the New Year.

After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Yang Feng and other generals were ordered to return to Hedong. When the general Li Hong and the imperial lieutenant Xu Rong saw off Yang Feng and the others in the Shili Long Pavilion, they repeatedly told them that no matter how the war situation in the Central Plains developed, they must work together to hold Hedong.

After the Ma Chao rebellion in Western Xinjiang last year, Han Sui had worries, and in order to stabilize the situation in Guanzhong, he had a close relationship with Yuan Shao.

Han Sui is a scheming person, and Ma Chao is definitely not his opponent. At present, Pang De has gone north to the desert and the threat of Guanzhong has been greatly reduced, it is very likely that Han Sui will suddenly join forces with Yuan Shao to invade Hedong after defeating Ma Chao.

"General, Lord Xu, go back." Yang Feng arched his hand and said,

"The 50,000-strong army in Hedong has been raising soldiers for several years, and the soldiers are strong and strong, even if we face several times the number of troops we have, we can deal with it calmly. Hedong will not lose, and it will be solid. ”

"Our concern is not that you won't be able to hold Hedong." Xu Rong smiled faintly,

"We're worried about the military spirit of the Hedong army."

"In the past two years, the northern and southern armies of Jinyang, the seven battalions of Jizhou, and the iron cavalry of various roads outside the Saiwai have frequently fought in Jizhou, Central Plains and other places, and there are many meritorious service recipients. On the contrary, the Hedong Army has not fought a decent battle since the revision of the military system. The soldiers were very emotional because of this, and they were all eager to make meritorious contributions. If the army does not obey the command in the process of containment and disrupts the deployment of the Central Plains War, the consequences will be serious. Xu Rong pointed at He Feng and Liang Baiwu and said, "I'm most worried about the two of you." During the last battle in Yizhou, the two of you were clamoring to go to Yizhou, and the princess of the book asked to resign as the commander of the battalion, saying that you would rather go to Yizhou to be a military Sima than stay in Hedong to watch the excitement. The commander of the battalion is still like this, and the other generals can be imagined. Not to mention those junior officers. He Feng opened his mouth to say something, but when he saw Li Hong standing on the side, he swallowed back the words that came to his mouth.

Liang Baiwu was quite unconvinced, and snorted softly. Obviously, he is still haunted by the fact that he could not participate in the Central Plains War.

"It's a good thing that the soldiers are looking forward to fighting and being rewarded for their meritorious service, but because they want to make meritorious service, it affects the morale of the army and even affects their morale, which is a bad thing." Xu Rong continued,

"The imperial court has invited a few of you to Jinyang this time, mainly to tell you to invite Chu. The Central Plains War is related to the Zhongxing of the community, and it can only be won but not defeated, and the two battlefields of the east and west must be closely coordinated, and the great cause of Zhongxing must not be ruined because of one's own selfishness. He Feng glanced at Xu Rong with a cold expression, and whispered in his mouth: "Since Lord Taiwei is not at ease with me, why don't you transfer me to the Central Plains battlefield?" ”

"Hmph......" Li Hong sneered,

"After staying in Jinyang for so many days, you still haven't figured it out?"

"My requirements are very low, but I just went to the Central Plains to fight, why can't I?" He Feng gritted his teeth and said the complaint in his heart,

"Others have made meritorious contributions in the Central Plains, and I am watching the excitement in Hedong, but if it is you, are you comfortable?"

"I transferred you away, Liang Baiwu still has the heart to stay in Hedong? Can your generals, big and small, still fight with peace of mind? Li Hong shook his head and said very angrily,

"You're a general of the unified army, why don't you know the severity? In the past few years, there have been fewer wars in Hedong, and I have written to ask you to study the scriptures, have you learned? He Feng lowered his head and was silent.

"What's the use of learning that? Can it be used for war? Liang Baiwu said disdainfully.

"It seems that you two take my words as wind in your ears, and you haven't learned at all?" Li Hong's face changed, and he asked angrily.

The two of them looked frightened and didn't dare to reply.

"What about you?" Li Hong pointed to Yang Feng, Hua Xiong, Zhang Baiqi, Sun Qin and others and asked.

"Ever since the general's letter, we have been studying the scriptures." Sun Qin pointed at Yang Feng and said,

"Brother Qi has a good foundation, and in the past year, he has often debated current affairs with celebrities and scholars in Hedong in the school, and he is very popular with Confucian scholars." Li Hong's face improved slightly, and his gaze immediately turned to He Feng and Liang Baiwu.

"I ask you, when the world is at peace, will you still fight? Does the Han still need hundreds of thousands of troops? At that time, there will be border armies in the frontiers, battalions in the prefectures and counties, and southern and northern armies in Gyeonggi, what will you generals do? ”

"I'll go home and farm." He Feng shook his hand and said angrily,

"Can't I go home and retire?"

"Home?" Li Hong sneered,

"Are you home?"

"Immediately go back to read the Book of Han for me, and see what those famous Zhongxing generals on the battlefield in the past have done after Emperor Guangwu Zhongxing." Li Hong pointed to the heads of the two and said with great dissatisfaction,

"Write to me as soon as you know why I told you to study the scriptures. Otherwise, you don't want to go to Hedong, go to Jinyang University Hall to read history and read scriptures. He Feng and Liang Baiwu saw that Li Hong was angry, and hurriedly nodded again and again.

"Although you can't participate in the frontal attack in the Central Plains, and your credit is not big enough, after the Central Plains War, it is you who will fight Guanzhong, Guanxi and Luoyang, and in the future, the war in Western Xinjiang and Yizhou will also be yours. Isn't that enough? Look a little farther ahead, the credit is a lot, don't be so presumptuous, do you know? "He Feng, Liang Baiwu chattered repeatedly, and he didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore.

After sending off the generals of Hedong in the ten-mile long pavilion, Li Hong and Xu Rong's hearts were heavy. There are more and more battles, and the merits of the soldiers are increasing, but the rewards are getting fewer and fewer.

In order to get a small number of rewards, the phenomenon of merit competition among soldiers became more and more serious. As the war continues, this phenomenon will become more and more intense, and may affect the morale of the army in the future, and may even directly affect the outcome of the war.

"Have you read your recital?" Li Hong asked. Xu Rong nodded,

"The ministers are in favor of Your Excellency's recital, but the Elder Lord's opposition is very firm. She thinks that Your Excellency's advice is a theory of misfortune to the country. According to Lord Xun You, the eldest princess intends to remove you as a warning to those ministers who agree with it. ”

"It's completely unnecessary." Li Hong sighed,

"The ministers' admonition is an important way to ensure the long-term stability of the society, how can the ministers be punished if they are not satisfied? Doesn't this block the way of counseling? ”

"The eldest princess is still good at admonishment." Xu Rong smiled bitterly,

"It's just that this Lord Youheng has always been arrogant and has offended many people in the court, and the eldest princess has long wanted to use him, this time it's just an excuse. In fact, his admonition is still good, but the timing of the admonition is not good, and the method he offers is not appropriate. If you do not promote frugality, you will allow luxury, and when you do not promote frugality, the corruption of the rulers will be a matter of time before you become corrupt. Li Hong was silent for a while, and then said, "Find an opportunity, I will persuade the eldest princess." Not only can this Lord You Heng not be removed, but he should also be reused. His eyes are very sharp and unique, and he is a Zhongxing capable minister. Then he looked at Xu Rong and asked with a smile,

"Zilie, do you have any better way?"

"Someone played the eldest princess and proposed to re-implement the fifth-class title system." Xu Rong said,

"At present, many ministers' official titles have been promoted to the limit, and there is no room for further promotion. If the imperial court wanted to reward, it could only reward more food, land and money, but in doing so, it was in conflict with the new land system implemented by the imperial court. The imperial court was very passive and embarrassed because of this. The fact that the meritorious person could not receive a reward was mean to the imperial court and a serious blow to the meritorious person himself, so reinstating the fifth-class title became the only emergency relief at present. ”

"While the fifth-class title system brings glory and wealth to the recipients, it also brings a lot of unstable things to Sheji, and it is these unstable things that prompt the Great Qin State to replace the fifth-class title system with the twentieth rank system." Li Hong said in surprise,

"Didn't the former eldest princess and the court veto this recital? Why is there still anyone mentioning it? ”

"You don't know?" Xu Rong looked at Li Hong in surprise and said,

"Isn't this the new Shangshu Zuo Prime Minister Dong Zhao's recital?" Li Hong smiled dumbly, shook his head again and again,

"This Zhong Yuan is probably too busy to tell me about such a big thing."

"After you return to Jinyang, you still don't care about Shangshutai?" Xu Rong asked in surprise.

"How can I have time for those things?" Li Hong shook his hand,

"Shangshutai belongs to the Chinese Dynasty, and it should be supervised by the eldest princess, but I am just a name. Besides, during the time I was not in Jinyang, Zhong Yuan managed the affairs of Shangshutai in an orderly manner, so I don't need to interfere, let him do it. Xu Rong's face was worried, and he stopped talking.

Li Hong pretended not to see, and said with a smile: "This Lord Dong Zhao is very talented, he followed me north to the desert, ran thousands of miles, and helped me solve a lot of tricky things, so after I returned to Jinyang, I immediately recommended him to the eldest princess." What is his opinion on the princess? ”

"The eldest princess is discussing with us, and her tone has softened." Xu Rong said,

"After Dong Zhao changed this fifth-class title system, it is just an honor, no different from the previous princes, just a little more. At present, among the ministers of the Chinese military forces of the dynasty, there are many people who rank as marquis of Guannei and rank as marquis, and if five more titles are added to the marquis, it can relieve the urgent needs of the imperial court. Then he looked at Li Hong solemnly and said, "General, you are about to leave Jinyang, there are some things, I think it is better to tell you." Li Hong smiled slightly,

"Brother Zilie, if it's a matter of the Central Plains War, I'll listen to it. If it's a matter in the court, don't talk about it, now I don't have the energy to take care of these things, everything depends on the eldest princess. In any case, the only thing to do in the court now is the Central Plains War, and in order to win this war, we urgently need the eldest princess to take charge of the overall situation. Xu Rong looked at Li Hong intently, sighed softly, and stopped talking.

Under the first month, Yuzhou, Xuchang. Cao Cao sent the Son of Heaven to Xuchang, and Yuan Shao greeted him with many officials.

The two met very happily and talked and laughed. Cao Cao timely proposed to Yuan Shao the matter of allocating grain and grass, and he was anxious to attack Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shao was very happy this time, and immediately invited Chen Guoxiang and Runan Taishou Xu Xuan to the mansion. In front of Cao Cao, the four of them discussed properly and agreed to allocate grain and grass in place before the beginning of March.

After receiving Yuan Shao's promise, Cao Cao immediately took his leave and rushed to the front line in Qicheng. After Cao Cao left, Yuan Shao urgently summoned Fu Zhu, Xu You and other officials to discuss, secretly deployed the army, and prepared to send troops to the Central Plains when Cao Cao and Yuan Shu were defeated.

In February, Yangzhou, Shouchun. When Yuan Shu received the news that Yuan Yao had successfully left the Yangtze River and entered the sea with more than 20 large ships and thousands of people, Xu Xuan of Runan sent him the last batch of grain, grass and ordnance.

However, a bad news also came at the same time, Liu Pet committed suicide. This old man, who was forcibly pushed to the throne by Yuan Shu, couldn't bear the pain of cannibalism and hanged himself.

In the end, he had only one request, hoping that Yuan Shu would send his remains to Chen Guo for burial. Yuan Shu fulfilled his wish and sent a team of men and horses to send the coffin to the state of Chen.

Cao Cao was the first to get the news, and he immediately posted a message against Yuan Shu, saying that Yuan Shu had killed the king he had established and established himself as emperor, which was the most shameless and despicable rebellion in the world.

Asking Yuan Yuwen to tell Yuan Shu vividly about the crime of killing the monarch and standing on his own, coupled with the fact that Liu Chong's death is a fact, Yuan Shu's black cauldron has been completely condemned since then.

When Yuan Shu saw this article about Yuan Xuan, he didn't laugh angrily,

"The winner is the king, and the loser is the villain, let him say it." This article on Yuan Shu shocked Yuan Shu's subordinates greatly, and many people who did not know right and wrong fled to Runan to seek refuge with Xu Xuan.

Chen Lan and Lei Bo even took the army and went directly to Yuan Shao. There are still many loyal Yuan Shu's subordinates, such as Li Ye, Yang Hong, Xun Zheng, Yan Xiang and other civil officials, and military generals such as Ji Ling, Qiao Rui, Zhang Xun, and He Yi, under the command of Yuan Shu, actively prepare for war, and prepare to rely on Jiujiang County to fight to the death with Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu.

In mid-February, the armies of Cao Cao and Liu Bei began to attack Qicheng. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu's sailors began to Chen Bing Liyang.

The Huan side fought fiercely. February down, Hanoi, Huai Thanh. Eight hundred miles of fast riding rushed into the city like the cold dew of early spring.

When Zhang Liao saw the general's handwriting, his heart was suffocated. The Great War began.

"What is the order of the Great General?" Zhang Xiu asked anxiously on the side.

"Drum ......" Zhang Liao roared, and suddenly smashed out with a volley,

"Gather a large army and attack Pinggao City." Jump to