In the winter of the fourth year of the early peace of the Han Dynasty, on November 16, Zhang Yan led Xu Sheng and more than 3,000 soldiers and horses, escorted 100,000 stones, grain and grass, set off from Xiapi, and began to return to Pengcheng.

Before leaving, Zhang Yan asked Zhou Kui to temporarily replace the post of Xia Pi Xiang, let Chen Ying be in charge of all the soldiers and horses, and urged Lu Dai, Deng Yi, Wang Bo and others to strengthen training in case something else.

However, in the send-off team, Zhang Yan did not see Chen Qun, which made Zhang Yan, who was already in a bad mood, add a trace of displeasure.

"Let's go!"

With Zhang Yan's loud order, the neatly lined team began to escort the grain and grass back to Pengcheng from Xiapi.

Although it was difficult to walk in the snow along the way, no matter how difficult the road conditions were, it could not stop Zhang Yan from returning to Pengcheng's heart.

It was not far from Xiapi to Pengcheng, but Zhang Yan, Xu Sheng and others arrived in Pengcheng for three days because they were escorting grain and grass.

Along the way, everywhere I passed, there were vast snowfields, and in such cold weather, not to mention people, even wild beasts had never been touched. Therefore, the group has been safe and sound.

When he arrived near Pengcheng, Zhang Yan was amazed to see a majestic city wall standing on the snowfield.

He clearly remembered that when he left, the foundations of the city walls had not been dug here.

He had only been away from Pengcheng for a month and a half, and he didn't expect a thick city wall to appear out of thin air.

The walls were circular and stretched out on either side, and directly in front of him there was a large gate open on the wall, large enough for ten horses to pass side by side.

Now, under the command of Chen Deng, thousands of people are stepping up the construction of the city tower. The castle tower has taken shape, and it is located above the city gate, and it looks like a small palace, and it is very majestic.

Near the city tower, a long and thick pillar rises to the sky, and at the top of the pillar, there is a military flag embroidered with the word "Han", facing the north wind of hunting, fluttering wantonly.

Chen Deng, who was directing the people to build the city on the city tower, was still wrapped in bandages at this time, although his injuries were not healed, but after all, he was not at ease with the construction of Pengcheng, and personally came out to inspect under the severe cold.

He stood on the tower of the city more than three zhang high, and saw a group of soldiers and horses coming towards this side from a distance, playing the banner of Zhang Yan, he couldn't suppress the joy in his heart, and immediately let people watch here for him, and he himself hurried down the city tower, rode a fast horse, and went out of the city with more than 20 cavalry to greet him.

Zhang Yan rode the dark cloud on the snow horse, walked forward slowly, and saw Chen Deng come out with an injury to greet him, and his heart was moved.

He shouted loudly, and the dark cloud riding snow horse under the seat galloped out, and with a little smoke, he ran in front of Chen Deng.

Both sides reined in their horses and jumped off their horses, and Chen Deng and more than two dozen soldiers behind him bowed to Zhang Yan and said, "See the lord!" ”

Zhang Yan stretched out his hand to help Chen Deng up, and said busily: "Brother Yuanlong doesn't need to be polite, your injury has not healed, you should rest more, why did you come out to greet me?" ”

"When the lord returns, how can Yuanlong not come to greet him?"

Zhang Yan glanced at the towering city wall behind Chen Deng, his brows couldn't help frowning, and he said to Chen Deng: "It's only been a month and a half since I left, and this city wall has already been built, all of which is the credit of Yuanlong......

Chen Deng interrupted Zhang Yan's words and hurriedly explained: "Lord Qiqi, these credits are not mine, but the entire Pengcheng people and soldiers. If it weren't for the unity of the army and the people of Pengcheng, working together to build day and night, how could it be possible to build in just over a month? ”

After a pause, Chen Deng continued: "In addition, Mi Fang also helped a lot. The lord came back this time, and he should be good haodexiexie. When he saw that I was too tired alone, he took the initiative to resist some of the pressure for me, and urged the people to hurry up and build the city for me at night. Because of this, we were able to build a wall in such a short period of time. ”

"Mi Fang has helped us so much, we should be thanked."

Zhang Yan and Chen Deng were separated for a month and a half, they hadn't seen each other for a long time, and they had a lot to say, but the two of them talked about some official affairs, first Chen Deng reported to Zhang Yan on the construction progress of Pengcheng, as well as the support of grain and grass, and the arrangement of personnel.

It turned out that in order to be in a hurry, Chen Deng wanted to build a city wall in Pengcheng before the year, and ordered to recruit people, not to mention food and accommodation, and pay wages, which greatly stimulated people's enthusiasm. Anyway, the common people have nothing to do in winter, and when young adults hear such good news, they want to take advantage of this opportunity to earn some money.

As a result, in just ten days, more than 60,000 people poured into Pengcheng from other places.

Chen Deng asked people to build shacks and provide shelter, and at the same time used all the grain and grass that was transported from Xiapi for the first time, ensuring the food and lodging of these people.

After that, everyone worked together, plus the original people and army in Pengcheng, the number of people who built the city alone exceeded 100,000.

Under the urging of Chen Deng, more than 100,000 people were divided into two groups, working day and night, and finally built a city wall in just over a month.

After listening to Chen Deng's measures, Zhang Yan greatly appreciated them, and felt that this was the fastest and most effective way. Because for him, time is money.

In this way, it will not take five months for Pengcheng to be completed. After the beginning of spring of the following year, when Cao Cao sent troops to attack Xuzhou, Zhang Yan could rely on this majestic and strong city.

The two of them talked while walking, and soon came to the Taishou Mansion, Zhang Yan also told Chen Deng about some of the situation in Xiapi on the way, and when Chen Deng learned that the situation in Xiapi was very good, he was relieved.

Subsequently, Xu Sheng returned, and according to Zhang Yan's instructions, he put all the 100,000 stone grain and grass into the warehouse, and let the more than 3,000 soldiers and horses brought by Xu Sheng temporarily rest, preparing to join the team of building the city early tomorrow morning.

Zhang Yan's return reduced Chen Deng's pressure a lot, and as soon as Zhang Yan came back, he let Chen Deng rest, and called Fan A to ask Chen Deng about some of the situation, and only after learning that there was nothing serious, he was relieved.

Subsequently, Zhang Yan took out a note and handed it directly to Fan A. This note was accidentally discovered by Zhang Yan when he confiscated the family property, and after a cursory look at it, he realized that this prescription was the poison that controlled Xu Sheng and others.

So, he kept this prescription close to him, and when he returned to Pengcheng, he wanted to hand it over to Fan A.

Fan A was very excited to get the prescription of this original poison, so that he could prescribe the right medicine according to the prescription of this poison, and configure the antidote, and no longer need to fight poison with poison.

Fan A informed Zhang Yan of the news, and Zhang Yan was also very happy, and immediately asked Fan A to develop an antidote and give support.

After all, Xu Sheng, along with the more than 300 killers rescued from the Futu Temple, were still tortured by these poisons, if Zhang Yan really completely relieved Xu Sheng of the torture of the toxin, I believe that Xu Sheng and the others would be grateful to Zhang Yan.

After sending away Fan A, Zhang Yan went out of the Taishou Mansion and wanted to inspect the newly built city tower, who knows, as soon as he walked to the gate of the Taishou Mansion, he collided head-on with an old man who was old Longzhong, this old man was none other than Chen Deng's father, Chen Qi!

Chen ...... Old Monk Chen? When Zhang Yan saw Chen Jue, he was quite surprised, and he couldn't have imagined that Chen Jue, who had always been at odds with his son Chen Deng, would actually appear here.

"Oh, it turned out to be Lord Zhang, please forgive the old man for being clumsy, I can't recognize the adult immediately, I'm really sorry." Chen Qi raised his head, and when he saw Zhang Yan, he said with a message on his face.

Zhang Yan was even more surprised when he saw that Chen Jue's face was ruddy and full of red light, and he was even more surprised when he saw it in Tancheng before, and hurriedly asked: "Chen Laoju's morale is good, and what he saw before, it is like two people." By the way, why is Old Monk Chen here? Do you want me to go in and call Yuanlong out and inform Yuanlong of the news of Old Monk Chen's arrival? ”

"Hehe, my lord is polite, don't be so troublesome. I've been living here for almost a month, Yuanlong is my son, do you think he has seen me? ”

"Old Master Chen, have you released your suspicions? What the hell is going on? ”

Chen Jue smiled and said, "My lord, do you remember the letter from Yuanlong that my lord gave me last time I went to Tancheng?" ”

"I was very impressed, and I still remember it. I remember that Yuan Long gave Chen Lao Jushi a wordless letter to his family. At that time, I was still guessing what Yuanlong's intentions were, but I never guessed. Could it be that there is any important information contained in this wordless family letter? ”

"To be honest, thanks to the wordless letter sent to the old man. In fact, that wordless letter doesn't have any special meaning, others can't read it, but I can understand it. Yuanlong has a stubborn personality, and at the same time is also very introverted, he can't say many words, even if he writes with a pen, he can't write. At that time, he gave me a wordless letter home, which proved that he realized his mistake and had no face to come to me...... Alas! This matter has passed like this, so don't mention it, anyway, we can get back together, thanks to the adults. ”

"It's just a gesture, why should Old Monk Chen worry about it?"

"The grace of dripping water, when the spring reciprocates, if it is not for the adult, we will not be able to release the suspicion, if the adult has any use for the old man in the future, please let the adult speak."

Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Okay! Old Master Chen, then go in and rest, I still have some things to do, so let's go first! ”

"Your Excellency, just go and get busy!"

Zhang Yan got out of the Taishou Mansion, jumped on horseback, and with a loud shout, he galloped away towards the city tower under construction.

When he reached the wall, he jumped off his horse, went straight up to the wall, and climbed to the top of the city to see the scene inside and outside the city.

He raised his head, looked up at the gloomy sky, and thought to himself: "I hope that the expansion of Pengcheng can be completed before Cao Cao attacks Xuzhou again......"