The breakfasts in each camp are not the same. Most of them just sit together and eat the grains they brought. There was also a fire burning in the stove in front of me, and hot soup was boiling in the cauldron. It was just water fetched from the nearby ditch. The fire and hot soup are not so much for cooking as they are to bring everyone a little warmth and comfort in the early morning hours of winter. There are only a few stoves, and beans and vegetables are tumbling out of the soup from time to time, filling the air with a sweet aroma. For those who are more particular, plums, dates and salt will be added to the soup. The sweet yet sour taste will constantly arouse people's appetite. Many people who couldn't afford this bite ate the inedible glutinous rice, enjoying the aroma, with a mixture of envy and satisfaction on their faces.
Lord Xinling deliberately did not drive. Surrounded by a group of diners, he walked along the road in front of the camp to the farthest camp. There was no traffic on the road during breakfast, so the presence of this group of people was particularly noticeable. Many people recognized that the leading man was none other than Mr. Xinling, Lord Wei, who had been waiting by the ditch last night and who later took a car to patrol the camp. After noticing this, people exchanged looks expressing mixed emotions.
To Lord Xinling's surprise, the one farthest from the city and likely to be the first to engage the enemy was actually the Gongying camp. Apparently there was no one to place the soldiers in the small town, so they set up a small camp next to the work camp. There were no vehicles around to protect them, and only a few dead branches were hastily inserted as camp fences. There was no sentry outside the camp gate. There were only about a hundred people in the camp. They neither dug a stove nor set up a cauldron. They only lit a few fires in the center of the camp. A group of twenty or thirty people sat around the fires, some eating glutinous rice grains, and others. The eyes stare blankly at something far or near.
Lord Xinling winked at Zhongyue. Zhongyue understood and gave a signal to the disciples to secretly prepare for guarding. Then, holding an ax and ax, he followed Lord Xinling into the small camp where the soldiers were surrendered.
The city lord obviously did not realize that someone would break into the camp. He turned his back to the camp gate where Lord Xinling was and subconsciously lit a fire. It was not until a soldier who was at a loss next to him gave a hint that he realized that someone was breaking into the camp. He stood up in a hurry and recognized Lord Xinling and Zhong Yue who were following him at a glance, so he called out "line up" and hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "Xiaoyi surrenders Guan Chong to pay homage to the general!"
Zhong Yue stepped forward and returned the courtesy: "Lord, thank you for your hard work! General, thank you for your hard work!"
Lord Xinling said: "Continue eating. The enemy troops cannot come today, so everyone can eat in peace." Everyone sat around the fire again, but all their attention had been transferred to Lord Xinling.
Lord Xinling also sat on the ground casually, invited the city lord to sit down as well, and said gently to the city lord: "Who is the city manager?"
The city lord said: "I dare not trouble General to ask. Our ancestors were in charge of the people in the city, so we took Guan as our surname."
Lord Xinling said: "Generation after generation, the clan will prosper!"
The city lord said: "The people in the city are not from the same clan, but Ba Ting is from another clan. It's just that the natives of my family are here, and everyone praises you and calls you the city lord. I'm the only one to worship you during the New Year!"
Lord Xinling asked: "Who are you?"
The city lord said: "I don't dare! Ji Zi is very bad and has been executed! The remaining three sons are all in the camp, under the orders of the general!" Then he turned around and summoned the three men. The three of them all bowed and stood behind the city lord.
Lord Xinling said: "I have a plan, and I hope the city lord can help me!"
The city lord said: "Just listen to the general!"
Lord Xinling said: "Our army has just arrived, and the route is unclear. The city lord's family is here, so he must know the surrounding area well. I would like to ask the three gentlemen to bring ten people each to guide our army. I don't know what the city lord will do!"
The city lord suddenly turned pale, but he immediately turned back to his three sons and said, "Each of them chooses ten people who are familiar with geography to listen!"
The three people saluted and left, and soon came with thirty people. Lord Xinling said to Zhongyue: "Two branches will be sent to the official of Jin, and one will be sent to the small town to Mr. Cao and Jin. They will be deployed in various places for guidance and consultation." Then he turned to the city lord: "Let the city lord choose again." Ten people are with me to prepare orders everywhere. The city lord here can choose one person to take charge of the rest."
The city lord said: "How dare I! I'm too old to help you, and I'm afraid I'll let the general in trouble!"
Lord Xinling said: "The emperor's father is responsible for the three elders, how about us. We are just asking the city lord to make plans when he is old enough!"
The city lord said: "The general has been over-reputed, how can I be a man? I can only repay him with my heart and brains!" The city lord left to choose people. His three sons also had complicated expressions and took ten people each to follow the retainers appointed by Zhong Yue and walked in different directions.
Soon, the city lord arrived with ten people, followed by one person: "Guan has been transferred to serve as a servant, and the camp is under the command of his foolish brother Guan Tu!"
Guan Tu looks much younger than Guan Chong. He saluted Lord Xinling and said, "If there is any problem, I will do my best to help you. If the general sends you, Tu Wan will not hesitate to die. I only wish that my brother Quan will live long!"
Lord Xinling said: "I have something unclear and I want to consult your brother. I hope that you, the gentleman, will work diligently on your behalf and not take the risk of making mistakes. I will be very lucky!"
When Lord Xinling said this, Guan Tu was speechless and could only say: "How dare you disobey your orders!"
Zhong Yue suddenly said: "May I ask the city lord who was the envoy last night?"
The city lord said: "This person, Cai family, became a Yan person."
Zhong Yue said: "If you are in the city, I would like to see you as the city lord."
The city lord was surprised and said: "I returned to the city alone last night, but Mr. Cai stayed in the army and I haven't seen him yet! How...?"
Zhong Yue said: "It turns out that my surname is Cai, and he is from Yan... Since he is not in the city, then the city lord will not have to worry about it!"
The city lord was confused and couldn't ask more questions, so he could only wonder in his heart.
Lord Xinling said to Guan Tu: "Since the city has surrendered, it has become the people of the Wei Dynasty. Rewards for meritorious deeds and punishment for demerits will naturally be unified. A gentleman can sue everyone, but those who kill the enemy and perform meritorious deeds will be rewarded by me. There will be no difference!" Weak women and children remain as quiet as before, without any intrusion.”
Guan Tu saluted and said, "Thank you, General!"
Lord Xinling encouraged him a few more words, and then said: "Let us go to inspect the nearby camp. A gentleman will treat his people well and make great achievements. Only then can he live up to his husband's deeds."
Guan Tu sent Lord Xinling and his entourage to the gate of the camp before returning, and Lord Xinling walked towards the nearest work camp.
The order in the work camp was slightly better than before. Although there was only one soldier, the craftsmen still divided into ranks and raised fire to eat. When Uncle Zu saw Lord Xinling walking into the camp gate, he quickly stood up and came over to greet him.
Lord Xinling said: "The enemy is approaching, why are you in the front?"
The soldier commander was startled: "We have been encamping here, and we were ordered to set up camp on the spot, so we set up camp here."
Lord Xinling said: "Immediately break up the camp and go east to camp outside the small city. Mr. Zhongyue, what should we do?"
Zhong Yue said: "There are many small rivers outside the small city, which hinders the march. You will build a bridge on the river outside the city to ensure that the military road is unobstructed. The Lord of the City please send someone back to the city to deliver the order. All necessary for building the bridge will be sent to the army. In the city." Then he arranged for a retainer to stay in the camp and lead him back to the city. The city lord had no choice but to arrange for one follower to stay.
Uncle Zou knew in his heart that Lord Xinling was allowing them to escape death, so he did not dare to neglect and immediately ordered the camp to break out. Lord Xinling led the disciples to the next camp.
