Although the spring in Xiapi City is not as graceful and fresh as the small bridges and flowing water in the south of the Yangtze River, it has the poetic and picturesque feeling of "the fragrant buds of apricots are broken, and the light red fades to white and the rouge flows".
But Zhao Chen had no intention of admiring the beautiful scenery of spring. There were so many troops needed in the future. If he wanted to defend the entire Xuzhou, he still had enough power to expand outwards. Without a hundred thousand troops, there was no way to start.
After taking control of Guangling County, Liu Bei had 30,000 troops.
After the battle with Cao Cao, although there were some losses, the original Lu Bu troops in Xiapi City were also replenished, and the number of troops has been maintained at about 30,000.
But now the city to be defended has doubled, and the garrison in Xiapi City is only 10,000.
Zhao Chen reported the matter to Liu Bei and asked for orders to recruit Xuzhou soldiers.
In the late Han Dynasty, the general military-civilian ratio was maintained at ten to one, which could not only ensure military strength but also maintain the normal operation of the power.
Xuzhou has a population of over one million, so recruiting tens of thousands of people should not be a problem.
As soon as the announcement came out, it attracted many onlookers.
On that day, a man saw the announcement and heard Xu Shao's comments earlier, so he came to seek refuge with Liu Bei.
After some evaluation, Liu Bei thought that he was a useful talent, so he appointed him as the magistrate of Gaoyou County.
Zhao Chen heard this and asked who it was.
Liu Bei said: "My surname is Yan, my name is Zhen, my courtesy name is Mancai, and I am from Pengcheng."
When Zhao Chen heard this, he hurriedly patted his thigh.
Who is Yan Zhen? He is a famous minister of the Huaisi Group and the successor to the governor after Lu Su. He is even ahead of Lu Meng in the succession order. However, faced with such temptation, Yan Zhen "resolutely refused" and insisted that he was "not idle in the military", and even appeared to "get on the horse". The embarrassing situation of "falling off the saddle" finally made Sun Quan give up this idea.
Some historians have also raised objections to this. Although "Mounted and Fallen from the Saddle" is just a short story, it cannot be denied that Yan Zhen's talents are different from ordinary people.
How can such talents submit to the county magistrate?
He immediately suggested: "My lord, this person has a loyal character and treats others with sincerity. He is a great talent. A mere county magistrate is not enough to fully utilize this person's abilities."
"Where does the military advisor think is appropriate?"
Zhao Chen replied: "The great farmer in my lord's account now has a water channel matter, which can be handed over to this person."
Although Yan Jin was a powerful internal affairs talent in Soochow and once served as Shangshu Ling, he had another specialty that few people knew about.
In his lifetime, Yan Zhen wrote "The Legend of Xiaojing" and "Tide Theory", among which "Tide Theory" is the earliest monograph on tide science in my country.
Although it has long been lost and the specific content is unknown, it can be seen that this person had a lot of research on hydrology.
Liu Bei was a little confused.
Zhao Chen immediately described the blueprint and results of opening up the Pengcheng, Xiapi, Huaiyin and Guangling waterways. With the Pengguang Waterway, it not only connects the north and south of Guangling County, but also strengthens the connection between Guangling County and the north of Xuzhou. The transportation of grain, grass, soldiers and horses through the waterway can greatly save time.
When Liu Bei heard this, he admired him very much and immediately agreed to Zhao Chen's suggestion.
Another day, guard Xiao Yi came to report that there was a young man who wanted to see him.
When Zhao Chen saw it, the young man's face was red and his teeth were white, and he looked a little childish, but his eyes shone with a coldness that was not for his age.
The young man met Zhao Chen and saluted.
When talking, he advances and retreats in a measured manner, neither humble nor overbearing, which is quite decent.
Zhao Chen secretly felt that he would have an indescribable relationship with this young man.
I don’t know where it came from and where it will go.
Zhao Chen asked casually: "I still don't know your name."
The young man replied: "Mr. Hui, Lu Yi of Wu County, courtesy name Boyan."
Zhao Chen was slightly surprised: "Could it be the Lu family, one of the four major families in Wu County?"
"Of course! My husband previously invited me to go to Guangling County to enjoy the moon together, but unfortunately something delayed me and I couldn't keep the appointment. Now that I know that my husband is in Xiapi City, I came here specially."
Good guy, it is indeed Lu Xun of the Fire Company. He can be regarded as stepping on the prestige of Lao Liu, soaring to the sky, and his name will go down in history. Now I don’t believe it, the wheel of fate has quietly changed, and Lu Xun has become a man with family grievances in history. This side.
Lu Yi, who was only fourteen years old, already had the demeanor, knowledge and calmness of an adult man. No wonder Zhao Chen always felt that this person was not simple.
He pondered and asked, "What brings Boyan here?"
Lu Yi replied: "Come and learn from me."
As soon as these words came out, Zhao Chen understood.
The four major families in Wu County, Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang, started in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, flourished in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, declined in the Liu Song Dynasty, and flourished in the Qi and Liang Dynasties.
Over the past three hundred years, the situation has been turbulent.
The ancestors of each family have great backgrounds. They are either great writers or outstanding politicians.
But among the four major families, only the Lu family and the Sun family have a blood feud.
When Yuan Shu broke with Yuan Shao, he tried to test the attitude of Lu Kang, who was the governor of Lujiang at that time, by borrowing rice. As a result, Lu Kang resolutely rejected Yuan Shu's request to borrow rice, which was a direct statement of his attitude. He stood with what Yuan Shao represented. On the side of the alliance of aristocratic families, Yuan Shu was furious and sent Sun Ce to attack Lu Kang. Lu Kang led some tribesmen to stay and defend the city, but sent Lu Yi and other juniors back to their hometown.
The siege between Lu Kang and Sun Ce lasted for nearly two years (the first year of Xingping and the second year of Xingping). During this period, Lu Kang died of illness, and Sun Ce finally broke into the city. Most of the Lu clan members in the city were implicated, and the deceased Nearly half.
Now that Sun Ce is active in Jiangdong, the Lu family will naturally worry about how to protect the family.
Lu Yi was able to choose to join Zhao Chen, already knowing that Liu Yao was no match for Sun Ce.
If he could learn the art of war from Zhao Chen, he would be able to resist Sun Ce in advance and get acquainted with Liu Bei in retreat, which would be the best choice to preserve the Lu family at present.
Zhao Chen smiled immediately when he saw the serious-looking Lu Yi and said, "Why do you want to worship me as your teacher?"
Lu Yi replied: "The ancestors of the Lu family have always attached great importance to literature. The writers may be able to comment on the nine states, or they may be able to plan good decisions and win thousands of miles, or they may be able to stabilize the people and prosper the industry and control internal affairs. As for the talent of the gentleman, there is no one to his right in the Central Plains. He is also the first With high authority, when I complete my studies, I will be able to carry forward the Lu family and be lower than the Sun family."
Lu Yi's reasons for becoming a disciple are frank, simple, yet persuasive.
Zhao Chen likes to deal with people like this, who are unpretentious and transparent.
"You are willing to worship me as your teacher. I have one request, are you willing to do it?"
Lu Yi knelt down on one knee and asked, "Sir, please speak. I will agree to it."
Zhao Chen replied: "Okay! Although you come from the big Lu family in Wu County, if you want to accept me as your teacher, you have to start over, just like an ordinary child. I will teach you everything I have learned in my life. During this period, you must not be arrogant. If you are arrogant, you must not ignore the people and keep a humble heart. Can you do that?"
Lu Yi solemnly replied: "Sir, please rest assured. I will strictly abide by your words and take your words as the rule of three feet."
"In that case, how about I give you the name Lu Xun as my master?"
Lu Yi's expression didn't change, he thought for a moment and replied, "Thank you, Mr. Sir, for the name."
Zhao Chen nodded with satisfaction.
From this moment on, Lu Yi's life trajectory is about to change, and the Lu family's status in Wu County has quietly risen.
Historically, Lu Yi changed his name to Xun, perhaps to please the Sun family, or perhaps to commemorate the death of his beloved Sun Shangxiang. No matter what, when he came under his sect today, he naturally had to use Lu Xun's name.
Lu Yi's arrival also made up for Zhao Chen's previous regrets.
These two people came at the right time and solved Zhao Chen's worries.
