Lu Yi said goodbye to Sun Ren and Sun Quan and went straight back to the Lu family.
That night, he had a sumptuous dinner with his daughters and all his children.
Early the next morning, Lu Yi took Nangong Yan and Shi Huan to the government office hall.
All the civil and military officials from Wu County rushed over.
Lu Yi sat in the government office hall and asked Zhuge Liang to tell everyone what happened to Xu Du.
All the civil and military officials were shocked when they learned that Cao Cao had abandoned the Central Plains and that the emperor was now guarding Xudu alone and even recruited soldiers unscrupulously.
This unscrupulous behavior will definitely attract Yuan Shao to go south.
Let’s not talk about whether the soldiers in the Central Plains will obey the emperor’s call.
Even in such a short time, these Central Plains soldiers are willing to accept the call-up, but it is impossible to get there quickly!
Almost all civil and military officials saw Yuan Shao's army taking the opportunity to move south!
Lu Yi looked at the noisy civil and military officials and knocked on the table a few times: "Everyone be quiet!"
The noise quickly stopped.
Lu Yi glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice: "I remember that when I took over the position of Lord of Jiangdong, I promised that if I take Jingzhou, I will let the states and counties in Jiangdong recuperate for three to five years."
"Moreover, we will ensure that the flames of war will no longer burn across the river."
"Let the people of Jiangdong live and work in peace and contentment from now on."
"Now that Yuan Shao is about to go south, we have no choice but to go out."
All the civil and military officials started making noise again.
"Marquis Wu, now that war has begun in Xuzhou, I'm afraid we can no longer recruit soldiers due to the current situation, right? Moreover, logistics supply is also a big problem! We have just reduced the taxes of the people, and Kuaiji and other places have exempted them from corvee and taxes for three years. . Now that we suddenly talk about starting a war, how can we explain it to the people?"
"Yes, the people have yet to have enough food and clothing!"
"I've only had two good years and I'm going to have to go to war again. I'm afraid I can't accept it!"
Lu Yi knocked on the counter again to signal everyone to be quiet.
Lu Yi breathed out and said, "I haven't finished speaking yet. Why are you so excited?"
"Indeed, we can only go out this time."
"However, I just said that I will fulfill my original promise."
"So, for this expedition, Gu personally went to Hefei to supervise the battle and only led the Lujiang Army to fight."
"Gu did not decide to recruit soldiers from other places, or to collect grain and grass."
Zhang Hong stood up and said: "How can we defeat Yuan Shao's army in this case? Yuan Shao is very powerful. If he doesn't use his power, there is no way he can withstand it!"
All civil and military officials agreed.
Lu Yi laughed and said: "Don't worry, gentlemen, I will fight to the death to resist the enemy."
"If it is really impossible to stop Yuan Shao's army from going south and let them cross the river, I will die on the battlefield alone. Try my best to hold them back and buy as much time as possible for the people of Jiangdong."
The whole hall fell silent instantly.
All the civil and military officials looked at each other.
Lu Yi ignored everyone and said, "Now, Gu's name is called."
"Everyone whose name is called will go out with Gu this time."
Lu Yi looked at Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang picked up a scroll, opened it and said: "In addition to the Lujiang Army, there are also the following officials accompanying Wu Hou on the expedition."
"General."
"Nangong Yan."
"Shi Huan of the Central Guards."
"The leading potter in China."
"General Huang Zhong."
"The mighty school captain Dong Xi."
"Colonel Yang Wei Chen Wu."
"Deng Dang, the captain of District Adu."
"Lü Meng, the deputy captain of District Acheng Defense."
"Pan Zhang, the captain of Wu County."
"Civil official."
"Jia Xu, the commander-in-chief of the military division."
"The chief of Wu County is Yu Fan."
"Ma Liang, the meritorious Cao Cao of Wu County."
"Wei Jing, the grain transport officer."
"Military General Chen Deng is responsible for sitting in Wu County and supervising all affairs."
Zhuge Liang finished reading.
Lu Yi stood up and said, "Chen Deng, Liu Ye, Yan Xiang, and Zhang Hong, the four of you will stay. The others can be dismissed."
All the civil and military officials withdrew one after another.
Lu Yi asked Zhuge Liang to leave first with the others.
Looking at Chen Deng, Liu Ye, Yan Xiang and Zhang Hong, Lu Yi smiled and said, "I am keeping you here this time mainly because I have an extremely important matter to explain."
Looking at Chen Deng, Lu Yi said: "There are three more people, namely Gu Yong, Cheng Pu and Tai Shi Ci. They can't catch up. After that, Yuan Longqian helped Gu give them orders."
Chen Deng said: "Here!"
Lu Yi then said: "The main reason for keeping you here this time is for the issue of heirs."
Chen Deng, Liu Ye, Yan Xiang and Zhang Hong looked at each other, their expressions perked up.
Is it finally time to decide on a successor?
Considering that Wu Hou's eldest son is over two years old, we can indeed start preparations.
Lu Yi said: "This time, if I die in battle alone, then Zhuge Liang will take over as the next master of Jiangdong."
Everyone: "."
However, no one raised any doubts.
Although they were a little shocked, if Lu Yi really died in battle, it would indeed be more suitable for Zhuge Liang to take over the position of Lord of Jiangdong than Lu Yi's children.
At that time, the chaotic situation will require mature and smart people to take over.
Lu Yi's children are all too young and obviously unqualified.
As for Zhuge Liang, from the moment he followed Lu Yi to Wuxian County, Lu Yi successively placed him under Gu Yong, Zhang Hong and Chen Deng.
The three of them also understood Zhuge Liang's intelligence.
Moreover, Zhuge Liang also had a very good relationship with celebrities such as Pang Degong, Huang Chengyan, Sima Hui and others from the Jingzhou faction.
This point is more advantageous than Lu Xun, who Lu Yi had always brought with him before.
Chen Deng took a deep breath and said, "I understand."
Looking at Lu Yi, Chen Deng said: "I hope Wu Hou can win the victory. I believe that no matter who takes over, it will be far inferior to Wu Hou. In these years, Wu Hou, you have made great achievements in Jiangdong. No one is unaware of it."
"No one else would be able to reach the level of Wu Hou."
No one else made a sound.
Seeing this, Lu Yi nodded and said, "Okay, that's it! If Gu Zhan dies, Zhuge Liang will come to you with Gu's letter. Remember what you said today."
Chen Deng and the other four left separately.
Zhang Hong glanced at Lu Yi one last time and left the office silently.
His expression was very complicated.
It seems that Wu Hou is really ready to die in battle.
Even the heir has been decided.
And they are not his children, but Zhuge Liang.
He led Zhuge Liang for a while and really admired Zhuge Liang.
However, he still couldn't accept the idea of Zhuge Liang replacing Lu Yi.
After hesitating for a while, Zhang Hong returned to the mansion.
His son Zhang Xuan hurriedly came up to him. While taking off Zhang Hong's coat, he asked curiously: "Father, why are you back so early today?"
Zhang Hong did not answer, but said: "Xuan'er, go and do something for your father now."
Henry Zhang said: "Father, tell me."
Zhang Hong said: "Go and call all the heads of the major families. If the head of the family is not here, ask them to send someone who can speak. Just tonight, at our house."
Henry Zhang responded, walked out quickly, and galloped away on his horse.
night.
The Zhang family's residence.
hall.
It was full of people.
At a glance, they turned out to be the heads of major families in Wu County.
Zhang Hong knelt and sat in the main seat.
After glancing at everyone, Zhang Hong said: "Masters, I have summoned you here today, if for no other reason than for Wu Hou's upcoming expedition."
The families suddenly became noisy.
"What's the point of discussing this? Who wants to start a war suddenly if we are recuperating now?"
"Wu Hou promised that he would make our Jiangdong land no longer experience the pain of war! Now, it is his turn to fulfill his promise."
"Anyway, everyone in my family is busy now and has no money."
Zhang Hong raised his hand.
The noise quieted down.
Zhang Hong said solemnly: "Marquis Wu has decided on his successor."
Everyone looked at Zhang Hong in astonishment.
Zhang Hong continued: "It's Zhuge Liang."
The clamor of the crowd is about to rise again.
Zhang Hong scolded: "Everyone be quiet!"
Only then did everyone become quiet again.
Zhang Hong said in a gloomy voice: "Masters, Wu Hou even passed the position of Lord of Jiangdong to others, which is enough to show that he is prepared to die in battle."
"Masters, ask yourselves, how have your lives been in Jiangdong these years?"
"In the past, I followed the late Wu Marquis from Guangling to Wuxian County. What kind of life did you live like?"
"How many of your family members died tragically?"
"Today, you live and work in peace and contentment, and many people are prosperous. Whose credit is this?"
"If Marquis Wu really died in battle, gentlemen, do you think we in Jiangdong can really maintain the situation of living and working in peace and contentment now?"
"How many years have passed since the days when people were dying of hunger? Have you all forgotten?"
"Moreover, Yuan Shao really defeated Wu Hou and crossed the river. Do you think Yuan Shao can do better than Wu Hou?"
"Yuan Shao, my foundation is in Hebei!"
"Today is the day when my life and death in Jiangdong is at stake. If all the princes sweep the snow away from their homes, and Yuan Shao's army arrives at your door in the future, don't cry!"
Everyone originally wanted to speak, but at this moment, they all fell silent.
Zhang Hong said: "Masters, no one can do better than Wu Hou."
"If you really want to sit back and do nothing, you will be the one who suffers when the time comes."
"Weigh it yourself!"
"Anyway, I decided today to dispatch twenty strong men from the mansion to follow Wu Hou in the expedition to Hefei."
"If I hadn't only had one son."
"If it weren't for my old age."
"I will definitely go on an expedition with Wu Hou."
After saying that, Zhang Hong stood up and Shi Shiran left.
Everyone, you look at me, I look at you.
After a while, everyone left.
The next morning.
Lu Yi got dressed and was about to go to the government office to summon the generals and civil servants appointed yesterday to discuss the time for the expedition to Hefei. He saw a dense number of young men standing at the door of the government office.
At a glance, there is no end in sight.
The heads of the major families in Wu County also gathered at the gate of the government office.
Seeing Lu Yi, Nangong Yan, and Shi Huan arriving, the heads of the major families gathered around Lu Yi.
Lu Yi looked at this scene with confusion and said: "This is -"
Gu Yong's younger brother Gu Ti said: "Wu Hou, this time you lead the army to fight for me Jiangdong. Our major families have discussed that no matter how difficult it is, we must do our part."
"So, we mobilized some strong men from our families to go out with Wu Hou."
"I just calculated, there are 20,000 people in total."
"We will hand over the subsequent provisions to Wei Jing."
"Wu Hou, please make sure to win the battle this time and spread the glory of Jiangdong!"
Everyone roared in unison: "Give me the glory of Jiangdong!"
"Give me Jiangdong glory!"
"Give me Jiangdong glory!"
Lu Yi looked at the dense crowd of young men in front of him and nodded.
Entering the government office hall, Zhang Hong nodded to Lu Yi.
Lu Yi smiled at Zhang Hong and said, "Thank you, Mr. Zhang!"
(End of chapter)
