Zhang Xi led his troops into Jixian County and immediately arranged for Zhang Yi and Jufu to take over the city defense of Jixian County. He himself, along with Wei Yan, met with representatives of the wealthy families in Jixian County.
Jiang Xu, Jiang Ji, Liang Xu, Yin Shang, Yang Ling and others.
Jiang Xu, Jiang Ji, Liang Xu, and Yin Shang were all the major contributors to Zhang Xi's capture of Hebei County. Naturally, Zhang Xi could not help but want to be appointed an official and make a wish to comfort him.
As for Yang Ling, he is the representative of the Yang family. At the same time, Yang Ling is also the biological brother of Yang Fu. It can be seen from this that after the Shu army entered the city, the Yang family also began to adjust its position and no longer maintained a idly attitude.
But compared to the Jiang family, Liang family, Yin family and other aristocratic families, the Yang family is somewhat more reserved.
First, the relationship between the Yang family and Cao Wei is close, and Yang Fu is an official in Yecheng, so he cannot be too direct in the open.
In both cases, although Ji County is now in the hands of the Shu army, the future is still unclear, and the Yang family also retains the last bottom line.
Zhang Xi naturally knew about Yang's concerns, so he didn't embarrass Yang too much. Of course, with the corresponding appointment and making a wish, Yang would have nothing to do for the time being.
As for the Zhao family, after Zhang Xi was busy meeting with Jiang Xu and others, under the leadership of Jiang Xu, he personally visited the Zhao family's residence.
Although Zhang Xi knew about the hatred between Ma Chao and the Zhao family, it had nothing to do with Zhang Xi, and it was impossible for Zhang Xi to kill the entire Zhao family for the sake of Ma Chao, whom he didn't know at all.
What's more, the Zhao family abandoned Zhao Ang, his wife, and their son and daughter, and threw them out as tools. Now Zhang Xi has sent people to hold them in solitary confinement. Zhang Xi doesn't know what to do next.
Therefore, Zhang Xi visited the Zhao family's residence and offered some comfort to Zhao family. The specific decision could not be made until Liu Bei, the king of Hanzhong, arrived in Hebei County.
Although Zhang Xi's visit still did not provide a plan to deal with Zhao, it at least gave Zhao a reassurance.
If Liu Bei's group really wants to avenge Ma Chao and destroy the Zhao family, there is no need for Zhang Xi to visit the Zhao family.
But even so, the Zhao family still couldn't guess Liu Bei's attitude based on Zhang Xi's attitude. Zhao Xiong of the Zhao family secretly discussed with Jiang Xu about preserving a branch of the Zhao family's bloodline.
You can't blame Zhao. In this case, you must prepare in advance just in case.
Jiang Xu also remembered his promise, so he agreed to Zhao Xiong's request.
Under the current situation, there was definitely no way for the Zhao family to send a tribe out of the city to escape, so Jiang Xu and Zhao Xiong took a compromise after discussion.
Let Jiang Wei of the Jiang family take a widow of the third wife of the Zhao family as a concubine.
The eldest son of Zhao's third wife died young, leaving behind an only son who was only three or four years old and a widow.
After Zhao Xiong discussed with Jiang Xu, he asked the widow of the third wife to remarry Jiang Wei as a concubine, take her only son with her, and at the same time marry some of the Zhao family members and property. This was a disguised protection of the Zhao family. Bloodline.
When the only son grows up, the Jiang family will restore the surname Zhao to the only son and let the Zhao family find another place to settle down and continue the Zhao family lineage.
This can be regarded as the Three Kingdoms version of "Zhao's Orphan".
It's just that Jiang Wei wasn't too happy about it. He suddenly had a concubine and a nominal son before he was crowned with the crown. What's this? !
But how many of the sons of aristocratic families these days are free in matters of marriage? !
At least Jiang Xu doesn't think there's anything wrong with this.
Moreover, Jiang Xu also persuaded Jiang Wei to be more open-minded. She is just a concubine, not a wife, so you are worried!
That widow is only the same age as your boy this year. She is quite beautiful and well-educated.
Even if your nominal son returns to the surname Zhao in the future, my concubine will still be your concubine. You have taken advantage of me, so why should you be dissatisfied?
Although Jiang Wei is still not satisfied, this kind of thing is really not something that he, a junior, can decide, not to mention that even his father Jiang Ji has agreed, so what can he say.
So, while Zhang Xi was busy checking the city defenses and preparing for Guo Huai's attack at any time, the Jiang family and the Zhao family in the city reached an agreement, and Jiang Wei gained a concubine and a cheap son.
Regarding this kind of thing, although Zhang Xi also received a detailed report from the city, Zhang Xi really didn't pay attention to it. To a certain extent, he turned a blind eye. Zhang Xi was not sure what Ma Chao was thinking. What if Ma Chao If Zhang Xi really wanted to kill someone and take revenge on his whole family, it was hard for Zhang Xi to persuade him to do anything.
Zhang Xi instead felt that this was a way to preserve the Zhao family's bloodline.
Besides, Zhang Xi has no time to think about such strange things now. The top priority is to first block Guo Huai's Liangzhou Army.
According to the horse scouting report, Guo Huai has led more than 50,000 Liangzhou regiments southward. It is only a day's journey from Ji County. If it is cavalry, they may see Cao Wei's cavalry approaching the city tonight.
The only good thing is that cavalry is not good at attacking cities.
However, the number of enemy troops is huge, and he has just taken over the defense of Ji County, so he cannot be underestimated after all.
Zhang Xi summoned his subordinates overnight to discuss defense matters.
Jiang Xu, Liang Xu, Yin Shang, and Jiang Ji were local snakes, so of course they had to attend. As for Zhang Xi, Wei Yan, Zhang Yi, and Gou Fu also attended.
Finally, there was one person who was specially named by Zhang Xi and made an exception to attend - Jiang Wei.
Tianshui Qilin'er, can you let this go? !
Although Jiang Wei is only nineteen years old at the moment and is still very immature, but so what, his apprentice Deng Ai has been helping him handle government affairs since he was sixteen years old. Jiang Wei is nineteen this year.
Zhang Xi's special roll call not only made Jiang Wei happy, but also made Jiang shi overjoyed. Obviously, Jiang shi thought this was a signal that Liu Bei Group valued Tianshui Jiang.
Although Liang Xu and Yin Shang were a little envious and jealous, they had no choice but to do so. There really was no one in their family who could compare with Jiang Wei.
Besides, Jiang Wei was from Tianshui, and Liang Xu and Yin Shang were also from Tianshui. Jiang Wei was promoted to the military tent to discuss affairs, which may not be a signal for the Liu Bei Group to appease the people of Tianshui.
Therefore, these two people did not have much objection to Jiang Wei's attendance.
On the contrary, Zhang Xi's side is the one who really has opinions.
Zhang Yi and Jufu are better. They are both young and promoted by Zhang Xi. Although they have some opinions, they will not be too obvious after all.
But Old Man Wei was different.
Wei Yan felt that the army was about to face a big war. Zhang Xi ignored him, a veteran in the army, and insisted on naming a teenage boy to discuss matters. He simply did not take Wei Yan seriously.
Therefore, as soon as the military meeting began, Wei Yan took the initiative and said, "Now that Guo Huaii is going south, Ji County is small and cannot accommodate a large army. Please ask the general and me to send 10,000 soldiers and horses out of the city and into the stronghold to act as a horn!"
Wei Yan was really not polite at all. He directly asked Zhang Xi for someone, and as soon as he asked, he wanted to leave 10,000 people.
But Zhang Xi didn't think there was any problem with this.
Although the city of Ji County is not small, with 20,000 soldiers under the fortress, it seems a bit crowded.
When Zhang Xi set out from Hanzhong with 20,000 people, he only fought one battle at Qishan Fort along the way and lost some soldiers. On the following journey, most of them surrendered and accepted the rebels, and the number of troops was actually lower than that of Hanzhong. When we first set off, there would be thousands more people coming.
Having so many people crowded together in Ji County is not only detrimental to the arrangement and command of defensive forces, but also consumes more food and grass.
Another thing is that the military discipline of soldiers these days is like that. No matter how strict the discipline is, there are always some blind thorns who regard themselves as conquerors and insist on challenging military law.
Zhang Xi could only try to restrain them as much as possible, but with so many people in the city, there would inevitably be friction with the local people or aristocratic families. In such a situation where the army is pressing down on the territory, it is somewhat of a hidden danger.
Therefore, Zhang Xi did not think that he should put all his soldiers in the city.
In the battle to defend the city, sending troops out of the city and into the stronghold to form horns with each other was not only beneficial to defense, but also a means of protecting grain routes. In this regard, Zhang Xi felt that Wei Yan's suggestion was right.
Although Zhang Xi and Wei Yan do not get along, one thing is that among the generals present now, Wei Yan is probably the only one who is truly capable of leading ten thousand troops and can cooperate with the city defenders.
Therefore, although Wei's old man's tone was very irritating, Zhang Xi, from a practical point of view, was ready to agree to Wei Yan's proposal and give him 10,000 troops to leave the city and set up a stronghold to defend it.
But some people have different opinions.
"General, you must not!" Jiang Wei hesitated again and again, but stood up and said to Zhang Xi, "General, you must not send troops out of the city, otherwise they will be destroyed by thieves!"
Jiang Wei probably said this, but Wei Yan was not happy to hear it.
"What do you mean, kid?!" Wei Yan glared at Jiang Wei and said, "Are you looking down on me?!"
Originally, Wei Yan was displeased with Jiang Wei's presence. If this kid had just kept silent, Wei Yan really wouldn't have troubled him, but what's the point now? ! If I lead troops out of the city to garrison, will they be defeated by the enemy? !
Who do you think you are looking down on? !
But Jiang Wei handed over to Wei Yan and replied very politely, "It's not that Wei underestimates the general, it's the fact that the Liangzhou army mostly relies on cavalry in battle, and the cavalry in battle comes and goes like the wind. When the general leaves the city, if he holds on In the walled city, the Liangzhou army has no skills to attack the city, so naturally there is no way to defeat the general, but if the general goes out to fight in the wild, he may be in trouble for a while."
Jiang Wei's words were relatively tactful, but at least everyone present was not stupid and understood what Jiang Wei meant.
In this Northern Expedition, the soldiers of Liu Bei's group were all infantry, except for some scouts.
If the infantry goes out of the city to set up a stronghold, there is no problem if it is just to defend it. The Liangzhou Army mainly fights with cavalry. The cavalry is not good at attacking cities and may not even be able to break through the stronghold set up by Wei Yan.
But the problem is that the purpose of Wei Yan going out of the city to set up a stronghold is to echo with Ji County. If mutual rescue is just to defend the camp, what kind of mutual rescue is it?
But once Wei Yan led his troops out of the camp to fight in the field, the short legs of the infantry could not outrun the cavalry, and the impact of the cavalry could not be stopped by the infantry. Once he left the camp to fight in the field, Wei Yan with the infantry was simply looking for death.
Therefore, on the border of Liangzhou, it is not that you cannot go out of the city to set up a stronghold and defend like a horn, but the side you go out of the city must also have enough cavalry, so that it can be truly effective. Infantry alone cannot do it at all. Instead of supporting each other, dividing troops is a taboo.
Therefore, Jiang Wei suggested that there is really no need to divide the troops. Liangzhou people are not good at attacking cities, and the army can just huddle in the city and hold on. Unless the defenders of Ji County are out of food, the Liangzhou army will not be able to attack the city wall with its cavalry.
But in fact, it is impossible for Ji County to be short of food.
Let’s talk about Ji County first. As a large county in Tianshui County, it has sufficient reserves of grain and grass. There is no possibility of a shortage of grain and grass in the short term.
Speaking of backup, the defenders of Ji County are not alone. The army led by Hanzhong King Liu Bei is right behind them. Calculating the time, they should have left Qishan Road and are almost at Xi County.
In other words, as long as Zhang Xi and others hold on for ten days, the real troublemaker will be Guo Huai.
Not to mention, Liu Bei is not without options. The Qiang and Hu Yi Cong led by Ma Chao should be arriving at Tianshui County soon.
(End of chapter)
