Chu State is rich and prosperous.
It is the month of Winter Eve in the Chu calendar.
In Fengyi, every house in the village is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Reed ropes are hung on the doors, and peach charms with the names of Shen Tu and Yu Lei are inserted next to them.
There were children playing and chasing each other everywhere, and the whole town was filled with an atmosphere of joy.
The hall of the Liu family.
Taigong Liu was at the top.
The Liu family members in the hall, in order of seniority and youngness, dressed up and dressed, congratulated each other one by one, and at the same time drank pepper wine to toast each other.
Pepper wine is a drink commonly consumed by Chu people.
As it says in "Nine Songs": Steamed dishes are served with orchids, and osmanthus wine is served with pepper pulp.
Chu people drink pepper wine to congratulate each other on the first month of the year. The youngest people drink it first, and the older they are, the last one can drink it.
This is what is known as celebrating the new year with the younger ones, and congratulating them with wine first. The old man loses his years, so he drinks wine. It has quite a local character.
Now the younger members of the Liu family have finished drinking one by one, and when it comes to Liu Jiao, everyone congratulates them: "Ah Jiao, you are well on your way."
"Good morning."
Liu Jiao replied, took a sip of the pepper-scented wine, turned around and shouted out of habit: "Third brother, it's your turn."
As soon as these words came out, the entire Liu Hall fell into deathly silence.
Taigong Liu's originally smiling face suddenly turned black and blue.
Liu Taigong's four sons are Liu Bo, Liu Zhong, Liu Ji and Liu Jiao.
Now there are only three people around, but Liu Ji, who used to be the most active person in the family, is not in the house.
Liu Jiao swallowed, he had been saying this Dongxi drinking sequence for more than ten years, but now he just blurted it out, who knew he would cause trouble again.
Ever since the Qin soldiers crossed the border on Liu Ji's wedding night last year, the Liu family's reputation has plummeted throughout Fengyi.
Liu Ji kicked Enzhuang's ears and got out of the car. The story of Liu Ji's betrayal was confirmed by the Qin army to be true.
After the Qin army left, Liu Ji never appeared again.
Although Liu Jiao kept saying that he saw Lu Wan being captured by the Qin army, Liu Ji might have escaped the Qin army's pursuit. But Taigong Liu insisted that Liu Ji was captured and killed by the Qin people, and the Liu family no longer had this son.
This result is also very possible. After all, the Qin army sent many people to search everywhere overnight, and they did not know whether they had caught him or not.
Therefore, after this incident, although Wang Ling and other rangers were angry at Liu Ji's deception, they were all captured and beheaded by the Qin army, so they had no choice but to forget it and did not vent their anger on the Liu family.
Moreover, Wang Ling took the initiative to suppress this incident and did not let it spread in the Peixian area. After all, Wang Ling, as Liu Ji's eldest brother, had his younger brother do such a thing, and he had previously covered it up. If word spread, it would have a huge impact on his reputation.
In addition to Wang Ling and others breaking off relations with the Liu family, Liu Taigong's close friend Lu Taigong also fell out with him. He often scolded the Liu family's evil son in the city and harmed his family's Lu Wan. The Liu family knew that they were in the wrong, and even if they were scolded in disgrace, they did not dare to reply.
"Alas, A Ji was captured by the Qin people, and I don't know if he is living well or not."
Uncle Liu was made sad by Liu Jiao's words. He often took Liu Ji with him when he was a child. The two had quite a brotherly relationship. Now that he thinks of each other, he can't help but have tears in his eyes.
"How can I live a good life? I'm afraid that traitor will have his head chopped off long ago!"
"If you don't study hard and work hard, you will be idle all day and don't study well. This is what you will end up with!"
Taigong Liu roared angrily, turned around and walked into the inner hall.
The Liu family members looked at each other, but as juniors they did not dare to leave. They could only talk to each other in the hall, and as they talked, they talked about the news that had recently spread to Fengfeng.
"I heard that the Qin people defeated a hundred thousand Qi troops in Zhencheng! Then the Qin people had their heads chopped off on the spot."
"I've heard about it too. It's said that the Qin general commanding this battle is the same one who fought out of Fengpei and kidnapped Pei Gong!"
"Zhao Tuo! I remember his name. He defeated our Zuo Sima in Surabaya!"
Listening to the discussion of his brothers, Liu Jiao recalled the scene of the Qin army's attack that night and couldn't help but shudder.
Trembling: "This Zhao Tuo is so powerful. Do you think he will come south to attack us after defeating the Qi people?"
"Hit us here? Impossible. Puyang and Zhencheng are hundreds of miles away from us! What are the Qin people doing here?" Some Liu clan members denied it on the spot.
Liu Zhong echoed: "Yes, and now the main force of the Qin army is facing Chen Ying to confront our Ling Yin. Even if Zhao Tuo wants to go south, he should go to Chen Ying to support him. Ah Jiao, I'm afraid you won't be The people of Qin were frightened..."
Before Liu Zhong's voice could finish, screams came from outside the house: "The Qin army is coming!"
…
"Chu State also celebrates the New Year in October."
When Zhao Tuo walked into the camp set up by the Qin army outside Fengyi, he couldn't help but sigh.
When he set out from Qin, it was after spring plowing, and it was hot summer when he arrived in Huaibei. By the time he went north to Dongjun to confront the Qi army, it was the autumn harvest season.
But now, it is already October of the year when Zhao Tuo leads his army south to Fengfei.
October in Chu State is called Dongxi, which is the beginning of the year like Qin State.
In October, it is a new year for Qin and Chu.
It is now the twenty-third year of the Qin Dynasty.
The calculation method of age in this era has nothing to do with the month and day of birth. Generally, the year of birth is counted as one year old, and then every new year, it goes up by one year.
"So I'm already eighteen."
Zhao Tuo shook his head. Time passed so fast. He was eighteen years old in the blink of an eye.
Inexplicably, Zhao Tuo thought that before this expedition, the King of Qin specially called him to the palace to ask him, and at the end he asked him confusedly, "Do you want to be the princess?"
Counting the time, the princess is now sixteen years old, and she is already old enough to get married.
"After destroying Chu this time, will the king recruit me as his son-in-law?"
Zhao Tuo was looking forward to it. He was the son-in-law of Qin Shihuang, the emperor of the ages. What man wouldn't look forward to it?
At the same time, he felt a little uneasy. After all, the king just asked and did not give him a clear reply.
But this kind of question without giving an answer is the most fascinating, and it is unforgettable in people's hearts.
While Zhao Tuo was thinking, the curtain outside the tent was raised, and his confidant Lu Wan walked in.
"General, it is said in the countryside that Liu Ji was captured by our army last year and has never been seen again. Based on my understanding of this person, I am afraid that he sensed that the situation was wrong and fled to another country. This guy Liu Ji She is a very cunning and deceitful woman. I dare not say anything about her other abilities, but her ability to save lives is definitely not bad."
Lu Wan said bitterly. As soon as he returned to Fengpei, he led a group of people into the countryside, first going to his own home to reassure his old parents.
Although his son defected to the enemy country in a blink of an eye and became a minor official, Mrs. Lu was shocked. But the joy of having your beloved son return safely is absolutely indispensable.
After Lu Wan briefly reunited with his parents, he went to visit the Liu family. Everyone in the Liu family was frightened to the point of trembling, especially the Qin Army armor he was wearing. It frightened Taigong Liu to kneel down to him while trembling. He saluted, but Lu Wan stepped aside to avoid it.
After all, he was the junior that Taigong Liu had watched and loved since he was a child. Although Lu Wan hated Liu Ji, she didn't have much resentment towards the Liu family.
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Xiao He's talent has been proven by history.
In a word, it's worth it.
It's just that Xiao He is still studying abroad and has not returned home, so Zhao Tuo has no chance to meet, which is quite a pity.
But it doesn't matter, Qin's unification of the world has reached the final stage, and the world will be unified in less than two years. He, Zhao Tuo, still has opportunities. Now, giving some gifts to lay a friendly foundation will also be good for recruiting in the future.
"Xiao He, I wonder what your expression will be like when you come home and see the gift I gave you?"
Zhao Tuo smiled slightly, put down Xiao He's matter, and thought of another news brought back by Lu Wan.
Ever since the last time the Qin army had a great harvest, Liu Ji disappeared on his wedding night, and his reputation had been ruined. Later, Taigong Liu even publicized the fact that Liu Ji was captured by the Qin army, putting an end to this matter.
The bride Liu Ji married that day, Lu, was also picked up by her father and brother who received the news on the third day, and her relationship with the Liu family was severed.
Zhao Tuo felt at peace.
As far as he knew, in history, the reason why Liu Ji was able to start an uprising was not only his own ability, but also his wife's family, the Lu family, and the abundant heroes and talents who played a great role in it.
Now with Zhao Tuo's participation, although he was not killed, Liu Ji's reputation was ruined, which was equivalent to cutting off his support in Fengfei, ruining Liu Ji's marriage, and ruining his wife's Lu family. help.
"Liu and Lu have separated, and their reputation has been ruined. Even if Liu Ji can survive, he won't have to worry about it in the future."
Zhao Tuo whispered softly, and then shook his head, unwilling to spend too much energy on this little man. Now is the critical moment of the Qin-Chu war, and he still has many things to do.
Zhao Tuo looked at the map spread out on the bed attentively, studying the next combat strategy.
"Our army marches thirty miles a day, and the messenger carrying the information travels several times that distance in a day. I think Xiang Yan has received the news that I defeated the Qi army in Zhencheng. With this person's experience, he will definitely judge I will lead my troops southward from Fengfei and attack the retreat."
"If nothing else happens, Xiang Yan will send people to stop me and prevent me from breaking into the heart of Chu State and going straight to Shouchun, its capital."
"For our army's next route, we don't have to worry about the remaining towns south of Fengfei. Pengcheng is too far away from Huaiyang, and the Chu army has no time to support there. There is no problem in taking it. So if Xiang Yan sends troops to stop me, he should Suishui is on the line."
Zhao Tuo murmured in his mouth and suddenly dropped his finger, pointing at a long river south of Pengcheng.
Suishui.
