"who!?"
"Hurry and protect the general!"
The guards around Liu Yu had just shouted and had not yet had time to gallop forward to check.
In the woods in front, a panicked elk suddenly rushed out, followed closely by a young man with a bow in bright clothes and an angry horse. Behind him were several younger boys, following closely behind.
I saw the young man chasing after the elk, suddenly bending his bow and shooting an arrow.
With a "whoosh" sound, the elk was hit by the arrow and fell to the ground, whining endlessly.
Seeing this, Liu couldn't help but high-five him.
"Good archery skills!"
At this time, the young men on horseback in front of them had all run out of the woods. When they suddenly saw a large group of generals and cavalry appearing in front of them, they were all stunned on the spot, and they couldn't even care about the prey that fell on the ground.
The guards around Liu Yu had already galloped forward and surrounded the young riders.
Seeing the appearance of these young people, it is obvious that they are children of some high-ranking family. Otherwise, the horses that are in short supply today are not something that ordinary children from poor families can purchase.
In this case, he probably couldn't be a dangerous person like a young killer or an assassin.
"Bring them here."
Liu Yu then gave instructions.
"Don't scare them!"
Immediately, these young men had their bows and arrows confiscated and were brought to Liu Yu and his party.
"Which family are you from?" Liu Yu asked the young man who had just shot the deer in a friendly manner.
The young man who was surrounded by a group of warriors did not show any timidity. He met Liu Yu's gaze generously and replied.
"I am Xun Rui (Rui) of Yingchuan."
"The Xun family in Yingchuan?" Liu Yu was not too surprised when he heard this, because Xun Kui transferred some of the Xun family's children from Luoyang to Yanzhou, and he knew about this.
Liu Yu then smiled and looked at Yanzhou Governor Yang Mao beside him.
"Mr. Yang, is he your guest?"
Yang Mao was born in the Yang family of Huayin, Hongnong County, and was a close family friend of the Xun family in Yingchuan for several generations. This time, Xun Kui arranged for his children and their families to come to Yang Mao.
After all, the chief official of Yanzhou is still Yang Mao in name, and Liu Yu is only the military commander of Yanzhou, not a herdsman chief official.
After hearing this, Yang Hao felt slightly embarrassed.
"Yang is guilty and his discipline was not good. He made the children disrespectful and offended the general."
As he spoke, Yang Mao pursed his lips and said to Xun Rui and other young men in front of him.
"A'rui, why don't you apologize to the general!"
When Xun Rui heard what his uncle Yang Mao said, he quickly led the young Xun family behind him to apologize to Liu Yu.
"Haha, it doesn't have to be like this!"
Liu Yu stopped Xun Rui with a wave of his hand and said loudly.
"There is no need to be polite. Xun Sikong has always been very supportive to me in the court. How can I ask you to apologize for such a trivial matter?"
After Xun Rui and others heard this, they were still young at heart. They felt that Liu Yu's words must mean that they had a close relationship with their grandfather, so they gave up.
The beggar army commanders Tian Zhen, Tian Lan, Chen Wu and others who were standing by asked Liu Yu about this time, but they all looked at each other quietly.
Tian Tian, Chen Wu and other beggar soldiers had a hard time surviving in Hebei. When Liu Yu entered Yanzhou, he took advantage of Emperor Sima Chi's secret edict to attack Sima Yue and summoned them to Yanzhou with a few letters.
However, as the situation in Luoyang continued to deteriorate, these beggar soldiers began to worry that after the fall of Luoyang, the Central Plains would be completely in chaos, and they still had not made the final determination to completely surrender to Liu Yu.
However, when Liu Yu led 2,000 cavalry to defeat tens of thousands of barbarians, this terrible performance immediately shocked the beggar army, so after Liu Yu led his army back to Yanzhou, they all surrendered immediately.
Now, these beggar commanders inadvertently saw that Sikong Xunfan, one of the three princes of the dynasty, had sent all his family members and children to Yanzhou. They all felt that Liu Yu had been prepared for this. Not only did he have a strong army , and there are strong supports like the Xun family in Yingchuan.
In this way, everyone secretly rejoiced and chose to go south to Yanzhou and submit to Liu Yu.
Liu Yu looked up among the Xun boys and found that among them there was a girl who was only eight or nine years old. Although she was wearing a horse-riding Hu uniform, she could tell at a glance that she was a little girl.
"Unexpectedly, not only the young men of the Xun family are skilled in bow and horse, but also the young girls." Liu Yu couldn't help but praise.
When Xun Rui heard this, she knew who Liu Yu was talking about without looking back.
"The general is so complimentary. That's Rui's sister Xun Guan. She can't shoot a bow yet. She's just a child riding a horse for fun." Xun Rui's tone clearly regarded such a sister as a fun addition.
After hearing this, Liu Yu smiled happily.
"The Xun family of Yingchuan is indeed worthy of being a distinguished family. Not only is it a literary heir, but it is also unparalleled in military matters. The young man is so heroic. I will rely on you to help the world and the people in the future."
Liu Yu's behavior is not all for the beggar handsome men such as Tian Zhen and Chen Wu. He really admires young men like Xun Rui.
Xun Rui, who had just turned fourteen, immediately beamed with joy when she heard Liu Yu's solemn praise.
After Liu Yu finished chatting with Xun Rui and other young men, Yang Mao, the governor of Yanzhou next to him, came forward and said.
"General, it's getting late. Why don't we go back to the city?"
"Yeah, okay." Liu Yu nodded. After returning to Yanzhou, there were more and more political affairs.
"You kids, please go back to the city quickly. Don't be so reckless again." Afterwards, Yang Mao sent someone to escort the Xun family's children back to the city's palace.
When Liu Yu and his party returned to Cangyuan City, as soon as they entered the mansion, someone came forward to report back.
Liu Rui, the beggar commander stationed in Puyang County, Hao Ting and others stationed in Jiyin County have also arrived at Cangyuan.
"General, there is another person who came with Liu Rui." The guard reported.
"Who?" Liu Yu asked.
"Long Xiang General Li Yun."
When Liu Yu heard such a name, he was delighted. General Longxiang Li Yun was from Bingzhou, and he was an old relative and friend of these beggar soldiers. He not only had high prestige, but also had good abilities. Now he can compete with the beggar army commander. Liu Rui came together, probably to seek refuge with him.
"Since everyone is already here, please invite them all for me." Liu Yu said.
After a while, beggar commanders Liu Rui, Hao Ting and others who were resting temporarily in another place came over. Along with them was a tall black-faced man who looked mighty at first glance. .
"This should be Li Longxiang, right?" Liu Yu said, and stood up to greet him.
"The sinner Li Yun, the newly defeated army, did not dare to greet Liu Yu as a general." Li Yun saw Liu Yu getting up to greet him, and hurriedly apologized.
In the Battle of Yangcheng in Sizhou, facing a surprise attack by Hu Han Wang Mi's troops, Li Yun's Long Xiang army was almost destroyed. Under the protection of a few guards, Li Yun managed to escape and join the beggar army.
"The defeat of Yangcheng was not a crime of war, but a treacherous minister who harmed the country. How could a hero like General Li be so unjustly accused!" Liu Yu looked filled with indignation.
After hearing this, Li Yun felt moved in his heart.
For the past few days, Li Yun's mind had been filled with the scene of the 100,000 Jin soldiers in the Battle of Yangcheng, followed by the disastrous defeat, so much so that it almost became Li Yun's inner demon.
As the saying goes, a thousand-mile horse always exists, but a bole does not always exist.
Li Yun immediately thought that Liu Yu's words alone were enough to be called his confidant.
At this time, the Qingzhou military generals headed by Dong Ping and Wu Xin all expressed their grievances against General Longxiang Li Yun. They all felt that it was a great wish to blame Li Yun for the defeat of Yangcheng.
As for Tian Zhen, Tian Lan, Chen Wu, Liu Rui and other military commanders who were beggars who were familiar with Li Yun, they felt that they were not worth their salt.
Liu Yu had already sent a message to all the states, saying that he would gather forces together and then march westward to deal with the Hu barbarians besieging Luoyang.
Therefore, today's so-called meeting is to arrange these begging troops. After all, Yanzhou's begging army has become a powerful force now. If these "begging" people cannot be settled, there will be no chaos. Will cause big trouble.
"Now, I have just sent a message to all the states to lead the troops to march westward to Chang'an. It is at a time when I am short of good generals. General Li has arrived in such a hurry. It seems that God is really helping me. With General Li's help, I will definitely be able to achieve great things!"
Among the many officials and generals present at this time, except for Liu Yu and Yanzhou Governor Yang Mao, the one with the highest official position was today's "Bare General" Li Yun.
"General, this is a ridiculous compliment. I will never dare to accept it." Ever since he met Li Yun, Liu Yu had been praising Li Yun, which actually made Li Yun a little uncomfortable.
"General Li, there is no need to be too modest!" Liu Yu waved his hand and continued.
"I decided to entrust Yuzhou to the general and represent General Li as the governor of Yuzhou."
Li Yun and others were shocked when they heard this. They really didn't expect that Liu Yu would so happily give the title of Yuzhou governor to Li Yun who they had just met.
Li Yun's face was red, and he was a little excited and wanted to speak.
"General, you, I, Li are really..."
Before Li Yun could finish speaking, Liu Yu pretended to be serious.
"General Li is still in the army. These are military orders. Could it be that General Li has to refuse the appointment just because he belittles himself? This is a violation of military orders!"
How could Li Yun not understand that Liu Yu didn't want him to refuse.
"The last general, Li Yun, is willing to accept the order!"
After Liu Yu heard this, he smiled.
"Now that Yuzhou is in chaos, we will be stationed in Suiyang for the time being. I have left three thousand Qingzhou armored soldiers there to assist General Li."
Of course Liu Yu had great trust in Li Yun, a famous beggar general in history. However, just in case, the Qingzhou soldiers stationed in Suiyang might have to stay longer.
Later, Liu Yu placed several other beggar commanders Chen Wu, Tian Zhen, Tian Lan, Liu Rui and others in the areas of Yongcheng, Junyi, Baima and Suiyang respectively, and gave each of them a He became the county governor.
Originally, among these beggar commanders, the one with the highest official rank was Chen Wu's eighth-grade general, but now, because of Liu Yu's assignment, they all had the title of county guard.
For a moment, it happened to be a half-hearted celebration.
In this way, these beggar soldiers, who were originally rootless men, can be completely regarded as Liu Yu's subordinates.
However, there is still one biggest problem that troubles Liu Yu, that is, the sudden increase in the number of tens of thousands of beggars also lacks food and grass.
Chen Wu, Tian Zhen and other beggar commanders all complained to Liu Yu. After all, people who were marching to various counties needed to have enough food. If they didn't have enough food and marched long distances, it would be easy to cause unnecessary consequences. Loss.
"In this case, I will give you more reinforcements of food and give you the power to facilitate things along the way. All officials should cooperate."
In fact, Liu Yu was not sure how much food the Qingzhou Army would be able to dispatch in the end, but the beggar army on the road always needed to eat, so he had to give them a reason to comply with the military's morale. The so-called doing things cheaply along the way was actually to them. A tacit consent to looting along the way.
Anyway, the only ones that can be plundered by the beggar army these days are weak chicken forts. Since it can be plundered by the beggar army, it can also be plundered by barbarians, so it is better to be robbed by the beggar army first, and it will save money. Cheaper Hulu.
Finally, Liu Yu made an agreement with everyone present that as long as everyone obeys Liu Yu's command, then every month from now on, according to the number of his subordinates, they will receive a certain amount of salt, part of which is for their own use, and the other part is for their own use. Resold as a substitute for Qingzhou Army.
"General, this is a great plan!" Upon hearing this, Chen Wu, the beggar army commander, immediately clapped his hands and applauded.
"The source of salt in Yuzhou has been cut off, and the price of a liter of salt has increased dozens of times. If the general lets us resell it, it will definitely be a plan to make a fortune."
The rest are Tian Zhen and Tian Lan. Liu Rui and others were also greatly moved. Now everyone knows that the sea salt produced in Qingzhou is not only not bitter, but also cheap.
In Yuzhou today, salt is a necessity second only to food. Whoever controls the resale of salt will immediately have a strong influence.
Seeing these beggar commanders gearing up, Liu Yu felt secretly happy.
After Liu Yu gave them official positions and divided their territory, he gave them the privilege of reselling salt.
I believe it won't be long before the originally impoverished beggar army will turn into an armed salt dealer group entrenched in Yanzhou, Yuzhou.
It should not be a problem for these beggar troops who have changed their taste to keep a firm eye on the Yongqiu and Suiyang front lines for Liu Yu.
As for the crucial food issue of this era, Liu Yu believes that this kind of problem should not trouble these future armed salt sellers.
Just when a group of poor beggars and military commanders were dreaming about how good life would be for armed salt dealers in the future, a guard from the Qingzhou Army hurriedly came in to report to Liu Yu.
"Reporting to the general, a messenger from Xuzhou for help was encountered by our army's cavalry. The messenger from Xuzhou said that the barbarian Zhao Gu had led his army to surround Pengcheng. Pei Dun, the governor of Xuzhou, begged the general to send troops for rescue!"
After hearing this, everyone present looked at Liu Yu.
When Liu Yu heard that it was Pei Dun, the governor of Xuzhou, asking for help, he couldn't help but smile softly, looked around and said.
"Okay, you and I have just agreed on the matter of conquering the King of Thieves and Qin, and Xuzhou has come to ask for help. In this case, let's start by conquering the Thieves!"
