Faced with Liu Bei's question, Lu Chang pondered for a moment, then raised his hand to Liu Bei and said, "Mr. Xuande, I want to lead the people away from the war."
Hearing this, Liu Bei frowned slightly. Just when he was about to speak, he suddenly heard a disdainful sneer from Zhang Heng next to him.
"Away from the flames of war?" Zhang Heng took a step forward and asked, "But I don't know where Lu County Cheng thinks we can stay away from the flames of war?"
"this……"
Lu Chang was speechless for a moment and couldn't answer.
It’s hard to leave your homeland, and native feelings are the most important part of Chinese culture. Even in later generations, when people die, they have to be taken back to their hometown for burial. It can be seen that the idea of falling leaves returning to their roots still exists, let alone now.
Who would be willing to leave their hometown unless they had no choice? Magistrate Juan County had no clear destination in mind and just wanted to take the people out first and then make plans. What's more, now that the county magistrate is dead, the county magistrate Lu Chang has no idea.
He was silent, but Zhang Heng still refused to let him go and continued to ask: "Lu County Cheng, you led more than 10,000 people to flee the famine, and you can only travel more than ten miles a day. If you don't go on like this for three days, you will inevitably go back again." If the bandits catch up, how will you save yourself?
Even if you are lucky enough to escape the pursuit of the bandit army, these more than 10,000 people will eat and drink whatever they want. Do you have so much food?
If there is really no food and no water, will the people die of thirst and starvation, or will they gather in the mountains and forests and become bandits and bandits who bring trouble to others?
Not to mention that the world is in chaos now. Even if you go to the end of the world, you will never be able to stay away from the flames of war!
To put it bluntly, even if you, Prime Minister Lu, can lead the people away from the war, without their fields, how will these people make a living in the future? As time goes by, everyone will starve to death! "
Zhang Heng's questions came out like a barrage. With each question, Lu Chang's face turned gloomier, cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and finally his body trembled slightly.
The most disappointing thing is that Zhang Heng couldn't even answer any of these questions.
Could it be said that no matter what choice you make, you will definitely die?
Seeing Lu Chang hunched over without saying a word, as if his whole soul had been taken away, Liu Bei's eyes flashed with a hint of unbearability. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly felt his sleeve being pulled.
Turning his head, he saw Zhang Heng shook his head. Liu Bei understood immediately and swallowed his words.
For a time, the atmosphere gradually became cold, and only the cold wind of early spring was still howling, blowing across everyone's faces like a knife.
After a long time, Lu Chang came back to his senses and saw Zhang Heng looking at him with burning eyes, and an idea suddenly flashed in his mind.
"General, I am really desperate. I ask the general to take action to save the lives of this county because the people are innocent!"
Lu Chang's eyes flashed with determination, and he knelt down to Liu Bei and Zhang Heng with a plop, his face full of sincerity.
"Please get up, Prime Minister Lu." Zhang Heng waved his sleeves, "With my meager efforts, I can't talk about saving all the lives in the county. But there is no end to the road, and God will help those who help themselves. Prime Minister Lu may as well try to save himself."
Lu Chang immediately grasped the key, "May I ask the general, how can the subordinates save themselves?"
"How does Lu County Cheng think the people in this county can survive?"
"I don't know, my subordinate."
Zhang Heng smiled, "Then I will remind Mr. Lu County Cheng that if you return home, you can save your life."
"But what if the bandits attack again?" Lu Chang asked anxiously.
I left my hometown because I was harmed by Dong Zhuo. If I go back now, wouldn't I be throwing myself into a trap?
"Then risk your life!" Zhang Heng said solemnly, "There are many young and strong people among these more than ten thousand people. Why can't they organize themselves to resist the bandit army? Forgive me to be frank, blindly being weak will not save lives, but will help Increase the arrogance of the thieves and make them even more rampant!"
Having said this, Zhang Heng suddenly raised his voice and shouted to the people:
"Everyone, the thieves invaded my home, robbed my money, and killed my wife, children, and young children. Are you willing to be killed?
This hatred is irreconcilable, don't you want to take revenge? "
As soon as the words fell, many people's eyes suddenly turned red. Thinking of the suffering they had suffered these days, many people even cried on the spot.
And along with the sadness comes unforgettable hatred and overwhelming anger!
"I can't bear to wait!"
"I can't bear to wait!"
The people shouted and shouted.
Looking at the people with overwhelming hatred, Lu Chang shook his head and sighed, and said with a sad face: "General, even if we are determined to resist the rebel army, the people are unarmed and it will only increase casualties."
"You don't have it, but Duke Xuande has it. Not only does it exist, but it can also be distributed to you!" Zhang Heng said decisively, "Not only that, Duke Xuande is also willing to lead all the warriors under his command to work with you to defend our homeland and kill the invading thieves. !”
Lu Chang's eyes suddenly lit up and he quickly asked: "General, do you really mean what you said?"
He had just seen the combat effectiveness of Liu Bei's army with his own eyes. It was undoubtedly a great thing to be protected by such an elite army.
"Yes, that's what I meant!"
Liu Bei knew that it was time for him to come forward, and he immediately shouted to the people: "I want to lead my soldiers back home with you. If the bandit army dares to invade again, they will definitely pay with their blood. What do you think?" "
This time there was no need for Zhang Heng's instigation, and the red-eyed people immediately roared.
"eye for eye!"
"eye for eye!"
"eye for eye!"
…
The angry roars continued for a long time, and behind every roar was hatred for Dong Zhuojun!
Seeing that people's hearts can be used, Liu Bei smiled on his face.
"Okay, this is my burly man! In this case, I promise you that as long as I am here, I will never let the bandit army bully you again!"
By this time, Lu Chang also understood the situation. Regardless of Liu Bei's purpose, since he is willing to protect himself and the people of the county, following him is the best choice at the moment.
"Xuande Gong is kind and virtuous, we will obey your orders!"
Lu Chang paid homage to Liu Bei.
The people behind him also imitated his example and paid homage to Liu Bei.
Amid overwhelming praise, Liu Bei successfully implemented Zhang Heng's strategy.
However, he did not immediately start leading the people to Juan County. Instead, he ordered the people and troops to rest where they were, and then pulled Zhang Heng and Guan Yu into the temporary military tent.
As for Zhang Fei, he fell asleep after being bandaged. Based on his injury, he would have to recover for at least half a month.
Most of the people in Juan County are here, and the county seat must have been occupied by Dong Zhuo's army long ago. There was a bloody battle today, and now that it was getting late, it was not suitable to continue the march, so Liu Bei planned to rest for the night.
In the tent, Liu Bei first ordered the pots to be cooked, and then began to calculate today's harvest.
"Yun Chang, tell us about today's battle losses."
Guan Yu nodded and said, "In today's battle, our army lost 289 dead soldiers and 130 wounded soldiers."
Hearing this, the corners of Liu Bei's eyes twitched slightly, and he looked a little sad.
These were the elite veterans who followed him in the north and south, but nearly half of them were lost in the first battle. How could he not feel heartbroken? From the side, he could see how tragic the battle situation was today.
"Let these brothers who died in battle be buried alive." Liu Bei sighed and said in a low voice.
"Brother, don't worry, I will personally bury these brothers."
"That's good." Liu Bei nodded and continued to ask, "How many soldiers have been recruited today?"
"The two Dong Zhuo armies together have a total of 2,300 people. Now they have all been absorbed by our army." Guan Yu replied.
Hearing this, Liu Bei's face showed a hint of joy.
Two thousand three hundred people!
You must know that you have been fighting here and there for many years to accumulate five hundred elite soldiers. You don't want to fight today, so you have recruited several times your own number of soldiers!
Thinking of this, Liu Bei couldn't help but look at Zhang Heng again.
This is all thanks to Zi Yi. Otherwise, not to mention the huge increase in strength, I might even have lost my head.
The smile in Liu Bei's eyes grew stronger, and he directly picked up the wine flask and poured a bowl of wine for Zhang Heng.
"Ziyi, how about I give you one thousand of these two thousand or three hundred people?"
