The road to Shu is difficult to travel. Even though it was only more than three hundred miles, Xu Mu walked for nearly two days before he was halfway through.
Following the Shu Road, along the way, Xu Mu had earlier set up nine military strongholds as posthouses and places for rest and recuperation during the march.
Looking up, the green hills on both sides look like two lying green dragons, each with its own posture.
The road to Shu is difficult, and it is difficult to reach the blue sky.
"Lord, the previously collapsed road on Yinping Road has been repaired. The mountain people outside Shuzhou have also migrated to the vicinity of Chengdu, with an additional two thousand households." An accompanying Pi approached and spoke in a solemn voice.
"well done."
Riding on the horse, Xu Mu was thinking deeply. The more than 300 miles of Shu road is certainly a natural danger in Shu state, but everything has two levels. In other words, if one day he leads his troops out of Shu, it will be very difficult for him to march and supply food and grass.
If we were more decisive and mobilized the people to open up mountains and pave roads, it would probably cost an astronomical amount of money.
He can't afford it.
Shaking his head, Xu Mu shook his thoughts away.
The spring rain started to fall again. The diffuse rain and mist made the green mountains in the distance sway gently in the mist.
…
It also rained in Yuguan.
Chen Zhong stood at the city gate with a solemn face. Let the wet rain soak all the robes and armor on his body.
Under the pass, there were at least nearly a thousand Liangzhou Qingqi, with standard spears and yellow armor, and their raised faces, vaguely carrying a murderous aura that had not receded.
Chen Zhong knew it. Not long ago, Liangzhou's troops were unparalleled, and they conquered the two prefectures of Anbin and occupied the three horse-raising prefectures in the northwest.
The leading general at the gate is a young general wearing tiger armor, riding on a strong horse, with a faint smile on his lips.
"The person behind the gate is Chen Zhong, the famous general of Shuzhou?"
Chen Zhong was silent for a while, then raised his hand to salute.
"I am Chen Zhong, I have not given any advice."
"Listen carefully, Zhang Xun of Liangzhou will one day enter Yuguan and sit high on the city tower!"
Chen Zhong sneered. If you guessed it correctly, this is the Liangzhou Three Cards.
"May I ask when the King of Shu will arrive? My lord has been waiting for a long time!"
"Almost there." Chen Zhong only said one sentence and said no more.
Today, Yuguan has 15,000 more troops. Even if 70,000 troops come to attack, he is still confident of holding it.
"General Chen, please tell King Shu that my lord's patience is limited."
After leaving a sentence, the Liangzhou young general turned his horse's head and disappeared with a thousand people on horseback.
Chen Zhong watched quietly, with no emotion on his face.
…
Three days later, under the gentle spring rain, Xu Mu led more than 300 Shu riders and slowly arrived at Yuguan.
He was in no hurry.
It’s not like wild dogs smelled the smell of meat and rushed to beg for food?
"Lord!"
Seeing Xu Mu's arrival, Chen Zhong hurriedly took an oil umbrella, covered Xu Mu, and slowly walked up to the city gate.
"Chen Zhong, how's it going in Liangzhou?"
"I've been going back and forth these past few days. When I have time, I'll talk nonsense... But my lord, it seems like it's two days too late."
"It doesn't matter." Xu Mu shook his head, then raised his head and looked at the rain curtain in front of him, "Chen Zhong, send the envoy over."
…
In the rain.
Dong Wen was riding a tall horse, wearing a golden helmet and golden armor, and there was nothing unusual about his murderous face. Behind him, a group of thousands of Liangqi, surrounded by a heavy carriage, drove slowly towards Yuguan.
Horse hooves splashed up water.
The cold pawn riding on horseback had a cold look on his face.
tread.
Before Yuguan, Dong Wen stopped his horse and stood in the rain, raising his face and looking at the Shuzhou Xiongguan in front of him.
"Put up an awning!" A Liangzhou general ordered in a cold voice after stopping his horse.
"My king, Dong Wen, respectfully invites the king of Shu, Xu Mu, to come out of the city for an alliance!" An old scholar from Liangzhou shouted in the rain, holding his hands in his hands.
Dong Wen also dismounted, walked to the awning and sat down with a smile on his face.
"Military advisor, you have to help pour the wine when he comes down later. Anyway, he and I can be considered old friends."
"King Xu Shu will not leave the city." Sima Xiu, who was also sitting in the awning, said calmly.
"Is he afraid that I will kill him?"
"Of course he will be worried. Once Poisonous Eagle dies, he will no longer have an adviser. According to his temperament, he will only be more cautious."
Listening, Dong Wen frowned and turned around.
Sure enough, on the Yuguan Pass in front, there was also an old scholar from Shuzhou, standing in the rain curtain at the top of the city, holding his hands and shouting.
Dong Wen's smile suddenly disappeared.
"My king, Dong Wen, respectfully invites the king of Shu, Xu Mu, to come out of the city for an alliance——" The old scholar from Liangzhou under Yuguan saw that his lord did not respond, so he hurriedly shouted again.
"My king, Xu Mu, has prepared a banquet to welcome the wind, and respectfully invites the King of Liangzhou to come to Yuguan for talks——"
"My king Dong Wen..."
After each shouting for more than ten rounds, the Liangzhou old scholar finally coughed his throat, trembled and fell into the rain. The old scholar from Shuzhou on the top of the city brushed his sleeves neatly and walked back.
"Military advisor, what should I do?" Dong Wen turned around, his face full of anger.
"The lord is below the city, and he is above the city."
"What kind of alliance is this?"
"If he cared about the alliance, he wouldn't have been two days late."
"I'm a little angry." Dong Wen stepped out of the awning coldly. Behind him, a Liangzhou general came hurriedly with Liang soldiers.
"Brother Xu, please come out of the city and talk about it——"
"Brother Dong, let's enter the city for a brief introduction." Xu Mu said with a smile.
Dong Wen chuckled, raised his finger and pointed, "Then let's put it like this."
"Let's talk."
Standing in the rain, Dong Wen did not speak immediately, but instead raised his hand. The heavy carriage that was following him arrived in front of Yuguan.
"Brother Xu, this is thirty thousand taels of silver."
"What kind of silver is it? Is it for the annual tribute from Shuzhou?" Xu Mu clasped his hands behind his back, his expression unchanged.
Dong Wen was startled and laughed.
"Since ancient times, weak countries have always protected themselves before paying tribute to strong countries. Brother Xu's words are a bit exaggerated."
"These 30,000 taels of silver...even if it's the reward I gave to Brother Xu in Mei County, it can be regarded as a repayment of kindness from me, Dong Wen."
"Brother Dong is just hiding his clumsiness."
"But people in the world don't think so. If you give me money, this matter will be over."
"Okay, I'll take it."
You would be a fool if you don't accept money when you have it. What's more, Xu Mu didn't expect what kind of favors the Liangzhou King in front of him, who had killed his father and brother, could return.
"Then, I will tell you the truth." Dong Wen paused and looked up at Xu Mu.
"Liang and Shu are neighbors, not to mention that Brother Xu and I are also old friends. The generals and counselors in Liangzhou all advised me to attack Shuzhou. But I have to think about it. I, Dong Wen, express my righteousness and filial piety and value righteousness and filial piety. How can I do that? Do something unjust."
"So-"
Dong Wen narrowed his eyes, "So, from now on, Shuzhou will pay tribute to Liangzhou every year, one million shi of rice and fifty carts of ore. In addition, a Xiangjiang county outside the state will be separated as Liangzhou. The land of the state’s navy.”
Xu Mu laughed.
"I also have an idea."
Dong Wen frowned, "Brother Xu, please tell me."
"What if the three northwest states are all merged into Shuzhou together?" Xu Mu said with a cold face and a loud voice.
In the rain, Dong Wen's face was expressionless.
Sima Xiu, who was in the hut, also hugged the sand fox and slowly hummed a tune.
