Chenshui Pass, south direction. Along the long official road, you can see Dongling people's civilian husbands and supplies of food and grass everywhere, as well as the constant coming and going of messengers.
To the south, there has always been the rear defense line of Chen Shuiguan, from where all the food and reinforcements were transferred. At this time, Zuo Shiren was riding on the horse, frowning.
Behind him, there were more than 20,000 troops, following to support the three states of Dongling.
The rebellion was like an eagle swallowed suddenly, making Zuo Shiren very uncomfortable. But there was no way, and the counter-insurgency work failed again and again, until this time, he had to rush back in person. If not, there may be more and more rebellious sea people and Shanyue people.
"Speed up the march!" Zuo Shiren said in a deep voice as he returned home. The Dongling matter has never been resolved, and even if he is on the front line, he is still worried.
"Xu Buyi, you don't care about friendship."
Zuo Shiren raised his head and let out a long sigh. Beside, many of the Dongling generals who followed him also had hatred on their faces when they talked about the King of Western Shu.
After just showing off, Zuo Shiren led the men and horses without stopping, preparing to cross the river south and return to Dongling.
Behind Zuo Shiren's army, there was another group of more than 10,000 troops, led by a middle-aged assistant general.
"March." The middle-aged general said in a deep voice.
The official road heading south is not far from the river bank. It is about two hundred miles away before you can successfully enter the dock and then cross the river.
"Captain, Yuan Song's army hasn't arrived yet." Shangguan Shu said in a solemn voice.
To the east of Chen Shuiguan, Xu Mu nodded silently. This interception was actually very risky. Not only must we take a long detour and be exposed to the enemy's eyes. It is even more important to seize a moment to intercept and fight with a rapid march. Otherwise, when the time is later, it will be too late.
It's a pity that Yuan Song is a little far away, and he hasn't arrived in time yet. Unlike the Xiaer Rebel Army, they have stayed near Chenshui Pass due to Xu Mu's arrangements.
Yuan Song didn't come, and with the Xiaer Rebel Army's tens of thousands of troops, there was no way they could pursue him.
"Helmsman, what should we do now?"
"Let me think about it."
Xu Mu's heart sank. To stop Zuo Shiren, we need to delay time until Yuan Song's people come over.
"Master Shangguan Hall, I have something to do for you. Although the result is unknown, I guess that with Zuo Shiren's nature of cherishing feathers, it might be worth a try." Finally, Xu Mu spoke in a solemn voice.
…
On the long official road, from dawn to noon, a rushing army was already a little tired.
Riding on his horse, Zuo Shiren hesitated for a while, and finally gave the order to let the soldiers rest for a while before continuing on their way.
"How far is it?"
"Don't worry, my lord, we are only a hundred miles away."
"It's a pity that if I, Dongling, were a big horse-breeding state and I would have arrived by now with a riding camp."
In Dongling territory, although the navy dominates. But in Zuo Shiren's heart, there is no dream of going out to war.
Of course, all this will have to wait until Xishu is captured and Liangdi is occupied.
He had just dismounted, still holding a water bag in his hand. Suddenly, Zuo Shiren turned his head and saw several riding sentries running back in a hurry.
"What?"
"Lord, we found people fleeing to the east."
During the war in Kezhou, people always fled. In Zuo Shiren's view, this is no small matter. If in the future, others say that his benevolent name is King Zuo, and that he provoked war and displaced the people, how should this be explained?
"Lord, I will lead some people to disperse these refugees——"
"Hey." Zuo Shiren stopped the bodyguard, "Don't worry, the army happens to be resting."
The personal guard was stunned, not understanding what Zuo Shiren meant.
"These people have actually suffered from the war, so they want to escape here. But Yuan Song in the north is the most famous traitor in the world. Therefore, these people will run in the direction of Dongling."
Zuo Shiren said with a slight smile, probably to comfort himself.
"Don't you forget, what is my king's name?"
"My lord is a benevolent king... But my lord, these are extraordinary times and we have to rush back to Dongling."
"Of course I know." Zuo Shiren nodded, "You just need to send some food and grass and let them leave. Remember, when you send the food, say that it was sent by me, the benevolent king Zuo Shiren. Tell them if they have any difficulties , you can enter the three states of Dongling."
"Lord, there is still rebellion in Dongling..."
"It will be settled soon." Zuo Shiren said with a smile. As long as the rebellion in Dongling is quelled and the Western Shu coalition forces outside Chenshui Pass are wiped out, Donglai will have no choice but to destroy itself.
By then, with the help of the King of Grain, Dongling will rise completely. He competed with Chang Xiaotang, the king of Yuzhou in the north, for the world of the Central Plains.
I can’t say, it’s really possible that he will be ranked in the 9th Five-Year Plan.
"My lord, my lord?"
Zuo Shiren came back to his senses and dispersed his thoughts, "So what?"
"Those refugees, even though they have been given food and grass, are still unwilling to leave."
Zuo Shiren raised his head and looked ahead, but at the sight of a group of thousands of refugees, he felt much more relaxed. He was about to step forward, but was stopped by several guards.
"My lord, now that war is imminent, please think twice."
Listening, Zuo Shiren hesitated and finally did not go towards the refugees.
"Send some more food and grass out, and tell me, Zuo Shiren, to wait for them to return to the mausoleum in Dongling."
…
Among the thousands of refugees, Shangguan Shu was wrapped in a ragged robe and looked forward closely. Following Xu Mu's wishes, what he wanted to do this time was to find a way to delay Zuo Shiren's march.
As long as they can be delayed for a while, Yuan Song's army behind them can join forces with the Xia'er Rebel Army and they can attack them in a roundabout way.
"Hall Master, what should we do now? These Dongling people have to continue on their way."
Shangguan Shu raised his head and saw the huge Dongling troops in front. With more than 3,000 of them, there was no way they could stop them.
"Hall Master, if not, we will directly——"
The Xia'er who spoke had not finished speaking when he heard the shout of his own hall master ringing in his ears.
"Young man Li Ergou, I have heard for a long time that King Zuo of Dongling has a reputation as a benevolent king in the world. When I see you today, it is indeed well-deserved! We and other poor people, please kindly ask the benevolent king to take them in. We are willing to follow the benevolent king back to Dongling!"
"Shout, shout together." Under Shangguan Shu's suggestion, thousands of Xia'er troops pretending to be refugees started shouting one after another while they were still some distance away.
The content of the shout was the same as Shangguan Shu, saying things like "The benevolent king must not abandon us" and "The benevolent king will definitely be a good emperor in the future".
Sure enough, Zuo Shiren, who had just got on the horse, hesitated for a while, then put on a smile and dismounted again regardless of the dissuasion of the guards next to him.
Because of this, the more than 20,000 Dongling troops who were preparing to march stopped again.
In the "refugee group", Shangguan Shu hid his excitement and shouted again hastily.
"Li Ergou thanks the King Ren!"
As long as we delay a little longer, and wait a little longer, after our helmsman joins forces with the Donglai Army, he will definitely come back in a roundabout way without stopping.
