Fancheng and Xiangyang share the Han River, one in the north and one in the south. During the Three Kingdoms period, Guan Yu was powerful in China, and the Seven Flooded Army was here. At this time, Xiangyang in the south was the capital of Jingnan Road, and Fancheng was a small town. Although the town is small, it is an important dock for crossing the Han River, and the riverside is extremely prosperous.
Wang Xiaolie stood on the ferry and looked at the houses on the riverside where no one was living. He sighed: "In this war, I don't know how many families were separated from their wives, and I don't know how many families were destroyed. It is really a tragedy for the ages."
Shao Ling next to him said: "Yes, this is the key point between the north and the south. I don't know how prosperous it is. It's so ruined after a war."
The north wind was howling, and Wang Xiaolie looked at the few ships on the Han River, feeling a little sad for a moment.
Although Xiangyang Mansion was attacked by the Jin soldiers last year, the damage was not much. The Jin soldiers were already at the end of their strength when they arrived here. After breaking the city, they quickly retreated, and the city suffered little damage. In addition, many people from the north fled here, making it the most prosperous place Wang Xiaolie had ever seen.
Crossed the Han River and entered Xiangyang City.
Shao Ling said: "Prefect Li heard that Yang Jin was attacking and left in a hurry. Niu Gao and I defeated Yang Jin on the other side. After learning the state military order, we immediately stationed in Xiangyang City. Therefore, this war had no impact on Xiangyang. The city is now The prosperity remains.”
Wang Xiaolie said: "In the past few years, this is the most prosperous city I have seen. The population is at its peak and the market is also bustling."
The two sides chatted and entered the Xiangyang government office.
After sitting down in the hall, Shao Ling invited two people. One is Qiu Yasi and the other is Zhong Kongmu. After the officials escaped, the two people now have the highest status and are in charge of various miscellaneous matters.
Salute to Wang Xiaolie, the two stood still.
Wang Xiaolie said: "The national situation is difficult, and the market is not peaceful either. What's important in Xiangyang City these days?"
Zhong Kongmu cupped his hands: "Based on my observation, Xiangyang has been relatively peaceful this year. Many people have taken refuge from the north, and the market is very prosperous. Governor Li is recuperating and not disturbing people's livelihood. There is no urgent matter."
Looking at the two of them, Wang Xiaolie smiled half-heartedly. Said: "This is best. These days, I would like to trouble you to deal with daily affairs and wait for the imperial decree. Before the imperial decree comes, I will stay in Xiangyang temporarily to prevent trouble."
Zhong Kongmu and Qiu Yasi said yes together.
Order the two of them to leave. Wang Xiaolie said to Shao Ling: "What I fear most is that these officials say that there is nothing going on inside and outside. How can there be nothing in such a big city? The so-called peace means that things are suppressed by these people and ordinary people suffer."
Shao Ling said: "When I was in Ruzhou, everything was said to be peaceful. The governor of the state ordered the officials to report themselves. What was the result? This time Yang Tiansong rebelled, and I heard that many officials joined him, so he could grow big quickly. Most of the local officials were powerful , is it easy to do so?"
Wang Xiaolie nodded: "That's true. But we are guest troops, so don't interfere too much in Xiangyang affairs now. When you are stationed here, just watch and think more, and don't interfere too much. Also, there are several states now, and our The army is too small. The troops of Yang Jin that you captured a few days ago must be selected in time. Anyone who is strong enough to join the army will be incorporated into the army."
"There are still many people who are not suitable for joining the army, so what should we do? By the way, Yang Jin has coerced a lot of people, so we have to deal with them."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Those who are not suitable to join the army, as well as the common people who are coerced, are all resettled in Dengzhou. No matter what the court does, there are only our troops in this area. With so many troops, there must be a place to eat."
Shao Ling nodded, understanding. Obviously, Dengzhou and Xiangyang were so easy to obtain, and Wang Xiaolie was no longer satisfied with what he had done before. Since he occupied these states, Wang Xiaolie had no intention of letting them go. It's just that there are fewer people who can use it now, and it's not as intense as it was in Ruzhou.
After lunch, Wang Xiaolie walked around the streets. Seeing that there were a lot of people and the market was bustling and there was no chaos, I decided to leave it alone for the time being. During this period of time, my main focus is still on Dengzhou. Only if we can connect Ruzhou and Dengzhou, quickly expand the army, and have useful talents can we truly develop Xiangyang.
When I returned to the Yamen, soldiers came to report that there was someone outside who wanted to see me.
Not long after, a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties came in. When he arrived in front of Wang Xiaolie, he bowed his hands and saluted. Said: "I'm in the prison of Xia Yuan, Chen Liu, and I've met Chen Yuyi and observed him."
Wang Xiaolie thought for a moment and found that he had no impression of this person. Asked: "I don't know what happened?"
Chen Yuyi said: "Last year, the Jin invaded the west of Beijing, and I took my family all the way south. I arrived in Xiangyang two months ago, and I ran out of money. In the winter, the Han River is not accessible by boat, so I had to stay temporarily. Magistrate Li took special care of me. Fortunately, I Don't be hungry and discouraged. Unexpectedly, there were thieves coming south a few days ago, and Magistrate Li left when his term of office was over without saying a word. I heard that the troops were dispatched to observe and defeat the thieves, and now they are stationed in Xiangyang City. I came here to see them."
Wang Xiaolie was confused. After thinking for a while, he said, "I wonder what's wrong?"
Li Yuyi hesitated for a moment. After a while, he said: "My family is suffering from cold and hunger, and is not eating well. Please observe——"
"Oh——" Wang Xiaolie suddenly realized. It turns out that he came to enjoy the autumn breeze here. When the Jin army went south, I don't know how many officials and people fled south. People like Chen Yuyi were very common. It is said that they are officials and the court should provide assistance. But now Zhao Gou himself is in trouble, who will care about them? They all relied on savings and ran south bit by bit.
Xiangyang is an important transportation corridor between the north and the south, and there are actually many officials who fled south here. Wang Xiaolie's status is awkward now and he doesn't want to provoke him. Unexpectedly, this Chen Yuyi came to him. It seemed that life was indeed difficult.
Looking at Chen Yuyi, Wang Xiaolie thought again and again. Said: "To be honest, I only have one state and thousands of troops, so it is really difficult. But I can't just ignore death. How about you join our army and earn some salary?"
Chen Yuyi smiled, with a look of pride on his face, but said nothing.
Wang Xiaolie understood that this was clearly because he looked down upon himself. Wang Xiaolie was very dissatisfied because the wine supervisor was a junior prison official but he didn't expect him to be so arrogant. How can this be done when you obviously don’t have enough to eat but don’t want to do anything and just want to get money?
After a moment of silence, Wang Xiaolian said: "In Xiangyang City, there are countless officials like you who came from the south. We help them one by one. Where can our army have so much money? If you want to eat, you have to do something. How can you get something for nothing? Woolen cloth!"
Chen Yuyi thought for a while. Said: "It makes sense based on observation. I wonder if there is any copying and writing business to earn a few pennies a day. When the weather gets warm, I will go south again."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Of course there are many things in the army. You first tell me about your life experience and where you are from, and I will see how to arrange it."
Chen Yuyi said: "I am from Xiameizhou. My great-grandfather Chen Gongbu moved to Luoyang, so he was born in Luoyang."
Wang Xiaolie asked: "Chen Gongbu, don't you know what the name is?"
Chen Yuyi said: "Taixiliang. He was once the transfer envoy of Jingxi Road, and he was named Minister of the Ministry of Industry after his death."
Wang Xiaolie nodded. I seem to have heard of this Chen Xiliang, but I don’t know his life story. During his lifetime, he served as a transit envoy to the west of Beijing, and was considered a minor official in the Song Dynasty. It's a pity that I don't come from an official family, so I can't tell you who it is.
Chen Yuyi added: "In the third year of a certain Zhenghe period, I went to Shejia Department and was awarded the title of Wen Linlang and became a professor in Kaide Prefecture. In the past few years, Chen Liu was demoted due to mistakes."
"It turns out he was born as a Jinshi——" Wang Xiaolie nodded. No wonder he is a little arrogant. The young Jinshi was a very important figure in the Song Dynasty, so he naturally looked down upon someone of Wang Xiaolie's background. But in troubled times, when swords and guns spoke, he had no choice but to beg for himself.
After thinking for a while, Wang Xiaolie said: "Since you are a Jinshi, you should not be compared with ordinary people. Just stay with me and be a counselor. Although the salary is not much, it is enough to support the family."
