To the west of Jiangling City, there are woods beside the lake.
"Lao Luo, please spread your guard. If someone says 'I am a jungler' in a while, let him in." Liu Chan stood with his hands behind his back, "No one else can come close."
"yes."
About two moments later, a strong man came from the direction of Jiangling and entered the woods. He was stopped by Liu Chan's guards and let him go after a few words of conversation.
The visitor came up to Liu Chan, knelt down on one knee and said, "My subordinate Wang Meng, please see the Major General."
This man was dressed in civilian clothes and had an average appearance. He was neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin. He couldn't find any obvious features about his body.
It doesn't even match the word "Meng" in his name.
Liu Chan smiled and helped him up: "It's just you and me here, it doesn't have to be like this."
Wang Meng's hand that was being supported trembled, and he was obviously stunned for a moment, and then he said: "I have been here for more than a year, and I didn't react for a while."
"Are you used to being alone?"
Wang Meng shook his head and smiled bitterly: "I'm not used to it. I can guarantee that anyone who has served as a soldier under you, Gong Si, will not be used to serving under anyone else."
Liu Chan smiled and said nothing.
This is the effect you want.
Wang Meng continued: "My lord, I can't be here too long. I'll make a long story short, Mi Fang has contacts with both Cao Wei and Sun Wu..."
As Wang Meng narrated, some details that he did not know before gradually emerged.
Both Cao Wei and Sun Wu sent envoys to contact Mi Fang privately. Each time they came, they brought generous gifts, and Mi Fang did not refuse.
Although I couldn't hear what was said specifically, I guess it was nothing more than promising high-ranking officials and generous salaries to induce him to defect.
Although he didn't seem to agree, he didn't say anything about it, and he accepted the gift silently.
At this point in time, Liu Chan believed that he would not rebel easily.
After all, he was still the old man's second uncle, and it was through this identity that he achieved his current status.
With his ability, as long as he has some self-awareness, he should know that neither Wei nor Wu can give him the same treatment.
However, this is not the end...
"I have a good personal relationship with a warehouse guard. The money and food stored in the warehouse obviously does not match the amount entering the city..."
The difference in the numbers was so great that there was no need to check the accounts, even the guards could see it.
Another example is that Mi Fang sent people to build ordnance, but often the money was taken away, but the ordnance was never put into the warehouse.
On the contrary, there are more and more beauties, fine wines and rare treasures in the mansion.
After all, he comes from a merchant family, so he seems to be able to do this kind of thing very easily.
"Mi Fang is often greedy for ink. This is no secret in Jiangling, but I guess others don't know that he can be so greedy." Wang Meng showed contempt.
As the governor of Nanjun, although he could not interfere in the formulation of major political policies, the specific implementation and such trivial logistical matters, Guan Ershu's temperament probably did not have the patience to interfere one by one.
Liu Chan sighed.
Guan Yu is proud of his superiors and does not humiliate his subordinates, but even if he is proud of his superiors, it is usually against some unscrupulous powerful people.
As the old man's first angel investor, the Mi family, even if Mi Fangde was not qualified, he would not have such an attitude on weekdays.
Now things are clear.
How can Uncle Guan, a person who is obsessed with his career and thinking about making the company bigger and stronger, like this kind of thing?
However, he probably didn't expect that Mi Fang would achieve such an extent.
It seems that I still need to find an opportunity to remind you.
"That's all."
Liu Chan nodded: "I have arranged a group of people in Jiangling City. If you have an emergency, you can contact Zhao's business in the city in code. If I have an order, I will convey it to you through their people."
"Yes." Wang Meng clasped his fists and saluted, "My subordinate has been out for a long time and needs to go back. Does the young general have any other instructions?"
Liu Chan waved to a personal guard, took a cloth bag from his hand and handed it over.
Wang Meng opened it curiously and found a piece of cloth with rough workmanship inside.
He raised his head in confusion: "Is this...?"
"Your mother made this for you. Let me tell you, she is well fed and clothed, so there is no need to worry about her."
Wang Meng lowered his head silently, hiding his face at an angle where Liu Chan couldn't see it, and rewrapped the cloth bag without saying a word.
He knelt down on one knee again and saluted.
"He's gone."
After that, he turned around and left, holding the cloth bag tightly in his arms.
It was as if that piece of coarse cloth was more precious than the finest Shu brocade.
…
After returning to the city, Liu Chan went to the market in Beicheng.
The market in Gangneung is divided into northern and southern cities. The opening and closing times of the market are the same, and both shops and stalls are managed by the "mayor" established by the government.
Liu Chan found Manager Zhao who was busy in the company and regrouped the 200 old reserve team members he brought with him.
"Shen Zhong, since you are here, you will stay here temporarily. There is an important task that you need to complete."
"yes!"
The task Liu Chan gave them was not complicated, but it was difficult to complete.
They need to stay in Jiangling and not expose their identity as soldiers. They only serve as guards for Zhao's business on weekdays.
Be ready to receive contact from Wang Meng in Mi Fang Mansion at any time, and fully cooperate with Wang Meng in case of emergency.
If there is a change in Jiangling, for example, if the city is empty of troops and enemy troops enter the city through one gate, they will quickly close the gates between the north and south, light beacon fires, and wait for reinforcements in the other half of the city.
It's not too complicated. Anyone who has passed Liu Chan's anthology can understand and remember it.
But it is extremely difficult to accomplish.
It is still unknown how many enemy troops will enter the city at that time, how many of the defenders in the city are still willing to defend, and how many are willing to surrender.
Liu Chan asked himself countless times, what can these two hundred people do? Can they do it?
Is leaving them here the same as sending them to death? Will they surrender when the time comes, knowing that they cannot do anything?
But... it has to be okay even if it doesn’t work.
Liu Chan has seen a lot of cruelty in the world, and a small impatience can ruin a big plan.
Raising an army for a thousand days and using it for a while, he will not hesitate when it is time to harden his heart.
"have you understood?"
"Understood!" There was neither confusion nor doubt in everyone's eyes.
The answer was crisp and clear, as always.
He just resolutely carried out his orders, whether it was training, suppressing bandits, or staying behind in Jiangling.
"If things don't work out... just stick to the beacon. It might as well be a little longer."
"yes!"
No one asked why Liu Chan was so sure that enemy soldiers would invade, and no one questioned how two hundred of them could complete these tasks.
This made Liu Chan very happy. Although he couldn't bear it, he never showed it on his face.
"If this happens, everyone will be rewarded and will all join the regular army."
"Thank you, Major General!"
"Take a break!" It was a military order just now, but now, Liu Chan's expression calmed down, "... If anyone in your family has something to entrust to me, no matter how big or small, you can tell me."
The soldiers looked at each other, but did not speak for the time being.
Shen Zhong was originally the commander of the regular army. He took the lead at this time and said with a smile: "Master, my father's back hurts when the weather gets cold. I saved some leather at home, but I didn't have time to make it into a leather jacket... If I hadn't gone back , you can find someone to help me make it for him."
Liu Chan nodded: "I've written it down, don't worry."
After waiting for a while, another person finally stood up: "Major General, my name is..."
"Fan Hu, I came back to Chengdu from Wenshan in the autumn of the 22nd year of Jian'an." Liu Chan smiled and said, "Just tell me."
Fan Hu was stunned for a moment, and then he stuttered about his request.
Seeing this, everyone talked about the things they remembered one by one. Some of them were just trivial things, but Liu Chan also patiently wrote them down one by one.
When no one spoke, Liu Chan looked around, cupped his hands and said, "Jiangling is of great importance. I hope you will remember your mission."
Under the leadership of Shen Zhong, everyone said in unison: "Don't dare or forget!"
Being in a busy city, they didn't dare to yell like they were in a military camp.
But the determination in his words was stronger than before.
