Zhang Wen, whose courtesy name was Huishu, was from Wujun. He had a little moral integrity and a majestic appearance. He was born in the Zhang family of Wujun, one of the four major surnames in the south of the Yangtze River.
This time he was sent as an envoy to Bashu by Sun Quan. His main task was to clarify his interests and appease Liu Bei, so that he would not send his army eastward because of his previous grudges.
Zhang Wen attached great importance to this mission. He himself was a staunch supporter of joining forces with Liu and resisting Cao. However, he had been so soft-spoken before and was unable to change Lu Meng's ideas.
At that time, he felt that this was a very unwise choice. Not only was it morally untenable, but there were many talented generals under Liu Bei's command, and it might not be successful.
The outcome turned out just as he expected. Not only did Jiang Dong's plan fail and he lost his troops, but Sun Quan was almost killed by the police and was forced to sign an unequal document such as the "Public Security Armistice Agreement."
Moreover, in the future, people will talk about this stain, and it may be passed down to future generations and cause infamy. It is true that the mutton was not eaten, but it was aggravated.
But what happened has happened, and now we can only try to remedy it.
In his view, the way out for Jiangdong is if he can use this opportunity of his mission to Bashu to help the two families reconcile and fight against Cao together again.
Otherwise, if we continue to fight openly and secretly, we will only benefit Cao Pi.
On the way west by boat along the river, Zhang Wen was shocked by what he saw and strengthened his idea.
The first is Guan Yu's Jingzhou Army. Although it suffered heavy losses at the beginning, after all, the old foundation, veterans and generals are still there.
After the victory in Jingzhou, the soldiers were replenished. After nearly a year of training, the quality they now displayed shocked Zhang Wen.
Of course, Guan Yu, who had been notified in advance and knew that Zhang Wen was going to Chengdu as an envoy, deliberately held a "large-scale military exercise" when he was passing through to show off his muscles.
But the problem is, if you want to show off your muscles, you have to be really talented, right?
Jingzhou's warships are now touching the sky, and its military is majestic, no less than before... No, Jingzhou's warships could not compare with Jiangdong at the beginning, but now, except for large ships, there is basically no difference, and the combat power has not decreased but increased!
This was just the surface. What really frightened Zhang Wen was what was behind the surface.
If you want to build a strong army, you need resources to support it.
Last year, Jingzhou experienced war. First, there was a fierce battle with Cao Wei over Xiangfan, and then there was a battle for Jingzhou with Jiangdong. The consumption was bound to be huge.
Although they received compensation from Jiangdong through the public security agreement, it was only enough for Jingzhou to survive the most difficult period after the war.
It is incredible that economic production can recover so quickly. The governance capabilities of Liu Bei's officials and the level of agricultural technology are really shocking.
After seeing the situation in Jingzhou, he thought he would no longer be surprised. However, when the ship sailed into Yizhou, Zhang Wen was shocked by what he saw.
In Yizhou in September, he had a deep understanding of what it is called - the land of abundance.
Looking at the shore from a distance, on the fields where the harvest has just been completed, the grain that has not been transported away is piled up into hills.
In the fields that have not yet been harvested, the people are still working hard.
He passed along the Yangtze River through Badong, Bajun, Jiangyang, Qianwei, and then went straight to Chengdu, Shujun.
After receiving the notice, officials from various counties treated him with great courtesy and warm reception.
Along the way, the closer we get to the hinterland of Bashu, the richer we see.
In Bajun, Jiangyang, and Jianwei, after he landed, he even saw some weirdly dressed Nanzhong barbarians in their counties. They were actually acting as escorts for Han merchants!
Those barbarians have free hands and feet, carry knives on their waists, and hold their heads high when walking. They are obviously guards, not captured slaves.
Their expressions were natural, and they did not look bitter and resentful. They could get along well with the Han people. At least Zhang Wen did not see a single bloody conflict during his stay.
And those Han merchants are obviously selling specialties from Nanzhong... How is this possible?
Didn't Liu Bei just order Prince Liu Chan, military advisor Zhuge Liang and others to lead the army to the south? ! To be able to put down the Nanzhong rebellion in such a short period of time, Zhang Wen must have used extremely bloody and cruel suppression methods.
He could understand this. The barbarians couldn't explain the truth clearly, and the same was true for Shanyue in Jiangdong.
But what he couldn't understand was that the Nanzhong barbarians had just been bloody suppressed, and they were already doing business with Bashu? ! How about his mother accepting employment from Han people as a bodyguard?
It's just outrageous, outrageous, his mother opened the door for outrageous.
Not only that, the ordinary people of Bashu on the streets everywhere, although they are also wearing linen and straw sandals, they look very energetic and lively, and there are very few beggars on the streets.
This sight is not unusual at all. It can be seen in many places in Jiangdong in the past.
It’s just that after the defeat last year, Sun Quan was eager to regain his strength. Now there are very few places in Jiangdong where you can see this scene...
This is the strange thing. Although Liu Bei was not defeated, he almost fought every once in a while.
Under such a high frequency of wars, it is normal for the people of Shu to live in dire straits and live in dire straits. In any case, it should not be like this.
The ship docked at Shujun Wharf. Zhang Wen, who disembarked from the ship, was warmly welcomed by Chengdu officials and headed all the way to Chengdu.
"Mr. Zhang, please go this way."
"Thank you... I dare to ask Mr. Qiao, where is that?" Zhang Wen pointed to the large camp in the other direction.
Qiao Zhou, who came to greet Zhang Wen, smiled and said: "Oh, that is the headquarters of the Red Star Army, the prince's personal army. The prince usually trains his personal troops here."
"Oh?" Zhang Wen's eyes lit up.
Prince Liu Chan successively fought in Jingzhou, Dingshangyong, and Pingnanzhong, and his troops were also famous far and wide.
"I wonder if I'm lucky enough to have a look?"
"That's impossible." Qiao Zhou was startled. "No one is allowed to enter this camp without the permission of the Crown Prince or the King, not even us. Sir, please don't enter without permission. Seeing everything will only harm you." about you."
Zhang Wen just gave it a try, and it was expected that he would be rejected, but he was really too curious about this army.
"If you don't want to go in, it's okay to just stop at the door, right?"
"This...hey, Mr. Zhang? Sir!" While Qiao Yiyi hesitated, Zhang Wen had already walked towards the military camp.
But he didn't get too close before he was forced to stop.
The guards in front of the camp didn't do anything. They just looked straight ahead and stared at him after he got closer. That's all.
But Zhang Wen seemed to be targeted by a tiger and did not dare to take a step forward.
These sturdy guards were obviously in Chengdu, but they still wore a full set of heavy mysterious armor, holding spears in their hands. They stood as straight as spears, motionless.
If his eyes hadn't turned around at this moment, he would have believed it was a statue.
"kill!!"
"Ah?!" A sudden chorus of murderous roars came from the camp, so frightened that Zhang Wen exclaimed and took two steps back unconsciously.
Just this roar, even through the door wall of the military camp, made him feel as if he was on a battlefield where blood and flesh were flying, and he was still frightened at this moment.
"Well, I'd better go into the city as soon as possible. How can we keep the king and the prince waiting for too long?" Zhang Wen said seriously.
Qiao Zhou secretly smiled in his heart, but still smiled politely on his face: "That's right, sir, please come this way."
Not long after walking, he saw a small city. At this time, most of the city wall was built, and traces of the old wall were still vaguely visible in the inner circle.
In addition to the mud houses of the same size and style, there are also some larger but unfinished new houses.
It looks like it is being expanded, but it has been suspended due to busy farming.
"I wonder where this is...?" Zhang Wen, who transformed into a curious baby, asked again.
Qiao Zhou raised his brows, raised the corners of his mouth, and showed admiration: "This is the residential area for the families of the Red Star Army. Among them, there are also former refugee bandits who were not selected into the Red Star Army but were homeless. They were placed here. It's called 'shanty town'."
"Refugee bandits?!" Zhang Wen exclaimed in shock.
A woman dressed cleanly and dignifiedly, holding two chickens in her hand, was leading her son towards the small town, and the conversation could still be vaguely heard.
"You, it was just that you ate too much when you were sick last time! Doctor Wang said that you should take more supplements after you recover, but you were spoiled rotten!"
The tiger-headed boy pulled the woman's sleeve and said with a smile: "Hey, mother, I didn't eat in vain. Among the people who practice martial arts with Sister Guan now, there are not many people who can beat me. Wait a few days I will definitely pass the Red Star Army assessment, avenge my father, and serve the prince!"
"Just brag to your mother, is it really so easy to get into the Red Star Army? Leave quickly!"
"Hey, hey, it hurts! Mom, please don't pull my ears!"
Zhang Wen watched the mother and son walk back to the shantytown with his mouth half open, pointing at them and remaining speechless for a long time.
"You said they...are homeless bandits?"
Zhang Wen felt that there must be someone in him or Qiao Zhou who had some misunderstanding about the terms refugee and bandit.
"Well, it used to be true. Of course, life is a little better now." Qiao Zhou said with a smile.
Zhang Wen: "..."
A little bit?
Zhang Wen took a deep breath, exhaled the turbid air in his chest, and strode towards Chengdu.
Wu Shu must be repaired again! There is absolutely no way out if you follow Cao Cao to conquer Shu!
No, any, way out!
(End of chapter)
