In the Qiang army camp outside the city, the besieging chief heard that Yujie's troops had come to report their defeat, and Yujie died. Nearly half of his Qiang soldiers were lost and unable to fight anymore. The remaining troops had withdrawn to the camp from Xishan. He didn't understand that three times the force could not surround the Han army with less than a hundred men. These Han troops were suddenly attacked and lacked food and clothing. They should be able to deal with it. How could it be like this?
He couldn't figure it out, but at this time there was no time for him to think about the reasons for the defeat. He immediately ordered two hundred Qiang soldiers to hunt down the escaped Han people. He couldn't help but lose a general and not even a Han official. Sack.
Fortunately, Yang Qing and the others were fast, and thanks to Yan Hong's familiarity with the route, everyone finally got around to the city before the Qiang people chased them.
Back in the county town, everyone's tense heartstrings finally relaxed. Yan Hong immediately ordered someone to take Huang Yueying and the returning soldiers to rest. He also had to go up to the city wall to meet with Ma County Lieutenant to discuss the matter of defending the city. Yang Qing thanked Yan Hong for letting him go to the post house to rest, but still came to the city with him.
Today, the Qiang soldiers besieging the city launched an attack almost at the same time as the Youjie tribe. Fortunately, the defenders fought hard and fought hard, and finally repelled the first wave of Qiang offensive today. At present, the Qiang people retreated to the camp to lick their wounds, while the Han army guarding the city also took this opportunity to treat the wounded soldiers, build city walls, and replenish supplies.
"Lieutenant Ma County, how many people do we still have in our army now?" Yan Hong went up to the city to find County Lieutenant Ma Qi.
"In the Ming Dynasty, more than half of the two hundred sergeants were killed and wounded, and more than two hundred young men were killed." Ma Qi sighed with bloodshot eyes: "Fortunately, more than two hundred people were replenished last night, otherwise today This city is difficult to defend."
Yang Qing, who was standing aside, asked: "When will the reinforcements arrive?"
"Back at the main register, none of the soldiers sent out to ask for help came back. They were either killed or had not yet broken out of the Qiang blockade."
Yang Qing felt powerless after hearing this, and sighed: "Well, let's defend first to ensure that the city is not lost. Later, we can only hope that the reinforcements from Lord Chen and the imperial court will come soon. Lieutenant Ma County, You go down and rest first, Yan Mingting and I will guard this place."
This Ma County Lieutenant's hair was messy and his face was haggard. It seemed that he didn't get much sleep last night. Although Yang and Qing were nervous in the mountains and had experienced a battle, they were not like the sergeants who fought continuously. After returning to the city, they had eaten again, so their physical strength was still good at this time.
Lieutenant Ma County did not refuse and went down to the top of the city to find a place to rest. Yang Qing looked around at the soldiers and civilians guarding the city, and couldn't help but shook his head in his heart. Now, including Huang Xing and others who came back from the mountain, there were only more than a hundred sergeants in the city. Although the people had received certain military training, they couldn't compare. A well-organized army. Although the Qiang people outside the city also suffered hundreds of casualties, there were still about a thousand people. It was extremely difficult to defend the city under their repeated attacks.
While Yang Qing was thinking about how to defend the city, bursts of urgent drums sounded from the Qiang camp. Yan Hong thought that the Qiang people were about to attack the city again, so he hurriedly ran out from the city gate tower to take a look.
"It shouldn't be an siege. The attacking drum sounds are not like this. I think the Qiang people are about to retreat." After yesterday's battle, Yang Qing roughly knew what the golden drum sounds sounded like when the Qiang soldiers attacked and retreated.
"The chief secretary is right." Yan Hong reacted after being panicked: "Look, there seems to be chaos in the enemy's camp."
Woo, woo, woo, a high-pitched drumbeat came. Yan Hong was ecstatic when he heard the drumbeat. He grabbed Yang Qing's sleeve and shouted: "This is our drumbeat, reinforcements have arrived." As soon as he finished speaking, a red flag appeared in front of everyone, with a large Chinese character written on it.
On the familiar official road, Yang Qing and Zhuge Qiao were still riding side by side in the carriage. However, of the more than thirty people who had gone there, only a dozen of them had returned to Chengdu. Shen Da in front and Huang Xing in the back were both expressionless. The expressions and faces were gloomy, and almost no one spoke along the way. The entire convoy was extremely quiet, with only the sound of rutting wheels and the clatter of horse hooves remaining. Yang Qing was riding on his horse and couldn't help but think about the scene of the arrival of reinforcements yesterday.
Wenshan County borders Shu County to the east, Shengqiang to the west, Yinping to the north, and Hanjia County to the south. In addition to the west and north, Ma Qi sent envoys to Shu County and Hanjia County to ask for help. Of course, there is no need to ask for help from this county. Say more. Although they asked for help from three places, it was the county soldiers led by Chen Zhen, the prefect of Wenshan, who finally came to rescue Du'an. Wenshan County has few Han people and many barbarians. Since the founding of the Han Dynasty, it has been changing between provinces and prefectures. At the time of Liu Zhang, there was no county established here, and it was set as the northern captain of Shu County. After the first emperor settled Shu, he made Chen Zhen and Chen Xiaoqi from Nanyang the northern captain. Later, the Wenshan County system was restored, and Chen Zhen became the prefect of Wenshan.
The land where the Qiang people live in Wenshan County is barren and not suitable for growing grains. Only barley is suitable for growing. Therefore, whenever the weather is cold and freezing, the Yi people will always harass and plunder the place. However, this time they are more powerful than before. Much bigger. Therefore, when Chen Zhen first heard that the Qiang people were coming to attack, he did not panic. He sent people to inquire about the situation of the barbarians and mobilized troops. After the army in the county was assembled, he suddenly went around to hide on the flank of the main force of the Qiang soldiers in Mianhui County, and launched a surprise attack after dark. He defeated the Qiang army and made countless gains. After waiting for the siege to be raised in Mianhui County, they rushed to Du'an County to relieve the siege at night.
Yesterday, Chen Zhen sent more than 300 cavalry to attack the enemy's formation, and then pressed forward with infantry. The Qiang people hurriedly responded and were caught off guard. They were immediately defeated by the Han army under the city. The Qiang people could not resist, and suffered heavy casualties and losses. In the end, they scattered and fled for their lives.
The siege of Du'an represented that the Qiang rebellion was initially put down. After Chen Zhen settled in the county, he first sent people to rescue the wounded and appease the people, and then went to greet Yang Qing, Huang Yueying and others. Yang Qing had a good impression of him by doing this. This is what an official who cares about the people should do. He had a long conversation with Chen Zhen last night, during which he especially recounted the merits of the officers and soldiers of Du'an County, and asked him to do a good job in providing compensation and redress for the aftermath.
Yang Qing and others declined Chen Zhenyanhong's offer to stay with them for a few more days. They rested in the city for a night, leaving behind two seriously injured guards. They said goodbye and returned to the city early the next morning. Chen Zhen didn't force it. There were too many final matters waiting for him to deal with this Qiang rebellion. He left the city and sent him to the Shili Post Office where the two parties said goodbye.
"Mingzhi, why don't you stay at home for a few more days? How are you recuperating?" Zhuge Liang saw Yang Qing coming in, put down the pen in his hand, raised his head and asked in concern.
This was the third day that Yang Qing returned to Chengdu. On the day they returned to the city, Huang Yueying and the others were taken home by people sent by Zhuge Liang as soon as they arrived at the city gate. He had to go to the Prime Minister's Mansion first to report to Zhuge Liang what happened in Du'an County. go through. Zhuge Liang had received a report from Chen Zhen yesterday. Although the Qiang rebellion was quite large, Wenshan County was strong enough to deal with it. Therefore, he just asked Yang Hong, the prefect of Shu County, to send reinforcements to assist in the defense. However, the reinforcements from Shu County were still there. Before entering Wenshan County, today we received a military report that the Qiang people had been defeated.
Although his wife and children had returned to the city safely, after listening to Yang Qing's detailed report, Zhuge Liang had to feel scared and said in his heart that he was lucky. Fortunately, the soldiers fought bravely and Yang Qing's clever plan , otherwise the result at this time would be different. So he not only praised Yang Qing, but also specially thanked Yang Qing for saving Zhuge Guo's life, and thoughtfully gave Yang Qing a few days off so that he could have a good rest at home.
The wound on Yang Qing's stomach was not deep to begin with, but now it has become scarred. He thought of something urgent again, so he came to see Zhuge Liang today.
"Thank you, Cheng Guang, for your concern. I've been resting for two days and everything is fine now." Yang Qing sat down and replied with his hands in his hands.
Zhuge Liang nodded: "It's okay. Then why are you here today?"
Yang Qing said: "Prime Minister, after this trip to Du'an County, the Qing Dynasty has fully realized the benefits of the large weir, which is actually the foundation of agriculture in Sichuan. Therefore, the barbarians in Wenshan County also covet this weir. This time the Qiang people are in trouble, not only due to the cold weather Because of the difficulty, he came here for the Du'an Weir. Therefore, the Qing Dynasty believed that the safety of this weir was related to the agricultural production in central Sichuan, so it must be taken precautions against."
Zhuge Liang also knew this and agreed: "It is indeed true." Today, the court still follows the policy established during the Ling Emperor's period and uses Du Shuipu, an official subordinate to the Wenshan Prefect, to be responsible for maintaining the weir. Now it seems that this system may not be able to protect Dayan well. Zhuge Liang knew that Yang Qing must have a solution, so he asked: "What's the clever plan?"
Yang Qing replied: "The Qing thought it would be better to change the maintenance of the weir to the direct responsibility of the court, so that the court could directly take charge of the weir for flood control and irrigation."
Zhuge Liang pondered for a moment, nodded and said: "This strategy is feasible, but then a special Yan officer will be set up to take charge of this matter."
"What the Prime Minister said is true. This Yan official thought that he should be the magistrate of Du'an County. In addition, thousands of Dingkou need to be requisitioned for maintenance. This can not only prevent barbarian intrusion, but also serve as the county's mobile force to be dispatched at any time." The system was originally set up by Zhuge Liang after the Northern Expedition, when grain transportation failed, and he increasingly realized the important lifeline role of Dujiangyan. At this time, Yang Qing suggested setting it up in advance because he experienced the Qiang Rebellion, in order to better utilize the importance of the weir to Chengdu. Irrigation of plains.
Zhuge Liang clearly understood Yang Qing's worries and said with a smile: "Good. In addition, when will the weir be repaired every year? How to repair it? All these must be established. In this way, this weir will be worry-free."
"The prime minister's long-term plan is not as good as the Qing Dynasty. Yan Hong, the magistrate of Du'an County, knows about the weir for a long time and can order him to draw up a specific statement and discuss it with the government.
"Yes." Zhuge Liang agreed. Yang Qing had also reported to him the performance of Yan Hong, the magistrate of Du'an County during the Qiang rebellion. This man was a promising talent and could be given a heavy responsibility in the future.
When Yang Qing saw that Zhuge Liang had agreed to what he had submitted, he immediately wanted to say goodbye and leave. Unexpectedly, Zhuge Liang handed him the bamboo slips he had just seen and invited him to review the details together and how to reply. Yang Qing thought it was a letter written by a county official to Zhuge Liang, but when he saw it, it was actually a letter from a Wei man, which surprised him.
