"Lu Bu is an unrivaled general in the world. He spent half his life in the army and experienced the wind and rain. How could he fall ill at this juncture? I think something is wrong about this. Is he deliberately trying to make money from my army?"
Yuan Tan, who returned to the Chinese army's stronghold, paced back and forth uneasily.
It was difficult to point it out in front of Lin Mo. He didn't believe that Lu Bu was ill. He probably made three thousand troops and horses, and then started to give up his options.
Anyway, there is no need to use Lu Bu's food and grass. The 20,000 troops are provided with good food and drink, so he can delay the war unscrupulously, and he doesn't feel bad!
"It doesn't look like that."
Guo Tu twisted his short beard and shook his head, "This time he has entered the Northern Kingdom with an army of 20,000 people. Now Yuan Shang's Chinese army is also arriving one after another. A stalemate will form immediately. It will be difficult to escape. It is impossible to surrender two soldiers just for three thousand horses." Tens of thousands of troops are brought in."
"Sir, do you mean that Lu Bu is really ill?" Yuan Tan looked a little ugly.
Guo Tu looked calm, showing off his masterly attitude, and smiled playfully, "No, as the young master said, Lu Bu spent half his life in the army. He never got sick sooner or later. Why did he fall ill at this time? I'm afraid there is something else going on here."
"So, sir, do you think there is something going on here?" Yuan Tan patiently praised Guo Tu.
Guo Tu was very impressed by this and immediately stopped being the Riddler, "As I expected, Lu Bush is malingering and wants to lure Ma Yan to attack."
Can Lu Bu have such a scheming mind?
This suspicion just flashed through his mind. Yuan Tan immediately thought of Lin Mo whom he saw in the Pioneer Camp. Although he looked a little tired, his behavior was calm and composed. He didn't look like his father-in-law was ill at all. He probably was. His idea.
He is known to be a good strategist.
It must be, it must be!
"That's not right either."
After going through it in his mind, Yuan Tan said puzzledly: "Ma Yan also needs someone to pass the news to Ma Yan. How will he pass the news?"
Guo Tu smiled slightly and said, "Sir, Lu Bu went north to Qingzhou to help in the war. In Yuan Shang's opinion, it must be the result of our heavy bribery. So I guess that Yuan Shang has sent an envoy to meet Lu Bu quietly before our arrival."
Hearing this, Yuan Tan's pupils suddenly gathered, and his heart was pounding. He immediately remembered what Lin Mo had said, and he hit his left palm with his right fist in excitement, "This must be the case, that's why he said that there will be something happening within half a month." Take action, sir, you are indeed very clever!"
If this is the case, then we still have a lot of food and grass, even if my uncle is pretending to be ill.
The Xin brothers also looked at each other and felt that what Guo Tu said was reasonable. This was the only reasonable explanation.
"Young Master is over-reputed." Guo Tu felt as if he had found something unparalleled in the world.
Here, no one will accuse Guo Tu of being just an ordinary person. Although most of these words came from his mouth in the past, it is undeniable that the cooperation between the three great counselors is very pleasant now.
In fact, in their hearts, whether it is Guo Tu or the Xin brothers, they definitely hope that their side will win. Although they have not yet completely made up their minds to choose Lu Bu or Yuan Tan, this matter will always end with their side winning. Basic selection.
This is also the reason why they have a high degree of tacit understanding.
Yuan Tan's messy heart was finally at peace. He breathed a long sigh of relief and looked in the direction of Yuan Shangjun's camp outside the tent, his eyes full of fighting spirit.
In Anfeng, a palace was filled with white lanterns and two white lanterns were hung. Everyone entering and leaving the palace wore hemp and mourning.
In the hall of the courtyard, there is a spiritual tablet in the middle, which reads: The spiritual place of my elder brother Zhang Zhishu.
Zhang Liao's head was tied with a white cloth and he was wearing linen clothes. He knelt in front of the spiritual tablet and stared at the spiritual tablet with an expressionless face.
Among the brothers who came out of Bingzhou, he, Zhang Yang and Lu Bu had the deepest relationship. The three of them all enjoyed grudges together, killed enemies and made achievements together, and raided brothels together at night. Whatever men could do together, the three of them could do it. Never fell behind.
Zhang Yang's death would make Zhang Liao no less sad than Lu Bu.
Fortunately, the news he learned was the same as when Lu Bu first heard it. He only thought it was Sui Gu who did it, and Sui Gu was dead, so Zhang Yang's revenge had been avenged in theory.
Otherwise, he might not dare to take people to Hanoi to risk their lives with Sima Yi like Lu Bu.
The friendship between life and death can really be fought with one's life. Zhang Liao, like Lu Bu, has long been deeply engraved in their hearts.
Behind him, Cao Xing, Song Xian and Cheng Lian were also kneeling in mourning like Zhang Liao.
Among the three, Cao Xing was from Yanzhou, Cheng Lian was from Jingzhou, and Song Xian was from Bingzhou like Lu Bu and others. However, they were not together when they joined the army. They only became familiar with Lu Bu when they followed Ding Yuan Qingjun.
But the three of them all have a deep relationship with Zhang Yang. In their early years, they all fled to Hanoi twice with Lu Bu. It can be said that Zhang Yang was their savior.
We didn't spend much time together, but Zhang Yang had a very cheerful personality and didn't regard them as generals. He always treated them like brothers, which they kept in mind.
Let’s just say this time, if Zhang Yang hadn’t spoken, I guess the three of them would still be grooms.
"Eat it, the Bingzhou hometown dishes specially made by the chef are all your favorites."
There were many dishes placed in front of Zhang Yang's tomb. Zhang Liao smiled bitterly and said, "Remember that time at Sanchuan River? When we fought against the Xiongnu, we ran out of food and only had a few sheep. Why don't you snatch those sheep from me?" I specially reserved my legs for you today, so I won’t snatch them from you.
But you are born to like snatching. It seems that in the fifth year of Zhongping, a group of Central Plains singers came to Taiyuan. You dared to snatch women with Fengxian. I was so happy that you, Uncle Zhang Zhi, Can snatch the singer away from Fengxian.
I don’t know if the madam from the Taiyuan brothel is still alive. When he went to Guanzhong with Ding Governor, he promised to go back and continue making trouble. "
Zhang Liao muttered to himself, sometimes laughing, sometimes choking, looking a little crazy.
The past resurfaced, and finally I couldn't help but burst into tears, "When you left, I felt like something had dug into my heart. Uncle Zhi, don't change your name in the next life, I will still ask you to be my brother."
Zhang Liao knelt like this all day, from day to night, until all the mourners around him left, leaving only Cao Xing and others in the entire hall.
Zhang Liao then sighed deeply, "In these troubled times, we don't know when we will be separated forever. In fact, I still have many things to say to you but I haven't had time yet. So, brothers, if you have any words, say goodbye." Hidden in your heart, you can talk about any difficulties you have, and don’t regret it until it’s truly irreversible.”
After saying that, Zhang Liao turned around and looked at Cao Xing and the others, his eyes were wet, and he asked in a hoarse voice: "Are we brothers?"
This question confused Cao Xing and the others. They looked at each other in confusion, and they all agreed that Zhang Liao must be too sad. Song Xian was the first to speak: "Wen Yuan, what nonsense are you talking about? Of course we are brothers."
Zhang Liao nodded solemnly, "I also believe that we are the best brothers. From Guanzhong to the Central Plains, we have fought many bloody battles together, so..."
Zhang Liao looked around the three of them and asked seriously: "Do you have anything to say to me?"
The three of them concluded that Zhang Liao must have been distracted and kept talking nonsense, but now he seemed to have nothing to say and could only shake his head.
Zhang Liao bit the corner of his mouth, smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Okay, you all go back and let me talk to Uncle Zhi."
Cao Xing and the others also knelt all day long. Although they all had warrior physiques, they were not as good as the Liao God and were already very tired. They sighed, stood up slowly, and then bowed three times to Zhang Yang's spiritual throne. Finally he reluctantly left.
When Zhang Liao was the only one left in the entire hall, tears welled up from his eyes again.
In fact, a tough man like Zhang Liao is very unfamiliar with tears. The last time he cried was when his parents were robbed and killed in Xianbei, Yanmen.
Today, he seemed to have released all the tears he had accumulated over the years at once.
"Uncle Zhi, we are all brothers. We have shared weal and woe for so many years, and we have fought side by side without fear of death in many sieges. I don't want to kill them, why, why do they force me, why!"
Zhang Liao roared hysterically, hitting his chest hard with his right fist, his whole face twisted with anger, "Uncle Zhi, teach me, teach me what to do! I have lost a brother, I don't want to If someone dies again, why don’t they understand!”
At this moment, Zhang Liao was in pain that only he could understand and could not share with outsiders.
These days, he has been living a very depressed life, but he can't help it. As the head coach of one side, he alone is responsible for the safety of three counties and the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers, as well as Lu Bu's high hopes, so he can't be emotional.
Today, in front of Zhang Yang's memorial tablet, I finally couldn't help but vent my feelings.
He held Zhang Yang's body and cried like a child.
In the end, he fell directly to the side, his eyes were a little dull, and he hugged Zhang Yang's body and murmured: "Even if Yunwen's methods are a little extreme, they can tell me if they are wronged, and that kid still doesn't dare to disobey me. , why choose such a dead end, can they just ignore our feelings for so many years?"
Zhang Liao just stayed in the hall, mumbling to himself, and fell into a deep sleep.
Perhaps, he is also looking forward to seeing his old friend in his dreams.
Wen County, Zhang Mansion.
As the county magistrate, Zhang Wang's mansion is actually not that big, that is, it is larger than an ordinary wealthy family's house, and his annual salary is only two hundred dan.
In a county, there are county magistrates and wealthy families who are suppressing them. At the same level, there are also meritorious officials, county captains, young officials, etc. Of course, their strength is limited.
However, for Zhang Wang, all this was already very difficult. Originally, Cao Cao wanted to kill him. If the Sima family had not tried their best to protect him, and Sima Yi went to Hanoi to get rid of Zhang Yang, he would have been dead long ago.
It's not easy.
He owed the Sima family a great favor, and Zhang Wang naturally planned to repay him well in the future. After all, he was also a disciple of the Sima family, so he would naturally look up to him as the leader of the Sima family in the future.
As for other things, Zhang Wang didn't dare to have too many ideas.
He once thought that he would have a chance to be a county magistrate, but now it seems that there is no chance.
Even the Sima family had to make great efforts to save their lives from Cao Cao. If they wanted to seek an official position, it would be fanciful.
Unless, he can be tied to the Sima family.
However, this is nothing more than a fool's dream. Zhang Wang can still understand clearly what kind of existence the Sima family is and what kind of existence his Zhang family is.
"Sir, I have your letter." The servant ran in, holding a piece of silk cloth sealed with fire paint.
"Bring it here."
After Zhang Wang took it casually, the servant turned and left. He carefully peeled off the paint, fearing to ruin the silk cloth.
Paper already existed in this era, but the quality of the paper was extremely poor and it was impossible to write on. Most of the time, bamboo slips were used. Even the books were recorded on bamboo slips. Many aristocratic families even needed to use horse-drawn carriages to transport these books. Hence the idiom "learn to be rich in five cars".
Those who can use silk cloth as a message must be rich or noble, and ordinary families would be reluctant to part with it. Of course, Zhang Wang must be cautious.
People of this era have a habit of reading letters, first reading the signature.
When Zhang Wang saw the words "nephew Lin Mo", his whole body jumped up.
Lin Mo?
How could it be the letter from that untouchable!
I wrote him many letters before, but he never replied to me. Why did he think of writing me a reply now?
Zhang Wang even felt that he was dazzled and pulled the cloth again. After finally confirming that it was Lin Mo's name, he hurried to the side and closed the ajar door before turning back to the desk to read the letter.
He took a deep breath, shook his head in disbelief, and looked in awe of the letter in front of him.
Three years ago, he was disgusted with Lin Mo and wanted to break off contact. Now, this young man has become famous all over the world. Even Cao Cao would throw himself into prison for him.
He carefully picked up the silk cloth. Before he could read the contents on it, it was enough to make Zhang Wang's chest rise and fall violently, and his whole body began to tremble.
Lin Mo was coming to Wen County to find him, hoping that he would introduce him to Cao Cao on his behalf. He could no longer stay with Lu Bu in the past few years.
Hiss, is this true? Didn’t that untouchable marry Lu Bu’s daughter?
Why did the letter say something so unbearable? Could it be that he was really being coerced by Lu Bu and couldn't get out?
Then you haven't come to me in the past few years, but now you can come. Now Lu Bu won't bully you? Besides, you are in the north, why did you come to Wen County?
Keep reading, and here comes the content that makes him even more excited.
Lin Mo had already followed Lu Bu to Qingzhou. While Lu Bu and Yuan Shang were fighting in Xiajin, he sneaked out. Then he rode his horse all the way to the Yellow River and caught a merchant ship. This merchant ship went directly to Chang'an. He would We will disembark at the ferry in Wen County and expect to arrive on the 23rd of this month, within two days. Please ask your uncle to meet you at the ferry.
Zhang Wang's eyes widened, and his mouth grew big enough to put an egg in. "Is it really coming?"
Although Zhang Wang didn’t know much about the Northern Kingdom, he was quite familiar with the Yellow River waterway, because the Yellow River ferry was more than 30 miles away from Wen County, and cargo merchants from the Central Plains often disembarked from there when they shipped goods to Sili Prefecture. , take it to Wen County and sell it.
In fact, before Dong Zhuo's Rebellion, this route could reach the imperial capital Luoyang. Merchants from the Central Plains took their goods to Luoyang to sell, and then purchased some local specialties to sell back to make a profit.
However, after the decline of Guanzhong, this route basically stopped at Hanoi, and there was a risk of being robbed further upstream.
"Yes, yes, that untouchable has some brains. From Xiajin to Wen County, Hanoi, there is no other way except taking the waterway. He is neither stupid nor stupid." Zhang Wang murmured excitedly to himself.
From Xiajin to Wenxian, we have to pass through the defense lines of Yuan Shang and Cao Cao along the way. Not to mention that the sergeants at the pass will not let him go unless they see the household registration card. The bandits along the way can kill Lin Mo.
Therefore, the only way to reach Wen County safely is by water. After joining the merchant ship, the problem of household registration and hand cards disappears, and at the same time, bandits can be avoided.
Of course, there will also be Cao and Yuan troops stopping at the ferry along the way, but most of them will not have any harsh requirements on the merchants, just to collect water transportation taxes.
With one or two more people, the tax collectors would not be suspicious at all.
What a great Lin Yunwen, you found the only way into Wen County, that’s amazing!
It is worth mentioning that during this period, the water transport trade routes of the Yellow River were far more prosperous than those of the Yangtze River.
In fact, before the mid-Tang Dynasty, the water transport of the Yellow River was once at its peak, because the political centralization that was pushed forward was mostly in Guanzhong and the Central Plains, both along the Yellow River.
This determines that the prosperity of shipping on the Yellow River is far beyond that of the Yangtze River.
There are two reasons for the subsequent decline. The first is that the rivers accumulated silt and swayed, forming above-ground rivers, making many places inaccessible to ships. Another important reason is that starting from the Anlu Mountain Rebellion, the rise of Khitan led to the centralization of power and natural trade. It will wither away.
Zhang Wang breathed heavily, forcing himself to calm down. Lin Mo was coming, and his fate would definitely undergo a shocking change.
Previously, I thought that the pinnacle of my life would be the county magistrate. Now, the prefect is not too much, right?
With Cao Cao's dedication to him, it is not impossible to enter Xuchang and become the ninth minister of the court.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He even decided that as long as Lin Mo arrived, whether he wanted to or not, he would first arrange for Chunhua to cook with him. Without this relationship, how could he ensure his future?
Do you want to inform the Sima family?
After this thought flashed across his mind, Zhang Wang immediately gave it up and absolutely could not tell them.
As a disciple of the Sima family, if the Sima family wanted to grow stronger and win over Lin Mo, everything I thought about would be greatly compromised.
Yes, yes, keep it secret, keep it secret!
Zhang Wang hurriedly burned the silk cloth. Looking at the silk cloth turned into ashes, he finally relaxed and laughed.
"Life is like this, no one knows what will happen tomorrow. I never thought that the untouchables I once looked down on could become a stepping stone for me to rise to the top.
Your father saved my life, and you also want to help me bring glory to the Zhang family. It seems that the Lin family owed me a lot in my previous life, hahaha."
From the beginning to the end, Zhang Wang did not think that he owed anything to Lin Mo. Even if the Lin family saved his life, he only agreed to the marriage out of excitement.
People in this era have always been well-matched when getting married. You said that you, a pariah, are worthy of my Zhang family. You really can't blame me for regretting the marriage.
Although the Zhang family is not a big family, if word spread that I found a pariah husband for my daughter, wouldn’t it be a joke?
In fact, when he said goodbye to Lin Mo's father, he regretted that he had agreed too hastily, and the idea of regretting the marriage was not just a whim.
I just never thought that I would still have to accept that untouchable after all the trouble, but now he is worthy of Chunhua, after all, he is the Marquis of Lanling.
(End of chapter)
