Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 448

In Hengshan at the end of March, the chill gradually subsides, and the warm spring breeze blows from afar.

A large willow tree is planted beside the post road, and the branches are flying in the spring breeze.Wild flowers bloom under the willows, bright and gratifying.

Shi Zan galloped along the thoroughfare leading to Yanzhou with more than ten followers.

There was a restaurant by the side of the road, and Shi Zan was hungry, so he led people there.

The sky slowly darkened, and after a while, it started to drizzle.

The drizzle washed away the flowers and leaves, cleaned up the dark dust, infiltrated the farmland, and nourished the earth.

It's raining!

Shi Zan stood by the side of the road, looking engrossed.

In the layer upon layer of hills and valleys, raindrops as fine as cow hair are flying everywhere

It should be raining in Xuzhou now, right?It's a pity that the people lost their crops and could not cultivate.

General Xu Wen brought a large plate of meat to the outside room, Shi Zan stopped staring, sat down and devoured it hungrily.

"Is this beef?" Shi Zan tasted it after taking a bite.

"Beef." Xu Wen ate his mouth full of oil, only replied vaguely, and continued to enjoy it.

There is so much beef in the Central Plains for you to eat, and you can only eat it near the grasslands, but it is impossible to eat it often, otherwise Youzhou and Hedong would have been full of beef restaurants.Under Shao Shude's rule, the private households must have also raised a lot of cattle, otherwise it would not be possible to have such a flood.

The small shop has been open for a long time, and the sides of the stone steps are covered with moss.Raindrops fell down the eaves, making a deep depression in the ground.

A dog ran back from a distance, saw a large group of strangers, whimpered and turned away.

Shi Zan smiled, and then restrained himself, because the sound of horseshoes came from afar.

"The commander-in-chief bought a banquet for you in Dongcheng, and I didn't expect to have dinner here halfway." The tone of the visitor's voice was not very good, Shi Zan didn't care, wiped his hands on the robe, and got up He saluted and said, "If you dare to ask, is it the Shuofang Military Academy?"

"Hurry up and hurry up after eating, the commander is waiting in Yanzhou City." The visitor waved his hand and said.

There were dozens of soldiers behind him, all dismounted and stood aside, waiting silently in the rain.

They have resentment towards these Xuzhou sergeants.If it weren't for the sudden arrival of this group of people, the commander would have brought the Tielin Army back to Lingzhou long ago, and everyone could see their families as soon as possible.

The commander-in-chief can't be blamed, so he has to blame the Xuzhou people.

"Get up, let's go! Take what you haven't finished eating." Shi Zan didn't talk nonsense, and immediately ordered.

The attendants responded one after another, packed up in a short while, got on their horses and set off.

Dozens of riders quickly headed north along the post road.

The wind was getting stronger and stronger, and the unlocked firewood gates in the villages on both sides of the road were shaking in the wind and rain.

Farmers in the fields are busy in their coir raincoats.

Waterfowl perched in the reeds and sang happily.

On the small river, a small boat passed by, full of corn and firewood.

Soon, the huge city walls of the five cities of Yanzhou appeared in front of them.

……

"Ten days of watering is not as good as one rain." Shao Shude took a nap in the posthouse before getting up.

After tucking the quilt for Zhao Yu, Shao Shude put on his robe under the service of the maid and came to the study.

"Marshal, Shi Zan is here."

"Let him in."

The guards searched Xia Shizan's body carefully to make sure that no sharp weapon was hidden, and then led him in.

"The governor of Sizhou and the commander of Xuzhou Miyake, Shi Zan, has seen the king of Lingwu County." Shi Zan, who was full of sorrow, only glanced at Shao Shude, and saluted.

Shao Shu De'an couldn't sit still, and said: "Sit down in Shi Ya Nei and serve tea."

Shi Zan didn't refuse, and sat down directly. This time, he raised his head generously and looked at Shao Shude.

"How much grain is there in Xuzhou?" Shao Shude asked straightforwardly.

This is the core issue.

In the battle of Wukang Town in the first year of Wende, Shi Pu led [-] cavalry to fight, but the result was a disastrous defeat, and the main force had been defeated.

In the Battle of Luliang in the second year, the remaining elite soldiers in Xuzhou were defeated by Pang Shigu again, and they were doomed to lose from then on.

The reason why they haven't been wiped out is mainly because Xuzhou's soldiers have become timid and have adopted a relatively pragmatic strategy of focusing on defense.

Offensive and defensive, of course, are not the same thing.

Even according to Shao Shude's evaluation, an army that dares to attack, even if its winning rate is lower, is better than an army that only defends with a higher winning rate.

The requirements of the two for soldiers and generals are not at the same level at all.

Xuzhou's main force was destroyed, and the defeated soldiers could only defend.But what's the use?People can't farm.

After the army rations are finished, go to the surrounding countryside to collect rations. If you can't collect them, can you still hold on?
"Going back to the king of Lingwu County, you can persist for more than half a year." Shi Zan replied.

"What about half a year later?"

"Maybe you can take advantage of the Bian army's unpreparedness and go to the surrounding areas to collect food."

"That's not the way." Shao Shude shook his head and said, "Even though I'm far away in Lingxia, I've heard that Xuzhou suffers from floods and wars every year, and six out of ten people are scattered. Even if there is surplus food, it's not easy to collect it, and it will kill the people. "

Shi Zan felt a little dissatisfied, but felt that the words were true.

The dissatisfied part is that Xuzhou can continue to guard for a period of time. If more rations can be looted from the people, it will not be a problem for a year.

Moreover, after the people's food is robbed, it can also drag down the Bian army.

He had seen Zhu Quanzhong disperse the military rations to help the people of Xuzhou before, and the dispersal of the military rations would inevitably increase the burden on the rear and consume more.

But this is really not a long-term solution, and it will eventually fail, sooner or later.

"I heard that Yang Xingmi sent people to resume production in Huainan, maybe we can form an alliance with him to borrow food and grass." Shao Shude said: "This year, our army will also go east from time to time to contain the Bian army. Shi Sikong is a sensible person, he should know what to do."

"The King of Lingwu County probably doesn't know about it yet." Shi Zan said with difficulty, "When a certain person left Xu, my father had made a plan to send his generals south after the snow melted to attack Huainan, looting the army and recruiting soldiers. "

"What?" Shao Shude suddenly got up.

Shi Zan had no choice but to smile wryly, and stopped talking.

Shao Shude also laughed, and laughed back angrily.

The head of the army is the head of the army, and this brain circuit is different from that of normal people.

There is no owner in Huainan. Even though Yang Xingmi was fighting Sun Ru, he sent people to Jiangbei to seize the territory.Shi Pu, you are fine, but you actually went south to plunder. This is because you think Yang Xingmi is easy to bully.

However, Yang Xingmi has recruited a large number of Cai soldiers from Jiangbei, and their combat effectiveness is no longer comparable. Shi Pu's gang of defeated soldiers may not necessarily be better than others.

But that's not really the point.

The point is, shouldn't we befriend Yang Xingmi?Yang Xingmi has foresight, he is willing to borrow food from people he has never met before, if Shi Pu opens his mouth, he may not be able to get it, so why make it like this?

"Shi Sikong agreed to move the town a few days ago, but now he backs off. Is there any movement in Sizhou and Haozhou?"

"Going back to the King of Lingwu County, there should be no problem in the two prefectures of Si and Hao."

"Tell the truth!" Shao Shude raised his voice and said, "Xuzhou is at stake, this is not the time to cover up."

All the soldiers of the Shao family in the study looked at Shi Zan with burning eyes.

Shi Zan paused for a moment, then said, "Si and Hao prefectures are a little unstable, and they may use the excuse that my father has moved the town and surrender Quanzhong."

"Get Deputy Envoy Chen." Shao Shude ordered.

Chen Cheng is the deputy envoy of Jiedu, and this position is the chief staff member of the feudal town. In the era of Tielin Army, there were only [-] people. At that time, there were only dozens of civilians in the army, and Chen Cheng was in charge.

Zhao Guangfeng's post is an important member of the army, and his official is the deputy envoy of Jingyuan Jiedu, the second number one staff member in the army, and the two are in charge of their own affairs.

Chen Cheng came soon, and as soon as he entered the room, he saw Shao Shude standing there, and he stepped forward to salute.

"Vice Envoy Chen, send someone to Chang'an, and ask the imperial court to immediately issue an imperial edict for Shi Pu to be the envoy of the Probation Army (Xu Zhen's official name), and travel day and night to the Xusi states."

"As ordered."

"Shi Ya Nei, is there someone you can trust?" After finishing the order, Shao Shude turned his head again and asked.

"Yes." Shi Zan didn't know what Shao Shude wanted to do, so he replied subconsciously.

"Maybe I have to go back to Xuzhou." Shao Shude said: "Vice Envoy Chen, it is advisable to send Zhongguan Han Quanhui as an envoy to pass on the decree to Xuzhou."

"Han Gongjian is brave and resourceful, so he is really suitable for this position." Chen Cheng immediately understood that this was to send someone he could trust to intervene in local affairs in Xuzhou to reverse the situation.

"Some things, I have made it clear with Han Gongjian in advance."

"As ordered."

After Han Quanhui sneaked back from Sichuan, life was difficult.He expressed his loyalty to Shao Shude several times and invited him to Shuofang to supervise the army.

Shao Shude did not agree.Qiu Weidao is an old man. He has been living in seclusion for the past few years, and he heard that he wants to cultivate immortality.Shao Shude didn't bother to take care of it, there was no shortage of expenses in the Supervising Army Academy, and the rewards for the Supervising Army were always indispensable during festivals and festivals, and he even gave a lot of gifts in private.The members of the Qiu Clan who came to join him, the talented ones were employed by the officials, and the courageous ones were recruited into the army, and they truly fulfilled the promise of being rich and noble.

Han Quanhui wants to come to Shuofang to serve as a supervisor, where do you put Qiu Weidao?

However, if he can make a contribution this time, it will not be a good place to go, it all depends on how he behaves.

Shi Zan didn't leave the post house until evening, and after going out, he was sweating profusely.

"Yamei, how is it?" Xu Wen stepped forward and asked.

"I'll continue to wait for news from Chang'an." Shi Zan was not in a very high mood, and said, "The king of Lingwu County has great ambitions, and he actually wants to encircle Zhu Quanzhong."

"How to encircle?" Xu Wen asked.

"Go over there and talk." Shi Zan led the horse, walked to a big locust tree in the distance, and said while sheltering from the rain: "The king of Lingwu County asked the court to send an angel quickly to recover the previous edict. My father was a Jiedu envoy, so as not to give some facts, he lowered his allegiance."

According to the system, when someone is appointed as the commander-in-chief, the angel must go to the place first, and read the imperial edict in front of the generals of the military government and the officials of the military supervisory academy, and grant the festival.

Theoretically speaking, the matter is not over at this point, and it is necessary to go to the various states, and the governor of the state will come out to greet him, and read the imperial decree again, so that the whole process can be considered complete.But in this season, the first step is generally completed, and the latter step is not necessarily the case. Some have completed it, and some have not.

Si and Hao states, do you think they are not loyal to Shi Pu?This may be a wronged person. I will accompany you to send troops and fight with you. This year is the fifth year of the war with Zhu Quanzhong. The fight is so fierce, everyone is very interesting.

But it is true that the mountains and rivers have reached the end of the mountain, and there is only a thin line between whether to surrender or not.Shi Pu agreed to move the town, but he regretted it when the matter came to an end. This may become a subtle factor that prompted the two states to surrender to Zhu Quanzhong-there was an excuse to persuade and deceive himself, not because I was unfaithful, but because the court had a purpose.

"What will Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin do?" Xu Wen asked suddenly.

These two old brothers are now Xuzhou's troubled brothers.With lips dead and teeth cold, they rescued each other, but the ending was mostly bleak.

"It's likely that someone will be sent. Just now, the King of Lingwu County asked Zhu Xuan and Zhu Jin what honors they have. This probably means that they want to promote them, or even be promoted to nobles. In this case, they will send angels to Yan and Yun to announce the decree. The ghost knows who it is." Shi Zan said: "I think this court is Shao Shude's chamber pot, use it if you want, and throw it away if you don't want to use it. I'm afraid it won't be very interesting when I enter the court."

"Yanei, Sikong let you enter the court to preserve the blood of the Shi family." Xu Wen said.

Shi Zan was silent.This time he entered the court, he brought his wife and children here, and he really had no intention of going back, which was also his father's request.

"Boom!" Shi Zan slammed his fist on the trunk of the locust tree, gnashing his teeth: "As long as Shao Shude can attack and kill Zhu Quanzhong, so what if I will be his dog? Whoever he wants to kill, I will kill, even the emperor. Yes, as long as Zhu Quanzhong can be destroyed."

Xu Wen was shocked when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "Be careful in your words. This time, when entering the court, the three thousand soldiers of Xu are all served by one person in the Yamen. But you must be careful in everything. When the Shi family is not at the end of the mountain, don't give up on yourself. .”

"I know." Shi Zan let out a long sigh of relief, and said, "Cain will endure when he endures."

(End of this chapter)