Three thousand miles in exile

Emperor Xuan had a high fever since he fainted that day, and the imperial hospital was helpless. Zhou Xiang found a wandering Taoist priest to practice, but Emperor Xuan woke up the next day.

The first thing he did when he woke up was not to summon the ministers, nor the prince and concubine, but to have a secret conversation with the wandering Taoist priest for a whole day, and the next day the wandering Taoist priest was enshrined as a national teacher, named Zhang Daojun.

The officials discussed in private, but no one dared to touch the emperor at this juncture. He was just a Taoist priest, and the emperor favored him. Now the important thing is the north!

In this regard, the ministers of the aristocratic family were divided into three factions, the main combat faction headed by Zhou Xiang, the main peace faction headed by Lu Shi, and the neutral faction who did not fight or make peace.

The peace faction believes that the Cangxia Plain has always been in the hands of the Yan family, and the annual tribute has been reduced or postponed for various reasons. The court has not received much benefit. If the Cangxia Plain is lost, it will be lost. Stick to Qiyun Mountain and plan to regain the lost ground in the future.

The Zhuhe faction is also well-founded. Losing the Cangxia Plain and the great Chu and Huangchuan natural danger, no matter how powerful the iron cavalry of the Yan people are, they will not be able to overcome the Huangchuan natural danger.

Speaking so righteously, awe-inspiring, fresh and refined, it shocked the people of the capital that day.

Soon there was a nursery rhyme spread in the streets and alleys of the capital: the aristocratic family has no strength of character, the literati have no arrogance, the northern army has no backbone, and the great Chu has no canopy.

Somehow it got to the ears of Emperor Xuan, and Emperor Xuan was furious, smashed the imperial study, and beat the second prince, just because the Lu family belonged to the mother of the second prince, Lu's official position was taken away and the second prince was driven to build the imperial mausoleum.

At this moment, the First Prince stood up and volunteered for the Northern Expedition.

The eldest prince's words were wonderful. "Even if I die in battle, I am not afraid, as long as I can clean up my father's grievances, I am willing to exchange my life for it!"

The reason why the Lu family was taken away was not because he had a wrong idea of ​​peace. It is also a matter of benefiting the country and the people to consider the people's livelihood with the current national strength of Da Chu.But he didn't understand Emperor Xuan's psychology. Does Emperor Xuan care about Cangxia Plain?Do you care about the people who died in the war?No, what he cares about is his own face!

Losing the Cangxia Plain, he has no face to see his ancestors, he has no face to see the princes of the world, he has no face to see the people of Li, he needs to save face!Anything goes as long as it saves face!

The eldest prince's grandfather, Prime Minister Zhou, had already figured out Emperor Xuan. The eldest prince went out on behalf of his father not to recover the lost land but to save Emperor Xuan's face.

For a while, there was a scene of fatherly kindness and filial piety in the Imperial Study Room. Emperor Xuan wanted to keep the eldest son, but the eldest prince couldn’t kneel down and wanted to go. Finally, the eldest prince’s mother and concubine Xin Guifei also came to beg Emperor Xuan to let the eldest prince go to war, and finally Emperor Xuan agreed with regret.

The eldest prince is the grandson of Prime Minister Zhou. How could he really let the eldest prince go to war? In the end, the general who led the army was Zhou Chan, the eldest son of Prime Minister Zhou. The time is set for the expedition in the spring of the coming year.

A month later, Cenzhou in northern Xinjiang also received an order from the Ministry of War, ordering Cenzhou Zhizhou to recruit [-] troops to join the army in the spring of the coming year.

Because of this conscription letter, Pei Wanshan personally went back to Liu's house in Wuyuan County.

Pei Wanshan looked sad. "The six counties under the jurisdiction of Cenzhou are all poor and poor. The land is poor and the people are thin. The total number of military households is less than [-]. If the forced recruitment of good people may arouse public anger, how can I recruit [-] soldiers?"

Taking Wuyuan County as an example, there are 3000 military households in the whole county. As usual, each household sends out one soldier, which is only 8000 people, and the six counties have 5000 people. In addition, the original Cenzhou Xiang army has no more than [-] dead. [-] people, in addition to military households can also recruit soldiers, but very few good people join the army.

Before the Great Chu Dynasty, the Nine Grades were divided into three, six, nine, and so on. All walks of life have their own numbers, whether they are noble or humble. There is no precedent for forcing good people to serve in the military in all dynasties. , The Ministry of War ordered Cenzhou to mobilize [-] soldiers, making it clear that he was forced to recruit good people.

The imperial court can ignore the safety and stability of northern Xinjiang, but Pei Wanshan can't. Qiyun Mountain is his foundation, and it took ten years of hard work to achieve today's achievements. The day he, Pei Wanshan, was decapitated.

Pei Wanshan was as sad as a big dirt pig, groaning in self-pity.

There was a moment of silence in the study.

Only Liu Zhan didn't care about crossing Erlang's legs. "If you are not satisfied with the recruitment, you will be dissatisfied with the recruitment. Doesn't the Yan family claim to have an army of 20? In fact, did they kill [-] enemies? This is a trick. If a fool really pulls [-] soldiers, the top is happy to see it. It doesn't work. It was also expected.”

Liu Zhan tapped his fingers on the table. "I estimate that the actual number of the 50 army claimed by the top leader is half of the actual number."

Song Fenglin also laughed.

Pei Wanshan still hadn't figured it out. "Nephew, do you want me to send some respect?"

It's not that Pei Wanshan is stupid, but that he has never experienced these twists and turns of official plots. When he was a county magistrate for ten years, others fawned on him. The only person he had to deal with was the former Cenzhou magistrate. very simple.

Liu Zhan said: "The actual number of people is based on the number of soldiers in the military households, but it is declared to the outside world that there are 5 people. As a filial piety, it will be sent to the adults of the Ministry of War at that time."

Hearing this, Pei Wanshan recalled a little bit, he slapped his thigh with an ah. "I see! That's what it is!"

Liu Xueyuan and Song Yijun laughed in the room.

"Oh, why didn't I turn the corner? I'm really, really ashamed." Pei Wanshan laughed.

Song Yijun shook his head with a smile and sighed. "There is also a saying that the yamen of the Ministry of War will not be opened for ten years and will be open for ten years."

The Ministry of War claims that 50 conscripts are actually not that many, and it may even be only half of them. However, food, grass and luggage are all applied to the treasury according to the number of 50 people, and then they will work together with the Ministry of Households. With these people's pockets, not to mention all the aristocratic families in the capital, at least half of them can get a share.

Pei Wanshan smirked to himself. "I brought a 30-year-old Daughter Red. If I don't get drunk tonight, I will punish myself with three drinks, haha!"

That night, the Liu family held a banquet, the host and guests had a good time, the guests dispersed, Liu Xueyuan was not drunk at all, so he asked Butler Liu to call Liu Zhan over.

Liu Zhan was a little tipsy after drinking, and wanted to go back to the room, so somehow he groped into Song Fenglin's room. In the past two years, Liu Zhan had grown to be close to eight feet, and his body was getting stronger and stronger. Can't open or hide.

Finally he got angry. "Don't even try to sleep in my bed after you get drunk again!"

Liu Zhan raised his head with a chuckle. "Hug for a while and leave."

"It's fine in the county town in the past, but this is at home, in case someone sees it..."

"I know, just hug for a while."

Then there was a rustling sound in the room.

Housekeeper Liu outside the room was so shocked that he almost dropped the lantern in his hand. He took a few deep breaths before standing on the porch to stabilize his mind and wait.

Liu Zhan came out after a while, but he was not surprised to see Butler Liu.

After closing the door, Liu Zhan signaled Butler Liu to follow.

"Have you heard all?"

Butler Liu looked troubled. "My lord asked me to find the young master."

Liu Zhan walked unhurriedly with his hands behind his back. "Don't tell my father about this beforehand. I will naturally tell you when the time comes."

"This, this..." Butler Liu hesitated to speak.

Liu Zhan stopped and looked at him. "Don't think too much, I have my own opinion."

Butler Liu nodded and said yes. These days, when he returned to the Liu family to serve him, he also understood many things. The future of the Liu family depends on Liu Zhan. Now his eldest son Liu Cheng is also appreciated by Liu Zhan and manages the caravan. Since the servant took the decision, he just obeyed it, butler Liu figured it out soon.

Liu Zhan came to Liu Xueyuan's study, and Liu Xueyuan greeted him to come and sit down.

"Are you going to lead the army yourself when you go out next year?"

"Father, you know, I've been waiting for this day for a long time." Liu Zhan took a sip of hangover tea. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

There was pain in Liu Xueyuan's eyes, and Liu Zhan knew that he always felt that he would go on this road because of the accident that year.

"Father, the man's ambition is everywhere, this ravine can't trap me."

"You're only eighteen..."

"After the new year, it will be nineteen." Liu Zhan smiled, and he drank another sip of tea and felt refreshed. He originally wanted to say it before the expedition, but Liu Zhan said it in advance to make Liu Xueyuan feel relieved.

"I have arranged everything in the county barracks. I will keep Cao Ming, and there are five hundred soldiers. These are my personal soldiers. If something happens to me during this period, you will let Cao Ming Arrangements, I have explained the specific things to him and he will know how to do it."

Liu Xueyuan nodded.

Liu Zhan said again: "Fenglin will also stay. I have entrusted him with business transactions, my private warehouse, and the county barracks yamen. With him around, there will be no trouble."

Liu Xueyuan nodded again.

Liu Zhan smiled confidently. "Father, just wait for me to make the general in command."

The next day when Liu Zhan and Song Fenglin returned to the county, all the military households were agitated by the state government's conscription. When everyone learned that the general of Wuyuan County was Liu Zhan, they didn't have to urge many military households to volunteer.

Wuyuan County recruited a total of 300 people, plus the 1000 people that Liu Zhan had been forming before, the number was the first among the six counties in Cenzhou, and it was also the first formation in the six counties to enter training.

After the expansion, Liu Zhan asked Cao Ming to replace Cao Zhuang to guard Tongtian Pass. Cao Zhuang and Li Xiaolian trained recruits together. As for Liu Zhan himself, he has been stuck in the blacksmith workshop recently.

"This batch of spears has been lengthened according to the wishes of adults, but will such length affect flexibility." The old blacksmith always felt that such spears would be very awkward to use.

Liu Zhan was very satisfied. If it weren't for the limited conditions, he would also like to add an undercut to the spear to deal with cavalry.

"Send me ten first." Liu Zhan returned to the training camp satisfied with the spear.

"Ah San, go ask Mr. Song, just say that I have something good to show him." Liu Zhan sent Li Asan away and called 20 men, ten of them with old-fashioned spears and ten of them with new-style spears. Spear.

Cao Zhuang and Li Xiaolian also gathered around to watch the fun.

"Boss, this spear is too long to even dance, how can we kill the enemy?" Cao Zhuang laughed.

Li Xiaolian also said. "Looks like it's nine feet tall, taller than those guys."

At this time Song Fenglin also came, and I saw Liu Zhan whispering mysteriously to the ten soldiers holding nine-foot spears, and then the ten soldiers stood in two rows of five, and Liu Zhan arranged for soldiers holding ordinary spears Soldiers faced off in formations trained in the past.

Next, to everyone's surprise, the soldiers with ordinary spears attacked head-on, and the soldiers with extended spears divided into two rows did not move. When Liu Zhan yelled "stab!", the soldiers in the first row immediately held long spears. The spear stabbed forward, and immediately knocked down the soldier who was the first to reach the attack range of the spear.

Liu Zhan said again: "Stab again!"

The second row of soldiers immediately replaced the first row with spears, and all ten people on the opposite side were knocked down.

Cao Zhuang, Li Xiaolian and Song Fenglin were all stunned.

Liu Zhan clapped his hands. "Very well, let's all go down."

The soldiers got up and retreated under orders.

Song Fenglin said: "This... is it because of the lengthening of the spear?"

Liu Zhan said. "That's right, it's called a thrust formation, equipped with shield soldiers, it can advance, attack, retreat, and defend. The longer spear is not suitable for swinging to kill the enemy, but it can stab when the enemy is not close. Fenglin, send some people to the blacksmith workshop to help Be sure to produce a thousand spears within a month, thanks to you."

"I'll make arrangements now." Song Fenglin didn't dare to neglect and immediately called Zhang Xiaoman to make arrangements.

Liu Zhan turned around and said again: "Da Zhuang, Xiao Lian, you two come to learn how to form formations with me."

In fact, Liu Zhan has never read military books. His knowledge of ancient military art is only Sun Tzu’s Art of War and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but he has watched a lot of war-themed TV dramas and dared to think about it. Liu Zhan has been training soldiers for the whole winter. Array.

Until the eve of departure in early spring, he already had [-] cavalry, [-] pawns, [-] shield soldiers, [-] archers, and [-] pace warriors. Bows and arrows can still fight in close quarters.

As for the guerrilla warriors, they were invented by Liu Zhan. These guerrilla warriors are not limited to form, they can carry whatever weapons they are good at carrying, and they are all Liu Zhan's single-handed fighters. These 700 people, together with the cavalry, are Liu Zhan's personal guards. , he wants to lead the team himself.

On the day of departure, Liu Zhan came back to kneel to bid farewell to his grandmother and parents. Of course, such a big event as Liu Zhan going to the battlefield could not be hidden from the old lady. The old lady was not distraught and just held Liu Zhan's hand tightly, asking him to No matter what, you have to come back alive.

Finally, Liu Zhan came to Mrs. Zhao and kowtowed again. "Mom, wait for me to come back."

Zhao's eyes were red, not wanting to worry about her son, trying to stabilize her emotions.

"Little fat pig." Liu Zhan lifted up Brother Cong next to the Zhao family. The Liu family now has no worries about food and clothing. He was not afraid to keep laughing when he lifted it up.

"Big brother, where are you going?"

Liu Zhan took a sip of his chubby face. "Big brother is going to earn you a hereditary fame and come back."

Cong'er giggled.

After bidding farewell to his relatives, Liu Zhan rode down the mountain, accompanied by Song Fenglin, Cao Zhuang and others who were also from Tiancang Village.

It wasn't until Liu Zhan and his party had left that Liu Xueyuan suddenly realized how he was earning fame for Cong'er instead of his son.

Liu Zhan and Song Fenglin rode horses and walked side by side, while the others fell behind more or less far or near.

"Fenglin, I'm not sure if I'm going here for half a year or a year or two. I'll leave the yamen and family matters to you."

Song Fenglin looked at Liu Zhan, and even he himself didn't realize the tenderness in his eyes at this moment. "I guarantee with my life that I will live up to my trust."

Liu Zhan smiled. "I want you all intact."

Song Fenglin nodded. "I know."

In the past, the two always bickered from time to time. Song Fenglin's temperament was somewhat arrogant and prickly. Maybe it was the relationship between Liu Zhan's upcoming battle. Today Song Fenglin is very gentle and obedient, and Liu Zhan likes it more and more.

Suddenly, Liu Zhan stepped over and sat behind him while he was not paying attention.

"Wait for me before you go back to the battle!" Liu Zhan threw his sweetheart in front of him and started to gallop.

Song Fenglin wanted to get angry but couldn't get angry with this guy who opened a dyeing workshop after giving him three points of color, so he pinched his arm that was wrapped around his waist.

Liu Zhan laughed and leaned against his face, kissing and biting, Song Fenglin's temples and hair were messed up by him, he turned his head to hide, but sent Bai Nen's neck to the gangster's mouth.

"Don't make trouble!" Song Fenglin's face was flushed and he was angry and anxious. If someone saw him on the road, Liu Zhan would immediately pull the reins and enter the side forest path like a roundworm in his stomach.

Liu Zhan kissed him hard, biting and gnawing. "The first time I saw you, I knew you were the one I wanted." Liu Zhan kissed firmly and domineeringly from his red lips all the way to his ear, Song Fenglin shrank back afraid of itching, and Liu Zhan kissed the back of his neck.

Song Fenglin raised his head and took a deep breath.

"Hiss—!" Liu Zhan actually bit his teeth on his shoulder!

"Wait for me to come back, if you let me know that you are married..." Liu Zhan bit his earlobe and said hot and cold words. "Whoever you marry, I will kill her."

"You are mine." Liu Zhan repeatedly emphasized in his ear.