In Chengdu, it is another year of hibiscus blooming season, and the climate is cooler, which is particularly refreshing. Although the war between Qin and Feng was in full swing, it did not prevent the sons and nobles of Chengdu from visiting the garden and enjoying the scenery and reciting poems.

Between the pavilions, the flowers are in full bloom, and the visitors are like bushes. Of course, among the people, they are not completely numb, and the poems also have swords and swords, and there are also rumors among the small people.

In a small tea shop, the fragrance of tea could not hide the strong smell of copper in the air, and a porter struggling in the poverty line gathered together to eat tea and rest.

It is inevitable to chat and brag, and it is indispensable to mention the war in the north.

One person sighed: "The two countries have gathered more than 200,000 troops, and they have fought for so long, and they don't know when they will have a result!" ”

"If there is no result, it is a good thing! I heard that the Han army is fierce, brutal as a tiger and wolf, trekking through mountains and rivers, and walking on the ground, otherwise, how can the Han general named Wang Renzhen easily break through our eight cottages......" A short man on the opposite side shook his head and said, his tone was a little pessimistic.

A person on the side chimed in: "A few years ago, the imperial court sent troops to the Northern Expedition twice, but they were both defeated and returned, and the soldiers were defeated. This time, the Han army invaded our country on a large scale, and I don't know how long it can resist! ”

"If you can block the enemy army for three months, you can block him for half a year, for a year, the Han army can't attack it, and when it comes to winter, the mountain road plank road will be more difficult, so it will naturally retreat!" The words of a few people attracted the attention of a merchant, and he said loudly: "You footmen, don't concentrate on selling coolies, and dare to talk about military affairs, aren't you afraid of the government's investigation?" ”

The merchant went south and north, and his knowledge was obviously sufficient, and he said this, in fact, he was also suspected of being a fool, saying: "I just returned from Xingyuan Mansion, and I heard that on the side of Fengzhou, the Han army launched no less than 20 attacks on my city, and lost more than 10,000 soldiers, and I was no longer able to fight. As long as it drags on until winter, the heavy snow will close the mountain, and the Han army will retreat, otherwise his 100,000 army will be wiped out in the mountains! ”

The merchant's words made everyone's spirits higher, and they hurriedly asked for details. Impatient with the invitation, his eyes flashed, and the corner of the merchant's mouth flashed a little smile, and he stroked his beard and said: "Now, the armies of the two countries are fighting fiercely in front of the mighty city. The mighty city is the north of Fengzhou, the strongest strong pass, although the Han army is fierce, but our Shu army has no men, and the city depends, which naturally makes it difficult for the Han army to move an inch. ”

"No, I heard someone say the day before yesterday that the Han army is well-armed and sharp, the soldiers are not afraid of death, our army has many casualties, and the mighty city is crumbling and about to be breached!" A rebuttal was raised.

In the face of doubts, the merchant seemed to be a little unbearable on his face, his face was pale, and he reprimanded: "This must be a rumor, just a rumor!" ”

"I have a fellow villager who escorted grain and grass to Weiwu City, but he saw the attack and defense of the city with his own eyes, and under the walled city, the Han army could leave a place of corpses......"

The man who questioned the previous man also said that his friend was a garrison officer, and he was wounded and returned ......" The man who questioned it immediately refuted: "Ladies and gentlemen, I see that this person's words are exaggerated and untrue, and his words cannot be trusted!" ”

"Old man, look, you're just in the north, and you've heard some rumors, but I'm waiting to brag in front of you, yes or no?"

was stared at and questioned, the merchant had a sense of embarrassment that the trick had been exposed, a touch of shame and anger flashed on his face, and he stubbornly argued: "What I said is true." Are you people looking forward to our city being broken by the Han army? ”

The merchant's rhetorical question made people stunned, it seems, from the beginning, they felt that the Han army was strong, the Shu army was weak, the Han army was easy to win, and the Shu army was easy to lose. Seeing this, the merchant continued: "I have generals such as Li, Gao, and Han in Shu, commanding 100,000 soldiers and horses, how can I be afraid of the Han army? ”

"It's just—" The merchant said as he paused a little deliberately.

"Just what?" When someone asks.

"The Han army has lost too much, and I am afraid that the Han Emperor of the Central Plains will increase his troops to attack in a fit of anger!" The merchant sighed: "It is reported that the emperor of the Han Dynasty has a strong personality, cultural and martial arts, and is the best in the contemporary era. How can he be willing to lose in front. There are hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Northern Han Dynasty, and they are really attacking with all their might, even if we have a strong city, it will be difficult to deal with it at that time......"

"yes!" When the merchant said this, some people agreed.

As he spoke, the merchant's tone naturally changed, lowered his voice, and continued: "I'll tell you the truth. The Han army's crusade against us this time is to avenge the two Northern Expeditions and recapture the four states of Qin Fengjiecheng! ”

"That's right, Qin Feng Sizhou was originally from the Northern Han Dynasty, no wonder the Northern Han Emperor would make a big move and raise troops to attack!"

"But!" The merchant changed his tone and said: "The war in the north has nothing to do with you, and it will not affect Chengdu. Not to mention that it is difficult for the Han army to break through the defense line, the retreat is imminent, even if the mighty city is broken, there is also Qingniling, from Xingyuan Mansion to Chengdu, it is even more ...... of thousands of mountains and obstacles, and the Han army cannot get in."

"Why is it not affected, during this time, the price of food has risen, the family has sent letters, the autumn tax has also increased, and the government is still recruiting labor, recruiting troops to prepare for war......" One person couldn't help but complain: "I just hope that this war will pass as soon as possible, this winter, I'm afraid it will be more difficult than usual!" ”

"That's right, I have the intention of going back to my hometown to farm......"

A low-level small people, the mood is more infected, the merchant saw it, and hurriedly said: "Everyone, what I said today is just improvised, but I am not allowed to spread it randomly, otherwise the government will punish me for the crime of walking rumors and demagoguery, and I can't afford to eat it." ”

"Rest in peace, I take my leave!" After speaking, a large bowl of tea, drunk with tea foam, put down two iron coins made by Shu State, picked up the load, and left the tea shop, quickly entered the crowd, and disappeared into the market.

And the discussion among the tea shops has not cooled down with the departure of the merchants, these small people in the market do not really care about national affairs, only as a talk about tea, on the other hand, it does involve their livelihood.

Shu is rich, one is in the treasury, the other is in the bureaucrats, landlords, and businessmen, for the small people inside and outside, they are still struggling at the bottom, and food and clothing are unpredictable. And once the war is unfavorable and the treasury is consumed and overspent, regardless of the tax burden and forced labor, the first target is these small people of Shu.

It is almost foreseeable that as long as there is a result of the war in the north, if the Shu army is defeated and the Han army does not stop, there will be a large number of ordinary people in Shu who will go bankrupt.

In the city of Chengdu, there are not a lot of discussions similar to those in tea shops, restaurants, bookstores, chess rooms, and even Goolan brothels, various versions, all kinds of plausible.

In fact, the war between Qin and Feng has not ended, and in Shu, there are already rumors and discussions. From north to south, from Xingyuan Mansion to Chengdu Mansion, the more you come and go, the more outrageous and distorted the news becomes, but many people, the more they believe.

Of course, behind the hot discussion, there are naturally people who are fueling the flames and stirring up the tide.

In the city of Chengdu, a private house, the lanes are quiet, few people go, the apricots in the courtyard are already golden, with the autumn wind, there are fallen leaves from time to time.

A small man dressed in sackcloth knocked on the door and entered, guided by the people in the house, into the room. In the humble house, there were already more than a dozen men in different costumes, and the merchant was in the middle of it.

The little man entered, swept around, and gave a look at only one person.

"For more than ten days, we have traveled in the inner and outer cities, spreading according to the occasion, confusing the public, Chengdu folk, rumors have been flourishing!" The man got up and replied, with a Sichuan accent in his voice.

The little man nodded, and on his lean face, there was almost no expression, and he said directly: "Very good!" However, such a big movement will inevitably arouse the vigilance of the Chengdu government, and then, it can stop acting and lurk. Those who show their faces, go out of the city first to hide, and pay attention to their whereabouts. The rest of the people continue to hide in the city and spy on the city defense of Chengdu! ”

"Yes!"

After a neat order, the little man left, and the rest of the spies also dispersed in a very orderly manner.

These people belong to the Military Intelligence Department under the jurisdiction of the Privy Council of the Han Dynasty, specializing in spying on internal and external affairs, as well as the political and military intelligence of various countries, and in terms of functions, there is a small overlap with the Wude Division. The time of establishment is earlier than that of Wu Desi, but in terms of fame and status, it is significantly lower than Wu Desi. After all, Wu Desi was directly accountable to the emperor.

Even so, with the support of the Privy Council, the Military Intelligence Department is also growing and growing, and there are dozens of secret agents lurking in the city of Chengdu in Houshu alone.

And this time, after the start of the Qin-Feng War, a series of news about the domestic trends in Houshu, including the transfer of soldiers and horses, the transfer of grain and grass, and the defense of checkpoints, spread to the north. Spreading rumors is just a part-time job.

Of course, Wu Desi also played a significant role in the process.