The reason why it is said to be "grapevine" is definitely not true.

For example, "leading 50,000 cavalry", Gou Xiong and Yang Man previously cooperated with Pu Mao to attack Luoyang, as Pu Qin's partial division, they have been fighting against Murong Xianbei's army in Shuofang and Yanmen counties in the east of Shangjun for several days.

But the so-called "groundless wind", this gossip must not be a rootless tree, if you want to come to Gou Xiong, Yang Man, or take a step back, one of the two of them is now leading the army to attack Shuofang, there should be.

Before the people reached Shuofang, the news of the war reached their ears first.

Not only Chen La's heart hung in the air, but the family members of other former camp households were also worried, causing the entire migration team to be suddenly shrouded in haze. It was obviously a sunny day, but the mighty team that continued to march towards Shuofang was like a dark cloud.

Although Huang's condition has improved, his body still lacks strength and he cannot walk.

Chen La didn't care about the sheep and horses assigned to him, so he asked his friends in the sheep and horse team to help him take care of them for the time being, and did it himself, cut wood and weave grass, made a wooden plank, put Huang on the board, and he pulled the straw rope and pulled forward.

Huang also heard about Pu Qin's attack on Shuofang, she struggled to half stand up, asked Chen La, who was pulling the rope in front, and said, "Is Shuofang really fighting?" ”

Chen La, although he was also very worried about this, in order to prevent the Huang family from affecting his body's recovery because of his worries, he hid his worries, turned around, took out a smiling face, pretended not to care, and said, "Mother, does it matter if it fights or not?" We're not scholars anymore! We are now a good family! Gong Xin moved us to Shuofang, not to ask us to go to war, but to let us settle down in Shuofang! When I was in the sheep and horse camp, I heard others say that on the north side of the Shuofang River, the pastures are boundless! …… It's like the desert we just past! And there is a lot of water, and the water and plants are lush! I've calculated that as long as I work hard and put in more effort, I can quadruple the sheep and horses distributed to us in two or three years at most! Mother, at that time, you won't have to do anything, just enjoy yourself at home! ”

Huang said: "That's what I said, but once the battle starts, I'm afraid it won't be easy for us to settle down!" ”

"Mother, don't you still believe in Gong Xin? Over the years, which of the battles that Xin Gong has fought has been lost? This time, it was Gong Xin's order. Mother, if you put a hundred hearts, you can't lose this battle! They beat theirs, let's settle ours! No, it doesn't. ”

Huang put a snack slightly, after all, it involved the fate of a family of three, but she couldn't be completely assured, she beckoned Brother Chen Chang to come forward and said, "Our family has few people, only your brother." Shuofang is now at war, and we are sparse again, and when we get there, I am afraid that it will be difficult to gain a foothold. Along the way, many people have come to me to propose marriage, you know. Which of these people do you like? Tell my mother, set it early, find an auspicious day, and get married! It can be regarded as finding an external force that can help our family. ”

Chen Changge is only fourteen or fifteen years old, this age, is a good time, in the past they were a household, marriage can not be autonomous, because although there are many former camp family members fell in love with her, but can not come to the door to propose, now these former camp family members have become the family of Qi people, marriage can be autonomous, so from Guyin to the way here, almost every night when resting, there are people looking for the Huang family to propose.

As for the identity of Chen Changge's widow, this is not a problem at all. Nowadays, there are still the relics of the previous Qin Dynasty, and the constraints on women are far less serious than those of the original time and space, and women have a certain social status, and it is common for widows to remarry. Not to mention the common people, the same is true of aristocratic women, widows, or divorced, and even those who remarry after taking the initiative to divorce their husbands abound.

Speaking of which, I have to mention Cao Fei.

On the day of Linghu Feng's escape, Cao Fei's family was also killed by Ling Huyong, and his current wife was remarried after he followed Linghu Feng back to Guyin, that is, a widow. Cao Fei's family is so rich, and he is already known as the richest man in the capital, which is mainly because Cao Fei has accumulated wealth, on the other hand, there is also the wife he remarried, whose family is rich, giving him many reasons to marry.

The experience of the night before yesterday, the squinting and sinister eyes of the team really frightened Brother Chen Chang, and he has not eased up until now. Whether it is for her own safety, or as her mother said, in order to find an outside help for their Chen family, it is indeed the sooner the marriage is done, the better. Brother Chen Chang gave up his shyness, blushed, and said softly: "The little lang of the Wei family looks very honest. ”

Huang said: "The little lang of the Wei family? ”

The surname Wei is rare in the interior of Longzhou, and this surname is a Tang surname in the Western Regions. The Chen family and the Wei family were originally the camps of Zhang Shaobu, so their origins were originally in the territory governed by the Western Regions Protectorate and Wuji Captain.

Chen La knew this "Xiao Lang of the Wei family" and said with a smile: "The Xiao Lang of the Wei family is good, not to mention honest, he is also strong, and he is a good hand at hard work!" He said to Brother Chen Chang, "I still thought that when I got to Shuofang, I would choose a good husband for you, but I didn't expect you to have a fancy for you!" Said to the Huang family, "Since Ah Mei has taken a fancy to the Wei family's Xiaolang, the camp will be closed tonight, and I will go to the Wei family to talk!" ”

Huang said, "You can't go. ”

"Why?"

"Our family is a woman, how can we take the initiative to find a man? You're so young, you really don't understand anything! ”

Chen La smiled: "Okay, then I'll find someone to send a message to the Wei family and ask them to come and talk to Grandma tonight!" ”

"That's pretty much it."

A family of three, talking about it, but it alleviates the fatigue on the road.

That night, Chen La found an acquaintance who knew both families and told him what he meant, and the man went to the residence where the Wei family was resting and passed the word. The Wei family's parents were overjoyed and immediately went to the Chen family's residence to discuss the marriage between the two families with the Huang family.

It is said that the procedure of marriage is very cumbersome, but one or two families are poor, not so much exquisite, second, in the current troubled times, wars are frequent, that is, the marriage between the right surname of the crown family, there is no lack of everything simple, called "worship time marriage", "six rites of the house", the bride dresses up, covers her face with a scarf, and after arriving at her husband's house, the groom personally removes it, and then "worships the aunt", that is, the father-in-law and mother-in-law, "becomes a woman", that is, the system of "scarf hijab" that announces that it has been married,—— the original time and space and future generations, is originated here.

Therefore, after some discussion, the next night, the two families actually completed the marriage.

The Wei family has many Dingkou and four sons. Since the two families have become married, they should support each other, so Xiaolang of the Wei family stayed in the Chen family first, helped Chen La, and took over Chen La's work of dragging the Huang family's road, so that Chen La could return to the sheep and horse team, and then personally took care of the remaining sheep and horses distributed to his family.

The marriage of the gate lord clan is extravagant and luxurious, eye-catching, and the marriage of the poor people is simple and quiet.

Along the west foot of Helan Mountain, go north for more than 200 miles, enter the desert west of the Yellow River, and travel another 300 miles, and finally reach the bank of the Yellow River. Zhang Shao had already sent his account Changshi and Yang Hezhi here, prepared boats, and took them across the river.

- Zhang Shao's long history is named Zhu Fashun. Zhu is also a Tang surname in the Western Regions; Fashun, Buddhism in the Western Regions is prosperous, and the proportion of believers in Buddhism is far more than that in the interior of Longzhou, this Zhu Fashun, his family has always believed in Buddhism, because his father gave him such a name.

Crossed the Yellow River and rested for a day in Linrong County, on the east bank of the river.

The family members of the former camp brought by Cao Hui and Lan Bao handed over to Zhu Fashun and Yang Hezhi.

Zhu Fashun led most of them, along the river to the north, to the pasture on the north bank of the river, to divide the pasture for them, determine the settlement area, and after they basically settled down, and then according to the conditions of the family, Dingkou, and health, the candidates for the "government soldiers" were selected from them.

Yang Hezhi led the rest of the way east to Shuofang County, where Zhang Shao was now. These are all his father and brother in the army, who have been killed in the battle of Shuofang not long ago, or are disabled, and can no longer go to the battlefield. Pu Qin is now counterattacking Shuofang, and the troops are tight, so the children of these former camp families skip the procedure of "government soldier selection" and directly count them as government soldiers to supplement the source of soldiers. There are more than 1,000 children of the families of the former camp households in this part.

Cao Hui and Lan Baozhang's task is completed, and the two of them can now return to Guyin.

Lan Baozhang said to Cao Hui: "On the way, I heard that Qin Yu counterattacked Shuofang, and I listened to the introduction of Yang Senjun and Zhu Changshi, although there were no 50,000 foot cavalry, and it was not Gou Xiong and Yang Man who were the main generals, only Gou Xiong was the main general, but there were more than 10,000 soldiers led by him. General Zhang's battleable soldiers are now only 6,000 cavalry, and the enemy is outnumbered. Shuo Fang, which is related to the future of Xin Gong, is categorically not allowed to be lost. In my opinion, let's not go back to Beijing first, it's better to stay behind and help General Zhang! What do you think? ”

Successfully sent the family members to Shuofang, the credit has already been received, and in terms of Cao Hui's selfishness, he is not willing to stay and fight.

Thinking that Gou Xiong, is a famous warrior in Pu Qin, this battle is fought, needless to say, it must be difficult to fight, it is good to win, if you lose, you can't say, your life is difficult to protect, even if you save your life and escape back to Guyin, the punishment of the court is also indispensable, a good merit may become a sin, unless you are a fool, you are willing to stay, take the initiative to get involved in this battle.

However, Lan Baozhang proposed "Xin Gong", saying that Shuo Fang "is related to Xin Gong's plan", Cao Hui looked at him twice, and said in his heart: "You have said so, what can I say?" Can I say no, don't I want to? If I say so, when I return to Guyin, what will the Xin Guild think of me? Although I am favored by hussars, if Xin Gong has an opinion on me, my wealth will be finished! ”

As soon as he grasped Lan Baozhang's hand, he puffed up his chest, and said loyally, "What the brother said is exactly what he thinks!" You and I are together! It's just that you and I were only ordered to escort these family members to Shuofang, and Duke Xin did not order us to participate in the war, so you and I would stay to help General Zhang, so that in my humble opinion, it is best to send someone back to the court and report this matter to Duke Xin. ”

Lan Bao was overjoyed and said, "You are more thoughtful than me!" Good! According to your wishes, we will send someone back to the court today! ”

Zhu Fashun was able to do things, and he was in a hurry to return to Shuofang County to serve Zhang Shao as a military officer, so he had already left the north with most of his family members. Lan Baozhang and Cao Hui went to see Yang Hezhi and told him their decision.

Yang Hezhi had no reason to refuse, and said: "Gou Xiong led the troops from Yanmen County, and now he has crossed the river and entered the territory of Shuofang, and Xiatun is stationed in the area of Manbo and Shanan, and the forward has reached Huze, which is less than 100 miles away from Heyin County, and only 200 miles away from Shuofang County. Our army slaughtered Huze and occupied the Hebei grassland west of Xi'an County, and the cavalry of the Tuoba Division, at least for the time being, is estimated to be unable to help, and only rely on the existing soldiers and horses under General Zhang, compared with the Qin captives of the Gou Xiong Division, they are indeed at a slight disadvantage. The two lieutenants put state affairs first and are willing to stay and help General Zhang, which is really excellent! The military situation is tense, maybe there will be a war soon, the two captains have this intention, then let's not delay more, now hurry to Shuofang County, and wait for General Zhang's deployment arrangements! ”

The three of them took the troops and the family members and children who supplemented Zhang Shao's troops, and set off to Shuofang County.

Linrong was 200 miles away from Shuofang, and after a hurried march, it took less than two days to reach Shuofang.

When Zhang Shao heard the news, Cao Hui and Lan Baozhang volunteered to stay and help, they were very happy and went out of the city to greet them in person.

Perhaps in order to boost the morale of the two of them, Zhang Shao said to the two of them with confidence in person: "Although Gou Xiong has more than 10,000 cavalry and is violent, his troops have been fighting in Yanmen and other counties for a long time, and they are already tired, but I am completely sure to win this battle." The two of them volunteered, they are the royal family of their hearts, and they are good generals of the country! When I win, I will definitely express the loyalty and merit of the two to the Queen Mother, the King, and the Duke Xin. He patted the arms of the two of them, laughed and said, "By then, the two of you will not be school captains!" ”

Cao Hui made fun of it and asked, "What's that?" ”

"I'm a general!"

Cao Hui smiled and said, "How dare you have such a delusion!" ”

Lan Baozhang didn't take the general seriously, and said: "The general is not a general, and the general has not thought about it." What the last general thinks, the only thing is that he must not throw the Shuo Fang, which the general has worked so hard for the Duke of Xin and the imperial court, into the hands of Qin Yu! He gave a military salute and said, "The last general and Captain Cao didn't bring many soldiers, only a thousand foot cavalry, what is the general's order, but please send it, the last general will never give up!" ”

Zhang Shao groaned and said, "I am also short of soldiers now, so it is not good to supplement the two of you." In this way, the more than 1,000 children who Yang brought to the army to take over his father and brother to join the army, I will give 500 people to the two of you. Luckily? ”

This is Zhang Shao's skill of employing people, people Lan Baozhang and Cao Hui are willing to stay and fight, he can't say nothing, just a "war merit", it is too vain, or you have to give some benefits, and to the generals and colonels who lead the troops, of course, the benefits are not to give the soldiers.

Lan Baozhang and Cao Huiju said: "Thank you, general!" ”

Don't wait until the city, Zhang Shao immediately summoned the more than 1,000 children of the commanders,—— these former camp family members, as soldiers, have always been semi-militarized management, first, from time to time there are drills, military exercises, secondly, there are different levels of "officers", these commanders, that is, their internal "military officials", but there is no formal rank.

When the commanders came, Zhang Shao didn't choose carefully, he pointed at a few people, estimated that their children should be enough for five hundred, and said: "You don't have to go to my camp, change to Captain Lan and Captain Cao for the time being, and then return to my account after this battle." ”

These 500 soldiers are not permanently given to Lan Baozhang and Cao Hui.

After all, the names of these children belong to the Shuofang Military Government, so after the battle, they still have to return to Zhang Shao's subordinates.

When these people saw Lan Baozhang and Cao Hui, Zhang Shao ordered: "Those who lead you will come to meet your new master." ”

These people received the order and called the children of their respective leaders, and they were on the side of the road to meet Lan Baozhang and Cao Hui.

Most of them are young people, some are in their forties, and a few are fifteen or sixteen, but on the whole, they can be called strong and strong, and because they have been released to become a household of Qi people, although the war is imminent, these children will inevitably have fears, but their mental outlook is still good. Lan Baozhang and Cao Hui were quite satisfied. The two gave the order to the children to get up.

Lan Bao's palm swept his eyes widen among them, his gaze passed, and then turned back, fixed on one of the children.

This man was in his twenties, with a gray complexion, and he looked a little familiar.

Lan Baozhang suddenly remembered, isn't this young man the one whose mother was sick on the night he arrived at the foot of Helan Mountain? Lan Bao beckoned him to come closer and asked, "What's your name?" ”

The young man replied respectfully, "Villain Chen La." ”

"I remember that you only have one ding in your house, why are you here?"

That night, when the medical officer came, Lan Baozhang chatted with Chen La, asked him about his family situation, and knew that he was the only son of his family. Although the procedure of "government soldier selection" was skipped, there was a principle that was still upheld, that is, those who were only children could join the army without replacing their dead and disabled fathers and brothers. Chen La's family has only one son, and it stands to reason that he should not be here, but should follow Zhu Fashun and most of his family members to the pastures in Hebei.

Chen La was honest, what to say, he did not hide it at all, and replied: "The villain heard that General Zhang said that this time in the battle with Gou Xiong, not only will the captured things be equally distributed to the meritorious soldiers, but also the soldiers who participated in the war will be rewarded with sheep, horses, and money according to their merits. The villain's family was poor, and the sheep and horses that Xin Gong gave to the villain's family, when crossing the desert and crossing the river, more than 20 heads died before and after, and the rest were not enough to support the mother, so the villain pondered to earn a military merit in exchange for some money and livestock. ”

"The seized things will be equally distributed to the meritorious soldiers" Yunyun, this is Zhang Shao's words relayed by Yang Hezhi to the more than 1,000 children. Chen La heard it from others.

Lan Baozhang frowned and said, "You are the only son in your family, you come to fight, what should your grandmother do?" Who will graze the sheep and horses that have been allotted to you? ”

Chen La said: "The villain's sister has promised the family, the sister-in-law's family has a lot of mouths, the villain and his family have agreed, when the villain is not there, he will ask his family to help take care of the villain's aunt and help herd sheep and horses." If the villain can receive some reward, give it to them. ”

"Are you willing to join the army?"

"The villain's mother originally refused, but later agreed."

Not only did Huang refuse, Chen La had no intention of joining the army earlier, but when he walked the first desert, five of his sheep had died, and when he reached the second desert, two more died, and that's it, the important thing is that when he crossed the river, he was also unlucky, the boat capsized, and more than ten died, and as a result, the remaining sheep he had saved were only thirty, fifty sheep, that is, he threw away his married sister, and it was reluctant to raise him and Huang, thirty sheep, which was obviously completely insufficient. was forced to do nothing, so he volunteered to join the army. Huang had no choice but to agree with him in the end.

Lan Baozhang nodded.

Zhang Gu is by Zhang Shao's side, he was born in a poor family, and he can understand very well that Xin Er put Chen La and others as the people of the household, but Chen La is still willing to join the army, and said to Zhang Shao with a sigh: "General, it's not easy for small people!" ”

As the head of the first army, Zhang Shao has managed many camps, and he is very familiar with the daily life of the camps, but at the same time, he is not interested in the daily life of the camps, he thought: "Xin Gong this time I have released the camps of my subordinates, even those who have been sent to me, as the people of the households, alas, although this is benevolent, in the long run, it will also be of great benefit to the combat effectiveness of my western team, but I really have suffered a lot of losses because of this!" Only Duke Xin treats me kindly, if it is not Duke Xin, I am still far away in the Western Regions, Duke Xin is in this government, and I can only pinch my nose and admit it! ”

Compared with the loss, Zhang Shao got greater benefits, not only returned to Longzhou from the Western Regions, and was promoted, a few days ago the will of the imperial court was sent to Shuofang, and his current official position and power have been further improved, and he has become a feudal official, with enough benefits, but it allows him to accept the loss.

Zhang Shao said perfunctory to Zhang Gui's exclamation, and said to Lan Baozhang and Cao Hui: "I don't know if the two gentlemen are willing to stay and help me, so I failed to prepare the camp for the two gentlemen in advance." Shuofang County is adjacent to the river in the north, a humble and wet place, and it is not suitable for camping; The south of the county is adjacent to the desert, and the wind is blowing, and the yellow sand is spreading, and it is not suitable for camping; Most of our soldiers and horses are stationed in the west of the city, if the two of you have no objection, please build a camp in the east of the city? ”

Lan Baozhang and Cao Hui responded: "Yes." ”

The two then followed Zhang Shao and Zhang Gui into the city, and their troops, together with Chen La, and the 500 new soldiers and horses allocated to them, went to the east of the city to build a camp. Zhao Rangan, Bing Bo, and Li Liang are not in Shuofang County, and the three of them are now stationed in Heyin County, in order to resist the front line of Gou Xiong's department, it is night, Zhang Shao summoned Gao Yancao, Zhao Xing, Li Liang, and An Chongzhu generals in Shuofang County, and set up a banquet to entertain Lan Baozhang and Cao Hui, which is to welcome and wash the dust, once the battle starts, they will fight side by side, and this banquet is also for them to meet each other.

The banquet was opened, and Yang Hezhi, who was in the army on duty tonight, hurried outside the hall and asked to see Zhang Shao.

Zhang Shao invited him in.

Yang Heyi held the hem of his robe in his hand, pinched a folded piece of paper in one hand, walked through the food tables on both sides, walked quickly to Zhang Shao's case, handed him the paper, and whispered something.

Gao Yancao and the others on the table below, when Yang Hezhi entered the hall, they each stopped chatting and bragging.

At this time, seeing Zhang Shao's complexion change slightly, everyone immediately guessed that something big must have happened.

Gao Yancao asked, "General, Yang joined the army, what's going on?" ”

Yang Hezhi turned to Zhang Shao's side of the case and stopped, without answering Gao Yancao.

In the temple of Shuofang County, which turned from noisy to quiet, Zhang Shao slowly refolded the piece of paper that Yang Hezhi gave him, with a calm smile on his chubby face, and said: "The news sent by the Marquis of Xihai said that his brother Guyan secretly sent slaves from Daibei to Heyin to report urgent news to him. ”