Chapter 110: The Northland (10)

Chen Cheng fought his horse and retreated, first rounded with Zhao Yun and others, and then ran into the cavalry troops led by Li Kan. He made the soldiers ring the gong, and the sound of gold was repeated, summoning all the soldiers and horses that were struggling to kill.

While gathering the troops and horses, he slowly retreated back and forth. On the way back, he killed more than a dozen lone Hun cavalry, rescued hundreds of Qiang herdsmen and Han people who had been captured by the Huns, and collected more than 400 war horses abandoned by the Huns. Most of the rescued herdsmen and people were young and strong, both men and women, and they were tied together with ropes.

After they were rescued, many of them couldn't help but cry bitterly when they thought of their family members who had died tragically. After crying for a while, they stepped forward again to thank Chen Cheng and the others. Many people were about to join the army on the spot, Chen Cheng asked; "Do you all know how to ride horses?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Chen Cheng arranged all of them into the auxiliaries. The elite is of course the best, and he does not refuse this kind of militia that temporarily wants to join the army.

When he retreated to Lijiawu Fort, Li Qiang led people to kneel on both sides of the road and offered cow wine. He took the wine glass from the hand of the subordinate, handed it to Chen Cheng's horse, and said respectfully: "Thank you General for coming to the rescue, I am grateful." ”

Chen Cheng took the wine glass and said, "I'll drink the wine, you better keep the cow for yourself." When you have defeated the Huns, you will still have to plough the land. ”

Li Qiang said: "General, the Wu Fort is already stuffed with people and livestock. Moreover, the two cows are old. ”

"If that's the case, then I'm disrespectful."

Chen Cheng drank all the wine, and asked the cattle to be taken away, and then said to Li Qiang: "Although this group of Huns has been repulsed, for the Hun army, this loss is not harmful at all. When we are gone, you still have to be careful to defend the city, so as not to be attacked by the Huns. ”

Li Qiang was so shocked that he didn't bother to pick up the wine glass when it fell to the ground, he walked forward on his knees and begged: "Is the general going to abandon the thousands of people in the fort?" ”

Chen Cheng said: "How can it be said that it is abandoning you? You can defend the fort with peace of mind, and we will do the war with the Huns. ”

Li Qiang hurriedly said: "We can provide the general with 5,000 stone of military rations, just hope that the general can be stationed near here." ”

His expression was eager, and his face was full of trepidation and worry. He was a stout man, not long ago single-handedly out of the encirclement of the Huns for help, but now he knelt on the ground and was helpless, Chen Cheng saw it, sighed, dismounted and helped him up, and said: "I know you have your difficulties, but we also have our difficulties. If you are worried that Wu Bao will not be able to hold it, then choose some teenagers and children to come out and retreat with me to the rear. ”

Li Qiang pleaded repeatedly, but Chen Cheng hardened his heart. Li Qiang had no choice but to call his second son out, arrange some more parts, and escort him to the south. When the army returned, it was slower than when it came, because it had brought some people with it. The soldiers were overjoyed by a hearty victory, boasting of their bravery in battle, and rode in the direction of the camp.

The villages along the way heard of their victory, and many of them brought food and turbid wine. Although the northern land was often infested by the Huns, people were a rare resource here. The local management is not as elaborate as that of the Central Plains, and without the layers of exploitation by officials, the standard of living alone is better than that of the poor people in the Central Plains.

By the time they returned to the camp, they already had dozens of cattle and sheep and thousands of stones of grain. Although it was already night, Chen Cheng still arranged for people to slaughter the cattle and sheep, and then bury the pot to make food, so that each soldier who went out to fight had a full meal before letting them return to their tents.

While the soldiers were eating outside around the bonfire, Chen Cheng was pushing cups and exchanging lamps with Cheng Yi and Yang Qiu.

Cheng Yi has fair skin, the bridge of his nose is high, and he looks a little exotic, he raised his wine glass and said: "Today's victory in Julu Houqi has made a good start for us, please drink this cup full." ”

Chen Cheng smiled and drank a cup, and Cheng Yi said again: "The camp has been reinforced, we can pile up the wounded and the grain and grass transported here, and then the army will go north, and the camera will look for the Huns for a decisive battle. ”

Chen Cheng and Yang Qiu couldn't object to this, so they followed up and drank another drink.

Cheng Yi filled the wine glass again and said, "This glass ........."

Chen Cheng hurriedly interrupted him and said with a dry smile: "Don't drink it, this is the third cup." ”

Cheng Yi smiled: "What is three cups?" After drinking this cup, there are three more cups. ”

“..............”

Chen Cheng said helplessly: "General Cheng has something to say, please say it, don't drink any more wine, and you will send troops tomorrow." ”

Cheng Yi put down his wine glass and said with a smile: "Then I'll be blunt, I received news this afternoon that Cheng Yin and Zhang Heng sent troops to Jincheng, together with Ma Teng and Han Sui, and there was no winner or loser." ”

Chen Cheng was puzzled and asked, "Does this have anything to do with us?" ”

Cheng Yi sighed and said, "After Cheng Yin and Zhang Heng sent troops, Zhangye County was empty, and Song Jianxing's troops from Jiuquan County were eastward and had already invaded Zhangye. ”

Before Chen Cheng could speak, there was a "click" on the side, and he turned his head to look, but it was the wine glass in Yang Qiu's hand that fell to the ground. Yang Qiu's mouth opened wide, and he didn't even notice that his body was wet with wine, and he said in surprise: "Isn't Song Jian in a group with Cheng Yin and Zhang Heng?" ”

Cheng Yi laughed, he leaned back with a smile, and said after a while: "Han Sui and Bian Zhang are sworn brothers, and I haven't seen him soften when he was killed." ”

Yang Qiu said hatefully: "What does Song Jian want to do?" ”

Chen Cheng glanced at Yang Qiu, and then at Cheng Yi, thinking it was very interesting. Cheng Yi sighed again and said helplessly: "What else can you do?" Take advantage of the fire. Taking advantage of Cheng Yin's transfer of troops to Jincheng, he came out to grab the territory. ”

Yang Qiu said angrily: "Is this the time to grab the land?" Han Sui is attacking Jincheng, and the Huns are also heading south, and he Song Jian doesn't want to participate in the melee between Han Sui and Ma Teng, so it's okay to help us deal with the Huns. ”

Cheng Yi said: "Okay, don't be angry, we've all done similar things." ”

He smiled bitterly and said to Chen Cheng: "Let Juluhou see the joke." ”

Chen Cheng smiled: "Where, where." ”

Cheng Yi sighed: "I'm not a good person, and I've done a lot of bastard things. But for so many years, we Liangzhou people have either fought with the imperial court, or fought with each other internally, for so many years, killing and killing, killing people's heads, but what is the benefit? It's time for a different way of living. ”

Chen Chengxin said: There are still benefits, at least you can all be the king behind closed doors, right?

Cheng Yi said: "I want to wait for this time to defeat the Huns, and then elect Julu Hou as the pastor of Liangzhou, Yang Qiu, you should also come with me." ”

Hearing this, Yang Qiu was stunned at first, and then said angrily: "Why did you recommend him as the pastor of Liangzhou?" He's not even from Liangzhou! ”

Cheng Yi spread his hands and said, "Just because Juluhou is not from Liangzhou, I said that I would recommend him as the pastor of Liangzhou." You have also seen these days that Juluhou is fair, and he is willing to admit that the territory and population occupied by Lingzhou Haoqiang will naturally not deprive us. ”

He smiled at Chen Cheng and said leisurely: "I also made a temporary decision when I learned about the affairs of Lingzhou, Juluhou has a high reputation, and today he has proved that he can lead troops to fight, so I think you are the best candidate for Liangzhou Mu." ”

Chen Cheng smiled: "I'm a person who escaped from Luoyang, I just want to find a place to live." I only want to plough the fields now, not to reach the princes, how can I be a pastor in Liangzhou? It's not that I'm modest, so General Cheng should ask for another master. ”

Cheng Yi shook his head and said, "Who can you choose if you choose someone else?" Han Sui or Ma Teng? Or is it Song Jian? ”

He turned his head to Yang Qiu and said, "Are you willing to recommend Song Jian as the pastor of Liangzhou?" ”

Yang Qiu snorted and said, "I'm not stupid, how can I push him to the top?" If he becomes a Liangzhou pastor, I'm afraid that none of us will survive. ”

Cheng Yi smiled: "Isn't this over?" No matter who is chosen to be the pastor of Liangzhou, everyone else has to worry about their lives. To tell you the truth, I just took a fancy to Juluhou, you are not a native of Liangzhou, you don't have much territory in your hands, and you don't have many reliable soldiers and horses, so I want to promote you. ”

Chen Cheng said with a smile: "It turns out that there is still such a benefit from poor strength, but aren't you afraid that after I become the pastor of Liangzhou, I will settle accounts after the autumn and eradicate you one by one?" ”

Cheng Yi laughed and said, "Even if there is a day, it will be many years later." It always takes time for you to cultivate power, right? Anyway, we can live a few years of peace and don't have to worry about not seeing tomorrow's sun before going to bed every night. Beigong Boyu, Li Wenhou, and Bian Zhang and the kingdom have only been a few years old? Every time I think about their ends, I can't help but feel a chill down my back. No matter what kind of person the prince is, it is better than Han Sui unifying Liangzhou! ”

Yang Qiu and Cheng Yi had fought between each other, and they had deep prejudices against each other, but at this time, they rarely agreed with Cheng Yi's opinion, and said: "Hey, I would rather let Song Jian or Ma Teng unify the various departments of Liangzhou, and I would never see the possibility of Han Sui annexing the entire Xiliang." ”

Chen Cheng said in surprise: "There are a lot of Qianghu leaders under Han Wenyue's command, and there are also some Han generals, so they won't even leave a position for you, right?" ”

"Hehe," Yang Qiu sneered, and said, "If Han Sui is reliable, sows can climb trees!" Dealing with Han Sui, even if he sleeps, he has to keep one eye open. ”

Chen Cheng couldn't help but sigh, Han Sui was too a failure, and everyone in Liangzhou was in danger. Then he secretly warned himself that he could not ruin his reputation.......... Even if you want to do it, you have to find a good reason.

Cheng Yi said loudly: "Now that Han Sui is trying his best to capture Jincheng, and Song Jian has entered Zhangye again, Cheng Yin and Zhang Heng will definitely withdraw their troops and go back to defend." Relying on Ma Teng alone, how could he beat Han Sui, an old fox? If Han Wenyue captures Jincheng, the next step is either to attack Anding or to seize the northern land. Yang Qiu, let me ask you, if Han Sui combined the forces of the three counties to attack, would you be able to stop it? ”

Yang Qiu was silent.

Cheng Yi said again: "Even if Ma Teng and I help with all our might, can we defeat Han Sui?" ”

Yang Qiu hesitated for a moment and said, "Aren't we still able to ask Song Jiancheng Yin and them to send troops to rescue each other?" ”

Cheng Yi said disdainfully: "These people only know how to compete for land and money, where can they have any foresight?" Even if they bring troops over, aren't you afraid that they will take the opportunity to encroach on the land and population? But if Juluhou can serve as the pastor of Liangzhou, Han Sui wants to use troops against us, and he has to weigh it first. ”

Chen Cheng: Ouch, why is this way of speaking so familiar? There is nothing wrong with the previous arguments, but how did you come to this conclusion?