When Sun Ce returned to Shicheng, Guo Jia had already taken over Shicheng.

Gan Yan presented the Danyang Taishou seal ribbon and reported to his home. Hearing that it was Tao Qian's foreign family, Sun Ce was a little polite, and had a few words with Gan Yanhan, and learned that Zhou Xin committed suicide and refused to go, Sun Ce was a little surprised. Compared with the younger generation of Chen Deng, these old party members are still a bit bloody. It's a pity that this is destined to be the last despair, the pit was dug by themselves, and in the end it can only be filled with their corpses.

It's not enough to have empty blood.

Wei Teng was very sad and asked to go to Niu Zhuji to pay tribute to Zhou Xin. Sun Ce agreed, and he himself went to Niu Zhuji to check the defense. Standing on Niuzhu, looking up and down the Yangtze River, thinking about what had happened here and the many wars that were about to happen, he sighed with emotion and felt more and more the importance of talents. is so dangerous, Zhou Xin failed to hold on for half a month, he should commit suicide to apologize.

Guo Jia agreed, and Cheng Pu also agreed, but they couldn't find a suitable candidate after thinking about it. Sun Ce was surrounded by young people, and middle-aged and prime-aged people like Huang Zhong and Wen Ping stayed in Nanyang. Nanyang is his foundation, and there can be no mistakes. When he came to Yangzhou this time, he only had his own guards around him, and he didn't bring anyone else.

Sun Ce glanced at Cheng Pu and laughed. "Cheng Gong is a suitable candidate, but it's a pity that you are already too shou of Lujiang. Jiujiang and Lujiang are the southeast gateways, and only when a general like you guards it, I can feel at ease. ”

Cheng Pu laughed and didn't say anything, Sun Ce could hear it, and he was a little regretful. Cheng Pu has made progress recently, and as far as the current situation is concerned, he is indeed a suitable person to guard Niu Zhuji, but he has just been appointed as the Taishou of Lujiang, and he was appointed by his father Sun Jian, there is no need, he can't easily adjust. What's more, Danyang Taishou is not only in charge of Niuzhuji, but also the entire Danyang, and I am afraid that Cheng Pu is not competent.

Who is up to the task?

As soon as Sun Ce turned around, he saw Chen Dao, and suddenly had an idea. He glanced at Guo Jia. Guo Jia followed his gaze and smiled.

"It's good, it's just that I'm too young, I'm afraid I can't convince the public."

Sun Ce said with a smile: "Only when you are young can you have the energy to toss, and there are many thieves in Danyang, so you have to go back and forth, climb mountains and wade through water." He beckoned and called Chen Zhi over. Chen Zhi didn't know what was going on, but when he heard that he was asked to be Danyang Taishou, he was startled and shook his hand again and again.

"I am grateful for the general's wrong love, but Danyang has a great relationship, and Niu Zhuji is a battleground for soldiers, so I really dare not bear it."

Sun Ce laughed. Zhou Xin thought he could do anything, but he was defeated in a battle. You think you can't, but I think you can. Okay, that's it, if you feel that you still have shortcomings, then hurry up and learn. ”

Chen Zhi's face was swollen and red, and when he saw that Sun Ce had made up his mind, he had to give up his life. Sun Ce looked around, saw that there were many surprised people, thought for a while, and said to Chen Zhi: "Give you half an hour to think about how to make this Danyang Taishou, and when I return here later, I want to hear your answer." ”

"Whoa." Although Chen Zhi was still a little embarrassed, he didn't excuse himself anymore and went to the side to prepare.

Sun Ce continued to walk forward and called Yan Xing over again. "Yanming, are you interested in riding for me?"

"Me?" Yan Xing was even more surprised than Chen Dao. Chen Zhi is Sun Ce's confidant, he is down-to-earth and studious, and his martial arts are good, the only obstacle to his appointment as Danyang Taishou is his youth, but this is not a big problem, Sun Ce is younger than him. But he Yan Xing is different, he is from Xiliang, and he was sent by the imperial court, and the time is short, less than two months, Sun Ce wants to hand over the personal guard to him to take charge, how big is this heart?

"Don't want to?"

"No, it's not that I don't want to, it's my honor to serve the general. It's just ......" Yan Xing scratched his head, and didn't know what to say, so he held back for a long time before saying, "General, I'm from Liangzhou." ”

Sun Ce couldn't help but laugh. "Is there any other reason?"

"I didn't ...... Without. ”

"That's a yes. Liangzhou people, Liangzhou people are not big Han people? Huangfu Song is also a general of the chariot and cavalry, what are you doing for me. Hello people in Liangzhou, in the future, we will go west and reopen the Silk Road, and we can fight all the way to the Western Regions. ”

Yan Xing was speechless, so he had to bow down and accept the order. Ma Chao looked hot on the sidelines, and secretly regretted it in his heart. He came with Yan Xing, and now Yan Xing has gained Sun Ce's trust, riding for Sun Ce, commanding the most elite Bai Yushi, he can only watch. This can't be blamed on others, his losses during this period of time are too serious, and he has a bad record of disobedience, Sun Ce didn't drive him back, even if he saved face for him, how could he trust Bai Yushi to him.

"Ling Ming, you have to remind me a little more in the future, I can't be impulsive anymore." Ma Chao turned to Pang De and whispered.

Pound glanced at him, and said in his heart, I didn't remind you once, did you not listen. But he nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, generals, small setbacks are not to be worried. When the prince received the news, he would naturally send someone again, and there were many opportunities for meritorious service. ”

Ma Chao nodded again and again, and secretly clenched his fists. If you lose to anyone, you can't lose to Yan Xing, otherwise even if he returns to Chang'an, he won't have a face.

Sun Ce and the others took a turn on Niuzhu Rock, and when they came back, Chen Zhi was already ready and was waiting for Sun Ce to ask. Sun Ce sat on the ground by the river, and everyone stood or sit, scattered to the side, with their eyes wide open and their ears pricked up, waiting to see what Chen could do. Chen Zhi was a little nervous, and his face was shiny and hot from the torches. Facing Sun Ce's encouraging gaze, he cleared his throat, coughed, and began his inaugural speech.

"General, Danyang is located in the lower reaches of the river, opposite to the Lujiang River and the Jiujiang River, and is the gateway between Jiangdong and the Central Plains. From the topography point of view, Danyang can be divided into north and south, the south is mountainous, the Zongbao is all over, the mountains are entrenched, and the north is more plains and waters, and the products are abundant. If you want to govern Danyang, you should first build water conservancy and implement Tuntian. If there is food, you can raise soldiers, and if you have soldiers, you can defend the land. In this way, Danyang can set most of ......"

Chen Zhi was still a little nervous at first, but later the more he spoke, the more fluent he became, the smoother he spoke, and his eyes became brighter and brighter. Sun Ce didn't say anything, but the others kept nodding. There are many people who have doubts about Sun Ce's promotion of Chen Zhi to Danyang Taishou. Although Chen Zhi is young and promising, his qualifications are relatively shallow, and he has no experience in leading troops alone. But after listening to Chen Dao's governance strategy, they knew why Sun Ce chose Chen Dao. As far as Chen Zhi said, they couldn't think of any of them, let alone come up with a complete plan.

Cheng Pu stroked his beard and nodded secretly. Although he knew that it was impossible, he also thought about how he should deploy if he became Danyang Taishou, and secretly made some preparations. Now that he listened to Chen Dao's plan, he was ashamed of himself. What he thought of, Chen Zhi basically thought of, and Chen Zhi thought of some things that he didn't realize. Although Chen Zhi is young and usually does not show mountains and waters, his thinking is more thorough than that of these veterans, no wonder Sun Ceqi values him, promotes him beyond the level, and entrusts him with important tasks.

Chen Zhi said for half an hour in one breath, and finally bowed his hand to Sun Ce. "General, I have a reluctant request, and I ask the general to agree."

"Say it."

"Therefore, Chen Wen, the assassin of Yangzhou, is my township party, and I want to send him back to his hometown for burial."

As soon as Sun Strategy thought about it, he understood Chen Zhi's intentions. Don't look at what Chen Zhi said very well, he is still not very confident in his heart. Sending Chen Wen back to his hometown for burial is certainly a friendship of the township party, and it is also a way to establish a reputation. If he can get the support of the villagers and invite a few people from Runan to help, he will be more stable as a Danyang Taishou.

"Okay, that's as it should be."

"Thank you, General."