Chapter 4 Section 5 Crisis

In the city of Luoyang, the twilight is vast, and pedestrians come and go in a hurry, full of panic. From time to time, there were armoured soldiers passing through the streets, and occasionally, armoured soldiers stopped passing people with halberds to search their bodies, and then some looting incidents occurred. This made the people who passed by even more uneasy.

At this moment, a strange procession of 20 people came along the street, surrounded by a carriage. In front of the carriage, six soldiers dressed in plate cuirasses, helmets with cheek guards, short swords in one hand, and round shields in the other, drove the way in front of them with murderous vigour. Behind the carriage, six soldiers in the same attire followed closely. This strict team and ferocious momentum made the street soldiers dare not investigate.

The carriage was a light wagon, with four horses pulling the carriage and a coachman in armor and a short sword. Next to the coachman, a soldier held a round shield in one hand and a long knife in the other, making a gesture of guard. The brow-sharp knife with an unusually curved arc is perfect for killing anyone who boarded the carriage on a galloping carriage.

On the roof of the carriage, four crossbowmen sat at the four corners, one hand on the long armrests of the left and right columns, and the other hand on the chain crossbow on the knee, and scanned the surroundings with fierce eyes.

At the rear of the car, there is a long platform like a luggage rack, which extends to both sides of the car, forming the pedal of the door, and two soldiers with shields and meniscus knife sit on the car's luggage rack, guarding the rear of the car and the door.

"The rabble", the guard next to the coachman spat contemptuously, commenting on the soldiers on the street: "This is their own city, this is Luoyang, the capital division, and the people are arsoned, which shows that the military discipline of the team is not strict, does not protect the people, and shows that the people's hearts have deviated. ”

The guard's words did not resonate, and everyone in the car was silent.

In silence, the carriage sparkled into the Shangshu Lu Zhi Mansion, and the guard next to the coachman jumped off the horse and negotiated with the doorman, and the carriage soon drove into the Lu Mansion.

In the lobby of Lufu, Taiwei Zhang Wen, Situ Huangwan, and Shangshu Zheng Tai sat in groups, and Lu Zhi faced the door of the hall, sitting in the lobby with his hands in his hands, his face full of sorrow.

In Lu Zhi's lobby, after Liu Bei's sponsorship, all of them have been replaced with tables and chairs. In the ordinary people's homes, due to the lack of lighting equipment, by this time they have already gone to sleep in chuang. In the lobby of Lu Zhi, eight glass lamps are placed on the left and right, illuminating the lobby as bright as day.

Zhang Wen flipped through the book and said to Lu Zhi without raising his head: "Gong Lu, the lamp oil in my house is running out, I asked your housekeeper, and your lamp oil is not much, go back and tell your disciple and ask him to send a few more barrels of lamp oil." ”

With a long sigh. Lu Zhi nodded in agreement.

Zhang Wen suddenly remembered something and added, "By the way, I would like to thank your disciple for the dowry that Yan'er gave him." Alas, Yan'er, this child, has been reluctant to marry for several years, and this will finally get married, and it will be a matter of my heart. ”

Zheng Tai interjected and said: "Jian Shuo has been executed, the hussar general Dong Zhong has been killed, and now, the forbidden army is in our hands, and the situation is very good, why is Lu Gong worried?" ”

Lu Zhi sighed worriedly: "I don't know what's going on, I'm always worried about something in my heart. Xuande, a kid, always plans to do things before acting. Now, he has removed all the personnel of the Qingzhou Pavilion, leaving only a few people who collect accounts and 300 guards, which makes me feel uneasy all the time.

Now, the two people who went out to recruit troops from the General's Mansion, Wang Kuang of the Mansion Peng, stayed in Hanoi and did not return, and Bao Xin, the commander of the cavalry, was besieged by Mount Tai. Once something happens, we can only rely on the newly annexed, undecided forbidden army, and I always feel in my heart that we seem to have missed something......"

Lu Zhi's words aroused everyone's concerns. At this time, the housekeeper announced: "Qingzhou Qi Guoxiang, Xia Cheng, Qingzhou don't drive Liu Bei Liu Xuande to send people to say hello." ”

Lu Zhi suddenly stood up and shouted urgently: "Spread quickly." ”

At the sound of the door, the guard sitting next to the coachman walked into the lobby, tapped the cuirass with his right hand, and saluted: "Captain of the Qingzhou Guards Legion, Xiao Fei Xiao Zhiming, the guardian of the lord of Izumo City (recommended by the book friend Donghui), greets Master Lu on the order of the city lord." ”

Lu Zhi nodded, sat upright and asked, "Does Xuande have a letter delivered?" ”

Xiao Fei gave another military salute and replied, "There was no letter, the city lord ordered us to send a carriage and let us serve the master with us." ”

"Where's the carriage?"

"Stop in the courtyard."

Zhang Wen stood up: "Take a look." ”

On the side of the carriage, Zhang Wen, Lu Zhi, Zheng Tai, and Huang Wan walked around the carriage several times, and the more they turned, the more worried they became.

Xiao Fei saw the gloomy faces of several ministers, and hurriedly explained: "This carriage is personally supervised by the city lord, made by Izumo master Zheng Hun himself, the whole carriage is made of light steel, and every spring and steel sheet under the car are personally selected by the city lord. The four horses were dragged and walked like the wind. The city lord said: The only regret is that there are too many guards in the car, and only two people can be in the car. However, with the guards on this car, thousands of troops can be killed. ”

Lu Zhi snorted heavily: "Thousands of troops can be killed—I'm just worried about that." ”

Zhang Wen endured it and swallowed what he wanted to say.

Lu Zhi waved his hand and ordered, "You go down first, and the housekeeper will arrange your residence." ”

Xiao Fei saluted again: "Master, I still have a few words I want to say to Old Man Huang." ”

Huang Wan stepped forward and asked, "Is Ying'er okay?" I heard she recently had a baby. ”

Xiao Fei nodded on one knee and saluted with the highest salute, saying: "Congratulations to the old man, the second master mother (Huang Ying) gave birth to a little lord in September last year, and the city lord gave him the name Feng." Because the road was not quiet, the city lord did not report much. Now, the second mother can go out for activities, and she misses the old man very much. The city lord has sent someone to the house, ready to take the old man to Qingzhou to play, and ask the old man to return to the house quickly. ”

Huang Wan hesitated for a long time, nodded and said, "Got it, you go down first." ”

Back in the lobby, Zhang Wense changed his words: "This car is used to escape, and those guards are also here to protect people to escape." The relocation of Huang Gong's family is also to prepare for the future. Liu Bei is so optimistic about the situation in Beijing, our plan, is there a loophole? ”

Huang Wan said angrily: "The people with lofty ideals in the world have been suffering from the wreaking havoc of Zhongguan (eunuch) for a long time. At this moment, we have a forbidden army in our hands, and there is no army in the hands of the lieutenants. Ascend and shout, eradicate the evil spirit, and the time is right. The eyes of the scholars of the world are focused on us, and we are ready to send arrows. At this moment, I would rather stay in Luoyang with the princes and do great things together. ”

Lu Zhi sighed and said, "I know Xuande's way of doing things very well. In my opinion, since he has sent people to your house, I am afraid that your family will now be on the Qingzhou merchant ship. It is useless for Huang Gong to stay here, let's go. ”

Huang Wan smiled with relief: "My family has arrived at my son-in-law's place, what else do I have to worry about, everyone, we are trying to figure out what loopholes there are in the plan." ”

Zheng Tai didn't speak for a long time, and then interjected: "Why don't we send someone to Liu Bei and ask him what he sees?" ”

Zhang Wen sighed and said, "After the cavalry captain Bao Xin was surrounded, he asked Liu Bei for help. Bao Xin came from my disciple, so he asked Liu Bei for help, and Liu Bei personally led the troops into Mount Tai. Now, the two sides are at war, and the war is in chaos, how will the news get there. ”

In the twilight, a small group of cavalry surrounded a general galloped into the city of Laiwu, and the crisp sound of horses' hooves stepped on the stone road, making a burst of sound like a drum.

The sound of horses' hooves came into the hall of Laiwucheng County, and Liu Bei, who was having dinner with Zhang Fei, Guan Hai, Tai Shici, and Ye Tianliwei, threw down his meal chips and jumped up: "It must be Zitai (Tian Chou) who is here." ”

Then he threw down the dishes and chopsticks and ran to the door.

Seeing this, Guan Hai threw down his chopsticks without thinking about it, jumped up and ran after Liu Bei. After being stunned for a while, Ye Tian and Li Wei also put down the dishes and chopsticks and stood up.

Tai Shi Ci groaned slightly, put down the dishes and chopsticks, and said to Zhang Fei, who was swallowing by himself: "Three generals, everyone has gone out, let's also go to greet the governor." ”

Zhang Fei swallowed the final meal dissatisfied, and muttered: "The world is big, and the meal is the biggest." I won't be allowed to eat well, this governor is really ......"

Tai Shici persuaded: "Zhou Gong spit and feed, and the world returns to the heart." The lord is so respectful to talented people, without him, for the people of the world. As the righteous brother of the Lord, don't you share the sorrow of the Lord? ”

Zhang Fei stood up and respectfully saluted and thanked: "What Ziyi taught me is that I am too loose, and I hope Ziyi will remind me often in the future." ”

At the entrance of the lobby, Liu Bei enthusiastically stepped forward and took Tian Chou's hand and said, "Zitai, you are here, I have been waiting for you here for five days, you are here, we will leave tomorrow." ”

Tian Chou hurriedly explained: "The road in Taishan County is really difficult, I came all the way by horse, but I didn't expect to delay the lord's affairs." ”

Liu Bei shook his head and said, "Don't delay, it's good if you come." By the way, why didn't I see Yuan Zhi (Xu Shu) coming with you. ”

Tian Chou replied: "Yuan Zhi said that he is not familiar with our military system, and instead of coming with us to help, it is better to go to the plains to collect the army while reading the lord's military book." I saw that there was a shortage of a man there, so I agreed to let him go. ”

"It's okay" Liu Bei nodded and greeted: "Zitai is busy on the road, so he must not have bothered to eat dinner." We just had a meal and went into the house to eat."

Tian Chou nodded in agreement, his eyes swept over the generals, and all the generals saluted in unison: "I have seen the governor."

In the lobby, Tian Chou waited for the guards to serve the food, and looked at the faces of everyone at the dinner table. I saw that in front of Liu Bei, there were two dishes and one soup, and he was eating the meal in an orderly manner with a glass of fruit wine. In front of the generals, there are about two dishes and one soup, and in front of Duzhang Fei, there are 5 plates, and the soup is dripping.

Tian Chou smiled and said with deep feelings: "Everyone in the world says that the lord is delicious and delicious, but the world doesn't know that although the lord is rich in the world, he is at the same table with the generals when he is marching, and he eats military food. If outsiders see this scene, they don't know what to say? ”

Liu Bei smiled disdainfully and said, "I, Liu Bei, have good food and are famous all over the world, so I don't need to explain anything." And because I have good food, my soldiers eat the best. Although it is military food here, I believe that the food here is what most people dream of. Take, for example, the bacon that Yide ates, which is smoked from the beef leg we slaughtered last winter, wrapped in tin foil, and used as a reserve for military rations. ”

Zhang Fei bowed his head dissatisfiedly and muttered: "I'll talk about things." ”

Liu Bei smiled slightly: "Okay, don't talk about you, talk about me." My plate of green beans, shrimp and ham, green beans and shrimp are canned dry goods, soaked in water, made into a fresh dish, plus ham wrapped in tin foil, it becomes a dish. The ingredients for this dish are all leftovers from today's meal for the soldiers, that is, the soldiers also eat this today. As the commander-in-chief, I may have one more plate of vegetables than the soldiers, and this plate of fresh wild vegetables was picked for me by my guards in the field. ”

Knocking on the table, Liu Bei concluded: "My Liu Bei is indeed delicious, so the daily quota for my soldiers is: 100 grams (Han Jin four taels) of meat, 400 grams of grain, and 200 grams of vegetables. Because of my delicious food, the soldiers ate good dishes that can only be eaten in big restaurants, and because of this, their morale was high and their physical strength was abundant. How can I Liu Bei not be delicious? ”

Liu Bei was still unsatisfied, and muttered to himself in his heart: The tin in the inferior copper coins is refined as tin foil; The green beans and shrimp that I couldn't eat last year were dried and used as military rations; In five years of Qingzhou's great governance, agricultural taxes are not collected, and the people's families can eat grain for two years, and the only expensive thing in this dish is ham. It was last winter, and the weak cattle and calves that the herdsmen eliminated were made delicious by our smoke, and they would not spoil when they were kept, and they were the most suitable for military rations. All of this, it doesn't cost much. However, it is very difficult for others to do this without the help of fishermen and farmers.

This team is spoiled by food, and anyone who takes over will have a headache. Even if these soldiers are captured and eat someone else's soldier meal, he will be eager to return to my barracks. This is called: if you want to control other people's hearts, you must first control other people's stomachs.

Wiping his mouth, without waiting for the guards to finish cleaning up the dishes, Liu Bei said: "Zitai, you just said: The road to Mount Tai is difficult. That's the point I came to you for. The center of Taishan County is Mu County (where today's Laiwu City is located). I'm going to build a city there and rule over Taishan County. This city, I am going to name: Iron Wall City.

As you know, there is a small iron yard in Mu County. In the past, Taishan County was not under the control, and we didn't dare to make a big fuss, but now, since Taishan County has a good candidate. We're going to do it in Mu County. Our army attacked all the way to Mu County, and you then repaired the road from Qi County to Mu County to deliver supplies to our army.

After arriving in Mu County, our army continued to attack to the southwest to rescue Bao Xin, who was besieged in Liangfu Mountain. You contact Yang Feng and make a plan for our battle. After the battle, you build four acropolis around Tiebi City, one in the south, near Yile Mountain and East Pingyang, and one in the west, near Fenggao. In the east, Yiyuan City was used as a base. To the north, a city was built in Win County. Yang Feng's troops, I will be divided into four branches, stationed in the four acropolis. You stay in Laiwu and step up the repair of the road. ”

Five days later, our army arrived at Liangfu Mountain, and Yang Feng's troops immediately lifted the siege.

After Liu Bei climbed the mountain, he immediately cooked rice and entertained 8,000 hungry Bao Xin recruits. After resting for two days, Bao Xin and Liu Bei went down the mountain and led the army slowly towards Juping, preparing to go around the Lu country, cross the Dongping country, and reach Dongjun.

Who knows, not long after descending the mountain, on the plain, Yang Feng's army suddenly arrived, and tens of thousands of troops chose Bao Xin's tired army as a breakthrough point, crushing the combined army of Bao Xin and Liu Bei, and Liu Bei and Bao Xin retreated all the way. When he arrived in Dongpingyang, he gained a firm foothold with the support of Tian Chou. Three days later, the 11th, 12th, and 13th Army Corps of Qingzhou, which was ashamed, regrouped and went out of the city to fight. Quickly, with the momentum of thunder, he defeated Guo Daxian and Kuka's department. At this point, in the Taishan Yellow Turban, Yang Feng's opposition force has all disappeared.

For another three days, the two sides regrouped their armies and fought again. At the time of the battle, the Pingyin defenders suddenly appeared in Yang Feng's rear formation, and cooperated with Liu Bei's army to attack, Yang Feng was defeated, and Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao were captured. Under the pressure of the two armies, they retreated all the way to Mengyin City.

Mengyin City is not far from Philadelphia, where the army of Donghai County is stationed. In order to escape the war, the people of Mengyin City fled. Yang Feng successfully occupied Mengyin City, however, the way south was blocked. In order to prevent Liu Bei from taking the opportunity to enter Donghai County, Xuzhou, Sun Guan and Wu Dun, former Yellow Turban bandits under Zang Ba's command, sternly warned Yang Feng and expressed their determination to block the way.

Outside Mengyin City, Liu Bei and Bao Xin stood side by side, looking at the city wall.

After looking at it for a while, Liu Bei turned his head to Bao Xin and said, "Captain Bao, the Yellow Turban bandits have been surrounded by us here, and Captain Du is responsible for the imperial court, should you rush back to Luoyang first?" ”

Bao Xin sighed: "10,000 newly recruited soldiers, after several battles, there are still 5,000 people left, I just go back, and the court is not easy to explain." Besides, Xuande Gong suffered a lot for me. Now, the Pingyin defenders are searching for the fleeing Yellow Turban bandits, and under the city of Mengyin, there are only two armies left, you and me. It is better to accompany Xuande Gong to finish this battle, and then replenish the manpower from the captured Yellow Turban Army, which can be regarded as an explanation to the imperial court. ”

Liu Bei snickered, turned his head away, and said secretly in his heart: "I just want you to be like this." ”

Bao Xinqing coughed, stared at Liu Bei with burning eyes, and said, "Xuande Gong, I heard that the captured Yellow Turban generals Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao have surrendered. I think these two people are quite capable of fighting, can you give these two to me to supplement my military strength. ”

Liu Bei shook his head again and again: "These two people are extremely brave, it is said that Pei Yuanshao is still the former pioneer general of Zhang Wildebeest." When attacking the camp of our army, these two people were the vanguard. I loved them so much that I tried all kinds of tricks to persuade them. The lieutenant wants everyone else, but I don't give these two. ”

Bao Xin looked at Liu Bei blankly, speechless. I really didn't expect Liu Bei to refuse so categorically.

Looking at Bao Xin's expression, Liu Bei stretched out his hand, took out a telescope, and said: "I saw that a few days ago, the lieutenant loved this clairvoyance very much, but unfortunately, only a general in the Qingzhou army can be equipped with one, and I don't have any superfluous." Now, I'm giving it to you, Lieutenant, don't ask me about these two again, how about it? ”

Bao Xin was overjoyed, with this play, in the era of cold weapons, the plain combat was no longer afraid of surprise attacks, no matter who wanted to assault, it was discovered in the clairvoyance, and the troops had enough time to line up and prepare to meet the enemy. In the past few days, Bao Xin has tried many times to ask for one. It's a pity that this thing is very tightly controlled, and no one has any intention of letting go.

Bao Xin played with clairvoyance, observed the Mengyin city wall, nodded again and again, and said: "Since Xuande Gong is willing to cut his love, how could I not agree, just say it." ”

Liu Bei looked at Bao Xin with a smile: Everything in the world is people-oriented. How can a dead thing compare to a master? exchanged a glass cup for Chen Qun, a master of internal affairs, and now, with a clairvoyant, he has exchanged for the dominance of Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao, two generals. In the future, he will take Bao Xin, the cavalry captain, and take the ruling power of Taishan County by the way. This business is becoming more and more worthwhile.

In Luoyang City, Captain Yuan Shao offered advice to He Jin: "Zhongguan Zhang Rang and others are spreading rumors about the poisoning of the general and the queen mother. Today's general brothers, and lead strong soldiers, generals, and all are handsome and famous, happy to serve. What a godsend! The general should take advantage of the situation to kill the eunuchs, remove troubles for the world, and make a name for future generations! ”

When He Jin heard this, he immediately agreed. Prepare to enter the palace the next day to discuss with the Empress Dowager He, please depose the eunuchs and use scholars instead.

He Jin's sister and brother relied on the eunuchs to grasp the power, and there were many eunuch henchmen in the family, after hearing this, they told the eunuch Zhang Rang overnight. Zhang Rang immediately told He Jin's brother He Miao, and sent more bribes. He Miao accepted the money and played the Empress Dowager He overnight, explaining: "Our family was in power at the beginning, and my brother assisted the new monarch to ascend the throne, and he did not practice mercy to win people's hearts. ”

Empress Dowager He nodded in agreement.

The next day, He entered the palace to discuss with the Queen Mother. Empress Dowager He rebuked He Jin and said: "It is the old rule of the Han family for the central official to rule the forbidden province. The first emperor abandoned the world, and you want to kill the old ministers, which is an act of respecting the temple. ”

He entered the palace only and went out. At the gate of the palace, Yuan Shao stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "What's the big deal?" ”

He Jin replied helplessly: "The Queen Mother doesn't allow it, so what?" ”

Yuan Shao was furious, pulled out his saber, and made an impassioned speech: "You can summon heroes from all over the world to come to Beijing and punish them." At that time, the military situation was urgent, and the Queen Mother could not be disobeyed. ”

He Jin shook his head and gave a thumbs up appreciatively: "This plan is wonderful!" ”

Immediately, the two returned to their homes together, sent letters to various places, and summoned county guards from all over the country to lead troops to Beijing and threaten the imperial court.

He Jin summoned Chen Lin, the chief secretary of the General's Mansion, to write a text, and when he heard these two stupid and smug narrations of his cleverness, Chen Lin was sweating profusely: "The general can't!" Vulgar clouds: Covering your eyes and catching finches is self-deception, and small things cannot be deceived to achieve your ambition, but what is the country's major event? Today, the general is fighting the emperor's prestige, taking charge of the troops, the dragon and the tiger are stepping, and the superiority is in the heart: if you want to punish the eunuchs, it is like a drum and a furnace that burns your hair and ears. But when you are angry and exercise your power and make a decision, heaven and man will obey it. However, they oppose the foreign ministers, and when they are about to invade the capital, the heroes gather, each with one heart: the so-called rebellion, giving people a handle, the merit will not be achieved, and the chaos will be caused. ”

He Jin sneered confidently: "This coward's opinion is also! Since you don't want to write this article, let someone else write it."

Chen Lin threw out his pen and hurried to Lu Zhi's mansion to tell Lu Zhi. Cao Cao, the captain of the military academy, happened to be there, and when he heard the news, he sneered and said: "There have been eunuchs since ancient times, if the saint does not give them power and favor, it will not cause trouble; If one jailer is enough to cure their sins, why do they call for foreign soldiers? I'm afraid that once things are leaked, it will inevitably lead to failure! ”

Lu Zhi glanced at everyone in the hall, gritted his teeth, and said, "Let's go together and persuade the general." How is it? ”

Zheng Tai, the servant of the imperial palace, and Xun You, the waiter of the Yellow Gate, echoed and said, "I will go with you." ”

Lu Zhi looked at Cao Cao, who was silent, and asked, "Meng De, you can go too." ”

Cao Cao shook his head slightly, vetoed and said: "The general's plan has been decided, and the document is estimated to have been issued, so it's useless for me to wait, I won't go." ”

Lu Zhi glanced at Cao Cao in surprise and replied, "Okay, so, let's go quickly." ”

Out of the Lu Mansion, everyone got on the horse and sat in a sedan chair one after another, Cao Cao looked up to the sky and sighed: "Those who mess with the world will enter." ”

Immediately, he walked away.