Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, illegal salt has been rampant.

The salt was desecrated and discarded, so that the entire Huainan needed to rely on the private salt supply of the East China Sea. Hailing County, from the original official salt distribution place, has become a desolate town. The population plummeted and was in ruins. However, the people of Hailing are fierce and used to be an important source of soldiers in Guangling. To this day, Hailing still has a barracks, stationed about 500 soldiers, responsible for guarding the eastern gateway of Guangling County.

"You mean, Hailing is a barracks?"

"To be precise, it should be a military town."

After all, Cao Peng's time in Guangling was very short, so he didn't know much about the situation in Guangling.

He knew that Hailing was a county seat, and he also knew that Hailing had a population of 13,000. But he didn't know, Hailing was still a military town?

"In those days, there were two ways to transfer from Yandu to Guanyan, one was Haixi, and the other was Hailing.

Haixi was transshipped to Huaibei to supply Xuzhou; Hailing transshipment Huainan, almost the entire Guangling County, as well as the northeastern part of the Yangtze River, all need to pass through Hailing County. Therefore, as early as the Han Wu period, Hailing had a barracks. Moreover, the soldiers and horses of Hailing, all from Danyang, are brave and ruthless, and extremely fierce. From the Han Wu period to the end of Yongping, these Hailing soldiers were the guardians of the Huainan Salt Road......"

"There's such a thing!"

Cao Peng couldn't help but sigh.

originally thought that Chen Deng just let him stay in Hailing and give him a position, but he didn't expect ......, "Therefore, Hailing does not have a chief, nor does it have a cheng." Captain Hailing, which is equivalent to taking care of three positions and being in charge of military affairs at the same time, is an extremely important role. Among the subordinate officials and officials of Guangling, only this Hailing lieutenant is special. Although it is only 300 stones, and the rank is not too high, it is a real power position. Gongzi's appointment as the captain of Hailing is equivalent to taking the three counties in the east of Guangling into his hands. ”

"Zishan, the Hailing soldiers shouldn't be so easy to deal with."

Kan Ze suddenly interjected and questioned Bu Qi.

Think about it, why was such an important position given to Cao Peng?

Guangling, is there no one?

Bu Qi nodded, "The Hailing soldiers are indeed arrogant and disobedient. Since the imperial court abolished the salt and desecrated Hailing, the Hailing soldiers were almost self-sufficient and did not receive half a cent of food. The name of the marquis of Hailing is Wang Xu, and he is a rebellious person. Previously, Guangling Taishou had tried to recollect the Hailing soldiers, but they were all driven away by Wang Xu and others. Chen Yuanlong is a member of the Guangling family, and he is also helpless against these Hailing soldiers. Today, he said that he was the captain of Gongzi Hailing, thinking that he had lost patience with the Hailing soldiers, and by the way, he looked at Gongzi's methods. ”

That is, a test?

Cao Peng raised his eyebrows: Is it ruthless?

"I'm afraid, it's not that simple."

Kan Ze pondered for a moment and sat down on the embankment.

The river slapped on the embankment, splashing and wetting Kan Ze's legs.

Cao Peng also sat down, "Brother Kan means ......"

"I heard that Cao Gong has already collected his troops?"

"Huh?"

Because of Liu Biao and Yuan Shao, Cao Gong's attack on Zhang Xiu did not seem to be particularly smooth, so he temporarily returned to Xu Du.

Guanzhong Li Dao was killed, which solved the trouble in the west for Cao Gong.

And the southern Zhang embroidery, I am afraid that it will not be an overnight achievement. In my opinion, Cao Gong fought Wancheng three times, and I am afraid that he may not use troops against Wancheng again. Cao Gong's soldiers, then Zhang and Liu are one; If Cao Gong didn't use soldiers, Zhang and Liu would turn against him. At that time, Cao Gong will not spend a single soldier, and Wancheng will be at his fingertips. This is similar to He Gongmiao's cutting down of the mountain, Cao Gong has Wancheng, I am afraid that it will be sooner or later, no need to bother. ”

Kan Ze's words made Bu Qi fall into deep thought.

"Derun means ......"

"Next, Gong Cao will definitely solve Lu Bu."

Kan Ze said and sighed, "But even if Lu Bu is solved, Yuan Shao is still eyeing him."

Even if Cao Gong defeats Yuan Shao, the situation in Jiangdong may have fallen into dust. At that time, it will probably not be easy to raise an army. ”

It turned out that in the heart of this goods, there was still the idea of returning to Jiangdong.

Cao Peng sighed in his heart, as if he had an understanding.

"Cao Gong used troops against Xuzhou, and Chen Yuanlong was bound to send troops to help.

But Chen Yuanlong, if he was not forced to do so, would never easily tear his face with Lu Bu. Therefore, the soldiers and horses under his command may not be able to attack, and most likely, they will find someone to replace them. If the war of Cao Gong goes well, Chen Yuanlong will inevitably make a big move immediately; But if the war doesn't go well, he is likely to sit idly by. When the time comes, I'm afraid I will let Gongzi charge forward for him.

Cao Gong won, he has the merit of helping the war, and Gongzi is just his pawn; If Cao Gong was defeated, he could shirk the responsibility, saying that the prince made an unauthorized decision, so Lu Bu couldn't help him. Therefore, he let Gongzi serve as the captain of Hailing, and he was invincible. ”

Cao Peng gasped in his heart.

What Kan Ze said, it is very likely that it will happen.

Deng Ji is now firmly seated in Haixi, and once Cao Ying and Lu Bu confront, Haixi will definitely send troops to the prime minister.

At the same time, as Deng Ji's brother-in-law, it is naturally impossible for him to stand idly by. At least the Hailing soldiers are still in the hands of Guangling, and when the time comes, he and Deng Ji will join forces, regardless of victory or defeat, Chen Dengdu, as Kan Ze said, is invincible, left and right.

This is also in line with Chen Deng's style.

When Liu Bei was in Xuzhou, he attached himself to Liu Bei; Lu Bu got Xuzhou, and he returned to Lu Bu.

If you think about it from Chen Deng's point of view, there seems to be nothing wrong with Chen Deng's actions, everything is for the sake of the family.

But in this way, it is equivalent to pushing Cao Peng to the front.

Cao Peng can't remember very clearly, during the Battle of Xuzhou, did Chen Deng send troops from Guangling?

But now it seems that this guy knows how to protect himself. With Cao Peng, a pawn, for the dead ghost, he can be his Guangling Taishou in peace.

No wonder he wouldn't let himself go.

Think about it, Cao Peng is gone, where did he find such a good substitute for the dead ghost?

Thinking of this, Cao Peng's good impression of Chen Deng suddenly disappeared: This bastard has a good idea!

However, no matter how much he resented Chen Deng in his heart, Hailing Lieutenant was never able to shirk his position.

After a moment of silence, he said softly, "In this case, we must control the Hailing soldiers as soon as possible. I don't want the big war to start with a rabble. Since Chen Yuanlong has made a move, then I will take it. Blessings and misfortunes depend on each other, and there is a thought. ”

"Good!"

Kan Ze nodded in agreement.

Bu Qi asked after thinking for a moment: "Derun, when do you think Cao Gong will use troops in Xuzhou?" ”

"In my opinion, by October at the latest."

Bu Qi looked at Cao Peng.

Cao Peng immediately understood what Bu Qi meant.

Couldn't Bu Qi think of the time when Cao Ying would use his troops? Of course not...... If he didn't even have this ability, he wouldn't be able to become the prime minister of Soochow in the future. He used this way to remind Cao Peng: It's May now, and you don't have much time, Childe!

For the virtuous, the metropolis pays attention to the art of speaking.

It seems that You Heng is arrogant, and it is like Tian Feng's outspokenness...... It is estimated that whoever changes may not be able to stand it.

For the superior, you must be good at listening, but if you are offended by your subordinates again and again, I am afraid that it will not be comfortable. At least Cao Peng feels comfortable now. Bu Qi pretended to ask, but gave him clear advice: be sure to train elite soldiers as soon as possible, otherwise there will be trouble.

Looks like I'm going to have to go to Hailing tomorrow!

Cao Peng secretly made a decision in his heart......—————————————————————————— when he returned to the hut, he saw that Gan Ning and Xiahou Lan were also drunk.

"Mr. Zishan, I bother you to write a letter and send it to Haixi overnight.

Tell my brother-in-law that from now on, I must be ready for battle. However, it is better not to be too public, so as not to be perceived as an intent. ”

Bu Qi nodded in agreement, and returned to the wing room with Kan Ze.

As soon as the two left, Cao Peng realized that there were still four drunks in front of him.

Gently patting his forehead, Cao Peng smiled helplessly.

"Xiaoluan, Xiaohuan, come over with those pillows."

"Got it!"

Bu Luan and Guo Huan replied.

Taking advantage of this, Cao Peng stepped forward and dragged Wang Mai aside, and then saw Bu Luan with a red face and a set of mattresses over.

"It's spread right here."

Cao Peng pointed to the corridor and said.

He didn't want to carry the four drunks back to the house, not to mention that these four drunks seemed to be taller, stronger and heavier than him...... Bu Luan and Guo Huan laid out the futon, and Cao Peng dragged Wang Mai onto the mattress, then turned around and dragged Hao Zhao over.

On the other side, Guo Huan cleaned up the messy cups and plates on the table, and Bu Luan and Huang Yueying took advantage of this effort to bring over two sets of futons.

"Cousin is really, why don't you say hello?"

Bu Luan pouted while making the bed, muttering Bu Qi.

"Mr. Zishan has something important, so Xiaoluan shouldn't blame him anymore."

As he spoke, Cao Peng dragged Xiahoulan over and lay down side by side with Wang Mai Hao Zhao. Then he glanced at Gan Ning again, and Cao Peng shook his head again and again.

This product seems to be the strongest!

Taking a deep breath, Cao Peng carried Gan Ning over again, and the four of them lay down on the side and covered them with thin blankets.

The river breeze is blowing, and standing on the porch is very comfortable.

Cao Peng took the towel from Huang Yueying's hand and wiped the sweat on his face, "Xiaoluan, Xiaohuan, after you clean up, rest early." ”

"Yes!"

Bu Luan and Guo Huan agreed crisply.

"Stinky Ah Fu, where did you learn this ability to mess with flowers and grass?"

As soon as the two little maids left with their front feet, Cao Peng was grabbed by Huang Yueying's ears on their back feet. However, Huang Yueying didn't use force, and in the words, it was more of a coquette. Cao Peng made a very painful look, leaned over and hugged Huang Yueying in his arms.

The sun was setting, and Huang Yueying's cheeks were flushed.

Under the thin spring shirt, ** tight, I could still feel the burning of my skin through the clothes...... "Ah, I didn't see anything." ”

At the moment when Cao Peng couldn't help but want to kiss Huang Yueying, he suddenly heard a coquettish voice. The two hurriedly separated, and Cao Peng followed the sound to look, only to see Bu Luan's little face flushed, and his hands covering his eyes.

Huang Yueying lightly slapped Cao Peng and tried to calm her voice, "Xiaoluan, is there something wrong?" ”

"No, it's fine...... I just wanted to ask Childe if he needs to prepare a decanting soup. ”

Decanting soup?

Cao Peng was stunned for a moment, and then said, "No need, Xiaoluan, go and rest." ”

"Hmm."

Bu Luan responded like a mosquito, turned around and trotted all the way, and disappeared without a trace.

However, being interrupted by her like this, Cao Peng and Huang Yueying were a little unnatural...... The two held hands and walked to the embankment to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the long river.

"Ah Fu!"

"Huh?"

"Do you have something on your mind?"

"What's on your mind?"

"I can feel that you seem to have a lot on your mind."

Cao Peng was silent for a moment, exhaled a turbid breath and said, "Actually, it's not a matter of mind. However, just now Derun and Zishan analyzed it with me and talked about why Chen Deng wanted to appoint me as Captain Hailing...... Brother Kan said that Cao Gong was very likely to use troops at the end of the year. ”

"With soldiers?"

Huang Yueying was stunned for a moment, and immediately understood.

Cao Ying, it's time to use troops against Lu Bu!

She thought for a while and said softly: "Does Cao Gong want to raise troops with Xuzhou?" ”

"Hmm!"

“…… Actually, there's nothing surprising about that. When I was in Jiangxia, I heard my father say: If Duke Cao wants to settle in the north, he must first cut down Lu Bu. Lu Bu has the posture of a tiger, is capricious, and cannot be credulous. If Lu Bu is not destroyed, it will be difficult for the north to be pacified. ”

Cao Peng nodded, "Why don't I know?" Just ......"

"Just what?"

"I have been favored."

Huang Yueying was stunned for a moment, and looked at Cao Peng suspiciously, not understanding how to start with his 'favor'.

Cao Peng sat down on the river embankment, looked at the rolling eastward river, and said after a long silence: "Hao Zhao, and the two hundred elite soldiers under his command are all thanks to the Marquis Wen. When my brother was in Hercy, the situation was dire. There are no soldiers and no generals, and they have to face the threat of salt lords and pirates. Without the two hundred elite soldiers of Wen Hou, even if we can gain a firm foothold in Haixi, we will have to pay a huge price, and ......"

Cao Peng looked at Huang Yueying, "The eldest husband is alive, and the grievances should be clear."

I have received the grace of the Marquis, but it is not my wish to fight against him...... So, I was a little distressed and didn't know what to do. ”

In the palace of the Marquis of Wen, Cao Peng categorically would not tell Huang Yueying.

That's also a secret between him and Diao Chan. What he was worried about was not only grievances, but also Hao Zhao's attitude. In any case, Hao Zhao is a native of Bingzhou and has a friendship with Lu Bu. Moreover, the combat power of his two hundred elite soldiers is strong, if he can't show his attitude, it will inevitably bring great trouble to Cao Peng. Cao Peng wanted to use Hao Zhao, but he had some faint worries.

Huang Yueying was silent!

"I've known Bo Dao for a short time, and I don't think he should be the one who repeats himself."

"Oh?"

"I can see that you value Hao Zhao very much. If you value it, then you have to believe in him...... Either you don't use him, or you kill him and take those 200 elite soldiers into your hands. If you suffer from gains and losses like this, you can only add trouble to yourself in the end. ”

Huang Yueying's words made Cao Peng look at her with admiration.

In the history books, there are not many records of Huang Yueying.

But it can be seen that Zhuge Liang I has no family entanglements, and Huang Yueying's methods can be seen. Being able to say such decisive words made Cao Peng nod secretly. What is your surname? Cao Peng can be said to be very clear in his heart.

Yueying, it's really my virtuous help.

"As for Lu Wenhou...... He has been kind to you, and he should repay it.

But the husband must not only distinguish grievances and grievances, but also know the severity. Since you are serving under Cao Gong, you should not attach so much importance to personal grievances. You said that Cao Gong has great ambitions! The north will be unified sooner or later, and if Lu Bu cannot be destroyed as soon as possible, the people will inevitably fall into fire and water. Wouldn't that be even worse? If you want to repay the favor, there are many other ways to do it. Righteousness is righteousness, and private feelings belong to private feelings...... If you can't make a clear distinction between public and private, how can you build up your work? Ah Fu, I think you should be decisive. ”

Cao Peng couldn't help but nod his head again and again.

"I have Yueying, and I don't have to worry about it from now on!"

He hugged Huang Yueying's slender waist and sat side by side on the embankment.

The river is surging, and the sun is like fire.

Under the reflection of the setting sun, the shadows of the two gradually merged together, and there was no gap......—————————————————————————— the next day, Cao Peng took Gan Ning Buqi and Xiahou Lan and five people, led fifty people, and rushed to Hailing County.

From Tanglin Pavilion to Hailing County, the distance is not too far. After about half a day, he came to the barracks outside Hailing County.

The area of the camp is not large, about three or five acres of land.

On a fiery red page, there are four big characters in the book: 'Hailing Elite Soldiers'. But in the sunlight, it hung low and looked lifeless.

However, the military tents in the camp are scattered.

From the outside, although it looks a little dilapidated, you can still feel the killing intention hidden in it.

I think that at the beginning, this Hailing elite army once protected the entire salt road in Huainan from being disturbed. Decades of fighting and fighting, its heritage still exists.

Gan Ning couldn't help but praise: "This general is a capable person." ”

Bu Qi said: "That Wang Xu is also a general, after Hailing was abolished, he insisted on taking 500 elite soldiers, not relying on the food and salary of the state capital, and stubbornly survived until now." Look at the whole Guangling County, there are water thieves and bandits everywhere. But this most remote Hailing can be peaceful. ”

"What do they do for a living?"

"Childe, what do you say?"

Cao Peng couldn't help but laugh when he heard this.

Last night, he checked the information of Hailing County.

On the surface, Hailing County is peaceful. But in fact, this Hailing elite soldier is the largest bandit group in Hailing County.

Think about it, there is no food, and there is no supply.

Relying on a small county town with only 13,000 people, how can these 500 elite soldiers survive?

It is often said that relying on the mountains to eat the mountains, relying on the water to eat the water. Be a soldier and be paid, but not a thief. This is a matter of course, and it doesn't seem to be a miracle. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, especially after the Yellow Turban Uprising, it was extremely normal for officials and bandits to be united. If you raise the banner, you are an official soldier, and if you put down the banner, you are a thief. The government is also aware of such things, but most of the time, they are helpless.

Vaguely, there is a very familiar feeling.

How similar are the Hailing elite soldiers in front of him to the Yiyang warriors he met when he was in the Nine Girls City?

But I don't know if this Hailing elite soldier can be compared with the Yiyang warriors. But no matter what, this team, I'm going to decide!

A hundred battles elite soldiers, not easy to find.

Cao Peng glanced at Gan Ning, and suddenly smiled: "Brother Gan, I want to sit in the Chinese army, but there is no pioneer to open the way." ”

When Gan Ning heard this, he laughed: "If the son wants to find a pioneer, why is it difficult?" Gan Ning is not talented, and he is willing to lead ten people to open the way for his son! ”

(To be continued)