Yuan Wuben is a pragmatic person, because he has been doing some pragmatic little things in the county government over the years, he has been living carefully, and he requires himself to do his best in everything, so even if he is now soaring and has become a county guard, and there are no less than 40,000 horses under his command, but he still has not become vain and contemptuous. Although he is in a high position, he still does everything himself and does not slack off.

Since the rebellion with Yang Xuangan could no longer be changed, he had to adapt himself to this new role. Yang Xuangan led his men and horses out on the expedition, and it is said that he won several battles in the past few days, and the team swelled to 100,000 in just a few days. So Yuan Wuben felt that the burden on his body was heavier.

He has to be responsible for the supply of food and grass for the 100,000-strong army, and also to ensure the stability of Liyangcang, although he has only been in office for a few days, although he is not yet fifty years old this year, but when he got up this morning to freshen up and look in the mirror, he found that there was already an extra layer of gray hair on his temples. This made him feel a little sad in his heart, but he didn't have time to feel sorry for himself, and he went out of the house in the morning until it was dark before returning to the house for dinner.

"If you're tired, go lie down for a while."

His wife Chen said with some distress.

Yuan Wuben took the last few bites of rice into his mouth, and then took a sip of tea from the teacup and groaned comfortably. Today, he was busy counting the grain stored in the Liyang warehouse, and he also had to send soldiers to transport truckloads of grain to Yang Xuangan's army. Busy from morning to dawn, this is his first meal of the day. He was already hungry for a long time, but if the things at hand were not arranged, he really couldn't eat.

"How can I have time to lie down for a while!"

Yuan Wuben smiled bitterly and said, "You can go to sleep first in a while, I will also take someone to inspect the granary." ”

"Didn't you just come back, why do you want to go again?"

Mrs. said with some complaints: "I knew that it was so hard to be promoted, so it was better not to follow Yang Xuangan, I was not at peace in my heart, I was shocked and afraid, for fear that something would happen to you." ”

"Shut up!"

Yuan Wuben glanced out the window and whispered, "Why are you so broken-mouthed!" What does that mean today? Now that you've already chosen, don't mumble, now that there are a lot of people in the city, if this word reaches the ears of the handsome, can I still have a good end? ”

"Isn't this in your own home?"

Madame sighed, then got up and took a piece of clothing and handed it to Yuan Wuben and said, "It's hot during the day and cold at night, so you don't have an extra piece of clothing, so as not to suffer the cold." ”

Yuan Wuben took the clothes and smiled guiltily: "You know, the reason why I made this choice is also because I want our children to have a good future in the future." I'm almost fifty years old, and I'm just a county magistrate. If we don't fight, we are not as good as me! According to my opinion, the timing of the marshal's army is very good, the imperial army is still fighting with Goguryeo in Liaodong, and all parts of the Great Sui are rebel rebels, and the imperial court can't take care of it at all, and the marshal's subordinates are full of capable people, and there are countless civil ministers and military generals, especially with the help of the Duke of Pushan, and it should be nine out of ten to achieve great things. When the time comes, I will have a meritorious service in guarding Liyang Cang, and if it is not good, I will be named a county prince. When the time comes, I will have a hereditary title, and maybe I can create a family! ”

"I know you're all for home!"

Madame's eyes were red, and she said with some sadness.

"It's just that I'm afraid, in case the handsome man loses and the court wins, our family ......"

"Don't talk about discouragement!"

Yuan Wuben put on his clothes and walked out, and said as he walked: "The handsome Wen Taowu is a rare person in the world, and there are also secret princes to assist, and countless green forest heroes help each other, how can you lose?" ”

The last sentence seemed to be his comfort to himself.

yes, definitely not going to lose.

……

……

After Yang Xuangan arrived in Liyang in March, the first thing he did was to rectify the city defense. The original city wall of Liyang was three zhang high, and tens of thousands of people have been mobilized in the past few months, and it has risen by nearly one zhang, but because of the hurry of time, the rising city wall is packed with sacks and piled up.

The wolf's teeth and crossbow carts on the city wall have been repaired, and arrow towers and horse faces have been added. It seems that even if there are 100,000 strong soldiers to attack, Liyang City is impregnable. Since Yuan Wuben took over Liyang City, he didn't dare to be careless. In addition to the inherent defenders on the walls, he also increased the number of patrolling soldiers, from once per hour to twice per hour.

Even if he was too busy to deal with during the day, Yuan Wuben would personally climb the city wall to inspect twice. If someone is found to be slacking off or lazy, he will immediately take down the military law. Although he is a man of letters, he also knows the meaning of the phrase Ci Bu is in charge of soldiers. He also had to make a round at night, first going to the granary to check the guards, and then going up to the city wall to inspect the city defenses. Do your best, never be lazy for a day.

"Father, you don't have to come to the city every day."

Yuan Wuben's son Yuan Yong felt a little sorry for his father's hard work, and said as he walked behind his father: "Since the last time I beheaded a few soldiers who neglected their duties, the soldiers know the seriousness of military law, and no one dares to slack off. Besides, the army of the imperial court may be able to come back from Liaodong, didn't it last year in a big defeat and killed 300,000 people? Even if he can come back, it is impossible to rush back from Liaodong so quickly. ”

Yuan Wuben paused and looked back at Yuan Yong, his eyes were a little cold, which startled Yuan Yong.

"Xinzheng, I remember telling you more than once that if you take it lightly on the battlefield, it may lead to the annihilation of the whole army!"

Xinzheng is the word he personally took for Yuan Yong, although this is a bit unreasonable, but Yuan Wuben feels that these two words are very good.

"Yes...... Father, I made a note of it. ”

Yuan Yong didn't dare to refute, and said with his head down. It's just that he didn't think so in his heart, he knew that what his father said was right, one mistake on the battlefield would bury the entire army, and even be defeated. But isn't there a fight yet, so why be so cautious? Yuan Yong thought a little unconvinced, I still read a few military books, but father, you still went to turn over the military books after you took over Liyang.

"The heart is right, not for the father to be strict, but at this time, there is no room for carelessness."

Yuan Wuben waved his hand and motioned for his soldiers to leave. After everyone was far away, Yuan Wuben looked left and right and lowered his voice and said: "Our family's net worth and surname have been tied to Liyang City, if Liyang has a little mistake, our whole family will suffer!" This is not child's play, and your future future is also tied to Liyang City. The reason why my father chose to follow Da Shuai to do such a dangerous thing is not for your future? ”

Yuan Yong said: "Father, I know that I am wrong. ”

"Okay, you don't have to patrol with me, go back and spend more time with your mother."

"Father, be careful."

Yuan Yong bowed his head.

Yuan Wuben waved his hand and walked forward.

Yuan Yong looked at his father's back, and suddenly felt a little depressed in his heart. I don't know why, but tonight he suddenly felt his father's waist bend a little more. The pace of walking is not as steady as that I remember when I was a child. He kept staring at Yuan Wuben's figure and disappearing into the distance of the city wall, before turning around and walking down the city. From the city wall, you can vaguely see his family's stockade, which seems to be still lit, and it is his mother waiting for him and his father to return.

……

……

Early the next morning, the June sun came out of the eastern horizon, and Yuan Wuben had already freshened up and took a dozen personal soldiers to the granary to inspect the heavy land. Yesterday afternoon, Yang Xuangan sent someone to say that because the army and horses had increased too fast and too much, the grain and grass had been in an emergency, so he asked Yuan Wuben to immediately transport a batch of grain and grass out of the city. The messenger came and went away in a hurry, not staying for the night.

Yuan Wuben saw that he was in a hurry, and pulled him to ask if there was something serious, the man shook his head and said: "Everything is going well in the war, the army has won successive battles, the reason why I am in a hurry is to contact Han Xiangguo's people, and the marshal plans to besiege the eastern capital Luoyang!" ”

Yuan Wuben was relieved at this time, and watched the messenger hurriedly leave the city and immediately sent someone to count the grain and grass overnight. Early this morning, he planned to send his trusted general, who was also his brother Yuan Wuzhen, to lead 5,000 men and horses to transport grain and grass to Yang Xuangan's army. In a sense, Yang Xuangan's choice of Yuanwuben to guard Liyang was a correct choice. Yuan Wuben is a cautious and conscientious person, and will never slack off or shirk.

Yuan Wuzhen is seven years younger than Yuan Wuben, he is in the prime of life, and his martial arts are really good. It can be said that Yuan Wuben trusts this brother the most. The previous two grain shipments were also escorted by Yuan Wuzhen and the army.

"The road has not been very smooth recently, go and go back quickly!"

Yuan Wuben said to Yuan Wuzhen after counting the grain and grass.

"Big brother, don't worry, let's fly the banner of Yang Dashuai, and the grass cowards on the way don't dare to fight the idea of food! This trip will be half a month fast, and I will be back in a month if it is slow. ”

Yuan Wuben smiled and said, "Be careful on the road, don't be careless." ”

Yuan Wuzhen nodded, and then led the army out of the city.

Yuan Wuben climbed the city wall and looked into the distance, until the team delivering the grain was about to disappear from sight after slowly leaving the city, he turned around and went down the city tower. The food has been sent away, and Yuan Wuben is also relieved, planning to go home for breakfast and then go back to the city wall to inspect it, and also go to the government to deal with official business.

After he got home, before he finished drinking the porridge in the bowl, suddenly a pro-soldier ran in panting, and said in a panic: "Fujun...... Oh no! Grain and grass ...... Grain and grass have been robbed! ”

"What!"

Yuan Wuben stood up suddenly, his eyes widened and asked, "You say it again!" ”

The pro-soldier breathed a sigh of relief and said: "The team that sent the grain was only less than twenty miles out of the city and was blocked by a group of bandits, the number of bandits was about two or three thousand, General Yuan saw that the number of bandits was not much, so he led the army to attack, but he didn't expect to be ambushed by the bandits, General Yuan was fighting hard, and sent people back to tell the emergency!" ”

"Where did the bandits come from?"

Yuan Wuben asked eagerly as he walked briskly outside the room.

The man who delivered the letter was hit by an arrow, and he hastily told the story and fell unconscious. It seems to be mentioned...... The banner of the bandits is Juno Ze Zhang Jin! ”

"Zhang Jin said!"

Motomoto gasped, but then calmed down. He heard that a few months ago, Zhang Jin claimed to have been defeated by an army of unknown origin on the bank of the Yellow River and fled, and later seemed to have gone to Qi County to plunder, and was killed by General Zhang Xutuo, the general of Qi County, who lost his armor and abandoned his armor, and there were not many men and horses under his command. Besides, the thieves and soldiers are all grass robbers, and their combat power is not very strong, and now there are tens of thousands of soldiers in Liyang City, why should they be afraid of him?

"Come on, blow the horn to gather people, and I will personally lead the troops to rescue!"

As he walked, he turned back to Yuan Yong and said, "After I lead the army out of the city, you will close the city gate, unless I lead the army back, no one should open the door!" ”

After walking a few steps, he was not at ease, and ordered again: "Even if Yang Dashuai comes in person, don't open the door!" ”

Yuan Yong didn't expect that his father's words really came true, and it was no one else who came to call the city gate.