Everyone sees it as Zhonglang's general hiring. Wen Ping has been guarding Jingbei before, stifling Cao Cao's southward movement, Jingzhou can have such a long-term situation of peace and stability Wen Ping can also be regarded as a great contribution, hearing that Cai Mao wants to give up the north of the Han River, he immediately stood up and opposed it.

Cai Mao was quite displeased, and Wen Ping refuted his opinion in front of everyone, clearly not taking him Cai Mao in his eyes. Cai Mao is also a person, he is the brother-in-law of Jingzhou Mu Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou soldiers and horses, under one person, above 10,000 people, in Jingzhou's seven major families Pang, Huang, Cai, Kuai, Ma, Xi, Yang Zhong Cai's family was originally the third-ranked wealthy family, since Cai Mao's sister married Liu Biao, the Cai family's status in Jingzhou has risen in a straight line, and there is even a tendency to surpass Pang Huang and become the first wealthy family in Jingzhou. In the past few years, Liu Biao has devoted himself to learning and sitting, ignoring state politics and customs affairs, Cai Mao has monopolized power, and he is almost the same in Jingzhou's political arena.

Wen Ping is a native of Nanyang, from a humble background, and he relied on military merits to rise to the position of Zhonglang General, but it was Wen Ping who rose step by step with his own ability, so he created his straightforward and honest character, so although there were many people present, they were afraid of Cai Mao's power and submissiveness, and only Wen Ping dared to speak out so boldly.

Liu Biao seemed to be very interested in Wen Ping's words, and said, "Zhongye, what do you think?" ”

Wen Ping said: "Back to the lord, the last general thinks that Xinye is the gateway to Jingbei, not to be abandoned, Xinye fertile field for hundreds of miles, since ancient times there are north and south holes, Zhongzhou barrier said, Jingzhou if you lose Xinye." Then Xiangyang is no longer in danger, the Han River is not the Yangtze River, if you want to rely on the Han Water alone to block the advance of the Xuzhou army, I am afraid it will be difficult. The last general thought that it was the best policy for our army to stick to Xinye and rely on each other with Xiangyang. ”

Zhang Yun, deputy governor of the Jingzhou Army, sneered: "In the first battle of Anlu, our cavalry was lost, and General Wen also knew that Xinye was fertile for hundreds of miles, and a horse was flat. Liu Ze's archers are already invincible in the world. Now another thunder cavalry has emerged, taking advantage of the cavalry, but I don't know how General Wen can defeat the Xuzhou cavalry and defend Xinye? ”

Wen Ping ignored Zhang Yun's mocking tone. said calmly: "The former Liu Pan was defeated by An Lu. It's just a plan to get help from Liu Ze. How to not be defeated by risking light and putting troops in danger? He has been guarding Shinno in the lower town for many years. The walls of Xinye are strong, enough to block 100,000 male soldiers, Liu Zelao's division is far away, our army is waiting for work, as long as it is up and down, why worry about the strong enemy not breaking? ”

Liu Biao said: "Zhongye's words are very much in line with my heart, but I don't know how many soldiers and horses Zhongye needs to be able to defend Xinye?" ”

Wen Ping said generously: "The 30,000 horses under the command of the last general are enough, and the lord only needs to send another team of men and horses to garrison Deng County, thinking that it will be okay, if Liu Ze does not come to Xinye, he will do it, but if he comes to Xinye, the last general will swear to capture it!" ”

Liu Biao stroked his hair and said with a smile: "I have Wen Zhongye, and Xiangyang will be worry-free." ”

Wen Ping said: "The last general still has one more thing to ask the lord. ”

"Zhongye is in charge."

"The soldiers and horses have not moved, the grain and grass go first, the Xinye garrison is short of food and grass and ordnance, and the soldiers are in arrears of food and salary, and the war is imminent, which will inevitably affect morale, and I also ask the lord to allocate some grain and grass to meet the needs of Xinye."

Liu Biao turned his head to look at Cai Mao, his face sank, and said, "De Jue, what's going on?" Isn't Xinye's food and salary paid monthly, why is it in arrears for a long time? ”

Cai Mao is in charge of the military and political power of Jingzhou, all the soldiers and horses are under his jurisdiction, Cai Mao is greedy by nature, extravagant, in order to make up for the shortfall, naturally stretched out his hand to the army's food and salary, not only the Xinye garrison's food and salary are in arrears, but the food and salary of the garrisons and naval forces in other places have not been paid at all. However, the other generals who led the army were Cai Mao's cronies, and most of them turned a blind eye to it, and only Liu Biao was alone. But Wen Ping doesn't care about that, the army is chaotic without food, and you can't fight without food and salary, so Wen Ping knew that Cai Mao was messing with the salary, and still bluntly asked Liu Biao for food.

Cai Mao heard Liu Biao's question, couldn't help but sweat coldly, and said respectfully: "My lord, the former Liu Pan's 50,000 cavalry troops were all lost in Anlu, and the amount of compensation required in the army is very large. ”

Speaking of Liu Pan, Liu Biao's heart was throbbing, this nephew has always been Liu Biao's most valued tiger general, and the 50,000 cavalry are Liu Biao's heart, but in the first battle of Anlu, the whole army was exhausted, and the losses were so heavy, how not to make Liu Biao feel sad. Liu Biao was silent for a moment, and he didn't dwell on Cai Mao's arrears of food and salary anymore, and sighed and said: "Deju, the food and salary elsewhere can be postponed for a while, the Xinye War is imminent, the food and ordnance must not be in arrears, and the morale of the army must not be slowed down." ”

Cai Mao passed this hurdle without danger, sighed secretly, and arched his hand: "I will obey the orders of the lord, and my subordinates will definitely find ways to support Xinye's needs." While saying this, Cai Mao secretly glanced at Wen Ping, full of resentment.

Wen Ping saw his gaze, but he didn't care, and suddenly said: "Then the general will leave first." ”

Liu Biao nodded his head, Wen Ping was about to leave, but Cai Mao smiled gloomily: "General Wen is slow!" ”

Wen Ping stopped and said suspiciously: "What else is the matter with Cai Dudu?" ”

Cai Mao said: "General Wen thinks that Xinye is the first priority, and it must be heavily defended. ”

Wen Ping said proudly: "Wen Mou but in one day, Xinye will not be lost for a day, people are in the city, the city is dead, if the last general loses Xinye, please behead the lord." ”

"The army is not joking?" Cai Mao's face had a sly look.

"A certain wish to make a military order!" Wen Ping is fearless and generous.

"Okay, pen and ink waiting!" Cai Mao commanded, and immediately a small official presented a pen and paper, Wen Ping picked up the pen, brushed the brush, and signed his name in a hurry, and then threw the pen on the ground, and ignored Cai Mao, said goodbye to Liu Biao, and walked away.

A group of cronies in Cai Mao's hand were very angry at Wen Ping's rudeness, but Cai Mao didn't care at all, looking at the military order signed with Wen Ping's name in his hand, a cruel smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he slowly folded the military order and stuffed it into the wide cuffs.

Wen Ping hurried back to Xinye, and as soon as he jumped off the horse, the deputy generals Huo Jun and Xiang Lang greeted him.

"How's the military situation up front?" Wen Ping asked.

Huo Jun said with a cold face: "The forward of the Xuzhou Army is approaching Huyang, and it is less than a hundred miles away from Xinye. ”

Wen Ping frowned secretly, the Xuzhou army was coming so fast, but his brows soon stretched again, the big war was imminent, but it stimulated Wen Ping's fighting spirit and bloodiness even more, no matter how strong the enemy was, I am afraid that Wen Ping really doesn't know how to write this word.

Xiang Lang asked with concern, "How is the situation in Xiangyang?" In the end, I heard that the lord has a proposal to abandon Xinye to protect Xiangyang? ”

Wen Ping sneered and said: "This is Cai Mao's mention yì, it is really pedantic, Xinye does not exist, how can Xiangyang be defended, how can only a piece of Han water stop the 100,000 male soldiers in Xuzhou?" I argue with reason, the lord has agreed to stick to Xinye, and Xiangyang is the inside and outside of each other, in order to control Liu Ze. ”

Xiang Lang said with a little sadness: "Our army lacks food, grass and ordnance, how can we fight?" ”

Wen Ping said: "The lord has promised on the spot that a batch of food and salary will be allocated to us first, and I have made a military order on the spot, vowing to live and die together in Xinye City!" ”

Xiang Lang said worriedly: "The Xuzhou army is fierce, Liu Pan's 50,000 cavalry will be wiped out in an instant, and Huang Zu has been running Jiangxia for many years, and Xiakou City will be broken overnight. I heard that when the Xiakou was breached, the Xuzhou army used a flying stone machine to smash the big stones to the city wall, Xinye is just a poor and despicable county, with few soldiers, how can it resist the attack of the Xuzhou army? The general should not have made a military order in front of the lord, if Xinye is not protected, wouldn't the general have no way to retreat? ”

Wen Ping said proudly: "What is the fear of the big husband galloping the horse leather shroud on the field? What's more, although Liu Ze's army is brave, but I am not weak and incompetent, although Xinye is small, I have worked hard for many years, even if the Xuzhou army has a catapult, so what, I don't believe it can smash the wall of Xinye? ”

At that time, the city wall was mostly rammed earth wall, Wen hired Xinye garrison for several years, repaired the city wall of Xinye many times, quarried the stone of Xishan to build the city, changed the rammed earth wall to a stone wall, although the scale of Xinye City is not large, but it can indeed be described as solid. The sturdy city walls of Xinye Castle are the biggest reliance of Wenpin, and if it is replaced by a rammed earth wall that was bombarded by catapults, how can Wenpin dare to boast of Haikou in the state pastor's mansion.

Huo Jun also arched his hand and said: "We swear to advance and retreat together with the general, the city is in the people, and the city is dead!" ”

Wen Ping nodded and said, "Okay, all the soldiers will work together, unite as one, and ensure that Xinye is not lost!" Vice General Huo, to the deputy general, immediately pass on our military order, the whole army immediately entered the combat state, each in its own position, there must be no slackness, violators of the order will be beheaded! ”

Huo Jun Xiang Lang immediately received the order and went down to arrange the defense of the whole city of Xinye. Wen Ping stationed in Xinye for many years, Xinye borders Nanyang, Zhang Ji Zhang Xiuchu arrived in Wancheng, several times to invade Jingzhou, were defeated by Wen Ping, Zhang Ji was also killed in the battle against the city. Later, Zhang Xiu took the initiative to negotiate peace with Liu Biao, and Wen Ping was also ordered by Liu Biao to go north several times to rescue Zhang Xiu and fight with Cao Cao. Years of fighting have created the army in the hands of Wenpin to be accustomed to war, and among the Jingzhou Route Army, Wenpin's army is also the most warlike one. After receiving the military order from Wen Ping, the army immediately moved into action and was ready for battle.

Just when Wen Ping was rectifying the defense of Xinye, he received a report from the sergeant below, and Cai He asked to see him outside the city. (To be continued......)