Han Shizu

Chapter 626 Rumors in Shuzhong
In Chengdu, it is another year when hibiscus blooms, and the weather turns cooler, which is very refreshing.Although the battle between Qin and Feng was in full swing, it did not prevent the sons and daughters of Chengdu from enjoying the scenery and reciting poems in the slightest.

Between the pavilions, flowers are in full bloom, and there are many tourists.Of course, among the scholars and common people, they are not completely numb. There are also swords and swords in the poems, and there are also discussions and rumors among the common people.

In a small teahouse, the smell of tea could not hide the strong stench of copper in the air. A group of porters struggling on the poverty line gathered together to drink tea and rest.

It is inevitable to chat and brag, and it is also inevitable to mention the war in the north.

One person sighed: "The two countries have gathered more than 20 troops. After fighting for so long, there is still no winner. I don't know when there will be a result!"

"If there is no result, it's a good thing! I heard that the Han army is fierce and cruel like tigers and wolves. They trek across mountains and rivers like walking on flat ground. Otherwise, how could that Han general named Wang Renshan easily break through our eight cottages?" The man shook his head and said, with some pessimism in his tone.

A person beside him echoed: "In the past few years, the imperial court sent troops to the Northern Expedition twice, and they both returned in a big defeat, losing troops and losing generals. This time, the Han army invaded our country on a large scale, and I don't know how long it can resist!"

"If you can stop the enemy for three months, you can stop him for half a year. For one year, the Han army can't attack. When winter comes, the mountain roads will be more difficult to walk, so they will naturally retreat!" The words of the few people caused a salesman. Noticing his attention, he said loudly: "You porters don't concentrate on working hard, but dare to talk about military affairs, aren't you afraid of the government's investigation?"

The peddler has traveled all over the world, and he obviously has enough knowledge. When he said this, he was suspected of showing off, saying: "A certain just came back from Xingyuan Mansion. I heard that in Fengzhou, the Han army closed the city to me. No less than [-] attacks, the loss of more than ten thousand troops, is no longer able to fight anymore. As long as it is delayed until winter, the mountains will be covered by heavy snow, and the Han army will retreat by itself, otherwise his hundred thousand troops will be wiped out in the mountains!"

What the shopkeeper said made everyone feel a little bit more excited, and hurriedly asked for details.Impatient with the crowd, his eyes flashed, and a little smile appeared on the corner of the shopkeeper's mouth. He stroked his beard and said, "Now, the armies of the two countries are fighting fiercely in front of Weiwu City. Weiwu City is the strongest pass in the north of Fengzhou. Han Dynasty Although the army is fierce, our Shu army has no men, and we rely on the city, which naturally makes it difficult for the Han army to move forward."

"No, I heard people say the day before yesterday that the Han army's weapons are excellent and sharp, and the soldiers are brave and fearless. Our army suffered a lot of casualties, and the mighty city is crumbling, and it is about to be breached!" Someone retorted.

Faced with doubts, the salesman seemed a little bit helpless, his expression was serious, and he scolded: "This must be a rumor, it's just spreading rumors!"

"I have a fellow villager who escorted food and grass to Weiwu City. He witnessed the attack and defense of the city with his own eyes. Under the city wall, the Han army left a field of corpses."

"The last person also said that his friend was a guard officer and returned home wounded." The man who questioned him immediately retorted: "Everyone, I think this person's words are exaggerated and untrue. His words are not credible!"

"Look, old man, you're just in the north, and you've heard some rumors, but I'm waiting to show off in front of you, right?"

Being stared at and questioned, the salesman felt embarrassed to be exposed as a trick. A flash of shame and anger flashed on his face, and he argued: "Everything I said is true. Don't you people just expect our city gate to be in danger? Was it broken by the Han army?"

The shopkeeper's rhetorical question made people stunned. It seemed that from the very beginning, they felt that the Han army was strong and the Shu army was weak. The Han army was easy to win and the Shu army was easy to lose.Seeing this, the shopkeeper continued: "We have Li, Gao, Han and other generals in Shu, commanding [-] soldiers and horses to guard the pass. Are you afraid of the Han army?"

"It's just—" As he said that, the salesman stopped deliberately.

"Just what?" someone asked.

"The Han army has lost too much. I'm afraid that the emperor of the Han Dynasty in the Central Plains will increase his troops to attack in a fit of anger!" Conquering the west, he is invincible. How can he be reconciled to losing in the front. The Northern Han Dynasty has hundreds of thousands of powerful troops, and if we really attack with all our strength, even if we have fortified cities and dangerous passes, it will be difficult for us to deal with it at that time."

"Yes!" The salesman said so, but some people agreed.

As he spoke, the salesman's tone changed naturally, he lowered his voice, and continued: "Let me reveal the truth again. The purpose of the Han army's crusade against us this time is to avenge the two Northern Expeditions and take back Qin Fengjie. Four states!"

"That's right, the four prefectures of Qin and Feng originally belonged to the Northern Han Dynasty, so it's no wonder that the emperor of the Northern Han Dynasty would go to war and send troops to attack!"

"However!" The shopkeeper changed his tone and said, "The war in the north has nothing to do with you, and it will not affect Chengdu. Don't say that it is difficult for the Han army to break through the defense line, and the retreat is imminent. Even if the mighty city is broken, there is still Qingniling. , From Xingyuan Mansion to Chengdu, there are thousands of mountains and passes, and there are many dangerous obstacles, and the Han army can't get in."

"Why is it not affected? During this period of time, food prices have risen, family letters have been circulated, autumn taxes have also increased, and the government is still recruiting labor and recruiting troops to prepare for war." One person couldn't help complaining: "I only hope that this war will end soon, This winter, I'm afraid it won't be as difficult as usual!"

"That's right, I intend to go back to my hometown to farm."

A group of ordinary people at the bottom were very emotionally affected. When the salesman saw him, he hurriedly said: "Everyone, what I said today was just impromptu. Don't spread it indiscriminately. Otherwise, the government will punish me for spreading rumors and deceiving people. I will eat it." I can't blame you."

"Rest everyone, I'll take my leave!" After finishing speaking, he drank up a large bowl of tea with the tea leaves, put down two iron coins made in the Shu Kingdom, picked up the load, and left the tea shop, and quickly entered The crowd disappeared between the marketplace.

However, the discussion among the teahouses did not cool down after the salesmen left. These small people in the market don't really care about national affairs, they only talk about it after tea, and on the other hand, it does involve their livelihood. .

Shu Kingdom is rich and prosperous, one is in the treasury and warehouses, and the other is in bureaucrats, landlords, and merchants. For the small people inside and outside, they are still struggling at the bottom, and food and clothing are unpredictable.But once the war is unfavorable and the treasury is overrun, regardless of tax burden and corvee, the first targets are these small people of Shu.

It is almost foreseeable that as long as the war in the north has a result, if the Shu army is defeated and the Han army does not give up, a large number of common people in Shu will go bankrupt.

But in Chengdu, there are many discussions in teahouses, restaurants, bookstores, chess rooms, and even Goulan brothels, all kinds of versions, all kinds of specious.

In fact, the war between Qin and Feng has not stopped, but in the country of Shu, there are already rumors and discussions.From north to south, from Xingyuan Mansion to Chengdu Mansion, the more exchanges, the more outrageous and distorted the news, but many people believed it more.

Of course, behind the trend of heated discussions, there are naturally people who are fueling the flames and making waves.

In the city of Chengdu, there is a private house with quiet lanes and few people go there. The apricots in the courtyard are already golden, and with the autumn wind, there are fallen leaves from time to time.

A small man in sackcloth knocked on the door and entered the room under the guidance of the people in the house.Inside the simple house, there were already a dozen or so men in different costumes waiting, and the salesman was right there.

The little man entered, scanned around, and only gave one person a look.

"For more than ten days, I have been traveling around the inner and outer cities, spreading them according to the occasion, confusing the public, the rumors are already rampant among the people of Chengdu!" The man got up and replied, with a Sichuan accent in his voice.

The little man nodded, with almost no expression on his thin face, he said directly: "Very good! However, such a big movement will inevitably arouse the vigilance of the Chengdu government. Next, you can stop acting and lurk. Lu Those who have met, go out of the city to hide first, and pay attention to their whereabouts. The rest of the people continue to hide in the city and spy on the layout of Chengdu's city defense!"

"Yes!"

After succinctly giving instructions, the little man left, and the remaining spies also dispersed in an orderly manner.

These people belong to the Military Intelligence Department under the Privy Council of the Great Han Dynasty, specializing in spying on internal and external affairs, as well as the political and military situations of various countries. In terms of functions, there is a small part of overlap with the Wu De Department.It was established earlier than Wu Desi, but in terms of fame and status, it is obviously lower than Wu Desi.After all, Wu Desi is directly responsible to the emperor.

Even so, with the support of the Privy Council, the Military Intelligence Department is also growing. In the city of Chengdu in Houshu alone, there are dozens of spies lurking.

But this time, after the start of the Qin-Feng War, a series of news about the domestic movements of Houshu, including the mobilization of soldiers and horses, the transfer of grain and grass, and the defense of checkpoints, spread from north to south.Spreading rumors is just a part-time job.

Of course, Wu Desi also played a significant role in the process.

(End of this chapter)