Chinese New Year

Chapter 363: Old Dengxing (Part )
By late July, the millet in the fields had gradually turned golden.

The soldiers guarding the Yellow River became even more nervous.

Puyang and Xingyang were already severely damaged, and even Chenliu was plundered many times. There were not many crops left that were growing well, and some of them were even replanted grains. The closer it got to the harvest, the more nervous it became, as everyone was worried that the Xiongnu would march south in large numbers and rob them of their food.

This is not an exaggeration. According to the scouts who crossed the river to conduct reconnaissance, the Xiongnu had begun to mobilize troops to the north bank of the river, and their intentions were very obvious.

"Where is Mr. Chen?" Wang Yan asked when the boat passed through Putian Lake.

"Has returned from Fan County."

The boat sailed quietly downstream.

The scenery of Shuipo Zeguo is somewhat monotonous, with reeds, shallows, rivers and lakes everywhere.

Apart from the government's grain ships, there were few ships for merchants and travelers, probably because the threat of war faced by Xingyang was too great.

On the grasslands along the lakeshore, there are cattle, sheep, and herds of donkeys and mules.

The land cannot be cultivated, but it is a great sin to leave the land unused. It is better to graze some livestock and let them eat the fresh and juicy grass by the lake. If the enemy attacks, it will be convenient to move them, after all, farmland cannot be moved.

Only when the ship docked in Junyi did we feel a bit of popularity again.

This is the territory of the Beggars' Army, and most of the people living here are not native to Junyi.

But no matter where they are from, as long as they can settle down and fill the local household registration, it is good, although the beggar army does not pay any money or food at all.

Growing and harvesting by themselves, training themselves, and sending troops to fight for the government for free was the norm for most armies in the world at that time.

Chen Wu's Qihuo Army was such a half-farmer, half-soldier organization that could mobilize five to six thousand infantry and cavalry, serving as the second line of defense behind the Wenshijin army.

Upon hearing that General Wang Yan had arrived by boat, Qihuo Commander Chen Wu came to visit with his uncle Chen Chuan and his son Chen Chite.

Chenliu prefect Wang Zan also arrived with his officials in the county. Wang Zan first served in Sima Ying's mansion and later in Yue's mansion. He was quite trusted by Sima Yue and was a typical remnant of Sima Yue.

Of course, the Qihuo Army was actually the remnants of Sima Yue.

A Yue’s inheritance is really a lot, otherwise, why would Shao Xun be so obsessed with his sister-in-law?

After meeting the main generals of Chenliu, Wang Yan got off the boat and chatted with everyone in a thatched pavilion by the river.

Pan Tao, who had returned from Luoyang, also followed. Everyone saluted him and called him "Pan Changshi" continuously.

Obviously, in Chenliu, the status of "Grand Marshal Wang" and "Changshi Pan" are similar, and even what "Changshi Pan" says is more effective.

As for court officials below the rank of Grand Marshal, one can imagine the cold treatment they received.

While Wang Yan was chatting with them about irrelevant things, he was secretly frightened.

You won’t know unless you come down and take a walk.

Chenliu two or three years ago was not like this - his son Wang Xuan once served as an official in Chenliu County.

The entire changes in Yu and Yan can be traced back to three years ago when Sima Yue first went out to Xuchang and then fled to Yanzhou.

Although he looked a little embarrassed, he had placed a lot of people in the local area, and Wang Zan took office almost immediately after that.

After three years of fermentation, Yuzhou is still fine, but Yanzhou has already been deeply branded by the King of East China Sea.

Take Chenliu as an example. From local officials to the army, they were all Sima Yue's people, many of whom came from Qing and Xu states.

These people are all following Shao Xun now, right?

Wang Yan recalled what his former colleague from Yuefu had said in a letter: During the shogunate meetings, the first seat below the Dowager Concubine Pei was occupied by the military commander Shao Xun.

It happened that everyone was talking about Shao Xun at this time, so Wang Yan said: "Mr. Chen defeated Gou Xi, he is really the Han Bai of the modern era."

When Chen Wu heard this, he exclaimed in admiration: "There are people in my army who followed Lord Chen to the war. After returning, they praised Lord Chen highly and even said that I don't know how to fight. Haha."

Everyone laughed.

The governor Wang Zan also said: "If the Xiongnu go south, Puyang, Chenliu and Xingyang will be close together, and Lord Chen will have to coordinate and command. We will fight the Han and just follow their orders."

"Last year in the battle of Xinzheng, we captured Wang Sang. It was a beautiful fight."

"Wang Sang has been tortured in the capital, right?"

Wang Yan smiled and nodded.

After Wang Sang, Hou Tuo, Pang Shi and others were sent to Luoyang in prison, they were briefly interrogated and then handed over to Luoyang County to be beheaded in public as a warning to others.

The execution of these three people actually restored a little prestige of the court - just a little.

Pan Tao watched with a smile on his face.

Chen Gong's appointment as the military commander was not without flaws. He had many shortcomings. However, he was good at fighting and could protect everyone's wealth, which was enough.

Even those who were dissatisfied with him would acquiesce or even support him in this matter.

In troubled times, everything else is empty. If you can't win the battle, nothing you say will work. Wang Yan also deeply felt this.

Now, he no longer had any doubts about standing on Shao Xun's side. It was a consensus among the important officials in the court that the emperor was ignorant and would only make the situation worse.

After leaving Luoyang, we should let the emperor come and see what the situation is like outside, so that he won’t really think that he is still the ruler of the world.

A few years is enough to change a lot of things.

******
On July 28, Wang Yan arrived in Kaocheng, then changed to a horse carriage and arrived at the General's Mansion the next day.

It was a little bit deserted along the way, but there were some positive signs.

Last night, dozens of them stayed in a semi-abandoned village. There were only a few families left in the village, and after asking around, they found out that they were all people who had returned from their relatives' homes in Yingchuan this year.

They also said that since the Yanzhou army was under the command of Lord Chen, there should be no danger for Chenliu.

Wang Yan was silent for a long time after hearing this. Reputation is something that cannot be seen or touched, but sometimes it can really make a living.

Well, the people who ran back also said that Lord Chen was going to marry Concubine Pei soon, and that Chenliu would be as stable as a rock in the future, so they could just live there in peace.

Wang Yan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Perhaps, the people simply hoped that Lord Chen could stay in Chenliu permanently. As for what it meant to marry Concubine Pei and what the consequences would be, they did not understand and were too lazy to think about it.

An army returned to the vicinity of Kaocheng: the Yamen Army led by Li Chong.

The soldiers of Xuchang Town, who served as auxiliary troops, completed their combat mission and went home to harvest grain.

As for the future of the Yamen Army, it has actually been decided: disbandment.

In other words, the time when Li Chong led the Yamen Army to defeat Zhao Gu at Mount Tai and drove him away was the last organized battle of the Yamen Army.

After the disbandment, the Yamen Army will be collectively transferred to the Palace Army. As for where they will be placed, there is no final decision. But what is certain is that Shao Xun does not want to leave this army that he has led for many years to the court. After all, he already knows that he will not be a general of the Imperial Army soon - there are too many people who have informed him of the situation, not just Wang Yan.

Wang Yan didn't know the future of the Yamen Army, but he subconsciously felt that Shao Xun would not leave any advantages for the court to take advantage of.

But he was too lazy to care. The building was about to collapse, and it was not something that one or two people could hold up. Let it fall. All he could do was to try to maintain it before it collapsed and gain benefits for the family.

"Yang Zhong, what does Mr. Chen want to do?" Wang Yan couldn't help but ask while enjoying the cool air at night.

"What does Yi Fu think of Mr. Chen's prestige in Yanzhou?" Pan Tao asked in return.

"Looking at Chenliu alone, it has a great reputation."

"Then I can tell Yi Fu that Lord Chen is in Chenjun, Yingchuan, Xiangcheng, Xingyang and other counties." Pan Tao laughed and said, "Does Yi Fu know that Lord Chen is going to marry the daughter of Yu Zimei, the governor of Ji County?"

Wang Yan really didn't know, so he asked, "I heard from Minister Yu earlier that she's already engaged. Are you going to get married this time?"

"That's right." Pan Tao said, "Mr. Chen will marry his new bride in Xuchang, probably at the end of this year or early next year."

"Why is it so difficult to set a wedding date?" Wang Yan asked curiously.

"It's all because of the Xiongnu." Pan Tao sighed, "Mr. Chen was worried that the continuous fighting would delay the wedding, so he tried to move it back. But this matter is already known to everyone and cannot be changed. Now it is only spread in Yingchuan. By August, it will spread to Xiangcheng, Nandun, Xincai, Runan, Chenjun, Liangguo, Chenliu and other places. After the autumn harvest, most of Yuzhou will know about it."

Wang Yan was a little dazed for a moment.

"Now I can answer Yi Fu." Pan Tao laughed and said, "Mr. Chen wants to make Henan his own."

After saying that, Pan Tao left the General's Mansion.

Wang Yan sat in the yard, gazing at the silver moonlight, lost in thought.

It’s a pity that I didn’t bring the divination tools with me, otherwise I could have told you my fortune.

But maybe it’s not necessary. You can figure out some things just by thinking.

From beginning to end, Shao Xun only provided people with one thing: safety.

At first, some people may be confined by old prejudices and disagree with this.

But as the chaos deepens, security becomes more and more expensive, more and more valuable, and less and less in demand.

Shao Xun has been selling it until now——

Some people are willing to offer their entire fortune to become his concubine and bear children for him.

Some people are willing to spend a fortune just to find a position for their own children or nephews in his mansion.

Some people were willing to offer her a military commission just to protect the wealth of the orphan and his widow.

Some people personally led their troops into battle and fought for him, just to get protection in the future.

The things Shao Xun sold were so good that even he was tempted.

Alas, the house in Chenjun was probably built in vain. Next, I should go to Xuchang to buy a property...

(End of this chapter)