The ship went north along the Han River and entered the Feishui River. By evening, it was already approaching the rising sun.
It is less than 100 kilometers from Xinye to Xiangyang. The speed of going upstream is not very fast. It relies on manpower to drive the oar. The average speed is about five or six kilometers per hour. It is far inferior to the average speed of 26 kilometers per hour for a day in Jiangling, which is thousands of miles away. .
Therefore, if Shen Chen chooses to go north by boat, it may take seventeen or eight hours. Basically, he leaves at noon and arrives the next morning. It is not as fast as riding a horse.
By the time he arrived in Xinye, it was already the first moment of the noon eclipse on the second day.
He sent someone to the county to convey the news, and Deng Mao quickly came with people from the county government to help the soldiers transport the armor presented by Liu Biao, and then arranged for a carriage to be sent to Huangmen Pavilion.
During the transportation, Shen Chen and his great-grandfather Deng Mao stood together. Looking at the soldiers who kept moving the armor, Deng Mao asked tentatively: "Ah Chen, do you really want to lead the troops north to attack Cao Cao?"
"Um."
Shen Chen nodded: "Cao Cao bullied the emperor and massacred the people. We must not forget the blood feud of hundreds of folks in Zhongyang."
"Well"
Deng Mao pondered for a moment and then said bitterly: "Logically speaking, many of our Deng family members have died at the hands of Cao thieves. I am not qualified to advise you. But Ah Chen, now you are the second member of our Deng Shen family." Qilin'er, going to the battlefield is always dangerous, so let others do it. If it doesn't work, let your uncle do it. I would rather lose my son than lose you."
Shen Chen said seriously: "Uncle, I know what you mean, but I also have a reason to go. It's not just hatred, but also loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness. If everyone in the world dare not speak out because they are afraid of the power of Cao Cao's thief, then When he usurps the throne in the future, no one will resist him, and I must set this example."
"this"
Deng Mao smiled bitterly and said: "Okay, I know I can't persuade you, but I hope you can come back safely."
Shen Chen nodded and said, "I understand, don't worry, uncle."
He understood Deng Mao's thoughts. Although the blood debt of enemies was important, the continuation of the family was more important.
Nowadays, the Deng Shen family is able to survive in Xinye, and he has even become the magistrate of Xinye County, controlling the people's livelihood, all because of the benefits Shen Chen has brought to them through his activities in Jingzhou.
If Shen Chen died on the battlefield one day, even though Deng Hong still married Cai's daughter and could barely support the family business, it would be like a ship losing a helmsman or a carriage losing a driver, and the family would also lose its direction.
This is a very dangerous thing for a clan, so Deng Mao would rather let his son Deng Zhao die in battle than to let anything happen to Shen Chen.
But there are some things that must be done even if you know they are forbidden.
It's like the emperor's uncle was brutally beaten countless times in the north, and his head was bloody and beaten countless times, but he still didn't change his original intention.
Don't be afraid because the enemy is strong, nor give up the justice you hold on to because you may die.
For a person like Cao Cao, you can admire his talent and strategy, and you can respect his civil and military skills, but you can never agree with his cruelty and evil.
This is the basic principle of life, and it is also the bottom line of conscience that Shen Chen cannot cross.
So when it comes to resisting Cao, Shen Chen will definitely remain consistent!
Soon the armor was almost finished being transported, and the team slowly drove towards Huangmen Pavilion. In less than half an hour, they arrived here.
After five years of development, today's Huangmen Pavilion is comparable to a city. Because of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Nanyang, the population plummeted and wasteland increased. After Shen Chen came, he used retting technology to reclaim a large amount of wasteland, and grain production increased dramatically.
At the same time, the booming development of the handicraft manufacturing industry requires a large amount of labor, which has attracted many surrounding villagers to come to work and farm. The population has exceeded 30,000, and it is becoming increasingly prosperous.
From the outer countryside all the way into the market, and finally at the gate of the manor, Deng Zhao, Chenzhen and the others were already waiting for him.
"Father, uncle!"
Shen Chen got off the carriage and saluted the two of them.
Shen Zhen said: "Well, my son has become a lot stronger. How is his academic skills?"
"I have lived up to my father's trust."
Shen Chen replied.
"That's good."
Shen Zhen nodded. He actually wanted to teach his son.
But he found that his son was really outstanding, his knowledge was comparable to that of a great scholar, and he practiced martial arts diligently every day. He seemed to have nothing to teach him, which made Shen Zhen, the father, very ashamed.
But what makes him very proud is that such an outstanding person is his son. What regrets can he have if he can have such an heir?
He entered the manor with his father and uncle, and the armor sent by Liu Biao was also brought in to arm his soldiers.
Although Huangmenting can produce iron armor, who would dislike having too much armor?
At this time, there is another scene in the manor. As mentioned before, the manor covers a large area. It is the main place for Huangmenting's village elders and training soldiers. When you enter, you will see a huge school ground.
Soldiers are practicing in the school grounds. They don't have to work. Their daily task is to practice their skills and constantly train themselves. They must obey orders and prohibitions. Discipline and efficiency are indispensable. They must also ensure that they sweat more in peacetime and bleed in war.
Compared with the 1,500 soldiers the year before last, after two years of development, the number of soldiers and horses has nearly doubled. There are already 3,000 soldiers. With Gan Ning's soldiers and horses, almost 10,000 soldiers can be gathered to go north to deal with it. Cao Cao has enough troops.
Shen Chen was very satisfied when he saw the soldiers practicing every day. He walked all the way to the main hall of the manor. In the middle of the hall was a lobby, with chairs and coffee tables on the left and right. It looked a bit like the living room of a wealthy family in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Although I have to kneel and sit on the table every day outside, I cannot be aggrieved at home. I still have to arrange some chairs. Otherwise, sitting on my knees every day will not only cause backache and leg pain, but also make me prone to deformity.
"Father."
Shen Chen sat on the chair and asked, "Is there any reply from Zhang Xiu?"
"Well, I sent your brother-in-law yesterday."
Shen Zhen and Deng Zhao also sat down, and he said: "Calculating the time, I should be back by noon at the latest."
"Is it Brother Muzi?"
"Um."
"He also joined the army?"
Shen Chen frowned.
Peach, because peach tree is a plant, so it is named Muzi.
He is the eldest son of the seventh uncle's family. He and Shen Chen were the only ones to survive the Zhuoyangju tragedy.
Shen Chen doesn't have many relatives now. They are either relatives from her natal family like Deng Hong, or relatives who live in other places like her eldest brother Shen Zhong.
The only close relative of the Shen family is Shen Tao, so Shen Tao also said she wanted to join the army before, but was rejected time and time again.
How could he go to the battlefield to kill the enemy when Uncle Qi was the only one in his family?
Shen Zhen sighed: "Your brother Muzi has hatred in his heart. He got married two years ago and now has two sons, so he has been clamoring to join the army to avenge his parents. He also threatened that if he didn't agree, he would go north to Xudu to assassinate him. I can't stop Cao Cao."
"Brother is too strong-willed. I'm afraid I won't be able to persuade you."
Shen Chen thought about it, and there was nothing he could do about it. Cao Ren personally killed his seventh uncle, seventh aunt, and Shen Tao's younger brother. Although he had killed Cao Ren to avenge them, the hatred in Shen Tao's brother's heart must still have not disappeared. .
As he was talking, about a quarter of an hour later, the sound of galloping horse hooves suddenly came from outside.
Looking out through the hall, I saw several knights entering the manor on the school field in the distance, dismounting at the door of the manor, and then running quickly inside.
When they got closer, the leader was indeed Shen Tao, who was twenty-four years old this year. The reason why he was able to survive was because his parents asked Shen Chen's family to eat chicken together. Shen Chen's parents happened to go to their hometown of Shen Zhong. They asked Shen Tao to call them back, but they escaped.
After Shen Tao dismounted, she entered the hall, saw Shen Chen, and said in surprise: "Brother, are you back?"
"Um."
Shen Chen nodded and said, "Brother."
"You don't need to persuade me."
Shen Tao knew what he was going to say, so she waved her hand and said, "I've made up my mind."
"All right."
Shen Chen said helplessly: "How?"
Shen Tao said: "Zhang Xiu asked us to meet in Yuyang tomorrow."
"good."
Shen Chen nodded: "If we can persuade Zhang Xiu, our chances of winning will be even better."
At this time in history, Zhang Xiu had already surrendered to Cao Cao.
At that time, facing Yuan Shao's solicitation, Jia Xu refused verbally, and finally urged Zhang Xiu to defect to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was overjoyed, named him General Yangwu, and let his son marry Zhang Xiu's daughter.
But now after Shen Chen reminded him, Zhang Xiu understood that Cao Cao might be able to bury the hatchet against him because of his powerful enemy, but once the enemy is defeated and the scores are settled later, I'm afraid...
Therefore, in the face of Jia Xu's constant persuasion, Zhang Xiu never expressed his stance, but he also had no plans to send troops. Apparently, he planned to wait and see the situation first.
However, Shen Chen knew Zhang Xiu's concerns, so he planned to invite Zhang Xiu to attack Cao Cao's thieves together, at least not letting him get on Cao Cao's chariot.
After getting this information, Shen Chen first rested at Huangmen Pavilion that day.
Early the next morning, he personally led three thousand soldiers and horses and marched northward towards Yuyang.
Most of these soldiers were armored, so there were more than a thousand carriages in the rear. In addition to armored weapons and other ordnance, there was also very little food and grass.
Because Shen Chen had sent people in advance to send a large amount of grain and grass to Gan Ning in Biyang to stock up. After meeting Gan Ning, he would integrate the army, take all the supplies away, and go straight to Runan.
After noon, their army had arrived at Yuyang.
Yuyang is located to the west of Feishui, but the place they agreed on was in a countryside east of Yuyang. At this time, on the hillside in the distance, Zhang Xiu was watching from a distance on horseback.
Seeing Shen Chen's army approaching, he asked his personal guards to call him over.
After a while, Shen Chen came on horseback with more than a dozen guards. When they arrived at the mountain, they saw Zhang Xiu without even wearing armor. He was carrying a bow and arrows and only had a few guards with him. He was a little puzzled and said: "General Zhang, what's the matter?" Traveling so lightly?"
Zhang Xiu smiled bitterly and said: "Uncle Wenhe has a very high prestige in the Xiliang army. He recently persuaded me to join Cao Cao. Many of his subordinates were also persuaded by him. I didn't dare to come directly. I came here secretly under the pretext of hunting." You meet."
"General, thank you for your hard work. Mr. Wenhe is indeed very capable."
Shen Chen said: "But without further ado, what does the general think? Can he still seek refuge with Cao Cao now?"
"Well"
Zhang Xiu hesitated and said: "My uncle told me that if I surrender to Cao Cao, he will not harm me."
"Um."
Shen Chen nodded: "If I were Cao Cao, I would not harm the general at this time. But after Yuan Shao is defeated, whether the general will live or die will all depend on Cao Cao's mood."
"this"
Zhang Xiu frowned. This was indeed the situation he was most worried about, so he had been hesitating until now.
Shen Chen added: "Before you entrust your life and property to others, you must think clearly whether that person is worthy of entrustment. Yong Jiu entrusted his secret affairs to his wife, but in the end he was destroyed. King Zhao handed over his troops to Zhao Kuo , and in the end the Zhao Kingdom was almost destroyed. If you have already formed a deadly feud with someone, and instead of destroying him when he is in danger, you help him instead, the most likely thing in the end is the matter between San Que and Xu Chen."
There are three allusions here. Needless to say, the story of Zhao Kuo. The story of Yong Jiu comes from the idiom "Everyone can do what he wants". It tells the story of the Spring and Autumn Period, when Dr. Zheng Ji Zhong was domineering and domineering. Duke Li of Zheng wanted to get rid of Ji Zhong, so he He sent Ji Zhong's son-in-law Yong Jiu to do it. Yong Jiu told his wife Yong Ji about it, and Yong Ji turned around and betrayed her husband and Duke Zheng Li.
There are also San Que and Xu Chen, which refers to the fact that Xu Chen was kind to the Que family in his early years. However, after the Que family became prosperous, he repaid the kindness with hatred and suppressed Xu Chen's descendants. It can be understood as a real-life version of the farmer and the snake, which is a very typical image of ungratefulness. .
Zhang Xiu was actually born in the Zhang family of Wuwei, a wealthy family in Liangzhou, so it was impossible not to know these allusions, so when he heard Shen Chen's words, his brows were tense and his heart was very entangled.
Seeing him like this, Shen Chen stopped persuading him and said: "I am anxious to go north to deal with Cao Cao. It doesn't matter if the general is unwilling to send troops to help, but please try not to surrender to Cao Cao. Otherwise, if Cao Cao fights in the future, When you have retreated from Yuan Shao and want to kill the general, don't regret that I didn't remind the general today."
"I see."
Zhang Xiu let out a long sigh, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you very much Shen Xiaolang. Let me go back and think about it again."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Shen Chen handed over his hand, reined in his horse and turned around to leave.
Although Zhang Xiu was not persuaded, as long as he did not surrender to Cao Cao, it would be a great help.
Otherwise, if Cao Cao gets another seven or eight thousand Xiliang elite, his plan to go north to attack Xuchang will probably lose even more of his chance of winning.