By the end of August, Chen Chong and Liu Bei had roughly finalized all the details of the Eastern Expedition.
As Chen Chong said before, the Westerners now have a strategic advantage and only need to nibble away step by step. There is no need to rush to a decisive battle. Therefore, this time the troops are sent to Henan as the main attack direction. The main targets are the five important towns in Yanzhou: Puyang
, Changyi, Shouzhang, Luxian, and Fenggao. These important towns are all the foundations of Cao Cao's operations for many years. They are also the hometowns of many powerful generals in the Eastern Dynasty. Once they are captured, they will not only threaten Qing Dynasty geographically.
The connection between Xu and Hebei could also cause huge political turmoil in the Eastern Dynasties.
But this does not mean that troops will not be invested in Hebei. According to intelligence, the Eastern Dynasty's troops have always been organized in states and formed their own armies, so they can be divided into five armies: Yan, Ji, You, Qing, and Xu. However, in the Battle of Pingcheng,
The Qingzhou Army and the Yanzhou Army were almost wiped out by the Westerners, and the Jizhou Army also suffered heavy losses. The Eastern Army currently stationed in Yanzhou is a mixture of the only remaining Jizhou soldiers and new recruits, while the Youzhou Army was divided into two.
They were left to guard Juyongguan and part of them were to guard Yecheng as the new Jizhou Army. These were the most elite soldiers in the Eastern Dynasty at present, so we had to be careful.
Therefore, Chen Chong divided the march route into one main and one auxiliary. The main attack was Henan. Liu Bei personally led the Beifu Army and the Dongfu Army. He marched along the river with a force of 100,000 troops toward Yanzhou and wiped out the Eastern Dynasty cities one by one. The auxiliary attack was Guan Yu.
Lead the Central Army, cross the river bridge with 20,000 troops, and head towards Hanoi and even Yecheng, making a gesture of threatening Yecheng. The remaining 30,000 Central Army will serve as a reserve force between Luoyang and Xingyang to deal with the war situation.
Accident.
As for the time to send out troops, Chen Chong and Xun You discussed it and decided to set it in the early spring of the next year. By then, the rivers would thaw, floods would occur frequently, and the land would be filled with swamps. It would be difficult for the people from the east of Hebei to march across the river, and the people under his rule would not be able to do spring plowing. All these factors
It is a favorable condition for siege and siege.
The rough outline was finalized, and the next step was the tedious and tedious preparations. The Sili Mansion began to prepare grain, mobilize supplies, recruit civilians, and continuously sent money, grain, and weapons to Luoyang as the starting point for the Eastern Expedition.
Liu Bei has also taken up residence in the Eastern Capital in advance and began to continuously send scouts to inquire about changes in Hebei.
It is worth mentioning that in early September, Liu Bei's eldest son Liu Xie also ordered Xu Qianju to join the court through Chang'an, and then he was transferred to Chen Chong's house. This was also Liu Bei's arrangement. He told Chen Chong that it was best for Liu Xie to be familiar with it earlier.
Regarding government affairs, Chen Chong asked him to go to Zhizhong Caozhong to read through the documents and account books. Liu Xie did an excellent job. In less than ten days, he knew the entry and exit of each county in Gyeonggi proficiently, and even found some mistakes and omissions in previous years.
I checked with the local governor and found that it was indeed true.
This made everyone in the mansion look at him with admiration. Disciple Shangguan Sheng even said to Chen Chong: "Among my peers in Chang'an, I don't think there is anyone who can compare with Young Master Gong Lin. Young Master's literary and military skills are truly outstanding." At this time,
Liu Xie has already served in the Yuan Dynasty, and Chen Chong took the nickname Gonglin, so Liu Xie is often called Gonglin Gongzi in Xijing.
Chen Chong was quite worried about this. He regarded Liu Xie as his own, so he had always been very pleased with the child's growth. However, Liu Xie was too arrogant and sharp, even more so than when he was young.
Being so arrogant, Chen Chong really couldn't say that this was a good thing. However, Chen Chong also knew that Liu Xie was young and energetic now, so he probably wouldn't be able to listen to it, so every night, he recruited him to the study and the two of them copied poems together.
Practice writing.
By the winter month, most of the preparations were completed. On this day, Xiu Mu, Chen Chong, Liu Xie, and Chen Zhang were reading "Poetry" together in the study.
Come to think of it, the rain and snow are falling." Chen Chong suddenly remembered that the last time Liu Xie returned to Jinyang was three years ago, so he put down the book and asked him if he missed his mother Liu Xie and his brothers and sisters.
Liu Xiexin replied: "Uncle, I have at least ten brothers and sisters. How can I get through this?" But when it came to Liu Jia, he paused and solemnly said: "When I came here, I promised my mother that if I learn nothing in a day,
, I couldn’t see you again for a day. I wonder what kind of person your uncle thinks I am now?”
Chen Chong saw his rare serious expression, and his eyes suddenly softened. He thought: Although Ajian is a bit arrogant on the outside, he is still filial on the inside. Then he said: "What I can teach you in the book, you
I am already familiar with everything, but everything in the world cannot be explained in books. You have to understand it by yourself when doing things. When I was your age, I was not as good as you!"
Liu Xie waved his hands repeatedly and said: "My uncle was already known as the God of God at that time. How can I compare?" But a smile appeared on his face immediately and he said to himself, "Then I will write a letter to Luoyang in the evening.
, told my father that I will go back to Jinyang to celebrate the New Year this year."
Speaking of this, he suddenly remembered something, and his face was quite hesitant, but he finally said to Chen Chong: "Speaking of which, just last month, my mother sent me a letter asking if there was any good family in Beijing that my uncle would like to have."
Please help arrange the wedding."
"Oh?" Chen Chong was stunned when he heard this, and then he remembered that Liu Xie was already old enough to get married. Looking at Liu Xie's expression, he immediately knew that he already had someone he liked, and he asked with a smile: "Does Gong Lin like him?
If the family is a good family, I can intercede on your behalf."
Liu Xie did not speak, but looked sideways at Chen Zhang. Chen Zhang understood the idea and said immediately: "Father, half a year ago, Xuan Ji, the second daughter of Uncle Zhong's family, took a car to copy scriptures at Taixue Middle School. The students at that time were far away
When I saw it, I couldn’t stop and everyone said it was stunning!”
After hearing this, Chen Chong pointed at the two of them and shook his head with a smile and said: "You two, to marry a virtuous wife, the most important thing is to marry Qin, Se and Ming. Don't you know how Kong Ming married a wife? You must put sex first,
Virtue is the highest priority."
Liu Xie curled his lips and said disapprovingly: "Even though my uncle said so, aren't the two aunts he married also beauties?"
Chen Chong was speechless. He could only pat his knees and sigh, and said helplessly: "Okay, I will take you to the Zhong Mansion tomorrow so that you can have a look at the Zhong family's family tradition. By then, it won't feel complicated, so I will help you."
We kissed. But the wedding will probably have to wait until next year when your father goes on a military expedition." Liu Xie was overjoyed and immediately thanked Chen Chong.
Now that Liu Xie's marriage had been discussed, Chen Chong looked at his only son Chen Zhang and asked with a smile: "You are now thirteen, should I choose a marriage for you?"
Chen Zhang was stunned and hurriedly declined: "Father, I haven't even served yet, so why should I be in such a hurry?"
Chen Chong originally mentioned it casually, but when Chen Zhang refused, he didn't intend to say anything more. He just warned him: "I just heard from Wan Nian that you are a bit withdrawn. You don't go anywhere on weekdays. You often read in her room.
I have been looking at it for several hours. This is not a good thing. A gentleman should have many friends and knowledge. You should take this as a warning."
Unexpectedly, as soon as these words came out, Chen Zhang fell silent, obviously resisting this. When Chen Chong saw this, he could only sigh silently, and secretly told the princess, hoping that she would help take more care of Chen Zhang.
Speaking of which, in the past few years, Chen Chong and Dong Bai have given birth to two daughters. The eldest daughter is named A Zhi, who is already four years old, and the second daughter is named A Suo, who has just turned two years old. But the relationship with the princess
But there was nothing to come up with. Firstly, the two of them did not get along for much time. Secondly, there was always a thick barrier called the Emperor between them. Perhaps out of a tacit understanding of maintaining dignity, the two of them were still together.
They play the role of a fairly loving couple, but in fact, both of them know very well that this is just a superficial gesture of friendship.
The next day, Chen Chong took Liu Xie and Chen Zhang to visit Zhong Yao. The two old friends sat in the hall and talked about home affairs, while Liu Xie, Chen Zhang, and Zhong Yao sat down next to listen.
Under Chen Chong's guidance, the two soon talked about the younger generation. Chen Chong said deliberately: "The year before last, Chang Laohu said at the meeting that the younger generation was not as good as us. At the time, I didn't agree. But after looking at it in the past two years,
, the young man's extravagant spirit is far better than that of the Guanghe years, and he doesn't understand that he is the same as the light, so I think he has some truth."
Zhong Yao laughed loudly when he heard this, rapped his knuckles on the table and joked: "Ting Jian can also joke. When you were the only one in Imperial College, why didn't you know how to be like the light?"
Then he slowly said: "As for coquettishness, it's not that it's a waste of time. However, intelligence is given by nature, and temperament is developed later, so there is no need to be so harsh on future generations. In my opinion, everyone in the younger generation can be regarded as a leader in the world.
People."
Speaking of this, Zhong Yao immediately called his eldest son Zhong Yu and asked him to write a calligraphy for Chen Chong to appreciate. Chen Chong knew that Zhong Yao was a master of calligraphy and was obsessed with calligraphy, so he did not shirk it, so he stood aside and watched. Zhong Yu copied it.
It is "Chen Qiu's inscription. After writing it, Chen Chong took the copybook in his hand, nodded and praised: "Your Majesty's layout is meticulous, with both strength and softness. The stipples and paintings are quite interesting. I have won you seven successes!"
Zhong Yao was greatly comforted when he heard this. He stroked his beard and said, "Then, what rank will my son be in the next generation?" He said the question, but between his eyebrows and eyes, he was full of pride for his eldest son. Chen Chong didn't answer, just smiled slightly, waved his hand to Liu Xie and said, "Gong Lin, please write a word."
Liu Xie accepted the promise and stepped forward to write ink. After a moment, he copied the "Parrot Fu" that he had given him. Chen Chong directly handed the copybook to Zhong Yao and asked with a smile: "How do you think my nephew's calligraphy is?" Zhong Yao took a cursory look, and suddenly his face changed drastically. He glanced at Liu Xie in surprise and uncertainty, then shouted "Hello" a few times, and asked Cang Tou on the side to put away the calligraphy and painting. Then he sighed to his eldest son Zhong Yu: "People
There is someone outside, Yu'er, I think you can't catch up with Gong Lin."
After Chen Chong and others left, Zhong Yu was quite unconvinced because he had not seen Liu Xie's calligraphy, so he pestered Zhong Yao for an explanation. Zhong Yao waved his hands and comforted him: "Do you think I meant the words? Yes, in fact,
No, the lines in these words are wild and unrestrained. I think you have an imperial spirit! You will not be more valuable than a thousand households in the future, how can you catch up with the emperor?"
When he went to bed to rest that night, he said to his wife Sun: "Speaking of which, Xuanji is already fourteen years old, and it's time to find a family. I think the general's son is really good. When the general succeeds in the Eastern Campaign,
We came to propose marriage, and our family became prosperous."