Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Three: Shang Cai's News
ps: The number of chapters in the previous chapter is wrong, it should be "Chapter 152". In addition, the "Yang" in the chapter name is actually "旸", because the starting point cannot be the traditional Chinese character for the chapter. ← Note: The ancient Chinese character "旸" "" is a different word from "Yang".
Another ps: I don’t know what to say--, the update mechanism has just been released, and I owe 13 chapters on the same day.
Thanks to the book friend "Qing Saki Xi" for the reward of 100,000 coins, to the book friend "The World of Yipin Shuren" for the reward of 10,000 coins, and to the book friend "Uesugi Eri's Husband" for the reward of 20,000 coins.
So, it is now 1/13.
————The following text————
It takes roughly three days to travel from Mushan to Shangcai.
Originally, Zhao Hongrun planned to take advantage of the new victory and high morale of the army to order the entire army to march on the road. Unfortunately, the weather was not kind. The next night, the temperature began to drop sharply, and in the middle of the night, ice began to fall from the sky, which is also a slang term. "Xuezi" or "Xuezi" in dialect, a kind of small particles caused by the condensation of cold air.
When he discovered this situation, Zhao Hongrun sighed helplessly, because when the ice fell, there would almost be a heavy snowfall, which would be a natural disaster for the Wei army that was marching towards Chu. .
Sure enough, when it dawned the next day, heavy snow began to fall from the sky, causing great obstacles to the advance of Zhao Hongrun's army.
"It's only two days away."
At that time, Zhao Hongrun was sitting astride his horse, looking up at the heavy snowfall in the sky with some annoyance.
Why is he so upset?
That's because he has learned about the general situation of the Chu State's border from Qu Cheng, Yan Mo and other Chu generals. He also knows that to the south of Shangcai on the border between Wei and Chu, there is a castle that can be called the northern barrier of the Chu State. Ancient city, Runan.
According to Qu Cheng, Yan Mo and others explained to Zhao Hongrun, Runan city is located in the southwest of Run River, so it was named Runan. And because "Shui Jing Zhu" said: The river flows from east to west, bends and flows, and hugs the city on three sides. If the gourd hangs down, it is also called the hanging gourd city.
It is undeniable that Xuanhu City in Runan is one of the important gateways into Chu State, and its strategic significance is equivalent to Fenxing Fortress in Wei State. If this city cannot be conquered, then the only option is to go around or go eastward into Pingyu Jun Xionghu's control area, or go west to Xiangshan, but no matter which way you go, it will inevitably add several days to the journey.
Maybe, in this situation where the road is blocked by heavy snow, even if it is delayed for more than ten days, it is not a joke.
The question is, where did Zhao Hongrun get more than ten days?
He must conquer at least one city in the territory of Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo before Yangcheng Lord Xiong Tuo escapes back to his territory and quickly recruits an army. Otherwise, the food problem alone will be enough to ruin the 80,000 people under Zhao Hongrun. The army.
On November 12, Zhao Hongrun led his 80,000 troops to Shangcai with difficulty, and stationed the army in the ruined ancient city of Shangcai.
There is an ancient city in Shangcai, and judging from the ruins, it is quite large. After all, this was the capital of Cai State in ancient times.
As Chu and Wei gradually became stronger and stronger, Cai State gradually perished, so that this former capital of Cai State has now become the border between Chu and Wei.
"Can people live in this broken city?"
Seeing the dilapidated ancient city of Shangcai from a distance, Zhao Hongrun's heart beat loudly.
Although he really hoped to find a place that could shelter from the wind and snow in this snowy weather, the ancient city of Shangcai in front of him was too shabby. Zhao Hongrun could clearly see that a large part of the wall in the northeast corner of the ancient city had collapsed. , this is simply undefended.
From the side, the surrendered general, no, now it should be said to be Yan Mo, the general of the Pingyang Army. After hearing Zhao Hongrun's muttering, he quickly explained: "Your Highness, King Su, with a radius of a hundred miles, Shangcai is the last place where our army is temporarily stationed. A good choice. Maybe King Su doesn't know it, but in fact, before Xiong Hu's defeat, the 30,000 troops under Xiong Tuo had been stationed here."
Yan Mo was once a general of three thousand men under Xiong Tuo, and he was far more familiar with this land than Qu Cheng. After all, Qu Cheng was once a general of Pingyu Lord Xiong Hu, and he knew Pingyu County. , But here, Qu Chengyuan did not understand Yan Mo, so Qu Cheng sent Yan Mo to follow Zhao Hongrun as a guide.
Sure enough, Zhao Hongrun didn't know what happened and looked at Yan Mo in surprise.
Seeing this, Yan Mo briefly explained the scene to Zhao Hongrun: "When Xiong Tuo sent his army to invade the Wei Dynasty, he sent Pingyu Lord Xiong Hu as the vanguard, and also ordered Zaifu Gen, Zi Cheyu, and Lian General Bi led his troops to Xihua, Linying, and Zhaoling respectively. He himself led an army of 30,000 men under his command at that time, and camped here for more than a month... Don't think that Cai City is dilapidated, but in fact, there are many remains in the city. We bought a lot of useful supplies from when Xiong Tuo was stationed at that time, which our army can use."
Zhao Hongrun glanced at Yan Mo suspiciously, and no matter how reluctant he was, he could only bite the bullet and enter this ancient city. After all, this ancient city had four walls, which could block the wind and snow a little.
"Were you under Xiong Tuo's 30,000 men at that time?"
"Yes." Yan Mo nodded without any concealment.
No wonder Qu Cheng sent him as a guide...
Zhao Hongrun suddenly understood and entered Shangcai City together with the Wei soldiers from Junshui Camp.
When passing the city gate, Zhao Hongrun glanced at the empty city gate and said strangely: "Did Xiong Tuo not think about repairing the city gate at that time?"
Yan Mo hesitated for a moment and said cautiously: "At that time, Xiong Tuo's 30,000 troops were stationed here. I guess those bandits didn't have the guts to attack."
Zhao Hongrun was stunned when he heard this. Originally, it was just a joke, but he unexpectedly got a piece of information.
"Thieves?"
"Your Highness King Su, you don't know?" Yan Mo opened his eyes wide and replied in surprise: "Shangcai is a famous lawless place on the border between Chu and Wei."
Zhao Hongrun turned around and glanced at Bailiba upon hearing this, only to see General Baili shrugging his shoulders. Apparently, this General of Junshui Camp, who had been stationed near Junshui in Daliang for many years, did not know anything about the Chu-Wei border.
It can be seen that Yan Mo is a very discerning general. When he saw that neither Zhao Hongrun nor Baili Ba knew what was going on here, he took the initiative to give an explanation without waiting for them to ask.
Indeed, although Shangcai is a dilapidated city, in fact it is not uninhabited.
Of course, the law-abiding people of the two countries would not dare to live in this lawless land. Those living near the border between Chu and Wei are all bandits and bandits who are not tolerated by Chu and Wei. .
In addition, this is also a trading place for merchants who smuggle salt and rice.
I have to say that Zhao Hongrun was really surprised when he heard what Yan Mo said. He asked in surprise: "You mean, my merchants from the Wei Dynasty secretly transported salt and rice to this place for trading?"
"As far as I know, this is indeed the case." Yan Mo nodded.
"How is the transaction done?" Zhao Hongrun asked curiously: "The sword coins of Chu State are not circulated in my country, Wei Dynasty."
"Mostly pearls, lacquerware, jade, and agate are traded and bartered."
"Oh." Zhao Hongrun nodded suddenly and said secretly in his heart, it seems that there are also black market traders who smuggle across national borders in our country.
The lacquerware of the Chu State, just like the porcelain of the Song State, was also very valuable in the Wei Dynasty. Not to mention pearls, jade, agate and other valuables.
Obviously, most of the black market smugglers in Wei State bought salt and rice from Wei State, transported it to Chu State, traded it into pearls, lacquerware, jade, agate and other valuables, and then transported it to Wei State for sale, making huge profits.
.
"Is it sold to Xiong Tuo?"
Yan Mo shook his head and said: "Not only Xiong Tuo. There are also the city lords under Xiong Tuo's rule."
"City Lord?"
Yan Mo heard this and explained: "King Su may not know that the big clans in Chu State live in their own small towns. For example...Has King Su ever heard of Zicheyu?"
Is that the Chu general who almost capsized on the Cai River and was later defeated by Sima An, the general of the Dangshan camp?
"I've heard of it." Zhao Hongrun nodded.
"Zi Che is a large clan in Xiong Tuo's fiefdom. Such large clans will build a small city on their own with Xiong Tuo's permission. The nearby Chu people rely on these large clans to survive.
For example, when renting grain seeds at the beginning of spring, King Su should have learned that the farmers in Chu State did not even have enough grain for the winter. How could they have the ability to reserve grain seeds? If they did not rent them from the big clans, what would they use to sow seeds next year?
...Therefore, within the Chu State, many poor peasants often gathered near the cities of big clans. Over time, a unique Hui-shaped city of Chu was formed, with the big clans living in the inner city and the poor peasants living in the outer city...
Every year, those big clans collect grains and taxes from farmers, and then transport them to the city where Xiong Tuo is..."
Yan Mo paused and said seriously: "When we enter the Chu Kingdom, His Highness Prince Su will see that there are countless small towns like that in the Chu Kingdom."
"Hmm." Zhao Hongrun nodded, and then joked: "Exchanging salt rice for pearls, emeralds, and agate is a huge profit... Later, I will also send some people to exchange salt rice for pearls and emeralds."
Yan Mo sighed when he heard the words, shook his head and said: "That was in the past, now those big clans no longer exchange pearls and jade for salt and rice..."
"Then for what?"
A look of embarrassment appeared on Yan Mo's face, and he whispered: "Women!... Young women from the Chu State. Most of them are the wives and daughters of poor families. They have no choice but to sell them to the big clans at low prices because they cannot make a living.
, and then was trafficked to..." He glanced at Zhao Hongrun and did not continue.
But even though he didn't say it clearly, Zhao Hongrun obviously understood what he meant, and couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
After all, this is not a glorious thing.
After a while, Zhao Hongrun coughed, changed the subject and said, "By the way, apart from salt and rice, what else have I, the black market merchant in Da Wei, transported?"
Black marketeer?
Yan Mo muttered this word in his heart, nodded and said: "Yes, there is iron ore, and..."
Zhao Hongrun frowned when he heard the word iron ore. After all, iron ore is different from salt and rice. It is a resource reserve and an important strategic material. How can it be traded to a hostile country like Chu State?
"what else?"
"And ordnance!"
Yan Mo replied in a deep voice.
In his opinion, since he has voted for Zhao Hongrun, there is no need to hide anything anymore.
ordnance?!
Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth, but could not close it for a while.
Beside him, Baili Bayi, the general of Junshui Camp, subconsciously turned his gaze to Yan Mo, with a look of shock on his face.
Are you kidding...
Zhao Hongrun's face suddenly darkened.
In his opinion, smuggling salt and rice is just a matter of smuggling iron ore and ordnance to hostile countries?
"Is it true?" Zhao Hongrun asked coldly, squinting his eyes.
Yan Mo heard the words and said solemnly: "I will never dare to speak nonsense... If King Su doesn't believe it, I will wait until Xiong Tuo's city is captured. I will personally lead His Highness to see the warehouse. I believe there are many people from the Wei Dynasty in the warehouse."
Outflow of ordnance."
Zhao Hongrun took a deep look at Yan Mo and already believed it in his heart. After all, Yan Mo really didn't need to do anything to destroy Zhao Hongrun's trust in him.
In other words, what he said should be true.
What a courage!
Zhao Hongrun cursed secretly in his heart.
He has decided that after this battle is over, he will investigate to see which group of people has the courage to secretly trade the weapons of Wei to Chu. (To be continued.)