On the tenth day of May, Zhao Hongrun, who returned to Shangshui County, immediately arrived at the location of the county jail and stared gloomily at the old county jail site in front of him, which had long been reduced to ruins.
Behind him, kneeling down was Gu Liangwei, the first resident general of Shangshui County.
"... It is the last general who has betrayed His Highness's trust and respect. The last general deserves death." Gu Liangwei complained with a frightened look on his face.
Next to them, Shang Shui Army generals Wu Majiao and Wu Ji hesitated and wanted to step forward to plead for mercy, but suddenly they saw Wei Jiao, the chief of Zongwei, shaking his head silently at them. He understood in his heart and did not move.
Sure enough, within a moment, I heard Zhao Hongrun say calmly: "Get up."
Gu Liangwei glanced at Wei Jiao secretly for a few times, then stood up as instructed and whispered: "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Highness."
To be fair, does Zhao Hongrun really have no intention of punishing Gu Liangwei?
Yes, he really hasn't.
Because after all, even Zhao Hongrun himself did not expect that Huan Hu would have the courage to attack his Shangshui County.
Zhao Hongrun was not capable of blaming his subordinates for something he had not thought of.
Of course, having said that, it is difficult to explain this matter clearly. After all, once this kind of slackness sets a precedent, wouldn't everyone follow suit in the future and break the rules?
Therefore, although Gu Liangwei is not punished, it is unavoidable to say a few words and beat him.
"Gu Liang, I heard that since you arrived at Shangshui, you have already surrendered to the fourth wife?...I suddenly remembered that I haven't prepared a gift for you to celebrate." Zhao Hongrun said slowly.
In normal times, this sentence would probably represent a joke between the lord and his subordinates, but when it was mentioned at this time, it was obviously a reminder to Gu Liangwei to let the latter spend less time on women.
"At the end... I will finally be convicted." Gu Liangwei, who had just stood up for a short time, knelt down again in panic.
"Didn't I ask you to get up and answer me?" Zhao Hongrun looked back at Gu Liangwei. Seeing that the latter's face was pale, he immediately changed his tune: "Okay, I don't blame you for this... After all, after the city was attacked,
Your response was very timely, and Shang Shui did not suffer too much loss."
The three generals of the Shangshui Army have a clear division of labor: Gu Liangwei is responsible for guarding Shangshui, Wumajiao is responsible for guarding the port, and Wu Ji is responsible for training and expedition. Each of the three performs their duties.
This time when Shangshui was attacked, to be honest, Zhao Hongrun was not too disappointed with Gu Liangwei. After all, the latter's response was quite timely, and the series of orders had a clear idea.
Especially the fact that he immediately sent people to guard the Yangyu family's mansion was enough to prove Gu Liangwei's loyalty to him.
Some things don't need to be elaborated on.
The reason why Zhao Hongrun wants to beat Gu Liangwei is because this guy is the same as Wuma Jiao. They are self-aware and are very satisfied with the rights and status they have now. To put it harshly, they don't know how to make progress.
For example, Wu Majiao, after becoming a general, dressed more and more brightly, while Gu Liangwei was keen on marrying beautiful women. In daily life, almost all the specific affairs of the merchant navy were left to Wu Ji. It was simply
This is a typical example of living in old age and waiting to die.
Especially when the Green Crows told Zhao Hongrun about Gu Liangwei's daily itinerary from time to time, the latter was still somewhat angry with Gu Liangwei.
You must know that both Gu Liangwei and Wu Majiao were born in the two thousand generals. Although their qualifications are not as good as those of Qu Cheng, Yan Mo, Wu Ji and others, they are still at the level of generals. For example, when they were attacked at night two days ago,
Guliangwei's response is very clear.
In the final analysis, it is not that they are incapable, but that they are satisfied with what they get now and are the kind of people with no big aspirations or ambitions.
Zhao Hongrun did not dislike such unambitious generals. On the contrary, if Gu Liangwei and Wuma Jiao were as ambitious as Qu Cheng, Zhao Hongrun might not feel comfortable handing over the fiefdom of Shangshui County to them.
Of course, people are greedy.
Even Zhao Hongrun, after gaining the allegiance of two generals who are almost unlikely to betray him, naturally hopes that they will be more motivated. Although leaving most things to Wu Ji can be regarded as honing the potential of this young general.
General, but after all, as seniors, you two can't just hang around every day, right?
"This attack was a wake-up call to my Shangshui at that time... Fortunately, the one who attacked my Shangshui this time was just a first-class bandit like Huan Hu. At best, he is disgusting and disgusting to me. But what if this attack on Shangshui
Is it Xiong Tuo or Xiong Hu in the south? I'm afraid Shangshui has already fallen."
"The general will finally be convicted." Gu Liangwei said shamefully.
"Okay, this matter is over here... As for your punishment, I will punish you to accompany Wu Ji to train the Shang Navy for three months."
"...Yes." Gu Liangwei lowered his head in response, moaning secretly in his heart.
You must know that the training of the Shang Shui Army is extremely strict, especially after Zongwei Gao Kuo and others temporarily joined, the daily training volume is as strict as the Zongfu training Zongwei Yulinlang, or even more
And nothing less.
As a general who trained troops, Wu Jina, who had always set an example, was even more strict in self-discipline and drilled with his soldiers. How could this hard work be endured by the now pampered Gu Liangwei?
"Okay, please step back first."
After the beating was completed, Zhao Hongrun dismissed the generals. After all, Ying Kang, the leader of the Green Crows, hesitated several times, obviously wanting to say something.
Sure enough, after Gu Liangwei, Wuma Jiao, and Wu Ji retreated, Ying Kang immediately said, "Your Highness, this is Jin Gou."
"Hmm." Zhao Hongrun nodded, not surprised.
Think about it, no matter how powerful Huan Hu's cavalry bandits are, Shangshui County is protected by city walls. If there are no people to respond, this cavalry team will not be able to enter the city.
But with the help of Jin Gou and the Fuqiu thieves who followed him, the situation would be completely different.
Climbing up the city wall at night, assassinating the guards on the city wall, then opening the city gate and letting Huan Hu enter the city was a piece of cake for Jin Gou and the Fuqiu thieves who followed him.
"Ying Kang, prepare more manpower in the county in the future." Zhao Hongrun said in a deep voice.
"Yes." Ying Kang nodded.
With just one sentence, Zhao Hongrun didn't blame him too much.
Because he is very clear about the current situation of the Green Crows and Black Crows: these two hidden thieves are not only responsible for many orders from Zhao Hongrun, they are also at war with hidden thieves from other counties. Where can they find any spare manpower?
?Otherwise, Jin Gou and the Fuqiu thieves who followed him want to attack Shang Shui under the eyes of the Green Crows? Don't even think about it.
"Your Highness, I hope Your Highness can leave the matter of Jin Gou to Ying." After hesitating for a while, Ying Kang couldn't help but start to plead.
After hearing this, Zhao Hongrun shook his head and sighed slightly: "Ying Kang, this time Huan Hu and Jin Gou really make me sick, but Song County... I can't interfere. I hope you can understand."
"We can operate invisibly..."
"No matter how much we keep it secret, paper can't cover up the fire. I don't want to give the truth to Nangong... Nangong, that guy, betrayed his old master and was two-faced. But with the current situation, if I were to force Nangong to rebel, he would let me
Da Wei suffered a huge price, do you understand?"
Zhao Hongrun, who said this, knew very well that the State of Qi had declared war on the State of Chu. Although the war was only tentative at present, there was no telling when King Lu Xi of Qi would demand Wei as the leader of the "Three Kingdoms Alliance of Qi, Lu, and Wei".
country joins it.
The Wei State has already promised to advance and retreat together with the Qi State. If Nangong rebels at this time, the Wei State's situation will undoubtedly become very embarrassing.
When the time comes, the state of Chu, forced by the threat of national subjugation, accepts Nangong as a special case and strikes back against the state of Wei. This is not an impossible thing.
In addition, the north of Wei State is still under threat from South Korea. Therefore, it is extremely unwise to give Nangong an excuse to rebel at this time.
Therefore, when he learned that Huan Hu, Jin Gou and others had fled to Song County, even if Zhao Hongrun hated Huan Hu with all his heart, he had to order his own forces not to pursue him anymore, so as not to give evidence to Nangong.
.
"Wait until the king is free."
Zhao Hongrun said this.
Although Ying Kang was very sorry, he finally gave up his thoughts on chasing Jin Gou for the time being.
Yes, His Highness Prince Su is bound to retaliate. This attack by Huan Hu and Jin Gou on Shang Shui is tantamount to a slap in the face of His Highness. How can he be kind?
"In that case, I will wait for the good news from His Highness... Does Your Highness have any other instructions? If not, I will take my leave first."
"Well..." Zhao Hongrun thought for a while and said to Kang: "Call Yuma here for me."
Ying Kang was stunned for a moment, and then he suddenly retreated as if he thought of something.
Not long after, Yuma came to Zhao Hongrun's side. The expression on his face seemed a little complicated, as if he had already guessed Zhao Hongrun's purpose of calling him here.
And Zhao Hongrun did not talk nonsense with Yuma, and said bluntly: "Yuma, I still want a real cavalry army... This is not a request, but an order."
There was no surprise or surprise on Yuma's face, and he said with a wry smile: "Even if His Highness said so... Oh, that's all, Huan Hu, we Yuma people can't swallow this breath... But I have something to say first, and I will waste time with my brothers.
After more than ten years, His Highness, don’t expect that the newly trained cavalry will suddenly have the strength to match the name of ‘Dangjun Yuma’…”
"Then let's target the Huan Hu Cavalry Bandits for the time being...Huan Hu doesn't seem like a person who is willing to take ups and downs."
"Yes, I understand."
After giving the instructions, Yuma retreated, leaving only Zhao Hongrun and Zongwei Chief Wei Jiao still standing in front of the ruins of the county prison.
"What a pity..." Looking at Zhao Hongrun, Wei Jiao whispered: "Shen Yu still hopes that when he returns from his studies, he can accept Chen Xiao as his subordinate general..."
"Well..." Zhao Hongrun was silent for a long time and sighed slightly.
For more than a month after that, Zhao Hongrun stayed in Shangshui, busy with the construction of Shangshui County, and paying attention to the overall pattern of the world.
In early June, South Korea in the north unexpectedly attacked the Northland, seemingly to open up territory. However, the fall of the Northland into the hands of South Korea meant that Shanyang was no longer the only way for South Korea to attack Wei.
At the same time, Chenggao Pass tightened its guard, and the 50,000 Sichuan Northern Archers under the command of Zhao Hongrun also shifted the focus of defense to a large area south of the upper reaches of the Yellow River.
But in any case, South Korea has not completely broken up with Wei State yet. Instead, Qi State and Chu State are gradually getting angry with each other.
This made Zhao Hongrun sigh in his heart: The day when Qi, Lu, and Wei will attack Chu will not be far away.
In late June, Zhao Hongrun received a letter from Daliang, handwritten by his father. The letter only said one sentence: Come back to Daliang.
At that time, Zhao Hongrun guessed that he was probably selected by King Lu Xi of Qi as the commander-in-chief of the Wei army to jointly attack Chu.