"I will go to Yanling County to visit Pei Zhan and pay my respects to His Highness King Su!"
After carefully checking Zhao Hongrun's documents and confirming that they were correct, Yanling County Magistrate Pei Zhan took the initiative to salute Zhao Hongrun.
After all, before, they could not confirm Zhao Hongrun's identity, so they did not salute him. Now that the latter's identity as a prince was confirmed, they naturally had to make up for this courtesy.
During this period, Yanling military commander Chen Shi, including the county magistrates and military commanders of Linying and Xihua, which had fallen, also paid tribute to Zhao Hongrun one after another.
Yanling County Magistrate Pei Zhan, Wu Wei Chen Shi; Linying County Magistrate Zhao Zhun, Wu Wei Wang Shu; Xihua County Magistrate Xu Youzhi, Wu Wei Ma Zhang...
Zhao Hongrun sat on the main seat and glanced at these officials one by one. After a while, he asked: "How many cities has our Wei Dynasty lost so far?"
"Reporting to His Highness King Su, there are six." Yanling County Magistrate Pei Zhan lowered his head and replied: "Changping, Chenling, Xu County, Shangshui, Xihua, Linying...large and small counties, a total of six cities."
Six seats...
Although Zhao Hongrun didn't express it on his face, he was really surprised in his heart.
Because the news sent to Daliang only mentioned Changping, Chenling, and Xu County, he thought that the Wei Dynasty had only lost three cities. Unexpectedly, the Wei Dynasty had already lost six county towns.
"Get the map of the counties in Yingshui County." Zhao Hongrun ordered.
Pei Zhan, the magistrate of Yanling County, quickly ordered people to fetch the map of the counties in Yingshui County and lay it flat on the table. Zhao Hongrun stood up and walked to the table, glancing at the map on the table.
So that’s how it is, first Changping, Shangshui, then Chenling, Xu County,…and then Xihua, Linying…
Looking at the map of the counties in Yingshui County, Zhao Hongrun realized that the Chu army had launched three waves of offensives against the Wei Dynasty. These three waves of offensives had captured six counties in the Wei Dynasty. The current Yanling was obviously the fourth wave of the Chu army.
The goal of the offensive.
"Where are the county magistrates and military officers of the other four cities?"
Zhao Hongrun turned his head and glanced at all the civil servants and generals present, especially the county magistrates and military commanders from Linying and Xihua.
I saw these officials looking at each other and lowering their heads with ugly expressions.
It can be seen that they are a little sad and angry, and also a little ashamed.
After a long time, Pei Zhan, the magistrate of Yanling County, whispered: "Reporting to His Royal Highness King Su, the soldiers and civilians of Changping, Chenling, Xu County, and Shangshui counties could not escape the Chu army's attack... Those lords only had time to attack Chu.
News of the army's invasion spread to the rear..."
"That's right." Zhao Hongrun nodded with a heavy face and turned back to Zongwei Lu Mu: "Lu Mu, remember to record the four and six counties of Changping, Chenling, Xu County and Shangshui. Anyone who bravely resisted the Chu army
The sacrificed warriors must be reported to Daliang afterwards, and the imperial court will reward and compensate them... Check carefully and try not to leave them behind. They are all warriors of our great Wei Dynasty!"
"Yes." Zongwei Lu Mu accepted the order with his fists clasped.
This His Highness Prince Su...
Yanling Military Lieutenant Chen Shi looked at Zhao Hongrun with some surprise. He did not expect that His Highness Prince Su, although young, knew how to win people's hearts.
At this time, Zhao Hongrun turned to look at the civil servants and generals in the room, and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, please hide your grief in your hearts for the time being. The top priority now is how to repel the Chu army so that Yanling will not fall...
I wonder who is responsible for Yanling’s defense?”
After hearing this, everyone in the room looked at Yanling Wuwei Chen Shi in unison.
Seeing this, Chen Shi stood up and clasped his fists and replied: "Reporting to His Royal Highness King Su, the current defense line of Yanling is currently in charge of the last general."
"Let me tell you what the current general situation is."
"Yes." Chen Shi clasped his fists and said in a deep voice: "Currently, we in Yanling have recruited the defenders from Linying and Xihua. We have also recruited many defeated troops who fled from the front line. We have a total of ten thousand soldiers.
There are more than a thousand people, but as for the people in the city..."
He turned to look at Yanling County Magistrate Pei Zhan.
Seeing this, Pei Zhan quickly said: "Your Highness King Su, we currently have more than 100,000 people in Yanling, 70% of whom are refugees from the other six counties."
"Can it be placed properly?"
Pei Zhan smiled bitterly, lowered his head and said, "There are a large number of refugees, and they are still being resettled."
"Speed up...the weather is gradually getting colder. These people of Wei Dynasty have finally escaped from the Chu army, but we must not let them freeze to death in Yanling. Also, the supply of food, when I set off from Daliang
, the Ministry of Household Affairs is already preparing for grain and grass matters. I ask them to go to Caihe River and transfer to Yanling by land on the way. They will arrive in Yanling in about twenty days. You can rest assured to distribute grain."
"As commanded."
When Pei Zhan heard that the follow-up supplies of food and fodder were already on the way, he felt reassured.
"What's the situation of the Chu army?" Zhao Hongrun continued to ask Chen Shi and other military officers.
Chen Shi clasped his fists and said seriously: "The Chu army on the south bank of the Yan River is estimated to be about 60,000 people. They are the vanguard led by Xiong Hu from Pingyu County of Chu."
"Where is Xiong Tuo, Lord of Chuyang City?" Zhao Hongrun asked.
Chen Shi clasped his fists and replied: "Xiong Tuo leads an army of 100,000 people far behind. He should be... suppressing the four counties of Changping, Chenling, Xu County, and Shangshui..."
Suppression...that means taking away the wealth of the four counties, right?
Zhao Hongrun raised his hand and knocked on his forehead, then let out a long breath in deep contemplation.
Maybe Chen Shi saw that he was young, so he spoke very cryptically, but Zhao Hongrun actually knew very well in his heart: a feudal country like Chu State, where the Xiong clan princes were in power, wanted local princes like Xiong Tuo, the king of Chu Yangcheng, to send troops
, then the King of Chu must give them benefits, such as the right to seize the wealth in the city after conquering it.
There is no doubt that Xiong Tuo, the king of Chu Yangcheng, is probably trying to plunder the wealth of the captured Wei city at this moment, and even wantonly massacres the local Wei people for this purpose. After all, in Chu State, which pays attention to blood, the status of civilians in Chu State is very high.
It is quite lowly, let alone the common people of Wei State.
Xiong Tuo, Lord of Chu Yangcheng... remember this account first, I will attack your Yangcheng sooner or later!
The killing intent that flashed in Zhao Hongrun's eyes frightened Yanling Military Lieutenant Chen Shi, who was staring at him from time to time.
At this time, Linying County Wu Wei Wang Shu couldn't help but ask: "Your Highness King Su, when will the reinforcements from Junshui Camp and General Bailiba arrive at Yanling?"
"Well..." Zhao Hongrun suppressed the heaviness on his face and said with a smile: "General Bailiba and Junshuiying have already set off from Daliang. Calculating the schedule, they should arrive in Yanling around the end of October."
"End of October?" All the county magistrates and military officers present, including Chen Shi, had some expressions.
"Why does it take so long to get from Daliang to Yanling?... It's been forty days, right?" Chen Shi couldn't help but ask.
Yes, it doesn't take that long at all to get from Daliang to Yanling. For example, Zhao Hongrun, who rushed from Daliang to Yanling, only took seven or eight days to travel day and night.
Even if there are 25,000 soldiers in the Junshui Camp, if they march quickly, they can reach Yanling within fifteen days, which is the beginning of October. However, Zhao Hongrun said that the Junshui Camp will not arrive until the end of October.
There was a gap of more than twenty days between them.
Seeing that the Chu army's forceful crossing of the Yan River is getting stronger and stronger, who can guarantee that nothing will go wrong in Yanling in the past twenty days?
Zhao Hongrun did not elaborate on this, but pretended not to hear Chen Shi's question.
In fact, he knew it in his heart, because it was he who asked Bailiba to take the Junshui Camp to the intersection of Cai River and Wei River, build a dam there to store water, and then rush to Yanling after the completion. Counting the time, it was almost the same.
You can’t arrive in Yanling until the end of October.
Of course, Zhao Hongrun would not elaborate on these words to the officials in Yanling, otherwise these people would probably start jumping up and down.
"If the reinforcements from the Junshui Battalion don't arrive, how can Yanling County be defended?"
The civil servants and military officers in the room couldn't help but feel a little panicked.
Zhao Hongrun felt a little funny when he heard this and said: "There were no reinforcements from the Junshui Camp before. Didn't you still defend Yanling for more than half a month?"
After hearing this, Chen Shi shook his head and said: "His Royal Highness King Su has misunderstood. Previously, we were able to defend Yanling because the Chu army's offensive against Yanling was not violent. However, in recent days, the Chu army has begun to forcefully cross the Yan River... General
If something goes wrong, could your Highness send someone to urge General Bailiba?"
Speaking of which, Chen Shi is probably the person in the room who most hopes that General Bailiba and Junshuiying will arrive at Yanling as soon as possible. After all, he is now commanding an army of more than 10,000 people as Yanling Wuwei, which was illegal in the past.
.
Therefore, it is hoped that the imperial court will send a powerful person with sufficient weight so that he can hand over the military power that exceeds his authority.
Although Zhao Hongrun, as the dignified King Su, is enough to take charge of more than ten thousand soldiers in Yanling City, the problem is that His Highness King Su is too young. Chen Shi does not think that Zhao Hongrun can shoulder the responsibility of Yanling City.
The heavy responsibility of the remaining ten thousand soldiers and civilians.
Therefore, Chen Shi thought about it again and again, but finally did not propose the transfer of military power.
After all, compared to King Su, who was less than fifteen years old, he was more inclined to trust Bailiba, the general of the fifth battalion of Junshui Camp. At least he was a general who had participated in many battles and was worthy of the name.
"It seems that Chen Wuwei can't trust this king?"
As if he had read through Chen Shi's thoughts, Zhao Hongrun asked unexpectedly.
Everyone in the room became quiet after hearing this. They all turned to look at Chen Shi, only to see Chen Shi reply with a calm expression: "His Highness King Su's words are serious. How can I not believe His Highness King Su?"
Zhao Hongrun smiled when he heard this: "Seriously? But until now, I have not seen Chen Wuwei propose to transfer military power to me."
Chen Shi lowered his head and said nothing when he heard this, and everyone in the room looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
In fact, they all understood that the first thing they should do at this time was to transfer military power to King Su. After all, King Su was currently the most senior person in Yanling. However, not only Chen Shi, but also the rest of the people
No one mentioned it.
Just because His Highness King Su is so young that it is difficult for them to trust him.
Just when the atmosphere in the room gradually became tense, Zhao Hongrun suddenly laughed, waved his hand and said: "That's all, I was just joking with Chen Wuwei. In fact, Chen Wuwei has been doing quite well these days.
...In this case, I would simply appoint Chen Wuwei to be in charge of the war against Chu."
…
Everyone in the room looked at Zhao Hongrun in surprise.
Although they also knew that His Highness Prince Su did not actually have the right to promote or appoint people, he was still a prince, so his words had some weight.
Now that Zhao Hongrun has personally acknowledged Chen Shi, Chen Shi can be considered justified.
Later, when everyone in the room said goodbye and left, Zongwei Shen Yu couldn't help but ask: "Why doesn't His Highness take back the military power? As long as His Highness insists on asking for it, I believe these people will not dare to violate it."
"It's not necessary." Zhao Hongrun shook his head and said lightly: "Then Chen Shi did a good job indeed. If he is responsible for Yanling's defense line, he should not give the Chu army an opportunity to take advantage of it..."
"But if Yan Ling doesn't cooperate, won't it be difficult to implement His Highness's plan?" Zong Wei Weijiao asked with a frown.
"Why are you so anxious?... The Dredging Camp will not arrive at Yanling until the end of October. The king's plan will not be implemented until almost the end of October... Before that, let this Chen Shi worry more."
"I'm afraid that Chen Shi won't be obedient..."
"Disobedient?"
Zhao Hongrun took out a gold token from his arms and tossed it in his hand.