In times of war, messages travel extremely quickly.
Not long after Magistrate Hu and others left Jizhou, General Yuan Wei knew about it, and in a few days they reported everything they said.
General Yuan Wei frowned and asked: "Do you think it is reliable to regroup at Pengcheng Camp?"
The officers and generals around him also frowned, not knowing how to answer.
"Logically speaking, the Pengcheng defense line is very important." A general said hesitantly, "It is easy to defend but difficult to attack..."
But in fact, the Pengcheng camp was defeated and General Pengcheng ran away.
"But the ones guarding Pengcheng now are the reinforcements from Jiannan Road and Huainan Road." Another general reminded.
That should be different. If it weren't for these reinforcements, the rebels would be raging in Jiangnan Road now. They would also be fighting to defend the city, or they would be dead...
"Because of its unique location, Jiannan Road does not have a reputation for fighting against the rebels, but it has many soldiers and horses." General Yuan Wei has thought about it many times, "Huainan Road's Lady Chu is a new recruit after the war, but she is famous for her bravery in several battles.
"
The generals around him nodded. According to the news, upon hearing the arrival of these two reinforcements, the vicious Chengqing took the initiative to retreat.
"It seems that there are three routes of reinforcements." A general added, "Reinforcements from the Qi Governor on the Southeast Road are also here."
However, this topic was over, and General Yuan Wei didn't pay much attention to it. He was thinking about other things, which were also the most important things.
"How many reinforcements are there?" he said. "Inquiry information said that Magistrate Hu said that Peng Wei suffered heavy losses and did not have many troops left. The one leading the troops in Jiannan Road was the sister of the young governor. Is this reliable?
"
Is it just pretending?
"The little governor's sister said that she now has five thousand troops and can recruit more troops in the future." A general thought about the news he heard.
"I think this sister's words can be trusted." Another general twisted his beard and pondered, "Jiangling Mansion is Li Fengan's hometown after all. There is no war in Jiannan Road now. You can turn a blind eye to requests for troops from other places, but Jiangling Mansion must do its best."
Try your best, Governor Li is dead, and your children can't even keep their home? If word of this spreads, Wawa Jiedu will lose face."
Everyone nodded and said it made sense, which is why General Jiwei agreed to go to Pengcheng again to gather defense and jointly defend the Jiangnan Road defense line.
"The problem now is not Jiannan Road." General Yuan Wei's brows were still serious, "but Huainan Road."
Don't expect to hold the Pengcheng camp just by relying on the sister of the little governor of Jiannan Road and his troops. Therefore, reinforcements from Huainan Road are also very important.
"How many soldiers and horses have come to Huainan Road? Four to five thousand? Are they all going to stay here? Or are there any reinforcements coming?"
"The Jiannan Road reinforcements are doing their best to be reasonable and can be trusted, but what about Huainan Road?"
"Mrs. Chu is at war with Ma Jiang. Will she allocate her troops to Jiangnan Dao? She is not Mrs. Jiangnan, and Jiangnan Dao does not have her father."
Yes, people say that Mrs. Chu is a goddess who saves people in distress, but for generals, Mrs. Chu is just accumulating strength to raise troops.
In the past, everyone didn't care about soldiers and horses, and even didn't report the shortage of soldiers, just to get more soldiers' pay and food. Now they all regret it, because soldiers and horses are their wealth and life.
Why did Mrs. Chu give her wealth and life to Jiangnan Road in vain?
The thick, light, long, short, thick, and thin eyebrows all frowned, and a dark cloud formed on the city wall until smoke billowed in the distance.
"They're coming!"
Everyone smoothed their brows, followed General Yuan Wei and rushed down the city wall, opened the city gate, and saw the men and horses billowing with smoke and dust approaching.
General Yuan Wei first saw a woman, then the big flag in the hands of the soldiers and horses behind her, and then the prefect in official robes was revealed behind the big flag.
"Miss Minghua." General Yuan Wei greeted her and greeted her warmly, "I have admired you for a long time."
General Yuan Wei had never thought of giving gifts to a girl who could be his granddaughter, regardless of whether she was the sister of Jiedushi or not.
But now...if the Chu lady came in person, it would be natural for him to treat her with courtesy.
If one woman can do this, it's not surprising if there are two or three of them.
Li Minghua dismounted and returned the courtesy.
Magistrate Hu, who was a step behind, came over.
It was more convenient for the man. General Yuan Wei stepped forward and took his hand: "Master Hu, thank you for your hard work."
Everyone else came up to say hello and said they knew you were coming. Hearing that Chengqing was repelled was my blessing from Jiangnan Road.
"I don't know how to set up defenses." General Yuan Wei asked, showing an anxious and eager expression, "I will gather my troops right now."
This was not a sincere inquiry, but a temptation or test. Fortunately, Uncle Xiang had taught her in advance.
Li Minghua showed no signs of timidity. He gave Xiang Yun a big smile in his heart, stretched out his hand, and the soldiers next to him unfolded a map: "The current situation around Jiangnan Road is like this..."
She simply and neatly told what Xiang Yun had told her.
The generals with their ears pricked up all around stopped watching the fun and nodded repeatedly. Li's daughter was not in vain for leading the army.
Li Minghua ended the greetings: "The Pengcheng camp is currently stable. We will gather troops and horses after we discuss it in detail."
General Yuan Wei laughed and nodded repeatedly. He was about to extend his hand to make a request but stopped when his eyes fell on the soldiers and horses carrying the big flag.
"Are these the soldiers and horses of Mrs. Chu?" he asked.
When asked, the locust handed the flag in his hand forward. Can't you see such big words?
Li Minghua had already answered for him, and General Yuan Wei once again praised: "Sure enough, he is brave and powerful."
The locust thought to himself that they really had bad eyesight. If they were really brave, they would have become big bandits long ago. How could they be beaten like dogs by Xiang Qiubeard alone.
Li Minghua smiled and said nothing, expressing his agreement with silence.
General Yuan Wei twisted his beard and asked what he really meant: "I wonder how many Chu troops have come?"
"Only more than a thousand people," the locust replied.
Seeing that General Yuan Wei's face was not very good, Li Minghua added: "There are also more than 4,000 Zhenwu troops."
General Yuan Wei sighed softly: "I really didn't expect that Mrs. Chu's war situation was so tight, and she would send troops to assist me in Jiangnan Road..."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by the locust.
"General, you are exaggerating what you said." He said, "Our Lady of Chu and Jiannan Dao are one family."
Family? Jiannan Road and Zhenwu Army are in the south and north, so why are they just one family?
Li Minghua frowned slightly, but she did not have these doubts, because firstly, she knew that the Locusts were not the soldiers of Lady Chu, and secondly, she was not puzzled by the reinforcements sent by Lady Chu.
Mrs. Chu is such a heroine.
This locust has no sense of propriety in what he says.
"Don't talk about irrelevant things," she warned.
Tu Locust would not swallow what he said: "Master Han Xu of Jiannan Road, he has a life-and-death relationship with our Lady of Chu State, and has a close relationship. Master Han is the governor of Jiannan Road granted by the late emperor.
As an official, he wants to help Jiangnan Road, so of course Mrs. Chu will help."
General Yuan Wei laughed and said, "That's it." Without hesitation, he extended his hand to invite us, "It's been a hard journey, everyone, please come in quickly and we'll talk later."
General Yuan Wei stepped aside to give way. Locust rushed in first, followed closely by Li Minghua and Magistrate Hu.
Before General Yuan Wei followed up, he turned his head and whispered to the attendant beside him: "Go and find out, we have a lot of connections."
He followed the response and retreated silently among the crowd rushing into the city.
There was a man on a hill outside the city who watched these people enter the city. He turned around and ran away, mounted his horse at the foot of the hill and galloped. After a day and night, he entered a city.
Although the sky was dim and bright, there were already many people standing and walking around in the government office. When they saw this person running in, they all gathered around him.
"How?" they asked eagerly.
The visitor didn't stop all day and night, his mouth was dry, his tongue was dry, and his voice was hoarse: "Ji Wei and Yuan Wei have accepted them."
The people who gathered around let out strange sighs.
"Look, look."
"I knew it would be like this."
"Those are the reinforcements from Jiannan Road and Huainan Road."
In the misty morning mist, it seemed like the noise of grass and insects.
"Okay, what's all the fuss about?" scolded an official, turned around and walked into the main hall with his sleeves fluffed, his footsteps paused again, "What are you..."
There was a figure sitting in the dimmed hall, drinking tea leisurely.
Others also came over and stopped immediately when they saw this man's noise.
The previous official walked in quickly: "Why haven't you left yet? The troops from Jiannan Road and Huainan Road have already arrived, and Ji Wei and Yuan Wei have also been persuaded by them. If you don't leave now, you won't be able to leave!"
The tea drinker put down the cup: "What? Are you going to kill me?" The voice smiled sharply, "That's fine, I am a traitor now, you cut off my head and offer it to Jiannan Road and Huainan Road.
It must be a great achievement."
The sound cut through the morning fog, startling the officials who came in. He waved to the outside, and the people who followed him closed the government office in fear.
"Don't talk nonsense." The official said angrily, "Although I hate you for surrendering to the enemy, Huang Maosheng, we have been classmates in the same hometown for ten years, but I will not kill you to take credit."
The tea drinker put down his cup, his voice became calm and a bit sad: "Yes, Ah Shi, we have been classmates for ten years, but I have not achieved success, but you have a smooth career, and you have always supported me with your friendship, so I can earn money."
Raise a family, marry a wife and have children.”
Looking back on the past, especially now, can make people feel sad.
"Ah Shi, if you don't have the heart to kill me, I'm not here to harm you." Huang Maoshang sighed, "In this world, it's more difficult for people like us to seek fame and a future. Once we have the opportunity, we can't let it go."
The official looked solemn and said nothing.
"Mr. Huang, it's not that we adults regret it." An official said in a low voice, "There is really no chance now. How can we compete with others in this small town without soldiers and horses?"
Huang Maosheng said: "Who asked you to compete? Don't you know that in this world, it's easy to hide from open guns and hard to guard against hidden arrows?"
People in the hall were stunned.
"You have no soldiers and horses, it's just a weak city. You are all civil servants. All you want to do is to bring peace to the common people. When you see such soldiers and horses passing by, you admire and want to rely on them. Please come in and have a good meal."
Isn't it natural to have a drink and entertain you?"
"They have many soldiers and horses, and they are strong. When facing weak ones like you, they will only show mercy and be less vigilant."
"To kill, you don't have to use swords, guns, well water, food, incense and candles. These things can also kill people."
Huang Maosheng's voice rose and fell in the darkness, causing the hearts of the people in the hall to rise and fall.
"They, if they die here, we won't be able to survive." An official said tremblingly, "Yuan Wei, Ji Wei, and Huainan Road, Jiannan Road..."
Huang Maosheng's laughter interrupted his words.
"If they die here, who will dare to come to Jiangnan Road?" Huang Maosheng said, "If Jiwei and Yuanwei are really brave, why wait for them to come to invite them? Now it's just because these reinforcements have gained some confidence.
, if the main generals of these reinforcements die here, their confidence will inevitably collapse."
"Little Governor An has already sent a troop of troops to the border between Southeast Road and Jiangnan Road, just waiting for Ji Wei Yuan Wei's troops to collapse."
"When Little Governor An's rebels make a surprise attack and enter the hinterland of Jiangnan Road, it won't be that easy for Huainan Road and Jiannan Road to fight back."
"Don't be frightened by their names. Jiannan Road and Huainan Road are themselves trapped in the quagmire, and it is impossible to devote all their efforts to assist Jiangnan Road."
The hall was silent.
Huang Maosheng sighed softly again and looked at the officials sitting aside: "Because of Chengqing's defeat, Governor An was very angry. If you can kill these people without using a sword or a shot, let those soldiers know,
We civil servants who are powerless are not useless. Let everyone know that even if the world changes, literature is not as good as martial arts."
Originally it belonged to Wu Qing and Wen, but now a little white soldier could shout at officials like them, and low sighs could be heard in the hall.
"I have a promise from Governor An. If this is done, Jiangnan Road will be under your control."
A hand stretched out to hold the official's hand. He was startled in his trance, and looked up to see his classmate's eyes shining in the darkness.
"Ah Shi, have you forgotten? Our original ambition was to be the governor of a government, to protect the peace of the country and to establish a reputation for the whole world."
The official's hand was stiff, but he did not withdraw it in the end, and his stiff shoulders slowly relaxed.
"This kind of medicine is hard to find." He said slowly.
Huang Maosheng smiled: "I'll go get it."
When he stood up, the officials did not stop him. Others in the hall took the initiative to open the door. Some people hesitated and followed him.
"Mr. Huang, will you take the car?"
"Why don't we accompany you?"
Huang Maosheng said hello with a smile on his lips. Those people were very happy and rushed to open the yamen. The morning light poured in from outside the door, which was a bit dazzling for a moment. Fortunately, there was a person standing outside the door, casting a shadow...
"Who are you?" Huang Maosheng's smile froze slightly and he backed away.
But it was still a step too late. The shadow suddenly lengthened. He stepped forward and swung the long sword over. Blood flowers bloomed in the morning light and hit the closed government office with a bang.
...
...
The morning light was bright and then very hot. Magistrate Hu raised his hands to build an awning and looked at the small town in front of him.
The small town did not have the warm welcome of the officials in the past, but the city gate was open, and the people coming in and out uneasily moved out of the way to watch them.
"In such a small town, the rebels didn't need to fight, they just shouted a few times and captured it," Magistrate Hu lamented.
An official in front of me said repeatedly: "Yes, yes, that's why our Lords want to invite you and Miss Minghua to rest here."
Magistrate Hu was no longer the easy-to-talk official, and said calmly: "But we don't have any troops left for you."
The official hurriedly said: "Don't dare, as long as the adults pass by here, it will be enough to deter the rebels."
Li Minghua reassured: "Don't worry, with Ji Wei Yuan Wei guarding you, nothing will happen to you here."
The officials thanked them gratefully and led the crowd into the city. Although the city was a little panicky, it was generally very stable. The government office had swept it again, and the ground was slippery and clean, which relieved the heat a bit...
The locust sniffed his nose and said, "It smells fishy."
Magistrate Hu was a little surprised to see only two or three minor officials standing at the entrance of the government office.
"When the war started, everyone who could find a way out ran away." The official sighed in a low voice.
This is also very common. Magistrate Hu nodded, and the official ran in first and said: "I will go and invite you, sir." He then pointed to both sides, "If you and Miss Minghua want to clean their hands..."
People have three urgent needs. They are not as comfortable in the wilderness as in the government office. Magistrate Hu and Li Minghua were not polite, and were led by the two petty officials to go to both sides.
The clerk lowered his head and opened the door, and Li Minghua stepped into the small room.
A voice came over my head: "Is this your home? Come if you are asked to come? Why are you so trusting? Do you think wearing official robes means you are a good person?"
Li Minghua leaned against the door and looked at the man sitting on the table. He was a little surprised, but he didn't lose his composure in shock.
She still frowned: "What are you doing in a woman's clean room?"
Xiang Qiubeard was startled and then got angry: "This is not a clean room!" Fupin Chinese