There are two roads from Handan to Yandi. Because there was unrest in Julu County last year, although the rebels fled into the mountains and forests of Daze, the place was still a little uneasy, so the armies of Fusu and Yang Duanhe took the western front:
Head north from Hengshan County.
Hengshan County is the Shijiazhuang area in later generations. The customs are similar to Handan. The land is sparse and the people are impatient. People are anxious and do not like farming. There are many people who rely on opportunities to eat. Among the people, husbands gather to play games, sing tragic songs generously, and do some heroic things.
Looting, the act of digging up graves and robbing graves.
After the Qin Dynasty ruled Hengshan County, all these were banned, but the activities of local light knights and evil teenagers were still frequent. This time, the imperial court forced this group to enlist in the army as civilian husbands, which also caused many people to flee into the mountains and forests and gather as bandits, so it was also
Not many were recruited, there was a mixture of good people and bad boys, only two to three thousand people.
Therefore, the 10,000-strong army did not receive much replenishment here. The soldiers from Zhao's hometown could still only eat brown rice, and the civilians only had some gruel to drink. Although everyone brought their own dry food at the beginning, one day they would eventually run out.
The soldiers served but did not have enough to eat, so they naturally complained a lot. Every morning, thousands of people woke up from hunger, sat weakly on the ground, looked gloomily at the Qin officials who urged them forward.
It was the actions of the general Fusu who took the lead in eating porridge, which diverted the anger of the soldiers. At first, they thought he was putting on a show and must be eating secretly. But along the way, every time Fusu came to patrol the camp, he saw that he was getting thinner and thinner.
Like the soldiers and civilians of Zhao, they were as hungry.
"The young master is good, but the bad ones are the Qin officials who deduct military rations."
Many Zhao people think so, but this feeling only lasts for a few days, because their situation has not improved yet, and if this continues, they may flee.
This dangerous situation did not improve until the end of March, when we arrived in Fanyang County, Guangyang County.
Guangyang County is the northern Hebei region in later generations. There is a famous granary here: Dukang.
In the comparatively barren land of Yan in the Central Plains, Dukang is really a blessed place. When Jing Ke attacked Qin, his name was to present the map of Dukang. It can be said that winning Dukang was equivalent to giving up the country of Yan itself.
Granary, everything is controlled by others.
After the Qin Dynasty destroyed Yan, it also attached great importance to this area and encouraged the local people to implement cattle farming. With the introduction of the technique of compost retting, Dukang had continuous bumper harvests. Golden millet slowly piled up the warehouses of several nearby counties.
This was also the biggest reason why Qin Shihuang dared to use troops in the Northeast.
When more than 10,000 troops arrived in Fanyang County, they finally no longer had to eat thin porridge to satisfy their hunger, but instead ate hot corn rice.
Fusu was finally able to put down his porridge bowl and take a bite of the long-lost dry rice.
"Master, why are you doing this?"
Yang Duanhe couldn't help but feel a little moved when he saw the young master Fusu devouring the food. It's easy to put on a show once or twice, but if you can insist on eating only gruel for more than ten days, I'm afraid this is true benevolence.
There is another meaning in this sentence: Do we need to be so kind to these conscripted soldiers from Yan and Zhao who can only be used to fill ravines?
Fusu had his own idea: "We have traveled a long way, and there are many soldiers in Guanzhong, Zhao, and Yan, and there are more than ten thousand civilians. If the three armies cannot work together, I am afraid that they will be in chaos before the war begins, and the civilians will not be able to escape."
There are only a few left. If I can't treat them with sincerity, how can I ask them to serve in front of the battle?"
Do harsh punishments alone really work?
"Young Master has a good idea, but..."
Yang Duanhe sighed, remembering Qin Shihuang's instructions to him, he hesitated to speak, and could only shake his head and said: "Things are not as simple as the young master thought..."
…
The food from Dukang stabilized the somewhat shaken morale of the army. The experienced Yang Duanhe suggested that the army rest near Fanyang County for two days, so that the dirty soldiers and civilians who had been marching on the dirt road for many days could take a wash in Yishui.
Take a bath to prevent lice and fleas from reproducing and spreading diseases after summer.
Fusu and his entourage rode on horseback by the Yishui River, which was planted with jujube trees. More than ten years ago, an important event happened in this river: the wind was rustling and the Yishui River was cold.
Go and never return!
Fusu was no stranger to Prince Dan. When he was a child, Prince Dan was still a hostage of the Qin State and often attended banquets. Fusu was even asked by Qin Shihuang to call him "uncle". It is said that he was one of Qin Shihuang's children when he was young.
One of the few good friends, the two were in Handan together, were both hostages, and suffered from the same illness.
When Prince Dan was drunk, he sang a deep and powerful Yan song, which was Fusu's first impression of this northern country.
However, no matter how good the relationship is, it is no match for national hatred. Qin will destroy the six countries. Prince Dan and Qin Shihuang have broken up, and they want to kill him quickly!
Prince Dan, Jing Ke, and Gao Jianli can be regarded as the enemies of Prince Fusu. Although he often gave advice and was regarded as rebellious by the emperor, Fusu loved his father and would not tolerate these people who wanted to harm his father's life.
No sympathy at all.
However, is the Yan people's hatred for Qin as serious as Prince Dan and Gao Jianli's hatred for Qin Shihuang?
This does not necessarily mean that the resentment of the Yan people towards the Qin people seems to be lighter than that of the Zhao people. After all, it was already very late for the two countries to become enemies and attack, and the people of Yan did not miss the Yan royal family much. However, Qin Shihuang
In order to punish the Yan State, punitive heavy taxes and heavy labor were imposed on Guangyang County, which caused many complaints from the local Guizhou leaders.
After walking around the Yishui River and returning to Fanyang County, Fusu asked the local magistrate named "Xu Gong" to help him find some local scholars. The army was walking in Yan. If there were locals as staff,
It is also easier for him to understand the local situation.
A few people were found, and they were all children of local wealthy families. They mostly praised Fusu, praising him for loving soldiers like a son, and praising him for his benevolence, virtue, and prowess. Fusu got tired after listening too much, so he responded casually.
, and let them leave.
The last person was a poor scholar with a bun on his head and no crown. He was wearing a soap-colored cloth with his hands in his sleeves. When Fusu was chatting with others, he would look up at him from time to time, stroking his triangular beard, half-smiling but not smiling.
, Fusu also noticed him.
After the others had finished speaking and retired, the scholar bowed to Fusu and said in a somewhat unsophisticated Guanzhong dialect: "Fanyang Buyi Kuai Che, I have seen the young master!"
"It turns out that Mr. Kuai can speak elegant language." Fusu returned the gift. He heard from County Magistrate Xu that this Kuai Che was a rare scholar in the local area. He had traveled to Yanqi and was erudite.
Famous.
Since there is no need for people who can speak dialects to act as translators, things are simple. Fusu casually chatted with Kuai Che for a few words and found that he did have some real skills. He knew the transportation and cities of Yan well. When talking about Korea,
He can also tell something that Fusu doesn't know.
Fusu became interested and was about to chat more when Kuai Che suddenly stood up and said: "The grassroots heard that the young master shared food and clothing with the soldiers along the way. He did not regard the soldiers of Zhao as outsiders and raised food for them, so he came to Yan.
, and he is known as a courteous and virtuous corporal, so he is really a virtuous young master! However, the common people think that what the young master needs to care about is not North Korea and the vast sea, but other, more important things! "
Fusu was a little strange and asked him what was going on. But Kuai Che said nothing and looked at the translator and others in the room, meaning that this matter was not something outsiders could understand.
The captain of the personal guard said to Fusu: "Sir, this person is a deceiver or an assassin. It's better to chase him away or arrest him."
"You've already searched him and he's unarmed, so what can you do? You'd better listen to what he has to say."
Fusu asked his two most trusted guards to stay in the room. After the others left, Kuai Che bowed and said:
"The grassroots people said frankly, I am not here to offer advice for the young master's eastward expedition, but to pity you as a dying person and come to mourn..."
The two guards were furious when they heard this, drew their swords and said: "Bold!"
But Fusu stopped them and said with a smile: "Mr. said this, does it mean that Fusu will fail in his eastern expedition?"
Kuai Che said: "Young Master has a long-term general to help you, so you will definitely win the Eastern Campaign, but there may be disaster after victory."
Fusu frowned: "What do you mean by this?"
Kuai Che shook his head and said: "Young master, haven't you heard about Jin Gongzi Shensheng? Anyone who comes will be the prince. The prince will lead the army, and the situation is dangerous. The prince is the eldest son, but he has not been appointed as the heir for a long time. What's more, He repeatedly angered the emperor and was reprimanded. It is clear that the emperor dislikes the young master very much."
"Now I have been released as a general. It is called experience, but it is actually a far-off expedition. The common people are worried that the young master may have difficulty in applying for life during this trip!"
Snapped!
Fusu couldn't stand listening any more, and stood up with a slap in the face, showing disgust: "Your Majesty is in the prime of life. A son should be afraid of being unfilial, and should not be afraid of not being able to become an heir. Fusu can't bear to hear what you said anymore, please go back." !”
The guards came to take Kuai Che away, but Kuai Che continued loudly: "Does the Master really want to go to the road of death? He is really kind, but the loser in the fight for the position may lose his life. The Master has always loved people and fought hard, and wants to abandon the world. Don’t you care about the people? Now there is a plan that can save the young master from danger."
Fusu, who had already stood up, turned back and said coldly: "I'll let you say the last word."
Kuai Che was put down, he flicked his sleeves and said with a smile:
"Shen Sheng died inside, and Chong'er was safe outside. The son's kindness, pushing clothes and food along the way, won the hearts of the people of Yan and Zhao. In this case, it is better to recruit people from Yan and destroy Canghai Jun and Queen , in the name of the large number of rebels in Haidong, please continue to guard it."
"At that time, if the emperor does not agree and wants you to return to Xianyang, the prince may still be able to inherit the throne. If he agrees, he will clearly not want to make the prince his heir. At that time, the prince will protect himself in Haidong and retreat. , then just like Ji Zi, he can still be regarded as a prince! If the mountains and mausoleums collapse one day, the young master will be able to surrender and raise troops to take over the land of Yan and Zhao, and then take over the Central Plains!"
…
"You are a poisonous man who is full of nonsense and plotting against you. After listening to your words, I wish I could be like Xu You and go to the river to clean my ears and blast him out!"
Kuai Che was sandwiched between two personal guards, blasted out of Prince Fusu's residence, and thrown into the street. He looked embarrassed and his clothes were torn. Passers-by didn't know what happened and laughed.
However, Kuai Che got up, dusted himself off, raised his head, laughed, and walked away.
"It's just as I expected. The so-called benevolent and righteous young master is just a compassionate, indecisive person who can't achieve anything. He can't even hold the sword handed to his hand. Since he knows that I am a poisonous person and knows that he is a treacherous person, help him. Su, the most important thing you should do after hearing this is not to wash your ears, but to kill me and silence me!"
A meaningful smile appeared on one side.
"Thank you for your kindness as a woman, Kuai Che's plan has come true!"