Han Sui didn't pay much attention to the invasion of the imperial army at first. The officers and soldiers were very powerful in defending the city and fighting in positions, but he thought he was far behind. However, in field battles, the Xiliang cavalry had never been afraid of anyone.
However, Han Sui has always been a cautious person. Although he was not afraid of the imperial soldiers and horses, he was not willing to confront them alone. Therefore, he transferred the soldiers and horses from Longxi County and Jincheng County to Hanyang while attacking Ma Teng and Yang
Qiu, Chengyi, Zhang Heng and other princes sent letters asking for help, and specially sent them to Chen Cheng in Lian County.
Don't you, Chen Cheng, call yourself the Mu of Liangzhou? Now that the imperial army is approaching, I want to see whether you will save him or not. Han Sui actually didn't expect Chen Cheng to send troops to rescue him, but he just hoped to use this method to prevent the other party from delaying.
Just legs.
When Han Sui's letter for help arrived in Lian County, the weather was already very cold, and it would snow soon. Chen Cheng asked Lu Fang to be responsible for mining the open-pit coal mines from the Helan Mountains in the west, and he himself received the guests from
The old friends who came all the way from Liaodong were Zhao Si, Ding Yuan, Wei Ran and other old tribesmen, as well as Wuhuan leader Jin Sanhuan.
When they first met Chen Cheng, Zhao Si, Ding Yuan and others couldn't help but be shocked. The Chen Cheng they had in mind was not the eight-foot-tall tall man in front of them, with muscles as hard as rocks. Although the look on Chen Cheng's eyebrows
He still has the image of a beautiful boy from the past, but his temperament is completely different from the gentle and jade-like appearance before.
"you........"
"this........."
Several people were shocked and looked at each other, not daring to come forward to recognize each other. Chen Cheng put a smile on his face and said: "What? It's been less than a year since we were separated, and you don't know old friends anymore?"
Yes, it has only been less than a year since we were separated. How did you become like this?
After Chen Cheng showed a kind smile, everyone connected the fierce general brother in front of them with the former Chen Wenzheng. Ding Yuan said: "This made Jun Hu more powerful than before, so he didn't dare to recognize each other."
Ding Yuan was once a cavalry general in Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun's rebel army. He was defeated and captured and surrendered to Tian Yu. Originally, a surrendered general like him should keep a low profile. Ding Yuan originally thought so too, and under Tian Yu's command
He works honestly and does not dare to make any mistakes. Although Gongsun Zan is domineering, he treats the generals under his command fairly well, at least he will not kill at will.
This was fine originally, but everything changed with the arrival of Liu Yu.
After Liu Yu was the son of Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu and King Donghai Gong Liu Qiang, he took office as the shepherd of Youzhou. It didn't take long for him to surrender the Wuhuan people on the condition of "presenting Zhang Chun's head". This was originally a good thing, but
But he hated Gongsun Zan because of it. Maybe it was because they had different ideas, maybe because Liu Yu recruited the Wuhuan people to surrender and took away the credit that belonged to Gongsun Zan, or maybe there were other reasons, anyway, the two people started fighting with each other.
.
Chen Cheng interrupted Ding Yuan's narration and asked: "Even if Liu Yu and Gongsun Zan fight, it has nothing to do with you, right? As for running all the way from Youzhou to Xiliang?"
Ding Yuan smiled bitterly and said: "How could it be okay? After Liu Youzhou surrendered to the Wuhuan people, he not only allowed them to graze in Youzhou, but also gave them many rewards. We have to pay for all these money, food and cloth!"
Liu Yu and Gongsun Zan were at odds with each other in their policies towards foreigners. One advocated "softness" and the other advocated "toughness". Both of their opinions were reasonable, and it was impossible to say which one was wiser or more correct, but Liu Yu used it to win over
Wuhuan leader Qiu Liju and others collected their money and food from Youzhou.
This point alone made Chen Cheng disagree. He said to Ding Yuan: "Continue."
Later, the conflict between Liu Yu and Gongsun Zan became more and more serious. Because Tian Yu was a general under Gongsun Zan, but he occupied a key place leading to the Wuhuan tribe, Liu Yu made excuses and scolded him several times.
There was a rumor in western Liaoning that Liu Shijun was very dissatisfied with Tian Yu. Tian Yu was soft on the outside but tough on the inside. He was usually kind to others, but at critical moments he had a strong temper. After being demoted by Liu Yu, he immediately resigned from his official position and went to Gongsun Zan.
went.
Ding Yuan and others were not welcomed by Gongsun Zan, let alone Liu Yu. They also heard about Chen Cheng's victory over the Xiongnu, so before the arrival of the new county magistrate, they fled westward with their cronies.
"Okay, if you come all the way here to join me, I won't treat you badly. But Jin Sanhuan, you are from Wuhuan, isn't Liu Shijun treating the Wuhuan people kindly now? Why are you following me here?"
"
Jin Sanhuan knelt on the ground with a mournful face and said: "Sir, Qiu Liju and others regard our tribe as traitors and have long wanted to get rid of me and others. Now that Master Tian is gone, if we still dare to stay in western Liaoning, sooner or later we will be
Qiu Liju killed him."
Chen Cheng said: "So that's it."
He smiled and said to everyone: "Winter is about to begin now. You will live in the city first. After next spring, we will allocate farmland and pasture to you. Do you think there is anything wrong with this arrangement?
?”
Jin Sanhuan was overjoyed and shouted: "Nothing wrong, nothing wrong!"
Ding Yuan, Wei Ran and others winked, and then said: "We are originally from the envoy's old department, but we still want to serve the envoy."
"Oh, do you want to continue joining the army?"
"yes."
Chen Cheng thought about it. There is no doubt about the martial arts and courage of Ding Yuan, Zhao Si, and Wei Ran. Being able to lead people from western Liaoning to Liangzhou proved their ability. Especially Ding Yuan, who was originally
He was a rebel cavalry commander, but he was also good at commanding infantry. I had seen his ability to command on the spot, even though he was in the opposing camp at that time.
Even if these people go to participate in the selection of tooth soldiers, most of them will be able to pass, but...
He shook his head and said regretfully: "This year's selection of tooth soldiers has ended. Officers from other departments have also been selected. However, there are still some vacancies in official positions in many counties. You can serve as county captains or officers.
What do you think about the positions of chief bookkeeper and so on?"
Before a few people could respond, there was a "clacking" sound outside, and Yan Zhong walked up to the lobby and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, Han Sui has asked us for help!"
"Han Sui asked us for help?" Chen Cheng asked in shock: "What is this?"
Yan Zhongdao: "The imperial court appointed Ding Yuan as the general to conquer the west, and he joined the Huangfu Song tribe stationed in Fufeng County, with a total of 60,000 infantry and cavalry, and headed westward. Now they have invaded Hanyang County!"
Chen Cheng looked outside the lobby and asked: "It's almost winter now, is there a war at this time?"
What happened this year? First, the Huns sent troops to attack the north in early summer, and now Ding Yuan sent troops when winter was about to begin. Although now is a good time to send troops, the imperial court just followed in April.
Xiliang soldiers fought once, and both sides suffered heavy casualties that time. They started fighting again before the New Year was over. Where did the imperial court get the money and food?
Yan Zhong stroked his beard and said, "I'm afraid Ding Yuan just wants to defeat the enemy with food."
"What does Bo Dao mean?"
"I guess Chang'an doesn't have that much food and grass to supply the army, so Ding Yuan's westward expedition is to seize Hanyang's food and grass."
Chen Cheng stood up. His eight-foot-tall figure cast a dark shadow on the ground, making him look even more oppressive. He walked a few steps back and forth in the lobby and asked, "I know that the imperial court can't make ends meet, but it's not like that."
Has it reached this point?"
He said to Zhao Sidingyuan and others: "You just stay in Lian County. I am going to set up a staff office... Well, let's let it be the staff office. You all can come and help me."
Ding Yuan, Zhao Si, Wei Ran and others all bowed to the ground and said in unison: "No!"
When Jin Sanhuan saw this, he quickly said: "The villain is also willing to help the adults."
Chen Cheng smiled and said: "There will be a place where you can be used. You go down first, and someone will arrange a place for you to graze later. Well, I will allocate one hundred sheep and thirty horses to your tribe."
He then said to Zhao Sidingyuan and others: "You also go down first, and someone will arrange a place for you."
"promise!"
After all the old troops who had come from afar had left, Chen Cheng said to the audience: "Immediately summon Wang Yue, the governor, Yang Qiu, the minister of war, and Zhao Yun, the minister in charge!"
He sat back on the chair and said to Yan Zhong: "Has Han Sui acknowledged that I am the shepherd of Liangzhou?"
Yan Zhong smiled and said: "We were afraid of him before, but now he is afraid of us. Although he didn't say it explicitly, he meant it both inside and outside."
He handed the bamboo slip in his hand to Chen Cheng and said, "The words are so sincere that I was moved by them!"
"As long as Bo Dao handles these paperwork, I won't read it." Chen Cheng waved his hand and said, "Then we send some troops to rescue Prefect Han?"
Yan Zhong sneered: "Why save him? The worse he is beaten, the better it is for us."
Chen Cheng shook his head and said: "Anyway, he is also one of the princes of Liangzhou. His power has been weakened, which means that the power of Liangzhou has been weakened. Isn't Yan Xing getting married soon? When he gets married, appoint him as the leader.
Envoy, ask him to bring some of the replaced weapons, such as spears and ring-headed knives, and send them to Han Sui."
Yan Zhong said: "He has just been selected as a tooth soldier, and now he is serving as an envoy. I'm afraid there is something wrong."
Chen Cheng said: "In urgent matters, follow authority."
While he was talking, Yang Qiu, the Minister of War, Wang Yue, the governor, and Zhao Yun, the minister-in-chief, had all arrived. Chen Cheng first told them about the situation, and then asked: "The imperial court has sent troops to attack. How do you think we should respond? Should we send troops to assist Han?"
So?"
In theory, Yang Qiu was in charge of all the armies in Chen Cheng's shogunate except the tooth soldiers. Since the official documents received by the Zhongshu Province were related to military matters, a copy had been copied and sent to the Ministry of War, so Yang Qiu had already known what had happened before he came.
What's going on? He was the first to say: "Immediately mobilize five thousand men to go to the rescue, and send a message to Cheng Yi, Ma Teng, Zhang Heng and others, ordering them to send reinforcements together!"
Huh? Chen Cheng was a little surprised. Yang Qiu was clearly afraid and disgusted with Han Sui before, so why did he send troops to rescue him now?
Yang Qiu explained: "Although Han Sui is hateful, it is not the turn of outsiders to interfere in the affairs of us Liangzhou people!"
Chen Cheng smiled and said, "I'm not from Liangzhou. According to what you say, I won't be a state herdsman anymore."
Yang Qiu was stunned when he heard this, and then said anxiously: "Lord, that's not what I meant!"
Chen Cheng saw that Yang Qiu seemed to be really anxious, so he put away the smile on his face and said: "I just made a joke, please don't mind Yang Shangshu."
He turned to Wang Yue and Zhao Yun again and asked, "What do you say?"
