The night is slightly dark, the moon is bright and the stars are few.
The bright moonlight caressed the flowers and trees with countless fallen leaves, gently comforting the chill of late autumn.
Some tenacious insects, however, send their last cheers and unwilling cries of sorrow to the bleak autumn wind.
In the study room of the small house, in the bronze incense burner, the red light of sandalwood flickers on and off, puffing out curls of green smoke, filling the cramped space.
Zheng Pu knelt down in front of the case, suppressing the protest from his eyelids, holding a pen in his hand and writing a letter to his brother Zheng Yan and his mother Lu.
He was about to go south, and the date of his return was unknown, so he naturally had to send a letter to his family to say so.
However, while writing, I couldn't help but glance at the imperial edict on the corner of the case, and then let out an inaudible sigh.
Emperor Liu Chan sent Fu Qian to him as his teacher in the form of an imperial edict!
I am no more than a book assistant, so why can the emperor know that I am evil!?
Moreover, you just know me, why did you send Fu Qian to come and worship me as your teacher Xie!?
I myself am not as good as a weak official, and I am not a great scholar or a veteran in the army. How can I be able to preach and teach and resolve evil spirits after being a loyal and loyal person!?
Aren’t you afraid that I will mislead others!?
Zheng Pu racked his brains over this matter and was still puzzled.
Because of this, I feel angry and angry, and my mind is hard to calm down!
It’s not that I want to refuse and not become Fu Qian’s teacher.
Since ancient times, you have no joke. The emperor's edict has been issued, and Zheng Pu has no room for maneuver no matter how unwilling he is.
But Fu Qian, a ten-year-old boy, is already like a father!
Well, this guy is stubborn and stubborn!
Originally, after Zheng Pu read the imperial edict, he accepted Fu Qian's apprenticeship. He immediately told Fu Qian that he would be ordered to go to Nanzhong the next day, and asked Fu Qian to return to the palace tomorrow and wait for him to return from Nanzhong.
, and then start teaching.
Unexpectedly, when the man heard this, he opened his mouth and said, "Sir, your Majesty has an order that except for you when you are in charge of the prime minister's office, you must always stay close to you."
After Zheng Pu heard this, he felt angry for a moment.
Just force him to become a disciple, and still follow him like a shadow?
Moreover, now that he is going to Nanzhong, he is going to accept a military appointment, so he may not be able to fight on the front line in person!
Can An Neng take a ten-year-old child to get rid of evil spirits?
Fighting on the battlefield, stepping on the edge, flying arrows, if Fu Qian is injured, wouldn't he become the queen who killed loyal heroes?
The most important thing in the military is friendship!
If he carries this reputation, will he still be able to serve in the military in the future?
Not to mention being ostracized by his colleagues, even the soldiers at the bottom will be filled with indignation and despise him for disregarding his integrity!
call............
Take a deep breath.
Zheng Pu suppressed the helplessness in his heart, spoke in a gentle tone, and gently said to Fu Qian, "The battlefield is dangerous and it is no joke. Perhaps your Majesty does not know that he will go to Nanzhong, and the army cannot bring young people into the camp" and other reasons to persuade him to
Fu Qian, don't be stubborn.
Unexpectedly, although Fu Qian was very respectful in his courtesy, his answer was unyielding.
For example, he was in the palace and also stayed in the imperial guard camp. He had already learned how to ride, shoot, etc., and was familiar with the laws of the army. If he went south with him, he would never become a burden to Zheng Pu.
At the end of the narration, he uttered, "Sir, I dare not disobey His Majesty's orders."
Well............
Suddenly, Zheng Pu was filled with grief and anger.
He also did not dare to do so, as it would go against the emperor's order.
He had no choice but to raise his head to the sky, put his hand on his forehead, and sigh loudly.
Finally, as night fell, Fu Qian was sent to a villa to rest.
Well, Emperor Liu Chan was quite independent when it came to becoming a disciple.
When the imperial guards were sent to send Fu Qian here, they not only brought all the things Fu Qian wore, but also gave Zheng Pu a lot of property, claiming that half of it was for apprenticeship and repair, and the other half was for Fu Qian's future needs.
Unexpectedly, without even a word from Zheng Pu, he immediately placed Fu Qian in the small house.
Moreover, I don't know what to think, but I also ordered Zheng Yi, a member of the Zheng family, not to disturb Zheng Pu in the military camp with this matter.
Claiming that becoming a disciple is a private matter and should not be disturbed by Zheng Pu's official duties.
Regarding this, Zheng Pu was filled with anger.
How can there be any private affairs in the Tian family!
However, after getting angry, he fell into silence again.
Already full of worries, he also thought more deeply: Maybe the emperor sent Fu Qian here, and it was really not a private matter.
For example, perhaps Emperor Liu Chan had a discussion with Prime Minister Zhuge Liang to let Young Master Fu Qian be at his disposal so that he could be given command of an army in the future.
After all, when he can be given independent command of the army, Fu Qian will be old enough to serve as his deputy.
When a country uses its talents, it should be used carefully and carefully, so as to achieve long-term results.
That's all, maybe the emperor also knows about my southward journey.
With this thought, Zheng Pu also gave up the idea of seeking Ma Zhong or the Prime Minister to report tomorrow, and did not arrange for Fu Qian to be settled.
He also personally went to the Liuyin Villa in the neighboring house and borrowed a Yunnan horse to accompany Fu Qian. He was only ten years old, and no matter how young he was in martial arts, he would not be able to keep up with the pace of the athletes in the army.
It's night, no more words.
Three days later, from the military camp in the east of the city, a group of six hundred armored soldiers marched out in silence.
Among them, one hundred soldiers were the followers of the Liu family.
When the head of the Liu family and the elders of the clan learned that the prime minister had actually promised Liu Yin to use family funds to raise his own tribe, he immediately awarded Liu Yin a hundred private soldiers and earnestly asked him to do his best to serve the court.
As for whether serving the imperial court is the lintel of the Liu family or whether it is for the resurgence of the Han Dynasty, it cannot be said clearly!
However, Liu Yin forgot about this after hearing it, and only thought about Zheng Pu's previous words, "I just want to leave a name in history."
Therefore, because he had traveled to Bashu and was familiar with the terrain, he took the initiative to ask Ying to lead his headquarters in the front, and took over the scouts to conduct reconnaissance, explore the road, select a place to camp, and other chores.
In this regard, Zheng and Ju are naturally capable.
Jufu, who had always been bold and forthright, saw this and took over the task of supervising the transportation of grain, fodder and other trivial matters.
Let Zheng Pu stay in the central army and have nothing to do in his free time, as if this march was an outing.
However, no one criticized or despised his leisure time.
On the contrary, when all the soldiers looked at him, their eyes were full of goodwill and respect.
Especially those five hundred barbarians, the feeling of closeness in their eyes is endless.
Because they spent nearly a month together in the military camp, the happiest moment for all the soldiers was after the evening meal, when they would sit around on the campus military field and listen to Zheng Pu's explanation of strange beasts and the stories in the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
Fu Qian, who was casually walking next to Zheng Pu, was glanced at and smiled knowingly.
This boy was leading the Yunnan horse by one hand, holding only a bamboo slip and speaking loudly without any distracting thoughts.
March and study without delay.
It was "The Biography of the Zuo Family in the Spring and Autumn Period" that Zheng Pu threw to him, and he warned: "The best in work comes from diligence, and the idleness comes from play; success comes from thinking, and failure comes from following. When you are young, you should study diligently. Even if you are marching on the road, you can't do it."
I'm wasting my time. If I have no intention of studying calligraphy and biography, I can just go back to the capital. Don't let me bear the reputation of misleading others."
Although Fu Qian is young, he is very stubborn.
After hearing this, he made a very respectful promise and began to scroll without letting go.
Before noon, he would lead the Yunnan horse on foot, which carried his own clothes, books and other soft things, and read along with him at a fast pace. After noon, when he was exhausted, he would ride on the Yunnan horse and read with his head bowed.
From time to time, I would find something I didn't understand and ask Zheng Pu for advice.
When he sets up camp at dusk, before waiting for the evening meal, Fu Qian will find an open space on his own and practice martial arts diligently with a sword and spear.
The swords and spears used were both sharpened, but they were half smaller than those used by the generals. It was obvious at a glance that they were custom-made by craftsmen considering their wrist strength.
Moreover, the moves come and go, including slashing, chopping, lifting, wiping, and cutting with the knife; thrusting, stabbing, sweeping, picking, and drilling with the spear.
Simple and practical.
It is precisely the old soldier in the army who believes that practice makes perfect.
Recalling that he said that when he was in the palace, he stayed overnight in the guard camp, it is not difficult to think that it was taught by those guards who had spent their lives in battles.
Such diligent practice and study also made Ju Fu, Liu Yin and their respective soldiers have a great impression of him.
Jufu directly sent an extremely majestic Banzhenman to teach him the sword-and-shield attack and common fighting skills; while Liu Yin selected a retinue who was a knight-errant to teach him the light dodge steps and shooting skills.
Along the way, he was the most tired person.
If there were no Yunnan horses to travel with him, perhaps he would have been pushed along on the baggage cart.
Because the soldiers were mainly Banzhen barbarians who grew up in the hills of Bazhong and were very good at hiking and could climb mountains and ridges as if they were walking on flat ground. Moreover, this place is the heart of Bashu and there is no need to be too vigilant. Zheng Pu and his party marched very fast.
According to common sense, the normal marching speed is about seventy miles a day.
But they actually marched more than eighty miles every day.
Jufu also lamented that if there were animals to carry grain and baggage, it would not be difficult for his men to travel a hundred miles a day.
Well, there are very few livestock in Bashu.
Plowing cattle were expensive and not used for military purposes, while draft horses were extremely rare.
The baggage and provisions of their party were all carried or carried by manpower, which greatly slowed down the march.
The only good thing is that the first half of their marching route followed the direction of the Zouma River, passing through Guangdu, Wuyang, and Pengsuju to Nan'an County (Yufujin), and then turned eastward to enter Bodao.
Arrive at the starting point of one of the main roads from the east of Shu to Nanzhong: Nanyi Road (Wuchi Road). [Note 1]
Previously, the road was quite flat, and there were many postal stations along the way where clean water could be replenished, and grain could be replenished in the county with a warrant from the Prime Minister's Office.
Therefore, the grain and fodder carried by Jufu and others were only enough for five days.
It greatly alleviated the suffering of the soldiers.
The second half of the journey follows the Nanyi Road from Bo Road to Nanguang County, turns southeast, enters Zhuti County in Nanzhong, and ends in Nanchang County where the Governor's Mansion is located.
This section of the road is almost a trek through high mountains and ridges, and is extremely tight and rugged.
In addition, the water is densely covered with poisonous miasma, snakes and insects, making it difficult for people and horses to move.
Traveling fifty miles a day can be said to be extremely fast.
However, although the road was difficult, military orders had been issued, and those who missed the deadline would be killed. Zheng Pu and the others did not dare to ignore it, and traveled as many miles as possible every day.
Fortunately, at the turn of autumn and winter, the sky was clear and the air was clear, which made the march less harsh.
Just as Zheng Pu and others were trekking south, there was a raging discussion and loud voices in Chengdu, the capital city.
The Liu family in Chengdu, after being hinted by a petty official, "accidentally" revealed in a casual conversation that the imperial court had allowed Liu Yin to become a monk and raise funds for his own tribe.
In an instant, all the major wealthy families heard the news and took action.
Please request or recommend yourself, and ask the court to allow your nephews to "serve the country" wholeheartedly, and will not regret it even if they swear to be a fan!
Naturally, he was suppressed by the Prime Minister's words: "It's not the right time yet, so be patient."
Let those wealthy families sit back and wait in vain, fearing that they will lose it and fall behind others.
Inevitably, the elders of the clan are frequently gathered for discussion.
But inside the palace, the emperor Liu Chan and the minister Guan Xing looked at each other in silence.
[Note 1: In 220 BC, Qin Shihuang, who unified the six kingdoms, ordered the construction of Chidao connecting all parts of the country with Xianyang as the center. The Nanyi Dao was the part that extended from Shu to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. However, due to the terrain, the road was only narrow.
It is five feet wide (approximately 1.2 meters), so it is also called Wuchi Road. In order to control Wuchi Road and Annanzhong, the Han Dynasty built Bodao, Nanguang, Zhuti and Wei counties, so the front section of Wuchi Road was
