cite Han

Chapter 237

Lingling County, Quanling County.

Quanling is the county government of Lingling. According to historical records: "Lingling is wet, and the city is made of wood, so it cannot be defended."

As one of only a dozen large counties in the Han Dynasty with a population of one million, Quanling, the city of Lingling County, is undoubtedly the most shabby of them all.

However, this is not because Lingling cannot build a rammed earth city, it is purely because of the rainy and humid weather, and the later maintenance costs are too high.

After the outbreak of the North-South War in Jingzhou, the prefect of Lingling did not want to be involved, so he hung a seal and ribbon on the lintel of the main hall, and left with his family.Since then, the main hall where the prefect held the county court meeting has been vacant, and the main registry room next to the main hall has become the new center of Lingling County.

The head of Lingling County is none other than Liu Ba and Liu Zichu, a famous scholar in Lingling.

Liu Ba's reputation is not limited to Lingling, it is well-known throughout Jingzhou. The most well-known deeds are Liu Biao's many conquests, and even calling him a "maocai". He never responded to Liu Biao's The solicitation is dismissive, revealing the arrogance of celebrities.

Although Liu Ba has a great reputation, he is not very old. He is only in his twenties this year, and he has not yet reached his thirties.

He is sitting in the main registry at the moment, talking with the secretary Jiang Wan.

Jiang Wan was a few years younger than Liu Ba. He was more than seven feet long, with big ears, sparse eyebrows and bright eyes, and a good appearance.He sat on the lower head of Liu Ba, and behaved dignifiedly and courteously.

Jiang Wan's courtesy name is Gongyan, he is a descendant of Jiang's surname in Xiangxiang, Lingling. He was well-known with his cousin Quanling Liu Min when he was weak, and he is the most outstanding figure among the younger generation in Lingling County.

The topic they talked about was naturally Liu Jing who shocked the entire Jingnan recently.

In the past few months, Liu Ba and Liu Jing have corresponded frequently, and he feels that they are equally talented and have similar interests, and they have become good friends.

Although Jiang Wan had never met Liu Jing, he was Pan Jun's brother-in-law. The two had completely different personalities, but they had a very close relationship since childhood.In the past few years, Pan Jun mentioned Liu Jing many times in his letters, and it was only then that Jiang Wan gradually realized that he had a special relationship with Liu Jing.

Liu Ba and Jiang Wan said with emotion: "I only thought that Liu Zhongda was extremely intelligent and capable, but I didn't expect him to be well prepared in civil and military affairs and good at using soldiers. He is a figure like Deng Yu and Ma Yuan."

Jiang Wan slightly nodded and said: "Liu Zhongda took a small area of ​​one county, combined the new recruits of the defeated army, defeated the strong with the weak, defeated the Jingzhou navy, and beheaded generals Cai Zhong, Wu Ju and thousands of people below, he really deserves Gang Ji's praise. "

Liu Badao: "Last year I strongly advocated sending [-] hu of rice grain to Ling County. The officials and people in the county accused me of this openly and secretly. .” This breath has been held in his heart for half a year, and he really can’t vomit.

Huang Wan said calmly, "Now everyone is beginning to know Gangji's intentions."

Liu Ba stroked his black beard and said, "If Liu Zhongda hadn't been there, the Jingzhou navy would have already approached the city, and the Quanling Mausoleum is surrounded by tree fences. Use? In the end, it’s not all for nothing that Jiangbei soldiers are cheap.”

Jiang Wan said: "Liu Zhongda took advantage of his great victory this time and asked for food again..."

"Yu Zhi." Liu Ba said: "Liu Zhongda is our northern barrier, as long as he is still around, we will have no worries for a day, and it is nothing to pay a little rice for this."

Jiang Wan secretly smiled wryly, this is not the case, in just half a year since the autumn harvest last year, Lingling County has successively exported tens of thousands of rice grains to Zhang Xian and Liu Jing.Now there is not much surplus grain in the county government warehouse.

Liu Ba said again: "By the way, Gong Yan, Liu Zhongda has repeatedly said in his letters that if he wants to meet you, it is better to escort the grain this time by yourself."

"Okay..." Jiang Wan also wanted to meet Liu Jing, so she nodded in agreement.

…………

When the Jingzhou navy went south, it took more than ten days to reach Hengshan Township because it was going upstream.On the return journey, it took only six or seven days to return to Linxiang, and the time was shortened by nearly half.

However, compared to the spectacular grand scene when the boats and boats on the river were connected to each other when they went south, the flags became clouds, and the head and tail were not visible.

There is no way, after all, just experienced a big defeat a few days ago, nearly half of the ships were lost, and 9000 people were killed, captured, and lost in the water.It can be said that the Jingzhou navy was directly disabled by this battle, and it will take at least a year of rest before it can recover slightly.

Cai Mao is proud and conceited, he doesn't want to come back like a bereaved dog, so that the fleet will plant more flags to show off its might.However, no matter how much effort is made on the surface, it is useless. The news of their defeat has already been sent back one step ahead.

The person who spread the news was Liu Zhu's spy. The people of Linxiang heard that Liu Jing led the crowd to defeat the Jingzhou navy and beheaded Wu Ju... At first they refused to believe it, until they saw the Jingzhou navy returning in embarrassment. Only then did he suddenly realize that the previous rumors were actually true.

After Kuai Yue received the news of the navy's defeat yesterday, he was so angry that he couldn't sleep or eat, and stayed up all night, cursing Cai Mao's trash in his heart!The reason why he agreed with Cai Mao to go south at the beginning was because the naval force was strong enough that Cai Mao would be able to retreat unscathed even if he encountered setbacks.Facts have proved that he overestimated Cai Mao.

As soon as the navy returned, Kuai Yue immediately abandoned everything, rode out of the camp on horseback, and went straight to Beijin Ferry.Seeing that the number of navy ships decreased by nearly half, the loss was extremely heavy, Kuai Yue couldn't help but "buzz" in his head, glaring at Cai Mao with bloodshot eyes, and said: "Degui, you..."

Liu Pan was also very angry, but as a junior, he couldn't show it clearly.But in his heart, he was very dissatisfied with Cai Mao. The Jingzhou Navy was invincible in Xiangshui, and had no opponents at all. Even if it was handed over to an idiot, it would not be defeated so thoroughly.

Faced with Kuai Yue's eyes full of anger and blame, Cai Mao felt ashamed, but he also felt uncomfortable. In this battle, including Cai Zhong, five of his clan's brothers died.If Xi Zhen hadn't taken the initiative to stay behind, it is still unknown whether Cai He would be able to come back.Cai Mao sighed: "Yidu, this big defeat has made me feel ashamed. I don't know how I will see the general in the future."

The matter has come to this point, even if Cai Mao is scolded to death, it will be useless, and Kuai Yue, as the commander, is also responsible. He suppressed the anger in his heart and asked: "De Gui, you are also a man who knows how to fight, why did you lose so much?"

Cai Mao's face was full of remorse, and he gritted his teeth and said: "We all underestimated Liu Jing! He seems to be only a county, but his water infantry has more than [-] people. With the help of Jingman, his strength is not weaker than How much am I. He was in the dark, and I was in the light, and I was flanked by him from front to back.

Kuai Yue frowned when he heard that, the information revealed in Cai Mao's words was astonishing, if true, he would be in serious trouble.

Liu Pan didn't believe Cai Mao's words in his heart, thinking that he was justifying his defeat and deliberately exaggerating the strength of his opponent, and asked, "Where did Liu Jing get so many troops?"

Cai Mao replied: "According to my speculation, he must have recruited several Changsha defeated troops." In fact, he had known this for a long time. Liu Jing joined forces.It's a pity that at that time, he thought that the navy was powerful and arrogant, and he didn't pay attention to Wu Ju's information.

Liu Pan couldn't help but sneered and said, "A group of remnant soldiers who were defeated by us before were defeated by us. After being recruited by Liu Jing, they transformed themselves into elite soldiers? Could it be that he is still alive in Huaiyin?"

Cai Mao glanced at Liu Pan sullenly, but did not answer.

Kuai Yue opened his mouth again to break the ice: "Degui, you said that Liu Zhongda has Jing Man to help?"

Cai Mao nodded and said, "Yes, at least two or three thousand Jingman participated in the battle."

Kuai Yue couldn't help but fell silent. The Changsha Man was not as powerful as the Wuling Man, but it should not be underestimated. This time Liu Jing recruited two or three thousand Jing Man to help in the battle. What about next time?Who can guarantee that there will not be tens of thousands of Jingman under his command?

Cai Hao said again: "I think Liu Jing's threat to us is no less than that of Zhang Xian. In the past, we always thought that capturing Linxiang, killing Zhang Xian, Lingling and Guiyang counties can be passed down. Now it seems , this idea is a bit too taken for granted.”

Kuai Yue couldn't help rubbing the center of his brows, one Zhang Xian was enough to give them a headache, the army had been trapped in Linxiang City for more than half a year, and so far there was no progress.Now there is another Liu Jing, just judging from his use of troops, he is even more difficult than Zhang Xian.

For the first time, Kuai Yue felt pessimistic about the future.

…………

Compared with the gloomy Jingzhou Army outside the city, Linxiang City was full of joy.

Besieged by the enemy for half a year, Changsha people are like being in a cage, and now they need victory to boost their morale.

Just at this time, Liu Jing's victory came back, and it was a great victory.Wu Ju, a traitor from Changsha who wanted to eat his flesh and drink his blood, was beheaded by Liu Jing.

Zhang Xian sat on the throne in the main hall, with a smile on his face, he hadn't smiled so heartily for a long time.In the past six months, he has been under the dual pressure of mental and physical every day, and his appearance is aging at a speed visible to the naked eye. His originally gray temples are now snow-white, and his energy is not as good as before.

Zhang Yi sat beside Zhang Xian with a melancholy face, and it was Liu Jing again... At this moment, his heart was full of envy, jealousy, and hatred...

Under the hall stood the officials of the county government headed by Cao Huanjie and Liu Pan.The military generals headed by Chu Fang, the captain of the northern part of Changsha, still guarded the city wall and did not dare to leave their posts without authorization.

Facing the congratulations from all the bureaucrats, Liu Pan couldn't help stroking his long beard and grinning from ear to ear.

Since the two sides started the war, the Changsha army was bound to lose regardless of water or footsteps. They could only rely on the fortified city of Linxiang to deal with the Jingzhou army.The first time Liu Jing made a move, he defeated the Jingzhou army in one fell swoop. This was the first victory of the Changsha people against the Jingzhou army.

Huan Jie and Liu Pan exchanged glances with each other, and came out and said, "Your Majesty, Liu Zhongda defeated the Jingzhou Army and beheaded Wu Ju, a national humiliation. Such a great achievement must be rewarded."

Zhang Xian had a plan in mind, nodded and said: "What Bo Xu said is true, Liu Zhongda beheaded the traitor Wu Ju, not only to eliminate the serious troubles in my heart, but also to comfort the soldiers who died because of him. There are many rewards. I want to use Liu Zhongda to take pictures of Lingxian, Xiangnan, Liandao, Zhaoling, Liling, Ancheng, Chaling, Youxian, and Rongling nine counties."

Zhang Xian is planning to hand over all the nine counties south of Linxiang to Liu Jing for management.Anyway, he was besieged by the Jingzhou army in Linxiang and couldn't get out. It's better to let Liu Jing integrate the counties in the south of Changsha to gain a stronger force.

Including Zhang Yi, everyone in the hall was stunned when they heard the words. They didn't expect Zhang Xian to be so courageous. Now Zhang Xian is trapped in Linxiang, while the four counties of Luoxian, Yiyang, Xiajun and Hanchang in the north are already Falling into the hands of the Jingzhou army, this appointment is almost equivalent to letting Liu Jing act as the acting prefect of Changsha.

Although this kind of example of the county magistrate concurrently leading a nearby county is relatively rare, it is not uncommon.For example, at the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Gongsun Shu, who proclaimed himself emperor in Shu and fought against the entire Eastern Han Empire with his own strength, served as the county magistrate of Qingshui County in Tianshui County, Liangzhou when he was young. There are five counties in the county. Since then, the political affairs of the five counties have been repaired, and no traitors and robbers have been found. It is said that there are ghosts and gods in the county.

(End of this chapter)