Shu Chen

Chapter 150
The forest flowers are wet with rouge from the rain, and the water dragonfly leads the wind and the green belt is long.

In early summer and late April in Longyou, the shades of green as far as the eye can see spread into the rippling Weishui River, enchanting the mood of every traveler.

Zheng Pu, who was galloping all the way back, looked at the scenery outside Linji County, and couldn't help letting the horse's hooves walk slowly.

It seems that it has been a long time since I have had the pleasure of playing a flute.

Thinking secretly in his heart, Zheng Pu closed his eyes slightly, letting his mood fluctuate with the bumps of the horse's back.

The Weishui River meandering to the east made the sound of twists and turns, making the curling water vapor with a hint of coolness permeate the face, and in an instant, there was a kind of peace of mind when traveling thousands of miles without feeling heavy.There is also the faint joyful singing of unknown birds hidden in the distant mountains such as Dai Lin trees. As the breeze brushes past the ears, it brings the commotion and joy of the hair, which makes people relax their thoughts in the quiet and quiet.

Time has turned into tenderness, and the body and mind are very uncomfortable.

It's a pity that beautiful scenes are often short-lived.

Fu Qian, who was accompanying him, saw Zheng Pu slowing down his horse's hooves in front of him, and couldn't help becoming a teenager. He took a bamboo flute from the package and played it across his lips.

Those who also let and walked involuntarily frowned slightly.

It's really too ugly~~~~
This kid obviously has no musical talent, but he has a special liking for the bamboo flute, and he is persistent.

Whenever I have free time, I will indulge myself unconsciously.

Zheng Pu, who was suddenly overwhelmed by the magic sound, lost his sense of refreshment in an instant, and couldn't help but wryly smiled.

"drive!"

The legs are on the horse's belly.

In the countless dust rolled up by the galloping horseshoes, the distance between the master and the apprentice became farther and farther.

After entering the city, Zheng Pu tidied up his clothes and took water to wash his face. After being summoned by the guards on duty, he slowly walked into the old prefect's mansion that had been renamed the prime minister's office.

There are already people in the house, Zhuge Qiao and Fei Yi.

Fei Yi was moved to join the army when the prime minister entered Hanzhong.

After the settlement of Longyou, the Prime Minister left Yang Yi in Hanzhong to dispatch grain, fodder and supplies, and asked him to cooperate with Chang Shi Xianglang in Longyou to distribute the needs of various departments in the army. He was highly praised for his work and conduct.

For example, the rebellious Wei Yan often responded to him with a smile, which is the best proof.

At this time, the two of them were sitting on the side seats, holding a pen in one hand, listening attentively, and sometimes they would touch ink to record a few words on the bamboo slips.

Zhuge Liang, the prime minister led by Eguanbo, was pacing back and forth, instructing in a slow voice what seemed to be trivial matters after farming in Longyou, as well as the equipment of food, fodder and supplies for the soldiers of various ministries.Seeing Zheng Pu coming in, he also slightly opened his lips and smiled, pointing to the seat on the other side, signaling him to take his seat without being too polite.

Seeing this, Zheng Pu didn't dare to disturb him, so he silently bowed and sat down.

While waiting, he suddenly discovered that the prime minister, who was nearly fifty years old, could already see strands of silver hair intertwined in the temples under the crown of the mountain, reflecting the snow-white clothes.

Years flowed endlessly, and traces were engraved on the prime minister.

Fortunately, that clear voice still makes people feel at ease; the eight-foot-long body and the still straight spine make people firmly believe that the banner of the Central Plains that is on his shoulders is still waving in the wind in the sky, inspiring everyone to struggle fighting spirit.

Zheng Pu was looking at it, and there was an extra person beside him.

It's Xiang Chong.

At the beginning of this year, he was appointed as a Liaozuo in the prime minister's office, and he served as a secretary by the prime minister's side.

However, Wang Shan, the original secretary, has been released to work because of the shortage of officials in counties and counties.

I saw that he was holding a lot of bamboo slips and small cloths, carefully placing his hands on Zheng Pu's desk one by one, for fear of disturbing the prime minister's instructions by making any noise.

Seeing this, Zheng Pu couldn't help nodding and smiling, and reached out to take the bamboo slips.

At the beginning of this year, his brother Zheng Yan and his mother wrote letters, saying that the family status, talents, learning and conduct of the younger generations in the Shu area were not as good as Xiang Chong's, and they made a matchmaker's words and parents' orders with Xiang's family.

Therefore, this person who became a sister-in-law a few years later also has a bit of respect for Zheng Pu.

After putting down the bamboo slips, he bowed in a low voice before leaving.

The subtleties of this child are not bad.

Zheng Pu sighed secretly, then withdrew his thoughts, laid out the bamboo slips and cloth one by one on the record, and looked at them carefully.

It turned out that it was the advice of the important ministers in Chengdu about Sun Quan's proclaiming himself emperor.

Jianxing seven years, Wei Wu Wang Huang Wu eight years.

Sun Quan stood on his own, took the throne in the southern suburbs of Wuchang, and was granted amnesty.

In Xiakou and Wuchang, Huanglong and Fenghuang were seen together, so the yuan was changed to Huanglong.Respect Sun Jian as Emperor Wulie, Sun Ce as King Huan of Changsha; make his descendant Sun Deng the crown prince.

And when preparing for the etiquette of proclaiming emperor, he sent envoys to Chengdu in advance, presented the letter of state to the emperor Liu Chan, and told the proposal of respecting the two emperors, begging the two countries to continue their alliance against Wei.

In this regard, many important officials of the Han Dynasty regarded rebellion against Wei as the country's hatred, and believed that Sun Wu could work together in the Northern Expedition, and they gave advice and agreed first.

Because people have expected Sun Quan's claim to be emperor.Sun Quan was previously conferred the title of King of Wu by Wei Caopi, and now he has repeatedly attacked against Wei, and it would be unfair to lead the Duke of Wei after all.And because of the battle of Shiting, the momentum of Jiangdong scholars was greatly shaken, and countless officials would push him to the position of emperor for their own interests.

For example, in Li Yan's letter, the prime minister who persuaded the decision-maker first agreed.

Said: "Although the grandson of Wu is a generation of untrustworthy people, but now the rebellion against Wei is grand, it is better to be false first and let him restrain the rebel forces. After my great Hanke returns to the Central Plains, it will not be too late to get back the name. And the land of Jiangdong , is the land of success, there is no foundation to set the world, and Xu Zhi has no fear that Sun Wu can accomplish things."

Very blatantly, he despised Sun Quan as a conservative dog.

His words can be regarded as expressing the aspirations of the great Han and Liechen: Those who are grandsons of Wu have no possibility of aspiring to the world.

Furthermore, the officials of the Han Dynasty have become accustomed to Sun Wu's temperament.

In order to make the defense line in the southeast worry-free, and let Sun Wu contain the forces against Wei, the big Han was able to form an alliance with Sun Wu after the Battle of Xiangfan and the Battle of Yiling; today he proclaims himself emperor, and it is not a good idea to form an alliance again intolerable.

In the past, Gou Jian lived hard and tasted courage, but now I am a big man who endures humiliation and bears heavy burdens in order to restore the Central Plains. Why can't I bear it!
Naturally, there are also some who hold opposing views.

On the grounds of the "White Horse Alliance" and "only name and utensils cannot be faked by others", it is a challenge to the destiny of the Han Dynasty to declare Sun Quan emperor. Ally again.

And now that the great Han has already occupied Longyou, and it is showing the trend of a trapped dragon coming out of the abyss, it doesn't matter whether Sun Wu checks against Wei Wei.

Anyway, against Wei is also Zhengshuo who claimed that he was under Zen and the Han Dynasty. When he learned that Sun Quan was proclaimed emperor, he would definitely attack each other endlessly.

Furthermore, if he does not form an alliance with Jiangdong, even if Sun Quan becomes angry from embarrassment, he will not be able to deal with the big man.

Yong'an is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and the road in Nanzhong is steep. No matter whether Sun Wu attacked from Jingzhou or Jiaozhou, he would get twice the result with half the effort.The big man only needs to send a few more soldiers and horses to guard the dangerous points, so as to keep the enemy out.

However, there are not many objections, only a few.

If there are no accidents, the alliance is a conclusion.

It also made Zheng Pu realize something.

The prime minister showed him this state affairs, not to hear his opinions, but to let him think about another follow-up: Sun Quan also sent another wave of envoys to discuss the purchase of war horses.

The great Han lacked horses, but Jiangdong had no horses.

Seeing that the big man has taken Longyou and owned the land for raising horses, it is not surprising that Sun Quan has expectations.

The war horses produced in Longyou were first called Qin horses.

Because of this, it is located in the bend of the upper reaches of the river, also known as Hequma.

At the turn of the Qin and Han Dynasties, Hequ horses were famous for their tall and strong bodies.Its hind limbs are well-developed, strong in pulling force under load, and can endure hard work; but its running speed is low, its legs are short, and its charging power is insufficient. 【Note 1】

Since Emperor Wu died of the Huns, the Han Dynasty has continuously improved the genes of war horses by introducing good horses from places such as the desert and the Western Regions.

Today, hundreds of years later, most of the war horses raised by the four Hexi counties in Liangzhou have been improved by Wusun (Yili) horses.It is light, dry, flexible, and extremely fast, and its habits can adapt to the desert climate where yellow sand is everywhere.

The Hequ horse is the introduction of the Haomen horse (the horse breed from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau).

It has adapted to the plateau environment for a long time, has a rough and strong physique, a heavy head and short neck, and a moderately sensitive temperament.

In other words, most of the war horses produced in the four counties of Hexi are excellent choices for Qingqi.

The Hequ Warhorse is the choice of heavy cavalry that can be used for most battles in horse armor.

This is also the reason why Zhao Guang was appointed as the cavalry governor a long time ago, and the prime minister sent Zhang Bao to Lintao to train cavalry soldiers with Jiang Wei.

Zhao Guang led Qingqi.

In the future, Jiang Wei will take the post of guarding the Qiang school lieutenant and lead the Qiang and Hu soldiers to fight in a mixed formation of infantry and cavalry.

Zhang Bao, whose bravery is the most powerful in the young area of ​​the big man, wants to train three to five hundred heavy cavalry.

Anyway, Shu, Ba and Hanzhong all produced iron in the Great Han Dynasty, and it was not difficult to forge three to five hundred horse armors.

Now Sun Quan sent people to buy war horses with the same intention.

Jiang Dong couldn't raise or buy too many horses, so he wanted to keep improving and build three to five hundred heavy cavalry, which could be used as surprise soldiers on the battlefield when appropriate.

However, what bargaining chip does Jiang Dong plan to use so that the big man who is forming the cavalry is willing to sell the horse to him?

Oh, interesting.

Thinking of this, Zheng Pu sneered secretly.

Sure enough, the feeling that I am a knife and a man is a fish, which makes me feel more comfortable!
After seeing the last piece of cloth, Zheng Pu smiled happily and put it on the table.

When I looked up, I found that I didn't know when the discussion in the office had ended, and now only the prime minister was left at the formal table with his eyes closed.

"Cough! Cough!"

Then he coughed a few times to make the Prime Minister open his eyes, and Zheng Pu cupped his hands and said, "Prime Minister, Pu has already seen everything."

"Ah."

Gently nodding his head, the prime minister smiled and said softly, "Zijin, let me tell you first, what happened to the matter of begging for the head of the river? Is there any other request for Bina Shao to become the Qiang king?"

"Back to the prime minister, nothing."

Respectfully accepting the order, Zheng Pu's smile was as bright as the blooming flowers in early summer, and he recounted the matter of Hu Shao becoming the Qiang king in detail.

The prime minister drooped his eyes, stroked his beard and listened.

After Zheng Pu finished his narration, Fang still thought about it for a while, Fang nodded and smiled, "Zijin's affairs are meticulous, so I don't have to worry about it. Well, there is the matter of You Zhongyun and Zhang Boqi who were in Di Dao to support the troops. Just stay in Ji County."

Huh?
Why did you kick me out of the Heshou war?

Hearing this, Zheng Pu was a little surprised, and when he met the prime minister's meaningful eyes, he knew it clearly.

The reason why the prime minister asked him to dispatch the matter before was because there was an unspoken conspiracy against Shaodang and Shenlang and Qiang.Now that the strategic dispatch has been negotiated, the only thing left is to lead the army to attack, so naturally he should be transferred.

After all, Ma Dai is quite old, and he is a veteran who has served the Han Dynasty for more than ten years.

It is not unreasonable to let Zheng Pu restrain himself for a while, but it is inappropriate to restrain him for a long time.

Whether it's Ma Dai's personal emotions or the morale of his Xiliang Iron Cavalry, or the impact on other veterans in the army.

Therefore, Zheng Pu quickly responded, "No, Pu takes orders."

After a pause, he added with a smile on his face, "Thank you, Prime Minister, for your compassion. Pu hasn't had a rest for a long time."

It also made the prime minister shake his head slightly and smile when he heard the words.

"Serving the country, An Neng is greedy for leisure!"

Frowning and pretending to be angry, the prime minister changed the topic and said slowly, "Sun Wu stands on his own, although it is filled with righteous indignation. However, I am still unable to fight against Wei alone, so let's continue to form an alliance with him. Zijin doesn't need to make any remonstrance. However, Zijin thinks that the fact that he came to buy a war horse is acceptable to me today?"

"Back to the Prime Minister, Pu thought it was acceptable."

Zheng Pu said with a smile, "Pu has two thoughts."

"Firstly, after his grandson Wu Shiting's great victory, he must despise the soldiers of Wei; now he is good at honoring the title of Son of Heaven, and everyone from top to bottom has the merit of coveting against Wei. If we, a big man, sell our war horses to him, we are also trying to rebel against Wei. "

"Another thing is that after recovering the two counties of Yinping and Wudu in the Han Dynasty, we summoned Baima Di Neifu and traded Shu brocade and other things with the Qianghu tribe. The total number of horses we got is more than [-]. Among them, they can be trained as war horses. The nearly [-] horses I sold were sold to my grandson Wu for three to five hundred, which is enough for our army to build up cavalry."

"Furthermore, our army is in short supply of food and fodder today, so it would be better if we exchange some fodder and fodder with Sun Wu and come back."

"good!"

The prime minister clapped his hands and praised.

Immediately, he slightly raised his long eyebrows, stroking his beard and smiling, "I'm afraid Zijin's words are not complete? For example, the war horses sold to Sun Wu all choose those with not the best qualifications?"

"As the prime minister said, this is what Pu thought in his heart."

Zheng Pu couldn't help but smile, "However, now that the Prime Minister mentioned it, Pu feels that it is not uncommon to sell some excellent war horses to Sun Wu."

"Ok?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, the prime minister thought for a while, and asked, "Zijin's intention is to double the price?"

"No."

Shaking his head slightly, Zheng Pu clasped his hands and answered, "Pu has heard that in recent years, Sun Wu often sent troops to attack the mountains in the territory, and took the strong as pawns and compiled the weak ones to garrison the fields. Now my man is short of manpower, why don't we let Sun Wu take the mountains? The captives were exchanged for high-quality war horses. Moreover, Pu also heard that there are many wealthy families in Jiangdong, and there are many slaves and apprentice tenants in each family. If I, a big man, use high-quality war horses as a lure, I may not be able to add households to the court."

Uh.
After the prime minister heard it, he couldn't laugh or cry for a while.

Population is both national strength.

Throughout Sun Quan's succession to Sun Ce's position, he has not done anything stupid, and it is too difficult for him to exchange prisoners of war.

However, those Jiangdong aristocratic families are very likely to exchange them here and there--
[Note 1: "Sleeping Tiger Land Qin Bamboo Slips" unearthed in 1975: "A sudden horse over five feet and eight inches is incompetent, and Ben Zhi (絷) is not as good as Ling. Book·Jingdi Ji": "The Yushi Dafu Wan Qin bans the horse to be more than five feet nine inches high, and the teeth are not flat, so it is not allowed to leave the pass."]

(End of this chapter)