Shu Chen

Chapter 155
Summer in May.

Zhuge Ke set foot on his way home.

In his heart, this mission is a rewarding experience.

Although the price of grain and fodder used to buy war horses was a bit higher than Sun Quan and the princes expected, the difference in the profits he made from buying draft animals and selling them to the wealthy clan in Jiangdong was enough to make up for it.And in the eyes of Sun Quan and others, it is more important to hoard food and fodder to prepare for the war against Wei than to mobilize the army and mobilize the people who captured Jiaozhou servants and servants.

Furthermore, after his persevering persuasion, Zheng Pu finally relented and sold his excellent war horses to the State of Wu.

A good war horse only needs a hundred captives from Shanyue.

Even though Zheng Pu repeatedly said that these Shanyue prisoners of war were intended to be used as military households.

Each family member of a prisoner of war must have more than five members, and those who are adults can be regarded as soldiers.

Such a requirement may seem harsh, but Zhuge Ke can also understand: it is rare for a soldier without a family to be fettered by his courage to go forward and die without hesitation.

And he felt that the price of a good war horse was extremely low.

In other words, everyone in Jiangdong thought that such conditions were mediocre.

In the counties and counties in the east of the Yangtze River, the people of Shanyue are densely populated.

Living in the dangerous hinterland of the mountains and marshes, the people are more determined, and the mountains produce copper and iron, and they forge their own armored soldiers.

Its nature is easy to move and restless, it does not follow the law, does not obey the king, and often turns out to be a bandit.Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, every county and county has sent troops to conquer. In the battle, swarms will come, and in defeat, birds will flee. It is difficult to find the place where the cave is hidden, and it is also difficult to cut its root.

Now that the Sun family has taken charge of Jiangdong, they are often given vain positions by people sent against the Wei Dynasty to instigate troubles to disturb the place.

Therefore, many generals in Wu State have the record of conquering Shanyue.

Among them, Lu Dai, He Qi, Quan Cong and Zhou Dory were the ones who can be called the internal difficulties of Kning and the state of Suijing.

In particular, the current state of Wu uses troops against Shanyue every year.

In order to captive Ding as a pawn, increase households and farmland, open up land and open up acres of land, donate national power, and captive maids and servants to appease Jiangdong aristocratic families.

It can be called the mountain and the moon, and the whole country is united.

Under such a situation, Wu State has no shortage of Shanyue prisoners of war.

And Sun Quan will not be stingy with the big man.

Zhuge Ke is too familiar with Sun Quan, and he also knows that he will not exchange too many excellent war horses in a short period of time.

As expected, roughly forty or fifty horses.

Because Sun Quan came back in exchange for excellent war horses, not for conquest, but to show grace!
He had just honored the title of Son of Heaven, and it was time to reward meritorious deeds.

Rewarding the excellent war horses that are not available in Jiangdong can reflect Sun Quan's supreme favor to those who have made outstanding achievements, and can inspire others to make contributions.

Rare things are more expensive.

The winner does not lie in the value of the horse, but in what others do not have.

Such a simple heart of fame comparison is well understood by Sun Quan, and Zhuge Ke is also well aware of it.

However, what Zhuge Ke didn't expect was that when Zheng Pu sent him away for thirty miles to bid farewell, and then returned to the Prime Minister's Office in Ji County to report the details of the negotiation to the prime minister, the prime minister Zhuge Liang couldn't help but sigh. .

It is the indisputable anger towards the younger generation of the family.

Said: "Yuan Xun is well-known in Soochow, and his talent and learning are as good as Jiang Dongjun. If you don't want to, but Zijin is tossed around in the applause without knowing it, it can be said that you don't care about the evil of the country!"

It also made Zheng Pu a little embarrassed.

Because the price that the prime minister ordered at the beginning was that each war horse should not be less than three thousand hu grains and fodder.

In order to trade horses with Soochow for a long time.

In addition, if Sun Wu's food and fodder were searched hard, it would not be conducive to supporting the crusade against Wei Wei.

After all, if Jiangdong was trapped in food and fodder, Sun Quan would not have the idea of ​​sending troops to attack.

"Cough, cough."

Coughing a few times to ease the embarrassment, Zheng Pu chuckled modestly, "The Prime Minister's words are too much. It's not that Brother Yuan Xun is too wise, but that if Jiang Dong wants to buy a war horse, he can only ask my big man. If you want to make things happen, you have to ask for perfection."

"Oh, no."

With a chuckle, the Prime Minister shook his head slightly, "Zijin don't defend him. If he didn't strive for success, An Neng would be lured into the trap by Zijin step by step?"

Uh.
Hearing this, Zheng Pu was silent for a while.

Just as the prime minister said, Zhuge Ke was taken care of by Zheng Pu every step of the way.

It doesn't matter whether Guan Xing is acting like he is, or throwing a banquet at the door, everything is for Zhuge Ke to fall into the trap.Let him think that he is a big man, instead of being emphasized by Zheng Pu.

After all, the more intelligent a person is, the more conceited and suspicious he is.

I am more willing to believe in the results inferred by myself, rather than from others.

If he hadn't been eager for success, and had dismissed the discussion first, and asked Sun Quan to send others to discuss it, Zheng Pu would have lowered the price of the war horse.

Because compared with war horses, big men need food and fodder more.

There is no shortage of food and fodder in the Han army, so Longyou is indestructible!

Longyou is not lost, and the horse grazing land is in hand, so there is no need to worry about the shortage of war horses.

As for the establishment of cavalry by the Han Dynasty to attack Liangzhou, they are also facing a shortage of war horses, so there is no need to think too much about it.

If the accumulated grain is not abundant, Encore will send troops!

This is the question of the end and the end.

This time Zhuge Ke was blinded by a leaf, so that he was deceived by Zheng Pu, and it is understandable to say that "he does not care about the country".

Naturally, there is a clear distinction between public and private.

After lamenting the inadequacy of his nephew and nephew, the prime minister stretched his eyebrows and smiled, "Zijin has gained a lot from negotiating with the envoy of Wu this time, which is beneficial to the country. Let's take over. Mmm." Wei Wei dragged on, and the Prime Minister found a lot of small cloths from under the case, "Zijin, let's take a look at the military situation first."

"promise."

Responding quickly, Zheng Pu got up and took a small step forward to take it.

When you come back, spread it out on the case, and look through it carefully.

It turned out to be the military report of Ma Dai, Gao Xiang, You Chu and Zhang Yi in Longxi.

Among them, he has already seen Zhang Ni's.

Because Zhang Yi was one of his subordinates, when he reported the statement to the prime minister, he would also make a copy for him.

It's just that Zhang Yi's official position is not high now, Ma Dai led the army into the river head and Gao Xiang's military situation in Daxia County, he didn't know much about it.

You Chu's table is almost the same as Zhang Yi's.

Gao Xiang was on the lookout for information about Niwei Jincheng and Xiping County.

Now the Wei general guarding the dangerous pass of Siwang Gorge is Jia Xu, who was born in Wuwei County; and the one who appeases the Huangshui River Valley is General Hao Zhao.

Both of these two have served in Hexi for a long time, and they are quite prestigious. Then Zuozhi turned against Wei and gave up the interests of the Silk Road, and the Qianghu tribe was much more peaceful than before.

Guo Huai, who guards Jincheng County and guards Qiang Xiaowei, builds a siege around Yuzhong County, and often sends small-scale cavalry into the Taoshui River Valley. Many small-scale conflicts have broken out with the Gaoxiang Department .

Ma Dai's presentation is the simplest.

Just claiming that within three to five days, don't send two or three hundred riders to find a gap and drive into the river head.

If you encounter the enemy, you will avoid it, and if you are blocked, you will return.

The only eye-catching thing is that every time he crosses the river, the location of the troops is different.

Therefore, Zheng Pu roughly guessed the reason after reading it.

The date agreed by Tang Fan, the leader of the Gongheshou Qiang people, Ma Dai and King Shaodang should be July and August of the autumn harvest.

"Sun Tzu's Art of War" has a saying: "Eat the enemy for one minute, and fight for twenty minutes."

Ma Dai, who was well aware of the inconvenience of transporting grain and fodder in the Han Dynasty, naturally adhered to the art of war of "supporting war with war", and waited for the Heshou Qiang tribe's grain and fodder to be harvested, and then sent troops when the cattle and sheep were fat.

Nowadays, a small number of cavalry are frequently sent to explore, but it is just to find out where the various tribes live.

And as long as he doesn't fight with him for a few months, Tang Fan of Heshou can feel that the Han army is just disturbing the country and has no intention of sending large troops to fight for Heshou.

It's just that, with the wisdom of the prime minister, how can there be no reason?

Why do you still show me with a book?
Zheng Pu, who looked at the military situation one by one, had a look of incredulity in his eyes, and turned his head to look at the main seat.

But I saw the prime minister sitting upright, bowing his head at the case and writing vigorously.

It should be that not long after the dispatch, Sun Wu sent food and fodder to replace the horses and maids and servants, right?
Realized in his heart, Zheng Pu did not dare to disturb him, and quietly waited for the prime minister to finish his writing.

Perhaps it is because the current big man has safely survived the internal and external troubles after the Yiling War, and many affairs in various counties and counties are running in an orderly manner, so that the prime minister no longer worries about the relationship with unwillingness to eat. There is a ray of rosiness, as if the silvery white of the temples is faintly lustrous and flowing.

It was very reassuring to see.

The same is the former general Zhao Yun who is far away in Hanzhong County.

According to legend, he became more energetic now that his beard and hair were all white, he often smiled and ate a lot at every meal.

In other words, all the veterans who followed the late emperor Liu Bei in the early days, since they returned to Longyou last year, have grown old and strong because of their expectations!
This is the luck of my man!

Just when Zheng Pu was thinking about it, the Prime Minister happened to be writing on the case, looked over, and hurriedly cupped his hands in salute, and said aloud, "Prime Minister, Longxi Army's situation Pu is all over."

"Ah."

The prime minister nodded lightly, with a gurgling smile, "Since Zijin has a strategy in mind, I don't need to say much about the Longxi matter, and I know the reason. I show it in a book, which is against Wei in Xiaoguan, Xiegukou in Meixian County, and Xicheng Xun. The garrison and encirclement have all increased troops. Zijin will take a closer look, what is the purpose of the general against Wei?"

Rebel Wei actually increased his troops?

Immediately, Zheng Pu felt awe-inspiring after hearing this.

I also know what the prime minister wants him to know about this move. ,

It is the intention of rebelling against Wei to increase troops on the border of Hanzhong, and Ma Dai and King Shaodangqiang are already ready to attack the land at the head of the river. At that time, the large-scale swordsmanship will trigger a large-scale attack against Wei.

After respectfully agreeing to the promise, Zheng Pu lowered his head and frowned in thought.

About Xiao Guandao who went against Wei Zengbing, he didn't have any good thoughts.

Gein Xiaoguan has now become a battleground for both sides.

If Runi Wei wanted to regain Longyou, he had to defend Xiaoguan in Anding County.

And if the big Han marches into Liangzhou, the direction of troops must be the Siwang Gorge between Jincheng and Xiping County, and Xiaoguan needs to be captured before that.Only after conquering Xiaoguan, can the great Han connect it with Longguan and the Weishui River Valley to form a barrier to the east of Longyou, completely preventing the army from rebelling against Weiguan from attacking.

For example, when the Han Dynasty sent troops to attack the Siwang Gorge, the troops from Liangzhou and Guanzhong came from Xiaoguan Road at the same time, threatening Ji County and Shangyu in the Wei River Basin, forcing the Han Dynasty to return to the army for defense.

And if the big man occupies Xiaoguan, he can still threaten Anding County.

It can cut off the connection between Guanzhong and Liangzhou, turn Liangzhou into an enclave of Niwei, and make the Qianghu tribe and Haoyou in the four counties of Hexi lose confidence in Niwei.

Living here, there is nothing wrong with rebelling against Wei Zengbing Xiaoguan.

As for the increase of troops against the Wei Dynasty and the encirclement of Xiegukou and Xicheng Xunkou in Mei County, it is incredible.

Because of the Battle of Didao in Longxi earlier this year.

Ni Wei just lost more than [-] soldiers in the battle. Whether it is out of the morale of the handsome army or the consideration of appeasing the local area, there will be no thought of using swords within this year.

Therefore, what is the reason for his hidden threat to Hanzhong County?

Is it to plan ahead and garrison troops to repair roads and camps first, and then invade Hanzhong when the time is right?
Or is it a pretentious gesture, let me send troops back to Hanzhong and leave Longyou empty?

For a while, Zheng Pu had nothing to stop.

After all, both outcomes are possible.

But if he asserted rashly and made the prime minister think that he would dispatch troops and horses, he might face an unbearable burden for the big man.

Soldiers, don't be careless.

In particular, Cao Zhen is the one guarding Guanzhong against the Wei Dynasty, and Sima Yi is the one guarding Wancheng in Jingzhou!
They can be called the top two commanders against Wei today.

Encore light!

Inside the office, there was a long silence.

Zheng Pu, who hadn't stopped for a long time, still raised his head and bowed his hands in the end, and said out in shame, "Please also forgive Pu's lack of knowledge. Wei, what will the general want, Pu has nothing to think about, and dare not speak nonsense."

"Hehe~~"

Hearing this, the prime minister smiled coyly, and waved his hands, "Why is Zijin? I have no idea. Zijin does not lie, he is prudent, so there is no need to be humble." After being relieved, he continued to say, "Zijin When the dragon sent people to send the army, it still claimed that with the strength of Hanzhong, there is no need to worry about defending. Even if the rebellion against Wei comes, we can stick to it until the reinforcements from Longyou arrive."

Zheng Pu also smiled, "The former general is the mainstay of my great man, and he is unshakable in rebelling against the Wei Kou side."

"Ah."

The prime minister nodded slightly, stroked his beard for a moment, "Forget it, it's useless to think too much. Since the movement against Wei is not clear today, let's ignore it. Our army only needs to guard the danger, wait for the change, and the soldiers will stop it. Zijin stays here Jixian County, and the envoy Wu has already returned, after the rest of the bath, let's take care of Li Shu with Fei Wenwei."

"promise."

Respectfully accepting the order, Zheng Pu cupped his hands and said, "Pu will leave."

After leaving the office, Zheng Pu frowned deeply.

It's not that I don't know anything about the prime minister's new order.

Yang Yi, who had been staying in Hanzhong to dispatch grain and fodder, was transferred to Longyou by the prime minister after Ma Su became the prime minister of Hanzhong.Let Fei Yi, who was in charge of grain and fodder dispatching in Longyou, be able to split himself up and turn to comfort Li Shu's farming.

As for Zheng Pu, who was still in charge of the army, it was only natural for him to transfer to co-administrate when the big Han was not attacking for the time being.

What he cared about was that he couldn't understand the actions against Wei.

Even if the prime minister's dispatch, it is a surefire way to deal with all changes with the same strategy, he can't let it go.

In fact, he was overthinking it.

Because against Wei Cao Rui ordered Cao Zhen and Sima Yi to increase their respective troops, it was just a bluff.

One of the reasons is that Sun Quan abandoned the title of King of Wei and Wu Zun Tianzi.

The state of Wu was newly established, and out of the mentality of establishing prestige, he must prepare his troops to fight against Wei.Cao Rui, who lost consecutive moves last year, did not want to fight on two fronts again.

On the other hand, Cao Rui finally made a decision after learning from the pain against Wei Wei.

For example, to be worthy of Wei Wu Cao Cao's assertion and expectation of him: "I am based on your three generations."

(End of this chapter)