Wei Ni

Youbeiping County, west of Wuzhong County.

Xiahou Hui, with Wei Shu and several other troops, went north along the bank of Gengshui River.

After bidding farewell to Guanqiu Jian, he asked Ding Mi to take the others to Yuguan first, while he came here to look for his old friend Han Long.

According to the previous agreement between the two, as long as the former Youzhou governor Wang Xiong did not take Han Long away as a subordinate when he left office and fulfilled the debt of gratitude between master and servant, Han Long would be willing to accept his recruitment.

For this reason, Xiahou Hui specifically asked Guanqiu Jian about it.

After learning that Wang Xiong had just taken over the affairs and returned to Luoyang with only a few servants and old friends, he followed the address Han Long had told him before and came here.

Or, in other words, his actions were putting the cart before the horse.

Although he knew that Emperor Cao Rui and Guanqiu Jian, who were eager to attack Liao, had not given him much time, he still did not rush to Liaoxi to actively prepare for the conquest. Instead, he wasted time looking for old friends.

Ding Mi, as an aide to the emperor, had suggested that he should send a few soldiers to summon Han Long to Yuguan.

That Han Long is just a vulgar man.

No matter how brave or smart he is, it is not worthy for Xiahou Hui to invite him in person so solemnly.

There are urgent matters~
The most urgent task is to prepare for the attack on Liao. Zhang Hu and Gongsun Yi, who are equally brave, will be of greater benefit than Han Long!
In response, Xiahou Hui did not make any excuses, nor did he listen.

Because he could vaguely guess from Ding Mi's words why in the original history, Guanqiu Jian's first expedition against Liao ended in failure.

It's nothing more than a sense of superiority.

Whether it was Ding Mi or Guanqiu Jian, they were all from the samurai families in Guandong and had regional prejudices against the border areas.

They believed that this wild frontier area where Han and Hu people lived together could not match the Central Plains in terms of culture, financial resources or military forces, and that as long as the army marched forward, it would be easily destroyed.

It is underestimating the enemy.

This is also due to the Central Plains' traditional contempt for the border areas.

In fact, this difference between the Central Plains and the border areas does exist, and it is not wrong for Guanqiu Jian and Ding Mi to have a sense of superiority.

But Xiahou Hui knew better that in places like this, sometimes ordinary people could play a greater role than soldiers.

The land of Yan where the pre-Qin scholar spirit still exists~
In the eyes of countless heroic and tragic men, the constraints of the law are like floating clouds in the face of affection and righteousness.

Besides, his purpose in looking for Han Long was not just to recruit his followers.

Wuzhong County was originally the starting point of Wuzhong Road, and Xuwu County in the upper northwest was the starting point of Lulong Road. He wanted to go there to inquire whether there was still any private communication between the people and the Wuhuan tribe on these two roads.

It can be considered as busy work.

We rode non-stop all the way, asking at villages along the Geng River.

When they were almost at the border of Xuwu County, they found out where Han Long's home was. This was because Han Long was well-known in the local area. The reason why he was recruited as a scout by the former governor Wang Xiong was not only because of his own abilities, but also because he had made a name for himself as a knight in the past.

It is on the side of a small col.

Several small thatched cottages are staggered on the leeward hillside, surrounded by simple fences.

The fields outside the fence had already been harvested, and the remaining wheat stubble and withered weeds merged into a patchwork, becoming a paradise for many sparrows to find insects and grass seeds to fill their stomachs. Inside the fence, a few bean seedlings were sparsely planted along the hillside, drooping weakly on the ground, and it was unknown whether they could survive the winter.

From the small sheep pen surrounded by a wooden fence next to the thatched cottage, a faint smell of feces and urine wafted out, giving this obviously poor family some confidence to survive.

Xiahou Hui and his party were all riding horses, and the noise made by five or six riders was quite large.

Han Long, who happened to be at home, came out with a knife on his waist and a bow and arrow in his hand, with the arrow already on the bow, ready to draw the string and shoot at any time.

It seems that this place is not peaceful.
Xiahou Hui, who had dismounted and walked to the outside of the fence, saw Han Long coming out with a sword and bow, looking alert. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, and took the lead in bowing and smiling, saying, "Han Zhuangshi, it's been several years since we last met. Do you still remember me?"

Of course Han Long still recognized who he was.

I was very surprised by his sudden appearance.

Because since Wang Xiong was transferred back to Luoyang at the beginning of the year, he took off his armor and returned to his hometown.

Calculating the time, if Xiahou Hui had followed the previous agreement, he should have sent someone to send a letter to summon him long ago, asking him to fulfill his promise of "traveling thousands of miles to come."

Therefore, he felt that Xiahou Hui had long forgotten about this matter.

He also lost the desire to continue serving the "meat eaters" and settled down to farm and hunt in his hometown, and occasionally accepted employment from large families as a guard for caravans to support his family.

Who would have thought that Xiahou Hui would condescend to come in person?

"I didn't expect it to be General Xiahou in person!" Han Long quickly put down his bow and arrow and walked over to greet him. As he bowed, he still looked a little bit unbelieving. "If the general has summoned me, he should have sent someone to let me go. How dare I let the general come in person!"

"It's nothing. I'm going to Liaoxi to take up a post, so I came to bother Han Zhuangshi on the way."

Xiahou Hui explained with a smile, and after taking the leather bag handed over by his subordinate Wei Shu and handing it to Han Long, he continued, "Besides, I also want to ask Han Zhuangshi for help with something."

Oh?
Aren’t you here to recruit me as your subordinate?

Han Long took the leather bag without knowing what was going on. He quickly led everyone into the house and said as he walked, "General, I am sorry for the trouble. If you have anything to ask, just tell me. I will not refuse. But I am just a country bumpkin without much talent or virtue. I am afraid that I am not up to the task and may cause trouble for you."

"The warrior is modest."

After saying politely, Xiahou Hui followed him into the thatched cottage.

The hut was not big but looked empty, with almost nothing on the walls. However, there were some deer antlers piled up in the corner, both new and old, some of which had been cut and polished, and some were used for unknown purposes.

This made Xiahou Hui, who had just sat down, look at it.

Because on the way here, he found that there were many pine forests in the foothills of Yanshan Mountain, and the deer glue used to make pine smoke ink was made from deer antlers. Han Long, who had first gone into the inner room to call his wife to cook and to cook the cured venison, saw Xiahou Hui's attention when he came out, and smiled and explained, "When I'm free at home, I often grind deer antlers into small dagger handles and sell them in the market. If the general finds it novel, feel free to pick a few."

"not busy."

Waving his hand, Xiahou Hui withdrew his thoughts and asked about his recent situation.

After making it clear that he was idle at home, he signaled him to open the leather bag and sincerely recruited him, "The previous battle in Macheng showed that your talent is not inferior to that of the generals. Now that you are at home and have nothing to do, you have really been buried. I would like to ask you to lend a hand. I wonder if you are willing to wear military uniforms?"

"How dare you not serve!"

Han Long immediately bowed his hands with a solemn expression, and replied generously, "Don't say that I had an appointment with the general before. The general came from afar today to see me. If I don't accept such courtesy, I will not be a man."

"Haha, very good."

Xiahou Hui was delighted and clapped his hands in praise, "With the help of a brave man, I will be able to work in Youzhou and everything will be fine!"

"Don't dare, don't dare."

After a few humble words, Han Long also opened the leather bag with a smile. But after untying the rope and taking a look, his expression paused, and he tied it casually and stood up to return it to Xiahou Hui, saying in a somewhat indifferent voice, "I am willing to follow the general, out of friendship, not for money. Please forgive me for not accepting these money and goods."

Well, this leather bag contains thirty taels of gold.

This is a amount of money that a despicable man like Han Long would never be able to earn in his entire life.

"Haha, don't misunderstand me."

Xiahou Hui chuckled and quickly claimed that the money was for him to recruit troops. He also explained that he knew that the men in Yan were not interested in money and were loyal to justice, but it was unreasonable for a husband to work for him while his wife and children had no means of livelihood; if he could not provide for his family, he would naturally not dare to employ him.

After explaining, he changed the subject again, "Besides, half of this gold was obtained from the governor of Youzhou, and it was also used to pay for recruiting spies."

It turned out to be the case.

Hearing this, Han Long and Ji's face brightened.

But he still shook his head and put the leather bag in front of Xiahou Hui. "We Youdi men are always kind-hearted. As long as the general treats us sincerely, it doesn't cost much to recruit soldiers. And I have some friends in my hometown. If I want to recruit soldiers for you, I just need to let them know. There will be 20 or 30 like-minded people. When they come to surrender, you will give them money to settle down. As for recruiting spies, I wonder what you want them to do?"

Just say hello and you can find 20 or 30 people~
It seems that I came to the right place this time.

Xiahou Hui said to himself, no longer bothering about the gold, "To find out the details of the remaining Wuhuan tribes living in Liucheng and Changli. Well, it's not that I want to attack them, but I just want to know their current situation. If I can find one or two people who are on good terms with the tribal leaders and can serve as envoys, it would be even better."

messenger?
As a native of Youbeiping, he was very familiar with the past of the Wuhuan in the three counties. Therefore, he could guess Xiahou Hui's thoughts and immediately asked tentatively, "General, do you want to recruit them to submit to the country again?"

"Yes, surrender."

Nodding, Xiahou Hui said bluntly, "I came to Youzhou to take up my post because the war in Liaodong is about to start. These remaining Wuhuan tribes can be of benefit to the war."

"This"

This time, Han Long hesitated for a moment, and said as tactfully as possible, "General, if we ask them to surrender for military reasons, it may not be successful. I believe you also know that when Emperor Wu attacked Liucheng, he moved most of the Wuhuan tribes inland. Although the remaining ones are afraid of the Wei army, if you ask them to be the vanguard of the Wei army to attack Liao, they will flee thousands of miles away. Because their strength has long been declining, and each tribe has only a few hundred tribes. If they follow the expedition, their tribe will be exterminated."

"Ah, there are only a few hundred tribes left~"

After being surprised for a moment, Xiahou Hui explained, "You have misunderstood my meaning. I will not let them join the expedition, and the court will not order them to do anything else. I just want to prevent them from causing more trouble in the war. And as long as they are willing to submit, whether they want to live in Youzhou or Jizhou, they can choose for themselves."

"If so, this matter is easy!"

Han Long suddenly realized and said with a smile, "General, I know a man whose family has lived in Feiru, Liaoxi for generations. He is trusted by the mixed tribes outside the Great Wall. If the general uses him as an envoy, the matter can be accomplished!" (End of this chapter)