Wei Ni

Chapter 78 Straightforward
It is customary to have deputy posts in the army.

After all, no one can guarantee that the general will be healthy at all times, or that he will never be promoted or dismissed.

Xia Houhui didn't reject the position of deputy either.

He just felt that the emperor Cao Rui was a little anxious, and he sent his deputy before he could establish the rules in the new army and form a routine.

yes~
The military doctor's diagnosis and treatment, and the mentor's enlightenment are just ordinary tricks to buy people's hearts. He still has a lot of tricks that he hasn't used yet!
It's not like Wu Qi sucking gangrene to express his love for soldiers like a son, or imitating Emperor Wu Cao Cao's cutting hair and replacing the first Ming military discipline, etc. If you want to emulate such things, you have to have a chance.

He was thinking of improving the food and strengthening the physique of the soldiers.

If you want to train elite soldiers, you not only need to lead the soldiers to eat and live with them to be loved, rewards and punishments are clear, and they are willing to die, but the more important prerequisite is the physical fitness of the soldiers themselves!
How can a group of savage-faced scholars and peasants expect them to be called elite soldiers?
Xia Houhui's current thoughts are thinking about how to improve the combat power of the new army when he starts performing martial arts after the spring plowing.

And he's running out of time.

Li Changshi, who came to inspect yesterday, has already revealed that Emperor Cao Rui intends to let the new army participate in the attack on Wancheng.

Although I don't know when the sneak attack will happen, this kind of thing cannot be delayed for too long.

According to the fact that the Huainan front is now sparsely populated and supplies are scarce, he guessed that the emperor would urge Man Chong to start preparing for a surprise attack after the autumn harvest.As for which month after the beginning of winter or the delay until the beginning of spring, it depends on the situation of road closures due to heavy snow in the Dabie Mountains.

In less than a year, he will be delayed by farming and mulberry matters such as spring plowing and autumn harvest. He must hurry up and make preparations.

And the fastest way to increase the combat power of soldiers is to supply meat to strengthen their bodies~
He has already made up his mind, after the spring plowing, he will let the women and children make nets, find two or three old fishermen to teach the soldiers to fish in the Huai River; and the twenty subordinates that Gou Quan and Zhang Li have brought back from Taishan County brought some Rendong went to Yinling County to hunt elk.

There are many herds of elk in the hills at the junction of Yangzhou and Xuzhou.

And because of the sparsely populated area, there are also a lot of animals such as hares, wild hogs, and water birds. As long as you find one or two old hunters as guides, you won't have to worry about returning empty-handed.

Of course, relying solely on primitive fishing and hunting methods cannot feed two thousand soldiers.

He also planned to buy some chickens, ducks or sheep from Xun Haoyou's house through the local cavalry in the scout camp and throw them back to the women and children of the Shi's family to feed them, so as to ensure the continuous supply of meat.

As for where the money comes from~
He was so poor that he didn't even dare to support his subordinates, the only way he could do was to embezzle military funds
Therefore, it is too early for the emperor Cao Rui to send his deputy!

Before he had time to do some unruly things, he was about to start throwing rats.

It is indeed a dilemma.

Without improving the soldiers' food and enhancing their combat power, it would be difficult to have military exploits to prove to the temple ministers that the emperor Cao Rui was correct in promoting the reform of the scholars.However, such things as private embezzlement of military funds cannot be hidden from the deputy. If it is exposed, he will not be able to deal with the temple's leisurely mouth. Maybe even the emperor will be accused of knowing people.

In other words, Xia Houhui was worrying unfoundedly.

With the status of the post-Qiao Pei Yuanxun and the favor of the emperor, can he still not be able to suppress a mere deputy?

That's right.

But the deputy appointed by the emperor himself and rushed from Luoyang to take up the post, how can he be a simple person~
Alas, that's all.

It's no use thinking too much.

After the deputy arrives, let's see if he knows what to do before making any plans.

If you don’t know what is interesting, then I will go to Li Changshi and ask him to report this matter to the emperor in private, so that the emperor can understand my difficulties, and he can speak up to defend me when something happens in the future.

With this in mind, Xia Houhui waited quietly for the development of the situation.

Three days later, the deputy rushed to Huainan.

When Xiahou Huifu saw him, half of the troubles in his heart disappeared.

It was Cao Zuan who came.

It's not that he has a good friendship with Cao Zuan, but that Cao Zuan is a "heterogeneous" among the clan's children.

For one thing, he is simple-minded and straightforward.

He can't bear to read when he was young, and he often enjoys bowing horses and hunting. He is a very pure warrior.

The other is that he is not enthusiastic about official career at all, and he has no ambition to lead a party to fight against disobedient ministers for the country.

In his eyes, the family is supported by his elder brother Cao Zhao, and the emperor Cao Rui is worried about the community. He only needs to follow the orders of the emperor or his elder brother, and he doesn't need to bother and work hard to deal with power.

Anyway, with his temperament, it is difficult to deal with it properly.

It is precisely because of this mentality that the emperor Cao Rui treats him very favorably.

Whenever encountering difficult matters or feeling depressed, the emperor would always privately invite him to a banquet for pleasure, hoping to find some comfort from his carefree and frankness.

Xia Houhui also had a good impression of him.

Previously, when he was on duty in Luoyang, he often accompanied him on trips, and the emperor often made him enjoy competing with Cao Zuan on bow horses or fighting with bare hands, so he felt a sense of sympathy for Cao Zuan.

And when he refuted Cao Zhen's attack on Shu in Shangshu, Cao Zuan was the only son of the clan who didn't look coldly at him.

"Ah~"

Xia Houhui, who was pushing Luke to tamp the ditches together with the scholars in front of Qianmo, saw Cao Zuan who was attracted by his subordinates, he let go of the handrails of Luke and strode forward, "I don't want the emperor to send De Si Let it go to Huainan!"

"Child power can come, why can't I?"

And Cao Zuan, who was surrounded by dozens of retinues, dismounted more than ten steps away, and bowed his hands far away.

When he got closer, he saw Xia Houhui's body covered with a lot of dirt, and he said bluntly, "Zhiquan does the farming work himself, so he wants to be a farmer?"

Well, he's really outspoken in his temperament.

"The left and right are idle and have nothing to do, so I'm tired."

After waving his hand, Xia Houhui didn't take it seriously, went to the shade of the tree, pulled out a horse and jumped up, saying, "Let's go, Desi, I'll throw a banquet to wash you off."

"So best."

Nodding his head with a smile, Cao Zuan also turned around and mounted his horse, and said, "I've been exhausted all the way, if Zhiquan doesn't treat him with good wine, I won't transfer the rewards from His Majesty to Zhiquan, hahaha~"

Has the emperor bestowed on me?

Hearing this, Xia Houhui raised his eyebrows, and couldn't help turning his gaze to the entourage who followed Cao Zuan.

But they didn't find that there were carts or pack horses mixed in the ranks, and these subordinates were all lightly armed with swords and carried a small package.

"Don't look for it anymore, I left the luggage cart at the office."

Cao Zuan, who rode over and rode in the bridle, explained, not forgetting to urge, "It's more important for Zhiquan to send people back to the city to cut their meat and buy wine. I will go to the Eastern General's Office at noon to register and take up the post. Li Changshi also Talked to me for a long time. Among them, it was mentioned that now Zhiquan lives and eats with the scholar's family, and there is no trace of meat."

Li Changshi told you all this?
Xia Houhui was a little surprised, but soon, he realized it.

The late Cao Xiu became General Zhengdong to guard Huainan not long after Emperor Wen Cao Pi succeeded to the throne, and Cao Zuan had been familiar with the army by his father's side before he entered the palace as a guard.

In this way, Li Changshi and Cao Zhuan are very familiar and close.

Thinking of this, Xia Houhui also vaguely guessed the emperor's intention to send Cao Zuan to Huainan.

Cao Xiu had guarded the Huainan front for nearly ten years, and now many of the generals and civil servants who belonged to the Zhengdong General's Office were his former officials, so naturally they would pay more attention to Cao Xiu.

With this relationship, it will also make it easier for the emperor to implement the reform of the scholar family in Huainan.

But, why is it Cao Zuan who has no scheming?

As the eldest son, Cao Zhao is quick-witted, and his talent and learning can be put to good use. If he is sent to Huainan for training, won't it be easier for him to hold military power and supervise the town in the future?

Could it be that the Son of Heaven was worried that Cao Zhao would have a conflict with me?
Xia Houhui, who was thinking about it for a while, put his hand on the already flourishing short beard.

When he was hesitating whether to make a few insinuations, Cao Zuan sighed and interrupted his thoughts, "Oh, but I haven't seen him for a few years, and Li Changshi is already showing his old age."

uh~
Immediately, Xia Houhui stopped thinking.

Because he knew that Cao Zhuan was not only lamented by Li Changshi's old age, but also lamented by the fact that things were wrong on the Huainan front.

So at this time, it's better for him to keep silent.

However, only a moment later, Cao Zuan, who had been sobbing just now, immediately returned to his heartless normal state, tilting his head and urging, "Send someone to buy wine soon! I brought it for you from the capital all the way! Your Majesty's reward, don't you even know how to treat guests?"

You are really Cao Desi.
Well, it's really straightforward~
Shaking his head helplessly, Xia Houhui turned his head and waved to his follower, Gou Quan.

When I was young, I went to the New Army Office.

It is said to be a government office, but it is actually a platform three feet above the ground based on logs and wooden planks, and then a military tent is set up.

Therefore, after Cao Zuan got off his horse, he began to dislike Xia Houhui's carelessness.

But he was simply ignored.

Because Xia Houhui felt that this was good enough for the Bishi family's residence.

And if it wasn't for the heavy rain in Huainan, the platform underneath would not be needed.

In order to let the scholars return to their hearts, and to establish meritorious deeds as soon as possible, the more small details such as setting an example and sharing the joys and sorrows with the soldiers, the better~
"Desi, what is His Majesty's gift to me?"

Xia Houhui looked back and forth between the seven or eight carriages, and waved to Cao Zuan and asked.

"This car."

Cao Zui patted the cart in front of him, which was carrying large and small wooden houses, and then pointed to the side, "There is still that cart."

"Um"

Xia Houhui nodded slightly.

Stepping forward, he casually opened a toy, was slightly stunned, and closed it again with his backhand.

And full of doubts, he looked sideways at Cao Zuan.

Because the utensils are full of money.
And Cao Zuan, who found the wine bag from another cart, drank it for a while before passing it to Xia Houhui, and said softly, "Your Majesty said, half of the retinue of the Yanshan people will belong to me, and the other half will belong to you."

That's it!

The emperor actually gave me wealth to support my followers~
It can be said that your kindness is mighty~
Xia Houhui, who was feeling emotional, smiled happily, and took a big gulp of the wine bag.

Immediately, it all sprayed out.

Because at this time Cao Zhuan added another sentence, "Zhiquan, Your Majesty asks you to work hard, and strive to make me the prefect of Anfeng within two years."

(End of this chapter)