The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 157 Eat my food and spit it out

Returning to Jiedu Mansion near evening, Zhu Xiu had just settled Zhao Kuangyin when he received an urgent report from Guan Tieshi from Quaigu County.

Jiao Jixun, the military envoy of Fengxiang Army, invited him to meet at Baili City.

Baili City is another military garrison city in Jingzhou besides Zheqian City. It has long been abandoned and is now being renovated and prepared to serve as a resettlement site for relocated households.

Jiao Jixun was eager to see him. Zhu Xiu guessed that he was coming to trouble him because of the people in Qizhou fleeing to Jingzhou?

However, Baili City is still within the sphere of influence of the Zhang Yi Army. Now that Jiao Jixun is on fire in the backyard, he doesn't dare to play any tricks.

After discussing with Shi Kuangwei, Zhu Xiu decided to make an appointment to see what Jiao Jixun wanted to do.

Time was running out. In order to leave early and return early, Zhu Xiu ordered [-] troops and horses, and took Shi Xiangwen with him to set off overnight.

Two days later, he rushed to Quaigu County, met up with Guan Tieshi, and then went to Baili City. He arrived in the evening of the same day and rested for one night in preparation for meeting Jiao Jixun the next day.

Near noon on the second day, the flag of Fengxiang Army appeared outside Baili City, and a small team of fifty or sixty riders rode up. Jiao Jixun arrived as promised.

Zhu Xiu went out of the city to greet him. After greetings, he invited Jiao Jixun into the city.

Jiao Jixun came here obviously traveling lightly. The journey was dusty and he never took a break, and his troops and horses were obviously tired.

In a slightly old hall, the guests and hosts were sitting. Zhu Xiu smiled and said, "I wonder why Commander Jiao asked me to come here so urgently?"

After not seeing each other for several months, Jiao Jixun has changed a lot.

His hair is mostly white, there are a few deep wrinkles on his face, and his appearance is much older. He is no longer as graceful and energetic as when he led his troops into Jingzhou a few months ago.

It seems that in order to deal with the rebellion of the inspection envoy Wang Jingchong, Jiao Jixun worked hard and suffered a lot.

Jiao Jixun looked solemn and said straight to the point: "I'm here for two things. One is that recently, people from Purun, Linyou and other places in Qizhou fled to Jingzhou to avoid the war. I heard that you placed them near Qiugu County. . They are all our fellow citizens in Qizhou, and I ask you to return them all! From now on, please send troops to station at the state boundary passages. If there are any escapees, they are strictly prohibited from flowing into Jingzhou."

Zhu Xiu rubbed his hands in embarrassment, and said with a smile, "Jiao Shuai, this matter is difficult."

Jiao Jixun frowned and said displeased: "Why, you also want to rob the people of Qizhou just like you plundered the population of Pizhou? How much farmland and food do you have in Jingzhou to feed such a large population?"

Zhu Xiu hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Commander Jiao, don't be upset, please listen to my explanation. I dare to swear to God that I have never taken the initiative to persuade the people of Qizhou to move to Jingzhou. There was a war in Qizhou, and Commander Jiao was busy suppressing the rebellion and ruling the people. Being harassed by the war, we, the Zhangyi Army, sympathize deeply. The people of Qizhou fled to Jingzhou to avoid the disaster, and they did so voluntarily, and have nothing to do with the Zhangyi Army!"

Jiao Jixun said solemnly: "You will repatriate all the fugitives, and then send people to guard the state borders, and this matter will be wiped out."

Zhu Xiu and Guan Tieshi looked at each other and smiled: "It's okay to repatriate, but it's not easy to send troops to garrison the state borders. Jiao Shuai also knows that our Zhangyi Army has always been so small that even the town soldiers have been sent home." How can we send out manpower for farming! The Fengxiang Army is strong and has tens of thousands of armored men, so it would be more appropriate for Commander Jiao to send his troops to guard the state borders."

Jiao Jixun said with a dark face: "The rebel Wang Jingchong gathered [-] rebels to rebel. I fought with them for two months and forced them back to the Xi County area. A few days ago, there was news that Zhao Siwan sent an army and was driving from Wugong County. Come to reinforce the rebels. Now I am doing my best to suppress the rebellion, and I also need to divide my troops to garrison Dashan Pass to prevent the Shu army from sneak attacks. How can I still mobilize more manpower?"

"This." Zhu Xiu sighed, "Forgive me, Commander Jiao, but I, Zhang Yijun, can't help you."

Jiao Jixun's face turned a little darker.

But the Zhangyi Army refused to send troops, and he had no choice. After all, the fleeing households fled from Qizhou to Jingzhou.

What made Jiao Jixun angry was that a few months ago he led his troops into Jingzhou in a majestic manner, taking tens of thousands of kilograms of salt with him when he left, and made a fortune.

Unexpectedly, things would turn around, and now he would turn to Zhang Yijun for help.

Otherwise, if Qizhou lost a large number of people like Binzhou, he would be the one to cry.

Jiao Jixun gritted his teeth, suppressed his anger and said: "Let's put this matter aside for now, but the fugitives who have fled to Jingzhou, I hope you can repatriate them as soon as possible."

Zhu Xiu smiled and cupped his hands and said: "Don't worry, Jiao Shuai, we will deal with this matter when we get back next time."

Jiao Jixun nodded, his face softened slightly, and he drank tea and said: "Another matter, I received an urgent report that the Shu army has made unusual movements in the Great Shock Pass area of ​​Longzhou, and there seems to be signs of knocking the pass. Most of the soldiers and horses of Longzhou have been transferred by me. Qizhou is quelling the rebellion and has insufficient troops and defense. I hope the Zhangyi Army can send troops to Dazhen Pass to assist in the defense."

Zhu Xiu frowned and said nothing.

He didn't know the news.

Dazhen Pass, located in the southwest of Longzhou, is another important pass to guard against the Shu army.

If the Great Earthquake Pass is lost, Longzhou will be in danger.

If Longzhou falls under the control of the Shu army, the west of Jingzhou will face the threat of the Shu army.

Jiao Jixun looked at him and said: "You should know that it is not our Fengxiang Army's responsibility to garrison Dazhen Pass to defend against the Shu army. If something goes wrong, neither Shi Kuangwei nor I can bear the responsibility. There is a rebellion in the Fengxiang Army right now. There are enemy invaders outside and it is difficult to take care of ourselves. The Zhangyi Army must lend a helping hand!" Zhu Xiu nodded slowly and without further consideration, said: "Preparing the Shu Army is the most important thing. I agree to this matter on behalf of Shi Jieshuai! I, the Zhangyi Army, Send three thousand troops to garrison at Dazhen Pass! However, as soon as we meet the military needs of food and grass, we also ask Commander Jiao to provide them."

Jiao Jixun finally showed a smile: "You still understand the overall situation."

"But..." Zhu Xiu changed her subject and said with a smile: "Before that, I want to discuss a business deal with Jiao Shuai."

Jiao Jixun's face trembled: "Say."

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "Qizhou is a big iron-producing state, with many mines in the territory. I think Jiao Shuai has a lot of iron materials. I want to exchange salt with Jiao Shuai for some. It's not much. Let's get one hundred thousand kilograms first."

Jiao Jixun's eyes widened, annoyed.

One hundred thousand catties is not much?

Thinking that he was asking for something, Jiao Jixun took a deep breath and swallowed back the words of flat refusal on his lips, "How can I change it?"

Zhu Xiudao: "Two catties of salt are exchanged for one catty of iron."

Jiao Jixun stood up and shouted angrily, "Fart! You don't need to pay for salt in Jingzhou, but the price of iron is as high as two hundred Wen a catty! In Qizhou, the price of salt is forty to fifty Wen a catty, and the minimum price of iron is one hundred yuan." Twenty or thirty cents per catty, in exchange like this, wouldn’t it give you a huge advantage in vain!”

Zhu Xiu sat down and said with a smile: "Salt is to Jingzhou and iron is to Qizhou. They are both goods with abundant surplus. It is better to exchange them for useful things than to hoard them. The war in Guanzhong has caused the prices of bulk goods to rise rapidly. If Jiao Shuai feels that he has lost money, he can first hoard the salt, wait and see, and wait until the price is right to make a move."

Jiao Jixun said angrily: "No matter what, if two pounds of salt are exchanged for one pound of iron, I will be the one who suffers!"

Zhu Xiu smiled and said nothing.

Jiao Jixun shouted: "If I don't agree, what will you do?"

Zhu Xiu said unhurriedly: "Don't worry, Commander Jiao, even if the business cannot be negotiated, our Zhangyi Army will still send troops to Longzhou. However, it will not go to Dazhen Pass, but to Anrong Pass!"

Jiao Jixun's complexion changed abruptly, and he instantly understood what he meant.

Anrong Pass is Longzhou's second line of defense against the Shu army. It is located more than [-] miles northeast of Dazhen Pass, backed by Lishui River, and the terrain is dangerous.

If the Shu army breaks through the Dazhen Pass, they can quickly capture most of Longzhou and advance to the foot of Anrong Pass and the west bank of the Lishui River.

If they defend Anrong Pass, it will be difficult for the Shu army to break through.

For the Changyi Army, they can choose to garrison Anyrong Pass. This way, the road is short, supplies are convenient, and there is a natural barrier of Mianshui, which greatly reduces the difficulty of defense.

However, for the Fengxiang army, if the Shu army was allowed to break through the Great Earthquake Pass, it would be tantamount to losing the battle and losing the city. The court will pursue it in the future, and Jiao Jixun will inevitably be punished.

After all, the Longzhou Defense Area is Jiao Jixun's responsibility. The imperial court has given Fengxiang Army strong support and naturally has high hopes for it. Preventing the Shu Army has always been the primary responsibility of Fengxiang Army Jiedu Envoy.

If the Shu army really takes the opportunity to attack, the old neighbor Zhangyi Army should help, but how to help, and whether to assist Dazhen Pass or Anrong Pass, makes a big difference.

Zhu Xiu knew this very well and was not afraid that Jiao Jixun would not agree.

Jiao Jixun was speechless for a long time, and said with a livid face: "If the earthquake barrier is broken and the people of Longzhou suffer a military disaster, your Zhangyi Army will also bear the responsibility!"

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "I will give an order when I get back and send people to Liangyuan County to prepare to accept the Longzhou fugitives, and then go to Longzhou to publicize that Jingzhou welcomes the people of Longzhou to move and settle. Once the news of the Shu army's knock on the pass spreads, Longzhou will The state will be shaken, and when the people panic and flee to Jingzhou and Yuanzhou, there is nothing I can stop!"

Jiao Jixun clenched his fists, his eyes were blazing with anger.

Guan Tieshi's whole body tensed up, fearing that he would get angry and hurt someone, so he was secretly on guard.

The atmosphere was deadlocked for a moment, and Jiao Jixun let out a long sigh, gritted his teeth and shouted: "You are so cruel! I agree to this matter."

Zhu Xiu's eyes lit up, and she cupped her hands and said, "Thank you very much, Jiao Shuai, for making it possible! Please also ask Jiao Shuai to send someone to transport [-] kilograms of iron to this place, and then we will take over."

Jiao Jixun said coldly: "Then when will your salt arrive?"

Zhu Xiu said calmly: "The stock is not enough, please allow me to pay in batches from Jiao Shuai. After half a month, I will send over [-] catties first."

Jiao Jixun was so angry that he wanted to beat him up with his old fist.

"In half a month, the members of the Zhangyi Army must rush to Dazhenguan!" Jiao Jixun got up, said coldly, turned around and strode out of the living room, as if he wanted to quickly escape from this ghostly place that made him extremely aggrieved.

Zhu Xiu and Guan Tieshi looked at each other and smiled, Zhu Xiu hurriedly followed by holding up the hem of his robe: "Jiao Shuai, walk slowly, I will see you off!"

(End of this chapter)