Starting from the Western Han Dynasty

Chapter 138 The Dragon Slaying Warrior Becomes a Dragon

The ordinary witch suddenly became dazzling in Li Huan's eyes.

Li Huan couldn't help but ask himself, is there really such a thing as divination in this world?
Is this thing real?
But if this is not true, how can it be explained?
Zhang Qian enthusiastically pulled Li Huan towards the military camp, and even couldn't help teasing him: "You are worthy of being a prince. There is no shortage of women anywhere. Now that the heavy rain has stopped, I can follow your army." And went south to return home."

Li Huan said: "Actually, this is not the case. Please listen to my explanation..."

"Does this need to be explained? Humans are the same as animals, and only the strong have the right to mate!" Zhang Qian laughed loudly, feeling extremely happy.

Li Huan gave a thumbs up: "Top understanding!"

"By the way, where have you been escaping to these days? How have you spent these days?" Li Huan asked.

Zhang Qian said: "We didn't know what happened at that time, let alone that the Han army was attacking, but Gan Fu and I took advantage of the chaos to snatch the Huns' crossbows and horses, and fled into the Yin Mountains to hide.

But no one expected that Ganfu and I were unlucky. One night, both man and horse fell into a ravine. Both of us were seriously injured. Naturally, we did not dare to go out rashly, so we could only look for extremely hidden places. hide. "

"Later, heavy rains continued and flash floods poured in, which was quite scary. Fortunately, Gan Fu and I hid in a cave. Unexpectedly, one day, we suddenly saw many people dressed as Han Chinese entering the forest.

Gan Fu and I listened to their conversation secretly for a long time, and then we realized that the Han army had regained Henan, and the Xiongnu had returned with a great defeat. They were immigrants who followed the minister Zhu Maichen to Gaoqueguan, and were washed away by mountain floods. "

Zhang Qian burst out laughing: "I spent these days hunting animals and birds, boiling bark and grass roots, and I managed to get through the hard days."

Li Huan sighed and said: "Zhu Maichen was greedy for meritorious deeds, which caused the two thousand immigrants to fall into danger, but fortunately, he met you by chance. This is God's blessing for my man. After I go back, I will not impeach him to His Majesty." .”

"That's his good luck!" Zhang Qian laughed loudly: "Junhou, I have already heard people say that in this battle of Gaoque, you were originally fighting as a auxiliary, but in the end, you were beaten alive and became the main battlefield. Your ability to lead an army is no less than that of the cavalry general Wei Qing!"

"How dare you!" Li Huan's scalp was numb. He was a super bastard. How could he dare to compare with a fierce man like Wei Qing?
"Your Majesty is so humble!" Zhang Qian was full of words.

It's hard for Li Huan to continue explaining. The more he explains this kind of thing, the less clear it becomes. If you say yes, then so be it. Wei Qing is his brother-in-law anyway.

There is an old saying that goes like this, if a brother-in-law takes advantage of a sister-in-law, it is no big deal, and the same goes for a brother-in-law.

Gongsun Ao ordered a banquet to celebrate the return of Zhang Qian, Gan Fu, and the two thousand men.

"In order to please you, Zhu Maichen personally ordered that all strong men must drink boiled water and eat well-cooked food. This boy is almost scared to death by you."

Gongsun Ao raised his wine glass and came to Li Huan, smiling.

Li Huan glanced at Zhu Maichen, who was sitting by the campfire in the distance and carefully arranging the next work, and breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the person came back alive, he wouldn't have so many thoughts.

Now, he only has one thought, and that is to go home early.

"Ask someone to send you a roasted leg of lamb. Don't let him be so nervous when arranging work for his subordinates." Li Huan couldn't stand it anymore and turned to give instructions to Huo Qubing beside him.

Huo Qubing naturally asked Su Wu to do this.

Zhu Maichen, who received the roast leg of lamb as a reward, was so excited that he almost shed tears, and his voice suddenly became more powerful.

"Father Zhong, after we withdraw to the south, how should we arrange the garrison of soldiers here?" Huo Qubing asked.

"How many soldiers are you willing to keep in the army?" Although Li Huan was answering Huo Qubing's question, he looked at Gongsun Ao.

"There should be a thousand soldiers willing to stay, but it doesn't matter. After the Xiongnu are repelled, at least before the autumn harvest, they will not invade south." Gongsun Ao said thoughtfully, with a look on his face.

"That means that after the autumn harvest, we can continue to go north to fight the Huns?" Huo Qubing's eyes suddenly became sharp.

Li Huan leaned on the chair and looked at the stars and the moon that had not appeared in the sky for a long time. He felt very comfortable. As long as Huo Qubing didn't say anything about staying, he would be comfortable.

"Whether this is really the case, we need to wait until after the autumn harvest. There are too many things to do when we go back."

"This piece of land has already missed the spring plowing, and we will have to wait for the crops to be planted next year to barely support these people. But before that, the imperial court needs to feed the people here for two years."

After he finished saying this, he noticed that Zhu Maichen came closer and was bowing to him.

Li Huan looked around the crowd, but did not find Han Yan. He couldn't help but said, "What's the matter?"

He originally wanted Han Yan to send Zhu Maichen away. This man was pedantic and disgusting. If he really wanted to let his former wife live a good life, wouldn't it be okay to give him a large sum of money?If you insist on bringing other people's couples into your own home to raise them, isn't that disgusting? What is this?
"Your Majesty, my subordinates are bold and want to ask for advice on how to rebuild this land in Henan?"

Zhu Maichen remained respectful, his demeanor, his whole body movements, were like a docile student.

Li Huan sighed helplessly: "What are your own thoughts?"

"I hope that we can cultivate fields here so that the people who have moved here can support themselves and the army at the same time. In this case, we can save a lot of expenses for the court..."

Zhu Maichen's movements when speaking were all cautious.

Li Huan nodded: "This is the role that Henan should play. There is nothing to say."

Zhu Maichen said "hmm", but he looked like he wanted to speak but didn't dare.

Gongsun Ao couldn't stand it anymore and shouted depressedly: "You can say whatever you fucking want to say. If you don't say it, then get out of here and stay away. Don't stop us from drinking here!"

Zhu Maichen immediately said: "Your Majesty, if Henan can use a better development strategy, please give me your advice."

Li Huan frowned and glanced at Zhu Maichen: "Do you have a better way to deal with your ex-wife properly, but why did you bring her to your mansion to humiliate her?"

Zhu Maichen glanced at Li Huan in fear, bowed his hands, and left the place as if running for his life.

"This man is like a fool. How did he get to the position he is in now?" Huo Qubing blew the hot tea and imitated Li Huan, taking a sip of the tea, but was instantly burned to the point of grinning. .

"It's not a good thing anyway." Li Huan leaned back on the chair leisurely, half-squinting his eyes, and the firelight shone on his face, making him look very peaceful.

Gongsun Ao looked at the figure that had walked away and couldn't help but whisper: "Old Li, is there really a better development strategy?"

"Before he came, His Majesty must have summoned the ministers to consult and formulate a strategy. We don't need to worry about these things." Li Huan didn't even open his eyes, obviously not wanting to get involved in these matters.

Gongsun Ao shrugged nonchalantly and began to ask Huo Qubing again about how to fight the war.

Every time the two of them talk about this, there is endless talk, and Su Wu will sit on the side very quietly at this time, pouring wine and tea for the two of them. If his ears are as long as rabbits, It must also be standing straight up.This kind of life is very comfortable and leisurely, and Li Huan enjoys it very much; especially when he returns to the wooden house and starts playing backgammon with Sheng Xueshi, Li Huan feels more leisurely.

The only regret is that Man Gu Yin and Hong Zhi are not here, otherwise, it would be more fun. For example, Li Huan thought of a more interesting gameplay, the eagle catches the chicken...

The next day after the heavy rain stopped, Zhu Maichen started digging the earth kiln according to the assigned manpower, preparing to bake bricks. He wanted to survey the terrain here and then build the city gate.

He asked someone to send a copy of the design he drew to Li Huan. Regardless of whether Li Huan liked him or not, he showed enough respect.

After Li Huan read it, he became more and more certain that what Zhu Maichen was doing now must have been put into Zhu Maichen's mind by Emperor Liu Che after discussing with many think tanks in Chang'an, and asked him to bring people to come here to put these ideas into effect. become reality.

What Emperor Liu Che wants is an obedient person. As for whether he is smart or not, he doesn't seem to care.

Because smart people don't like to listen to others most of the time.

Han Yan walked to Li Huan's wooden house. Except for the two thousand elite soldiers left behind to do necessary defense, all the remaining soldiers participated in the extremely enthusiastic construction of Gaoque Pass.

Large swaths of trees were cut down, making the land look dazzlingly desolate. In an instant, the soldiers leveled it and then started ramming the soil.

The entire construction site was in full swing, with shouts and shouts everywhere.

So, on the fifth day, Li Huan lived in a more comfortable tile-roofed house. If the construction process was not a little too rough, these buildings would be almost the same as the houses in Chang'an City.

If Han Yan didn't say anything about leaving, it would be hard for Li Huan to interrupt such eager project construction.

On the tenth day, Cheng Bushi led a thousand cavalry to Gaoque Pass and conveyed Wei Qing's military order. Li Huan could take his own soldiers on the return journey, but all Wei Qing's troops and horses must be left behind. Join the rest of the build here.

Li Huan took a look at the half-formed buildings and more complete defenses, and then ordered that the army would return in ten days.

After Cheng Bushi heard this, he laughed so hard that he couldn't close his mouth: "Ten days are enough to complete the main project. If the earthen forts and earthen platforms outside are surrounded by bricks, the defense will be stronger. , this place can almost become an iron gate!"

"I'll give you a suggestion. If we can connect all the earthen fortresses with cable bridges, then this will be the most defensive place on the entire Han border." Li Huan gave a suggestion: "In that case, It is a truly majestic pass, and millions of Xiongnu soldiers who come to knock on it will return in vain."

"Connecting the iron cable bridges?" Cheng Bushi glanced at the many half-finished earth barriers and said in surprise: "The amount of this project is too large and it is almost impossible to complete."

Li Huan grinned: "This is just an idea of ​​mine. As long as a wide and deep river similar to a moat is dug on the outermost edge of the platform, the Huns will not have the slightest thought about Gaoque Pass in the future."

Cheng Bushi nodded in approval: "The passes here are extremely steep. Once the fortifications are successfully built, we can safely and boldly move the people to reclaim the barren mountains and cultivate the fields."

"I would like to give you a suggestion: build more rivers to divert water." Li Huan took a sip of hot tea. "After this heavy rain, several natural rivers have been formed. You only need to assign manpower to dig out some sections of the river to divert the water. Go to a suitable low-lying area, and if you encounter heavy rain in the future, it won't be as terrible as this time."

A trace of gratitude flashed in Cheng Buji's eyes. After he glanced at Zhu Maichen, the chief engineer of Gaoqueguan Construction in the distance, a trace of contempt immediately flashed in his eyes: "What the General Guards said makes sense, but I'm just a human being." The rough guys who lead troops in war don't understand these principles very well, and I have to go back to Chang'an in a month, so I can't care about these things."

Li Huan and him looked at each other, and both of them smiled in unison.

Everyone was unhappy with Zhu Maichen and unwilling to give him good ideas; no matter how smart Emperor Liu Che's think tank was, there was no one who had seen this land with his own eyes and knew better how to build it.

Ten days passed in a blink of an eye. Li Huan, Huo Qubing and Cheng Bushi gathered together every day to drink, eat meat, and talk about military affairs. They never interfered in the slightest with Zhu Maichen's construction.

So, Li Huan heard that Zhu Maichen disliked a strong man for being lazy and ordered him to be whipped with fifty lashes; he also heard that Zhu Maichen had two decent-looking Huns women sent to his military tent. information.

However, Anyang Hou Li Huan's concubine, relying on the favor of Anyang Hou, directly took the two Huns women with his bodyguards, claiming that he needed two maids to serve, and these two people were very suitable.

In this regard, Zhu Maichen acted as if nothing had happened and continued to preside over his daily work calmly the next day.

Li Huan was riding a horse, blowing in the wind, and felt very happy.

"Zhu Maichen must be celebrating now that he finally sent us uncles away!" Gongsun Ao laughed.

Huo Qubing was full of confusion: "Father Zhong, Zhu Maichen was also the poorest person in the past, but why did he not have any compassion for these similarly poor people?"

Li Huan said: "He has suffered too much ridicule and supercilious looks in the past, and has endured too much suffering. Once he becomes successful, he will naturally regard the previous suffering as a shame, and then desperately climb up, and will those who once looked down on him People are all stepping on the soles of their feet, enjoying all the food, wine, and beauties that they never enjoyed before.

When he sees those miserable people who were once like himself, he will feel that these people are like salt sprinkled on his old wounds. How can he feel compassion? "

"However, some people, when they stand in a high position, start to truly sympathize with the suffering people in this world?" Su Wu seldom interrupted.

Li Huan admired people with such noble qualities as Su Wu in history. He nodded and smiled: "Yes, there are such people, but most of them are like Zhu Maichen, who humiliated his former wife and came from a miserable life. , but he dominates the suffering people and dominates them."

After saying this, Li Huan suddenly understood why Han Yan said that His Majesty knew the problems with these people, but had to use these people.

Because what those old nobles did was far more disgusting and more outrageous than these people.

At least, Li Huan was sure that Zhu Maichen would never dare to do anything corrupt during the construction of Gaoque Pass.

He made this heavy topic lighter and more humorous: "In other words, when I, Zhu Maichen, was not rich and powerful, I was looked down upon by you, despised and ridiculed by you; then I, Zhu Maichen, have become a high-ranking official now. , enjoy a generous salary, if I still can't bully you and find my lost dignity, then will my job as an official, Zhu Maichen, be in vain?"

"Hahaha..." Gongsun Ao couldn't help laughing: "Old Li! You really have your way. These words completely made Zhu Maichen's face clear."

Huo Qubing also nodded in agreement: "If Zhongfu's future principles can be explained to me in this way, then I will be willing to listen to them no matter how many or how big they are."

Su Wu fell into deep thought. He wanted to say just one word to Junhou, and he could make such a person shatter to pieces.

However, Li Huan didn't say anything.

Su Wu thought that he would never be able to reach the height of Li Huan in this life, so if the prince didn't tell him, there was a reason why he didn't tell him.

"Su Wu, are you interested in following me?" Li Huan looked at Su Wu with interest.

With a history of about [-] years, the absence of one Su Wu shepherding allusion will not have a big impact on this great nation, but it can make a person have a more brilliant, beautiful and happy life.

Su Wu was startled, his eyes widened with a look of disbelief on his face. The dignified Marquis Anyang was actually willing to actively recruit him?
This?
What an honor this is!

"If you don't give up, Su Wu is willing to serve you with the courtesy of a teacher!"

(End of this chapter)