Soldiers come to the world

Compared with Chang'an, which is becoming prosperous and powerful, Yedu in September seems a little gloomy. Although it is the same autumn and the same sunshine, autumn in Yedu is depressing and dull.

This is not only because the cloud of war in Hefei has affected Yedu's ruling and opposition parties, but also because the reduction in autumn grain production in Bingzhou has made people feel heavy. A bucket of rice is three hundred yuan, and it continues to rise.

On the first day of September, there was a wave of rice grabbing in the city. Within a day, the price of grain soared to 350 renminbi per doumi. Later, with the intervention of the government, it gradually fell back to [-] renminbi per doumi.

The soaring price of food had a great impact on people's livelihood, people's hearts were restless, and there was no hope for the future. Rumors began to spread that many wealthy households in Yedu secretly went to Chang'an to buy land and build houses to prepare for their own future.

Not long after it got dark, the streets became empty. Recently, the public security in Yedu was not good. Hungry people robbed and wounded people often happened, causing people to panic. When it got dark, every family closed their doors and closed their doors and stopped going to the streets.

Food shortages and poor law and order also affected business. The originally prosperous business began to become depressed. Nearly [-]% of the shops were closed, but the taverns were the most affected. Cao Pi issued a prohibition order, and half of the taverns were forced to close down. The nightlife in Yedu became deserted.

The Sanjin Tavern near the east city of Yedu was also greatly affected, but it did not close down, but was operating in a dismal manner, and the closing time was extended every day, hoping to attract as many drinkers as possible.

At this time, the Sanjin Tavern was deserted, there was no customer in the shop, and the two bartenders sat at the door and took a nap boredly, looking forward to closing early.

At this moment, the door curtain was thrown open, a gust of cold wind rushed in, and a drinker came in. The two bartenders cheered up immediately. They recognized him as Yu Shi Zhongcheng Yang Tian, ​​a regular customer of their place.

"It turned out to be Yang Zhongcheng, who came to drink at such a late hour!" The two bartenders said enthusiastically.

"Hmm!" Yang Tian snorted and looked around the lobby of the tavern, but he didn't see the shopkeeper. "Where are your shopkeepers?" Yang Tian asked.

"I'm coming!"

The obese shopkeeper Wang walked out of the back room quickly, smiling all over his face, "Yang Zhongcheng, please go upstairs!"

Yang Tian had a special room here. He went up to the second floor and walked directly into his usual elegant room. According to the old rules, one pot of wine, five dishes, and the prohibition law did not restrict him.

He poured himself a glass of wine and drank it slowly. Of course he didn't come to drink, but came to look for Li Fu.

For a long time, Yang Tian has played the role of a double agent, working for Cao Pi, and secretly cooperating with the Han State. However, with the decline of the Wei State, Yang Tian is more inclined to the Han State, and he must give himself Leave a way out.

It is also for this reason that the information he provided to Han is becoming more and more valuable. For example, he disclosed the important information about the emptiness of Wei's treasury, which won Liu Jing's approval and made Liu Jing adopt the strategy of the battle of national power. decision making.

At this moment, the door opened, Li Fu walked in quickly, and said with a smile, "It's so late, is there something urgent for Yang Zhongcheng?"

Yang Tian nodded, "There is indeed an important situation, Li Shijun, please sit down first!"

Li Fu sat down, poured himself a glass of wine, and stared at Yang Tian indifferently. Although Li Fu was unrestrained, he would never be ambiguous in matters of business.

Yang Tian pondered for a while and said: "Cao Pi received an important guest today, which may be related to the outcome of the Hefei Battle."

Li Fu was startled, and quickly asked, "Who is this guest?"

"It's the special envoy of Xianbei Eastern Shanyu Ke Bineng. The Xianbei people offered to exchange 100 million sheep for 30 bows and [-] arrows from Wei State. Cao Pi was very interested, and it was obvious that he meant to agree."

Li Fu's expression became serious. Of course he knew what this meant. Once Xianbei and Wei Guo reached a deal, 100 million sheep would greatly ease Cao Jun's money and food crisis, which would be extremely detrimental to the lord's national power battle.

Li Fu immediately asked, "Has an agreement been reached?"

"I heard what Cao Pi said, and it seems that the two sides have reached a consensus, but Cao Pi wants to ask Cao Cao for instructions, and the Xianbei envoy has to go back and report to Ke Bineng."

Li Fu pondered for a moment, then asked again: "When will the Xianbei envoy leave?"

Yang Tian understood what he meant, so he said slowly: "Tomorrow morning they will leave Yedu and return to the north. There are about 20 envoys and a party of about [-] people, and there are [-] cavalry guards from the Cao army. They will go out from Youzhou. Escort them to the border of Youzhou, and then Cao Zhang's army will escort them out of the fortress."

Speaking of this, Yang Tian took out a map from his arms and handed it to Li Fu, "This is the return route map of the Xianbei envoy, which was finalized by Cao Pi himself. I hand-drawn it from memory. Li Envoy can take a look for himself!"

After speaking, Yang Tian got up and left the room, put on his clothes and hurried away. In the room, Li Fu opened the map, looking at the simple route map on the map, he couldn't help but fell into deep thought.

........

The Xianbei people, like the Wuhuan people, were also a branch of the Donghu people. They were named after living in the Xianbei Mountains. After the Northern Huns were overthrown, Xianbei gradually became stronger. Shanyu Tanshihuai once unified Xianbei and became the most powerful nomad on the grassland. The ethnic group occupies most of Mobei.

But the good times didn't last long. After Tan Shihuai's death, Xianbei split again, forming three tribes in the east, middle and west. Among them, Tuoba Xianbei in the west and Murong Xianbei in the middle were more powerful.

In order to compete for territory and leadership, Tuoba Xianbei and Murong Xianbei fought for a long time, gradually declined, and became the prey of the Southern Huns. The Southern Huns often sent troops to plunder the cattle, sheep and population of the Xianbei people.

However, last year, the Southern Huns were severely injured by the Han Dynasty, which gave the Xianbei people an opportunity. Tuoba Xianbei leader Bu Dugen and Murong Xianbei leader Ke Bineng reached a settlement. A few months ago, the two Xianbei people united They sent troops to invade Yinshan Mountain, and fought against the Southern Huns at the foot of Yinshan Mountain. Both sides suffered heavy casualties.

The Xianbei people have realized that the reason for their failure is that their weapons are not as sharp as the Huns. Bu Dugen proposed to the Han State to buy 30 catties of high-quality pig iron, while Ke Bineng proposed to the Wei State to buy 30 bows and [-] pieces. arrow.

Ke Bineng's envoy is named Murong Zhu, he is about thirty years old, and he is extremely stout. He is also from a Xianbei noble family. Although his appearance is rough, his mind is very delicate. He has already seen the food crisis that will appear in the Wei Kingdom. Make him more confident in the deal.

Although Cao Pi wanted to report to Cao Cao, Murong Zhu knew that it was just a formality. If the Cao army wanted to win the battle with the Han army, they must have sufficient food. They could not refuse the huge temptation of 100 million sheep.

Murong Zhu hurried back to the Yazhang to report to Shan Yu Kebineng. Murong Zhu and his party consisted of more than [-] people. In addition, Cao Pi sent [-] cavalry to escort them back north. They will cross the Yanshan Mountains from Youzhou and return to Murong Xianbei. Dental tent station.

The envoy team went northward, passing through Guangping County, Julu County, Anping County, and entering Hejian County. In the afternoon, they arrived at Yicheng County, which is also the border of Jizhou and Youzhou.

Youzhou is the territory of Cao Cao's second son, Cao Zhang. Although Cao Pi is already a son, he still doesn't want to turn against his second brother who holds a heavy army, so the army he sent will not easily step into the border of Youzhou to escort the cavalry of Cao Jun, the envoy of Xianbei It will be handed over to the Youzhou cavalry here, and the Xianbei envoy will be escorted by the Youzhou cavalry to leave Youzhou.

About ten miles away from Yicheng County, a posthouse appeared not far ahead. At this time, a cavalry came back and reported to the guard Yajiang: "Report to General Shi, there is a post from Mr. Zhang at the posthouse ahead." The cavalrymen who came will hand over to us."

The leader of the guard cavalry is named Shi Lin, who is a tooth general. He was slightly taken aback. Usually, the handover should be in Yicheng County. Why did he arrive at the post in advance, but the strange thought in his mind just flashed by. This kind of handover It is not so strict, the post house is also an official place, in their view, there is no difference between the county seat and the post house.

Shi Lin immediately ordered: "Go to the post house and rest!"

The team speeded up and arrived at the post house, which was already occupied by a hundred Youzhou cavalry. At this moment, a well-dressed middle-aged man walked out of the gate unhurriedly, cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Next is Youzhou joining the army to do Han Ping , are you Xianbei envoys from Yedu?"

Shi Lin saw the other party's demeanor calmly, and his words were full of officialdom. He didn't dare to be negligent, so he quickly got off his horse and replied, "We are right."

"That's right. I am here to hand over the envoy under the order of General Xiaoqi. Everyone has worked hard all the way."

Han Ping took out the letter and handed it to Shi Lin. Shi Lin took it and looked at it. It was an official letter from Youzhou, escorting the Xianbei envoy out of the country. There was Cao Zhang's seal on it, which was confirmed. Shi Lin had no doubts, and said with a smile: "In that case, I'll leave it up to you all for the rest of the journey."

Han Ping smiled, "General, please enter the station and rest for a while!"

Shi Lin saw that the post house was too small to accommodate his own soldiers, and it was already occupied by the other party's soldiers, so he shook his head, "I have to rush back to return to my command, so I won't rest, let Envoy Murong go to rest!"

He bid farewell to Murong Zhu, and led three hundred cavalrymen to turn around and run south, and soon disappeared on the official road. Han Ping watched them go away indifferently, and then smiled at Murong Zhu: "It's still early , let’s go for a while and spend the night at the northern inn ahead, I’ve sent someone to arrange board and lodging, what do Mr. Murong think?”

Murong Zhu wanted to rest for a while before leaving, but the other party urged him to hurry, so he couldn't object, so he nodded, "Okay! I'll listen to Han Canjun's arrangement!"

Han Ping was overjoyed, and hurriedly ordered his cavalry to prepare for departure. Hundreds of Youzhou cavalry mounted their horses one after another, guarding the Xianbei envoys and heading north.

After walking for about seven or eight miles, Murong Zhu found that they were not taking the official road to the county seat, but another branch road in the northwest direction. He felt a little strange, so he asked, "Han Canjun, aren't we going to the county seat?"

........

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