Cao Thief

Chapter 427

Hongze, with Hongshuiji as the center, has a total of 36 Han tribes.

These 36 tribes were established according to the original Han army system, with the Han army staying in Hexi as the main body, recruiting villagers and forming an independent kingdom.On weekdays, farming and nomadic, self-sufficient; if Qianghu provokes, 36 tribes will come out together to resist together.To some extent, the lifestyle of the Han people in Hongze is very close to the prototype of the military town mentioned by Jia Kui.Once in danger, the Han people of the 36 tribes are all soldiers.

If it weren't for such a way of life, perhaps the Han people in Hexi would have been annexed and wiped out by the Qiang Hu.

Cao Peng drank kumiss, listened to Li Qi's introduction, and gained a new understanding of Hongze's situation...

"Actually, it's no wonder that those children, since the first year of Yongchu, have been nearly a hundred years.

The 36 Departments of Hongze have been devoted to the Han court since the beginning, and now... I heard that at the beginning, the residents of the 36 Departments were looking forward to the return of the imperial army to Hexi.However, this class has lasted for a hundred years, and it is now the fourth generation.

Over the past hundred years, whenever the imperial court encountered trouble, it would dispatch soldiers from the 36th Department of Hongze.

In the Fengyi Army back then, 3000 people came from Hongze; but after Xianling Qiang was destroyed, the Fengyi Army disbanded.The three thousand disciples were all killed or injured, and only a few of them could come back alive.The imperial court really chilled the hearts of Hongze people. "

When Li Qi said these words, there was a trace of sadness in his eyes.

People like them are the ones who really have a home but can’t return, a country that can’t report, and they are living in frontier fortresses. The Hu people don’t want to accept it, and the court even forgot about it.

"Back then, General Duan suggested to the imperial court to enlist an army of [-], and Hexi could be settled.

How rejoicing the Hongze people were at that time, looking forward to the return of the Han army.But in the end... Although the Xianling Qiang was wiped out, it also caused the Hongze people to suffer from the hostility of all the Qiang and Hu.From the Xiping period to the early Guanghe period, the Hongze people fought dozens of times with the Qianghu, causing heavy casualties.Later, Bianzhang and Beigong Boyu rebelled, and the army entered Liangzhou, which led to a truce between Qianghu and Hongze people... Zhong Hao left, Zhang Wen came... This time and time again, every time the imperial army came, there was a truce. Let the people of Hongze see hope, but in the end, isn't there a mess left?
To be honest, I'm afraid even we don't know how much sense of belonging these fourth-generation Hongze people have to the imperial court.

They are afraid!

General Beizhong Lang, how many soldiers and horses did you bring with you this time?Is it the same as those people, who came...and left? "

Cao Peng fell silent.

Li Qi's words touched him quite a bit.

He didn't know exactly what kind of feeling this was, but he felt an unspeakable tingling pain in his heart.

"Lieutenant Li, I won't hide anything from you.

If I come to Hexi this time, if I can't calm down Hexi, I will never leave.However, the soldiers and horses in my hands are not too many, only 4000 people.At the end of the year, the imperial court will relocate [-] households to Hexi... You may not know that the Central Plains is now in chaos and there are many princes.Cao Sikong obeyed the emperor's order to disobey his ministers, and now he is fighting in Hebei. It is not easy to mobilize so many people... The purpose of my visit to Hongze this time is to build a city in Hongze. "

"4000 people, [-] households?"

Li Qi showed a look of disappointment.

Undoubtedly, in Li Qi's view, the imperial court still has no determination to take back Hexi.

After pondering for a moment, he said softly: "General Beizhong, forgive me... If the imperial court only has these soldiers and horses, it will be very difficult to pacify Hexi. Among other things, the 36th Department of Hongze may not be willing to submit to Beizhong." General Zhonglang."

"I know...that's why I'm here!"

Li Qi sighed, "It is very difficult for Ruobei Zhonglang to persuade Hongze people with his three-inch tongue. Hongze people are not so easy to coax now. Ruobei Zhonglang will have nothing to make them admire. They are absolutely impossible to bow their heads. Especially those sons, who grew up in Hexi from birth, have come into contact with Qianghu and Xianbei. What they value is warriors, and they are almost indistinguishable from those Qianghu... If they don’t If you are willing to submit, even parents cannot make them bow their heads. General Beizhong, this matter is really difficult."

Why doesn't Cao Peng know the difficulty of this matter?
Before that, he had considered it carefully, but he didn't expect that this Hongze was more complicated than he imagined.

"Hongze, who is the leader today?"

"Lord of the Hongshuiji Tribe, Dou Lan."

"What is the origin of this person?"

Li Qi coughed softly, "This Dou Lan... To tell you the truth, this man's ancestors were originally prisoners on the frontier, and he always hated the imperial court. I have heard people say that this Dou Lan is the former general Dou Xian. The descendants of Dou Xian. The great general Dou Xian conquered the Xiongnu in the north and won a complete victory. He didn’t want to be sentenced to death by the court, and the Dou family was weakened from then on... It was for this reason that Dou Lan’s ancestors were exiled to Hexi. But not long after, the Qiang Hu rebelled, The imperial army withdrew from Hexi, and Dou Lan's grandfather took the opportunity to rise up. With the name of General Dou, he dominated Hongshuiji and became the head of the 36 tribes.

In Dou Lan's generation, it is even more powerful.

Dou Lan was already brave, with a forthright temperament and great prestige.

General Bei Zhonglang wants to govern Hongshuiji, and if Dou Lan is willing to join him, 36% of the adults from the [-] tribes will serve the general. "

Cao Peng's eyes couldn't help narrowing into a line.

When he arrived in Hexi, he realized that the situation seemed to be beyond his control.

Too many strange characters appeared on the stage, and too many strange things happened... There are many, which have never appeared in history books.

"Lieutenant Li, stop killing everyone, do you understand?"

"Xiu Tuge?"

Li Qi was startled, then smiled.

"Is the general trying to recruit Xiu Tu everyone?"

"It's not so much about recruiting, it's just... I hope to reach an alliance with everyone in Xiutu."

This Li Qi deserved to be a captain of the Fengyi Army, with vision and wisdom.Cao Peng also knew that it was impossible to hide it, so it was better to lower his posture, maybe he could get more useful information.After all, no matter how many lies you tell, they will eventually be exposed.Obviously, Li Qi still has some belongings to the imperial court... He is considered an adult now, if he is hated, it might make the situation more complicated.

"Xiu Tuge is not as good as it used to be, and compared to the past, it is quite a decline.

Liang Yuanbi... a brave man, otherwise, with Xiu Tuge's strength, how could he have fallen to where he is today, where he can't even keep his home?The man was greedy for good goods and extremely reckless.However, the relationship between him and Dou Lan is very good. Back then, Xiu Tu was beaten by Mo Zhege and had no place to live. Fortunately, Dou Lan took him in, so he had a place to live. "

Dou Lan, it's Dou Lan again!
This person who has never appeared in history actually has such energy?

Cao Peng discovered that although Xiliang is a place of bitter cold, it is crouching tiger, hiding dragon... Before that, Yan Xing mentioned by Yin Feng was said to be Han Sui's son-in-law, who almost killed Ma Chao, which shows his force.However, Cao Peng has never heard of this name; now, there is another Dou Lan who dominates Hongze, and even everyone in Xiutu obeys him.

With these people, it is really a trouble.

If an agreement cannot be reached with Dou Lan, I am afraid that the trip to Hongze will be full of difficulties.

Li Qi lifted the copper pot and filled a bowl with kumiss.

Although Cao Peng was not used to the sour and fishy taste in this kumiss, he still took it and drank it respectfully.

"There is one more thing which may be of use to the General."

"Appreciate further details."

Li Qi sat down, pondered for a moment and then said: "I heard earlier that Ma Teng of Wuwei seems to be wooing Xiu Tuge as well.

It is said that Ma Teng assured Liang Yuanbi that if each of Xiutu was willing to join him, he could use Tang's hoof to let the moth cover up and give up half of Xiutu Ze for each of Xiutu to live in.But this matter was blocked by Dou Lan, so that Ma Teng was quite dissatisfied.Not long ago, Ma Chao, the eldest son of Ma Teng, led his troops to raid Hongze and issued a warning to Dou Lan... Dou Lan is also suffering from this matter now, and seems to want to bow her head to the Ma family, but specifically I But I don't know. "

Ma Teng?

Cao Peng's heart skipped a beat.

He was keenly aware of the mystery, Ma Teng wanted to expand...

Ma Teng occupies the Hexi Corridor and makes friends with the Qiang Hu, which is quite prestigious.And his ally, Han Sui, dominates the southwest of Liangzhou, making Wei Kang, the governor of Liangzhou, almost empty now.Two-thirds of Liangzhou was inhabited by Ma Teng and Han Sui, and Wei Kang could only rule in one county in Longxi.At the beginning, Cao Cao ordered Wang Meng and his son to leave the town of Longxi, probably for this reason.

Historically, Ma Chao attacked Longxi and even came to Chang'an.

This guy is also ambitious, and extremely difficult to deal with... If the Ma family wins Hexi, it will definitely be like a tiger with wings added.

"Doesn't that mean that Dou Lan is in a dilemma?"

"Not bad!"

"What's the relationship between Lieutenant Li and Dou Lan?"

Li Qi smiled, "Dou Lan and I...hehe, I can't say how good our relationship is, but back then Dou Lan's father was my kind brother, and when Dou Lan saw me, he had to call his uncle. If the general wanted to see him, I can introduce you."

Cao Peng was overjoyed when he heard this, "So, I will ask Captain Li.

If I can conquer Hexi, Li Xiaowei should be the first.At that time, I will definitely ask the imperial court for credit for Captain Li. "

Li Qi smiled lightly, "It doesn't matter if you don't ask for credit, I just hope that this time, the court will not make the Han family's heart cold again."

Cao Peng said solemnly: "Lieutenant Li, don't worry, if you don't decide Hexi, Cao will never leave."

"I hope so!"

There was a hint of suspicion in Li Qi's words.

Perhaps, the court disappointed him again and again, which made him lose confidence in the court.

He is still willing to help Cao Peng now because he still has some expectations for the court.So, never let him down again.If even people like Li Qi completely lost their sense of belonging to the Han Dynasty, then the problem would be serious.

"It's not ashamed to say...just [-] soldiers and horses, and it is necessary to pacify Hexi.

Grandpa, as I said long ago, the imperial court has already forgotten us, so why do you need to be nostalgic?In my opinion, General Cao's ability to survive this winter is nothing short of remarkable.Grandpa, let me make it clear first that I will never serve the imperial court. "

With the heavy curtain lifted, Li Ding walked in and said loudly.

Li Qi's complexion changed, and he shouted angrily: "Li Ding, you don't have a place to talk here, why don't you get out of here."

"Go away...but I still have to say.

Cao, you can fool my grandfather, but you can't fool me.My son from the 36th Department of Hongze will never serve the imperial court again.You want to persuade us to work for you with your sharp tongue?I tell you, don't think about it! "

Li Ding shouted at Cao Peng, turned around and left.

Li Qi showed embarrassment and wanted to explain, but he didn't know where to start.

Cao Peng smiled and waved his hands to indicate that nothing happened.

But there was a heavy feeling in my heart for no reason...

(End of this chapter)