Three Kingdoms.

Chapter 3253 Value

 Anyi, Hedong.

 While Chang'an was struggling with Webster's affairs, Hedong was still shrouded in the fog of war.

In the early morning, the sun rose and the mist slowly dispersed, revealing the simple and majestic outline of the Anyi city wall.

 This is a city formed at the intersection of nomadic pastoralism and farming. The city wall is tall and built with loess and rammed earth methods. The outside is covered with a layer of blue bricks, which is strong and durable.

On the city tower, the soldiers guarding the city patrolled back and forth, nervously staring at the flag of Cao's army cruising back and forth in the distance outside the city.

Although Cao Jun has not yet attacked the city, the defenders of Anyi already feel that it is difficult to breathe.

 The city gates were locked and the drawbridge hung high.

The streets in the city were originally lined with neat shops and houses, but now they are all closed.

 The markets on both sides of the long street are now empty.

 It seems that the liveliness and prosperity before have become an illusory dream now.

Near the official buildings in the city, you can see the officials who usually held their heads high and their nostrils high, but now they all have hunched backs, like dogs with their backs broken. Running in and out, sometimes accidentally bumping into each other, and then crawling around on the ground like dung beetles.

These old officials from Hedong usually look well-dressed and always talk and point out the country. But now when something really happens, they are as busy as headless flies...

The Cao army's camps in the distance outside the city seemed endless, occupying the fields, destroying the crops, cutting down the trees, and even the rivers seemed to be polluted by Cao's army, and there was a faint fishy stench.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the above-ground counties and other places in the northeast of Hebei Province experienced great development. At that time, the city wall was expanded to a circumference of more than six miles. Four more towers were built at the four corners of the city wall, which was powerful and majestic.

Later, in the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Dou Gu sent people to reinforce Anyi in Hedong and expand the city. After the construction, the city formed a larger irregular square city, slightly tripod-shaped, slightly smaller in the north and larger in the south, with a moat. The city wall is more than three feet high.

There is a small section of urn city at the four city gates. Above the city gate, there is a two-story gate tower, and there is also a cave for hiding soldiers on the north wall...

 That's right, when Anyi was being repaired, the supposed enemy came from the north.

Who would have thought that today the knife would be thrust out of the hinterland of the south?

 Cao's army ravaged the Yuncheng Basin, and countless people were displaced.

Although Cao Jun did not immediately launch an attack on the city after arriving in Anyi, the heavy atmosphere did make everyone in Anyi feel frightened and inexplicable. Some people even couldn't control their emotions and would be attacked for some inexplicable reason. He burst into heart-wrenching crying and yelling over trivial matters.

 In the city, there are also defenders lining up and assigning defensive tasks, but no matter from which angle they look, these defenders don't seem to have much confidence.

Pei's face at the military academy is also ugly.

Cao Jun outside the city was repairing the camp and building siege equipment at intervals, and the clanging sound was like a piece of enchanting music.

　　　『Is this crazy? Do you really want to attack Anyi? 』

At the north corner of the Anyi city wall, there is a towering watchtower, which was originally used to keep an eye on the nomadic enemies in the north, but now it is used to keep an eye on Cao's army camp in the south. Unfortunately, the commanding heights of the city are right here. Although it is somewhat inconvenient, it can only be done for the time being.

At the top of the watchtower, Pei Ji was standing.

Beside him is the guard general of Anyi, Pei Hui.

The Pei family was a prominent family in Hedong and had a large population. Pei Mao's father also served as a general of the Liao Dynasty, which can be said to be both civil and military. Of course, the Pei family is not too big now. After the Pei family has five houses, it will be truly intertwined and luxuriant. By the Tang Dynasty, there were more than a dozen prime ministers in one family...

After the Tang Dynasty, the Pei family gradually disappeared. On the one hand, the family members were crippled in the fifth generation, and on the other hand, the forest became larger and there were all kinds of birds. Regardless of the family training, as time went by Forget everything.

But at the moment, the Pei family is still second to none in Hedong.

 At least after the fall of the Wei family, only the Pei family was left.

Pei Hui is older than Pei Ji and can be regarded as Pei Ji's elder brother. Pei Hui also stared blankly at the stretched Cao Jun camp outside the city, and couldn't help but whisper: "Cao Jun is going crazy!" Are you really going to...are you really going to hit us? 』

Although the war between Fei Qian and Cao Cao has lasted for more than half a year, people in the Pei family often hear about the fighting here or there, but after all, they feel that the war is still far away from them...

As for the tragedies, casualties, and sufferings, haven’t they not yet arrived?

In the hearts of Anyi and others, most of them still have a lucky mentality. They feel that Cao Jun and others will retreat after Cao Jun cannot get any advantage.

However, in the past ten days or so, Cao's army seemed to have changed. It seemed that they would not give up until they captured Hedong. Not only did their offensive become much more determined and fierce, but they also adopted brutal measures against the people in the Yuncheng Basin. , so cruel that it makes one’s heart tremble.

I even heard that Cao Cao himself left the Zhongtiao Mountain camp and headed north, looking like he was going to fight to the death.

The banner of the Cao family's Zhongli army and Zhonghu army also appeared around Anyi.

Pei Ji whispered: "Cao's army mainly wants to fight the hussars... We are just, just incidentally..."

Pei Ji instinctively felt that Cao Cao wanted to encircle the area and send reinforcements.

This kind of tactics that will be familiar to later generations may only be said to be similar to "attacking the unprepared" or "surrounding Wei and rescuing Zhao" in the Han Dynasty...

Hmm, "Besieging An and Attacking Fei"?

Not everyone in the Pei family is as obsessed with wealth as Pei Jun.

 In this situation of conflict between the East and the West, Pei Mao, Pei Ji and others will have a higher foothold than Pei Jun.

 This may be a natural talent, or it may be a deliberate cultivation by the family when they were studying.

  There is a natural level difference between the side branches and the main family.

Pei Hui asked: "Hussar?" Why doesn't the hussar come? 』

Pei Ji turned his attention to Cao Jun's camp and saw that Cao Jun was not only building a garrison, but also digging trenches and placing horses.

Moreover, at the northern city wall of Anyi, Cao Jun also surrounded three towers and deliberately opened a gap.

Pei Ji sighed and said, "This Cao army is in a hurry..."

Pei Hui was stunned for a moment, but said impatiently: "Why is Cao Jun so anxious?" Now we are in a hurry. Judging from Cao Jun's appearance, how long can our city last? If reinforcements don't come, we'll be doomed. 』

Pei Ji glanced at Pei Hui, who immediately became speechless.

 He was a guard general, but he opened his mouth and said "It's over"...

Pei Ji felt helpless.

Pei Hui is Pei Ji's younger brother, but these are of no use. In the Pei family, age is not what matters, the key is one's ability, and Pei Hui has known since he was a child that he is not as good as his younger brother. , Pei Ji just looked at him, and Pei Hui shut up and stopped complaining.

 Complaining is actually of no use except to express emotions.

Pei Ji shook his head slightly. He, the younger brother, had some martial prowess, but his overall strategy was a bit lacking.

Pei Ji said slowly: "What Cao Jun has done recently is just to cause chaos... If we don't cause chaos, Cao Jun will have no chance to take advantage of it..."

Pei Hui’s eyes bulged, obviously not believing it.

Pei Ji stretched out his hand and pointed to the north, "Look, what do you see?" 』

"What? Pei Hui asked.

　　　Emei Ridge! Pei Ji sighed, "Is Emei Ridge easy to fight?" If Cao Jun wants to capture the high plateau, he doesn't know how many soldiers and horses will die! 』

Pei Hui nodded and said, "That's why Cao Jun came to attack us!" 』

Pei Ji shook his head, "Why can't I explain to you..."

Pei Hui was also confused, "I really don't understand!" But if the city wall in front of us is broken by Cao Jun, our family will be ruined! 』

Although there is enough food and grass in Anyi City, the firewood reserves are insufficient, and there are gradually problems in making fires and meals. Moreover, the key is that morale is not high. Everyone has no idea, and they don’t know when the Hussar will come to help. They are panicking and impetuous. .

Pei Ji did not scold Pei Hui for his depressing words, but asked: "Has the war situation here been sent to Pingyang?" 』

　　　　It has been sent over a long time ago! Three batches have been delivered! Pei Hui raised three fingers, like three sticks of incense, and waved them towards the north again and again, with an air of complaint.

"The place where the hussar wants to fight is not just one city or one place..." Pei Ji said slowly, "I heard that the gentlemen of ancient times should cultivate themselves and treat things in the same way as others." If a husband seeks others, his way will be poor; if he seeks himself, his virtue will become stronger day by day. All things in water are extremely weak. When they rise, they become air, and when they sink, they become ice. They are all transformed..."

“Uh…” Pei Hui scratched the beard on his chin, “I heard what you said. I understand, but I’m a little confused…”

Pei Ji patted the railing of the watchtower and said, "Let's put it this way, the Hussars coming to our aid can only prove that we are worthy of the aid..."

"how to prove? Pei Hui asked.

　　　　 Guard Anyi. Pei Ji replied.

Pei Hui’s eyes widened, “If we can defend it, do we still need reinforcements from the Hussars?” 』

It seems to be right...

Pei Ji fell into deep thought.

 …

 …

 As night falls, the refugee camp on the Emei Mountains looks somewhat desolate amid the dim bonfires.

Even though they were treated by the Hussar troops in Linfen, they were not in their own homes after all. Their living conditions were extremely restricted, and physical and mental fatigue were always weighing on these refugees.

 No one likes to be a refugee…

 A journey that can be taken at any time is only possible on the basis of the stability of the country and the happiness of the people.

 With good order, there can be free space. If every time you go to a place, you have to risk being robbed and killed, and you don't even know where the bones are, how many people will "just leave"?

The exhausted refugees sat around the fire. Their faces were full of traces of war and exile, and their eyes revealed sadness and uneasiness.

Although the world is big, there is no home for them.

Shacks are only temporary shelter, and even in such shacks, not everyone can live in them and live well.

On the plateau, hungry wolves who came from nowhere in the distance seemed to be eyeing these poor people who had fled. It was said that some children gathering wild vegetables had been snatched away by wolves...

When the hussars went to search, they only found some torn and blood-stained rags.

 In nature, within tribal populations, weakness is the original sin.

However, fortunately there is still hope.

 Like a bonfire in these dark nights, it dispels the darkness and brings warmth.

　　　　fellows...』

Wang Meng muttered these two words silently.

  This is the title he heard most often in this refugee camp.

Not Lao Zhangtou, Lao Wangtou, nor Wuna a pariah, but "fellow folks"...

It is said that this word was coined by Fei Qian, the general of the Hussars.

 When saying this word, the military academy was full of pride.

“Whether we are in Sili, Hedong, or even Shangjun or Jingxiang, we all have the same name, we are all called Han people! We all drink the same water, eat the same food, speak the same language, and use the same words..."

Our ancestors live under the same sky, our fathers also live here on the same land, we also live here, and even our children and grandchildren will also live on this land that belongs to us! We are all Han Chinese! We are friends, brothers, and relatives! 』

“So, we are all Han Chinese, so naturally we are all fellow villagers! 』

That military school said so and did the same thing.

He helped the refugees carry water, build shacks, and even dug cesspits for centralized excretion for the refugees...

That was real work, not the kind of pretending to swing a **** twice, but really sweating and getting yourself covered in mud.

 Where can I see such a military academy in Shandong?

 In the land of Shandong, anyone who has some authority, no matter how big it is, will look at others with their noses raised, and will definitely use the authority in their hands to show their uniqueness.

If you really eat low-quality soup cakes with ordinary people, it will simply lose the face of Shandong officials. You must eat some exquisite pastries or something to barely satisfy your hunger, and maybe you will have some strength and refreshment. Come and do something for Mudlegs...

So Wang Meng couldn't believe what he saw before him, but it was the fact.

 Everything was simply beyond Wang Meng’s imagination.

 And the doctors.

 Doctors who treat refugees for free without asking for money or anything.

 It doesn’t cost money to see a doctor?

Isn’t this a big joke?

 How can you get medical treatment free of charge?

How can a doctor survive without money?

Without charging money, how can we reflect the value and professionalism of doctors?

There is no charge for medical treatment, so who will bear the cost of using the herbs and equipment?

More importantly, if doctors don’t charge money, wouldn’t it mean that high-ranking officials and lowly and unscrupulous people are on the same line of life, old age, illness and death? Is this still justified?

As the deadline for taking action approached, Wang Meng felt as if he was being cut in half.

  Half of them were persuading him to be loyal, saying that he had sworn an oath and declared that he would be loyal and filial to the great man and that he should regard the prime minister as his top priority. How could he violate his oath?

 The other half told him that there were things in the world that were more important than those oaths, things that he had not seen in Shandong before, or had been subconsciously forgotten by him...

Wang Meng was very conflicted, and what finally made him make up his mind was not the oath, nor the people in the refugee camp, but some people from the Linfen area.

At dawn, when the sky had just gained some light, some people came from the land facing Fen in the north of Emei Mountain.

These people wandered and hesitantly appeared around the refugee camp, attracting the attention of the sentry.

The warning copper whistle broke the silence.

Wang Meng was also awakened. He saw the hussar soldiers rushing forward, but they stopped strangely in front of those small figures. Then they said something unknown, and those black figures turned and left...

 Going the wrong way?

 Still want to rob?

Wang Meng wanted to laugh, this is a refugee camp, what else could there be...

　　 No, Wang Meng suddenly felt a feeling that he didn't know how to describe. There were "money" people in the refugee camp, that is, people.

 Catch some, or "exchange" some food for some half-grown children, just like selling puppies and piglets, selling children as livestock, isn't it often seen in Shandong? It has even become a very good knowledge!

 A well-trained thin horse is favored by many dignitaries.

 After all, we are giving these children an underskirt!

  A new starting point!

  Could it be that these people came here secretly just for such a thing?

 But what happened next was completely unexpected to Wang Meng.

Those figures left, but a few hussar soldiers stood there for a long time. After what seemed like a long time, they saw the hussar soldiers slowly coming back...

I have a lot of baggage on me, big and small.

Those bundles seemed very heavy and precious, so each of the hussars held them carefully, as if they were afraid of falling on the ground.

What are those?

 The doubts were solved when I made breakfast...

The fat butcher, who always had traces of smoke and fire on his face that could not be wiped off, tapped the edge of the soup bucket with a wooden spoon, tapping loudly to attract the attention of the refugees in line, and then pointed. Looking at the cooking cake that had been cut into small pieces on the side, his face turned red and his voice trembled as he shouted: "Look!" Look at these! These steamed buns were sent by the folks from Linfen! They know that you are suffering here... They say that they also suffered a lot back then. When they passed through Hedong, they got your food and survived. Now that you are suffering, they want to repay the favor! 』

"take a look! have a look! "The fat cook couldn't help wiping his tears and wiping his stained face even more stained, "They are all good cakes, and they are all strong! It’s all…all! There are not enough pancakes to share one for each person, so now they are cut into slices, one for each person! Don’t be too little, these steamed buns are so good, I only want to eat such white steamed buns during the holidays! Come on, get it! A bowl of soup, a steamed bun, and these slices... take a look and taste them all! 』

What? !

Wang Meng’s eyes widened in confusion!

He could hardly believe what he was seeing!

 But it was this reality that struck his heart and knocked his soul!

Why? ! They are undoubtedly strangers to the people in Linfen.

For some reason, Wang Meng suddenly thought of that military school, the military school that was so tired that it smelled like sweat and its face was covered with dust, and what he said...

 Fellow folks…

When Wang Meng followed the queue almost instinctively and got the thin slice of cooking cake, he seemed to feel that the thin slice of cooking cake was hot, so hot that he could not hold it with his hands. Unstable!

 His whole body was shaking.

 There were many people like Wang Meng around, and some even cried.

 In this cry, there seems to be a little less sorrow and more hope...

Wang Meng held the piece of cooking cake as if holding his own soul.

 It’s small, but very hot.

Although the cooking cake was actually cold, Wang Meng still felt that it was so hot that his hands were shaking.

The scent of wheat penetrated into his nose, making his nose sore and making him couldn't help but raise his head...

In the eastern sky, a ray of light spread down, dazzling and gorgeous, making his eyes red.

 Ah, this day is really...

 It’s bright!