Chapter 1147 To Eat or Not to Eat

Guanzhong is right in front of you.

At least that's what Ma Chao thinks.

Ma Chao killed Xia Mou and captured Xia Mou's camp. At this moment, he was sitting on the central military stage, and under the stage, several sheep were slaughtered and grilled, emitting bursts of attractive fragrance.

Ma Chao sat on the central military platform with a golden sword, drinking the wine found in Xia Mou's camp, and suddenly he got up and started singing Qiang songs...

As expected, there is still a lot of food and grass stored in Xia Mou's camp. The words that there is no surplus food are all lies. Ma Chao now obtained a large amount of grain, grass and ordnance, and his number of troops suddenly increased to about 8,000. He had no reason to be unhappy. More importantly, after Xia Mou died, Han Sui returned to Jincheng, which meant that once he obtained In Guanzhong, Ma Chao is the boss, how can he not be happy?

Although about half of Xia Mou's troops dispersed immediately when the camp was blown up, and Ma Chao could only add five to six thousand men in the end, but for Ma Chao, the current troop strength is already the largest since he led the army. , it can be said that it was the moment when he was full of ambition and high spirits.

Nowadays, the traces of the conflict that day have basically faded. At the northern end of the camp, a large number of Qiang Huqi are now stationed. It is precisely because of the arrival of these Qiang Huqi that Xia Mou's troops obeyed the young Ma Chao. general.

"Someone wants to take Guanzhong!"

Ma Chao put the meat-cutting knife on the table, as if that piece of meat belonged to the land of Guanzhong. He looked around and said in a deep voice: "Everyone! The land of Guanzhong is a fertile land thousands of miles away! It is given to us by God! If you are willing to follow me, you will drink this bowl of wine, and we will become brothers, take Guanzhong together, and become rich and glorious together!"

Riwoji from Baima Qiang, Li Gude from Shenlang Qiang, and Lu Yao from Ran Ganqiang looked at each other, their eyes rolled for a moment, and then they raised their hands as if there was some tacit understanding between them. He picked up the wine bowl, laughed, and drank it down with Ma Chao.

"Hahaha, okay! Come here, bring the cattle and sheep, I will share it with you nobles!" Seeing this, Ma Chao was so happy that he lowered the wine bowl, and then called the soldiers to bring up the roasted cattle and sheep.

"Come on," Ma Chao pulled out the meat cleaver stuck on the table, and then with a smile, he cut up the barbecue meat presented by the soldiers and gave it to Riwoji, Li Gude and Luqian one by one.

The three leaders of the Qiang tribe also looked at each other and took the pieces of barbecue cut off by Ma Chao with smiles.

The so-called leader is like this.

The same is true on the grassland. Although there is no habit of smearing the lips with cow blood, this is equivalent to acquiescence that Ma Chao is in the master's position.

Ma Chao twirled the meat cleaver between his fingers, then stabbed it on the table, raised the wine bowl again, and said with a smile: "Come on! Let's have a drink! We won't go home until we're drunk today!"

"Okay! I won't come back until I'm drunk!" The Qiang-headed man also raised his wine bowl and responded.

For a moment, the atmosphere was extremely harmonious...

In the camps of both sides, many bonfires were lit at this time, and Ma Chao took out small mountains of grain, grass and meat sticks and distributed them to the hands of the soldiers.

Having something to eat and something to drink was enough for these ordinary soldiers, and laughter suddenly filled the entire camp. As for the previous Xia Mou, well, who was Xia Mou?

Although both parties were celebrating after having enough wine and food, it was still wartime after all, so it was impossible to get completely drunk. So when they were drunk, they dispersed and went back to their tents to rest. As for the next military arrangement, it will naturally be the next day...

"Riwoji..." Li Gude of the Shenlang Qiang did not return to his tent, but followed Ran Jianqiang's Lu Yao to the Baima Qiang camp, lying crookedly on the felt blanket, Watching the sun slowly setting on the horizon, he burped and asked, "Do you really want to listen to that little brat? A guy who doesn't even have hair on his head wants to give orders? Hehehe..."

"Shut up!" Zhiwoji immediately turned over and sat up. He swept away his original peaceful appearance and shouted in a deep voice, "Here comes someone! Guard the tent for twenty steps! No one is allowed to come near!"

The guard outside the big tent responded, and then the sound of clanging armor and swords sounded outside the tent.

"Li Gude! You'd better keep your mouth shut!" Riwoji said coldly.

Ran Junqiang's Lu Yan also nodded and said: "Although this guy is young, he is still in the mold of a wolf king. He is so ruthless! Just say what you say here, be careful not to talk nonsense outside..."

Li Gude laughed awkwardly twice, but still spoke sternly, saying: "What are you afraid of... He's just a little beast that just grew some claws... Okay, let's not talk about this, I mean, are we really Listen to that guy heading east?”

Riwoji was silent for a while and said: "Otherwise, what else? Your cattle and sheep don't want to eat? Your people don't want to eat? You worked so hard to cross Longshan and then go back empty-handed?"

Ran Junqiang's Lu Yao said in a low voice: "That's right! No matter Li Baiyi or the boy from the Ma family, you can't give me anything less! I don't care what they Han people are like, and I don't want to care about what these Han people think. What, anyway, there must be no shortage of food, grass and other things, otherwise we won’t work!”

Li Gude nodded and said: "Yes! It doesn't matter whether he is Li Li in white or a boy from the Ma family, whoever gives more or is stronger will have the final say! Hiccup..."

Zhiwoji closed his eyes and lay down as if he was too drunk. He did not continue to speak, but there was a somewhat helpless look between his eyebrows.

These Qiang people, although they say they are Qiang people, they are not Qiang people. In the eyes of the Han people, there is nothing wrong with them being Qiang people, but in the eyes of the more distant Western Qiang people, they are almost Han people.

For many years, they have been in such an environment. Sometimes they accepted the rule of the Han people and endured their exploitation and humiliation. Sometimes they brandished long swords and broke into the Han people's cities and homes like wolves and tigers, dragging the Han people out. Killed like cattle and sheep; sometimes he listened to the recruitment of the Han people, fought with the Han people, and attacked his former compatriots...

Who are they?

Who should they be?

Even they themselves don’t know...

On the other side, in Xia Mou's tent, Ma Chao took the Gebu towel soaked in hot water from Ma Dai and rubbed it on his face several times, making the skin red. Then he let out a long breath of alcohol, threw away the cloth, and waved for the guard on the side to go out first.

"...Bring some good hands..." Seeing that the guards were all far away, Ma Chao whispered to Ma Dai, "...Keep an eye on these leaders...if anything happens..."

Ma Dai opened his eyes wide and asked doubtfully: "...I understand, but...didn't they agree to cooperate with us..."

Ma Chao laughed, and then said: "Yes... they are cooperating with us, but they are actually cooperating with the money and food we have on hand now! But... it doesn't matter, I don't need their loyalty, I just need As long as you are obedient, raising a dog requires throwing away two meat bones... But if the dog is disobedient, you can only kill it and eat meat..."

…………………………

Although it is a little slower, the spring breeze that comes after a spring rain still reflects the red cheeks of the peach blossoms.

Inside and outside Pingyang, especially on Peach Mountain, there is a sea of ​​flowers. Light red and bright red peach blossom petals stand proudly on the branches, announcing the official debut of the new year.

Xun Chen came in the midst of the peach blossoms, stepping on wooden clogs, with a graceful demeanor, but when he opened his mouth, Fei Qian was startled.

"Your Majesty, I have come to plead guilty."

Xun Chen, who came in a hurry, said this shortly after sitting down. His tone was smooth and gentle, as if he was saying that he had decided to eat lettuce or cyanide today.

Fei Qian put down the bamboo slips, rubbed his sore little arms, and said, "Why? What's the crime?"

It turns out that Pingyang has brought many papermaking craftsmen since Huang Yueying came, and also produced some bamboo paper that is still upper-level compared to current paper. But unfortunately, in order to meet the needs of printing Jiaozi, these bamboo papers Therefore, only a small amount can be supplied for external use. As a result, the so-called "bamboo-based office" system reform project has been repeatedly stranded until now.

Fortunately, the people and officials at the grassroots level have been accustomed to wooden slips and bamboo slips for many years, so there is not much dissatisfaction. The only side effect is that with the increase in Bingbei affairs, the original one or two people holding the , and then it became necessary for someone to carry it. Now, the daily bamboo slips and wooden tablets need to be delivered by someone with a load, and then sent away with a load. It is really not easy.

If this continues, maybe after a while, bullock carts will have to be used...

"Your Majesty," Xun Chen said calmly, "Cao Pingdong's covert attack on Luoyang... is related to a certain person... so I came here to apologize to you..."

"Huh?" Fei Qian was silent for a moment and said, "Did you reveal to Cao Pingdong... well, to your younger brother about a certain movement in the army?"

A very simple inference is that Cao Cao was actually leading his troops to visit relatives in Xuzhou at the moment, so the rear affairs were handed over to Xun Yu. Therefore, Xia Houyuan's attack on Luoyang this time must have received Xun Yu's final authorization.

Xun Yu made such a decision mostly because he felt that there would be no obstacles or threats on this trip. That is to say, Yang Biao was fighting Fei Qian with all his strength, and Heluo was empty inside...

Although Yang Biao is not a first-class talent, he still understands the mobilization of internal troops and horses to some extent and will not publicize it to the point where the whole world knows it, nor will he intentionally let outsiders know it. Therefore, under the relationship, Xun Chen must be When he told Xun Yu about Yang Biao's attack on Tongguan, Xun Yu immediately understood and seized the opportunity, but he failed in the end.

Xun Chen bowed to the ground and said, "Exactly. Please punish me."

Fei Qian closed his eyes, then opened them, and said, "Get up first, I want to hear the reason."

Although information is not valuable in a certain sense, the difference in the order of knowledge is like clouds and mud. Just like everyone in later generations knows that real estate speculation can make money, but those who first used national assets to speculate in real estate made a lot of money, and those who followed followed the same example, and basically either became landlords or landlords. He became a prisoner after speculation.

Therefore, the battle between Fei Qian and Yang Biaotong Pass will be known to others sooner or later. This is not something that needs to be concealed, but there is still a difference in whether it is known sooner or later.

Xun Chen said: "General Yuan is now about to march north, and Cao Pingdong cannot help but feel anxious... The place where Yanzhou is fought is like duckweed in the water. It is in danger of overturning in a moment. How can it stand without the emperor to rectify its name?" Therefore, the Yang family's attack on Tongguan is a good opportunity to pacify the east... However, if the king and his lords are in charge of justice, the only way to ping the east is to fight with surprise. This is the difference between the superior and the inferior..."

Xun Chen glanced at Fei Qian and said: "...What's more... Regardless of whether the emperor leaves Luoyang or not, Yang Cao can be held accountable for his crime... If someone is guilty of not acknowledging power, please punish him... …”

Is this called asking for forgiveness?

This is more like asking for credit, right?

Fei Qian couldn't laugh or cry.

Isn't this just a naked conspiracy? Of course, this is naturally based on Fei Qian still having a strong army and status, otherwise no matter how many strategies there are, it will be a joke.

If Cao Cao took over the Emperor of Han, speaking directly, it would be to welcome the Emperor, and conversely speaking, it would be to rob him. As for Yang Biao, no matter whether the Emperor of Han left or not, he could not escape the name of negligence... …

It can be said that no matter what, if Fei Qian wants to head east in the future, he will already have a ready-made flag and cover that can be used to hold high.

Punishment?

Is there anything to punish?

As for taking authority without authorization, it is not a crime. Fei Qian was in Yinshan at that time, and even a quick horse trip would take five or six days. What's more, from another perspective, Xun Chen's letter revealing information can also be said to have helped Fei Qian from the side. latent. The so-called enemy of the enemy is a friend. When Fei Qian and Yang Biao are at war, those who can copy Yang Biao's retreat fall into the category of friends to a certain extent.

Fei Qian suddenly understood. No wonder Xia Houyuan dared to do such a crazy move. Maybe Xun Chen was also part of the reason. After all, Xun Yu might have thought that such a letter was an instruction from Fei Qian, which meant that the troops under Commander Huang Xian beside the Han Emperor were, in a sense, friendly forces...

But what he didn't expect was that Huang Xian obeyed the Han Emperor's orders, did not cooperate with Xia Houyuan, and refused to leave Luoyang.

Speaking of which, Xun Chen was quite calculated, even his younger brother Xun Yu was tricked...

"You Ruo, coming here this time is not just about asking for forgiveness..." Fei Qian said.

Xun Chen cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty is aware of thousands of miles away... When someone comes, I also ask you to lead your troops south and capture Guanzhong as soon as possible!"

"...the so-called one and the other moment," Xun Chen continued, "in the past, taking Guanzhong would do more harm than good, so we postponed it...In the current situation, the Zhong family is incompetent, the Yang family is panicked, Jiyu has no time to look west, and the kings and princes have both. Guanzhong, it’s the right time! If we care for the refugees in Guanzhong and ignore the rest, just talking about the population, we can increase the population by one hundred thousand people! This is the king’s gift from heaven! I hope you will die soon!”

According to Han law, refugees do not belong to tenant farmers or civilians, but to criminals. Therefore, these refugees lose their original subordinate relationship. Therefore, whoever falls into the hands of these refugees becomes the new master of these refugees, just like It's like Cao Cao ate the Qingzhou Yellow Turban...

Different from the previous small-scale refugees in Guanzhong who had hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of people, this time, almost a large wave of refugees swept through a considerable part of the population in Jingzhaoyin and Youfufeng. Basically, it is calculated in units of tens of thousands. , so if Fei Qian wants to recruit, the pressure he faces will naturally be many times greater than before.

Population is the basis of everything. Fei Qian took the risk to introduce the Black Mountain Army to open up the Yinshan Mountains in order to fill the gap in the population of Bingbei. Now, as Xun Chen said, if he can eat it, he will increase it by one hundred thousand. Man!

The premise is whether you can eat it...

"Your Majesty, if you are worried about food and grass..." Xun Chen looked at Fei Qian's expression and guessed a bit, then said, "I have a plan that may solve your worries..."