Xuantu was still quiet in the mist, with only the occasional sound of wind blowing through the forest, which had already lost many dead leaves, raising a wailing sound. Yan Rou, holding a spear in his hand, also sat upright on his horse, looking into the mountains in the northwest, feeling much calmer than at the beginning.
I wiped the water droplets off the Sirius silver pole with both hands. The pole was quite cold. After that, I wiped the water droplets off my face. In addition to feeling the heat on my face, I also felt a faint fishy smell in my hands. The horse seemed to be a little impatient with the rain, and walked back and forth from time to time, but it had nowhere to hide from the rain.
But no one spoke on the battlefield, and the Goguryeo soldiers even stood there in the rain, motionless. Only the hot air exhaled from their mouths from time to time made people feel that these warriors were alive.
The cold autumn rain kept falling, but I didn't see any signal from the baggage train ahead. I started to feel uneasy. Would they not come? We would become a joke if we were soaked like this. As the one who proposed the plan, I must take full responsibility for everyone being soaked in the rain this morning.
Long Xing's horse suddenly started to get uneasy, and took Long Xing around in circles. Long Xing held his beloved horse tightly and said to us, "The Wuhuan are coming. They should be nearby."
Everyone immediately became alert, and Liu Bei ordered all the cavalry to prepare. Long Xing and Yan Rou were also included, under the command of Guan Yu. Nan wanted to go, but I stopped him. I thought that this was a formal battle, and it was not a critical moment, so the child should not go to the battlefield. However, Long Xing spoke for his brother-in-law, saying that it would be better to let him go for such an opportunity. Who knows how to fight since birth? He should be allowed to learn. This is a good opportunity, and I thought it was right, so I let Nan go.
Someone from the baggage caravan was riding fast in front of us. Liu Bei waved his hand, Guan Yu saluted, and then led hundreds of cavalrymen down the hillside and chased them directly. Liu Bei turned around, I nodded, and the infantry began to catch up. I stayed by my brother-in-law's car with a few Xianbei warriors to guard against possible attacks, but I thought it might be unnecessary, but my heart was not wrong, after all, the Wuhuan people were also very fierce. In the sound of rain, I could also hear the sound of plucking the bowstring in the car.
When we arrived at the baggage cart, the fighting here was already sparse. It seemed that the Wuhuan had suffered heavy losses. Most of the bodies on the ground were their bodies. It seemed that the main force of the Wuhuan had retreated. But to my surprise, Yan Rou was here. I thought he should have participated in the pursuit. Now he kept persuading the Wuhuan to surrender, but until the end of the last battle here, no Wuhuan gave up the resistance.
Liu Bei shook his head and sighed. He was a kind-hearted man after all. Seeing him like this, I didn’t know how he would fight against the Yellow Turbans.
Yan Rou rode forward and said, "There were about 300 Wuhuan people who came to rob our baggage. After encountering us, we immediately dispersed them. But soon a large group of Wuhuan attacked us from behind. Fortunately, General Li killed Tu Jinghan, and Generals Guan and Zhang were brave and entered the Wuhuan army as if they were in an empty space. That saved us from being passive. Now they have evacuated to the northern mountains."
"Where's Nan? Is he okay?" Yan Rou never mentioned Nan, which really made me nervous.
"He's fine, he's with General Li." He spoke in a relatively relaxed tone, not so restrained. Hearing this, I felt a little relieved. I didn't expect that the Wuhuan people also began to learn to hide their main force, waiting for everyone to fight to a battle array, and then rushing out to break through the array. Although it is simple, it is indeed a good idea, but it is a bit cruel to those in front. Maybe they found our baggage train and wanted to rob it but felt that it seemed to be of unknown origin, so they kept it back. Seeing that winter is coming and the mountains are covered with snow, their life must be difficult, just like Pei Yuanshao back then. And the winter here must be much more severe than that in the south of the Yangtze River. So many food and supplies must make them jealous. They should hesitate, but finally decided to take the risk.
"Brother Xuande, this is the brother Yan Rou who helped us escape last time when we were robbed." After they finished greeting each other, I said, "This time, I want us to rescue the Han people in the Wuhuan camp under the guidance of brother Yan Rou."
Then I asked Yan Rou to explain some of the situation. After listening, Xuande said, "Why didn't Marquis Ping An Feng Yun tell us earlier? We should do our best in this matter."
He allocated two thousand soldiers to us, but I didn't need so many. In the end, I led a thousand Koreans into the mountains, and Yan Rou led the way for me.
After an hour of rapid travel, we had traveled about 50 miles on the mountain road in the rain. Fortunately, the ground was covered with leaves and the road was not very muddy. Yan Rou looked at the nearby terrain and told me that we should turn northwest for about 10 miles to reach the Wuhuan camp.
But at this time, there seemed to be a team approaching us in front of us, I waved to everyone to stop, but the alarm was soon eliminated because a familiar face with a three-foot long beard was walking in front of the team.
However, Yan Rou was still a little panicked, because there were several strangers riding horses beside Guan Yu, one of whom was seriously wounded by an arrow, with his entire abdomen pierced, and blood dyed his hide red. His face was already pale, but he was still sitting on the horse. The middle-aged alien man next to him looked at the injured person from time to time, with a look of concern.
"Tu Jingxiu, the one who was hit by the arrow was Tu Jingwu." Yan Rou told me in a low voice.
"Zi Rui, is the military doctor here?" Guan Yu shouted as soon as he saw me.
"Doctor, is there a doctor?" Since Guan Yu asked for this, the Tujing tribe must have been conquered. I also hurried to find someone, but there was none. There was not a single doctor among the 1,000 people here.
The wounded man seemed to understand that no one could heal such an arrow wound. He smiled miserably and tried to pull out the arrow.
"Don't pull it out!" He would die if he pulled it out like that, I shouted in a hurry. Unfortunately, it was too late. Maybe he didn't understand me, or maybe he didn't want to be ordered around. As soon as he pulled out the bloody arrow, his whole body leaned towards his elder brother. His hips that were rising and falling suddenly stopped moving. His elder brother didn't shed any tears. He just supported his brother quietly, stuffed the intestines that were protruding from the arrow wound back into his stomach, straightened his clothes, held him with one hand, and crushed the arrow with the other hand. Then, two horses, two people, just walked forward.
For the first time, I felt that the Wuhuan people were not as hateful as I had imagined, and that there were very sincere feelings between them.
When going uphill, Tu Jingwu's horse stumbled, and Tu Jingwu's body fell in the opposite direction of where his elder brother was holding him. His elder brother jumped off the horse like a madman, pushed away the people who wanted to help lift the body, picked up his younger brother, helped him onto the horse, put his feet in the stirrups, put his hands on the reins, and continued to ride the horse like a living person. His elder brother did not ride his own horse again, but got on his younger brother's horse and supported his younger brother, holding his younger brother's hand and spurring the horse forward. As a result, Guan Yu did not speak to me during the 50 miles, and I was also watching the pair of Wuhuan brothers. We did not speak to each other as if we had never fought a war.
We caught up with Xuande and camped on a flat ground in Xuantu Mountain. At this time, the whole mountain was still quiet. Liu Bei wanted to ask why, but Guan Yu whispered a few words in his ear. Liu Bei nodded and said nothing. Tu Jingxiu took his brother off the horse, turned around and looked at Long Xing with hatred, and then said a few words loudly.
Long Xing also replied a few words, then pulled out a sword from the person next to him, cut off a tuft of his hair, cut off a piece of his clothes, wrapped the tuft of hair, drew the bow and arrow, tied the cloth to the arrowhead, and shot lightly, and fell to the ground without any power. Tu Jingxiu picked up the arrow, moved his mouth a few times, looked at the ground and nodded slightly. Long Xing also nodded.
Tu Jingxiu turned and walked away. I saw him and some people digging soil on the side of the mountain, apparently to bury Tu Jingwu. They observed for a long time before digging the pit. From my direction, the pit was north-south.
After digging the pit, he held his brother in his arms and placed him in the pit. It seemed that the Wuhuan people had a certain way of burying people. He placed his head towards the north. Buried with the Tujingwu were the arrow, Longxing's hair and the corner of his clothes.
I entered the big tent under the guidance of the non-commissioned officer. I called Long Xing and Yan Rou to come with me. After all, I was still confused about the real situation.
"When we arrived outside his camp, the entire tribe, young and old, all took up weapons and were ready to fight us." Guan Yu was the first to break the silence, "Then, that man rushed out. ..."
"I shot an arrow at him. He tried to block it with the wolf-tooth stick in his hand, but it hit his abdomen. He didn't die at the time. He was in pain, but he continued to rush towards us. The people behind us also began to approach us..."
"I admired this man very much, so I went forward with my spear. He swung his stick to hit me, but I blocked it and grabbed him. Then I rushed straight into their ranks, until I reached the leader and returned his brother to him..."
Guan Yu continued, "At that time, that man shouted for everyone to stop. There was only a very narrow area outside their camp for fighting. If we fought like this, we would both be pressed against each other and we would definitely suffer heavy casualties. So, I also asked us to stop."
"Then, Tu Jingxiu started talking. I changed the words to Generals Guan and Zhang into Chinese. Tu Jingxiu shouted: 'Why are you fighting each other? We have no place to graze our sheep and few horses. We just want to have something to eat and clothes to wear.'"
"Indeed, including Tu Jingxiu and below, they were all in rags, and many didn't even have shoes. Later, he returned the others. After the Wuhuan people were recruited by Lord Liu Bo'an, the days of raising livestock and not doing corvee for each other were gone. The leader began to exploit the tribes below, while his own relatives lived a good life in the city. Ma Quan was bought by Lord Liu Bo'an. They didn't want to sell it at first because they made a living, but they were forcibly taken away by their Wuhuan leader. But the leader often recruited them to serve him, and they had no choice but to become bandits in the mountains."
"Third brother, you did a great job capturing the general on the battlefield this time. Big brother, I think these Wuhuan people were forced into a corner. Although it was wrong for them to rob people, their tribe was almost driven to extinction by the winter. Moreover, they didn't kill innocent people when they robbed people, but only robbed their property and stopped. It's really too much to wipe out their tribe. It would be better to recruit them into the army."
Liu Bei agreed, "Okay, but there are Han Chinese people in their camp as slaves. How can we explain this to them?"
"Let them follow us," I said, thinking it would be better if there was no war. "How many are there?"
"Not many, only a few dozen."
"Brother Yan, in which city is the Wuhuan people's lair located? And how many of our Han people have been held as slaves? Tell Brother Xuande." I knew the Han people would never do this, so I leaned back and faced Yan Rou.
"This large group of leaders now resides in Wuliu City, 300 miles northwest of here. There should still be about 1,000 Han servants and slaves of other tribes that were taken away by the Wuhuan still in the Liaodong vassal state."
"Brother Xuande, what should we do with these people?"
"I have a close relationship with Lord Gongsun Bogui, so Marquis Fengyun can rest assured that this matter will go smoothly. I, Liu Xuande, will take these people back to Lelang to settle down."
I thought so too. There shouldn't be any problem. It wouldn't be a big deal for Han people from other ethnic groups to be together with the rebellious Wuhuan people. I was completely relieved about this matter because I completely trusted Liu Xuande's character.
The matter of Xuantu Wuhuan ended like this. It was indeed a bit unexpected. I never thought that things would be resolved like this. It felt like I had prepared for a long time, but the teacher just chatted with me for a few words and let me go. The strength I had accumulated was suddenly released.
Long Xing had the greatest contribution in this battle, but there was no expression of joy on his face. I originally thought that he went to fight this battle just to gain credit between Guan and Zhang, but I didn't expect that he could kill one general in battle. But he didn't seem very happy. I also felt that something was not right. I always felt that something I had always believed was right was suddenly told to be wrong by others. It was really hard to accept. In the end, even the final summary of this battle ended in such a dull atmosphere, as if nothing had happened.
I suddenly felt that we are all just trying to find a place to live in this hard-working world. We are all the same. Should I fight for a peaceful world and let everyone live a good life
Just me? I suddenly felt that I was so insignificant in this huge world. I began to feel confused again. I thought I would ask my teacher when I got back. The teacher would tell me. But I felt that I was sometimes clear and sometimes confused about this question.
I didn't ask Long Xing what he talked about with the Wuhuan leader. I thought it didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that this matter had a relatively happy ending.
However, I still asked him, you killed Tu Jinghan, his body may not be buried yet, why Tu Jingxiu only paid so much attention to Tu Jingwu's funeral, while his other brother's body was left exposed in the wilderness. Long Xing told me that the Wuhuan people were proud of dying in battle, and they did not need to be buried after death, but Tu Jinghan was almost killed by pain, and he died unwillingly. Therefore, Tu Jingxiu hoped that his brother could fight me again after his death. Therefore, I gave him my men, armor, and weapons, and I think he should be very satisfied.
I was speechless.
Xiangping, this is my second visit to this great city of Youzhou. Gongsun Zan and a group of officials warmly welcomed us, especially Liu Bei. The two of them looked like me and Zishe Zisheng.
Because of the exhaustion from the journey, the rain and the war, it felt like everyone was in trouble. So in Xiangping, we stayed a little longer because it was sunny, and we all had things to do, especially me.
First of all, in Lelong, I only thought about suppressing the Wuhuan people, and then I was obsessed with martial arts and forgot one important thing, so now I must make up for it: I gave the Husa Lie Nan Kingdom a big Liu character flag. I thought about it for a long time and decided that it would be better to use a Chinese surname. I was always afraid that our Jingzhou soldiers would resist this Xiongnu surname. In fact, I think his Xiongnu surname is indeed more powerful. Just like Po Liu Han. I also gave Yan Rou a flag, which made Yan Rou a little confused. I don’t know what he thinks, but I believe he will become a famous general one day.
Secondly, Uncle San is still here, I have to go visit him. Uncle San hadn't left yet, and when he was about to finish, he caught up with the Black Mountain bandits in Yuyang. He decided to make another batch of weapons for Gongsun Zan before leaving. Because Lu Zhi was struggling in Yuyang, He Jin went to Youzhou to supervise the battle in person, but he didn't send soldiers from other states to help Lord Lu. Gongsun Zan didn't dare to ask his teacher if he needed help, and decided to go to reinforce himself. This is what Uncle San told me. I think that old man Lu Zhi must have a very stubborn temper. I also asked him to make a weapon for Yan Rou. Uncle San asked him a few questions and nodded. Two days later, Yan Rou got his new weapon, which looked like a wolf tooth stick, but... Why, it had no teeth, yes, it had no teeth, it was like a hammer but the rod was stretched to nine feet. I asked Uncle San what this weapon was called, and Uncle San thought about it and called it Nine-foot Black Iron Gall. However, this weapon gives people a feeling, and that feeling is really similar to the feeling I have when I see Yan Rou.
Finally, we still have to settle those who come. I put all these people under Yan Rou's command. Some of the strong ones ride horses, and the weaker ones ride with the maids. They also have to practice a little to prevent trouble on the road. This is left to Li Beihai and Yan Rou. In short, Luànshi takes care of everything. I also arranged their clothes, but these were all done for us by Lord Liu Bo'an.
Xiangping was very busy during this period, but as a leader, I had some free time. I began to think about some things: Yuyang originally belonged to Youzhou, but after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, He Jin assigned this area to Sili. When the Black Mountain bandits started making trouble, he assigned Yuyang to Lu Zhi. What was his intention? It was obvious.
I also received a letter from my teacher, telling me to go back early because there was a flood in Jingzhou and Yangzhou, and there were many things waiting for me to do. I understood why the teacher mentioned the flood in Yangzhou, which must be because the teacher followed my plan to control Yangzhou along the river, so I had to go south quickly, and go to Yangzhou first, because there must be a shortage of manpower there.
Originally, I was planning to go to Yuyang to help Lu Zhi, but when I proposed it, Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan immediately vetoed it. If we went, we might be scolded by the teacher, and if I went, they would be scolded even more severely.
In two days, Gongsun Zan will personally lead the army to Yuyang. These days, it is not only busy but also lively, with soldiers and horses coming in and out from time to time. Gongsun Zan may have made his army the most beautiful army because he is a handsome man. This time he led 100,000 soldiers in person, all of which were cavalry, and all the horses were white. Watching the 100,000 soldiers training from the top of the city was as beautiful as the snow in the wind.
I still asked Liu Xuande how to solve the problem of the Supervisor. Now that the Wuhuan people have become his subordinates, it seems a bit troublesome to explain the cause of the Supervisor's death. In this regard, Xuande assured me that his teacher, Gongsun Zan, would definitely help him out of this predicament. In fact, I am still a little worried. I can only hope that Tu Jingxiu doesn't know about the Supervisor.
Since I have nothing to do, and I am anxious and homesick, I will take my people and leave first. Some things can only be taken care of by Liu Bei and others. When Lord Liu Bo'an saw me off, he told me that he had sent people to negotiate with the Wuhuan people. I said thank you for your concern, and I felt relieved. It was uncomfortable to say goodbye to Liu Bei and Brother Zilong. Such talents cannot be used by me in Jingzhou. It really makes people feel very uncomfortable.
Lord Gongsun Bogui also gave me a letter and asked me to take it to my teacher.
Finally, I said hello to my uncle, who had not yet completed his plan.
I took my people and left Xiangping. That day was August 29th, the second year of Zhongping. It was a sunny day. My mood was just like the weather. Once we were on the road, we were no longer in a hurry, just like the sun in late autumn.
I came alone from Jingzhou, but when I returned, I was with about a hundred people, and there were also three generals, so it was not a wasted trip to Youzhou. Now I am a little eager to go home. In fact, after receiving the teacher's letter, I was a little restless. I just think I should help Gongsun Zan to reinforce Lu Zhi, but since they don't want to go, I don't want to force it.
Finally going home!
However, my return route is to go from Jizhou to Qingzhou, then from Xuzhou to Yangzhou and cross the river, and go directly to Yangzhou to have a look. This should be what the teacher meant in the letter. I guess there must be all kinds of troubles in Yangzhou.
From Wuzhong City in Youbeiping County, we head south to Jizhou. It was noon when we arrived, so we asked everyone to rest here before we left. After three days of walking, Gongsun Zan's front team should have reached Yuyang. The Black Mountain Bandits were said to be the remnants of the Yellow Turbans, who rose up after the food and grass were collected in the fall. The Luoyang court reported that they had 100,000 people, while the Youzhou court reported that they had 200,000.
I told everyone about some things at the post station, and then asked everyone to put away their flags and go out for a walk. Li Beihai took the initiative to ask to stay and arrange various matters for everyone. Of course, I knew his inner thoughts. I just wore casual clothes with Yan Rou and Nan, wrapped our weapons with fur, and went out to take a look.
Along the way, I took the map my sister gave me and carefully looked at the situation near Youzhou. The terrain of Youzhou had some defensive flaws, and there were too many routes for He Jin to rush into Youzhou. Fortunately, there was a Great Wall, but the women's wall was still facing the south. Beyond that was a large plain, but fortunately Gongsun Zan was all cavalry, and fighting in such a large plain, Gongsun Zan still had a lot of advantages. In fact, Gongsun Zan's best strategy was to quickly advance into Jizhou as soon as the war started. The states between the rivers were all flat, and burning the war to He Jin's yard would inevitably make He Jin very uncomfortable, and Gongsun Zan's entire cavalry lineup made it difficult for He Jin's army to deal with it. I just don't know if Gongsun Zan dares to do this, or if he has the courage to do so.
Relatively speaking, the heavy snow this spring did not cause much damage to Gongsun Zan. I saw that his herd of white horses were still strong and vigorous. It is possible that they were the horses purchased from the Wuhuan people at a high price.
We sat in a hotel and asked about the local situation. The location and topography of Wuzhong City must have been a market town with many merchants and smooth traffic when the world was at peace. It could be said to have no beginning and no end. But once the world was in chaos, it would immediately become a place with no end. It was a pity.
There are obviously more women than men among the people passing by the window. The Yellow Turban Rebellion last year did have a great impact here. Although it seems to be stable now, the rebellion is coming again, and the rebellion is coming. I am afraid that the temporary peace here will not last long.
Suddenly, a young man on horseback passed by the window in front of us, holding a wooden stick, and headed westward out of our sight. It seemed very urgent.
"Where did that Wuhuan man go?" someone asked.
I immediately noticed that the word Wuhuan didn't seem as hateful as it had been before. Instead, it made me feel a little more favorable towards it.
"I'm afraid he went to the Feng family to snatch people away."
"He's going to seek death." Some people were laughing, while others were shaking their heads and sighing.
"Shopkeeper, come here." I waved him over and pointed out the window: "What's going on?"
"You are from another place, right? You may not know that this person is a Wuhuan, and has been living here since childhood. There is a widower named Zhang in the southeast corner of this city. He is very kind-hearted, and like this family, he also opened a restaurant. Seeing that this person is pitiful, he took him in, taught him to read, guided him to be kind, and treated him as his own son. The owner of the restaurant was killed by the army during the massacre last year. Mr. Zhang has no descendants, leaving behind only a daughter and this Wuhuan boy. The boy is also loyal and righteous, unlike other Wuhuan people who are like wolves and tigers. He treats the orphan girl like a sister, mourns for old man Zhang, and supports the restaurant alone. However, due to his identity as a Wuhuan, although he is very diligent, the business is still slow, and he can't support it. He will leave with his family in the next few days. There is a big family named Feng on the west side of the city. Please wait a moment..." Another guest called him, he apologized and left first. Nan was also listening to the discussion at other tables. Some people were unwilling to join in, but a few scholars were quite bold and kept talking. Nan seemed to understand all the reasons. So I called him over.
"What happened to the Feng family?"
"The eldest son of the Feng family has tuberculosis and is dying. They want to find someone to bring good luck to the family. This morning, they saw Zhang's sister going out on the road and asked someone to rob him. Brother, what does it mean to bring good luck to the family?" I immediately understood, but I didn't answer his question. Located on the border, the control is lax, and the local tyrants do evil, and the government dare not intervene, otherwise they would not dare to rob the women in broad daylight. Some people feel indignant; some people seem to be quite hostile to the Wuhuan people and just want to watch the fun; some people don't want to cause trouble and do nothing.
"What's that man's name?" I was ready to leave, planning to help the young man. Because, this time, the Wuhuan people were completely on the good side in my mind, and I thought I was the only one who dared to stand out here.
"Zhang Talie, Zhang is his last name after the old man. His name is Wuhuan language, which was translated into Chinese..." I didn't listen to him continue to tell me this story. I quickly called Yan Rou and Nan and left.
Before leaving, I noticed that Yan Rou's face had changed. "What's wrong?"
"His name is weird."
"What's wrong? Does his name have any special meaning?" I pulled the reins without looking at him.
“Er Gou.” This time I stopped and turned around, seeing Yan Rou’s confident look and a hint of a smile on her face: “It’s Er Gou.”