Qin Official

In early June of the thirty-seventh year of Qin Shi Huang's reign, a remnant army numbering in the thousands returned to Linyang in despair. Most of them were empty-handed, having lost all the armor and weapons they had captured, and were dejected.

But it was the garrison soldiers under Chen Sheng and Wu Guang.

Half a month ago, Chen Sheng, Wu Guang and a group of garrison soldiers were trapped in Linyang Township due to heavy rain and blocked roads. When the two of them combined, no matter whether they continued to walk or fled, they would not escape death, so they simply turned against each other.

Under the guidance of the soothsayer Chen Xiazi, he relied on superstitious methods such as the sound of foxes in the campfire and the book on fish belly elixirs to make the soldiers panic. When two county lieutenants patrolled the camp and urged them to go on the road, they deliberately talked about death and made the county lieutenants He was furious and whipped Wu Guang, which angered the garrison soldiers. Finally, under the leadership of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, they seized the sword and killed the two lieutenants.

Then, they bared their right arms, cut down trees as soldiers, raised poles as flags, pretended to call Xiang Yan and Fusu, made an alliance on the altar, and sacrificed the captain's head. Chen Sheng established himself as the captain, Wu Guang as the commander, and immediately occupied Liang. In Yangxiang, Blind Chen also changed his identity and became their dog-headed military advisor.

Because most of the garrison soldiers were from Chen, and they had their hometown in mind after the uprising, Chen Sheng also believed that now that Nanjun and Huainan had rebelled against the Qin Dynasty, and most of the soldiers from Chenjun were sent to Xixian and Xiacai to build the Huaibei defense line, Huaiyang must be empty.

So they sent their troops to the north and conquered Xiang County (Chenqiu, Henan). Because the banner of "Xiang Yan" was there, the Xiang family responded positively, and many people from Pingyu and Xiqiu nearby joined in, and they won three Thousands of people followed Chen Sheng across the Ying River to attack Huaiyang.

I thought that since Lieutenant Chen was absent and the city was empty, it would be easy to seize the city. Unexpectedly, Chen Juncheng was very brave. With one enemy and three enemies, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were defeated. Due to the fire, they suspected that a large force of the Qin army had arrived, so they thought of retreating and evacuated Huaiyang.

This group of rebels had no order at all. From Huaiyang to Xiang County, the team stretched for several miles. They were chased by the Qin army's chariots and cavalry. They fled all the way. When they crossed the Ying River, they counted their number and found that only a thousand were left...

After finally returning to Linyang and having a little rest, Wu Guang also comforted Chen Sheng: "When I left, I had a thousand, and when I returned, I had a thousand, so we have no loss."

Chen Sheng shook his head regretfully: "Otherwise, when we first started, our morale was high. We wanted to take this opportunity to seize Huaiyang and do something big, but now..."

Nowadays, the morale of the rebel army has been extremely low. They only know how to flee south, not daring to look north, and don't do anything important. They just want to survive.

Wu Guang asked the fortune teller Chen Xiazi angrily: "Didn't you say that if we do good deeds and have good luck, great things will happen?"

Chen Xiazi laughed dryly and said: "It's a good thing to do this. If you don't see it, killing two lieutenants that day is like slaughtering two chickens. Linyang can be easily captured."

"But going north to attack Huaiyang... Chen Duwei, Wu Sima, you didn't ask me to calculate the good or bad luck. You lost the battle yourself. How can you blame the turtle chopsticks for not working?"

"you!"

Wu Guang wanted to beat the fortune teller, but when he raised his fist above his head, he remembered something.

"Chen She, since we suffered a defeat in Huaiyang, the Qin army is not easy to defeat, and the enemy is still chasing us, we can't do it alone now. You and I can't go back to our hometown, but we have to find a way to survive. Why not let this fortune teller Recommended for us to join Marquis Wu Zhong?"

Chen Sheng fell into deep thought. Compared with when they started the incident, the situation in Huaihan has changed a lot in half a month:

First of all, Major General Xiang has occupied Shouchun, and has proclaimed the "great-great-grandson of King Chu Huai" whom he found from nowhere as the King of Chu. He is still called King Chu Huai, and officially launched the banner of reviving the great Chu. I heard from people from the southeast that the Major General also crossed the Huaihe River and defeated the county soldiers sent by Chen County, captured Xia Cai (Fengtai, Anhui), and called on the Chu people in the world to respond!

After nearly a month of hard fighting, the Northern Expeditionary Army has successfully occupied the Ming'e Three Passes (Xinyang, Henan Province), which is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Suixian County (Suizhou, Hubei Province) has also fallen into its hands. The flag of the Northern Expeditionary Army has even appeared in Chen County. Xixian (Xixian, Henan) has the potential to conquer Runan, and is also calling on the benevolent and righteous people of Chen to join them in the Northern Expedition.

But on the other hand, the imperial court had sent a large army south to suppress the rebellion, and reinforcements from various counties in the Central Plains were entering Chen County in a steady stream. Chen Sheng and the others were unlucky enough to encounter the Dang County army. On the Guanzhong side, 50,000 troops were sent to Nanyang to confront the Northern Expeditionary Army...

Indeed, in this situation, if you lead 1,800 people to fight alone, you will be mercilessly suppressed by the imperial army at any time. It is better to seek refuge with the strong!

But before Chen Sheng could make a decision, Blind Chen shouted: "The noble Marquis Wu Zhong forgets things so much that he may have forgotten about him!"

Wu Guang scolded: "Didn't you say that more than ten years ago, when Marquis Wu Zhong was trapped in Linyang and wanted to fake a surrender and break out, he hesitated and came to you to avoid the banquet and ask questions about whether it was good or bad? He came to visit him in person afterwards. , how could I not remember you!"

But Chen Sheng understood and sneered: "Uncle Wu, forget it, this guy is just bragging in front of you and me to gilt himself. In my opinion, Wu Zhonghou has never asked this blind man to calculate good or bad luck, let alone know him. !”

Wu Guang was so angry that he kicked Blind Chen out. After pacing the room several times, he said again: "Even if no one recommends us, we still have to go to Marquis Wuzhong."

"First of all, it is only two hundred miles from here to Xixian, and it can be reached in a few days. As long as you cross the Ru River, you will be the territory of the Northern Expeditionary Army. You don't have to worry about the troops chasing behind you."

"Secondly, I heard from people from the south that wherever Marquis Wu Zhong went, he would have people issue notices, saying that regardless of whether he was a commoner, a son-in-law, or a merchant, if he had talent in civil and military affairs, he might be able to come up with great strategies or clever plans. And those who help Yu Jing have a hard time succeeding and recommending themselves for their success, all scholars with real talents will definitely be able to use them!"

Wu Guang encouraged: "Chen She, you often compare yourself to a swan. Although we are also commoners, if we can join the Northern Expeditionary Army, we will definitely have a place! Maybe we can really become a real captain or Sima!"

"Uncle Wu, are you satisfied with just the captain and Sima?"

But Chen Sheng sighed and said: "I once heard someone say something from Marquis Wu Zhong: Dukes, generals and ministers would rather have their own kind?"

This famous saying about chicken soup has long been spread as Heifu gradually ascended to a higher position. It is not surprising that common people in Guizhou who have ambitions often talk about it.

But Chen Sheng shook his head and said: "This sentence is very encouraging, but if you ask me, this sentence is still missing something."

Wu Guang was puzzled: "It's already excellent. When I first heard this, I was shocked for several days. What else is missing?"

Chen Sheng disagreed: "If you want me to say it, I have to change one word!"

"What word?"

Chen Sheng's eyes were gleaming: "Princes, princes, generals! Would you rather have the seed?"

…

The next day, under the threat of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang that "the Qin army is approaching", a thousand tired garrison soldiers, Lu Zuo and Qingxia reluctantly got up and gathered at the fork in the south of the city.

There are two roads here, one leads to the southwest and enters Xincai County. You can cross Ru River to Xixian County, a journey of two hundred miles.

One leads to the southeast, enters Diqiu County and Ruyin County, and crosses the Yingshui River to Xiacai, a journey of three hundred miles.

The garrison soldiers were surprised to find that Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, who were usually inseparable, each led a team of men and horses and lived in two separate lanes. The two men fought against each other and said goodbye.

Wu Guang was a little reluctant: "Chen She, are you really going to vote for Major General Xiang?"

"After all, we are Chu people, how can we not follow the banner of King Huai of Chu?"

Chen Sheng smiled, but he told Wu Guang the real reason yesterday: "Chen She's pursuit is to get ahead in this troubled world and eventually become a king! He is not satisfied with the position of a prince, general or prime minister."

If he joins the Northern Expeditionary Army, even if he succeeds, he will not be able to become the king in the end, because Marquis Wu Zhong always calls himself a Qin official. He himself will not be called the king, let alone his subordinates.

Furthermore, I heard that the imperial court had dispatched a large army to Nanyang and was determined to wipe out the Northern Expeditionary Army. Although Chen Sheng admitted that Wu Zhonghou was a famous general in the world, he also saw the fighting power of the Qin army in Huaiyang. Who would win between the imperial court and the Northern Expeditionary Army? There is no telling who will lose. In the end of a battle, there will be many casualties.

On the contrary, the "Chu Army" in Huainan can take advantage of the imperial court and the Northern Expeditionary Army to seize the land and rebuild the Chu Kingdom while the two tigers in Nanyang are fighting!

Therefore, Chen Sheng felt that if he went there early and followed Major General Xiang, he would have a better chance of becoming powerful again...

Wu Guang valued his friendship and said, "If this is the case, I will go to Cai with you and join the Chu army!"

Chen Sheng said: "No, the situation is chaotic now. No matter it is the Northern Expeditionary Army or the Chu Army, no one knows who will win in the end. If you and I join the same family, we may be defeated together in the future."

"If we don't vote for each other separately, I will vote for Xiang Ji, and you will vote for Wu Zhonghou. From now on, no matter who wins, he will be able to leave a way for the other person to retreat..."

"Chen She is still thinking far ahead."

Wu Guang was persuaded, so he took three to four hundred people and headed southwest. As he walked, Wu Guang couldn't help but look back.

Chen Sheng also took the remaining people and headed southeast, his figure gradually getting further away.

"Uncle Wu!"

But not long after leaving, Chen Sheng rode back alone and held his hand towards Wu Guang from a distance:

"Although you and I are not blood relatives, we are brothers. We part ways here today. If you achieve success in the future, remember it!"

"As long as you are rich and noble, don't forget each other!"

…

ps: Chapter 2 is at night.