Royal Road

"I hadn't seen the envoy for a long time." Xue Ren sat in the guest seat with a businessman-like smile, and said respectfully.

Seeing Xue Ren, Liang Feng was still a little surprised. At the beginning, the little girl covered with routines in the Xue family was really annoying, Liang Feng chilled him for a while, and even arranged the business for the housekeeper. Unexpectedly, this person would actually join Pei Dun's sect. But considering the identity of the Xue family, it is not surprising that he is a lobbyist for Pei.

"I don't know if Xue Lang is here, what do you do?" Liang Feng would not be polite to such a businessman, and asked directly.

"It's for the emperor." Xue Ren said positively, "I'm afraid that the emperor will also know about the current situation in Hedong. Alas, I am ashamed. Although there are quite a few powerful clans in Hedong, they are private. The soldiers did not experience the training as long as the Bingzhou family. Just like the Wei Clan of Anyi, who had nearly 10,000 households in the name, but less than three thousand soldiers, he might not be able to defend his own city. Hedong, now all depends on Pei I don’t know how long it will last..."

Liang Feng did not answer. Like today, there is no place that is not messy, and the state is too busy to take care of itself, how can it take care of others?

Xue Ren didn’t care about Liang Feng’s attitude, and continued: “You may think Hedong is insignificant. However, your business can be closely related to Hedong. Just think about how many liters of salt were transported from Hedong to Gaodu just last year. If the salt pond was captured by the Xiongnu, where would there be any salt trade? This loss could be tens of millions of dollars! Not to mention that if Liu Yuanhai occupied the salt pond, the Xiongnu could immediately occupy the salt and recruit troops. Wouldn’t it be more difficult to deal with? "

Liang Feng's face remained unchanged. He knows these things well. Because of the importance of Yanchi, the Xiongnu could not give up attacking Hedong anyway. If you want to save it, there is no way. The court will send another army to attack on both sides. But will Sima Yue put down Sima Ying, who has already become the emperor, for the sake of the only salt pond?

Therefore, Pei Dun's move of sending troops, even if Sima came over, would only admit it in one go. Wouldn't it make a profit if the Union State Soldiers solved the Hedong siege? If it is defeated, the party is still safe, and there is still room for buffer. As long as it doesn't threaten Luoyang, I'm afraid it's easy to say anything.

Seeing Liang Feng staying silent, Xue Ren coughed dryly: "Shijun, now Bingzhou is not completely free. General Linghu has been ordered to conscript. If we can draw more soldiers from the Shangdang, this Only the battle can be stable. Governor Pei said that if this is defeated, Yanchi will also have a place for the emperor."

Liang Feng raised his eyes and stared at the person in front of him suddenly: "The governor wants to conscript? Where is the soldier?"

Seeing the illusion with those bright eyes, Xue Ren whispered: "I am recruited from beloved or refugees. Just as the emperor did in Shangdang..."

Has he ever conscripted good people in the Shangdang? Those are all guarding soldiers, not to mention the amount of manpower and material resources they have spent to train them. With a word from Pei Dun now, is he going to bring these people who have finally gathered up to the battlefield? !

However, the anger in his chest did not show the slightest. Liang Feng lowered his eyes again, and after a while, he said: "It is not impossible for the Shangdang to send troops to help. However, Governor Pei should be more cautious. The resettlement of refugees is a new policy issued by me. How can I change it day and night?"

This is tempting, want to negotiate terms with Pei Dun? Xue Ren couldn't help but express his joy: "Dudu Pei is also very anxious, and it is inevitable to omission. As long as he can successfully capture Lishi and advance Pingyang, everything is easy to discuss."

"I will consider this matter carefully." Liang Feng nodded slightly.

Xue Ren was really relieved this time. Look, no matter how nice it is, you know that you can set foot in the salt pond, but you still have a thought? This Liang family is not like Pei family. If you want to rise to the top of the family, you can't do anything without money. In fact, it is better to have a good relationship with the Pei family than those who worked hard for the court! Don't talk about Yanchi, isn't a word from Sima Yue's wife and brother more useful than the ten beautiful words of others?

After completing the mission assigned by the governor, Xue Ren tried a few more words and retired contentedly.

Leaning on Pingji, Liang Feng was silent for a long time, and ordered Duan Qin to be called to discuss carefully.

※

Down the corridor, Linghu Sheng paced back and forth a little anxiously. After leaving the governor's mansion, he dared not neglect, and immediately sent a messenger to the governor's mansion, seeking to ask Liang governor for an idea. The commander’s military order is terrible, unless he is desperate, he dares to send the temporarily drawn young man to the front. And all the troops are going to Lishi, what about Jinyang? Who will defend the city? Could no one stop the new governor?

After waiting from midday until the sun set, the messenger finally returned to the mansion: "General, this is a letter from the governor!"

Linghusheng snatched the letter and read it. Only the first two sentences made him grit his teeth in hatred.

It turned out that Dudu Pei was anxious to send troops for Hedong! How could he not expect it before? Yes, if it weren't because of the urgency of the Hedong war, why bother to send troops away from the stone in such a hurry! But after knowing this, Linghusheng felt even more desperate in his heart. If it was only for meritorious merit, which one would escape for the sake of his own family? This battle is bound to be fought!

Looking further, the gray heart slowly raised a little hope. Liang Shijun really stood on Jinyang, on the side of Bingzhou. Alas, if such a reasonable person can control the state soldiers, how could their life be so difficult?

Looking at the paragraph at the end of the letter, Linghusheng really felt that he was old. If he were younger, how could he hesitate? After a deep sigh, he instructed to go down: "Starting tomorrow, recruit servicemen outside the city!"

Early the next morning, the refugee camp outside the city was in chaos. In Kaicheng today, it turned out that it was not the usual officials who came here, but rows of soldiers holding knives and guns. How is this going? ! Does the prince no longer accept them as refugees?

"The Governor's Mansion has an order to enlist males over the age of 18 and under the age of 50 into the army to assist the army in attacking Lishi!"

Hearing the order of the messenger, the refugees from below were upset! Why is there a war? Didn't Jinyang just settle down? They fled to Jinyang City just to avoid military disaster. Didn't they hit the tip of the gun instead? What is the Dudu Mansion? Where is their Buddha? How about Liang Cishi? !

Seeing that the entire refugee camp was about to explode, the messenger was sweating profusely: "Quiet and quiet! This is just for service, not for soldiers! And each family only chooses one, and the rest can wait. Into the city!"

These words roared out loudly, and those soldiers held swords and guns threateningly, and the noise was gradually suppressed, but the despair in the eyes of the refugees did not alleviate much. Did you leave your family and enter the city? Or do you drag your family to another place to beg for food? People cannot have hope. Whenever there is a little hope, the color of despair will become more and more intense and unbearable.

When the refugees and the conscripts were confronting each other, another large vehicle was snatched out of the city. Several small officials who were dressed in soap suits and registered in front of the city gate stood in the vehicle and said loudly: You have an order, if someone applies, their family will be exempted from 20%!"

His voice is not higher than that of the messenger before, but the power of the words "Shijun" and "Free Fu" is much greater than before. It turns out that the envoy did not give up on them, and it turns out that enlisting in the army is a military force, and he can still be exempted...

A buzzing sound rang in the crowd.

Finally, a man couldn't help but squeezed out of the crowd, and came to the few soapy officials: "Dare to ask the official, is it really just labor? Will you let me wait..."

The little official squeezed out some smiles: "As it should be. This is what my family envoy asked to Superintendent Pei. Duo is responsible for the back road and escorts food, grass, and weapons for the army."

With this, the crowd loosened twice. Every time an army is deployed, a large number of civilians are indeed recruited, but these people often do not go into battle, but do some coolies with the army. Danger is danger, but it is better than wandering again and having no place to stay. Moreover, every official said, this is the reward that made the king plead for them. If there is no envoy to take care of him, and move to another place, is there such a preferential treatment?

Finally someone walked out of the team, ignoring the cries of his wife and children, and walked towards the officials and soldiers. Twenty percent tax is enough to feed another child!

Seeing the men who were slowly gathering, the herald and the small official breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. As long as someone applies, this matter will be easy to handle. Thanks to Liang Shijun's consideration, otherwise outside Jinyang City, there will be a chaos right away!

"This Liang Zixi really has some talents to care for the people." In the governor's mansion, Pei Dun's complexion has also improved a lot.

After the unhappy day, he sent Xue Ren to Liang's Mansion and took the lead to share some of the benefits of the salt farm. It seems that the guy who can sell white porcelain at sky-high prices still has some greed in his heart. It didn't take long before the man became soft in casual clothes. However, a condition was also made that enlisting good people into the army can only be used for service, not for righteous soldiers. If he is willing to make concessions, the Provincial Government will take care of the people.

In fact, how Pei Dun didn't know, the newcomer went into battle, dangerously tight. Using these people to rush into the battle, it is really better to **** the grain and grass behind to reduce the pressure on the army. As a result, the military strength is still slightly increased, and public grievances will be much smaller. Anyway, the food and grass that avoids deficits will also be made up by the governor's house, and it will not cost him much.

In this way, together with the people recruited by Linghusheng from the army, the total strength should be 20,000. It can also be considered a battle force.

"When will the soldiers and horses of the Shangdang party arrive?" Pei Dun asked again.

"Shijun Liang said that it will take some more time to prepare the soldiers and horses. Moreover, the army will start from Jinyang together. It takes time and effort, and it is easy to be guarded by the enemy. It is better to use the Shangdang soldiers and horses as the flanks and enter from the direction of Guyuan. Xihe Nation, join our army in front of the formation." Aside, Liu Changshi hurriedly said.

"It's also a way. Well, in a few days, the ordnance allocated by the court should also be delivered, and this battle should be able to persist." Pei Dun did not idle, and asked the court for help early. He can't ask for soldiers, but there shouldn't be a big problem with food and weapons. Even if his brother-in-law knew what he was thinking, he wouldn't be embarrassed. After all, Hedong County is the hinterland of Sizhou, and Luoyang is after the Yellow River. Is it possible that Sima Yue can still watch Hedong fall?

This battle is not just about the fate of his Pei family.

"If the order goes on, all the armaments will be ready for the march! Let Liang Zixi and his soldiers guard this Jinyang City."

A few days later, the three thousand civilians were reorganized and they were organized into a private camp. However, no one noticed that out of the two thousand soldiers brought by Liang Feng, there were more than 300 missing.