Three Kingdoms

Xiahou Dun led his horse and walked on the north road of Fukouxing.

Behind him was a group of Cao Jun guards.

Although it is said that Xiahou Dun took Shexian County, it does not mean that Xiahou Dun can move forward boldly.

Xiahou Dun still feels a little frightened when he thinks back to the cold days when he was short of fuel in Shexian County. If Shexian persists for a few more days, gunpowder will probably be used, and the battle into Shanxi has just begun...

It was not that Xiahou Dun had not imagined the difficulties of fighting in Shangdang Taiyuan, but what he did not expect was that he still took the problem too lightly.

Marching from the plains to the plateau, there is not only a difference in height, but also many subtle changes.

As the saying goes, where the soil and water support the people.

If you understand this sentence in reverse, it means that people who are not nourished by the water and soil of this place will not be nourished by the water and soil of this place. This may be related to magnetic fields, bacterial colonies, air temperature and humidity, etc., but it is obvious that Xiahou Dun cannot understand it at all, and cannot draw any empirical lessons from history books.

When Emperor Guangwu took Guanzhong, he recorded a march and then victory. No details, no process, and no lessons learned were recorded. Did those soldiers who came from Jizhou to Guanzhong, like Cao's army led by Xiahou Dun today, encounter "opponents" that are invincible with swords and guns?

After entering the plateau, individuals have different reactions. Some people feel nothing, some feel dizzy and have headaches, some feel hungry and thirsty, and some have diarrhea. There is no pattern at all, which makes the doctors accompanying the army at a loss. At a loss.

Xiahou Dun was relatively well. He didn't feel too much. He just felt a little groggy when he got up every morning, not as energetic as when he was in Jizhou. In the Han Dynasty, because there is no sound or light interference, most people go to bed at Xu time and wake up around Yin time. They have basically eaten breakfast at Mao time. After entering Fukouxing, Xiahou Dun felt as if he had eaten breakfast in the morning. It was a little late when I got up...

Even regardless of these messy trivial matters, just talking about fuel, after capturing Shexian County, Xiahou Dun did not have the courage to continue to let the army rush along Fukou Xing to Taiyuan or Shangdang. The reason is very simple. Xiahou Dun knew that he If you can't afford to lose, Cao Cao can't afford to lose either.

If it's just a small team of soldiers and horses, that's it. If there are tens of thousands of people, the supplies needed will be like a bottomless pit, and there will never be enough!

Shexian...

Xiahou Dun suddenly dropped the horse's reins and climbed up a high rock on the side of the mountain road using both hands and feet. Then he looked around, frowning and not saying a word.

When Xiahou Dun's guards saw Xiahou Dun acting like this, they immediately became vigilant. They all held knives and shields and looked around, but they didn't see anything unusual...

Bian Bing also climbed up the rock behind Xiahou Dun.

Looking far into the distance, the mountain road winds and disappears among the withered shrubs and weeds, and the vast mountains stand dangerously in front and behind. The mountains roared past, rolling up the floating snow on the mountain ridges like smoke and fog.

In the vast sky and earth, people seem to be as small as gravel and dust.

Bian Bing looked into the distance and listened, but found nothing. "General..."

Xiahou Dun made a gesture of silence, then continued to look far away, patrolling, and then said after a while: "Have you not noticed that the weather seems to have changed in the past two days?" 』

"weather? Bian Bing looked up at the sky. There were still thick clouds in the sky, piled up and moving lazily, "This..."

Bian Bing didn't see any difference.

But Xiahou Dun felt it...

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it seems that only Brother Zhu has the ability to control the wind and rain, and even fish sauce is a foil. However, in fact, most of the generals who have been in charge of the army for many years have some intuition beyond the five senses. Although it may not be accurate every time, but It's more or less your own judgment.

In Xiahou Dun's senses, he seemed to see the murderous aura filling the sky, invading from north to south!

However, this kind of induction is also the most uncertain thing.

But, do you want to bet?

Xiahou Dun hesitated.

Bian Bing whispered: "General, is it going to change?" Then shall we march forward? If we don’t march, this land of Shangdang Taiyuan..."

Xiahou Dun did not answer immediately, but took a long breath and said, "Bian Hujun, have you ever led an army alone before?" 』

Bian Bing was stunned for a moment, shook his head, and suddenly a joyful expression appeared on his face, "General, do you want me to lead the army alone?" 』

Xiahou Dun's eyes moved slightly, "Well... I have some ideas... But, Bian Hujun, how much do you know about leading an army?" There is a difference between making plans and leading troops to fight for your life..."

Joining the army in Shandong is not a happy thing.

This is fundamentally different from the land of Guanzhong.

Shandong is rich, or has a higher average. Even if most of the wealth is concentrated in the hands of the top people, there will occasionally be more leftovers leaking out from the fingers than in the bitter cold land of Shanxi. Even if you go to the wild fields to dig wild vegetable roots, it will obviously grow more in Shandong than in the arid and semi-arid areas of Shanxi.

This makes it obvious that there are more "land of plenty" in Shandong than in Shanxi, which means that the cost of survival for people in Shandong is actually cheaper and easier than that for people in Shanxi.

Then Jiangdong will be more comfortable than Shandong...

This is not to say that Jiangdong or Shandong are all lazy people. After all, laziness depends on the individual. There are hardworking people in the south and lazy people in the north. They are all normal. It is just a general situation.

It's like Guangxi produced wolf soldiers in later generations, but what happened in Guangdong next door?

Fresh food?

Poor mountains and harsh waters breed unruly people, because in a place like this, if the people don't fight and are unruly, they won't be able to survive!

In Shandong, where the Han Dynasty is now, there is no military merit reward system like under Fei Qian's rule. Ordinary people with foreign surnames are not as fast as the Cao family and the Xiahou family who can get promoted quickly.

Just like the rice emperors of later generations, if you have a bachelor's or master's degree, you can become a village official, but with a vocational college, you can become a county magistrate!

It was such a coincidence that the descendants of the Cao family and the Xiahou family just happened to make the trip, and the light was green all the way, unimpeded!

Under such circumstances, even if the Xiahou family of the Cao family understood that Fei Qian's military and political strategy was better, they couldn't use it!

How can it be used?

Is it possible that the catfish was really hung out and killed?

Kill the catfish, will Gong Da G kill him?

If you trace it further...

The sky is about to break!

The pain of Bald Jingguo is not just one or two.

Therefore, those who join the army in Shandong only join the army if they really can't survive, or they are just young men who are captured, like ants, with a low life. Although Cao Cao occupied Jizhou and Yuzhou, in fact, whether it is now or in history, is the strongest regiment under Cao Cao's command from Jizhou or Yuzhou? neither!

The tiger and leopard cavalry are from Youbei, the infantry is from Qingzhou, and the navy is from Jingzhou!

However, the two most populous states among the Han people do not even have a single hair on their heads.

"When you control your soldiers, you must be strict... but you must not be too strict. Otherwise, if you are very strong, you will not be as strong as three points..." Xiahou Dun said slowly, "Training soldiers and increasing morale is not an easy task... Scheduling the army, It may be just a word inside the tent, but outside it is measured by soldiers with step-by-step steps... Walking through mountains and rivers, only an inch on the map, it is really hard to walk, and there are thousands of trivial matters..."

"This is even more true when the two armies are fighting. They confront each other and check the reality. It can take as short as a month or as long as years!" ” War is also... to guard the key points, so that the soldiers cannot move and deplete their morale... cut off their food routes, deep ditches and high fortresses, so that if they don't fight, they will be trapped..."

Bian Bing pondered and said: "General, are you saying that these hussar soldiers want to cut off our food supply?" 』

When marching and fighting, food and grass are the first priority. Of course everyone understands this truth.

In particular, Lao Cao likes to cut off other people's food routes, so he is naturally very wary of his own food routes.

Bian Bing thought about the arrangement of the grain road during this period, and it seemed that there was no problem. However, when Xiahou Dun said this, he had to think about it again and check again to see if there was anything he had missed.

Xiahou Dun glanced at Bian Bing and said, "This enemy army may not be human...maybe it is heaven..."

Bian Bing was startled and looked up.

In the sky, layers of clouds are like endless curtains, covering everything. Those pleasant floating clouds are like mocking the ants on the ground. With this little bit of wisdom, you still want to peek into the secret of heaven?

A group of Cao Jun scouts came in a hurry and broke the silence.

"What? Taiyuan sent troops? Xiahou Dun was not surprised but overjoyed, saying, "Very good!" In this way, the right time and place will all depend on me! Bian Hujun obeys the order! You can set up more stoves in and outside Shexian County! Secretly mobilize troops south to attack Shangdang, and join forces with General Le to conquer Huguan! 』

Bian Bing responded proudly.

…

…

Yanzhou.

On the official road leading to it, there are flags like clouds and carriages and horses noisy in the sky. The mighty and boundless transport convoys of Cao Jun of the Han Dynasty are pouring in endlessly, and then they are all the way to Hanoi and all the way to Sili.

At the place where the convoys gathered, on the side of the transfer camp, there was not even enough official road surface to walk, and we had to pass on the dirt roads on both sides of the road. Fortunately, there was little rain in winter, so it was not too difficult to walk.

Each baggage truck was fully loaded with various military supplies, food, grass and equipment, as if all the Han family property had been moved out.

The bent back of the laborer is almost at the same angle as the mules and horses beside him. The stretched neck is like a dying fish. The yellow eyes are lifeless, leaving only helplessness and instinctive reaction to life. .

Even when the harsh winter comes, many hard laborers still only have a thin shirt. The gray-black cloth, mixed with soil and sweat, has become lumpy and difficult to float even if the cold wind blows. His palms and soles were covered with a thick layer of calluses, and he silently pushed the baggage trucks one after another.

The voice of the clerk standing high up was extremely sharp in the cold wind, "A silverfish that only knows how to eat but cannot work!" When eating, they run faster than rabbits, and when working, they drag their feet slower than tortoises! 』

"idiot! You can’t even pull a cart well, is all the shit in your head? ! 』

"Be careful!" If it's knocked over and broken, you can't even afford to pay for it with ten lives! 』

There is labor every year and coolies from generation to generation.

The mules and horses can also eat some dry food, but the labor force cannot even compare with the food of the mules and horses.

After all, the mules and horses still have some dry goods, but the laborers will always only have a bowl of mush.

Because mules and horses are valuable, but people are not.

Insults and whippings sounded from time to time, but the slaves who were scolded and beaten remained silent, occasionally letting out pitiful screams like cattle and sheep.

The baggage pulled by the coolies made deep ruts on the road, but none of the goods on the baggage cars belonged to these coolies.

They are people, but they are not people either.

They thought the people in robes would think of them as human beings, but in fact the people in robes never thought of them as human beings.

They naively thought that it would be enough to finish pulling this car, but they did not know that after finishing this car, there would be another car.

They thought that if they endured hardship, their children would be able to enjoy happiness and have the opportunity to wear robes, but they did not know that in the feudal dynasty, a man with clay legs would always be a man with clay legs, and that robe would never belong to them and would never belong to them. children...

Even if it is put on temporarily, it must be taken off again.

People with muddy legs are not worthy of wearing robes.

The military academy in charge of transferring grain and fodder to the camp stood on the left side of the road, waiting humbly. When he saw Ren Jun approaching, he immediately smiled and trotted forward to greet him. When he arrived in front of Ren Jun's horse, he personally pulled the horse for Ren Jun. , after Ren Jun dismounted, he hurriedly bowed down and bowed. The series of actions were indescribably smooth and smooth.

"Cao Juan, holding a halberd, greets General Zhonglang from the tent of General Duhu!" 』

Cao's military academy is respectful and humble.

Ren Jun tilted his head slightly and smiled, "A member of the Cao clan?" This is a good name..."

It's interesting to say that most of the important generals in the direct line of the Cao family and the Xiahou family are not very famous, such as generals to protect the army, generals to protect the army, or generals to suppress the army, etc. They look like they are not in the upper class. He is a low-grade thing among the miscellaneous generals, but in fact he has a low position and weight, and the advantage is not in the fold.

Ren Jun laughed and didn't bother to show off. He patted the Cao Military Academy with his uninjured hand and said, "We are all members of our own family, so there is no need to be so polite!" Now that the lord is leading his troops in a bloody battle outside, we can only do our duty loyally and serve the soldiers without any shortage! 』

Cao Juan was helped up by Ren Jun, his expression was still extremely respectful, and he said with a smile: "What General Zhonglang said is really reasonable, every word... I will definitely keep it in mind all the time!" 』

Ren Jun chuckled and said, "I won't say too many polite words... The soldiers in the front are putting their lives on the line, and the transportation of money and food in the rear is naturally uninterrupted... What is being transported these days?" 』

Cao Juan lowered his head and replied, "It's just some grains for food and clothing." 』

Ren Jun nodded, "Let's go and have a look." 』

Cao Juan was stunned, then he quickly nodded and bowed to lead the way, "General Zhonglang, please, please, this way..."

Of course, it is impossible to stop for a long time on the official road.

Under the guidance of military academy Cao Juan, Ren Jun arrived at the storage location in the camp. Looking at the seemingly orderly layout of the camp, he couldn't help but nodded in approval.

Cao Juan looked at Ren Jun's face and also made fun of him, saying that he was learning from General Zhonglang, and General Zhonglang was his role model.

This cheerful atmosphere lasted until Ren Jun wanted to change to another warehouse...

"oh? Why is it not convenient? Ren Jun said in a deep voice.

Cao Juan said with some embarrassment, his voice a little pleading, "General Zhonglang, haven't you seen all the warehouses just now?" All the same, all the same..."

Ren Jun's eyes were slightly cold, "Open it!" 』

Cao Juan was still hesitant, but Ren Jun's guard had already stepped forward and snatched the key chain from Cao Juan's hand. After a few tries, he opened the padlock and pulled off the chain.

Inside the warehouse, piles of grain and millet piled up like mountains.

Guard Ren Jun took a look around first, and after coming out, he whispered to Ren Jun: "There is nothing abnormal." 』

Cao Juan suddenly became lively, "I... I just said that the weather is a bit humid, and it is easy to get damp when the door is opened..."

"oh? Ren Jun nodded, smiled with his eyes narrowed, and then walked in.

The warehouse is not very big, with four stacks of grain and grass surrounded by reed mats.

The grain and grass stacks are on wooden frames and are not in direct contact with the ground. There is a wooden ladder on one side of the grain and grass stacks to facilitate getting up and down.

The ground was sprinkled with lime and realgar, but it was scattered with footprints.

Ren Jun's heart moved slightly, and he picked a grain and grass pile at random, climbed up the wooden ladder, and dug through the grains in the grain and grass pile with his hands...

The shelled corn flowed down from Ren Jun's palm.

Dry, without much floating dust and shriveled shells, it is indeed the best corn.

no problem.

Ren Jun looked back at Cao Juan and saw the sweat rolling down Cao Juan's face. The doubts in his heart not only did not subside, but instead increased. Since it's all normal, why stop it?

Immediately, Ren Jun seemed to smell something. He twitched his nose twice, then put the corn in his hand to his nose, and faintly smelled some musty smell.

Why does dry corn have a slight musty smell?

Ren Jun threw a small handful of corn into his mouth and chewed it.

The aroma of grains spreads in the mouth.

There's no problem, it's fresh corn, from that year.

Maybe it was just a musty smell during transportation?

Ren Jun threw the remaining corn back into the grain and hay stack, and then went down the wooden ladder. Standing next to the grain and hay stack, Ren Jun suddenly took out his guard's sword with a thought in his mind, and stabbed it into the reed mat of the grain and hay stack!

Cao Juan's face suddenly turned pale.

The knife was drawn out. As the sword was drawn out, the old grains buried under the grain and haystacks, and the moldy and colorful black feces flowed out along the edge of the knife, like pus and blood.

"How brave!" Ren Jun shouted angrily, "How dare you steal and sell military rations and pass them off as good ones!" 』

"No, not me!" ” Cao Ji fell to his knees with a pop, “The younger one is just responsible for transporting...this food and grass, when it comes...”

"Drag him out and show his head to the public!" ” Ren Jun had no intention of listening to his explanation, and just asked people to drag him away.

"Why? ! ” Cao Juan shouted, “I don’t accept it... why... ah... ugh..."

Soon, Cao Juan's head was hung on the gate of the transfer camp.

Ren Jun looked at it indifferently. Didn't he know that Cao Juan was just a small role, and that daring to do such a thing was definitely beyond the capabilities of a small military academy in a grain transportation camp...

Stealing and selling military rations and passing them off as good quality, from sales to transportation, was it just Cao Juan's doing?

That's right, Cao Juan can only be held responsible!

Ren Jun had heard some news a long time ago, and this time he came specifically to deal with the matter. Normally, it would be okay to turn a blind eye, but right now...

Regardless of whether it is killing chickens or birds, it must be a shock to ensure that there is no problem with the food channel!

As for those others hiding behind the scenes...