Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3386 Shuo

The sky gradually brightened, but there were still many clouds, making the entire sky seem to be covered by a layer of gray lens, and everything looked a little distorted and weird.

The sky was twisting, the ground was gray, and even the people busy at the Gubeikou Pass seemed to be twisting, like living things, but also like zombies.

After hearing that the Hussars were coming in large numbers, the whole Youzhou seemed to be restless in an instant, but some people were active and some were passive, but no matter how they moved, they were not comfortable. Whether it was the soldiers on duty on the battlements of the city wall, or the civilians carrying and repairing fortifications under the city, they all showed some panic and awkward expressions.

This pass was originally built to defend against the Hu people...

But now, it has become a place for internal fighting.

Perhaps there is nothing strange about it. The Chinese tradition is to blame each other, spit on each other, scold each other, and oppress each other. But in fact, most of these problems between each other are caused by stagnant development.

Just like now, Youzhou is trapped inside the pass and cannot enter. Will the remaining land and population start to roll inward?

Youzhou was more or less good during the Qin and Han Dynasties. When it came to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, when the capital was set in Youzhou, it was really squeezed by each other and even an extra space to breathe was a great luxury.

There are always people who think that they have finally climbed up, why should they share the sunshine and rain? They have completely forgotten how they hated, resented, and resented those who occupied the upper end, who obviously could not eat or use it, but just occupied it and did not let it go...

The civilians coming and going were dejected, dragging and carrying on the ground.

Large and small materials, those sent out and those sent in, were crowded together on the South Road of Gubeikou.

High and low voices came one after another.

『Make way! 』

『Don't cut in line! 』

『Make way! 』

『Why should I make way? ! 』

『Will you make way? ! 』

『If you want to fight, get out of the way! ! 』

The civilians on the South Road don't care who is right or wrong. They just want to finish their work quickly and get paid as soon as possible.

As for what is right or wrong, what is that?

Is there such a thing in Shandong?

As long as they can live a few days in peace, the people of Youyan will feel that they have lived a few more days in the troubled times. As for whether the cavalry wins or the prime minister wins, they don't care at all.

The reason why they came to help Cao's army transport food and repair the city walls under the oppression of Cao's army was not because they were willing, but because they had no choice and just wanted to make a living.

And even if Cao's army is very strict, there are always cats and mice, and the supplies that pass through will be stained with oil or something. After living half-hungry and half-full for so long, this little bit of oil and money can be considered to prolong life for a while, right?

As long as the luck is not so bad, maybe you can survive this bloody war!

Anyway, the senior officials have said that you have to take the beating well, and it takes two to tango!

Don't run, don't make a fuss, otherwise you will be labeled red and green without negotiation!

Don't believe in rumors, don't spread rumors, but believe everything the master says...

Under such emotions, whether it is Yuyang or Gubeikou, there is always less vitality and more deadness.

It turned out that there were some market vendors at this important pass, but now they have disappeared. The remaining ones are those who want to leave but have no way to leave, or cannot leave for some reason. As for those who live well, most of them are government employees...

Who doesn't want to get by these days?

The Han Dynasty was founded three or four hundred years ago. Even Liu Xiu's revival was nearly two hundred years ago. The pioneering spirit and the spirit of not admitting defeat at the beginning have long been worn out in the trivialities of day after day, changing orders every day, and calling a mouse a duck.

Especially those laws that don't fight back, don't help, predict, and be courteous, have subtly wiped out the last bit of conscience and blood of the Han people.

So here in Gubeikou, most people are just pretending.

It's for their superiors to see.

After all, don't the superiors of the superiors, and the superiors of the superiors of the superiors, just want to see the show?

Lei Zhong led a team of people and looked at Gubeikou from a distance.

They circled back.

Lei Zhong felt a little emotional.

He originally thought that in this world, people would either become crazy on their own initiative or be driven crazy passively!

But he didn't expect that there was a new way in the darkness.

Sometimes, once you make up your mind, many things will be very simple.

Lei Zhong immediately threw away his original tasks and responsibilities, and took Liu Fu to the south road of Gubeikou!

As an old soldier in the army, Lei Zhong, who has been in Youyan for quite a while, can even estimate many things...

For example, now, Gubeikou will definitely send a quartermaster to distribute some of the soldiers' wages and food to the Cao army soldiers stationed in Gubeikou. The purpose is very simple, just to stabilize people's hearts.

Cao Chun must still be in Yuyang, collecting food and grass, and deploying troops...

But Cao Chun will soon come to Gubeikou.

No one told Lei Zhong about these, but Lei Zhong knew.

He knew everything.

He looked at the southern entrance of Gubeikou and recalled some of the things he had experienced in Youyan over the years...

Yes, he actually knew everything, but he pretended not to know before.

It was like being away for three years and then returning home to find that his wife had given birth to a one-year-old Lin'er. His wife said that she was out one day and saw big footprints in the field. She stepped on them out of curiosity and became pregnant...

This is a God-given child!

Lei Zhong had a smile on his face, but felt numb in his heart.

He even stepped on footprints. Damn it, is this the reincarnation of Fuxi? Can you cover it yourself? This stupid woman just said that she was met by a catfish spirit while washing clothes, which is better than this excuse!

But life is like this. In the Qin and Han Dynasties, there were many such things. It was enough for the children in the family to have their own surname. There were so many things to pay attention to, how could you still get by?

Prime Minister Cao didn't say anything without looking at him. What could a little boss like himself say?

But year after year, piece by piece, although Lei Zhong didn't say anything, pretended not to know anything, and hid everything in his stomach, it would eventually ferment and bubble.

"belch……"

Lei Zhong untied the gourd, took a few sips, burped, then stared at the gourd for a moment, then suddenly snorted and threw the gourd on the roadside. The gourd happened to fall on a stone and split into two halves.

Gourd, confused.

Originally, he thought he was lucky because he was confused, but now Lei Zhong figured it out, why should he be confused?

Lei Zhong didn't look at the gourd again and raised his head and moved forward.

When they came back, many people saw it and felt strange, but no one asked a question.

That's right, in Shandong, no one will ask "more" questions about matters that don't concern you.

Of course, even if someone really asks too much, the experienced Lei Zhong can fool him, but many people have clearly seen that Lei Zhong came back without any emergency, and still choose to be aloof if it doesn't matter to them. hang.

Before today, Lei Zhong himself did the same thing, but when he stood on the other side, he realized how big and terrifying this problem really was...

Lei Zhong turned his head and looked at Liu Fu's queue, which had been following him.

Liu Fu and others pretended to be "ordinary" passers-by in Youyan.

In Lei Zhong's eyes, Liu Fu and others were not "ordinary" at all.

Nowadays in the land of Youyan, which passerby can be like Liu Fu and others, with their faces rosy, fat and strong, and their bellies and waists round?

Look at the real Youyan people around you. Which one is not sallow and thin, dressed in ragged clothes, and looks gray?

But the strange thing is that many people are strange, but they are not surprised either.

Lei Zhong also figured it out. In Shandong, it is better to do less than to do more. Isn't that the case?

Lei Zhong nodded slightly to Liu Fu, and then led the people forward, pushing aside the queues of civilians blocking the road from time to time, "Get out of the way!" Don’t have eyes? Get away! 』

If you are smart, you will probably be able to detect Lei Zhong's hidden meaning. If you are stupid, you will still think that Lei Zhong is domineering and unreasonable...

When Liu Fu and others saw this, they also shouted loudly and followed closely.

Not long after, we arrived at the gate of Gubeikou South Road.

Gubeikou was originally quite majestic, but unfortunately it was breached by the Hu people before and later by the Hussars, so many of the fortifications were destroyed. The trenches that were originally wide and deep at the south entrance were barely dug again just for the sake of superficiality. Even the broken bricks above the city gate. Until now, it has not been completely cleaned up. There is a pile on the east side and another place on the west side.

The soldiers on duty at the city gate listlessly checked the civilians coming and going. It is said to be an inspection, but it is also an errand. After all, the main threat is to the north, and they don't know how long they can live, and they don't know if there is hope for the future, so they don't care about anything at all, and they don't care about anything in particular.

However, Lei Zhong and his entourage were still a bit eye-catching. Before Lei Zhong's men could get closer, the officer guarding the gate shouted: "Stop!" What are you doing here? 』

Lei Zhong took a few steps forward, "What else can we do?" No money to eat! Soldier pay! Pay our soldiers back! 』

"etc! "The guard officer stretched out his hand and said, "You guys stop first! 』

Lei Zhong and others were not in a hurry. They just stood still as the guarding officer asked, "We won't leave until we get soldiers' pay today!" 』

"right! Not leaving! 』

"It is only right to pay back debts!" 』

"Give us back our soldiers' pay!" 』

Lei Zhong's soldiers shouted in confusion.

The soldiers on the top of the city were laughing and joking when they saw it, not caring at all.

In the land of Shandong, making military payments is a traditional art, and it happens every once in a while.

"If you want military pay, you have to go to General Cao. You have to go to Yuyang. What are you doing here?" ” The officer guarding the goal subconsciously started to kick the ball, “Yuyang is the only one who has the money, what can we have here?” 』

Lei Zhong laughed and said, "Don't try to fool me!" I've heard it all, the Yuyang Quartermaster is here! Your military pay has been replenished! None of us! Do you think we are fools? ! Call the quartermaster to come out and see me! 』

"Isn't this military pay only earned by those who are useful..."

The guarding officer still wanted to fool him, but Lei Zhong scolded him: "You Zhang Hozen!" Don't be so shameless! If you can take care of this matter, then talk about it. If you can't, then call someone! If we don’t get the money today, don’t expect us to work hard! 』

"Yes, yes, you are so arrogant, I don't care, I don't care..." The guard officer seemed to feel that he had lost some face, so he added, "Stand to the side, don't block the road, I owe you Your military pay is fair, but you have no grudges against them, right? 』

Lei Zhong turned his head, exchanged glances with Liu Fu who was not far away, and then waved.

Lei Zhong's soldiers moved to the side to make some space.

As for military pay, according to Shandong practice, it is not fully paid.

Because the civil servants in Shandong put themselves in the shoes of these big-headed soldiers, fearing that after these big-headed soldiers got their military pay all at once, they would spend it all in a few days, or they would be defrauded and gambled away, so they did not directly When you find money, write a note and stamp it to indicate that it is temporarily stored somewhere.

They are usually placed in the military supplies department.

Then when they need money, these soldiers go to the munitions office to get it.

This will ensure that these soldiers' wages will not be defrauded by some malicious people, and better protect the interests of the soldiers, right?

But here’s the problem…

With so much money concentrated in the Munitions Department, could it be left to grow moldy and rot?

It must be taken out for loans!

Are you going to lend it out? This is a big deal here, and you can't finish it in three days and three nights. So once the soldiers want to collect their own soldiers' pay, the clerks in the Military Supplies Department will make things difficult in every possible way, or say To queue up to get a number, you have to either fill out an application form or inquire in detail about the specific use. I wish I could wipe out all three generations of Bingzu's ancestors and ask Bingzu to prove that he is himself and that the money is his own and not obtained by fraud.

Anyway, just don’t give it.

As soon as I mentioned it, there was an order from above, but if I asked them to get a specific order, they couldn't come up with it...

Therefore, if you want to receive military pay, you have to make a fuss.

This can be regarded as a scene in Shandong and appears frequently.

Not long after, the quartermaster from Yuyang appeared at the intersection of the road. Before anyone arrived, the voice came out first, "What are you doing? What are you doing?" Do you still want money? ah? If you look for trouble again, I'll arrest them all! 』

To ordinary soldiers, they are the God of Wealth. They are old cows standing on their heads, full of arrogance, and not afraid at all!

When the quartermaster arrived at the door, he clearly saw Lei Zhong, but he pretended that he couldn't see him and pinched his beard, "Is it the one who wants military pay?" Have you filled out the form to get your number? You are such a big man, but you don’t even understand this little thing? 』

If Lei Zhong really wants the soldiers' pay, he will have to be humble. After all, the money is in the hands of the quartermaster now. If it really makes a big fuss, even if he gets the money, he will have to settle accounts afterwards, so don't look at the military supplies. The officer comes out alone and looks like a vulnerable group, but in fact the quartermaster is not alone, he is more than just one person!

But today was different, Lei Zhong's eyes gradually became evil.

Over the years, after he joined the army, he was deducted by the quartermaster, year after year, not because he couldn't give, but because he didn't want to give!

So now, it's time to settle accounts.

Of course Lei Zhong knew that the quartermaster in front of him was not the same person who had deducted his military pay over the years, but so what?

And he didn't come here for the soldiers' pay at all. The reason he shouted for the soldiers' pay was just to distract the defenders' attention...

Tough luck for you!

Lei Zhong glanced at the quartermaster.

Although he had been in the army for many years, he did not recognize all the quartermasters.

This position has always been a lucrative one, and many people are vying to get it, and those with little ability will soon be squeezed out.

But today, who cares?

When the resentment accumulated over the years breaks out, whoever encounters it will be unlucky!

Lei Zhong walked forward slowly with a smile.

The quartermaster didn't feel anything unusual at first, and he still raised his head and waited for Lei Zhong to come and salute. After all, after all these years, haven't there been less disputes over pay? You can get away with it by just giving a few bucks, but who cares about the risks involved?

A flash of light flashed in Lei Zhong's eyes, and he pulled out his sword from his chopping hand. The sword flashed, and blood suddenly spattered. The quartermaster didn't even have time to shout, and he had already been cut in half, including his shoulder straps and back. The blood spattered and he fell backwards!

As soon as Lei Zhong made a move, the soldiers following Lei Zhong also shouted, waving their swords and guns, and rushed straight up!

The guard officer was originally standing aside to watch the show, but he was actually on the stage before he arrived. He was about to escape, but unexpectedly Liu Fu touched him nearby. While the guard officer was attracted by Lei Zhong, he With all his strength, he rushed forward with a single lunge, and pierced the guarding officer's neck with a single blow of the bone-picking knife!

Behind Liu Fu, dozens of men shouted in unison. They each took out their swords, guns and weapons from their burdens or packages, and rushed towards Gubeikou together with Lei Zhong and other soldiers!

In the blink of an eye, the defenders at Nandaokou were hacked to death and scattered.

When the civilians at the intersection saw the blood flying, they immediately squatted down and raised their hands to signal. They even felt that they might hinder those people, so they squatted silently and moved to the side. Then he opened his eyes wide, watched the blood flying in front of him, and shouted wildly.

Liu Fu had already unfurled a tricolor battle flag, and roared like thunder, "Liu Fu, a member of the Cavalry Army, is here! Cao is unjust! He is causing trouble for Youyan! Now the Cavalry Army is at the gate of the city, saving the people from their misfortunes! Those who obey can live, those who disobey will die!"

Behind and around Liu Fu, the men also shouted, "Those who obey can live, those who disobey will die!"

Most of the defenders of Gubeikou were in the north, guarding against Zhang He's army coming from the north with great fanfare, while the defenders of Nandaokou had no awareness of defense at all, and these Cao army soldiers were still quite confused. On the one hand, due to inertia, they didn't want to or know how to change their lives, and on the other hand, they didn't know what would happen in the future, so they just lived one day.

Therefore, when Lei Zhong Liu Fu rushed directly to the South Road of Gubeikou and killed his way in, these Cao army soldiers couldn't stop him at all!

As long as Lei Zhong and Liu Fu can open a passage to the north from the south entrance, the Cavalry Army will be able to take Gubeikou again!