Chapter 252 Flattery

Chapter 252 Flattery

Chapter 252 Flattery
Outside the Yejin ferry, boats were constantly coming and going, carrying horses and soldiers across the river.

Shao Xun only saw a few rains in Luoyang and Yiyang, but at this time in Guanzhong, it had already been raining heavily.

The riverbed, which had dried up to the point of smoking, gradually began to accumulate water and then began to flow again within a few days.

On both sides of the two major ferry crossings, Yejin and Maojin, in the Hongnong section of the Yellow River, the untied ferries even drifted into the middle of the river, causing the boatmen to stamp their feet and sigh.

Temporary floating bridges have already been built, and there will be more than one.

The teachers recruited from Hedong and Hongnong counties were busy transporting food and fodder, building bridges and roads, but they still could not get enough food to eat. They were so sad that they could not even cry.

Outside Hongnong County, the camp has been built.

The prefect Yuan Yan endured the contempt of local people, scholars, and powerful people, and borrowed the tiger skins of the Huns to forcibly requisition a lot of food, wine and meat, and sent them to the Huns' army, which made Liu Cong very satisfied.

Liu Cong, courtesy name Xuanming, was the fourth son of Liu Yuan.

When he was young, he traveled to Luoyang. He was diligent and studious, well-versed in classics and military books, eloquent, good at cursive and official scripts, and had profound literary attainments.

Moreover, he had amazing arm strength, could pull a strong bow, and had excellent archery skills. He made a great name for himself in Luoyang and was a man of both civil and military talents.

After becoming famous, he was appointed as the chief clerk by the prefect of the county. Gradually he entered the officialdom and became familiar with the ways of the Jin court.

When King Chengdu was stationed in Ye, he appointed Liu Cong as General Ji Nu. Liu Cong had participated in the Rebellion of the Eight Kings and had military experience.

This year's Battle of Changping is Liu Cong's masterpiece.

The Tuge clan, a famous "barbarian" clan, defeated the Langya Wang clan, a famous "Han" clan, beheaded more than 19,000 people, and forced the Shangdang governor Pang Chun to surrender. Then they marched north, forcing Liu Kun to retreat to the city and not dare to fight. Then they swaggered and forced several tribes that depended on Liu Kun to surrender and move away, and became famous for a while.

It was certain that the Huns would attack Luoyang from the south, but recruiting and mobilizing the army would not be accomplished in a short period of time.

The troops that marched south this time consisted of only more than 10,000 cavalrymen, and their sources were very diverse. They included the Xiongnu main force, the surrendered Tiele clan, various Xianbei tribes, Di Qiang and the like, and even Han cavalry.

In such a hurry, Liu Cong could only recruit so many people.

But with just these few people, they still defeated Jin's General Cao Wu of Pingbei, beheaded thousands of people and captured tens of thousands.

Afterwards, the army crossed the river from Maojin, attacked and occupied the empty Shan County in one fell swoop, and then rushed to the county seat Hongnong (now north of Lingbao), hoping to catch the enemy by surprise.

However, the prefect Yuan Yan had already discovered the situation and the city gates were closed, which disappointed Liu Cong greatly. After all, cavalry were not good at attacking cities.

But who would have thought that Yuan Yan actually surrendered! It was really a blessing from heaven, with many surprises.

At this point, even though Liu Cong was very serious, he couldn't help laughing.

Since being defeated by the returning Liangzhou soldiers last year, he has fought more than ten battles without a single defeat. He has captured and killed more than 100,000 people and hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep and other livestock.

What a great achievement this is!

Not to mention Liu Cong, even Liu Yuan was very surprised and issued three imperial edicts to commend him.

If he keeps winning, he might even be able to hope for the position of Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty.

Wonderful!

"Lord Yuan, I didn't have the opportunity to ask you in detail yesterday, but today I have to ask you a question..." Liu Cong pushed away a beauty beside him and said with a smile.

Although this woman is graceful and attractive, she is somewhat less attractive than her stepmother, Shan.

There is a custom of levirate marriage in the grasslands, but Liu Cong has been studying and serving as an official in the Central Plains for many years, but he has not been influenced by this custom. He coveted Shan because of her appearance and her identity, which always brought him different excitement.

When playing with a woman, who doesn't want to play with her identity? What's the point of just playing with her body?
"Your Highness, please speak." Yuan Yan bowed with a flattering look on his face.

"Why did you surrender to me?"

Yuan is a rare surname.

But in Lueyang, Hanzhong, Huan Daoyuan's family was a legitimate aristocratic family.

Yuan Yan's ancestors claimed that they were descendants of the Qin general Huan Yi (yǐ), and later changed Huan to Yuan - Yuan Yan did not know whether it was true or not, and had no way to verify it, but he was always proud of it, even though some prominent families in Luoyang ridiculed his family for being descendants of the Di people.

The development of the Yuan family has always been struggling. During the Han Dynasty, they produced a prefect, but then fell into obscurity.

Over the past hundred years, the family has gradually improved and was rated as a seventh-rank family by the county's Zhongzheng. The family has slowly prospered.

The Yuan family has always been martial, and the clan members generally have outstanding skills, which is related to the local situation.

Yuan Yan was also a man of both civil and military talents. After taking office as the prefect of Hongnong, he never slacked off in training soldiers, repairing cities, and accumulating armor and weapons.

The Xiongnu had also studied the Hongnong governor, and Liu Cong had never thought that he would surrender, so he asked this question.

"To be honest." Yuan Yan sighed and said, "My family is originally from the Di people in the western border area, and we have always been despised by the scholars in the Central Plains. I got this position as the prefect by paying money to Yu Hua and Guo Xiang, the aides of the King of Donghai. However, the ruler of Jin is incompetent and weak, the powerful ministers are all-powerful, the central authority is declining, and the local nobles are unruly. I can't be the prefect any longer."

Liu Cong played with the wine glass and nodded slightly.

This can't be considered a lie.

Based on his understanding of the Jin court, this was indeed the case. If a man like Yuan Yan wanted to be a governor, could he do so without giving money?
It is normal for a small family like Lueyang Yuan to be despised by others because of its ordinary family background.

When Yuan Yan said that the prefect was unhappy with his job and might not be able to continue, he believed it about 60%.

"Your Highness has won several battles in Bingzhou, captured and killed countless people, and the whole world was shocked." Yuan Yan stood up and filled Liu Cong's glass with wine, and continued: "When the Han army arrived, I climbed up the city wall to look out, and I was frightened. Alas!" "How was it?" Liu Cong drank it all in one gulp and asked with a smile.

"These are all fierce and ruthless soldiers. The army in Luoyang is nothing but chickens and dogs compared to them. Your Highness, with these soldiers, who can stop us?" After Yuan Yan finished speaking, he filled Liu Cong's glass with wine.

Liu Cong laughed and said, "It's passed, it's passed!"

"Your Highness is being too modest." Yuan Yan continued to pour wine for Liu Cong, and said with a serious face: "What is the reputation of the Wang family of Langya? The Battle of Changping was also defeated by Your Highness. After thinking about it, I really can't find anyone who can compare with Your Highness."

Liu Cong felt relieved when he heard this.

The Battle of Changping was indeed his masterpiece. Moreover, he helped Wang Kuang of the Wang Clan of Langya and trampled on the reputation of the top wealthy family in the north. It was so satisfying.

Yuan Yan can talk, so I can keep him around to relieve my boredom.

Thinking of this, he drank another full glass of wine and was already a little tipsy.

Suddenly, he thought of someone and asked, "Shao Xun of Donghai is quite capable in commanding troops. How do I compare to him?"

Yuan Yan silently filled Liu Cong's glass with wine and said, "Shao Xun is arrogant in his use of troops. He will learn a lesson sooner or later. Moreover, this man has a bad character and will not go far."

"Oh? How terrible is it?" Liu Cong asked with interest.

"The King of Fanyang was a relative of Sima Yue. After his sudden death, he left behind a widow, Lu." Yuan Yan said, "I heard that Shao Xun coveted Lu's beauty and raped her many times. There was also the Princess of Chengdu, Le, the daughter of Shangshu Ling Le Guang. Shao Xun was so attracted to her that he took her into his palace and attacked her day and night without asking about military matters. All the generals resented her."

"Haha, this is actually true!" Liu Cong tilted his head back and drank the wine in the glass, laughing out loud.

Yuan Yan also smiled and filled the glass with wine again.

"I didn't expect Shao Xun to be this kind of person." Liu Cong shook his head and sighed, "My father admires this man very much, I didn't expect it."

"Actually, Shao Xun is not that bad. He is quite brave and can lead troops. But compared to Your Highness, he is nothing." Yuan Yan said, "How many people in the world are as wise and brave as Your Highness?"

"Mr. Yuan, you are too kind." Liu Cong said "too kind" but his face became brighter and brighter, and he quickly drank the wine in the glass.

Yuan Yan was quick-witted and quick-handed, and stepped forward to pour the wine like a lackey.

Liu Cong stopped him and said, "We have had enough fun today. That's enough."

"It is my great honor to meet Your Highness." Yuan Yan said flatteringly, "Now that I am a Han official, I hope Your Highness can help me speak well of you in the court in the future."

Liu Cong pointed at him and laughed.

Yuan Yan became more and more flattering. He poured himself a cup and then poured another cup for Liu Cong, saying, "From now on, I will obey your orders. Let me drink first as a token of my respect."

After that, drink it all in one gulp.

Liu Cong was happy and picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

At this time, he was really a little drunk.

After saying a few words casually, he sent Yuan Yan away, returned to his tent, and fell into a deep sleep.

After leaving Liu Cong's tent, Yuan Yan went out of the military camp. He glanced around the road inconspicuously and found that the Xiongnu army was drinking wine and eating meat in large bowls, which made him secretly happy.

The county town had been controlled by the Xiongnu soldiers, and the soldiers of Hongnong County were moved outside the city, where they set up camp and prepared to follow the Xiongnu army south to Yiyang.

After returning to the camp, Yuan Yan immediately found two trusted servants he brought from his hometown and whispered something to them.

The two of them understood each other, and when night fell, they quietly left the camp, and relying on their familiarity with the terrain, they dodged left and right and arrived at a small village. After taking horses in the village, they ran south to Yiyang and disappeared into the dark night.

Yuan Yan sat behind the desk, ate something calmly, and then went to sleep with his clothes on.

At three o'clock in the morning, the servant gently woke him up.

Yuan Yan jumped up, looking somewhat excited, and asked, "Are you guys ready?"

"Everything is ready. We are just waiting for the Lord's order." the household general replied.

"Okay!" Yuan Yan slammed the table and said, "Go and pass the order. Follow the original plan and start."

"Yes." The servant responded and left.

Yuan Yan called for two personal soldiers, and with their help, he dressed himself, took off his bow and spear, and walked out of the tent with his head held high.

The weather is bad tonight and the moonlight is often blocked by dark clouds.

Yuan Yan looked up and praised: "God is really helping me!"

After saying this, he led his personal soldiers ahead.

Behind him, three thousand fully armed soldiers followed silently.

Yes, they are nervous and worried.

In the past year, the royal army has been defeated repeatedly, which has made the Huns famous. It would be a lie to say that they are not afraid.

But the Lord of the Mansion has led his family soldiers and generals to lead the charge, so what else is there to say? Just fight!
After the three thousand men left the camp, they organized themselves into a team, drew their swords, strung their bows, and headed straight for the Hun camp.

(End of this chapter)