Chapter 391 Nanyang and Qinzhou

Chapter 391 Nanyang and Qinzhou

At the end of November, a guest came from Xuchang.

Princess Lu of Fanyang was still quite embarrassed when she saw Princess Liu of Nanyang.

However, with Concubine Pei's advice, the grudge between the two was quickly resolved.

After all, Liu has experienced so much and is not so obsessed with some things anymore.

"Are you still writing poems about missing your wife?" Liu asked while sewing clothes for her children.

Mrs. Lu blushed a little. How come everyone knew about her hobby?

Poems about a woman missing her husband are a genre of poetry, and Cao Zhi loved to write them.

Prince of Fanyang was often away on military campaigns, and Lu was lonely in her boudoir. She liked to read and write some poems about missing her husband, and sometimes she would send them to Prince of Fanyang. Unfortunately, she rarely received a response.

"Xiao He, why are you also..." Mrs. Lu looked at Mrs. Liu and asked softly.

Liu felt that she should be a little sad, at least with red eyes, but she failed shamefully, so she shook her head gently and didn't want to say more.

"Your two retainers have surrendered to you, my lord. They are guarding the captives in Guangchengze with two hundred guards." Lu said again, "I don't want Liuhuayuan anymore. I'll give it to you."

Liu did not refuse.

The money they brought was almost used up. Otherwise, would Wei Fu and Liang Chen work for Mr. Chen?
Her only residence, the Prince of Nanyang's Palace, was located in the east of Luoyang City, which was not safe and might have even been destroyed by war. In Luoyang City, the Prince of Nanyang did not have a house, otherwise she would not have lived in the Prince of Fanyang's Palace.

Xunniang was willing to give her Liuhuayuan in Guangchengze, which was the best thing. The courtyard had fields and farmhands, so at least she had food and clothing.

"Xun Niang, I said some harsh words to you back then..." Liu's eyes were really red now.

"It's okay." Madam Lu hugged Madam Liu, and she also cried a little, saying, "We were like sisters back then, and we played together. After the chaos, only you, me, and Hua Nu were left."

Among Sima Yue's four brothers, the wife of Xincai King Teng disappeared in Yecheng. After Gaomi King died of illness, the wife returned to Qingzhou and her whereabouts were also unknown.

If Liu had not come to Luoyang to fight for the family property, the Princess of Nanyang would probably have had a bad fate.

After the death of King Fan Yang, the Lu family lived in fear, fearing that their entire family would be wiped out.

Of the five good sisters, only three are gathered here now.

When Lu and Liu thought of this, they could not help crying. In troubled times, even the princesses were not immune.

"Now the suffering is over and happiness has come." After crying, Mrs. Lu wiped her tears and sighed.

Her unintentional words made Liu blush.

She felt that her willpower was already in jeopardy, especially under the disintegration of her good sisters, it was about to collapse completely.

She felt that she shouldn't sink so low, so she struggled weakly and said, "Mr. Chen is not a good man either. He brought all the women in our family back to give birth to his children."

After saying that, he seemed to feel something was wrong.

Mrs. Lu on the opposite side was really embarrassed.

She came yesterday and was carried directly into the room by her lover. After she let out a long and satisfied sigh, she became completely confused afterwards.

The petite girl seemed to be held in her husband's arms, walking around the room, and no one knew how she fell asleep.

"Don't talk nonsense." Lu spat.

Liu lowered her head.

In fact, she didn't quite like Xun Niang coming over, and there was always a vague sense of loss in her heart.

"Hua Nu called me over, do you know why?" asked Mrs. Lu.

"She - may want to let you know something step by step, I can't tell for sure." Liu sighed, feeling more and more lost.

If Hua Nu ignored other people's opinions and entered Shao's house as a wife or concubine, she would be alone here.

Thinking of this, it’s no longer a feeling of loss, it’s a feeling of fear.

But she gave birth to a daughter for Mr. Chen without any status or formality, and got nothing in return.

She thought she should find an opportunity to scold that person in private.

"Xiao He." Madam Lu grabbed her hand and said, "After Hua Nu gives birth to the baby, we will go outing together. No, not just in the bright year, but every year in the future, how about it?"

"Okay..." Liu replied weakly.

As she said this, she felt her face burning for no apparent reason.

It's over. Everyone is pulling her down, and she doesn't seem to want to struggle.

"Hehe." Mrs. Lu smiled and said, "I heard that my husband admires Liang Chen and Wei Fu very much and plans to entrust them with important tasks."

"Ah?" Liu came to her senses and asked, "What important tasks can they take on?"

"Xiao He, you have been the Princess of Nanyang for so long, don't you know how important your identity is?" Lu said with regret.

Liu seemed to understand something, but also seemed a little confused.

"Nanyang is yours!" Madam Lu said angrily, "Liang Chen is a general from Guanxi. Although he is a distant relative of the Liang family, he can still talk about family ties in front of General Liang Fen. Wei Fu is a trusted retainer of the King of Nanyang. He is from the Jingzhao Wei family, a noble family in Guanzhong. The 200 guards you brought are also the best in Guanzhong. The maids who serve you, the mistress of Guanzhong, are even sent by major families and Diqiang chieftains. What are you thinking about all day long?"

Liu lowered her head in embarrassment.

"If Liang Chen and Wei Fu are to be sent to serve as officials elsewhere, they will definitely come to say goodbye to me." Liu suddenly remembered something and said.

Mrs. Lu was suddenly speechless and had to tell the truth: "I just proposed it to my husband last night. It's not that fast."

"Who taught you? Are you a Hua Nu?" At this time, Liu suddenly became smart and asked.

"Yes..." Lu said, "My lord, you received a military report yesterday. Wang Ru was beheaded by his men and sent to Liang Fen's camp. Xiangyang has been conquered by him. After hearing this, Hua Nu gave my lord an idea. Let Wei Fu and Liang Chen lead people to Nanyang State to pacify the refugees in Guanxi and check Liang Fen. If you are willing, the Queen Mother of Nanyang can also go to the state."

Liu finally understood and sighed that she had been trapped in a certain emotion for these days and couldn't extricate herself from it, and didn't care about the situation outside at all.

Her husband was captured by the Huns and was rumored to have been killed by Liu Han.

Her eldest son, Sima Bao, the prince of Nanyang, turned sixteen this year. Before the Xiongnu invaded Guanzhong, he served as the General of the Western Army and was stationed in Shanggui, Qinzhou. He should still be there now. It is said that he has inherited the title of King of Nanyang and has not surrendered to the Xiongnu.

"Xiao He." Madam Lu came closer and whispered, "Hua Nu said that Lang Jun is the most honest person. If you are useful, he will come over immediately to ask about your well-being and treat you well."

"Pah." Liu spat and said, "I...I hate him too late."

"Xiao He." Madam Lu continued, "In troubled times, women must have someone to rely on, otherwise what will happen?"

Liu remained silent.

She remembered the time when people in Kaocheng were in panic, when that man rode his horse to the high hill, commanding the support of hundreds of people, and the heroic aura of that man almost filled the heaven and earth.

Thinking of this, she felt a little upset and asked, "Does he rely on women to succeed?" Hearing this, Mrs. Lu smiled secretly and said, "When my husband was down and out, he took a lot of money from me."

Liu chuckled.

She knew that saying that success can be achieved through women was just a joke.

Lord Chen led his troops into battle and repeatedly defeated stubborn enemies, all of his achievements were earned with every sword and spear.

No matter how hard I try to please the woman, it will all be in vain if I cannot defeat the Xiongnu cavalry under the city of Gaoping.

"Xiao He." Madam Lu held her hand and said, "From now on, the three of us can go hiking together hand in hand. No one should get separated, okay?"

Liu did not answer, but said: "Mr. Chen only treats me as a servant..."

After saying this, I felt that there was something wrong with the tone, and I felt embarrassed immediately.

Seeing the expression on her face, Mrs. Lu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The task assigned by her sister-in-law was finally completed.

"He is just a snob." Mrs. Lu complained, "Just wait patiently."

******
In order to wait for Liang Chen and Wei Fu, Shao Xun postponed his trip.

On the fifth day of the twelfth month, Wei Fu and Liang Chen rode fast horses to the General's Mansion.

"The situation in Guanzhong has changed dramatically again." Shao Xun spread out a map and said, "Liu Yao has only 10,000 soldiers and has suffered repeated defeats. (Jia) Pi and his men have won battle after battle and are very powerful. It seems that the recovery of Chang'an is just around the corner."

There are now two anti-Han forces in Guanzhong.

One of them was the army of Jia Pi, the governor of Anding, which claimed to have 50,000 troops, but the actual number was estimated to be less than 20,000.

In addition, there was a force headed by Liang Zong, the governor of Fufeng, Qu Te, the governor of Yongzhou, and Zhu Hui, the governor of Xinping. They were said to have 100,000 troops, but the actual number was estimated to be 30,000 to 40,000.

Liu Yao and Zhao Ran had only 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers in total, and their disadvantage was obvious.

Moreover, after Jia Pi and Liang Zong raised their armies, the Jin and Hu people in Guanzhong responded one after another. Although their cavalry were fewer than those of the Xiongnu, they were not much fewer, so they were not so easy to deal with.

If Liu Cong did not send more troops to Guanzhong, Liu Yao alone would not be able to hold out.

"After the recovery of Guanzhong, will the court let the King of Nanyang govern the four states of Yong, Qin, Liang and Yi?" Liang Chen was greatly encouraged upon hearing this and asked.

Shao Xun gave him a funny look.

What good things are you thinking? Whoever captures it will own it.

Sima Bao lived in Qinzhou. Did he have the courage to come to Chang'an? Would a man like Jia Pi be willing to hand over Guanzhong to a young man? Did he have no ambition?

Liang Chen quickly figured it out and sighed.

"There is still room for improvement in Guanzhong." Wei Fu said, "Wuguan is in the hands of the imperial court. If we go west or north through it, we can reach Jingzhao Lantian."

Shao Xun nodded approvingly and said, "The Prince of Nanyang has been stationed in Qin for several years, and he has many old subordinates. Can you recruit them?"

Liang Chen and Wei Fu looked at each other and could see the surprise in each other's eyes.

If they can get help from Mr. Chen, can they also get a share of the pie in Guanzhong?

"Maybe you can give it a try." Wei Fu said.

"Hmm..." Shao Xun said, "I will be back to Xuchang in the next two days. You two should bring all the people here so that I can have a look."

"Yes, sir." The two responded in unison.

"The successor king of Nanyang is in Shanggui. Is it possible to contact him?" Shao Xun asked again.

Before Sima Mo died, he expelled Pei Bao, the governor of Qinzhou, in order to secure a position for his son.

Pei Bao had no choice but to flee to Anding, but the position of governor remained unchanged and was still in his hands.

Later, Sima Mo recommended his son Sima Bao to garrison Shanggui, and the court approved it.

Therefore, this sixteen-year-old boy Sima Bao was no simple man. His status was similar to Shao Xun’s: “General of the Western Guards and Commander of the Eastern Qiang, stationed in Shanggui.”

Since Qinzhou had no governor, Sima Bao's position was the de facto governor of Qinzhou. If he could deal with Jia Pi, Pei Bao and others, Sima Bao would be able to control the entire Qinzhou.

"Jia Pi and the heir to the throne are not on good terms, so I'm afraid it will be difficult," said Wei Fu.

"The heir king is only sixteen years old and is guarding Shanggui alone. Do you think he can do it for a long time?" Shao Xun asked again.

Liang Chen and Wei Fu found it difficult to answer.

The successor king has only been in Shanggui for a few months, so it is really hard to say.

Moreover, there are some things that others don't know, but they don't know? The heir to the throne is extremely fat, and he either sleeps or reads all day long. Let alone the ability to rule his people, he doesn't even have the idea of ​​ruling them. To put it bluntly, he is "weak and incompetent."

Furthermore, perhaps due to his obesity, the heir to the throne seemed to be a little impotent and unable to control women. This was the reason why Li Mingming, the second son of King Nanyang, was adopted by King Fanyang but was kept in Chang'an.

"Is Sima Li still in Liuhuayuan?" Shao Xun asked.

"Yes."

"You guys go and pay a visit to the Dowager Consort first." Shao Xun said, "In the new year, you may serve the Dowager Consort's country and pacify the refugees from Guanxi. You should guard your fiefdom well. If you have any difficulties, you can come to me and I will definitely help you if I can."

"Mr. Chen is so kind and righteous. We are very grateful." Wei Fu and Liang Chen said.

"I'm not asking you two for help in vain." Shao Xun said with a smile: "After accumulating strength in Nanyang, if there is a change in Guanzhong and the situation improves, you can go to Qinzhou and contact the heir king. By the way - help me buy a horse, how about that?"

"This is easy." The two of them breathed a sigh of relief and agreed.

Shao Xun also breathed a sigh of relief.

It would certainly not be possible without horses. After the war with the Xiongnu ended, there were still more than 16,000 horses left, including those captured.

Beigong Chun, Wang Hu and others had already led their troops away. Shao Xun replaced the horses they had lost in battle and even gave them some extra rewards, so there were only more than 12,000 horses left.

After Gaoping State established its government soldiers, it was originally going to give all of them horses, but later on it was reluctant to do so and only picked out a relatively elite group, giving them 1,500 horses and 1,000 sets of armor. Most of these soldiers had neither armor nor horses, which lowered their average quality.

There were also shortages of horses for the government soldiers that had been deployed previously, so several hundred more were given.

That leaves about 10,000 left.

Some fertile mares or uncastrated stallions were selected to work together with the more than 1,000 horses that Guangchengze was reluctant to transfer, totaling more than 3,000 horses, to continue grazing and reproducing in Guangchengze.

In the end, there were less than 8,000 horses left, all of which were used for the Yicong Army - which was expanded to 3,000 cavalry after capturing some prisoners - and for daily training and riding of the personal soldiers.

Horses are consumables and still need to be purchased. It is best to establish long-term trading channels. Qinzhou is a very good window.

After finishing these things, on the seventh day of December, Shao Xun left Kaocheng and returned to Xuchang to begin preparing for the wedding.

(End of this chapter)