Chapter 710 Extreme Pressure
Chapter 710 Extreme Pressure
It’s the Spring Festival again, and Cao Yi and Feng Pi are returning from visiting their friends.
When he arrived outside Shangshanfang, Cao Yi turned his head again to look at Jishanfang opposite.
It's a pity that the wall was built and the view was blocked. Fortunately, there were many people visiting relatives and friends these days, so there was no curfew, so the gate was not closed - to be honest, Bianliang didn't even have a city wall, so the curfew was really meaningless and it was not enforced on weekdays.
A year later, Jishanfang had several more residents. For example, the house given to Pei Kang's son after his death, the house given to Lu Zhi, the house given to Liang Fen, etc., were all occupied.
In Shangshanfang, in addition to Cao Yi, Su Shuyan, and Wang Xuan, there are also the houses of Yu Liang, Yu Hua, Pan Tao and others.
Among them, the houses of Yu Liang and Pan Tao were awarded by the government after they were built, while the house of Yu Hua was built after he purchased the land himself and recruited refugees.
Of course, there are more than just these few in the entire Bianliang.
In fact, the progress of land allocation has been accelerated this year, and now more than a hundred officials have moved into various districts in Bianliang.
In addition to them, some senior craftsmen, wealthy merchants, local nobles, warriors who had made military achievements, and learned people were able to live there - either they bought the land and built houses themselves, or they were granted houses by the government after they were built.
A market appeared inside the city and in the east, selling various goods.
Even one appeared in the entertainment venues.
The city is gradually gaining popularity and becoming more like a political center.
"I heard that you will take your servants to Dongping and Gaoping after the New Year?" After entering Cao's mansion, the two went straight into the study again, and Cao Yi asked.
"As for the chief priest, running errands is a common thing." Feng Pi said, "Dongping and Gaoping counties have 9,600 prefecture soldiers, and 6,000 of them should be dispatched this time. Go after the 15th day of the first lunar month to check the soldiers and equipment, and don't let anyone fool you."
"Where are the soldiers from Chenliu, Puyang and Luonan?" Cao Yi asked.
"There are other people over there to check it." Feng Pi said.
"This is going to be a big move." Cao Yi sighed: "Back in Guanggu, although I heard that Shao Xun had many soldiers and generals, I didn't expect it to be this big. Using only one corner to fight against the whole world, alas."
"All of Cao Gong's family members are still here, and his house is magnificent. This year he also bought more than a hundred hectares of land in Jiyin. Such a life has made many people envious." Feng Pi said, "Why do you sigh?"
"That's right." Cao Yi laughed, looking happy.
He really had a good time this year.
As a military officer, I assisted in the construction of Bianliang. Several suggestions I made were accepted, which made me feel happy - people need to be recognized.
The land purchase has also been settled.
Someone in Jiyin was dissatisfied with Duke Liang, so he took more than a thousand servants and followers and crossed the Yangtze River to the east to sell the land at a low price. Cao Yi acted quickly and offered a high price, grabbing more than a hundred hectares, so he sent his eldest son, along with many servants and retainers in the mansion, to Jiyin to manage the manor.
During the court meeting on New Year's Day, he said some nice words, and Lord Liang even rewarded him with a pair of white jades.
Although this life was not as comfortable as being a vassal in Guanggu, it was not too bad. As long as Liang State was not destroyed, he could continue to live freely.
After the two of them finished a pot of tea and had almost finished talking about the topic, Feng Pi stood up and said goodbye.
Cao Yi escorted him out the door, hesitated for a long time, and could not help but admonish him: "You should do your job well in the future. I have no future, and I have reached the top of the rank of military officer, but you are different. Lord Liang is in a good momentum, so don't think too much."
Feng Pi was moved, bowed deeply, and turned to leave.
******
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, every family is happy.
Liang Fen looked at the empty new house in silence.
The eldest son died in his early years in the war among the kings and left no offspring.
The second son died of illness last year. Fortunately, he left behind a son, but he is still very young.
Sometimes Liang Fen couldn't help but ask herself, what sins had she committed in her life to end up like this?
His wife, Huangfu, was devastated by the death of their son and was not in good health. She was often bedridden. In her coma, she often missed her daughter, their only living child.
After Liang Fen settled his wife, he was about to drink to numb himself, but he saw the brothers Fu Chang and Fu Xuan coming to visit with a few Guanxi scholars in Beijing.
Fu Chang is now the magistrate of Junyi, one of the two county magistrates in Bianliang.
Fu Xuan was the chief priest of the East Pavilion in the General's Mansion.
In addition to the two brothers, there is also Wei Fu from the Jingzhao Wei family, who was originally in Nanyang and is now a Zhonglang official in the General's Office.
Xi Qun of the Anding Xi family is a descendant of Xi Guang, Guanglu Xun of the Han Dynasty. He is currently the Right Prime Minister of the Five Armies of the Liang State.
Huangfu Chang of the Anding Huangfu clan, the son of Huangfu Zhong, the former governor of Qinzhou, was the magistrate of Wanling and currently the left chancellor of the Zuomin Cao of the Liang State.
Liang Zong, former Jingzhao Yin, Yongzhou Governor, and Liang clan member, fled from Guanzhong and held no official position.
Liang Ji, the son of Liang Wei, the former governor of Beidi, lost his father in battle in Guanzhong. He fled to Guandong and held no official position.
After the seven people arrived, they greeted each other and it was very lively for a while.
Liang Fen led them to the study and sat them down. "Do you know, my lord, that a large army will be assembled in Wuguan after the beginning of spring? I heard that the Luonan Prefecture soldiers will also send out 10,300 soldiers to accompany them." Among the people present, Liang Zong, who had no official position, was the most senior, and he was the first to speak.
"They may need to send out more than 20,000 men." Liang Fen nodded first, and then said, "Thousands of men will be recruited from Luonan counties, Xiangcheng, Yingchuan and other places, and 5,000 soldiers from noble families will be dispatched from Nanyang, and another 5,000 men will be dispatched. Nanyang State will also recruit 3,000 people. If nothing unexpected happens, Le Kai and Le Hongxu will be the commanders, and Longxiang Supervisor Chang Can and Nanyang Lieutenant Yuan Xi will be their deputies. The army will enter from Wuguan and head straight to Lantianguan."
Seeing Liang Fen's affirmation, everyone looked excited.
"We are finally going to attack Guanzhong." Huangfu Chang sighed.
"If we don't go now, King Nanyang will be gone." Xi Qun said.
"The King of Nanyang is dead, it doesn't affect the overall situation." Huangfu Chang replied bluntly.
To be honest, he now has no good feelings towards the Sima family, and is even full of disgust. He very much hopes to see the end of the Jin Dynasty.
"Is this the main attack? Or a feint attack?" Wei Fu interrupted.
Liang Fen glanced at him and said, "As far as I know, there is no feint attack, it's all main attack. If there is a breakthrough along any route, we will immediately send more troops and attack from that direction."
"Lord Liang is so generous?" Wei Fu asked in surprise.
"With Henan and Hebei in our hands, how can Lord Liang lose as long as he doesn't make any stupid moves?" Liang Ji said from the side.
When everyone heard this, they all thought it made sense.
In fact, although Duke Liang might suffer defeat on a local battlefield, it would be very difficult for him to lose overall, unless there were internal problems, such as a large-scale rebellion or a sudden purge that caused panic among the people and low morale.
Given how cautious he is now, it's hard to expect any major chaos to occur internally.
A major purge is unlikely, there's no reason - or is it just not time yet?
"Everyone, Nanyang will certainly recruit a large number of refugees from Guanxi to fight. The commanders of the forts may not be happy. If you know anyone, please persuade them." Liang Fen said, "If we can attack Guanzhong, we can open up the situation. Otherwise, the wandering ghosts who have lost their ancestral land will have a hard time even if I give them more advice."
After Liang Fen said this, the group of people stopped arguing.
They now have a unified goal, which is to help Liang Gong's army attack Guanzhong and fight for the interests of the Xizhou scholars as a group.
As for how to attack, that requires careful thought.
The simple way is to persuade the lord of Guanxiwu Fort in Nanyang and let them fight hard.
The more difficult ones include sneaking into Guanzhong, contacting old contacts, and launching a rebellion.
In short, there are still many ways, it just depends on whether you can do it.
"My family is in such a bad state..." Liang Fen choked up after saying this, and said, "I have nothing else to ask for now, but I hope my family is well, my fellow villagers have a good future, and the people of the world live and work in peace. Lord Liang's power is like the rising sun, so you should do your work well and don't think too much, because there are not many opportunities left."
******
At the end of the twelfth lunar month, Yang Quan returned to Mount Tai from Bianliang. At the end of the first lunar month, he returned to Bianliang from Mount Tai.
He had received a specific order: as General Wu Ya, he would lead 3,000 soldiers of the Yang family and 5,000 strong men from the five counties of Taishan, Lu, Qi, Jinan and Jibei, a total of 8,000 people, to Henei to attack Chenguan.
If nothing unexpected happens, the commander-in-chief of this route will be Hou Feihu, the commander-in-chief of the Heiliang Army. There may also be some local men from Heyang, Henei, Jijun, and the soldiers of Liu Quan, the commander of Heqing Town, totaling about 20,000 infantry and cavalry.
For the Yang family, this is another opportunity to gain military merit.
During the previous rebellion in Hebei, Yang Dan led the Qinghe soldiers he had trained to advance like a hot knife through butter. He first quelled the small-scale rebellion there, then killed the remnants of Zhang Chai's army, and then marched north to attack Liu Kun, winning battle after battle. In the end, due to poor military discipline, his merits and demerits offset each other, but Duke Liang granted Yang Dan a residence in Bianliang.
Yang Quan, as one of the more outstanding generals of the younger generation of the Yang family, made his mark in the Battle of Laiwu Valley. Now he has been ordered to attack Chen Pass. While he is full of confidence, he is also a little worried.
The Yang family had Yang Jiongzhi (Weiwei) in the court, Yang Chen (You Sima) in the military government, Yang Man (Shizhong) in Liang State, and at the next level, Yang Kai (Sheren) and Yang Jian (Taishou) in the civil department, Yang Dan (Taishou) and Yang Quan (Wuya General) in the military department, and there were even more other descendants at the county level...
To be honest, if Lord Liang had not given the order, Yang would not have been willing to volunteer.
But there is no way, I have been called upon this time and I must go.
The so-called Yang Family Army has been slowly trained over the past ten years. Many weapons have been seized in previous wars, and the military equipment is getting better and better. Maybe Lord Liang is aiming for consumption?
In this regard, Yang Quan should not make any speculations, let alone speak nonsense.
The officialdom structure in Bianliang is becoming increasingly clear. Several of the great Henan noble families have no way of talking to each other, and there is a high possibility that they will secretly make shady moves. It is necessary to be cautious in what you say and do.
After arriving in Beijing, Yang Quan visited a few friends and was surprised after getting to know them a little.
The scale of the war next year will be quite large!
A full-scale war may break out in the six directions of Wugu Pass, Hongnong, Chen Pass, She County, Tianchang Town, and Danzhuling. Duke Liang will lead the elite troops to supervise the battle. Once a gap is opened, they will rush in quickly without hesitation.
Yang Quan didn't know whether the Huns could withstand it.
Although they had the advantage of geographical location, the pressure was enormous as wars were being fought in so many directions at the same time. If a real fighting broke out, they would need reinforcements here and more troops there, and every location was on high alert and could not afford the slightest mistake.
But is it really possible to avoid making mistakes on the battlefield?
Well, maybe you can avoid making mistakes for a short time, but what about the long term? People have their limits, and mistakes can happen somewhere.
Yang Quan had more confidence in this war. Perhaps, there was a chance to attack Pingyang.
(End of this chapter)