Han Xiang

Chapter 181 Xiaofu is An Longyunqi

"Originally to commemorate the civilian heroes who died in the construction and defense of Hefei"

Long Xiang paused for a moment and continued: "The people in Hefei have all immigrated from other places, and the graves of their relatives are not here, so I use this stele to pay homage instead, so that everyone has a place to cry about their graves."

"It turned out to be like this."

While Zhang Zhao was affirming, he suddenly remembered that Deng Dang and his followers were also there, so he asked vaguely: "Then they?"

"It's what they asked for, why don't Zibu ask himself?"

"Oh, yes."

While Long Xiang was talking to Feng Zhong, Zhang Zhao pulled Deng Dang aside to ask why, only then did he know that they were mourning Jiangdong's comrades, and the doubts that had been in his heart immediately dissipated.

Not long after, the grain inventory on the ship was completed.

Zhang Zhao refused Long Xiang's request to stay, and took the prisoners out of the city that morning.

Long Xiang and Lu Su went to see off at the pier, while Zhang Zhao stood on the boat and bid farewell.

He had already dealt with Long Xiang several times, and he knew that the other party was cunning and unwilling to suffer, so he never thought that the redemption would be so smooth.

After the fleet set sail, Zhang Zhao returned to his cabin and found a lot of gold, silver, and cloth piled inside, which were obviously 'bribes' from Long Xiang.

Zhang Zhao picked up a piece of cloth and said to himself: "Long Yunqi, Long Yunqi, you are so experienced in dealing with people, why don't you want to surrender my lord? What exactly do you want?"

While thinking, Deng Dang broke in suddenly. Seeing the gifts piled up in the cabin, he didn't know whether to advance or retreat.

Zhang Zhao reacted very quickly, he smiled and explained like "Borrowing Flowers to Offer Buddha": "This is a gift from Long Xiang to the lord. He is a shrewd person. What's the matter with General Deng?"

"Uh, we were trapped in Hefei for several months. I wonder if the lord will use Mr. Hope now that we are back in Jiangdong?"

Before Deng could finish speaking, Zhang Zhao interrupted him.

"Don't worry, general. If my lord doesn't want to use you, why send me to redeem you? You have learned a little bit about the situation during the few months here. Go back and tell me about Hefei. Maybe the lord can find something useful."

"Don't be afraid to make jokes, sir. As prisoners in Hefei, we basically moved bricks and worked. We didn't find out much useful information." Deng Dang shook his head in embarrassment.

Zhang Zhaolu has to remind: "As the saying goes, seeing the big from the small, even hard work will pay off, just like the hero monument in the city, it can also be said to the lord, at least it shows that Long Xiang is very good at gathering people's hearts."

Deng Dang was inspired and began to recall his experience in reform through labor.

"Long Xiang's popularity in Hefei is indeed high. Anyway, we work with him every day, and we haven't heard a single complaint, and working in Hefei not only cares about food, many craftsmen can receive food and salaries."

"Oh? So this is the root of Longxiang's high popularity? Although this method is effective, it is extremely stupid. What else can he use to recruit soldiers after he has squandered the grain to Qianshou?" Zhang Zhao shook his head after hearing this.

Deng Dang replied: "Hefei doesn't recruit soldiers at all. It is said that there are only five battalions of 8000 people, but half of them are Feng Zhong's craftsman battalion. path of."

"It's normal for him to help the people like this, and he can't afford to support the army. My lord may be right. This person is a little rich and has no ambitions."

Zhang Zhao's tone was calm, and Deng Dang couldn't hear the compliments, so he added: "By the way, Hefei is burning kilns to make bricks. When building houses, they also like to use green bricks instead of soil. They also use something called cement. I heard that It was made by Longxiang, and it is used to bond bricks and bricks, and it is as hard as bricks and stones when laid on the ground, and "

"General, stop for a moment."

Zhang Zhao interrupted Deng Dang's chatter, and reminded impatiently: "You'd better go through it first, and then tell the lord together after you return to Jiangdong. There should be something to learn from, and your hard work is not in vain. moon."

"well."

Deng Dangyan said that he left happily, Zhang Zhao then ordered his men to advance with oars, hoping to go back earlier and return to his command.

After entering the Yangtze River, the fleet did not go to Dantu (Zhenjiang) downstream, but entered Zhongjiang (Lishui) from Wuhu Shuikou, and then took a shortcut back to Wujun by Zhenze (Taihu Lake) .

At this time, Sun Ce was celebrating his mother's birthday in the rear, and gave his second brother Sun Quan the opportunity to fight Guangling to earn military merit.

Last year, when I challenged Liu Xun, Zheng Huangzu, and Ping Yuzhang, my brothers Sun Ben and Sun Fu all played well.

Sun Ce considered that he would fight on multiple fronts in the later stage, so he focused on training his own brothers, and wanted Chen Deng to be a sharpening stone for Sun Quan.

In late March, Zhang Zhao took Deng to meet Sun Ce face to face, but found that his master Fang's face was not very good.

Sun Ce dismissed the two of them with a wave of his hand, without leaving even a hard word.

Zhang Zhao's heart skipped a beat, and he thought that it wasn't Long Xiang who bribed himself, someone slandered you in advance, right?
Walking out of the palace gate, Zhang Zhao happened to meet Gong Cao Yu Fan, so he pulled him aside and asked in a low voice, "Zhongxiang, what's going on in the county recently? Why does the lord seem unhappy?"

Yu Fan looked around and replied in a low voice: "Just a few days ago, the Second General was defeated by Chen Deng in Guangling, which damaged a lot of soldiers and horses, resulting in low morale. My lord may be troubled by this."

"Oh I got it."

Zhang Zhao suddenly realized, and immediately relieved his previous worries, and then made excuses for Sun Quan.

"Chen Deng is very resourceful. After all, the second general is young, and setbacks are inevitable. I have to advise my lord not to rush."

"I don't know anything about Changshi. I heard that something happened in the Central Plains. Yuan Shao and Cao Cao have already started a war. My lord wants to take the opportunity to attack Xudu, but he gave up Hefei last year. Now the battle in Guangling has failed again."

Behind Yu Fan, the voice became smaller and smaller.

"Yes"

When Zhang Zhao was feeling emotional, Sun Ce suddenly asked someone to come out to look for him, and Zhang Zhao took Yu Fan back.

The reason why Sun Ce gave Zhang Zhao a bad face just now was because Sun Quan was defeated by Chen Deng. When he saw Zhang Zhao, he thought of looking for Long Xiang to redeem him. He somehow felt that both sides were being humiliated, but he quickly adjusted his mentality.

Summoning Zhang Zhao again, Sun Ce took the initiative to meet him and apologized in front of Yu Fan. Zhang Zhao was deeply moved by this sincerity.

Afterwards, several people were seated according to the table, and Zhang Zhao started to introduce the trip to Hefei again. He said that although he paid some food and grass, he found out the truth and reality of Hefei through Deng Dang.

Sun Ce thought for a while after hearing this, then frowned and asked, "Long Xiang has just collected grain and released people, so he should not be on guard against Jiangdong. If I send troops to attack now, how long do you think it will take to take Hefei?"

"This"

Zhang Zhao was taken aback when he heard that, and said to himself, you really want to hit Hefei, why did you ask me to deliver food?Isn't this an enemy ready for battle?

"Deng Dang has been in Hefei for several months, and he is quite clear about the situation there. My lord had better call him to ask. Besides, my lord chose to attack Hefei at this time. Could it be because Yuan Cao started the war? Zhao thought Yuan Cao was too powerful. Big, it is difficult to tell the winner in a short time, and now it is a little earlier to enter the Central Plains."

"Is it early?"

Sun Ce frowned, stroked his beard and sighed, "Last year we were beating Liu Xun and defeating Huang Zu, and the morale was like a rainbow, but in the first two or three months of the year, Zhongmou lost to Chen Deng twice, which made the morale of the whole army low. , the attack on Hefei is not only to go north to the Central Plains to grab the waterway, but also to boost the morale of our army.”

"There is nothing wrong with grabbing water, but it's all about boosting morale"

(End of this chapter)