Chapter 173
Lin Shuge didn't care about gentlemanly etiquette and ran all the way to the county government office. A soldier was waiting in the lobby. "Sir, the county governor's office sent an urgent report. There is no news about the three armies going out. The county magistrate asked all counties to prepare for defense."
What? Lin Shuge was shocked, and his heart beat a few times. He took the battle report and looked at it carefully, then gritted his teeth and said, "Come here, call County Lieutenant Yang and Left Lieutenant Chu."
"Sir, wait a little longer and maybe there will be news. The Western Regions are vast and maybe the army just didn't encounter the Huns, or maybe the news hasn't come yet." Lu Yuechuan was also panicked, but he still comforted him.
Lin Shuge took a breath, came to his senses, and nodded: "That's right, there were cases in the previous dynasty where people got lost and even the enemy couldn't find them. After all, no news can't be considered bad news, but in this case, we must be careful and on guard." Lin Shuge frowned and his fingers unconsciously pierced into his palms.
"Greetings, Your Excellency." Yang Yan and Chu Xu came in and said.
Lin Shuge got straight to the point. "I summoned you two here today because I have something very important to arrange. The county governor's office just sent a letter directly asking all counties to be prepared."
"Sir?" Chu Xu swallowed his saliva, "Could it be that the Xiongnu are going to move south?"
Yang Yan was also frightened. They both looked at Lin Shuge. Lin Shuge sighed, "It's just a precaution. Ah Yan, you should immediately arrange for people to take turns guarding the lookout tower. If there is any situation, report back immediately. Also, set up more Tiantian and Huluo in front of the county town, and reduce the opening hours of the market in Pingxiang recently."
"Yes, sir." Yang Yan replied.
"Ah Xu, take some soldiers and gather warriors from each village to patrol the villages every day. If you find any suspicious people, lock them up first."
In the past, when Qingquan County was plagued by bandits, Chu Xu was able to spontaneously organize the people to resist, so he naturally had experience in this area.
“Achuan, the dispatch of food and military supplies is now in your hands. If the situation is really not optimistic, you must defend it at all costs. In addition, you must prepare the gunpowder for me. If the Huns really have the ability to come here and want to plunder the people and invade the territory of Great Yan, let them taste the taste of saturation attack first.” Lin Shuge clenched his fists and slammed them on the table.
Yang Yan and Chu Xu took the order and went out. The entire Qingquan County military administrative system was directly mobilized. Chu Xu led the volunteers selected from each township to patrol around the county every day and persuaded the people who were about to leave the city to go back.
There are many watchtowers built on the winding city beams. The soldiers stationed inside are always alert to the movements in the distance. At the slightest sign of trouble, they will immediately blow the horn and light the beacon.
In front of the county town, many soldiers were building Hu Luo. Layers of fortifications were about to be completed. The gunpowder factory was producing muskets and thunder bombs day and night. Xiangli Gu was so busy that his face turned black.
Lin Shuge went to Pingxiang with Lu Yuechuan, where he met Mihe Yanshi and the rest of the Huawei tribe.
"Why did you come to Pingxiang today, sir?" Mi He welcomed Lin Shuge to a house. The Qiang people in Pingxiang had integrated with the people of Dayan. Seeing that the houses of the people of Dayan were not afraid of wind and rain, the Qiang people naturally abandoned their previous felt tents. Many Qiang people, especially the upper class, had built houses similar to those of the people of Dayan, and even the blue bricks they used were bought from Pingxiang.
"I came here to discuss something with the chief witch and Yanshi." Lin Shu looked at the chief witch Heli and Mihe of the Huaxu tribe below.
He Li looked very old, but his eyes were extremely sharp. When he looked at other people, he seemed to be able to see through their hearts. He said, "Master Lin suddenly visited, but what happened?"
"I just want to borrow soldiers from various departments to defend the county." Lin Shuge said slowly.
"Borrow troops? Could it be that the chieftain didn't bring enough soldiers?" Mi He had some doubts. Before Xie Chen went on the expedition, he took away most of the elite troops of the Huatu tribe and other Qiang tribes, and there was no news of the defeat of Dayan. Why did he need to borrow troops now?
"That's not the case. I just want to protect the people in the country just in case. The Qiang soldiers I loaned out will receive a salary every ten days. If they have military merit, they will be rewarded additionally." Lin Shuge was graceful. He slowly picked up the milk tea on the table, took a sip and put it down again. There was no emotion in his eyes as he looked at the two of them.
He Li's old face hid his emotions. He lowered his head and thought. Mi He was puzzled by Lin Shuge's behavior. Could it be that the Huns had made some move that could threaten Qingquan County?
There was silence all around. Suddenly, He Li said, "Don't worry, sir. I will speed up the selection of warriors to follow you."
Lin Shuge raised his glass and said with a smile: "Then I'll have to trouble the Great Witch."
He Li lowered his eyes and bowed to Lin Shuge. His body was hunched, but his eyes were fixed on Lin Shuge as he walked away.
"Your Excellency expected that they would agree." Lu Yuechuan, who was waiting outside, said after seeing Lin Shuge's relaxed expression.
"Didn't Ahchuan expect that?" Lin Shuge asked back.
Lu Yuechuan added: "It is true that Qingquan County does not have enough troops. If the Xiongnu really have the strength to move south, even if we have enough gunpowder and food, how long can we hold out? But the Qiang people are strong and can be used. Moreover, the Huatu tribe is the leader of all the Qiang tribes, and the chieftain Hua Wei leads the warriors of all the tribes to follow General Wei to the expedition. Not to mention other tribes, the Huatu tribe is tied to the same warship with us. If our army fails, how can the Qiang people be safe?"
"Besides, your Excellency dealt with a group of Qiang people in a swift and resolute manner some time ago. The Qiang people are living well among themselves, so how could they dare to have any disloyal thoughts? Moreover, even if they want to use this as an opportunity to confront us head-on, you have to make them think carefully about the gunpowder in your hands." Lu Yuechuan analyzed layer by layer.
Lin Shuge smiled, "Also, the Huatu tribe can only hold the top position with the support of Zhongxuan and me. They have to help Huawei so that Zhongxuan and I can stay here for a long time. Otherwise, if Huawei is gone, no one will help them suppress the other tribes. Besides, how much money can the Qiang soldiers earn by farming and herding sheep all day? I pay them salaries, and maybe they can earn military merit in the future."
After Lin Shuge finished speaking, he looked into the distance. He would rather not have to go this far.
"Let's go, Achuan, let's go and check out the situation of gunpowder in Xiangli Valley." Lin Shuge suddenly smiled and walked side by side with Lu Yuechuan. The autumn wind was bleak, making their cloaks rustle.
Jiwei Mountain.
The clouds were as dark as ink, with not a trace of skylight. Xie Chen was wearing iron armor, the spear in his hand flashing with a cold light, and the soldiers behind him looked like wolves and tigers, with crossbows and muskets in their hands staring in one direction.
The Xiongnu Zuo Xian King was facing a powerful enemy. He waved his hand and whispered a few words to his personal guards. The personal guards nodded and shouted in Chinese: "We, Zuo Xian King, have heard of General Wei's great name for a long time. Today our two armies meet. We, Zuo Xian King, want to see whether General Wei is worthy of his reputation. But I see that General Wei is as beautiful as a girl, and I don't know if he really has the ability. Our general Hu Yanpo has infinite strength and is invincible. Why not have a competition with General Wei?" He pointed to a burly man next to Zuo Xian King.
Hu Yanpo was dressed like an upper-class Xiongnu official. He was very tall, with a pair of bloodthirsty eyes. He stared at Xie Chen provocatively.
As soon as these words came out, the Yan army was shocked. Lao Zhang shouted, "This is too much. The general asked me to meet him."
Other soldiers around also shouted: "General, I will go."
He Xin whispered, "General, this is just a way to provoke the enemy. Don't take it seriously. The brothers are waiting with their muskets."
Xie Chen waved his hand, his spear lying horizontally, the reins moved, and the horse under his crotch moved forward a few words, "I don't like him, Zuo Xian Wang, why don't you fight with me."
"General, maybe they are planning something tricky. We shouldn't go there," He Xin and others advised.
"Don't worry, I know what to do."
When Hu Yanpo heard Xie Chen's words, he rushed over with his scimitar in hand. Xie Chen winked at He Xin and rushed over alone.
The scimitar swung towards Xie Chen, bringing out a stream of air. Xie Chen dodged on his horse. This Hun man is indeed very strong, Xie Chen thought to himself.
But he has never lost in a contest of strength.
While Hu Yanpo was slashing at him with his scimitar, he thrust his spear straight forward. When the two sharp weapons collided, the advantage of the inch longer was an inch stronger. Xie Chen used all his strength to push the spear head down. Hu Yanpo clenched his teeth, veins bulged on his forehead, and he tried his best to resist the scimitar.
Suddenly, Hu Yanpo roared, and the horse under his crotch took a few steps back. The scimitar in his hand made a slight sound, and his hands trembled slightly. There was both shock and fear in his eyes when he looked at Xie Chen.
Seeing that Hu Yanpo was no match for Xie Chen, the morale of the Yan army was greatly boosted, and a thunderous sound suddenly erupted.
Some of the Xiongnu soldiers were angry, some were terrified, and Zuo Xian King had a ferocious look on his face.
He shouted a few words in the Xiongnu language, and Hu Yanpo gritted his teeth and rushed towards Xie Chen. The scimitar slashed at Xie Chen's face with a sound of breaking through the air. Xie Chen sank his spear, avoiding the edge of the scimitar and stabbed directly at Hu Yanpo's chest. Hu Yanpo cried out in surprise, put away the scimitar, and the sword and the spear tip collided, sparks flying.
The two fought for half an hour with no clear winner, but during the confrontation between the two armies, it could be seen that Xie Chen still had some strength left, while Hu Yanpo was at the end of his strength.
Zuo Xian Wang's face was as gloomy as water. He moved his hands quietly. His left and right men understood and rushed forward. He Xin had been paying attention to the Xiongnu's actions for a long time. When he saw that it was indeed a trick, the archers all stepped forward to prepare for a counterattack.
Xie Chen narrowed his eyes and looked at Zuo Xian Wang, saying sarcastically, "I've heard that Xiongnu Zuo Xian Wang is upright and honest, and disdains to use despicable means. Today, I see that he is different from what I heard."
There were bursts of laughter within the Yan army.
The Hun soldiers looked at each other, and Zuo Xian Wang gritted his teeth and waved his hand to attack. Xie Chen sneered and charged into the Hun soldiers with a spear. He swept down a group of them with a wave of the spear. The Hun soldiers were frightened by his bravery and dared not step forward.
Lao Zhang immediately shouted: "Brothers, follow me and kill."
In a moment, the sky was filled with yellow sand and smoke, and the entire battlefield was filled with the sounds of fighting, trumpets, and weapons clashing.
"Sir, good news, good news." Lu Yuechuan's voice was trembling with excitement, and the document in Lin Shuge's hand fell to the ground with a "bang".
"Achuan, what good news?" Lin Shuge grabbed him, with anticipation in his eyes.
"In the battle of Jiwei Mountain, General Wei defeated the Xiongnu Zuoxian King, who fled. General Wei led his troops to pursue the various tribes, killing 10,000 enemy captives and taking many prisoners. As many as 100,000 Xiongnu small tribes surrendered."
Lin Shuge paced back and forth excitedly, "That's great, that's great."
"I said that with General Wei here, there's no way we could allow the Huns to invade the south." Lu Yuechuan said happily.
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