In Hanzhong? Wei's Prefect?
Lu Xun originally wanted to use this opportunity to grasp the handle with Tan Tang, but at this time he could no longer care about it. He directly addressed Tan Tang and said, "Tan Tang, isn't it? You really have done a good job this time. Come and work as a supervisor under my tent?"
Zhou Diao followed up and asked: "Tan Tang, do you know what an officer of supervision is?"
"Supervisor?" Han Tang shook his head.
Zhou Diao smiled and said, "You're really lucky! A supervisor with a salary of 300 cattles, that's not something anyone can do. He's only one level below the county magistrate!"
He said that the supervisor was something that and tang didn't understand, but he knew the magistrate of a county.
Han Tang immediately knelt down and kowtowed before getting up, "Thank you, Officer for the favor! Thank you, Officer for the favor!"
Lu Xun looked at Hao Zhao and then dismounted, helping Han Tang up. "Han Tang, from now on, you will be my subordinate. You must work hard to serve the Wei kingdom!"
Three hundred grains... It is indeed a high-ranking official! Han Tang was thinking in his heart.
"However, it's not clear how many of the four hundred cavalrymen you brought can be accepted. This afternoon, I'll have someone screen them again," Lu Sun added.
"Officer, the people in my tribe are all top-notch professionals!" Han Tang explained eagerly, worried that Lu Xun might recruit fewer people.
Lu Xun nodded: "That's true. Then I'll be even more careful. Han Tang, go and bring over Qu Ying. We'll enter the city together later."
"That's right, I'll go right away!" Han Tang bowed and then turned around and ran off in the direction of the rear.
In a short while, Qu Ying who was tied to the horse was pulled over together with the horse.
Qu Ying's face was pale, with white skin on his face and lips, looking malnourished and not having eaten much.
Since Qu Ying has been brought over, Lu Xun mounted his horse and instructed Zhou Duo: "Jin Ning, set up camp below the city wall. Let these Qiang cavalrymen stay here for the day."
Zhou Duo bowed and agreed, and then turned around to arrange the soldiers to do their tasks.
Lu Xun and Hao Zhao entered the official residence in the city with Han Tang and Qu Ying.
Hao Zhao said on the way, "It seems that what Lu Pan mentioned before, that there are some disturbances in Shu Han, is not an exaggeration."
Lu Xun nodded, turned his gaze at the half-dead Qu Ying, and then said, "The Wei Prefect of Hanzhong... It is said that it is Wei Yan, Wei Wenzhang?"
"Exactly, Wei Yan," Hao Zhao replied. "I remember that ten years ago in Wudu, Liu Bei sent people to contact the Qiang tribes for battle. More than a decade has passed, who would have thought that besides contacting the Qiang tribes, Shu Han had also reached out to Xiping Commandery."
"His hand extends so far!"
Lu Xun did not speak, but fell into silence.
Wei Yan, after all, is just a supervisor in Hanzhong. In the past, he himself led an army to fight against Liu Bei. Now he has fallen so low as to be pitted against Wei Yan?
What about the situation in the Eastern region now?
...
After giving Qu Ying some food and water, the man lying on the ground recovered a bit of strength.
Lu Xun sat on the hall without speaking, while Hao Zhao stood in front of Qu Ying.
Qu Ying struggled to raise his head, looking up from the ground but could not see Hao Zhao's face clearly for a moment.
"No need to look any further, I am Hao Boda. Have you heard of me?"
Qu Ying's uprising was only due to being stirred up, as well as having grievances. As for his abilities and demeanor, he had little to none.
Qu Ying's lips trembled as he said, "General Hao, I have heard of General Hao's reputation."
"How dare you defy me with your reputation?" Hao Zhao coldly snorted, "This is the city of Linqiang County. If you commit treason, you will be hard pressed to escape death, but if you can truthfully explain to the court, your clan might still have a chance."
Qu Ying's eyes welled with tears, he strained every ounce of strength to get up and kneel down, heavily bowed his head.
After bowing his head, Qu Ying began to cry in sobs on the ground.
"Be bold and be responsible for it! Why are you crying?" Hao Zhao frowned, kicked over Qu Ying with his foot: "Tell me quickly! I have no patience."
"I will say, I will say." Qu Ying trembled and said, "General Hao, last October, several merchants from Hanzhong found me."
"I was puzzled back then, why merchants from Hanzhong would come to Xiping Commandery. According to these merchants, the four commanderies in the Hexi region were occupied by the Great Wei, and they wanted to pass through Xiping Commandery and head west along the Western Sea to Dunhuang."
"These people said they would share the profits with me, and they did send me a lot of gold, jade, and precious objects. At first, I believed them. But after a few days, one day they were drunk and asked me if I wanted to do a big business."
"The merchants said that the southern Han dynasty was attacking Xianyang, and if I could start an uprising in Xiping Commandery this year, I could capture a county and become the prefect. If I could capture all four counties of Xiping Commandery, I could become the Governor of Yanjiang!"
When Hao Zhao heard the words "Great Han," he already furrowed his brows. When Qu Ying mentioned the position of Governor of Yanjing, Hao Zhao couldn't contain himself any longer and kicked him again.
"General Hao, let him live for now." Lu Xun reached out to intercept Hao Zhao: "Which road did those merchants from the Western Region take to reach Xiping Commandery?"
Qu Ying tried to recall for a moment, then said: "It's roughly from Hanzhong to Lin'tao, then to Heguan, and finally to Xiping Commandery."
After Lu Xun matched the names of the places Qu Ying mentioned with the cities stored in his mind, he said to Hao Zhao, "General Boda, I have a general idea. This person is still useful. I estimate that after sending him to Luoyang in a prison cart, he can also earn me some merit before the emperor."
Hao Zhao nodded: "Then let him live for now. Should we send him to Xiahou Fang first, or directly to Lu Xun's headquarters in Xianyin County?"
Lu Xun thought for a moment and said, "Since Qu Ying has been captured, General Hao, your two thousand troops should also return to Jincheng. The troops will set off at the same time, with fast horses sent northward to Wuyi."
"I'm sure that before this person reaches the Left General in Yichuan County, Xiahou Fang's report will have caught up."
"That's the best." Hao Zhao nodded: "When I leave to lead the army, will you need help from me here, Brother Yuan?"
"It's fine, it's fine." Lu Xun said smilingly: "I have already had 200 troops, and Han Tang has brought over Xiang people for loyalty, so we can still handle the situation."
"Moreover, with General Hao you staying in Jincheng, I can stay safe in Xiping Commandery."
"Ha ha ha." Hao Zhao laughed: "That should be the case. However, Brother Yuan, don't you want to return to Lintu?"
Lu Xun shook his head: "I won't go back to Lintu for now. Previously, the Protector of the Qiang Cavalry camped in Lintu because it served as a strategic location for both southern and northern reinforcements. Now that Xiping Commandery has just been stabilized, it is the time for me to pacify the surrounding Qiang tribes and fortified communities."
"I'll stay in Linqiang for the time being! These matters, I will handle them myself and explain to General Xiahou and the Left General."
"That's great." Hao Zhao replied.
...
At night, in Chengdu, at the residence of the Prime Minister.
If you say which part of Chengdu is the brightest at night, it must be the residence of the Prime Minister.
All kinds of military affairs, administrative affairs, personnel affairs…. Big and small matters are gathered in the residence of the Prime Minister. Moreover, preparations for the northward campaign to Han Middle were also underway. The already busy residence of the Prime Minister was still handling affairs at night.
The great hall of the Prime Minister's residence was still lit by oil lamps.
Ma Shu walked in softly and walked towards the hall. In the distance, Zhuge Liu Bei was still writing something.
Ma Shu spoke softly: "It's almost three o'clock in the morning, please rest."
Zhuge Liang did not look up, as he had long recognized the footsteps and knew it was Ma Shu. His voice was calm as he said, "Wait a moment, Young Chang. I'm almost done with this memorial."
Ma Shu knew the etiquette and did not say anything, standing to the side in respectful silence.
Soon, Zhuge Liang raised his brush and placed it on the inkstone, and at the same time, took a deep breath.
Ma Shu asked at the perfect moment, "Is this memorial prepared for tomorrow's court session?"
Zhuge Liang nodded: "Exactly so. I have finished writing it, Young Chang, you can read it first."
Ma Shu bowed: "I will follow the command."
Ma Shu held the bamboo slips in both hands and softly recited: "The late emperor started his undertaking before it was halfway completed when he passed away suddenly on the way. Now, the world is divided into three, and Yizhou (Yizhou) is weary and depleted. This truly is a critical moment of survival or extinction…"
After reading the first sentence, Ma Shu became immersed in it and did not read out another word.
It was not until Ma Shu had taken a deep breath and composed himself that he carefully placed the memorial on the desk in front of Zhuge Liang, took two steps back, and bowed deeply with respect.
"The thoughts of the Prime Minister are as clear as the heavens and the sun," Ma Shu said with a trembling voice.
"What's wrong, Young Chang? Get up quickly." Zhuge Liang stood up from his seat and tried to help Ma Shu.
Ma Shu got up quickly and said: "The loyalty, talent, and aspirations of the Prime Minister are unparalleled in the world today. The humane feelings of this subordinate are only momentarily evoked, thus expressing some genuine emotions."
Upon hearing Ma Shu's words, Zhuge Liang did not feel that Ma Shu was exaggerating or acting; instead, he nodded as if he had been understood.
Ma Shu could only understand three-quarters of it.
The hundreds of characters in the memorial were written by Zhuge Liang with his heartfelt and sincere emotions. Ma Shu felt touched, which was only natural.
Zhuge Liang spoke softly, "The preparations for the Prime Minister's residence are almost complete. After tomorrow's court session, we'll move to Hanzhong the day after."
Ma Shu nodded, after thinking for half a while, he finally spoke up, "Although the Prime Minister's journey to Hanzhong is of no concern to me, I am worried about Li Yan and Li Zhengfang in the middle of the river. It may not be a good arrangement."
Zhuge Liang looked into Ma Shu's eyes: "Li Zhengfang himself wants to go to Jiangzhou, so let him go. The affairs in the east also need someone to take care of. After all, he is one of the trusted generals. How can I do anything to Li Zhengfang for a while?"
"Nowadays, in the country and the court, everything should take the northern expedition as the priority. To restore the Han dynasty and return to the old capital is what we should be doing at present. Other matters can be put off for a while."
Ma Shu bowed and said, "The Prime Minister's demeanor is beyond what I can attain."
Zhuge Liang spoke in a light tone: "Young Chang doesn't need to worry. We will depart from Chengdu in March and arrive in Hanzhong in April. After the Prime Minister's residence arrives in Hanzhong, we will store military provisions, build military equipment, and train troops, which will also take nearly a year."
"It will be the real time for the northern expedition next year." (Chapter ends)
